Happy New Year 2011!

Up and Down

The wreath above the mantelpiece is covered with dust. The chandelier is almost suffocated by cobwebs. Then a key turns in the lock – and a handsome and elegant gentleman walks in, with the woman he loves in his arms… This is British television’s most famous address – 165 Eaton Place – in a new series of Upstairs Downstairs.

Set in 1936, this lavish three-part serial sees diplomat Sir Hallam Holland (Ed Stoppard) move into the iconic townhouse along with his wife, Lady Agnes (Keeley Hawes). With the help of former parlourmaid Rose Buck (Jean Marsh) and the eccentric Grande Dame of the house, Lady Maude Holland (Eileen Atkins), they launch a new whole new era for the sumptuous home at the heart of Upstairs Downstairs.

As Lady Agnes remarks: “This house is going to see such life!”

But storm clouds are gathering in Europe, and servants are no longer biddable and cheap. The Hollands’ first year at Eaton Place does not unfold as either Lady Agnes or Rose anticipates.
The drama that results sets exquisite domestic detail against a sweeping historical backdrop.

There may be two families living in 165 – one upstairs and one down – but their fates are intimately linked. Touching, funny, romantic and savage, the revived Upstairs Downstairs is set to enrapture a whole new audience. The last episode was aired tonight and what a TV treat it was. So sumptuous and delightful that it left me wanting for more.


The original series of Upstairs Downstairs was a worldwide sensation. It ran on ITV in 68 episodes divided into five series from 1971 to 1975 and was set in a large townhouse in Edwardian, First World War and Inter-War Belgravia in London, depicting the lives of the servants "downstairs" and their masters "upstairs".

In the summer of 1930, the Bellamy family left its home in London’s Belgravia forever. In the empty house, loyal parlourmaid Rose Buck reflected on its ghosts, its history, the loves and lives it had contained. Closing the door for the final time, she walked away – and left a piece of her heart behind her. In 1936, a twist of fate brings Rose back to 165 Eaton Place, as a housekeeper to its new owners, the Hollands. Not to be missed then and not to be missed now.

Merry Christmas to Everyone

Love came down at Christmas,

Love all lovely, Love Divine;

Love was born at Christmas,

Star and Angels gave the sign.
Worship we the Godhead,

Love Incarnate, Love Divine;

Worship we our Jesus:

But wherewith for sacred sign?
Love shall be our token,

Love be yours and love be mine,

Love to God and all men,

Love for plea and gift and sign.

(Christina Rossetti)

Silent Sunday ...with the Angels

Skipping Christmas

A few years ago I read a book by John Grisham which was a good diversion from his heavy legal bound usual writings, Skipping Christmas. In a good way that book made me cringe. Why? Because I suspect that we have all been there at Christmas time. The stress of the planning, the cost of it all. So as we have all thought at times, the characters in this book decide to escape and instead of spending all their hard earned money on gifts and food they want to escape on a cruise. The cringe moments come when the whole street is decorating their houses and theirs is the only one without so much as a bit of tinsel. It is typical of how we are always looking at what the neighbours are doing and what they will think if we don’t celebrate Christmas the traditional way. The pressure is piled on to them to conform and as the stress levels increase, the scenes become more hilarious. All in all an enjoyable book.

I have been thinking about this possibility every year since. And every year I feel like a modern Scrooge. But my point is that the older I get the more I realize that the true spirit of Christmas is dead and buried. How many kids (not to mention adults) around the world know why we are celebrating Christmas, what is its real meaning? Very few. And how much do we really do for fun and enthusiasm or just because we are supposed to go along with it? I wish I could be strong enough and say no, this year there is no usual Christmas, we send the money for presents to Oxfam or Unicef, we eat what we usually eat all over the year and we don't get stuffed with turkey, chocolate, booze watching Coronation Street Christmas special....But I know it won't be like that. I’m weak and tired and on my own on this …and I will succumb to it again and again…Humbug!

Silent Sunday ...snowed under!

Rafi's Spicebox

Before coming to live in England I’d never tried Indian food in my life and for quite a while I didn’t dare to eat anything else than mild kormas fearing that all the other recipes were too spicy for my delicate Italian stomach. Then some Indian friends introduce me to REAL Indian food and I fell in love with it. Unfortunately I am not too keen on takeaways and our visits to Indian restaurants can become very expensive, given the quantity of food than my husband and son can consume. This was before discovering Rafi's Spicebox.

This isn't your usual kind of take-away. Rafi's Spicebox is a family run Asian delicatessen specialising in hand blended curry mixes. The first Spicebox in Sudbury was originally set up in 1989, by Rafi Fernandez, who after spending many years teaching Indian cooking wanted to supply people with the necessary exotic spices and ingredients that were hard to find. The shop soon evolved and today has become an institution. With 28 different curry mixes to choose from, you just need to add meat and vegetables and you have an authentic curry at home within minutes! The packs are made while you wait to your own specification and the expert staff are on hand to offer advice, recommendations and serving suggestions. The York store, which opened in 2004, is only the second Rafi's Spicebox in the UK. The shop also sells other Asian deli products, and is always popular with locals and visitors.

I've tried several dishes - the 'Ma's Paretal' above is amazing and a little bit different from your usual korma, tikka, balti, jalfrezi, etc. You can also order online on their website www.spicebox.co.uk. Just choose how hot you want the curry to be and P&P is charged per pack. For the cost of the spice pack plus other ingredients you can easily feed 4 people for under a tenner. Highly recommended.