To Have Is Not To Hold

A friend of mine is getting engaged, or is engaged to be married. She was discussing the price of diamond rings and the idea that she might like to purchase a second hand ring in order that they could save some money and be a little more creative. After all, where is the art in wandering into Graff and laying down the price of an apartment? Yesterday on the way to buy a cake,  ever helpful I looked in the jewel shops of Burlington Arcade and what struck me was just how many 'second hand' engagement rings there were. I wondered if each one of the those precious stones embodied some bitter disappointments and sorrows of the previous owner. Shattered dreams of togetherness cashed in at the local porn shop? I am reminded of Marian Williamson talking about the 'jewel encrusted frames of our ideals', she says the rubies are your blood and the diamonds are your tears. I can't imagine the energy of a second hand ring would be particularly great somehow. I think I would not get engaged in the first place as it seems totally pointless this side of the enlightenment era and not get married either except of course under the following circumstances

• man is extremely interesting & rich 
• international border issues 
• protection of inheritance 

When a friend who was struggling not to divorce his wife asked me if I would ever get married again, my response was 

'Not for something as transient as love.' 

Fear Or Faith

I am flying to Miami tomorrow. Currently my suitcases is over flowing onto my bedroom floor, full of things that I don't need and won't use. My first draft of packing is fear based. Fuelled by a sense of lack and impending doom (Hello darkness my old friend) I gather together all my worldly goods and try to organise them into one large container. Later after a nights sleep and trying to lift the case I decide that I need to edit.

Dark Shadows

Oh it would appear that there is a God after all. It may be that there are quite a few. One of them is Tim Burton, another is Johnny Depp and they have put together yet another incredible film, watch the trailer, it looks hilarious.

Perfect Day Part 5

Late lunch in Yauatcha Soho, we had Dim Sum, tea and cakes. I ordered an infusion of Orange Pekong called 'Lovers Leap' and we shared 3 cakes, a praline, pear and gold leaf, a bright red raspberry and chocolate mouse, and a ginger and caramel coup. The food and cakes cost a fortune, everything else - priceless.

Perfect Day Part 2

A lovely walk through the park with Stella. Birthday's are often times of reflection and I thought of Chilli as I walked around St James yesterday. For all the loss I have incurred my little dog is the only thing that brings tears to my eyes. This time last year she was starting to get really sick. Of course I also reflect on other things like how I can't afford to be this old, how I am sure I should have made money or achieved something by now. Then I thought perhaps the goal this time is to own very little, to come and go quietly  and gently leaving little trace of existence behind.

This Is Not A Love Song

I just bought a ticket for The Ballad Of Genesis And Lady Jaye which is showing at The Gay & Lesbian Film Festival at the NFT (I won't bother dressing up ) on 26th March. I love this story, it makes me feel like maybe I do want to be in love with something other than a macaron after all.  It is also incredibly irritating that British cinema's do not seem to show too many interesting films these days. So many of the films I have wanted to see, especially art films or French films no longer open here. No wonder people download stuff.

The Harvest Moon

The flame-red moon, the harvest moon, 
 


Rolls along the hills, gently bouncing,

A vast balloon, 


Till it takes off, and sinks upward 


To lie on the bottom of the sky, like a gold doubloon. 


The harvest moon has come

Booming softly through heaven, like a bassoon. 


And the earth replies all night, like a deep drum.

So people can't sleep,

So they go out where elms and oak trees keep 

A kneeling vigil,in a religious hush.

The harvest moon has come!

Ted Hughes

You Saw The Whole Of The Moon

Stella and I went out to photograph the trees and the moon this evening. Naturally cool Londoners like ourselves are not interested in taking picture of common tourist type area's but this evening Trafalgar Square looked amazing.

Full Moon In Virgo

When I see the moon I get homesick for a place I can't remember, a place I have forgotten, a place I will be again. 

Happiness Is ....

Stella and I had a total Hamlet moment this morning when I received an email in response to a letter I wrote to Laduree head office complaining that Stella had been asked to leave the Covent Garden branch. I pointed out to them that they had dogs in their advertisements and in Paris stores. The manager who wrote to me apologised and said that he has made it clear to staff that dogs are welcome in retail and that we could collect 8 free macaroons for our inconvenience. How totally fabulous. They even gave me the beautiful and special Tsumori Chisato box. Pity there is nothing else to complain about really ..

Juste A' Temps

Thankfully I got to Laduree in time to buy a Cassis Mont Blanc, yet another special edition cake in celebration of the companies 150th anniversary this year. This is an extraordinary cake in that it is actually black. Biscuit base, pureed chestnuts and fresh cream then a stack of bitter juicy blackcurrant's encased in a blackcurrant chocolate tower with a meringue turret. Insanely good and unless you get there today - gone. Today is the last day for this cake. No-one brings down the guillotine like the French. Tomorrow another special edition confection is launched. I am very focused on Laduree at the moment I still have not got over missing the grapefruit and vanilla macaron. You snooze you loose.

Memories Of A Short & Beautiful Life

Laduree have launched a new Cherry Blossom flavoured macaron. Cherry Blossom represents various things to various cultures. In Japan it can represent suicide and and the loss of young life in war dating back to the Samurai period in Japanese history.  Like cherry blossoms, Samurai expected to have short lives. The cherry blossom also represented drops of blood.

Nature Is Satan's Temple

A line from Antichrist -  a film which I am now obsessed with. It makes perfect sense though, the majesty and indifference of Nature. My friend says the film is all about the karmic forces within the natural world. The phrase comes to me each night as I walk through the darkened parks looking up at the moon.

Pinch Punch The First Of The Month

Woke up to sunlight this morning, Spring has arrived 20 days ahead of the Equinox. Everything changes when the sun comes out.

I had to run to Marks & Spencer to buy fruit, I had a major craving for fruit salad which is just so much better for me than my winter cravings for mash potatoes with extra butter.

Love Is Patient And Love Is Kind

Stella and I lined up outside Supreme this morning to get the one we love the Kate Moss T-Shirt.

We May All Be Lying In The Gutter

But some of us are looking at the stars.
Stella and I attended an astrology class last week and we learnt a few basics about creating and interpreting natal charts. The first bit is easy you just go to Astro.Com and type in your details then it will take you to a page and scroll down to where it says 'chart drawings' (bottom right hand of lists) The site then produces a simple chart for you and you can begin interpretation. Our teacher told us that our sun sign - your horoscope sign - is not as important as you might think. The placement of the ascendent, moon and true node are equally informative. Once you have this information  you can check this site  to find out the meaning of 'Venus in Scorpio' (you are a cunt, will be restless in love etc.) and other planetary aspects. You can also see which elements dominate your chart. For example I lack Fire and Air and am dominated by Water and Earth - Swampthing. Stella is an Aries, dominated by Fire signs but with Venus in Pisces like me.

Every Day Is Like Sunday

Woke up in shabby chic bed room by the sea.

Stella could get used to the luxury of it all.

Off to the Black Douglas for breakfast

Nice food, dogs allowed, service ....laid back??

It all arrived eventually

And anyway we were in no rush

Stupidly small slices of toast though

They were lucky we didn't go all 'Westbourne Grove' on them

We just kept eating, we have known adversity before

What are we having for lunch?

A Love Supreme

I adore that Soho is being fly posted with pictures of Kate Moss for Supreme. I like a lot of the Supreme campaigns but particularly this one. Richard always says she looks nothing like that - each shot - each frame of a video is digitally enhanced, however that is probably true of every commercial image we see. I, like millions of others remain fascinated by Kate ....

Martha Marcy May Marlene

Spring Forward Fall Backward

That's what my friend always tells me about the summer and winter changes in the time. It still baffles me though.  Anyway Stella and I have the new Laduree Spring Collection Flavours to review this afternoon. Actually Stella is not allowed in the Laduree in Covent Garden which is a bloody cheek since dogs have precedence over people in Paris (quite rightly). In the Laduree Bonparte Tea Room, last time I was there a small dog was charging about like it owned the place. In Covent Garden however 'dogs are not allowed Madame because of the food' like she is going to pole vault over the counter and get to work on cakes.

The Review
Praline - good sticky consistency - nice nutty flavour but nothing special.
Incroyable - the 150th anniversary macaron - Almonds with Meringue filling - Almond tastes really strong like Amaretto, Meringue gluey and tasteless although in fairness it always is.
Pear & Chestnut - interesting flavor - subtle at first and then stronger as you bite into the bits of pear hidden in the chestnut cream - after taste of having eaten a Danish Pastry - not a bad thing.
Black Forest Macaroon - Really thick fluffy biscuit with jammy cherry filling. Extremely rich, a Lilliputian gateau. Chocolate and Red Fruits are some of my favourite flavours so I am biased in favour of this one, its heavy and rather sickening which I love, probably better balanced with coffee rather than tea.

If I was buying my usual box of 8 macaroons for £10.50 I probably would only put the Black Forest flavour into my selection, I would not be able to stand trading, Rose, Lemon, Red Fruit, Coconut, Salted Caramel, Cassis Violette or Vanilla for anything less.