The Year of Celebration

What a week. In terms of an emotional rollercoaster, this one was the triple loop. I wish I could make a cultural reference to a famous rollercoaster, but I've always been one to hate them. Genuinely hate them. Same goes for horror films. I don't do well with fear. Some people thrive on it. I cower and cry in a corner.  So did anything precipitate this wondrous ride I went on? Well, actually, no. I've experienced some pretty traumatic and stressful events in my life (and conversely some exhilarating, miraculous ones) and this week was a flatliner. There were no blips on the radar or snags in the fabric. There was just my brain chemistry and the havoc it can wreak.  I've been sober for 50 days. That's probably the longest stretch since I was 15 years old. What I've learned about myself in these past 50 days could fill a book, but it's a novel I'm not yet ready to share with the world. In case you're wondering, sobriety isn't easy (under...

On Sunday night I saw the new Tom Hooper directed film adaptation of 'Les Miserables'. Feeling raw, I came out of the cinema into the darkness of the night. For the first time since being in Vancouver (and possibly ever) I was grateful for the gloom and rain, because the dramatic streak in me revelled in the pathetic fallacy. I did not trudge home as per usual, shivering and blinking away the rain. Instead I glided alone along the pavements that "shined like silver" and indulged in some self-examination. Sporadically, there will be films I watch that touch me in unimaginable ways. That remind me of cinematic magic and the reasons I need to be an actor. I love writing and for the last year I've questioned whether I could be content doing just that. The answer is yes, that I could be content, but that I am never as ignited as I am when I am performing. That's what this film reminded me of. I have had experiences in theatre and performing where I have been ...

'The Beginning', 2013. Well there's been a Christmas since I last wrote and it's a whole new year. That's supposed to mean new beginnings, or so I hear. (As I read that back, I realised it rhymed, and no, it was not intentional, and yes, it makes me sound like a 6-year-old poet.) As for New Year's resolutions, well to be honest I gave up on those some time ago. Most people feel deficient in some way, why exacerbate that with feelings of failure? Because let's be honest, resolutions are like real Christmas trees. They're pretty much dead before the 12th day. Do I sound pessimistic? Perhaps. Isn't this meant to be a celebratory, positive blog? Well, yes. But I also don't shy away from the realistic. It's the fifth day of 2013 and all I feel is the same leftover sludge from last year. Facebook encourages you to do a 'My Year in Review" picture/status/emotional upheaval post from the year 2012. No thanks. Was 2012 a bad year? Mo...

Yes, it's true. My heart is on fire. Ok, to be fair, it already was, but I'm on a high from last night's Passenger concert at the Vogue Theatre in Vancouver. I arrived in Canada yesterday and barely had time to settle in before the lovely one took me out for a night on the town. We arrived in the middle of the opening act's set, and unfortunately I didn't catch his name, but it was a delightful start. But I was really inspired by the second act, a young man named  Joshua Hyslop , who performed on his acoustic guitar with a cello for accompaniment.  The crowd was predominantly female (of all ages) and there were some drunken members there, especially the older women who kept yelling "You're ADORABLE!" at him. And to be fair, he was very adorable, and extremely talented. I look forward to hearing more from him. As for the main act, my love introduced me to Passenger and I was immediately hooked. I'm even more of a fan now. I have all his albu...

Well....it's been some time since I posted. Mostly because the Year of Celebration was over quite a while ago. When I started the blog I had only intended it to last a year, but often wondered whether I would continue. I started to lose momentum towards the end, but I've decided that why should celebrations only last one year. Maybe I should rename this to the YEARS of Celebration. Either way, I'm back in the blogosphere and will hopefully remain here for longer this time (no promises though!) After a year and a half away I'm back living in Los Angeles. I've missed it, and I forget the feeling it gives me when I'm here. I know a lot of people aren't LA fans, and to each their own, but for me it feels nourishing. That's not to say I don't have my freak-outs, or anxiety attacks (just had one earlier this evening to be fair!), but I feel like I'm moving forward at least through all of that.  Since I was 11 years old I've known I wanted to...

It has been MONTHS since I've blogged, and yes there has been plenty to celebrate. With The Year of Celebration ending on March 31st, I figured I needed to start up again. I've just discovered Pinterest and I am in a word, OBSESSED. I could spend all day on that thing, it's like having a movable mood board. And I'm not one for liking a lot of solid paperwork around as I move so much, I'm definitely a keen member of the digital generation. My pinterest board is here .  It was my sister Nadia's 30th birthday a couple of weeks ago (picture of my Nadia and my mother Isabella at the party), and obviously that was a huge thing to celebrate. We bought a bunch of glasses from the Barn, and there were some old school 1920s style champagne glasses, so it felt a little art deco. There were fairy lights and tea lights everywhere. We started with a delicious dinner made by Nadia and the chef at Taste, Tammy for 30 people. Afterwards there was a raging house party with ...

Yesterday I went with a large group of friends to the Art Walk in the East, part of the revitalisation of the old capital of Bermuda, St. George's. In LA I keep planning on going to the various art walks there, but as we all know life can sometimes get in the way. I didn't know what to expect and was worried that there wouldn't be a good turnout, but it was bustling and beautiful. The galleries were all open, some with live music, all with drinks and later Heather, Nick and I headed to Tavern by the Sea for dinner. We'd desperately wanted to try Wahoo's, but they had no room for us. I've had the same issue numerous times I've wanted to eat there. Must be sure to make a reservation next time! Along the route out of St. Geo we ran into six guys who had all sailed to Bermuda from Newport. Heather knew one of them so we kidnapped them and took them off to the Rugby Classic Closing Party at the field. Strangely enough today is the anniversary of the first ever...

Remembrance Day. Or Veterans' Day for you Americans. This doesn't need much description as wel all know what to celebrate here, our veterans.  Though I did find it fun to mark 11:11 on 11.11.11 especially because not only does it work in either  month/day order, but it's the only time in our lifetime that the same numbers are going to happen. Likely, much longer than that.  I am highly damaged today. Yesterday I went to one of the games of the World Rugby Classic that's held in Bermuda every year, but this was my first time attending. Man, have I been missing out?! It was so much fun. Someone I know called it the Ex-Pat's CupMatch . The party continued to Sophie's house until 6 in the morning, so today is marked for recovery.

 When I first got to London, my friend Anne suggested we all go for brunch at Columbia Road on the day of the flower market, which happens every Sunday. Unfortunately, we couldn't all get together, but it's been in my mind since then. So finally today, on my last Sunday I went with John to the market. It was absolutely beautiful. I couldn't believe how cheap the flowers were, being used to all the imported flowers in Bermuda, which are insanely pricey. There were orchids for a fiver, and my "brother" Raymond in New York is obsessed with orchids. I wished he was around so I could buy them for him. If I wasn't about to leave on Tuesday I would have scooped up loads. I have to admit the photo of the flowers isn't mine as I stupidly didn't take any pictures of the actual market.  We had a lovely wander along the market, grabbed some food and coffee and proceeded to investigate all the vintage stores around. Some were incredibly pricey, but I found s...

Ah love. How many wedding posts does this make? No idea, but this one was an amazing one. One of the best weddings I've ever been to. The couple got married at 632 on Hudson , which was an incredible venue.  There was a huge square staircase leading up three floors, with an atrium in the middle. The couple got married at the bottom, whilst we all looked down on them from the staircase. It was absolutely beautiful. Jon is a part-time party thrower/promoter and Olivia is very arty and talented, so the wedding was phenomenal. Little Bermudian (him) and English (her) h'ors doeuvres were served before dinner, which gave it a very lovely touch. Dinner was downstairs, then partying continued upstairs, and onto a club for the after party, which the bride appeared in in full Vera Wang regalia. So today is obviously September 11th. Now, of course it would be hard to find anything to celebrate on this day, considering the tragedy. But I would like to take a moment to celebrate the sp...