Nice things to share: Jim Henson's memorial

This makes me happy. Does anyone ever really grow out of the Muppets?

Funny ha-ha

I'll just start by saying that every time I start to write a new post I still get stuck looking at this post and I lose track of everything.

I've never been a good joke teller. More to the point, I've never been a good joke rememberer, and there's nothing unfunnier than someone trying to tell a joke and getting it all wrong.

In fact, there are only two short jokes I remember. The first of which involves the fertility of a popular children's toy, somewhat restricting the target audience. Plus, it's just not that funny. It is useful when you're put on the spot to tell a joke - if they want something side-splitting then they should ask someone else!

Then, a few weeks ago I came across 16 Knock Knock jokes that are so dumb they're amazing and, well, they are! I'm looking at them every day in an attempt to actually memorise at least a few of them. I'm a godmother - or the equivalent thereof - of five (It'll be 6 on Sunday!) and I need to be able to pull something out of the bag every now and again. No.8 makes me giggle like a 5 year old boy (I actually imagine my godson K giggling every time I read it) so I feel like it might be a bit of a winner. No. 7 appeals to my more intellectual side: it's the joke that I will find funnier than my audience and will, quite brazenly, laugh at regardless of their reaction.

Speaking of which, the second of the two jokes in my repertoire?

Why are pirates called pirates?

Because they Arghhhhhhh!

I'm laughing now.

Inspiration

I've never been the most regular blogger, but 9 months is a little excessive.

I came and looked around a few times, but then each time I rediscovered the previous post and fell in love again. Such quiet, intense passion consistent;y gives me reason to pause and reflect.

This year I resolve to spend more time on me. Spend more time, as opposed to the time I currently waste.

I will spend more money on me. Again, spend rather than waste.

I will be better at being happy. I will be more thoughtful. I will be more mindful.

This year will be a good year.

The Artist is Present

I think I really would have enjoyed this piece by Marina Abramovic at MOMA in 2010, even before this incredible moment.

The man's name is Ulay and he was the artist's lover and collaborator for many years before they decided to end their relationship in the late 80s. To properly honour their relationship their break-up involved them walking from opposite ends of The Great Wall of China and the meeting in the middle to hug, and then part.

Although they saw each other in the years between, she did not know he would be at this performance.

Just beautiful, honest and truly moving.

Discovered through whoorl.

Quick thoughts

The most reliable way to blog is in quick spurts - from my brain to your screen without an editing process in between. Writing, thinking, editing makes me procrastinate. Have I expressed myself in the best way? Does this manage to get my point across? Am I engaging my reader? Fact is -one reader or ten (i can tell you which I'm closer too) - my blogging frequency improves the less I think and the less I write. Sometimes it's frustrating because I know I want to get a much bigger point across than 3 minutes frantic typing allows. Even so, sometimes you just can't hold it in. Sometimes it's just better to go with the flow.

I guess it comes down to what you want your blog to be. For me it's become a record of things which were important to me at the time that I somehow thought the world should know. It's the thoughts that you need to released to the world but not necessarily to your friends. And sometimes it's the things you want people to know without having to actually tell them.

Fixin's

Well I wish I was a fixer

I would fix you up inside

I would build you a town if the world fell down

I wish I was that guy

- Jason Mraz, Frank D Fixer

Dear World,

Sometimes, it's not all about you.

Sometimes it's about me.

Sometimes it would be nice if you wiped your own @rse.

That is all.

Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen: still my favourite book of all time ever

I have so much to say about this book right now. So much that I want to eloquently phrase in more words than I have time for.

As I read it again, it's as though I'm discovering it for the first time. I am finding myself laughing out loud on the tube (utterly forbidden), highlighting paragraphs (unheard of), lip-syncing my favourite bits of dialogue (not recommended in public) and actively contemplating how much I am enjoying reading it every ten pages or so.

It may be a sad reflection on my life at the moment, but experiencing this book again is lifting my spirits, filling my heart and making me truly joyful. I love reading, I love books, and I have loved this book for most of my life but something special is going on right here and now.

2012 in a nutshell

JANUARY

Went for my annual ice-skate. Welcomed friends to MY house for the first time. Walked Earlsfield to Richmond again. Finally went to Bookclub. Went to Wildlife Photographer of the Year.

FEBRUARY

Spent Valentine's Day with Simona. Celebrated Auntie Margaret's 80th and visited the family up north. Ate 3 courses of cheese with B.

MARCH

Reluctantly went to an audition that was more than I could have ever imagined. Had afternoon tea at The Ritz for dinner. Attended a baptism. Threw my first dinner party. Celebrated the imminent arrival of a baby (NOT a baby shower). Made 'nappy cake' for aforementioned celebration. Visited friends and family in California. 


APRIL

Joked about heart attack and ended up in A&E. Heard about the arrival of Master H while waiting to be discharged to ward. Scared the A&E nurses by promptly bursting into tears. Attended an 80s themed 40th.


MAY

Margaritad at The Big Easy. Dedicated myself to introducing the phrase 'Totes Toots' into common vocabulary. Celebrated a birthday where L(&L) announce they're expecting. M&D arrived to look after me. One Man, Two Guvenors. A Night with John Irving.


JUNE

Queen's Jubilee. Learned to care (a little) about history in Berlin. M&D look after me (and my house) some more. Went North for the weekend to see friends and family. Went further north for another weekend to see more family. Matilda.


JULY

Introduced M&D to some of my best friends for the first time. Annual Chez Bruce visit. Relutantly said goodbye to M&D. Went to my first rehearsal. Learned to make sushi. Watched Olympic Opening Ceremony Technical Rehearsal.


AUGUST

Performed in front of a live audience of 80,000 + a UK TV audience of 7.6 million + a few more million around the world. Also, nearly got run over by Steven Hawking. Inspirational. Unforgettable.


SEPTEMBER

Visited Brighton Beach for the annual BBQ. Celebrated the end of summer. Travelled to Thailand for an idyllic wedding. Got upgraded (in a hotel) for the first time.


OCTOBER

Prematurely celebrated an adoption. Ate my first bacon naan. Saw Quartet at the LFF. Babysat. Went to an incredible Supperclub.

NOVEMBER

Had a Girls' Night In. Anxiously awaited the results of an adoption matching panel. Sobbed loudly in my open plan office when aforementioned adoption was approved. Dorylatalo entered the world. Had one last hurrah before the W family moved to New York. Spent a weekend in Paris eating and drinking (excessively).

DECEMBER

Saw Jason Mraz at The O2. Had Christmas lunch at my local with (ex)work buddies followed by Sticky Toffee Pudding at mine. Farewelled G&S's life as they knew it. Annual fancy dress party. Christmas with the Gang. Christmas Curry. Requiem. Met my godson. The Ginger Ninja arrived. Afternoon tea at The W with J&S. ChrisHtmas with the world's most adorable elf. New Year's Eve.

So, 2013 ...

Got off to a fantastic start and then went rapidly downhill, perhaps as penance for my revelry.

I have just returned to work following the longest break I had over the Christmas period. Of course, I spent three and a half of those four days curled up in bed or on the sofa feeling sick and sorry for myself, but if was a break none-the-less. Unfortunately, after that extended period of relaxation I seem to be coming down with something else. Most convenient that my immune system schedules it's rest periods on the weekends as well...

I shall suffer in silence no doubt, grateful that my parents are genetically obliged to listen to my woes.

And so I seem to have caught the January Blues, an infection with which I am unfamiliar. I have always thought it self indulgent - I am truly not a very sympathetic, or empathetic person in so many senses - and I'm not sure that my opinion has changed even now. My nature leans towards the selfish, despite protestations to the contrary from my friends and colleagues, and this excuse for a slump would be totally within character however-much I try to disguise it.

I can even hear it in the prosaic tone of this post.

And so adieu before even I tire if the sound of my own voice.

...and start as you mean to go on.

2012 was full of some amazing experiences, but somehow I've found myself extremely glad that it's over. 

That said, I waved it goodbye and welcomed in 2013 with the things that make me happiest - friends and food.

The hostess with the mostest Christine and her glamorous assistant came up with a fabulous plan to throw a casual 10 course dinner party for 10 (as you do) and I, weak at the knees at the thought of having a captive audience to bake for, declared that I was in charge of puddings.

Our inspiration was an incredible weekend in Paris which included a traditional French Sunday lunch - lots of courses eaten slowly over the afternoon and into the evening. I had visions of  mountains of sweet treats filling the table, surrounded by our friends, wide-eyed as children on Christmas morning. There would be so many options no one could decided where to start, but by the time the evening was over, all that would be left was a few crumbs and some very full bellies.

Shortly after that, I decided I should be a little more practical. It would be ok if I made something that some of the people had tried before. It would be sensible to do something a little simple. Sanity would require some dishes that could be prepped beforehand.

And so with much to-ing and fro-ing; some improvisation; a last minute additional guest or two; an early morning delivery laden with with bags full of everything from Gü ramekins to edible star glitter; a couple of hard-working glamorous assistants of my own; being rudely interrupted by the arrival of 2013; and letting go of that one dish that just didn't work out quite right, one little dream of mine came true.

And then there were the after dinner biscuits which were the surprise hit of the night.

The evening (and the five mouth-watering savoury courses) is written about here (otherwise known as the blog I send to my parents to let them know what I've been up to) in a way which will make you feel (and wish) you were there. 

And honestly, you totally should wish you were there.

Photo c/o little swallow : china doll

In a nutshell:

- Apple & Blackcurrant Gingernut crumble

- Strawberry Tarts with balsamic honey glaze (these stayed in the kitchen where they belonged!

- Chocolate absinthe cake-y star things with Cointreau cream

- Lemon Posset

- Salted caramel chocolate meringue

- Cashew butter balls

Oh yes.

Out with the old ...

I've never been a big fan of New Year's Eve. 

Perhaps it's not having one person to share it with me, no one to hold me tight while we count down until midnight, nowhere to automatically turn as the clock strikes 12. 

Or perhaps it's simply the fact that it seems so overrated and generally uncomfortable. Drunken crowds; standing in the cold, miserable weather; over-priced yet thoroughly ordinary food and drinks; that's before you even start trying to make your way home.

Whichever way, I'm really looking forward to this New Year's Eve. A long, lounging dinner with friends (and a couple of strangers), followed by a short bus ride home to a cosy bed.

I have plenty of resolutions to make, most of them repeats from many years gone by, but there's some new, simpler ones as well. Things I can achieve. Things that I truly want to change, learn or do. Things that will make me a better, happier and more complete person. Because, I guess, that's my main resolution this year.

NaBloPoMo

I'm not official and I'm not even sure that I'll last more than a couple of days, but let's get this thing running ...

I love the idea of blogging. I love the thought that at some point every day I'll take time out to write something engaging, current, honest, eloquent, entertaining and witty. I love the thought that people will look forward to me writing.

I also love procrastinating, tuning out and watching the world go by. Trying to find a compromise between all the ideas, plans and dreams in my head, and my general lack of motivation can be quite time consuming.

So, this might get dull. It might get short. It may - god forbid - contain bad grammar, incoherent thoughts and any number of things that will make me cringe in years to come.

But now's not the time for excuses.

Folio Friday: Turns out I'm not a Technophobe.

Ok, Folio Friday isn't particularly catchy but i feel like alliteration is important in these cases. I had a theme, I had a day; all that was left was to check the online thesaurus for some synonyms. So there you have it.

I go through stages of remembering what I've read. Some years I write the title in my beloved moleskin diary as I finish it as a reminder of what and when. In one instance I've got two thirds of the way into a book - twice - before realising that I've read it before. This year I haven't even opened my moleskin so I need something else.

My enjoyment of what i read is peculiar. I can like something even if it's poorly written, has barely any plot and, most dreadfully, has typos. I struggle with listening to someone rip that book apart even though I agree with all their criticisms. 

Literature is art - it's subjective, it's personal.

And so this will be a log, of what I've read, what's on the list, and what i feel like writing about writing.

It surprises me a little that I feel like writing about the Kindle. It surprises me that I like the Kindle. 

I love books nearly as much as I love the written word. I enjoy cracking the spine of a new purchase (although that alone is likely to cause others immense suffering) and I like holding a book together because the hundred, maybe thousands of people before me have weakened the binding. 

I also like borrowing books. Partly (largely) because I'm a cheapskate, but also partly because I like the feeling of sharing a book. Even if we don't sit down for a deep analysis, i am joined to someone because we have both held that book and absorbed its words. I like the library. I love the stamp which tells me how long ago i should have returned it. I like browsing the returns trolley to see what someone else has just released back into the wild.

Having (not so) recently moved, my routine has been disturbed and I now longer have my Saturday morning session in the big library. My new library is small, limited, next to the station but nowhere near all the other places I visit on my weekend. I didn't even realise how rarely I visited until I kept finding myself confused with what to do on the train to work. Books were in short supply but I needed to read; I needed a story.

That's how i discovered my library's online collection. I borrow books and read them on my iPod Touch. The words are teeny tiny and I have to turn the page every few seconds, but the tales returned. There are of course limitations to what you can borrow (or download from the iBooks store) for free but I've been telling myself it's better than nothing.

Then this week, the Kindle entered my world. It all seemed so sensible - I asked for reading recommendations for a holiday and rather than carting a pile of books halfway around the world I borrowed a Kindle that would have been otherwise neglected.

I cannot tell a lie, I've loved it and I've grown quite attached to it, but I still don't think it's on my shopping list (though I haven't ruled it out for Christmas).

It is a beautiful thing. So many books in such a lovely sleek package. So many books just waiting to be read. I would have taken one book away with me and instead I read three and two halves - ain't technology great?! Yet for all of that, what warmed the cockles of my heart was going to the homepage and looking at what someone else had read and what was sitting there ready for them to begin.

So suddenly it's clear - that is what I'm missing on my iPod, that little niggle I have about the Kindle and strangely enough what I don't get from a bookstore. I'm not sure I realised it until I babbled it out to my audience of two ...

I love books, I mean I really heart them. But borrowing books is what keeps my world turning.

Sayonara Summer ...

And so summer has gone.

I merely headed off to stay in a shack for a week or so, feeling rather Rhett Butler about the weather in London's immediate future and in the blink of an eye it was all over.

I feel I did the last undeniably summery weekend justice ...


Friday - Brighton.
Yes, I was working, but that's by the by really. With the sunshine creating glare on my laptop screen and the drunks in the park below putting aside their usual differences to have a sing-a-long, it was a lovely day for a seaside jaunt.

I resisted the temptation for a beach-side beverage and headed home to start my masterpiece ... I have grand intentions of writing more about my baking on here ... it's an unhealthy hobby. I was determine to try to posh up my cakes a little and with a little advice from a semi-professional, i think i did good.

The proof is in the pudding though, and with my firm belief is that cakes should taste better than they look, Grannie's old recipe didn't let me down!

Saturday
the Gang gathered to celebrate the fact that we were going on holiday. Well, at least that's why I was there! 

A housewarming for our very grown-up friends with two kids and "a house that you can walk around the outside" - quoting oneself is the height of fashion, don't you know? - and a pre-wedding celebration with a few of those who can't make it overseas.

A seriously glorious day with ridiculous amounts of BBQ & salads  (not so ridiculous we didn't eat it all, mind) , followed by three desserts and finally 3kg of brie (and a huge chunk of Roquefort which sadly paled in comparison ... though it's scent lingered on beautifully ...). Sometimes such a brilliant day distracts from the fact that wherever, whenever (yes, Shakira's in tha house), howeve rit happens - i just love spending time with these people ... many of whom I've know for almost 2/3 of my life. Not bad when you live on the other side of the planet from where you grew up ...

Sunday
was time for Supper Club 14. Words cannot describe the loveliness. Thank goodness a picture says a thousand words. Or in Supper Club's case, a thousand pictures.

We even invited a boy. I mean really, who could resist this?

I'm a lucky girl.

Photos from Little Swallow and Petal.

32 things

1. Always wash the outside of the dish first.
2. Karma is like horoscopes: it exists for you if you believe it.
3. If something doesn't ultimately make you happy then you probably shouldn't be doing it.
4. As long as your parents are around you never stop being a kid.
5. Everything is always better said face-to-face.
6. Everyone grieves differently. Event if they're grieving the same thing, their loss is different.
7. The best friends are like a bad smell; they hang around.
8. Resolving to be a better person is just the first step.
9. Sometimes it's the little things that make you happy.
10. It's a big world out there.
11. It's not possible to have too long a phone conversation.
12. Home is all the places your heart is.
13. If you want an honest answer, ask your mother.
14. I am incapable of picking my absolute favourite things: it's all about the 'top ten'.
15. Yorkie's ARE for girls too.
16. Mum's lamb roast IS better than a date with Tom Cruise.
17. Life doesn't wait just because you're not ready.
18. Bigger is not always better.
19. Virtuality will never improve on reality.
20. My favourite place is still the windowsill of my childhood bedroom at sunset.
21. 'Old' is always a little bit older than your parents.
22. There's a point in your life when you need to accept heredity
23. Most things are more than the sum of their parts.
24. Songs can send you back in time the way few other things can.
25. Best friends are the ones you'd do anything for.
26. At the end of the day you have no one to blame but yourself
27. There are some forms of grammar and punctuation I will never grasp, and some I will never forgive.
28. Every minute of every day shapes who we are.
29. It's always best to rinse and then air-dry glassware.
30.Even if you can't or don't remember, somebody else will.
31. I have 'a broken thermostat'.
32. Life is what you make it.

As a wise woman once said "Love, and other four letter words"

It's been a while, so let's start gently ...

Four letter words that represent my life:

Work. Food. File. Grrr. Help.

Four letter words that I love:

Food. Wine. Read. Blog. Call. Mail. Hope. Play. Film.

xxxooo

Someone get me a drink, stat.

Ah, for the optimism of last year ...

Ah, for the impending holiday of last year...

It's hard to believe it's nearly been a year since I was heading off on one of the best roadtrips known to man. The Deep South sucked me in and I left a little bit of my heart there when I had to leave. Oh for the days of Savannah. For Wet Willies. For flounder at The Olde Pink House. For Tybee Island. Even for the oppressive heat and ridiculous humidity.

Oh for the memories and unfulfilled ambitions.

As time goes by ...

And so more than 3 months have passed and as far as this blog is concerned I've done absolutely nothing!

While that's not quite the case, unfortunately I've spent most of my time working which is rather dull.

Not to worry, off on a desperately needed holiday in two days ... here's hoping a relaxed, restored Lizzie returns to follow up on a couple of projects this year.

Things are looking up, yes?

Still here ...

Nothing much happening. Lots of news to catch up on though ... I haven't even finished writing about last Christmas yet.

So many things, so little time, so little motivation. I need to make this my project this year methinks.

Ah well, off to the first of many Halloween parties. I'm going as a witch. How original.

xxxooo