When Fragile Things Break @ BFI Flare

So, my first ever foray into writing, producing and directing, my short film When Fragile Things Break was shown at the BFI Flare film festival at the BFI down on Southbank over the weekend. It was a huge honour, especially as the other films selected all had much bigger budgets to work with and large, experienced crews. We were literally all doing it for the first time and working thinsg out as we went! Here are a few snaps.

Our poster shot in the programme!

 

Me and my co-producer Louise Day nervously laughing on stage as we answered questions at the Q&A.

Ahead of the screening I was interviewed by Hunger Magazine which you can read here.

More Birthday Eats: OXO Tower Brasserie

As a late birthday treat, two of my oldest and dearest friends took me on a day out. Knowing I'd prefer doing something to having something (well we have been friends for 17 years nearly!) we went to the Jamaican Hidden Histories Exhibition at OXO Tower Wharf, which was very interesting as I'm half Jamaican, followed by lunch. Unfortunately they wouldn't let me use my camera at the exhibition but I got some lovely pics of the River Thames from the viewing platform at the OXO Tower Restaurant, Bar and Brasserie.

A cheeky cocktail and some bubbles...would be rude not to!

My starter of Rocchetta Cheese; puntarella, roasted Portobello mushroom, lemon truffle honey dressing. The cheese was literally so melty, if you get what I mean and had a sweetness that really complimented the nutty flavour of the mushrooms.

Tofu - they have an extensive vegetarian and vegan menu and were very helpful, telling us they could modify dishes to meet our needs should we wish.

Pan fried marinated squid; magno chorizo, skordalia, mustard seed dressing.

No boring vegan meal - a lightly spiced dal with caulifower and popadoms.

Sesame seared tuna; Asian slaw, chilli caramel, sweetcorn fritters, sesame mayonnaise. The tuna was perfect! Seared perfectly with a herb crust, the tuna was tender without feeling alive on my plate. The seweetcorn fritter was substantial and I would have liked another but actually there was soo much tuna I didn't know if I would finish... The chilli caramel added an unexpected sweetness to the whole dish.

Pan fried duck breast; red wine roasted apple, buoudin noir croquette, tarragon mustard, crispy kale. I didn't try the duck but my friend said she had never tasted an apple like it!

Vegan chocolate cake and mango sorbet.

Flourless cake...and the most amazing, thick swirl of salted caramel.

Great birthday present girls, thanks!

Go: Coca-Cola Contour Centenary Bar

Happy Birthday Coke bottle! I've always wanted to be one of those girls whose bodies could be described as a Coca Cola bottle, alas I am not so curvaceous...

The Coca-Cola bottle has been around for 100 years, can you believe it? To celebrate, there is a pop up bar down in Soho for a few days only, so get down there to be transported back to 1915...and to drink some free Coke!

Some of the iconic Coca-Cola advertising from the past 100 years featured on one entire wall.

Who remembers the polar bears? I do!

Coke also asked some of today's best artists and designers to come up with new Coca-Cola images only using the colours black, white and coke red. Above are a couple of new interpretations.

Rita Ora had popped a long to open the centenary bar earlier in the day. Red really is her colour!

There was also a very cool photo booth out back, complete with props, where you can pose away, tweet and print your very own Coca-Cola 100 image. Who have you kissed?

The Coca-Cola Centenary Bar is located at 14 Greek Street, Soho and is open from 11am-8pm today and tomorrow. Go get your free Coke while you can!