The 4 F's

Saturday was a great day - friends, fireworks, food and foxtrots!

First off - discovered the magnificence that is food at Bocca di Lupo in Soho http://www.boccadilupo.com/ - will write a full review later.

Then - fireworks on Blackheath. Still the best in London. FACT.

And to round it all off - the Rivoli Ballroom in Crofton Park, Lewisham. It is amazing. A proper old fashioned 1950's ballroom, even the toilets are really 'powder rooms'. It was so beautiful in a garish, wonderful way. And it was nice to do something at night that wasn't so segregated by age - people were 70 years old doing the tango, or in their twenties hitting the sprung ballroom with a samba. It was great! The only embarrassment is that, despite growing up in Lewisham and living there until I was 22 I have never been. But I will be going again, but this time all dressed up and with some basic dance skills.

Bonfire Night Fireworks - What to wear?

Thursday was Bonfire night here in the UK, which for me can only mean one thing - fireworks on Blackheath! I can't remember the first time I went to see them there, it must have been when I was about 5 or 6, but I fell in love with them and for me they are the ultimate fireworks display. Ever. No other fireworks come close. 4th of July? The Beijing Olympics? NYE? Please...

The best thing about fireworks on Blackheath is they are reassuringly similar, with code of practice to follow for all time. You must eat warming foot before departure to the heath. You must wear a woolly had and gloves. Your Mum (and then later yourself, acting on behalf of you Mum) will put you in your warmest coat, sensible boots with two pairs of socks or maybe wellies if it's raining. And then walk to the heath with quite literally tens of thousands of other people and oooh and aahhh in unison.

Already I am thinking about what I will pull on to remain warm and snugly when I go to watch the fireworks with my friends on a cold November night. I will 100% be wearing Australian tube socks, my camo coat and probably Uggs (they are warm, people), but then I think I want this hat from Topshop for a tenner. Click on the title at the top to buy it...

HRH for Topshop - Top Fantasy Shopping Moments

Today I joked on Twitter than the Queen should design a range for Topshop a la Kate Moss.

Now I am thinking she totally should! My friends already know I have a bit of a thing for the Queen...not like that you dirty lot, I just think she holds herself rather well and seems pretty damn cool. Corgis, horses, highland dancing, breakfast cereal in Tupperware. Much like me. Okay, just the Tupperware.

Look at these pictures of her style. A Topshop moment would be amazing...admit it.

P.s. Pictures were on The Queen's website - I hope you don't mind official Queenie lot, I'm only being nice x

La Trouvaille: The Verdict

Last night was parental restaurant night - 3rd week running - this time with Mum AND Dad.

We were madly unlucky with our first two choices (a Monday, honestly) with Yalla Yalla fully booked and a 20 minute wait at Mildreds. So we ended up exploring a new option, and I am glad we did. The place is called La Trouvaille, it's on Newburgh St, running parallel to Carnaby Street, and it felt like a little corner of Paris that sneaked over on the Eurostar.

We sat at the wine bar downstairs, although there is also a restaurant upstairs Tuesday to Saturday. The place feels 'authentic' and sounded authentic too - at least half the patrons were French, and the staff were too. If you can't afford to cross the Channel to practise your French, I'd suggest you come here!

The three of us went for the meat and cheese sharing platter, meant for two, and wines by the glass (the wine list was great, and at £4 - £6.50 by the glass very reasonable too). Wines were also available by the bottle, or as our waiter said "by the bucket" too. See, the French can do non pretentious very well. Our wines were all excellent - much tastier than standard pub or restaurant fare which served to remind me of what rubbish booze I usually put up with.

I'll be back! Possibly writing my novel and pretending I'm on the Left Bank.

Ms Blow and the best pic ever

I wish I'd met Isabella Blow. I'm sure she was wonderful.

Can I also add this image has been altered - I nicked it off popbitch about a squillion years ago. And if my brother sees this photo I am sure it will become his new greeting to me.

Televisual Delights: Spiral

Britain is well known for creating great telly. I think our formats count for something like 60% of those sold throughout the world, which for a small nation ain't that bad.

But every once in a while you are reminded how much TV we miss out on just because we are so successful at it - and consequently don't need to buy much in to fill air time.

BBC4 is great for capturing the gems that might otherwise go unnoticed. First there was Wallander - the amazing Swedish film length drama series that took over my life, and until last night there was Spiral II, or in it's original French 'Engrenages' - literally 'cogs'.

I watched the first series of Spiral a few years ago and loved it. The second series was just as good. It is an amazing piece of television - sexy, suspenseful and well acted.

I don't want to give the game away - just watch it!

Anthropologie, Regent Street: The Verdict

I took my first trip to Anthropologie yesterday. I must admit to having mixed feelings. I've always loved the New York store, and bought a few knits, dresses, pieces of jewellery etc. The torture was always the homewares section - how do you take the delicious china and tablewares home on a plane without damage or extreme packing skills?

So, the arrival of Anthropologie was greeted with some excitement. The shop itself looks great. It's stunning, with wide open spaces, the wall of living plants, the merchandise has been well displayed and the stock for the most part seems beautiful (I'm more of a plain clothes person, so many of the shabby chic items and patterned dresses don't do it for me).

But...and there is a but...the price! Oh my, it is expensive. Why would I spend £178 on a dress, when I could buy a Topshop one for £40 or a designer one from Liberty for £350? And even a plain jersey cardie with a bit of ruching on it was £88! You could buy something similar in M&S for £22. It really was gut wrenchingly pricey.

The gorgeous stuff for me was the homewares and nicknacks, but with jigsaws at £150+ and handmade Christmas decorations starting at £14, this little shopper will be sticking to her charity shops for her beautiful one off pieces that actually ARE vintage rather than aged at a cost.

Pictures:
Green Uglies (my Mum's term, not a technical one) - various charity shops & ebay

Doggy Jigsaw - Newcastle charity shop, £2.99 (beat THAT Anthropologie)

Freida Kahlo Bottle - random folk art fair in New Mexico thanks to Mum & Dad