thoughts for august
What I’m Listening To
Matt Berninger - Get Sunk
Matt Berninger, best known as the lead singer of The National, has long been admired for his baritone voice and his ability to turn quiet vulnerability into something both grand and intimate. With Get Sunk, he steps further into his solo voice — the record is about learning to live with uncertainty rather than being defeated by it, a meditation on vulnerability, renewal, and the shifting tides of identity. The themes touch on self-doubt, change, and the weight of everyday life, but what makes it resonate with me is how Berninger frames those struggles with a sense of wry humor and quiet resilience. His voice, rich with both weariness and warmth, turns these songs into reminders that even when we feel pulled under, there’s beauty in pausing, reflecting, and finding our footing again. Get Sunk doesn’t offer neat resolutions, but it does suggest that being submerged now and then can lead to unexpected clarity—that floating, drifting, and resurfacing are all part of the same journey. What stays with me most is the way the album manages to sound both deeply personal and universally relatable, as though Berninger is writing directly from his own shadows while leaving enough space for mine. In that balance of honesty and openness, Get Sunk becomes not just an album I listen to, but one that I have been carrying with me, a quiet companion that reminds me resilience doesn’t always mean pushing forward—it can also mean learning to rest in the current until the tide shifts.
What I’m Drinking
There’s a quiet significance in that first cup of coffee in the morning, a small act that does more than wake you up—it creates a pause between the haziness of sleep and the demands of the day. A flat white, especially, feels like a study in balance: the espresso bringing focus and weight, while the soft layer of milk smooths the edges, making it approachable, steady, and unhurried. It’s not just about caffeine but about establishing rhythm, a way of reminding yourself that the day can begin on your own terms. In that moment, the flat white becomes less of a drink and more of a ritual of grounding—something that signals presence, balance, and a gentle easing into whatever comes next. It’s a small choice, but one that carries meaning: to start with steadiness rather than speed, clarity rather than chaos. The flat white is now a staple on coffee shop menus and probably the most drunk coffee at Saorsa 1875, and often signifies the new wave of speciality coffee, but did you know it’s been found in coffee shops in New Zealand and Australia since the 1980s? We will let them argue over who invented it though… In the meantime, head down to the bar and enjoy a nice warm cup of Joe.
What I’m Reading
Reading On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous feels like stepping into a quiet conversation with someone who understands the parts of you you rarely speak aloud. The book lingers in the spaces between memory and longing, voice and silence, gently uncovering truths that feel both personal and universal. What stayed with me most was how it captures the small, messy moments of growing up—the fleeting joys, the unspoken tensions, and the ways we try to make sense of ourselves and the world around us. It’s a story that invites you to pause, reflect, and notice the beauty threaded through everyday life. Even after closing the book, I found myself carrying its sense of honesty and tenderness into my own days—a reminder that even brief moments can leave a lasting impression. We invite you to use the common spaces at Saorsa to take a moment for yourself; grab your book and get cosy, or if you forgot yours feel free to borrow on from the Snug during your stay.
