The Art of Travel

Sometimes I buy books, not because the blurb on the back cover catches my interest, but because of an idea I have about myself reading it and the resulting perceptions people might have about me. When I buy these kinds of books, I invariably imagine myself reading them on a train- or while having breakfast alone in a quaint café (activities I almost never embark upon). I think about how they would look on my bookshelf, or stacked on my bedside locker.

The Art of Travel by French Philosopher Alain de Botton was one such book which I carried around for a bit and has been gathering dust for some years now.

So I decided to read it. And I was pleasantly suprised.

It is a philosophical book, but you shouldn't be turned off by that (take it from a girl who tried to read Sophie's World a couple of times and failed). I finished it before my trip to Paris and it turned out to be the perfect antidote to all the guidebooks agressively directing our attention to "must see" attractions. Instead, this book insightfully explained to me why I really wanted to go in the first place.

I will share some of my favourite extracts with you later.

Spot the Difference?

This is a trick question. There is no difference (well not really...)

Here are the small differences:
1. They are a slightly different texture- St. Moriz is more liquidy
2. St. Moriz' guide colour looks a little darker
3. St. Moriz comes out a bit better on your legs
4. St. Tropez retails at €39.95 (a little cheaper online or if its on offer) and St. Moriz retails at €4 in Penneys
5. The bottles look a little different
6. One is called St. Trpoez and one is called St. Moriz

I was convinced that St. Tropez mousse was the best around- no need to try anything else- until I tried this one on Denise's recommendation.

Khaki Nails

Peter Phillips, Creative Director at Chanel has done it again... turned me into a more irrational version of myself. Do you rememember when particuliére came out last season and I was almost issued with a restraining order from Debenhams and BTs as I waited for the first shipment to come in? Well here I go again.

I've fallen in love with these new Les Khakis shades from Chanel, which will be released for New York Fashion week in the States (God knows when here!) and have my heart set on Khaki Vert (far left).

Illustration by Garance.

Our Deepest Fear

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.

Nelson Mandela

Where d'ya get your shades?

Our new shades! Im obsessed with them and wear them when its not even squinty out. If you can see the sun, I think its acceptable.

Shades: Topshop (mine), Gap (Fiona's)

Anyone who has seen 'What's snots?' on Youtube will know what the title of this post is all about. If you haven't seen it, you must watch it immediately- here.

I carry your heart with me

A poem by E.E Cummings


I carry your heart with me (I carry it in my heart)
I am never without it (anywhere
I go you go, my dear; and whatever is done
by only me is your doing, my darling)

I fear no fate (for you are my fate, my sweet) I want
no world (for beautiful you are my world, my true)
and it's you are whatever a moon has always meant
and whatever a sun will always sing is you

Here is the deepest secret nobody knows
(here is the root of the root and the bud of the bud
and the sky of the sky of a tree called life; which grows
higher than the soul can hope or mind can hide)
and this is the wonder that's keeping the stars apart

I carry your heart (I carry it in my heart)

Orlando, Ellen and Portia

Let me introduce you to the newest members of the family...

Okay, so at this stage most of you will have heard about the cock. Our relationship got off to a bit of a rocky start when everytime I went home to Tullow for some R&R , I was rudely awoken at approximately 6am every morning by his incessant crowing (this irritating alarm became earlier and earlier as the summer months crept in).

But I've become fond of Orlando. Fiona and I named him that because of his appearance. We decided that he was just too pretty and exotic looking to be a regular cock, the Orlando Bloom of the poultry world, if you will. So we called him Orlando Plume (yes, we think we're hilarious!).

Anyway, Dad decided that Orlando was a bit lonely and decided to buy a couple of hens (naturally). Introducing the pair to Orlando has turned out to be an interesting experiment. Unfortunately, I wasn't around to witness it myself, but going on Dad's account, poor Orlando was "afraid of his shite".

Following some coaxing, they seem to cohabit pretty successfully now, although its far from cozy. Orlando continues to sleep in the barbeque, while the hens have taken over the coop. They seem to have no interest in the beautiful Orlando- We think they might be lesbians- so we named them after the only two famous lesbians we could think of, Ellen and Portia DeHENeres (again, hilarious- I know!)

More things to be happy about (2)

Whispering; wild west music; treats on Friday; dancing 'freestyle' in your bedroom; people-watching; lego; sharing a tub of ice-cream; sleeping like spoons; sliced bread; super morning showers; the smell of freshly washed hair; bringing your duvet downstairs; Shirley Temple in Heidi; collecting your holiday photos; chips; packages in the post; chats after a big night out; fake tan; when someone strokes your hair; Oprah.

Valentino Suit

The result of a very successful suit shopping trip for Damo.

None of us knew anything about how to pick a suit in the morning, but Fiona and I embraced our unlikely roles as fashion advisors none the less. We were all super happy with our choice, especially Damo (who seemed to miraculously cured of his allergy to shopping).

Suit by Valentino. Shirt and Tie by Zara.

Le Tour Eiffel

Photos by Fi

Charles Lambe

Lawyers, I suppose, were children once.

The Story of the Two Frogs

Two frogs are dancing on top of a milk churn when they fall in. One frog panics and thrashes about saying 'we'll never get out, we'll never get out, we're going to die' until he drowns. The other frog thinks 'I must keep calm and find a solution'. So he slowly swims round and round, round and round, thinking for hours, until he finds that the milk has turned into a pat of butter and he can jump right out.

In times of crisis, think like the second frog.