Global vs. Ethical

So as I said before, I attended a very interesting conference on global and ethical fashion. I got a chance to listen to five speakers, all from different aspects of the industry, speak about topics related to their careers.

My favorite speaker, who I found most informative, (and probably the most passionate) was Lyla Patel. She is head of education at TRAID, a recycling and upcycling company in the UK. This company takes clothing donations from their boxes across the country, hand sorts them, and either resells them at their store locations, turns them into new garments to sell, or passes them along to someone else that can use them.

The interesting thing about their stores is that they are each designed to cater to the market of the area they are in. Unlike usual second-hand stores, these are trendy and eye-catching, with music to suit the tastes of the people in that area.

I am very much looking forward to writing my dissertation now (yes, I know I am a geek.)

The picture below was during lunch, I ran over to Lee Rosy's tea shop, which was across from the Broadway Cinema where the talks were taking place, and grabbed a salmon sandwich and a caramel tea latte - which was very tasty, I will have to go back. The list of speakers is tucked under my plate but you can go to The Trend Boutique website to read more about who was there.

The Longest Drive

Travelled to London for the day (about 2 1/2 to 3 hours drive - each way) to visit the competitors of the retailer we are researching for our group project. We split off into pairs and visited as many stores as we could, taking pictures and making notes along the way. Who knew shopping could be so much hard work?  But I can't complain because I managed to find a Whole Foods and pick up a lovely assortment of goodies, including rice wraps, brown flour, agave nectar, and a mixture of strange and wondrous veggies for dinner.

Selfridge's Happy Christmas sign. (pfft...'happy' christmas. its merry christmas, geez.)

Selfridge's windows full of toys

This one was my favorite. Little bright caravans, stuffed with toy rabbits, all interlinked. Oddly enough, reminded me of that computer game Riven, where the people all lived in little interlinked pods. 

Ted Baker's slightly creepy window of Santa as Marilyn Monroe. He had hairy legs and everything.

Liberty's window with beautiful vintage details. 

Those responsible have been sacked.

So I am a rubbish blogger and keep adding things to dates already past because I keep finding folders of pictures on my desktop that happened weeks ago. My apologies.  So just a heads up that you may find some new things in the earlier bits of the blog.

Although I have no pictures to post currently, I spent all of today in Leeds doing scuba training (although all I really got to see of Leeds was an indoor pool, a field of cows, and a chippy) and will be in London on Monday for project research. I will also be attending a conference on Wednesday for Global vs. Ethical fashion, for research on my year-long, 7,000 word dissertation project on how Canada can improve its fashion recycling programs and sales/production of sustainable clothing. So yes, incase you were wondering if all I ever did was cook, there is your proof that I am doing some work, as well.

I have also been recently crippled by my own stupidity and klutzy-ness, as well as a 3 hour-long trip to the climbing centre, and therefore, have very good excuses not to have anything to post. Neener neener.

Scotch Eggs

So there have been a few things I've discovered while living here that, although each wondrously disgusting in their own way, have become very dear to my heart.

To name a few...

- Beans on toast
- Beans on baked potatoes with cheese
- Beans on anything, really... Hey, I'm a student
- Flapjacks (oats, golden syrup - see: sugar ) with toffee and chocolate coating
- Proper chips (chunky fries) usually coated in mushy peas
-Yorkshire pudding (which, to be fair, was already dear to my heart before moving here and may have been one of the main reasons I had for moving here...other than clotted cream, of course)
- Millionaires shortbread (chocolate, caramel and shortbread)
- Steak pie
- Cornish pasty
- Bubble and squeak (fried roast dinner vegetables)

...and I'm sure this list will be added to while I am here. Stay tuned, folks.

Now one of things I had been eyeing but hadn't gotten around to trying was a scotch egg. Hard boiled egg, tucked inside ground meat, coated in breadcrumbs. Sounds dirty, doesn't it? Well of course I had to try it. And I did. And it was glorious.

Cooked in the oven. Ate it with some spinach/feta/dried cranberries/balsamic vinaigrette salad just so I didn't feel too dirty after the fact.

A close up of the wondrous concoction. Lightly spiced meat (pork I think, but who cares).

Best part? Costs 80p at your local Tesco. 

Pool to the Liver

Had a class trip to Liverpool for the day. We were meant to explore the main shopping areas, including Liverpool One (a large outdoor mall). Sam buggered off to geek out on Beatles paraphenalia and I went off to explore to vintage stores and pop into a chocolate shop based off the movie Chocolat. Educational, I know.

I ended up finding a Halloween costume at a vintage shop (went as a damsel in distress in a pouffy ice-blue frock - pictures of which will not be made public...) and taking some lovely pictures along the way.

Skillful picture with my finger in front of the only reason why I took the photo...The pirate flag. Its behind my index. See it? Yeah....me neither. 

Lunch. 

Well ladies and gentleman, that was Liverpool. Please keep your hands and legs inside the vehicle until it comes to a complete stop. 

Thank you for visiting. 

Tamatanga and Woodbine (revised)

Yes, yes, I know I've been absolute rubbish at keeping up with this. Been caught in the lovely whirlwind of spending too much time out socializing and not enough doing work and now its come back to bite me in the elbow. Take note children and you could prevent yourself from falling prey.

Regardless, I am now catching up on the next several posts from October 26th to November 5th, so enjoy.

October 26th brought about my second trip to Tamatanga, this time, with Sam. Got the same curry that I loved the first time (Sam tried a full bowl of it, as well) and I got a few other little veggie dishes I hadn't tried yet. Still not sure what they were but they were good, thats all that mattered. Also tried a pistachio lassi but the mango was better.

Tamatanga thali with garlic coriander naan, mango chutney, poppadums, potato cake of some sort, curry and a couple veg dishes. 

Sam's curry and rice

Saw this lovely little baby on the way home from the restaurant. Reminded me of good ol Woodbine mall. Shout out to my Toronto peeps. 

...Wow. I can't believe I just said that on the internet. Now I can never take it back.

Remember, remember, the fifth of November...

Travelled to the Forest Grounds where the Goose Fair was held in order to see the fireworks and bonfire in celebration of Guy Fawkes day. Pretty good fireworks, although we got there a bit late to watch much of the bonfire (was a bit of a pile of rubbish when we got there.) Ended up going with several of the international students so it was quite a fun outing - France, Hong Kong, Canada, Brazil, represent!

The pile of rubbish.

Crowd of people waiting for the fireworks. In the background is one of the rides...quite similar to some of the things at the Stampede. Strange how things like this are pretty much the same wherever you go. 

Silly Hat Day

My sister had told me about this great company that does a fundraiser every year at Christmas time where they take little hats that have been knitted by hand and donated, and place them on the tops of their smoothie bottles. Money goes to a foundation to keep the elderly warm, well fed, and in good company throughout the holidays.

These are Innocent smoothies. And these are their lovely little hats.