Maybe It's Because I'm a North Londoner

I've become a North Londoner for the first time. Still refusing to take part to the childish North-South feud, I'm exploring my new neighbourhood. With an autumn like this, it's pure awesomeness! 

Hampstead Heath is my new hood. My beautiful park is surrounded
by houses of the rich and unapproachable. 

After a truly horrid summer, we've been treated with a
lovely autumn. Still not too cold for picnic in late October!

South London is oh, so far away!

Maybe It's Because I'm a South Londoner

Last weekend my favourite SE London street celebrated its village fête in the form of Bermondsey Street Festival. 


Bermondsey Street is full of lovely little boutiques, design studios, bars, cafes and restaurants and it's a living proof that you don't have to (or shouldn't?) go to Shoreditch to find cool London. 


My favourites on the street include The Garrison Public House and the beer garden of The Woolpack. Kind words have also been said about the newcomers Jose Tapas Bar and Zucca, not to forget the independent cinema Shortwave. Enjoy! 

The Bermondsey Street Festival was all about dogs...

... the hog roast by The Garrison ....

... and of course about the people.

Maybe It's Because I'm a Londoner

London at its best for me isn't about cool gigs and trendy hipsters. It's about random things and people that make you smile and feel all warm and fuzzy inside. And free things, like last weekend's Thames festival on South Bank.

Coconut King's business was thriving

She really enjoyed al fresco tango on the Thames. Random.

We wanted to be the sky

Words fail me. How could she be anything but happy? 

Sisters Are Doin' It For Themselves

Happy International Women’s Day y'all! It’s a big one: 100 years ago from today, the Women’s Day was first marked with rallies campaigning for women’s right to work, vote, be trained and hold public office among other things. The first three women had just been elected to Finnish parliament.

We have come a long way since. But not long enough. Women still get paid less than men, are victims of domestic violence, are being discriminated because there is a chance of them getting pregnant and are still being harassed.

The UK government recently, unsurprisingly, rejected the compulsory boardroom quota for women. Instead, the companies were given a meaningless warning to increase the number of women in boardrooms. 

Currently 18 FTSE 100 companies have no female directors at all and nearly half of all FTSE 250 companies do not have a woman in the boardroom. Then again, the government itself is not exactly doing well equality-wise, with only four female members in the cabinet of 23.

Luckily it looks like the EU is planning to force a 20% quota in European boardrooms. At the moment, women make up only 3% of CEOs of Fortune 500 companies and in Europe, only 12% of positions on boards are occupied by women. As low as 20% sounds like, it’s still an improvement.

And it’s not all bad news. All across the world, women are taking things to their own hands. Hollaback is a movement started in New York, and now also working in London, dedicated to ending street harassment. They are working on abolishing the cultural acceptance of sexual harassment. It's not just a "feminists' attempt to ban the fun". Do a little gallup among your girlfriends, I bet you find more than one case where they have been groped by a stranger, “because, you know, wearing skirt that short means that you’re gagging for it anyway”. And ask them how they felt about it. 

As well-meaning and lovely the men in our lives are, the equality is not going to happen without women demanding it. Nobody is going to do it for us. And sisters, we are doing it for ourselves. 

Science of Love

Had no date this Valentine’s? Check out the love facts based on SCIENCE! on how to secure one for next year.

Wear red. Lipstick, dress, shoes, a hat. A study testing men’s response to pictures of women under a variety of colour presentations shows that red is the winner. The pictures of women shown framed by or wearing red were rated significantly more attractive and sexually desirable by men than the exact same women shown with other colours. The scientists think there’s biological reasons behind this. Research has shown that nonhuman male primates are particularly attracted to females displaying red. Female baboons and chimpanzees, for example, redden conspicuously when nearing ovulation, sending a clear sexual signal designed to attract males. The red effect extends only to males and only to perceptions of attractiveness.

J.R fancied Sue Ellen's good looks. She was attracted
to his wealth. Luckily we know it's all fiction!

People lie! For a long time it has been a well known “fact” that when it comes to romantic attraction men primarily are motivated by good looks and women by earning power. However, an in-depth study of romantic attraction shows that in reality men and women were equally inspired by physical attraction and equally inspired by earning power or ambition. In other words, we are only interested in good looks and money. Off to the gym you go!

Gay men go for the macho look. A study done at Harvard University shows that, well, ehem, men are pretty simple. The findings suggest that regardless of sexual orientation, men's brains are wired for attraction to sexually dimorphic faces - those with facial features that are most synonymous with their gender. Meaning gay men are most attracted to the most masculine-faced men, while straight men prefer the most feminine-faced women. Women's preferences are more complex than men's, with ovulation, contraceptive use, self-perceived attractiveness, and sex drive all affect face preference. In this particular study, straight women preferred more masculine-faced men than lesbian women, while lesbians preferred slightly more masculine female faces than straight women or men.

Victoria forgave David for playing away from home
with another woman. Would she react differently if he
was caught with another man? 

Play hard to get. According to a new psychological  study women are more attracted to men whose feelings are unclear. It concluded that men on dating sites who kept women guessing about just how interested they really were were more likely to have the women interested in them. Psychologists say in the case of 'attraction uncertainty,' people find themselves thinking about someone. But rather than recognize it's because of the uncertainty, they assume it is because they must be attracted to the person.The authors of the study say they believe the results would be the same in men.

If you cheat, choose wisely. A new study has shown that men are more than twice as likely to continue dating a girlfriend who has cheated on them with another woman than one who has cheated with another man. Women show the opposite pattern. They are more likely to continue dating a man who has had a heterosexual affair than one who has had a homosexual affair. This is not happening because women are all bigots, it’s all down to biology. "A robust jealousy mechanism is activated in men and women by different types of cues - those that threaten paternity in men and those that threaten abandonment in women," says Jaime C. Confer, the study's lead author.

Good luck. And lots of love.

Save Your Pennies And See a Play for Less

London is a theatre capital at its best. We have the world famous West End, but there are also hundreds of plays running in the smaller theatres around the town. Here are my tips on how to catch a play in London without breaking the bank.

Buy tickets on the day. There are countless “half price tickets booths” around Leicester Square, but the official is the white one in the middle of the square called TKTS. They sell half price tickets for the same day shows. Do keep in mind though that the cheapest ticket gets you the cheapest seat in the often huge West End theatre. Get there early for as the best tickets sell out fast.

Priscilla Queen of the Desert is the funniest musical
in London but you don't have to break the bank to see it. 

See previews. You will quickly learn which theatres are your favourites. Sign up for their newsletters to find out about the new shows. The preview tickets are sold at reduced price as the play may still be tweaked. Or browse for a preview show in www.officiallondontheatre.co.uk. I've recently been to see the previews of Roald Dahl's Twisted Tales (easy & good fun) at Hammersmith Lyric and Vernon God Little (fantastic) at Young Vic. 

Book through lastminute.com. The famous website offers deals, but to be fair, the value & quality of the offers varies. They often sell tickets based on “best available seats” and that can really be anything from a top price seat to something on the balcony. It’s still worth checking what’s on offer. Shop around online for best deals.

National Theatre – the National Theatre in partnership with Travelex is offering £10 tickets to most of its shows. Book early.

Book as a group. Make a night out of it with a group of friends. Put together a group of 10+ and save up to 50%. The bigger the group, the lower the price and if not, negotiate.

Opt for a non-commercial and off West End theatres instead of the biggest productions in central London. Often with more demanding and / or edgy plays with an affordable ticket price, these are a good option for a West End production. 

Mammoth News!

I hear some exciting news from Japan. The scientists of the land of the rising sun are working together with their Russian colleagues to clone a mammoth. Seriously, how awesome is that?

They are planning to use the DNA of the frozen mammoth remains found from Yakutsk in Siberia to clone a brand new shiny one. The estimated age of the mammoth found is 200 000-300 000 years. And it gets better. Last year the Vladivostok News reported that the scientists believe they can bring back some other extinct creatures as well, such as the woolly rhinoceros and create a prehistoric safari park in Siberia. But duh!, did you not see Jurassic Park? 

Well hello there!

Going to Great Lengths

The long hemlines are here. With a bang. They have actually been around for a while, but thanks to Spring 2011 collections, now they are just everywhere.

Obviously, it was rather predictable, taking into consideration the hemline index: a theory that suggests that skirt lengths and the economy coincide. The mini skirts are in vogue in good times. Just think of the 60s, 80s and more recently the early 2000s. The hemlines hit the floor in the 70s with the oil crisis, in the 90s with the global economic recession and, well now.

I rather like the 70s fashion and the hippie look but for me the long skirts really represent the early 90s. The awkward times of my early teens, discovering fashion, but not yet having a real style of my own. Luckily there have been some gems in the catwalks to reassure me that the new length may go a long way. Also, as we know, the best things to pair a long skirt with are flats, sandals and trainers. Hurrah for being able to walk again!  

Marc Jacobs Spring 2011

Jil Sander Spring 2011

Michael Kors 2011

Rainy Day Pleasures

It’s a common misconception that it always rains in London. Actually the rainfall in the capital is average compared to other European cities and smaller than for example in New York or Rome. We have, however been getting our fair share of wet and grey lately. But don’t let it get you down, make the most of the rainy day. This is how I would spend it.

Go shopping. Head to Shepherd’s Bush for Westfield shopping centre. Its 255 shops, cinema and countless bars and restaurants mean that you don’t have to get your feet wet all day. 

Watch the rain – Rain can actually be rather beautiful if you can watch it through a window. And watching poor people battling with their umbrellas adds extra amusement to it. The best place to watch the rain is in the Curzon cinema cafe on Shaftesbury Avenue. The cakes are a delight. Or buy a magazine and head to the downstairs bar to feel cultural, even if you’re really there just for the wine and not for the most recent arthouse releases. 

Spend a day in a bookstore – walk around, browse, pick up a pile of interesting books and find yourself a comfy chair. Foyles is a great bookstore in central London and they’ve got a nice little cafe as well. Or have a look at Guardian’s list of independent bookshops. 

Go umbrella shopping – Face the rain! Getting yourself a nice new umbrella will brighten your day.  UniGlo has got cute, little ones, that don’t break on the first day in several colours for about a fiver. If you want to splash out (pun not intended) on a luxury brolly, visit the charming James Smith & Sons Umbrellas on New Oxford Street. 

Eat too much sushi  - Rainy day is the perfect time to visit Hi Sushi in Soho. All you can eat sushi is made fresh to order and sets you back around £15. 

Or if all this just seems like a lot of hassle, go back to bed, close the curtains and watch a classic movie on DVD. May I suggest Singing in the Rain? 

London Cheap Frills (part 2)

Gone are the times when London was one of the most expensive cities in the world. There are tons of cheap or even free things to do in our wonderful city. Below are my favourites (see part 1 for more cheap stuff to do in Ldn). 

Take a walk along the South Bank. One of the most beautiful places in London and scattered with things to see and do. Make a day out of it: take in the view over Thames, count the historic bridges, have a drink at the National Theatre bar, visit Tate Modern, have lunch at Borough market, stop to watch the street performers amaze the crowd, and if still feeling like it, catch a Shakespeare play at the Globe (£5 for standing tickets) or a film at the British Film Institute. The place to take your date.

See free films, music, theatre or some random activities at The Scoop. Open during summer months, it’s got seating for 800. Works on a first come first served basis. Film screenings are on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays and last summer’s films included titles such as Up, Hurt Locker, Pretty Woman, Up in the Air, Invictus and Dirty Dancing.

See free comedy. There’s plenty of comedy clubs and pubs around town with free comedy nights. They can be a bit hit and miss at times but usually the sets are short and you are likely to enjoy at least some of the comedians. Check TimeOut for listings. 

Toilets. And I’m not talking cottaging here (or am I?). But having travelled in most of the European capitals, I can tell you, the free loos are a treat. The only toilets you have to pay for can be found from the railway stations.

Street Markets. This is controversial choice as even though taking a stroll on a Sunday market can be a cheap or indeed a free activity, it can also set you back several days' salary. To play it safe, take only small amount of cash that you’re willing to spend with you. The vendors rarely take cards and the cash points close by are often out of cash anyway. For real food bargains, head for the food stalls an hour before closing time. For best markets, try Spitalfields (every day, busiest on Sun), Portobello (Sat), Camden Markets (best on weekends), Borough (food only, Thu-Sat), Greenwich Market (best on weekends) and Columbia Road Market (flowers only, Sun) .

London Walks. Guided walking tours are good fun! The best guides love their work and can keep a group of 40 easily entertained for an hour and a half. A walk costs about £8 per person. Start with a London classic Jack the Ripper Walk. More info here http://www.walks.com/

Keep track of the local and ethnic festivals. They are usually free and good fun (although sometimes unintentionally). The ethnic festivals usually have cheap food and drinks stalls and various cultural activities. Local festivals often offer guided tours, talks, plays, music and you can normally visit weird little museums for free. Some of the best ones include Brick Lane Festival, Notting Hill Carnival, Bloomsbury Festival, Japanese Festival, Latin American Festival and Thai Festival. Check TimeOut for details. 

Cuban festival in London. Would you buy a mojito from these guys? I did.  

London Cheap Frills (part 1)

Gone are the days when London was one of the most expensive cities in the world. There are tons of cheap or even free things to do in London. Below are my favourites.

Catch a film. The old favourite Prince Charles Cinema is showing new films, recent releases and classics with prices starting from £1.50. It’s worth getting the yearly membership (£10) to save more in tickets.

Orange Wednesdays offer two for one cinema tickets in most of the cinemas across town. All you need is a friend with Orange. 

Museums. Almost all London museums are free of charge, apart from some temporary exhibitions. The labour scrapped the entrance fees from all national galleries and museums in 2001 and they have remained free from then on. Nobody knows  what the tories are planning but it doesn’t take much to make an educated guess.

Some of cultural gems include Tate Modern, Tate Britain, British Museum, Victoria & Albert Museum, Science Museum, Natural History Museum, National Gallery and National Portrait Gallery. 

See a play in a local theatre. London’s theatre world doesn’t end in West End. The local theatres often have great quality productions, even with some well known names, with a fraction of the price of a West End musical. Admittedly, it can be a bit of a hit and miss but during all my time in London I have only walked out once during the interval. Check Off West End for more information and tips.

People watching. Head to Bricklane on Sunday afternoon. Hundreds of people come there just to be seen. Who can spot the most pretentious creature?

Old Compton Street. Try to snatch a window seat / table on the street in one of the cafes of London’s number one gay street. Spot the latest trends, fittest bodies and the most flamboyant queens. You won’t find bad B.O here. 

Get tipsy. Samuel Smiths Brewery has got several pubs in London and they are famous for their independence. The beers are all produced by the Tadcaster brewery and no large-corporation spirits or soft-drinks are available. Prices are low, with a pint of lager only setting you back around £2. Try The John Snow in Soho, The Angel in Bermondsey, Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese in Holborn, The Champion in Fitzrovia or The Earl of Lonsdale in Notting Hill. 

Free gigs. There’s always plenty of free gigs on offer in London, this is after all the promised town of wannabe rock stars. Be warned though, if you haven’t heard of the band, there might be a reason for it. The record shop gigs are also now part of the bands’ marketing strategy. Check Rough Trade East and TimeOut for listings. 

Westminster Abbey – where kings and queens are coronated, is really an impressive piece of British history. The Abbey usually charges for the entrance but it’s free during services. Get there for Evensong. The Abbey choir, educated at  Westminster Abbey Choir School is singing at 5pm on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays, plus at 3pm on Saturdays and Sundays. 

Park yourself. London is filled with fantastic parks. Pick a sandwich and a bottle of wine from a nearby shop and enjoy the greenery and fresh air. If you like more excitement in your life, bring along a frizbee. The best parks for picnic are Greenwich (South East), St. James’s Park (Central), Hampstead Heath (North), Regent’s Park (North) and Holland Park (West). 

I've parked myself. 

More Cheap Frills coming soon!

  

London Belongs To Me

Sometimes you just don’t have the extra cash lying around for a holiday abroad. That’s when you need to remember what a wonderful place London can be. The London photos below by my talented friend John make me feel all warm and fuzzy inside. Like falling in love ♥  

See more of John’s pictures here:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/john_quintero/sets/

http://www.johnquintero.com/

All photos copyright John Quintero. 

The National Gallery at dusk

Flooded London Bridge Station

The National History Museum

London Still by The Waifs is one of my favourite London songs ever. 

I Never Promised You a Rose Garden

Hooray for New Year! It’s dark and miserable outside, you are fat after Christmas munchies, everyone’s penniless and half of your friends refuse to go out because they are having a detox month. There’s only one thing that can save you from depression: the New Year’s resolutions.

I loooove New Year’s resolutions. Two years ago me and my friend Teemu travelled to Colombia for New Year (the best way to survive January is of course a two week holiday in Caribbean). When not lying on the beach drinking rum or "coco locos", we made resolutions for 2009. This is what was scribbled on my little red notebook.

Resolutions for 2009 (Lena)

Learn Spanish

Go to the gym A LOT

Lose 3 kilos

Drink less alcohol

Pay off my credit cards

Write a book

When going out, don’t always go to gay bars

Get a pay rise

Move house

Learn salsa (I was rather excited about salsa in Caribbean, now I have a triple CD with “300 best salsa songs” which I never ever listen)

Have more sex

Quit Smoking

Improve my Russian

Go to cinema every week

Teemu was perhaps a bit more realistic. His resolutions read:

Learn to whistle

Wear more boxers

Eat more healthy

Lose 3 kilos

Save money

Drink less beer

Get new friends and do interesting things with them

I found the notebook about year later and ticked off my achievements – 5 out of 14. Pretty good, I thought. How was I to predict the recession (no pay rise)? And going out in straight bars was a doomed idea from the start, because, you know, they are really really boring.  

We all know it’s not really about achieving everything on your list. It’s about looking into yourself, your life and finding out the little changes that would make you happier as a human being (like wearing more boxers - he did!). And just do your best.

If you need a little help with your resolutions this year, try hypnotherapy. It can help with quitting smoking, losing weight, social anxiety, phobias and bad habits such as nail biting. And to help you get started, Alphahypnotherapy is offering 30% off your treatment in January by quoting Blondie Ambitious. Cheers, for a better me! 

Life in Colombia was not that stressing until the New Year's resolutions kicked in.

You fat bull!

Ah the holidays are over and all around the world millions of people, mainly women, are feeling bloated, fat and unfit and swear on their life to go on diet and visit the gym four times a week – minimum – this year. I’m one of them. Somehow quitting smoking last year caused my appetite to double and now I’m a stone (that’s about 6 kilos for continentals) heavier than a year ago.

Fear not, I’m going to do something about these extra kilos. I am, after all, a young woman and as such know that my value to society depends on me being fit. Somehow it’s not quite the same for men. I have heard countless times guys calling a slightly overweight girls “fat cows”. Women are merely affectionate about men’s growing bellies, they call them cuddly and teddy bear-like which can hardly be considered insulting.

But growing they are, men. According to a study published by Oxford University, men are eating more and exercising less. In 1986 around 7% of British men were classified as obese, in 2008 the figure was 25%. The official statistics show that nearly half of British men are overweight, compared “just” a third of women.

Why is it so much of a bigger deal then when a woman is overweight? Is it because forcing women into pursuing painfully thin and pretty much unattainable ideal of beauty has always  been one of the means to control women? I don’t know, but I’m not having it anymore. No more should us ladies take pressure and insults from the lardy guys. Move over you fat bull! 

Pierce, you're fat!