The Free Gifts With Purchase Are Back As Selfridges Unveil Massive New Beauty Hall

Fumo restaurant has had a management overhaul too going from the worst to the best Italian food...

Tara Chirpy

2026-03-29T10:11:00.0000000 2026-03-29T10:47:20.6770000

Credit where credit is due.

I haven’t been to Selfridges in Birmingham since last summer. I had a terrible meal in Fumo on the third floor and vowed never to return.

Except this weekend my friend said she needed new make up and wanted to buy something to give her wardrobe a lift and we decided to reluctantly venture back to Selfridges.

And OMG what a difference, the energy, the appeal, the merchandising, the staff, it was like someone had just just come in, said this is completely rubbish, waved a magic wand, new layout, new brands, sacked all the old staff and replaced them with engaged, warm, polished, helpful sales assistants, not pushy but ready to bend over backwards and serve. My friend brutally said well if they didn’t do something the place was a mausoleum going out of business, she’s a hard ass business women CEO of her own company, she said “the whole place needed a bomb under it and blowing up” and was very encouraged to see someone had done it. The experience was like going back in time to the 1980’s and 1990’s when Selfridges was a shopping paradise, the brands, goods and displays were inviting, the lay out easy and the staff there to make you feel good and get your wallet open and spending.

They have extended the make up, hair care and athleisure and shrunk the tired old brands like Jigsaw, Reiss and Ted Baker after the retailer all but collapsed, going into administration at the end of 2024 closing all shops and concessions.

It’s been a dramatic shift Selfridges recognising people don’t have as much money to spend and fashion buying, wearing and stying has changed capitalising on the model and success of relative retailing new comers like American giant Sephora. And different fashion brands like Adanola, Bo and Tee, Tala, Anine Bing, Good American and Paige Denim. It was a really fresh experience, loads to look at, feel and touch and I cannot compliment the staff enough, super helpful.

And the gift with purchase is back. Yeah. We even bought bottles of the new Balmain perfume, affordable at £95 with lovely velvet massive tote bag, gift with purchase included and samples. Don’t you just love the samples when you shop high end, a luxury that had disappeared but appeared to be back I. Selfridges. Two make up items at the Bobby Brown counter yielded a make up bag too and the Diptyque counter we got a gift too.

The only downside for me was the staff were pushing the Selfridges app and rewards program just a bit too hard. It did come across as desperate, whilst I appreciate they want to be connected and pushing through the app to customers. I like to control what I look at and when so the app was not for me.

But it was when we ventured upstairs to Fumo Italian Restaurant where the biggest shock awaited us. The restaurant I’d vowed never to return to was completely transformed, beautiful welcoming well presented staff, our waitress in particular, from Ukraine, I didn’t get her name would not have been out of place serving in a Michelin starred restaurant. And the food made us imagine sitting in a trattoria in Italy, (not in a shopping mall in Brum) Generous portions, made with love and care, promptly delivered, accompanied by delicious wine and smiling extremely smart professional staff.

Another place where the transformation was so noticeable was actually couldn’t believe it. It was so so good we cannot wait to return.

Same place, same menu but my what a difference. The experience in Fumo, Birmingham in Selfridges made the day.

My opinion has completely changed and I’d recommend anyone pay them a visit. Well done to whomever is responsible for the complete overhaul.

Thought You’d Never Get Healthy Chinese Takeaway In The Supermarket Think Again

Itsu Teriyaki Veggie Gyoza Is A Triumph For Quick, Cheap, Tasty and Healthy On The Go

Tara Chirpy

2026-03-26T08:13:00.0000000 2026-03-26T09:02:29.4800000

I love the simple Itsu strap line - eat beautiful.

Now ITSU Is available in a supermarket ready meal and tastes better than Chinese takeaway.

A big claim I know, who can resist crispy greasy prawn toast, sweet and sour, sticky sauce, fried rice, a big bag of prawn crackers. This might not be your order but you know where I am going.

It’s usually too salty, too greasy, not that great for us and yet we cannot resist it.

For many the thought of Itsu, sushi, miso soup conjures ideas healthy, light, good day not delicious, lip smacking, tasty however they have come up with a supermarket ready meal that checks all of the Chinese takeaway satisfaction boxes for me.

It’s a combination box that includes dim sum parcels, rice and crispy vegetables. Teriyaki Veg Gyoza with brown rice is 482 calories, it costs only £4.25 it is ready in 4 minutes. It is literally the perfect balanced fresh quick cheap

meal that is satisfying and gives definite Chinese takeaway vibes.

I buy the veggie one, which is delicious but there are four or five other meat flavour combinations if that’s what you prefer. chicken Pad Thai noodles, chicken teriyaki and brown rice, Korean style spicy pork noddles, Thai style chicken brown rice and katsu chicken and brown rice so something for every palette in the range available at Tesco.

I actually don’t shop in Tesco normally (I’m an Aldi shopper) but this range from Itsu gets me in Tesco at least once a week.

If you are looking for a quick easy freshly prepared meal on the go for not much money considering what you get then I totally recommend these combo plates from Itsu especially the Veg Teriyaki Gyoza which I absolutely LOVE.

Itsu is the follow up brand for the genius food entrepreneur Julian Metcalfe who opened Pret A Manger is 1986 then Itsu chain followed in 1997.

This guys has changed the food landscape in the UK and also put service and kindness at the forefront of his business model. He’s feed the homeless and employed ex offenders and people on the street giving them a second chance at having a life. It’s a business and person I genuinely admire so very happy to support. Itsu is owned by Metcalfe’s food Company and Julian Metcalfe still owns 54% of the company. A British success story and a triumph for healthy freshly made “fast food”

For your information, it does say to microwave and I am not saying don’t I just think you get a better result popping the contents in the oven for 5 or 6 minutes. Comes out a bit crispier which I prefer.

Has Airbrushing and AI Gone too Far as Female Celebrities get a rude awakening from Vanity Fair Pictures

Vanity Fairs “Light Mare” Leaves The Ladies Of Hollywood In A Horror All Of Their Own

Tara Chirpy

2026-03-20T09:46:00.0000000 2026-03-26T07:27:07.2130000

Thank you Unsplash for the free less than perfect perfect images of women.

It was the one job Vanity Fairs new editor had to get right. The vanity Fair Oscar party, an event that had lost its lustre over the last few years. It was reported in the Hollywood press he had spent weeks even months fine tuning culling the guest list to ensure only those with a AAA celebrity rating were getting in.

When Oscar nominee Emma Stone was asked about her after party plans and Vanity Fair even she said she thought it was weird even for some people nominated (not her specifically) weren’t able to go.her Bugonia people were going to Universals party before going on to A24.

So what happened at the party to create the “Light Mare” that left some celebrities running home crying after the pictures that showed all the cracks were published.

The first mistake happened when the venue was changed to LACMA from Wallis Annenberg Centre in Beverley Hills. The idea was celebrities would get first look at the new David Geffen exhibition and new galleries (galleries are set to open to the public 19th April, 2026) however the refurb wasn’t ready in time and the party had to be relocated to a less glamourous wing of the museum.

The shindig organisers famous for their near perfect red carpet lighting designed to cover and conceal the flaws (I use the word to describe anything less than than perfection) of anyone deemed worthy enough to be photographed on it got it completely wrong this year as the celebrities complained one after the other about the glare of the totally unforgiving bright lights.

In the hasty move to LACMA one insider quipped someone forgot to bring the dimmer switch.

Of course social media commentators lapped up the best of the worst on platforms like Instagram and TikTok where pictures of Kris Jenner, Heidi Klume, Jane Fonda, Demi Moore, Mia Goth, Kate Hudson, Donatello Versace shot on the grey carpet under reportedly boiling hot lights took a beating.

Interestingly the amount of time, money and effort spent by celebrities, particularly the women, who are once again the victims in this situation, to get that one beautiful picture going out immediately to a global media and fan base can be completely ruined by one party snap.

I wonder how long it took Mark Guiducci’s boy friend time York times reporter Shawn McCreesh to peel back the covers and get him out of bed on Monday morning.

Or whether the new editor can save his job after a celebrity fiasco on this scale.

For me I think it goes a long way to show how it’s all about the lighting, the setting and the skill of those set and lighting designers to ensure the shots shot are celebrity perfect. In short it’s not real. And ironically none of the men, less effort, less time spent, less modification, make up looked bad, they were all fine.

So what exactly are we all buying into when it comes to women’s perfect that aren’t perfect, faces, bodies, Venus like statues as they practise their angles and photo stances for hours on end. All simple to create an illusion of Hollywood movie star glamour.

I for one loved seeing the Vanity Fair images, not because the women were less beautiful, for me in many ways they were more beautiful because they weren’t flawless, they were the reality and what do they say, the truth will set you free.

Women like Pamela Anderson have been criticised for her “no make up” position of late preferring to say this is it “like it or lump it” and sure she doesn’t look the same as she did in her red swim suit Baywatch glamour days but I admire her courage to go against the grain and be beautiful just the way she is. I heard fashion designer Betty Jackson now in her 80’s at this age “I’m cooked”

I think of actress Demi Moore making the movie The Substance and then caring about a Vanity Fair picture where she looks less than perfect. And how fake that is. Come on Demi. Which is it? Are you a brilliant actress sharing a universal truth in a highly and critically acclaimed movie or are you an insecure mannequin parading on a red carpet?

And why can’t you be both?

It would have been great for the actresses, instead of immediately posting their best party pictures from Oscar night to try and mitigate the fallout to have posted even worse pictures saying, you think that’s a bad picture of me, take a look at this one?

Seeing the humour in the magazine gaff would have blown a hole in the power the media holds over females and an outdated system making all these gorgeous talented women we admire for their brains and talent, wit and real life sex appeal want to run and hide the minute a not so flattering picture of them hits the internet.

Come on, give us more credit. We know no one is perfect. Even Hollywood movie stars.

let’s celebrate this Vanity Fair gaff people. These women we love to watch on screen or recognised for their gifts and talents in other fields are so much more than one picture snapped at a party on an ugly carpet in harsh lighting.

Shout Out To Barclaycard When The Parent Barclays Has Not Behaved Well Over The Years

Makes Me Think Of Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie And The Stigma They Must Endure Today

Tara Chirpy

2026-03-13T11:03:00.0000000 2026-03-13T12:35:56.0530000

Barclays Bank have been involved in a lot of controversy over the years, discrimination especially around race for a lot of years has tarnished my view of the brand. Barclays Bank was heavily involved in South Africa during the apartheid era, serving as a primary target for anti-apartheid boycotts from 1969 to 1986. The reputation stuck for many. The bank was criticized for financing the white-minority regime, providing significant loans to state-controlled corporations, and maintaining large operations, which prompted a major student-led campaign forcing its divestment in 1986.

Banks are not angels for sure but the whispers in the walls at Barclays have stopped me from ever having a chequing or savings account with them.

We had the libor scandal, the manipulation of bank lending rates that caused the then CEO Bob Diamond (along with other senior colleagues at the top) being forced to resign. The bank was fined £290 million for fixing the Libor and Euribor interbank lending rates between 2005 and 2009.

Barclays are not alone in their dodgy behaviour. Since the FCA started monitoring and looking into questionable practise within banking in 2014, the FCA has never had a year where the total fines are anything less than £1m. Its first full year of regulation in 2014 saw a record £1.47bn in fines issued.

But Barclays does seem to hit the headlines more times than other establishments.

Barclays has been criticised for its lending practises post financial crisis particularly for its aggressive approach to pulling in loans that have crippled small business. I remember listening to one radio show where customers were left with no where to go except getting it out on national radio. Interviews so powerful they stayed with me. The banks policies have been scrutinised for being overly stringent, leading to a significant number of complaints from small business owners and the Financial Ombudsman has reported a very high number of complaints about unexpected account closures from small business owners highlighting the devastating impact this has and the power the bank wields. This has happened to me with another bank which I did manage to get reopened thankfully and was able to continue trading so important to mention here it’s not just Barclays.

That said I am a very loyal Barclaycard user and choose my Barclaycard over any other credit card now because of the way I have been protected by Barclaycard when as a consumer I have been hurt. They have come to my aid and rescue like a protective, well muscled and scary older sibling wielding a big stick when I have felt small and bullied into backing down, taking the hit, helpless against online fraud and just bad business. Even borderline criminal behaviour the police deem a civil matter which would take a lengthy and expensive small claim to contest, Barclaycard have stepped in and got action.

The process to challenge any purchase made with your Barclaycard is long, lengthy online forms requiring lots of information, and time consuming for sure. I guess they have to be careful the consumer, their customers are not using Barclaycard safeguarding policies unethically or for their own financial gain.

That said if you are a valued customer with a legitimate issue Barclaycard have got your back.

I’ve been a Barclaycard customer for about 10 years, despite my aversion to Barclays Bank and my negative association with the name. For about 8 years of the time, I have had no need of the protection Barclaycard offer against any purchase made however in the last two years I have had three incidents, two small under £100 but annoying both resolved in my favour and one very large purchase where the action on the part of Barclaycard and their intervention caused the business in question to act and sort out the problem, a problem they were choosing to ignore when it was just me trying to get resolution on my own.

I have other credit cards in my wallet, with other major high street banks. And I am excited to get a Revolut credit card when they are available in the UK as I really like their whole different, more ethical customer led approach to banking. I have been extremely disappointed with the credit card services offered by the Nationwide whose service does not match it’s clever and widely recognised advertising campaigns making light of the marginally ethical borderline criminal behaviour of other banks. I’d say pot calling the kettle black based on my own experience.

I wrote this because I am sure Barclays have left a sour taste in many people’s mouths over the years but if you are looking for a credit card provider that doesn’t “bait and switch”, do honour 0% rates when offered and will be there for you should something go wrong I can wholeheartedly recommend Barclaycard. They have been amazing.

Women are going Topless in Berlin at Public Leisure facilities after one discrimination action case is won

I am an open minded bra burning liberal who came of age in the 1960s so why does this give me...

Tara Chirpy

2026-02-12T16:34:00.0000000 2026-02-12T16:55:42.5730000

Women can now swim topless in public swimming pools in Berlin just as men can.

Following a 2023 gender discrimination complaint the rule change, February 2026 is described as a victory for activists and a step forward in dismantling traditional gender norms regarding public nudity in Berlin.

I am not sure what I feel about Berlin’s decision, which as was the case in Goettingen, has received extensive national and international attention and should be framed in the context of Germany’s Freikorperkulter “free body culture:” a tolerance of and, in some cases, a fondness for being ‘textile free.’ Who doesn’t like prancing around naked? This I understand, I just think time and place, surely.

The massive shift in social equality came after a woman filed a formal complaint about being forced to cover up while men were not, leading to a new policy focused on human rights and fair treatment. This would normally be something I’d be in favour of, equal rights sure except what about protection for young women brought up on Disney movies who don’t know the nature of Men quite yet. With rising stats globally on criminal behaviour and sexual assaults on women I am not sure allowing everyone to strip off is the best way to protect women and ensure their safety against sexual predators. Whilst women might argue it’s up to us to decide if we want to swim and sunbathe topless not governments and if men can why can’t we, a valid point, I am just not sure for younger women with less experience of the uncontrollable urges of men it’s not opening a door to encouraging unwelcome attention and the smartest or safest move in the long run. (Although probably will increase visitor numbers for the voyeuristic vacation experience.)

This change is certainly a big win for gender equality and reflects a more inclusive approach to personal freedom in one of Europe’s most progressive cities but where does it stop. Are we going to start seeing topless bars and restaurants across Europe? For the patrons not just the paid entertainment.

I like to think I am as opened minded as the next person, I completely agree with legalised prostitution and the protection that brings for sex workers however I do find this new rule surprising even though it aligns with Berlin’s long history of promoting an open minded culture, gender equality and neutrality and a healthy lifestyle for all.

The justification for the decision is that removing old restrictions, where public pools and lidos previously stated standard swimwear like trunks, swim shorts, bikinis, bathing suits and burkinis should be worn, city officials are now prioritising social justice and ensuring that everyone can enjoy recreational activities without any gender discrimination.

It’s clearly cultural and differs from place to place. I remember visiting the Middle East and even in large hotels feeling pretty weird and uncomfortable sunbathing in a one piece. In a place where all the women are covered from head to foot in black and the wearing of an abaya whilst not mandatory is still the norm, getting your kit off around the pool does create an all eyes on you feeling. And I did experience one incident where an overly excited man had to be removed by security for being inappropriate and I am neither young nor nubile.

I also remember reading about the “Free the nipple” case in the US where the US supreme court flatly refused to hear an appeal case following three women being fined in New Hampshire for exposing their nipples. They based their argument, male toplessness being acceptable whilst female toplessness was not as unconstitutional. It didn’t matter, no dice in the USA. Toplessness for women is considered a public decency issue.

Whether it’s about legal rights or simply feeling comfortable in your own skin, this move in Berlin is a powerful example of how community standards can change to support the wishes of residents.

Whether it turns out for the better or worse for Berliners in the long run will remain to be seen.

In my younger and stupider days, I of course had my moments of prancing around topless. Now well on the older, wiser and more considerate of others road I think about 1. Who in their right mind would want to be subjected to my less than perfect body period with no clothes on? And on a more serious note sorry guys, men think about sex much of the time already, not a criticism, a fact they cannot help and women stripped off in public places may be just too distracting to stop natural urges overtaking mental clarity.

Eternal Beauty 2019 staring Sally Hawkins from Blue Jasmine and Persuasion

A Sensitive and Unique Look At Mental Health, through Craig Roberts Directors Lens

Tara Chirpy

2026-01-27T12:16:00.0000000 2026-01-30T09:31:53.3570000

This film billed as a Romance Comedy is a truly original screenplay written and directed by Craig Roberts and I think it is the writing, heavily inspired by Roberts' own experiences growing up around people with schizophrenia and, specifically, a person in his life who lived with the condition that make’s this film so deeply touching and enlightening. The romance comedy classification is loose and untraditional.

The film's origin, a dark comedy, there are some very funny moments, set in South Wales stars Sally Hawkins, best known I think for playing opposite Cate Blanchett in Woody Allen’s story Blue Jasmine also coincidentally about mental health and a not dissimilar breakdown when life throws a curve ball and shatters the human experience into small pieces, difficult to put back together. In Eternal Beauty she plays the lead character Jane a woman suffering from schizophrenia an illness that escalates after a dramatic experience of being jilted at the alter at age 21.

Roberts wrote the script, focusing on a main character Jane, along with her siblings, Alice and Nicola played by Alice Lowe and Billy Piper, her mother Vivian, played by Penelope Wilton and with Robert Pugh as Jane’s long suffering (in a different way) father Dennis, navigating life after a mental breakdown.

The film is based on the writer directors personal experiences and portrays mental illness in a way that conjures empathy in the audience, feels really true to life and changes the perspective of how mental health conditions are stigmatised and mis understood.

Creative Vision: I read Roberts wrote the script specifically for Sally Hawkins and I must say I don’t think I have ever seen an actress transform herself more than for this role. Hawkins show she is a true master of her craft as she brings Jane and all her idiosyncrasies to life on screen.

The “Eternal Beauty” is this could be any family in any town, we all have probably encountered a Jane or indeed her interest Mike, played by David Thewlis. They are an unlikely couple who bump into each other at a hospital appointment, a psyche appointment, a complete coincidence where it is alleged they have some past history. He’s a little bit crazy too of course but the love story blossoms convincingly in an “Undatables” sort of way. Not cringe or cheesy, totally believable, funny, sad, human. How a love affair would probably evolve between two people enduring the most unthinkable life challenges.

And yet even though we don’t get that rom com happy ending, that would be cheesy and no spoiler alert here, you have to watch for yourself we are thrown around emotionally from the hilarious to the ridiculous to the deeply moving, to the relatable, the shocking, the mildly insane that isn’t that insane after all.

This amazing film tells a story of what happens when it all becomes too much, the accumulation of life’s dead weights on an already fragile psyche.

It shows a not usually considered angle on why being tough is perhaps better than being kind, how the sweetest souls are the one’s that don’t always survive in the mainstream and yet how a little madness is not such a bad thing after all if Etneral Beauty is something you are in search for above all else.

It’s an engrossing watch, complex, layered, thought provoking and extremely well acted from all sides. The characters leap off the screen into our neighbourhoods and lives. The viewers leave this film changed for sure, tougher for some, kinder for others, I saw traits of someone I had the pleasure to know, who wasn’t always the easiest to deal with in Mike, a musician, labelled unemployable but a deeply compassionate soul, who bypassed social norms to share his time and point of view.

Something this film reminded me, it’s OK to let your weird out from time to time, indeed it’s what makes life interesting and that little bit more refreshing.

Yep I loved it, not sure I’d rush to watch again, I don’t think it’s necessary. It’s a film you’d never forget.

The Book Club Directed By Bill Holderman Got Me Back Ranting

Eye Opening Film About The Distance Between Hollywood Stereotyping and Reality For Older Women

Tara Chirpy

2026-01-11T09:03:00.0000000 2026-01-11T10:43:00.7670000

It’s not surprising women are called old battleaxes, with Hollywood portraying its fabulous glamourous leading ladies like this. This film should have been perfect for me. I am the demographic, middle aged, professional, independent, and not dating by choice. I am like the women in the film, confident well maintained, exercise, adventurous, with one major difference. I don’t buy into this gender role stereotype. In real life am too old for the kind of man I’d expect to date and not prepared to lower my standards to the kind of man who’d consider older because he can’t get what he wants, younger.

I don’t need a man to pay so like the characters in the film I find my humour and connection in lasting friendships of both sexes. Now this movie;

Omg I don’t know what to say and I am rarely lost for words. The Book Club 2018 is the most one dimensional stereotypical clap trap I think I have ever seen Hollywood produce, Paramount studios reach and teach a new low in the representation of women of a certain age. The only reason to watch is as a reminder ladies you NEVER want to slip into old age in the way these four characters are portrayed in this film, totally unrealistically I might add especially when it comes to their love interests in the movie.

I watched because of the huge cast, and this was OMG, the late great Diane Keaton, Jane Fonda, Candice Bergman, who plays Sharon a divorced Federal Judge who is the most credible and hilarious of the four friends and Mary Steenburgen as Carol, the only one still in a relationship with her husband Bruce played by Craig T Nelson.

There are a few funny moments throughout the film, one is Carol and Bruce having a fight on their lawn about their none existent sex life when we see E. L. James (author of the entire Fifty Shades book series) and her husband Niall Leonard make a cameo appearance as Carol and Bruce's neighbours.

The plot of the film is what happens to the four friends when Vivian (Jane Fonda) chooses Fifty Shades of Grey as the next book for the women’s once a month book club and how their lives change (read spice up) as a result.

It’s billed as a romance comedy which in true Hollywood style has the predictable happy ending for all. Except for me, a millionaire pilot sitting in coach played by Andy Garcia would NEITHER fancy or pick up the fabulous Diane Keaton, 10 years his senior.

In my real life experience the more realistic pairing was Sharon’s (Candice Bergman’s) ex Tom (Ed Begley Jr.) engaged to Cheryl (29) played by Mircea Monroe. Sharon and Tom have been apart for 18 years. Candice Bergman (79 now, 71 at the time of filming) portrays in the film, a crusty old bespectacled judge, having her first encounters of online dating, following her introduction to Christian Grey (reading Fifty Shades of Grey), dating and sexual encounters after almost two decades single. (In the movie think barren, uninspired, definitely not empowered, clean and self reliant and certainly not in any way desirable, accomplished, full of value female grrrr) This was my favourite most realistic part of the script, dating age appropriate, balding, Richard Dreyfus as Tax attorney, George and Wallace Shawn as a shorter than her Physician Dr. Derek. Two realistic appropriate but not Hollywood romance matches delivered by Bumble. The more realistic not Hollywood ending options in the gotta take what you can get reality. It was enough to put anyone off online dating. I tried it in my forties and certainly wouldn’t return in my sixties.

I won’t disclose all the action, there are some funny lines to be fair and I may even watch again just as a reminder I’ll never be as sad and cringe as the women created for this film. The premise for all, they have everything financially, success, status, independence but without LOVE and SEX they are sad and empty; who’s believing this TOSH.

Jane Fonda with over the top Sharon Osbourne style back combed hair, a 1980s attempt at youth, the hair dresser needed sacking, loads of wrinkly crusty flesh and cleavage on show. Doesn’t matter how good the figure is, I’m betting Don Johnson as Arthur an ex boyfriend of 40 years would be running in the opposite direction. Not because Vivian isn’t fantastic but because unless he needed her money she wouldn’t be his type. The towering high heels were bloody unrealistic too, unless it’s just in and out of the car at this age.

Diane Keaton’s styling was granny fied. I am all for covering up but the slacks and ponchos to Garcia’s chinos and loafers classic Ralph Lauren didn’t fit. The kissing was awkward as hell too. Even great actors couldn’t fake the passion here.

All I kept thinking was lucky old Diane Keaton, what a gig, first Keanu Reeves in Something Gotta Give, and now hot Andy Garcia in Book Club. You’d imagine if she was anything like Dede in real life she’d have snogged his face off and the camera would have caught it…… nah. It was look away ugh instead.

I found out they have made a sequel to this 2018 movie, a shocker. Tells me more of us are holding onto the illusion Disney has another prince coming for societies “over the hill” women like us.

I prefer to live in the real world. Wouldn’t it be great if someone wrote a movie about what life is like when you cross over to the other side, the “truth off” Hollywood “love story” A film about women recognising they are at their sexiest and “youngest” when this codswhollop doesn’t influence and place females over a certain age (about 35 if unmarried) in the sad and single category. A film about men just not knowing how to seduce and maybe showing them a thing or too about how to actually get laid by real women, putting them in the “you are crap and useless” without a partner camp. Maybe if we educate the men, a few more might step up, stop watching so much porn and using hookers if they can afford it, turn back into men and get the regular sex they desire. Maybe I’ll write it myself. Would you watch?

Real Housewives of London two episodes in and I’ve got the ICK a little bit

Prefer the crazy Salt Lake City Housewives produced by Bravo TV, way more chaotic and feels more...

Tara Chirpy

2025-08-28T14:49:00.0000000 2025-08-28T16:42:07.8400000

I read a snoop on here from my long time friend Shirley Yanez, a girl with a definite opinion, a stylish girl with exceptional taste, a great writer (we met professionally through an agent at Curtis Brown) and someone I trust to steer me in the right direction when it comes to light hearted gossip and glamour on TV. My cultural attaché to all things girl power. She’s the person who got me snooping in the first place to help her with her launch of the Poopsnoop platform.

Well, episode 1 kicked off with a quite frankly unbelievable six year feud between characters Panthea, Iranian princess and Juliet Matthew Australian debutant, dancer, (I immediately smelt a rat, producers struggling to find a hook) for actress Juliet educated at Arts Educational in Tring on a scholarship. There was a bit of confusion for me too when in a VT she said she attended the same school as Princess Diana who went to West Heath School with her sister as a boarder. Diana Princess of Wales never attended the dance and drama school Arts Educational so may have been a little bit of editorial license there, unless Juliet Mayhew went to Riddlesworth Hall or Silfield Private School, the other schools Princess Diana attended before joining her sisters and cousin at West Heath, before Arts Educational I am struggling to see where their paths and the association actually stems from.

The show seemed lacking in content for me, the action in episode two centred around a dinner party hosted by Karen at the illustrious Isobel’s in Mayfair, not somewhere I’ve ever been but if you read the Dailt Mail it gets mentioned in the celebrity columns quite a bit. It was good to peak inside the private dining rooms as the women scoffed caviar and the best mocktails in the house.

I thought it pretty hilarious a feud over a dental recommendation from 6 years ago could be the main filmed content, a fake reconciliation at the dinner at Isobel’s apparently was the clean up from a fight at Amanda Cronin’s international women’s day party.

It’s obviously a set up and the girls bless them, not good enough in front of the camera’s to pull off the heist convincingly enough for show producers. It was cringe. The glamourous super wealthy lifestyles consisted of a shopping trip to Jimmy Choo where Dubai housewife Caroline Stanbury, who I do find quite amusing and quite a character pitches up to meet Australian pal Juliette and walks out with two much bigger bags, probably because she does have a reputation for being extremely well connected and makes her living, living it up in Dubai as a paid “influencer”

Juliette Mayhews shopping bag was tiny, too small to be a pair of shoes, which Stanbury commented about on camera and had to be dismissed with a quip about size not being important.

When Juliet Mayhew was outed at the dinner party once more by brutal Panthea for buying her Instagram followers and borrowing her wardrobe it was maybe an indication why it was Caroline Stanbury who walked out of Jimmy Choo loaded down with shopping bags. We didn’t see money change hands, just saying.

I don’t know these women and my musings are just that musings, I don’t have any facts just my instinct from watching the show.

A video conversation between twice or thrice divorcee and PR guru in the self publicising arena between millionairess Amanda Cronin and her step daughter Sophia and a trip to the nail salon for Karen and her daughter, plus Nessie Dinosaur cookbook launch and Panthea’s overbearing mother coming to visit and you’ve got the whole 2nd episode show and tell.

The absolute best part of all when Amanda Cronin picked up her knife in Isobel’s and used it as a mirror to apply her lipstick, only one step better, when Helena did the exact same thing with the swing bin lid on Love Island.

I am extremely partial to the Real Housewives franchise but sadly this is one where the Americans seem to do it so much better than the Brits. I’ve been catching up on the drama in Salt Lake City, a group I didn’t really get to begin with and the Mormon thing I had limited knowledge and experience of culturally however the fights seem crazy real which makes the watch way more shocking and consequentially way more addictive.

I’ll probably check in again with the Real Housewives of London but at the moment it’s going to have to get a whole lot better and a whole lot more real to engage me long term. It could be heading down the Real Housewives of Jersey pathway if the girls aren’t careful, two seasons max and then you’re cancelled.

The hype has been pretty huge across most media outlets and all the glossy magazines have covered the much anticipated 10 episodes, from Cosmopolitan to Glamour. However this series has been a first time original commission for Hayu, the digital steaming service for Universal NBC not veteran producers Bravo TV which could be the difference in the quality content we usually get and have come to expect from the franchise. After watching episodes one and two the most exciting part of the series sounds like the reunion hosted by funny girl and glamour puss herself Canadian comedienne Katherine Ryan. That’s a show I’ll be tuning in for for sure.

Wildfarmed White Sourdough Bread is my cheese toastie alternative

Cheese Toasties bread when Warburtons thick white sliced bread is too tough to handle

Tara Chirpy

2025-08-16T08:50:00.0000000 2025-08-16T09:41:15.4270000

The challenge of the cheese toastie and the equipment to make one; solved with this delicious white bread from Wildfarmed.

The grill on my oven is broken and the investment to get it fixed is high so I have found myself doing without a grill which is fine except I absolutely love cheese on toast. I have attempted to make a grilled cheese sandwich in a pan but it didn’t quite work out so when my neighbour told me she had a GEEPOS sandwich maker that had cracked across the top on the first use, brand new, otherwise functioning she had received a refund for that wasn’t required to be returned because it was broken and she offered it to me as a gift. She was investing in a more expensive version with her refund. I was delighted to have the cracked top but otherwise still functioning one for free. Buyer beware when purchasing a GEEPOS sandwich maker.

I gave up white bread a few years ago now but in celebration of the sandwich maker I went out and purchased a loaf of Warburton’s toastie bread which is a thick white sliced loaf to try out the sandwich maker.

I cut the crusts off and it worked successfully, the sandwich was sealed and so the grilled cheese sandwich seemed like the perfect alternative for my late night slice of cheese on toast.

Except the Warburton’s bread played absolute havoc with my stomach, it just sat there heavy in my guts and I just couldn’t digest it. I ended up giving the rest of the loaf away to another neighbour with young kids who she gratefully said would eat it without an issue.

My cheese toastie cheese on toast broken grill dilemma is not completely resolved as the Wildfarmed sourdough bread doesn’t come pre sliced and when I slice it it’s hard to get the slices thin enough for the GEEPOS toastie maker and the bread is the wrong shape but hey with a bit of extra effort on my part and a bit of melted cheese mess where the bread slices are too small to seal together I have a kinda solution to the no grill cheese on toast I love.

And the bread, if you love white bread but cannot eat it for whatever reason is absolutely delicious and absolutely no indigestion problems whatsoever.

Where have all the Carluccio restaurants gone?

We had to go to Leamington Spa to find one open

Tara Chirpy

2025-07-14T10:21:00.0000000 2025-07-14T11:15:51.4430000

I feel like I have just been awoken from a Sleeping Beauty like stupor. How was it possible I’d completely missed the fact one of my favourite restaurant chains had gone into administration in May 2020 in the middle of the Covid pandemic and the business acquiring the brand had shut down over half the restaurant locations and laid off over a 1000 of their wonderful staff.

The reason I loved and still love the restaurant chain was the way better than average service and if you ever had the need to mention something wasn’t quite right, a rare occurrence the management were always eager to put things right. Maybe this was one of the reasons, customers getting used to the fabulous service taking advantage and complaining for a freebie. I genuinely hope not.

This is more a shock snoop and a little bit of a confession on my part as a very loyal or so I thought customer and an acknowledgement that when something like the pandemic hits us companies even with very loyal customers are not immune to market conditions.

With Carluccios disappearing from the restaurant landscape in many towns and shopping malls the choices available to consumers become fewer and fewer.

I used to frequent four of five Carluccio restaurants all of which have closed, one in Leicester, in Highcross shopping centre, a couple in north London. One in Finchley 1312 High Road, London N20 9AB and one on St John’s Wood High St. NW3 both shut. One in a shopping mall in Cheshire, Ellsmere Port and one somewhat local to me in Birmingham. Grand central shopping centre. a restaurant we loved providing a variety of super vegan options on their set evening menu, both Veganesca Spaghetti and Polpette di Fagioli were bloody delicious and not expensive either. Large portions. Perfectly cooked el dente pasta and fresh made from scratch sauces. Where else can you get that I ask you.

And you know what I may be getting on a bit and have gone completely senile but I haven’t actually missed them, even though my friends and I are always moaning about how dead everywhere is and how there seems to be limited quick cool restaurant choices whenever we are thinking where to grab lunch or supper.

This weekend I happened to be in Leamington Spa visiting the Mum of a good friend of mine who has recently gone into a residential home to give my friend some respite from caring for her and the old favourite Carluccios was brought up as a good choice for lunch.

Immediately I thought good lord I love Carluccios and haven’t been for ages. And then I started thinking about all the different locations I’d eaten at regularly in the past and wondered why or how this gorgeous favourite chain could have just so easily slipped off my radar.

We had a wonderful meal of old, beautiful bruschetta, salad, pasta, lovely attentive service. The staff couldn’t do enough for us and the food was as always in the past absolutely delicious.

I’ve seen Fumo in Birmingham part of San Carlos restaurants go right down hill post pandemic even though we keep going back because we don’t want to see this chain go the same way as Carluccios.

I am urging everyone to support Carluccios if you don’t want to see the one in your town disappear.

If you haven’t tried it yourself and you spot the signature blue signage grab yourself a table outside on a sunny day if possible and soak up the Bon vivant not sure how you say that in Italian.

I feel a bit guilty I wasn’t even aware of Carluccios troubles and certainly don’t wish to see them disappear altogether.

YSL Touché Eclat has been my concealer go to for over 20 years

And yet Kate Moss Beauty Brand Cosmoss didn’t survive

Tara Chirpy

2025-07-04T06:46:00.0000000 2025-07-12T07:27:04.8070000

Cosmoss, the premium skincare and wellness brand, founded by the supermodel Kate Moss has entered liquidation proceedings. The spiritual brand selling a range perfumes, skincare and teas, could be found in luxury retailers Liberty and Fenwicks in the UK with prices ranging from $25 for tea to $155 for Sacred Mist perfume was founded in 2022, by 2025 it’s gone owing about 4 million according to it’s liquidation filing.

And it got me thinking as my Touché Eclat expired and I reached for my phone to buy a new one at £32, something I’ve done for over twenty years what makes us brand loyal and why someone as loved and highly regarded as the iconic Kate Moss, who helped her own make up artist and friend Charlotte Tilbury to mega brand make up status a relative new comer competing with the likes of Dior, Chanel, Estée Lauder and YSL, I remember she even had a nude lipstick named Kate after the super model, why Kate wasn’t able to draw us all into her own brand in exactly the same way. I was discussing the bankruptcy filing of Cosmoss with an entrepreneurial friend of mine and she shone a pragmatic light on her take. She said simply Charlotte Tilbury was a make up artist for real, Kate Moss is a super model, not a skincare expert. Common sense answer I hadn’t really thought about.

I believe I would have shopped with Kate, with Cosmoss, the brand was on my radar. I just never got around to it. And yet the YSL touché Eclat I buy religiously, never changing, never even considering an alternative. It’s not because I am loyal to YSL, I don’t use any other YSL product but like the YSL dinner jacket I have hanging in my closet never to be outdone, I got mine way before the likes of Hailey Bieber and stunning Albanian musician Dua Lipa stepped out in theirs, Touché Eclat is the same.

What’s so special about Touché Eclat? I know the shade that works for me and there are many to choose from about a dozen I think so very broad range of colour options I am sure have not hindered it’s longevity appealing to make up lovers with every possible shade of skin and tackling issues like if your skin has pink or yellow tones on the lighter end to purple and blue on the darker end of the spectrum.

Touché Eclat have managed to combine translucent skin like duplication with excellent coverage. As I have aged blemishes, broken capillaries, open pores and a couple of somewhat unsightly age spots have appeared and Touché Eclat has zapped them all disguising them with as much aplomb as it managed to cover my dark circles and puffy eyes after two many late nights in my younger days.

It’s a star product, the jewel in the crown of the YSL make up range. A product if ever discontinued there would be a mutiny from make up wearers around the world. I’d definitely be one of them.

I cannot think of another product certainly in my make up bag I’ve bought consistently for over 30 years. Only once did I try another concealer product, Dior forever skin correct concealer at a slightly more expensive £34.00. I didn’t purchase, a friend gave it to me to try and it was too light for her. It was fine under foundation but ended up being too yellow for me on the days I wanted to wear only concealer.

Touché Eclat from YSL retails at £32 whilst other options from other luxury brands you are looking at £35 - £39 and right now on Look Fantastic website you can find YSL Touché Eclat discounted for £25.60.

The product is an ingenious click dispenser pen which puts the perfect amount on the brush so absolutely no wastage and using everyday I get about 9 months out of one. My last one I’ve had for over a year before I clicked and it didn’t click. How you know it’s done.

I am never changing. I guess this was Kate Moss’s problem with Cosmoss, as a private person who rarely gives interviews she didn’t have the in your face marketing power of say the Kardashians or the subtlety of her friendship that catapulted Charlotte Tilbury into the spotlight and had everyone whispering, you know she friends with Kate Moss and just being at a make up event to support, drew thousands to see her as she doesn’t step out for just anyone.

But most of all she didn’t have that one killer product that captured the hearts and wallets of consumers around the globe.

For me there’s not a concealer that could touch it, and this of course is probably not true, I am just not prepared to change something I love and has worked for me for over three decades.

Ignore what you may read online about YSL Touche eclat not being a concealer, but an illuminating highlighter pen, I think this description is off the mark and may put a lot of people off. I’ve even read online the product won’t cover dark circles which is not true. It’s covered the worst of late night eye bags and dark circles for me over the years and continues to do so.

Fumo Restaurant In Selfridges Birmingham

Used to be a firm family favourite OMG what has happened

Tara Chirpy

2025-06-09T07:43:00.0000000 2025-06-09T09:52:15.3270000

This Italian restaurant in Birmingham was a firm family favourite we must have been more times than I can recount, to the one in Selfridges and the one on Waterloo st where they have a nighttime scene as well. Safe to say we love it.

It’s well known for its offering, inventive cocktails both with and without alcohol. They serve everleaf Mountain for the drivers and an extensive menu of cicchetti style Italian plates – smaller than a main but bigger than a starter – the food is perfect for sharing and why we like it so much.

At the weekend Fumo comes alive usually , when the DJ’s create the perfect soundtrack to your afternoon and evening. There’s a vibe usually.

That said we haven’t been for a few months and we were really looking forward to the 5 star service delivered with Italian aplomb, the warm welcome from the Maitre D who always remembers us and finds a table for us usually in a packed restaurant even if we’ve forgotten to make a reservation.

It’s a place where you always feel special, like a VIP so don’t mind paying the sometimes a bit over inflated prices (£18 for a glass of Malbec) The quick efficient service and over the top Italian fun and bravado in equal measure make it a memorable place you really want to return.

We went yesterday for lunch, the whole family and OMG what a difference. Firstly the Maitre D we know wasn’t there, replaced by a not present person who was walking around but wasn’t able to conduct the orchestra in the same way.

We waited and waited, at the entrance behind three other families to be attended to, it wasn’t like it was busy, it was 1pm and I’d say 2 thirds of the restaurant was empty, it felt like more servers than customers. We couldn’t work out what the hold up was, we even had people waiting behind us asking us if this was the queue to be seated.

When we finally got in, we were asked if we’d booked and then it seemed to take 5 minutes to decide if we could be fitted in without a reservation, like I said two thirds of the restaurant was empty and there was absolutely no atmosphere. It felt like all the vibrant energetic staff had been replaced by low energy inexperienced people, staffing on a budget maybe to save money.

We waited about 10 minutes ready to order and no

one came to the table, when we ordered our drinks only two of five came. Then another two came. One drink had to be cancelled, a martini an aperitif because it never came before the first plate arrived.

We know the plates arrive as they are prepared however the service was so slow we found ourselves sharing a very lame avocado and tomato salad with hardly any avocado and then waiting before Bruscetta arrived. When we cancelled the martini, no one asked if we’d like something else instead.

The experience was completely chaotic and not enjoyable at all, it’s horrible when things don’t go smoothly, especially when you have been really looking forward to something. We thought it’s not surprising the restaurant was empty when the lovely fresh ingredients prepared with love and delivered with ease and pride we have come to expect turns out to be tasteless and scrimped and really really slow.

The worst part of all was the staff were really switched off and just didn’t seem to notice.

We ended the meal with our pasta plates arriving with courgette fritte which obviously didn’t go together just on their own. The beauty of this restaurant is a bite of this a taste of that true Italian shared plate dining.

Not yesterday.

We have never not paid the discretionary service charge. When the bill came with the Martini still on there that never came and had to be cancelled we asked for that and the service charge to be removed.

We left in a hurry; eager to get out of there, thinking what was that, it’s just not the same restaurant.

The San Carlos chain is a long standing establishment restaurateurs who know how it’s done and have built up an incredible string of properties where you are pretty much guaranteed fantastic food and service, the feeling of an independent with the consistency and success you get from a big business.

I honestly don’t know what has gone wrong in Birmingham but people have obviously stopped coming and I can see why.

I really hope they get it together because there aren’t that many really good places left to eat in Birmingham City Centre.

The Heart Of Me is a long drawn out exhausting watch

A BBC period drama with good reviews 2002

Tara Chirpy

2025-05-26T08:17:00.0000000 2025-05-26T09:00:59.4400000

“passionate and carnal” “ravishing” I don’t think so.

This film seemed to go on and on for hours and left me feeling exhausted and thinking about what another reviewer had said about a completely different film, makes you think about your life and why you just spent two and a bit hours investing in this movie” I am the type of person who always believe it will get better, somethings about the happen, and then it’s over and it didn’t.

The Heart of Me premiered at Sundance Film Festival in Park City in Utah, 2002 a British period drama directed by Thaddeus O'Sullivan starring ironically three of my favourite actors Helena Bonham Carter, Paul Bettany and Olivia Williams.

It’s essentially a love triangle between two sisters, Madeleine, Williams and Dinah Bonham Carter sharing Madeline’s husband Ricky played by Paul Bethany with the girls mother, Mrs Burkett played by Eleanor Bron.

It’s stoic and so sad actually, maybe that’s why I found it so draining as it clearly depicts wasted lives and loves for everyone trying to keep up appearances when really they all just needed to tell each other the truth.

But it just wasn’t done, isn’t done.

The sets were dark and a bit dreary, deco style and period and even the champagne guzzling and glamourous costumes of affluent middle class society failed the create some light on what was too much shade for me throughout the movie.

The best and most memorable scene for me was when Ricky encounters Dinah his lover by chance after a time apart and she invites herself to a very embarrassing lunch with Jack a suitor of hers from the past and the elephant in the room is not addressed until a hideous scene ensues in the restaurant and a drunken Dinah has to be dragged out of the restaurant kicking and screaming and thrown in a taxi distraught whilst her lover Ricky denies the love affair with sister in law.

The make up and costume definitely confirm Dinah as the Scarlett women she would has been at the time and I wondered how much things have actually changed in almost 100 years for women.

An interesting plot of two sisters navigating their relationship and pretty much passively aggressively getting along throughout which to be honest I just couldn’t see happening even in the 1930’s and a weak man in the middle who did both woman a grave disservice and died a hero in the end.

Yep not much has changed for women when it comes to love.

Cafe Society doesn’t hit the mark

Woody Allen fails to deliver this time

Tara Chirpy

2025-05-20T08:39:00.0000000 2025-05-20T09:39:36.6200000

Inspite of all the controversy around movie writer and director Woody Allen, his marriage to Mia Farrow and subsequent marriage to Soon Yi Previn in 1997 I am a fan of his work. And am happy and excited to watch anything with his name attached.

From the trailer Cafe Society looked very promising, brilliant cast, Steve Carell, Jessie Eisenberg, Kristen Stewart, Blake Lively it’s the story of a high flying Hollywood Agent Phil Stern played by Carell who decides to leave his wife after 25 years to marry his secretary Vonnie, Kristen Stewart but not before his nephew Bobby Dorfman from New York, in LA to get a job in the movies looking for help from his well connected agent uncle, manages to fall in love with her too.

From the opening scenes, art deco opulence of Hollywood, glamour, swimming pools, champagne, movies stars, lots of mentions of Bette Davies, Barbara Stanwick, Joan Crawford, Errol Flynn it looked really promising but as the plot unfolded the film took some unconvincing unusual turns into a pseudo gangster flick set the 1930s which just didn’t land for me.

I watched it through to end, when the film abruptly ends without any real conclusion. I can’t actually remember how it ended even though I watched it only a couple of days ago.

I remember thinking at the time “I can’t believe I just sat through that”

it’s one of those films where you wait and wait for it, that twist, that moment when the genius director rewards you for your tenacity and patience.

It’s very unusual for Woody Allen to make a bad movie, and I understand we all appreciate different things when it comes to cinematic storytelling but despite a super talented ensemble cast and Woidy Allen’s style stamped clearly all over the film it didn’t come together for me.

This is one to swerve even if you LOVE LOVE LOVE the work of talented writer, director and infamous Hollywood creative.

It was described by critics as Witty, Charming and Sophisticated. I wondered if I’d watched the same movie.

The Alchemist Book Club Lunch Birmingham

And C.G Jung on Alchemy 4 part TV series

Tara Chirpy

2025-05-11T09:03:00.0000000 2025-05-12T15:35:58.5670000

This snoop is a little bit convoluted. I’d watched a four part series on TV, C.G. Jung on Alchemy, where a collection of academics explore the world famous psycho analyst Carl Jung. Whilst the father of psycho analysis remains his friend and colleague Sigmund Freud (1856-1939) for therapists, students of psychology, academics and publishing editors with a passive interest in the tarot and the occult, me, Carl Jung remains the proverbial son of psycho analysis around the world.

The series is hard going and academically challenging exploring themes around psychology and alchemy, how they intersect and an intriguing look into the lifelong pursuit or search for the roots of happiness and in turn Jung’s efforts as a physican to heal the malady of the mind. If you are interested in the subject matter I am sure like me you’ll find it both enlightening and fascinating in equal measure.

Anyone without a basic grasp of human psychology would I think find it boring as the language is complex although you do get a sense of the sheer volume of the body of work dating back to manuscripts from early gnostics purchased and collected by Jung and now maintained and curated by Carl Jungs grandson Ulrich Hoeni, responsible for the publication of “the red book” in 2009, who features in the series.

The long drawn out explanation of how we ended up dining here at the Alchemist; Birmingham.

I absolutely loved the menu and how much variety and choice there was. I had the smashed potatoes (without the eggs), a take on hash browns for the Americans, bubble and squeak for the Brits which arrived piping hot, made fresh to order and was absolutely delicious. I was impressed there were quite a few plant based choices which even if you still eat meat, I confess still now and then for me, I like businesses who are conscious meat consumption is the number one contributor to a climate change catastrophe and are encouraging consumers away from meat with other creative veggie and vegan options.

More of a cocktail bar serving food than a restaurant serving drinks I felt although the service was fast and friendly. No complaints there and rest assured if you decide to leave a tip they make a point of saying everything goes to the serving staff and kitchen staff; something I approve of that in the restaurant business doesn’t always happen. If you want to make sure who’s getting your tip you usually have to ask these days especially in big chains which The Alchemist in Birmingham is part of so very happy to see them putting their good policy out there.

I went with a 3 other ladies from my book club and our only complaint would be the seats, back to back booths were a bit cramped and uncomfortable for a long lunch and the acoustics are a bit rattly so it was a bit noisy. We struggled to chat.

Everyone in our group thought the food was really good for a chain establishment.

Love the name, which was actually why we chose to go in the first place.

The prices, main courses range from £15-£20 a plate, maybe a little more style than substance but great central location in the heart of the financial district and right next to the cathedral.

Would we go back. Probably wouldn’t make a special trip but passing and hungry I’ll definitely keep this one on my radar.

The Weekend Binge Watching FAKE

Australian Paramount + drama breaks all the records

Tara Chirpy

2025-04-30T09:12:00.0000000 2025-04-30T10:52:03.4270000

The acting is bloody superb with absolute stand out performances by Asher Keddie as Birdie and David Wenham as Joe, who together made me feel things I didn’t want to feel, no words; just brilliant exposed method acting.

So I wasn’t surprised when I read this boxset series on ITVX broke all records in Australia for Paramount plus when it came out.

Adapted from a bestselling book by Stephanie Wood of the same name you’ll be absolutely gripped.

I watched it with two friends in my circle, one, we all know one, the man magnet, the runaway bride, the girl men chase and she keeps at arms length like she’s got the inside track on men like Joe who she insists are all the same. The other friend and we all have nit a Birdie but someone we absolutely love, kind, thoughtful but likely to get walked all over and not the best track record with the opposite sex. She won’t mind me saying this, we do talk about it all the time and I have to say after watching fake we had one saying, told you so, the other saying incredulously is this real, are people really like this and me somewhere in the middle thinking would my instinct kick in or could I be duped in this way?

You’ve probably guessed Fake is all about an internet app date between, yes you guessed it a “disgustingly rich” his words; OK looking businessman, deal doer divorced with two kids 50 something and a late 40 something “spinster” I use the term to describe someone never married not defective in some way, a badge of honour bestowed by a mother Margo who idolised the father and brought her now grown up daughter up in an unrealistic romantic fantasy.

It’s clear in the story, the female lead has no clue or experience as to the levels of male behaviour my man magnet friend has experienced and her desire to be the one takes over her instinct and gut feelings when it comes to the relationship never going in the direction she requires or desires and yet she still continues to blindly try to manufacture the fairytale created in her imagination for the happily ever after happy ending.

I think for all women this a must watch whether you are in a bad relationship or not, whether you are looking to escape something bad or get into something good, whether you are the man magnet or the wallflower or the girl who never gets noticed or asked out or the girl somewhere in the middle who knows her worth, does have self confidence but also recognised the power of serotonin and a dopamine rush.

You see all of these feelings and common threads around passion, connection even

Love for us all come alive on screen. It’s compelling heart rending at times TV I’d imagine will be a very tough watch for many people, especially badly behaved men, which when it comes to women my friend assures me is all of them and desperate women a category I stepped out of once I reached 50.

I dated online myself once 20 years ago and after meeting three different people all of whom looked like their pictures and were pretty much who they said they were however there was no chemistry and as we all know chemistry cannot be manufactured, it’s either there or it isn’t and it’s never something to be experienced solo.

I think the best think about FAKE is the viewer sees clearly how desire and imagination can lead down all kinds of different ridiculous everyone can see it but you tracks when gut feeling and instinct are completely ignored.

For anyone looking for love online this series comes with a “This program contains themes that could you off online dating for life.”

Ben Hodges and Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann Interviews Blow Up Channel Four

Make sure to watch on catch up

Tara Chirpy

2025-04-27T07:26:00.0000000 2025-04-27T11:47:43.2500000

I listened with intent and incredulity to the interview between Krishnan Guru Murphy channel four news and retired US general and former commander of US Army Europe Ben Hodges who is a democrat and endorsed Kamila Harris for the presidency it’s important to mention for perspective. Also important to say he’s doing the rounds, Ben Hodges perspective is Ukraine are actually winning and he’s been talking to a few different journalists, just saying.

That aside he gave a completely different perspective on the mood in the US against the media narrative usually focused on the Trump administration shenanigans as opposed to the scary bits and a credible plan. Exactly the way Mr. Trump likes it I’d imagine, better for him it’s just noise and opinion about something irrelevant like name calling than major blunders and security breaches being the focus.

Ben Hodges painted a picture of a green administration with no real understanding or experience of the psychology of these leaders of Ukraine and Russia, no understanding of the history stretching back decades even centuries and no understanding some people, the Ukrainians in this case, would rather die than accept a peace deal based on Russia winning Crimea and the territory already seized.

Pompeo said in 2018 the US rejected "Russia's attempted annexation of Crimea" and pledged to continue until Ukraine's territorial integrity was restored .

July 26th, 2018 on the US embassy website

— The United States rejects Russia's attempted annexation of Crimea and pledges to maintain this policy until Ukraine's territorial integrity is restored.

Ben Hodges saw absolutely no possibility of a peace negotiation. He saw a business leader keen to do a deal to make money for America from the mineral reserves in Ukraine, something the US need if they are to redress the balance between US manufacturing and the US consumer’s heavy reliance on cheap goods from China.

German MEP member Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann, who’s chair of the European Parliament’s Committee on Security and Defence did not mince her words when she talked to Channel 4 Matt Frei about Europe’s reluctance to support Ukraine, she said, leaving all the heavy lifting to the Americans had been a mistake for Europe.

She compared the Trump Putin peace deal to Hitler and Stalin and warned if Europe didn’t get its act together and quick we’d be next in Mr. Putin sight. That the US and Russia will divide Europe if it’s not careful. It was a very powerful and compelling interview.

And then we’ve got Keir Starmer and Rachael Reeves (head in hands) at the beginning of the month Sir Keir said he would seek to reduce trade barriers with other economies to limit the impact of US tariffs on UK exports all the while Rachael Reeves is in Washington reassuring the public she’s getting the deal.

I heard another journalist allude to the fact we the Brits are calling every day and the White House doesn’t pick up the phone.

Crimea was annexed by Russia in 2014 no one really cared and now 11 years later this is where we are.

Whilst many believe Russia to be invincible, Russia historically has been defeated in war 1904-1905 The Russo-Japanese War between the Japanese Empire and the Russian Empire and the Russians lost.

They also ended up on the losing side in the Crimean war, World War 1 and the 10 year war in Afghanistan.

Sustained peace must be achieved, someone has got to stand up to Vladimir Putin and according the Ben Hodges it’s not going to be President Trump.

Horrible Taste Of Asia Spicy Veg Sticky Rice Bowl

marks and Spencer ready meal inspired by Korean cuisine

Tara Chirpy

2025-04-05T07:55:00.0000000 2025-04-05T16:09:38.4570000

My advice leave it on the shelf.

When I see something new, quick, easy and healthy in the super market I am a customer. I love to cook, I hate to wash up so unless I have guests or it’s the weekend I rely on quick, simple, healthy and tasty.

Who ever did the taste test on this latest taste of Asia offering from Marks and Spencer’s doesn’t know what good food tastes like and it’s not just me, two of us tried it and neither could eat it.

I didn’t have anything else as an alternative. So instead of throwing it all away and going to the chip shop we both sat there getting it down saying this is like when you go to someone’s house as a guest you don’t know, they serve you a meal and you just have to eat it to be polite. That was the experience.

It was sticky rice, it did have green vegetables, kale, cabbage, mushrooms, all which should have been fine. Sadly the whole thing had been doused in something repulsive, spicy hot yes but not in a good way. The horribleness enveloped the whole dish of stodgy stuck together rice and limp greens.

No point mentioning the 500 calorie count or the plant based status or indeed the price. If this is the best a massive supermarket can do I suggest M and S taste of asia kitchen you give up attempting to make a tasty healthy quick meal for one.

We are not fussy eaters or spoiled. We have both travelled and eaten good (and terrible) food all over the place. We can both pretty much get down anything.

It’s great to see a plant based vegan choice although you aren’t going to get everyone eating healthy when it tastes like this. We threw away half.

The Woodlanders

Not so well known Thomas Hardy novel

Tara Chirpy

2025-03-17T10:12:00.0000000 2025-03-18T16:16:22.8970000

Like almost all of Thomas Hardy’s novels this story is set in a picture painted English village of the 19th century, Little Hintock and his heroine as invocatiive as Bathsheba Everdene in Far From the Madding Crowd or Tess Durbeyfield in Tess of the D’Ubervilles.

When Grace Melbury returns home after finishing school, her father timber merchant George suggests her marry Dr. Fitzpiers.

Grace has got less than no interest in the Dr. It’s her childhood friend Giles Winterbourne who completes the love triangle.

Giles was promised Grace’s hand before she left but after a series of missteps and faux pas, Giles loses his house and George’s approval as a worthy match for his daughter.

Grace and Giles have other plans and The novel addresses critical themes like the “myth of the pastoral”, property versus propriety, and the destructive nature of rigid social status and social mores.

Hardy revisits these themes throughout his work but never so strongly and with such commitment as in the Woodlanders.

I’ve heard people say all Hardy’s books are the same and I suppose like Dickens the style and nuance runs through each work.

In this lesser known book, Grace does end up marrying the more successful and more appropriate in her father’s eyes Dr. Edred Fitzpiers but it’s not good, doesn’t last and Grace manages escape back to Giles through some legal loophole allowing divorce, the most scandalous of acts at the time, the end of the 19th century.

It is hard to get into the first 50 pages are a bit slow and the opening might feel unrelated to the rest of the plot. My advice stick with it.

Like so many brilliant genius books you don’t piece the plot together until the last few pages which for me makes The Woodlanders even better than the Mayor of Casterbridge.

I think it’s my favourite Thomas Hardy novel simply because he pushes further and harder than ever towards the emancipation of women.

Bottega Prosecco Bar and Cafe

Better experience than the Factory Kitchen Birmingham Airport

Tara Chirpy

2025-02-27T10:29:00.0000000 2025-03-23T10:50:40.0570000

The last time I told you we ate at the Factory Bar and Kitchen in Birmingham Airport. That doesn’t exist anymore and has been replaced by a Peaky Blinders inspired restaurant called Shelby and Co bar and kitchen and even though it’s a new franchise we swerved that joint after the last experience and chose another new offering Bottega instead.

Bottega you cannot miss as it is the first cafe bar restaurant you see when you emerge from security and duty free. You may have stumbled across this brand offering in Marco Polo Airport in Venice, the flagship location. I haven’t been but looking at the pictures it’s quite fancy.

_

The company is located less than 50 miles from Venice Italy and is the proud owner of four Italian wineries and distilleries and the Italian chic is apparent even in the bowels of Birmingham airport still under construction with broken air conditioning. It was very hot inside, not the restaurants fault considering it’s February in UK.

First things first in a world where airport food is rubbish and expensive we had two breakfasts, scrambled eggs on toast, and one scrambled eggs tomatoes and mushrooms, with two cups of tea, one fresh peppermint where additional hot water was not a problem, lovely service from a smart uniformed waiter, for under £20.

We were blown away. Affordable luxury. We expected £30 or even £40 at least.

The food wasn’t “gourmet” although the marketing pictures of the food are very attractive and appealing.

The service was good and quick and although the toast was sliced processed plastic bag type bread it was brown and the eggs slightly over cooked and rubbery, they were cooked to order and at 5am I was grateful and scoffed the lot.

Would I pick Bottega Prosecco cafe again. When I looked in to the background of the company, their ethos and what they are passionate about I discovered they are a “green” company with open and transparent supply chains, trying to do things differently to reduce CO2 emissions so Sure. It was a nice vibe and a good way to kick off a few days in the sunshine.