April 20, 2006

A few images of spring in Hyde Park

9 April, 2006 Sunday

Choosing to live the bohemian artist lifestyle has been very freeing for both Suzanne and me. We have loved learning to live much smaller and have gotten rid of a very consumer mindset. However, we still both love to go and look around stores for what is hot and now. We enjoy strolls along Portabello road and fighting our way through crowds of consumers on Oxford street. Yesterday, it was Oxford street. And specifically, Selfridges to take a look around. Right now, they have window displays that are an homage to punk rock. The mannequins are all painted a very neon orange and there are more pairs of Doc Martins in the windows than a Mod reunion. Inside, the homage continues and they even have a "punk club" downstairs with stage and "pirate cds". But what was the height of the trip was Suzanne finding the edible line of products ( www.edible.com ). Included in the range of products are civet coffee (coffee beans that have been partially fermented by passing through the digestive track of a civet cat). Scorpion Vodka (including a real dead scorpion that can consumed when you finished the vodka) meal worm chips in BBQ flavor, and even crushed pearl infused chocolate. I can't decide if I want to try any of this or leave it as an extremely bizarre product line that I once saw in a store.

April 4, 2006

Since Donald and I have been together, we have always enjoyed going to bookstores. This of course is due to the fact that on one of our first dates, Donald took me to my first book store. It was quite an event that neither of us will ever forget. I had a great love for books as a child, but as I grew up and the illustrations became less and less, I began to really dislike reading. Donald, being an avid reader, decided that this was one thing he had to change straight away, and with little difficulty. And one memorable trip to a little Crown Book store in Rancho Bernardo, I completely changed.

The bookstore was crammed with all kinds of books, from children's story books to adult only interests. You need to keep in mind that this took place 13 years ago, when there wasn't these giant Borders and Barnes & Noble book stores playing loud music. This was a very small and quiet bookstore with a library feel. I, of course, being incredibly naive and not knowing quite how to conduct myself, I was amazed that there were books about sex right there on the shelf. In a loud shocked voice I pointed this out to Donald, and much to his embarrassment the rest of the browsing customers. Today I am still grateful that this did not put Donald off on me, or taking me out in public.

Many years later, with hundreds of hours and dollars spent, we still frequent book stores and cherish every book we purchase.

And this last week Donald finally got me back for embarrassing him all those years ago.

I pretty much tend to look in very limited sections in a book store, the art, design, fashion, and children's books. Knowing this Donald can always find me no matter how big the store, and Donald has also started really enjoying the art, design and fashion sections with me. While walking down the Thames we came to a book store quoting that it was world famous. Neither of us having ever heard of it, (and not remembering the name even now) decided to take a browse through.

Again we found ourselves in a small book store that was without the loud music of the Borders of the world. To my complete happiness, the first section in the front to the store was art and design so we both headed over to the books. Donald walked around the corner from me and in a loud voice poked his head out from a stack of books on Graphic Design saying "Look honey!, male nudes!" Startled and with bright red cheeks, my eyes darted from the old lady standing next to me and back to Donald. Trying my best not to start giggling like a small child getting up to no good during a quiet moment in church, I ran for Donald grabbing his arm and pulling him out of sight. "I think you just put that old lady in shock!" I whispered excitedly. Donald and I both started giggling and I knew I had to remove myself from that section before I embarrassed myself more than what Donald had already done.

Donald stayed looking at the books with the old lady until we left. As we walked out Donald was proud of his accomplishment in getting me back and with a big smile he said, "You know that old lady is still over there looking for the book on male nudes that doesn't exist" :)

And with that I have decided that Donald and I will not only be sharing our wonderful world of life in London with you, but also books we love. Being a big collector of children's books and knowing I have friends that read this and also collect them, I have decided to kick it off with a special book I found in a book store in Old Town in San Diego, but finally purchased it here in Nottinghill. Diary of a Wombat is a quick read, but is enduring; it's a warm story and with expressive illustrations. I am attaching the image of the book cover. If you ever run into it in a store I highly recommend taking the few minutes it will take to read it, as the ending is priceless.