From Anthropologie.
Saturday, December 26, 2009
Friday, December 25, 2009
Lists
This cute list reminds me of the article about Umberto Ecco and his exhibition on lists at the Louvre.
Enjoy.
Enjoy.
Happy Boxing Day

Thats about it for the Christmas rundown - lots of The Office and laying about a la the kitten above, reading the next 50 Popular Penguins which was a complete surprise and joy to receive; first on the list: Austen's Persuasion.
...so thats it.
oh, and I leave for the UK in ONE WEEK!
Labels:
celebrations,
drink,
excitement,
food,
reading,
travel
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Merry Christmas
Merry Christmas, I'm off to eat copious amounts of delicious food (including - but not limited to - Pimms and dry ginger ale, turkey (of course) and tiramisu); and watch The Royle Family; undoubtedly one of the best shows on television.
See you soon!
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
American Journeys
I have finally read Don Watson's American Journeys which lived up to - nay, exceeded - my (substantial) expectations.
Amusing, clever, insightful and as another of my favourite writers David Sedaris concludes on the book's cover: "the best book written by an outsider about America". Somehow, it acheives what I think is a sign of truly great writers; an ability to perfectly encapsulate the indescribable.
" Something at the centre of the American spirit cannot tolerate human insignificance. There can be no defeat, spiritual or temporal. Americans are geared to believe in themselves: and if that is not possible, they must believe in Jesus risen, or Elvis risen, or the president, or sports stars, or movie stars, or a brand of motor vehicle or soft drink, or the United States itself, or any other surrogate for the imperfect self. No other culture is so disinclined to believe in the futility of existence. The cross, the high-five and the facelift all express the same conviction that life is winnable. For the outsider, at first this feels unnaturally positive: but in time the same radical notion takes hold, and he finds himself wondering if the really unnatural thing is to think life lacks meaning and death always wins. He thus regains his innocence and becomes and American in spirit."
There you have it, the paradox of the American psyche explained in a paragraph.
More to go on the reading list: Reappraisals by Tony Judt.
Amusing, clever, insightful and as another of my favourite writers David Sedaris concludes on the book's cover: "the best book written by an outsider about America". Somehow, it acheives what I think is a sign of truly great writers; an ability to perfectly encapsulate the indescribable.
" Something at the centre of the American spirit cannot tolerate human insignificance. There can be no defeat, spiritual or temporal. Americans are geared to believe in themselves: and if that is not possible, they must believe in Jesus risen, or Elvis risen, or the president, or sports stars, or movie stars, or a brand of motor vehicle or soft drink, or the United States itself, or any other surrogate for the imperfect self. No other culture is so disinclined to believe in the futility of existence. The cross, the high-five and the facelift all express the same conviction that life is winnable. For the outsider, at first this feels unnaturally positive: but in time the same radical notion takes hold, and he finds himself wondering if the really unnatural thing is to think life lacks meaning and death always wins. He thus regains his innocence and becomes and American in spirit."
There you have it, the paradox of the American psyche explained in a paragraph.
More to go on the reading list: Reappraisals by Tony Judt.
Bryan Appleyard
Bryan Appleyard's website is great, with many of his articles, and a particularly funny spiel on his page of links:
"Internet “bookmarks” or “favourites” have – along with iPod playlists and eBay auctions – become contemporary character attributes replacing star signs, favourite colours and taste in clothes. These new self-signifiers are much more exact than the old ones and much more easily shared. At the same time, they are more random and capricious. They may change daily and they may simply be the result of idle browsing. This is, of course, in the post-modern context, fair enough. Who believes in stable selves any more? Anyway, here are some links. I will not explain them and, it goes without saying, they are not “self”-explanatory."
"Internet “bookmarks” or “favourites” have – along with iPod playlists and eBay auctions – become contemporary character attributes replacing star signs, favourite colours and taste in clothes. These new self-signifiers are much more exact than the old ones and much more easily shared. At the same time, they are more random and capricious. They may change daily and they may simply be the result of idle browsing. This is, of course, in the post-modern context, fair enough. Who believes in stable selves any more? Anyway, here are some links. I will not explain them and, it goes without saying, they are not “self”-explanatory."
Monday, December 21, 2009
Sunday, December 20, 2009
An Education
I recently (finally) saw An Education. Great film with rich sets and a killer soundtrack; and no overacted characters.
Saturday, December 19, 2009
Yes please
Virginia Woolf was right, every woman needs a room of one's own.
Mine would have to be light filled, contain many books and preferably have a beautiful view.
Mine would have to be light filled, contain many books and preferably have a beautiful view.
I found these pictures on a great tumblr called Home Sweet Home.
Friday, December 18, 2009
Monday, December 14, 2009
Sunday, December 13, 2009
Wise words
“ One should always be drunk. That’s the one thing that matters. In order not to feel the horrible burden of Time, which breaks your shoulders and crushes you to the ground, one should be drunk without ceasing. But on what? On wine, on poetry, or on virtue, as suits you. But get drunk….
— Baudelaire
— Baudelaire
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Sunday, December 6, 2009
Yet another book to add to my reading list
A great, bonfire-burning rage against what I must admit, is a viewpoint I have little time for: creationism.
The art of travel
A really spectacular extract about Somerset Maugham.
Well written travel writing is really one of my favourite genres.
Well written travel writing is really one of my favourite genres.

Friday, December 4, 2009
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Great New Show
Great looking new show featuring some of the guys from Arrested Development. Seems everyone is going to the UK!
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
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