Wednesday 22 December 2010
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Sunday 19 December 2010
"The best way to spread christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear!" Buddy the elf
a little seasonal post.....
I was enjoying an Irish themed night out at the teeny-tiny Mulligan's pub, drinking Guinness and singing along to the Pogues with my lovely Irish friends Jack and Kate in the snow storm on Friday. Trotting through town at 3 in the morning Manchester looked so beautiful with all the freshly fallen snow...this letter box reminded me of an old Victorian Christmas card which is when the whole Christmas card thing kicked off commercially. So I googled them and found some really beautiful,festive and inspiring designs, Merry Christmas!
The Oldest Christmas card.
I was enjoying an Irish themed night out at the teeny-tiny Mulligan's pub, drinking Guinness and singing along to the Pogues with my lovely Irish friends Jack and Kate in the snow storm on Friday. Trotting through town at 3 in the morning Manchester looked so beautiful with all the freshly fallen snow...this letter box reminded me of an old Victorian Christmas card which is when the whole Christmas card thing kicked off commercially. So I googled them and found some really beautiful,festive and inspiring designs, Merry Christmas!
Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
In hopes that St Nicholas soon would be there.
The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads.
And mamma in her ‘kerchief, and I in my cap,
Had just settled our brains for a long winter’s nap.
When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.
The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow
Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below.
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But a miniature sleigh, and eight tinny reindeer.
With a little old driver, so lively and quick,
I knew in a moment it must be St Nick.
More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,
And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name!
"Now Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer and Vixen!
On, Comet! On, Cupid! on, on Donner and Blitzen!
To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!
Now dash away! Dash away! Dash away all!"
As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,
When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky.
So up to the house-top the coursers they flew,
With the sleigh full of Toys, and St Nicholas too.
And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof
The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.
As I drew in my head, and was turning around,
Down the chimney St Nicholas came with a bound.
He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,
And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot.
A bundle of Toys he had flung on his back,
And he looked like a peddler, just opening his pack.
His eyes-how they twinkled! his dimples how merry!
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!
His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow.
The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,
And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath.
He had a broad face and a little round belly,
That shook when he laughed, like a bowlful of jelly!
He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,
And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself!
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,
Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread.
He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
And filled all the stockings, then turned with a jerk.
And laying his finger aside of his nose,
And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose!
He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,
And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.
But I heard him exclaim, ‘ere he drove out of sight,
"Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night!"
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
In hopes that St Nicholas soon would be there.
The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads.
And mamma in her ‘kerchief, and I in my cap,
Had just settled our brains for a long winter’s nap.
When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.
The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow
Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below.
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But a miniature sleigh, and eight tinny reindeer.
With a little old driver, so lively and quick,
I knew in a moment it must be St Nick.
More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,
And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name!
"Now Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer and Vixen!
On, Comet! On, Cupid! on, on Donner and Blitzen!
To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!
Now dash away! Dash away! Dash away all!"
As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,
When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky.
So up to the house-top the coursers they flew,
With the sleigh full of Toys, and St Nicholas too.
And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof
The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.
As I drew in my head, and was turning around,
Down the chimney St Nicholas came with a bound.
He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,
And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot.
A bundle of Toys he had flung on his back,
And he looked like a peddler, just opening his pack.
His eyes-how they twinkled! his dimples how merry!
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!
His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow.
The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,
And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath.
He had a broad face and a little round belly,
That shook when he laughed, like a bowlful of jelly!
He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,
And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself!
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,
Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread.
He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
And filled all the stockings, then turned with a jerk.
And laying his finger aside of his nose,
And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose!
He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,
And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.
But I heard him exclaim, ‘ere he drove out of sight,
"Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night!"
Clement Clarke Moore (1779 - 1863)
Listening to-
Have yourself a merry little christmas, Jingle Bells, both Frank Sinatra
Happy Xmas (War is over),John and Yoko
Santa Baby, Eartha Kitt
Frosty the Snowman, Fiona Apple
Merry Christmas Baby, Elvis Presley
Winter Song, Sarah Bareilles
The Christmas song, Nat King Cole and Catherine Feeny versions
White Christmas, Bing Crosby
Sleigh Ride, Ella Fitzgerald
Sleigh Ride, Ella Fitzgerald
Tuesday 16 November 2010
50p
I am thoroughly excited to share my latest bargain/gem/find/thrift/amazing quality item that I purchased for a mere 50p (yes that right,you heard me correctly!50p!woohoo!)
I love my new high waisted front pleat trousers from the 50p rail and they fit like a glove!
Never underestimate a bargain bin, even in a charity shop (where I bought these beauties!)
I love charity shopping and ten years or so of refining my craft has left me with considerable skill in the area! But I do encourage EVERYONE to start charity/thrift shopping because the benefits far outweigh the negatives.
If like me you are poor but a shopaholic (not usually a good mix!) or even if you aren't, it is an amazing way to keep up with trends and keep you looking creative and presentable. Most fashion designers take some form of inspiration from the past, so often I will look in high street shops or editorial magazines (vogue,i-d,pop etc) decide what I like and then hunt out a vintage something similar in charity shops. For me it is fantastic because it is a way of being able to afford things that are completely out of my budget and acts as a type of nicotine patch for the addicted! It curbs over-spending as everything is dirt cheap and you are recycling instead of increasing demand for fast, mass production on the high street. This makes it an ethical and environmentally friendly pastime and to top it all off if you are often donating to a good cause. Phew!
So apart from occasional musty smells and the odd crazy/drunk/high person following you round the shop (all part of the fun!) charity/second hand shopping is a top fashion tip!
I love my new high waisted front pleat trousers from the 50p rail and they fit like a glove!
Never underestimate a bargain bin, even in a charity shop (where I bought these beauties!)
Necklace-Charity, Top/body/leotard thingy £6-New Look, Navy tights M&S,
Shoes £30-Zara, Trousers 50p-Charity.
I love charity shopping and ten years or so of refining my craft has left me with considerable skill in the area! But I do encourage EVERYONE to start charity/thrift shopping because the benefits far outweigh the negatives.
If like me you are poor but a shopaholic (not usually a good mix!) or even if you aren't, it is an amazing way to keep up with trends and keep you looking creative and presentable. Most fashion designers take some form of inspiration from the past, so often I will look in high street shops or editorial magazines (vogue,i-d,pop etc) decide what I like and then hunt out a vintage something similar in charity shops. For me it is fantastic because it is a way of being able to afford things that are completely out of my budget and acts as a type of nicotine patch for the addicted! It curbs over-spending as everything is dirt cheap and you are recycling instead of increasing demand for fast, mass production on the high street. This makes it an ethical and environmentally friendly pastime and to top it all off if you are often donating to a good cause. Phew!
So apart from occasional musty smells and the odd crazy/drunk/high person following you round the shop (all part of the fun!) charity/second hand shopping is a top fashion tip!
Listening To:
To Kingdom Come- Passion Pit
Quelqu'n M'a Dit- Carla Bruni
Being bad feels pretty good- Does it Offend you yeah?
Real World- The Buzzcocks
Eat that up,its good for you- Two Door Cinema Club
Monday 15 November 2010
A Room of One's Own
'A woman must have money and a room of her own if she is to write fiction.' Virginia Woolf
'But Woolf is concerned with more than just the room itself. She uses the room as a symbol for many larger issues, such as privacy, leisure time, and financial independence, each of which is an essential component of the countless inequalities between men and women.'
'A room of her own would provide a woman with the time and the space to engage in uninterrupted writing time.'
'When the narrator is interrupted in A Room of One’s Own, she generally fails to regain her original concentration, suggesting that women without private spaces of their own, free of interruptions, are doomed to difficulty and even failure in their work.'
'For the narrator of A Room of One’s Own, money is the primary element that prevents women from having a room of their own, and thus, having money is of the utmost importance. Because women do not have power, their creativity has been systematically stifled throughout the ages. The narrator writes, “Intellectual freedom depends upon material things. Poetry depends upon intellectual freedom."
analysis from http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/roomofonesown/
This is the room I call my own
This is the room where I am not alone
This is the room where I feel so free
This is the room I can be with me
These are the walls all covered in stars
This is my mum’s and this is my pa’s
This is the room I can think alone
And dream of things I would love to own
This is my room where my thoughts are good
I’m going to live my life like I know I should.
Grandad
xxxx
xx
A poem for me by Grandad Bob.
Listening To: 'Paris Nights/New York Mornings' Corinne Bailey Rae, The Sea
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