I love my milkman

Johnny Milko is my milkman (yes, I do believe that is his real name) and I love him for several reasons.  Did you even know it was possible to still get your milk delivered? I had no idea until a Hackney local told me. Now we never run out of milk (although if we have a midnight milk-binge, we live just a minute from a 24 hour shop). Milk delivery is the ultimate in recycling, as the bottles are actually re-used. It also means that our once fit-to-bursting recycling box now has room in it, instead of being full of those awful plastic bottles that take up so much room and are so bad for the environment. And, no, in case you are wondering, we have never had our milk stolen. Johnny Milko is a diamond geezer and a lovely man who really cares about his job. When we had the snow that brought London to a standstill earlier this year, Johnny was about the only delivery man who made it out. One of his customers made him a well deserved medal. Johnny is also very handsome, but unfortunately too modest to let me post his photograph here. I won't go on too much because my husband is always teasing me about my fondness for our milkman. If you live in Hackney, you may be lucky enough to get Johnny to deliver you full fat, skimmed or organic milk, as well as orange juice, free range eggs, and cat food. Give him a ring on 07946 281 889 or 0208 985 2021. Otherwise just type your postcode into www.findmeamilkman.net

Pure Poetry

thine codpiece on that poison boson
is wanton vehemence this sedulous winter

My fridge magnet poem appears on my old friend, Nicola Caroli's blog

Nicola runs a successful poetry festival in Berlin, where she launches her poetry space today.  

Add your own fridge magnet poem to her site. 

And if you find one of HackneyHome's clever magnetic flyers (they can be found in The Ginger Pig's Hackney Shop), take one home and put it on your fridge.

On the Shelf

These are some of the books I have written or edited. South America, particularly Brazil, is my speciality, but I also write a lot about Europe and the UK too. I have just had three guides to Marrakech published by the AA. My Michelin guide to Rio de Janeiro will be published in September and I have just been commissioned to update an AA guide to Amsterdam. On June 18th, I will be doing a book reading in Book Box, my local book store on Chatsworth Road, with Iain Sinclair and Sarah Wise, both pretty big name Hackney writers. 

Massaging Figures

No, this is not a comment on today's unremarkable budget. I want to tell you about an amazing woman, called Tracey in Hackney, who works as a masseuse and beauty therapist. As a travel writer, I have had massages and spa treatments all over the world, but Tracey's are the best I have had. She will come to your home (depending on where you live) and give you the deepest tissue massage you can imagine, or a reviving facial, or waxing.

To book, contact us via www.hackneyhome.co.uk.

Me and My Shed

In the bottom of my Hackney garden, is my office. Sometimes its my log cabin, sometimes my summer house, but mostly just my 'shed'. It is higher spec than our house, with double glazing, stylish slimline radiator and an environmentally friendly seedam grass roof that changes colour with the seasons. Surrounded by trees and gardens, I feel like I am in the woods, with squirrels scampering noisily over the roof and local cats pressing their faces against the glass. The huge windows mean it is always flooded with light, and when I have had enough of writing, there's a sofa and a mini bar.