The Royal Wedding - A Londoner's perspective

I do love a good wedding.  I love the romance, the chance for a good knees up, the general loveliness of it all.  So I was rather excited about the Royal Wedding.


Most Londoners, myself included, steer well of central London during major events but I was rather touched by the response of ordinary Londoners, far away from the media glare, to the wedding...  My local shisha bar offering free shishas to anyone called William or Kate; the Caribbean restaurant just down the road inventing a plethora of new cocktails for the occasion including 'Kiss me Kate' and my personal favourite, 'Westminster Sinner'; the phalanx of little girls walking regally down the High Road dressed as princesses, complete with tiaras.


My flatmate and myself decided to mark the occasion by dressing in our poshest frocks, drinking Earl Grey tea from a beautiful hand painted tea set left to me by my mum and eating Victoria Sponge cake whilst we watched it all unfold on the BBC.  Darling, how very British!

The moment which really brought the enormity of the occasion home to me was, when they kissed on the balcony at the palace, we could actually hear the roar of the crowd. I only live about five or six miles away from central London and I think the wind must have been right.  Most astonishing.

I'm not going to add anything more to the online cacophony about The Dress, The Kiss and The Body Language because far, far more knowledgeable, experienced people than myself have already analyzed them so all I will say is, I thought Kate looked beautiful - classic and timeless - and I think that they're genuinely in love.  I was rather touched by William's protective body language towards her throughout the ceremony.

Amongst all the excitement and romance, I couldn't, however, help feeling a sense of unease at such a display. So much (taxpayer's) money spent, yet I was still stepping over homeless people on The Strand on my way to work. The Strand is about quarter of a mile from Westminster Abbey.  I do realise that  social problems like homelessness are far more complex to solve than just throwing money at them but still...

  

Easter weekend in London

I do hope all my lovely readers had as great Easter weekend as I did.  We spent it in London.  Personally I love London on Bank Holidays.  There's none of the manic rushing that happens during the working week.  Just people who really enjoy London.

Unfortunately I did have to work Friday and Saturday but the double time was extremely welcome.

As it was such a gorgeous day on Sunday, my boyfriend and I decided to go up to Hampstead Heath and enjoy the weather.  I adore everything about Hampstead - the beautiful unspoiled village with it's boutiques & fantastic pubs, the wild, vast untamed heath...

We wandered through the Heath for a while

then retired to The Holly Bush, a beautiful little pub just off the high street, that dates back to the nineteenth century, for a couple of glasses of rose and a very nice roast dinner.  After The Holly Bush, we were in no mood to end the evening so continued on to The Flask, another of my favourite pubs in the area for another glass of rose and a game of Trivial Pursuit, ( I lost!)

We woke up late-ish on Monday and decided to go and see 'Submarine'.  It's a strange, quirky little film but I loved it.  It's coming-of-age film about a teenage boy in Wales trying to loose his virginity & cope with the potential break up of his parents marriage.  Sounds run of the mill but the style is not.  It's divided into slightly dramatic sections like a book but it works because it's the way teenagers see life.  Well, it's the way I saw things when I was fifteen!  Disaster strikes!  The break up!  Definitely a recommendation from me.

Apologies

Once again, I need to apologise for the break in blogging.

I've been caught up in estate agent hell which has taken me a very long time to sort out.  I wish I could elaborate but sadly I can't.  All I can say is - I don't know how they can sleep at night.  They've looked me straight in the eye, smiled and told lie after lie after lie, knowing that their actions will badly damage me.  Not good people.

Anyway, on to far more pleasant matters.  Firstly I do need to thank the lovely Ines of All I Am - a redhead for the perfume samples I won in a give away on her blog and the eternally stylish Looking Fab in your forties of Looking Fab at Any Age for the very sexy Playtex lingerie set which I won in a give away on her site.  I'll be bringing you the lowdown on the lingerie set very soon.

Last but on least, I have some very exciting projects in the pipeline.  Watch this space...

What a beautiful day

Today was the first day this year that I was able to switch off the heating and open all the doors & windows.  Yes, I know it's a little early in the year but it really felt like spring was on it's way.  


I can't wait for warmer days so I can wear beautiful floaty dresses in gorgeous bright colours and not have to bother with coats.

Object of desire - Chloe pleated silk-satin blouse

I just love this Chloe blouse.

Image via net-a-porter.com

I could see myself wearing it with cream wide-legged trousers and some strappy sandals for lunch in a beautiful restaurant like The Roof Gardens.  

All I need now is to find the £515 to pay for it.  And get the life style to go with it.

You can buy it in the UK here and the US here.

Happy Birthday to me!

Today is my birthday.  


I'm 45.  Forty five!  I can scarcely believe it.  The whole thing has an air of the surreal about it.  Surely I can't be five years off... gulp, half a century?  I mean, I still feel like a hip, trendy young thing who spends every night out in the latest bar/club/pub.  


Actually, who am I trying to kid - I feel a bit knackered and really rather enjoy quiet nights in with Classic FM & a good book.  And a nice cup of cocoa.  


Instead of relentlessly following the latest fashion whether or not it suits me, I now hunt down quality investment pieces that flatter my body type and I have a newfound appreciation of good tailoring.  


I'd rather spend quality time with good friends than hanging out in the latest hip nightspot with people I hardly know.  In fact I'm quite fond of regaling young people with my clubbing stories in a smug 'been there, done that' kind of way.  I was put rather firmly in my place the other day when I was telling some beautiful young things a story about clubbing at The Hacienda.  I was in full flow, convinced of my own coolness when a gorgeous boy sighed wistfully and said, 'That sounds amazing.  I wish I'd been alive in the olden days'.  That was me well and truly told.  I'll get back to my cocoa.


All in all, it's not that bad growing old.  Granted you have a few wrinkles and grey hairs but you have a real confidence and self assuredness that I wouldn't swap for anything. When you're young and life throws you a few knocks, you're convinced that it's the end, your life is ruined and you'll never be able to recover from it but as you get a few life experiences under your belt, you realize that it'll pass and you'll survive.  So much less tiring than teenage angst. 


I have my amazing boyfriend, my wonderful family and great friends.  That's all I need really.    

The Kings Speech - a review

I was in desperate need of mental and cultural stimulation today after spending the whole day yesterday on Facebook/Twitter & watching some truly woeful TV so I took myself off to see 'The Kings Speech'.

Image via www.awardsdaily.com

It was a very smart move on my part.  It's an amazing film. Colin Firth was magnificent.  Not in a hot-Mr-Darcy-emerging-from-the-lake kind of way.  In a strong, intelligent actor at the height of his powers kind of way.  Geoffrey Rush was as great as ever and it was good to see Helena Bonham-Carter going back to her roots & playing an English gentlewoman.


For those of you not in the know, it's about Bertie, the reluctant prince who overcame a crippling stammer with the help of an unorthodox Australian speech therapist and became King George VI.  During World War II, King George VI played a very important part in boosting British morale and became a symbol of the British spirit.  I actually found myself welling up at times as they both overcame obstacles in their lives and became the unlikeliest of friends.  Dare I whisper the hackneyed phrase 'life affirming'?


Definitely a recommendation from me.