How much do we all love a bumper issue?
How much do we all love a bumper issue? More of everything, and by the time you read this I’ll be on a plane clutching my mini-mag of travel fiction and can’t wait. I’m the ultimate beach reader, it’s my holiday pleasure and beyond happy under a parasol with my nose in a book. Having already read Richard Osmond’s ‘The Thursday Murder Club’ followed by ‘The Bullet That Missed’ I’m now taking away with me ‘The Man Who Died Twice and ‘The Last Devil To Die’. Obviously I’m a fan and if you are, the good news is that very soon we’ll be sitting in the cinema with a bag of popcorn watching ‘The Thursday Murder Club’ directed by Steven Spielberg, but who’s in it? No one is saying and I’m desperate to know. If you’ve watched Richard on TV and haven’t yet read his books, please do, because I’ll be very surprised if you don’t like them and I’m pretty certain you will, like me, become hooked.
Love the feature on famous frocks - right place, right person and the rest is fashion history. Never underestimate the power of clothes I’m not sure who said this originally but I heard it from Margaret Thatcher when she was being interviewed about her look and she said, “When in the public eye fifty percent of the job is looking the part” and she was right. If you are going to stand up in public and take centre stage, looking the part really helps. Haven’t we all been in situations in our work or private life when we needed confidence, maybe it was to walk into a room of people we didn’t know, attend a meeting, give a speech, ask for a job, ask for a rise, or even complain about a service. But by spending that little extra time on our appearance it gives us that kick of inner confidence. Of course, it’s not all about clothes, my father quotes a song by Irish singer Val Doonican the words go;
“Walk tall walk straight and look the world right in the eye, that’s what my Mother told me when I was about knee high” And there’s a truth in it, my best beauty trick will always be, with a touch of lipstick, stand up straight, put your solders back and smile with that look of serene confidence, however you’re feeling inside. But if all else fails there’s always ‘Abba Gold’ to lift you to the high heavens, has there ever been an empty dance floor when ‘Dancing Queen’ comes on? No, and do I remember the first time I saw Mamma Mia? Hell, yes I do and who can’t wait for the finale so we can get up, dance and pretend we are there with them on that Greek island. Sending you love from Santorini where yes, I’ve packed my bell bottoms because where else am I going to wear them?