I snuck off to the cinema during the day last week to see the new Mike Leigh film, Happy-Go-Lucky. Absolutely loved it from start to finish, although it was rather depressing that no one else seemed to be laughing apart from me in the cinema (ok there were only about 5 other people in there, but all the same... actually generally speaking I find daytime audiences are waaay too serious, but I digress...)
Poppy has stayed with me, and today I had the dawning realisation that she was possibly inside my head more than I'd realised. I've been thinking about what I've been up to this week and have so far:
- Bought some really bright and cheery clothes in a bid to liven up my wardrobe and escape the grey/black combos that seem to have defined my life for the last year or so
- Gone to Regents Park for a lovely sunny walk with J, and admired the boating lake whilst enjoying my first ice cream of 2008
- And finally, just to top it all off, today I bought a bike
Still, I'd rather that Poppy has inhabited my head than the scary driving instructor, I guess. And oh man I found the *best* ever shop to get my bike from. It's called ReCycling (geddit?) and can be found under the arches at the less-than-pleasant Elephant and Castle shopping centre. What a find. There I met Susan, the hungover 40 year old boss who was sweeping the floor and not happy about it, and Sarah, the 6.5 foot tall bike mechanic who was a craftswoman in the way Prof Sennett means it. Amazing. And in exchange for some crumpled notes rather than the usual chip-and-pin rigmarole, they let me have my beautiful little recycled bike for a mere £70. New brakes, cables and a basket chucked in too. Leaving them left me with a warm glow - not just from the slightly terrifying experience of cycling on London roads again after a two-year break...
Now let's just hope the little buggers in my block don't nick this one. And that I find a dress like the one Poppy wore to visit her dull sister by the seaside. C'mon Top Shop, you know you can do it.
Blimey. What a couple of months. Less said about them the better. So rather than dwell on the utter misery of being overworked, homeless, and frankly a little directionless job-wise, here's quick round up of the good moments that kept me from a nervous breakdown...
I've got good at going to the cinema (warm, dark, not dusty, easy distraction by way of a big screen etc). Clearly I've been in the market for soppy films, loving both Juno (booed my eyes out, but it's ok cos no one was looking) and Be Kind Rewind. On the latter, I think I may be in love with Mos Def, and of course Michel Gondry, whose brilliance gave us this film AND Eternal Sunshine. Beautiful.
Cultural activities have suffered somewhat, although I've got good at finding cheap places to eat out. Top of that list is my lovely local Bonnington Cafe. Each night a different member of the community cooks (a mere tenner for 3 huge courses); it's BYO and no corkage; they have a pianist that could give Ciao Bella's a run for their money; last time I went, they were packed but still gave us a seat in the upstairs kitchen, bless them. We ate our food watching the tango class leaving the community hall nearby. Honestly, it's enough to make you want to wear sandals and buy a goat.
I also had the pleasure of experiencing Time Out's favourite cheap-end Chinese restaurant, Dragon's Castle, with S&A&R. It tasted good (so did the huge amounts of beer we got through) and gave us the courage we needed to then head to the hardcore Spanish drinking den - can't remember the name so no link - actually in the pink monstrosity otherwise known as the shopping centre. Here, you can get 5 litre bottles of beer (see a theme to our evening?) which we resisted in favour of gawping at the semi-pornographic content of a random music channel being screened.
Pubs have also featured - two in particular that I like despite slightly snippy reviews from others, including the Duke of Cambridge, a beautiful organic pub in Islington (biggest downside) that sells great English wine and has fit bar men. I spent election night 2005 warming up there before the BBC party (dahling) but haven't been since... will be back there for food, and soon. The other pub is a little closer to home, the Mason's Arms in Battersea, where I tried to go before for an ultimately disastrous 27th birthday. My usual jinx applied and the oven was broken. In the event, all my friends fell out anyway, the man of the time couldn't come because he had an infected tongue (no joke) and all round I vowed never again to have a cosy dinner for my birthday...
The next few months are going to be much more fun. I know it. Just v glad to be out the other side of these last few...
OK so my Spanish leaves something to be desired but that doesn't mean I can't enjoy tapas every once in a while. I wound up in Cigala last night, having briefly considered Barrafina, which I really want to try but as S and I agreed, perhaps not at 9pm on a Saturday night when apparently the whole of London was out (if the amount of booked-upness is anything to go by). Perhaps everyone is tiring of the whole January detox tedium.
I really like Cigala, esp their squid in mojo sauce (yes, really), and esp after having such a brilliant evening there. We ended up in the downstairs bar, empty but for us and a miserable couple who were taking their bitterness out on the lovely waiter. As we'd just seen No Country for Old Men - N was right about it being a film of pure genius - we found ourselves imagining ducking bullets and oxygen cylinders behind the various red pillars as we sipped our mighty fine sherry.
London tapas can be pretty dodgy and I confess I haven't ventured that far into the posh tapas territory of places like Fino and The Providores and Tapa Room. However I am much more familiar with the local Vox mish-mash of Spanish and Portuguese places where the tables are formica, the beer costs a pound a bottle, and the football's never off (the pic here of Little Portugal aka South Lambeth Road was taken on the day of the world cup final). I love a few of those places depsite the fact I've had a few really unpleasant meals to sort the wheat from the chaff....
Rebato's is probably my favourite, with its faded red velvet banquettes, and a fancy back room full of ferns and mirrors. I wish I'd known D and A when they had their 'we're not married' reception there - must have been a brilliant night. Estrela is perfect for coffee and people-watching. Madeira cafe, now that it's opened up its restaurant, is great fun and has a good line in blue lighting, which shouldn't work but somehow it does. Others that come highly recommended by people who know more than me are A Toca, not so far from the gym; and O Cantinho - on the Stockwell Road but don't hold that against it.
I've got it bad. Turns out that taking three weeks out makes going back to work a pretty scary prospect. So tonight I've been trying to cheer myself up by thinking about all the good things coming up this month. My lovely ma helped by emailing me a scan of the horoscopes from some magazine she was reading to prove to me that this is year is to be my best yet (thanks, Jupiter...)
Anyway. Think I might not rely purely on the stars to make this true. So, in no particular order, and to make up for the fact I'm not jetting off to Thailand like B, some things that should bring inspiration into the rest of January... and that probably require ticket purchasing...
Sweeney Todd. Tim Burton, Helena Bonham Carter (who it turns out I really like - see here for a great interview with the wonderful Barbara Ellen), and, of course, Johnny Depp. It's got singing but I'm intrigued enough to get over my usual musical-phobia. Launches end Jan here.
Lust, Caution. I suggested going to see this with S next weekend but have just noticed that it runs for 3 hours, and I think I'd rather spend some of the evening actually interacting... still, Ang Lee doing Shanghai, 1940s, affairs (hetero this time, in case you were wondering) - a pretty irresistible combination. And it's high time I saw another Shanghai film - the last one was 2046, which I loved, but was too long ago.
The Importance of Being Earnest. This is the first theatre performance I really remember going to. I was v excited, and remember laughing a lot - probably thanks to the wonderfuls Jane Horrocks and Maggie Smith, both of whom were starring in it. This time round it's Penelope Keith. On at the Vaudeville Theatre, 22 Jan to 26 April. I *pray* that this means that the Stomp run is finally over...
I will go to the Roundhouse very, very soon. I will I will I will. I will.
Also I must book tickets for Goldfrapp THIS WEEK before they sell out. Playing at Southbank Centre (of course) as part of the Ether festival in April.
Ah, the Lyric Hammersmith. My favourite. Even typing it brings a smile to my face. This time, they're doing a production of Kafka's Metamorphosis, between Jan 11th and Feb 2nd.
And for those nights when I can't face the glittering lights of London's West End (or its cold grey pavements), I've read somewhere that there's going to be a programme or three about Thatch's early career, but I can't for the life of me locate the little torn out bit of magazine that gives me any more info than this, dammit. But it sounds so promising...
I've been straying some distance from my usual taste in films, what with Notting Hill and My Best Friend's Wedding, not to mention Die Hard 4 at Christmas (D and R: "you won't like this film, it's not romantic and girly"; me: "bugger off I'm not like that". 2 hours later I'm bored out of my mind but I've made my point). But I've been putting that right in the last 24 hours.
First up I saw The Kite Runner last night, a completely amazing film, and unexpectedly so. I'd never been that taken by the book cover (always judge by them, a personal failing in more ways than one) and so haven't read it, but I just loved the film. It was beautifully shot and so understated, thanks to some genius direction by Marc Forster - he of another favourite film of mine, Finding Neverland (no, not just because it's got Johnny Depp in it). There's something he does that allows the characters to leap out of the screen; something that enables you to think about what's going on rather than being overwhelmed by the action. Wonderful stuff.
And then today, I made a small diversion to one of my favourite solo cinemas, the Curzon Mayfair, to watch 4 months, 3 weeks, 2 days, which I blogged about months ago when it won the Palme d'Or. God, it's an unrelenting film - it's got a similar feel to the brilliant Lilya 4 Ever - set in a cold, dark Romania, and exploring the horrendous experience of women forced to resort to backstreet abortions. It's made me want to watch Vera Drake again. As well as feeling very grateful to live in a country which values and endorses women's rights over their own bodies.
Only problem is, that I came out to a grey, wet and miserable London and feel a bit damp in body and in spirit now. Contemplating going straight back in to watch St Trinians (despite it being panned) or PS I Love You. I perhaps won't be mentioning those here though...
It's biting me on the ass. I'm watching Notting Hill. I should not be doing this, esp on a Saturday night. For reference, it's as bad as I remember it. And I'm not even at the dinner party scene yet...
* a new concept introduced by L... thanks...
Somehow, in the last 48 hours I have managed to watch two films involving Julia Roberts. Thankfully neither of them were Notting Hill, but all the same. I don't like Julia Roberts (in this, it appears I am not alone). Although I haven't seen Erin Brockovich, which I hear is excellent.
Anyway. Films what I watched. First up was Closer, which I enjoyed much more on second viewing, although I still don't understand why Jude's character falls for Anna (to be fair I never understand why anyone falls for Julia's characters). Dodgy storylines aside, I just love the scenes from London in it. I got very overexcited to see the Postman's Park featuring - a place I've mentioned before, and which I maintain is one of the more romantic corners of London. Had I know its significance in Closer, I *definitely* would have taken more care about who I went with...
If Closer is all about our endless capacity to screw up love, the second film I watched, this time tonight, over a tragic supper of old bread and broccoli soup (woe is me!), wants us to believe that true love wins through every time. Yep, it was My Best Friend's Wedding. Can't believe I chose it over an episode of Spooks... I must be feeling sorry for myself as I found myself just a tiny bit tired and emotional at the scene in the ladies' loos. Really must pull myself together. Or give in to the urge and re-watch Bridget Jones.
Well, it's been a while since I've been about town. Dunno where I've been really, but it's about time I reaffirmed my urban existence. In that spirit, here are all the films I want to see before miserable September comes round. So much to do, so little time...
12:08 East of Bucharest - v excited that this is the first of the Romanian films that are coming out this autumn
The Bourne Ultimatum - ok so not my usual kind of film, and I missed the second one, but I still remember the car chase from the first one
Eagle vs Shark - hmm, perhaps one to keep to myself on an early morning trip - Time Out call it a 'socially clumsy romance'
Sparkle - modern day rake's progress
Atonement - not out officially till sept but Vue cinemas are kindly putting on a preview with free popcorn and everything on 23rd August
This site is very useful indeed: it has the listings and times for all films playing at the Curzons Soho and Mayfair, as well as the Renoir. So pretty much my favourite convenient cinemas all in one place. Although if I ever get bored of them, Rich Mix or the Electric are pretty fantastic alternatives.
Curzon Mayfair quite often has a good early showing, but guaranteed early and damn cheap are the Cineworld Haymarket, or the cinema inside the Trocadero (where, if they like the look of you, they give you a student price and let you take your own coffee in - two things definitely worth smiling nicely at the ticket vendor for...). Oh, and for those times when all you want to do is talk all the way through the movie, there's nowhere better than the Ritzy Friday night viewing.
Czech film which sounds a bit like The Science of Sleep in terms of its blend of animation, imagination and real life. Involving the Marquis de Sade, the 18th century, madness, and on top of all this it is a political commentary on the relative strengths of chaos and dictatorship. Great review from Time Out.
A French film about an average guy and his average inner life - which, apparently quite focused around sex. Who knew? Sounds like there are some fantastic women characters - from the 30 something school councillor to the lead guy's assistant (whose inner life is also suitably racy) - and to top it all off, it's not too long. Hurrah! Also I like the title.
Another day, another Romanian film. This one won't be around until later in 2007, but arrived in Cannes with great reviews. It's about a train load of Americans who get stopped in a small town in Romania - and the consequences of them exploring the town, its women... sounds excellent... directed by Cristian Nemescu, who was just 26 when he died in a car crash last year.
Winner of Palme D'Or this year. looks incredible. shame i guess it won't be showing here for a while...
108mins US
Director: Andrew Bujalski
Starring: Jason Rice, Rachel Clift, Andrew Bujalski, Seung-Min Lee
Teaching assistant Lawrence lives in a low rent New York apartment with his girlfriend Ellie. When Lawrence's best friend, rock musician Alan, arrives in the city, tensions in the relationship become evident. Ellie is clearly attracted to Alan, who gladly entertains her flirtations whilst rebuffing the advances of sexy singleton Sara.
http://www.londonnet.co.uk/films/mutualappreciation.html
I snuck off to the cinema during the day last week to see the new Mike Leigh film, Happy-Go-Lucky. Absolutely loved it from start to finish, although it was rather depressing that no one else seemed to be laughing apart from me in the cinema (ok there were only about 5 other people in there, but all the same... actually generally speaking I find daytime audiences are waaay too serious, but I digress...)
