It’s [December 2025] and I’m currently…

Reading

The Library at Mount Char by Scott Hawkins, 2015
An utterly bizarre novel and exactly the kind of thing I enjoy. I’ve been staying up far too late to read the gloriously chunky chapters, I’ve read 86% as I write this and it could really go anywhere.

The Apothecary of Belonging by Alexis J Cunningfolk, 2025
The first book of my 2026 “Personal Curriculum” for herbalism and disability justice. I’ve been taking it slowly and enjoying working on the activities, particularly the oracle map (unsurprisingly perhaps) of my inner concept of my body, complete with mountains, rivers and forests.

Watching

Steven Universe (2013-2019)
Taking a break from other more serious or dramatic viewing to relish in the soft yet rich pastel hues of the Crystal Gems to keep my spirits up through another unexpected flare up of the ol’ flesh prison.

Scandal (2012-2018)
Having recently done a full watch of The West Wing, this felt like the natural progression (after a brief detour into The Newsroom and Ally McBeal), there is so much cast cross-over but so much more drama, and shouting.

Enjoying

I’m down a deep watercolour rabbit hole at the moment, in part inspired by Sylvie from Tarot Magpie who recently went to Japan and brought back a stunning selection of art supplies, prompting me to get my own paints back out properly for the first time in years (and add to my stash). Curating a palette and filling half pans from old paint tubes has been the primary activity in this season of little natural light, but while I bide my time I’ve been watching YouTube, combing Pinterest and scouring blogs, so that when the sun returns, I’m poised and ready to paint.

Listening To

My dear friends Alisha and Raven started a podcast this month and have already got three delightfully juicy episodes out. Scintillae is described as “reflections from the intersections of oppressions, two transbians navigating late stage capitalism, chatting with interesting people, and trying to find “The Meaning of Life™” and wow does it deliver, each episode has been so engaging, and I’m saying that as someone who is largely off the podcast train at the moment!

Working On

This month has largely been about getting back on the horse after a few months of flesh-prison-troubles, and with a few long-term projects still bubbling away there isn’t always a lot to show for my time. However, the big reveal for this season has been launching “memberships” over on Ko-Fi (they’re also available on Patreon if that’s your comfort zone, but please note that the tiers are more expensive over there). Named after native hedging trees from Scotland, I’ve called these the Hedgerow Memberships. These memberships are a way for folk to support me and my work and receive some benefits in return, perks range from an online crafting club, to downloadable art and information, to a bimonthly “Snail Mail Club”. (The Willow Tier even has monthly content digests which are quite like a more visually appealing version of this page!)

Thinking About

What it is to be an artist/creative in late-stage capitalism, and a disabled one at that, trying to survive, thrive, and be part of a community. If you’re also thinking these thoughts, can I direct you to New Escapologist by Robert Wringham, a Glasgow based writer-comedian, who I met at Edinburgh Zine Fair back in November, and the inspiration for this “Currently…” list moving from my journal onto the web, in the form of a “Now” page, you can read his Now page, and even explore a directory of others from around the world.

Until next time,

Imogen x