One of my best ever Christmas presents was a membership to the National Portrait Gallery – I just love it there because there is always something interesting to see. This week I went along with Marvellous Mother In Law to see the Queen…well, an exhibition about her Madge. There are sixty photographs and portraits covering the last sixty years and, as she is one of the few women I really admire (well, she hasn’t put a foot wrong has she), I really enjoyed this small but interesting display which documents some of the iconic images that have been taken of her during her reign.
On the train home back to rural-land, Marvellous Mother In Law looked me earnestly in the eyes and asked “Do you like to read explicit sex books?” to which my open mouthed reply was “No, not really”. Well, she continued, you should read Fifty Shades of Grey. Coincidentally, someone else mentioned this book to me saying that it was “life changing” (strangely, they didn’t mention it was an erotic novel) and so I needed no more prompting and dashed into WH Smith and bought it – now all I have to do it find the time to read it… will report back once I have.
My third and final recommendation is The Real Flower Company who grow their own flowers and herbs near me in Sussex. Sadly, it was not me, but a friend, who was the lucky recipient of a stunning bouquet of blush pink roses artfully arranged with long sprigs of fragrant mint. Will definitely use this company when I want to send someone lovely something lovely.
Ellie – don’t be anxious, check out Mumsnet they have a special section on teenagers. I know my experience is limited, having just the one son, but I believe it is more important to tell your child that they can always talk to you about anything without embarrassment. Not sure a lecture about things your daughter may not even have thought of yet is the best idea? All I know is that this tactic worked with my son – although it initially took him some time to imagine that an old woman like me could ever have been a teenager and therefore could relate to stuff he was interested in, he still confides in me at the grand old age of 19.
Bye for now,
Grace x
Just love, love, love this blog. More about teenagers please!
Best to read Fifty Shades of Grey on your own if you know what I mean!
What a great idea mixing roses with mint….sounds sooooo fragrant.
Someone recently told me about this book Fifty Shades of Grey; My informant was a rather predatory male colleague and insisted on telling me that many of his female friends had read it and had to go to the loo half way through if I “knew what he meant”. I fought my blushing and said perhaps it was one for my book club, except that in my book club are my two sisters and my mother and maybe it was actually a pretty bad idea. I’m intrigued to hear your thoughts on this once you’ve read it, although there is something about reading an erotic book, (hark the days of my first Jilly Cooper novel) that is very personal, not one for book clubs I imagine, unless it’s a Bondage Book Club!?
Am on page 82 Emily and am feeling VERY hot and bothered. This is partly because I have been lying on a sunlounger by the pool and it is very warm and partly because Fifty Shades of Grey is what I imagine a Mills & Boon book must be like. Am not impressed so far. HOWEVER, I will be reading on because my mother in law said she could not put this book down…. so I am continuing to read it because she said so! xx
I am last book of trilogy 50 shades of grey…. not so Mills & Boon you know! Keep reading….
This book has had so many rave reviews, I think I will carry on reading. Off with paperback to have pedicure…hope that’s wise! Grace x
My husband bought me the trilogy Fifty Shades as I said I wanted a decent book to read! What an amazing mother- in-law to ask if you had read it! Hilarious! Got to say it is worth a read – not life changing but definitely great fun! I think the author has an amazing imagination and I would say her husband, if she’s got one, is one lucky man!