Ibiza Rocks

IBIZA rocks...really? 'Hmmm we'll see' was my initial response to my besty's pitch for an impromptu weekend away. Call me what you will, but in my mind Ibiza would be full of rowdy English tossers, pilled up and on the pull. And I am a lady, man! NOT LADY-MAN! Plus the music scene might be too hardcore? And they pump drugs through the damn ventilation of these ‘super clubs’ to keep the hoards high don’t they? Dilemma! Or perhaps not- recollections of Mum and Dad honeymooning in Ibiza back in the day came to mind, surely if the rents can do it…?

‘Whatevs just get involved’ Harriet belted down the phone as I, reluctantly, gave her my bank details for flights and a base camp. And then we were there, the three of us! We had heard that we needed to locate the following: Space, Amnesia, DC10 and Zoo Project but were allowing for all possibilities and destinations unknown.

A ten kilo carry on coupled with a ten minute taxi ride to Figueretas, where we darted into our Paya Del Sol apartments for a costume change, and we were Bora Bora bound! What I failed to mention about Harriet is that she is a jammy diva, and it was her former meeting with a certain celebrity’s brother that secured us guest list hotspots for Space. Pitching up at 3 am we thought we may have lost out but ho no! Plus who needs ID when we could blag entry with flashing our Facebook profiles via our iphones- how freaking savvy are we!

So it did all ‘Come Together’ for Space as we entered into a FREE universe of electro, techno, house, beats and breaks (only we had missed Kelis’ set- god damn!) When I say free, we were subsequently robbed by the price of booze but we were in Ibiza baby so shots away!

Another misconception of mine was that the island would be somewhat scummy and the beaches littered with rubbish, cans and condoms. Nope not at all, the outlook from our apartment was blue sea, sandy beaches and green parameters- beautiful! Apparently it is San Antonio that homes the chav stereotypes who in their self annihilation devastate and piss over all their surroundings…… urrrghh was that a used jonnie I just stepped on!!??

Second night was Amnesia night. Now this is a SUPER CLUB on every account: super European house sets, super Spanish party goers, super pricey and SUPER GAY! Matinee sessions at Amnesia attract the masses. Err shocker given that the glittering, feather and leather array of performing, pouting and gyrating dancers were positioned at perfect eye level. Entry and drinks are sky high (standard!) but so is the interior of this place, it exceeds all expectations and I would definitely recommend venturing here. An amazing night of fiesta with mi amigas. Olé indeed!

Always go, always say yes because Ibiza is a whole lot of fun and I only had a taster. There are endless hot spots, beaches, hotels, bars and beats for all. Next time I would certainly go for longer, if my liver could stand it, a week minimum. The Radio 1 presence out there is becoming more explosive year on year, and although we missed them the first weekend of August this time, the 12 hours of non-stop dance music from Playa d’en Bossa can still be sourced here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/events/ibiza/2011/

Kiss me Kate!

What a year for beautiful weddings. If you have not been a guest at, worked at, wined at or even gate crashed one this year- guaranteed you have wondered at one from afar. Unless you whistled and whooped the Royal newlyweds from outside of Buckingham palace, I bow at your brilliance, then you will certainly have cheered, teared and toasted at the TV screen. What a dress, what a wink, what a wave, what a kiss! We saw it all and they, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, have it all. Then there was Kate Moss and Jamie Hince who got hitched in the Cotswolds with friends, family and a foray of couture. YES Blahnik, YES McCartney and OMG John Galliano!

That said Kate’s vintage inspired sequinned dress was not that of our Princess’. Not her bag obviously, she's far too sexy chic (See Mario Testino's gallery for a glimpse http://bit.ly/n2j07y ). Middleton floated down the aisle in a breath taking little number by Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen, which was astounding with its hand-embroidered and appliquéd lace touches. Vela! A wedding that I was honoured to attend this year was that of my gorgeous friend Phoebe’s. Finally tying the knot to the man of her dreams, something she started planning amidst our uni days (and I suspect beforehand!), along with colour coding and canapés, she was every inch the bride. Stunning and very Audrey Hepburn circa 1950. The Hamilton couple married in Leeds at Hardwood House; prime Princess location and a Rolls Royce to boot.

How to be a Woman...

Arse entrenching underwear, Britpop, cheese, Jilly Cooper, ket holes, misfits and library escapes. I love this book CAPITAL LETTERS. Moran's catalogue of experience growing up and living as a woman is jaw dropping and simply WOW; so much so that her colloquial scribbling truly does sock it to you. Yes I am a feminist, and yes I can give it my all! Hysterical and entirely relatable she makes our modern day insecurities as: girls, women, singles, couples, parents, professionals, friends, freaks...the list goes on...something laughable. By laughable I mean ridiculous- how could we possibly fear patriarchy, especially today, when both MEN and WOMEN can have a bash at living, loving, learning and getting it all wrong in the process.

What has compelled me, actually floored me with realisation, is Moran's fundamental line ‘Is it polite? Are the men doing it? Are the men worrying about it?' There's no preaching and no demoralising of men, they are a different species yes, but have the capacity to be less childhood fantasy, more making it work as mates...with fun extras.

I LOVE this book and have a raging appetite for the next dose. I have even found myself drifting through Waterstones looking for something that will suffice until then but just kept being drawn back to her on the shelf. Worse perhaps is my pouncing on those who pick it up to read the blurb, READ IT JUST READ IT I bellow; 'She's changed my world'. Or when I beam at those clutching it on the tube; half of me is delighting in their shared reading choice, half envious of their page turning frenzy. I have raved about it to everyone; the girls at work are taking turns with my battered copy or have impatiently bought their own. Negative feedback from the likes of that lot have been duly noted, black marked, and followed up with a regretful email or shitty Skype message.

Whilst I await my next Moran fix I have her article in The Times every Saturday and damn this broad can tweet like a trooper too (@caitlinmoran) P.S Read this article she wrote on libraries if you have a spare moment it is...I have no more words, ok then AMAZING: http://t.co/wr0VQCo

One Day...

Now when I devoured this last year on holiday my interpretation of Emma was that of a blonde, scruffy, slightly plump someone whose one liners had the power to send me into raging hysterics. Willingly trouncing her own dowdy style and dodgy CV repertoire, as well as outsmarting the idiot  wannabes she comes across- yes Dexter- in effortless wonder, she is entirely captivating.  For me, she rouses the character of Jane from The L-Shaped Room who is another woman in the throes of love and loss, quick witted and just brilliant.

That is why my Emma is not Anne Hathaway, not even with a Northern accent, not even close; hence my reluctance to see the film adaptation. Not only might I be forced to pack up and dart out popcorn in arm, but it may bring back dire memories of watching the 'alternative' ending option slash US edition on the latest Pride and Prejudice DVD. Essentially because the film One Day looks far too flowery, too Hollywood, too Universal Pictures OVERKILL! Surely even Nicholls himself is thinking, along with CHA-CHING, is this really my Emma, my novel, my way?

adidas go all in...

The new Stella McCartney range for adidas is hot. Her style transcends adidas' notorious sporting style and makes for some impressive sporting gear. Gone are the days when a work out dress code consist of black trackies and an old t-shirt used when revamping the bathroom with a lick of paint! Now there is style that women can fashion together whilst pumping muscle in the gym, on the bike, in the pool...or in my case prancing down Camden high street! What I would say is that brands are now an entire mind set, a lifestyle and even a religion. Amen to adidas who now supply our sporting, fashion, music and celebrity fix in one sixty second swoop. In my field of online video distribution and advertising, brands have the potential to be utterly explosive. As consumers we want access to everything at the click of a button because, hell lets not be sloppy here, we have our finger on the pulse. So edgy, quirky, cool content is a given and hats off to adidas who serve us well, unlike many others. Sharing, liking, rating, ranking, tweeting, slating we do it all instantaneously and perhaps haphazardly which is why brands like adidas must dress and impress in a way that smashes into social media platforms and online environments with punchy, jaw dropping, click to play content.