turkey sponge?!

It's Sunday and it's officially the first day of my weeks holiday. I'm off on my road trip at 4am Wednesday morning, so I've got 2 days to chill out, run some errands, go swimming, meet up with a friend I haven't seen in a while for coffee and generally enjoy not being at work.
I'm off to Broadway in a bit to see Inglorious Basterds with Laura. The reviews have slated it somewhat, but everyone I know who's seen it has said its pretty damn good so I'm gonna go with that.
I leave you with a couple of random photos from when Laura and I went out last Sunday to Matlock Bath in Derbyshire. There were some truly amazingly awful gift shops there and this dog fountain had to be one of the best things we found. Also, a drawer in an old sweet shop that used to sell turkey sponge(?!) Turkey sponge was right above elastic hosiery so I'm not sure if the two are related.

road trip!

I have a weeks holiday the first week of September and I've been racking my brains trying to decide what to do with it. As always, my plans flitted between a last minute jaunt to Paris, going to London, seeing Magnolia Electric Co. in Leeds but finally, over a few large glasses of red wine on Monday evening, in the company of a good friend, my decision has been made .
I will be accompanying 3 friends on a road trip! They're off round the country for 11 days of filming for a documentary they're making for an art project;

..."interviewing many artist-led galleries, arts initiatives and collectives that England, Scotland and Wales have to offer; learning about the practices and activities that have determined and defined each group’s developments.. ."

We're starting off in Scotland (Dundee and Edinburgh) then on to North Tyneside, Leeds, Cumbria, Blackpool, Liverpool and Manchester, which is where I think I will head back to Notts as they continue on to other far corners of the UK. I feel honoured to have been invited and make it my mission to fullfil my role of sandwich maker for the journey up there, to the best of my abilities. Here's to long car journeys, beautiful scenery and good friends.

sunday funday

Today was a good Sunday. After my mad week at work and my 13hr shift on Saturday, I felt I needed a well deserved awesome day off, so the housemates and I started it off by getting breakfast at the Warsaw Diner. Full on, fat ass, american breakfast, complete with pancakes, maple syrup and quaffee* (*said in faux New York accent)

Full plate

Little Laura and a huge bottle of maple syrup
Amy and myself - full and contented bellys
Sunday morning sunshine

pancakes!

We mooched around town in the sun and took part in a little retail therapy just to make the day even better. I've spent the evening engrossed in watching Lost and my knitting project, so all in all, a thoroughly great day. Back to the grindstone tomorrow. booo.

let's go steady again

One thing I have to thank (I think) my parents for, is my eclectic taste in music. They definitely made me appreciate music from an early age that's probably really helped shape the sort of spectrum of music I listen to now.

Whether Neil Sedaka is classed as being one to thank them for, I'm not sure, but either way, I'm currently rocking out to classics such as Oh Carol, Breaking Up Is Hard To Do and Laughter In the Rain. How could you not love him? Just look at that smile! - maybe its just me then.
I had a very nice relaxed Sunday. My original plans sadly went to pot, but I ended up on an Ikea trip with Anna, only realising upon arrival that it closed at 5pm, que a mad half hour dash round the store. I bought some Swedish jam, Krussbolls and a griddle pan. All highly needed items. We then went out for dinner and met up with a couple of other friends for a few quiet drinks.
Now roll on my crazy week of manic shifts and gallery stuff. S'all good.

Thurs, 8pm 2009

You wait for fate to bring about the changes in life which you should be bringing about by yourself

Douglas Coupland

first love, last rites

I'm currently reading Ian McEwan's short stories - First Love, Last Rites. I've not read anything by him before, and knowing only that he'd written Atonement, which is not really my kind of read, I was pleased to find that this book, is pretty fucked up. Macabre but ball (if I had any) achingly funny. This is my kind of read. I recommend it if you like that kind of thing, otherwise, maybe stay clear.

I've been attempting to write more stuff myself. I've always enjoyed writing, but often find that writers block has turned into a whole blockade and is un-shiftable. I'm currently in the midst of writing a couple of gallery(work) related pieces and I think that has helped to shift some of my brain rubble. I might share some things when they're more finished, but for now I'll leave this silly piece that is based on true events.

The right hand bookshelf harbours a secret that if revealed, would leave all inanimate household objects quaking in their hypothetical boots. On the top shelf, amongst the dusty cobwebs and year’s worth of allergy inducing particles, is the graveyard of defunct and broken lamps. It’s a sorry sight, shades skew-wiff, hung low, no meaning to their existence. A lava lamp sheepishly hides behind the bedside lamp, slightly ashamed that it’s no longer able to fulfil it’s purpose of recreating that trippy hedonistic vibe of the 70s. Banded together like outcasts, unsure of their fate, not knowing when they may be discarded altogether. For now, they are safe in the knowledge that they remain there, until the time comes when I myself, stop wondering why they were ever put there in the first place and banish them to a fate darker than that of a broken bulb.

oh dear

Its been a long time. I'm not sure anyone actually reads this except for you, Matt, but I'm going to make a promise to myself that I'll start writing in here more often. I like it, it's kind of a secret and no one knows it's here, so perhaps I can be more myself. For now I'll just leave someone elses words, Mr Arthur Russell, that attempt to help me to make sense of some current events. I feel better already, sort of.
Music; like a cup of tea for the soul. Soothes and brings cheer to a slightly bedraggled and downtrodden heart.

I couldn't say it to your face, but I won't be around any more.
I couldn't say it to your face, but I won't be around any more.
I needed a place, so I walked in the door,
I couldn't say it to your face, but I won't be around any more.
It's my world, it's my song, didn't ask you to sing along; in my arms,
you girl, you won't be here to say I'm wrong.
I couldn't say it to your face but I won't be around any more.
I couldn't say it to your face, but I won't be around any more.
I needed some space, so I walked out the door,
I couldn't say it to your face, but I won't be around any more.
I heard them say maybe some day I'd have to pay.
I don't say one word to you that you know I'm going away.
I couldn't say it to your face, but I won't be around any more.
I couldn't say it to your face, but I won't be around any more.
I needed a place, so I walked in the door.
I couldn't say it to your face, but I won't be around any more