Congratulations, Rupa!

Can we book you to come and open our street party celebrations for The Big Lunch next month, please?!

Sarah Brown: for supporting, actively, such great causes as the White Ribbon Alliance for Safe Motherhood and Women’s Aid and for creating her own path in that most difficult of jobs,  wife of the Prime Minister.  And for embracing Twitter and using technology to both reflect her authentic self and to support her chosen causes with warmth and humour – all in 140 characters.

Lee Chalmers and Indra Adnan: for seizing the nettle of women in politics in general and the concepts of soft power and balanced leadership in particular,  and establishing The Downing Street Project.  May 2010 be a year in which all the three main British parties work with you to support the ideas of being the change we want to see – and we come to experience a more balanced group of representatives in the House of Commons and elsewhere in public life.

Dame Vera Lynn: for having a Number One album aged 92. Respect, sister.

Joanna Lumley: for refusing to take no for an answer, hijacking the system (and government minister Phil Woolas) and forcing a government U-turn on the issues of Gurkha soldiers having the right to remain in Britain. “Ayo Ghorkali!”

Jordana: for giving me straight hair via the miracle hair treatment that is the Brazilian Blow Out, for being the reason that I flew to LA twice in four months and for making it possible for me to refer to,  with something approaching a straight face “… my LA hairdresser …”.

Victoria Wood: for being the funniest thing on TV over Christmas,  particularly with her sublime “Lark Pies to Cranchesterford” spoof.

Anita Edgar: for allowing a kernel of an idea which came to her whilst on holiday in Goa in 1996 to flourish and grow into El Shaddai – a charity which, through homes, shelters and programmes now supports 3000 children in India. And Stella, manager of the children’s home Rainbow House,  who, with almost no resources other than huge quantities of patience and love, manages a team of 4 staff who in turn support and care for 50 girls aged between 8 and 13.

Jade Goody: for encouraging the tragic circumstances of her illness and subsequent death in March, aged 27, to be a springboard for women to become more aware as to the fact that cervical cancer can kill – leading to a 12% rise in the number of women aged 25-49 having cervical smear checks.

Michelle: who I met at the nail bar earlier this week whilst having a post-Christmas manicure – and who told me that Tuesday was her first day off of the “Christmas break” because she’d been working, as a residential social worker, to ensure that the ten teenaged kids who live in the local authority’s halfway house had a decent Christmas even though many of them have no friends or families. She hadn’t been scheduled to work,  but she decided to do so on Christmas Eve rather than leave the kids alone without “someone who cared for them”. Bravo to Michelle and everyone else like her who does these difficult jobs, often unseen and unthanked – and I’m glad that she managed to take some time for herself and get her nails done!

And finally – to my many girlfriends (Annette, Carolyn, Christine, Kristina, Lee, Leisa, Lisanne, Liz, Maureen, Pauline and Priya, to name but a few) and my amazing mum Sandra: who have all done so much to support me both personally and professionally during what has been the most challenging of years. You have made me laugh,  poured Sauvignon Blanc and skinny lattes into me, sent me books, magazines, articles and job listings, listened to me moan,  helped me raise money for Plan UK’s “Because I Am a Girl” campaign, invited me to events, read the blog and commented on it on-line and off and generally been the very embodiment of Fantastic Women. I love you and thank you and wish only Fabulous Things for us all in 2010.

Happy New Year!

15 women (and one man, TLS);

9 bottles of wine;

2  bunches of flowers (received, with thanks!);

48 chocolate brownies – demolished;

1 large leg of lamb;

2 boxes of chocolates (“as it’s chocolate covered fruit,  does it count as one of my Five a Day?”)  - also received with thanks;

1 plate of donated chocolate crispie cakes – diabetic coma? Optional extra;

A lot of laughter!

1 cardigan left behind in error;

Nearly £200 raised for “Because I Am a Girl”, with more still to come;

Bed at 3am.

A lot of washing up the next day … but all very well worthwhile.

Thank you so much, everyone – you’re the best.

So, it’s Wednesday evening, I’ve been cooking for most of the day (other than travelling across London and back for an 8am interview …) and my guests are due to start arriving in 90 minutes’ time.

And we’ve already raised £95 for “Because I Am A Girl” before the first fabulous woman has arrived!

A couple of people have emailed me and asked: “what will you be serving up, Cleo?” – so here’s my menu:

Marinated leg of lamb
Potato & mushroom gratin (v)
Falafels (v)
Tomato salad (v)
Couscous (v)
Cacik (cucumber, yoghurt & mint) (v)
Hummus (v)
Lentil, feta cheese & mint salad (v)

Nigella’s brownies (n)
Almond tart (n)
Fresh strawberries, cream

Cheese board

Coffee, mint tea

I think that’s quite good value for £15 per head, don’t you?

Today I’ve actually had one of those days on my “sabbatical” that I always imagined, when I was working, that I’d have when I wasn’t: I went to the gym and met a friend for coffee this morning, I read a magazine, I had a lovely lunch with my husband … and I then spent the afternoon baking brownies and other goodies in my kitchen.

In the seven weeks since I finished gainful employment, I can count the number of days like today on the fingers of one thumb, so it’s been pleasing to finally achieve the Nirvana of a tranquil and domesticated day. My house smells of chocolate and vanilla and lavender polish; I’ve spent no time at all on either a job hunting website or fiddling with my CV. Instead, I’ve been preparing to host a “Girl’s Night In” event tomorrow night, when around fifteen great women (friends, neighbours, colleagues, contacts) will arrive and join me for dinner, wine and conversation.

But this is no ordinary dinner party: everyone will be making a donation of between £10 and £15 per head. I’m donating the food and wine and every penny raised tomorrow night will be gifted to Plan International’s “Because I am a Girl” campaign, which works to ensure that girls in some of the worlds’ poorest countries (such as Liberia, Sierra Leone and Bangladesh) are able to finish school.

Launched in 2007 by Plan UK, the campaign aims to improve the lives of girls throughout the developing world, many of whom are denied the right to an education, healthcare and a career.

This is a campaign about which I first read an article last month, on the plane on my way to California and I decided there and then, mid-Atlantic, to join in and be part of the solution in my own small, brownie-baking, way.

Here’s a quote from Cherie Blair (and there’s a link to her website on the blogroll on the right, if you’re interested in further details of her work to support women, globally):

“There is plenty of evidence that girls face greater disadvantage and discrimination in many parts of the world. For example, it’s estimated that, globally, 7.4 million more girls than boys don’t get a primary school education, and 70% of those in absolute poverty are female. So it’s good news that Plan has launched its “Because I am a Girl” campaign to draw attention to these abuses and what can be done to overcome them.”

The links that I’ve provided above in the text will take you to the relevant parts of the Plan website and, if you want to learn more, you can download their annual report or take the “Five Friends Challenge” and send e-cards to your friends to encourage them to pledge their support for girls’ rights worldwide.

The link to my fundraising page is here; with your help, we can help millions of girls out of poverty and towards a safer and brighter future.

Thank you.