Marcroy x Konrath....

....Scrolling through design site, 'it's nice that', I noticed a collaboration between Andreas and Marcroy Smith. Lovely.

Today I am mostly listening to....

....TV On The Radio. Absolutely loving it.

Village Green....

....Tom has accused me of neglecting his wonderful design studio on here the pages of this blog. I clearly under estimated the creative corners that this site was reaching.......Nana, you enjoying this?! It would be a shame not to share Village Green with the, ahem, world - so, Tom, here you are.


Glasvegas sleeve artwork from Tom's own fair hands.



Fabric Saturday posters

The End....

...It's lovely when you're sitting at your desk, in front of your computer and then a little package comes your way from the postie. Today I got this tee - which I bought because it reminded me of the final still at the end of an old movie, but has received comments linking it to the London club of the same name, and the impending doom of the recession!

Rugger bugger....

....Ed Hoadley. Friend, colleague, marathon runner and failed rugby pro turned Project Manager, has a new blog. Rather than being self absorbed and writing about himself like the rest of us, he is actually putting together a concise, funny and truthful review of the current Premiership rugby campaign. So for any of you that like the odd ruck, click here.

Back in the day!

Le Crutch....

....Ed has a blog - direct from his boudoir en Paris. C'est bon.
He is also a rather superb illustrator, don't you know.

Mannyon....

....the liver spotted Dalmation that now belongs to Ed and Denise. Click on the photo to enlarge and see the Bowie-esque eyes!

The Boundary....

....This hotel has finally opened after being under construction for quite sometime. The joint venture between Terence & Vicki Conran boasts a rooftop pool to rival that of Shoreditch House directly opposite. There is also a bakery, food store and restaurant, called Albion. 

Stimulus....

....A few pics of things I've stumbled across and rather like.

Eine graffiti on the shutters of an art gallery on Redchurch Street.

Hue beer, drunk as an accompaniment 

to a fantastic meal at Huong Viet.

Colourful Fireball BMX

Crying Clem....

....Ever style conscious, Clementine took exception to her newest jacket. She soon admitted defeat and Richie, Anne & I went for a lovely walk through Clissold Park, stumbling across this bike shop and a rather random Sylvanian Families store!

Frozen stream in Clissold Park

Builders Merchants....

....Spotted this fantastic old sign on a wall-side in Finsbury Park.

Society of the Spectacle....

....College pal and nominated Glasto' car driver, James, has a blog which you should check out. Now. Then click the link on his blog to return to mine......

CC41....

....I was watching a BBCFour programme last night on fashion throughout the decades. This particular episode concentrated on the '40s - part of which included CC41. This stands for 'Civilian Clothing 1941', soon becoming known as the 'Cheeses' and appeared on items as diverse as furniture, linen, sports goods and housewares. It is the logo design in particular that made me want to write this post - created by Reginald Ship in the same year - who was also responsible for numerous clothing designs. Any more information on this designer is unfortunately hard to come by, but I think it holds up well even now.

Quite....

(click image to enlarge and read).

Fixed Gear Topshop....

....Fixed gears have quite literally hit the High Street. Oh Dear. (And the sad the truth is that today I'm wearing the shirt that the mannequin on the left is sporting!)

Topshop

Duel....

.....Thanks to Boris, for the next 18 months motorbikes are now allowed in the bus lane. I think this is an incredibly stupid idea, as do most cyclists and last night I experienced the potential dangers first hand. For what seemed like the whole commute home, four motorbikes whizzed past and in front of me, within inches of my bike.

Letter of confirmation stolen from here


They really are a different prospect to deal with than any other traffic - faster, nippier and more keen to dive in and out of traffic just like we (cyclists) are....except we're much more vulnerable. It is only an 18 month trial, one that I hope isn't continued - as a result of common sense rather than an increase of cycle / motorbike accidents on the road.

Double Che....

....Alicia and I managed to see an old fashioned double bill on New Years Day. It meant we sat in darkness, not talking for the majority of Jan 1st, but maybe that was best after revelries the night before! We saw parts 1 & 2 of Che at the Rich Mix cinema.



As usual, my ignorance is staggering - so although I know bits of the 'Che' story and see his image plastered everywhere, I really didn't know what to expect. In terms of history, it was remarkable what Castro, Guevara and the Cuban rebels managed to achieve in the liberation of the country. What I hadn't appreciated was Che's attempt, failure and death in Bolivia some years later.



Directionally, Steven Soderbergh has done a fantastic job in the contrasting styles of both films - Part One shifting time frames between black & white and colour scenes, culminating in Che's address to the United Nations assembly. Part Two is altogether quieter and beautifully shot in muted blues and greys. Both Alicia and I loved the films and felt a slight knowledgeable reward to boot!

Dans le noir on NYE....

....Alicia and I didn't spend Christmas together, so New Year's Eve became the day that we exchanged presents and went for dinner.

(presents)


Our choice of restaurant was borne out of the joint decision for something intimate, new and memorable - so we booked a table at Dans Le Noir. Here, you eat in total darkness and are waited on by blind staff....surely ticking all the boxes we required!

(restaurant)


We were led to our table, after a pre-dinner cocktail, along with two other couples who we sat alongside. Literally right next to one another - straight away the 'intimate' part of our dinner was lost, as a group conversation ensued that really couldn't be avoided. In all honesty, it wasn't a problem and we all got on, but Alicia and I couldn't help but feel we had ended up coming to dinner with four others rather than just ourselves.

(follow my leader)


I chose the 'special' menu, where I had no idea what I would be served and Alicia went for the (safer) vegetarian option. Three courses and three glasses of wine followed - all of which I used my hands to consume! I managed to guess the majority of my food - it was tasty, but certainly not outstanding...I felt it was a pretty safe menu to be honest. (Mine was foie gras / steak, liver & mash / dark chocolate mousse & elderflower sorbet).

Time absolutely flew, (and without watches - that are left in a locker along with phone / camera etc - we had no idea), and when we emerged from the darkness it was suddenly 11.55pm. We were offered to the upstairs bar with a glass of champagne and then before we knew it, it was 2009. HAPPY NEW YEAR!

(2009 is now)


Alicia and I got back on our bikes, came home to share a bottle of bubbly, have a dance in the living room and that was that!

(tiny dancers)


We had a great time - a great dinner, but a compete one-off. I do, however, recommend it - it was an experience like no other, placing trust in others, your taste and your senses. Try to ask for a private table though.....

(happy new year from Roy & Lic)

Back to life....

....Back in London, back to life as normal and still trying those backward circles. Nearly!


Untitled from Roy Barker on Vimeo.

Bicycle Thieves....

....I went to the Tyneside Cinema today to see Ladri di biciclette, (The Bicycle Thieves), a 1948 Italian film. It was very good, although I was slightly disappointed to find that it wasn't being shown in the Classic Art Deco cinema screen as advertised, but in one of the newer screens. Still, I thoroughly enjoy visiting the Tyneside, and recommend it to anyone who finds themselves in Newcastle any time soon.

Tyneside Cinema


'Classic' Art Deco screen


Ladri di biciclette

Saturday 27th....

....My penultimate day was spent watching Newcastle Falcons draw 16-16 with Worcester Warriors at Kingston Park, followed by drinks in the evening with those still left in town.

Mum & Dad's place....

....Has always been nice, as it is the only home I've ever known, but it's all in the detail!

Boxing Day....

....Andy's parents Jean & Nige arrived today. At lunchtime we went for a walk along the promenade, after which I cycled in to Tynemouth to meet Paul briefly and watch Newcastle lose. The early evening brought the Laing, Wenzel and Whitehead families to Queens Road for our annual Boxing Day bash, at which yet more food and drink was consumed amongst homemade quiz's and board games.

Christmas Day....

....Another Christmas day is gone, but a great day it was. Nothing other than the familiar routine between family and the Brannens', (who are as good as family anyway!). Moderate(!) amounts of food, alcohol and board games were had:

Christmas Skype....

....A trans-Atlantic Christmas day Skype call with Matt & Tess in New York. (Spot the Barker family crammed in to shot in the bottom left hand corner!)

Christmas Evie....

....Congratulations to Tom & Sarah, whose baby daughter, Evie May Dixon, was born today - on Christmas Day! She is a wholesome 10lbs 10oz and mother & baby are doing well.

Christmas Eve....

....After a few games of pool at Whitley Lodge Snooker Centre, a few of us went for dinner together at Avanti in West Jesmond. Following that, we went to our usual xmas eve haunt, the Lonsdale, for drinks amongst old friends.

Newcastle Gateshead....

....is looking beautiful under Christmas skies.

The Sage & The Snowman....

....Mum and I went to the Sage today in Gateshead to watch classic film The Snowman, accompanied by a live orchestra and chorister. As a kid this was my favourite (Christmas) film and to hear the score played live as we watched was superb. It was also my first real visit to the Sage - many times I have photographed the exterior, but to be on the inside made me appreciate even more the wonderful design of the Lord Foster building. Not to mention the incredible acoustics from inside the main hall. Below is a slideshow of photos I took of both the inside and outside today.

Geordie racer....

....My local ride is a Raleigh Pursuit with, shock horror, gears!

Have a break....

....join Tupperware club!
For as long as I can remember, Dad has used this classic KitKat Tupperware container to take his lunch to work. He'd be more than welcome at AMV where myself and a few others unashamedly flaunt our ware and the packed lunch we carry in it. It is the Credit Crunch after all.

The Seed....

....Johnny Kelly of Nexus has created this beautiful short following the life cycle of an apple seed.

The Seed:


He was also responsible for this incredible short, that I posted on this blog some while ago.

Procrastination:

Charity shops rock....

....Another joy about being back home, Whitley Bay in particular, is the large number of charity shops within walking distance. I first started shopping in them from the age of 14/15, much to the dismay of class mates at the time! They have served me well over the years and yesterday was no different.

Mum's Mug / Dad's mug - loving the typography!


Faux Barbour style quilted jacket made by our very own G.T Sportswear of Gateshead!?


Stacking mugs