Category Archives: Life and romance
Hello to half a century (and then some).
Fifty-five is not an insubstantial age but not as old as I hope to be one day – assuming I will remain in fine fettle of course. This year’s birthday celebrations extended to before and beyond the day itself and … Continue reading
Posted in Entertaining, Family, Food and wine, Friends, Health, holiday, Home, Life and romance, London, Motherhood, Travel, Uncategorized
Tagged 55, Arcadia Spectacular, Art, Entertainment, Family, Food, Fun, GranCanaria, happy, holiday, humour, Idyll Suites, Innovation, life, Maserati, middle age, Party, sun, Sunday Times, wine, work
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Brighton: a weekend away with the Boss
He proposed the idea with such excitement and enthusiasm that I felt guilty saying no. It just didn’t feel right, didn’t strike the right chord. No brought dismay and disappointment to his face and for several days he tried to … Continue reading
Posted in Art, Entertaining, Family, Friends, holiday, Life and romance, London, Travel, Uncategorized
Tagged boyfriend, Brighton, Cocktails, fireworks, happy, Lewis, mototbike, promenade, Royal Enfield, sea, seaside
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Eyre today, gone tomorrow.
Bars: I’ve known many, too many to mention. But none quite like the one that for over fifteen years lived at 70 Leonard Street, London EC2. The Eyre Brothers was launched by David and Robert Eyre in 2001, a luxe … Continue reading
Posted in Art, Business, Entertaining, Eyre Brothers, Family, Food and wine, Friends, Home, Life and romance, London, Uncategorized
Tagged business, David Eyre, Eyre Brothers, food and wine, forte, friends, Hospitality, London, Shoreditch
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Austin power: an idyllic week.
Times they are a-changing and Texas beckons; my modest business has found a greater appetite for its wares in the USA than on home turf. With opportunity snapping at our heels and new horizons long overdue, BB and I decided … Continue reading
Posted in Art, Austin, Business, Design and architecture, Education, Entertaining, Export, Family, Food and wine, Friends, holiday, Home, Hospital, Life and romance, London, Travel, Uncategorized
Tagged Austin, business, Cocktails, Cy Twombly, Dell Medical, Dylan Moran, education, Houston, life, Menil, Rothko, Texas, travel, work
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Airbnb: the nuisance neighbour
Hot on the heels of last week’s celebration of local loveliness comes a rude reminder that all is not quite rosy in our garden, for there is a fly amidst the buttercups and daisies. Well less fly, more monster for the house … Continue reading
Posted in AirB&B, Business, Family, Health, Home, Life and romance, London, Travel, Uncategorized
Tagged business, landlord, neighbour, neighbourhood, noise, nuisance, property, rental, tired
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London E2: life’s good in the ‘hood
In April 2008 My Girls and I moved into a three-up-two-down on Wimbolt Street just yards away from Columbia Road, Bethnal Green. It is here that the world famous flower market takes place every Sunday. Despite our proximity to the … Continue reading
Posted in Business, Entertaining, Family, Food and wine, Friends, Health, Life and romance, London, Motherhood, Shopping, Uncategorized
Tagged Bethnal Green, Brick Lane, Casa Blue, Columbia Pharmacy, Columbia Road, dinners, John Birchall, Mai'da, Maks News, Neighbours, Organics, parties, Party, Pavilion Bakery, Precious, Wimbolt Street
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Up and down in San Francisco: the long walk
My recent ten-day business trip to Texas was preceded by a wonderful day in San Francisco. Arriving at the Stanford Court Hotel, I asked if my room had a view. Not from the third floor, confirmed the Reception Staff. Would you … Continue reading
Posted in Design and architecture, Entertaining, Food and wine, Friends, holiday, Life and romance, Travel, Uncategorized
Tagged Bay, cityscape, Ferry Building, friends, Houston, life, Nob Hill, North Beach, patisserie, San Francisco, shops, travel, USA, Walk, work
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Karma Kandara: a travelogue
Last year was long and tough. One of the hardest aspects being how much I miss YoungestOfAll, The Exocet who now lives in Melbourne. Last Spring then, flights were booked for a three-week Christmas holiday. Deeming it necessary to shed some of the year’s … Continue reading
Posted in Food and wine, Friends, Health, holiday, Life and romance, Travel, Uncategorized
Tagged Bali, beach, Bliss, Cocktails, Garuda, holiday, Karma Group, Karma Kandara, Karma Resorts, life, Luxury, Massage, pamper, Relax, Spa, Treatments
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Scotland: reunions, drama, art & a poet
One rainy July afternoon, BB and I arrived at a remote part of Scotland where we found forty people sheltering under a large pergola tent, sharing a generous picnic. We had landed at the opening event of an Outlaw … Continue reading
Posted in Art, Design and architecture, Entertaining, Family, Food and wine, Friends, Life and romance, Travel, Uncategorized
Tagged Edinburgh, Edinburgh Casting Studio, Eeusk, Family, Hymns, Jacobite, Jock Scot, Leith Dockers Club, MacCaigs Tower, Mallaig, Memorial, Oban, Panorama, Scotland, Scottish Museum of Modern Art, Seacliff Beach, Trains, travel
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A Wanstead afternoon and other social shenanigans
It began on the first Friday of April. I had invited very old friends from Cambridge days of yore, people with whom I had mingled during the year of my secretarial training. The early ‘80s involved partner in crime, the … Continue reading
Posted in Entertaining, Family, Food and wine, Friends, Home, Life and romance, London, Uncategorized
Tagged Art, Bethnal Green, Family, Food, friends, Giovanna Forte, life, Shoreditch, wine
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fortewinks 