Something Old

Yes, it's the first line in that wedding rhyme. No, I'm not going to talk about THE wedding - as it is now referred to (although I have managed to mention it). Instead the rhyme is in honour of the 5 weddings (one down, four to go) that I am attending this year. Above is the most recent wedding invitation (I love it); a message in a bottle - it's going to be by the sea!

But enough of wedding particulars/excitements - back to the subject at hand: Something Old. On Monday I went for a stroll, or rather a rummage, around Camden market. I couldn't actually remember the last time I'd visited the place and lots had changed. Where had the nice lady from New Zealand gone with her cool leather bags and her awesome collection of sunglasses? Where was the random shop/stall with the amazing array of converse - NEVER seen anywhere else? And where was one of my favourite hotspots for cool t-shirts? All gone. But, there were other gems to discover...

The market near the Proud Gallery has undergone some renovation (forgive me if it's been like that for sometime - it was all new to me) and now exists on several levels. The vintage shops have had a bit of a make over and there were plenty of clothes, shoes, accessories (and bicycles!) to keep me occupied.

In the stables market (slightly underground and quite dark) more retro stuff was to be discovered, from typewriters to old school lugguage covered in comic book prints. Mitch was drawn to a stall full of toys - mostly from the 80s & 90s. It was a pretty impressive collection of plastic, not to mention the polaroid cameras.  I think it's got to be part of the human condition that we seek things from the past, particularly our own. Either that or I am a horder (my dniosaurs from when I was small have been saved from the car-boot-sale) and I have met another - Mitch - with his vast collection of sega megadrive games. Yet, looking at the smiling faces of Barbie, Action Man and the not so smiley face of optimus prime left me feeling pretty old. Thankfully there's so much going on in Camden you're not really given much time to reflect on the inevitability of the aging process.

Trips to Camden always feel a bit nostalgic. My youth: buying studded belts, badges and earings made from plectrums; obligatory sweet'n'sour chicken and a can of coke; wandering around cyberdog and looking massively out of place (some things don't change). It's good to know that everyone else who ambles around the market has grown up too. Despite it being a bank holiday it wasn't full of kids, it was, just as I remember Camden, a pretty mixed bag.

super camera

Happy Easter (today)/St George's Day (yesterday)!
I hope everyone has been enjoying the super long bank holiday weekend as much as me. As the title suggests, I've been taking a lot of pictures during my various adventures over the last three days. So, very little words this time but have a looksy at my attempts at photography.

Friday: Hampton Court

 

I love these magnolia trees. It looks as if they are the top branches of one tree whose trunk is submerged beneath the grass. 

Saturday: Lyndhurst, The New Forest

Sunday: Milford on Sea

Reading & Seeing

On the left is the beardless face of J D Salinger. My friend gave me a copy of The Catcher in the Rye because, shocking though it is (even more so as I'm an English and American Literature graduate), I've never read it, until now. What did I think? Well I'll tell you but I'm not going to get all David Copperfield and that crap about it. I found the narrative quite annyoing. I know it's the protagonist's thought processes but I'm just saying is all. The colloquialisms and the general pessimistic attitude were not my cup of tea. I realise that, in terms of when it was written, The Catcher in the Rye is a piece of ground-breaking fiction, but this doesn't detract from the fact that I didn't like Holden Caulfield, and when he is the only voice you hear it begins to grate, a lot. He makes some amusing observations but on the whole he's a moany character (everyone else is a 'phony') who I just can't sympathise with. After talking to others who've read it, it's mostly boys who rate it highly...not sure if that means anything. I think I probably would have enjoyed and appreciated the book a little more if I had studied it - taking it apart and analysing it - as that's what we literature students do best.

On the right is the bearded face of Duncan Jones. This week I finally watched Source Code and, like most people, I thought it was pretty cool. The concept is awesome - quite cruel but mind-bending in true sci-fi style. The twist at the end is a nice surprise, perhaps a little sentimental but at the same time it opens up a whole load of other questions and possibilities. I would definitely reccomend this and Moon (incase you haven't seen it yet - where have you been?!) Rather excited about what's next for Duncan Jones (and his impressive beard).

Beard Status: looking good!

Have a Seat

Some will know that I have been on the hunt for a chair (to call my very own) for quite some time now. I dragged my parents to Brick Lane and Spitalfields markets; Mitch was coerced (as muscle to carry the chair if I found it) into accompanying me to Shoreditch; Fellow co-workers were even suggesting possible shops as to where I my perfect chair was hiding. Alas, these where all fruitless expeditions, don't get me wrong, I saw some amazing chairs (I am particularly drawn to Scandinavian designs circa late 1950s-60s) but they were all way out of my price range.

But then my dad spotted this one in a charity shop for 20 quid - bargain. Yes it's not Vintage Danish Wood with leather upholstery but it is pretty unique. Metal frame, wooden arm rests and, most importantly, my mum (v.clever) has re-upholstered it in a William Morris pattern with a cushion to boot.

I write this whilst sitting very comfortably. The chair quest is over, for now.

Fancy chairs from:

http://www.theoldcinema.co.uk/
http://www.chaseandsorensen.com/

Barnet&Beard update:
New hair-do for me.
A bit more beard for Mitch.

Sporting Alternative

After a relatively civilised Saturday, I prepared my vocal chords, psyched up my competitive side and donned my beer helmet (sadly not literally) and headed for the Excel Centre for the Sunday half of Anarchy in the UK - the international roller derby bouts. Teams in attendance: London's Brawling (London), Steel Hurtin' (Pittsburgh USA), Charm City (Baltimore USA) and New Skids on the Block (Montreal, Canada).

The games were fast and high scoring. The teams from across the atlantic were phenomenal, particularly Clitty Clitty Bang Bang when jamming for Charm City - no one could keep her back. Our own London Brawling gave them a tough time - awesome performances from jammers Vagablonde, Kamikaze Kitten and Fox Sake - and a massive whoop of praise for the Blockers who did a superb job at keeping the opposition from scoring and the game together. Since I've been coming to roller derby for a year now I felt it was high time to invest in some merchandise so I got a t-shirt (obv).
www.londonrollergirls.com

Elsewhere I enjoyed a spot of Jurassic Golf. We weren't exactly fighting off T-Rex and pals whilst playing a few holes but it was amusing all the same. I lost and I blamed the disney music (where was the Jurassic Park Soundtrack?) - clever girl.