Halloween is Fun

I lost the film I took on Halloween and then I found it.

                               

                                                           

                                                             

                                    

                                                    

                                                                   

                                                                  

La La La Boheme

For those of you that don't know, I LOVE opera.

It's not like I have seen a million of them, but I know enough to know what I like. The best opera (or the one that I enjoyed the most) was HANDS DOWN the Anthony Minghella directed production of Madame Butterfly that I saw at the ENO in London, February 2008. I had tears streaming down my face before the first notes were even played, and I was continually moved throughout the next 3 hours. The music, the emotion, the staging, the puppetry, the passion....it was one of the best theatrical moments of my life. And for better or for worse, I always think of this night when I return to the opera...unfortunately, this leads to me often being disappointed.

Last Thursday, I took Tonga to see La Boheme at the ENO for a belated birthday present. And it was....ok. For me, opera is almost never BAD, but I just felt that that this production lacked the energy and passion that I was craving. First of all, I just don't think I like the story that much. A cheesy love story between some starving artists, one of whom dies...it all seemed so trite and hollow, which I WAS NOT expecting from what was supposed to be one of the great love stories. Perhaps I am just too jaded about love at the moment to enjoy these types of stories...but I am inclined to blame the lackluster energy from the performers and the boring staging. It was by no means a horrible production, it just felt a bit unoriginal. There were moments when I was moved and the music is undeniably beautiful...but I was just expecting more.

If anyone knows THE hot opera ticket right now, tell me now so I can go and be BLOWN AWAY.

Who knows, maybe the fact that I had a TERRIBLE cold and had been on my feet since 8 am had something to do with my less than stellar response...or maybe I just don't like traditional opera as much as I think I do? Heaven Forbid....

The Royal Opera House is mounting a production of an opera based on the life of Anna Nicole Smith. That is not a typo. Anna. Nicole. Smith. How awesome/absurd is that? Who wants to go with me? 

Max Well

Max sitting on a chair and wearing a hat.

Cinematic Orchestra

On Sunday, I went to see the Ninja Tune show featuring Cinematic Orchestra, Amon Tobin and the London Metropolitan Orchestra. It was at the Royal Albert Hall. It was amazing. I cried like 18 times.

Oh, and I ran in to Patrick Watson while I was outside having a smoke. He performed that night as well. I didn't take too many photos, but I had to post about what was one the best and most moving shows I have ever been to. I fucking love that band. 

If you haven't heard of this band, they are amazing and you must check their Myspace page.

Here is a one of their best songs, featuring the incomparable Fontella Bass.

Protest Protest Marchy March

Last wednesday I marched through central London to protest the impending cuts to education and rising tuition fees. My friend Leo Cohen was there, too. I was glad to take part, and I certainly find protests interesting to say the least, but I couldn't help but be a bit depressed. The general atmosphere was giddy as opposed to angry, and I couldn't help but feel that what we were doing was not going to make any difference whatsoever. Call me pessimistic and jaded, I just can't feel good about the way the UK is going. After a while, some friends and I skipped out on the protests to go eat a bacon sandwich and drink some tea. In the immortal words of Fat Bastard, "I eat because I'm unhappy, and I'm unhappy because I eat".

This little foray into the world of culinary delights meant that we missed a lot of the "trouble". However, I did manage to get some photos of the kids who broke into the tory headquarters to smash some windows and cause some ruckus. Please note the helicopter. Channel 4 news, I am guessing.

After the protests, I went to see LCD Soundsystem and Hot Chip at Alexandra Palace with my friends Molly, Rosie, Caroline and Dan. I lost EVERYONE as soon as I got in the door and spent the whole night alone. I. Hate. That. Venue. However, the music was pretty fun, so I guess November 10 was pretty interesting.

If you are in to protesting some more, Wednesday the 24 of November is national walkout day. Check the Facebook event for more details. See you there.

MANDINGO

Dudes. This is awesome and bizarre and funny and slutty. DO check it out.

p.s. it's about bored married women who like to get gang banged by big black men in Florida. Intrigued much?

Double Mint

I am making paintings from these.

Adventures with Roro and Caisa

 Roro really does look better than me in my clothes...fucking hell.

 Roro takes a photo of me taking a photo while Caisa eats her jumper.

 Caisa gives birth to a french man smoking a cigarette.

 Roro in a Wig.

 This is what french men look like when you interrupt their conversation.

 Roro before bed.

 Roro at my last gig with Private Lives. He missed the entire set because he was in the toilet.

Beautiful Caisa with long hair.


I have been spending time with my friends and this is what happened.

Posting photos of my and my friends being silly in my flat and dressing up as drag queens might not be the best response to my previous post. But these photos were taken in a state of complete freedom and reckless abandon, which are qualities that I love about myself and my life....in moderation of course. And guess what...I have said it before and I will say it again....I EFFING love my friends.

Happy Birthday Dear Sister

Yesterday was my sister Serena's Birthday.

She is a musician, and a very talented one at that. Check out her myspace here. 

It has been over a year since I saw her. She lives in New York city, which is not exactly around the corner from London. I seem to be able to see most close family members a few times a year (over Christmas at the very least), but for some reason a proper visit has alluded us for a criminally long time. 

We are both busy. I get that. And living in a city like New York or London can be overly exciting, overwhelming and hectic. There is always so much to do, see and experience that it can be easy to forget about those who are far away.

But is this crazy life really worth it?

This is a question that I often ask myself on my darker days in this town. Yes, for the most part I love my life here and it is endlessly exciting and filled with new opportunities and adventures. But I love my family, and it can be extremely isolating and lonely to be so far away. These are the people that will ALWAYS love me, that I will ALWAYS feel connected to, no matter how my life might change or what path I choose to walk down next. I suppose the unconditional nature of familial love can make it easier to then neglect said family members. But I think this might be bull shit. Even if I can't be near to my family as often as I like, they are often in my thoughts, and I will try to make a better effort to notify them of this fact, i.e. pick up the phone. 

So Happy Birthday Serena. I am proud of you and please know you are often in my thoughts and always in my heart.