Happy New Year folks. Hope you had the loveliest of New Year's Eves, whatever you were doing.
Here's my review of 2011, in list form!
Favourite places to eat/drink
Icecreamists
Zen Sai
Scandinavian Kitchen
Bar Italia
French House
Mediterranean Cafe'
Trojka
Nyborgs Cafe'
Maison Bertaux
Funny days/nights out
Peter Quaife book launch/Kinks night at The Clissold - great Kinks singalong round a bontempi organ!
Impromptu attendance at the Pretty Green opening in Covent Garden - more champagne than I've seen in my life & jumping the queue thanks to Mr Lewis!
Ready Steady Go night at Meltdown - strange night all round!
Soho Festival (which should also fall under my category 'Great things in 2011'!) - Adam Ant, transvestites, a funny vegetable competition and tug of war.
Great things in 2011
Discovering the Soho Society Film Club (and, more recently, shop) - tons of good Mondays and exhibitions at the shop - thanks Mr & Mrs Pereno!
The Royal Wedding - prosecco in an East End pub, lots of happy, smiley faces.
Adam Ant - Phoenix Cinema & Troxy.
The disco balcony at Vintage on the Southbank, overlooking the Thames, drinking Pimms & Lemonade.
Finding a new friend who understands my sense of humour and dislikes ukeleles. Love to you Claudia!
There will be a trillion things I've forgotten and hence have been left out of this but overall, 2011 in London was fun. I went out a'plenty, met some new friends, left a job, went freelance and generally had a nice one thank you very much.
2012 will hopefully see lots of new work/clients for me and visits to my beloved Stockholm. Jag saknar dig!
Bring it on!
Sunday, 1 January 2012
Thursday, 29 December 2011
Bah Humbug....
A belated Happy Xmas frock fans. I feel I should wish you season's greetings even though I'm not a fan of this time of year!
Xmas is for small children, people who love Ferrero Rocher and those who come from large families. I fit into none of these categories.
Once upon a time when I was a small being, Xmas was something to look forward to. I remember going to visit the old bearded man in the so-called "department store" in Devizes but not really believing he was 'the' Father Christmas. Even little old me wasn't that stupid. How could anyone possibly travel as far as he did. He only had one outfit too...which bothered me slightly. There's something slightly strange about little kids sitting on an old stranger's knee once a year. At any other time, he'd be arrested.
I remember finding an Xmas stocking at the end of my bed every Xmas Day but never hearing Mum put it there. My Xmas stocking finds were probably more exciting than my main presents - no sweets for me but instead a pop music annual each year which my Mum probably still has stored somewhere- sorry Mum, I'll have them back one of these days. I remember one year when I woke up to find no Xmas stocking (due to my visiting Aunt forgetting to put it out for me) and I was traumatised. Seeing as I still remember this event probably 40 years on, this has scarred me for life! This was nearly as bad as gorging myself on satsumas (easy to peel you know!) for a whole 24 hours and then projectile vomiting them out again for a further 24 hours. I didn't eat a satsuma in years and the smell of oranges still makes me heave.
I remember getting great presents back then - a pogo stick (I was pogo stick champion in my own little world), roller skates, a Katy Copycat and so many books we didn't know what to do with them. Mum must have saved her cigarette money up for many a week to afford these things but I played with them constantly and made it all worthwhile.
Those memories come from the late 60s/70s when I liked the simple things in life, didn't have a flat, a double bed or live in a place with shops that open over the holiday period. Nowadays, we do the Xmas thing because we have to. We reduced our present-giving this year - just one big one and one "useful" one each. It works. I came home with a lighter bag but with a bag full of things I wanted. Think about it kids. As much as I love to see my family, none of us really enjoy Xmas so perhaps next year, we'll not do it at all or, at my suggestion, give presents on a normal weekend in December. I don't like being obliged to give presents on a certain day. I like to think I'm a kind, generous soul and will give presents to who I like, when I like, thanks Father Christmas!
Sorry for the bah humbug blog folks....and sorry Mum & Gran that I didn't want to wear paper hats, play charades, or watch Only Fools & Horses for the umpteenth time. Just joking readers....they would hate those things as much as I do!
and a P.S for anyone that believes in this sort of thing......guardian angels always show themselves on special days.
Xmas is for small children, people who love Ferrero Rocher and those who come from large families. I fit into none of these categories.
Once upon a time when I was a small being, Xmas was something to look forward to. I remember going to visit the old bearded man in the so-called "department store" in Devizes but not really believing he was 'the' Father Christmas. Even little old me wasn't that stupid. How could anyone possibly travel as far as he did. He only had one outfit too...which bothered me slightly. There's something slightly strange about little kids sitting on an old stranger's knee once a year. At any other time, he'd be arrested.
I remember finding an Xmas stocking at the end of my bed every Xmas Day but never hearing Mum put it there. My Xmas stocking finds were probably more exciting than my main presents - no sweets for me but instead a pop music annual each year which my Mum probably still has stored somewhere- sorry Mum, I'll have them back one of these days. I remember one year when I woke up to find no Xmas stocking (due to my visiting Aunt forgetting to put it out for me) and I was traumatised. Seeing as I still remember this event probably 40 years on, this has scarred me for life! This was nearly as bad as gorging myself on satsumas (easy to peel you know!) for a whole 24 hours and then projectile vomiting them out again for a further 24 hours. I didn't eat a satsuma in years and the smell of oranges still makes me heave.
I remember getting great presents back then - a pogo stick (I was pogo stick champion in my own little world), roller skates, a Katy Copycat and so many books we didn't know what to do with them. Mum must have saved her cigarette money up for many a week to afford these things but I played with them constantly and made it all worthwhile.
Those memories come from the late 60s/70s when I liked the simple things in life, didn't have a flat, a double bed or live in a place with shops that open over the holiday period. Nowadays, we do the Xmas thing because we have to. We reduced our present-giving this year - just one big one and one "useful" one each. It works. I came home with a lighter bag but with a bag full of things I wanted. Think about it kids. As much as I love to see my family, none of us really enjoy Xmas so perhaps next year, we'll not do it at all or, at my suggestion, give presents on a normal weekend in December. I don't like being obliged to give presents on a certain day. I like to think I'm a kind, generous soul and will give presents to who I like, when I like, thanks Father Christmas!
Sorry for the bah humbug blog folks....and sorry Mum & Gran that I didn't want to wear paper hats, play charades, or watch Only Fools & Horses for the umpteenth time. Just joking readers....they would hate those things as much as I do!
and a P.S for anyone that believes in this sort of thing......guardian angels always show themselves on special days.
Sunday, 4 December 2011
North London & Me
I think perhaps that things are meant to happen for a reason. Perhaps I was meant to leave my great job at Linden Lab, perhaps I was meant to meet that person that saw visits to London again, perhaps it was fate that there were no jobs in Brighton that I wanted to do. Who knows?
It really was Plan Z in my life that I moved back to London after 11 years away. I got stuck into Brighton life, had a good group of friends, a good job and really no need to leave. Then my office closed suddenly and 25 of us had big decisions to make. Maybe if I could have afforded to take a job as an Admin Assistant and work for £18k, I'd have stayed....but maybe not. It was such a sudden decision to move back but that's how I roll!!!!
As is my life, I just happened to write to a company in Bayswater that were looking for an Office Manager at that very second. They hadn't even advertised a job but the timing was right. I got the job and had a month to pack up my flat and find a new home in London. Fate again - I came up to Crouch End to look at two flats that day, two flats that fell through as the landlord hadn't allowed access...but 5 mins before I arrived, another flat had come onto the market - the flat I'm in now, the flat that happened to be in the street I wanted to live in. If only life is always that easy....
Brighton will always have a huge place in my heart.....but Crouch End, I'm very happy to have met you!
Sunday, 27 November 2011
Your name's not down, you're not coming in......
Now, see this is what happens when you don't keep your blog up - too many goings on to write about.
Luckily being the Virgo, Office Manager type that I am, I've made a note on a pink post-it to remind me of where I've been and what I've been doing since I last wrote this. Deep breath......
The week before last there was another Carnaby Street discount night. You'll remember the last time I went to one, we ended up at the Pretty Green opening night and many a free glass of bubbly was consumed. The idea of the evening is for all the shops in Carnaby Street to discount their wares by 20% and entice the general public to buy them. What actually happens is the whole of London descends, purely for the fact that every shop has free drinks. We nabbed our free mulled cider, mohito and rum punch, checked out the Quadrophenia exhibition (surprisingly very good) and finished off buying take-out cupcakes at the Hummingbird Bakery. Roll on the next one!
Even bigger deep breath.....By chance I got given two free tickets to see Adam Ant at the Troxy on Sunday. Lovely venue, hellish place to get to on a weekend with no transport running! I'll not comment on the support bands, other than to say "Ann Summers eat your heart out". Mr Ant, however, was a complete star. It could have gone either way - it went the right way. Not a fan of Goody Two Shoes, even though the delectable Mr Goddard made it sound bearable, but job well done sir!
Are you keeping up frock fans?
Thursday night saw the private view of the Punk & Beyond exhibition at the Signal Gallery. Particularly liked the black & white photographs of Poly Styrene. Extremely busy night with queues down the road apparently and people having to show email evidence before being allowed in. The only famous folks I recognised were Gaye Advert, Billy Childish, Don Letts & Mark Keds but I'm sure the punks in the room would have known more. The exhibition is on into December so check it out.
Finally and up-to-date now, today we headed to Primrose Hill Xmas Fayre. Lunch in my favourite restaurant Trojka, followed by mulled cider at The Queens and consuming of yummy puddings. I've never seen so many celebs in one place as today. Only missing from the Primrose Hill gang was Jude Law & Ricky Gervais I think....oh and perhaps Gwen Stefani. Paps - you had a field day today.
I've realised that every single I've been to above was free (well apart from lunch & cider in Primrose Hill anyway). If it hadn't been done already, I'd write a book about how to have fun in London and not spend a penny.
Luckily being the Virgo, Office Manager type that I am, I've made a note on a pink post-it to remind me of where I've been and what I've been doing since I last wrote this. Deep breath......
Are you keeping up frock fans?
Finally and up-to-date now, today we headed to Primrose Hill Xmas Fayre. Lunch in my favourite restaurant Trojka, followed by mulled cider at The Queens and consuming of yummy puddings. I've never seen so many celebs in one place as today. Only missing from the Primrose Hill gang was Jude Law & Ricky Gervais I think....oh and perhaps Gwen Stefani. Paps - you had a field day today.
I've realised that every single I've been to above was free (well apart from lunch & cider in Primrose Hill anyway). If it hadn't been done already, I'd write a book about how to have fun in London and not spend a penny.
Sunday, 13 November 2011
Go Keith Go
It's been a fairly quiet week in N8. Autumn in London is proving to be a winner though and everything is looking very pretty out there right now. The trees outside my living room window have now lost all their leaves and if I stand on tip-toes, I can see Alexandra Palace high on the hill.
On Tuesday, the lovely folks at The Society Club Soho put on an evening downstairs at The Sun and Thirteen Cantons in Beak Street. I loved the venue and I think it has huge potential for other nights. It's a tiny little cellar bar but very atmospheric and perfect for the night. Oldfashioned Daisy did a few songs before the main act, the "rock & roll" poet Murray Lachlan Young. Although I'd heard of him, I'd never seen one of his shows but will definitely be back. Just my sense of humour! Below is one of my favourite poems about Keith Richards falling out of a coconut tree (as you do!):
What the hell did you think you were doing?
So blind that you just could not see
Not a thought for your legion of worshipping fans
When you shinned up the trunk of that coconut tree
If you’re gonna go Keith go Keith go
If your gonna go Keith go Keith go
If your gonna go Keith go Keith go
Don’t do it like that Keith no Keith no
Go in the middle of a hard blues riff
Go at the end of a laced up spliff
Speedball death plunge, Lear jet smash
Coked up gunfight, high-speed car crash
Kohl black eyes white rock n roll skin
With your hand on the fret board cigarette grin
Do itlike a king pin Debauchee
But not falling out of a coconut tree
Keith, man, what goaded you on
Was it Ronnie Wood? Who said you should?
Or was it Elton John that you tried to prove wrong?
When he called you King Kong, did you snag your sarong?
C’mon Keith, baby, tell us please what the hell was going on
If you’re gonna go Keith, go Keith go
If you’re gonna go Keith go Keith go
If you’re gonna go Keith go Keith go
Don’t do it like that Keith no Keith no
That, dear frock fans, is the extent of excitement this week. Although we did venture out to the Kinks night at The Clissold last night, it really isn't worth writing about. Thank god for The Alexandra and its' great jukebox over the road, that's all I can say. What DID happen to my Jane's Addiction track though?
On Tuesday, the lovely folks at The Society Club Soho put on an evening downstairs at The Sun and Thirteen Cantons in Beak Street. I loved the venue and I think it has huge potential for other nights. It's a tiny little cellar bar but very atmospheric and perfect for the night. Oldfashioned Daisy did a few songs before the main act, the "rock & roll" poet Murray Lachlan Young. Although I'd heard of him, I'd never seen one of his shows but will definitely be back. Just my sense of humour! Below is one of my favourite poems about Keith Richards falling out of a coconut tree (as you do!):
What the hell did you think you were doing?
So blind that you just could not see
Not a thought for your legion of worshipping fans
When you shinned up the trunk of that coconut tree
If you’re gonna go Keith go Keith go
If your gonna go Keith go Keith go
If your gonna go Keith go Keith go
Don’t do it like that Keith no Keith no
Go in the middle of a hard blues riff
Go at the end of a laced up spliff
Speedball death plunge, Lear jet smash
Coked up gunfight, high-speed car crash
Kohl black eyes white rock n roll skin
With your hand on the fret board cigarette grin
Do itlike a king pin Debauchee
But not falling out of a coconut tree
Keith, man, what goaded you on
Was it Ronnie Wood? Who said you should?
Or was it Elton John that you tried to prove wrong?
When he called you King Kong, did you snag your sarong?
C’mon Keith, baby, tell us please what the hell was going on
If you’re gonna go Keith, go Keith go
If you’re gonna go Keith go Keith go
If you’re gonna go Keith go Keith go
Don’t do it like that Keith no Keith no
That, dear frock fans, is the extent of excitement this week. Although we did venture out to the Kinks night at The Clissold last night, it really isn't worth writing about. Thank god for The Alexandra and its' great jukebox over the road, that's all I can say. What DID happen to my Jane's Addiction track though?
Sunday, 6 November 2011
Eastenders.....
The past week saw my first week of self-employment meaning more time for fun...which was the point of my self-employment in the first place.
Inbetween finding new clients and having meetings, I managed to have a lovely day with visiting friends who showed me the delights of Exmouth Market and the surrounding area. I can't actually believe I had never been to that part of London before but now I know it's there, I'll be back.
We started off having brunch in Caravan (http://caravanonexmouth.co.uk/) which I loved. It had an almost scandinavian feel about it, with big wooden tables, and people working on laptops. I had creamy soy mushrooms on sourdough bread which were scrummy. I feel I should probably make it my mission to try out the rest of the menu sometime very soon.
Exmouth Market had a nice feel about it - lots of interesting little shops and places to eat. I can imagine it's a nice place to work so perhaps I'll target those interesting shops for work opportunities.
Next stop was the gorgeous old Jerusalem Tavern in Clerkenwell (http://www.stpetersbrewery.co.uk/london/history.htm). A bizarre place founded in apparently the 12th Century. Although it looked as though the only people that might drop in would be one old man and a dog, it's obviously very popular and filled up quickly, despite only just opening up. Although I didn't feel anything strange in the pub, I can imagine it has it's fair share of hauntings!
Look Mum No Hands next (http://www.lookmumnohands.com/) in Old Street. If you walked past this place and didn't actually know about it, you could think it was just a bicycle repair shop. It is (and sells bikes I think) but is much more than that. There's a cafe', a beer garden and a noticeboard full of flyers for events they're holding. The food was fantastic and I enjoyed my Goats Cheese & Butternut Squash homemade pie with salad. It seemed to be a popular lunch venue so don't be surprised if you don't get a table straight away.
Final stop, cake at Drink, Shop, Do (www.drinkshopdo.com) in Kings Cross.
I'm sure it looks as if all I do is eat and drink...probably true in reality. I'm considering changing the name of this blog to Pies & Me very soon.
In other news....Friday night saw a special night at the Society Club Shop & a preview of the "We Can Be Heroes" book that will be published shortly. The book's about the club scene in the 80s and full of gorgeous pics of the Blitz Kids and all those connected with that scene particularly. Lots of interesting folk with an interesting past turned up and a few familiar faces.
Inbetween finding new clients and having meetings, I managed to have a lovely day with visiting friends who showed me the delights of Exmouth Market and the surrounding area. I can't actually believe I had never been to that part of London before but now I know it's there, I'll be back.
We started off having brunch in Caravan (http://caravanonexmouth.co.uk/) which I loved. It had an almost scandinavian feel about it, with big wooden tables, and people working on laptops. I had creamy soy mushrooms on sourdough bread which were scrummy. I feel I should probably make it my mission to try out the rest of the menu sometime very soon. Exmouth Market had a nice feel about it - lots of interesting little shops and places to eat. I can imagine it's a nice place to work so perhaps I'll target those interesting shops for work opportunities.
Final stop, cake at Drink, Shop, Do (www.drinkshopdo.com) in Kings Cross.
I'm sure it looks as if all I do is eat and drink...probably true in reality. I'm considering changing the name of this blog to Pies & Me very soon.
Sunday, 30 October 2011
For Jonnah.....
My blog posts are usually about cake....today is a bit different.
3 years ago today, my friend Jonnah took her own life so this is for her.
I hadn't known Jonnah long. I was living in Stockholm, running a weekly club called "Another Sunny
Day" in a godforsaken turkish restaurant on a Monday night. Jonnah came to nearly every club night.
I noticed her straight away as she was a little 60s girl who wore the best outfits! Before I knew her name, I called her the "lovely lady with the lovely dresses" in my Facebook album. I got to know her & her boyfriend Charley from that club....they kept me company on the door and their lovely little indiepop band "The Mare" played for me. I remember that night particularly as one of the band members had to leave the club before they even played as his girlfriend went into labour. Priorities and all that!
I moved back to Brighton and kept in touch with Jonnah via email. We'd talked about them coming
to the Brighton mod rally the following August and she was already excited about it. Then, one day,
I suddenly realised that I hadn't heard from her in a little while and checked her Facebook page. That's when I discovered something awful had happened.....I didn't understand all the updates as they were in finnish and swedish but I did understand the one word that scared the hell out of me and made me mail someone to find out.
I had no idea Jonnah had problems....no idea that she would do what she did. Every time I saw her, she was happy & laughing & dancing.....and thankfully, that's how I'll remember her. Sometimes I guess you don't know everything about everybody.
So Jonnah, this blog post is for you. I won't forget you & your dresses.....I hope you're at peace now.
To Charley (if you read this) - I hope this doesn't upset you x
3 years ago today, my friend Jonnah took her own life so this is for her.
I hadn't known Jonnah long. I was living in Stockholm, running a weekly club called "Another Sunny
Day" in a godforsaken turkish restaurant on a Monday night. Jonnah came to nearly every club night.
I noticed her straight away as she was a little 60s girl who wore the best outfits! Before I knew her name, I called her the "lovely lady with the lovely dresses" in my Facebook album. I got to know her & her boyfriend Charley from that club....they kept me company on the door and their lovely little indiepop band "The Mare" played for me. I remember that night particularly as one of the band members had to leave the club before they even played as his girlfriend went into labour. Priorities and all that!
I moved back to Brighton and kept in touch with Jonnah via email. We'd talked about them coming
to the Brighton mod rally the following August and she was already excited about it. Then, one day,
I suddenly realised that I hadn't heard from her in a little while and checked her Facebook page. That's when I discovered something awful had happened.....I didn't understand all the updates as they were in finnish and swedish but I did understand the one word that scared the hell out of me and made me mail someone to find out.
I had no idea Jonnah had problems....no idea that she would do what she did. Every time I saw her, she was happy & laughing & dancing.....and thankfully, that's how I'll remember her. Sometimes I guess you don't know everything about everybody.
So Jonnah, this blog post is for you. I won't forget you & your dresses.....I hope you're at peace now.
To Charley (if you read this) - I hope this doesn't upset you x
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