south korea

busan, south korea
busan fish market
street restaurants
our travels took us to busan in south korea. and what a shock. where nagasaki was warm, peaceful and unbelieveably clean, busan was noisy, smelly, dirty,cold and a total assault on the senses. it was also amazing. packed full of people, there was a distinct lack of westeners. as such, we drew rather alot of attention and i experienced a little of what it would be like to be a celebrity. i didn't enjoy it. being stared at all the time made me very self concious and i was sure i had food on my face, or my flies were undone or something similar. the fish market in busan is fantastic. they are all alive and freshly caught and i've never seen such weird and wonderful creatures. can anyone tell me what the pulsating pink headless things that look disturbingly like penis's are? i couldn't find anyone that spoke english well enough to tell me!

too cute

these lovely little cuties performed local traditional dances for us on our last day in japan. they were so good for being so young, i'm sure my attention span wasn't this good when i was a child. bless them!

peace please

visiting the site of the atomic bomb in nagasaki caused a mixture of emotions. peaceful, sad, still, shocked, angry. the sculpture in the top picture was made to go in the peace garden that now occupies ground zero. when the bomb was dropped, everything for miles and milea and miles was destroyed, everything disintergrated. in part of the park now, there are the remains of what used to be the prison. all that was left of the immediate area is a few bricks and a little bit of twisted metal. the sculpture reminds people that such an atrocity will not be tolerated again. you can see that his right arm points to the sky. he is pointing at where the bomb actually exploded - before impact with the ground. his left arm is poised over the earth with signals that he is ready, ready to defend his piece of earth, his country and his people.

it was really moving being there, you are forced to think about the horrors that occur, then and now and in turn think about the innocent people who lost and loose their lives. it's very sad but very peaceful. everything now is concentrated on peace. the origami peace doves that schools send for the memorial are so beautiful in their colours and precision and quantities and the gardens are so quiet that it's easy to forget what it all stands for.

light of my life

the imperial hotel, osaka

nagasaki, japan
busan, south korea

as well as the traditional lanterns that you'd expect to find in asia, the chandaliers that were in the breakfast room at the imperial hotel in osaka were stunning. blown glass in beautiful colours made them cast colourful shadows around the room as the sunlight hit them. and i just wish that i had been around at night time to see these lanterns in the bottom picture alight. it's things like these lanterns that remind you where you are in the world, as it is definatly not something you come across at home.
i love them and wish for a garden big enough to fill with them on a warm summers night for a party....sigh.

nagasaki, japan

how awesome to be able to walk down a high street and be warm and relaxed and peaceful. to be able to stop for a while and watch thousands of koi swimming about without a care in the world. to be able to (gingerly) walk across a stepping stone bridge and not fall in. and how if you take a right turn off that highstreet and walk up a hill for 30 seconds you come across the most beautiful temples imagineable. hidden deep in the hustle and bustle are quiet oasis' of calm and tranquility. in the top picture you can just see a buliding the the right of the gates of the temple. it's multi storey carpark!!! but once inside you'd never know the city was out there!

we're home

Nagasaki, Japan

after a couple of weeks of trying to get back into the swing of real life (and cooking for myself!) i find myself back on my blog. i've thought about trying to tell you what the trip was like, but i can't do it justice so i won't try in any great detail. instead i shall post one or two pictures a day and add comments if necessary. all that can be said is that it was the holiday of a lifetime and i dream of going back.

johnny depp appreciation society

2 johnny depp films in as many nights - and both of them picked by my lovely boyfriend.
mmmm, is he trying to sweet talk me?
last night we watched blow. very good but very disturbing seeing mr depp with a paunch and in a shell suit (only at the end)
and tonight it's donnie brasco. also very good, of course we've seen it before on more than one occasion. this was the film that inspired our visit to mulberry street in nyc last year. a very good day spent in old skool pizzerias with photos of the old days on the walls. old faces, friends and villains.
a very good day indeed.
tomorrow night - pirates of the caribbean!!! join me won't you?

yee ha bayyybee - i'm outta here

and although i am using more conventional means of travel to venture across the globe - i'm definatly this excited. and excitable! i do believe i am starting to drive people a little mad!
OH WELL
let the last minute lists begin....
to do
1. get travellers cheques
2. get cash changed to local currency
3. buy travel insurance
4. pack suitcase
5. re-pack suitcase innumerable times
6. but ross some trousers and a new tie
7. toast the success of our narrow (waaaay t0o narrow) escape.

so cheers!
here's to the next 4 weeks!

hallelujah

we are still waiting for our visas

another appointment at the chinese embassy tomorrow.
we won't know anything until tomorrow.
fingers crossed for tomorrow.
hope they aren't so bloody vague tomorrow.

a blip on the holiday horizon

a travel visa.
seemingly obvious.
our imminent trip to the far east hangs in the balance of this piece of documentation.
next monday at 6pm we are due to fly out of heathrow, hong kong bound. however, as having had no part in the booking of this trip (ross's mam is kindly taken care of the booking therefore the financing - many many thanks necessary) i've been oblivious the the fundamentals. on receiving confirmation of the trip, she was told, in writing that we didn't require travel visas.
fast forward 6 months to 1 week before travel. a letter arrives in the post. a very scary letter. a letter that states if we do not have visas we will not be allowed into the countries we are desperately looking forward to entering. this letter is dated jan 24th. had this letter arrived on time there would be no problem. the letter did not arrive on time. the letter has had everyone on the hop for the past 36 hours.
cue a rush to the post office clutching passport photos and passports, throwing them at the post office assistant and demanding they arrive at the other end of the country within 24hours. no room for lost post on this occasion thank you. ross's step father has an emergency appointment at the chinese embassy in london first thing tomorrow morning. and until then, everything hangs in the balance.
we might not be able to go.
our suitcases stare at us menacingly from the corner of the bedroom. i can't bear to look at them. all my lists, written, re-written and then written and edited again are laughing at me for imagining that things might run smoothly for once.
a small blip.
my manager at work is on standby to factor me back into the rota at a moments notice because i might not need 3 weeks off anymore!
how depressing will work be if i'm there,at work, and not in hong kong? it'll be hellish. thinking what i should/could/would be doing instead. instead of smiling at people and telling them why they should part with their cash for beautiful shoes. if we don't go i can't imagine i'll be very good at my job in those 3 long weeks.
we have our fingers crossed.
ross's mam is understandably beside herself. i'd hate to be the person from the travel company who picks up the phone when she calls to complain about this monstrous fuck up.
we have our fingers crossed and tomorrow will mostly be spent waiting for the phone call that will inevitably come.
i'm not sure i'll be able to pick up the phone......
we have our fingers crossed.

the beauty of this man astounds me....

gratuitous letchery
happy weekend! and sweet sweet dreams (wink wink)

no pictures, no comments

now as all bloggers know. we love a comment. you write something with heart and soul. you jot down something witty. maybe you post a photo that means something. anyway, we take the time to do it. and most of the time - for me anyway - i don't need comments to keep posting but my god do they make me feel good when i get them. just a little note of gratification so i know i'm not talking to myself absolutely makes my day.
now, i have a list of blogs that i read pretty much every day (drunkenness permitting) and i don't always feel that i need to say anything but i think i should. we should take the time because it might make someone feel better.
even if it is just to say 'hi' or 'i'm here and i've read your words'
it might make someones day
and thats always nice.

happy commenting!

summer lovin'

for those of you who love a summery, fresh, crisp fruity drink that doesn't smack of alcohol, try Jacques. i was introduced to it last week in a bar and have since tracked it down to a supermarket. is this only available in the uk? served chilled, over ice it is gonna be an absolute stormer this summer. it's a sharing drink too, one bottle will fill 4 decent sized glasses.

brilliant. try it. (strongbow brewery)

really really good news

a boy and girl wander down the street to work, he is chaperoning me and we are chatting about nothing inparticular. then the bombsell gets dropped. our lives will never be the same again (no i'm not pregnant) he is ready to seriously think about moving back to london.
thank the lord.
as you all know, if you have read my previous posts, i have been ready to move back to london since i left over a year and a half ago. but the boy was getting settled. in the pit of my tummy was the nagging dread that he wouldn't want to leave.ever. and yet i also didn't want him to leave a town up north that he loves just for me. he would need to really want the move too.
and now he does.
music to my ears.
"pet, we need to start thinking about going home"
home.
london.
all smiles.

new girls

back to basics, simple cartoony girls. i'm guessing that these ladies will be the last bits and bobs that i get done before my h-h-holiday. and then looking into the future again i'm thinking that some geisha inspired ladies will be popping up in a couple of weeks time.




11 days to go! hong kong - here i come

i packed my bag and in it i put...

...enough stuff to last me for 3 nights at mr & mrs b's house (thats mum and dad to you!)
before i ever go away on my travels, no matter how long for, i always see my mum and dad. i've never questioned why. it's just something that has always happened. because they live at the other end of the country i only see them 4 times a year maybe and one of those times is always before i leave the country.
and then today, on the phone to one of my bestest friends polly and she said "why? in case you never see them again?"
i was shocked, it never occurred to me that this could even be a possibility? how very morbid! making sure they see me in case i die! does anyone else have thoughts like this before a journey? or is it just my family??? (i wouldn't be surprised if it was)
but no matter! i'm over it (yeah righto) and very much looking forward to seeing the pair of them before i go to asia in 3 WEEKS!
woo hoo

the constant gardener

i can't believe i've only just seen this film. where have i been? what on earth was i thinking? or more to the point....what have i been watching? now, even though it took me 2 nights to watch it (i fell asleep the first night but it was out of supreme knackeredness, not boredom) i absolutely love it love it love it. it's sad, violent, beautiful, sinister, haunting and mr ralph is looking gooood!
is it any wonder that this got ms weisz an oscar? i totally believe that this is her cause, and that she does live in africa. amazing. and more amazing... i want to watch it again, the very next day. i don't think i'll ever get bored of it.
see it
now

summer dreaming......

jacket - me likey. from topshop so totally affordable and i love the colour, can you think of a colour that you couldn't match with this jacket? great as a match for a gorgeous floral frock with pretty sandals or a smart pencil skirt with killer heels or.....

.....casual jeans. these pippa jeans also from topshop (yes, predictable but can you blame me?) are super skinny ans are cut just on the ankle so are a little shorter than normal, bang on trend and great for showing off......

.....new shoes! by kg for kurt geiger.

list list list list list

i am in list hyperdrive.
it is now 26 days until we fly out to Hong Kong and i am very excited.
of course about the holiday but also for all the planning to be done and all the lists to be made. i've got a list for everything and most of them are in their 3rd-4th draft. toiletries list. make up list. shoe list (i'm going for 3 weeks and so far i've narrowed it down to eight pairs. no thats a lie. it's actually nine but one is a small pair!) things to buy list. hand luggage list. how to keep ross busy for a 12 hour flight list.
i'm in heaven. sorting and organising and shopping!
one of my favourite ways to prepare for a holiday is the mad dash around boots/superdrug for all the fancy dan holiday luxuries i treat myself to.
my number 1 purchase today? my flight bag...it's mahoosive and light as a feather (without all my crap in it of course) and it's just the right shade of grey that looks awesom with my orla keilly scraf tied to one of the handles to funk it up abit. i'll add some sparkly reptile broaches as well and suddenly...voila.....super chic.

most wanted

oh.me.oh.my
look what i've got my eyes on! a new season brings new stock and these kg mary janes are ticking all the boxes for me. they are similar to my current favourites but these are NEW and i don't have them so that makes them better.
they aren't uncomfortable and they look amaaaazing and are already proving to be very popular with the paying customer.
i love them
they will be mine
i'll probably need them for my holiday........

collage vs photoshop

i completed these illustrations a while ago with a view to getting a publisher to buy the license on them but they never got sent out. they took so long and i got so attached to them that i just put them away in my portfolio and looked at them occasionally.
this is when the great photoshop or not debate hits me. these drawings were first sketched, then traced and duplicated. then coloured with watercolours and inks. this was a long process as to get the right tones, lots of layers of colour was needed. then she was cut out and laid on a piece of (in this case) leopard print paper. The leopard print background is a photocopy of a piece of fabric that i hand painted with inks to achieve the texture and colour variation that i wanted. i find the thing i 'm not keen on for my illustrations is the flatness that photoshop can create. i prefer the realness of a collage......but just think how much simpler these girls would have been if i hadn't been so bloody stubborn!





i still really like them and now i've freed them from the portfolio i might frame them and let them belong in my flat where they can be seen.
or maybe i'll put them away again!

new girl in town

i'm loving drawing girls in their underwear at the moment. i think the minimal clothing works well with the simple style of the drawings. they're quite sexy but not slutty. and i think palest pink and blackest black is the best colour combination i've evr tried. these girls are going to form part of a series which i will photograph properly and post together when they are all done.

this time last year

this time last year i was in new york.
what an amazing 5 days.
we stayed in the waldorf astoria and was astounded by the old glamour. getting dressed up and walking through the lobby to dinner was like a dream.
stumbling upon china town, magically on the day that town was celebrating chinese new year! so many streamers and confetti bombs and pig racing!!! buying cups of icecream with $10 found on the floor! eating icecream on one of the coldest days EVER!
visiting ground zero and feeling haunted by the ghosts of what used to be. reading peoples thoughts and prayers and conspiricy theories left me cold and upset and tired.
but then walking through central park and watching the iceskaters falling over cheered us up.
an absolutely amazing 5 days that i will never forget.

my very unromantic romantic day

hello?
is anyone still reading?
i hope so.
it's been a while since i've written a post or visited my usual blogs but as i'm not especially keen on valentines day i figured it was time to step back. i seem to be the only person in blogland that dislikes it!?!
everywhere i looked was hearts and flowers. and it was driving me a little bit mad.
i'm not anti-valentine because i'm lonely or single or an anti-consumerist (is this a word?) but it's just that my idea of romance is different. any monkey can send a token of love when they're told to... and boy are we told! - restaurants,card shops,bars,the post office,supermarkets....PUKE
i like my romance a little more real. when my hunk brings me tea in bed, or cleans the bathroom when it's probably my turn, or gets up from watching the football and rubs my feet because i've got cramp (this happened 2 mins ago when Liverpool just scored their 2nd goal)
this is our valentines day...
i offered to do the late shift at work so finished at 8pm
get home via supermarket for provisions.
ate hotdogs
drank wine
ate ice-cream
drank beer
watched dirty sanchez
and i loved it.
and i still hate valentines day

i love a quiz - any quiz!

I am a Canna What Flower Are You?

i stumbled across this one at chocolate canary.
try this out - is it you?

mike - barman extrodinaire and shrinking violet!

never one to be outdone - my best friend mike upped the style stakes with this fabulous handmade by himself jacket. i can't remember why he made it but when something looks this good - why ask???

long live london

my trip to london was awesome. the meeting on regent street was excellent if a little spoiled by the bomb scare 2 doors down (no bomb thankfully, someone had cut through a power line apparently and caused an explosion - wouldn't want to be that person!) oxford circus was strung up with illuminated chinese lanterns and the weather was amazing. my old flat was very welcoming and the views still stunning from the balcony...



oh how i wish i still lived here!!!
when i go back i sometimes forget that it's not really my flat anymore! i just wander around like it's my own and slot right back into old habits. helping myself to stuff in the fridge, coming and going as i please and drinking far too many champagne cocktails laced with too much cognac. to make these matters worse mike has invested in a wine chiller which means there is a constant supply of cold champagne and hangovers!
a success indeed
long live london town x

i'm going to london - LONDON!

woo hoo!
the day is finally here. almost. tomorrow i go to london for a meeting with work - well, i say 'work' but we just really get together and talk about shoes and fashion (it's absolute bliss!)
and then i'm not coming back. well not immediately anyway. i've torn up my train ticket for my return journey and i'm winging it. plans are to meet best-of-friend and ex flatmate mike for some drinks in covent garden and then who knows? hopefully i'll get to meet up with loads more other people as well but this decision is so last minute it literally was made 1 minute ago!
heavenly
i think mike and i are then gonna drive back up to newcastle (BOO HISS!) on friday night so he can spend the weekend up here with us.
oh good lord
i'm far too excited and will never sleep tonight now.
added stress? i have to style my new hair tomorrow early doors for the first time AND on a day that i want to make a good impression.
it's going to be a great weekend.

she is finished after all

so i played around with a few ideas for her - maybe a background? possibly some butterflies around her head. but i bottled it.
these are the times that would be alot easier with illustrator!

hope you all like her! she might make an appearance in my etsy shop. i haven't set myself a deadline on getting this up and running yet because i'm not a big fan of deadlines (especially self imposed ones!) but i think as long as something is happening by summer time i'll be happy. plus that gives me loads of lovely sketching time.

to fringe