Christmas Presents

I know it's still November and while I do agree it's too early to be putting up the Christmas tree, it's never too early to start thinking about buying those Christmas presents. Here's a selection of some of the best places to get presents, small or big, for everyone in the family. 

1) Lucy Huctchings jewellery. This pendant here is one of her favourite pieces and at only £24.50 it's a beautiful little present for a stylish sister. 

2) For a more traditional shopping experience try Paxton and Whitfield for that cheese loving aunt, uncle or father with extra added old fashioned charm. Enjoy yourself picking out samples to create a personalised box. Gift packs ranging form £21- £500

3) For the little kids (and the big ones) how about this Disney Pixar ultimate collection! With 10 dvd's including 8 of our childhood favourites from Toy Story to Finding Nemo. Although not cheap at £69.99 on amazon it's guaranteed to bring the entire family together. 

4) For another more traditional store try Berry Bros & Rudd for fine wines and liquors that you won't find in your local Sainsburys. Prices vary.

5) For socks that won't disappoint in your stockings try Topshop for these burgundy dino ones and the best selection. £3.50 a pair.  

6) Keeping with the dinosaur theme this fun hand tattoos are just £3.99 from lakeland while cause a surprising amount of fun and a great stocking filler. 

7) One of my favourite artists, Yayio Kusama's collaboration with Louis Vuitton makes a perfect gift. And how about one of these spotty scarfs? One of the cheapest things in the collection at £175 but will be cherished and adored item. 

8) Strictly speaking maybe not the best present for Christmas but this beautiful wooden advent calendar would make any child (or adult) feel spoilt. £50 from John Lewis. 

As you may have guessed I'm very excited by the prospect of Christmas so while these are all gifts you can buy I'll be back with ideas for handmade ones and christmas treats to bake. 

Culture Shock

This week I've felt very cultured going to see The Effect at the National on Wednesday night and a private view of William Klein + Daido Moriyama at the Tate on Thursday.

I know I've mentioned The Effect at the National Before on my Do, See, Eat blog this week, but I was so blown away that I felt that it worth mentioning again. Given 5* and 4* reviews across the board, we went on Wednesday expecting a good play, and boy did it live up to our expectations. Set in the Raushen clinical trial for anti depressants telling the tale of couple falling in love, the writing by Lucy Prebble was beautiful, making us both laugh and cry, and touched on some subjects often left alone such as depression and the ethics of placebo.
Billie Piper lived up and out did all my expectations set from her performance in Reasons to be Pretty earlier this year, yet the it was the other female character of the doctor played by Anastasia Hille who really stood out and touched me. And I can't finish writing without mentioning the staging. Sitting in row A, we were wary that our necks may be hurting by the end. However the play was set in the round and we found ourselves in feeling very involved and part of the action on the same level of the stage. The simple set was moved around effortlessly to create different spaces within the one simple square and worked seamlessly with the writing adding an extra edge to the play. Truly one of the best thing I've seen in a while and if you are given the opportunity to go, grab it as fast as you can and run.

Yesterday was my first experience of a members private view of the William Klein + Daido Moriyama exhibition at the Tate Modern, and it was an experience I will certainly repeat, it was not over crowded which allowed me to really feel I could spend as long as I wished on my favourite pieces and talk about them then and there. And the art it's self? Relatively unknown to both artists, their photographs gave creative, stunning and often disturbing insights to city life in New York and Tokyo (mainly) during the 60's and 70's (mainly). It was Daido Moriyama's Polaroid's placed together to recreate a scene which really stood out for me as well as his photographs simply places one vertically and one horizontal in line with each other, although simple the effect looked like an illusion.  Of William Klein's work it was his images of the two male dances in the bustling city which I found most thought invoking with their sharp, uncomfortable moves and provocative clothing (or lack of). Worth a visit, and would be a great day out mixed with a walk down to the South Bank Christmas market.