Durban, South Africa

Just a few Images of Durban, South Africa.

The LEGO Beijing Olympic Arena

LEGO minifigure turns 30

It's not every day that a children's toy becomes a design icon but in the case of LEGO's minifigure, those tiny plastic male and female figurines that animate (in an inanimate sort of way) children's building block creations the world over, icon status seems oddly fitting.

2008 marks the minifigure's thirtieth year in production - an impressive milestone in design as much as business, considering that the basic look of the figurine has remained virtually unchanged since its inception - a body, three LEGO bricks long, beneath a head, one brick high, with that mini plastic toupee clipped on top.

When you consider that an astonishing seven LEGO sets are sold around the world every second, it's no surprise that the miniature builders, firemen, cops, and nurses (as well as 'celebrity' guest figures including Darth Vader and Indiana Jones) have become so ubiquitous - over four billion are scattered around the globe. If they ever decided to form their own autonomous state it'd be more populous than India and China combined. Now there's a scary thought.

Phew. . .

To all you fab readers, I will be offline for 4 weeks. Thank you for your support!
See you in 4 weeks!

Couture, la joie de vivre!

Travel should be about freedom, experimentation and the wind in your hair. Time to unearth your four-wheeled friend, the mighty skateboard. You may not have clapped eyes upon this little chap since tootling round your primary school playground but fashion demands otherwise. Skater chic is upon us.

Think America in the '70s. The Cadillac - a new and vastly improved model of skateboard - has just been released. Geeks and jocks forget their differences and come together to share their love of skating. There’s a drought in California. Dried up swimming pools become dude paradise. The Goonies is soon to be released and The Ramones are the band du jour. Life is sweet.

Mix checked shirts with retro t-shirts, don baggy jeans to house necessary knee pads, adopt beanies and gilets. Channel American vintage with a twist of Canadian workwear. Hair should be tousled and unkempt – you’ve been kickflipping off a stairset, not standing infront of a mirror. Decorate your board or rucksack with some dark comic art, and voila - you’re the hottest young thing since Rodney Mullen created the ollie impossible. Watch out South Bank.