Dear X and Chloe and Stephanie and Greg,

I hope that you are well and enjoying the start of spring (for those of you in the Northern Hemisphere). It's been funny here with rain, chilly spells then glorious sunshine. It's like the weather is in the throws of a bad case of PMT (or PMS to North Americans).

Thank you for the musical suggestions and advice on Greek Easter. I am currently in the process of (legally) downloading a bit of Album Leaf so I will let you know how I get on. In other music news I am supremely excited to report that I am going to see Jens Lekman in a few weeks. Yay! The show was sold out, but due to the availability of cheap holidays to Paris I managed to get offered 2 tickets. Yipee! It took me a while to get into Jens as I originally thought he was another Jose Gonzalez. Why was I so deluded? Fuck, I dunno. Two sensitive Swedes - must sing song about how painful life is. Obviously... So imagine my surprise to hear Jens and discover ... Love Boat in all its lusciousness! Wowee! I hear his music and imagine myself in a powder blue ballgown sashaying across the dance floor with a handsome man in a tux with floppy bow tie. It could be horribly twee, but there is something really heartbreaking and sensual in his music at the same time ( ... and oh those lips i've loved/that i was dreaming of/they're so red and soft ...). So yes, I'm excited about this show. :)

And regarding Greek Easter (yes, I know it isn't just the Greeks who celebrated Easter last week but I'm being lazy)... On Sunday went to a party in North London hosted by lovely Greek friends. As requested by the hostess, I brought some food and, as suggested by Chloe, I brought something English. Actually, it was something Nigella - damp lemon and almond cake with raspberries. I don't mean to toot my own horn, but it was tasty. :) That's not to say the other food at the party wasn't tasty. Holy! There was food for an army! Lamb, pork, salads, tzatziki, bread, beans etc .. Not to mention the drink! I tried a bit of everything and discovered that I actually like lamb (my tastebuds must only kick in when it's been slow roasted for hours) and ouzo (it smelled like medicine, but it was pretty good). Apart from the culinary delights, there was also good music (it all started traditional, segued into Grease soundtrack with a short interlude of Ryan Adams' Cold Roses), good conversation, dancing and general loveliness. The only bummer was that I had to leave at 8pm so I had a chance of getting into bed before midnight (flippin' train alterations).

In other news I had a great time at the We Are Scientists gig last week. Fun music, good company, cool purchase and the surreal experience of having a strange woman tap me on the shoulder to tell me she has my tshirt. :) Biggest bummer of the night? Mild stomach pains kicking in at around 11 growing to really painful by 11.30 and super painful by midnight. I'm not sure what set me off - although I had a terrible week before that I had been feeling much better. Anyhow, I spent the 1hr long train journey twisting and shifting in my seat trying to get comfortable. I considered getting off at Gatwick Airport, but knew that it would be 1am before another train showed up. Hideous. Sleep, water, peppermint tea and minimal food the following day helped. My body hates me from time to time - I just have to learn not to piss it off. ;)

I'd better sign off here, but I leave you with a picture I took in Brighton a few weekends ago. I couldn't not. :) Take care of yourselves.



Stephanie

Tune of the day: Gone Again by Little Wings