Move to the Beat of London 2012.

I'm a little indifferent to London 2012. I hope it will do good things to London but there's a lot of pessimism both inside me and around me that says otherwise. London can barely handle two rush hours a day, yet there's an expectation that the transport system has the capacity to handle an extra three million journeys a day, just by making everyday commuters 'take a holiday', avoid London altogether or walk, not really good enough, especially when the trains aren't even nice.

Where I am concerned, transport is the tiniest issue as I hope to be based elsewhere, although never say never. Anyway although 'everything Olympics' is bound to be in our faces even once those two weeks are over, I thought I'd share Mark Ronson's neat, Olympic-inspired track (no pun intended) with you. Despite having been undoubtedly sounded pretty samey for the last four or five years, I think Ronson's really done something great with this one. I'm a big fan of things like 'STOMP' and the use of everyday items as instruments, so this was bound to please me. You may have spotted the Coca-Cola advert on television recently and obviously something as simple as this couldn't be related to the Olympics without being a bit commercial, but it's still clever and a definite must-watch.

Full-length 'Move to the Beat of London' Coca-Cola advert
Ronson has spent months working with athletes collecting sounds from their field and put it all to a beat to make something pretty catchy. Everything comes together as the Coca-Cola advertisement above, but has also be documented by director Kim Gehrig to show the journey from initial idea to finished product, and that's what looks like the really interesting part.

Even if the Olympics does end up making London look stupid, Mark Ronson, with his weird English-American'ness', will have gained a legacy, or at least acknowledgement that he isn't just all about trumpets. I might have left Katy B out of it though.

(via It's Nice That)

Beat 2012 Documentary Trailer by Kim Gehrig of Some Such & Co.

Pelican.

One of the best things about either being a student/unemployed and correct me if I'm wrong (but I'm not), is the fact that when you're favourite band or company do something, you're right there, able to comment on it, interact and maybe even win something. It's how I've won tickets to see both Biffy Clyro and Jamie T as well as tickets to a screening of Jurassic Park and a limited edition print (more on that when I have time).


Now that I'm working, and will be for the next two weeks (yay!), I kind of feel a bit out of the loop. I'm trying to make sure that I don't ruin too much of The Maccabees new album because like a true fangirl, I've been waiting far too long.

However, I couldn't ignore the excessive amount of temptation from various platforms and had a listen to their upcoming single, 'Pelican'.

I love it, I love them, I love hearing a new song by them, I love hearing Orlando's voice singing a song that I haven't heard before, it's beaut. I'm so psyched for January, when I'll get to see them again in a venue I've never been to before. It's going to be amazing.

Without trying to seem like I'm wishing the year away, I genuinely can't wait. I'm so pleased that there's a promise of the mixture of light and dark that The Maccabees do so well, not to mention classic Maccabees imagery. Welcome back boys! ♥

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The Maccabees on the road, © Tom Martin, 2011. (via The Maccabees on Tumblr)

BBC's Frozen Planet.

Who else is watching this badboy?

I'm tired of people yammering on about 'the photography' like it's going out of fashion. Attenborough programmes have always been great, both visually and educationally, they're even throwing in a free poster with this one. I'm not as fascinated by the Arctic as I am by the oceans or rainforests, but I'm still really enjoying it even if it has featured my most hated of animals, the great gray owl *shudders*.

(via The Mirror - classic example of overexcitement over photography)

Be sure to take a look, nature is amazing.

Channel 4 Battlefront presents: Ready 4 Work.

Aside from needing to not being on the internet to preserve my sanity, if you happened to be wondering, another reason that I have been a bit MIA over the last few days is because yesterday I took part in T4 Battlefront: Ready 4 Work's Walk 4 Work campaign.

I'm just above the 'R' in 'FOR'.
Photo credit: Channel 4

Ready 4 Work is a campaign under Channel 4's online and television project, Battlefront. The campaign seeks to give a voice to NEETs (Not in Education, Employment or Training) aged 18-25, to prove we're not lazy and we're willing to make a pro-active difference in our job hunt.
The Walk 4 Work part was an act to further demonstrate Ready 4 Work's message, head campaigners Joseph and Hafsah want to make a dent in the 973,000 figure placed upon youth unemployment.







It was a really interesting experience, learning about the work that goes into the production of a television programme, as well as hearing everybody's different stories. I think I might even be on telly, so that will be fun. My star-status is already on the rise (jk), with a headshot and quote in The Independent today. I think it's a very important message though and I would love to do something similar again, standing nose-to-back with Charlie Simpson is just oh too exciting.

My face wasn't in the Metro but I did get a whole three sentences in The Independent so...

The march ended at the Houses of Parliament where Joseph and Hafsah went in to talk to the employment minister, Chris Grayling. Grayling was in full support of the campaign and has promised to get the Job Centre to work alongside Battlefront to create 1000 work placements (source).
I think that the whole day helped to make me feel as though not being the only one isn't a negative thing, and I learnt that everyone hates the Job Centre, everyone. I think we were creating a lot of positive attention while walking on the streets as well so it's quite exciting really and what's been written today about the campaign only adds to the value of the message.
I also got a free bowler hat, t-shirt and pin out of it so if nothing else but the photos I'm sharing with you now, I will also have physical objects to always remember the day I Walked 4 Work.




To find out more about Ready 4 Work as well as additional campaigns run by Battlefront, please visit the Battlefront website.

The Renegade Craft Fair and other things.

Last Friday night was the first time Moon has ever slept over at my house, which was nice because I have better pillows than him. After being really stressed out at the beginning of last week, I calmed down a lot and took a few personal days to take my mind off my depressing job hunt. Taking time out resulted in considering booking my theory driving test and finally editing down the images to be uploaded onto my online portfolio because it seriously needs an update.


When Moon got here on Friday we had stew and watched Friday-night telly, not really exciting but nice anyway.

What I Wore 07/10/2011:
Cardigan: Topshop
Scarf: Primark
Dress: Dorothy Perkins
Belt: Primark
Tights: Dorothy Perkins
Boots: Fitflop
First time busting out the wooly boots, I have no idea what October thinks it's playing at. Also got complimented on the tights, I find it weird that people don't know where to buy coloured tights, I'm pretty sure nearly everywhere does them now.


On Saturday we woke up late but thought that we should definitely do something so took ourselves to Brick Lane to have a look at the markets, as well as have a quick nose around the vintage shops, not that that was much cop.

We accidentally stumbled into The Renegade Craft Fair, which was being held in The Old Truman Brewery. It was really cool, with lots of work from independent artists and loads of different craft-related stalls. Sadly I came away empty handed but I'm definitely considering a What Party? embroidery as well as a Jimbobart plate and a poster from the Bungaloo. Moon was lusting over the Bungaloo's My Morning Jacket poster, fanboy.
It was nice to just look though, and it's good that I can refer back to this when I have the room and money to buy all these lovely things. A list of the artist's that were at the Renegade Craft fair can be found here, I hope that they put another one on soon.

What Party?

Cheese + Pickles studio

Jimbobart

the Bungaloo!

After looking at the craft fair we had a wander around Brick Lane, making the now obligatory trip to Rough Trade and venturing into a lacklustre vintage clothes market that was also being held at the Old Truman Brewery. It was a nice day out because it actually felt like we had done something and it was a bit more interesting than hanging out at home or in somewhere like Crawley. The public transport situation was lame though and we walked all the way from Brick Lane to London Bridge, getting a bit, but not too lost on the way.

I find it funny that every other person walking around this area had some kind of camera yet nearly everyone doing anything is funny about you taking photos. What are fun things to look at if there's not even a choice of whether you can or can't take a photograph or not?

Taking the opportunity to say this stall's stuff was overpriced because he wouldn't let me take a photo of the neat way he'd laid out his merchandise.

The most noisy street performer, ever.

I went back with Moon to his house where we were disappointed with X Factor and couldn't stream An Idiot Abroad. On Sunday morning we went to Rusper carboot with Chris and it wasn't as good as last time, but I have a feeling it's because we were a bit too early (even though it doesn't start until 12pm). I picked up some delicious strawberries and a dress, which was a bargain at £1.50.





I spent Sunday evening with my Gran and cousins catching up and eating. It was nice, and I have a potential job too, an advantage of having a close family.
I feel a bit guilty for writing a post about the weekend when the weekend was a whole two days ago, but I just haven't had the time, you'll see why later.

To find out more about the Renegade Craft fair, click here.