Stuff
TINA ON ANGEL MUSIC
Listening to UK’s greatest radio station Angel Music pretty much non-stop these days – playing music from the 1920s through to 1960s with a kind of radical defiance. The most joyful and melancholy radio station on earth! We adore it here at The Vampire’s Wife. Just listened to the great Tina Turner, singing River Deep, Mountain High! What a performance! What a song!
MASKS AND BERGAMASKS
Ah, Claire de Lune. I love this beautiful piece of music by Claude Debussy, sad and stirring. The title of the third movement of Suite bergamasque is taken from Verlaine's poem “Clair de lune”, which refers to bergamasks in the opening stanza. Such a beautiful thing.
COSMIC BEAUTY
A friend turned me on to Alma Thomas. She was a school teacher working in Washington DC, discovered later in life, who had dedicated herself to the celebration of the cosmos and the beauty of the astral world. I adore these wonderful, vibrant, joyful paintings.
WE ALL BLEED THE SAME WAY
I’ve been listening to the phenomenal Weyes Blood. her new song ‘It’s not just me, it’s everybody,’ is a typically stunning elegiac anthem that we have come to expect from her. It’s rich and complex and just so gorgeous. It's good to be back!
ALL THINGS MUST PASS
On holiday I sort of got stuck on George Harrison’s beautiful album All Things Must Pass. I love his relaxed, unselfconscious, casual way of presenting his songs, that are mostly deep and full of spiritual wisdom. This song gets me every time.
THE MOON AND STARS RAPIDLY ENTER YOU
Here is a typically twisty and weirdly beautiful poem from my husband’s favourite poet and all-round troublemaker, the great Frederick Seidel. Elegant and atrocious both, a wonder to behold!
TONIGHT THERE AIN’T NO HELP FOR ME
I’ve been listening to this absolutely wonderful song by the greatest songwriter on the planet, Jimmy Webb. I love the restless, jumbled tumbling of the words. Such a sad song – love and loss as a madness of empty, relentless activity. Jimmy Webb is the most beautiful of balladeers.
SONG OF DEVASTATION – NUMBER 25
I’m on the phone to my husband, He’s in Lithuania. We mention our Songs of Devastation.
‘I think it’s time for another one.’ That’s me.
‘All right. Have we done Billie Holiday?’ That’s him.
‘Yes. Gloomy Sunday,’ I say.
‘There’s another one, of course.’
‘Yes.’
‘Then, let’s put up ‘Strange Fruit.’ This song is as devastating a song as I’ve ever heard. The lyric is unbelievable. The song was written by Abel Meeropol, under the pseudonym, Lewis Allan – a Jewish American teacher, who was also a member of the American Communist Party and taught the author and racial justice advocate James Baldwin. Billie Holiday sings it with such force. It’s completely chilling.’
‘Not for the faint-hearted.’
‘No. Not for the faint-hearted at all.’
SIXTEEN DANDELIONS - GOOGOOSH
I’ve been listening to this strange, raw, broken song ‘Sixteen Dandelions’ by Iranian pop star Googoosh. Such an amazing and emotive voice and very beautiful song. Quite extraordinary.
WE ARE MIMETIC CREATURES
Sometimes I get asked how much I am influenced by others. This article by David Brooks was sent into my husband’s lovely Red Hand Files and I think it says a great deal in this regard. I have printed a couple of passages. So true.
JE TE VEUX
Here is a lovely song, ‘Je Te Veux’ sung by the French soprano Patricia Petibon, the music written by Erik Satie, a composer I love more than most. It dramatises the morning! Thank you, Rodrigo!
DAVID BOWIE AND AMANDA LEAR
I’m just watching this gorgeous outtake from David Bowie’s 1984 Floor Show. Two extraordinary, transcendent presences singing the McCoy’s hit, ‘Sorrow’.
LOVE WITHOUT WONDER
German actress and chanteuse, Ingrid Caven, married to the great Rainer Fassbinder, movie-maker extraordinaire, performs a bizarre, flamboyant version of ‘Liebe Ohne Wunder’. Something to see!
I AM NOT MY BODY. I AM A CHILD OF GOD
Here is a prayer from the American author, spiritual leader, and political activist, Marianne Williamson. She has a wonderful website Transform, where you can receive daily meditations. I love her compassionate activism and the broad reach of her spiritual teachings. She is something of a miracle.
LET ME UNFOLD YOU
Grant from Adelaide, Australia sent in this beautiful piece of video of Tim Buckley singing ‘Song of the Siren’. I know I must have this song on The Stuff Page before, it is such a superb piece of song writing, but I have never seen this wonderful, self-effacing version. Just beautiful. Thank you, Grant.
A THOUSAND GIRLS WITH GOLDEN HAIR
A very beautiful poem today from the often brilliant public service, ‘Poem-a-day’, by Edwin Arlington Robinson about the mysterious and ever-changing nature of the world. I love the metaphor of the thousand girls with golden hair that ‘rise’ and ‘go away.’ Very powerful.
THE GREAT JONI MITCHELL
I saw this last piece of footage last night, taken at the Newport Festival, and like most of the world, I guess, just wept. What a great, brave, beautiful woman Joni Mitchell is. In my view the greatest songwriter of her generation, bar none. I adore everything about this.
HIS TRUTH IS MARCHING ON
While I was at work, my husband snuck off to the cinema to see Elvis, and I couldn’t quite get it out of him whether he liked it or not but later I found him sitting and listening to An American Trilogy – the ‘Aloha from Hawaii’ version from 1973 – with tears in his eyes.
DIDN’T IT RAIN, CHILDREN?
I’m sitting listening to the great Sister Rosetta Tharpe, playing ‘Didn’t It Rain?’ The inspiration behind Chuck Berry and Elvis Presley, the great Sister Rosetta Tharpe, the Godmother of rock ‘n’ roll, did it first. God bless her!
CHANT OF COMPASSION
I found this bit of footage from Plum Village that I know nothing about, other than it is a ‘Compassion Chant’ and is really exquisitely beautiful. It says –
In memory of our beloved teacher, Thich Nhat Hanh we are releasing our best recording of the Namo’valokiteshvaraya chant of compassion, which was recorded in the Still Water Meditation Hall, Upper Hamlet, Plum Village, France, in Autumn 2020.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IZkjX_c4hm4
DIDN’T YOU THINK YOU WERE WORTH ANYTHING?
Listening to DJ Lonny’s amazing show Americana Deep Dive on Lewes Radio, that is full of esoteric wonders from the American canon, and swooning to the version of the Lucinda Williams song, ‘Sweet Old World’ by Emmylou Harris, which really is one of the great lyrics of all time. What a voice! What a deep song of wonder and instruction, that exists on a whole other level. Here is a rare piece of footage of Emmylou singing this wonderful song with Neil Young.
UNDERNEATH YOUR WEATHER – LISA HANNIGAN
My husband sent me a letter from his Australian friend, Rebecca, who recommended this gorgeous song called Undertow by the Irish singer, Lisa Hannigan. Rebecca wrote— I love you for letting me talk to you So, this is how I feel Lisa Hannigan – Undertow https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UwaBoX97PbQ&list=RDMM&start_radio=1&rv=eDkUxcd0L9Q I want to float on every word you say… Thank you, Rebecca for sending this beautiful song and much love to you, Susie x Undertow I want to swim in your current Carry me out, up and away I want to float On every word you say Want to be underneath...
SONG OF DEVASTATION NUMBER 24
Thank you, Susie for the ‘Stuff’ Page. Sometimes I think I find the sharing of it all just as important as the content, particularly in these nerve-wracking, divisive times. Please can you post Kate Bush’s song ‘Under the Ivy’ as a Song of Devastation? I think it really is… devastating. So, thanks and take care, Kirsty x https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TEXjabIgDIg Dear Kirsty, Thank you for this. You are right. What a beautiful and devastating song. I don’t know how I don’t know this song. It is a small, sad miracle that somehow passed me by. What a gorgeous lyric. Love...
THE WATERFALL FAIRY
Whenever, I need a little inspirational bump, I often go to my favourite children’s illustrators, many who were Australian. I love Norman Lindsay’s Magic Pudding and May Gibbs’, Gumnut Babies and Blinky Bill by Dorothy Wall. But mostly I have been looking at the weird and wonderful drawings of Ida Sherbourne Outhwaite. (1888 – 1960), especially the Waterfall Fairy, a gorgeous depiction of the sorrowing nature of women!
BEA’S SONG
Just sitting and listening to a heartbroken tune from the Cowboy Junkie’s called Bea’s Song and wondering if this might be a Song of Devastation and I’m thinking I should ring my husband and see what he thinks about it, but its late and he’s in Zagreb playing his own Songs of Devastation, and I’ve listened to it five times in a row and get to the line that says, ‘John’s at my side, but he’s on firmer ground’ and pretty much lose it. Just the best of songs, and wonderful to have this thing of beauty spinning through the world.
FLORENCE LUMINESCENCE
My dear friend, the ferociously talented, and luminously beautiful Florence Welch weaves her magic in a Vampire’s Wife nude sparkle tulle dress and cape, created especially for her. Good luck and much love on your tour, Flo! We adore you here at the Vampire’s Wife. Love, Susie. x
THE CHATS PLAY SMOKO
Someone called Nady from Brisbane sent this recommendation into The Red Hand Files. My husband asked me to post it, saying he loved it. Not exactly a Song of Devastation, but pretty close to it, and so fiendishly charming. You are right, Nady. A classic! I listened to everything of theirs I could find. All so wonderful. Love, Susie. x
MEMORY IS A SEAMSTRESS
I’m listening to the wonderful music of Max Richter from the album Three Worlds: Music from Woolf Works, released in January 2017. The music is taken from the score Richter composed for the ballet Woolf Works which follows a three-part structure offering evocations of three books by Virginia Woolf. The album features classical and electronic sound as well as an original voice recording of Woolf herself. It is an extraordinary beautiful and stirring work. The photograph of Virginia Woolf attached is by my favourite photographer of all time Julia Margaret Cameron.
SONG OF HOPE
Yesterday, my husband received this poem in his Red Hand Files from Ellen in Gisborne, New Zealand. It is written by the Malaysian poet, Cecil Rajendra. He asked me to post it on the Stuff Page. I asked him why he liked it and he said he like the blackness of it – the panther and the obsidian hopes of children – and the image of the morning sun rising on the poem itself. Thank you, Ellen. We adore these gifts.
THE DOLLY SUITES
I’ve been listening to Fauré’s lovely Dolly Suites performed by Katia and Marielle Labèque. The Dolly Suite, Op. 56, is a collection of piano pieces for four-hands by Gabriel Fauré. It consists of short pieces written or revised between 1893 and 1896, to mark the birthdays and other events in the life of the daughter of the composer's mistress, who went by the name of Dolly. Very beautiful indeed.
WHEN NIGHT IS ALMOST DONE
Time for some Emily Dickinson to remind us of that greater project, Life! – to ‘smooth the hair and get the dimples ready’ and step into the day. A poem, both small and vast, as only Emily can do.
NIGHT, SLEEP, DEATH & THE STARS
Here is a little Walt Whitman poem that my friend Rodrigo sent me. Thank you, Rodrigo, for helping out around the Stuff Pages, and keeping the whole thing moving along. You’re a lifesaver! We adore you here at the Vampire’s Wife.
OBLIVION
Sitting and listening to all the versions of this beautiful piece of music by Astor Piazzolla called Oblivion. Here is one with fourteen cellos. Absolutely masterful and the purest magic, just sublime. A true soul saver.
POOR LADY, POOR LADY
Rodrigo (again!) sent me this beautiful poem by the great Louise Glück, winner of the 2020 Nobel Prize in Literature. I love to receive these gorgeous golden mice to my doorstep.
LET’S DISCUSS THIS AT THE HOSPITAL
My ferociously talented and radiantly beautiful friend, Florence, blows us all away with her new song, ‘Free’! Filmed in Kyiv and dedicated to the Ukrainians, it is a wonderful and spirited song.
TOUCHED BY COLD MOON LIGHT
I’m still reading these Chinese poems! This one is full of lovely sensual inner echoes, a wonderful poem about growing old.
HER GOLD HAIRPIN HAS FALLEN OUT
I’m sitting here reading some erotic Chinese poems with the new Sunday sun shining through my window.
MEDITATION ON ERIK SATIE
I received another letter from the ever-resourceful Rodrigo with a beautiful threnody we should all take a moment to listen to.
CRUEL TO ME IN EVERYTHING!
I spent some time this Easter weekend reading the mournful letters of Eloise to her forbidden beloved, Abelard.
AND ONLY THROUGH LOVE
My husband received this remarkable Aztec ‘blessing’ from Evy who lives in Ghent, Belgium.
YOU BURN ME – KRISTEN McMENAMY
A bit of Sappho for the great Kristen McMenamy who wears the legendary Vampire’s Wife Smoking Cat T Shirt.
AND THE HEART IN ITS TEARS
Our dear friend, Rodrigo, sent this startling quote from a letter written by Gustave Flaubert to his beloved Louise Colet.
AS WE ARE NO LONGER
Here is a quote from Joan Didion’s bracing and courageous book on grief, ‘The Year of Magical Thinking.’
IT IS GOOD TO BE ALIVE
Spring is here! We welcome it with all the love in our hearts with a beautiful buoyant poem from Angelina Weld Grimké.
APRIL SHE WILL COME
Here is song for the coming of spring from the wonderful Simon and Garfunkel—an ache of a song with a beautifully rendered lyric, full of longing.
THE MORNING IS A TRAIN
Greta Bellamacina is wearing The Silver Bespoke Lamé Bombette Dress, and well, quite frankly, we love her for it.
NOTHING BUT THE BLOOD
My husband sent me this extraordinary performance of Thomas Whitfield and choir performing ‘Nothing But The Blood’ led by Lateria Wooton.
PIERCING AS THE FLUTE
You may have noticed a dark haunted presence beneath The Bad Seeds majestic song ‘Galleon Ship’ from the Ghosteen album.
MY VIOLIN HAS BEEN BROKEN
My husband sent me this absolutely beautiful folk song that was sent to his Red Hand Files by Endre from Budapest.
EXCEPTIONALLY GORGEOUS
Actress and ace electric guitarist, Devon Ross seen at the Yves Saint Laurent Show in Paris with some exceptionally gorgeous guy.
GREETINGS FROM TRYON, NORTH CAROLINA
My husband has fled the UK and has been spending his time in Asheville, North Carolina, rehearsing with Warren and Luiz and Wendi and Janet and TJae.
SONG OF THE SOUL
Here is a beautiful creation from Lavinia of Spain, sent to my husband’s Red Hand Files.
I, LUCILLE CLIFTON HEREBY TESTIFY
I love this poem by the wonderful poet, Lucille Clifton. She is an absolutely stunning writer—a new poet to our house.
HAFIZ – SEER AND TRICKSTER
I was reading this morning that most brilliant Persian poet and seer, Hafiz, calling from the 14th Century.
SONG OF DEVASTATION No. 24
A letter arrived at my husband’s Red Hand Files from Kimberly in Australia.
A BREATHLESS CAT POWER
Just sitting here and listening to this very beautiful version of my husband’s song, Breathless, and it occurs to me that, in general, women do the best versions of Nick’s songs.
DIANA SILVERS WEARS THE FALCONETTI
Actor Diana Silvers looks gorgeous in The Vampire’s Wife Velvet Falconetti Dress.
MINA LOY – BLOOD ON ITS WINGS
I spent a rainy morning during the holidays reading British-born poet, Mina Loy.
GASPARA STAMPA
I spent some time with the great Italian Renaissance poet, Gaspara Stampa over the holiday period, whose life was cut tragically short by illness.
SONG OF DEVASTATION No. 23
Someone called Joe from Tacoma, WA in the USA sent this letter to my husband’s famously world rehabilitating and most wonderful website The Red Hand Files.
LICORICE PIZZA IS PURE JOY
I had the complete priviage of seeing a preview of P T Anderson’s Licorice Pizza on the weekend and it is the warmest, funniest, most joyful film I have watched in a long time.
AND NO MORE SHALL WE PART
The Flaming Lips have released an entire album of my husband’s songs called ‘Where the Viaduct Looms’ and this record has swept me away.
THE ENDLESS UNFOLDING OF LIFE
I just spent sometime reading the sad but inspiring story of the death of Charles Darwin’s 10-year-old daughter, Annie.
THE MARGINALIAN - PAEAN TO LOVE AND WONDER
There is nothing online nearly as fortifying, generous, and acutely smart as Maria Povopa’s gargantuan paean to love and wonder, The Marginalian.
THE SINGULAR VALI MYERS
I’ve been sitting here flicking through old art books and catalogues and looking for inspiration.
MYSTERIOUS MERMAID CHANT
I literally know nothing about this strange piece of music except that it was sent to me by a mysterious person.
NELL SMITH – POWERFUL VULNERBILITY
My husband just showed me this beautiful version of The Ship Song by Nell Smith and Flaming lips.
FREEDOM’S JUST ANOTHER WORD FOR NOTHING LEFT TO LOSE
I just stumbled on this clip of the brilliant Kris Kristofferson singing a live and unadorned version of one of my all time favourite songs.
SOPHIE TAEUBER-ARP
I’ve been looking at the strange, eclectic creations of Sophie Taeuber-Arp this morning.
GHOST GIRL RIDER
Here is a spooky old poem by the great Thomas Hardy sent to me from an elf at the bottom of the world.
CUBAN UNICORN
Here is a letter that was sent to my husband’s Red Hand Files by someone called Amanda from Mexico.
BONFIRE
Just to let you all know that The Vampire’s Wife has produced the most beautiful scented candle.
EACH TO HIS GRIEF
Just sitting here, reading Gwendolyn Brooks, yet again. Boy Breaking Glass is such a mighty poem.
AND THE PLOT THICKENS
The Johnstone sisters, my favourite children’s book illustrator’s and a major influence here at The Vampire’s Wife
SONG OF DEVASTATION No. 22
My husband forwarded me a beautiful letter from Jennifer from Vancouver with a suggestion for a Song of Devastation.
WHEN THE SWEET HUNTER SHOT ME
I came across this poem by Saint Teresa of Avila, which was the inspiration for Bernini’s The Ecstasy of St Teresa.
HONOR SWINTON BYRNE WEARS THE VAMPIRE’S WIFE
Actress Honor Swinton Byrne wears The Vampire’s Wife Fortune Teller Gown while attending the London Film Festival. Thank you Honor! We love you here at the Vampire’s Wife. Love, Susie x
FORCE, BEAUTY, SADNESS, HUMOUR, LIFE
A beautiful and happy letter from Sabina from Berlin, sent to me here at The Vampires Wife.
I HAVE WANDERED ALL MY UNENDING DAYS
I found this lovely little poem, written by my husband, on a scrap of paper around the house.
DREAMS ARE MY REALITY
Here is a soppy little pop song by Richard Sanderson sent by Klara to my husband’s wonderful Red Hand Files.
MY SISTER, MY LITTLE CRICKET
Just read these small but beautiful poems by New Zealand poet, Jenny Bornholdt.
ANDIE MACDOWELL
The great Andie MacDowell wears The Vampire’s Wife Pink Lamé Penitent Pants Suit on Graham Norton this week.
GIG OF THE CENTURY
Okay, I may be a little biased but was I watching something completely transcendent.
THE SPARE BEDROOM
This is such a gentle and measured description of a photograph of a bedroom full of meaning.
ONLY YOUR EXQUISITE EYES
I love the painter, Susan Valadon’s portrait of her lover, the composer, Eric Satie, in all its furious and demented colour. An unconventional lover, to say the least.
STAR CHARMER
Listen to this beautiful version of my husband’s lovely song ‘Star Charmer’. Such a tender version of my favourite Grinderman song. The musician is named Oliver Richards.
VISITING THE SURFACE OF THE WORLD
My friend, Deborah, who literally lives at the bottom of the world, kindly sent me this beautiful drawing.
SYLVIE GUILLEM
Sylvie Guillem is a force of nature, a fierce and exquisite miracle. I’ve watched this over and over again.
BIG CAT PETE DAVIDSON
Pete Davidson wears The Vampire’s Wife Big Cat T-Shirt on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon this week.
MARY MARGARET O’HARA
I’ve been wandering around the house this weekend wondering what to do with myself, and missing my husband, and listening to the truly great Mary Margaret O’Hara.
GIRL IN AMBER – NELL SMITH
Listen to this gorgeous cover version of The Bad Seeds song, Girl In Amber, by the wonderful Flaming Lips in collaboration with a thirteen-year-old fan, Nell Smith.
THE GREAT WENDY CARLOS
Sitting in a hotel bed, listening to ‘The Shining’ movie soundtrack by the great hero-innovator of electronic music Wendy Carlos.
WARNING. LISTEN AT OWN RISK. No. 21
Thank you, Izzy, for this lovely letter and, indeed, a beautiful and heart-wrenching version ‘Song Of Devastation.’ I never thought anyone could touch the original version of ‘To Love Somebody’ by The Bee Gees.
THE WEIGHT OF GOD
Louis from Germany sent this very sweet letter to my husband’s glorious Red Hand Files.
THE SEEKERS
Big in the Cave household, the world’s most catchy song from the Australian pop/folk band The Seekers. ‘Georgy Girl’.
STAR, O STAR
A lovely letter from Rodrigo—our Brazilian friend and beauty excavator—sends a gorgeous ballad from Brazilian singer and composer, Victor Ramil.
IS THIS WHAT LOVE LOOKS LIKE?
Thank you, Nanni from Los Angeles for sending this beautiful and haunting song to my husband’s The Red Hand Files.
REASONS TO LOVE SALMA HAYEK No 633
The brilliant and beautiful Salma Hayek wears The Vampire’s Wife.
WHITE RABBIT
Can’t get enough of this piece of American psychedelia from the great Grace Slick and Jefferson Airplane.
IN PRAISE OF PAULA REGO
This morning, I’ve been looking at the amazing paintings and drawings of Paula Rego.
WARNING. LISTEN AT OWN RISK. No. 20
‘Hey, babe, a girl called Kate from Newcastle in Australia sent this letter to The Red Hand Files.’
THE PEACE OF WILD THINGS
A lovely letter came from a ‘hillbilly fan’ named Blair, who lives in Lagrange, Kentucky, to my husband’s wonderful Red Hand Files and he asked me if I would post it on Stuff.
THE GREAT TILDA SWINTON
The actor extraordinaire, Tilda Swinton, friend and force of nature, wears ‘The Vampire’s Wife Sunflower Opera Coat’ to the 74th Cannes Film Festival.
OBLIVION
This letter came from our dear friend Rodrigo who has sent this gorgeous piece of music from Argentinian tango composer, Astor Piazzolla.
LITTLE GREY DREAMS
Here is a melancholy, little grey poem, written by Boston poet, Angelina Weld Grimké.
REASONS TO LOVE SALMA HAYEK No 632
The fabulous Salma Hayek shows some extraordinary flexibility while wearing The Vampire’s Wife’s Peacemaker’s Coat.
MY BELOVED JOHNSTONE TWINS RECLAIMED!
I’ve just found my beautiful copy of The Johnstone Twins—An Appreciation, which I thought I had misplaced.
CHIMAMANDA NGOZI ADICHIE
I spent my Sunday reading Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s beautiful, little ache of a book, ‘Notes on Grief’.
A HAUNTED HENRY LEE
My husband alerted me to this wonderfully haunting version of his song, Henry Lee.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY KRIS KRISTOFFERSON
“Hey babe, Kris Kristofferson is 85 today.”
That’s my husband. He loves Kris Kristofferson.
WE SHOULD HAVE A LAND OF JOY
The periodically brilliant Poem-a-day website has offered up this wonderfully inclusive poem by the great Langston Hughes.
THE LITTLE VIRTUES
Natalia Ginzburg, from her collection of her finest and best-known short essays, The Little Virtues, tells us wonderfully.
THE INSOMNIA DRAWINGS
Maybe it’s the heat of the night or maybe the waxing crescent moon but another sleepless night brings me to Louise Bourgeois wonderful ‘Insomnia Drawings’, spidery spirals, helixes, mazes, that hypnotize me back to sleep. Love, Susie x
A CHILD SWIMS BETWEEN TWO BOATS
I was listening to a recent song of Nick’s called Albuquerque, which refers to ‘a child swimming between two boats in a lake in Africa.’
SUFFERING MUST BECOME LOVE
I’ve just been reading about the modernist writer, Katherine Mansfield that died from tuberculosis, in 1923, aged 34 in Fontainebleau, France.
VENUS FRIGIDA
Venus Frigida (Cold Venus) is a 1611 oil on panel painting by Peter Paul Rubens, now in the Royal Museum of Fine Arts Antwerp.
HAPPY 80TH BIRTHDAY, BOB DYLAN!
This week was Bob Dylan’s 80th birthday and so many of his songs hold both my husband and me in their sway.
NADYA TOLOKONNIKOVA
Nadya Tolokonnikova is a Russian conceptual artist and political activist and the founding member of Pussy Riot: the world’s most prominent feminist protest art collective, which focuses attention on human rights violations at home and abroad.
GENTLE SPIRIT SORROW-FED
Emily Pauline Johnson, who also published under her Mohawk name Tekahionwake, was born on on the Six Nations Reserve, Canada West, in 1861. A poet, artist, and performer, she is the author of three collections of poetry.
MESMERISING RUSSIAN BOYS CHOIR
Tim from Denmark in Australia sent us this amazing piece of footage of a Russian Boys Choir singing Sacred Treasures III.
RADCLIFFE HALL AND UNA TOUBRIDGE
A few doors down from the London offices of The Vampire’s Wife in Holland Street lived Radclyffe Hall an English poet and author.
A STRAIGHTWAY TO UNHAPPINESS
A lovely letter came to me this week from actress and theatre producer Hayley Carmichael, with a salient Jungian truth attached!
IN PRAISE OF SQUIRRELS
Just to say, squirrels are my husband’s favourite animal. He thinks they are possessed. Many mornings, he sits on our doorstep and feeds them. Talks to them too.
ÖZGÜR BABA
He is a Turkish singer and musician named Özgür Baba and he has a cat, some chickens, some lemon trees and that he plays his instrument.
IT’S A FAMILY BUSINESS
There is a wonderful article in Vogue USA and Vogue UK this week about my husband’s troublemaking, iconoclastic online shop Cave Things
SOMETHING IN ME LIKE TRAINS LEAVING
A very special friend from of mine who lives at the bottom of the world (but sends me messages from her own bright skies)
POETRY OF LOGICAL IDEAS
Dear Nick and Susie, I hope you don’t mind me writing to you both, I’ve written quite a lot to Nick in the past as the odd inspiration has hit but this time
NOT EVEN THE RAIN HAS SUCH SMALL HANDS
Spring is well and truly here and as we step out of a long and perilous winter, an extraordinarily beautiful poem by the greatest of them all
WUNDERKAMMER
The “Stuff Page” looks like a Wunderkammer, a cabinet of curiosities for your community
TRIO MANDILI
My husband passed on this bittersweet message, that was sent to the Red Hand Files, from someone called Trond
I Eat the Stars
I just read this brave and beautiful poem by the Canadian astronomer and poet Rebecca Elson, who was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma
AMITAR SUMAN
Nepali-born actress, Amitar Suman looks lovely in The Vampire’s Wife Floral Falconetti Dress.
STOOD BACK IN AWE
There is much to ballet that is connected to my childhood. I always wanted to be a ballerina and had all the desire but, sadly, none of the application
FATE RATTLES AND THROWS ITS BONES
Will, who runs one of my husband’s fan clubs sent me this Elton John video, made back in the nineties
HURREM SULTAN
I received this beautiful letter from Siobhan about Hurrem Sultan. Thank you so much for your kind words, contributing to the Stuff Page