Stuff
WHO IS THAT MASKED WOMAN?
Wearing The Vampire’s Wife Gold Lace Mask is our very own house model, the impossibly beautiful Katinka.
GREEK EUPHORIA
Just reprinting this beautiful letter from Stathis from Athens that was sent to my husband’s Red Hand Files.
WHO IS THAT MASKED WOMAN?
Here I am sitting in the naughty corner at the wonderful Irma’s Kitchen in Lewes.
‘DRESS OF THE DECADE HITS THE HIGH STREET’ – BRITISH VOGUE
“Congratulations, babe. ‘Dress of the Decade’! Sold out!”That’s my husband.
AND NOT YOUR YELLOW HAIR
I love this wry, arch little poem by the great William Butler Yeats. I was reminded of it as I watched...
SUSIE ON THE SILHOUETTE
Since the start of your label, most of your dresses, whether short or long, are based on a very specific, victorian-looking silhouette...
GIFT FROM ARGENTINA
My husband asked me to post this beautiful song sent to his Red Hand Files by Ceci from Argentina.
LOVE OPENED A MORTAL WOUND
Here is a lovely poem thrown into the world by Poem-a-day from the Seventeenth Century Mexican nun and poet...
A TOWN CALLED LEWES
The Vampire’s Wife has officially moved their offices and showrooms to historic Lewes—the strangest town in England.
Who is that Masked Woman?
Beautiful Kate Moss is caught wearing The Vampire’s Wife mask, last week. We adore you, Kate!
‘WHERE THE WILD ROSES GROW’ IS TWENTY-FIVE!
It was twenty-five years ago, last week, that my husband recorded ‘Where the Wild Roses Grow’ with our friend...
SURELY THERE’S A TEAHOUSE
I just wanted to post this lovely letter to Nick that was sent to The Red Hand Files by Aleesha from Brisbane, Australia.
ON, ON INTO THE DARK
A sweet poem of awakening and transitory love arrived this week from the occasionally awesome poem-a-day website.
THE INCANDESCENCE OF CHILDREN
My darling mother sent this early Susie Cave work to me yesterday by email! I’m not sure why I am showing it to you.
WHO IS THE MASKED WOMAN?
Our beautiful Sam Snow, here at the Vampire’s Wife, wears the Silk Mask. We adore you, Sam.
Night Without End
Night without end. I cannot sleep.The full moon blazes overheadFar off in the night I hear someone call
THE DOOM AND GLORY OF KNOWING WHO YOU ARE
Spending Sunday morning in bed with Maria Popova’s superlative website Brain Pickings—an epic act of generosity.
WE LOVE GRETA BELLAMACINA
We love the fiendishly talented Greta Bellamacina here at The Vampire’s Wife.
JULY, 10 3:42 P.M
NEW YORK, NEW YORK
NEW YORK, NEW YORK
RAE ARMANTROUT
My husband asked me to put up this poem by the great Rae Armantrout from her new collection of poems.
IN PRAISE OF ELSE von FREYTAG-LORINGHOVEN
Last night, I was reading about the amazing Dada artist, poet and living artwork, Else von Freytag-Loringhoven.
CRISTIN MILIOTI WEARS THE VAMPIRE’S WIFE
Cristin Milioti, award-winning actress, writer, producer and singer wears The Vampire’s Wife.
WARNING. LISTEN AT OWN RISK. NO. 19
“Hey, babe.” That’s my husband. “Check this out. It is a song by the most famous Lebanese singer of them all, Fairouz.
TOOTS THIELEMANS AND MIDNIGHT COWBOY
This lovely message came through from Roseanna from Colorado. Yes, I love this footage from the great Toots Thielemans.
GEMS OF LOVE ALONG THE WAY
I love this little book on a Sunday—Thoughts of Idle Hours—published in 1915.
KATE TEMPEST—PEOPLE’S FACES
I love this call for. universal and inclusive compassion from the ferociously talented Kate Tempest
FREDERICO GARCIA LORCA – THE WIND WATCHES WATCHES
Last week was the anniversary of the death of the great Spanish poet Frederico García Lorca.
LET ME UNFOLD YOU
After hearing the beautiful Cocteau Twins song on The Stuff Page a couple of weeks ago...
WHO IS THAT MASKED WOMAN?
The wild and wonderful Floria Sigismondi, filmmaker and photographer, who directed the glorious Gucci Bloom film...
THE BRILLIANT HERA LINDSAY BIRD
Spent the weekend giggling and gasping my way through the delightfully atrocious high-voltage poetry of Hera Lindsay Bird.
GOD’S VOICE
Someone called Konstanzia sent this to my husband’s wonderful Red Hand Files and he asked me if I would put it up on The Stuff Page.
THE WANT OF YOU BY ANGELINA GRIMKÉ
A beautiful little poem of grief by Angelina Weld Grimké. I love the delicate hint or memory of nature filling the void.
FLORIA SIGISMONDI WEARS THE VAMPIRE’S WIFE
The amazing Floria Sigismondi, (who wrote and directed the wonderful biopic The Runaways...
Who is that Masked Woman?
The wonderful Devon Ross—a woman we’ve been seeing a lot lately wears The Vampire’s Wife Pink Gingham Mask.
THE VAMPIRE CAT T SHIRT
The Vampire’s Wife launch a new t shirt today. The gorgeous VAMPIRE CAT T SHIRT is based on a drawing by one of my favourite illustrators.
HOPE – A POEM AND A PAINTING
Hope by Alice Dunbar-Nelson. Wild seas of tossing, writhing waves, A wreck half-sinking in the tortuous gloom.
WHO IS THIS MASKED WOMAN?
The astonishing Eve Hewson wears The Vampire’s Wife Yellow Daisy Mask. Check out the wonderful series, The Luminaries.
LEAN YEAR - COME AND SEE
Vero from ‘somewhere in the world’ recommended this gorgeous song by Virginian duo, Lean Year.
TOM RUSH SINGS BILOXI
A friend sent me this song—such a great country lyric and gorgeous arrangement. Tom Rush singing Biloxi. Just had to pass it on.
EVE HEWSON WEARS THE VAMPIRE’S WIFE
The wonderful Eve Hewson goes as Bjork in The Vampire’s Wife Silver Metallic Falconetti Dress.
My Sweet Lord
I love this piece of writing on Nina Simone from my husband’s Red Hand Files, last week.
THE LAMENT OF THE NYMPH
Clara sent this beautiful letter to The Vampire’s Wife. Claudio Monteverdi’s song is so very beautiful.
WHOEVER HAS LOVE ALSO HAS PAIN
A dear friend sent me this gorgeous song, La Llorona, and these words. Do you know Llorona? It is such a mournful lament.
ASTONISHING THE GODS
My husband read me this beautiful passage from a book called ‘Astonishing the Gods’ by the Nigerian writer, Ben Okri.
COME, COME, WHOEVER YOU ARE
I love this little poem by Rumi, the 13th Century Persian poet and mystic—full of forgiveness and longing and inclusion.
KATE MOSS WEARS THE TOTAL MAYHEM DRESS
“Hey, babe, Kate Moss just told French Vogue that I’m the most glamorous women she knows!”.
BEAUTIFUL CATE WEARS THE TOTAL MAYHEM DRESS
The magnificent Cate Blanchett wears The Vampire’s Wife Total Mayhem Dress for the cover of Vogue.
O TO BE A RAINBOW
There is so much joy in this beautiful, buoyant new song from our dear friend, Soko. Thank you for bringing a smile to our faces.
THE FRIDA KAHLO LOVES STUFF T SHIRT
The Stuff Page has been a project that The Vampire’s Wife started nearly four years ago.
VALERIE AND HER WEEK OF WONDERS
Just watched this extraordinary film—Valerie And Her Week Of Wonders. Inspired by fairy tales...
WHO IS THAT MASKED WOMAN?
My dear friend Bella Freud wears The Vampire’s Wife Heidi Mask. Bella, who taught me everything I needed to know about how to make fashion.
VALERIE REMEMBERED
When I was thirteen years old, I went on a camping trip to the South of France, in the summer holidays.
HIGHASAKITE – TOUGH BEAUTY
I just stumbled across this wonderful song by the Norwegian band Highasakite.
WHO IS THAT MASKED WOMAN?
The brilliant Elisabeth Moss wears the The Vampire’s Wife Yellow Daisy Mask in Interview Magazine.
GELAREH POUR – INTO MY ARMS
Vicki from Melbourne, Australia, sent my husband this truly lovely version of his song ‘Into My Arms’
WHO WAS THAT MASKED MAN?
“Can I use the picture I took of you in the black silk Vampire’s Wife mask for a Stuff Post?” That’s me talking to my husband.
WARNING. LISTEN AT OWN RISK. No. 18
My husband’s playing the piano. He’s been doing that a lot lately. I’m sitting and listening. He stops and says—
A LIFESAVER AND HER SUNSHINE SISTER
This picture came in this week of my friend, Daisy Lowe, lying in a field with her ‘sunshine sister’ both dressed in The Vampire’s Wife.
SOMEDAY WE’LL LINGER IN THE SUN
My dear friend Polly Borland sent me this clip of American folksinger and violinist Gaelynn Lea, performing her song, ‘Someday We’ll Linger in the Sun’
THE LARGESSE OF SPRING
“A person called Dzara B. sent me this poem by Charles Reznikoff to The Red Hand Files. It’s powerful and speaks a strong message...”
IN PRAISE OF ALEKSANDRA WALISZEWSKA
Again and again, I return to the visionary art of Polish artist Aleksandra Waliszewska.
THE RESILIENCE OF CHILDREN
A friend sent me this remarkable picture of a bronze statue that remained in tact after a massive battle in Russia.
SONGS FOR A SOLITUDE
Susie, I’ve discovered lots of wonderful things through the Stuff Posts. Could you make us a playlist...
WARNING. LISTEN AT OWN RISK. No.17
“Hey, it’s been a while since we’ve done a Song of Devastation.” That’s my husband. “I know,” I say.
AT THE TIME OF THE FLOOD
A lady called Linda from Geelong in Australia sent a very long, detailed and beautiful letter to me, part of which said...
SUBVERSIVE FEMININITY
A letter was sent into The Vampire’s Wife from someone called Lisa from Dorset. She called the dresses ‘shockingly feminine’!
MAYA RUDOLPH DOES HER THING
The actor and comedian Maya Rudolph hosted the Grammy Salute to Prince last week, all dressed in The Vampire’s Wife.
Even the Trees
Alex from Cleveland, USA sent this wonderful poem to my husband’s Red Hand Files. The poem is by the Lebanese poet, Hayan Charara.
MOONBATHE WITH THE VAMPIRE’S WIFE
The Vampire’s Wife is dropping a limited edition knitwear capsule collection on our website tomorrow.
CAMILLE PAGLIA STOOPS TO CONQUER
Just sitting here with my husband reading Camille Paglia’s wonderful Break, Blow, Burn—close readings of her favourite poems.
THE SUSIE LOVES STUFF T SHIRT
The Stuff Page has been a project that The Vampire’s Wife started nearly four years ago. We are now coming up to our four hundredth post!
MAC MILLER SINGS CIRCLES
Here is a sweet song from American rapper, musician and record producer, Mac Miller, that sort of creeps up on you.
Bowie and Cher Blow our Minds!
This really is one of the most beautiful, playful and charged duets I have ever seen—David Bowie and Cher singing, “Can You Hear Me?”
PABLO NERUDA SPEAKS INTO OUR TIME
There really is little more to add to this poem but simply to share it—a beautiful sentiment from the great Chilean poet, Pablo Neruda.
LE MYSTERE DES VOIX BULGARES
A person called Heidi from Madison, USA suggested I listen to Le Mystere Des Voix Bulgares and their weird, eerie harmonies have been weaving around the house all day.
A BOY WITH A SNAIL IN HIS HEART
“Babe, suddenly, without warning, Poem-a-day throws up this extraordinary poem! Do you want to post it on the Stuff Page—it’s wild.” That’s my husband.
LETTER FROM ABBY
“Hey, babe, there is a letter here from someone called Abby from Manchester. She wants to ask you a question”. That’s my husband.
LEONARD BRINGS IN THE LIGHT
My husband sent me this message from his wonderful Red Hand Files. It comes from Kaley in Manchester.
DEEP NIGHT BY RUAN CHI
Classical Chinese poetry, written over the course of three thousand years has the capacity to speak to our very hearts.
I THANK GOD FOR THIS MOST AMAZING DAY
Sitting here, looking out my rainy window, over the sea that rages and crashes everywhere, the wind howling and knocking the trees all about...
WARNING. LISTEN AT OWN RISK. No 16
“Hey, babe, Emma from Maryland, USA wrote a beautiful letter. Do you want me to read it to you?” That’s my husband...
COME MY DARLING – ASMAHAN
This is a sweet message for Lori from Toronto, who wrote into my husband’s Red Hand Files, recommending this incredibly beautiful song...
BLACK LIPS – DARK COUNTRY
This strange hypnotic number, ‘Get It On Time’ by Black Lips, sung by the extraordinary Los Angeles-based actress and musician, Zumi Rosow...
JODIE COMER WEARS THE VAMPIRE’S WIFE
The brilliant and beautiful Jodie Comer wears The Vampire’s Wife Floral Gypsy Tea Dress while filming Series 3 of the wonderful Killing Eve
CILLA AND MARC – LIFE’S A GAS
Rachel from Sydney, Australia brought this beautiful duet to my attention through my husband’s Red Hand Files. It is a gorgeous thing—an instant cure for the doldrums.
ANNA PAVLOVA AND THE DYING SWAN
Allyson from Kimberton, USA, sent this letter to my husband’s glorious Red Hand Files, commenting on the name of the new collection Frill Seeker.
LASHANA LYNCH BLOSSOMS!
Wonderful Lashana Lynch, styled by the brilliant Karla Welch wears The Vampire’s Wife Green Floral Blossom Dress and we love her for it!
GWENDOLYN BROOKS - WE REAL COOL
My husband asked me to put this poem by Gwendolyn Brooks up on The Stuff Page.
THE COLD STARS SHONE IN MOCKERY
Flipping through Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein while sitting in the breakfast room of the Shelley Hotel in Lewes
THE FRILL SEEKER COLLECTION
The new collection is here! The Vampire’s Wife continue to play with the idea of femininity with the Frill Seeker Collection.
THE MELANCHOLY WONDER OF SHARMILLA ROY
If you like Umm Kulthum, you maybe also appreciate Sharmilla Roy especially 'Ontoro momo' Her voice is so extraordinary, moving, melancholy and extremely joyful at the same time.
SINCE YOU WENT AWAY – SHU CH’I-SIANG
The aching, erotic stillness of these ancient Chinese poems completely overpowers me, as they find their way into The Vampire’s Wife designs.
ST VINCENT BLOWS US AWAY
The brilliant and beautiful Annie Clark aka Saint Vincent wears The Vampire’s Wife Mini Mayhem Dress to the Independent Spirit Awards in LA last week.
GERMAINE GREER BY DIANE ARBUS
I was flipping through a book on the photography of Diane Arbus and found that she had photographed the feminist provocateur Germaine Greer.
WARNING. LISTEN AT OWN RISK No. 15
Known as ‘The Voice of Egypt’ Umm Kulthum rings around the house this morning, cranked up loud, her raw emotion and incredible vocal range ever splendid.
“LET THERE BE LIBERTY, GOD SAID, AND LO!”
Divine Liberty Ross wore The Vampire’s Wife Black Velvet Lace Night Sparrow Dress to the Tom Ford show in Los Angeles last week.
TO GEORGE SAND: A DESIRE
The most poplar writer of her day, I must admit I have never read George Sand, but I still I adore her!
CLAUDIA CARDINALE AND BRIGITTE BARDOT
Just watched the great 1971 spaghetti western Les Pétroleuses, with Claudia Cardinale and Brigitte Bardot, yet again. Erotic, subversive, complex
DO YOU BELIEVE IN VAMPIRES?
My husband is sitting at the kitchen table reading the questions on his Red Hand Files. I’m almost out the door, heading to the brand new Vampire’s Wife offices
DOVIMA AND THE ELEPHANTS
Dovima and the Elephants by Richard Avedon—this challenging, discomforting photograph intrigued me as a young girl
A POEM FROM SAINT AUGUSTINE
Someone called Lindsay sent this lovely message to my husband’s Red Hand Files. I love that people out there are participating on the Stuff Page.
THE DIVINE GILLIAN ANDERSON
Gillian Anderson wore the American Chevron Dress from The Vampire’s Wife Pussy Bow Collection whilst attending the premiere of Sex Education last week in London.
A PIECE OF STÉPHANE MALLARMÉ
It is so easy to fall into despair, ‘hide within our wounds’, spiral into a darkness of our own misfortune—but, in doing so, we lose our ability to feel...
FOR THE ANIMALS
As my friend, Palma, wrote, “We're watching the earth change before our eyes. The truth is, it wasn't always a habitable globe for creatures like us
SOPHIA DE MELLO BREYNER ANDRESEN
Someone called Yara sent this to my husband’s Red Hand Files. It’s such an incredibly sweet letter and the poem is lovely. I’ve never seen it before. I love it that people send things in.
LOVE WILL REMAIN
Here is a gorgeous song, fragmentary but vast, by the great Bill Fay. I hope you like it.
A LITTLE HOPE GOES A LONG WAY
I had a dream last night I was sitting in a field listening to Mazzy Star’s beautiful Fade Into You and woke up with the song in my head.
ATTAR BRINGS IN THE NEW YEAR
I spent time reading the Persian poet, Farid Al-Din Attar’s wonderful book The Conference of Birds over the Christmas break, full of the most beautiful words
“WE ARE ALL JUST WALKING EACH OTHER HOME”
Goodbye, Ram Dass. “Having empathy for another person means yourheart is breaking, because you understand the intensity of their experience...
HAPPY CHRISTMAS TO ALL
Dear everyone! Have a wonderful Christmas and see you in the New Year. Thank you for all your support this last year and for those of you who helped out with the Stuff Posts.
A QUOTE FROM CLARICE LISPECTOR
Our dear friend, Rodrigo, sent us this message. People are always digging around and finding these strange, life-affirming treasures.
VIRGINIA WOOLF BY JULIA MARGARET CAMERON
I spent Sunday morning looking at the beautiful photographs of Julia Margaret Cameron, in a wonderful, old book I have of her photography.
NICK AND WARREN AT THE OPERA HOUSE
My husband and Warren Ellis played their soundtrack music at the Sydney Opera House this week, with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra and the Sydney Philharmonia Choir.
EMILY DICKINSON'S BIRTHDAY
Today is the birthday of the great Emily Dickinson. Emily would lower her poems in a basket from her bedroom window
JODIE TURNER-SMITH SHOWS US HOW TO WEAR A VAMPIRE’S WIFE MINI DRESS
Actress Jodie Turner-Smith wears The Sparkle Velvet Runaway Dress to attend the Queen & Slim Premiere after-party in LA.
THE MOST BRILLIANT WEYES BLOOD
Sitting here in the back of a car heading to LAX and back to London and listening to Weyes Blood’s brilliant Andromeda, cosmic and confrontational and full of yearning.
WE TRY. ALL OF US. WE TRY
I was reading this last night, the final paragraph from Richard Ford’s wonderful novel, Canada. Such truth put so simply and without fuss.
WARNING. LISTEN AT OWN RISK. No. 14
“How are you?” That’s my husband. He’s on the phone. He’s in LA, where it’s the afternoon and sunny and warm.
In The End History Has Its Way!
I don’t know the date of this article below, but it rings so many bells for us all, the ‘gleefully dabbles’ not the least of them.
A poem by Sapphire
Sapphire’s 1994 book American Dreams is some of the toughest, most confrontative poetry I’ve ever read. Amazing stuff. But I stumbled across this...
Ramana The Sage
My husband sent me this letter he received on his Red Hand Files because he knew that I would love it. Ramana Maharshi, also, said that ‘Silence is a conversation,’...
Do Not Stand At My Grave And Weep
Written in 1932 and routinely voted as America’s favourite poem, Do Not Stand at my Grave and Weep was taught in schools everywhere. I remember...
The divine Lauren Mayberry
The euphoria-inducing Lauren Mayberry of Chvrches performs ‘Death Stranding’ on the Late Late Show with James Corden wearing...
We declare ourselves witches
The Vampire’s Wife acolyte and all-round sorceress, Tali Lennox and friend, Ariana Papademetropoulos, dabble in the dark arts, looking completely beguiling in The Vampire’s Wife Black Velvet Runaway Dress and the enchanting Falconetti. Something is definitely brewing. We adore you, Tali and Ariana, here at The Vampire’s Wife. Love, Susie x
Here is Siling Zhang’s poem of female witch power!
We Declare Ourselves WitchesWhen we declare ourselves witchesWe usurp the head of the churchWe stand before God with our backs turnedAnd appropriate his halo.
By Siling Zhang
Her beauty is a weapon
Pierre Klossowski, artist, writer and older brother of the painter Balthus, spent a lifetime drawing the most extraordinary and provocative pictures of his wife...
In praise of Julianne Moore
Just to let you know Julianne Moore’s performance in the masterful Magnolia back in 1999 blew my mind.It was so adventurous, so real and...
I see a girl dragged by the wrists
I found this beautiful Philip Larkin poem – full of strange yearning and self-doubt and wanted to share...
In praise of Tomasz Mreńca
My husband received another message from Kuba from Cleksyn, Poland, on his Red Hand Files, with another beautiful recommendation...
Mischief-maker Jessie Barden on the train to somewhere
Wonderful Jessie Barden, star of the hit TV series, End of the Fucking World, that features my son Earl (I’m just saying) knocks us all out...
Warning. Listen at own risk No. 13
“Hey, babe, check this out.” That’s my husband. He is sitting at the kitchen table, reading the questions on his Red Hand Files. It always puts him in a good mood. It makes him happy and, kind of, hopeful. “What?” “There is a person called Naomi from Glasgow who is making a suggestion for a song on your Stuff Page.” I’m sitting here too, trying to write my Stuff Page. My Stuff Page makes me happy and hopeful, too. “Naomi from Glasgow says, “On the wonderful Vampire’s Wife Stuff Page you sometimes suggest a Song of Devastation. What makes a...
Here comes The Pussy Bow Collection
The Vampire's Wife launches a new collection of dresses entitled ‘Pussy Bow’. Working with costume designer extraordinaire Alice Babidge...
JULY, 10 3:42 P.M
NEW YORK, NEW YORK
NEW YORK, NEW YORK
Courtney Love and a Pom called Bell
Beautiful Courtney sits at the Connaught Hotel dressed in the Blue Corduroy Festival Dress, with Bell, her Pomeranian...
A message from Francis Bacon
“The creative process is a cocktail of instinct, skill, culture and a highly creative feverishness. It is not like a drug; it is a particular state when everything happens very quickly, a mixture of consciousness and unconsciousness, of fear and pleasure; it’s a little like making love, the physical act of love.”
By Francis Bacon
Kisa Gotami and the mustard seed
During Buddha’s time, there lived a woman named Kisa Gotami. She married young and gave birth to a son. One day, the baby...
Marcus Aurelius and The Daily Stoic
I’ve found a great book recently called The Daily Stoic and it gives a quote each day from one of the ancient Stoics...
Unseen Guy Bourdin photos
My dear friend Katherine who is always on the lookout for things strange and beautiful sent me these two unseen photographs...
In praise of the Song of Songs
How beautiful, how sensuous, how disturbing this piece of biblical text is, full of longing and dark violence and tremendous need? My fingers dripped with liquid myrrh, on the handles of the lock. Love, Susie x Beloved 2 I was asleep, but my heart was awake. It is the voice of my beloved who knocks: "Open to me, my sister, my love, my dove, my undefiled; for my head is filled with dew, and my hair with the dampness of the night." 3 I have taken off my robe. Indeed, must I put it on? I have washed my feet. Indeed, must...
Snoop Dogg does the husband
The Stuff Page has never been a forum to promote my husband’s work, but I just can’t let this one go...
A wild weekend in paradise!
The Vampire’s Wife blew Los Angeles and New York away last weekend as Natalie Portman stormed The Ellen DeGeneres Show dressed in the L.A. Mini Dress and the wild and wonderful Lisa Bonet attended the “Joker” film premiere, all sultry in the Silk Tea Dress and our much loved Kirsten Dunst, wore the Hummingbird Dress at the world premiere of "The Irishman" in New York. A good, good couple of days! Love Susie.
It's a mother's right to brag
Make of it what you will, but I’m just saying, doesn’t my son Earl look completely gorgeous in this photograph. His film...
In praise of David Hicks
I first fell in love with David Hicks's jewellery many years ago - before I really realised how everything I ever loved about interiors came...
Warning - Listen at own risk No. 12
I am sitting with my husband listening to the radio. He is reading a book by Darcey Steinke called ‘Flash Count Diary - Menopause, and the...
The Nadia Comâneci Dream
When I was ten years old, I dreamed of being a gymnast. I had seen Nadia Comâneci on the TV performing at the Montreal Olympic games in 1976, and like so many young girls, was swept away by the purity of her performance and her incredible courage. Next door to me, in Bromley, lived a teenage girl who practised gymnastics in her backyard, and I used to watch her exercising through a hole in the fence, and I would copy her movements. My dreams were the dreams of countless young girls, and I learned to handstand and backflip and cartwheel...
Daniel Johnston R.I.P
Daniel Johnston, singer, songwriter, artist and inspiration to so many has died...
An interlude with Dame Edith Louisa Sitwell
Allyson from Kimberton, USA, sent a poem to my husband’s wonderful Red Hand Files by the brilliant Dame Edith Louisa Sitwell. We both loved it and....
Susie and Vivienne from 1998
My friend, Katherine, sent me this wonderful photograph from 1998. Here I am with my great inspiration...
Vampire in the Forest
I was looking through a new book of the despairing paintings of Edvard Munch with my husband (we really know how to have a good time!) and, anyway, how many books on Edvard Munch does one family need (!) and found yet another vampire painting, a subject that Munch returned to again and again – the female vampire sucking the blood of the cowering male. And, well, Munch was not what you’d call a ladies man, and has over the years got into a fair amount of trouble for his representation of women, but I always found Munch’s women, wonderfully...
Warning. Listen at own risk No. 11
“Hey Babe?” That’s my husband. “Uh-huh?” That’s me. “I got a letter on The Red Hand Files from a girl called Phoebe F. She suggested a Song of Devastation.”...
Father Yod and The Mystic Road
I’ve just been reading The Mystic Road purported to be based on Father Yod’s teachings. Now as far as cult leaders go Father Yod seemed pretty wild....