This is my lockdown-look most of the time. Hair-mask, face-mask, dead behind the eyes. I go on walks, sure. I walk from the bedroom/office/living room (I live in a studio flat) to the kitchen or to the bathroom. Sometimes from the bathroom to the kitchen. Sometimes I venture outside to the garden even though the five foxes have taken full ownership of it now, and it mostly consists of garbage, cement, rocks and fox droppings.
I have not been out-out for 78 days. I have not been touched by another person for 78 days. (I just misspelled that as 'daddys'. Hi Freud.) I have also not sent as many newsletters as I should, according to what I promised you. Well, during these strange times (!), all bets are off. Time isn't real. Is anything even real? Remember when we talked about Brexit all the time? Remember when we talked about Madeleine McCann all the ti- oh, wait.
Obviously, the Madeleine McCann story is one big smokescreen to give newspapers something else to cover than the fact that police are murdering black people in the US. And that it seems like (!) more (white) people than ever before are suddenly engaged in this. I have received many messages from people who usually think I ruin their fun by pointing out how problematic they are, who now are desperate to ask me what they're doing wrong. I am hoping, like many of us, that it continues. And that it won't just be a trend. And I hope that people can see through the media's and the governments' many tactics to shut down everyone who is currently speaking.
Here is
a brilliant link with lots of things you can do. With your money and with your time. In the most recent episode of
Made of Human Podcast I chat with YrFatFriend about whiteness - and it's uncomfortable. It also has a lot of information you need - how to speak to your racist family members about racism, how you can help, how to deal with the feeling of guilt and ideas on how to deal with both having a mental illness or low self-esteem and still accepting your own complicity in white supremacy. If you're otherwise unsure of where to start, I have retweeted and shared a LOT (hundreds) of black activists, black creators, documents and guides on how to do better as white people on both Twitter and Instagram. Go to my Twitter or Instagram and follow the profiles I've shared. And continue to follow and listen. And don't message your black friend and ask what you can do to help. That work has already been done for us - this is not the time for black people to do more labour for us.
Now, a lot of you have been asking me about some of the
Danish food I've been posting, so I want to share with you some of the recipes I've followed. First of all, I baked a
brunsviger cake. It's part cake/part pastry (I think). A soft, cake'y bottom with a crunchy, sweet, flakey top - brown sugar and sirup. It's amazing. Genuinely my favourite cake - the only cake I like. I have also been making
frikadeller - it's a Danish sort-of meatball-type thing. Except you wouldn't eat it like you'd eat meatballs. You can have them, for example, with fresh, boiled potatos and gravy (and picked beetroot on the side). Or you can (should) have them on dense rye bread, with
pickled beetroot,
danish remoulade or
pickled red cabbage on top of it. You can also just shove it in between two pieces of toast and eat it like that. When I went to school, the cafeteria would sell them individually in some tinfoil and we'd just eat them like that. Then, of course, I made some
æbleskiver (As Seen On Great British Bake Off). Yummy.
I want to say a massive thank you to those of you who've supported me throughout all of this pandemic stuff. I still don't know for sure what's happening with the tour - it's been rescheduled for September/October/November, but I'm not a million percent certain the world is back to normal at that point. I'll keep you updated.
The Edinburgh Festival is definitely cancelled, which breaks my heart. My whole year is all about Edinburgh. I plan two years ahead, just because I'm so excited about it. Not that I'm the biggest victim of this pandemic. I understand that. But part of the reason I love Edinburgh so much is because you guys come and see my shows, so I wanted to let you know how much I appreciate you and how much I'll miss you.
It's been very strange losing all my work from one day to the other. Only to realise that I'm the luckiest person in the world, to have a following like the one I have. You've all jumped at the chance to support me. It's humbling. I'm deeply grateful. And I'm working very hard on doing the things I can in order to be somewhat of use. It's been such a huge pleasure getting to know all of you through Instagram Live.
So let's focus on the things I've got going on!
FIRST of all: Self-Isolation Care Packages!
I've got some copies of my book
'Happy Fat' left! So I thought I would put together a little care package that you can buy for either yourself or a friend. It contains the book - hardcover, signed - and my two stand-up shows 'Shimmer Shatter' and 'Dead Baby Frog' as download codes (which I laminated myself!) - and a handwritten note from me to you. I'll draw something if you want. I put them on sale every once in a while and then it's first come first serve - but I've now created a waiting list that you can sign up to, so you're the first to be told when they're back in stock!
Sign up here!
SECOND of all: A live online show!
You are literally the first to know about this. On Thursday, June 25th at 9pm (UK time), I will do a live show via the internet (!) called How To Be Happy Fat. It'll be minimum one hour long - I will answer questions, tell funny stories, give advice about How To Love Your Fat and tell you everything I know. I'd LOVE for you to get a ticket. It's on sale now. I won't announce it to the rest of the world till next week.
I'd love for you to watch - and hey, by all means, treat it as a show. I know I'll get dressed up and try and make it all look fancy.
If you can't watch it at that specific time, the ticket will mean that you'll be able to watch it after it's been aired - for 24 hours.
THIRD of all: I am on Cameo!
Cameo is this website where you can buy a personalised video message for yourself or a friend or family member. Or enemy - whatever you want. So far I've been booked to do peptalks, especially body positive or feminist pep talks, birthday greetings, anniversary messages - it's a lot of fun. I ramble a lot and the videos end up being much longer than the other people on Cameo (I've noticed).
So if you'd like to book a personalised message,
book it here.
FOURTH of all: I'm still selling my online stand-up shows!
I am selling my two shows 'Dead Baby Frog' and 'Shimmer Shatter'
on this link - they're £5 minimum, but if you're broke, you can use the code 'eattherich' to get 50% off. Now, if you are rich, you can also choose to give more than £5. You can give, say, £2000 per show. That'd be nice. Thank you, rich person.
FIFTH of all:
I'm on Patreon!
Some of you have asked me if I considered making a Patreon account for me - in general - instead of it being just for Made of Human Podcast. And no, I'd feel weird not having an actual "product" to give back to you. But what I will say is - the minimum amount to give per episode on my Patreon is one dollar. My podcast is weekly, meaning, at the most, there will be five episodes in a month (max!). That's five dollars. That's around £4 a month. And at the moment, it wouldn't just go towards the podcast - it would go towards me and all of my work. And I continue to be in awe of you all and your kindness and willingness to support.
So here is my Patreon if you want to sign up - you will also get access to a bunch of extra special mini-interviews with most of my guests, like, Tim Minchin, Travis Alabanza, Grace Petrie, Ed Gamble, Suzi Ruffel and so on. They're for Patreon-supporters only.
Speaking of Made of Human Podcast - I hope it can bring you entertainment and comfort these days. I'm having some incredibly conversations with amazing people. Go listen
here or wherever you listen to podcasts.
I hope you are doing well, wherever you are and whoever you are. I hope you are taking deep, deep breaths and that you are remembering to be extra kind to yourself. I hope you find time and spoons to do self-care. I hope you are educating yourself and learning to unlearn. I am very grateful for you.
Love you.
Stay safe.
Sofie.
