The Find Fashion and Fitness events

A whole host of stars aligned, and I could no longer put off properly getting going with the new 'crazy scheme' as my husband christens all of my projects.  I had done a bit of personal training and filled in for Village Hall type fitness sessions, but never really got my teeth into making a proper go of it.

The initial plan was to work with some new technology out of Hungary, and offer personal training in the home or office and a meal delivery plan to achieve guaranteed weight loss for those with a target to hit, be it a Summer holiday-ready bod, or a wedding dress.

We use electric muscle stimulation (EMS training) to work deep into the muscle tissue, and create definition and kick start the metabolism, without getting so hot and sweaty that a shower is a must.  For time poor execs working long hours, this is often the only way they can cram some exercise into a 16 hour work day.

I then started to spend more time in the Cotswolds, so left my partner in crime to spark up the city, while I embraced more permanent country living.  Quite by chance, I met a like-minded soul who had just finished working at mywardrobe and had stock and a loyal social media following.
Instead of village hall style exercise classes, we could set up a mini boutique, complete with fresh cut flowers, scented candles and all of the bits and pieces that you might expect from a local boutique and we could offer changing weekly capsule collections to keep it fresh and new.

We needed to find some good locations, first and most importantly they had to have 'soul' so that when people arrive, they feel they are somewhere special, they must have good parking and be accessible and of course have really tasty coffee for when the class is over.  We have a number of one-off locations in the pipeline, including Cliveden and Soho Farmhouse, and two weekly regulars, Mondays in Streatley at the Swan at Streatley overlooking the river and Thursdays in the Barn behind the Crown and Thistle in Abingdon.

The ladies pay £10 for each class, but the classes are limited from 5-10 with two trainers, so there is a lot of focus on correction and technique, We call it 'Group Personal Training' and this ensures that each participant gets the best possible outcome from their class.

The best bit, is that the £10 is redeemable against the already heavily discounted stock, prices start at £10.  So our ladies get a great work-out and then a free gift.  It's not really surprising that everyone sticks with it.

I'll write more about the classes and the routine and how it works next time, as after Instagram, this all feels a bit wordy!

If you are interested in coming to try a class you can read more details at www.the-find.co.uk

Farewell to Guests and Yuletide parties

 This Christmas has been a memorable one, usually we are quite low key and the only day that we celebrate is Christmas Eve.  It has been lovely celebrating with a huge number of old and new friends over a number of days and reading this post at Badinage, made me realise it is hasn't been the glitz and the glamour that is the best bit, it's just being with people that we care about that matters.

There weren't too many photos of Cliveden, I am sure that Cynthiawill do Alice far more justice than I have in this.  She was the belle of the ball, quite breath-takingly beautiful in her Cinderella dress. The consensus was Grace Kelly at her best, the young man to her right thought so too....

 The little guy also concurred, although he is less steadfast, he spent the later part of the evening dancing with two ladies in their 30s...

Dinner was tasty and we got our very own close quarter magician, his balancing acts were more successful than the card tricks...

 Cynthia and I relaxed after dinner and watched the young on the dance floor...

 I was tired after three days of partying, our poor guests also had jet lag, I am not sure they ever really knew what time of day or night it was.

We picked them up at 6am to return to the airport.  It was a beautiful time to be in London....
This was our first sighting of the Christmas lights this year, and they were spectacular...

And Claridges isn't bad either...

The trip to Heathrow was an easy run and we only wished that they could have stayed longer.

Now we are back at the cottage, with oodles of cakes and mince-pies, settled in front of the fire, waiting for the snow to come...(Miss B engrossed in Country Life) 

But she will always look up for a photo....

 I hope that you are warm, cosy and relaxed as Christmas draws to an end.

Boxing day ball

Christmas eve drinks went in a bit of a blur, I managed the whole night in Michael Kors caged heels, lower than the Sergio Rossi Mermaid ones, but just as sparkly....

 My favourite photo bomber...

...was less keen to be photographed...

Got this last pic before the madness started...

At midnight Miss B retired to bed, it's so exhausting being the Belle of the ball...

Tonight we are all going to a Boxing Day Ball at Cliveden.
In less than an hour I shall be collecting my two Cinderellas from Claridges and we will head out to the country....

This is a Valentino number from TK Maxx, I think it was from their bridal range, but at 50 quid I am not too worried, it is pure silk and beautiful chantilly lace....

I am fully blinged up, just don't look too closely at the diamonds, muggers would be disappointed...

And shod in Rene Caovilla with an Anya clutch.  Plus the beautiful flowers from Cynthia and the lovely Alice.

I have to run so that we are not late, tonight I'll try and be better with the pictures.

 I hope that everyone else is having a magical Christmas time.

Lunch at Cliveden

Cliveden is one of the most beautiful country houses  in Britain, its chequered history makes it all the more fascinating.  Architect buffs will love to read about how it has evolved through many different styles since is was first built in the 1700s, but for most of us, it is from the Astor era onwards that it really gets interesting.

There is a new play about the Profumo affair indicating that it was all a bit of a 'set-up' and of course the film Scandal tells the original 60s tale of Russian spies, call girls and the British establishment.

We just went for lunch at the newly renovated restaurant. It is beautiful and only £28 for the set menu, I was loathed to take pics after the recent French chef banning food photography and saying that it is 'ill-mannered'.

The entry hall where afternoon tea is served is about as 'English castle' as you can get.

But the new dining room is light, modern, beautiful and airy...

This was the only 'food' pic I snaffled...

Sweet things to choose to go with coffee...

The Duchess of Sutherland for whom the house was originally built.

The library next to the dining room.
It is so close to London that it is worth the trip, a walk in the grounds rounds of lunch nicely, and once it gets its Michelin star I am sure prices will shoot up.

I forgot to take a pic of the outfit , but wore a Whistles lilac fish scale skirt and purple top.

Are there any good restaurants that you have discovered recently? Are sequins too much for lunch?!