Some things that made me smile in... May 2024
Including Biba, Birmingham and baked goods at Bunhead Bakery
If you’re a regular here, welcome back! If you’re new, this is my round up of some of the things that have made me smile over the past month. Please feel free to share in the comments anything that’s brought you joy too, whether big or small! Are you currently a free subscriber but would like to upgrade? You can do that here.
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It’s been a mixed month of highs and lows, the main personal low being an old back injury flaring up badly for the first time in almost a decade. Though the pain was not unfamiliar it was a shock because it hadn’t happened for so long. It’s meant that May has not quite been what I imagined it would be. It’s been a good lesson and is allowing me to reflect. As I write this, things are much better than they were, but on-going patience and kindness towards myself are on my prescription.
Bunhead Bakery – Sourdough Buns, Palestinian Flavours
I spied the brand new Bunhead Bakery store in Herne Hill on my way home from teaching my weekly class at Yoga Point. Alas, they weren’t open that day but I made a note and vowed to come back, and three days later I did just that.
Tip: If you do plan to visit, aim to arrive as early as you can to avoid disappointment! I luckily got my hands on a rose and cardamom bun before they sold out for the day.
Their website states their mission:
“At Bunhead Bakery, we aim to create good wholesome food that not only tastes amazing, but also connects people to the rich history and flavours of Palestine. We believe that by sharing culture, we can build awareness whilst bringing people together in a spirit of joy and celebration.”
Read more about Bunhead founder, Sara and Georgia here:
If you’re not in London (or indeed, if you are) you can now pre-order a number of items from Bunhead Bakery’s online shop. 100% of all profits will be going to Gaza and the West Bank via The Palestinian Journalists Syndicate.
Bunhead Bakery is located at 145 Dulwich Road, London SE24 0NG. Open Thurs/Fri 8am-sellout and Sat/Sun 10am-sellout. Find out more via their website here.
One Ukrainian Summer – A memoir about falling in love and coming of age in the former USSR
I’m currently listening to and loving the audiobook of this heart-warming coming-of-age memoir by Viv Groskop.
In 1993, Viv is about to turn 21 and is on a study year abroad in the former USSR. When she meets Bogdan Bogdanovich – the lead guitarist of a Ukrainian punk rock band (dubbed Ukraine’s answer to the Red Hot Chilli Peppers) - Viv finds herself more focussed on him than her studies. Bogdan promises Viv that if she can get through the freezing Russian winter, he will give her “one Ukrainian summer.”
I’m finding One Ukrainian Summer to be poignant and funny and a unique snapshot of a particular time.
Added to this, as someone who moved into my young adult years in the 1990s, I remember the end of the Cold War and the fall of the Soviet Union but only through the lens of western media. This first-hand account of living and studying in this part of the world in the early 1990s shares insights into some of the human stories behind the often cold and one-dimensional images we were fed at the time.
There is an added level of poignancy here too because, as we know, it’s now over two years since the war in Ukraine began.
All author proceeds for One Ukrainian Summer are going to PEN International, an NGO that works to protect, shelter and resettle writers at risk. Whether poets or members of the press, we have seen that in countless conflicts around the world writers are persecuted, imprisoned and even killed in the line of their work. Find out more about PEN International here.
And purchase One Ukrainian Summer here.
The Biba Story in Bermondsey
On one of the sunniest days of the year so far I headed to the Fashion + Textile Museum (the bright pink and yellow building on Bermondsey Street) with school friends to check out The Biba Story.
Founded by Barbara Hulanicki in 1963, this exhibition explores how Biba went from an affordable fashion mail-order company appealing to young women to becoming the world’s first lifestyle label.
Though the legendary Big Biba store closed its doors in 1975 – just 11 years after the first Biba boutique opened – the impact of Biba’s designs has been long-lasting. Looking at many of the clothes on display it’s clear to see how elements of Biba’s style continue to influence fashion up to the present day.
While at the exhibition we got chatting to a two ladies who used to shop at the Big Biba store on Kensington High Street when they were younger, one of whom said she still had some of her old Biba clothes in her attic(!) It was fun to listen to them reminisce and describe what if felt like to visit Big Biba at the time. The demise of Biba came before I was born, so meeting people who were there at the time and wore the clothes added some lovely context to this exhibition visit.
The Biba Story 1964-1975 is on until 8th September 2024 at the Fashion + Textile Museum, 83 Bermondsey Street, London SE1 3XF. Open Tuesdays to Saturdays 11am-6pm. Cost: £12.65 (Concessions may apply)
A brilliant and bonkers experience in Brum
The month kicked off with being in the audience for the live broadcast of an episode of Channel 4 show Late Night Lycett in Birmingham courtesy of a mate. It was an experience I won’t forget in a hurry!
I worked on a lot of live TV many years ago and to this day I love watching live television because of that feeling that anything can happen. But even so, I was not ready for what I witnessed. It was brilliant, bonkers and all the better because I was able to experience it with very good friends, as well as see a couple of old work colleagues for the first time in years.
If you haven’t seen the show before it’s not something I can adequately put onto words (sorry!), but if you have access to Channel 4 online you can see it here.
I have a soft spot for Joe Lycett for a number of reasons, not least his comments during the live transmission of the Commonwealth Games opening ceremony in Birmingham (IYKYK).
I didn’t realise just how much I needed the big belly laughs that this whole experience gave me. Always grateful for good friends and laughter!
Not giving in to hopelessness
It’s really easy to feel powerless and hopeless at the moment. But bearing witness matters as does doing what you can from where you are. For instance, if you don’t have money to donate to a particular cause, amplifying the work of others can help.
Here are just a few organisations and people you might like to learn more about and support:
One Million Sustainable Pads Campaign
If you know of any others, please do feel free to share in the comments below.
Finally… this month’s kitchen dance track is one I seem to be hearing everywhere and can’t get out of my head. This is Alive! By Bakar:
Over to you - I’d love to know:
The world is heavy at the moment. Where have you found joy this month?
What organisation or charity do you think more people should know about / support?
What are your current favourite small businesses?
Thanks for such a beautiful share Paula, so very apt for current times, thank you for your perception🙏🏾💜