The Obsessive Diary

Remarkably, earlier this week a friend of the family found that bowler hat while cleaning out a cupboard. My mother had leant it to her years ago and they’d both forgotten. The friend didn’t know we’d choose that photo for the order of service and we didn’t know the hat still existed, but yesterday, outside the church, she handed it to me. I put it on. It fitted perfectly. I wore it all day. Amids...

Thanks everyone who joined David and I on our LIVE feed earlier this week. We got together to talk about generational wealth in the UK & US; the differences and similarities, our own experiences and what we observe in this around us. David will be exploring the subject further alongside a recording of this video in his next post, so look out for that, and subscribe to Sparks from Culture to be sur...

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit eleanoranstruther.substack.com/subscribe

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit eleanoranstruther.substack.com/subscribe

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit eleanoranstruther.substack.com/subscribe

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit eleanoranstruther.substack.com/subscribe

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit eleanoranstruther.substack.com/subscribe

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit eleanoranstruther.substack.com/subscribe

Thank you Simon Haisell , Marty Neumeier , Dr. Amber Hull , Laura Washburn Hutton , Georgina Hamilton , and many others for tuning into my live video with Hamish McKenzie ! Join me for my next live video in the app. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit eleanoranstruther.substack.com/subscribe

Sean McNulty is the creative behind Auraist, a publication dedicated to Picking the best-written books . In his own words: Auraist’s main purpose, then: to cherrypick from prize shortlists, end-of-year lists, and major reviews the most stylishly, most humanly written books, and in doing so to help support those who write them. If you’ve found yourself giving up on highly praised books because they...

What an evening it was. The glitz, the glamour, the generosity of spirit; our hosts, David & Debbie created an event so overwhelmingly beautiful and carefully thought out that it will forever be touched by magic. With thanks to Kate Burton a film has been produced. See for yourselves what friendship is, what support looks like, what investment in the arts gives rise to. I said at the dawn of 2025...

Thank you Bill Bishop , Chloe Hope , Isabel Cowles Murphy , Ros Barber , Chris Stanton , and many others for tuning into my live video with Tom Cox ! Join me for my next live video in the app. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit eleanoranstruther.substack.com/subscribe

Thank you Kim Stallwood , Robyn Young , Lee Penman , Sam Clare , Kerry , and many others for tuning into my live video with Michele Howarth ! Join me for my next live video in the app. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit eleanoranstruther.substack.com/subscribe

Thank you Simon K Jones , Mr. Troy Ford , Johnathan Reid , Amy Oscar , Andy Black , and many others for tuning into my live video with SamJordison ! Join me for my next live video in the app. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit eleanoranstruther.substack.com/subscribe

She took a tea towel from the draining board and ran outside, grabbed Paul by the arm to stop him rolling in it.  A good wipe produced his face looking sorry for itself; Simon fetched a bucket.  “With any luck it’ll rain again,” she said to the other mothers who held their glasses of white wine close to their chests.  Simon threw water over the remains of Paul’s stomach, watery chocolate spew wash...

Annabel was damp, cold, frightened and bruised all over.  She’d hitched a lift in a van, it had felt like the last ride out of there, and been tossed about like a stick, nothing to sit on but a pile of empty sacks.  Janet looked past her as if she was going to produce Bridget from the dark. “Is she with you?” “Who is this?” snapped Ray. Janet put a hand on his arm.  “She’s from school.  Is she wit...