Dirt Exhibition at Wellcome Collection

Today we went to Wellcome Collection at Euston Square to see 'Dirt' exhibition. 'Dirt' reveals the fascinating world of filth that remains one of the very last taboos. Bringing together around 200 artefacts spanning visual art, documentary photography, cultural ephemera, scientific artefacts, film and literature, the exhibition uncovers a rich history of disgust and delight in the grimy truths and dirty secrets of our past, and points to the uncertain future of filth, which poses a significant risk to our health but is also vital to our existence.

Following anthropologist Mary Douglas's observation that dirt is 'matter out of place', the exhibition introduces six very different places as a starting point for exploring attitudes towards dirt and cleanliness: a home in 17th-century Delft in Holland, a street in Victorian London, a hospital in Glasgow in the 1860s, a museum in Dresden in the early 20th century, a community in present day New Delhi and a New York landfill site in 2030. Highlights include paintings by Pieter de Hooch, the earliest sketches of bacteria and John Snow's 'ghost map' of choler. I was expecting something more on the edge and shocking, but it was still very interesting and I'm glad we decided to go. Boyfriend was even more interested than me reading all the information next to the objects! I wonder why men are so attracted to ugliness? Ha ha.

Afterwards we took a long walk to Baker Street and had really healthy lunch (green vegetables salad with salmon) and then even longer walk to Leicester Square. Boyfriend went to see Meek's Cutoff - I talked about it for so long, I convinced him to go. Because I already saw it, I decided to stay in a nice little park next to Chinatown and read a book (Room by Emma Donoghue) and wait for him. I also went for a nice Costa Latte - I missed it in Poland! 

Royal Wedding Day

Today Prince William and Kate Middleton are getting married. Over 2 billion people are going to watch this happen - so there's no pressure or anything for them! We're also watching, unfortunately not in Hyde Park, because I'm ill (typical for me - waiting for something for so long and of course I can't see it because I'm ill).

I am looking forward to see two dresses in particular - it's obviously Kate's dress (I wonder if the Sarah Burton's Alexander McQueen design rumors are true), but also Victoria Beckham's dress (she's supposed to wear her own A/A design, but I think she might have prepared something special). Not so long to see!

AFTER:
The Dress is simply beautiful and classy. When I saw it, it reminded me of the Grace Kelly's dress when she married her prince. I was expecting something bigger, but I knew that Kate will keep it simple and traditional in her own way. She did it! Sarah Burton at Alexander McQueen really delivered. So great to be today in London and feel the atmosphere.

Countryside

Yesterday me, Boyfriend and Mother with two dogs - my Krecik and Boyfriend's Sara went to our family's home in the countryside. I absolutely love this place. It was there where I first got on a horse (or rather was put on a horse) when I was only 3. I've spent some amazing summers there. Although sometimes I was bored, sometimes I was annoyed that there's no cellphone coverage... now I truly appreciate all these things (where in the world there's no cellphone service?!): peacefulness, nature and a blue sky. It is literally in the middle of nowhere surrounded by woods and fields. The nearest shop and asphalt road is 40 minutes walk through the forest and hills.  

At home

The journey was really pleasant. I had to get up shortly after 4am, get ready, eat something and finish packing. I was all alone going to the tube and I think I woke half of the neighbourhood when the wheels of my bag were making noise on the pavement. I waited for 8 minutes in the tube, but still managed to catch the bus to Luton. I was so happy, because the idea of standing at the bus stop in the cold morning for 20 minutes wasn't appealing.

At the airport everything went smoothly and my plane wasn't even delayed. Boyfriend and his sister came to meet me at the airport and we went to the bus stop to catch a bus home. Around 5-6pm I was at home. It was very, very weird to see my mom. After all these months of not speaking, I was so afraid. But to my relief the evening went rather OK, although the difficult talk was also there. 

Krecik is happy as always. After the operation he's not changed and forgot about it already. Just as cheerful as I remember him. He went to my bed in the morning and just slept there for a couple of hours. 

We just came back from the plants shop and now I'll do some cleaning and I'm going to my aunt to drop off some things, because I'll be sleeping at her place tonight. In the evening I'm meeting my Friend and I'm very happy about that! 

 

Mixture of emotions

I feel mixture of emotions. I'm leaving London tomorrow morning. Very early morning. Going to one of the first tubes of the day and then change at Finchley Road for GreenLine bus to get to Luton. I'm just focusing on the journey, packing and try not to think about tomorrow. On the one hand I am excited, on the other, I'm petrified. I had little panic attack in the morning, so I just quickly jumped out of bed to get something to occupy me.

I had a really long talk with Dom-dom (for 3 hours) and she told me to be brave and strong. She gave me courage that I can speak when I'm accused and to let the things simply pass me by. I hope I'll be able to do that.

I was packing today, cleaning and just preparing. I also watched the entire coverage of London Marathon and it was so inspiring! To see old and disabled people running for the Xth time is amazing. I am so motivated to run every day I'm gonna be in Poland and also power up in the gym when I come back. I also checked out The 2011 Adidas Women's 5K Challenge that's gonna take place in Hyde Park on Sunday 11th September 2011. I am enrolling for sure and I'll take Dom-dom probably with me. Gives me something to aim for!

I also registered for the London Olympic Games 2012. It's only 500 days left to the start and only 10 days to register for the ticket ballot. So it was really the last chance I had to do it. So now it's out of my hands anymore. It would be wonderful to go. 

So I guess the next post I'll write will be from my bedroom.

Mesopotamia exhibition at British Museum and Meek's Cutoff

I had to get away today, so when the plans with Dom-dom did not work out, I knew I will go somewhere anyway. I was a little bit sad about Dom-dom to be honest, because I thought we're gonna have a fun day together, but I also understand that she flew in in the middle of Friday night from the work conference. 

I woke up really early and was tired, because I didn't sleep well. I'm stressing out about going home and seeing Mother. Sometimes it terrifies me so much, I am sick. The only way is to focus on something else. So I decided to go to British Museum and explore Mesopotamia's history. I was really hooked after reading some chapters in A Little History of the World and wanted to learn more. There were lots of people in the museum toady - typical for Saturday - but these particular rooms were practically empty. I walked for almost two hours there, read almost every little information card on the displays. I also ate lunch in the museum - I love sitting behind these long tables.

Later, I went to Blackwells and - of course - ended up with few more books. I am pretty excited about Room by Emma Donoghue and Tiger, tiger by Margaux Fragoso. I also went to Superdrug and got an amazing kohl crayon, some mascara and gold eyeliner. 

Because I don't like going to the cinema alone to watch violent and stressful movies, after checking on the website I've chosen to see Meek's Cutoff. The movie is not something you would expect (especially when you see the trailer). It's not typical Western, to my relief, because I detest Westerns. It tells a story of a group of settlers, who travel through the Oregon desert in 1845 and find themselves stranded in harsh conditions. Lost and with no water, they capture the Indian on the way and since then their only chance of survival is to trust the person, who doesn't understand them, just as they don't understand him. Because the scenes are really long and not only on the people, but also on unforgiving nature, I've felt like I was inside the movie. It totally deserves all the star ratings it has.

 

A Little History of the World by Ernst Gombrich

Ugh. So Boyfriend left and he's boarding the plane right this second. To be honest, I still can't believe that he left and I'm all alone until Monday. I have this feeling that he's gonna come home any minute from work and enter the room with huge smile on his face. I keep myself busy with cleaning, mini-at-home SPA and watching Jersey Shore. I also have plans to read The Slap and maybe some leftover Sunday Times magazines. 

Last week I've finished reading A Little History of the World by Ernst Gombrich. The book is fantastic, and starts with the enternal 'Once upon a time...'. The introduction is brilliant and interesting. The book starts slowly explains the history of the world and provides a great outline for both adults and children. It does tell a 'story' in such a way that encourages you to find out more. The only drawback for me was that I realized at the very end of the book that it was written over 50 years ago (I had no idea who Gombrich was, as far as I know, Boyfriend got him mistaken with Polish writer Wiktor Gombrowicz). Therefore, I disagree with some of his views - especially concerning modern history - World War I and II as well as the communism era. He focuses on the industrialization and the connection between machines and people in whole chapter, regrettably omitting USSR and Marxism. I was also disappointed not to have any information on communist China (even though there are few China chapters along the way) or Korea and Vietnam wars. So that's why towards the end of the book I got a feeling that he was bored with writing and wanted to wrap it up as soon as possible. A real shame, because I would gladly give this book 10/10.

More Bourjois blushers

Boyfriend is leaving me alone tomorrow and going to Poland for the Easter. I'm going on Monday and still have a mixture of emotions when I think about seeing Mother. I have no idea how it's going to work out and I'm pretty scared about those 10 days I'm going to be there. Even though Boyfriend assures me that everything's going to be OK (he talks to her on the phone), I still have doubts. That's why I'm living in denial, and still don't want to realize that I'll leave on Monday morning at the brake of dawn.

Anyway, I have plans for tomorrow's afternoon (watching The Kennedys and reading The Slap), Friday (GTL and some shopping), Saturday (visiting Dom-dom) and Sunday (packing, mini-SPA, more packing and calling an early night). I'll keep myself busy - that's the best thing for me when I'm feeling sad or lonely.

Despite morning struggle - I was so sleepy! - I went to the gym, but I think I'll have a brake tomorrow, although I was supposed to go tanning. On Friday I have PT session, so I'll go on a sunbed for 10 minutes, instead of the usual 5. I know that sunbeds are bad for your skin (premature, wrinkles and dryness it up) and it's so easy to get a skin cancer, but I don't smoke or take drugs, so I should be allowed one bad habit. It's such a lame excuse I can't believe I actually wrote it, but it's true. I feel so much better after mere 5 minutes and my skin no longer looks like a ghostly pale with blue veins. And that's not a good look. I can't stand fake tans and even all these gradually-building-up-tan products - boring and smelly - although D. swears by it and applies them at least once a week. Over the last weekend I got a little sunburnt on my arms and décolleté and now, after few days, it looks really good. 

Oh, and I managed to buy today two more limited edition Bourjois blushers. A quick reminder: To celebrate its heritage, Bourjois teams up with a young Parisian artist, Juliette Buré, to create a new “collector’s” range of decorated pots, based on Parisian monuments!

My nearest Boots, situated next to the gym only has three versions, which I (obviously) already have, but when I went shopping today in Ealing, I discovered two more - with  the Basilique du Sacré-Cœur (Rose Coup De Foudre) and Arc de Triomphe (Lilas D'Or) on the cover. How can you resist this cute pots?! There's no way. Both blushers are more shimmery than the ones I already have, but it's perfect for achieving this summer glow (having a tan also helps!). The irresistible smell of perfume and little mirror is an added bonus.  Also, the baked formula lasts a very long time and I am sure I'll be using them for years! The pot is sturdy and can easily survive any hurdles along the way.

I've been using the blushers daily since I bought the first batch and the only negative comment I may have is the brush. I don't want to sound ungrateful, because in the first place I am happy that the brush actually is added to the pot, but it is quite scratchy. I read some reviews and people recommend using a different brush, but I'd rather have each brush for every pot, rather than use the same one for all of them - so I'd have to wash it every few days.

MAC lipsticks

When I saw Diana Vickers in 2008 edition of X Factor I've fallen in love with her nude lips. I was looking for a completely nude lipstick for a while and it was in vain. All of them were glittery or just lipglosses (like the one I have from Bourjois) and I wanted a matt finish, nothing glossy. I didn't want to follow the "advice" of some of my friends who were using simply concealer or foundation to get the effect. No thank you! 

Myth
So after searching the Internet and various forums I've finally found out that Diana was using MAC "Myth" lipstick. I went to Selfridges to get it and it was love from the first sight! I just totally loved it! The girls a the MAC counter are also so helpful and nice that it's like the added bonus. Over the time I also taught myself to apply it properly - I am simply patting the lipstick over my lips and sometimes finish with patting with my finger. Otherwise there's too much lipstick - at least for me.

Saint Germain
Shortly after I was obsessed with pink lips and - again - I had all the glossy stuff, but all the trends, catwalks and magazines were screaming MATT. Where to get it? MAC! I bought MAC "Saint Germain" and I am so pleased with it. I got so many compliments on the colour and I wore it to countless parties - it's also a great way to look cute and not too serious. 

The most recent purchases are Lady Gaga's MAC Viva Glam 1 and 2. Both of them are a product of collaboration of Lady Gaga and MAC (there are also lipglosses in the same colours). Every cent from the sale of MAC Viva Glam goes toward the M∙A∙C AIDS Fund. Both are a limited edition for a full 12 months and the packages come with Lady Gaga's signature on the red background. 

Viva Glam 1 
I wasn't particularly keen to buy MAC "Viva Glam 1", because I already had Saint Germain and the colours are extremely similar. But after looking at it at Selfridges I just couldn't resist. I was right to give in, because it is different and gives a nice lustre pink dimension. 

Viva Glam 2
MAC "Viva Glam 2" is still brand-new colour (launched in the middle of March in the UK) and I knew I wanted to get it as soon as I saw the poster of Lady Gaga wearing it! It is matt and nude, but darker than Myth. Perfect for day and night - especially with the smoky eye (on how to get smoky eye with Max Factor Smoky Eye Effect Eyeshadow check out my post here). 

Morange
As you can see from the above, I am not a huge risk taker and only play with pink-nude palette when it comes to my lips. These are the colours I feel safe with. I like to accentuate my lashes and put a nice glow to my cheeks, so my lips are usually in the background. But it all changed when I bought this season's hottest trend colour - orange. The orange is every magazine - the screaming block colours - full of energy. I read a nice article reviewing all the major orange lipsticks and when I saw that MAC has one, there was no other way - I had to have it. So there it is: MAC "Morange" with amplified finish. Dom-dom bought the same one and lost it few days after at AP's birthday party. I would be utterly devastated, because it's amazing. The colour just brings my whole face up and completely changes it. I feel powerful, better and just prettier. One small thing and it can change your whole attitude!

On the last note, I like to invest in a more expensive MAC lipstick rather than cheaper versions, because it:

• lasts forever and ever - in terms of time on the lips and being economical,
• smells divine,
• has nice compact package in a classic black,
• colour never fades and just simply lasts.

Picnic at Primrose Hill

Because we enjoyed our picnic at Regent's Park yesterday so much and we wanted to take a full advantage of the beautiful and warm London weather, we decided to go for a picnic also today. This time we went to Primrose Hill, which is even closer from the bus stop than the Regent's Park. I've never been there and it's the place to be. If you know the second Bridget Jones movie, the opening scene when Bridget and Mark Darcy are running on the hill was filmed exactly in that location. It is a hill of 78m, so there is an amazing panorama of central London with London Eye and the City.

On the way there, I texted Dom-dom and even though it take her a while, she got there and we spent an amazing time together joking, laughing and simply talking. We even came up with little business idea, which will hopefully flourish to something big, as both of us are unhappy in the situations we're currently in - she is unhappy with her job, I am with unemployment. So I think we're gonna be partners in crime. Exciting!

Impromptu picnic at Regent's Park

To use the wonderful summer weather we have in London we decided to go today for an impromptu picnic at Regent's Park. Over the years, it's been the park where I rarely gone, but because of the tube being closed and Boris bikes close to it, it's the one we visit most often. It really is beautiful and has plenty to offer. I am not a fan of Hyde Park, because there are very few trees (on the one side at least) and it is so huge, it takes a really long time to walk from one side to the other. With Regent's Park it's different - everything seems closer. There are trees, football pitches and plenty to grass to lie down with a magazine or a book. I think it's the place where I'll organize my birthday party.

giraffe at the ZOO

great way to learn about birds - at the park

one side of the bridge...

...and the other