As Guernsey enters into stage 2 of lockdown, islanders are now able to eat at restaurants and spend time in bubbles of up to four households, life is slowly beginning to return to normality. However one thing that is still a constant for the Orchard team, is our recommendations to each other on what to read, watch and listen to.
In this week’s Orchard Culture Fix, Chris shares his podcast recommendation, which was vital during lockdown, Laura discovers her new favourite literary character and Mike learns French.
What our Managing Director Chris is listening to
Name: Homeschool History
Where: BBC Sounds, Apple podcast and Spotify
Why you should listen:
School closures due to lockdown saw many of us juggling a full-time job with another full-time job, that of the dreaded homeschooling. Often this was a case of quickly finding our ‘students’ something constructive or educational to do while Mummy and Daddy took care of Teams calls and other important ‘day job’ essentials.
If you know (and, like me, love) the excellent book and TV series ‘Horrible Histories’ you will find familiar ground here, with host Greg Jenner finding the best, most interesting and most gruesome facts from a range of topics and historical periods. This is our families firm lunch–time favourite – with just enough time to scoff some sandwiches before the quiz at the end starts – and who doesn’t love a quiz. It’s fun and entertaining as well as full of facts and perfect for 20 minutes of peace and quiet…
What our Account Manager Laura is reading
Name: Queenie
Who: Candice Carty-Williams
Why you should read:
Queenie is the debut novel from Candice Carty-Williams which quickly became a Sunday Times Bestseller and won the coveted prize of Book of the Year at the British Book Awards 2020. The story follows a young British-Jamaican woman named Queenie who is on a break from her long-term boyfriend (think a Ross and Rachel kind of break) and is desperately trying to navigate her way through life as she makes one questionable decision after another.
Set in south London, this book is a hilarious coming of age story that will make you laugh, cry and learn about Black British culture in a way that is rarely represented in mainstream fiction. As the world recently marked International Women’s Day, I’d thoroughly recommend this novel as it explores what it means to be a modern woman searching for meaning in today’s world.
What our Digital Content Director Mike is watching
Name: Call my Agent
Where: Netflix
Why you should watch:
J’adore la France et j’adore Paris, apart from when we play them at rugby.
Malheuresment the pandemic has put an end to any foreseeable trips à Paris. So I’m having to get my French fix from a Netflix series, “Call My Agent!”
It’s set in a fictional Parisian talent agency where they represent the biggest names in French cinema, with cameos from genuine stars such as Isabelle Adjani, Charlotte Gainsbourg, and even Sigourney Weaver, playing themselves. But the real drama is among the junior and senior agents, who are the biggest divas of the lot as they try to juggle working in a hostile industry and their own messy personal lives. They are competitive and cut-throat, doing whatever it takes to seal the deal.
Balanced against this backstabbing and devious world and the film industry’s glitz is a dry Gallic sense of humour and a distinct lack of glamour. Roll on the summer when we can all hopefully roll-off Condor to enjoy our own slice of French fun!