Music as Music Should be

Last night I was whisked away to a small village in the heart of Norfolk called Filby, knowing nothing of what to expect but a "folky singer and a log fire". Well it was one of those nights where you wake up and wonder whether it actually happened. Bumping into one of the singers that night after trying and failing to find the location to this mystery gig we went along to the pub for a drink and then about an hour later finally made it to the manor house where the music was to be made.

The oddest collection of people were there, from fashionistas to chefs from rome, drop out med students originating from australia who have set up their own split-cell business and an extremely excitable pug! They were the most eclectic bunch of people I have ever graced, each one a character with a story to tell. Every room in the place was complete with a chandelier and a log fire and there was an interval for lasagne (of course).

But the most outstanding thing about the night was the music. The first act was Roo Panes...

Followed by Josh Flowers and The Wild who had everyone stamping their feet and begging for more.

It was an absolutely beautiful night of music, the venue was perfect: intimate and with buckets of character. There was a real sense of community amongst the spectators too, bound together as we were all in this unique experience together. It was just how music should be listened to.

It's odd but I always forget how much music means to me until I experience something like that night. But moments like it make me feel on top of the world, like the feeling you get when you're young and you jump off a swing.

Do your ears a favour and check out Roo Panes and Josh Flowers, they'll thank you for it. Trust.

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Bow Down Before Mountains

There is something impressive about mountains. They are impressive in size of course, but it's more than that. They are impressive in beauty and they don't need to be able to speak to convince you of their majesty. They put you back down in your place. They make you humble as everything beautiful should.

I went ski-ing a couple of weeks ago and stayed in Les Arcs 2000 in France. Living right at the top of the mountain for a week made me re-realise the impressive beauty of nature. It's incredible and I know I take it for granted in my day to day life.

We can't all be surrounded by mountain peaks everyday, so here's a few photos of mine:

Something else that's impressive about them is you don't need a fancy camera to capture their impressiveness. Fab.

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Sharing is Caring

A friend of mine shared these with me and so I thought I'd keep the chain going and share them with you! Plus it follows on nicely from yesterday's blog. Great news.

I can't believe how many dogs have their own websites. Their owners must be incredibly bored, I mean, that box didn't get there by itself. Check out more from Gordy here.

This is a lovely little website called dear photograph, it makes for great whimsical procrastination if you need something lovely to gaze at. Some of the photos are beautifully put together, and some just have lovely little captions. Either way, definitely worth a gander. 

And here is possibly the happiest song I have ever heard. I think this will be playing in my head all day every day for the next few weeks, it's just SO HAPPY!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fJ1hrhJQDC8

Enjoy

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Sweets and Things

Here are a few little wonderful things I found when wandering round the internet:

I SO want a pet penguin. They're so stupid looking when they walk with their chests pushed out and their "wings" held out. Imagine waking up to one every morning, you'd always have a smile on your face!

I think this pic sums up the story I posted yesterday perfectly. Never thought I'd be able to relate to lego so much...

I love this travel postcards. Such a great idea.

And here's a random website. I would say this dog looks stupid, but it has a better centre of gravity then me.

lots of love

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A little love story that isn't really a love story at all...

The Rather Messy Breakup

“Let’s just be friends.”
She carefully placed her tea cup back on its saucer. Fanned out her fingers and told herself that her hands weren’t shaking. He looked from her face to her hands to her face again. They were shaking.
“Excuse me?”
“I think it’s best if we are just friends.”
She stared out of the window for some time. He grew a little worried for her sanity, but was in no position to judge or to push her so he kept quiet and kept his thoughts to himself. She watched a girl dance through the street, grabbing the hand of a boy who was chasing after her as she did so, pulled him towards her and kissed him hard and decisively on the lips before dashing off once more. Lucky bitch.
“I don’t agree.”
“You don’t agree?”
“No.”
“Ok.”
Well, that was the oddest response he had got to this usually very successful line.
“Can I ask why?”
“No. Not really.”
“Right...”
Well, this was very awkward.
“You’re really going to have to give me something here.”
“Can I ask you why you think we should just be friends?”
“I... just don’t think we would work.”
“Fine. Well then you can understand why I don’t think us not being together and just being friends will work.”
“Umm, no, actually I don’t understand.”
He wished he had ordered a pint now. He had not had the forethought for this conclusion. He thought it would have been a clean break, barely worth ordering a coffee over. A quick –Hey how’s it going, so I’m just going to, yep there you go, break your heart, here have it back- and Bob’s your Uncle done!
“Let me tell you what I don’t understand then maybe we’ll come to some form of understanding together.”
She laid her hands flat on the table. That was better. She felt more in control.
“I don’t understand why you wouldn’t want to be with me. It’s just all a bit silly isn’t it, because I can tell you now what everyone is going to say when I go home in tears and down a bottle of vodka: You’re too good for him, he doesn’t know what he’s missing, he can’t see how great you are, you don’t need him, you’re better off without him, he’ll see how great you are and will come running back and then you can reject him, he’s intimidated by how great you are, you’re too beautiful for him... do I need to go on, or do you get the picture?”
He got the picture, but wasn’t quite sure what to say to any of this. Most girls went home and did their crying and questioning behind closed doors. Out of sight. Out of mind. And that was a routine that had served him perfectly fine. He was ok with it. Don’t fix what ain’t broke and all that. Did she not get that?
“But we won’t work together.”
“Why?”
“Because my heart’s not in it.”
“And my heart’s not in us not being together.”
She leant back away from the table and took a leisurely sip of her cup of tea. Yes, this was a lot better, a proper solution finding conversation. None of this statement-bish-bash-bosh-we’re over and done business.
“But you can’t force two people to be together.”
“Then why can you force two people to be apart?”
She had him there. And she knew it.
“Why should you get your way? Why can’t we do it my way?”
“Because it doesn’t work like that.”
“Who says?”
His hands messed up his perfectly crafted hair that he had prepared earlier. If he was going to dump her, he had wanted to look good whilst doing so, it was that extra twist of the knife that those doing the stabbing did, though God knows why. It’s not very kind. Anyway, he wasn’t looking his best anymore. His carefully composed look was looking worn and distraught, his shirt frantically untucking itself from his distressed jeans (not that his jeans shared this emotion, they had just been stressed when dyed), his cheeks flushed and his hair was not looking quite so artistically messy.
“I don’t see how you can only see that we have to do it your way. We do it your way and I’m unhappy but you’re happy. We do it my way and I’m happy but you’re unhappy. It’s an equal balance either way, so each conclusion should be on the cards.”
“But you can’t force me to like you.”
“You can’t force me to not like you.”
“But... but you can’t force me to stay with you.”
“And you can’t force me to leave you. You see where I’m going with this yet?”
He saw where she was going with this.
But what was worse, was that he saw (in some weird, and roundabout way) that what she was saying actually made some form of sense. He desperately didn’t want it to. But it did. Damn.
“Now, let’s say that we’ll date for this first month, then not the second, then will the third... and so on and so forth. I really think we ought to start off as dating seeing as this was my idea, I should get some form of credit for it! And we’ll stop when either you fall for me, or I fall out of love with you. This way we’re equally happy and equally in pain.
Right, pick me up tonight at half seven, and make sure you’re on time, you know how particular I am, and remember to change your online relationship status when you get home. I love you boyfriend.”
She kissed him firmly on the lips. He could not reciprocate, too stunned by what he had got himself into. She cleared her throat and tapped her foot impatiently, waiting for an appropriate response.
“I... err, love you too... girlfriend.”

The Inconvenient Happenings at a Not So Convenient Store

“Mate, don’t you need to go to the shop?” He asked. His eyes didn’t leave the screen.

“Yeah... I’ll go in a bit.” He answered. His eyes didn’t leave the screen.
“Isn’t about to close?”
“What time is it?” There was no response as both out waited the other, each reluctant to let their eyes leave the screen to see the clock. He gave in first, he had been the one who’d been asked after all. His eyes flicked to the clock and back to the game so fast that he put lightening to shame.
“Five to.”
“Shit.” 

He still didn’t move.

“Just one more game then I’ll go.”
“Good call. To be fair, at the end of the day, its not the end of the world if you don’t make it. Oh sure, bit long, but we’ve all had a good night, couple of cans, couple of games, just a couple of faces, who could ask for more?”
“Not me mate. Not me.”

They twittered on like that for a while longer, talking words of no meaning at the screen, until the last match was won.

“Alright mate, back in a bit.”

He finally got to his feet and braced the cold night air as he made the trek to the corner store.

“Hey-what the-”

The door stayed firm. It wouldn’t budge. It felt like being stubborn.

He heard a tinkling noise coming from inside and then the door opened. She looked up from rummaging in her purse and saw him.
“Oh sorry, we’re closed.”
“Nah, but it’s five to.”
“It’s five past.”
“Can’t I just get a beer? Go on!”
“Look I’ve had a long day-”
“We’ve all had a long day, we all need a beer, I’ll buy!”
“I don’t drink beer.”
“Fine, wine?”
“Look, thanks but we’re closed and I want to go home.”

She turned her back on him and locked the door.

“Some convenience store you are.”
She smiled to herself, this had happened so many times.
“This isn’t a convenience store. Read the god damn sign.”

He looked up and sure enough where he thought it just said ‘Convenience Store’ there was more; in a slightly smaller font, sure, but it was still there.

‘This is not a CONVENIENCE STORE”

He turned but she had gone. He saw her lit in the dark by the lamp light already half way down the road. “Sorry!” He yelled after her. She paused but didn’t turn.

“Yeah, I know.” She knew it would happen again; it always did. But the anger and annoyance she could’ve felt was displaced, misplaced elsewhere, for she knew that it was in our nature to not always be right. 

Anyway, some people just aren’t any good at reading signs.

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Just a little story for your consumption. And here's a few things for your eyes:

balloon people.

 Beautiful birds photographed by ALex Kozobolis. check out his blog here.

And best behaviour.

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Sweet Nothing Saturdays

Today has been a Saturday of absolutely nothing. And it's been fantastic! Sometimes you just need a day to do nothing, especially when you're hungover. I spent the day window shopping, watching sex and the city and the INCREDIBLE film Drive. Ryan Gosling is a babe.

Another nice way to spend time on nothing is flicking through magazines; alas as a student, I can't really afford them, but I can still look longingly at the covers. Here are some nice ones I found on the internet, just a little tasty treat for the eyes:

And here are some old esquire covers... wouldn't it be great if "lads mags" still had covers like these?

Have a happy weekend!

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