Your historic Heyday Friday newsletter

There's a lot of thrilling, surprising and jaw-dropping stuff about old stuff in this week's newsletter, along with a clutch of current recommendations and something to make you laugh out loud. Enjoy.

Hello!

I have seen the future of the past. And it’s amazing!

Before you start to wonder whether I’ve accidentally fallen into some parallel sci-fi universe, let me explain.

This week I paid a visit to a brand new museum (that’s the past bit), but not a museum like any I’ve ever seen before, either in the way it’s designed, the way its objects are displayed or its astonishing level of educational interactivity (all that’s the future bit).

See what I mean?

In case you can’t tell, I was absolutely blown away by it. And in case you were wondering, of course I’m not going to tell you what museum it is, what makes it so unique (although you can definitely see some of that in the pic. There’s lots more though) and what the remarkable special educational opportunity it is that it offers its visitors. You’ll have to read this week’s blog to find all that out. Which you can do by CLICKING HERE (you’ll have to read to the end for the special ed. bit. Sorry, not sorry)

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FRIDAY FUNNY

I fell down a rabbit hole of funny signs on Instagram the other day (don’t ask), so there might be a bit of a run of these.

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I’ve got a flurry of recommendations for you this week.

THIS WEEK I’VE BEEN….READING….

You might have spotted this in the pile of books which featured in LAST WEEK’S BLOG about the best little gifts to give. I rarely suggest you read something that’s hardback, and whilst I did very much enjoy the story, which has been described as ‘either a political story with romantic interludes, or a romance novel with political interludes’, I’m telling you about it now so you can add it to your to-read list when it comes out in paperback. Unless, of course, you love a hard back, in which case feel free not to dally.

Young Australian copywriter Coralie comes to London following a period of personal upheaval and meets political journalist Adam, a divorced father with a four year old daughter. Their relationship blossoms and develops against a turbulent period in British politics which includes Brexit and Covid, and the joys and challenges of being a partner, parent, step parent and working woman are vividly and, at times painfully relateably, brought to life in Jessica Stanley’s warm, perceptive writing.

Consider Yourself Kissed is a beautifully observed, funny, moving novel about the magic and madness of everyday life and relationships. You can buy it at most bookshops including Foyles

….LISTENING TO….

I’m always interested in what medical professionals have to say about the business of ageing and dying and how to do it well (in THIS BLOG, I recommend a wonderful book by Dr Rachel Clarke called Dear Life. And Being Mortal is another important and memorable book by American physician, Atul Gawande. I’m also a huge fan of physician and psychotherapist Dr Kathryn Mannix who has dedicated her professional life to palliative care. Her book, With The End in Mind, is another must-read. Listen to her explain HERE why dying probably isn’t as bad as you expect), and this conversation between the peerless psychotherapist Julia Samuel and geriatrician Dr Lucy Pollock, who I now immediately want to be my doctor, on Julia’s excellent podcast, Therapy Works, is enlightening, thoughtful, thought-provoking, considered and deeply kind.

Give it a listen wherever you find your podcasts, including Apple Podcasts. I’ll be amazed if you don’t discover golden nuggets all the way through it that make you think about your own ageing and that of your parents, if you’re still lucky enough to have them, in a different, more compassionate way.

….AND WATCHING

Waaay back in 2018 I urged you (HERE) to read the beautiful memoir, The Salt Path. Exquisitely written by Raynor Winn, it described what happened when she and her beloved husband Moth lost their home and all their money just as Moth was diagnosed with an incurable degenerative neurological condition and the pair decided to walk the 600 mile South West Coast Path (as you do). The book became an international bestseller, and it’s now been made into a film which I took my mum to see on its opening weekend.

I’m always wary about books I’ve loved being turned into films. Will they stay true to the essence of the story and the characters? In this case, will they manage to capture the beauty and brutality of the landscape Raynor describes so magnificently? And will the actors look anything like the real-life protagonists? Well, I’m delighted to report that the answers are a resounding yes, yes and yes.

If you loved the book The Salt Path as much as I did, you’ll feel just the same about the film, starring perfectly cast Gillian Anderson and Jason Issacs, which, for the glorious shots of the breathtaking Cornish coast alone, I’d recommend seeing on the big screen if you can.

In the meantime, you can watch the trailer HERE

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WHAT’S MADE ME HAPPY THIS WEEK

With my lovely fella almost fully recovered (phew), life has been getting back to normal and I’ve been enjoying getting out and about more. Aside from my memorable museum visit this week, I spent a marvellously entertaining few hours in my local park which had been taken over as the location for the filming of The Antiques Roadshow. It’s true the experience involves a LOT of queuing (to get your bag checked to get in, to get your items valued by the relevant expert, to buy a cup of tea, to go to the loo), but everyone is having such a splendid time no-one really minds. Especially when it’s a lovely sunny day.

Should you be interested, this is what we (it was another excursion in the company of my mum) took to be valued

It’s one of a pair of chairs my grandparents sat on in Westminster Abbey for the coronation of Queen Elizabeth. Turns out they’re worth £450 each. Pretty good, eh? Though not quite as good as this chap (the one in the armour)

whose owner (the one in the cream jacket) purchased for £1000 in 1988 and who’s now apparently worth between £70,000 and £80,000!

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WORDS OF WISDOM

Staying with the past where this newsletter began what this famous British Queen, who is connected to THIS WEEK’S BLOG in a way you’ll discover when you read it (I don’t just throw this stuff together you know), had to say about parenting could certainly just as easily apply today, wouldn’t you say?

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That’s it for this week. My garden has been enjoying a day of blustery rain, me not so much, so I’m off for a warming shower.

Please do click on the little like heart if you’ve enjoyed this. But if you don’t, I very much hope you have anyway.

See you next time.