Tag Archives: wimbledon

Thoughts of an author during launch week. The Mothers of SW19 is out on Thursday

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My book, The Mothers of SW19, is out on Thursday. Am I spiralling? Absolutely.

I’m having an unlucky week. My roof is leaking and it destroyed some of my books. Then I went to throw out one of those squishy toys, that are in the news after splitting opening, and harming a child. The irony, it broke and my skin’s had a horrible reaction. I hope this unlucky steak doesn’t mean anything when it comes to the launch of my precious book baby. I know, cringe, but the amount of work that goes into writing a novel. A.I. could never.

It took six weeks to write and six years to publish. It had 26 full requests when I queried it. I even had agents from New York contacting me directly. This was before the spam email wave for authors. When is that ever going to end?

On Thursday, the 27th of August, my third novel comes out into the world. It is a true labour of love and is about many themes that are close to my heart. Obsession, jealousy, revenge, cliques, motherhood, female friendship, loneliness, social media influencers, journalists… The Mothers of SW19 has it all in a famous postcode. Emma is in her thirties and in the hardest season of her life. Annabel is in her forties and the Queen B.

Synopsis.

Unassuming Emma, a blogger turned wannabe social media influencer, moves to an exclusive enclave in SW19 to get her son into the best school in the area. On the first day of school, she bumps into Annabel, a gregarious journalist who is head of the PTA. 

An unfortunate misunderstanding leads to a clash, and the school gate mothers taking sides. Emma’s world has been blown apart by motherhood. As she struggles to find her new identity, she has to defend herself against Annabel and her clique. The mean girls with mortgages.

Emma learns a devastating secret about Annabel that could destroy her entire life. Will Emma play dirty to win, and what lengths will Annabel go to protect what she has? 

There can only be one winner. But what will be the cost?

It’s already had amazing reviews and blurbs. Apparently the preorders are also going great guns. August has been busy. Thankfully we went to Centre Parcs at the end of July and rented a lodge for a week. It was a great week of kayaking, swimming, boating, and eating lots of great food. I have filed so much copy during August. Enjoy this piece from the Telegraph on my children telling me I should not be eating nachos, ‘at my age.’ Ouch.

I have had a lot of photographers coming into the chaos which gives me a reason to tidy. I also had a tiny piece in Good Housekeeping.

There are two weeks left of the summer holidays. The book will be going on tour from Thursday. It is a pacy and sharp satire. When a child is born, a mother is reborn. There are not enough books about mothers. The Mothers of SW19 is Motherland on crack. It’s darker and sexier. With an insufferable character that makes Amanda in Amandaland seem reasonable. I hope you catch it around. If you want a copy you can order one here: The Mothers of SW19. It’s also available on kindle unlimited, ebook and paperback.

The Ultimate gift this Christmas: A Sports Getaway

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It has been a rough couple of years, so what better Christmas gift than a break?  Keith Prowse, the UK’s leading hospitality provider, has a range of experiences to help you give sports fans the ultimate gift this Christmas.

An official hospitality experience offers you food and drink from Michelin starred chefs along with the best seats in the house, making it an experience your loved ones will never forget.

Venue: The Lock

Event: Six Nations

Key highlights:

  • Presented by 2-Michelin-starred chef Tom Kerridge, The Lock is a grand and sophisticated space located in Twickenham Stadium’s East Stand.
  • Private tables of 2,4,6,8 and 10
  • Four course English inspired menu
  • Post-match Twickenham tea

Price: From 1099pp +VAT

Venue: The Treehouse

Event: Wimbledon 2022

Key highlights:

  • Brand new experience launching at Wimbledon 2022
  • Roaming small plates from Tom Sellers, 2 Michelin Star Chef Patron of Restaurant Story
  • Innovative premium cocktails prepared by in-house mixologists
  • Live DJs and access to The Lawn garden
  • Complimentary bar including premium spirits & chilled Champagne
  • Official prime viewing location on Centre Court or No.1 Court

Price: From £850pp +VAT

 

 

 

Summer Cocktail Recipe Ideas

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Want some great summer cocktail recipe ideas? You are in luck, read on….

Gallo Family Vineyards Wimbledon Apple-scato

applecocktail

Ingredients:
2 ounces of Gallo Moscato
2 ounces of Apple Juice
1Ž4 ounce of Honey
1 1Ž2 ounce of ginger beer
Candied ginger
Sliced apples to garnish

Directions:
1.Combine liquids in cocktail shaker with ice.
2.Shake to blend and chill.
3.Strain into tumbler
4.Garnish with sliced apple and candied ginger

benedictinecocktailworldcup

Celebrate the World Cup with a Monks Maracana created for Bénédictine by Shaker BarSchool. Enjoy a delicious mix of both spicy yet fruity flavours, inspired by the lively and exciting lifestyle of host city of Rio de Janeiro!

Samba down to muddled limes, fresh passion fruit and the herbal notes of Bénédictine, to create a cocktail that is exciting and passionate, perfect to indulge in during the football madness.

Ingredients:
50ml Bénédictine
3 Lime wedges
1 large fresh ripe passion fruit
1 spoon castor sugar
Ice: Crushed or cracked ice
Garnish: Lime twist and passion fruit half
Glass: 12oz Rocks

Method: Muddle limes, squeeze in passion fruit pulp, pour Bénédictine, add crushed ice, churn, top with more ice and garnish!

cocktails

If you’re having a party this weekend and need inspiration for the most fabulous cocktails then read below for Dewintons latest recipes. Their in-house mixologist spends all day mixing, shaking and pouring cocktails, either straight into a Martini glass or served on the rocks with a twist of orange or for a little more flamboyance add a Maraschino cherry!

Sloe Gin Fizz

Delicious Sloe gin shaken with gin, fresh lemon and sugar syrup and topped with Soda

Served in tall over lots of ice!

Bramble

Fresh blackberries shaken with a large measure of gin, fresh lemon juice, sugar syrup and served over crushed ice laced with creme de mure

Tranquility

Fresh raspberries and raspberry liqueur shaken with a slightly smokey whisky

Served straight up and sprayed with a large lemon twist

Honey & Lime Daiquiri

Sumptuous honey shaken with fresh lime juice and rum

Served straight up

Zanzibar

Fresh lime crushed and combined with a chilli & ginger syrup topped with a large measure of rum and ginger beer

Served tall over lots of crushed ice

 

 

Pimms Royale with a Twist

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With the promise of a Wimbledon cocktail recipe the other day I have discovered the ultimate Pimms drink. We love good champagne and we love Pimms and the two together is called a Royale. Well now its been know for a while you can add elderflower cordial to Pimms….soooo we thought hell why don’t we just add the lot and see what we get! By now you must know we like to experiment and cocktails are the perfect way to have a dabble!

Pimms Royale with a Twist P1160307 P1160308You need the usual ingredients, tons of fruit and well just throw it all together, however you darn like!

Just add a good champagne instead of lemonade and a dash of cordial with tons of ice. P1160309 P1160316 P1160323Murphy and Ambers favourite treats are strawberries. Amber keeping her pretty eye on Mr Murphy, then having a cheeky sniff!P1160329 P1160332 P1160339They are potent and perfect for the last day of Wimbledon when we will be celebrating anther fine win we hope! Go and make a sneaky batch now and try it out, I won’t tell anyone! P1160342

For more fun recipie ideas check out our site www.slbstyle.com and drop me a happy tweet at @sarahbacchus and have the best tipsy weekend!!

Free Wimbledon Screenings In London

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Head to One New Change to soak up the Wimbledon action and you’ll be able to enjoy a delicious cocktail courtesy of luxury strawberry cream liqueur, Tequila Rose.

 
free wimbledon screening

One New Change will be hosting free Wimbledon screenings on its roof top terrace, which boasts panoramic views of St Paul’s Cathedral and the rest of the city.

 

Visitors will soak up the action with deck chair seating and large screens installed in specially customised retro caravans, where all the Championship action will be shown for two weeks from June 23rd. 

 

The Tequila Rose bar is at One New Change from July 3rd until July 6th, 1pm – 7pm and is an ideal retreat from shopping or work, where you can keep up with Federer, Murray, Williams and Sharapova while sampling a Strawberry Love cocktail.

 

The Strawberry Love is made with Tequila Rose – a natural strawberry flavoured cream liqueur with premium Mexican tequila – black raspberry liqueur and a fresh strawberry. If you’d like to re-create the Strawberry Love at home, here’s the recipe:

 

Strawberry Love

Ingredients (single serve):

·      60ml Tequila Rose

·      20ml Black Raspberry Liqueur

·      60ml Semi Skimmed Milk

·      Fresh strawberry

Shake the ingredients with ice and strain into a cold glass, garnish with a fresh strawberry.

 

Tequila Rose is priced £14.99 for 70cl from drinksupermarket.

 

Andy Murray Becomes First British Male Wimbledon Champion in 77 Years

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Andy_Murray becomes forst man in 77 years to win Wimbledon. Andy Murray reached the “pinnacle of tennis” and became the first British man to be Wimbledon Champion in 77 years. After a brutal 3 hour and 10 minute match in blistering heat Murray finally won in straight sets 6-4 7-5 6-4 against his old (on-court) nemesis Novak Djokovic. It was the hottest day of the year and the temperatures reach 40C (104F) in the sun on Centre Court.

Murray, 26, received a standing ovation last night on Centre Court. He then broke down in tears of joy. Murray is now the first British man to take the Wimbledon title since Fred Perry in 1936, Many now think he is a shoo in for a Knighthood and also BBC Sport Personality of the Year.

After his win he kept up a Wimbledon tradition, sprinting towards the players’ box where he hugged members of “Team Murray” including girlfriend Kim, 25. He did, however, initially forgot to hug his mother, coming back to embrace her after hearing her ‘squealing’.

Murray later said the success would “take a little while to sink in. I don’t really know what to say just now. Winning Wimbledon I think is the pinnacle of tennis,”

“The last game almost increased that feeling… I worked so hard in that last game. It’s the hardest few points I’ve had to play in my life… I still can’t believe it.

“Can’t get my head around that. I can’t believe it.”

Murray had previously said that the  weight of public expectation made his life “very difficult”. But he thanked the crowd for their support.

“It was different to last year’s final, for sure, and then (at) the end of the match, that was incredibly loud, very noisy. I’ve been saying it all week, but it does make a difference. It really helps when the crowd’s like that, the atmosphere is like that. Especially in a match as tough as that one, where it’s extremely hot, brutal, long rallies, tough games, they help you get through it.”

“I understand how much everyone else wanted to see a British winner at Wimbledon so I hope you guys enjoyed it, I did my best,”

Prime Minister David Cameron and Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond watched the historic sport event from the Royal Box. Gerald Butler, Bradley Cooper, Victoria Beckham also watched Andy win.

Although Murray is the first man to win since Fred Perry, four women won it in that time and have largely been written out of history. Including Virgina Wade. The Guardian Said, “Yep. Partially deaf player Angela Mortimer won the championship in 1961, and underdog Ann Haydon-Jones beat legend of the sport Billie Jean King to win again in 1969.” Writer Chloe Angyal, tweeted  “Murray is indeed the first Brit to win Wimbledon in 77 years unless you think women are people” It has been re-tweeted over 9,425 times.

 

 

 

Wimbledon Wiggle Dance Craze Loved by Maria Sharapova, Jonathan Ross Set For First Live Performance

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Maria Sharapova’s done it. Jonathan Ross has done it. Even Ben Wishaw, Michelle Dockery, Mollie King, Gemma Chan have done it. They’ve all had a go at the Wimbledon Wiggle

For those unfamiliar with the move created by evian and We Are Social, it is based on the cheeky shake players make before receiving a serve and it has been causing a stir online and off-court. More than 45,000+ people have watched evian’s Wimbledon Wiggle video online, hundreds of wiggles have been uploaded to  evian’s Facebook page, and now visitors to Cardinal Place, Victoria can see the signature song performed live.  

The Wimbledon Wiggle song, created by electro-hip hop artist Tigermonkey, will be performed LIVE on the roof garden at Cardinal Place at 12.00pm on Thursday, July 4th. The performance comes ahead of a free live screening of the ladies semi-finals as part of evian and Land Securities’ annual Great British Summer campaign, which offers tennis fans, residents, office workers and tourists free screenings of the world famous Championships using specially customised retro caravans.

 

What’s Your Social Highlight This Summer?

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One of the social highlights of my summer so far was the May Fair Hotel’s annual Penthouse Party. It was hosted by Anthony Lee, General Manager of The May Fair who I had a lovely chat with. I popped along with Dominic Graham de Montrose, and then we headed to the Panasonic Olympics party afterwards. Magician Dynamo was working his magic there. He has to be seen to be believed.

Other social highlights: London Fashion Week, Lovebox, Impulse releasing their new fragrance at the W Hotel with Caggie Dunlop (who’s lovely), the Leo Bancroft launch at The Ivy and being Centre Court at Wimbledon.

2012 is an exciting year for those of us living in London with the Olympics on our doorsteps. We would love to here from people in London and outside about their summer.

What is your summer highlight so far? Let us know.