Mr Don Draper

Haven't really processed the fact that the magnificent Don Draper is "engaged". What was he thinking? I think my heart may well be beyond repair....actually, to be brutally honest, I will never  recover LOL.

Don being engaged will excacerbate the situation he is in, does he want an equal, a wife, a life!?

Another amazing series for Mad Men, it was like watching Phoenix rising from the ashes....to begin with! Don has been on a journey that I can only describe as a horrific rollercoaster, however, no matter how bad it gets, he just gets!

He dated beautiful women, although one of them resembled the freaky puppet from the SAW movies, he won and lost accounts, shamed a few people, hell, even had intimate conversations about finding himself. At the end, the very end of his most incredible journey - he became a man, a man in love!

It felt strangely wonderful that Betty was finally revealed as the person she really is, shallow, unloved, critical, unsupported!

Peggy shone so bright that she finally was recognised..and I LOVE LOVE LOVE Rogers' one liners. The character is a genius.When told Don is engaged to Megan, Roger replies "Who?"

Mad Men has taken over my life somewhat, I don't think that is a bad thing, all is left to say is that I confess that I love Don....yes, even more than David H!!!

A late discovery....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y0s7ycdUcHk

My bestest friend in the whole wide world!

Simply had the best day last Friday with my most wonderful friend AHEJ! Met at Waterloo, walked over the bridge and into Convent Garden for a cup of tea. Where did that hour and half go?

Later, we just had to visit a pub on Knightrider Street (for those who know us will understand, for those who don't, well, you never will!) After much trepidation we went in to the pub, the name shamefully escapes me...we are met with a PACKED pub, food being served, people waiting for take outs, the bar is very busy..surprisingly so! We were drawn to the wall adorned with the deliciously insane and the guilty pleasure of the 1980's/90's, David Hasslehoff.  AHEJ and I stared in awe.

After a light lunch and some (LOL) glasses of Chenin Blanc we ventured out to House of Fraser (HOF) I know, isn't it so very perfect....so very perfect! Some shopping around - BIBA had the most amazing dresses and purchases from the perfume and make up counters, all paid for by my most wonderful dear friend AHEJ.. I love her!

http://www.mybiba.com/

Later on to Gordons Wine Bar, THE place for a romantic/clandestine/intimate evening, (not that AHEJ are that way inclined yet), place was FULL so we ended up at the Royal Festival Hall where we heard that Bunny Wailer was playing.

Such a great day and night, loved it and would definitely recommend the venues we visited.

Sideways - my favourite quote

"I like to think about what was going on the year the grapes were growing; how the sun was shining; if it rained. I like to think about all the people who tended and picked the grapes. And if it's an old wine, how many of them must be dead by now. I like how wine continues to evolve, like if I opened a bottle of wine today it would taste different than if I'd opened it on any other day, because a bottle of wine is actually alive. And it's constantly evolving and gaining complexity. That is, until it peaks, like your '61. And then it begins its steady, inevitable decline. "

I just love this movie, I love the main character, his flawed genius, his love affair with wine, his idiosyncrasies. Am determined to follow the Californian wine trail in the movie, just need to decide who I would want to share it with me..........maybe I already have!

I love my hair

In 1968 the stage musical Hair opened at the Shaftesbury Theatre, where it played 1,998 performances until its closure was forced by the roof collapsing in July 1973.

Let it fly in the breeze
And get caught in the trees
Give a home to the fleas in my hair
A home for fleas
A hive for bees
A nest for birds
There ain't no words
For the beauty, the splendor, the wonder
Of my hair ...

A lost love...

Mimmo is a dear friend and a wonderful chef. He tells a beautiful story of a lost love and the recipe that inspired him. He shared this with me and I realised that I simply must share it with you

Here is my story/ recipe.

Tired of the fast and furious life of being a restauranteur in the West End. I took myself  off to Tuscany for a detoxing holiday in a agriturismo. Agriturismo are farm houses converted in to beautiful apartments usually in the middle of nowhere.

I had been in the pretty hamlet of Gavignano for a week and I was bored.

On the Saturday of the first week a new guest arrived at the apartments late in the evening and when she needed help with her luggage I offered to help. She was beautiful. I didn't want to miss the opportunity to see her again and being a chef I invited Pavla for Sunday lunch.

In the morning I drove to Poggibonsi, the nearest town, to buy my ingredients. Being a Sunday in Italy every shop was closed. Exasperated, I returned to my apartment.  I had no option but to cook with the ingredients I could find in the garden; some courgettes that were ripe and flowering, the most delicious sun ripened vine tomatoes and wild basil.

It was all I needed.

I cooked egg tagliatelle (I am Italian and always have pasta in the cupboard) with the courgette flowers, buffalo ricotta (which I had in my fridge), vine tomatoes and basil.

It was divine. Romantic. Memorable.

Pavla now lives and works in New York. We are still friends and often reminisce about this improvised and beautiful lunch.

Here is my recipe

In a skillet heat 3 table spoons extra virgin add the courgettes and fry for 3 minutes until they are golden coloured.

Add garlic and fry for two minutes making sure that it does not burn.

Add the tomatoes roughly chopped and cook for 5 minutes season to taste and sprinkle with basil.

Set aside.

Cook the tagliatelle until al dente.

Drain and then add the pasta to the sauce heat through and add half of the ricotta.

Stir the ricotta into the pasta and sauce while your pan is off the heat.

Serve in large pasta bowls with a quenelle of the remaining ricotta on top of the pasta and drizzle with extra vigin olive oil.

Buon Appetito

Mr Big

I really love Sex and the City - there, I said it, its just that everyone kind of has placed the whole SATC thing in a TV "guilty pleasure" spot. I only just recently watched the whole series (thank you Sky Plus) and I have to say, I am so glad, so very glad that I waited to watch it in my thirties. Everything makes complete sense in a completely nonsensical way. Ha!

I wonder if Carrie Bradshaw (SJP will always and forever be known as Carrie Bradshaw) really did live happily ever after with her one true love - Big! What a character he was...imagine calling up your friends and saying, "hey, had a great night out with Big!" Depending on who your friends are, would they laugh or hang up the phone. AND why exactly was he called Big...?? Was it because he was big or big as in love? It really doesnt matter because it worked, he was Big - Mr. Big to you and I of course.

All through the series' I learned more and more about female intuition, it is a unique quality we women have. I saw Charlottle debating on who to date on one night, so instead of saying no to one of them, she dates them both. I read the signals of when a man doesnt call after the first date, he DOESN'T want to call - simple. There are just too many rules about relationships, which leads me perfectly on to Samantha, enough said.

The character Miranda was far too anal about her life and found love when she wasn't looking. So what was the message here, be pretentious then find love, be demanding - find love, be a rule breaker - find love or be in love to find love? Everyone always is happy in the world of TV and New York so it seems.

The Big issue (sorry) was just so perfect. It was natural that the characters ran away from eachother, only to find themselves miserable without one another, most women totally identify with that. I loved the "will they, won't they" and I almost found myself screaming at the TV when Big was driving past Carrie in Paris but didn't see eachother...maybe I am from a place where people still believe in knights in shining armour, I believe in love and all that it brings. If I am not then what a sad place to be.

Wouldn't you just love to be rescued, saved, understood? What woman would not want Big to be waiting for them in a black limo with tinted windows on a cold night...preferably with a bottle of chilled champagne!? Who doesn't want that kind of adoration from a man called Big? Are we all so sure we can say no?

Radiohead - Creep

I Want You - Kings of Leon

Shiny Happy People

My Happy People are incredible, I look at them and just feel overwhelmed with love for them. They make me happy, sad, they make me laugh and cry and sometimes they make me shout! Why do my Happy People annoy me at the most inconvenient times in the day? LOL.

I make every day as special as I possibly can for them, when its their birthdays, it's an event that takes over a whole month, for my Happy Son, a play date with his bestest friends to an adventure playground, for my Happy Daughter, a picnic at home in the evening which consists of a white table cloth laid out on the lounge floor, linen placemat, food, drink and candles, always candles.

So simple and yet so effective and the way I know that my Happy People love this? They tell me..and that is when I am reduced to tears of happiness, sadness, joy and love.

Newton Faulkner - Acoustic

Just amazing.

Snow Patrol - Just Say Yes

...the most fragrant woman

I love perfume, I also love long lazy baths filled with intoxicating scents of the orient (thats what it says on the bottle!) I love preparing my baths, taking time to create an ambience of calm. I light candles, play music which is carefully selected on Spotify. I enjoy a glass of champagne before and another whilst in the bath...

I just love to smell good

I have always loved perfume, I have always worn it, even when going to bed, didn't Marilyn Monroe wear Chanel No5 and nothing else? I always keep pure perfume in my bedroom, its such a luxurious and sensual scent.

 

Its so very important for a woman to wear perfume, I know its not everyone's top priority but for me, I never feel complete without it. It makes me feel confident, alive, beautiful - can a perfume really do that? I could go on forever about perfume, scents, long baths, body lotions, which reminds me, you simply must add this to your shopping list, Ren Moroccan Rose Otto Ultra Nourishing Oil

Dirty Martini

"I like to drink martinis. Two at the most. Three I'm under the table, four I'm under the host" - Dorothy Parker

Here is my recipe.

2 oz gin
1 tbsp dry vermouth
2 tbsp olive juice
2 olives

1. Place an ice cube and a small amount of water in a cocktail glass. Place in freezer for 2 - 3 minutes.

2. Fill a mixer with all ingredients including garnish. Cover and shake hard 3 - 4 times.

3. Remove cocktail glass from freezer, and empty. Strain contents of the mixer into the cocktail glass, include one of the olives, and serve with a mysterious smile.

Enjoy..........

Red

If you going to wear a lipstick, wear it well, wear it hot and always....always wear it red! Here are some and I cannot stress that enough, here are SOME of my personal favourites....I have run out of Ruby Woo, I don't think I am going to cope without it..(HINT)!!

Chanel



Red Fever



Ruby Woo



Chantecialle



Beauty, femininity and self-image

Breast Cancer LIFE explores beauty, femininity and self-image which are often deeply affected by the life saving or extending surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy given to women diagnosed with breast cancer.

I came across an exceptional artist when I was researching Frida Kahlo self portraits. I am in awe of her work. It is truly beautiful, shocking, completely absorbing but most of all inspiring.

Rock and Rose

You simply must visit...

http://www.rockandroserestaurant.com/gallery.php?gallery=2457

Lost and Found

Our very lovely friends (thank you Mr and Mrs B) gave our son a book one Christmas. I was not sure even I would like it, never mind my son, who was only a year old. One night, he wouldn't settle (which was probably a usual occurence in our household!) and I wondered whether I should read him this book. I hesitated only because it was not a conventional bed time story, as I later and gratefully discovered.

The story truly mesmerised my son and those who know me will realise that I am very animated when reading to my children, I make all the sounds that are portrayed in the book, in fact, I become one of those people who becomes the characters (not as hardcore as maybe Peter Sellers would have done) I truly believe in my natural ability for acting LOL

Anyway, the story is so very lovely and my son and I always hug one another during the book, when you read it, you will know why. The book, story and author have become firm favourites of ours and although my daughter feels a little left out about what the book/story means to my son and I, she has become to love it too.

Apparently, there is a movie to be made...

 

BUT you must, simply must read this to your children...read it for yourself even...!
Lost and Found by Oliver Jeffers

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Lost-Found-Oliver-Jeffers/dp/0007150369

Mr Jeffers, you truly are a gifted author, thank you

Cheers.....

Ever since I was in my twenties, I have always wondered what it would be like to have a favourite place to eat, drink and relax. I guess, even back then, my thoughts on life were completely different to those around me. They were all quite settled in their routine way of life, which is okay but I was incredibly uninspired by them. So, my thoughts wandered on and I finally, in my thirties, found a great place to call my "own".

I want to tell you about it because whenever and however (LOL) I visit this place, I am warmly welcomed by the staff. The lady who greets me know me well and almost always saves a table for me, its my favourite table and the one I am most comfortable sitting at. It gives me the opportunity to see who is coming in. The place itself is a huge second floor restaurant/bar. Open plan with incredible light and a beautiful high ceiling. Its great in the spring, summer, autumn, winter...I am a staunch regular!

The chef, well, (I am hoping to upload a picture of him soon) I dont know where to begin. He is a great cook, a great mixologist and a good friend. I am always really pleased to him when I visit. He dislikes okra with a passion, I can understand why but I am determined to change his view.

The food is good and the menu is well varied. They have excellent fish dishes and the lobster was very good indeed. I like the wines the have on the menu and the chef recommends the ones he knows I will enjoy.

The Manager is also very friendly, always has time to say hello and always, always asks if all is well!

This place is my great find and no matter where I go, whether its a bar in Wimbledon or a restaurant in London, I always feel at home when I come to this place. Comforted....

.....where everybody knows my name....

Mad Men - My First Time!

I discovered Mad Men out mild of curiosity, that's quite an admission! I was compelled to find out why this programme was so "rated". I read reviews in The Independent, Shortlist magazine, The Times....people were waxing lyrical about how great the show was and how well the script was written.

Usually, when something is this talked about, I tend to stay away from it, let the fire settle, then enjoy it without all the hype. Imagine my surprise when I came across Mad Men on BBC2, the episode just completely drew me in and yes Don Draper (have you seen the way he just creates a certain kind of havoc when he walks in to a room - pure genius) was certainly a huge bonus.

Everything about it  inspires, it almost overwhelms and you find yourself wondering what it would be like in Manhattan, although I am sure the show portrays the perfect picture. The male characters are blindingly obvious chauvinists, the women take it all in their stride (Joan Holloway - an incredible woman). Everyone drinks at the office, it inspires creativity. Everyone smokes and nearly all of them have a deep dark secret.Which leads me, again, on to the gloriously, ridiculously handsome, Don Draper - what a guy!

I could go on...and on about how great I know the show is. I won't, however, although you would be mad to miss Mad Men....absolutely Mad!

Happy People

My HP are amazing, they love food, music, family, art, LIFE!

At the moment, its music, my son loves Pink Floyd - Another Brick in the Wall part II (he is not even 10 years old yet).

My daughter loves Justin Bieber (JB) - dont we all?! He is sugary sweet and so so bad for you who would ever admit to liking that!

Netball anyone?

My good friend, broke her ankle playing netball, who does that in their 30's (play netball I mean!)

So, I go and visit her for lunch, took an age to get to where she lives. Strange place it is too, quite grim and dull but the view from her kitchen window is comfortingly glorious, such an incredible balance of the urban life. Anyway, my friend, with cast on broken ankle needs lunch....could possibly not expect her to cook so this is what I made with the items I found in her cupboards and fridge!

Heat a little oil in a pan, throw in some cubed chicken breast, add the vegetables, a spoonful of Black Cat peanut butter (which is probably one of the best peanut butters I have ever tasted) and a little Lazy Garlic. Add seasoning, spice etc and soy sauce, serve hot

Took no time at all and even though was so "thrown together" was absolute delicious..

My friend has recovered from the said broken ankle and although I see her often, I have not yet been back to where she lives (sorry A) See you Monday!

The End Of The Affair

Simply wonderful.

Frida Kahlo

More about Frida Kahlo

Our dinner party music

A pheasant surprise

An amazing English vineyard...

"Beautiful women are invisible..."

Genius - Kings of Leon

Song, music, video - speaks for itself......

Buy this dress for me NOW

I love Don Draper...

I told you to stop talking...