An empty plastic chair sits in front of a small palm tree on large white rocks by the sea in Naples.

Promo image for Odd and Wonderful. Graphic design with vibrant colours, the newsletter title, plenty of swirly arrows, and a picture of Francesco in the middle.

Rework of ‘MIDI Sans Frontières’, originally composed as a response to the EU referendum in 2016. The score and recorded stems of ‘MIDI Sans Frontières’ were...

Squarepusher - Midi Sans Frontieres (Avec Batterie)

https://youtube.com/watch?v=X_k2lih0T6U&si=Dua1pQ3Ql720H9Vx

Wacky puzzle found  called “proud to be British” featuring several pictures of British royalty, Buckingham palace, and people wearing Union Jack clothes

screenshot of Francesco's substack metrics for open rate in the last 30 days. Figures show 76.19%.

Bush with flowers and many snails attached to it

Two people sat next to each other by a pebble beach as seen from behind bushes of valerian

the particular sadness of

Some Gen Z workers are prioritising their workouts over meetings – and millennials cannot wrap their heads around it.

A career coach on why the many ‘demands’ of the Gen Z workforce might just be common sense

Two books laying next to each other on a table. One is a book called “a celebration of creativity from Italy”, the other is called “The Passenger: Mediterranean”.

Intercom phone from a brand called “Bellissimo”

Glimpse of a beach and a blue container from an opening on a wall

Fresh buns

open.substack.com/pub/oddandwonderful/p/fresh-buns

Building front reading “rage”, likely cropped from sto-rage

Plastic yellow sign in the shape of a police person, in the middle of a public toilet.

happy Bernese mountain dog smiling at the camera

Glazed swedish buns stacked high on a glass tray in a cafe

Map of a fictional town made up entirely of green space. All pieces collages from bits of an old map of Britain.

The English Channel on the horizon, grass swept by wind in the lower frame.

Screenshot of are.na channel called “people at the intersection of things” and my website showing up as the first and only block in this channel

Handwritten message in the post from a gutter cleaning company

Vintage teapots shaped like cars, pianos, bourse and other silly objects

Harbour with small fishing boats and speedboat, as well as a little floating house.

Two armchairs in a garden are lit by the sun at golden hour

Promotional image featuring graphic design with: on the left, a poem about website-making, and on the right, the details about the event (location, time, date). All info is available on the website.

Holding a book called Francesco’s Mediterranean voyage” with a man standing on a boat

screenshot of the Never Not Ready website

High chair that looks like it’s made of pretzel

Folkestone harbour and lighthouse pictured against a blue sky and super still sea

An empty, blue pedestrian bridge, seen from the eyes of a pedestrian.

Screenshot of Glitch.com code featuring javascript that controls a synth

Met this very tall and beautiful boy today

I'm so excited for the launch of Your Fat Friend in UK cinemas this February! I've seen it twice already (at two premieres), and I urge everyone who's at least once looked in the mirror and wished their body looked different to watch this.

I'll bite the bullet. I've been working in cafes and bars for a month. The job hunt had taken over my mental health. It wasn't sustainable anymore. I'm still keeping an eye out for cool collabs, but for now, I'm enjoying being out there, making & serving things that people love.

In a moment of solitude today, I was browsing through my camera roll and found this from my recent trip to Naples. Poetry, don't you think?

I’m starting a newsletter! It’s packed with stories (mine), music playlists, resources for creatives, and inspiring articles and art. 

Landing in your inbox, gently like a paper aeroplane, on Feb 1st. 

Subscribe if that sounds right up your alley 📧 oddandwonderful.substack.com

Obsessed with this tune. It makes you feel instantly nostalgic. https://youtube.com/watch?v=X_k2lih0T6U&si=Dua1pQ3Ql720H9Vx

Yesterday, I helped my partner update his CV and write a letter to apply for a job. Less than 50 minutes later, his phone rang: he had got himself an interview! 🤯 

He deserves it, and I should be humble...admit I had nothing to do with it. But boy, did it feel good.

Sandwich is apparently home to a stunning medieval church which has been transformed into a…ahem, a charity shop.

Show me a more cursed puzzle, I’ll wait

I don't usually obsess over numbers when it comes to my writing, but looking at the open rate for my Substack makes me want to give a big fat middle finger to all the companies that have turned me down for email marketing roles in the past.

Went on a lovely foraging walk this morning. Found sticky weed, fennel, sea kale, and valerian – lots of valerian.

Never has internet poetry felt so relatable http://www.theparticularsadnessof.com/

Just came across this Stylist article about prof boundaries and how my generation values them. And curious to hear from the Posts community, what can we learn from the overworked millennial/genx managers about maintaining a healthy work-life balance? http://tinyurl.com/ye25fyh2

Just hit send on my first-ever proposal & quote for a freelance job. Head is pounding, it's been a long day. But gosh it feels good!

Spent almost two hours this morning sharing stories about our journeys to creative freelancing with a new local friend I've made through my other job in food service. It was wonderful and so, so refreshing.

For the series “more books I’ll take ages to get to”: this time the theme is *clearly* nostalgia (for Italy) through design and documentary.

I’m taking my days one at a time lately. There’s some interesting news I’d love to share but I want to fully savour the moment myself first. And the weather on gorgeous days like today definitely helps.

Don’t have enough words to describe all the change that’s been happening lately. But it's good, mostly good.

And while I process it (over chocolate, hugs and downward dogs), I wrote about it here open.substack.com/pub/oddandwonderful/p/fresh-buns

Evening report: this building spoke to me

I know it feels illegal, but yellow policeperson did not stops me from washing my hands in this toilet.

Has anyone read this before? Thinking of ordering but slightly worried it might be one of those books with great intentions but poor execution.

Career update: I’m building my freelance business 🏗️ The goal is providing support and resources for busy creative professionals.

Not now, but soon. I’m working on it everyday. Hold on for news. It’ll be worth it.

In the meantime, enjoy this pic of my partner’s gorgeous Izzie.

We made plenty of cinnamon buns today 🧁

Went collaging with friends and strangers at the pub the other day and went all in on the “rebuild” theme 😬 I cut and pasted dozens of parks from an old British map to form a fictional town, made entirely of green space.

After a cold and muddy winter, it was liberating to make it up the cliff and enjoy these views once again.

Is there a way to temporarily hide or disable my posts profile (but not my cv)?

I need to take a break from being on too many socials at one and I want to hide my profile from people looking it up.

Someone added my site as the first block to an arena channel with the greatest name

Someone’s finally instagrammed a coffee I made. It’s a first. Feels like graduating coffee elementary school.

Lately I’ve been struggling to find enjoyment or meaning in posting here, or on socials in general. Truth is, I’m not sure anymore what actually drives people (not businesses) these days to share updates online. Is there more beyond a need for attention/acceptance?

I’m a sucker for print marketing…when it’s done well, and I genuinely love messages like this!

Do you have a say in who gets through the door at your company? Have you ever said, "this person just doesn't have the right experience for this role" about a candidate? 

If so, have you ever wondered how anyone is going to get that experience if no one gives them a chance?

Disappeared for a while. I’ve been busy moving. This is the view out of my kitchen window at the moment ✌️🌞

I'll be hosting my first HTML freewrite later this month. I'm feeling pretty excited that it's actually happening! If you live nearby Folkestone and fancy some website-making on 23 June, you know where we'll be! htmlbythesea.site

Why are we so addicted to strengthening our bodies? Pilates for a steel core. Yoga for a powerful mind. Weights for a muscular look.

What are we trying to accomplish when mindlessly pursuing strength? Why not pursue softness and admit that it all really won’t matter in the end?

A book about me that I didn’t know existed?

I’m starting to be a little disappointed that Posts has not grown as much beyond its “original” tech and design audience. Is it just me?

Just got the umpteenth job rejection, this time through the phone. Kinder, but no less painful. This one stings more than others because I donated a lot of my time to their interview task and was super into the idea of joining.

My solo VA agency is now up and running and I'm feeling hugely proud of how the site has turned out www.nevernotready.club

I almost wrote a LinkedIn post about why I won't write more LinkedIn posts. What a dumb idea.

Might have found my new favourite chair guys

Who would have thought that a rescue husky could pull so hard on a leash that it would take two people to hold her

Listening to Olivia Rodrigo and walking through forsaken parts of London

I'm playing with generative music on the webpage today 😊