Tuesday 8 December 2009

So it’s that time of year again, when my thoughts turn to buying delicious pressies for people, and over-indulging in, well, everything really.

I got to thinking, what would I give someone as a present if I was living on the street like Jools and had to be thrifty? Let’s see. My book, obviously, but I only get a few free copies and at £7.99, buying them is not an option for someone like Jools. So for my editor, free samples from the cosmetics counter at her favourite Oxford Street store would be ideal. And maybe some ‘chic’ takeaway forks from the condiments counters at the high street cafes for Gran. After all, her sight is going anyway, poor thing.

Invited to the outlaws this year for Christmas lunch - what could I possibly take on a nil budget like Jool’s? Well, Lidl is always a great option, isn’t it. A whole litre of ice-cream for £1, or so I’ve heard … That’s only a fiver for five litres. Hmmmmm. And a few rolls of bargain toilet paper is bound to be appreciated. As with cakes, you can never have enough.

And finally, for the ultimate thrifty Christmas pressies for those nearest and dearest, I would look no further than eBay. If Jools can auction herself online, surely it would be possible to find quite a few Christmassy items for girls and dudes on a budget? A quick look just now illuminated a new artificial tree for 3 quid for the partner to put up for me, some tinsel for 1p (I better check the postage), or if you are willing to splurge you can find some for 10p; and in honour of Jools, a pair of brand spanking new flip flops with the face of a Queen (not sure which one) for a mere 50p.

How can one go wrong?

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got some bids to place … oh looks like I was right £8.99 postage from Hong Kong.

Merry Christmas everyone, I’ll be back blogging in the New Year.

Thursday 3 December 2009

Greetings lovers of chick-lit and cake

You’d think that in this, my week of publication, I would be busy signing books and so on. Well, I am, but I have left time to visit some of the local haunts in and around the Royal Borough that I used for inspiration in Naked in Knightsbridge.

As cliché as it sounds, Harrods Foodhall is always my first stop when on the prowl for that tastiest of morsels – Ladurée macaroons. Indulging in the sweet things in where Jools was when Mrs Pho’s house burnt down. Despite the fact that an obsession with the fantastic French fancies is clearly bad for your waistline and wallet, I continue to snub caution with my rather large derrière and visit regularly.

Another little lovely is Hummingbird in Old Brompton Road, where the cupcakes are to die for (and considering the roadworks happening on Brompton Road, you might nearly do so as you try to avoid the buses that have been temporarily re-routed down the narrow road).

Now, if you wander away from Humingbird towards Carluccios (also a few yummy cakey-type things therein plus brilliant hot chocolates), and follow Pelham Street, you might find yourself at Ben’s Cookies. I did not discover these delights until Jools was put to bed (so to speak), but now that I have they might need to make a guest appearance in Marrying Out of Money.

But Kensington also holds it own where cupcakes are concerned. The Buttercup Cake Shop in St Alban’s Grove is a little nook crammed with heavenly yummies – it was here Jools make a couple of pitstops before visiting Mel. Mel’s flat is located just around the corner, but the best news about Buttercup is that after scoffing down a few hundred cupcakes, you can ease your guilt by drowning it at the Builder’s Arms across the road.

That’s it for now, back to signing those copies for Prospera. By the way, you get a book signed by me if you order from Prospera Publishing's website before Christmas.

As the publisher says, ‘. . .get Naked, you know you want to!’

Tuesday 8 December 2009

So it’s that time of year again, when my thoughts turn to buying delicious pressies for people, and over-indulging in, well, everything really.

I got to thinking, what would I give someone as a present if I was living on the street like Jools and had to be thrifty? Let’s see. My book, obviously, but I only get a few free copies and at £7.99, buying them is not an option for someone like Jools. So for my editor, free samples from the cosmetics counter at her favourite Oxford Street store would be ideal. And maybe some ‘chic’ takeaway forks from the condiments counters at the high street cafes for Gran. After all, her sight is going anyway, poor thing.

Invited to the outlaws this year for Christmas lunch - what could I possibly take on a nil budget like Jool’s? Well, Lidl is always a great option, isn’t it. A whole litre of ice-cream for £1, or so I’ve heard … That’s only a fiver for five litres. Hmmmmm. And a few rolls of bargain toilet paper is bound to be appreciated. As with cakes, you can never have enough.

And finally, for the ultimate thrifty Christmas pressies for those nearest and dearest, I would look no further than eBay. If Jools can auction herself online, surely it would be possible to find quite a few Christmassy items for girls and dudes on a budget? A quick look just now illuminated a new artificial tree for 3 quid for the partner to put up for me, some tinsel for 1p (I better check the postage), or if you are willing to splurge you can find some for 10p; and in honour of Jools, a pair of brand spanking new flip flops with the face of a Queen (not sure which one) for a mere 50p.

How can one go wrong?

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got some bids to place … oh looks like I was right £8.99 postage from Hong Kong.

Merry Christmas everyone, I’ll be back blogging in the New Year.

Thursday 3 December 2009

Greetings lovers of chick-lit and cake

You’d think that in this, my week of publication, I would be busy signing books and so on. Well, I am, but I have left time to visit some of the local haunts in and around the Royal Borough that I used for inspiration in Naked in Knightsbridge.

As cliché as it sounds, Harrods Foodhall is always my first stop when on the prowl for that tastiest of morsels – Ladurée macaroons. Indulging in the sweet things in where Jools was when Mrs Pho’s house burnt down. Despite the fact that an obsession with the fantastic French fancies is clearly bad for your waistline and wallet, I continue to snub caution with my rather large derrière and visit regularly.

Another little lovely is Hummingbird in Old Brompton Road, where the cupcakes are to die for (and considering the roadworks happening on Brompton Road, you might nearly do so as you try to avoid the buses that have been temporarily re-routed down the narrow road).

Now, if you wander away from Humingbird towards Carluccios (also a few yummy cakey-type things therein plus brilliant hot chocolates), and follow Pelham Street, you might find yourself at Ben’s Cookies. I did not discover these delights until Jools was put to bed (so to speak), but now that I have they might need to make a guest appearance in Marrying Out of Money.

But Kensington also holds it own where cupcakes are concerned. The Buttercup Cake Shop in St Alban’s Grove is a little nook crammed with heavenly yummies – it was here Jools make a couple of pitstops before visiting Mel. Mel’s flat is located just around the corner, but the best news about Buttercup is that after scoffing down a few hundred cupcakes, you can ease your guilt by drowning it at the Builder’s Arms across the road.

That’s it for now, back to signing those copies for Prospera. By the way, you get a book signed by me if you order from Prospera Publishing's website before Christmas.

As the publisher says, ‘. . .get Naked, you know you want to!’