Category

Review

Showing 15 Result(s)
Books Books Review Self improvement

Snazzy Granny Book Review – ‘The subtle art of not giving a fuck’ by Mark Manson

updated on

Look I think this swearing in a book title to get our attention has had its day.

Maybe it’s because I am a bit of a prissy missy at heart, but to me the F word loses its impact when it is overused.[ Although I confess I have used the word myself but that is only in relation to cyclists and never to their faces – always to their bums].  

To me, the swearing lost its impact after a while, as I used to say to the young fat lawyer when he kept retelling the same tedious joke

“It was funny the first time”

But now when I browse the self-help bookshelves, I can scarcely see a title without the f**** word in it.

Mark Manson’s book has been on the bestselling non-fiction lists for ages now. Absurdly I didn’t have to buy a copy because my husband’s best friend bought me a copy of the book for Christmas – now there’s a story in itself. Why the f******would he do that?  Sorry about that, but reading the book is like going to a Billy Connolly concert, you just can’t help swearing for the next week.    

Swearing aside, and there is a lot of swearing in this book, his point is that we must ration the things that we give a f**about. 

In other words, he suggests we reserve our angst for what really matters like family, friends, health, anything that is important to you – and you say fuck to everything else. Or as my Mum once said when the young fat lawyer threw my front door key onto the roof of the garage.

“Choose your battles dear”.

We save our fucks for what really matters particularly those people who have stayed around long enough to give a fuck about. We should be comfortable with the fact that we don’t have to feel comfortable all the time.  We don’t have to give a fuck about anything that doesn’t seem important.

Clark Gable said the same thing years ago in the film “Gone with the Wind”

Frankly my dear I don’t give a damn.

Books Books Military Review

Snazzy Granny Book Review – Platoon Leader

on

Military memoirs are usually written by high ranking officers from the comfort of their quaint cottages in the Cotswolds.

  “Contact” was the first of this genre of book written by a front-line squaddie.  AFN Clarke, the author was, of course, not a squaddie for long and went on to be commissioned as an Officer and Platoon Commander with Britain’s elite Parachute Regiment. It is a tale of courage and resilience.  It is a painful tale that at times is deeply personal.  It is angry and raw and yet despite all this it reveals a warm human being full of compassion for his soldiers. We are not surprised to learn that he is now a passionate member of the peace movement for Northern Ireland

He paints a painful brutal scenario of exhausted soldiers who were often despised by both sides and even to this day are vilified for what was indeed a thankless task of keeping Catholics and Protestants apart. He describes living amongst the people but not of the people.  Living rough, not washing, and carrying everything he needed to sustain living in a Burgen that he had to carry on his back.  Being the leader of the patrol is a lonely job balancing the task of being respected by his platoon, friendly but not too friendly, not overstepping that balance.

 His experience made him what he is today.  Physically damaged, mentally saddened, but strong and more human that when he embarked on his first tour of duty. It is not just a story of a platoon in Northern Island in the 70’s it is a tale of a man’s growth through the experience. A fascinating man, a soldier an adventurer, a sailor, a horseman, a racing driver and a qualified pilot. In addition, he has all the human qualities I would like my grandchildren to have.

All of this in “Contact” the book. It is written with a passion for getting the story down.  No wonder the army didn’t like it. It is a major contribution to our understanding of war and how people act. It should be read by every mother who is bewildered when her son returns from the battle front exhausted and damaged, by politicians who send these young men into battle. It belongs rightly on the reading list of every soldier about to face “Contact” and on the shelves of every University library under the heading “Peace Studies”.

Books Books Fiction Review

Snazzy Granny Book Review – ‘Lady in Waiting’

updated on

I am a bit of a closet royalist despite 30 years living in Australia, so I was very eager to read this book for some gossip on the life of Princess Margaret.  I could not wait for it to be available in a book shop in Australia.  So, I purchased the audible version.   It was a disappointment. There is a good reason that actors read these types of books.  Lady Glenconner, whilst very affable on Graham Norton [that is what sucked me into buying the book] has a flat delivery and seemed to be in a hurry to get to the next sentence.

It is a good read though and I confess I loved it.   Aristocrats stuff up their lives just like we peasants do but if they are all like Lady Glenconner they just do not seem to realise it. Anne Glenconner was married for 50 years to a bullying, manipulative and thoroughly spoilt man who was clearly in need of psychiatric treatment. The book is worth buying just to read about his incredible toddler tantrums on aeroplanes and sexual debauchery. Her loyalty was all to no avail however because he disinherited her and left his fortune to a man servant….and she was suprised!.   She devoted her life to him and to Princess Margaret and left her sons to the care of nannies and consequently failed miserably.  A rum lot they turned out to be. Neglect, death and drug addiction were the consequences of her misplaced loyalty.

Time and again when Princess Margaret beckoned, she rushed to her instead of taking care of her sons.

It was fun to read but for me this book was spoilt by some petty and unkind words regarding the then Governor General of Australia, Sir Roden Cutler VC.  She poked fun at his chivalry and old school values. Big mistake.  Australians hold Sir Roden Cutler, close to their hearts. He was war hero and holder of the VC at the age of 25 in World War ll and a perfect gentleman. She should be ashamed of her words. The shady characters in her book, whilst amusing cannot hold a candle to him. To her discredit even in the picture section she can’t resist a snide remark. I believe she is coming to Australia, good luck with that Lady Glenconner.  Don’t mess with our National Treasures if you want to flog your book.

Books Self improvement

Book review – the sirt food diet

updated on

It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a woman in possession of a large backside must be in need of a diet book.
As I browse the diet section in my local bookstore, I realise that I have bought them all – and most of them are sitting on my shelves -at home.
But I will give it one more chance, so I buy the “the Sirt food diet” on Amazon Kindle. I choose the Kindle edition so that the book will not sit on my kitchen shelf and mock me when I fail again. Adele’s amazing weight loss is all down to this diet apparently and who knows I might even be able to sing in tune.


However, I am not encouraged when I see it is not written by a doctor or dietician but two celebrity nutritionists. I am never sure what a “nutritionist” is. It is a bit of a vague category. Is it someone who has studied at university to be a qualified dietitian? or is someone who has done a few courses online or even someone who works at a private gym and makes it all up. I know that I should be relying on evidence-based research.
The diet is based on sirt foods (SIRTS). It is thought that certain natural plant compounds (polyphenols) may be able to trigger the body into weight loss and miraculously at the same time maintain muscle mass and protect from chronic disease. It all sounds very encouraging and possibly too good to be true.


Most of these ingredients are easy to find and not bad at all. Red wine, strawberries, extra virgin olive oil, dark chocolate, walnuts and kale. I can do that.


The diet consists of 2 phases and involves making three green juices a day. The authors suggest that one should use a juicer but I didn’t have one and I thought I would be losing out on fibre so I put the kale, apples, celery and other stuff in my new fancy Vitamix, which I bought at great expense for my last diet.


Whilst the green juice was a bit hard core and did make a bit of a mess in my kitchen the diet allowed one proper meal a day and the recipes for those were fabulous -miso and sesame glazed fish, prawns with buck wheat noodles and vegetarian options too. “Him indoors”, who should lose weight but does not think it is doable enjoyed all these meals. Just don’t mention the diet word.

I think this diet is for me, the food is beyond delicious, quite unlike any boring diet food I have tried before. Don’t get me started on diet food like “light and sleezy”. My secret stash of sirfood bites sits in my fridge and is my go-to sweet treat. No guilt then. If you can get through the three days which are 1000 calories, then you will enjoy it – and lose weight. I have lent it to the fat lawyer, watch this space.

Restaurants Review

Snazzy Granny Reviews -Questacon Café: Not great

updated on

I know this café is aimed at kids but really there isn’t much variety for adults. 

Granny needs to eat too, the Questacon should realise that these kids are usually accompanied by an adult, who is completely over white bread sandwiches.  This Snazzy Granny took her small charge, aged 7, with quite a discerning palate on him next door to the National Portrait Gallery which suited us both.

Granny had her tannin fix and grandson had a coke, which is not strictly allowed but what happens in the National Portrait Gallery stays there.  Job done!

Restaurants Review

Snazzy Granny Reviews – Hyatt Hotel Canberra: Grand lady of Canberra

updated on

Of late, the Hyatt Hotel in Canberra has had to contend with some new kids on the block. The new boutique hotels that are springing up catering to the trendy businessmen.  The Hyatt may be looking a little shabby in places,( despite the new carpet which really isn’t in keeping with the quiet elegance of the place), it is still a comfortable stay. The staff are “old school” courteous, friendly but not overly and well trained in customer service. The bell hops uniform is a delight and makes you feel you are staying at the Balmoral Hotel in Edinburgh Scotland. There aren’t many hotels where you can sit out in the gardens in the sun and be served afternoon tea or stylish cocktails. The rooms are large and the beds very comfortable.

The swimming pool is the largest of all the Canberra. It is kept at a very pleasant temperature unlike some other hotels where a degree or two makes the difference between an enjoyable relaxing swim and a reminder of a plunge in the school swimming pool.

The only downside to a dip in the attractive pool is that there is no private passage back to your room without going through the area where conferences are held.

Just don’t time your swim for when a conference is breaking out for lunch or coffee.

I got caught once and had to run the gauntlet of curious and smartly dressed delegates in my hotel dressing gown! They were a good crowd on that conference they  gave me a round of applause

Restaurants Review

Snazzy Granny Reviews – Darley’s Restaurant: Liliansfels Hotel: Blue Mountains

updated on

Really interesting and fabulous food. Very good service, it’s a pity it connected to such a shabby hotel. I would dine here again but would not stay at the hotel ever again.  See below.

Lilianfels Resort & Spa – Blue Mountains

To advertise this hotel to any visitor as 5-star luxury is at the very least misleading, and in truth it is simply deceitful. I don’t know many 5-star exclusive hotels that have a car park for coaches and a machine for hiring bikes outside the hotel.

If you want a simple review …don’t stay here.

If you want to know more…read on.

The two most memorable low lights of our stay included a motel style overcrowded breakfast on the Sunday morning … (more of that later) and a most unpleasant interaction with the surly and smug manager.

Our hotel bill was inaccurate. He argued persistently in front of a horrified group of guests who were also waiting to check out. The waiting hotel guests, were obviously very embarrassed at what was going on but were stuck in a queue. I don’t know what they taught this manager at hotel management school, but he obviously wasn’t paying attention. He terminated the conversation by saying that he had our credit card details, presumably implying that the hotel had the last word.

We stayed at Lilianfels about 10 years ago and loved it, so we were so disappointed about what has been done to this grand old lady. I am embarrassed to say that I have previously recommended it so many times to overseas visitor…my heartfelt apologies to them.

It would appear that this Hotel is now catering to a different clientele, who probably get a good deal on the internet.  We checked and there were.  Cheap deals available (not the $600+ we were charged) and those lucky customers who took up the offer would have no problems with the buffet breakfast. What can I say…bottled juice, tinned mushrooms, served by mainly harassed staff with ‘in training’ on their lapels?

My husband had to practically rugby tackle these trainees to get a cup of tea or coffee. Perhaps if I say there was an automatic pancake maker on a small table pretty well sums this charade of a breakfast.  I have stayed at a fair few luxury resorts and never seen one of those before.

So, NO I would not recommend Lilliafels unless of course, you want to stay in a shabby room, a garden room is just one that doesn’t overlook the overflowing car park.  The car park incidentally fills up on a weekend and those guests not quick of the mark must park in the street.  No bottled water provided  so if you don’t mind drinking water from the bathroom tap then perhaps you may like it.

The tourist board, or whoever gives out stars should hang their heads in shame and then swiftly take Lilianfel’s stars away before any more unsuspecting overseas visitors get sucked in.

Restaurants Review

Snazzy Granny Review – Gunners Restaurant: Gunners was great

updated on

This place is so traditional that they have tongs in the sugar bowls.

The ambience and setting are surreal and evokes the ghosts of its origins of being an army officers mess.  One could imagine sitting in pearls and a smart hat and gloves having high tea on the Royal Albert Old Country Rose plates as the guest of an army colonel.

The high tea, which they serve pretty much all day was sublime.  My smallest grandson was completely bewitched so much so that when we checked his pram at home, we found the tongs in amongst his toys. 

We returned them to Gunners by post and received a charming letter in reply.  Can’t get more stylish than that!

Restaurants Review

Snazzy Granny Review – Burnt Orange: Mosman

updated on

Dearie me. If you think you are going to get a High Tea from Burnt Orange remotely like any hotel experience you have had before… forget it.

A much anticipated treat for two birthday boys  left us feeling disappointed not to say a little under the weather. We started with what turned out to be a very stingy offering consisting of two diminutive sandwiches of unknown filling (but thick bread).  

Followed by one enormous stodgy scone and a tiny cake each. Small boys are easy to please where cakes are concerned but these two sadly were not. Never again. I shall take my business to nearby Gunners which everyone says is fabulous.
Burnt Orange is in a nice setting, but access is not suitable for anyone who has any sort of disability or trouble walking. This granny stumbled a bit and had to be assisted by two small boys.  

A big fat zero.