Friday Treats #2

24/11/23

Welcome to the second edition of Friday Treats!

Here is a round-up of some cultural highlights that I’ve been enjoying this week, including book recommendations, podcasts, articles, Substack shares, and other observations.

I hope that you enjoy this and please share your own treats too 🎁

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• 📖 I picked up The Break by Marian Keyes from my local library last week. It is about a woman whose husband takes a six-month break from their relationship and family to go travelling, but says that he doesn’t want to leave her. It’s both funny and heartbreaking in parts, and I am a third of the way through (no spoilers please 😆). And speaking of Marian Keyes…

• Now You’re Asking is back, the podcast Keyes co-hosts with fellow agony aunt, Tara Flynn. I remember once being out running and had to stop because I was laughing so hard listening to an episode about neighbourhood dramas that involved a pink flamingo and an Elvis shrine.

• 📖 And another book recommendation, Eligible by Curtis Sittenfeld¹, which I also picked up from my local library. Having read a couple of Sittenfeld’s other books (Prep and her more recent release, Romantic Comedy), I was looking forward to exploring more of her work. Eligible is a modern retelling of Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen set in the USA, and I loved it! I loved it so much that I rewatched the BBC classic TV series from 1995 for the millionth time (it is available on BBC iPlayer). Bliss…

• There has been some cracking stuff to read on Substack this week, and I am still working my way through some of the posts that I have saved, but I thoroughly enjoyed this conversation between

  Hannah Ashe
  and
  Kristi Koeter
  about career change. Kristi describes career pivots, how her husband provided valuable advice when she needed it, as well as sharing other insights into diet and health.

• Robbie Williams on Netflix - I was intrigued to watch this documentary series as I was a huge Take That fan as a teen, and even managed to see them as a five-some in 1994 at Manchester Arena. My mum still has the mug I bought with my pocket money from the concert! While the documentary provided insights into fame, its trappings, and Robbie’s spirals (plural) into depression, anxiety, and problems with addiction - I felt like it needed more talking heads, if just to ground some of what he experienced as seen through other people’s eyes. Instead of a video to the documentary’s trailer, here’s a video of one his finest songs in my view. More Kylie collabs please.

• Is it a bed, or is it a power rack? I saw an advert this week for something that combines both. A British company (PIVOT) has produced a home gym that includes a rower, pull-up bars, barbell storage, and a bed to keep everything in²! Gives a whole new meaning to power-naps 🛌 🏋🏻‍♂️

• It was American Thanksgiving yesterday and I am looking forward to doing some celebrating this weekend with my husband and some friends.

  Have a great weekend and thanks for reading!

  Sarah xx

1. Admittedly, I read this book a few weeks ago.

2. There are various packages available at different price points.