The Notebook — Newsletter #2

Read:

Pandora Sykes' piece for Vogue on her lockdown de-cluttering, "All Any Of Us Wants To Do Right Now Is Contain The Chaos": Why 2020 Triggered A National Tidying Habit.

Micheal Ward's interview in this weekend's Sunday Times Magazine on how black culture is portrayed on screen. Tonight he takes the romantic lead in Lovers Rock, the next episode in Steve McQueen's landmark mini-series Small Axe (mentioned in my watch section).

Listen:

To Prince William on That Peter Crouch Podcast. My friend Wyll recommended this, and whilst it’s primarily a podcast about football, in this episode Prince William, Peter Crouch, Tom Fordyce and Chris Stark discuss the importance of talking about mental health, and the role that sport can play in supporting people’s mental wellbeing. The podcast was recorded in two parts–at Kensington Palace in March, and via video call in early July, but feels all the more prescient to listen to their discussion now. As a reminder to check in on one another as we navigate these tougher winter months.

Watch:

Steve McQueen's epic new five-part anthology series Small Axe. Set between the late 60s and mid 80s the mini-series tells the stories of London's West-London community, four true and one fictional. Last week's episode Mangrove was an absolute triumph, showcasing the story of Frank Crichlow's restaurant in Notting Hill and the trial of the Mangrove Nine. Shaun Parkes, Malachi Kirby and Letitia Wright shine in their portrayals of the central characters. The next instalment Lovers' Rock airs tonight on BBC1 — a must watch.

The Poem: Risk Taking Is Free — Anonymous

To laugh is to risk appearing the fool.
To weep is to risk appearing sentimental.
To reach for another is to risk involvement.
To expose your ideas, your dreams,
before a crowd is to risk their loss.
To love is to risk not being loved in return.
To live is to risk dying.
To believe is to risk despair.
To try is to risk failure.
But risks must be taken, because
the greatest hazard in life is to risk nothing.

The people who risk nothing, do nothing,
have nothing, are nothing.
They may avoid suffering and sorrow,
but they cannot learn, feel, change,
grow, love, live.
Chained by their attitudes they are slaves;
they have forfeited their freedom.
Only a person who risks is free.