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

Autumn

Hmmm…what a lovely weekend has just flown by.  Is it me or have the lessening hours of daylight somehow made the days go faster too?  Or is it just my increasing old age?  Remember when your next birthday was for far away that when asked you’d state you were 4 and ¾?  Either way, I need more weekend…I mean, one of my primary career goal is to get a job that pays me enough that I can afford to cut down on the days I actually have to be there!

Oh, well.  Autumn seems to quickly be fading into winter, although the Fred Perry shop in Spitalfields has found an interesting way of preserving that autumnal spirit…  My question was where did they get the leaves from?  I mean, did they go and fetch them from the park or does some kind of bespoke leaf gathering organisation exist?  Intriguing.

Other places and plunged head long into the festive side of winter though, Sloane Square was sparkly…

…the Saatchi Gallery was specialising in giant baubles and snowballs, a theme carried on in Covent Garden, where the glitter balls added a certain ‘disco’ element…

…and the Kings Road seems to have gone for cute creatures, I especially liked the tiny polar bears.  All in all a pretty good start to decorations and it’s making me look forward to the season of good will, gifts and mulled wine with gusto.  (Unlike organising our work Christmas do, which is rapidly shredding my faith in humanity, but that’s another story.)

Oh, and in case you were worrying, I haven’t gone and become a Sloane, I just went to a restaurant there, The Big Easy  BBQ fare, very good, check it out!

Visiting the Minotaur

You know when you find a link to an event that looks like it might have potential but requires the outlay of a small amount of cash, a walk through some dodgy part of London and dealing with ladies with clipboards?  Yeah, this was like that but actually completely worth it. 

The Minotaur exhibition is the latest from Lazarides Gallery Group, combining lots of different artist’s work around a central theme, this time it was ‘The Minotaur’.  There were paintings, sculptures, experiential tunnels (requiring the signing of waivers) and a brilliant bar at the end of it all.

Minotaur eating annoying lady...

The setting was the less than welcoming Old Vic Tunnels under Waterloo Station.  According to the blurb they were ‘discovered’ in 2009, having lain empty for over 20 years.  Hmm, so far so far fetched…I mean, what did people think was holding up Waterloo concourse?  Good will?  Anyways…  It’s a pretty spooky space, much like Shunt under London Bridge but smaller, less well ventilated and in more rubbish condition.

Dominique Strauss Kahn as the Minotaur?

The collection of art works were pretty cool though, many different interpretations of the story and some random stuff that only a professional art blurb writer could have tied in.  Giant ball of rats anyone?  Gross.

Vermin Death Star by David Falconer

On the other hand this moving picture, reflected in water on the floor was really mesmerising.

by Doug Foster

by Doug Foster

The experiential ‘labyrinth’ was especially great.  You had to sign a waiver that you were in sound health and that you wouldn’t blame them if harm came to you.  Then walk about in tunnels they’d constructed, with lots of sharp turns so you couldn’t see what was coming.  I was too frightened to take any pics, it really had my heart going!  Nothing happened of course but the idea of it was very powerful.  Sam, it should be noted, insisted on me going first.  I’ll leave you to draw your own conclusions.

We ended up drinking cocktails in the sort of rich-Russian, louche bar full of beautiful people that you only see on tv usually.  It was definitely an interesting place.  Lots of fur coats, champagne and perfect hair.  We fitted in perfectly…obviously.

If you get the chance to check out one of their shows I would definitely go for it.

Thanksgiving

So…last weekend was the annual all you can eat, turkey/ham/stuffing and sides extravaganza that is Thanksgiving at the Woodcocks.  My friend Sacha is a genuine American and so holds it every year.  This year she’s had the audacity to be in the US over the official one, but given that all attendees are non-American and didn’t want to miss out, having it early seemed the obvious solution.

We all took a dish along, prepared to a recipe supplied by Sacha, to exacting standards.  This seemed like a perfectly great idea until I had to carry half a tonne of sweet potatoes across London…I thought I was never going to be able to feel my arms again!!

Anyhow, here’s what I made, sounds wrong but it’s utterly amazingly tasty:

Sweet Potato Casserole with Marshmallows

Serves 10

8 sweet potatoes

1tbsp vanilla

3 tbsp sugar

½ stick of butter

¼ tsp cinnamon

½ tsp nutmeg

1/8 cup orange juice (a splash if you’re more of the Nigella school of thought/ don’t won any US measuring gear)

Marshmallows

• Peel and boil the sweet potatoes until cooked.
• Mash.
• Add in all the other ingredients except the marshmallows and mix.
• Grease a baking dish.
• Tip in ingredients and decorate with marshmallows on top.
• Cook until hot – the marshmallows should melt and toast…mmm…

This is before it went into the oven at Sacha’s…when it came out I was too busy eating to take pics…

Happy (Early) Thanksgiving!