#GAZELLE: Kate Moss X Adidas X Dad

If there's one thing I've clocked over the past year or so, it's that life has a tendency to throw you intermittent signs – regardless of what you believe, or indeed don't, believe in. This particular one just happens to be quite huge, and very literal.

In 1993 (the year I was born, incidentally) my late Pa – Denzil McNeelance as he was known to most – shot a fresh young face from Croydon, tipped to be the "year's supermodel" in The Times. 23 years on, and it's safe to say you might have heard of her: one Miss Kate Moss.

Although the shoot in question has been floating around the internet over the past few years, nothing notable had ever been done with the images, discounting their original publication. Aside from anything else, my creative-brained Dad never quite mastered the art of business or self-promotion – above all in the digital sphere, which he did everything possible to flee from. He was an analogue man, through and through.

Fast forward to last year – the week I permanently moved to Berlin, just a few weeks after he suddenly passed away aged 56 – my friend excitedly messaged me a picture of his Kate Moss shoot in Germany's version of Glamour Magazine. Suffice it to say, this caught me totally off guard – his work from 1993, published in an article about the old school sneaker revival (my footwear of choice), the week I move to Berlin, in Glamour Deutschland?! First sign, tick. Little did I know this was just a glimpse of what was to follow.

Exactly one year later – practically to the day – the aforementioned Kate Moss shoot is now gaining worldwide recognition, front and centre, as part of Adidas Originals' huge Gazelle relaunch: their 'Remember the Future' campaign.

Naturally, it had been in the works for a few months in the run-up – numerous email exchanges, negotiations, approval from Kate Moss and the like – but the idea really didn't sink in until I spotted it permeating social media networks, online publications and then in the flesh, super-sized, at Berlin's Gazelle Backyard Gallery. A goosebumps kinda moment to say the least.





Like the Adidas model itself, his now iconic image will always be an original. But this fresh remix has given Dad's work – and now him – a new life that I never could have anticipated. And although I won't be hanging up my trusty Stan Smiths any time soon, Gazelles just got given a whole new significance for me and siblet.

Apple crumble + custard shake (VGN)

Don't get me wrong, I love (love) to eat, but I'm also quite the beverage enthusiast – and any excuse to whip out my beloved blender, too. This in mind, experimenting with fun smoothie and shake concoctions (while keeping the ingredients as more-or-less wholesome as I can), is a regular event in my little Berlin kitchen.  

As with most of my culinary creations, this combination came about kinda fortuitously – the result of needing to use up ingredients before a quick London getaway –  but I thought the outcome was worth a share. Dainty disclaimer: Don't go expecting an actual apple crumble and custard dish, but rather an alternative take on the conventional dessert's fundamental flavours, unconventionally remixed into a sweet and (I think) lovely liquid.  

For one serving, you will need: 

> 1x banana 

> approx. 200ml dairy free vanilla milk (Alpro's soya vanilla has the most custard-like taste, but choose according to your own preference!)

> a handful of cashews

> 1 tbsp vanilla protein (I use NUA Naturals vanilla rice protein powder)

> a squeeze of agave/maple syrup

> 1 tsp cinnamon

> 3 tbsp apple purée (100% apples)

> for the topping: a sprinkle of oats, crushed cashews, date sugar and/or coconut sugar  

Make:

1) Blend the banana, vanilla milk, agave/maple syrup, cashews, vanilla protein and cinnamon.

2) Spoon the apple purée into the base of your jar (or other vessel of choice). 

3) Pour the vanilla shake over the apple purée.

4) Sprinkle your oats and cashews (toasted if you like), as well as date or coconut sugar on top.

5) Pop a straw in. A little spoon might come in handy too. Ta-da.  

A visual diary: Salpal + Siblet pay a visit

Full time independence and expat livin' comes with all kindsa perks, but there's no doubt about it: a good dose of your "people" and some R&R every now and then are very much required. While having a super-tight-knit triangle of a family unit is a total blessing (and one which I'm very grateful for), being away from the ol' homeland is a little trickier when you'd – in an ideal world – be spending far more time hanging out with yo' nearest and dearest. 

Not that this makes me wanna rush back to LDN just yet (not at all in fact), but there are times when having the best of both worlds would be just swell. Ever the idealist. Needless to say, when my favourite ladies came to town the other week, it gave me a much needed boost; a chance to spend some proper, quality time together and recharge my batteries after a mad few months to say the least. 

For a spot of context, see here 'n' here. 

After a few darlin' days hanging as a three, Salpal headed back to her working world, leaving the much missed sis and I to get up to our old antics as a lil duo. After over 4 months without my best gal, it was all the more lovely to just chill in each other's company. Indeed, a short but sweet week was all it took to get me fully feeling myself again: I've been on a fam-induced high ever since. 

Raw VGN cashew-choco cookie dough

There'll always be the sceptics that don't and won't and can't and shan't rate raw, vegan, refined sugar-free desserts. And that's cool, each to their own (more for me). But I'm personally not in that party, and am an absolute upholder of the fact that eating mostly plant based, unrefined whole foods does not-in-the-slightest equate to bland, flavourless food – quite the opposite. This experimental little cookie dough number is a total testament to that.   

Mini rant over, time to get to the good stuff. For a big bowl of cookie dough – which you can either eat straight off the spoon or pop in the freezer on a tray and cut into bite-sized pieces – you will need: 

> 1 cup oats

> 1 cup cashews

> a couple of pinches of sea salt (I like the pink Himalayan variety, but any will do just fine)

> 1 tsp vanilla extract

> 5 dates (pitted)

> 2-4 tbsp agave syrup 

> a dash of almond milk (or other milk of your choice)

> a handful of cacao nibs or dark chocolate chips 

> optional: 1 tsp maca powder // 1 tbsp chia seeds

Lil hint: a strong food processor/blender is important, as the dates and cashews need quite a bit of blending power! 

Make:

1) Blend the oats, cashews, agave, vanilla extract and sea salt. Sprinkle in some maca powder if you fancy an extra superfood boost.

2) Add in the dates a couple at a time, pulsing and adding almond milk to help smoothen the consistency and aid the blending. 

3) Transfer mix into a bowl, then add your chocolate chips (and chia seeds if you're putting them in). 

4) Get a spoon and eat it right away, or put in the freezer for 30-60 mins so it sets a little.