off on my travels...

well the case is packed and its just a final check through of the stuff not to forget!


Tickets a
Passport a
Visa Waiver (no longer can you fill your little green form in on the plane!) a
Cash! a
Map a
Teresa's New York 2009 Things to do book (nearly full!) a
Ipod a
Starbucks card - topped-up! a
Book to Read a
I've posted a daily update of my plans whilst i'm away.... thanks for all the good wishes... will update you with lots more on my return!
Tx

Delia does Christmas!

Whilst I'm away.... The Grand-Dame of Cooking,Delia is back for Christmas!

"For the first time since 1990, Delia returns to television screens at Christmas time to unveil a celebration feast packed with indulgent, scrumptious recipes.
Delia is a firm believer that the festive period of cooking and feasting should be cherished, not feared. In a season which can be fraught with panic, Delia is here to allay cooks' worries. She steers through the minefield of timings and planning in the hectic weeks before Christmas Day; the key, of course, being to prepare as much as possible in advance.
Delia treats viewers with Christmas classics, from gloriously fragrant home-made mincemeat and traditional Christmas pudding to a glossily bronzed turkey with all the trimmings. She spoils the hungry with a delicious chocolate and sour cherry crumble, her best cranberry and orange relish, and delectable scallops in the shell. Diners will ascend to culinary heaven with her fillet of beef with wild mushroom and red wine sauce, and roasted bacon with blackened crackling, and there's a twinkly delight as Delia indulges dessert lovers with a gorgeous panettone trifle.
Delia's Classic Christmas is a sumptuous celebration of Christmas cooking crammed with Delia's best Christmas recipes, practical tips and step-by-step guides to enjoying the preparations."

I'm particularly liking the look of Gruyere & Parmesan Allumettes (Cheese straws!) Mincemeat & Apple Crumble and Christmas Cracker Puddings with Mascapone Rum Cream so set the record button for Tuesday 1st December BBC2 9pm

the holidays are coming......

in more ways than one!....... oh you always know when christmas is on its way when the Coca Cola advert airs....

this has really got me in the holiday mood!.... today has been a day of catching up with friends and sorting out the last of my things for my holiday.

Tonight is ironing, ready for packing, just got to pick up suitcase from my friend! and then I can think about packing, although I am notorious for leaving it to the last minute!

My ironing & packing viewing is a couple of NY themed movies!

Confessions of a shopaholic

and Serendipity!
off now the ironing board is calling!

1 week and counting!

can you tell that i am desperate to go away now!...well the planning has moved up a gear now. I've even plotted places to go on my map!... how organised am I.
As well as numerous shops to seek out, there are a few tourist musts for me so in no particular order;

Top of the Rock @ the Rockefeller Centre ~ everyone heads for the Empire State Building for views of New York, however this gives amazing views which include the Empire State. (usually less Q's too!)
Central Park ~ Where else can you ice- skate, go to the zoo, climb to the top of a castle, stand in strawberry fields, drink hot chocolate amongst the sparkling trees of Tavern on the Green all within a park in one of the busiest cities in the world!
New York Library ~ a beautiful building with a reading room to die for, ever more famous now thanks to the fated nuptials of Carrie & Mr Big!
Grand Central Station ~ features a concourse that makes you want to dance in it. This building epitomises all the glamour of New York and more.
Brooklyn Bridge ~ an icon of NY which often gets eclipsed by the Statue of Liberty, but if you are down at Battery Park, jump on the subway head over to Brooklyn and then walk back across the bridge. I defy anyone not to think they are in a movie! (who can forget Miranda & Steve in SATC!)
These are on my itinerary, will share some more later in the week. Tx

Dear Santa......

I've been a good girl this year! and I know that your are exceptionally busy this time of year BUT....
Kelly has done touch a fantastic job of a wish list of what she would like,I thought I would let you have mine and as we have similar wishes I would hate for you to get the stockings muddled!

In order for me to look glamorous & gorgeous (trust me Santa I need all the help I can get!) for the holiday season I would love a makeover by Bobbi Brown... the Queen of makeovers.

Makeover complete a girl needs to look her best, so key accessories are a must. As one of my mantra's is that "A girl can never have too many Handbags, Shoes or Friends" and I have many wonderful friends, but I would love an update on the handbag and shoe collection...

My handbag wish is the Mulberry Bayswater, but would be as happy with the Mulberry Charlie... (did you know that my Gramps's name was Charlie)....

and my shoe choice is either the Christian Louboutin 120 Ankle Boot or the equally scrummy Prive Slingbacks

(i know i'm a sucker for a slingback!) its an 80's thing...............

With the glamorous look complete, a girl has to commute in style, so an Aston Martin would be lovely, preferably driven by 007 himself! I'm not fussed on which style as they are all lovely.....

No glamorous trip is complete without an equally glamorous room to stay in to a trip to here The Plaza ~ New York which is a beautiful hotel in my favourite location.

Now a girl can't stay in such surroundings with out a date for lunch, dinner & breakfast!
so my accompaniment for lunch would be the lovely Rupert,

dinner & coffee with the gorgeous George

and breakfast with the McDreamey Patrick.........

who can hold the key to my heart in a little blue box!...

well a girl can dream .... can't she?

x Y x Y x

This week.....

it's been a bit of a Roller Coaster. Life has been a ride of highs and lows.....

Tuesday: Off to the Rugby, Saracens 'v' South Africa as wembley stadium..... great venue and a crowd of 48,000. Lots of green shirts for South Africa on the tube to the game. There's a large South African community in London... not forgetting that this side are the World Champions!. I caught up with my friends there, where we went for a Chinese first which was very yummy.

None of us were anticipating anything other than being beaten at this game and the score line at half time showed South Africa very much in front!.

Sarries came back after half time on the attack with a great display of Rugby and to clinch the win at full time!!!.... a great game of rugby!

Wednesday: After a stressful day as work I headed over to Portland Place for another Crochet class with the lovely Jane from Tea & Crafting. This nights lesson was Crochet Flower broaches!... and how cute are these. There was 6 of us in the class, Jane was extremely patient and eventually everyone went home with either a completed brooch or one nearing completion. I had a great night, and would recommend Jane's classes to all,(especially as sweets & chocs are supplied!!)

Thursday & Friday were 2 very long and stressful days at work, along with another bereavement in the family. My Gramps's youngest brother died on Friday, which really knocked me sideways, as he was the last one of my Grandads 8 siblings.

So next week will be a trip to Bury St Edmunds for the funeral, and my boss dropped into the conversation at 5pm Friday night that he had booked me on a course next week for 2 days which is compulsory. This now means 5 days work to be actioned in 2 days prior to my holiday..... I'm a little stressed..

two weeks and counting!

until my trip to NY!.........Thank you to everyone who has sent me places to visit and ideas for my trip (especially Victoria) My itinerary is growing at length... I have sourced a Target in Brooklyn, so my walk over the bridge will be go a little further a field than just the River cafe and ice-cream parlour!

Also on the agenda is Tinsel Trading and Michaels (who has opened in Columbus Avenue)

To aid my trip I picked this little book up at work.... what every girl needs on a trip to NY!

I'm looking forward to exploring more of Greenwich Village and the surrounding areas, I have sourced a couple of bakeries where cupcakes will have to be tested and tasted! I also have a list of flea markets & farmers markets to peruse.

off now to plan a little more!

Not like any other Sunday Boot sale!...

well the Simon le Bon post caused a stir!...
i am still smiling at meeting the man himself, however some of you have asked how!... Yesterday Selfridges held a Jumble / Boot sale, unlike any normal Sunday boot fair / garage sale this one was hosted by celebrities who had donated their belongings, in the process raising money for Mothers 4 Children.

An eclectic mix of goodies was sold off from 50p to £200, including signed shoes from Shirley Bassey, Designer dresses from Elizabeth Hurley,and what appeared to be half of Simon le Bon & Jamie Redknapps wardrobes!
I had a fantastic day, and met some lovely people, both celebrities and people working for the charity who were just great. We haven't finished adding up all the donations, but we are hopeful for a good sum. thankfully the weather was dry after an horrendous saturday as people Q'd round the block to gain entry.
I got my fab limited edition Tote bag signed by Simon as a keepsake from my day!
here are a few other pictures.... including the gorgeous Jamie Redknapp & Simon Le Bon together... well a girl can dream, can't she?

you can take the girl out of the 80's!

but you can't take it out of the girl!.....Living my teens in the 80's was fab!... my pop-idol crush was Simon le Bon & John Taylor from Duran Duran. My friend J and & I were devout Duranies. There wasn't anything that we didn't have that didn't have Duran Duran scrawled across it. I didn't need wallpaper in my bedroom as it was covered completely by posters!

We even went as far as going to Falmouth in Cornwall when Simon's boat Drum capsized in the fastnet race, just in the faint hope of seeing him.... When they re-formed and toured a couple of years ago, we were there screaming like we were 15 all over again!

So this weekend has been a little surreal, Friday night I got home from work late, flicked through the TV and found a programme on BBC4 documenting the iconic Rio album with interviews with the band etc, followed by a concert of there's.... it didn't know whether to feel old that Duran Duran were on BBC4 or that BBC4 were getting a bit retro! Then today at work (detailed post to follow) I met the lovely Mr Le Bon and his family... surreal moment sitting drinking mulled wine & munching mince pies with the guy that used to adourn my walls!... an all-round lovely family, Yasmin is stunning, Amber, Saffron & Tallulah are great girls and Simon was still yummy!

it's a hard job.......

but someone has to do it!...today at work, some of Rugby's Finest came in to sign their 2010 calendar... this calendar may feature in many rugby girls stockings this year!....My friend came up and met me, we had calendars signed by the lovely:

Nils Mordt ~ Northampton saints

Delon Armitage ~ London Irish & England

Dom Waldouck ~ London wasps

Will Matthews ~ London wasps

waiting in the entourage was the equally lovely Neil Kennedy from London Irish who was just scrummy!.. no sarries boys but hey a girl can't be too fussy!

We then had a bite to eat had a wander and then drove home..... a fab evening out.

Prior to the signing, the boys did a little Christmas Photo shot... Merry Christmas Girls!....

three weeks and counting....

and I will be on a plane on my way to New York!.... a bit of a spur of the moment thing but I am so looking forward to a week away, and where else should a girl go 3 weeks before Christmas!

Thank-you to everyone who emailed me to see if I was ok after my weekend, I'm feeling much better now and I've got NY to look forward too!

It is without a doubt my favourite city in the world, I have been a few times but never get bored of it.

As well as Bloomies, Saks & Macy's I will also be frequenting the following:

Y Pottery Barn ~ classic home ware... a must for a Friends Fan!

Y Dean & Deluca ~ A Deli to Die for!

Y Crate & Barrel ~ Kitchenware & Christmas goodies

Y MJTrimmings ~ Ribbons & Buttons in abundance!

Y Sephora ~ A must for beauty treats.

(click on highlighted store to peruse the website!)

the cupcake eateries are also on my list of 'To do's!.... As a seasoned traveller to New York, I'm always looking for new places to explore..... what do you recommend?

We must never forget....

Saturday and Sunday saw Remembrance services take place across the nation. Saturday the Annual Festival of Remembrance at the beautiful Royal Albert Hall and Sunday the Service at the Cenotaph. Both incredibly moving and even more poignant this year.

I didn't realise how difficult I would find this weekend, until it was upon me. It didn't help that I've been fighting a head cold all week which broke Saturday, sofa, duvet and hot lemon in a plenty for rest of weekend and lots of tissues!

Remembrance weekend was always time spent with my grandparents. This year without them both has been really hard, especially without my beloved Gramps.

Early Saturday morning I headed to Westminster to lay my cross in the field of remembrance. The heartbreak of seeing the remembrance field for the boys lost in Afghanistan this year, was incredibly moving.

I was incredibly blessed and lucky to spend the time with my Grandad that i did, His storey will be passed down to future generations but we must always remember the sacrifice that these men have made and are making for us all. This is a layout that I made a couple of years ago... thought it was more poignant this year.

It's beginning to feel a lot like Christmas..........

This week (Tuesday) saw the Christmas Light ceremony in Oxford Street. This year it has been sponsored by Disney in conjunction with their movie release for the festive season of "A Christmas Carol."

I have posted some picture here on my Recipes of London Blog. To avoid the nightmare tube journey from Bond Street, i nipped out of work early and headed over to St Pauls, as Spandau Ballet were performing as part of the ceremony there.

A great night... and it's definitely beginning to feel a lot like Christmas!

Christmas Coffee is Coming!.....

the countdown has begun!..... there are things on the build-up to Christmas that make me happy! Red Cups are one of them!

How excited was I when I saw this sign outside Starbucks on my walk into work Monday!

Every year Starbucks switch to red cups for Christmas... I start to look out for them from early November, as we know that the holiday season is upon us!

I especially love them as I have complete association with them and New York, which as you know I Y this years signature flavour is Egg Nog! mmm yummy

this year I'm adding the following to my santa list....however I may need to sample whilst decorating the tree!

they are the yummy starbucks gift sets from Boots, Candy Set or Syrup set....

so Christmas Coffee wishes.... what ever your flavour! xxxxx