Your reflective Heyday Friday newsletter

After a week of highs and lows, ageing is very much on my mind, as is a way to save on a particularly high cost food item, a TV show that lifted my spirits, and a gathering that exceeded expectations

I’m starting this week’s newsletter where I ended last week’s, talking about the first ever in real life gathering of the Heydayers who are part of the These Are The Heydays facebook group (you’ll find it HERE if you’d like to join the gang)

And I’m delighted (and relieved) to report that the afternoon was a marvellous and memorable success. The group who gathered at Waddesdon Manor, which looked magnificent in the (phew) sunshine, all hugely enjoyed wandering round the glorious grounds and inside the chateau-style building, built between 1874 and 1885 to house the Rothschild family’s enormous art collection, before gathering in the courtyard of the cafe for a cuppa and a good old chinwag.

We all headed for home with our on-line friendships firmly cemented face to face and the promise to do it all again soon. Maybe you’ll join us when we do?

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Something, sadly rather less wonderful, happened this week that has led me to reflect about the business of ageing, fragility, the shifting of roles between parents and children, and how I will cope - both physically and mentally - if I’m fortunate enough to live long enough to become less able to manage on my own.

Find out what has prompted these ruminations and what my thoughts are, by CLICKING HERE. I’d love to know if you agree and have any advice or wisdom you could share with me.

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WORDS OF WISDOM

Talking about wisdom, these words from American politician Kitty O’Neill Collins, felt particularly pertinent and poignant following the events of this week

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When you read THE BLOG, you’ll understand why I’m so encouraged by fabulous HEYDAYER ZENA and the message of resilience and determination she shares after facing the hardest challenge of her life.

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Both my grandmothers obviously lived through World War 2 and all the rationing and household scrimping that happened during and afterwards. Cooking wasn’t exactly the forte of one of them (the only thing she could really make with any degree of competence was summer pudding, which I absolutely hate!) but the other one was especially terrific at baking. I wonder if she knew about this ingenious

SMART SAVE TIP OF THE WEEK

which, with sugar prices being as absurdly high as they currently are, is a great way to save on buying different sugars for different cooking purposes, make efficient use of storage space and cut down on the wastage of all darn separate single-use plastic bags they come in.

A 1kg bag of granulated sugar is all you need to make any kind of sugar you require.

For caster sugar simply pour as much as you need into a food processor or liquidiser and blitz on the highest setting for 30 seconds.

For icing sugar, weigh 200g and add 8g cornflour, blitz for two minutes.

To make soft brown sugar, weigh 200g of the granulated sugar into a bowl and swirl over 15g of black treacle. Stir then microwave for 15 secs. Use your hands to rub the sugar between your fingertips and after about a minute it will magically transform (well it seems like magic to me) into soft brown sugar.

For soft dark brown sugar, use 25g of the black treacle and go through the same process.

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THIS WEEK I’VE BEEN……WATCHING

This high camp, high energy, joyously life-affirming makeover show is upbeat watching any time, but it’s been a specially appreciated distraction this past week. I’ve seen every episode of every series so far and never failed to, at the very least, tear up, but more often than not unashamedly weep, at the transformations created by (in the order of the pic above) interior designer Bobby, hairdresser Jonathan, foodie Antoni, culture and lifestyle guru Karamo, and fashion expert (and sole Brit) Tan.

I’m pretty sure I’ve recommended Queer Eye before, but I make no apologies for repeating myself (when has that ever bothered me, let’s be honest?) At a time when there’s so much to be gloomy and pessimistic about, a programme that champions all that’s good, kind and to be celebrated about human nature, is one to be revelled in, in my book.

And if I do need to have an excuse for drawing your attention again to its myriad delights (which include, but aren’t remotely restricted to, Jonathan’s increasingly flamboyant campness, Karamo’s unfailingly insightful counsel, Bobby’s never less than remarkable interior makeovers and Tan’s clever fashion guidance) then it’s that the new season (seven) launched at the end of last month.

This time the fab five are headquartered in New Orleans and whilst the location may be new (they go to a different city each series) the sensitively approached makeovers never fail to result in the people concerned looking and feeling like wondrously better versions of themselves. Though that’s far from the case when it comes to their homes, or whatever property/space Bobby is tasked with transforming, which always provide the biggest gasp moment of any episode.

Grab your tissues and settle down to watching Queer Eye. I promise you’ll feel better about the world when you do.

You can find all the series of QUEER EYE on Netflix

And see the trailer for series seven HERE

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I’m pretty sure the QE fab five would whole heartedly agree with this

FRIDAY FUNNY

quote from George Bernard Shaw. I know I do.

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I’m very much hoping for a more gentle week before we meet again next time.

See you then

Diane x