Week 34

Hello sweet potatoes!
So another week's gone by, there's been epic catch ups, too much wine, disorientating bus rides and some wicked keyboard playing but what weirdly has stood out as an excellent moment is spending about an hour in Sainsbury's trying to figure out the best way of spending 10 pounds. No, seriously you should try it some time. You just wander around looking at everything like it might just be something incredibly precious, pick it up, put it down, forget the fact that you're totally broke and should be buying food to last you the rest of the week and just buy things that you really want.
Our list goes like this: fresh sesame loaf, ball of mozarella, Bonne Maman jam, one mango, tub of creme fraiche, some tomatoes, spinach and ricotta tortellinis and a bunch of purple chrysanthemums.
Life is great.



Speaking of food our craft project this week is our first ever presentation of a recipe. We hope you can read it ok and that some of you give it a go, they're pretty fucking delicious. Jamie Oliver eat your heart out.













ps. You should probably consume them with a glass of cold milk at midnight while having a sleepy conversation with your housemate. Any other time will work too.

This week we love...



For a person who spends so much time in cinemas it's incredible how little I know about how they operate. I buy my ticket, take my seat, tolerate the 25 minutes of adverts and watch the film. Simple. Cinema, like so much else in our society, has become a smooth, clean affair. Gone are the days of the piano accompanist or the risk of cremation at the hands of nitrate film reels but living in a computer age we forget that there is still one man standing: the projectionist. I personally always imagined a grey haired old man with neat facial hair and a serious smoking problem, possibly wearing a black jumper and definitely into the French new wave. Imagining though is never quite as satisfying as knowing so I headed off the the Everyman in Hampstead and asked to talk to the projectionist. This is what happened:
* Awkwardly hanging around the foyer waiting for projectionist to come, feeling like a bit of a tit. Down the stairs comes short balding man with a pot belly and embarrassed movements. Something about his face seems really young so you really wouldn't be able to say how old he is. This is Mr Projectionist. Brief introduction, trying not to sound like a total creep for waiting around to talk to him. He's super nice and invites me into the projection room.*

Being a projectionist is a pretty unusual job, how did you get into it? Did you have to do a course or anything?
No, back in the day when I started you just had to fill in a form. I started working in a cinema at the box office and then eventually went into being a projectionist and have stuck to it since.

So how long have you been working as a projectionist?
23 years now, although only 5 years as a full time projectionist at this cinema. It's a pretty cool place, it's been a cinema for 93 years now but before that it was an army drill hall in World War 1 and then a little theatre. Oscar Wilde put a few of his plays on here, you know that ones that were too edgy for the West End.

And how does all of this work?
Well films all come on these hard drives now which are sent to us in this box (indicates heavy duty yellow plastic box), we put it on the computer and then when we're done screening it we send it back and they whip the drive and send it back to us with the next film.

Wicked, so you don't have to change reels or anything like that?
MP: No, it's all done on the computer now which is why a lot of cinemas don't have projectionists anymore. I mean if I wanted to I could programme all the screenings for the week, including the trailers and adverts and everything and just control it from home but we've got all the different lights here and the curtain and everything so if anything goes wrong it's better to be on site. Also we sometimes do use the old projector if we're doing a special film screening and I'd have to be in charge of that.

So what do you do while the film's being shown, do you watch it?
No, we've got two screens here so I have to run over and take care of the other one but if they're both running then I can have a break and have my lunch.

Fair enough, what are your favourite films?
Oh you know, all the Star Wars films, I'd consider them as one big film, then all the Lord of the Rings, but not the theatrical versions, the extended versions. All five Planet of the Apes films, they're really good, and Laurence of Arabia. You know, the classics.

My dad really likes the Star Wars films, he took his girlfriend at the time to see a Star Wars movie marathon and she dumped him pretty soon after that.
Like the very same day?

Yeah, pretty much.
Hmm, that's just the way it goes isn't it.. My wife and I were going to have a Star Wars wedding but she decided that we'd have to go all the way or not at all so we didn't end up doing it. It was a bit of a bummer, Ewan McGregor comes here all the time so I'm pretty friendly with him and he said he'd lend me the robes he wore in Revenge of the Sith.

But where would you have a Star Wars wedding?
Well that was part of the problem, we'd have it in our local parish but we couldn't get the priest to agree to hold a staff with a Yoda puppet stuck on the end of it during the service.

Shame.
Yeah, you know a kid was having a Star Wars birthday party here once and he was all like 'oooh, I've never met anyone from the Star Wars film' and I was like, 'Hey kid, I was in the Star Wars movie'. He didn't believe me so I leant in and was like (in the fucking best Yoda impression you'll ever hear in your life) 'You must be wise young master' and the kid was like 'noooo way!!!'

You probably just made his life.
Yeah, probably.

Projectionists are the best.


The Kings Speech- Tom Hooper

So if somebody asked you to spend ten pounds to watch the last king of England learn not to stammer you'd probably be in a fair position to ask them to jump off something. But if you mentioned that said film starred Colin Firth, Geoffrey Rush and Helen Bonham Carter, and that it also happened to have been nominated for 14 BAFTAS and 12 Oscars, perhaps you should pause for consideration. While the beginning is a little bit slow, and the content is Royalist in the extreme, it's an incredibly moving story tracking King George's progress from the stammering Duke of York to the leader of the world's biggest empire, and a whole lot of struggling in between. I won't say anything else because I'm sure you'll go and see it for yourself but I would recommend that you see it at the cinema, the shots are really very beautiful and deserve a big screen. Uplifting, with all the class of a period drama without any of the sappy dialogue.




The Beautiful Girls-Water

This australian band is famous for pulling together an electric harmony of rock, reggae, pop and folk has drawn comparisons with bands such as Xavier Rudd, Jack Johnson and John Butler Trio (who they are currently touring in the US with). Despite being more well known in Australia, they have toured such places as Japan, North America and Europe. Water is their 3rd album yet it has alot of tracks from previous albums, most of the having won awards or the great honour of being on the triple j's hottest 100 of 2003 ( for non australians.. this is a very good thing!) Definite relaxing music, perfect for sitting in the garden slowly burning under the sun. Favorites include 'Blackbird', 'La Mar' and 'Periscopes'.






My Grandad once casually mentioned that he rode his bike from London to Israel to chase after some lovely Jewish girl. Using the excuse that I am neither a cycling super sayne nor adequately besotted with anybody I have limited my own adventure to riding from Kingston to Embankment, a 45 mile trek involving Clarks desert boots, madeira cake and a lot of Kodak moments. While I have arrived home safely and feel all refreshed by my journey there seems like a pretty impossible amount of things to say about my little trip so I will limit it to this: go on a cycling trip along the Thames.
There is a path for cyclists and pedestrians pretty much the whole way along and I promise you will see so many lovely things. I would probably recommend doing the trip in reverse order, from central London outwards as it gets more and more scenic the further you go out and then you can just catch a train back into town when you're done. Trains from Kingston to Vauxhall are about 5 pounds and you should be able to bring your bike with you without any difficulty although you can't take them on the tube (unless they fold up of course). So yeah, next time you've got a spare afternoon make yourself a sandwich, grab a juice popper and scoot off along the river, it'll be the cheapest holiday of your life.










































































































































































Also...

So my housemate Fran was discussing tragedy and comedy in class the other day and heard a story that seems like the epitome of both. Here goes:
You know those airplanes that fly into the sea and pick up loads of water to dump onto forest fires? Well one time they accidentally picked up a scuba diver and, well, he got dropped into an enormous fire. Isn't that the funniest thing you've ever heard? A man burning to death in his wet suit?
Maybe it's just us...

Week 33

Ello!
Do you remember back in the day when everyone had greasy fringes and spent all their time on Myspace? Well I got a pretty sad email from Tom the other day asking where I'd been and I realised that while they got completely annihilated by Facebook, they did have one thing right: the song that played once you clicked onto someones page. How great to have a soundtrack to somebody's life as you flick through their pictures like a big creep. Right now we'd have 'You and Me' by Penny and the Quarters, stolen from the Blue Valentine Soundtrack and just so fucking good.
'I got us a song. you know I got us a song that will just be for you and me. Because everybody's got songs, but they're lame. And they all share them, you know, it's disgusting.'
Hope you have an amazing week.



The very first solo expedition on the JL Mini sewing machine. Fabric was from IKEA and cushions from Argos (4 cushions for 8 pounds, how good is that?) Bring on the home improvements.

This week we love...





So last week during a bout of extreme optimism I sent famous writer and philosopher Alain de Botton an email asking whether perhaps, maybe, he'd let me interview him. My housemate laughed at me and with the automated pop up message thanking me for my feedback appearing on the screen I resolved to stick to students and neighbours as subjects in the future. Imagine my surprise when I received an answer the very next day saying he'd be delighted to answer my questions but to please, please not become a writer as I will be miserable. I have decided to discard what was possibly a kind criticism of my writing and undoubtedly a sound piece of advice, and as the fruits of my endeavours I present to you a moment with Alain de Botton.

What is it like being a philosopher?
I feel very lucky to be able to spend most of my time thinking through certain questions (what makes a good marriage? what is shyness? why are meritocratic societies crueller towards those at the bottom etc?). It seems an enormous privilege to have the mental space to think things through. I never stop marvelling that enough people buy my books to make this life possible.

What do you think is the biggest source of unhappiness in the world?
Lack - of food, of money, of status, of love, of creativity... We are creatures with intense and complex needs. It is rare that reality can fulfil them all.

Are you happy?
Partly, but (and this feels more important) I feel engaged by life and excited by it.

What was the best advice ever given to you?
I remember my father saying that all choices entail sacrifices, so one should only ever aim at the least worst option.

What are your top five favourite places in London?
The Tate Modern, Heathrow airport, St pancras station, Villandry Restaurant, Regent's park.

And finally, what would your ideal Sunday consist of?
Playing Lego with my 2 sons

Alain de Botton has written many, many best selling books including 'How Proust Can Change Your Life', 'The Architecture of Happiness' and (my personal favourite) 'The Art of Travel. The least pretentious philosophy books you will ever come across, they're lucid and original, and you will probably be a better person for having read them. No pressure or anything.

Egyptian Hip Hop-Unsigned



This Mancunian band have followed in the footsteps of many from Manchester and chosen a name that is confusing, utterly entrancing and has no relevance to what they do. Having previously been described as new age electro/80's revival, they have recently changed into what has been described as 'stoner wailing' .. We have settled for dark, yet upbeat.
Not having actually been signed yet makes it best to find their songs on youtube, it is well worth it! Especially check out Rad Pitt which reminds me of a softer Julian Casablancas meets Silversun Pickups. We hope that there will soon be an album to actually buy but until then check out their myspace :

http://www.myspace.com/egyptianhiphop






Blue Valentine- Derek Cianfrance

Do not be fooled by the trailer: this is not some cosy indie romance where the boy is funny and the girl shy and they both have a long list of kooky traits. This is the most accurate depiction of love I have ever seen, and as you can imagine it's very sad. Blue Valentine charts Dean and Cindy's relationship as they flash back and forth between the reality of their failed marriage and reflections on their budding romance, a depressing juxtaposition indeed. From the first glance across the retirement home hall to their trip to a sex motel in a vain attempt to spruce up their romantic life, Blue Valentine shows that while love certainly exists, it very rarely lasts, and that heartbreak isn't reserved to widows and war-torn countries. It happens to the best of us. A beautiful film with an excellent soundtrack, perfect performances by Michelle Williams and Ryan Gosling and just enough humour to get you through. Not one to see alone.


The Garden Museum- 5 Lambeth Palace Rd, London SE1 7LB

Riding along the Embankment past St Thomas' Hospital and the clusters of office blocks found on that part of the river you come across a very strange sight indeed:sat next to a big roundabout is a medieval palace and an old grey chapel. The palace is the home of the Archbishop of Canterbury and the chapel the Garden Museum, an obscure little space that houses everything you could possibly want to know about gardening. The interior reminded my a little bit of an IKEA showroom, lots of wood panels set up to separate the space without damaging the church, but you can find a lot of neat things such as a gentleman gardner's boots from the 1920s, a lawn mower from 1885 or the design plan for the High Line Project New York. There's also a replica 17th C garden behind the chapel and a very wholesome looking cafe in case you get overwhelmed learning about daisy grubbers and billhooks.
Also...



We realise that most of you have already seen this but it's just too funny. So bloody middle class it's unbelievable, it pretty much sums up everyone you'll meet in leading UK universities.

Week 32

Hey there chickaroos, it has been far too long!
So after a teeny tiny emotional breakdown and an untimely escape to the south of France (that's just what people do when they're feeling sad), we're back and full to the brim with inspiration including, but certainly not limited to: pink tulips, bicycle bells, caramel tea, Petit Ecolier biscuits, silk shorts and plans to acquire a bird called Marcel.
The sky may be steely and spring a long way off but after a Christmas-induced lag we're ready to shake of our blues, open the window and dangle our legs to the sound of 'Judy in Disguise'.
Would be lovely if you could join us.



























Throughout London (and I'm sure in many other cities across the globe) if you find yourself in the sadly outdated situation of stumbling into a phone box you will find the only remaining example of honest advertising: call cards. Plastered all over the walls are the gaudiest and most down right tasteless images of women to be found this side of Hollywood and in honour of the tasty morsels we have made our very own skank cards. Not that our lovely ladies are hookers, more like lonely hearts but not divorced or overweight. To be found in a phone box near you.





This week we love...

Meet Ciara Aaron ,londoner and future pop star.
After having the pleasure of meeting this girl over 2 years ago, I spent New Years with her and a group of London born eccentrics and was shown her song 'Sea of Love' at ridiculous oclock in the morning and immediately fell inlove with it. After probably the longest texts ever written, here are a few things she had to share with us.




So Ciara what kind of genre are you going for?

Its hard to describe but I guess in the simplest terms it would be alternative pop.

What are your top 5 favourite bands of all time?

My top 5 would have to be,
TV on the radio,
Lupe Fiasco,
Nina Simone,
Chet Baker and The Beach Boys.

If you could go on tour/open for any band which one would it be?

It would be an absolute dream to tour with Lupe Fiasco!

When did you decide that this is what you wanted to do?

I've sang almost since birth, I've always known music was what i was made for, I'm just so privileged to be in the position I'm in at the moment. Even though it takes so much hard work there is nothing I could possibly imagine being more gratifying.


When can we expect to start hearing you on the radio then?

Radio play is definetly coming soon, possibly by then end of this year.

Where do you hope to be in 5 years time?

In 5 years i hope to have travelled the world and gained recognition for my art. I would also like a house with a beauty and the beast style library!

How would you pass your ideal sunday, including perfect song?

My ideal sunday would have to be, watching trailer park boys, with a roast cooking away and my beautiful cat Zeus sat on my lap.


You can check out her demo here:
http://soundcloud.com/ciaraaaron

or

http://www.myspace.com/ciaraaaronuk/music/

Enjoy!



State Radio- Peace Between Nations

Now, who thought that musicians these days were all about Cheap Mondays and snorting cocaine off strippers backs? Just us? Well in any case we're happy to say that we've been proven wrong. Allow us to introduce State Radio, an American trio who've fought for election reforms, removed invasive plant species from California and partnered with Oxfam to raise money and awareness to help protect women against violence in Sudan. Oh, and they've also released 11 records, just to really make you feel crap about your achievements from the past 10 years. While 'Peace Between Nations' seems to set you up for a compilation of preachy tracks about loving your neighbour and recycling, you couldn't be further off. The opening track 'First One Shot' is a little too similar to the John Butler Trio for our liking but plough on and you'll find some real acoustic nuggets like 'Keep Sake' and 'Indian Moon' as well as a song about shagging the waitress from Caesars. Enjoy.







Matador- Pedro Almodovar

Someone on the internet summarised this film as follows: "ex-bullfighter who is getting turned on by killing, lady lawyer with same problem and young man driven insane by over-religious upbringing." Couldn't have said it better. Watched this with my parents the other night and am telling you now, learn from my mistakes; there's nothing quite as awkward as watching a matador wank off to horror movies with your mum giggling next to you. Sex scenes aside the film really is very funny in all its melodramatic, 80s power dressing glory and well worth a watch if you're into Almodovar who ironically enough trained as a priest before getting into film making. There's also a lot of great one liners to be learnt and shouted out of context. You'll see what I mean.




Trinity Buoy Wharf- 64 Orchard Pl, London E14 0JW

On another one of his adventures across London (during which he tries his hardest to get lost), my grandpapie discovered this little gem. Hidden away among the concrete wasteland that spreads out from East India tube station you can find Trinity Buoy Wharf, a seaside destination in London's docklands. I can't really explain to you how charming this place is, and think it's much better for you to go see for yourself but I will say it includes an old school diner, a red lighthouse boat, rainbow coloured shipping containers stacked and converted into apartments as well as the world's tiniest museum. Enchanted?






































Thank you to Miranda for being an excellent travelling companion and pretty lady.
Look how cute she is trying to climb onto the buoy! Bless.



















Also...

Reminds us of when we were little and we used to push our mini trolleys around Continent.