Ten Things That I Cannot Do Without This Month

What has been getting me through this sunny June. Embroidered beauty, graphic t shirts, escaping to the sun, weed fumes, no recipe salads, Lily Allen, good teeth, Pilates mirrors and Kevin Keegan.

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Good morning my Substack friends and if you’re in the UK, you will either be a) really happy that we’ve got hot weather or b) complaining that it’s too hot. One or the other. I can confirm that I fall securely into a) and have no issues whatsoever, although I do come with a history of stifling conditions as I grew up in Hong Kong where ceiling fans came as standard and if you walked out of air conditioning it was like heading straight into the path of a hairdryer. We moved there when I was eleven and on arrival, the idea of surviving in such unbearably muggy heat was an impossible thought but we soon got used to it. Here in the UK this week, schools have been shutting as it’s ‘too hot’ - in Hong Kong, the only reason that you wouldn’t go to school is if a typhoon hit the island and you were unable to leave your home due to landslides or trees blocking the route. This only happened once during our HK tenancy, in 1983, when Typhoon Ellen reached No 10 on the Hurricane Scale (the very top one) and no one was allowed to leave their houses for days on end. But heat? Tolerating heat was a piece of moon cake for Hong Kongers. We laughed in the face of 100% humidity. But in fairness, it’s a country set up to tolerate it whereas here in the UK, if you get a slight sweat and it’s 25 degrees it’s classed as a heatwave.

As I write this, it’s Thursday and I’ve just booked the Sora Sky Bar which is at the top of Malmaison York for dinner tomorrow night as my kids are all home. Rather fortuitously, I remembered that I’d bought my estranged husband a voucher for a massage in their spa over two years ago that he’d never used, so I immediately phoned them up and asked them if I could spend it on food and beverage, to which they agreed. I feel way more smug about this redirection of funds than I should do, but it’s quite satisfying to know that my money will be spent on scoffing sushi and cold rose rather than my ex husband having some self care. LOL. It’s far more fun being a spurned ex wife than I ever anticipated.

But back to the point and as the weekend hits and we head towards the real, proper summer months and all that comes with them, there’s been a lot this June that I’ve really enjoyed and want to tell you about. So here are the top ten, in no particular order whatsoever. Happy Saturday!

1. Spain ‘82 and a t shirt worth wearing.

In my family, my Mum was always the football fan and claimed to support Chelsea, though she was certainly the armchair sort and as far as I know, never went to an actual game. My Dad was not a sportsman, although he did row for University College School and played badminton with my Mum, but that was it really. My childhood World Cup memories are of my Mum and brother yelling at the screen whilst my Dad pretty much always nodded off. On the other hand, my own kids have supported Sheffield Wednesday before they were even big enough to realise, thanks to their fathers place of birth, and have continued to do so through thick and thin. Sheffield Wednesday has had more highs and lows than any other club on this planet but my sons commitment never wavers (when I went to the Substack Fete last week, I sat on the steps outside as I was early and overheard Joe Crann introducing himself and it was all that I could do not to accost him on behalf of Leo. Luckily for him, I didn’t, which I’m sure he’s relieved about).

I am generally pretty meh about football but admittedly I do like watching the World Cup although I did fall asleep during their first match this year. The first World Cup that I can really remember getting excited about was Spain 1982, mostly because of the England teams song, This Time (We’ll Get It Right). They didn’t, obvs, and went out in the second round to West Germany, but I still know every word to this song and can also recall the exact feeling of opening the Panini stickers and getting a good one. Also, Kevin Keegan looks hot to trot.

But wait. It wasn’t just England with their 1982 World Cup song, Scotland had theirs too fronted by John Gordon Sinclair who had just achieved acting success in Gregorys Girl (a film about a girl who took a boys place on a football team which was very innovative for those times, quite frankly). But even John and his oversized tartan couldn’t stop them from being ousted in the first round. Random fact: my first husband (yes, I am veering towards Elizabeth Taylor levels) went out with Dee Hepburn who was actual Gregorys Girl.

Anyway, as you read this, I’ll be preparing to go to my friends home for a World Cup Dinner Party to watch tonights game. I have ordered the perfect t shirt to wear which the wonderful AlexTSmith showed us all on his post last week and now I’m going to show you and also tell you that you must go and subscribe to him pronto as his Joy Parade newsletters are honestly the very best thing on Substack. Fact.

Saw it, ordered it, will wear it.

And as a final football hurrah, twelve years ago two teachers from my children’s school wrote a football song that went viral, entered the UK Charts, raised lots of money for charity and it was very exciting for York. Plus it was recorded in half an hour on the school playing field. But will England Bring It Home this year? Perhaps, perhaps, perhaps. Although their performance this week would suggest unlikely. Either way, it’s a good opportunity to drink wine, wear fun t shirts and eat crisps with friends so that’s good enough for me.

2. Politics and sunshine.

URGH I am so over UK politics. I liked Keir Starmer, I think that despite his lack of real action, he was a decent person which is more than can be said for most people who manage to make it to positions of authority in Government. I think he could have bowed out with a bit more of a fist clench, if I’m being honest, although I found his emotional comments about his family very touching. My kids were born into Blair and once a new Prime Minister/sacrifice has been appointed, they will have seen no less than eight of them pass through the doors of number ten. And come out again. Even the Downing Street cat has lasted longer. I wouldn’t be surprised if Richard Madeley had Judy choosing the wallpaper and curtains next. That’s how mental the political situation here in the UK feels currently.

I found myself browsing RightMove yesterday when I was supposed to be writing and got totally carried away by the idea of throwing it all in and moving to the sun. Okay, I know that in truthfulness, there are few places in the world that are not currently in some sort of turmoil, but at least Nigel Farage wouldn’t be there.

This is what I found and the temptation to extend the mortgage pronto was extreme. This two bedroom stone house 20 minutes from Heraklion in Crete is on with Savills for 193,000 euros and I would transport myself there like a shot. Were it not for children, animals, work commitments, all the stuff, godammit. I have decided that I don’t really need a pool, I don’t really like pools anyway, so a shaded patio would be ideal. I would sit on the balcony with my laptop and write with a cold glass of lemonade before going for an early evening walk to the local taverna for garlic prawns, wine and the attention of some nice good looking Greek men. Although in fairness, this is a small village and they’re probably all eighty.

It doesn’t look much, but it’d do the job perfectly. Savills, 193,000 euro. What a bargain.

This one is a bit more expensive but what a position and HOW PRETTY IS IT? It’s on Nisyros which is little island near Kos so you’d probably need to get a boat etc etc but imagine spending a few months here over the summer to escape the constant misery of UK political news. This doesn’t look like the sort of island that would allow any Farage inspired media to infiltrate it so you could truly be home but away. Look at that little courtyard! It’s on with Savills for 385,000 euro and very tempted to do a swap.

Take me here now please so that I can write, eat mezze, drink ouzo and smoke copiously.

Finally, I shall escape to Tuscany where yes, this might need a bit of work but nothing that Genuine Builders couldn’t do with their eyes shut. A bit of plastering? A kitchen and bathroom? Small courtyard ripe for renovation? Nessun problema, amico mio. So much potential and if my eyes don’t deceive me, that’s a bar restaurant next door so you wouldn’t even have to cook or pour yourself a glass of wine, they could pretty much throw it through your window. And even the slightest hint of organised crime is better than the current UK political scene. This beaut of a build could be yours for 40,000 euros plus a ‘few’ extra quid to decorate. Take me there, Easyjet.

So close to the local restaurant that you can smell the pasta.

3. Jewelry and lots of it.

I like wearing jewelry, but I cannot bear to wear it to bed or if I’m in lounging mode. When I used to work in London in my late teens, I’d come home and immediately strip off all my jewelry, my work clothes and even my bra as I needed to ‘cleanse’ myself of perceived City grubbiness and I still do that now with my jewelry. However, when I am not stripping it off I am piling it on and I cannot leave the house without at least half a tonne of brass and beads adorning my body. My favourite time to buy jewelry is on holiday and I am useless in the face of beaded bracelets, anklets and Grecian coin necklaces and am also not averse to a faux designer bangle, I’m not ashamed to admit. In a couple of weeks, I’m going to Marrakesh and then two weeks later, Crete, so I can guarantee that the majority of my suitcase will be packed to return home with must-have accessories, probably including at least three basket bags, five pairs of sandals and undoubtedly a multitude of kaftan style dresses that can only be worn when floating around in a beach bar listening to Pete Tong in Mediterranean sunshine.

Anyway, this month I have a couple of new pieces of jewelry that I thought worth sharing. This is the Marina chain bracelet from Loel who are a gorgeous independent who have lovely products at a really good price point. My sister bought me my favourite hoop earrings from Loel for my birthday last year and I have worn this bracelet almost every day since I received it. It’s solid with a t bar link to secure and doesn’t fall off your wrist, not even when waving my hands around at a Lily Allen concert. Plus I’ve just noticed that if you use code SUMMERSALE this weekend you’ll get 20% off. Strong jewelry game without the high price tag, I’m here for that.

This is a good, solid bracelet and I am loving it.

Also, I cancelled my Liberty Beauty Box as I was trying to economise but rather fortuitously discovered I had a £40 credit left, plus when I googled my inbox I found a £10 voucher, all in all totalling £50. Obviously, I immediately went on to Liberty to see what I could buy for £50 and found a ring which I immediately added to bag. Since I no longer wear my wedding rings (I’ve given my eternity ring to Ella and she loves it, I feel like they should be worn) I am quite into massive rings and this one ticked the box. It’s by a US brand called Shashi and it’s called the Ross ring, but this one is now out of stock at Liberty due to the fact it was reduced. However, there’s a Missoma one that’s really similar and I’ll link it here.

Excuse the wrinkled hand photo. Shown on wedding finger due to the fact that that was the least stained by Gatineau fake tan.

4. Good teeth, great results.

I spoke to you last year about my SURI toothbrush and the fact that my entire family refuse to use anything else. I’ve worked with SURI on and off for around three or four years now and can categorically say that they truly have made a huge difference to my family’s dental hygiene routine. Getting my kids to brush their teeth when they were younger was HARD work, as anyone with kids will know. Also, they never told the truth and I’d have to go and check to see if their toothbrushes were wet (they never were). Kids really don’t have any concept or care about teeth, I tell you. I went through all sorts of toothbrushes with them to encourage them but they never lasted or really did the job well.

Anyway, we switched to SURI some years ago and now, they are slightly obsessed with tooth care which I am not complaining about. I think it’s because all three of my children had braces and retainers which made them much more aware of their teeth and now they are young adults, they want to keep them in as good condition as possible which is GREAT news. There are so many benefits to SURI, one of which is that they’re award winning and dentist approved due to their excellent professional clean.

The brushes are easy to use and easy to charge - they come with a UV cleaning travel case - and they’re great for travelling as they come with one month plus battery life and are super light weight. The plant based heads are recycled for free by SURI and the brushes have a durable aluminium body, plus they also come with a mirror mount so that you can keep them out of the way of your sink and elevate your bathroom set up as they’re aesthetically pleasing too.

And the best news of all? You can use code LISASURI at checkout and you’ll get a 15% off your purchase. But today (Saturday 27 June) you’ll get a huge 25% off plus an extra 5% if you use my code so 30% in total. Do report back and tell me what you think!

5. Lily Allen and more good t shirts.

Ella told me that one of her earliest memories is me playing Lily Allens ‘Alfie’ in the kitchen in Caversham which makes complete sense as she would have been about five. Last Sunday, we came full circle when she bought tickets for us to go and see Lily together for my birthday - I LOVE my kids being this age, love the fact they have opinions and thoughts and independent views and confidence. It’s bloody BRILLIANT.

Lily’s album, West End Girl, was mentioned in at least half of the thousands of messages that I received after my marriage split. And like most women who have been in my position before, I listened to the album on repeat. It’s loosely based on her marriage to David Harbour (he’s Hopper in Stranger Things) and how when she got an acting job in the UK and had to stay there for a while, he decided to jump on to a dating app and start shagging multiple women (he was found on Raya). Oh, and then apparently he told her about it and said that he’d like to have an open marriage. Ah, what a joy he sounds!

Anyway, she left him and wrote an album allegedly based on her experiences (although Lily says it’s a take on modern relationships and infidelity) that runs in order of event occurrence and the West End Girl concert follows the same pattern. It’s not a typical gig, it’s more like a piece of theatre - she doesn’t talk to the audience, she sings her way through it telling the story and it’s really excellent. I mentioned in my post on Wednesday that she based the set design on her actual home in the USA (the one that was featured to great acclaim in AD a few years ago) and the set includes items from her own house. Side note: super interesting to watch the AD tour now she’s revealed all on the album. Do love the swan taps and the Pierre Frey carpet, though.

I bought a t shirt (Madeline is the person that Lily’s protagonists husband has a thing with) because I like a white t shirt and I also like swearing so this ticked both boxes. If you also like white t shirts and swearing I’ll link the website where you can buy one too. Plus I got a programme to frame and add to my downstairs loo portrait wall. And finally, we left two minutes early, ran to the car and got out just before the Arena emptied and the car queues started. So satisfying. All in all, an excellent evening out.

Great question. Lily Allen £35.

6. Good beauty stuff.

I’ve tried a couple of new things this month that I want to tell you about, the first being a Body Wash Concentrate. I am prone with body wash to buy whatever is on special offer in the supermarket but I never really have any strong feelings about them. They’re all a bit, whatevs. Also they can be a bit jelly like which I’m not keen on. This one was sent to me by AKT who are a skincare brand that are new to me, but this is excellent - a middle of the road price point, I’d say, for a luxury skincare brand too. This is vegan and cruelty free with no added water and non plastic packaging, plus it comes in five different scents. The BEST BEST thing about it is that you only need a tiny bit of it and it foams up immediately, meaning that this one 100ml tube lasts for ages, plus it’s the perfect size for travelling and putting in your holiday suitcase. I’ve been using it for a week and can confirm that it makes your skin super soft and now I am massively spoilt and will never be able to buy a massive plastic container of Sanex again. Sigh.

This is genius. Smells great and you hardly need any, it’s a concentrate.

Next, this is a shampoo and conditioner that I’ve been using for six weeks and am about to run out of. Hair thinning and loss is so common during menopause and this, together with daily Hair + Me which I’ve been taking for 18 months, has really made a difference I think. In fact, I don’t just think, I know, because when I put my hair up now, I have loads of short hair that sits underneath which 100% due to what I’ve been doing to combat loss. The brand is called Nanogen and it’s good value - £20 for a pair of products - and they’re good sized tubes too. They also do growth serums, thickening sprays and even hair fibres. Well worth checking out.

This, combined with daily Hair + Me, has made the biggest difference to my hair.

7. Embroidered prettiness.

I use Pinterest almost like therapy. Okay, this sounds a bit odd but if I am feeling a bit stressed when I get into bed, then I head straight to the big red P (yes, alright, not a euphemism) and calm myself with some pinning. Honestly, it’s truly relaxing. Anyway, this week I have been in bed far too late thanks to last nights football match and just general faffing about in the front garden the previous and so have been pinning more than usual. The Pinterest algorithm knows it’s stuff and it took just one pin of an embroidered pack of playing cards to fill my feed with intricate embroidered beauty that is WELL worth sharing. Embroidered artwork is so tactile to the eyes (is that possible? I think so) with lots of layers and different textures.

I find creatives who can visualise this kind of stuff to produce just so inspiring and it’s a welcome joy to peruse. Anyway, here are a few of my favourites that I think you’ll love too. It also makes me want to immediately take up embroidery although seeing as I rarely have time to read a book, I feel as though this might be a step too far, but I LOVE looking at what other people have created. Bravo to all embroiderers and textile artists.

Work by Sandrine Torredemer, La Filature.

Work by Atelier Hola.

Work by Joy Ivill.

Work by Jo Yeates.

8. Different time of life, different house.

As someone who has spent pretty much her entire life being a partner to someone else, the last ten months have been a revelation. Honestly, a revelation. And I am really, really enjoying it. I wrote a piece for Substack a few months ago about being single that was republished by The Times and I am adding to this list daily. For example, last night I had bought a ticket to go to watch the football at a local pub with friends which cost me £5 (this did include a drink and a seat, in fairness). Leo then announced that he was staying at home to watch as he had an exam the next day (uncommonly sensible but I wasn’t arguing) so I immediately decided to do the same. I didn’t need to check if anyone else was happy to do that. I just decided what I wanted to do most and I did it. For people who have been unattached for any period of time, this seems like basic level but for me, this is NEXT level. Ha. Anyway, quite joyous tbh.

I’ve also narrowed down my friend group (naturally, can I add - I didn’t delete phone numbers or say ‘go away’ or anything like that) and again, this feels good. I don’t need loads of friends but the ones I have I can now spend maximum time with and it’s based on my own friendships, not couples friendships. When you reach your fifties, you have different needs from life. I was chatting to a friend couple (mid 30’s) last night who are considering moving from the City to the countryside and I realised that that is what I had done when I was in my 30’s and 40’s. It suited our lifestyle, friends had children, we didn’t go out much due to childcare and lack of free cash, socialising was at other people’s houses. A countryside house was more spacious, you got more for your money, you got a proper garden. But when I reached my 50’s, this was no longer the case and I wanted to regain my lifestyle that I’d put on hold whilst my children grew up.

I posted a picture of the front of my house on Instagram this week which went madly viral. Having a viral post is all well and good but you end up with loads of random commentators who don’t follow you slagging it off. Anyway, there were quite a few people who wondered why I would cut down a bush so that people can see into my house. But what they don’t realise is that I LOVE feeling as though I am living in the centre of something. I love the fact I can hear the York Minster bells, that I can hear people talking and laughing in the street, the aroma of weed from my neighbours garden, know when they’re cooking Spanish food because it smells SO GOOD, have people say hello to me when I walk out of my front door. When my kids were small, this would not have worked so well for me. I’d have worried about them making noise, stressed about the lack of garden, stressed about the buggy in the hall, all that kind of stuff. But now? Now, my house and where I live work perfectly for me. Different time of life, different house. And I’m loving it.

9. No effort summer salads for the win.

I don’t think that I’ve eaten any hot food for a week and GOD, it’s good. At this point in the heatwave, I am basically a baby gem lettuce and I’m not complaining about it. I saw a recipe on Notes the other day that was simply pesto with a bit of extra olive oil and seasoning mixed together drizzled on baby gem with parmesan grated on the top and have been eating it ever since. I can’t remember who put this recipe on but it was so easy that I didn’t even bother saving it - just those simple ingredients totally elevate a crunchy leaf and it’s EXACTLY what I am craving in this weather. Together with ice creams, ha. I am not a massive sweet person but I can never resist a Magnum or a Solero. I could eat an entire box and not even feel sick about it.

Another thing I love about a thrown together salad is that you can use up all the stuff in your fridge which means that you can buy more nice stuff for your fridge with no guilt. I am constantly finding half used feta or ham or tomatoes on the off but a thrown together salad is the perfect solution. Today for my lunch, I had baby gem, the remains of a dressing I made which took half a minute (honey, soy, olive oil, seasoning - job done), some chorizo, feta, baby quartered tomatoes, breadsticks and some manchego. That was it, but it was bloody delish. Followed by a Solero. There are no rules to salads, people.

Or this one. Baby gem, red onion, feta, avocado and flaked ready cooked salmon plus the same dressing as above. I had this dressing saved in the fridge and a double pack of ready cooked salmon so ate this salad two days on the trot. Also any salad is improved with an avocado and that’s the truth.

Also, I mentioned this in my Wednesday post but it’s Spanish Week at Lidl at the moment which is easy lunch preparation central. I mean, this isn’t even a salad, if I’m being honest. Serrano, manchego, goats cheese (okay, not Spanish but it’s my absolute fave) and these very good breadsticks which are part of the same range. The tomatoes I quartered and covered in Isle Of Wight Tomatoes Oak Smoked Balsamic Dressing which, I tell you, is a GOD amongst balsamics and elevates anything that you whack on your plate immediately. It’s not cheap, but you use it sparingly and it’s worth every penny of the twelve quid it costs, I promise you. I had this for lunch yesterday in my courtyard and felt as if I was in Malaga. Well, sort of.

I am so salad obsessed at the moment that I treated myself to annual subscription at The Department of Salad: Official Bulletin after noticing that they have an Index where you can find the product that you whip out of your fridge alphabetically and they’ll give you loads of salad recipes to make with it. I know, genius. Salads for the win this summer.

The Department of Salad Index Is Here!

10. Halterneck dresses are cool.

I like a halterneck. Like most people, I have parts of my body that I favour less than others and in my case, it’s my arms. I try not to notice it, but you can guarantee that when I look at a photo of me with my arms out, it’s the first thing that I look at. My friend just WhatsApped me about HER arms and I said worry not, I just looked in the huge fucking Pilates mirror (just SO BIG) and watched mine drop like full carrier bags as I raised my arms to a 45 degree angle. FML. But whatevs. I like to think my body tells the story of my life so I need to deal with it, girlfriend. Although all I read via my arms are stories of extreme lack of exercise and too much Whispering Angel.

Bingo wings aside, I have always found that halterneck is a good option for me, particularly as someone with a virtually non existent bosom. There’s a reason for this - they draw the eye upward which elongates the upper body and balances your frame which is good whatever your shape. I’m going to Marrakesh precisely two weeks today (not that I’m counting down or anything, although OMG I cannot wait) and I’ve bought a couple of halterneck dresses which I think you will like and they’re not expensive, either. Due to my one big, one small breast situ (although hoping this is going to change soon, watch this surgical space, ha) I’ll wear either a bandeau or a low vest top underneath these, but if you have non reconstructed boobs then you wouldn’t need to do that.

This one I found in Mango, tried it on and immediately bought it. It’s a kind of slinky material but super flattering and has ruching around the stomach which means that even if your stomach is your self conscious bit, this doesn’t draw attention to it. I bought a medium which fits well and it’s crazy comfortable. I like this as it’s good for the day as cool and breezy with flip flops but I could also dress it up for the evening with gold sandals and jewelry. Oh, I also bought a great satin scarf to go in my hair to wear with it. I seem to be very much into brown at the moment, I blame my kitchen shelves for this.

Draped halter neck, Mango £45.99.

Geometric foulard, Mango £12.99.

I also bought one from Pull & Bear. Pull & Bear is often easily bypassed as they don’t have that many shops but some of the things I wear the most have come from there and their website is great. Super casual, easy to wear - their denim dungarees are the best I’ve ever bought. Anyway, I did an in bed last minute night time order for a black halterneck dress earlier this week and it arrived today, including this loose halterneck dress which is a holiday must have if you’re heading somewhere hot. It’s thin cotton jersey, very loose fitting (I’ll wear this with a bandeau top underneath) and rather annoyingly, now in the Sale at half price since I bought mine. It also comes in brown and white - I bought a medium. And if you are into this sort of loose easy to wear dress, then I also bought this strappy midi dress in the same material (I could have got away with a small here instead of a medium but I’ll wear it with a vest underneath). Excellent halter holiday wear.

Halter midi dress, Pull & Bear £9.99.

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