Bluebells

 
Last week we went to Rutland Water, near Oakham. All the bluebells are out - they were an amazing sight and the smell was quite magical.

View across the reservoir at Rutland Water.

Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah!

Signage

Love the old signage that's still evident in Scarborough ... take a look.

Recommended listening: Deodato's "Super Strut".  

Grand Hotel

Original trailer for "Grand Hotel" starring Greta Garbo and John Barrymore, 1932

But meanwhile, back in Scarborough ...

Winston Churchill once stayed here, and there is a plaque dedicated to Anne Bronte.

Actor and director Charles Laughton's parents were hoteliers in Scarborough, owning "The Victoria" and then "The Pavilion". Laughton moved to the U.S. and became a well regarded, although troubled actor, and married "Bride of Frankenstein", 1935, elegant Elsa Lanchester.

The river boat scene from Laughton's "Night of the Hunter", 1955, starring the delicious Robert Mitchum.

Scarborough fair

We went to Scarborough on Sunday - daytip to the seaside! This is the Futurist Theatre, renovated in the 30s, although its facade is 60s. Love the oversized meerkat.

It was bright and sunny and we walked along the prom and had fish and chips in a very stylish 50s retro cafe. It has a wonderfully stirring low relief mural of a galleon.

Then we walked back and had 99s. Haven't got a photo - they were melting!

Cue Simon and Garfunkel's "Scarborough Fair" theme from "The Graduate".

Patricia Roberts

 

 She is an iconic knitwear designer:  her heyday being the early 1980s. I bought all her books and knitted some of her designs which still look impressive. She injected tactile fun and a high-end trendy playfulness which was new and exciting.
   Interview with the V & A.

Visit her online shop patriciaroberts.co.uk 

Shoulders

The Style Council 1983

Haircut 100 1982 TOTPs
 

Alexander Wang  s/s 2011


How do you wear yours...? and are sweater clips the answer?

John Barry

For all you Barry-heads out there - here a few snippets:     http://www.johnbarry.org.uk/



Clifton cinema, York, one of the family's cinemas, now a bingo hall

Gorgeous deco window screen

Groovy lettering

 Barry's York home

On Sunday, the York City Screen is hosting a special screening of "Midnight Cowboy". Now dust off those Cuban heels and spruce up that there Stetson boy!

http://www.picturehouses.co.uk/cinema/York_Picturehouse/film/Midnight_Cowboy/

Things are lookin' up ...

It's Lisbon, it's hot and sticky

... and introducing a chandelier made entirely from wrapped tampons!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JUkIkRmUr0Y&feature=related
Jose Feliciano (although he's not actually Portugese)  www.josefeliciano.com

Amazing structures by the beach

 Beach hospital, lighthouse, huts - those luscious pastels- all at Berck sur Mer, northern France. Recognise the hospital and lighthouse from "The Diving Bell and the Butterfly"?

 and Lindisfarne Castle, Northumberland, renovated by Edwin Lutyens in the Arts and Crafts style.

Quick snackette anyone?

Spring cleaning! Reach up, up and away........

It's time to stop and enjoy - recommended listening Pushmipulyu.

Take a sneak peak at Frank Sinatra's home, Palm Springs, designed by William Cody - it's available to rent.

Thank you to Noah Webb/redeye for Time Magazine.

Gordon Russell's stunning oak and laburnum sideboard c.1934

Stunning oak and laburnum sideboard from the sublime Gordon Russell of Broadway, U.K. Thank you to the Russell Museum for the image.

Great Deco Buildings: De La Warr Pavilion Bexhill

found on craigbirmingham tumblr, here. 

This is a stunning example of a Deco building tucked away in a genteel seaside resort. Love it.

The Court Jester, 1955 dir. Melvin Frank, Norman Panama,