70: DJs on Hot Air Balloons, Gritty in The Tarot Deck

This week, someone pointed out a dark milestone -- that we were exactly a year since the first confirmed Covid-19 cases were reported. They then asked, what were you doing on that day?I was at Rivington Brewery's Taproom, a renovated outbuilding on their lovely farm, with my friend and her new partner. I'd never met him before, and this was a big introducing. The place was busy, and full of familiar faces. I talked a lot. I shouted. I probably sang too. I drank my way through the taps and the wine list. We took a taxi all the way back to Clitheroe and listened to music too loudly, happy with our old friend and our new one. It was a good night.I like planning good nights, and then accidentally meeting up with people you didn't expect to see. Or even more vaguely, I like seeing a familiar face and waving, and feeling that little spark of unspoken connection. I know you. I've seen you. I'm hoping you're happy and well. I'm missing that at the moment, and I know from a few conversations I've had this week and last that I'm not the only one. Seeing people we recognise in passing is a huge and forgotten part of how we socialise. Without it, we feel disconnected. I feel lonely at the moment. To admit that doesn't mean I value the company of my husband any less, or that I don't appreciate speaking to my friends on WhatsApp. It's just different now. And I miss the old world. And that's not a bad thing to admit, it's just the truth.It's beaujolais nouveau day today and I'm treating myself to a trip to the wine shop to pick up a bottle or two. If you enjoy The Gulp and want to buy me a glass of red, thank you! You can do that via my ko-fi page :)Other Stuff

• Your Boy and Mine, Rob Edwards, has got me to listen to Grateful Dead, which has never been achieved by anyone else before. Listen to his Social Distancing Sounds mixtapes on Mixcloud.

• Kendal Mountain Festival begins today and lasts all weekend. It's one of the highlights of my year normally, and combines film, literature and talks about the great outdoors, nature and adventure. It's all online this year and I'm really looking forward to The Lost Spells live show with Robert Macfarlane and Jackie Morris.

• Lager and The Sound of Music. Two of my favourite things, woven expertly together by the one and only ATJ.

• A furious and important thread by poet Jay Hulme about life as a trans person in the UK. Particularly important reading for any and all cisgender people. Even if you know and understand what Jay is talking about, it's well worth re-reading and re-learning and remembering how vital it is to be an active ally.

• Right, so. We can't go to gigs or live shows. But we can still watch this incredible live set by Four Tet at the Sydney Opera House.

• On the subject, I've discovered Cercle, a bafflingly well-funded and well-produced series of outrageously opulent live DJ sets performed exclusively on their YouTube channel. Nicola Cruz at Iguazú Falls in Argentina. Disclosure at Plivice Lakes in Croatia.  Ben Böhmer DJing in a hot air balloon at sunset above Cappadocia. Sébastien Léger at the Great Pyramids of Giza. Acid Pauli at Garni Temple near Yerevan, Armenia. The channel began in 2014, way before any lockdowns, so some of the shows have actual crowds, but the idea of replacing an audience with some of the world's most incredible views seems totally inspired right now.

• Even if you've seen it before, watch Alison Hammond's interview with Harrison Ford and Ryan Gosling. It will save your life.

• A gorgeous piece on the fruitcake by Mayukh Sen, and why it's so unfairly and roundly hated.

• There's a Philly tarot deck, and it's beautiful, and Gritty is The Devil.

My Stuff

• I'm happy to let you know that I've been successfully pursued by the wonderful Claire Bullen and will be writing my first piece for Good Beer Hunting in the next month or two.

• I'm also very happy to let you know that a piece I've written for Lucy at the Lecker Podcast's new zine project will be published in January 2021. It's very personal, and it's about food, poverty, fridges and hungry children.

• This long read about country wines is one of my favourites of the year so here it is again, in lieu of any new content.

• ICYMI: A post about our special Corto artwork by Brazilian artist Carmela Caldart.

Fruit Cake by Jordan Sondler