Annie Hickox

How it started, how it’s going.
Happy Saturday!

I haven’t read Robert Graves’ book on the Greek myths since I was at prep school, but re-reading it now, I am reminded of how incredibly clear & vivid his stories are.
Don’t be daunted by the 800 pages-it reads like a novel.

Washington National Opera Is Leaving the Kennedy Center

Terrific.
Now they can have Kid Rock every night.
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/09/a...

Unthinkable.

Today’s office.

Trump’s Venezuela Raid Left Celebs Stranded on St. Barts Leonardo DiCaprio and other stars were forced to spend a few extra days lying in the sun and eating caviar.

Oh my god, poor things.

Venezuelan Raid Left Celebs Stranded on St. Barts
www.thecut.com/article/trum...

Avoid stress, be useful: 90-year-olds on how to have a long, happy life Importance of being active, tolerant and not worrying about internet dating, by ninetysomething women and men

Goals.

www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle...

Goals for 2026 - more bedrotting.

RIP Tatania Schlossburg.

As we prepare for 2026, remember we have the power to make our future | Rebecca Solnit We enter 2026 with radical uncertainty about the fate of the US – but also with the clarity that people have the power to determine what it will be

1/ Rebecca Solnit is America's top essayist. Here she writes of principles: inclusion vs. exclusion, truth vs. lies, kindness vs. cruelty, and protection vs. destruction of systems protecting climate & public health.

We enter 2026 w/ the clarity that *people have the power* to determine our future.

Missed this, Gail!
Happy new year xo

Opinion | In Which I Try Valiantly to Cheer You Up

In Which I Try Valiantly to Cheer You Up www.nytimes.com/2025/12/27/o...

Treats for the delivery people.🎁🎄

But I would emphasise that I completely share your concern about his reasoning ability, whatever the cause.

Honestly, he could be ‘deranged’ in terms of personality but also have a form of mental illness, but I wouldn’t want to speculate.
Calling him mentally ill is stigmatising for those with mental illness and provides him with an excuse for his abominable behaviour.

Tree arrives tomorrow.🎄

What looks like ‘overdiagnosis’ is really a system struggling to provide continuous care Diagnosis rates are rising because the NHS pathway is overwhelmed and fragmented, not because distress is being exaggerated.

What looks like ‘overdiagnosis’ is really a system struggling to provide continuous care

“I urge you to please notice when you are happy.”
- Kurt Vonnegut

Yep.

Better link:
amzn.eu/d/eVfqvh2

2/ Jeff’s writing is conversational and raw, making his book uncomfortable reading at times.
Eventually, he is correctly diagnosed & has effective treatment, enabling him to find meaning from family, work, and hope.
Highly recommend.

I’ve just finished reading Jeff Hardwell’s account of his experience of depression & bipolar disorder.
A rollercoaster of misdiagnosis & suicide attempts, disrupting the joys of family life & fatherhood 1/https://amzn.eu/d/ekxoKGH

Liam Neeson denies anti-vax views after narrating Covid documentary Taken star lends his voice to a film that questions the legitimacy of vaccines and includes interview with RFK Jr

Luvvies embracing conspiracy theories about vaccines..

ttps://www.theguardian.com/film/2025/dec/11/liam-neeson-covid-documentary?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other

‘The 0.001%’: a quick visual breakdown of the world’s wealthiest people About 56,000 people control three times as much wealth as half of humanity. Here’s one way to illustrate that

Can someone explain to me like I’m five why psychologists who bang on about mental illness only being caused by social factors are so completely silent when it comes to talk about the impact of wealth inequality on mental health?
Anyone?
Just a few words?

www.theguardian.com/news/2025/de...

I think because it can run in families. I am in favour of all avenues of research that may lead to effective treatments.

Interesting childhood experiences of gender identity for Rilke, one of the very finest poets.

Very interesting and would help explain why possible causes of Parkinson’s seem so elusive.

I wonder if Rilke’s childhood experience as a girl had a bearing on his acceptance of life’s struggles: