Bucks &amp; Oxon


<h2 class="wp-block-heading">I&#8217;M VISITING: <a href="https://www.tate.org.uk/whats-on/tate-britain/exhibition/aubrey-beardsley" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Aubrey Beardsley (opens in a new tab)">Aubrey Beardsley</a> at Tate Britain</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="1374" src="https://bucksoxon.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/08/Aubrey-Beardsley-Tate-Britain.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-107855" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/08/Aubrey-Beardsley-Tate-Britain.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/08/Aubrey-Beardsley-Tate-Britain-218x300.jpg 218w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/08/Aubrey-Beardsley-Tate-Britain-364x500.jpg 364w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/08/Aubrey-Beardsley-Tate-Britain-109x150.jpg 109w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/08/Aubrey-Beardsley-Tate-Britain-382x525.jpg 382w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>Oh art, how I&#8217;ve missed you! This month I&#8217;m hopping a train to Tate Britain pronto to check out their new exhibition of Aubrey Beardsley illustrations (it opened in early March and then was promptly closed again). The show features over 200 of his stylish black and white drawings (the largest collection in over 50 years, apparently) against brightly coloured walls, including the original illustrations for Oscar Wilde&#8217;s <em>Salomé</em>. A master draughtsman at the top of his game. Open until Sun 20 Sept. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>I&#8217;M LISTENING TO: <a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/71mvGXupfKcmO6jlmOJQTP" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="The Michelle Obama Podcast (opens in a new tab)">The Michelle Obama Podcast</a></strong></h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="1000" src="https://bucksoxon.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/08/Michelle-Obama-podcast.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-107857" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/08/Michelle-Obama-podcast.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/08/Michelle-Obama-podcast-300x300.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/08/Michelle-Obama-podcast-500x500.jpg 500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/08/Michelle-Obama-podcast-150x150.jpg 150w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/08/Michelle-Obama-podcast-525x525.jpg 525w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/08/Michelle-Obama-podcast-200x200.jpg 200w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>I loved Mrs O&#8217;s Netflix documentary <em>Becoming</em> so will absolutely be adding her new Spotify podcast to my must-play list. Sadly, it won&#8217;t give you the secret of <em>those</em> arms (as far as I know), but it will feature nine deep conversations with the former First Lady&#8217;s friends, family and colleagues &#8211; starting with Barack himself. Talk about a power couple. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>I&#8217;M STREAMING: <a href="https://www.oldvictheatre.com/whats-on/2020/old-vic-in-camera/three-kings" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Three Kings (opens in a new tab)">Three Kings</a> at Old Vic: In Camera</strong></h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="595" height="500" src="https://bucksoxon.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/08/Three-Kings-Old-Vic-595x500.png" alt="" class="wp-image-107858" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/08/Three-Kings-Old-Vic-595x500.png 595w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/08/Three-Kings-Old-Vic-300x252.png 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/08/Three-Kings-Old-Vic-150x126.png 150w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/08/Three-Kings-Old-Vic-624x525.png 624w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/08/Three-Kings-Old-Vic.png 1000w" sizes="(max-width: 595px) 100vw, 595px" /></figure>



<p>Hot priest alert! With opening dates for live theatre sadly being pushed (again), I&#8217;m consoling myself &#8211; and supporting the industry &#8211; by streaming <em>Three Kings</em>, a new Stephen Beresford play by written for and starring <em>Fleabag</em>’s Andrew Scott. Five performances will be streamed live directly from the Old Vic stage against the backdrop of an empty auditorium.  I have goosebumps already. Tickets start at £10, and performances start on Friday 7 August. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">I&#8217;M DANCING TO: <em>Imploding The Mirage</em> by The Killers and <em>Dreamland</em> by Glass Animals</h2>



<p>Two shiny new album releases to look forward to this month, the first being from Oxon local boys Glass Animals. After pushing their July release date by a month, new album Dreamland lands on Friday 7 August &#8211; get a taster with their single Heat Waves (appropriate for this weather, no?). </p>



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<p>Later in the month, I&#8217;ll be adding the newest album from The Killers to my playlist &#8211; their first since 2017&#8217;s Wonderful Wonderful. Imploding The Mirage lands on Friday 21 August. </p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="1000" src="https://bucksoxon.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/08/The-Killers-Imploding-the-Mirage.jpg" alt="The Killers Imploding the Mirage" class="wp-image-107859" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/08/The-Killers-Imploding-the-Mirage.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/08/The-Killers-Imploding-the-Mirage-300x300.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/08/The-Killers-Imploding-the-Mirage-500x500.jpg 500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/08/The-Killers-Imploding-the-Mirage-150x150.jpg 150w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/08/The-Killers-Imploding-the-Mirage-525x525.jpg 525w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/08/The-Killers-Imploding-the-Mirage-200x200.jpg 200w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">I&#8217;M READING: <em>The New Wilderness</em> by Diane Cook</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="1271" src="https://bucksoxon.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/08/the-new-wilderness-by-diane-cook.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-107860" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/08/the-new-wilderness-by-diane-cook.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/08/the-new-wilderness-by-diane-cook-236x300.jpg 236w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/08/the-new-wilderness-by-diane-cook-393x500.jpg 393w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/08/the-new-wilderness-by-diane-cook-118x150.jpg 118w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/08/the-new-wilderness-by-diane-cook-413x525.jpg 413w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>Dystopian fiction might seem a little on-the-nose in current climes but that won&#8217;t stop me digging into this debut novel from Diane Cook when it drops on Thursday 13 August. Longlisted for the Booker Prize 2020, <em>The New Wilderness </em>tells the story of a mother&#8217;s battle to save her daughter from a world destroyed by climate change. Depressing and compelling in equal measure. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">I&#8217;M WATCHING: <em><a href="https://www.sky.com/watch/lovecraft-country" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Lovecraft Country (opens in a new tab)">Lovecraft Country</a></em>, Sky Atlantic</h2>



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<iframe loading="lazy" title="Lovecraft Country | Official Trailer | Sky Atlantic" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Kaszc0IrkE8?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>
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<p>Blimey, have you ever seen a trailer with more stuffed into it? You&#8217;ve got racial tension, supernatural horror and a family mystery, all wrapped up in 1950s Americana &#8211; if that isn&#8217;t enough to persuade to you to watch HBO original Lovecraft Country, I&#8217;m not sure what is. Make a date: Sky Atlantic, Monday 17 August.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">I&#8217;M MAKING: Cake with Benjamina Ebuehi</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="1148" src="https://bucksoxon.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/08/Benjamina-Ebuehi.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-107861" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/08/Benjamina-Ebuehi.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/08/Benjamina-Ebuehi-261x300.jpg 261w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/08/Benjamina-Ebuehi-436x500.jpg 436w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/08/Benjamina-Ebuehi-131x150.jpg 131w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/08/Benjamina-Ebuehi-457x525.jpg 457w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>After all that, I&#8217;ll need a little something to lighten the mood (and something sweet to snack on never goes amiss). Luckily, GBBO quarter finalist Benjamina Ebuehi is holding a <a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="free Zoom bake-along class (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/benjamina-ebuehis-new-way-to-cake-tickets-114537643174" target="_blank">free Zoom bake-along class</a> in association with Anthropologie on Tuesday 25 August, making lime, mango and coconut lamingtons (an Australian cake, if you&#8217;re wondering) from her new cookbook. It&#8217;s free to attend, but donations to <a href="https://www.stephenlawrence.org.uk/what-we-do/">The Stephen Lawrence Charitable Trust</a> are encouraged. Diet starts next month. </p>


Culture queen! My August highlights

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