Your revelatory Heyday Friday newsletter
Discover the destination of my recent road trip, uncover secret stories of historical heroes, learn how to deter unwelcome house guests and meet a deliriously happy dog in this week's newsletter
Hello!
I know you’ve been longing to discover where the memorable but somewhat under the radar part of the UK was that I visited on my recent road trip. Well now you can.
Or rather, you can when you click HERE to read this week’s blog.
By way of tempting you have a look, I’ll tell you that it’s somewhere with a plethora of fascinating and fabulous ancient buildings, albeit some of them in a glamorously ruined state.
Somewhere with a crucial road that’s only passable at low tide.
And somewhere that has a stretch of coastline that is as magnificent as any I’ve visited on our shores.
See? (There’s another clue in that pic if you look closely.)
All is revealed and shared in THE BLOG, but feel free not to tell too many other people about it.
WORDS OF WISDOM
It’s a long drive from London to the part of the country I visited (there’s another clue), so my lovely sister-in-law who I did the trip with and I broke our journey and stayed overnight in a wonderfully comfortable, quirkly stylish B&B (find out where by reading THE BLOG). Filled with witty ornaments and works of art, this was one that particularly caught my eye. It also ties in with this week’s listening recommendation (see below) which I find enormously satisfying.
WHAT’S MADE ME HAPPY THIS WEEK
I promise I’ll stop flogging THE BLOG after this, but this adorably over-excited hound would definitely have been even more delirious (hard to imagine, I know) if he had been taken to one particular beach that we visited on our trip and joined the dozens of other wildly happy dogs careering around on it.
SMART SAVE TIPS OF THE WEEK
For one brief, tantalising day it seemed as if spring was actually beginning to spring here in London. Naturally we’re back to rain and cold again, sigh. But also naturally, at the first suggestion of the season finally turning, ants have started to put in their annual appearances. Sure as spring eventually follows winter, they will soon be joined by all manner of other unwelcome visitors with wings and/or more legs than strictly required.
In the spirit of trying to deter uninvited buggy company in the most chemical-free way possible, here are four natural methods to keep pests at bay with thanks to the excellent Instagram account what.sophie.does
Pouring boiling water down the sink eliminates drain flies and their larvae
Mopping your floors with citrus oil - orange or lemon - mixed in with the liquid keeps spiders away
Cinnamon is a natural ant repellant so put some - in stick or powder form - in the ants path (cinnamon is actually a remarkable household master tasker, so I’ll dedicate this spot to it’s clever properties another time)
Get rid of fruit flies with a vinegar and soap trap. Put out a small bowl with cider vinegar and a squeeze of washing up liquid next to your fruit bowl. The flies are attracted to the vinegar and and then can’t fly away because of the soap.
THIS WEEK I’VE BEEN…..LISTENING TO
How a young leprosy sufferer became one of the most daring spies in the Philippines; the story of two English opera-loving spinster sisters who helped Jews to escape from Nazi Germany, the remarkable team of Norwegian skiers who endured unimaginable conditions to stop Hitler from getting the materials he wanted to create an atomic bomb; and the secret American army unit whose only job was to put on a show and blow things up (but not in the way you think).
These are just some of the incredible true stories in the, so far 22, episodes of this riveting Radio 4 series, which is available in full as a podcast and on BBC Sounds. Focusing on the unsung, and in some cases previously unheard of, men and women who took on daring, frequently enormously dangerous missions to help undermine, confuse and ultimately defeat the enemy during World War Two.
Narrated by Helena Bonham-Carter, who surely has the most mellifluous voice you’ll ever enjoy pouring out of your speakers or earphones, History’s Secret Heroes uncovers unforgettable stories of extraordinary heroism and bravery.
Listen to History’s Secret Heroes on Radio 4, wherever you get your podcasts or on BBC Sounds
And hear a taster HERE
FRIDAY FUNNY
This seemed to neatly tie together the last two items (and you know I do love it when things link together seamlessly)
That’s it for this week. A big thank you to Heydayer Marion who recommended History’s Secret Heroes to me. I’m always on the look out for new things to watch, read and listen to, so please share your suggestions in the comments. I’m sure I’m not the only one who will enjoy sampling them.
I have two happy family celebrations coming up over the long weekend. On Friday (that’s tomorrow at the time of writing) my lovely nephew is getting married, then on Sunday it’s my littlest grand-girl’s 2nd birthday party. I fully expect, and indeed hope, to be collapsed on my sofa stuffed full of joy and sugar by bank holiday Monday.
Have a joyous May bank holiday whatever you’re doing and whoever you’re doing it with.
See you next time
Congratulations to your nephew.
And happy early birthday to your grand girl. :).