Which brings me nicely to the summer .... Apparently there was something sporty on in London over the summer - but I didn't manage to see any live Olympics as I was working. But before we go there - let's start with the "Ice Bear".
You may notice in the pictures below that there appears to be someone who looks like Ewan McGregor. This is my cue for a little name-dropping. Toby (extreme rhs of lhs photo) talked to him about the project ("Ice Bear") and he agreed to be our narrator.
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| Mark, Ewan, Ollie, sound recordist, Toby |
And then there was Philip's exhibition. Philip and I worked together on "Family Affairs" a long time ago and since then he has been making his career much more photography centred. His exhibition was at the Mile End Art Pavilion and was called "Sleeping India". First time I've been to the venue which was rather lovely and great to see a larger exhibition of Philip's work as well as a quick catch up with Philip who I haven't seen for about five years. Philip would tell you that the catch up was short as I arrived 30 minutes before the exhibition closed on the final day .... He has a website if photography (particularly Indian and black and white) is your thing at http://
Then Lara came over to London and we managed a few hours to walk around and do the touristy bit. Lara and I worked together at the beginning of the year on the MMSII project in Dhaka. Whilst we were in Trafalgar Square I "made" her climb the lion.
And now back to work. Newman Street Productions is a new production company within the FremantleMedia empire; an empire that makes "Britain's Got Talent" and "X Factor" along with "Neighbours", "Escape to the Country" and an array of other successful productions. And NS had been commissioned to make a daytime reality docu-drama for ITV. And so we have "Crime Stories". Fast turnaround, boutique budget (!) and 20 hours of daytime ITV drama/doc shot in 34.5 days ....
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| "Crime Stories" crew and regular cast |
And then the wrap party ....
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| Niall and Helenie |
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| Lisa, Marq, Mary |
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| Niall, Hayley, Lisa, Kate, Marq |
Started to catch up again with friends once the series has finished filming - not much time for a personal life when you are shooting for six days each week for the six weeks. A night out at a lovely Thai restaurant (Market Thai) in Portobello Road with Kasia and Ramona, both from my days in Romania. Kasia had to leave after the meal but Ramona and I went off for a drink. Now noticed that two photos in a row feature me wearing the same clothes - I do own more than one evening outfit ....
Once the filming had finished mum and I managed a trip to the Paralympics - the last day but better late than never - and the semis and final of the wheelchair basketball. Great atmosphere, full arena, very full-on games.
We managed to make a weekend of it and went to the British Library to look at the Writing Britain exhibition. Catharine and I had seen it earlier in the year - and I was very happy to go along again. The only down side was that, whilst packed with literary goodies, I felt it was a little too much to take in with one visit.
We topped off the weekend with the theatre visit - which was "Shrek"! There's something very attractive about talking donkeys and green ogres .... No photos of ogres but thought you might like one of the sculpture overhanging the walkway on the Southbank instead.
Then I had a phone call from my friend Viv who thought it would be a good idea to spend the day in Paris - in fact this almost qualifies as ladies who lunches! So - internet Eurostar booking and off we went. We had a trouble-free crossing, over-priced Eurostar tea and coffee, and negotiated the Metro, hit on by a guy from New York who thought he was in with a chance (hmmm). We'd planned to wander off along the Seine and look at art in the Musee d'Orsay. And then it was sunny! And since there were no deadlines and no schedules and we could do whatever we wanted we decided to walk into the St Germain area and eat, drink coffee and wander. Bliss.
By late afternoon we'd arrived in the Palais du Luxembourg and had a little sit down in the rather luscious gardens. In the far distance the Eiffel Tower ...
And within about ten minutes those rather thick clouds became the storm which had been promised. Actually it was more like a deluge - and it just kept on raining. So we braved it - made our way back towards the Seine and shelter and somewhere to eat an evening meal before we went back to the train.
So after rain, minor flooding, squelchy footwear and a chill in the air and rejecting two restaurants (first one smelt of cats' pee and the second didn't seem to have anything on their menu) we ended up at "Au Bourguignon du marais". A corner table, heating on, drying out and the most mouthwatering food I've experienced for a long time. Ahhhhh.
In the autumn I was called about a short film called "Sea View" which is one of films in the new BFI shorts series. However, I was still working so I put one of my friends in the frame. But, as they say, no good deed goes unpunished so 05.30 I wander off to Canvey Island to appear as an extra - and we know how much I enjoy being in front of the camera. Still, I'd never been to Canvey Island - and there's a photo below.
By now we are back to December and my first wedding for years. Jessica and Tom, in Bristol, on a sunny Saturday afternoon. Thought you might all like to see photos of the cake(s) - particularly as I haven't put up food photos on the blog for ages!
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| The wedding cake - a rather sumptuous fruit cake under this rather unusual exterior |
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| And for those that would rather have cupcakes |
And then first thing on the Sunday morning I came back for the cast and crew screening of "Common People".
This was the film that we worked on in April - the one set outdoors on Tooting Common during the bad weather .... It's already been accepted in the 2013 Sedona Film Festival and has been entered into others - and I guess will be at a cinema at some point in 2013. If you want to read more about it then go to - http://www.commonpeoplethemovie.com.
In fact December was a bit of a party whirl - Viv and I went to the British Museum's Christmas party - which was exactly where you would expect it to be - the British Museum complete with live jazz and a chance to wander around the exhibits.
I'd also promised Vivi that she could decorate the tree - so this was the weekend to let Vivi and Alice join with Darin to decorate the tree whilst I cooked an early Christmas dinner.... It was Alice's first English Christmas meal complete with crackers and all the trimmings.
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| Vivi and Alice |
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| Alice and Darin |
And now it is Christmas Eve - the tree is decorated, the food is bought, mum has arrived and the presents are under the tree. Susan had suggested that our Christmas treat should be "Slava's Snow Show" - and so I'd booked tickets. If you don't like clowns (and I don't) then you could be distracted by the clown-like clothing. It was fabulous - feel-good, fun, primary colours, mime and interactive (several things I might have avoided if I'd read the blurb instead of taking Susan's word and just booking it!).
And as the year comes to an end there are all the things that I didn't mention - meeting Vera's baby who is not called Hemingway after all, the Magnum photography exhibition, Anna Karenina, Londonee at Rich Mix, the Towner Gallery in Eastbourne, the 2012-2013 Wildlife Photography Exhibition (which was better than the year before), a large amount of babies - Debs, Sara, Thida, Kiri, Vera - three of them in the same week!
And then there was the email ....
Hi Mary,
A strange and serious problem...particle boards that we used to construct the studio ceiling and floor are emitting 'formaldehyde'. We kept it uncovered till now for weathering and hoped that it will diminish.
Nice to know that I can help!
Merry Christmas -
Maryx
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