Christmas List

One of my favourite writers. Sylvia's Journals are not just for Christmas, they're for life.

Babies 2010

This weekend I watched a stunning documentary by French director Thomas Balmès, 'Babies'. I think one of the most beautiful things about this film is that there is no narration, no subtitles, nothing but images. Taking four babies from four different corners of the world: Namibia, Tokyo, Mongolia and San Fran, this film effectively shows the differences and similarities between life (not just baby life) in each location and culture, and it really makes you think. I love it when something as simple as images without words can make you think and break down the barriers of understanding foreign languages, it really is fascinating. Plus there are lots of cute moments in there, my particular favourite was when the little Mongolian chap was taking a bath and a stray goat came to take a sip of the water. Continuing with this theme, there are some amazing interactions between fearless babies (sometimes fearless naked babies if you're in Mongolia) and goats, cows, cats and sharp toothed dogs having their fur pulled, having baby fingers stuck in their mouths, and not biting back.  And if that's not enough, the Namibian baby has some intense dance moves going on too. Watch the trailer here.

Christmas List Begins

Christmas is the perfect time to make a long list of all the books you want to read in the New Year, or all cosied up over the festive holiday. This lady's new one makes it to my list...

Eating and Reading

There's nothing cosier than drinking tea and reading a book when it's raining and windy on the other side of the window. What's your perfect accompaniment to reading? A cup of chai and a few biscuits would definitely be my top choice, the digestive being my preferred crumb. Ouissi Gresty's new fabric-design book combines my two loves in one: books and biscuits. This set of pages will help you to craft your very own set of felt biscuits, not forgetting the stylish union jack biscuit tin. But be warned, however realistic they may look (especially that pink wafer...wow!) they're strictly for decorative purposes only. Don't get confused.

Match Point

One of Woody Allen's most beautifully shot films, I watched Match Point (2005) last week. A film of entrapment, lust, obsession, deception, and crime; it wasn't what I expected. It was better. Is it just me, or do all the character's seem very two-dimensional and cardboard-cut-out in Allen's films, apart from when they give into some form of illicit lust? That's when you see the real person come out. I think one of the saddest things about this film is that some characters never achieve this release, they are trapped in their own, 2-dimensional worlds of blind obsession and social position, remaining oblivious to it all.

I think I need to start writing....