Hearing about Amanda Holden’s traumatic experiences this week following her baby daughter’s birth is a stark reminder of the potential risks in childbirth.  There is a great assumption in today’s society that firstly we can all have children, and secondly, when it comes to the birth, we can choose to swim with dolphins whilst swinging from a crystal chandelier eating chocolate truffles, if that is what is going to make us happy and gives us a more meaningful experience.  The most important element is the health and safety of the mother and child.

Childbirth is a miraculous thing, but full of potential dangers that can not be ignored.  It’s good to know Amanda is on the mend, and that modern medicine can play such a vital role when in former times there might have been a very different outcome.

Get well soon Amanda, we send  you and baby Holly every good wish.

marigoldx

I am an avid reader, each birthday and Christmas I am giving books, all sorts of books, lots of books and I am never disappointed… this Christmas my other half gave me  ’COMFORT AND JOY’ a novel by INDIA KNIGHT. I follow India on twitter and read her Sunday Times columns, I have read The Thrift Book which I found both witty and helpful…so he was on a safe bet I would enjoy this latest book…I did, very much.

I have been asked (on twitter and in real world)…was it good? so here is my short take on it, can’t say the word ‘review’ it sounds a bit to up myself!

The story of a family Christmas… an honest take on what goes on at this time of year in a lot of homes and at points I swear to god she must have been to my house and met all my family, extended family members and friends!  It has so many points that made me laugh out loud and other times I welled up. I guess we have all been there, few days before the family and friends descend on us, last min present buying …pressure pressure pressure building!

Her attention to the tiniest details, almost thrown away but oh so poignant, the dialogue is bang on, mother to daughter to friend to husband, at times I felt a tiny bit uncomfy and swore I would be much nicer next Christmas or any family get-together, the detail is comical and yet heart wrenching within seconds.

I don’t want to give anything away but I can tell you it’s a good read, I am about to purchase Ms Knights other two novels My Life on a Plate and Don’t You Want Me.

I’ve always been a fan of mirrors – not for reasons of vanity but for sheer beauty and versatility.  Whatever the style, age or size, they furnish a room like nothing else, creating the feeling of light and space yet warmth and richness.

Whereas once you would have to search high and low in designer furniture shops or sale rooms for something a little different, today it’s easy to find stylish mirrors to satisfy every taste and style at affordable prices.  My favourite one stop shop for ideas is Graham and Green – fabulous mirrors and quirky designes to suit every style and fantasy.  Look at the 36 Facet wall mirror – an investment at £600 but a real talking piece and you’d hardly need anything else in the room. As a complete contrast, the Black and Mother of Pearl inlay mirror is reminiscent of a Morrocan riad.  I’d love to find a home for either, or a corner for the Grey Acanthus leaf  or inset design which bring my dreams of Provence alive.  Probably most  useful  is the Bevelled edge mirror, sharp and clean and easy to fit into any interior.  It’s in my ‘basket’ at the moment but just how long it will stay there until I proceed to checkout I’m not sure.

Log on to www.grahamandgreen.co.uk now to see what I mean – and try not to get too distracted by the other treats in store!

marigold x

Great minds think alike Cupcake – I too have the exact same pair of black Ash trainers!

They are my second pair, the first being a super cool bronze pair which were my default setting last summer.  Warm and cosy with socks on a dull day yet cool with wide legged linen trousers when the temperature rose. And these trainers have edge, sorely lacking in your average high street pair.

Definitely a wardrobe staple and real investment – I too am an Ash fan!

marigold x

HAVE JUST BOUGHT MYSELF A PAIR OF NEW SHOWS.

MY PRIDE AND JOY…soft as butter, warm as toast, totally gorgeous…and didn’t cost an arm and a leg…maybe just a foot!

http://www.ashfootwear.co.uk/

The Washington Post’s Mensa Invitational once again invited readers to take any word from the dictionary, alter it by adding, subtracting, or changing one letter, and supply a new definition.

Here are the winners:
1. Cashtration (n.): The act of buying a house, which renders the subject financially impotent for an indefinite period of time.

2. Ignoranus: A person who’s both stupid and an asshole.

3. Intaxicaton: Euphoria at getting a tax refund, which lasts until you realize it was your money to start with.

4. Reintarnation: Coming back to life as a hillbilly.

5. Bozone ( n.): The substance surrounding stupid people that stops bright ideas from penetrating. The bozone layer, unfortunately, shows little sign of breaking down in the near future.

6. Foreploy: Any misrepresentation about yourself for the purpose of getting laid.

7. Giraffiti: Vandalism spray-painted very, very high

8. Sarchasm: The gulf between the author of sarcastic wit and the person who doesn’t get it.

9. Inoculatte: To take coffee intravenously when you are running late.

10. Osteopornosis: A degenerate disease. (This one got extra credit.) amen!!!

11. Karmageddon: It’s like, when everybody is sending off all these really bad vibes, right? And then, like, the Earth explodes and it’s like, a serious bummer.

12. Decafalon (n.): The grueling event of getting through the day consuming only things that are good for you.

13. Glibido: All talk and no action.

14. Dopeler Effect: The tendency of stupid ideas to seem smarter when they come at you rapidly.

15. Arachnoleptic Fit (n.): The frantic dance performed just after you’ve accidentally walked through a spider web.

16. Beelzebug (n.): Satan in the form of a mosquito, that gets into your bedroom at three in the morning and cannot be cast out.

17. Caterpallor ( n.): The color you turn after finding half a worm in the fruit you’re eating.

The Washington Post has also published the winning submissions to its yearly contest, in which readers are asked to supply alternate meanings for common words.
And the winners are:

1. Coffee, n. The person upon whom one coughs.

2. Flabbergasted, adj. Appalled by discovering how much weight one has gained.

3. Abdicate, v. To give up all hope of ever having a flat stomach.

4. esplanade, v. To attempt an explanation while drunk.

5. Willy-nilly, adj. Impotent.

6. Negligent, adj. Absentmindedly answering the door when wearing only a nightgown.

7. Lymph, v. To walk with a lisp.

8. Gargoyle, n. Olive-flavored mouthwash.

9. Flatulence, n. Emergency vehicle that picks up someone who has been run over by a steamroller.

10. Balderdash, n. A rapidly receding hairline.

11. Testicle, n. A humorous question on an exam.

12. Rectitude, n. The formal, dignified bearing adopted by proctologists.

13. Pokemon, n. A Rastafarian proctologist.

14. Oyster, n. A person who sprinkles his conversation with Yiddishisms.

15. Frisbeetarianism, n. The belief that, after death, the soul flies up onto the roof and gets stuck there.
16. Circumvent, n. An opening in the front of boxer shorts worn by Jewish men The Washington Post’s Mensa Invitational once again invited readers to take any word from the dictionary, alter it by adding, subtracting, or changing one letter, and supply a new definition.

It may be winter outside, but in my heart it’s spring…  isn’t that a line in a song?  I’m telling my vintage now!  But honestly, its freezing, freezing, freezing outside and I’ve just taken this image – one perfectly bright and sunny camelia flower with its face turned towards the sun and not showing a single sign of frost, cold or mildew.  I’d love to say its my green fingers but I can’t take any credit at all – this beautiful flower blooming far earlier than expected is due to our extraordinarily mild winter to date.

I’ve just seen irises in full bloom in a neighbour’s garden and my daffodil bulbs look ready to burst into song.

I know we need the cold weather for all our plants, but we all need hope and optimism and nothing spells that more than our gardens opening up to the promise of spring.

marigold x

A lovely sunny day….. what better than to take the day off and popped down to Chichester, West Sussex with a friend and we spent some time in the Pallant House Gallery. The exhibition we both wanted to see is the EDWARD BURRA, it did not disappoint, it opened on the 35th anniversary of his death and runs until February 21st 2012.

Of course you can’t take photos of the work but a gorgeous rotund tummied man said I could take a few snaps of the gallery (for this read  landing) he was most helpful and rather lovely, he had an overwhelming passion for this artist and was more than happy to chat and pass on a few bits of gossip to us.

The gallery space is truly stunning. Walking past a FRANCIS BACON and a couple of PETER BLAKE’s…plus two magnificent paintings by MICHAEL ANDREWS.. sheer genius. Another one of my favourites is FRANK AUERBACH, oh what that man could do with paint! This gallery has a fantastic collection, other names to look out for: BOMBERG, CAULFIELD, FREUD, HODGKIN, NICHOLSON, MOORE, PIPER and so many more.

look at this dude…only word for him, spooky but amazing.

the one below with the couple on a train….’no photos please’….

Anyway more about Burra,

“Through a selection of around 70 major works from across the artist’s career, this exhibition focuses on Burra’s sharply-observed social commentary and unique draftsmanship“.

The show features Burra’s iconic images of everyday people at leisure in bars and clubs, the black culture of 1930′s Harlem, the sub-culture of harbours and ports, his macabre and slightly scary dancing skeletons and stunning late landscapes. The exhibition also explores the influence of jazz music and cinema, and his forays into the darker sides of humanity, his work with watercolour on paper is out of this world, he is a master of the medium.

He is probably best  known for paintings executed in the 1920s and ’30s depicting seedy urban scenes and of course for telling the RA, in 1961, a big fat NO to the request to consider becoming an associate.  .

At a time when the trend-setters were obsessed with abstraction, Burra was painting people: boozing sailors; dockside barmaids; zoot-suited hipsters hanging on Harlem street corners….

I am no art critic but when you just stand and study the work at first you can’t believe it is watercolour, you can see the brush strokes, the colours, the blood, sweat and sheer unadulterated skill Burra possessed.

Highly recommend it.

I’m sure we’re all feeling a few pounds heavier after Christmas, and this time of year is peppered with work out DVD’s, diet tips and the old lose weight fast tricks.  So when I heard the words ‘Downsize in Dubai’ mentioned in the background on a certain morning TV programme, my ears pricked up.  I’m not looking to lose a lot of weight, but find like many women the whole dieting and weight loss industry fascinating.

What I heard reallyshocked me.  Apparently viewers choose the contestants from a shortlist of people whom they feel deserve this ‘once in a lifetime’ opportunity’ to go to Dubai, and vote on them.  I work a lot with people who feel they are marginalised by society in some way – be that through weight, looks, disability, race or their financial situation.  The one thing that is imperative for each and every one of us is to be given confidence and self esteem and the belief that we matter to society and  have as much right as anyone else to be part of that.  People that apply to such programmes have no doubt tried and failed before to lose weight, and its fair to say perhaps their levels of confidence and self esteem aren’t the highest.

Given that life is largely a popularity contest, why on earth are these people who are desperate to lose weight being put through the humiliating process of being part of that popularity contest, and voted for?

marigold x

This is just part of a large tree that this morning was resting….yep resting, that is tree surgeon talk for crashed onto the roof of the barn (we have a very small barn commonly known to most folks as a shed!)…

this is the half that is still up there…it will have to come down on a less windy day (I’m told) tree man said “I’m not getting up a bloody ladder any more today”

this is the biggest bit….

and this is next size down ….

then this pile….

it turns out we have two massive willows in great danger to us too….see this is going to cost a pile!

tis a north/easterly apparently causing the damage…. bloody cold were ever it’s from.

After reading an article in the paper this weekend, ‘no new clothes for a year’ I got to thinking and by that I mean looking at my wardrobe… my hub already thinks I have way to many clothes so had to hide the paper! In truth I have managed to fill the whole wardrobe in our bedroom, plus the one in the spare room and a cupboard in the office…. hangs head in shame…

below spare room woollies…

Thing is we have cats and a dog so I have  ’at home’ clothes, a collection of jeans, sweatpants, and tee’s oh and the odd very old jumper, these are not for any other human eye except those of close family….I look …well shall we say very relaxed and comfy, (hideous)  plus I couldn’t care how many hairy cats sit on me. With a dog you need dog walking kit right? thick waterproof coat, hat and/or ear muffs, gloves, welly boots or good walking shoes, trs that don’t mind the mud and brambles of a long hike through the woods…. see the list is endless for just this one activity!

Then I have my ‘nip out shopping’ range, practical but with a hint of fashion trend and a nod to gorgeousness. Boots to flatter the legs but keep you warm and looking amazing, team with a fabulous winter coat and something underneath that says vintage but not depressed mother of 5.

My ‘out to lunch’ wear is the tricky one, you want to look smart with a “this old thing, yes just threw it on” vibe, I have a section or maybe selection would best describe my look for these occasions, I want to say working gal with an eye on trends but not a slave to them, my body is a temple…but not necessarily in a good way! I want to be able to cover the fat bits and show the good bits….don’t we all I hear you cry…. so I have  fat day outfits, a ‘ooo I’m hot’ outfits and when needed… to look like a grown up outfits.

just to prove I wear colours..and the occasional check…. see above

As for party party…well that’s when you can go to town and go mad with creative juices, this is the time when I like to put a delicate chiffon with a leather or denim, silks and satins in a 30′s cut, 50′s dresses with contemporary statement jewellery…. this is the blank canvas and anything goes. Supporting new up and coming designers is great fun..fashions of the future is so exciting.

I am not a label freak but I know if I buy one or two really good pieces I can team them with high street fashion or vintage pieces and they look great… I do have a Alexander McQueen, Jane Carr and Simeon Farrar scarf… they dress anything up and make an outfit look good. A good quality bag will do the same thing…. I splashed out on a Mulberry. One of my friends has a Chanel jacket, stunning and has been worn with everything from jeans and a tee to the LBD… it is worth it’s weight in gold.

I am not sure I could go a year of not buying anything, mainly weight issues! summer-winter I change a lot…also my tastes change as quick as the wind does, one day I maybe feeling all boho chic and the next city slicker chick… but I will re-evaluate my wardrobe and see if I can down size the contents…even if it’s just to OH a bit more room.

Maybe a website swap shop would help…. or perhaps there is one already!

Over the Christmas hol’s  I meet an amazing woman, she has a body to die for and I found out the reason why…there is no end to this lady’s talents.

For me this is the way to go to get a slimmed bod and have fun….no more gyms!

Let me introduce you to Domini Winter

Domini were did you get started with your interest in dance and movement for keeping fit?

I have worked extensively in television, film and theatre as a dancer/choreographer, and as a director. So I have a wealth of experience and I have been teaching Pilates for many years. I went to a Russian school of ballet and unfortunately grew too tall to join the Bolshoi Ballet Company, so I started off my dancing career at the Paris Lido (a Bluebell dancer) and went on to Sunday Night at the London Palladium (if anyone can remember that show) and many more light entertainment shows followed.

Pilates seemed to be a natural progression from dance for me. It is so beneficial to everyone, and makes you very aware of your body and posture. I have been presenting Pilates in Europe, Australia and Mexico and currently work in Chislehurst, Beckenham & Bromley.

Tell me a bit more about Pilates? Pilates is an exercise program or series of exercises (designed by Joseph Pilates back in 1920′s) which are focused on building strength without building muscle bulk, and building mental with physical fitness.

Pilates can be performed by everyone young, old, strong, weak, flexible, inflexible sedentary or athletic. It has shown to be beneficial in rehabilitation from injury, and is therefore often recommended by physical therapists and doctors. Benefits of Pilates include increased flexibility in the body, leaner muscles, improved posture and improved coordination which all leads to increased strength.

I love the classes and you do build up great relationships.

Ok so as if that is not enough you also teach ballet and tap…. And do one to one classes.

I have devised a Ballet/Pilates mix class and a Dance Pilates class to music. I am also qualified to teach the New York Ballet workout.

The Ballet/Pilates mix consists of a Pilates warm up in parallel and then repeated in a turned out classical style position, basic Barre work follows, then floor exercises and a cool down.

The Dance Pilates is a combination of Pilates exercises set to music, a continuous flow of movement. All these classes can be adapted to the individuals needs.

Tap is great fun and another good workout with a feel good factor.

And now Nordic walking too, tell me about that.

Nordic Walking is a whole body exercise that can be enjoyed by different abilities.

The poles we use when walking are designed to enhance your natural walking gait. The upper body is used in a similar manner to the action of classic cross country skiing. I shall be holding classes in Chislehurst on Tuesdays at 10am and Sundays at 11 am.

I asked Domini about her qualifications…they are numerous and for your interest take a look at theses….

Mat Pilates Pilates Reformer/Cadillac
Pilates H2O

ARB Teachers Russian Ballet

New York City Ballet Workout

ISTD Tap and Modern

ASA Swimming Teachers Certificate
ASA Advanced Swimming Teachers
ASA Diving Teachers Certificate
Aqua-aerobics, Glenda Baum
RSA exercise to music
Reebok Step Instructor
ASA Aquafit
RLSS Pool Lifeguard
Advanced Fitness Instructor (NVQ)
Aqua-aerobics Refresher
LAYH/LAY Look after your heart Tutor
Rebounder Teacher training course
Sports Nutrition course
Fitkids Instructor
Helping People change, London Borough of Bromley.
Puma Aeroskip
Line Dancing
Indoor Stationary Cycling (Spin)
Resistance Training
Reebok Core Stability board
First Aider
Fitness Professionals Attendance Certificates

I was also interested in her theatre and film career…well another list not to be dismissed…

Domini was one of the leading Assistant director / Choreographers in the West End for many years, working on such shows as UNDERNEATH THE ARCHES, HI DE HI, DEAR ANYONE and ALADDIN at the Shaftesbury Theatre for the British Theatre of comedy and SCROOGE THE MUSICAL starring Anthony Newly, which started its very successful run at the Churchill theatre, Bromley.

As a Choreographer in her own right she created the Choreography for PUMP BOYS AND DINETTES, the major film release SHERLOCK HOLMES YOUNGER BROTHER, the 1987 RUSS ABBOT CHRISTMAS SPECIAL for B.B.C. Yorkshire television, LET’S FACE THE MUSIC and the record breaking Pantomime ROBINSON CRUSOE for the Wimbledon Theatre.

Her first Pantomime as Assistant was PINOCCHIO at the Theatre Royal Brighton in 1976 and since then has worked on MOTHER GOOSE, ALADDIN, GOLDILOCKS AND THE THREE BEARS and the equally record breaking JACK AND THE BEANSTALK with Russ Abbot at the Palace Theatre, Manchester. Regional Theatre includes BABES IN ARMS with Su Pollard and Matthew Kelly. CALAMITY JANE with Barbara Windsor and Norman Vaughan.

She was associate Choreographer on the JULIA McKENZIE SPECIAL for Thames Television and in the 1987 series of THE RUSS ABBOT SHOW for the B.B.C.

Her films include; SCROOGE, THE SLIPPER AND THE ROSE, THE PRINCE AND THE PAUPER, HAZARDS OF THE HEART, GUNBUS, THE DUAL OF LOVE and TRUE BLUE.

DOMINI Choreographed and Directed ROBINSON CRUSOE at the Theatre Royal, Plymouth and the Theatre Royal, Brighton. She also choreographed the Television series JEEVES AND WOOSTER, POIROT and staged the MICHAEL BALL CONCERT TOUR of the United Kingdom.

She was resident Choreographer for the T.V. series THE GOVERNOR, NO BANANAS, HETTIE WINTHROP INVESTIGATES, BRANWELL, THE BUCCANEERS, HEARTBEAT and HARBOUR LIGHTS among others.

In 1997 she choreographed the Apollo Leisure production of SOUTH PACIFIC and was assistant to the director Tudor Davies on the Royal Gala production which opened the Wales Millennium Centre Cardiff in 2004. Most recently she choreographed ICONS with the American impressionist Greg London at The Venue Theatre Leicester Square.

So I’ll see you all at her next classes…

tel number  +44 7517387883 or email to book  info@pilatesdomini-plus.co.uk

http://pilatesdomini-plus.co.uk

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL OUR READERS…

You won’t find a list of new res’s from me… no point, I always forget them by the time I’m sober!

There won’t be a review of the year from me either, we all know what has happened…who needs reminding!

We would, however really like to say a big thank you and a happy new year to some of the most delightful people we have come across this last year….. including some gorgeous PR’s, amazaballs web sites, great designers, wonderful twitter folk/friends….

so folks, we wish you health, wealth and happiness in the new year may the new year bring you all that you want…………   xxxxx

Last Christmas Cupcake and I compiled a list of our Heroes and Villains for the past year – and great fun we had doing it too.  It gave us the perfect opportunity to share some of our finds and favourites and vent our frustrations whilst making us laugh.  So here goes with Marigold’s 2011 list.

HEROES

• Steve Jobs.  What would we all be doing now, and how would our lives be different?  What a loss
• the man who took me to Florence
• Julian Fellowes has to be on my list again – ok Downton Abbey hasn’t had the same magic as last year, but we’re still counting the days until the Christmas special
• all the emergency services
• Environ face products – take a deep breath, write the cheque and go there
• the Military Wives – behind every good man……..
• those who sweep our streets and move our rubbish
• our museums and galleries for giving us the opportunity to view wonders from around the world
• Ocado – I’m dreaming of a peaceful, supermarket free Christmas
• the wonderful therapist who did my semi-permanent eye-liner – no more waking with piggy eyes
• ‘Strictly’ and all who sail in her
• Amazon who sourced a part for my camera when the manufacturer couldn’t
• the donor of my I-pad – one of my favourite gift’s ever
• this should be top of the list – my family and dear friends

VILLAINS

• the Government for making harsh cuts on vulnerable people.  OK, I know we have to tighten our belts, but at what price to those who need it most?
• banks – what happend to customer services and personal contact?
• X Factor.  Enough, please
• heartless people extracting money from the old and vulnerable
• certain energy companies not passing on their profits to loyal customers
• people who sneak into MY car parking space
• oil companies – see above
• people who don’t scoop their dogs’ poop
• the hairdresser who convinced me a fringe was the way to go.  I’m still paying the price of not listening to my instincts

Happy Christmas everyone!

marigold x

TWELVE DAYS OF CHRISTMAS ….

On the first day of christmas my true love gave to me…a massive 2k yellow diamond ring

On the second day of christmas my fiancee gave to me two  prada shoes and a massive 2k diamond ring.

On the third day of christmas my fiancee gave to me three pink porsche’s, two  parda shoes and a massive 2k diamond ring.

On the fourth day of christmas my fiancee gave to me four hermes bags, three pink porsche’s, two prada shoes and a massive 2k diamond ring.

On the fifth day of christmas my fiancee gave to me five tiffany bangles, four hermes bags, three pink porshe’s, two prada shoes and a massive 2k diamond ring.

On the sixth day of christams my fiancee gave to me a big white fluffy wedding, five tiffany bangles, four hermes bags, three pink porsche, two prada shoes and a massive 2k diamond ring.

On the seventh day of christmas my husband gave to me a sick case of herpes, a big white fluffy wedding, five tiffany bangles, four hermes bags, three pink porshe’s, two prada shoes and a massive 2k diamond ring.

On the eighth day of christmas my husband gave to me eight lipstick collars, a sick case of herpes, a big white fluffy wedding, five tiffany bangles, four hermes bags, three pink porshe’s, two prada shoes and a massive 2k diamond ring.

On the ninth day of christmas my husband gave to me nine bad excuses, eight lipstick collars, a sick case of herpes, a big white fluffy wedding, five tiffany bangles, four hermes bags, three pink porshe’s, two prada shoes and a massive 2k diamond ring.

On the tenth day of christmas my soon to be ex gave to me ten solicitors charging, nine bad excuses, eight lipstick collars, a sick case of herpes, a big white fluffy wedding, five tiffany bangles, four hermes bags, three pink porshe’s, two prada shoes and a massive 2k diamond ring.

On the eleventh day of christmas my soon to be ex gave to me eleven lawyers fighting, ten solicitors charging, nine bad excuses, eight lipstick collars, a sick case of herpes, a big white fluffy wedding, five tiffany bangles, four hermes bags, three pink porshe’s, two prada shoes and a massive 2k diamond ring.

On the twelfth day of christmas my ex husband gave to me a 12 million settlement!…..

bahhh humbug…