and the spoiling goes on – a presents update
01 Oct 2009 Leave a Comment
in books, food and drink Tags: birthday, books, cupcakes, f scott fitzgerald, fiona cairns
As you know, I am the lucky recipient of one present each day this week in the run-up to my 30th birthday (it’s supposed to dull the trauma).
Last night I had to wait until gone 11 for my Wednesday present, as Chris had gone to Old Trafford for the football. It was another book, this time The Beautiful and Damned by F Scott Fitzgerald. I was pleasantly surprised, as while I was unwrapping what was quite obviously a book, I expected it to be one of the publications I recently mentioned that I wanted to read. Instead, this book was picked by Chris based on my love of The Great Gatsby and the roaring 20s. I can’t wait to get stuck into it this weekend.
The Beautiful and the Damned ~ F Scott Fitzgerald
Tonight after work I was greeted by Chris carrying a bright yellow Selfridges bag. I had an inkling what it contained and I was right! Fiona Cairns is the lady behind these cute cupcakes that look little works of art … and half a dozen of these beauties are mine!
Fiona Cairns cupcakes
I’m also pleased to report that the surprises are carrying on this weekend. I was instructed to pack a bag as we’re catching a train at around 6 tomorrow evening for a weekend away. I have my suspicions as to the destination, but regardless of where it is, if this week’s treats are anything to go by then I just know that this is going to be one memorable 30th birthday!
first birthday present: the cocktail
27 Sep 2009 2 Comments
in books, Uncategorized
The Cocktail
It’s by Jane Rocca and while I haven’t yet had the chance (actually, the ingredients) to mix up her Rum-eo and Juliet or Dolly Parton, I’ve already pored over each and every fantastic illustration by Kat Macleod. Twice.
Pink Moon
Mexican
Couture cocktail
Orange hands
review – tout sweet: hanging up my high heels for a new life in rural france
11 Sep 2009 1 Comment
in books Tags: book review, france, karen wheeler, tout sweet, travel writing
Karen Wheeler and I share more than just a similar-sounding moniker. The truth is, this woman is living my dream life in some kind of parallel universe, and she has the audacity to flaunt her fabulous la vie francaise in a book that I just devoured.
Nearly two weeks ago I came across this article in the Sunday Times and promptly logged on to read Karen’s blog. A few days later, I ordered her book, Tout Sweet: Hanging up my High Heels for a New Life in Rural France, which I finished reading last night.
I know lots of people who dream about moving to a small village in France, doing up a maison and living off baguettes and red wine. But how many people actually ever take that step, especially before retirement age? And how many of those that do take the plunge actually go on to embrace the stereotypical French life to such an extent that their lives start to smell of freshly-baked baguettes, lavender and herbs de Provence?
I’ve never met Karen Wheeler, let alone sniffed her, but by all accounts she has done just that. Woman alone, she bought a bit of a dump in a tiny village in France and worked hard to create a home – and life for herself – with all the Gallic clichés: shutters, a wood burner, lavender in terracotta pots, fresh croissants from the boulangerie for breakfast and long, jasmine-scented evenings sipping rosé with friends.
That’s what I want! Fine, in my dream life my husband comes with me and there is less hardcore DIY and camping involved, but all the other elements tick the boxes of my ambitions.
What is more is that Karen is able to do her job – which sounds pretty perfect to me – from this rural idyll… Not only has she written this great book, but she is also a freelance journalist who pitches fashion and luxury goods articles and ends up meeting famous parfumiers and staying in five-star penthouse suites in Paris. Nothing like an injection of glamour to make even muddy walks with her dog sound fabulous.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and highly recommend it to all Francophiles. It ends perfectly poised for a sequel to pick up where it left its readers, but in the meantime of course there is the blog to let me live vicariously through the other Karen W.
review: the psychic tourist by william little
01 Sep 2009 Leave a Comment
in books
15 June 2009
I recently read and enjoyed a book investigating whether there is any actual truth in psychics predicting the future. I’m a bit of a gullible sceptic, if that ambiguous phrase makes sense, so reading this book was like being in a tug-of-war between utter belief and total cynicism. Read my review here.
review: the voluptuous delights of peanut butter and jam
01 Sep 2009 Leave a Comment
in books
10 May 2009
I’ve just finished reading a great book by Lauren Liebenberg. The Voluptuous Delights of Peanut Butter and Jam was shortlisted for last year’s Orange prize for new writers and it certainly deserves this accolade.
Set in Rhodesia in the late 70s, the book follows the perspective of a little girl called Nyree and perfectly captures not only the fears and joys of the time, but also took me back to my own childhood in South Africa in the early 80s… riding your bike until you’re all sweaty, lying on the grass with an orange ice sucker and jumping in the pool for a final dip at the end of a long summer day.
Like Nyree’s dad who fights the terrs, my dad also disappeared for long periods on time when I was a child to fight in the Angolan war.
This book perfectly tells the story of what it was like growing up as a white kid in southern Africa during this era, conveying in an understated way the ambiguities that come with being of European descent but feeling Africa’s soul pumping through your veins.
Regardless of your background though, Liebenberg’s intoxicating writing takes her readers on a special journey in this book, the memories of which are set to linger, somewhat hauntingly.
