Velvet LOVES…

We’re an eclectic lot here at Velvet Towers – and noisy with it. We’re happy to share the stuff we learn with a yell across the office. Generally these snippets make us laugh, cringe and yes, even cry. Often they mess with our little grey cells. Nearly always, they bring something different to the day.

This week, we’re gearing up for the Hallmark holiday minefield that is Valentine’s Day. Here’s our list of what Velvet Loves…

Intern Amelia:

I love Buddhism – yes very hippy, but if you don’t want to base it upon religion or beliefs. I love writing and reading poetry; Oscar Wilde of course.

Felix:

I love loud socks, (look at my ankles) and bright knitwear as most people notice during the winter months. I love my golden iPad Air 2, lawn mowing (particularly the smell of a freshly mown lawn in summer, as well as the whole process, Forest Gump style), old school rackets sports that you’ve probably never heard of (real tennis and rackets) and of course my lovely lady.

Fab:

What do I love more than complaining and being as revolting as possible…

Grumpy Cat – what more do you need in the world than an image that can reflect every Brit’s favourite emotion – ‘joylessness’. Grumpy Cat is now worth millions, with his own range of products including a book (mum, if you’re reading this, birthday present please). Here’s my favourite Grumpy Cat OF ALL TIME…

 

SoundCloud – the Norwegian streaming service opened a new door for artists to present their music to the world for free. After the death of MySpace (it is dead, no matter how hard they attempt to resurrect that hellish place), artists didn’t have global platform to push out through. Now used the world over by artists, bloggers and even news broadcasters, SoundCloud is essentially my favourite part of the internet (after Grumpy Cat memes).

Anil:

Two things I love, both food:

1. The best crisps in the world – with a real mustard burn in the aftertaste so it’s like eating napalm.

2. Alphonso mangoes – possibly the greatest foodstuff on earth. They were banned last year but it’s been lifted now, and I’ve never been so thankful. Only available for a month or so in the spring so they really are a rare treat:

I also, obviously, love listening to the faint whimpers of another helpless victim rising to a throaty scream as they’re winched out of the pit and they see for the first time what I have in store for them.

Jo:

I love the sweet potato fries in Jackson Rye – I can easily scoff 4 bowls of them before anyone else gets a look in

Also the rum and raisin truffles from Theobroma cacao on Turnham green terrace

Also loving Channel 4’s Cucumber – especially the scene in episode 3 where there are 2 straight boys acting gay and singing along to I kissed a girl! Absolutely classic.

Ange: Cape Town: for starters, it’s hot and sunny this time of year, has gorgeous beaches, a super sporty outdoor lifestyle with a little extreme sports thrown in for good measure, the food is delicious and the exchange rate is a big bonus too!

Kindness from a stranger on a cold wintery morning.

Watching dogs racing across the green in Greenwich park.

Channing Tatum: what’s not to love! Counting down till Magic Mike XXL comes out in the summer.

Online shopping!

Jorge:

Chilly Heatwave Doritos: Could live of it and Coca Cola zero for the rest of my life.

Pretty Little Liars: My biggest guilty pleasure. It’s so trashy yet so addictive. I will not be able to stop watching until I find out who “A” is!

Bhavna:

I love here – by far and away one of the most amazing, humbling – eerie – places I have ever my relaxation tool of choice!

Jack:

Hungover Sundays in a pub:

Sit down. Make yourself comfortable. Use our telly. Have some food. But don’t worry about cleaning up after yourselves. Where else can you get all of this, with added booze on tap and all the sports you could want on the TV, than down your local. Plus it’ll probably (always) lead into a boozy Sunday afternoon with all of your mates.

Board games:

I’m at the top of my board game right now. Whether it’s destroying my flat mates at a 5 hour game of Risk or bankrupting my girlfriends mum in Monopoly. Board games are the perfect tonic to while away those long winter evenings.

Natasha:

Tea. I just love tea. It starts and ends my day. Green for starters, decaf for afters and full-caffeine for the last hour of the day. It’s like a warm hug, it lifts every occasion and makes the perfect accompaniment to a plate (yes I mean a whole plate) of biscuits. To summarise how much I love tea, here are a few borrowed words from English writer Sydney Smith:

“Thank God for tea! What would the world do without tea! How did it exist? I am glad I was not born before tea.”