Tuesday, September 30, 2008

CATCHING UP...


I'm always aware that I mention things here that I'm going to do and then I get busy and - poof, they're gone, never to be spoken of again. So this post is a collection of such things; call it a rainy day clear out before moving on (and feel free to not bother reading it)...

* The tagline: You see, it's not there anymore. I still can't decide, I need more cake and pondering time. But don't worry the old one is stored away safely.

*Bed re-upholstery: The Josef Frank fabric I wanted is £100 per meter and I need about five meters. Then I went and bought a half derelict building which needs complete renovation so the bed and all other home projects have to wait. Forever probably.

*The cool old lady in the cafe: After I mentioned her and people encouraged me to speak to her I did.not.see.her for over a month. I was convinced she'd died after asking around and no one had seen her either. How's that for a lesson on seizing the day? It turns out she is not dead. She must have spent August at her country house or something because she's back in her autumn uniform of tweed suits, chunky boots and cool hats - but I'm still too scared to speak to her. I smiled at her yesterday and she scowled back briefly. I think it's progress.

{Here are some pictures I forgot to post in case you're getting bored of reading}



*The Rivoli Ballroom: We finally went there last weekend and it was amazing! I wanted to show it to Anna so first of all we just popped in to say hello, then planned to go back for one drink and ended up staying until the end. Anna took some cool pictures. It was Salsa night - very entertaining to see all sorts: fat, thin, young, old, black, white, professional dancers, two left footers, fully dressed up or in jeans - not caring in the least about who they ended up dancing with. It made for some amusing combinations sometimes but that was all part of the attitude free atmosphere. It's so beautiful there. The plan now is to go there all the time while it still exists.

*The rue Charlot gossip (as someone guessed) was that the entire area is up in arms because the French version of X-Factor/Pop Idol/whatever, Star Academy has set up office in rue Charlot, thus dramatically lowering the tone and causing mass consternation amongst art gallery and trendy boutique owners. I was told about this before arrival (apparently there was to be some kind of emergency meeting while I was there about it). Then, while I was there, everyone I spoke to mentioned it in hushed, disapproving tones.

Ah, that feels better. Did I forget anything? Oh yeah, martini nights have commenced chez moi, except mine are totally lethal, thus tricky on week nights. I leave you with a quote from Diana Vreeland; who I feel can be relied upon for a quote about pretty much anything - hence her new status as The Oracle of the sidebar. Ask her advice in the comments and she will respond.

D.V. says: "It was the martini era. In those days people would get out of the car to see you home, and they'd weave around a bit and fall down on the sidewalk; and inevitably the chauffeur or taxi driver would come after them. It was so appalling, the martini of the twenties. If I gave you some gin with a drop of vermouth that wouldn't cover the head of a pin, that would be the martini. The people who drank them were carried home, usually unconscious." {source: D.V.}

10 comments:

Rose said...

Fun! Dear DV- How can I cure the sore throat I seem to have developed from excessive weekend drinking and only sleeping during the day?

Also re French Pop Idol type programme, I have not seen any of this but I did get slightly addicted to the French Big Brother/ secret story thing when I was last there. Sad but true.

Claire said...

OK this is all straight from the horse's mouth (D.V.'s memoirs): D.V. says: "There's no drink that kills, except the drink you didn't want to take, and there's no hour that kills except the hour you stayed after you wanted to go home." And, "All my life I've never gone out before 12 noon" so you're OK there. She also recommends Tiger Balm and Ginseng Tea for your throat, but the most amazing hangover cure is this: "Soak a sponge in ice cold water and press it against your gallbladder [to reduce swelling after overindulging]. Never lose sight of your gallbladder!" See? She is the oracle. I'm afraid she doesn't say how to locate your gallbladder...

RD said...

As usual, I feel all the exciting things happen in a place right after I've left. I'm referring of course to Martini night and visits to the Rivoli.

I've tried my hand at many modern Martini's, which surprisingly have no Martini in them at all. Perhaps it's time I tackle the grandfather of them all...

BB

Rose said...

DV is wise indeed, for it's true that although a bit worse for wear I did want the drinks and I didn't want to leave until the end. Will look for ginseng tea and tigerbalm- and DV's memoirs too I think.

This is a fun game

NewYorkChique said...

aw hahah sounds like you are making progress with the old lady =]
and nice flowers! i love the purple color

negrito said...

well the star academy is a mess but happily Fabien, the Red Kids Market photographer managed to do something fun with it...

Claire said...

negrito: oh, what did he do? I vaguely remember seeing different photos pasted on the wall outside his shop maybe - was it that? sorry to not catch up in Paris - I was only there for 2 days and you were probably on a secret mission somewhere...

July Stars said...

The Rivoli Ballroom just looks extraordinary and I hope it will never be bought by some ridiculous overpaid London property developer. It would be too tragic.

Siru said...

I wonder who that lady is and what would she think of all this.

juliet xxx

Claire said...

the one in the cafe? I'm sure she wouldn't be amused that I'm posting my pseudo stalker-ish observations about her on the internet!