Diabetes

Dad was diagnosed with diabetes a few days ago. He wants it to be kept very quiet, but it's hard for me not to talk about it and hardly anyone who knows him reads this blog. Diabetes? Not a big deal, everyone says. After all, so many people live with diabetes and live with it well. And I know that, believe me, I do. Except it's still a big deal. A really big deal.

It's a big deal because food is Dad's passion. It's his life. He loves to drive around town and find the best restaurant for this and for that, bringing home treats to the people he loves. Freshly baked baklava one day, fresh mint another... He is adventurous and has a love of life. And this? This is going to stifle him, keep him indoors a lot more, prevent him from being impulsive. Life with Dad as I know it involves him cheekily pulling up to a McDonald's for ice cream only (he loves that whipped stuff) and hungrily eating it in the parking lot. Going out for fun, informal meals. He is a great partner to share any fun treat with. And that independence and fun, that's over. Because from here on out it's not smoked salmon sandwiches for breakfast but porridge, no spaghetti for lunch (because of the high gluten content) but grilled fish. I think it's going to be hard for Dad to adjust and sadly my mother lives in Israel and can't help. I'm definitely mourning the lost fun and spontenaiety. The realisation that life from now will be different, that one of my Dad's loves has been taken away, makes me very sad.

My treasure

There is definitely the treasure of the expensive variety. Sadly, despite my periodic attempts at not being (or at least appearing) too vacuous, I'll admit it: do love diamonds. Who doesn't?

But then there is the treasure of things found and kept, of things that have no 'real' value but are cherished nonetheless, the chair I bought in a junk shop as a student in Oxford, the Barbara vinyl records I collected in France over the years, the sweet box lid depicting an angel, given to me by my dear nanny Miriam once she had eaten the liquorice it once held.

When I was last in Israel I visited my 92 year old Saba (grandfather), Yehoshua. He is amazing - he worked in a steel factory all his life but devours books and could give you a history lesson on the topic of your choice. If he had been born in my era I suspect he would have become a scholar.

Touched by the news of my engagement, Saba handed me an old plastic box, weighed down by strands and strands of beads that had belonged to my grandmother, Tova, who sadly passed away too young. You see, they were Eastern European immigrants - they didn't have great jewels. My grandmother would go to the market and buy beads by weight. Can you imagine?

Saba said I could take what I wanted: I chose some strands and have enjoyed wearing them ever since. I hope to pass them on to daughters one day, im irzeh hashem, should it (be g-d's will).

Nope, they're not grand jewels, but they do occupy a grand place in my heart. And I think they're pretty cool too.

High tea

Anna, the Duchess of Bedford, first conceived of the brilliant idea to partake in afternoon tea having proclaimed, much as I do, that she had a 'sinking feeling' between lunch and dinner.

High tea is a decidedly English occasion in my mind: a time to sip freshly brewed leaves from delicate porcelain cups and to savour the comforting flavours of small, elegant cakes with one's favourite ladies. A vintage treat.

So what could possibly more appealing - or apt - for my birthday celebrations? This year I didn't plan anything much in advance so it was a small 'do', just Kate, Liz and me.

We went to the Charlotte Street Hotel in central London - a boutique hotel. In London you can have tea in grander places like the Ritz or Fortnum & Mason, but we chose somewhere more intimate. We even had a glass of champagne with our tea. It was such a lovely time - it is all too rare to have the time to while away an afternoon in such leisurely fashion.

Here are some photos from the day!
















They brought us these miniature ice cream cones at the end - so sweet!

If you would like to prepare high tea for your friends then here are a few things to get you on your way. The first is a book recommendation 'Afternoon Tea Parties' by Susannah Blake.



A beautiful book with all sorts of high tea menus - from baby showers to gentleman's tea! A beautiful book brimming with ideas. Go on, get out your china (the more mismatched the better) and treat your girls!

Here is a recipe for the primary ingredient: scones, to get you started!

Ingredients
225g/8oz self raising flour
pinch of salt
55g/2oz butter
25g/1oz caster sugar
150ml/5fl oz milk

Method
1. Heat the oven to 220C/425F/Gas 7. Lightly grease a baking sheet.
2. Mix together the flour and salt and rub in the butter.
3. Stir in the sugar and then the milk to get a soft dough.
4. Turn on to a floured work surface and knead very lightly. Pat out to a round 2cm/¾in thick. Use a 5cm/2in cutter to stamp out rounds and place on a baking sheet. Lightly knead together the rest of the dough and stamp out more scones to use it all up.
5. Brush the tops of the scones with a little milk. Bake for 12-15 minutes until well risen and golden.
6. Cool on a wire rack and serve with butter and good jam and maybe some clotted cream.

Jewellery

It was a lovely weekend, but one thing was scary: I thought that I had lost one earring of a pair that I adore. They have a special story and I wanted to share. Dad used to be a jeweller, and still has an office in the jewellery center. One of his closest friends makes gold jewellery, and when Dad was visiting this friend, someone came in with some gold for sale, in the form of these earrings. The gold was going to be melted down and made into something else. Dad saw these earrings and bought them immediately, thinking it so sad that something so pretty would just be melted and destroyed. They are antique and I treasure them because of how lovely they are and because they are a gift from my dear father, who 'saved' them for me. I was traumatised at the thought of having lost one earring. I found it in the end, thank goodness! I am taking extra special care and bought rubber butterflies to attach to the back to lessen the risk of them falling off again.

Continuing with the jewellery theme, this afternoon I went to Galeries Lafayette to do a spot of Chanukah shopping. It is really incredible that the shops here are open on Sundays as Christmas approaches - this has never been the case before and is causing union fury (France and its unions, don't get me started).

There were so many people it was exhausting, but I had so much fun looking at brands I had never heard of before, and was particularly enamoured with a new designer, Marine (click on 'Marine' to visit her website), who was selling her jewellery herself (isn't it always fun to meet the designer?). She makes really fun, vintage inspired, whimsical jewellery, and it is affordable. I found a darling pair of earrings for my mum. I'm so pleased with my choice! One day my mum and her friend went to the market and all she came home with were some Russian dolls (babooshkas- sp?). I thought it so cute at the time, and I know she'll love these earrings:





And I was cheeky and bought myself this ring:





Here are some pictures of the beautifully decorated store:

Ima is here!

My wonderful precious mother, Ima, is finally here! I wish I didn't have to work so I could be with her all day! I love her so much and rarely get to see her as we live in different countries. So precious, this girl time. On Monday I take the GMAT and on Tuesday we are off on our trip to Boston. I cannot cannot wait. We're going to eat gorgeous food, buy lots of Clinique and Benefit cosmetics, I'll go to Harvard Business School, she'll go to her medical conference, and we'll be together. Can't wait to try my new camera on the fall scenes! Yay for Ima and mother-daughter time!