Review: Harry Potter Studio Tour

Are you suffering from Potter-stalgia?

It seems for a lot of people life after Harry Potter doesn't quite have that magic anymore.  For those living in London however HP lives on. Warner Bros has redeveloped the film studios where the series was filmed into a proper studio tour for muggles. Situated just outside London in Leavesden, be prepared to be wowed by the amazing detail of the sets, the costumes and a bit of wizardry. Click here to read the full article.

Interview: Nick D'Aloisio - App Whizkid

Nick D'Aloisio is 16 years old, attends King's College in Wimbledon and whilst revising for a history exam came up with the idea to write an App called 'Summly' that can summarise text and web page searches.

I'm sure we've read about a handful of techy whizkids over time but Nick D'Aloisio is so more than just a whizkid. He happens to be frightfully nice, modest and well-mannered. For my interview click here. I hope to hear or read more about him in the not so distant future.

Interview: Axel Scheffler - The Gruffalo

Why didn't you know - there's no such thing as a Gruffalo. That doesn't mean it doesn't exist in my home, afterall I can almost recite the entire story by heart given the number of times I've read it to my children.  The much loved Gruffalo is written by Julia Donaldson and illustrated by Axel Scheffler. I didn't quite get to meet the Gruffalo but I did get to chat with Axel. To read my interview, click here

The stage adaption of the Gruffalo will be playing at the Rose Theatre in Wimbledon from 15 - 18 February.

Opinion: Choice Chinese restaurants

Chinese New Year is upon us and in my house that means a huge spring clean, inside and outside to welcome in the Year of the Dragon and another bigger and better year.  Personally I am enjoying the fact that there is another reason to celebrate post Christmas and beat away those January blues. For my pick of choice Chinese restaurants to help you celebrate, click here

Happy New Year

Chuc Mung Nam Moi

Kung Hei Fat Choi

May the Dragon bring you and yours a happy, prosperous and safe new year.



Sushi Made Easy At Home

In my latest venture to try something new, I signed up for a Sushi and Sashimi class. I love eating Sushi and Sashimi so it made sense that I just do the class. To read all about my experience, click here.
Reiko Hashimoto is lovely and a great teacher. I recommend her classes and cookbook to Sushi and Japanese Food Fans.

Interview: Christmas with Skye Gyngell

Skye Gyngell - Chef at Petersham Nurseries, photo credit Martin Hartley

There is some truth that you naturally gravitate to your fellow countrymen when you are in a foreign country, which perhaps explains why as a foodie and an Australian in London, I found myself at Skye Gyngell's Michelin-starred restaurant Petersham Nurseries in Richmond. For my interview with fabulous Skye, click here. Wonderful food, quirky surrounds - what's not to love about Petersham Nurseries?

Opinion: Gift Experiences for Him

Just shoot me now if I have to buy another pair of socks, a tie or cufflinks for the men in my life this Christmas. Let's think outside the square and give them something they actually don't need but may enjoy! Live a little I say, click here for gift experience suggestions for him.

Review: Charlotte's Web

I read Charlotte's Web as a kid and loved it, although some aspects did trouble me at the time - Wilbur is saved but Charlotte doesn't exactly find her happy ending. Still, I've seen the big screen adaptation but frankly it's nothing compared to this magical stage production at the Polka Theatre. It was a big hit with Almost 5 and tickets will sell out fast. For my full review, click here

Polka Theatre, 240 The Broadway, Wimbledon, London SW19 1SB, 11 November 2011 – 4 February 2012, £10 - £16, concessions £10. To book tickets visit http://www.polkatheatre.com/ or call the Box Office on 020 8543 4888

Opinion: Gift Experiences for Kids

Not a single parent will spoil their kid this Christmas - if you believe that then you really do believe in Santa Claus. Let's face it, Christmas is all about children and we all spend more than we should because we love seeing their little faces light up. Melt. Magic. For some ideas on fun gift experiences, click here

Review: Driving Miss Daisy



Vanessa Redgrave & James Earl Jones - photo credit Carol Rosegg



When you have a simple and warm story about friendship, it's pretty easy to sit back and enjoy the show.

I loved Morgan Freeman in the movie version but James Earl Jones is brilliant as Hoke in the theatre production. Afterall, James has a voice that resonates - King Mufasa in Disney's The Lion King and as Darth Vader in Star Wars. The voice carries beautifully through the theatre and his character enormously likable. A performance that leaves you feeling warm and fuzzy. For my review, click here

Review: The Lawn Bistro

The Lawn Bistro

67 Wimbledon Village High Street, SW19 5EE

Well at last somewhere local to eat that won't cost the earth, and isn't a chain-restaurant. There's a new kid in town - Ollie Couillaud and restaurateur Akbar Ashurov have opened a new bistro.

It's early days for the team at The Lawn Bistro, their website isn't up and running but so far so good as the food speaks for itself. For my review, click here

Opinion: Cooking classes for kids

A constant challenge for mothers is how to get kids to like their food more?  Perhaps a good start is to give them an apron and get them into the kitchen. For my picks on kids cooking classes around London, click here

Review: Mozart and Speed Dating



The Works: Mozart performance, image courtesy of Joe Plummer

Mozart - like him or hate him?

You either like classical music or you don't, according to my friends. I didn't grow up in a classical music loving household but I did listen to alot of it whenever it was exam time and I had to knuckle down.  For some reason, it was the one thing that calmed my mind and helped me focus. To this day, it still has the same effect though perhaps more pleasurable. I would even go so far as to say that there is very little on this earth that Yo-Yo Ma playing Suite for Solo Cello No.1 in G Major couldn't fix for me.

My friends tell me that they won't go to concerts because they can be too expensive, too stiff or too long but I beg to differ. It is a brave new world and there are brave new orchestras. Of course they still play the classics from famous composers but they play it in an informative, informal and accessible way (read: short but sweet).  If you want to read about my night with the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, Mozart and meeting the musicians afterwards, click here.

Review: The Comedy Store

How long has it been since your last laugh? For a great comic night out visit The Comedy Store, click here for my review.

Opinion: Top 5 Dim Sum

Dim Sum at Yauatcha

Did you know that ...  it is customary during dim sum to pour tea for others before filling your own cup. To thank the person pouring your tea you tap your bent index finger (if you are single) or both the index and middle finger (if you are married), which symbolises 'bowing' to them. According to legend, the gesture dates back to the Qing dynasty (circa 1644-1911 AD). Once upon a time there was an Emperor who liked to leave the palace in disguise to travel through his kingdom. On one occasion, the Emperor and his companions stopped at a tea house where the Emperor poured a cup of tea for a companion. The companion, not wanting to give away the Emperor's identity in public by bowing (as is custom to bow before the Emperor), instead tapped his index and middle finger on the table as a sign of appreciation. And so the tea pouring/finger tapping tradition started. For my picks of dim sum places for you to practise your tapping, click here

What's it like to be ... the new kid on the block?

The playground is a battle field..

I moved from Sydney to London just over 4 years ago.  I had a couple of work contacts but that was it.  I didn't know anyone. I had a baby and I didn't know anything or anyone else with a baby.  I started an internship with a leisure magazine which is completely different from being a lawyer, which I used to be.  Again, I didn't know anything and I didn't know anyone.  I joined a tennis club to play social tennis. I didn't know anyone. Notice a recurring theme? - either I'm friendless or I'm always the new kid on the block.  However, this is not a woe-is-me-tale.  Far from it. There are millions of people at one point or another who find themselves in the position of being the new kid.  Such is the way of the world.  Almost 5 started Reception at a Preparatory School a fortnight ago. She didn't know anyone. Almost 5 started school but in reality it felt like I had started school.  The playground is a battle field. Let me enlighten you.

It's not the kids I am talking about - it's the parents and a whole new world. Absolutely everybody gets checked out and everyone gets a nickname whether you like it or not. But here are the general ones:

'High Impact Parents' : aka Hippies or playground mafia. They rule the school.

'Chummy Mummy': aka Mrs Big, hugely community-spirited and knows the timetable.  All seeing all knowing - who you bought your Chelsea tractor from and whether you have gel-nails or acrylic. Too friendly to dislike.

'Sweaty Betty': aka Sporty Spice, always turns up in various sporting/riding outfits on the way to something after drop off.  No-one believes she's had children from the size of her hips.

'Crummy Mummy': often late, looking dishevelled and forgotten something. Incredibly nice and nice to be around or 'Scummy Mummy' on a bad day. A bit terse and always wants to give up smoking but doesn't quite get there.

'Earth Mummy': aka Ommi Mummy - yoga, green, cycles to school and thinks about her carbon footprint.  Stares down the mothers driving their Chelsea tractors at drop off.

So over the past fortnight I've had: a curriculum meeting on maths, writing and spelling (bear in mind that Almost 5 is almost five years old!); drinks night to meet other parents; coffee morning to meet other mums, meetings with the parents association, weekly newsletters, nearly new uniform sales, reading and writing homework and Almost 5 introducing herself to me in French. 

The highlights:

• a frantic panicked email sent around to all the new mothers seeking urgent help! - crisis - her cashmere knit from Matches had been eaten by moths in her armoire over Summer and she was desperately in search of a 'cashmere' clinic to repair it.  We now all know that such a clinic does exist in Fulham thanks to Cashmere Mum. 
• party bags are still permitted at birthday parties this year, despite a couple of mothers suggesting that we all agree to ban them as they are un-green and a waste of money. Poo poo Green Mums.

I also overhead a mother commenting that mothers are divided into two categories: either a "Baby-on-Board" kind of mother (ie the ones who put those stickies on their car) or you're not. Not that I know what that means.

So which type of mother am I? I do drive a Chelsea tractor, I do occasionally arrive in sporting outfits on my way to tennis. I am anally organised and I do know the timetable but I don't squarely fall into a particular type and maybe that's the point. Perhaps we're a combination. They'll probably all be lovely and we'll end up being friends by the end of first term but that's a long long way away and besides I'm more interested in finding out what my nickname is for now....

Opinion: Top 5 French restaurants

From Roux at The Landau

"Mangez bien, riez souvent, aimez beaucoup"
(Eat well, laugh often and love much)

For that special Ooh La La dining experience or just some classic French fare cooked well, here are my picks for fine French food - click here

Bon Appétit mes amies

Opinion: How to Host a Great Party

Irrespective of the weather outside or the time of year, it's always a good time to throw a party..  even if it does involve some work it's usually pretty good fun.  For some handy tips and suggestions for your next party, click here

Opinion: Paris city guide

Sacre Coeur, Montmartre

Paris - city of love, city of light and so much more.   For my suggestions on where to stay and something different to do - from Michelin starred dining, macaroon cooking class to a Lanvin satin kimono at the hairdressers, click here.  Bisous x

Review: Degas and the Ballet exhibition

Little Dancer Aged Fourteen, Image copyright Tate

Degas and the Ballet - Picturing Movement
Royal Academy of Arts, London
From 17 September until 11 December 2011

Not all Bankers are bad, after all Degas was the eldest son of a banker, and his intention was to become a lawyer.  He didn't exactly apply himself to the study of law but did apply himself to drawing, sketching, sculpting and painting.

For my review of this exhibition, click here