Take That Rhythm And Give It Everything You've Got

Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr... It is VERY cold in London in the moment. Yesterday freezing fog settled over my suburb as I walked to my CommuterTrain, and although the sun is shining today it's still cold enough to freeze the knobs off a BrassMonkey.

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 evenings
C73, 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"

You've Got Her In Your Pocket

Ah, The Platiscines. Don't they make you wish you were impossibly young, pretty and Parisian, and in a band with similar playmates? If I could afford them all, I'd try to dress the same in these little lovelies...

Plaid Tidings dress, Sergeant of Style coat, Last Picture Show boots
All from Modcloth

Reading: "The United States of McSweeneys"
Listening to: The White Stripes, "You've Got Her In Your Pocket"

I'll Believe It All, I Won't Let Go Of Your Hand

There’s been a lot of activity here over the last fortnight. Both of the meteorological variety (thunder! hail! lightning! one day of unexpected sunshine!) and of the personal variety.

Over the last couple of weeks I have been:
* Working on two plays, my full-length one plus a short for Upstart Theatre’s Christmas party
* Preparing to teach my first playwriting class – it’s in a little over a week, I’m both excited and nervous – young people scare the living hell out of me
* Working a big national press campaign for work
* Learning German one night a week
* Attending top-secret playwright meetings
* Saving for my exciting winter miniature holiday
* Getting my camera fixed – hence the return of shots-with-camera-balanced-on-garden-gate
* Going for walks in the unexpected sunshine

What have you been up to this week?

Reading: "The United States of McSweeney's" [HELL yeah!]

Listening to: Regina Spektor, "Two Birds On A Wire"

Never Turn Your Back On Mother Earth

"It would be the height of folly to make materials so that it should wear out quickly and the height of barbarity to make anything ugly, shabby or mean. What has just been said about clothing applies equally to all other human requirements."
E.F. Schumacher, Small Is Beautiful

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!).

However, I'm not great about extending these principles to my clothes shopping, even though I know there are ethical labels out there. So today I came up with a wish-outfit from more ethical sources than usual. I love this beautiful tucked shirt-dress from People Tree, who stock fairtrade fashion, use organic cotton and natural dyes.

I'd definitely wear it these Rowan Boots from Green Shoes, who hand-make shoes in Devon using materials sourced in the UK using naturally dyed leather or vegan leather uppers. They're not cheap, but oh my! aren't they lovely...?

I'd like to add on a hand-knitted chunky scarf (having knitted one as a present over the summer, I'm now lusting after some more Debbie Bliss cashmerino aran wool to make one for myself). And then I'd be "good" to go... Do you get it? Pun! On "good"! Hoop-LA.

Reading: Ian McEwan, "Atonement"
Listening to: Neko Case, "Never Turn Your Back On Mother Earth"

Spent A Week In A Dusty Library, Waiting For Some Words To Jump At Me

Tonight I'm off to see Camera Obscura at the Shepherd's Bush Empire - hoop-LA!
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.

Reading: Scarlett Thomas, "PopCo"
Listening To: Camera Obscura, "French Navy"

You Were Far Too Busy Writing Words That Didn't Scan

Just back from seeing the wonderful "Plan B", my fifth and last film in the London Film Festival - it's been an amazing experience watching five new and unexpected movies over the last ten days. I can't wait to go to more flm festivals... And in the meantime, don't forget to go see "Air Doll" if you ever get the chance (and have a strong stomach!)

From top: Help Gone Mad, Adrift, Air Doll,
Three Days With The Family, Plan B

Listening to: Elastica, "Never Here"
Reading: Charles Bukowski, "Factotum"

And You've Broken Your Only Doll

Cath Kidston dress, Primark tights, Office shoes

Yesterday I got up early and went for a 17.5km hike to The Devil's Punchbowl, an area of beautiful countryside out in Surrey. It was exhausting but also brilliant fun, with some amazing views. England in the autumn is stunningly beautiful, if rather wet. Also, part of the walk was through a heath ravaged by fire about three years ago. Trees are starting to grow back but the area still has a wild, bare, blackened look - it was unsettling but fascinating at the same time. It was a long day once you added in the 1.5 hour train journey each way plus time out for a pub lunch, and by the time I went to bed at 11pm I was more than happy to sleep for thirteen hours straight.

Today was more London Film Festival, this time to see Korean film "Air Doll". It's the story of Nozomi, a blow-up doll come to life and trying to understand love, sex, death and the human heart.

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").

All in all, a busy weekend, and one neccessitating lots of sensible footwear. I've been on a mission recently to find pretty-but-comfortable flat shoes, as living in London I spend a lot of time dashing around the streets, or standing up on buses, or trying not to fall down escalators. Interesting article in this week's Guardian on the flat shoe "revolution". How about you, can you manage to live a full and varied life in heels?

Listening to: Laura Marling, "Your Only Doll (Dora)"
Reading: Charles Bukowski, "Factotum"