You Can Build Pillow Forts in Your Thirties. Really, No One Stops You

Hello zebus (or camel cows if you prefer),

This isn't a notification you're being charged or anything like that, just thought I'd check in and let you know what nonsense is coming next.

A few months ago I was watching a documentary about two probes on Mars. It was all neutral and sciencey, up until it got to the point the probes started running out of power and were clearly about to die. They were so humanised by that time - they had names and even personalities by then, sort of - I found myself slightly tearing up about the thing, which seemed odd. This resulted in a fairly silly long-form video idea about an entire planet of abandoned probes, and it should be out in a few weeks at most. I wrote almost the entirety of it in a pillow fort I built for myself and the cat because it was a Thursday and we were dangerously bored. I hope you like it. (The script, not the pillow fort - I don't require your approval for that, but it's appreciated of course.) That's the shape of what's been happening on this side anyway.

I'll apologise for the new book not being out yet, again - maybe the fifteenth time now. All it needs is a bit of a polish (maybe a decorative bow just for fun) but it's still not quite there. As soon as the new video is out, I'll finally finish the thing off and release it, promise. One of the few lessons I've learned from making stuff online is to at least attempt not to half-arse stuff. Rushing always feels pretty fun in the short-term so one can get back to watching Stargate SG1 and eating posh biscuits, but a few years later you think back to the thing and desperately wish you'd just spent a bit longer getting it as perfect as possible. I'll do my jolly best to get it out for April, then wander off to do a spot of hiking as a treat for inflicting the thing on you.

I wonder if you've been to see The Substance yet. If not, I'm going to recommend it with a few caveats. I saw it last night. I'm yet to recover. Weirdly, the cinema screen was mostly full of loners like myself who also didn't have much better to do on a Tuesday night. As the story got more intense, I glanced around with a sort of Is this actually fucking happening? expression and met eyes with a fair few other people doing the same thing. It easily has some of the most beautiful cinematography I've ever seen, even for an A24 movie - man, they're great - even for a story involving wanton gore and endless closeups of syringes. Watching the trailer, you'll get the entire premise right away: the pursuit of retaining one's beauty as they age. But it goes to a place so, so much more profoundly horrible than that. I'll spoil nothing for fear of ruining the plot, but the plot sure ruined me. It's a despicable masterpiece.

I can also highly recommend a Cuban band from the 60s I chanced on recently, Los Zafiros. This is great in particular. Oh god and this. I binged everything I could find of theirs on a recent trip home to see the parents in the UK. Wandering a little drunk back from the pub through a definitely haunted pitch-black forest listening to Cuban doo-wop: big fun.

Hope you're doing well in any case. Just a spot more editing and the new video should be out shortly. As always, thank beyond anything I can even get down here for sticking around, it's enormously appreciated and new stuff is on its way. (The feline sends her very best regards.)

Massive love as ever,

Ex.