I like the winter, I like wrapping up warm and going to the German market and drinking hot chocolate with amaretto, its lovely. It's also mine and Lee's anniversary this coming weekend and a friend's birthday so there will be lots of celebration.

Expensive family birthdays are more or less over now so I can concentrate saving up for a DSLR which I really really want but I know santa won't be bringing! Have started looking around to see if I can find a model to aim for...

I have a job at Hawkins Bazaar, the shop is temporary just for Christmas but at least I got the supervisor position so now have some retail management on my CV. I'm also getting a couple of hours work experience at a local high school every week and am helping out at a Beaver group. The school is good fun, I am enjoying it and hope that means I will enjoy a PGCE if I ever hear from the uni I have applied to. The Beavers is something I agreed to help out with a long time ago and forgot until it suddenly sprung up and I felt bad to let them down. Although I have my reservations about it, I am enjoying it still. Some of the kids are somewhat trying, but the majority are very sweet.

In my entertainment world I have recently watched '2012' at the cinema which I found quite enjoyable. Lee also showed me a series called 'Wonderfalls' by Brian Fuller, which is a really good series if you can get your hands on it and watch it. I'm sure Dan or JTA can describe it much better than me. Unfortunately it was cancelled but the next series by the Brian Fuller is called 'Dead Like Me' which is also really good. Unfortunately that was also cancelled and I finished watching the second series last night so now I am annoyed that neither series will continue. The next series Brian Fuller went on to do is called 'Pushing Daisies' so I will be checking that out soon.

Sooo that's all for now, other than the usual, miss Aber, miss people, hope I see people again soon :)

So I quit my job, following Matt out of the door. It felt good. I then had a complete panic at the prospect of facing the next few months without any money but after having a rethink about my life I came up with a plan. I am applying to do a PGCE in September 2010. I wrote to some schools and now have four potential work experience placements, one of which at a nearby high school wants me to help lead darkroom classes for A-level photography, which is very exciting!

The only downside is that I need both Maths and English GCSE's. I got an A for English but an E in Maths, so I just forked out £250 for an evening class at the local college so that I can re-take it. I hate maths and am awful at it, which is probably why I hate it!

So for a bit of cash I am doing some hours at my uncle's cafe. It's on the edge of an industrial estate and is one of those greasy spoon type places, so I just fry bacon and eggs and make sandwiches and occasionally buffets for parties, nothing too taxing and flexible hours which is good. I've also sold two paintings and am working on a few more.

In August I attended BiCon 2009 since it was held in Worcester which is only 40 minutes from my home so I got to hang out with Dan and Claire, met some cool people and witnessed some spanking, an all round fun weekend!

My mom in currently in South Africa on the three week holiday I paid for as her 50th birthday present (one of the reasons I have no money). I have family who live there so they are entertaining her, she sent me a message the other day saying she had stroked a lion cub! It's also my dad's 60th birthday in November so I have bought him a fancy melodeon which he has always wanted and am organising a party and will be buying a barrel of his favourite ale (this birthday being the other reason that I have no money!)

So now the two big birthdays are sorted, I can put any future money towards this PGCE. I will get back to Japan one day...

I can't afford to ring people so maybe I should blog more, and so should Claire...

In April my friend's cat had kittens and I put in an order for one extra cute ball of fur.



This is Oni. He's very cute and quite smart too. He has super sharp teeth and claws which he has put to good use, swinging from one paw on the edge of the wooden kitchen table and running up the lounge curtains. I tried the water pistol education technique which Penny suggested but he doesn't seem to care!

Lee is busy looking for jobs and working on his band. He's found a drummer and vocalist but no bassist as yet, a friend of ours has just got a song onto the free cd on the next issue of Metal Hammer which is quite cool and Lee designed the logo and album art so if they publish any images, that would make him a little famous too.

Way back in February I had an eye test at D&A. I was with Specsavers for a long time but they seemed to be reducing the eye test time to the point where they just seemed to look at my eyes ask me to read something and kick me out within 5 minutes. Plus Helen kindly offered me a staff voucher for a free eye test and some money off contact lenses.
The D&A eye test was a lot longer and more thorough than any I've had with Specsavers and the friendly optician explained everything as he was going which was useful. He then started asking lots of questions about my lenses and said it was nothing to worry about but he wanted me to have them checked out at the hospital.
So 6 months later I got an appointment at the hospital, and great news, I have cataracts. They're doing some tests to see if they are a sign of some horrible underlying thing and then in a few weeks I will be going back to see the eye doctor and discuss what next. For the time being they don't seem to be affecting my sight and I know they are easily treatable but the thought of having someone cutting my eyeball open makes me feel quite queasy!

Work is still up and down like a rollercoaster and I hate rollercoasters. Matt is leaving which sucks, not just because he is the only person I have anything in common with, but also because the moment he goes, the work that is currently piled onto 3 people, will get piled onto 2 people and I will get even less sleep at night!
I wish I could quit because I have about 4 paintings on order but that will only get me money short term and is not reliable.



I finally got round to turning my gran's empty garage into a mini studio and did a wedding anniversary present for my cousin's husband. He now wants another one and a couple of his friends have requests. I think some Michael Jackson ones would be good sellers.
So if you don't mind waiting a while, feel free to put in an order!

Hopefully I will get down to Aber soon but I doubt it, I am not allowed holiday until they find someone competent enough to replace Matt! Gah!

Hope everyone is well :)

I don't post very often as I don't feel I have anything very interesting to say, 14 weeks seems about long enough to gather a few things to share.

I try not to think about Aber too often because it makes me sad when I think about what I am missing. I am getting used to being at home. I like being around my family more often, we're quite a close family and I like that. I hope Penny moves back to Walsall after uni so I will have more friends close by. Living at home also means I pay minimal rent and can save money (and make extra money on shares too) I don't know what for yet. Traveling? Deposit when I move out? A kitten?

Maybe it is too early to tell but I think I like my job. I like to think that it will lead to bigger and better things... Eventually I would really like to do a Masters. I feel like I've got so much more to explore and create and yet my hands are tied without having a darkroom, or even space to put an easel up!

I have been reading a lot more, which is something I had meant to get around to. In the last month or so I have read:
'Snow Flower and the Secret Fan' - Lisa See
'The Book Thief' - Markus Zusak
'Blood River' - Tim Butcher
'The End of Mr Y' - Scarlett Thomas
All of which were very good! Now I need more books...

Also recently watched a Luc Besson film called 'Angel-A' which was really good.

Saw my first Cirque Du Soleil show a few weeks ago, managed to get last minute tickets on ebay which was handy. It was fantastic! I am defintely addicted now. Am spending most of the day in the theatre this Saturday to see both parts of 'His Dark Materials' play.
I also went to my first Muay Thai boxing match and watched Lee's brother kick ass.

I'll be back in Aber for the last weekend of May, hopefully the weather will be nice and I could join people in burning things on the beach perhaps? Good luck to everyone who has a dissertation/exams coming up. Miss you all terribly!

So it's 2009 and since my trip to Aber was scuppered by a horrible flu, thought I'd update online.

Summer: Grandad died, graduated, turned 22, eventually cleared my overdraft.

Autumn: Started an evening course in Japanese, mom in hospital and was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, got a new car, bought a Wii, saw Dylan Moran, saw and met Dara O'Briain.

Last 2 weeks: Got made redundant from the Officers Club 2 days before Christmas but thankfully I have a new job with Matt.
Have spent the last 2 weeks worrying myself silly about everything that might go wrong and how shit I might be and the usual things my mind conjures up to stop me sleeping.
I got Monty Python fluxx from Helen for Christmas which is good fun.
Went for a flight in Gareth's share'o'plane which was awesome, hopefully can do it again when the weather is more plane-friendly!

I'd like to visit Aber again and actually catch up with people sometime maybe around Easter, unless anyone heads into the midlands before then.
Claire, how is that drafted email coming along??

That's about it...

I shall be in Aber from tomorrow till Monday.
Can't wait to see everyone, I shall be at Troma tomorrow night, armed with a brilliantly awful Troma appropriate film!
xxx

I finally forked out the ridiculous price so I could go play badminton the other day (£8.95 for 40 minutes) because I missed playing. In the end it was quite depressing as it reminded me how much I miss Aber and all the people there and playing badminton with you guys :( (obviously Ruth and Matt aren't in Aber but I miss them too!)
My friend Jenni who I played with is lovely but the hall itself is dark and grotty (the money obviously doesn't go into the upkeep of the facilities...) and its not the same without Dan keeping score and making funny comments, Rory and Penny squeaking and everyone laughing. There's also an evil sounding alarm that goes off every 40 minutes to remind you not to try and steal extra playing time!
I won't be at the party this weekend as I couldn't have the time off work, and I only got paid today so have been broke up till this point :( So I will have to carry on missing everyone for the time being.

Jimmy Carr at the Arts Centre last weekend was brilliant, really enjoyed it. He can sit next to Ross Noble at the top of my favourite comedians list.

Derren Brown at the Grand Theatre in Wolverhampton on Friday night was equally entertaining. Next time he tours I intend to buy tickets for 2 nights because I am curious... He is the master of 20 questions! And he's really quite sarcastic too which is amusing, especially when he asked one girl from the audience to pick a number (from a pack of cards) and she said "15" hehe.
One bit at the very start which I really liked was a video being played of 4 people playing table tennis, 2 wearing white and 2 wearing black, the audience were asked to count how many times the white team's ball went across the net. Then at the end people had guessed varying numbers and the audience were asked "did you spot the gorillas?" and then the video played again and the 2 players wearing black exhange halfway through with people dressed as gorillas! It is pretty simple I know but I was impressed at how much you can focus on one thing and completely miss another.

Lots of people seem to be updating, so I thought I'd join in.

Sooo last few months... In January I had to do a horrible 20 minute presentation but in the end it was so scary it was almost enjoyable and I managed to get a 66 for it.
I went to a talk by photographer Grace Lau (http://www.photofusion.org/gallery/photography/exhibitions/past/archive/lau/gracelau.htm) and I met her and she was awesome, then I managed to arrange for her to come back in April and do tutorials with my group which is gonna be cool!

In February two friends I work with back in Redditch came to visit Aber for the first time, they loved it and loved my friends. While that was happening I ended up rushing to hospital to help out my housemate who broke her ankle playing rugby, thankfully Penny successfully entertained my friends while I was absent.
One of my tutors, the new conceptual one who has an obsession with inserting things into herself, turned my project upside down and has left me floundering a little bit. Then I got my results for last semester; I got a 62 for art history and a 71 for photography, my first ever 1st which made me very happy :)

In March I cleared the air with some people which is something I should have done ages ago, but now it is sorted out I am really happy.
Then as Pete mentioned in his journal, we went to London for 3 days (photos on facebook). I spent hours in Harrods looking at all the uber expensive things, like the £700 Siamese kittens fighting and biting each other. And the toy car worth more than my actual car! Dinner at Dans Le Noir? was awesome. Then trawled around the Natural History museum for about 5 hours looking at all the dinosaurs and shiny rocks.

Now I am back in Aber, getting on with two essays and trying to produce the mountain of coursework I am expected to hand over in 4/5 weeks, then its the Graduation show, arghh!
I am going to see Jimmy Carr this weekend at the Arts Centre, then next weekend I am going to see Derren Brown in Wolverhampton, so things to worry about but things to look forward to as well :)

At some point in the near future I am thinking of buying some things from the Valve Store (plush companion cube!)
Just wondered if there is anyone else who might want to buy anything as well, in which case we could order together and get cheaper delivery perhaps?
Just a thought :)

Summer so far...

Been spenting plenty of time with Lee which is nice, will make September tough, although it's the third time I've had to bugger off so I should be getting used to it by now.

Been working lots, payday is coming up which will hopefully pull me out of debt, even if only slightly! With the evil, soul-destroying, ex boss gone things are much calmer and happier at work :)

Got my results which made me sad. In semester one I got 67 for Painting and 64 for Photography and semester 2 I got 67 for Painting again and 65 for Photography. They are all 2:1's which is ok it's not a fail but I thought I might have done slightly better than raising only 1 mark in Photography and no marks at all in Painting! I don't really know what to think anymore, except to forget ever getting a 1st.

Been playing more games than usual. Played and completed Tomb Raider Legend in 2 sittings on my brother's XBox360 which is amazing since I never complete games! Also started playing Beyond Good and Evil which is fun and Okami which is a little boring but pretty.

Watched some films, Grave of the Fireflies which Lee fell asleep at the begining and woke up at the end with me sobbing. Hot Fuzz was very funny. Cronos was alright, a little boring though. Going to watch Apocalypto on my friend's projector Saturday night which should be good. Also watched more Cirque de Soleil which is really cool, really want to go see it!

That's about it I think. Going to be coming to Aber on Monday and leaving again Tuesday so hopefully if people are free I can come see you and get my Aber top-up before coming home again. Obviously I should see Penny and Gareth as Penny now lives in my house :)

To be continued...

I started back at work
My boss left
I drove my lovely car
I spent time with Lee
I went into my overdraft
I spent some time with my friend Iffet, I will see her for possibly the last time on Wednesday :*(

It's not exactly that great being back but at least it's just like going back in time since not a great deal has changed. And at least I'm earning some money which means finally after years of trying to patch it up here and there so it doesn't just die I can upgrade my pc hurrah!

I really hate it when you have a dream about something really wonderful happening and then you wake up and realize it was just a dream, it is the worst feeling. It's like your subconscious torturing you saying "look what you could have if you were all the things you wish you were" then snatching it away and kicking you into a hole. You have this massive high then you wake up and it's all gone. Then it makes you feel sad for the rest of the day :(
And now I've got a massive headache despite not even so much as smelling alcohol last night, I think it's the happy thoughts in my brain curling up and dying!

I thought this was quite amusing, it's some kind of potty training aid, the advert is crazy though!

http://www.collegehumor.com/video:1699243

As I mentioned a few weeks ago me and Penny wish (weather depending) to have a bonfire on the beach this Friday the 20th and have a good old drink up before term starts! If the weather is pants we can just go round some pubs or something...? Eitherway I haven't seen people for weeks and I miss Aber and Aber people and alcohol. Hope you all had a nice holiday, I am in Japan still, coming home tonight, do not look forward to the 9hr flight to Dubai, 2 hour wait in Dubai, 5 hour flight to Gatwick :( Has been fun but will be glad to be back and see people who understand me hehe
Hope you can all join me Friday (and I assume Penny is still on for friday too...)
Ele
xxx

Your Brain is Green

Of all the brain types, yours has the most balance. You are able to see all sides to most problems and are a good problem solver. You need time to work out your thoughts, but you don't get stuck in bad thinking patterns. You tend to spend a lot of time thinking about the future, philosophy, and relationships (both personal and intellectual).

Woo green!

Had forgotten about livejournal, not that it has much point anyway but meh!

It is Christmas time already, which means going home yay! Will be so nice to have real food and central heating and to see everyone and drive my car. This term has gone quite well, I have made a lot of new friends and found things to do with my time, which has actually benefitted my course because I don't get completely bored when I have nothing to do other than coursework! The second year is much better also because I have a studio space now where I can make as much mess as I want to and I am away from distractions. Am enjoying painting and photography loads, I think I will specialise in painting still but I won't give up photography completely because I enjoy it.
Am also looking forward to pet-sitting my friend's corn snake Leila. She's so cute!
Better get some sleep, got a long weekend ahead.

The gas men have been here for 3 days now, they appear to spend the majority of time sat in their van and then occasionally come out to do a bit of actual work. Everyone is going out soon so I will be left alone with them which is going to suck. They also keep setting off our stupid fire alarm with dust and stuff from drilling holes etc. This will be the second day without gas so no heating so its freezing and no oven so no food, I can't even leave the house to get anything, I need a hug :( or an axe!!
Hmm now I have ranted that out of my system I had better do some work or something...

"Inspiration is an unpredictable bitch. Usually she kisses me when nobody else kisses me."
- Tobias Sammet (mmm yummy)

I thought this quote was quite cool and quite true!

Why do I always leave everything to the last minute? Tsk! Have lots of work to do before sleeptime. Had a late night last night because my muppet housemate got back drunk and tried to cook food and set the fire alarm off 10 times, very annoying! Was set off another 4 times this afternoon. Then had to call transco out tonight because we could smell gas outside the house and apparently there is a leak and they are probably going to have to dig up the road and our hallway hehe, should be interesting!!
On a happier note I saw lots of nice people today, in town and online, has been a sociable day for a change :)
Meh, had better go force myself to do something in the way of filling the depressingly empty sketchbook...