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Blading for Glory!

Sunday, April 29, 2007

After much planning and a lot of time passing I finally got to spend the day with Andrea, Yvonne and Ness in town.

We planned a day in the Kings Road which is exactly what we achieved.

After shopping our socks off in London's most chi chi borough we made our way to Harvey Nichols where we had an entertaining lunch. Entertaining because we all enjoyed bitching about the waifs and size 0's that seemed to occupy Harvey Nic's desperately trying to avoid eat anything whilst still trying to look cool.

A trip with Bond Street led us in the path of the band of roller-bladers you see captured here. Sadly for Vanessa we learnt that no Tiffany's open in London on a Sunday.

We did manage to get to see the new Abercrombie and Fitch store but apart from the half naked guy on the door it wasn't worth it. The store suffers the same problem as the main one in NYC, it's too dark, too crowded and you can't see what you're buying. At least now I know where all the úber queens are hanging out.

I certainly won't be buying anything from the store though - it seems everyone wants to wear Abercrombie and are prepared to pay the ridiculous prices. I think there are better clothes available for fairer prices (and I won't look like one of the desperate heard whilst wearing it).

It was a nice day though but now I need to go and soak my feet!

Labels: 365, London, UK

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How Tartly That Gentleman Looks!

Friday, April 27, 2007

Well it's been a week of contrasts. A week of travelling and emotions.

Thankfully Friday seemed to bring things back to normality - but with a cultural interlude at lunch...

I spotted a flyer advertising Shakespeare in a lunch break at the Bridewell Theatre so I went along today with two guys from the office. It was really nice to sit down, take some time out and to enjoy some real culture - especially in the middle of a busy working day.

Bridewell is a very small theatre in the City of London but is only 5 minutes from the office. The Lunchbox Theatre productions feature a number of Shakespearean productions and a 45 minute rendition of works is perfect.

The cast were very good and incredibly fluid. It's been a long time since I have been to see a Shakesperean production. I think it's been even longer since I have read any Shakespeare.

I am sure Patrick and I will go again - especially as Twelfth Night is coming up in a couple of weeks.

I often wonder about what other people do and the way their lives pan out - a bit like Sliding Doors. Richard and I had very different days - even hours today. In the time it took me to watch the production, Richard jetted off to Holland for a music festival.

This leaves me at home alone this weekend but I have plans for Sunday. Tomorrow I think I will chill out - maybe get some new plants for the garden and make the most of the forecasted nice weather.

Labels: London, Richard, UK, Weather, Work

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Lazy Sunday

Sunday, April 22, 2007

It's a lovely lazy Sunday. I am not feeling that energetic therefore I'll let these puddy cats entertain you!

There will be no blog entries for a couple of days (unless I am bored in the departure lounge tomorrow morning!)... (Check out Trunk Cast 88 to find out why).

See you all next week!

Labels: Cats, Trunk Cast, You Tube

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Stretching for the Sun

Saturday, April 21, 2007

It's another lovely Saturday and I have spent some time in the garden taking photo's of our lovely flowers.

My favourite has to be the deep purple tulips I purchase at last years Chelsea Flower Show. They contrast wonderfully with the white bulbs.

Of course not wanting to be outdone, our other little flower is in fine bloom today!

Labels: 365, Cats, Photography

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S L O W

Thursday, April 19, 2007

I have been very slow in writing anything for the blog this week as I just have not had the time.

I did manage to produce another Trunk Cast and that will go some way to explain why.

With one thing and another it's simply been too much to want to spend too much time in front of the computer at home. I think I may even be right in saying my computer wasn't even switched on last night - I'd simply had enough of sitting in front of a computer.

There will probably be even less entries next week as I am away a number of days (again refer to Trunk Cast 88)

This Gay Life - Threadless, Best T-shirts Ever

I did mention the designs I submitted to Threadless last time I wrote anything here and sadly both designs were rejected over technicalities in the design (colours, size etc). I have now updated the designs and resubmitted. Follow the thumbnails to pop by and vote for them - of course, that is when they get approval!

Update - unfrotunately Office Politics has been declined again. I will submit a new version over the weekend!

Man with palm tree strapped to his back spotted in The City

I posted a rather bizarre photograph to my 365 set yesterday on Flickr. (You will need to open the full size image to get what I am on about).

Basically on my walk up to St Paul's yesterday there was a suited chap with briefcase who had a palm tree strapped to his back. I have no idea why, but I fear it was probably part of some tiresome marketing campaign.

There was a photo I captured last year of a yellow open top bus full of children and balloons - this ended up in a Marks and Spencer advert - so I wouldn't be surprised!

Isn't it amazing what you can see when you actually look? I wonder how many people walked past him and didn't notice?

I must say a quick thanks to the guys over at the Gay Boyfriends group of Flickr for choosing a photo of Richard and I as their icon :) We are flattered - thanks.

Labels: 365, Art, Digital Media, Pic-a-Day, Threadless, UK

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Wear Some Trunk Guy!

Sunday, April 15, 2007

As you may have noticed I like to wear Threadless T Shirts - my only qualm is the cost I have to pay to get them shipped!

Anyway I did submit some designs a couple years ago but although they were quite highly rated they never made it to the creation stage.

I have decided thanks to the warm reception my vector wallpapers are receiving, that I would create two t shirts from the favourite designs.

I would be really really pleased (grovel), if you could pop by Threadless and vote for my designs.

I stand to win a cash prize and I promise with the winnings I will pick one of you who have voted at random and send you a copy of the tee :)

To make it easier for me to know you have voted for me - visit the links here (the images) and then add a comment.

Many thanks.

Wish me luck!

Labels: Digital Media, Threadless

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Oh we do like to be...

Saturday, April 14, 2007

...beside the seaside!

Lisa and her large portion of (ice) cream

Lisa invited us down to her neck of the woods today and it meant spending one of the warmest days of the year on the coast.

Needless to say we had a lovely day.

We met a couple of Lisa's friends; Barry and Jamie who were also very nice.

It was a bit of a drive but worth the time spent circumnavigating the M25 to be near the sea with a cool breeze and great company. We had a nice al fresco lunch followed by lots of ice cream on the beach (see photo eh Lisa!).

I hope this weather spell continues as I think we'll make the most of the garden tomorrow.

I hope we all manage to get together again soon.

Labels: 365, Friends, Richard, UK, Weather

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C.S.D.*

Friday, April 13, 2007

We went to see Pam Ann at our local Den of Inequity last night. Much to my surprise we had a really great evening.

Pam Ann was an act booked at a launch party for a web site I worked on several years ago and back then I didn't think she was very funny.

last night's performance however has changed my perception of her. She was very funny, very filthy and didn't hold any hostages.

This was particularly present when she decided to rip into all the local parochial queens who seemed to crawl out from the nearest rocks to attend. You know the type - the sharks fin hair cut, wearing flip flop and Calvin's hosted up around their necks!

Still it was a fun evening and I think it is safe to say Dan, Matt, Richard and I all awoke this morning feeling very tired as we had been crying through so much laughter :)

* C@!t Standing by the Door

Labels: Friends, Richard

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Hey Trunk Cast Lover!

Thursday, April 12, 2007

A very special edition of the extra Trunk Cast 87 video is available to view on You Tube (or right here!):

Pop over to the Trunk Cast page to subscribe to my Trunk casts. From here you will be able to listen to the full show for Trunk Cast 87 and the original special edition video!

Labels: Trunk Cast, You Tube

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S.N.D.

Wednesday, April 11, 2007

My it's been a slow news day!

Hamster Shredder

I hope this gets manufactured - I know I'll buy one!

An excellent idea (if you overlook the fact that modern ink is poisonous to hamsters!)

~~Don't forget to let me know if you would like me to upload this video to You Tube!~~

OK I cave! You can view the extra-special You Tube edition video which accompanies Trunk Cast 87 on You Tube.

Labels: Photography, Pic-a-Day

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Something Different

Tuesday, April 10, 2007

OK how's this for tying everything together!

Today, not only can you download and listen to Trunk Cast 87 but you can also watch the special edition video shot whilst recording the show (with edited audio explaining where the idea came from).

And if that were not enough, pop by Flickr and see today's 365days photo inspired by the project.

(If you are really good and ask nicely, I may just put the video on You Tube ;)

Enjoy!

Labels: Photography, Trunk Cast

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Chilled Easter - no yolk!

Monday, April 09, 2007

Photo of a collared dove taken by Richard

It's been a lovely holiday weekend here in the UK. The weather has been perfect all weekend.

Apart from our excursion to Chartwell House on Saturday, Richard and I have spent the weekend at the house. Today especially was spent in the garden.

It must be getting closer to summer as the garden furniture made it's way out of the cellar.

Still at least our appearance in the garden didn't stop the appearance of our feather friends.

This Easter has not featured a single Easter Egg for us (although my baby did buy me a lovely chocolate bunny). And do we miss the excess of chocolate? Not one bit. I will never understand why people gorge themselves so much on chocolate eggs at this time of year, it's not as it they all fast before hand is it?

Labels: Richard, UK, Weather

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Who Would Have?

I used to like Savage Garden but did feel that their work tended to sound very similar. The work Darren Hayes released as a solo artist didn't grab me though.

Now things have changed and although there is a reminiscence of old Savage Garden work in Darren's next single, I actually really like Who Would Have Thought?

The song is lovely but the video is stunning. In a world full of animation, graphic artists and vector illustrations; it's great to see someone take the initiative and put all these elements together. The result is a stunning and touching video to accompany the fortcoming single.

Labels: Music

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Contrasts

Saturday, April 07, 2007

Today has been a day of contrasts - I would however, like to focus on the good bits first.

Richard and I took a drive down to Chartwell House today, a place we had only fleetingly visited in the past. The house is owned by the National Trust and is of great significance to the British Nation as it is the former home of Sir Winston Churchill.

We made sure we arrived early as the last time we visited it was too late in the day and there were no tickets left for the house. Well today we arrive din time to acquire tickets to the house and we spent a good portion of the morning taking in all the wonderful historical artifacts and treasures.

I do recall that Churchill's wife Clemmy didn't actually like the house, but Churchill insisted he bought it for the views of Kent - The Garden of England. As you can see from the photo's I took today, you cannot dispute his opinion of this.

This really is a lovely part of England, a romantic England. An England I enjoy and an England I fear is starting to disappear.

For those of you not aware, Churchill amongst other things was an avid painter and his studio (and indeed his home), is full of vibrant landscapes and scenes from around the globe. I can only hope I will amass such a collection of my work by the time I am in my 90's!

Of course even Churchills paintings are eclipsed by the splendid Monet which hangs in the Drawing Room!

This neatly leads me to my contrast. After living in Hertfordshire for 7 years I have never been to Blue Water - posthumously titled "Europes Biggest Shopping Mall". Well as we were that far down the M25 we decided to take a look. I wish we hadn't!

I (like every other queen on the planet), like to shop - or browse. But I was just disgusted by the sheer size of the place. The people there were slouching around likes zombies, all decked out like rejects from ITV reality TV program. Full of flicked razor cut hair styles and collars worn erect (and that's just the women!).

I hated it and I think it's safe to say we'll never be back.

I did wonder how an arcade of shops which contain all the labels and boutiques actually be enticing? Surely if labels and brands are sold in such enormous quantity to so many people (of various ages and backgrounds), doesn't it mean they all end up looking the same and wearing the same clothes? Whatever happened to individuality? I know this much volume of goods feeds consumers needs for choice but I fear Blue Water just feeds their greed instead. Sorry if your a fan of such places but to be honest - you can keep them!

Interested in visiting Chartwell House? Then pop over to my Google Map to find out where it is (and where else we have been over the Easter holiday)

Labels: National Trust, Photography, Richard, UK

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Redecorate your desktop!

Friday, April 06, 2007

I have created some new wallpapers today - one from a recent photo taken at Henley and two other illustrations...

Check out the Wallpaper set in Flickr to see them in more detail and to download them.

Taster available here:

Labels: Photography, Wallpaper

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Happy Easter!

There is more Easter goodness in Trunk Cast 86 ;)

Labels: Trunk Cast

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Miserabilism ;)

Tuesday, April 03, 2007

It seems to me there's something serious beginning
A new approach found to the meaning of life

Deny that happiness is open as an option
and disappointment disappears

Relax

What you see is what you see and what you get
is a new philosophy

Meanwhile your life is still directed as a drama

Just for the sake of it make sure you're always frowning

It shows the world that you've got substance and depth

Miserabilism

Labels: Pet Shop Boys

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Messing about on the river

Sunday, April 01, 2007

We've had a lovely day today. The weather has been very kind to us.

We took a drive down to Henley where we had lunch and watched the world go by - or rather the occupants around the higher reaches of the River Thames.

Henley is lovely as it's not too manic and there's plenty to see and do whilst just ambling along.

The river usually runs low and slow but today the tide was very high and had quite a bit of drag. We think a river up stream must have burst it's banks.

Today's browse along the riverbank was made more pleasurable by the plentiful amount of fit young men in rowing gear ;) I guess the fast moving tides must have been ideal for their training sessions.

Labels: 365, Hunks, Photography, UK, Weather

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