Remembering Penelope Keith
The week began with the sad news of Penelope Keith’s death on Monday, prompting those over 40 to revisit her memorable performances. Her roles in sitcoms from the late 1970s, such as The Good Life, remain deeply ingrained in the national consciousness alongside classics like Fawlty Towers and Dad’s Army. While some contemporaries like Wendy Craig and Geoffrey Palmer from Butterflies have faded, The Good Life endures.
In the series, Tom and Barbara were central characters, but Keith’s portrayal of Margo Leadbetter was the true standout. Audiences admired Margo for her distinctive wardrobe, innocence, and her lanky frame contorting into slapstick poses, often met with Jerry’s eye rolls. Margo embodied the era’s English woman—disdainful yet perplexed—reminiscent of the women in today’s Motherland. Keith’s guilelessness, even in her most commanding moments, evoked empathy.
Further insights into Keith’s career emerged this week: she was trained at the Royal Shakespeare Company and portrayed Beatrice opposite Michael York’s Benedick in a 1978 TV adaptation of Much Ado About Nothing. Much of Margo’s wardrobe in The Good Life came from Harrods or designer Frank Usher, known for flowy, voluminous styles. Keith’s subsequent sitcom, To the Manor Born, though less enduring, has been likened to a Somerset version of Schitt’s Creek.
Keith’s gentle presence was well captured by her co-star Paul Eddington in his final TV interview over 30 years ago. When asked about his desired epitaph, Eddington replied thoughtfully:
“I think I would like it to be ‘he did very little harm.’”
The modesty of this statement, coupled with the joy both actors brought to audiences, marks them as rare and cherished figures.
Serena Williams’s Wimbledon Return
On Tuesday, Serena Williams returned to Centre Court after a four-year hiatus, facing 20-year-old Australian Maya Joint. Williams, a seven-time Wimbledon champion, was defeated in three sets while her eight-year-old daughter Olympia occasionally yawned from the box. For many viewers, it was a tense moment, realizing Joint was not even born when Williams first competed at Wimbledon.
Despite the loss, Williams displayed much of her former brilliance. Watching from home, the author reflected on Williams’s remarkable form at age 44 and after having two children, pondering:
“She’s 44 and has had two kids, how is that form even possible?”
The answer lies in the exceptional nature of such athletes. The author recalls an experience at a WTA event in a Central Park South restaurant, surrounded by tennis greats Ana Ivanovic, Kim Clijsters, and Venus Williams. The presence of these athletes felt like witnessing a superior branch of evolution, a status unattainable for those who watch matches from the comfort of their sofas.
The Bayeux Tapestry Exhibition Frenzy
The author expresses a mild curiosity about viewing the Bayeux Tapestry, a 1,000-year-old embroidered cloth of significant historical importance. Despite some reservations about the term "tapestry," it is acknowledged as a valuable cultural artifact.
Interest in the upcoming exhibition at the museum was overwhelming. On Wednesday, 80,000 people queued online for tickets, and another 40,000 joined on Thursday morning only to be informed that all tickets had sold out.
The tapestry, which depicts the Norman conquest, has rarely left Normandy, only twice in its history. Its transportation is risky, with insurance valued at £800 million, a considerable claim if damaged during transit, such as through the Gare du Nord.
The author imagines the reaction of their children if told that after failing to secure tickets for a popular event, they managed to obtain access to view this ancient embroidered cloth, which was revolutionary in 1072 and captivated audiences more than modern technological marvels like the Apple Vision Pro.
Secondary School Induction Day
Thursday marked induction day at secondary school, with parents divided between anxiously overseeing their soon-to-be Year 7 children and recalling their own transitions decades ago. The current environment is markedly different.
Throughout the morning, the author frequently checked their phone for updates on their children’s locations—from the school to the bus journey home, and the shops visited en route, each transaction triggering notifications via kid debit cards.
New smartphone bans for incoming Year 7 students aim to encourage parents to relax and allow their children to navigate independently without constant online tracking. However, once accustomed to monitoring, it is difficult to relinquish control. The author notes that reminding their children of a time when parents had no knowledge of their whereabouts or spending until their return remains a shock to them, comparable to the outdated practices of no seatbelts or candy cigarettes.
Fibre and Health Trends
The article highlights a recent piece in The New Yorker discussing the trend of "fibremaxxing," emphasizing the importance of dietary fiber beyond its traditional role in digestion. The article humorously notes:
“Gastroenterologists and influencers alike are eager to explain that fibre affects health beyond ‘gut motility’, formerly known as shitting.”
The piece explores the health benefits of optimizing digestion through diet and features a food entrepreneur who consumed large quantities of blueberries during the pandemic. This led to significant personal transformations, including weight loss and improved well-being, ultimately influencing major life decisions such as seeking a divorce.
