82 Comments
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Jessica Turner's avatar

Read in bed as per, joined by my 12 & 9yr old boys who are always Most Amused by your tales. 12yr old is particularly keen on Pearl’s lovely feathers. We all have boggling minds thinking of Picasso/Darwin/Eminem etc.

Kimberly Lytle's avatar

I agree. Pearl's feathers are stunning!!!🪶

AlexTSmith's avatar

I’m never going to hear the end of this now once she’s seen this compliments!

AlexTSmith's avatar

I’m so glad you all enjoyed this edition. Yes,Pearl is a vision of loveliness and knows it too!

Maria Constant's avatar

My sunday morning complete - as i finish my coffee and have a contented sigh after reading.

I too am a looker upper of buildings- especially in London. (Apologies to those amazingly busy people who live and work there who despairingly have to nip around me as I gaze in wonder at the architecture). I think it's a lost art and I think we really miss out on some of the wonders of the world by not taking a moment to look up and absorb our surroundings.

My Sunday treat/ pause enjoyed, I must about my day. Till next sunday.

AlexTSmith's avatar

It’s really incredible what’s going on above our heads in cities isn’t it? How I haven’t walked directly into a lamppost whilst Looking Up I don’t know!

Thank you so much for reading each week!

Maria Constant's avatar

you are such a joy and inspiration, it’s the highlight of my week. I also think Pearl is a badass!

AlexTSmith's avatar

She is A HANDFUL!

Thank you for your kind words. They mean such a terrific amount. X

Vivian French's avatar

Fabulous fabulous fabulous... as always! ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️📦

AlexTSmith's avatar

Thank you dearest Viv xxx

Joanna Frank's avatar

Thank you thank you thank you for this and all your glorious posts. Such generosity to pass on so much joy, and boy do we all need it.

AlexTSmith's avatar

Oh it is my absolute PLEASURE! thank you so much for reading!

Jo Thompson's avatar

The main reason I chose my university was due to the fact that it had the actual Jeremy Bentham, stuffed, in a glass case in the hall. I couldn’t comment on his complexion as it was a wax head - the actual mummified head was put away somewhere safe after being targeted in student pranks, including being held for ransom in 1975.

AlexTSmith's avatar

This is INCREDIBLE! 😂💕

Martyn's avatar

I should be working but now I'm Googling 'Where is Jeremy Bentham's actual head'. Thanks.

Jennifer Power's avatar

You never fail to disappoint! Such a joy to read every week 🙌🏼

AlexTSmith's avatar

Thank you so much for reading! I’m delighted you enjoy it!

Julia Skinner's avatar

Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful Alex! Thank you. BTW we had some rain. Only a smidgeon but at least it still exists!

AlexTSmith's avatar

I woke up to rain too! Only a splash of it but my goodness that smell of rain on hot parched earth is a tonic!

Thank you so much for reading!

Alison Rosby's avatar

❤️❤️❤️ My favourite Substack of the week, always.

I won’t post a photo in case you’re having your breakfast, but Jeremy Bentham doesn’t look that good now. He wanted his body to be on public display, and it has been for nearly 200 years, (though I’m not sure where ATM.) His body was propped up in a suit of clothes with a wax head, but his actual head can also be seen!

AlexTSmith's avatar

I had a look! God love him he could do with a spa day, couldn’t he?

Judi Popplewell's avatar

I love that you are also ‘a right nosy sod’…

It reminded me of something my grandma used to say when someone was asking too many questions, ‘They’d go to the far end of a fart!’ Ha, ha,ha.

It’s been a quiet week here, recovering after the busyness of a week of spinning at the Great Yorkshire Show. So many pretty sheep, Herdwicks, but some very ugly ones too, Rouge de l’ouest, I’m looking at you!

With excess eggs I always make lemon curd, v. easy and you can freeze it too.

Are you familiar with Emily Sutton? Lovely illustrations.

Have a splendid week. Thank you for the Joy Parade!

AlexTSmith's avatar

Thank you so much for reading! Your granny sounds like she was a hoot and a half! ❤️

Lemon curd! I never thought of that AND I have lemons! I’ll be making some asap!

I ADORE Emily Sutton’s work- so beautiful!

Thank you very much for reading!

Jane Berrisford's avatar

Please do know that we all find your lovely sketches are charming, enduring and beautiful pictures too...... Oh to watch Daniel Roseberry performing some kind of magic on those shiny black thingies - dot dot dot into sheer elegance, thank you for sharing.

AlexTSmith's avatar

You are so very kind - thank you!

Yes isn’t it incredible what’s he conjures up in just a few expressive strokes! Wonderful!

Horticulturalish's avatar

Obvs will pre-order book. Also Pavarotti is - you are so right as usual - summer goals. Also also that video of Daniel Roseberry sketching is just too wonderful and makes me want to weep for the future of art in the age of AI. AI could never.

AlexTSmith's avatar

Thank you so much!

Honestly those Pavarotti pictures have delighted me more than anything this week! To be in a loudly patterned shirt in a hammock in Italy rn would be TERRIF!

Lucy's avatar

This post has reminded me that at my friend’s house when I was at school they had a tiny little sketch by E H Shepard hung above their stairs and when I asked why she said ‘oh because these are the stairs in the picture’!

They also had a swimming pool that they kept deliciously warm like a bath and there was so much steam. It was like being in an old school music video. I dread to think what it must have cost them to heat it

AlexTSmith's avatar

Every bit of this is DREAMY! Gosh- to have an EHS and a heated swimming pool! HEAVEN!

Michelle's avatar

Betty Lou is precious, although her behavior admittedly sounds a bit questionable. Also, I've decided that I NEED The Artist's Sketchbook. What a gorgeous book. And that broccoli tote nearly made me spit out my coffee. Thanks for sharing!

AlexTSmith's avatar

Betty Lou is a menace to society. Last night she woke me up at 4 am DESPERATE (I thought) for a loo break. What she actually wanted was her enormous stuffed broccoli toy which was downstairs and for some reason she’s woken up URGENTLY needing to chew it!

Michelle's avatar

This made me cackle! I hope you've recovered. I also love how healthy Betty Lou is with her broccoli. I'm ashamed to admit that my dog Emma prefers her enormous stuffed pizza toy.

WriteFoxy by Miranda Dickinson's avatar

A feast of fabulousness, thank you! I love the way that small children talk. The little girl who lives next door to me is 4 and has decided my name is "My Neighbour" so she delightedly shouts, "Hello, My Neighbour!" at me every morning, which is so brilliantly formal and friendly at once 💕

AlexTSmith's avatar

This is GLORIOUS! My middle nephew (who is insane) decided when he was 5 that my name was suddenly Schmookie and called me that exclusively for about 3 months!

Kathleen Hart - Poshpedlar's avatar

Are you always so jolly?

I think I'm Pollyanna in another life, being glad. I've met my twin!

AlexTSmith's avatar

I wish I were always jolly, but I think choosing Joy is quite a rebellious act so I’m making an effort this year to seize joy where I can find it

Helen Wood's avatar

“In a different cafe a woman said to her friend, “I AM a socialist but I DO like shoes.”

I think I’d really like this woman 🥰

AlexTSmith's avatar

Me too! Instantly wanted to befriend her but she was halfway down a panini at the time and I wasn’t sure that was the right moment to introduce myself