An Unusual Sunday

So I'm having an unusual couple of weeks. Last week I was in Brussels organising a 3 day conference, dinners etc and as I type this I find myself in sunny Singapore where I've come to arrange the opening conference and party for my firm's new Singaporean office.

 

Sunday was an odd day. I leapt off the Eurostar in London and into the arms of Mr Rose who'd come to meet me and escort me to Heathrow ready for my flight to The East. Normally after a big 3 day conference I collapse in a heap and hide from the world for 24 hours, but this time I had to pack myself off ready to do it all over again.

 

We decided to go to The Gilbert Scott for lunch in the new swanky hotel in St Pancras. It suited us both - it has a reasonably priced lunch deal which cheered Mr Rose and I was happy because roast chicken was on the menu.

After a very pleasant lunch we hot footed it to Heathrow. As he waved me off through the barriers I felt a little lump in my throat as we are not often parted and I felt rather overwhelmed at travelling halfway across the world to do a nerve-racking important event.

 

I soon cheered up when I saw Duty Free had the Tom Ford eye shadow I've been after for ages - I am a shallow beast.

 

So the flight was quite an experience. The firm I work for sent me business class which I've only travelled once on before. The cabin was gorgeous - my seat was big enough for 3 people. I was surrounded by very serious looking Singaporean businessmen who no doubt travel that way every week.

 

I sat meekly down and tried to look cool, calm and collected.

 

That lasted for about 30 seconds, such was my excitement. So I did what anyone would do, I texted Mr Rose photos of the menu, ordered a glass of champagne and a Singapore Sling at the same time, grinned like a Cheshire cat at the hostesses, ate an enormous and delish dinner, watched 3 episodes of Glee and then passed out for a mammoth 8 hour sleep - those flat beds are miraculous.

 

On arrival in Singapore I did a bit of work, had a quick swim then went to bed. At 4am I glanced at my phone to check the time and was greeted by the wonderful news that Izzy has got her first proper job starting just a few weeks after her finals finish in June. Am so thrilled for her.

Quite a day!

 

Rose

x

The Ginger Jubilee

So last weekend was eventful.  The entire clan schlepped to Somerset for a weekend of celebration for it was The Twins' (my mum and aunt) Jubilee.  They both are 'vibrant' redheads, so it became known as The Ginger Jubilee.

Other than booking the house and barking driving directions - the Twins had no involvement with the organisation of the weekend.  At the Super X Club Meeting we divvied up the jobs and made sure all were involved

Cousin LL - ordering the Ocado shop and general organising us all military stylee
Rose - Gala dinner catering, placecards, branding and theme
Cousin TL - All booze for the weekend and running a wine tasting competition
Annie and Izzy - Invites, fireworks, balloons, decorations

Mr Rose and I arrived after a bafflingly busy and stressful day which included actually completing on our flat, a 2 hour row with British Gas, seeing 2 houses and getting lost in Central Bristol on the journey for about 40 mins.  However, our spirits were raised as we arrived at the massive farmhouse in the middle of nowhere to find my entire family gently pissed and in the hottub ready to whoop at us. 

The lovely house decked in lime green balloons

Saturday was magical - we wanted the whole day to be full or surprises for the twins so we kept everything secret.  We woke up to glorious weather and went on what can only be described as a Mega Walk.  Just as we thought we would not survive, Mr Cousin LL cemented his position as Golden Boyfriend (after all, he has put a ring on it) and spotted an ice cream van and treated us all to a Mr Whippy. 

After a large lunch, a bit more hot tubbing, glasses of cider and afternoon naps, we kicked off the evening with a wine tasting, arranged by Cousin TL.   We all love a bit of competition in our family plus a bit of booze so this was a winning combination. 

Then Somerset's finest caterers provided us with a lovely dinner of goats cheese tart, duck confit and Dolphin Nose potatoes with lemon tart.  After the starter, Cousin TL asked us to go outside for the Wine Tasting Prize Giving but this was merely a clever ruse and we had a surprise fireworks display that took the Twins totally unawares and delighted us all - big thanks to Mr Annie for organising.  As Auntie Mame gripped my hand as we stood and watched, quite overcome by it all, I felt a tear trickle down my carefully made up face - fireworks always make me emotional. 

The table all dressed for dinner in our lime green theme

Once back inside I rehearsed, for the 80th time, my speech which I had been planning for weeks.  But just after main course was served, my dad noticed that the spot on which the fireworks had been lit was on fire - so we all ran out into the field in our finery, screaming and shouting, clutching bottles of Evian with calls of RING THE FIRE BRIGADE.  We soon realised the fire was totally minor and after chucking some water on it, all trekked back inside to finish our duck. 

After pudding of lemon tart and raspberry meringue was served, I cleared my throat and was just about to tap my glass with my fork and begin 'Unaccustomed as I am to public speaking, I would like to make a little speech….'

Would you adam and eve it?  Mame yelped to say the field was on fire again.  So - for a second time, we grabbed water, shoved on our wellies and ran out into the night in a moment's panic.  Fortunately we have some fairly competent menfolk who put the fire out very quickly and the drama was over as quickly as it had begun.  

So the moment for my speech evaporated into the night and there didn't seem to be another right moment over the weekend. 

But what I had planned to say was this:  We are an unusually close and happy family - this is all down to the two people who's birthdays we were celebrating.  They had a mixed childhood but they gave us all an idyllic one and for that we can never thank them enough.  We wanted the day to be full of intrigue, surprise, indulgence, good hygiene, fun, humour and glamour - because when you think about it you realise this is exactly how they have made our lives. 

So to Auntie Mame and my darling Mum - happy birthday from your biggest fans

Rose
xx

I can't believe its not Lip Butter

Ladies, tomorrow as you find yourself running errands on your local high street, do yourselves a favour and pop into Boots. 

Buy yourselves a little piece of happiness for under £8 - a Revlon Lip Butter - it is basically a cross between a lipbalm and a lipstick. 

http://www.boots.com/en/Revlon-ColorBurst-8482-Lip-Butter_1252852/

Rose's product of the week - moisturising as 15 pints of alpine spring water, lovely colour pigment and under a tenner.  Problem is, most people have realised they are hot stuff and they are sold out in most Boots.  So if you see one, will you grab me one too? 
Okthanksbye

Rose
xx

Rose's new toy

So it has happened - Mr Rose and I have sold our flat and moved in with Dr Gustav while we try and find 'Rose Towers'. 

It is Day 3 in the Big Gustav House and so far, so harmonious.  The house is a charming, Georgian house in leafy Highgate which is covered in his extensive china collection, books, paintings and other things necessary to be a North London Jew. 

Packing up our flat was a mighty task.  Both Mr Rose and I are hoarders.  I have so. much. makeup. and have sworn not to buy any for yonks.  Mr Rose likes to keep everything he has ever owned.  He obviously gets this from Dr Gustav - so far I've found not one, not two, but three old dead irons that no longer work.  One of them is brown so it must be an antique!  

But he has made us very welcome and one of the best things about the house is a lovely roof terrace which is My Next Project.  I'm thinking all white flowers this summer - so elegant!  Normally I go for the Parisian look of all red geraniums, but I think now I'm in my 30s it might be time to go subtle.  Watch this space. 

Now I've been meaning to tell you for a while about my New Toy.  I've blogged before about the wonderful Babyliss Big Hair which quickly turns boring hair into a glossy K-Middy style blowdry, in the comfort of your own home.  I love it dearly. 

Then I investigated other Babyliss hair products.  And I have found the holy grail of hair stylers.  The Babyliss Waving wand is so easy to use, so lovely and so quick that I am tempted to use it every day.  It gives you that carefree wavy look you can imagine Kate Hudson works so hard to get on the red carpet. It also adds tonnes of volume which is always a good thing. 

Here is my hair with it done.  Every time I do it I get tonnes of hair compliments, it is something of a crowd pleaser.

So if you have long hair, get yourself one pronto!   And if anyone wants an iron from 1976 in a lovely shade of brown, do let me know  ;-)
Rose
xx

Glow like a 21 year old

I don't see my baby sister Izzy as much as I would like. She is hundreds of miles away in Newcastle doing her finals (best of luck kiddo!).  I'm in London working too hard and trying to move house. But I'll see her in a few weeks when I'm going to give her a massive hug and occasionally stare at her a bit. 

The reason I stare is because I'm fascinated in the differences between my skin and hers. I'm only 9 years older than her, but our skins look different. Even though we have similar eyes, face shape and colouring she has something I have lost along the way that I'd love to get back - a glow. 

I don't mind about the odd wrinkle setting in but losing that light reflecting glow that makes your skin look luminescent is pants and I've spent a lot of time and money trying to get it back with skincare, but you can't turn back the clock you can only pretend with make up! 

I used to use a Bobbi Brown shimmer block which comes in a huge variety of colours 

But recently I've looked closely at my skin and it doesn't sit as well as it used to, it makes the wrinkles look more pronounced so I've relegated it to eyeshadow which it does brilliantly and is very long lasting. 

I heard about Jemma Kidd's dewy iced gold radiance cream from one of Tanya Burr's make up tutorials and can report it is soooooo easy to use, it has a lovely creamy texture and you just slap it on wherever you want light bouncing off your face. I'd recommend staring at a 21year old to see where it needs to go - I use it on cheekbones, just under my eyebrows but also tiny bit on top of cupid's bow on the lips and tiny bit on bridge of nose. 

It doesn't stay on for a whole day at work so I carry it with me for touch ups. Can't let the glow fade! 

For a night out where I want the glow to be really pronounced, so I use Barry M Dazzle Dust which costs a couple of quid in Superdrug. The colour that suits me the best is Gold Iridescent no 27.  I either add a touch of it to loose powder for all over glow, or with a small blusher brush to the apples of my cheeks. 

Rose xx 

Post script on Bill's

Last night I received the following charming email from my friend Alexa, as in Alexa and Ackrington. I thought I'd post here in its entirity:

 

Loved the blog.  You make it sound like you're all straight out of some charming Enid Blyton novel.  Were lashings of ginger ale and jolly hockey sticks involved?

 

With regards to Bills, I agree that it is a fabulous place and thought you should know that there is also one in Angel.  Where Jamie goes, William will follow...

 

Kisses

Alexa xxx

Every gang needs a club house

When I was about 6 years old, the rents took Annie and I (Izzy was not yet born, not left at home) on an old fashioned family holiday to the Isle of Wight.  I remember the whole trip very fondly.  Probably more fondly than Annie, who at 3 years old was persuaded to alert the hotel receptionist when my tooth fell out so they could get my parents out of the hotel dining room and to come and help my dire medical situation. 

One day we had a day trip to a theme park on the island, and my dad and I went on one of those flight simulator rides.

I've managed to find a picture of it - it is exactly how I remember.  God bless Google. 

I remember the whole episode being utterly thrilling, but best of all was the sticker I was given as I darted off the ride, leaving my green looking dad trailing behind. 
It said, simply, the name of the ride - SUPER X.  It was a big glossy thick sticker and I kept it clutched in my paws all day long. 

I knew exactly what to do with it. 

When we were kids, Cousin LL, Cousin TL, Annie and I had a gang.  Cousin LL was in charge and bossed us all around.  Obviously.  I was the creative brains of the gang and bossed the younger ones around.  Cousin TL was the muscle - very useful if you needed to dig a pond or get someone to dress up as a doctor.  Annie was in charge of props and toys.  We spent our summers charging around gardens, building dens, fishing in streams and creating mysteries that needed solving (who can forget the case of the Chicken Skull Mystery, Dorset,  July 1988?).   In winter, we mostly got under our parents' feet, watched MGM musicals, acted out MGM musicals and chucked bits of monopoly at each other. 

Upstairs in our house was a cupboard in the eaves, small enough that only children under 10 years of age could get in, but plenty big enough for the 4 of us. 
As soon as we got home from the Isle of Wight, I headed upstairs, stuck that sticker on the door and hey presto - the Super X Club was born. 

From that moment on, the 4 of us were The Super X Club.  A gang can be great fun, but till it has a club house, it is nothing.  Incidentally, my parents still call that cupboard the Super X Club. 

So recently the 4 of us needed to meet up, just us, not plus 1s or anyone else for a Business Meeting.  You see, in March we are all going en masse, to a village in Somerset for some very jolly times over a long weekend to celebrate the Matriarch's birthdays.  This year it is a special birthday.  (Yes, 39 again). 

I suggested we meet at Bill's in Covent Garden, a fantastic café / restaurant you might never come across as it is tucked down a side street.  Here is a pic of the aperitif - blackberry and banana smoothie. 

It is utterly charming, totally packed for brunch but worth the wait. 

We all agreed, we had found our new club house.  As soon as Izzy hot foots it to the big smoke, that is where we will take her for her initation ceremony..

We had a great and productive time and are all very excited about giving the Matriarchs a wonderful fun weekend, as you can see - they have given us many many happy times so it is lovely to be able to repay them.  I urge you all to go next time you need somewhere decent to eat in central London. 


Rose
xx

Spring

 It is mid Feb and yet here in London the last few days we have had some glorious Spring weather and it has been glorious. I feel like whooping: WE MADE IT WINTER IS OVER AND WE ONLY HAD ONE COLD WEEK!!!! 

Of course Spring isn't really here but for a few days we can all wonder where our espadrilles are and dream. 

To make the most of my gardenless flat I like to fill it with flowers especially in the Spring when all of my fave flowers are around. So on Friday evening I shot out of work like a bat out of hell, hot footed it to the northern line and gasped the fresh (ahem) air of the A1 at Highgate Tube.  In the evenings there's a lovely lady selling flowers so I hastily bought an armful of orange tulips and blue hyacinths and took this pic as I walked home thinking to myself that I had an armful of Spring. 

 

 Once home I realised I didn't have quite the vases I needed so I improvised and voila 

 

 

 

Enjoy it while it lasts guys, it will probably be -3 next week 

Rose

Xxx  

Happy birthday, Charlie boy

I am something of a fan of Victorian literature. 

To illustrate this, let me tell you that growing up I named a cat Charlie after Dickens, Tess after Tess of the D'Urbervilles (I don't think as a 13 year old I quite understood the rape scene…) and my illustrious mother had a cat called Trollope. 

As a fan I have been so pleased to see the publicity old Dickens is getting on his bicentenary.  He wrote some of the best characters and stories in English Literature and any publicity that will drive people to actually read his books is a Very Good Thing. 

You can barely move today without seeing an article about him, or a TV adaptation.  Even Google are honouring him on their homepage.  Here are two of my suggestions about how you can gain a little insight into the fellow. 

Firstly the Museum of London (where I used to work) has a fabulous exhibition all about Dickens' life and his experiences of London.  More information here.  While you are there you should check out the London Wall Bar and Kitchen, a fabulous restaurant within the museum walls  

Secondly, one of my fave websites is Letters of Note. It does exactly what it says on the tin - it is a collection of interesting letters, postcards, telegrams, faxes etc.  It is fascinating and charming - nothing can make a person from history come to life as reading a letter they sent their mum / husband / school teacher etc.  Dickens was a great letter writer and I urge you to read their selection of his letters here and here specifically this one  (warning the last one brought a tear to my eye)

Rose
xx

Golden things

I have long had a stationery fetish.

This is well documented.

One of the most acute aspects of my fetish is diaries. I have been given a 2012 diary. I have bought two 2012 diaries. None of them were right.

They have to be slim enough to fit into my handbag without weighing me down. Soft enough leather to feel luxury. Week to view is of utmost importance as I have to see a week ahead what I'm up to.

Above all, I have to like how it looks when I get it out of my handbag in a smart cocktail bar to write in the next meet up with a girlfriend. Or, when I'm frantically scribbling in a dentist appointment whilst getting the 134 bus up Archway Road.

So as I wasn't getting on with any of my 2012 diaries, I decided to see if I could get into the modern era and just use my iphone. This hasn't worked and I nearly booked a hair appointment during the First Twin's 60th Birthday Weekend Away Planning Meeting with all Cousins!!!!! Lordy lordy, my roots need doing but that is one lunch I CANNOT miss.
So I happen to spot this in the Aspinal sale. Just a subtle little number. And only 11 quid!

Aspinal gold snakeskin diary

Rose
xx