The Best of Breakfast in Bed

I was reading the latest post on Simon Hickson's excellent blog, Mummified Fox, when the idea struck me (or rather, I shamelessly stole it) to do a roundup of my favourite posts from the last four years of my own blog. I set up Breakfast in Bed around this time of year in 2005 and finally got round to publishing my first post in January 2006. It makes me slightly sad to think of all those stories languishing in the archive, so I have compiled a list of what I consider to be the best ones in the hope that they will be read and enjoyed once again. So without further ado, here they are:

March 2006 - I Love Taj. A hymn to my favourite Brighton food shop.

May 2006 - Neil Innes at Komedia. One of the first ever Breakfast in Bed gig reviews, this write-up was also published (in a slightly edited version) in the Independent.

May 2007 - Djinn of the Tin. A bizarre and very Brighton episode in which I acted the part of genie to a random stranger via SMS.

August 2007 - Thoughts Like Bubbles. How I went from melancholy to philosophical to down right jolly all in one day through the power of people watching.

January 2008 - An Obsession Explored. A classic fancy dress adventure with me as Karen Carpenter and a look back at how the whole costume fetish began.

February 2008 - Life Through a Lens. My journey from film to digital photography.

July 2008 - A Cup of Tea and a Cake. Some of my favourite places in the world to go for a freshly baked bun and a brew.

November 2008 - A Smile Restored. The end of a fairly miserable and physically painful chapter of my life.

May 2009 - San Francisco, You Stole My Heart. Bit of an epic this one - all about our wonderful holiday in California.

August 2009 - Bring Back Trevor & Simon. A gleeful "welcome back" to my ultimate comedy heroes, whose genius podcasts have been tickling me rotten these last few months.

September 2009 - A Sparkly, Spangly Place. The best music festival of 2009 was undoubtedly End of the Road. Good food, great company, outstanding music and sparkly woodland groves made for a brilliant finale to the summer.

So that's it - some of the highlights from an eventful few years as brought to you by Breakfast in Bed. Thanks for reading and do stay tuned for further adventures coming very soon.

My First Brighton Bloggers Meet-Up

January has been just about the most uneventful month on record. Apart from last Sunday's mad flurry of Nathaniel's Baptism/Reggie's third birthday party/Sebastien Tellier gig, we've hardly been out since Christmas, and I was starting to climb the walls. All our friends have been hunkering down detoxing/saving the pennies/recovering from festive debauchery - none of which I've particularly needed to do, having had a relatively quiet and frugal Christmas. Another night in front of the TV and I would have gone seriously crazy (you don't want to see me when that happens).

So last night, we broke the seemingly endless cycle of home entertainment and spontaneously decided to pootle along to the Brighton Bloggers meet-up, something we've never done before despite both being long-term bloggers living in Brighton. I'm glad we did. A small but interesting gathering took over a corner of the recently opened Florist pub (which was the PV), talking about everything from retro phones to tractor-mounted lasers (blame Ant for that one), eco-travelling to the recent celebrity Twitter explosion. All in all it was a very pleasant evening, and nice to connect with fellow bloggers after years of writing away in my own little vacuum. As was generally agreed last night, all this advanced virtual communication technology is all very well, but it's good to bring it back to the real world once in a while and meet people face to face. 

Next up in the virtual-meets-real-world social calendar, the Brighton Twestival on 12th Feb. We already have our tickets, but you can still get yours here.

Links

Some of the lovely folks I met last night (and one I already knew because I'm married to him):

www.amyriley.blogspot.com

http://therecommender.net

http://jane.dallaway.com

http://www.colinmercer.co.uk

http://blog.spiralarm.com/richard

http://reithian.blogspot.com

Too Sick to Blog

It's been a long time since I felt too ill to write; usually it's the last of my faculties to fail, often it's a comforting remedy. But since last Friday I have been at the mercy of a nasty bout of flu that has scuppered my intention to blog every day in December. Going to a to a gig in Luxembourg last weekend no doubt made matters worse, but I wouldn't have missed it for all the Benylin in Boots. Certainly our (some would say insane) adventure deserves a post all of its own, and hopefully come this weekend I shall feel chipper enough to wax lyrical about Camille in all her wacky Gallic glory. But for now I am just popping up to say 'hello' and crawling straight back under my snuffly, spangly sickness rock. Make me a Lemsip, I'll be back for Christmas.

Unfinished Sentences

Most of the internet memes doing the rounds at the moment are fairly lame, but this is actually quite an interesting experiment in self-exploration. The idea is simple - you are given the start of a sentence, to complete as you wish - the point being, I suppose, to reveal previously unknown facts and insights about yourself. I enjoyed reading both Anna Pickard's and Jonathan Shipley's versions, so decided to give it a go myself. I'm not going to 'tag' anyone else on this occasion, but please leave me a comment if you decide to do it.

1. My uncle once: found out that he had a sister he never knew - my mother. Attempting to trace his absentee father online, he was discovered by my sister, who was also searching for information about our unknown grandfather (a nefarious actor type - long story). My mum, having presumed herself an only child her whole life, was overwhelmed with joy to discover she had a half-brother - though sadly he lives in New Zealand, so they have yet to meet.

2. Never in my life: have I betrayed someone's confidence.

3. When I was five: all my best friends were boys. Paul Smith, Guy Stewart, Peter Richardson, Toby Denham - where are you now?

4. High school was: full of spiteful idiots who I'd rather not remember.

5. I will never forget: saying goodbye to my friend Paula for the last time.

6. Once I met: Mick Jagger. Still my best name-drop.

7. There’s this girl I know: who went and moved to Australia, and I miss her terribly.

8. Once, at a bar: I asked for a drink. More than once, actually.

9. By noon, I’m usually: on my third or fourth cup of tea.

10. Last night: I met up with some old friends from my Waterstone's days, to go to a gig at the Albert.

11. If only I had: more patience.

12. Next time I go to church: will be the weekend after next, for a family wedding.

13. What worries me most: is unresolved conflict.

14. When I turn my head left I see: a filing cabinet and a door.

15. When I turn my head right I see: a wall covered in pictures of my friends and family, and some bookshelves.

16. You know I’m lying when: i can't keep a straight face - I usually only lie about silly things.

17. What I miss most about the Eighties is: playing Sindy dolls with my sister for hours, sometimes days, at a time. Our favourite scenarios were inspired by Neighbours and Dynasty.

18. If I were a character in Shakespeare I’d be: Katharina, the "shrew".

19. By this time next year: I'll be another year older. To hope for anything more than that would only end in disappointment.

20. A better name for me would be: Fan Dance Fanny the Frowsy Nightclub Queen.

21. I have a hard time understanding: why some people are so dumb.

22. If I ever go back to school, I’ll: do something that might actually lead to me earning a decent salary.

23. You know I like you if: I tell you - life's too short to not tell people how you feel.

24. If I ever won an award, the first person I would thank would be: Marcel, my cat, for his unwavering affection.

25. Take my advice, never: go food shopping when you're hungry.

26. My ideal breakfast is: brought to me in bed by my husband.

27. A song I love but do not have is: Total Eclipse of the Heart by Bonnie Tyler, for sentimental reasons - it was on the 'break-up' tape that my mum played endlessly whilst ironing or cooking. I still know all the words by heart.

28. If you visit my hometown, I suggest you: avoid West Street like the plague, have lunch at Bill's, and spend all your pocket money in Rounder Records.

29. Why won’t people: stop interrupting? I come from a garrulous family where people talk over each other all the time, so have consciously tried to train myself out of the habit. When someone starts talking before I've finished, it makes me feel like they are not interested in what I'm saying, and consequently, that I must be boring. I'd hate to give anyone else that impression (unless they actually were boring, in which case I'd feel justified in interrupting to tell them so), so I've developed a little system where if I think of something I want to say, I cross my fingers to help me remember what it was, then wait for the other person to stop before taking my turn.

30. If you spend a night at my house: be sure to close the spare room door, unless you want a fluffy ginger cat for a pillow. Oh, and I recommend (if you haven't already read it) that you dig out 'Holes' from the ever-expanding library of children's books library in there - I guarantee you'll finish it in one sitting.

31. I’d stop my wedding for: the fact that I'm already married.

32. The world could do without: celery.

33. I’d rather lick the belly of a cockroach than: the belly of a slug.

34. My favourite blonde is: my three year old nephew, Isaac.

35. Paper clips are more useful than: staples - particularly when you want to separate the paper again.

36. If I do anything well it’s: sing.

37. I can’t help but: sing.

38. I usually cry: when nobody's looking.

39. My advice to my child/nephew/niece: would be to try and avoid making the same mistakes as your parents.

40. And by the way: if you think that I sound especially sarcastic, I'm probably actually trying to be sincere, so please don't be offended.

A Whole Month of Foodiness, Yay!

Considering the amount of time and energy I spend thinking about, planning, concocting and consuming food, it has so far been rather feebly represented here in relation to my other interests. The problem is that I will often intend to record and share my culinary experiences, but then when it comes to the actual moment of preparing or ordering a meal, I am far too preoccupied with the task in hand to remember to take a photo or write notes. I was reading today over on Wordridden about NaBloPoMo (National Blog Posting Month) - an online community that encourages bloggers to write a post every day for a month on a given theme. This month's topic is Food, so I have resolved to follow Jessica's example and start chronicling my daily foodie activities here, at least for the next month. It'll make a nice change from gigs and fancy dress parties anyway! Meanwhile, as a sort of introduction to my culinary life, here is a little miscellany of foodie photos that I have taken on those rare occasions when I am not too busy tucking in...

From top left: Lunch at Mum's with cranberry muffins, Belgian waffles in Bruges cafe, get well cake made by Jo, Bom Bane's starter, German banana split with Advocaat

OK, so it's mostly cakes, but what on earth is wrong with that?

Rowan Likes To...

I picked up this rather amusing meme from the ever-entertaining Anna Pickard. The idea tickled me, so I've tagged myself (at her invitation), and duly followed the simple instructions, which are to type '[your name] likes to' into Google and paste the results. As my name is unisex - a fact that often causes confusion - I have taken the liberty of adjusting some of the results from 'he' or 'his' to 'she' or 'hers'. I'm guessing that most of these statements are from parents writing about their young children, which makes them all the more hilarious when applied to an adult - especially if, like me, you have a puerile sense of humour. I've also followed Anna's lead by adding my own comments - obviously, for I could never let Google have the last word.

Rowan likes to take things she really likes and put them away so she can play with them later. This would require a degree of patience, a virtue for which I am not generally known. When I like playing with things, they tend to stay out where I can easily play with them any time I like.

Rowan likes to see that. Depends what 'that' is. I don't want to see that!

Rowan likes to think she is sadly missed by all, but she is probably mistaken. Strangely, I actually had this exact thought recently - when I was away in Hungary. I dreamed that all my friends had got together in my absence and signed a petition to not be my friend anymore. I blame the sedatives (prescribed for dental treatment, I should add) for making me even more paranoid than usual.

Rowan likes to ride her bike, but the bike was still at the house. A euphemism for my life, if ever there was one.

Rowan likes to watch dog shows on TV with her uncle Ron. I don't have an uncle Ron, but If I did, I'm sure I would be happy to watch dog shows with him.

Rowan likes to have books read to her, contemplates mobiles, and hates hippies. Should read: Rowan likes to have books read to her, contemplates hippies and hates mobiles.

Rowan likes to wear scruffy clothes, pick cues off the wall (or curtain poles) and beat people with them. Yep.

Rowan likes to create things to meet needs. Doesn't everyone?

Rowan likes to encourage integrity and fairness in all dealings. That'll be the Libra in me.

Rowan likes to talk...a LOT. No comment.

Rowan likes to quietly put her hand over her food so that you don’t take it. That's what it's like living with the Cookie Monster.

Rowan likes to play. True.

Rowan likes to be able to make the puppets do whatever she likes. I do try, but they always resist.

Rowan likes to think of herself as a member of the nattering, chattering classes. That famous sub-set of society.

Rowan likes to get rides down the hall in the laundry basket. I'm actually going to try this when I get home. I wonder if I could harness the cats to pull me along in it?

Rowan Likes To Brag! Never! I'm far too modest!

Rowan likes to pretend she's a 'titty with a dick'. WTF??

Rowan likes to pretend. She often says she's not Rowan...she's Daddy. There seems to be a pattern emerging here, which would imply that I'm some kind of kinky freak. Purleeese.

Rowan likes to eat gerbils. False. Rowan is in fact a vegetarian.

Rowan likes to eat a pancake for breakfast every once in a while. I do love a pancake, especially with maple syrup and ice cream.

Rowan likes to climb and then balance on things precariously. This usually occurs quite late and night, and invariably ends in tears.


And that's it. That's all Rowan does, apparently. Well, it made me laugh.

Now the obligatory tagging bit. I only recently tagged a load of bloggy friends with a different meme, so I won't risk annoying them with another one so soon - but anyone who's reading this, do let me know if you decide to follow suit. Do it! Do it! Go on... it'll make you giggle!

Eight Random Things

Apparently this game has been going on between bloggers for ages, but I've only just been 'tagged' by my sister-outlaw (my brother's girlfriend, and mother of my gorgeous nephew) to join in. Basically, as the title suggests, you have to list eight random things about yourself, then 'tag' other bloggers to do the same. Like some kind of digital chain letter I suppose, but without the threat of imminent catastrophe if you fail to participate. But just in case I forgot to read the smallprint, and am at risk of reprisal (not that I'm at all superstitious, oh no), here are eight random things about me:

I'm really good at parking, and can squeeze into tiny little spaces, even without the help of power steering.

I've recorded at Abbey Road studios. I even have the obligatory zebra crossing shot to prove it. My singing has taken me to such glamorous locations as Eastbourne Winter Gardens, Chichester Cathedral and the Library Theatre, but Abbey Road was undoubtedly the most exciting.

The dimple on my right cheek is actually a scar that I got when I fell out of a bunk bed onto a pencil. Seriously.

It's no secret that I *love* fancy dress, but it might surprise you that during my long and illustrious history of dressing up I've been all of the following: (click on the links for photographic evidence): Cinderella, a Bellydancer, The Queen Mother, a Witch, The Virgin Mary, Princess Leia, Pierrette, a Flower, Balthazar (one of the Three Kings - and yes, I was made to black-up), a St Trinian's Schoolgirl, Axl Rose, a Fairy, Florence from the Magic Roundabout, Tank Girl, Trinity from the Matrix, Ava Gardner, a Golden Buddha, The Absinthe Fairy, Titania, Catwoman, Sally Bowles, a Vampire, Lara Croft, The Chinese Ambassador, Death, a Medieval Babe, a Wild West Hooker, Mrs Mia Wallace, Sybil Fawlty, Annie Lennox, a Ninja, a Bollywood Star, Princess Leia (again), Peter Pan, a Bad Cupid, a Tiki Lounge Lady, Penelope Pitstop, a Sadist, a Naughty Nun, Barbarella, a Disco Pirate, The White Witch, and most recently, Karen Carpenter. I may have forgotten one or two, but I've even surprised myself with that list!

I once sold books to Mick Jagger whilst working in the Richmond branch of Waterstone's. Somewhere I still have a copy of the receipt with his signature on it. I'm not embarrassed to admit that I found him strangely attractive, for an old wrinkly.

Celery makes me sick. No, really, I can't abide the stuff. I mean, what kind of vegetable comes with its own dental floss? Ugh!

Thanks to a brief stint with an evangelical church group back in the late eighties, I can recite the books of The Bible by heart, both Old and New Testament. It can come in handy, occasionally.

Trifle is my favourite dessert, and I'm always concocting new and exciting fruit/alcohol combinations - most recently I made a chocolate orange version for my friend Brian's birthday, which contained two whole bars of chocolate (one dark, one white) and half a bottle of triple sec.

*****

Now is the part where I have to 'tag' a list of eight fellow bloggers (only cringing very slightly) to reveal eight random things about themselves. So I'm choosing a mixture of friends and Brighton bloggy people whose writings I regularly read. OK, here goes, I hope you're game guys:

Tag! You're It...
Abbi at http://sesheta7.wordpress.com
Jen at http://www.alienspouse.com
Shaun at http://www.idleformat.com
Beth at http://bethgranter.wordpress.com
Ant at http://www.reithian.blogspot.com
Sophy at http://www.wellieswithwings.org
Rosie at http://www.rosiesherry.com
Rowan (the other one) at http://www.rowanjanuary.blogspot.com

Why Breakfast In Bed?

It occurs to me that I've never actually explained the reason behind the title of this blog, other than in the About Me section, which I only added recently. So I thought it was about time I set the record straight. This is not a blog about Bed & Breakfasts, although I do get a lot of hits from people looking for accommodation recommendations. I may mention the occasional noteworthy hostelry in the context of writing about my various travels, but you won't find any B&B listings here, no sir. So why 'Breakfast In Bed'? Well, around the time I started blogging (early 2006), I'd been listening to a fantastic compilation CD called Super Seventies Reggae, on which one of the stand-out tracks is Breakfast in Bed by Lorna Bennett. Originally sung by Dusty Springfield as a bittersweet ballad, Bennett's version, released in 1971, is altogether sexier - oozing with seductive Caribbean charm, it puts one firmly in the mood to be waited on from under the comfort of the duvet. This song was stuck in my head when I was thinking about what to call my online offering, and it also seemed to reflect the sort of things I imagined writing about - namely life's little indulgences.

It should be said that making breakfast in bed for oneself does lessen the pampering factor rather, what with having to actually get out from under the duvet in order to prepare said feast, but let's face it, the chances of it happening any other way in our house are slim. I do get the occasional cup of tea delivered to my bedside on days when Mr M has to be up before me, or has been prematurely awoken by his bladder or an obstinate ginger cat - and even this is a most welcome indulgence. I'll admit to feeling slightly disappointed that it doesn't happen more often, especially since a precedent was set right at the beginning of our relationship - when I was brought not only breakfast, but the weekend papers (for which he had actually got dressed and gone out to the shops) - the first time I stayed over at his place. You could call this being lured in under false pretences, but I'm not one to complain (much). These days I am content to be spoiled a couple of times a year - on birthdays and anniversaries - and to find other ways to treat myself in the meantime. So whilst I do write about all those things here - music, food, books, socialising, travel - breakfast in bed remains the ultimate aspirational indulgence - the motivational icing on the metaphorical blog-cake.

Photograph courtesy of Romantic Home on Flickr

Disclaimer: This post is by no means intended as a hint.