Sunday, December 30, 2012


The phrase that came into my head when I was ruminating on 2012 was, I wouldn't have it any other way. The past year has been an adventure and a goodun - it had momentum, surprise, twists and turns, spontaneity; a certain non linear poetry. At the end of 2011 things were not looking even slightly good in my world. If you'd asked me in January 2012 what I was going to do this year - who I would be with and where, I would have guessed at something completely different than how it evolved. So many new things were waiting around the corner. 

2012 was all about people and places for me. I became a godmother twice, inexplicably only spent four days in Paris but went to Venice repeatedly, Rome and Andalucia. Went to my dream place Mexico on the first family holiday for 23 years. I also started going out in London like a maniac, having spent the previous years as a slightly grumpy about London semi-hermit; spent all of spring to autumn frequenting the same Hackney locales, then stopped going just as abruptly when the wind changed direction. Things moved and changed around me and I with them, in fact so fast that this blog couldn't keep up. Must find a good way to blog on the move that isn't Instagram and for it to show up here.

I started writing about London for HiP Paris, my little shop took its first tentative steps using the mantra above - to be given legs in 2013. I finally said (and repeated loudly) a firm NO to unpaid writing work, and then wondered why I hadn't been able to do that for the seven previous years. Easy. 

I cut all my hair off, went swimming in a river, watched the sun rise over the mountains, went wherever I wanted to go, ate well and drank a little too much a bit too often perhaps. The only thing I really did differently this year was just to do exactly what I wanted without worrying or over thinking it. 

At the end of 2012 I bought the first piece of original art I've bought for my home in years, a pair of mega spenny Celine shoes and a pretty dress from the Mayle pop up. I swapped my tiny black stud earrings for diamond ones, put on matte red lipstick and whoosh - I'm out the door and into 2013. I have to say, I'm excited about the surprises it might have in store.

And if you haven't read it already, here's a bonus: Susan Miller's 2013 astrology forecast for Russh magazine - available to read unedited and unabridged here.

{Credits: Inspirational wording via Jjjjound, Desire print by Louise Mann, Mayle Jeanne Coco Cloud dress, Russh 2013 Astrology Report - wish I knew who illustrated the 12 signs.}

Friday, December 21, 2012



Runners up:





Claridge's - classic. Nowhere else comes close.

Off Broadway - beards, tattoos and cocktails.







Roadtrips - need to do more of these next summer.






Wednesday, December 19, 2012


I was genuinely shopping for Christmas presents for other people when I walked straight into the path of these Celine slippers. Burgundy and navy in one shoe? Really comfortable butter soft leather, can wear them all the time, plus enabling friend's encouragement? Then a slight wobble about do they possibly look like the kind of slippers that Boycie from Only Fools and Horses would have worn - I mean maybe, but no - and anyway is that a bad thing? The shoes were on my feet - they weren't coming off except to allow a nice girl to stuff them with tissue, put them each in protective bags and tissue and more tissue and shoe bags, a box, then a bag expertly sealed. My credit card fell out of my purse and into the machine.
There. The decisive moment.

Sunday, December 16, 2012


God, I was obsessed with Breakfast at Tiffany's between the ages of about twelve and eighteen. Some people still associate me with the character of Holly Golightly, which is odd. (Especially if you've read the book!) I sort of forgot about it in recent years, even though my standard bearer for male/female relationships is still probably the romantic friendship between Holly and Paul(Fred); as absorbed from watching this film a million times. Oh and the obsession with mens' dinner shirts, random suitcases and general wardrobe continues.
Still eminently screen-cappable.

Wednesday, December 12, 2012


Things that are unbleached, things that are red/cherry/burgundy, things that are APC, a hat that is small,  linen from Paris and a porcelain lampshade from Venice if you're wondering what that thing is.

Thursday, December 06, 2012


It's too early in winter to start saying I miss summer isn't it?
Ah well, timing was never my strong point. I want to do a shop update but I've been struck down by that stupid virus everyone's going on about, so it might be a few days yet. I want to do a lot of things...

In the meantime here's a new London winter post up on HiP Paris by me and two good films I watched this week (one very summery; one very wintery) while being a sickly person at home:

La Collectionneuse

La Belle Personne

No correlation between the two except FRANCE: Everyone's shagging everyone, basically, right?

{Am considering doing a Films For People Who Can't Be Bothered to Watch Them review of La Collectionneuse in the same vein as the Claire's Knee one. But you should. Watch it I mean - it's good.}

Sunday, December 02, 2012


This is but a tenth of what I ate in November, as believe it or not, I don't Instaz every single thing I eat. Compared to what really went down, it looks positively virtuous. I have no pictures of the oysters, lobster and enormous ribeye steak smothered in béarnaise at Hawksmoor - in between the Connaught cocktails and Ruinart (now known simply as Ruin) champagne - and whatever it was I drank at the Dover Street Arts Club later that night - this is usually an indicator that I've had way too much to drink. If you see photos you know I'm fairly sober. Fairly.

So in no particular order: Cocktails at Hawksmoor Air Street, lemon chiffon cake from Handmade Food and magazines,  M. Jamon's Une Tranche and lentils with ham hock? Bacon chop? at 40 Maltby Street, autumn vegetables and goat's curd at Terroirs, lovely spread at London Particular, Handmade Food sausage roll and lentils, Nordic Platter at The Gantry, Connaught drinks, yummy, amazing food at Coya - bad photos, but trust me really amazing food, josper cooked chicken also at Coya, toast and jam at the Little Bread Pedlar, can't remember which soup at Handmade Food, much needed chicken pot detox at Rose Bakery/Dover Street Market where I then had an awkward queuing for the loo situation with Alexa Chung. Bad veggie sandwich (it's got bacon in it) at London Particular. Also not pictured: 3? 4? dinner parties (there's a strictly enforced rule that Claire is not allowed her phone at the table) and oh god, so much more.

And this is the reason I have gained 10lbs in one month. TEN POUNDS.