Week 49

Heya chicks,
You know those days where you wake up with a tiny harmonica round your neck and get called to the Crown Plaza to see an old friend, sticky with alcopop and wearing somebody else's clothes? It's been one of those weeks. And while it's been brilliantly messy and fun we are now absolutely cream-crackered, sporting bruises and sleepy smiles, so we leave you with just a little quote from the lovely Lizzie Lay:

Every roll of toilet paper comes with a free telescope in the middle.

Hope you have an amazing week!






Found this absolutely brilliant idea in the latest issue of Frankie magazine and thought it was a good enough excuse to go ape shit in Paperchase and spend a whole afternoon cutting out paper hexagons. I'm not entirely sure where I want to stick them up yet, nor do I possess that amount of blu-tak, but will be sure to post a picture once I've plastered one of the walls in all this paper-quilt glory.
Fleet Foxes-Fleet Foxes
Released in 2008 this album by Seattle based band was an instand success in both the UK and the US.Described as 'Baroque harmonic pop jams' which is a slight understatement to this quartets vocal harmonies and woozy folky feel. Despite the fact that they were all found via the internet this group of 20 somethings work and sound amazing together.Majority of songs are simple, yet terribly enjoyable. If you like Arcade Fire then you'll definatly like Fleet Foxes. Personal favourites would be 'Sun It Rises' and 'White Winter Hymnal'


Citizen Kane- Orson Wells

I just went onto old Wiki to find some interesting background info about the film (you're not supposed to admit that's where you get your information from are you?) and got completely overwhelmed. I have the feeling that this film alone is keeping at least 50 university lecturers in jobs at this very moment, so I will not add to the internet landfill by spinning my own little interpretation of the American dream. It is a good film. You should watch it. The set design is amazing. I probably can't offer much more than that, but I will say that while everyone is already raving about this cinematic bad boy, I'd like to give a shout out to BBC Iplayer, which has allowed me to watch Citizen Kane, and many many other great films, for free and without any of the hassle of downloading. Thank you BBC.


Super magic destination- Somewhere near the Oxo Tower

Next time you've got a sunny evening free I suggest you print this little map off, grab a bike and cycle over with a couple of friends in tow and enough money for a bottle of wine and a pizza. Unfortunately I can't say where, exactly, you should cycle to as Google Maps refuses to give me a name for the place but spotting it on satellite view has convinced me that it does in fact exist and wasn't a lovely and very elaborate hallucination. I won't spoil the intrigue a treasure map creates (and this is a treasure map), but will summarise the destination as so: fairy lights, wooden shacks, drift wood tables, tacky shops, faded advertisements, by the river, Mediterranean tourist spot. I hope you like it.


Also...




I remember when I was 16 Chelsea and I had a competition of who could steal the most educational posters off the school walls over a few months. I ended up with some shitty cartoons about the dangers of smoking and one about the ocean's eco system, but who knows, perhaps in a couple of generations time they'll be vintage or retro or whatever and I can sell them on to some greasy teenager with too much money and a silly haircut. Until then here is an entire blog dedicated to scientific drawings that deserve to make the cut.

Week 48

Hey chikadees,
So it's been a horrendous week of exams (who ever knew that uni was so serious?) and we've been pushing our grey masses to the limit so now it's your turn. A little game:
Try to think of 10 different body parts of only three letters. Ready, set, go!
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

_ _ _

Answers will be displayed next week.




Deers are pretty neat.


This week we love...

Chimneys Afire-Josh Pyke
i first heard this Sydney based folk singer in 2007 at a music festival and instantly fell inlove with it! This is the second album by Josh Pyke and like his first one is filled with autobiographical songs that give us a glimpse into his childhood and relationships. If you like Nick Drake and Elliot Smith then this man's music is definatly for you! The lyrics are lovely and his voice is simultaneously gentle and firm. Double the length of his debut album and possibly even more flantastic! Personal favourites would be 'The Summer' and 'Our House Breathing'

The Wave- Dennis Gansel

Just realised that this is the second week in the row that we feature a classroom drama..Next will be that film where Antonio Banderas teaches poor kids to tango their troubles away. Perhaps not. Anyhow, on to The Wave. In 1967 Ron Jones, a high school teacher working near San Francisco decided to give his students an understanding of fascism by reenacting the social conditions that led to the rise of the Nazis in Germany. People got really into it, it spread like wild fire and the whole project had to get quashed before things got out of hand. The Wave is essentially those events but condensed to a week and set in Germany. Classified as a drama/thriller, there are extremely tense moments as you wait for these wound up teenagers to do something awful, which of course, they do. An interesting insight into the power and danger of group mentality, I think it would have made more of an impact if it had been set in the US, or anywhere other than Germany in fact where there is already a strong enough stigma against all that is fascist.


L'Absinthe- 40 Chalcot Road, NW1 London

While French dining is all too often associated with ridiculous ingredients and arsy waiters, I am happy to introduce the unimaginable: an inexpensive French restaurant in London. And not in the back end of nowhere either, but tucked away in the charming if ever so slightly twee neighbourhood of Primrose Hill. Although the restaurant seems tiny from the outside, half the seating is in fact downstairs, a lovely little haven of candle light and framed maps of vineyards, along with some unimaginably tacky wall paintings to stop it getting presumptuous. The whole concept is that of a local bistro, so the food is wholesome and unpretentious, the waiters friendly and the atmosphere relaxed. Starters are around the 5 pound mark, mains 10 although you can get a three course meal for 12.50 at lunch on weekdays. If you happen to be skint but still want to drop by I'd recommend getting a coffee and sharing the absinthe creme brulee. It's 5.50 and more than big enough for two although make sure you draw up your dividing line before you start: creme brulee can get very territorial.


Also...



Seeing as we're going for the long skinny photos. Saw this on the Frankie website and think it may just be the best idea since post it notes. A bed like this just seems to demand ironed white pyjamas and blow dried hair, so if you think you fit the criteria, and happen to have a bit too much extra cash lying around you can buy it here.

Week 47

Hey chikadees!
So this weekend we went and visited our Grandma and Grandad in the rollicking countryside of Hertfordshire and we'll tell you now: city dwellers do not be fooled, the East End has nothing on village life. They had a village fete on so not only did we get to see our Grandma line dancing over people's graves, but learn of the extravaganza that is a dolly drop. We'd never heard of the phenomena before, but it goes something like this:
For a fare of 50p, you get to strap a makeshift parachute to your favourite dolly, give it to the vicar then watch him throw it off the top of the church tower.
Genius.

This week we love...







Would love to say that I contributed to this creative process with more than just cutting, pasting and framing, but lying's bad for the health and I have a busy day tomorrow.

Attack and Release-The Black Keys

Attack and Release sounds like a mix between Jimi Hendrix, BB King and Johnny Cash and my god is it good.Unlike their usual stuff this album is short of high tempo tracks, however this is not in the slightest a bad thing. Released in 2008 is the duo's first studio album and is filled with dusty, bluesy music where you'll find their song writing at its finest. having being criticized for sounding too polished I think its only a reflection on it being a studio album rather than a change in the band. You can imagine listening to this album in a smoke filled road side bar, and imagining doing so makes it that much better. Personal favourites would be Psychotic Girl and Things Ain't Like They Used To Be. Enjoy!

The Class- Laurent Cantet

The Class (Entre les Murs) tracks the academic progress of a rowdy class of 14 year olds from the 20th arrondissement of Paris over the course of an academic year. Based on the semi autobiographical novel by Francois Begaudeau (who plays his own part as the teacher), the cast are all students, teachers and parents of the Francoise Dalto High School where Begaudeau used to teach. Having excluded professional actors or even a script, the film is a frustrating, funny and sometimes depressing slice of life as both France's crumbling education system and the social issues surrounding its immigrant population are laid bare. Think a lighter take on Kidulthood, limited to the school environment and with a healthy dose of French wit.


IKEA Edmonton- Glover Drive, Enfield, London N18 3HF

I resent that you can't express your love for IKEA nowadays without sounding like a sad hipster wannabee echoing 500 Days of Summer, but I really to fucking love this place. An experience that I usually hold sacred to hanging out with my maja, like bra shopping or watching Eastenders, today I went out solo and my I say, it was glorious. Not only was I able to buy 15 picture frames of various shapes and sizes for 20 pounds, I also nabbed a 30 metre roll of paper for 3 quid, and a serving of macaroni cheese for 99p. Also spent the required amount of time perusing all the different pretend kitchens and bedrooms, drawing up a list of what I'd buy once I had more than a hundred pounds to my name. Haters, stay away, IKEA is the land of dreamers.

Also...



I was rummaging through my paper collection the other day and found this gem written by a certain five year old:

Fish

Fish are great pets.
They don't do much but swim around people say. But I think that fish have a world of their own, where they go to school and draw great pictures (like me). I think that fish are very smart (like Emily). I also think that fish eat spaghetti for tea not just fish food. I might invite some fish to my next party.
- Chelsea Brewer

Week 46

Hey chicks,
So I'm watching Sonny and Cher rocking out on Top of the Pops, singing the old 'I Got You Babe' and unsure whether I'm more impressed by how cute Cher looks without her face stapled back or by her incredibly awkward dance moves. Tough call.
In any case we hope the week's been kind, and that you're faring as well as the Brothers Grimm's shoemaker:

"His conscience was clear and his heart light amidst all his troubles; so he went peaceably to bed, left all his cares to heaven and fell asleep."

Love, Gin and Elly



Well done Pinny for finishing photography for the year. Apologies for the photo of a photo, but the print was too big to fit in the scanner.

This week we love...

Rumours-Fleetwood Mac

With over 40 million copies sold, its more than likely you've already heard this album. However it's all I've been listening to this week after I rediscovered its greatness. Released in 1977 this album is filled with raw lyrics influenced by the bands internal break ups of both couples. Despite being the 11th studio album by Fleetwood Mac, this is the one that made them a fully fledged phenomenon and the biggest-selling pop album to date, filled with harmonics that gained the album critical acclaim. In between 1977 and 1978 this album also reached number one in Australian, Austrian, Canadian, Dutch, South African, New Zealander, US and UK charts. It is also an album that plays a part in both of our childhoods as it was the album our mum used to listen to, especially after a glass of wine where she would dance around the living room and our dad would laugh and tell her to turn her hippy shit off. Personal favourites would be 'Never Going Back Again' and 'I Don't Want To Know'.

Pina- Wim Wenders

When I mentioned to people that I was going to see Pina, the following conversation tended to ensue:
"So what is it?"
"Well it's this really cool dance film that's just come out."
"Oh." Smug raising of the eyebrows. "Right."
"Wait, no no no, it's not like that! It's not a dance film, it's a film about dance, you know?"
"Ok, yeah cool, laters."
And I knew I'd never be able to scramble back up the several echelons I'd just dropped in their esteem.
In all seriousness though put all your prejudices and preconceptions aside and go to see this film. As a dedication to world famous dancer/head of the Tanztheatre Pina Bausch, I'd class it as 10% documentary, 90% visual delight. The choreography, the dancers, the costumes, the sets, the music, everything, combines to make this dizzying cocktail that'll make you laugh and sigh and generally just feel inspired. It took a crazy amount of self control not to dance along the tube platform on the way home, but then I remembered all those kudos I'd lost recently and thought better of it.


The Southbank Centre- Belvedere Road, London SE1 8XX

If ever you should happen to be broke and with an afternoon to spare (I know, what are the odds of that?) hop, skip and jump over to the Southbank Centre without further ado. While the concrete jungle is always a hive of activity, there seems to be even more stuff going on as the Festival of Britain opened last week. Although it may sound like the ultimate racist social club, the festival was in fact created in the 50s to boost everyones morale after the doom and gloom of the war, and let's face it, who would ever shun a bit of extra cheering up? Favourites include the ridiculous amounts of bunting, colourful beach huts and the urban beach although Jeppe Hein's 'Appearing Rooms' fountains is also pretty spectacular. There's also a free film screening every night projected against the side of the building so bring a jumper and popcorn and take a moment to appreciate how great it is to live in London. Oh Britannia..


Also...



Love the way he throws sand in that kids face. Is that bad?

Week 45

Hey sweetpeas!
After a long, and probably not totally deserved break we are ready to contribute to internet landfill once again. As the royal wedding has highlighted the insignificance of us mere mortals and we've had to accept our faces may never be printed on mugs by anyone other than our grandmother, Ginny and I have decided to strike back with a torrent of creative genius that will surely land us a Nobel Prize. Project number one will be called 'Troll watching: a catalogue of English women'
Should be out before Christmas.



Felt very witty at an out of space party then realised I'd stapled myself into the costume so couldn't:
a. pee
b. pour myself a drink
c. sit down without looking like I had disjointed legs

This week we love...



Trash magazines. The pinnacle of British popular culture, but which one is worth your hard earned benefit money? Elly Watson investigates.

That's Life! The best true life stories

Catch-line: Childbirth gave me a designer vagina

Sob-story: Along with the standard crowd pleaser of a weak pelvic floor, That's Life hones in on the primary interests of the average house wife: rape, cancer and drug addiction. The heavier stories, like the 20 year old strangled with her own stockings are balanced out with the tales of cancelled car boot sales, creating a palatable fear of society at large.

Horoscope: Sound advice such as 'a DVD exercise routine helps you get back into shape.' How do they do it?

Crossword: Six-letter word, clue: Harry...boy wizard

Value for money: 68p for 47 pages

Overall Score: 8/10

Hello!

Catch-line: The lessons learnt from Diana

Sob-story: Dissappointing turnout as most of the writing space is dedicated to people who pretend to know Kate Middleton/Prince William/ Lady Diana Spencer. Having said that, Demi Moore has been fannying around Nepal and has decided that while she may be an American cougar, and they may be underage sex slaves, the pain they share is the same. So there you go.

Horoscope: None sighted although an accidental glimpse at Liz Hurley's pubes on page 98 more than makes up for it.

Crossword: Nine-letter word, clue: Kate..., the fiancee of Prince William of Wales

Value for money: £2.00 for 130 pages

Overall Score: 2/10


Take a Break: The Real Life Mag

Catch-line: Shopping hell aged me 10 years

Sob-story: Excellent article about an overweight woman from Liverpool who tied her daughter's boyfriend to a kitchen cupboard with his own shoe laces before slashing his hands and legs. Aside from that the double page spread about women whose lives have been ruined by gastric bands is pretty tasty. One became a shopping addict, the other went for online gambling and two became alcoholics.

Horoscope: Impressive display of common sense: 'Go West for theatre outing' or 'Words in card touch heart'

Crossword: Five-letter word, clue: country whose capital is Rome

Value for money: 82p for 62 pages

Overall Score: 7/10


OK! First for celebrity news

Catch-Line: I wish my babies would get off my bladder!

Sob-story: While the fact that Mariah Carey has procreated ought to be tragedy enough for the celebrity world, there is heartbreak still to come. Peter Andre reveals that he “went nuts for mixed-race girls”, Charlie Sheen is planning to patent 22 of his own catch phrases while Kate Middleton, Victoria Beckham and Jessica Alba all take a moment to mourn the trauma of their childhoods at the hands of bullies: “They said I was trying to steal their boyfriends!” Didn't you realise how difficult it is being super hot and popular? Fuck.

Horoscope: Complete rip off as you have to call to find out when, exactly, to expect your impending doom: “call me to hear when to avoid being disappointed in love and money.” Really?

Crossword: Four-letter word, clue: Victoria Beckham aka... Spice

Value for money: £1.49 for 146 pages

Overall score: 5/10

Woman

Catch-line: I lost 4st and gained a husband!

Sob-story: As a publication solely made up of diet tips the only real tragedy is that the magazine is still in print. We may have figured out space travel and be on the way to curing cancer, but we somehow still need a monthly magazine to remind us that living off jammy dodgers and cheese spray might just lead to obesity. Between the suggestions of chowing down on houmous as a healthy snack and drinking vinegar to curb your appetite, it seems safe to say the only way this media turd could help you lose weight is if you ate it.

Horoscope: “Your slimming destiny” Was already shredding magazine to be served with jacket potato at this point.

Crossword: See above.

Value for money: £1.95 for 74 pages

Overall score: 2/10

Chat: Very, very best of! Passion series

Catch-line: Evil ex set me on fire and MELTED MY FACE OFF

Sob-story: Like the diary of a piromaniac, Chat includes not one but three stories of people being set on fire, the theme even being carried over to the ads: “Keep your loved ones with you- always. Beautiful memorial jewellery created from cremated ashes” Think you've seen it all? The last page features a 15 year old girl with no legs leaping into a horse's saddle.

Horoscope: “A massive change of emphasis emerges now, and things may never, ever be the same again.” Almost as shameful as their pun about the blind woman: 'Eye can rely on my girls!' Surely that isn't politically correct?

Crossword: Five-letter word, clue: fifty plus ten

Value for money: £1.90 for 74 pages

Overall score: 9/10

Sounding a mosaic- Bedouin Soundclash

This is the second album released by the Canadian rock/reggae band. In 2006 it reached the top 10 US reggae albums and in the same year they reached number one in the BBC charts. Bedouin soundclash have successfully managed to create an album that as single tracks seems quite simple yet as a whole is wonderfully complex. The band is made up of a voice, one single guitar, a bass line and drums that are barely noticeable in some songs, some sounding more like acoustic roots reggae whilst others have a refreshing take on drum and bass. Definitely one to check out. Personal favourite would be 'When the night feels my song', and 'shadow of a man', both of which are make for a good start to the day.

Hedgehog in the Fog- Yuriy Norshteyn

Hedgehog in the Fog is a 1975 Soviet animation about a little hedgehog who heads off to meet his friend the bear cub so they can drink tea with raspberry jam and count the stars. Unfortunately, on his way there the hedgehog sees a beautiful white horse, and afraid that the horse might drown in the fog, he goes in to investigate, getting lost himself. Charming and eerie, the story is set to a wonderful original score by Mikhail Meyerovich, making it hands down the best way to spend a spare 10 minutes. Although he's won copious amounts of awards, the director Yuriy Norshteyn was actually fired from the film studio where he worked in 1985 for "working too slowly". For the past two years he'd been working on a feature length adaptation of Gogol's 'The Overcoat' and had only completed 10 minutes. Still waiting to be completed, you can catch a glimpse of the work in progress here.

The Wellcome Collection, 183 Euston Road, London NW1 2BE

Although the last couple of exhibitions have been disappointing I'm happy to announce that the Wellcome Collection has done itself proud with Dirt: The filthy reality of everyday life. Spanning across several ages and places including 17th century Delft, Victorian London and Nazi Germany, the exhibition tracks society's changing attitude towards dirt as well as its timeless moral connotations. While previous exhibitions have felt sparse, there is an almost overwhelming amount of curiosities to see including John Snow's maps of Soho, marking both the location of water pumps and the numbers of deaths by cholera, Pear's racist soap adverts and Nazi sanitation posters: 'Jews are lice, they cause typhus' Propaganda aside there are also some nice works by contemporary artists working with dirt and an interesting section about the link between sanitation and architecture in the 1930s.

Also...




Having been put off Monopoly at an early age (my brother refused to teach me the rules so that I'd be sure to lose) I'm proud to announce that I recently witnessed a game that lasted only an hour and a half, and that even involved laughter. Monopoly is ok.