The John Robins Vibemail - Issue #33
Current Mood: Unboxed
Hello to you able seafarers on the ocean of life! I do hope your westerlies are making for quick passage? And that all storms have passed with minimal damage to your mizzenmast, spanker and hawsehole? If not don’t worry, I had quite the issue with my hawsehole last year and it’s all cleared up now!
#HUMOUR
I have news, pics and our old friend links to add to your cargo, so splice the mainbrace, heave to the transom! Set course for Americay!
Members Present
The Rt Hon. Member for Contentsville & Common Sense North, His Sir Highness Lord Captain Johnny JR MP BSc (Hons)
Present!
THIRST: Book Tour - May 2026
Despite still being engaged in the active search for typos in the manuscript for Thirst, and struggling with a sentence that has proved so problematic that I’m going to ask for your opinion later, I am delighted to announce that next year, across the week of its publication, I will be appearing in conversation with various SOLID GOLD EGGS to discuss my book Thirst: Twelve Drinks That Changed My Life. The shows will be over two halves, with the first half taking the form of an interview / extract reading mash up bonanza, and the second half will contain yet more #HotChat and questions from the audience. I will then be signing copies after the show.
I’m pretty sure all shows start at 7pm and they will be finished by 9pm. Then the signing will commence soon after. I’ll do my best to sign as many books as possible but often venues have curfews to ensure staff can get home safely and we have to be mindful of that.
Tickets go on sale at 10am this Friday 12th December. Each venue has slightly different options ticket-wise as combining tickets with books is never straightforward, but there are options for tickets only, ticket + book, and a book add on for those who might want multiple tickets but one book etc.
All dates can be found here https://crosstownconcerts.seetickets.com/tour/john-robins
If there are problems with links / transactions / low availability please do not contact me directly but direct any queries to the relevant point of sale.
Guest hosts will be announced soon and I so look forward to seeing you there!
Thirst Pre-order
If you can’t make a live event or would just like to enjoy anecdotes about me crying on the toilet (and there are two of those) in the comfort of your own home, you can pre-order Thirst from
Of course, you can also contact your local bookshop to place an order, and if the vitality of your local independent stores is important to you then I’d be hugely gladdened to know you are giving them your custom!
As a treat here is a picture of me with the proof copy that arrived today!
Problematic Sentence
Here’s your chance to have an influence on the very text of Thirst! But, unless you are a strict grammarian the following may hold little interest. There is a sentence in the book that has taken up an ungodly amount of my brain space over the last three months. I would have just let it be, however it is the first sentence in the entire book, so it something of an important one. I would really appreciate your instinctive response to a line which follows something shocking my doctor said to me…
[Quote from doctor]
On a very long list of things I was expecting my GP to say, this would have been the last.
Thank You! I’ll stop being mad now!
Problematic Merch
You may have heard me mention a slight strategic oversight on the podcast with Elis (the episode which goes out today actually). Long story short, I failed to appreciate just how tricky a proposition wearing the below T shirt in a non-Elis&John exclusive environment might be
This may go down as one of the great corporate foot-shooting incidents of all time, OR it may be the making of a viral craze that will take over TikTok, Instagram and BUZZFEED for years to come. Only time will tell. However, for now, the Potentially Strictly Limited Problematic Cymru Connection T Shirt is available from
There is also the distinctly less creepy tour merch for those who were unable to purchase at the live shows or who simply want to commemorate a tour they had no intention of attending.
TCS London Marathon 2026
I am still running and raising money for Standing Together Against Domestic Abuse. My speed and distance PBs have dropped off somewhat but I’m still getting out three times a week to build some consistency. I often think about your generosity on my runs and it really does help enormously with motivation when the chips are down. You can sponsor me here
https://www.justgiving.com/page/johnrobins
Any Other Business
There’s not a great deal of other business I’m afraid. Elis and I put together an alternative Christmas playlist which is available on the greatest media platform known to man. We also chat a bit about the songs and you can find it here
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p0mjx70n
You can order a message of Christmas goodwill from me on Cameo here
https://www.cameo.com/johnrobins
Apologies that they are often turned off but sometimes I find it a bit overwhelming and have to have a break. That said, I do so enjoy making people smile with my lounge-based digital content!
I doubt I will be bothering your inboxes again before Christmas so I hope you have a grounded time. My top tip for getting through Christmas if you find it tricky, is to have one moment just for you at some point in December, just an experience that is protected from the various obligations of logistics and money and family situations that can be very trying. It can be as small as pausing to listen to a brass band play a favourite carol, or a scene of winter fog you stop to wonder at. Mark it in your mind as a moment of connection with something, and then keep it safe to use in times of strife or frustration. Here is one of mine, it’s not the best photo in the world but it’s not so much about that, (and one day I will finally admit that no iPhone has ever taken a decent photo of the sun.)
love you bye!
On the very long list of things I expected my GP to say, this was the last.
Hey John, I noticed that on the book tour poster at the top of the email it says 'Thirst: twelve drinks that saved my life' instead of 'changed my life'. This would make it a very different book.
Also, I had hoped you would disclose the brand of tea you are now buying to bring back a better Britian by backing British beverages. I've recently discovered Bird & Blend and they're marvellous!