A quick study break (and choral music)

Christmas draws closer, and, although I am studying for my law course, everyone needs a little break. So make a cup of tea and maybe find a biscuit or two (or in my case, stollen - thanks mama!): I have a musical and restful treat in store for you.

Here is what I consider one of the most beautiful pieces of Christmas choral music in the world. I defy you to find one more spine-tingling than Lauridsen's O Magnum Mysterium.

As ever, there are a multitude of different versions available on youtube, spotify etc - this is the one by the Nordic Chamber Choir. If you fancy buying it off iTunes though, the Stephen Layton/Polyphony version is sublime. It was only written twenty years ago, but doesn't it feel utterly timeless?



Hope you're having a happy November.

E xxx

Postcards from Penguin

 Postcards from Penguin is pretty much what is says on the tin - 100 beautifully thick and heavy-duty postcards of iconic Penguin books covers. I can never resist the look of the orange-and-white paperbacks, which, although originally released to be cheap and cheerful books, I almost prefer to modern versions. If ever I see a penguin classics version by one of my favourite authors, I usually have to buy it for my collection!

Postcards from Penguin is pretty much what is says on the tin - 100 beautifully thick and heavy-duty postcards of iconic Penguin books covers. I can never resist the look of the orange-and-white paperbacks, which, although originally released to be cheap and cheerful books, I almost prefer to modern versions. If ever I see a penguin classics version by one of my favourite authors, I usually have to buy it for my collection!

The only issue with the classic covers is that they are, well, so orange. I always wanted to frame some as a form of affordable art, and I couldn't quite face the prospect of orange on my pale cobalt-blue walls. Luckily the array of 100 book covers is very colourful! So, I created a collage of all the blue-based (non-fiction) Penguin covers....

What do you think?

E xxx

P.S. You can get 100 lovely postcards from the children's "Puffin" books, and "Ladybird, too. The Penguin Modern Classics collection is probably the classiest for the more grown-up among you...

Seagull Jumper

One of my favourite things about the run-up to winter is it being acceptable to start wearing Christmas jumpers - not full on Mr. Darcy Style, of course:

(photo from Recycled Fashion)

But a more stylishly Scandinavian version (think Sarah Lund from the Killing).

However, since I'm not really in the Christmas mood yet - Guy Fawkes' Day/Bonfire Night has only just been and gone - this lovely Seagull jumper by the amazing Quba seems a nice compromise. Snuggly and warm - perfect for walks - but not overtly festive - yet!

Do you like it?

E xxx