Inner Workings - Week 1

With the World Cup looming, I started to think about what it meant to me. Those core child memories, adoring David Beckham then the likes of Wayne Rooney. Knee slides in the primary school sports hall, when we got to watch it live. Mr Rowley wheeling in the ‘big telly’. Mithering my mam for the new England shirt. Going to JJB to get it. The best of times. I can still remember all the smells and visual processing of being a young lad fat lad just buzzing inside.

Mam’s n Dad’s doing street parties. Beers and bbq’s. Big screens in city centres, sat on grass hills in local towns. The kits were beautiful, collecting stickers, how good were all the trackies and training kits!? Made of proper material, none of this cheap-looking thin tight stuff they do nowadays.

Now it’s seems much less celebrated, I think. I know the country still goes mad for it but the 90’s was mental in comparison.

So I’m gonna write something about ‘World Cup Nostaliga from a the perspective of lad from a Council Estate’ - We didn’t have much growing up so it felt extra special when we got involved as a family. Something like that, anyway.

I also wanted to share some other things in my head. Like stuff I’ve been enjoying on Instagram. On an app that can drain you with a hierarchical algorithm that favours so many influencers just talking crap, about themselves.

My favourite four at the moment:

Auntie Lous Cafe - Stockport market - Proper food and a wholesome community feel .

https://www.instagram.com/p/DYw6nSxiMRm/?igsh=am5tYnZ3N245aGFw

The Apple Core - Again in Stockport but I’ve been enjoyed seeing the bbq’s and pop up food they’ve been doing outside in the back.

https://www.instagram.com/thecoreinternational?igsh=d296MGpkbjU5OXB4

Liverpool Best Dishes - I love an underdog account, someone who isn’t doing anything for attention, just writing real about food he enjoys in Liverpool, a lot like myself and he visits so many good spots that I want to visit now. Big shout out to him.

https://www.instagram.com/p/DZIJUNtDEs5/?igsh=MXE0Mzg0MzRpejRxeg==

A guy that does clothing fits for big lads and I’m a big lad so it’s refreshing to see this more regularly.

https://www.instagram.com/p/DY9li6HDW6v/?igsh=MTdzb284cnB4dGszbg==

I work in the NHS so I’m buzzing for tomorrow as it’s Friday. I can’t lie. Knackered as always. But I’m gonna go get some food this weekend, potter about, I love pottering, do a few house jobs and spend time writing.

If you’ve enjoyed this, I hope you have.

This newsletter will continue each week and be an exclusive weekly dose of my thoughts. I’ll break down how I’m thinking about upcoming articles, share some observations from my week and give you a peek into my creative processes.

Just me working things out and keeping you in the loop.

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Thank you for your continued support.

Tom ✌️