Buddha Lounge, Boundary Mill, Afternoon Tea and iphone Easter Eggs

Spoiled rotten!! I was presented with a cup of tea in bed, along with my birthday cards. We are saving for the honeymoon so had agreed not to waste money on birthday presents for each other this year. Rob wanted to get me a token gesture, and as anyone who knows me will know, I am a sucker for chocolate. In that I was born on Easter Monday, my birthday usually falls on or around the Easter period, so I tend to get at least one Easter egg as a birthday present and I certainly never complain.

This year was no exception, Mr Hallam had purchased a large Thorntons egg, yummy, I particularly love the Continental selection, so thought I'd sample taste for my birthday breakfast. Rob wanted to tuck into the egg, and as I cracked it open I noticed an addition, something wrapped in kitchen towel. Assuming it was a selection of chocolate bars, I eagerly opened the parcel, laughing to Rob about how cute he was to add extra bits. The paper fell away, it was not a selection of chocolate bars after all....... it was an iphone!!!!!

Rob had painstakingly heated a knife and sliced (hacked) into the Egg, placed the bounty inside and sealed it all back together. Could I be marrying a better bloke? I think not.

The whole day was lovely, Mum and Dad came over and we had afternoon tea in the Spread Eagle in Sawley near Clitheroe. Would thoroughly recommend it, finger sandwiches, clotted cream and jam scones, moist lemon drizzle and ginger cake, and an Eccles cake. Although I am not a fan of Eccles cake, Daddy is so they came home wrapped in a serviette for later. We were actually a little early for afternoon tea, but they are so welcoming and accommodating, they bent the rules for us. I have eaten here a few times, so can also recommend the Meat Platter, in fact if you just want a drink it is worth coming the the Spread for the location and decor alone. We moved on to Boundary Mill to look for wedding outfits for Mum and Dad, and I ended up buying my bridal headpiece, eek!

Tabatha, Graham, Brad and Bernard joined us for the evening. We had the early sitting at the Buddha Lounge in Ramsbottom. Always greeted with a lively atmosphere, we were seated in the window and served efficiently. The food is beautiful, I had the succulent chicken parcels in pandan leaves, followed by Massaman Curry with coconut rice and for desert, I had to have the Movenpick swiss ice cream. I was a little worried that we would be rushed in that the second sitting is at 21:00, but we were never pestered, even though we didn't actually ask for the bill until just after five past.

I had a wonderful day, despite turning 32, and would like to thank peeps for coming over to spend time with me, and a big thank you to all the lovely cards and messages I have received.

xxx

Pink Floyd tribute act Manc Floyd

Another project I have been working on recently is the website for is Manchester based Pink Floyd tribute band Manc Floyd. My cousin Phil is the drummer so you might think me biased, but when I was invited to photograph their debut gig at the Met in Bury, I was blown away.

Although I do not profess to be an avid fan of Pink Floyd, in that I do not own any of their material (yet) I do have fond memories of cruising around the country roads between Mellor, Marple Bridge and Glossop, in the back of Jim Brough's customised Toyota Tercel. There was usually a few pubs involved to add to the haze, but we would have The Dark Side of the Moon on tape playing through the car stereo and I would be transported to some higher plane.

So back to Manc Floyd, mind blowing! My fiance Rob has never really come across Pink Floyd, but was so impressed by the tribute band's performance, he bought Dark Side of the Moon on CD the very next day. Since then I have been developing the website for Manc Floyd and it is now live, although still in it's relatively early stages. The site will be posted with forthcoming tour dates, and you can follow the band on twitter, you tube, myspace and facebook.

The next gig is on the 1st May at the Moses Gate in Farnworth. See website for further details.

Clare xxx

Wanted Rosazissimo Green Louboutins

Want want want want, I'm sick with envy for the gorgeous green Rosazissimo Louboutin shoes that I have seen on the feet of beautiful brides but cannot find them anywhere!!!
To be honest I could never allow myself to spend so much money on a pair of shoes for my wedding. Rob and I are marrying in a field, so my heels will have to be carried with my bouquet until I am on firmer ground, even then, they will be kicked off 10 mins into the disco. Therefore I could not spend approx £400 on a pair of shoes that I wasn't actually going to wear!
With the elusive green shoes unavailable, I trawled the internet for alternatives, with a few possibles, still in the region of a couple hundred pounds. I decided to head into Manchester and see what the stores had to offer.
I stumbled across my wedding shoes in Office (which are nothing like the ones pictured Rob!!!!) in fact it was the Office Sale shop off St Annes Square. I climbed into them and could not stop smiling! The shoes are ludicrous, I cannot describe them at this stage as Rob wants everything to be a surprise, but I can say that there is no way I could possibly wear them outside, without support, let alone in a field. So I was more than thrilled to see that they had been price slashed to a tiny £30.
I put in a call to my good friend, and style guru Kate Deakin, describing the almost comic shoes, and the Louboutin predicament. She sensibly suggested that if I am wearing my shoes for probaly just the morning, whilst getting ready at my mum's, then I should plump for the cheapies that are making me grin from ear to ear.

I still would buy the green shoes if I found them at a reasonable price on ebay, as I know I would wear them time and again. But I am happy with my wedding shoes, a pair I will never wear again, but will keep in a special memory box. The shoes are now at my Mum's ready for the big day. I have had a few practice sessions in them, as have my 9 and 6 year old nieces, and 3 year old nephew. Not one of us have broken an ankle yet, and they still make me grin when I'm wearing them. I can't wait to show them off properly, but for a teaser, think Ziggy Stardust meets pole dancing bride.

Clare x

Rossendale Pole Dancing

Since the closure of Vibe Studio in Edenfield intermediate and advanced pole students have been without a venue for pole tuition. Former Vibe tutors Marble aka Andrea and Stacey have been offering in home tuition, providing pole and mats for those without their own. This can be on a 1-2-1 basis or group class.

I have been having lessons with Stacey in my front room, with neighbour and good friend Tabatha. The home lessons are great but we have really missed the group of fellow students that became our friends, monthly get togethers have been fun, but a darn sight more difficult to arrange than just popping into the studio.

So you can imagine my joy when I heard the news on the grapevine that a new studio is on the horizon, and I am currently developing the website, www.viceversastudio.co.uk work in progress so be patient :-)

In the meantime you can book tuition with Marble and Stacey through Marble Pole see their facebook page for details http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=187504703350&ref=ts

I want to offer all the best to the girls, cannot wait to test drive the new space xxx

Video Production - Year 1

Again.. you editors, producers and directors can feel safe, I am not the new wonderwoman eager to threaten your roles!

Here is our introduction to Video Post Production assignment.  It was the first and only time that we were introduced to Premiere Pro.  I have used it since but only to cut sound (my trial of Soundbooth ran out).

We were given 20 mins of footage to cut a 30 sec trailer.

I actually did a 30 sec version of the film, there was no 'tease' and told the full story, so I lost marks for that.

This to date was and hopefully will be, my lowest mark.



Final Mark: 64 = 2:1