Alexandra Shulman suffered three consecutive nights of total sleeplessness during July's buck Moon while watching the fifth series of Yellowstone. Shulman stated she experienced complete sleeplessness for three nights last week, distinguishing it from usual tossing and turning or heatwave sleep loss.
Shulman noted that last Thursday marked the buck Moon, named for the period when male deer grow their antlers. She stated that while she ignores horoscopes, star signs, and discussion of Mercury in retrograde, she is entirely convinced the full Moon affects her sleep quality by creating a physical barrier to rest that is unrelated to anxiety or daytime fatigue.
During those evenings, Shulman dozed off while watching the final episodes of the fifth series of Yellowstone, during a mid-afternoon attempt at quarterly tax filing, and for 20 minutes in bed with the light on. However, she found herself completely unable to sleep after midnight. Looking ahead to the next full Moon on August 28, which will be a blood Moon lunar eclipse, Shulman plans to spend her time on the Greek island of Symi watching the red Moon over the Aegean rather than struggling to sleep.
Utility Bills and Transport Infrastructure
Shulman revealed she has changed her mind about privatisation after supporting it following the chaos of nationalised industries in the 1970s. Her change of position followed receiving a final gas bill from British Gas for £2,346.23 for her deceased mother, despite usage amounting to only about £50 a month for one or two stove rings used by carers. Shulman reported spending countless hours resolving the overstated bill and questioned how individuals without her time and resources manage such errors.
Shulman also targeted Thames Water, criticizing the company for justifying £4 million in bonus payments to senior managers after years of operational chaos and for imposing a hosepipe ban caused by failing infrastructure rather than lack of rain. In addition, she contrasted a comfortable, punctual two-hour train journey in southern Italy costing €25 (£21.50) with air-conditioning and free water against a chaotic Great Western Railway journey to Cornwall that featured a cancelled train and hours of standing room only.
Impact of Weight Loss Injections
Shulman argued that fat jabs remove significant pleasure from eating, despite helping people become slimmer. She expressed concern over what life would be like without anticipating food, citing seasonal activities such as planning picnics, dining in gardens, trying overseas restaurants, and ordering an Aperol Spritz with a club sandwich by the pool.
Shulman questioned whether the appeal of all-inclusive hotel and holiday buffets will survive now that many individuals no longer view eating as a major source of enjoyment.
Recipe Flaws and Culinary Writing
Shulman highlighted the difficulty of recipe writing after receiving a summer supper tomato galette recipe from a friend that omitted pre-baking the pastry. She praised professional food writers Diana Henry and Nigel Slater for reliable recipes, contrasting them with restaurateurs whose recipes frequently fail when attempted at home.
Shulman noted that recipe writing and running restaurant kitchens require distinct skills. She compared expecting restaurateurs to write working recipes to asking architects to lay bricks, noting that while architects design beautiful structures, they cannot necessarily construct them.
Wham Documentary in Cinemas
Shulman recommended viewing the cinema documentary Wham! 10 Days In China, describing it as more enjoyable than The Odyssey even for non-fans of the group. The film captures the 1980s tour where Wham! became the first pop band to perform in China, featuring period fashion, tabloid press coverage, and band members George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley performing for audiences forbidden from standing or dancing.
Shulman added that the release incorporates footage from an unreleased film by the late director Lindsay Anderson, who disliked the pop group and sought to promote China's communist agenda. She compared the documentary to a real-life version of Spinal Tap featuring ra-ra skirts and perms.
