The Cheltenham ROOOOOAAAAAAARRRR

Much to my chagrin (and, as the week's dragged on, general pissed-off-itus) I haven't made it to Cheltenham races this week. And I bloody live and work in the town. Tough shout.

I've been doing my best to try and resist the pull to constantly watch the races surreptitiously at my desk, pour over the Racing Post or be bothered by the steady flow of texts asking me why I'm not in the member's bar. 

I did indulge in a little après racing last night so am feeling a little jaded today so have been day dreaming about cake. Unfortunately I have the photoshoot for Suit in the City on Monday so I'm picking Sancerre over sponge and absconding from those too.

But on a little prowl of my favourite magazine, Stylist I spotted these recipes which combines a little bit of racing with sugary sweetness.

The Chocolate Guinness Cake and Guinness Cupcakes. Mmmmm. Check out the recipes here and here. 

I'm not much of a baker (read: wouldn't know what a cake tin looked like) but I could definitely pass this recipe onto the Housemate...

Credit where credit's due: Stylist

Lightness of Being

I would much rather be doing this, than being in the office. 

Also Im suffering from severe writer's block. Although I actually read somewhere recently that there was no such thing and that you should continue writing crap for writing's sake.... which seems to be EXACTLY what I'm doing.

Credit where credit's due: Matt Jones featuring Camille Rowe for ELLE via TFS via Because Im Addicted

My Kind of Speakeasy

The Tavern in Cheltenham relaunched this weekend with one hell of a bang. The champagne never ran dry (although the tequila did...), pretty girls and boys carried baskets of deep fried shrimp almost continuously and a fantastic band spoilt us with two sets. 

Before I wax lyrical about how much I loved the Tavern, please check out said band, DUKE. They are insane and really deserve a post to themselves, but to whet your palette check them out here. 

Anyway, the Tavern is a gorgeous mix of exposed brick work, industrial lighting, old school chairs (which have fortunately been sanded down so no danger of splinters-in-the-bum. Which would be a little too old school) and quirky touches. Quirky touches as in Winston Churchill's 'Fight them on the Beaches' speech booming out in the bathrooms – mostly funny, but I never knew I could find going to the loo intimidating – and stunning handmade wallpaper 

by Yawn Creative. It's like something out of the East Village in New York – in fact they sent the manager out to the big Apple to garner some inspiration and he clearly came back with it stuffed into his suitcase.

The launch party itself was fantastic (sorry I had drinks in one hand and then seemed to be perpetually hugging someone so no piccies I'm afraid. But then it was such a good party that really footage shouldn't be allowed. It's like that phrase, if you can remember the 60s...). But I did return the next day for a late lunch just to MAKE SURE that I had really liked it! I tucked into yummy crisp and light squid and rosemary and garlic fries but the others had delicious smelling plates of Sunday roast lamb followed by blue cheese crumbled over sharp chicory and seriously naughty puddings like doughnut sticks with dipping chocolate. Super hangover food. 

I'm going again on Thursday - obviously just to make triply sure that it's my new favourite place...

The inspiration

Even the menus are smart!

Credit where credit's due: Me and them, The Tavern – check out their Facebook page here

'Cos I Cannes

 I enjoyed the pleasure of the 3 Day Working Week when I jetted off to Cannes for two days last week. This whole experience was so far away removed from my normal trudge that I had to pinch myself. I didn't wake up, it was real and now all I have to show for it are some particularly vicious looking bruises. 

The trip to the Riviera was in aid of the launch party for a friend's commercial property company, Silvertown Properties at MIPIM, an annual trade show and networking event for International property big wigs. Take a closer look at one of Silvertown's current projects in Clerkenwell, London here to get a picture of this brilliant company headed up by JP Ledwidge and his 'right hand man' Olivia Hutchinson. Did you clock that? Right Hand Man, NOT Assistant. 

I had to get up at some ungodly hour on the Thursday to catch my flight – 4am is when you come in, not when you get up – but it did mean that we had the entire day to enjoy the sunshine and general swank-dom of Cannes. In the taxi, dropping down into the harbour, my first impression was a sea of suits – MIPIM seems to be mainly men in exceptionally well cut blazers, drinking Sancerre and discussing figures. But as there are literally NO women in attendance, the figures we're talking are genuinely numbers. 

We were staying at party HQ on the 105ft yacht, Attimo, which was stunning. She's definitely on my Wish List – take a look at her here.
I was mainly in attendance to act as paparazzi to the party attendees but fortunately this meant if the camera wasn't in my hand, then a champagne flute was. Naturally because we all had enough bubbles to float Attimo, once we'd devoured all the delicious canapés and cocktails and talked shop, we went dancing. I have to say Cannes was treated to some excellent moves. 
Fortunately, the next morning, any hangover was chased away by going off for a sail. Could very easily have donned my eye patch and cutlass and tacked off into the sunset.

The Morning After: The girls still looking glamorous – and one of several
bottles of Evian that we went through that morning...

The Boss

Credit where credit's due: Me – the borrowed iPhone and my point 'n' shoot camera. I'm saving for a rad SLR so if anyone has any tips about models/makes etc please let me know!

Music is Good for the Soul

Saw the brilliant Band of Skulls in Oxford this week - not sure about the name guys, but you were brilliant. They recently supported The Black Keys and I'd heard rave reviews so felt very fortunate that they ventured out to The Sticks and the Spires of university city. 

Matthew Hayward, Russell Marsden and Emma Richardson are a fantastic trio from Southampton who have spent three years of nigh on constant touring to hone their great sound. 

After a very busy week of interviews and deadlines with the several magazines which are on the go at the moment, jumping up and down to heavy and dirty riffs was a perfect antidote to the 9 to 5.

A very sweaty me and The Housemate

Hate to sound like a groupie, but literally nothing cooler than this girl on the bass.

The Devil Takes Care of His Own. HELL YES

Check out their website here and more importantly buy their album Sweet Sour. 

Credit where credit's due: A couple are mine but mostly The Housemate's pics as she has the joys of an iPhone. Check out her Facebook page

When I grow up...

...I want to look like Katy Perry. 

Russell you dipped out here, boy.

Credit where credit's due: Interview

36-28-32

Today I had my fitting for Cotswold Style's April fashion feature - cue lots of breathing in and wishing I'd worked a little harder in Legs, Bums and Tums and Yoga the night before. As a monthly columnist (FYI it's called Glosse Posse Spy, please check it out) for the magazine, I've been invited to be in the shoot for the launch of an exciting bespoke tailor.

Suit the City is an exclusive bespoke service to ensure you have super, city slicker savvy suits for the boardroom and which you can rock with your 7 for All Mankind jeans during your downtime. Excitingly, they're launching a Suit the Country range and as of the 1st of April they're taking their sharp tailoring know-how to tweeds. 

Today I was measured up for a waistcoat and skirt combination so I'm actually going to be quite well turned out for racing in the next few months. The shoot is in a couple of weeks so will keep you informed.

In the meantime it will be several more Legs Bums and Tums classes for me so I don't show several double chins in the shoot. And lunge.

Credit where credit's due: Suit the City