serviette or napkin

The age long debate, which came to my attention today when someone mentioned a book by Kate Fox called "Watching the English: The Hidden Rules of English Behaviour", it looks at a peculiar tribe of people known as "The English". In one section she lists certain words that if used by someone can identify them as a member of a specific class - "serviette" is one of those words which automatically flags up the person as working class. It can be argued ( very poorly I think) that it would be inappropriate to ask for a napkin in Mac Donalds ( if your are ever brave enough to eat there, I always have a tummy ache within an hour of eating a cheese burger meal), that the staff would only know the word serviette.
But I have to say that it is always a napkin, and if it is made out of paper then it is a paper napkin. Nancy Mitford in the 1950 s was absolutely clear that "table napkin" was the proper term and was probably the best known of all linguistic class indicators of the English language. She was supported soon afterwards by John Betjeman's poem "How To Get on In Society" which is very much a tongue in cheeck look at English society. ie everything you should never say " You kiddies have crumpled the serviettes" is such an example.

But my main point is that whatever your fellow dining guests says, napkin, table napkin or serviette, never make them feel uncomfortable in the choice of their words, that is always the worst sort of manners.

" The Curse of the Red Bikini"

How strange that my blog of yesterday is followed today in The Times 2 with a lead article about Helen Mirren and her red bikini. Helen Mirren is promoting her new film "The Debt" and so of course the press have found the 2008 bikini pictures and are publishing them, again.
"I know! It s everywhere! again!... I hope they don' t print that bikini photo with my obiturary " Helen told the Times.
Well I have a feeling that they will ! What joy to all ladies of a certain age that you can still be considered beautiful and sexy.

"Do I Look Good In This ?"

Each week I am sent an email magazine called "Weekly Wrinkle". It is full of wonderful ideas and tips for ladies of a certain age, very much "Wisdom for women in just a few lines".
This week one of the topics under discussion is the eternal question "Do I look good in this ?"
Really don't ask your husband as you will have been invisible to him for a long time. On the whole women admit that they like dressing up for other men to notice them ( in a gentle flirtatious way) and for other women to admire their new outfit/hairstyle/eyelash extensions etc.

But when do we become "Mutton Dressed as Lamb" ?
There comes a time according to a Daily Mail survey when you should stop wearing certain clothes, of course the results vary depending on your body and attitude to life.
Bikini 47 - but what about Dame Helen Mirren and her red bikini at 62.
Mini skirt 35 - yes but ok for longer if worn with opaque tights, and of course depends on the legs.
Excessively high heels 51 - no too young, as long as you don t walk like Dick Emery in drag.
Knee high boots 47 - oh no I love mine.
Leather trousers 35 - oh no I will have to give them to my 19 year old daughter
Leggings 45 - only ever in the gym
Ugg boots 15 - I agree or else you will look like a bag lady
Long hair 53 - it depends on the hair, unkempt grey locks a real no no.
See through anything - always with utter discretion and the correct undergarments.

The list is rather fun and open to much discussion, and I would recommend signing up to the Weekly Wrinkle team

What an achievement. Prague here we come.

Yesterday I ran 5km around Hyde Park to raise money for charity, I had hoped to do it in 25 minutes, but I managed it in 26 minutes, which put me in the fastest 150 or so ladies out of 15,000.
I feel a bit like Andy Murray today, I know I could have done better. I could only run at a "scouts pace" a couple of months ago, so really a huge improvement. So now I have seen that there is a 5km run in Prague next March, made up of teams of 3 ladies, so that is my next goal. I now need to invest in some supportive underwear and running shorts/leggings. I will let you know how I get on.

Should a grown woman wear ankle socks ?

Laura Craik, the Times fashion editor's answer is a very caveating yes. For me the answer is a caveating no, the only 2 caveats are that they can be worn for example when playing tennis or with shoes under trousers, so nobody knows. Or else you will look like you have a sad Lolita fixation.

However, life is unfair, tall, skinny and beautiful people such as Alexa Chung, model and tv personality, "get away with it" and even flaunt them, teamed with chunky platform sandals with 3 inch heels . (the sandal and sock question again) . So unless you look like Alexa, or are about to play tennis then only buy them for your daughter if she is under the age of 10/11. Actually most 10 year olds are too fashion street wise now, and would not be seen dead in a pretty dress with ankle socks !

Autumn is here

I know that summer has ended because I got up last week, at 4.30am to go Autumn hunting with one of my children. Normally at the end of August the mist rises above the fields with the rising sun. This year its just cold and grey. Yet its lovely that old country traditions ( but of course within the law) continue, and one feels very virtuous having ridden for a few hours before most people are out of bed.
Sadly its time to pack the children s trunks, for hair cuts and new pairs of shoes, and of course endless sewing of name tapes. My children have very long names and so they have very long name tapes.