Category Archives: Adventures

Cornwall Part Two

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I mentioned in my last post about attempting to try something new during my holiday. If you’re a regular reader of my blog, you’ll know I love trying out new stuff. I believe in giving everything a chance, pushing out the boundaries, and exploring the world around us. Otherwise, how can you ever know what you like or don’t like?

The first proper full day we had down here, I went to my first ever live sports event: a rugby match between St Ives and North Petherton. Now, I’ve watched rugby matches on TV, but rarely the entire thing, and I’m usually doing something pathetically girlie, like…knitting, or making friendship bracelets, or sketching. So this was a massively new experience for me, and it was intriguing, to say the least. To start with, it was a grey, cloudy, cold Saturday, and the team didn’t appear to have much support. I soon found out why. North Petherton, the opposition, seemed to have supporters who, while lacking in numbers, were extremely vocal.

I drew myself up to my full height (5 ft 3.5 inches, in case you were wondering), strode over to the stands, and positioned myself right in the centre. I had absolutely no idea what to expect. I was interested to see a female referee, who was not only extremely competent, athletic, but also had a tremendously loud voice. The supporters weren’t so…well, supportive of her, and because this is a family friendly blog, I refuse to type the kind of comments that they made about her.

While my knowledge of rugby remains limited – although I do have a copy of The Pocket Rugby Bible by Ben Coles still to read, thanks Ben – I knew that what I was witnessing was something of a massacre. St Ives were not in any way, shape or form a decent team. They seemed to give up about 15 minutes into the game, and visibly sagged. I overheard their coach trying to convince a random chap standing by the side of the pitch (pitch? Is that right?) to play for the team! And the supporters started yelling at another chap: ‘get your kit on! Get on the pitch!’

Ultimately, I had no clue whatsoever what the heck was happening, but I found it hugely entertaining. The scant ‘fans’, yelling, heckling, encouraging from the roofless stands, the sea in the background, the final score of 36-0 to the opposition…Aces. I was hugely entertained by one man in the stands who appeared to be a bit of a local jokemeister. ‘Save my seat!’ he urged his companions as he popped off to get beer, eyeing the 90% empty stand. When he got back a bit later, he held up a bent spoon he’d just found on the stand and intoned in a thick Cornish accent: ‘look! Uri Geller’s been ‘ere!’ All in all, it was an excellent day out.

At the other end of the spectrum was the new thing I did on Wednesday night. For those of you that don’t know St Ives, there’s an outpost of the Tate that perches on the seafront. On Wednesday night, they held a wine-tasting event, hosted by Hamish Anderson, the head sommelier to the Tate group. I’ve been to various low grade wine-tasting events before, but this was a whole other level. We had about 12 to try, of varying colours, prices, origins, and tastes. Hamish was unbelievably fascinating, and held his own against the rather rowdy Cornish audience (could I possibly sound like more of an uptight visitor from the Home Counties? Probably not.)

I enjoyed every minute of it. I know very little about wine, being more of a spirits girl myself, so I always welcome any more knowledge. We kicked off with a Prosecco, progressed to four whites including some rather yummy Cornish wine, had a single rose, six reds, and finished off with a sweet wine that tasted like Christmas pudding in a glass. I won’t bore you with details of every single drink, and I’ve also left my sheet of names in the house, so I can’t actually remember what they all were. I’ll just say, it was an excellent evening, and that I strongly recommend the Tate for wine. And art, obviously. I’ll dig out my sheet and give you my besties and worsties in my next post. All I can remember is that I loved a very floral, perfumed red called ‘Fleurie’ (amazing name), and violently disliked one from Greece. ‘One from Greece’. That’s top quality wine buffery right there.

Wine buffoonery, maybe.

Cornwall Part One

Posted in Adventures, Girl About Town by

Hi darling readers!

In an attempt to redeem my blog from being the digital equivalent of an empty plain with tumbleweed blowing across it, I’ve fearlessly tracked down some rogue WiFi in a Cornish cafe, which is where you find me today. Oh, it’s been a lark, this week. Holidays! Lovely lovely hols. However, the precise timing of my long awaited vacation (I violently refuse to say the ghastly phrase ‘staycation’ thank you ever so much) has coincided with a bit of a rush time in terms of job application deadlines. Yes, I’m back in the game. That’s IN the game, not ON the game, in case you read that rather too quickly.

Is it insane to say I’m really enjoying applying for jobs? I haven’t needed to use my CV in over a year – the work I’ve got I’ve chatted my way in to, and I’ve been furiously busy creating my own opportunities. I’ve been enjoying it an awful lot, but I’m suddenly craving a bit of structure, because as previously discussed, I’m not too brillo pads with not having much to do. It started with Edinburgh Festival applications. I’m hoping this year to finally achieve my goal and get up to the Festival, a feat I didn’t manage during my English & Drama degree, or in years of doing productions. El failio, as the Mexicans say. So this is the year! Come hell or high water – and I hear that’s exactly what Scotland’s like in August – I’m going.

Rather luckily, the simple act of getting out of my house has turned me into a working MACHINE. I kind of knew it would. I desperately needed a change of environment, and a place where I wouldn’t get distracted by stuff around the house. I think I’ve pretty much turned something in every day, I’ve rejigged my CV, I’ve written some articles, done an exhaustive application for one of the Edinburgh venues (I imagine the process of relocating to another country is probably less complicated), and while I was at it, I’ve applied for a few proper jobs too. Essentially, I’ve been angling after a part time job to work my own freelancing/writing/creative faffing around, because I think it may well be time. I know what I want to do, and I’m confident that I’ve started to build a really decent portfolio of writing, and begun to find my ‘voice’ (pass the sick bucket?).

Anypoodles. Cornwall! Yes, that’s where I was! The lovely St Ives. I’ve been there a trillion, zillion times (approximate figure), and as such, I decided to do something different every single day, just to keep it interesting. I’ll do another post on all the new things I’ve been up to, but for now, I’ve just shoved in a few not particularly interesting pictures of when I was packing, because I thought it looked pretty and stuff.  And I’m an idiot hole who likes to abuse her expensive Canon camera with photos of rubbish stuff. Yeeeah. There’s a few photos of insane stuff I saw around Ivey Spivey, like the Smurfs. More pictures of actual St Ives to come!

Things I Drew Today

Posted in Adventures, Positive Thinking by

Just what it says on the tin, really! Since the year started, I’ve been working certain parts of my body off on various projects. I haven’t really taken a weekend in ages, and despite my various bits of midweek indulgence, it’s been rather oppressive at times. Still, as a freelancer, I really shouldn’t be complaining about too much work! Anyway, I worked ultra hard to get things finished last week, as I’d booked in a weekend in Oxford with my lovely friend Lucy (might do a photo post later in the week). At precisely 1am on Friday night, I finished my work.

I’ve found that the freelance lifestyle has little lulls every now and then, while one is waiting on projects to be approved or sent back. This week is one of those blissful little lulls, so I decided to concentrate on some of my own projects, the things that I keep shoving aside for a time when I’m ‘less busy’. Today, I’ve been drawing for most of the time, I had a three course lunch, brushed up on some Bach on the piano, and generally had a rather lovely time. Here are some of my scribbles from today – I was playing around with Sharpies and watercolours to test different effects, hence why a couple of the drawings are dupes!

 

Valentinstag

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I was wondering how long it’d be before I cracked and did a Valentine’s Day related post. Thing is, I absolutely LOVE Valentine’s Day. I don’t love it because I have to buy crappy overpriced cards with cheap sentiment on them. I definitely don’t love it because restaurants are suddenly shoehorning in a ‘special’ Valentine’s Day menu, ‘at the great price of only £80 per person’. Seriously. I actually saw that advertised earlier in the week – at least have the good grace not to say ‘only £80’.

The more I am connected to hoi polloi and businesses on Twitter and Facebook, the more I understand about why people really despise Valentine’s Day. It becomes contrived, meaningless, and a shameless revenue driver. So, chaps, I totally understand. I see now why you think it’s an appalling bit of fakery and a nonsense.

Thing is, I still love it. I loved it when I was about 10, and I got up really early in the morning to cut out purple and red hearts from crepe paper to decorate the sitting room with, and presented my parents with French patisserie I’d purloined, and handmade Valentine’s cards. As I got older, I was lucky enough to have equally thoughtful boyfriends. My first proper boyfriend made me a whole scrapbook full of photos of us and things that had meant a lot to us, little drawings and ephemera from our time as a couple. Another year,  I’d only been seeing one boyfriend for about a week or two, and he turned up at mine with a whole picnic he’d made, as well as presenting me with a packet of flower tea (he knew I loved the stuff), and a single lily. I in turn had baked some chocolate and strawberry cupcakes, then pulled out my champagne saucers (ooh err!) and we had a picnic on my bed.

Every boyfriend I’ve been with for Valentine’s Day has gone out of their way to make it special and unique, and much better than some overpriced meal in a crowded restaurant. This year, for the first time since I started dating, I’m going to be single on Valentine’s Day (unless something dramatic happens in the meantime!) And I refuse to conform to how I’m supposed to behave. I’m not going to sit at home on my own, eating ice cream and weeping. That isn’t my style. I still love the day, and instead I’m going to feel lucky that I’ve had so many lovely past experiences.

In the spirit of not handing over our hard-earned lucre to contrived experiences, I’ve decided to put together a list of my favourite date venues, in the hope that it might inspire you to be a little more creative, a little more relaxed, and to have a much better time. I’m allergic to cheap, vulgar sentiment, and these are my picks of where to go. They’re not all free, but they’re all ACE:

  1. Museums – absolutely perfect for any date, particularly the first date. The picnic chap from above took me to the Natural History museum on our first date, and I thought it was brilliant. Imaginative, intelligent, and also not putting too much pressure on anyone. There’s always something to talk about.
  2. Cellar Door, Zero Aldywch – if you’re after something a little naughtier, I can’t recommend this underground bar enough. It feels like Sally Bowles would go here with one of her endless suitors.  Absolutely tiny, but with a comprehensive cocktail menu (all wonderfully named: ‘Starbucks Must Die’ or ‘Gingerbread Lady Boy’, anyone?) The staff all wear wings, you get popcorn brought to your table, and there’s often a cabaret act to entertain you as well.
  3. A comedy club – GREAT date venue. Just don’t sit too near the front. The last thing you want is for the comedian to sense you’re on a date, and start a dialogue with you. Likewise, choose the comedian carefully. If you think it might get racist, DON’T GO. Instead try somewhere like The Comedy Store, where you’ll get a few tried and tested performers for your money.
  4. Natural Trust properties – now, you do have to judge this on your boyfriend/girlfriend. I personally love a National Trust date. If you choose a big country house, you get to wander around pretending you own the place, and that all the visitors are actually your personal staff. It might not sound romantic on paper, but trust me on this one.
  5. Sketch – one of my absolutely favourite restaurants in the world. Ensconce yourself in The Parlour, order some unusual tea and a divine pastry, and allow the place to work its magic on you. It’s like a Lewis Carroll conception. All dark and sexy, entirely relaxing, and not remotely pretentious despite being spectacularly brilliant. A world away from a dinner for two at a chain restaurant.
  6. Country walk/walk in the park – I’ve sort of touched on this in my ‘National Trust’ point. I don’t think you can beat a good walking date. The perfect chance to talk, away from all the noise a clatter of a restaurant, and in this weather your cheeks go all nice and rosy. Saucy.
  7. And following on from that, a Winter picnic – just make sure you pack some hot chocolate in a flask. Do it on your bedroom floor if you can’t face going outside. Just use protection. And by that, I mean napkins. Obviously.
  8. Or if you want to stay cold, an ice cream parlour – there are heaps in London. Check out this list: http://www.timeout.com/london/feature/1329/best-ice-cream-in-london I particularly want to try out Chin Chin, which is liquid nitrogen ice cream! For real romance, get yourself there around midnight.
  9. Bowling – sometimes you need to be a little retrograde, and that’s a good thing. Don’t go to a crappy over-commercialised alley. Go to the All Star Lanes in Holborn.
  10. If all else fails, have an Anti-Valentine’s Day – do everything wrong. Even if you’re a couple. Buy a ready meal for one and eat it out of the packet. Don’t even bother with the plate. Drink cans of beer or bottles of cider – any wine or champagne is banned. Rent the most depressing films you could possibly watch: either some stark, foreign efforts (Lars Von Trier?) or bloodthirsty action movies. Don’t get dressed up. Present each other with Valentine’s cards that you’ve made by butchering ‘Pick Me Up’ or ‘Chat’ magazine. Relish in the misery, and have a good old laugh at the couples bankrupting themselves over the day.

Cellar Door

The Parlour at Sketch

So there we have it! A pick of some potential date options. In fact, you could even do them on your own, or with friends.  I’m still going to love the day, no matter what anyone says.

Whatever you’re doing, wherever you are, and whoever you are with, I hope you have a great day. I don’t believe anyone should feel bad because they are single, but I equally believe no one should hate all couples, ever, for no good reason. Happy Valentine’s all!

Amelia xx

*All images shamelessly plundered from Google Images*

Brighton

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‘Devenir gris’

Ah, Brighton. I grew up not far from this wonderful city, and it’s always had a place in my heart (oh, crikey. Have I been reading Mills & Boon or something?!) But the sentiment remains the same. If you’ve ever visited, you’ll know there’s a really special feeling to the place. It’s like London’s younger sister, the one who gets absolutely trashed every weekend, has a better wardrobe, a string of boyfriends, can’t hold down a job, but loves life. That is Brighton.

I personally always love visiting sea fronts in Winter. Something about seeing gaudy neon lettering on tacky piers set against a grey sky and sea really strikes me. That’s especially true of Brighton since the decay of the West Pier, which perches, skeletal, in the murky sea, facing off against its rival, the other pier, still running. Just. The wind blows up empty streets near the sea front, and the denizens of Brighton sidle around, coat collars drawn up and hands tucked into gloves.The city really does have an air of faded glamour. Things are slightly peeling at the edges, a little out of focus. A seaside postcard bleached out by the sun.

I visited the other week to work on a street style project for Kenco Millicano in association with www.LadyMPresents.co.uk, so you can hop over to the site to look at the amazing style of Brighton residents. Because the city is a character in itself, I also shot a lot of incidental photos in between people, and wanted to include them here, on my blog. My photos at the moment are definitely tending towards the bleak, I’m afraid! It’s strange – I dislike Winter hugely, and feel like I don’t come alive until Spring, but I’ve been transfixed by the broken structures of trees against skies, and a general appearance of ‘greyness’.

Despite this muted colour pallette, the Brighton residents provided the colour. Within about 15 minutes, I saw a very white middle class chap singing Shaggy songs, a man playing a piano outside (the piano was on wheels), and a man in a top hat rollerblading. Good.

I love Brighton.

They call it Making History

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As any of you who know me on Twitter/Facebook will have seen, I’ve been Lord Grumpy of Grumpsville House, Grumpington this week. Reading that back, I wonder why I’ve characterised myself as a man, but ours is not to question why. Anypoodle, it’s been an exceptionally stressful week. One of those horrible little ‘spiral’ weeks where thing after thing goes wrong, and you find yourself questioning the path you’ve taken.

This whole self-employment lark is fairly new to me, and there are days when I can’t believe how lucky I am, and other days where my To Do list is the length of an Olympic swimming pool, there’s no money in the bank because one week I get paid a fortune, and the next I get enough for a packet of Super Noodles, I have a million emails to deal with, and I find the only communication I’ve had with anyone is talking to a vase of pink roses. Usually, the luckiness wins, because I LOVE not being in an office. I love getting to explore the world, have a bath in the afternoon, do things on my own terms, make my own success. I don’t even care that I’ll work till 11pm, because I can take myself off to London of an afternoon and do something fun.

This week highlighted both the best and worst bits of my lifestyle. I’m starting to get a little burned out, which I attribute to not taking weekends at the weekend, but rather having a ‘weekend’ on, say, a Wednesday afternoon. But that’s one side of it, and one bad week out of many good ones. If I had an office job, I wouldn’t have been able to hop off on Wednesday and take some very moody photos in St James’s Park in the half-light, which helped sort out my head. I also made a pilgrimage to 221b Baker Street, and visited the V&A, the Natural History Museum, AND the Science Museum.

I was looking forward to the V&A hugely; they were holding a Lates event called ‘Hot Brazil’. Well, as my friend India dubbed it, it was more like ‘deafening, over-crowded, poorly planned Brazil’. The main entrance was horribly packed, and after my silly week, I wasn’t exactly in the mood to get bashed into/stepped on/elbowed by hundreds of drunk people attempting the Samba. The event listing had advertised heaps of fun things to do, but there was no sign of them. The only place we saw that looked promising was roped off and for Mastercard holders only, and there was no info on where/when things were going on (which was something the Science Museum provided visitors with for their Lates event.)

Instead, we decided to stroll around the rest of the museum, which was delightfully empty. Then we lolled along to the Natural History museum, which was MUCH more fun. The atmosphere was nicer, and if you haven’t seen those dinosaurs at night, you’ve missed out. So in a roundabout way, here are a few photos of my week….the good parts.