tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-75906704733740181112024-03-13T14:33:05.001+00:00beard today, gone tomorrowthe fleeting nature of facial hair amongst other thingsAnniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06673345819018458143noreply@blogger.comBlogger380125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7590670473374018111.post-83703952060397960602014-06-15T20:26:00.001+01:002014-06-16T10:17:24.123+01:00Halfway Here<div style="text-align: center;">
So here it is, the new website: </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://halfway-here.blogspot.co.uk/2014/06/new-beginnings.html">www.halfway-here.blogspot.co.uk</a> </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
That's where I'll be blogging from now on. Hopefully see you over there!<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
Anniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06673345819018458143noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7590670473374018111.post-57744815151061979332014-06-12T12:13:00.000+01:002014-06-12T12:13:42.776+01:00end of an era<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_JzlFZ31o4OFkTwMsdkpEs_TYFPbu53lBiV-3p2UgIaMmlB37hp0XWSHeoCbnoIw_lAsrajXEpaqUGFOkWORPfHeVDbzcRrC-gLtge9SWEklu-kelt1-QZ0pdUM1ww_1LTap_9ekPG20/s1600/BTGT.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_JzlFZ31o4OFkTwMsdkpEs_TYFPbu53lBiV-3p2UgIaMmlB37hp0XWSHeoCbnoIw_lAsrajXEpaqUGFOkWORPfHeVDbzcRrC-gLtge9SWEklu-kelt1-QZ0pdUM1ww_1LTap_9ekPG20/s1600/BTGT.JPG" /></a></div>
Dear Beard Today Gone Tomorrow,<br />
<br />
Over the last couple of months or so I've been thinking about us and what kind of future lies ahead. Since April things haven't felt quite right on here. It doesn't feel like me anymore - the title isn't working for me (do <i>I</i> have a beard? am I <i>someone's </i>beard? - no to both but it's all a bit confusing) and the design feels waaay too cluttered. You were named and established at a different time in my life and, though it's sad to say, I think I've out-grown you. We've had an awesome three and a bit years together but it's time to let you go. I've no intention of deleting you and you'll be pleased to know that I'm in the process of moving over all your old posts onto my new blog (which will be ready soon)! Yes, I'm not giving up blogging (as I bloody love it) and the new space will feature much of the same type of content, I just need something a little more simple that reflects me right now. I know they say 'always pick your blog name carefully' and no-one likes change, but hey, I'm feeling positive about the name-change and more importantly, it'll feel like a place <i>I</i> want to log-in to and update. Plus, apparently bloglovin do this handy thing where they swap all your followers over for you so no-one need miss a thing! (Stay tuned, I'll be trying it out rather soon.)<br />
<br />
Goodbye BTGT, thanks for being my first little corner of the internet, it's been ace :)<br />
<br />
Annie<br />
X<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Anniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06673345819018458143noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7590670473374018111.post-7212733072703753672014-06-09T15:02:00.000+01:002014-06-09T15:02:53.800+01:00PIXIES @ Field Day<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijhWcdPU7_ssZnnolEufEcvtVztyaejLOuB4A-e-8-PoXpdcoelHcvhc_l4EWVVeWfaEpTbvAkkJWFNRBmcCSBBA9fqjGXkvi0BlAj2tMcphYql_gEGdufvoDD69fFX4GtarFXkxOnA8E/s1600/DSC_1145.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijhWcdPU7_ssZnnolEufEcvtVztyaejLOuB4A-e-8-PoXpdcoelHcvhc_l4EWVVeWfaEpTbvAkkJWFNRBmcCSBBA9fqjGXkvi0BlAj2tMcphYql_gEGdufvoDD69fFX4GtarFXkxOnA8E/s1600/DSC_1145.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii-FpNghhIz46LA0w9O4CReLE4qUoerYb1uiFOrHd5EXgcV3a0VP3NB1HgL4sQXA38tjEClNv5RnKS11NKB8Hg4imY-Kf9KEfD2J27lSRrK6FbQ7jGmWcnyI8rOEwF52z74YqDrnbnRQk/s1600/DSC_1142.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii-FpNghhIz46LA0w9O4CReLE4qUoerYb1uiFOrHd5EXgcV3a0VP3NB1HgL4sQXA38tjEClNv5RnKS11NKB8Hg4imY-Kf9KEfD2J27lSRrK6FbQ7jGmWcnyI8rOEwF52z74YqDrnbnRQk/s1600/DSC_1142.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiazytU_YEMgfXc6E0BMYxmpOd5b3KoIH0l69wdhxRPn9bFJr21Z5hF1k4WXGKVok3rrsThmGf501OiwM3D9olZMLHpV7i7d2jC4ymi6qKRtL-L4rpGAyZmDyy62aeIW4HcyT4yLi99o64/s1600/DSC_1144.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiazytU_YEMgfXc6E0BMYxmpOd5b3KoIH0l69wdhxRPn9bFJr21Z5hF1k4WXGKVok3rrsThmGf501OiwM3D9olZMLHpV7i7d2jC4ymi6qKRtL-L4rpGAyZmDyy62aeIW4HcyT4yLi99o64/s1600/DSC_1144.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2bPPDsi6dfvDNj5tRTfrUSMatmylZjmu21E1g_WGDq7FN5QhUqXiKVdIASuitOYpsJbFsSuaHthZK6kuYrH945LSt8GpSJffgpbj1s_V08vSAHMfpnqV9bFBjX9S9TgEstVB58py_f4c/s1600/DSC_1155.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2bPPDsi6dfvDNj5tRTfrUSMatmylZjmu21E1g_WGDq7FN5QhUqXiKVdIASuitOYpsJbFsSuaHthZK6kuYrH945LSt8GpSJffgpbj1s_V08vSAHMfpnqV9bFBjX9S9TgEstVB58py_f4c/s1600/DSC_1155.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWi5Pml4DjdfbtfHTKd3BXsMfTgtg2Ou38qIQeyuq1H4LNK9Tf4wtQ5r0NqbDR52L3IPkLwP83pnpWPzdhCUj_giZqYGVOHcIJlZ-s8lcEf6LQZGznbAwhz6tZH1npVLCg63_XyF87Cwg/s1600/IMG_20140608_201407.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWi5Pml4DjdfbtfHTKd3BXsMfTgtg2Ou38qIQeyuq1H4LNK9Tf4wtQ5r0NqbDR52L3IPkLwP83pnpWPzdhCUj_giZqYGVOHcIJlZ-s8lcEf6LQZGznbAwhz6tZH1npVLCg63_XyF87Cwg/s1600/IMG_20140608_201407.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUebbTK_ZgMnhMElVis_3u_p2nmjhVYNcBWrXhJ0efkR1Zmlj5am_TaZHZgzMSvWWACk7nDe9-nNYkrXBfa6kPs6msTrf42UFsjjqGuRt_ZOE31YCYlvdTHRJCw1eHPEKj9MWyvX5s7j8/s1600/DSC_1148.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUebbTK_ZgMnhMElVis_3u_p2nmjhVYNcBWrXhJ0efkR1Zmlj5am_TaZHZgzMSvWWACk7nDe9-nNYkrXBfa6kPs6msTrf42UFsjjqGuRt_ZOE31YCYlvdTHRJCw1eHPEKj9MWyvX5s7j8/s1600/DSC_1148.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCtbwx40pMjlW6wGRPgfObLfdOYGFzIT4UPDHvaq4rFqsZuVTlg4-GOE902veufF9uudyNoTA_47CwYvpuIG8CmBbmHqjwq8TTdgK8K_bzWuhNhKeHNABz1PVVsuNDvT15IcD2jWLqV2c/s1600/DSC_1151.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCtbwx40pMjlW6wGRPgfObLfdOYGFzIT4UPDHvaq4rFqsZuVTlg4-GOE902veufF9uudyNoTA_47CwYvpuIG8CmBbmHqjwq8TTdgK8K_bzWuhNhKeHNABz1PVVsuNDvT15IcD2jWLqV2c/s1600/DSC_1151.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeQBKZlzeyHRuHvCq9jOJzhZItt0pkWQDnKUkUTLAfr99NQfypJUNd-yIhzVSITBZCCoo00bY4-qjiFOLApg_Y136cW-QDrxz2IUVuQZBfH9q4-4TFYLhQBL2p4i2GPPUPZyEKk0RlC1k/s1600/DSC_1147.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeQBKZlzeyHRuHvCq9jOJzhZItt0pkWQDnKUkUTLAfr99NQfypJUNd-yIhzVSITBZCCoo00bY4-qjiFOLApg_Y136cW-QDrxz2IUVuQZBfH9q4-4TFYLhQBL2p4i2GPPUPZyEKk0RlC1k/s1600/DSC_1147.jpg" /></a></div>
Yesterday Mitch and I headed to Victoria Park for Sunday's edition of Field Day. I had but one solitary goal: to see Pixies perform live. I think it's fair to say that I'm a pretty big fan but before yesterday, I'd never seen them live and had kind of written it off as a, 'that'll never happen'. But there in East London, surrounded by fellow Pixies fans, amidst cigarette smoke and flying red stripe cans, beneath one of the most spectacular sky scapes, a dream was realised and it was awesome. Wave of Mutilation, Gouge Away, Debaser, Bone Machine, Mr Grieves, Here Comes Your Man, Monkey's Gone to Heaven and of course, Where is My Mind? to name but a few were all there. Within half an hour of them playing I'd heard 5 of my all time favourites. So, so good. Plus, it was a gloriously warm and sunny day, I drank craft beer and ate churros which all amounted to a bloody fantastic Sunday evening. Hope the sun was shining where you were too!<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Anniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06673345819018458143noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7590670473374018111.post-49309976660595372722014-06-05T16:30:00.003+01:002014-06-05T16:47:35.081+01:00at present<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlxqZwZ-1n9iqy9ViBR7PR5Epol5EjbW5DZxEcRV9ZwdwgV2UGjlwncC5bhzshTOSIucDMVnIrVXk545VlJGFlmSEMqnat4Dfy5HR3MGBv4h7Rl0DEmcoMTJreKASm_lnvZS6ewDL18rw/s1600/DSC_1126.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlxqZwZ-1n9iqy9ViBR7PR5Epol5EjbW5DZxEcRV9ZwdwgV2UGjlwncC5bhzshTOSIucDMVnIrVXk545VlJGFlmSEMqnat4Dfy5HR3MGBv4h7Rl0DEmcoMTJreKASm_lnvZS6ewDL18rw/s1600/DSC_1126.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 16px;">★ </span><i>Reading</i>: The Martian by Andy Weir. I really wasn't enjoying this very much at the start but the story has certainly picked up now that I'm over a third of the way in. It's got me hooked.<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 16px;">★ </span><i>Watching</i>: Game of Thrones and not a lot else really. I've not spent many evenings in recently so my tv/series watching has been slack.<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 16px;">★ </span><i>Eating</i>: Scrambled eggs & beans on toast. I have no idea why but I seem to craving this a lot at the moment. Oh yes, and scotch eggs.<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 16px;">★ </span><i>Drinking</i>: Mostly water, moderate amounts of white wine (summer's almost here!) and the tastiest beer I've had in aaaaages: <a href="http://www.anchorbrewing.com/beer/anchor_saison" target="_blank">Anchor Saison</a>. At 7.2% though, I can only manage two of these bad boys in an evening.<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;"><b><br /></b></span></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 16px;">★ </span><i>Wearing</i>: I dug out one of my all time favourite tees which I haven't worn in forever on account of it actually being a little (read: a lot) too small for me, but whatever, I'm wearing it now (that's it above) :)<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 16px;">★ </span><i>Feeling</i>: Happy – the sun is actually out and it's warm outside; sneezy – damn you hayfever!; achy but energised – I went to Zumba on Monday and then played badminton on Tuesday, both were very fun but having not been to the gym in 3 months my body got a bit of a shock; slightly stressed – only 10 weekends stand between now and the wedding and there's still quite a few bits to do; a little smug and very relieved – I went to the dentist for the first time in six years (v.bad Annie) but thankfully she said my teeth were looking good.<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 16px;">★ </span><i>Looking forward to</i>: Summer! (obvs), but, in the more immediate future: potential dress fitting on Saturday followed by a night out in Kings Cross and then it's Field Day on Sunday where I'll get to see the Pixies!!! Much excitement.<br />
<br />Anniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06673345819018458143noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7590670473374018111.post-62052935203945665652014-06-02T14:51:00.002+01:002014-06-05T12:52:04.926+01:00cross pattern baby quilt & a weekend in essexThat was probably one of the best weekends ever! Not only was the sun shining but I spent two very different but bloody marvellous days in Essex. On Sunday we had a converging of mine and Mitch's parents at a lovely pub called <a href="http://www.thecricketers.co.uk/" target="_blank">The Cricketers</a>. I was told that it was something of a big deal food-wise and it was! I had the most delicious pie (alas no pictures as I was too busy stuffing my face). If you happen to find yourself driving around the stunning Essex countryside near Clavering, I highly recommend a visit, although you may need to book in advance, it's a v.popular place.<br />
<br />
On Saturday, a small group of uni buddies and myself journeyed to Leigh-on-Sea for our v.good friend's baby shower and to meet her (very) new baby! Her sister did an excellent job of decorating the house and laying out <i>the</i> cutest spread (baby carriage eggs!). I really wish I'd taken more pictures as it looked amazing. And the stars of the afternoon? Well it goes without saying, he was unbelievably adorable and my friend looked fantastic; it was really hard to believe she'd only given birth two weeks before!<br />
<br />
A few people were wondering why the baby shower took place after the birth as I think "traditionally" (are they a tradition? I know nothing) they happen while the mother's still pregnant... Any-hoo, I think having the shower after the baby arrived was perfect – we got to meet the bubba <i>and</i> lavished Lauren with gifts. And talking of gifts, I managed to finish the baby quilt just in time! I seem to be <a href="http://beardtoday-gonetomorrow.blogspot.co.uk/2013/09/star-block-baby-quilt.html" target="_blank">making a habit</a> of doing things at the last minute. Here's the finished blanket...<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFc3twppL5j9tcw8PXO4nkAfD4OXF3x1Hf75dPWceKPBmvFdgd9eVhLfYKEnz6xNzYD_ZZMb82r5LZIsnRkhC_WvC4u9YHD4yqWjZRTF2KaPUwQcQu8DK2URDC-_1RI4X75SZHfV4VxQA/s1600/DSC_1110.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFc3twppL5j9tcw8PXO4nkAfD4OXF3x1Hf75dPWceKPBmvFdgd9eVhLfYKEnz6xNzYD_ZZMb82r5LZIsnRkhC_WvC4u9YHD4yqWjZRTF2KaPUwQcQu8DK2URDC-_1RI4X75SZHfV4VxQA/s1600/DSC_1110.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
It's a pretty simple cross pattern which was actually v.straightforward to construct. Saying that though, I think I went about it the wrong way – joining long vertical strips rather than doing sections at a time – you can see that some of my points don't match quite as perfectly as they should.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIhM_roh0CRjRejChT21j30lkd4NREE8kcTXoF1u-44_VNi0mDhs7BO8uZMpr4vu7NWgQVuPWIZDoG8Z2HZWAdTNhswzANujhwBfO3Q0zUrwq30dX8exfXUTQW5sdL3HoKHsIJRPt0LG8/s1600/DSC_1099-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIhM_roh0CRjRejChT21j30lkd4NREE8kcTXoF1u-44_VNi0mDhs7BO8uZMpr4vu7NWgQVuPWIZDoG8Z2HZWAdTNhswzANujhwBfO3Q0zUrwq30dX8exfXUTQW5sdL3HoKHsIJRPt0LG8/s1600/DSC_1099-1.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
The simple construction and cross shape meant that I could have a bit more fun with the quilting, trying out different designs and patterns etc. I quilted it all by hand which is what I prefer to do anyway; it's a nice break from sitting at the sewing machine. Fabric wise I just raided my stash which, for the first time in a long time, is now looking rather pathetic (I'll just have to do some fabric shopping - it's a hard life). I didn't have enough blues so I threw some greys into the mix. It was a bit of bugger to plan out but who am I kidding, I really love the planning stages and working out how all the colours will fit together.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZvFhU1JC-TNYOzSgUqRhe6OPqn9nRfs8GpjBHecICx0VFamE6y5mDkyfF_kqDO1M2o196XC3oTNNHcE9HkZgwwwPVqJjmMsw1Zh90ZBAGNkx4WTbSUiYuiHU2MPM-qYVJwknh_8cxhlE/s1600/DSC_1106.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZvFhU1JC-TNYOzSgUqRhe6OPqn9nRfs8GpjBHecICx0VFamE6y5mDkyfF_kqDO1M2o196XC3oTNNHcE9HkZgwwwPVqJjmMsw1Zh90ZBAGNkx4WTbSUiYuiHU2MPM-qYVJwknh_8cxhlE/s1600/DSC_1106.jpg" /></a></div>
I was super happy to find the fabric for the backing. They're little VW beetle-like cars which was perfect as Lauren got given an original beetle for her 21st whilst we were living at uni. The fabric was from <a href="http://fabricrehab.co.uk/" target="_blank">Fabric Rehab</a> but I actually bought the last 1m - talk about lucky!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeb6JBVENb_CwUTj7jDqNY81FkcNO99i4SY9oPyaQBeYWs079vp6l-NtvnNBRFoVrU3uUna3CYQej5xXEAVqjkNjMWKnFsy0sl5ZpBcV-MYpE-FZdPgN55n0poQTNtMKcI17kOIPURapw/s1600/DSC_1112.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeb6JBVENb_CwUTj7jDqNY81FkcNO99i4SY9oPyaQBeYWs079vp6l-NtvnNBRFoVrU3uUna3CYQej5xXEAVqjkNjMWKnFsy0sl5ZpBcV-MYpE-FZdPgN55n0poQTNtMKcI17kOIPURapw/s1600/DSC_1112.jpg" /></a></div>
The last thing I wanted to mention was the label. I know it's nowhere near perfect but my embroidery skills are definitely improving (too bad I failed to get a non blurry picture of it though)! I really love making baby quilts, not only do they take about two months to complete (and that was me taking my sweet time) it's proper lovely when the person they're intended for really likes it. Lauren did so I was v.happy indeed :)<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Hope you all had fabulous weekends too!<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Anniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06673345819018458143noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7590670473374018111.post-74376880249573718342014-05-30T11:03:00.000+01:002014-05-30T11:03:31.064+01:00Bloggers At Their Desks<div style="text-align: center;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR9QZOV9J_91LfAfwgzGRG5fzHF4B7ZsRUm3fTgW-CWlUDw_gilPMUGbEbEFL8CKaRRtk3vrkVpl9PjNmUfq6wUSdGcvCphe1ngUpDe5amYI81AppyWw8VCylfqrdFfFt5ljwxQBIhHNs/s1600/DSC_0979.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR9QZOV9J_91LfAfwgzGRG5fzHF4B7ZsRUm3fTgW-CWlUDw_gilPMUGbEbEFL8CKaRRtk3vrkVpl9PjNmUfq6wUSdGcvCphe1ngUpDe5amYI81AppyWw8VCylfqrdFfFt5ljwxQBIhHNs/s1600/DSC_0979.jpg" /></a></div>
A few weekends ago the lovely <a href="http://theonlyplaceblog.blogspot.co.uk/" target="_blank">Jo</a> journeyed to suburbia to photograph me and my sis for her on-going project: 'Bloggers At Their Desks'. Our grinning faces were featured on her blog last Friday, <u><a href="http://theonlyplaceblog.blogspot.co.uk/2014/05/bloggers-at-their-desks-annie-katie.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:+TheOnlyPlace+(The+Only+Place)" target="_blank">go see go see!</a></u> Jo's looking for more people to participate so send her an email if you're a blogger and fancy taking part too!<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
Anniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06673345819018458143noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7590670473374018111.post-53597241607894696772014-05-28T16:04:00.002+01:002014-05-28T16:04:46.863+01:00Degree Show One at Central St MartinsEvery year I intend to visit the graduate shows in London and finally this year I did and brought my lovely friend Alex along for the ride! For those who aren't aware, every year UAL (university of arts london) Central St Martins opens up it's doors for a week for the general public to have a looksy around their students' final pieces for both BA and MA courses. Last weekend included work from the fine art, photography, art & science and moving image courses, as well as <a href="http://ual.force.com/apex/EventFormPage?id=a0RD0000009aofyMAA&book=true" target="_blank">a couple more</a>.<br />
<br />
Some of it was really cool, some of it v.thought-provoking and some of it I just didn't really get, but I think that's ok when it comes to art. It's such a subjective subject; something that speaks to me might not speak to someone else and visa-versa. What <i>is</i> important, I think, is that we try to look at as much new stuff as possible - it's gotta be good for our brains to be exposed to new positive experiences. It's always interesting to see how other people think and how they choose to represent those thoughts in a physical form. Plus, this is a completely free show, always a bonus in my opinion (especially the weekend before payday).<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXWFSzeeApKUebbRwkG4YYlQlh4nUKOUJZ1hQhEUMLHSE6uQZHUREWCI06GmuHkaUxsGzE7FL2h1lL9RSI0WD6Z0jYeadSKhTw_CcBQzuTXMf12y9J8ZEKkdflLXe4kFtK-5374falzeI/s1600/degree+one+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXWFSzeeApKUebbRwkG4YYlQlh4nUKOUJZ1hQhEUMLHSE6uQZHUREWCI06GmuHkaUxsGzE7FL2h1lL9RSI0WD6Z0jYeadSKhTw_CcBQzuTXMf12y9J8ZEKkdflLXe4kFtK-5374falzeI/s1600/degree+one+1.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvRIvoxPpeiC27bZWjEF3SyjkBJuJDlsysVLWNc8sm9SvT4EWkdvLAzpUnksauQ04JuhD7u_enuihJWbS69Z6w-yik2LANSaYi7JOxm2P7ab9Q2318_2dAW9zCDpsFL08_q7iP3xqxqpY/s1600/degree+one+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvRIvoxPpeiC27bZWjEF3SyjkBJuJDlsysVLWNc8sm9SvT4EWkdvLAzpUnksauQ04JuhD7u_enuihJWbS69Z6w-yik2LANSaYi7JOxm2P7ab9Q2318_2dAW9zCDpsFL08_q7iP3xqxqpY/s1600/degree+one+2.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ6thoKLEr0On7Qs5wMWAlXJhxUr_oKNL91l4qVUxAYxKJyBmY9mS4iSkz5K8Xy_D5AYEi9SGUgZc0kWNH8FKse4F110SsRjCE52qIJn6wSE7Z5RMFbvtmoMKqd43W6U_wypm8oxzawj8/s1600/degree+one+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ6thoKLEr0On7Qs5wMWAlXJhxUr_oKNL91l4qVUxAYxKJyBmY9mS4iSkz5K8Xy_D5AYEi9SGUgZc0kWNH8FKse4F110SsRjCE52qIJn6wSE7Z5RMFbvtmoMKqd43W6U_wypm8oxzawj8/s1600/degree+one+3.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWPbF9OmwUl-eAnOAQXYinz_GwKG-j0UBdSvdJ3LOpooJOidyR_WE9YiVd6OcIarYyxLXEyQUV3EwbnnnBltQNrQ4AZi-NMUxbqGWMDnnCUhZwKdah6Z4Miuc6Me5IvTXS8nQtTm0lG4I/s1600/degree+one+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWPbF9OmwUl-eAnOAQXYinz_GwKG-j0UBdSvdJ3LOpooJOidyR_WE9YiVd6OcIarYyxLXEyQUV3EwbnnnBltQNrQ4AZi-NMUxbqGWMDnnCUhZwKdah6Z4Miuc6Me5IvTXS8nQtTm0lG4I/s1600/degree+one+4.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4TCfp9NrxgwHw09xN_r9qgHI9fA6KRmdcxSB5Ow1bx7Et7YZhQUfuMY4O2t6Ic7BgVXvTDUnZSqerIOerL3tOHe6JoqDa20dtSf3j0xNkO9i4wu4R453fi2UQWNuNU6TShv1ExHhuUSI/s1600/DSC_1073.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4TCfp9NrxgwHw09xN_r9qgHI9fA6KRmdcxSB5Ow1bx7Et7YZhQUfuMY4O2t6Ic7BgVXvTDUnZSqerIOerL3tOHe6JoqDa20dtSf3j0xNkO9i4wu4R453fi2UQWNuNU6TShv1ExHhuUSI/s1600/DSC_1073.jpg" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5jxEz8t_fen6rkVJQ6fF4r3q67HCddPCjoyaOW1FU19Jq1JeSMJKIL2flTcGNkxGzc4ZF5z1zZKXZIuJ49LitDXmm2SqBVRoOZVR0TutEBxriLHYpNQPaYIAD0b0gIRAYv8-lCw8GYLA/s1600/Slide6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5jxEz8t_fen6rkVJQ6fF4r3q67HCddPCjoyaOW1FU19Jq1JeSMJKIL2flTcGNkxGzc4ZF5z1zZKXZIuJ49LitDXmm2SqBVRoOZVR0TutEBxriLHYpNQPaYIAD0b0gIRAYv8-lCw8GYLA/s1600/Slide6.jpg" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXtfdNaGx-g0mPFq7IaQEmdifIqLtcvNADEKZw88el25sNpl43Te2BlwxneB4uHqwORBUgyVPn0De4RNWSKq3cMahnUaGK4NTrxP03aem_2o9SfKICRPMeWlzK-Z0bZX53lkILwdAVdCI/s1600/degree+one+6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXtfdNaGx-g0mPFq7IaQEmdifIqLtcvNADEKZw88el25sNpl43Te2BlwxneB4uHqwORBUgyVPn0De4RNWSKq3cMahnUaGK4NTrxP03aem_2o9SfKICRPMeWlzK-Z0bZX53lkILwdAVdCI/s1600/degree+one+6.jpg" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc1hn_dMSVsU5-MBkqvoMH9uQLZx9pA13HUJCGx58cLCE_lnmr4Q2dj_bugKjs5f_BC6QIM6n98V6QL8L5fVpdm72ie7SLXcWJAU2rNA4vK1EH8TpyraMNp_SueJu0WSKq8t54sERX1MU/s1600/degree+one+7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc1hn_dMSVsU5-MBkqvoMH9uQLZx9pA13HUJCGx58cLCE_lnmr4Q2dj_bugKjs5f_BC6QIM6n98V6QL8L5fVpdm72ie7SLXcWJAU2rNA4vK1EH8TpyraMNp_SueJu0WSKq8t54sERX1MU/s1600/degree+one+7.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkAXMKFE_35_WBHN4DwXocMcKnUoWmmMKFuAIa4ncNmTDjfu7KFYSYfx5lvVY92JGbqYa_UysngcHPFl8vzMjo5sbLcZfioI5_Gi1qRLc2j45B0JXuCxAGqCxclMAWrtxh1hsG-3gYpU0/s1600/degree+one+8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkAXMKFE_35_WBHN4DwXocMcKnUoWmmMKFuAIa4ncNmTDjfu7KFYSYfx5lvVY92JGbqYa_UysngcHPFl8vzMjo5sbLcZfioI5_Gi1qRLc2j45B0JXuCxAGqCxclMAWrtxh1hsG-3gYpU0/s1600/degree+one+8.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWEjM_QPdjGs9uAIvIvJ1w-MMIZtVnrrw020WNCb_MTHECg2KOeBRQtzGqZY_ZD12dt2ERBmthgaY1ngDq069dY8Fr7EnsjLLvk5uSyWMWyV3wuXUa4lUjveXAEcuBrp8MPe_yAklBNZU/s1600/degree+one+9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWEjM_QPdjGs9uAIvIvJ1w-MMIZtVnrrw020WNCb_MTHECg2KOeBRQtzGqZY_ZD12dt2ERBmthgaY1ngDq069dY8Fr7EnsjLLvk5uSyWMWyV3wuXUa4lUjveXAEcuBrp8MPe_yAklBNZU/s1600/degree+one+9.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj2fsqByzJPTGEw0rN-ZSNPYIcGfPo-LwM9VltbTANN7m1u4-kYv4f2yRryQHme_RSYvMt9WR-7Ymba2Vmx4v1uXyj0a3uRPWbXCvdWChgGcKWOqDNi6CsvQARF89Ee4U8aIDVKZg6eHs/s1600/degree+one+10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj2fsqByzJPTGEw0rN-ZSNPYIcGfPo-LwM9VltbTANN7m1u4-kYv4f2yRryQHme_RSYvMt9WR-7Ymba2Vmx4v1uXyj0a3uRPWbXCvdWChgGcKWOqDNi6CsvQARF89Ee4U8aIDVKZg6eHs/s1600/degree+one+10.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFloLm0bamrlnSrMwjj4oWJdf-Qq1R75IunUy3peRy-VB__jxqvQynMuxmMYfuZ8JhbQk6RjjKNXwdOeo5hmwXaPp6VeyAVfM5jewspBBM7sosvvbGahwvif-wvD8TJVJOq2Z31jAKfoc/s1600/degree+one+11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFloLm0bamrlnSrMwjj4oWJdf-Qq1R75IunUy3peRy-VB__jxqvQynMuxmMYfuZ8JhbQk6RjjKNXwdOeo5hmwXaPp6VeyAVfM5jewspBBM7sosvvbGahwvif-wvD8TJVJOq2Z31jAKfoc/s1600/degree+one+11.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOsy-26eV8kfPnSqNHrkl9JO7ixhJngY6Thwi1Yd_ap5IVXEwzpylpmlPs23Mr543bWzC-q78wuvBDnoyMmrmVcXct6gJ2DUTGkvSYUyy4AstOmhK2erZqQPnR9Kz1z4Lp39_SAA7l7KE/s1600/DSC_1098.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOsy-26eV8kfPnSqNHrkl9JO7ixhJngY6Thwi1Yd_ap5IVXEwzpylpmlPs23Mr543bWzC-q78wuvBDnoyMmrmVcXct6gJ2DUTGkvSYUyy4AstOmhK2erZqQPnR9Kz1z4Lp39_SAA7l7KE/s1600/DSC_1098.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
Sadly the Degree Show One is now finished but the Degree Show Two is coming up next month! I'm particularly looking forward to this one as it features all the work from the textile, graphic, jewellery, ceramic and product design courses. Should be good!<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
∆*∆*∆*∆*∆*∆*∆*∆*∆*∆*∆*∆*∆*∆*∆*∆*∆*∆*∆*∆*∆*∆*∆*∆*∆*∆*∆*∆*∆*∆</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47;">I was absolutely rubbish at recording the names of the students who's work I photographed so I've just done some research and found some of them. Apologies for my ineptitude. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47;">Untitled 11 (bubble wrap and paint house) <a href="http://csmfineart2014.co.uk/yasmeen-sabri/" target="_blank">Yasmeen Sabri</a> (FINE ART BA) </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47;">Lab No.1 - <a href="http://octaveandtheo.com/" target="_blank">Theo de Gueltzl & Octave Marsal</a> (FINE ART MA)</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47;">Lab No.2 (etching on perspex) - <a href="http://octaveandtheo.com/" target="_blank">Theo de Gueltzl & Octave Marsal</a> (FINE ART MA)</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47;">New Street_London+Seoul+Oslo+Lisbon,2014" - <a href="http://www.ooggaa.com/#!art-work/c1589" target="_blank">Yeonok Jang</a> (ART AND SCIENCE MA)</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47;">Left: Stabat Mater (chicken wire and aluminium horses) - <a href="http://csmfineart2014.co.uk/tess-dumon/" target="_blank">Tess Dumon</a> (FINE ART BA)</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47;">Right: see below</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47;">Glitter Box - <a href="http://bitemetiger.com/" target="_blank">Vera Bohl</a> (ART AND SCIENCE MA)</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47;">The reluctant (35 pages of 'The Reluctant Dragon' in glass jars) and the dry ice piece both - <a href="http://www.borisraux.com/english/" target="_blank">Boris Raux.</a> His pieces were all based around smell. He even had a piece which was scratch and sniff! </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47;">(ART & SCIENCE MA)</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47;">Woodberry Down (bricks, coloured yarn and graphite) - <a href="http://www.csm-stop-it.co.uk/holly-owen" target="_blank">Holly Owen</a> (ART AND SCIENCE MA)</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47;">Left: Matter of the Heart (oil drums) - <a href="http://salon.io/jeanbaynham" target="_blank">Jean Baynham</a> (ART AND SCIENCE MA)</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47;">Right: Foucault pendulum - <a href="http://salon.io/macleod" target="_blank">Roderick MacLeod</a> (ART AND SCIENCE MA)</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47;">Paris Dakar - <a href="http://csmfineart2014.co.uk/ophelia-finke/" target="_blank">Ophelia Finke</a> (FINE ART BA)</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47;">Lonely by the sea - <a href="http://www.christinedonnier-valentin.com/" target="_blank">Christine Donnier-Valentin</a> (PHOTOGRAPHY MA)</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47;">The screen prints of <a href="http://rfprice.com/" target="_blank">Rebecca Price</a> (ART AND SCIENCE MA)</span></div>
<br />Anniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06673345819018458143noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7590670473374018111.post-73904960495773963862014-05-27T22:50:00.000+01:002014-05-28T10:09:42.510+01:00the long weekend in numbers<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgydK-JmvMiHWAZawiWfgn-UN2dxjMmqixhS3PGFLKMqqGPXwRCdFYUagui8VdZ9EqBdfVBn-LYHty5NwZUBOH1flTRCBy4R8njQ7BoTcBwCsWb0CdIVCckfbjBDSarmaB58DyBoUJJR7E/s1600/DSC_1095.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgydK-JmvMiHWAZawiWfgn-UN2dxjMmqixhS3PGFLKMqqGPXwRCdFYUagui8VdZ9EqBdfVBn-LYHty5NwZUBOH1flTRCBy4R8njQ7BoTcBwCsWb0CdIVCckfbjBDSarmaB58DyBoUJJR7E/s1600/DSC_1095.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
I've seen a lot of bloggers doing this lately so I thought I'd jump on board the numbers train. Seems like a fun way to break down the weekend.<br />
<br />
<u>6:45am</u> - the time I got home on Saturday morning after a particularly fabulous party on Friday night.<br />
<br />
<u>5</u> - the number of films I watched this weekend, thanks to a mammoth hangover on saturday and the mostly foul weather we stayed in quite a bit. (Runner Runner - hilariously appalling; 300: Rise of an Empire - gratuitous amounts of slow-mo and naked torsos, no real plot line discernible; Robocop (remake) not actually too bad, great cast but the ending was rather flat; The Double - wonderfully shot, excellent story, great soundtrack; The Lego Movie - clever plot twist and surprisingly funny - batman was my fave.)<br />
<br />
<u>100s </u>- quilting stitches done. I'm v.close to finishing my friends' baby quilt.<br />
<br />
<u>27%</u> - according to my Kindle, the amount left to read of 'Everyday Sexism' - this book is ace.<br />
<br />
<u>Around 60</u> - pieces of art looked at whilst nosing around the St Martin's graduate show.<br />
<br />
<u>£5</u> - the cost of one seriously huge burrito consumed at Camden Market on Sunday.<br />
<br />
<u>4 hrs 14 mins</u> - worth of music added to the wedding day playlist. Yesterday was a productive day wedding shiz -wise.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Anniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06673345819018458143noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7590670473374018111.post-70118334305203884262014-05-23T12:09:00.001+01:002014-05-23T12:09:23.465+01:00The Lake District - ENNERDALE WATERContinuing on from <u><a href="http://beardtoday-gonetomorrow.blogspot.co.uk/2014/05/the-lake-district-scafell-pike.html" target="_blank">yesterday's</a></u> photo fest, day two in the Lake District saw us enjoy a much needed slow day. After a rather mammoth brunch we walked to our nearest lake, Ennerdale Water, picked a place to sit by the water's edge and took in the views. Some of the group braved the icy waters (crazy people) and my friend Sam even took his paddle board out. After about an hour the group split up; half went to buy some food for the evening and, en route, rescue an injured hedgehog; the rest of us decided to walk around the lake. Although I'm gutted I missed the hedgehog, I did see a little lizard and of course some spectacular scenery. What was billed in the guide books as a two and half hour walk turned out to be more like four but it was v.pretty. A massive roast dinner was waiting for us at the cottage on our return.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK77zBRIOPdB4UQQb1ENYQ21Q0VxIj2zDtbRnn85k8PzKWZo-rk0uzQooyh__jT3Rf2KICpQV-p4RoJD1PxyXSQbettgMVpoM94bCRfxQxcNNOcLlm-W72ZlJXUez-J2e7Pl5gLCC023A/s1600/the+lakes+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK77zBRIOPdB4UQQb1ENYQ21Q0VxIj2zDtbRnn85k8PzKWZo-rk0uzQooyh__jT3Rf2KICpQV-p4RoJD1PxyXSQbettgMVpoM94bCRfxQxcNNOcLlm-W72ZlJXUez-J2e7Pl5gLCC023A/s1600/the+lakes+1.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKclatHqSDQ0m5vPEJLx_GYskGNO7Rym3kNxYX8TbUVzVhCsEIvgOqcdkageen3cIQFn-ExFkhvCv3B_IYZmmG9JT0im811h0rkV2Zvkwb2L7axXkcCBxKSc-AyE-mxA-REzy2DpPrZmo/s1600/the+lakes+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKclatHqSDQ0m5vPEJLx_GYskGNO7Rym3kNxYX8TbUVzVhCsEIvgOqcdkageen3cIQFn-ExFkhvCv3B_IYZmmG9JT0im811h0rkV2Zvkwb2L7axXkcCBxKSc-AyE-mxA-REzy2DpPrZmo/s1600/the+lakes+2.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSCMGGJb8kJGvbzv3JZIHcNYVHpStdyinbS7rudWzm6MJ5KfSiIuuBR3ppX8j201aUbEIE0Aw-TDCR5mD3v0CBLq2CU5Tnb7-0Kc9_6ccRUD7rmbSielIUvU3CLeL6iXteLlHUfpp2PnY/s1600/the+lakes+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSCMGGJb8kJGvbzv3JZIHcNYVHpStdyinbS7rudWzm6MJ5KfSiIuuBR3ppX8j201aUbEIE0Aw-TDCR5mD3v0CBLq2CU5Tnb7-0Kc9_6ccRUD7rmbSielIUvU3CLeL6iXteLlHUfpp2PnY/s1600/the+lakes+3.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCnW0Ov7MktGrCfI7vG78Eu8BREAJpGohGmR0PnNhyeyWYJ4mtXJ02tfnREN9t_6hG5SUXqfF_jLrqF5_Ok1szsdWc4t-apfINNJSQQ2Vs6QlvMF2mTa-eWkw4KXL18CVH0ppGRHMLsg8/s1600/the+lakes+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCnW0Ov7MktGrCfI7vG78Eu8BREAJpGohGmR0PnNhyeyWYJ4mtXJ02tfnREN9t_6hG5SUXqfF_jLrqF5_Ok1szsdWc4t-apfINNJSQQ2Vs6QlvMF2mTa-eWkw4KXL18CVH0ppGRHMLsg8/s1600/the+lakes+4.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbRALhX9RzQuMdbvNlD3WxFPT7KXVQqWkcQ3E4texUSdDluM0_ikRqyJY5n0YLTA32eevC29R2AxTWkGvbIKT-nIT3rGvfcw45e8Bb_bYJYSPyb7j1-EyKYeV4AkOeUgEdXkGJnyFxgbo/s1600/lakes+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbRALhX9RzQuMdbvNlD3WxFPT7KXVQqWkcQ3E4texUSdDluM0_ikRqyJY5n0YLTA32eevC29R2AxTWkGvbIKT-nIT3rGvfcw45e8Bb_bYJYSPyb7j1-EyKYeV4AkOeUgEdXkGJnyFxgbo/s1600/lakes+5.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNLRyBWOLBz0fldKwqarLNDdfHwLFfBRX7580KRh30-K7eo8FGMBgbAWEXMqvq0l8FXkkE9GM_IxaWvSdfNR1hOSSkTqQFZgRxteXsdPmIvL_ILKRPwGl1N_JoqrESVbVzRbENJPCmtFs/s1600/the+lakes+6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNLRyBWOLBz0fldKwqarLNDdfHwLFfBRX7580KRh30-K7eo8FGMBgbAWEXMqvq0l8FXkkE9GM_IxaWvSdfNR1hOSSkTqQFZgRxteXsdPmIvL_ILKRPwGl1N_JoqrESVbVzRbENJPCmtFs/s1600/the+lakes+6.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp5K_NexBu-ZVWKtoruE3DQYs-2JKyzI7OL9JZqtYDOBHWNssj9iRAduiVzdTINI1-FggX3WfMB-0zlhK1RnxAS03u5pOo-XZiVv52pSGVAv5bWKz9m3kSn_8xrsoiFYQSzAxK6fNWMus/s1600/the+lakes+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp5K_NexBu-ZVWKtoruE3DQYs-2JKyzI7OL9JZqtYDOBHWNssj9iRAduiVzdTINI1-FggX3WfMB-0zlhK1RnxAS03u5pOo-XZiVv52pSGVAv5bWKz9m3kSn_8xrsoiFYQSzAxK6fNWMus/s1600/the+lakes+5.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDPHG95NAZhWV4hMVjqJPAnvVx-vT-Z3mBmmFf6k_RJdXlno3BJoWlsFMEl7CHfSkgLWJlaocSasRMDGtERf93AqR9uleOzVplyu1GUuOq2rYBsQ1Rtz4iddbIF6pQJGDPgdaM2PaMWD4/s1600/lakes+7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDPHG95NAZhWV4hMVjqJPAnvVx-vT-Z3mBmmFf6k_RJdXlno3BJoWlsFMEl7CHfSkgLWJlaocSasRMDGtERf93AqR9uleOzVplyu1GUuOq2rYBsQ1Rtz4iddbIF6pQJGDPgdaM2PaMWD4/s1600/lakes+7.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL_5Fo3-XFabAnI4lAR_gjwnoZlBgth4B_GSEteUE6oUu-uqwNu6wRXpsDvPDrqfhBgpqwDwZJ0rVZX_gHAXKiBFvzG6RsiUfFmlwGqDoZCNKiMej_jfxt6GNQg_0pU0F9mJcay9n8U_g/s1600/lakes+8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL_5Fo3-XFabAnI4lAR_gjwnoZlBgth4B_GSEteUE6oUu-uqwNu6wRXpsDvPDrqfhBgpqwDwZJ0rVZX_gHAXKiBFvzG6RsiUfFmlwGqDoZCNKiMej_jfxt6GNQg_0pU0F9mJcay9n8U_g/s1600/lakes+8.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi359nHLU6rzsvDMMFgWq_SCCAKrR_RHmrFQsdDE3nVRugKriVs_L90Bjg4e8143wslr2DGE6kWzK00gCKwWu2UvuXYoSH6-6AQB-jKZiuTal0V6OYcefJFl4OSGxkctqU7KblVMEqqgX0/s1600/lakes+10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi359nHLU6rzsvDMMFgWq_SCCAKrR_RHmrFQsdDE3nVRugKriVs_L90Bjg4e8143wslr2DGE6kWzK00gCKwWu2UvuXYoSH6-6AQB-jKZiuTal0V6OYcefJFl4OSGxkctqU7KblVMEqqgX0/s1600/lakes+10.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimqPgGQRwfoGV9tV17oU5UK02UdYp4H77VebiOShUhmOV7GjLgBQ_ZL8Xb79NtTkBE8sxZn8PeOA66SPri7bpC3Vbz1Cfc6X_dz16_HACosyDh1bnjtFp-PDRLHvTh2kL4pybmiKsS8Do/s1600/lakes+11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimqPgGQRwfoGV9tV17oU5UK02UdYp4H77VebiOShUhmOV7GjLgBQ_ZL8Xb79NtTkBE8sxZn8PeOA66SPri7bpC3Vbz1Cfc6X_dz16_HACosyDh1bnjtFp-PDRLHvTh2kL4pybmiKsS8Do/s1600/lakes+11.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
Sunday night involved more beer and table tennis as well as packing. We had an early start in the morning, thanks to a spot of rock climbing. Geared up with helmets and the most unflattering harnesses (I know, I know, they're not supposed to look attractive, they're purely functional and there to save your life) we headed to the rock face. Our instructors were really friendly, and of course knowledgable. We did a half day session which was suitable for beginners (most of the group, including myself, had never done it before). They taught us how to tie our safety ropes and belay which is when you're attached to the other end of the climber's rope, acting as their support on the ground. I was pretty good at belaying, unfortunately I was bloody rubbish at rock climbing. However, I did have a go and managed to climb to the top of the easiest route. It took me a lot longer than everyone else - it's super hard figuring out where to put your feet, and my upper body strength is basically non-existent - but I was so determined that I wasn't going to be the only one who couldn't reach the top. Fortunately (and unfortunately) my friend took lots of pictures of me climbing so I do have proof that this actually happened. Feet back on solid ground I spent the rest of the morning marvelling at everyone else's climbing skills.<br />
<br />
There was time for a quick cup of tea before we all piled back into the cars, waved goodbye to the Lake Distrcit, and began the long-ass journey back to London. I absolutely loved the Lakes and I definitely need to come back as there's so much of it we didn't even see! The trip really highlighted how out of shape I am so I'm joining the eye-wateringly expensive gym in Twickenham until my local (and more affordable) one opens again in September. I was planning on just waiting until then but I really miss feeling fit. Also, I'm going to need all the gym time I can get if the next holiday my friends are planning goes ahead. Scotland, yes, that's right, Ben Nevis is on the cards. Apparently we'd be crazy not to as we've already climbed the 2nd and 3rd highest peaks in the UK. I must admit that climbing the last and biggest is tempting. We'll just have to see...<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Anniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06673345819018458143noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7590670473374018111.post-13606196078190925962014-05-22T12:07:00.001+01:002014-05-22T12:28:35.732+01:00The Lake District - SCAFELL PIKELast weekend 10 of us, most of who were part of last October's <u><a href="http://beardtoday-gonetomorrow.blogspot.co.uk/2013/10/snowdonia.html" target="_blank">Snowdonia crew</a></u>, went to the Lake District. As you might have guessed, this trip, like Snowdonia, was no walk in the park (excuse the pun), rather an adventure-filled weekend and certainly a test for my rather unfit and out of shape body. Although my limbs are still pretty achy I can happily say that not only did I reach the summit of England's highest peak, I also had a go at rock climbing! I apologise for the picture overload but the Lakes were seriously beautiful, it was hard to just pick out a few. I'd not really seen anything like the spectacular peaks and lakes before, so I veered between starring at the scenery for minutes at a time trying to take it all in and then remembering I had a camera and getting incredibly click-happy. It's proper weird being back amongst the built-up streets of London, I feel like it was another world, or at least a different country.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ1BzQeOnNZJe-Lp_x2s9Woo27DuQIyvYeYoMcsTK10EupS4gq80YCAWZvglOCVvRxzxFhtz5W1b1WAQ7hHnuQ0PKgtGO0hwulH5QNiW_mCMy4l03165h3S6C7CmMCTS2Ro1AZR9RsoEA/s1600/the+lakes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ1BzQeOnNZJe-Lp_x2s9Woo27DuQIyvYeYoMcsTK10EupS4gq80YCAWZvglOCVvRxzxFhtz5W1b1WAQ7hHnuQ0PKgtGO0hwulH5QNiW_mCMy4l03165h3S6C7CmMCTS2Ro1AZR9RsoEA/s1600/the+lakes.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM53Csdvf5It-y6uxHQAN-Ier6HBIhqU1DQ19BXS2WYfnJv8YoeSpdthLuSovM4PHU4_bGYL4gH0EMWNn2x-in0fnD2KaVJn5VHehWY_dk2u0QHyCOAT8psZpCvrixTukGnWpfZm-2hg0/s1600/lakes+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM53Csdvf5It-y6uxHQAN-Ier6HBIhqU1DQ19BXS2WYfnJv8YoeSpdthLuSovM4PHU4_bGYL4gH0EMWNn2x-in0fnD2KaVJn5VHehWY_dk2u0QHyCOAT8psZpCvrixTukGnWpfZm-2hg0/s1600/lakes+1.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqHRbX2QgM9I9QoG8hXr1ojp1qOlbzsNpBV3Rs14Bvnnors9jAplpNvub89RFuJkBqymrZcqrXt3rwzcca8gBURi6qF1ABD9VMH5ESSzW_mWMz7-7mBkeyR7ft55F9mipXQOeD_63Jv4Y/s1600/the+lakes+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqHRbX2QgM9I9QoG8hXr1ojp1qOlbzsNpBV3Rs14Bvnnors9jAplpNvub89RFuJkBqymrZcqrXt3rwzcca8gBURi6qF1ABD9VMH5ESSzW_mWMz7-7mBkeyR7ft55F9mipXQOeD_63Jv4Y/s1600/the+lakes+2.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9KSZtk4wejYNdI3XeHX7MvWcEbEATz4TsDovVdC9ue0WsNbUv0AKcpCmb6atgKa-8Wgq89omarz9jdJit9a1fpk4U9uecCigE-W782EzH6FiI0DmWWdVQKF9PaK2hnri_XElmAYXeYcg/s1600/lakes+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9KSZtk4wejYNdI3XeHX7MvWcEbEATz4TsDovVdC9ue0WsNbUv0AKcpCmb6atgKa-8Wgq89omarz9jdJit9a1fpk4U9uecCigE-W782EzH6FiI0DmWWdVQKF9PaK2hnri_XElmAYXeYcg/s1600/lakes+3.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM2TpxRrZpBZV1x4z1kjzaH4ty0S6h9nQKr7yq-_W3bLREzcG2DNpSCwTt4ntiXeS0AxH1r-Imzf03DWqQ3G7rqTuh-htb22n32M3NHQdDHocafbROxqoo5N-YRmdrcj3D3pr0O70kzPE/s1600/lakes+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM2TpxRrZpBZV1x4z1kjzaH4ty0S6h9nQKr7yq-_W3bLREzcG2DNpSCwTt4ntiXeS0AxH1r-Imzf03DWqQ3G7rqTuh-htb22n32M3NHQdDHocafbROxqoo5N-YRmdrcj3D3pr0O70kzPE/s1600/lakes+4.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEgAhGEK9peczoXnsRs8-U1d4tGxNa8pq4miO3Nrp1DRXRszqfb00wsAxOU8GRnoF4amNoeQ9aQeo1CjTg3Af6kzsZA_8x233YnzV_0jTCCrIszcLISMnq_LRlUbX0N3eNIZ2yhyiQLIc/s1600/lakes+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEgAhGEK9peczoXnsRs8-U1d4tGxNa8pq4miO3Nrp1DRXRszqfb00wsAxOU8GRnoF4amNoeQ9aQeo1CjTg3Af6kzsZA_8x233YnzV_0jTCCrIszcLISMnq_LRlUbX0N3eNIZ2yhyiQLIc/s1600/lakes+5.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4eTXjQBVfnZY62gWwz48eFQkk3VKWBO5do0K6gJ0yg1VpG1wLLeP5gTe3y7ywBgY46woOycJQI4y4hjhH3zsnqsfvHUKFQWkdxvono89PXMuSdgr3_7ppf12S_ZgaSYYud4-RuqOppb8/s1600/lakes+6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4eTXjQBVfnZY62gWwz48eFQkk3VKWBO5do0K6gJ0yg1VpG1wLLeP5gTe3y7ywBgY46woOycJQI4y4hjhH3zsnqsfvHUKFQWkdxvono89PXMuSdgr3_7ppf12S_ZgaSYYud4-RuqOppb8/s1600/lakes+6.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX3v_p3FdPp5bEhkrU2m2Ac3xSmKxPHRELjWqQWcxMQI4RTaY607PiFL_v7RYLgRM9xTwZMrag0pGZk-uF99ufgoXPWTEaESGILxwlnJHIMWE9RafwkQPgIIuqio5vlgb_Jo7-hmQuDVY/s1600/lakes+7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX3v_p3FdPp5bEhkrU2m2Ac3xSmKxPHRELjWqQWcxMQI4RTaY607PiFL_v7RYLgRM9xTwZMrag0pGZk-uF99ufgoXPWTEaESGILxwlnJHIMWE9RafwkQPgIIuqio5vlgb_Jo7-hmQuDVY/s1600/lakes+7.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4MJnWaShwt0QuI97fD7DCE0ZLentHjrlfNgUWotAZN3L2MlXQs1J9IUjC2LdKE0zhUHZg8j9inWdxHBAIdjxHaLh3Y_dXpY2cXXSCpspUx3AmL4pMaV2D2GZNgy7At19iebympDCB4MM/s1600/lakes+8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4MJnWaShwt0QuI97fD7DCE0ZLentHjrlfNgUWotAZN3L2MlXQs1J9IUjC2LdKE0zhUHZg8j9inWdxHBAIdjxHaLh3Y_dXpY2cXXSCpspUx3AmL4pMaV2D2GZNgy7At19iebympDCB4MM/s1600/lakes+8.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm_W10OFLaiCb1ldOM-cVltwcI7aA9WFj_zkjR-dHFu0CTW6TYbb_XOuaht_z4KAWDD9xwsH1VsBNUC0g7P-gCAzvBUx7d68BB-b6llFQwcCMcv-ZD04JCvoRsn0KSYSJideIL5hX8Y3w/s1600/lakes+9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm_W10OFLaiCb1ldOM-cVltwcI7aA9WFj_zkjR-dHFu0CTW6TYbb_XOuaht_z4KAWDD9xwsH1VsBNUC0g7P-gCAzvBUx7d68BB-b6llFQwcCMcv-ZD04JCvoRsn0KSYSJideIL5hX8Y3w/s1600/lakes+9.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
Our home for for the weekend was a massive cottage in the tiny village of Ennerdale on the north west-ish side of the park. We arrived on the Friday night, met the neighbours (a couple of horses), went for a pint in the local pub (our next but one neighbours) and then cooked up a big old BBQ. BBC weather had informed me that Friday was going to have the clearest skies so, thanks to one of the group who brought his telescope, we did a bit of star-gazing. The night sky in Cumbria is nothing like the pathetic excuse for a night sky we get in London - it was amazing. So amazing in fact that we actually got to see three of the planets - Mars and Jupiter which to be fair looked similar to stars, but Saturn was clearly identifiable! I mean I actually saw Saturn - rings and all!!! Ever since I was little, I've always been interested in space. I feel like I've done my seven-year-old-self proud.<br />
<br />
The next morning it was time to hit the hills. The group had only one fell in its sights: Scafell Pike, England's highest mountain which stands 978 m (3209 ft) above sea level. As a novice mountain walker I'd say it was pretty tough going thanks to the consistent incline. However, unlike Snowdon, there was no scrambling to the top (thank god!) and we were all rewarded with the most fantastic views on the way to and at the summit. I took about 2 and a half hours to reach the top, a good half an hour after some of the group, but once we'd all arrived we got some pretty good pictures ^. Coming down was a bit harsh on the knees and thanks to the glorious weather I got rather sunburnt. Showers, a pub dinner, plenty of booze, games of beer pong, table tennis and mafia were our rewards :) As with Snowdon, I'm glad I climbed Scafell Pike but I certainly won't be doing it again.<br />
<br />
Still to come: Ennerdale water and rock climbing!<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Anniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06673345819018458143noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7590670473374018111.post-90357648354212022512014-05-20T14:46:00.003+01:002014-05-20T14:47:07.931+01:00Tuesday's Tees - ALLRIOT<div style="text-align: center;">
It's been a while since my last Tuesday's Tees but I came across <a href="https://www.allriot.com/" target="_blank">ALLRIOT</a> the other day and I thought I'd share. I'm a big fan of statement tees but these guys are taking it to a whole new level which their political tees. They've got a voice and it may be humorous but ALLRIOT tees have got a point.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_NCyQoBukr5B5C-rLjw0TWix8c4gWD4GtRAomtl22wyh7_3ccAz7KxKDuSk1drTbCcm2tpTUSuLI98qx_E5jVaGwBlW1cjtU-XRNTJWdBwZQcuTwMQS-IPvnwy_4fk9RgfUuYwZAGSNk/s1600/all+riot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_NCyQoBukr5B5C-rLjw0TWix8c4gWD4GtRAomtl22wyh7_3ccAz7KxKDuSk1drTbCcm2tpTUSuLI98qx_E5jVaGwBlW1cjtU-XRNTJWdBwZQcuTwMQS-IPvnwy_4fk9RgfUuYwZAGSNk/s1600/all+riot.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPayV2MNbVaPRnqqpoFUzp032qjc9rpE-4IKtEftwqKyB32VAnArqdq31a0Czno5_XKiG49OvLyWP625TRJGEwMn6UTl-Ui8IqVQrCxYEIpOD2cPOdUk8efZM4RNrHuy6U1nWWHGGQjVw/s1600/allriot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPayV2MNbVaPRnqqpoFUzp032qjc9rpE-4IKtEftwqKyB32VAnArqdq31a0Czno5_XKiG49OvLyWP625TRJGEwMn6UTl-Ui8IqVQrCxYEIpOD2cPOdUk8efZM4RNrHuy6U1nWWHGGQjVw/s1600/allriot.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />Anniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06673345819018458143noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7590670473374018111.post-68604876869997981542014-05-20T10:36:00.001+01:002014-05-20T14:47:53.020+01:00Fells, Lakes & Aches<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvt0QtsJ29zZowd885Q8WzJtmhzhe3oM3Agd4Bi6gioFfOSSHMbJMD1pXFn8T1zaKOTEt2zUSBUqk6ZHaR4AGx_NsSJi_H2YV5pNMJrCqRLXqP48UaxNzD1afJuSCJ-MRuhbBRGpRU4pA/s1600/DSC_1010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvt0QtsJ29zZowd885Q8WzJtmhzhe3oM3Agd4Bi6gioFfOSSHMbJMD1pXFn8T1zaKOTEt2zUSBUqk6ZHaR4AGx_NsSJi_H2YV5pNMJrCqRLXqP48UaxNzD1afJuSCJ-MRuhbBRGpRU4pA/s1600/DSC_1010.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
I'm writing this whilst lying in bed with seriously aching limbs, a slightly swollen ankle and two of the biggest blisters I've ever had. I'm having a little recovery time as yesterday evening I got back from a glorious long weekend in the Lake District. My friends and I did a hell of a lot of walking - up fells, along country roads, around lakes - and even managed to squeeze in a bit of rock climbing. Needless to say, the scenery was insanely beautiful and although I feel like I need a new pair of feet, I had such an amazing time. Pictures to come - I took a lot. Hope you all enjoyed the heatwave weekend wherever you were too!<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Anniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06673345819018458143noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7590670473374018111.post-88808828178296034442014-05-16T11:00:00.000+01:002014-05-16T11:00:01.738+01:00the illustrated packing list: the lake district<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS9moooncOk1S1WxpsQxiELCHVnJSaet6N7n2AKQQ3C-QRX6B1aeNNK7VXFJmvLzYFO-DiMeOjZGpT7rZQMGKKHfkJl1BSpGaZfdELyDF5B9i8LnM1XF_nNZFU_AqqRanQcxon3tAKdT8/s1600/IMG_20140515_195159.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS9moooncOk1S1WxpsQxiELCHVnJSaet6N7n2AKQQ3C-QRX6B1aeNNK7VXFJmvLzYFO-DiMeOjZGpT7rZQMGKKHfkJl1BSpGaZfdELyDF5B9i8LnM1XF_nNZFU_AqqRanQcxon3tAKdT8/s1600/IMG_20140515_195159.jpg" /></a></div>
This morning my friends and I set off for the Lake District, hopefully by the time you read this we'll be well on our way! Two days ago I made my packing list. Unfortunately whilst the south of the country is having a heat wave, Cumbria will be experiencing much milder temperatures this weekend. I'm not too disappointed as I don't think climbing a mountain in 22 degree heat would be fun at all. We've got lots lined up - a mountain to climb, the coast and lakes to see, some rock climbing and a few local pubs to try out. I am hella excited. Learning from my experiences on <a href="http://beardtoday-gonetomorrow.blogspot.co.uk/2013/10/snowdonia.html" target="_blank">Snowdon</a>, for this trip I've invested in some proper walking shoes as well as walking socks, a light weight waterproof jacket and, just in case it pisses it down, the most unattractive things I've ever seen - waterproof trousers. Hope you all have lovely weekends, see you on the other side!<br />
<br />
<br />Anniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06673345819018458143noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7590670473374018111.post-39885090792429352452014-05-15T13:35:00.004+01:002014-05-15T15:08:11.648+01:00white hart lane<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7pe4y2ZquzUokegH-FcWN15RSeke3oxBbHjgus_RVcl2A9ajXxpuxZmadwfmCf2CaBdZt-nq2ejjY9yvjVNfjDIi1knXJXb7YCgNA4krCbmcoATQHNCBh9bnrkyQxAZOVmw-74tWmvNw/s1600/10325620_997963259311_7702181868498827787_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7pe4y2ZquzUokegH-FcWN15RSeke3oxBbHjgus_RVcl2A9ajXxpuxZmadwfmCf2CaBdZt-nq2ejjY9yvjVNfjDIi1knXJXb7YCgNA4krCbmcoATQHNCBh9bnrkyQxAZOVmw-74tWmvNw/s1600/10325620_997963259311_7702181868498827787_n.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0yMKRaVUI96ONu8eTRIi-AIrghDC6SaKbFzOqjaRHC4GmkXsTy7xHYZrY7L3ZedhLRgqTl7Av6AAq537Vqw7bFf9Q4d9dm5VqngqES3JLXPoHjTPiqtuh2FgCNhwaKRaOKDAFUTQzxD8/s1600/10322427_997963224381_5820734422173629344_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0yMKRaVUI96ONu8eTRIi-AIrghDC6SaKbFzOqjaRHC4GmkXsTy7xHYZrY7L3ZedhLRgqTl7Av6AAq537Vqw7bFf9Q4d9dm5VqngqES3JLXPoHjTPiqtuh2FgCNhwaKRaOKDAFUTQzxD8/s1600/10322427_997963224381_5820734422173629344_n.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4jYa9QqegiB-hhFCNbzb0ZRR_mND2bE0zzJaEt_eybNa5oH49Q_syN8EaFbV-78jYG_nfLPlNSZfC8HI3zv1gw-pkflZtBrH_KR2yURV0cyok78yJsyRYDeCzYEj_6gBFj0XaFQ2uFys/s1600/10275912_997963174481_5801232324990021542_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4jYa9QqegiB-hhFCNbzb0ZRR_mND2bE0zzJaEt_eybNa5oH49Q_syN8EaFbV-78jYG_nfLPlNSZfC8HI3zv1gw-pkflZtBrH_KR2yURV0cyok78yJsyRYDeCzYEj_6gBFj0XaFQ2uFys/s1600/10275912_997963174481_5801232324990021542_n.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPmMIEbuBIhmPM9pPrChPMM2iDwJGxshdbgoWYfzmCbYskprDObh-4ohF4ow4fIIT4y9qoCeCSeA8h5iQkRAwrzrn9aRHR_FJ0MMYwRkV2eJPNlBH20zWzDJ0EMVUjMmtGJ1PpqosJ8Yk/s1600/10251934_998679563831_493668674134999640_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPmMIEbuBIhmPM9pPrChPMM2iDwJGxshdbgoWYfzmCbYskprDObh-4ohF4ow4fIIT4y9qoCeCSeA8h5iQkRAwrzrn9aRHR_FJ0MMYwRkV2eJPNlBH20zWzDJ0EMVUjMmtGJ1PpqosJ8Yk/s1600/10251934_998679563831_493668674134999640_n.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP2KV-W1vZqfYe4nmQde5obKrpXrDiDGJZsCTUW3mqg0C2TdhnpNbE9vT9-7XUMiB07WstM7TD8xkyQUaZNMlI8xEDZgS3AXQKuKA_Q7OQGzEM-Mx8VTihnOSMTzDvtlVRzu4NP03MvZc/s1600/1969383_997963289251_8979403503658573682_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP2KV-W1vZqfYe4nmQde5obKrpXrDiDGJZsCTUW3mqg0C2TdhnpNbE9vT9-7XUMiB07WstM7TD8xkyQUaZNMlI8xEDZgS3AXQKuKA_Q7OQGzEM-Mx8VTihnOSMTzDvtlVRzu4NP03MvZc/s1600/1969383_997963289251_8979403503658573682_n.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
On Monday I went to watch my first ever live football match. Thankfully, it wasn't a league game - I don't think I could've handled the stress. Instead, it was former Spurs captain, Ledley King's testimonial match.<br />
<br />
I had no idea what a testimonial was so in case you're also in the dark...it's like a big old send off match when a player retires. I <i>think </i>the money from ticket sales goes to the player's charity of choice. The current Spurs squad were pitched against a team of King's choosing all of whom had to have played for Spurs at one time. Excitingly this meant that a lot of the old greats (I say old, I just mean that I actually remember them from World Cup games) including Teddy Sheringham and David Ginola (who at 47 was still looking pretty damn fine) were in attendance. There was also a spattering of more recent Spurs players (that I recognised) - Berbatov, Crouch and Scott Parker.<br />
<br />
As the pitch was just full of ex and current Spurs players the atmosphere was superb - everyone was in high spirits. I got to sing all the chants - not one of which was rude. I had it in my head that it'd be really foul mouthed but Mitch pointed out that it was a friendly game and that we were sitting in the 'family section'. The spectators did get a mexican wave going round on both levels which was cool and the actual football was pretty fun too. In the first half all the players bundled King and he was awarded a penalty; in the second half one of the linesman gave his flag to a spectator so he could have a go; even the ref had a bit of a kick about at one point!<br />
<br />
Despite the absolutely shitty weather, all the players seemed to be having a whale of time. As did I :) King received an all-mighty applause at the end and rightly so. I read up about him afterwards and he really sounds like a decent bloke not to mention a stellar defender both for England and his club which he's been loyal to throughout his entire career.<br />
<br />
Although I've watched a fair few rugby games at Twickenham, I think I've been converted! If Mitch asked me to go again I'd be more than happy to return to White Hart Lane.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghNb9dREXFzE-7SoBfetFtBTl_9zhRfJoBeyTdgWoBcmem8sPe1AwWOKEYicq9zB5dWfE-dhOasvNFXO5qOYV8FmU1kV4tjC9Bi7biJpRtmrbpVzMT1vJNpJy1irw-9a0jVNk1IZbhsSg/s1600/IMG_20140513_073713.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghNb9dREXFzE-7SoBfetFtBTl_9zhRfJoBeyTdgWoBcmem8sPe1AwWOKEYicq9zB5dWfE-dhOasvNFXO5qOYV8FmU1kV4tjC9Bi7biJpRtmrbpVzMT1vJNpJy1irw-9a0jVNk1IZbhsSg/s1600/IMG_20140513_073713.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />Anniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06673345819018458143noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7590670473374018111.post-51052631128141340182014-05-14T14:52:00.002+01:002014-05-24T13:57:50.680+01:00Reading & Seeing 17<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqOy9lOVLFeFny6AwihMYw8Jv5rYvn0Jsuo02mypR6p_TWHVCDXNtWpUk_gXphNMVXMA7lMU-JtTiA4PIo-JEtfA_MAqZeh_DwP3VF2GrA6ZAQecZExDSkar13Dc7l-EuJ17uwiERDQ_I/s1600/frank-movie-poster-michael-fassbender.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqOy9lOVLFeFny6AwihMYw8Jv5rYvn0Jsuo02mypR6p_TWHVCDXNtWpUk_gXphNMVXMA7lMU-JtTiA4PIo-JEtfA_MAqZeh_DwP3VF2GrA6ZAQecZExDSkar13Dc7l-EuJ17uwiERDQ_I/s1600/frank-movie-poster-michael-fassbender.jpg" /></a></div>
Frank<br />
Jon (Domhnall Gleeson) is a bit of a loser and wannabe musician who's seriously struggling to write a (decent) song. A chance encounter and random offer to stand in for a visiting band's keyboard player sets him off on a bizarre journey into the somewhat conflicting realms of creativity and fame. Most of the band dislike him but not Frank (Michael Fassbender). Former psychiatric patient and perpetual wearer (even in the shower!) of the papier máché head, Frank sees potential in Jon and insists that Jon stay with the band to record their album. It's a rather odd little film, in part inspired by Chris Sievey's comdey persona Frank Sidebottom who wore an oversized, blue-eyed, black haired papier maché head, but <i>this</i> Frank has his own story entirely. It's rather amusing in places but also terribly poignant particularly as it looks at the link between genius and madness. The cast is stellar and the music, unsurprisingly, is a v.strong presence throughout the film - the closing number in particular is bloody brilliant. A gem of a movie, definitely worth a watch.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVMrbCDCEvNnZ0yVxXNun-RJ8NbocmQWcrgtfQ8og1Om4qIeHbtDvfmnv7TYol-TTTt3buGMyA8a2-cItbbEXCSD2P8nx8i8iZOXvbMEI8NKHSD0TvkZJDTAkhi3n8OnKzifeHXtwUayA/s1600/The-Wind-Rises.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVMrbCDCEvNnZ0yVxXNun-RJ8NbocmQWcrgtfQ8og1Om4qIeHbtDvfmnv7TYol-TTTt3buGMyA8a2-cItbbEXCSD2P8nx8i8iZOXvbMEI8NKHSD0TvkZJDTAkhi3n8OnKzifeHXtwUayA/s1600/The-Wind-Rises.jpg" /></a></div>
The Wind Rises<br />
The latest animation from Studio Ghibli tells the story of Jiro who, due to his near-sightedness, cannot become a pilot so instead endeavours to design and engineer them. Throughout his career there are ups and downs, all played out against a recognisable and troubled historical backdrop. Intermingled with world events (earthquakes and the onset of war) is the delicate love story between our protagonist and Nahoko, a girl he saves in the earthquake and is reunited with by chance some years later. The animation is utterly beautiful - the reflections in the water and the dappled light coming through the trees is so perfect. I loved Jiro's dream sequences and his conversations with Italian engineer Gianni Caproni, I also liked the way Jiro would be talking to his team of engineers and then envisage the plane above them, taking flight with the wind blowing all about them. Talking of wind, and aeronautics actually, Mitch and I have been working our way through the Studio Ghibli films and flight, planes and nature seem to be a common theme. The Wind Rises is tragic yet beautiful, something Hayao Miyazaki does rather well, too bad it's the last film he'll make.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvQcHROCCUJOppbK9uk-y1dw6VNCgYC_APGDZ85gkSXcOeMrtDsIvEWf6IWyBpVzz8s8G7wOiwCrs4Ba2dfEEH-9aSvSmWLBLeG2ZJ3xGVzBFWpq5YDKRsZ0xxyESJLft7h8psiYUfdfI/s1600/he-she-and-it.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvQcHROCCUJOppbK9uk-y1dw6VNCgYC_APGDZ85gkSXcOeMrtDsIvEWf6IWyBpVzz8s8G7wOiwCrs4Ba2dfEEH-9aSvSmWLBLeG2ZJ3xGVzBFWpq5YDKRsZ0xxyESJLft7h8psiYUfdfI/s1600/he-she-and-it.jpg" /></a></div>
He, She and It (1991)<br />
Set in the not so distant future, earth is a scarred husk of a planet largely thanks to the effects of global warming and war. The human race still exists but it's fragmented. Depending on their status, people either live in the protected (and privilaged) domes of the multis - gigantic companies which run everything; the glop - a sprawling sector, home to most of the remaining population and rife with gangs and crime; or the free bases - self contained towns which are run and protected by the citizens that live there, independent of the multis. Although many animal species (and people) have died off due to the sun's strengthened radiation, one thing that has remained, and has only become stronger is technology. The Net (cyberspace) is at the heart of life in this new world. It's where people from all walks of life can communicate with each other. It's also the primary source of entertainment and information storage. As you've probably guessed, this is deliciously SF. The actual story follows Shira an ex-multi employee who returns to the free town of Tivka to live with her grandmother (and expert security software programmer), Malkah. But the talented Malkah has been working on another secret project, a cyborg. A cyborg built to resemble a human - physically and emotionally - but with the strength and stamina of a machine and it turns to Shira to socialise it. It's been described as feminist fiction and I can see why, the female characters steal the show, particularly Nili - a scout sent from an all-women community cut off from the rest of the world. Although the women have their flaws, the male characters (aside from Yod, the cyborg) are weak in more ways than one. It was great to read about some really meaty and gritty female characters and something which I need to do more of. I've got <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VBmMU_iwe6U" target="_blank">Beyoncé</a> in my head now.<br />
<br />
<br />
#nofilter<br />
Last week I went to the bloomsbury theatre at UCL to see three youtubers put on a live show. And those ladies were: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJQL1Fai-9GlVunsbP4x8Pg" target="_blank">Hannah Hart</a> of My Drunk Kitchen; <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0XWmgRsBL-6X-ZJ7tR3mEg" target="_blank">Mamrie Hart</a> (no relation) of You Deserve a Drink; and <a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/dailygrace/featured" target="_blank">Grace</a> of Daily Grace. I confess I'm not totally up on my youtube channels but I'd watched quite of few of Hannah's videos and a couple of Mamrie and Grace's. My friend Alex (who's way more clued up about this stuff) got the tickets. Once we were in our seats I looked around at the audience and noticed that I was probably one of the oldest people there. However, as soon as the show started I knew that my old age had no detrimental effect on the crazy antics happening on the stage. It was pretty hilarious. I've not heard so many puns packed into an hour and twenty minutes before - those american ladies love their puns. They also (as you may have gathered from their youtube channel names) like to drink. V.silly and smutty as hell - a good show indeed. Here's Hannah's music video about a carrot onesie (featuring Grace and Marmie).<br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="309" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/HqUxkGbm6Io" width="550"></iframe>Anniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06673345819018458143noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7590670473374018111.post-758345957634479942014-05-08T17:18:00.003+01:002014-05-08T21:51:52.739+01:00BHW bits & piecesThe bank holiday weekend went something like this...<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSYJyD-qbjO4_eT0i0GpE53wyzdk_jN757vWh4RmOeI1dMq9iZyF3WQhw_cmd8QAZgw2camQRK3rQhhq9PXg4EIf6Lbl5nJgZHhrfbZdiaBmzVG9YNRTdt14D7vpf2kfzFnQOWsa3hbVM/s1600/IMG_20140505_162316.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSYJyD-qbjO4_eT0i0GpE53wyzdk_jN757vWh4RmOeI1dMq9iZyF3WQhw_cmd8QAZgw2camQRK3rQhhq9PXg4EIf6Lbl5nJgZHhrfbZdiaBmzVG9YNRTdt14D7vpf2kfzFnQOWsa3hbVM/s1600/IMG_20140505_162316.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguRorm7dHqQdsglPUBnzIktI3CyNPMKGrnN_fR38aBJXndk3K5mWe52NAuUjDJzIRsa0xuWPnnSoJHVfzVDIccZaV_5smzPYYuccVF6spz_ZBxeiKoyntANHybjccpcbBKg0ooOX-Hfnc/s1600/IMG_20140505_131957.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguRorm7dHqQdsglPUBnzIktI3CyNPMKGrnN_fR38aBJXndk3K5mWe52NAuUjDJzIRsa0xuWPnnSoJHVfzVDIccZaV_5smzPYYuccVF6spz_ZBxeiKoyntANHybjccpcbBKg0ooOX-Hfnc/s1600/IMG_20140505_131957.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN03qAW411xrc_UbA4ZrTLmDKMDixsWU0LYAzuB-V53Xe3lWGvC7B8hD1JiU-Ti3Q5dv5A67wAz1tjUIernsGAMGcHqI4-r3O9FY_j1V6Mrogf_msxmi78PlOWFV_Nkuwik1SzOm59Cx8/s1600/IMG_20140503_155617.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN03qAW411xrc_UbA4ZrTLmDKMDixsWU0LYAzuB-V53Xe3lWGvC7B8hD1JiU-Ti3Q5dv5A67wAz1tjUIernsGAMGcHqI4-r3O9FY_j1V6Mrogf_msxmi78PlOWFV_Nkuwik1SzOm59Cx8/s1600/IMG_20140503_155617.jpg" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; color: black;"> </span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNqJM_MiBrd0F3Rfrajeu-337vKjJYbHCgxQxKRxbUATQRjVSXL6XgdMk0FLQ72CQi4l9ZApuacKH2iBUQPu-bquy0qyEZXOAVdeqfbm531ZiJYg2xxrlcabdnoOA63KCa8l946yIt2rk/s1600/IMG_20140503_155641.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNqJM_MiBrd0F3Rfrajeu-337vKjJYbHCgxQxKRxbUATQRjVSXL6XgdMk0FLQ72CQi4l9ZApuacKH2iBUQPu-bquy0qyEZXOAVdeqfbm531ZiJYg2xxrlcabdnoOA63KCa8l946yIt2rk/s1600/IMG_20140503_155641.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDQ-zp4RUmx8wNqALB2sR0nHCXLRV9vS8lrepL68sCKaKlpb_kGggI7uV79Qk3CEedC3jf7oFZeC-t5SuVUO7CJYwSx1qOSGHYZaU4ZuWFyi9UtqXYcozn1KQlmyGfkVgA7Gy96wNzNjA/s1600/IMG_20140504_154336.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDQ-zp4RUmx8wNqALB2sR0nHCXLRV9vS8lrepL68sCKaKlpb_kGggI7uV79Qk3CEedC3jf7oFZeC-t5SuVUO7CJYwSx1qOSGHYZaU4ZuWFyi9UtqXYcozn1KQlmyGfkVgA7Gy96wNzNjA/s1600/IMG_20140504_154336.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheGI0kxeQdbPbB6PVOAdHxHxJyg_i7-auPq9Fdf8Xhl2Z1ZmKYYdBsxEeqddYByqYSg1P5NW3O44DuMuoydVVp58uUsAT8FkMSTgWoRl4h0zz-jszcJlzwzMrmv188Fd8hSHkRneoHPJA/s1600/VID_20140505_210518_recorded-stitched.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheGI0kxeQdbPbB6PVOAdHxHxJyg_i7-auPq9Fdf8Xhl2Z1ZmKYYdBsxEeqddYByqYSg1P5NW3O44DuMuoydVVp58uUsAT8FkMSTgWoRl4h0zz-jszcJlzwzMrmv188Fd8hSHkRneoHPJA/s1600/VID_20140505_210518_recorded-stitched.jpeg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV9KoqoALbHpGEtWLNy7fwKsMzWzgh65hTSydgyj16g4C9hzjDP7z1Wtl6oVyxv2dGvqdaMnSE6BNSAR0NwgxFzJ54t1LiiTLHTakXAT77cc1mLw4OS7XyQnqBqtq1HnE-SVgO_uij9i0/s1600/DSC_0978.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV9KoqoALbHpGEtWLNy7fwKsMzWzgh65hTSydgyj16g4C9hzjDP7z1Wtl6oVyxv2dGvqdaMnSE6BNSAR0NwgxFzJ54t1LiiTLHTakXAT77cc1mLw4OS7XyQnqBqtq1HnE-SVgO_uij9i0/s1600/DSC_0978.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
On Friday night Mitch and I went to see El Dorado at the <a href="http://www.arcolatheatre.com/" target="_blank">Arcola Theatre</a> just off the Kingsland Road. It was meant to be a black comedy but it was seriously dark so I didn't laugh much - it was v.good though! A small but compelling cast, minimalistic set with excellent use of sound and lighting. The bar attached to the theatre was pretty cute too and sold the tastiest crisps I've ever eaten. Afterwards we went for pizza at Bite (they picked the best cheeses for their four cheese pizza - not enough places are ballsy enough to wack on some gorgonzola).<br />
<br />
Saturday saw us head to Rivington Street to buy Mitch's wedding suit. I had a feeling that going to a proper tailors would be hella intimidating but the guy at Mr Start was v.patient and super helpful. We were also given beer to drink whilst Mitch tried stuff on which was cool and kinda reminded by of wedding dress shopping. In the evening we went to a friend's birthday. Not only did he make his own bread but the most a-mazing dip (cream cheese, tomatoes, mushrooms and other stuff - I need the recipe). It was a hilarious night of plenty of booze (including Mitch's signature punch), food and a good old game of mafia.<br />
<br />
Sunday started out very chilled - lunch with my nan, some sewing (finished the top of my friend's baby quilt) - but come the evening it all went down hill. Moriarty hadn't come out to play for the last two nights so on Sunday I decided that that was long enough. I took the lid off his cage to find that he was curled up in his nest and v.poorly indeed. I know it must sound crazy, getting upset about a hamster but he's our little hamster and seeing him like that was unbelievably upsetting. Frantic googling of his conditions lead us to the same advice: take him to the vet. Amazingly Mitch found a 24 hour one so we made Moriarty as comfortable as possible in a shoe box and drove him over there. The vet was impressed with how active he was (Moriarty had perked up somewhat in the car and waiting room) and prescribed him antibiotics and some 'recovery diet'. On sunday night I couldn't sleep and I woke up with my stomach in knots. Moriarty made an unusually early appearance on Monday morning and thankfully, seemed much improved. By the evening he was climbing the roof of his cage - the medicine seems to be doing the trick!<br />
<br />
Certain that Moriarty was in a better way state than the night before, Mitch and I went out to buy a few essentials for our long weekend in the Lake District (and a rucksack which I didn't really need but it was only 12 quid and I bloody love it). The rest of the day was spent being incredibly productive and ploughing on with wedding-related stuff.<br />
<br />
So, although Ronny O'Sullivan didn't win the snooker and the bank holiday weekend felt, at times, more like an endurance test than a relaxing long weekend (I certainly didn't feel well rested coming back into work on Tuesday), I'm just glad that it was sunny and Moriarty is on the mend.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3PiZ6lewHyj8i-h9IdkRtKLJZEn70E2DkjBz1SqM2O2LcHKyrspmjFHCCmM1Ssj4_Io-18oCStbDceVuM1EKer862xN6FwSXE7hzHPTHhC8YZt40UwdUFtwxQ0yCjFMQArR-q4ddHfMI/s1600/VID_20140505_210150_recorded-stitched.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3PiZ6lewHyj8i-h9IdkRtKLJZEn70E2DkjBz1SqM2O2LcHKyrspmjFHCCmM1Ssj4_Io-18oCStbDceVuM1EKer862xN6FwSXE7hzHPTHhC8YZt40UwdUFtwxQ0yCjFMQArR-q4ddHfMI/s1600/VID_20140505_210150_recorded-stitched.jpeg" /></a></div>
<br />Anniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06673345819018458143noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7590670473374018111.post-66203209276857622012014-05-06T11:43:00.003+01:002014-05-06T11:43:43.745+01:00granny square blanket At the end of April I finally finished my granny square blanket but only got around to photographing it this weekend. Quite fitting really as I started it on the early May bank holiday weekend <a href="http://beardtoday-gonetomorrow.blogspot.co.uk/2013/05/bank-holiday-weekend-bits-pieces.html" target="_blank">last year</a>!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhejsNCk8_DwBqN1dGL9Adx9Ie0BqFH2QF8JRhnPortp4zZUxkJLO-gDPG18CG8MQAVvXb3OD5qrgTJt6ZiXOfEhbxQkfCAtqx0UBhOWKfI6zS2DDNSwbe2pbV7SMVYzk8xE5OawvqtdOk/s1600/folded+granny+square+blanket.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhejsNCk8_DwBqN1dGL9Adx9Ie0BqFH2QF8JRhnPortp4zZUxkJLO-gDPG18CG8MQAVvXb3OD5qrgTJt6ZiXOfEhbxQkfCAtqx0UBhOWKfI6zS2DDNSwbe2pbV7SMVYzk8xE5OawvqtdOk/s1600/folded+granny+square+blanket.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
So yes, it took an entire year to make but then again there was no rush to complete it. Comprised of 195 squares, it was the perfect project to pick up as and when I felt like doing some work on it. Crocheting the squares was very satisfying - I had quite a collection of wool to choose from, so it was fun picking which colours to put together. Joining the rows however, was pretty laborious, the only satisfaction was seeing it gradually increase in size.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwTWxHFvdU954NCDXhlIn3s6O2px3i2lBcfJERGMOvXAd4m_EgQz8ToJf-aAwqNrcE_2LXPptC8-A65J8vwoljgjTpqFiLg1IwkAjfY3UAUq-56dsNGjYWbfC5ksFexTnKoZulG9ugx1I/s1600/white+edged+crochet+blanket.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwTWxHFvdU954NCDXhlIn3s6O2px3i2lBcfJERGMOvXAd4m_EgQz8ToJf-aAwqNrcE_2LXPptC8-A65J8vwoljgjTpqFiLg1IwkAjfY3UAUq-56dsNGjYWbfC5ksFexTnKoZulG9ugx1I/s1600/white+edged+crochet+blanket.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
I'd planned to do a scalloped border but having done about a third of one edge I unravelled it because it looked waaaay too fussy. Instead I just did 2 x double crochet - kinda boring but I think the simple edging looks better with all the jazzy squares.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxw8O_xAkSc6cBLooKHvJvx0IHczXJFPRlQFL0hpd_lUoYismYv-Ahp-HTA01avE0mfAlAQeQ5EYltGhhp2ecXtVYjquMVfhqNr8_XnIdgUtXbVrAAPGPgB_eXCJ-swFX888PTcx0SSak/s1600/crochet+blanket.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxw8O_xAkSc6cBLooKHvJvx0IHczXJFPRlQFL0hpd_lUoYismYv-Ahp-HTA01avE0mfAlAQeQ5EYltGhhp2ecXtVYjquMVfhqNr8_XnIdgUtXbVrAAPGPgB_eXCJ-swFX888PTcx0SSak/s1600/crochet+blanket.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
Annoyingly I've finished this just in time for Summer - how useful. Ah well, hopefully it'll come in use by the end of the year. I wouldn't say this has put me off making another crochet blanket, but a different design (with less or even no granny squares at all) might be a plan.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheF1lCijV1wOgyoQm68KDUbEqs0FPQ9J6jicdhsdIsGS-GwX2nO4j2Kci-hdwO84vn1P4yDEspxRuATkyhjekUjNVmdS2AVIpiEpvLppabCZF1L2kW_h4CVbu5kcsjPcs5Ud21RnmED7A/s1600/granny+square+blanket.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheF1lCijV1wOgyoQm68KDUbEqs0FPQ9J6jicdhsdIsGS-GwX2nO4j2Kci-hdwO84vn1P4yDEspxRuATkyhjekUjNVmdS2AVIpiEpvLppabCZF1L2kW_h4CVbu5kcsjPcs5Ud21RnmED7A/s1600/granny+square+blanket.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />Anniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06673345819018458143noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7590670473374018111.post-62923810496843434482014-05-02T14:53:00.000+01:002014-05-04T09:32:36.064+01:00things we do in bed @ Danson House<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj63uWBNjUmtUyQDP1dUaJUXROEbXhzTR-I84_uS55dtw8t9BbzXVcUEeyulch2BAALveDpHmkEykatLf4eAeg3cgA3j8AHCwifmpUI6OEc5nE07EtsxkJHLx15XBc_mhpB6a0idIPuWNI/s1600/IMG_20140501_133327.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Yesterday I took a train to Bexleyheath to see a mini quilting exhibition at Danson House, a big old Georgian mansion in the middle of Danson park. Novelist Tracy Chevalier has curated the show having become a quilting enthusiast thanks to her research about the craft for her latest novel. Things We Do in Bed focuses on exactly that. The exhibition was divided into 5 rooms representing birth, sleep, sex, illness and death, with the quilts in each one relating to the theme.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHFQc54GcxntXVQijajKJoV_9VepIOa9CtYH3kYLXtnbKhsKRSLHcaJfZVDXMPv7wTLLjQlMM4iAA_NIeSz1twqoA7-MvMLIr4-xz7lr_4oZVVIB6dDDvyYc2aSxuQg7jaaUFl9Tr8h_8/s1600/IMG_20140501_133327.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHFQc54GcxntXVQijajKJoV_9VepIOa9CtYH3kYLXtnbKhsKRSLHcaJfZVDXMPv7wTLLjQlMM4iAA_NIeSz1twqoA7-MvMLIr4-xz7lr_4oZVVIB6dDDvyYc2aSxuQg7jaaUFl9Tr8h_8/s1600/IMG_20140501_133327.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie0GY1aHCMD9r5Ks6LwqHi9w4Wn2gDLGIV0H3UdKXPhpgE6pvWP0oSioDQ9-oqKZSI_polXPyY4vEuLSi9AeMFtG0x1sUE1dcit8R0UsAyH4Wh2PUaAkes0nRU1lOqMWg3l2yTRAtPuE0/s1600/DSC_0956.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie0GY1aHCMD9r5Ks6LwqHi9w4Wn2gDLGIV0H3UdKXPhpgE6pvWP0oSioDQ9-oqKZSI_polXPyY4vEuLSi9AeMFtG0x1sUE1dcit8R0UsAyH4Wh2PUaAkes0nRU1lOqMWg3l2yTRAtPuE0/s1600/DSC_0956.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
Birth<br />
Grayson Perry's striking "Right to Life" foetus quilt is pretty disturbing but also v.cool. It was made in response to the American abortion debate in the 1990s. Also in the Birth room were two historical cot quilts. The quilting on the 18th C one was incredible.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmvmMTB4nHHaEQPOKwN5pJA8mO1gLVhliEYi-mPIO3leGmYOx9b0hjMKSP6dorGWzEHygJttJOoca37YW_J9XZsKf_B6CcBBJEmCupjhLJwcGS-rDZo33elvymYvmUeonYgcgob35fcro/s1600/DSC_0946.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmvmMTB4nHHaEQPOKwN5pJA8mO1gLVhliEYi-mPIO3leGmYOx9b0hjMKSP6dorGWzEHygJttJOoca37YW_J9XZsKf_B6CcBBJEmCupjhLJwcGS-rDZo33elvymYvmUeonYgcgob35fcro/s1600/DSC_0946.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0vU6XHbRqd9ArAhqoI8hg1nfUR16OdgBUc6FwBnMz2oZtAkWbtPTKbynYEDHHIWnbJo9AMY0fl7dF3Ns8H_WfMAPe7ZIzpFH5M5fvqy1qh1bkmSwUYABSYWWG9IaDDaPIjmblMi5hTsw/s1600/IMG_20140501_135945.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0vU6XHbRqd9ArAhqoI8hg1nfUR16OdgBUc6FwBnMz2oZtAkWbtPTKbynYEDHHIWnbJo9AMY0fl7dF3Ns8H_WfMAPe7ZIzpFH5M5fvqy1qh1bkmSwUYABSYWWG9IaDDaPIjmblMi5hTsw/s1600/IMG_20140501_135945.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpSZjhcJmgS44mgkjbGd1bNwA65i03XBiOCtxUQDVFIpwBx1L0SVH8ukiBbUQWlo7eiUcF6-mcFn1YJznLA1pOOkePKNtTfHdSAVStSgru1OrzjzjPYQa29TAVVcg71tqa6HuGY7_fAOM/s1600/DSC_0947.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpSZjhcJmgS44mgkjbGd1bNwA65i03XBiOCtxUQDVFIpwBx1L0SVH8ukiBbUQWlo7eiUcF6-mcFn1YJznLA1pOOkePKNtTfHdSAVStSgru1OrzjzjPYQa29TAVVcg71tqa6HuGY7_fAOM/s1600/DSC_0947.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
Sleep<br />
The star of the Sleep room was the quilt stitched by prisoners through Fine Cell Work, a social enterprise that teaches inmates creative skills (including needlework and quilting) and provides them with the opportunity to sell their work. Each patch on the quilt was made by an individual and accompanied by a paragraph or so (written by the maker) to explain the design.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVZdBbaOZpAejh8aiui6-J8500NWxDm6cJzmAVAzRnaggCRtfiCMw6e48nWUl9D1mnn2asnzjwpw-B-4QbeQ1CYXG2cd6-ptUEjuvCL9x9E6WSFnFTgLJYPiAuldv6pOjgmTL6VJ6ZFCw/s1600/DSC_0949.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVZdBbaOZpAejh8aiui6-J8500NWxDm6cJzmAVAzRnaggCRtfiCMw6e48nWUl9D1mnn2asnzjwpw-B-4QbeQ1CYXG2cd6-ptUEjuvCL9x9E6WSFnFTgLJYPiAuldv6pOjgmTL6VJ6ZFCw/s1600/DSC_0949.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-kZ94B1NHMJEaOnJG5PsoobMiSB7vUqlmhRNEr3Hr0RPC-sTw6eTzjtEd8zOTv_zcg5y6h1oAaXQ5mwXcZHHTq8eS_qbWdhkN65bbuSfpkbgSxU43nDRHTl38YHd0hKVE6gKRCIGHfuI/s1600/DSC_0950.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-kZ94B1NHMJEaOnJG5PsoobMiSB7vUqlmhRNEr3Hr0RPC-sTw6eTzjtEd8zOTv_zcg5y6h1oAaXQ5mwXcZHHTq8eS_qbWdhkN65bbuSfpkbgSxU43nDRHTl38YHd0hKVE6gKRCIGHfuI/s1600/DSC_0950.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
Sex<br />
The most disappointing of all the rooms as it only offered one 'quilt'. I feel like much more could have been made of this room.<br />
<br />
Illness<br />
This and the death room were probably my favourites (not sure what that says about me). I think that because quilts are normally made for someone in particular and because they are quite time-consuming to make there's a lot of thought and personal story connected to them which is why the illness room was quite touching. I loved Sue Walters 'Unchained Melody' quilt as much for the beautiful fabric choices as the story behind it. She made it sitting by her husband's side whilst he was in the severe stages of Alzheimers. I also really liked Becky Knight's quilt that was linked to her struggle with depression. It's v.cleverly constructed with actual stones trapped between layers of fabric (emulating the weight of her depression) and an outline of a person made out of painkillers. I say it all the time but I really like how many different forms quilts can take, it's such an expressive medium.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3bK-RneEWvkeyqtOfb8ph83bxJ23qGc_EUNS0HYdkHicBaHbUA2DYX778t_WJCVah7H_heKbApIKHLLfTC5G6-gnVw290DBGFaAO2KJurGWgwBR1LEgxCVc3kRtdJbEygxodZZJrVe-U/s1600/IMG_20140501_141109.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3bK-RneEWvkeyqtOfb8ph83bxJ23qGc_EUNS0HYdkHicBaHbUA2DYX778t_WJCVah7H_heKbApIKHLLfTC5G6-gnVw290DBGFaAO2KJurGWgwBR1LEgxCVc3kRtdJbEygxodZZJrVe-U/s1600/IMG_20140501_141109.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsSVH34bf65aDxFn271uLTDJFp8YROmBX5fH-PfQuXuD2vDr4op3dYB-IX9H1sFvQbv4I8I2bBwmUoBzGApB7TM9hrHVn8JIWIwH3kyhkDRtAoaK8geRK4GiUdAQETTztm6fWbpn-dLHY/s1600/IMG_20140501_141145.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsSVH34bf65aDxFn271uLTDJFp8YROmBX5fH-PfQuXuD2vDr4op3dYB-IX9H1sFvQbv4I8I2bBwmUoBzGApB7TM9hrHVn8JIWIwH3kyhkDRtAoaK8geRK4GiUdAQETTztm6fWbpn-dLHY/s1600/IMG_20140501_141145.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1qDXqIR1lFLczJTmfHHPEHV8fT0kv9TNRQuA9ezpAarVbo4Rr6azQWBGtg9NePrvh-SOlu4oiuQWdM8N1UAtoAhT6NqeKSboDV_LUEniiSnAmrHmK8Dj3djq3FmnshPHBAyCTQOaFodk/s1600/DSC_0953.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1qDXqIR1lFLczJTmfHHPEHV8fT0kv9TNRQuA9ezpAarVbo4Rr6azQWBGtg9NePrvh-SOlu4oiuQWdM8N1UAtoAhT6NqeKSboDV_LUEniiSnAmrHmK8Dj3djq3FmnshPHBAyCTQOaFodk/s1600/DSC_0953.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS7D_0zhAYh_WC2_HPrOv2J8LDBwnIyTNYeQni8T_xAqkJX-w9qMN-LZlOkxGrKba44K8mbbvvvYg-R5ZzKUI4ZpBOKKZVsBIL1bazMfh1b4vCcOCKjcQ28HYvDrGlhhmPdgSlaYsTqfY/s1600/DSC_0954.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS7D_0zhAYh_WC2_HPrOv2J8LDBwnIyTNYeQni8T_xAqkJX-w9qMN-LZlOkxGrKba44K8mbbvvvYg-R5ZzKUI4ZpBOKKZVsBIL1bazMfh1b4vCcOCKjcQ28HYvDrGlhhmPdgSlaYsTqfY/s1600/DSC_0954.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
Death<br />
Understandably it was all a bit morbid in here but the quilts were wonderfully creative. The coffin shaped tweed patch quilt was cool but sadly I didn't get a picture. Nor did I get a picture of the two quilts by Michele Walker which were particularly poignant. But I did take a picture of this 19th C widow's quilt which is beautiful.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH03PaiDHCnpjlx2TCB_Zh2g2stCAs9LKeJPRu75y_mYTxynyvq4AtrTXMInYwfL3o5Ak2omOUxZxt93hfey_iL1_Bbp0LCnnY-8080DesvWSA1l2exntujVX5_ZOe2g_g1FybMeJx-pw/s1600/IMG_20140501_141846.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH03PaiDHCnpjlx2TCB_Zh2g2stCAs9LKeJPRu75y_mYTxynyvq4AtrTXMInYwfL3o5Ak2omOUxZxt93hfey_iL1_Bbp0LCnnY-8080DesvWSA1l2exntujVX5_ZOe2g_g1FybMeJx-pw/s1600/IMG_20140501_141846.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
We also had a look around the rest of the mansion which had recently-ish been restored to its former Georgian glory. My favourite thing was the Octagonal room, it had the most amazing carpet and wallpaper (not original but a fairly accurate reproduction of what it would have looked like). The oval staircase was also pretty special. Before getting back on the train my mum and I popped into the tea room - which was v.nice. A massive sandwich and a scone later we stepped out into the most torrential downpour. My feet got absolutely soaked on the walk to the station (damn converse) but the rain made the park, including the avenue of horse chestnuts, look incredibly green and lush.<br />
<br />
It's a rather teeny exhibition but the price of the ticket does mean you get to wander around the rest of the house which makes the ticket price (£8) worth it I reckon.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ5wURlIGjA1LJYuDLkb_eD9guuvTP_wbMvNKu5dgd3I8TNpdKZgBZ-uHErkFyuPZYoihEnFfsMzdO_pQF3YMnlrz6x9lsdHHiWkDf2oIRAyzS76JUR0X0GB4UdCXLR0O_ww30DAwa8LQ/s1600/IMG_20140501_134746.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ5wURlIGjA1LJYuDLkb_eD9guuvTP_wbMvNKu5dgd3I8TNpdKZgBZ-uHErkFyuPZYoihEnFfsMzdO_pQF3YMnlrz6x9lsdHHiWkDf2oIRAyzS76JUR0X0GB4UdCXLR0O_ww30DAwa8LQ/s1600/IMG_20140501_134746.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1KwlhfjgUDEyr3GeDNXaizvztkfpWiaaiWugz6J_Ljjh_2szkwLuRE5-wvKgaoZoZ6tclr3ZH4PoiUMdIGpkNJbFLyA9JnarstDidlR8tQMfVcw7mNa97p7IPtlZld2ELGmq2xezr8U4/s1600/IMG_20140501_134734.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1KwlhfjgUDEyr3GeDNXaizvztkfpWiaaiWugz6J_Ljjh_2szkwLuRE5-wvKgaoZoZ6tclr3ZH4PoiUMdIGpkNJbFLyA9JnarstDidlR8tQMfVcw7mNa97p7IPtlZld2ELGmq2xezr8U4/s1600/IMG_20140501_134734.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFXv-zx3Cv20GhMGklwGICY2prXT0AgCxjA5NozZOe0CarlLYn9qbqrXoePNh-umW_A-UdOq5twSxZy509bSQMgNeTqLb92G0B7-hW9Ne91TF1xKqcHgWWFrLk2blj4mXjDbtXCtxkQus/s1600/DSC_0945.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFXv-zx3Cv20GhMGklwGICY2prXT0AgCxjA5NozZOe0CarlLYn9qbqrXoePNh-umW_A-UdOq5twSxZy509bSQMgNeTqLb92G0B7-hW9Ne91TF1xKqcHgWWFrLk2blj4mXjDbtXCtxkQus/s1600/DSC_0945.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjD2YRs4W3RPLa3BZo_6hTEfcHNvBi9ZvHWMFyTZspS-cHgeoRj87fVhgc101KqL_1BajglVvYZQH6XDqRm3g3OXyPseW5JW3A0gd0Xowu9gqmc9FKnGug5ejoMH3fI78mOwKpATMzleE/s1600/IMG_20140501_142024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjD2YRs4W3RPLa3BZo_6hTEfcHNvBi9ZvHWMFyTZspS-cHgeoRj87fVhgc101KqL_1BajglVvYZQH6XDqRm3g3OXyPseW5JW3A0gd0Xowu9gqmc9FKnGug5ejoMH3fI78mOwKpATMzleE/s1600/IMG_20140501_142024.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpgxGwWQhaeI71Npxm5kZlVQ2bFRwPpaof2dYEnOR7oewh5rDz-ug92VmHnEV8zfWrtuPFhfVsYyNHTgT2j-swWhxEomWJqHQSc6Odp1QCK01r91m_hSr6JQN7rYARmzChQ-BSoSQuNw8/s1600/IMG_20140501_153335.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpgxGwWQhaeI71Npxm5kZlVQ2bFRwPpaof2dYEnOR7oewh5rDz-ug92VmHnEV8zfWrtuPFhfVsYyNHTgT2j-swWhxEomWJqHQSc6Odp1QCK01r91m_hSr6JQN7rYARmzChQ-BSoSQuNw8/s1600/IMG_20140501_153335.jpg" /></a></div>
So it's a pretty grey, chilly day but at least it's Friday, a Friday before yet another long weekend - yay!<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Anniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06673345819018458143noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7590670473374018111.post-88392383597128885422014-04-30T15:49:00.002+01:002014-04-30T15:49:19.201+01:00sunny day wish listThe weather is lovely.<div>
I just got paid.</div>
<div>
The mind wanders.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQSVQZ1qnFA83TqSWdLgOz14EUHPgeTN-9PIFKjJ9IBDbvbfL_6u6pTn15OsEHf4tLUfmkjpO3Ouey8zR_umDQ8LgBVRgbVn6x2hDsCCoGiiPsohb9-jsCV1pZ4GSZ27dxbRB1FbaHfuI/s1600/sunnydaywl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQSVQZ1qnFA83TqSWdLgOz14EUHPgeTN-9PIFKjJ9IBDbvbfL_6u6pTn15OsEHf4tLUfmkjpO3Ouey8zR_umDQ8LgBVRgbVn6x2hDsCCoGiiPsohb9-jsCV1pZ4GSZ27dxbRB1FbaHfuI/s1600/sunnydaywl.jpg" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
1 // <a href="http://laurenmoffatt.net/pages/collection" target="_blank">lauren moffatt</a> spring collection, palmgrass blouse - completely out of my price range but it looks so lovely and summery.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
2 // preppy sunnies from <a href="http://www.topshop.com/en/tsuk/product/bags-accessories-1702216/sunglasses-468/round-sunglasses-669/preppy-colour-block-sunglasses-1701986?refinements=category~%5b210004%7c208555%5d&bi=1&ps=200" target="_blank">topshop</a> - no pair has come close to replacing my <a href="http://beardtoday-gonetomorrow.blogspot.co.uk/2012/06/ode-to-pair-of-sunglasses.html" target="_blank">old sunglasses</a> which I <i>loved </i>but these are cool.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
3 // bronze sandals from <a href="http://www.asos.com/ASOS/ASOS-FLIGHTPLAN-Leather-Flat-Sandals/Prod/pgeproduct.aspx?iid=3744169&cid=6458&Rf-300=2317&sh=0&pge=0&pgesize=204&sort=-1&clr=Bronze" target="_blank">ASOS</a> - I've been wearing the same pair for the last two summers, I think it's time to try out some new ones.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
4 // boxy backpack also from <a href="http://www.asos.com/pgeproduct.aspx?iid=3475612" target="_blank">ASOS</a> - this has been sitting in my saved list for two months and I still want it. Also it's dropped in price. Two very good reasons to buy methinks...</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
5 // Sleeveless smock dress from <a href="http://www.thewhitepepper.com/collections/dresses/products/sleeveless-bib-frill-smock-dress-pink" target="_blank">the white pepper</a> - pink's not really my colour but I would make an exception for this. Liking those ruffles a lot.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
6 // watermelon slice necklace by <a href="http://www.notonthehighstreet.com/lucieellen/product/watermelon-necklace" target="_blank">Lucie Ellen</a> - having quite a large watermelon obsession at present. This is ace.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
7 // floral kimono by <a href="https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/188023125/reserved-for-caroline-set-of-2-kimono?ref=listing-shop-header-1" target="_blank">Sunset to Sunrise</a> (found on etsy) - I've wanted a kimono type robe for aaaages and this shop has them in a range of colours (liking the mint version in particular). Although she seems to do them for bridal parties I guess she'd make just one for me...</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
8 // <a href="http://tnuck.com/collections/ladies/products/anchor-duffle" target="_blank">anchor duffel bag</a> - <a href="http://www.arosieoutlook.com/" target="_blank">Rosie</a> featured this on her wish list recently and now I want it too! I really need a decent weekend away bag (or gym bag - ha!) and something like this would be perfect. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
9 // <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Vintage-Quilt-Revival-Designs-Classic/dp/1620330547" target="_blank">the vintage quilt revival</a> - the block and quilt designs in this are so pretty and inspiring. A book I'd rather own than admire through the pictures of it on the internet.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
</div>
Anniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06673345819018458143noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7590670473374018111.post-92195999058855502582014-04-28T13:21:00.000+01:002014-04-28T13:21:20.903+01:00april pics<div style="text-align: center;">
Some random pictures from the last month</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbruY9LChBFptFyERhpMq0nk8iXZZJ5_XTe6clrn-pjFfTHsciZ2Q8Y5xtJ4Sd90G05PN0Vl8ypPWwVy9ELLrvOw3UkNEDKQ8v9XouhhK7WetkxZJO43ehC7GnXGT280t2BTB76iycBAw/s1600/IMG_20140425_213818.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbruY9LChBFptFyERhpMq0nk8iXZZJ5_XTe6clrn-pjFfTHsciZ2Q8Y5xtJ4Sd90G05PN0Vl8ypPWwVy9ELLrvOw3UkNEDKQ8v9XouhhK7WetkxZJO43ehC7GnXGT280t2BTB76iycBAw/s1600/IMG_20140425_213818.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhie8LH53x8mnskmRMitDB1fcgQAlsIlT8oBev4-AMWAgqhxgTjiucsndUWg3E6_cM_FnjgmAfiPWfeEnSBLfUPTnXGBd1e-dbZlbvMRaL0FPH7O6fZ_jxs0Ghyphenhyphenfm6ICu6dVvo0HY_RqoE/s1600/IMG_20140426_163103.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhie8LH53x8mnskmRMitDB1fcgQAlsIlT8oBev4-AMWAgqhxgTjiucsndUWg3E6_cM_FnjgmAfiPWfeEnSBLfUPTnXGBd1e-dbZlbvMRaL0FPH7O6fZ_jxs0Ghyphenhyphenfm6ICu6dVvo0HY_RqoE/s1600/IMG_20140426_163103.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDVVtkasWU50lIk0ovQ_eD1O_IaGRWpQe0P8DH-jmKZHur8Vd0nFkjOlkoDo9kljvN1gZWoQJ4aMvoVeVg6DSru47LNzdHzf14WxsR7YA4g5kOWE3oNe_NbeAXBrREbLIaOjb3Ga_NtkA/s1600/IMG_20140426_162950.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDVVtkasWU50lIk0ovQ_eD1O_IaGRWpQe0P8DH-jmKZHur8Vd0nFkjOlkoDo9kljvN1gZWoQJ4aMvoVeVg6DSru47LNzdHzf14WxsR7YA4g5kOWE3oNe_NbeAXBrREbLIaOjb3Ga_NtkA/s1600/IMG_20140426_162950.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWvy5OYK6fzqhDCeX0vfVlQrjVtJkhZN9Gs8Kt5PmSwcpx48KqPJVgBUlsMMYiJJLBTR0Jl0G_FanQmG9HQpS1j2dbb2dsySGj-Q-AdKRq3VBIQskpGCd0kc0rr_OyFoRLjUqljWPitFI/s1600/IMG_20140426_170406.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWvy5OYK6fzqhDCeX0vfVlQrjVtJkhZN9Gs8Kt5PmSwcpx48KqPJVgBUlsMMYiJJLBTR0Jl0G_FanQmG9HQpS1j2dbb2dsySGj-Q-AdKRq3VBIQskpGCd0kc0rr_OyFoRLjUqljWPitFI/s1600/IMG_20140426_170406.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhywgBkjriqLuA79xHbnEhLACFxv51kJ5gt5eC6y2Q1ldHUMF_bKQq31mGmJc1UMPQSYCCi_RGUrmceA9IvqZP64F86qehwR9-3aBzNRjhALFdYnDMBhLtrCnfoSD5tFlHMG0MfF44-sps/s1600/IMG_20140427_154529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhywgBkjriqLuA79xHbnEhLACFxv51kJ5gt5eC6y2Q1ldHUMF_bKQq31mGmJc1UMPQSYCCi_RGUrmceA9IvqZP64F86qehwR9-3aBzNRjhALFdYnDMBhLtrCnfoSD5tFlHMG0MfF44-sps/s1600/IMG_20140427_154529.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSv5P_FeuESO8U1yVQZLimXhsMGm7NBtfJrRCX23oPk1pyKgSTL0phzJdnUUG4_ilh_7kxvLFZJpS_W2vhqsZald_ijjgjdPpF60D5vfDf774kO6-DoGQvDEI0KbQV0SZWSmRUpLwkOm8/s1600/IMG_20140427_154412.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSv5P_FeuESO8U1yVQZLimXhsMGm7NBtfJrRCX23oPk1pyKgSTL0phzJdnUUG4_ilh_7kxvLFZJpS_W2vhqsZald_ijjgjdPpF60D5vfDf774kO6-DoGQvDEI0KbQV0SZWSmRUpLwkOm8/s1600/IMG_20140427_154412.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimU59LJx0yIUGkZO7ujIlyrrXtjv2VROPDM92GjxCDKgCiAT0LT_gl4TUC3e-BPQiaU_vxV76POaTYn_lkmxuw-myuRKQSgCrl_AJGMkZhVyxeX0UR7WiLvv0kglwfzD0bqAxZLMgCBIs/s1600/DSC_0943.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimU59LJx0yIUGkZO7ujIlyrrXtjv2VROPDM92GjxCDKgCiAT0LT_gl4TUC3e-BPQiaU_vxV76POaTYn_lkmxuw-myuRKQSgCrl_AJGMkZhVyxeX0UR7WiLvv0kglwfzD0bqAxZLMgCBIs/s1600/DSC_0943.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq-klPxT7kOD4QdSj0adg8AzsK13wNbVq3xDDWHdO6yKnJP-sp1JM53dGKEPgGPsvmoUmC1b4_XakWzfj1vi-PwGDq_wRQkHQmLsNscKOgvQ3Ugynq16RoFXyL1fI09SaAmGQU8aGnRow/s1600/IMG_20140427_180756.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq-klPxT7kOD4QdSj0adg8AzsK13wNbVq3xDDWHdO6yKnJP-sp1JM53dGKEPgGPsvmoUmC1b4_XakWzfj1vi-PwGDq_wRQkHQmLsNscKOgvQ3Ugynq16RoFXyL1fI09SaAmGQU8aGnRow/s1600/IMG_20140427_180756.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTMi2QSQvABJ_8x-Hq1B7gbyy2sQcXCJYYj83O4mGX8CRwWNsI9EZuW6gnBApsxItNlvXL1JWRN62HA685wtJh8KouByOPJ2-D5gPStM-biySA9Sb_40TsXTmXYOTgV8veNoB4RAXbaUc/s1600/DSC_0832.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTMi2QSQvABJ_8x-Hq1B7gbyy2sQcXCJYYj83O4mGX8CRwWNsI9EZuW6gnBApsxItNlvXL1JWRN62HA685wtJh8KouByOPJ2-D5gPStM-biySA9Sb_40TsXTmXYOTgV8veNoB4RAXbaUc/s1600/DSC_0832.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQP_XBGZlBpF7frewJwm38qhIbqZKlPFADwoMKvr2HM0QwxLo4dpGfC7untX8NWWs2Bw1lrOOW0EkZac5vRGql1aZWlRGHj0O50d2ZSTrGm9SMWeQTd9evlYSKIn218A4CAGwJ5JhOFFw/s1600/DSC_0906.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQP_XBGZlBpF7frewJwm38qhIbqZKlPFADwoMKvr2HM0QwxLo4dpGfC7untX8NWWs2Bw1lrOOW0EkZac5vRGql1aZWlRGHj0O50d2ZSTrGm9SMWeQTd9evlYSKIn218A4CAGwJ5JhOFFw/s1600/DSC_0906.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
1 // going for the pot</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
What with the World Snooker Championships on, and having watched a fair bit of the action, Mitch and I decided to play a game ourselves on friday night at our local working man's club. The drinks are cheap and the table is free.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
2 & 3 // sunny brixton village</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
An afternoon in Brixton which featured a quick stop off at the Crafty Fox Market to pick up an awesome tee from <a href="http://www.skev.co.uk/" target="_blank">Skev</a> before one of <a href="http://the-joint.co/" target="_blank">The Joint's</a> finest pulled pork burgers and a salted caramel ice cream.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
4 // cloudy skies over battersea</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
5, 6 & 7 // bluebell carpet </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Yesterday, we went to visit Mitch's parents in Essex. For the first time since I've been going out with Mitch, he took me on a little walk in the woods behind his parents' house. This is what we found.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
8 // waiting for the train at Elsenham</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
9 // shell collection</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Discovered when I was clearing out some stuff.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
10 // on the actual banks of the thames</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
A friend and I walked along the south bank to vauxhall. The river was so low that we wandered down the ramp (where the duck boat tends to sit) and admired the view.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
Anniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06673345819018458143noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7590670473374018111.post-79721517449416461742014-04-24T09:30:00.000+01:002014-04-24T09:30:01.160+01:00Melon<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdbuUEV3KKa7VP6RUBDS9r6ym_septkmOI-7h9obfTSoocY1SMinF0N10xMK85uuueLn0Qq_cp6LBEHoh5NKk1t9u2fimUiylOlN2lbT9sZXw7yN8dpSsMkZB5dMB2-9NP1ynUX7oGCSY/s1600/melon.tiff" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdbuUEV3KKa7VP6RUBDS9r6ym_septkmOI-7h9obfTSoocY1SMinF0N10xMK85uuueLn0Qq_cp6LBEHoh5NKk1t9u2fimUiylOlN2lbT9sZXw7yN8dpSsMkZB5dMB2-9NP1ynUX7oGCSY/s1600/melon.tiff" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
A couple of nights ago, Moriarty tried melon for the first time. He liked it :)</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" height="610" scrolling="no" src="//instagram.com/p/nJWepEykJO/embed/" width="512"></iframe></div>
Anniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06673345819018458143noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7590670473374018111.post-26119297217760096382014-04-23T10:45:00.000+01:002014-04-23T13:07:04.990+01:00exploring richmond park<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDUBvG6a17RusadbGd19-x6eJ7CvumEP2Vaun5_mXFhsTP17qga0a6Z_EEOCE18sW9Epx7GpLfU6VRSn_PoNco0f8WF9Aw0oSGcsTs6An4sgh7avLVe_MB2tEHcGxp3yI9vUsXRW25HF0/s1600/DSC_0918.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDUBvG6a17RusadbGd19-x6eJ7CvumEP2Vaun5_mXFhsTP17qga0a6Z_EEOCE18sW9Epx7GpLfU6VRSn_PoNco0f8WF9Aw0oSGcsTs6An4sgh7avLVe_MB2tEHcGxp3yI9vUsXRW25HF0/s1600/DSC_0918.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKIh8hGBL-6UdC_KArAI9IDAFQsTi1QcXarWFTvjzZG8Y-Fd3QRZA5Hfwe2OqnnygbKA4AASiWLvo7x2F_onTbHUchKnr-RAXKo9psv1enRDqVnXffZWNb4peiqkwwliZv9yJ8kd-uku0/s1600/DSC_0919.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKIh8hGBL-6UdC_KArAI9IDAFQsTi1QcXarWFTvjzZG8Y-Fd3QRZA5Hfwe2OqnnygbKA4AASiWLvo7x2F_onTbHUchKnr-RAXKo9psv1enRDqVnXffZWNb4peiqkwwliZv9yJ8kd-uku0/s1600/DSC_0919.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZClM_e3MBrn3rHyV9Od99hDdBtrn6MOR67sk3z8J7Yc4divse_LzzFfKjjN7Nng4ZrMdK3Nj0nySufCMXtmvu8LZlv58oBMlW52nYBbZP4BR0_io4aLZf1s9hV88MhcPI0gPFVXGa7cE/s1600/IMG_20140421_121856.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZClM_e3MBrn3rHyV9Od99hDdBtrn6MOR67sk3z8J7Yc4divse_LzzFfKjjN7Nng4ZrMdK3Nj0nySufCMXtmvu8LZlv58oBMlW52nYBbZP4BR0_io4aLZf1s9hV88MhcPI0gPFVXGa7cE/s1600/IMG_20140421_121856.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbRpZdMJaZL1FaFd2KNPLg49T9pwUAv1mSMkziBHLc97_iQhZOWjpDHVH-_ycUp66KKM8yTXNTfe6n9kLUwj1e6UzhOpuraO8Ew2JI8M5BnQlWUOtqXBEqZ0eo7DxG5t2k4O3vrd7bAIU/s1600/DSC_0922.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbRpZdMJaZL1FaFd2KNPLg49T9pwUAv1mSMkziBHLc97_iQhZOWjpDHVH-_ycUp66KKM8yTXNTfe6n9kLUwj1e6UzhOpuraO8Ew2JI8M5BnQlWUOtqXBEqZ0eo7DxG5t2k4O3vrd7bAIU/s1600/DSC_0922.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5lt0vI3eRQLFoVFrHiEZ_G81c_xdyKbwk8zLi9r3iM8kJxDaFHBBVzUcsrVb6w-FkMljJSDtW1OFAn5nwcFIbB2hcG2vAM66n1H1kCJbtBZ8zQXT-NyUviLY2IMS40sDBA_sRsiLILpI/s1600/DSC_0926.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5lt0vI3eRQLFoVFrHiEZ_G81c_xdyKbwk8zLi9r3iM8kJxDaFHBBVzUcsrVb6w-FkMljJSDtW1OFAn5nwcFIbB2hcG2vAM66n1H1kCJbtBZ8zQXT-NyUviLY2IMS40sDBA_sRsiLILpI/s1600/DSC_0926.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivd3yvZqtkk1GfOwfgvekawcjGxMgm3bnU_m_KLACYujrH6pdq6XPTkFO-dNqqfKtKwLx-S_RqyP-fMlhzVjQOUmPO21u3QWLQSAjfAaQmI0Ls__Gf3LSOVAFkSK5psKTwZIy3Kg__ycg/s1600/Slide4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivd3yvZqtkk1GfOwfgvekawcjGxMgm3bnU_m_KLACYujrH6pdq6XPTkFO-dNqqfKtKwLx-S_RqyP-fMlhzVjQOUmPO21u3QWLQSAjfAaQmI0Ls__Gf3LSOVAFkSK5psKTwZIy3Kg__ycg/s1600/Slide4.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPbsfmfbcbS60uSyWQSR6lGDFUQ5rib9vV6B2p2QF-IRzJ2vITwIejLNVWcdLcOM6zH7redTab7u4bfqo-uaRFkv45MkSpWJ_MbA5SctADg98XMVwmwxlh9FzFF4MH3OnblxHP7W90HBM/s1600/DSC_0928.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPbsfmfbcbS60uSyWQSR6lGDFUQ5rib9vV6B2p2QF-IRzJ2vITwIejLNVWcdLcOM6zH7redTab7u4bfqo-uaRFkv45MkSpWJ_MbA5SctADg98XMVwmwxlh9FzFF4MH3OnblxHP7W90HBM/s1600/DSC_0928.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPTTx98gMv8DTw6_CKYQVDAS6zOkhA_0Q-ZM_dVc6VAvd5pLvEybhE28VYREDv7PaSi28taRlyI8OKJpsf0U7rf4pbqyV3HtCT4P1QMbpJWs27TBxYAPqtyYAiwqTWQVxW10cvIqTjAVA/s1600/IMG_20140421_135128.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPTTx98gMv8DTw6_CKYQVDAS6zOkhA_0Q-ZM_dVc6VAvd5pLvEybhE28VYREDv7PaSi28taRlyI8OKJpsf0U7rf4pbqyV3HtCT4P1QMbpJWs27TBxYAPqtyYAiwqTWQVxW10cvIqTjAVA/s1600/IMG_20140421_135128.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNplFXLdZv5gVSmD1L9gzPTcUxrRpZBW604xa3pf2W5UwUUXOTTJayo_WIeuosAbE__VgY8VjCQd5kYuUGbkNCw8UVJFXMjokbUYyrmqWvyyfv8kJpDlj92Cgs-X03jpmtwBAJB8ZZL70/s1600/Slide2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNplFXLdZv5gVSmD1L9gzPTcUxrRpZBW604xa3pf2W5UwUUXOTTJayo_WIeuosAbE__VgY8VjCQd5kYuUGbkNCw8UVJFXMjokbUYyrmqWvyyfv8kJpDlj92Cgs-X03jpmtwBAJB8ZZL70/s1600/Slide2.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrE29H1JcKJqG_Rwsx7uQrKjMSlY7LMAngyMiCnEtxJ4eMkkokcMxEbVXBOk4i380bqQZNy1eSklVdiiHShfYU4-2Xs-MJY4DJ1WF7UXcsV_Az5rKnvtt6qpCYh-08rXCsVSkl3V1mTvs/s1600/Slide1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrE29H1JcKJqG_Rwsx7uQrKjMSlY7LMAngyMiCnEtxJ4eMkkokcMxEbVXBOk4i380bqQZNy1eSklVdiiHShfYU4-2Xs-MJY4DJ1WF7UXcsV_Az5rKnvtt6qpCYh-08rXCsVSkl3V1mTvs/s1600/Slide1.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNYPUmtJ0gcm3WvLa6ciVAv5DAUmNQuQDhdfHMdjfCstDguDIQuYth6vsqZFRr2E8yWWEzNgZVAQa9RxBaL9hZq-SdqJ6uZbUbkC3bxtT9ioU7P4Ved-W1_uJWuRODBVhmO89OgptCRTs/s1600/DSC_0931.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNYPUmtJ0gcm3WvLa6ciVAv5DAUmNQuQDhdfHMdjfCstDguDIQuYth6vsqZFRr2E8yWWEzNgZVAQa9RxBaL9hZq-SdqJ6uZbUbkC3bxtT9ioU7P4Ved-W1_uJWuRODBVhmO89OgptCRTs/s1600/DSC_0931.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_GP3PpH0Ws_0zy5WPanNIoI4tGFHcF3KI8VmqIISIqC0q0TMz0TCGvNniXzDdIj7u4OUmLNYdZE1YSO8WuiMpGXuVwhUGtryaUtiiqw_6sOUwpVhJZFuiyyQl8v2c-OegKhBR4_YsANI/s1600/Slide3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_GP3PpH0Ws_0zy5WPanNIoI4tGFHcF3KI8VmqIISIqC0q0TMz0TCGvNniXzDdIj7u4OUmLNYdZE1YSO8WuiMpGXuVwhUGtryaUtiiqw_6sOUwpVhJZFuiyyQl8v2c-OegKhBR4_YsANI/s1600/Slide3.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhotrksWM1uiuJuwgr58GOnprHkfOcujtrnsdbVEzFw0R0gz2ZNsq0JDigTnIJUiiFxDTZe9WhQdwDNm7EcQuV_xJt3H5ac8k-lhfkx9GDgwlFlIZX1ES2OMd1ljmHvm8mEQAY_QezNjiY/s1600/IMG_20140421_142317.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhotrksWM1uiuJuwgr58GOnprHkfOcujtrnsdbVEzFw0R0gz2ZNsq0JDigTnIJUiiFxDTZe9WhQdwDNm7EcQuV_xJt3H5ac8k-lhfkx9GDgwlFlIZX1ES2OMd1ljmHvm8mEQAY_QezNjiY/s1600/IMG_20140421_142317.jpg" /></a></div>
Mindful of all the food that was consumed on Easter Sunday (pasties, cake, chocolate eggs) a walk around Richmond Park on the monday seemed like a good idea. We started off at the Petersham gate and headed to the centre of the park and the Penn Ponds - we saw a herd of red deer on the way :) At the ponds it started to rain but luckily it didn't last and it was boiling hot again by the time we reached the Isabella Plantation. One thing that I really love about Richmond Park (apart from the deer) is the variety of it. You'd never guess that the beautiful cedar trees, Pembroke Lodge, the Penn Ponds and the plantation were all part of the same park. Depending on what you want to do in the park - climb trees, go on a bike ride, have a picnic, walk the dog, watch the wildlife - there's different areas you can go to get the most out of your day. I can sense we'll be spending a lot more time in Richmond Park as soon as the summer arrives.<br />
<br />
After Isabella we headed towards the Kingston gate and into the town in search of food. A Five Guys opened up in the Rotunda last month which meant I fiiiiinally got to try one of their burgers. Seeing as we'd been walking for 5 and a half miles we opted for the cheeseburgers with all the extras we were allowed. I now get what all the fuss is about. It was guuud. As were their fries! I might be a little more adventurous with my beverage next time as the drinks machine had Coke flavours I'd never even heard of. We finished the day with some playtime with Moriarty and a cup of tea in front of My Neighbour Totoro, which was super weird but cute. Hope you all enjoyed the long weekend!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnesgBN6v8FVeXEPEwYh17HWct9ZOBIjFTVL3qq_KJev8d6p0zw2FKaBi8fOeVbN9TfjeqstzI_eACHd4XDAuw_Naqo5_2rKJYdKdn3doyrUHwwCSoSHurPDx2Y-v5Hr1JJx3mxPxxu5c/s1600/IMG_20140421_151718.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnesgBN6v8FVeXEPEwYh17HWct9ZOBIjFTVL3qq_KJev8d6p0zw2FKaBi8fOeVbN9TfjeqstzI_eACHd4XDAuw_Naqo5_2rKJYdKdn3doyrUHwwCSoSHurPDx2Y-v5Hr1JJx3mxPxxu5c/s1600/IMG_20140421_151718.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />Anniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06673345819018458143noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7590670473374018111.post-39613952736400830132014-04-22T13:04:00.001+01:002014-04-22T13:04:34.904+01:00Making & Baking - easter weekend<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi17Io7XnbbdHNpFB0cjqk7MzQXHCNDW0g2wyOHKuzz9wIFCVmZREkErvfWqglujG3WG2FyvQ6IbeJc4h7YRLJWAi6Z6B4DWLS7EdAiahC7W4ymEXtwEm8zTbTSJWg4tNZTAhHU4U8GSxg/s1600/Slide1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi17Io7XnbbdHNpFB0cjqk7MzQXHCNDW0g2wyOHKuzz9wIFCVmZREkErvfWqglujG3WG2FyvQ6IbeJc4h7YRLJWAi6Z6B4DWLS7EdAiahC7W4ymEXtwEm8zTbTSJWg4tNZTAhHU4U8GSxg/s1600/Slide1.jpg" /></a></div>
A lot of cooking went down over the long weekend, mostly thanks to the fact that I was catering for the easter sunday family get-together. On the whole it was rather successful but a bit of a pastry overload. Let's just say, people certainly didn't need to eat anything else that day! I also did a bit of sweet baking in the form of this (even if I do say so myself) a-mazing <a href="http://farmflavor.com/sweet-potato-cake-with-cream-cheese-icing/" target="_blank">sweet potato cake</a>. It actually requires a cream cheese icing but seeing as it was intended for my v.pregnant friend who can't eat soft cheese, I made a simple buttercream topping instead. My sister found the recipe and it really is a winner: super moist (much like a carrot cake) and delicious without icing if you find it too sweet. Plus, there's the added novelty of cooking with vegetables - never a bad thing in my view. The cake made the journey to Essex with me and, thankfully, arrived in one piece. After a nose around my friend's new house we had a good old catch up over lunch, the best bon-bons I've ever eaten, tea and homemade goodies. Pretty much the perfect day really :)<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLnZdJXayotEtI7oBHiM_6qYSpmRvA5Y_E6iHaVDlQbicKWg36_tbXWmhlFcTIcT13tqUoeW4NmIYZbdf4cb1OebaFEMwDC9pAwgVHIRbedjzbCr12J_FOKLV_hP5YtIkSuz8IRJgYu3c/s1600/IMG_20140419_100521.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLnZdJXayotEtI7oBHiM_6qYSpmRvA5Y_E6iHaVDlQbicKWg36_tbXWmhlFcTIcT13tqUoeW4NmIYZbdf4cb1OebaFEMwDC9pAwgVHIRbedjzbCr12J_FOKLV_hP5YtIkSuz8IRJgYu3c/s1600/IMG_20140419_100521.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg31EHMgSMqpsKKVSUf9Bvlg1t6v0i5JehzYIKefgvD6ZjDlNoHLGmr8sSRlqrcalv-j-AOF_8u4fqMs6enlyPUGMefOphhfyTsVLDIONsLBKJ9jdl9JhpLHdCnXp5NPfcSSPFJbUvgag0/s1600/DSC_0916.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg31EHMgSMqpsKKVSUf9Bvlg1t6v0i5JehzYIKefgvD6ZjDlNoHLGmr8sSRlqrcalv-j-AOF_8u4fqMs6enlyPUGMefOphhfyTsVLDIONsLBKJ9jdl9JhpLHdCnXp5NPfcSSPFJbUvgag0/s1600/DSC_0916.jpg" /></a></div>
As well as baking and stuffing my face I met up with a few friends in the evenings for drinks (and on friday, a game of five-way ping-pong - best. game. ever) and made time for a bit of craft-related productivity. I'm about half way through making the top of a baby quilt for my friend who I mentioned above. She's actually 8 months gone (and looking fabulous) so seeing her was both a reminder for me to get a move on and the exciting fact that the next time I see her, she'll be a mum! The quilt itself is a v.simple '+' shape design which I might do a DIY for once it's completed... I'm also slogging away at the crochet blanket - not long now though, I'm hoping it'll be finished by the end of the month.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifVPKSlSrxns_isynaYiC0m_QKtc3B4WNBKe9vxQjaAWpkNHTxByI5GgAAqdP1DpEJJCzEpH3GS-v5oi8AElISFeq5jCLsCnrLn06FVFNjtlcJ0Iry5ZS0fJGScjpnsVI-7te8lP9cj9E/s1600/IMG_20140406_104948.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifVPKSlSrxns_isynaYiC0m_QKtc3B4WNBKe9vxQjaAWpkNHTxByI5GgAAqdP1DpEJJCzEpH3GS-v5oi8AElISFeq5jCLsCnrLn06FVFNjtlcJ0Iry5ZS0fJGScjpnsVI-7te8lP9cj9E/s1600/IMG_20140406_104948.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Anniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06673345819018458143noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7590670473374018111.post-38457911043874208612014-04-17T17:01:00.000+01:002014-04-17T20:45:00.128+01:00a little less floral<div style="text-align: center;">
The sun seems to have disappeared today (and the bank holiday weekend ain't looking so good either) so what better time to bang on about some seriously colourful fabrics. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
As I've mentioned before nearly all the dresses I own are made with floral prints so, the next dress I make should not be. Here are some contenders...</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7MyhlHhyphenhyphen6dUU2fj6AekU9Ze6sbK9OD7caZAZTW9HFT5cmgXDesbwbc1VdjyhfJBViISjxJuSmVBBqkfEhIxBXHpgJMc4L2IgPkxgYMIMCLiiSFPqX5cRAiIJdvf0J7ozYUmc6RE39ztw/s1600/Slide2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7MyhlHhyphenhyphen6dUU2fj6AekU9Ze6sbK9OD7caZAZTW9HFT5cmgXDesbwbc1VdjyhfJBViISjxJuSmVBBqkfEhIxBXHpgJMc4L2IgPkxgYMIMCLiiSFPqX5cRAiIJdvf0J7ozYUmc6RE39ztw/s1600/Slide2.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Amy Butler's <a href="http://www.hawthornethreads.com/fabric/designer/amy_butler" target="_blank">Hapi </a>collection is stunning - particularly loving the glow, camel blanket and sky pyramid designs. Too bad the latter is only available in a linen blend. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
This fabulous collection by <a href="http://www.thevillagehaberdashery.co.uk/sewing-patchwork/fabric?fabric_collection=1199" target="_blank">Arizona</a> is coming soon to the Village Haberdashery. Love the one in the bottom left corner.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiruLQvu_QQSVYxWeWNb7W4dH7ciKHwgaBByh-thxsAQ80UQmVO2ZNUIW16Td0GQdZb4P4DxXw09fN4y5H_k6NSF6Gyq1Pqk4JSyU2VjTbAcU8gaT6Oa6THIf2xVbPlspvevhiYXNKNf0/s1600/Slide1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiruLQvu_QQSVYxWeWNb7W4dH7ciKHwgaBByh-thxsAQ80UQmVO2ZNUIW16Td0GQdZb4P4DxXw09fN4y5H_k6NSF6Gyq1Pqk4JSyU2VjTbAcU8gaT6Oa6THIf2xVbPlspvevhiYXNKNf0/s1600/Slide1.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Lastly there's this from the <a href="http://www.thevillagehaberdashery.co.uk/sewing-patchwork/fabric/henna-zig-zag-in-turquoise" target="_blank">Henna</a> collection, a first from UK designer Beth Studley. I want a dress made from this v.muchly.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh_6I9pY7RSTEVF1yJPNsnYcbgdi39DLKAXVkpOrJ8beHoDndCdd-XzjAWCGdrcTA80pSlOF4L2IGxtwolJ-AVhPOXYb-tWSs6Eaiz_uYi58_akEwwkVOkOJz9bAkV7bU63OPg8gwI2e0/s1600/1193_t_zigzag_crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh_6I9pY7RSTEVF1yJPNsnYcbgdi39DLKAXVkpOrJ8beHoDndCdd-XzjAWCGdrcTA80pSlOF4L2IGxtwolJ-AVhPOXYb-tWSs6Eaiz_uYi58_akEwwkVOkOJz9bAkV7bU63OPg8gwI2e0/s1600/1193_t_zigzag_crop.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Happy faux friday! I'm cooking for all the family on easter sunday and taking a trip to Essex on saturday to see a v.good friend :) tomorrow and monday I shall play by ear - really looking forward to a lie-in! Hope you've got lots of good stuff planned for the easter weekend too. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
Anniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06673345819018458143noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7590670473374018111.post-84576310019889885822014-04-16T10:40:00.000+01:002014-04-16T11:08:00.699+01:00Reading & Seeing 16<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRE6AOXmC0KaLbncckINgXIeUNpoFpWsdJdIPw-_xyjUnY6OZEmNy6UnH86gMFguXrm2laIt80n66ecZ1qgvIy61X4Q3Ksmda4bzwJYqvWJ3pKDwQvkCJ0VC2b-yP-DOXvF80P_sD6OvM/s1600/under-the-skin-poster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRE6AOXmC0KaLbncckINgXIeUNpoFpWsdJdIPw-_xyjUnY6OZEmNy6UnH86gMFguXrm2laIt80n66ecZ1qgvIy61X4Q3Ksmda4bzwJYqvWJ3pKDwQvkCJ0VC2b-yP-DOXvF80P_sD6OvM/s1600/under-the-skin-poster.jpg" /></a></div>
Under the Skin<br />
Chilling, sinister and amazing. Set in Scotland, Scarlett Johansson plays a seemingly attractive and friendly young women who picks up single and unattached young men on the pretence of giving them a lift somewhere. Once they're seated in her van, she asks if they'd like to come home with her. Unluckily for the poor bastards who say yes, they're not about to get their rocks off. They're about to meet their end because Johansson is some sort of alien. She's actually seducing them and taking them back to her creepy lair to harvest their bodies in one of the most terrifying sequences I've <i>ever</i> seen. But it's not just the action on screen that's frightening, it's the music. With very little dialogue, the music (and the stunning Scottish scenery) is a powerful presence throughout the film. It's unnervingly atmospheric - whether it was the eerie, minimal rhythmic beats or the frantic violin (or strings) music, I had goosebumps. Johansson is spot-on, as are the v.brief appearances of the supporting cast. Director Jonathan Glazer has been likened to Kubrick and I can definitely see the similarities. I'm not sure if this is still on at the cinema but I do highly recommend watching it on the big screen if you can. We had to watch something funny before going to sleep (I have a v.active imagination) and I suggest you do the same.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUHHrRs-AnLwrY6n6tP05-DkfnL0k1xanJ_HK7E16NdWs6SGcFSN4OAcmVLretjEqUvwjDst45KCdis1tFAasynfq6-0mR1IeDc68VvCX3rDmGUQG7yynwapqkN_1p9jw8b7IRA7i8UGk/s1600/Slide1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUHHrRs-AnLwrY6n6tP05-DkfnL0k1xanJ_HK7E16NdWs6SGcFSN4OAcmVLretjEqUvwjDst45KCdis1tFAasynfq6-0mR1IeDc68VvCX3rDmGUQG7yynwapqkN_1p9jw8b7IRA7i8UGk/s1600/Slide1.jpg" /></a></div>
In the Heart of the Sea (2000)<br />
The true story of the Nantucket whale ship Essex which foundered in 1820 thanks to an encounter with a sperm whale. Its crew faced a harrowing 90 days in open whale boats searching for land in the Pacific Ocean, with next to nothing to eat or drink, apart from each other... Around forty years ago, a new first-hand account of the Essex crew was unearthed which is why Nathaniel Philbrick wrote In the Heart of the Sea. Before the diary of cabin boy, Thomas Nickerson, was discovered the story of the Essex was almost solely known thanks to the account of Owen Chase, the vessel's first mate, whose own journal was published soon after the sinking and rescue. Philbrick uses both these accounts, which sometimes conflict, in order to piece together what happened. As well as the narrative, Philbrick also provides some useful and interesting contextual information - whaling terms, maps, what life was life was like in Nantucket at that time etc. I also liked the fact that he tells us about what happened to each of the survivors. Yes, the tradgedy of the Essex is apparently what inspired Melville to write Moby Dick, but for me I thought this true story was even more fantastical and shocking. It's no secret that I couldn't get to grips with Moby Dick at uni but I thought this book was excellent and gave a real sense of what it was like to be a whaler in the mid 19th century. I read this in 6 days (into the early hours of the morning on a couple of occasions); I could not put it down. An incredible (and gruesome) story of survival, definitely worth reading before hollywood have its way with it anyway.<br />
<br />
The Last Runaway (2013)<br />
Another book set in America in the mid 1800s (I appear to have gone off on a historical story jaunt), however, this novel is centred around Quakers, quilts (yay!) and the underground railroad, a movement which helped slaves on the run to reach the boarders of Canada. At the centre of it all is Honor Bright, a young English quaker who finds herself v.much alone and somewhat stuck in a tiny, developing village in Ohio. Understandably she feels completely alien in her new home, and the majority of people aren't particularly sympathetic. Quite a fuss was made about this book, possibly because of Tracy Chevalier, but I have to say I found it rather simple and straightforward. (My auntie pointed out that the simple writing style is supposed to mirror the simplistic Quaker way of life. Or something.) I confess I did enjoy the quilting references but at times it felt like Chevalier, who'd obviously done a lot of research into the craft, was determined to squeeze in bits of her new-found knowledge when the story didn't need it. I like the mixture of third-person narrative and letters but unfortunately Honor is a little irritating, Jack Haymaker is terribly one dimensional (in fact a lot of the quakers are either beige or unpleasant) and the meatier characters (Belle and Donavan) aren't really given enough page space. The truly interesting subject - the underground railroad - sort of trundles along in the middle distance which is a shame because I think that's the book I'd rather have read.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvhqciH_dRBeZr53aPYAlkiPRoGIvXbOpCoznX1jQXEvLC0dUKBWY8s3OkKl22HQSNm2HLaO-2IB2g7B4cRSZz-Nj-rOgkvYlFn3YOBHq9WY8u8PQYiIiIyqdyy3heb1A_REyfRD4MuxU/s1600/punchdrunk_pp_poster-1or5m4q.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvhqciH_dRBeZr53aPYAlkiPRoGIvXbOpCoznX1jQXEvLC0dUKBWY8s3OkKl22HQSNm2HLaO-2IB2g7B4cRSZz-Nj-rOgkvYlFn3YOBHq9WY8u8PQYiIiIyqdyy3heb1A_REyfRD4MuxU/s1600/punchdrunk_pp_poster-1or5m4q.jpg" /></a></div>
The Drowned Man: A Hollywood Fable<br />
Chances are you've heard something of the hype surrounding this production of promenade theatre. Well, let me tell you, there's a damn good reason for it. I went last Thursday and I can honestly say it was probably one of the best things I've seen. Rather than sitting down to watch a story, imagine walking around inside it - following the action from scene to scene over four floors of the most incredible sets, silently watching the drama play-out before you. Well, that's what it's like and it was amazing. I'm not going to say any more because it's way more fun to discover stuff for yourself. They've extended it until the end of June and I thoroughly intend to go again. Intrigued? Read more about it <u><a href="http://www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/shows/the-drowned-man-a-hollywood-fable" target="_blank">here</a></u>.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Anniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06673345819018458143noreply@blogger.com0