Alf

Ever tried to get a Taxi in Cornwall? It's hard!

I was down the West Coast continuing my trend research for SS11...Why Cornwall I hear you cry? Admittedly not really a fashion capital as such, but it's by the coast and the boats are pretty - enough reason for me.

On the second day we got the ferry over to Rock (the Island is called that). FYI don't ask the little fisherman ferry driver guy for "a receipt for expenses" - it's frowned upon and the locals laugh.

Upon getting to Rock, we realised there was very little there and tried to call a taxi to escape. "Ocean Taxis", had one taxi which was busy for the next three hours and the "Luxury Taxi firm " had two phone numbers both of which went through to an answer phone repeatedly...stranded. We asked in the lone cafe for another number, we were introduced to "Alf", he was supposedly really nice and we should give him a call...I did.

Alf was also not available for the next few hours either, BUT could pick us up from our hotel later, swing past picturesque Port Issac and take us to the railway station - perfect...Alf to the rescue!

Alf picked us up from the Hotel and drove us the 40 minute journey to Port Issac, where we wanted to take some more photos. We only needed an hour and so he said he'd wait for us and pick us up at quarter past four, bags were heavy so we asked if we could leave them in his car, he said that was fine..."See ya Alf! See you in an hour!"

WHAT?!?!?!?! Yes you read right, we actually did it...Why would we leave all our possessions in a stranger's car? Why would I go back and put my coat in there as well? Why did we think this man who we had met 40 minutes earlier would not steal our stuff? My BlackBerry with his number was in the car, in fact in the car I had left the following...

• New Burberry Bag
• Personal BlackBerry
• Work BlackBerry
• Clothes
• Shoes
• Wallet with cash, bank cards, company card.
• Train Tickets
• Oyster Card
• Door Keys
• Passport
• Work Pass
• Coat

Seriously, why didn't I just phone him up and let him know my PIN number and blood type? Oh yes, couldn't, he had my bloody phone!

For that last hour, needless to say, I was panicking slightly. Sure I wanted to relax take in the last few beautiful sights of the coastline (and it was beautiful) but wasn't really in the mood - how would I explain this to work, how would I explain that the three of us had basically handed over everything to a complete stranger and all we knew was his name was "Alf"?

Luckily for us Alf made a re-appearance and even joked when we got to the station and he handed us our stuff..."oh good, you're stuffs still here"...queue nervous laughter.

What have I learnt? Well, just because I'm out of London and I'm enjoying the countryside does NOT mean I should trust random old men...oh and I need to pack less.

Love Handles.

Shit, I have love handles, yes plural.

Slight podge was OK, well it wasn't OK, but I was on my way to sorting it out. I've reduced my carb intake, well over the last few days anyway, I'm doing sit-ups daily, OK, not done them for the last few weeks but at least I'm thinking about it.

Was just relaxing at home as one does on these Easter weekends, putting on some lounge trousers (I hate calling them that) was just doing them up when I saw it, two nasty love handles hanging over the edge. "Love handles" indeed...why call them that? There's nothing lovely about them! Hate Handles is far more in-keeping. "Muffin top" - not much better, but at least the title gives you a sign as to how you got them!

I'm now going to Plan B...No Carbs at all (after pasta tonight) and only fruit as snacks.

I am going on a beach holiday with the gays soon and there is no way that I want to look like the ugly, fat one that the other two invited along out of sympathy.

How many days do I have anyway? SHIT! 10 days!! 10 frigin days! That's just over a week, just short of two...right, I am going to only eat salads, no I'm not going to eat anything.

Desperate times and all that! Wish me luck, fat fingers crossed!

I left my heart in San Francisco

Just waiting for my flight to leave San Francisco for London.

I've been here for the week with work researching possible trend ideas for Spring/Summer 11, also hitting the shops buying American brands that are a lot cheaper in the States than in London.

It's my first time in the city, in fact it's my first time on the West Coast. Luckily my directors and designer had been before so they knew the good places to go and we could make the most of a relatively short visit.

The best way to describe it I think is as "a sunnier and friendlier New York".

And sunny it was! We've had some brilliant weather, I didnt crack out the shorts, it would be wrong to inflict that on the city, but it really has been beautiful. Saying that it did rain once, the day we rented a car and left the city, heading for the Napa Valley, the key wine growing region of California. You know the saying whilst in Rome? Well whilst in the Napa Valley, the done thing is to wine taste. So we did. We only stopped at one vineyard (we were working!) it was called the Jumping Stag or something? Well it was my first time tasting. I wasn't very good, upon reading the descriptions I pretended a little bit that I tasted some of the "pastry" flavours (!?!)...I wouldn't want people thinking I didnt have a sophisticated pallette would I?

On any work trip there are long days but on this trip I was lucky to get to see a bit of the city as well, I visited the Castro area (big historic gay liberation area - just watch Milk), went up the Coit tower and got an amazing view of the city, visited the Ferry Building and of course drove over the Golden Gate Bridge - here have a look see:









If you look past the mental people (there are ALOT) and the homeless, San Francisco is an amazing city and I would certainly recommend a visit, I'd love to come back, perhaps go to a few beaches, maybe learn to surf, maybe not..ooooh better get going to my gate!

See you on the other side!

I have!!!

"I want" , I have...mmmm Big oversized Bag.

Twitter : When Celebs say too much!

linsaylohan: my father is a liar, and whatever new weekly magazine is, is all false!

Starbucks Review No.10 : Oxford Street W1C

It would appear I've neglected the reviews for a while, in fact this is my first one of 2010!

I've actually ramped up my visits and am now visiting the "Bucks" everyday (sometimes twice) Yup that's right, minor obsession going on here but lets gloss over that, me? denial?

Back to my review...



I had to pop into the West End yesterday to do a bit of shopping en route to Chelmsford. Popped in for my Venti Skinny Vanilla Latte (yes skinny, remember it's the new me!) As soon as I stepped in my last visit came flooding back...abort abort!

It was manic, OK it's opposite Selfridges which automatically makes it a tourist hot-spot but this was REALLY manic, but un-necessarily so. Queued up, nothing strange so far but then I was met with a wall of about 8 Baristas, placed my order with one guy who yelled it down the other end to a mass of people scurrying around and clearly not listening. Queued a bit more until I was barked at to come up to the till, yes, friendly, had to repeat my order again. Still in line, queue screaming kids running round my legs and a policeman moaning about how tired he is (join the frigin' club!), all of a sudden, we all get barked at again, "It's busy in here, can you all move down!?" erm where to?

Approaching the bar, mmmmm coffee goodness, had to repeat my order again, it's just a mass of cups and people wondering where their drinks are...I couldn't get out of that place fast enough! Cup in hand, I make my escape.

I wondered if they were trying to add theatre by creating an environment of pressure, so American, so Metropolitan...that's what it'll be! They were trying to recreate the tension of a McDonalds, after all they are supposedly in competition in the states.

Needless to say, I reward this Starbucks 1 mocha out of 10.

Video WOW of the week!

It's Chezza singing about a Parachute, can't get this song out of my head at the moment, don't know why...perhaps I can beat it out?