Dusty Fingers August - Part One: SWAPAHOLICS

It was that time again today. Dusty Fingers market set up again for awesome times. Beloved SwapAholics were there once again in a more miniature form than before. Nevertheless, there was plenty of goodies for the snatching- didn’t come out quite right there. The haul this time was more successful than before, because this time I got there nice and early.

I got a super special awesome denim shirt with adorable embroidery over the button holes- I will wear it with pride. Ooh and there was this suede skirt that the swapper had customised with awesome ladder detail. I’m so kitted out now I can feel ‘ Like a rhinestone cowboy...’ that was the only cowboy related song I could really think of. I should probably stop making references to songs.

I got awesomeness in the form of a super block colour shirt and this adorable bowling-cum-prairie shirt with wee shoulder pads. These were both thanks to the same swapper who had crazy- good style. Wow, that sounds like a bad anime translation.

Anyway lady wherever you are, thank you so much. Everyone was really friendly and social, it’s like shopping on another level. Usually when I shop it’s between me, the sales adviser and my bank account. But swapping and vintage shopping provides you with a networking experience. You meet new people, you learn things and wonderful strangers make you feel brave enough to try new things. I picked the bowling mcwhatever shirt and thought I couldn’t wear it. It was until Diana Infernoo of Swapaholics said ‘that’s cute’.

I’m not going to say a certain anagram that justifies arbitrary stupidity but CARPE DIEM. Grab it and if you don’t wear it then a few swaps later you can give someone else the opportunity to do it justice. That’s the great thing about swishing. You can afford to take risks. You know it’s not going to waste. You’re saving something and if it doesn’t work for you it’ll work for someone else next time.

For want of a better phrase- ‘One man’s trash, that’s another man’s come up.’

And when someone picks up something you brought and says ‘ooh!’ honestly it gives you shivers. It lets you know that you’ve personally made a positive impact on someones day, on someone’s wardrobe. I can’t help smile thinking ‘I wonder how she’s going to rock that...’

I look forward to the next swap as always. I have four items on my loyalty card, booyah is not the word.

Until next time. 

Valentine's Manga?

Ah! Romance. What does it all mean? I don't know. Honestly, I could call myself a romantic. I cried at the end of titanic. But that was because the French guy died and my mum had to take me out of the room before the ending because I was in hysterics. Yeah, I was eight but when I eventually did see the end of the film I sat   relatively unmoved. All I was thinking was 'F****** hell Rose! Move the hell up that plank is massive!' 

I like to think that when Valentine's Day rolls round I'm nonchalant and dismissive of it. I dread that as a singleton I'll be diluting a tub of Ben and Jerry's with my salty tears of infinite loneliness. The reality this year as with the years that proceeded it I was okay. There were moments of weakness. On the Jubilee line a couple took canoodling to a level akin to soft porn and I felt a bit sick. But that's how I always feel when I'm treated to an impromptu sex show. I also had a mini fan-girl 'squee' over a few movies and manga moments. Yeah manga.  I wanted to do a count down of my favourite 'Aww' moments in film but I have loads. I wanted to do a countdown of my favourite love songs but again they were too numerous. 

But I will give a shout out to my favourite fictional couples in  anime and manga, and I would do my top ten fictional couples in film but I can't be bothered. Too many films. Too little time. These aren't in any order, they are a matter of opinion AND they aren't really going to be explained that well. Enjoy! Spoilers!

Anime and Manga

1. Fuu and Mugen (Samurai Champloo)- These two don't actually get together but there's a lot of tension but they care enough about each other to risk dying to save one another. Romantic, innit?
2. Isaac and Miria (Baccano) - They're batshit, they commit harmless and bizarre crimes together and they are besotted with one another, what's not to like?
3. Sawako (Sadako) and Shota (Kimi Ni Todoke)- She has a lonely life, constantly misunderstood and shunted by her bastard classmates. She's a sweetheart and he's smart enough to realise it. 
4. Ashitaka and San (Princess Mononoke) epic and sweeping romance against the odds. That type of thing. Helped by a perfect soundtrack.
5. Yaya Higuchi and Moriyama (Othello manga)- She has a pretty rough ride most of which she has to make alone. Despite the very unusual and difficult situation, he sticks by her as a friend and later as a lover.

So there we have it. The first Anime/Manga centric blog post for a long time. Happy (no-longer) Valentines Day. 

And here is a romantic piece of 'artwork' I've dragged up from the archives. 

Byee!

Awkward Much?

I always knew I was awkward! I mean A.W.K.W.A.R.D. Thankfully I have a certain amount of gumption, and enough balls to walk up to a complete stranger and proclaim my undying love for their shoes. Or, as I did on the way back of the Company Blogging Forum, ask an unsuspecting passenger what he was listening to because it sounded good through his headphones. Poor guy thought I was hitting on him. I bet I gave him a fright of his life. But he was listening to Real Estate and they are good. I'm glad I asked.

Nevertheless, I am an awkward mofo and once being shy occurs until the shyness spreads into the situation like gangrene until all I want to do is amputate my stupid face and bury it at sea.

Please see below a diagram of how awesome I am when approached by the opposite sex.

Classic me!
Never mind, there are plenty more fish in the sea to perplex and annoy.

On a brighter not the aforementioned Company Blogging Forum was fantastic, an invaluable learning experience and I got free stuff!

Unfortunately I don't have the- umm- complexion to appreciate the free fake tan but I gave that to one of the girls at the event. I trust it went to a good home.

Among the goodies there was a Body Shop Body Butter in LEMON! I love lemon. Hell to the yeah!

Om nom nom!

I also got to speak to Shini Park of Park&Cube with an awkward mention of my penchant for K-pop, smooth operator and Carrie a.k.a WishWishWish who gave me some invaluable tips for putting more fire into social media.


Turns out super bloggers aren't scary. They're really quite nice.

Until next time!