Bond Girl For A Day Or Two

While our book club has covered many wonderful authors and correlating activities this year,

I have to say this James Bond study has been my favorite so far

It has been ridiculously fun!

Here's the lowdown...

Zipping through London along the River Thames

at a top speed of 35 knots,

this RIB boat ride had us grinning from ear to ear

with a few bugs in our teeth

Vowing to bring our kids next time,

this is the best way to see London from the water

via London RIB Voyages

We opted for the James Bond themed ride - Bond music included

Visit tucked-away Duke's Hotel in the heart of London

where Bond's author, Ian Fleming, enjoyed his martinis

and Sean Connery celebrated being cast as James Bond

(also a frequent Bond film location)

Offers afternoon tea and/or martinis concocted from a table-side cart

Celebrating 

'50 Vehicles. 50 Years.',

Beaulieu's National Motor Museum

 is exhibiting the creatively cool collection of

jetpacks, submarines, cars, motorcycles, and flying contraptions

featured in Bond films

(ends January 5, 2014)

A huge hit with my son

Worthy of a standing ovation, Richard Walker's enthusiasm rubbed off on all of us

as we learned the backstory of author Ian Fleming

and true accounts of spies operating in London during his time

A two hour guided walking tour by London Walks

We spied Eon Productions, the film production company producing James Bond film series

Shaken, not stirred...

Lastly, we strutted over to Jack's Lounge in London's Southwark district

for a cocktail class with some friendly competition within our group

Learning about bartender tools and how to properly shake a drink,

 we made yummy Passion Fruit Martinis and 

complicated Flaming Orange Cosmopolitans

Here's a few ideas we didn't get to...

Through Brit Movie Tours, 

visit Pinewood Studios where many Bond movies have been filmed

Imperial War Museum is hosting Horrible Histories: Spies

as a fun interactive exhibition in London for families

(on my 'must do' list) 

Be a stunt car driver for the day on a challenging specialized track

Give high speed parallel parking a try after you make a reverse spin

Offered by Top Gear's Paul Swift Precision Driving 

near Guildford, Milton Keynes, and Durham

(would be a total blast with my husband)

And there's more!

Find out more about Ian Fleming and Bond in my next post

:)

- photos by me -

More In Bond Series ::

Interview Of A Bond Girl
Fascinating World Of Ian Fleming

(an unsponsored post)

KITCHEN APRONS, OVEN GLOVES & POT HOLDERS NOW AVAILABLE BY ORDER @ FANCY HOME DECOR

Fancy Home Decor inapokea oda za ku design kitchen aprons, pot holders& Oven gloves.
..zinapatikana katika rangi mbalimbali na patterns mbalimbali

Wahi sasa kuweka oda yako!!

Contact: 0712 023102

Kitchen apron, Oven mitts & gloves

Pot holders...

Pot holders floral 

WALLPAPERS.. WALLPAPERS.. WALLPAPERS!!...AVAILABLE @ FANCY HOME DECOR

Fancy Home Decor pia Inahusika na kuuza na kubandika  "WALLPAPERS"...

Unaweza kuweka wallpaper kwenye eneo lako la TV  na ikapendeza sana!! ..na sio tu kwenye eneo la TV, bali hata chumbani, dining, jikoni au corridor...km unavyopenda wewe!

Zinapatikana ktk rangi mbalimbali...Wahi sasa!!

Contact: 0712 023102

 

Zinapatikana pia ktk rangi mbalimbali...

 

Interview Of A Bond Girl

This month our book club is reading Ian Fleming's 'Dr No' featuring James Bond

In fact, Cheltenham Literature Festival selected it for The Big Read last year

What better way to start the book study 

than lunch with a friend

who happened to be a Bond Girl?

photo courtesy of Vanessa Perroncel

Meet lovely Vanessa - a French model, actress, and mom

She appeared in the James Bond film 'Die Another Day' (2002)

starring Pierce Brosnan and Halle Berry

source: Wikipedia

Here's her response to my questions 

over a yummy goat cheese salad :)

What was the process of being selected for the film?

Vanessa went to an invitation-only 'request casting' in London based on photos submitted by her agent. When she arrived, she was measured intensely - maybe for clothing, maybe to check proportions. Shortly thereafter, Vanessa received the phone call that she was chosen to be one of nine 'Ice Palace Girls' in the film 'Die Another Day'.

What it was like on set?

The Ice Palace scene was filmed in Pinewood Studios, just outside London. A car was sent to pick up Vanessa on filming days (and nights). The leading actors had their own trailers, and the Ice Palace Girls had a tent to retreat to. Over her 7 -10 days on set, there was a real buzz in the air. It was a lot of fun, and everyone was very nice. 

The set was quite cold, really beautiful and a bit surreal. They dressed Vanessa exquisitely in beautiful dresses, furs and shoes. Make up artists and hair stylists were always nearby for quick touch ups for all the actors. 

With filming there is always a lot of waiting. And you never know how much of your scene will make the final cut.

Ice Palace Set
Source: Emma's Bucket List

What does it mean to you to be a Bond Girl? 

Well, it looks good on the CV/resume, of course. And people are still impressed that she was in a Bond film, although to Vanessa it's no big deal and was a long time ago. But it still carries a wow factor for many. Now she's really focused on her future and raising her son. 

Thank you, Vanessa, for giving us a peek into the 'real' world of Bond!

Next post I'll uncover local locations

where you can feel like a Bond Girl for a day

:)

More In Bond Series ::

Bond Girl For A Day Or Two (local activities)
Fascinating World Of Ian Fleming

MY PROJECT: METAL CURTAIN RODS, POLES & HOLDBACKS - DESIGNED AND FIXED @ KIMARA

Fancy Home Decor ilipokea oda kutoka kwa mdau ya ku design na ku fix metal curtain rails, curtain poles and curtain holdbacks kwa madirisha ya nyumba nzima kwanzia sebuleni, dining room, Master bedroom na vyumba vingine viwili. Kama mnavyoona ilikuwa bado haijahamiwa. 
Inapendezaa...

Hii ndo Curtain holdback design tuliyoiweka...

Hapa ni Living room...madirisha makubwa na madogo yote yamependeza!

Haya ni madirisha ya master bedroom...

Haya ni madirisha ya jikoni...

Hongera sana mdau...Mungu akubariki sana!!

ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL COLOR...

ARE YOU COLOR CLUELESS?

via

Well then, let me introduce you to some of what I consider the most beautiful paint hues out there...

Read more »

MY PROJECT: METAL L-SHAPE SOFA CHAIRS DESIGNED AND DELIVERED TO MY CLIENT @ MWENGE

Fancy Home Decor ilipata project ya ku design L-shape sofa chairs pamoja na mito yake kwa mdau wa Mwenge ambaye ndo kwanza alikuwa anahamia!!

Rangi ya kitambaa cha makochi ilikuwa ni red, nikachanganya na mito yenye rangi ya red, black & white to bring out a beautiful color combination!!

Price: 950,000/=

Uzuri wa L-shape sofas ni vile unaweza kuzi arrange anyhow you like...kama inavoonekana hapa unaweza kuvibadilisha viti na kuvipanga kwa style nyingine pale unapotaka kubadilisha muonekana wa sebule yako! Ukihitaji kama hili peke yake bei ni: 420,000/=

Ukihitaji kama hichi peke yake bei ni: 290,000/=

My dear visitor, endapo ungehitaji kutengenezewa  L-shape design kama hii au design nyingine yoyote, karibu Fancy Home Decor. Tutakupa huduma nzuri na kwa bei nafuu!!

Kutoa oda contact: 0712 023102

Itachukua siku chache tu kukamilisha oda yako...minimum 5 days!!!

KITCHEN ORGANIZING TIP OF THE DAY - ORGANIZE BY ACTIVITY!!

One of the best way to organize your kitchen is by organizing on activity based. Anything that does not fall under the main kitchen activity categories such as: baking, cooking, serving and storing; should not take up too much space on your kitchen. Larger serving dishes, roasting pans and frying pans should be kept on low or high kitchen shelves.

Keep seasonal items or those items which you do not rarely use away from the kitchen entirely, and label them for easy access.


For serving activity items such as flatware, dishes, glasses, bowls,plates and serving utensils; should be stored near the dishwasher or dish rack.

For cooking activity items such as pots, pans, cutting boards, oils, vinegars,spices,knives,potholders and the like; should be stored near the cooking area.

Items such as food storage containers, plastic bags, plastic wraps and foils; should be kept near the refrigerator.

London's Changing Skyline

Yesterday I went into London and

- wow! -

was I shocked by all the construction of new skyscrapers

View from Waterloo Bridge yesterday

Here's the most notable additions...

1.

The City's Leadenhall Building, aka 'The Cheese Grater', 

has a distinct wedge shape

and is due for completion next year

artist drawing: Skyscraper News

2.

20 Fenchurch Street (below) has been in the news recently

for a glare so powerful that a sunscreen was erected 

to prevent car paint from blistering 

and pedestrians from getting burned 

The 'Walkie Talkie' building has an unusual top heavy design

and should be completed in 2014

'Walkie Talkie' in foreground
'Cheese Grater' in background

3.

Now standing as the tallest building in Western Europe,

The Shard successfully opened this year

If you haven't been in London for a while,

you'll be surprised by its evolving skyline

While I love old buildings with character, 

I appreciate the innovative design of this newest generation

which is replacing nondescript buildings of the past,

keeping London fresh and cutting edge :) 

What do you think?

Yea or nay
to a skyline change?

Hmm, I can't decide

- photos by me, unless otherwise noted -

OUR SERVICES: KIDS ROOMS DECORATION - PAINTS & WALLPAPERS

Hii ni moja ya kazi zangu za "Interior Decoration" nimewahi kufanya...

Hichi ni chumba cha Baby boy, kwahiyo nili paint rangi zinazoendana na gender ya mtoto. Nikaweka na wallpaper ya kitoto zaidi ukutani aina ya Bambi...

Color used: Ripple green, Baby blue & Wild Lilac 

Colors: Wild Lilac & Baby blue

Beautiful view...

For Interior decoration services please contact us: 0712 023102

Karibuni...

OBSESSING ABOUT: HERRINGBONE

I've been working on a client's formal living room and this pattern kept cropping up in the fabrics

and rugs we chose.  I remembered how much I enjoy a little menswear pattern in a room

I wrote about it here first, but today I'm focusing on just one pattern...

via

Herringbone

Read more »

Rooftop Tour Of Hampton Court

Hampton Court is best known as the grand palace of 

King Henry VIII

(the king with six wives)

and is situated just outside London

It is also famous for its 411 chimneys,

many of which I saw up close on a recent rooftop tour

During Tudor times, brick indicated power and wealth

Glass windows did too

King Henry VIII was very OTT in everything he did

There were two distinct building periods of the palace

The fancy chimneys belong to the Tudor times (1500s)

and the rectangular Baroque chimneys were designed
by Christopher Wren during King William III's reign (1690s)

The majority of Tudor chimneys were replaced during the Victorian era due to disrepair
And although it is rumored no two Tudor chimneys are alike,
our guides could not confirm

Ahh, a wonderful view of the River Thames and the parterre garden,

intended to be seen from above and to rival Versailles at the time

It was great to see this famous landmark from an unusual angle

and to drink in the spectacular sweeping vistas from the rooftop

Wish you could have been there!

- photos by me -

For tour, contact www.thehistoryguides.co.uk
(an unsponsored post)