I am not as super competent or glamorous as all that, guys. The backstory behind my times in women's and celeb news mags is that I was living with a journo at the time, and was also a very hard up teacher in London with a small DD, so at weekends, evenings and in the holidays I used to do shifts for various publications. It paid a bit better than teaching per hour, but I was perpetually knackered, I have to say. Although I did get to go to lots of great parties, which was a terrific perk.
The backstory behind the cooking is that I was so bloody hard up for so long I had to learn the hard way. I wouldn't say I am a fancy cook of any kind, but I am pretty nifty at rustling up good wholesome meals that people devour, out of next to nothing in terms of ingedients.
Re: Pate, I have actually been stuffing my face with pate for the whole pg because I am a very naughty rebel who refused to do what the m/w told me. It occurred to me that for each pg I have had a different list of what I am and am not allowed to do, yet there is never any proper science behind it that I can find, so I am now ignoring all the b*x and doing what the hell I like. I eat like a Frenchwoman, basically (they aren't given these stupid lists, btw).