Remember, remember...

The fifth of November,

Gunpowder, treason and plot.

I see no reason why gunpowder treason

Should ever be forgot.

I’ve been trying to find out who wrote the English folk verse reminding us of Guy Fawkes’ plot to blow up the Houses of Parliament, but to no avail. The poem appears in various forms, but the key lines have survived the centuries intact. In America the same poem is probably now best known for its use in the V for Vendetta film.

It may not be quite so catchy, but ShopCurious’s Poet in Residence, Matt Bryden, has come up with a curiously thought provoking new poem for Bonfire Night:

In the Field of Les Feux d’Artifices

The difference between les gants and les mitaines

is the space accorded each finger.

A warden tends the blaze of stacked pallets. They give

against each other with the emission of heat.

People disperse and we approach the tether,

regaining our lost degrees through proximity.

I hold a can in my hand,

my jacket holds another.

The light is one with the music –

a blur, momentarily focused as we pause.

Do you?

Fireworks and reflections

With rain forecast, I was expecting Bonfire Night to be a total washout. But I was pleasantly surprised to see one of the most spectacular fireworks displays ever (well, since the last most spectacular one anyway). And not a drop of rain.

London’s Hurlingham Club fireworks take some beating – especially if viewed from across the river. Best of all, you don’t have to be a member of the club, and second best of all, you get to see twice the fireworks for your money (in fact for no money, as it’s free).

The reason I say twice the fireworks, is because there’s also a reflection in the River Thames. It’s not quite the same as being there, but these photographs, which remind me of something from a Turner painting, will give you an idea…



























And here's what the fabulous finale looked like:

By the way, shadows, reflections and outlines are some of the curious trends that ShopCurious predicts we’ll be seeing much more of in fashion and interiors over the coming seasons. It’s all to do with having the curiosity factor…

Do you?

Curiously cold, but crammed with colour

I feel really sorry for all those whose travel plans were disrupted by the snow this Christmas: The time of year is stressful enough as it is. Over the past couple of weeks I’ve done my own rather rushed UK tour, visiting friends and relatives in far flung parts of the country, in addition to all the usual duties like food shopping, preparing Christmas party fare, making a traditional turkey lunch, tidying bedrooms and speed-wrapping stacks of presents.




This year one of my resolutions is to slow down - I’m just hoping that my curiosity to do, see and try new things allows me to pack a little less into my days so I don’t end up permanently frayed and frazzled. Anyway, here are some of the curious things I’ve seen during the bits of the holiday that were spent in London:

Yes, I met a talking tree at the Winter Wonderland in London’s Hyde Park.







Other strange encounters included a lost Father Christmas (above right) and an artificial snowman with child…

Unfortunately, the snow in London had almost all melted by Boxing Day, but remarkably the Serpentine was completely frozen, and looked eerily beautiful in the late morning sun.




















A ride on the helter skelter is about as dare-devil as I get when it comes to fairgrounds, but I’m curious to hear what it’s like on this enormous tower that looks seriously scary to me...




































More to my liking were the VIP views of London from the observation wheel – in a minimalist pod complete with computer-generated Christmas carols and champagne.


















And, a few days later the fabulous lightshow, as seen from my balcony, of the New Year’s Eve fireworks over the the river and Big Ben.


This year there was also an unusual light display around the London Eye. And the dense freezing fog of previous days lifted just in time to be able to see it all, thank goodness…








If you're not already snoring, I'll share a few more photos of my curiously crammed Christmas travels in the next post.








Meantime, this month I’ll be rejigging and re-stocking the ShopCurious website. So look out for a new selection of sale items coming shortly, along with a pared down, but uniquely original offering of vintage and contemporary gifts, accessories and curiosities.

Will you?

A curious New Year in London

Once in a blue moon you might get the feeling that it’s going to be a really curious New Year. Then again, every new day in London is pretty curious. Here are a few images, compiled over the past year, showing just how curiously varied and original life can be in our great cosmopolitan metropolis.

This shot, taken by Goldfinger, shows the beautiful blue moon in all its magnificent natural glory, illuminating the London sky last night.








In early February 2009, it snowed so much that the city was brought to a standstill. I even spotted an icy cool igloo in Wandsworth Park. Yes, there were actually people inside (or do you see Eskimos?)








At ShopCurious, we're very much in favour of all things slow, so when I saw this group practising the martial art of Tai Chi outside St Martin in the Fields Church in Trafalgar Square, I had to stop and take a picture. Funny, I’d never noticed the quirky window to the rear of the church building before… very arty and unusual.






The East End of London has become something of a centre for edgy, fashion-conscious types, so I was really surprised to stumble upon an old fashioned tea dance in full swing, as I walked through Spitalfields Market. Next time you’re in the area, why not dress up in some stylish vintage clothing, put on your dancing shoes and join in the fun?

Here’s another one by Goldfinger, showing the spectacular fireworks over the London Eye, as they lit up Big Ben at midnight.

Wherever you are in the world, I hope you have the best and most Curious New Year ever.


Will you?