Pebble Culture

This is a strange little phenomenon that only women get - apparently. I however, believe that men have a soft spot for it too...they just won't admit it.

For those of you not in the know, Pebble Culture is the thing that transforms a house into a home. It's the nick-nacks, art work, cushions, candles, rugs, throws and other stuff that add to the atmosphere and ambiance of a place.

I am the first to admit I love a bit of Pebble Culture. Now don't get me wrong, my house is not littered with dust gathering ornaments. Nor is it awash with cuddly toys and fluffy things. I have my share of Art work (mostly music or travel related) and I have a few cushions. But my main nod to the Pebble Culture is candles - I do love a good candle! My sitting room alone boasts around 15. All artfully arranged around the fire place. My dining room holds another 10 or so. My bedroom has 3. In this modern world where lights can be dimmed by a clap of a hand or voice control there is something quite primitive and homely about a simple candle that is lit by a match (even I draw the line at a tinderbox!).

Words spoken by candlelight can mean something totally different to the exact same words spoken under electric light. Listening to an album by candlelight can change the whole sound and mood of the music without even touching an instrument.

Candlelight is a powerful thing. It can inspire confidences, romantic gestures, whispered secrets, shared dreams, a sense of cosiness, or pure and simply relaxation.

If you ask most men in company if they like candles they normally grunt, shake their heads and mutter something about burning money. And yet these same men will be the first to light a candle or 5 in the winter months or fill the garden with tea lights in the summer.

Most of my ex-boyfriends have been very comfortable with the idea of Pebble Culture and the odd one or two have even had to be reigned in by me (shocking isn't it) to avoid spending all of the food budget on tea lights and soft lighting!

So the next time a bloke tries to convince you that Pebble Culture is just for women - don't' believe them! And put that extra Yankee Candle in the trolley for good measure!

Her Name is Rio

I've booked my tickets for Duran Duran!

As you know, my musical taste is pretty eclectic (that's putting it mildly) and Duran Duran nestle quite happily between Nick Drake and Elbow in my vast collection.

I love the early 80's music. It reminds me of my early childhood and early teenage hood. Like most scratty 10 year olds I adorned my face with stripes ala Adam and the Ants, I wore awful rah-rah skirts and legwarmers like Bananarama and I experimented with make up in the unfortunate 80's style of Toyah and Cyndi Lauper!

But one thing I never got involved in was the mass rivalry between Spandau Ballet fans and the Duran Duran fans. I never saw the need. As far as I was concerned they were both brilliant! And unlike some of the songs from that era, their music has stood the test of time. I still enjoy playing their albums. I still enjoy singing along.

If I'm totally honest I have a real soft spot for the early 80's 'New Romantic' movement. One of my all time favourite driving tunes is Gary Newman's Cars. Awesome song! Great intro, throbbing bass, the only way to play it is loud! Spandau toured last year and stupidly I missed out on getting tickets so there was no way I was making the same mistake with the Durans. As of 8.00 this morning my tickets were secured and the leg warmers and hideous pink visor are once more on standby!