Fanny Minka

Haus of LeBeija

2010-07-07T09:25:00.001-07:00

photo
Originally uploaded by bristly pioneer

We spent ALL weekend moving house.

What a mission, especially in this heat.

Goodbye Chez Shoreditch

Hello Haus of LeBeija.

x Fanny x

New hair

2010-05-07T10:29:00.001-07:00

Fanny
Originally uploaded by bristly pioneer

Yep, I cut it all off :)

x

London Fields

2010-05-07T10:23:00.000-07:00

Barcelona rediscovered

2010-04-07T07:19:00.001-07:00

Ferris Wheel at Mount Tibidabo August 2009
Originally uploaded by Fanny's flickr

Robin recently discovered the 2nd roll of film we took on the Halina Paulette Electric on our summer holiday to Barcelona last year in his cupboard. We thought we'd lost it, but thankfully not. Rest of the pictures are here

I feel warm just looking at them :)

xFMx

Pentaxed

2010-04-07T07:12:00.001-07:00

Present December 2009
Originally uploaded by Fanny's flickr

Robin gave me a Pentax MX and an ME for Xmas and I've uploaded a couple of my first attempts up on Flickr here.

I'm just learning, so be kind :)

xFMx

Déborah François

2010-04-06T17:01:00.000-07:00

My new favourite French actress crush. I think she's rather great.

xFMx

White Mischief

2010-04-05T07:41:00.001-07:00

Medical Corsetted Lady
Originally uploaded by bristly pioneer

Happy Birthday to me!

2010-02-05T11:22:00.001-08:00

Birthday Girl
Originally uploaded by bristly pioneer

What does a little minx do for her 29th birthday?

Run away to Paris with her lover / dreamer / adventurer, that's what!

Eurostar-Taittinger-Yes,Sir,-Red Velvet and Cream Cheese cupcakes-Agent Provocateur-Faux Fur-SS Jackets-Pipes-Flat Caps-Tweed-Boutique Hotel-High Heels-Lingerie-Channel Red Lipstick-Giggles-Bliss!

xFMx

New Years Eve 09/10

2010-01-05T06:13:00.001-08:00

New Years Eve 09/10
Originally uploaded by bristly pioneer

I stole Robin's new red Judy Jettson dress.

He wore the 1930's naval jacket I gave him for Xmas.

We danced A.L.L. N.I.G.H.T.

Hurrah!

xFMx

GutterSlut SuperSlut NYE @ Dalston SuperStore

2010-01-05T06:09:00.001-08:00

gs_nye_07
Originally uploaded by GutterSlut

Robin papped as we enter.

Can we crop stunned Chez Shoreditch ladies out of the background? *hehehe*

xFMx

Addicted to Love

2009-12-09T05:40:00.001-08:00

SIN
Originally uploaded by bristly pioneer

Alexandra, Magnhild and I posing in our Robert Palmer back-up ladies outfits at Rys' Addicted to Love flatwarming on Saturday night.

Who knew such carnage could be created in such a small London sized space?

xFMx

Sigourney

2009-12-09T05:19:00.001-08:00

Sigourney
Originally uploaded by Fanny's flickr

When I started my new job, the very lovely Katie bought me a plant (a Tillandsia Cyanea) for my desk.

As it looked like an alien, I named it Sigourney. But was very surprised when it flowered the other day with a little purple bloom adorning it head.

How cute!

xFMx

Halina Paulette Electric

2009-11-19T10:03:00.000-08:00

I like the sound of it's name. We took one of these old flashless darlings with us to Barcelona when we spent a week there in August. The photos turned out quite beautifully, considering you have to guess how far away your focus should be and adjust manually. Anyway, after returning home, we lost one of the films (somehow, mysteriously) but managed to get these ones processed and printed.

I can't wait to use it again :)

x FM x

Autumn

2009-11-16T10:26:00.001-08:00

Autumn
Originally uploaded by Fanny's flickr

Now that I am working in leafy Islington, I am starting to realise the true meaning of this season....

x FM x

Saturday night: Katie

2009-11-16T09:46:00.001-08:00

Katie & Fanny
Originally uploaded by bristly pioneer

I love her more than red velvet cake with cream cheese icing. Fact.

xFMx

Friday night: Robin

2009-11-16T09:43:00.001-08:00

Curry
Originally uploaded by bristly pioneer

(Notice I am avoiding looking at Joshi Zen for this photo due to its fish eye lense. Experience has taught me not to be a fan)

xFMx

Ted Hughes

2009-11-15T06:49:00.000-08:00

"The only thing that people regret is that they didn't live boldly enough... didn't love enough. Nothing else really counts at all"

xFMx

As you set out for Ithaka....

2009-10-23T08:30:00.001-07:00

Robin
Originally uploaded by Fanny's flickr

Hope the voyage is a long one,
full of adventure, full of discovery.
Laistrygonians and Cyclops,
angry Poseidon—don’t be afraid of them:
you’ll never find things like that on your way
as long as you keep your thoughts raised high,
as long as a rare excitement
stirs your spirit and your body.
Laistrygonians and Cyclops,
wild Poseidon—you won’t encounter them
unless you bring them along inside your soul,
unless your soul sets them up in front of you.

Hope the voyage is a long one.
May there be many a summer morning when,
with what pleasure, what joy,
you come into harbors seen for the first time;
may you stop at Phoenician trading stations
to buy fine things,
mother of pearl and coral, amber and ebony,
sensual perfume of every kind—
as many sensual perfumes as you can;
and may you visit many Egyptian cities
to gather stores of knowledge from their scholars.

Keep Ithaka always in your mind.
Arriving there is what you are destined for.
But do not hurry the journey at all.
Better if it lasts for years,
so you are old by the time you reach the island,
wealthy with all you have gained on the way,
not expecting Ithaka to make you rich.

Ithaka gave you the marvelous journey.
Without her you would not have set out.
She has nothing left to give you now.

And if you find her poor, Ithaka won’t have fooled you.
Wise as you will have become, so full of experience,
you will have understood by then what these Ithakas mean.

"Ithaka" by C.P. Cavafy

x FM x

Absence / Abstinence

2009-10-09T12:49:00.000-07:00

Yeah right, so I pretty much haven't updated since I was made redundant in July.

Not that I haven't spent most of that time online.

Not that lots of stuff hasn't happened.

But I have one to say of the last couple of months...

a very big FUCK YOU to anyone who thinks the economic crisis is over.

It's not.

There are basically no jobs out there at right now.

It fucking heartbreakingly depressing.

It made me feel fucking worthless and desperate for a while there, so I can't imagine how much harder it has been for anyone with a family / lots of debt / a mortgage / little to no redundancy pay out / looking for their first proper job.

Thanks to all the asshole who put us in this.

I feel so fucking lucky to have another job, even if it wasn't exactly what I wanted to do right now.

x FM x

Xmas in the 80's

2009-09-07T06:20:00.000-07:00

Today I discovered gilbyrocks on Flickr when he added the above pic of mine to his favourites. He appears to scouring Flickr for old photos of kidz with their 80's Xmas presents. The brilliant thing is that from a distance, all the photos looked like they could have been from my family photo album. Every lounge room, hair cut, xmas tree and set of pyjama's seems to be curiously similar. Amazing.

xFMx

Lawless love

2009-08-05T05:45:00.001-07:00

Originally uploaded by narq

Image by Ian Morrison

xFMx

Fuck The Law party

2009-08-04T19:22:00.000-07:00

FM Impersonating Police
Originally uploaded by bristly pioneer

To raise funds for their recent and ridiculous impersonating police officer charges on April Fools Day at the G20, the Space Hijackers threw a police uniform fetish party on Saturday.

My outfit wasn't half bad for 20 squids off ebay. Definitely an*arresting* officer ; P

Image by El Miguel

x FM x

Critical Mass

2009-08-04T19:21:00.000-07:00

Critical Mass @ Buckingham Palace
Originally uploaded by Fanny's flickr

On Friday I accidentally attended my first Critical Mass. I had been thinking about attending previously and knew that there was a ride on that evening but had booked tickets to see "Three More Sleepless Nights" at the National Theatre.

Funnily enough, when I came out of the NT at 7pm, there were hundreds of cyclists milling around o the South Bank and I realised that conveniently it was the meeting point for that evening! So excitedly, grabbed my little red and joined the ride!

And when we stopped at Buckingham Palace briefly, I took some photos :)

x FM x

Glamour Kitten shoot

2009-08-04T19:20:00.000-07:00

Glamourkitten.com jewellery shoot
Originally uploaded by Fanny's flickr

I recently shot some photos with Paul Ashby and Charlie Pycraft for vintage jewellery website glamourkitten.com.

I haven't done any photo work in some time but it was quite amusing to be styled by someone else for a shoot for once, especially as I look like my mother in most of these photos :)

x FM x

I ♥ fanNY

2009-07-16T04:55:00.001-07:00

I ♥ NY
Originally uploaded by bristly pioneer

He is the cutest *swoon*

x FM x

Cafe Lelia's

2009-07-14T10:41:00.001-07:00

Cafe Lelia's
Originally uploaded by Fanny's flickr

Someone has smashed the window's in at our beloved Cafe Lelia's, just off Arnold Circus. In response, the owners have closed for repairs and attempted to engage the community's response as to why anyone would want to do such a think. A marker/sharpie/texta has been left for people to write their response on the window.

x FM x

Trash Glam Love

2009-07-14T05:55:00.001-07:00

Image by Alyson Ripo at "Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll" wrap party.

x FM x

Little Pink Boxes

2009-07-06T05:35:00.000-07:00

My favourite time of the year is here yet again: Agent Provocateur Annual Sale. Squeals of delight were once again emitted from my keyboard as I raced to see what was reduced. And it was only after purchasing the standard bootyload did I realise that for the first time ever my favourite time of the year has now got even better as I now have someone in my life who is as enthusiastic about pretty panties as I am... who ordered some additional treats for me too!!!!

So new little pink boxes have arrived and I am now parading around in....

:D

x FM x

Is our life always like a Roxy Music album cover?

2009-07-06T04:49:00.001-07:00

Robin & Bjorg @ Dalston Super Store on Saturday evening. Image by Anselm Eustace.

Beautiful

2009-07-06T04:44:00.000-07:00

Image by Ian Morrison

x FM x

Papermag.com

2009-07-06T04:36:00.000-07:00

Following the shoot I did with Jeffrey Kilmer a month or so ago, he added a little bio/interview with me to his blog on Papermag.com: clicky

x FM x

Jarvis is for lovers

2009-06-18T04:52:00.000-07:00

Oh Jarvis....

Having been unable to afford tickets to Mr Cocker's gig last night at the Troxy before they sold out, I had been scouring ebay lately, looking for a bargain so that I didn't miss this definitely unmissable gig. And luck shined a light on me again, when I managed to score 2 seated tickets (my preference being short of height and high on uncomfortable heels) for £8. Amazing. It was meant to be.

And after arriving at the conviently Limehouse located venue, more renowned for it's cage fighting events than gigs, and barely registering an underwhelming opener from The Horrors, I was finally in the presence of Jarvis, who came strutting out on stage. White suite. Complete with teachers style cain, charismatically threatening the audience to behave themselves.

Oh my.

What followed was the most delightfully droll gig I've ever been too. Simulateneously preening, peacock and sweaty jester. Enough to make one lady throw her bra on stage and incite 2 encore's (although the latter was more of a surprise on his part to make half the audience come rushing back to their seats / spots).

Realising there was possibly no polite way to request Cunts Are Still Running The World, Robin and I giggled our way through the gig as Jarvis utilised cymbals and a recorder ("the whitest instrument in the world" for Caucasian Blues) to great amusement while belting out tracks from his new album.

Amazing.

And then we walked home, collectively fantasizing about Jarvis caning me :)

Oh yes.

x FM x

Update from the world of Minka

2009-06-15T06:15:00.001-07:00

My, my it has been a busy around here lately, and I really feel like having a bit of a de-brief so here we go....

So we had our first ever Erotic Book Club meeting on April 30th and our second on May 28th and it is going rather well. Already a small and very lovely collective of people have emerged from around East London to join in the discussion of naughty books. Robin had inadvertently selected the first, (Venus In Furs) and I suggested the second (Delta of Venus), so when it came time to select the novel for this months EBC on June 25th, we were rather pleased by the enthusiasm which rose from the group to peak through the pages of the recently published Wetlands by Charlotte Roche. I actually finished reading Robin and my copy while we were lying around in bed on the weekend, and while I won't tell you what I thought of it here, I am very much looking forward to discussing it next week.

In fact, I have been reading an awful lot lately. So much so that when I got on the tube this morning, I felt practically barren because I didn't have anything on me to read. Somehow, after years of being a little fiction adverse (unless it was erotic of course) I have had somewhat of a personal renaissance in this respect and have been devouring novels a plenty. I have been delighted to discover Tom Rob Smith's fantastic first two novels, Child 44 and The Secret Speech, and are looking forward to the arrival of Angela Caters' Wise Children tomorrow.

The day after our first EBC was Robin's birthday and, conveniently, May Day, which turned into a convict themed street party outside the Bank of England, which was rather fun. *Apparently* the City Police said I was the best dancer they had seen at a protest in some time. Oh gee, such a high accolade....

(Image from Tanya Dean)

After we had recovered from this, I took Robin away for a surprise spa weekend at The Royal Day Spa in Kent. It was such a lovely relaxing little bubble of bliss for us to enjoy ourselves. The spa itself was lovely, and aside from a rather sour faced receptionist, practically perfect. And by the end of it, the smile on Robin's face was so wide, (and his toenails after his pedicure so red :) it was a wonderfully worthwhile treat.

The following weekend (8-10 May), there was another Limehouse Town Hall party, which had the wide-open-to-interpretation-theme of Wicker Man meets Saturday Night Fever. So, of course, I wore very little and wound a lot of ivy and peacock feathers around a disco style outfit. And, in contrast, Robin wore a neck to knee skin tight rubber nun's costume. Oh yes, miaow! We will no doubt incite our own cult one day in such attire :)

(Image from Monkey Trouble)

The weekend following (15-17 May) was supposed to be Torture Garden's Birthday Ball for us, but considering the completely unreasonable request that every attendee have their personal details (ie. passport etc) scanned into club owners database for "security" reasons, we decided to give it a miss. Instead we went to my lovely friend James' annual Eurovision extravaganza, screamed our guts out for Moldova (our unfortunate entry) and then swanned off to Reclaim the Beach party down off Festival Pier.

The long weekend (22-25 May) was marked by excitement at Bjorg's arrival to Chez Shoreditch for the summer. To celebrate we held a rather amusing Mojito party on the Sunday, which was followed by some rather debauched dancing at the Haggerston. I also went to see Melanie Wilson's delightful and very sassy one-woman show at the Soho Theatre, and Robin and I donned our best showgirl attire to head to Club Rub's Casino Royal party, which was rather fun - especially when we drank our taxi money home and had to stagger home, hammered in 6 inch heels, looking like a bunch of sex workers at 4am.

And then I arrived at work on the Tuesday to discover that I had been made redundant. I was actually pretty prepared for it as the warnings had been there, and to be honest, it is a welcomed change in my life but has, to be honest, shaken me up a little. But that isn't a bad thing either. What is does mean is that I will go a cushy, well paid, position at a prestigious production company, to a freelance production gopher in early July. It also mean that I will have to curb my lifestyle a little, mainly by relocating to the tiny shoebox room in Chez Shoreditch but thankfully I don't have to move. I'm also going to try and cycle around as much as possible and surrender the £100 / month I normally spend on tube travel. So fingers crossed it all works out. I'm going to give it a bit over a year to see how it all goes, and if not, I am thinking about heading home late next year to do my Masters in Producing as it's time I start aiming for what I actually want to do :)

Anyway, not all my luck has been bad, as around this time I also won £1,000 worth of furniture from Lombok in a Time Out competition strangely enough. So yes, now Chez Shoreditch is filled with some lovely new additions which thankfully makes it look less like a student house now.

And to celebrate this new look, last weekend we had DIY Sunday (7 June), where Katie, Bjorg, Robin and I fixed the place up a little, hung mirrors, framed posters, planted plants, fixed furniture, cleaned up and made it a whole lot lovelier. There was a lot of power tools, shorty-short-shorts, fake tache's and cider drinking required in order to complete the long list of tasks we had, but were very pleased with the result our combined efforts achieved.

(Image by Robin)

Robin and I also recently had some photos of us taken by New York based photographer Jeffrey Kilmer. The images turned out rather sweet which is great. Full of lots of typical Fanny+Robin character. The matching outfits, I must note, were an accident *hehehe*

This weekend just gone (12-14 June) was pretty rubbish. I was dying from a combination of extreme hayfever + cold + period. Not fun but I'm glad it's over now and hopefully the season for pollen allergies will past and I can enjoy being outside. Not that it stopped me from cycling all the way to Primrose Hill along the canal with Robin yesterday. It was just too nice outside. Hopefully it lasts.

xFMx

The Maple Trail

2009-05-22T04:30:00.000-07:00

Here comes the winter pretty baby
Let's go to New York

I am super pleased my ears have discovered this band today. Hailing from the Blue Mountains (which, as a child, was the place I always told my mother I would move to 'when I grow up'), The Maple Trail are little bit of audio loveliness. After hearing their track New York on FBi this morning, I have had it on repeat since.

A definite ohrwurm :)

xFMx

YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAYY!!!!

2009-05-14T02:40:00.001-07:00

Iain + Rosanagh
Originally uploaded by Fanny's flickr

I just found out that BOTH my little sister Rosanagh and (not so) little brother Iain are going to be coming to visit me over the Xmas this year.

This would be the best present EVER. Seriously, the best. I am so incredibly excited!!!!

:D

xFMx

Things I Love: Spring 2009

2009-05-13T03:02:00.000-07:00

Tom of Finland Pillowcases

Beautifully, Robin actually found these and nearly bought them for my birthday. But when we were in Liberation again on the weekend, shopping for.... other.... things...., they had all their Dirty Linens (a brand that sadly now seems to be defunct???) items on sale so I grabbed these for a fiver. Now I snuggle down every night with head resting on the bulging trousers of some very fine homsexual men. Yes, you should be jealous.

New summer line-up at Chez Shoreditch

So Aurel has returned to house full of boys and Tessa has run off to cycle around Portugal and then return to Oz for the rest of the year to pass her bar exam etc, leaving me with a big house and two beautiful new flatmates :)

Firstly there is the lovely Katie, a new little ray of sunshine in the East London.

And then, very excitingly, the amazing Bjorg will be joining us for the summer later this month.

Personally, I am loving it. A super chilled, lady filled house is just what the Dr ordered methinks.

The Breakfast Club Hoxton

It would not be a seasonal 'my favourite things' list if I didn't rave about a new brunch spot.

And thankfully, the beloved Breakfast Club has just opened a huge new cafe on Hoxton Square. Imagine the squeals of delight that erupted from me upon discovering this! No longer do I nearly have to kill myself cycling up that stupid City Rd hill just to eat at the tiny Angel branch.

Oz radio online

After years of bemoaning the poor quality of radio stations in UK, I recently started listening online to ones from my old home town and have been revelling in the audio pleasures of Fbi and 2ser. It makes my long days at work so much brighter, especially listening to adverts for things in Sydney.

Maternity Series

My tour manager from many moons ago has started this very beautiful photo blog about his wife's pregnancy written as letters to their unborn child on weekly images. Reading this makes you so excited for them :)

Cider
Typically, I have been living in the UK for 5 years now (yes, this month!) and only just this weekend discovered the joys of cider. I thought it was just like beer, which I am not very partial too. How wrong was I. Queue *new fave drink for the summer* line.

x FM x

Erotic Book Club Website

2009-05-11T07:19:00.000-07:00

Thanks to Robin, we now have a website for the Erotic Book Club :)

http://www.theeroticbookclub.org/

x FM x

Manners cost fuck all.

2009-05-08T05:28:00.000-07:00

To put it politely.

Now I know I am hardly the best person to lecturing on good behaviour :)

But I am consistently frustrated by how little consideration people show for those around them.

So, really, it doesn't matter who you are, show some respect.

And if you fuck up, it takes a moment to say sorry.

< / dorky rant>

x FM x

Guide to Shoreditch

2009-05-06T04:39:00.000-07:00

View Fanny Minka's Guide to Shoreditch in a larger map

Drawing inspiration from the crazy goddess that is Carla, I have started my own guide for those non-Eastside MoFo's venturing into hipster land. This is a work in progress (ie. to be completed in those time when I can't be assed to work for an hour or so) but slowly I intend to impart my small wisdom to those who would like to know where to go when they stumble upon Shoreditch :)

Enjoy!

x FM x

Erotic Book Club: Delta of Venus

2009-05-05T09:40:00.000-07:00

I shall call myself the madam of a house of literary prostitution, the madam for a group of hungry writers who were turning out erotica for sale to a 'collector'. I was the first to write....

~

At the next meeting of the Erotic Book Club we shall be discussing the collected stories of Anaïs Nin's "Delta of Venus".

Meet 8pm
Thursday 28th May
The Bökship
Donlon Books, 210 Cambridge Heath Road
London E2 9NQ

xFMx

Erotic Book Club: Venus In Furs

2009-04-22T06:44:00.001-07:00

Just a reminder that the first meeting of the Erotic Book Club will take place next Thursday, April 30th, at The Bökship (Donlon Books) on Cambridge Heath Rd at 8pm.

The first title to be offered up will be Venus In Furs, so bury your nose between its soft, sweet scented pages today

xFMx

From Paris to Berlin

2009-04-16T09:21:00.001-07:00

photoautomat1
Originally uploaded by bristly pioneer

So I am now back, chained to my desk again, stressing out of my mind about all manner of things (otherwise known as life) and the sweetness of the six days just spent in Paris+Berlin are a distant memory....

But for a moment there I was so super relaxed. The most relaxed Tessa "had seen me in months". It was incredible.

And it was all thanks to pipe smoking, sleazy shades wearing, adorable lothario in this here Mitte photoautomat awesomeness. The one who makes me all high voltage smiles whenever I am around him.

I am so glad I met you.

x FM x

TheAuteurs.com

2009-04-08T06:18:00.000-07:00

My new favourite website!

xFMx

"Batmobile"? A new look for the Space Hijackers Tank

2009-04-01T03:24:00.001-07:00

"10.48am: Six protesters in an armoured car have been arrested, according to the BBC. Paul Lewis, our man on the scene, says there were around 10 anarchists inside ."

*hehehehehehehehe*

Apparently they haven't been arrested but have had a police escort through the city :D

UPDATE: Nope, make that arrested and charged

BBC footage

x FM x

The other September 11th....

2009-03-31T10:17:00.000-07:00

On the eve of the G20, I've been thinking a lot about S11. It is crazy to think that it was nearly a decade ago..

If anything, I encourage everyone to be objective with the way the events over the next few days are reported in the mainstream media.

x FM x

The Erotic Book Club

2009-03-18T07:40:00.000-07:00

Held on the last Thursday of the month, The Erotic Book Club is a small gathering to devour and discuss the naughty masterpieces of literature. We shall be savouring both modern and classic filth, erotic fiction and personal memoirs, by male and female authors.

~

You have corrupted my imagination and inflamed my blood.
I am beginning to like the things you speak of.

The first book is Leopold von Sacher-Masoch's Venus In Furs. Initially published in 1870, the author defined and unwittingly gave his own name to that sexual proclivity we know as masochism, in this understated, charged erotic classic.

Meet 8pm
Thursday 30th April
The Bökship
Donlon Books, 210 Cambridge Heath Road
London E2 9NQ

~

Future Books include:

Justine - Donatien Alphonse François de Sade, Marquis de Sade
The Life and Adventures of Miss Fanny Hill - John Cleland
Wetlands – Charlotte Roche
Delta of Venus - Anaïs Nin
Story of the Eye - Georges Bataille
In Bed With... - edited by Maggie Alderson, Imogen Edwards Jones and Kathy Lette
Lolita - Vladimir Nabokov
The Sexual Life of Catherine M – Catherine Millett
The Story of O - Pauline Réage

www.donlonbooks.co.uk

Brides of March

2009-03-16T07:11:00.001-07:00

Minka tube 2
Originally uploaded by bristly pioneer

This weekend was a killer. Literally, my body is aching, my mouth is dry and my eyes are falling out of head with tiredness right now. But it was soOOOoooo worth it :)

Since Thursday night, life has entailed (in no particular order):

Brunches at Mommouth Coffee, Leila's, The Grocery; free tickets to Torture Garden; Coco de Mere 90% off sale; getting cranky at Royal Mail; cycling around the east and puncturing my back tire yet again; reading the paper in the sun on London Fields; drinking wine after sun on the Red Lion's rooftop with French and Norwegians; drinking cocktails and free Moet at Crazy Horse at BBB; being escorted to Circus by Mika Doll; late night supper at the original Pizza Express which is actually kinda cute; lovely Croatian ladies; ridiculous heels; baggy jeans, no make-up and trainers like we are 19 year old skaters; HOT action and lots of LOVE-liness.

But mainly about *love*: Saturday was the 2nd London Brides of March which was rather hilarious, wonderful and very drunken. I was able to fulfil my 90's Portishead era grunge bride fantasies and layered loads of white underwear, jewellery, stripped sticking and cardigans, big eye make-up and trainers. Robin went for more of a... erm.... 'classic' look. And we ended up getting 'hitched' by Elvis in Piccadilly Square at about 9pm.

Amazing :)

xFMx

Here comes the sun

2009-03-15T15:31:00.001-07:00

London Fields
Originally uploaded by Fanny's flickr

Look! T-shirts, grass and a tower block..... Summer is finally on its way to London Fields again. FINALLY!!!!

xFMx

Goodbye Josh.

2009-03-11T05:20:00.000-07:00

And with that, the second chapter of the adventures of B and Lil Jay came to an end...

See you soon darling

x FM x

2009-03-09T05:57:00.000-07:00

The thing is.... nothing is actually "wrong"

Everything is "ok"

Especially compared to the high drama that is going on in the lives of many people around me currently

But still my chest has been tight for weeks. It aches with anxiety.

Work, home, relationships, friendships, flatmates, money, future...

*sigh*

xFMx

Jackpot Josh

2009-02-25T04:56:00.001-08:00

The Reliance, Old Street
Originally uploaded by Fanny's flickr

This was the expression permanently fixed on Josh's face (right) when he led The Gaze to a successful win in the Jackpot Round of the pub quiz at The Reliance last night. They also came in at 3rd place too.

Do they look a little over excited to you? Well, that's because this was the first time they had ever won anything, and they've been attending this boozy soiree cum trash knowledge fest for weeks now....

However, I must note that team Cheap Wine and a Female Goat (aka Tessa, Liz and yours truly) came a sorry 4th place (last, as usual), won no bar tab but were happy to help The Gaze consume their winnings in wine.

x FM x

Hadrian's Wall

2009-02-24T02:43:00.001-08:00

Brit museum
Originally uploaded by Lil Jay

I just discovered this photo from last summer on Josh's flickr of my (not so) little brother Iain and I pretending to traipse through the fields near Hadrian's Wall.

Actually, we were just out the front of the British Museum :)

x Fanny Minka x

My belated birthday present

2009-02-12T02:47:00.001-08:00

My birthday present
Originally uploaded by Fanny's flickr

I was so excited I was trying to cycle it naked around Robin's lounge room this morning.

So worth the wait :D

x Fanny Minka x

Happy 60th Birthday Dad.

2009-02-11T03:11:00.000-08:00

I love this picture of us. It has been my favourite for years. Me, fat and chubby cheeked, so tiny in your big arms, my little hand practically the size of your thumb. Both of us with the same squinting look on our faces, staring with an almost puzzled expression at (presumably) mum. I am very much your daughter here.

The funny thing is that this photo is nearly 30 years old, and you still look EXACTLY the same. Anyway, this is the mixtape that just arrived in Nanango for you. Happy Birthday Dad :)

x Fanny Minka x

Fucking neighbours

2009-02-09T03:31:00.000-08:00

Last night my flatmates and I accidentally saw a couple having sex.

By accidentally, I mean that while we were in between episodes of a massive L Word hangover marathon, the French Bread yelled "Fanny. Come here. Sex scene." at which point I bolted upstairs, and squealed with perverse delight. Looking down from our 4th floor stairwell window you could see right into the well light, large open windows of a neighbours bedroom, in which a couple were completely naked and copulating.

Of course the rest of the household quickly joined me at the window and we all packed in around it's tiny frame like Shoreditch's answer to the cast of Friends, giggling and analysing their slow grind for a good 10 minutes. The thing that I was most shocked by was my reaction. I found it incredibly hard to watch. While my fellow housemates were voyeuristically glued to the glass, unfazed by whether they were caught watching or not, I could barely look for a few seconds at time. This is bizarre considering that you could basically show me anyone doing anything on video and I will hardly bat an eyelash. But somehow watching something so intimate, in real time, of which the participants were probably not intending for public view, and in a situation which I could perhaps have my gaze returned if they were to see me, made me very uncomfortable. Like when you are thirteen and you are watching a film with a sex scene in it while you dad is in the room. Intensely uncomfortable. Which really shocked me. Am I not the huge perv I (and perhaps everyone I know) considers me to be?

There may also be the fact that the sex was not especially interesting to watch. It was v.e.r.y. slow, and sensitive. Nothing like you ever see in porn. And, of course, soundless. Initially, my response was *that looks like rubbish sex* but then it made me think what sex really normally does actually look like? Particularly when it a muted, exhausted, end of the weekend tryst....

Maybe that is why I was embarrassed to watch. Because they both looked really bored.

x Fanny Minka x

Slow Graffiti

2009-02-02T09:11:00.000-08:00

So how about it?
Show me please how I will look in twenty years.
And let me please,
Interpret history in every line and scar that's painted
There in front of me.

Best.birthday.weekend.ever.

It started Thursday evening with Girlcore

(Images by Emilie Baily for Vice Photo Blog)

With a flash of his gold hotpants, Robin encouraged Josh and Aurelien to join in with the cross-dressing too. Tessa and I, determined not to be out done by these heel clad honey's, went OTT on the girlishness, all pink and red with full skirts, bows and big eyelashes. The performances were spectacularly craptastic and getting Josh in heels for the 1st time ever was such a win. Thankfully, we only had to scoot around the corner, past Brown's and the kebab shop to get to Catch and back so some serious leg exposure in pre-snow conditions was fiiiiine. Stumbled home 1am.

Friday was official birthday day.

My partner in birthday crime provided the champers; I, the sunglasses and faux fur. One needs little encouragement to leave bed in this weather so we barely bothered, aside from a colour touch up at Pimps and Pinups and a spot of brunch at The Grocery.

That evening, Robin, Magnhild, Josh, Aurelien and Tessa joined me for super lovely thai at Rosa's followed by cocktails at Lounge Bohemia. Simple yet lovely birthdayness. Plus I was super chuffed at the Comme des Garçons wallet they gave me :)

Saturday, brunch again at The Grocery then Robin and I went off and pounded the cobblestones of Covent Garden in search of the perfect party dress for Minka la Mink next Saturday night. And successful were we! That evening we left East London and traversed the Thames to journey all the way to Peckham for Clare and Patrick's house party.

We left in style....

but amusingly in did not end in such a fashion....

Sunday saw us take about 2 hours to walk from one end of Brick Lane to the other. However, there was much perusing of vintage and military attire at the markets, and coffee and cake at All Star Lanes. However, it was an exciting journey as the snow began just as we began!

And it continued all night, settling so that much to my delight I awoke to my first truly all white wintery London in 5 years :)

I was probably the only person I know who actually went to work this morning but I was happy to see all the snow around Hyde Park where I work.

Really, such the perfect birthday weekend in so many ways.

Thank you universe :)

x Fanny Minka x

:hearts:

2009-01-22T05:22:00.000-08:00

Thanks to this lovely man, the background of my blog is now seamless and perfect :)

x Fanny Minka x

Fencing to lounge music

2009-01-09T04:55:00.000-08:00

Last night Robin and Pete attempted to teach me how to fence :)

(For the record... Pete tits aren't real)

x Fanny Minka x

The toilet diary

2009-01-07T10:33:00.000-08:00

Back about a decade ago, when Josh and I first met and we both looked like wildly oscillating version of this, he lived in a lovely little student share house on Albion Street in Surry Hills. One of my favourite things about this establishment of trash, was that they had a toilet diary: an exercise book which hung permanently from the wall in the loo in which anyone who visited it could write their thoughts for the day.

Flash forward to 2009, and we are now living together in a similar den inequity in Shoreditch. Since moving in in September last year, we have been trying to make over this crumbling gem from a limited credit crunch budgets, but it is the bathroom that surged forward in style, mainly owing to when I accidentally painted it electric blue. However, Aurelien, the newest addition to our house, has been pushing the boundaries further and has recently gone nuts in this particular room, adding plants, pictures, various accessories and...... a new toilet seat. A much needed one at that (not that the landlord had done anything about it). Now this room looks fucking ace. So in honour of the rise in style and facilities in this room and owing to the fact that Chez Shoreditch has more visitors per weekend that the Tate Modern does per annum, I have created a Toilet Diary for a new generation.

Behold!

x Fanny Minka x

t.w.e.n.t.y.e.i.g.h.t.

2009-01-07T05:49:00.000-08:00

At the end of this month I will be 28 years old.....

And all I want for my birthday....

Is for my mum to buy me Mario Kart for Wii :)

x Fanny Minka x

Just Like Honey....

2009-01-05T07:10:00.000-08:00

I am radiating lobotomised exhaustion today. Jet lag central. Not surprising considering I spent just over 50 hours in the air over the last 2 weeks.

I cut my NYC trip short and came back to London a day and a half early, which was such a great idea. In the end 2 weeks away felt like 2 months, and the wave of love that I received from my urban tribe upon my return really made me realise the value of what I have in London currently.

To be honest though, I basically spent the weekend in bed. Amazingness. Plus Astrobarry has given this little Minka much to hope for in the next 12 months. Hello King Jupiter. I'm ready. Bring it.

x Fanny Minka x

Goodbye 2008

2008-12-31T10:04:00.000-08:00

Sadly, I wanted you to end even before you began.

But thanks for the amazing moments and lovely new people.

And thanks for all that I learnt from the difficult times.

Here's hoping 2009 is a much better time for everyone.

x Fanny Minka x

Australia

2008-12-29T08:09:00.000-08:00

So good that an hour after departing, all I wanted to do was go back :(

MELBOURNE

BRISBANE / SUNSHINE COAST

SYDNEY

*sigh*

And now, on to New York :)

x Fanny Minka x

Merry Christmas from Chez Shoreditch

2008-12-18T07:19:00.001-08:00

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Goodbye Bettie

2008-12-12T02:40:00.001-08:00

Onwards and upwards you iconic darling.

I hope wherever you've gone, you are happy now.

www.bettiepage.com

x Fanny Minka x

House of Female Inspiration

2008-12-10T07:04:00.000-08:00

In one rather overcomplicated dream last night, I was overjoyed to come home and discover that each room in my house had been redecorated as a homage to a different iconic woman of influence in my life.

My kitchen was Frida Kahlo. With electric blue Casa Azul style walls, huge garnishes of red flowers and everywhere Frida's work, Day of Dead imagery etc. Powerful.

My lounge room was Kathleen Hanna One entire wall was a massive collage of tiny images and sections of lyrics and there was jukebox on the wall with her entire discography ready to play.

And my bathroom was Anaïs Nin It looked like the colour scheme of an Agent Provocateur gift box, in fact just like Lady Penelope's entire house: softest pink and black, framed images of vintage erotica across the walls and even on the shower curtain strangely.

Unfortunately, I only made it to the 3rd floor of my house and I have been wondering all day who my subconscious would have decorated my bedroom with.....

x Fanny Minka x

Hall Monitor Minka

2008-12-09T09:01:00.001-08:00

New favourite accessory for this week: Coco De Mer school badge! How cute. Now if only it came with a Head Mistress to reprimand me too.....

x Fanny Minka x

World.gone.mad.

2008-12-05T04:19:00.000-08:00

It seems like nearly every day now I hear about another friend being hit hard by the financial crisis....

last employee in, first to go...

management demotions...

cancelling of job offers, and therefore sponsorship visas, as there is a freeze on new employment contracts...

the phone has just stopped ringing for any temp work...

going back to your home country as you can't get any work where you are now...

companies collapsing....

surprise redundancies....

I am feeling pretty depressed about all this today. I don't want all my friends to have to leave London.

x Fanny Minka x

Cherry Blossoms (Kirschblüten - Hanami)

2008-12-04T08:16:00.000-08:00

I rarely discuss films on here, despite the sheer number that I watch for work. However, I was really touched by this film. For the most part, "Cherry Blossoms" tells the story of an ageing Bavarian man who embarks on a journey to Japan to grieve for his late wife and develop an understanding of Butoh performance, for which she held a life-long fascination. It's about the kind of moments of enlightenment and inspiration which you had as a teenager that you desperately hope to have again in old age, after a lifetime of soul-destroying monotony.

I often find fascinating such depictions of male Baby Boomer's struggling with their sense of masculinity and their place in a world which has changed so rapidly during their lifetime. This is due to the fact that I see friends watching their own fathers struggle in this way, especially now they are that they are hitting their Sixties. Elmar Wepper plays the lead, Rudi, in this film so wonderfully well that I was amazed by how much he reminded me of my own father, personally making this characters journey even more tragically beautiful. The strength of this story is that it begins with almost depressing familiarity and then takes you into completely unexpected territory. Just like Rudi's own children, you believe him to be emotionally incapable of dealing with the loss of his wife, which makes the way he extends himself and learn how to live again very moving.

x Fanny Minka x

Reykjavik Day 2

2008-11-28T12:20:00.000-08:00

x Fanny Minka x

Reykjavik Day 1

2008-11-27T11:09:00.000-08:00

x Fanny Minka x

Where in the world is Fanny Minka?

2008-11-20T10:01:00.000-08:00

Oh me, oh my! How much travelling can one little Minka do in the next 8 weeks? Well let's see....

Firstly, I am going here:
(26th - 30th November)

Then nipping across to here:
(6th - 7th December)

Then off to here:
(20th - 21st December)

And then here:
(21st - 27th December)

Then swinging through here:
(27th - 29th December)

Before finally ending up here:
(29th December - 4th January)

Can!barely!contain!excitement!!!!!!

:D

x Fanny Minka x

The Microphone Nazi commeth

2008-11-13T08:04:00.001-08:00

Originally uploaded by Lil Jay

I have been having serious karaoke cravings this week. Like big time. It's like therapy for me really - just lock me in a room with 3 friends, a microphone, copious amounts of booze and an extensive music catalogue and I come out all shiny and new.

It is probably due to the fact that I finally have new headphones for my i-pod, that I have wifi at home again and can download music, and because Tessa and I had an extensive sing-along-to-Songza session in our loungeroom the other day to Deborah Conway, Frente and other late 80's / early 90's Oz alterna trash....

But whatever the reason, I wanna cut loose and terrorise people with my shameless vocal stylinz.

My performance playlist of choice would be:

EDGE OF SEVENTEEN - Stevie Nicks (ideally while facing a wind machine)
YOU DON'T HAVE TO SAY YOU LOVE ME - Dusty Springfield (lord help anyone who even attempts to try and duet with me on this)
ATOMIC - Blondie (done as spoken word with a very heavy German accent)
ADD IT UP - Violent Femmes (complete with violent shakey-shake dancing)
JUICY - Notorious B.I.G (including the intro ha)
HANKY PANKY - Madonna (mike + pole would be best combination)
IMMIGRANT SONG - Led Zepplin (lots of hair flicking required)
BABIES - Pulp (duets allowed)
STANDING IN THE WAY OF CONTROL - Gossip (I am usually asked to stop by this point)

If you know me, the above should strike fear into your soul because... well... as Josh always says to be me "B, you have microphone in your hand. You don't need to yell..."

x Fanny Minka x

Grind-A-Go-Go

2008-11-11T09:59:00.001-08:00

Grind-A-Go-Go
Originally uploaded by Fanny's flickr

I definitely didn't win the prize for the best set of legs on at Grind-A-Go-Go on Saturday night... but between Monsieur Robin's gold sequinned hot pants and Russ Vandeberg's full fishnet body stocking, I don't think I ever stood a chance really :)

I did, however, split my purple satin pencil skirt all the way up again which meant I ended up wandering home revealing a damned sight more than just the tops of my leopard print stocking.

Oh yes, how trash.

x Fanny Minka x

Schlock Horror!

2008-11-11T03:56:00.001-08:00

Halloween (Chez Shoreditch style)
Originally uploaded by Fanny's flickr

Possibly my favourite photo of 2008, I think Josh and I should go into the movie business making B-grade films of the more ironic than scary variety. Although, Josh as Hannibal Lecter was perhaps the scariest thing I have seen all year.....

(Photo by Angus Withey)

x Fanny Minka x

Nice shoes, wanna fuck?

2008-11-10T08:01:00.000-08:00

This morning I discovered that I have already blown my budget for this month. Not badly but it does mean literally no more treats for Fanny till December comes along. The greatest dissapoint when this happens is that I have to make myself delete everything I am watching on ebay *sigh* so annoying. Anyway, I was eyeing off potential shoe acquisitions for this upcoming party:

However, now it sadly looks like I will just have to make do with a pair I *already* own. Oh bugger. Anyway, instead I have treated myself to an hour at work fantasizing about what my dream outfit would be. Voilà!

Nice Shoes, Wann F*ck? Dream Party Outfit by FannyMinka

x Fanny Minka x

Halloween

2008-11-04T02:55:00.001-08:00

Halloween
Originally uploaded by Fanny's flickr

Zombie cheerleader was the looked rocked again this year. I definitely got my money's worth out of the Walmart children's costume section 3 years ago

x Fanny Minka x

Trashed at Amechi's

2008-11-03T10:17:00.001-08:00

Trashed at Amechi's
Originally uploaded by Fanny's flickr

Stumbling into Amechi's when you are inebriated is like skipping into a Surrealists playground. Want to straddle a Hulk like green fist? Perhaps while wearing just your underwear and a top shaped like huge pair of red lips? Easy. I fear I may have run riot a little too much this time though, for when I tramped back down from the party upstairs an hour later, the bolt promptly clicked shut inside the door. Ha!

x Fanny Minka x

Fanny's favourite things for Autumn 2008

2008-10-14T05:43:00.000-07:00

Oh, I love autumn in London! Everyone finally surrenders the idea that summer is ever going to happen and I can stop deluding myself that hot pants are acceptable day wear (I even wore high waisted denim short-shorts to work one day this summer. It was Pax that convinced me at 9:15am it was a good idea. FAIL.)

The days are generally bright and crisp and I start shopping around for the annual event which is my winter coat purchase (various options are currently being considered). Sunglasses are teamed with cashmere scarves and acquiring someone to snuggle through the cold months ahead becomes everyone's primary motivation!

Anyway, in addition to all of this, here are the things that are currently filling my life with wonder and joy are:

A non-digital existence

Since moving into our new abode, we had been stealing wifi off the taxi company downstairs. That is, until it disappeared about 10 days ago rendering us internet-less. In any previous household, this would have caused a massive panic in Fanny Land as I am online addiction central. But actually, now, it has been something of a blessing. All of a sudden I am reading books, writing letters, playing boardgames, baking, cleaning, and watching endless movies! Amazing. So this is what normal people do when they aren't chained to a lap top flicking between tabs in Safari every 2 seconds to see if something, anything, has been updated in the online world. Suffice to say, I am in no rush to have it reconnected at home. Check back in a week though, as this could easily change.

London Film Festival

Sadly, I have to go to LFF and see films at the company's expense. Horrible, I know. How will I ever survive the next 2 weeks sitting in darkened spaces, watching a whole variety of amazingness on screen. I am especially super excited about Baader Meinhof Complex and Beautiful Losers

and are also looking forward to seeing Franklyn and Sveitabrúðkaup

*bounces with delight*

The Kennedy's

Undoubtedly Norways greatest export, these two darlings have more sass and style than JFK and Jackie O have could ever dreamed of. Robert and Magnhild are like that married couple that you just want to hate because they are just so beautiful, so well attired, such wonderful fun (both individually and as a team), and so obviously in love with each other. Not only do they ply me with booze, make-up, accessories and men everytime I cross their threshold, but they are always up for fun and adventures, and will never say no to a game of spin the bottle. And they seem to love me too, which shows superior taste and judgement on their part *winks*

The Grocery

Is it possible to go to the same shop six times in one weekend? Yes. Yes it is. Ever since moving in around the corner from The Grocery on Kingsland Rd, I am spedning half my life and my pay check in there but a good reason. The brunch in their cafe is my new favourite weekend morning establishment as their scrambled eggs are just the best. Their organic supermarket is great too, especially for one that isn't that huge and far more tempting than trundling to Tesco's. The staff are always super nice and they have a cat which I crawl around on their wooden floorboards with when I think no one is watching.

Joan Holloway on Mad Men

For months James was pestering me to watch Mad Men as he knew I would love it. When I finally sucombed to my annual autumn flu, I downloaded the whole 1st season and fell in love. With this woman. Sweet jesus, what a woman.

I call her Walking Porn. If anything should encourage Hollywood to put curvy ladies back on screen, then Christina Hendricks' performance will do it. It's not *just* the huge ass and boobs encased in tailored 60's attire, it's the way she saunters around the office like she owns it. Plus the red hair, the pale, pale skin, those eyes, that mouth.... need I go on?

Lounge Bohemia

Don't go here. Anyone who does, doesn't want you to know about it. It's a hidden Shoreditch gem and let's hope it stays that for a little longer. Suffice to say it 2 blocks from my house, makes Lychee Martini's and has "Low, 1960s décor, communist wallpaper and a menu of Eastern European cocktail twists". What is not in there for Fanny to love?

Other things delighting Fanny this autumn: Finally being able to start making repayments on the debt accumulated this year * Making badges with rude statements about my friends sex lives * Boys who own more pairs of heels than I do * Baking cakes * Saturday morning brunch with my flatmates doing the Guardian crossword and that really hard quiz in the back of the magazine * Twitter gossip sessions * November trip to Reykjavik *

What Fanny is listening to this autumn: Mirah, Mammas and Pappas, Rosemary Clooney, Justice, Kitsune, Nouvelle Vague, Violent Femmes.

x Fanny Minka x

Scream for honey and fingertips

2008-09-30T08:11:00.000-07:00

While coughing and spluttering my way through the Virgin Shorts Awards last night (pausing only to try and count the number of times Spacey said fuck in his awards speech), the above phrase minxed it's way into my mind. It was in a stop frame + drawn animation of a poem by Gaia Holmes.

I think I need to read this collection now.

In other Fanny stimuli this week, a marvelous quote from The Melvins' Buzz Osbourne:

"We're ugly, weird-looking guys. Cobain had that wounded junkie look, which for some unknown reason, women and MTV think is really cool. All those guys do. Bowie. Jagger. Skinny, wounded junkie look. We were too weird, too big. If Kurt Cobain had been the size of Rosie Greer, and the same color, nobody would have given a shit"

I have also managed to score this pretty spectacular bruise on my left calf:

Exact moment of achieving this beauty isn't known, but I have a feeling it may have had something to do with climbing on building sites at around 10pm Saturday night, while being led astray by new friends :)

Meanwhile, I am plying myself with wasabi, hot hot soups and loads of orange juice today. It has been over a week you vile, vile flu. Lay down your motherfucking guns.

x Fanny Minka x

Space Invaders

2008-09-26T11:56:00.001-07:00

Space Invaders
Originally uploaded by Fanny's flickr

I came home yesterday to discover Josh had done more painting... all the stairwell up to our floor which was very exciting. We decided to celebrate by doing some decorating, which included running the Tate Modern 20th century artists time line up one stairwell and sticking huge Space Invaders stickers up the other. Win.

We are going to push through and try and get the rest of the painting (2nd coat on the kitchen, 2 coats on the lounge, 1 coat on our 4th floor hallway) finished tomorrow. So hence I am not going out tonight. That, and because I am still ill. Yes, I have been contaminated with a rather vile flu all week. I'm yuck. It sucks. That's all you need to know.

x Fanny Minka x

Fash Off at BBB

2008-09-21T13:04:00.000-07:00

Check out the lovely images which Matthew Brindle shot of us for megamegamega.com at the Beach Blanket Babylon's Fash Off Party on Friday night.

x Fanny Minka x

Ebay sale

2008-09-15T16:21:00.000-07:00

I am selling a number of things on ebay in order to purchase a pretty antique table for my new flat. Most of the starting prices are 99p so make sure you take a peak at what is on offer!

x Fanny Minka x

The Last Tuesday Society September Masked Ball

2008-09-14T06:27:00.001-07:00

The Last Tuesday Society September Masked Ball
Originally uploaded by Fanny's flickr

Robert, Magnhild and I fitted ourselves out in our finery last night and trotted off to yet another Last Tuesday Society masked soiree. Magnhild made some stunning lace masks for her and Robert and I opted, for once, to go for something simple.... although many people found my Pierrot mask rather scary it seemed.

Anyway, the night was wondrously debauched and I am feeling rather poorly today as a result. Think I shall have to crawl out into the streets of Shoreditch in search of a coffee very soon.

House Painting

2008-09-14T06:17:00.001-07:00

House Painting
Originally uploaded by Fanny's flickr

We are still in the midst of painting our new flat. Anyone who comes to stay gets roped in to helping. Aaron was a very willing assistant though... especially when we fitted him out in this rather trashy painting outfit :)

Physical Imbalance

2008-09-10T05:33:00.000-07:00

Lately, I have become increasingly aware of the unsymmetrical and imbalanced aspects of my body. They are:

. My left foot is bigger than my right. I've only really noticed this in the last 12 months. Can my left foot still be growing? Every time I buy new shoes, it always takes much much longer for my left shoe to stop rubbing. Maybe I am now secretly a size 6 and I haven't realised it.

. I am rather deaf in my left ear. My hearing hasn't ever been brilliant really (which is very annoying as ever since I was a child I have yearned to be visually impaired so I could wear glasses but are sadly blessed with 20/20 vision. But I do find hearing aids and sign language rather sexy too thankfully). Anyway, I had been wondering why I needed to turn my Ipod up to full volume lately to hear it properly and then one day I put my headphones in the wrong sides and was nearly blasted my right ear away, thus discovering that a) my right hand bud wasn't actually working, and b) my left hand bud was fine but my hearing in my left ear was dramatically different to that in my right. Great.

. My left eyebrow is higher / more arched than my right. Only slightly but enough to make me look like I am constantly judging everyone. Which is fitting, as obviously I am.

. I only have a dimple in my left cheek and often when I am thinking or doing a little closed mouth smile, my mouth will draw itself up to the left, as illustrated here:

Ok. Having written this I now realise that all my quirks and shortcomings are on my left side. Maybe half of me is just charmingly deformed :)

x Fanny Minka x

Love feels like a great misfortune

2008-09-03T02:22:00.000-07:00

So I am at work today. 4 days off, 1 day on, 4 days off again is very nice. It's funny how even though I sit on the internet 24/7 between work and home, I only actually follow up on my online life during work hours. Bad, I know. But here I am, soya latte in hand, catching up on all the RSS feed of my favourite blogs (and marvelling at Carla's post about Reverse Graffiti). I may even kill more work time and finally write back to my facebook pen pal to whom I haven't responded in a nearly a week (sorry nubile young prince).

I am offline life wise in general at the moment. Running on conserve power mood, keeping everything low key. I'm liking it; not allowing myself to whipped into any sort of frenzy, be it excitement, stress, desire, forward planning etc. I feel slightly lobotomised but maybe that isn't such a bad thing. I live too much of my life inside my head anyway.

I finally moved on Monday and we should sign the lease today or tomorrow. Then we can get into some crazy cleaning and painting action. Pax is coming to stay again this weekend too.

I went and had my hair colour redone yesterday, then upgraded my phone to a much sexier one and then James took me out for dinner. Which was all lovely. He is still texting me Žižek quotes this morning from our discussion the night before.

(Love feels) like a great misfortune, a monstrous parasite, a permanent state of emergency that ruins all small pleasures

x Fanny Minka x

Space Hijackers interview on Don't Panic!

2008-09-01T12:24:00.000-07:00

As expected... very drunken, super smily, amazingly trashy, extra awesome Space Hijackers Tank party... watch and learn how my gun turns magically into a crop, how bad my rope work is when inebriated, how Alex's ass looks blown up on wide screen, and how generally hot these kidz are...

*here is the link while I upload the video sorry*

The Space Hijackers are a loose collection of eccentric insurgents who do things like cucumber tea-party protests and anarchists vs capitalists midnight cricket matches. Here they seem to be having sadomasochistic war sex party. Anyone can be a Space Hijacker, so visit the site and get involved. They'll give you a top secret Space Hijackers 'agent' name... which is nice.

Check out my well suited soundtrack selection :)

Apparently actual tank footage is to follow...

x Fanny Minka x

Year Book Yourself

2008-08-28T15:52:00.000-07:00

This website is rather amusing. It shows you what you might have looked like between 1950-2000

Actually, it's kind of scary that I can blend so easily into each era. Providing that my hair was capable of doing all those styles. I really want an afro now *sigh*

x Fanny Minka x

Croquet, cupcakes, and champagne

2008-08-26T13:44:00.001-07:00

Croquet, cupcakes, and champagne
Originally uploaded by Fanny's flickr

A most fabulous Bank Holiday Monday affair it was indeed.

The daydream believer and the homecoming queen

2008-08-26T08:28:00.000-07:00

I just went to book next week off work and realised I haven't had a day off in 4 months. How did this happen? No wonder I am acting like such a nutter lately.

Now I am having all these delightfully awful hippy fest fantasies of going away to somewhere with no internet, phones, computers, tv, parties, public transport, alcohol etc. Where I can just spend all day reading, riding bikes, baking and walking along country lanes. How strange that a certified urbanite like me, who panics when she can see a full 180 degree skyline, would lust after something like this. Maybe I am still a country girl at heart.

The reality is that I will probably spend next week tearing about trying to move. I am supposed to be out of my current digs in a week but we haven't found a house yet. But this is London, where everything happens at the last minute, I hope.

x Fanny Minka x

Photobooth amusement

2008-08-25T05:42:00.001-07:00

Photobooth amusement
Originally uploaded by Fanny's flickr

I love opening up my photobooth to find recent photo play I had forgotten about :)

Hanbury St

2008-08-24T18:25:00.001-07:00

Hanbury St
Originally uploaded by Fanny's flickr

Space Hijackers Tank

2008-08-24T08:48:00.001-07:00

Space Hijackers Tank
Originally uploaded by Fanny's flickr

Spent all this morning driving around Hackney and Hoxton with the Space Hijackers in their tank while we shot footage for Don't Panic!

Only broke down 3 times then all the break fluid all drained out at the top of Hoxton St and they ran into a security car. Amazing.

Sadly, silly Fanny forgot to eat anything, drank 2 coffee's and sat in the back inhaling diesel fumes for an hour. Not surprisingly when we finally stopped I felt rather faint. Attempted to eat something but that only resulted in me having to run into one of the back streets of Hoxton and vomiting. At 3pm on a Sunday. Classy.

Circus

2008-08-24T08:20:00.001-07:00

Circus
Originally uploaded by Fanny's flickr

Sigmund thought his outfit was "more heterosexual" than Josh's.

Uh huh.

x

Taking part in Blog Action Day 2008

2008-08-21T02:14:00.000-07:00

Blog Action Day 2008 Poverty from Blog Action Day on Vimeo.

She's truly outrageous!

2008-08-20T14:23:00.000-07:00

After Mademoiselle Robot was discussing recently what a style icon Wonder Woman is for her and then I was watching La Pequeña's impersonation of La Prohibida, it made me start to think about the fact that when I was a little Fanny (circa 1985 -1990) we had so many amazing cartons with kick ass female protagonist. Yet, a decade later when my sister was growing up, there was nothing like this and I am struggling to think of anything comparable around today. We were blessed to have:

Rainbow Brite (My favourite. Her style was amazing)

Jem (actually a major queer icon during my formative years as she fit into Ken clothes, as he did hers. So Jem was always wearing a mechanic's uniform and Ken had a yellow mini dress and a pair of pumps)

She-Ra (I used to run home from ballet every Saturday to watch her)

Strawberry Shortcake (Ok, she wasn't that kickass. But she did live on her own and run her own business and constantly fought the evil Purple Pie Man who was trying to put her out of work. I did quite fancy Raspberry Tartlet's sense of style too)

Maybe it was just a period of time that was flush with amazing cartoons in general, but I can't help but think it was also when little girls had some well styled independent icons to identify with who weren't outrageously oversexualised. Plus there was He-Man. Who was like totally gay.

x Fanny Minka x

Too many people down / Everything turning the wrong way round

2008-08-20T02:05:00.000-07:00

I've been tearing myself into pieces for the last 10 months trying to do the *right* thing. Trying to ensure that 2008 ends with everyone in the least damaged position. Trying to work out what is the faultless way to look after both myself and those I care about. Not surprisingly, despite my extensive effort and a motherload of stress, I still feel like everything is still at square one.

Last night James hit me over the head with a bottle of wine in the Green Man.

"What do you mean the right thing. There is no right thing to do here. You can't make this any better. You have to just take it as it comes. And you will fuck up. It will fuck up. And it will keep on going and eventually work itself out the way it is meant to. You will never be able to make this ok so stop killing yourself trying."

Sounds really obvious huh? Well I will shut up and do that now and stop banging my head against the desk constantly. I am, surprisingly, not super human. I am falling to pieces trying to hold everything together for everyone. A porcelain doll trying to be action man.

So, now, I will just take it as it comes.

*exhale*

x Fanny Minka x

On Sunday night I had bodyguards.

2008-08-19T07:01:00.001-07:00

Sigmunds extradition to New York party
Originally uploaded by Fanny's flickr

Obviously I recruit my entourage at a Soviet Gay Bar....

Sigmunds extradition to New York party

2008-08-18T15:26:00.001-07:00