As temperatures hit 30C, Lucy Mangan declares an emergency Crone Law requiring under-25s to wear cotton. She finds synthetic fibres unbearable in the heat and mentally screams at young people clad in non-breathable fabrics.
New romantasy bookshop opens in Oxford
A new bookshop, Bad Girl Books in Jericho, Oxford, is the first dedicated to the romantasy genre—a blend of romance and fantasy. Owner Starlin Marot, 30, opened the shop after growing frustrated with the limited selection in mainstream stores. Mangan applauds the move and suggests further specialisation, such as US-based thrillers or pre-Tudor historical novels.
Taylor Swift's wedding dress disappointment
Mangan expresses annoyance with Taylor Swift for marrying in private without revealing her wedding dress. She believes every bride owes the public a look at the frock, as it holds society together. She also criticises fans buying cubes of trash collected outside Madison Square Garden by artist Justin Gignac for $25 each, calling it a sign of the times.
Arthur Fery's Wimbledon success
Arthur Fery, a British wildcard, faces German No 2 seed Alexander Zverev in the semi-final at Wimbledon. Mangan enjoys the 'King Arthur' headlines and the 'Cross-Channel Fery' nickname, noting Fery was born in Paris. She suggests renaming Henman Hill as 'Arthur's Seat', which would be more pleasing.
Family bike conundrum
As school summer holidays begin, Mangan and her husband consider buying bikes for the family, despite none of them being able to ride. She fears breaking a wrist and being unable to type, leading to penury. Ultimately, they admit they are lazy and useless, but worry about atrophying bodies.
