On the train southbound

So here I am on the train heading towards Gothenburg (my old hometown) listening to the excellent musical choices of The Vintage Kitten feeling a little blue...

Yesterday I went to my first social swing dance. And you know, I had kinda forgotten that feeling of feeling alone that happens when one stands watching couples dancing... Still, I learned more new steps which was the intention.

Also, right now I´m in-between jobs and with bills looming over me, not to mention a quite high rent, I´ve been a bit stressed... Being a freelancer the financial uncertainty can be quite unnerving...

I´m getting of in Gothenburg to hook up with my old friend Therese and see my little godson (Prince :) Caspian. Then I get on board again and head further south to Falkenberg, where my friend Yvonne and her husband will meet me to help me get my darling Neo to the kennel where he will be staying while I´m in Ghana.

After that we drive to my old living quarters - Helsingborg where I plan to stay for two days before heading to Copenhagen and Kastrup airport.

Well, weel soon the sun (31°C :) in Ghana and eating fresh ripe mango will chase all my blues away!

Getting ready to go to Ghana again!

Dear Vintage Lovers! I wasn't sure it was going to happen, since there were so many "roadblocks", but Ive finally been given the go-ahead! Leaving for Ghana again 2/2. So excited!

I long for the warmer weather...

XXX Diva

Nina Mae McKinney

Nina Mae McKinney, born June 13 in Lancaster, South Carolina in 1913. Dubbed as "The Black Garbo", she was one of the first African-American film stars.

McKinney moved to New York when she was a teenager and began her career performing as a dancer. She was spotted dancing in Blackbirds of 1928 by director King Vidor and cast in the lead role of Hallelujah!, one of the first all-black films by a major studio and Vidor's first sound film, for which he was nominated for an Oscar in 1930. In the film, McKinney dances the "Swanee Shuffle", a seductive dance which became a minor fashion.

After Hallelujah! McKinney signed a five year contract with MGM, however, the studio seemed reluctant to star her in feature films. Her most notable roles during this period were in films for other studios, including a leading role in Sanders of the River (1935), made in the UK, where she appears with Paul Robeson. After MGM cut almost all her scenes in Reckless (1935) she left Hollywood for Europe where she acted and danced, appearing mostly in theatrical shows and cabaret.



She returned to the United States at the start of WWII where she married Jimmy Monroe, a jazz musician. After the war she moved to athens, Greece and lived there until she returned to New York in 1960.



Nina Mae McKinney died May 3, 1967 of a heart attack. In 1978, she was inducted into the Black Filmmakers Hall of Fame.

Information from Wikipedia.

Today Chicago had ”open house” where people could come in and test the various available courses. I went there in the belief that there would just be a few people... Well, the place was completely packed!

It was really fun and I made sure to dance with the instructor once, so as to get his assessment on what level I should take. He said he thought I followed well and that I should choose the level after beginners level - cool!

So next week I start swing dance! ☺ Today's outfit.



Usually the pictures on most of the vintage blogs (mine too ) I read use images like the one above.



But isn't this the most delightful pin up girl and so much closer to "home" for the most of us ;)



Aren't these pictures cute! I decided to follow the Internet address on one of the images in hope to find more of the same. I didn't, but I found a website with more "full" pinup girls which was encouraging to see.

How ever the illustrated images on toilgirls.com are a little more "naughty" than the pictures in this post.

Darling Dita!

What an inspiration she is! The elegance of how she carries herself and what she wears, but also her performances. I can´t wait for the next issue of InStyle where she shows her home!



In another magazine was listed some of the places Dita shops in LA. One of them was Faire Frou Frou a lingerie boutique. That's where I found these adorable slippers! They come in black too and cost 63$



Dita has been working with Cointreau on a number of occasion and is their current most notable spokeswoman. Dita designed this spectacular Cointreau Coffret (that I want, yes I do! yes I do!)



Its soo elegant! It comes with a bottle of Cointreau, two glasses and a shaker! But you can only buy it in three locations in the world, Selfridge in London being one of them, but not online.... :(




After its been used for its purpose the box becomes a beautiful jewelery box! On another note I just have t0 mention Frollein von Sofas latest creations...



Mini-hats! Good enough to eat, no? :)



Look a this little delicate "cake" hat! Marvelous!

I´m dreaming of...

I´m so cold today! And just long for Spring! Which is ridiculous living in Sweden and its only January... Still, with a little effort I will be in Ghana again in 3 weeks time ! :)

Today I had one of those rare experiences. I met a friend I hadn't seen in, 30 years and we connected. I mean really connected. It was so great!

I think I just got myself a new friend :)

Childhood memories

This was a TV series I loved ( this and The Onedine Line ) as a child, Its about a family in the 1940s in Liverpool. Well, guess what... I just bought the whole series on DVD!



Here they all are ; John and Marget, Uncle Sefton Briggs, Philippe, in the back Tony Briggs. Freda, mother Jean and father Edwin and the ever quarreling couple Sheila and David.



I think they are the ones I remembered the most, before I started watching the DVDs.



Freda and her older sister Margret. I´ve had so much fun! For more info. go to this fan site.

Blog aches...

Oh boy, just spent a good hour sorting through blogs I´ve followed and decided which ones I will ... stop following...

Oh, please don´t get me wrong! Its NOT because I think a particular blog is bad or so. It just comes down to one reasons - I don´t have time to read them all!

Between getting myself more work, working with Kivuvu - Supporting The Women of Congo group, writing a film script and directing in May, my life is a bit (too) hectic. But Ill still continue to reply to any comments on my post.

So, after much heartaches I made a choice... Hope I haven't offended anyone!

I dream of spring...

In March I'm signing up to learn swing dance at this place - Chicago! And right now in the midst of winter, just the thought warms my heart :)



Exercise and fun all in one! It used to be a cinema, isn't it a beautiful venue!

Gypsy!

I read this at Huffington Post. Doesn't this sound exciting!

"Barbra Streisand may be bringing her love of Broadway and Hollywood together in a big screen revival of 'Gypsy.'

According to the New York Post, Streisand is working to secure the film rights of the legendary Broadway show, written by Arthur Laurents and Stephen Sondheim. Streisand would star and direct the movie, the report states.

If she wants to make it happen, she needs to get the blessing of Laurents, who famously guards his work. That seems to not be much of a problem.

"Barbra and I have been getting along very well now for some time," Laurents told the Post on Tuesday. "We've talked about it a lot, and she knows what she's doing. She has my approval."

Another potential roadblock? She may not want to play the lead, vicious stage mother Mama Rose, with the nastiness required.

"Barbra and I have had long talks on this very subject," Laurents said. "She had a mother who she always thought was Mama Rose. I don't want to get into the details, but the point is she knows. She's got it in her. She's going to be much more than people expect."

'Gypsy,' first on Broadway in 1959, was revived in 2008, winning a Tony for its star, Patti LuPone. It was made into a less than successful film in 1962."

I think that sounds so much more interesting than the recent film "Burlesque" with Christina Aguilar and Cher....

Happy 2011 !

Dear Vintage Lovers - here´s wishing you all the best for 2011! may it bring us joy and all our dreams fulfilled!



Winter here in Sweden has been quite overwhelming. As I was in Africa last Christmas when the weather was similar, this my first White Christmas since childhood I think ! This is the woods just were I live and me and my friend Rebecka are walking our dogs, Neo and Sally.



We spent a portion of Christmas Eve (Julafton) at my place where I treated her to a sumptuous lunch made by yours truly (insert proud smile), before she went home to her family and more food! Here in Sweden we celebrate the Eve of Christmas, although Christmas Day and Boxing Day are holidays too.



Christmas was really nice in my new apartment her in Stockholm and I was sooo happy that I managed to get everything in order before the holidays...



This was my Christmas present from me to... me :) You should always give yourself a gift for Xmas...



On Christmas Day it was off to a brunch and I decided to wear this little outfit...



When New Years Eve came my brother and his family came to visit. Her are my nieces with their Mom, my talented ( she is a superb percussionist) sister-in-law!



And since my brother is a chef... We ate... and ate... and...



My New Years gift from me... to me! I simply had to have them . Broke (...) or not, since they were dead-cheap!



My brother and me.



The girls!



Here's to all the Vintage Lovers of the world!