Your now, then and when Heyday Friday newsletter
New technology - in theory and jaw-dropping reality, old traditions - in the form of a historic ceremony, and a royal favourite recipe in this week's newsletter
I make no apologies that I’m preparing for the upcoming Coronation bank holiday weekend with a positively gleeful level of anticipation. This gleeful to be precise.
For all its faults, and of course there are plenty, as there are in any family, I’m a fan of the royals. And even more of a fan of the way we Brits put on a big ceremonial pageant. So combine that with the chance to witness a moment in history that could turn out to be once in a lifetime (I’m not saying I won’t outlive the 74-year-old-monarch-at-last, but I might not….) and I refuse to excuse my enthusiasm. (Which may just have spilled over into rather more of this newsletter. Not apologising for that either)
As for the blog this week (you knew I’d get there eventually), the coronation does put in an appearance, though its connection might seem less than obvious (so you’ll have to read it to see how it fits) to my reflections on a conversation I had this morning about the astonishing advances in technology which are literally around the corner and which will bring changes to us as individuals and societies in ways it’s almost impossible, for me anyway, to imagine.
I wonder if you agree with my thoughts or feel differently. Once you’ve read it - which you can do by CLICKING HERE - please do let me know in the comments.
WORDS OF WISDOM
This quote from best-selling science fiction writer and respected futurist, Arthur C Clarke makes me feel somewhat better about having exactly this reaction to pretty much every new advancement in technology.
We’re having a neighbourhood street party to celebrate the coronation (in spite of the fact that the forecast is for rain, sigh…..) My plan is to make what was apparently Queen Elizabeth’s favourite cake as my contribution, not just because she favoured it (it was one of two cakes made to celebrate the wedding of William and Kate, that’s how much she loved it) and because it carries on the chocolate theme of last week’s Friday Funny (now tell me you’re not impressed by that link) but also, and in all honesty especially, because it’s so straightforward and doesn’t require any cooking. Which is a win-win in my book (provided, of course, it doesn’t subsequently melt in the rain. Sigh again…)
CHOCOLATE BISCUIT CAKE
Lightly grease a cake tin with butter and put it on a baking tray.
Break 8oz rich tea or digestive biscuits into small pieces, around 2-3cm, and set aside
In a large bowl, beat together 4oz unsalted butter, softened and 4oz granulated sugar until the mixture starts to lighten
Melt 4oz of dark chocolate and add to the butter and sugar mixture, stirring constantly
Add 1 egg, and beat to combine
Fold in the biscuit pieces until they are all coated with the chocolate mixture then spoon the mixture into the prepared cake tin, making sure you push it right down into the bottom so there are no gaps
Chill in the fridge for at least 3 hours
Remove the cake from the fridge, and allow it to stand whilst you melt 8oz dark chocolate in a bowl over a pan of boiling water
Ease a knife around the edge of the cake to release it from the tin, and turn it upside down onto a cake wire then pour the melted chocolate over the top and smooth it with a knife or spatula. Then allow it to set at room temperature.
If you want to add more chocolate (I mean, why not?), grate 1oz dark chocolate over the top when the topping has set.
Then enjoy - hopefully not in the rain!
THIS WEEK I’VE BEEN…..WATCHING
I fully accept that there are plenty of people who don’t share my enthusiasm for the royal family, but I’d challenge you to find anyone who came across her, whether in person, on their TV screens, via her podcast, newspaper column or on social media - where she was known as Bowelbabe - who wasn’t a fan of Dame Deborah James.
I was fortunate enough to have met Deborah in person a couple of times, and was a faithful follower of hers on Instagram where, having been diagnosed with incurable bowel cancer at the heart-breakingly young age of 35, she devoted the rest of her far too short life (although she did make it to 40, which her initial prognosis certainly didn’t suggest she would) to raising awareness of the disease and its symptoms.
A former deputy head teacher, Deborah was a born communicator and performer (she had been a national standard gymnast in her youth) and she used her natural openness and warmth to powerful effect in all the content she created in her last five years.
This beautifully made documentary has much in it that will be familiar to her fans and followers, but with extra, previously unseen, footage and images, and is as infused with Deborah’s infectious humour as it is with heartache. The programme shows how she didn’t shy away from showing and sharing the pain and emotional trauma of her diagnosis and treatment, but how she was just as fiercely determined to demonstrate that it is more than possible to live, and live joyously well, with cancer.
Even in her last weeks - during which she was awarded her Damehood and presented with it by Prince William in her parents garden - she launched a fund to raise money for research into bowel cancer treatments hoping it would amass a few hundred thousand pounds. It currently stands at over £11million.
Bowelbabe in Her Own Words is a fitting tribute to a woman who taken far too soon but who has left a legacy that will live on.
You can see DEBORAH JAMES: BOWELBABE IN HER OWN WORDS on BBC iPlayer
I think this should be called Friday Cheery, or Friday Awww rather than
FRIDAY FUNNY
but it does perfectly sum up how we Brits are feeling right now (despite the pesky forecast)
Before I head off to break out the bunting and melt a load of chocolate, I just want to report back, as I promised, on my visit last week to see this
ABBA Voyage (where we were quite rightly not allowed to take any pics or video during the show) was quite simply one of the best, and most jaw-droppingly technically brilliant things I’ve ever seen. (If you don’t know, it’s virtual concert where the group perform on stage - looking as they did at the height of their fame 40 years ago - so convincingly it’s almost impossible to believe they’re not there.)
I saw it with my sister, that’s her in the pic with me, and we sang our way through the entire, wildly exhilarating 90 minutes of the show (what a catalogue of hits ABBA amassed). Though we did feel remarkably underdressed compared with some of the other members of the audience (see above)
If you haven’t seen ABBA Voyage yet, book your tickets immediately (you can do that HERE). Do NOT miss it!
As a demonstration of how advancements in technology can be used to enhance our lives it couldn’t fit better with the sentiment of my summary in THIS WEEK’S BLOG
Right, I’m finally finished.
Now where’s that Union Jack hat I got for the Jubilee?……
See you on the other side.