brain activity

David Shrigley show at the Hayward

popped down to the Hayward Gallery  to see the new David Shrigley exhibition - which was brilliant of course, though i am a long time fan.  this is the first major show of his work and its full of great pieces that are funny, poignant, insightful and playful - you can't help but titter as you walk around (though there were a few rather serious types discussing high brow ideas comparing his work to the economic breakdown, blah blah blah...somehow i think they were missing the point). as it's half term there were also a few children wandering round and, in my opinion, this is the perfect introduction to art shows because its dotted with little hidden spy holes, crawl spaces and bits and pieces at floor level - as well as some cool animation and a light smattering of naughty words - perfect for the pint-sized (and young at heart).

David Shrigley poses with his I'm Dead piece...

Lost by David Shrigley, one of my faves

DS has been known to do tattoo parlour events & a collection of fan tatts are on his site - would love one

i have wanted these for so long and at last they are mine (Salt & Pepper - £75)

on the way there i spotted this sorry looking mattress and later on Lukey Likey sent me one over from where he was in Hackney.

Pathetic...pull yourself together! (Leghorn Road, NW10)

From a distance....from Lukey Like (in Hackney)

the snow's now just about all melted here in London - only a few sad looking blobs (leftover snowmen) dotted about the gardens - still cold, bring on Spring!

cat on a cold snowy roof - view from my bedroom window earlier in the week

Misha the Penguin - enjoying a snowball in the kitchen

baking heart shaped biccies in honour of Valentines Day!

christmassy in mattressland at last

snowy on Herbert Road, NW10

yes, its been a long time coming - but its finally snowed in London.  i was out on the bike on Monday and spotted this beauty - nice and christmassy - think i've got my 2013 calender pic for December.

amorous mattresses - Nice, France

and this French Fancy came from Nice-based spotter Jeff round the back of his offices on the Cote d'Azure - as he points out the blue one standing appears to be cuddling the white behind (at a stretch of the imagination admittedly, but i like his style) - how very appropriate - coming from France and it being nearly Valentines!

twin peaks

so i had this crazy dream the other night - you know, when you wake up wishing you could go right back into it because it was so good / freaky / hilarious.  i dreamt i was being chased into a Belgian dive bar, down some dark stairs, to the ladies loo...where i hid behind shuttered doors while dwarf (or should that be little people - sorry, not sure what is PC anymore) male bearded twins stood outside wielding whizzing silver hand whisks...it was so incredibly loopy that i just wanted to go back and find out what happened!  of course the first thing that came to mind was how much it felt like a scene from Twin Peaks.  

made for television in the early 90s by David Lynch Twin Peaks became a cult hit and we all watched avidly as Agent Dale Cooper (played by Kyle MacLachlan) tried to get to the bottom of "Who killed Laura Palmer?" and where to get some 'damn fine cherry pie'.  it was like Dallas and the "Who shot JR?" obsession all over again!  anyway - the brilliantly mad storyline, freaky characters and haunting music score had us all hooked to our telly screens.

"Every day, once a day, give yourself a present" - Agent Cooper

homecoming queen...Laura Palmer

"the owls are not what they seem" - The Giant

The Man from Another Place - in the Red Room at The Black Lodge....

the reason its come to mind again is because the brilliant Design Sponge has just featured Twin Peaks in the latest Living In series. thanks to all the comments below the post i am thinking it would be a great idea to re-watch the show whilst staying at the cabin in the woods during my upcoming trip to the Smokey Mountains - i think a TP themed party could be on the cards.

"my log has something to tell you..." - Log Lady

i definitely HAVE to go as the Log Lady - with all the props available in the surrounding woods, its a must.  she was always a favourite character...but i actually physically shudder at the sight of even a photograph of the evil Bob.  the most terrifying character ever Bob gave me nightmares...and the guy who played him in the show was actually one of the set dressers that David Lynch decided to put into the show on the spur of the moment when he accidentally featured in a shot of Laura's bedroom mirror - one of many improvised parts of the show - it wouldn't be the same without him. 

DON'T EVEN LOOK AT ME BOB!

speaking of Bob- i remember being in HMV record shop on Tottenham Court Road with Kate around the time Twin Peaks was being aired and her excitement at spotting a guy who was the absolute spitting image of him - despite high embarassment factor he was approached and a photograph was taken of the pair...i must find out if she still has it, it was classic.  as she is from Brussels...the connection is made back round to my whisk wielding dwarf dream...ha ha...how funny!

Bob and Agent Cooper share a moment......[shudder]

meanwhile...i've come across some great Twin Peaks related merchandise...the ever brilliant Etsy never fails to deliver...

from here

brilliant - from here

this i would definitely wear with pride...

from here

coincidentally, also, there is a David Lynch season at the BFI from the 10th February with the movie prequel Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me, which depicts the 7 days prior to Laura Palmer's murder, showing on the 11th and 22nd....i think i might have to go (with log, natch).

ffffound

just a couple of pics i've liked on FFFFound today...

here

no wonder he's a gonner - he forgot the CHEESE...helloooo....

here

a big thank you to swissmiss for posting this gem of a film about coffee shops in Soho in the 1950s.  having moved to London in 1984 - my first job was as a general dogsbody for a small film company in Soho and its changed quite a lot over the years - but the great thing is that a couple of places featuring in this film are still there - namely the cheap n'cheerful Stockpot (a favourite of mine struggling on a low wage) and the french house - now a pub (and haven as it doesn't allow music, television or mobile phones).  sadly Le Macabre on Wardour Street no longer exists - but i think it's ripe for reinstatement as i'm sorry to say that Soho has pretty much lost its soul these days.

solo

lately i am loving Lizzy Stewart's london diary....brilliant

i can totally relate!

Lizzy is a fine illustrator based in London - check out her work here.  she also sells via etsy - i am naturally rather fond of foxy....

she's in fashion

p.335 Vogue (UK) March - featuring Gareth Pugh's inflatable 'pillow dress' - the only suitable attire for the discerning girl-about-Mattressland dontcha think...and a snip at £1,782 (probably doesn't include pump though!).

antiquities

cheers to my bro Matt for this antique mattress he spotted and snapped in West Harrow yesterday....

Charlie says...cheer up, January's nearly over

possibly THE best lost pet poster ever!

January has been mostly filled with laying low due to lack of funds, getting back into the routine of the daily work grind and generally feeling a bit blah...but at least i haven't lost a pet....recently spotted the above poster on several trees and lamp-posts around mattressland for this missing moggy.  looks to me like Charlie didn't pay heed to his own advice [from those old '70s public service information cartoons]....

mind you...has anyone checked with The Prodigy....heh heh...

have only managed to get out on the bike a couple of times this month - despite the good weather (no snow...yet) and popped down to see the lovely boys and girls at Half Pipe to get my tyres pumped - they asked for another Mattressland Calender, having loved the 2011, so will be taking 2012 down to them this weekend.  spotted this beauty on my way home up Kensal Rise aka "the slope" - so this is just for the Half Pipers....

Kilburn Lane, NW10

and Lukey Likey sent me these corkers from down south london way the other day....cheers m'dear.

i did also manage to fit in a trip to the London Art Fair thanks to the lovely people at Byard Art - the gallery i bought my Lee Madgwick painting from - who sent me a VIP access all areas (and free booze) pass.  you always get your money's worth at the fair as there are so many artists on show - especially new and emerging work in the Art Project area - but there wasn't really anything that particularly blew me away enough  that i was itching to get the plastic out of the purse (thank god!)....

same old cock n' balls at the London Art Fair

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

"Brian" Pigeon - getting his New Year freak on ready for the party

bit late i know...and i have lots of posts to catch up on....but just a quickie to bring in 2012. i'm only just recovering from the new year's party darn in sarf london that me and my bird got tarted up for in our best gold millinery (the bird went as Brian Pigeon).  it took us nearly 2 hours to get over the river to Crystal Palace, due to the bloody buggery fireworks and the resulting roadblocks along the Embankment, but we soon caught up with the crowd once we'd arrived at Russ's place.

we come baring gifts....

a scottish new year tradition - bringing coal for warmth, a biscuit so you may never go hungry and salt for wealth

it was a small but perfectly formed gathering of south and north london types with food and beveradges provided - we brought a proper northern gift (see above), more booze and i even whipped up a salmon mousse (admittedly it was more of a salmon dip tho as i couldn't quite figure out the gelatin ratio to the recipe my mum gave me - but still delicious, i was assured). i made a few jugs of the christmas cocktail (champagne, elderflower liqueur & gin - killer and delicious) and we had a real blast, managing to stagger home a few hours after the big countdown [great big] thanks to John, who didn't drink so he could drove us there and back, bless his cottons.

Noreen - proving that Bublé's bubble may have burst but his baubles look fab on Russ's tree* (*Russ worked on the MB xmas special, so these truly are Michael Bublé's Baubles!)

oi Judy, you knicked my bird?!

Saint John of the Immaculate Driving Skills (thanks for getting us there and back - we LOVE you!)

january first was a bit of a write off (banging headache - it was that "Cin Gin" Debra brought that did me in!) so only made it out for the annual constitutional today as Judy & i headed up to Hampstead Heath. the sun was shining and the views stunning - just a shame that it was absolutely rammed with people, the walk past Kenwood House was like Oxford Street on its busiest shopping day.  so we ended up going to the Black Lion pub in Kilburn for a late lunch - very cosy and filling but i really DO NOT approve of the latest craze in pubs with these DIY Bloody Marys - if i pay, you make it (especially at £6 a pop - shocking!).

spotted en route to the Heath on West End Lane, NW6 - the signs said "please take, mattresses from the Savoy"...how posh!

the lake at Kenwood

 

perfect footwear....

Kenwood House

what a lovely day to start the new year (if a bit later for me than the rest of the planet)...shame the forecast is rain and gales tomorrow...just in time to go back to work, cheers thanks very much!

christmas mattresses & the capital ring

the start of Luke's journey...rather reminds me of something dark & disturbing to be found in a cemetary...brrrr

thanks to roving reporter Lukey Likey - who spent the christmas period in London with his mum and decided to traverse the capital ring - he sent me these over the 3 days they took to do it...brilliant!!!

just as much of a shambles down south as up my way...

indeed, Luke, the sign says it all...

very moving...

wonder if they get much interest?!

another disturbing scene...

 not to be left out...when i returned home from Hampshire i popped down to Golborne Road and was greeted with this grim spectacle!

out with the old....goodbye 2011!