Older Then Younger Now

Hello Again

2013-09-11T18:19:00.000+01:00

I'm back from the abyss. The abyss of procrastination. I haven't blogged in.... a year and a half. Flip! I am however going to 'endeavour' to be a (relatively) regular contributor, as much for myself as anything else, if only to focus thoughts and share the shiz I find inspiring. When I logged back on again I was pretty astounded at how many people have visited this little cog within the great machine that is the internet, even in my absence. Does anybody actually read anything or just merely stumble across it when looking for something more interesting? Who knows. Probably. But hey ho, welcome all the same wayfaring stranger x

Borgen

2012-02-05T20:11:00.004+00:00

On the surface, a Danish political drama about a prime minister's rise to power, and how that power changes, doesn't sound like the most enthralling TV viewing, however, "Borgen" is most definitely one of the best TV dramas (and best acted) that I've watched in quite some time (apart from 'Friday Night Lights', but I'll save that for another time). The title "Borgen" seems to be a play on the nickname for 'Christiansborg', the home of the Danish parliament and prime minister's office.
Yes, there's subtitles, (unless you speak Danish already, then you're flying) but it doesn't detract from it at all. (If you still need convincing it's by the same people who made "The Killing").
For those in the UK, BBC iplayer (as of now) are streaming the full season 1 - here . Definitely worth checking out.

Dreamboats No Petticoats

2012-02-04T22:11:00.005+00:00

All because I love boys with tattoos, especially these ones (now to wonder who they are...) (As much as I wish I'd taken these photos, I didn't.)

Don't Judge A Book By It's Cover...

2012-01-21T14:01:00.005+00:00

...well, maybe just a little.
I thought it was time I did a blog post on a great idea Penguin Books came up with - selling classic novels with blank covers. The official tag line is: "Books by the Greats, Covers by You". The blank covers are 'art-quality' paper which hold ink, paint and pencil amongst others. They also come shrink-wrapped so the paper is nice and clean on arrival. The price isn't bad either for £5 (GBP) with free p&p in the UK, but they do ship worldwide (Here's the link to the online store)

I really do love giving presents with a personal touch, something that says 'I actually thought about this'. I was looking for a little gift for my friend 'J' and eventually settled on "The Waves" by Virginia Woolf. I didn't have much time but managed to rustle up a quick cover using letraset promarkers and ink (you can have a gander at the result below).

There's also an online gallery on the Penguin website, where people can display pictures of their gallant efforts. Some of them are truly amazing, but I think my personal favourite has to be the one below for Bram Stoker's "Dracula". The cover was created by: Stuart and Pania Fleming. Simple and brilliant. I especially love that 2 people are credited for it! A splatter each perhaps?

'The Waves', Virginia Woolf 'Dracula', Bram Stoker

'Walk Off The Earth' Gotye Cover

2012-01-15T14:42:00.003+00:00

How cool is this. Over 21 million hits on youtube, in just over one week, says it all. Yes, 21 million. In a week! This Canada based 5 piece are the definition of 'going viral'...

You can check out their facebook page here

2012 We Meet At Last

2012-01-08T18:16:00.009+00:00

So 2012 is here at last. It wasn't so long ago the thought of the year 2012 seemed incredibly space-aged and now we're here. Eek. I started 2011 with a massive 'to do' and resolution list. Did I do any of them? Did I bugger. This year my New Year's resolution is not to make any resolutions. I seem to inadvertently make it my personal mission to break as many as possible in as short a time as possible. 'Dear Diary, this year I resolve to go on a diet and exercise. Lots. [written whilst semi-comatosed on the sofa with a kitkat in one hand and a mouth stuffed full of crisps]' So no, this year, no resolutions.

I love a new year though, it feel's new. It brings the promise of new beginnings. I read somewhere that:' Life is like a roll of toilet paper - the closer it gets to the end the faster it goes'. I was going to add: then you're left in the shit. Literally. But, I won't... Although, it did get me thinking about how quickly it all whizzes by and how we deserve to live a life we truly love for the short time we're here and while still able. How easy it is to stagnate. So many people have opinions on how the lives of others should be and alas if we don't shape our own lives, no-one else will. Continuing to beat the drum of what's gone wrong, only plays the sound of past regrets. Someone once said: " You can never cross the ocean unless you have the courage to lose sight of the shore" So maybe I'll make a resolution after all - that this year, I'll lose sight of the shore.

Wishes for all to have a joyful and healthy 2012 x

December Playlist (With a Slice of Christmas)

2011-12-03T16:30:00.002+00:00

Hello December, nice to see you again, it's been quite a year.

Metronomy - "Everything Goes My Way"
Otis Redding - "White Christmas"
Lianne La Havas - "Age"
Ingrid Michaelson - "You and I"
Marit Larsen - "Under the surface"
Tomi Swick - "Let It Snow"
Warpaint - "Elephants"
The Shins - "New Slang"
Richard Hawley - "There´s A Storm A Comin"
VersaEmerge - "Santa Baby"
Mindy Gledhill - "Anchor"
The Beatles - "Norwegian Wood"
Andrew Bird - "Oh No"
Hellogoodbye - "When We First Met"
Michael Bublé - "Silent Night"

Links open to youtube video of song x

Lucy Chadwick captured by The Selby

2011-11-23T23:09:00.006+00:00

I'm ~~slightly~~ completely besotted with The Selby. It's the site I "right click, save as.." more than any other. In fact, I plan on decorating my gargantuan Tribeca loft apartment in a plethora of styles, inspired by Todd Selby's interiors photography.

Oh. Wait. I must have dozed off. That's not actually my life. C'est le vie. I'll just make do with ogling the pictures. For now...

Selby's latest offering to catch my eye, was a video of gallerist Lucy Chadwick, undertaken for the Zara campaign. The video works two-fold: selling a lifestyle most would covet and cosy jumpers most could buy. Quite beautiful.

Here's a sneak peak at a previous photo-shoot The Selby undertook at Chadwick's London pad she shares with her hairstylist boyfriend, Duffy:

You can see more photos inside Lucy's home here

Isabel Lucas - La Femme Du Jour

2011-11-19T22:34:00.006+00:00

Contrary to appearances, Isabel Lucas is not just another pretty face ensconced within LaLa land. She is something of an enigma; style icon, actress and environmental activist. A sense of style and a conscience? mais oui.

Lucas has a boho, easy style and one which caught the world’s attention when she was photographed at Coachella with her musician boyfriend Angus Stone. Irritatingly, she is also one of those people who look better sans makeup (I, alas, am most assuredly not one of those people). Lucas however, has been under the radar of the fashion editor for a while, having graced the cover of Italian Vogue in 2009 as well as this coming December issue in her native Australia.

The 26 year old has only been on the Hollywood scene for a relatively short time but has come a long way since her Home and Away days, having scored roles in Transformers and Daybreakers. Of her move to Hollywood, she insists it is a temporary one and out of mere convenience, "I was avoiding moving to LA… it was never my intention…but it was inconvenient flying back and forth all the time….It feels like the right time to be in LA, but I also know it’s not home for me. I know what I’m here for."

Unlike a lot of her peers, Lucas’ passion for environmental activism is the real deal and not just for the obligatory photo-op. So much so, Japanese police issued an arrest warrant for her role in "interfering with international commerce" for paddling across nets, set to herd dolphins and whales to their death, near the Japanese village of Taiji. Some fishermen use fishing boats to herd the animals into netted coves where they are held captive before being killed. A defiant Lucas, said "I'm not scared in the least about going back there (Japan)…In fact, now I think it would draw even more attention to the barbaric act… we couldn't save these whales, but hopefully shining the light on their deaths will save others."
She gets my vote.

Help support Sea Shepherd on their mission to end the destruction of habitat and slaughter of wildlife in the world's oceans in order to conserve and protect ecosystems and species.

Science may have found a cure for most evils; but it has found no remedy for the worst of them all - the apathy of human beings. - Helen Keller

November Playlist. Chill, Listen, Enjoy

2011-11-15T21:39:00.006+00:00

The Decemberists - "Yankee Bayonet (I Will Be Home Then)"
Incubus - "Aqueous Transmission"
Whitley - "More Than Life"
The Cinematic Orchestra - "To Build a Home"
Starsailor - "Lullaby"
She & Him - "You Really Got A Hold On Me"
Regina Spektor - "Us"
Kate Rusby - "I Courted A Sailor"
Midlake - "Acts of Man"
Josh Woodward - "Darien Gap"
The Good Natured - "For the Windows in Paradise.."
James Vincent McMorrow - "From the Woods!"
Great Lake Swimmers - "Pulling on a Line"
Radiohead - "House of Cards"

Links open a new page to video of song on youtube...
Happy listening

SupaKitch and Koralie

2011-11-13T22:15:00.005+00:00

I've only recently discovered this New York based dynamic French duo (and real life couple) SupaKitch and Koralie and I'm hooked already. Both amazing street artists in their own right, they've joined forces, professionally, to create unique manga inspired works. Using paint, markers, stencils and cutouts, their two styles seamlessly blend together into fantastically inspiring works of art.

Parisian film maker, Raphael Hache captured the pair as they gave birth to yet another fantastical world. Song is Euphorie by Leonard de Leonard.

Another amazing video - Metroplastique - at The Museum of World Culture of Gothenburg, Sweden.
Song is by D.L.I.D (Dick Laurent is Dead)

Now Why Didn't I Think of That

2011-11-12T23:38:00.014+00:00

The other day I went to an art exhibition, where a clay "sculpture" of used teabags (yes, used teabags) was displayed alongside a fantastic portrait by Northern Irish artist Colin Davidson (albeit the portrait was of Brian Kennedy but I'll overlook that. This time.) Now, I'm as fond of a PG-tip as anyone but mon dieu, sacre bleu (and other words of astonishment French speakers never actually use) this is just silly. Isn't it? I imagine if I had created this mortification would have me skulking in the corner to see it displayed alongside such a skillfully painted portrait. Art, pah. What do I know.

Although... on second thought, perhaps I should empty out the contents of my bin, throw in a bit of cement, slap a £1000 price tag on it and name it "Rhapsody des ordures" (that's 'Rubbish' in French. In case you were wondering. I google translated it. Too. Much. Time. On. Hands)

(FYI the pic above is part of the series New Math by Chris Damrauer. Absolutely love them.)

Erato - My Version is Better Than Yours

2011-11-09T12:39:00.012+00:00

A couple of weeks ago I stumbled upon a video of the Swedish vocal group, Erato, doing a cover of fellow Swede, Robyn's, "Call your Girlfriend". The girls sing acapella whilst clapping hands in synchronous beat all the while tapping margarine tubs on the table. You know, as you do. Of course, I've often wondered what it would feel like to write a song only to have some young buck come along with a margarine tub instrumental and be all kinds of wonderful, making your version look, quite frankly,'meh'.

Naturally, after watching this, I immediately went into full on tupperware excavation mode and promptly decided I was going to learn an instrumental by rote with my dulcit tones rocking out some cool, unknown cover. My newly acquired skills would then be deployed whilst lanquishing at some hipster party. I would start humming while some drunk dude lazilly strummed on the guitar, then some random chick would be all "ooohh sing something" and I'd be all "no, no, I couldn't possibl.... oh ok then". Then I'd belt out my well rehearsed vocal, complete with hand gymnastics and everyone would be all "omg that was soooo amazing, seriously, you should record that" and I'd be all "oh,it was nothing".

Alas, then I remembered that a) I couldn't sing and b) I couldn't be arsed practicing any weird and wonderful synchronized moves.... So instead, I ate a crunchie and watched the video again. Enjoy