Rhythm Riot 2013

I ache. I ache a lot. The reason? Well, that might have something to do with the twenty or so hours of dancing followed by only about ten hours sleep I did this weekend. It was, of course, the weekend of the Rhythm Riot. This was my first time at this weekender, and it won't be my last. It was a last minute decision to go, but I thought, as I've moved back down south and I was offered space in a Chalet with Bethan (of Bettina Scarlett fame), Graham and Bethan's parents, it would have been rude to say no!

The difference between this event and others of a similar ilk, such as the Hotrod Hayride, is that this one is 70% about the music, 20% about the shopping and 10% about the cars. That's the right ratio for my needs! The music was all sorts, from doo-wop to soul to hillbilly, and the best thing is...it didn't stop until 5am! Yes! I was dancing until 5am! On the note of dancing, I have never jived in my life until now! I am still pretty poor, but everyone has to start somewhere, and the Rhythm Riot really was the best place to start. I would like to take this opportunity to thank my three main partners - none of you whose names I got - because you really taught me the basics. Also, one of you was pretty handsome, and I would especially like to thank you for that last dance.

Ray Collins' Hot-Club

Lights Out

Nikki Hill

Once again, the Riot saw me donning the uniform of the Atomic cheerleaders, but this time I also had the pleasure of being part of the Atomic Air Hostess crew. Boy oh boy were those uniforms fabulous! I shall leave you a teaser of the outfit below, but I shall write up a separate post for them because it was such an amazing experience it deserves to shine separately. As a result of taking part I met, and re-met, some amazing ladies, all of whom were simply brilliant. I look forward to partying many more nights away with them!

(Nick Grant Photography) L-R Jade, Carrie, Kessie (of Lady K Loves), Me, Eeva, Holly, Cal, Jodie 

One thing I was certainly not expecting was to end up on stage twice in one night, especially not as one of those times including me singing! Understand this, I cannot carry a tune in a bucket. But what sort of gal is going to turn down an opportunity to be up on stage with Bobby Brooks Wilson? Utterly awesome moment in my life.

Photo by Tony Bruce

Although the nights were spent dancing away, the days were relaxing, mostly spent shopping, watching bands in the Queen Vic (no, not that Queen Vic!) and, on the Sunday, pootling down to Rye in the cruise. I didn't buy anything (I'm poor and unemployed, you see) but I reckon I could have spent thousands! Some absolutely beautiful vintage things and some equally lovely reproduction pieces to be had. I was a cheerleader at the cruise which was...cold. A great experience but oh I was nippy noodles!

I think what can be gathered from my ramblings here is that I absolutely loved the Rhythm Riot. If you get the opportunity go, take it! Take it by the horns! You will not regret it! Now, is six months enough time for my body to recover? Just about I think!

Now to leave you with some memories...

Myself with Graham on my left and Jonathan on my right, with a cheeky Jordan in the background

Sunday night is Hawaiian night!

My girl Bethan

Finally meeting my pen pal, Noo!

Beautiful ladies

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Peach Melba

Remember how I dyed my hair orange, pink and red a few weeks back? Well it's faded out to this amazing collection of colours! I'm appreciating it whilst it lasts though because with every wash it gets lighter and lighter!

I'm thinking I'm going to keep with this ginger theme and get it professionally dyed to some form of auburn shade for the winter.

I love the streaks of pink that flash through the orange

Roots need a major revamp though!

Breaking Out From Bedlam

Remember the Hotrod Hayride? Remember that guy Rick? Well we took a little weekend away to Bedlam Breakout in Northampton. What's more romantic than psychobilly huh? No, in all seriousness it was an ace weekend of music, beer (lots of beer) and new friends.

I'm not a usual frequenter of psychobilly so this was a bit of a shake up for me. Not that I don't like the genre, I do, but it just always fell off my radar - probably pushed off by my first love, rockabilly!  I first saw a psychobilly band at Vintage @ Goodwood back in 2010, and I was lucky enough to see the same band at Bedlam. Long Tall Texans never fail to disappoint! The other highlights included Sunday night's head-liner Nekromantix, The Sharks, and The Epileptic Hillbillies.

A drunk man wanted to take a photo of us - I think that shows...

There is another Bedlam Breakout in March and I'm sure I'll be there!

Seeing Red.

You may have noticed that I've been blonde for a while now, almost six months! Far too long by my reckoning! Two weeks ago I decided it was time for a change. The original plan was to have vibrant orange hair with streaks of cerise and red flashing through it but I seem to have got a bit lost in translation. I combined tangerine and mandarin together thinking I'd get the dream colour however it came out a bright red and the pink was a bit lost. The fella later pointed out that maybe mandarin was not the fruit but the Chinese variety instead...whoops! A few washes later the tangerine/mandarin has faded out (no pictures of that as of yet, apologies) to a kind of salmon colour, and the red and pink are much more prominent now.

Jodi and I are a colourful pair!

Once this has faded I think I might stick with being a red head for a while, maybe turning down the auburn route a la Geena Davis in A League Of Their Own? Thoughts on a postcard please!

The Quest Continues...

Oh, woe to me. Ever since moving to Liverpool I have yet to find the perfect hairdresser. I know these things are hard to find but I thought in this city famous for its beautiful people, it'd be easy. How wrong could I be? They seem obsessed with short layers and 'curly blows'. I have learnt in the four hair cuts by four different hairdressers (who shall remain nameless) that when they ask if you want some volume in your hair, it should be translated as "Do you want to look like an extra from Footballers' Wives?". In three years that doesn't sound like I've had very many cuts but I always dreaded having my hair done so much here that I'd wait until I was back in the South and in safe hands.

Two of the four had nothing wrong with their cutting skills, but their eyes and ears need some adjusting. Both of these times I have asked for a Fearne Cotton style bob (see image below) but both times I have walked out with the same hair cut - both being completely not what I want. I can hear your crying "why did you leave the salon then?". Well, I leave the salon (and then write sour blogs on the subject) because it takes me a while to realise that this is completely wrong. For instance today, since running my hands through it, brushing it, and generally eyeing it up in the mirror, I have concluded that I need at least another inch off the front and preferably an inch to an inch and a half off the back. The layers are way too short, giving it that dreaded (by me) curly blow look, where as I wanted them to be there but very subtle as to give the bob - yes, bob, not medium cut with layers - a blunt look.

The Fearne Cotton bob I wanted...

And what I left with...

(Apologies for image quality)

It's a shame because the hairdresser that cut my hair today was really lovely and talented with her scissors, however it is obvious that she is set in the style that she is familiar with. I am currently sat in rollers praying to the gods of hair that I can style it into a style I'm more comfortable with for the mean while, but its way too long for what I asked for.

And so, with that, I am booking myself into a salon that a friend has recommended to me on the fly to see if they can sort it out for me. If that fails...well I'll just have to leave the city.