After an overwhelmingly wonderful start to the Glasto experience, my first day ended with some exploration of the after-dark wonderland that is Shangri-La. I retired to my tent around 2am, not due to any particularly debauchery (unless you believe dancing to Michael Jackon in the reggae tent to be such an activity) but more down to the fact that our tent site was parked up on possible the furthest spot from Shangri-La. At 6am I woke up to an impromptu guitar acoustic session by our, apparently rather talented songstress, tent neighbour Lois Winstone. Feeling surprisingly chipper it was off to the water basins for a make-shift open-air cold water splash down before grabbing my glasto buddy, Petra, and heading for the Greenfields to indulge in some hippy love and a big veggie breakfast (where we were asked by the most adorable young hippie lad how it was we liked our eggs). We fast discovered Greenfields is where it's at for decent brekkie tucker and vowed to make this a daily occurrence for the remainder of the festival.Having eaten enough to keep us going well into the early evening it was off to explore some more of the camp site before stopping into the Other Stage for Jason Mraz. The sun was well and truly shining over Worthy Farm and throwing cups of water over the now sweaty crowd awaiting Jason Mraz seemed the only way to keep cool. When Mraz took to the stage his look was laid back and somewhat reminiscent of John Butler, minus the dreads. He worked his crowd with his smooth vocals and charisma, a favourite for so many and it's not difficult to see why: the saying that lads want to be him and ladies want to do him is particularly pertinent when referring to Jason Mraz. His set culminated with a performance of his recent single "I'm Your's" cleverly extended with the inclusion of a cover of Bob Marley's "Three Little Birds" worked into the end. Telling the crowd to sing along to the lyrics 'Every little thing, is gunna be alright' so that even London could hear, saw the congregated masses comply with shouty enthusiasm, leaving one to conclude that we must've got close to achieving just that.
After Jason Mraz it was back to the place we had dubbed 'bliss face hippy central', otherwise known as Greenfields. Some chill time was needed to cool down after Mraz's sun drenched Other Stage set. Solace was found in a tent that saw indie artists including an Irish folk singer and quirky English guitar playing songstress. We made a quick stop in at Climate Camp for a chat, signing of a well wishes poster for the Drax 29 folk and to check out their campaign exhibition before heading back to our tent to change & refresh for the evenings line up of Passion Pit, Florence and the Machine and Bruce 'The Boss' Springsteen. On our trip across the festival site, we inadvertently ran into Dizzee Rascall playing to a ridiculously packed Pyramid Stage crowd and as we snaked our way through the masses we were treated to his tribute medley of Michael Jackson tunes. We were at our camp site by the time he played Bonkers but it was audible, as was the outrageously huge roar of his crowd. Dizzee is one of 2009's hottest pop acts and judging by his crowd pulling power at Glasto, he's here to stay.
Our Saturday evening begun with Passion Pit over at the John Peel stage. Passion Pit seemed to be one of those acts that were quite hyped but not remarkably well heard of otherwise. Quirky electronica style pop seems to be the way for Passion Pit, and it worked. Following Passion Pit in the John Peel tent was the also much hyped, and rightly so, Florence and the Machine. From the moment Florence took to the stage, right through until she gracefully said her goodbyes, she captivated her audience with her intoxicatingly angsty lyrics and europhic vocals. She impressed too, as she climbed the stage rig in her heels. Flame red hair, black hotpants and a cape - Florence was not only insanely tantalising to hear live but a vision too. A true treat!We couldn't help repeating the words 'AMAZING' as we made our way from the John Peel stage over to the Pyramid stage to secure our position for the act that seemed to be on everyones 'must see' list: Bruce 'The Boss' Springsteen. The crowd was already huge and it was nothing if not a challenge worming our way through to our mates who had holed up by the sound stage. Bruce Springsteen lived up to all that everyone had hoped him to be and won the crowd over with a mammoth set list of 26 songs. Charming the pants off what seemed like the entire crowd (ladies and gents alike) - Springsteen reaffirmed what his screaming crowd already knew to be true: that he still is a truly world class performer!
What a way to draw Saturday to a close - after realising our attempt to reach Shangri-La and Trash City was set to be ill-fated, we grabbed some refreshments at Solidarity bar and had a dance in backstage before calling it a night.
Where you at Glastonbury? Who was your stand-out performer on Saturday? If you weren't at Glasto, who would you have most wanted to see?
Labels: life in general, music, reviews
Glastonbury Festival 2009: Friday Review
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Emotions on the morning of Friday 26 June were mixed, having switched onto BBC Radio 1 for a Glasto weather update, the mood was unusually sombre on the Chris Moyles show and there was a lot of discussion around Michael Jackson. When the words 'rest in peace' were uttered before playing Man in the Mirror it took a moment to sink in - Michael Jackson had died - and it was raining at Worthy Farm - not that these two facts were comparable by way of scale, but neither of which were things I had hoped to hear.
My pre-Glasto excitement has been dampened but with absolutely no disrespect to the solemn and sad day this was, last minute errands meant my mind was soon back on the task at hand - I was on the way to my first ever festival experience: Glastonbury 2009. I arrive at Paddington with 30 minutes until my train departs and I still need to get cash, phone credit, caffeine, wet wipes and to find Petra, a fellow festival virgin and my glasto buddy... Cue mad rush. Miraculously, I managed not to miss my train.
A train, shuttle bus and several hours later we found ourselves at Worthy Farm. Within 20 minutes of setting foot on the muddied site we had picked up our press wrist bands, pitched our tent and were down at the Pyramid stage to catch Regina Spektor's set. Charmingly gracious, Regina Spektor, sat at her piano with her lips stained a seriously sexy shade of red. She won the crowd over with her undeniably stirring vocals together with some impressive multi-tasking: one song saw her beating a drum while playing piano and singing. Regina closed her set with a playful rendition of Fidelity that had even the cider-lubricated lads singing along throughout the choruses. Regina's brand of quirky mellow pop proved a fitting start to my festival experience, next stop was to the press pen to pick up our passes.
After a somewhat irksome exchange with Glasto security (Us: is the press area this way? Him: Yes, but you need your passes. Us: we have our press wrist bands but we need to go pick up our passes, we've just arrived. Him: You can't come in without your pass. Us: ...but don't we need to pick up our passes from the press tent? Him: Oh... off you go then *ushers us in and points in general direction* Us: Thanks *stifled giggles*). Once we had our passes it was off to discover a bit more of the site before heading back to the Pyramid Stage for Lily Allen. A definite crowd puller: for the ladies it was all about the stream of pop hits and for the lads it was the sexy purple jumpsuit. The highlight of the set had to be Lily's dedicating Fuck You to the BNP, and presumably, those who voted them in; not a BNP supporter in sight, or so it seemed as the crowd went wild and sang along to the tune. Lily's set was nothing mind-blowing and presented nothing unexpected but she did was she does well and it made for the perfect afternoon sing-a-long session as the glasto crowd warmed up for an evening of difficult choices (Neil Young, The Specials, Lady Gaga, Bloc Party, The Streets, Jamie T?!).
Petra and I opted for Lady Gaga and Neil Young to round out our first day of Glasto. Lady Gaga made the Other Stage her theatre: warming up her crowd with a clip entitled 'Candy Warhol' before taking to the stage in what was the first of 5 bizarrely extravagant costumes, proving Glasto is absolutely as much about the fashion as the music. Opening with Paparazzi, she had her crowd captive from the moment she took to the stage. The highlight of Lady Gaga's set has to have been her extended rendition of Poker Face that begun with a stripped back version of the song, Lady Gaga on piano, proving she was more than just a pretty young thing in wacky outfits but at the same time leaving the crowd slightly anxious (Is this it? Isn't she going to do the version we know & love?!). Not one to disappoint, Lady Gaga burst into the radio release version of Poker Face that we all know and love before bidding the crowd farewell. This high-energy set was pop at it's most excessively fabulous and on this poptastic note it was onto another brand of music entirely: Neil Young was topping the Friday bill over on the Pyramid stage.
Neil Young took to the stage in a black tshirt adorned with the Aboriginal flag and proved he still packs a punch and pulls a massive adoring crowd. An undeniable highlight of this years festival for so many, this music veteran and Glasto first-timer had the crowd rocking along with a stellar set list. As Friday drew to a close, Neil Young suitably had the crowd shouting along to Rocking In The Free World, proving his stamina and leaving the crowd cheering for more even after all those additional choruses. An encore cover of the Beatles A Day in the Life and it was time for Young to go, having managed to break most every string on his guitar. Legendary.
That's it for the round up of Friday at Glastonbury 2009, check back for Saturday and Sunday reviews, coming soon to Tres Lola.
Were you at Glastonbury this year? What was your highlight from Friday?
Labels: life in general, music, reviews
Girls Guide To Clever Commuting: 3 Essential Tips
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Commuting doesn't have to be a daily nightmare. By taking some very simple measures you can ensure that your commute is a cleaner, safer and more fabulous start and finish to your day:
Invest in a handbag with a zip
Save yourself the hassle of constantly checking your purse, camera and passport are still where you left them. Invest in a bag that zips all the way up to keep prying hands at bay. If you are standing, another way to avoid any unwanted hands helping themselves to your belongs is to try to hold your bag so that its at the level of your legs rather than wearing it over your shoulder - this will also give you a little more space if the carriage is full.
Baby/makeup wipes and Hand Sanitizer
Holding onto poles, touching door handles and newspapers means one thing: dirty, germ-ridden fingers! Keep clean and germ-free by wiping off the commute dirt with some baby wipes or a dab of hand sanitizer. Having these products on you mean you can stay fresh on the go without having to wait until you find a tap & soap - super handy!Common Courtesy
Apparently not so common, lets try and change that! Commuting is communal experience. Exercise a bit of courtesy and sense by ensuring you are aware of those around you and acting accordingly: make sure your music is not audible to the entire carriage, remember that the poles in carriages are not just for your benefit and don't use them as leaning posts, keep your hair neat and be mindful that those around you aren't copping your frizz in their face, if you're seated keep your eyes open for those who might need a seat more than yourself and offer up!
For more tips on how to survive public transport see: Top Tips To Get You Through The Commute
What's your top tip for surviving public transport?
Labels: career, life in general, style and beauty, travel
Girls Guide To Festival Fashion
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Excitement is in the air for music-lovers across the UK as the festival season gets underway: Download, V, Bestival, Isle of Wight, Exit and the God of all Festivals - Glastonbury. You've got your tickets and a tent, you've decided on your top bands to see and you're counting down the days - what more is there to consider? For the girls, it's not just about the music at the summer festivals, the fashion is also high stakes. Check out these must have items for the festival circuit this summer....
Sunglasses
Retro, trendy, over-sized: they are all at home at the festivals. Protect your eyes from crazy sunshine, hay fever inducing pollens and if you're not down with embracing dark circles makeup free then sunglasses are the perfect cover up for a makeup-free face and that horrid hangover you're rocking.
Cut-offs
Very on trend, very budget-friendly... very festival appropriate whether the weather plays nice or not. Give your winter denim a second lease on life by taking to them with a pair of scissors and if you've not got any of your own denim you'd be keen to sacrifice to the DIY God's, then just pop down to your local charity store where you'll be able to pick up a pair of second-hand jeans for just a few quid. If DIY is not your forte, Topshop and other high street chains have their ready-made denim cut-offs too.
Hats & Headscarfs
To hide day 3 hideous hair (frizzy, check! dirty & greasy? check! not going to see the light of day? *hello headwear* check!). From on-trend fedoras to hippy style head scarfs and everything in between.
Tool Belt!
It's like a bum-bag... without the dorky tourist vibe. Make sure yours has got loads of pockets to fit all your bits & bobs: camera, phone, sunscreen, gum, cash, torch. Festivals are no place for big handbags and back packs leave you at risk of having your stuff stolen right off of your back. While it would be nice to be free to wander about bag-free, there is some stuff you'll want to keep on you (Lose your mates? A phone is handy. Spot your favourite band? You'll want your camera. Find a potential pash partner? Gum is your best friend. Trying to find your tent after dark? A torch will help you a whole lot.) ...because, lets face it, not everyone is as fabulous & well mannered as yourself, it is entirely possible that the things you leave in your tent are not necessarily going to be there when you come back.
Gumboots / Wellingtons
This one goes without saying, doesn't it? The only shoes you'll need for the festivals and the only shoes that will save you from mud up to your knees should the skies open and land you in a monsoonal down-pour a la Glastonbury 2005. Hunters boots are undeniably the cream of the crop but plenty of the high street chains have done their own version too and you'll find a selection too at the Camden markets. If it's a bargain you are looking to bag, stop by ebay and gumtree and pick yourself up someones pre-loved wellies - sock up & you're good to go!
Sunscreen
Now, it's not fashion, but no smart & fabulous lady would head to the festivals without equipping herself with sunscreen. Covering up with a hat is great & will save your neck from the red raw pain of sunburn but be sure to slap on a coat of sunscreen every 2 - 3 hours to avoid coming home a glowy shade of red, then bubbling and peeling and upping your risk of developing skin cancer. Be sun smart and stick to bottle or spray tan this festival season - a tan is absolutely not worth dying for!
Are you hitting any of the festivals this summer? What will you be wearing? (...or what would you wear?)
Labels: life in general, style and beauty
Why It Doesn't Matter If (s)He's Just Not That Into You
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When it comes to intimate relationships, only the best will do. Think of grocery shopping - you know it doesn't matter which brand of pasta you buy, home brand or the most expensive brand, because when it comes down to it, the product seems much of a muchness. But you know that when you buy chocolate, the taste of home brand simply does not compare to that of say, Lindt or Cadbury. Well, think of your relationships as chocolate, not pasta.
A problem that strikes couples is that being in any form of intimacy provokes a sense of comfort. Getting used to having this other person to lean on and bounce ideas of is something that is easy to get used to and difficult to let go of. Comfort in a relationship can often detract from the sense of clarity we have with regards to the suitability of our partnership as an intimate relationship, rather than as a friendship. That is to say, we can find ourselves settling for a relationship that makes us happy, lends us support and provides comfort and security - but at the expense of proper intimate, spark-inducing connections.
Something that can be easily overlooked is that despite how great a person your partner is, no matter how little you could fault who they are - the possibility stands, that no matter how good you both are, as individuals, you may not make for fireworks as a partnership. This is not a fault on either of your behalves. There are tonnes of brilliant people in the world: they would not all work well in intimate relationships. This is not to say some fascinatingly rewarding friendships could not be forged.
Something that women, in particular, struggle with, is understanding why relationships collapse or fail to flourish. The 'He's Just Not That Into You' culture illustrates this point aptly - a good point to start at is to consider for a moment that not every relationship you experience is meant to be forever, take from each partnership what you can but if you feel like salvaging the pieces is forced - it probably is. Focus on your emotions, but remember, you are far too precious to cling onto something that is broken, something that stopped stimulating you long ago and something that is causing you any amount of heartbreak, anxiety or upset.
When approaching relationships, looking for simple does not mean trying to find a partner that seems to be simple, comparatively, or otherwise. A simple mind, does not equate to a simple relationship. In an intimate relationship, you want to look for a partner who makes you smile, squirm, who stimulates you and challenges you and who excites you every single day. If you have these things in place, the arguments will be constructive and you will not find yourself wondering if there might be something better around the corner.
In realising how very rare and special it is to find a partner who ticks all of these boxes, whose intelligence, wit, physicality and ambition - compliment your lifestyle choices but also intrigue and challenge you in a most affirmative manner, you are accepting that broken relationships or difficulty in finding a partner is not about YOU but about US - even if that 'us' is yet to exist. There is nothing wrong with you, it is simply that you are meant to be in a partnership that has something more or different to offer. This is not to say you should not enjoy and make the absolute most of your current relationships or those that come along that inevitable, you feel, are not for the long-term, remembering that something positive and constructive comes out of all of our choices is very important here. The secret is to know when it is time to let go and move on - do not allow yourself to settle for anything less than spectacular when it comes to who you choose to spend your time with and energy on.
Don't cry if he doesn't call. Do not believe you need to be anything more than yourself. Don't settle for comfortable. Don't settle for good-enough. Don't settle.
Thoughts?
Labels: life in general, self help
Using Nature As Style Inspiration
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Where does your style inspiration come from?
Observations of other people coworkers, family, friends, perfect strangers in the street.
Magazines the models whose job it is to inspire you from the fashion spread and the celebrities who are interviewed and reported on.
Online celebrity paparazzi photographs, fashion bloggers daily outfit shots, blog coverage of international fashion weeks and designer launches, fanciful etsy creations.
Most style inspiration comes from what those around us are wearing... and how they are wearing it.
Why not gain a fresh perspective on style by drawing inspiration from places, as well as people? Using different locations as inspiration for your style choices might give you that edge you need to get excited about your wardrobe again. When you feel you need a mini overhaul, there is no need to spend a fortune on new bits & pieces. Work with what you've got but take a different approach when planning your outfits.
Browse flickr and look at photographs of amazing landscapes: from red earth desert to icy blue glaciers and everything in between; go for a walk in your neighbourhood, taking note of the colours of the flowers; watch the sunset and recreate it with your own orange & pink get-up; research your next holiday destination... or remember your last.
What do you think of using nature to help develop your style colour palette and refresh your daily outfit style?
Labels: style and beauty
Best Websites To Take A Break With
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Your work load is relentless, your motivation is waning and the afternoon is dragging - no matter what your job or study entails, chances are you will be familiar with this feeling. If you work in an environment that requires you to spend a lot of time in front of a computer, staying focused and on-task for hours at a time can be a struggle and not at all conducive to productivity. Taking a break away from your desk can take the sort of time that you don't have and there are only so many cups of tea you can distract yourself with; luckily the internet offers a plethora of work-safe websites that offer the perfect mini-break in your work day.
Next time you don't have the time to leave the office but need a few moments to recharge your energy and motivation, take a look at these great online offerings and share your own work-safe favourites in the comments:
147xxxx
Life from the eyes of a Starbucks Barista - ever wanted to know what they're really thinking when you order your drink... or would you like to hear about some of the stranger customers they have wander through their doors? Bizarre customers and the tale of many a coffee order, served up with a dash of frustration and illustrated with humorous anecdotes.
1000 Awesome Things
This blog is a work in progress on its way to chronicling 1000 awesome things. Skip back through the archives and you'll find yourself agreeing with the sentiment and appreciating all those little awesome things life throws your way.
F My Life
Think you're having a tough day? So are these guys & girls - gain a bit of perspective, commiserate or maybe even post your own FML.
xkcd
Great little web comic created by a fellow named Randall Munroe whose 'About' page is rather an interesting read. xkcd is updated every Monday, Wednesday and Friday - perfect for that mid-afternoon giggle.
Overheard in New York
Snippets of hilariously comical and utterly bizarre conversations from the mish-mash of people that find themselves in New York City.
Overheard in the Office
Some of the conversations on here will leave you feeling a little pleased that you're not overhearing this type of chatter in your own corner of office space... or maybe you are? Go on then, share!
Natalie Dee
Hand drawn single image comic with off-beat, dry humour. The archives date back years and years so there is plenty of giggling for you to catch up on and share with those who also need a bit of a cheer up.
What are your favourite go-to websites when you need a few moments to re-energise and push on through the rest if the day?
Labels: career, life in general, online, reviews
Would Paying For Collection of Non-Recyclable Waste Encourage You To Recycle?
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Looking beyond right now to recognise long-term consequences...
When it comes to implementing new ways of doing things in our day-to-day, unless there is some direct and negative implication of not adhering to these encouraged changes, there will inevitably be some reluctance to get on board.
It is natural to be motivated by consequences and while, for the most part, this is positive, in areas such as adopting environmental best practise, failing to see long term consequence for the earth - rather than just looking for short-term direct and personal consequence - can mean you are negatively contributing to what is already a monumental problem facing our international community.
Is laziness part of why are we not recycling & reusing?
While it is safe to say most of society is aware of recycling and re-using as best practise when it comes to waste disposal - this does not necessarily mean that awareness has transferred to action. There is still a significant proportion of households and companies that do not recycle to the greatest achievable extent, or even at all, and as such put out a larger than necessary amount of waste into the non-recyclable collection that will ultimately end up in land-fill.
Change needs to be met with facilities and encouragement - specific recycling bins and clear signage need to be provided within companies and in our homes to enable an easy transition. Encourage your family, friends and co-workers so that the act of recycling is seen as an imperative that is widely accepted and even to the extent that choosing not to recycle is frowned upon. Simple measures like these can ensure that recycling will become second nature.
Is money the motivator individuals and companies require to amp up their recycling efforts?
The idea of costing non-recyclable waste by weight has been raised in the UK (source: A charge for disposing large amounts of unrecyclable waste? The Wickedness! - The Guardian). A government body suggesting charging for a service that is currently provided free of charge (or where costs are met from existing taxes and levies) will certainly provoke passionate discussion amongst those to be affected by the proposed change. Already, some have suggested this idea is merely another way for our governing authorities to push up revenue. However, before allowing too much scepticism on this proposed new fee, consider three things:
1. Is this it not possible that hitting people's wallets is the best way to get everyone truly on board with environment best practise? People are often times greater motivated by practises that see them able to save money or avoid monetary penalties. If recycling properly and paying closer attention to consumption could save a household or company money, charging cost-per-weight for non-recyclable waste would broaden the appeal of recycling to those who could not initially find benefit in their adopting of the practise of recycling into their lifestyle.
2. Disposing of unnecessary amounts of non-recyclable waste is detrimental to the wider community. Why is it that we feel we should not be penalised for unnecessary damage to an entity that is not our own personal property? (That 'entity' being the earth).
3. As the article on The Guardian points out, we pay for other services by level of consumption rather than by way of a flat rate (for example: energy). Why then should the service of collecting waste be any different?
It is not as if we are faced with no alternate option but produce large amounts of non-recyclable wast - we have the option to act responsibly and minimise our waste output through re-use & recycling as well as making smarter consumer choices (choosing products with less packaging or packaging that can be recycled) - so why does charging for excessive waste cause such an enormous and appalled uproar amongst some? What do you think?
Do you believe that implementing a cost-per-weight charge for the collection of non-recyclable waste would encourage people to rethink their levels of packaged consumption and how they dispose of waste?
Labels: ecochic, life in general
