lifeofyablon.com

by yablon | June 10, 2013

The (challenging) Birthday Present

I grew up with someone who is IMPOSSIBLE to buy presents for. Believe me, the ardent shopper that I am, I have tried. And tried. And tried. It’s a mixture of knowing what she likes and hating what she doesn’t need. (And, to be honest, I suffer a little from the same affliction.) Over the years, I have had a little go at trying to find that one thing she might accept (let alone like). One or two birthdays I have even thrown in the towel and decided against giving her any more than a greetings card.

However, this year (for simple arithmetic reasons), I needed to scratch my head a little harder. Anyway, the Smalls love to give so I couldn’t deny them the privilege of spoiling her on her big day.

And then Mini and I had an idea. We would make something: a stool that Mini could perch on in her busy kitchen.

a simple stool from Tesco.com £27.99

The excitement was immense as we searched for the perfect wooden stool and then worked out how we could personalise it.

before taking a trip to our favourite ribbon shop, VV Rouleaux

Mini choosing the ribbons

back home, once the stool was built, we covered the seat with wadding

let the ribbon weaving begin

our finished stool. made with a lot of LOVE!

I don’t know who is more delighted: the birthday girl, Mini or me.

Happy Birthday to you. You know who you are! xxxx

VV Rouleaux 102 Marylebone Lane, W1

sister-in-law turns hen

Clucking hens in the hot tub at Penny Hill Park

with a little help from our friends at Blue Nun

A BIG thank you to Blue Nun: available to buy online priced at under £10 for a 75cl bottle

Rooftop Cafe at The Exchange: He before me

The Exchange, spitting distance from the Shard

There’s only one VERY annoying point about the somewhat unknown, definitely under-the-radar, eatery I’m about to tell you about. It isn’t its location (although it is tricky to find), it isn’t its prices (a reason I often hesitate to blog about the latest/newest restaurant in London) and it isn’t the chi-chi crowd – because my fellow eaters were totally non-plussed about with whom they were dining. No, the point is that He went there first. And I know He’s going to read the review and want to talk about it. BUT he won’t want to talk about what I ate and why I loved it. No! He’ll want to tell me that He was there first!

The Rooftop Café, hidden on the 2^nd floor of The Exchange at London Bridge, is probably more of a lunch place (which is when He went). But then, a few weeks ago, the cafe flung open its roof on Thursday and Friday nights and I suggested Mini’s Godmum and I should eat dinner there immediately. It’s a perfectly brilliant location for her to return to SE London and for me to head NW.

London city Rooftop Cafe tomatoes

Back to the café’s location. The Exchange is spitting distance from the Shard, but actually couldn’t be more different in its rather dated appearance. Founded as a joint venture, by James Sellar and Sam Aldenton, the building is a co-working space or ‘incubator’ providing offices and business expertise to start-ups. That really quite excited me and so did ringing a bell as I tried to gain entry. Followed by vague directions from the 2^nd floor lift, it all felt as if I was really earning my dinner.

The café itself is stunningly designed with simple, clean lines. Instantly greeted by an open-plan kitchen run by Australian Magnus Reid, formerly of St John and The Hackney Pearl, I then stepped out onto the terrace to find real veg and herbs growing as well as a perfectly gritty view of South London. Yvonne, the manager, told me of the plans they have to create a semi-covered area so that we will be able to enjoy the rare summer days (and evenings) up there.

Magnus Reid’s open kitchen at Rooftop Cafe/The Exchange

We ate ridiculously well at pub-grub prices. The menu changes every day, the team are more than keen to please and the whole atmosphere feels very pop-up-esque. Except that they’re here to stay – for at least a couple of years.

clean design at Rooftop Cafe

From 15^th June Rooftop Café will be open on Saturday nights. I’d book now if I were you –with only a handful of table – this brilliant roof will soon be fully booked, despite its hidden location.

Ok. Message delivered. I’m off to hide before He comes looking for me…

Herbs galore on the roof

Rooftop Café at The Exchange, SE1 (020 3102 3770).

Open Mon-Fri 8am-3pm, dinner served 6pm-10.30pm Thurs and Fri. About £45 for two not including wine.

1 Comment

Filed under him

by yablon | June 6, 2013

THE bracelet’s very own party pics

Baroness Delyth Morgan, Bec Astley Clarke and me

(from right) Bec Astley Clarke, Baroness Delyth Morgan and me

Last night Bec Astley Clarke, Baroness Delyth Morgan and I partied. We celebrated the launch of the UK’s first EVER breast cancer bracelet to raise awareness and funds for BRCA and those other (still undetected) breast cancer genes mutations.

Jools Oliver & the one and only Amanda Howe

Bec with Clive Anderson

Julie Etchingham and Emma Flack listening to the speeches

Julie Etchingham & (my) Emma Flack listening to the speeches in front of Jess Carter-Morley (in the colourful dress) and Bec’s sister, Naomi (in white/black)

Maria Grachvogel

Lauren Drummond and me

the ridiculously elegant Astley Clarke personal shoppers selling our bracelet

very elegant Astley Clarke personal shoppers selling our bracelet

For those who weren’t with us at The Arts Club, Dover St. W1 – I have also included my speech:

Recently, I was informed that the discovery of the BRCA gene is one of the most crucial discoveries of our lifetime. It puzzled me. How could a defective gene which affects a reasonably small number of us be so significant. But then the penny dropped. By cracking the BRCA code, it shows that the scientists and researchers are just beginning to understand breast cancer. And, I truly believe that we are now on the verge of understanding the role genetics play in cancer.

As a BRCA gene carrier, I felt that safeguarding myself from breast and ovarian cancer was not enough. I now feel compelled to raise awareness and funds for this gene and the many other genes related to cancer which remain undetected. To achieve this goal, I have brought together leading research charity, Breast Cancer Campaign and the fine jeweller, Astley Clarke and the result is this meaningful bracelet.

For those of you who know my story, you will be aware of the measures I have taken – my bilateral mastectomy and removal of my ovaries – have been entirely preventative. So why have we asked you to join us tonight? Well, tonight is about the future.

To give you a real life example: At half term I was without childcare but needed to attend a meeting at Breast Cancer Campaign – with an 8 year old daughter in tow. The team at the charity set her up with lots of jobs while I was in the meeting but, on the tube ride home, she asked me in a relatively loud voice: Mummy, what is breast cancer? I told her that it’s a horrid disease we want to get rid of. And we need to understand why some people get it. She asked me if I had ever had it. And I reminded her of those operations I had had so that I wouldn’t get it. After a long pause she leant over, held my hand and said: Oh clever you Mummy, that’s brilliant.

But I’m not the clever one here. I’m the one who simply wants to make sure that my daughter and her generation have more options, more knowledge and less breast cancer. In 10 years time, she will be legally able to test for the gene. She has a 50:50 chance of having this defective gene, as did I. Please join me in supporting Breast Cancer Campaign tonight, by purchasing a bracelet from one of the lovely Astley Clarke personal shopping team, or making a donation at the Breast Cancer Campaign table in the corner. Your support tonight and in the future is vital as their scientists truly hold the key to disabling this and other defective genes.