Francesca's Thoughts

Let's go old-school internet and hold a conversation.

DISCUSS.

08/01/2021

Let’s talk about stamps, baby

Let’s chat about the post. The mail. Shipping. Stamps! Here is a pretty example of postage: Here is a realistic example of postage: I started my stationery business back in 2014 or so, and in summer 2017 when I was looking to increase orders, I asked my friends whether they prefer to pay postage on… Continue reading

Complaints, DISCUSS., Etsy, Internet

drop shipping on Etsy, Francesca’s Words, Indifferent Ignorance, paying for postage on Folksy, Royal Mail postage increases, stamps
28/11/2020

Minimalish, Part Three: a 1-month anniversary review of the Brick Phone

Before we start: this post got LONG. Just a heads up, especially if you’re reading on a mobile (ha). Here’s part one, part two and part four of this tenuous series. I was going to share this sooner, but I wanted to take a bit longer to get to know the newest electronic acquisition in… Continue reading

DISCUSS., Internet, Minimalish

Depop, Headspace, Indifferent Ignorance, low tech living, Nokia 3310 2015 review, non-smart phones with WhatsApp, second hand phone, smart phones and mental health, social media and mental health, swapping a smart phone for a brick phone
30/10/2020

Minimalish, Part One: learning about minimalism and I might be a bit of a hippie

Hellloooo and happy almost-Halloween! (I’ve just remembered that tomorrow is MCR’s one year return anniversary and I’ll have been blogging here for eleven years. ELEVEN YEARS. What.) I’ve been thinking about writing about this for a little while, but I thought it might be a) boring and b) preachy, which are two of my least… Continue reading

DISCUSS., Minimalish

clearing out your cupboards, Indifferent Ignorance, mental energy and objects, minimalism, what is minimalism
05/09/2020

Clearing Out

So, I’ve redecorated (it feels so pretentious to say that when all I did was change the blog theme and tag line, but I don’t think there’s another word). I fancied something a bit cleaner, with less clutter. I’ve been clearing out real life belongings, too; I’ve noticed that the inside of my head is… Continue reading

DISCUSS.

clearing things out, fame game, Indifferent Ignorance

Let’s close the door on the rest of the internet.

Francesca Astraea here.

When I began this blog in 2009, I was a teenager. That’s why you’ll find some posts have been hidden behind a paywall. I was an incredibly different, less eloquent person when I was a teen, so if you want to read the thoughts of that teenager, you can join the No. 1 Readers’ Club for access.

What will you find here now?

This blog continues to evolve with me. My favourite topics are books and reading, travel adventures, the extensive works of up and coming rock band My Chemical Romance and the occasional update about my life and work as an author and scriptwriter. I’m also interested in digital minimalism, how we can solve environmental issues and why it’s probably a better idea to make a cup of tea than it is to shout at people you disagree with.

Speaking of tea… Make a cup and settle in.

Leave a comment on posts to continue the conversation and tell me your favourite MCR song! Oh, and while you’re here: this is a no-gen-AI household. You may not put any of my posts through an LLM. If you’re going to email me or write a comment, do it yourself.

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DISCUSS.

Let’s talk about stamps, baby

Minimalish, Part Three: a 1-month anniversary review of the Brick Phone

Minimalish, Part One: learning about minimalism and I might be a bit of a hippie

Clearing Out