So much to wonder at in this week's newsletter
A sensational fashion installation, a memorable display of parental devotion, a norm-challenging new film, and a statesman's wise words in your Heyday Friday newsletter
Hello!
Ten years ago (I actually can’t believe it’s been that long) I was awe-struck by a visit to arguably Britain’s greatest palace (it does refer to itself as that in its publicity material, so I’m not overblowing its trumpet) to see the first contemporary installation ever hosted inside the 300 year old building. It was a truly memorable experience seeing the work of one of the world’s great artists, irreverently displayed amongst the historic rooms and treasures of the baroque interiors.
Last weekend I went back to immerse myself in the palace’s latest and biggest exhibition, this time focused on the world of fashion. Once again I was blown away by the spectacle.
You know the drill only too well by now (if you’re new here - and welcome if you are - this is how it works) that I’m not going to tell you which historic palace I’m referring to, what that first exhibition was, or the details of the truly sensational current one. You have to find all that out by reading this week’s blog. And you can do that, as you also know only too well, by CLICKING HERE.
The blog is also packed full of pics from the exhibition, so if you fancy looking rather than reading, there’s plenty to feast your eyes on. Here, by way of a sneak peak, are a selection of extra shots that aren’t in the blog. I saved them exclusively for you.
Because you know I like to give you more than one reason to click through to it, here are some typically powerful
WORDS OF WISDOM
from someone closely associated with the palace featured in THIS WEEK’S BLOG. You’ll find out why, and how he’s also the inspiration for some of the exhibits when you read it (I’m afraid it will involve you actually having to so more than just look at the pictures. Sorry about that.)
Having been alerted to the fact that my blood sugar levels are approaching pre-diabetic levels, I’m constantly on the look-out for ways to satisfy my irredeemably sweet tooth with treats that won’t send my blood sugar sky high. These flapjacks from the excellent cookbook Happy Skin Kitchen by Elisa Rossi manage to be sweet without the addition of any refined sugar thanks to the generous helpings of dates, raisins and apricots in them.
SUGAR FREE FRUITY FLAPJACKS
These quantities will make 12 flapjacks
Preheat the oven to 200C, 400F, gas mark 6 and line a 20com square baking tin with parchment paper
Put 150g of pitted dates and 100g dried apricots into a large heatproof bowl. Cover with boiling water and leave to soak for ten minutes. Drain and put in a food processor with 4tbsp melted coconut oil, 1tsp vanilla bean paste (I used liquid and it didn’t seem to make any difference) and blitz until you have a chunky, sticky paste.
Add 150g porridge oats, 50g walnuts, 30g sunflower seeds and 50g raisins then blitz again until you have a sticky dough. Add 20g cacao or chocolate nibs at this stage if you want to and pulse a few times until they’re incorporated into the mixture.
Spread the mixture evenly in the baking tin and bake for 20 mins until slightly golden around the edges then remove from the oven and allow to cool completely in the tin (I score the cutting lines when the flapjacks are still warm, I find it makes cutting them easier).
You can leave the flapjacks as they are, but if you want to top them with chocolate, melt 70g good quality dark chocolate in a heatproof bowl over a small pan on a low heat until smooth.
Remove the flapjack from the tin, but leave it on the baking paper. Drizzle the melted chocolate on top and leave to set at room temperature, then cut the flapjack into bars or squares as you choose.
These will apparently last for up to five days in an airtight container, but I’ve never managed to test that. They’ve always been eaten well before the five days are up!
THIS WEEK I’VE BEEN…..WATCHING
I haven’t read ‘the acclaimed novel’ The Idea of You is based on, so I settled down to watch the heavily promoted latest release on Amazon Prime knowing only that it was a romance comedy/drama about the relationship between an older woman and a younger man. Fully expecting it to be entirely predictable and come with a healthy helping of cheesiness, I was anticipating spending nothing more than a passably acceptable couple of hours in the company of Anne Hathaway and fast up-and-coming British actor Nicholas Galitzine as the protagonists.
Well, whilst I can report it is, indeed, pretty much entirely predictable, and that the cheese is served in generous helpings at times, The Idea of You is also rather more satisfying than I expected.
Partly that’s down to the comfortable chemistry between the two leads which makes the relationship between them feel more believable. And partly it’s because whilst the film is true to its rom-com roots, it also doesn’t shy away from confronting the way societal views about age-gap relationships are so much more judgemental and unaccepting when it’s the woman who is older, or from the way that conventional and social media play into that narrative in frequently vicious ways.
Yes, if you were inclined to pick at it too intently there’s plenty about the plotting, script and story that’s questionable, but why would you when the woven-together whole is such an unpretentious pleasure?
You can watch THE IDEA OF YOU on Amazon Prime
And see the trailer HERE
WHAT’S MADE ME HAPPY THIS WEEK
There’s quite the age gap between the performers in this video clip. But that’d be because they’re father and daughter. And what a father he is! I don’t know how his delightful dancing daughter felt his performance went, but anyone who watches this fabulously heart-warming display of parental devotion certainly won’t forget it in a hurry.
FRIDAY FUNNY
If this isn’t just the best linen label you’ve ever seen, then I really really want you to send me any you’ve come across that beat it
That’s it for this week.
I’m going to ask again - even though I know it sounds woefully needy - if you’d be kind enough to click on the ‘Like’ heart if you’ve enjoyed this, to help make Heydays more discoverable and hopefully encourage others to join our gang. Thank you.
I’ll have been away and back by the time we’re together again. I’ll tell you all about where next week.
See you then.
Diane x
Love everything you write. Thank you❤
Love to be inspired weekly by The Heydays.
Each time I read an article, I smile or laugh because it always comes from your heart, Diane!