As ever#4 - As usual

[Words]

New thread!

I liked that little chat with the chef.

If Meghan was like that all the time I could see myself warming to her.

Her usual worthy word salad is so tedious, but a bit of warm chit chat makes her seem a hundred times better.

Two years, I would have thought, to develop the brand concept, raise investment capital, research and develop the initial product range, draw up the pricing strategy, develop the website and do some user testing, put together the marketing strategy, design and produce marketing collateral. So much to do. Multiple project streams. Creation of a legal entity. Staff recruitment. Way outside Meghan's skill set.

My main thought watching the clip is how she's got that Ozempic wasting away look and is clearly someone who does not have a love of food. I'm not sure I could enjoy watching a cookery show (or whatever it is) centred around someone who looks hungry and unhealthily self-denying. It just looks like something based on a massive lie.

Awful. Wtf is that outfit all about? It’s like some sort of weird 70s safari suit, two sizes too big with extra creases. Honestly, if she can’t dress herself properly, (and she really has absolutely no idea, and never has) how on earth can she expect people to follow her advice about other aesthetic matters? Fuck’s sake, Meghan, sell the house, buy a smaller place, spend less money, pipe down and just bloody stop it.

Yes, that's definitely a better approach.

It looked like something Doris Roberts would wear in Everyone Loves Raymond.

I think the problem is that she has so much negativity and toxicity around her (her bullying behaviour and that of her supporters) that people can’t now see past this.

I do find her charismatic. I very much liked her and was a fan for a good while. Even when things started to turn sour I tried my very best to keep a more neutral stance. Since I have learned about what goes on with her and her squad, and the fact that she’s obviously awful to anyone who she deems below her (pretty much everyone) I just can’t bring myself to forget about her treatment of others and no matter how likeable she comes across, I can’t forget that it’s all just fake.
Everyone welcome is such bullshit. Everyone except……(you all can fill in the many names I’m sure!)

I have now done a complete about-face from feeling snobby about packet cake mixes to wanting to buy Dolly's products.
Trailer is not too bad. Maybe we will all see some likeability in the series.

.....raise investment capital..

I think the project is stuck at this point - no point going beyond if no $$$$ to fund the next steps.

Everyone was saying the cookery show would never be made or never be shown.
But here it comes.

TBF the brief does now seem to have strayed somewhat from the original vision:

“Through our work with diverse communities and their environments, to shining a light on people and causes around the world, our focus will be on creating content that informs but also gives hope. As new parents, making inspirational family programming is also important to us, as is powerful storytelling through a truthful and relatable lens.”

“Through our work with diverse communities and their environments, to shining a light on people and causes around the world, our focus will be on creating content that informs but also gives hope. As new parents, making inspirational family programming is also important to us, as is powerful storytelling through a truthful and relatable lens.”

What the H&M Docuseries - inspirational family programming?
And Polo - a relatable lens?

WLM will have a lot of holes to fill if its to meet any of the above.

No, no. Not so. Diverse communities: a Korean person features in the show, in the environment of somebody else's kitchen; we catch a glimpse of a ginger-haired royal prince; we meet a representative Cali girl. Shining a light: several gorgeous high-end light fittings shining on the kitchen island. Causes around the world: the private lives of rich Hollywood girls on maternity leave. Content that informs but gives hope: informs the audience how to decorate a Victoria sandwich, giving hope that the decoration will elevate the spirits of the eater. Inspirational family programming: you too can have a big luxe kitchen like mine, your children out of sight and an old dog snoring in the corner. Powerful story telling through a truthful and relatable lens: seven years ago, I walked down the aisle of an ancient Chapel in England. Now I'm dancing barefoot in somebody else's kitchen way across the ocean.

Amazing post, worthy of applause 👏

I think it's the Federal Trade Commission. This would fall under the category of bad business practices.

Is that Roy Choi? I don't know anything about him. Only that Souki didn't want him in her kitchen in the Gilmore Girls re-boot.

I think her clothes look 2 sizes too big for her because she's lost so much weight. And maybe they are trailing on the floor because she doesn't wear the skyscraper heels anymore.

Time to find a good seamstress to take everything in and up.

I think the real Meghan probably is a very likable, fun, cool thing at times. In her youth she will have been a barfly, socially acceptable drugs and alcohol, boyfriends and girlfriends, cool clubs, excellent restaurants on someone else's tab and fantastic parties, amazing clothes and probably a few juicy stories. I can absolutely imagine that she is still, despite everything she's lived through, quite a funny woman, with a wink and some cleverness to her, if inclined to be. I think we'll see a fair bit of that side of her. She won't appeal to the average middle aged British woman as much as gin-soaked, non-cosmetically-enhanced Camilla, but she will appeal to maaaaaany women here (USA).

And yet, even when you get to know that side of her, you'll still be left with "yes, and?". There are loads of women like her - I have some as acquaintances! She doesn't have an acting career a la Cameron Diaz. She doesn't have a business empire like Gwyneth. She doesn't have a range of kitchen sponges or a revered husband like Eva Mendez. This show is what she's always wanted to do since the days of The Tig and her try-outs for cooking shows (sampling pickles in Brooklyn was a resounding fail). Good luck to her. May it bring her all her heart desires.

Watched the trailer. My god, she is so lacking in charisma and charm.

That slangy voice with the uncouth diction. Ugh.

Placemarking while I catch up (again)

@Onlyonekenobe I see all that & I think you’re spot on.

However, the evidence suggests a darker side rather than only ‘across the pond’ cultural differences. Chillingly, for me was an interview where Harry said he had a very long actual checklist for an ideal partner & she’d magically checked all boxes over time. It was a small thing perhaps but it made me feel very uneasy as I know red flags re: abusive relationships. He’s of course very damaged though also. There’s also seemingly a certain ruthlessness around her actions re: hrr father & friends not to mention a tendency to put herself first. Worse could be said here.

Her ambition is, if spun positively, very impressive & I think I see someone who has been made to feel like an outsider & has used that energy like rocket fuel to ‘win’ at any price. She’s also beautiful, intelligent and hugely charismatic & life so often plays out differently for those kind of women.

As ever her actions will reveal her true character over time but I wish her & family well.

@Onlyonekenobe to add, to your point, I have a feeling this show will land well & might be where her successful post Suits career begins.

@IdaGlossop @Stickystickysticky @elessar

Meghan aside - the websites only and it could be a.n.other website ( and in the light of Ida's experience ) Any company doing this must surely be contravening something with Data Protection if they haven't made clear what your information will / might be used for or haven't given you an easy way to unsubscribe . I think in the UK (and not a lawyer - DS is so I might ask him to ask around ) if you are sent emails from a company they have to give you a clear way to unsubscribe so you do not get further emails Normally a one click thing. What I am not so sure about is if it is just a website with no emails . But two websites from the same company surely they must have to tell you what has / may happen to your information. Is it legal (and it is the US ) to pass on email addresses without telling someone before they click subscribe that this may happen ? It's usually in the Ts and Cs isn't it - "we may pass on your details to companies we think may enhance your life / earn us money " tick box to say No
Forget Love Meghan , forget As ever for a moment - the principle is my point.

Right that's my serious post for the night - Just got back from lovely birthday dinner , modest but lovely

I shall now turn my attention to Betjeman briefly @Wordler @Uricon2 as I am up way past my bedtime and enjoying it 😂@User14March - I am going to give Late flowering Lust a quick go - never read it before so thank you for that - but my goodness quite dark

I think I see someone who has been made to feel like an outsider & has used that energy like rocket fuel to ‘win’ at any price. She’s also beautiful, intelligent and hugely charismatic & life so often plays out differently for those kind of women.

At risk of coming across as bitchy:

• yes she probably felt like an outsider but it won't have been because of her biracial heritage. It'll be because she wasn't one of the rich, privileged kids who had parents she could be proud of rather than have to hide, with houses and cars and holidays and clothes and contacts she wanted but didn't have. Agree totally that feeling can be like rocket fuel.
• she's beautiful post-surgery, for sure. In this day and age of filters on our phones and accessible surgery for everycomer, it's pretty much a basic entry-requirement for her chosen field.
• I don't think she's especially intelligent. I mean, she's more intelligent than Harry but really that's a very low bar. She will have done well at school and went to the equivalent of a RG university to study nothing serious that required any great intellect. I think she has LOTS of street smarts, though. That counts for a lot (way more, some might say)
• I really don't see her as charismatic. Far, far from it. She's polarising, though. I recognise in her traits and mannerisms and affectations and MOs of girls and women I've known who, well, I choose not to know any more. But these girls and women always had/have other girls and women around them. To each their own.

@Onlyonekenobe

"She won't appeal to the average middle aged British woman as much as gin-soaked, non-cosmetically-enhanced Camilla, but she will appeal to maaaaaany women here (USA). "

What on Earth are you talking about?

@Onlyonekenobe amazing clothes? Pre Harry? I have seen many of them and they were mostly not flattering to her