Back to Black

Sometimes I just feel like I have to make a little effort with my appearance. Once in a while I'll find it necessary to do a little more with my hair than simply trying to part it so that the prematurely grey bits don't show, and that in turn will provoke a bit of experimentation with eyeliner. After a bit of preening, I like to think that I achieve the twisted glamour of Amy Winehouse. Staring in the mirror the other day, though, I had to face the sad truth. I actually looked like Russell Brand.

Comfort and Joy

Last week we went to see singer Ian Shaw and trumpeter Guy Barker at the Pizza Express jazz club in Dean Street. We'd seen them separately and liked them, so seeing them together seemed like a good bet. We got there pretty early, because attempting to cut into a pizza close to the stage when musicians are playing can get a little risky (I haven't hit anyone with a flying dough ball yet, but it could happen). Anyway, the gig kicked off just as they were bringing out my dessert. Ian Shaw welcomed us all, then announced that they were devoting the evening to playing tunes from old movies - I *love* old movies and I had no idea that this was the theme for the concert, so that was a brilliant surprise. I was sitting there with in the front row, with my boyfriend, eating a Tiramisu, listening to old movie tunes and I thought "can life get any better than this?"... And then the waitress brought me my peppermint tea... and then Ian Shaw launched into a rendition of "Moon River".

The joy is persisting even now.