We've gone on holiday by mistake!

It's been a pretty crazy week really.  I'm embracing being back in London by going to as many things as possible, as often as possible!  Winter will be here before we know it and I'll go into hibernation but right now, the sun is shining and there are things to be done.

Monday means Society Film Club night.  This week was Withnail and I.  I'd forgotten how hilariously funny the film was and how pretty Paul McGann was.  It's the sign of a good, timeless film, when you can honestly say you love every single character in it. 

I love "spur of the moment" goings on and Thursday night turned into one of them.  Carnaby Street had a special 20% discount night going on, with all the shops, bars etc. staying open late, djs playing and free drinks aplenty.  Eddie Piller & Johnny Owen were playing a few tunes in the Pretty Green shop so we grabbed our freebies and consumed them on the beanbags opposite.  An hour in Carnaby Street and we managed to obtain 2 glasses of yummy strawberry & lime swedish cider, a cocktail in Banana Republic, a mini ice-cream and some canapes.  We could have stayed all night, staggering home full of free booze at midnight but the lure of champagne at the Covent Garden Pretty Green store was too much to turn down.  We arrived to the sight of tons of Liam Gallagher fans waiting for him to turn up.  Thanks to Mr P, we got on the guestlist and avoided any queuing.  A funny old night - great tunes, constantly topped up glasses of champagne, more snacks and a goodie bag.  Everyone I know will be more than aware of the fact I never have been a fan of Mr Gallagher but he was pleasant to his fans, took time for photos & autographs and seemed genuinely quite nice, I'm happy to report.  So....all in all....I spent £2 and had a great time.  Thursday night SUCCESS!

Managed to get out the house in super-quick time this morning and made it to The Affordable Vintage Fair in Bethnal Green before most people had got out of bed and nabbed all the good stuff.  It was the first vintage fair in a while where I actually saw 60s folk.  I normally wonder why they're not there.  I found the coat of my dreams and it fitted.  I sort of hope it wasn't sold so I can reconsider getting it at payday!  I found a few things that I liked but nothing that was so spectacular I wanted to get it (apart from the coat of course).  My new rule is "don't buy anything that doesn't fit perfectly or you love" and I'm sticking to it.

A quick stroll round the Primrose Hill Fair finished off the weekend.  Regent's Park Road was full of the most amazing food stalls.....from Jamaican to Polish to Moroccan.  It was a hard decision but I went for the Polish Lunch Box (roast potatoes, polish sausage, cabbage salad and gherkins).  Yum!  It was so windy today that I was lucky my gherkins didn't blow away or get entangled in Gwen Stefani's hair - that sort of thing.  Well done stall-holders, your food kicked arse today!

Bye for now frock fans x

Royals and me

Dear nation.  We put on a good party on Friday, don't you think?

On Friday 29 April 2011, the world watched as two royal folk got wed.  I've never seen a wedding invoke such feeling - both good & bad - on Facebook.  As this is my blog and these are my views, that's what you're getting.  Don't rain on my parade - I had a great day!

We'd hoped to go to the Leonard St Street Party in Shoreditch but arriving to the sight of probably a few hundred people queuing several times round the block, we went for Plan B instead and ended up in the Old Blue Last where we watched the wedding vows on a plasma tv and downed a bottle of Prosecco.

The sun shone on Friday and it was so lovely to see the whole of London smiling.  At the end of the day, everyone loves a bit of romance don't they?  I loved the fact the married couple left in an old Aston Martin with "Just Wed" on the number-plate and I loved the smile on the bride's face.  How anyone could get angry about the day is beyond me.  I'm glad I was in London for the wedding.  It might not not have felt the same anywhere else.

After Prosecco - lunch in Fika, the swedish cafe' in Brick Lane, lots of trying on of shoes that didn't fit me, the buying of beigals, and a quick look round the East End Photography Exhibition at Spitalfields.  I know it's good for the tourist industry and all that but I really don't like what they've done to Spitalfields.  The atmosphere seems to have gone and to be honest, I'd rather have a rummage through a pile of junk in the street in Brick Lane.  You can keep your candles and your joss sticks.

On Saturday, we did a stall at the Can't Buy Me Love vintage market which I've possibly mentioned a few times in this blog and on Facebook.  The little market is held on the last Saturday in the month, at the Boogaloo on Archway Road, Highgate.  We did our stall indoors and were luckily situated opposite my favourite cake ladies...which was handy...obviously.  I deliberately didn't buy anything as the aim of the day was to make money rather then spend it but next time, if it's there.....this hat will be mine!

Last night I went dancing....well not much dancing...but some drinking of rose' and chatting.....at Boom Shaka Lacka in Soho.  Following this, I will give you all a bit of advice readers - 2 large glasses of rose' are fine - 3 are not!

And with the smell of freshly baked Quiche wafting out my kitchen, I will be off x

Goodbye August

Did you think I've deserted you?  Life has been too hectic to think about blogging but as I'm having a relaxing Bank Holiday Monday at home, it's time for a catch up.

August has been manic....my head has been full of our pending office closure and my pending redundancy, looking for a job in London (& failing dismally), combined with more fun stuff than usual.  This summer has been fantastic.  The coming weeks are going to be even more manic and I may just combust!

So....where did I leave you last time?  My lovely dream flat in London I think.  Since then, I had a visiting Mother & her friend.  We went to Pride.  I wasn't overly impressed this year - it was ok I guess but the theme (Pride & Prejudice) meant there just wasn't enough dressing up.  I always love to see the emergency services start the parade off (brings a tear to my eye it does) and obviously Michael Jackson loving jazz hands man.

The next week brought a spur of the moment decision to go to Vintage at Goodwood (nice one Sam!).  Goodwood has won best day out of the year so far and despite the rain, I loved it.  Not totally sure about the northern soul lessons but they were harmless!  Also not sure about the Radiohead mix in the Soul Casino but I'll even let that dj off....but just this once.  Plenty of beautiful people in beautiful clothes.  Highlights of the day - the Soul Casino, unexpected lovely toilets, and that guinness & chocolate cake!

Bored yet?  Last week was The Chords up in London.  I used to love The Chords (and probably always will....on vinyl) but, although they played well, I just couldn't get into it.  Very male-heavy crowd and a bit of a weird atmosphere.....or maybe I imagined it.  I left after "British way of Life" and caught the VERY SLOW, VERY DRUNK late train back to Brighton.

....which brings us up to this weekend.  Bank Holiday weekend in Brighton is a weekend I look forward to all year.  A chance to see people I only see occasionally, a chance to put a dress or two on (not at once), and a chance to be around well-dressed folk.  I always get nostalgic for my Lambretta, Sneakers in the 80s, Hayling Island weekends away and all that jazz.  I think next year calls for getting away a bit more on bank holidays.  I may even invest in a little tartan suitcase & duffel bag like I once had.....just for old times sake!

June - better than May?

May wasn't a good month at all for so many people I know - deaths, suicides, break-ups & general upset all round.  I know I'm not the only one who is hoping that June is going to be better - it couldn't be any worse I'm sure.  Jonathan Cainer is the man who knows and he said it is - for me at least.  I'll be going round his house with a big stick if he's lying.

So for today's blog and in an attempt to make my social life sound interesting, I'm just rambling incessantly about things that are on during June.

Firstly, tomorrow I'm meeting up with a friend I met originally on Friendster (remember that?) or MySpace many moons ago.  She moved from San Francisco to Berlin to study for a while and I had a great time out there visiting her.  She's been in Manchester for months now and we havn't had a chance to meet up but tomorrow it's lunch in Brighton for us.  Hurrah!  Kristin:  Hope you don't mind me putting your pic on my blog - don't worry, no-one reads it anyway!!!!!

Saturday is a possible trip up to Carnaby Street for it's 50th anniversary, unfortunately named Summer of Love.  Normally I'd avoid Carnaby Street like the plague as it's not like it use to be - cliche' I know but it's true.  I started going up there in my mid teens as a little mod girl, looking for cheap vinyl in an upstairs flea market type place, and buying boating blazers.  Twas here that I spent so much time - later progressing to visits to Charlies tailors for hipster trousers that stopped fitting me all too long ago.  So back to 2010 - this weekend sees bands playing, no doubt go go dancers in shop windows and probably the odd scooter or two.  Obvious worries concerning Carnaby Street this weekend but I'm hoping common sense prevails and I'll get there.  The Universal, Connett & The Small Fakers (Small Faces tribute band) are playing amongst others:

Also this weekend is the lovely Frock Me vintage fair in Brighton on Sunday.  Not sure whether I should actually go this time round as money is a bit tight in June but no doubt I will and be sorry afterwards.

Now this might surprise some people but I like old things!!!!!  So I'm going to be going along to 75th Anniversary Bus Rally on 13 June, with camera in hand.  I always miss the old vehicle days on Madeira Drive but not this time.

Blimey, June is looking particularly interesting - weather hold out please!  On to 18 June now and two things happening that night, Modesty at The Dorset and The Hush Club at Northern Lights.  Will try to get to both of them - both free & both excellent music:

Finally (phew!) this brings me to the last weekend in June, by which time all my hard earned cash will have practically run out unfortunately but roll on next payday!  26/27 is a weekend in London as one of my best friends is over from NY and we'll be frequenting our old haunts in Camden and the like.  No doubt it'll feel like we've never been gone and much gossiping will be done.  See you soon Dawn!

Over & out.