OH MY MELLOW | NO.15
Happy Deireadh Fomhair!
Tis the season of burnished leaves, spiced pumpkin lattes, toffee apples – and an extra hour in bed, in our favourite Moon + Mellow PJs. Go on, snuggle up with these duvet-day tricks and treats…
STREAMING The Enfield Poltergeist
Samhain is nigh, and who doesn’t love a screen scare in the comfort of their own living room?
Our money’s on The Enfield Poltergeist, an upcoming four-part docuseries on Apple TV+ which investigates the real-life story of the Hodgson sisters who in 1977 claimed they were visited by a poltergeist in their council house in Enfield, London. It made headline news at the time and indeed continues to endure decades later, with two stage plays inspired by these very events opening in the UK this month and next (The Enfield Poltergeist and The Enfield Haunting, the latter starring Catherine Tate and David Threlfall). This unsettling reenactment will be spliced with archival interviews and recordings of the hauntings captured by Maurice Grosse, a paranormal investigator. Pillow to hide behind: optional.
READING An Invitation to the Kennedy’s
There’s nothing like a good book series and Emily Hourican’s fourth historic novel charting the trials and tribulations of ‘the Guinness girls’ is now on bookshelves, exploring the sisters’ fortunes in the 1930s, against the backdrop of instability in Europe. As its title suggests, Hourican brings in another dynasty – the American Kennedys, whose patriarch Joseph was the US ambassador to the UK at the time, with emphasis is mostly on his daughter Kathleen "Kick” Kennedy, sister of JFK. Glamour and grit are given equal billing as the Dublin-based author balances escapism with historic foreshadowing.
LISTENING Sidetracked
Since leaving BBC Radio 1 after 17 years, Annie Mac has embraced podcasting with gusto –Changes, Happy Place, and now Sidetracked on BBC Sounds with longtime pal Nick Grimshaw, who himself vacated his Radio 1 seat, back in 2021. Here the ebullient pair are freed from the structures of commercial radio to informally discuss the week’s music news and gossip. That Rolling Stone Keith Richards submitted to their launch episode speaks volumes – that while much of their schtick is unscripted, their wattage and expertise will inevitably draw starry contributors on a regular basis.
COOKING Spice Box
As the temperature drops, we’re all about rich, nourishing meals with a bit of a kick. So what better time of year to try Chef Sunil Ghai’s debut cookbook Spice Box (Penguin), which will will kick readymade ‘curry’ sauces into touch for life. The Dublin restaurateur of Pickle, Tiffin and Street here presents pantry staples that can be adapted into an array of Indian dishes; crucially, ones that are widely available in supermarkets rather than expensive delis. Ghai’s clear instructions and tips will have you cooking up a Goan-style mixed seafood curry, tandoori chicken or a sweet and sour pumpkin, including sides of naan, chutneys and potato flatbreads, in no time.
Also helpful: it’s smaller in size than most cookbooks, making it a cinch to move around the kitchen.
DRESS CODE: The Robe – Tribal Flower Pink
Autumn is the season of many colours, from Technicolor leaves on trees to pink sunrises. Let our blush-coloured 100pc organic cotton voile robe inject warmth and style into shorter days and longer night, its deep pockets infinitely practical and piping details nothing less than chic.