Linda Hall: Nigella scandal has a way to go

Linda Hall is assistant editor at Hawke's Bay Today.

As the plot thickens in the Nigella Lawson saga it's a timely reminder to us all - you just never know what goes on behind closed doors.

I was shocked when I heard the allegations against Nigella, whom I have always admired.

According to sisters Elisabetta and Francesca Grillo, who have worked for Nigella for more than a decade, the celebrity chef is a drug addict.

The sisters are on trial for fraud, having allegedly helped themselves to $1.38 million using credit cards given to them by Nigella and her ex-husband, millionaire art dealer Charles Saatchi.

The allegations were at first backed up by Saatchi who wrote in an e-mail that "she was off her head" and called her "Highgella".

However, he did a complete turnaround when he took the stand in court, saying he had no proof Nigella ever took drugs.

He said: "I'm utterly heartbroken that I have lost Nigella and I wish this past year had never happened.

"I absolutely adore Nigella and I'm broken-hearted to have lost her."

So who is telling the truth? I can't wait for Nigella to take the stand this week.

Personally I think the sisters are just trying to take the heat off themselves and that Saatchi hit out at her in hurt. I hope I'm right.

I don't usually get so caught up in the shenanigans of celebrities, but I really like Nigella.

She is admired by millions of women and lusted after by millions of men throughout the world.

I'm not sure she could have written cookbooks and looked so sensational while eating Whittaker's chocolate on the television ad if she was a cocaine addict, as the sisters are claiming.

Now it seems Whittaker's is considering whether to keep using her in its commercials.

I say give the woman a chance. Nobody has heard what she has to say yet.

It just goes to show you how these people who live such public lives can fall from grace in the blink of an eye.

It's so easy to envy them. They appear to lead magical lives - living in mansions, eating at top restaurants and drinking wine that would probably cost me a week's wages.

The don't appear to have a worry in the world. They don't need to budget, they don't need to worry about paying bills, they lead the life of Riley.

But do they? Imagine having to look perfect every time you step outside your door. Imagine being on holiday and having the paparazzi snapping pictures of you and your family.

Would you really want to live like that?

Envy and jealousy are hard emotions to control. They can be dangerous and costly, especially if you like to keep up with the Joneses.

So remember Nigella when you are doing your Christmas shopping this year. Just because something costs a lot of money, looks flash and the neighbours have one, doesn't mean you must have one.

For all you know, the neighbours might have hocked themselves to the eyeballs to acquire it and are wishing like hell behind their closed doors that they could get rid of it. Your children aren't going to be smarter and prettier because they have labelled clothing, even when they declare: "All my friends have them and I'll be a nerd if I don't."

Spend your money wisely this Christmas; it's not easy to come by.

FOOTNOTE: I have to admit to a bout of envy this past week.

A colleague told me a week or so ago that he was building a chicken coop and that he was going to get three chickens.

Well, he got them last week and guess what? He got an egg the very first day. Now he loves to tell us how he is getting three eggs a day.

I want chickens. Maybe I'll ask Mr Neat to build me a chicken coop for Christmas.