Sunday Smörgåsbord #043 - 28.4
Singapore Dynasties, Spain's 'Succession', and Peranakan Tiles. Plus tiny languages and big life decisions.
NB: [PW] signifies a paywall, though some providers allow you to read a set number of articles for free.
Happy Sunday, friends. It’s a rare cloudy day here in Valencia so I am gearing up for a day of coffee-drinking, cooking and movie-watching - after I’ve finished this latest round-up, of course.
I’ve been reflecting on how much I enjoy writing these little culture missives to you all. Not only do I get to share what I’ve been enjoying the last week or two, they also serve as a reminder to me as the year flies by. It’s not quite ‘Pepys’ diary’ but it’s enough for me. I hope it’s enough for you too!
As ever I’d love to know any of your suggestions and own responses to anything I recommend - even (and especially) when you vehemently disagree with them!
Wishing you the Sunday you need today. Thanks for being here,
Emma
🍳 Recent servings, in case you missed them…
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📰 Features & Podcasts
‘Singapore’s Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong to step down after 20 years’, The Financial Times. The only story on the lips of Singapore’s taxi drivers was this one, and understandably: after twenty years Lee Hsien Loong is standing down as Singapore’s Prime Minister. It’s difficult to understate how huge this is, in a country that has only existed since 1965 and whose only other PM was legendary leader Lee Kuan Yew, father of the current PM Lee. Lawrence Wong, currently finance minister, will become Singapore’s third PM, and the first who isn’t part of the Lee dynasty (and mythology). The memes have all been focused on the scandals within government (many suspect Wong was not the first choice) and Lee’s one month notice which seems surreally short given his tenure.
‘Anya Culling: Briton's rapid rise from four-hour finish time to London Marathon elites’, BBC News. Five years ago Anya Culling didn’t see herself as a runner. Now she’s doing it for England, having gone from a first time of 4:34 to 2:36 in one year, and finishing the London Marathon just gone as an elite woman finishing in 16th place. Inspirational.
‘Do you speak a ‘big’ global language? Here’s what my tiny language can teach you', The Guardian. I loved this perspective on how lesser-known languages can - and should - stand their ground. In this case Slovene, which only has around 2.5 million speakers. I’m always fascinated by the intertwining of politics and culture with language learning - why do some languages survive over others? The answer is usually because their survival has been prioritised and, crucially, funded. The article also served as another reminder for me to learn some Latvian, which with only 1 million speakers has started to become an ‘at-risk’ language.
‘James’s Tim Booth: I sang Sit Down to my dying father-in-law’, The Times [PW]. The ‘Relative Values’ segment is my Sunday life-affirming read. This week’s is no different - from love, through (re)birth, to death, it covers them all. ‘The Gods had plans for us’ says Booth’s wife, Kate Shela - and I don’t think she’s wrong.
🎨 Arts, Culture & Entertainment
Or, everything I watched on the plane home…
No Sudden Move, dir. Steven Soderbergh (2021). I’d never heard of this film despite it being packed with bankable indie stars: Don Cheadle, Benicio Del Toro, Jon Hamm, Ray Liotta, Kieran Culkin, and one other I will save for the ‘hang on, is that…?’ factor. It’s a fun, dark, twisty-turner Gangster thriller, where you’re never entirely sure who to trust or what may happen next. The only downside? A little like Killers of the Flower Moon the women were all reduced to the role of ‘supporter’ or ‘sidepiece’.
State of Play, dir. Kevin Macdonald (2009). When I’m on a plane I always try to watch at least one film or show I’ve not seen before. Then once that’s done (see above), I immediately gravitate to films I love to watch over and over, no brain required. Usually this is an action film. Usually this is the Mission Impossible franchise, the Jason Bourne franchise, or All the President’s Men. But this week I mixed it up, and re-watched this excellent Hollywood adaptation of an even more excellent British TV series. Action? Check. Mystery? Check. Political conspiracy? Check. Russell Crowe and Rachel McAdams as the investigative journalists who won’t take no for an answer? Check check. I still recommend you watch the series first though (John Sim, James McAvoy, Bill Nighy… say no more).
Galgos, Movistar Plus+. Despite protestations by the makers (‘Succession and Galgos are incomparable’), this show is clearly inspired by Succession, right down to some of the storylines. Nevertheless, this Spanish TV series about a biscuit-making dynasty thrown into chaos through matters of, well, succession, is worth a watch, mostly because it’s a window into a specific echelon of Spanish culture that doesn’t usually come across in Hollywood depictions. The production values are also exquisite with beautiful location and costume details, and the script never over-egged.
📺 What have you seen lately that’s worth a watch? Let me know in the comments.
🍹 Lifestyle
For everywhere I ate, drank and went in Singapore, keep an eye out for my Little Red Book post coming next week.
Peranakan Tile Gallery, 37 Pagoda Street, Singapore. Two years ago I bought an apartment in Valencia. I don’t talk about it much (yet) because the renovation has been protracted to say the least, but it’s almost ready to move into and I can’t wait to share it. As part of the design, I wanted to weave in a few items that reminded me of other places I’d lived, and I had an idea to incorporate some of the Peranakan tiles that still stud the sides of buildings in Singapore into the bathroom. The Peranakan Chinese community were the first settlers to South East Asia from China back in the 15th century, and their design, clothing and cuisine are notable for its mix of Chinese and Malay influences. All three are stunning, but I also have a particular soft spot for their intricately designed flower tiles, each with eye-catching colourways and beautiful details. I wasn’t sure that I would ever make it back to Singapore to get any (extensive Google searching shows they’re almost impossible to find elsewhere), but the stars aligned and a work trip came just at the right time. The Peranakan Tile Gallery was filled with gems, including rare tiles from all over the world (I spotted a $600 portrait of Queen Victoria) as well as cheaper and newer, mass-produced versions. Here’s a peek at the ones I packed into my hand luggage. I can’t wait to find the perfect place for them.
💌 Substacks
‘Why haven’t we moved out of London yet?’ - A Considered Space
I really enjoyed this piece on author Eleanor Cording-Booth’s eternal dilemma about leaving the UK capital. In fact, I realised afterwards that I had already featured one of her other pieces in an earlier edition (See: Features, Sunday Smorg #34). This piece nails how hard these ‘crossroads-feeling’ decisions can be, but nicely shows how writing your thoughts out can help you determine the nub of the challenge.
That’s it for this week. I hope you find something in this list that sparks joy or curiosity.
If you’ve got any recommendations on articles, podcasts, Substacks or shows for me to dive into, please drop them in the comments. Until next time!
❤️ Thank you for reading. If you liked this post don’t forget to hit the heart to let me know and help others find my writing.
📮 And if you’re not yet subscribed, all editions of Sunday Smörgåsbord are free forever. Sign up for free and get next week’s in your inbox.
Thanks for bringing marathon runner Anya to my attention Emma, missed that. As a veteran of 2 London Marathons I can safely say that is an incredible achievement - and what a wonderful personal find for Anya! I guess we never know what's possible for each of us, until we try...