Sunday 27 February 2011

So This is How You Dance to Dubstep!



"It takes an athlete to dance, but an artist to be a dancer"
- Anon

Saturday 26 February 2011

Just Cos!





“Men are taught to apologize for their weaknesses, women for their strengths.”
- Lois Wyse

Spring Wish List

Jonathan Saunders £226







Pins and Needles Chinos £48

Dorothy Perkins £27
Warehouse £50

Pins and Needles Shirt £45


Warehouse £36

Sparkle and Fade £42
Topshop £34
Warehouse £22
Sparkle and Fade £30
Topshop £46



Modcloth $90


Topshop £30

So...where's that winning lottery ticket?

"Spring has returned.  The Earth is like a child that knows poems."
~Rainer Maria Rilke

Thursday 24 February 2011

It's Harassment.

c/o Ash Campaign
I HATE getting commented on/wolf whistled/beeped at by men in the street. It's been happening much more frequently in the last few days and it really winds me right up. And no, before any of you think 'how nice' it isn't, it's not flattering, it's not a self esteem boost, it's actually degrading, humiliating and actually quite intimidating.

It is almost always groups of men/boys, they seem to silently dare each other to see who can say something to the random girl walking by.

"Hey Hot Stuff"
"Looking Good"
"Ooh I'd like to tap sum of that"
"How are you doing pretty thing?'
"Look at the arse on that"

Totally unsolicited, totally unappreciated. It makes me feel incredibly vunerable and insanely angry. I wish I could tell them to 'sod off' but for fear of provoking something violent I don't, I walk to the station/shop etc with my head firmly down for fear of encouraging comments with accidental eye contact.

I am not a girl who totters about in the highest of heels and the shortest of skirts but even if I were, nobody deserves to be commented on like a piece of meat.

Maybe some girls respond positively to it but I don't need validation from a pack of leering blokes trying to impress each other with artless bravado.  Do any of them ever imagine that a girl is going to stop in her tracks, turn around and give out her number, immediately ask them how far their flat is, tell them they are the one and they have never felt such strong attraction towards anyone before, they must have them right here, right now?

It is actually called street harassment and there are many groups trying to do something to discourage it, whether that be by education, encouraging women to speak out or passing laws.

"Because of street harassment, from a young age women learn that public spaces are male territory," Kearl said. "They learn to limit the places they go, they try not to be in public alone — especially at night — and when they are alone, they stay on guard."
Lawmakers Probe Street Harassment of NYC Women, Associated Press 

The end of street harassment

The movement to stop street harassment is growing fast, reports Rosie Swash
    Last month, a group of lads chased me down the street making kissing noises. They were "only having a laugh", they said afterwards, which somehow didn't make me feel much better. Around the same time, a friend was getting off a bus during rush hour when she felt a hard slap on her bottom, and looked around to see a man grinning at her. Almost every woman I know has stories of wolf whistles, catcalls and unwanted propositions whispered in their ear, and street harassment can often feel inescapable – especially come summer. Sometimes the attention is distinctly sinister. "I'm usually a jeans-and-trainers kind of girl," says Sarah Francis, "but a couple of weeks ago, well into the hot weather, I finally buckled and put on a dress." Shortly after leaving her house, Sarah realised a man was following her, making crude remarks. When she didn't respond, he started kicking her feet. "Suddenly I felt a terrible pain on the back of my head, and when I turned around I saw he was throwing stones at me." Sarah ducked into the nearest open doorway, her leg bleeding, and two builders helped her out. The violence she suffered was clearly more extreme than the average street harassment, but her feelings will be depressingly familiar to many women. "I was shaking and scared," she says, "and I felt angry that he had intimidated me." Emily May, founder of the anti-street harassment website iHollaBack.org, says women regularly express these sentiments when visiting the New York-based site. HollaBack offers people the chance to upload pictures of their harassers, with a description of what happened – often a woman will just post a few lines explaining where she was when someone walked up and said: "I want to fuck you." The response from fellow readers is always supportive. "Women tend to just brush off the odd nasty comment or quick grope," says May, "but the goal of HollaBack is to externalise an experience which can make women feel ashamed, intimidated or depressed." There are HollaBack websites for Mauritius, Chicago and Toronto, and a UK site has just been started by 22-year-old Julia Gray. "The site gives women an outlet for their frustration," says Gray, "and promotes recognition that this is a widespread problem." Both Gray and May feel that the anti-street harassment movement is gaining momentum fast. One woman who felt compelled to act is 25-year-old Vicky Simister, a financial analyst, who has found street harassment particularly problematic since moving from Ireland to London for work. "I was walking down a busy road in the middle of winter," she says, "wearing a huge jacket, when these two guys slowed their car down to pay me 'compliments' about my appearance. This escalated into sexual comments. I eventually lashed out in frustration, and they got out of their car and ran after me, physically assaulting me. The police were called, but I wasn't happy with their response. One said: 'They said they were following you, but only to say nice things.'" After this, Vicky set up the London Anti-Street Harassment campaign (Lash), to lobby MPs and journalists, and begin a serious debate. "I want women to put their hands up and say: 'We don't want to be treated like this,'" she says, "and I want men to realise the impact their words and actions have." It's often suggested that street harassment is inevitable. But, as May says, while it might not be considered "as serious as domestic violence or sexual assault, street harassment is on the same spectrum of violence against women." The fact that it is so often just accepted by people suggests women's bodies are still considered public property – an attitude the anti-street harassment movement aims to change.
 - Rosie Swash, The Guardian, Friday 20 August 2010
There are some strategies here to deal with it and try to help stop it.  These points I thought were particularly interesting.

  1. Tweet street harassment stories on Twitter. Add @catcalled #hbnyc or #streetharassment to your post and it will be added to @Catcalled, @HollaBackNYC, or @StopStHarassmnt’s respective thread of harassment stories. Keep your own log of harassment experiences the way @streetharassmnt does.

  2. Put up anti-street harassment fliers, posters or signs (click on link for street signs) or hand out anti-street harassment fliers. Here's another example of a street harassment poster.

  3. Write and submit an article or op-ed about street harassment to a magazine or newspaper.

  4. Start mapping where you are harassed (google earth offers a free tool to do so with a tutorial) or contribute your story to someone who has a map to help visually show its volume. If there are patterns about where it occurs, then you can ask the police or a local business to help intervene in that area.

  5. If you are in a position of mentoring (as a family member, teacher, or friend) educate boys not to speak with disrespect to women and empower girls to stand up for themselves and challenge disrespectful behavior.

I wonder if men know how intimidating and enraging it is, maybe it does come down to educating them that it just makes women feel objectified and vulnerable on their own streets. I'd like to think that many of them, on discovering that, would stop.


"A man should look for what is, and not for what he thinks should be."
Albert Einstein

Sunday 20 February 2011

Candles, Candles Everywhere


c/o Ane

I have recently become somewhat obsessed with scented candles, maybe it's my paranoia about having a flat that smells of cat (although I can assure you that neither Gary or Cooper smell) or maybe its just my need for creature comforts now that I am home after being absent for the play and then Australia.

I love coming into a room which has the delicate aroma of vanilla or pomegranate or even basil.

 I have taken to having candles in almost every room and they are almost always lit. You can imagine my disappointment at having bought a new batch today (from Asda Living so I guess I am to blame for my niavety) and having got them home, sparked them up....nada, not one little scent in the air.

They still look pretty and thanks to my Ikea vanilla and rose tealights I can still get my fragrance kick but I shall never again waste my pennies unless the candle in question is a guaranteed nasal delight.



“Nothing is more memorable than a smell. One scent can be unexpected, momentary and fleeting, yet conjure up a childhood summer beside a lake in the mountains...”
-Diane Ackerman

The Bright Young Things

I just watched a terrific BBC4 documentary about The Bright Young Things, I don't think it's available for much longer but watch it here if you can, it's brilliant.


They were beautiful, rich, outrageous, decadent and ultimately doomed.




Stephen Tennant, one of the central BYT figures





Elizabeth Ponsonby another central BYT
The small window between the world wars was where the Bright Young Things burned brightest until eventually they and their short-lived era burnt out. They rebelled against their parents, society's formality and raged against the hangover of guilt from The Great War. They lived shamelessly for pleasure and created it in all manners of excess.



It was the birth of celebrity and the documentary rightly draws parallels between the bright young figures then and our current tabloid regulars. Many of them, when short on funds, would write 'insider insight' columns for various papers about their infamous parties, the 'scavenger hunts' and their various scandals when it suited them and their empty purses.

It was fascinating, so much so that my reading list has new additions;
Vile Bodies - Evelyn Waugh
Love in a Cold Climate - Nancy Mitford
Cecil Beaton: The Authorised Biography - Hugo Vickers


"Manners are especially the need of the plain. The pretty can get away with anything. "
-Evelyn Waugh

Tuesday 15 February 2011

The Glamorous World of Ad Auditions

The other day I went up for a commercial casting, for a hair product. After waiting 40 mins I was told my hair was too thin to be considered...it didn't bother me too much, I don't have particularly thin hair but I don't have commercial thick, luscious locks.

So fair enough, thanks for having me...bye!

I was laughing about this and ad auditions in general with a fellow actress who in turn showed this to me, unfortunately this is painfully close to what a lot of auditions for adverts are actually like.

Be aware - this does feature adult content.


Sunday 13 February 2011


c/o we are exceptions to the rule

Bleurgh/Grrrr/Yawn



Jet lag, medically referred to as desynchronosis, is a physiological condition which results from alterations to the body's circadian rhythms; it is classified as one of the circadian rhythm sleep disorders. Jet lag results from rapid long-distance transmeridian (east–west or west–east) travel, as on a jet plane.

Legends

Thank you Glee for reminding me of this...

 

"...Judy Garland. Miraculous ... soulful ... divine ... Singing these duets with her was sheer bliss. I was 21 years old."
- Barbra Streisand

Tuesday 8 February 2011

FOMO: Fear Of Missing Out


This is an expression I have learnt from Rich and Lisa and although it is generally used in terms of social events, for me, it is mainly applicable to food.

I have returned to my room having just had dinner here at the lovely hotel I'm in til my flight back home tomorrow and it was a buffet service. I am completely and utterly stuffed because of my food fomo. If there is anything I haven't tried before or don't get to eat often, I must have it. I have great food curiosity which means I am almost uncomfortably full after at buffet in South Korea.

I got my food curiosity from my mother, she always encouraged us to try new foods, even if it was only a mouthful, this gave me a great sense of adventure in terms of cuisine. She also taught us from a very early age how to use our cutlery correctly for each course and somewhat invaluably, how to use chopsticks. These little skills combined with her encouraging us to contribute to the conversations the adults were having at the table has equipped me well come dinner time.

She also taught me to knit...

Talking of which it is time to depart, knit a bit, paint my nails and get some much needed sleep - that should help digest the grilled eel I just ate.

"I am not a glutton - I am an explorer of food”
- Erma Bombeck

Going the Distance

I'm on the way home! I am currently writing this in my stopover hotel in South Korea and it's preeeeety nice. Good shower, soft bed, free t'internet. I'm a happy lady.

So one 10 hour flight later and I have watched some rubbish films - for some reason I couldn't concentrate so opted for the crap -  don't judge me cos I'm about to share...
Step Up 3 - horrendous story and acting BUT amazing dance sequences which is really all you watch it for surely.

Morning Glory - I have NOTHING good to say at all.

(2nd half of) Eat, Pray, Love- I used it to help me sleep on the way out and the remaining half worked a treat once again. Self indulgent, sanctimonious blah blah.


However I watched one film that was quite lovely, not a mind blower, not a must-see, just a really charming film. It's called 'It's Kind of a Funny Story' and I liked it.



It's the same selection tomorrow so I decided to save certain films for the remaining 12 hour flight.

Stone - Edward Norton and Robert DeNiro
Jack Goes Boating - Phillip Seymour Hoffman
Conviction - Sam Rockwell

I think you can see what I've done, yup, saved the best for last.


P.S I watched this posts namesake film on the way out - funny and popcorn light plus Justin Long.


Art is moral passion married to entertainment. Moral passion without entertainment is propaganda, and entertainment without moral passion is television. 
-Rita Mae Brown

Monday 7 February 2011

The Language of Oz

While I've been here, mixing with the locals, I have inevitably been introduced to some new expressions. I thought I'd share them for those of you who have yet to visit Sydney and specifically the Potts Point area.

totes = totally

ridic = ridiculous

awks = awkward

general abbreviation occurs whenever possible

smash it = eat/drink quickly
e.g. I smashed that sushi.

shithouse = used as a adjective to describe something crap
e.g. That show was shithouse

trashbag = a person who is drunkard

to root = a verb used in sexual connotations

cancer = an expletive

 


"One forgets words as one forgets names. One's vocabulary needs constant fertilizing or it will die."
- Evelyn Waugh

Cosby Time!

While blogging today I had The Cosby Show playing  - I used to LOVE that show!

We don't have it playing in the UK and watching this episode really makes me miss it!






"Dad, Denise pushed us out of the bathroom, so the soap's in Rudy's eyes and she wouldn't let me rinse out the shampoo like Mom said and now Rudy might be blinded for life! If she is, can we get a dog?"
- Vanessa

Yum-cha, Koalas and Kangaroos - Oh My!

For my last Sunday here, Rich, Lisa and Campbell took me for a popular Sunday brunch - Yum cha! It was fantastic, we ate so much de-licious dim sum.







After brunch, Rich took me to The Koala Park Sanctuary which was incredible. 


I saw Wallabies, Possums, Cockateels, Dingoes - if it's Australian I saw it. There were Koala's resting in the trees, chickens and peacocks grazing everywhere.





And then! I got to meet a Koala face to face and stroke him. He was pretty stoned (naturally - off eucalyptus) so I'm not sure it meant as much to him as it did to me!


And then!!!
I got to feed grey kangaroos!! They have a kangaroo yard where you can meet, feed and stroke the 'roos.

Kangaroo food




Look - a Joey in her pouch!

It was honestly, incredible! A totally unforgettable day.



Koala and Kangaroo Facts:

Koalas communicate with each other by making a noise like a snore and then a belch, known as a "bellow"
An adult koala eats about 1/2 - 1 kilogram of leaves each night.
Koalas are fully grown by their third or fourth year.

A group of kangaroos is called a mob.
A kangaroo can jump 45 feet!
The faster kangaroos hop, the less energy they use.

A Holiday within A Holiday

Lisa and Campbell's 30th Birthday present to Rich was a luxury beach holiday hideaway and as I was going to be here I was lucky enough to be included too! Just as my Sydney holiday was getting rather stressful, what with all the sleeping, eating, walking and culture...

Trying to accurately describe this beautiful place, swimming in the stunning and clear blue Pacific Ocean and the incredible food is going to be rather difficile...
 
After a short drive, Lisa, Campbell, Leo, Rich and myself arrived at Kim's Beach Hideaway and we were shown to our gorgeous (and air conditioned) chalet's.
 
The view from our beach front chalet
Our little garden - gate on the left to the 10 second walk to the beach

After settling in we headed up to the restaurant for lunch.

OH MY GIDDY AUNT!

Meal's at Kim's are the most amazing, never ending buffet's of food that you dream of and there's 3 courses! For the dessert course there are about 8 puddings to choose from. Spoilt for choice has honestly taken on a whole new meaning.

Dessert courses were a small buffet in a bowl
At Kim's they make the bread, butter and ice cream and the remaining food is sourced locally which means the fish is bought directly from the local fisherman.
 
 
The Honey selection at breakfast
 
Having stuffed our faces we headed back to our chalet's, got into our swimmer's and after dipping our toes...chilled out. 
 
It was so relaxing, so warm and welcoming. There are so many little touches that made it so special, from flying the flags of all their guests, welcome notes in the chalet and on the tables to delicious canapes served with drinks before dinner. It was superb!
 
It was 3 days of bliss, chatting, laughing, reading...drinking fine wines.
 
Rich and Campbell in the ocean
One jacuzzi, several swim's in the ocean, a fair amount of alcohol a LOT of food and laying about later, we headed back to Sydney where I was to spend my last couple of days before heading home back to the UK and The Big One.
 
 It was a complete treat -  to spend time with Leo (an 8month old charmer), Lisa, Campbell and Rich was just brilliant. I have locked in several memories for when I'm back in London, for when the weather is grey and the tube is rammed. I shall think back to chatting with Lisa in the ocean, listening to Campbell sing in the bar, sitting in the jacuzzi as it filled talking about plays with Rich in our swimmers, laughing, eating, laughing.

I loved it!
 
 
 
 
 
"The sea, once it casts its spell, holds one in its net of wonder forever."
- Jacques Yves Cousteau 

Saturday 5 February 2011

Red Carpet Time: SAG 2011

You can see the results here, I don't think there were any shocks and surprises, just like the red carpet.

These were among my favourite looks;


Sofia Vergara in Roberto Cavelli. This lady is too beautiful!

Lea Michele in Oscar de la Renta

Chic! Jon Hamm and January Jones (in Caroline Herrera)


Oh I forgot, there was one surprise/shock:

Hailee Steinfeld in Prada. She's young, there's still time.





All images c/o Style.com


“I'll take any trophy. I don't care what it says on it.”
- Mary Louise Parker

Wednesday 2 February 2011

Possibly The Best day Ever...Part 4

Exhausted yet? So was I but then I went to the Chinese Gardens and was refreshed and revitalised by it's beauty.









It struck me as very romantic, and a lovely escape from the city, should you need it.

So that was that, after a gentle wander I headed back to Potts Point for a delicio Japanese dinner with Rich followed by more Gelato!

Perfick!!

"Boredom is the feeling that everything is a waste of time; serenity, that nothing is."
-Thomas Szaz
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