I rather like Instagram – photos of exotic places are my favourite – but even the hardened cynics and eye-rollers among us need to keep our wits about us. You never know what will trigger unexpected and possibly unwelcome emotions. I have to confess to a bit of travel/lifestyle envy of a couple who live in Oaxaca, Mexico, and are currently on a year-long Airbnb extravaganza that gives them the opportunity to live in wonderful locations around the world. They’ve been in Tunisia and Sicily and are now seeing fabulous things in Tanzania, Kenya and South Africa. If I’m honest, I couldn’t cope with that much travelling, but I think I am envious of people with such a sense of adventure. Or maybe just full of admiration.
I don’t follow diet and exercise talking heads because I can’t summon up enough interest in either subject. Although I do occasionally make an exception and have to admit that I was so curious about Brooklyn Beckham’s latest transformation into a cook that I watched a video of him making supper for his girlfriend. He spent much of the video working up a sweat trying to cut off the top section of an 80-pound wheel of Grana Padano by attacking it with knives. He also made his own fresh pasta and two little pecan pies for afters. They sat down to eat the pasta dish and his girlfriend managed to eat one mouthful before he whisked it away and then served up dessert. “Cute” was her verdict. And what happened to that giant cheese I wondered? His girlfriend certainly didn’t eat it because after the meal you see her taking a lactaid pill because she can’t eat dairy products. Not so cute.
I was quite appalled at the extravagance (apparently the price tag on the cheese was £400) and also wondered how it had slipped Brooklyn Beckham’s mind that his girlfriend couldn’t tolerate lactose. I don’t think a career as a restaurant chef is beckoning. And I won’t be following him on Instagram in search of cooking tips. Even I, the leftover queen, couldn’t manage to think of enough creative ways to use up 80 pounds worth of cheese.
I think the worst things you see on Instagram, often when you least expect it, are those supposedly inspirational little platitudes, you know the ones about life not being a rehearsal, your light lighting up the world, missing 100% of the shots you never take. I recently came across this one: “Be with a partner who triggers lightness and wonder.” Well, that’s a lot to ask of anyone! Can you imagine the burden of triggering lightness and wonder? The effort! I wouldn’t know where to start, but I suspect that remembering you partner was lactose intolerant might be a good place to begin.