Back to school in style....

September really did have a back to school feel for me, especially when I spent the morning at The Langham hotel learning how to write with a fountain pen!
I have always had a love affair with stationery and writing, my granddad always wrote with a fountain pen and I inherited his writing bureau and pen collection when he passed. As a gift for my birthday I received the opportunity to attend a Modern Calligraphy workshop with Judy Broad in the luxurious style at The Langham hotel in London.

Judy was lovely and made everybody feel so welcome on arrival. The table was laid out beautifully with personalised luggage tag envelopes,ink, inkpot,nib, pen  and macarons.

Inside the envelope was the materials and alphabet guides to help you master the art of Modern Calligraphy. From teaching you how to master the art of holding the pen, key nib strokes through to the alphabet in upper and lower case, Judy was patient, encouraging and coaching.
Soon we were joining up letters and creating words.
I have never used a dip pen before and loved it. Judy uses some glorious colour palettes with her calligraphy (here is her colourful instagram feed) I really love the white and gold inks.
 I had a lovely morning at The Langham with Judy and learnt so much. I look forward to using my new learned skill over the coming months and during the holiday season.

Book Love - September

 This months book post reads like a September school timetable; featuring some problem solving, science, English literature and sports.
5 books to talk about this month:
- Mark Billingham - The Bones Beneath
- Nicola May - The School Gates
- Jonny Wilkinson - My Autobiography
- Nicola May - The School Gates
- Harper Lee - To Kill A Mockingbird.

• Mark Billingham's The Bones Beneath is the 12th novel in the Tom Thorne series. Tom is a detective who heads up a murder team. Stuart Nicklin is serving multiple life sentences behind bars and is one of the most dangerous psycopaths that Thorne has ever put behind bars. Nicklin promises to reveal the whereabouts of a body he buried 25 yrs previously but only on his terms and if Thorne escorts him to the remote island off the Welsh coast. With multiple dangers and the body count growing, Thorne soon realises that Nicklins playing a game that he has planned for years and a race against time ensues. I'm a huge fan of the Tom Thorne series and once I got into this book I enjoyed it, however I didn't think it was as good as previous novels, I think it may have been that it was predominately set outside of London, which as much as a Thorne novel as is the character.
• Nicola May – The SchoolGates. As titled this book revolves around The School Gates of Featherstone Primary in the small town of Denbury and is a fun read perfect for "Back to School" month. With no central story, this book centres around a number of people who all meet daily at the school gates of the primary school and how their lives layer  each other's and interlink. Gordy is a gay flight attendant, who is juggling parenthood that has been thrust upon him with twins of his much loved and departed sister. Joan is the earth mother who has a brood of children, and new born baby (who is transported around on a cat box strapped to the bicycle) juggling worries of health & her marriage. Alana is a very high powered career driven women who is hiding a very big secret from a work colleague. Dana is the ex-au pair, now 2^nd wife to Mark, who is slowly realising that life as the wife isn't as exciting as the au pair mistress and desperate for a 2^nd baby. Mo is the downtrodden mum who is abused by her alcoholic husband and Emily is the PTA bitch, who look's like she has it all, but crack soon appear in her perfect lifestyle. I loved these characters within this book and once I got used to how the books jumps between characters was soon deeply embroiled within the lives of the residents of Denbury. An easy fun filled read with realistic characters. Look forward to reading more from the author.

• Jonny Wilkinson – My Autobiography. Jonny Wilkinson's career has crossed three decades and four World Cups. He has accumulated phenomenal achievements, world points records, an impressive list of broken body parts, and a drop goal that will be remembered for ever. But the peculiar calmness with which he played the game masked a very different reality. 
  

In JONNY, he reveals the extraordinary psychology that he had to tame in order to be able to dominate his sport. For most of his life, he was driven by a quest for perfection and an obsession to be the best player in the world; here he shows how these two facets of his competitive mind took such a hold of him that they sent him to the top of the world, then swept him up and dragged him down into a spiral of despair. Jonny's career has spanned the far reaches: amazing highs and iconic moments, then a fight against injury that culminated in a battle with depression. Here he tells of the physical toll he knew his body was taking from rugby, even from his youth; he tells of how he never wanted to be a kicking fly-half but learned to adapt his natural game to play the style that Clive Woodward believed necessary to win a World Cup, and how he nearly walked out on Martin Johnson's England team 13 years later. – this is a fantastic read and one I have returned to whilst travelling to the Rugby World cup games that I have attended. JW is one of my sporting heroes and this book is a fascinating read, his battle with demons off the pitch as big as the injuries he sustained on it.

• Lynda La Plante – Backlash. From the author that bought us Prime Suspect, this is LLP's 8^th book in the Above Suspicion (Anna Travis) series. The story centres around a man that is caught 'red handed' with a body in a van that has been sexually assaulted and murdered. Confessing to the killing and whilst under interview he also eludes to further killings, it is now up to the detective team to find the evidence and the bodies of previous killings. This re-opens a cold case of DCS Langton's featuring a missing 13year old girl. As the team become embroiled within the investigation the killer continues to play games with the team, believing that he has committed the perfect murders. This book grabs you from the beginning and it was nice reacquainting myself with the charters of previous books. The writing is gritty, graphic, and real which is the epitome of LLP's style. Loved it and can't wait to read book 9.
• Harper Lee – To Kill a Mockingbird To Kill a Mockingbird is a coming-of-age story, an anti-racist novel, a historical drama of the Great Depression and a sublime example of the Southern writing tradition. Voted the most life changing book by a female author and this year celebrates its 50^th birthday. This year I received the 50^th birthday hardback as a birthday gift and have loved revisiting this story. It is one of my favourite books and I have read it numerous times, along with seeing it at the theatre and on screen. Studying it for my o'level many years ago, it is a book that has stayed with me over the years, I have many versions along with a much thumbed and loved copy from my teens (complete with notes in the margins) and I read it frequently. I loved the character of Atticus Finch who reminds me so much of my gramps.
" Shoot all the blue jays in the world, but if you hit them, remember it’s a sin to Kill a Mockingbird" A lawyer's advice to his children as he defends the real mockingbird of Harper Lee's classic novel - a black man charged with the rape of a white girl. Through the young eyes of Scout and Jem Finch, Harper Lee explores with exuberant humour the irrationality of adult attitudes to race and class in the Deep South of the thirties. The conscience of a town steeped in prejudice, violence and hypocrisy is pricked by the stamina of one man's struggle for justice. But the weight of history will only tolerate so much.

As you can see a very varied book pile this month and a lovely re-visit to a couple of favourites along with catching up with old friends in new adventures from 2 admired crime writers. A mixed book bag this month to reflect the new school year and even Taylor got in on the act of the back to school vibe!
Here are some book posts from previous months, would love to hear what you have been reading or recommendations……
Happy reading 
Tx

A night of True Gold....

Earlier this month myself & 3 girl friends spent an evening reliving our youth with the Spandau Ballet boys at the O2. It's no secret that I am a huge Spandau Ballet fan, so when the tickets for their highly successful Soul Boys of the Western World tour were released my fingers were poised over the keyboard to grab them as quickly as I could.
Spandau Ballet's True tour was one of my first big concerts that I ever attended back when I was 14 years old, nothing was going to stop me seeing the 5 back on stage 30 years later. It seemed 20,000 other people thought the same as the O2 was filled to the rafters.
Spandau Ballet have always managed to span a wide fan base and this was evident within the audience range that night; 80's Blitz club devotees, new romantics male & female and the middle age women whose idols adorned their bedroom walls in their teens. Rusty Egan warmed the crowd up with a DJ set playlist legendary from his Blitz club years, before Spandau hit the stage with their new track Soul Boy

The boys were back, Tony's baritone belting out across the O2,  the Kemp brothers strumming the base and guitar in rhythmic style flanking Tony on either side of the stage, Johnnie Keeble drumming and the incredibly talented Steve Norman strutting across the set, playing percussion and sax in infinite style.... Spandau were back!

Soul Boy lead into their Parade back catalogue; comprising of

Highly Strung 

Only When You Leave 

How Many Lies 

Round and Round all with some great clips of yester year

this led nicely into a couple of new tracks, produced with Trevor Horn as part of their Soul boys story.
This Is the Love and Steal before  taking us right back to the year of 1981 and the Blitz years.With a huge glitter ball dropping from the ceiling and a hardcore base and synthesised beat rippling out across the stage it was time to pull on the frilly shirts and party new romantic style.
kicking off with the classic Chant No 1 (I Don't Need This Pressure On)

Blitz Medley: Age Of Blows Intro / Reformation / Mandolin / Confused / The Freeze 

To Cut a Long Story Short and Raw followed

the band partied hard and finished with a heart-stopping tribute to Steve Strange, their friend & founder of the Blitz club who they had buried a few days previously. He would have loved to have seen the boys back on stage in such synthesized up style!
Glow (Instrumental played by band) After a fabulous instrumental medley from Martin, John and Steve which showcased their considerable talents as musicians, it was time for Tony & Gary to pop up in the middle of the audience for a small acoustic set of Empty Spaces and a fabulous audience participation of Gold.

Empty Spaces (Acoustic)

Gold  (Acoustic singalong with audience) demonstrating how far these two had become and what talented individuals they are

Once More
 I'll Fly for You

it was time for the huge hits back catalogue to get the crowd back on their feet with the boys launching into some of the crowds favourites....it was evident now that the 5 were having a ball and it really felt that issues that had kept the 5 estranged for so many years and been put aside and the crowd were loving it.

Instinction

Communication

Lifeline

2 hours whizzed past in a flash and it was soon time for the song that launched Spandau Ballet from a North London new romantic band into global superstars, millions of girls fell in love to this song and it still has the ability make me smile, sigh and remember the guy (aside from Tony Hadley) that I fell in love with to this song...

True

With 20,000 people on their feet serenading Spandau as loudly as Tony was belting out the bands classic hit, flanked by the Kemp brothers, and Steve Norman taking centre stage with his epic sax solo it really was hard to believe that 30 years had passed since this school disco classic had hit the No.1 slot across the world.

With feet stamping and shouts and claps of encore ringing around the arena the band took to the stage to finish the night with 2 of their biggest hits and favourites.... in the words of John Kebble it really did feel like the band had a better end.... with movie flash backs showcasing the struggles, friendship and love these 5 have had over the 30 years it really showcased how they had overcome the barricades to deliver True Gold..
Encore:
Through the Barricades

Gold

As with all legendary Spandau Ballet encores, the evening wasn't complete with a few bottles of beer and a jack daniels on stage to toast the evening with gold!

With a final that had every one on their feet it was time for the band to take an emotional bow and party with their loved ones.... allowing 20,000 people to leave south London with a golden glow in their heart and a smile on their face.

The Soul Boys tour will take the band across the world throughout 2015 to places that I imagine that they never thought would play again.... I hope that they enjoy those shows as much as I and my friends enjoyed the O2... it really has been a Journey of Glory for these 5 boys from Islington, and they delivered a truly stylish set of nostalgic gold. Having been at the Albert Hall for the movie premiere and the O2 for the 2009 reformation tour ut really does feel like this band has found the thing that made them great in their hey day and as a fan I am happy and thankful to have seen them back on stage together again. The 5 have still got it and flaunted it in style !                                            I shared some of my images on instagram the following day and to my delight it seems that Gary Kemp liked them too....

Tony at the Theatre Royal.....

Last Sundays evenings entertainment was courtesy of Tony Hadley  at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane, accompanied by the South Bank Symphonia orchestra.
I saw Tony last year at the Albert Hall, and then again recently at the Spandau Ballet reunion at the Hall to watch the Soul Boys movie.
This guy just gets better as he gets older, accompanied by a great band and orchestra it was a mix of pop, rock, and old school glamour.
Tony's 1st act was a mix of covers and his own work and his 2nd act full on Spandau Ballet classics.
Here's a few of my favourites from this tour (some videos from other nights)
Act 1:
Somebody told me ~ The Killers - a vey cool version....

and a gorgeous version of Bridge Over Troubled Water, one of my favourites and always gives me goose bumps.

 

Act 2:
Tony's favourite song....

an old school classic ... round and round



a great new song Soul Boy

and a fabulous finale of Gold!



all were delivered with style, panache ... a complete showman who owns the stage... all accompanied by a great band & orchestra, a large jack daniels and plenty of old school glamour.... Tony transported me from today, back 30 years and I fell in love all over again.

 

Spandau Ballet ~ Soul Boys

My final "Back to School" moment for the month came on Tuesday night when I spent the night on the red carpet with the Soul Boys of Spandau Ballet.  Its no secret on this blog that I am a fan (Spandau's reformation tour and Tony at the Albert Hall) and jumped at the chance to see the premier of their docu-movie and gig at the Royal Albert Hall. This would be the first time that the whole band would gig this stage since 1983 when True was at the top of the charts.
I arrived at one of my favourite venues in London the Royal Albert Hall just in time to see the band step onto the red carpet. All boys led the fashion stakes in legendary style and panache, something that they were known for over the last 35 years... a little older but still looking fabulous. It was cool to see.

Lauren Laverne opened the evening and welcomed the other 200 cinemas across the nation that had joined the premier of the movie. A full to the rafters Albert Hall settled in their seats, boxes and standing in the eves to watch the film reel roll for a trip back in time to the 80's.
The movie is a fabulous foray into world of the Ballet boys from the fun to the fighting all against the backdrop of the fashion, music and world of the 80's.

I thoroughly enjoyed this film, it bought back so many memories, its a film about friendship, music, politics and fashion. At times its not comfortable viewing and I would imagine the band when they saw it felt the same, as the falling out and consequent court case makes for uncomfortable viewing.

After the movie, the band sat with the director George Hencken for a Q & A, which again was screened across the cinemas and was much fun. It was evident from this that the band were back in good form and all past differences looked firmly behind them.



 With the movie and Q&A finished it now time to party.... the Ballet boys took to the stage for a set of tunes famous across the world. If any fan had any doubts that Tony & Gary still had issues, these were firmly put to bed when they took to the stage as a pair to kick off the into to Through the Barricades.

 Spandau Ballet were back in fine voice, rocking the Albert Hall is if it was a weekly occurrence instead of 30 years ago.

The band sung a set of 6 songs including To Cut a Long Story short, and the fabulous Only when you Leave,

It was soon time for the end of course the legendary school disco anthem True...

 



As the band closed the set, it was clear to see that they were completely overwhelmed by the response to the evening.

Obviously the evening wasn't completely over as the band returned to the stage for a final encore of their huge anthem Gold!....

The band and crowd rocked the rafters...

It was now officially time to say goodnight, and what an amazing night it was. I had a fabulous time. The Ballet boys are back, and long may it last!

Spandau Ballet cemented their longevity on the little slot they have in my heart on the stage Tuesday night. They took me back to my teens through their film and music and I loved it. I may have been a devout Duranie during my teens but the Ballet boys were a close 2nd for me. This evening took me back to so much, it captures the innocence of those teen years for me perfectly, of so many happy memories and friendships that remain as strong as they did 35 years ago. My life changed significantly in the mid 80's, however this band always takes me back to a happy place, something that has given many smiles over the years, and one of the reasons why I jump at the chance of seeing them whenever and however. I am now looking forward to an evening with Tony Hadley and an orchestra in October and a TV special on the 14th October of the Ballet boys along with a new single and album.... new single showcased here



Wednesday morning I did realise that I was no longer 14 again as late nights on school nights were no longer as forgiving as they used to be and being at my desk for 7 was a killer!.... however happily reliving the evening and my youth kept me going through the day.

# Project Life ~ September

Wow I can't believe that September has closed and we enter October in a mini heat wave of summer. With the hues of glorious oranges and yellows from the autumnal sun, its no wonder that I can't believe that there are only 3 months left of 2014.
September timetable was a month filled with 'Back to School' fun, featuring Books, Bags, Games, School Disco memories and some Thursday fun, along with meeting the Queen of Bakes.
Looking at my Instagram and IPhone library is filled with late summer fun & frolics, in a back to school style.

Project Life September Timetable ~

• Domestic Science theory....Mary Berry - I met the Queen of Bakes herself when she came to Selfridges to launch her new book. The epitomy of what the perfect Domestic Science school teacher was at school... great book and a delightful lady.
• Domestic Science practical .....Baby Bakes ~  a little cake & cupcakes I baked for a friends baby shower... perfect de-stress day filled with icing sugar, eggs & flour - alchemy chemistry at its best.
• High School Hearthrob.....Pants!... I have had many 'pants' days in September, but none so better than David Gandy's launch of his underwear line for M&S. This caused much fun for me during the month and one of the big hits on my blog & Instagram.
• History & politics .... filled with Scandal ... one of my TV treats for the month was back to back box sets of Scandal.... completely back in love with Washington and its political intrigue.
• Fun on Campus .... fun & games in and around Everyman Cinema and Selfridges for team day.
• Photography & Art - glorious days filled with beautiful sunrises, and sunsets.... perfect for capturing on film.
• English Language & Literature ..... a fabulous evening of books filled with three of my favourite authors, Jane Green, Lucy Diamond, Karen Swan, talking plots, romance and so much more!
• PT & games .... a week of games at the Invictus Games, at the Queen Elizabeth Park filled with Royalty and men in uniform!...featuring Jonny Wilkinson, Prince Harry and heroes from the military.... a week which was humbling, inspiring and amazing.

•  School Disco .... fantastic memories from School Days, School Disco's and amazing memories from a night with Spandau Ballet and their Movie Premier ( blog post to come)

What a fabulous September, so many great memories and big ticks on my bucket list....

Looking at what I have planned in October it will be as fabulous as September..... so far it features; Mr Selfridge Afternoon Tea,  A Memphis evening with Beverley Knight.  An Evening with Tony Hadley and orchestra and a night at the Savoy.  A weekend of Good Food Cakes & bakes

 

Totes Amaze Tuesday ~ Back to School

One of my most favourite parts of Autumn starting, is the whole Back to School vibe. During my teens the best part of Back to School was the a new bag and stationery for the start of the Autumn term!.... it's something I don't seem to have outgrown from my teens and still now love a new bag for the autumn. This year is no exception and I have been using this gorgeous Mulberry Del Ray which I picked up in the sale in the summer. It has been languishing in its dust bag until now.

I fell in love with the Del-Ray when it launched because it reminded me so much of my favourite old school bag, with a hefty price tag I just coveted it from afar. However this became affordable in the sale along with my team discount and I just had to have it!...

Inside my Del-Ray, its been mostly filled with my gorgeous Christian Louboutin continental wallet, Mulberry notebook, Moleskine diary, DVF usb key, and Louboutin nail polish in red & black, Laura Mercier lip glaze in Sangria, Ipod, keys (complete with mini del-ray key ring) and an apple!
As with many mulberry bags, it is fully lined with its signature design, silver stamped hardware, padlock and multi storage facilities.
As with all Totes Tuesday posts I have styled my look for this month for work & play;


Work Styling has looked a lot like this: ~ black suit & pussy bow blouse and statement heels.
This bag is so functional for work, but I  have also enjoyed using it casually after work and at weekends.

Play Styling has looked like this ~ cream trousers, black chiffon shirt, black birkenstocks.... perfect for lunchtime treat.













I do think this may be my last Mulberry (I can hear the bank manager rejoicing from afar)... it seems that I have fallen a little out of love with the recent collections.
As with every Totes Tuesday post I would love to hear what's been in your Tote this month and what Handbag are you coveting?

Back to School....

I love September as it is heralds the start of Autumn, which is one of my favourite seasons. It evokes great memories and I love the 'Back to School' vibe... time for planning, new stationery and if lucky a new bag!.... This weeks Totes Tuesday I will share my work bag and styling for September.
I loved getting a new school bag each summer for Back to school and it became a huge adventure. This year I started that adventure with my niece who started 'senior' school this year.

September for me is about learning so I am enjoying reading and journaling my Learn Something New Everyday month with Shimelle. this is the 3rd year that I have participated and although don't share lots I find it fun and though provoking. I have also enjoyed following my blogging friend Caroline who has been busy having a September Sort out and posting her successes on Instagram.

I have become a little stationery obsessed this month, particularly as Selfridges have opened a Hay Mini Market, the first of its kind outside of the Design Festival in Milan... It like a very gorgeous stationery and homeware supermarket, complete with wire baskets and gorgeous product...

Completely in lust with the ruler collection!
My desk has had a colourful overhaul with help from the recent Kate Spade stationery collection at work.... and look forward to adding to it with some of the winter/holiday collection and when I visit New York in December!...
This has been perfect for list compiling and keeping track of my daily journaling for #LSNED and blog posts.
Do you love the back to school feel of September?... if so what do you like?....