A beautiful moment continued....

A few months ago before leaving for Korea I was at home packing when I had a few missed calls from my brother.

My brother is 4 years younger than me and a fantastic guy. He has managed to look after my little family and put up with all of us girls for years. He has probably seen more girlie films than a man should have.

His missed calls worried me instantly as I worry anytime I have a few calls from a family member so I urgently rang him back. He has his cheeky voice on which has been reserved for Christmas mornings when he gives me crazy presents. When he was 12 he gave me a box in a box in a box ending up with just a light bulb.

Anyway this cheeky brother of mine gave me some exciting news. He was going to ask his girlfriend to marry him.

I am not married myself and I don’t think it will happen any time soon but I was over the moon. My heart leapt into my throat and I danced.

Meg his girlfriend is the loveliest lady. She is from Seattle and has been loved by my family from the second we have met her.

I think we knew we loved her when she accidently hit a toy sheep and whispered ‘sorry; to it. She was instantly good enough for my brother.

I had dreamed of things like this moment. I think you imagine the day your brother or sister will be married or what the person they are with will be like so to have that phone call took my breath away.

I had only dreamed he would care enough to tell me. Let alone ring me and tell me in advance. I have spent months excitedly waiting to hear the details. I knew he was going to hire a photographer, that he’d asked her Dad’s permission and that he was flying to Seattle. Her visa to move to Britain should be finalized in July and I can’t wait to hear how she spends time with my lovely family.

That email (at 3am) ‘She said yes’ made my heart sing and I couldn’t have been happier.

I know that the future is unknown and that the world can be hard on people but I am so glad they have each other. I hope they spend every day remembering that they wake up for that other person and that they are made stronger by that other person and never put down or made to feel small.

I hope my brother makes her as happy as she deserves to be and vice versa. Life’s to short to not spend every day making someone happy.

I think my brother will be a fantastic husband and Meg will make a fantastic Mrs Vincent 

My brother and I

The beautiful Meg and Craig

The sweetest couple

A Beautiful moment

This is the smallest post in the world to say something I can't hold in anymore.
My brother sent me the best email I've ever recieved last night.

It said:

"She said Yes"

I cried and danced . I just had to share with you all this happy news.
I will write about it all in more detail but to one of the greatest men I know on this earth, my brother, I couldn't be happier for you and my soon to be sister xxxx

So long 26

As I near the end of what has been a whirlwind of a year it is easy to forget how much has happened in a such a short time.

I think this year has been one of the biggest upheavals I’ve ever faced and yet it has felt smooth.

This time last year I was living in North London. I spent my evenings in an office animating my heart out and praying that my contract would be extended. I spent my weekend absorbed in pretty vintage clothes shops and lazing around in parks but I still pined for travel.

Moving to live in Korea was obviously one of the biggest choices I made in the year but so much amazing stuff has happened.

I thought I would spend a little time recapping some of my favorite moments of my 26^th year on this lovely planet:

 

. Moving to Korea

. Visiting Rome

. Visiting Scotland
. Brighton

. Drinks at the London Piano bar

. Drinks on the Thames

. Burlesque classes

. Kpop classes

. Making new friends from all over the world

. Snow Day

. Picnic’s in Regents Park

. Seeing the Queens jubilee

. V&A costume exhibition

. Grease Future Cinema with my girls

. Celebrating Steph’s engagement

. Leaving party with the Bridgend boys

. Random night in London with Bowditch

. House party in Kentish town

. Learning to bake a chocolate cake

. Learning to bake fudge

. Seeing the Crazy Horse

. St Patricks day for the Grand Slam

. Christmas at home.

. Driving to Wales with a very full car

. Can I list Rome again?

. Turning up to a run down ruin of a hotel in Greece

. Buying my camera

. Drinking Prosecco alone in heels at Heathrow airport.

. Boxing classes with my Norwegian power house of a friend Randi

. balling my eyes out at the Casablanca future cinema

. Dinner with Jacky before leaving Wales

. Sunday dinners and hugs with my Grampy Jack

. Cupcakes with my sister

. Dancing all night with many crazy Italians and home made prosecco

. Dying hair blonde for 3 days

. A very special and important phone call I had from my brother

. Watching ‘It’s a wonderful life’ in the cinema.

. Drinks in the Savoy

. Learning to wear skyscraper heels

. Embracing red lipstick

.Getting massive glasses

. Being a published writer.

. Interviewing a Dreamworks director.

.Seeing Danny Devito

.Finally feeling happy in my own skin.

Favorite film: It’s a Wonderful Life

Favorite song: either ‘Call me maybe’ or ‘Gangnam Style’ (just because you can’t not smile when they are on)

Favorite drink: Prosecco or homemade eggnog

Favorite food: Crumbly fudge or Stuffed crust salami and cheese London local pizza

Saddest moment: walking away from Jess in the tube station or realizing I’ll miss Christmas this year...also my camera broke so I have a lack of pictures for the year.

Happiest moment: too many to count but dancing in that Roman bar with my favorite person to Nat King Cole ‘quesas quesas quesas’ is up there.

Main thing I’ve learnt: It’s okay to be me.

26 was a great year and I learnt a lot.

Namly that I am a stress head, travelling isn't hard once you commit and also that squid goes well with wine.I can't wait to see what 27 has to offer.

27

Today I turn 27. That sentence seems so alien to me.

I don’t feel 27, I certainly don’t act 27 and I really hope I don’t look 27. When I was younger 27 year olds looked like Mums. When I think of 27 I imagine an adult and I sure as hell am not one of those.

As a child of the 90’s my ‘27 year old’ references were characters from shows such as ‘Friends’ or ‘Sex in the City’. These days I suppose it would be shows like ‘New Girl’. None of these characters that I watch feel my age.

I suppose the way to see if I have achieved these characters age is to look at their traits:

1. They are mostly irresponsible

2. They don’t get youthful references that young people throw at them.

3. They drink a lot of coffee.

4. The dance like fools.

5. They spend more time with friends than family

Hmmm after looking at this list I might have to conclude that actually I have reached their ages as this list is basically my daily schedule.

This also makes me not feel so bad about being 27. Characters like Rachel from Friends, Jess from New Girl and many others were all people I hoped to be one day. I may not have their hair or their clothes but I have their age. I suppose that’s a step in the right direction.

 

When I look at 27 a bit more closely I have to give in that it’s not that bad. I have a tinge of youth still slightly lingering and all the benefits of experience but still the energy to enjoy things.

Hey, maybe this 27 lack isn’t all that bad. 

Romantic mood

I don't know why but I'm in a very romantic mood today so I thought i'd send some lovely tunes out into the Ether.

Tony has to be mention of course:
The way you look tonight

Then we have to include the silk voice himself:
Mr Nat King Cole

And lastly I found this fantastic choir today that do a many covers but have really made this song stand out:
Wouldn't it be nice

Lastly I think I am going to go home and watch one of the greatest love stories of all time (Thats right I said it)
Wall.e with features the talented Louis Armstrong

Ella

I am sure you have all seen this on Google because lets face it we all go on Google at least once a day, but I wanted to post it here as I think it’s a fantastic drawing.
The Google here is Korean but I instantly knew who it was for. The lovely Miss Ella Fitzgerald of course.

Her music is a gift that we should all appreciate. I am glad that I discovered her as early as I did in my childhood but I am jealous when I see someone discover her for the first time.
It’s impossible to choose a favorite but here are a few selections:
 That Lady Is a Tramp
What are you doing New Year's?
Night and Day
Summer time

Have a lovely day everyone and Happy Birthday Ella x

Let’s make- up.

This is the first time in my life that I have disposable income. The terror of not having money still hangs in the air. I go to a shop and the second I buy anything, even bin bags I feel guilty.

This month was my first pay check so I forced myself to splurge.

I marched myself into the make up shop I’d read all about online while I was in the UK and filled my basket.

Korean Make up is like magic. I have no idea how but every item does more than it says on the tin (not that I can read the tin of course).

The best item by far was the nail varnish. I have learnt to wear nail varnish over the last few years and I’m addicted to it now. My nails don’t feel right unless and Elmo red adorns them. My problem though is that I have never been able to wear colors that last even a day. I held out little hope that this varnish would be different and by Jove I was right!

I can finally wear nail varnish for a day or two without a chip. It’s a miracle, especially since it’s actually cheaper than all of the UK make up brands.

The face creams I have bought have already started to make a difference. My poor tired eyes have more lines than a student’s detention book. I know the lines are from smiling so I don’t regret them but it can be annoying to look about 50 in all photos.

The firm eye cream I have has made a difference in only a week. It was cheap and makes me feel more awake when I put it on.

Since my first purchase was such a success and since I brought so little with me I think my fear of spending money will quickly fade. Since buying the makeup I have already bought a wonder woman jumper and some crazy Konglish t-shirts. Next on the list: Heels!

A relaxed weekend

I love the weekend. It is a chance for this (above) and for sleep.
I feel slightly guilty every time that I don't run around and do crazy things on weekends. Since I am half way across the world it feels like I should be absorbing but after a 65 hour week and a LOT of screaming kids its nice to now and again have a relax.

I met up with friends and saved the bar man a trip. This place is a great place to take friends. You just take your bottles up to the bar at the end of the night. They even have baskets for the likes of us british people that drink quite a few bottles.

The next night it was time for Shabba Shabba , a fantastic new discovery. Vietnamese food that istantly became a favourite. It involves putting your veg and thinly cut meat into a fanastic tasting broth. Once you feel you might pop its in with the noodles and the porriage.

The gang then headed to a few random bars and kept ourselves entertained until we hit upon the crazy idea of a night club. Night clubs in Korea are basically massive raves. You can't hear, can't see and there are bodies everywhere. It was fantastic. We danced until it was light then danced some more. 

The next night it was time for some quality time at home with the first season of HBO girls and pizza. It was perfect and needed after a night that ended at 6am.

The only thing we were craving this weekend was a film but with Korea only having one British film a month we had to make do with the memories of their delicious popcorn. After all its filled with Love, Happiness and Touching.

Friday sunshine

Its Friday here and almost time for lunch, home and good times.
This weekend is going to be a trip to the beach with my South African friends.
I'm expecting it to be loud.

So here is a lovely sunny song for you

She & Him

Love this lady!

http://www.youtube.com/user/LisaFreemontStreet/videos?query=pin+curl

This lady does the greatest pin curl and hair tutorials. I have horrible hair that hates all vintage styles but i'm going to try the veronica lake tonight...wish me luck x

Mad Men Music

The music at the end of Mad Men always gets me.
Its always so lovely and something new to my ears.

I was especially happy to find a new Etta James song.

So here is some lovely sad Draper tunes for your wednesday
Draper Tunes

First Vintage Korean Purchase

It finally arrived. Pay day!

It was a very anticipated and rewarding day for all of the new recruits here in Daegu.

Everyone ran to take pictures and print out pictures of their bank accounts as we are now all millionaires. Only in Won but who cares, the principal is kind of the same.

I desperately needed clothes. I know ladies seem to say this a lot (and a lot of blokes I know too) but I really did.

I was allowed one suitcase for the year and it was mainly filled with laptops, home comforts such as pictures and sheets (since they don’t sell sheets as we know it in Korea) so my clothes, especially the pretty vintage ones, were put into storage.

A lot it seems have migrated into my sister’s closet for safe keeping?!

I did bring a few choice pieces but mainly things that will work for a Korean teacher’s wardrobe which mainly translates as ‘Don’t show chest at all’.

I am so sick of wearing the same clothes that when payday came I ran out to the shops as fast as my in need of new shoes feet could carry me.

I had spied the vintage section of town while out traveling in my first week and I was intrigued.

All were basement shops and all were huge! Packed to the rafters with hundreds of different items. Lots of 70’s and 80’s but a lot of the stuff in their was easily adaptable or made in the 80’s to look 40’s which out in Korea is good enough for me.

As well as pretty things I have been looking for practical comfy things. Being an animator in the UK meant every day was jeans and t-shirt if I wanted so I tried to dress up but here is the exact reverse and I’m craving baggy jumpers and t-shirts.

I found a few purchases that will keep me entertained for a while.

A fantastic 70’s denim shirt, A stripped long sleeve top perfect for my K-pop classes (more on this later!) and a lovely double zipped black pencil skirt.

I was in clothes heaven.

The greatest thing about all of these finds was that they were stupidly cheap.

Clothes in Korea vary. You can go to underground malls and get lovely clothes for dirt cheap or you can go to the Lotte department store and spend the equivalent of 50,000 dollars on a fur coat. 

This shop was really great and luckily had a changing room (another rarity around here) to help me pick what suited me best.

I did arrive in Korea realizing my style was already 60% Korean. They love peter pan collars, they love bows and dots and they love quirky designs. All in all I am almost mistaken for a Korean daily. This isn’t helped with my dark hair and massive glasses which although unique even in London are common place around this area.

I never expected to find this area in Korea but I love exploring it. Who knows, I might have more vintage purchases here than I did in the UK,

I have already taught some Koreans to Jive on nights out and I’m looking into Lindy hop classes. The newest purchase I made was last night and it was a lovely electric curling iron so now there’s nothing to stop me getting my ‘Heyworth’ on. This place is the vintage home away from home.

Cherry Blossoms

The blossoms are so pretty. the bugs, not so much.