Recipe.

It is ridiculously cold. Which suits me. I've been looking back at what I wore last winter and came across this faux fur nautical style outfit arrangement. I might cobble something similar together in the next few days.
I think the polish was OPI's Russian Navy. I was such a fan of this colour that I used to give it to people for gifts.

Do you embrace a Rum Baba? Or a baba au rhum (depending on how you roll). I do. So does Zsa Zsa. This is one I ordered in Paris back in about 2008. I can't remember the name of the restaurant but it was like something out of movie and the people watching was 9 million/10.

If you're in the market for some orange patent Miu Mius these are on sale at Jean Brown. Hurry.

Remember the Coalface's Team Charter that we developed a year ago?

Well I think it's the sort of charter that can be utilised in any environment to create harmony and peace. Why not give it a whirl in your own homes and let me know how you go?

I made Nigella's rice and peas (not green peas) and it was 11/10 tasty. Especially with my spicy Faux Jamaican chicken

Slim Paley hasn't heard of Stephanie Alexander. She is THE Australian cook and food writer. Like me she's sad that people don't teach their kids how to cook and she is a huge supporter of seasonal produce. She ran a famous restaurant for years in Melbourne called Stephanies.

She wrote this book which is my bible. I always say "let's see what Stephanie says" when faced with a cooking issue. She's written tonnes of books but this and "Cooking and Travelling in South West France "are my favourites. I met her once. I told her I found reading her books very soothing during life's challenging times. She loved that.

Braised celery is just butter stock celery and garlic. Make up your amounts and times.

Cheerio.

Stuff.

This is my sister with my baby (it looks like me because she's wearing Lincoln Park after Dark)We're all a bit sad at the Fuchsiadome right now because my sister has not only left the building, she's left the country. Her whistle stop tour of the Antipodes went far too fast. I've had so many excellent holidays with her in exotic locales like Dubai, Hong Kong, and London but she's good company even if you're just foraging for groceries in a suburban shopping centre. Speaking of which, in a weird Through-the-Looking-Glass Way, I now get ridiculously excited if I see this sign:
I know. I don't know who I am anymore either. So I try to embrace the Familiar. Like leopard print. Always comforting.

And accessories. Always soothing. This necklace has become a favourite. I got it dirt cheap from a little boutique across the road from where I like to eat brunch. It was dead set inexpensive. The polish is Plum Luck by Sally Hansen. The good news is that it hardly ever chips! A reader sent it to me from America last year, and I cannot recommend it highly enough. Run Don't Walk People.

It's still cold so I'm embracing Faux Fur. Made from little Nylon and Polyester Fauxs.

And I'm still doing brunch. Because I like routine.

This is going to be a week of Goodbyes, because Ole Amber's leaving for Honkers soon too. I hate and loathe Goodbyes.

Stay Warm.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Hermes. Honkers. My Garden.

Ok, so I lived on the edge and bought another Hermes scarf arrangement. I thought it looked pretty snazzy in this photo until my sister helpfully pointed out that I was wearing it back to front.
I am going to miss Honkers a lot
On my last full day there my sister took me out for a beautiful Italian lunch

This pudding was amazing. I think it was a burnt butter and rum icecream.

I love Hong Kong's mixture of crumbling buildings and technology

I saw the H & M/Lanvin window displays

You just know it'll sell out

In the afternoon we went to Sevva for drinks. I love it up there, the views are amazing. Order the high tea. You will not be disappointed.

I don't know about the rest of you, but I am attracted to a modern, well organised, clean, efficient airport. Honkers ticks all the boxes. Plus you can check your luggage in at Central and hop on the world's cleanest train to the airport. Talk about a Good Idea.

I never hop on a long haul flight without eating a lot 1st and without packing lots and lots of snacks, because frankly, there might be a long long time before you get something tasty. This was the vegetarian ramen at Ajisen. It was very comforting.

The moon looked attractive over the South China Sea and I busied my self by rewatching season 2 of Mad Men

I'm at home now. Mr FF liked his Barbour scarf. Good enough for the Queen, good enough for him. Meanwhile, worryingly, a large box of giftsI sent from Jersey has gone AWOL. Hope it turns up.

And can I just ask why I am paying $35 for a MAC lipstick in Australia and about $17 for the same thing in Hong Kong? I am so tired of paying hand over fist in this country for Everything. Do not get me started on the costs of groceries and food. I got viva glam 2 and Russian red and some blush called Her blooming cheek.

I missed my garden a lot and spent hours in it yesterday pruning it and actioning other glamorous stuff like killing weeds.

these dianthus looked good

my mint's gone crazy and is sending out runners everywhere

I'm back at the Coalface and it's been fun catching up with my Fellow Coal Miners. Everyone wanted to know about Blighty (the blogger not the country). I told them the truth- she is very funny and kind and generous (she had never purchased a panettone and bought me one! I know. So thoughtful). My FF asked me what my 5 favourite things I did were and what my 5 favourite purchases were. I thought these were excellent questions, so I might action a post about that shortly.

Honkers Part Two

I'm back in Honkers. Gee I luff it here. The airport is so efficient and organised, the dollar is strong, the people are lovely, the taxis are plentiful and the shopping is great. What's not to love? Today my sister and I did something very touristy and went and had afternoon tea at the Penisula Hotel over on Kowloon. My sister calls this the "Dark Side". She generally likes to stay firmly put on the island. It's glam there-they have an orchestra up in a balcony and everything.

but 1st we went for a wander down in Wanchai

I wore this frock arrangement that I'd bought from St Malo in Brittany France from somewhere called Promod. Camel is Key People. I say Embrace it.

we did lunch at Pawn at Wanchai the other day. It's an old pawn shoppe knocked into restaurants

it has really interesting views

and really superior people watching

after the Hell of the 12 hour flight from London I treated myself to a mani and a pedi from Indulgence. Lincoln Park after Dark. Of course.

and I bought a leopard scarf whatsy from a tiny shoppe the size of a broom cupboard in Soho. It's so large that it could double as a sarong (the scarf not the shop)

and look at what I found in a tiny shoppe in Wanchai:

it's my temple dog!!!
The ceiling at the Pen is very fancy and grand. I went to Felix there for dinner once with Mr FF. It was fairly flash. With good views. And everything is by Phillipe Starke.

Better go and plan what we are doing tomorrow. I want to go to Sevva for a drink and watch the sun set.
xxxxx