Viva Italia

I was in Venice for one night only, around 10 months ago. Having never been to Italy before - I was a complete foreigner... but there is something so relaxed, so easy and humbling about that place, I felt like I could have been there alone with no worries.





Being up in the air looking down on Venice is amazing in itself; before you even land on Italian ground you get to see this beautiful city, so threatened against the sea. It's very daunting when you see the ratio of land to sea from up in the air, but the residents don't seem at all phased. The city itself is really great, exactly how I'd imagined - it is playful, romantic, picturesque, full of real culture, happy old men in white vests with white moustache's, cobbled streets and plenty of gondolas. We filled our faces with pasta and pistachio liqueur and sat by the river for hours. I would definitely recommend renting a villa in the city, whoever you're there with - we didn't pre book ours, but it wasn't hard to find a place when we got there. Our villa was located in a courtyard right by the riverside, lined with terraced houses and lively cafes where everyone sat outside and the waiters were socialising with their guests. It really is a special place. A special place that deserves a lot more of my time.







I have a profound interest in Italy; the history, the art, the language, the mafia - there's much to discuss about this amazing place. I won't try to explain what's so good about it, but check this if you're interested; http://www.lonelyplanet.com/italy/venice



Photos courtesy of my bestest, Becca Lloyd (who is also a terrific designer, check this: http://www.artsthread.com/p/rebeccalloyd)



"Italy, and the spring and first love all together should suffice to make the gloomiest person happy." --Bertrand Russell

Viva Italia, x

IBIZA

San Antonio represents the stereotype I've always had of Ibiza holidays - overload of young Brits, tanned bodies, shit tattoos, British bars, shit music, rowdy lads and lasses, pervy locals, pissed off locals, dirty streets and little to no real culture... This is where the majority of the Ibiza reps stay for the season, or where the groups of 18 year olds stay while they're on their annual boozers. It's alright if you're with the right people, after all it isn't where you are, it's who you're with. the right people can make any situation enjoyable in one way or another. Next time I go to Ibiza I will stay in Playa d'en Bossa - this place was better; here felt like the Ibiza people had told me about, better beaches, more focus on the music. Bora Bora, Space, Ushiaia and DC10 not far away. Much better than the West End of San Antonio (which reminded me of Malia/Zante all of those places don't appeal to me in the slightest). I definitely see the appeal of Ibiza, and I would go again, next time I think I will plan a long weekend of the best parties. Circo Loco at DC10 was my favourite, gutted to have missed Seth Troxler the week before!

Disney Polygon

A special night with my Polycrew two of my friends, Charlie and Sav just turned 22 and for their joint birthday party, we all dressed up as Disney characters. I was blown away by the amount of effort everyone put in... here is some evidence (photos courtesy of my friend Benji Sowter):

Ben AKA Lumière

Aaron, Scott, Olly and Joni AKA Peter, Hook, the Evil Crocodile and Tinkerbell

Dave, Barrie and Yas AKA The Magic Carpet, Aladin and Princess Jasmin

Back2London

I met my bestest at Waterloo where we both found it hard to control our happiness - we collided with such force that my poor little Blackberry went for a trip across the platform floor - "no harm done, phone still works and I now have my best friend on my arm".

Always make time for a visit to Brick Lane when in London. Spitalfields market also - particularly on a Thursday.

Hospitality by our Fate and Eric at 95 in East Dulwich.

The house is enough to inspire me. The best house in East London, as far as I know..

Barbican Centre. Future Beauty: 30 years of Japanese Fashion, from the early 1980s to the present. Including work from designers such as Issey Miyake, Rei Kawakubo and Yohji Yamamoto, the exhibition explains how Japanese design redefined the very basis of fashion. Their works were shown alongside the new generation of radical designers including Fumito Ganryu, Tao Kurihara and Matohu. 

Compulsory visit to Camden and then Hammersmith Apollo for Frankie Boyle.

Hilarious as expected, we left the Apollo with aching cheeks and bursting bladders. He was supported by Craig Campbell, who I'd never heard of before but would now highly recommend.

After an amazing 46 hours, it was back to Southampton/back to the grind.