Lydia's Weekly Lifestyle blog is for today's African girl, so no subject is taboo. My purpose is to share things that may interest today's African girl.

This week's contributors: Lydia, Pépé Pépinière, Titi. This week's subjects: MET GALA 2, Fashion and politics, Premenstrual Problems (PMS), Derbies, The Rolling Stones, never say die, and Akyaa’s kitchen

MET GALA 2. Let’s get into the Fashion is Art… but maybe abstract? Hall of fame. Because when the theme is Fashion is Art, the line between genius and chaos gets deliciously blurry. And honestly, we’d rather see a risky misstep than another safe, predictable gown. Now let’s talk about fabric confusion. Because apparently, 2026 said, “Why choose one texture when you can choose all of them?” Feathers, latex, burlap (yes, burlap), and what looked suspiciously like recycled office blinds were all layered into one ambitious look. It was giving mixed media… but also giving “craft project at 2am.” Maximalism is fun, but even art needs editing. Of course, we cannot skip the “Message Overload” fits. Fashion as art often comes with storytelling, but one celeb decided to wear the entire thesis. Words, symbols, embroidery, LED scrolling text—yes, scrolling text—covered the outfit. By the time you finished reading one side, they had already passed you on the carpet. We love a concept, but darling, this isn’t a billboard on the Accra-Tema motorway. So here’s to the brave, the bold, and the slightly bewildering. You may not have nailed the brief… but you definitely gave us something to talk about. And isn’t that, in its own messy way, a masterpiece?

Fashion and politics. Big runways have often been used to make statements. Cameras and global press are guaranteed, and animal rights groups have rushed runways to protest fur and leather, climate activists have staged walk-ons to call out fast fashion’s environmental impact and so forth. A 30-second interruption gets more coverage than a press release. Sometimes the brand itself creates the disturbance, to draw more attention. Australia fashion week now also had it’s share. Part of Australia originally was a colony where Britain sent it’s criminals, later additional colonies were created and eventually the Commonwealth of Australia was formed. But all that while there were the Aboriginals who had settled there 60,000 years earlier and had their own culture, and who claim that in fact Australia has always belonged to them and still does. But they were marginalized by “the invader”, like the red Indians in North America and at one time the blacks in South Africa. So to draw attention they have now created their own fashion show, a week before the “official” Australian fashion week, so a clever way to draw attention to their cause without being accused of disturbing anyone. And the show was worth looking at.

Premenstrual Problems (PMS) also called Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS), are physical and emotional symptoms that you experience a few days or even two weeks before your menses begins. They occur due to hormonal changes in the body. Common problems are acne or pimples, anxiety, appetite and food cravings, bloating (feeling swollen in the stomach), breast pain and tenderness, Difficulty sleeping, feeling sad or emotional, headaches, irritability, mood swings, tiredness. Some foods can make it worse, like alcohol (can worsen mood and headaches), caffeine such as coffee, strong tea and energy drinks (may increase anxiety and breast pain), fatty or fried foods, instant noodles, processed foods (can increase bloating), salty foods such as chips, sugary foods such as cakes, sweets, and soft drinks (can worsen mood swings), so stay away from fat, sugar and junk foods. There are also foods that help reduce the problems, like avocado, bananas, beans, brown rice, carrots, cheese, cucumber. dark chocolate (in small amounts), eggs, fish, kontommire, lentils, oats, spinach and whole wheat bread. So eat healthy. And try it, maybe it helps. Drink plenty of water, do light exercise or walking, get enough sleep and reduce stress.

Derbies. Are horse races, typically the horse is 3 years old, when you can about expect the best performances. So the Royal Ascot I wrote about in blog nr. 174 on the 17th of October 2025 is in fact a derby, Meanwhile some of these simple horse races have become world events, there is the Epsom derby (the original one, in UK, since 1780), the Kentucky derby, (USA), the Melbourne derby (Australia) the Irish derby, the French derby, every country is now trying to make it’s own, and there are more. And for unknown reasons horse races are now associated with fashion. Maybe the galls inviting the girls to their races but the girls not really being interested has created a second race, who has the biggest hat and the men now wear derby hats, same thing as worn by Charlie Chaplin. It’s show business..

The Rolling Stones, never say die. This rock group was formed in 1962, 64 year ago, and is releasing a new album this year. You read that right, 1962. The group has had an enormous influence on music, but maybe more on culture. Until the 60’s boy’s hair was short and a necktie was compulsory almost everywhere. The Stones (and not only them) broke through this, and the youth followed. The results are there for all to see today, neckties are now mostly used to bundle goods, and any hairstyle is allowed. And sexual norms changed, you did not have to be married to have sex. And drugs were (unfortunately) popularised as well. Mick Jagger (vocals) and Keith Richards (lead guitar) are the 2 original surviving members, Charlie Watts passed in 2021.
Mick Jagger in the middle still wearing tie in 1962 Mick Jagger now 82 still jumps about on stage, and I wouldn’t be surprised if he will die in a way worthy a show man. Mick Jagger at 82 Both Jagger and Richards are worth about 500 million dollars. A song for a dime? (from their 1973 album “Goats Head Soup”, referring to the jukebox where you put in a dime (5 cents) to hear a song. The Rolling Stones, Foreign Tongues, features star-strudded guest collaborations with Paul McCartney, Robert Smith, Steve Winwood and Chad Smith and the lead single-In The Stars will be released on the 10th of July on CD's, vinyl and cassettes.

Akyaa’s kitchen. We ordered jollof beef delivered but had jollof with beef on top, a bit like shredded beef you get a the the Chinese. Not too much taste in the beef and quite tough as well, long chewing.

Lydia...

Do not forget to hit the subscribe button and confirm in your email inbox to get notified about our posts.

I have received requests about leaving comments/replies. For security and privacy reasons my blog is not associated with major media giants like Facebook or Twitter. I am talking with the host about a solution. for the time being, you can mail me at wunimi@proton.me

I accept invitations and payments to write about certain products or events, things, and people, but I may refuse to accept and if my comments are negative then that's what I will publish, despite your payment. This is not a political newsletter. I do not discriminate on any basis whatsoever.