The Internet Personified: I've got a blank space, baby, and I'll write your name
Just when we thought it was safe to go outside, in came the Great Humidity of 2016. This newsletter is typed with sweaty fingers with my hair standing on end, so savour that image for a second before I move on. Apart from that, this week has been spent doing non-internet writing, so not a lot of links from me this week. However, I did manage to FINALLY finish watching the Outlander season finale, so that's my crowning achievement. (It was a really good season finale, and if you haven't started watching Outlander yet--especially if you're of the female gender--I'd suggest you begin immediately.)
![Sexytimes in olde Scotland! Sexytimes in olde Scotland!](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_lossy/https%3A%2F%2Fbucketeer-e05bbc84-baa3-437e-9518-adb32be77984.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fa67e2e51-b5f0-4d4c-aed8-244d88163732_500x281.gif)
This week in trying to find a nice place to write goddammit: K dragged me out of the house this week ("Enough is enough, woman!" he said.) (Okay, not really, but he would've, if he were a 18th century Scot.) and we tried to find somewhere nice to write for the day that wasn't home. I did find one that looked ideal on Google, but it was in Hauz Khas Enclave and I thought it said Village, and long story short, we got off at HKV and looked around with weary, wary eyes. Social has become absolutely rubbish to work at unless you're a member and even then: membership takes two days, and no I can't guarantee you the internet for more than 30 minutes and no, you can't have a quiet table. Just get day passes already, Social. Ugh, so annoyinggggg. Then we wandered about sadly for a bit, till I saw a sign that said, "Co-work at Barcelos!" Barcelos is a Nando's rip-off, but they did let us sit there all day, refreshing the internet at 45 minute intervals. Shady crowd when there is a crowd, but otherwise you have the whole place to yourself. Next time, though, I'm going to Coast Cafe, which is pretty and sunny and has nice coffee and cake.
This week in CLOTHESES: I have all this fabric and have been searching for the ideal tailor for a while. I thought I had him in Shankar Market, but then that guy has too much work and not enough time and was also rather rude on our last visit, so my mum made us walk off into another Shankar Market shop which was same prices and not great work (he turned a shift dress into a kurta). All seemed lost, until I gave something for altering at the tailor in Sarvodaya Enclave market (where I live), and he did a really good job so I asked him if he'd make me a dress. "I don't do dresses," he said, "But try Adchini? There are loads of tailors there." Reader, I have Found my Tailor. He's right here, delivers to your doorstep and did such a beautiful job on the design I gave him, I have loads of plans for more. Okay, so he doesn't stick to deadline, but no one is perfect. (In fact, you could say he's no *ahem* TAILOR SWIFT #sorrynotsorry) Plus: cheaper compared to Shankar Market and walking distance! Whee! (If you live around here, reply to this email for his details!)
![me after the tailor me after the tailor](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_lossy/https%3A%2F%2Fbucketeer-e05bbc84-baa3-437e-9518-adb32be77984.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F2bd8fd40-f41d-4798-ac9c-3fde92daeed7_500x381.gif)
Throwback book(s) of the week: The Little House series by Laura Ingalls Wilder, all about Laura's childhood and teen years as a pioneer girl in America's Midwest. Read for the amazing details of making a life (playing ball with a blown-up pig's bladder! Vanity cakes! Making sticks to burn out of hay! Considering a spelling bee the height of socialising!) I recently heard a really good podcast on Laura's life and times on a show called The History Chicks, and it got me thinking about her all over again. There's a new book with her original notes (the series was "helped" along a bit by her daughter Rose Wilder Lane, to make it more kid-friendly and marketable) and if someone wants to get me a present, it's right here on my Amazon wishlist. Okay, okay, fine, buy it for yourself, but only once you've read the other books. Laura was always my hero.
Stuff I wrote this week: **In Youth Ki Awaaz as Aunty Feminist, I talk about the hijab and feminist choices in dressing ** In my relationship column, on using dogs and cats as effective ways to judge people **
Song of the week: Since I have been Writing and need non-distracting music that also puts me in a certain Mood, here's the perfect track: Gymnopedie by Erik Satie is everything. Melancholy, thoughtful and capable of putting you in a "tonight, I can write the saddest lines" space.
Friday link list: **French on Shah.** When My Beloved Zadie writes something, I link to it. ** Kinda loved this profile of an accidental start-up millionaire who just wanted a steady job. ** The Qandeel Baloch incident was heartbreaking. **
Love!
m