I have often said that this country could not organise a drink up in a Brewery and today proved that when we hear on the news that the Coryton Oil Refinery in Essex, a plant that creates around 10% of the UK's fuel and processing 220,000 barrels of crude oil, per day, could go into liquidation.
Rumours are that they supply London with about 20% of it’s oil needs but faces the chance of closure now with 1000 job loses and threatening to cause the price of oil to raise through the roof, all at time when Oil prices are beating all time records.
What on earth went wrong with a company providing that much fuel? Potentially their financers froze their credit facility, but the fact that a company of such size and such importance turnover could potentially fold, proves the extent and how living on the edge the entire economy has become!
Now our own Governments are urging people not to “Panic Buy” petrol and assure us that there is plenty to go around! I am just glad I do not have a car anymore. For you hear a plea like that and suddenly I feel like a 4 year old whose own mother is telling me “Don’t touch that”. The second she turns her back you know you are going to touch it! Likewise, the great British Public will dash out this evening or first thing tomorrow to fill their tanks.
All this comes on the same day as the news informs us our Government’s borrowing up to today peaked at an all time high of over 1 Trillion GBP. I believe by my calculations that 1,000,000,000,000! Heck of a lot of money
Maybe I somewhat contributed to the refinery’s bankruptcy, after all, I sold my car!
We also, last week, heard that the Government has approved a high speed rail link between Birmingham and London, despite there is already a regular speed line going there, meanwhile our cities airports are chocking in congestion. Heathrow is apparently running at 99.8% capacity and yet the new runway at Heathrow was blocked. Which all the powers that be are ageing that this single decision is holding back UK PLC! We need to growth and income that tourism brings and other countries have seen the irony of ever increasing Air Tax. The Netherlands for example scrapped it entirely knowing it helped bring more tourists to their homelands. Meanwhile we seem to sit here and fester while desperately needing growth.
As we approach the next Mayoral elections in this great city it seems that current Mayor, Boris Johnson is trailing former Mayor, Ken Livingston, has lost 8 points in the poles and Ken is possibly going to win all because of his pledge to lower Tube and Bus fares, something Boris has increased year on year .
Things will get better, I am sure of that, but it does feel that no one can win right now. For a company supplying 10 % of the whole countries oil can fold, so can anyone. So in the interim, I guess I will pay off bills, build my savings and be grateful for the blessings we do receive. ’
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
Thursday, January 19, 2012
Baby Boom or Bust!
They say that between the years of 1946 & and 1964 some 17,000,000 (17 Million) babies were born in the UK in a period that is often known as the Baby Boom. Now that will surely mean that those born in 1946 have just about reached retirement age and as such over the coming 10 to 15 years will not all of these 17 Million adults be entering into retirement just as the coughers of the Treasury are at record lows and deficits are at record highs. These retiring adults will then i) no longer be contributing in Income Tax and National Insurance and ii) at just the same time as they will start to require State Pension and enter in to a period when they most need use of the National Health Service and iii) all of this at a time when life expectancy has exceeded all former estimates.
Meanwhile these Baby Boomers hold 80% of the UK’s Wealth and are in the highest brackets of purchases of luxury products such as high end cars, holidays and non essential purchases.
Now imagine if the final Baby Boomers were to reach retirement tomorrow. Unemployment is at a 17 year high and therefore Income Tax receipts are at an extreme low at the same time as higher numbers of people need state help in the aid of Unemployment Benefit. The youth of today are continuing to struggle to even get on the employment ladder as with so many out of work, most opportunities are going to older people with more experience. Now if things do not change, we speed forward 10 – 15 years, what will happen to those young people without any experience?
Society has changed so much. I wonder what percentage of the Baby Boomers actually went to University? Or what the average age of leaving school was? Compared with today when 80%+ of school leavers expect to go to University.
If 80% of the UKs Wealth was held by those Baby Boomers who did not go to University and we have all these University leavers unable to find any jobs, doesn’t it tell you something about how education is not preparing the young to be ready to find jobs when they are older. My parents often hark back to their days at school and the 11+ and was it really that bad if you failed the 11+ to not go to Grammar School but rather a school that would concentrate it’s efforts on giving you a trade or useful tools that can be used for those that are less academic and better suited to careers in Trades. Even when I was educated it felt at least that University was the reserve of those that had aspirations to be Lawyers, Doctors or Dentists.
So what happens if, as the Baby Boomers with their 80% of the UK’s Wealth hit retirement decide that they have had enough of the UK and decide to spend their final years somewhere nicer in the sunshine and emigrate. Much like there have been Brain Drains in the past there would be an immense cash drain on the UK’s economy. VAT receipts would drop rapidly, what would happen to the struggling stores on the High Street then?
Meanwhile they do say that there is, once more, another Baby Boom occurring right now which could, potentially, be the solution as there will be more tax revenues coming back in. At least in an ideal situation. Of course it seems there are not enough spaces in Schools or Prisons as it is today, let alone if we have yet another Baby Boom but it would seem that this has to be our string of hope. I do have to wonder though, where will everyone fit and what will another boom do to house prices that are already unaffordable? Is this, yet another, time bomb ticking?
Meanwhile these Baby Boomers hold 80% of the UK’s Wealth and are in the highest brackets of purchases of luxury products such as high end cars, holidays and non essential purchases.
Now imagine if the final Baby Boomers were to reach retirement tomorrow. Unemployment is at a 17 year high and therefore Income Tax receipts are at an extreme low at the same time as higher numbers of people need state help in the aid of Unemployment Benefit. The youth of today are continuing to struggle to even get on the employment ladder as with so many out of work, most opportunities are going to older people with more experience. Now if things do not change, we speed forward 10 – 15 years, what will happen to those young people without any experience?
Society has changed so much. I wonder what percentage of the Baby Boomers actually went to University? Or what the average age of leaving school was? Compared with today when 80%+ of school leavers expect to go to University.
If 80% of the UKs Wealth was held by those Baby Boomers who did not go to University and we have all these University leavers unable to find any jobs, doesn’t it tell you something about how education is not preparing the young to be ready to find jobs when they are older. My parents often hark back to their days at school and the 11+ and was it really that bad if you failed the 11+ to not go to Grammar School but rather a school that would concentrate it’s efforts on giving you a trade or useful tools that can be used for those that are less academic and better suited to careers in Trades. Even when I was educated it felt at least that University was the reserve of those that had aspirations to be Lawyers, Doctors or Dentists.
So what happens if, as the Baby Boomers with their 80% of the UK’s Wealth hit retirement decide that they have had enough of the UK and decide to spend their final years somewhere nicer in the sunshine and emigrate. Much like there have been Brain Drains in the past there would be an immense cash drain on the UK’s economy. VAT receipts would drop rapidly, what would happen to the struggling stores on the High Street then?
Meanwhile they do say that there is, once more, another Baby Boom occurring right now which could, potentially, be the solution as there will be more tax revenues coming back in. At least in an ideal situation. Of course it seems there are not enough spaces in Schools or Prisons as it is today, let alone if we have yet another Baby Boom but it would seem that this has to be our string of hope. I do have to wonder though, where will everyone fit and what will another boom do to house prices that are already unaffordable? Is this, yet another, time bomb ticking?
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
Matthew's 40th Birthday Party
It is so very difficult for me to start a proper detox during the month of January as I have so many friends with birthdays during the Month.
Saturday night was Matthew's 40th Birthday Party. I have to confess, when I first read the Invitation via Facebook I omitted to check the venue and it was a good job I did as it wasn't at their beautiful flat at all but rather at the Private Room on the top floor of the Edge in Soho.
Alex was texting me during the afternoon, asking what time I would be arriving and I had the usual drama of deciding what to wear out in Soho on a Saturday night? Usually I would nip into the gay village post work and just be dressed in my suit but Saturday nights are different.
I arrived at around 2030 just as things were starting to get busy. Lee greeted us at the door of the room and soon ran into Alex & Mikey and Jay & Tony. Matthew came over to say hello and was looking really well and dare I say didn't look 40 years old. I wonder if I will get away with saying that come my 40th? Unlikely!
Gradually more and more faces from the past arrived. How many years has it been since Joel's leaving party in the same room when he moved to Hong Kong? That was the last time I had been this room at the Edge. Looking around more and more people were arriving some I had known since my early days in London, some more recently from Lee & Matthews other parties and some that you have shared some of the happiest and also sadest days of our lives with. Looking at everyone it was almost as though Matthew's party was a bit like a school reunion. We all look almost the same, perhaps a little older, wiser and for some a little grayer, wiser and also larger.
It was great to see everyone again and catch up with some dear friends after a long period of absence. That's one of the down sides of living in such a large and busy cosmopolitan city. You rarely run into people across the city on a regular basis due to its sheer size. It's only really at these sort of event's that you get to see everyone again. Of course Lee is rather an expert at organizing parties and events and will forever be known in my eyes as host of the most exclusive chill out's in the whole of London. He also organised the Gay Alton Towers Trip back around 10 years ago when we first met. Hopefully we will all see each other again soon but until then, thanks to Matthew & Lee for a lovely evening once more and hopefully see you all again soon. Until then, wishing Matthew a very happy 40th and many happy returns!
Saturday night was Matthew's 40th Birthday Party. I have to confess, when I first read the Invitation via Facebook I omitted to check the venue and it was a good job I did as it wasn't at their beautiful flat at all but rather at the Private Room on the top floor of the Edge in Soho.
Alex was texting me during the afternoon, asking what time I would be arriving and I had the usual drama of deciding what to wear out in Soho on a Saturday night? Usually I would nip into the gay village post work and just be dressed in my suit but Saturday nights are different.
I arrived at around 2030 just as things were starting to get busy. Lee greeted us at the door of the room and soon ran into Alex & Mikey and Jay & Tony. Matthew came over to say hello and was looking really well and dare I say didn't look 40 years old. I wonder if I will get away with saying that come my 40th? Unlikely!
Gradually more and more faces from the past arrived. How many years has it been since Joel's leaving party in the same room when he moved to Hong Kong? That was the last time I had been this room at the Edge. Looking around more and more people were arriving some I had known since my early days in London, some more recently from Lee & Matthews other parties and some that you have shared some of the happiest and also sadest days of our lives with. Looking at everyone it was almost as though Matthew's party was a bit like a school reunion. We all look almost the same, perhaps a little older, wiser and for some a little grayer, wiser and also larger.
It was great to see everyone again and catch up with some dear friends after a long period of absence. That's one of the down sides of living in such a large and busy cosmopolitan city. You rarely run into people across the city on a regular basis due to its sheer size. It's only really at these sort of event's that you get to see everyone again. Of course Lee is rather an expert at organizing parties and events and will forever be known in my eyes as host of the most exclusive chill out's in the whole of London. He also organised the Gay Alton Towers Trip back around 10 years ago when we first met. Hopefully we will all see each other again soon but until then, thanks to Matthew & Lee for a lovely evening once more and hopefully see you all again soon. Until then, wishing Matthew a very happy 40th and many happy returns!
Thursday, January 12, 2012
Gran Canaria dreaming
This week my good friend (Hairy David) is over in Gran Canaria and invited me, but thanks to way too many projects at the moment couldn't manage a week off in January. It has caused me to be thinking and dreaming about Gran Canaria non-stop this week.
Yesterday I found myself editing a document and drifted off in to a day dream of living over there in the sunshine. David texted to say it was 27 degrees yesterday which is about perfect. The blue skies, lack of rain (15 days on average every year) and the beautiful sandy beaches, not to mention all those beautiful Palm Trees (Maspolomas = Many Palms).
I often sit there and think, would I not be happier working part time in a restaurant there and enjoying all that nature has to give (that golden sunshine year round), instead of wrapping myself up daily in a scarf, hat and thermals and fighting my way through the wind and rain.
Of course many do make a try of it and some stay and others come back and give up. It is a small island after all. But when I consider, what do I do in London and what do I enjoy doing? I think Gran Canaria has almost everything except the culture side covered. That said, how often do I go out on a culture trip? As Ab Fab once said "A bit of Culture Incha Doncha". I actually think the ideal would be to move there and come home to visit friends and family, 4 times per year, instead of being here and visiting there all the time.
For now, it is but a pipe dream, but you never know, my Euro Millions numbers could come up and then a whole new life in the sunshine could be ours, but until then, best get me suit and thermals back on.
In-case your wondering, do I have funny names for all my friends? Hairy David, BA Dave, Leather Queens, Chops, well not them all, just some of them. The thing is the names stick and everyone else uses them. Fanny's real name is Angela, but even my own mother will say she saw Fanny at Sainsbury's.... and I will leave you to see the pun in that.
Yesterday I found myself editing a document and drifted off in to a day dream of living over there in the sunshine. David texted to say it was 27 degrees yesterday which is about perfect. The blue skies, lack of rain (15 days on average every year) and the beautiful sandy beaches, not to mention all those beautiful Palm Trees (Maspolomas = Many Palms).
I often sit there and think, would I not be happier working part time in a restaurant there and enjoying all that nature has to give (that golden sunshine year round), instead of wrapping myself up daily in a scarf, hat and thermals and fighting my way through the wind and rain.
Of course many do make a try of it and some stay and others come back and give up. It is a small island after all. But when I consider, what do I do in London and what do I enjoy doing? I think Gran Canaria has almost everything except the culture side covered. That said, how often do I go out on a culture trip? As Ab Fab once said "A bit of Culture Incha Doncha". I actually think the ideal would be to move there and come home to visit friends and family, 4 times per year, instead of being here and visiting there all the time.
For now, it is but a pipe dream, but you never know, my Euro Millions numbers could come up and then a whole new life in the sunshine could be ours, but until then, best get me suit and thermals back on.
In-case your wondering, do I have funny names for all my friends? Hairy David, BA Dave, Leather Queens, Chops, well not them all, just some of them. The thing is the names stick and everyone else uses them. Fanny's real name is Angela, but even my own mother will say she saw Fanny at Sainsbury's.... and I will leave you to see the pun in that.
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
Detox - Week One Results
Okay, so it wasn't easy sticking to the very restricted foods allowed and it most certainly wasn't easy on Phase I with no alcohol, no caffeine, no fruit, no pasta and only 50 grams of carbs a day permitted in the first five days. I also confess, I ended it early as it was Dusan's birthday weekend and we had arranged to meet Alex & Mikey for cocktails Friday evening. I got to Tuesday and weigh in day and got on the Scale and have lost 2 Kilos or 4 lbs! Woop Woop. Not a bad start.
Phase II see's me eating no processed foods and I have learned from Phase I what I should eat and wat I should I avoid. I've cut back to one cup of coffee a day and replaced all the others with Water. That's got to be good for me even without the fact that each of those 8 Cappuccinos I used to drink probably has close to 150 Calories. That's 1200 or over half of my daily allowance of calories in just a coffee! Woops.
I have also cut out my sugar in coffee, have stopped drinking Diet Coke and been thinking about what I eat more as a going concern. While I am not being as strict as some of the team on what I can and can not eat I am feeling a positive vibe from it all. I'm not only 4 Lbs lighter, I have more energy and have upped my gym work outs. Thanks to Groupon, I have 3 Spinning sessions paid for at a venue just three minutes walk from the office that my colleague is going to go to with me. Will be a great chance to burn off some calories during the middle of the day.
Post gym I had a boiled Duck Egg for dinner and before you say that's not enough, I did eat a Chicken Breast & a side salad around 1630 before the gym!
So it's all going to plan so far. I doubt I will have lost much, if any, weight this week, but we will see.
I am also planning on taking Skating lessons and can eventually give up the train and skate to work daily. How cool would that be?
Fingers Crossed the Scales are not evil come Tuesday!
Phase II see's me eating no processed foods and I have learned from Phase I what I should eat and wat I should I avoid. I've cut back to one cup of coffee a day and replaced all the others with Water. That's got to be good for me even without the fact that each of those 8 Cappuccinos I used to drink probably has close to 150 Calories. That's 1200 or over half of my daily allowance of calories in just a coffee! Woops.
I have also cut out my sugar in coffee, have stopped drinking Diet Coke and been thinking about what I eat more as a going concern. While I am not being as strict as some of the team on what I can and can not eat I am feeling a positive vibe from it all. I'm not only 4 Lbs lighter, I have more energy and have upped my gym work outs. Thanks to Groupon, I have 3 Spinning sessions paid for at a venue just three minutes walk from the office that my colleague is going to go to with me. Will be a great chance to burn off some calories during the middle of the day.
Post gym I had a boiled Duck Egg for dinner and before you say that's not enough, I did eat a Chicken Breast & a side salad around 1630 before the gym!
So it's all going to plan so far. I doubt I will have lost much, if any, weight this week, but we will see.
I am also planning on taking Skating lessons and can eventually give up the train and skate to work daily. How cool would that be?
Fingers Crossed the Scales are not evil come Tuesday!
Sunday, January 08, 2012
Jasper Garvida's Birthday
Last night I went down to the Book Club, a trendy Shoreditch Bar to join my friend Neil Sexton and Jasper Garvida to help celebrate his birthday. I always wonder what on earth to wear when one is going out with a fashion designer? You feel like you just won't be en-trend with your off the rack lapels compared to Jasper's home made flight jacket complete with Jasper Garvida Buckle. Jasper won Project Catwalk several years ago and has been working incredibly hard on each new seasons collection. Lets hope he makes it big sometime real soon. Good Luck and Happy Birthday Jasper.
Saturday, January 07, 2012
Champaign for Lulu
Hard to believe that it has been a short week, by a day, and to top this off I had been on my Detox Diet. The Harcombe Diet Phase I, No Caffeine, No Alcohol, No Fruit and very low carbs but lots of meat and vegetables. I thought it would be okay, but I actually found it hell. I’m not a diet person now I can do lifestyle changes. Where I failed was to agree to give up certain things I love like my morning coffee, the odd Diet Coke and maybe a Banana, some Humus or even an Avocado. But I stuck to it as best I could for the five day’s, ish. I was supposed to stay on it for 5 full days, but when Alex asked me to meet him after work on Friday and I needed to nip into town anyway to get Dusan a birthday present, I jumped at the chance.
We meet at Old Street and went to our favourite drink hole Giraffe on Frith Street where thanks to bar buddies selected cocktails were half price till Seven PM.
Dusan had called during the evening and Alex managed to convince him to join us for dinner later on.
Several cocktails later and a quick trip to the shop to get Dusan’s gift we headed back to their apartment at Shad Thames and collected Dusan before a lovely dinner for four at their local restaurant.
Amazing how after a detox add a few cocktails and your singing in the actic in no time.
Dinner done we nipped the few steps back to theirs and of course they insisted on Champagne for Lulu, so we all enjoyed some more bubbles to toast Dusan’s birthday. Was yet again, another lovely evening spent with lovely friends. As for the detox, well that’s so last week!
We meet at Old Street and went to our favourite drink hole Giraffe on Frith Street where thanks to bar buddies selected cocktails were half price till Seven PM.
Dusan had called during the evening and Alex managed to convince him to join us for dinner later on.
Several cocktails later and a quick trip to the shop to get Dusan’s gift we headed back to their apartment at Shad Thames and collected Dusan before a lovely dinner for four at their local restaurant.
Amazing how after a detox add a few cocktails and your singing in the actic in no time.
Dinner done we nipped the few steps back to theirs and of course they insisted on Champagne for Lulu, so we all enjoyed some more bubbles to toast Dusan’s birthday. Was yet again, another lovely evening spent with lovely friends. As for the detox, well that’s so last week!
Thursday, January 05, 2012
A Comedy of Errors
Mikey & Alex kindly bought me a ticket to see William Shakespeare's Comedy of Errors at the National Theatre as part of my Christmas gift this year. Mikey had talked about possibly going as a friend of ours, Chris Jarman plays one of the lead roles.
I have to confess all those years ago studying English and all of my years at Drama School, I never once enjoyed Shakespeare at all. In fact I can remember telling the Head of Performing Arts on one occasion that Shakespeare was dead and as far as I was concerned had taken his works with him. But that was my blindness for not seeing it for the beauty of the prose and comedy or romance or tragedy therein. I hereby sincerely apologize Mrs Tellaney. I was wrong.
It was not until Baz Luhrmann directed Romeo & Juliette that I finally understood the beauty of Shakespeares words. It was like a magical moment as a veil was removed from my eyes and suddenly it all made sense and was not only clever and funny but actually touching and emotional too. I will admit it takes a little time to get used to the way they used to talk, but once you add in the modern day touches so that it feels more close to home, its completely different and totally understandable.
We took our seats in the Olivier Stalls, dead centre in the Fifth row just moments before the lights went down.
Lenny Henry played the lead character an identical twin with his slave DeRomeo who had recently arrived in a new town. The plot slowly unfolds as Lenny and his unknown twin are caught up in a series of events which without giving away the plot involves a number of mistaken identities.
I particuarly liked the fact that the Mistress and her Sister had Essex accents even though in Shakespeare prose and the sign that the olde English was of no barrier to an amazing play was the fact that both Lisa and I were practically laughing non stop during the second half and during an emotional scene I found myself wiping my eye.
The cast were fabulous and this performance, much like Baz Luhrmann's is set in modern day giving this traditional play a truly modern twist.
Even if you don't usually enjoy Shakespeare, treat yourself, I think you will be pleasantly surprised.
A huge thank you to Alex & Mikey for a fantastic night out and a superb Christmas treat.
A Comedy of Errors plays at the National Theatre until April 1st 2012.
I have to confess all those years ago studying English and all of my years at Drama School, I never once enjoyed Shakespeare at all. In fact I can remember telling the Head of Performing Arts on one occasion that Shakespeare was dead and as far as I was concerned had taken his works with him. But that was my blindness for not seeing it for the beauty of the prose and comedy or romance or tragedy therein. I hereby sincerely apologize Mrs Tellaney. I was wrong.
It was not until Baz Luhrmann directed Romeo & Juliette that I finally understood the beauty of Shakespeares words. It was like a magical moment as a veil was removed from my eyes and suddenly it all made sense and was not only clever and funny but actually touching and emotional too. I will admit it takes a little time to get used to the way they used to talk, but once you add in the modern day touches so that it feels more close to home, its completely different and totally understandable.
We took our seats in the Olivier Stalls, dead centre in the Fifth row just moments before the lights went down.
Lenny Henry played the lead character an identical twin with his slave DeRomeo who had recently arrived in a new town. The plot slowly unfolds as Lenny and his unknown twin are caught up in a series of events which without giving away the plot involves a number of mistaken identities.
I particuarly liked the fact that the Mistress and her Sister had Essex accents even though in Shakespeare prose and the sign that the olde English was of no barrier to an amazing play was the fact that both Lisa and I were practically laughing non stop during the second half and during an emotional scene I found myself wiping my eye.
The cast were fabulous and this performance, much like Baz Luhrmann's is set in modern day giving this traditional play a truly modern twist.
Even if you don't usually enjoy Shakespeare, treat yourself, I think you will be pleasantly surprised.
A huge thank you to Alex & Mikey for a fantastic night out and a superb Christmas treat.
A Comedy of Errors plays at the National Theatre until April 1st 2012.
Monday, January 02, 2012
New Years Eve & Resolutions
With a traditional family Christmas back at Chateux Borchard seeming far behind us it feels like all one has done for two or three weeks is eat and drink and party.
But it wouldn’t be New Years Eve without a celebration and thankfully Alex & Mikey had invited us both to a dinner party at their home near London Bridge. A 5 course, sit down dinner for 16 guests. It was a delight to be invited to a home instead of feeling the need to go out and face the crowds in the madness of the West End.
Sadly D had to work so I made my way by train to their home and arriving around 745 to be greeted with a bottle glass of Champagne to kick off the celebrations.
Two round tables were dressed perfectly in festive and table wear. Glasses, Crackers and beautiful plates plus littered over the table were little gems and condiments.
Mark, Tony, Lizzie, Phil and Marek were all in the group I already knew and met a few people that I had met at a few of their previous parties.
Once everyone had arrived appetizers of delicious mushroom Paella was served and then we all sat down to the dinner courses. Soup with home made bread, Salmon Bellini’s, Beef Wellington with Dauphinoise Potatoes and finally Eton Mess! Alex did us proud, as always and we all feasted while enjoying wine parings. It was a lovely way to spend an evening in great company.
At just before the midnight hour most of the others went out to Tower Bridge to see if they could see the fireworks, but it was a bit too far away. Meanwhile, Alex and I poured the Champagne and sat and enjoyed the spectacular display over the London Eye in the comfort of their lovely home and sipping some fabulous bubbles.
I couldn’t believe it when it was almost 3AM and Marek and I made our way home. The time had simply flown and it was definitely one of the nicest and most memorable New Years Ever. A huge thanks to Alex & Mikey for their hospitality and even more so to Alex for treating us to such a divine feast!
Now that the New Year is here we all turn our attentions to resolutions and how we wish to aim to better our lives. Like every year, I have made a few of my own, including a healthier lifestyle kick started with a detox for five days I started this morning. How you miss the things you take for granted like milk and caffeine. But I will be fine and in the mean time I wish you a happy and healthy 2012 and hope its your best year yet.
But it wouldn’t be New Years Eve without a celebration and thankfully Alex & Mikey had invited us both to a dinner party at their home near London Bridge. A 5 course, sit down dinner for 16 guests. It was a delight to be invited to a home instead of feeling the need to go out and face the crowds in the madness of the West End.
Sadly D had to work so I made my way by train to their home and arriving around 745 to be greeted with a bottle glass of Champagne to kick off the celebrations.
Two round tables were dressed perfectly in festive and table wear. Glasses, Crackers and beautiful plates plus littered over the table were little gems and condiments.
Mark, Tony, Lizzie, Phil and Marek were all in the group I already knew and met a few people that I had met at a few of their previous parties.
Once everyone had arrived appetizers of delicious mushroom Paella was served and then we all sat down to the dinner courses. Soup with home made bread, Salmon Bellini’s, Beef Wellington with Dauphinoise Potatoes and finally Eton Mess! Alex did us proud, as always and we all feasted while enjoying wine parings. It was a lovely way to spend an evening in great company.
At just before the midnight hour most of the others went out to Tower Bridge to see if they could see the fireworks, but it was a bit too far away. Meanwhile, Alex and I poured the Champagne and sat and enjoyed the spectacular display over the London Eye in the comfort of their lovely home and sipping some fabulous bubbles.
I couldn’t believe it when it was almost 3AM and Marek and I made our way home. The time had simply flown and it was definitely one of the nicest and most memorable New Years Ever. A huge thanks to Alex & Mikey for their hospitality and even more so to Alex for treating us to such a divine feast!
Now that the New Year is here we all turn our attentions to resolutions and how we wish to aim to better our lives. Like every year, I have made a few of my own, including a healthier lifestyle kick started with a detox for five days I started this morning. How you miss the things you take for granted like milk and caffeine. But I will be fine and in the mean time I wish you a happy and healthy 2012 and hope its your best year yet.
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