Wow. This week has been amazing. I feel truly happy, and grateful for where I am right now. I can’t wait to update you.

**Reading- **

I have been reading “The Days of Abandonment” by Ellena Ferrante this week. This book follows a middle-aged woman Olga in the aftermath of her husband's affair with a younger woman. The novel captures Olga's desperation and rage as she navigates this loss within the four walls of her heat-stricken apartment. Olga is forced to confront her new identity. What it means to be a woman alone. Who she is without him. It is phenomenal.

Ferrante paints her descent into madness with a vividness that I cannot describe. This book is visceral, honest, and painful all at once. It is a beautiful and unyielding portrayal of marriage, motherhood and loss. I have found myself drawn again and again to these themes, and this book has just intrigued me further. I am so excited to read more about Farrante.

This week I am moving on to “The Women Destroyed,” by Simone De Beauvoir. I am so intrigued by her work and am anticipating this text to open a whole other world of literature.

**Life- **

This week proved itself to be a waiting game. It dragged on until Friday when the Eras Tour finally arrived, a moment I had been waiting for forever.

My whole family was going so we drove up to Melbourne and checked into our hotel. While Kammie got ready, Mum, Dad and I went to Dymocks to have a look at some books. I was a very naughty boy and bought a few, all of which you would have seen in this week's video. We headed back, got ready, filmed a few tiktoks, and then made our way to the MCG.

I have never seen anything like the sight that day. Tens of thousands of people all there, connecting, dressed up for an artist from the other side of the world. Our seats were perfect, and after the sun settled we had a perfect view. Sabrina Carpenter slayed the stage first, and then Mommy herself came on.

I cannot articulate how truly incredible it was. It is something I don’t believe can be summed up in words. No photos or videos can do it justice. You have to be there. I sobbed, I screamed and it was hands-down the best night of my life.

Today has been hard. I feel as though I am withdrawing. I have been rotting away all day, and feel as though I will never recover although I know that is slightly dramatic…

**Recommendations- **

Being excited about the things you love. I am an animated person. I am passionate and get overly excited about the things I love. However, for so long, I wasn’t. I would hide what I liked in hopes of altering others' perceptions of me. It’s not worth it. You do you boo.

Tailoring. Get your clothes altered. You will feel so much more confident.

Annotating. If you don’t already annotate your books, this is your sign to start. Underline, dog ear, and romanticise your reading. You can thank me later.

Hey my beautiful people! I am planning on filming a q and a this Friday and would love if you could give me some questions below!

talk soon xoxo

Hello my darlings. I hope you have had a beautiful first week of February. I am so excited to catch up with you this week! 

Reading-

Wow. So it was a very successful week on the reading front. I finished three books and feel like I have finally hit my stride when it comes to reading. 

Bonjour Tristesse by Francois Sagan is the first book I finished this week. This book was to die for. One of my new favorite books. It is enchanting, whitty and so incredibly profound. This novel follows a young 17 year old girl and her father as they travel to the French sea-side for their annual summer vacation. The book follows 17 year old Cecile as she sabotages her father’s relationships, and is an exquisite commentary on regret, guilt, and jealousy. The book is written beautifully, is incredibly funny, and will charm you more than you can imagine. Please read this. It will have you yearning for a French summer. 

I then read the End of Eddy by Édouard Louis as it is this month's book pick! I will save my thoughts on this book for a video where I can more deeply express my feelings and thoughts towards the text. However overall I thought this book was good. Just good. It was interesting to read about Édouards experiences growing up in rural France, and I think that its structure and contents were well done. But at the same time it did feel like it was missing something, although I’m yet to decipher what that was. 

Finally yesterday I had a few hours In the morning to spend doing whatever I pleased, so I decided to read Rimbaud’s “A season in hell.” I find that reading poetry is the perfect remedy for my mind. This week has been extremely tough. I have found myself faced with moments that honestly have felt earth altering. And although I know that with time these feelings will pass, it has been hard to distract myself. However yesterday I sat and I read this book from cover to cover. Although I didn’t think the poems were anything groundbreaking, the preface and prologue were gripping. It was so interesting to learn about this queer poet's life, and I honestly enjoyed it thoroughly. 

So it’s safe to say I slayed the reading game this week and that I obviously have an affinity for French literature. Today I plan on starting “The days of Abandonment” by Elena Farrante. I think it will be another great read, and am incredibly excited for my first Farrante. 

Life - As I said previously, this week has been overwhelming, and full of ups and downs. 

I had my birthday this past Sunday which was so amazing. I had a really lovely weekend away with family in Adelaide and came home to have a small dinner with family, and a few friends in the evening. We made deli sandwiches and Kammie made me a brilliant cake. It was the perfect day and I literally couldn’t have asked for another way to spend it. 

Moving into the week I received some pretty tough news, regarding my career which has felt like a massive step backwards for me. I know that these feelings will pass and I need to look at this setback as an opportunity. I need to believe that it has happened for a reason although at this moment that is hard. However at the end of the day I know it will all be okay. I am still only twenty two and have so much time to figure out where I am going. I am so lucky to have such beautiful friends and family who support me unconditionally. 

Yesterday, Kammie, Brodie, Jacinta and I went to a music festival in the city. Kammie and I both got invited as content creator and got to bring a guest each which was crazy. It was a very hot day but it was so nice to have a day out, dancing and laughing with my best friends. Today I plan on being kind to myself. Reading, walking and going to the beach. This weekend has been exactly what the doctor has ordered.  

Recommendations-

• Cinnamon scrolls. Omggg, a few weeks ago I baked these. I found the recipe on TikTok. It was so easy, delicious and I have thought about them every day since. 

• Balance. This is something I have struggled with for a long time. I struggle to just do things lightly. I like to go all in and I often burn myself out. This year I am really trying to be less forceful on myself, yet still be doing all the things I need to do. I am trying to become more balanced in the reading, exercise regimen and my relationship with my body and food. This week more than ever I am trying to remind myself of that. 

• TAYLOR SWIFT. I see this beautiful icon in five days and I cannot believe it. She has gotten me through so much and I am so excited to see her in the flesh. And come on. The tortured poets department is going to eat. It will be for the readers. I just know it. 

This week was challenging, yet I am trying to stay positive. I have so many things to be grateful for, and am excited for the week ahead. I hope you are well. Speak to you soon xxx