22 Comments

I'm always jealous of the British ability to write about shitty, gloomy experiences. Then I remember that you have to live through those experiences to write about them, and that I am sitting in sunshine right now and I'm not a big enough idiot to trade this in for some cathartic, darkly funny passage about, say, stepping in poo while scrolling through the Greene King app to see if they have that specific funky golden ale at that one pub in Clevedon

Expand full comment

There's just no such thing as skimming your newsletter. I am invariably dragged by the collar into one rabbit hole after another.

I know it's going to happen.. yet I'm powerless to stop it.

Expand full comment

Oh my god. I must have an Otamatone!!! It will be featured in every new song I write.

Expand full comment

Yes, it looks fabulous

Expand full comment

Yorkshire explains a lot. *Subscribes to @AlexDobrenko’ Substack*

Expand full comment

"Nobody ever needs to know." 🤔🤔🤔

Expand full comment

Otamatone. Just that. 😍

Expand full comment

Yep was just coming back to correct myself but you beat me to it!

Expand full comment

Gotta go, ordering an Otamatone 🎶 🏃‍♀️ (great piece, Mike!)

Expand full comment

Well, I am one of those people who don't like to travel, but for years my husband and I often read travel books to each other before we go to bed! Been everywhere, up and down the Amazon several times, all the way around the coast of Great Britain, kayaking in Arctic, etc. Loved this first bit you posted today, and boy, am I looking forward to the rest of it!

Expand full comment

New England got UK style rain all summer, and fall is shaping up to be more U.K. weather. You can have it over there... I like to walk in the sun or in the winter on a sunny day in the snow!

Expand full comment

Thanks so much for sharing our fabulous convo, Mike! And really loved the writing in this post which was 100% on the folk art balladeer tip!

Expand full comment

That was a fun read. I could relate to the rain ordeal since I live at a rainy part of the world.

Expand full comment

That was great! Throughly enjoyed , wonderful sense of humor.

Expand full comment

Funny, Mike. My last piece was also about being out there in communion with the non-human world, but with a totally different outcome. Lucky me. I also think you missed an obvious tie-in between the Otomatone and the soaked undies: None of that would have happened if you'd had one of THOSE in your rucksack. Duh.

Expand full comment

I loved your walk in the rain and my grandson was fascinated by the otoman...angothingitwhatever. (God I hate dementia. Can't remember anything for two minutes.) But I will remember you walking in the rain, soaking into your knickers and that illusive Rice Krispies Treat at the bottom of your rucksack. Merde, that is worthy of a fuuuuuuuhhhhh.... ck! Sing it loud and proud.

Expand full comment

The omatatone video has:

1. filled me with joy

2. given me inspiration for a Christmas present. Well I think it's inspired; the recipient might disagree, his wife almost certainly will.

Expand full comment

The description of the car and the passing of the campgrounds...😂

Expand full comment