☼ how's your summer?

daydream under a tree:

coriander flowers will turn to seed:

purple buds ready to burst:

while bees buzz and busy and fly:

❣ sew so

found these beautiful old wooden reels

in a charity shop:

I wonder what the large ones were for?

and a tin of 'buttons white':

at home, I made a roll for my silks:

 freeform embroidery is on my mind:

stitching without bitching:

⸖ taking part

our town has been a buzz of art by the sea:

artside gave us collaborations and

installations: 

performance and participation:

we met up with Jane Sealy to add our part to her

Hyperbolic Crochet Coral Reef:

choose a colour and a hook:

six chain, form a loop:

2 double crochet into each stitch:

continue and chat:

Jane patiently helped new learners:

try finger knitting she said:

even Libbie had a left-handed go:

I'm already hooked:

organic forms united:

☼♆ dig it

a visit to Nicola's allotment in Coggeshall:

she loves to grow her own:

we love to raid help:

you can't beat pick your own:

❤♡♥ summerloving

yesterday we made our annual visit to

the lovebox weekender

at victoria park, london:

plenty of footwork:

welcome the return of the fabulous

NYC downlow:

a touch of downtown dereliction 

with fabulous dressing up!

the sun shined on:

you could learn to hula:

play bingo:

whizz down the helterskelter:

eat and drink:

mmmm churros and 

oh yeah:

not forgetting the bands!

Silver Columns, New Young Pony Club &

Cut Copy had real energy:

Chromeo were funktastic:

we danced and sang

at the front of the Gaymers stage:

then hot footed to the Main stage ....

and after a delay ....

Grace Jones will see you now:

alas we couldn't quite see her:

but that amazing voice we could hear:

a new costume for every song:

eat your heart out Gaga:

☂ we don't have to fear the rain ☁

₪₪ watching them

I've not heard the new Prince album yet:

it was given away for free with the Daily Mirror this weekend:

reports are mixed:

there's something about the purple man that's compelling:

his charm, musical seduction, self-assuredness:

Libbie and I have been watching the last ever series of

Big Brother on Channel 4:

it too is fascinating and we are strangely drawn to their self-absorbed personalities:

at first:

then we learn what they're really like:

what drives these people to put themselves into the BB house:

to be scrutinised and watched by thousands?

they are dependant on others for admiration:

inside the house and outside from the viewers:

these self-lovers make an impression on us:

look good, sound confident, charming:

hang on.... {grabs dictionary}

narcissism: noun    excessive or erotic interest in oneself and one's physical appearance. extreme selfishness,     with grandiose view of one's own talents and a craving for admiration, as characterising a personality type
in real life, we come into contact with such characters:scratch the surface and all becomes clear:we find them out and move along: who needs arrogant, self-absorbed, exploitative reality show players, friends or lovers?but do they learn?behaving selfishly or arrogantly seems to bring them a warped admiration:they love it, as long as they're being listened to:the wise step aside:the narcissist goes to seek out new worshippers:
real narcissists don't see this cycle:they're too wrapped up in the new congregation:and if you pointed it out they wouldn't see it:
but life without them wouldn't be so colourful:in this media rich world they are everywhere:your social circle, family, work:get used to them?as long as we enjoy them when we want:and switch off when we don't: