Hello hello,

As you may have gleaned from the title, I have not only given in to the Untitled Goose Game hype, I've lost my freaking mind to it. Not only did I get it for my computer, but it hastened my purchase of a Nintendo Switch where I errr bought it again. Look, I'm not saying there are better ways to spend money but I was so close to the peak of joy and to be let down by a trackpad? It's like trying to eat without a mouth.

I'll try not to descend into a deep dive on what is essentially a brief, enjoyable dickhead simulator (there are some fun thoughts here, here and here if you want them) but I think one of the reasons I really like UGG is that it chimes with my own content generation process at the moment, which can be boiled down to: "Take a joke seriously". There's a real thrill in finding a ridiculous conceit and then pushing yourself to find what's grounded and real and truthful in it. None of my projects that have come from this place are out yet, nowhere near it, so I might be fooling myself but it's been a refreshing way to work.

Hell, it's the only way I've found to work. Artists are meant to respond to the society they're living in. You observe and think and formulate and create something that makes the world a little less opaque, in one way or another. But right now I've found it impossible to do that through the relatively naturalistic style I set out from. It doesn't feel truthful. Worse, it doesn't feel necessary and when you know that, it cripples you creatively. Taking the Goose Approach, with half an eye on irony but not indulging in cynicism, has helped me find a different way in that doesn't put the weight on the work from the get go and will (hopefully!) lead to something substantial and if not that then at least something that's worth the price of a ticket.

That's actually about all I've got that's worth saying this week. I haven't been up to much, except for a short trip to Amsterdam that took up most of the days. I wish I had something insightful or beautiful to say about it but I've nothing real to add to what you don't already suspect - gorgeous place, wonderful apple pie, extremely high quality of busking.

Didn't do anything touristy, just walked and enjoyed but it's nice to be able to add a little recommend: Café Gollem was a stumbled-upon night out but the beer and the patrons capped off a magical little trip. I got talking to a Scot called Andy who had lived in Amsterdam for fourteen years and, after getting into a long chat about Marxism, I paid his tab and he gave me a bottle of beer from his bag. Not all that random, he works for a brewery out of town and it was one of their products. It's sitting by my fridge and I can't wait to try it. Perfect souvenir from a big night. Andy had to work in the morning. I hope he made it.

(I wouldn't have.)

Vin x