Another month, another 12 of 12! This one had the potential to be interesting - it's a Sunday, and an Easter one to boot. But the weather was grey (see first photo) and so I chose to stay in and watch lots of films. I didn't think this would give me many interesting photos, but I was surprised (and pleased with some of them!).
You know the drill by now - take 12 photos on the 12th day of the month, post them somewhere online and leave the permalink to your post in a comment on Chad's "index link" post. You can see everyone else's links there too.
1) 8:41am - My flat, Stratford, London
This is the view off my balcony, of the Olympic site. Normally you can see the stadium, several cranes and even buildings far off in the distance. This morning, with the weather, I could only just see the stadium. No more 12 of 12 balcony shots though, as I'm moving to another part of London in 4 days' time!
2) 9:21am - My flat, Stratford, London
Sitting down to finish watching Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, which I'd Sky+ed a while back. I'd watched about the first 45 minutes a day or two before, but finished it today. For the non Brits here, Sky+ is a bit like TiVo. I quite liked the film anyway - good singing allround really, and some good songs in there. Decent story too. Anyhoo, rarely for me, I had some cereal - Kellogg's Special K with red berries.
3) 9:22am - My flat, Stratford, London
And paused on Johnny Depp. This was around the 47 minute mark I think, and maybe around the song "My Friends"?
4) 9:31am- My flat, Stratford, London
Checking on the progress of a load of washing I'd set going.
5) 10:35am - My flat, Stratford, London
The washing's finished and so I set it on the rack to dry. One grey jumper and one blue towel seen here.
6) 1:42pm - My flat, Stratford, London
I was watching Fight Club by this point, having an accidental Helena Bonham-Carter double bill. I'd known she was in Sweeney Todd at the time it came out, but had since forgotten anyone's name in it other than Johnny Depp. Anyhoo, when that finished, I had 4 other Sky+ed films to choose from. I opted for Fight Club to get it watched and cleared off, not knowing that Helena was in that as well.
The funny thing was, I'd got a Daniel Craig double bill planned for the night time, with my friend Christin (we both watch the DVD, me in London and her in Dresden, and we chat online as we do). It looked like being a double double bill.
Pre-shower, this is my hair brush. I shed a lot of hair and it helps to brush it and get most of the loose hairs out before I shower, rather than them clog the shower plug. It took a while to get this one right, as I always ended up with the brush just off-centre (I was slightly balanced on tiptoes to get it at the right angle). It's a purple brush and I was torn between the colour photo and the black and white, but chose the black and white version of it (I shot it as this, no Photoshop conversion).
7) 3:38pm - My flat, Stratford, London
Back from the shops, and watching The Golden Compass, another Sky+ed film, which I'd started after Fight Club. My flatmates had come in to cook and it's harder to hear the TV with them talking, cooking and the extractor fan on. Then the phone rang so D. was talking while cooking. In the end I took a break so they could watch TV while they cooked and ate, and I went to have a shower before going on (what proved to be a futile) run to the supermarket. I say futile trip, because everything was shut - I don't remember places closing on Easter Sunday! Messed me about, as I needed wine and chocolates for someone's birthday, and loo rolls!
Anyway, when I got back from the shops, I continued the film. This was one of (by then) 3 films I'd Sky+ed, but I found it interesting that I chose this rather than the other two (No Country For Old Men, and Schindler's List). I think most of it was because The Golden Compass is lighter than the other two, and I needed that after the yawnfest that was Fight Club. The other part of the choice was because I realised that as Daniel Craig was in it, this gave me the chance for a Daniel Craig triple bill, with the two Bond films to come later! Me = big geek, in case you'd missed that memo.
Long story short, I had some grapes while watching. Then some Cadbury's Caramel. They say to have a balanced diet, right? Well it's a balance of healthy and unhealthy :P
8) 4:40pm - My flat, Stratford, London
While film watching, I thought I'd pluck my eyebrows. Fascinating day, I told you.
9) 5:36pm - My flat, Stratford, London
I've been keeping a culture book this year - I got the idea from Beth, who'd been keeping a list of books read, films watched and shows seen (plus mini reviews) on her Blog. I thought I'd keep them in a book instead, and chose colours for the different media types. Blue is plays/concerts, orange is film reviews, and red is book reviews. While continuing my film watching, I updated the book with today's films (and one I forgot from a few weeks ago).
10) 6:03pm - My flat, Stratford, London
Cooking tea - I'm trying to use up as much food as I can before I move. My plan was for Quorn pieces with chopped tomatoes, BBQ flavour powder, sweetcorn, red onion and bell pepper, with pasta. Only the supermarket was shut, so no red onion or bell pepper. Instead of the BBQ flavouring, I ended up using soy sauce. I seasoned it twice with the sauce, but by the time I'd run to get my camera after the second dashing, it had mostly soaked into the sauce. So in the name of photography, I seasoned it a third time lol - a nice circle of dark sauce into the tomatoes. Actually it worked really well and was super yummy! I had double helpings in the end :D
11) 6:08pm - My flat, Stratford, London
I'd got some rosé wine to drink with my meal (bought the bottle a week or so ago), and got some funky shots of the wine glass in the kitchen before I poured the wine. I was torn between this and two other shots, so you can see them here and here. I really liked this one though!
12) 6:43pm - My flat, Stratford, London
Starting the James Bond double bill. I'd not seen Quantum of Solace before, though I have read the collected James Bond short stories. It's the same in name only - the book version of Quantum of Solace is only about 25 pages long, and not much resembling the film at all (other than I suppose a man falling in love, being betrayed by a woman and then seeking revenge - but not connected to Casino Royale at all, and in the Quantum of Solace short story, the case is actually told as a story after a dinner party).
I realised as we watched Casino Royale, that this was another double bill - an Eva Green one, as she stars in The Golden Compass and Casino Royale.
So that's my 5 film day, with 2 double bills (Helena Bonham-Carter - Sweeney Todd: Demon Barber of Fleet Street and Fight Club, Eva Green - The Golden Compass and Casino Royale), and a triple bill of Daniel Craig (The Golden Compass, Casino Royale and Quantum of Solace).
Phew! Hope you all had a lovely Easter!
32 comments:
Lovely, as always! I love that all the pictures were taken from your flat - nice homey Sunday!
Matt
Love your pics as usual! and we have a similar one (again...I think) in the top view glass.
Great parting shot from your balcony!
Actually, you make an ordinary day seem interesting with your combinations of photos and storytelling.
Photo 1) Did you take this in B&W, or was it really this grey? I like this--but I'm glad it was sunny here.
Photo 2) I like the close up texture here--makes even a bowl of cereal seem interesting.
Photo 4) Nice reflection of yourself in the washer!
Photo 6) I really like both the color and perspective of the brush--again, making the ordinary interesting.
Photo 7) Comment referring to your story--rather than the picture--I had a hard time finding a store open to buy bread today--4 of the 5 I checked were closed.
Photo 9) Comment again referring to text rather than photo--what an interesting idea.
Photo 10) Looks yummy. Such dedication to put a third helping of soy sauce on just for the photo!
Photo 11) Have to agree with your pick on this one too.
Thanks for sharing your day.
Wow, that is a gray day outside! Fun photo with the brush and those grapes look yummy!
Sounds like you had a nice, relaxing day!
Hey Helen, thanks for sharing. They are all wonderful, as always. I especially liked the brush, the grapes and the wine glass - I think you choose the best of the three, I like the offcenter look.
Happy Easter and good luck with the move.
~S
crap-o-rama
I always love how you manage to take the most spectacular photos of everyday objects. Makes me want to rethink my entire style -- but wait, that's your style, not mine :)
There were way more stores open here for Easter than I would have expected. Well, all except for the ones we needed to be open, natch!!
Okay, I am officially going to try Quorn. That dinner looks great! Really cool shot of the hairbrush too and the pic you posted here of the wine glass is my favorite of the three!
Wow, now that is a movie marathon! I love days like that, you just stay in and plough through a ton of stuff.
Good luck with the move to the new place Helen :)
Fantstic photos! I love the textures and overall style. I'm just a beginner in the photo taking arena and photos like yours keep me going hoping I will be able to find the right phtos to focus on. Thanks for sharing.
I realized that when I uploaded my 12 of 12 that I didn't have one that featured our joint Bond watching, so I am glad to see one in yours. :) :moo: And wow, that was a grey day. I'm not sure if the first picture is actually this grey or if you took it in b/w. :ponder: The brush picture is great! A lovely 12. You sure know how to make an indoor day very interesting. :smooch:
Wow. you watched a ton of movies today!!!
and you can see the London Olympic constructions from your place? that's fantastic. I so want to be there in 2012.
I love the grape pictures. ;) makes me want to eat.
Great pictures!! Yay! I'm happy to have inspired the culture book! That's an awesome way you do it! :)
And YAY "Sweeney"!!!!!! I should send you audio of "my" Alice doing "Epiphany". She tears it up!!!
You always have such interesting pictures and commentary. Love the balcony shot.....actually, I really enjoyed all of them.
The stadium shot seems poetic somehow with it being your last balcony shot.
Like others have mentioned, you do seem to have a talent for making everyday mundane objects appear remarkable. The cereal photo just kinda shouts out at me and made my stomach rumble :)
Enjoyed all your photos. That's one tough challenge!
I wish I still had the patience to watch that many movies together... after so many years of TV episodes on DVD, I start getting antsy around the hour mark unless the movie is especially good!
I a jealous of the time spent movie watching. One day I plan on doing the same!
I love the 12 of 12 at home! Especially love the wine shot and the early morning image with the fog! :)
Gorgeous, as always! I so love your photos each month.
And now I want grapes...
Awesome 12, Helen. I always love how you take ordinary items and make them into these beautiful compositions.
I love your perspective of the close-ups. I loved each one more than the last...love, love, love photos like these because it makes me think about taking pictures of ordinary things in a different way. Thanks!
Great pics this month. Loved the photo of the Olympic site in the fog.
Great 12 of 12! The whole series was so comforting, the fog, the warm laundry, the movies, the food. Seems like a perfectly lovely day.
What exactly is a "jumper"? I just finished reading two books that were based in the UK, and there was all sorts of interesting language like "drinking chocolate" (aka hot chocolate here) and jumper, etc.
Also, what does "marquee" refer to in a wedding setting? It was the reception area in the backyard where they were eating, dancing, etc.
Looks like you had a nice day in at least. It took me ages to work out what the tweezers were (had to scroll down to find out!), then as soon as I worked it out I couldn't believe how blonde I was being lol!
Lovely 12 of 12 as always. x
I really like all the close up pictures! It adds something to your day that we don't see in others.
Great shots as always. I should have known your handwriting would be more like calligraphy. It seems you're always as neat as a pin. Whereas I'm just the opposite.
I hope you'll be happy with your new place and good luck moving. It's been a month for me and I'm still living out of boxes, but you're young yet. When you get to be as old as I am you'll cringe at the idea of moving.
A grey day filmfest is always a good thing, especially when some or all of it involves Daniel Craig. :)
Great photos!
I like your 12 of 12... I just participated two times and always take pictures of what I'm doing but your shots with objects and being so close to the ocjects are amazing (I hope you got that, no native english speaker ;))
and I think my brush is similar to your, just that mine is red. and i love it!!
I think the cereal shot is my favourite here. I love close up shots of random things. I always try to take them, but mine never turn out near as good as yours!
You didn’t like Fight Club? It’s been a while, but I seem to remember thinking it was a cool movie. Have you read The Goldon Compass?
My second fav pic is the notebook one. Sometimes those work and sometimes they don’t, but I love the colours and the blurring. (Oh yeah, I’m TECHNICAL!) I also like the idea of actually doing reviews of books and movies. I’ve toyed around with it, but have never been able to keep up with more than the listing of books I’m doing now.
Are those two Bond DVDs yours? I may have to borrow them. :)
Hopefully I will get my 12 up today. It's SO LATE now!
Most people look at tweezers and see...tweezers. You can make a pair of tweezers art. A bowl of cereal becomes the sublime.
It makes me realize how much that I see during my day that I miss its beauty or its worth. Beauty is amongst us. We just need to open our mind to see it.
Thanks for the reminder.
Hi Helen, I love how you make the everyday things much more interesting. Nice 12 of 12! Take care! : )
Christina
Ooh, love all the close up pics! Great 12 of 12!
Gosh I'm late getting to your 12, looks like a full day at home, hope the move went well and enjoy the marathon tomorrow!
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