Living in the Sun

[commonpeople1]

For all you spring lovers, with your sunny weekend crushes, your sudden exposed skin, your frisky night habits, I recommend you watch a double-bill of Before Sunrise and Before Sunset before the great ball of fire disappears again. If you are feeling extra romantic, top it up with Two Days in Paris (but please don't blame me if you fall in love with Julie Delpy.)

Before Sunrise takes place in Vienna, summer of 1994, when the world of Facebook and rampant text messaging was still a dream for most. The last romantics had to either write letters to each other or use the phone if they wanted to keep in touch with flings they had in beautiful european cities hours before their planes flew back to America. Do you remember your first love? Your first connection with someone? Spending hours talking about nothing (but it felt like everything at the time), wandering around a city until it was late, the grass was soft like a bed and you were slightly tipsy from too much alcohol. Forever young... I want to be, forever young.

Before Sunset is shorter and more ackward - as life usually is when old lovers meet again after nine years and have so much to catch up with, and so many sorrows and hurts to get over in the space of a few hours. This time, the setting is Paris, City of Light and Romance. It's more autobiographical for both stars, Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy, since their characters resemble so much their real lives - he is a writer, she sings and lives near her parents (who pop up again in Two Days in Paris.) All three films want to put frenchies and americans in the same sleeping bag, with a bottle of tequila, a pack of condoms, a guitar and perhaps a box of chocolate.

This beautiful weather we see in London? This is my natural state of being; this is what I'm comfortable with; this is the cocoon shell I grew up in. I recommend BoJo (the new mayor of London) build white beaches in the EastEnd and dig a canal that brings the sea to us; I want him also to sponsour my one thousand and one flings, my picnics, my light reading (chick lit is out, gay erotica is in) and my many pints drunk outside the Palm Tree (the best pub in London, inside Mile End Park.)

Let's go dancing at Feeling Gloomy this Saturday. It will be warm and beautiful and life-affirming. I'll bring brasilians, you'll bring money to buy me caipirinhas. Drop me a comment/e-mail if you are interested.

Comments

[canudiglett]

I really don't think they have caipirinhas at FG. You might have to make do with a pint of warm Carling.

[commonpeople.livejournal.com]

Weatherspoons perhaps? Or we can sneak them in?

Carling will do though!

[inbetween-girl.livejournal.com]

If my numbers come up on the Child Support Agency lottery this week (it usually happens on the eleventh of the month but I'm hoping that, as this is a Sunday, it will happen on Friday) I will sieze the moment and come to Feeling Gloomy with you. I daren't be too optimistic, but I live in hope.

[commonpeople.livejournal.com]

And you shall not be disappointed! The music is A+.

[inbetween-girl.livejournal.com]

I had it down in my phone as being on the 24th, which I definitely can't make. I am quite desperate to go as it sounds right up my street, though I really won't be able to afford it this month if the CSA don't cough up. Does it have a website with a list of dates of future events? (You = Google, obviously).

[commonpeople.livejournal.com]

Yup, link provided in post. Skimming Posts = Bad Googling! ;-)

It's really just a room with some sweaty people drunk on cheap beer, singing along to The Cure. It's not goth at all and quite casual. Also, the crowd is less hipster than Bar 55 and much more varied (from what I remember - last time I went was a year ago!)

[steer.livejournal.com]

Hmm... I'm looking for something to do Saturday but the music at Feeling Gloomy is really not my thing. Are you off for a drink somewhere in Islington beforehand? Who's going apart from you and teqkiller (not, of course, that your company would not be lovely in and of itself)?

[commonpeople.livejournal.com]

Some brasilians in town will be coming with me, plus (hopefully) people from teh National Theatre, LJ friends, etc. And, of course, Suzi's friends list. We'll be meeting at Weatherspoons beforehand (that one right across from Angel tube.) Join us!

What music is your thing?

[steer.livejournal.com]

Ah... then I might well pop into Weatherspoons to see you guys. Especially as it is just down the road.

Obviously pounding pounding techno music is my thing (well, not really, but pretty much anything harsh and bleepy that gets played at Infest is good with me).

[commonpeople.livejournal.com]

Awww, right. Yup, it wouldn't be your thing.

Will be lovely to see you though beforehand.

[iejw.livejournal.com]

Have you not spotted that we live slap-bang in the middle of a whole network of canals?

Feeling Gloomy looks – ‘interesting’. As attractive as the prospect of a gaggle of Brazilians might be, I’m not sure I could cope. Plus it’s Megawoof this weekend. All that muscle…


But I am thinking that I really ought to try a bit of a social at the Palm Tree.

[commonpeople.livejournal.com]

I imagine that Feeling Gloomy is not up your street at all. No Big Brother constestants there to shag you, that's for sure. ;-)

Palm Tree is lovely, isn't it? Now that it's warm, I love sitting on the grass outside.

Canals are not swimmable.

[iejw.livejournal.com]

I’ll have you know he didn’t lay a finger on me!

Dunno – never actually been!

No. That’s definitely a point. If one accidentally falls in, I understand you have to dolly off to hospital for quite a few shots…

[commonpeople.livejournal.com]

He didn't lay a finger, but he's got enough material to keep his fist going for the next month!

The canals are looking particularly grim right now, with so many plastic bags and general garbage. I don't understand how some people can throw stuff in them like that, especially when you get swans with baby ducklings floating nearby.

[iejw.livejournal.com]

You are so vulgar!

They are so much better than they used to be. They are actually a quite significant habitat for wildlife nowadays. You can see all sorts of things in, on, and around them…

[commonpeople.livejournal.com]

Have you seen the turtles? I love catching sight of them sunbathing. :-)

Me, vulgar? Did I ever mention "fishing it out?" ;-)

[iejw.livejournal.com]

Turtles?! No? Where?!

Erm… And what’s that?

[commonpeople.livejournal.com]

If you follow the canal south of Roman road, on the other side (near the apartments being built) there's a sort of swamp with some bits of concrete and wood. They hang out there.

[iejw.livejournal.com]

I'm more interested in the 'fishing it out' reference..

[commonpeople.livejournal.com]

It's from your NSFW post, where something got lost "up there"...

[iejw.livejournal.com]

Oh right.

I really shouldn’t share so much should I…

[commonpeople.livejournal.com]

You should. That's what makes LJ so great. :-)

[vilia64.livejournal.com]

Lemme just fish out my passport...

[rosamicula.livejournal.com]

Sounds like a plan to me!

[commonpeople.livejournal.com]

Will post more concrete details closer to Saturday.

[despina.livejournal.com]

saving the Obvious, I'd love to come too!

[commonpeople.livejournal.com]

Oh yes. :-)

[redcountess]

I loved Before Sunrise and keep meaning to watch the sequel :)

[commonpeople.livejournal.com]

The sequel is more like a concluding film. You must watch it!

[blu-bear.livejournal.com]

I may come along. Can I give you a text closer to the time?

[commonpeople.livejournal.com]

Please do! That would be fun. Bring friends too.

[octoberxswimmer.livejournal.com]

I looooved 2 Days in Paris but have managed to not grace my eyes on the other two. I am not sure why either...

[commonpeople.livejournal.com]

It was the same for me. When they came out, I just wasn't interested in seeing them - thought Ethan Hawke was kinda annoying - but after seeing "2 Days in Paris" the re-visit has been well worth it.

[yearning.livejournal.com]

I watched all three (the first one several times) and I luuuuv them! (and julie delpy, too, I've got her cd, too)

you make london sound so cool but I really don't wanna go back.

[commonpeople.livejournal.com]

but I really don't wanna go back.

yes you do, yes you do, yes you do... :-D