Autumn Colour

Coco Canal

It was such a beautiful morning I decided to take my new accessory on a stroll beside the Regents Canal.

Needlepoint Handbag -  eBay USA

Regents Canal at Angel

Me in sunglasses with new bag, two whippets and a jug.

Hmmm... I am reminded of Coco Chanel's advice: " Before you leave the house, look in the mirror and remove one accessory." She's right. The jug will have to go. 

Something I Don't Say Very Often

Glad I'm not in Venice...

A Memorable Sunday

It's a bit like Downton Abbey here on a Sunday morning. Me in the basement preparing Ed's breakfast  - cheese, ham and tomato toastie; hot chocolate with whipped cream and marshmallows ('if we don't have marshmallows then make some'); a croissant stuffed with raspberries; a mug of tea...

His bedroom door was still shut when I went up (he'd telephoned his order down earlier) and as I was carrying the tray I pushed the door open with my back and entered the room. Ed was in bed watching the TV.  I was expecting to be greeted with more than a hissed 'be quiet' after all my effort but had forgotten it was Remembrance Sunday and had to stop in my tracks until the Last Post sounded. I was then invited to sit on the edge of the bed and watch as the Queen, the Royal Family and everyone else laid their wreaths at the Cenotaph. London was at it's most beautiful and beguiling. A light November haze accentuated shafts of winter sunlight filtered through autumn trees. That bloke's voiceover on the BBC as one by one all the dignitaries solemnly step forward - it's just all so atmospheric and very moving. 

So, stuff Clissold Park for a dog walk - we headed into town, dropped Ed at Pineapple in Covent Garden and wandered through Trafalgar Square and down towards Westminster. Whitehall was closed to traffic and the legions of servicemen and women had dispersed and were standing in the sunshine outside pubs enjoying a drink and a reminisce. They admired whippets and we admired medals beside the sea of poppies.    

Something For The Weekend

Geordie Shore's Holly Hagan poses at Lordship Park for this week's Nuts Magazine

Going Bananas

Got any bananas?
No.
I fancy a banana.
We haven't got any bananas. Have a biscuit.
Nah, a banana's healthier.
Well there aren't any. I'll get some when I go shopping.

Is anyone going to eat those bananas going brown in the fruit bowl?
Nah, they're going brown.
Well that's a waste. I thought you liked bananas.
Not when they're going brown. 
They weren't going brown when I bought them. Honestly. I'll have to make a cake with them - I'm not throwing them away.

Got any bananas?
No.
I fancy a banana.
We haven't got any bananas. Have a biscuit.
Nah, a banana's healthier.
Well there aren't any. I'll get some when I go shopping.


Is anyone going to eat those bananas going brown in the fruit bowl?
Nah, they're going brown.
Well that's a waste. I thought you liked bananas.
Not when they're going brown. 
They weren't going brown when I bought them. Honestly. I'll have to make a cake with them - I'm not throwing them away.

Got any bananas?

No.

I fancy a ...

Banana cake.

Melt 4oz butter in the microwave until it turns to liquid.

Mash up 3 bananas and add to butter.

Beat 3 eggs with a fork and add to butter and banana mixture along with a splash of milk.

Measure 8oz flour, 4oz caster sugar and a teaspoon of baking powder into another bowl.

Pour the liquid mixture onto the dry ingredients and stir with a spatula, quickly combine the dry and wet ingredients with no more than 10 stirs.

Transfer to silicone baking mould, sprinkle with brown sugar and cook for half and hour in a medium oven.

Vogue Shoot at Lordship Park

How To Save A Tenner

Black Cat firework pack suitable for small Hackney back garden - duration 70 seconds - £69.99
Bottle of Champagne, 5 glasses, 5 comfy chairs, this view of the wealthier boroughs' municipal displays - duration 1 hour -  £59.99

View from Champagne bar at Vertigo, Tower 42

Halloween Swag

'Joe! Joe! Where are you going?'
'Halloween.'
'Yes, I know it's Halloween. Are you going trick or treating?'
Scoffs
'Where are you going then?'
'There's a bonfire party.'
'Where did you get those clothes?'
'What clothes?'
'Those clothes you're wearing.'
'Found them.'
'Found them where?'
'Upstairs.'
'Where did you find the white shirt?'
'John's wardrobe.'
'The tie?'
'Daddy's tie box.'
'That's the Christian Dior one isn't it?'
Checks label. 'Yep.'
'The suit?'
'Daddy's wardrobe. It's Alexander McQueen.'
'The glasses?'
'Ed's drawer.'
'The coat?'
Twirls. 'Your room. It was in some tissue paper. Like it?'