Loving of Grammin'

*warning: totally geeky post ahead*

When Instagram first launched in 2010 I was instantly smitten. Filters digitally and instantly applied? Yes please!  I mean, I still have (dusting away) a set of 40 different-coloured glass filters which I spent ages combining and using with my  über retro Zenith camera in my teenage years. I was obsessed with those filters, obsessed with the camera, obsessed with photography, just OBSESSED. And suddenly there it was, deep into my adulthood, an app that could do all that the 21st-century way. But alas, get this: I am NOT an iphone user and never was. Au contraire, loyal  to Android, Instagram came as my personal nemesis for pitying those who fall for the supposed design credentials of iphones; it was exclusive to them. I vexed, I fretted, I waited and anticipated, I harassed my husband who had an iphone, I considered iphone adultery, it shook my faith.  I even started trolling the Engadget website for news on an Android version and went as far as googling interviews with Kevin Systrom (love his name) to try and gauge when they would launch on android. I was not interested in the social media aspect of it - far from it. I just wanted the fun element of applying the Instagram filters, which, after much research (FXcam, Linecam, Snapseed to name a few) found to be the best.

And then finally, in April 2012 it launched. It took TWO whole years that felt like a century and the result was hysteria on my part - I blame it on the deprivation. I took tons of photos in diary form; far too many even for my own liking.  But thankfully the frenzy soon wore off and I went from one extreme to another: from many posts a day to one every other day, if so - like I have applied a strict screening filter to my entire account.  It's nice to share and be knowledgeable in the use of various social media but private by nature and wary of many people watching (a deep rooted belief in the evil eye), I am not into collecting masses of followers nor can I bring myself to show my house for instance.  Not to mention I have kids and don't want their faces all over the Internet. For that reason my account is set to private and even so, not too revealing. I am very happy and grateful for my followers but it's either people I know or people whose blogs/writing/craft I admire and feel honoured to have them - guys, thank you, sorry if I bore you or take too many/few pics.

Everyone develops their own mode of using an app or social platform, and even though I like to participate  and be able to use all social media, sharing needs caution. Still, the filters are such fun (as Miranda's mother would say) and Instagram beautifies and applies a cheerful tone to life recorded on digital film. There is an art to how you use it, especially on a below-average photo, and even a badly taken photo can be elevated into something prettier. My use of Instagram is like any fun tool, a playground of candy- filters for styling photos, mainly for my own viewing pleasure. It's basically like trying on outfits. Speaking of which, below I'm sporting a bright pink shirt I was encouraged to buy via Twitter, adorned with the Mayfair filter.

Recurrent

When on holiday, the sense of 'there is so much more to life' comes to shake the established status quo of loving and living in London. And although I know we will probably never be bold or selfless enough to do it till we are much older (bold because it will be so very different and selfless because we'd be prioritising what's best for the kids) it is always nice to daydream.

In this recurrent daydream, we are not the self-obsessed, restaurant-crazed, art-thirsty individuals we are; we do not prioritise our likes and fixations, we do not enjoy fresh produce mainly (only?) via the latest trendy establishment or market and we don't give into the frenetic pace of city life, getting a twisted sense of achievement. Nor are we cowards, scared about how we will handle the change and the countryside, susceptible to warnings from complacent people full of negativity, quick to dispense advice and more worried about themselves. In this daydream we embrace the change, we rejoice in it, we feel safe in the knowledge that we are brave by doing things for our soul and our children. We go for the adventure and we know we can do it simply because we are good doing things together. If we can handle London so well, surely we can handle this.

Here are some images of my daily views.

Out of Place, Out of Time

I'm becoming fixated on simplifying everything and making things happen in my life lately but sorting out outfits seems to be the only area I'm happy with. The rest insists on being complicated and even the outfits have no place being worn in such weather. Here's to this coming weekend which is supposedly going to be great. Dressing has become a metaphor for life itself: you're willing, ready and able but circumstances keep you waiting and anticipating. I know I'm talking in riddles here but let's just say thank God for fashion which always saves the day, offers distraction and ultimately keeps you sane.

Swedish Hasbeen Pop up shop at The Old Truman Brewery

Two years ago I chanced upon photos of Jeanne Dammas wearing the perfect pair of wooden sandals on a trip to NYC. I somehow got fixated on them and told myself I needed that pair but only managed to find them in a shop in Paris which was closed on the day so I returned to London empty-handed and waited for summer before I worry about it again. That was until last week, when I was kindly invited to visit the new Swedish Hasbeen pop up shop in The Old Truman Brewery. It was a fun evening perfectly organised by Varg PR, that included lovely decor, a pianist, great food and amazing shoes. In fact, so amazing and super- comfortable were the shoes, that any hesitation in my head about style or weather (as well as any illusions expectations of looking like Jeanne Damas) quickly evaporated once I tried them on. Come rain or shine the super-cute heart sandals (see below) made me fall hard and will now grace my feet with tights, socks or trousers. The Scandinavians have that strong pull on you and if anyone braves the weather stylishly it's them so best to learn from the masters. Visit the new pop-up shop for some lessons; personally I am very tempted to get another pair in a pastel tone. 

Osterley Park

It really helps that our daughter is so into princesses, palaces and all things fairy tale, because  in her eyes, visiting National Trust houses which we generally like to do, is immersing herself in the story even more than on your average day. In our recent visit to Osterley Park, the 'palace of palaces', we just happened to exit and walk down the stairs at 12 midday and her reaction was priceless. There was no denying: the house WAS the palace and she was Cinderella, losing her shoe as the clock struck twelve! I really enjoyed the visit, not only because I discovered my favourite shade of pea green  on the walls, but also the staff were incredibly friendly and informative. When they saw my excitement with the green colour (my favourite) they readily told me the story of how they re-upholstered the furniture in green, and how there is still a dispute about the green colour to this day, about the secret door in the library and how Batman was filmed there, and... so much more. It is lovely to get such warmth and be made to feel part of a historic property when - it must be said- other places can be so standoffish. A great visit on a great sunny day.

Baker Sweet

These days we bake; the royal WE. Baking is so much more fun when done with your kids, it's all about true sweetness in every sense of the word. At the end of it I get a princess to invite me for tea and cake at her castle, and I am so very charmed and privileged I cannot begin to tell you. 

Lichtenstein - personal retrospective

Many many years ago, almost in another lifetime (ok not that far back, just 2003) my husband and I were a fresh couple still in the haze of the first few months together. You know, hands glued together, dumb look of love, skipping walking around London like two little lambs etc. We were your typical love-stricken duo discovering just how much we both love art, and reveled in attending exhibitions with unparalleled dedication -still do- as if we had university exams coming up. Somewhere in the midst of that the man suggested that we purchase a poster from all the exhibitions that we really like for a collection to hang in our future home: it would be a reminder of places we'd been as a young couple in love, a starting point for conversations and stories to our children and we would slowly replace the posters with art  as we became financially more able. Alarm bells rang in my head because a) we had only recently got together and he was dreaming away - scary and b) I actually liked the sound of that and started picturing it in my head - scarier! So seven years later when we bought our first house together we framed most of the posters. Then kids arrived and the stories started; funnily enough, I have somehow ended up being the character in all of them after my daughter insisted, especially in our Lichtenstein poster from the last exhibition at The Hayward Gallery. So ten years on,  the new Tate exhibition feels a bit like a homecoming.  We will be back as a family, with our daughter having had a daily  reference to his work and our date there. The story (our story) continues. 

April Showers, Spring Flowers

I have  raved about Toast before and this is another post where I continue to do the same because I  can't help it,  I just l*o*v*e their stuff: Moroccan and Anatolian throws, French crockery, sublime linen and a clothing line that never fails to impress. Their homeware in particular, just puts a smile on my face and I am guilty of owning one too many of their mango boards and bed linen. The catalogues are so artfully shot they are worth keeping on your bookshelf, while simply browsing through them transports you to warmer climes and a general state of restful bliss. The new Marylebone store had its launch just yesterday and it was yet another example of artful presentation. There were beautiful flowers and flower crowns by The Flower Appreciation Society who added a touch of spring to everything, from the decor to the gin cocktails which also contained edible flowers from Greens of Devon, a clear reference to the April Collection. It was just what was needed as we eagerly wait for spring on a cold day that felt more like winter. Visit the new Toast store at 44 Marylebone High Street and see for yourself; it is refreshing to see a company that carries through a theme so tastefully.

 photos courtesy of Toast