Anna Pickard
@annapickard.bsky.social
Writer, on call Voice & Tone doctor for random tech companies, fan of museums, nerd about words, restless human. Really trying to avoid everyone yelling at each other.
A stunningly good newsletter in general - but this week, one that hits home, being, as I have been for a good few months, in a constant watchful state about the balance of my own small things/big things/mental health and creative process. This is a beautiful vocalisation of all that.
This week’s newsletter is about socks and depression.
“Everything has an effect on everything else. Everything in your life is related to everything else. A perfect peach can lead to five pages of good writing. Leaving the house without cleaning the sink can lead to a day of doing shitty design.”
“Everything has an effect on everything else. Everything in your life is related to everything else. A perfect peach can lead to five pages of good writing. Leaving the house without cleaning the sink can lead to a day of doing shitty design.”
How to fold socks
This is my art studio all packed up. It’s all in storage now. Still looking for a new place. 💰 Join the $2 Lunch Club! 💰 This week’s question comes to us...
buttondown.com
September 13, 2025 at 5:59 AM
A stunningly good newsletter in general - but this week, one that hits home, being, as I have been for a good few months, in a constant watchful state about the balance of my own small things/big things/mental health and creative process. This is a beautiful vocalisation of all that.
Reposted by Anna Pickard
the enemy of my enemy is not my friend but watching them smack each other in the nuts is still very funny
June 5, 2025 at 6:25 PM
the enemy of my enemy is not my friend but watching them smack each other in the nuts is still very funny
Reposted by Anna Pickard
I hardly ever use the notes app on my phone but had cause to do so tonight, and found this, which I have no recollection of writing but wholeheartedly stand by
May 16, 2025 at 9:06 PM
I hardly ever use the notes app on my phone but had cause to do so tonight, and found this, which I have no recollection of writing but wholeheartedly stand by
I don't know who or what it was that reminded me of this 13 year old video but our entire household has been yelling "Fenton! Jesus Christ! FENTON!" at random interval for about a week now, so thank you.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=3GRS...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=3GRS...
JESUS CHRIST IN RICHMOND PARK: ORIGINAL UPLOAD
YouTube video by JAGGL113
www.youtube.com
April 30, 2025 at 4:38 PM
I don't know who or what it was that reminded me of this 13 year old video but our entire household has been yelling "Fenton! Jesus Christ! FENTON!" at random interval for about a week now, so thank you.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=3GRS...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=3GRS...
Reposted by Anna Pickard
Even linkedin is starting to get it
April 30, 2025 at 3:37 AM
Even linkedin is starting to get it
I have no desire to mark the fifth anniversary of the start of lockdown, but I *do* think it’s probably time to admit that if I haven’t started on any of those 43 different projects that I bought random shit for that year and then was too depressed to use, it might be time to let them go.
March 4, 2025 at 10:49 PM
I have no desire to mark the fifth anniversary of the start of lockdown, but I *do* think it’s probably time to admit that if I haven’t started on any of those 43 different projects that I bought random shit for that year and then was too depressed to use, it might be time to let them go.
Fine. I admit, I looked in a lot of villagers bins without their knowledge and stole what I found in there. It's a fair cop guv'nor.
March 4, 2025 at 7:14 PM
Fine. I admit, I looked in a lot of villagers bins without their knowledge and stole what I found in there. It's a fair cop guv'nor.
Buying tickets to go see a Chekov play in rep nearby at a big theatre for the family. Discovered, to my surprise, that there were youth tickets. Youth was classified as "under 35". Live theatre here is very fucked.
March 3, 2025 at 5:17 AM
Buying tickets to go see a Chekov play in rep nearby at a big theatre for the family. Discovered, to my surprise, that there were youth tickets. Youth was classified as "under 35". Live theatre here is very fucked.
There appears to be a TV show called "WAGs to Riches", which is half-arsing it, tbh. I want a show called "WAGs to Witches" in which a group of women who previously were identified only by their sports boyfriends find community, collective strength and communion with nature through their coven.
January 24, 2025 at 7:01 PM
There appears to be a TV show called "WAGs to Riches", which is half-arsing it, tbh. I want a show called "WAGs to Witches" in which a group of women who previously were identified only by their sports boyfriends find community, collective strength and communion with nature through their coven.
It's not that I don't *like* snow, I just think it's kind of weird that it's basically tiny solid clumps of air lying around on the floor everywhere and we're all just FINE with it, y'know?
January 12, 2025 at 3:22 AM
It's not that I don't *like* snow, I just think it's kind of weird that it's basically tiny solid clumps of air lying around on the floor everywhere and we're all just FINE with it, y'know?
Overheard in San Francisco, a man who walked by talking to his child, who was probably about 5:
"…No, well, you see, it doesn't really MEAN anything. Not really. "Agadoo" isn't even a real word."
[This was post for three people who probably won't even see it because algorithms. Thank you.]
"…No, well, you see, it doesn't really MEAN anything. Not really. "Agadoo" isn't even a real word."
[This was post for three people who probably won't even see it because algorithms. Thank you.]
January 9, 2025 at 6:46 PM
Overheard in San Francisco, a man who walked by talking to his child, who was probably about 5:
"…No, well, you see, it doesn't really MEAN anything. Not really. "Agadoo" isn't even a real word."
[This was post for three people who probably won't even see it because algorithms. Thank you.]
"…No, well, you see, it doesn't really MEAN anything. Not really. "Agadoo" isn't even a real word."
[This was post for three people who probably won't even see it because algorithms. Thank you.]
When Facebook said "It's X's birthday! Say Happy Birthday!" it would make me consider if this was someone I spoke to often or cared about enough to do that. And if they weren't, I'd act accordingly. So what I used Facebook for was mainly unfriending people on their birthday. Anyway I don't miss it.
January 7, 2025 at 7:22 PM
When Facebook said "It's X's birthday! Say Happy Birthday!" it would make me consider if this was someone I spoke to often or cared about enough to do that. And if they weren't, I'd act accordingly. So what I used Facebook for was mainly unfriending people on their birthday. Anyway I don't miss it.
I don’t know where to start with the number of ways I hate this bullshit.
January 7, 2025 at 6:10 PM
I don’t know where to start with the number of ways I hate this bullshit.
Normalise saying "No is a perfectly acceptable answer" when you invite them somewhere or to do something. The time gained in not having to think up excuses or field polite refusals is lovely.
Soon I may just start sending out scraps of notebook that say "do you want to do this thing: YES/NO"
Soon I may just start sending out scraps of notebook that say "do you want to do this thing: YES/NO"
January 6, 2025 at 6:59 PM
Normalise saying "No is a perfectly acceptable answer" when you invite them somewhere or to do something. The time gained in not having to think up excuses or field polite refusals is lovely.
Soon I may just start sending out scraps of notebook that say "do you want to do this thing: YES/NO"
Soon I may just start sending out scraps of notebook that say "do you want to do this thing: YES/NO"
As a person who has used "Oh sorry I can't, I have a hurty knee" as my first-line excuse to get out of everything. EVERYTHING. From team building activities to making phone calls, from hiking to remembering someone's name, now I actually DO have a hurty knee I honestly don't trust anything I say.
December 17, 2024 at 1:09 AM
As a person who has used "Oh sorry I can't, I have a hurty knee" as my first-line excuse to get out of everything. EVERYTHING. From team building activities to making phone calls, from hiking to remembering someone's name, now I actually DO have a hurty knee I honestly don't trust anything I say.
I saw a tesla driving around the other day with a personalised numberplate that read "TAXMSK" or some variation and I have been trying ever since to work out the thinking behind it. Buyers remorse? Change of heart? Split mind? Couple for whom this was the compromise?
December 10, 2024 at 9:16 PM
I saw a tesla driving around the other day with a personalised numberplate that read "TAXMSK" or some variation and I have been trying ever since to work out the thinking behind it. Buyers remorse? Change of heart? Split mind? Couple for whom this was the compromise?
Also: Objectively and subjectively, the turkey is the worst of all birds.
November 28, 2024 at 7:08 PM
Also: Objectively and subjectively, the turkey is the worst of all birds.
My friend group in the US is split into two approximate groups:
* People who are from here — gathering with family or not, but generally eating turkey dinner.
*People who are not from here but settled here spending it with friends/chosen-family and eating anything BUT turkey.
Which is unusual.
* People who are from here — gathering with family or not, but generally eating turkey dinner.
*People who are not from here but settled here spending it with friends/chosen-family and eating anything BUT turkey.
Which is unusual.
November 28, 2024 at 6:57 PM
My friend group in the US is split into two approximate groups:
* People who are from here — gathering with family or not, but generally eating turkey dinner.
*People who are not from here but settled here spending it with friends/chosen-family and eating anything BUT turkey.
Which is unusual.
* People who are from here — gathering with family or not, but generally eating turkey dinner.
*People who are not from here but settled here spending it with friends/chosen-family and eating anything BUT turkey.
Which is unusual.
Reposted by Anna Pickard
Fancy. Woke. Fillings.
November 18, 2024 at 11:49 AM
Fancy. Woke. Fillings.
People seem to be anxious for Bluesky to be the new hub for consuming media and rigorous political debate and let me be very clear that is NOT what I want, I just need somewhere where funny people hang out and also to whine about the stinking cold I have because my family are already bored of me.
November 17, 2024 at 8:02 PM
People seem to be anxious for Bluesky to be the new hub for consuming media and rigorous political debate and let me be very clear that is NOT what I want, I just need somewhere where funny people hang out and also to whine about the stinking cold I have because my family are already bored of me.
Reposted by Anna Pickard
actually, invalid handle is the name of the scientist
November 13, 2024 at 3:06 PM
actually, invalid handle is the name of the scientist
For a week I have been ignoring news, and comfort binging: Miss Marple mysteries, Doctor Odyssey, and the Philosophize This podcast archives.
I am now qualified to address: moral quandaries in country houses, locked-box murders on luxury cruises, and broken penises in Ancient Greece. Or something.
I am now qualified to address: moral quandaries in country houses, locked-box murders on luxury cruises, and broken penises in Ancient Greece. Or something.
November 13, 2024 at 6:37 PM
For a week I have been ignoring news, and comfort binging: Miss Marple mysteries, Doctor Odyssey, and the Philosophize This podcast archives.
I am now qualified to address: moral quandaries in country houses, locked-box murders on luxury cruises, and broken penises in Ancient Greece. Or something.
I am now qualified to address: moral quandaries in country houses, locked-box murders on luxury cruises, and broken penises in Ancient Greece. Or something.
Oooh what if I just populate this feed by copy-pasting all my tweets from my deleted archive from the start. Sure it might confuse the heck out of everyone about why I'm continuously on a commuter train to and from Brighton, but, like, seems a shame to waste the content.
November 13, 2024 at 6:11 PM
Oooh what if I just populate this feed by copy-pasting all my tweets from my deleted archive from the start. Sure it might confuse the heck out of everyone about why I'm continuously on a commuter train to and from Brighton, but, like, seems a shame to waste the content.
Reposted by Anna Pickard
Best argument for psychedelics I've seen
September 23, 2024 at 4:26 PM
Best argument for psychedelics I've seen
The other day I got a notification that this here social media considers me one of the top 1% of its users* so I am going to start posting on it more and see if this ranking improves**.
*ok fine it said I was in the *first* 1%, not top anything.
**it will not change anything, but one can hope.
*ok fine it said I was in the *first* 1%, not top anything.
**it will not change anything, but one can hope.
September 23, 2024 at 12:32 AM
The other day I got a notification that this here social media considers me one of the top 1% of its users* so I am going to start posting on it more and see if this ranking improves**.
*ok fine it said I was in the *first* 1%, not top anything.
**it will not change anything, but one can hope.
*ok fine it said I was in the *first* 1%, not top anything.
**it will not change anything, but one can hope.