James Routledge: CRAZY TALK

CRAZY TALK #58

James Routledge — Fri, 19 Jan 2024 10:00:00 GMT

will actually be on substack soon. how exciting.

in Gail's in Herne Hill. Had an Almond Croissant.

feeling good, feel free. will write about that soon.

ready, more ready :)

CRAZY TALK #57

James Routledge — Wed, 29 Nov 2023 10:00:00 GMT

actually feeling really good atm. i often feel like your ability to say "I'm really sad" is probably a good sign that you are in a pretty good place - quite resilient and strong etc.

is there anything better than a crisp blue sky on a cold winters day? so good.

listening to Classic FM with Alexander Arnold!

books!
an online curated bookshop! I'm making one;...

CRAZY TALK #56

James Routledge — Tue, 21 Nov 2023 10:00:00 GMT

Just wanna buy some land, plant some trees and re-wild land today.

Maybe that's what I'll do, seems fun, important and big.

The core 3.

CRAZY TALK #55

James Routledge — Thu, 09 Nov 2023 10:00:00 GMT

really need to move CRAZY TALK onto substack...SAYING THIS AGAIN

so hard once you've built an audience on here, because I'm so used to it and my newsletter feels special and fragile and I don't wanna lose anyone...

will do it eventually, slow transition.

worth taking time over and doing it right.

In the Clubhouse, can't wait to tell you more about this place. Special.

Cut my wrist this week, bad, really deep, a few stitches. life is precious, fragile...

An open wound on my wrist, a really sensitive part - felt like a spiritual moment kind of - one of those things that was meant to happen as a test or lesson, a freak event that's never freak really.

Open, vulnerable, exposed, fragile.

So quiet here, birds, trees. Yes

Things are coming together. Making sense, I'm out of the woods, into an open patch,

Climbing my Second Mountain.

CRAZY TALK #54

James Routledge — Fri, 20 Oct 2023 09:00:00 GMT

in London.

Observations:

the mullet is back
what was £5 is now £10
my feet hurt as soon as I enter the borough of greater london
airpods have reached a critical mass
the tube is warm and always has been
the art is incredible
the river is majestic
a London suburb such as Ealing Broadway has more food choices, art and cultural opportunities than entire counties do outside of London. To me this is absolutely incredible and possibly a form of cultural inequality that stems from wealth inequality?
the phrase used by people who don't live in London; "that's just so London" or "that's just such a London thing" now makes complete sense to me
e.g paying £3.50 for a plain croissant in a cold warehouse sitting uncomfortably on a stool as I did this morning
with the advent of contactless payment - money spent in London is even more of a seamless experience. Beep. Beep. Beep. Money. Money. Money.
the architecture and historic buildings are beautiful and the lengths gone to, to upkeep them is really brilliant.
an oversized thick chequered shirt has now become a unisex item
being own your own in a public place is highly acceptable which I really like
smiling at people in the streets yields mixed results. 10% return a smile, 70% look straight through you/don't notice you, 10% look initially surprised and then return a coy smile, 10% are deeply afraid of you and your intentions.
has London ever changed or has it actually been like this for the last 300 years? an interesting thought.. I imagine some things have not changed at all. The London of today does seem to have similarites with the Londons that Dickens and others wrote about.

My thought process on visiting london

"I hate it here"
"it's so fucking busy"
"where will I sit"
"my feet hurt"
"ooh that's cool"
"wow that building is big"
"I feel so small and insignificant"
"i'm INSPIRED!"
"i need to get rich now"
"can't afford that"
"can't afford that"
"be great to afford that at some point"
"oooh that's cool"
"love what he's wearing"
"is she wearing green trousers with one leg cut off at the knee?"
"OK, right yeah, wow ok, what is that?!"
"probably a PR event"
"she looks rich"
"bet he's a banker"
"why doesn't the pointer on citymapper work anymore"
"so good here, love it"
"this is one of the best cities in the world"
"i'm ready to go home now"

CRAZY TALK #53

James Routledge — Thu, 12 Oct 2023 09:00:00 GMT

OH YES IT'S CRAZY TALK

give me a big GRRRRRR
Welcome back to the crazy talk,

I need to stop watching Steven Bartlett on YouTube, I’m not sure how but he has a way to get in my head - makes my ego go BOOM

I WANT A G WAGON

I WANT TO BE IN LA

I don’t really, or I do, but I don’t know - I’ve been in my head a lot the last few days - probs because I’m not writing and getting it all out.

What really matters is
- having a record player - w0w
- Georges wedding - wow
- cannock chase - the trees
- cold water - stillness
- sauna - release
- fitness - discipline

One realisation is that I’m still scared of failure! Still! I thought I’d moved past that one but what I’ve realised is that vulnerability and therefore creativity never get easier…

To be creative and create something new you have to be vulnerable and to be vulnerable is never easy, because it’s different every time.

^^^ this is actually good

Oh and another thing..

Eastern and Western concepts of Self.

A fascinating article in The Author about how we in the West see Confucious as the main person, apparently in China - they don’t classify “Confucianism” and instead are more focused on the whole genre of learned scholarship.

Basically Confucius didn’t do it all on his own, there were an army of other scholars who all supported each other to create a movement, scene, literature.

Therefore in eastern culture, individual authors, founders etc etc, there’s more of an acknowledgement that they did not do it alone.

In the West we pin up people as if they are god, perhaps because we have no God?

In the west we are very individual and build ourselves from the inside out, rather from the outside in.

e.g I am James, I do this, I do that….

Rather than, I am James, I am from here, this is my mother, father, my religion, my culture…

Not really sure about this one, but feels deep and right.

Community, identity - not much of it is there! we need a political leaders in the Uk that can galvanise and unite us with a shared identity and purpose - atm we just have more divisiveness. The uk really isn’t a nice place to live atm and I think it’s creating an undercurrent of depression, disillusionment etc.

Listening to Fred Again - again! We’ve lost dancing (and the rest)

Tracy Chapman on the record player is - just yes.

CRAZY TALK #52

James Routledge — Tue, 18 Jul 2023 09:00:00 GMT

morning birds
tweet for me

hello friends

Not entirely sure what I am going to write about yet. I am not truly comfortable on this train. My right arm is pushed up against the window, I have stuffed a Ralph Lauren shirt there though and that has made it marginally better. I am always a bit worried that the person sitting behind will peer through the crevice in-between the seats and read this. Unlikely but if you are reading lady behind, can you stop please and give me some privacy? Thanks.

I am moving forward at quite a pace.

Things on my mind…

Hunting fame.
What was it in the car that made me emosh this morning or the other day?
Something about social media
How I feel, what’s my story…

There’s nothing that is particularly making my hands want to buzz, I know that feeling when I just have something to say and I just say it, I know because I type so so fast… this isn’t crazy talk, this is just warming up, does anyone really want to see this?

I think I'll have to write about fame etc at some point as that's interesting... or just about community and about my mission here as that is ALIVE

LIAVE
VEALI
EVILA

“I want to be rich and famous”

"I am not my social media profile."

Limited social media usage.

What have I been talking to George about? That’s usually what it is.

OK, let start.

The Mayor.

CRAZY TALK #52

James Routledge — Tue, 11 Jul 2023 09:00:00 GMT

Gonna start by just warming up with this one. Even though I wrote a newsletter last week that went down really well I feel like I haven’t written for a while.

It’s good to be writing in BEAR. The music, the coffee, the vibe, the parquet flooring is adding to it all. I feel warm in here, Craig and Michael have done such a good job

Just bought 5 more books from charity shops in Stone. I’m curating a really nice collection. Would actually be so rogue to try and sell them online at a margin and see if it could actually work…. Mad idea… but I do feel like I am destined to sell books - (and give them away to children) - the post I wrote about it on LinkedIn and Insta went well.

This coffee is velvety yum.

Just signed up to the free wifi here as Montgomery Cheesemaker (montgomerycheesemaker@houseoflords.com)

It’s the little things…

If I had a spare £1700 I would buy this

And if I had another spare £3000 on top of that I would 100% by this sculpture… this is next goal for me. Create something that makes £3000 and then buy this.

Create art to then buy more art? Sounds good.

CRAZY TALK #51

James Routledge — Tue, 27 Jun 2023 09:00:00 GMT

interestingly I don't feel as drawn to crazy talk at the moment, I love the name and the colours and the brand.

I would like to bring more colour into work and be more playful and stuff.

i think I am scared of being judged for being open that I am just a large child.

i am a kid, a big naive kid. that is ok because I am not actualy naive, and we need more child like attitudes in the world.

we need naivety and people to just look at things and go "wait what that's stupid and makes no sense"

Had an amazing coaching session yesterday where I was playing with lego and it was so deep. so personal. lego means so much to me. I feel like I literally am lego. It says a lot about me. how I like to play, how I like to create, how I can get stuck and obsessed.

lego is so good.

I am feeling like my patreon isn't that good, but then I am remembering that (I think) the people patreon-ing me just want to support my writing.

it feels good to be ready to go again. to end the transition officially. I honestly feel like I am an expert in transitions.

I am also an expert in stepping away from companies too I think because so many founders come to talk to me about that and really it's just about identity and knowing what you want.

life is so much better not being on social media much, but you do start to think, how do I do anything if I'm not on social media?

the fun of that is there are lots of creative things you can do and actually maybe social media has made us lazy.

thank you

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PATREON 👈🏼

CRAZY TALK #50

James Routledge — Fri, 09 Jun 2023 09:00:00 GMT

50 WHAT! I'M NOT 50 YEARS OLD!

CRAZY TALK, WRITING IN BEAR they close in 6 minutes so must be fast.

suddenly thikning of baloo from jungle book and how he scratches his back.

Baloo is such a good guy.

When I read Jungle Book it really wasn't as nice as the film, film way better IMO.

Was angry yesterday grrrrr how annoying.

Anyone young with a laptop working in a coffee shop runs their own business, that is a fact, you can smell them and the lads who just walked out smelled of "we're creating something" (but we don't really know what we're doing we just think we do and are trying to look like we do"

babblyrooney is a made up word I like

think I'm going to get into folk music.

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PATREON 👈🏼

CRAZY TALK #49

James Routledge — Thu, 01 Jun 2023 09:00:00 GMT

49 has actually always been my favourite number, when I was a kid i thought it was really clever because everyone's favourite number is 7 and 49 = 7 x 7.

Listening to a lot of jay z at the moment.

Omg I have been typing with headphones on and have not been able to hear the sound of my fingers on the keyboard, absolutely shocking, I have learned something there.

NEVER DON’T BE ABLE TO HEAR THE SOUND OF THE KEYS BEING HAMMERED, IT’S THE BEST SOUND IN THE WORLD.

Got my edit of jack the lad back, great start, but holy be-moses I have a lot to do which is both exciting and daunting.

Writing a story is hard and it’s not something I have ever done before so it’s new for me and I am learning about the flow of a story.

Yet it feels new and creative and challenging, it’s probably the most challenged I’ve felt for a while and I really feel like I need a big challenge.

The idea of starting a company and community and all that doesn’t really feel challenging to be honest, yet creating a story and a world that people could buy into feels really challenging.

If I am really honest with myself and I dream really big I want it to be a feature film, everything I watch, every great leader I listen to, they say dream big dream big.

Dream big.

If I dream big about my life I struggle to see past being the primeminster really, but I really do dream about that tbh….

Or I see myself in front of like a football stadium count of people talking about social change, talking about life, about community…

Dream big

I am going to keep dreaming big….

Keep dreaming.

For now it’s Jack the Lad as a feature film

And it’s turning Stoke into a globally recognised centre for creativity.

I want Twyfords I don’t know why, I want that Twyfords factory.

Yeah this is full crazy talk today.

This is the honesty of life in my head though, just thinking thinking, exploring… definitely feeling on point at the moment which is why the question of what’s the point is really funny to be honest because the point is here.

The point is me creating in Stoke.

That’s the point.

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PATREON 👈🏼

CRAZY TALK #48

James Routledge — Thu, 25 May 2023 09:00:00 GMT

Finally doing the right thing and writing before I do anything else today.

Door is open and I can hear the birds outside, I can see the steam rising from my hot drink (nothing brings me into the present moment like the curling of steam in the air)

Birds are having a right raucous morning and I can feel the breeze lapping my legs

This is like practice, warming up. It feels so good to be writing again. It’s been far far too long and I’ve been avoiding it.

Simple as that really, I haven’t been writing, I’ve let other stuff get in the way, made excuses or found reasons not to hit the page. It’s been two weeks, how did that happen and looking back through my entries I’ve not written consistently for 2 months.

Now the scents of ginger from my drink are wafting through. Apparently coffee in the first 90 mins of the day are pointless, I’m fucking sick of all the crap that gets touted by know-it-alls on social media, since when did everyone become a part time scientist and health guru.

Glad to be off the social media.....

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CRAZY TALK #47

James Routledge — Thu, 11 May 2023 09:00:00 GMT

A bit different this week but I think it is important to mix it up and explore different ways to write etc. my battery is on 4% so I must write fast.

yes show me your hands

I am showing my hand again more now and I think the two things in them are:
STOKE
MEN

not just men from stoke

i mean I care about stoke and Mission Stoke

and I care about men and helping men, we need more role models for men Big time. hello Jack.

I am really very happy at the moment, going through a nice wave of happiness, it's really really good when these come along because they don't always stick around but having one now.

feeling very content and not worried about things, it will all be alright won't it. I'm really aware of how lucky I am, how safe I am, therefore comfortable, therefore content.

feels good to say that .

i stubbed my toe yesterday, kicked the bed really hard when walking around the bedroom and my god it hurt. Sometimes I would honestly look into that and think about the deep meaning and symbology around stubbing toes to understand my life.

i was just in my own world and i think that plant in the bedroom is a little bit in the way.

it's a full blown crazy talk today

hello to George, Mozz, Sarah and Lauren! And John!

ALSO ABSOLUTE MUST READS AND WATCHES FOR ALL CRAZY PEOPLE
- ED SHEERAN DOCUMENTARY ON DISNEY PLUS
- RICK RUBIN - CREATIVE ACT, A WAY OF BEING

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PATREON 👈🏼

CRAZY TALK #46

James Routledge — Thu, 27 Apr 2023 09:00:00 GMT

Very very slow.

I feel drawn back to meditation again after listening to the podcast with Rick Rubin in. He is a cool guy, I like what he’s about. I like his energy and then his track record speaks for itself. I have just bought his book as well as Tao De Ching (I think it’s called that). I have bought it.

I learned formless meditation last year on a meditation retreat.

You keep your eyes open when you sit and you don’t focus particularly on anything, you don’t focus on the breath or on your bodily sensations.

To me this feels so pure, because then I am essentially just coming back to full, complete awareness of the world around me and me in it. You come back to “space” or “oneness” or “full awareness”

It’s hard to explain because you aren’t just coming back to the breath and are essentially just sitting in complete space… that’s what I like though. I’ve only done it two days in a row, feels good to come back to that practice though and I feel drawn to it.

Rick Rubin also has a big beard and walks round barefoot all the time. I don’t fancy that.

In general I am not trying to be anybody at the moment, which is......

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CRAZY TALK #45

James Routledge — Fri, 21 Apr 2023 09:00:00 GMT

CURRENTLY ON THE TRAIN TO LONDON (SITTING BACKWARDS)

NOT BEEN DOWN FOR AGES!! I AM ACTUALLY A BIT NERVOUS

I WALKED ONTO THE TRAIN AND JUST THOUGHT CRIKEY WOW THIS IS INTENSE.

THE COMMUTERS AT 7AM ALL ON THEIR LAPTOPS WORKING, WRITING FAST ON THEIR LAPTOPS LIKE ME NOW!

WE MUST WORK HARD! WE MUST!!

EVERYTHING IS....

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CRAZY TALK #44

James Routledge — Wed, 12 Apr 2023 09:00:00 GMT

Crazy talk fourty four. the fourty fourth amendment, everybody please join me in wishing crazy talk a happy forty fourth birthday party.

Mr Mouse.

Last week I shared a journal entry of mine as a crazy talks entry and i thought that was quite appropriate, because crazy talk is a bit of a brand really but the real thing about crazy talk is the reality of being crazy enough to create things and write things and make things. I know some people don't like the word crazy and it has been used in the wrong way in the past, but I find it comforting and it alleviates the pressure in my head to be normal.

ugh there's always one annoying social media comment isn't' there. first post on social media in a while and I really do get lovely engagement from total strangers but there's always one and the worst part about that one is, they always say something quite insightful and somehow manage to see into your soul. very very annoying.

I thought I'd use crazy talk to share a couple of things this week, one is a poem that ruined my nights sleep last night and the other is a quote about creativity.

I think next door's cat is having a poo in my garden (that's not the quote or the poem but I just saw twiggy up to something gin the bush on the left... hmmmm.

first up quote...

Creativity is a muscle. You have to just start. Start once. Start today. Start tomorrow. Begin again, over and over and over. After a while, it’ll feel easy and you’ll be addicted to the feeling of making things. The fear of failure will lessen as you lean into the joy of creation and experimentation.

Actually will share the poem next week when I've played with it a bit more...

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PATREON 👈🏼

CRAZY TALK #43

James Routledge — Fri, 07 Apr 2023 09:00:00 GMT

Mad mary poppins I have been at this table in my kitchen all morning. All morning writing. All morning editing Jack the Lad. Is this it, is this the life of a writer?

I actually thought this time I would share a journal entry I wrote before I started editing and writing my book and writing my newsletter today.

I write morning pages every day, they are basically crazy talk just a splurge from my head to get stuff out before I do anything more creative and serious....

Editing is like an obsession it is so good being in there.

When I spend the day alone writing I notice judgement....

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PATREON 👈🏼

CRAZY TALK #42

James Routledge — Fri, 24 Mar 2023 10:00:00 GMT

Feeling a bit funky today. Legs just gone absolutely exhausted like my bones ache, something just hit me all of a sudden not sure what. Honestly I think it might be the politics and all the nonsense, just smashed me in the bones.

I do have ups and downs though, that's ok. I just do, I have waves.

I read a book recently called Darkness Visible by someone Styron and it was his memoir on depression. I didn't want it to resonate, but....

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PATREON 👈🏼

CRAZY TALK #41

James Routledge — Fri, 17 Mar 2023 10:00:00 GMT

HELLO

HELLO THERE! HELLO THERE (said in booming VOICE)

THIS IS ME, JAMES(still said in booming, other worldly voice)

HELLO THERE

—-

(now normal voice)

Honestly my newsletter last week was rubbish!!!! I can’t believe...

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PATREON 👈🏼

CRAZY TALK #40

James Routledge — Fri, 03 Mar 2023 10:00:00 GMT

The newsletter was a good one. In fact last week was the best one I've written FOR AGES.

I was very proud of that and loads of people liked it so whoop whoop.

feels gooD to say about all the different stuff I am doing. i think i was kind of embarrassed about it all, but just saying it i am very very proud of it all

and I feel better openly describing how much of a mad hatter......

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PATREON 👈🏼