I’ve started job hunting and I can’t stand it. Rather than fill out applications I spend most my time thinking up stuff to do that won’t cost much, nor upset my mum. I’ve agreed to go ‘willowing’ at some point this week – that’s making structures out of living willow - despite being as nimble fingered as a Labrador, and I even went to the library the other day, despite being a compulsive book buyer with a shelf stacked full of unread books.
Whenever I find myself faced with a substantial block of empty time I start conjuring up wonderful projects and life enhancing achievements. In the past these have primarily fallen into categories:
1. To get super fit, (not aesthetically, god’s taken care of that one already and I’m not into surgery), but fit in the original sense, like I should be. You see, just as I have a friend who believes she is tall when she is actually 5ft 2, I believe that I’m really fit and that actually, if push came to shove, with a little training, I could run the London marathon tomorrow, no worries.
2. To become arty. Now, this one has always proved the harder of the two. The last time I attempted it was when I hauled a massive wooden cable reel home from Soho to Bethnal Green. You know the big wooden ones you see lying about by train tracks and on building sites. Basically giant cotton reels. I lugged one back, spent a day cleaning it up, another day sanding it down, ripped out the central bit that held the bloody thing together and decided that I was going to make a coffee table. And of course I told everyone about it- was bragging about my new table within minutes. And of course I never made it. The thing just sat precariously propped up against my bedroom wall, causing 60 quid’s worth of damage. I got a bill for trying to be arty.
So clearly big projects are not my thing, mix tapes however are. Everyone should start mix taping again, it is sooo much fun. When making a mix tape you can truly indulge your musical library, unconfined by having to listen to anything new. You get all excited working out what to put next and wondering if the lucky receiver will like it as much as you. Before I go any further I should confess that I actually use disks and not tapes, but I do use nice white ones which I draw pictures on and I recommend you do this too. Boys I understand if you’d rather not.
So although I don’t have a job yet but I do have a new found appreciation for my iTunes and I will start running soon, I just need to make the soundtrack first.
You know what else is nice? As you’re making that mix tape or CD, to remember all those memories that are packed into these songs… As in the song “Consideration” by Reef, that I don’t know if you remember, but you brought with you to Paris once. I have this great pic of you and Sophie, singing this at the top of your lungs… “I don’t think that kindness is a weakness…” So there you go, that’s my mix tape to you. xx
first thing hope mine is being made
second i think abs got two mentions in that blog..remind me not to go bk to tooting again or i will never get my name in lights….beautiful writing bex..LOVE IT xxxxx
Word. I think you’ve inspired me to make one. You’ve definitely inspired me not to do any job hunting. It reminded me of recording one of my dutty hip hop mix tapes (for my ears only). I tried to make a loop from the start of a Cypress Hill track. It was lo-fi.
P.S. I love the tale of the giant bobbin, it’s hilarious. xx
i think i would love to start making tapes for people again, why do ones for love when u can make better ones for those you hate? much more fun, i think i’d end up head moshing by myself on my sofa and going crazy with my hairbrush and smudging black makeup around my face yeah!!
xxxx