We Love New Things
19 June 2008
Marte Frisnes Jewellery
At this time of year all thoughts are turning beach-wards. Which leaves me for one in a sartorial quandary, every year I pack endless outfits only to end up living in bikinis, sarongs and flip flops - the Choos never get a chance. This year I've decided to accept that the Pucci dress won't get worn and to bling up the beachwear. So it's with great excitement that my quest has brought me to the safe shores of Marte Frisnes' jewellery. A Scandinavian model turned jewellery designer, Marte has a lovely range of necklaces, bracelets and earrings - all beautifully designed, reasonably priced and damn gorgeous. From the stylish butterfly necklace to the elegant Lucky earrings and the simple Iris pendant, I could frankly take home the whole lot.
17 July 2008
Latitude Festival
Latitude, Henham Park, Southwold, 17th -20th July
Latitude has been gaining more and more prestige over the last few years, stepping on the wellies of other more established summer fiestas. This year, word on the underground hinted that it was going to be the festival of 2008, and quietly, secretly, some of the best bands began to sign their name to the line-up. And speedily, niftily, the clever folks began to buy up the tickets and so they have all but disappeared, before we even noticed.
Oh for the melifluous sounds of Sigur Ros, Franz Ferdinand, Blondie, Joanna Newsom, Amadou & Mariam... I could go on... while lying by a lake, or frolicking through woods.
Latitude's line-up is catering for all kinds of hedonistic pursuits, from field raves with some of the best DJs, to the more intellectual pleasures found in fringe theatre, stand-up and contemporary poetry, with Carol Ann Duffy, Simon Armitage and Daljit Nagra, set to make appearances.
Glastonbury, who cares? Tickets are still available. There is nothing more enticing than a brilliant sounding festival that has almost sold out. Sources tell us that more tickets are to be released at a later date, but nothing is confirmed as yet.
We have a couple of suggestions: get day tickets and rummage through contacts for some convenient landed acquaintances in the nearby environs. Or do festivals like a VIP, staying in giant teepee Yurtels and Podpads... which have in-built double beds.
10 June 2008
The Palm Centre
Clambering across the meadows at the foot of Richmond Hill in West London, leaving the dirty summer city behind, you will find your way into an increasingly Mediterranean landscape in Summer. Although in some ways it is classically English, with Skye Gyngell's Petersham Nurseries, and the crumbing walls of seventeenth century Ham House at its centre. But there is something foreign or other-worldly about the tree-lined shady drives, and horses pounding the ground, flinging mud under hoof and trail-blazing dust across the Polo fields of the Ham Polo Club.
And then you find yourself in The Palm Centre, with hundreds of green houses growing enormous palms, rolled up in great big black earth rugs, like sleeping giants. The Sprinklers are spinning providing a quick freshening up after the all the clambering through fields. The palms are awesome to look at and there are thousands of other plants, including fully grown gnarly silver olive trees. There is also some pretty incredible furniture for sale carved from recycled ancient wood, including some vast benches made from hollowed out trees.