The Perfect Sunday? Sunday Papers Live have got it sussed...

There are two versions of my perfect Sunday. One involves me having a major lie in and staying in bed all day in my PJs recovering from the madness and sleep deprived state I tend to find myself in at weekends and the alternative me wants to get up super early and cram in loads of fun stuff like going to a bootfair, hanging out somewhere Sundayish like Colombia Road and meeting friends for brunch.

So when I heard about Sunday Papers Live it was as if my prayers has been answered. Finally someone had cottoned on to the fact that Sundays should be reclaimed to be all those things we want it to be. So last month I made the pilgrimage to Primrose Hill to get a taste of the perfect Sunday at Sunday Papers Live.

A cross between a festival, Secret Cinema and a giant house party, Sunday Papers Live is a bi-monthly event that literally brings the papers to life without you needing to read a word. Every section of your typical Sunday broadsheet is covered from UK and World news to the travel supplement, crossword section and letters page, by special guests along with other quintessential Sunday pastimes like board games and a satisfying Sunday lunch. 

You can make the experience as interactive as you like or sit back and snuggle up in your PJs, with your dog on the sofa, as if you were at home. Running from 12pm-10pm it's a full day of Sunday indulgence, entertainment and stimulation....but was it really the perfect Sunday?

Here's what I loved about it and a few things I think they could have done better....

Having my Happyscope read

I'm a big fan of reading my star sign but when I stumbled across the Happy Scope table run by Dumb Love I realised that all my life I'd been following the wrong kind of karma. As my happyscope astrologer pointed out, Horror-scopes are horrible and happy scopes are so much nicer.
After a few questions he wrote me a personalised happyscope on the back of this fine postcard. I can't reveal what it said but it made me very happy. 

Tucking into a lavish lunch

Instead of a menu on our tables, Chef Tom Hunt personally introduced the afternoon's meal and it sounded heavenly. Served at banquet style tables over several settings, diners were sat down in order of how they arrived at the dining room doors encouraging banter between random strangers. In case there were any awkward moments there was a live music accompaniment. The dishes were then served communally so you could help yourselves. The room was gorgeously decorated and the closest I've come to eating in a Harry Potter canteen set up. 

The veggie option was delicious, a tasty nettle tart...but it was cold. And Sunday lunch shouldn't be cold. I mean I had hot spuds with caramalised garlic and yummy sprouting broccoli and mash but when your tart is cold and your neighbour's roast beef is steaming it's a little mean. 

Chill out time

The Sunday Capers room is an area that takes all the fun parts of a Sunday and condenses it into one space ....a chill out spot to grab a nap or watch movie matinees. There was even a mini grandstand face and live lonely hearts column. The main room gets completely rammed so it was nice to have an alternative space to hang-out in. 

Activities

So how do you fill 10 hours? With a back to back programme of stuff to do there was no chance of getting bored. You could even have a massage or book a canal boat trip but the fact it was such a lovely sunny Sunday meant just relaxing on a deckchair while sipping on juices was enough to keep me occupied.

Although most pastimes were covered there was no bootfair. Sundays are not Sundays without a car boot sale in my books. I'm pretty sure there is space to fit one in - hopefully they'll add this element soon. 

Not having to read the papers
Whenever I buy a Sunday paper it takes me over a week to get through it so having 'the contents' of a paper presented in the form of talks, discussion and performance is actually rather pleasant and useful. 

I particularly enjoyed the debates around the letters page bit - a drop in talk show where you could pull up a seat and have your say. 

In terms of speakers and topics there was an interesting mix - the spoken word performers got the biggest appreciation, but overall I was a bit disappointed with the 'western approach' to the choices, especially the World news. The main speaker for World news gave a talk about the issue of sex workers being excluded from the media in the United States. 

In my mind there are infinite unique and usual stories and issues of interest and relevance all over the world so whoever curated World news should have taken advantage of focusing on a geographic location we hear little about rather than one we hear about every day. 

As for whether I can now go back to reading a Sunday paper after I've experienced Sunday Papers Live....well if the truth be told, while I was there chilling, I picked up a physical newspaper and still enjoyed it.

Reading the Sunday papers are a great British pastime. There's nothing like chilling at home with your feet up reading the papers but also there's nothing quite like Sunday Papers Live. A lot of love, passion and detail went into planning the event (sooooooo much bunting and even a radio and candles in the loos) so I totally salute the organisers. It was probably one of the best organised events I've been to in a long time...but it wasn't overganised in a regimented way, I liked the fact it still had an air of spontaneity about it.

 I recommend Sunday Papers Live to anyone who loves all the non-music bits of music festivals, are overdue meeting up with friends and want an excuse to hang out with them, looking for somewhere quirky to go on a date or just want to do something a bit different. With only three events under their belts so far it's still got cult status appeal so go along before others start ripping it off.

The next Secret Forum's Sunday Papers Live is on Sunday June 1st. 

Find out more here. 

How to bargain hunt at a Bootsale!

Last week at the legendary Battersea Boot Fair

(APOLOGIES: I was meant to post this on Saturday for anyone going to an Easter 
Sunday bootfair but was so busy outside in the sun I forgot, however there are also Bank Holiday Monday bootsales to explore tomorrow...)


This blog post is not a descriptive version of the TV show 'Bootsale Challenge', (quite the opposite considering I know pretty much nothing about antiques). It is a guide to going to car boots sales for people like me, who like to find treasure by rifling through other people's unwanted clutter. 


This passion dates back to as long as I can remember. My father was a keen bootsale shopper and among other things brought home an incredible vintage umbrella and exercise bike. As I was growing up I always enjoyed visiting jumble sales but it wasn't until I got to university in 1999 that I discovered the true beauty of car boot sales.


The carpark behind Brighton train station* used to house the most remarkable bootfair imaginable and it was here that I purchased many a cuddly toy (who I still love dearly), a blue guitar and endless books and CDs. During my final year of living in Brighton I lived one minute's walk from the station and this meant I was able to go every week AND get the best bargains. I once picked up a pair of 70s platforms covered in animal print velvet - before 7am! 


*(Sadly after I left, the bootsale shut down)


Having been back in London now for almost nine years trying to find a decent bootsale has been a mission, I always try and go when I'm on holiday in another part of the UKs however one of the best known in the capital is Battersea held at Battersea Technology College, Battersea Park Road, London, SW11 5AP every Sunday from 1.30-5pm, where I went last week and took these photos. (50p admission)


I can't imagine there are people who dislike bootfairs (though in reality I know this is the case - their loss!) In this respect I'm not looking to convert anyone but I hope people reading this who like a good bootsale rummage like me, will appreciate my advice: 


Do's

Gifts are good!

1. Do buy gifts
This apron will never fit me, but alas, if you're in the same situation but know someone that can give it  a home, then by all means purchase it!

Guaranteed wear!

2. Do buy something you already own that you want more of
Matt has an obsession with straw hats; his belief is you can never have too many...obviously this does have it's implications, storage especially, but it's so hard to find one's that fit properly. So, whenever he sees one he gets it, and now he has one for home, his other home, work and some spares!

Things you LOVE

3. Do buy things you love (or people you're in love with)

The tasty specimen in this photoframe is Bollywood hunk John Abraham, who low and behold, was inside a wooden frame (which the stall holder bought in India but had no idea who was inside). To find such a rare thing that only you could ever love (l'm sure 99% of all other visitors blanked this) is a personal treasure so indulge and buy!


4. Do ask
Unlike in shops car boot sales are rarely priced so if you're interested in something, decide what you think it's worth, how much you'd pay and then enquire about the price. Haggling is perfectly normal so never be afraid to negotiate. One story I'll never forget is when I bought a giant cuddly Barney the Dinosar. I walked past him so many times in awe but was convinced that because of his size, he would be out of my price range. It turned out he was 50p and has been bringing me joy for nearly a decade!


5. Do take a shopping list
Bootfairs can be so overwhelming that you often don't know where to start and as your eyes dart across the wares, you find yourself wanting things you probably can do without. Taking a shopping list of things you genuinely need will help you focus your mind.

Don'ts

Save it for later...

1. Don't buy things you won't wear
I was really drawn to this dress, it was a stunning colour but on reflection I knew I wouldn't wear it now; perhaps in another 10 years time and for this reason I left it behind. 

Looks aren't everything...

2. Don't be sucked in by displays
This was clearly the prettiest stall by far but looks aren't everything, it was ludicrously pricey whereas when you get huge boxes marked 'everything 20p' and you have to hunt around to find things, it's much more satisfying; this stall just felt like a shop. 

Seriously, are you ever going to make it?

3. Don't buy things that's don't yet exist
Ask yourself, will you actually make it, mend it, fix it???? If the answer is no, don't go near it. (The item in this photo on the other hand I will be making!!!)


4. Don't leave things too long
If you eye up a potential find buy it immediately - the good stuff does not last long and by the time you go back it will most likely have been snapped up.


5. Don't get carried away...
The worst possible scenario is that you buy so much stuff you can't carry it home...the second is that you do, but once at home your new 'thing' gets shoved in the corner and forgotten about. Don't just 'buy' because things are cheap, enjoy what you buy, love it as you would something you've paid full price for and take comfort in knowing if you do leave something behind, another customer will come along and give it a better home than you.


One more Do: check out my favourite Car Boot Sale song, 'Jumblesailing'. It was written by Brighton band Clearlake (who must have been inspired by the Brighton Bootsale)....the song has some superb lyrics like.....


'we'll be just like two millionaires going out on a spree' (exactly how I feel when I'm bootsailing)


'it won't break the bank 'cos it's only 10p'  (at Brighton bootfair lots of things were 10p but they weren't at Battersea ....ah how times have changed..)


It's a fine song and it brings back fond memories, I hope it inspires you to get to your nearest bootsale ASAP!