Raclette

I really love what those mid-week public holidays in France can score: a relaxing afternoon of raclette, wine and good company.

It's been rainy and windy here for the past two days, but amusing company and heavy soul food make a great distraction.

Hope you'll keep warm and laughing this weekend!

Nature Walk

One of the things I love the most about Nantes is that whatever need of scenery I may have, it's never too far away. Lots of open-air green spaces, trees, water, you name it. I love you, Nantes!

Her Story: See Her Natural - Hair

I thank God we have a friend in common. Otherwise I shudder to think I would have missed such an inspiring story.

Her name is Latasha Goss and she looks like an ordinary 20-something American girl. Shoulder-length hair, make-up and of course, a Blackberry. Except, the hair she's sporting is all natural black hair growing out of her own scalp. And no, I don't mean mixed (half-caucasion/half-black) hair. So what makes her story a story worth listening? Three years ago, she used to be a permie, a black woman wearing chemically straightened 'relaxed' hair. Then in October 2007, she took what must be the bravest plunge ever conceived and cut what was very beautiful, ultra-feminine tresses down to the skull!!!

"I decided to go back natural for a few reasons," she explains. "Over the years, I had changed. I did not feel that wearing my hair straight (relaxed) was a representation of who I had become. I didn't like the way I looked. I felt like I looked like everyone else. I wanted to be 'myself' and I wanted to be 'different'. I had seen a few other ladies take the plunge and I often wondered 'would I have hair like them?'

"In addition to not being happy with wearing my hair straight, my hair was very unhealthy. I had breakage, dandruff and if that wasn't enough, excessive shedding. No hair products that I could find on the shelf were able to help repair my damaged hair.I visited a website that showcased other ladies that had already gone natural and decided to take that step. Out of fear, I only cut off half of my hair at first. I had planned on cutting off a little at a time until I had all of my relaxed ends removed. I grew impatient with this task and one day, I cut it all off!"


Today this young woman is sporting hair 13-16 inches long. The beauty of her hair is not simply it's length, but the fact that it is all-natural. But this is not merely a story about hair, it's about self-acceptance, courage to be yourself wearing your natural God-given looks and swim against the very strong culture current of black hair mutilation 'relax-ation'.


"I absolutely LOVE it and have NO regrets," Latasha says of her hair now. "The breakage, dandruff and excessive shedding have ceased, since I have become natural! I had NO idea that the root of my hair problems was due to relaxers and an overall lack of me 'knowing' my hair."

So why am I so inspired by Latasha's story? Because for the last two months I have been vacillating with a decision to chop or not to chop my own mutilated hair. I'm not yet decided but this girl's courage inspires me. You must, must watch her story on the video below.

Gypsys Tramps And Thieves

In 1971 Cher released Gypsys Tramps and Thieves as the first song of her solo album Cher. Some twenty years after, one man - Jim Farber- lived to call this song "exhiliratingly dumb". Whether he intended qudos for the sheer lady or not, it's undeniable the bewitching effect of this catchy number. Thirty-nine years later Gypsys Tramps and Thieves with its stirring rhythm and catchy lyrics has a thick history filling the gaps of its continuing lifespan. This "exhiliratingly dumb" folk song has been covered at least ten times by artists of various genres including Dervish - an Irish Celtic group and the real rock Nirvana, not to mention the thousands of amateurs on Youtube.

It now has me thinking that secretly, yes secretly, despite public scorn we're attracted to the merry playfulness,  sensuality, colourful allure and travelling lifestyle of the gypsy people. Think about Shakira's Gypsy. Would somebody give me a tambourine please :D

By the way, have you seen that documentary When The Road Bends... Tales of a Gypsy Caravan? I've been hearing really good things about it. It's definitely on my research list, maybe for this weekend. Whatever your plans, by all means make yours a great weekend.

Factory Made Garden

What do you do with an industrial area whose main industry has long died?


Create a park of historical significance, with hidden trails, reading nooks, equal romantic hideouts and play spots and then, give it back to the people. ---Jardin des Fonderies, Isle de Nantes

Street Art

Have you seen the film Exit Through the Gift Shop? It has completely changed my outlook on grafitti and the concept of street art. The film is basically about this French filmmaker, Thierry, who so obsessed with street art and the works of renowned street artist Banksy decides to make a film on said topic. Thanks to Thierry we get to see firsthand how street artists work, their motivations and street art as art that makes sharpe social commentary, employing technique and cutting perspective. Remember that colourful Obama poster? Yup, the work of street artist Shepherd Fairey who works in the shadow of night and the law.  However, after a year or so of much extensive tape rolling and footage, this filmmaker, Thierry, comes out with a film which is vraiment nul by all standards. So instead, Banksy, prime subject in question, takes up the mantle of producing this film about street art which becomes about the phenomenal success of one called Mr. Brainwash, (said French filmmaker, Thierry) whose street art obsession turns him into a street artist and an overnight success. Funny, but true. The film is an edutaining watch and a grateful introduction to the works of Banksy, Shepherd Fairey, Invader and others. Best of all, it got me to think twice about the notion of art and free expression in the public domain. Do, do buy this film.

C'est Dingue!!!

I was riding the tram tonight and thinking about all the good things and people in my life, when I was interrupted by "the Teacher" Vybz Kartel. Yes, believe it, Vybz Kartel's music, blazing on the tram. This was not normal. I couldn't resist, I had to make an intervention to find out who on earth in Nantes was yardie enough to listen, understand and love Kartel. Turned out to be a young Martiniquan completement fou de la musique dancehall de la Jamaïque (crazy about Jamaica's dancehall music). Not that he understands a word of the Patois, but kill him dead, il était Jamaïcain au depart (once upon a time, he was born a Jamaican). Can't deny it, Jamaican music has wings and is flying all over the place.