Here's something to warm you like mulled wine, though - a FriendOfAFriend is holding what sounds like a thoroughly hot swishing event in January:
CutShuffleDeal
Another dark, cold, cash-strapped, January. Fancy doing something different that won't cost the earth?Clear out and clean up by getting involved at the free CutShuffleDeal clothing exchange. This Camden-based pop-up shop will combine a creative celebration of swapping and sharing with an interest in fashion, sustainability and community spirit. With free activities, evening events, workshops, sit down space and teas and coffee it's the perfect place to spend your time, rather than money, this New Year.
When and where: 4 – 15 January 2010, 10am – 6pm + some eveningsC73, 73 Parkway, Camden, London, NW1 7PP
And you can find out more at http://www.cutshuffledeal.blogspot.com/
I'm certainly going to be using the opportunity to clear out some of my SwagBag of clothes I no longer wear... So if you've ever seen anything you like on this blog, come along to CutShuffleDeal and maybe take it home with you. How's THAT for ChristmasLike?
Reading: A.M. Holmes, "The Safety of Objects"
Listening to: The Puppini Sisters, "It Don't Mean A Thing If It Ain't Got That Swing"







I do try my best to lead a life that I'd consider "ethical". As previously mentioned, I work for a charity when I'm not blogging / writing plays / dancing and drinking wine, and I've made various other choices. I don't own a car, for example, and I try wherever possible to travel by train rather than plane (as I did for this summer's trip to Italy). I buy local and organic food wherever possible, and although I probably still eat too much meat I am making more of an effort to go for organic and known provenance (much help by the fact my mother founded a farmer's market in the late Nineties and still brings me gifts of nice food - thanks, Mother!).
Although they've been around for a while [first album released 2001, according to Wikipedia], I have only recently discovered the loveliness of Camera Obscura thanks to the PhysicsBoyfriend. It's nice to find bands that play sweet music with a sharp lyrical edge, such as these and Slow Club who I saw a month or so ago.





I absolutely loved it - it's a glorious mixture of romantic fantasy and dark dark dark humour. I do love films that mix fantastical and real in a messy and occasionally bloody fashion (helloooooo "Pan's Labyrinth", "Oldboy", "Memories of Matsuoko").