Darlings it’s all in the presentation.
How one presents oneself, ones home, ones offerings. The devil is in the detail.
Kate Hudson was the belle of the ball at the Tiffany party. In its signature colour she outshone even that Paltrow woman who never gets it quite right unless its Tom Ford dressing her.

Ravishing.

Mr. Lee ( God love him ) may get it right in the kitchen , poncing up dishes with extravagant serving ware and decadent platters and adding garnishes and drizzles.
Top tip;
If it has lemon in it, show that it has by slicing some or using wedges to garnish. If it contains herbs, use them to finish. Most plates benefit from a flourish of something green.
However, when it comes to presenting gifts the poor chap is clueless . Many a birthday or Christmas has been reduced to eye rolling when looking at the lack lustre effort.
What effort??? No effort!
Why ruin a good gift?
If you are incapable of wrapping, bagging, or tying a bow but it from somewhere that’ll do it for you.

No darling, a Jiffy bag does not count but an Hermes bag does.

The award for best dressed goes to the one on the right.
Shame the one on the left was all geared up with her acceptance speech at the ready.

An allotment .
One could quite possibly tend to an allotment this size. As one can barely muster up the energy to clip the box planting a few seeds is within the realms of possibility.
As most men hanker for a shed at some time or another pretend this is a gift for them. Of course it isn’t .

From Prezzybox

Darlings, if one wanted to pay for ones own dinner then one would dine alone !!
Going Dutch, perish the thought.
Unless it is to tiptoe through the tulips, live on one of their splendid houseboats or be Queen Maxima.

What a splendid tiara.
A vision in blue.
Perfection.
Of course the prototype was tested by someone called Paltrow.

Paltry by comparison

Regal, stylish, polished. Bejewelled .

If one couldn’t have a crown or a King one could possibly manage tulips.

A pair of tulipiere gave them slightly more gravitas.

Très modern.

Of course in Holland it has to be orange.

Of course the same applies in Essex.

Good morning darlings, there is nothing wrong with a bit of sauce . One can’t have too much of it in my opinion.
Is it a girl thing ?

Mr. Lee can eat great chunks of anything even if it is as dry as snuff as is sometimes the case. Mostly on my night to cook.

One looks decidedly glum if ones dish is presented without something wet.
Everything is more delicious with a little bit on the side.. Non?

Whatever I’m eating, steak, eggs, fish, poultry, game , vegetables and even God damn lobster must come with a sauce!! One wants it to swim!!

Of course one is fickle and changes with the wind so don’t presume that just because one would generally serve lamb with mint or redcurrant I’m going to want it.

Ring the changes darlings, life is too short to be dull ( or eat dust)

Having been given a leg of lamb and not in the mood for a full blown roast dinner one gave it a fresh twist by sitting it on a thick green Greek yoghurt based sauce. Curtesy of the barefoot contessa. Surprising good and simply served with yards of green beans and potatoes ( small new) done in the oven with sea salt, garlic and rosemary.

Sauce

6 spring onions white and green parts, chopped
a large handful of chopped fresh mint leaves
small bunch of chopped fresh dill
Pinch crushed red pepper flakes
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
7 ounces Greek-style yogurt
1 teaspoon sea salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Place the scallions, mint, dill, red pepper flakes, olive oil, and lemon juice in the bowl of a food and puree until it’s a coarse paste. Add the yogurt, salt, and pepper and pulse until combined. Transfer to a bowl, cover, and refrigerate for a few hours .

I prefer it with less spring onion and more lemon ( zest)
Also not bothering to drag out the food processor and wash it one chops by hand very finely.

No darlings this is not a bedpan .
What it is is an individual sauce pot.
For sauce pots everywhere. More useful that the mini gravy boat ( with handle) looking vessels which scream savoury
From Maxwell and Williams and très inexpensive . Buy a dozen .

Having dinner with an F.F these were super sweet at dinner holding a Bearnaise and then appeared again in time for pudding holding cream.

Yes, naturally she had bought a dozen .

Darlings, first there was positive thinking, now there’s positive drinking!
Hurrah! I know , I know. Could it be the answer to all our gin soaked prayers?
I’d jolly well say so.
Having often been called lush ( a) and not from a Welshman this will finally balance the bad press that booze seems to attract. Unless you are a single glass of red kind of chap.

This delightful creature has drunk enough to pickle an army and looks frightfully good on it.

The lovely Ms. Rocos has always left one wanting more. With a book under her belt that will comfort many an old soak it is charmingly written in the best possible taste.

This intoxicating handbook is ” a master class on how to imbibe successfully, on how to reach that delicious level of intoxication where you and your fellow drinkers blossom into the favourite version of yourselves and stay there. From Rocos we learn how to ensure that every drinking occasion snowballs into a glorious and triumphant event”

One for the road?

Any woman that has dragged the late Princess Diana into a drag club ( dressed as a gay man) and done head stands in a cocktail dress with Jack Nicholson whilst drinking shots is alright in my book.

Perhaps hers isn’t bad either?

Good morning darlings it may be freeeezing but at least it’s sunny. Bundle up and enjoy. Maybe it’s the drop in temperature or the ” thick head” from the night before that is making it difficult to exit the warmth of ones bed.

A tea drinker for years the first huge breakfast cup of ” builders with one” usually does the trick. Alas, no more.
Needing to be perkier has forced the switch to coffee. Meh..
Going off coffee coincided with falling preggers 23 years ago and one hasn’t been able to stomach it since.

A devotee of the sitcom Friends it didn’t manage to entice me into a coffee shop. Although it did manage to convince me to paint a sitting room the most glorious shade of purple ( Monica’s apartment) .
One has NEVER been the type to ” meet for a coffee” but would ALWAYS ” meet for a drink”

Having spent nearly a decade with an Italian boyfriend ( they ONLY drink coffee in Italy) saw one wretching at tiramisu and recoiling at coffee breath kisses. The only think for it was to switch to a nice English tea drinker , naturally.

If George and a brand new sparkling Nespresso machine couldn’t convince moi..

A lost cause?

Maybe ..

Vanity plays a part in most lifestyle choices and health the rest. Cutting down /out sugar a factor. Known to age and decay taking coffee black is actually preferable to taking it sweetened. Try as I may to resist the spoonful of sugar in tea one can’t .

So there it is. Instead of countless sugared teas thorough out the day it will simply be enjoyed at ” tea time” which is 4 o’clock in my book.

Tiramisu Jamie Oliver

At least there is booze in it darlings!!!

If you do not want to faff with the homemade sponge do as the other do and use ladies fingers

Ingredients
Genoise sponge:
3 1/2 ounces (110 grams) caster sugar
4 eggs
1 3/4 ounces (50 grams) melted butter
3 ounces (85 grams) plain flour
1-ounce (30 grams) good-quality cocoa powder
Filling:
1 pound 1-ounce (500 grams) mascarpone
2 1/2 ounces (70 grams) caster sugar
2 egg yolks*
3.5 fluid ounces (100 milliliters) Vin Santo
4 to 5 shots espresso coffee
Tia Maria liqueur
3 1/2 ounces (110 grams) good-quality white chocolate, melted
Cocoa powder, for dusting
1 bar good-quality dark chocolate, for shavings
Directions
First make the sponge. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (180 degrees C /gas 4).
Whisk the sugar and eggs until they are at ribbon stage. Fold in the melted butter, then fold in the sifted flour and cocoa. Pour the mixture into a lined Swiss roll tin and bake in the preheated oven for 10 minutes. Remove the sponge from the oven when it is done and leave to cool.
To make the filling, put the mascarpone, sugar, egg yolks, and Vin Santo into a bowl and mix until smooth.
To assemble the tiramisu, break up the sponge and press it into the bottom of a shallow dish. Drizzle over the coffee, Tia Maria, and white chocolate. Spoon over the mascarpone filling, then dust liberally with cocoa. Using a large knife, scrape the chocolate towards you to make shavings and arrange these delicately over the top.

One may have to pinch ones nose to get it down.

For those that like Joe on the go.
From cafe press.

Darlings don’t you just love Dolly??

This morning in the Mail one was comforted to see that my husband is not the only one with a disgracefully untidy desk. Sometimes it spills over and the only outcome will be him shifting to another table ” where he can work “
Tidying it is obviously not on the cards and after the last time I neatened the mess the poor dolt couldn’t find anything.

A problem in even the very best homes.

One still lives in hope that ones beloved will file, shelve or bin the majority. At least so there is room to plonk a vase or a cup/glass .

Office envy.

Homework heaven. Surely in an office this great ones work would improve?

Unless it’s useful or beautiful or inspirational it has no place on ones desk.

A darling touch, a pot of personalised pencils. Why be dull, instead of Tom, Dick or Harry why not ; Darling, handsome or beautiful?
Who wouldn’t want those ?

From http://www.gltc.co.uk

Good morning darling, one is in fine spirits and fine fettle. Now, we shall make the most of it as it happens rarely. The house is joyous!!! Filled with daffs and narcissi galore even spilling onto bedside tables to scent beautifully.
Naturally not from my husband but from daughters 1,2&3. Boxes of the happy blooms delivered daily. Utterly fabulous.

( more came later!)

The reason for this is of course Mother’s Day . I would much rather have the girls with me. The reason for my delight is they will ALL be here. Hurrah !!! Yes one kicked them out into the big bad world but it is jolly nice to get them all back once in a while.

At least when hungry if there are eggs then all can be fed. Bacon is getting bad press so we have switched to fried egg sandwiches on a Sunday morn.
Have you ever baked an egg?? A tea time treat , crack into a ramekin and simply slosh in some cream and some seasoning and bang in the oven. No mess, no fuss. Incredible.
Scrambled egg are richer with the addition of cream.. Heavenly.

Usually one is partial to an egg brunch time. Not too early please.
Eggs Benedict or Florentine are divine and an omelette can certainly satisfy.

The delicious Ms. Dahl champions
Eggs Arnold Bennett.
Mmm…
We’ll see

Ingredients
- 100g/3½oz undyed smoked haddock fillet, skin on, pin boned
- 100ml/3½fl oz milk
- knob of butter
- 2 fresh bay leaves
- 8-10 black peppercorns
- 2 tbsp crème fraîche
- 1 lemon, zest only
- 55g/2oz parmesan, finely grated
- small bunch fresh chives, finely chopped
- sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
- 3 large free-range eggs, beaten
- knob unsalted butter
- 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- small handful fresh watercress
- 1 tbsp lemon juice

1. Preheat the oven to 200C/400F/Gas 6.
2. Place the haddock fillet into an ovenproof dish, pour over the milk and add the butter, bay leaves and peppercorns.
3. Transfer to the oven and poach for 10-12 minutes, then remove from the oven and set aside to cool slightly.
4. Meanwhile, mix the crème fraîche with the lemon zest, grated parmesan and most of the chives. Season, to taste, with salt and freshly ground black pepper.
5. Heat the butter with half of the oil in a large ovenproof frying pan over a medium heat, and pour in the eggs, stirring slightly as they cook to loosen them from the sides of the pan.
6. Flake the haddock from the skin while the eggs are cooking, taking care to remove any remaining bones.
7. When the eggs are still slightly runny on top but have started to set, spread over the crème fraîche mixture, then scatter over the haddock and transfer the omelette to the oven for 4-5 minutes, or until cooked through and slightly risen. Remove from the oven.
8. To serve, drizzle the remaining oil over the watercress in a small bowl and add the lemon juice, turning to coat the leaves. Slide the omelette onto a serving plate, sprinkle over the remaing chives and arrange the dressed watercress on the side.

The writer Arnold Bennett was so delighted with the egg, smoked haddock and parmesan concoction that chefs at the Savoy created for him, he insisted on it being made wherever he travelled. And at the Savoy, Omelette Arnold Bennett remains a standard dish to this day.

Steal it from the boys.

Darlings , the best thing about having a chap in tow is stealthily laying claim to all available attire. Cashmere jumpers are super cosy a size up, gentlemen’s shirts always look exciting on a lady. I use my husband’s for household chores. Why ruin ones own.

First it was “boyfriend “jeans, then a jacket. Now after reclaiming silk ties and numerous cufflinks the next extended loan will be a cravat.
In fact one is going to champion the cravat.

I’m going to sit in the car and whistle “Rule Britannia”.

Men are simple creatures , a cravat is far easier to wear and tie that a regular tie or a bow tie. Golly, having worked in menswear many a groom came dashing in on a Saturday morning rigid with nerves with their ties undone . At least they knew that a ready made would never be acceptable .

Relaxed, polished, elegant.

Silk, naturally . As bold or as classic as one likes or dares.

” What do you mean orange isn’t your colour darling”

Luckily it is mine.

Beg, borrow or BUY from Harvie & Hudson

Naturally whilst typing this one is lounging in Mr. Lee’s navy silk polka dot Derek Rose robe, we share the pyjamas!

If the darling can dip into my vanity case then his wardrobe is fair game.

Good morning darlings, grey, foggy, soggy and that’s only moi. Where is Spring with its clear bright and crisp days? This is not what it says on the tin.
Ones sparkle is fading along with ones hair colour.
The same can’t be said for Ms. Moss.

Only a waif or a model or a rock star ( or one married to a rock star) could get away with it. This is a party for Paris fashion week, what did you expect her to wear?
In a room full of models and model lovers a girl must pull out all the stops.
Kate rocks!! Always has, always will.
Who cares if off duty she can look as rough as the rest of us, isn’t that why we love her?
The ability to ” scrub up well” ?
Her nonchalance is key. On anyone else this get up would scream desperate .

Erm….

Hell to the no, darlings this ensemble comes with a health warning. Only Britney can do TOXIC.

If in doubt fling a tux jacket over the top. A girl needs somewhere to put her Marlboros after all.