Sar’s Blog

Sar lives within hearing distance of Sadler’s Wells Theatre with her fiancé. She is an art dealer by day and a writer by night.

She loves food adventures, Scrabble, Sunday papers, weekends with friends, and writing her blog, Backseat Gourmand. Her favourite places to shop online are John Lewis, Graham & Green and Amazon (she has a book-buying addiction).

A New York State of Mind

Published on Friday 11th December 2009

It’s been ten days since I came back from the Big Apple, and elements of life there are proving hard to shake off. I become worryingly light-headed whenever I spy a muffin or bagel, and have not succumbed yet (if you don’t count the oh-so virtuous carrot and bran one I had this morning…it must be healthy with bran in it surely?)

I'm managing to keep the cocktail cravings at bay. I'm not, repeat not, Carrie Bradshaw with all that money to spend on fabulous clothes - although the shoes that I bought in Manhattan for my wedding would be right up her alley.

Luckily I remembered immediately that London streets are mostly two-way, or rather a couple of irate cyclists have jogged the memory – oh, how I’ve missed them!

Having had two near-misses with these silent speeders (who could both do with helmets and bells for Christmas), I feel it’s high time I made myself more visible.

It was Thanksgiving whilst I was there - rather a good concept for a holiday in my book. It revolves entirely around people getting together for the marathon Thanksgiving dinner, eating and spending time together, without the present-related panic attacks so often associated with Yuletide. In other words: one enormous love-in, with food. We should jump on that bandwagon too (don’t a few days off this late in the year sound good?), but until we do, we’ll be baking with pecans pumpkins and spices, our little nod at it.

Unfortunately, due to the unfavourable cross-pond exchange rate this year, New York wasn't the place I shopped ‘til I dropped, rather leaving all of that until to my return. Back in London I find that it is Christmas shopping time again - Oxford Street is already infuriating at evenings and weekends – and yet I've never looked forward to this yearly ritual so much.

The difference in 2009 is that I won’t be leaving the house. Inspired by my initial NY field research, the next stage of the process will be the immensely pleasurable internet browsing. For the BSG for example, I need look no further for the bold block colours loved by US brands than the thoroughly British label Huxley, and their collection of vibrant merino jumpers and socks. Who says that winter has to be dark? In fact, make that another one for Dad, Grandpa, and my brothers too.

My sister and I love our pyjamas, so for her I’m thinking of some pretty ones, and maybe some warm socks.

Everywhere I need to go is at my fingertips and all I need is a quiet Saturday afternoon to get ordering, a cup of tea on the go and not a queue in sight… Home Sweet Home.

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