Harvey Nichs darling

I've been suffering from birthday blues somewhat recently. All to do with life not going the way I wanted it to (understatement.) There was one way to ease this. Get a birthday budget from Jonny and go and spend it on clothes. He wins as he doesn't have to actually go to the shops and buy me anything. I win as I get to go and buy stuff without feeling guilty (while he is off at the footie may I add.)

Never been to Harvey Nichols before. I know! How can this be? Well it's true. Loved it darling. Slightly lonely moment as I sat in Yo Sushi! on the top floor eating my lunch on my own. Think my mind was going a little stir crazy while I watched all the pretty dishes go by:

Great denim department too. Between Harvey Nichols, John Lewis, Sweaty Betty and Starbucks my afternoon, and my budget, seemed to just disappear.

I also had my own Ab Fab moment as I carried 4 pillows, 3 bags and a Starbucks back to the car and my sunglasses fell off my head. Pure class as always.

South Bank Photography

Like I said in my earlier post, my photo attempts from the South Bank last night were rubbish. Here is a better shot that I took last year when I had all the proper gear with me:

If you have any interest in how you get this kind of shot then basic guide on your digital SLR would be:

• Set your camera to fully manual
• Camera on tripod or very stable surface at correct height - you cannot hold the camera as you will get "camera shake"
• Set shutter speed to 30 seconds (this eats your battery but is needed)
• Adjust your aperture manually until you get the degree of exposure you want

This can work particularly well if you have a moving image too like the millennium wheel:

Steady hands needed for this kind of photography. I didn't have these last night either as I maybe had a glass or two of fizz.

Friday night on the South Bank

I spent yesterday evening in town. When I was working in central London I sometimes really used to hate it. There are so many people, so much traffic and as my job often involved heading across town to go and meet clients, I was always rather stressed that all these people, cars, buses, tubes were working against me.

These days, as I am not working, if I head into the centre of town, it is usually a much better experience. I took the bus across Waterloo Bridge up to St Paul's. As it is getting dark just after 5 now, it's actually pretty darn cool. The Houses of Parliament and Big Ben are all lit up and the views along the river are great. This time last year I was on this Bridge learning about night time photography as part of a 10 week evening class I took. As part of that very same course I did a project on St Paul's too - it was a bit dirty then - but they have now finally finished cleaning it up and it looks amazing actually. It's one of those ironies of life, that when you live in any city, you rarely make the most of everything it has to offer because life is just too busy. Jonny has been working next to St Paul's for about 6 years now, and has still yet to go inside.

Anyway, it is a clear and still evening. We wander from St Paul's across the Millennium Bridge to the Tate. I try to take a few photos on my digital compact that don't work very well at all. It makes me appreciate that I did learn quite a bit on my course and I need my SLR and a tripod to get a decent shot of St Paul's in all it's glory.

We've had membership of the Tate for a few years now, but again, so rarely use it. We are not meeting our friends for a couple of hours so head up to the members bar there. Jonny is too tired after a mammoth week at work for checking out any of the art. I've not been in here before. It is very understated, with it's main winning card being the views out across the Thames. Obviously all the seats by the window are taken but we relax and on the couches and catch up on what is going on. I've hardly seen him all week and even though he is tired, this is better than vegging in front of the TV as we talk more. I enjoy it. I think the Tate have got the market just right here. They offer drinks and tapas, which is kind of perfect if you have just been looking at art. Or like most of the people in there, are using it as a pit stop after work.

We then wander along the South Bank to the Royal Festival Hall to meet our friends. The South bank has improved massively. I can remember coming up here years ago and it being pretty run down and depressing actually. Nowadays, there are all sort of cafes and restaurants which maximise the outlook across the Thames and give for a nice understated buzz about the place.

We eat at Skylon, which is the fairly new restaurant at the top of the Royal Festival Hall. It seems we are not to get a view this evening, as our table is far from the prime river view ones at the front. Still the high ceilings and general setting still make for a really pleasant place to eat. The waiter is maybe too eager to take our orders. You can tell this is a really popular place these days, and you get the sense that someone else is booked onto our table in a couple of hours. Anyway, my fishcakes were nice and my apple tart tartin delicious, and the prices not too bad for a London restaurant in such a prime position. As an aside I think this is not the case with the Oxo Tower down the road - ok food at a high price.

The big bonus for us is this is a few minutes walk from the train back to Richmond from Waterloo, and fortunately one of us wakes up just in time for us not to miss our stop. It's chucking it down with rain when we get back. I think the South Bank would be less pleasant in the rain so am grateful that even though we didn't get a table with a view, it was clear and still when we were there. Note to self: should do this more.

Vegetarian Shepherds Pie Recipe

I made this one up. And it was a big hit. By request, here is what I did (I think):

Ingredients:

For mash:

1.5 kg potatoes, washed, peeled and chopped
1 savoy cabbage, washed and shredded
Large knob of butter
Splash of milk
Salt, Pepper, dash nutmeg

For Pie filling:

1 packet of Waitrose peeled and chopped butternut squash
1 packet vegi mince
2 large white onions
2 cloves garlic
1 packet chestnut mushrooms
Clump frozen herbs - parsley and coriander
1 and half pints hot vegan Bouillon stock
Salt and pepper to taste
Large glug of olive oil
Few extra knobs of butter

Method:

Preheat oven to 200C. Put squash on baking tray, drizzle with a little oil and seasoning and whack in the oven for about 45 minutes.

In meantime, make your mash. Boil up potatoes in lots of hot salty water for about 15-minutes. Meanwhile, lightly saute savoy cabbage in a little oil. Drain spuds, mash well with butter and milk, Lightly stir in cabbage and seasoning and dash of nutmug. Combine well and set to one side.

In large heavy based pan, gently fry onions and garlic in some olive oil for about 5-7 minutes over a medium heat. Add in the now roasted squash from the oven. Stir up. The squash will start to break up but this is fine. Add the hot stock and the vegi-mince. Bring to boil and then simmer for about 15 minutes. Add in the chopped chestnut mushrooms, the herbs and some freshly ground black pepper.

Put the filling mix in bottom on deep lasagne type dish. Cover with mash. Add a few extra knobs of butter to get a crispy top and run fork over the topping too, to get even more crispy bits.

Put entire pie in oven for approx 45 minutes, until the top is nice and golden and crispy.

Done. Enjoy. Seriously, last night the meat eaters were back for vegetarian extras - now that doesn't happen very often, does it?

Last Chance to See

We finally got around to watching the Stephen Fry programme on blue whales this week. Absolutely loved it. He basically did the very same route that we did earlier this year, around the peninsula of Baja California in Mexico. I think he may well have been there the same time as us as there was definitely a BBC crew filming in the Sea of Cortez when we were there. The programme is firmly on "Keep" on our sky plus box and think we will be buying it on DVD if it becomes available as it is such good footage of what we did and saw. From touching grey whales to watching breaching humpbacks and getting as emotional as Stephen Fry when you get to see blue whales, it brought back amazing memories. Blue whales are on average 100 ft long, and the largest mammal ever to live on our planet. Yes that's right - even bigger than the dinosaurs. To see these creatures in their natural environment, and one of such beauty, is a truly humbling and incredible experience.

During the programme he comments that a photograph of a blue whale fluke is like the holy grail of whale photography. Well Stephen, looking at my hard drive here I am spoilt for choice... but here are a couple of my best shots:

I know I am not about to win travel photographer of the year, our friend Jules has already done that, but I was pretty pleased with these. Here's praying it wasn't really my last chance to see, but I know I am truly blessed to have seen them at all. They really are amazing.

Men's fashion alert autumn 2009

I have been very strict with myself today. A lingering migraine made me cancel my cinema plans for last night, and my trip to Kew Gardens this afternoon. One of those times where I have had to listen to my body and stay home. Like people who care about me lots say I should do more. Points please.

Anyway, this did mean that I read the paper properly this afternoon. And I laughed out loud. Most of my girls I hang out with these days are having the similar trauma of not knowing what to wear. Are we too old for certain stuff? What is trendy anyway? My friend commented on the length (or lack of) of my denim mini skirt last week. I think I am trying to defy the fact I turn one year older next week. I always think it must be easier for boys. Jeans with either t-shirt, polo shirt or shirt, depending on the occasion. Well, according to page 14 of G2 in the Guardian today, not so much. There are new fashion rules for men.

Here are my views on their list:

1. It's ok to be hairy. Nice picture of David Beckham. Not so nice beard. I don't like stubble or moustaches. The only man I know who I think looks attractive with facial hair is Sean Connery. So, boys I know, don't throw out your razors just yet. Especially not my husband please.

2. Be inspired by the new country dandy. Hilarious picture of Fantastic Mr Fox. I know I live in Richmond, where we all love our hunter wellies and try and be all "city meets country." But I draw the line at tweed blazers and bow ties.

3. Borrow from your girlfriend/sister/mother. I don't think I would take it as a compliment if any man I knew wanted to borrow my leggings or my jeans. Boys are meant to wear bigger sizes than girls surely? Apparently both Marc Jacobs and Prada are including the "man skirt" in their latest collections. Hello?! So, now it is a good thing if Jon starts wearing my mother's skirts? I don't think so.

4. Study a single man. At first reading I thought this meant that guys are meant to do some sort of man stalking. Which would probably result in being arrested. Not quite as bad as that. Just model themselves on a certain male look. The closest Jon comes to this is following Manchester United avidly. If he starts trying to look like Wayne Rooney I'm not going to be happy.

5. Posh up your cardigan. Long cardigans are only ok for girls. Enough said.

6. Think utilitarian camping. I know of a few boys who like to get all rugged and go camping / climbing / hiking. This is fine. But I don't think you need to walk round with your camping gear tied round your waist now. Especially when you live in a city.

7. Explore new trouser shapes. I will never forget when our friend Will (who is 21 I add) turned up at the pub in pink skinny cut jeans. Jon, bless him, asked if their was such a thing as "middle aged spread" cut? Not quite sure this is what the style gurus had in mind....

8. Swap your scarf for a snood. Not sure Manchester United have a team snood. Could be an idea for Sir Alex though on a windy day I guess.

9. Boots are the new shoes. Guess this is ok. Apparently DM's are back. Now I do feel old as I remember them the first time round.

10. Bleach your jeans. And apparently if you don't want to, you can just add a pale chambray shirt or denim jacket. I'm having a bad memory of New Kids on the Block.

And that's it. All that boys need to know to stay on-trend. Worryingly this list is not a joke either, it is a serious checklist. Suddenly shoulder pads I saw in Topshop are not seeming quite so bad.

Global Warming

I know embarrassingly little about the subject of global warming. However, in my non expert opinion, I think we are undergoing some sort of global warming here in Sheen at the moment.

Seriously, today is 27th October 2009. I am sat here in the conservatory with the back door wide open and my washing drying in the sunshine on the line. My summer bedding plants are still in bloom. I felt like boil in the bag earlier when I walked to the Post Office (yes, again) in my waterproof jacket and a t-shirt.

I can remember when I was a child it being really cold this time of year. My mum would wrap me up in layers and scarves and mittens when it was Halloween or fireworks night. Now I know my medication can bring on the old hot flushes, but this is something else. It is really warm. Shame we can't pretend it is still summer as it is getting dark at just gone 5pm now the clocks have gone back. Oh and the fact that yesterday I was considering being super organised and ordering my Christmas cards.