Friday, April 29, 2005

Domestic Bliss

Here are some pictures in and around our place.

Example

These are the cactuses we got for free from Sony. There are 20 cacti all together. Every plant except one we have gotten for free from shoots. There are now around 30 plants in our house. We may have to move.


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This is our attempt at Donna Hay photography. We used some lovely grey window light and some stylish 80s kitchen tiles to set off these red wine poached pears. I have been cooking constantly since I found this vegan food website. It isn't nearly as grim as it sounds. Think vodka and tomato spaghetti and really amazing salads (what else do vegans have?!!)

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This is our new lomo wall. It is from winter when Lucie was here. We were doing all the touristy stuff, even staying at the Columbia Hotel - and endless source of road trip artsy fartsy shots.

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These last two shots illustrate the frustration of living in London. In Summer, the Winter seems worthwhile. In Winter, all seems futile and you wonder how you can possibly go on. You would slit your wrists if you could get through the 4 layers of clothing covering them.

Anyway, off for a lovely weekend feeding the cows apples and giving them massages.

Monday, April 25, 2005

London Symphony Orchestra

My god, what an amazing day. Actually amazing isn't the right word. It wasn't the kind of day that left me slack jawed with awe, but parts of the day gave me goosebumps. So I guess the right word would be "sublime", which these days has been stripped of all meaning. Anyway.

I was page turner for the LSO yesterday. It's not something everyone can say they have done. And the best part was I didn't have to turn pages, just "observe" the horn players' preparation. They played "L'Après-midi d'un faune"
which you can listen to if you click the title. Lovely. It is one of my favourite pieces.

Am now on Trip Advisor, which I would highly reccomend if anyone is thinking of a weekend away. I am researching most common complaints about accommodation, but also looking for somewhere to stay this weekend (Bank Holiday). We are going to visit Lucie's Farm. They "make" Kobe beef there. We've heard that the cows love being massaged so much that they run to people for cuddles at first sight! Gorgeous (and yummy I bet - not that I'll ever know!)

Tripadvisor is great - real people dishing the dirt on horrendous accommodation. You can always tell when a hotelier is masquerading as a customer to write glowing reviews. Very funny. It is really essential reading - I hate finding out about shitty plumbing the hard way.

Thursday, April 21, 2005

Skype

I know this is going to sound like some kind of endorsement, but this is seriously good. Actually it isn't that good without a headset, but I highly reccomend investing in one. Skype is a free telephone and i-chatting type thing. We've been using it at work, and it allows my boss to hassle us from NY for FREE.

Wednesday, April 20, 2005

Fangs of Fur(r)y



Yesterday I held a spider.
A furry arm for a furry critter.
I shot a fantasy ad in the back of an MPV. A recreation of a childs fantasy in the back of car, actually in the back of a car, we put in lots of sand, lots of moss, a few water features, dinasaurs, robots, waterfalls, mini trees, rocks, fairies, ufo's with lasers, spacemen, new landscapes, planets, preying mantises, snakes, & spiders. Hope it doesn t lok like a trip down to the garden centre?
I will be in post for a few days.
J

My analyst

I have booked in an appointment with a counsellor who has been reccomended by a friend. I have just watched Manhattan and I think I just like the idea of saying I have an appointment with my analyst.

I think I'd just like to do some spring cleaning. I want to make some money over the next few years doing something I am passionate about but I don't think "doing nothing" is a strong basis for a business. I keep thinking that maybe I'll wake up one morning looking like Demi Moore in Ghost and have a bash at pottery, but then I remember trying to knit, and the amount of uni fees I have spent on art courses etc. Basically I like sitting on my arse and READING about doing things. Maybe my analyst can help me sort it out.

I am reading a book about small business and it is very informative. I know that sounds obvious seeing as books often are, but it has already pointed out some things that I haven't really considered until now. The isolation aspect is a big one.

I think something I MIGHT like to do is represent some people who are passionate. I don't doubt that they would be just as difficult and precious as photographers, but at least you would be able to give their tantrums some credit and weight. The whole champagne on a beer budget doesn't really apply to these kinds of creatives. Every photographer wants to shoot for Self Service when their last piece of published work is Elle magazine. Drives me nuts. I know Naomi Klein has an agent, but just what do they do? Unfortunately I am a bit too lateral and capitalist and I would have her endorsing something within 6 months.

Monday, April 18, 2005

I am a Horn Athlete

Example

This is the little poster I made to encourage myself to get up early and practice my horn. Simple yet effective.

Huff'n'Puff

Finally, someone takes us seriously! Very motivated now - this is our first genuine quote. I really miss people saying G'Day!

From:
"Huff'n'Puff"   

Subject:
RE: Business Plan

Date:
Mon, 18 Apr 2005 08:24:01 +1000

G ‘day Rebecca and Julian

Many thanks for the email and for your enquiry.

Your question is one that is often asked regarding straw bale building and my answer is always the same.  The problem is finding builders who know how to build in straw bale and the same to a certain extent applies to mud bricks.  Though Wollombi has a good muddie living there as far as I know.

My answer to the question of cost is to look at the alternative you want to compare with and go from there.  So if you employ an Architect you are looking at anything from $1,500 per square metre and upwards.  If you build them as an owner builder with help from other trades you will be looking at around $500 and upwards per square metre.

The normal costs for building anything today start around $1,000 per square metre.  So if you are able to do most of the work yourself you can expect to achieve a very low cost.  We are building our own straw bale home and we expect the final cost to come in around $200 per square metre.  We were very resourceful and used a lot of recycled timbers and roofing iron.

I hope this helps you in your budget, keep the design small and build lots of small pavilions to create your home and you may just find that you are well in front money wise.

Kind regards
John Glassford
Huff 'n' Puff Constructions

Kind regards
John Glassford
Huff 'n' Puff Constructions

Sunday, April 17, 2005

Birthday antics.

My birthday was Friday. Chantal bought me a gorgeous strawberry cake with a firecracker on top, which set off our fire alarm. Got a stunning bunch of flowers from Liberty from Julian. Got some lovely gloves from my mum - will have to make her a UK seasons calendar. Got $50 and a sweet card from grandma, and Lucie is buying me some sheet music when I get home.

Example

Matt, Kaz, Micah, Helen (and Klaus and Bob), Tim Gutt and friend Arik, Julian, Alissa and Ben, and Elissa and Garreth, came to my party at Freuds. Very cheap cocktails soaked up by yummy Indian food at Neal Street. It was a lovely evening, a really nice mix of people. I felt very happy to see everyone getting along so nicely.

Got some lovely lemon silk panties and camisole with pink peacock feathers on from Julian.
Went to Borders yesterday and got a Gore Vidal book on Timothy McVeigh (luckily I am don't have any loyalty cards or my phone would likely now be tapped), No War, by Naomi Kelin (one of my favourites), and a book on running a small business. Hmmm, how to combine all my influences?? I also bought Manhattan to lighten my mental load. On second thoughts does listening to a whiny Jewish small man who is terrified of death really bring light to my life?

I feel every bit 30. I feel great, but my skin is changing rapidly. I know what I want and I know how to get it. I know I keep saying this, but I definitely need to practice horn more. I am sitting in with the LSO next week, which I KNOW is going to be one of the highlights of my whole life.

I wish Julian would blog more. I think he is going to lose a lot of info and just remember our lives here through my memories, which can be a lot more about me than about us...

What we have been up to :

Received an email from Mike Moore, asking what we had been up to and what the next step should be. Here is my response.

Hi Mike,

We've been selling our souls in advertising (I am an agent and my partner is a photographer) and we have been planning our "exit strategy" from London.

We're opening a bed and breakfast in the Hunter Vallery - completely self sufficient in power and water and eventually in food wine and beer.

Come and stay.

I'd like to do something more but city life is killing me. So we are reading Gore Vidal and Naomi Klein and complaining loudly about working for multi nationals. Not ideal.

We're going to be full fee paying subscribers to the Slow Movement in 2 years which will give us time to do some other stuff like teach self sufficiency. It's a small thing and a bit elitist, but it is our best option and we'll be a carbon neutral couple. It's something at least, right?

I suggest the next step for you would be to meditate, talk to friends, do whatever you have to do work out how to influence people to give a shit in deed not just word.

Thanks for changing things for everyone.
Rebecca and Julian.

Thursday, April 14, 2005

Last blog as a 29 year old!

Unbelievable. It is always worse in the lead-up to my birthday. I feel ok about it now. I have booked in my restylane treatment or whatever it is. I think I am going for something softer now on the beautician/doctor's advice.

We are going shopping tonight. Selfridges. Haven't been there since I first arrived! I am determined to get a party outfit even if only my darling comes to my party. I want to look good for him first of all.

Assassination of Richard Nixon was very depressing. In love with Sean Penn.

Tuesday, April 12, 2005

Girls Night

Had a lovely night tonight out with Eloise and Katie and Jane. We went to Freuds in SOHO for really cheap cocktails, then to one of those amazing Indian Restaurants where they give you a hot face towel after your meal.
I am turning 30 and not only have I not dyed my hair (my body has given me grey hairs as a 30th birthday present), and I haven't been able to decide on anywhere that is neither pretentious nor naff (I think the word naff is naff but I think it serves its purpose here) for my party.
On the upside, after a great girls night I am no longer wondering how many times a week Julian and I "should" be having sex, and I am almost certainly getting some kind of dermal filler to soften the birthday blow.
I am getting pretty sick of making list after list at work - lists have their place, but I prefer fingers being removed from arses any day (eww). And I really cannot tolerate people criticising my written grammar. I am an intellectual snob when it comes to such matters, and I am tempted to reel off my reading list for the last month. It always bring to mind the painful memory of one of my past supervisors asking me to "announciate" my words properly. Makes my skin crawl. Gives me "Literary Rage".

Sunday, April 10, 2005

The Land of Make Believe

Sunday, had a real extreme left wing weekend - breakfast in bed with the New Statesman, New Scientist, National Geographic, an interiors book to keep our lives presentable, and The Complete Guide to Self Sufficiency. Discovered that the guy who wrote the Guide (who died last year unfortunately), has a Self Sufficiency School in Ireland. Very fulfilling fantasising about traipsing around the farm in a flowing white Stevie Nicks dress, gorgeous child on hip, picking flowers and stinking of pig shit - oh, the reality crept into that little scenario.

On a contrasting note, we went to see The Night of a Thousand Jay Astons at Bistrotheque on Thursday. Food was great. Really great. Better than Tres Garcons. I am still singing Bucks Fizz songs. Best £7 I have not spent all year.

Going to see the Assassination of Richard Nixon tonight. Amazing site - click link to see. Let you know what it is like.

Friday, April 08, 2005

Sometimes it Snows in April

It's been a week of inspiration and stress - often the two go together. It's been a funny old week, the first full week in ages with Easter and all that..and things seem to be moving along nicely. I went to Streeters
and was completely blown away by Nancy Rhode and Val Garland (and of course Jane How). I think I have worked oiiut where I want to be - finally! Their artists are seriously the best in the world. I am gushing. Julian's amazing job seems to be going ahead. He's become all planty. He took these stunning shots of our house plants. The Islington National Park at Westbourne Road.

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It's so bizarre, Michael from Kilimanjaro Magazine called today and said "Hey it's like that Prince song out there". He's heaven. Good to know there are fun people around when all around you seems to be going to hell. I was asked to call 19 Management's lawyer today - it doesn't matter why and it isn't important, but being asked to call the lawyer who would have more than likely negotiated the Spice Girls contracts is kind of scary. Actually that doesn't describe it.

I gave Julian some Italian lessons tonight - capo lavoro..I know that isn't right, I just thought it would sound funny. Or juvenile.

Here are the results - Julian learned that he is a uomo, and I am a donna.
Tired, feeling stupid. listening to Peaches and Herb. Not that Peaches. I am sure the disco Peaches waxed.

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Example

Wednesday, April 06, 2005

rush rush rush

5.30 last Friday, at Pub, after lunch with art directors from TBWA & Paul C has just returned to the office. He calls, Briefing at Mother at 9.30 Monday. Too many drinks???? Monday. Mother, 2 creatives form Brazil & an Art buyer from Aust. brief in a shoot for Orange. A stretch limo on location in a city street, to be shot Tuesday. Its raining. Paul & I speed round Shoreditch & Barbican looking for locations,we get 2 location scouts on the job,by 5 we have some potential locations. But will not be able to get council approval. Kerrianne the Art buyer rings to say the creatives want to shoot on film ( not digital) & in B& W. Locations are chosen. I dont trust location scouts so jump in a cab to check. We will not get offical council approval( usually takes 48 hrs) to shoot by Tues ( now Mon 7pm). There is no way we can close off a road We will get permisiion to shoot , but with-out tripod etc. We consider risking using tripod & see what happens. As long as its not a busy rd. Its a really busy road, there are 2 bomb proof gaurd check points - one on each side of road, we will be noticed - this is not a good location. I walk around the streets nearby & stumble upon a perfect road, quite, not parked cars - easy, right behind Scotland Yard. Hhhmm maybe a few police. I go to plan b location off Liverpoool st. Its not great, but we can get proper permission.Back in a cab home to work on a treatment - a client request.B rings & has left keys for work at home. I have to go into Soho with keys. Dinner. Back to work , confirm assistants, email new location images.timings etc. Work till 1 am.Up on tues at 7 am. do stuff, dont know what but lots to do. Sort out. Locations need to be confirmed & signed off. Lucy ( loc scoutr/producer ) get permission for shoot - joy - but no official setting down of tripod. But council says tell the cops what you are up to & they may not have a problem. They are Ok with it. But we have no paperwork.Head to shoot at 1.30.Enda assistant has been out buying film & getting equip. An Election has been called today. We get to the location - very near Parliment house. As we are waiting on the sidewalk a press guy comes up to us and asks - Are we a protest - he thinks he has a scoop.I let him down gently.Limo arrives - driver on the U.S. side , probably not a problem as we will balck out the window. Shoot goes well, threats of rain, but good light, I try to do a tracking shot with a camera mounted to a wheeled stand - idiot., end up hand holding for blurry movements. & tripod for sharp. Spend way too much time on my knees. 1 st angle good. We move onto 2nd angle. easier. Except I am up a ladder.Light is starting to go down - this is good to a point, creatives are a bit streesed as they dont know about the "magic hour" of light. - dusk. Creatives & client in back of limo sipping Champaigne. Why not. Want to get in a few more on the 1st angle so re set up, just as it goes dark, the street lights come on & give a really nice light on backgound buildings. Have to shoot the top of a taxi sign - on a taxi - , to be rtouched onto limo but did not think that now it is too dark.Not enough ambient light to get exposure of taxi sign moulding. we also have to find a sign of a atxi stand, apparently London does not have a generic sign. Great. Paul runs around looking for one.We wrap shot at 9pm. Come back to organise digital images ( back up & colour versions of shots) Off to lab. See film at 10.30. Put in last order. Go have beer n SHoreditch. Come back at 12.30. lab runs 6 hours overtime.go home, keep working till 2.30 Brief ofr fallon comes in - very nice. Meeting at 11am Wed.

Google and Hair

I've been wondering how long it is going to take Google to find my slanderous posts? Let me just say for the record that this blog is extreme "opinion" only..oh, except that some of the characters I mention really are monkeys in couture.

Example

The above is really mundane, but when you live away from friends and family, and when you've had extremely short Mia Farrow haircuts forever like I have had, things like this become a big deal. This is me. And that really is a pony tail - not a pony tail held together by an army of bobby pins, but a bona fide pony tail. And that stuff around my lips is the mark from my new mouth piece - Jonathan, if you ever stumble across this pic, it's for your benefit.

Good day at work for both of us - I have managed to wriggle out of so much as ordering sandwiches for shoots, and am happy plugging away (except for all the bullshit about making certain artists "feel more loved"). Julian is quoting on a lovely job with Charlotte Lawton, who ironically is with Patricia McMahon. Her work is stunning. If this job goes ahead, I think we need to reward ourselves with maybe a trip to the Kobe Beef farm. Must remember to ask Kaz about that..

Saturday, April 02, 2005

Radio, Books, and a couch - Simple Weekend

What pleasure. Laying in bed all morning with Julian reading High Fidelity, and Less Than Zero, and now a wonderful Janet Frame book. Janet Frame is tough going after Bret Easton Ellis and Nick Hornby, but really mesmerising.

Julian's breath smelled like methylated spirit this morning. He had a large one with the TBWA girls before stumbling into Circus for Paula's going away (forever) drinks. It was a strange vibe - you could cut Paula's personal bitterness with a knife, but you could feel the genuine affection in the room. The photographers are really going to miss her. Had an amazing time talking to Helen Sallin. She's really mesmerising. Born in Rome, child of a Ugandan and a Russian who met while working for the UN. And the stories don't end there. I would need a separate weblog for that one I think.

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It's our first day with our new couch. This doesn't sound like such a big deal but we have been eating, watching DVDs and reading in bed for 5 months. We are going to SOHO to buy a palm tomorrow to match. It's all very "Queensland Room". For anyone unfamiliar with Queensland Rooms, check out the below picture. It is from a site that sells Queensland Rooms. Queensland Rooms will make you feel just like this : Retired.

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What a great weekend - great weather, got a birthday card and fifty bucks from Grandma, I have a couch, 2 DVDs, ginger biscuits and time with my sweetheart. I have also ordered some stuff from Walnut Books. Very excited about that - it's like an Irish Earth garden site. If all goes well, I will link it permanently. Sometimes those hippies take ages to get anything done, so we'll see what kind of service they have.

And finally I really have to say that Nova in Paris is the best coolest online radio station ever. They played Sexy Dancer and Lady Cab Driver in ONE WEEK. And to say thank you to Patricia Niven for introducing me to it, I am going to leave her link (click her name) on my site forever. Take a look - it is a real treat.

Friday, April 01, 2005

Sick

God, writing all this stuff down really makes me realise how whiny I am! I was about to start complaining about how sick I feel and I thought, "God, how boring".

Ok, so no talk about how sick I am. Positivity. It really is all in the mind. Patricia at work was telling me today about a cult her sister is in. They have a social event/group for every possible thing you could be interested in - Karate, Playing the Tuba, Synchronised swimming, whatever. So at any hour, no matter what you feel like doing, you can be in the group of like-minded cultish people. It sounds really interesting. Not sure why but from time to time a cult existence appeals to me. I think I may be one of those people that may be really susceptible to that. I think the idea of always having supportive people around, and always having techniques to be strong and happy will always appeal- but it isn't really personal strength - it's the strength of the group. Any opinions out there?

I accidentally forgot about my horn lesson today - I was so devastated and ashamed that I nearly cried. I really want to start a little group, but I am really doubting if I would have the time. I wonder if anyone will read this and contact me? I need an arranger or some arranging lessons too. There is so much to do - I want to learn Italian too.

We have been talking about the farm today. Need to get a Good Life Book Club catalogue. I read like a machine and at the moment my mind is going to mush reading Bret Easton Ellis "Less Than Zero". Cleverly has illustrated to me how to waste a life. A cautionary tale. I am going to stop this immediately, order a catalogue and get out of this Robert Downey junior scenario.