Lisa, Author at Conversations through the middle

Leaving school, growing up, moving on

July 20, 2012

It’s Dot’s last day at primary school today. This morning we attended the year six leavers’ assembly and all of the children, mums and dads were affected by the emotional atmosphere in our little village church.

Each child had a part to play – Dot and her friend sang a duet and they did it beautifully; there were readings, a hymn, presentations, a song from The Tempest (their school play) and tears…

There will be a lot more tears to come I’m sure as after leaving the church all of the year six pupils were headed back to class to gather friends’ autographs and have their shirts and t-shirts signed by everybody in the school. Then, tonight, they have their leavers’ disco – dancing, sweets, running around and more tears…

I don’t know where the past six and a half years have gone! Only yesterday I was dropping her off in the reception class for her first day. Only the day before that my mam was dropping me off at infant school for my first day – I can still remember so clearly the moment she left me in the classroom with the rest of my class and my teacher; my name was called for the register and I just sat there silent, refusing to answer I was so shy…

I’ve just been to school to collect Dot and amazingly, no tears! They all seemed happy – covered in pen of course from signing each others’ shirts – and excited about the disco tonight.

I mentioned the school play a moment ago. It was The Tempest and it took place outside last week – in a tempest. The first time I saw a teacher push the rain off the makeshift stage roof with a mop, I thought it was part of the play. It wasn’t, it was the weather. We all sat and watched, and the kids performed during a downpour that lasted the entire 90 minutes. We must be mad. Dot was a star sailor and here she is, back home afterwards, happy to be warm again.

Ice cream anyone?

July 19, 2012

So many toppings to choose from – and who is that in the crowd?

So tonight I attended the launch of the Magnum pop-up shop in Westfield shopping centre, Stratford. When I was invited I thought why not, it’s on my way home, it sounds like fun. To explain – as you know Magnums are yummy ice creams, and this event was to mark the inauguration of the build-your-own magnum shop, which is open from tomorrow until September. So far, so good.

You choose your base – either traditional vanilla or a chocolate one, then you choose your covering – milk, dark or white chocolate – then you choose your topping. There were (from what I can remember) rose petals, chilli flakes, chocolate curls, white chocolate sprinkles, flaked almonds, chopped hazelnuts, marshmallows, meringue, coconut flakes, caramel twirls – and probably more that I’ve forgotten.

For some reason I thought it would be all multi colour sprinkles, lots of balloons and children. What in fact it was Champagne, Kelly Brook and a crowd outside the door waiting as if at a premiere! I arrived and I couldn’t see a way in. I had to push through loads of people (I did say excuse me, I am polite) to get to the lady with the clipboard and get in.

I was dressed normally. Lots of people were dressed in what I can only describe as black tie party wear. I felt very under dressed. And very fat.

The place was full of beautiful people! And Kelly Brook looked stunning.

Choosing her flavours

Helping behind the bar – is she after extra toppings?

They had a pod that measures your emotional response to eating your Magnum – Kelly tried it, I didn’t. I have no idea what response she got.

This is the pod

This is what the pod is about/ does

Art on the walls included a picture made from those little wooden ice cream spoons and a silhouette of a woman eating a Magnum made up of the word Magnum – or it might have been Walls – I wasn’t close enough to check.

But what a good night! Totally not what I was expecting, which is probably why it was so good. Too much Champagne drank and too much ice cream eaten – but I bet it’s popular this summer.

I did mean to take a photo of the work of art – goji berries, rose petals and chopped hazelnuts – but I forgot.
And I ate it, or at least half of it, then I remembered and took this photo, which gives you no idea of how lovely
it was as the pic is over exposed and looks a bit messy. You just have to trust me, it was delicious!


And she liked it too

London monuments – Edward VII statue

July 18, 2012

I love this statue in London, so regal. It’s located in Waterloo Place where everybody can see it – but who the hell put a parking sign in front it? Does the local council have no soul?

Beauty round-up – foundation, fragrance and nail colour

July 18, 2012

Beautiful Color showcased at the launch event

Elizabeth Arden fans are in for a real treat as the company launches its new Beautiful Color eye shadow collection dressed in opulent packaging of silver and gold. The colours – well, the colours are gorgeous and they’re rich, so should be long lasting. I can’t wait to try them and will let you know what they’re like when I do, but in the meantime you need to know there are 20 singles and 7 duos, covering any look you can think of from day to night, in shades inspired by the autumn winter catwalk. New colours will be added each season so the collection will always be on trend.

I loved trying so many colours – the words kid and sweet shop come to mind

Texture-wise, the feel is soft and silky, while the ingredients in these shadows are geared towards protecting and benefiting the eye area. They include antioxidant vitamins C and E to help protect your skin from free radical damage, a vitamin A derivative to help reduce the appearance of lines and wrinkles while boosting collagen production, and advanced pigment technology to give that silky result.

According to Arthur Pellegrino, Elizabeth Arden vice president, global research & development, this technology “targets color rich pigments at their core so the new eye shadows create a fine layer on top of the lid instead of falling into lines and creases”, so escaping the dreaded crepey look.

Watch out for Beautiful Color in store from mid September. www.elizabetharden.com

When it comes to foundation you’ll be spoiled for choice with the Stay All Day collection from Stila. It comes in 16 shades from 1 bare to 16 cocoa, so covers all skin colours and it includes a concealer hidden in the lid, as well as a mirror to aid application. Nice.

It’s an oil-free formulation and the texture is light and easy to spread; it covers quickly and gives a matt result, which looks natural (I watched it being applied to a model, which is how I know this). The concealer makes short work of dark circles and blemishes, requiring hardly any for good coverage.

Again this is skincare in make-up with ingredients including antioxidant vitamins A and E to help protect against free radicals and premature ageing.

I’ve only one complaint about this and that’s the little spoon thing included in the foundation bottle – it looks like a mustard spoon, much favoured by people of a certain age when I was a child, but it’s not looks I object too, it’s the way too much product comes out on it when you go to use it, which is wasteful and messy.

PS there’s exciting stuff happening on the Stila Christmas gift front – including the All Is Bright Lip Glaze Set that contains eight gorgeous glossy glazes. They’re out this autumn and I already have them on my Christmas list. www.stila.co.uk

Whether or not you’re a fan of the fragrance, the bottle designed for Anna Sui Fairy Dance is exquisite. Based on the dimpled flacon of her Secret Wish perfume, this one is topped by a fairy figure that is sure to have little girls reaching for mummy’s perfume. The shimmering box adds to the overall impression of fantasy and beauty, while the fragrance is a melange of vetiver, vanilla, sandalwood, peony, mango and rose. Find it in Debenhams from August.

Ring the changes in your nail polish with these three shades from LCN. The Smokey Midnight Coat creates a dramatic veil when applied on top of another colour, while Matt Effect Polish gives a milky matt look. For a touch of glitter glam try Sparkling Effect Polish on any colour or use it on its own. They’re online at www.beautyconcepts.co.uk