13 Comments
User's avatar
Jennifer Granville's avatar

Ithis

M

My first enjoyable read about this person. Although it was a bit like wobbling a loose tooth…sort of sore and annoying and satisfying all at the same time.

Expand full comment
Christina Patterson's avatar

That is such a lovely thing to say. Thank you!

Expand full comment
John T Owen's avatar

Enjoyable read as always, Christina. Very amusing, well you have to laugh don't you. What worries me about his portrait isn't so much the orange as his expression, I mean: Seriously! As for Putin, when in Russia not too many years ago (well, eight) my wife bought a Putin calendar, for a bit of a chuckle. Pretty sure one month was this photo of him sportily fishing, definitely another was him the fighter-jet pilot, another he was a bear hunter, and so on. Oh how we laughed. Later my dearest returned from Washington with Trump's face as a mug. Sorry, on a mug. Certainly he's been mugged now, by the consummate angler. Funny how we thought they were both laughable, and that normal people wouldn't stand for either too much longer. (For sure just about every ordinary Russian we met seemed very West-oriented at the time, 2016). We're not laughing now though. At least some cheer in this (mostly) sunny weekend; I had to apply the blocker, first time this year. I hope you did too. Best Wishes ~ John x

Expand full comment
Christina Patterson's avatar

Thank you, John. I remember how we all laughed when those photos of Putin first came out. And I can imagine how you would have both chuckled over that calendar. As you say, none of it seems at all funny now - except in a we-are-all-doomed-hollow-laughter kind of way. But yes, at least we had some sunshine over the weekend. We must gather our rosebuds etc. Christina x

Expand full comment
Francesca Bossert's avatar

It’s weird, isn’t it?! It’s like that early Coppertone Sudden Tan my American friends used at school when I was a teenager back in the Seventies. My friend got some and we both loved our orange legs😂 You’d think he’d at least graduate to better self tan.

Funny piece! I wrote a poem about him months ago and used the same tufted orange photo. It’s called Fake Tan… it’s funny and it rhymes! go see if you have a minute. It’s on my Substack.

Hugs, Cesca xx

Expand full comment
Christina Patterson's avatar

Just read it! Excellent! And such a coincidence that we both used the same photo. If only things had ended the way they did in your poem...

Expand full comment
Francesca Bossert's avatar

Thanks, Christina. Maybe if we manifest consistently it will happen…

Expand full comment
Christina Patterson's avatar

Let’s hope!

Expand full comment
Cathy Joseph's avatar

I always love your writing, Christina, and this one was especially timely since I am currently sitting at ground zero for all the insanity. A friend and I are in DC to see the cherry trees and happened to time it perfectly to see the peak color - which is spectacular. I cannot tell you how many people we spoke with who expressed their dismay and concern - locals and visitors. It felt good to hear that. We passed two tables selling “orange” memorabilia - no one stopped to look and even the people sell had disappeared. I had to smile at that. As a true blue New Yorker, I felt right at home! 💕

Expand full comment
Christina Patterson's avatar

Thank you so much, Cathy. I'm glad you're enjoying the cherry trees in DC - and the sense of camaraderie. There's a long road ahead, but I hope there will be enough of these voices to make sure things don't end up where we fear they will. xx

Expand full comment
Lettice Liebling's avatar

Like you I am white and pasty year all round and citrus colours aren’t on my Colour me Beautiful palette.

We must also think along the same lines for SubStack article opening lines! 🥳

https://open.substack.com/pub/letticeliebling/p/snog-marry-avoid-look-for-clues-before?r=46f5gl&utm_medium=ios

Expand full comment
Christina Patterson's avatar

Excellent! I’ve never done Colour Me Beautiful, but recently bought a gorgeous yellow jumper from a charity shop. Needless to say, it looks terrible on me. Now I know why…

Expand full comment
Jennifer Granville's avatar

Ithis

M

My first enjoyable read about this person. Although it was a bit like wobbling a loose tooth…sort of sore and annoying and satisfying all at the same time.

Expand full comment