An Escapologist’s Diary. Part 3.
Ready to scarper on Wednesday evening, I’ve managed to reduce my entire personal junkstash to a ten-square-foot locker at a Glasgow SafeStore and a single suitcase of functional stuff, which is coming with me for the escape. H
Here are ten immediate thoughts about mobility and “stuff”:
Mobility versus “stuff”
1. I think I value mobility above all else. Mobility is freedom. Anything that compromises your mobility–a house, a grounded job, a possession, an expectation–is another nail in the coffin of your freedom.
2. Most of my “stuff” is in the form of books. It’s telling that my final vice is probably one that most people would overcome before, say, cooking utensils or clothes. I don’t own much of anything. Just a modest number of books. With libraries and broadband almost wherever you go, there’s no reasonable argument for a huge personal book collection so I’m forced to admit to object fetishism. I look forward to the day I’m unsentimental enough to cut loose my ten square-feet, settling to own but two suits, a laptop and a library card.
3. Mobility and “stuff” don’t mix. When people flee the cities in disaster movies, they always fill their cars with as much junk as possible. I love that the image of a killer alien tripod in pursuit of a Vauxhall Astra with a houseplant and a grandfather clock strapped to the roof.
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A stockist in Meatworld
Rejoice! Issue 2 of New Escapologist is now in stock at Aye-Aye Books in Glasgow.
Stockists in other cities will follow, but you will always be able to appease the ghost in the machine by buying online.
New Escapologist launch party
A wonderful gathering of escapologists, skivers, artists, poets, thinkin’ types and office monkeys descended upon the Glasgow CCA this week for the SugarApe New Escapologist launch party. Thanks to everyone who came along.
Especial thanks go out to our DJs: Olivia Fitton, Bobby B and Neil Scott. Also to photographic legend Stuart Crawford, who sportingly attended in a floor-length skirt.
As if to give you a feel of the event or something, we’ve uploaded:
Some celebrity appearances included Kate Wozza (Suck My Left One Radio), David Malone (GOMA), Laura Gonzalez (Glasgow School of Art), Pat Kane (Hue and Cry, The Play Ethic) and our very own typographic guru, Timothy Eyre.
Will there be more parties? I don’t see why not. I have an idea about a New Escapologist seminar and spoken word night in a library somewhere instead. Maybe to be followed by a party.
The ultimate political goal
Back in 2002, the Adam Curtis film Century of the Self opened my eyes to the horrible world of PR brought about by Edward Bernays’ application of Freud.
Today I finally got around to watching Curtis’ 2007 documentary, The Trap and found that it’s devastatingly applicable to us as escapologists.
The series details “how a simplistic model of human beings as self-seeking, almost robotic, creatures led to today’s idea of freedom.”
I’ll probably write something based around its tenets for the magazine but in the meantime, here’s the first part of the documentary (with the rest available for free at Google video):
[googlevideo=http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=404227395387111085]
An Escapologist's Diary. Part 2.
A trivial thought occurs. When I leave Glasgow in a few weeks, I will have no keys.
I’ll surrender my house keys to the letting agent and return my drinking club key to the proprietor. All I’ll have left is a pocketful of fluff.
No keys! No security. No commitments. Nothing worth locking up.
Issue 2 reprint and official launch
Issue 2 is selling so well that we had to request a second run from our printers.
Huge thanks to everyone who bought a copy. You’ve secured the making of Issue 3.
The reprint has some tiny differences to the original run: a slightly different cover and a bookish inside title page. These were last-second fixes and will now be present on any future prints. If you have an original version, you’ve got yourself a limited edition and evidence that you supported New Escapologist at the beginning.
In other news, the official launch party will be at the Glasgow CCA on 7th July at 8pm. Come along for a free glass of wine and some jolly banter.
An Escapologist's Diary. Part 1.
After two years of working in an office, I have handed in my notice. There are six more weeks before I actually have to clear my desk but already the sense of pending freedom is exhilarating.
It will be a three-month mini-retirement. I will travel, write and spend a not inconsiderable stretch of time in Montreal with my girlfriend. Together we’ll live the lives of Haruki Murakami characters: luxurious unemployment.
Two years work to earn three months of freedom is still a horrible injustice but I’m confident that this is just the beginning of a much longer escape plan and that eventually I’ll turn that ratio on its head. I’ll report back through these pages.
Colleagues have asked me how I feel. Do I feel anxious? Do I worry that I won’t be able to find another job when I get back?
The answer to both questions is a resounding No. As to how I feel, I feel great. I feel defiant, autonomous and (I’m sorry) slightly smug.
Issue Two now available to buy
Issue Two of New Escapologist (pictured) is now available. Buy your copy here.
The theme for the issue is ‘War Against Cliche’ and features work from David Miller, Dickon Edwards, Neil Scott, Samara Leibner and is edited by Robert Wringham. Typography by Timothy Eyre.
Make seed bombs
I’m excited by the idea of seed bombs.
I first learned about seed bombing at a protest on a local Tesco development site. In that instance, protesters made use of the seeds of unmanageable plants that could cause monkey business for developers. I prefer the idea of sewing wild flower seeds on urban scrub.
Personally, I’ll be using foxglove seeds. Past experience tells me that they are more likely to take to hard urban soil than many other wild flower seeds. Also, bees love foxgloves and my main impetus for this whole thing is a desire to help out urban beekeepers.
Seed bombs are remarkably easy to make. Here’s a video tutorial.
New Escapologist held in British Library
Finally, some recognition from the establishment. New Escapologist is now visible on the British Library catalogue.
Furthermore, it can be consulted at the BL or even shipped out to any other library in the UK via inter-library loan. Cool. New Escapologist is a friend of libraries. Copies of #2 will be freely viewable from selected other libraries in the next year.
