Your treat-filled Heyday Friday newsletter
Delights galore in this week's newsletter including a brilliant new exhibition, a clever storage solution, the hilarious contents of an actress's handbag, and a memorable film recommendation
Hello and happy December!
I had a treat of an experience last weekend which I share with you in this week’s blog. It was a visit to the new exhibition by my absolute favourite sculptor, someone whose work is recognised worldwide, and whose thought-provoking, often moving, never less than memorable pieces have been, and are, on display in places as varied as a 3km stretch of beach on the North West coast, St Paul’s Cathedral, and beside a lake in Western Australia.
He’s famous for using his own naked body as the template for much of his work and for creating a monumental piece that is seen by thousands of drivers every day.
Here’s another clue, and a little taste of that new exhibition
Find out who he is and discover his latest creations and why he describes them as “probably my most obviously political work” by CLICKING HERE.
I can’t find who said these
WORDS OF WISDOM
which can certainly apply to life just as much as art, but I really love them
WHAT’S MADE ME HAPPY THIS WEEK
Apart from visiting that brilliant exhibition, of course. Well that would be this video of actress Jennifer Garner revealing the contents of her bag. Be honest now, how much can you relate to what she finds in there?!
SMART SAVE TIP OF THE WEEK
Having had a long overdue sort-out of the shelves in my wardrobe that have been increasingly messily stacked with piles of t-shirts that topple over and get annoyingly disorganised each time I try to extricate one, I decided to try a different way of storing them, which, having had them like this for several weeks, I can highly recommend.
Instead of the teetering piles (I should have taken a before pic, but take my word for it, it wasn’t a pretty sight), my t-shirts are now rolled up inside this three-drawer storage chest from IKEA (which costs £17), and not only are they more easily visible and accessible, they take up half the space they did before.
THIS WEEK I’VE BEEN…..WATCHING
If the sculptor whose exhibition I write about in THIS WEEK’S BLOG, suffers for his art by having his naked body repeatedly encased in plaster, then Annette Bening can surely claim to have suffered nearly as much by spending what must have been countless hours in the water playing Diana Nyad, the long distance swimmer who, at the age of 60, decided to attempt to achieve her lifelong dream of swimming from Cuba to Florida, a 110 mile marathon that had defeated her at the age of 28.
I can’t pretend that NYAD is a relaxing film to watch, it’s positively exhausting, and at times distressing, to witness Diana’s relentlessly dogged preparation and (spoiler alert) multiple failed attempts, though not as exhausting as it must have been for her, or Annette, whose swimming prowess and stamina can only be admired.
However, this engrossing bio-pic benefits not just from Bening’s nuanced and layered performance as the tenacious, determined (for which read bloody minded), damaged Diana, but an equally spirited, dynamic and watchable turn from Jodie Foster as Diana’s indispensable closest friend and initially reluctant coach, Bonnie and an unexpectedly convincing performance by Welsh actor Rhys Ifans as the gruff American captain of the boat that accompanies and guides Nyad on each of her epic swims.
Actual footage of the real Diana is intercut with action in the film, lending it even more authenticity and interest - especially as both Benning and Foster look remarkably like the real life women they play. And the ending (more spoilers) when, after four years, and five attempts Diana finally realises her dream, is a full-on tear-jearker.
Oh, and don’t turn off before you watch the end credits. You’ll see why.
You can watch NYAD on Netflix
And see the trailer HERE
FRIDAY FUNNY
I’m in charge of two of my little grand-girls for the weekend, this weekend. I’d definitely like to take them to this pub.
I have a busy schedule of activities and outings planned for the girls, by the end of which I strongly suspect I’ll be comatose in a darkened room!
I’ll let you know next time.
Until then, hope your week is filled with plenty of fun…..and rest.