A whole new world, and word, in this Heyday Friday newsletter
There's something that could save our high streets, something that could save our oceans and something unforgettable in this week's newsletter
Hello!
This week’s blog introduces you to a word that’s possibly new to you - it was to me - and a concept that could breathe new life back into our too-rapidly declining high streets.
The word is ‘retailtainment’ and no, I haven’t made it up, I promise. To find out what it means, why I believe it’s what needs to happen to reinvigorate our town and city centres, and my recent experience of two shops which are doing it in the most fabulously memorable way CLICK HERE
Here’s me in one of them. I wonder if you can guess what those flowers are made of?
WORDS OF WISDOM
These are from a man who was way ahead of his time in understanding the power of retailtainment - one Mr Henry Gordon Selfridge
WHATS MADE ME HAPPY THIS WEEK
Sticking with the subject of shopping, this video I came across on Instagram made me smile and smile and smile. Hope it does the same for you
SMART SAVE TIP OF THE WEEK
I don’t often recommend something to buy in this slot, but I am this week. Because regular, plastic-stemmed cotton buds are bad for the environment in so many invidious ways. And whilst it’s true that there are more environmentally friendly versions, including ones made of bamboo, they are still single use.
Thanks to my lovely sister-in-law, and loyal Heydayer, who gave me one, I now know there is another, even more sustainable alternative - a reusable cotton bud. And here it is
Made from recycled plastic found in our oceans, the LastSwab cotton buds have been designed to be washed with soap and water after each use, making them almost infinitely reusable.
It’s true they’re not as soft as a regular cotton bud, but they are just as effective - I’ve used mine to get rid of smudged mascara, and tidy up my lipstick - and wash easily after use.
Each Danish-made swab comes in its own colourful case - also made from recycled plastic - and instructions for its use (don’t put it in your ears or use it to apply nail varnish remover) and at the time of writing they’re reduced to £8.50 on THIS WEBSITE
THIS WEEK I’VE BEEN……READING
Actually, it’s not true that I’ve been reading Demon Copperhead just this week, because in all honesty it’s taken me several weeks to get through this epic, prize-winning novel and international bestseller by the equally garlanded writer Barbara Kingsolver.
That’s not because it’s in any way bad - on the contrary, it’s one of the most brilliantly written books I’ve read in a long time. But rather that she does such a vivid and heart-wrenchingly powerful job of bringing to life her adaptation of Dickens’ David Copperfield, transplanted to modern-day and the poverty and addiction-ridden communities of the Appalachian Mountains of Virginia, that I had to take breaks from the sheer, and at times overwhelming, anguish of it all.
Which is also not to say that there aren’t periods of hope and positivity in the life of copper-haired Demon, who is born to an addict mother not much more than a child herself, and whose young life is blighted by hunger, neglect and violence, but who never stops longing and looking for the love and belonging he craves, because there are. And boy do you desperately root for him when things are going well.
But the failures of the care system, the looming catastrophe of the opioid crisis and the bad luck that is his ever present companion mean that when circumstances conspire to drag him down, they do it with ruthless efficiency.
If you’re not already one of the millions of people who have read Demon Copperhead (I’m, yet again, late to the collective party), I would urge you to. It’s a book that will stay lodged in your consciousness - for all manner of different reasons, not least Barbara Kingsolver’s faultless writing.
You can buy Demon Copperhead on-line including at FABER AND FABER and from all good book stores
In a reflection of the ups and downs of Demon’s life, here’s this week’s
FRIDAY FUNNY
from my journey on the tube one day this week
That’s it for now. If you’re reading this on Friday - happy first of March!
I hope the week ahead has more ups than downs in it for you.
See you next time.