cherry

"Her memory was burning at the land of the wind."

My reading of this poetic piece of graffiti may not be accurate as my French isn't very good, but I hope this helps you appreciate it too if you don't know French. Paris is so rich with beautiful and interesting street art and this struck me as one of the most poignant and yet simple graffitis I have ever seen; especially as the square was full with a couple of hundred people yet no one seemed to pay it any attention.

But I am getting ahead of myself...

For the past month I took my first trip back 'home' to Europe in four years. It was a bit of a whirlwind but I don't think I could have done it any other way. To tell you about it in its entirety I would need several days and so much screen real estate you wouldn't be able to open the page.

So, while I wait for my several rolls of film to develop and I try to break free of this post-adventure come down I'll show you the polaroids I took in order to record the memories that we might forget.

http://suicidegirls.com/members/Cherry/videos/14014/

(see higher quality here)



Annalee, Dwam and Spleen

Funny story, both Dwam and Annalee told me that without photos it would be difficult for them to remember many occasions in their life. It is nice to be reminded of one of the most simplistic and basic needs for documentary.



After a very quick and brief trip to Leeds and London to spring a surprise on one of my favourite people, to visit GoGo and Sean and to shoot some sets, I found myself finally back in Edinburgh; my second home.

The most difficult thing to leave behind when I moved over 4000 miles was the closest friend I've ever had. To be back in the city where we spent so much time having endless conversations, adventures and tea was just wonderful. It was like I'd never left but at the same time we've both grown up in so many ways. I often feel so young still but I realised that it really isn't a bad thing to grow up a little.

So, Annalee and I spent a wonderful few days catching up, going for walks, eating a lot of good food, drinking tea and wine and even sketching together. It was just exactly what I'd needed for so long. After 8 months of working over 70 hours a week I didn't even realise how much I needed some time to be myself and let go. To have been able to do this in a city I have missed dearly and with my best friend I kept thinking I would wake up and it wouldn't be real.

Perhaps this sounds over dramatic and romanticised but it's been an incredibly long time since I poured my emotions out on to a page, so forgive me.





At the end of the week the most wonderful Dwam and Spleen joined us in our little flat and we had yet more wonderful adventures, delicious food and hours of conversation. Dwam made a crown up in the hills and frolicked in the grasses. Spleen made us pancakes, told us stories and we all laughed over and over; seemingly sharing exactly the same funny bones.

Before Dwam could get to making her crown (and Spleen and Annalee collected flowers for her) we had the most delicious picnic of amazing fresh foods and watched many of the bird species I've missed a lot. Getting reacquainted with Scotland has made me want to go back again even more.







On another day with a little sleep under our wings we took off for another long adventure along the river to browse a powerful photography exhibit of August Sander.

The wee hike was magical and serene and again we laughed at every turn in the path. It is amazing how many jokes and conversations four girls can have over the course of a couple of days but it never seemed to end and and we definitely ran out of time.





I'm looking forward to getting my rolls of film back as in my memories I was too shy to take many photos and I really hope that I'm remembering wrong. Spleen took some incredible photos on her Hasselblad and I can only dream that my little 35mm photos come out as beautiful and as accurate to my memories as hers. She is incredibly talented. I urge you to go and see them here: http://emilialombardo.com/blog/

This was one of my favourites:



As much as I wish I could gush on and on I fear that I'm becoming repetitive and so mushy that it's sickening you. Just know that I don't know how but I continue to meet some of the most incredible and inspiring women on the planet and just when I think the limit has been reached the universe proves me wrong.





After seeing two very special friends get married in Leeds and later in my trip I went to Paris and was proven wrong again and again. I met some very special people on this part of my trip and saw some incredible things. For the first 25 years of my life when I was living so close I never even had a thought that I would want to see any of Paris; I'd lived in London and hated Rome so what else was there to know? Now I'm older and far away I realise how mistaken I was.

I'm pretty certain that while I could never live in London again (even though I love it in its own way) I could possibly live in Paris; if only for a short while.

I'll save my stories from this city for another time when I hopefully have many more photos to show you. For now I'll leave you with the very few polaroids I took and some special mentions to old friends and yet more new friends I already miss dearly: Lapsus, Aneria, Sinnah,P_Mod, Opale, Nya and mrmonsieur











On my final evening I was very lucky to also meet Geisha, Valium and Louis_XIV



You see? The laughter never stops. (Thanks Geisha!)

xx