Happy New Year All

I hope you all have a great night, have a glass of champagne on me. I'll see you all in the New Year. No go party and dance the night away, I am . . . Richard xXx

Harry And The Hendersons

Would You Buy Tequila From This Lady?

It seems you can put a famous face on just about anything these days, even dead ones. You can imagine my surprise when I discovered my beloved Frida Kahlo, Mexico's most renowned artist and flamboyant Icon, is the latest famous face to front a brand - OF TEQUILA! The thing is, Frida wasn't just known as an artist, she was also an alcoholic known to polish off a bottle of tequila a day. Maybe not the wisest of ideas plastering Frida's face, without her permission, all over a Tequila bottle then. It seems likely Frida Kahlo would have approved, at least of the contents if not the packaging. Apparently Kahlo's niece and heir authorized the use of her image. Me thinks she's just trying to cash in on her aunt's famous name. Needles to say, I still think I'll get a bottle of Frida Tequila. I wonder if the little worm at the bottom looks like Diego Rivera.

Frida Kahlo Tequila - Official WEBSITE Here

Merry Christmas Everybody

I just wanted to wish you all a very Merry Christmas today. I do hope you are all enjoying the festive spirit as much as I am. I'm gorging on mandarin oranges, candy canes and way too many chocolate, and I'm am about to open all my presents. YEAH! Santa has been. So I hope this message finds you all well, surrounded by loved ones and Christmas cheer . . . and I do hope Santa is VERY, VERY, VERY GOOD to each and every one of you. Have a wonderful day all . . . Richard xXx

Would You Wear This?

I tell you, I'm so glad I didn't get one of these for Christmas. These costumed animal characters from Japan’s new craze, ‘Kigurumi’ are popping up everywhere, from fancy dress party's, summer festivals, even the dance floors of nightclubs. Nicknamed ‘Kigu’, these costumes have only been available in Asia, but now you lucky lot can grab one online. Go on, you know you want one. Spotted on a number of celebrities including Lily Allen and Oli from the Filthy Dukes, these cute costumes are priced at £39.99 and are available in a range of breeds including a cow, tiger, dinosaur and flying squirrel. I'm holding out for the arrival of a giraffe.

Kigu Crew - Official BLOG Here

Kigu Costumes - Official WEBSITE Here

Snowed in, making mulled wine

Today I am totally snowed in, with no escape from my house. In my cupboards are all the ingredients to make a delicious pot of mulled wine. I had purchased all the necessary items last week with the intention of whipping up a marvelous batch on Christmas eve while I entertain guests. Well . . . I'm bored, thirsty and suffering from cabin fever. Sticking cloves in orange's should help pass the boredom for a bit, so out come my ingredients and pots. What I love most about making mulled wine, are the aromatic smells that fill the kitchen, drifting through the house - orange oil, cinnamon, clove, bay leaf and red wine. Delicious and delightful. I can't wait to get started. I've included the recipe that I'll be following to make my mulled wine with today. If you have any recipes of your own, variations, I'd love to hear about them below. Right then I better get started, I'll try and save you a cup.

1/2 bottle red wine
25 ml Port
25 ml Grand Marnier
1 bay leaf
1 quartered orange studded with 12 cloves
1 small cinnamon stick
1/2 star anise
1 table spoon sugar

Vladimir Tretchikoff

I've always loved Vladimir Tretchikoff's paintings. I think it's his use of color I most love, those gold and emerald greens are so rich and striking. Chinese Girl (above) and Lady From Orient (right) are MY favorite Tretchikoff paintings, his most famous works. Tretchikoff is one of the most commercially successful artists of all time. Chinese Girl is one of the best selling prints ever and has been printed on everything from mugs to pillow cases. I'm actually on the hunt for the pillow cases at the moment. I spotted some in a shop in Clapham some years ago but stupidly didn't purchase them. The retro mugs are on order and if my partner is reading this, anything with Tretchikoff's Oriental ladies on them will make me gush rainbows and glitter for days. For those of you not familiar with the works of Vladimir Tretchikoff, I've included his official website below, so you can read up on him and see more of his marvelous paintings.

Vladimir Tretchikoff - Official WEBSITE Here

A Dorothy Parker Quote A Day

"The first thing I do in the morning is brush my teeth and sharpen my tongue" Dorothy Parker




Today I thought I'd celebrate Dorothy Parker, the peerless wit and my favorite writer. I wish I could have sat with Dorothy and her gang of writers, critics, actors and wits when they gathered for lunch and martinis at the Algonquin Hotel in New York in the early 1920's. I think I would have made fine company for Dorothy and her "The Vicious Circle" - to be a part of those conversations, to have exchanged wisecracks, wordplay and witticisms with Dorothy and her merry gang. Oh well! It's just a shame I don't have a tardis. In the meantime, a Dorothy Parker quote a day always puts a smile on my face. I hope Dorothy Parker makes you smile too?

Christmas With The Puppini Sisters

The Christmas album has always had a special place in the pantheon of pop. This season, the wonderful Puppini Sisters join the arena, rolling out their specially-themed full-length collection of festive favorites. I picked up a copy of this marvelous CD the other day and have been playing it non-stop ever since. It's currently my favorite Christmas album and has managed to knock Mariah Carey and her yuletide tunes off my player, not an easy feat. So what's so wonderful about The Puppini Sisters and their Christmas jingles? Well, quite simply, the Puppini's know how to have a good time, delivering one super FUN Christmas album. The Puppini Sisters (who aren't really sisters but best friends Marcella, Kate and Stephanie) interpret some of their favorite Christmas songs, 1940's style. The harmony perfect girls add a touch of swing to classics like - Santa Baby, Winter Wonderland and Here Comes Santa Clause, all accompanied by a big band. Even Wham's Last Christmas gets the Puppini makeover. Oh! and so does Mariah's All I Want For Christmas, quite marvelously in fact. So, why don't you spend Christmas with the Puppini Sisters this festive season? I think you'll agree, this really is the perfect Christmas dinner party album and a wonderful soundtrack with your mulled wine and Christmas pudding. Do check out the Puppini Sisters website and other information below.

The Puppini Sisters - Official WEBSITE Here

Christmas With The Puppini Sisters - Order by Amazon Here

Something PINK to cover my Ears!

This cold winter chill is really getting to me. It's a Canada freeze, here in the UK. I mean I never complain about the cold, however. There are days I walk around the city thinking my ears are about to drop off from frostbite. What I need is a pair earmuffs. I have my sights on this fluffy hot pink pair. What do you think? Hardly conspicuous, but so ME!