November wordy round-up

Thoughts worth thinking, stuff worth reading

Sue Moore

Nov 01, 2024

In this message -

Autumn must-watches with a comedy slant.
I discovered Japanese stationery and it’s blown my mind.
Meet me in Lisbon?

✍🏻 📺 🛒 Round-up

Here’s what’s caught (and held) my eye recently.

Alma’s Not Normal on BBC. Sophie Willan is brilliant as Bolton actor-to-be and Bagpuss-inspired faux fur coat-wearer. She wrote both series, as well as starring in them. Apparently all based on her own experiences in care. Midlifer Siobhan Finneran (plus scene-stealing false teeth) is exceptional as Alma’s mum Lin. Took me ages to work out she was also once the unsmiling maid O’Brien in Downton Abbey. It’s a comedy, but I also cried. Worth watching.

Nobody Wants This on Netflix. Another binge-athon. Created by one midlifer - Erin Foster - and starring another - Kristen Bell. Here’s the IMDB summary - “An agnostic sex podcaster and a newly single rabbi fall in love, discovering if their relationship survives their wildly different lives and meddling families.” Laugh out loud.

House of the Year (Northern Ireland and Scotland versions, both on BBC iPlayer). The Scottish series edged it. Either way, you might enjoy criticising other people’s decor from the comfort of your sofa.

Mortimer & Whitehouse: Gone Fishing - an unlikely interest, but I adore this show. They’re both so engaging, accompanied by toothy Ted (Bob’s dog). The watery backdrop makes me (almost) want to take up fishing. Don’t dismiss it til you’ve tried it.

Currently torn between two potential new streaming subscriptions. Apple TV for the next series of Shrinking or Disney Plus for Rivals? Which would you choose? Alarmed to discover that 80s Rivals is considered a period drama 😲

By the way, if you haven’t watched it yet, the best series I’ve seen on Apple TV was Bad Sisters. Mess with midlife women at your peril.

It’s diary-buying season …

And my go-to for years, the Circle Planner, is not available for 2025. This predicament led me down a decision-making rabbit hole, into the new-to-me world of Japanese journals. How have I missed this temptation?

I hardly dare mention The Journal Shop. Do NOT click if you’re borderline obsessed with planners, pens and notebooks - you will lose hours, if not days. Don’t say I didn’t warn you. I eventually decided on a replacement for the Circle Planner - the catchily named Kokuyo Jibun Techo. Most excited about the grid pages. I’ll share it with you when it arrives. Also ordered a neon pink fountain pen. No good reason.

What goes well with biscotti?

Madame Bovary, of course. Loved this packaging from Italian grocer Bennet, featuring Flaubert on the fagioli (sounds so much better than beans).

What do you think?

Custard tarts are calling

And that means Lisbon. I’ll be at WebSummit this November as a first timer. I’ve teamed up with another brand strategist and copywriter, Jo Duxbury, to offer free homepage advice sessions. As if I won’t have enough to do, absorbing keynotes from Pharrell Williams and chasing down the best pastel de nata in the country.

If your business is growing and you’ve got a website that gets traffic and traction, but needs more pep, book yourself in for a chat. Here’s the booking link (it’s free).

Three desserts sitting on top of a marble counter — Don’t mind if I do (Photo: Glen Carrie on Unsplash)

June plans already?

I’m also booked for Atomicon in June 2025. Again, first-timer. If you’re not familiar, it’s a massive sales and marketing conference in the UK. What persuaded me? Word-of-mouth mainly - it gets great reviews. And the promise of an epic experience with zero pitching from the stage. Some amazing midlife women are keynoting - Fearne Cotton, Laura Belgray and Saira Khan for starters. Plus midlife men like Rory Sutherland and Seth Godin.

Apparently it’s almost sold out. Happy to share my affiliate link with you - check out Atomicon here.

Now they see us …

Language matters when you talk about women

Which is why I’m excited to attend this Women in Journalism event, hosted by another brilliant midlifer, Susie Dent. The panel will debate how the media uses language to diminish women.

If you’re interested in the ragtag crossroads where marketing and midlife women meet, I’ve got a whole new section on this Substack, which looks like this.

PS Midlifer? Ready to work on your messaging?

🐦‍⬛ Then you're ready for Birdsong, my messaging workshop only for midlife women. The next one is online on Thursday 21st November at 1230pm. We're going to practise and fine-tune how you talk about your business, by actually working live on your own messaging. So you finish up with an intro that you're confident to share. It costs just £32 and there's space for ~~five~~ four women. Love to hear your voice there. Here's where you book.

Anything you’d like to recommend? Feel free to share in the comments. Your stuff or something else.