Too hot for titles.

Too sweaty for subtitles.

Hi! I’m Keris. I’m an author writing about writing and books, music and films and TV, cats and life and food.

It’s too hot for this. It’s too hot for everything. I’ve had a Solero. I’ve done a wash. I’m trying to work. And I’m making plans for four days in London, which has been a logistical nightmare even before the weather warnings. Noodles has melted.

Also my glasses sit on my cheeks, which means that they steam up immediately and sweat pools behind them. Which means I can’t wear them. Which means my laptop screen is currently set to 150%.

Anyway! What did I do in June?

A friend came to visit and we talked a lot and went for a lovely meal on a docked boat in Liverpool.

The goslings!

Walking home from the cinema one evening, Harry spotted a fox.

You can imagine my excitement. It was honestly magical.

I took Joe to see Zach Bryan in concert.

Joe is a big fan. I had listened to a few songs in preparation and I wish I’d done more because singing along was a big part of it. Everyone was losing their minds. I had a great time, but it would have been better if I could’ve joined in more. Joe said it was the best night of his life, which is the main thing. Also, his band is incredible.

Buddy

I looked after my sister’s dog, which meant staying at the house we grew up in (she lives there now) and, in fact, sleeping in my old room. Which was weird. But I had this little doofus to keep me company.

And then the boys came up for pizza and games in the garden, which was also… a lot.

Trivial Pursuit in the garden with Mum in maybe 1998?

Cards with Joe (and Bud) in the same garden in 2026

What have I been writing?

Absolutely loving the new thing that I am not going to talk about. I will say that I introduced a kitten and she has now taken over.

What have I been reading?

So far I have only finished four books this month and only one was a novel, The One Day You Were My Husband by Rosie Walsh, which I really enjoyed. I also thought London Falling by Patrick Radden Keefe was brilliant, but it was just so sad.

(I enjoyed his interview on Adam Buxton’s podcast.)

I’m currently almost finished with Tonight the Music Seems So Loud, Sathnam Sanghera’s book about George Michael, which is so interesting, but again so sad. I miss George. (I still can’t accept that I’m older now than he will ever be.)

I just started Making It by Laura Kay and I'm really enjoying it so far.

What have I been watching?

Still The Rookie! Rewatching Gilmore Girls! We loved the second series of Amandaland and I’m halfway through The Other Bennet Sister, which I didn’t think I was going to bother with, but so many friends loved it, I gave it a go. And I love it too.

Soon I will be getting Apple TV back and I am very excited for Widow’s Bay - which everyone is also raving about - while also nervous that it will be too scary for me.

Harry and I saw five films at the cinema and my favourite was Strictly Ballroom. I don’t think I’d seen it since it came out and I don’t remember loving it back then, but I really did. And people applauded in the cinema. I love it when that happens.

Oh and on Saturday, I watched Voicemails for Isabelle on Netflix after, again, seeing people raving on Threads. My romcom expectations are always low (they were actually high for Office Romance because I love Brett Goldstein, but I thought it was godawful), but Voicemails for Isabelle had me at hello. It’s so sweet and funny. The leads are great. It made me sob only about 15 minutes in (and then again at the end). And it has Nick Offerman! I really loved it.

How was June for you?

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