We’ve all been roped into a charity lunch, your Princess Pal mysteriously invites you for a cup of coffee and then before you have even stirred in your sugar, launches into her sales pitch, finishing with a flourish, ”Pleeeeese come, I am making up a table,”  as she takes her last sip of cappuccino.

Of course you can’t say NO, she brought the coffee, so you say “Yes, I would love to come” even though you are already making up the table for at least three other ladies luncheons,  you have had a lot of coffees this last month. 

So last week, I found myself once again suited and booted – what do your wear for May Antarctica?   This week’s charity lunch, the location St Johns Wood – great for two reasons – My car can steer itself there, and secondly enough time to look in L’Arizia, oogling at all the shoes and handbags, sizing up what might go on sale SOON if this English freeze continues – there is always a Princess Positive in everything.

The lunch was being held to raise monies for Jewish Women’s Aid, and I have to say that once I had parked, RIGHT OUTSIDE, YAAY and munched on my first canape, I knew this was going to be a good do – yes we Princesses DO like to eat.

The speaker was Deborah Lipstadt – an American historian, author of Denying The Holocuast and The Eichmann Trial. As I sipped my coffee, I realised I was absolutely delighted I had been roped in, not only to raise funds for such a good cause, but to be priviledged to hear such an amazing lady, who spoke so inspiringly, her subject – Should we concentrate on the Oy or the Joy of life?   She obviously hasn’t met The Jewis Princess YET!

I can’t believe I am such a techno NO NO – Its all so scary – but don’t worry that’s what Junior JPs are for – Thanks guys for now hooking me up to Face Book – I knew I gave birth to you for a reason x

Reward delicious Friday night dinner – Something I can do Princess Perfectly

I’m in Spain for the Bank holiday weekend and as the weather wasn’t great decided to hit the shops as every Princess know how to do when needs must. I was driving very slowly as it was raining and suddenly I felt the car skid and go out of control. Every Princesses nightmare. I felt very calm as I turned the wheel into the skid and felt the car mount a Barrier and then turn round twice and mount another Barrier. I sat upside down perched on a Barrier in the middle of the road. The other Princess strapped into her seat next to me shouted, “DON”T MOVE!”. All I could do was laugh as I saw other drivers pass us by taking pictures with their phones. Five Spanish men stopped to help hold the car whilst we clamored out. We then stood in the pouring rain waiting for Princess Georgie to come to the rescue with her dashing Prince Jeremy. She was only round the corner in San Pedro where all good Princesses should be, at the hairdressers.

Sometimes I wonder why I go out to eat. Oh yes, I know, so I don’t have to cook!

My filofax is littered with crossings out, changes of time and changes of destination.  Restaurants are discarded due to their sudden decline, “oh we ate there last month, dreadful.” Over egged, “we have eaten there every Thursday for the last month and I am sick of it” and over bearing, “its so noisy we won’t be able to talk, about everyone else who is there!”  Therefore, barring illness, last minute meetings, (hubbie never writes his football matches in the filo,), and unfortunatelly the occasional shiva, I do occasionally make it out of the house and find myself eating at another table.

I have discovered, to keep my Princess Pals happy, like all restauranteurs, you need to know your customer.  Therefore, even though I know where I want and where I don’t want to eat, I have learnt to say,  ”wherever you fancy,” even if I don’t fancy this establishment fried, pickled or stewed.

I have pals who will only eat cheap and cheerful, which translates into chain and cheerless.  I have pals who will only eat within a radius of three miles from their home, and wonder why we can’t come up with anywhere NEW to go.  I have pals who refuse to eat any later than 8.15, in case their haitus hernia might explode, hubbie always manages to arrive home LATE for these evenings,  and pals who say 8.45, then turn up at 9.15, just as I am about to eat my way through the tablecloth.  I have pals who won’t eat anywhere unless it is Michelin starred, (we don’t see them often) and pals who have to eat in town if its a Saturday night, at the “in” place because they can get IN.

You see IT ISN’T EASY.  However, just occasionally a wonderful thing happens, my pals all agree on where we want to eat, we all get there politely five minutes late and we all LOVE our food.  This happened last Saturday, destination Assaggi, Notting Hill (not quite in town, but close enough) everyone arrived at 8.35, tables were far enough away that we could chat (of course we knew a couple of the guests) and best of all, we ALL loved our food.

This rustic Italian is simply sensational – pasta dishes to tempt Atkins, fish so fresh you could be in Sicilly and a lemon tart that even if you are full to the brim, after trying everybody elses food, as food as well as your own, you can manage to wolf it down, guilty as charged.

If only every meal could be this good, including my own!

 Let me know about your LONDON WINNER DINNERS, and I might give them a go

When I was growing up, you knew you were in Stanmore, when you saw a bloke dressed in only a pair or trainers, red tatty shorts,  bent over and brown, clutching a plastic carrier bag - WALKING, (whatever the weather,) our very own Forrest Gump, imaginatively known as “The Stanmore Walker”.

For years he tramped the pavements, with no other purpose than to walk. As kids we would always watch out for him, disappointed if we did not get a sighting. I could never understand why someone would love walking that much.  If my mother even so much as suggested walking home from school, she would be met by a ‘look’ that said,  would you let your precious Princess out, all alone on the streets, jewish guilt kicked in and mum was once again waiting at the school gate with nosh in hand, (she made fabulous fairy cakes)

However, I have now started walking and you know what I simply can’t stop. Today I walked from Barnet to Temple Fortune on the green walk, which takes you down all sorts of pretty paths and parks, dressed in regulation black trainers, leggings and a puffer, plugged into my Princess Pal’s I pod.  Unfortunately, I didn’t know how to use it properly, and had to endure Marc Anthony serenading me OVER AND OVER AGAIN, it was torturous, no wonder J Lo couldn’t take it.

 Once reaching Temple Fortune I stopped for a manicure (well it was a Princess walk) and finally worked out how to use the I Pod, its a double tap, for all those that might struggle.  So what an amazing stroll home, Frank Sinatra, he is still the best, Foggy Day in London (most appropriate) Mick Hucknell, Bryan Ferry and some amazing Argentinian tango music (yes, you might have spotted me shimmying up Finchley High Road.)

 I even treated myself to an extra hot Star Bucks soy capp and lifted my face to the sun, that was just peaking through the clouds, then I raised my stryofoam to salute “The Stanmore Walker”

Please let me know if you remember “The Stanmore Walker”

Yesterday I had a late lunch with dear friends in St John’s Wood High Street. The restaurant which is normally buzzing a full to capacity was half empty. Is this a sign of the times,school holidays or being St John’s Wood do you think everyone was at the Marathon? Then I went to see the the movie Jo Nesbo’s Headhunters at the newly refurbished Odeon Swiss Cottage. What a wonderful way to spend a Sunday.

Shopping should ALWAYS be an enjoyable experience, however Brent Cross continually disappoints, and often actually gives me chest pain. That would be ironic, if I popped my UGG clogs in the shopping mall.

I have just returned and have had to make myself a stiff cup of tea to recover.

So now I have settled down, my heart rate has returned to normal and I am at my computer with a medicinal slice of almond cake ready to RANT: -

I enter Brent Cross via the food court, due to the torrential rain . The escalator is broken AGAIN – I take a deep breath and hurtle downstairs to tackle the Brent Cross assault course

The Massage Angels – now they have not been beamed down from heaven, they are the latest hard sales team who eagerly hunt down shoppers as they try to make it to the safe haven of M & S, or wherever else they are off to.

I edge past them, pretending to be really interested in French Connection’s window (I am far too old to be interested in French Connection’s window), to be greeted by another team in white coats  - THREADERS – they want to attack my eyebrows, moustache and anything else that might be hairy (don’t ask).  Well I don’t know about you, but do I really want to be if full view as they tackle my hairy bits? NO THANK YOU.

Finally  I make it to the green neon sign – Fenwick – what’s happened? Its turned into a junk yard – I have never seen so many clothes (not even in my own wardrobe,) they have obviously employed a shopaholic ladieswear buyer, I wonder if she is a JP?

To escape, I take the escalator (this one works) and find myself in the bedding department.  Which reminds me  I need a valance – I was sorry to interrupt the staff who were chatting about last weekend (it was actually quite interesting).  When I finally gained their attention, they turn on me – NO SMILE and NO HELP – So off to John Lewis,  Princess Pronto.

I scoot past the teeth whitening women and hear, “Can I ask you a question” OY VEH its the Israeli hit squad, the DREADED, ‘DEAD SEA GANG,’ who are desperate to sell me cosmetic creams – If you hear this question whilst at BC, hold onto your Star Bucks and RUN.

On the way to John Lewis I make a quick stop at WH Smith, that turns into a long layover – why? Customer Service seems to have become self service, like their tills.  In the end I raise my voice “Hello? Hello?? HELLO??? Yes a member of staff ambles over, but sadly they don’t have this best seller in stock- no wonder everyone is turning to Kindle.

I make it to John Lewis – yes, there is light at the end of the tunnel – the only store that is properly staffed, where they smile and say hello, and provide GREAT CUSTOMER SERVICE

So well done JOHN LEWIS, I have my valance but I don’t know if I am valiant enough to tackle Brent Cross again – WELL,  I will have to wait at least A WEEK!!

At the weekend Princess Tracey and Princess Georgie went up to Manchester to stay at the Holiday Inn Express which had been opened only for six months, so the bedrooms were spotless and just right for a Princess stay. The purpose of the visit was to do a food demo for the MS Society, www.mssociety.org.uk/contact-us. It took place at Manchester Central and good fun as always was had by all. Georgie and Tracey felt very humbled to be involved and spread a bit of cooking know how to the fabulous audience.

I was up at the crack of dawn to support Junior JP in her audition for X Factor. Her lovely boyfriend had flown in from Marbella and had come straight from the airport to take us to the venue. He scored big points with me.I packed Matzos, drinks and virtually anything else I could think of, well I am a Jewish Mother and I was sure there wouldn’t be any Kosher L’Pesach food for sale there. G-d forbid anyone should starve! It’s been a long day and although she didn’t get through, I keep telling her it’s the taking part that counts. When we came home we ate Matzo Brie and copious cups of tea. Now that’s what I call bliss!

The streets are deserted and the only reason I can think of is that everyone is busy cleaning and cooking in readiness for the Passover festival. This is the time of year that you find you are sitting at a table with an array of eclectic crockery which is quite the vogue at the moment. The food on offer is delicious and with the copious amounts of wine the evening ahead will be an enjoyable one. So I would like to wish all my fellow Prince and Princesses a Chag Sameach and enjoy your matzo brie and bubbleahs. if you are not celebrating Passover, but Easter enjoy your Easter eggs and hot cross buns I am so jealous! x