Landscapes, Gyoza and Filming the Empire State Building!

What a wonderful afternoon that was with Miss S!
Headed up to the Southbank to see the Landscape Photographer of the Year 2008 exhibition. What wonderful pictures had been taken of nature at not only it's most breathtaking and beautiful but dangerous and beautiful. There were the classic sunset photographs, then the not so classic photograph of the Angel of the North's foot, as well as a category for those that had been taken on a mobile phone. All just wonderful and a reminder of what amazing scenery the British Isles have on offer.
After exhausting ourselves looking at all those lovely landscapes it was decided that we needed sustenance and it was off to Wagga Mammas for a well deserved glass of wine and scrummy food! We'd spotted another exhibition on our way to Wagga Mammas so decided to head off to see it.
Then spent an interesting times visiting the Andy Warhol: Other Voices, Other Rooms exhibition. There were the well known Marilyn Munroe, Campbell Soup and Brillo Boxes on display. Also on display was the famous Empire State Building film (though I wasn't going to stay there for all eight hours of it!), and various other films that Mr W had done. What was a bit weird though were the tape recordings of conversations of his friends and films of them. Now if I had a friend who did that.. I don't think I'd be able to cope!

http://www.take-a-view.co.uk/2008_winners.htm
http://www.wagamama.com/
http://www.southbankcentre.co.uk/minisite/andy-warhol

Oh Yes I Am!

Oh No You're Not!
Wicked, my first ever panto! I've been wanting to go to one since my arrival in England over eleven years ago! And, finally, I have been!
It was Mr S' birthday and as a present to himself, and me, we were off to the cold city that is Croydon for an afternoon of interactive entertainment at Fairfield where they were holding a Peter Pan panto, starring none other than Brian Blessed! Awesome!
Not knowing what to expect we sat back to enjoy the show. Soon enough we were laughing at the Christmas Cracker style jokes and yelling out with what seemed like 700 kids (about 50 parents!) "He's behind You" and "No you're not!". I have to say that Mr B managed to out yell all 750 of us and even managed to get in a "Gordon's Alive" and plug for his appearance on the "Have I got News for You" Christmas special!! Mind you, none of the kids got the "Gordon's Alive" bit, hah!
It was a great afternoon.. dodgy costumes, sets, and acting... though the atmosphere was fun and definitely something that everyone should ecperience at least once!
We then headed off to the deepths of Crawley for a wonderful evening in a pub, then onto an indian in celebration of Mr S' birthday.. a nice round number of ten! Twas a wonderful evening of chatting and laughing and I hope MNr S enjoyed his birthday as much as I did!

Cowboy, Juggler, Burlesque...

Turbans, Maracas and eclectic clothes!
What a wonderful birthday celebration it was with Miss S at Gypsy Hotel in Stoke Newington! Wasn't sure what to expect, as is the case with any venture to a new venue. I have to say it was a good choice!
The evening started off with a cowboy and his guitar and piano, then a rather unusual juggler who stripped off an item of clothing every time he dropped something (luckily he didn't drop too many!). We then had Lady Flo from France doing some burlesque along to some Elvis tunes, and singing them too (though only peeled off her gloves!), a rather rocking group from just down the road called Walking Wounded, who also did a bit of Arabic and Ska style music - accordions to guitars and they were pretty good. Then it was onto a rather surreal couple from behind the iron curtain.. still trying to figure out if I liked them or not, and heading towards the like.
The evening finished on a blues band from Southern USA called Little Victor.. lady in a red dress on the maracas and the lead singer in a turban! They were pretty good and had us foot tapping for sure.
What a wonderful evening, as too I hope Miss S had, considering it was her birthday and all!

Walking Wounded: http://www.walking-wounded.co.uk
Mikelangelo & Undine Francesca: http://www.myspace.com/mikelangeloandundinefrancesca
Little Victor: http://www.myspace.com/littlevictormusic
Gypsy Hotel: http://www.myspace.com/gypsyhotel