Shan the Mannequin

Sometimes, it can feel like I'm a mannequin, what with the career I've chosen. Learning lines for auditions, learning to love and dream of playing characters I never get to play because I don't get the part. Even the day job I have is freelance, so it's often a matter of putting on a bit of a display, looking my best and trying to get work.

What I've learned is important over the years, is finding days or moments that are golden, despite the ups and downs of life, the lack of work, messing up auditions or doing brilliant auditions and still not getting the part because you're too tall or don't look right. I need to find golden days to stop myself feeling like a mannequin.

Dress | Primark

Ballet pumps | Primark

Red bag | Bessie via my Aunt's shop

These photos were taken on a day in central London with my little sister; lunch in Soho square, a wander around Soho, snooping around Carnaby Street and Beyond Retro, milkshakes outside in the sun. A golden day.

Comfy Monki

Top: Monki

Jeans: Car-boot

Converse

I missed the relaunch of last weeks London flagship Monki store, but I am a big fan of their stuff, fun without being too caught up in trends and very affordable, so I dug out this cropped top the other day. The jeans are more like jogging bottoms actually, super dropped crotch and elasticated waistband but the best part? I got them for £1 at a carboot sale! I had no idea if they would fit as i couldn't find a size label anywhere, but they do and I love them.

p.s what says spring more than daffodils? Hope you're all enjoying this glorious weather we are having at the moment!

Eat: Afternoon Tea @ Woodborough Hall

 I have a family, pretty similar to most. Skeletons in the closet, Uncles we don't talk about and plenty of gossip. But we are incredibly close despite being so big and when we are together it's always laughter and love, in between the bouts of absolute piss taking we do. On my mums side of the family, we are dotted not only all over the world, but also the country, and just after Easter, my mum, little sister, Aunt and I headed to stay with another Aunt who lives out near Nottingham. One afternoon after a lot of shopping, we headed for afternoon tea at  Woodborough Hall, a beautiful country house and hotel in the idyllic village of Woodborough just outside of Nottingham.

From the super cosy and quaint reception area with the roaring fire and peep into the wine cellar, the place oozes old school charm.

We were the only ones seated out in the light and airy Orangery. A teeny bit twee for my usual tastes, I was taken by the super cute china (and the Lionel Richie soundtrack playing in the background!)

The coffee and even the tea actually, was quite weak...and we did have to send back some of the cups a few times. But our waiter did his best to keep us happy, which with 5 opinionated women in my family, is quite hard...

A selection of cute sandwiches from Scottish oak smoked salmon, cucumber ribbons with creme fraiche, beef with horseradish sauce and for me the little beetroot ones became a fave. Never had those before!

Callebaut chocolate brownies, cherry sponge and best of all, freshly baked sultana scones with strawberry preserve and Chantilly cream.

You know I couldn't resist a bit of posing! We headed outside onto the lushly manicured lawns and checked it out.

Biker jacket | H&M

Top | silence and noise - Urban Outfitters

Jeans | Topshop

Boots | Palladium

Go: Grimm Tales @ OXO Tower Wharf

So, once you're over the bunnies and chocolate of Easter, why not try something a little darker...

Grimm Tales by Philip Pullman, has taken over the cavernous Bargehouse at the Oxo Tower Wharf down on South Bank, for an immersive theatre experience for young and old. An eerie atmosphere seeps out of every nook and cranny of the 5 floor building which has been dressed to peculiar and terrifying perfection from the creepy photos on the walls to the wood chip floors and ghostly dresses hanging from the ceiling.

Just me or does this look like a young and weird Cara Delevingne set of twins?

While you can't take photographs while the actors perform, you are welcome to take photos between tales as you move through the building and as many as you want afterwards. The tales are mostly ones I'd never heard like Faithful Johannes and The Goosegirl at the Spring, and the cast are brilliant at involving the audience from the very beginning, shooting evil death stares and scampering up walls as we found our seats.

Me in the coat from 'Thousandfurs' a quite uncomfortable tale that featured a scary incest storyline..the only one that cut it a little close to the mark, the rest were completely child accessible without losing their USP of scariness.

Re-enacting the Snow White kisses!

The Grimm Tales must finish on April 11th, so if you're looking for an something a bit creepy to do...
While the performance is immersive and you move around the building there is no actual audience participation so you don't need to worry about the actors dragging you up or anything and while the Tales aren't super scary as children are welcome, and we didn't get to see Hansel and Gretel which we were pretty devastated about, it's worth going for the incredible set alone. Every space has been occupied by something weird or eerie and the attention to detail is amazing. Well worth a trip to the dark side.