Baby it's cold outside......

Be like a diamond in the sky this Christmas....... try a Twinkle.

Shake vodka and elderflower cordial with ice, strain and add to Champagne ........ also works with Prosecco........Happy Christmas!!

Top tip: bring back the cocktail hour.

Sleigh bells ring.......

We seemed to have gone from this......

to this........

with alarming speed and so I have decided to embrace my inner Santa, crack open the sherry and let it snow.....let it snow.......let it snow.....

Top tip: if you've never seen the American comedian Louie CK then make it your mission to seek out his show on Fox.

Birds of a feather……..

I was given Caitlin Moran’s How To Be A Woman. I was also given The
Golden Door: Letters To America by A.A.Gill. I started the first and 
found it delightfully funny, poignant, touching and informative but…..
after awhile a did get a bit bogged down in periods and pubic hair. So,
I started Gill’s book and it too was funny, poignant, touching and 
informative but …… a little bit of Gill can go along way. And so, I 
started reading alternate chapters of each book and guess what? It was just 
right.

Like eating a crumbly piece of pecorino and a plump 
fig, or sardines cooked with sultanas, I found that 
together they worked perfectly. Who knew?

Top tip: when in doubt mix it up!! 

This is England......

I went to the Isle of Wight last week, just for a couple of days.....

 We had sun and sand and picked things.......

And we had rain and wind and took shelter in a pub, ate crab sandwiches, drank pints ......

And watched the waves.....

And then we walked in the sunshine along the coast......

And sat in the garden and ate lunch........

Everywhere we went we always took the weather......

Top tip: Civil Wars new CD, aptly titled: Civil Wars, is as brilliant as their last and perfect to dance the rainy-day-blues away; so sad they will no longer play together again.

The dog days of summer all gone......

Summertime and the living was easy…..but now it’s back to 
school back to reality. Do we ever forget that September 
feeling: new penil case, new shoes, new class? This time I 
won’t mess up with my homework, stay on top of it, get 
gold stars......

How quickly we forgot the bleak mid-summer, heating on in 
June.

“I had to, it was freezing.” whispred behind hands,

Hot water bottles stuffed beneath duvets, umbrellas and boots 
ever ready, that was summer before July and then…..the sun 
came out. And stayed out. Out and proud.

Top tip: winter can be so cold for those with no warm memories......let the sunshine in.

Summer breeze.......

Makes me feel fine.........

Top tip: go have fun in the sun but remember to wear your hat...........

Transcend.....transcend......

Ain't it strange......as Patti Smith sung at Bab al Makina......that somewhere it is hot and sunny and blue. And indeed it was also strange watching her whirl and soar across the stage while above her the birds soared and whirled as the sun sank behind the hills surrounding Fes. Every evening the sky fills with birds swooping and hollering, heralding the end of the day by reenacting a scene from The Birds. I wonder if Hitchcock ever holidayed here?

 All I said was: shall we go see Patti Smith at the World Sacred Music Festival in Fes? I was laughing when I said it. I didn't actually expect my friend to say yes. But what with so many fabulous, cheap riads and dars to chose from and Ryanair ready to whisk you there in less than three and half hours, it seemed churlish not to go.

 We stayed in the delightful Dar al Hana, in the medina. The day begins with a pot of coffee and freshly squeezed orange juice up on the roof terrace, followed by Moroccan pancakes, preserves, dates and the ubiquitous Laughing Cow cheese triangles, beloved of the French colonies.....and me when ever I'm under the sheltering sky.

 Fes doesn't offer much to distract you from the business of melting into the shade with a mint tea but no visit would be complete without a trip to the tanneries. Simply walk in the general direction and soon a young man or small boy will appear by your side and seek gainful employment as your guide, leading you to a relative's leather shop where you will be ushered onto the roof to witness one of the seven circles of hell as men clamber in and out of the murky pools of dye to make us gaily coloured bags and belts and poofs. Nobody minds much if you don't buy anything although you will be expected to hand over a fist full of dirhams to your child guide. We maybe the only tourists who've tried to fleece the locals when having said no to our boy's suggested fee of $50 we thrust an out modded bank note, brought from the pot-of-foreign-money-from-previous-holidays, into his small hand. He soon found us before we disappeared into the fabulous Nejjarine Museum of Wood, Arts & Crafts and was duly paid in current currency.

The Fes Festival of World Sacred Music has been running for 19 years, its mission is to bring the arts and spirituality into the service of human and social development bringing reconciliation among peoples and cultures..... so no pressure then. Over the week there are numerous events with stars international and local performing and lots of free music to enjoy every night. An afternoon in a luxury hamam, a shot of mint tea followed by Patti Smith rocking the casbah........ it doesn't get much better.

Top tip: less than 4 hours away, no time difference but a whole other world...... Morocco is the exotic destination of choice even for a mini break.

Art attack........

Joan Bakewell, Lynn Barber, Tracey Emin....... and me, all standing within wine spilling distance of one another. And then Zandra Rhodes rocked up in all her pink and purple glory........I thought I was going to self combust. We were all at Tate Britain for the opening of the fabulous Patrick Caulfield and Gary Hume exhibitions and what delightful shows they are. In lieu of any actual sunlight to raise our summer spirits, go fill your hearts and minds with the visual spledery that is their work. On now till September.

Tulips 2009 Gary Hume

Top tip: the newly refurbed Tate Britain is brilliant, it's like all the pictures have been given a good scrub. Just go.

Silence is golden.....

Sometimes, there really is nothing to say.......

Sometimes, life's a beach........

Top tip: as Thumper once said, if you can't say something nice....... don't say nothing at all.

Walking back to happines.......

"Yes," I said, when my friend asked me if I'd like to go to the movies last Sunday afternoon, "shall we walk there?"
"Sure," he replied, "lets start at Greenwich."
And so we took the DLR to Greenwich, a fun trip in itself, and then walked, under the Thames, along the river to Limehouse and then up Regent's Canal to Islington........ 8 miles in two and a half hours, through cyclists and dog walkers, high winds and spiky rain, with no equipment, training or support vehicle. As we triumphantly arrived at the cinema we did feel like we'd been away, a long way away but now we were back. And people should know. Where were the balloons? The t-shirts? Not even a badge?

And lest we forget....... somewhere the sun is shining.....

Top tip: walking is excellent exercise for all ages and less lightly to cause the hip and knee injuries often sustained by the more mature runners.

We need to talk about ...... Olivia

Olivia Colman that is. Not only does she do comedy like a comedy queen ...... did you see Peep Show or Twenty Twelve or Rev....... but she can also make you cry. Did you see Broadchurch? The last episode? Not only was I watching an ITV cop show but I was bawling my eyes out.

I don't really do police procedurals as a rule, somebody did do it and it will be revealed....... it's either the last one to get interviewed or the first one to get interviewed but somebody missed something...... however, I was tuned in week after week to ITV's Broadchurch specifically to see Ms. Colman. And oh what a star turn. She's a national treasure in waiting, twice nominated for BAFTAs for Twenty Twelve and Accused, if she doesn't win something there is no justice.

Top tip: watch Olivia Colman on The Graham Norton Show,  Friday May 10th.

Greece is the word......

I went to Greece on an unexpected holiday and as expected, it was beautiful. We flew to Kefalonia with a plan to go straight to Ithica but due to a ferry strike we had to wait a day. So we spent the night at the utterly wonderful, Museum Hotel George Molfetas, where we were greeted like old friends by Katerina and Barry. Each room is uniquely styled, filled with art and curios and set around a beautiful, secluded courtyard. And while we were ferreting out our flip-flops and suncream Katerina rustled up a rather lavish light lunch and Barry poured the cold beer. The unfortunate ferry strike turned instantly into a fortunate discovery, worth the price of the flight alone........

www.georgemolfetas.com/en/hotel.htm

 I absolutely love holiday breakfasts and after we'd filled our boots with homemade breads and preserves, Greek yogurt, honey, eggs and several pots of coffee, we had time to take a turn around the island before the 5pm ferry. So we went to the beach..........

 Then we went to Ithica, home of Homer................

 and the most beautiful, crystal clear, jade green sea.........

Greece doesn't really open till May so we were the only tourists in the village and on the island. We ate delicious food......

picked lemons from the tree............

for sun downers on the terrace........

ate more delicious food.......

and went back to the beach.

Top tip:go to Greece..........

Enough already......

Honestly, I've had enough of this.....

and I want some of this.....

Young at heart is away.......

Top tip:live in a warm climate.

One a penny, two a penny.......

This week I kept chilly spirits up by going to see.........

Dreamthinkspeak's, In The Beginning Was The End, at Somerset House, well underneath Somerset House. They create site-specific theatre and if you've never seen a production don't think, don't pause, don't hesitate for one minute just book tickets.......utterly amazing.

Then I went to see Sinead O'Connor and her band, perform a rousing show. I haven't seen her live since New York back in the 90s and it was lovely to see her looking so well and in such good voice........ electrifying.

Then today the sun shone and I went to buy the best hotcross buns in town at Ottolenghi's and bumped into the great Yotam himself. So, I came home.....

....... and I created Still Life With Buns...........Happy Easter.

Top tip: keep warm by dancing round the kitchen to Sinead O'Connor's, How About I Be Me (And You Be You)?

Oh no it looks like..........

What can I say........
Stay in, stay warm, stay well.......

Top tip: rhubarb is in the shops, go crumble.

Spring to mind......

This week I dog-sat Olive the baby whippet........

The sun shone........ 

 Spring began to spring......

 and I made a Mother's Day card.........

4 years at art college not wasted............

'People were always the limiters of happiness except for the very few that were as good as spring itself.'
Ernest Hemingway, A Moveable Feast

Top tip: homemade cards are the thought that counts....... we are all only ever 10' away from a Pritt Stick.

A shoe in.........

I’ve never ever bought a pair of white shoes ….. before. Wearing white is, as I’ve mentioned previously, not something I do naturally. If I try to wear anything white other people’s ketchup lands on me. I have experimented with the crisp white shirt and the fact that I don’t iron does hamper my crisp appeal. I once bought a pair of white jeans and I wore them on a 6 week trek around Mexico with a 2 year old in tow……. my 2 year old I hasten to add, not one I just found. Why did I wear white jeans? Who knows. It was the 90s and I think I had some brightly coloured poncho'n'white-trousered fashion faux pas thing going on, born about by watching too much High Chaperral as a kid. And then going to art college. Anyway, I ended up just another Gringo in dirty trousers. 

But recently I saw a pair of very expensive Prada shoes that I liked a lot. And then I saw a pair of much, much cheaper, but most definitely inspired by Prada, shoes from Office, in Harper’s Bazaar magazine, that I liked a lot. And so dear reader, I bought them. 

Going white one step at a time……

Top tip: give or get a monthly subscription to a magazine……. It’s the gift that keeps on giving.

Homemade gift no.29

Can there be any greater gift than the gift of homemade baked goods? Well yes there can: a trip to Paris, a pair of Dinny Hall tiered smokey quartz earrings, dinner at The Wolseley ....... the list is endless. However, if funds are restricted and birthdays are booming, a tin of Nigel Slater's soft bake chocolate and hazelnut cookies, lovingly baked by you can go a long way. I like to half dip some of them in white chocolate for a few extra calories...........

200g dark chocolate at least 70% cocoa solids

75g butter

225g light muscovado sugar

2 eggsvanilla extract

50g skinned hazelnuts

150g self-raising flour

Set the oven at 180C/gas mark 4.

Melt the chocolate in a bowl over a small pan of simmering water, with the base of the bowl not quite touching the water. Allow the chocolate to melt. Turn off the heat as soon as the chocolate has melted.

Cream the butter and sugar till smooth and creamy. Whisk the eggs lightly in another bowl just enough to break them up, then add gradually to the butter and sugar with a couple of drops of vanilla extract, beating constantly. 

Toast the hazelnuts in a shallow pan till golden, shaking regularly so they colour evenly. Grind the nuts coarsely to the texture of gravel, remove half and continue grinding the other half until it resembles fine breadcrumbs. Add the flour, melted chocolate and both textures of nut to the mixture. Stop beating as soon as everything is combined.

Place large, heaped tablespoons of the mixture on to a baking sheet lined with parchment. You should get 12 large biscuits. The mixture can wait for a few minutes if you are baking them in two batches. Don't flatten the cookies, they will do so in the oven.

Bake for 10 minutes. The cookies will have spread and be very soft to the touch. Remove from the oven and set aside to cool a little. As soon as they are cool enough to move without breaking, slide a palette knife underneath and carefully lift them on to a cooling rack. Then try not to eat them all before you have handed them over........

Top tip: a little of what you fancy does you good....... it is still February after all.