The Anticipation is Building!

My sister just called me from London. People are camped out in front of the Abbey ready for action. She took photos to send me. She's watching it on telly. It's only 5am there now. Wonder if Kate's awake yet? She's buying me a newspaper to send over (Sister not Kate) Meanwhile I've actioned my faux Coronation chook (Forination Chicken). It doesn't photograph well. I use Greek Yogurt instead of cream and mayo and I go in hard with the lime juice, lime zest and mango puree. I do not add apricots. You can tell the whole original recipe thing was dreamt up by Ole Constance Spry to scream luxe-high-end-food-treat circa 1950s. The orginal recipe has not aged that well....
Table Centre Piece at the Ready

Will Camilla wear a Philip Treacy hat? Will the Queen wear blue? Will Princess Anne action her regular 1970s high hair?

Time will tell...

xxxx

The Magic of London Continues

How beautiful is the Brompton Oratory? I went there for the mass with my family on Sunday.
Everything about it was perfect-the smell of incense, the choir in their red and white robes, the candles, the priest's lovely voice. I kept thinking about how Jennifer (the dark haired one from the Two Fat Ladies) went there on her scooter every Sunday until she died.
And the parishioners were a pretty chic bunch too. There was an Italian family of 5 children dressed in matching purple and white smocked dresses and cardigans and bows for the girls and purple jumpers and knee high socks for the boys-even the baby was in purple! They looked wonderful. Niece FF and I lit a lot of candles. It was fraught with danger. I was worried that Barbie's highly flammable acrylic 'do would go up in flames at one point.
Nephew FF covered himself in Glory Behaviour wise and was Perfect.

I have been wearing a kind of winter uniform here-skinny jeans, knee high boots, cashmere knits, my furry vest/gilet thingamy (on a cost per wear basis this is becoming very cheap) and my Hermes scarves. And today is Remembrance Day so everyone including me has been wearing their poppy badges.

the Oratory is just up the street from Harrods. Their Christmas windows are pretty special.

they are doing a whole Peter Pan and Tinkerbell theme

those green awnings are instantly recognisable.

I always find the Diana and Dodi Memorial very depressing what with that lone glass from the Ritz and all.

Say what you will about the Marylebone High Street it does a nice line in Winter Sunsets.

I've become addicted to Fortnum and Mason treats like these little meringue babies

and these cakes. You can literally feel the sugar hitting your blood stream. in a good way.

aren't the colours pretty?

we always took these treats to the playground to munch on while Niece FF and Nephew FF clocked swing time.

And can I just say that I LUFF Waitrose? I wish we had it in Australia. Everything is so cheap and such good value and the variety is Killer. It is frightening how expensive groceries are in Australia by comparison.

does anyone else like to check out supermarkets when they are overseas or is it just me?

I have become obsessed with game in all this wintery weather so my brother in law sourced me a Partridge (although he forgot the pear tree)

this is it all roasted up. Attractive isn't it?

there are perfect fuchsia cyclamen everywhere round here

We went to lunch at Hix at Browns the other day in Mayfair. People. It was MAGNIFICENT. And probably one of the most glamorous places I have ever eaten. Don't even get me started on the Superior People Watching (11/10)

this was a game keepers broth with Laphroig whiskey (which has a very peaty taste). So soothing on a winters day

Vegetarians Avert Your Eyes Now!

Because this roast beef was divine. As was that Yorkshire Pudding Arrangement.

When I 1st went to London in 2003 I got the tube every day. This trip I've caught it once. Black cabs are my friend these days.

This is from Jane Packer's Florist shoppe on New Cavendish Road. I luff everything in there it's kind of a white and silver Christmas wonderland.

and in keeping with Tradition, I actioned the polish for Niece FF (OPI elephantastic)

Since I'm scarfing it up I thought about buying some Pucci ones but in a moment of Austerity decided No.

don't you love cocktail hour and cheese time?

it's been so sweet watching Niece FF play with Nephew FF. Here she is waking him up from his sleep.

xxxxxxx

Loving London Sick

In the famous words of Joe Jackson (1980s British Singer Person not Michael's Dad) "Come Down to London and Be the King". Hopefully one of my readers will get this obscure reference. I was the King in my Honkers leopard top thingy and furry vest. Leopard and animal print and faux fur are everywhere in the London shoppes. It's good to see neutrals return to the fore.
Meanwhile Christmas lights are making an appearance. I'm always happy to see John Lewis because it means we're almost home. Hooray.

One of my favourite places to potter is the Magic of VV Rouleaux a fantastic haberdasher in Marylebone. It was once on the high street now it's tucked away. Find It! It's like Aladdin's Cave in there.

The girl in there was so lovely and gave Niece FF a ribbon for Barbie's hair.

This is Barbie hanging with Niece FF in Paul's. Don't those pastries make your heart sing?

Some Families have things like museli with skim milk and fruit for breakfast.

The FF family is not one of them.

We make someone treck down the street to source high end Paul's pastries and hot chocolates and coffee for our morning sustenance.

Last week I went to the nicest place for lunch with my entire family, including the 2 kiddies (who after a shaky start Covered Themselves in Glory Behaviour wise). The staff and food and atmosphere were 11/10.

Run don't walk to La Petite Maison in Mayfair.

It amuses me no end to see barbie's legs sticking out next to this plate.

and Behold the Magnificence of the whole Black French Roast Chicken. It'll take a 1.5 hour wait but is so worth it. Just settle back and indulge in some Superior People Watching and ogle all the fancy watches jewels cashmere and handbags on display-and that's just the men (where are these Austerity Measures everyone reads about?)

This prune macerated in booze puding product came with ginger bread icecream and was 1 million /10

If you need a break from the food between courses the shopping's good too

anyway, the next day my sister and Niece FF and I heard the Siren Cry of Liberty. We do as we're told.

The window displays are amazing.

isn't it beautiful inside?

we had lunch in the cafe there. Delicious and inexpensive (Hooray)

the Christmas decorations were so beautiful. I luffed the London ones the best.

I liked the life sized donkey a lot but couldn't figure out how to get him home.

and the crackers were Superior too

then we all felt a bit peckish so decided to visit Fortnum and Mason for some treats. It was chaos in there! People were buying up high end food products like there was no tomorrow.

we watched the 2 people come outside the Fortnum Building and do their little turn on the hour. This scene never fails to amuse me. If you click on the photo and enlarge it you can see them going back inside on either side of the clock.

I am getting a bit sad about this holiday ending. Which it eventually will. It's just been so fun.

xxxxx