Week ending 28th November 2010.
Music is always important to blast whilst blogging. Currently Depeche Mode's greatest hits on the ghetto - back to many years of teenage excitement. Often newer cool stuff, Patrick Wolf - the genius, M.I.A. Muse, Tinie Tempah or the fabulous Lady Gaga. Certainly not Justin Beiber - who the hell is he anyway? Am embarrassed not to be 'down with the kids' on this one, especially as JB is the most googled, tweeted of them all, alas he has completely passed me by until I've just seen the paedos favourite pop star looking like a teenage lesbian on X Factor. Other favourites, Classical if in the mood, Faure & Mozart's Requiems a favourite and the BBC iplayer a terrific invention to catch up on missed programmes, radio - especially The Archers omnibus, Desert Island Discs and Private Passions - all great whilst in the kitchen cooking.
Whilst you are turning your much loved pasta supper dish into something Locanda Locatelli would be proud of, check out the brilliant and talented Polly Samson whilst you are washing up or pottering paying yet more bills: http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00w15ys/Twenty_Minutes_Barcarolle Polly tweeted me to say that she thought that Rory Kinnear was overdoing it rather, turning her lovely Anna into Widow Twanky. However, he is currently at The National giving it all for Hamlet so maybe he was on a Shakespearean theme and decided to give reading this short story from her collection Perfect Lives a bit of extra welly.
Surviving the annual company Christmas party is an act of endurance in itself. I do wonder if it was indeed an act of genius, a special austerity gesture with an extra nod to our chums over the choppy Irish sea or more possibly the administration of general company chaos, that it would befall itself in the middle of November?! An opportunity to dance around with a non vintage glass of something in ones hand and shake a leg with the entourage of London sales people giving it their all as though dancing to close the deal of the century.
And so to Picadilly on a frightfully cold morning to check-in to The Wolseley for mid-week breakfast. For a person tied to the SW's for most of the working week, it was such a treat to escape on a day off to breakfast at the wonderful Venetian and Florentine inspired space that was in its previous incarnation in 1921, the Wolseley Motors car showroom. The Wolseley cars were displayed on the marble floor and cost between £225-£1,300. Unfortunately, the cars did not sell well enough and by 1926 the company was bankrupt.
It was the first time I had power breakfasted there a la AA Gill, usually limiting to meet friends for brunch, lunch or dinner at weekends after or before a trip to Dover Street Market (Rose Bakery cafe on the top floor great for afternoon tea and a sit down) or an exhibition at The Royal Academy - note to self haven't been there for a while can't remember what is on currently. Absolutely packed cheek to jowl, with Nigella enjoying TWO boiled eggs and soldiers in the Salon part of the restaurant with a girlfriend and the chap who sorry can't remember his name, but the one with less hair from Masterchef, having a pow wow with male friends close to the entrance. It was a fun atmosphere, close to being my favourite breakfast/brunch place in London (pipped by Bistrotheque my ultimate favourite it has to be said) and just the thing in sub zero temperatures and biting wind to fortitude ourselves before Christmas shopping in Burlington Arcade.
So onto something rather less salubrious and that I could not quite comprehend and keep thinking about with wonder. Going to the local newly refurbished mall is one of life's musts now and again to find out what people are reading, wearing and buying. I couldn't believe my eyes as I walked to the till of Holland & Barrett with two slightly guilty yoghurt topped flapjacks and a host of vitamins that would make a hippo rattle. Well hippos it certainly was at the till. As helpful and jolly as they were, the two ladies behind the till of the well known health shop were unbelievably MORBIDLY obsese. Not just a bit chubby or having a tight waistband kind of day, but absolute mighty whoppers of the human specimen variety. I did think that whilst everyone needs and should be motivated to get a job, any job in fact in these economic times, perhaps the company should employ people that fits in slightly better with their own culture and mission statement? I left feeling rather less gluttonous than the jolly green aproned giants, until I bit into my flapjack with ecstasy and hopped into Waitrose for more treats.
Aside from above, 10 other things I read, did and encountered this week that may be of interest or may be you would prefer me to shut up and go back to reading your new Heat magazine:
1. Promise am only going to mention the Jungle fools once, worth reading:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/lostinshowbiz/2010/nov/26/gillian-mckeith-im-a-celebrity;
2. John Galliano Christmas Tree in the Claridges foyer;
3. Nicky Haslam singing Cole Porter at the stunning black and gold newly opened Beaufort Bar at The Savoy;
4. The Spectator Debate Series: America is just not into us at the Royal Geographical Society, RGS;
5. http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00wkjcr/The_Andrew_Marr_Show_28_11_2010/ 33 mins in see the fabulous Charlotte Rampling;
6. http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2010/nov/26/kate-middleton-conservative-style - Suzanne Moore's new column;
7. Jonathan Franzen - Freedom - first edition, with all the mistakes - collectors item via Amazon;
8. Booking Intelligence Squared new Spring Season debates - If you want fidelity - buy a dog;
9. The Wallace Collection - twice! for tea & scones with friends;
10. Selfridges, I know each and every one of your departments intimately, you have taken all my money and all I can think of is that at least I have finished the dreaded Christmas shopping before the 1st December.
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