"Who threw that stone?!"
This picture is up on my wall at home. This movie will always remind me how awesome i) my Dad is ii) the British are.
Saturday 28 May 2011
Thursday 26 May 2011
the essence of the thing.
That's right, I did it. I finished a book. Though I will admit I had to skip a few chunks... for reasons which will follow.
The Essence of the Thing, by Madeline St John
The book appealed to me because, like almost everyone, I've been through a relationship break up. It's not an original concept I know, but the novel still appealed. The story follows twenty-something Nicola through the weeks that follow an unexpected end to her long term relationship with lawyer Jonathan.
I appreciate the short chapters and the conversational style, as there were times when it was effective at emphasising a narrative or a concept without it being outlined for the reader in what would have been a more patronising manner. The blurb suggests that the short chapters are reflective of middle class pretence, and I can appreciate this too. That none of the other characters but Nicola are really predominantly focussed on her break-up also emphasises the perhaps self centered, busy-body attitude of the London-ite middle class 'status' families she is (for some reason) friends with.
Generally however, the story disappointed me with its pace, its reasoning, its perspective and its character...Sorry Ms St John. I was given no reason to believe that Nicola and Jonathan would have even been a couple, and a happy one at that. That Nicola manages herself so gracefully and modestly throughout her turmoil indicates that she is not stupid, or shallow, or unreasonable. But for her to have been involved for so long with a man so apparently emotionally void really confuses me. Also, for Nicola to be transformed to a blubbering wreck of woman to a proudly single and defiant one over the space of one night in a night club (with two fabulous gay guys; complete with montage makeover if it were a movie, I'm sure) is a depressingly stereotypical and lazy way to give some illusion of progression.
If I was a guy, I think I'd find the book a little offensive if I'm honest. Jonathan is portrayed as a shallow, dull, selfish, and irresponsible man; the stereotypical 'bad guy' in a relationship break down. I was hoping that this stereotype would be diffused throughout the story as we perhaps found out why or how he had adopted this attitude. But no, he continues to be a dull and lifeless sod until the very end, when (randomly) he starts to beg for Nicola to come back- this is where I had to stop reading. Anyone who has gone through a horrendous breakup, and thinks that they can identify with this story obviously needs closure. People don't just become dicks overnight because they are men. There is reasoning and explanation behind every relationship breakdown. I'm not saying that it can never not 'be someone's fault', but this was an extremely one-dimensional perspective of relationships, people and particularly men.
So much about the book seemed completely unnecessary (maybe this was supposed to add to the 'realistic' tone; that we were literally just watching a series of events unfold), and yet so many necessary explanations seemed to have been completely forgotten.
Oh, also.: I don't know when the book is set but everyone talks like it's 1945 ("Whizzy!"). It was published in 1997 and there is no indication it was set in a different era to this. Upon then reading that the author is Australian, and then noticing the number of pointless 'Oh look, we're in London' references, it's just all very embarrassing to read.
No thanks, please avoid.
The Essence of the Thing, by Madeline St John
The book appealed to me because, like almost everyone, I've been through a relationship break up. It's not an original concept I know, but the novel still appealed. The story follows twenty-something Nicola through the weeks that follow an unexpected end to her long term relationship with lawyer Jonathan.
I appreciate the short chapters and the conversational style, as there were times when it was effective at emphasising a narrative or a concept without it being outlined for the reader in what would have been a more patronising manner. The blurb suggests that the short chapters are reflective of middle class pretence, and I can appreciate this too. That none of the other characters but Nicola are really predominantly focussed on her break-up also emphasises the perhaps self centered, busy-body attitude of the London-ite middle class 'status' families she is (for some reason) friends with.
Generally however, the story disappointed me with its pace, its reasoning, its perspective and its character...Sorry Ms St John. I was given no reason to believe that Nicola and Jonathan would have even been a couple, and a happy one at that. That Nicola manages herself so gracefully and modestly throughout her turmoil indicates that she is not stupid, or shallow, or unreasonable. But for her to have been involved for so long with a man so apparently emotionally void really confuses me. Also, for Nicola to be transformed to a blubbering wreck of woman to a proudly single and defiant one over the space of one night in a night club (with two fabulous gay guys; complete with montage makeover if it were a movie, I'm sure) is a depressingly stereotypical and lazy way to give some illusion of progression.
If I was a guy, I think I'd find the book a little offensive if I'm honest. Jonathan is portrayed as a shallow, dull, selfish, and irresponsible man; the stereotypical 'bad guy' in a relationship break down. I was hoping that this stereotype would be diffused throughout the story as we perhaps found out why or how he had adopted this attitude. But no, he continues to be a dull and lifeless sod until the very end, when (randomly) he starts to beg for Nicola to come back- this is where I had to stop reading. Anyone who has gone through a horrendous breakup, and thinks that they can identify with this story obviously needs closure. People don't just become dicks overnight because they are men. There is reasoning and explanation behind every relationship breakdown. I'm not saying that it can never not 'be someone's fault', but this was an extremely one-dimensional perspective of relationships, people and particularly men.
So much about the book seemed completely unnecessary (maybe this was supposed to add to the 'realistic' tone; that we were literally just watching a series of events unfold), and yet so many necessary explanations seemed to have been completely forgotten.
Oh, also.: I don't know when the book is set but everyone talks like it's 1945 ("Whizzy!"). It was published in 1997 and there is no indication it was set in a different era to this. Upon then reading that the author is Australian, and then noticing the number of pointless 'Oh look, we're in London' references, it's just all very embarrassing to read.
No thanks, please avoid.
easy vegan dahl and curry.
Today was my turn to cook. I live in a house with 4 friends, and just next door is another house where another 5 of my friends live. We all take it in turns to cook for each other, and today was my turn. About 3/4 of us are vegans, so we all cook vegan, which is a lot easier and tastier than it sounds. I myself am not a vegan or a vegetarian but I don't really eat meat unless it's offered to me. I've never cooked it, and 95% of the time the thought of eating it repulses me. Anyway, this is what I cooked tonight and it went down a treat.
Dahl:
Blend up a tin of tomatoes/ 6 fresh tomatoes with a generous chunk of ginger. Heat some oil in a pan and add a teaspoon each of fennel and cumin seeds. When they start to crack, add the tomato paste and then a couple of tins of lentils (or chickpeas, whichever you prefer). Leave it to simmer for at least 10 minutes (I had this simmering while I prepared the rest of the meal, as follows...). If spinach is in season, add it just before serving and stir it in nicely. I also used a dash of tumeric.
Mixed veg curry:
Heat some oil in a pan and, again, add a teaspoon each of fennel and cumin seeds. Chop up/ crush 2 cloves of garlic and other chunk of garlic and add this to the pan when the seeds crack (if you like, a chilli pepper would go nicely here too, but my housemates aren't too keen on spicy food). Then add a white and a red onion (chopped relatively finely), and fry for a few minutes until soft. I add a few spices here: tumeric, garam masala and chilli powder. Then add your veggies. I used two carrots, half a broccoli, and half a cauliflower, but you could really use any veg, whatever is in season. I also added in a few spoons of concentrated tomato paste at this stage. Then add watered coconut milk with the veggies (about enough to half cover them all) and simmer away until all the water is gone.
Serve both with rice!
I also attempted vegan onion bhajis last week but it didn't work too well. They were gorgeous but just didn't really stay together very well...I think it would work best with eggs, but I'll keep experimenting with other bits.
Dahl:
Blend up a tin of tomatoes/ 6 fresh tomatoes with a generous chunk of ginger. Heat some oil in a pan and add a teaspoon each of fennel and cumin seeds. When they start to crack, add the tomato paste and then a couple of tins of lentils (or chickpeas, whichever you prefer). Leave it to simmer for at least 10 minutes (I had this simmering while I prepared the rest of the meal, as follows...). If spinach is in season, add it just before serving and stir it in nicely. I also used a dash of tumeric.
Mixed veg curry:
Heat some oil in a pan and, again, add a teaspoon each of fennel and cumin seeds. Chop up/ crush 2 cloves of garlic and other chunk of garlic and add this to the pan when the seeds crack (if you like, a chilli pepper would go nicely here too, but my housemates aren't too keen on spicy food). Then add a white and a red onion (chopped relatively finely), and fry for a few minutes until soft. I add a few spices here: tumeric, garam masala and chilli powder. Then add your veggies. I used two carrots, half a broccoli, and half a cauliflower, but you could really use any veg, whatever is in season. I also added in a few spoons of concentrated tomato paste at this stage. Then add watered coconut milk with the veggies (about enough to half cover them all) and simmer away until all the water is gone.
Serve both with rice!
I also attempted vegan onion bhajis last week but it didn't work too well. They were gorgeous but just didn't really stay together very well...I think it would work best with eggs, but I'll keep experimenting with other bits.
Tuesday 24 May 2011
Monday 23 May 2011
looses.
Looses Flea Market on Magadelen Street, every Saturday. I think it's genuinely my favourite place in Norwich. It makes me want to move in with my boyfriend and go homeware shopping NOW.
Sunday 22 May 2011
get cutie.
A gorgeous Brighton based vintage fabrics co. Discovered on a glorious Saturday afternoon in Norwich, shopping in SohoHip on Pottergate.
Saturday 21 May 2011
learning.
As this season of my life draws to an end, I know that one of the most important lessons I have learned is nothing to do with Biology. True, I probably can't be sure that this lesson needn't necessarily have come with a £10,500 price tag. Maybe every 22 year old has come to learn this lesson, like it's one of those things that happens. Like you'll go through puberty and you'll go through the menopause, maybe everyone comes to know:
There is no such thing as a wrong decision.
Energy spent on considering whether what you did four years ago or four weeks ago was for the good or for the bad is wasted energy. All you can do is live with what you have now and try to be happy with it. Making a decision is choosing which direction to turn when you come to a fork in a road; once you have chosen, there is no way to know what could happen on any path other than the path upon which you chose to walk. So what's the point in worrying about what might have happened? It didn't and it can't. So just carry on on your path: skip or dawdle or trundle or crawl, or be dragged by those who have the strength and love to drag you. And while you're there, admire the view.
There is no such thing as a wrong decision.
Energy spent on considering whether what you did four years ago or four weeks ago was for the good or for the bad is wasted energy. All you can do is live with what you have now and try to be happy with it. Making a decision is choosing which direction to turn when you come to a fork in a road; once you have chosen, there is no way to know what could happen on any path other than the path upon which you chose to walk. So what's the point in worrying about what might have happened? It didn't and it can't. So just carry on on your path: skip or dawdle or trundle or crawl, or be dragged by those who have the strength and love to drag you. And while you're there, admire the view.
Monday 16 May 2011
revolutionary road.
As previously mentioned, I'm not an avid reader. This is something I would like to change, as I know how truly beautiful reading can be. But I am just very impatient, and a bit demanding. So, in my attempt to change and be a bit more open minded, I'm going to write about one of the last books I read and loved. And hope it inspires me to keep going with my current book, 'The Essence of the Thing", by Madeline St John.
Revolutionary Road, by Richard Yates
I don't know why this book appealed to me. But it did. And I couldn't put it down. My best friend also tried to read it, and to watch the film; she enjoyed both but labelled the story a 'nothing story', because not much happens. True, it's not an action thriller, but the unfolding of the characters and the building intensity of their desperation really had me hooked.
I think it might be because I could really identify with the main female character, April Wheeler. April is a 30-something young mother of two, married to a business man, living in the suburbs of 1950s America. Ok, so I am none of these things, but I think many of us share the same passions and fears. To be happy, to be independent; but mainly to be somewhat unpredictable and non-conformist in achieving these goals- to be afraid of 'selling out'.
April and Frank Wheeler met when they were young and dreamt of the same things as most young people; travel, adventure, the ability to continue dreaming well into their later life, without feeling constricted or part of a repressive, invisible 'system'.
Unfortuately, the 'reality' of age, independence, family, work and money set in. Significantly, the story skips from the couple's meeting to several years later when they own a house in suburbia with two children. The juxtaposition of the two scenarios emphasises just how much has changed, and maybe how much the couple 'got lost'. Whether this loss of orientation as we grow is due to the unavoidable circumstances of ageing; having to work, having to maintain a house, having to take care of children, or whether it is only due to lack of passion, persistence, love and sprit in the Wheelers as a couple specifically could be a point for alternative interpretation. It seems pretty clear however, that Yates would argue the former. So yes, it's a pretty depressing story. If still intriguing.
In one of the parts of the book I remember (it was three years ago, and I don't have a copy of the book here), Frank is digging out a garden path while his children play nearby. They keep moving slowly closer to their father, and Frank has an irrepressible mental image of accidently hitting his son's hand with the spade as he digs. He loses his temper with the children and tells them to go inside and play. The scene emphasised, to me, how close we are to disaster; how there are no barriers between us and any pending accidents. Also, it seemed to speak of how, no matter how careful we are, there are some factors which cannot be controlled (ie where children will play, or when pregnancy may fall, or when an unexpected bill may arrive), and thus how we cannot plan every step of our lives.
As April attempts to re-ignite the couples dreams of what marriage life could be there, Frank becomes more involved with his work. Though he consistently speaks of how monotonous his job is, and how there is no alternative to be able to provide for his family, he starts to build relationships and success within the company. The couple are pulled further apart and both encounter love affairs.
Interestingly, when I read the book, I identified April and an overly dreamy, unrealistic, irritating and 'ditsy' character. To be honest, I compared myself to her at the time, as I identified my personal emotional nature as a flaw, and I saw it as something which others would find irritating. I saw Frank as the 'hero', who was merely falling into his conformist ways as a result of his desperation to support his family, and falling into a love affair due to his wife's irritating and unsupportive nature. I was shocked when I later saw the film then, and it was clear that the director thought the complete opposite. Kate Winslet's April was emphasised as more of a 'victim', but still headstrong, intelligent and loving. Leonardo Dicaprio's Frank became more and more hostile and 'unlikeable' as the story progressed.
Though the story is far from uplifting, or inspirational, I'm still glad I read it, and I'll probably read it again. I'd recommend it to anyone who isn't too uncomfortable already about the notion of 'growing up'...
Revolutionary Road, by Richard Yates
I don't know why this book appealed to me. But it did. And I couldn't put it down. My best friend also tried to read it, and to watch the film; she enjoyed both but labelled the story a 'nothing story', because not much happens. True, it's not an action thriller, but the unfolding of the characters and the building intensity of their desperation really had me hooked.
I think it might be because I could really identify with the main female character, April Wheeler. April is a 30-something young mother of two, married to a business man, living in the suburbs of 1950s America. Ok, so I am none of these things, but I think many of us share the same passions and fears. To be happy, to be independent; but mainly to be somewhat unpredictable and non-conformist in achieving these goals- to be afraid of 'selling out'.
April and Frank Wheeler met when they were young and dreamt of the same things as most young people; travel, adventure, the ability to continue dreaming well into their later life, without feeling constricted or part of a repressive, invisible 'system'.
Unfortuately, the 'reality' of age, independence, family, work and money set in. Significantly, the story skips from the couple's meeting to several years later when they own a house in suburbia with two children. The juxtaposition of the two scenarios emphasises just how much has changed, and maybe how much the couple 'got lost'. Whether this loss of orientation as we grow is due to the unavoidable circumstances of ageing; having to work, having to maintain a house, having to take care of children, or whether it is only due to lack of passion, persistence, love and sprit in the Wheelers as a couple specifically could be a point for alternative interpretation. It seems pretty clear however, that Yates would argue the former. So yes, it's a pretty depressing story. If still intriguing.
In one of the parts of the book I remember (it was three years ago, and I don't have a copy of the book here), Frank is digging out a garden path while his children play nearby. They keep moving slowly closer to their father, and Frank has an irrepressible mental image of accidently hitting his son's hand with the spade as he digs. He loses his temper with the children and tells them to go inside and play. The scene emphasised, to me, how close we are to disaster; how there are no barriers between us and any pending accidents. Also, it seemed to speak of how, no matter how careful we are, there are some factors which cannot be controlled (ie where children will play, or when pregnancy may fall, or when an unexpected bill may arrive), and thus how we cannot plan every step of our lives.
As April attempts to re-ignite the couples dreams of what marriage life could be there, Frank becomes more involved with his work. Though he consistently speaks of how monotonous his job is, and how there is no alternative to be able to provide for his family, he starts to build relationships and success within the company. The couple are pulled further apart and both encounter love affairs.
Interestingly, when I read the book, I identified April and an overly dreamy, unrealistic, irritating and 'ditsy' character. To be honest, I compared myself to her at the time, as I identified my personal emotional nature as a flaw, and I saw it as something which others would find irritating. I saw Frank as the 'hero', who was merely falling into his conformist ways as a result of his desperation to support his family, and falling into a love affair due to his wife's irritating and unsupportive nature. I was shocked when I later saw the film then, and it was clear that the director thought the complete opposite. Kate Winslet's April was emphasised as more of a 'victim', but still headstrong, intelligent and loving. Leonardo Dicaprio's Frank became more and more hostile and 'unlikeable' as the story progressed.
Though the story is far from uplifting, or inspirational, I'm still glad I read it, and I'll probably read it again. I'd recommend it to anyone who isn't too uncomfortable already about the notion of 'growing up'...
chouf ouchouf.
I went to see these guys, Group Freestyle Tangier, performing Chouf Ouchouf ("Look and look again") at the Theatre Royal in Norwich. All I knew about the show was that it featured Moroccan acrobats, so I was really pleasantly surprised when I saw the performance unfold into even more than a showcase of stunning acrobatic talent, but an insightful, thoughtful, funny and finely tuned dance piece and musical collaboration.
I'll have to admit that I have never been to any sort of dance/ acrobatic show like this before, but I really loved it.
The piece was directed and composed by Zimmermann & de Parrot, and after checking out their site I would really love to see the rest of their stuff.
Sunday 15 May 2011
Tuesday 10 May 2011
bright.
So there...so there was this woman.
...and she was on an airplane- she was flying to meet her fiancé seaming high above the largest ocean on planet earth. She was seated next to this man who she... she had tried to start conversations, but the only thing she had really heard him say was to order his Bloody Mary.
She was sitting there and she was reading this really arduous magazine article about a third world country that she couldn’t even pronounce the name of. And she was feeling very bored and despondent.
And then suddenly there was this...this huge mechanical failure and one of the engines gave out, and they started just falling thirty-thousand feet, and the pilots on the microphone and he’s saying “I’m sorry, I’m sorry, oh my god... I'm sorry” and apologizing.
And she looks at the man and says “Where are we going?” and he looks at her and he says “We’re going to a party. It’s a birthday party. It’s your birthday party. Happy birthday darling. We love you very, very, very, very, very, very, very much.” And then he starts humming this little tune, it kind of goes like this: 1, 2, 1, 2, 3, 4...
the good stuff.
I can give you what you want.
I can make your heart beat short.
I can make you ice cream
We could be a sweet team
Melting in your vice dreams, sport.
I can be the sauce you crave.
I can spell what you can't say.
Chocolate flavour love theme
Treat the treats you so mean
Covering your nights and days.
Let me give you what you'd like.
I can make your mouth run dry.
Drink me like a liquor
C'mon and dip your dipper
Show me what you're here for, guy.
I can give you what you want.
i can make your back real taunt
Fantastic flavour fancies -
Sick like Syd and Nancy -
Wicked as a joyride jaunt.
Saturday 7 May 2011
girls just wanna have fun.
Today was my friends Inga's birthday, so we had a BBQ and a little picnic in the garden. Craig set up his record player to play Cyndi Lauper and Bob Marley out the window. It was a little bit awesome.
Almost as awesome as this video clip, which I only saw for the first time today.
Almost as awesome as this video clip, which I only saw for the first time today.
If there was ever a reason to shave off half your hair and dye the rest red...I think I just found it.
in control.
I am in control.
I have been working hard all semester...all year...fuck that, all DEGREE.
If I don't do well, it's because I was incapable of doing well. I'll get what I deserve.
Roughly 40 hours to go before my first exam. I know that it's typical of me to have a panic and a kerfuffle before then. I know that that point will come when I sit back and look at EVERYTHING I have to know, and when I ask myself how much of it I DO know. SO I'm not going to do that. There's no point. All I can do is keep going; there's no point in assessing whether I am already there, because if I'm not, no good can come of panicking, it's not like it's going to magic me some time out of nowhere. At this stage, there is no need for 'time allocation' or planning. It's obvious what I need to do. And I'll do it. And I'm only going to look up when I'm in the clear. When I'm finished with the exam.
This post is boring but reassuring.
Shhh.
I have been working hard all semester...all year...fuck that, all DEGREE.
If I don't do well, it's because I was incapable of doing well. I'll get what I deserve.
Roughly 40 hours to go before my first exam. I know that it's typical of me to have a panic and a kerfuffle before then. I know that that point will come when I sit back and look at EVERYTHING I have to know, and when I ask myself how much of it I DO know. SO I'm not going to do that. There's no point. All I can do is keep going; there's no point in assessing whether I am already there, because if I'm not, no good can come of panicking, it's not like it's going to magic me some time out of nowhere. At this stage, there is no need for 'time allocation' or planning. It's obvious what I need to do. And I'll do it. And I'm only going to look up when I'm in the clear. When I'm finished with the exam.
This post is boring but reassuring.
Shhh.
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