Fallas!

This year I have many trips planned abroad. My Instagram account went into crazy overdrive as I tried to keep up to date and in control of posting the many things I was seeing/photographing. On most holidays this can be a challenge especially with digital photography making capturing every last detail so easy. It means you don't think about the pictures you're taking you just shoot continuously. This trip, however, was unique and even more difficult to control the use of the camera.

I went for the Fallas festival in Valencia, Spain. The festival is held in commemoration of Saint Joseph. It's history seems to be linked to the spring equinox when artisans disposed of the broken artifacts and pieces of wood they saved during the winter by burning them to celebrate a new beginning. It has come a long way from this very traditional beginning, in a nutshell the city has groups of people who pay to make a Falla monument made of papier-mache on a wooden carcass. On the last day of the festival these vast monuments are burnt on the spot! The festival gives you just three days to run around Valencia seeing as many monuments as possible before they meet their inevitable fate.

There were so many pictures from this trip the only way to fit them into this post was by creating a issuu flip book to fit them all in. But I have posted pictures of a burning and a video for you to see it in action too. If you can, go and see it for yourself next year.

Counter Culture

I'm not really sure how I feel about the Olympics. Especially when it appears that it will impact heavily on my life, being advised to expect up to one hour wait to get to work doesn't really install much British pride in me. One of the things I do like about it is the regeneration of the land around the stadium and the little gems that are starting to crop up all over. Directly across the canal in Hackney is The Counter Cafe a beautifully rustic looking place that's a little bit rough round the edges. It's all exposed brick work, reclaimed furniture (one of the seating options is a row of cinema seats) and the divider between the kitchen and the counter is simply a hole that's has been smashed in the wall.

This in no way extends to the food or the service, the staff being extremely friendly and the food absolutely delicious. This little cafe happens to be housed in the same building as a gallery which means you can pick up a bit of culture before or after your feast too. It also benefits from fantastic views of the Olympics stadium. And so it was on the cinema seats that I sat to have blueberry and banana pancakes topped with maple syrup and flaked almonds, pondering my opinions of the whole ceremony. What a great way to start the day. 

Shake it like a polaroid picture

When I decided to start this journey I wanted it to encompass different forms of photography. Mainly because while I love the fashion (and the excuse to buy new things so that I have material to write about...), photographing things is probably what I love the most. A passion that stems from a deep regret that I have no photographic evidence of my life as a young teen having always entrusted others with the task of documenting my significant moments. I can't possibly tell you what happened on my 18th not because of drunkenness but because I no longer speak to the best friend who photographed the whole night, and just like a messy divorce she got to keep the memories.

In an attempt to use different forms of photography I am now faced with the issue that Polaroid/Impossible film is just so expensive. Even getting film developed is a tad more than you'd normally expect to pay. However, I live a (relatively) vice-free life and, of all the things to spend far too much money on, photos doesn't seem to be a bad one. I've already been using my Canon AE-1 to take some of the photos on this blog, so here is a selection of my favourite Impossible images taken with the delicious Polaroid SX-70. Enjoy!

And so it begins...

Well, so begins the life of a diplomat's wife. Hipster Dufus has managed to get his first posting abroad to Moscow. The bad news is that I don't get to go with him (something about security and strict rules). The good news is that it is only a three month post, so we won't be apart for too long. While it's not quite to full experience of uprooting yourself to start life anew in a different country (well for me at least) it does highlight an issue that I have now. Hipster Dufus is always travelling for business and I often thank heavens for Paco our dog who's such great company. 

Three months will pass quickly but it can also be a long time, especially for newly-weds. The bright side I suppose is the opportunity to visit a part of the world that I might not have ever come across in my travels. And after all this is what this life is about, this is the choice we made, to boldly go where no... No seriously it's all part of the adventure.

Raising the bar

London is full of tapas. Now there's good, there's great and there's amazing. Then and maybe not even then, there's Barrafina. Hipster Dufus recently took me on a little treat, there's usually a queue anxiously anticipating the wonders offered up over the very small bar (no tables hence the queue). It's really settling being able to see the kitchen and the chefs at work. For one, there's the comforting knowledge that your food is safe, clean and tasty for all the right reasons (no rogue sneezes here), but most importantly it showcases the skill of these chefs who continuously manage to produce flawless food throughout the day.

Barrafina is a real treat, I'd advise going when you're feeling plush to experience it fully and take advantage of their specials (that can be rather pricey). But don't be fooled, this is fine dining without the pretence, it's much more of a relaxed experience with diners interacting with the chefs while draped over the bar. But there's something about this place, about the atmosphere that makes you think it's totally normal to hang out eating at a bar rather than sit at a table. Really, it all comes down to the food. Oh the food..

Heaven

It has been a very busy weekend, with lot's to talk about. I'll start with yet another gushing review of the British Music Experience. On Friday they yet again showcased their amazing public programme hosting a masterclass with Emeli Sandé. The event consisted of the usual desirable attributes delivered so often by the museum. An intimate venue with a capacity of only ninety.  An interview with the artist including a Q&A section at the end for the public. Most importantly some live music. 

Hearing an artist in such a small venue can really showcase their talent. In this case she proved to be very talented indeed, with a pitch perfect voice and highly skilled on the piano. She was such a lovely person too, well spoken, with lot's to say. Well done BME.