Work in Progress: Ellen's Bio.

Ellen (a.k.a my lovely flatmate) and I are helping each other out; I'm using this blog to try and work towards journalism (here's hoping anyway!) and she is in the process of setting up her own design business. Here's a first draft of her bio that I've done for her. Watch this space for the press release...

A recent graduate from Northumbria University, Ellen Thomas is a British furniture and product designer, currently based in the North East of England. In 2010, she qualified with an Upper Second (2:1) Classification in Three Dimensional Design, and has since gained a place on Northumbria University’s ‘Designers in Residence’ scheme. With the use of this scheme, she is in the process of establishing her own furniture and product design company.

Ellen’s designs contrast iconic products and furniture with a more contemporary twist, due to the designer’s beliefs that attitudes in current society towards such items are too disposable. Her motivation and focus behind her work is to create beautiful and contemporary designs with a sense of added value, in order to encourage the owner to form an attachment with her designs and that the pieces will be kept and cherished.

Ellen’s work has been showcased as exhibits including ‘New Designer’s “Homework”’ at ‘Mint’, ‘On the road’ at Saatchi and Saatchi and Design MART in 2010. The new designer has entered 2011 with her furniture collection ready for online retail, and is in the process of gaining retail outlets.

Getting in touch with my cultured side...

My gay best friend (or #1 Gay as he likes to refer to himself as) suggested that in light of our resolution to find new and 'interesting hobbies' that we should visit the Laing Art Gallery and the Baltic. I fully enjoyed a) the enthusiasm that came with this idea (I also assured him I'd be there with bells on) and b) the giggles we received from those who feel that our attempt to be cultured would be wasted and we'd end up in the pub instead...

We stuck to  it, and shocked ourselves by 'learning'! I forgot how much I enjoyed contemporary art, and we had a lovely afternoon wandering around the art galleries this afternoon. Not only did we fill up a considerable amount of time for free, we left feeling slightly more cultured and educated than before...which is definitely a new feeling for us to experience when we're together, considering it was possibly the longest time we've spent in each other's company without alcohol-induced memory loss.

Of course, to celebrate, we had to  have a pint in a good ol' British pub. But it was only one, not our usual 100, and to think that we'd have a full day trip out without an alcoholic beverage was a tad optimistic ;-).

Some photographic evidence, just for those who don't believe it to be possible...!

To top off my cultured day, I am currently sitting with a glass of red, alongside my flat mate and a friend of mine who is so Harry Potter obsessed, she has just informed me she now owns Harry Potter Cluedo. We are settling ourselves down for an evening of home-made curry and interesting films. Who says you need money to be cultured and poised?! ;-)

Not plugging sales or anything but...;-)

My lovely flatmate spends her time making furniture. For a slight woman, she lugs around some rather heavy duty tools. I'm currently working on her bio, but just a sneak preview...

This is what you SHOULD be buying for your home in the year 2011, whether on a whim or for a general 'feng shui'...The Milk Series 1 & 2 will add a quirky touch to your home :)   (She should be paying me for advertising..!)

We have it in our flat, obviously. The smaller of the dark stools is currently acting as her bedside table. Stylish and versatile...!

Make her rich so she can take me on holiday. ;-)

There is sometimes such a thing as too much enthusiasm...

On a 'slightly' tipsy whim, I started browsing through more events that were going on in Newcastle. On one particular website I noticed there was a free film on at the Tyneside cinema (or so I thought), and that it was comically named "In search of a Geordie" (again, so I thought..!). So on this tipsy whim I told my flatmate about it, who I feel it is important to note, is the most organised and motivated person that I know. Possibly ever have known, ever. No word of a lie, the woman is a machine.

Bearing this in mind, the next morning when the inevitable hangover had kicked in and I was fully exploiting the fact I had a day off work and was lying in my pit, she burst in full of the joys of spring. And then I remembered the previous evening's tipsy idea. Not one to disappoint, I leaped forth from my bed (or rather, crawled out slowly and precariously) and felt the need to double check the details...
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Turns out, it was actually at the Discovery Museum. Now, this probably should have set the alarm bells ringing right there. But I am one for giving something a try. So off we went, down to the Discovery, aiming to be there ten minutes before it started. Got there with minimal complications, despite my lack of spatial awareness and even slightly earlier than expected. Always a plus.

However, what I hadn't bargained for, is that the 'free film' I had sold to my friend at a venue that is usually regarded as quite 'indie' was not a film about searching for Geordies at all. In my head, I feel I may  have had some comical manhunt in mind, perhaps in the style of a 'Monty Python-esque' film, aimed at a variety of ages. Where we actually ended up, was a room on the top floor of a museum, with a film documenting the history of the River Tyne.  Oh, and surrounded by 30+ people who were a good 30 years older, gawking at us as if we had just laid a golden egg, or something as equally ridiculous that indicated how out of place we actually were. For my troubles I earned the 'look'. The look is something you do NOT want to experience from my darling, lovely flatmate. As lovely, sweet and incredibly logical as she is, let's just say I'm glad she's on my side..!

Fortunately along with the rest of my 'research', I had got the timing so wrong, we only had to endure five minutes of this.

Now, don't get me wrong. I like documentaries, I do. But I do enjoy them from the comfort of my own home, where I don't feel that those sitting around me are more interested in the presence of the 'younger' generation than they are in the actual documentary.

So, I guess the moral of the story here folks...
Always research an event properly. Timing, details and the actual location.
And most importantly. Never do said research on a drunken whim.

Monday Night...Open Mic Night!

During my recent decision to pursue a career in journalism, I thought where better to start, than a review? Despite the cold, I dragged my Irish friend out last Monday to an 'Open Mic Night' event at Bob Trollop's on the Quayside (she was willing, due to the ply of alcohol...).

For those of you who haven't been to Bob Trollop, it's definitely a quirky bar with an authentic, rustic feel to it...and more twists and turns than you can shake a stick at, finding the bathroom is definitely an adventure in itself. But it just adds to the fun, right?! Plus, for a double Morgan Spice with mixer for a reasonable £3.95...you can't complain.

Run by Tynesidemusicians.com, the evening had a relaxed and enjoyable atmosphere which increased as the bar filled up with an eclectic mix of people. The man in charge, Simma, cracked on with those of us who were patiently waiting for him to start performing. We know show-man ship is always a plus, and this guy definitely has it by the truck-load.

When the performance kicked off with Simma's upbeat rendition of BB King's 'How blue can you get?', we were hooked. It's got to be said, the man has a powerful voice and a distinctive sound. I can definitely speak for myself, my friend and the guy making his way steadily through a bottle of red behind us, that we were instantly tapping our feet and were fully engaged in his performance! The tempo slowed with a heartfelt version of Lindisfarne's 'All Fall Down'. The emotion in the room was definitely an experience, definitely forgot for a moment I was sitting in a bar in Newcastle. Which can be a positive in itself, depending on how you feel...

Simma's show-man ship continued with a quick sample of the Wallace and Gromit theme tune...Just for a giggle, or an enthusiastic fan? Either way, I enjoyed it!

Amongst others, a self penned track written with, and I quote, a 'Sonic screw-driver pen' named 'Records' was played, from Simma's album 'Trouble Sleeping'. Self proclaimed acoustic funk which was lively and upbeat...Kids, there is an iTunes download for you right there. I certainly loved it and am proud to say it has made its way onto my iPod. The whole album is available for a bargain price on iTunes, definitely worth a buy if you are interested in local artists and Newcastle's music scene. Remember how Sting started...

Another guy worth mentioning is Craig Johnson, whose beautifully soft voice provided a wonderful rendition of the True Blood theme 'Bad Things'. A song that stuck out for me was 'Why Aye Man', by Mark Knopfer for Auf wiedersehen Pet...it's always going to get a giggle out of a bunch of Geordies in a pub in Newcastle (myself included)!

Overall – for randomly stumbling across and checking out on a whim, a (free!!) event in Newcastle, I feel it was a pretty good way to spend my Monday night. Would definitely recommend for a wintry Monday evening, particularly in January when purse strings are tight. Guaranteed a fun and a lively atmosphere…will definitely be returning!

A January 1st tradition....

New Year's Day. A day where we sit holding our heads grimacing and promising 'I'm never going to drink again. Ever'. A day where we plan to join a  gym, where our memberships become obsolete after three weeks, no matter how much we promise to attend three times a week. A day where we think to start that 'healthy eating plan' that lasts until the habitual Friday night take away. A day where we promise we'll be motivated and successful and make the most out of life...and are discovered wasting valuable time watching day time television when the initial idea wears off...

This year, however, I've decided to become proactive. And actually stick to something I've come up with on January 1st - The day of promises.

And lo and behold, a blog is born.

And so, dear readers, if you are out there, my New Year's resolution is to write a blog. As many of my friends will tell you, I am a bit of a socialite. However, I aim to swap my glass of red for a pen (as much as this pains me) and bring to you a blog containing my general witticisms(!), personal opinions and reviews of the various events and goings on in Newcastle that I have happened to stumble upon.

Here's hoping that I deliver the former...!