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Hey Reader,

Of all the wonderful sights and experiences we had in Albania at the weekend, a couple stand out — and they’re the littlest things.

Like the head waiter at the Fresh Garden Restaurant scurrying over with complimentary ice cream for me at the end of our (delicious) meal.

I’d been drinking zero-alcohol beer because I don’t drink alcohol, and Joe was drinking beery beer, and while we were waiting for the bill one of the waiters brought us a limoncello each, on the house.

I passed mine over to Joe having given it a sniff and a lick, and a few moments later, ice cream arrived in front of me with a big smile and a, “You don’t drink alcohol so please enjoy this ice cream!”

I did enjoy that ice cream but mostly I enjoyed that they’d paid attention.

Maya Angelou was right when she said, “People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”

You can tell when people go into hospitality for the love of hospitality — for the delight of serving people amazing food and drink, and creating an atmosphere of joy.

If you’ve seen The Bear on TV, you’ll know what I mean.

If you’ve had an incredible meal at a restaurant where you just know everyone — from the chefs to the waiting staff to the greeters to the cleaning staff — is there because they love bringing people together and feeding them and making them feel amazing.

It was like that in Oda’s Garden in Tirana, too. Saturday night, and it was so busy and noisy and full of life, so we had to wait outside, which was fine because we really wanted to be part of it all. There was live music from a local Albanian folk band and we shared a table with two strangers from Australia, Carly and Peter, and they told us about their epic hike through the mountains from one village to another.

And in the midst of all the chaos, the host made a few moments to ask us where we’re from, what we’re doing there, what our favourite football team is (Albania is football crazy).

Then later, when people got up to dance, the waiting staff joined in with the biggest joy. Not because they had to, because they’re exactly where they want to be, doing exactly what they want to do.

What a gift that is.

To be doing exactly what we want to do, where we want to do it.

If the hosts at Oda’s Garden produced a recipe-cum-storybook, I’d buy it and treasure it because the recipes are all very well but I bet they’ve got some stories to tell too.

p.s. do you have a story to tell? Something that delight and move and change people? Why don’t you write it? You can start here, with my book.

Okay, it’s time for the Friday Goodie Bag. Here’s what I’ve kidnapped and stuffed into a sack for you this week…

This silly shadow play that you can do with an iPhone

Avant Gardey are one of my fave dance troupes. Sometimes they’re absolutely pristine with their choreography and will dazzle you with their skill. And sometimes they’re very silly indeed, like here. This reminds me of old timey cartoons and how they exaggerated eyeballs and noses and lips and things.

This BTS look at stage dressing

How often do you think about the things behind the things? Like, we go to a concert or a lecture or a play, and we take in the act as a whole. It’s a full experience. But it’s not created as a whole; it’s a gestalt made up of individual moments and acts of inspiration. So I absolutely LOVE this insight into stage dressing: what might Joanna Lumley like for her interview? Or Louis Theroux for his lecture? Or Kevin McCloud for his talk?

These old timey rollerblades that I’m calling DANGERBLADES

When do you think rollerblades were invented? The 80s maybe? WRONG. These look like absolute chaos but back in the 1920s, a bunch of dapper French chaps strapped wheels to their feet, grabbed their walking poles, and went a-whizzing through parks and open spaces, rolling gracefully around the place. I want to have a go.

This music from this not-a-musical-instrument

I love when people take a thing and then use it to do something entirely different. Like this person who noticed that the noise printers make could create music. So they took a bunch of printer parts and made them do this.

This photo that will remain in my heart for its sillines

When’s the last time you were silly with your friends? It was yesterday for me. We went to Alton Towers (The Smiler is epic, Nemesis and Galactica are awesome, the Runaway Train is silly CHOO CHOOOOOOOOOO and Toxicator can get straight in the bin). We obvs took a lot of pics but this is my fave. Look closely at the chap in the hat… Then go and be silly with your friends.

What I’m reading

I’ve just finished Katabasis by R. F. Kuang, which was very fascinating. I really disliked the first half, because I couldn’t stand the characters who seemed to have no redeeming features and were one-dimensionally annoying. BUT, it got better and better, and by the end I understood the characters, loved the redemption arc, and the plot and premise was super fun and interesting (going on a journey to Hell).

What I’m writing

I have decided to start a Beehiiv to write for myself again. I feel like my head is stuffed with stale ham sandwiches, and the only way to fix that is to get the fck on with it, and write stuff that I want to write. So I’m starting this weekend. I’ll be writing one piece a week and if you’d like to join, I’ll share the link next Friday.

Word of the week

katabasis

From the Greek meaning “a going or marching down or back” or a retreat or a descent.

Often used in classical literature to mean a descent into the Underworld.

Quote of the week

Do something joyful this weekend, and share it with someone else.

TTFN,

Vicky

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