Meeting Mr Turk

On December 2, 2014March 30, 2015 By Conversations with StrangersIn Art, Entertainment, Fashion, London, Parties, People you may have heard ofLeave a comment

“Oh yeah. I know Gavin, he’s a friend of mine – great guy” said Pinky as I related having met him at a recent night out in Shoreditch.

“He knows a good biscuit, that’s for sure” I said slicing into an Eggs Benedict weekend brunch.

I’d been invited to come on down to a pop-up jewellery shop at Boxpark on Thursday night. Locating the event – sparsely populated but with the suspended air of more exciting times to come – I introduced myself to the founders of True Rocks – Emily and Dawn.

I got out my trusty Lumix and snapped away whilst we chatted.

“Oh, here’s Gavin!” Emily cried as a mammoth bearded gentleman made his way through a now increasingly crowded kitchen-at-a-party type space. I slipped one of his Rich Tea necklaces over my head.

“What was behind all this?” I asked the artist of said piece. “What were you thinking when you created it?”

“I wanted to do something about buying biscuits – cheap biscuits. I was interested in that exchange.” I looked at the necklace – a delicious treat in rose gold. The concept contained a dollop of quintessential British humour I felt. I wanted to know more, but first I had a burning question.

“Tell me something. Do you ever wake up in the middle of the night with a brilliant idea and think I won’t bother writing that down because it’s so good I’ll remember it?”

Gavin interjected: “I know what you’re going to say next! Yes, I keep a piece of paper and pen by the bed. But the thing I’ve decided is, it’s not the final idea itself that’s important (often looks rubbish in the morning) – it’s the thought process that led to it. Essentially – what’s more interesting is how you got there.”

I looked into his green eyes (or were they blue?) – made more so by a double shiner (malevolent muggers), green sunglasses and the bushiest beard I’d seen in a while. “Does your other half like that?” I asked with a nod to it.

“Yeah! Women either love or hate it. I’m compiling a list of those who want me to shave it off for money. Maybe one day I will and donate the proceeds to my wife’s charity – House of Fairy Tales .”

I finished my Verveine tea, and relating the evening’s events to Pinky. “It was nice wearing that necklace for the evening” I mused, admiring my brunch date’s newly hair free handsome face. “I hope they do the earrings.”

Cake, for three days

On November 8, 2014March 30, 2015 By Conversations with StrangersIn Food and drinks, London, PartiesLeave a comment

“Breakfast?” asked my local shopkeeper as I rolled up at the cash desk with a packet of Shreddies and a pint of milk. “No actually. It’s dinner.”

Twelve O’Clock at night and what are you supposed to do when you’ve been out since 7pm carousing at a birthday party under the vaults with copious champagne and a good prosecco. The thing that finally hits you on that fifth glass is that your very own celebration is imminent, plus you need to smuggle a cake into the Groucho Club in between.

Despite someone calling me a ‘generic’ example of my age at said party, I felt rather not that. I didn’t have any peers in fact who would rock up to the birthday celebration of someone they’d only met twice – and the second time being entirely by accident – on a Friday night.

On my third cigarette (only with champagne; only for my birthday celebrations) I ran into a couple of fellow Bloggers. “We’re from ‘Le Guide Noir” one of the Spanish duo told me. Wearing identical outfits – pink furry coats, matching tights and Spanish accents, they informed me they were dressed as the Barbie sisters. I took a photo as Toby and I descended the staircase in time for cake.

I noticed Anna had left the number off and there were only four candles. Good girl, I thought. Let’s leave it to the imagination.

Soul music predominated. “What is this?” I asked the barman.

“Fat Freddy’s Drop.” He told me. “They’re a New Zealand band – kind of a retro sound, actually they’re pretty old, ex crayfish fisherman.” He shook his cocktail shaker and poured what looked like steam into two glasses. “It’s hickory smoke” he told me and showed me the implement he used to produce it.

I was offered birthday cake. “But I wanted you to have some of mine!” I said to the belle of the ball. “I’ve got half a one here from today at work, fresh cream, chocolate, banana, strawberries… I can’t have any right now anyway because of my teeth.”

“Oh, you have Invisalign” a dentist nearby interrupted.

“No, they’re retainers actually. You’ve had yours whitened haven’t you?”

“Yes” she said.

As I do on my birthday weekend, I feel a bit like I’m on holiday. Like it’s Monopoly money and all bets are off. However, talk of teeth made me think about mine, eating and how I was unbelievably hungry. “I’ve got to go” I said, “I have to be at The Groucho in the morning at 10.”

Hjordis

On August 1, 2014March 30, 2015 By Conversations with StrangersIn Ibiza, Parties2 Comments

I bought a pen. In fact, I bought two – one for me and one for Hjordis, the lady I was about to meet. It turns out the Bic multicoloured pen of the 70’s has made a comeback in Ibiza and I could hardly contain my excitement on spotting one with Apple green, purple, turquoise and pink ink.

The newsagent in Vara de Rey has to be my favourite in the whole world. I turned in off the leafy Paseo, past the local guide books, newspaper stands, maps and various other paraphernalia. I spied the monthly women’s magazines; only in Spain do you find the best ever freebie gifts included with a copy of ‘Vogue’ or ‘Glamour’.

Switching my focus to the main event – a new notebook – I asked where they were. “Abajo, al final” the lady at the cash desk said pointing to the farthest corner of the store.

Fluorescent lime green, orange, cobalt blue soft covers, square ruled and just the right size, I claimed my booty and paid up.

The Blue Cactus offices were calm and quiet. Hjordis and I greeted each other and headed down to the square again.

Coffee was relaxed.

“Before I forget, let me give you a copy of the Sunday Times Style magazine.” I said, procuring a rather dog-eared one from my bag.

“There’s been a great response to the interview they did with me on my new guide book” she said. “A couple wrote to me from the UK saying they wanted to return to the island for the first time in 30 years after reading it. But, I didn’t want to come across as ‘I know everything about Ibiza’, you know? I wanted it to be from the heart.” “Well, you don’t need to worry about that” I said.

I asked her how the book was doing. “Really well, I think they have it in that newsagents – at the entrance” she said, pointing to my previous date. She told me she’d done all the illustrations and that working on it over the winter had been a labour of love.

“I’ll go and get one after this” I said. “No. Why don’t you come to the car with me – I’ll give you a copy and sign it – that’s a much nicer way to do it.”

Modesty is an underrated human quality; how refreshing to meet a genuinely talented lady who has it in spades.

For a copy of My Ibiza & Formentera 2014-15, buy it on the island, or contact hjordis@myibiza-guide.com

Atzaro, you know how to do it

On July 25, 2014December 4, 2014 By Conversations with StrangersIn Fashion, Food and drinks, Ibiza, Parties, Travel/vacationsLeave a comment

‘Twas between shows at the Atzaro Fashion Festival 10th Anniversary and I was taking a quick pit stop at Nick’s bar. Well, not ‘Nick’s bar’ exactly, but he’d promised me a Caipiroska earlier in the evening and having worked as a bartender for four years here, I figured he knew his stuff.

We started to talk sayings. “If a frog had a glass ass he would break it every time he jumped” Nick said. “That was one my grandfather used to tell me.” I thought about it for a second as I looked at him mixing my drink. “That looks like a strong one, Nick, I’m not sure it’s going to make it easy for me to have this conversation with you.” “Don’t worry you’ll be fine, dude – I got you.”

He did indeed, and I made my way back into fashion land revived. The music got louder. Time to get a place down by the ‘runway’….but what was this? I spotted a ubiquitous hat and had to investigate further. “Excuse me – but is that a Pharrell hat?” I asked. “Um, that’s the wrong thing to say – he’ll tell you he had it first” the gentleman’s lady friend said. “Exactly, I wore this hat in the ’80’s – it’s a Vivienne Westwood.” “Wow – now that’s significant Vintage” I said, snapping a shot.

A drone whirred above me and I headed to the action as fast as my wooden clogs would take me. With shows from Podenco, World Family, Kurru Kurru and Felt by Natalie to name but a few, this was one Ibizan event that stimulated the fashion palate and created desire afresh for some of the delectable creations on show.

From sunset to dusk to a full golden spotlight on it’s glorious ‘runway’ Atzaro met the challenge head on over two evenings and produced one after the other sight for sore eyes. The audience was just as colourful as the collections and I got chatting to another couple: Francisco de Barcelona and Maria informed me they’d been together for ’10 years’ but that they weren’t ‘jealous’. I was still trying to work it out when he called after me “I need your telephone number! When I go to Dublin then I’ll give you a call!” Past the ethereal Podenco dogs and sundry other interesting sights and I was finally back in the quiet of the restaurant at this classy hotel. “How’s it going, Nick?” I asked. “Busy. Busy” he said. “Tell me about it” I said, “But, as the saying goes ‘Genius is one percent inspiration, ninety-nine percent perspiration'”. Thanks to Rachel and the Atzaro team for a splendid time. Soundtrack tune ; ) : http://bit.ly/1nwKdFn

Another day in Paradise

On July 18, 2014December 4, 2014 By Conversations with StrangersIn Parties, Travel/vacationsLeave a comment

Jose swished through the beaded fly screen: “Doing anything for lunch today?” he asked as I lounged outside post breakfast watching the approaching storm clouds. “Well, actually no.” “Awesome! I just need to finish my abs – then we’ll go” he said.

One downpour later we headed off to the south of the island where the water is translucent turquoise and the residences truly sumptuous. We lunched from the heights overlooking a fisheye lens view of Mediterranean sea and then hopped back in the car again to see what we could see.

We came to a road block. “There’s no way they can stop us going down the road here, that’s outrageous” said Jose. “It’s against the law in Spain – it’s just not allowed.” He went up to the sentry box and spoke to the lady. Sure enough within a few moments the barrier was raised and we nipped through. “You see, I know my rights, S – that’s important.”

A winding cliff clinging road produced more breathtaking views and the spectacle of some super abodes. “Look at that one!” Jose cried. “These are the big hitters right here. That pool is virtually overhanging the ocean. Now that’s what I call inspirational real estate. Awesome! Thing is – wouldn’t you be kicking yourself if you spent €30 million on a villa, like this one, and then that guy came and built one in front of you!”

We stopped off for a swim in a cove that was hard to find and rewardingly devoid of the crowds we’d experienced elsewhere on a mid June day. Trees surrounded the small bay and turned the water a crystal emerald green.

A short power nap later and we were on the road again – back to party central at one of the most chic venues on this island. “Sunday evening was always the time to come here” I said. “It still is” Jose replied. “So my friends in London tell me.”

Beautiful people abounded, the VIP areas were many and the bottles of vodka the largest I’d ever seen.

I spoke to a Dutch lady as transfixed as anyone was by the sights of everyone checking everyone else out; it was the only thing to do really. “There are lots of gorgeous looking men here” she said to me. “Exactly” interjected Jose. If I had a beach club like this I’d have a strict policy – two girls to every guy, it’s way too unbalanced otherwise.” She and I looked at each other, took in the surrounding view and smiled.