Sunday 5 January 2014

Books and Berries Over Boots

I’m one of those girls that dresses fairly well and current but hates going clothes shopping.  Any invite from my fashionable girlfriends is met with NO I hate it.  I usually regret the loss of money spent on my clothes and get annoyed at the amount of room they take up.  And yes they take up a lot of room.  One look at my bedroom and you would never believe this post.  I have shoes lined along the floor, dresses hanging from the walls and two closets full of “stuff” eek what a waste.  I’d much rather these closets by full of fairy tales and adventures.  This objection to shopping is not equal for all things though you see.   Invite me to a fresh food market, spice bizarre, winery or boutique bookshop and I’ll be happily lost for hours and spend all the money in my banana shaped purse. 

Nothing brings me greater pleasure then sitting down with a beautiful loose leaf tea and reading a book.  Or musing over my latest read with a glass of wine some cheese and a friend.  Both of which I would happily do naked. 

I feel more nourished and fulfilled from books and beautiful foods.  A trip to the markets leaves me elated and excited.  I can never wait to get home and pour over some cook books.  I love fresh food and being a vegetarian means my fridge and cupboards are full of fresh fruit and vegetables.  Nuts and good chocolate are a must and if there are no lemons in the house I go into a panic.  A dollar parted with for delectable food is a dollar well spent.

The same is said for books.  Being that I move every year and love to travel an eReader is most practical, but I need both.  The tangibility and smell of real books still wins over the chicness and convenience of a Kindle.  So I take it in turns, reading one novel on the eReader then a real book.  Each nourishing me more than any sale at Sass and Bide could.

I get that clothes can be beautiful and yes practical but I could never love them for as long or as much as I love stories.  Clothes you buy, love for a month or so then donate to a charity or friend.  I would never abandon a book like this (well not a good book).  The stories stay with me for life.  The experiences of the characters become my stories.  I go around in a daze for days, expecting to see gypsies flying carpets, and magic among the streets.  Listening for exotic languages, cries of murder and looking for detectives carrying snuff boxes.  Sometimes coming back to reality after being immersed in a fantastic world can be hard.  But that’s the amazing thing about books; you can visit them any time.  Be transformed into a lover, a man, a mother, a soldier, a pirate, a drug addict after just a few lines.  Visit any time period and country.  Feel sorrow and joy.
 
The memories and experiences from books can also be aroused by food.  Eating baklava brings back my memories of  the hot streets of Istanbul, a beautiful Sangiovese makes me think of my time spent in beautiful Florence and watermelon reminds me of my lovely childhood.  The smells, sights and tastes of food bring back cherished memories and create new ones.  Signature dishes and flavours become part of our personality, how delicious.  

Eating and drinking brings people together, it’s social and enjoyable.  Hunting for new hidden gems in the city you love or trying to attack a dish you have never cooked before are pleasures that should be indulged in daily.  It nourishes the body and soul.  The colours, smells, tastes, cities, worlds and characters of my vices treat me well.  I will never part with the loves like I would an old coat.

 I could write thousands of words about my love of food and books but I’d rather get back to One Hundred Years of Solitude and my punnet of blueberries.  So for now, all I shall say is I will always take books and berries over boots.


Thursday 2 January 2014

Who are you?

It's come to my attention that the first thing someone asks you after an introduction is "so what do you do".  Now it would be nice if they were asking on a personal level.  Asking do you cook, run, love, volunteer, sing?  Are you a cat or a dog person?  Are you team Nigella?  But it's never that.  They are asking what do you get paid to do.  Which in my humble opinion is as obnoxious as asking “how much do you get paid?” or “can I get anything out of talking to you?”  Now I’m not trying to start of the year cynical and I appreciate unless this is the start of a long illustrious friendship then small talk at the party is key.  But honestly if one more person this holiday season can only think to ask what's your job I’m going to bop them on the head.  Beyond the fact that you might learn something interesting about the other person, it’s highly amusing to watch people react to a more personal question.  What are you reading?  Do you like to travel and so on. 

This view of course doesn’t mean that no one wants to speak about their job.  But a lot of people are not in their dream career and you asking them to explain why can be as rude as asking what size are your pants.  If someone wants to talk about their job trust me they will bring it up.  I love speaking about my writing job but my financial one not so much.  So when I’m asked about this stupid question I usually say “two jobs, one at the bank and one writing which I love”.  But of course I’m always met with ooh which bank?  And another thing if someone adds a "just" before their job title they don’t want to divulge either, I’m just a bartender as opposed to I’m a sommelier at this great place...see?  So this year try asking people who they are, not what they do and I can guarantee the conversation will be more enjoyable for both parties.


If you don't want to know anything detailed about who this new person is you can always just spice things up by asking who they voted for.  Screw politeness.