Sunday Smörgåsbord #060
Transatlantic twins, unlikely thieves and the Man Who Knew Too Much.
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Happy Sunday friends,
The state of the world has got me taking a lot of baths lately.
One of my best decisions in this flat reno was to plump for a giant bathroom with separate bath and shower space. Yes, I lost about one square metre of space from the main bedroom as a result, but it’s worth it to be able to have a soak each night.
To make my ablutions extra zen, I took a tip from and bought a star projector.
Game. Changer. Fifteen minutes and I can feel the stress physically melting away.
I could get used to this. In fact, I already am too used to this: I fear my first water bill. Wish me luck.
Emma x
🍳 Recent servings, in case you missed them…
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📰 Features & Podcasts
‘Saoirse Ronan ‘absolutely right’ about women’s safety fears, says Gladiator combat trainer’, The Guardian. Last month footage from Graham Norton’s weekly chat show went viral, when Saoirse Ronan called out the total male-privilege blindness of her co-sofa-stars. This weekend, the movie military advisor Paul Biddiss, who trained both Mescal and Redmayne on their respective shows, weighed in, keen I’m sure to squeeze every possible ounce of PR opportunity out of it. They’ve picked the story right though: that women are generally harder for professionals to follow (though they don’t specify which kind of pros… spies… assassins…masterchefs?) And clearly it worked, I bit!
‘They were best mates. Then one had a baby, while the other struggled. Two brutally honest takes on what happens when motherhood affects friendship’, The Guardian. I’m a huge believer that many friendships drift apart not because either side wanted them to, but just that it got to a point when it was harder to reach out across a divide than to cross it. Someone regrets not texting for three months, so they go another three without, and then another three. Another forgets a birthday and near dies from the shame so disappears entirely, instead of just picking up the phone to say sorry (and happy belated birthday!) And when kids come into the mix, it’s natural these ‘divides’ can seem greater, when a typical Saturday night looks different and priorities have changed. This is a vulnerable piece on what it’s like to be on both sides of that divide after kids.
🎨 Arts, Culture & Entertainment
The Man Who Knew Too Much (dir. Hitchcock, 1956). Every so often I love to spend a lazy Sunday morning watching a film I’ve already seen around a hundred times. Today it was the turn of Hitchcock’s The Man Who Knew Too Much, with James Stewart and Doris Day. It’s not considered one of his best: it takes a while to really get started, it’s more than a little ridiculous and extremely of its time (there are a few occasions where I actually wince). I know, I’m really selling it, but stick with it for lush locations, suspenseful set-pieces and taut action scenes. It may also be the only Hitchcock movie with a song!
The Parent Trap (dir. Meyers, 1998). Is it just me or was ‘trying to get divorced parents back together’ a core plot point of 90s kids films? If so, this classic remake has to be the gold standard, with the added twist of each parent having custody of an identical twin on two sides of the Atlantic ocean who know nothing about the arrangement until they meet at summer camp. Both twins are played by Lindsey Lohan (with impeccable comic timing), and Dennis Quaid and Natasha Richardson star as their glamorous Mum and Dad. Glamorous, but supremely messed up… I mean, what parent decides this is the best route forward!? Happy to report it’s not just me who thinks this, I found an entire Reddit thread on this madness. (Also, how is Meredith Blake supposed to be 27!?)
Joan, ITV. Sophie Turner (Game of Thrones) is excellent in this perfect mini-series for Autumn nights which is based on a true story. On the run from her awful ex and desperate to get her daughter back from foster care, Joan Harrington swallows five stolen diamonds, kicking off a career change that sees her become known as London’s ‘Godmother’ of crime. As a child of the eighties I loved the brash fashion, nostalgic soundtrack, and gaudy bling on show, and Turner is fantastic at making Joan someone to root for even as she’s scamming people left, right and centre. It’s been a while since I’ve seen so many wigs, and fur coats!
📺 What have you seen lately that’s worth a read, watch or listen? Let me know in the comments.
🍹 Lifestyle
Pre-Theatre Dinner Menu at Ham Yard Hotel. With my writing course starting at 1900 each Tuesday evening I’m fast becoming an expert in London’s best pre-theatre menus. This week it was the turn of Ham Yard hotel, where I ate with a friend at the godawful time of 5pm. That’s practically Spanish lunchtime! At least in London it was already dark. For £29 I had a smoked salmon and horseradish mousse on rye chips, followed by confit duck leg and cavolo negro, topped off with a glass of crémant. For £5 more I could have included dessert, but three courses by 6pm was too much even for me. Plus, I always sneak a biscuit or two after, at the writing centre.
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 Scrambled Eggs. 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.
That looks like a DREAMY bath!
Whenever I read your newsletter, I think, I want to do a smorgasbord!!! Yours is so much fun and you do it so well. It's ideal cocktail for Sunday evening.