library placement done (!) + cookbook club event + fave breakfast recipe

I finished my library placement, woop woop! It might have taken all of August (because I got sick in the middle of it), but the 70 hours are signed off and done! It hasn't really sunk in yet. I've been juggling everything that went on pause, since it finished and even though my last day was Monday – it somehow feels like a few weeks have passed already.

I had a really good experience! I didn't realise how much I'd like the pace, energy and pride of public libraries. It's quite catchy and ADHD-conducive (for my ADHD, anyway). For an on-your-feet (mostly) job too, you're never standing still in one spot for long, which I found was really beneficial for mitigating POTs symptoms. Don't get me wrong, it was really tiring – especially the first week! I had a few days where I could barely speak or bare being spoken to in the evenings. But by the end, I could tell that my body could actually handle more than I anticipated and I could probably handle being a casual library officer in a public library... fuuuur sure!

50 minutes of quiet car time during my lunch break was my saving grace! As was my short commute, a really good picnic lunch and never doing more than two days back to back.

I asked a butt-tonne of questions of everyone while I was there and learnt so much about the industry and other cool libraries in Melbourne that some of the staff work at. There's one at the Athenaeum Theatre in the city (?), which looks like the best co-working space if you ever needed one.

It was also really awesome being in a workplace where the management use your pronouns, individuality is encouraged and respectful language is modelled – like saying high-support needs when referring to a patron that damaged library property during a meltdown, or chatty to describe someone with an intellectual disability and autism who struggles to partake in two-way conversation and read social cues. It made me want to do better in that regard and on lots of other fronts relating to interacting with different types of people.

BUT ENOUGH ABOUT PLACEMENT... although it sort of was my entire month. I feel a bit frustrated to be returning to study honestly, now that I have ADDED confirmation that the job is so different to the course. I had an opportunity to apply for a public library position this week, but I reluctantly let it be – as I just don't know how I would have juggled it with my other library job, study and a bunch of other stuff I have on during the next couple of months. It feels weird, stupid and silly to prioritise chipping-away at silly assignments when you may well (as everyone at the public library I was at said I would) be able to start working as a public library officer, now! But I want to bring my creative career and my health along with me on this life-career endeavour I'm on, and not be so overwhelmed and tired I'm crying most nights – so patient for a few more months I will have to be! Then fingers crossed the right opportunity comes up at the right time.

For now, I want a friend-filled, grounding, delicious, creative, excursion-filled September!

WRITING.

I have a piece in frankie's latest issue on page 60, about how I went from being insecure about my teeth as a child to a nonchalant smiley adult.

I WANT DOPAMINE FOR DINNER.

THIS EVENT IS NOW SOLD OUT

My wee cookbook is officially into its 4th print run (it's being printed as I speak) and I have some very cool news to share... The Chestnut Tree Bookshop in West Footscray (Melbourne) is doing I Want Dopamine for Dinner for their November cookbook club!

Everyone brings a different dish from the book, enjoys a meal and a casual food related chat. I may or may not be there (still nutting that out!), but it's a beautiful space, opportunity to meet like minded folks or just pop along for a chill eve of good nosh and a yarn. You can (correction: could) buy tickets here!

YOUTUBE.

A chonky week in my life went up on my channel this month.

KITCHEN.

L–R: pesto, rocket, spring onion & tofu pasta, low FODMAP pad thai (from my cookbook, Big Mouth) and some charred salmon with an everything potato salad.

L–R: breakfast burrito, potato wedges and sautéed greens, my savoury muffins, veggie bolognese night with garlic bread.

L–R: tantanmen ramen (from my cookbook, I Want Dopamine for Dinner), tofu lemon & dill tahdig and some nachos which were not my best work.

L–R: breakfast burritos for the freezer, a salmon florentine and another big bowl of dal!

L–R: bulked up instant 'chicken' noodle soup (this one) and some of the many porridge snacks I had this month (using this GF porridge) – adding all sorts of things like frozen cookie dough (great way to use it up!) and frozen acai cubes on top to form a sort of coulis... divine!

READ.

The famous Danish poet's memoir trilogy Childhood, Youth, Dependency took up most of my month to read – not out of slowness (it has short chapters!), but due to length and its challenging subject matter. Considering the adversity she faced, with childhood neglect, poverty, mental health issues and drug addiction – it's a wonder she made it to adulthood, let alone 58. The writing is quick, intimate and if you can push through the loneliness on the page (don't read it if your mental health's not in a good place right now though), you'll be glad to have persisted.

My next young adult read was Australian private school-set, queer enemies to lovers novel, Amelia Westlake. Amelia Westlake is an alias, under which two students publish cartoons and orchestrate pranks pointing out the privilege, inequality and harassment cover-up at their elite Sydney school. The teenage dramatics were a bit corny, but I think 15 year old me would have GOBBLED this up.

I finally read Evelyn Araluen's poetry collection The Rot (which won the esteemed 2026 Victorian Premier Literary Award here in so-called Australia). I didn't realise this had such major girlhood and global injustice themes – I think the cover conjures something else. But I absolutely loved it. It was familiar, personal, intimate and at times, appropriately suffocating.

RECIPE.

This month I'm posting my Buckwheat Porridge Meal Prep recipe. A nutrient-packed gluten-free porridge base that can be frozen to enjoy on its own or used in combination with other gluten-free porridges – making them more hearty & delicious. I've been eating this non-stop all winter, with Orgran quinoa porridge flakes, vanilla protein powder, blueberries, soy milk and some cashew butter on top. Seriously comforting.

Thank you for being here & supporting my work,

– Phoebe 

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