Leo was up bright and early this morning tinkling the ivories.
"Makes a nice change from the traditional meditation, Peaches!"
This morning's rendition was the Floral Dance; fluid notes danced up the stairs reminding me of the ribbon-tangled scene at the harvest supper. Our generation certainly lacked the agility of the primary school dancers. Imagine my surprise when the radio announced that Sir Terry Wogan had slipped away. I know that Leo's on the pulse but is he now a fully fledged Medium and channeling the velvet-toned Irish icon?
This January seems to be acting like a portal for the great and good. Hardly a day passes without news of another departure through the pearly gates, St Peter checking the boarding passes and allocating seats for the next act. Frankly, I'm exhausted with the emotional roller coaster, memories summoned like songs on a juke box and then hijacking my time at will. I'll have to call Cameron, health guru, for some tips on grounding...
How strange, Lola is being unusually silent this morning, not the ping of a text in sight. Ahh, Sir Terry may not be her generation but he is Irish, so she'll be mourning!
Sunday, 31 January 2016
Tuesday, 26 January 2016
The Entrepreneurial Spark
Huge announcement from Foxglove Falls:
"Scarlett, our resident Student in Crises, has had a rebirth! With immediate effect she is: Scarlett, Entrepreneurial Spark!"
Yes, Scarlett is now formally a member of the workforce. Suited and booted she's joined the creative community at 'Entrepreneurial Spark,' a space where the next generation can pool their skills and enthusiastically harness the creative wave... Sixty start up companies working alongside each other, looking for ways to make a contribution. What a fabulous idea. To be honest, I'm a jot envious of the hot-desking and cafe based approach to work. It takes the notion of an Artist's date to a whole new level... Count me in, I'm putting it on the agenda for our next board meeting.
"Scarlett, our resident Student in Crises, has had a rebirth! With immediate effect she is: Scarlett, Entrepreneurial Spark!"
Yes, Scarlett is now formally a member of the workforce. Suited and booted she's joined the creative community at 'Entrepreneurial Spark,' a space where the next generation can pool their skills and enthusiastically harness the creative wave... Sixty start up companies working alongside each other, looking for ways to make a contribution. What a fabulous idea. To be honest, I'm a jot envious of the hot-desking and cafe based approach to work. It takes the notion of an Artist's date to a whole new level... Count me in, I'm putting it on the agenda for our next board meeting.
Monday, 25 January 2016
Stars in the Sky
Pavlova, CEO of Riverside Rest pinged an email over this morning:
" Peaches Darling,
Mercury, Saturn, Venus, Mars and Jupiter will be lined up, on parade and visible pre-dawn..."
Pre-dawn! Crikey is no time sacred? I'll have to confess to Pav that a private view from Foxglove Falls is highly unlikely.
Sounds to me like Starman is setting yet another trend up there in the heavens. Not only does he now have his own constellation, it seems that he's initiating a generational exodus of stars: Glen Fry, Ed Stewpot Stewart - the list seems endless.
I was 'Truly, Madly, Deeply' in shock at the passing of Alan Rickman. Slumped in the chaise listening to Savage Garden, mop in hand, I remembered how Alan melted my heart. And his loathsome Severus Snape, well just magnificent! At that moment, Leo walked over to the sink and started filling the kettle.
"Did you know that Alan Rickman met his life-long partner when he was just 19?" I asked him, breaking momentarily from the front page of the newspaper.
"Is there any reason why he didn't marry her earlier," Leo cross examined. I babbled on for a mo...
"A simple, yes, or, no, will suffice Peaches. Instead of answering a simple question, you leap to the defence of Alan Rickman. You wouldn't have been quite so pleased if I hadn't asked you to marry me, early on in our relationship."
As usual, Leo had cut straight to the chase. Teetering on the brink of an opinion, on the genius of the Eagles musically recording their demise for posterity in Hotel California, I made an executive decision and held my tongue. That's one for the next board meeting with Lola I thought... until...
"Darling Peaches, it must be a generational thing, I just don't get Hotel California," she laughed. "What is it with you and Juan? Before I know it you'll be claiming that you love the Beatles. On that one I must insist that you do stick to your principles.'
Lola considered that Juan, a private detective, and I were both afflicted with terrible taste when it came to films and music.
" Now had it been Howard Jones, Nick Kershaw, Gary Newman or Adam Ant - I would be prostrate with grief! Oh the times that I tippexed a white stipe across my nose before venturing into Town on a Saturday..." Of course, Lola was born a trend setter with an eye for cool!
" Peaches Darling,
Mercury, Saturn, Venus, Mars and Jupiter will be lined up, on parade and visible pre-dawn..."
Pre-dawn! Crikey is no time sacred? I'll have to confess to Pav that a private view from Foxglove Falls is highly unlikely.
Sounds to me like Starman is setting yet another trend up there in the heavens. Not only does he now have his own constellation, it seems that he's initiating a generational exodus of stars: Glen Fry, Ed Stewpot Stewart - the list seems endless.
I was 'Truly, Madly, Deeply' in shock at the passing of Alan Rickman. Slumped in the chaise listening to Savage Garden, mop in hand, I remembered how Alan melted my heart. And his loathsome Severus Snape, well just magnificent! At that moment, Leo walked over to the sink and started filling the kettle.
"Did you know that Alan Rickman met his life-long partner when he was just 19?" I asked him, breaking momentarily from the front page of the newspaper.
"Is there any reason why he didn't marry her earlier," Leo cross examined. I babbled on for a mo...
"A simple, yes, or, no, will suffice Peaches. Instead of answering a simple question, you leap to the defence of Alan Rickman. You wouldn't have been quite so pleased if I hadn't asked you to marry me, early on in our relationship."
As usual, Leo had cut straight to the chase. Teetering on the brink of an opinion, on the genius of the Eagles musically recording their demise for posterity in Hotel California, I made an executive decision and held my tongue. That's one for the next board meeting with Lola I thought... until...
"Darling Peaches, it must be a generational thing, I just don't get Hotel California," she laughed. "What is it with you and Juan? Before I know it you'll be claiming that you love the Beatles. On that one I must insist that you do stick to your principles.'
Lola considered that Juan, a private detective, and I were both afflicted with terrible taste when it came to films and music.
" Now had it been Howard Jones, Nick Kershaw, Gary Newman or Adam Ant - I would be prostrate with grief! Oh the times that I tippexed a white stipe across my nose before venturing into Town on a Saturday..." Of course, Lola was born a trend setter with an eye for cool!
Wednesday, 20 January 2016
Releasing the Inner Dragon
'Peaches, what's this you've been ordering from Amazon?' An imperious brow hovers above Leo's half moon specs.
Kon Marie's sage advice: 'Remember for every new book, an existing book must go,' returns to haunt me. Oh how I rue the day that I shared this little gem with Leo, librarian extraordinaire!
Today's delivery, 'How to Release your Inner Dragon,' has arrived just in the nick of time. Following last night's impressive back flip manoeuvre with the casserole dish, jettisoning the moussaka into the bin at high speed, I'm all too aware that my Inner Dragon is fiery!
Just as I was serving supper, an unsolicited call to Foxy's mobile erased all trace of her, usually voracious, appetite. My lightening response to the words, 'I'm not hungry,' was a pure reflex. Regardless of the fact that I'm currently Superjuicing with the Juice Master, I had devoted my whole afternoon to preparing a moorish moussaka for Leo and Foxy, the current residents at 'Peaches B&B.'
Mon Dieu, the out fall may well require intervention from the United Nations! Failing that, vigorous study of 'How to Release your Inner Dragon.'
I'll save the debate on the perils of mobile phones and family life for another rant.
Kon Marie's sage advice: 'Remember for every new book, an existing book must go,' returns to haunt me. Oh how I rue the day that I shared this little gem with Leo, librarian extraordinaire!
Today's delivery, 'How to Release your Inner Dragon,' has arrived just in the nick of time. Following last night's impressive back flip manoeuvre with the casserole dish, jettisoning the moussaka into the bin at high speed, I'm all too aware that my Inner Dragon is fiery!
Just as I was serving supper, an unsolicited call to Foxy's mobile erased all trace of her, usually voracious, appetite. My lightening response to the words, 'I'm not hungry,' was a pure reflex. Regardless of the fact that I'm currently Superjuicing with the Juice Master, I had devoted my whole afternoon to preparing a moorish moussaka for Leo and Foxy, the current residents at 'Peaches B&B.'
Mon Dieu, the out fall may well require intervention from the United Nations! Failing that, vigorous study of 'How to Release your Inner Dragon.'
I'll save the debate on the perils of mobile phones and family life for another rant.
All Aboard... And Best Laid Plans
Studious Scarlett's focus and determination has landed her an internship, a cause for celebration!
Olivia, called last night to confirm that their estate would not be packed to the gunnels, including the kitchen sink, when she lands at Foxglove Falls on Sunday. An audible sigh of relief rippled danced on my lips on receiving this news. How could I have reconciled myself with Kon Marie, the guru of tidying, my new year's turn-to expert?
Scarlett's imminent arrival has filled the house with joyous expectation as a new chapter begins... Leo has a spring in his step, having now moved into his new home-office. As we all know, I designed this glorious space for my own admin duties last autumn. My plan was to move in post christmas festivities. However, no sooner than the lovely corner desk had arrived, Leo announced, that with immediate effect, he would be working from home several mornings a week.
"It will be a 5am start for us Peaches," Leo decreed, "followed by some stretching and meditation before switching on the computer at 7 sharp!"
So for now, the printer and I are back at the kitchen table...
Olivia, called last night to confirm that their estate would not be packed to the gunnels, including the kitchen sink, when she lands at Foxglove Falls on Sunday. An audible sigh of relief rippled danced on my lips on receiving this news. How could I have reconciled myself with Kon Marie, the guru of tidying, my new year's turn-to expert?
Scarlett's imminent arrival has filled the house with joyous expectation as a new chapter begins... Leo has a spring in his step, having now moved into his new home-office. As we all know, I designed this glorious space for my own admin duties last autumn. My plan was to move in post christmas festivities. However, no sooner than the lovely corner desk had arrived, Leo announced, that with immediate effect, he would be working from home several mornings a week.
"It will be a 5am start for us Peaches," Leo decreed, "followed by some stretching and meditation before switching on the computer at 7 sharp!"
So for now, the printer and I are back at the kitchen table...
Saturday, 16 January 2016
Dr Seuss The Lorax
Alice Angel, our arts and city correspondent, loved 'Dr Seuss The Lorax' at The Old Vic this week.
"Brilliant with lots of puppetry!" she reports.
What a great start to 2016, full immersion into the fantabulous world of 'Dr Seuss'.
Oh, to have been there to share this magic with Alice, awash with childhood memories of 'The Cat in The Hat' and other creations... the timeless Dr's brilliant imagination now touching younger generations. Her theatrical grandmother, Milly, will be celebrating in heaven with her angel friends. Without doubt they accompanied Alice in spirit. I can hear her now discussing the show with her life-long theatre-buddy, Ivy Rose, 'marvellous production darling, simply marvellous.'
Milly's infectious curiosity, energy and imagination are her enduring legacy. Through Alice and Scarlett, the legend that was Milly lives on. How lucky we are that her unique brand of magic and sparkle has touched our lives.
"Brilliant with lots of puppetry!" she reports.
What a great start to 2016, full immersion into the fantabulous world of 'Dr Seuss'.
Oh, to have been there to share this magic with Alice, awash with childhood memories of 'The Cat in The Hat' and other creations... the timeless Dr's brilliant imagination now touching younger generations. Her theatrical grandmother, Milly, will be celebrating in heaven with her angel friends. Without doubt they accompanied Alice in spirit. I can hear her now discussing the show with her life-long theatre-buddy, Ivy Rose, 'marvellous production darling, simply marvellous.'
Milly's infectious curiosity, energy and imagination are her enduring legacy. Through Alice and Scarlett, the legend that was Milly lives on. How lucky we are that her unique brand of magic and sparkle has touched our lives.
Thursday, 14 January 2016
Stamen - Tracks of our Years...
"That's strange, Peaches,' announced Leo, emerging from the shower in a shroud of steam. 'That's the second Bowie song they've played in the last twenty minutes." As ever, Leo was right on the pulse. The radio responded immediately, which I'm sure will come as no surprise! A shocked DJ confirmed that the iconic Star Man had indeed left us to take his place in the heavens, just two days after his sixty-ninth birthday. His departure a skilfully crafted work of art, the finale marked by his last album: 'Black Star'.
For the creative rebels among us he was a genius, the man who defined re-invention and made it cool to be creative; a little different... Memories of poignant moments like; receiving 'Rock and Roll Suicide' on vinyl for my birthday, a gift from the avant-gard leader of our teenage pack. Then learning the lyrics whilst dancing with abandon in new plastic, pink and white platform shoes from the Freemans catalogue. Milly would have paid weekly for those shoes, with her earnings from stacking shelves in Tesco's, while we were slept to the tunes of Radio Luxembourg!
'Wild is the Wind,' is the haunting soundtrack to my failed rebellion against Leo's insistence that we walk the 'Camino de Santiago'. Manicured toenails giving up the ghost in the trudge across the Pyrenees from St Jean to Roncesvalles. Crossing the bleak barbed wire border, David understood the raw challenge of being alone in a hostile environment... 'What's the point of all that buffing?' I had cried in desperation.
Ziggy, Aladdin Sane, Star Man and so many more; for generations of aspiring artists Bowie will always be a Hero. Enigmatic, the Brixton Boy exuded star quality. A dignified, private, talented man, his legend is only just beginning. Thank you, David, you will always be a bright star and now you can view us through the eyes of Major Tom.
For the creative rebels among us he was a genius, the man who defined re-invention and made it cool to be creative; a little different... Memories of poignant moments like; receiving 'Rock and Roll Suicide' on vinyl for my birthday, a gift from the avant-gard leader of our teenage pack. Then learning the lyrics whilst dancing with abandon in new plastic, pink and white platform shoes from the Freemans catalogue. Milly would have paid weekly for those shoes, with her earnings from stacking shelves in Tesco's, while we were slept to the tunes of Radio Luxembourg!
'Wild is the Wind,' is the haunting soundtrack to my failed rebellion against Leo's insistence that we walk the 'Camino de Santiago'. Manicured toenails giving up the ghost in the trudge across the Pyrenees from St Jean to Roncesvalles. Crossing the bleak barbed wire border, David understood the raw challenge of being alone in a hostile environment... 'What's the point of all that buffing?' I had cried in desperation.
Ziggy, Aladdin Sane, Star Man and so many more; for generations of aspiring artists Bowie will always be a Hero. Enigmatic, the Brixton Boy exuded star quality. A dignified, private, talented man, his legend is only just beginning. Thank you, David, you will always be a bright star and now you can view us through the eyes of Major Tom.
Sunday, 10 January 2016
Annual Juice Fest
The email is buzzing this morning, rainbow coloured recipes flooding the airwaves and seducing the senses. Cameron is our go-to health correspondent, resident on the pulse advisor for all things green and gorgeous... An effervescent Gemini, she's our Peter Pan and guru in times of prolonged sloth. Tomorrow is the start of the first 'Juice Challenge' 2016 and we are all gearing up for the 'off'. Formula one at its best...
Leo eyed his green glass with suspicion this morning, then declared it, 'delicious, quite simply delicious', before resuming his spotify-search for a suitable chant and assuming his latest Assana position. Hugo, Leo Senior, who's staying for some quality father/son time, looks bewildered, probably wondering whether he has bypassed waking up and is dreaming of life on Mars. Or maybe this what all those virtuous souls at N.I.C.E are fussing about; the hallucinogenic effects of a couple of glasses of Chateauneuf-du-Pape with dinner?
As Leo emerges from a metrosexual hug, Hugo asks:
'So Sunshine, where have you been on your magic carpet his morning ?'
Leo eyed his green glass with suspicion this morning, then declared it, 'delicious, quite simply delicious', before resuming his spotify-search for a suitable chant and assuming his latest Assana position. Hugo, Leo Senior, who's staying for some quality father/son time, looks bewildered, probably wondering whether he has bypassed waking up and is dreaming of life on Mars. Or maybe this what all those virtuous souls at N.I.C.E are fussing about; the hallucinogenic effects of a couple of glasses of Chateauneuf-du-Pape with dinner?
As Leo emerges from a metrosexual hug, Hugo asks:
'So Sunshine, where have you been on your magic carpet his morning ?'
Thursday, 7 January 2016
The Unexpected
Well, with Christmas finally over and Leo back at the helm of 'Golden Balls', I had been looking forward a little down time, obviously suffering from post performance delirium! Cue the new influx of homeless seeking respite at the inn...
First to check in is Leo Senior, here for a few days to see Leo who, of course, is far to busy to spare a mo.
"Peaches, Dad's arriving Friday afternoon..." Leo announced airily in his annual morning fly-past in the drive.
Panic call to Lola ensues, cancelling all carefully laid plans - I have to say that Lola was a picture of grace and generosity as she received the news, such a pro and a vital quality in one's BFF.
Then, as I carefully dismantled the pretty pine Christmas Tree, who faithfully refused drop her pins throughout the festive season, the phone rings. Ahh it's Scarlett, resident 'Student in Crisis', announcing her imminent arrival for a series of interviews that will require my full attention this evening and donning my chauffeur's hat for the day tomorrow. Tout ca Change!
First to check in is Leo Senior, here for a few days to see Leo who, of course, is far to busy to spare a mo.
"Peaches, Dad's arriving Friday afternoon..." Leo announced airily in his annual morning fly-past in the drive.
Panic call to Lola ensues, cancelling all carefully laid plans - I have to say that Lola was a picture of grace and generosity as she received the news, such a pro and a vital quality in one's BFF.
Then, as I carefully dismantled the pretty pine Christmas Tree, who faithfully refused drop her pins throughout the festive season, the phone rings. Ahh it's Scarlett, resident 'Student in Crisis', announcing her imminent arrival for a series of interviews that will require my full attention this evening and donning my chauffeur's hat for the day tomorrow. Tout ca Change!
Monday, 4 January 2016
NewYear - New Beginnings
Christmas has never been in Leo's top ten favourite events, his annual morph into 'The Grinch' every December is seamless.
Thank goodness for Olivia, always on hand with her New Year's guide to 'must have products', guaranteed to restore radiance and sanity in the wake challenging times...
Thank goodness for Olivia, always on hand with her New Year's guide to 'must have products', guaranteed to restore radiance and sanity in the wake challenging times...
Welcome to Origins, 'Drink Up Intensive Overnight Mask'; a magic elixir for every exhausted Christmas fairy. Yes, whilst Leo and his pals may be going 'Dry' for January, in a bid to restore liver function, I am on board with Olivia, partaking daily in nature's most nourishing nightcap to quench my skin's thirst. A rather lovely New Years resolution to lift weary spirits!
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