Sunday 27 December 2009

Wednesday 23 December 2009






Yet more ramblings about Christmas ...


Why is Christmas abbreviated to Xmas? I don't like it, Irrelevant information, but a good indication of where this blog is going. There are a lot of things I dislike about "Xmas". In no particular order; Turkey, "Only fools and horses", Christmas number ones, the word "crimbo", stilted conversation with people you haven't seen for a year, and last, but not least, Christmas shopping!

Before I start berating what should be a joyous seasonal activity, allow me to slip in the things I love. I love how "Home alone" is always on TV, I love Christmas stockings (and the allure of a hidden satsuma) and watching people don paper crowns and tell crap jokes as if it is normal.

Phew, got the love out of my system, let the rant commence... where was I? oh, yes - Xmas shopping sucks. Why do I always leave it until the last minute? why do I never dress appropriately and end up sweating and then freezing my way through a dreary day? and why can I never remember what anyone wants/likes/needs? "of course Dad wants more socks. He likes socks. Everyone needs socks." If you have to rationalise it, you have bought the wrong gift.

I am incredibly indecisive by nature. This is not a helpful attribute when it comes to mission-shopping. Yes its a mission - a full-blown operation to purchase as many things as you can. I spend hours wondering the aisles of HMV, becoming ensconced in the box-set section. Towers of DVDs coax me into pretending my brother loves "friends" ( he doesn't but oh how fickle my memory can be.) I limp aimlessly around beauty counter, choking on perfume, allowing war-painted Ladies to poison my arm with their scented sprays. I escape department stores smelling like a chemically confused version of my mother.

What would be great is if a learned from my mistakes and made the effort to forward plan, but hey its too late now. Merry Christmas , and everybody a happy new bag - I mean year!

Tuesday 22 December 2009

Check out Chrissie Abbott's stuff here its pretty rad

Sunday 13 December 2009

15 Days !


I have the sudden need to tell people that my birthday is looming near, and yes before you ask it does suck to have a birthday six days before Christmas, its cold, dark and everybody is suddenly lethargic (its as if everybody is hibernating getting ready for the post-Christmas sales.) I'm getting a year older (17) and its my last year of childhood, a very daunting thought as I quite like the idea of climbing a tree and spending the rest of my life in dungarees and over the knee socks, I will be able to drive, get a tattoo and go to an adult jail, all fun recreational activities you will agree. I don't want to grow up, I like the safety net of secondary school and not being trusted to vote. Arhhh Teenage angst

I was pleased to reach 17, if only because, when I was at primary school, I longed to own a pair of knee-high boots. Upon voicing this desire, somebody kindly informed me that knee-high boots, could ONLY be carried off from the age of 18, well 17 will have to do. It is somewhat disconcerting to think that I took fashion advice from somebody I had probably only ever seen in a standard-issue school uniform, or, at a push, a PE kit, but still, it's something to which I have stoically adhered to. The question is, now that I am the right age to rock a knee-high boot, what type of shoe do I have to look forward to other than slippers? But there are of aspects to growing old which do appeal to me. I'm simply allowing myself to be brainwashed by the consensus these days that life beyond 40 sucks. But why? Personally, I love warm jumpers in sensible colours, I cite the Queen and her love of Barbour as a style inspiration, I'd like to spend my days reading a library of books and I happen to find beachside strolls rather fulfilling. I'm particularly looking forward to being old enough to sit in a corner at Christmas time, in MY chair, making completely out-of-order comments to my family that they'll have to accept because I'm ancient and, probably, senile.

Saturday 12 December 2009


I must have cut a lonely figure, grappling with a Christmas tree up a windy, cobbled drive way – I imagined a street brimming with happy couples and mobile-phone advert friends all with their perfect pine giants in a net.

To make matters worse, I was wearing a camel-coloured cardigan. If I'd have thought it through, I'd have donned a Barbour for this festive task. As it was, having been abandoned by my brother who had promised to help me fetch The Tree, defiance had forced me towards the rainy garage in a hurry, and the camel was baring the brunt of this rookie mistake.

It now stands embarrassed in the corner of my room, drowning in scientifically tied bows and carefully arranged fairy lights, which continue to wink at me long into the night. I realise now that I have unintentionally turned my innocent Christmas tree into a "fashion tree".

It wasn't meant to be this way. I searched high and low for multi-coloured baubles because I wanted a tacky, scrappy tree but no, impatience gripped me before I had a chance to find them. Suddenly I found myself in John Lewis's haberdashery section, picking out VV Rouleaux ribbons in various hues, as if that's what I do every year.

This, however, is the first year I've had the inclination to decorate my home in keeping with tradition. My previous miserly stance toward decoration was that everything I put up I would at some point have to take down and, frankly, that would be too much effort. I wonder when it got to that? As a child I used to virtually hyperventilate at the prospect of picking up the tree from the local garden centre with my dad and taking it home to drench it in baubles. It was beyond exciting.

And at school when we used to fashion shoddy-looking paper-chains from faded coloured sugar paper, it seemed not only to be an extremely important task, but also the highlight of the academic calendar. Will there be snow, won't there be snow? Will Father Christmas/Dad eat the mince pie we left out?

This year I'm trying to rediscover that fervour I once had for the festive period. I started by watching Home Alone – which was just as amazing as I remembered – I've bought rings made of holly, too many branches of mistletoe and I've even tried to stand around sipping mulled wine and hot cider, both of which tasted entirely unreasonable.

Maybe the issue I have is that there is only a certain amount of Christmas cheer I can muster every year, and most of that is used up on bellowing "Merry Christmas!!!" There is one saving grace, however, one activity that always fills me with cheer: shopping.

Yesterday I popped in to Bath to track down a variety of gifts for a variety of family members. I managed to buy five in total, one for mum, one for my brother, one for my dad and two for myself. Although this is an appalling result, it's a trap I always fall into.

I have an issue with purchasing things, I can't peruse items for other people without spying something for myself. Often I'll try and safeguard myself from this fact by sticking solely to shops or departments I know I have no interest in: kitchenware, menswear, gardening tools.

Even then though, even when I'm knee-deep in other people's interests, I am quite capable of convincing myself I need a hand trowel. This has to stop. Perhaps I'll do the rest of my Christmas shopping over the internet because then if I can't actually pick the items up and bond with them, I won't want them. First stop: www.asos.com.

Monday 7 December 2009

Friday 4 December 2009

Saturday 28 November 2009






Magazine: POP, fall 2008
Editorial: ‘Feeling Falling’
Style: Katie Grand
Model: Agyness Deyn
Photographer: Ryan McGinley

Katie Grand: “[Ryan] sent me this reference photograph of kids falling off a fire escape — it was from the 1950s I think — and said he’d really like to have [Agyness] falling. And naked. So we ended up with two stunt men and Agyness jumping naked from five stories onto a huge huge crash mat. It was incredible.”

Friday 27 November 2009

Floral Headdress


Step 1-
Gather the flowers for the headdress. Choose colors of different types and sizes. Choose colors that coordinate with the outfit it will be worn with. Include filler flowers such as babies breath or greenery

Step 2-
Shape heavy gauge craft wire into a circle that is just larger than the crown of the head. Make the circle large enough to sit just above the ears. Twist the ends of the wire together to close the circle

Step 3-
Wrap the entire wire circle with floral tape. Overlap the edges of the floral tape so that no part of the wire shows. Wrap the tape snugly, allowing for no movement once the entire circle is wrapped

Step 4-
Trim flower stems to 1/2 inch. Attach the flowers to the headdress by wrapping the stems with floral tape. Place flowers close together, placing filler flowers in any small gaps.

Step 5-
Heat up a hot glue gun. Put a small dot of glue on the headdress to glue any loose flowers in place

Step 6-
Tie ribbons to the back of the headdress. Leave lengths of ribbon hanging from the back that are around 12 inches long.

Step 7-
Store large floral headdresses in a refrigerator until it is time for them to be worn

Rebel Without A Cause





Wednesday 11 November 2009

J'adore

I recently rediscovered my love for Velvet, that material that only ever comes out at Christmas or when you are four years old, with a peter pan color and white tights for a friends birthday. Its a comfort material that, as well as keeping you warm, makes you feel warm inside. Its a fabric full of nostalgia of forgotten innocence.

I have been in love with a certain black Velvet "See by Chloe" dress ever since it turned up on Alexa Chung and Tennessee Thomas. I need a version of my own, why don't I have a bulging bank account which I can dip into when ever I can. Its kind of perfect it has that youthful spin on It. I think I am slowing turning into a goth or I want a part in the Adams family. Either way I'm pale enough and I have read Frankenstein, which are must be on the check list that all wannabe Goths must follow. I must shuffle off as I have alot of Edga Allan Poe to read.
Also can I have red hair please
x

Sunday 8 November 2009

Wednesday 28 October 2009

*Evil Laugh, Followed by Lightening*


Yes as "All Hallows’ Eve" draws it ugly zombie face for another year, yes its the only day of the calender year in which parents let there pre-pubescent children except sweets of strangers dressed as sexy Witches. My Halloween dream is to dress up as the Grim reaper and visit various Nursing homes and in my creepiest voice bellow out "your time has come!". Actually from the look of Britain's ageing population they look like they can handle themselves, so I might have to scrap that idea and linger round graveyards til I find a congregation of Goths willing to take me in and partake in my dastardly plan.
Anyway this year I plan to dress up as a scary Victorian child, A rich one as they often seem to have that glacial look in their eyes and white ribbons in their hair.

Now where did I put that fake blood?

Saturday 17 October 2009

Who would you rather race a Rhino or a Lion ?


I fear I shall spend the rest of my life awkward, as I am inept in most social situations. Small talk makes me feel nauseous and a large group of serious people makes me turn white and shudder. Its those first five minuets - where do you sit, how do you act and how do you break the initial silence - that I often find that I blurt out inappropriate statements, or I try and sound wiser beyond my years. which is not the best thing when your the social vice captain for your house.

Thank god that my friends have become accustomed to my little attribute, Especially that Rachel Woods, possibly the only person who has ever overfed me and the only person I would rewrite Genesis for, its a long story. But with out her sitting next to me in English , me muttering - under a heavy breath into her ear "Daddy's here", I would not have a clue what a proper noun and other technical English terms were. High five to Ireland and our poetry about growing old.
"I love poubelle"

Thursday 15 October 2009

Friday 9 October 2009

10/10


As winter descends you deserve a new you. Now’s the perfect time to do a Gok Wan on your wardrobe; to finally peel off those skinny black jeans that have been bonded to your legs with cider since 2003; to bin the mascara (girls and boys); to donate the pointy shoes to a tramp and leave anything neon (so 2007) in a bundle outside the Sue Ryder shop.

Because this season its time to put on your favourite smiths t-shirt and converse high tops. At least those were the vibes I was getting from "comfort in strangers" and their debut EP, which as of yet is unnamed. The twosome from Bath, Lawrie McInnes and Alex Grassi -both 21- formed in 2008. Taking influence from Red Hot Chilli Peppers, Sigour Ros and The Beatles. They are like a breath of fresh of air to the pop saturated charts that we, as listeners, have become accustomed to. Its such a beautifully easy listen, like the Libertines but with better manners.

The three tracks which they have recently recorded: At Sixteen, Working man and Over and over. are songs that appeal the ear. "at sixteen" my personal favourite song from the EP, as my ipod can tell you, I have been listening to it quite alot since i received the Cd a couple of weeks ago. And its not because it appeals to my age group, Its because its a bloody good song. It reminds me of running though a field on a heady summers night, that's just me isn't it!

Its official they are the best thing to come out of Bath since Roman bathing and bath stone.