Lucy Mangan declares an emergency Crone Law requiring everyone to wear cotton once the mercury hits 30C. She finds man-made fibres in heatwave conditions actively injurious and mentally screams at under-25s in non-breathable tops. Crone Law is coming soon.
New Bookshop Dedicated to Romantasy Opens in Oxford
A new bookshop, Bad Girl Books, has opened in Jericho, Oxford, dedicated to the romantasy genre—a blend of romance and fantasy. Starlin Marot, 30, opened the specialist shop after finding mainstream bookshops stocked only a few books in her favourite genre. Mangan loves the story and suggests further specialisation, such as US-based thrillers or Pre-Tudor historical novels.
Taylor Swift's Private Wedding Sparks Ire
Mangan is annoyed with Taylor Swift for getting married in private, arguing that every bride owes the public a look at the wedding dress. She also criticises fans buying cubes of trash collected outside Madison Square Garden as mementos, sold by artist Justin Gignac for $25 each. The cubes went like hot cakes.
Arthur Fery's Wimbledon Success Brings Joy
Arthur Fery's unexpected success at Wimbledon has generated headlines like "King Arthur" and the nickname "Cross-Channel Fery" due to his birth in Paris. Mangan suggests renaming Henman Hill as "Arthur's Seat" and hopes it might recall the original Arthur to his sense of duty.
Family Bike Conundrum
As school summer holidays begin, Mangan and her husband consider buying bikes to become an active family. Problems include none of them can ride, lack of coordination risking injury, and laziness. Mangan fears breaking a wrist and being unable to type, leading to penury. She looks at atrophying bodies and thinks something must be done, but maybe not in traffic.
