Ain't nothing like the real thing.

"Ain't nothing like the real thing baby, ain't nothing like the real thing", "So glad we got the real thing baby, so glad we got the real thing"

Life just isn't the same without my favourite easy-listening radio station. I've searched and searched for a station so good now that I've moved, but Marvin Gaye had it right, there ain't nothing like the real thing. Today I managed to find a stream from America which is pretty damn fine but its pretty crackly, but I'll listen anyway just to feel that calming sooth that easy-listening gives. So in short, appreciate the sounds you find because you never know how rare they are.

My eyes hurt its so beautiful.

Here is a documentary series by Fred & Nick for Mumford & Sons. Its probably the best documentary I've seen since the documentary on sliced bread. I love the part in India where they swap clothes.

1. Mumford & Sons.

2. My Father's band circa 1975.

When I found the first photo it reminded me of my stylin' father, centre in the caramel flares, nice.

Vinyl dreaming.

"I was June and you were my Johnny Cash

Never one without the other, we made a pact

Sometimes when I miss you, I put those records on"

-The One That Got Away, Katy Perry.

Infinite.

We're almost one month in to the eleventh year of the century. War and Peace is two hundred and twenty one pages in. My patchwork quilt is countless pieces of hand sewed stitches away. The sun rises and falls and we get library cards in between. Borrowing, returning. Borrowing, returning.

Lella, informed me today that Mishka is twenty two months old. Seeing him sitting in a cafe drinking babyccinos and waving to strangers, its quite odd when I actually think about how fast time has gone.

Life just isn't relaxing without my easy-listening radio station. Nothing can calm me down like some instrumentals and some classic tunes.

Oh boy!

"It's all vanity, it's all an illusion, everything except that infinite sky"

-War and Peace, Tolstoy.

I need to get cracking on that reading list.

Image via weheartit.

Dayum.

I'm not a follower of the "GaGa" clan, but I truly admired her 'Coca-Cola' curling rolls and cigarette glasses in the 'Telephone' film-clip. She has some sweet costumes thats for sure.

Image via weheartit.

Flip.

These aren't tears of sadness because you're leaving me

I've just been cutting onions, I'm making a lasagne for one

Oh, I'm not crying, no

There's just a little bit of dust in my eye

That's from the path that you made when you said your goodbye

I'm not weeping 'cause you won't be here to hold my hand

For your information there's an inflammation in my tear gland

I'm not upset because you left me this way

My eyes are just a little sweaty today

They've been looking around and searching for you

They've been looking for you even though I told them not not

….

I'm sitting down at this table called love

Staring down at the irony of life

How come we've reached this fork in the road

And yet it cuts like a knife?

I love Flight of the Conchords.

Sandwiches.

I can not wait to see Two Door Cinema Club with Lella. What a pip!

On another note, today as I was doing some gardening I heard what sounded like at least two people, so I did my usual thing and hid behind the hedges while they passed. As I was hiding the noise got closer but there was only one set of footsteps. So it turned out that it had only been one woman singing to herself. It made me chuckle and then I carried on chopping the hedges. Now I have a shaky hand because my muscles have gone into shock. I like gardening.

Dance me to the end of love.

Dance me to your beauty with a burning violin

Dance me through your panic 'til I'm gathered safely in

Lift me like an olive branch and be my homeward dove

Dance me to the end of love

Dance me to the end of love

Oh let me see your beauty when the witnesses are gone

Let me feel you moving like they do in Babylon

Show me slowly what I only know the limits of

Dance me to the end of love

Dance me to the end of love

Dance me to the wedding now, dance me on and on

Dance me very tenderly and dance me very long

We're both of us beneath our love, we're both of us above

Dance me to the end of love

Dance me to the end of love

-Written by Leonard Cohen, performed by Madeleine Peyroux

Yesterday I went to our beloved family friend's wedding. My Da married the two in a garden whilst the rain slightly sprinkled. Mama made the dress, and it was lovely. The celebrations stretched into the dark and we finally came to the time for dancing. As I watched the newly married couple sway across the dance floor I couldn't help but smile. They looked at each other with such happiness and love, it was something to be awed at.

As the music got louder and moved into the more contemporary genre my darling nephew was drawn to the dance floor. He has a natural sense of rhythm and feels the need to dance whenever he feels a beat moving though his feet. By the end of the night he had us all on the dance floor, surrounding him, for he wouldn't dance unless we were all on the dance floor busting some moves.

It was a very enjoyable celebration of love.

Photograph by Jeff Carter.

Here comes the sun.

Here comes the sun, here comes the sun,

And I say it's alright.

Little darling it's been a long cold lonely winter

Little darling it feels like years since its been here

here comes the sun, here comes the sun,

And I say its alright.

- Here Comes the Sun, The Beatles.

Today I graduated High School. I shall miss my friends but I am looking forward to the journey ahead.

Image via Weheartit.

Milk & honey.

Oh how things can change in a week. The blossoms have bloomed, as pretty as ever. The sun shines and all is well. Sam Cooke is live at the Harlem Square Club in 1963, in my living room. Chai is running through my veins and chills are running up my spine. Spring, you are the finest season of all. "I love you for sentimental reasons" do do do.

Listen Jack.

The buzzard took the monkey for a ride in the air

The monkey thought that everything was on the square

The buzzard tried to throw the monkey off his back

But the monkey grabbed his neck and said "Now listen Jack"

Straighten up and fly right

Straighten up and stay right

Straighten up and fly right

Cool down Pappa, don't you blow your top

...

The buzzard told the monkey "You are chokin' me"

Release your hold and I will set you free

The monkey looked the buzzard right dead in the eye

And said, "Your story is touching, but it sounds like a lie"

-Straighten Up And Fly Right, Nat King Cole.

Sugar town.

I got some troubles but they wont last

I'm gonna lay right down here in the grass

And pretty soon all my troubles will pass

'cause I'm in shoo-shoo-shoo, shoo-shoo-shoo

shoo-shoo, shoo-shoo, shoo-shoo, sugar town.

-Nancy Sinatra, Sugar Town.

Image via Marshmallow Phantom.

Pastel marvel.

Oh Marie Antoinette.

I want to be forgotten

I don't want to be reminded.

You say "Please don't make this harder."

No, I won't yet.

I want to be beside her

She wanna be admired

...

You don't miss me I know.

Oh Tennessee, what did you write?

I come together in the middle of the night.

Oh, that's an ending I can't write, 'cause

I've got you to let me down.

-The Strokes, What Ever Happened.

On Wednesday I watched 'The Young Victoria' for the second time, and fell in love all over again. Today I watched 'Marie Antoinette' for the forth time and fell in love all over again. Now I want to watch 'Elizabeth' for the third time and once again, fall in love. It may be considered a waste of time, watching things that I have seen numerous times, but I like it. It doesn't seem like a waste to me, because it is, love. It is History, though slightly altered. And that I like.

Marshmallow.

I have decided that I am going through my Korean pop phase. After stumbling across Korean Lovers Photoblog I have discovered a plethora of brilliant Korean artists. IU's 'Marshmallow' has been stuck in my head for the last two hours. I think I want to learn to speak Korean.

Shoot me down with your revolver.

Then a Heart of Gold came on the stereo

Mr. Young made me cry

and all the colours of the rainbow

fell in my eyes.

I lost my mind long ago

down that yellow brick road.

I lost my mind long ago

down that yellow brick road.

Took a train to the river where I dove right in

a skinny dipping girl made the blue birds sing.

Fell in love in California, she blew my mind.

She shot me down with her revolver, she got me high.

-Yellow Brick Road, Angus & Julia Stone.

Photograph by Oprisco.

I got the rockin' pneumonia.

I got the rockin' pneumonia,

I need a shot of rhythm and blues.

I caught the rollin' arthritis

Sittin' down at a rhythm review.

Roll over Beethoven they're rockin' in two by two.

-Chuck Berry, Roll Over Beethoven.

Oh darling you send me.

I had a marvellous afternoon. I walked home after selling shoes and put some spinach and cheese puffs in the oven. Watched an episode of The O.C.. Fed Moe, the over sized cat. Set myself up on the grass, helmet secured to my head, skateboard handy. So I practiced a few ollies and then went inside.

For reasons that I can not exactly clarify I kept my helmet on and made my way to the front of the house. Here I went through my Mother and Father's vinyl collection one by one. I love vinyl. Need I say more?

So these are the sweet tunes my ears heard:

Chuck Berry

Sam Cooke, Live at Harlem Square 1963 (my personal favourite)

Elton John

Bob Dylan

Nancy Sinatra

A Jazz collection

The Beatles

and a few more.

If I could I would just always listen to that beautiful record-player.

After keeping my helmet on all afternoon my skull feels lonely.

P.S. I found a 45 that my Mother bought of The Carpenters. It was swell.

Photographs by Anooke.

These chromosomes don't make me who I am.

So I won't cry, I will just pretend, that I'm still the one and that we are in love again- Darwin Deez, DNA

Image from Kate Loves Me.

I want a boy who builds coffins.

My boy builds coffins, I think its a shame

That when each ones been made, he can't see it again

He crafts everyone with love and with care

Then its thrown in the ground, it just isn't fair

My boy builds coffins, He makes them all day

But its not just for work and it isn't for play

He's made one for himself

One for me too

One of these days, He'll make one for you.

-My Boy Builds Coffins, Florence + The Machine.

Image via Weheartit.

Mayer Hawthorne.

... Glory be. Last night Vladimir told me about this talented boy. He has stylin' glasses and wears lovely suits. His sweet tunes flow like honey.