The Steeple Times asks Olympian swimmer Amini Fonua: “What’s on your mantelpiece?”
The Steeple Times shares “wit and wisdom”. What’s your guiding force?
“Don’t judge, be open-minded and approach everything you do with love” – You can never go wrong.
“Don’t get even, get medieval” is, in our humble opinion, a great motto. What’s yours?
“Never underestimate the power of forgiveness”.
The youngest woman to have become a self-made billionaire ever. A former comedian and door-to-door fax machine saleswoman, Blakely founded the privately held Spanx undergarment business at the age of 27. Sales took off in 2000 when Oprah Winfrey endorsed the product and then when she signed a contract with QVC, 8,000 pairs were sold in the first six minutes. Married to a former rapper named Jesse Itzler, Sara Blakely intends to leave at least half of her wealth to charity and of her success comments: “In my wildest dreams I never thought I would have started with their butts. As it turns out, that was a great place to start”. A truly inspirational and decent lady.
The Steeple Times asks hospitality consultant Debbie Eybers: “What’s on your mantelpiece?”
The Steeple Times shares “wit and wisdom”. What’s your guiding force?
“My belief in right and wrong”.
“Don’t get even, get medieval” is, in our humble opinion, a great motto. What’s yours?
“We plan, God laughs”.
The Steeple Times asks entertainment journalist, author and teacher Ben Falk: “What’s on your mantelpiece?”
The Steeple Times shares “wit and wisdom”. What’s your guiding force?
Generally being pessimistic and then being extra pleased if something good happens.
“Don’t get even, get medieval” is, in our humble opinion, a great motto. What’s yours?
“There are two kinds of people in this world. Those that love Neil Diamond and those that don’t” – Bill Murray. I might be paraphrasing, but it’s very true.
Kerry Katona was considered unacceptable in 2007. Who or what is unacceptable in 2013?
I met Kerry once and she forced me to take a picture with her and her then husband, despite my protestations. In fact, to be fair her ex did most of the suggesting. So, I would probably say being forced into having your picture taken (not necessarily with a minor celebrity).
Tony Blair misses being Prime Minister. What do you miss most in your life?
Running around building forts and pretending to camp on the field opposite my house. That or living somewhere sunny.
What might you swap all your wealth for?
Batting number 4 for England and scoring a century at Lord’s whilst defeating Australia in the Ashes.
Donald Trump was once a case of: “If you owe the bank a thousand, they close you down; but if you owe the bank a billion, you own the bank”. What’s your view on the banking crisis?
All I know is according to the papers, everyone in the investment department of my bank seems to be getting massive bonuses and I earned £6 in interest last year on all my accounts. I think that says it all, no?
What phrase or word do you most loathe?
Whenever someone says that their God is better than someone else’s God.
In the UK, some people consider charity to “begin at home”. What’s your view and what causes do you personally support?
Chuggers do annoy me – I’ll decide when I want to give, thank you very much. And it often depends on how drunk I am when Comic Relief is on. Saying that, I give money to the WWF and a cancer charity. Although I remember getting irritated when I offered a homeless person a sandwich and he asked me what the flavour was and rejected it when I told him. That probably makes me a terrible person.
The judge in Law Abiding Citizen states: “I can pretty much do whatever I want” before being blown up whilst answering her mobile phone. What’s your view on the appropriate use of such devices?
Having your phone on in the cinema particularly offends me, unless you are waiting for the birth of your child or something. Not sure it’s murder-worthy, but people Tweeting during a film is just pathetic. You’re not that f****ing important.
If you could fill a carriage on The Orient Express, who would be your fellow passengers?
John Irving, Roald Dahl, Graham Thorpe, William Goldman, Kermit and Han Solo. No, not Harrison Ford: Han Solo. I’m married, otherwise I might well say Jennifer Connelly or Winona Ryder.
If you were unfortunate enough to end up on death row, what would be your last meal and where would you eat it?
I would eat it on the cricket pitch in Little Marlow, Buckinghamshire in the late afternoon mid-summer sun. What would I eat? Rare steak, French fries, a bar of Dairy Milk, chocolate sponge and a pizza from Amigos in Nottingham circa 1994.
What time is it acceptable to consume the first drink of the day?
Whenever I bloody feel like it.
A Negroni, a martini or a cup of tea?
Don’t know what the first one is, the second one is just a posh way to drink a vodka shot, so a cup of tea – milky English breakfast with no sugar.
Whose parties do you enjoy the most and why?
I actually like my own if I’m cooking, because it’s fun and you feel like you’ve contributed. Although I’ve been lucky enough to go to some amazing parties. Watching John Legend play Rocket Man with Elton John after the Oscars, getting hammered and dancing with a cardboard cut-out of David Hasselhoff at a film premiere party in New York… Since I’m a hack, I suppose I enjoy any party with a free bar. You should always watch the journalists at a party: we know the exact place to stand to get first dibs on the canapés.
Who is the most positive person you know?
Everyone’s a bit depressed these days, so I don’t really know. David Cameron?
What’s your most guilty pleasure?
A good quality single malt whisky.
If a tattoo were to sum you up, what would it be of?
I hate tattoos, so none. Although looking at it, I now appeared to have answered that question in a rather existential way. That’s not the intention, I just despise tattoos.
If you were a car, what marque would you be?
Marque? What the fuck does that mean?
Cilla Black presented Surprise, Surprise. Tell us the most surprising thing about you.
I went to the same school as Christopher Nolan, who directed the Batman films. I told him so after I interviewed him for Batman Begins. He didn’t give a shit.
What’s currently sitting on your mantelpiece?
Wedding pictures, Neil Diamond song lyrics my wife gave me as a present, an action figure of BA Baracus out of the A-Team and a photo of me playing quite a nice off-drive in 1995.
Ben Falk is an entertainment journalist, author and teacher. His published works include Robert Downey Jr.: The Fall And Rise Of The Comeback Kid, Television’s Strangest Moments and The Wonder of Brian Cox.
View Ben Falk’s website at: http://benfalk.net
Follow him on Twitter at: http://www.twitter.com/benfalkwriter
The Steeple Times asks photographer Debbi Clark: “What’s on your mantelpiece?”
The Steeple Times shares “wit and wisdom”. What’s your guiding force?
My son Luke with his eccentric ways and my daughter Sophia who keeps me grounded.
“Don’t get even, get medieval” is, in our humble opinion, a great motto. What’s yours?
Whatever you decide to do, enjoy it. Otherwise change direction.
A tribute to Robbie Curtis (1965 – 2012)
The property tycoon Robbie Curtis was a man often confused with Robbie Williams. His black Bentley, which bore the number plate “ROB BIE”, was often seen in The Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea and also in Mayfair and many thought that it belonged to the popstar.
The Steeple Times asks Michelin starred chef Michael Wignall: “What’s on your mantelpiece?”
The Steeple Times shares “wit and wisdom”. What’s your guiding force?
The quest for perfection and happiness.
“Don’t get even, get medieval” is, in our humble opinion, a great motto. What’s yours?
“Fail to prepare, prepare to fail”.
Kerry Katona was considered unacceptable in 2007. Who or what is unacceptable in 2013?
Hoop earrings, pink velour tracksuits and Crocs.
Tony Blair misses being Prime Minister. What do you miss most in your life?
Going to work when it is light, and coming back from work when it is still light.
What might you swap all your wealth for?
Youth.
Donald Trump was once a case of: “If you owe the bank a thousand, they close you down; but if you owe the bank a billion, you own the bank”. What’s your view on the banking crisis?
Self-indulgence, greed and arrogance.
What phrase or word do you most loathe?
“Wow factor” and “wow experience”.
In the UK, some people consider charity to “begin at home”. What’s your view and what causes do you personally support?
Looking after each other should be close to everyone’s heart but unfortunately this is sometimes not the case. I support Action Against Hunger, Street Smart, Macmillan and Make a Wish.
The judge in Law Abiding Citizen states: “I can pretty much do whatever I want” before being blown up whilst answering her mobile phone. What’s your view on the appropriate use of such devices?
They have brought everything available to your fingertips, but by doing this it has alienated us from the art of conversation.
If you could fill a carriage on The Orient Express, who would be your fellow passengers?
Picasso, Audrey Hepburn, Penelope Cruz, Jackson Pollock, David Hockney, Auguste Escoffier and anyone else who can bear me for an hour stuck on a train.
If you were unfortunate enough to end up on death row, what would be your last meal and where would you eat it?
Fugu in the cellars of Dom Perignon.
What time is it acceptable to consume the first drink of the day?
12 o’clock.
A Negroni, a martini or a cup of tea?
A martini.
Whose parties do you enjoy the most and why?
Someone else’s, due to the fact that they are paying for it.
Who is the most positive person you know?
Believe it or not, a private wealth management banker I know.
What’s your most guilty pleasure?
Espresso and champagne.
If a tattoo were to sum you up, what would it be of?
The sun, because no matter how horrible the day has been, it never fails to rise.
If you were a car, what marque would you be?
A Lotus: unreliable, unpredictable but once you get to know it, its unforgettable.
Cilla Black presented Surprise, Surprise. Tell us the most surprising thing about you.
I actually don’t shout and scream all the time.
What’s currently sitting on your mantelpiece?
Nothing. I detest clutter.
Michael Wignall at The Latymer opened in November 2007 when Michelin starred chef Michael Wignall moved there from The Devonshire Arms Hotel in North Yorkshire. He was awarded two Michelin stars in the 2013 Michelin Guide and five AA Rosettes in the 2012 AA Restaurant Guide. Olive magazine termed him: “The best chef you have never heard of”.
Michael Wignall at The Latymer, Pennyhill Park Hotel, London Road, Bagshot, Surrey, GU19 5EU. Telephone: +44 (0) 1276 486150. Website:
http://www.pennyhillpark.co.uk/EXCLUSIVE_HOTELS/eating_and_drinking/the_latymer.aspx
Follow Michael Wignall on Twitter at: http://www.twitter.com/MichaelWignall_
Michael Wignall will host his first ever pop-up restaurant and tasting menu every evening from 15th to 18th May 2013 at The Rib Room Bar & Restaurant, Jumeirah Carlton Tower On Cadogan Place, London, SW1X 9PY. Telephone: +44 (0) 20 7858 7250. For more information and to book, go to: http://www.theribroom.co.uk/michael-wignall/
The sale of a £400,000 castle owned by a man who was an inspiration for the creation of James Bond’s nom de plume Sir Hilary Bray, Bt and for many elements of 007’s character also
Count Robin de la Lanne-Mirrlees (1925 – 2012) is largely thought of as the man whose persona Ian Fleming “borrowed” to create James Bond’s assumed identity, Sir Hilary Bray, Bt. Now, following on from his death last year, there is an opportunity to buy one of his many properties, Inchdrewer Castle, and the title that goes with it, Baron of Inchdrewer.
The Steeple Times asks head sommelier of The Rib Room Bar & Restaurant Louise Gordon: “What’s on your mantelpiece?”
The Steeple Times shares “wit and wisdom”. What’s your guiding force?
Family, friends and the aim of one day owning my own business.
“Don’t get even, get medieval” is, in our humble opinion, a great motto. What’s yours?
“Per Ardua ad Astra” – “Through Adversity to the Stars”. Both my parents are ex-RAF so it is the first motto that I learnt and the one that has stuck with me.
The latest bizarre turn in the John Goodman case
Rather like the twisters that often hit the coast of Florida, the story of the case of the polo mogul and multimillionaire Goodman stereo manufacturing heir John Goodman has again taken another turn.
On Friday, it was revealed that a juror in the case that had resulted in Goodman’s conviction had lied about his ex-wife’s own DUI during jury selection. As a result, a retrial has now been granted.