london

Snowy London

by Amber on February 5, 2012 in Notebook

Last night was one of the most memorable nights of my life. Reasons include:

1. Being asked to work on an interior design project for a bar.
2. Seeing Stephen Fry in said bar.
3. Annnnnd SNOW!

Indulge me for a bit, I’m from New Zealand and we don’t get urban snow like this. It was one of the most magical things I’ve ever seen – cars, trees and houses all dusted with the white stuff.

The Barbican. We went to see a movie and when we came out the Barbican looked like this.
The lake is all iced up!

My first snowball, wahoo.

A snow-penguin!

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Chinese New Year

by Amber on February 3, 2012 in Notebook

Some snaps from last weekend – celebrating Chinese New Year in London. The best pasts were easting dim sum in Camden on Saturday (spicy cucumber; I could eat that forever), then heading to Chinatown on Sunday for the mass throw-down of fun snaps. Bang, bang bang. Xīn nián kuài lè!

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Londres – Some Thoughts

by Amber on January 27, 2012 in Notebook

I’ve lived in London for nearly 6 months now. It’s starting to feel ‘real’. Some things I have learned:

1. Local natives are rare. I seem to be hanging out with a lot of French kids lately. And Brazilians, Swedes, Dutch, and of course Kiwis.

2. Coffee is not great here, but exceptions can be found. Maps: Allpress, Climpson & Sons, Shoreditch Grind, Brill, Flat White, Monmouth

3. Moving makes all the other smaller decisions about change easier. If it’s not working, start fresh. Job, house, attitude.

4. Always take your A-Z out and about, even to the local pub.

5. Having never encountered it before – IKEA is amazing. You can even drink a beer there, it makes the housewares sparkle.

6. The best way to explore is on foot.

7. Also, there’s no hills, so cycling is far more fun. The downside – no hills means less sticky-outie landmarks, so see point 4.

8. Europe is just a flight or train ride away. Over Easter I’m going to Barcelona with some pals, I can’t wait.

9. Squirrels never fail to amuse.

10. The homesickness does pass. But calling home is still important.

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Maltby Street

by Amber on January 23, 2012 in Photographic Evidence

Last weekend Thom and I headed to Maltby Street in SE1. Tucked away from the tourists of Borough, and far from the puppy mêlée at Broadway Market, it has a reputation as a place to make a food pilgrimage. It’s for serious foodies. Of course, that ruled us out as the target market, but we still enjoyed ducking in and out of the railway-arches-cum-food-warehouses.

There was all manner of things to buy: crumbly cheeses, oatcakes, beer made from New Zealand hops, and fresh shellfish – still wriggling about in their polystyrene coffins. My favourite was the Colombian drinking chocolate, shaved from solid bars, and stirred into warm milk. I also really liked the remanents of industry lying about too – stacks of wood, old radiators, and piles of tiles. It was certainly interesting, so if you’re game for a different Saturday morning scene, head south to Maltby Street.

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New Visual Inputs

by Amber on January 3, 2012 in Notebook

bicycle

Starting the year off right with new inputs and fresh thinking.

Jan 1. A rainstorm on the Thames, a trip to the Tate Modern, spellbound by Tacita Dean’s film work.
Jan 2. The sun came out, street art in Hackney, amusing signs, new cafes on my street to try.
Jan 3. Today will bring a new job, and an unexplored neighbourhood. I can’t wait.

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Hackney City

by Amber on December 18, 2011 in Notebook,Photographic Evidence

While we’re waiting to move into our new flat, Thom and I have a sublet in Hackney. (Or Crackney, as I’d heard it called before I came to the UK, but I have only seen evidence of that once late at night outside the Buddhist Centre.)

hackney walk

It’s not the most glamorous of areas, but what it’s got is pretty beaut. Lots of little cafes, pubs, galleries, and places to grab a classic East London fry-up. While there is a tiny glimpse of sun in the winter gloom, I love to be outdoors. My favourite places to walk include the Hackney City Farm, and the canal.

Y’know, it was the usual Saturday. Get up, make breakfast, visit a farm. Babes, pigs in the city. I love the cycle-take of a steer skull at the ranch. Next, meet the chubbiest squirrel in all of London. He was all puffed up, the size of a small cat!

canal

Not far from the farm, Regents Canal winds through south Hackney. It’ so peaceful there, you forget you’re in the middle of a city. Until you hit Broadway Market, and the flotilla of canal boats. Lots of them have been converted into sweet little floating shops – a vintage store , a café, a bookshop. Lovely.

Right, off to go deal with Christmas madness. Only a week to go!

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November in Photos

by Amber on December 7, 2011 in Photographic Evidence

Some bonus photos from November. Things I learned: East London can be a vampire. Brussels is naught as boring as people say. But you need to wrap up warm.
November felt like a really busy, stressful month, but compared to December so far, it was a doddle.

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Winter Wonderland

by Amber on November 24, 2011 in Notebook

My new happy place is Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park. It’s an architectural dreamscape, where Austrian clichés meet Christmas kitsch. Amusements include mulled wine, blizzards of fake snow, roasted chestnuts, animatronic moose heads, the carousel bar, reindeer races, fairy floss, pretzels, talking trees, ice-skating, krugs of beer, fun fair tokens, and of course, a visit to Santa.

It’s absolute madness and I love it.

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Saturday Strolling

by Amber on November 21, 2011 in Notebook

Last Saturday I was a tourist in my own city. Which is quite easy to do in London. While I am beginning to know the East End well, the West is a whole ‘nother story. So I decided to get myself lost! I caught the tube to Kensington, then spent a few hours at the Victoria & Albert Museum, gazing at all the art. After a few inspiring hours, I walked through Hyde Park, around the Serpentine, making friends with a few birds.

swan

Yep, I has wonderful time wandering in London; just people watching, stretching my legs, and admiring nature. Best of all, it was FREE. I spent about a quid on my whole adventure. (I really like saying the word quid in private, but not actually to anyone.) Which to brings to mind a saying I like (source unknown) that rather inspired my move here: “If you’re going to be poor, you may as well be poor in one of the greatest cities on Earth”.

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CFS Loves 81

by Amber on November 11, 2011 in Notebook

Twisted, Nicholas Kennedy’s photography | But Does It Float

Best of Breed, 102 champion dogs photographed at the Westminster Dog Show | NY Times F.lux and Ommwriter, 2 programs to increase the aesthetics of productivity. I have been playing with them both and they are an excellent alternative to the Word.doc of death | Cellar Door

Miranda July Q&A, from Stylist’s clever masterclass series. I had a Q and MJ gave me an A! | Stylist Magazine

And even more inspiration from MJ – on Strangers | The School of Life

Codeacademy – an interactive way to learn programming by actually coding!

Code Academy Rose & Clover and other colour schemes | Apartment Therapy

The arc of drama, explained by Kurt Vonngeut | Sivers

Kaleidomaniac, an image blogging experiment. Below: Tsukiji Fish Markets by Rory Hyde | Jarred Bishop

Starbucks’ augmented reality app makes your cup come to life! Naturally, I like the fox | Mashable

Also of note:

Vintage cameras in London, an alternative shopping experience | Last Minute

Lapday, a definition to consider | Dictonary of Obscure Sorrows

A wedding in the woods | Jody Rogac

What’s on the mind of Laura Ford | STW Nextness

Anita Calero: Curated Chelsea Home, I want to live here | LoftLife

And:

… I leave you with a Steven King quote that I enjoyed this week:

“Look, writing a novel is like paddling from Boston to London in a bathtub,
Sometimes the damn tub sinks. It’s a wonder that most of them don’t.”

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October in Photos

by Amber on November 8, 2011 in Photographic Evidence

October.

The changing leaves.
Finding the perfect snood.
Expired film.
Drinking wine with Hemi and Thom.
Carving my mini pumpkin.
Exploring my neighbourhood. (Discovering Vietnamese food!)
Cask ales and candlelight.
Bike rides on crisp mornings.

I have always wondered why some people are utterly in love with Autumn but it all makes sense in a colder climate.

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Saturday Morning Car-Boot Sale In Stokey

by Amber on November 2, 2011 in Travel

On Saturday Liss, Thom & I headed to Stoke Newington to check out the weekly car-boot sale at the Princess May. It was my first time in Dalston and I loved it! We picked up some breakfast at the street market – hot naan bread wrapped in newspaper, priced at 2 for a pound, then coffee at a Turkish cafe. Then it was off to the school yard to do some serious fossicking.

We came home with some good booty – a 35mm camera of Russian origin for £10 , a Patricia Highsmith book for £1, that bold red bird-printed dress for £5, and a set of mint-condition fondue forks for £5. The forks were a most fortuitous find because next week I’m holding a little fondue get-together to celebrate my birthday.

Perfect!

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Vintage Find: A Flock Of Birds

by Amber on October 30, 2011 in Style

My new dress, bought at a car-boot sale for a fiver. I never ever used to wear red, but this year it seems to have crept into my wardrobe more and more. Maybe it’s a reaction to my darkening environment (British Summer Time ended today). The print reminds me of these beautiful photos of birds in flight by Sarah McLean.

From what I can tell it’s a Japanese brand – DELICE by DOLCAS Tokyo Style Co. Searching doesn’t reveal much but I’d like to know more!

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Borough Market

by Amber on October 28, 2011 in Food

As far back as 1014, and probably much earlier, London Bridge attracted traders selling grain, fish, vegetables and livestock. In the 13th century traders were relocated to what is now Borough High Street and a market has existed there ever since.

The other day we went to Borough Market. Alongside cheese, breads, cakes and all those good things, it has the widest choice of fruit and vegetables that I have ever seen.

The atmosphere was incredible too; imagine crowds of happy people trading, supping on aromatic mulled wine, popping truffles in their mouths, pressing juices, ordering coffee, carrying armfuls of bread, commiserating on the weather… All the while trains rumbled across the viaducts overhead. I want to go back again and again.

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← Previous Entries

london

Snowy London

Chinese New Year

Londres – Some Thoughts

Maltby Street

New Visual Inputs

Hackney City

November in Photos

Winter Wonderland

Saturday Strolling

CFS Loves 81

October in Photos

Saturday Morning Car-Boot Sale In Stokey

Vintage Find: A Flock Of Birds

Borough Market

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