Surviving the Big Smoke

The Lives of Others (Das Leben der Anderen)

2007-04-15T10:52:00.000+01:00

The Lives of Others is such a good film about the stasi in GDR during the 80s. Ulrich Mühe is so convincing as the meticulous secret policeman spying on a playwrite and his wife. Apparently Mühe was once the subject of similar sureveillance himself as an actor living in East Germany. Another fantstastic performance is from Sebastian Koch who plays the playwriter under surveillance. He played the Nazi official in Black Book (another great film). The Lives of Others shows how oppressive regimes try and fail to stifle human expression and emotion, as do other recent films - Black Book and Pan's Labyrinth. They serve as a reminder that superpowers such as USA, UK and Iran continue to exert their regimes on the world with no regard for the real feelings of its citizens.

Living in Terror

2007-01-13T18:14:00.000Z

Blush's (Bush and Blair) idea of terrorism seems to be mutating fast to include most of the rest of the world. First it was Afghanistan, then Iraq, then Iran, now Somalia and probably Pakistan, Sudan, Indonesia to follow- as I learnt from the BBC this week.
They are obsessed with that word and can't wait to deploy troops to deal with it.
Why can't they accept there are internal problems in these countries and the answer is not to bomb the B-jesus out of them?
They could both do with learning a little bit more about other cultures and religions and spend their money on more constructive things both in their own countries and abroad.
The main problem here is the constraint that their own religious beliefs have put on sensible thoughts and willingness to learn. And we voted these neurotics into power? Now that's terrifying.

Food for thought

2006-11-21T23:06:00.000Z

Today I had to train a room of 20 insurance brokers how to use an internet search engine. That was scary!
My trick was to order a yummy lunch from here so they went away with pleasurable memories.
I wonder if it worked.
I only got 1 quarter of a sandwich - but it was delish.

Blobspot

2006-08-25T19:06:00.000+01:00

At Luton Airport last week, before going through the hand luggage check, I verified my bag was the right size and took out all cosmetics (since when has a terrorist overcome a cabin crew with a powder compact?). No one said anything about feminine hygiene products. I had just bought a new box of tampons in the airport shop for the flight (costing £3.50). This showed up on the x-ray. The officer was suspicious:
"What are these?"
I explained.
"You are not allowed medicine apart from .."(points to laminated list).
"It's not medicine".
"What is it for then?"
I began to explain but was stopped ..
"Why did you buy them before the hand luggage check? You can get them the other side."
How the ... was I supposed to know there is shop the other side or that I couldn't take them through?
"Well I'm going to have to take them away. You can get them back if you apply in writing"
So 2 minutes later I was buying another box in the shop "the other side" (this time £1.80 - bargain).
Has Luton airport become a gun state full of anti-tampon staff on a power trip?
P.S. I later found a lip balm (on the banned list) in the bottom of the bag that I forgot to take out. Bless.

Back again!

2006-05-29T15:27:00.000+01:00

So what's new?
I have consolidated my citybitchdom by getting a job in the Sales department. This will mean a whole new power-driven wardrobe of course, although I aim to be a bit more bohemian than the average Sales Executive (suggestions welcome).
I will be starting in 5 weeks time so I still have my Customer services hat on at the moment (which is not half as stylish as the Sales one will be). I have been asked not to tell my colleagues until they find a replacement - so keep it under your hat for the moment (trilby or panama).

This weekend, as an attempt to start thinking in a more businessy way, I went to see the film "Enron: The Smartest Guys in the room" which I actually found very interesting. I had never really known what the whole story was about, so this was a really easy and entertaining way to find out in just 2 hours. Ken Lay, the CEO hid his corrupt business practice under a veil of religious "morality" - sounds like someone else we know? - in fact he was a personal friend of the Bush family. Definitely recommend it - especially in the light of Lay's and Skilling's (another former CEO) sentencing last week. So at least know I won't look totally ignorant if a client references it in a meeting.
Any further tips on how to bluff your way in the business world much appreciated.

Four Things Mimi

2006-02-01T12:46:00.000Z

4 Places I have lived
Salvador, Brazil
Santiago, Chile
Barcelona
Selly oak, Birmingham

4 Jobs I have had
Picture Framer
Florist's assistant
Spanish teacher
Wardrobe assistant

4 Favourite Films
Bladerunner
Do the Right Thing
What's up Doc?
Hannah and her Sisters

4 Favourite CDs
Chavez Ravine - Ry Cooder
A Kind of Blue - Miles Davis
Dark Side of the Moon - Pink Floyd
Blue - Joni Mitchell

4 Places I have been
Moscow
Sierra Nevada, Andalusia
Trébas-les-bains, near Albi in Garonne
Porthcurno, Cornwall

4 Things I love to do
Singing
Playing piano
Running
Going to the theatre

4 Favourite Items of Clothing
Red dress from Hobbs
Purple cords from M&S
Pink jumper from Jigsaw
Pink summer skirt from Hobbs

4 Favourite bike rides
Hever Castle, Kent
Crystal Palace
Marylebone High Street
Shaw's Corner, Ayot St. Lawrence

4 Favourite Books
Bilgewater - Jane Gardam
Atonement - Ian McEwan
As I Walked Out One Midsummer Morning - Laurie Lee
A Room with a View - E M Forster

4 of My Favourite Boyfriends
Iqbal from primary school
Andy the fiddle player
Will the amateur dramatic
Tim the cycling builder

Columbia Road

2006-01-22T16:02:00.000Z

I went here today with my sister Jane, Mike and my parents. It's where all the middle-class people go on Sundays to show off their dogs, babies, or hangovers. Mum bought me a necklace from Xenia and Zan's stall. Then I found some earrings to go with it (how exciting!) in a shop called Mad Fashion Bitch (must be a distant relative). We had bagels and hot chocolate from Jones' Dairy. It was divine.

My New Year's Resolution ...

2006-01-07T17:01:00.000Z

is to try to write on my blog a bit more.
And to use the mouse with my left hand so I don't get RSI in my right.
It's not that bad once you've swopped the buttons over.

Tip #3: Get your pad sorted

2005-08-14T17:07:00.000+01:00

Fill your place with lovely things, such as books and this Frida Kahlo poster:

or this sofa (viewed looking North)
In fact, let's take you through the full 360 degree view of my living room (sorry it's a bit dark).
Still a bit of wall space to fill(had a go at doing my own canvasses but had to stop because I ended up spray painting the carpet).

Finally, I think we're at the stage in our relationship where I can show you my bedroom (nice shot of the storage heater).

Coming soon: Scenes from an Urban Bathroom (executed in the Realist style so that you will almost be able to touch, taste, smell and feel what it's like to be there).

Tip #2: Get out of the city at weekends

2005-07-30T22:25:00.000+01:00

As much as I love the big smoke, a weekend away now and then is essential in order to rid oneself of those pesky free radicals. My brother's 50th birthday in the glorious county of Norfolk provided the perfect opportunity to re-energise (and to spend time with my darling family of course).

Baby David's all growed up

2005-07-30T22:24:00.000+01:00

Well, not quite.

2005-07-30T22:23:00.000+01:00

You can see where he gets it from: June, ever the Queen of Am-Dram.

2005-07-30T22:22:00.001+01:00

The next day, in a quaint local village called Stalham....

Jane orders a take-away from outside the shop as she doesn't want her hair smelling of chop suey (do they know how to do Chinese in Norfolk?)

2005-07-30T22:21:00.000+01:00

Two of the local charity cases

2005-07-30T22:19:00.001+01:00

Later, on Horsey Beach....

June and Geoff trying not to sit too near each other again.

2005-07-30T22:19:00.000+01:00

Baby David must put on his bonnet to protect him from the sun.

2005-07-30T22:18:00.000+01:00

Baby David assembles his kite

2005-07-30T22:12:00.000+01:00

Jo and Darryl

2005-07-30T22:11:00.000+01:00

Much fun was had by all

2005-07-30T22:10:00.000+01:00

Lovely to see the older generation enjoying themselves too - Bless.

Urban Living: Tip #1

2005-06-17T22:22:00.000+01:00

Earplugs
The yellow foamy ones are fairly successful in blocking out the drone of the 2 am radio in the flat below and can be washed and reused but they soon lose their bounce-backability:

There are also these which are waterproof (no chance of soaking up any excess wax here!) but in my experience they are not so effective. I guess they're for swimming:

But these are just scary:

The latest in earplug chic though are these multi-coloured beauties complete with string so you can thread it through your pyjamas:

I think one's choice of earplugs say a lot about a person.

We have lift off!

2005-06-08T20:49:00.000+01:00

La citybitch est arrivée. Sprinkling a powder of middle-class home counties magic with every step, citybitch has hit London town. Lounge: cream walls, chocolate brown leather sofa, furniture in light wood, lime green accessories. Bedroom: beige and dark red, antique pine furniture. Bathroom, kitchen, hall (with bookshelves) and attic (carpeted - lots of potential) etc.
OK, so the walls are made of a special cardboard with maximum noise conducting properties so that I can hear the radio from the flat below me in every room of my place, but I'm sure with time I'll learn to appreciate the finer harmonies of South London ragga at FOUR O'CLOCK in the morning.
Apart from that it's cookin'! Despite being in the inner city, Deptford has some lovely green bits. Sign the petition to Save Deptford Park !(just around the corner from me).
Also, there are some really cool buildings.

Why am I putting so many phallic symbols in this posting?
Here's a non-phallic building- the Laban centre @ Deptford Creek:

Actually, people who send me letters write different things on the envelope. I'm not sure if I live in Deptford or New Cross. New Cross is home of Prangsta - the costume shop / seamstry (is that a word?) ; squat chic and the eternally cool Goldsmiths College:

AND I live only 30 mins away from my office so I get a extra lie-in in the matin (albeit accompanied by the dulcit tones of Ragga.FM). This is the view from my office window on a winter morning:

2005-06-08T20:44:00.000+01:00

This is the view from my office window on a cold October morning

2005-04-02T18:55:00.000+01:00

This is the Trailer Trash Orchestra playing at Andy's (the fiddle player) birthday 2 weeks ago. They play punk folk hill-billy rock stuff of their own and some covers of people like The Ramones.

Lullaby of Birdland

2005-04-01T17:45:00.000+01:00

My gig at Café in the Crypt went really well. Despite a shaky start (we only had 1 microphone between 3 singers and a sax player and the rush hour traffic around Trafalgar Square made us later than we'd planned so couldn't do a sound check so the vocals were too quiet at first) by the end of the evening loads of people were up and dancing and asking us when our next gig is and if we do private functions. However, I met up with the other 2 singers last night and now it seems that we may not continue to work together. The other 2 want to sing more soul and funk whereas I want to do more latin and jazz and maybe folk rock as a side-line. And no-one wants to take responsibility so this could be the kick up the back-side that I need to form my own band. Watch this space....

Retardative Blogging Disorder

2005-03-03T11:19:00.000Z

I'm being hassled by fellow bloggers about keeping up with my postings.
Do you think I have RBD? Where are the PowerPuff Girls when you need them?
At least I'm not a SIS (Stuck In Spreadsheets) like some people...

My original picture is here if you still want to see it - I removed it because it was too big and also the site might be a bit dodgy becuase I got a Trojan virus round about the time I was visiting it (bullseye.net and other spyware programs)

Issues with Analog

2005-02-27T12:03:00.000Z

I haven't posted for a while mainly because I've been waiting for my photo CD to be developed (I still don't have a digital) so I can show you all the things I've been up to like:
Drinking lots of caipirinhas on my birthday last week

Watching a Greenpeace protester getting beaten up by a Petroleum trader in the lobby at my office

Or reuniting with my university friends over dinner at Kettners, two of which we discovered are in the club - but you'll have to wait until I get the photos back to guess which two.

2005-02-17T23:43:00.000Z

Ve Haf Vays of Offending You

2005-02-11T20:08:00.000Z

I went to see The Producers on Wednesday night with my brother and a group of people from work and it was absolutely hilarious. It's about 2 guys who try to produce the worst show on broadway because they have worked out that they can keep any money left over from their sponsors if the show flops. So they get $2 million in sponsorship and spend as little as they can on the show. They go about choosing the worst play possible and get the worst director and the worst actors in town. The opening number of their show, "Springtime for Hitler" is one of the funniest things I have seen recently. It's a huge 1930's Hollywood affair with beautiful show girls (not these ones though - who are actually from Nottingham) descending a massive staircase, their costumes celebrating different German icons, like one girl has a huge Wurst on her head, another a Pretzel and another has wings like the Third Reich's black eagle itself. Finally Hitler appears at the top of the staircase. Because the main actor has just broken his leg, the camp director is playing the part tonight and so he positively minces down the staircase in his lederhosen.

Meanwhile, the dancing girls have given way to a line of stormtroopers all marching in time to "Springtime for Hitler and Germany". Most of them are mechanised dummies, either side of a real person. They change formation to make the sign of a swastika on the stage which rotates clockwise, then anticlockwise, just like the girls with feathers in the movies. Anyway, the show goes on and of course it is a huge success so the two producers are ruined but you'll have to see it yourself to find out what happens at the end.

By the way, I usually find Lee Evans irritating when he's within the confines of a tv screen but on stage he was brilliant, especially his panic attack.
Most of my party really enjoyed it, but 3 people were not amused. 2 said it was "alright" and I haven't yet quizzed them why, but one was quite vocal about how presenting Nazis in this way was not funny. "Why would you laugh when people have suffered so much?" and "wouldn't Germans be offended?" A colleague from Hamburg said only ex-Nazis and a few older Germans might take offence but most people would probably laugh. I think the question should have been whether these people would be offended. I tried to explain the joke to the objector but then realised that by the time I had finished, it would definitely not be a laughing matter. But it did make me wonder how long after a tragedy are we able to laugh at it? And is it a matter of time or just a shift in mood? And has this show ever been produced in Germany, seeing as it is against the law to buy anything with a swastika on it (and indeed to display it - correct me if I'm wrong)?
Would it incite violent acts amongst some of the nutters that are still around today?

My Favourite Band

2005-02-08T21:38:00.000Z

I went to see my favourite band at the moment - Jazzinho - on Sunday night at the 606 club and they were fab as usual. Most of the songs they played I knew from their album but they still sounded really fresh as the the instrumentation was different and the improvisations that the band do are always innovative. It's Guida da Palma's band and she is the lead singer. Her vocal acrobatics are really something for the ears and eyes to behold. She makes all kinds of sounds like from the side of her mouth comes a sort of brass sound and she does tropical rainforest too. That is only for effects though - most of the time she is singing and embellishing the songs. I've never seen a mouth open as wide as hers when she goes for the full belt. Nice molars! She is such a great performer too really energetic and warm and she seems to involve every single person in the audience. What a hero! I would love to be able to perform like she does. I had one private singing lesson from her last year and after 3 years of singing lessons it's the one I remember the most. The funniest thing she told me is that when I go for the high notes, you need to use more of my lower abdominal muscles to support the sound and asked me to imagine I was doing a poo and then sing a high note at the same time! So far no accidents.
I got home at 1 in the morning and had to get up again at 5.30 am to go to work so I have only just caught up on my sleep. Off for an early night now in fact. Got The Producers tomorrow evening - oh the perils of being a citybitch! By the way - the piano player in Jazzinho was my teacher on the Certificate of Jazz and Pop Music at Goldsmiths last year. He is amazing too. This is a picture of Jazzinho playing "Telefone" (you can see why I know that) by Roberto Menescal but most the songs she writes herself.

Groundhog week

2005-02-04T22:33:00.000Z

I've only done these things once this week:
1. Entertaining an American colleague by taking him to see The Mikado at the Orange Tree in Richmond. I was at university with the guy playing Nankipoo, but his voice had nearly completely gone. It was more of a theatrical production than a musical one. There were a couple of good voices though. I like a lot of the songs (We are gentlemen of Japan / 3 Little Maids etc)but I wasn't sure about setting the whole thing on a cricket pitch. I don't think my guest was that impressed either as he is used to seeing the Philadephia opera. Pretty good for £11 though. And I managed to pick up some gossip about our American office.

2. Getting feedback about my interview the other week. The Sales Manager said he thinks I could do the account managing part well but slightly lacking in the conviction of being able to sell. Got to get a bit of practice selling. My citybitch tutelage continues!

3. Being tipped off by my manager about a job that might materialise in the US that I could go for. Princeton isn't much of a city but it's near New York so I could finish my cityB schooling there.

4. Rehearsing with Gabriel for my gig at Mum and Dad's 50th wedding anniversary.
This is my song list:
Lullaby of Birdland - George Shearing
Agua de Beber - Tom Jobim and Vinicius de Moraes
Perfidia - Alberto Dominguez
Georgia on My Mind - Hoagy Carmichael

In France they Kiss on Main Street - Joni Mitchell
New Coat of Paint - Tom Waits
Moondance - Van Morrison
Stand by Your Man - Tammy Wynette and Billy Sherrill

5. Booking some tables at Cafe Kick in Shoreditch for my birthday. I've booked a Football table too. Kind of a Spanish / Brazilian vibe. Come along if you're in the hood: 5.30pm onwards.

Commutersville

2005-01-30T09:55:00.000Z

The road from St.Pancras to the tube at Kings Cross - early evening:

I feel much more of a citybitch already with the imminent (I hope) exchange of contracts for my new pad in London. Everything's going to be so much easier once I move up there. Like the commute into work - only 30 minutes - compared with the current 75 minutes or 90 minutes coming home. My journey into work is worsened at the moment by the channel tunnel rail link they are building at King's Cross so you have to get out of the train at St. Pancras and walk to the tube at King's Cross and in rush hour there are about 1 million people doing the same thing so they close the doors to the tube and you have to queue outside. That's not to mention what it's like once you get into the underground station and try to get on a train. I would like take some photos of that to show you but I haven't got a camera yet. I don't want to spend too much money because I need it for the deposit on my house, my solicitor's fees and also my car is being serviced this week for the first time in 4 years (I forgot to take it in before) so I won't have a lot left after all that. This is my dream shopping list for when I do have some money:
1. Digital camera - maybe this one
2. sofa bed (FNF - for new flat)
3. wooden thing to put telly on (FNF)
4. pine double bed (FNF - first time I've ever had a double bed - rampant lovelife here I come!)
5. new faster PC so I can write songs, write my blog and swot up on my work from home

Social engagements of a CityB

2005-01-27T13:24:00.000Z

Kim Cattrall was really great as the hospitalised car crash casualty in Whose Life is it anyway?. Very moving performance (I even cried a couple of times) and a brilliant, thought-provoking play. Eg: Should we be spending so much money keeping people alive who are so incapacitated that can't contribute anything to society when there are able people dying in Africa? Claire Harrison decides she does not want to go on living because she feels she would never be able to make anything of her life in her condition (severed spinal chord - bummer).
Unfortunately Brian Clark, the playwright was not at the theatre that night so my parents could not meet up with their old college friend but we caught a glimpse of Peter Hall.
I'm going to a pub quiz tonight in Hampstead, which is really quite the new thing, don't you know. I will be brushing up on my Shakespeare since I think that area will draw a more highbrow crowd than last week's lot (remember I identified the theme tune to Monarch of the Glen?) Better not disagree with the quiz master though, as this unfortunate learnt the hard way.

The big divide

2005-01-25T13:13:00.000Z

I'm really sick of having this big gap before my postings. It wasn't there before the Whose flat is it anyway? posting. I think the Kim Cattrall photos jinxed it. If anyone knows how to get rid of it, instructions would be much appreciated.

It's my 'partment and I'll cry if I want to!

2005-01-24T13:32:00.000Z

This is the Laban Dance Centre (the glass changes colour with different temperatures) in Deptford which is to be my new neighbourhood! My offer was accepted (once I added 2 more G's to my price) everyone was laughing. Called solicitors (they will charge me £2557 - the b's) and I'm seeing my financial advisor about the mortgage today. Can't wait. It's such a fab flat and once I'm in you're all invited. As soon as I get my sofa-bed, feel free to stay the night too! We could even become members of this if you're planning on visiting on a regular basis.
On the other hand, I found out I didn't get the role I went for at work, but you can't win them all! They said my application was very strong and that they will give me more complete feedback later on during the week.
Looks like there are plenty of arty places in Deptford too. City, here I come!

Whose flat is it anyway?

2005-01-23T22:24:00.000Z

My father and I managed to resolve our differences and we drove down to see the flat together. He thought it was fab too and I decided it was even better than I had first thought. One bedroom, living room marble look flooring in the bathroom and kitchen and an attic room which could be made into a great den. I put an offer in for £135 G's, as they say in South East London and I am waiting to hear if it has been accepted.
An exciting week ahead. Apart from hearing whether I have the flat of my dreams or not, I am seeing Kim Cattrall, on Tuesday evening in "Whose Life is It Anyway". I am going with my parents who know the playwright so I am hoping this will grant me a meeting with the ultimate citybitch herself.
On a not so optimistic note, I have a meeting tomorrow with the Sales managers who interviewed me 2 weeks ago, probably to tell me why I did not get the job I applied for. Oh well, I'll be composed and let them realise what they're missing. Have a scintillating week yourselves darlings. Let's just indulge ourselves once more.

2005-01-21T21:02:00.000Z

Does anyone remember Jan Pienkowski's illustrations of "A Necklace of Raindrops" and other stories by Joan Aitken in the 1970s? I found this picture on the web today. Does anyone know where I can get posters of these silhouette paintings? Can only see the book on Ebay.

By the way, sorry to have abandoned you for the last few days but I've been a busy CityB. Just got back from talking to a mortgage advisor today. Apparently it's going to cost me £800 a month for a £140 000 flat. Might have to ditch the therapist once and for all then. I think I'm going to make an offer of £132 000. Is that too low? I don't have anything to lose, do I? I'm seeing the flat again tomorrow supposedly with dear Papa although since he made some rude comments about my driving this evening I'm not so sure I want him in the passenger seat on a 2 hour drive down there. I'll see if we're communicating in the morning.
Last night my team came 3rd out of 17 in a quiz evening for information professionals (people who make up the largest part of our clientele). They were all part of an organisation called SLA - supposedly Special Libraries Associations but more like Social Leper Academy. Mind you, I didn't appear particularly streetwise either as I correctly identified the theme tunes to Monarch of the Glen and Holby City. Just shows the extent of my Saturday night entertainment (hoping this will change with attainment of city pad although not much left over for living it up after £800 a month in mortgage repayments). I was quite glad that we beat our competitors at the quiz and also the Sales team from my company who I think recently turned me down for a job (awaiting confirmation). I was relieved that I had been saved from working alongside a bunch of thick people. They look nice though - the original citybitch look. Chat soon kids.

City pad

2005-01-18T22:14:00.000Z

A city pad is not sanitary protection for the working girl (check out this site on sanitary protection for dogs!), but rather a place to lay one's weary head at the end of the day (and have wild parties, bring a few unsuspecting beaux back to and turn into a music / dance / yoga / studio according to whim).
I am excited because I have just seen a really nice flat just off the Old Kent Road (not a typical citybitch haunt I know but it definitely has potential). It's just one bedroom but the loft could be made into a study as well (thanks Dad). It's on the top floor of a 3 storey block so no clip-clopping from above to be endured (amongst other noises). Does noise rise like heat though? Mainly the person who's selling it is really nice although I think she's been watching a bit too much House Doctor (you know, the "lay the table as if for dinner" and "bake some bread to seduce your visitor" programme). She seemed to have cleared out all her personal possesions apart from a bookshelf by the door in order to make the place seem more spacious and tried to pass it off as being minimalist. However, it is the best place I've seen so far (it's only the second one though) and is a mere snip at £140 000. I wouldn't dream of offering her more than £130 000. I've got 2 more places to see this week so we shall see how it compares with them.

Any hints at home-buying greatly appreciated.

Ann Maurice, the House Doctor - definitely a CB.

Glass buildings, high heels and the tube

2005-01-17T21:48:00.000Z

I primarily created this blog so that I could add comments to another blog . However, I can see that this could be quite good fun and possibly quite addictive too (but more creative than playing spider solitaire - difficult level I might add).

"Why citybitch?" I hear you cry. I have noticed myself becoming increasingly more bitchy in the last 4 years and I blame this directly on the City of London where I have been working and commuting to since October 2000.

I still live in a village (quite a large village, but nonetheless with it's fair share of mud, horsey people and a crap bus service) but I believe day by day I am becoming more corrupted by the fast-living of the city. I have to admit that I love it though.
When I first started going up to London I would gesture for people to board trains before me, chat and give money to homeless people and I didn't care particularly about mine or other people's appearance. Now, I look into middle distance whilst digging elbow to get on the tube, ignore rough sleepers and have to get up earlier every morning to paste on make-up. Yesterday I made a conscious decision to be more "businessy" (which I am hoping is mainly going to involve a new wardrobe) in the attempt to forward my career.
Anyhoo, this blog could be a chance to network with other citybitches and get tips, to bitch / rave about the city but mainly to document my journey into citybitchdom.
Let me know what you think.

Here's an example of citybitch boots to be going on with.