China Hiking Challenge For Macmillan - It's ONNN!

In September I will be hiking 80km across The Great Wall of China to raise money for Macmillan Cancer Support. 

Over 11 days I will be hiking for up to 7 hours a day and sleeping in a tent. No mean feat, that’s for sure but Macmillan is such a worthy cause so all of the pain (and the lack of toilets and showers – where will I wee?? Eeek!) will be so worth it.

I started this year wanting to do something to help others and make a difference. Tragically I lost my Grandad and an Aunt to cancer and I have also witnessed one of my close friends be attacked by the evil disease but thankfully beat it.

Macmillan do an incredible job of offering help and support to everyone affected by cancer, so doing something to raise money for them seemed the obvious choice.

The Great Wall of China - WOW!

Hiking across The Great Wall of China clearly wasn’t the obvious choice (and I’ve been told by numerous people I’m crazy for signing up) but it’s a million miles away from how I normally spend my days so I honestly can’t wait.

See you later heels, make-up, parties, champagne and celebrities. Hello hiking boots, waterproofs, the au natural look, greasy hair (mmm, sexy) and 40 new (equally mad) friends.

I’ve never even owned a pair of hiking boots for goodness sake, but I seriously can’t wait to get involved, finish that 80km and hand Macmillan a big fat cheque.

Booze is pretty much dead to me and I’m working out with a trainer at my David Lloyd gym to strengthen my screwed foot. There is no way I’m getting ANOTHER fracture on that mofo. Me and that ‘boot of doom’ are over. 4eva.

I need to raise a minimum of £3,500 to keep my place. I’ve never raised that much money for charity before, so it’s going to be a challenge.

I’m already planning a big Pamper Party and various cake sales… but people can also donate by logging on here…

www.justgiving.com/sonjastephen

Every little helps!

Sx

Addicted To Teapigs

It’s fair to say I’m mildly obsessed with Teapigs teas. 

When I say mildly I actually mean crazily.

I can’t get enough. One of my kitchen cupboards is rammed full of Teapigs boxes.

I only drink herbal tea and I think these badboys are up there with the best I’ve ever had.

Last year I blogged about their Matcha – which they’ve labeled the ‘superhero’ of teas. It’s a super-concentrated green tea powder packed with antioxidants and nutrients. 

I kick off every day with a Matcha shot…and then glug their other ace flavours throughout the day.

Here’s my faves…

# Liquorice and Mint

This is beyond fit. I have a cup after dinner every single night. Sweet, soothing, flipping delicious. Love it.

# Yerba Mate

This is always my first cuppa of everyday. It’s a smokey-green tea which apparently contains "practically all of the vitamins necessary to sustain life”. Yep, that’s good enough for me mate.

# Jasmine Pearls

I love Jasmine Green tea. Rocks my world and this one is ace. I just love that the green tea tips have been delicately rolled with jasmine flowers – it all just seems so cute.

# Popcorn Tea

Popcorn? Popcorn tea? Yep, I thought ‘what the hell?’ when I first saw this too, but I believe in the Teapigs peeps so got involved. They say it’s ‘Green tea with a popcorny, almost nutty undertone’ or ‘Sugar Puffs in a cup’. It’s weird, but weirdly nice.

# Chocolate Flake Tea

Oh yes, Tea and chocolate, together, in one cup. You’d have to be a mug to not be tempted.

Bit of rice milk and it’s a top afternoon treat cuppa.

# Chilli Chai

Chai with a twist…and a kick. Assam tea, cardamom pods, chunks of ginger, cinnamon, vanilla and flakes of chilli.

I drink it with Rice Milk.

Victoria Beckham is a massive fan too (especially of the liquorice and mint) which I’m convinced basically means we’re pretty much like best mates now.

Ha!

Seriously though, if you like a herbal tea, they’re definitely worth checking out…

www.teapigs.co.uk

Roka - It Will Rocka Your World

If you haven’t eaten at Roka you NEED to. As soon as you can.

It’s an award winner and after dinner there, it’s pretty obvious why.

It’s on Charlotte Street (one of my fave streets in London) just up the road from The Charlotte Street Hotel and says it “serves contemporary japanese robatayaki cuisine in striking yet informal surroundings”.

I’ve been hearing loads of great reviews about it and finally got there for dinner this evening. Great atmosphere, lovely wonderfully helpful staff and incredible food.

Because I can’t eat wheat, going to a Japanese restaurant is often a bit of a problem for me because most things are cooked in and/or covered in soy sauce.

I am more than aware this means I miss out on so many great things on the menu, as I did tonight but what I had was amazing. Scallops Sashimi – oh my goodness! And then the most delicious seabass I think I have ever tasted.

Last night I ate at Nobu Berkeley and if I had to pick between the two, Roka would definitely win.

I didn’t stay for desert, instead I headed to the Charlotte Street Hotel for a champagne cocktail (well it is Friday) and then onto the Savoy for a nightcap in their Thames Foyer. I love it in there. Comfy chairs and sofas and so chilled it’s always so gut wrenching to leave.

Awesome Friday night.

Mary Katrantzou for Topshop @ London Fashion Week

I always seem to be on holiday in February and September so miss both London Fashion Weeks in the year. But this year I was in London, got offered a ticket and went.

Hooray.

Most of the shows happen during office hours, but the Mary Katrantzou for Topshop show was at 9am this morning at Old Billingsgate which is right slap bang next to my office. Winner.

I arrived early (shocker) and joined the giant queue for coffee (green tea in my case obviously). It was a flipping long queue. Those fashion types like their coffee. 

Anna W at the show...with her coffee

After I’d been standing in the queue about 15 minutes and still couldn’t even smell the green tea, some woman just waltzed up to the front, snubbed the queue and ordered.

Er, who does she think she is?

Well, actually the US Vogue Editor.

It was only Anna Wintour. Brilliant.

In fairness, I guess she’s allowed to push in.

Bet Alexa Chung was gutted she doesn’t get such rights. She was stuck twiddling her thumbs behind me.

It was a great show, her Autumn/Winter 2012 stuff is awesome. Not surprising loads of celebs went mad for her previous bold designs and the 3 capsule collections she’s done for Topshop were huge sellers.

To be honest, I’m not sure I’m brave enough to even attempt to pull any of it off. Not that I could even if I wanted to. Her stuff sells out of Topshop pretty much within hours.

The One Where I Met Brad and George

I got hugged by George Clooney and Brad Pitt. BRAD PITT!

Last night was the BAFTAs and both of the Hollywood hunks turned up for the ceremony at The Opera House in Covent Garden. Swit-swoooooo.

And what’s even better than having pics of me with George Clooney and Brad Pitt. BRAD PITT! Is that I’m writing about it from a bloody amazing bed in an even more bloody amazing room at The Savoy Hotel.

What a 24 hours?!

Orange invited me as their guest to the Ceremony, post-awards dinner and afterparty AND gave me a room at The Savoy.

WOW. I am very, very grateful.

Anyway, back to Brad and George. I walked up the red carpet alongside Daniel Radcliffe (he seriously is about 5ft tall and must weigh about 7st), Christina Hendricks (her boobs in real life are off the scale), Christina Ricci (she is smaller than small. All over) and loads of other top names. But it was Pitt and Clooney I wanted.

Me and BRAD PITT!

I have spoken to them both before – George at a press conference years ago and on the red carpet a couple of times and Brad in the cinema. Yep, I chatted to Brad Pitt in the cinema. He was at the London Premiere of Kick Ass and was sitting a few rows in front of me, so before it started I went for a chat with him. I think I was teasing him about wearing lycra and becoming a super hero in a movie, but he was stroking my arm the whole time so obviously everything else is a bit of a blur. It’s a damn distraction having Brad Pitt in the cinema let me tell you. I think there’s a chance I spent more time staring at him shoveling popcorn into his mouth and supping on his beer than on the film.

They were pretty much the last to arrive, so I waited around and then pounced. Neither of their PRs/security were very keen for me to get a pic. Especially Brad’s dude. He literally shoved his hand in my face and said ‘NO pics!’ but Brad told him he was having it. Ha! Just when you thought it wasn’t possible to love him anymore.

Me and George

I actually wanted to high-five myself for getting those pics. To a showbiz journo pics with super A-Listers are a big deal…and also a massive relief!

I watched the ceremony (when I wasn’t perving on Brad and Michael Fassbender) and then we headed over to The Grosvenor Hotel for dinner and the party. 

Most of the celebs went too (although Brad and George were no shows) so I managed to talk to a few other big screen greats… 

With the very tiny Michelle Williams

Michelle Williams looked absolutely stunning in a high street dress. The My Week With Marilyn star told us: “I’m happy to wear high street, why not? H&M have done me proud.”

Don Draper/Dick Whitman/John Hamm

Don Draper…oh, ok John Hamm

I love Mad Men so meeting Don Draper was pretty exciting.

He got pestered at the dinner by a massive fan who wanted him to sign her silk gown. He did it too – in a green marker pen.

Fitty Fassbender

Michael Fassbender

Well, the Fassbender is a fit face, isn't he? Crikey.

He spent the awards dinner surrounded by women wanting to talk to him. He told me he’s looking forward to doing the next two X Men movies, saying: “I’m doing two more X Men films. I didn’t really have a choice, I just got told I was doing them. But I don’t really mind.”

Chris O'Dowd...he's tall!

Bridesmaids star Chris O'Dowd kept sneaking out of the awards ceremony for a sneaky fag so I grabbed him for a pic.

Mr Darcy... I mean Colin

Colin Firth

I didn’t get a chance to chat to the very lovely Colin, he got dragged away as soon as the camera had flashed. Boo.

I tried to chat to Meryl Streep but she battered me away with a sweep of her hand. She didn’t make contact. This isn’t a “Meryl abused me” story. Thankfully. She got her payback later on though. Her shoe fell off on her way to the stage to collect her Best Actress gong. Hee hee.

My room at the Savoy. Can I stay here forever?

Ooo, room service are knocking at my door. That will be the salmon, asparagus and mixed berries I ordered for breakfast. Sweeeeeeet.

I feel like a princess…going to enjoy it while I can. Off to work in an hour. 

REALITY CHECK!

I'll be back here in a few hours though. It's the Elle Style Awards tonight.

Tomorrow I'm staying in and watching TV.