Go Hard & Never Go Home

So it's the not-so-big Two Six in a couple of weeks so I am mid-organising The Party. Really it's an excuse to get everyone together - and to cause a bit of a spectacle. So I have the most beautiful venue, a stunning burlesque girl called Giddy Heights ("I just need space to swing an ostrich feather") and party bags that would make Madonna blush. It's a little bit F.Scott Fitzgerald's the Beautiful and Damned, a little Studio 54, a little The Stones at Villa Nelcote. 

Salud, here's to a fantastic evening with truly fantastic friends. Guys, I can't wait to see you all. X

 

Credit where credit's due: Fashion Gone Rogue, Let Them Eat Kate, Tumblr, They All Hate Us

Making Tracks

"I have a chameleon soul.....I am fucking crazy, but I am free..."

Perfection.

Skyfall

"What do you say about a man like that?"

So "the best Bond yet" premiered at the Albert Hall tonight – which one of you lucky bastards were there to see it first? 

Having a quick scrawl through the images, I have to say I think the guys won the style sweep stakes. Daniel Craig's dinner jacket was sublime and Aaron Taylor-Johnson had the whole staring-down-a-lense-setting-your-underwear-alight look down to a T. Naomie Harris and Berenice Marlohoe were true Bond girls – Camilla Parker-Bowles not so much. CanNOT wait to see this movie. In fact I'm  owed a cinema trip from someone. I think it's time to collect.

Credit where credit's due: Here

Frankel Fever

"The Wonder Horse." Worth a "conservative £100million." 

"The greatest racehorse of our time." 

These are all epithets attributed to Frankel, the Sir Henry Cecil trained, Prince Khalid Abdulla owned thoroughbred which today will pace into the paddock at Ascot to attempt his 14th win in 14 starts. 

Even if horse racing isn't your thing, today sporting history is being written. This Saturday is also momentous as it may be the last time this Bucephalus of the modern age will race in front of a crowd of expectant punters. Tune in to BBC1 at 4.05 to have a heart-in-your-mouth, edge-of-your-seat moment. 

Credit where credit's due: Here & there

I have a Pacha for Ibiza

"People will stare – make it worth their while."

There are pinch-me moments in life and my holiday in Ibiza was one of those. Fabulous people in a fabulous location. I really am one very, very lucky girl. 

Thank you guys for the almighty pick-me-up.

Starting off on Dire Air, buying coffee and Jack Daniels, raising our eyebrows and having the first backgammon lessons. Leaving the cold and rain behind and arriving to sunshine and the world's most beautiful villa. Embarking on the weekend shop and filling five trollies with enough good, bad and bbbbaaaadddd rosé to fill... our fridge. Hearing about Kenny Powers for the first time ("See, in life, when you have talent all the other shit doesn't matter.") 

Welcoming the second wave of people, cracking open the rosé, unleashing the dares and turning the music UP. Cushions for modesty. Falling over and gaining serious bruises. Recovery games of backgammon. Long lunches washed down with more rosé at Es Xarco. Third wave of people and making new gorgeous friends. Meet and greet over too many Marlboro Lights ($5 a pack) and San Miguel beers. "Oh do come on." Starting the bbq and being delayed by a cigarette run and a karaoke sing song. Parties in the pool house. Swimming in heels whilst the sky is afire with lighting. Squashed into the back of hire cars, getting dead legs, dead bottoms and working up a thirst. Pacha and dancing by yourself. Xarco liquid lunch number two, tasting the local hierbas liquor. Laughing. A lot.  Being introduced to Chimpanzee Riding a Segway (You Tube it.) 

Going backless and painting on the glitter for a night at Lio. Getting blown away by the sexiest cabaret and the legs of the waitresses. Seeing some great friends put on a routine to rival the floorshow. Tasting the most delectable lobster. Watching Big Brown Bear really enjoy his massage and Nacho Libre not utter a word. Getting told off by waitresses. Discovering how gorgeous vodka and strawberries are. Dancing in masks. Fresh air. Meeting a hot blonde and the not-so-hot-definitely-a-man friend. Hitting KM5. Stroking a super beard. Leaping over fences in stilettos and getting drenched in the rain. After party number two. Chilling in the sunshine, swimming in the pool. Cuddles. Emotional goodbyes. Watching friends do a 10 point turn to negotiate a corner in the hire car. Falling in love with the white linen beauty of El Chiringuito and enjoying the tunes on the sand. Not enjoying the nudists quite so much. Choosing white sofas over go karting. Doing the corner in the Panda in one. Yes, in one. Rockstar farewells at Ibiza airport to more departing friends. Discovering great music in an understated bar in Ibiza old town. Dancing like a fiend. Knowing who your friends are when they prevent a bar dweller resembling Jimmy Savile filming your salsa moves. Hugging old men called Eric. Feeding the pony. Cheering every time our sober driver negotiated a roundabout, turn or signal during the drive home. Powering up some Adele for a final house party. Mishearing "Text Me." Waking up to beautiful sunshine and ensuring maximum tanning time. Deciding on one last lunch at Es Torrent. Experiencing a wallet-ectomy. Packing and the general gloom of going home. Lots of hugs, promises and maybe a few tears. 

Ibiza, you totally broke my heart. XxX

Credit where credit's due: Me, various friends cameras & Tumblr

The Fringe

I was in dire need of a haircut. Not because of vanity, not due to a big event, but because I physically couldn't see out from underneath my fringe. I was a danger to my fellow man because I was bangs-blind.

So I trotted along a leafy lane in Pittville, Cheltenham to see Luke Reynolds an editorial and fashion hair stylist who's left The Big Smoke to give us country ladies the blow dries we didn't even know we'd been missing..... 

Luke opened up shop in  April and has been feverishly working on beautiful sexy hair for the country residents as well as disappearing to London to work on shoots for Marie Claire and nipping over to Paris Fashion Week for the Kenzo and Dior male runway shows.

His salon is airy with lofty ceilings and regency style massage chairs and pretty Saturday girls bringing you coffee. Luke clearly knows his craft and takes you through the process whilst imparting handy tips for you to take home. (As I'm more of a blast-the-barnet-with-the-hairdryer kinda gal, I could really do with all the help I can get).

Result? Super sexy, Daisy Lowe-esque hair. AND I can see. It's a Luke Reynolds type miracle.

Check out the website and follow him on Twitter @LukeReynoldsLDN

Hey Babe, Take a Walk on the Wild Side

Hedi Slimane's Saint Laurent collection showed the coolest of cool girls. Cigerette pants, stilettos, wide brim hats and such attitude – a little bit Lou Dhillon, a little bit Katherine Hepburn, a little bit Anita Pallenberg. More than a little bit want the entire show in my wardrobe. Now. 

Credit where credit's due: Studded Hearts