Sunday

On Sunday my friend Melody and up I attended a fabulous sewing class, in which we made a lined dress, complete with invisible zip! The class went from 10am until 5.30pm and was very full on, but we loved it. I will show you our creations very soon! Now that I know lining and zips, the world is my lobster! (this is me below on my way for the class - wearing a skirt from Neen that I altered slightly)

Me & Emma (with Lyndi taking bad photos!)

Saturday

Hello family! A lovely weekend was had by me! On Saturday I walked
along regents canal for an hour to get to Emma & Jo's place. Lyndi
came as well and we had a lovely day and this delicious late lunch of
mushroom risotto & beef fillet - worth the walk!

My Marrakech dress

This is the fabulous dress I bought in Marrakech, which I mentioned last week.  Edwina took me to a great shop in the back streets of Marrakech - the clothes were all made from recycled/second hand fabrics.  The skirt of my dress was a tapestry wall hanging in its former life.  It's super fun to wear! Probably too short for an oldie like me, but I couldn't resist!

Tuesday!

Playing around with my long long hair!

Dublin

I got back from Dublin this morning - I was there for basically 24 hours.  I loved it - it was cold but the sky was blue and the sun was shining, which made my experience better.  It would have been a bit miserable if it was raining.

The city was so vibrant and quite cosmopolitan.  I was surprised how many good cafes there were, and in particular food type emporiums which also had a cafe in them - seemed very New York.  The river running through the city with many bridges made it feel very European.  Everyone was incredibly friendly.

I arrived at 9.30am and was in the city by 10am.  I walked around one of the main parks, drank coffee, walked around several old historic buildings, stopped for lunch in a big old warehouse style building which had been converted to a food store with a cafe.  I had good nutty muesli and read the paper.  Everyone else seemed local which was nice.  I walked and walked some more.  I had read about a good coffee place about 30minutes walk from the main city centre, so I set off.  Luckily I was rewarded - a really top cafe, which was buzzing with local people.  I sat in the window seat with delicious coffee and a toasted tomato and roasted garlic sandwich - my back to the sun, reading my book.  Perfect!

After an hour or so there, I tore myself away for more walking around the city.  By 5pm I was rather weary - there is a gorgeous department store, Browns, so I enjoyed a glass of wine there and had a sneaky manicure.  From there I rushed straight to the theatre to see Oscar Wilde's Picture of Dorian Gray.  I had bought the cheapest ticket in the penultimate back row - but the theatre was quite intimate and my seat was brilliant.  The play was quite brilliant and also rather funny - it was very cleverly produced.  Inspite only having had about 4 hours sleep, I was kept wide awake!

Ridiculously, when I thought I booked a flight out at 6pm on the Sunday, I worked out two weeks ago that my flight left at 6am on the Sunday! So from the theatre I caught the airport bus to the airport.  Amazingly, I (amongst other people) stretched out on some chairs and slept for four hours! I was home by 9.30am with an entire Sunday ahead of me!! It actually worked quite well - I think I'd have run out of things to do if I'd also had Sunday in Dublin.  Plus is was rather fun to travel so lightly, without even any toiletries.

Today I baked a banana cake to take to work, and uploaded photos, wrote some blog posts, cleaned the house - got lots done basically.

So that's my weekend!

Marrakech!

Ah Marrakech - where to start? It was brilliant.

I arrived in Marrakech on the Friday at 9am.  Edwina and Taufik collected me from the airport and, with two other guests, we were driven up into the Atlas Mountains.  We made a brief stop for a little coffee (Edwina mixes the coffee with a cardamom based spice mix which is divine), and then later stopped for a delicious picnic - slow cooked calamari, roasted cauliflower, pumpkin jam, potato salad (not as we know it!), meat balls, sardines grilled on the fire, and more!

We then visited a few temples and palaces (you've seen my photos of the tiles).

That night we shared a lovely dinner- the two other ladies staying were Cindy and Adele.  They each spend 11 months of the year working on yachts. Each with their husband works for wealthy people on their yacht (separately - each couple basically runs a whole yacht each - the sailing, cooking, maintenance, cleaning etc everything) - the owners aren't always on the yacht, - they might want to meet it in the Caribbean, or Portugal or somewhere else in 4 months time, so Cindy/Adele + hubby have to get the boat there in time.  It was fascinating to hear all about it - they have done some amazing things.  I really had a great time with them.

On Saturday & Sunday we visited the food markets, spice market and then just cooked and cooked and cooked.  It was heaven.

Cindy and Adele left on Monday morning, so I had the day to myself.  Edwina took me to a couple of lovely shops and I bought (and I shouldn't have spent the money but I couldn't resist!) a gorgeous leather  bag (which is perfect for work as it fits everything) and a fabulous dress.  It is made entirely of old material - including a front panel on the skirt which was once a tapestry wall hanging.  It was the tapestry part that sold me - Sue, you would LOVE it.  Edwina and I walked through the souk and had coffee.  The rest of the day I spent lounging on the roof terrace, reading my book (I'm reading Gone with the Wind!).

Edwina and Taufik drove me to the airport at about 8pm, and I was back at Gatwick airport, London at 3am.  I then slept as much as possible on the coach to Birmingham - and then went to work (with very crazy hair!).

It was such a great time - it was lovely having 4 whole days, and Marrakech is so different to London that it felt like longer.  I will definitely go back - sometimes Taufik heads off into the countryside to visit his family, so I said I could go and help with the cooking classes every now and then - which means I'd just have to pay for flights.  BUT Sue, if you want to come, I'll go anytime!!

Puddings!

No not us!
Last Sunday Amelia and I went to G&A's place to make our Christmas puddings.
We used your recipe, Sue - although we x3 and there were various adults and children involved at different stages and I'm not sure we got the quantities right!  When I boiled mine later it looked very pale (oh dear!).

Anyway, we had a load of fun making them and stirred in lots of thrippences and sixpences.  Fingers crossed it's ok - I think we used a paler sugar than usual, so hopefully that's the reason.

I'll let you know!

Last Saturday

(ie following on from the last post)
I dashed out of Bobo's house to meet Emma, Jo, Lyndi & Jade for
brunch. We met at Providores on Marylebone High Street - a great Kiwi
place with good food. We visited this high street (S&I) when you first
visited and then again when you went to the Wallace collection on your
last day this year.

You'll be relieved to hear that, given the previous evening's
indulgent pancakes, I had a yummy fruit salad. Drinking my soy latte
ranked above taking this photo in the order of priorities.

I was wearing my early autumn coat as it's getting a little chilly, but Lyndi is feeling the cold and was wearing a new black puffa jacket (yes, Ian, like our friend George) - we had to force her to take it off inside otherwise she'll never toughen up!

After brunch we walked through Regents Park and then to Primrose Hill to Emma and Jo's new (gorgeous) apartment.  This pic was taken at the top of Primrose Hill Park - I'm wearing a dress I bought in Marrakech - I'll take a better photo when next I wear it.

From here I went to Jacqui's house with some girls for coffee, to catch up with Erenie Hellen before she goes back to Australia.  We had a good laugh, and best of all on my way out I found E's luggage unattended, so I could off load The Icon! Success!

Last Friday

Last Friday (as in 10 days ago, not 2) I worked in London and then
spent the night with Melody Bobo at her place in highbury. We drank
this delicious prosecco, and made (well Bobo did whilst I
supervised/did nothing) gorgeous fluffy buttermilk pancakes layered
with bacon, butter & maple syrup. We justified this as our main course
& dessert rolled into one - as if a justification were necessary!

After dinner we rolled ourselves onto the couch and then leafed through these cookbooks to plan our week long menu for when we go away to Suffolk.  I think planning the meals on a stomach stuffed with pancakes helped us be somewhat restrained!

I stayed the night at Bobo's and then headed off to brunch the next morning ...

Sue's belt

Sue, I wore your gorgeous old belt to work on Thursday. Clearly the
first 5 times I wore it no one noticed, because suddenly EVERYONE was
commenting - they loved it!

Dublin Day!

I'm at Birmingham airport this morning (which is a breeze to get to) -
will be in Dublin by 9am. Have all the good coffee stops & cafes
marked out! A day of sight seeing, markets, walking & food, then the
theatre tonight! I shall report back soon!

Tuesday (yes am about to take out that rubbish)

The winter is here!

Yes Mum, I'm alive

Hi Sue – sorry for my radio silence – it’s been a crazy week.

I landed at the airport from Marrakech at 3am on Tuesday, then caught a coach (and tried to get as much sleep as possibly, having only slept 2 hours that night on the plane – in total I got about 4 hours), then at my desk by 10am – work work work until 8.30pm when I was so tired I couldn’t keep my eyes open, so straight home to bed.  Back at my desk at 6.30am the next day – work work work until about 10pm, then straight home to bed. Thursday I caught the 6am train to London, at the office by 8.30am – work work work until 2am, then home and straight to bed.  And now it’s Friday and I got up at 6.30am (a sleep in!) and am at my desk (7.30am).  Sorry!!!

I will report on Marrakech, hopefully this weekend. x

Reporting from Gatwick

Hello hello
I'm on a mini-break! And boy what I had to do to get here! Worked
yesterday from 7am until 11pm (a combo of general business and also
making up for my time off). Then arrived at my friend, Jacqui's house
at midnight so that I could sleep on her couch for 2 hours before
waking at 2.40am to walk 5 minutes down the road to catch the special
airport bus (would have taken an hour an 3 buses just to get to this
point had I been staying at our place, so I actually got a sleep in
thanks to Jac). I was at gatwick by 4.30am - the easiest run ever! So,
I've had my coffee, bought my airplane obligatory lifestyle magazine
and now I'm ready to board! Flight leaves in about 40 minutes. I'll
touch down at Marrakech at about 9am and edwina will whisk me off into
the desert. Tonight is a special feast as a thankyou for the blog post
I wrote 2 years ago - amazingly people actually read the post! Less
amazingly they then decided to go and stay with edwina!!

Speak soon! X

Thursday

Last day before Marrakech mini break!

The weekend

Hi all
A fabulous fun filled weekend!

Friday night I went to the ball for work - it was at the dorchester hotel in Mayfair, which says fabulous.  Perhaps unsurprisingly, the men from work who I went with didn't utter a single word about my fabulous dress! This really only confirmed to me that I loved it though - so I was happy! The dress has a huge very long skirt, and I had to catch the tube to the ball, so was carrying most of the skirt in my lap to avoid being sucked into the escalator!

On Saturday morning I went to Stoke Newington high street, with a friend, Tash, for a look in the shops and some brunch.  It's about 10minutes north by car from where we live - it's becoming VERY "yummy mummy" but a cooler vibe than the Islington high street (upper street), when you've  been - more quirky independent shops and some great cafes.  Had lovely brunch of sourdough toast, runny yolky eggs, roast cherry tomatoes and mozzarella.

It was a gorgeous sunny day, so I walked through the back streets, first for a coffee stop and paper read at a really good cafe in the back streets of Dalston, and then to Broadway Market, then caught the tube to Somerset House - i met Y here and we went to an exhibit celebrating the life/work of Vidal Sassoon - for whom, apparently, we should be grateful for the "bob" hair cut (although I'm sure everyone had these in the 1920s?).

This is me outside Somerset house - cold but sunny!

Next we went to the science museum in Kensington for an exhibition on Alan Turing, a code breaker during WWII.  This was very interesting, although required concentration!

We grabbed an early dinner at a cheap japanese place.

Sunday was another lovely sunny day.  We walked along the canal, and then further east past Broadway Market, to lower Clapton.  I had read about a newish market here, Chatsworth Road market. I wasn't expecting much, but it was great.  There was a handful of cafes and people sitting outside.  Lots of the market stalls were from broadway market, but the market itself s much less crowded.  We had breakfast sitting in the sun at this place on the corner (with costs on, of course).  I also grabbed another coffee at a recommended place further down the road (with Climpsons coffee Soph!).  The market had some great food stalls and also vintage type furniture and homewares.

From here we caught the bus into town and went to the National Portrait Gallery at Trafalgar Square - there was a brilliant exhibition of Marilyn Munroe photos and old movie posters - celebrating 50 years since her death (although one of london's major art galleries may have got the date wrong according to two women next to me, who spent some considerable time debating whether it was actually 50 years and whether it was perhaps less than this as it just didn't seem right to them.  I decided to back the gallery).

Next I read the paper on the steps of Trafalgar square in the sun (with about 1000 others), whilst Y ran some errands and then we went home.  I cooked some of the mackerel for dinner which I bought from the fish markets a few weeks ago - with cavolo Nero and curly kale.  Delish! Although when I dashed out of the house at 5.45am to get my train to Birmingham, the house still smells of mackerel - still smells!

Tuesday

Boots in October - not a good sign!

Monday

Wearing my navy dress, with Sue's old lipstick blouse.

Friday

Feeling dotty!

The daily outfit will now be published here!

Weekend in Essex

Hi Family! It was great to see you all on Skype last week - I felt like I was right there with you at the table (until I couldn't partake in the crunchy carrot cake).  Thanks for sending me this pic Sue - it arrived eventually! Daisy looked gorgeous - I saw a lovely photo of her on FB today with her mum and maternal grandparents - all looking very flash!

It's quite cold here - the good news is I get to wear this fab collar Sue and Ian bought me in Hobart - I love it!  The fleece makes it so warm.  I am only looking strange because I'm sitting at the station trying to take a photo of myself.



I was on my way to London.  Y and I had a yummy breakfast at Salvation Jane (sister cafe of Lantana), before I headed off to Essex for the weekend - to stay with Lyndall and Jade.

Lyndi and I had manicures - with special new technology gel nail polish - the nail polish is basically baked on with a UV light and is instantly dry.  It was AMAZING.

We went out for dinner at a local  Italian place which was really good, despite the very bad photo.

Near where Jade & Lyndi live there's a lovely lake and outdoor area.  We went and fed the ducks - this was clearly Jade's idea, not Lyndall's or mine, but we enjoyed it just the same - see!

Jade drinks a weird concoction of green algae for breakfast - apparently the equivalent of eating a kilo of vegetables.  I of course had to join in.  Urgh.  These are our green teeth.  I think I'd probably rather eat a kilo of veg.

So that was my weekend - a lovely mini break in Essex!

The Icon that won't die!

After dinner with Matina, I was fishing around in my bag and what did
I find ...... !!!!! Noooooooooooo!

The last couple of weeks.

Hi Family - Hope you're all well? 

Our week in Greece was absolutely lovely - SO relaxing, and lots of fun having Emma and Jo there too.  We did the odd walk, but mainly discovered little beaches, lay in the sun, swam and read.  There was of course lots of eating and drinking too! Hopefully you saw the pics on FB?  I got a fabulous new hat (as usual, I looked everywhere for one like this last year and couldn't find them anywhere, and now ... yes they're all over the place).  I'm wearing the hat below - not a great pic but the only one showing my hat (and my new togs).

Last weekend we went to Caroline and James' farewell party - I was still clinging on to the last of my tan! (it's all gone now and I'm back to pasty office worker white).  It was sad saying goodbye to them - they have been here the whole time we have.

 Another busy busy week at work.  This is me wearing Neen's black & white houndstooth skirt - suddenly houndstooth is everywhere (note me again ahead of the trend).  I have been making my coffee at home with the nespresso machine and heating milk on the stove, and then taking it in my little takeaway cup - I realised it coordinates perfectly with my jumper!

Here is the dress I made, which I think I've shown you before.  I wore it to work on Friday - we were giving a seminar to some clients.  Maybe everyone missed the dress when I wore it the first time but EVERYONE kept commenting on it - grown men who have never ever commented on my clothes before were falling over themselves to tell me how much they liked it!  Maybe because it's the only burst of colour in the office?

After work on the Friday, I headed into London to meet up with Y, and some friends, as we were seeing Y's cousin Matina, who is in London.  We had a delicious dinner at Hawksmoor - loads of fun.  Y then caught an over night bus to Glasgow (sounds glamorous?!) as she's going to a work friend's birthday up there.  

This morning (Saturday) I went with Tash (who I think Sue and Ian met at Kensington Nurseries?) to Billingsgate fish markets - we went super early to buy fish.  It is all sold in boxes, or by the whole fish.  We bought a box of about 15 gorgeous mackerel for about 15 pounds, and a whole salmon for 6 pounds, mussels and crab meat.  Then we went back to Tash's place and had brunch of smoked salmon on lovely rye bread (which we'd picked up from the bakery on the way back) and coffee, and then proceeded to gut our fish, then packaged them all into snap lock bags to freeze.  And all this before 10.30am!

It's actually been a gorgeous sunny day here in London, which is lovely given how awful and cold it's been the last week.  I met up with Emma and Jo at a great place in Mayfair called Burger & Lobster.  We had to queue up so we could get a seat as soon as it opened at 12pm.  The menu is a burger, a lobster roll or lobster.  Emma and I had the lobster roll - gorgeous big chunks of lobster in mayonnaise, in a delicious toasted brioche bun - it was to die for.  Perfect sunny Saturday lunch with a nice chilled white wine.  We're definitely going back to have the lobster though!

That's all my news for now!
lexx