Royal Gossip - the latest on Kate Middleton and Prince Harry

Check out Kate's outfits and where she's been shopping: Kate Middleton Wows at Wimbledon

And of course there's Harry's love life: Prince Harry chats up Cameron (not to be confused with David Cameron!)

What would the tabloids do without Kate and Harry? Happy guilty pleasure!

Kings of Leon - Hyde Park June 2011

The music festivals are a real treat in London. And tonight there was relief from the rain, that has plagued virtually every day of the last 3 weeks. The sun was out to welcome Kings of Leon to Hyde Park. It started at 8.30pm. Three encore songs ended the show at around 10.15pm. They ended with Use Somebody and had a small fireworks show. So get your cameras ready.

Food and drinks - There's KFC, McD and Pret near tube exit 1 of Marble Arch tube. In the venue they have donut stands, beer (of course) and plenty of other great concert food but you'll have to queue. At the entrance (closest to exit 3 of Marble Arch tube), they are searching bags to make people throw out water bottles and alcohol. Inside they remove caps from any bottles of soft drink / water you buy.

Memorabilia - The memorabilia stand has a few decent t-shirts for around £20. The credit card machine wasn't working, so bring cash if you want anything in case you do want to grab anything.

What to Wear? - It was cold so bring woolen socks, scarves, a wind proof coat and you might want to dance if you want to keep warm. Ponchos / raincoats might be handy too given the unpredictable and rainy  summer that we are having. Wellies are also a great investment (I heard Primark sold out) and if not, definitely flats. If it's been raining, the grass is super muddy and slippery. There's lots of discarded food on the ground and beer being spilt so be prepared to get your shoes and clothes dirty. Some guys unzipping and going to the toilet - totally uncool. 

Some girls were braving the cold in shorts and summer dresses. Lots of butt cracks, guys - buy a belt!  Mostly, people were casual, comfortable and dressing fairly warm.

There were a few big screens too so if you didn't want to be close to the stage, you could chill out, dance, have a picnic, sit and make a quick n easy get away for the tube at the end of the night. 

See also the Black Eyed Peas in Hyde Park. This time I was up near the stage and it was crazy! July 2011 Black Eyed Peas Hyde Park

Read How to be frugal - eating out and seeing the  real London, Battle of the London Tourist Attractions or Why London is Better than New York if you are visiting London.

See photoes and read - Special Prince William and Kate Middleton London Royal Wedding

Want to be healthy? Read Forget your personal trainer, try zumba, Top 5 tips to get stared on weight loss or Losing my detox virginity.

You may also be interested in Why we should all worry about the economy and what it mean for you

Enjoy Hyde Park if you are heading there to check out some of this summer's cool artists. Kings of Leon were brilliant and I'm sure that there will be much more fun to be had.

Roast your own duck

Try experimenting in your kitchen.I roasted duck leg and it was pretty good!

It takes several hours because you'll want to leave it hanging to drip out the fat. I have to say it was fascinating to watch. There are several variations and after lots of research I opted for boil and roast, with lots of basting. I have to say it was a fun and rewarding experience.  

Find affordable places to eat as you sight see around London in Affordable Food in London.
Or stay home and treat yourself: 
Gourmet brunch at home  
My hummus journey is available at Spicy Hummus - My Battle with Dried Chickpeas 
See all Food and Recipe blogs

More details to come.

How do you deal with difficult people?

Do you have to deal with a difficult person? A coworker, family member, in-law, neighbour, ex, customer, friend or frenemy? The solution is often not simply avoiding him / her. 

Why is Zumba so popular?

Zumba continues to gain in popularity, It came up in a conversation I had this week with someone. My friend Mandy doesn't go to the gym but she was very keen to try zumba. Another one of my friends, Wendy, has bought the DVDs.So why is zumba becoming so popular? Why is everyone talking about it?

Paris - The Designer Fashion Capital of the World

Paris is synonymous with fashion. I love London, it has some of the best fashion in the world. But the Parisian designer windows are a feast for the eyes. If you can’t afford the designer prices, perhaps you might be inspired by the latest looks they have created in these boutiques. 
 

Rue Fauborg St Honore is one of Paris’ most famous shopping streets, full of designer boutiques. I loved Prada’s building.

 

Are you Oscar the Grouch?

It was raining yesterday morning and I came across a miserable grouches. She them told someone off for taking the elevator one floor up. I felt sorry for the poor guy. He probably didn't even know where the stairs were. I know I didn't. I thought she was being a bully. I felt bad that I did not stick up for him. I thought about him again today.

The Paris Bellevilille AAB Art Festival – Free Artist Open Studios

Every year in May, over 200 of Paris’ artists in the Belleville area open up their studios to the public for a long week-end.  The event is organised by the Ateliers d’artistes de Belleville (AAB) and is well worth a visit if you are in Paris or appreciate the French modern art scene. 

 

The studios are within easy reach of metro stations and it is safe to wander around during the day. The AAB website provides a map of the artist’s studios , their addresses and it’s possible to browse their work ahead of your visit. It’s all in French, but if you know a few key words, you can get by.