Wednesday, 28 February 2007

TREAT ME MEAN!

mmmm..... I think that I am starting to develop a bit of a habit.

Just like yesterday morning Tomas and I met at Pret a Manger in Picadilly for coffee and cigarettes. It was a horrible, drizzly and cold morning so we didn't much feel like sitting there and working our way through the packet of Silk Cut I had just bought.

Instead we huddled under Tomas' umbrella and smoked a couple outside Amanda, Oh! whilst sipping on our cardboard take-away cups ... sort of shattered the continental romance of it all!

Mind you, I found myself hoping that tomorrow will be sunnier so we can imbibe caffeine whilst talking and laughing within a tobacco cloud ... time for nicotine gum if this carries on.

Good morning at work - won't bore you with the details.

Met up with Millie for our session with Rosa Klebb at the gym. She had me stretching, bending over and getting myself into the sort of positions that I know some of my boyfriends would just have been ecstatic about! Must remember to practice these because I'm sure they will come in handy soon .... Nico for instance!

Once finished Mills and I popped down to Barrafina (new tapas bar on Frith Street) for some of the most divine tapas I've experienced in London.

Mills was feeling much better when we left as she had been nursing the hangover from hell when we met. She had me in stitches recounting her experiences from the night before.

As marketing manager for Walrus Books Millie had been responsible for organising the book launch for Annabel Gouranter's latest book. If you aren't aware Annabel is the arch-feminist who's books include; 'Remove them at birth - castration and the reduction of male aggression', 'Every man knows his place' and 'Battery operated is better.'

Well, it appears that after downing quite a few glasses of champagne and launching into a rather embarrassing, no holds barred attack on the opposite sex, Annabel signed a few copies of her book 'The Future is Female', before disappearing from the main room. Anyway, she had to be restrained by security for a sexual aggression on one of the handsome young Walrus junior sales managers. She was grabbing at his fly whilst shouting, 'treat me mean you bastard', when they eventually pulled her off him ... it going to take all of Millie's P.R. skills to keep this one out of the press!

Needless to say, once Millie had managed to organise a cab to get Annabel back to her hotel suite she had downed a bottle of champagne herself ... I can't say I blame her!

Arrived home to find message from Nico on the answer machine wondering if I wanted him to pop over with a takeaway.

He arrived within the hour with some sushi from the Japanese restaurant across the road.
I was starting to feel pretty stiff from my work out so got Nico to give me a great massage ... that just left it up to me to work off any stiffness he might have built up since we last saw each other ...

Tuesday, 27 February 2007

COFFEE AND NICO ... NICOTINE!


What a fabulous night we had!

Nico and I rolled in at around 2.30am and then rolled around until around 4.30am!!!

Not only was this great fun but I sobered up and got real perspiration inducing exercise at the same time - how marvellous is that!

Got Nico a little jealous by talking a tad too much about how impressed I was by Hans, from Sins of Angels, HUGE member. Now Nico is not a man of small proportions himself but there is no easier way to get the opposite sex going than to start talking about big ones.

If fact, it was just too easy, I made him prove to me again that it's not always about size but what you can do with it - let me tell you - Nico can certainly do a lot with his!

Early start to work, Nico and I shared a taxi into town, both of us feeling rather self righteous. Although somewhat tired our noctural activities we had worked off any chance of us suffering from hangovers this morning!

Nico left me outside Amanda, Oh! and went home to get changed for work, so I popped across the road for a quick coffee and cigarette at one of Pret's streetside tables. I was just stubbing it with my Manolo heel out when Tomas appeared!

'Caught you at it!' he exclaimed as I tried to kick the butt under the table and hopefully out of sight.

Tomas and I tried to give up smoking together last year - apparently he is doing better than me.

Saying nothing more about the cigarette at this point Tomas smiled at me beofre saying, 'Fab night last night, another coffee?'

I agreed and Tomas nipped inside before returning with two steaming, frothy cups and sitting down next to me. 'Well come on don't be greedy!' Tomas reached into my handbag and brought out the packet of silk cut and cheap disposable lighter that I had just bought in the small newsagents next door.

'Gagging for one of these' and just like in the old movies he put two in his mouth, lit them both and passed one to me.

'When did you start smoking again?' I questioned as he inhaled deeply.
'When did you start smoking again?' he replied.

Anyway, it appears that just like me Tomas has been enjoying a quick cigarette every now and again and had been worried that I found out it would start me off again, as you know I've have been doing exactly the same thing, I didn't want to start him off again!

Now that our dirty little smoking secrets were out in the open we both sat, gossipped, drank coffee and smoked our way through a whole pack of twenty.

Before you could say 'Robbie's back in rehab!' an hour had passed! 'Oh my God!' Tomas exclaimed before jumping to his feet, 'I've a conference call will Japan in ten minutes!'

'Can you believe it', said Tomas as we hurriedly made our way across the road, 'You're considered a gold-digging chancer who married for money and sleeps with anything in trousers and I'm seen as an outrageous gay, Russian immigrant! Yet, the only thing we are both worried about is whether anyone finds out that we are secret smokers!'

Strange old world isn't it??!!!

Monday, 26 February 2007

THE OSCARS

Spent most of the afternoon arranging our impromptu Oscars party for tonight.

I decided to hire out Vena ma Boca in Soho for our Oscars themed shindig. Millie and I had already put our connections to good use and we had managed to make the smart Tapas Bar look like red carpet and gold statue heaven!

The theme being 'the red carpet' I wanted everyone to arrive as glammed up as they possibly could and once the organisation was over it was a case of shooting back to my apartment for a quick rest before getting ready.

With the guest due at nine I arrived a few minutes beforehand to make sure that everything was OK - it was! It was fabulous!

What a night we had -

Angela Alette arrived without her new husband with her usual posse of gorgeous guys in tow. She, as always, looked fabulous - rather nipped and tucked up close - but it was an Oscar party aka the Night of the Thousand Knives, so she did fit right in! Angela is an Oscar winner of course for her song from Maison de Quatre Amours from the Sixties but she preferred to stay in London tonight.

Ben Truman - looked good enough to eat, and do plenty of other things to too - what can I say! He always looks hot as hell and he was on great form spending most of the night flirting with anyone who came his way and downing vodka gimlets like there was no tomorrow.

Millie arrived with Marcus - I was surprised that he was here being Oscar night and all but it appears that he had to foresake his invite to the Vanity Fair Oscar party in order to complete negotiations on his new project.

Cass arrived with the band Sins of Angels - a wild bunch if ever I saw one - right up my street. Cass was on fab form too and was doing all she could to encourage the boys to behave like real badass rock stars!

Helen arrived with her P.A. Chantelle. Chantelle is a great girl a complete live wire. Chantelle also gets to screw every fella that Helen passes on - a great perk of the job!

Tomas arrived with his new beau, Paul (very tasty I've got to say) and the pink crowd. They were all giddy with excitement over the nominations for the two great dames - Helen and Judi - and dame in waiting Kate!

Nico also arrived looking like a Greek version of James Bond, replendent in black tie - liking this guy more with every passing day! Watch out girl - don't want to fall too hard here!

We certainly had a wild evening and as the vodka and champagne flowed things certainly did get right out of hand.

I seem to recall judging a 'gold globes' competition of our own - also being rather bemused that there was still quite a large number of real boobs out there still!

That was followed by the boys doing a special Oscars show in response - I gotta say I was most impressed by the guy Hans from Sins of Angels - HUGE!!!! Millie tells me he is a former porno star and even has an extra large dildo named after him - if Nico wasn't here .....

The best result of all - Dame Helen winning the Oscar - congratulations - what a talent and what a beautiful woman - wonder if I could do a Gap and sign her up as a new face of Amanda, Oh! underwear ....?

Gotta go ... Nico is waiting and I really want to find out just how much a Grecian Urns!

Sunday, 25 February 2007

SATURDAY IN THE CITY

Met up with Millie in Covent Garden.

Last night we decided that it would be a great idea to celebrate the Oscars by holding an Oscar themed party tomorrow night.

Where better to start looking for outfits that in and around Covent Garden and Neal's yard ... also where better to meet than around here for a good gossip and lunch at the Charlotte Street Hotel, a short taxi ride away - Helen and Cassie where meeting us there later.

Got some great props and outfits - tell you more about this tomorrow and Millie and I had a great laugh with the girls at lunchtime.

Couldn't help be do a little bit of bitching and gossipping ... for instance;

Tom Cruise - short in stature into weird religions maybe, but - rumour has it - that it's Katie who is the control freak and it's poor old Tom who's trapped in this bizarre marriage!

Kate Moss - drug addled old slut who will sleep with anyone, anytime, anywhere ... so overspoilt and bored with life that cheap thrills sex is one of the only things that brings a smile to her greying, increasingly lined face .... allegedly of course!

Geri Halliwell - unanimous agreement that she is a self-centred, self-obssessed, egomaniac talentless cow!

Brad Pitt - completely smitted and under Angelina's spell. She wears the pants and she calls the shots in this one - allegedly!

Now, I know this all may seem a little mean ... and I know that this is all bitchery and not founded on any fact ... but don't we all just love to do it. After all, unless one of them takes up reading my blog - which seems a little unlikely - I'm sure it won't have done any harm at all!

Quiet night in with Millie and Kyra Knighteley in 'Pride and Prejudice'. May be Saturday, and not quite a wild night out, but we've got a party to organise for tomorrow and I'm in the mood for a really good one!

BELLISSIMO!


Early start this morning as Nico had to get up and go to the docklands for a photoshoot.

No problem with that though, it gave me the chance to get into the office early. I love London in the early morning. Although the weather wasn't great it had stopped raining and there was that lovely clean smell that comes from a world just waking up and the clean air that the rain has brougn down with it.

Stopped for a quick coffee and (I know I shouldn't but sometimes it's just so right) couple of cigarettes as I sat outside Picadilly's Pret a Manger. It's so great just sitting there. looking all European watching our great city slowly start to come to life.

The final night dwellers can be seen slowly making their way home, whilst the new day's inhabitants wearily make the handover from dark to light.

Feeling suitable guilty for smoking I handed the nearly full packet to a young Italian couple sitting at the table next to me. I could see a glimmer of recognition in their faces but they were most grateful for the cigarettes.

When I see Italians I can't help but wonder what they are talking about - it always seems that their animated conversations are far more interesting than mine! Perhaps I should learn Italian instead of Spanish! - mind you Nico also thinks I should learn Greek - goodness I could be working for the United Nations next!

Speaking of Italians, Tomas was already in the office when I arrived - looking fabulous as always - god girls if I could bottle his beauty secrets I'd make a fortune. He was happily beavering away with a huge smile on his face.

'In Love Darling' he gushed as he bustled past me.

'Tell me more ...'

'Second gen Italian, called Paul, parents called him Paolo but honey he's more English than you, and works in the City! Shall we just say dark, hirstute, gorgeous, huge and makes a great coffee in a morning! What more could a man want ....!'

'Gay man darling', I replied, 'Gay man...!'

Friday, 23 February 2007

GYM-TASTIC

Just recovering from a session with a personal trainer at the Third Space in Soho.

Last night Millie and I though that it would be a good idea to get fit and have a bit of a work out - the idea of doing this under the watchful eye of some muscled bound fitness guru also lent a certain appeal to it too.

I booked it for Millie's lunch break so the two of us arranged to meet there at 12.30. we both arrived with our pink gym bags crammed full of unused lycra and asics trainers.

After a quick change the two of us waited for our personal trainer - 'God, I look like a human condom' Millie whispered to me, resplendent in her purple lycra suit.

Our faces must have been a picture when our P.T. arrived, both of us where hoping for Daniel Craig emerging from the sea as James Bond, what we got was an Eastern European Rosa Klebb type harridan. 'I am going to work you harder than you've been worked before' she exclaimed, 'and what's more you are going to enjoy it!'

One long, hard hour later I can attest to the fact that I had never worked harder before and, quite bizarely, I had enjoyed it. With no manly muscles to ogle our wizened little Rosa ensured that we concentrated on our work out with no distractions!

After a light salad at Balans in Soho Mills and I went our separate ways - and yes, we have booked a programme with Rosa - here's to getting fit!

Quiet night in - on my own can you believe! Flipped through TV channels and watched a little bit of Hotel Babylon - made me feel sick all the strange whirling aerial shots around London so I flipped over to Bonkers! - it certainly was Bonkers! That's the problem with not watching TV too much - the less you watch the less you want to watch!

Getting rapidly bored with the goggle box I found myself texting Nico to see how he had got on at this test shoot.

Half an hour later the TV was off and we were in bed - much better way to be entertained in an evening!

Thursday, 22 February 2007

THE GIRLS ARE BACK IN TOWN

I do love emails - what a great form of communication they are.

In amongst the spam - you now the ones, Cialis, Viagra, perform like a porn star - there was one from Millie;
'The Girl's Are Back in Town!'
Hi Mand, I hope all's well. Cass and I are back! Great time away together - nice and relaxing - really I mean it, we actually behaved ourselves! We'd love to meet up with you for a good gossip later on - how about 7.30 at Floridita, Wardour Street?

And then from Helen:-

'NY sorted'
Back from the Big Apple.
What a fortnight, with London Fashion Week and the NY scenario I am really ready for a night where I don't have to think Fashion for a minute. Mills and Cass are back, it would be great for us all to meet up.

Heaven! Can't wait.

My three best friends and I - couldn't wish for a better night. All of them have been so great to me, sometimes I don't know how I would have got through some of the bad times after Emmanuel's death if they hadn't been around.

Love Floriditia too - very Cuban, very fabulous.

I am teaching myself Spanish so I rang and confirmed our table - puerdo hacer una reservation para quatro para esta nochas a siete y triente hoara? - Not perfect I know but I think that the Polish reservation clerk understood what I was trying to say.

Quick meeting with Elizabeth McCain - sorted out the themes of the new swimwear lines - all the pictures are going to be very Warhol, backgrounded in New York loft type apartments with lots of beautiful and creative looking people lounging around in the background.

Good natter with Elizabeth too - she told me that she had given a twin baby boy and girl up for adoption when she was younger - something that she never wanted to do and something that she now whats to put right. Good luck ... but proceed with caution. She is such a great lady I do hope that it all works out well for her.

Tomas whipped out late afternoon and got me some new jeans and a little top to wear tonight - God I LOVE that man.

FLORIDITA

Fabulous evening, the girls were all on great form. Mills was as clumsy as usual and managed to spill her pomegranite vodka all the way down her white top - looked as if she had been involved in some sort of massacre! I did tell her that it made her boobs look great though!

Cassie has tickets for us all to see a live lounge performance by Tears of Angels next week. I really want to see that, I loved their DVD 'long, hard and uncut' - seem like a really great bunch of guys.

Joined at mid-night by Angela Alette and Ben Truman - both still very pleased about their risque ad campaign for me. Rather drunk and ogled Ben too much - in the end he started to laugh at me, I guess I did look a bit pervy but he is soooooo gorgeous. Wonder if I could get him paired up with Tomas?