Party, Party!

Big Bang
When my very glamourous friend Ali invited my husband Joe and me to her 40th birthday party, I knew it would be a glitzy affair. Ali organises parties for a living through her company Big Bang (www.bigbangevents.co.uk) and really knows how to do things in style.

I used to be one of Ali's clients. She helped me organise three fantastic balls, each for 800 people, and every one was a stunning success.

Ali and I clicked from our first meeting when we discovered a mutual love of all things Italian (Ali is half Italian), plus a passion for food, clothes, shopping, shoes and, most importantly, having fun!

We also share a passion for our families and love to talk about our children, although Ali's are much younger than mine.

The day I met Ali, she was heavily pregnant with her third child and I remember being struck by her energy, focus and enthusiasm, despite having a bump the size of a whale! That 'bump' is now a gorgeous little girl called Olivia.

30 Pavilion Road
This was the venue for Ali's party, set in very fashionable (and very exclusive) Knightsbridge. It's an elegant town house which is sumptuously decorated, yet still manages to maintain a very welcoming and friendly atmosphere. The service was outstanding.

Divine Decorations
From brightly coloured balloons with silver streamers, to breathtaking ice sculptures (including the bar!), the decorations were nothing short of divine.

You could see the attention to detail and care that had gone into making everything look just right. I especially loved the shoes which were liberally dotted about, providing a lovely quirky element to the whole look.

Karen and Ali
But it wasn't just Ali's 40th birthday party, it was also her best friend, Karen's, whom she's known since she was a baby. Friendships like that are priceless and Karen and Ali both gave emotional speeches about how much the evening meant to them.

The party was a truly fabulous affair and everyone had a good time, so congratulations Ali - you did it again!

A Spot of Food Shopping

Fortnum and Mason
If you want to buy upmarket food at upmarket prices, then Fortnum and Mason is the place to go.

Everything about the shop is exquisitely presented, from the vibrant window displays to the dazzling array of delicacies from all over the world. Some of it is worth buying simply for the packaging!

So when I had some time to kill before a meeting, I went to Fortnum and Mason to browse among the weird (chocolate covered ants anyone?) and wonderful (hand made truffles to die for) delights on offer.

Everything about Fortnum's feels civilised. Yes, of course you're paying for the privilege, but the politeness and impeccable manners of the smartly uniformed staff make it feel worth the price. It's not just shopping, it's an experience.

So what did I buy? Nothing especially fancy. Some Scottish oatcakes for my lovely Scottish neighbour, Ken (whom I knew would appreciate the posh Fortnum and Mason's tin) plus more oatcakes for my husband Joe (also Scottish).

I even picked up a bargain - some stylishly packaged after-dinner chocolates which were reduced by 75%.

In total, my visit to Fortnum and Mason cost me under £10.

But the enjoyment I had was priceless.

Putting on the Ritz

Lectures and Lunch
They say there's no such thing as a free lunch and it's true. But if that lunch involves dining at The Ritz, then I can certainly put up with a lecture or two!

Friday saw me at this elegant and world famous hotel courtesy of a software company that was promoting its 'knowledge management' system (that's 'organising stuff' to you and me).

Professional Presentations
I have to say the presentations were very professional but the 'sell' was very hard (we were there as prospective customers after all). However, the beautiful surroundings, delicious food and very drinkable wine, more than made up for the mini-lectures between courses.

As a professional communicator, I am always interested in how presentations are delivered - what graphics are used and how well the speaker gets his or her message across.

These presentations were pretty slick and were generally well received by the audience, but they were also quite technical and, not being a 'techie' (although I had two very knowledgeable 'techie' colleagues with me) I found myself drifting off on occasions and wondering when the next course would arrive. Each time it did, it was definitely worth waiting for.

The Posh 'Powder Room'
I've only ever been to The Ritz once before when I took my Mum there as a special treat for her birthday. It was one of the best experiences I've ever had and my Mum still talks about it.

It makes me smile when I remember the look on her face when she first saw the extremely posh 'Powder Room'. She and I were both amazed by the lavishly decorated walls, comfortable sofa, and upmarket magazines laid out on a coffee table, complete with bottles of mineral water and drinking glasses. It was all very inviting - not at all like your average 'Ladies'.

But then again, we shouldn't really have been surprised - this is The Ritz, darling, after all!

Happy Birthday Mum

A Special Treat
My mum recently celebrated her 68th birthday - not that you'd guess it to look at her. She has a very youthful apperance and most people think she's a lot younger than she is. Hopefully, I've inherited her genes!

As a birthday treat I took her out to lunch at The Olive Branch in Clipsham, in Rutland, Leicestershire. The Olive Branch is famous for its fabulous food and boasts a Michelin star. People come from miles around to eat there, so booking is an absolute must.

Joe and I celebrated our 15th wedding anniversary at The Olive Branch and had an unforgettable evening.

Mum and I also had a lovely time, one we will remember for a long while. I was especially pleased when she said that the food was probably the best she'd ever eaten.

A Mouthwatering Menu
It was hard to choose what to eat as everything on the menu looked good. In the end we made life simpler by choosing the set menu which was every bit as good as the a la carte.

So what did we have?

Mum started with chilled gazpacho served with squid, followed by confit of duck with meditteranean salad. I went for the chicken liver parfait with toasted brioche followed by pan-fried sea bream with spicy coucous.

Neither of us could resist the summer pudding with clotted cream for dessert. It is undoubtedly the best summer pudding I have ever tasted - the slight sharpness of the fruit perfectly offset by the sweetness and crunchy texture of the cream. Gorgeous.

Mother and Daughter Time
But it wasn't just the good food that made our lunch so special.

It was the chance to spend some special mother/daughter time together, just the two of us, and catch up with each other properly. We talked about so many things, reminiscing about happy times - and some sad ones. We both commented on how quickly time passes - especially when you have children (and in Mum's case, grandchildren).

So it's important to take time to appreciate what you have when you have it. You never know what's round the corner (just as well, really).

It was a beautiful sunny day so we ate outside, taking in the picture-postcard prettiness of this little country pub which somehow seems as if it belongs to a different, gentler era.

It's a very special place for a very special Mum.

Summer Celebration

Bridge of Size
If there's one thing that always strikes me about Tower Bridge, it's how huge it is - and how small I am!

Walking across it is a wonderful experience as it looks different depending on which part of the bridge you're on and which angle you're looking at it from. You can't help but marvel at the amazing architecture, the intricate detail and the sheer size of it.

Pimms Party
Last night I attended a Pimms party on HMS Belfast. As I walked across Tower Bridge, I stopped to take in the spectacular views along the Thames and soak up the heady atmosphere of a perfect summer evening. The warm weather made everyone feel happy and everywhere I looked there were smiling faces.

The party was fantastic. I met some lovely people and caught up with old friends. The Pimms slipped down a treat, too!

HMS Belfast provided the perfect setting for some serious networking, mixed with a lot of fun. Being on a boat gave the proceedings a holiday atmosphere, added to by the colourful steel band.

When I left to catch my train home, the sun was still shining, casting a golden glow on the water. Bathed in the late evening light, everything looked incredibly beautiful.

So I stood and savoured the scene - taking in the sights and sounds that make London such a special place.

At that moment I felt truly happy.

It's a feeling I will treasure for a long time.

The Long and the Short of It

Lola Loses Her 'Heat Blanket'
Lola has always had incredibly thick, curly hair - her 'heat blanket' as she describes it, especially in the recent hot weather!

Until Saturday, Lola's hair had only ever been cut four times in her entire life, so it had grown down to her waist.

However, long, thick hair is extremely high maintenance. Every Sunday Lola and I would go through the ritual of washing and combing her hair (which could take up to an hour) and plaiting it so that it didn't knot while she was asleep.

'Miss Pears'
When Lola was little, everyone commented on her hair and nicknamed her 'Miss Pears' because she looked so cute.

But in a few weeks' time, Lola will become a teenager and 'cute' is definitely out.

Wanda's Magic Touch
So, on Saturday we went to the hairdressers - a trendy salon called Pkai - where Lola's favourite stylist, Wanda, worked her magic.

She cut more than six inches off Lola's hair, put layers in it, thinned it and then curled the ends round her fingers, giving Lola large, loose ringlets. Lola loved it.

Not only is Lola delighted with her sassy new look but so am I. She looks so much more sophisticated and the style suits her confident personality. Her hair now has bounce where before it was weighed down by sheer volume.

I doubt Lola will ever have hair that long again. Those childhood days are well and truly behind her. But I do know that Lola's hair will always be admired for its thickness and natural curl.

This is her very first grown up hairstyle - and I'm sure it won't be her last!

A Sunny Saturday in Milton Keynes

Barbecue Boy
What is it about men and barbecues? Give them a few bits of charcoal, some flames and an apron and they come over all macho (not the apron, of course). No females are allowed near and, heaven forbid, they should try and cook meat! Cooking meat is 'man's work'.

Well, that suits me just fine because getting hot, sweaty and smoky is not my idea of fun - but sipping wine and watching the exploits of 'barbecue boy', is. On a hot, sunny afternoon, nothing is better than eating al fresco and a 'barbie' is an absolute must.

So it was on Saturday that we found ourselves in Milton Keynes, at our good friend, Paul's (Calum's godfather), sitting in the garden, enjoying a glass of chilled Chardonnay (fruit juice or me as I was driving) while he rustled up some steaks, lamb kebabs, chicken drumsticks, sausages and burgers, all the time slowly turning the colour of beetroot in the heat.

But, hell, he was having fun!

As a concession to our arteries, he also cooked red and green peppers and haloumi cheese (my favourite) which were delicious, as was the meat - mountains of it!

The Perfect Hostess
Paul's girlfriend Shelly was also there. We haven't known her long so it was a great opportunity to relax and chat and get to know her better. She was the perfect hostess, running around to make sure we were all being looked after.

So our glasses were never empty and our plates were constantly filled with food. Needless to say, we were all completely stuffed afterwards, but that didn't stop us devouring Hotel Chocolat truffles. Amazingly, now matter how full I am, I always have room for chocolate (although it does have to be dark).

Fabulous Feebz
It was a lovely way to spend a Saturday, catch up with each other's news and also see Paul's daughter, Phoebe, who is now a glamorous 17 year old and is spookily like her mother, with exactly the same mannerisms.

However, underneath she's still the same old 'Feebz', the surrogate big sister Calum and Lola grew up with. Although they hadn't seen each other for ages, they simply picked up where they left off and chatted away happily. I think they'll always be friends, just like I am with Phoebe's Mum, Nic.

Seeing her looking every bit the sophisticated young woman made me feel very old as I remembered her being born!

Fond Farewells
We didn't leave Paul's house until gone 10.00pm and parted with fond farewells, lots of hugs and genuine affection. We'll definitely make sure we see each other soon.

Paul is already talking about a 'boys weekend' with Calum. I see it now - pizza, playstation, dvds and a very late night.

Calum can't wait!