Goodbye cheese (for now)

In just one month I will be peeling off my jeans, timidly removing my t-shirt and presenting this pale, out of shape body of mine to the world. Fake tan can fix the ghost like skin but only a large helping of self-control will sort the rest.

So it is farewell to cheddar and goat's cheese and a big chunk of applewood every time I come home. And hello to salad and soup and home made lunches, a bit of "no thanks" in place of "abso-bloody-lutely" and, most terrifying of all, a month off the booze.

  

Peace

3 pictures I recently took; sunset over Dartmoor, tomatoes in boiling water and a climbing rose in our garden. 

Variations on a theme

In the last month I have bought these 3 pairs of shoes. I probably need to get over my lust for leather, strappy heels as I've pretty much got it covered.

These three range in price from £6 to £65, the pair on the right being the cheapest from Peacocks and the middle pair the more dear from Office. The others on the left were in the sale at Urban Outfitters. I can't pick a favourite, I have always been able to spread my shoe lust both fairly and equally.

OHHHHHH MYYYYYYY GOOOOOODDDDDDDDDDDDDDD

What is so wonderful is that through their excitement they remember their manners.

The real London

On my 2 hour walk home from work this week I headed to Regent's Canal, and walked from City Road in East London all the way along heading North through Islington, on to King's Cross and then ending up in Camden. I could have headed on to Warwick Avenue and home to Maida Vale, but I met the boy and hopped on the bus to meet friends for dinner, by that point by feet were aching due to fairly impractical shoes.

I am going to try and do this walk more often as I find the tube is so hot and uncomfortable in summer and I am too much of a wimp to cycle.

I had never explored the East end of the canal, and I was so amazed when I reached it to find the City Road basin where kids were canoeing and swimming, workers had gathered with cold beers in ice buckets and a group of barges gathered to enjoy the evening sun. I walked on to Islington where I made a detour to the high street and found the amazing pound store where I discovered the incredible knick knacks pictured above. 

I then returned to the canal where I snapped the couple standing, in what seemed like Victorian dress, on a bridge over a lock. You will notice the Eurostar going past, a nice little moment of old meets new I felt! It turned out the couple were street performers, and there were a group of people following them along the path as they played out their scenes. There was a violinist playing woeful music to accompany their sad tale. I wanted to follow too, but I had to get to dinner as quickly as I could.

On to Camden, and a gathering of punks and goths in a large gathering by the canal. Everyone I saw was just lapping up the sun, enjoying the warm evening and loving the free outside space. It felt like one of those insider secrets, while everyone else was heading to the beer gardens of London early, and desperately scouring the place for a seat, those in the know headed to the best outside space in London.

 

The Fabulous Olsen Girls

It is a quiet Monday night and I am feeling a little blue.  I walked the hour journey home this evening and the light over London was so beautiful. Amongst a jumble of a thousand and one thoughts, for some reason I kept thinking of this video that the Olsens had made for The Row (one of their two clothing brands) and I wanted to share it with you. 

The short film, which showcases some pieces from the collection, was filmed at Ashley's LA home. I love the simplicity of the bedroom and the walk through glass wall that opens onto the swimming pool and that sweeping view of the city. It is such a simple little film, the beautiful light, the shots which I can only describe (in a totally inaccurate use of the English language) as staccato and the clothes themselves all make for a beautiful 3 minutes.

Just another reminder that the Olsens are such a lot more than pretty little teen starlets.

Mad about the girls

This is one of several posts I intend to do where I gather my favourite imagery from magazines in one place.

Since the first time I was given pocket money I longed for the day I could afford to go out and buy one of the glossy, thick, sweet smelling books that I had seen the older girls that I worshipped pore over for hours.

The moment I bought my first one, christened it "ma magazine" and carried it around with me until it fell apart in tatters, I knew this was an addiction I didn't want to shake.

Vogue, Elle, Heat, Tank, Dazed, Vice, Vanity Fair, Pop, Love, More, Glamour - I have no standards when it comes to this little slither of escapism. There is no doubt I am at my happiest curled under a blanket with a huge stack of them in front of me, and ideally a friend right next to me to compare notes with.

Well written, full of trash, too many adverts, obsessed with image, regurgitating the same old tosh, the bane of society...say what you will. Me and ma magazines will be friends for life.

The words and the pictures satisfy me in equal measure. I spend hours scrapbooking pictures I cut out and keep, scribbling down the photographer and stylist for each and then googling their back catalogue. Equally I waste days looking up pictures and bios of the journalists for articles, jotting down sentences and quotes and sending pieces on to friends.

I thought it would be useful to have a place to keep some of the pictures I particularly cherish, and will make this a regular feature.

If any of you have pictures you particularly adore I'd love to see them, just post a link in the comments and I'll endeavour to put them up and credit you in the next post on this topic.

Kate, Naomi, Christy and A N Other - backstage at Isaac Mizrahi in 1993

Found: Here

Kate with Naomi and Linda Evangelista

Found: Here

Shannyn Sossamon

Found: Here

Drew Barrymore

Credit: Pop magazine (this shoot was in Katie Grands last edition as editor *sob*)

Natasha Poly
Credit: Vogue Paris, photographer was Terry Richardson who is one of my absolutely favourites. I will do a post just on his images shortly.

Kate Moss at 15

Credit: http://www.corinneday.co.uk/

Natalia Vodianova and her daughter

Found:http://www.lolitas.se/index.php/2009/04/14/natalia-vodianova/

N.B - I do not buy, read or agree with the political stance of the Daily Mail but for some reason they have some great images of models that I couldn't find anywhere else. I am sorry to drive any traffic to their website by linking to their images, please ignore the words and just look at the beautiful pictures.