Secret Cinema: “Tell no one…”

With a tag line like that it must be something good, right?  I have been meaning to go to a Secret Cinema for ages so when this one came up in the centre of town it seemed like a perfect idea, especially the weekend before Christmas when festive fatigue has set in.  (The photos are all really, 'atmospheric', ie dark as my trusty camera phone does not like 1940s style lighting.)

We received our instructions to meet at Barbican, to dress in 1940s style, lots of black and set off in eager anticipation.  Standing at Barbican tube watching everyone arrive was amazing, so many beautiful outfits and such a lot of effort had been put in by the majority of people, and it’s nice to be a part of something like this.

Once our party had assembled we were directed to a meeting point round the corner from the tube where we waited until four ‘soldiers’ formed us up into lines and marched us (not an easy feat in heels and a pencil skirt) through Smithfields and to the door of a disused warehouse.  En route we were made aware of an ongoing funeral for ‘Harry’ and saw many shady figures loitering on corners, all of which created an amazing atmosphere.

We walked into a hotel reception where we were greeted and directed on into the warehouse.  We exchanged our money for Viennese I’m not sure whats, purchased a bottle of wine and set about exploring.  

Over four and a bit floors were spread a bar with a live band, gaming and dancing, the offices of the four countries, England, France, America and Russia, who shared Vienna in the 1940s and numerous offices, bedrooms, attics and even a train platform.  Throughout all of it actors ran about, shouted, stages assignations and at one point attempted to sell us black market stockings (Me: Oh, lovely but not really my style...).

Mary and I nearly became Communists after visiting the Russian attaché's office and poor Michael ended up marching about being yelled at.  Luckily we escaped just before being branded with a red star and made our way back to more bohemian setting of the bar.

We feasted like kings on amazing hot dogs with saurkraut, quaffed mulled wine to keep warm and generally spent a great deal of time pointing, gasping and being entertained.  A funeral procession and a fatal shooting being two of the scenes going on around us.

A siren went off, calling us all in to watch the film and I tottered in on my heels to grab a space in the barn, snuggled under a blanket.  Have you guessed what the film was yet?  The Third Man, a British film noir set in post WWII Vienna following out of luck American pulp fiction writer Holly Martins as he investigates the suspicious death of his friend Harry Lime, played by Orson Welles.  There is intrigue, dastardly doings, the girl, the British officer trying to do his best and all the other things you would imagine.  Cut glass accents and much understated acting.  It was wonderful.

The best line of the night goes to Orson Welles' character Harry Lime.  When Holly questions him about his involvement in a blackmarket penicillin scam and the harm it is wreaking on the Viennese population, Lime says by way of explanation:

"You know what the fellow said - in Italy, for thirty years under the Borgias, they had warfare, terror, murder and bloodshed, but they produced Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci and the Renaissance.  In Switzerland, they had brotherly love, they had five hundred years of democracy and peace - and what did that produce? The cuckoo clock."

Wishing you a very merry Christmassy decorating season

Last week I decided it was time for Operation Tree.  Last year I decided that I had to choose either classy or trashy as my Christmas theme, weighed up the relative merits of a new carpet vs a real tree and opted for a white tinsel version.  It's fabulous.

The previous occupants of the flat left behind some Christmas decorations to which I and gifts from Sam have added.  The net result is rather, erm, glitzy.

Inherited glittery santas, snowmen and pressies from old occupants and tinsel filled baubles from my Mum.  (Admittedly the donation was probably a result of my Dad point-blank refusing to put any more baubles up on the already over frocked tree, but nice anyhow.)

Classy wooden decs from last year's festive trip to the markets of Berlin.  Mostly I got these to prove I had bought something other then gluhwein.  Basically a far more awesome version of mulled wine if you've never had it.  And perfect for warming up in sub-zero temperatures!

New tiny baubles from Paperchase.  These gold glittery ones are the BEST.

More from Paperchase, this time in a vintage style.  My folks have some ancient ones in this style and they're by far my favourites.

Quite an effect I'm sure you'll agree.  And....

Voila.  *takes a bow*

The white things hanging from the curtains are fake icicles.  They're spiky but cool and add a certain je ne sais quois I think.

The only fly in the ointment is that I need to get something other than an angel for the top...or at least one that's more Dolly Parton than the current Martha Stewart-esque one, which is ruining the trashy theme.

Brixton Bimblings

Bimble: (verb) to bimble.  To wander aimlessly in an upbeat and cheerful manner.

The Christmas season can take it's toll, especially if like me, you're not feeling as young as you once did.  There's a reason they refer to turning thirty as 'hitting thirty', it feels like you've run slap bang into a wall the morning after every time you go out drinking.  Pah.  So Saturday I dragged my sorry self out of bed, only really thinking about coffee but heading for Brixton to meet Mel and was pleasantly surprised by a lovely couple of craft markets in pubs.

The Dogstar looks miraculously better during the day, decked in bunting and with crowds milling about beautiful home made wares, than it does of a Saturday night with belligerent drunks falling about on the dance floor.  Living Bar was also lovely and I gathered a few crafty project ideas to add to my list.  I actually realised that, other than starting my new job, I have nothing happening so far in January and I might be able to get something finished.  Hurrah!  (Yes, officially old, did you not read above?)

Living Bar had this poster outside, so Mel helpfully posed up for a picture...before gathering so many business cards from the various stall holders she could build a miniature house out of them and buying some lovely gifts, including an ace print.

We then had a walk through Brixton Village Market for the obligatory Federation Coffee flat white.  The best coffee in London.  Fact.  (Not a bad toasted croissant with cheese and ham also.)

These lovely lampshades caught my eye...I don't normally look up, there's too much going on at eye level!

On a side note: I have been meaning to check out this new bar for a few weeks now and it looks even more amazing in the flesh than on-line.  The cocktails look lovely, as does the small menu, but it's definitely an evening venue as it's right next to a smelly fish stall during the day.  Bleugh.

Edinburgh

Ah, I haven't posted in a little while, I've had to work.  At work.  Shocking.  And after work I loathe being in front of a computer.  Anywho, I'm now leaving my job and moving on to bigger, better and more profitable enterprises.  I hope that I'll still have the time for blogging, crafting and generally living my life post-5pm...

For now though...

The other weekend it was a whole year since Sam and I had our first date so we decided to go to Edinburgh for the weekend.  It was wonderful, relaxing and freezing all at once.  We actually got snowed on, on the Friday night!

Edinburgh castle was brilliant, proper crenellations, turrets, the works.  And the Scottish equivalent of the crown jewels.  Not a glitzy as the Queen's but fairly interesting nonetheless, the history being basically one of English oppression and thievery.  *cough*.

By far the most amusing part of the que was being behind possibly the world's stroppiest teenager.  It was free to go to the castle that weekend and, as she pointed out to her Dad who was clearly trying to have a nice family day out, on a regular basis, 'if we haven't paid that means we're under no obligation to stay, can we go home now?'.  He ignored her (quite rightly) and she spent the time as we wound our way through the exhibition doing her best Kevin (of Kevin and Perry) impression, although she was obviously too young to get the reference, which meant Sam and I could joke about it within earshot.

On the Sunday, post sauna, swim, check out and brunch we wandered around town and up the Sir Walter Scott Monument.  It's on Princes Street, right by the seasonal Christmas market/ fun fair and it gave us the most amazing views of Edinburgh.

We had walked past on Friday night and wondered what it was, then happened to walk the other side on Sunday and realise you were allowed to clamber up for the bargain price of £3!  The funfair was definitely an interesting juxtaposition...  Poor Scott, his monument defiled by yokels yelling obscenities at each other to a background of pumping house music.

It was the most gloriously beautiful day, blue skies and sunshine but completely freezing winds.  And the higher we got the colder it felt, so that when we came back down to ground level we actually felt warm by comparison!  The building was built by another Free Mason (Scott was one) in honour of the Scottish author, in the Victorian Gothic style.  According to Wikipedia it is 200ft 6inches high.  And it very much felt it.  there are viewing platforms at intervals.  Although I had a vertigo attack on the second to last staircase and baulked at going to the very top with Sam, the views were amazing.

I had to have the railings in the picture unfortunately, the alternative was to let go of the handrail and stand near the edge, which was just never going to happen.

Arthur's Seat is just visible at the top of a steep trek.  We had planned on doing this on Sunday but when the receptionist warned us 'not to get blown off' and we realised she wasn't really joking we decided on a wander around town instead!

Edinburgh Castle in slightly more hospitable weather than the day before...less rain anyhow.

There was a little space inside the first level with beautiful carved wood and stained glass windows.

This was the point at which I decided the staircase was too narrow and scary...brrr...

After we came back down I spotted this - a human snow globe!!!

And last but not least...

Boom, boom. xx