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For the final time this term, Vicky Morris updates you on this weeks film news
50 years after the publication of 'James and the Giant Peach', the works of Roald Dahl continue to celebrate success.
Acclaimed designer Oonagh O'Hagan collected over 120 of them to write the hilarious book I Lick My Cheese and Other Notes: From the Frontline of Flatsharing. They range from the pleasant and polite to the furious, giving the reader an insight into the lives of the UK’s flat sharers. The Yorker asked Oonagh how she came about collecting the notes published in her book.
“After finishing studying my MA I moved into a flat where I didn’t know anyone. Everyone was very nice but there was one person who kept writing notes. It went from now and again to sometimes two notes a day.
"They wrote notes about everything and refused to talk about any ‘issues’ they had. I didn’t really know how to cope with it. When I told friends I suddenly realised lots of people received them.”
I got one that said I was taking off my shoes too loudly at 3 a.m. I was asleep!
“I’ve received lots, thankfully most have been on communicating information than problems. Though I got one that said I was taking off my shoes too loudly at 3 a.m. I was asleep!”
Despite this, does Oonagh believe that notes are an effective way of communicating your problems to your housemate?
“I think they can be cathartic and get the issue off your chest. But I don’t think you should necessarily always send them.”
One of the most amusing aspects of the book is discovering the many materials which have been used to write on. But what is the strangest material that someone has used to communicate their message?
“I have heard of a note being written in snot, but lets not think about that!”
Oonagh admits she often wonders how the situations in the book turned out, particularly if she didn’t know the persons involved. However, writing the book wasn’t always easy.
“Some notes were just too offensive, scandalous or perverted to be in the book. It was a real eye opener to the thoughts of the UK’s flat sharers. I spent a lot of time going through everything with a lawyer!”
Bearing this in mind, what is Oonagh’s favourite note? “In the book, ‘PULL YOUR OWN PUBES OUT OF THE PLUGHOLE!’ I think it is the one note that I think is understandable why they wrote rather than said it!”
Oonagh hasn’t escaped the house-sharing world unscathed. The Yorker asked her about the worst housemate she’s ever had:
“I lived with a guy who came in from work and would eat and drink all night until he fell asleep in his suit on the sofa. He would then get up in the morning and go to work smelling like a mix of booze, pizza, and sweat. And so did the sofa!”
As for licking cheese to prevent it being stolen, Oonagh denies it herself: “I haven’t licked cheese but I have stuck my fingers in the jam!”
Alongside the book Oonagh has launched the website flatmatesanonymous.com, where users can upload pictures of their own notes, and even advertise a flat or flatmates by putting photos or videos online. The success of the book and website is something which surprised her.
“I think I began to realise it had a cultish following just from the fact that when anyone asked me what I was doing and I told them about the book or website they would tell me their stories.
"I am hoping for even more notes on the website for the next book. The book is probably coming out in America too, so I am looking forward to receiving notes from other countries.”
The Yorker asked for Oonagh’s advice on some housing issues:
“Why not take him shopping! Show understanding that he likes wearing women’s clothing and then just makes sure he buys loads of stuff that you like and fits you!”
“Leave a large box in the hallway labelled ‘oxygen tent’. Inevitably there will be questions – this is your moment to explain that ‘someone’ has introduced a detergent that is fatal to you, and you have put together an emergency action pack they should use if you start convulsing. That’s probably dramatic enough to stop them arguing with you and get the message!
A hair suggests they have been having a fiddle and a prod in your food. Make a rogan josh that would take an asbestos lined mouth to consume. That should keep them away, and if the hair gets too much swap their conditioner for a hair removal cream.”
I Lick My Cheese and Other Notes: From the Frontline of Flatsharing' by Oonagh O’Hagan is available to buy from bookshops now, RRP £9.99.
To visit flatmatesanonymous.com to post videos and notes, click here.
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