Whether or not you watched it, you’ll probably agree that Friends was a tv and cultural phenomenon. For ten years those six pretty people graced our screens and, for some of us, they continue to do so with timeless wit and humour bursting forth on a Comedy Central loop. The characters were each so well written, accurately developed and consistent over the course of the decade they shared with us viewers. Their lines were perfectly delivered making us feel for them as genuine friends.
I was a similar age to these ‘friends’ when the seasons first aired, so able to relate to the trials and tribulations of their lives with ease and laughter. But anyway, my friends are better!
So it was with a fair amount of giggling that Gill and I drove over to Clissold Park, in what was once a horribly run-down part of Hackney but is now a highly sought after residential area. First of all, the café was fabulous. We had lunch in the converted manor house then wandered across to the first Friends Fest I’ve ever heard of in the UK.
It was partly rubbish, partly awesome. No celebrities were evident but the girls taking photos in ‘Central Park’ and ‘Central Perk’ were lovely, and we had such fun! The highlight of the afternoon was a studio tour of the sets of the Manhattan apartments which served as centre stage for the whole decade. We posted loads of pics on Facebook of course, plus a few on Instagram.
In the programme, Monica was a chef – and being in ‘her kitchen’ inspired me to bake a little extra when I got home. The Jewish New Year is always a good excuse to whack out a couple of honey cakes and my new gluten-free, dairy-free chocolate brownies went down a storm. Sharon provided three amazing desserts for Thursday night when 20 cousins came for dinner (thanks again, Sharon!) – and I followed up with platters of cinnamon balls (wrong holiday) and Italian orange and almond cookies (not Jewish at all but my new best thing). Happy new year to everyone who’s celebrating!
Instead of attending synagogue on Friday, I accidentally went instead to the V&A to catch the Pink Floyd exhibition before it closes next month. Their Mortal Remains is Amazing with a capital A. Although, the aspects I loved were less about the men and their music and more about the fantastic, surrealist art. I knew very little about this iconic band other than their hit Another brick in the wall. I used lyrics from that song in a school social studies essay and I remember the teacher (Beryl Evans) correcting them! It really peed me off at the time – and, clearly, I still hold a grudge, remembering it well some 37 years later!
We also visited the Balenciaga Shaping Fashion exhibition, a display of the influential designer’s exquisite work. It takes me back to my fashion buying days and makes me wonder, again, how my life might have panned out if I’d stuck to that career instead of diverting at the age of 23. My job was actually very similar to Rachel’s in Friends.
Was this a one-hit wonder for the Rembrandts? I don’t know what else they’ve done, but they certainly hit the jackpot with this song! “So no one told you life was gonna be this way. Your job’s a joke, you’re broke; your love life’s D.O.A. It’s like you’re always stuck in second gear – when it hasn’t been your day, your week, your month or even your year.”
My job’s no joke. It certainly makes me smile but it’s very important, especially for business owners who don’t have the time, skills or manpower to handle their own social media. There’s no need for your business to be stuck in second gear – I’ll help you get a move on. “I’ll be there for you!!” Here I am: @WeekendWitch.
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