Hello! And what an amazing April it’s been – let’s hope this isn’t the end of the long sunny days… This is what I’ve been up to since I last wrote.
I’VE BEEN TALKING…
To lots of lovely readers at Girls’ Night Out events in Basingstoke and Worksop. Thanks so much to all of you who came along and bought books, drank wine, ate cupcakes and got make-overs!
I had a great time at both events and I hope you did to. Here’s a little write up and photo about from the Basingstoke Gazette about that event.
I’M READING…
And loving, Leaving the World, by Douglas Kennedy, one of my all time favourite writers. It’s the story of a woman called Jane Howard (Kennedy writes women impressively well) who vows, on the night of her 13th birthday, that she will never get married or children, and how she later discovers that life doesn’t always turn out as you planned. Douglas Kennedy does that unusual thing of writing beautifully within the framework of a cracking good story, and his novels are hugely varied in style and topic. Do check him out.
I’M WRITING…
Like a demon, trying to get my third novel into shape and deliver it to my editor. This is always the scary (and fun) stage of writing a book for me, when I’m pulling it all together and hoping that I can pull off what I set out to do. I don’t have a finalised title for it quite yet, but I’ll be sure to let you know as soon as I do.
I’M MOVING…
Some of you may remember a piece I wrote in Red recently, about the often-painful process of trying to buy a house and my belief that houses find their owners, not the other way round. It was written after I’d lost out on a house that I’d falled in love with, in Hove. Well, not long after that piece was published, we had an offer accepted on another, even better house, in the very same street! We got the keys last week and will be moving in before too long. It’s a short walk to the beach, and I can’t wait.
As a result of my imminent move…
I’M HUNTING…
…Around junk shops and antiques fairs for furniture, having realised that the only pieces I own are a bed, a dining table and chairs, two sofas, a bright pink velvet armchair and – actually, I think that’s it. And about 50 boxes of books, which I suppose could be fashioned into coffee tables and shelves if I really get stuck… I had a great day pottering around Ardingly Antiques Fair, and plan to go back in July, and have become completely addicted to the Ebay app on my iphone. I recently bought an antique printers’ tray like this one, which I plan to mount on the wall to display my little trinkets and bits and pieces in.
And, like most of us, on Friday…
I’VE BEEN CELEBRATING…
…The Royal Wedding! I had a great time drinking English Rose tea and eating cucumber sandwiches at The Tea Cosy in Brighton, a suitably Monarchist themed tea room stuffed full of memorabilia. I spent the morning watching proceedings on TV and casting a beady eye over the ladies’ headgear, on behalf of Violet. Here’s what I think she’d feel were the best and worst of the hats on parade.
BEST
Elegant and classy, the hat provided a stylish twist without overwhelming her.
Violet would have adored the colour and shape of this 20s style cloche hat, which looked fresh and just right for Princess Letizia of Spain’s delicate frame.
It’s divided opinion, but I think Violet would definitely have approved of this Poppy-like flash of brilliant colour that Miriam Clegg is exotic and striking enough to carry off with aplomb.
Charlene Wittstock, Prince Albert of Monaco’s fiancee, looked stunning and extremely elegant in this wide-brimmed white hat. Bit of a masterclass in understatement,this.
But my absolute favourite, both outfit and hat, was this, from Princess Maxima of the Netherlands. The nude on blonde palette! The unbelievably sexy Mad Men-esque Va-va-voom of it, while still managing to look Royal Wedding appropriate! The extremely cool name! And most of all, the TURBAN! Princess Maxima, Violet Cavalley applauds you.
THE WORST
Oh dear, there were some shocker as well…
Top of the list of misguided choices – Beatrice and Eugenie. I’m normally a huge fan of Vivienne Westwood, but can’t really imagine what she was thinking dressing Eugenie in this matronly, milkmaid-y number. It’s the hats that are making Violet turn in her grave though. Attention-seeking rather than simply striking, they’re too big,too showy and simply too silly for words.
I like the vivid blue of Tara Palmer-Tomkinson’s dress, but the gloves tip it into OTT territory for me, and the hat drew attention to her nose – she looked uncomfortable in it. And as Violet would tell you, the first rule of hats is that you must wear them, not they you.
Sally Bercow looked as though she had made little effort. Her hat was fine, if uninspired, but the dress and amount of flesh on show made the whole effect look a bit cheap.
What a missed opportunity by Samantha Cameron. Gorgeous teal ruched dress, but no hat?! VC is not impressed…
Have a lovely May, and I’ll be back at the end of the month
Jessica xx
