Competitive Beards

Last Sunday saw the 10th World Beard and Moustache Championships. A glorious event celebrating beards, moustaches and the amount of skill and caft needed to create and maintain some truely amazing facial hair!

It's a biennial competition (giving those taking part enough time to grow something special...) in which men from all over the world compete for several titles within various catergories including: Imperial (Moustache), Sideburns Freestyle (Partial Beard), Musketeer (Partial Beard) and Garibaldi (Full Beard). And it isn't just about the beards, competitors go the whole way with elaborate costumes and outfits to match their spectacular grooming efforts (from full musketeer get-up to old school cricket gear and very fancy suits/embelished waistcoats).

The 2011 event was hosted by Trondheim, Norway but this is a travelling show that's taken place in various locations in previous years - Ystad (Sweden), Berlin, Carson City (Nevada) and Brighton.

Above is this year's Best in Show (and also Freestyle Full Beard Winner) - Elmar Weisser from Germany. Yes, that is a reindeer made from his own beard. Previous champ David Traver from Alaska won by fashioning his beard to resemble an Alaskan snowshoe.

Want to see more beards, or think your beard is worthy of such a competition? There is a smorgasbord of beardy delights and links to your country's beard teams on the website: http://www.worldbeardchampionships.com/

As you can see there is no update from our own beard grower, the above is a little intimidating.

Reading & Seeing 2

On the left is the bespectacled face of Bill Willingham creator of the comic book series Fables. I am a bit of a comics novice having dabbled a little when I was younger - Ghostbusters and of course The Animals of Farthing Wood (not sure if that actually counts). It was my sister who told me to read Fables and, thanks to her enthusiasm (and extremely persistent nature), I finally did. The idea behind the series is pretty simple but very cool - what if the fables (snow white, the three little pigs, Beauty and the Beast & Co.) were forced to live amongst us (regular folk)? The answer is: drama and chaos of the best kind. All the Fables characters suffer magical problems as well as 21st century dilemmas, I particularly like the idea that Prince Charming is a complete jerk not to mention cheap! I've recently finished volume 2 and will be buying the next one as soon as pay day arrives.

The impressively beardy man to the right is none other than Sean 'come away with me lass' Bean. He's currently starring in Game of Thrones which is not only full to the brim with beards but is also a brilliant series based on the books by George Martin. The settings are epic; the characters are complicated (you're never sure who's going to back-stab who) - played by a predominately British Cast (fantasy sounds better in an English accent); even the opening titles are awesome. Those with Sky Atlantic will know that we're half way through the 10 part series and that winter is coming...

Finally, yesterday was Roller Derby Day and I brought two 'Derby Virgins' along for the ride. They loved it BUT to my dismay they have chosen to support the Harbour Grudges. It's going to make it all the more exciting when they have to play the Steam Rollers (pictured) in the Championship Final in July...Come on Steam Rollers!

Something...not so Blue

I realise that the next line should be 'Something Blue' but it turns out that most of the things on my wish list are not.

Clockwise from top left (I see that all the time in magazines):

Super cute Diana Mini 'Love is in the Air' http://www.lomography.com/ £99

Pink Pigeon Light http://www.magmabooks.com/ £65 - Magma have a lot of other cool bits'n'bobs too.

Baker's Delight Apron http://www.anthropologie.eu/uk/page/home £28 - There are lots of fancy aprons here which I wouldn't want to get cake mixture on but they are too cool to resist.

This is a British Bulldog puppy - I want one.

Swallows Earings http://www.tattydevine.com/ £24 - A friend was wearing them at the weekend, they look even more fab in the flesh.

Sure Grips Rock Explosion Skates http://www.rollerskates.com/ $169 - just because.

Doomed http://www.jamesjoyce.co.uk/ £115 + p&p - I love the artwork of James Joyce - there's also a nice tee on his website...

Gladiator Sandals http://www.office.co.uk/ £37 - probably the only item that I can justify buying...the others would make brilliant gifts...*subtle hint*

Something Borrowed

Anyone who knows me might also know that I am quite terrible at returning things after I've borrowed them. CDs, DVDs, items of clothing, screwdrivers - you name it I've probably taken ages to return it. I've had my friend's copy of 'Audition' for the best part of a year now (I just can't bring myself to watch it because I know it's going to be grim). I borrowed a book from another friend - Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman (a very good read by the way - worth getting your own copy...or borrowing) - he wasn't sure if I was ever going to give it back so he bought a new one and let me keep the original. On the plus side I do like lending things out. My Nana said: "Never lend your man or your toothbrush". Wise words which mean that pretty much anything else is up for grabs. However, my DVD collection is quite meager, I never own the latest album of anything and my clothes are alright - nothing fancy, so I mostly lend books, like a little library.

Some people collect boxsets (my sister), video games (Mitch), teapots (my mum) but I love my books. The majority of my library is in storage (and has been for over a year) waiting for a bigger room and a big old bookshelf. Ultimately I'm aiming for a Disney Beauty and the Beast style library, floor to ceiling books with a sliding ladder thrown in.

Baking & Beard update:

Something New

THE wedding might be over but the theme continues.

The bank holiday trip to Camden market had a purpose: the quest for new tees. So in regards to something new...

Radiobot make awesome tees, vests, bags, jackets (link to their website is at the bottom of the blog). Definitely worth a look if you like bright tees, cool patterns and a range of robots to choose from.

We also got chatting to a guy at a t-shirt stall selling graphic tees designed by students across the country. There was a good mix of designs available and more to come - "we're always looking for new designs", the guy said. Any budding artists/designers out there who want to see their work in tee-form? website: http://www.alltropical.co.uk - I particularly liked the Jafar vs Jaffa Cake one. 

Although not strictly brand new but I had to mention the newest addition to my converse collection (all the way from Milan - thanks Mitch). Love 'em.

Lastly, just a very small comment on THE wedding: beautiful dress, excellent commentary (good old Huw Edwards), fabulous champagne breakfast (thanks to my friend and excellent hostess) and some royal family themed cupcakes (courtesy of another dear friend) - v.good day x