Roma Horror

I was rather shocked to learn that a member of the Roma community in Ireland died a horrific death in 2008 and that this case has been met with indifference by the public.
Just in case you didn't know, Roma refers to an ethnic group called Romani that descends from Northern India who are widely dispersed in Central and Eastern Europe. In Ireland their presence is generally met with scorn, as they roam the streets begging, often accompanied by their baby or small child. Sometimes the child begs on Mother's behalf.
The case of eighteen year old Marioara Rostas has raised eyebrows and questions about the values of Irish society. The young woman was kidnapped by a well known crime family, before she was repeatedly raped by two members, tortured and then shot in an apartment.
Garda Representative Secretary PJ Stone has questioned why there has been no "outpourings of disgust that such depravity could be committed here."
And rightly so. I for one felt my stomach lurch as I read the details of the crime as reported in Irish Examiner. But it became increasingly obvious as to why this case barely made the public radar. There are two schools of thought here. The first is perhaps because the Romani community in Ireland are hated so much that they are "routinely demonized and dehumanized" according to Killian Forde of the Integration Centre. Perhaps some seriously small-minded people might think it serves them right for begging and contributing little to society.
The second theory could just be that this brutal murder has happened to someone that is simply not one of us. If a local Irish girl from say Dublin or Galway for example, I think there would be national uproar and outrage at such a barbaric and disgusting act. People would plead that justice must be served and that the killers should rot in jail for the rest of their lives. I am more inclined to go with this analysis. I don't think it would make that much of a difference if the victim was Chinese, Italian or Australian : the public reaction just would not be as strong as if the deceased was an Irish citizen. The case just has not got that sense of urgency of immediacy. It's a sad fact and my heart goes out to the family who are no doubt still grieving for their child and will be for many years to come. They are after all, contrary to what some cruel people might think, human. And are we as a people as friendly and accepting of diversity as we so often like to believe?

Taking The Bull By The Horns Day 12

In spite of feeling lethargic and with too much to do this afternoon, I made my way out to run again. This time I rarely looked at the time and found a way of totally switching off. I was gone longer than I thought - for about roughly twenty to twenty-five minutes at a rather fast pace. I felt pretty proud of myself.
I was better-behaved with my calorie intake, as I avoided all sweets. I snacked on a handful of almonds when I felt peckish between meals. Given this, I guess I can excuse the couple of pieces of black pudding with my fried egg this morning! I can justify it as I managed to work out how many calories I burned with the running and the twenty sit-ups I did when I got home.
It's down to a website I have discovered called Caloriecount.about.com. When you register you log your weight, height, build and other details. Then each day as you go along, you log your current weight and what you had for each meal. The maximum amount of calories one should take in are 2,000. You search for whatever you ate or want to eat, and it tells you how many calories it is. It's a great way of tracking what you have consumed and how many more calories you have left until you reach your limit.
As well as that, you also log what exercise you took and depending on the type of activity (ie - jogging), it will work out the amount of calories you have burned and deducts them from how many calories you have consumed.
I am cooking fillet steak with creamy mash and cheesy spinach on Wednesday as it is a special occasion - lord knows what the calculator will say. AND I will have strawberry cheesecake ice cream for dessert. I think my computer has already begun to shudder!
That said, I think if I continue my regime, a splurge like that once a week is not hurting anyone. Wouldn't you agree?

I Heart Cars Love Girls

On Thursday night I had the pleasure of attending the launch of Cars Love Girl's debut album SKIP SCHOOL at the funky, retro style Workman's Club on Wellington Quay.
Cars Love Girls are brother and sister Cormac (aka Bres) and Orla Breslin. Cormac was one of the founders and co-writers of Dublin soul/rock band Republic Of Loose. Orla later joined the band as a vocalist.
I have met Bres a few times over the years - we first met properly when I interviewed Republic Of Loose five years ago for a piece in The Sunday Independent. I confess, their front man Mick wasn't (to put it kindly) the most forthcoming when it came to my questions. However, Bres saved the day. He is an extremely helpful, down-to-earth and friendly chap. He put me at ease and the rest of the interview went smoothly - it turned out to be a piece of decent quality.
The Workman's Club is a mix of minimalism with some plush and slightly off-centre decor. The bar was decorated with red damask wallpaper and gorgeous black chandeliers. The best part has to be the heated smoking area with doors nailed to the walls as art. You can see that patrons have added their own little touches with their scrawls and doodles. There was a wide choice of cocktails but for me, I was most impressed that they had Tiger beer.
Cars Love Girls were supported by Solar Taxi . Their red-headed, feisty front woman really had the crowd going. I simply had to give them a mention here, as they are so talented. I hope to catch one of their gigs sometime soon.
By the time Cars Love Girls came on everyone was in great spirits. The two of them looked great. Orla wore a fabulous 80's style cream jacket and matching white blouse with rhinestones on the collar paired with leggings and amazing sparkly boots, which I have captured below. Bres's style guru is Marty McFly, and you can tell, for he had on a patterned shirt, a red jacket, blue jeans and white Nike's. I must do a feature on their personal style at a later date. I only managed to get one photo from my camera as sadly it doesn't handle motion very well.
I didn't stop dancing from start to finish. I was next to their Dad, who must have been asked about fifty times if he was proud of them. Well, that's an understatement - he was positively beaming as he filmed them on his phone.
I would describe Cars Love Girls as funky rock with a mix of singalong pop and R'n'B. It's not surprising as their influences are Michael Jackson, Steely Dan, Prince and Hall and Oates. The pair had a fantastic chemistry on stage as they harmonised and moved in sync. The tunes that stood out the most were My Future Ex Wife and These Girls. There was even a couple of appearances from a saxophonist.

I must say this was one of the best nights out I have had in ages. I would highly recommend that you download Cars Love Girls on Itunes as soon as possible. At the bottom of the page you will find some useful links. Enjoy!

The Band doing their thing.
Myself and Bres
Orla and I. The boots I was talking about...I want!

The most stylish pair at the party!
Artwork designer Fred Murray, Bres and his lovely girlfriend.

www.carslovegirls.com

www.itunes.apple.com/ie/album/skip-school/id509278899

www.twotube.ie/2011/12/cars-love-girls-perform-these-girls
www.solartaximusic.com

Martha Marcy May Marlene

When I first heard about Martha Marcy May Marlene, I thought it was simply about a young woman recalling her time in a hippy cult. I assumed it would be an inoffensive series of recollections from an apartment in New York or other big city location with the character fully rehabilitated and functioning in society. I even expected some humor. I couldn't have been more wrong about what I saw. It is about an extremely damaged woman trying and failing to re-assimilate herself with her family. She struggles with paranoia and painful memories.
Martha is played by the delicious Elizabeth Olsen, the younger sister of Mary Kate and Ashley. Boy, do you start to realise very early on who is the true talent in this genetically blessed family. Not just a pretty face, she has already achieved critical acclaim in Hollywood. This film was well-received at the Sundance Film Festival.
From the very start, I was gripped. We see a large farmhouse. Then the inside, where a bunch of girls dressed in hippie clothing sleep : some on beds, some on the floor. Soon enough we see Martha tiptoe out of the front door with just a rucksack, clearly hoping not to be seen. Too late - for as soon as she makes a break for the woods we hear someone shouting after her. There is a chase. We know this is an escape as we see her hide near a burrow. The whole time, the hairs stood on the back of my neck and my hands covered my mouth. And this is just the first five minutes!
A completely disorientated Martha reaches the nearest town and somehow remembers her sister's phone number. This is her only living relative. During the call she mutters and cries, torn in two as to her next move. So conditioned, she repeatedly says she should "head back." Luckily she agrees to be collected.
Soon we see Martha at a beautiful lake house with her sister Katie (Maria Dizzia) and brother-in-law Ted played by the charming Hugh Dancy. At first there is hope for Martha in her calm surroundings. Katie and Ted provide a strong, soothing influence as they suggest swimming and boating activities. They encourage Martha to talk, but have respect for her privacy at the same time. But they quickly realise that this is a woman in dire need of help, for she cannot separate dreams from reality.
Olsen skillfully plays Martha as a fragile but strong-willed character as we see moments of extreme aggression and spark fly out when one least expects it. When she is calm she mostly speaks to her family in monosyllables and avoids eye contact.
We see such a major change in her surroundings compared to the claustrophobic, dirty wooden house where she lived as Marcy May for two years. Her sister's home is by contrast clean, with minimal furniture and a gorgeous view of the lake. Her husband is a successful, comfortable professional who uses this retreat in upstate New York to escape the rat race for a couple of weeks a year. Being surrounded by this privilege and space confuses Martha - she even questions why they need all this room.
The direction and pace of the film is fluid and transitions logically from the present to a memory with one action. One of the many uncomfortable moments is where Martha, Ted and Katie relax by the lake. To Katie's horror, Martha simply strips naked and dives in. We quickly see in her mind's eye many naked bottoms and bodies swimming around her like it's the most natural thing in the world - clearly another memory.
I feel that the cult is basically a hippy commune with rape. It has all the elements - they share beds, clothes and take turns cooking and cleaning. Everything is communal. As bras can't be shared due to varying sizes, they don't wear any.
The "Alpha" is Patrick (John Hawkes) and you immediately sense he is a creep, saying in order to be in this group you have to "give yourself," and that's just what the female occupants do, whether they are aware of it or not. This is "free love" with a nasty twist. What disturbs me more is the possibility that places like this could exist.
John Hawkes plays a fantastic letch and god-like leader. The group is like his little band of disciples. What he says goes. His angular, almost malnourished features give him an edge of menace, and he can switch from caring nurturer to villain in a second. I truly loathed him by the end of the film, and that is the mark of a great actor.
On an amusing note, I feel that Olsen's breasts had two rather prominent roles. As she is bra less the entire time, you cannot help but notice their presence, and during one or two of the racier scenes. However, I do feel they were necessary - the film is about theft of identity, manipulation and taking something away, which is one's body.
Olsen has said "If Kate Winslet can do it and have an amazing career, I can too."
I absolutely agree. I think a star is born, and I can't wait to see more of Olsen's work. This film to me is a triumph as it pushes boundaries with both emotion and content. But it is not for the faint of heart - I would advise a stiff drink before watching this!

Trailer link : http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi1493409049/

Taking The Bull By The Horns Day 11

My plans for a jog were intercepted by an invite to play a board game at a friend's house. On accepting, I thought to myself how I was going to justify not running today. The answer was very simple - walk to my destination! The house is about thirty-five minutes away if I walk briskly. And a good portion of it is uphill. So that's just what I did.
Sure, I arrived a sweaty mess, but I burned about 200 calories by doing that. Eventually the red face left me!
I was a little naughty, consuming a caramel slice and a handful of Cadbury's Mini Eggs, but I think I can live with that. I was also sans alcohol this evening - unlike about eighty percent of Dublin! But I guess my pocket and my head will thank me later. Check back tomorrow for another update!

Taking The Bull By The Horns Day 10

Today's regime was non-existent. I have an invaluable tip for you : no matter how polluted one is after a night out, do not reach for the cheese. I think I must have hacked through a good third of a block of cheddar with some stale crackers. Not my finest hour - but at least it was a good night! But next time I will make sure there is a box of Weetabix glaring at me on the kitchen counter so I don't get distracted.
I had a delicious bowl of chicken soup this afternoon with olive oil and chilli in it to sort out my cold. I must admit it did the trick, for I feel much better. So in general today I relaxed and rehydrated. I will be back to normal tomorrow!

French Connection Styling Page

I have stumbled across a fantastic Grazia magazine styling page at www.frenchconnection.com. As wedding season approaches, this gives you a couple of pairs of shoes and some dresses, showing you how to mix and match. When you select an item in particular the site also shows it to you from other angles. Fabulous! I have chosen some of my favorite pieces to match up with one pair of shoes. I can only dream of purchasing one of these because they are quite frankly out of my price range at the moment, but there's no harm in looking, right?

Take one pair of TIARELLA PATENT ANKLE STRAP SHOES €159

Add one of these fabulous dresses. THE SPARKLE HOUR DRESS at €225 is my hands-down favorite. The shoes create a lovely contrast to the crepe fabric with embellished sequin bodice.



The crepe, flared SUNSPARK STRAPLESS DRESS in blush pink has a sense of romance and a Hollywood feel to it. I love the sweetheart neckline. It's hardly a bargain at €403, but it is tempting all the same.


The straps and crepe chiffon fabric gives this number a 1920s feel, a period I have been obsessed with lately. It would be such a unique buy and would stand out from all the strapless Coast dresses one sees at weddings all too often. It costs an eye-watering €507, but if I had the means, I would snap it up in a second. It doesn't hit the racks until April, but it is available for pre-order.


Check out this link for more details and fantastic styling tips:

http://www.frenchconnection.com/category/Woman+Collections+Grazia+Styling+Tips/Grazia+Styling+Tips.htm