19 Comments

I’d be interested to know how you learned English so well. Do you already have a post on language learning? I’ve been living in Italy for YEARS and I really struggle to express myself! Great post. Oh that bag 🥺

Expand full comment

Don't worry about that, seriously, Italians will celebrate any attempt to speak Italian even with the wrong grammar ! :)

Expand full comment

Thanks for reading! I haven't written about my English learning process but I definitely will :) thanks for the idea haha

Expand full comment

Love the bag, by the way. Do you still have it?

I have heard of Gilmore Girls, but haven’t seen it. Is it worth a watch? The only thing I’ve seen Alexis Bledel in is The Handmaid’s Tale, which is worth a watch, if you haven’t seen it.

Expand full comment

If you ever wanted to strike up a conversation with me THIS is how you do it! 😍

Yes, I still have the bag! I love it so much, although it's not looking great, the handles are showing their age. A bit like Gilmore Girls. There's plenty of discourse on how Rory (Alexis Bledel's character) is ultimately a shitty person, and how the more we age the more we side with her mum or her grandma (especially at the end), but it's one of my feel-good TV shows and while I agree with the modern commentary, I would still recommend it!

OMG The Handmaid's Tale is scary good. I share your taste in shows!

Expand full comment

😁 Glad to hear it!!

I do love a handbag. It has always been a weakness of mine, particularly during my maximalist days. Nowadays, it’s more about window shopping. Great that you still have that pink one - so cool and edgy.

I’m in need of a feel-good series to balance out the numerous crime dramas I watch - for enjoyment and for research. You’ve sold it to me. Thank you. I’ll give it a go. 😊

That’s good to know. I need some recommendations. I binge-watched The Handmaid’s Tale a few years ago when I was ill with the flu. I’d never seen anything like it - so surreal. I loved it. The book is amazing too.

Expand full comment

During my 'gothic lolita' days I collected unconventional accessories, so I totally get your weakness and the current window-shopping trend hahah

I thought the second book would be more similar to the tv show but I loved both! It's like we get to see two possible realities!

Please, let me know how your Gilmore Girls adventure goes! :) Tap into your teenage self for a few seasons although we're at Lorelai's age at this point haha

Expand full comment

Nice. In terms of gothic stuff, the closest I ever got was books, films and music. I never got to the clothing and accessories. I couldn’t pull it off.

I shall do! I did wonder whether I might be a bit old for it now, having not watched it the first time round, but hey. I’ll give it a go.

Expand full comment

Good luck with your endeavor, Barbs! ⭐The "sticky-note-size CV" was hilarious!

Expand full comment

Thank you ;)

Expand full comment

I saw the picture and was thinking you socialite dark horse with your Birkin bag. 🤣🤪 Applying for jobs is the worst! I thought you worked at a hospital? 🤔 Sending you manifesting vibes to find something exciting. 🫶🏻🤞🏻🤩

Expand full comment

I do! good memory! As you know, the timeline here in Substackland is a bit behind :P I'll tell more in the next post. No spoilers! (Rory Gilmore influenced me on so many levels!! hahahaha)

Expand full comment

Oh sorry! This is past timeline talk. Got it! I got confused with the Disney trip too and thought wait? Is that trip recent because I thought it was years ago when you and BF were first together! 🤣🙈 Clearly, I’m being dim. 🤪🧐

Expand full comment

hahahah not dim at all! all these events took place in 2015. Even t he Disney trip! Although it feels much more recent. Do you feel the same, when you tell the story of your divorce? Or does it feel like you're telling a story from another life?

Expand full comment

It feels definitely like a lifetime ago for me. 😅 But in your case, you didn’t need to grow and change. I’m sure you have in the last decade but thankfully you’ve done so in a lovely partnership. 🫶🏻

Expand full comment

Ahhh IELTS nightmare I paid for a course and sat the test and thankfully got the grade I needed. It did help me skip some classes at uni, which then helped me move to the UK to finish my degree there. But I found it was more about learning a system than learning the language 🤦‍♀️ but after university no one ever asked for any certificate, none I ever collected. 😂 could have left school and not gone to uni lol (of course not but I mean in theory)

Expand full comment

Hahaha that was the stuff of nightmares! I agree, it's definitely about the system and leading the test, rather than learning English (compared to other exams that still nobody really cared about after uni).

Expand full comment

Oh, that bag!!! 😱 Is it a joke that Rory had a similar bag?? I don't remember seeing it, and I can't picture her with one... but also it's been like 20 years since I first saw the show.

Also, 100% team Jess. I had to say it. :))

Expand full comment

;) She does, she does. It was a present from Logan, not everyone's favourite season I have to admit.

Expand full comment