My new blog - URL has changed!

I changed the name and URL of my europafox blog (as was) and now I don't think it's linking in to anyone's google reader! It's now www.englishpreppy.blogspot.com - and this blog will be the private blog - if I can figure out how to make it private!!! HELP!!

All Change!

Thank you for all of your help and comments! Luckily I haven't been subject to any nastiness but I have started to feel the need to keep my blog a little more anonymous whilst still being able to share life's events with the bloggers I have grown so close to over the last year! So, as you will see, this blog is now a tad more anonymous. The main blog here will be kept public but I'll start a separate, private one, with more family pics and personal thoughts on it. All of you how have sent an email, I'll send you an invite! Btw - do any of you know if it is possible to change my blog url and still stay linked in to everyone's google reader?

Anonymous or Private?

I deleted my blog this week (but obv changed my mind!), because I was worried I wasn't staying anonymous enough. But I wondered if a better option would be to either go anonymous (i.e. remove personal photos) OR to go private. What do you think? I am thinking option b is better - because I see so many of you bloggy girls as people I want to share with - i.e. photos of Caspar on his first day of school etc, but wouldn't feel comfortable doing this on a public blog. Let me know what you think - and if it's option b (privacy) - please leave me your email.

Ascot Ladies Day - the hats!!

I thought this was a FAB outfit - very English - classic but still on trend, with a dash of eccentricity! Erin O'Connor is fabuloso.

A Grande Dame could only pull this off - I love it!

Love the outfit on the right (not so much the one on the left - I'm not a fan of anything that looks like linen unless you are on the beach!) - but the right hand one is cool, classic and lady-like.

Ok, they are garish but fascinating - the girl on the left carries it well - what do you think? All photos are from the Daily Telegraph.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/fashion/fashionpicturegalleries/5517553/Royal-Ascot-fashion-faux-pa-The-Royal-Enclosure-dress-code.html?image=9

For all the do's and don'ts of Royal Ascot! You wonder what runs through someone's mind when they decide to wear red sequins...

Tagging all Readers for Random Pics that make you happy!

I've been reading second hand about some negative commenting in blog land and thought we should all cheer ourselves up! It would be great if as many of you as poss could post a mixture of photos from past ans present that make you happy - I know it's a slightly cheesy idea, but it would be fun! I quickly assembled a selection of badly photographed pics here (if you have been reading my blog for a while,you will be used to such poor photos). This one above I love because it represents a time in my life when the family was all together (I'm on the left, with 2 cousins) and we spent endless summers in the gardens at my Grand Parents'.

On horse-back - where I am ALWAYS happy! Note the Arran jumper - I haven't seen children wearing them for about 20 years, ha!

AB and I at the Village Hall Gala Princess Ball about 6 weeks ago - an excuse to dress up always makes me happy (and with a 2 year old it doesn't happen too much anymore!)

An 'only child' photo if ever there was one - I have to chuckle at this one - I wonder if I got my own way that day?? ;)

Please share your pics!!!! Hope everyone has a lovely week end. I am waiting on Caspar coming back from the Library and Lunch at his Favourite Italian restaurant, with Grannie. I am sure he will arrive any time soon, asleep and covered in garlic bread crumbs and pasta sauce!!!

Pol Roger to the Rescue! (I wish!)

Today and yesterday I haven't been able to get thoughts of Pol Roger Champagne out of my mind. Perhaps it's the long hours I've been working, the fiscal discipline I have been imposing on myself, the exhaustion of constant bartering and negotaiation with my strong willed two year old or the sheer yearning for this Grand Daddy of Champagnes. I have only tried it a handful of times - last time with our first courses on a Gastronomy Week End at Miller Howe - but it is one of those incredible taste experiences that stays with you. The Cuvee Winston Churchill is featured above - even the box is fabulous - it is very Smythson-esque. Oh!

The Tao of Churchill

Churchill - one of the greatest ever Englishmen (or should I say half American Englishmen! ;)! When feeling a bit weak kneed and in need of inspiration, I like to read his quotes. You gotta love these:

To Arab Leader, Ibn Saud, upon being told the king's religious beleifs forbade the use of tobacco and liquor:
'I must point out that my rule of life prescribes as an absolutely sacred rite smoking cigars and also the drinking of alcohol before, after, and if need be during all meals and in the
intervals between them'
Lady Nancy Astor:
'Winston, if you were my husband, i'd put arsenic in your morning coffee.'
Churchill:
'Madam, if you were my wide, i'd drink it.'
Bessie Braddock:
'Winston, you are drunk!'
Churchill:
'And Madam, you are ugly. And tomorrow, I'll be sober, and you will still be ugly.'

Ha! Of course now you wouldn't like to hear of your Prime Minister quaffing whiskey all day but somehow to read of Winston just doing what the hell he liked, living the good life and enjoying the finer things is extremely amusing. Apparently, while on a flight in June 1954 the plane's menu was not good enough for the Prime Minister so he wrote one out himself.
He requested his breakfast be brought on two trays.He scribbled over the existing menu - in his own hand: "1st Tray. Poached egg, Toast, Jam, Butter, Coffee and milk, Jug of cold milk, Cold Chicken or Meat. "2nd Tray. Grapefruit, Sugar Bowl, Glass orange squash (ice), Whisky soda." He then adds: "Wash hands, cigar."