Don’t ask me how, don’t ask me why but the other day I discovered there is a place in the world called Fartygsholmen and in the moment it completely made my evening.
According to Google Maps, Fartygsholmen (or, as I like to shorten it to, “Farty”) is an island off the coast of Finland . Quoting the great Wikipedia:
“The island is located about 17 kilometres southwest of Kotka and about 97 kilometres east of Helsinki. The island covers an area of 0.4 hectares and its maximum length is 90 metres in a southeast-northwest direction.”
Credit: Wikipedia
The icing on the cake? The extremes of the two Google reviews, one of which reads (translated) “A good place to take a break from loved ones” and the other, “HAHA Farty”.
Credit: Google Maps
It’s the little things.
**
Could you spare a dollar to support me? Donate here!
Wishing all of my readers a very merry Christmas! As is tradition, I’ll be uploading a couple of book reviews over this festive period while I spend time relaxing and celebrating the season of goodwill with family, friends and a pint-and-a-half of Baileys.
Merry Christmas! AEB x
**
Could you spare a dollar to support me? Donate here!
So…a lot of crazy stuff has been happening in my personal life recently. Without saying too much, here’s a little photographic hint.
Stay tuned for the blog post that will give you the full low down (you won’t want to miss it, it’s going to be a juicy one). Expected publication date – two weeks today.
**
Could you spare a dollar to support me? Donate here!
I don’t know if it’s because of the heat we’ve had in the UK all summer (combined with woeful lack of air conditioning), or because there’s a lot of personal stuff on the go right now causing me no end of stress, but this picture, this is me.
Credit goes to TK Maxx for this one and zero credit goes to boyfriend Ben who flatly refused to let this exist in the same house as us. To be fair, given how much stuff* (*putting it politely) I have, I tend to agree. Ben has also reminded me that I routinely sit / sleep in positions similar to this and call it “comfortable.”
I think he’s trying to hint that it would be cheaper for me to just continue being me, sans human-sized cushion.
TK Maxx, if you’re reading this, my door is always open for an Alice/skeleton cushion collab. Just don’t tell Ben.
**
Could you spare a dollar to support me? Donate here!
Another one from deep within the MHAM draft posts that never made it to air…until now.
Back in 2021…
I was thinking to myself the other day “you know what? There aren’t enough podcasts in the world. And golly, there sure as heck aren’t enough opinions being shared around. I should do something to rectify this immediately!”
Or, alternatively, I saw an advert for the free podcasting creator, Anchor, and thought I’d give it a shot.
Several coffees later and some playing about with low-budget graphics and ta-da! A podcast was born:
(Before you say anything, I really cannot stress the low budget-ness of this production. Low budget in the sense there is none.)
Who knows what will become of this, but basically it’s me talking to myself for up to half an hour and in episode one I talk about what lead me to start writing a blog. If you enjoy the concept of a one-woman natter then you’re in for a right royal treat.
I honestly could not be selling this venture harder if I tried. It’s just something I’m giving a go at for a bit of fun.
Surprise, surprise, it didn’t catch on and after forcing myself through four recordings I stopped podcasting and went back to pure writing. I think as much as anything it was the realisation that podcasting with free software is difficult (in that I found the free to use software incredibly limiting and of overall poor production value).
I’m currently in the process of getting the original recordings saved (would you believe it, the platform appears to give podcast owners no access to downloading their own work once published).
For now, enjoy the bittersweet car crash that was the MHAM podcast and who knows, maybe I’ll revive it one day on better terms.
**
Could you spare a dollar to support me? Donate here!
One of the many “quirks” of sitting in a number of bookish related chats are the covers that authors bound around for feedback. Of all of them, this one seemed to raise more questions. I’ll let you decide why.
Bearing in mind little to no context was issued by the author, at the time he just wanted design feedback. Standard things, like, “does it grab your attention?”, “is the font legible?”, “is the design overall a good fit?”
From doing a quick search on Amazon, it would appear the book has yet to be published. So keep an eye out, because you never know with these things!
(Oh, and in case there was any doubt, I was very much in the “not a fan” club.)
“Justified and Ancient”, now that was truly a song of its time. (1991, if you need reminding.)
Given I was born after this year, you may well ask how I came to be acquainted with this track. Short answer, BBC Radio 2. Slightly longer answer, Radio 2 played it twice in as many days and that was it, I was hooked.
Not knowing the title of the track from the lyrics alone, I blindly punched “moo moo land” into a popular search engine and found it. Turns out, it’s a very nineties collaboration between country singer Tammy Wynette and “British electronic band”, The KLF.
And, well, I got this:
It also wasn’t lost on me that this clip from Glee came in a close second on search results:
So, guess what? This track is now embedded in my memory dungeon, alongside the Never Ending Property song. Yay, me!
So, I’ve just spotted this in one of the recycling crates on my street…
Surprise, surprise the recycling collection crew left it behind.
Given this is the second time random heads have shown up in the immediate vicinity of my house, I’m starting to wonder whether I’m safe to continue living in this postcode area. Don’t people read-up on their local recycling policy anymore?!
Oh Swindon, you never fail to keep me in awe.
**
Could you spare a dollar to support me doing what I love? Donate here!
It’s not very often you say “that’s a nicely sculpted bum” in the middle of a charity shop.
This was spotted in a charity (thrift) shop supporting Cancer Research UK. I’ll refrain from saying the exact location of said shop, as I’m keeping all knowledge of this mannequin for my own personal use. And make of that what you will.
Editorial note: I know my dislike / borderline hate for mannequins is very well documented (see the end of my Belfast video / The Alice Show). However, I make exception to shop mannequins as a general category…unless they’re the creepy ones with badly constructed faces. Those ones can burn in a pit of fire with the historical ones.
**
Could you spare a dollar to support me? Donate here!
On 11th November 2014, I went to the supermarket to buy toilet roll, which inspired me to start a blog. Ten years later, I’m still here.
Five years ago I wrote the very aptly named piece, Five YearsAgo Today…. Aside from it being very surreal that five more years have gone by, a hell of a lot more has changed since then.
What MHAM is, and always will be, is an insight into my world, from the highs of getting my short stories published, to the foot injury lows and the ranty McRant face of Jus-Rol’s cinnamon swirls. It has also been the place to share all the wonderful holidays I’ve undertaken as a solo traveller and, more recently, with my wonderful “Boyfriend Ben”. I setup a social group for young people, moved to London, came back from London, built a career from a History degree in execution and country houses. I’ve volunteered for nine separate non profits, and met an amazing bloke who to this day continues to champion my corner, inspiring me to strive for the stars each and every day. It really has been a rollercoaster of emotional content.
Around the world there are so many instances of people being denied their freedom of expression and creativity, which is why I feel so privileged to have the family and professional career that supports me to keep doing what I love. It is the utter joy I get from recognition and compliments, the unexpected surprise when someone reaches out to say how much they enjoy my work. The odd competition win or shortlisting. It is those glints of gold that give me the euphoric buzz to keep hitting these keys.
In 2014, on that chilly dark night where nothing seemed possible, I discovered my voice. And you, the reader, are 75% of the reason why I’m still here. Thank you.
With little more to add, I will leave you with visual memories of the last ten years (and a couple from before) and a simple vow, that I will continue to write for ten more years and beyond, whatever form that takes.
May your hearts always be full and your coffee only slightly spilled.
AEB x
**
Could you spare a dollar to support me? Donate here!
My Housemate's a Mermaid 