Today is what you could definitely call an exciting day. A monumental day. A day I’ve thought about ever since I was a little girl with glitzy dreams. Some little girls dream of becoming a princess, some of meeting their prince, some of playing football, but I dreamt of writing a book. Today, I publish my first book. Yikes! Continue reading » “My Debut Novel London Calling Is Here!”
When I was growing up, burgers were reliably terrible. You bought them from your local Wimpy/McDonald’s/Burger King/white van in layby and they all looked and tasted like salty shoes: sad slabs of greasy meat perched in a limp bun. Fast-forward to 2014 and it’s a different story – the burger is now food royalty, with top-notch encased patties being sold for over £20 a pop. How did this happen? Continue reading » “The Burger Revolution”
The 67th annual British Academy of Film And Television Awards took place last night at the Royal Opera House and it was a truly star-spangled event with the likes of Bradley Cooper, the Jolie-Pitts, Leo the Lion and Dame Helen Mirren. Gravity and 12 Years A Slave were the big winners of the night claiming both Best Director and Best Picture, but what else did we learn apart from the fact that Tom Hanks likes a good cry? Well, this… Continue reading » “The BAFTAs: Ten Things We Learned”
It’s Valentine’s Day! Hurray! I know it’s Valentine’s Day because first, I looked at my calendar; and second, M&S has doubled the price of its meal deal so it must be true. For this special blog of lurve I’m going to take you on a journey of Valentine’s Day through the ages: from childhood to should-know-better. Because let’s face it, its acronym is VD for a reason… Continue reading » “Valentine’s Day: A Yearly Guide”
Look up happiness in the dictionary and it says: bliss, contentment, pleasure and joy. The very opposite of the natural human state then. Pharrell knows how to be happy (wear a hat, walk with plenty of jaunt, sing a song). Captain Sensible knew that it took talking and wearing silly hats (I see a hat theme). But what is it that makes you happy? I mean apart from boring old friends/family/partner/smartphone. What are the things that make your entire being fizz with satisfaction? Here are my top ten… Continue reading » “Top Ten Things That Make Me Happy”
My first novel, London Calling, is coming out this month and now I’m down to the nitty-gritty of getting it primed for Kindle & all that schizzle I’ve come to the conclusion that writing it was the easy part – it’s the rest that causes pain. For instance, what exactly do you write on a copyright page? Where do you get an ISBN number? And crucially, who should I dedicate the book to without sounding like a complete sap? Continue reading » “How To Write A Book Dedication”
Bruno Mars played a starring role at last night’s Superbowl between the Seattle Seahawks and the Denver Broncos, wowing the crowd with his songs as well as his gold lame jacket. I interviewed him a little over three years ago when he was on the cusp of mega-fame, having just had his first No.1 with Just The Way You Are plus success with a bunch of other hit songs. He was a terrific interviewee, buzzed about life & full of energy despite being jetlagged. Here’s the interview from October 2010 where he talks about fame, his ambition and why freshly squeezed orange juice means you’ve made it… Continue reading » “Interview Archive: Bruno Mars”
Happy Chinese New Year, especially if this is your year, the year of the Horse. But what does it mean if you’re born under the sign of Dobbin? That you’re leggy, easily startled and have a liking for leather? We all know what our astrology signs say about us, but what does the Chinese horoscope say about you? Let’s find out… Continue reading » “The Chinese Horoscope: What’s Your Sign?”
Yesterday was Australia Day: the 24 hours where our antipodean friends chuck their shrimps on their barbies, cram as many TimTams in their mouths as possible before showering in Toohey’s New. True story. For us poms however, Australia has a huge influence on our lives for the other 364 days of the year too via their television, their food & drink, their celebs and their culture. Oh, and Wanted Down Under. So today, let’s have a belated celebration of all things Aussie… Continue reading » “Top Ten Reasons To Love Australia”
The dementia avalanche is coming. Or is it already here? I forget. Whatever, one in every three OAPs dies with dementia and there isn’t any cure, just the slow but sure whittling away of who they once were in live slow-motion. As someone with a history of dementia in my family it strikes me that with such odds against us, now is the time to lay down some enduring, fantastic memories while we can still enjoy them… Continue reading » “Make Memories While You Can”