New Year, horoscopes, OCD and destiny

I am giving up horoscopes. That's my new year's resolution.

Now, this might not seem like a big sacrifice on the surface, but to those who know me, you will get that this is HUGE. And it has not been a decision I've come upon lightly. But here's the thing: I fear it is running my life. Honestly, I think I could possibly be medicated for a mild form of OCD (obsessive compulsive disorder) given the way in which I plan my life based upon a series of astrological transits and numerological bits and pieces. And I have to tell you, the cross-referencing between all of these different philosophic systems is exhausting. I mean, it wouldn't be that big of a problem if they all lined up, but they don't. Ever. Nope, just as I relax because I've finally entered a "happy" phase numerologically, I'll stupidly go and check out what my astrological outlook is and immediately send myself into a deep state of depression. Because here's the thing: the "challenging" aspects seem to last for months on end (all under the guise of personal growth of some sort) and the "happy" ones are of the blink-and-you'll-miss-them variety.

And so that's why I've given them up. Just for 2012. Stuff Saturn. Stuff Venus. Stuff the cardinal-cross-of-whatever that's supposed to create financial turmoil mid next year and stuff personal growth. I'm done.

For now.

So Happy New Year all - to a brilliant 2012: where we make our own destinies and anything can happen.

Pip xxx

Christmas cheer, sailing and a new album on its way...

So, I have written a new album: on a piano from 1890, with yellowed keys that have been rounded by the years of wear and tear. I remember this piano from my grandmother’s house in Africa. She used to keep a small jar of mints on the top of it and one time I stole one – that was the first and last time I stole anything ever, the guilt was so unbearable (hearts don’t count – joking). And now here it is in my garden flat in Australia, still in one piece, still tuneable (if a little imperfectly), the words “John Broadwood & Sons, London” still perfectly painted in gold. It hasn’t chipped off one bit.

And not only have I written a new album of songs, but I’m actually RECORDING said album in January. Which will be fab, fab, fab. I can’t wait.  Really excited to get back into the studio and even more excited to get them down before I write new ones and discard them (this happens all too often).

In other news I have been learning to sail which is a) breathtakingly beautiful when done at sunset and b) way more hard work than I anticipated. I love it, more than I ever could have expected. There is something about it that is completely addictive. And frankly, I think Perth has more boats than people so it’s the perfect place to learn.

Hmm, what else, someone told me a bit of trivia the other evening: apparently the term OK came from the Vietnam war – apparently it came from a board where they would notate how many men had been killed each day: zero killed = 0K (the ‘o’ being for zero and the ‘k’ being for killed). Thought that was kind of cool and interesting, not sure if it’s true…

And I can’t wait till Christmas. I want a real Christmas tree. And tinsel. And egg nog. And snow. Am thinking I’m in the wrong hemisphere…

My song ‘Just Five Minutes’ was a top 25 finalist in the Australian Song of the Year competition, that was kind of cool. Another one, ‘Lighthouse’, that will be on the new album was also shortlisted.

Going to see a film tonight entitled ‘The Future’. It’s about a couple who decide to spend a month living a completely free life and letting fate/serendipity lead them (at least that’s what I think it’s about, will be a grave disappointment if I’m wrong!). The key theme reminds me of that book ‘The Unbearable Lightness of Being’. Loved that book – you know, the whole which-is-more-painful-weight-or-lightness question…anyway, I digress. It is at an outdoor cinema and there will be wine. So all fab.

Hope you all have a fantastic Christmas and New Year and will be back in the New Year!

Pippa xx

London-time, Coelho, Kamikaze Seagulls, Cupcakes and Untuned Pianos

It’s 2.42 am in London right now. I know that because I still haven’t changed the clock on my laptop to reflect that I’m now on the other side of the world. And in Australia, where I actually am, it is the first day of Spring. I’m currently housebound as I’ve misplaced my keys so cannot go out until I find them to lock-up. So that’s why I’m finally getting around to writing this blog – instead of sitting in the sunshine with coffee, a cupcake and that seemingly obligatory kamikaze seagull who doesn’t realise that if he touches my cupcake, he dies.

I’m reading a fab book at the moment called 11 minutes. I remember having a random conversation with someone on the tube shortly after I’d moved to London about that book, so it’s kind of cool to be taking up the recommendation (finally). I read another Coelho book last week, The Alchemist (yes, I’m the last person on the planet to read it – I’ve been busy), which I loved. Otherwise I’ve just been existing in my own world, writing songs on a bit of an untuned piano, avoiding the offending keys. I think I have almost written the new album now so hope to record it early next year.

In other news, Felicity Urquhart played Fade Away on her show ABC Saturday Night Country. How fab is Felicity? I saw her speak in Tamworth and she really is a lovely woman as well as extremely talented. And The Post ran an article on me.

So…back to searching for those damn keys…

xxx

Tamworth, mini-bars, calamari and boarding houses

June 25 2011 

Sitting in the lobby of the Best Western in Tamworth with a family sized pot of black coffee and a muffin (free – I’m seeing a ‘free cake’ pattern here that is unnerving me).

I have become remarkably adept at living out of a suitcase in the last month. My ‘fuq-I-have-to-wake-up-as-check-out-is-like-NOW-shower-hairwash-makeup time’ is now at a record 27 minutes. Of course I now have three hours to waste in the lobby drinking free coffee and cake, listening to old country songs and fighting with my tantrum-prone AirPort (if anyone knows WHY my Macbook AirPort has been giving me the silent treatment for the last week, please let me know).

I love Tamworth so far, and not because of the free coffee (please see my previous posts about the price of espresso in Santorini to get a full understanding of my glee). I arrived here in an aeroplane the size of a coke bottle and I swear I was the only person on it who didn’t know everyone else. I forgot how awesome small country towns could be. And last night I watched a couple of movies (one of which had that guy from Dexter in it, I think it was called ‘Slayers’), ordered room service of Calamari and drank all the sparkling wine in the mini bar.

Anyway, CMAA school starts today. At 1pm. Hence why I’m killing three hours in a lobby. Am really excited. Can’t wait to learn the harmonica and have a couple of weeks solely devoted to song-writing and music. Fab. Fab. Fab. Seriously, I feel like I’m going on my dream holiday. Lying on the beach with alcoholic milkshakes is only good for two days max.

Ciao xxx

June 25 2pm.

So I’m in my room. It’s based in a boarding school and the girl who usually has this room has left a quote pasted on the wall that I think is worth repeating because I totally agree:

“I believe in those dreams. I think every woman should watch shooting stars while drinking champagne; then be put on horse back and galloped down a deserted beach in the moonlight – at least once in her life…Clothes make the woman feel sexy and confident and sophisticated and stylish…then a men feel like treating them like princesses…” Collette Dinnigan.

Espresso, Coke, deteriorating wardrobes, alcoholic milkshakes and random marriage proposals

Friday June 10

I’m writing this in my hotel room, travel guitar strewn across the bed beside me (have been working on a new song) and an open can of coke in my hand. Am highly irritated as I have just painted my nails in the sun (how ‘holiday’ am I?) and then promptly messed them up trying to open said can. My fab travel friend (fab not only because she somehow managed to turn bronze within an hour of landing but because she also brought my favourite eyeliner with her) is up on the roof terrace tanning.

Funny thing is, I don’t usually drink coke – like, fat coke. ‘Diet’ yes, ‘fat’ no. Can only put my new habit down to the fact that it would probably be cheaper to have a heroine addiction in Thira than an espresso addiction. No idea why it’s so expensive but it is, and I’ve already had three this morning with breakfast. Hence the coke.

We’ve found some fantastic little bars here, right on the cliff face – one of which is called Tropical bar and is the least pretentious of the lot with the best/most reasonably priced white wine and a very vocal/amusing American woman behind the bar. Ironically, despite their lack of pretence, I seriously think they have the best view.

We ventured out of Thira yesterday for the first time to Kamari and the other beach (always forget it’s name but it starts with a P and sounds a bit like the infamous Piraeus in Athens…). That was fab – seriously felt like a holiday destination with deck chairs, tourists and grass umbrellas everywhere. We caught a boat (so much more fun that I’d expect – kind of prefer small boats to ferries) and lay in the early evening sun drinking alcoholic milkshakes we’d created on a bespoke basis. Pistachio with white rum was brill, as was vanilla with Malibu.

Otherwise, having been here for a bit over a week I think I might be classed as a ‘local’ now. Doesn’t seem to matter where we go there’s someone waving or yelling ‘hello Pepa’ or ‘Aussie!’. It’s sweet really. Even had arguments with a few people now. Like when I arrived the beds in my hotel room where beyond bad – we’re talking springs poking out everywhere to the point where it was unfathomable that the thing still managed to look like a bed and not like a big spring ball. Anyway, one hissy fit and a few frustrated tears later a couple of new mattresses arrived. They are new and fantastic and I haven’t had a hissy fit since.

Hmmm, what else…went to a pilates class yesterday. In Greek. Which is fair enough really, since I’m in Greece. Anyway, was interesting but NOT FUN!

We’re heading out a little later and I have no idea what to wear – not because I’m a woman, but because I seriously have so little left in one piece.

I got my washing back from the laundry on the corner yesterday and they’d shrunk a couple more of my tops to the point of un-wear-ability. Seriously, I arrived here with a suitcase I couldn’t get up the stairs, a suitcase that illicited amused looks and comments about my gender from all who saw it as it was so overstuffed. And I am currently destined to leave ‘that hobo girl who wanders around in a towel and a hat’. Fab.

But it’s not all bad mattresses, deteriorating wardrobes and overpriced espresso. In fact, I suppose if I had to summarise Greece in three ways, so far it’d be: free cake, cocktails and random meaningless marriage proposals. So fun really.

Ciao xx

Dior, ashes, umbrella hats, boxed wine and bad moods.

1 June 2011

Am sitting by the pool in Paros. I’m tired and grumpy despite the beauty of the place. I’m not sure whether my mood is a result of the fact that I just paid five euros for a glass of wine that came out of a box or that I’m not allowed to flush loo roll here. Sorry, I know that makes me sound like the most hideous of spoilt tourists, but I don’t care. I don’t like it.

That said, we’re incredibly close to a little place called Noussa (not sure of the spelling) that’s charming and just a little bit stunning – last night, just after we arrived, we watched the sun set over the harbour and it was just so peaceful. I’ve been surprised by how empty this island is, but perhaps it’s the season. So yes, here I sit with my boxed wine in front of a beautiful bright blue pool and looking out onto a stunning view of the sea. I really have no right to be grumpy. But I’m a woman and an artist – surely being vaguely irrational and moody is my prerogative?

Mykonos was amazing. I really didn’t expect to like it as everyone kept referring to it as ‘the party island’ – I took this to mean ‘the island where people wander around continually sun burnt and drunk, in skirts that are way too short with bellies hanging out over them, screaming at the top of their lungs and vomiting in the streets’. But I was wrong. It was fantastic. Had the best pina coladas ever in Little Venice right on the water and even managed to find my Dior lipstick. Brilliant. And I could put loo paper in the loo there. Priceless.

So am working on my tan (actually I’m sitting in the shade, under a hat so big it has already been referred to as an ‘umbrella’ by a local well-meaning man), reading a bit, playing a lot of guitar and writing this blog. Next stop is Santorini and I’m there for two and a half weeks. I met someone in Mykonos who goes to Santorini every year to visit his partner’s ashes – they’re in a Cathedral set half in the mountain and half outside. He was a Pisces and his partner was an Aquarius and they lasted 35 years. There was something so touching about the way he spoke of it all. Anyway we’re supposed to be going to dinner on the 12th but I think I forgot his details in Mykonos (along with half my luggage).

I think it’s an eclipse tomorrow. There are three in a row coming. Hope it means brill things!!!

Ta-ta…

xxxx

The grumpy blogger

Cherries, France, ferries, game shows and astrology in a church.

29 May 2011

It’s 8:34am and I am sitting in a cloud of Greek cigarette smoke (not mine) on the Ferry from Piraeus to Mykonos. Finally. We missed the boat (literally) yesterday and had to stay the night in Piraeus. This is an experience I’d suggest avoiding if at all possible…was not brill, although a gin and tonic drip certainly softened the blow. If, however, you ever ARE stuck there, please do yourself a favour and steer clear of the little man from New York at Smartchoice travel. This place, despite the name, is not a ‘smart choice’ – they will charge you more than double for a rather mediocre room and act like they’ve just saved you from the Ebola virus whilst doing it.

But we’re on the boat now and it’s only 3 hrs till we get there. Already had 3 coffees. There is a group of local musicians sitting to my left (refer back to my comment about sitting in a cloud of smoke) amidst 7 instrument cases of different shapes and sizes. Aside from their chain-smoking, they’re quite charming and laugh a lot. They must have seen my travel guitar and decided we were the safest table to sit near…

My last couple of days in France (before my horrible day yesterday in Piraeus) were awesome. We went to this little place called Vezelay that had two amazing things:

1) a church which was simply beautiful. I got the sweetest little Mary Magdalene bracelet there – and it was also really interesting because the church itself had the signs of the zodiac carved into the walls. How weird is that? I’ve always been led to believe that astrology and religion where diametrically opposed, but this made me wonder if that was actually rubbish.

2) a brilliant photographer called J-C Gadreau. He’s seriously talented, I’m not sure if he’s on the net anywhere – I got the feeling that it wasn’t really that sort of town – but look him up if you can. He has all these shots of provincial French life and they are stunningly charming in an off-beat/60s/French sort of way.

Other than that I am now totally over cherries. If I never have another one in my life it’ll be too soon. If you’re ever on ‘who wants to be a millionaire’ and get a question about the regional fruit of Clamecy/Burgundy, call me. Or maybe don’t, since now you know the answer. But seriously, in the last week I’ve had fresh cherries, cherry booze, cherries soaked in booze for dessert, cherry pie, cherry salad, cherry steak, cherry toothpaste – okay now I’m exaggerating, but you get the drift. They’re bloody everywhere and in everything.

Speaking of TV game shows, I’ve been thinking (dangerous, I know): after managing to drive from central Paris to Clamecy at rush hour, sans map and with a sat-nav woman who had clearly been programmed by the devil; after surviving a night in Piraeus without flinging myself out the window; and after successfully changing the language on the TV at an airport hotel in Orly (Paris) to English via a remote control with only one battery, I’m pretty much ready to go on some sort of urban version of the reality show ‘Survivor’. Offers are welcome.

Am joking, sort of.

xxx

Jean Patou, champagne, travel guitars, a hat and a million baby ducks...

May 22, 2011

So here I sit in provincial France, typing away on my beloved mac. It’s truly stunning here. The house we are staying in is big and bohemian, with wooden shutters that open onto a beautiful canal – I’ve never seen so many baby ducks in my life!

And it is silent here except for the birds, the odd rogue fly that’s found its way indoors and the sound of one of my more enthusiastic companions yelling ‘bonjour’ at every barge that goes past. We had champagne at 11am and I’ve finally had the opportunity to wear a rather beautiful hat I bought a while back and never got the chance to sport – I’m totally in love with it. Want a million hats now!

The only true negative is that, being an old house (I’d guess about 300 years old but I’m no historian), the doorframes are extremely low. In truth I think I might have concussed myself in the middle of the night whilst trying to find a glass of water. And stupidly I didn’t bring mosquito repellent with me - luckily I found some in a drawer. However, I’d say from the packaging that it was a relic from sometime in the late 60s and just one squirt is so pungent it’s sure to kill every insect in the northern hemisphere. Not even Jean Patou can save me now.

But my travel guitar made it in one piece and I’ve figured out how to work the coffee machine. So the essentials have been covered…

xxx

Okay, so this has to be quick as SO MUCH IS HAPPENING!

RAGE (really big video hits show in Australia) have picked up my video for Just Five Minutes and have been playing it. Which is so cool! Thank you so much to everyone who helped put that together. And how amazing are we to have done it all in less than a day? You are all brilliant. Not joking.

Also, the LA International Film Festival have accepted it under the Music Video category - how fun is that?

AND I've been accepted into this Country Music Academy in Tamworth (Australia) which will be so much fun. It also means I'll be performing at the 'Hats Off' music festival in Tamworth on July 9. So come along if you're that side of Oz!

Also, someone sent me a link to something one of the emerging artist judges had said about my song "Pippa Drysdale - Just Five Minutes - This song was the most infectious catchy song on my list. It's a snappy radio friendly piece of power pop".

YAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAY. Funny thing is I haven't sent it to radio yet. Perhaps I will.

No time to wax philosophic at the moment as, what with being completely indie, my brain is one long 'to-do' list at the moment. But I have some time in France/Greece in June and am bound to come back all contemplative/wanna-be wise after that.

Hope you're all awesome!

xxxx

The Experiment, shows and instant coffee

So I lasted about two hours with no digital contact. Then I broke down and logged into my email. But, in an effort to justify my clear addiction/reliance upon facebook/twitter etc I had a thought: I wonder if the reason we all love this stuff so much (love knowing what everyone else is thinking/doing/feeling 24/7) is that it allows us to live many lives at once. We don't have to skip the country anymore and move to India for a year to paint because there will be someone on our facebook page who does it for us, reports back hourly and puts pics up to illustrate. Just a thought. Have too many of those though...

I have a show later this month at Bloomsbury Bowling Lanes, I've never been there before but it looks cool - I mean they have a Don Draper room. How can that NOT be awesome?

Am sitting here drinking instant coffee, wishing I could finally remember to order some pods from nespresso for my machine.

The experiment

So I saw a Pizza restaurant advert yesterday. It contained the text (I might be paraphrasing but you’ll get the jist): “It is scientifically proven that spending time with family and friends will cheer you up”.

Okay, either they’re joking/being ironic and I missed it (in which case totally ignore my rant), or they’re not. It’s the latter option that freaks me out more than just a little bit: has modern society, in all its facebook/twitter/match.com glory, seriously come the point where we’ve forgotten that spending time (dinner-at-the-dining-table-time, not facebook-you-at-work-time) with family and friends cheers us up? And are we seriously so ruled by science/left-brain activity that we’d actually require scientific proof before we’d believe such an assertion? Does science really hold so much weight in modern society? All I can say is ‘bring on the age of pisces’, hopefully it will bring with it a bit more idealism.

As for me I think I’m going to conduct an experiment. I’m only going to see people in person for a month. No facebook. No twitter. No answering the phone unless I’m at home and would answer it if it wasn’t mobile (I can’t leave it at home as I need the satnav – not want, need, as in will-end-up-walking-to-Tibet-instead-of-work if left to my own devices).

Because I don’t like being at everybody’s beck and call. And I don’t like the fact that people can simply press a button and ‘like’ your status instead of picking up the phone and having an actual conversation with you. It can’t be good. Sorry, not to sound like the last vinyl record in a world of auto-cued, digital dance music, but it can’t.

Will report back…see you in a month.

xxx

Just Five Minutes - my first music video