Crafts and Christmas Markets... Yeah! (With some personal tips)

Crafts are having a moment as you undoubtedly noticed as well. Just have a look at those beautiful Pinterest boards of that name, or look at Etsy or other craft related websites. People are knitting, crafting, papier-maché-ing, glueing bits together, woodworking, tie-dyeing - you name it.

It seems we're all in need of reassurance that the tangible, the genuine, the stuff you can feel and touch really exists. And even more importantly: That it's made with love. (And not in some horrible Chinese sweatshop where safety nets prevent people from committing suicide because their working life is so horrendous.)

Homemade, handmade - crafted with love.
My prediction therefore is that.....

......Traditional Christmas Markets - not the kinds which look like a 1970s fun-fair! will be the places to be this year. What could be more reassuring than browse through lovely crafted things on a romantically lit market square, the air scented with spices and an aroma of mulled wine?

Bobble caps and quilted jackets to the ready -this winter we will all be in a great big comfort zone - the Traditional Christmas Market, with its lovely array of beautiful things and a wonderfully protective atmosphere where nothing bad can happen.
A few that fit that bill:

•  The most beautiful in my opinion:

 Munich
http://www.discover-munich.info/munich_christmas_markets.php

•  A really lovely one where you can learn to make candles:

Freiburg (an absolute gem of a town, well worth visiting, btw!)

http://www.fwtm.freiburg.de/servlet/PB/menu/1172668_l2/index.html

• A personal favourite: Christmas markets in Alsace, e.g. Strasbourg

http://noel.tourisme-alsace.com/de/weihnachtsm%C3%A4rkte

Hip and Cool It's Not...

... but oh so well-designed for its purpose! I'm talking about the new mobile phone just launched by Age UK - a phone targeted at the needs and abilities of older people.

No retina display here, or icecream sandwich technology. Just a plastic case with easy buttons and big labels that does the job of ringing your loved ones when you want or need to. I wish this type of of phone was avalailable in all countries, as my elderly relatives would certainly benefit.

I think we often overlook how confusing and bewildering mobile technology is to older people. My mother's mobile phone ended up in the kitchen drawer, as she just couldn't get comfortable with it. She missed the easy and familar features of a landline and was baffled by all the menu-driven options.

So this immensely practical and sturdy looking phone with a no-nonsense straight-forward application seems genius to me.

Might also be a great Xmas present for elderly loved ones!


http://www.ageuk.org.uk/latest-news/age-uk-launch-phone-for-older-people/

Well Done, Procter and Gamble!

Sandy has gone, but the problems are still there on the American East Coast, especially in New York City.
In true American fighting spirit though, brands, shops and manufacturers have been providing instant neighbourhood help. I'm always full of admiration for this kind of thing, and anybody who's ever worked for a big company will appreciate that any form of spontaneity is not at all easy to organise, let alone get it approved by various departments and cost-centres.

The one that impressed me the most was Duracell. (Made by manufacturing giant Procter & Gamble, no less!) They simply drove a truck through Lower Manhattan - a compact little thing called "The Rapid Responder". From this power station they distributed masses amounts of free batteries to power-starved people and provided charging stations for mobile phones  -1,000 hours for much needed mobile communication and internet access.

You can read a heart-warming report about how much all this was appreciated here:  (Quite funny that the Duracell truck was placed at Battery Park!)

http://architechnologist.com/duracell-rapid-responder-to-sandy/

I'd like to say "Well done, Procter & Gamble" showing true American spirit - providing fast and uncomplicated help - truly inspirational!

Red or White?

You Read It Here First picks up innovations, ideas, things that make up the Zeitgeist -  it listens in to how people feel and think.

It isn't in any way political, but occasionally zooms into something that could be touching on that area.

Remembrance Day is coming up. And therefore it may be worth pointing out that there is an alternative to wearing a red poppy - WEAR A WHITE POPPY!

The white poppy stands for Peace - it doesn't dishonour people who gave their lives for others to live in freedom. It just points out that there is another way tp resolve conflicts - one that doesn't necessarily require people to pay with their lives in the first place.

There's an interesting Wikipedia article if you'd like to know a bit more about it

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_poppy_%28symbol%29

and here is the White Poppy website itself, if you're interested :

http://www.ppu.org.uk/whitepoppy/index.html


I leave it to you - red, white, or none at all!

Watching a Film Whilst....

This is soooo not me, I probably shouldn't write about it. But then again, "You Read It Here First" is committed to bringing you interesting new stuff from all over the world, from manufacturers, lifestyle gurus, geographers and psychologists, foodies and art buffs, literature lovers and techies....you name it!

And so here it is! We all know how much Brits love their hot tubs - well... now they've gone one step further: Now you can watch films whilst sitting in a hot tub. Oh yes, you can!

So if you  like nothing better than sharing a small space with plenty of strangers whilst paddling away (with your feet) in fizzy hot water, cocktail in hand, eyes straight onto the screen... then sign up for one of the Hot Tub Cinema locations springing up all over London!

Just don't expect to meet me there :)

It's All About Iceland

Naah.. not what you're thinking: We've heard it all before, that Nineties resort of clubbers who'd board a cheap flight from Newcastle, and club the night away in the freezing fog of Rejkjavik.

This time it's really cool, or even cold! Scandinavian product purity meets Scandinavian design meets Scandinavian exotism. And it's Icelandic drinks that have become very trendy indeed.

It started with those exclusive (and very expensive) Icelandic mineral waters where one was never quite sure whether they came out of a volcanic hot spring, or an icicle. In any case they came beautifully packaged. Then classy Icelandic vodka cleaned up in all sorts of interesting European bars.

And finally, Icelandic whisky seems to be marching in the same direction, merging purity in flavour (I have to rely on hearsay as I'm not a whisky drinker) and stunningly clean design.

So, let's drink to Iceland!

Instant Nostalgia - The Vintage Fruit

Have you noticed how they're suddenly everywhere.... Quinces?

I bought one, having been persuaded by "the wonderful scent" thing. It's pleasant enough but nothing to set the house on fire, so to speak. Not very noticeable, certainly not like having a nice scented candle.

Wrecking one's brain one may remember quince jelly, and that funny thing you're meant to eat with cheese but somehow always forget (Membrillo?) But now, all of a sudden there's cannon of lamb with a (sic!) quince sauce, quince puree, quince shavings with parsnip greens....

Cydonia oblonga

Why is that? Nobody in their right mind would bother with it given its rather dubious effort/reward ratio... were it not for their super-charged vintage appeal. Cameron cutting your dole money? German government pledging to sort out the debt of every EU country single-handedly? But here you are, with a fetching frilly apron on, wooden spoon in hand, stirring around in a big pot, making quince jelly.

So comforting, fragrant, out of this world, nothing can rumple the idyllic nostalgia of quinces! Or as they say in Germany:   

                                                                      Die Heile Welt