“She’s a cool ghost. Maybe being nude all the time is why we get along,” Matthew McConaughey on living with a friendly ghost called Madame Blue ( pretty good reason)
“David and I watch the reality TV show Fear Factor in bed. Isn’t that funny? I’m sure people assume we’re watching porn.” Posh (funny? hilarious).
“I think it’s rubbish, It’s one of the worst videos I’ve ever seen in my life.If I was her record label and that video arrived on my desk I’d throw it in the bin.” Simon Cowell on Geri Halliwell’s new single.( fear factor)
“I’m usually asked, ‘How did you lose that weight? and I don’t like the implication that comes with that question. That it was a good thing to lose the weight saddens me.” Renee Z going on about her weight again.( Saddens me that you lost the weight Renee)
““I’d be too scared to modify my face. Can you imagine if it was worse afterwards?” Liz Hurley using the word modify to talk about her plastic face.
“I just find it utterly pathetic to have an operation simply to try to make oneself look younger.” Liz Hurley (what about your pathetic lips?)
“When we did do the fight three years ago I think Hugh was then spending more time on his fitness and body. It was certainly easier because he was much fleshier and the contours were much softer - it was more like wrestling with my grandmother” Colin Firth on Hugh ( Modify yourself Hugh! )
“You know, as they say, 60 is the new 50. We get to have a whole other chapter in our lives,” Sherry Lansing, who shattered Hollywood’s glass ceiling by becoming the first woman to head production at a major studio ( plastic or no plastic)
“No, I’m wearing husband,” Lynn Wyatt on whether her diamond earrings and a matching brooch was Cartier.
“As soon as enough people give you enough compliments and you’re wielding more power than you’ve ever had in your life, it’s not that you become an arrogant little prick, or become rude to people… You actually think you’ve altered the course of history.” Leonardo De Caprio ( he’s history)
“People are poor-spirited. Why can’t I love anyone? If I do, can’t I be with him because he’s famous? It’s not my fault if I met someone with such incredible heart”. Giselle on Leo and why love is blind
“Every Friday Dannii was on the Eurostar to Paris. But in the end it all got too much and they decided they were better off as friends.” A ‘friend’ on why catching a train made Danni Minogue break up with her boyfriend.
“I wasn’t scared at all,” John Mayer on his first fashion show. Be afraid be very afraid.

With so much bling around, I am starting to feel a bit blanged in the fashion department (unless it’s Prada or Lanvin, of course). But I must say I do love a chandelier either hanging from the ear or the ceiling. But if all this sparkle is too much and you don’t want a light dripping with crystals, then may I suggest you rush into Freedom for their groovy lamp shades with just a print of a chandelier on them. Clever. Big, white and round with the chandelier pattern printed on it in black. I call them a Claytons chandelier.

$29 Chandelier Pendant Shade from Freedom Furniture.

Big, over sized bags are the chicest thing to carry right now, so it only makes sense that you can now keep up the chic when you hit the supermarket too. Finally everyone is ditching those horrid plastic bags, but do we really need to carry those green supermarket bags in public? Mais non. Darling, we can still look good even if we do have to carry all that no carb food home ( it should be lighter anyway) and there are plenty of great bags around. Checkout Mimco for their fabulous vintage print bags that zip up into an envelope so you can throw them into the Birkin, $35 or try Loop nyc bags from David Jones in great groovy prints. Try Borders for really cool spot and floral ones (in waxed thick plastic made for magazine carrying) for about $14 or go to http://www.slingfings.com for all sorts of cool bags. Does that make shopping good for the environment?

If you are not going to a tropical Island this summer, you may as well smell like one. Palmer’s Shea Butter smells great and it really does sink into dry, sun kissed skin to make it satiny and oh-so-soft. I should know, I am sun kissed and now no longer look anything like a prune or Donatella. It’s a miracle! And it’s cheap too. Plus it’s my only excuse to indulge in butter without getting fat.

$7 Palmer’s Shea Butter Formula from major pharmacies.

The Dover Street Market in Mayfair is the new hot shopping address in London created by Rei Kawakabuko. A Georgian townhouse with all your favourite designers. Decades, the vintage store from LA, has a boutique, plus Hedi Slimane is selling his new black modern furniture, and Azzedine Alaia is there too.
Check out the very snazzy Ksar Charrbagh hotel in Marrakesh. Built in just two years, Ksar Char-Bagh is the brainchild of Parisian Nicole Grandsire LeVillair and her husband, Patrick. Deep in the vaults of the hotel is the hammam, Zora, the increasingly renowned masseuse, will sing to you (like it or not) as she practises her art” (CNTraveller) Do a virtual tour and listen to lovely fountain trickling on http://www.ksarcharbagh.com
Madonna’s fourth children’s book is out called ‘The adventures of Abdi”
When in New York disembark at vacant Terminal 5 TWA terminal for an exhibition of 20 commissioned artists asked to create site-specific installations. Jenny Holzer displays her enigmatic text messages on the arrivals and departures board. The Japanese sound artist Ryoji Ikeda transformed one of the long tunnel walkways into a minimalist sound-and-light installation; the New York-based artist Tom Sachs turned the other one into a skateboard ramp, creating what he described as an airport-scale fallopian tube. Several pieces evoke the lost glamour of air travel. In the entryway, Daniel Ruggiero of Switzerland has rolled out a portable red carpet to the accompaniment of the flashing cameras of invisible paparazzi, courtesy of the New York artist Ken Courtney from New York Times.
Studio Job were the hot designers to come out of the Milan Furniture fair and have also been working with the fashion designers Victor and Rolf. Check out their fantastic rock chairs, groovy chandeliers and kooky ceramics on the website (which scrolls across rather than down) http://www.studiojob.nl/atelier
What’s a girl to do — buy Manolo Blahniks at $100 a pop or vote? Such was the dilemma fashion devotees grappled with at the Manolo sample sale on Election Day. WWD seized the opportunity to conduct an informal poll of 20 shoppers. Only three had voted, one of whom was an intellectual property lawyer who pulled the lever for President Bush at 6 a.m. Another was a fashion editor who made sure she got to the polls by 8:30 so she could make the sample sale. The third, a department store merchandiser, voted at 7:45 before heading up to the hotel. Vote or die (without Manolos)
Madonna and Guy Ritchie are throwing caution to the wind. Oh lordy, lordy. They’re working on another movie together. They will start filming a gangster picture, of all things, costarring Ray Liotta and called “Revolver,” in London next week. Madge and Guy should receive an Oscar nomination for bravery, considering the disaster they made of “Swept Away” several years ago.WWD
Kate Moss has one more chance to buy the life-size portrait of her that Lucien Freud painted when she was seven months pregnant — and so do you. It will go on the block at Christie’s in London next year and is expected to fetch some $7 million. You may remember Kate tried to buy the picture for $2 million, but Freud said, no, no, no, and now you know why.
A view of the Houses of Parliament by Claude Monet has sold for just under £11m at Christie’s in New York, the highest price paid for a picture of London

http://windowsmedia.com/radiotuner/MyRadio.asp
It’s embarrassing, but am I the last person to know about windows media guide and the access to radio around the world online? Oh dear, call me old fashioned . But I am a dag and after all The FiFi Report was originally designed for dags. But how cool is this? Choose radio statons from around the world from news stations like NPR or BBC, to ones in Japan, Europe or Russia. Or click on to find hundreds of classical, international, Jazz, pop,rock hip hop or country. wow.

http://www.mapquest.com
I have the worst sense of direction and quite often get lost trying to get out of the fitting room.So how happy was I to find this fabulous site that only not gives you maps of everywhere in the world ( nearly) but will give you driving directions as well. For fun, I decided to try to get from Paris to Nice …”Start out going along Rue Jacob, turn left into Rue Saint Benoit and then left into Boulevard St Germain, etc.” Perfect. But you can also search by address ,airports, business name . But I am not so sure about “finding airports fast’ I thought the pilot did that….

Hugh Grant is set to be Mr January in a new calendar - of police celebrity arrest photos. The actor - who was arrested in 1995 after being caught with prostitute Divine Brown - will join a host of Hollywood stars who have been in trouble with the law in the Celebrity Mugshot Calendar 2005. Other stars pictured include Mr December Christian Slater, who was arrested in 1994 for criminal possession of a weapon, and Mr October Matthew McConaughey, who was charged with cannabis possession after cops raided his home and found him playing the bongos in the nude ( with the ghost?)
Julia Roberts is said to be furious that her Ocean’s Twelve co-star, Catherine Zeta-Jones, has got top billing on the posters for the forthcoming movie. Furious
Robbie Williams has been branded a “gay boy” by gay magazine Attitude. The pop heartthrob was awarded the title after scoring over two million points out of a possible 100 in the UK magazine’s ‘How Gay Are You?’ test. Forget the girls, he’s one of us. The UK’s biggest pop star is a bona fide gay boy.”
Liz Hurley is reportedly set to marry boyfriend ARUN NAYAR at one of two 40th birthday parties she is throwing for him
Jude Law has agreed to make a cameo appearance in Ricky Gervais’ new comedy, Extras.
Britney Spears is to hire a hypnotherapist in a bid to quit smoking. It involves psychotherapy to help Britney understand why she smokes before cutting cigarettes out of her life for good. (work out why ? she’s stupid)
Kate Bosworth has confirmed she is taking time off to study Psychology ( to help Britney?)
Kylie Minogue s relationship with Olivier Martinez is reported to be all but over.
Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner were pictured canoodling at a baseball game.
Britney Spears is pregnant with new husband according to his ex- wife.
Brad and Jennifer have found their dream English home - belonging to their pal Jamie Oliver.
Gwyneth is cranky that she has been left holding the baby as Chris Martin spends hours in the studio working on the new Coldplay album.
Robert Wagner had an affair with legendary actress Barbara Stanwyck which they both kept secret for decades. Wagner, 74, reveals that when he was just 22 years old, he embarked on a five-year romance with Stanwyck when she was 45
There was a heavy police presence at Bill Gates’ 50th birthday bash in New York. But it was the pay packet received by veteran rocker Sting, rather than the security arrangements, that caught the media’s attention. The former Police frontman was paid a staggering $486,000 to perform at the glitzy party marking the Microsoft chairman’s half century.

A Lion in the Bedroom by Pat Cavendish O’Neill
The opening line of this book reads “My Aunt nanny looked like a bull dog and was such as snob she thought the upper crust Vanderbilt family of New York was nouveau Riche.” That got me in! Like a great big Vanity Fair article, I haven’t been able to put it down since. (Except to go shopping). Pat Cavendish O’Neill writes about her amazing life starting with her 4 times married glamour puss mother who was filthy rich ( and from the Lindeman wine family), who walked around Hyde park with her pet cheetah, who wore dresses embroidered with real diamonds and had 4 men commit suicide over her. Famous for the parties at ‘Fiorentina’ their incredible villa in the south of France. it was ‘ a fairytale world filled with 1930s film stars, royalty, fantasy, fabulous wealth, luxury and exotic Riviera mansions. However, at the age of 35, Pat’s life changed. Twice married and divorced while visiting Kenya she was handed an abandoned lion cub and fell in love with it and with Africa’…Need I go on? A must read.
$29.95 from major booksellers

The Christmas List:
First Garden : An Illustrated Garden Primer by C. Z. Guest
The late C.Z Guest was the chicest thing you ever saw and apart from being impossibly wealthy and glamourous she was also an avid gardener. An author of three books, three garden planners, and the newspaper column Garden Talk, in the New York Post, she had her own line of products (the C.Z. Grow organic fertilizer, insect repellant, tools, scented candles, and soap, all currently available at Bergdorf-Goodman). ‘In 1975, C.Z. Guest, an accomplished sportswoman, was injured in a riding accident. While she lay recovering, friends called constantly to ask her advice on tending gardens. C.Z. decided to write a clear and concise gardening primer that would enable any beginner to know the satisfaction of working in the garden. First Garden has long been out of print. Demand from the collector’s market for her timeless text and Beaton’s classic illustrations prompted C.Z. to suggest republishing her book, and the result is this lovingly produced tribute to the joys of nature that will show anyone how to create a first garden.’ Amazon
$19 from http://www.amazon.com

It’s official. I can’t take it anymore. So many sequins, beaded, and appliquéd tops. I can’t take any more crappy eighties colours and cheap fabrics. I can’t take anymore pink or anything else in eclectic-throw-it-all-on-with-my-eyes-closed- I-must- be-cool bad taste. Kate Moss and Sienna Miller are the only people who can wear it. Oh, and I know round toes and wedges are back but you don’t need to wear them either. Look at Prada, Lanvin and Micheal Kors for next season and be happy with your jeweled brooch and chandelier earrings but don’t wear it all at once. Please look a bit ladylike, and just add some colour with your accessories. That’s official.
Economy:
Zomp: Have some cool slouchey bags in punched leather in great colours like bronze, white and light blue. $180. They have some cool pink and orange strappy heels $280, some good orange 40’s style heels $140, some sling backs by Enrico Antinori $435 in orange and red, aqua and black. And lots of great flat toe thongs in lots of great shapes. Please check them out. Esprit: have some good simple white jeans Liz Hurley! $79, some good caps in classic colours $16 and thongs in all colours too.There is a pretty beige satin cami $119 and lots of drapey tops and good singlets ( see last week). Apex Shoes: have a good animal print or is it snakeskin? open toe sling back $95 and cool bronze or gold strappy heels $200 ish. Cue: have a black and white floral 50’s dress which looks nice $219 with their ever so chic red thin woven belt. And don’t forget their knit tops, and their Prada tie dye skirt in grey and cream is a winner ( cheap).Plus the frayed edge cream shell top is great but I tried it on and its sooo see through.$79, you need a top under it. Sportsgirl: have brought back the beaded caftans and I like them $119, they have the long tie dye skirt in blue and white and a funny green $149, also in a brown and white. And check out more 50’s cotton skirts in stripe and floral patchwork $59 and some cool bronze heels $69. Plus the Gucci aviator style sunglasses are $39.And don’t forget they have lots of great brooches and earrings too..Witchery: have a poncho style chiffon cream top with a pink floral print $89 and some good thin woven belts $59, some wedge espadrilles if you want to do the Prada look $69, and the Gucci esque sunglasses too for $39.There is a sheer L/S top with sequins ( yes, not bad if you haven’t already bought one) $129. Nine West: have the faux snakeskin heels in black or orange but you don’t want them in pink, I promise. $99. Kookai: have a very ‘out there’ hot pink and orange print tie dye dress $219 and top $149 but checkout the very tasteful black chiffon dress $169 and the good high neck shell T shirts $25. Accessorize: This cheapo shop has some quite good basic hats and some cool cotton pull on hats $27 and floppy straw hats $20 too. FCUK: had done a fab DVF wrap print dress in a Missoni style print but sorry sold out but may have more coming, but they still great black print Mexican style 50’s skirts $149 and those cap sleeve T shirts.

Business:
Country Road: I love their cute Prada style trilby hat in straw $99, and the pull on canvas fishing hats in white, mint and a great red $39, and I
must say the bronze shimmer grey singlet is great $79.The grandpa/caftan tops in linen in all sorts of colours are a good buy $159, and the rip off of the Hugo Boss twisted front shift dress is good in light blue or pink $299, and so is the satin black skirt $199. Check out the light blue singlets with a smattering of sequins $79 and the Prada tie dye cardigan in grey and green $129, and the pink and taupe paisley scarf $59.NB the Christmas decorations with beads on wire are lovely $29 and so are the gorgeous metal and glass stars $7.95. And everyon eloves the scoop neck T shirts that are not cut wide on the neck but give you a long neck $39.No really. CK Jeans; their summer collection is not as good as their winter one but checkout the cargo mini skirts $149 plus there is $50 off all jeans. Check out the white drawstring waist skirt $169 and the white zip front bomber $139 and the funky Japanese floral print undies $24.And the silver wide cuffs and watches are cool too. David Lawrence: have a double layer T shirt in pinks $69, a dark Khaki mini cotton skirt $119 and a shiny satin belted trench in rose or black : chic $440. And check out the very pretty floral tops $99 and cool tie dye scarf and matching silk skirt is about $329. Saba: have some Missoni style stripe V neck shell tops $145, and a gold knit shrug $145. Check out the fabulous and very tasteful black knit cami with a lace trim $145 and the very nice black jersey pleated skirt with punched lace hole in it $279: A bit more exciting than a dumb black skirt, plus don’t forget the very pretty soft pink and yellow ruffle dress $445.

First:
David Jones: have opened a Prada Store: well, I never. Yes, all mint green walls and divine bags. You want it all but check out the new
gorgeous orange ones with silver rings, $1580, the black structured ones $1700, the black beaded black one is gorgeous $2000 ish. I insist you stroll in and buy up big. Also in here are the new Chloe bags from summer ( already seen in Robbie Ingham months ago) covered with beads in croissant shape $2150 and a smaller shape $1889, there are brown leather ones with brass hardware $2700, plus black shoulder bags $2700 and light blue ones too. XSRE: Have some fabulous new Luella bags in all sorts of great colours and in the different sizes. $2000 ish. Plus check out the other designer bags here too, like Paco Rabanne and Lox. Hermes: have a lot of divine new leather cuffs for around $500 and their winter collection is in so please go in and drool. NB. There is a new shop in the MLC called Glamour Donna with lots of accessories but it was closed when I go there so will check out next week. Belinda in MLC has the now all next winter of Marni, Lanvin, Ann Demeulemeester, Temperley and Rick Owens plus some Missoni. Ooh La La. You want the Marni which is very 50’s balenciaga in a way, the black brocade strutured coats with lurex thread $2495, the gold brocade skirts and coat $3295 are divine,and so the Floral print coat $2775. I love the Marni stamped croc brown leather bag $1450 but for a great price why not buy a group of 3 brooches on cloth for $195 or set of 5 perpex or glass brooches $275. The Ann Demeulemeester ‘Joan of arc’ silver mesh skirt is amazing and so is the black llama fur wrap jacket $3425.But you can also have her L/S black T for only $275 or the cotton peacoat $1945. There are divine Anya Hindmarsh bags in great colours for $1700 ish , gorgeous knits by Matilde $695, and Clements Ribeiro $1295.You want the lurex Missoni scarves, the Pierre Hardy shoes, and the cutler and Gross sunglasses. And ALL the Lanvin is quite divine.

Salmon Fish Fingers
Here’s the scoop on making your own fish fingers. The trick is to use couscous as the crust and do lots of sprinkling of fresh herbs. Do I have to say it’s so easy and you can whip it up in no time?

You need for 4

6 Salmon fillets
100g couscous
a couple of crushed garlics
Zest of a lemon
1 teasp of cumin, coriander, ginger and paprika
2 eggs beaten lightly (or it will hurt)
a sprinkling of flour for dusting
chives and mint for a bit of accessorizing
Some oil for frying
Butter for naughty frying and 1 tabs of whole grain mustard
Some gorgeous fresh asparagus or beans too.

·Cook the couscous ( and if you don’t know how to do that, can you please just google it and follow the instructions) Thank you.
·Then spread it on a baking tray and pop it in the oven for a couple of minutes to dry it out so it’s like bread crumbs.
·Come on, it won’t take a sec and it’s worth it. I promise.
·When it’s nice and dry and maybe a bit crispy you can
Mix the garlic, lemon zest, spices and a bit of salt and pepper all through the couscous
·Now time for a dip little fish! Get out 3 different bowls and dip the fish fillets in the flour, then the egg, then in the couscous so it sticks to it.
·You can even pat on a bit extra if you like, getting your fingers into it
·Now pop the fillets on a plate and into the fridge for a chillout session for about 5 mins or so.
·Mmm think you need one too, so pour a drink and perhaps pop on the water for a bit of blanching of the green vegetables
·Heat the oil a pan and fry the fish till it’s gorgeous and tanned and cooked to your perfection.
·Drain on paper so it’s not too oily.
·Those green vegetable should be blanched in a minute, so slice up the salmon into thick fish fingers chunks. How clever is that?
·Drain the vegetables and then if you want to be really snazzy, stir fry them with butter and mustard and sprinkle over the chives and mint.
·Serve with the vegetables arranged with aplomb on top of the fish fingers.
Restaurant quality!

Delovely with Kevin Kline and Ashley Judd
Venice, Paris, Hollywood, a love story (of sorts), amazing clothes by Armani, gorgeous houses and furniture through the early 20th century. Nuf said? This is a delightful and delovley movie about the life of Cole Porter played by Kevin Kline (who is fantastic) and the very beautiful Ashley Judd who plays his wife.( who is not so good). Filmed along the longs of ‘This is Your Life’ I do have one problem: can we please stop with the voice over? In this case, Cole Porter looks back on his life and fills us in explaining what’s happening, just in case we can’t work it out (Obviously for the dumbed down American audiences. Well, they must be dumb, they voted for George Dubya). But what is there to explain? The guy was gay or at a pinch ( or two) bisexual and though he loved his wife, Linda, he gets up to all sorts of hijinks with all sorts of pretty men here, there and everywhere. But of course nothing is too raunchy (there’s only one out of focus kiss) and it’s almost like the old movies of the 30’s itself: good old fashioned escapist entertainment. And I predict this could be another Oscar for another fake nose. The aging makeup is amazing on Kevin Kline but I’m not so sure on Ashley Judd. Maybe because no one is really old in Hollywood anymore, so how do you make an old facelifted young face look old while it’s trying to look young? Mmm. And I have a problem with so much smoking all the way through. Oh but did I mention she does die of emphysema. Sorry.But all this aside, once you get into it , it is so fabulous I wanted to tap dance and sing along too. And how much fun is it to suddenly see Sheryl Crowe, Alannis Morrisette, Simply Red, Robbie Williams, Natalie Cole and Diana Krall all appear singing all the old Cole Porter classics? A lot. Plus when you listen to the lyrics in the context of his life you realise just how risqué they were with the underlying meaning of the songs “love for sale’ or ‘Let’s misbehave’. But please bring the hankies, and then go out and get the fabulous CD, you’ll be amazed at how many of his songs you actually know….but blow your nose and fix that smudged mascara first.