Impressions of the medina – this lot was taken on some very nice Lomography film, called Lady Grey. Marrakech, Morocco. October, 2013.
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Another gloomy day, the pain of which was only eased by the presence of strong coffee and dim sum delicacies. We celebrated St Patrick’s day by listening to a pipe band in Leicester Square, taking shelter under strangers’ umbrellas. (Until this weekend I never knew there was an Irish, or uilleann, bagpipe – fancy that!)
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Upturned swappa crates, bone handled knives, flaky mushroom & mozzarella galettes, strong coffee and a fire-engine red hippo. Little and Friday is a breath of fresh air in the form of a cafe for Auckland’s sleepy Belmont neighbourhood.
I ended up here with Mon when we were on an op-shopping mission – it turns out it’s a mere eight houses away from where I grew up on Eversleigh Road. I would have never expected to find such a cool place nearby, but times/me, they are a changing. If you can, get your hands on the Little & Friday cookbook - it’s sumptuous and inspiring.
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The joys of forgotten film! It was a cold, but sunny spring day in 2012 when I took these pictures, not too dissimilar to today. This is the Barbican, my favourite place in London. From the concrete Brutalist architecture to the high walks of the estate, the sound-muffling lake and the velveteen belly of the performing arts centre, I love everything about it. It’s my dream to live there one day, fingers crossed we make a milli in the next year or so.
If you’re ever in London, make sure the Barbican is on your list – whether that’s to see a film, visit the art gallery, or simply hang out next to the lake with a coffee and a good book. Don’t forget to visit the hidden conservatory, too. Built to disguise the theatre’s fly tower, it is home to over 2000 species of tropical plants and trees. That’s where I took the photo of a lonely heart…
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One breathtakingly beautiful Sunday; Mon, Hank (her adorable Brussels Griffon) and I took a ferry to Waiheke Island.Only 35 minutes away from the city, Waiheke is a micro-paradise with a climate all of its own – making it perfect for vineyards and other grape related pursuits. That day, however, we were there to walk the Headland for Sculpture on the Gulf, a 2.5km walk over rolling hills and some of the most gorgeous scenery on the planet. Here are some photos I took:
Temporary; a work by Delicia Sampero.
Wildfire, by Sarah Brill.
Sheep Track, by Gina Ferguson. I loved the physical experience of this one; walking over a raw, knitted pathway, carefully considering the shape (and smell) of the new terrain.
Christian Nicolson’s Look Darling it’s Tom and Nancy - this was one of my favourites, and one of the most humorous. Nothing says sculpture has to be serious!
Sometimes I wonder why I’m going back to film (particularly while trudging up the hill to Angel in the bitter cold to get my rolls developed) . It doesn’t seem to enhance my photography skills at all. I suppose I like it for a different reason, the fact it lets me slow down, and luxuriate in the moment rather than snap-snap-snapping. Being forced to stop and think about what I’m looking at is definitely a pleasure, and I’m starting to savour the surprise of getting my photos back – all the control is long out of my hands.
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I’ve been back in New Zealand for the last week and a half, and quite simply, it is stunning. The streets are absurdly wide and clean, the tarseal pavements are melting in the heat, and the sound of cicadas constantly throbs in the air.
I went to Omaha, and dug my toes in the white sandy beach. I visited the village market too, stocking up on my favourite olive oil soap from the Matakana Valley. Then I headed north, to the Hokianga, with my sister and my mum, to spend a few nights with my beloved Gran. This is the view from her front yard, and her astounding spoon collection:
Other than that I’ve been cruising around Auckland, catching up with dear friends and basking in the sun. There is slight change in the current cast, with a few new faces and a couple missing. But for the most part everything is the same. This is a sweet relief.
Other than catching up, it’s been a whirl of op shops, art galleries, ferry rides, cold drinks at old haunts, and double lunches. A lot of 35mm has been shot too. 6 sleeps left, don’t make me leave the sunshine (Thom, please teleport here).
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City Road Basin is on the Regent’s Canal, between Angel and Hoxton. Sometimes I wander past here on the way to work, just to look, and say hi to the ducks. This morning the black water was smothered with an oily sheet of ice. One of those rare London moments when you look up, and realise you’re all alone.
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Merry Christmas! I’m sitting next to a fire in a country house, in my pajamas, surrounded by a pile of presents and listening to rock-dinosaur Rod Stewart croon Christmas tunes. It’s lovely, but I felt like giving Code For Something a little love. December has been so busy! A whirlwind of drinks with friends, working my butt off, dealing with house drama… It’s nice to be sitting down.
The weather this month has been all over the place, arctic earlier, but lately it’s been mild, around 10°C. Here are two photos I took walking to work; one day was cold and clear with ice on the canal, the next humid and rainy.
Festive treats, one from Secret Santa at work, the other a lemon curd and raspberry trifle – adapted from this recipe. Cheating with trifle is winning at life.
Secret Swedish passwords, beer on the train home, a glass of Veuve and a sunset… I love that December’s festive spirit means it’s acceptable to drink booze at any time of the day. Mulled cherry beer is the tastiest thing ever invented!
I’m now busy making plans for 2013, and dreaming up resolutions. Looking into the crystal ball it looks like there’s a lot of travel ahead… NYC or Istanbul at Easter? My mum is flying over in the summer and we’re heading to Italy with my aunts, which will be amazing. And of course flying back to New Zealand in 35 days (not that I’m counting, squeak).
Everything is going to be glorious! Hope all is well with you and yours in the world.
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Next week I’m off to Scotland for a couple of days with my friend Laura. We’re flying to Edinburgh, with enough time for a pint and to rest our heads, then we’re travelling to Inverness, via Glencoe and Loch Ness. Yes, we’re going on a monster hunt!
I’ve been to Scotland once before, in 2009. It was February, and so cold the water was freezing over. These are pictures are all from The Drover’s Inn, Loch Lomond. Apparently I didn’t take a single snap in Edinburgh, so perhaps it was all a dream? I do remember it was the first place I ever saw a squirrel, and had chips ‘n’ cheese. With vinegar. Now that’s a memorable moment in a young woman’s life…
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June 2012 will be known as the month where I finally got with the program and got a phone that actually has a colour screen and a camera. Fancy. As a result I’ve been instagramming my butt off, so loads more pictures for you! Add me as @amberparkin if you’re on there too.
All in all things have been going pretty swimmingly. A few things that made June awesome:
+ Jubilee celebrations (and a day off)
+ Picnics in Regent’s Park
+ Skyping with my kiwi favourites
+ Backyard hang outs
+ Visiting my friend’s graduation show at RCA
+ Making friends with some very tame squirrels
+ A trip to Oxfordshire; including Blenheim Palace and an amazing meal at The Mole & Chicken
Today is the first day of a week-long staycation, followed by a weekend in Paris; so I’m off to go eat some crème brûlée in bed and watch some Community. It’s good AMAZING being an adult.
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