Winter Solstice

Miniature Merry-go-round

Holiday window displays are serious business in London.

One year later: another Koko post. I sat on my coat this time.

Because I haven't done a music post in a while:

Wednesday I got a last minute pass to photograph Lucky 13 - Memphis Industries' 13th birthday celebration at Koko (read: I wanted to see the Go! Team for free, signed up in June and totally forgot about it afterwards). It was -really- tiring to shoot as there were four bands playing that night and I am lazy. And old. And deprived of sleep (I am typing this at 3 in the morning, I am my own worst enemy).

Luckily all four bands were absolutely wonderful and pretty good bands to shoot, especially The Go! Team - great energy, and such an amazing frontwoman! I was kind of bummed afterwards because I don't think I did as well as usual photo-wise but again...maybe I should consider moving my bedtime to a more reasonable hour so I can be all wide eyed and bushy tailed for the next gig. Maybe that'll happen. Some day. 

So yeah, since I'm a photog..rer..rerer, not a writer, I'll just leave you with some of my shots from the evening!

Walking from Kings Road to the City

A half assed attempt at masking my current inability to type up a nice blog post by throwing in a stack of Instax shots I took on my cliché autumn walk through London. Enjoy or something!

Kings Road

Big Ben can be such a downer sometimes

Needless to say I spent a lot of time blowdrying my shoes that evening.

Unintentional face

My smiley chocolate "gateaux" + teas at Fig & Olive

V&A Late: Yohji Yamamoto at Play

V&A Lates are usually brilliant so there's not much I can say about them. Or actually there is loads, I just don't know where to start. Any event that lets me claw my way through a tunnel of outfits (really!) gets a thumbs up in my book. I didn't take a lot of pictures, just of the Bo Ningen gig in the lecture hall which was really good. I wish I had more things to show as it's 2:30 and I'm tired/losing my ability to type nice stuff, but don't let my word and photo laziness hold you back from attending V&A Late this month, I'm sure it will be amazing as always!

It may be a cliché but Bo Ningen really is the ultimate haircut band

And because we haven't had a .gif in a while...

Baaaassssssss

Failing at having priorities

Lunchtime, strolling through Piccadilly, surrounded by food establishments. I was so set on getting a proper meal (or at least a sandwich) but when I saw these jellies wrapped in tiny fish kite papers...well, so much for sticking to the food pyramid system. It ended up reminding me of this though,

so yeah, that made starving through Soho all worth it in the end.

Chancery Lane Lions

It's grrrrrreat

Pretty s-trandy font, eh? (I'm so sorry)

Today I decided to take advantage of my proximity to all things old and amazing in London and went to Somerset House see Ai Weiwei's Circle of Animals. I can highly recommend it, it's a good excuse to take a stroll through the old City area (forever one of my favourite neighbourhoods) and the statues are really beautiful. Just try to go on an "off" day to prevent being surrounded by tourists and tourist children. Today it was pretty peaceful and quiet until two artsy looking Chinese guys took off all of their clothes and leaped across the fountain square while a third one took pictures. I think it may have been a protest action against Ai Weiwei's (ridiculous!) imprisonment? So kudos, guys. It was freezing, especially near those fountains. I would've just said "T-shirt and shorts max, that's all" (hahaha no I wouldn't, I would be hiding in the gift shop like the coward that I am).

So go! And while you're there, make sure to take a picture with your favourite zodiac animal for future grandkids and the like. Mine is, obviously...

On the brink of insani-tea

Clipper will bankrupt me

It's almost that time of year again

In 36 hours I'll be on the Eurostar to London. I always end up having to leave the Netherlands right in the middle of cherry blossom season...

Ow rvwaa, trees! I wish I had more time to roll around in your petals

Shugo Tokumaru at Cafe Oto

So, was this totally amazing?

A: Yes

B: Meh

C: No

D: It was the worst thing that ever happened to me

Find the correct answer at the bottom of the page!

˙ǝɹǝɥ ɟo ʇno ʇǝƃ ¿ʞɔǝɥɔ oʇ pǝǝu ʎllɐǝɹ noʎ ¿snoıɹǝs noʎ ǝɹɐ

Oji -ji -ji -ji baby baby baby

I've been getting a lot of hits from people looking for information about Oji Garu/Ojikawa lately.

There doesn't seem to be a whole lot out there on the internet, which is weird since I definitely keep seeing Oji girls pop up in Japanese fashion mags and granddad style staples always seem to go down great with the fashion crowd. I would have expected it to become quite big online and maybe even trickle down to the UK, but alas, it's still very much a niche thing. I guess the elderly are an underrepresented target group even on the internet. Poor things! Maybe in a year or so? I hope they can wait that long.

So yeah, I guess it's up to me to uncle it up and keep you updated on what to wear if you want to be a real old man girl. Trust me, I'd know. I've been playing chess in the park and adjusting the thermostat since I was eight years old.

So sit back, put on your favourite oldies radio station and enjoy my guide to Oji Garu: Part 2!

PS's perfect rendition of a well dressed uncle - suteki na ojisan

It's still very much winter

My cat Siepie keeps whining because she's "cold" and wants me to turn the heat up. I think we reached a nice compromise.

There's no business like snow business

2010 Snowcat

2011 Snowcat...s

Will 2012 bring...apocalyptic snowcats? Stay tuned to find out.