Eastern Delights

Why is everyone so busy now a days?! Have been wanting to blog this down from the long weekend passed but just didn't have time to do so. And guess where am I blogging now?! At my work desk! Have to be ever so discreet and keep this short! :-)

Finally for the first time ever decided to venture into East London and check out the scene there over the weekend. East London areas like Hoxton Square, Shoreditch, Brick Lane have always been known as the up and coming hip areas in London after the West End and Soho. Loads of new bars and clubs have sprung out from there and the crowd have always been know as the young fashionista set, but I've always find that too pretentious to even bother.

Anyway to cut the story short, myself, Ryan and friends landed in Shoreditch on Saturday night. Went to this pub called Brick Layer. Tiny place with random music and very much local crowd. Straight but don't think anyone bother who is who and who is what. A great place to meet up with friends, catch up, have a laugh and get totally drunk! A girlfriend of ours even took a fancy of the very cute barman. Shots were offered and numbers were given.

Overall... 7/10!

Then we moved on to the club of the night. Issst (www.issst.com). An underground club that moves their venue all the time. The promoters are originally from the Berlin club scene, so you can imagine what we are expecting (Mona and Fabster can verify that).

The club was set in the middle of tall commercial buildings in east London, under some abandoned brick arches. Very long huge and hollow room, which takes you onto the dance floor. Dirt floor with make shift MDF toilets, cloak room and bar. The exact room next to it was set up as a chill out area.

The crowd again was very mixed. Music was fantastic! Electro, rave with a bit of dance funky house. Then the special guests came on stage, the Klaxons. An American band that mixes Rock with Dance. Very refreshing and different from the usual gay dance anthem in clubs that we used to go.

A great night out! Overall... 9/10! Would've been a full score if not because of the dirt floor :-)

West End Boys

What a cultured weekend! Went to see Evita on Friday and Kiss of the Spider Woman on Saturday in the West End. Both shows are ending their run in a weeks time, hence the rush to catch them both quick.

Evita was ok. Nice set, great dance routine, good performance from Elena Rogers who played Evita, but have never been a fan of the movie version anyway. And with all words sang out throughout the show, maybe it was my hearing but there were some unmelodious pieces, which I don't get. Of course most of the main theme songs like 'Don't Cry For Me Argentina' were a crowd pleaser and performed in great gusto. Overall, good production and a great night out in the West End.

Kiss of the Spider Woman was played in Donmar Theatre. The same theatre where Nicole Kidman played the Blue Room and Gwyneth Paltrow played Proof. Have always wanted to go see something in there and by chance came across the play Kiss of the Spider Woman! A movie I remembered when I was growing up. Very vaguely remembered William Hurt in his flora Kimono and sweaty Raul Julia both held up in a prison cell. Didn't really understand a thing what was going on except that William's campy character had a thing for Raul's character. And that fascinates me in that young age, which until today I still remembers the movie. One can only wonder why when such a movie captures my attention then?! :-)

Very intimate theatre (if only I was here to see Nicole, I would have touch her from where I sat!), one prison set on stage, two fantastic actors, one beautiful but tragic story.

The 1st half was a great emotional build up and by 2nd half, my water pipes were ready to run!

The scene when Valentin pushes Molina away because of fear of being cared and fancied by another man, the sudden outbreak saddened the fragile one, the fear in both men's eyes were so similar but feelings so contrasted.

One of the most memorable scenes was when Molina came back to the cell from her routine interrogation and broke the news to Valentin that he's going to be transferred to another cell... the sadness that descend on both the actors in that instance was unbearable... you can actually feel that ache in the heart that something precious is going to be taken away from you. I definitely felt it too.

Valentin telling Molina to be strong. Not to be taken advantage of when he's free and he has every right to be who he is and not let anyone else tell him otherwise and belittle him as a woman... Molina simply answered "... but I am."

Then the emotional outburst from Molina crying out loud that he rather give up his freedom and all he wanted was to stay in the cell with Valentin, and the final silence embraced and farewell was by then too much to bear! My water works were in full operation!

Tears aside, I've not been moved by such performances for a while. With massive budgets and high tech computer effects in most movies now a days, one wonders what for?! With a great storyline that links everyone hearts together and great acting from true actors, that is all we need!

Big thumbs up for the production and I am so glad that I went to see it! To be part of these great poignant moments and to be able to understand the story and feel the emotions this time round... I'm so glad I'm not 13 years old anymore.

More Tales Of The City

Have decided to read the Tales of the City by Armistead Maupin again. Picked up the series when I first moved to Sydney. Was hooked on it straight away! It was an easy read and also because it was set in one of my favorite cities San Francisco.

The series does make you laugh, cry, smile, and sometimes even evoke some self evaluations and discoveries. I supposed these books were the Sex and the City previous lives.

What also drawn me to the book was the central character. A young girl name Mary Ann Singleton. New to the city and trying to start anew. New rented room with strange landlord and housemates, her ups and downs, her friends, her men... So me years ago! Well now as well actually :-)

But this time reading the book again gives me new understanding and meaning. Its funny and amazing how one changes over the years. Changes are good! They make one better and stronger.

The first book of the series was actually given to me by ST. One of my very dear friends. In the book sleeve, he wrote "...make this first step to fulfill one of your 1999 resolutions. Enjoy and make yourself wonderful Tales of the City..."

Reading those words again did bring a smile to my face. All the tales after all these years... So young then and hopefully wiser now.

Thank you all for being part of my Tales of the Cities.

Flower Fairy

Just did my second job experience at Jane Packer yesterday. Absolutely love it! Its hard work... having to get up on a Sat morning after a 5 day week at work, then doing half a days work of cleaning, washing and flora arrangements but I love it!

I'm actually very pleased that now i can just walk in, look at the order, pick up the flowers and be able to create something beautiful... from hand-tied bouquets, vase arrangements, potted flowers, etc. Not bad for someone who only started the course in Aug last year!

Where are the pictures?! You may ask! I seriously need to get a digital camera! I'm still using the good old fashion disposable ones! Can we convert prints to CDs later? All I can say is that they aren't that bad! He he!

So fingers crossed! You might just find me working as a florist near you!

Breaking News!

I am still alive! Yes I still am! No panic! Against all the speculations of me passing out in my flat clinging on to my Balenciaga, hit by earthquake even though I do live in central London, or me getting abducted by some human traffic Polish mafia and got sold into prostitution (I wish)! They are all false!

Do apologise for this long period of MIA. Since the last time I blogged, just didn't stop working! Been just crazy time here! Endless meetings, reviews, presentations, evenings with clients, hotel visits, business trip to Dublin, was away in Cornwall... and on top of all that, working at the flower shop on Saturdays.

Busy, busy, busy!

I promised I'll find time to blog for the coming weeks and keep you keen readers updated with what's going on here.

Till the next time... take care everyone! Chin up! and Smile!

Love xx