After decades of writing about everyone else (thank you magazine career) I now often write about myself... Generally in an effort to decode midlife rather than document it, because being our age in 2026 has never been more fun, empowered, full of joy and wild Gen X energy. And my Gen Z daughters and their mates will be the first to attest to this! So weāre sharing the vibes and hopefully passing on a liāl wisdom. If youāve ever cried and sung through a concert and then complained about your knees the next day, this is probably for you, welcome! Stay, bring friends š
I have read this book more times than I care to count since it first hit shelves in the late 80s and Iāve been obsessed with Jilly ever since. Riotously funny and famously dubbed the original bonkbuster, Rivals is peak Jilly Cooper. Beneath all the 80s glamour and bonking, itās oddly wholesome - an analogue world of imperfect characters, real looks, great songs, loads of wit, scandal, ciggies and a huge heart.
Season 2 of Jilly Cooperās Rivals lands this weekend @disneyplusza - are you watching?
The Devil Wears Pradaās sleek, minimalist offices and hushed tones are not exactly the colourful chaos of a working magazineās open plan HQ. Forever piled high with print-outs, books, newspapers, mags, press drops and vibrating to the sound of loud playlists and personalities. Girded loins, do I miss that energy!
Whoās watched DWP2 yet? Discussā¦
Quoting Justin Bieber at my age?! But 51 years of stories, friends and adventuresā¦ hallelujah šš Itās been good! Happy birthday to me - and the rest of the 1975 crew šš
Thereās a reason Hollywood and audiences were obsessed. Working in magazines really was the best job in the world. The films came after. And during. Either way, they got that part right!
Consider me fully ready for The Devil Wears Prada 2. Who else?
I grew up around someone who believed that science and curiosity should be shared. My grandfather, Arthur Bleksley, was a professor of Applied Mathematics and an astronomer at Wits in the 60s šŖHe helped bring space a little closer to people ā and gosh, he would have LOVED this week on Tiktok š He helped establish the Joburg Planetarium and was its first director ā opened in 1960 and the first full-sized planetarium in Africa ā and he was invited to NASA to witness Apollo 11 land on the moon š šWhat I loved most watching Artemis II wasnāt the science, it was the sharing of it. The crew documenting the journey - light, emotional, funny and personal. And human! I wrote about it on Substack. Link in the bio
For years of little-girl punkhood, I used to revel in the daily affirmations of: āSiennasmom, I love your shoesā, āPiasmom, I love your dressā - delivered in one breathless rush šš„° Now itās me constantly saying: Oooh I love your dress. That colour is so good. How did you do your make-up?
Same lines, audience switch-up ššš„
The littlest and punkiest of my two punks is 18 today! And yes, the song choice is deliberate because never has there been a gal who loves to be loved as loudly š Weāve always said, Pia loooooves The Love and boy, does she get it from everyone in spades! The punkiest, spunkiest, feistiest, funniest, good-timiest birthday girl šš„° hereās to 18, when anything is possible and everything is absolute magic! Also, hope you enjoy your first sip of champagne and your first nightclubby night out šš«£ We adore you ā¤ļøā¤ļø
Reading was the escape. Then it became the work. And somewhere in between, it became both. I wouldnāt want it any other way ā¤ļø
@doesmybooklooksmart
Back at the Franschhoek Literary Festival this May - this time, hosting conversations with a handful of really cool local authors who I admire! Thereās something incredibly brave about writing a book and I love being able to unpick process, anecdotes, storytelling and good vibes on stage.
Iāll be in conversation with
@rachelkolisi@fehmz@sifo_the_cooking_husband@qaanitah_hunter@zibu_sithole_writes
Tix live on March 25. Come say hi if youāre there
