Another documentary I have seen and enjoyed recently is The King Of Kong: A Fistful Of Quarters. It’s a 2007 American film that follows middle school science teacher Steve Wiebe as he tries to take the world high score for the arcade game Donkey Kong from reigning champion and hot sauce kind Billy Mitchell. Even if you don’t have an interest in gaming, you’ll love this battle of the nerds.
It’s a classic tale of good vs. evil, with lots of laughs and plot twists. It leaves you hanging for more, and pondering whether you could be the next world champion in something… If only you put your life into it.
Last week I stayed at home on a Saturday night. I put my best leopard print PJs on, plumped my pillows and ordered a takeaway. Then, far from the sophistication of writing (my novel) and listening to Smog (so refined), I watched THIS:
My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding. Addictive, unashamedly host and funny, it’s the best documentary series I’ve seen in a while. And of course – those dresses!
I didn’t know anything about Irish travellers before, and this was a great insight into a culture completely different from mine. Someone has put most of the episodes screened thus far on Youtube , so you too can sit back, relax, and enjoy the mayhem of a gypsy wedding in their glory. If you have seen it, what did you think?
This photo-booth shot of Buddy Holly and his bassist Waylon Jennings was taken at New York’s Central Station on Jan 23 1959. That’s 11 days before Holly died in a plane crash. Did you know that Don McLean’s song American Pie is about that accident?
Artist Agustina Woodgate’s contribution to the O’Miami poetry festival (April 2011) was a Poetry Bomb. This entails creeping around thrift stores, a needle and thread in hand, sewing tiny poems onto tags and seams. It’s a lovely idea – just imagine the delight of purchasing a cool jacket, then discovering a little something extra to make you smile. Agustina is the fortune cookie of vintage!
Have I told you all about my friend Jonny before*? Perhaps in passing. Jono Aidney takes many forms. Not only is he an expert rice krispie treat maker, a sage adviser on my love life, and a magnetic writer; he performs beautiful music under many various guises.
This weekend I’ll have the joy of seeing him twice. First on Friday as Quail State. It’ll be the first outing for his solo project – lofi indie pop powered by guitars and romance. If you’re looking for a new artist to check out, I definitely recommend exploring the Quail State* discography. Jonny’s voice is so lovely and clear.
Then on Saturday he’ll be performing a reunion show at the Kings Arms with Jonny Doom and The Forcefields – peddlers of fresh Aotearoa ska. Oh, and he also makes music as Heartspells. Their first single ’Marry You’ has the best lyrics:
You with the juice, lick on tattoos, I’m gonna marry you,
with a two dollar ring from the two dollar shop.
Busy guy. If I could have just a fraction of Jono’s drive and talent I’d be a very happy camper.
*While this post is very gushy, I’m only platonically in love with Mr. Aidney.
**Googling has just revealed me to me that the official bird of California is a quail. COOL.
Sometimes I rue living in a country with subpar television programming. THIS IS ONE OF THESE TIMES. I’m not a mega Zooey Deschanel fan-girl by any means, but this show looks hilarious. And the main character, Jess, totally hits all the notes of “someone I can relate to”. (Is this my life circa mid 2009?)
More scenes from around Newton, and this time the focus is on shopping around K Road. Sometimes I am amazed at what you can find around here… Why yes, I have been wanting a spleen-did keyring from Great Wall Health Centre for quite some time!
Of course there is truckloads of excellent vintage, and a Saturday morning market on the over-bridge that focuses on clothes.
Xi’an is the place for Chinese decorative home object, like Fu dogs and Mao figurines, while up the road you can get any monogram your heart desires. The Third Eye is great for incense and cheap imported India goods, like saris and nose studs.
Not pictured: my favourite secret shopping spot in the K Road area, which I’ll gladly share with you. New Gum Sarn is in Mercury Plaza. Aside from seeling cheap beer to wash down the food court meals, it operates a cash and carry. Get an amazing wok for 20 bucks! Love the little iron cow that your sizzling beef comes on? Buy it here. Seriously, I can wander around the back for hours, admiring the meat cleavers nestled alongside paper lanterns.
These are not Roma, rather, a tribe of English vagabonds, known as ‘horse-drawns’ that traverse the country living an anarchistic life. English photographer Iain McKell spent a decade, on and off, photographing a group of vagabonds that have thrown off the shackles of ‘normal’ society. His book, The New Gypsies, is the the fruit of his labour.
McKell’s images are stunning, in particular the caravan shots. I have to say though, while my tendency is to wildly over romanticize nomadic lifestyles, this lifestyle looks like a hard graft. And cold… so very cold.
The bride’s fantastic lace sleeved dress that channeled Grace Kelly.
Looking up Chelsy’s outfit online and declaring her unfit for public consumption.
THAT hat! (Although, I suppose if you are seated behind the queen, you must turn to extreme measures.)
Cute double kiss action.
Waving to the crowd 101. It’s from the wrist, not the elbow.
We had so much fun. In the end there was about 20 of us in my lounge, huddled around a small TV. Looks like I’ll have to stay home tonight, I am exhausted from all the festivities!
In preparation for the Royal Wedding TV Special, tonight I’ll be making elegant cupcakes in a jar (red and blue cake, with white icing) – oh and a banana cake for luck. There’s no time, sadly, to knit my own corgi. Super cute.
New Zealand, while part of the Commonwealth, is tucked down the bottom of the world, and the monarchy doesn’t have much sway on our everyday lives, save supplying the trash mags with fodder. Despite that, I’ve always had a soft spot for those bumbling royals. And now one of them (we can’t be sure which though) is getting married. Viz:
Teehee. Collectible!
THE ROYAL WEDDING TV SPECIAL
I had already decided I was going to watch 2011′s biggest television spectacle, so when Kate mentioned she had invites to not one, but two Royal Wedding parties, I got a little bit green-eyed. Why not host my own? Thus the ‘Royal Wedding TV Special’ was born. Here’s what I think are the most important elements of any decent wedding gathering:
A large teapot. I’ll be dusting off my Big Ben teapot. Well now, I knew there was some reason I purchased this way back in 2009. At the time I was nomadic, and didn’t have any reason whatsoever to justify this purchase. Now I am smug. Cup o’ tannin, anyone?
Tea sandwiches. Crustless and dainty, the best sandwiches combine a soft filling (cream cheese) with a flavoursome kick (scallions, salmon, cucumber, chilli, ginger). Think savoury, not sweet!
Novelty teaspoons. I am just a tiny bit excited to get my best British teaspoons out. Once upon a time I thought I was going to have them made into a charm bracelet (this may yet happen), but for now they are in our cutlery drawer.
Decorations. Fly the flag! I particularly like the “aged” style of this Union Jack Bunting.
Hats. Just like race day, everyone must be wearing something on their crumpet. Enforce this dress code strictly.
Gin. The party won’t be complete without lashings of gin! Serve in fine china and ensure there’s plenty of tonic. My gin of choice is Hendricks, yum. Just make sure you’ve got tissues on hand, as some people seem to get weepy whenever there’s gin in the house. Seriously. My darling friend Mon can’t even nibble on a piece of gin soaked cucumber without the tears welling up (we all still love her though).
A lucky dip. Not mandatory but I think it’ll be fun. One lucky plucker will fish out a Faux Sapphire Royal Engagment Ring, while the rest of the mob might just get some Grandmother’s Teeth. Speaking of faux royal engagement rings, my mum actually bought a replica one way back in 1981. Her bling is the real deal though – gold, sapphire and diamonds. I’m definitely borrowing it for the TV Special!
Of course, any good monarchy needs dissidents. Not into the Royal Wedding? Hanging out in your own personal republic that day? Well how about one of Lydia Leith’s hilarious screen printed sick bags?
I am in awe of how offended those old ladies are, but personally, I think humour helps. As does gin, so bring on April 29!
Lego has influenced the paper arts before. When I was 6, my schoolmate Campbell and I made a machine out of lego that ‘corrugated’ card when you cranked the tiny handle. Physical Fiction has come up with a much more sophisticated technique, utilising the the pixel effect that lego lends.
Sheets of paper have been hand-cranked through a Vandercook using a monospace grid, et voila!
Their prints are cute (as you can see, there’s lots of game inspired pieces), and their prices are low – what’s not to love? The next time I need a gift for a recovered-nerd friend I know where I’m heading.
I love Peter Stitchbury’s hyper-real portraits. I wish I had bought one of his vintage bowling ball portraits when I had the chance… his paintings are now selling for upwards of 50 grand a pop. If any of you are heir(esse)s, I urge you to get commission a Stitchbury painting of yourself. Swish.
“There is no excellent beauty that hath not some strangeness in the proportion.”
- Francis Bacon, 1625.
And if you have a moment, read this lovely story by Zach Klein, who had his portait painted by Stitchbury. It’s a small world.
Sushi Cat is my new favourite game. Highly addictive, you must help Sushi Cat nom his way through mountains of sushi and gain in size. It’s super cute, and believe me when I say, wait till you don’t have any important work to finish – your productivity will be destroyed. Here’s a sneak peek of the game play…
Fat cats are happy cats… SUSHI FRENZY! Finished with Sushi cat? don’t dispair, there’s two other episodes in the series; Sushi Cat, The Honeymoon – a tropical treat, and Sushi Cat 2 – a mall adventure.
Of course, while these games are fun and friviolous, Japan is suffering a serious crisis the wake of the earthquake/tsunami. It’s a beautiful country filled with some of the most friendly, wonderful people I have ever met. Help your fellow humans out by donating to the Red Cross here if you haven’t already ♥
Hello! My name is Amber Parkin. I'm a New Zealander living in London. I'm a writer obsessed with fondue, chesterfield sofas, vintage dresses, foxes, and 35mm.
