The wonderings, ponderings and other 'ings' of me. Lifestyle, review, news and opinion posts. Chic with a hint of sarcasm... hopefully!

Friday 30 June 2017

Gig Review: Royal Blood


All right lets change the mood a bit here.  As Summer kicks into gear, festival and music goers tour the UK seeing their idols perform.  I thought I’d review the experience (not music) I had when I saw Royal Blood.

I’ll start by saying I L.O.V.E.D their first album and played it disturbingly loud for the best part of the last few summers.  The dirty baselines and telling lyrics of Mike Kerr (vocals, bass) and Ben Thatcher (drums) is just what rock needs right now. 

What it doesn’t need is any more attitude... but it looks like it’s getting it anyway.

At the Corn Exchange the guys did a great impression of two people making amazing music together but not wanting to be there or actually acknowledge the room full of their fans. Each song (played with flare and precision) was followed by 10-15 seconds of sweet FA!  

A black whole of interaction.   

I’ve never really understood why bands react this way.  I mean it’s not like we are doing anything but singing along to all the songs we know or enjoying one of our favourite bands. I know they don’t suffer from anxiety the way some other lead singers have been known to because I've seen them support Foo Fighters and watched Mike strut out on stage like he was headlining.  So what gives? 

I’m not asking for a deep and meaningful, just a ‘Hello Cambridge’ at the beginning a ‘Goodnight’ at the end and a couple of sentences in the middle while they fiddle with their guitar strings.  If Frightened Rabbit can do it, a 55 year old Axel Rose can do it and Dave Grohl can make an art form of it, you guys can too.

From where I was sitting it looked like Royal Blood experienced a very forgiving crowd who chanted their name, filling the empty space usually reserved for the band members to makes us feel like part of a tribe.  Which is why it was all the more perplexing to hear Mike tell us we had a lot to make up for when he deigned to (finally) ask us if we were having a good time... just before the last song.  Small piece of unsolicited advise? It might help if you pretend like we've all paid £25 to come and see you and put on a feckin' show eh?

Proof that I'm all for second chances (and I do rate them as a band) I'm heading to see them in Nottingham later this year, fingers crossed for a different experience.

Have you ever had an experience like this with a band you love?



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Friday 23 June 2017

Event: Winsor Bishop Independent Jewellers

Is it just me or do you too find posh stores can sometimes be a little intimidating?  It’s not just a fear of the ‘pretty woman’ once over, sometimes I feel a bit like a fraud for even daring to step into the place.  I’m sure a neon sign that says ‘she is wasting your time’ goes on over my head that only staff of luxury boutiques can see.  I'm a wait and save up kind of women, and if I really like something I know I'll get there eventually so it doesn’t stop me, but I will admit to feeling a little uncomfortable at times.

One place that really doesn't stress me out though is Winsor Bishop, this independent Trinity Street store has the most welcoming and accommodating staff.  You really feel like you are sitting round a friend’s beautiful lounge when you go in… If your friend had more bubbly than a champagne house in France and a whole shed load of precious stones that is!

A fortunate few bloggers (myself included) got to have an exclusive look around the Cambridge store at their blogger event this week.  Mini cakes and prosecco was offered (and gratefully accepted) and we got to try on anything we wanted.  Hearing the staff tell stories of the ‘Indiana Jones dude’ who sources their gems not only conjures up ideas of magical adventures, it also puts my mind to rest on if their jewels are conflict or not*.  And that’s a really good thing because these gems make me wonder if I need both my kidneys or if one kidney and a tennis bracelet would suffice?

While the quality jewellery is pretty expensive because much of it is made in the Norwich store the middle man is cut out, so the price isn’t as crazy as you might think.  They also stock a number of other well-known brands as well as a few I’d not heard of.  A new favourite of mine is Halcyon Days, and Winsor Bishop is the only stockiest of their embossed bangles and bracelets in Cambridge.  

The Norwich store being open since 1834 has already cemented stories of generation after generation coming to purchase their engagement rings, push presents and first watches.  However the Cambridge shop is only six months old and has all its stories still to come. Wouldn’t it be cool to be a part of them?

Have you been inside yet?


 *they’re not in case you were wondering.
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Tuesday 20 June 2017

Layaway Friendships

We all have them.  People who you were so close to but now never see and barely even speak with.  If you don’t yet, count yourself lucky but it happens to everyone eventually, friendships slip away.  

I'm not talking about those that part company after a disagreement, it’s the ones that have just dropped away, usually for one of two reasons.  Either one person has moved to another part of the world and time zones have killed things off or its when one has kids and the other doesn't.   For many, including me it's that the second one that is at fault.

Inspired by @Lifesacatwalk’s post on outgrowing friendships I've been thinking about those people in my life that I truly love but that haven't been around for a considerable amount of time.  Old friends who don't seem to ever be free to come to my neck of the woods.  And when we did meet up would spend what time we had together talking about themselves or focused on their kids.  

These aren't people that have treated me badly, on the contrary up until some years ago I would have said they were as close as family.  It’s just that their interests and time constraints have made it more than a little tricky for us to connect. The years pass, the divide grows and any invitation sent seems to get ignored or acknowledged with an ‘absolutely let’s fix a date’.  But the date never gets fixed.

Just so I am clear and people don't loose their shit talking about generalisation I'm not saying this is everyone that has children.  For some the balance seems to work naturally and I have many friends who are parents that I see regularly.  It is also not in any way an attack on those that choose to have offspring.  Yay for you and your valid life choice, it’s just one that I didn’t make for myself. And I have zero regrets about that.

Now if you're reading this post and seeing yourself please don’t think for one moment you have to explain or persuade me to understand why things are separating between us.  I get it. Your kids are everything to you, you’re busy being a parent, a person and a mum* or you live in a time zone that doesn't match with mine. There isn’t always room to see and catch up with everyone you love. 

And the thing is I've changed too.  I have so many blessings in my life that are important to me.  I too have a limited amount of time to spend with family and friends, on my passions and career aspirations. I'm not going anywhere but I’m equally not able to instigate our meetings either.

Maybe you too feel a tinge of regret that we haven't caught up recently or you haven't replied to a message.  If so I hope you know that there is no judgement, no grudges held or feelings hurt from my side of things.  Its okay, better than okay its life and I'll be here ready to chat when we can both invest in this relationship again.

Don’t worry, I know I'll see you soon.



*or dad
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Friday 2 June 2017

Event: Ama Ella and Neals Yard at Elegant Atelier


Another day another blog event, the scene in Cambridge for those odd people like myself that enjoy online journaling* has never been better, and so I found myself in one of my favourite independent stores.   A small but perfectly formed boutique on Rose Crescent  Elegant Atelier is a delight for the eyes, if sometimes a little sore on the wallet! Sinead, the owner stocks some less obvious brands like Rixo London and Ba&sh, designers which are fast becoming pinterest addictions.  She also has a killer line in Jewellery and has now taken on two intensely scented perfumes from Alice in Perfume (a discerningly good name if you ask me)!



Together with Neal's Yard Remedies they launched the pop up for latest lingerie designers on the block AmaEllaJulie Kervadec and Lara San Gil, the co-founders of AmaElla are immediately different from other lingerie companies as they feel it important their designs are both ethically and sustainably sourced.  Many only bother with one or the other... or neither but I digress.  They work with ethical fashion manufacturers, one here in the UK and another in Portugal which is GOTS certified, so you know its an upstanding establishment.  


With the exception of Oil, Fashion is the most polluting industry in the world** even worse cotton, a natural material, is among the most pesticide-intensive crops that we use to dress ourselves in**.   Julie and Lara together decided that if they were going into business it was going to be in an as kind a company - to both the planet and its people - as possible.  Great for us as that means any White/First World guilt we may feel will be minimal!



This is all well and good but if the design sucks its doesn't much matter I hear you cry.  Well fear not, the cut out detail of the pyjama shorts in particular is classically classy, as is the lace and velvet edging on the pyjama top and negligee.  Sexy yet comfortable and in sizes 32A to 36D (or S, M, L)*** I am so looking forward to seeing what else they have on offer over the coming months. 

What do you think of AmaElla?

Is Ethically/Sustainably sourced fashion important to you?


*what? its a word.... isn't it?... well it is now. #MyBlogMyRules.

** Source: http://www.onegreenplanet.org/

*** Please see individual sizing chart on their website
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