Rockabilly Rebel

Fear not trusty blog followers, I have returned.  I can imagine how frantic you've been, wondering if I've ever recovered from Carnaby Street.  I have indeed but have had a stressful week hence my disappearance!

The weekend has been a real mix of old things which you know are my favourite things!!!!  Saturday was an afternoon of rockabilly loveliness in Gardner Street, organised by Mark of The Dorset.  Lots of pretty well-dressed things that unfortunately I didn't get pictures of but tattoos a plenty and lovely make-up on show.  If I wasn't afraid of pain and didn't look stupid in bright red lipstick, I'd be into that scene myself.  Instead, I'll stick with my 60s stuff and watch from the sidelines.

They had a 50s hairdresser cutting hair for free...and very nice it was too.  I realised that a good 50s haircut can do wonders for the men of Brighton & suggest lots of them get down to his salon like NOW!  I wonder what he could do for me with my unruly curly hair that either makes me look like Shirley Temple or Ken Dodd....neither of which is a good look!  Pity Brighton & Hove Council refused the let Hot Rods park up in Gardner Street (that'll be the Green Party for you no doubt!) but a very nice time was had by all & much vodka & pimms was consumed in the sun.  Sunburnt?  Moi?

Park Life

Hot, Hot, Hot!

An early trip to the hairdressers this morning, with my only request being "don't make me look ROUGH" when asked how short would I go?  Short indeed and a home dye job desperately needed because of it.  Signs everywhere about www.mynewhair.org.  Trevor Sorbie has come up with the best idea - cutting & styling wigs for cancer patients.  Having seen some horrific wigs in my time, I love this!  If having cancer isn't traumatic enough for everyone concerned, looking like Mrs Doubtfire really doesn't help so well done Trevor!

St Ann's Wells Festival this afternoon - a million times bigger, better & sunnier than last year.  I think a champagne area would be a great addition (Lou, if you're reading this!!!!).  Didn't get to see any of the bands this time round but was glad to see that white-gloved man was around, doing his infamous white-gloved dance.  I've searched "Jazz Dance Man Brighton", "White Gloved Man Brighton" but am failing in my quest to find photos.  Dolly spent hours making her ladybird costume for the park and it paid off.

Reluctance to queue for nosh at the park meant a visit to Tutti Fruitti at the Dials for a small snack.  I've never actually managed to get a seat in here before (which is the sign of a good deli I guess!) but the sun today meant everyone was barbecuing I guess.  Takeouts have always been particularly yummy and I'm happy to report that eating in is just as good.  Recommendation from moi - Goats Cheese & Pesto stuffed tomatoes.

Bye everyone - I'm off to monitor the copious amounts of Facebook comments that are coming in thanks to Dolly's ladybird outfit!  Enjoy the sunshine!

Hair Today, Gone Tomorrow

This is getting silly now - it's only been 5 weeks and I need a haircut. For those of you who think curly hair is "lovely" - it really isn't. You try living with it and you'll see!

I was unlucky enough to have the nickname "Crystal Tips" as a child - only people of a certain age will understand that. Then I discovered the mod scene in my teens and chopped the whole lot off, going for that mod girl circa 64 look - i.e. like a flat chested bloke with no hair!

I did the bleached thing too - which really is NOT a good idea when you have hair like mine. My one and only time having a bleach job done resulted in a slightly pink tinge and a nosebleed.

So into the 90s, the mod scene where I lived died down, I moved to a hippie town (all joss sticks and standing stones) and got into the grunge/indie scene - Mudhoney, New Model Army, The Levellers blah blah blah - part of this being extremely bad clothes (so bad I refuse to post any pics) and dreadlocks (the only other way to cope with curly hair!). Oh and I did the crimping, pillerbox directions hairdye thing too OBVIOUSLY!

It took two people to cut the buggers out when I moved to London in the early 90s - I remember the look of horror on the poor trainee's face in Kensington Market! By pure fluke, I was left with a nice little pixie mod cut after they'd gone which suited me nicely as by that time I'd got back into the mod scene and had started frequenting the original Blow Up at the Laurel Tree where I can't imagine they'd look too kindly on crusty so and sos like myself!

So here we are again, still stuck with the curly hair, no longer wanting to go down the dreadlocked route obviously. Trevor Sorbie, please sort it out!