What I love about this city is that there so much to see and enjoy without having to spend lots of money. 

On Tuesday night my friend Nisha and I went to the private view of La Joie de Vivre, an art exhibition in East London, featuring an artist by the name of Skeleton Cardboard. Street art and art in general is of growing interest to me, Nisha knows all about it being an artist herself, so when she asked me along I knew it'd be worth a look.

The exhibition was held at Silwex House, a warehouse space just off Commercial Street - the perfect place for a street art exhibition! The space was bright and airy, there was a saxophonist and a cellist to provide mood music and a selection of artisan foods for the hungry. We weren't though, we just went for beer.

The art was fantastic - very colourful, messy, with sprinkles of meaning - the way I like it. Some painted with think poster paints, bright colours with with faces, and then there was Skeleton Cardboard. Skeleton Cardboard is exactly what it sounds - skeletons, painted on cardboard! Big ones on massive sides of boxes, right through to tiny ones on train tickets dotted all around the gallery. Fun!

We got to speak to the artist himself who was very happy to tell us that there's no meaning behind the canvases he chooses, he just uses whatever cardboard is lying around. Why buy a canvas when you can make your own? Very good point. And sustainable!

After our trip to the exhibition we had a little walk about Shoreditch to look at street art:

I love this one <3

One of my favourites! The strokes are so intricate... loving the use of the pillar in this one too. 

Eventually stopping at the Music Bar Hall on the curtain road, for nachos, a pint and a good gossip. Brilliant friend times!

Nisha being pretty cool

Check out Skeleton Cardboard, and look out for skeletons on a street near you!

Skelton Cardboard on Facebook

This week I went on quite a brave adventure.... I paid a visit to The School of Life to take part in one of their evening classes - 'How to Have Better Conversations'.

*Image credit The School of Life

I first heard about The School of Life about six months ago, when Pobs was telling me about how they'd set up a school in Melbourne. For a good few months I would visit their website, look at the classes, think about how excellent they were, and then well... chicken out.

The School of Life is not only a very lovely shop selling books and ideas for everyday life, they also hold a variety of workshops and classes to help people to learn more about themselves and others, starting from the most basic of topics such as 'How to Have Better Conversations'! Their blog is pretty awesome too.

Gathering nervously, introducing ourselves and enjoying a little bit of a buffet!

I was one of the first to arrive (eager beaver!), the shop was quiet with only a couple of people there before me, but as soon as I walked in I managed to get into a conversation with someone. Ahead of the class we'd been asked to prepare some notes on "your most life changing conversation". Well, first off just being asked to do that a week before the class meant that I had some very interesting conversations with my friends, just trying to think of what could be THE most life changing conversation I'd ever had. There are so many! A theme which came up seemed to be that something bad happened, I had a conversation, then I changed my life. I did have some nice ones, but I won't go into them for fear of going on!

So, we shared our life changing conversations over some yummy nibbles and a glass of wine. It was exciting to be in the same boat as everyone else - very few people came with someone, and that was what was important to me. There is nothing more exhilarating than throwing yourself in at the deep end, finding that you can swim, no one is going to let you drown and in fact you're pretty awesome at it.

The class took place downstairs in a very plush room with lovely patterned walls and rows of chairs - a creative space. Hugo, our lecturer talked us through conversation through history, how conversation has evolved, and types of conversations. There was plenty of opportunities to practice too - we were asked several times to stand up and speak to a person we'd never spoken to before about the topic in hand. Difficult conversations was one of them and we were asked to speak to one person about the conversations we find most difficult and why. It was really eye opening.

I spoke to a HR Manager who spends his day job sacking people (well i'm sure that's not all he does, but you get my point!), yet found it more difficult to sack his own team. I think that made sense, but he said he beats himself up about it. I told him about how I have my most difficult conversations with people I care about and friends. I hate to 'rock the boat' for fear of that person leaving, no longer being my friend anymore - and about the smallest things! However I can talk to my manager at work about my tasks with no fear whatsoever. Having been a freelancer in the past I have the confidence to know what my limits are, that I can manage my own workload and if that can't be agreed between a manager and myself, well hey ho off I go! (sort of... shhh please don't sack me Ian). It's so interesting to notice the situations where we have fear and where we do not. Even more interesting to recognise, challenge and change those fears for positive. 

All in all, I cannot recommend a visit to The School of Life any more strongly. For the cost of a standard dinner and drinks, I spent a fantastic evening exploring ideas, meeting new people and learning from them. The experience just keeps on giving too, not only did I make a couple of new friends, but since my evening I've had some fantastic conversations with people I know, and far different conversations than those we usually have, all based around this experience! I plan to pay them another visit soon.

What parts of conversation do you find most challenging? What types of conversations you find most easy or difficult? I'd love to hear your thoughts!