Update on The Boiler

Update: There is no update.

The boiler is languishing in the corner, refusing to work.

The boiler fix-it man is nowhere to be found - he went home to his warm, cosy, HEATED home yesterday (probably to have a HOT shower) instead of coming to fix our boiler.

We have no hot water.

We have no heating.

Temperatures are expected to dip below zero over the weekend with snow showers predicted.

I am in a state of numb* incomprehension.

I tried to express my incomprehension to the lovely (very understanding) telephone operator at Vokera (the boiler manufacturer) this morning. She could not help me. They contract their work out to Crystal Heating Ltd. It was Crystal Heating who deemed it acceptable not to bother turning up yesterday. Extraordinary. Perhaps Crystal Heating is unaffected by the recession and can afford not to provide any iota of customer service.

Vokera have no "out of hours" contact number for Crystal Heating. I have searched the Internet but am unable to find a mobile and/or out of hours number for Crystal Heating.

We are, apparently, unable to contract out to any other boiler fix-it company. It is an insurance claim and under the insurance policy, Vokera must carry out (or organise) any repairs.

Tension in the Messy household is at an all-time high.

*caused by freezing conditions within the Messy household.

On a more important note, spare a thought for the people who are living rough on the streets of London who have no home let alone any heating or hot water or a comfortable bed. It is going to be a cold few days out there and it reminds me how lucky I am to have a roof over my head, blankets etc. And also for all the Aussies affected by the shocking heatwave hitting the country right now: tough times on both sides of the world...

Photos are of the Seine in Paris (last September) and baguettes from Paul (bakery) in Bordeaux- happier, sunnier times :)

The Haute World

Collections from Dior, Givenchy, and Jean Paul Gaultier
Dior proved to be the most dramatic of all the collections I saw, the volume of each dress is impressive as well as the intricately sculpted details, very couture. Galliano managed to soften the harsh almost futuristic silhouettes with a touch of 50s kitsch in the layers of pastel ruffles. But rather than turning out like an over the top nightmare - that 50s kitsch has the potential to produce - each garment embodied a sense of sophistication present in the most classic of couture.

*To those of you who have been sending me e-mails about upcoming fashion shows - i live in Austin, TX... a little far from NY*





Fotos via thecobrasnake

Dark Magic

Flare Magazine, 2006

The Boiler

Most Excellent Blog Fans (c'mon- I know there must be at least 3 of you out there!) your blogger has been absent for the last couple of days (actually, is there anyone out there reading this? has anyone realised little 'ole Messy has been absent??) BUT, for once, I have an excuse: DISASTER has struck the Messy Household (cue Dah Dah Daaaaaaaaaaaaaaah music).....................

Our BOILER has BLOWN UP.

No! I hear you gasp

YEESSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I reply (as an icicle slides it way down my right eyebrow, off my nose and into my coffee cup)

Our freakin' naughty boiler has had a tissy fit IN THE MIDDLE OF WINTER and is not working. For those of you Aussie Blog Fans who aren't familiar with the role of the boiler, it basically creates the hot water, the heating, everything HEAT related in the flat.

To say I am unimpressed with this turn of events (it happened Tuesday) would be a MAJOR understatement.

This is what I wrote in my diary on Tuesday night:

"The boiler has blown up

Situation: NOT GOOD

Messy Mood: NOT GOOD

I can't have a shower, I can't wash my hair, it is 3 degrees outside but feels like minus 3 degrees inside the flat....I can't wait till I tell Mr Messy about this....

(Messy tells Mr Messy about the boiler)....

Mr Messy Mood: NOT GOOD

Situation: DIRE"

I have, of course, declared a STATE OF EMERGENCY (since we have been without hot water/any form of heating now for 3 full days) in the Messy household although Mr Messy tells me I am overreacting and that this happens to people ALL the time and that we aren't the only ones suffering right now.... To say that I am currently unimpressed with Mr Messy would also be an understatement.

As for morning ablutions I described it to a friend as thus: "Imagine , say, a pelican (the largest bird I can think of right now) trying to bathe itself in a teacup- and you have me trying to have a "shower" using a glass bowl, a kettle full of water, a washer and some soap. It is as unpleasant, ineffective and ridiculous as it sounds."

Apparently the nice little boiler fix-it man (well, I assume it will be a man but maybe there are boiler fix-it ladies as well) will be arriving on our doorstop tomorrow somewhere between 8:30am and 5:30pm to fix the blighter. I am remaining hopeful that the boiler can be coaxed into working again tomorrow- I cannot even begin to imagine, don't want to imagine, what my mental state will be like if it cannot be fixed on the spot. Situation will be: we are moving into a hotel. STAT.

postscript: I have just picked up a copy of the London Lite paper. It reads "Icy blast coming in from Russia: Freezing air from Russia will bring another cold snap to the UK early next week. Heavy snowfalls are forecast for Monday, and Tuesday in the South-East, with temperatures expected to drop as low as -4C, while icy winds are likely to make it feel even colder".

The boiler will be fixed tomorrow. Period.

If your wondering about the photos, I didn't have a photo of a pelican having a birdie bath in a teacup on file, so you're getting Bordeaux (top) and Paris (bottom).

In Muh Balenciaga

I wish, but i bought this dress in hopes that it would look somewhat similar to the S/S 08 dresses. In other news, i've been sewing a good amount for an upcoming fashion show at MexicArte in downtown Austin. The clothes are for the most part tailored to fit me and although i'd consider myself thin, I'm not "model thin" and the other day when a couple of the models tried on the clothes they were literally sagging off their sides! My design parter and I are going to be smothered in heaps of work for the next couple weeks.

ALSO I've been scouting around for summer internships, preferably with a designer. I was considering Alexander Wang or some one else in New York but the only problem is where to stay. I have absolutely no connections in NY so I'm not sure how i could swing that, but we'll see.... If you know of any internships you think might interest me please e-mail me!
x
Isabel

Bella Freud

I found this picture from this time last year which I took when working with Kathryn Ferguson for Bella Freud. Go to:
http://www.vogue.com

Miss Lala press picture

For more on information on Miss Lala go to:
http://www.boudiche.com

The Kodak Carousel

I haven't got time to post a long-ish post today (instead I am sitting at the computer procrastinating over an article I should have finished 2 days ago!). Oh, and um, watching Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall tackling Tesco on the rearing of poultry (I love his comment about one punter "wanting more cluck for her buck!!" )


This photo (another of the merry-go-round in Bordeaux) was inspired by the anonymous blog reader who posted a comment last week on da blog re the hit US show, Mad Men. I confess I hadn't heard of this show before reading the comment and watching the YouTube clip- but now I am intrigued. The show is a drama series set in the 1960's in New York and explores the high pressure, high octane world of advertising. It looks HOT, HOT, HOT. I will definitely be watching the new series when it hits our screens in mid-Feb.

House of Holland

Place des Quinconces, Bordeaux

The French Circus, Arlette Gruss, just happened to be in Bordeaux at the same time we were there (I think the season runs from 16 January to 8th February, 2009). The tent looked magnificent, particularly in the late afternoon sunshine, in the Place des Quinconces- the huge square in the centre of Bordeaux.

The square is the 2nd largest city square in the EU (according to wiki) and is dominated by a large column on top of which sits a statute representing the Spirit of Liberty (I will post photographs tomorrow).

The monument was erected between 1894 and 1902 in memory of the Girondists who fell victim of the Reign of Terror during the French Revolution. These sculptures (below) sit around the base of the column in two large basins.

And because a Messy post isn't (usually) complete without a stranger, here is a lovely gal and her new puppy I photographed in the Place des Quinconces.

Is there anything cuter than a new puppy tummy???!!!

Musée des Arts Décoratifs and Chez Karl, Bordeaux

Continuing on the salon de thé theme in Bordeaux, two more places to rest, regroup and sip a milky café au lait or sinfully rich chocolat chaud (and maybe sneak a flaky pain au chocolat) are the Musée des Arts Décoratifs (the courtyard of which I photographed above and below) and Chez Karl.

The Musee Des Arts Decoratifs (Museum of Decorative Arts) is located in the Hôtel de Lalande, a beautiful 18th century building, and houses an exquisite collection of furniture, 18th and 19th century porcelain, glassware, ceramics, silver and wrought iron work. The building was designed by the famous Bordeaux architect, Etienne Laclotte, for the Marquis de Lalande and was completed in 1779.

Hidden in the pretty cobbled courtyard of the Musee Des Arts Decoratifs is an elegant salon de thé - you can take tea sitting at the outside tables during fine weather or tuck yourself away in the tiny tea room if the weather is unbearably chilly.

Plus, and this is very secret squirrel, the courtyard houses a scrupulously clean toilet if you are, umm, caught short and really need to go! If there is one thing I appreciate when travelling, it is a clean toilet with toilet paper that flushes reliably :)

Musée des Arts Décoratifs

39, Rue Bouffard 33000
Bordeaux
Tel : 05 56 10 14 00

Chez Karl is a buzzy little cafe in the historic Saint- Pierre District. The food isn't extraordinary but it is a nice airy space which looks out onto a pretty square. I had the "Petit déjeuner du Boulanger" for 5 euro which consisted of a wonderfully crunchy baguette, slices of rye bread, preserves, nutella, butter and a café au lait. The staff are friendly and the servings, plentiful. It would be lovely in summer when the tables are set outside on the square.

A waitress at Chez Karl, Bordeaux (below)

These young chaps were sitting at the next table- they were being mischievous with the pepper grinder and had me and a couple of other patrons in fits of giggles. They were Tae Kwon Do students on tour from Korea and wolfed down a huge cup/bowl each of chocolat viennois.

Chez Karl

6, place du parlement 33000

Bordeaux

Tapestry solo exhibition start

This week I began my exhibition photography with Hannah Marshall and Ben Grimes who got the wheels turning... InStyle are agreeing to cover the event so far too.
For more regular information join my facebook group ALISTAIRGUYPHOTOGRAPHY.
See www.tapestry.co.uk

Inspiration: January

January has been monotonous. School isn't exactly the easiest thing to get back into after a couple weeks of much needed break. I've been awful about posting outfits and conducting interviews etc. But OMG YOU GUISE i have so many hits per day. this is crazy. Anyways, i wanted to point out a few of my favorite things for this month, people, places, things. ALSO, although they aren't on this list i've been very in to knee high black gladiators - the more dramatic, the better!

Gucci ads long wavy hair, studs, tight pants, leather, military inspired silhouettes, fringe, fur. Everything about the gucci F/W '08 ads screams "luscious", but it's such a funny verb when describing something that I like, Gucci has always seemed like such a glamorous label, fit for people like Monica Bellucci or someone like that. Who would have ever thought that these street kids from the blogging world would ever latch on?

Matthew Palladino amazing artist. I had to choose a piece by someone who utilized watercolors to replicate in art class. I chose this painting "Stay out of the Rose Garden" and on a whim from there created a horridly freakish piece based on a 60's ad for girdles (don't worry, i'll post it soon).

Balmain Dress Erin Wasson works it, but even without her the dress is amazing. look at that bead work! and the color!

Irina Lazareanu I read somewhere she was taking a sort of "break" from being a super model, just being selective with the shows she walks and ad campaigns she participates in. But besides that her style is amazing, quirky, and she manages to soften even the boxiest man-trousers. I'm also considering cutting my hair like hers again, blunt bangs, good idea?

A Room of My Own painting my room this weekend, need to clean out some of the clutter, throw things out, sort things like the organizational freak i am, clean, make my bed. My dream room would of course be a little along the lines of this fairy princess palace...

Leopard Lady

Faux fur cropped jacket, like the Top Shop one i posted about earlier

Le Samovar - Salon de Thé, Bordeaux

Two hip strangers I managed to snap in the late afternoon in Bordeaux (above and below).

Having wandered the streets of Bordeaux for a few hours, and fuelled only by my early morning baguette and Café au Lait, I was delighted (as were my aching feet-all those cobblestones are hard work on the tootsies!) when I stumbled across a quirky little Salon de Thé, Le Samovar, in the quartier Saint Michel.

It is a cosy space filled with hundreds of second-hand books, lots of mixed matched sofas and chairs, throw rugs, kitsch objet d'art, and vintage lamps. It feels very much like taking tea in your Great Aunt's cluttered living room, um, except without your Great Aunt hovering about offering stale Rich Tea biscuits and unwanted advice on the state of your love life.

The coffee was, well, average, but you don't go to France for the coffee (unlike Italy!). You go to sit in cafe's like this one to soak up the atmosphere, to eavesdrop on conversations, to write, and to dream a thousand dreams.

Le Samovar

rue camille sauvageau, st Michel, 33800 Bordeaux

The photos below are of some lovely students I met while dreaming my thousand dreams :)

p.s. I do put spaces between my paragraphs-but then then they disappear when I post! arghhhhhhhhh

See, this is when an IT guru would come in very handy to hold my little hand

Top Shop S/S '09

Maybe it's because of the recent opening of a store in NYC, or maybe it's the newly elected president, but i'm sure i spot a bit of patriotism present in Top Shop's Spring '09 collection.
I spy some pretty convincing Gucci replicants, Rodarte- esque, lazer cut leggings, and flower prints worthy of Jeremy Scott. Can't wait until they post the entire collection online.

Bordeaux Photos

Just processing a couple of photos of Bordeaux while I watch my absolute favourite program of the moment- Heston Blumenthal's revamp of Little Chef. It is like watching a car crash in slow motion - mesmerising and horrific all at once.

For all you Aussie peeps reading da Blog, Little Chef is a roadside cafe chain here in the UK which hasn't had its food or decor updated since, well, errrr, a very long time (but not in a nostalgic good way!)

Brilliant, captivating viewing

p.s. I am dying to eat at the revamped Little Chef- I have read super things about it. Anyone been to one since the makeover?

The Merry- Go-Round of Life

Sometimes it feels like life is just one big merry-go-round... endlessly turning and turning and never really getting anywhere - or maybe that is just my life!

Starting a new venture and changing careers (particularly in these uncertain economic times) is scary- there are days when I think of packing it all in and going back to a secure, office job as a lawyer where a nice little paycheck comes in each fortnight, with 4 weeks PAID holiday leave, PAID sick leave, an IT department (oh how I wish I had an IT guru to sit by my side and hold my sweaty little hand when things go awry with my computer), a speaker phone (anyone else get slightly frustrated sitting on hold for any length of time on a land line with no speaker? arghhh, the frustration blog fans, the frustration!), free stationary (not that I would ever advocate using office stationary for personal use 'cos that would be just plain wrong ;), nice office toilets (not that our toilet isn't nice but, well, it is rather lovely to be using somebody else's toilet paper and squirty soap- not to mention the Dyson Airblade hand dryer-instead of my own) and most importantly, other humans readily at hand to listen to my moaning, share a giggle and office gossip (not that I would ever advocate office gossip of course!)

But then... I stop and give myself a long hard talking to, NO!, I don't want to get to 60 and not have followed my dream because it was just too much hard work, because it required too many sacrifices, because it was too tiring, because everyone else said not too, because I was too scared, because I didn't believe in myself, because because because.....

So on I solider.

I leave you with a Dr Seuss quote which I really like:

"You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes.

You can steer yourself any direction you choose. You're on your own, and you know what you know.

And you are the one who'll decide where you'll go.

Oh the places you'll go" Dr Seuss

Photos are from Bordeaux