The Illusionist, beautiful film. Follow the LINK

http://www.suityourselfmagazine.co.uk/cinema-review-the-illusionist/#more-8127

Marriage

My good friend Katie got married to another good friend, Will, this weekend. They are the first of my friends to get hitched, and I felt highly emotional and proud of these two. They are a couple that I have every faith are entirely 'meant to be' and I could never imagine them not as 'Will and Kate'.

I was honored to be asked to do a reading during their marital Church service. Kate asked me whilst we were at a festival, with glitter plastered on our faces, feathers in our hair and dreamy/chaotic lights flashing in our eyes. I was dancing ferociously happily and she started her request by telling me that when she first met me, she thought my dancing was bordering on bizarre, but she soon discovered its intricate greatness (ha!). Confused at her masked insult/compliment, I nodded and said I had always thought that she loved my individual moves and did she care for some form of dance off at some point? Then she said "you know, me and Will would love it if you did a reading for us at the Wedding." Ah, well I had performed many of the duties of B.Maid, but was not expecting such a privileged role. We flappy, girly hugged, then pursued a dance off till we could take no more.

I thought she'd probably forget this act of friendship love, then she asked me again during a tea session in my garden. Of course I said that I would love to. It was to be: 'The Owl and the Pussycat' - a corker.

Before the Wed. the boy and I travelled up to the Lakes and had some family quality time with Will's family, who are truly the most kind and relaxed family I have ever had the pleasure to spend time with. We stole their lovely dog Fred, and went up a couple of mountains before the BIG DAY.

Kate had the Amelie soundtrack played on piano as she walked up the aisle. I wasn't sure I would like this when it was first suggested months ago. I thought she had decided in was not the music for her too. But when it was played, and she walked up the aisle, it was fabulous. Cue: Emotion central.

Unfortunately when I got up to do the reading. Calamity Hels struck and the Owl and the P.Cat was not on the pulpit. I could not find it anywhere. Hmmm. Quick thinking, the boy whipped out my iphone from my golden pouch bag. I was forced to use my 3G to find the poem. I had turned the blighter off however, and had to chat whilst it warmed up. Horror! It was actually fine, as the atmosphere was so full of joy, and the drama lightened the whole seriousness of the affair a tad. And these two are full of cheeky mishaps too...(mainly involving time and maps). I read the poem with as much emotion as I was feeling and all of the actress locked inside of me. I was told it was "beautifully read" by Kate's mum and Kate said she would have had it no other way "It was dramatic in all the right ways". I hope I did them justice and they were genuinely happy with the reading.

Pre reception we ran about Ambleside stocking up on Champagne. We got 'gawped at' (as my mother would say) by the North Face brigade, with me in my 50s outfit and the boy looking like some form of tycoon. Ooo the DRAMA.

Champagne.

The speeches were hilarious and the veggie food - glorious. If: hardcore, like a veggie bullet.

The end of the weekend spelt the point of it all out: true love and marriage, pure and beautiful. Cue: me thinking about my own love, life and developing world...

Joanna Newsom Review - Suit Yourself Magazine

http://www.bristollistings.co.uk/review/Joanna-Newsom/618

Click on the link

Roy

Last night I saw Joanna Newsom and unexpectedly stumbled upon another musical genius. I have to admit, it's taken me until the last few years to fully appreciate the music from the 60s and 70s, Crosby, Stills and Nash, The Velvet Underground etc. Roy Harper is one folk hero who I definitely did not know.

When I sat down next to an older man with enormous curly, blonde hair and behind a white haired couple, all excitable with anticipation I had no idea what to expect from the support. Turns out Roy is some sort of living legend. His songs are ridiculously long, with plenty of jamming on his guitar, copious amounts of string trickery and a voice that is pure rock haze. The man has some serious 60s spirit running through his veins. Looking him up when I got home, only reinforced this for me. Naked Roy on the front cover of his lyrics book. I'm not sure he would pose nude now, beard and whitened hair, he's older than 60... but then his ruffle fronted shirt indicates that he possibly would.

He chats with total ease throughout the set, as if he were opposite you at the dinner table, or more likely, on a sofa next with a whisky. He muses and almost lectures on topics ranging from God to one night stands. The latter, he sings about - a Francesca left in the morning. As those 60s liberated women did/could. Roy was and is a thinker though, and was left confused when he awoke to an empty bed. A poet, an 'over thinker' with plunging and soaring heart capabilities. Thoroughly not 'wet'- just cool. Once again I wish I was a 60s kid. The thrills and spills eh. Roy made music progress, it's how it is now because of people like him. And anyone that has contributed to folk, with all its basic and true beliefs can only be a positive person. Music was truly first starting to be used as a pourer, plaster and emotional blanket - as well as joyous explosion at this time.

Roy finished his set with 'Me and My Woman'. Which left the whole of Colston Hall singing "Me and My Wooooo-maaaaaan" in the break before Joanna Newsom.

Who incidentally is of course a legend in her own right. I'll post the link to my review of that one. But back to Roy, here is 'Me and My Woman'.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7VHc13c8O_U

Woo, Woo

I've been persevering with the writing for a 'good' two years now. Every June I reminisce the celebration of graduation. Pimms and a Jazz band. Prawns by the Cornish sea. Two Junes have now passed. Now: I know that the route to a writing dream career isn't all lunches with tabs and Topshop/designer(?) explosions but I had hoped that I would be in a word related, full time job by my second June. I ask for a lot however, I'm not taking on an easy dream, I must remind myself of this. Or get other people to do it for me. The anguish! You understand. I've been sticking at my freelance reviews (I love this, I LOVE music, theatre yada yada), spent months at a local paper (buzzz), written for every publication in Bristol and completed half of my NCTJ exams (v.fun)... and been to Sri Lanka and Morocco. BUT do you know what put a drop of egg yolk in the meringue? What happened to me? May, flippin Morocco BAM! Loads of ash in the sky, BAM! £500 of my cash I don't have. BAM! realisation that freelancing whilst working in a shop aint cutting it. I was skintos. So in response I upped the ante at the shop, whilst carrying on with reviews and such, working 15 days in a row... in the SHOP. Retail. CUE day 9 of month 4: Panic attack on a busy Saturday in the shop, the second of my life (first was getting on the plane after 14 months travelling at 19- NOT gap yah style I hasten to add). WHAT the hell is it with panic attacks?! Blimey, like a shock to the soul, I knew what I had to do.

A week later, my notice was received and the return/appetite/joy in life to self ensued. Ah. So now I am seriously scraping the pennies, but as they say, or what everyone says to me to make me feel creative, you have to do what you love. There was indeed a sense of universal joy and relief amongst the friends and family when I handed in that letter of goodbye. I am in pursuit of the writing full time now. With my near final payment I even purchased an IMac, which I am convinced will help me, after a horrific episode trying to film myself presenting with my iphone. I'm hoping it will all go mightily well and someone will see my blinding/blossoming talent and employ me to be one of their wordy brood. I'm considering a move to London (£££) to facilitate the dream, but I'll see how old Bristol treats me first. I have a few days left at the shop, which I am taking as new season clothing buying cash, as I'm not going allow myself to purchase anything until i've got that job. I think I may have to buy a pencil skirt and an outlandish necklace to cover all boundaries of potential interview wear. Thank goodness for Mad Men. Love.