Mews News Part 3 - Renovation updates

Things have been slow.

As I am a bit tired, I am not going to try and come up with a new analogy so let's settle for snail's pace shall we?

The accident that my builder had eventuated in the expected post traumatic stress disorder symptoms and he stayed at home or at the pub philosophizing on life.  
Which is fine but he hardly showed up on site.

We cut him some slack but then it got to the point where he may have survived the fall but I warned him he may not survive my wrath...

We had crisis talks and I warned him that there was a clause to implement financial penalties after 16 weeks of construction.  
But there are certain things that not even Alan Dershowitz could  contend with.

My builder simply said that if we were going to implement penalties then he would rush the job, mess it up and then we would have to call him to fix things but he would be busy on the next job and he doesn't have much money so there is no point in suing him.

Builder 1 - Naomi Huh?

So in a nutshell without boring you with building details that my dear Mr CSW manages to on a nightly basis,
I shall just show you the pictures.

The new 2nd floor ( UK ) / 3rd floor elsewhere.

Plaster drying and then finally primed.

Hermes Petit H Exhibition in London

I recently went to the traveling exhibition collection called 

Petit H (click for link) at Hermes in Bond Street.

I received an invite to the exhibition although it was open to the public.

It is a special collection created by artisans by re-purposing materials that would otherwise have to be disposed of. 

The installation was done by Faye Toogood.

Faye Toogood and her home was very recently featured 

in the NY Times.

Faye Toogood in a dress from Egg Via the NY Times

She used to be an editor at the World of Interiors but has now started her own studio called Studio TOOGOOD.

The items are all one off creations and 

not normally seen in their other ranges.

As it was an exhibition, the rules of not touching applied.

Instagramy Post November 2013 Part 2

The London weather has been pitch perfect autumn lately.

Went for a walk by the Thames on the full moon.

Depending on the light, 

London can be so moody and dare I say that overused word - Dickensian.

Not everyone believes in orbs but pretty spooky that there are so many on the bank of the Thames.

I think we all have our theories on them.

I was taking my brother's new cockapoo, Millie, for a walk.

All new creatures to the world seem gifted with cuteness so 

they get taken care of.

Biology working its magic.

She is still scared of the world so the walk wasn't as smooth 

so tried again the next morning.

Tides were up so couldn't walk right next to the river.

How beautiful is the city in the cold bright light?

House Prices and Social Anxiety

Even though I live in London and you live where you do I think I can safely say this is a topic that is relatable in the first world.

Via

I thought house prices and the topic would have quietened down after the economic turmoil of 2007.  
But the subjects of home ownership and house prices increases are still being discussed at dinner parties across the globe.

The U.K., Australia, and some areas of North America 
for various economic reasons are going through a 
revived and ebullient housing market. 


Despite the recent economic crisis, house prices have not crashed and have depending on where you live maintained its price or increased in value. 

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There are many theories behind this but the main simplistic reason seems to be financial security in bricks and mortar coupled with low interest rates.

One of the many theories behind house price increases via 

This may seem like it is a financial boon but to be frank all 
I feel is a collective social anxiety.  
I am not just discussing this topic with friends but am now overhearing conversations in cafes and on public transport.  

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Alain De Botton discussed general status anxiety but this housing anxiety is something slightly different that people who have no intention of impressing anyone nor social climbers are experiencing.

People who already own homes are viscerally stressed thinking that they would have gone crazy if they needed to buy a home now.  
The common statement by home owners is that most could never afford their homes if they had to purchase it now.

People who don't have homes are obviously stressed as they have to endure the rigmarole of getting the deposit and mortgage but also the added burden of the bidding process.  They also don't have the security of being able to settle down in a rented flat as landlords have the right to exercise their right to sell or rent to someone else at a higher price.

Everyone is stressed about house prices.
There seems to be no true winners but only losers in this area.

Where Style is Subjective

I have always been aware of cultural differences due to my upbringing.  But not only manners and food vary according to region but I have noticed fashion varies depending on geography.

What is trendy in one country and even county doesn't always translate to another.

I used to live in New York for my first job at a company that had offices in other parts of the Tri-State area.

I had my nails done in a very pale and unassuming manner which were complimented by the girls in the Manhattan office. 

But when I crossed state borders 

I was asked why I didn't get proper nail art done.

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 I had suggestions of upping my nail fashion and 

putting different Disney characters on each finger...

I resisted as it just isn't my style. 

In fact, before I moved to the States 

I was not in the habit of going for weekly manicures.

But the culture there is quite exigent when it comes to nail grooming.  I only had them done as I wanted to make sure I looked professional for my very first job.

In London, grooming and comportment has its own rules and standards.  People in this city by nature have a dual nature of not judging people at all by their attire or 

completely profiling people on general comportment. 

I tend to forgo judgement as 

I myself don't bother with fashion on a daily basis. 

Anyway, early today on the tube there was a group of American female tourists wearing tracksuits. 

Via

No.
 I don't mean the whole, 
"I just got off my private plane to perform a concert tonight so what the hell did you expect me to wear on a 13 hour flight" look.

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It wasn't quite the "I am famous, sexy and beautiful and can get away with wearing what I want" look.

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It also wasn't the 

"Hey, it may not be couture to you, but it is juicy couture for me. And I'll have you know I am queen bee in my 'hood " look.

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It wasn't a professional uniform worn with conviction either.

The look was more...

Well, look for yourselves.

Via