Running

I'd just like to reiterate the brilliance of running. Glad to see the back of that sludgy snow and ice - I'm back in my routine of morning running. I also sometimes take a nifty jog around the park late afternoon if I finish Uni early.

This morning as I began my run a builder shouted "Go on, love". He was probably trying to patronise me but I felt like I was doing the Marathon and he was cheering from the sideline. Back in your face, builder.

Running should become a part of every one's routine - like cleaning your teeth, eating breakfast, going to work, binge-drinking at the weekends.

If everyone went for a run a day - the UK would be full of joy and energy. And not full of fat lazy negative depressed people.

Getting your heart going, breathing in the (kind of) fresh air, clearing your mind, working your muscles, stretching your limbs, laughing at other people who look like idiots when they run, thinking that you don't look like an idiot when you run (you do) - it's all part of it.

As I ran past Pub on the Park earlier there were two stinking old men smoking a spliff and jeering. I felt to give to give them the finger. Instead, I just jogged on - feeling far superior in my incredibly uncool running trainers with a bright red face dripping with sweat and my half bleached hair greasily clinging to my temples.

Since having my headphones stolen (you know who you are) I've taken to running with no music. And, amazingly, I love it. You can concentrate on your breathing and listen to the trees swaying. Not. But it's quite nice, for a change.

If you can't muster the energy to get your butt in action - take inspiration from Tracy. "Don't you know you better..........

A really nice area

Elephant and Castle is home to my uni. This is the view I have as I exit my building and make my way to the bus stop. Every day. It's pretty much always grey and raining. But I don't really care. I actually really quite love Elephant and Castle.

And it is SO up-and-coming, check this BADBOY

Bananarama

Today I made two banana cakes as we had about 3 million bruised bananas that no one wanted to eat. I whacked in some macademia nuts for good measure and one special cranberry. Whoever gets the cranberry wins £100. But I'm the only one who knows about the prize.

I forgot to ask my housemates to rate it but, when she wasn't nearly choking to death on her tea, Danni seemed to quite like it. I'd probably give it 8/10 as we eagerly sliced into before it had properly cooled. Tomorrow it might be 9. Or even 10. No - 9.

Banana 1:


Banana 2:

Mine and Rich's collaborative debut

On Saturday Rich and I went over to Broadway Market to talk to some locals. And to some non-locals - tourists, perhaps?

We produced this film for a project I'm doing at Uni and it will be accompanied by an article that I'm in the process of writing.

The project is contemplating the 'gentrification' of Hackney as East London begins a huge regeneration process to accommodate the 2012 Olympics. This will massively effect Hackney's residents in both positive and negative ways.

We are focusing on Broadway Market as a (possible) example of the elitism set to strike parts of Hackney.

Watch our film HERE.

The film and article will be published through the Hackney Citizen so I'll put up a link once it's available there.

Precious

I went to see ‘Precious’ on Friday and was pretty choked up. I wish I'd written this piece before having read a load of (mostly bad) reviews which are likely to influence my judgment. Actually, they probably won’t because I disagree with most of them. The Sunday Times hailed it as “enjoyable but not at all moving”. Hello? Have you got an even colder heart than ME? I’d say the opposite, if anything – moving but not incredibly enjoyable.

I had tears welling up.

I was absolutely transfixed throughout. The acting was brilliant.

Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire, an American author and performance poet, ‘Precious’ documents the tragic life of a black, obese, American teenager who is being abused by her mother and father – verbally, mentally, physically, sexually.

It raises all sorts of questions and debates. The traumatic issues it raises need to be brought out into the open.

Mariah Carey plays the role of a social worker and does so quite impressively – in dowdy attire and certainly not looking her usual glam self. Good on you, Mariah. Bet she still had her 500 assistants out the back though.

I’d recommend seeing this film – though beware the emotional effect it will undoubtedly have on you. And I won’t advise you not to see it if you’re feeling down because whatever mood you are in when you enter the cinema – you’ll feel a lot more emotional when you come out.

Tommy Wallach

This incorporates pretty much everything I love about music. It has some banging piano playing, lyrics about love - but not your usual lovesong lyrics - the oomph of a song you might expect to hear in a musical, and is he playing in a book shop? Looks like it. Amazing. If my dreams of writing novels in the countryside don't come to fruition then I'd like to live in San fran, be a singer-songwriter, and play in joints like this.

The Pet Shop

This morning I took a trip to The Pet Shop on Amhurst Road. This is a real treat for me - I try to go once every couple of weeks or so. The last time I visited there was a very large parrot in a very small cage. That made me feel a bit sad. I tried to teach it swear words to cheer it up but he was too depressed.

Today I noticed a sign on the window saying 'Monkey for Sale - £1500'. Hmmmm, I thought, I'm sure it's illegal to keep a money as a pet - better investigate. I walked into the shop and made my way towards the back where all the cute kittens play but was stopped in my tracks.

A young man and a young woman were crouched on their haunches, seemingly scrutinising the gerbils. This seemed odd as gerbils are pretty damn boring to watch. "This bit's closed today" the young man informed me - referring to a metre long section of one of the two aisles. "Ok," I said "I'll go round the other way". I could feel their eyes on me as I walked back to the front of the shop and made my way down the other aisle. I eventually got to the kittens and crouched down to ogle them.

The two of them stared at me until I felt obliged to engage in conversation so I asked them how much the cats were. "150 quid for the one jumping around, 175 for the one at the back". The boy got up and walked into the back room and I said to the girl:

"Have you really got a monkey to sell? Can I see it?"

"Yeah," She said - "that boy you was just talking to has it at home".

"Oh. I thought it was illegal to keep monkeys as pets in this country".

"Not these ones." She said, with a lowered voice, then scrunched up her eyes as if she was trying to make me disappear by staring at me.

Time to disappear, I thought. Before they release the tiger they're hiding out the back.