Channel No 5, fried eggs, ashtrays, Febreze... the smell of unwashed bodies was quite overpowering as the stomping throng of 500 travellers jostled for space in the overheated waiting area. But high overhead, nestled in the white industrial beams of the lofty ceiling, the newly formed 63B Squadron hovered expectantly, absorbing the stench with relish. At 9.00am, exactly as the security gates opened, the crowd began to move towards the screening areas and a lone pilot started her spiralling descent. … [Read more...]
Inside the Bee: Mr Caroo’s Augmented Reality & Brand New Alternate Universe
June 13, 2013 by Leave a Comment
BeeLine is a new interactive platform which blends augmented reality, cutting edge holographic technology and CGI to take families on a true interactive journey. Kathryn and Nick meet the company's Founder, CEO and Inspirational Director, Brendan Caroo, at his Dream Studio in deepest Kent for a bizarre, inaugural peek inside a new universe. A smartly dressed woman with a shell-like blond bob thrusts us through a doorway into a large old industrial warehouse space. High above our heads, the ceiling is pregnant with wires, whilst a slow unnerving whirring drifts downwards. Suddenly, through the overhead clutter a shape emerges on a fast rope-bound descent... … [Read more...]
Song: Banks Ruined Everything by Stella & the Bank Bashers
June 12, 2013 by Leave a Comment
Stella's repertoire is certainly expanding, our favourite singer has just recorded a new advertising campaign for a PPI claim company. Banks, Banks ruined everything, Hung the country, Out to dry. Banks, Banks ruined everything, Their insurance, Was a lie. Banks mis-sold you PPI, Let us help, Return your money. Yes, banks, Banks ruined everything, Now they tremble, At our name, Bank Fighters PLC, Will help you, Make a claim. … [Read more...]
Cheese: Meet The Queso Banditos of Rose Park, Utah
June 11, 2013 by Leave a Comment
As you enter the Rose Park area of Salt Lake City, Utah, a majestic stone sign invites you into streets lined with mature conifers, oaks, aspen and maple trees. The houses that skirt these walkways are mostly one-story, made of brick and built in the 1940s and 50s. Each has a snaking path up to the front door and its own piece of land at the back. Yet behind its peaceful exterior, Rose Park is awash with contradictions. The high crime rates bandied about by the wider press are belied by low crime figures driven by community organised mobile neighbourhood watch patrols and response teams. Residents' talk of “friendly neighbours” sit slightly at odds with unemployment figures of almost double the National Average. Yet the chief of these contradictions appears to centre on the last thing anyone would expect: cheese. … [Read more...]
4×4 Interview: Cave-Aged Blue Gum-Tingler
April 19, 2013 by Leave a Comment
Olly Bruggles has just swept the board at this year's Grande British Cheese Championships (est. 1871) - Britain's oldest cheese award. His Cave-Aged Blue Gum-Tingler took centre stage at the Leicester-based event as he romped away with Gold trophies across five categories: Best Welsh, Best Blue, Best Sheep's Milk Cheese and Cheese of the Year. With all other competitors reeling in his wake, Kathryn & Nick talk to the decidedly happy artisan and try to tease out his secrets. … [Read more...]
4×4 Interview: Love & Guns in Brick Lane
April 13, 2013 by Leave a Comment
Elliot Cumbersmith's 20-minute film, Windows 2 the Soul: Love & Guns in Brick Lane, was produced for the art-house market and quickly graduated to cult classic. Now, five months on, it's becoming a surprising mainstream hit. Kathryn & Nick talk to the 22-year-old writer and director about his breakthrough success. … [Read more...]
Health & Fitness: Meet Jo-Jo Taylor – Indio Guru
April 13, 2013 by Leave a Comment
Former ballet dancer Jo-Jo Taylor is dressed in electric blue leggings and matching headband as she glides across the floor to meet us at Indio's flagship franchise in Chiswick, West London. Discretely located above two estate agents on Turnham Green Terrace, we have just emerged from a narrow staircase into a startlingly large, bright studio space that could easily accommodate three full size tennis courts. Open plan, in primary colours, the studio comprises of vast chrome kitchen incorporating an impressive health-drink bar, a central breakout area, and polished workout floor. The east wall, is dominated by floor to ceiling mirrors, whilst motivational poems, posters and imagery decorate the remaining wall space. The most immediate of these is an alarmingly life sized photo of founder, Angelica Andress, under the familiar tagline “Californian body, Indian soul”. … [Read more...]
Health and Fitness: A Poet Laureate for Business
April 13, 2013 by Leave a Comment
As told to Kathryn & Nick: Zelda Stewart is Poet Laureate for Indio Fitness, a global fitness and nutrition company based in Anaheim, California. Currently in England promoting a new book, Zelda agreed to tell us more about her work on just one condition, we had to complete an Indio beginners class first. Once the 5' 2", impossibly blonde coiled spring had subjected us to a range of - not totally unpleasant exercises - she finally took us through what we really came for. … [Read more...]
Song: Hips Don’t Work by Stella & the Grandmas
April 11, 2013 by Leave a Comment
Stella's career may be picking up... but her latest role for a hip replacement campaign isn't exactly what she had in mind. People who are in here tonight No fighting, no fighting We got the joint doctor up in here No fighting, no fighting New hips yea, new hips yea I never really knew that I walk walk like this It makes me feel life's a mouldy swizz, Como un cojo (si), horrible (si), cadiras (si, new hips yea new hips yea), cadiras New hips yea, New hips yea I'm crazy when you walk like that It makes a person go mad So be nice and please do Swap out the hips in my body And I'm cross tonight You know my hips don't work And its starting to irk me now All the shuffling, high tension The time has come for attention … [Read more...]
Morrissey: Were We Stalking Him on His Birthday?
When it comes to music, there's not a lot that Kathryn & Nick can agree on without reservation. Nick has an obscure eclectic taste covering pretty much everything (think the full spectrum of 6 Music, then take it a stage further); whilst Kathryn mainly likes classical, being particularly fond of string pieces, especially Bach. Over the years Kathryn has been subjected to a range of concerts she didn't want to attend - and still hasn't stopped complaining about having Frank Turner inflicted on her in Brixton back in 2010. However, one thing we can always agree on is Morrissey and The Smiths... … [Read more...]