What would you banish to Room 101?

Room 101 was a BBC show where celebrities brought along the things they most wanted erased from existence and attempted to persuade the host to banish them forever. The idea comes from George Orwell’s Nineteen Eighty-Four, where Room 101 supposedly held the worst thing in the world. In a very relatable move, Orwell named it after a meeting room in Broadcasting House where he endured particularly mind-numbing meetings.

There seems to be an abundance of irritating things right now (this may be my perimenopausal rage talking). Add in the genuinely awful stuff happening in the world, and I’m not sure I could possibly choose just one.

Current contenders include:

- People dropping prepositions

- Jeans that are aggressively too tight

- Saying “my bad” instead of taking responsibility

- Slow lorries in the outside lane

- Loud music on train

- Loud talking on trains

- Speakerphone calls on trains (a special circle of travel hell)

Why am I asking you this? Because it’s one of the questions I pose to Laura on this week’s podcast. We’ve taken a short break from the meaty topics and instead secretly chose five or so questions each to ask one another. No prep, no warning, just first responses.

Some of the questions are more serious. One of mine, however, prompts the most entertaining story I’ve heard in quite some time. Let’s call it Laura’s Scottish Vomit Escapade. 

I’ll say no more, you’ll have to take a listen.

All joking aside, compiling such a long Room 101 list may be a sign that I’m feeling slightly highly strung of late. Perhaps it’s time to take a break and practise ‘live and let live’ a little, but, if it’s therapeutic, press reply to this email and tell us all the things you’d love to send packing to room 101. I’d love to hear them!

Love, 

Hannah x 

P.S. There’s an exciting development coming, which will involve a change of host for the newsletter - nothing to worry about but we will be migrating the data and so you may get an email about it.