tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-61491479836787597332024-03-27T22:10:52.242+00:00Emma CharlestonEmmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03307690577227053266noreply@blogger.comBlogger438125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6149147983678759733.post-77990284222269825552024-02-29T21:10:00.002+00:002024-02-29T21:10:23.203+00:00February 2024<p>I am very tired, which I feel like I keep saying. Maybe I need more iron. Or maybe I need to stop doing so much. Or maybe this is being 35. WHO COULD SAY.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXcwgoWd7CDAHhsY9KgdjJFIcnWLf_WGXGL-1kaN38lBYkhug7zAzYuFAPOctj1-kjGsGNSOSD6NAAsmmbKYdW4mbMGsfb3L8ticjhPBsidLFQzrWYkldm05HsYa8ssVvDJtIuwKoRLw9BzeG0HJ9CCjQsJnN1THGrGrZg9mlLBUfNpgvQoA7cR6GpupLu/s2480/February2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2480" data-original-width="1535" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXcwgoWd7CDAHhsY9KgdjJFIcnWLf_WGXGL-1kaN38lBYkhug7zAzYuFAPOctj1-kjGsGNSOSD6NAAsmmbKYdW4mbMGsfb3L8ticjhPBsidLFQzrWYkldm05HsYa8ssVvDJtIuwKoRLw9BzeG0HJ9CCjQsJnN1THGrGrZg9mlLBUfNpgvQoA7cR6GpupLu/w248-h400/February2.jpg" width="248" /></a></div><p></p><p>Emma can have a little tattoo, as a treat. Went to an artist who makes pieces out of lino prints. He also had a puppy Irish Wolfhound cross who was a perfect angel. Then I went for lovely dinner with our old housemate Camille and her partner Cathy, and played boardgames! It was so nice to see their cute new flat (and also so nice to stay friends with someone we lived with who we originally found on Spareroom but actually vibed with)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5RW1qH1fSLGoF61bA8h0ZMcGILOannVEch_JdLT16JyMBdPnN_qN-PhX4gjwQ3vq8PRBfoETRnsK6sX87jnB4P31H5jciLdHpb4cBa6TidUzA8hMe4nf9Q9JBteBkjfHEuUCKK44dTGLSpJc3jxXLgZKGH65P3Pn3lqixdjuTeZrqAsW9uh8eTRkZqvJ6/s2480/February3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2480" data-original-width="1535" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5RW1qH1fSLGoF61bA8h0ZMcGILOannVEch_JdLT16JyMBdPnN_qN-PhX4gjwQ3vq8PRBfoETRnsK6sX87jnB4P31H5jciLdHpb4cBa6TidUzA8hMe4nf9Q9JBteBkjfHEuUCKK44dTGLSpJc3jxXLgZKGH65P3Pn3lqixdjuTeZrqAsW9uh8eTRkZqvJ6/w248-h400/February3.jpg" width="248" /></a></div><p></p><p>Bought some new procreate brushes, and trying to test myself to try new styles and techniques in my digital diaries (but then I just get lazy and fall back on what I know, oh well)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidTbfOisUtMjhcI9bS_5QLfkIhy-w1CfX_z0-scQmgTjsO_m6mLnRgEK-c3ZqvH8TrB-udsxayjgIpzfchhue8LS4sMVvK9addwGJ5gEvKEfEPwWt203Jr_mnXqnxFPLwoiZYbkQJxkArwpkx855m4EVaAAJNuZsr24amHDgbsosJmy4g0lwZOON8jZS0y/s2480/February4.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2480" data-original-width="1535" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidTbfOisUtMjhcI9bS_5QLfkIhy-w1CfX_z0-scQmgTjsO_m6mLnRgEK-c3ZqvH8TrB-udsxayjgIpzfchhue8LS4sMVvK9addwGJ5gEvKEfEPwWt203Jr_mnXqnxFPLwoiZYbkQJxkArwpkx855m4EVaAAJNuZsr24amHDgbsosJmy4g0lwZOON8jZS0y/w248-h400/February4.jpg" width="248" /></a></div><p></p><p>WHAT IF though? (Made a couple of relatively minor social faux pas in quick succession and felt real gross about being me, a bad person)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5M6ZpZCI7rkEatv3rgPFreK4yDkfrqrCqzKPw_C3WML7npO5i6m7VQgE35YTJWbzVKSonhajmWN8p7-_iRLbgY1kb0SW82BKio6d1UkT2edy2JTs0kBTKxB1LVJD7RcRLG39iqWsuJ0IxTVKG6XS6aujZws_2ohDTYTwk4ECrU4Oe8RQIuK8_P12rzHtR/s2480/February6.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2480" data-original-width="1535" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5M6ZpZCI7rkEatv3rgPFreK4yDkfrqrCqzKPw_C3WML7npO5i6m7VQgE35YTJWbzVKSonhajmWN8p7-_iRLbgY1kb0SW82BKio6d1UkT2edy2JTs0kBTKxB1LVJD7RcRLG39iqWsuJ0IxTVKG6XS6aujZws_2ohDTYTwk4ECrU4Oe8RQIuK8_P12rzHtR/w248-h400/February6.jpg" width="248" /></a></div><p></p><p>I'm very much enjoying my PG Cert (teaching qualification) so far. As part of it, I got to go and observe a colleague teaching, and give him feedback. Got to go to Central Saint Martins, which is much nicer than LCC...</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVI-vN4Vn-dFSiBBQJu9-ZA3FPQ1Y-zSi1MWFK-Gnt4sGAbrD-MDqwQC1XgmoqXGnU19ILqpSor68muzWVY7MNaobLQbSQdAe5UEREpyQN8DkUq8EdcwWSQ8-ckAssrrcMGUKFW7CqQHr-9uB7ohwAFWIdTj1YpI5LOmsWUPOh3yf0jDSmJJxIEqLdbg5i/s2480/February7.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2480" data-original-width="1535" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVI-vN4Vn-dFSiBBQJu9-ZA3FPQ1Y-zSi1MWFK-Gnt4sGAbrD-MDqwQC1XgmoqXGnU19ILqpSor68muzWVY7MNaobLQbSQdAe5UEREpyQN8DkUq8EdcwWSQ8-ckAssrrcMGUKFW7CqQHr-9uB7ohwAFWIdTj1YpI5LOmsWUPOh3yf0jDSmJJxIEqLdbg5i/w248-h400/February7.jpg" width="248" /></a></div><p></p><p>Took up a guest lecturing spot in Leeds, which was a LONG DAY but made me feel big and powerful and important (they want me in LEEDS, all the way over there!)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9l01-3dKX37p2CknTAl17_W0opsi4MRjtCyJnWpNMz_oNpRf-A-IL0WxtE3X1MF7I2MmAS3A7fJYIX_Tpf69c7oOBOVry7K8-E3yWrMwiyhEyH7p3oyhLrRbWVOmlEMb4bx9785qWDhDe0tbyNsBAiUkTu86AL4YYZUs_eqngQ-1DtsT5UL5Ale5CWtG9/s2480/February8.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2480" data-original-width="1535" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9l01-3dKX37p2CknTAl17_W0opsi4MRjtCyJnWpNMz_oNpRf-A-IL0WxtE3X1MF7I2MmAS3A7fJYIX_Tpf69c7oOBOVry7K8-E3yWrMwiyhEyH7p3oyhLrRbWVOmlEMb4bx9785qWDhDe0tbyNsBAiUkTu86AL4YYZUs_eqngQ-1DtsT5UL5Ale5CWtG9/w248-h400/February8.jpg" width="248" /></a></div><p></p><p>The tasks, where do they all come from</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimkyTDa-gKlR5BS5YxX2MridjIXVJ_Hco30Er_HJYo7nmKNvKvZmLxoATyBWjzn6zXt__LOSmMJKPij6tt7LGGMPJr-SlnQZtChfYLrzc8_aqjvOZnC6oCSCxpwVbCnwCpLs0uaIS5E-q2f4H65xTGwIJ8xRC9Z-z2T4Hq46V6p8_IUMpiO-x5DzOydjy5/s2480/February9.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2480" data-original-width="1535" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimkyTDa-gKlR5BS5YxX2MridjIXVJ_Hco30Er_HJYo7nmKNvKvZmLxoATyBWjzn6zXt__LOSmMJKPij6tt7LGGMPJr-SlnQZtChfYLrzc8_aqjvOZnC6oCSCxpwVbCnwCpLs0uaIS5E-q2f4H65xTGwIJ8xRC9Z-z2T4Hq46V6p8_IUMpiO-x5DzOydjy5/w248-h400/February9.jpg" width="248" /></a></div><p></p><p>Another part of my PG Cert course was to deliver a 'microteaching' session (a 20 minute long activity delivered to 5 of my fellow PG Cert students, and I in turn get to enjoy their 20 minute activities). I did mine about maps, semiotics, symbols, and experiences of wayfinding. It went well!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfrvvANme4kL9nGW3_xQxweneSL7YExVHCzAPtXsERniOKWxm9hW5nhsXvnxMbCNxmUG93KVF1v6CobP1tFMA50RWPQxIeUE6XJhBD1iQVhpbLAAnb8Eu_bhhWKxzWoIaYWuWoo8eoAbIDOmTKIObST5R50BUeYpSmkqMY0j2ZKvRU30fXEnQEnhCOyWKP/s2480/February10.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2480" data-original-width="1535" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfrvvANme4kL9nGW3_xQxweneSL7YExVHCzAPtXsERniOKWxm9hW5nhsXvnxMbCNxmUG93KVF1v6CobP1tFMA50RWPQxIeUE6XJhBD1iQVhpbLAAnb8Eu_bhhWKxzWoIaYWuWoo8eoAbIDOmTKIObST5R50BUeYpSmkqMY0j2ZKvRU30fXEnQEnhCOyWKP/w248-h400/February10.jpg" width="248" /></a></div><p></p><p>Sometimes I don't get to play any boardgames for ages, then I played three in one day! (So Clover, Seikatsu and Patchwork)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbL_h62tcBCs3zahhJjvphbgGv8j-hqfEpWDaoPXwCXBnPCpCYAam8WRuoByrWgOsMrrNVGdJnivUraA9-xxrGsJzlPNHF-XNfUrcfaSYqgx3e82_QxTUI8NKXgqJubkP3yfCmjBj12gO9yG9Hb-EbDxInAvNDtQNHawO2-T2MMhNILpyfsuNXQklRyORB/s2480/February11.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2480" data-original-width="1535" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbL_h62tcBCs3zahhJjvphbgGv8j-hqfEpWDaoPXwCXBnPCpCYAam8WRuoByrWgOsMrrNVGdJnivUraA9-xxrGsJzlPNHF-XNfUrcfaSYqgx3e82_QxTUI8NKXgqJubkP3yfCmjBj12gO9yG9Hb-EbDxInAvNDtQNHawO2-T2MMhNILpyfsuNXQklRyORB/w248-h400/February11.jpg" width="248" /></a></div><p></p><p>Ventured to Anerley (still enjoying having a new neighbourhood — I had pretty much exhausted everywhere to walk within a 3 or 4 mile walk of Battersea, and all my favourite walks are to somewhere new)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiRm7s1B8MX_Ky8PD5H2JuM-If75oCzocjMdPBfX7E7bxmo8XhvTZRJeAGMPBcbFdDCXw_RSYcip3HGGzcdA21IOJDVKzc66klN-iKoYfODQrRi9XOyLvQ8mx4NJez8QEeINH8V1n-ryGTxMfQAZ_KNZKVASO8NycNlIYU7FEQ75Ct1K1ZCdAca1OosDmk/s2480/February12.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2480" data-original-width="1535" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiRm7s1B8MX_Ky8PD5H2JuM-If75oCzocjMdPBfX7E7bxmo8XhvTZRJeAGMPBcbFdDCXw_RSYcip3HGGzcdA21IOJDVKzc66klN-iKoYfODQrRi9XOyLvQ8mx4NJez8QEeINH8V1n-ryGTxMfQAZ_KNZKVASO8NycNlIYU7FEQ75Ct1K1ZCdAca1OosDmk/w248-h400/February12.jpg" width="248" /></a></div><p></p><p>In return for observing my CSM colleague, he had to come back and observe me. Regrettably he joined me during not my finest session, ugggghhhhh. Still, feedback is always useful (even if it was a bit 'Yes, I KNOWWW')</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcTcw63PHaUF3wfe4RyTrtDN6BHKnR7SArfRVZp8UZ_R92U0NoPEgmRNO7QKEJfJYp1VAbMl7qC1IzJeWyb_B23_RqNQPxdMVfbVvYZqAnn4X6AM1lByHC48NcxfKuqmf9x70GcLRYgnrlpSxcDLAbnnpSvXnJTHpZV7jKPJOpBMmiI5-VhZVm05ftgNm-/s2480/February13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2480" data-original-width="1535" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcTcw63PHaUF3wfe4RyTrtDN6BHKnR7SArfRVZp8UZ_R92U0NoPEgmRNO7QKEJfJYp1VAbMl7qC1IzJeWyb_B23_RqNQPxdMVfbVvYZqAnn4X6AM1lByHC48NcxfKuqmf9x70GcLRYgnrlpSxcDLAbnnpSvXnJTHpZV7jKPJOpBMmiI5-VhZVm05ftgNm-/w248-h400/February13.jpg" width="248" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>Took a half day out to go visit my friend Kath, who works at the National Archives. I mostly went because I wanted to hang out with Kath and hadn't seen her for ages, but ended up getting VERY EXCITED about the National Archives, touched a 13th century scroll, talked a lot about boats, and decided to try and bring my UX students on a field trip here to learn about SYSTEMS and DOCUMENTATION and why humans will always come up with some weird hacky way of doing a thing.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiibJjylm80astt9ThyphenhyphenEhkCIOQqXxnRtiIumZYutXzsnyW76WHDewXjPFme8RUa5E6qE8iDIgkMYhuda1hGr0kEOhMKhR5y6wJF-NdMgeEIqAZAvv7ZJnwoxtdAmh5Genf4Vbi5GgFXSMZXKu_aj12ukzB1EcGG5b7SOTpIniPb78WpJz-n1a0UVgfzHqs9/s2480/February14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2480" data-original-width="1535" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiibJjylm80astt9ThyphenhyphenEhkCIOQqXxnRtiIumZYutXzsnyW76WHDewXjPFme8RUa5E6qE8iDIgkMYhuda1hGr0kEOhMKhR5y6wJF-NdMgeEIqAZAvv7ZJnwoxtdAmh5Genf4Vbi5GgFXSMZXKu_aj12ukzB1EcGG5b7SOTpIniPb78WpJz-n1a0UVgfzHqs9/w248-h400/February14.jpg" width="248" /></a></div><p>We're going to get a dog again soon. Real soon!! As soon as some big terrible repair work to our house is done. For a while we thought we might be able to bring this good girl home but sadly the timings don't work. As a kid I was raised to be scared of German Shepherds (my dad's friend was a police dog handler and he used to bring them round to our house in his van and tiny Emma was not allowed to say hello to them) but maybe they're not so frightening...</p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK9DVwQjpY74zIgsxOwejW7pToknTa8Y6sQdfmFL567TB9Mr0sFmOMYKgpVBxPGzbM3xgEhuGUS_mymzFwsDARq88L-rWoEgOuYgTt7eQPQsdUkId45hjVU4CaSsM5cFmBrkie8Wz38KBO5L_JLqciByQaJUz-aJMSz4jozP64ghhwKA2G4hm6aPWUfQb2/s2480/February15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2480" data-original-width="1535" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK9DVwQjpY74zIgsxOwejW7pToknTa8Y6sQdfmFL567TB9Mr0sFmOMYKgpVBxPGzbM3xgEhuGUS_mymzFwsDARq88L-rWoEgOuYgTt7eQPQsdUkId45hjVU4CaSsM5cFmBrkie8Wz38KBO5L_JLqciByQaJUz-aJMSz4jozP64ghhwKA2G4hm6aPWUfQb2/w248-h400/February15.jpg" width="248" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr></tbody></table><br />I mean, I do have a real job. I kind of have three real jobs. But one of them is a temporary contract, one of them is... wobbly and stressful... and one of them is freelance. I've hustled hard for quite a few years now, and the allure of a stable salary and the ability to switch off at 18.00 and weekends is... tantalising (tantalisingly out of reach, for now) (and hey maybe I'd hate it anyway, I do like being my own boss)<div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_Myv3P2cS7-Kd_uxCypK1i12f8HRwWaZlqRqF-Av0yrS3Ct1P65I3GTmdfuA6WsGOUR_2aqSFVoKL2zbXef_vbrC8ISEXMGKxgTEuhrVzi_8ypEgXnGd5IBgPEwVTRaHkFWk6CfZGJ41JE18nA0ICPDMl0w1bsa1QUyAUqW6l7Ohw-7EAE9laPXfftbOT/s2480/February16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2480" data-original-width="1535" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_Myv3P2cS7-Kd_uxCypK1i12f8HRwWaZlqRqF-Av0yrS3Ct1P65I3GTmdfuA6WsGOUR_2aqSFVoKL2zbXef_vbrC8ISEXMGKxgTEuhrVzi_8ypEgXnGd5IBgPEwVTRaHkFWk6CfZGJ41JE18nA0ICPDMl0w1bsa1QUyAUqW6l7Ohw-7EAE9laPXfftbOT/w248-h400/February16.jpg" width="248" /></a></div><br /><div>Still hacking away at those brambles</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSjTMTk4KdFYnaxQe1hg-61wPQjyvxrwYrjesPUyr1Muox8G1l36KsPjMxIp89SNS0Yj4lIfsfutuP_jmZi5aQRw1hEye9JKyy_Eyz0kc2cQXDmDeOT0_U3jHZ5EIGowSYTbPZvtyIZ4-f7XZ9cf9WS3LsSfhnUh62DwCDqdlkutvRG9eidHxSO96g5FSw/s2480/February17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2480" data-original-width="1535" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSjTMTk4KdFYnaxQe1hg-61wPQjyvxrwYrjesPUyr1Muox8G1l36KsPjMxIp89SNS0Yj4lIfsfutuP_jmZi5aQRw1hEye9JKyy_Eyz0kc2cQXDmDeOT0_U3jHZ5EIGowSYTbPZvtyIZ4-f7XZ9cf9WS3LsSfhnUh62DwCDqdlkutvRG9eidHxSO96g5FSw/w248-h400/February17.jpg" width="248" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Finally finished the Capital Ring!! Did the last section with one of my oldest friends Alex (who also did the first section with me). It's taken a lonnnnng time (I started in January 2022) but I finally made it.<div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNz6o5eVsVcRFsU8pgn18wVNCqYBM1Eg7avaX8qJJPPMsnDARSimZaobvPLBcLT9GQCreAwOlv4zQkFNQRCZRC1mxBBWs0HMvbxk6cDJAkYLjHQx39KL4DDhIIp1b6EXxPdmn1JQ2QrdB7kA0AM7davVd62F8xu7B367_JntbuQZvZs9-eUAvSdAPf1toe/s2480/February19.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2480" data-original-width="1535" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNz6o5eVsVcRFsU8pgn18wVNCqYBM1Eg7avaX8qJJPPMsnDARSimZaobvPLBcLT9GQCreAwOlv4zQkFNQRCZRC1mxBBWs0HMvbxk6cDJAkYLjHQx39KL4DDhIIp1b6EXxPdmn1JQ2QrdB7kA0AM7davVd62F8xu7B367_JntbuQZvZs9-eUAvSdAPf1toe/w248-h400/February19.jpg" width="248" /></a></div><br /><div>Look it's called 'pastoral care' okay?!?!?! (Samaritans taught me how to do the 'No but are you really okay' in a way that cuts to the heart, apparently, sorry in advance if I ever get you) (Also I am clearly not a professor but some of the Chinese students call me that in emails and it makes me laugh)</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGGLdmAKt0KiDyOLBeyv-_x7T1RTapE-CIBymqBDBIxz2dgPvxW9VpddVoad3FE40zTu5Ceyqhjxe7pXVj38VnEhHZen_12_Jdsmo82sRUaxk7CR7nC9Ti3fB-agtJQjIqPjxFt3arfutV91MZZlsGp8VKNL5Z24vUKoBr8lqUl-yiEijdziukqKGt1Cu3/s2480/February20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2480" data-original-width="1535" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGGLdmAKt0KiDyOLBeyv-_x7T1RTapE-CIBymqBDBIxz2dgPvxW9VpddVoad3FE40zTu5Ceyqhjxe7pXVj38VnEhHZen_12_Jdsmo82sRUaxk7CR7nC9Ti3fB-agtJQjIqPjxFt3arfutV91MZZlsGp8VKNL5Z24vUKoBr8lqUl-yiEijdziukqKGt1Cu3/w248-h400/February20.jpg" width="248" /></a></div><br /><div>Did anyone get invited to that 'my future health' thing or was it just a weird creepy scam to get my blood for nefarious purposes? Oh well</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGN0jYDWMXffuc-E9Inqo4V8L_OZl93jpPZHZJWhfG32pzp6oUAvq7-jkcJttseDPab1EjgWp3bEDEK8hflKBDU7dj2FeUHCfMzEIH4hyphenhyphenhmAsYyH7EZrBA05hFHWog9EZ0k6g1GrxhSG7OOig0NT6lkbIT6OvxCIMQ5ATajKbK82sjDIYWSXec5yP1iXLH/s2480/February21.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2480" data-original-width="1535" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGN0jYDWMXffuc-E9Inqo4V8L_OZl93jpPZHZJWhfG32pzp6oUAvq7-jkcJttseDPab1EjgWp3bEDEK8hflKBDU7dj2FeUHCfMzEIH4hyphenhyphenhmAsYyH7EZrBA05hFHWog9EZ0k6g1GrxhSG7OOig0NT6lkbIT6OvxCIMQ5ATajKbK82sjDIYWSXec5yP1iXLH/w248-h400/February21.jpg" width="248" /></a></div><div><br /></div>You know what else won't quit? Me complaining about my task pile<div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4yzol5VDxiwt7CAaCT4KHYhE2ivKsQY_5BnUwA04yZPRX9qQMWCH3QJYOxcYrlDU5_So2quxWSCXG68m_R1vA3ipDinxbEIpq6_hjxYAiB7KkYHvUAUrIpqkzQtqAl_lAcrKNig7RdQ0Old0tfh_I2iwiJ5MM321SaPACljV4sYEOfleEgneiBL5mVzA6/s2480/February22.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2480" data-original-width="1535" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4yzol5VDxiwt7CAaCT4KHYhE2ivKsQY_5BnUwA04yZPRX9qQMWCH3QJYOxcYrlDU5_So2quxWSCXG68m_R1vA3ipDinxbEIpq6_hjxYAiB7KkYHvUAUrIpqkzQtqAl_lAcrKNig7RdQ0Old0tfh_I2iwiJ5MM321SaPACljV4sYEOfleEgneiBL5mVzA6/w248-h400/February22.jpg" width="248" /></a></div><br /><div>The UAL fire alarm always goes off at the most inopportune moment and derails any given session by a solid 45 mins to an hour (once all the students have filed out of the building, stood around for 15 minutes or so, got waylaid queuing in Pret for a cheeky milkshake, and finally returned to class ages later)<br /><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUbOKh8n4bJorEgcmcxkvu97-7ymtRKHJoybcl9hHlSUjP35MiZ9tiL579gK8UO0oyU3zbJyX2-dRUDgWZjmu0x6t50si2HYte9JTblGDuYXvDsMAVsA5KDe6ij3OPAsdsS90adGG7vj_-JizkEhFYK1GbXECLGY7SBaN-qWbZ71SVuA49edwhzX7RaHIn/s2480/February23.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2480" data-original-width="1535" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUbOKh8n4bJorEgcmcxkvu97-7ymtRKHJoybcl9hHlSUjP35MiZ9tiL579gK8UO0oyU3zbJyX2-dRUDgWZjmu0x6t50si2HYte9JTblGDuYXvDsMAVsA5KDe6ij3OPAsdsS90adGG7vj_-JizkEhFYK1GbXECLGY7SBaN-qWbZ71SVuA49edwhzX7RaHIn/w248-h400/February23.jpg" width="248" /></a></div><div><br /></div>The all day workshop gets turned into a 2 hour online workshop at the last minute. WE LOVE TO SEE IT</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihOwJE9AyroqVnOyaLbA97DnhdhyNhSQuPCfc_EtwcpCuFW2BDMnBkdKy6yp5CWXK6mi_jnDTx7-jGgWnraJ1PUWw5Nsp_yaGbrZRGbZ3UmhD_JYfjikPD51rF9BGrwSHeeUgbG1wVK1SXx3oPyiM2cbj5XCKd0Cs62s5U4oviR8dyGTRaw3TrBG846CrX/s2480/February24.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2480" data-original-width="1535" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihOwJE9AyroqVnOyaLbA97DnhdhyNhSQuPCfc_EtwcpCuFW2BDMnBkdKy6yp5CWXK6mi_jnDTx7-jGgWnraJ1PUWw5Nsp_yaGbrZRGbZ3UmhD_JYfjikPD51rF9BGrwSHeeUgbG1wVK1SXx3oPyiM2cbj5XCKd0Cs62s5U4oviR8dyGTRaw3TrBG846CrX/w248-h400/February24.jpg" width="248" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Ever since Barley left I have been quite anxious about the prospect of getting a new dog. Barl scared me so much that I worry I won't be able to feel relaxed around a new friend in the house. And I miss my sweet, familiar, kind girl Chase every single day. And my weird, wouldn't-hurt-a-fly, idiot-genius Charlie. Will I ever be so lucky again?!</div><div>Anyway, while I still had Barl I met this nice couple in the street who also had a greyhound. We stayed in touch, and they asked if we'd be able to look after their black boy greyhound (just like Barley), the ridiculously named HORATIO for the weekend. He was a perfect guest, and slightly softened my fear by showing absolutely no inclination to lunge at me, teeth gnashing. (He mostly just wanted to sleep, fart and have his butt rubbed)</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHwdANFrcl1tNif1kJN3XjdEq_xiQbadz-hSdD-dukZyREWbPhj4P-7Mq0rlUoRIAU4jZQo_maMwQcS4OQK1Hw_SaigCUzroIsYEuXNjGeVk0d_EqkLZbUkSNUYuxz0onDZQwangVhY4vsqmTMK3oGtBVaxrGnSjIvK2CARqgaHXyUSXEGypWJIbiP3z1L/s2480/February25.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2480" data-original-width="1535" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHwdANFrcl1tNif1kJN3XjdEq_xiQbadz-hSdD-dukZyREWbPhj4P-7Mq0rlUoRIAU4jZQo_maMwQcS4OQK1Hw_SaigCUzroIsYEuXNjGeVk0d_EqkLZbUkSNUYuxz0onDZQwangVhY4vsqmTMK3oGtBVaxrGnSjIvK2CARqgaHXyUSXEGypWJIbiP3z1L/w248-h400/February25.jpg" width="248" /></a></div><div><br /></div>We found out a few weeks ago that we have to completely rewire our flat if we are to avoid, for example, seriously electrocuting ourselves or dying in an electrical fire. Spoiler alert, IT'S REALLY BAD!!! DON'T EVER DO IT!!! DON'T BUY A HOUSE THAT MIGHT NEED REWIRING!!!<div>Step one was box up lots of things. Step two was my partner go away and stay with their dad for a fortnight because they absolutely cannot handle this bullshit (rightly so). Step three is I hide in my bedroom while two cheery lads slowly chip large, dusty holes into every one of my beloved, hard earned walls, while taking all my money for the privilege. <br /><div><br /></div><div>And next week they have to do the bedroom!!!! where will I hide!!!! Everything is extremely bad!!!! (I write to you from my bedroom cave with all my possessions)</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibvDwUjt78NpNcKpQdJv6dlWEkiY-AuQEo3hC0SkNeHUh1JHSwH8FjXCKnykIOA9sNuqFYLPKyxhFNXdN7n9C1OlF-VqrqneuCClsRsLr6pe31-6lNSDpamhB9AZFdfO_fvjrYAP3m_KdfLrUU1UUR0cWuwgD0aWe1H2hiH8tpXdn-RZe0hihbNGvdiPLz/s2480/February27.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2480" data-original-width="1535" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibvDwUjt78NpNcKpQdJv6dlWEkiY-AuQEo3hC0SkNeHUh1JHSwH8FjXCKnykIOA9sNuqFYLPKyxhFNXdN7n9C1OlF-VqrqneuCClsRsLr6pe31-6lNSDpamhB9AZFdfO_fvjrYAP3m_KdfLrUU1UUR0cWuwgD0aWe1H2hiH8tpXdn-RZe0hihbNGvdiPLz/w248-h400/February27.jpg" width="248" /></a></div><div><br /></div>It's VERY NOISY in the house and there's no electricity (for some of the daytimes, they do turn it on again for me every night). To escape the madness, I decided to start the nearest section of the London Loop. The Capital ring (which I just finished) encircles London and is 87 miles long, 15 sections. The London Loop also encircles London but is nearly 150 miles long and 24 sections! Let's get to it...</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiwcSdSavfg21pO8yrg6eSjXenbfibm5j85hqmLrOJ2NftSnWyjcPI4XqQmh5AcmqLBQvU5flXscH78C4ZMvRss8TaTCX03XitZJ5n6S2fj9HIShPkdFKXPevqEDnwf00zZZf1RExCMYbD7Cvguo0ODpRqXd2S9NnCaJXQ4NOk-MU7s7Ahyphenhyphen3rEc9pTKL0r/s2480/February28.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2480" data-original-width="1535" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiwcSdSavfg21pO8yrg6eSjXenbfibm5j85hqmLrOJ2NftSnWyjcPI4XqQmh5AcmqLBQvU5flXscH78C4ZMvRss8TaTCX03XitZJ5n6S2fj9HIShPkdFKXPevqEDnwf00zZZf1RExCMYbD7Cvguo0ODpRqXd2S9NnCaJXQ4NOk-MU7s7Ahyphenhyphen3rEc9pTKL0r/w248-h400/February28.jpg" width="248" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>Went to this weird social mingling event organised by a local social media events account, met lots of people but no one I really vibed with enough to ever actively seek out again. (Apart from one person I'd already met somewhere else but who might be too cool for me). Did do a cute collage though.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAc0RdRU2RP-cdo6oWZtQw4gADHR5a3oLion-zg_hLzuO0qpaGw4zTggQ-3Jy2tHUNEDTJ6TLNP1OMBEvshhb6WTzAO00FmOnVdKuqTSYtC2IqNdKtLMWTDc_6_N6iM4VXYlToLCOVhPFQ0oGtEZKPkwId0Ufpj7Ya8Osu3BB2AFg3RI0sgxNRYeIfQUJc/s2480/February29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2480" data-original-width="1535" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAc0RdRU2RP-cdo6oWZtQw4gADHR5a3oLion-zg_hLzuO0qpaGw4zTggQ-3Jy2tHUNEDTJ6TLNP1OMBEvshhb6WTzAO00FmOnVdKuqTSYtC2IqNdKtLMWTDc_6_N6iM4VXYlToLCOVhPFQ0oGtEZKPkwId0Ufpj7Ya8Osu3BB2AFg3RI0sgxNRYeIfQUJc/w248-h400/February29.jpg" width="248" /></a></div><div><br /></div>One thing you need to know about me is that, no, I have not seen whatever the latest hot Netflix drama is. But I HAVE seen every single episode of 'Gregg Wallace in the factory', all the masterchefs, and every other TV chef show going. So with that in mind, I was genuinely quite profoundly saddened to learn of the passing of Dave Myers, one of the Hairy Bikers. For all that I watch these shows, many of them I do so through gritted teeth (WHY does Rick Stein keep getting commissioned?!!? Mary Berry gives off way too much Tory energy to actually be enjoyable?! Marcus Wareing is a real weirdo?! Gregg Wallace is (devastatingly) cancelled?!<div><br /><div>The Hairy Bikers were always just lovely, and fun, and they went cool places and met real people, and yeah there was a bit too much meat for my liking, but I never felt any doubt that they were just like, nice, real people, who made good, gentle TV for my tired brain. </div><div><br /></div><div>Anyway, after a weird long February (literally), onwards to March. Those of you sick of my complaining about being too tired and overworked will be pleased to know that I am finally going to do something about it. More on that next time though...</div></div>Emmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03307690577227053266noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6149147983678759733.post-46204910113538993462024-02-03T13:49:00.000+00:002024-02-03T13:49:02.404+00:00Hourly comics day 2024<p>I have now done hourly comics day for 11 years, which is kind of wild. You can see all of them here:<br /></p><p><a href="https://emmacharleston.blogspot.com/2014/02/hourly-comic-day-2014.html">2014</a>, <a href="https://emmacharleston.blogspot.com/2015/02/hourly-comic-day-2015.html">2015</a>, <a href="https://emmacharleston.blogspot.com/2016/02/hourly-comics-day-2016.html">2016</a>, <a href="https://emmacharleston.blogspot.com/2017/02/hourly-comics-day-2017.html">2017</a>, <a href="https://emmacharleston.blogspot.com/2018/02/hourly-comic-day-2018.html">2018</a>, <a href="https://emmacharleston.blogspot.com/2019/02/hourly-comic-day-2019.html">2019,</a> <a href="https://emmacharleston.blogspot.com/2020/02/hourly-comics-day-2020.html">2020</a>, <a href="https://emmacharleston.blogspot.com/2021/02/hourly-comics-day-2021.html">2021</a>, <a href="http://emmacharleston.blogspot.com/2022/02/hourly-comics-day-2022.html">2022</a>, <a href="https://emmacharleston.blogspot.com/2023/02/blog-post.html">2023</a></p><p>This year I have some regrets. I picked too coarse a pencil and it made them sloppy, and I also was too busy/lazy to do the typography as a font which looked really slick in 2023. But maybe that wasn't in the spirit of HCD, who can say!</p><p>I also arguably cheated with some photographic cameos, but I think those are cute and fun, so there :) Was treated to some lovely skies yesterday, seemed a shame to miss them out. The 17.00 – 18.00 hour is a personal favourite of all my hourlies ever.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSdU9IYSYqn5_3i2yTBGfqiY_wCHUHLkHQqVFz6iZOrEbZQoNG92sbRZMyyOprwxbJ5LqVKqzW1K7DOdfC3xens1mM7UyVzP4VzfeZJ3XHLbEi9n0ezwmdjBRhorr6Bq88SwwCXqkdCKSaJ2uRdvA6oCccDKbsP5T5XEP-P-HuUPLYJGzCmkrxWw0uN4St/s1080/1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSdU9IYSYqn5_3i2yTBGfqiY_wCHUHLkHQqVFz6iZOrEbZQoNG92sbRZMyyOprwxbJ5LqVKqzW1K7DOdfC3xens1mM7UyVzP4VzfeZJ3XHLbEi9n0ezwmdjBRhorr6Bq88SwwCXqkdCKSaJ2uRdvA6oCccDKbsP5T5XEP-P-HuUPLYJGzCmkrxWw0uN4St/s320/1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJNw0PZL7BCTbAF4qIiXAkQ3utejavp5Uj1r4PLBS_Naqk64F-PNA4YY64H78V4KFyZklcP95qveCHqMvSVtz7QwJUqn8KMoA72Kz5oDgDxWUpEq6UOw4Y3r-BYf3rIs5Vb3Rthr6H4z-PnbwDfZ6XqVvoJGQutM6CH-pWwbE9BT3WoXKY6PhfXViwd45T/s1080/2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; 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text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQVogAAutC8YB_orNVSsqmCSWDPRzXBDvGDHzUuqqSbW8dH4vDghWa6jCmxbfhH9sbIH7L_ilkholrU2dhvruYzuzzTWaoq-weIpaGIm_FXfjmd2m0ZkivtswwZFV4RDO6waGPqxwkseSsN1vq65IT_4IoFca5nWQrsN5etGXy67otxS-DSUPbaKhD4UjW/s1080/16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQVogAAutC8YB_orNVSsqmCSWDPRzXBDvGDHzUuqqSbW8dH4vDghWa6jCmxbfhH9sbIH7L_ilkholrU2dhvruYzuzzTWaoq-weIpaGIm_FXfjmd2m0ZkivtswwZFV4RDO6waGPqxwkseSsN1vq65IT_4IoFca5nWQrsN5etGXy67otxS-DSUPbaKhD4UjW/s320/16.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnrtIIR1-DWQ9iNrJ05g_hj8EqEBJ5aabcH1KvadHTQAiin75BoG0t8tEzhMNAim4UTvoSRA41aeJd8V-YQVQ7OvaqOR_c1QY55qQc1SbUDTfVlT6IPNKvoKfHzNL_TEi2Ula__UKWAdMvMasVJj2SumyJo5bFY09U5u8ihQivDUNjVRhyphenhyphen61MdKOGhw-Hw/s1080/17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnrtIIR1-DWQ9iNrJ05g_hj8EqEBJ5aabcH1KvadHTQAiin75BoG0t8tEzhMNAim4UTvoSRA41aeJd8V-YQVQ7OvaqOR_c1QY55qQc1SbUDTfVlT6IPNKvoKfHzNL_TEi2Ula__UKWAdMvMasVJj2SumyJo5bFY09U5u8ihQivDUNjVRhyphenhyphen61MdKOGhw-Hw/s320/17.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL3yFIwG9ws14xnp7PUa0aOt6L_d1W_lN8fjtpJ_W0YatW37NUJpNYGbTERo6DPWRyO7ysBvCgiPuRWDmoS0fMRuCQ-MOk06_074OduzM0bW9KpE4AoshpOAZggydTJtZJbEJ1nWliIKFzJxVVcBkzlwvX-H1mWjQ4E6fx5cAG68fE0-DpGR8X8zI4fPT4/s1080/18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL3yFIwG9ws14xnp7PUa0aOt6L_d1W_lN8fjtpJ_W0YatW37NUJpNYGbTERo6DPWRyO7ysBvCgiPuRWDmoS0fMRuCQ-MOk06_074OduzM0bW9KpE4AoshpOAZggydTJtZJbEJ1nWliIKFzJxVVcBkzlwvX-H1mWjQ4E6fx5cAG68fE0-DpGR8X8zI4fPT4/s320/18.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />Emmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03307690577227053266noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6149147983678759733.post-71131261570406078312024-01-31T21:19:00.003+00:002024-01-31T21:19:46.569+00:00January 2024<p> Well, 2024 hasn't got off to the best start, if I'm honest. A sad and difficult month.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjuNJQI7XSsvajd4hSG3Fnmlg4WHK4uXWoIic_6lZbOoHkcG8YJ1ep84-WCQfg5L6mBWJAxZmmemvSIqDrswrbNoWTQ8r7DZiFgYfdW1aFb8UwZYyDxDy0wRAUi_dJprMduuW8jvIvJ2gMAY5HArAKXPB4B4YMiD3edBmwEG1L3jh00KhJqSArTxZ4wgm2/s2480/January1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2480" data-original-width="1535" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjuNJQI7XSsvajd4hSG3Fnmlg4WHK4uXWoIic_6lZbOoHkcG8YJ1ep84-WCQfg5L6mBWJAxZmmemvSIqDrswrbNoWTQ8r7DZiFgYfdW1aFb8UwZYyDxDy0wRAUi_dJprMduuW8jvIvJ2gMAY5HArAKXPB4B4YMiD3edBmwEG1L3jh00KhJqSArTxZ4wgm2/w248-h400/January1.jpg" width="248" /></a></div><p></p><p>It started off cute! Me and my partner took Barley to Crystal Palace Park on the train (he didn't like the train but most dogs don't, first time). We also did lots of garden work (I love having a garden of my own!!) and had a nice lunch out.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhhr__Bld0y0DX4z7M7V7Gw4ZywpbdIrsSEWR-bivaEAnOnWturrP2-l4jQgsH5VIKeMR4xVZQeMKh88K-D-gT1NftymE-Wa55cTOMiKFCGbn0LMfobGJEFfwsznvqxzSo79p-fI_pJdmc7Lkc42HSOyt0u-HHn-9Hwrz4GRAyJRlxcuJTE2lGZnUvWndS/s2480/January2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2480" data-original-width="1535" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhhr__Bld0y0DX4z7M7V7Gw4ZywpbdIrsSEWR-bivaEAnOnWturrP2-l4jQgsH5VIKeMR4xVZQeMKh88K-D-gT1NftymE-Wa55cTOMiKFCGbn0LMfobGJEFfwsznvqxzSo79p-fI_pJdmc7Lkc42HSOyt0u-HHn-9Hwrz4GRAyJRlxcuJTE2lGZnUvWndS/w248-h400/January2.jpg" width="248" /></a></div><p></p><p>Took Barl to the vet. He was good at the vet. He could be good.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYXKI4FfWsQJn7db_bmSIOJOKwhb35s5SpE7G9K0xZXi-IqubqZK_hGz2LDvCrLoPcMDjVl-YRy4UDw0Ox0Tr9SEYiTPd4iFTfN0wxA4foQJDPUSJhIRA9yJ81KXTRUUIp8IM_lCIxWTSsBz_LypIUpazctI3hcDCjEgSiZEmZkPu39zcJZmW9WrylYLNh/s2480/January3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2480" data-original-width="1535" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYXKI4FfWsQJn7db_bmSIOJOKwhb35s5SpE7G9K0xZXi-IqubqZK_hGz2LDvCrLoPcMDjVl-YRy4UDw0Ox0Tr9SEYiTPd4iFTfN0wxA4foQJDPUSJhIRA9yJ81KXTRUUIp8IM_lCIxWTSsBz_LypIUpazctI3hcDCjEgSiZEmZkPu39zcJZmW9WrylYLNh/w248-h400/January3.jpg" width="248" /></a></div><p></p><p>Still clinging on to Christmas Break, took myself over to Tate Modern for a look at the free bits, including Bob and Roberta Smith's brilliant Thamesmead Codex, which I'd been wanting to see for a while.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdi0uba0QJdNKMawLrj3urXczGDyKTVW1m8MHtDCxgoVSVBdxaQi1dypYnUHMK_L3VfzWF_53rP2f1H_JSZ0wybHtLv-Zj_E1hoLZNt4ljJxfs0G8MhVY1ZdYtuoyJr_1g6CQVeC4VhlvXopaQX_bQdgnalehfAHpy8cctNcCFFvn_9N6DK3DRgBrJDeRa/s2480/January4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2480" data-original-width="1535" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdi0uba0QJdNKMawLrj3urXczGDyKTVW1m8MHtDCxgoVSVBdxaQi1dypYnUHMK_L3VfzWF_53rP2f1H_JSZ0wybHtLv-Zj_E1hoLZNt4ljJxfs0G8MhVY1ZdYtuoyJr_1g6CQVeC4VhlvXopaQX_bQdgnalehfAHpy8cctNcCFFvn_9N6DK3DRgBrJDeRa/w248-h400/January4.jpg" width="248" /></a></div><p></p><p>The toilet blocked! Again! I called out another drain unblocking guy who explained the incredibly annoying problem, which is: since we got a new toilet, with a new (legally mandated) water saving tank, the toilet does not have enough water in it to propel the sewage to the main sewer. So over the days, it just sort of, backs up in the pipe. Great. His answer to the problem? "Flush twice every time". Really great water saving there. Brill. Super.</p><p>(Two weeks later, the toilet blocked again, despite all our best double flushing, toilet paper reducing efforts. This time I just got a long stick and dislodged all the built up shit and paper into the main drain myself, and I GUESS I'M JUST GOING TO HAVE TO DO THAT EVERY COUPLE OF WEEKS, SURE, FINE, I SPENT LITERALLY ALL OF MINE AND MY PARENTS MONEY FOR A HOUSE WITH PLUMBING THAT <i>NEARLY</i> WORKS)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2viJzH-ENBo3t-nlfb6C8FmdosNEH3tGz6JwYDo0uvDts2i-02mSuerr6kViRwq-TOm6T0sTR3hv4rISd7hy3p0UvdQ-tzCdKHohUlr6C_mmr4s57dwkgyts9qzn_xXObasUCmHrF-oh691fkVwm8_I7AMDqq_j0JlZ_2lQFlBE2UkqDSb9iip-yU7hyphenhyphenU/s2480/January5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2480" data-original-width="1535" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2viJzH-ENBo3t-nlfb6C8FmdosNEH3tGz6JwYDo0uvDts2i-02mSuerr6kViRwq-TOm6T0sTR3hv4rISd7hy3p0UvdQ-tzCdKHohUlr6C_mmr4s57dwkgyts9qzn_xXObasUCmHrF-oh691fkVwm8_I7AMDqq_j0JlZ_2lQFlBE2UkqDSb9iip-yU7hyphenhyphenU/w248-h400/January5.jpg" width="248" /></a></div><p></p><p>Saw one of my oldest friends Sarah (from school in North Wales) for the first time in several years. Feels particularly weird to be 35 when you see someone who you mostly think of being around 13 years old with...</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglz77p1im-mEGp15UPOjieHeafMaSyYRoPMyArkguWwnmkGl-Zsp8kUshSCGr0_QKlnEUHi4Fd1liqIXe5MOzS7j7hhVwkncvPV1zSc5PvSw9Eaiwc0GW9PxerMIs4C8gPq-5W3NRCh3quUcFi1Z1h7rSf2L93yW76U0VVh8p1P0JKLVPJJMKKtoUFQEF7/s2480/January6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2480" data-original-width="1535" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglz77p1im-mEGp15UPOjieHeafMaSyYRoPMyArkguWwnmkGl-Zsp8kUshSCGr0_QKlnEUHi4Fd1liqIXe5MOzS7j7hhVwkncvPV1zSc5PvSw9Eaiwc0GW9PxerMIs4C8gPq-5W3NRCh3quUcFi1Z1h7rSf2L93yW76U0VVh8p1P0JKLVPJJMKKtoUFQEF7/w248-h400/January6.jpg" width="248" /></a></div><p></p><p>Long awaited sofa arrived! DELIGHTED to have a sofa again </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge0U0lYHTuvCD2JDirpfDplhRS-C1SFBvGtcy8p-JYFkWLWTfyWMz9QVP-vClsknUE_NabpYeE1T-CyQbgeBLfrwhWKFEQfAdJyvcsQDzL_gW8Djbx98MqgfxTAPR5l_jyE4zF7cfVonNeJrsgK67KXMuuFBnBaiyLdMP75WCQfZyGOnBNjI1TZLX96fkH/s2480/January7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2480" data-original-width="1535" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge0U0lYHTuvCD2JDirpfDplhRS-C1SFBvGtcy8p-JYFkWLWTfyWMz9QVP-vClsknUE_NabpYeE1T-CyQbgeBLfrwhWKFEQfAdJyvcsQDzL_gW8Djbx98MqgfxTAPR5l_jyE4zF7cfVonNeJrsgK67KXMuuFBnBaiyLdMP75WCQfZyGOnBNjI1TZLX96fkH/w248-h400/January7.jpg" width="248" /></a></div><br /><p>I am enjoying my PG Cert (teaching qualification) so far. It started in Jan, and I had reading to do in advance of the first session. Enjoyed thinking a bit about why I draw (while litterpicking my litter filled front garden)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLvpIehOctEQ6thAv3UmropfZxHYuqF_QReD4qsYjaq_S8mzEc3W00DeL5tl6lbEKD1bBvcEoY8dkLvNw5wk_dHMdCGEfJ9E0RcZR15sxjiCszNyu3Ifkq5uF9Y6yh3PPIBgIT1fP_mhQ0bP9SWrhGdbK_EvH_PLjc0YDo1e5bzfKKWWUPMdC2ZVIya9ev/s2480/January8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2480" data-original-width="1535" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLvpIehOctEQ6thAv3UmropfZxHYuqF_QReD4qsYjaq_S8mzEc3W00DeL5tl6lbEKD1bBvcEoY8dkLvNw5wk_dHMdCGEfJ9E0RcZR15sxjiCszNyu3Ifkq5uF9Y6yh3PPIBgIT1fP_mhQ0bP9SWrhGdbK_EvH_PLjc0YDo1e5bzfKKWWUPMdC2ZVIya9ev/w248-h400/January8.jpg" width="248" /></a></div><p></p><p>And then it got bad. On the 7th, as I was walking to my bed, Barley launched himself out of his own bed, and cornered me, barking agressively and going to bite my arm. It was extremely scary (he is large with a big crocodile mouth), and really shook me up. I gave him the benefit of the doubt and assumed it might be sleep startle. But then the exact same thing happened the next night, and he was DEFINITELY awake. This wasn't just warning barks, or play barks, this was full 'fuck, I am going to get bitten' terror. <br /></p><p>I'd been ready for lots of things (greyhounds notoriously suffer from anxiety in many cases, they often have a very strong chase drive, and struggle to learn house training etc), but I had not really prepared myself for the prospect of a (sporadically) aggressive dog. A lot of the time he was a real cuddle bug, and an absolute sweetheart, but occasionally he decided that I was the enemy and needed to be attacked/threatened, and... I couldn't deal with it.</p><p>I still missed Chase, and hadn't yet bonded with him (though we were getting there, I thought), so these attacks totally shook me up. </p><p>I sought advice from a range of different sources, and followed it, including shutting him out of the bedroom at night, laying down the law with him in more different settings, muzzling him in the evenings, and generally trying to do more with him, so he'd warm to me (less easy given how scared of him I now was) <br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF4Oskf4hqVtRUdG9uczMiA_leQaqcWDbRM6vQiVruv95tUc7q0a6OTFGqOSXJxe9yYd_kQ2-6V_a9a_IEqFgzQKSpJxIwQu54f_Z4NFjSpOWQCu366W9_g8sf2ThHbu3QLnMYoPfQmBoNfQ6rE0qkSTgNBrTEhw4KrBQ2wUbwxrOXxccAAb9Z6wwznlO3/s2480/January9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2480" data-original-width="1535" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF4Oskf4hqVtRUdG9uczMiA_leQaqcWDbRM6vQiVruv95tUc7q0a6OTFGqOSXJxe9yYd_kQ2-6V_a9a_IEqFgzQKSpJxIwQu54f_Z4NFjSpOWQCu366W9_g8sf2ThHbu3QLnMYoPfQmBoNfQ6rE0qkSTgNBrTEhw4KrBQ2wUbwxrOXxccAAb9Z6wwznlO3/w248-h400/January9.jpg" width="248" /></a></div><p></p><p>Beth and Angus came over and we played Noli!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiRymFPze8JLR9wXT2AwfxpwQ0IlTciV9d6BZ5d4M8EkxzSsqTV43vWipYkpyVrsxpPyymdm8xUAJ76LD8QuALaiVqP3JPb4iSehd-q9Z-Ed9EShm7nH4M02NbsVJoGEc3EK9sJhOnvCVBSDaIXXcPFQHegC0TANxp8P911k6idb7hWNyF-_LAdFOWMkcn/s2480/January10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2480" data-original-width="1535" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiRymFPze8JLR9wXT2AwfxpwQ0IlTciV9d6BZ5d4M8EkxzSsqTV43vWipYkpyVrsxpPyymdm8xUAJ76LD8QuALaiVqP3JPb4iSehd-q9Z-Ed9EShm7nH4M02NbsVJoGEc3EK9sJhOnvCVBSDaIXXcPFQHegC0TANxp8P911k6idb7hWNyF-_LAdFOWMkcn/w248-h400/January10.jpg" width="248" /></a></div><p></p><p>A slight understatement. Very miserable. Barley growled at me as I walked past his bed again, and I realised just how frightened I now was of him. This was compounded by the fact that Spen felt absolutely the opposite and had nothing but love for Barl, so I really felt like <i>I</i> was the problem. I couldn't relax around the house at all, so was a) constantly on edge, but b) felt like I was probably just being stupid, and a terrible rescue dog adopter for caving so badly at the first challenge</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJNQQxqcFwAGEsF19oOuAwV2JFjKsyjsWUz2ANLSKbFM2-mXTn1qQuCnIl2VPzzMEFLSE7tTpF0b6Ovxj4k80vLhxf2Mv3AWvsSyYvod5-CTbx9uibX_ANQ13kkuoWyFpRjeroLP6pMv_3-kwGNz4DdBi0bXR-UTMEU5XKG87HgO4ZrVH4H_0W7hNbaiZu/s2480/January11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2480" data-original-width="1535" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJNQQxqcFwAGEsF19oOuAwV2JFjKsyjsWUz2ANLSKbFM2-mXTn1qQuCnIl2VPzzMEFLSE7tTpF0b6Ovxj4k80vLhxf2Mv3AWvsSyYvod5-CTbx9uibX_ANQ13kkuoWyFpRjeroLP6pMv_3-kwGNz4DdBi0bXR-UTMEU5XKG87HgO4ZrVH4H_0W7hNbaiZu/w248-h400/January11.jpg" width="248" /></a></div><p></p><p>It didn't help that Barl had his first day at doggy daycare and absolutely aced it, being the perfect social goodboi who everyone loved and got along with all the other dogs. He's a good boy?! I am being stupid?! It will be fine?! But I am so scared?!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDqSNbeiagE9ASraq4Uzfhj21am_KBUjtYiNS7VCdHEFr04VJZYJaeBqd3P5ZcwFP1UnupDgFoFvP4_iJOR3GRjNNTtjaUMcn_ZBOBHAtTizPp-YsQSgrD_5C94qF543Tpk5rcACMDRz-sGy3CwUzO1AZy062ADnWfmA0V-0O21ZKWaQqGgAsh6KvkTrln/s2480/January12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2480" data-original-width="1535" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDqSNbeiagE9ASraq4Uzfhj21am_KBUjtYiNS7VCdHEFr04VJZYJaeBqd3P5ZcwFP1UnupDgFoFvP4_iJOR3GRjNNTtjaUMcn_ZBOBHAtTizPp-YsQSgrD_5C94qF543Tpk5rcACMDRz-sGy3CwUzO1AZy062ADnWfmA0V-0O21ZKWaQqGgAsh6KvkTrln/w248-h400/January12.jpg" width="248" /></a></div><br /><p>Enjoyed the first full day workshop on my PGCert, where we learned about the history of British higher education with colourful pieces of paper. (The fun thing about doing a course about teaching is that the teaching on it kind of has to be REALLY GOOD)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI_Ys5iwoxNCtWaEpF9W-qJ0ZuxQiRJzBI-7r7cq8rpuofHZWOYprqhZ7hsNjKorOnaA4m1Us43sekvdoaQDC33evOP9lhntoay3Wkv9zMGZTN9SzA9T64TrKTHDNeGcj_m6bAulGVpWOGgCOsAsXJRDl2yeSD5ppG6rrMNuDThivBuleUQ_fl21vmbyR8/s2480/January13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2480" data-original-width="1535" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI_Ys5iwoxNCtWaEpF9W-qJ0ZuxQiRJzBI-7r7cq8rpuofHZWOYprqhZ7hsNjKorOnaA4m1Us43sekvdoaQDC33evOP9lhntoay3Wkv9zMGZTN9SzA9T64TrKTHDNeGcj_m6bAulGVpWOGgCOsAsXJRDl2yeSD5ppG6rrMNuDThivBuleUQ_fl21vmbyR8/w248-h400/January13.jpg" width="248" /></a></div><p></p><p>Went to see a contemporary dance piece called 'Super Normal Extra Natural' at a slightly bleak (but kind of amazing) old shopping mall in Croydon. I am REALLY enjoying living in Croydon so far, I feel more attached to the area in just a couple of months than I maybe ever did to Battersea.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdRYDYy-1V86cElvs_CtzSR-dGFQGkjZY3NRmzJ9SrDzagzEnmDjNo9c7ndDzTefL3_3-pf1NpJ93TzaPs6z4j5sf5ZpZTug5rZmcOKP2iRLGqFKM7TPvsaa30CpRMMw-rWVaTMLy9_wTYjm1rZ7U3W_qMA3YoziiMf_zX3EPjjp1fpLoESKzA6CGO8eDb/s2480/January14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2480" data-original-width="1535" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdRYDYy-1V86cElvs_CtzSR-dGFQGkjZY3NRmzJ9SrDzagzEnmDjNo9c7ndDzTefL3_3-pf1NpJ93TzaPs6z4j5sf5ZpZTug5rZmcOKP2iRLGqFKM7TPvsaa30CpRMMw-rWVaTMLy9_wTYjm1rZ7U3W_qMA3YoziiMf_zX3EPjjp1fpLoESKzA6CGO8eDb/w248-h400/January14.jpg" width="248" /></a></div><p></p><p>My partner had asked if I wanted to send Barley back. I didn't. But I also knew I wasn't coping. The only times I felt okay were when I wasn't at home. I was constantly tense around the house. I wasn't helped by a coincidental visit from one of my partner's friends who's a vet who said, unequivocally, that we should return him (she even said he should be put to sleep, but that seemed extreme even to me). She basically framed it as 'You can take a chance. And you might have a good pet. Or you might get severely mauled. There are other good pets out there that don't come with that level of risk'. And I couldn't shake it. I said he had a final strike, and then, he went for me again. So that was it. He needs to go back. I feel shit in every direction. I've hurt my partner, I'm hurting Barl, I'm grieving for the loss of yet another dog (and still the last one, and the one before), and I'm a failure, I'm a bad dog owner, I'm guilty. Oh Barl, I wish it had worked. I really do.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq3wOaRIc_leTTLaCefYMKNijEVnvsdT67-QbFUTVqLTGNNh2gDViIqhykqBFUHNOT2jwCxkvo3dqvaFeoiRyxAeJX0jYc1-FxXhT-f6UypY5rpImqrlTDSMxmOwXxz6h7wgsHnWNSU90hwoaX2K-EKqNZGIxrzUFad_052gJXXJyp_85XTJVyLWaIE7eS/s2480/January15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2480" data-original-width="1535" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq3wOaRIc_leTTLaCefYMKNijEVnvsdT67-QbFUTVqLTGNNh2gDViIqhykqBFUHNOT2jwCxkvo3dqvaFeoiRyxAeJX0jYc1-FxXhT-f6UypY5rpImqrlTDSMxmOwXxz6h7wgsHnWNSU90hwoaX2K-EKqNZGIxrzUFad_052gJXXJyp_85XTJVyLWaIE7eS/w248-h400/January15.jpg" width="248" /></a></div><p></p><p>Cheering myself up with new GLADIATORS though, incredible</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHZbor0DWHZnJ3HoFn2Ury0M27siFVR8mkDv5c_XZrTAY1wyNRTOTFG_Dqg6MJJSeBcqiXQglB1BcaR2ADU8uKyA0yEw3Yye8R9p3JbAH7WIaTwonNbtmOdFVQxxPADpPujOaglVxnvD-EWyUtG2aftPhb8TJoTanf5Z2ikae-BG2s9JIQnTWkrfsdBp-4/s2480/January16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2480" data-original-width="1535" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHZbor0DWHZnJ3HoFn2Ury0M27siFVR8mkDv5c_XZrTAY1wyNRTOTFG_Dqg6MJJSeBcqiXQglB1BcaR2ADU8uKyA0yEw3Yye8R9p3JbAH7WIaTwonNbtmOdFVQxxPADpPujOaglVxnvD-EWyUtG2aftPhb8TJoTanf5Z2ikae-BG2s9JIQnTWkrfsdBp-4/w248-h400/January16.jpg" width="248" /></a></div><br /><p>My partner, despite accepting my request for Barley to go back, and understanding it, was really quite profoundly unhappy about it. Barl couldn't go back until Fri, so I had to spend even longer feeling both scared AND guilty.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRbZJUVzMfe3GjLe2zPmuGZwRB0XQ9Wl-XcmetoAsZKYRkLFBsDQl7YaE6CH5uPKWmUIRluxHXLmGlJZ9oJzqwG7_2uizDFa0Kgj3xRO10UFqdXFOH-_UXE_F70yuFXnYZJMl3zbC1nocLX8pxf8YyupHEEPWhGo5A3hg0uslTHlIBe70Vp7kN2IXWWr-T/s2480/January17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2480" data-original-width="1535" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRbZJUVzMfe3GjLe2zPmuGZwRB0XQ9Wl-XcmetoAsZKYRkLFBsDQl7YaE6CH5uPKWmUIRluxHXLmGlJZ9oJzqwG7_2uizDFa0Kgj3xRO10UFqdXFOH-_UXE_F70yuFXnYZJMl3zbC1nocLX8pxf8YyupHEEPWhGo5A3hg0uslTHlIBe70Vp7kN2IXWWr-T/w248-h400/January17.jpg" width="248" /></a></div><p></p><p>Barl didn't help by, much of the time, being incredibly cute and sweet (BUT ALSO, on this day, while asleep next to me on the sofa during the day, woke suddenly and ACTUALLY BIT ME on my arm, which, had I not already passed the final straw, really would have been the final straw. Luckily I was wearing a million winter layers, so it didn't break the skin)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz8-o-MlZQEOQ1VrJHMVrfL2YmctHRPMu_-6yqoOF_QPiO-_pcs45Y7vt7f0nuAsELzlChpVMLri0DPW1CSL2AdqqcrF0ugEvR9Aze4n12OF4hOeYWpnUuhJ31t2IP2l-YkaTcqlfOqS2MEP3raRp_lC3G0M12YRGlOhCoOUEIPfa9uMnRRNdZDgew2EUy/s2480/January18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2480" data-original-width="1535" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz8-o-MlZQEOQ1VrJHMVrfL2YmctHRPMu_-6yqoOF_QPiO-_pcs45Y7vt7f0nuAsELzlChpVMLri0DPW1CSL2AdqqcrF0ugEvR9Aze4n12OF4hOeYWpnUuhJ31t2IP2l-YkaTcqlfOqS2MEP3raRp_lC3G0M12YRGlOhCoOUEIPfa9uMnRRNdZDgew2EUy/w248-h400/January18.jpg" width="248" /></a></div><p></p><p>Back at uni, my UX students needed to hand in their first project I'd led them on. The tension! Will they all submit on time!? WHY ARE THEY LIKE THIS (me and my co-tutor Patrick watching the count slowly tick up before the deadline)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCHAQxV4hoxxQKNl_Y-S6RvlfBBRQNgjCFy0Wg6rAs1dUIiYQbl7BPqodoSB43Rc56V-mf6bv-2237X_qcYcLkz5LpZKNQDl1SPGfIh5Oa6nGMvqWtPCRGeccDOOtMGci-HGI7KywgO4xYiGAxMUrAd9zoyBu5SKG1RiNjrRNIsDrIutLhOUaLyBkGi2ZH/s2480/January19.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2480" data-original-width="1535" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCHAQxV4hoxxQKNl_Y-S6RvlfBBRQNgjCFy0Wg6rAs1dUIiYQbl7BPqodoSB43Rc56V-mf6bv-2237X_qcYcLkz5LpZKNQDl1SPGfIh5Oa6nGMvqWtPCRGeccDOOtMGci-HGI7KywgO4xYiGAxMUrAd9zoyBu5SKG1RiNjrRNIsDrIutLhOUaLyBkGi2ZH/w248-h400/January19.jpg" width="248" /></a></div><p></p><p>Oh Barl. This drawing was based on a photo of him taken at daycare the day before, frolicking in the sun. My partner drove him back to his kennels, and he was delighted to be back with his old friends. He didn't look back as my partner left him. He'll be okay. I felt less sure about us.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwgycGCd7GZpIpgCvVs3ashwCmURj8wY5v5exFrsVmeDZ3bjNLmsHSHcvTIUiSj1OuIQ8F5QYb6DRExLbIY7tKJfH0YLU2t0T4ubpFSdGB3E9YvyGXhc60m_u81nzrxSaDQQMt7QHr-0_eEwT36Rkj-SQm3YXFMHCFhuSFgt5rCz2baw9jQhl0fgk2MvPS/s2480/January20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2480" data-original-width="1535" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwgycGCd7GZpIpgCvVs3ashwCmURj8wY5v5exFrsVmeDZ3bjNLmsHSHcvTIUiSj1OuIQ8F5QYb6DRExLbIY7tKJfH0YLU2t0T4ubpFSdGB3E9YvyGXhc60m_u81nzrxSaDQQMt7QHr-0_eEwT36Rkj-SQm3YXFMHCFhuSFgt5rCz2baw9jQhl0fgk2MvPS/w248-h400/January20.jpg" width="248" /></a></div><p></p><p>Took myself on my second to last Capital Ring walk to cheer myself up. A long walk somewhere new always cheers me.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghcFkieSaY6cAKSp5m_x3yAoGy0iFmJMyoOshQTcbK7r-DKof0Fy1KAbZmtUV2A0zUp1TPQhQ-fXTh1XuMzR3zb3FH1CV-GyIX0iIsfGJ_Oq-nbe_gFo74QAv0f8FuFKO-_aSMShMSlHmECPSg4gVsmoWeY_CgqsX5KN1h3l5-KoU24ZGyggyG2l2JC8Qq/s2480/January21.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2480" data-original-width="1535" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghcFkieSaY6cAKSp5m_x3yAoGy0iFmJMyoOshQTcbK7r-DKof0Fy1KAbZmtUV2A0zUp1TPQhQ-fXTh1XuMzR3zb3FH1CV-GyIX0iIsfGJ_Oq-nbe_gFo74QAv0f8FuFKO-_aSMShMSlHmECPSg4gVsmoWeY_CgqsX5KN1h3l5-KoU24ZGyggyG2l2JC8Qq/w248-h400/January21.jpg" width="248" /></a></div><p></p><p>Oh but I'm STILL SAD! Another long walk somewhere new, to glamourously named PENGE. Had a burger and got some charity shop bargains. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPJdot_9p1KKNYob-1D6exnJsxACzNFiJTmvX7YSAtUmmrZwMvIgW4SUc1_PQ-vS19Z6QBbkTWDrq_wR4pW9Xoz2-ryJyV19PHgghWFnCBDJiblK6ygYMc3DHn5PitoLpkTkzk3OaXLPbHyl9zWi_5eElWI3FiTTSbEEjkRm5J4sUWnfh0El-yY7fxuXTB/s2480/January22.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2480" data-original-width="1535" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPJdot_9p1KKNYob-1D6exnJsxACzNFiJTmvX7YSAtUmmrZwMvIgW4SUc1_PQ-vS19Z6QBbkTWDrq_wR4pW9Xoz2-ryJyV19PHgghWFnCBDJiblK6ygYMc3DHn5PitoLpkTkzk3OaXLPbHyl9zWi_5eElWI3FiTTSbEEjkRm5J4sUWnfh0El-yY7fxuXTB/w248-h400/January22.jpg" width="248" /></a></div><p></p><p>Emma can have a little treat</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-b7L7C9Gch99qu2jsihWWjt9sTfh3oxJ78_LVd4GcfzZuIP33wa1hl9jw0iL0Z5nzsw8Y8SJOAHVrYaM1RqYlQsr7QTK7Y2zSZU99i-2CE5s0_TtuwbnG0iObBnWcSfBk7sHzC2xG4zgANOmlFNOHzyaHCmzvjA_WiiH_r9b0j0NeNKkcp5-DXabQEuoN/s2480/January23.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2480" data-original-width="1535" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-b7L7C9Gch99qu2jsihWWjt9sTfh3oxJ78_LVd4GcfzZuIP33wa1hl9jw0iL0Z5nzsw8Y8SJOAHVrYaM1RqYlQsr7QTK7Y2zSZU99i-2CE5s0_TtuwbnG0iObBnWcSfBk7sHzC2xG4zgANOmlFNOHzyaHCmzvjA_WiiH_r9b0j0NeNKkcp5-DXabQEuoN/w248-h400/January23.jpg" width="248" /></a></div><p></p><p>We were sad (we still are sad). My partner works so hard around the house and it's one of the many things I love about them. Felt really rough to have actively contributed to making our home less homely, with the absence of dog. I miss Chase so so much, every single day. I wish she'd made it here with us. I bought this house with her in mind. Ground floor for her tired old legs. Lovely big garden for gentle zooms. All on the same floor. My perfect girl. <br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3imIt_EOgpSRo5Xvu0TiRIiZTYJoXPn2TEx3AwJ4cuSHtkwsXib5D4o8yAkqM7PFwyFhlh9XXT3sS3rFMtui766ZVVXG9KNR5OBtsBz5CGqTHewMgbfAp0NrAlLxTSMGqvPqw8VO1ZgwPZKqPHpKVZ64we40xzSwpnhA3CcCyluItL5XkT_xXDlqVeDnh/s2480/January24.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2480" data-original-width="1535" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3imIt_EOgpSRo5Xvu0TiRIiZTYJoXPn2TEx3AwJ4cuSHtkwsXib5D4o8yAkqM7PFwyFhlh9XXT3sS3rFMtui766ZVVXG9KNR5OBtsBz5CGqTHewMgbfAp0NrAlLxTSMGqvPqw8VO1ZgwPZKqPHpKVZ64we40xzSwpnhA3CcCyluItL5XkT_xXDlqVeDnh/w248-h400/January24.jpg" width="248" /></a></div><p></p><p>We can't get another dog right away. In the midst of this shitty month we found out that we have to rewire! VERY SOON, to avoid like, dying in an electrical fire or something. Rewiring involves a huge amount of dust, stress and upheaval (and MONEY lolsob), and it wouldn't be fair to welcome a new dog then immediately do that. Doesn't mean I'm not looking though. </p><p>What about sweet <a href="https://www.pets4homes.co.uk/classifieds/v0bjeld8n-collie-bedford/?pmg_source=all">Hope the Collie</a>? Could <a href="https://www.dogsblog.com/mr-chips-2/">Mr Chips</a> be the one? <a href="https://www.pets4homes.co.uk/classifieds/meatm7by4-gentle-soul-hartfield/?pmg_source=all">A Borzoi</a>?! You never see them on rehoming sites?! Or maybe a <a href="https://www.theunderdog.org/adopt/molly">smol friend</a> would be more my speed? </p><p>I don't want another greyhound (for now/ever?), and I think I do want a smaller dog, but my partner still wants something quite big. I still love Collies but would I forever be comparing them to Charlie? I also love a mongrel but most of them are Romanian street dogs who can be such unknown quantities...</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpoSjlaBJGCbxg20EowPrYDcl9Vvx2UzpqrLMWTMxWs3W9RKvfM3vs3kcRVXnUKey5wYy4xbL1Dsw3foci3CfRrdtgtxTvmuBcfZrUIk1AbA6IF5cZqwkhIU3RcJS7FvCDOOhPLFMrHtVM20vn0EwDR387Lg8Ga-gnzWyk4QLjqSk_WixLsPRIF8JUv7SN/s2480/January25.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2480" data-original-width="1535" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpoSjlaBJGCbxg20EowPrYDcl9Vvx2UzpqrLMWTMxWs3W9RKvfM3vs3kcRVXnUKey5wYy4xbL1Dsw3foci3CfRrdtgtxTvmuBcfZrUIk1AbA6IF5cZqwkhIU3RcJS7FvCDOOhPLFMrHtVM20vn0EwDR387Lg8Ga-gnzWyk4QLjqSk_WixLsPRIF8JUv7SN/w248-h400/January25.jpg" width="248" /></a></div> <p></p><p>I was still sad so I went to the big Croydon trampoline place on a weekday afternoon. But the trampolines were for children and didn't have enough bounce :( I did find an amazing Asian supermarket though, which was good.<br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpCWPqIKbiKWjZf8MqEmCd726vT_GbLKDKa4vF2_223aHp_9-tYl1JoruLcpJV9u1lyElunOnfzHyUb9dhT9k2rW_Jw-qb5E1I0r6tjkKl1SRZ6Sl7qP4YpazkzVQoyUOyR8lrnxeHK9KJ6_WPEaPyg_hZd6gKwJ9qLjdF8_Y-5HlcmTYqRH3o3_vMS2cD/s2480/January26.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2480" data-original-width="1535" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpCWPqIKbiKWjZf8MqEmCd726vT_GbLKDKa4vF2_223aHp_9-tYl1JoruLcpJV9u1lyElunOnfzHyUb9dhT9k2rW_Jw-qb5E1I0r6tjkKl1SRZ6Sl7qP4YpazkzVQoyUOyR8lrnxeHK9KJ6_WPEaPyg_hZd6gKwJ9qLjdF8_Y-5HlcmTYqRH3o3_vMS2cD/w248-h400/January26.jpg" width="248" /></a></div><p></p><p>Need to get a new passport this year, so being organised and doing it early. Spent £10 on this terrible photo (they're always terrible)<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMjK3qbgezsG2hS5XpLkjvxeEuTRXGCvTbgH-DwqBpt7Rcr1NK60nb9gR1Jk77OxVtuHSnm8FHJCAhoq3BIPv3bZeZtLtxIxw_Uw43Y0cNZDLCDuYalx556c6cxj5POcpi8YVgK2uRha13mRy5F1iZ8qYhq_ukb36g0-ajJH2nLCPDp-wVQbPLqbtABWwT/s2480/January27.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2480" data-original-width="1535" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMjK3qbgezsG2hS5XpLkjvxeEuTRXGCvTbgH-DwqBpt7Rcr1NK60nb9gR1Jk77OxVtuHSnm8FHJCAhoq3BIPv3bZeZtLtxIxw_Uw43Y0cNZDLCDuYalx556c6cxj5POcpi8YVgK2uRha13mRy5F1iZ8qYhq_ukb36g0-ajJH2nLCPDp-wVQbPLqbtABWwT/w248-h400/January27.jpg" width="248" /></a></div><br /><p>Very excited for my friend George, as she finally launches her book SYSTEMS ULTRA! Had a nice time going to the launch event at the design museum, and then pub with lots of familiar faces.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA132kcX8ZP3XaDwKg6TQr31QqnDRxAFEuom_Gn2yWBtFiA4gEUOMfSiVEDE9DaGoCM169mLRTK80GQ_lHhYK7f8wsBsLydWq_fnlcRQAfBsPYGZNu6YNyWbTfhpP_ux5T1UfbiMAjbBkxK4GNAgP2fkJ_e2EX1fhEXvP9qtitv0dB3eVansGhHeCYpzFb/s2480/January28.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2480" data-original-width="1535" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA132kcX8ZP3XaDwKg6TQr31QqnDRxAFEuom_Gn2yWBtFiA4gEUOMfSiVEDE9DaGoCM169mLRTK80GQ_lHhYK7f8wsBsLydWq_fnlcRQAfBsPYGZNu6YNyWbTfhpP_ux5T1UfbiMAjbBkxK4GNAgP2fkJ_e2EX1fhEXvP9qtitv0dB3eVansGhHeCYpzFb/w248-h400/January28.jpg" width="248" /></a></div><p></p><p>The terrible photo that cost me £10 wasn't acceptable to the government website, even though the booth said it was right! So I took my own, slightly less bad one. (I also treated myself to some new Procreate brushes to cheer myself up — but nothing is cheering me up, lol)<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPnawhe7ZLD3GnKSLeNe-CkweL18_-fGzS-WU0LVP8_YBUhx0gzpxERLN_j8ETsil0SdsbsG9VjYkqgvE1UncQODaP89pPfcrWhxA804SPjj0dLN5QtLWpC2t9zmud2a4rBlWGHUwzs0IRzTRQ2_JFJ0J8m__4bFJ-m8FCaLIPDAI4E_x17vMTa6Bc4kq1/s2480/January29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2480" data-original-width="1535" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPnawhe7ZLD3GnKSLeNe-CkweL18_-fGzS-WU0LVP8_YBUhx0gzpxERLN_j8ETsil0SdsbsG9VjYkqgvE1UncQODaP89pPfcrWhxA804SPjj0dLN5QtLWpC2t9zmud2a4rBlWGHUwzs0IRzTRQ2_JFJ0J8m__4bFJ-m8FCaLIPDAI4E_x17vMTa6Bc4kq1/w248-h400/January29.jpg" width="248" /></a></div><p></p><p>You know things are bad when it's blank stare eating crackers and mayonnaise at the kitchen counter time</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm29aNSDm_gsOSGvvB6gMXVDqN_JipB1Qi44ZG6wXGuJktEzVaN_MenLKoKXLialaLiuqcBiP2vsmoLovo-LndNeN9ELK9kU3dM0uhCPaEWNreCRrpf_6VNFSS9M8RYsQA2I4gXZUGiaWqKrNE90RchCBxNnfdf_L2IpQCcGX9GQ7iQZxUQZB-edakTu7e/s2480/January30.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2480" data-original-width="1535" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm29aNSDm_gsOSGvvB6gMXVDqN_JipB1Qi44ZG6wXGuJktEzVaN_MenLKoKXLialaLiuqcBiP2vsmoLovo-LndNeN9ELK9kU3dM0uhCPaEWNreCRrpf_6VNFSS9M8RYsQA2I4gXZUGiaWqKrNE90RchCBxNnfdf_L2IpQCcGX9GQ7iQZxUQZB-edakTu7e/w248-h400/January30.jpg" width="248" /></a></div><p></p><p>It's activities week at UAL, so I delivered my visual diaries workshop again. It was very cute and the students did lots of lovely drawings and shared lots of fun ideas. I first learned about visual diarying when I was an undergrad and attended a short course about it, so I like to try and pass it on.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUQsqZAkYgccuKrJkrT1TCWWvaLZw0CidLLwkxMV997PFHOUYNCSq2LQdZ0fKH1Ra5ljAt4-LzoPSNA3z687GTN39-B0NbomBWOEA6jFRphTRIoAbyY33A_VFVLIM4xQHKDxkxmk05dww6hPg3bFQybOahP58A7QoPFgr8S75pgj18EOnvmqnFkCTWrByO/s2480/January31.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2480" data-original-width="1535" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUQsqZAkYgccuKrJkrT1TCWWvaLZw0CidLLwkxMV997PFHOUYNCSq2LQdZ0fKH1Ra5ljAt4-LzoPSNA3z687GTN39-B0NbomBWOEA6jFRphTRIoAbyY33A_VFVLIM4xQHKDxkxmk05dww6hPg3bFQybOahP58A7QoPFgr8S75pgj18EOnvmqnFkCTWrByO/w248-h400/January31.jpg" width="248" /></a></div><p></p><p>We are lucky enough to have a front garden AND a back garden. The back garden is where the real potential lies, but in some ways the front garden needs the most attention. The freehold lease annoyingly states it must be 'maintained as a lawn' (Such a shame — it's massive! Something like 8 x 15 metres!), but we kind of have to go along with it. We are going to be a little cheeky and have some plants directly under our windows, and at the very far end by the street. The previous tenants of the house let get far end of the garden get totally overgrown though, so at the moment it's mostly a mass of brambles. I am quite enjoying hacking away at them, actually. I am trying to take half an hour or an hour out of my work day every day to make some small progress through the morass.</p><p>Onwards into February, which has in store probably some ongoing amount of sadness, and a complete fucking rewire of the house, TERRIBLE (yes yes yes homeowner privilege fine)</p><p>Also tomorrow is hourly comics day, which I have actually remembered ahead of time this year...<br /></p>Emmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03307690577227053266noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6149147983678759733.post-21522080266382760202023-12-31T21:19:00.000+00:002023-12-31T21:19:13.015+00:00December 2023<p>Observant readers might notice a change to this month's visual diaries, in that they are (almost) entirely digital. I started this last month, due to a combination of ire at Moleskine's massive price hike on their sketchbooks (and subsequent unavailability at most of the places I used to buy them), and the stress of moving house and packing up all my art supplies requiring a more portable approach.</p><p>I do now have a new Moleskine to work in, and my art supplies are unpacked, but I found myself somewhat enjoying this way of working. This blog marks 11 (!) years of daily visual diarying, which, until 2020, was entirely analogue. I bought myself a secondhand ipad then, which I have been sporadically using ever since, both for client illustration work, and — when travelling — visual diaries. </p><p>I started out doing my visual diaries with the primary intent of improving my illustration skills. There's absolutely no doubt that this ridiculous exercise, spanning over a decade, has done that. Switching to digital allows me to cheat, in some ways. I can trace photos (which I do, regularly, both in these visual diaries, and in client work). It allows me to collage found materials with greater ease (which I don't do enough of, as I find it hard to draw my own individual line on what counts as 'cheating'). But it also offers me an infinite gamut of colour in ways which are far easier, faster, and less messy to apply than analogue processess. It offers me infinite possibilities without having to buy infinite art supplies. It allows me to try more different styles. In short, I have found working this way exciting and refreshing, and though there's a little tug at my heartstrings over the first month in over a decade with no analogue pages to turn, I think I am going to keep going like this. For a while? Forever? Until the storage on my ipad runs out and I am too lazy to deal with it? Let's see... </p><p>In the meantime, I hope you enjoy these, and that none of my regular readers will desert me, like when Bob Dylan used an electric guitar for the first time...<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQXMICt0Ni5J9ciNgW9e7eRQtfV-U3dk3wdgV34bVhGrXJ3_OwMYl4ivWKBliDg-YDw147vsCjJafCcPZFeU5sXIqBMfS7knA44EDZ4uQozQ1wefcXgWUTcuzEga1lw0CM9PP-Hk_bnJHM4046_uJbjlNr4UBoM9OGbotoJTjc04J3x4GdYFqSMUhuOGx4/s2480/December1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2480" data-original-width="1535" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQXMICt0Ni5J9ciNgW9e7eRQtfV-U3dk3wdgV34bVhGrXJ3_OwMYl4ivWKBliDg-YDw147vsCjJafCcPZFeU5sXIqBMfS7knA44EDZ4uQozQ1wefcXgWUTcuzEga1lw0CM9PP-Hk_bnJHM4046_uJbjlNr4UBoM9OGbotoJTjc04J3x4GdYFqSMUhuOGx4/w248-h400/December1.jpg" width="248" /></a></div><p></p><p>This silly drawing has become something of a new dog tradition. You can see Charlie's on the <a href="http://emmacharleston.blogspot.com/2017/02/">11th of February 2017</a>, and Chase's on the <a href="http://emmacharleston.blogspot.com/2021/01/">16th of January 2021</a>. We didn't have long enough with either of them.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilpFqtDhVMP_rJkrAyeHU55JWCG4pBhOqC1jAXxfyYo_f1U-bcMv5kks_psmhJWG7XxKuyYR0GwXqwT7pZjOydQrF9LDMmomkscKj83rjmt0mZI-WfT75hdI8rEi9Cv7f3UCqE2te9-L9ve28qax8bqj3m18BSMsBfvQwdfBZU41BMuuLaBRkaFyFi3LuV/s2480/December2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2480" data-original-width="1535" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilpFqtDhVMP_rJkrAyeHU55JWCG4pBhOqC1jAXxfyYo_f1U-bcMv5kks_psmhJWG7XxKuyYR0GwXqwT7pZjOydQrF9LDMmomkscKj83rjmt0mZI-WfT75hdI8rEi9Cv7f3UCqE2te9-L9ve28qax8bqj3m18BSMsBfvQwdfBZU41BMuuLaBRkaFyFi3LuV/w248-h400/December2.jpg" width="248" /></a></div><p></p><p>Barley, as an ex-racing greyhound who had never even been in a house before, had absolutely no reason to arrive pre-house trained, and yet somehow, he almost entirely did. Compared with our sweet old lady Chase, he has astonishing bladder capacity, easily waiting 12+ hours between wees (at his choice, not ours!), and has the good sense to know that the house is not the place to do them. We have had no wee accidents. He also generally has this feeling about poos, however they are a little harder to hold. To our great ire, for the first week or two he spent with us, he decided that outdoors was COLD and BAD and absolutely to be avoided, and for a couple of days running, despite us offering him the garden, the declined, and then immediately pooed in the living room as soon as we turned our backs. </p><p>Luckily he picks up on social cues quickly, and that has not happened since (though admittedly we have not has such a cold snap since then either...)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8p8DueaVXZzCDdyewKvIFwyYGgfK6N8XJXQdj2gPUeWHsJ_ubx5lsIRe9WKcwYnmAuvbKnknlHbgSAkCfmWrVE70ZBrXswlum26l-r0__MA6xBMsUXdeRr4dydx7o-dJoRummeBZ0DTgKDBGoKdHzo6N6fxkT_85erAmvpdkQd9O_NPCGqoRk8NN_0blV/s2480/December3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2480" data-original-width="1535" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8p8DueaVXZzCDdyewKvIFwyYGgfK6N8XJXQdj2gPUeWHsJ_ubx5lsIRe9WKcwYnmAuvbKnknlHbgSAkCfmWrVE70ZBrXswlum26l-r0__MA6xBMsUXdeRr4dydx7o-dJoRummeBZ0DTgKDBGoKdHzo6N6fxkT_85erAmvpdkQd9O_NPCGqoRk8NN_0blV/w248-h400/December3.jpg" width="248" /></a></div><p></p><p>Tabled at a zine fair in Brighton run by lovely old friends! Sealed the 'lets go digital' deal by doing a really shit pen drawing (albeit on lovely paper) while I was there. (Added the text over the top digitally later). It was lovely to have a flying visit to Brighton and catch up with some people I hadn't seen since pre pandemic, or even pre Hebden Bridge move in some cases...</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirAdPcp9_r4T3m70aRNg2h-OP6llZS_bb6nPAyzPDarjKhJpQW2oWdQkYQPLDWZxzybf4CTWNknJQxaVyQboxRig4yBPgYBwIuDKi-G_SnjsfpoVtgkLlQNQ1bIkBnc8m94xlsElFj4y1d9ClekOty4498ah4By-twfXTBPD1mWNyF05rieMvKJNNQktBS/s2480/December4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2480" data-original-width="1535" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirAdPcp9_r4T3m70aRNg2h-OP6llZS_bb6nPAyzPDarjKhJpQW2oWdQkYQPLDWZxzybf4CTWNknJQxaVyQboxRig4yBPgYBwIuDKi-G_SnjsfpoVtgkLlQNQ1bIkBnc8m94xlsElFj4y1d9ClekOty4498ah4By-twfXTBPD1mWNyF05rieMvKJNNQktBS/w248-h400/December4.jpg" width="248" /></a></div><p></p><p>Those of you who've ever talked about my veganism with me will know that my one longstanding deep, unfulfilled longing is canned mackerel. (No, really). My partner decided that Barley would benefit from some occasional meal additions like egg, mackerel, sweet potatoes and peanut butter. While prepping his dinner I allowed myself a tiny morsel of the fish, just to see if it was as good as I remember. READER, IT WAS (Emma can have a little fish, as a treat, just once)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcS3lK-pR6uEe7PVo7CeC3hgz5fk71YYPf1QW5jTQLz9IYZMwQKTmgmjCeIEhgaGmsXNa-vS24C5o4La_IavWUaevwfEiafUYhWn3SZ_HJEsxSrMrOc3yFLDbvKw_y7p9sSF5-mOHMIUb7BdIhjC-5GIp4BxgsB3U80xWyVqwn2Und3iepwDkB_BzMhnYl/s2480/December5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2480" data-original-width="1535" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcS3lK-pR6uEe7PVo7CeC3hgz5fk71YYPf1QW5jTQLz9IYZMwQKTmgmjCeIEhgaGmsXNa-vS24C5o4La_IavWUaevwfEiafUYhWn3SZ_HJEsxSrMrOc3yFLDbvKw_y7p9sSF5-mOHMIUb7BdIhjC-5GIp4BxgsB3U80xWyVqwn2Und3iepwDkB_BzMhnYl/w248-h400/December5.jpg" width="248" /></a></div><p></p><p>I wish to report that Besta is STILL not fully assembled, 26 days later</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisBK4w4LjIAhoXFuDy28nP8KMvFDDatBboVpG2PDZHXNdrMyJ3rtDTxFlhEYwUorFDUImpIrzhFW_BA0tRp9PNgWx032BpcIvNY6ZsvW0pB62X6Bchh5BEiZ7nDFfrgCrdS8l0EAWPOxM9Q-ENcSaiN9twoQsTmHz4u8IJqDtZOqW-rpF5x0poOQrgWsga/s2480/December6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2480" data-original-width="1535" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisBK4w4LjIAhoXFuDy28nP8KMvFDDatBboVpG2PDZHXNdrMyJ3rtDTxFlhEYwUorFDUImpIrzhFW_BA0tRp9PNgWx032BpcIvNY6ZsvW0pB62X6Bchh5BEiZ7nDFfrgCrdS8l0EAWPOxM9Q-ENcSaiN9twoQsTmHz4u8IJqDtZOqW-rpF5x0poOQrgWsga/w248-h400/December6.jpg" width="248" /></a></div><p></p><p>I now live a 20 min-ish trip away from Ikea, and that means I go to Ikea a lot, sometimes just for a cheeky plant balls lunch. I love how cheap the food is, and how if you go on a weekday lunchtime you can just go sit at a quiet table in a huge room and just think about nothing apart from whether you're getting the ratio of lingonberry and mustard just right. Sometimes I need that.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEII5AQuRig7Xc9vo7j8DvQDKUYBJdcPnZ2SmsbSa24_9pBNwdJysThhwMEWHNK3SlrnxDHFzzgznAtxG4k7EDbOCqzzzBQ4LRbTrAUYnNW_lahzP6KFPUDRdFf6nZEe5slBPZFJuy_UYfTPo02durhOeYqmGY3UZOrDgVaHLaAAxQ6eUd_JiOGW25OxNy/s2480/December7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2480" data-original-width="1535" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEII5AQuRig7Xc9vo7j8DvQDKUYBJdcPnZ2SmsbSa24_9pBNwdJysThhwMEWHNK3SlrnxDHFzzgznAtxG4k7EDbOCqzzzBQ4LRbTrAUYnNW_lahzP6KFPUDRdFf6nZEe5slBPZFJuy_UYfTPo02durhOeYqmGY3UZOrDgVaHLaAAxQ6eUd_JiOGW25OxNy/w248-h400/December7.jpg" width="248" /></a></div><p>We had a student party for our UX Design course students, with a huge quantity of lebanese food from Camberwell's best falafel place. Finally having a moment to breathe and reflect on this last term I can see just how much I learnt, how much I got done, and how intense it has all been! I am very proud of what me and my teaching partner Patrick achieved, and I sincerely hope we can keep it going for the rest of the year...</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkSxuIlvQxxsoOgMGhi7ZmsjuHgY-cUFrWKYtq39dt5L9ogFytooDuNF-FXs67PDHCGjaKvYIU6L2zAAeuQiefKEU9v7VUYmwpP5Kkm7ZBQqqqLpnc9e1dDwplPRqpf7IMvNG4iwv0J2BQkKAwomlFoG2pe2UfPUwWoAWb1Btd3vRueHXYQxMXKaNE6m0W/s2480/December8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2480" data-original-width="1535" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkSxuIlvQxxsoOgMGhi7ZmsjuHgY-cUFrWKYtq39dt5L9ogFytooDuNF-FXs67PDHCGjaKvYIU6L2zAAeuQiefKEU9v7VUYmwpP5Kkm7ZBQqqqLpnc9e1dDwplPRqpf7IMvNG4iwv0J2BQkKAwomlFoG2pe2UfPUwWoAWb1Btd3vRueHXYQxMXKaNE6m0W/w248-h400/December8.jpg" width="248" /></a></div><p></p><p>Slight hyperbole here because he is OCCASIONALLY a lightly naughty boy, but mostly in very manageable, sweet ways (like how he sulks whenever we're eating and he's not, and shows his rage by going and fetching small pieces of paper from the recycling bin and depositing them around the house).</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkQ-k9BJFGowrzSAvJbsUMf12jwLIce-nqAvZXQ3h_WylXDsIjubjkLMTjabmLUEqTOKy9moqsxDWK6XCrMS-CM32GCjKcqHI1oH2RXUaQyEMzPIIdT3lyC5RPvcecFVSfcYiHTlMSTKo7rpNOyoV7iKvwKijOstSMsv4IHh97P_EBjJelbtQ50Peq0n1g/s2480/December9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2480" data-original-width="1535" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkQ-k9BJFGowrzSAvJbsUMf12jwLIce-nqAvZXQ3h_WylXDsIjubjkLMTjabmLUEqTOKy9moqsxDWK6XCrMS-CM32GCjKcqHI1oH2RXUaQyEMzPIIdT3lyC5RPvcecFVSfcYiHTlMSTKo7rpNOyoV7iKvwKijOstSMsv4IHh97P_EBjJelbtQ50Peq0n1g/w248-h400/December9.jpg" width="248" /></a></div><p></p><p>Although term was technically over, it was not quite over for me, as I had to go back with my promotional hat on and run the UXD open day — particularly daunting as the much more senior person I was meant to be doing it with was off sick. (I really need more professional clothes)<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimcMs2DlPzP6QqlReW_75nbgI19wTa9K2XxRLUKi_BJ0275cRflZS5HuknX7TkH1JUkto-FMZjgnBldvacwDeTwa-cYu9jlNNnsatScbl-MV57-rh9uZavRahTAFnpZrJdtwapHMbYTFk65JHbojJg7i-zTt8LkRffzByHRNuFKqRekzxfOw1FvC3wpLmM/s2480/December10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2480" data-original-width="1535" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimcMs2DlPzP6QqlReW_75nbgI19wTa9K2XxRLUKi_BJ0275cRflZS5HuknX7TkH1JUkto-FMZjgnBldvacwDeTwa-cYu9jlNNnsatScbl-MV57-rh9uZavRahTAFnpZrJdtwapHMbYTFk65JHbojJg7i-zTt8LkRffzByHRNuFKqRekzxfOw1FvC3wpLmM/w248-h400/December10.jpg" width="248" /></a></div><p></p><p>When we got an ex-racing greyhound, we were warned that while they make excellent, gentle pets, sleepy and sweet round the house, their one weakness is often their prey drive. However, we know from Barley's race history that he was... not very good (he only did 3 official races before they retired him), and it seems that might be because he has literally no interest in most of the things that he probably should, professionally, have quite a strong interest in. However, it makes our lives as pet owners much easier. Since this, he has had a number of close cat encounters, and is no more interested in them than he would be in another dog (i.e. likes to have a look and a sniff and then move on, nothing more). We've also met loads of other 'fun guys', none of whom have ruffled his feathers whatsoever. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1D56z6c4N-mXJGwRTwZ-SzSD4jgyLFmXfsEP2UpkRPvD8E-G91DEcEpPWJFOToFA37MA-H-9bYPSU6lYS7-dWnZzOF_CIR92ebwCl-CF4042nOovvjtFfrkMx9zO5S7kDdaO3eRvJAY9mFrZ0ohOBVnXn2Wse7gLl9V2VyhyphenhyphenI3RgfL5-sE8h_hxrHURJH/s2480/December11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2480" data-original-width="1535" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1D56z6c4N-mXJGwRTwZ-SzSD4jgyLFmXfsEP2UpkRPvD8E-G91DEcEpPWJFOToFA37MA-H-9bYPSU6lYS7-dWnZzOF_CIR92ebwCl-CF4042nOovvjtFfrkMx9zO5S7kDdaO3eRvJAY9mFrZ0ohOBVnXn2Wse7gLl9V2VyhyphenhyphenI3RgfL5-sE8h_hxrHURJH/w248-h400/December11.jpg" width="248" /></a></div><p></p><p>Having been freelance and/or remote working for several years, I was very excited about the prospect of being invited to the design school staff christmas lunch!!! I was braced and ready for a delicious canteen christmas din!! However... that was not what I got (never one to turn up a free lunch like, but still)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9CdF2hS3FQckxUUXWS6NuH5wZT52ie4cfkPdeeiMEozSOasiLXbQeGdzjzMa39zTtEt-xctaMZqqqMD-rjj35jQcYdqfJWEOGumwSxJtcu4_GKpJbymBg9elIQrbFab9_ls2oN7pU2XGVTfqjm-HX9rl0kt8Zg-uFePwj1WILDGhxQfbvDtOYwoC8T4sx/s2480/December12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2480" data-original-width="1535" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9CdF2hS3FQckxUUXWS6NuH5wZT52ie4cfkPdeeiMEozSOasiLXbQeGdzjzMa39zTtEt-xctaMZqqqMD-rjj35jQcYdqfJWEOGumwSxJtcu4_GKpJbymBg9elIQrbFab9_ls2oN7pU2XGVTfqjm-HX9rl0kt8Zg-uFePwj1WILDGhxQfbvDtOYwoC8T4sx/w248-h400/December12.jpg" width="248" /></a></div><p></p><p>A weird lookin guy</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnlEHzwLpmAjjDQE8LukebCsTuXFmiRC-Se2tZRe3Bfbsj-vOHZU9_Db_mZJjHd9R5JFRSwSVxZtd1jTg6mLON-7ZJSoZHkwFdVcyDrSHE7VCP8SFGwU3fgL4LK1-oaQg_sWG3ee2YX59wKChJii3AG5kAOYlWTngaPjfkOzFL693di-bpqLAw0dRU7nJO/s2480/December13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2480" data-original-width="1535" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnlEHzwLpmAjjDQE8LukebCsTuXFmiRC-Se2tZRe3Bfbsj-vOHZU9_Db_mZJjHd9R5JFRSwSVxZtd1jTg6mLON-7ZJSoZHkwFdVcyDrSHE7VCP8SFGwU3fgL4LK1-oaQg_sWG3ee2YX59wKChJii3AG5kAOYlWTngaPjfkOzFL693di-bpqLAw0dRU7nJO/w248-h400/December13.jpg" width="248" /></a></div><p></p><p>Been very much enjoying exploring our new neighbourhood. We very intentionally chose a specific little corner of South London which is within walking distance of a whole bunch of parks, just to keep those dog walks fresh. I am loving it here!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWqe0DizkKLFtcwo275miMDCVyVGutHd8HBuXgnZ-ORV9WyBLXZS9ws2kaPbPKs5G7paz3dJS5ENmwoOpEI9suE_OSLg398FI0dvgO9wRDBAjEjb9SXP0W51tv2noE-DIoWW0mcyVBaIh82raez53ZT7k_eT94u_I_-XAavOJe2V0ci9X8HcCjK7zmj0PL/s2480/December14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2480" data-original-width="1535" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWqe0DizkKLFtcwo275miMDCVyVGutHd8HBuXgnZ-ORV9WyBLXZS9ws2kaPbPKs5G7paz3dJS5ENmwoOpEI9suE_OSLg398FI0dvgO9wRDBAjEjb9SXP0W51tv2noE-DIoWW0mcyVBaIh82raez53ZT7k_eT94u_I_-XAavOJe2V0ci9X8HcCjK7zmj0PL/w248-h400/December14.jpg" width="248" /></a></div><p></p><p>On the way to one of our park walks we saw these beautiful lurid purple berries which I love so much.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBSlEixeqHK0-UGhStDIW7ip9a-eJlCUbvW1rH8hB2FCcAW7jO-jlTkg5fsF3KvaKLdJIcKB1JI8dvUEq6PWFGpGIsoSe91XWc53-EcCTj64NLg9x75ZocHakF6a_e_An8DCOxjaiJ9YC8Z40eSpEo7g_8KUdVToMfyTSB7L7fZeG_eotoOptIoHOtPg2T/s2480/December15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2480" data-original-width="1535" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBSlEixeqHK0-UGhStDIW7ip9a-eJlCUbvW1rH8hB2FCcAW7jO-jlTkg5fsF3KvaKLdJIcKB1JI8dvUEq6PWFGpGIsoSe91XWc53-EcCTj64NLg9x75ZocHakF6a_e_An8DCOxjaiJ9YC8Z40eSpEo7g_8KUdVToMfyTSB7L7fZeG_eotoOptIoHOtPg2T/w248-h400/December15.jpg" width="248" /></a></div><p></p><p>I would never normally choose to go to Carnaby Street during December, but that's where Samaritans is, so that's where I go. I will concede the lights this year were espeically gorgeous. (And I really enjoyed doing this drawing — depicting darker scenes with analogue materials has always been harder to do justice)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOCqyXaq-H9ElSOqN2EkaGAyIQyw6jRwCVE1qmJ6KflB3wNO7-kGrLQKHV11jCrRvAUGRXq_Fmz216GOCmrfjQK9QbiaS6B0cG00zYbaLxibifnGk79FUswi5Mz357JKCLJY-lMMzszop_vv_iR0hRFwr4aBtP6K_t3xMiLV_82Wtuufg5rj86KfAYaSS-/s2480/December16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2480" data-original-width="1535" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOCqyXaq-H9ElSOqN2EkaGAyIQyw6jRwCVE1qmJ6KflB3wNO7-kGrLQKHV11jCrRvAUGRXq_Fmz216GOCmrfjQK9QbiaS6B0cG00zYbaLxibifnGk79FUswi5Mz357JKCLJY-lMMzszop_vv_iR0hRFwr4aBtP6K_t3xMiLV_82Wtuufg5rj86KfAYaSS-/w248-h400/December16.jpg" width="248" /></a></div><p></p><p>Did get to have another cute work party — a bunch of my colleagues at <a href="https://gfsc.studio/">GFSC</a> came down to London to attend <a href="https://genderedintelligence.co.uk/">Gendered Intelligence</a>'s 15th birthday party, and celebrate the work we've done with them this year. It was a very lovely time.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEpUakl8GM5fnJ0JrrpaEiMcmnS4b6RTmA3h3KT0XiE87mpC_PCQS5V5nRn1o6OlkmIjpc2MvMyb2GEyw34uGrai8NP5lnM3P3tUiQnZv0bEq9dRRUs5AJmBcevN7OCmusGxnYMqS0Latk8kSyQawenh81CeD6FXpWvFPqFHoFa3TeCZo6CmdEGHCDt89g/s2480/December17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2480" data-original-width="1535" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEpUakl8GM5fnJ0JrrpaEiMcmnS4b6RTmA3h3KT0XiE87mpC_PCQS5V5nRn1o6OlkmIjpc2MvMyb2GEyw34uGrai8NP5lnM3P3tUiQnZv0bEq9dRRUs5AJmBcevN7OCmusGxnYMqS0Latk8kSyQawenh81CeD6FXpWvFPqFHoFa3TeCZo6CmdEGHCDt89g/w248-h400/December17.jpg" width="248" /></a></div><p></p><p>One of our nearby parks has a boating lake! Sailboats, for some reason, make Barley uneasy.<br /> <br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk2RTyswMQg2ZWQRrtCVm6K8sY8Q-nNQOXDog5Qb4qA5LVp_eYaxp40RJVHPlk6TxeNqzdXlKu0zoaqlJAh4K9ZXAFuT7i3aId7Yj52UpdhRDK3Z8Rso3vjF7IR6topABOthuAWdR2WZhMd0Ebg5Sglnlo8D3DGH4mQLPJVrriI7iaGUXsk1Y68WNqfjwP/s2480/December18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2480" data-original-width="1535" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk2RTyswMQg2ZWQRrtCVm6K8sY8Q-nNQOXDog5Qb4qA5LVp_eYaxp40RJVHPlk6TxeNqzdXlKu0zoaqlJAh4K9ZXAFuT7i3aId7Yj52UpdhRDK3Z8Rso3vjF7IR6topABOthuAWdR2WZhMd0Ebg5Sglnlo8D3DGH4mQLPJVrriI7iaGUXsk1Y68WNqfjwP/w248-h400/December18.jpg" width="248" /></a></div><br />By this point, after a succession of Christmas dos and general 'see you next year's! I really felt like it was time to LOG OFF, but sadly, it was not, with an entire extra week of work to do. UGH!<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWjRfwYOdksQvPMpWlCdP97fWcu3gHU-QShwN2dedRootQZEFbfLVR-To6xQr6kr5d73j0vDY1XjwuPFFgflLP5quakqIithSVqmlIir66fkc_voWArbqnIencq8naADZ7OHTg_YpezH-W886fLjRFPPwc5tpmxNwluqb0WERzCQrhU0SqpfcIFvwWRL2R/s2480/December19.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2480" data-original-width="1535" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWjRfwYOdksQvPMpWlCdP97fWcu3gHU-QShwN2dedRootQZEFbfLVR-To6xQr6kr5d73j0vDY1XjwuPFFgflLP5quakqIithSVqmlIir66fkc_voWArbqnIencq8naADZ7OHTg_YpezH-W886fLjRFPPwc5tpmxNwluqb0WERzCQrhU0SqpfcIFvwWRL2R/w248-h400/December19.jpg" width="248" /></a></div><p></p><p>Pleased to report I have now met all the key neighbours, apart from the one guy who is mysteriously absent!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjbGyClh2Q6ljFmPM6YPDjTwq0gemnnno4ep3HVfFusKMZ9FALRdL0-7fzMO6MggeM70JwwQzfrc4e2wziZkLHAVCMKPIHevHIhc1SbJv_857DtsGisYNRfnuL_Q44qota6q1n5oYh3jl3KUls1xfV01IHdYsAw8w6Ae8jK66kI8R6CxrN0XbCyYz784SP/s2480/December20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2480" data-original-width="1535" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjbGyClh2Q6ljFmPM6YPDjTwq0gemnnno4ep3HVfFusKMZ9FALRdL0-7fzMO6MggeM70JwwQzfrc4e2wziZkLHAVCMKPIHevHIhc1SbJv_857DtsGisYNRfnuL_Q44qota6q1n5oYh3jl3KUls1xfV01IHdYsAw8w6Ae8jK66kI8R6CxrN0XbCyYz784SP/w248-h400/December20.jpg" width="248" /></a></div><p></p><p>A sweetboi</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicPQ1v_5AkqwvhcNwf_Qk9BOz07a3GCZiz7fwRg3CmT1hdvU0aVuqnNdORCOdveBGBRi0ygtIJc-YebrzFjw6jeuNkknSkkxEuxsBZfycOfayOtlRpI2WCvvvKRO5bH_cfP9_PWVawb0tRDculyEpeTNPw3XUjStJggdct4pdrcwo68RgmJS0s-MgmgdAx/s2480/December21.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2480" data-original-width="1535" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicPQ1v_5AkqwvhcNwf_Qk9BOz07a3GCZiz7fwRg3CmT1hdvU0aVuqnNdORCOdveBGBRi0ygtIJc-YebrzFjw6jeuNkknSkkxEuxsBZfycOfayOtlRpI2WCvvvKRO5bH_cfP9_PWVawb0tRDculyEpeTNPw3XUjStJggdct4pdrcwo68RgmJS0s-MgmgdAx/w248-h400/December21.jpg" width="248" /></a></div><p></p><p>Happy solstice, at last (enjoyed this one)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM41eeHVS8BqSmndgsrOi6yt0Uk7BjUxGm8FaUpwTlqVsyZ-KePfI8vBh4mRFS2iv8ZUFQzTcPo9uv27rM20gYh3kW17iPSZlV2VvdkTMK2rg3lzVayMqX5ZPXDHagMT3p6AmgXwAFZYWvbxH4Vqt3U-PKSIJDlOlo1NR6B8qidU214vRk9z62xo5i4-fM/s2480/December22.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2480" data-original-width="1535" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM41eeHVS8BqSmndgsrOi6yt0Uk7BjUxGm8FaUpwTlqVsyZ-KePfI8vBh4mRFS2iv8ZUFQzTcPo9uv27rM20gYh3kW17iPSZlV2VvdkTMK2rg3lzVayMqX5ZPXDHagMT3p6AmgXwAFZYWvbxH4Vqt3U-PKSIJDlOlo1NR6B8qidU214vRk9z62xo5i4-fM/w248-h400/December22.jpg" width="248" /></a></div><p></p><p>Back to ikea again, and one of my favourite silly drawings for ages (referencing those <a href="https://knowyourmeme.com/memes/drakeposting">Drake memes</a>, for those of you not terminally online). The good thing is, Ikea is really close, the bad thing is, I don't have a car and can only carry so much, so multiple trips are needed (I think at this point I was wrestling home a couple of curtain rails)<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMF6OuckCueXROb6Uh8uYTWShhly8tjKexvk3nli1x5eisXZFdVGunBsEKjl7qo82PVFMhpAMgljG8c-0BPGmgn_YeyEuku7vUwhx5E_HoKEGrZdi4eP9i-lrzdgnC1PLL-V-ASWOQG0jBLL0iwaSLFIxn68I88jb4wNUGoizokF6cJYUed4jh650Tof-s/s2480/December23.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2480" data-original-width="1535" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMF6OuckCueXROb6Uh8uYTWShhly8tjKexvk3nli1x5eisXZFdVGunBsEKjl7qo82PVFMhpAMgljG8c-0BPGmgn_YeyEuku7vUwhx5E_HoKEGrZdi4eP9i-lrzdgnC1PLL-V-ASWOQG0jBLL0iwaSLFIxn68I88jb4wNUGoizokF6cJYUed4jh650Tof-s/w248-h400/December23.jpg" width="248" /></a></div><p></p><p>Sadly, Emma does not know how to switch off any more</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiADLsYKIF_d6qmkQGLue5V9qtYGd5E2bLO6b4zhdZdGNKyrW9Y-v2eTRZalb2MhUjFMp1aMHQKyas7I1sIDo2UQjwx5QiAT1P2IwNKwUh2-9rg4i_IUQVMPg0I8kqLYx_THuMym4Wh3I0pRKYWS7mTrS67a4KTcXCnATs_P24rdoMp156GZvDLiSlV-G6p/s2480/December24.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2480" data-original-width="1535" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiADLsYKIF_d6qmkQGLue5V9qtYGd5E2bLO6b4zhdZdGNKyrW9Y-v2eTRZalb2MhUjFMp1aMHQKyas7I1sIDo2UQjwx5QiAT1P2IwNKwUh2-9rg4i_IUQVMPg0I8kqLYx_THuMym4Wh3I0pRKYWS7mTrS67a4KTcXCnATs_P24rdoMp156GZvDLiSlV-G6p/w248-h400/December24.jpg" width="248" /></a></div><p></p><p>Ever since living here, I'd noticed that the toilet often didn't flush right, draining really slowly. Usually a few plunges resolved the problem but this time it didn't. I popped the job on Checkatrade, imagining I'd get someone out after christmas, maybe in the new year, but was immediately overwhelmed by calls from OVER KEEN plumbers, desperate to come look at my drains, RIGHT NOW! Well, fair enough. anyway, now I'm a homeowner I guess I also own a small section of sewer, and it turns out the previous residents had a nasty wetwipe habit which had mostly clogged my sewer pipe (and which they must have been studiously ignoring). Anyway I paid this already slightly sloshed guy (covered head to toe in sewage) who came out at 17.00 on Christmas eve and gave a well angled POKE up the sewer pipe, which unleashed a frankly grotesque torrent of my own backed up toilet flushes, which will haunt me forever. Now my toilet flushes right. Later, we watched Die Hard, as is right and proper on Christmas eve.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5xq0eTJxxleWPOOg9_uL_5JsuDm-7wod8cteQ2hRdOUKHVZ6koM3UfZTlNgYRC3sKRCN6DzvE_UZ-UyzBHzs21EA2y1C6zQ7FDxromY_ilsU4FLKEqvx6iDVw9qRwQtr2tAIHY5ugRwUJh1fboliy2VUXSLDuDOzsDqcUMF1fn93NyF2RmkKF4C-XLC3M/s2480/December25.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2480" data-original-width="1535" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5xq0eTJxxleWPOOg9_uL_5JsuDm-7wod8cteQ2hRdOUKHVZ6koM3UfZTlNgYRC3sKRCN6DzvE_UZ-UyzBHzs21EA2y1C6zQ7FDxromY_ilsU4FLKEqvx6iDVw9qRwQtr2tAIHY5ugRwUJh1fboliy2VUXSLDuDOzsDqcUMF1fn93NyF2RmkKF4C-XLC3M/w248-h400/December25.jpg" width="248" /></a></div><p></p><p>Christmas day was spent, as is also right and proper, not doing very much at all.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXeqVavjK2JUbaGA566a4rnBJ-y4Ea_Tocq7VB8fKeiMRePc8bUwzFUkchXvLoahm21gw1aMlI9Nky3pEXtN0e35_8G78DPpTr1kBUhzn-LnrhOD-ET8fwwoKr9RhpFh9yhmvDTy26j125jY6VY1fmDtKXqTE0a447X3LMbAWbXffQ_G7dl8KLafu_M4b8/s2480/December26.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2480" data-original-width="1535" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXeqVavjK2JUbaGA566a4rnBJ-y4Ea_Tocq7VB8fKeiMRePc8bUwzFUkchXvLoahm21gw1aMlI9Nky3pEXtN0e35_8G78DPpTr1kBUhzn-LnrhOD-ET8fwwoKr9RhpFh9yhmvDTy26j125jY6VY1fmDtKXqTE0a447X3LMbAWbXffQ_G7dl8KLafu_M4b8/w248-h400/December26.jpg" width="248" /></a></div><br /> Had a nice lil video chat with my fav boys<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiNweBDZw468lrvELsmyf-h4hVqph3Z8dNH6tccD6dI-7BkiskleEbb2RrfFf0i6pEtke1f8t56_kqdGfDYhrk3Bibha30EavbP7jqCuHJeuUl5Zur0VvUqlBFXB4M3P1H2IMzclFRc_8Y8qS_OYEVUQPgE2pu2ohyphenhyphen8h-iYe4mR8RWs-l3Wg0Fc6Ni_5QN/s2480/December27.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2480" data-original-width="1535" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiNweBDZw468lrvELsmyf-h4hVqph3Z8dNH6tccD6dI-7BkiskleEbb2RrfFf0i6pEtke1f8t56_kqdGfDYhrk3Bibha30EavbP7jqCuHJeuUl5Zur0VvUqlBFXB4M3P1H2IMzclFRc_8Y8qS_OYEVUQPgE2pu2ohyphenhyphen8h-iYe4mR8RWs-l3Wg0Fc6Ni_5QN/w248-h400/December27.jpg" width="248" /></a></div><p></p><p>Our friends Nadia and Vaishnavi came over for a walk. Later that afternoon, I was running a couple of rounds of Wavelength for the GFSC collective, so we decided to do a test game before I did that. I've played a bunch of games of Wavelength, and we rarely get above 'ok', but somehow the four of us managed GREAT! Astonishing!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJPqndgistG2-prD9-EibVVipz9AsB6_PcL3ITXMuIRtrb-npCa5eIELqJuXJFb6PXFxQxUvkAPhKEfIFng9G-KdFXXyIAlon-jea1m09dGCtJM5waZAmyuElCyntBPK3ysol__DdPUERQcc398EJJ_e7CHSJnBDACagPoOEY1MwWa-qzVNvirU_PYGtjT/s2480/December28.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2480" data-original-width="1535" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJPqndgistG2-prD9-EibVVipz9AsB6_PcL3ITXMuIRtrb-npCa5eIELqJuXJFb6PXFxQxUvkAPhKEfIFng9G-KdFXXyIAlon-jea1m09dGCtJM5waZAmyuElCyntBPK3ysol__DdPUERQcc398EJJ_e7CHSJnBDACagPoOEY1MwWa-qzVNvirU_PYGtjT/w248-h400/December28.jpg" width="248" /></a></div><p></p><p>Treated myself to a lil boxing day sales shopping trip, so that I can look more like a convincing adult when I go back to work at uni. Bought some expensive shoes at Clarks and happened to get a sales lady who actually cared about feet. She told me my feet are REALLY, WEIRDLY narrow (which I knew), and also that I have really sharp ankle bones (which I did not know, but does explain why shoes almost always rub there). Anyway, I don't know if these shoes I bought will be any better than they usually are, but here's hoping as they look really cute<br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY8l71dXcPbmLAwezrqJs4JkHsRdwr5NUih6hLW8-wFyoBVTfy0p1E6WPkt56YVajLs-gDs17QqtLvBH3eqO10YgBztoC7zag9r52dWQrrGLqi8rXFZtSA8bncpX89Gd87-SnxuSr15t7ImK-7R7HqEuUF6HTFA9Gf2jmiy1Sr7dHShc3_msMdDx467n4U/s2480/December29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2480" data-original-width="1535" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY8l71dXcPbmLAwezrqJs4JkHsRdwr5NUih6hLW8-wFyoBVTfy0p1E6WPkt56YVajLs-gDs17QqtLvBH3eqO10YgBztoC7zag9r52dWQrrGLqi8rXFZtSA8bncpX89Gd87-SnxuSr15t7ImK-7R7HqEuUF6HTFA9Gf2jmiy1Sr7dHShc3_msMdDx467n4U/w248-h400/December29.jpg" width="248" /></a></div><p>Enjoying exploring my new home, ✨ Croydon ✨</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAFLoNGESoo8oIYKQ-ewMQl8cfwu8RT-m7yJ4ELKR99v1nBZPkiJ136bkJKZDEOQXQPGCZOeHM4v7dBG_JimXlTaNdt1ESGyKsFL0AnSdGruzs1gizItpmc8mLOBFyTdDUSS9E8_3ASntxLpr7MNUx3th2LTYf5m9Ue5uAqAj1qU7tXqMvUOElrnx6nfPe/s2480/December30.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2480" data-original-width="1535" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAFLoNGESoo8oIYKQ-ewMQl8cfwu8RT-m7yJ4ELKR99v1nBZPkiJ136bkJKZDEOQXQPGCZOeHM4v7dBG_JimXlTaNdt1ESGyKsFL0AnSdGruzs1gizItpmc8mLOBFyTdDUSS9E8_3ASntxLpr7MNUx3th2LTYf5m9Ue5uAqAj1qU7tXqMvUOElrnx6nfPe/w248-h400/December30.jpg" width="248" /></a></div><p></p><p>One of the purchases I'd been most excited about making when we got our house was SOFA!! It seems like me and my partner have quite precise and specific requirements that are not what most people want from a sofa, which are:</p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Not "like sitting on mashed potato" as my partner put it (i.e. incredibly soft such that it's hard to stand up)</li><li>Not TOO deep in the seat</li><li>But deep enough that a large greyhound can lie on it </li><li>Doesn't have really deep wide arms or back that take up loads of uneccesary space</li><li>Not UGLY</li><li>Not impossibly expensive</li></ul><p>Apparently getting a sofa which fits all of these things is... really hard?! </p><p>Anyway we went to DFS and I was really excited about it because of the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=dfs+tv+advert+90s">constant TV indoctrination</a> when I was a child. Surely DFS has every possible variation of sofa?! NO. They all look like this.<br /></p><p>Anyway in the end we bought one from Ikea (surprise surprise) and I'm kinda annoyed because it's the exact same sofa we have at work in UAL, and it feels ridiculous to sit on the same sofa at home and at work, but at least I know it's comfortable I guess.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu9MB75QIzzd8yww2GAkgRuSj_u7f6Z1gQTQUzPu2uEOCsWj47lGZZEmJS8bl6rgzE-PPlr5d6DzSk6nMyJwFcBiLpCDTRFb1BSIQQiwwV8YZG3Fn7wQsip_tqkv69rhBtZPyqACs9h02-iohv0YmcyiUeEyYlLln0S3VbrH4VwaQLdt2kal7lOAu2gSge/s2480/December31.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2480" data-original-width="1535" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu9MB75QIzzd8yww2GAkgRuSj_u7f6Z1gQTQUzPu2uEOCsWj47lGZZEmJS8bl6rgzE-PPlr5d6DzSk6nMyJwFcBiLpCDTRFb1BSIQQiwwV8YZG3Fn7wQsip_tqkv69rhBtZPyqACs9h02-iohv0YmcyiUeEyYlLln0S3VbrH4VwaQLdt2kal7lOAu2gSge/w248-h400/December31.jpg" width="248" /></a></div><p></p><p>Our weird long boy is doing so well, just over a month in.</p><p>He's not scared of walks any more (in fact he quite enjoys them), he understands it's NOT okay to bother us while we eat, he's settled into our daily routines, and he's teaching us all the ways he most likes to be cuddled. We're still in the early days of our (hopefully long) friendship, but he really is acing it thus far. (Though at time of writing he's cowering under a desk because of new year fireworks)<br /></p><p>And so, with that, onwards to 2024.</p><p>Not gonna lie, I've kind of got a lot I have to do this year, and a lot I want to do this year. Can I do it all?! Keep reading the blog to find out I guess...<br /></p>Emmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03307690577227053266noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6149147983678759733.post-62458755266812008842023-11-30T21:29:00.002+00:002023-11-30T21:29:47.779+00:00November 2023<p> November has been lonnnnnnng and LOTS, but things are finally starting to be a bit more stable.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsbdOgW_IY0ZcOss2hOIQYi-pfpByDKydyQOaA8RokB8Gn8BSwrUo1bnFbhJObl14ezOudrl9v_OEnMCXN4zeQ1BQh5ZtbVH_vtOBwmyllKUnLXI4YEEhlBdXXoBT-tLpKn8WQbCe4bkgGgXtK3FnqOIrb1kbnIGsLXOo1TUvqCyedCT-TLvt3NJ-YNLzx/s2454/November1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2454" data-original-width="1523" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsbdOgW_IY0ZcOss2hOIQYi-pfpByDKydyQOaA8RokB8Gn8BSwrUo1bnFbhJObl14ezOudrl9v_OEnMCXN4zeQ1BQh5ZtbVH_vtOBwmyllKUnLXI4YEEhlBdXXoBT-tLpKn8WQbCe4bkgGgXtK3FnqOIrb1kbnIGsLXOo1TUvqCyedCT-TLvt3NJ-YNLzx/w249-h400/November1.jpg" width="249" /></a></div><p></p><p>Losing Chase wasn't as hard as I feared it might be — it was so obviously the right time for her to go (especially when I reflect back and watch videos of how unwell she was), that the knowledge of that takes some of the edge off the grief. But I still miss her every day, and receiving her ashes actually set me off a lot worse than I'd felt at any point thus far, and I had to take a half day off work to breathe and be sad.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnjAhyphenhyphen3J4VsqZxw06lLfMzNzVTxh5tU0UktrICaF9ZMIg-N5FVaJUExIBw0Jq-wSXSh-9daks84BDXJ_h_dZBB9U8IeabfwL0KCIAyBBTBhIIlbD52u_U0aJCenVNLSHNLWBpE5n3nzGuj9VSkPy2eed_ienhigBhmW3ewk5RQofSSLpCWvTQTpyy9OsjL/s2454/November2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2454" data-original-width="1523" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnjAhyphenhyphen3J4VsqZxw06lLfMzNzVTxh5tU0UktrICaF9ZMIg-N5FVaJUExIBw0Jq-wSXSh-9daks84BDXJ_h_dZBB9U8IeabfwL0KCIAyBBTBhIIlbD52u_U0aJCenVNLSHNLWBpE5n3nzGuj9VSkPy2eed_ienhigBhmW3ewk5RQofSSLpCWvTQTpyy9OsjL/w249-h400/November2.jpg" width="249" /></a></div><p></p><p>Went to see my all time fav Flying Lotus at fun new venue Outernet. Many strobes.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz70-OGLLFIwtAjG9VE6U4QKr3ZCKmHYn2963vh2pQsh1BTwltsXRuyTXpCzLDnYZX8uGe7SLXGC9U5sgX3geGD0ihePCZi2Pz7nf0seWS1sn7ebP_uSWiImrYmnBNU7UNJkA8S1YZz9Dulvhl4YxBV4EWHNkpCQ-CLkhcMuOMEplyF508CH4HkeO-UCLV/s2454/November3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2454" data-original-width="1523" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz70-OGLLFIwtAjG9VE6U4QKr3ZCKmHYn2963vh2pQsh1BTwltsXRuyTXpCzLDnYZX8uGe7SLXGC9U5sgX3geGD0ihePCZi2Pz7nf0seWS1sn7ebP_uSWiImrYmnBNU7UNJkA8S1YZz9Dulvhl4YxBV4EWHNkpCQ-CLkhcMuOMEplyF508CH4HkeO-UCLV/w249-h400/November3.jpg" width="249" /></a></div><p></p><p>Everyone always says buying a house is one of the hardest things you can go through, and I started out by saying 'NAAAH I CAN HANDLE IT' and ended up... well, not doing so great. You just sort of let everything slide, when you know everything's gonna change soon, somehow. Not having Chase didn't help with maintaining a healthy routine, not to mention the amount of cash I was forced to spend on the place meaning I felt like I had to prioritise work over things like, eating good, self care, exercise etc.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnYPjD-fZ3vFf9lVuxK2ac2L3aEaTy4HMffZrmu26AajFSPmC_9-K86W_xzjwja-ZUOdYPJ7kqYLzTprNTeO7rv6-XxRTxU2vJH2wXIOY4m2z-eewbYkp71ph2VptRfypDufVHUD7RIrG4QqF4ToYrDlVujD7pNOx2exDIJY8rXGml0VWgLS5aM_M6E5EI/s2454/November4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2454" data-original-width="1523" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnYPjD-fZ3vFf9lVuxK2ac2L3aEaTy4HMffZrmu26AajFSPmC_9-K86W_xzjwja-ZUOdYPJ7kqYLzTprNTeO7rv6-XxRTxU2vJH2wXIOY4m2z-eewbYkp71ph2VptRfypDufVHUD7RIrG4QqF4ToYrDlVujD7pNOx2exDIJY8rXGml0VWgLS5aM_M6E5EI/w249-h400/November4.jpg" width="249" /></a></div><p></p><p>By this point, we had the keys, but were coming to terms with the WAY more work that needed doing to the property than we'd hoped. I didn't want a project flat! But I couldn't afford a non project flat!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMI00wvPD7Zf1T_5d1SpYdId2uP83KU76nSp_oUI0fPowwsFq9L7d-cI1e_DheGBG2t-TRsfXPnsW2UJP_AQyMLn1yw3rG4pLNqPV2kMtMl10YxJ5t14LCcrxkf6QZzMi1FE8EUvcoJuYCy6zrrZdiscRHY_YUtplY-P_PkwDitQHNOtOh4mbfGe-V7NFL/s2454/November5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2454" data-original-width="1523" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMI00wvPD7Zf1T_5d1SpYdId2uP83KU76nSp_oUI0fPowwsFq9L7d-cI1e_DheGBG2t-TRsfXPnsW2UJP_AQyMLn1yw3rG4pLNqPV2kMtMl10YxJ5t14LCcrxkf6QZzMi1FE8EUvcoJuYCy6zrrZdiscRHY_YUtplY-P_PkwDitQHNOtOh4mbfGe-V7NFL/w249-h400/November5.jpg" width="249" /></a></div><p></p><p>Chase didn't like the fireworks. Stood and watched them from the house this year without her. This painting is of how the sky looks after the big display in Battersea Park.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg74dLKPtkk_3Z8S20JONq4mQ3hY7AFRLyYju7Coq2KKHudsB2akIw-ABsgHjEglS33bopaprvNKlNSdTFqgbEitccoTKSOLKgPyPsI36Ttu6jOcnxbOdIQ2EwHSMYPu7mcdGqHlnOAXHF1y0oDSq24zg9T_A1P1bszMg1VO7m_sGEeSuxnzOPi9u_JUPBe/s2454/November6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2454" data-original-width="1523" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg74dLKPtkk_3Z8S20JONq4mQ3hY7AFRLyYju7Coq2KKHudsB2akIw-ABsgHjEglS33bopaprvNKlNSdTFqgbEitccoTKSOLKgPyPsI36Ttu6jOcnxbOdIQ2EwHSMYPu7mcdGqHlnOAXHF1y0oDSq24zg9T_A1P1bszMg1VO7m_sGEeSuxnzOPi9u_JUPBe/w249-h400/November6.jpg" width="249" /></a></div><p></p><p>Watching the new very good (very depressing) David Attenborough series</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaEY8NkjTLaHr9Kae3PMpQalsAuzr37GkcCXp9g6tQitjdPvB6iL7v6URKZnG_rkRfwahwYwUlE3u8Mvz4Cyk1GhBxZKzLAIjq_eIaJHrZD0VuZTWMC1linJGGTcmRqBtg-yOmlKoMp1wHSDQNNamK-YoKy16evbefpmsKdH-UbRZWDhOQXAZT96y-ExIP/s2454/November7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2454" data-original-width="1523" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaEY8NkjTLaHr9Kae3PMpQalsAuzr37GkcCXp9g6tQitjdPvB6iL7v6URKZnG_rkRfwahwYwUlE3u8Mvz4Cyk1GhBxZKzLAIjq_eIaJHrZD0VuZTWMC1linJGGTcmRqBtg-yOmlKoMp1wHSDQNNamK-YoKy16evbefpmsKdH-UbRZWDhOQXAZT96y-ExIP/w249-h400/November7.jpg" width="249" /></a></div><p></p><p>Gotta get those kids to LISTEN!<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOAQerdoufMnMtAENTFCKO4iKeVEN_gKtrB41-OS66_bZILcBm7KLiXPIQPeJKo0FCKrEVECptSd9NpOjuJIUlAXmRL8V3SA3NVS_Osb9C6fHOm01AWAgJ72EOllBlDGvY6_9GEoAAmEMLrGSNNdFrq16-RQwSAsd5iFN60eLfC-dDTKdQ40K-z9jSq60E/s2454/November8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2454" data-original-width="1461" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOAQerdoufMnMtAENTFCKO4iKeVEN_gKtrB41-OS66_bZILcBm7KLiXPIQPeJKo0FCKrEVECptSd9NpOjuJIUlAXmRL8V3SA3NVS_Osb9C6fHOm01AWAgJ72EOllBlDGvY6_9GEoAAmEMLrGSNNdFrq16-RQwSAsd5iFN60eLfC-dDTKdQ40K-z9jSq60E/w239-h400/November8.jpg" width="239" /></a></div><p></p><p>V came over to co-work and pep talk me</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgwqoDoKllRYxYbzoE2rj_neKe3aQ7Qrc3urntj4f3iA439BGfd4B6qTztjjouP807U8-mvqXg-QXEV0j7BzXv33CpRhJrpJqrxkLHcSH8_es6FIRJDJpzq5g_fUz_3SIDutCsCo4AVKla2BTrjX-kG6qw8oL0WA5hvPzFFhRN7p77FZwvLFL1tn5OKh-x/s2454/November9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2454" data-original-width="1523" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgwqoDoKllRYxYbzoE2rj_neKe3aQ7Qrc3urntj4f3iA439BGfd4B6qTztjjouP807U8-mvqXg-QXEV0j7BzXv33CpRhJrpJqrxkLHcSH8_es6FIRJDJpzq5g_fUz_3SIDutCsCo4AVKla2BTrjX-kG6qw8oL0WA5hvPzFFhRN7p77FZwvLFL1tn5OKh-x/w249-h400/November9.jpg" width="249" /></a></div><p> Treated myself to some winter health-goth<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKK8xVfuLlggj1Iyzom9_kKnKOIUksy21_ComVmWmym1y107vm5HWCpMwiDO_THFebxjWxNyGzJh98tPglYDNbouazxgMUM_83WYUFh0ylUzuE-g89ab2sotrj6Ydlrbo4Spga7nxfDEGBbiy3fa-Nfn3WhSJFCCq4LJJygc1cX5Gn_gRkp61OJgAA5E-X/s2454/November10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2454" data-original-width="1523" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKK8xVfuLlggj1Iyzom9_kKnKOIUksy21_ComVmWmym1y107vm5HWCpMwiDO_THFebxjWxNyGzJh98tPglYDNbouazxgMUM_83WYUFh0ylUzuE-g89ab2sotrj6Ydlrbo4Spga7nxfDEGBbiy3fa-Nfn3WhSJFCCq4LJJygc1cX5Gn_gRkp61OJgAA5E-X/w249-h400/November10.jpg" width="249" /></a></div><p></p><p>I know it sounds like I did nothing but take days off this month but I've been VERY STRESSED okay guys?! Took a day off to go to Margate and sell some records to Keir at <a href="https://www.instagram.com/ghostpapamargate/?hl=en-gb">Ghost Papa</a> (also to see the sea and have some vegan fish and chips)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-F37bRMmb5Tsd4z9FtGvL4PucGpqfuClflQR6GZMk85GJQZrEy_2URLj3gjyalkYzw_tO4BNRMSMvp7yBtFsCgFX9ob-8Byok5kwy6CcQSzYbPML041bJ6cSkXliVqCbK5VoBJFQi-LPYef6mdVKLHLfIaGzqDcWpCCy-sDm3BR8ZyMwpD6wWdujxNa-g/s2454/November11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2454" data-original-width="1523" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-F37bRMmb5Tsd4z9FtGvL4PucGpqfuClflQR6GZMk85GJQZrEy_2URLj3gjyalkYzw_tO4BNRMSMvp7yBtFsCgFX9ob-8Byok5kwy6CcQSzYbPML041bJ6cSkXliVqCbK5VoBJFQi-LPYef6mdVKLHLfIaGzqDcWpCCy-sDm3BR8ZyMwpD6wWdujxNa-g/w249-h400/November11.jpg" width="249" /></a></div><p></p><p>One of the most important jobs in the new house was getting the bathroom totally renovated due to a slow leak/dry rot/non functional toilet/horrendous amounts of expanding foam... I've never had to commission builders for anything like this before, and strongly suspect I paid massively over the odds for a slow, average job. One of many stresses was the way they entirely filled the house with trash and tools and dust. Inevitable to some extent but EVERY ROOM of a two bed flat just to do the bathroom?! Tiles looking nice though.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2nBWvC1dA0ix097Q7WKDuRpHIOKX2dampzqat2AQLuszR8nwXKcdQn1JJMOIXWetDFtFAqV8XjbKueyCrlJREo7S_Lp76QP35gEWa-bpw5-cLkqx84YLJgqbwtwKIBAtBZw-ZM4KdxpuxdhyphenhyphenTw42dFpykb3vFGAqf1p1Nr49VsvQne6o_MkIfTjAUjYM-/s2454/November12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2454" data-original-width="1523" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2nBWvC1dA0ix097Q7WKDuRpHIOKX2dampzqat2AQLuszR8nwXKcdQn1JJMOIXWetDFtFAqV8XjbKueyCrlJREo7S_Lp76QP35gEWa-bpw5-cLkqx84YLJgqbwtwKIBAtBZw-ZM4KdxpuxdhyphenhyphenTw42dFpykb3vFGAqf1p1Nr49VsvQne6o_MkIfTjAUjYM-/w249-h400/November12.jpg" width="249" /></a></div><p></p><p>Love 2 meet a good guy on the train</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHnkdAhQ4chiNTanKozUFRFfMJy8imN3yHfJt8D8XlWUUKwqMlcsjhVR6BgzvPX098W-Y8xpyRrz0qw0wfairz13j0dCanxK3g3HufuUQ-pm5flJhL-vcy4_imLDt64hnyC1soIDDXo9UEWI3mRmu4ACEZyT3bJB3cV3eQzwsZqLcKoPahYhY1fj8m90Hi/s2454/November13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2454" data-original-width="1523" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHnkdAhQ4chiNTanKozUFRFfMJy8imN3yHfJt8D8XlWUUKwqMlcsjhVR6BgzvPX098W-Y8xpyRrz0qw0wfairz13j0dCanxK3g3HufuUQ-pm5flJhL-vcy4_imLDt64hnyC1soIDDXo9UEWI3mRmu4ACEZyT3bJB3cV3eQzwsZqLcKoPahYhY1fj8m90Hi/w249-h400/November13.jpg" width="249" /></a></div><p></p><p>(I do actually love teaching)<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEtpk5XJnnEKl3O10Eu1wLglJ5UBfVjV7kliPYl_JmT2cvh8FfqJ6RZv0lx_QE7DR3Hd2Uy1UbwoXUR4ORxjYArRMURymd3PWDtsULfCeZ5cNr8MGe4HW8eEAY6GhrHC_2mb0ZxsjIbWboZ3PV674vSL9-thKz-lh0w4Um6t8QuOZi2MB-bnojbXtcbeGg/s2454/November14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2454" data-original-width="1523" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEtpk5XJnnEKl3O10Eu1wLglJ5UBfVjV7kliPYl_JmT2cvh8FfqJ6RZv0lx_QE7DR3Hd2Uy1UbwoXUR4ORxjYArRMURymd3PWDtsULfCeZ5cNr8MGe4HW8eEAY6GhrHC_2mb0ZxsjIbWboZ3PV674vSL9-thKz-lh0w4Um6t8QuOZi2MB-bnojbXtcbeGg/w249-h400/November14.jpg" width="249" /></a></div><p></p><p>We HAD to move on the 25th. The bathroom was stil a very long way from being done. Time to start packing?!?!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiiFbxIMSeaiI0CII6TxGa0Xb0bhf-sltkY9mDH_tVBXAL0ZEe7ZayJD0YaUvCNdv6tQxsf0FJKGwbt-Lxz56YSLHTMcbBS35VEOtnaEjghh2tgRO71p6HuE4IB4eqHUUqE37mvQZHPiwTtOcJquJ9iI7uNtavK2NVzQY_Y7SNXi4ePleCRxodIoWfQVGC/s2454/November15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2454" data-original-width="1523" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiiFbxIMSeaiI0CII6TxGa0Xb0bhf-sltkY9mDH_tVBXAL0ZEe7ZayJD0YaUvCNdv6tQxsf0FJKGwbt-Lxz56YSLHTMcbBS35VEOtnaEjghh2tgRO71p6HuE4IB4eqHUUqE37mvQZHPiwTtOcJquJ9iI7uNtavK2NVzQY_Y7SNXi4ePleCRxodIoWfQVGC/w249-h400/November15.jpg" width="249" /></a></div><p></p><p>One of the other big stresses in the house was the asbestos tiling on the office floor. We'd been advised that the best way to deal with it was simply to lay a self levelling concrete floor straight over it. I was under the impression that it was possible to get a sufficiently good finish on this that we could just use it as it was (as I didn't have the budget to do anything else). The builders doing my bathroom quoted me £750 to do it, which checkatrade said was too high, so I got some other guy to come do it. His van looked like a Dr Bronners Bottle, but plastered with bible quotes, and he said he was 'Also a preacher' and prayed for me and my flooring before he laid it, loudly, in the street outside. (Which I found hilarious but also strangely reassuring). He then proceeded to lay the floor in the most slapdash manner imaginable, and told me it would be fine in 24 hours. Reader, it was not.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQj6ZBkYKXCONZ-1US-q7jUbfltaaTe5wLBuweWVKnUHFR3ege655TLmvwKLRoLVu8bL37CLlZoorQSjgmqoh9weORGltNOH0X71RWwhNcOOGwE0U6ESNbrmUe_xITnpIIupCS47q5FsrHdaWBGNRFrtOueQX5YgF5swRmbCzSF4nHdawI9IkTTWB0KPvO/s2454/November16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2454" data-original-width="1523" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQj6ZBkYKXCONZ-1US-q7jUbfltaaTe5wLBuweWVKnUHFR3ege655TLmvwKLRoLVu8bL37CLlZoorQSjgmqoh9weORGltNOH0X71RWwhNcOOGwE0U6ESNbrmUe_xITnpIIupCS47q5FsrHdaWBGNRFrtOueQX5YgF5swRmbCzSF4nHdawI9IkTTWB0KPvO/w249-h400/November16.jpg" width="249" /></a></div><p></p><p>Now the students are buttering me up, <i>what do they want</i> (I'll take it)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwVihLSx2gA5UWsNaS02_v24LsTJwjLfY5WULAADh12ybtAkY9S9ozv_EyGpmW_VNoJ3ui_YpKqpjDtEwY7mf4awq6MOdgL984lBJQ0Ga4yKj4Xis_PoJPvZ72MgVHvuHd8uwOkCKUaynZzDpeBNUch6znzYytN2q2my3qUpNUpYPxemLuE2goNQfzm7dg/s2454/November17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2454" data-original-width="1523" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwVihLSx2gA5UWsNaS02_v24LsTJwjLfY5WULAADh12ybtAkY9S9ozv_EyGpmW_VNoJ3ui_YpKqpjDtEwY7mf4awq6MOdgL984lBJQ0Ga4yKj4Xis_PoJPvZ72MgVHvuHd8uwOkCKUaynZzDpeBNUch6znzYytN2q2my3qUpNUpYPxemLuE2goNQfzm7dg/w249-h400/November17.jpg" width="249" /></a></div><p></p><p>Decided it was time to pack all my art supplies, so I planned to do all my visual diaries until settled in the new place on my iPad.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE7EurwcTkNcKUTE-WXv5gdlAToYJulTplbV7je5qjj4-nefnz89ArTK-XaPUv2ErX-US0IHA01rks8uBUfPZVpwUww9GnSdhk-aS_7QYisMPpzGSVOF1LrHcNHtcQpdp-0NClaBaw2dgcirJuPVC6hO_gmwK_WQemq1lp1pg2isOE7BU6AEhr4XUaHJhN/s2480/November18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2480" data-original-width="1535" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE7EurwcTkNcKUTE-WXv5gdlAToYJulTplbV7je5qjj4-nefnz89ArTK-XaPUv2ErX-US0IHA01rks8uBUfPZVpwUww9GnSdhk-aS_7QYisMPpzGSVOF1LrHcNHtcQpdp-0NClaBaw2dgcirJuPVC6hO_gmwK_WQemq1lp1pg2isOE7BU6AEhr4XUaHJhN/w248-h400/November18.jpg" width="248" /></a></div><p></p><p>Three days later and the concrete floor was still not entirely set. It was possible to easily scrape it up with a fingernail, and it was mottled and discoloured. This was the point where I truly felt like melting down. The bathroom still felt VERY far from finished (no functional suite items yet, STILL tiling), and if this floor was indeed, truly fucked, we'd have to scrape it up. Except we CAN'T scrape it up, because there's asbestos under there. Aaargh!!!! Called out another contractor for a second opinion and he said it was FINE — we just needed to lay carpet over it. But I have no money!</p><p>This is when I discovered the wonder of CARPET TILES (all is well)<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYupqW18MoCvJKopDSFVzOqrozxLx7gzGdzLD26zmsCQ5m9JO6tV4L3TT9HLKuLX9PCkDAhtBm3TtcHfeo8QgZIA49jpjqEiuW7lrNztpz5tWMNqECcpsWlY4mXldEUbnv98fe3XDxpIOaa-g7vTEz6Ung92rXL5ptgmSAhtK6Gi2cyA_3EqEmFB7a5lvk/s2480/November19.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2480" data-original-width="1535" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYupqW18MoCvJKopDSFVzOqrozxLx7gzGdzLD26zmsCQ5m9JO6tV4L3TT9HLKuLX9PCkDAhtBm3TtcHfeo8QgZIA49jpjqEiuW7lrNztpz5tWMNqECcpsWlY4mXldEUbnv98fe3XDxpIOaa-g7vTEz6Ung92rXL5ptgmSAhtK6Gi2cyA_3EqEmFB7a5lvk/w248-h400/November19.jpg" width="248" /></a></div><p></p><p>Meanwhile at the other end, packing more seriously commences, including the challenges of kitchen stuff. (I am pleased to report, nothing broken when arriving at the other end!)<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSkQ3ExoCuyhLISKuKULSkqt9ve6eNgX1M9cwfVLSLDm1ZQsxmIh35POLzl2qvg6e_DFBKgjfuxhzoS_LuYX2-SfPgczwsAGg25-OT1aVfFYnY7QU3RMyb0BaTcx1qV7tqzfXSdixu7eSrhChLY1_ZxRpFKvx1spi3SeXILVNVpkr5QRbsIU8gjaE56EDm/s2480/November20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2480" data-original-width="1535" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSkQ3ExoCuyhLISKuKULSkqt9ve6eNgX1M9cwfVLSLDm1ZQsxmIh35POLzl2qvg6e_DFBKgjfuxhzoS_LuYX2-SfPgczwsAGg25-OT1aVfFYnY7QU3RMyb0BaTcx1qV7tqzfXSdixu7eSrhChLY1_ZxRpFKvx1spi3SeXILVNVpkr5QRbsIU8gjaE56EDm/w248-h400/November20.jpg" width="248" /></a></div><p></p><p>SNACKING THRU THE STRESS</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq7v5iQw3uxV4W1NGjEsTzF4X0NMA5lILTHdzKdp5yxZoc9n8j2WxyKCuNduaIHghRpbK_TI8qLbKl-IT5a9ECNslDxOoVW08IbcS1f6_SaBiPT_pJyWz4z1q3gIpSQwdm2EC02BB8LV2SfnRzcZyLvQn7KOhHGeUpsCzTTMfoo63xHB3KoNnbn7dGcxjC/s2480/November21.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2480" data-original-width="1535" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq7v5iQw3uxV4W1NGjEsTzF4X0NMA5lILTHdzKdp5yxZoc9n8j2WxyKCuNduaIHghRpbK_TI8qLbKl-IT5a9ECNslDxOoVW08IbcS1f6_SaBiPT_pJyWz4z1q3gIpSQwdm2EC02BB8LV2SfnRzcZyLvQn7KOhHGeUpsCzTTMfoo63xHB3KoNnbn7dGcxjC/w248-h400/November21.jpg" width="248" /></a></div><p>On some level, felt determined not to let the move become entirely all consuming this month (hence the visit to Margate). Took the evening to pop into my co-teaching partner Kalina's book launch, <a href="https://photobookcafeshop.com/products/lf5tl-glz-by-kalina-pulit-07">LF5TL GLZ</a>. I don't especially like cars but I did enjoy digitally painting this reproduction of a section of one of her lovely photos.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_aT2DEfB99XNorUkFnmvGNWhbp_y02IlCCtmY674U2cst2LgWC5i9GpSVgjqzZbnP17DiV4V8F4HRDnH8D7svuHOWWo-nBkgmD7CUYC2tUhue3hlI58w7120qufmi86Fz__PkdYRLsmtOac9jcmQGMHyr11Gc_DEIx4F4JSFRp-8ok2A8dwmTNOQvAiWX/s2480/November22.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2480" data-original-width="1535" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_aT2DEfB99XNorUkFnmvGNWhbp_y02IlCCtmY674U2cst2LgWC5i9GpSVgjqzZbnP17DiV4V8F4HRDnH8D7svuHOWWo-nBkgmD7CUYC2tUhue3hlI58w7120qufmi86Fz__PkdYRLsmtOac9jcmQGMHyr11Gc_DEIx4F4JSFRp-8ok2A8dwmTNOQvAiWX/w248-h400/November22.jpg" width="248" /></a></div><p></p><p>When we went to visit Dunrunnin the first time last month we fell in love with Barley. Luckily he was still waiting, so we dropped in one more time to see him in readiness for bringing him home once we'd moved in the next week. <a href="https://dunrunnin.org/home-hound/barley/">He likes a cuddle</a>. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9X-4Dku7ZbSPMJsX_LemKeM8GXAWuTLbehAajVwb2jC1h9XXFn_uHJ5s510BpI0maT5MI8fmP-AbB4BYY4k7vUa5yXc2KEbTq-Ezm7wpfEQPt2x5D6rVdYDgc44tW_-SMgBAW-j28mu0R4rqBMYLnN7HzeTV6sdKIjkHtipayLwWC2N3L1i98ftGcs6C-/s2480/November23.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2480" data-original-width="1535" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9X-4Dku7ZbSPMJsX_LemKeM8GXAWuTLbehAajVwb2jC1h9XXFn_uHJ5s510BpI0maT5MI8fmP-AbB4BYY4k7vUa5yXc2KEbTq-Ezm7wpfEQPt2x5D6rVdYDgc44tW_-SMgBAW-j28mu0R4rqBMYLnN7HzeTV6sdKIjkHtipayLwWC2N3L1i98ftGcs6C-/w248-h400/November23.jpg" width="248" /></a></div><p></p><p>Had an afternoon of many trains!<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit5oldh9ftxytauPBMypbCU3Hy_WMainTI7XrnfLTksB-GtXH1bUUZYb29PQKS7WdtFG0DV7lyI7d4xYZz952vw246gRGt7L1q9PWU-gakQTpiMzVgtVNhqGekU5nJBm4EvVbuf0Ckf0ek31noW79jx8SetDIG2fNDIpMwfF-MJscwE76nh_k9VSmdlDMV/s2480/November24.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2480" data-original-width="1535" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit5oldh9ftxytauPBMypbCU3Hy_WMainTI7XrnfLTksB-GtXH1bUUZYb29PQKS7WdtFG0DV7lyI7d4xYZz952vw246gRGt7L1q9PWU-gakQTpiMzVgtVNhqGekU5nJBm4EvVbuf0Ckf0ek31noW79jx8SetDIG2fNDIpMwfF-MJscwE76nh_k9VSmdlDMV/w248-h400/November24.jpg" width="248" /></a></div><br /><p>The day before the move, my partner and I went to the new house, where the bathroom was FINALLY done, and most of the trash and tools removed. (I'd been visiting every day that week to lightly cajole them). We then had to clean the entire house (covered in dust), and assemble our new ikea bed, which took HOURS, and left us totally exhausted.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghLI6JtxKaIzmqHrfGz63PiPgf_OS7POZeOaBhxcl3TotF6veSYgR_k-PdSXkeVhhuPWGtTYm76scF26ueD3dPYY2fWx1i9Zj1anCX4llsWkBDSnNwhE8v2aUufaqqbbGE3wYDLxvyhJZIhG9qF8YJ73GZozxwQXqrB0OGks2OflNt7wKefgr2LXocWtxo/s2480/November25.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2480" data-original-width="1535" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghLI6JtxKaIzmqHrfGz63PiPgf_OS7POZeOaBhxcl3TotF6veSYgR_k-PdSXkeVhhuPWGtTYm76scF26ueD3dPYY2fWx1i9Zj1anCX4llsWkBDSnNwhE8v2aUufaqqbbGE3wYDLxvyhJZIhG9qF8YJ73GZozxwQXqrB0OGks2OflNt7wKefgr2LXocWtxo/w248-h400/November25.jpg" width="248" /></a></div><p></p><p>And then, finally, MOVING DAY!</p><p>Everything happened so fast I didn't really have time to reflect on saying goodbye to my old home in Battersea, a shared house with 3 bedrooms. I moved in there in September 2019, escaping from an unhappy time in Yorkshire, and the place felt like a salvation. I then spent the entirety of the worst of the pandemic there, lost Charlie, and later Chase under that roof. I built a happy relationship with my current partner there. I saw 7 different housemates pass through during my time. I love that place. I had some of the worst of times in that place. It is a beautiful house on a horrible road. I was ready to leave but it was a real home to me, and I hope it will continue to be so for those who remain there after me. </p><p>The move itself?</p><p>Not sure why I persueded my partner to let us do it ourselves, next time (hopefully many years from now) I WILL hire movers. The van was too small and we had to do three trips (the new place is around 45 – 60 mins drive from the old place, despite being only 6 miles away, because London). Luckily we had help — Dav and Justin happened to be visiting from Yorkshire, our friend Vaishnavi joined us, and my partner's dad also helped out. We absolutely could not have done it without them, and it was a long, exhausting day. But we did it.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipna754aBgOMbKo3s261L_nZO2A39gNHEw6ayT5sv_tmv22IJ5v2JdF3vPLAGQnASy0n6xmOHp2XskEzY8ifsYmPwejxEsyQTQWC7t1I_ynDnt-Ys9IBEUTFfcpAJEhUq_87gUG52NmXPUJ4g43AMx1qABcoSY1ACQm0ORrtprxGx2gY3f-NU9hP8QZACX/s2480/November26.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2480" data-original-width="1535" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipna754aBgOMbKo3s261L_nZO2A39gNHEw6ayT5sv_tmv22IJ5v2JdF3vPLAGQnASy0n6xmOHp2XskEzY8ifsYmPwejxEsyQTQWC7t1I_ynDnt-Ys9IBEUTFfcpAJEhUq_87gUG52NmXPUJ4g43AMx1qABcoSY1ACQm0ORrtprxGx2gY3f-NU9hP8QZACX/w248-h400/November26.jpg" width="248" /></a></div><p></p><p>I spent all day Sunday furiously trying to find homes for things. We are lacking some major pieces of furniture — no sofa, but crucially for unpacking, very few shelves. We have ordered some, but until then, some boxes must remain, which deeply irks me...</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgDtV0jJLUhlBKD_rt3JwpDn9UOmUjN3_XKIFA1bSUfHyIFKl6wHIkuR6sTHA6sVa6XtO8p4LMIVHhP9hsQNIjhTnaOXcgaRsIaM0u_tR-gyPI5e2PqJdvtUQEvH2CZf3Uf6ABFQgHdk5x3e0ey8XIPRYYEFMfvDomENMhzrshFAkWwKdqa3Ir0wwPLKps/s2480/November27.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2480" data-original-width="1535" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgDtV0jJLUhlBKD_rt3JwpDn9UOmUjN3_XKIFA1bSUfHyIFKl6wHIkuR6sTHA6sVa6XtO8p4LMIVHhP9hsQNIjhTnaOXcgaRsIaM0u_tR-gyPI5e2PqJdvtUQEvH2CZf3Uf6ABFQgHdk5x3e0ey8XIPRYYEFMfvDomENMhzrshFAkWwKdqa3Ir0wwPLKps/w248-h400/November27.jpg" width="248" /></a></div><p></p><p>Did as much unpacking as I could over the weekend because I had to get back to work on Monday! It was a nice day though, as my friend Deb was visiting from the US (<a href="https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/461276/how-infrastructure-works-by-chachra-deb/9781911709541">launching her new book</a>!), and came to give a guest lecture to my UX students. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqH-NNDqwZJvNlf_V3gvIGs_1A4MmDRYtQWcAYK6HIXKJ_ZQzM5VIjdrX_S-Ewdv7bkWIO2Pe87VfQsTtqON_17pn1cZAeWUSV8PMjuxtAiC45mdYTWMKyZt9yhxmycqtZmtU6FQmeQJyGztwzN2zUlRnMgSbdKrqMvucGmcR3nLDmvkHAYz9XopTzbgpw/s2480/November28.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2480" data-original-width="1535" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqH-NNDqwZJvNlf_V3gvIGs_1A4MmDRYtQWcAYK6HIXKJ_ZQzM5VIjdrX_S-Ewdv7bkWIO2Pe87VfQsTtqON_17pn1cZAeWUSV8PMjuxtAiC45mdYTWMKyZt9yhxmycqtZmtU6FQmeQJyGztwzN2zUlRnMgSbdKrqMvucGmcR3nLDmvkHAYz9XopTzbgpw/w248-h400/November28.jpg" width="248" /></a></div><p></p><p>Despite the fact that all I wanted to do was stay home and faff about unpacking my house, I went to a gig I booked months ago, and it was great (I was also delighted to discover that it's actually faster and easier to get to East London from here than it was from my old place)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge8CurgAf8d0mzvac28XiHVi2b2iSynvbHKbJKTKe_93BdAA4yqPNPvK2PuYvpRtzxL4Ggn5KO4QoOQJK1VeFrZI-vcXGBnfmDrWY-3A1QLPYO1IcfKMDV5jGm-mJT-ZAnSTILpQn6fs_OVQBquThWrOpfLj_guUzFA8r-iifF06tfjW5MCwKj3847zsRE/s2480/November29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2480" data-original-width="1535" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge8CurgAf8d0mzvac28XiHVi2b2iSynvbHKbJKTKe_93BdAA4yqPNPvK2PuYvpRtzxL4Ggn5KO4QoOQJK1VeFrZI-vcXGBnfmDrWY-3A1QLPYO1IcfKMDV5jGm-mJT-ZAnSTILpQn6fs_OVQBquThWrOpfLj_guUzFA8r-iifF06tfjW5MCwKj3847zsRE/w248-h400/November29.jpg" width="248" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And then, suddenly, A GOOD BOY!!! The rescue shelter very kindly drove him over to us. He spent most of his first day pacing around and panting anxiously a lot. (He spent most of his second day testing the boundaries of what is and is not allowed in a human house, but my partner had to deal with that alone as I was out at work!) He is extremely velvety and soft. He loves to be touched and cuddled. He does not like to be cold.<br /></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-MPeKMcjBL1F4AoAHTIS-LMl76fQPtioo1ySxpiYmZnOF6IHRcy9zU47vfGK1ipVjjdQjqb5Lfeak0BaCvztV0eelsD1tFkB0GuXbu9leF-dJJPNbak8-cJHbdygm210Z1nwZPAKFQnwweTOBKqsRun6oA3Ea1_4hBdNlyOxY_NP3en6Wo7nlOLAj99rW/s2480/Untitled_Artwork%208.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2480" data-original-width="1535" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-MPeKMcjBL1F4AoAHTIS-LMl76fQPtioo1ySxpiYmZnOF6IHRcy9zU47vfGK1ipVjjdQjqb5Lfeak0BaCvztV0eelsD1tFkB0GuXbu9leF-dJJPNbak8-cJHbdygm210Z1nwZPAKFQnwweTOBKqsRun6oA3Ea1_4hBdNlyOxY_NP3en6Wo7nlOLAj99rW/w248-h400/Untitled_Artwork%208.jpg" width="248" /></a></div><p></p><p>We ran a cute decoration making session with our students, using the laser cutter — I made these festive cheese and sweet combos!</p><p>I still haven't started doing my diaries by hand again, a) because my office/desk is still chaos, but b) because I'm kind of enjoying it?! It also coincides with Moleskine putting up their notebook prices from £18 to £25 (!!!!!), and as a result, all of my usual stockists not selling them any more. Is it finally time for my visual diaries to go permanently digital?! I haven't quite decided yet...</p><p>I look forwards to sharing more house/Barley/visual diary medium updates next month. I also look forwards to hopefully having some of you over soon to help us lightly housewarm and meet the lovely Barley. If you are anywhere near Croydon/Crystal Palace soon, let me know!<br /></p>Emmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03307690577227053266noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6149147983678759733.post-24204140699981071062023-10-31T19:53:00.001+00:002023-10-31T19:53:22.013+00:00October 2023<p>I feel like I keep saying 'it's been a hard month', but I do genuinely think things are going to get easier soon. This month might have been the stress-climax?! Maybe?! (I bloody well hope so)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdptwJcPJCcD2x4pCk59MKK25uauPFwvaeLH0bIUt6RNm_qspXHx618VOAQBH18uTGBefAA1NO08Fz7yMNB0hQMdbx8RnniVESjpUDJyNbaFYL3dDOyXQohUUb2IhmAPiNF9aJy5YOLIdlOu3bC4JMfGIOlVWRcjTQlaN_Jxf8Y41P8wL3opd9Q_9TQaD_/s2468/October1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2468" data-original-width="1526" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdptwJcPJCcD2x4pCk59MKK25uauPFwvaeLH0bIUt6RNm_qspXHx618VOAQBH18uTGBefAA1NO08Fz7yMNB0hQMdbx8RnniVESjpUDJyNbaFYL3dDOyXQohUUb2IhmAPiNF9aJy5YOLIdlOu3bC4JMfGIOlVWRcjTQlaN_Jxf8Y41P8wL3opd9Q_9TQaD_/w248-h400/October1.jpg" width="248" /></a></div><p></p><p>Sundays are meant to be day of rest time, but too often they end up being day of life admin time</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6qt4M9xF8G7dFD4KXGgNXPddGy3Q33fhqEm0OgbBlmRx6j1xcBGFqqCds0diDpAEeXCAEIIwvTcf5lb5QgY6fexpH38B8g4wVxUhCD8_IbSY6mCCu9VyUpHpokeZnSNab8E1CNZSUIYTMRDwjBX7k6mo9YPI_FJSBmfa5oqgw1Rw0YDGsj34K6rDcT506/s2468/October2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2468" data-original-width="1472" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6qt4M9xF8G7dFD4KXGgNXPddGy3Q33fhqEm0OgbBlmRx6j1xcBGFqqCds0diDpAEeXCAEIIwvTcf5lb5QgY6fexpH38B8g4wVxUhCD8_IbSY6mCCu9VyUpHpokeZnSNab8E1CNZSUIYTMRDwjBX7k6mo9YPI_FJSBmfa5oqgw1Rw0YDGsj34K6rDcT506/w239-h400/October2.jpg" width="239" /></a></div><p></p><p>My partner got sick AGAIN and gave it to me. Not COVID this time, but kind of way worse. A horrible snotty, coughy cold, that has flared up my (long covid?) throat/breathing condition and has left me with a hacking cough for the entirety of the month (and based on previous form, probably the entirety of the winter, though I have been to the doctor and been referred to a specialist, as I am dreading my third winter of hell cough)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPOsig33SVsrNzyvz8BkP6zZU4ZF1fck7BhPNSNzGxOkdZzKwwPOfWEfdH8k2y7bjjDkmKegI7fHEtYAPMJhM0wtInuOD2-znZWMzddHeCoT3ZW8GWjW9A3NB12UciZ4toM18mohWOcvCQJsa8Im1b7_-P9Ckms6JUcDXU0MeKYIkY5UheEsHMc8ae8Ge6/s2468/October3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2468" data-original-width="1474" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPOsig33SVsrNzyvz8BkP6zZU4ZF1fck7BhPNSNzGxOkdZzKwwPOfWEfdH8k2y7bjjDkmKegI7fHEtYAPMJhM0wtInuOD2-znZWMzddHeCoT3ZW8GWjW9A3NB12UciZ4toM18mohWOcvCQJsa8Im1b7_-P9Ckms6JUcDXU0MeKYIkY5UheEsHMc8ae8Ge6/w239-h400/October3.jpg" width="239" /></a></div><p></p><p>Given start-of-term university is already a horrendous petri dish of lurgies, I persisted with work. Got to teach in a new part of the building with good views and non disgusting toilets.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUTJsIG0hv9klcuNntqu4PLbXSg_Tl0Cpg7snPFS_g-cc2pwzFPlwLI-20-RKRxafnyW2r9srrqBLJxMdm-7r2nHLsCENlXIINvbXVNQikRW-_-7UTQLwQpp_8WUJMrJzUKFEl-O7dkXNfGjo5BDBZwCIrO8PsEy4kggc0_jZeDVEHq7xPdH3Er0_BReZ5/s2468/October5.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2468" data-original-width="1526" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUTJsIG0hv9klcuNntqu4PLbXSg_Tl0Cpg7snPFS_g-cc2pwzFPlwLI-20-RKRxafnyW2r9srrqBLJxMdm-7r2nHLsCENlXIINvbXVNQikRW-_-7UTQLwQpp_8WUJMrJzUKFEl-O7dkXNfGjo5BDBZwCIrO8PsEy4kggc0_jZeDVEHq7xPdH3Er0_BReZ5/w248-h400/October5.jpg" width="248" /></a></div><p></p><p>My particular teaching role this year involves a lot more ORATING than last year (where I was co-teaching with someone much more experienced who did most of the talking), which is extremely incompatible with a sore throat. (Why didn't I take the time off sick? My stupid excuse: I am genuinely REALLY EXCITED to do this job)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWjj7ZJHvDVcqULk9PPqRkxNAaLPjJx95VQJgJMVkPoviwwqLJBRxMTZnpwiV4W14bJJnfgmLAyBAGcOwUVWt-FB9NmjH22DeURwHpf2WL3ZUOEjkZX9JtCWNL1vruQf7pK1huvycu0OKKwmURsiY_nP2-cPbBc8xzvfVpUzLzGUmbbLvi2Z1igLPF9HuU/s2468/October6.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2468" data-original-width="1469" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWjj7ZJHvDVcqULk9PPqRkxNAaLPjJx95VQJgJMVkPoviwwqLJBRxMTZnpwiV4W14bJJnfgmLAyBAGcOwUVWt-FB9NmjH22DeURwHpf2WL3ZUOEjkZX9JtCWNL1vruQf7pK1huvycu0OKKwmURsiY_nP2-cPbBc8xzvfVpUzLzGUmbbLvi2Z1igLPF9HuU/w238-h400/October6.jpg" width="238" /></a></div><br />Chase continued to struggle, generally. She went from 'mostly fine' in August to 'a very frail old lady' by the start of October. She was extremely wobbly and unstable, and I found it very difficult to deal with. We took her to the vet who suggested we try her on some steroids in addition to the nerve pain drugs she was already on.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCev7Eg8-dTm0I48MeKRpTuU6LTO6DcQeBxSdNGzew33XvxEH1GC7id1kDj7tC5cF-idEhFUe5SWz6p96dRzqtGJhdyOxSAKY5ZHN98DlxAd-RoZSz8ZKqns-kBeOcUGjjoe5y7DnyhO-GEKO72tBUIAmDzjfj8DNh0_ql1xjHsHHJ4-XUtSfqMvNIp0ll/s2372/October7.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2372" data-original-width="1448" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCev7Eg8-dTm0I48MeKRpTuU6LTO6DcQeBxSdNGzew33XvxEH1GC7id1kDj7tC5cF-idEhFUe5SWz6p96dRzqtGJhdyOxSAKY5ZHN98DlxAd-RoZSz8ZKqns-kBeOcUGjjoe5y7DnyhO-GEKO72tBUIAmDzjfj8DNh0_ql1xjHsHHJ4-XUtSfqMvNIp0ll/w244-h400/October7.jpg" width="244" /></a></div><p></p><p>Having not really left the house for a couple of weeks other than to teach, walked along the river for a bit, admired many swans.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYqQY1iXptQnliOMsoZubwLyD51og2IzfXmaL2FgOnF5__WpZczahPcokkNwXnjZy63Zw2beqjUddq9vzOK5NBDxBC8q7wqLsvhkmIN2_Z6JOENZdnEqVJLvSQb616NfsSbcZ9P4KsrrNLjrE82O1mjXnLHkkozskmfrKry_zKe6-66fmCTEiNf_d6I284/s2468/October8.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2468" data-original-width="1527" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYqQY1iXptQnliOMsoZubwLyD51og2IzfXmaL2FgOnF5__WpZczahPcokkNwXnjZy63Zw2beqjUddq9vzOK5NBDxBC8q7wqLsvhkmIN2_Z6JOENZdnEqVJLvSQb616NfsSbcZ9P4KsrrNLjrE82O1mjXnLHkkozskmfrKry_zKe6-66fmCTEiNf_d6I284/w248-h400/October8.jpg" width="248" /></a></div> <br />I'm sure this is absolutely fine<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF3Vtp7AZhNp7oTQH9KRB2cbDPZhurfsYWbu8qqUgn4IGdfJCeZzJMAQRLHwmtFI347hdKCiFbCqMEaG5vnS1KbGAeEjiBiTWbJQ8Nsf-nyFZ_4o5Ll8icIZtSfvNivcKPKdJ4lxbruBqLY-0ALuZT3Yh1m-yQmjoX44RIAzGJsA7umUhQglXE9c7Wqf8h/s2468/October9.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2468" data-original-width="1473" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF3Vtp7AZhNp7oTQH9KRB2cbDPZhurfsYWbu8qqUgn4IGdfJCeZzJMAQRLHwmtFI347hdKCiFbCqMEaG5vnS1KbGAeEjiBiTWbJQ8Nsf-nyFZ_4o5Ll8icIZtSfvNivcKPKdJ4lxbruBqLY-0ALuZT3Yh1m-yQmjoX44RIAzGJsA7umUhQglXE9c7Wqf8h/w239-h400/October9.jpg" width="239" /></a></div><p></p><p>Teaching my students about the ELEMENTS and PRINCIPLES of art and design, which is not a model I have previously learned, and I was quite cynical at first but it's actually been quite useful (and fun)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhleXj1ZcReF31njFo4foio-abGauHJyO0yzpab4BdvpRiiRMRwZx36Hcl-k9evfjrh-os2Sj7vejnje2HuojbDNfe8zVXhg_yZlXOHe25xA5X2aHFYLUxSEZAzljE9EPCaheWqkqsVbdXQ3LLlUNTixgptwaKM5z53EP5MwlrGd5IXYKXlnKrqITIetSGY/s2468/October10.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2468" data-original-width="1463" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhleXj1ZcReF31njFo4foio-abGauHJyO0yzpab4BdvpRiiRMRwZx36Hcl-k9evfjrh-os2Sj7vejnje2HuojbDNfe8zVXhg_yZlXOHe25xA5X2aHFYLUxSEZAzljE9EPCaheWqkqsVbdXQ3LLlUNTixgptwaKM5z53EP5MwlrGd5IXYKXlnKrqITIetSGY/w238-h400/October10.jpg" width="238" /></a></div><p></p><p>[Cough cough cough]</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXy_3X2Zwc3Ou2oCcBRMBJBIj_lKAx67KA8JgQyEUbVeOIFtpwCh6ntbEwXX_6ZqXk3-bNTiErj9x9MAl5SrfC2AhXRxc-0UjKEBsyMQ6ggyiS_OyTrsDtxo7dMfKU6gO9y_M7kGkosW-ZpyrkY8bZU8aJ9rpckjryyULznSpP7h3uKdA_Li8QSc5axqtB/s2468/October11.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2468" data-original-width="1462" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXy_3X2Zwc3Ou2oCcBRMBJBIj_lKAx67KA8JgQyEUbVeOIFtpwCh6ntbEwXX_6ZqXk3-bNTiErj9x9MAl5SrfC2AhXRxc-0UjKEBsyMQ6ggyiS_OyTrsDtxo7dMfKU6gO9y_M7kGkosW-ZpyrkY8bZU8aJ9rpckjryyULznSpP7h3uKdA_Li8QSc5axqtB/w238-h400/October11.jpg" width="238" /></a></div><br />Our new housemate Jude moved in! Do not get invested in her as a character in Emma's life story: I am moving out soon :)<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ8yM7A5K0easa17agaHs48XE-nbAAdfjJDP_6ivXNJPvODaax1evPQPswHt2kGEE2_bzh7toIimpansTxxil1ee_oMT2wyJTpoTJMVJ346JLxAI_7IKwXCJtmwe6W7emIixx-Zn8nS9jtnyx358QR5SGGOP0qyxy3a99-c39Nrkvsgz6yVFIHJB3deZC6/s2468/October12.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2468" data-original-width="1527" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ8yM7A5K0easa17agaHs48XE-nbAAdfjJDP_6ivXNJPvODaax1evPQPswHt2kGEE2_bzh7toIimpansTxxil1ee_oMT2wyJTpoTJMVJ346JLxAI_7IKwXCJtmwe6W7emIixx-Zn8nS9jtnyx358QR5SGGOP0qyxy3a99-c39Nrkvsgz6yVFIHJB3deZC6/w248-h400/October12.jpg" width="248" /></a></div><p></p><p>Went to my solicitor's office and signed a load of papers. Does this mean I've bought a house?! Not yet, but SOON (a very indeterminate amount of soon)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGLXRVIREErfihUdlub-W1U4kipop_07EVhERIvd0NmM5E4N3Wvl_T2A2jsqnAp3zpkzqfz13rlm0wLoVgv4mo8A3gFgsxSX8VyFcKbG38y2ig0BHzhRG6YMcat5Mloenk7gqpiOBjvtwHop8L-L089loZ1gHopO8CpbbcJXW2aD05pj2oRW39Q6S8iNZb/s2406/October13.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2406" data-original-width="1478" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGLXRVIREErfihUdlub-W1U4kipop_07EVhERIvd0NmM5E4N3Wvl_T2A2jsqnAp3zpkzqfz13rlm0wLoVgv4mo8A3gFgsxSX8VyFcKbG38y2ig0BHzhRG6YMcat5Mloenk7gqpiOBjvtwHop8L-L089loZ1gHopO8CpbbcJXW2aD05pj2oRW39Q6S8iNZb/w246-h400/October13.jpg" width="246" /></a></div><p></p><p>Unfortunately, while the steroids did improve Chase's general mood and energy levels (and made her ravenously hungry), she began suffering a terrible side effect of 'nystagmus' — where she would suffer small fit-like episodes where her eyes would start flickering furiously from side to side, and she would become completely unable to understand the world around her or stand up. They typically happened when she was exposed to unexpected light sources, which made our nightly trips out to the park for a shit extremely stressful, as every time we walked under a particularly bright streetlight, or a car with bright headlights passed, she'd keel over or walk into a lamp post. At this point I'd just have to pick her up and carry her for a bit (and she's not a small dog). </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKtHGXfs9jDiu-IOaYasd7hZwmVAT6i2SUED7LJhFYpM7HPUEkrN4zAYL5vdCvugKuabccyLOsp-m2rjb4kRy6IbfJD8-01OB-ehGZwBomt9_DSxKVeiWxMxmDDnXEq7ddqphRH4EklIY_hcd6WR_xt01xijdAmpdMOX5RKnamvslGEcLrsGakHsvlEyfY/s2468/October14.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2468" data-original-width="1527" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKtHGXfs9jDiu-IOaYasd7hZwmVAT6i2SUED7LJhFYpM7HPUEkrN4zAYL5vdCvugKuabccyLOsp-m2rjb4kRy6IbfJD8-01OB-ehGZwBomt9_DSxKVeiWxMxmDDnXEq7ddqphRH4EklIY_hcd6WR_xt01xijdAmpdMOX5RKnamvslGEcLrsGakHsvlEyfY/w248-h400/October14.jpg" width="248" /></a></div><p></p><p>We halved her steroid dose to try and counteract the fits. But it just led her back to being extremely frail and unsteady and unable to move around easily. I was very low by this point, emotionally, so my friend Vicky came over to watch Strictly with me and my housemate Beth to try and cheer me up. We got pizza!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAtc1WOdacJTWcXAMpYgcgBV8ZLouyX7Ju0n3Mh8DWnwsrlazYmJiBOxj8fFjI9MsoMADcb2hWSjM8aJDRGoE0bghl05gkl76fZWVAO-kXHbdwXF_MBM5oXult9MeOlPpHZZUA9_NSqruG-q9XbZ0PyPPxK6lXgxBjUiPP6I8shKX39A43b1DmMbfEdXWL/s2468/October15.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2468" data-original-width="1526" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAtc1WOdacJTWcXAMpYgcgBV8ZLouyX7Ju0n3Mh8DWnwsrlazYmJiBOxj8fFjI9MsoMADcb2hWSjM8aJDRGoE0bghl05gkl76fZWVAO-kXHbdwXF_MBM5oXult9MeOlPpHZZUA9_NSqruG-q9XbZ0PyPPxK6lXgxBjUiPP6I8shKX39A43b1DmMbfEdXWL/w248-h400/October15.jpg" width="248" /></a></div><p></p><p>I'd been saying for a couple of weeks I thought it might be Chase's time, but my partner (probably rightly) wanted to keep trying things to keep her going. But we both came to the conclusion that her suffering was unfair, and so we called the emergency vet to come and do a house call to put her to sleep.</p><p>I was really frightened and tearful — having had the experience of losing Charlie so suddenly in 2020, I was really scared about being with her while she died (but also knew I had to be). I felt somehow like it would profoundly destroy me emotionally, to watch her life slip away. </p><p>But Charlie died very traumatically, and in pain, and we were not with him when it happened. THAT is what destroyed me. Chase left us so peacefully, it really did just feel like she was suddenly very tired. She always was a sleepy girl, and naps always were her favourite thing. </p><p>It was the right thing to do and I'm glad we didn't wait any longer. She wasn't even frightened — she normally hates the vet, but because we called them to the house, she greeted them like a friend, and was pleased to cooperate and gently munch chicken goodies right through to the end.</p><p>My heart breaks, but I am glad at least that her worst suffering was only for a matter of weeks, not months or years.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMfgB2HfqIlB347BqQY7eOboGnHP1LN_PLTdlUqYbQxODoP7NRVP86V1Hcw071akYAENTisz4lU7hWt5FgdfFjLHBRc2lshy8anmZ2lN1zkImwBdw6gZB6Td_YUiOIDlFAxJlOa__QTSp52mO89cgvc5juHZ6Wlp8mSQWR4Rbuos0wYolDT-L_IOMiLDoh/s2468/October16.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2468" data-original-width="1464" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMfgB2HfqIlB347BqQY7eOboGnHP1LN_PLTdlUqYbQxODoP7NRVP86V1Hcw071akYAENTisz4lU7hWt5FgdfFjLHBRc2lshy8anmZ2lN1zkImwBdw6gZB6Td_YUiOIDlFAxJlOa__QTSp52mO89cgvc5juHZ6Wlp8mSQWR4Rbuos0wYolDT-L_IOMiLDoh/w238-h400/October16.jpg" width="238" /></a></div><p></p><p>I was obviously very sad the next day, but didn't really see what else there was to do other than go to work and teach like usual.</p><p>Me and my partner experienced her passing very differently. In the weeks leading up to her death I was a complete emotional mess, holding her and sobbing almost every night, constantly thinking and worrying about her. After she was gone, I felt sadness, but also peace.</p><p>Whereas while she was still with us, my partner (who relied on her even more than me) was very much able to put on a brave face and keep going, and it was only after she was gone that they suffered the worst of their grief. </p><p>With Charlie we both seemed to be quite well aligned, but it's been different this time, obviously. And actually probably helpful, as it's meant that we've both been able to be stable for each other when we've been at our worst.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizfjZZJzER69NcaVwGF9odGEIEHmYHJfs3ds9fGTOkGP_XviClHmbIfu94d6J4gwtc6YG7-Aavb4s_4Cu0xYLDoMqAdNhhTnE__M-XeTQNnRO7hxxwEnhDo8ZV4SbxZ9tEJoLWCljU7VKpXMBh8UyJv3N4Cii9_YjxRDyIKH4qLEUoXxQcDYIY4BeuCtcm/s2468/October17.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2468" data-original-width="1526" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizfjZZJzER69NcaVwGF9odGEIEHmYHJfs3ds9fGTOkGP_XviClHmbIfu94d6J4gwtc6YG7-Aavb4s_4Cu0xYLDoMqAdNhhTnE__M-XeTQNnRO7hxxwEnhDo8ZV4SbxZ9tEJoLWCljU7VKpXMBh8UyJv3N4Cii9_YjxRDyIKH4qLEUoXxQcDYIY4BeuCtcm/w248-h400/October17.jpg" width="248" /></a></div><p></p><p>I haven't really felt any choice but to keep working through my sickness and grief this month. The work is there and I need the money. Teaching is demanding but rewarding. My role at my friend's tech studio is also hugely rewarding and fulfilling but also almost always stressful and a tad emotionally draining. My freelance clients inevitably end up coming in third place to this other work, but they're also my longest standing work, and despite fluctuations, arguably my most reliable, and I love them. I am not about to drop them! So it all has to squish in somewhere, and some weeks it's easier than others.</p><p>The house we are buying requires some urgent renovations, and doing these is scraping me right to the bottom of my bank account in a way that I find very stressful, so... gotta keep going. In truth I think the intensive schedule helped get me through my grief better than wallowing would.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUtO7sKuspKNf4c1_wt_5XN1szt8SLqeNY3tTI2LtQ4KLHsDfsoI_IaCEuhI-1uwo0Fd8_qUBG_ZDGeF5NAiShsefWYJxj5xamFJKt2uGXLE5AjrdvQN0Zsd17pzZtlPXRFFc2QH9_DwHc9xYYrfRN4qKtQbfSNOvx65F3za-deItM_7eQyZXRGfjlNVIt/s2468/October18.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2468" data-original-width="1527" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUtO7sKuspKNf4c1_wt_5XN1szt8SLqeNY3tTI2LtQ4KLHsDfsoI_IaCEuhI-1uwo0Fd8_qUBG_ZDGeF5NAiShsefWYJxj5xamFJKt2uGXLE5AjrdvQN0Zsd17pzZtlPXRFFc2QH9_DwHc9xYYrfRN4qKtQbfSNOvx65F3za-deItM_7eQyZXRGfjlNVIt/w248-h400/October18.jpg" width="248" /></a></div><p></p><p>We FINALLY got to visit the house we're in the process of buying for the first time since the original viewing. It was... worse than I remembered, but kind of in a way I'd mentally prepared myself for. There were also some nice details I'd forgotten about or not noticed before. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmh5AlrRFSQSdePf2Izrv-r2ZIOS6hcE0Epdwwhf6duewUka9DZNEq9BEiz5JRJGXhHfD1oro4bpk9y8NW_uIgcysA_dbDpBjy48H924PIrmhx2YzY3ACsB9RVMt5oBfdBfEaXT55JXHh20WaY8btPiUWR7qr7sE9ZG_gBN4fG8kHff_tpWIDWdr2yEabw/s2468/October19.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2468" data-original-width="1456" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmh5AlrRFSQSdePf2Izrv-r2ZIOS6hcE0Epdwwhf6duewUka9DZNEq9BEiz5JRJGXhHfD1oro4bpk9y8NW_uIgcysA_dbDpBjy48H924PIrmhx2YzY3ACsB9RVMt5oBfdBfEaXT55JXHh20WaY8btPiUWR7qr7sE9ZG_gBN4fG8kHff_tpWIDWdr2yEabw/w236-h400/October19.jpg" width="236" /></a></div><p></p><p>Oh but I miss her every single day. My entire life was built around her, my lovely friend.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8uSn0sCdfCYnT4DQLaQTp0fXciQ0DWaNDpKWOlRJVI9xgIhQI7Sl4HhtVVj_eiDNRyeA2WAMKp_NaneNPMSUtMH4eVbDMHtsYkAgg1d7h4TsNmedSjKt6oCa_dwxqXyYk4TGIiRjwA9Vigqq479qWInk6boHtabPHtnoKY5G2sWexnmztjW7Qc6Iz9qtR/s2468/October20.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2468" data-original-width="1527" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8uSn0sCdfCYnT4DQLaQTp0fXciQ0DWaNDpKWOlRJVI9xgIhQI7Sl4HhtVVj_eiDNRyeA2WAMKp_NaneNPMSUtMH4eVbDMHtsYkAgg1d7h4TsNmedSjKt6oCa_dwxqXyYk4TGIiRjwA9Vigqq479qWInk6boHtabPHtnoKY5G2sWexnmztjW7Qc6Iz9qtR/w248-h400/October20.jpg" width="248" /></a></div><p></p><p>Me and my partner went to the London Museum of Fashion and Textiles to see their exhibition of political textiles 'The Fabric of Democracy' — it was really great and I highly recommend it!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBmQcnlFfPBjepWN5aRVwqhn4p4nvxwCaMvExf7hho5BARAh8TEmxVH8hAbneJCIjmE1Sel2PIVIEU1gRDF_nNnLA9r5nB7mZQVbLBsdSlyniIq_bFXvlosAPOw-5WKFiioSNZmqK8k5WYLrOquKearJ1PTVJojB9Q5WapGKMN5JDx62lJNHGdub_v97uU/s2468/October21.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2468" data-original-width="1526" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBmQcnlFfPBjepWN5aRVwqhn4p4nvxwCaMvExf7hho5BARAh8TEmxVH8hAbneJCIjmE1Sel2PIVIEU1gRDF_nNnLA9r5nB7mZQVbLBsdSlyniIq_bFXvlosAPOw-5WKFiioSNZmqK8k5WYLrOquKearJ1PTVJojB9Q5WapGKMN5JDx62lJNHGdub_v97uU/w248-h400/October21.jpg" width="248" /></a></div><p></p><p>With the house purchase seemingly progressing, we had a 'life comes at you fast' moment when we realised we needed to choose a new bathroom like... NOW. Because the current bathroom is basically borderline unusable (worse even than the Railway Street bathroom, Brighton friends...), we had to line up builders to resolve it before we can move in. And we can't afford to have too much wiggle room between getting the keys and moving in, because I can't afford to pay rent on our current place and mortgage for too long. </p><p>I'd always thought if I got the chance to renovate a bathroom I'd spend MONTHS poring over every detail, but instead I just ran round a warehouse on an industrial estate in Croydon trying to decide what makes a good sink over the course of around 2 hours. (Also we went to Ikea and all the tills went down right as we were in the lunch queue so we got FREE MEAT(plant)BALLS)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnJ9kiCGjQ39TK2QV3CWGuFgqw0Vn6y00ow3e2kGSRkzubtahx7YFEdRIlPQvaTMhQLRZlDlXbtS4WD8DzByfihKZ-FV85Xstkdo6yQYLfgWAZOtJkCrCdtSlOw_yt8dq0v7f_HOKnQILA55dDiG1Ap7LdH7dmXDsfpmrtpqQb1PXIZrRLj011bL9TO6aT/s2468/October22.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2468" data-original-width="1527" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnJ9kiCGjQ39TK2QV3CWGuFgqw0Vn6y00ow3e2kGSRkzubtahx7YFEdRIlPQvaTMhQLRZlDlXbtS4WD8DzByfihKZ-FV85Xstkdo6yQYLfgWAZOtJkCrCdtSlOw_yt8dq0v7f_HOKnQILA55dDiG1Ap7LdH7dmXDsfpmrtpqQb1PXIZrRLj011bL9TO6aT/w248-h400/October22.jpg" width="248" /></a></div><p></p><p>I'm still sad/mad our old housemate Camille had to move out (yes FINE she had a totally justifiable reason but what could be better than living with Emma?!) — but very glad we still get to hang out sometimes for boardgames and macaroni cheese</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLQhYCIeqpA5zbdXfLIFHGKyqj0S4sr7xeUZ0gSF-4nWre924DZvfzKRVwG8EorhZxEYMuIroUg4zTKz2yVi2fD2m1kB9O9oEEv0fKL35x3d1Pgcbw4hBjy3XoFwXQnCVrp4CEkUfMa2SdC5gaYF6E4H1NooGsTEa8_V_UGz1tgoOw4poIFmill2zbEpZ7/s2468/October24.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2468" data-original-width="1527" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLQhYCIeqpA5zbdXfLIFHGKyqj0S4sr7xeUZ0gSF-4nWre924DZvfzKRVwG8EorhZxEYMuIroUg4zTKz2yVi2fD2m1kB9O9oEEv0fKL35x3d1Pgcbw4hBjy3XoFwXQnCVrp4CEkUfMa2SdC5gaYF6E4H1NooGsTEa8_V_UGz1tgoOw4poIFmill2zbEpZ7/w248-h400/October24.jpg" width="248" /></a></div><p></p><p>Trying to capture the new lines appearing on my face for every additional day my solicitor doesn't respond to my emails</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbAHE0X0I66bydgcwturZE2A7Mppr-aLr464fTWjiLpALUeZzflJE0W5inAZKGdFk7eM9qm-jPjJd5oQmfGru2DXoKD9pd4idQkdct6IqH1CyGIlMR8sdhbPYTSOH9hYmH6QGSTXFD4u6at05DK1sapSPtB9jcWIg_r-EK4FWcZGQVuV8hEvC8p55WuShY/s2468/October25.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2468" data-original-width="1526" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbAHE0X0I66bydgcwturZE2A7Mppr-aLr464fTWjiLpALUeZzflJE0W5inAZKGdFk7eM9qm-jPjJd5oQmfGru2DXoKD9pd4idQkdct6IqH1CyGIlMR8sdhbPYTSOH9hYmH6QGSTXFD4u6at05DK1sapSPtB9jcWIg_r-EK4FWcZGQVuV8hEvC8p55WuShY/w248-h400/October25.jpg" width="248" /></a></div><p></p><p>I keep saying how great it will be for me and my partner to move out of a shared bedroom in a shared house but in actual fact our current bedroom is HUGE, has a massive walk in wardrobe, and we use most of the living room too, so our new, modestly sized place will be a significant downgrade size wise. I am a serial de-clutterer at the best of times but thus commences the most drastic declutter I can imagine!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVX-kLE9UFvW77q9c-PuPwjKWI6l1c9ZRlz4x7sXPHaxeSDw_u7FJHkFlPrQz5iNwgmk40o3vxSJWfvbzm9CIwGeYxVXsczzGF8cwHQjrDvYyeA20ieXkpvTf_-0258NbCdzB5qL-nOiW7Pz3St-QwMYQafJld_JmcAB_rWB9KN8osDAnh_jaXGiyRANDM/s2468/October26.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2468" data-original-width="1527" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVX-kLE9UFvW77q9c-PuPwjKWI6l1c9ZRlz4x7sXPHaxeSDw_u7FJHkFlPrQz5iNwgmk40o3vxSJWfvbzm9CIwGeYxVXsczzGF8cwHQjrDvYyeA20ieXkpvTf_-0258NbCdzB5qL-nOiW7Pz3St-QwMYQafJld_JmcAB_rWB9KN8osDAnh_jaXGiyRANDM/w248-h400/October26.jpg" width="248" /></a></div><br />And then suddenly oh fuck I'm in a bank signing away the largest sum of money I ever have or probably will have (and discovering I have an incredibly unreliable signature)...<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUw9Tg3NWkq9QmGwynl4MtxI3IDM_ZW6hnZVFu92mZ_x6ks0FnWF9HW7VfvCnYXd3oCy-h8L1JYgbEi_wOhyFHRkMf1I7lUsq2oDhpVDn0Tnpfqz1mHyUIyOfsysFDp4nULRsiAz36_lApCe_C-Dk_ECGNQPOlVDlAUJI81DR96vsaqssERlSdhPMrXiHH/s2468/October27.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2468" data-original-width="1476" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUw9Tg3NWkq9QmGwynl4MtxI3IDM_ZW6hnZVFu92mZ_x6ks0FnWF9HW7VfvCnYXd3oCy-h8L1JYgbEi_wOhyFHRkMf1I7lUsq2oDhpVDn0Tnpfqz1mHyUIyOfsysFDp4nULRsiAz36_lApCe_C-Dk_ECGNQPOlVDlAUJI81DR96vsaqssERlSdhPMrXiHH/w239-h400/October27.jpg" width="239" /></a></div><p></p><p>And all of a sudden, I own a modest two bed flat in Croydon. Wouldya look at that.</p><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH1MDw72LcTQ2eJGMAQa3rl-hEWsFkhymjZKHYHTP2EkFWKHWWYcf4XvxWEkYBr9lkQgfM3wsFZaLkoIAl7qhk_0CmiooJhDmgvbzVR_wqv177OCJbYAMy5i29SMSLP_ammVGB2OnOlf9nFcwnCTYaQzUeVVgb1IWI1aLzUituBe91H-vXn3Yq-uXY0Iqo/s2468/October28.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2468" data-original-width="1527" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH1MDw72LcTQ2eJGMAQa3rl-hEWsFkhymjZKHYHTP2EkFWKHWWYcf4XvxWEkYBr9lkQgfM3wsFZaLkoIAl7qhk_0CmiooJhDmgvbzVR_wqv177OCJbYAMy5i29SMSLP_ammVGB2OnOlf9nFcwnCTYaQzUeVVgb1IWI1aLzUituBe91H-vXn3Yq-uXY0Iqo/w248-h400/October28.jpg" width="248" /></a></div><p></p><p>Felt very conflicted about the big protest because big protests give me anxiety (but also clearly this is very important, damn, I should go) — I didn't go to the big protest but I did go and stand NEAR the big protest for a little while<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbMkdrYdG0dBa7uO2t2MPjVaJ_AXVYhkTjena7NiLVLevthOV9NjEbwUkyjX2Y4Dggk4S5yN9MsDfdC1jLJRN7cy-0Kf3uzIy2ByG07C6-EB6VqoWeohcNbatUpP4ZJv4707zxHBnOfQG0JoUS5659yoedlzhAI_vQR_EjTsQ8LxxVmnEVaojz-N1RAHIc/s2468/October29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2468" data-original-width="1526" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbMkdrYdG0dBa7uO2t2MPjVaJ_AXVYhkTjena7NiLVLevthOV9NjEbwUkyjX2Y4Dggk4S5yN9MsDfdC1jLJRN7cy-0Kf3uzIy2ByG07C6-EB6VqoWeohcNbatUpP4ZJv4707zxHBnOfQG0JoUS5659yoedlzhAI_vQR_EjTsQ8LxxVmnEVaojz-N1RAHIc/w248-h400/October29.jpg" width="248" /></a></div><p></p><p>On Sunday we went to 'Dunrunnin', an ex-racing greyhound kennel, who we're soon hoping to adopt a dog from. We can't take one until we're in our new house! We can't wait!! We liked Barley the best so we're very much hoping he's still there when we're ready, a little under a month from now.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwOVVKn6iV7oEIK4J4Rfl_PB7HSKXp3NgqN-f5COmIzOMi4PIfBnj9M_lIVrOZwQ3X_yWsUaUW-q7XDqV3eW4F-mKiiNejPmr9fM5D-_pGGZK8gjHMweS6NIhwF203E63CMoyVcSCjJtWuLcophO8GC3Zqcdg2VB6VvKGs53d_M1tFJ1HdLs2Ugc7TOePW/s2442/October30.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2442" data-original-width="1486" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwOVVKn6iV7oEIK4J4Rfl_PB7HSKXp3NgqN-f5COmIzOMi4PIfBnj9M_lIVrOZwQ3X_yWsUaUW-q7XDqV3eW4F-mKiiNejPmr9fM5D-_pGGZK8gjHMweS6NIhwF203E63CMoyVcSCjJtWuLcophO8GC3Zqcdg2VB6VvKGs53d_M1tFJ1HdLs2Ugc7TOePW/w244-h400/October30.jpg" width="244" /></a></div><p></p><p>My anxiety levels briefly dipped when I got the keys to the house but have risen sky high again as I am dealing with BUILDERS, argh</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh63vJAqNOzrBT0lC6RmISbDLzqI4ceANNHJOLpBhfaSTaRt-Dq9DK3Swm5efqjISi2EiIW4BNpkVUhAMnMREo4tsBmRkQTfg6Adxy6qUVsBHXXc9Hh7l5S-rZp_Q14qhQvbLQVuBw_clD6Rqgdw7-Ky93cwVYDcS0OqM5n3tUm6UJw5O-CiURvqGjz5kIU/s2442/October31.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2442" data-original-width="1486" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh63vJAqNOzrBT0lC6RmISbDLzqI4ceANNHJOLpBhfaSTaRt-Dq9DK3Swm5efqjISi2EiIW4BNpkVUhAMnMREo4tsBmRkQTfg6Adxy6qUVsBHXXc9Hh7l5S-rZp_Q14qhQvbLQVuBw_clD6Rqgdw7-Ky93cwVYDcS0OqM5n3tUm6UJw5O-CiURvqGjz5kIU/w244-h400/October31.jpg" width="244" /></a></div><p></p><p>It's a rare occurence but some days I just don't know what to draw. Luckily my partner is always there to help.</p><p>Onwards into an EXCITING, STRESSFUL, ACTION PACKED November in which we will be definitely moving house and probably getting a new dog friend. Eek!<br /></p>Emmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03307690577227053266noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6149147983678759733.post-13860040101929424142023-09-30T21:21:00.002+01:002023-09-30T21:21:22.378+01:00September 2023<p>September has very much been a month of two halves. The first half being relatively chill and fun and relaxing, the second half being a confluence stresses which have added up to make for some of the more challenging days I think I have ever experienced in my life 😅 We're getting through though, I think.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje2kmmkazCcBzNeV994lJsN5L30GEux5QlW_sZKO_WSIrMp63bSKjNHZoPSAwz-vpAvGSjUhc3n0-309lvMUWaQmE9R4FGIfMNCU2zS-cUZKuav1QAhOkTOGP3389DG5NrL69Xb00nTdDJ100Ibdpf3MlkjE2zr7F1XzCYxU6x9I1RCURmsEXtCGtFGVlP/s2488/September1.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2488" data-original-width="1453" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje2kmmkazCcBzNeV994lJsN5L30GEux5QlW_sZKO_WSIrMp63bSKjNHZoPSAwz-vpAvGSjUhc3n0-309lvMUWaQmE9R4FGIfMNCU2zS-cUZKuav1QAhOkTOGP3389DG5NrL69Xb00nTdDJ100Ibdpf3MlkjE2zr7F1XzCYxU6x9I1RCURmsEXtCGtFGVlP/w234-h400/September1.jpeg" width="234" /></a></div><p></p><p>We are still trying to buy a house. My solicitor sends me lots of things to read, but often I just have to trust that they are acting in my best interests, because I cannot make head nor tail of it.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHnFfGlImnu-XpZgygRyllFsiVv3ZtJ-DME_yNF1774_HyEQJZd9DCxU8f6amu6NMl3mtXf_khXldg_CAsineASBMYtox8rpaP7ULHjOYR2yOZPx3qFCaOi-I48Ey1njEWEeHfqzWnms7AOkNLosXPNFq6fHFvbX6UkpGH6gb6W7elqhqtzKnJLBtYmKoB/s2488/September2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2488" data-original-width="1515" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHnFfGlImnu-XpZgygRyllFsiVv3ZtJ-DME_yNF1774_HyEQJZd9DCxU8f6amu6NMl3mtXf_khXldg_CAsineASBMYtox8rpaP7ULHjOYR2yOZPx3qFCaOi-I48Ey1njEWEeHfqzWnms7AOkNLosXPNFq6fHFvbX6UkpGH6gb6W7elqhqtzKnJLBtYmKoB/w244-h400/September2.jpg" width="244" /></a></div><p></p><p>As mentioned at the end of last month, my partner got COVID in Paris, so inevitably I got it too. It wasn't as bad as previous times I've had it (this was my third or fourth time now), but still obviously cancelled several outings and had me laid up for a couple of days.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-pt_u_hVuEZg5n95waMmyYw0NeokCmsgX61U8JmwUcPqPXyPVBeZDLymHvBtc8095ZjQa45i0BaF49AeERoHAjZ07UVUGXXk51CHLOglZzLPsdhcMYF04SS4xwAfLUeUhKW3WvCwtYJOfT75iGCsfIp0GIRovNU0uA63Yc4RUfghauAxmA44DO1sZ6mGr/s2488/September3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2488" data-original-width="1514" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-pt_u_hVuEZg5n95waMmyYw0NeokCmsgX61U8JmwUcPqPXyPVBeZDLymHvBtc8095ZjQa45i0BaF49AeERoHAjZ07UVUGXXk51CHLOglZzLPsdhcMYF04SS4xwAfLUeUhKW3WvCwtYJOfT75iGCsfIp0GIRovNU0uA63Yc4RUfghauAxmA44DO1sZ6mGr/w244-h400/September3.jpg" width="244" /></a></div><br />When me and my ex moved into a place where we had the freedom to decorate, we had several big arguments about wall colours. My stance is ALL WHITE. NO COLOUR. All colour banned. She wanted... many colours. I viewed our disagreement as evidence of the fundamental incompatibility of our relationship. It hadn't even occured to me that this would be an issue with my current partner, who I thought had excellent taste. And yet (maybe I am wrong? No, impossible. White walls all the way. I refuse to accept any colour.)<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr6BB0BLZ2KtRt9hYwuRPm4x0evi5QtQTBavfQg68dzYtqAXosvCnJYj6LK3sJTYp9QZ_0jrZmtw-zLmvkG5XFKQNCbj1PvkmL9wnut392iAQM99e2mOLW8cD3EspsmwJdJouoO2OOUwW2WFzkUZ_t0Tv0vW0-cIjTKXt7x4OPBiU4f3iwHvJhyc1c1joJ/s2488/September4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2488" data-original-width="1515" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr6BB0BLZ2KtRt9hYwuRPm4x0evi5QtQTBavfQg68dzYtqAXosvCnJYj6LK3sJTYp9QZ_0jrZmtw-zLmvkG5XFKQNCbj1PvkmL9wnut392iAQM99e2mOLW8cD3EspsmwJdJouoO2OOUwW2WFzkUZ_t0Tv0vW0-cIjTKXt7x4OPBiU4f3iwHvJhyc1c1joJ/w244-h400/September4.jpg" width="244" /></a></div><p></p><p>Gross, but I do still enjoy the warm weather, even when sick<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWvpvik7xq8IVab_7q8J2Pf10xgvWXBKhgc1NO0p0wXoEqdn-Z0-iGDcMp_GEFHNVchvAfD0RDXMMWk0dL-Eo0dDFLe1gZyynXACX70q7zGSX2Lq2PAvPRG2qfwikqvT9st7LiADiJiM9VqkB2LHXSjMUH4_yMTfuR5GrRr951miQ-3BmFlUblXlbKp8cS/s2488/September5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2488" data-original-width="1514" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWvpvik7xq8IVab_7q8J2Pf10xgvWXBKhgc1NO0p0wXoEqdn-Z0-iGDcMp_GEFHNVchvAfD0RDXMMWk0dL-Eo0dDFLe1gZyynXACX70q7zGSX2Lq2PAvPRG2qfwikqvT9st7LiADiJiM9VqkB2LHXSjMUH4_yMTfuR5GrRr951miQ-3BmFlUblXlbKp8cS/w244-h400/September5.jpg" width="244" /></a></div><p></p><p>I am very pro ULEZ because my lungs are fucked and London's air is fucked and the two are DEFINITELY related. (For anyone outside the UK or the capital, this is 'Ultra Low Emissions Zone' and basically slaps a daily fare on cars who enter the 'zone' that are not up to emissions standards. The zone has just been expanded) I don't know if this news is really getting outside the capital, but there is a LOT of anti ULEZ sentiment here, with over 500 cameras vandalised in the first week.</p><p>Anyway, I live on a VERY heavily polluted street — I regularly wipe thick layers of soot off my windows, and my bedroom directly overlooks a 24h a day busy road. Suffice to say, I have car BEEF. So just now, stuck in slow moving traffic outside my window, what should pass, but a shitty little car plastered in anti ULEZ sentiments, absolutely CRANKING a megaphone with a dour man's voice explaining why ULEZ is bad. I decide, in a split second, that yes, I am ready for a (brief) fight, storm out of the house, quickly catch up with the car, politely tap on the window, and give the (4, absolutely packed in, prime conspiracy theory looking weirdo old men) the finger, and storm off. It will achieve little. It gave me some satisfaction. <br /><br />I get home and my partner was like 'did you have fun'. They asked me what the people looked like, and I was like 'well, weird old white men', and they was like '<a href="https://www.wimbledonsw19.com/#!pages/wimbledonsw19:info:ldrscouncil029">Was this the car and was one of them Piers Corbyn</a>'. <br /><br />Well reader, yes this was the car, and yes one of them was Piers Corbyn. The end.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLTtj-qWti6iZIEiSZsdYQma2OyHCbfhwqX3oRB9Cmz4cUECg1bdJ8F7h2C_4moycrY9JxnOxo3F3NOIR-HYXxRnw0bVnvycPeeKekfV2b5ZgZhyphenhyphenEFTf_5mt_RZeuxUNRRPNsJO0w02JAV8yVQqYrSqZJuiJ5sNaKfYs98rzas5IdyyHota50VL_PV-Tqq/s2488/September6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2488" data-original-width="1466" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLTtj-qWti6iZIEiSZsdYQma2OyHCbfhwqX3oRB9Cmz4cUECg1bdJ8F7h2C_4moycrY9JxnOxo3F3NOIR-HYXxRnw0bVnvycPeeKekfV2b5ZgZhyphenhyphenEFTf_5mt_RZeuxUNRRPNsJO0w02JAV8yVQqYrSqZJuiJ5sNaKfYs98rzas5IdyyHota50VL_PV-Tqq/w236-h400/September6.jpg" width="236" /></a></div><p></p><p>Really enjoying SHORT SHORTS, kinda for the first time in my life. Combination of cute leg tattoos and smaller boobs giving me confidence (I know they should be unrelated but I always felt too 'top heavy' to get all my legs out somehow?!) — also just generally giving fewer fucks now I'm in my mid 30s I guess. LEGS!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5DeeVw5Vw2unKJ6YRgQQJ8TmO10-aitKD20SG9kUeVRGSapDwLlVssQHxpCk9c1Q50YUoRcnT-B-k4yJWij_N7-w4pjqw3DF3FB6ZbtW8bNauHGUak6zEkRN2OgDjz1dwpiY7HgAeVqoCnHvTSzgDcK10-V0Xgk3OWNtYSJKxCtycTgi06rG5_CSRI4Uq/s2488/September7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2488" data-original-width="1514" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5DeeVw5Vw2unKJ6YRgQQJ8TmO10-aitKD20SG9kUeVRGSapDwLlVssQHxpCk9c1Q50YUoRcnT-B-k4yJWij_N7-w4pjqw3DF3FB6ZbtW8bNauHGUak6zEkRN2OgDjz1dwpiY7HgAeVqoCnHvTSzgDcK10-V0Xgk3OWNtYSJKxCtycTgi06rG5_CSRI4Uq/w244-h400/September7.jpg" width="244" /></a></div><p></p><p>There is an old AC unit in my room. It has a very loud pump and is very expensive to run, but I am very much going to miss it when I move out.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ8G4BnzAz6tpj-TNQh58eecSkd-uooV6CzlRcGtzBsc1w5QJXsqL0oWkvOVDvRjO8O9huy8_qpWmITk1ZjvMjIuWS2o9T2gD5tuFDbCJOxdkKNPgHr99YZv2TtF4JregFTWXumXdnbakuNW6E36LkltQPALYkx1PKRFdbOcd5kjkb2ztDkVYdiCewQOVB/s2488/September9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2488" data-original-width="1514" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ8G4BnzAz6tpj-TNQh58eecSkd-uooV6CzlRcGtzBsc1w5QJXsqL0oWkvOVDvRjO8O9huy8_qpWmITk1ZjvMjIuWS2o9T2gD5tuFDbCJOxdkKNPgHr99YZv2TtF4JregFTWXumXdnbakuNW6E36LkltQPALYkx1PKRFdbOcd5kjkb2ztDkVYdiCewQOVB/w244-h400/September9.jpg" width="244" /></a></div><p></p><p>Had a fun day welcoming visitors to our Quaker Meeting House as part of Open House festival, and then attending an old friend's birthday party — more busy social stuff than I generally like to do in one day but it was really nice to get out n about<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv1yZPAIhNEfpuoSXrxUq7WDj3cYrexsWlPY_orLIBFzsGOC6MsLPg5kl4_S2YZSklkI1ET6Kz-KS-5DNzwFkGBMGC9FNTc3ghEbm-mjgAjCInWn3f0to1bM9-TeYu1IA2T_X4gh_JmnvZ8ZAsBUnazDz1Z_Se2pR9VCleVJZ2MJfo2fuyyzv1vX8RBRmS/s2488/September10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2488" data-original-width="1515" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv1yZPAIhNEfpuoSXrxUq7WDj3cYrexsWlPY_orLIBFzsGOC6MsLPg5kl4_S2YZSklkI1ET6Kz-KS-5DNzwFkGBMGC9FNTc3ghEbm-mjgAjCInWn3f0to1bM9-TeYu1IA2T_X4gh_JmnvZ8ZAsBUnazDz1Z_Se2pR9VCleVJZ2MJfo2fuyyzv1vX8RBRmS/w244-h400/September10.jpg" width="244" /></a></div><p><br />Went to see a big weird art installation on Clapham Common that was a series of inflatable colourful tunnels. It was around 36 degrees outside, and at least 40 in there, so it was kind of an intense experience, but lots of fun.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_5sugZeWR1A1ArBW5Y6ZmEqnqf7-_ahqbCxRD4-fXi07yXbrzAYI0dplTH1YK31yzO1tSsia48RSrLIZFnvmE0vxOs_BAL3g1n1emcjrtDn-DRQryM3EI4li1gHOKnJrIDI5abpEch6hc-8DxjW5EKkU9P8Log6QOmITZK02Yt8fbNTeiv7jElfInjMoV/s2488/September11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2488" data-original-width="1514" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_5sugZeWR1A1ArBW5Y6ZmEqnqf7-_ahqbCxRD4-fXi07yXbrzAYI0dplTH1YK31yzO1tSsia48RSrLIZFnvmE0vxOs_BAL3g1n1emcjrtDn-DRQryM3EI4li1gHOKnJrIDI5abpEch6hc-8DxjW5EKkU9P8Log6QOmITZK02Yt8fbNTeiv7jElfInjMoV/w244-h400/September11.jpg" width="244" /></a></div> <br />I moved back to working from bed when I got COVID, and... have not returned to my desk. I just love work from bed okay, let me have my cosy cushiony feet up luxury experience <p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3TzIFS2_wt5py24UvioNpA1THXwdH4S9w4zy0gVj9W4ySLAlyJYMe61gDprxn6nOdSdBqaEX7CpL2WMQkCf3_J4po0_OKuxIrvV1k5P05gdUbpi46vAawFbObvWhqRTfha14tL_9YHKgGP1fkMDleZ6NgU01e8EZHUovRShknUoZQxq9iw6f0NlFmY6AA/s2488/September12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2488" data-original-width="1515" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3TzIFS2_wt5py24UvioNpA1THXwdH4S9w4zy0gVj9W4ySLAlyJYMe61gDprxn6nOdSdBqaEX7CpL2WMQkCf3_J4po0_OKuxIrvV1k5P05gdUbpi46vAawFbObvWhqRTfha14tL_9YHKgGP1fkMDleZ6NgU01e8EZHUovRShknUoZQxq9iw6f0NlFmY6AA/w244-h400/September12.jpg" width="244" /></a></div><p></p><p>Finally out of my COVID hole, went with my friend Jay to experience the "Dream Machine" — basically, they put you in a dark room, you lie on a reclining chair, put on some headphones, close your eyes, and they blast you with strobes. Then you 'enjoy' the colourful shapes your brain forms behind your closed eyes. It didn't do much for me (I found the strobes too intense to enjoy even with my eyes closed), but it was an interesting experience, and the bit I enjoyed most was afterwards when they encouraged us to try and draw what we'd seen.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEXbMdZLBCJaNEUP1mx48uRfJWWTNSghlxcNJimzS2S_ohUzglppj53V5rU8Eke9sDz37w_TrYhpLQkpLYccMG4yBb0j8AsaqVsjauAnpHnLmNfMYOUKNv-yMy3Q-JDioA1bVOkX-nzMkg8bRPMt-Mp1Q8YXyrGSNQk17E_nX-P2wdv_k-ISyBmbhclD6J/s2488/September13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2488" data-original-width="1514" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEXbMdZLBCJaNEUP1mx48uRfJWWTNSghlxcNJimzS2S_ohUzglppj53V5rU8Eke9sDz37w_TrYhpLQkpLYccMG4yBb0j8AsaqVsjauAnpHnLmNfMYOUKNv-yMy3Q-JDioA1bVOkX-nzMkg8bRPMt-Mp1Q8YXyrGSNQk17E_nX-P2wdv_k-ISyBmbhclD6J/w244-h400/September13.jpg" width="244" /></a></div><br />Chase has had arthritis pretty much the whole time we've had her, but it has really started to feel like she has taken a turn for the worse over the last few weeks. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaa_Q_pgPezFrcvMLAydCbD2hqM_ztup1ZaXzPVXcT-XIic4SAvo_R62jn0-ZFgD9QxJUEhzF9HKbjcvqaezhCyV8g4mrcsSU7T8Bc8H0jSNC2uis727jGSqO4Mg4LRdP62fQQ2O3aTmul2LVES9SvnOSKoPwUvanEkpvUGAX9fzy9JLEPyWcovIGeveQs/s2488/September14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2488" data-original-width="1515" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaa_Q_pgPezFrcvMLAydCbD2hqM_ztup1ZaXzPVXcT-XIic4SAvo_R62jn0-ZFgD9QxJUEhzF9HKbjcvqaezhCyV8g4mrcsSU7T8Bc8H0jSNC2uis727jGSqO4Mg4LRdP62fQQ2O3aTmul2LVES9SvnOSKoPwUvanEkpvUGAX9fzy9JLEPyWcovIGeveQs/w244-h400/September14.jpg" width="244" /></a></div><p></p><p>Increasingly thinking my fringe days might be behind me?!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUIO6QimnnhWAwJS8DKGx2rzP8yMOyQ7LJEGxAx0eJ4hyx7oAsTVsG7zn7MMgGlwCxBXFDghuEx81mrv_I1u6MpyFVOmHcE_hqi4MIHD5RGFu3DDjNjpASBuCiSmMS_55vtk8pjrZHe4ipwJkxsfzCPINAAH6-jOP35kGsYyzR0yR2vdUfQvzLy_U1T2dJ/s2488/September15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2488" data-original-width="1514" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUIO6QimnnhWAwJS8DKGx2rzP8yMOyQ7LJEGxAx0eJ4hyx7oAsTVsG7zn7MMgGlwCxBXFDghuEx81mrv_I1u6MpyFVOmHcE_hqi4MIHD5RGFu3DDjNjpASBuCiSmMS_55vtk8pjrZHe4ipwJkxsfzCPINAAH6-jOP35kGsYyzR0yR2vdUfQvzLy_U1T2dJ/w244-h400/September15.jpg" width="244" /></a></div><p></p><p>My partner had to go away for a few days to look after their mum after an eye op, and by coincidence both my housemates were also away. I had a very difficult few days alone with Chase. She seemed to have weakened so much I was having to carry her up and down 3 flights of stairs every time we needed to go out (and we could barely get to the park), she was eating less, and most of all just seemed really wobbly. I did quite a lot of crying alone, convinced that the end might be coming for her. She's only 12... It's a good age, but I'd hoped we'd have so much longer with her.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-cg90GLwGIraNqQ9KFB9LyLhpcNsJ4xgEZONUqdPphQSxt3Q2uJLVJHPAi7eDaVhvtHY824DOhIIlend2a90pxRMZfUa8tj9R1qxckylxktqUQ9_6GAh-e_sFc8r7BoWzLGd2leYbPg_7G8xCpILw_yY8LbXZUF3m_Mx8BkjfuJrTsFBrjG-mSWJZiHG7/s2488/September16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2488" data-original-width="1515" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-cg90GLwGIraNqQ9KFB9LyLhpcNsJ4xgEZONUqdPphQSxt3Q2uJLVJHPAi7eDaVhvtHY824DOhIIlend2a90pxRMZfUa8tj9R1qxckylxktqUQ9_6GAh-e_sFc8r7BoWzLGd2leYbPg_7G8xCpILw_yY8LbXZUF3m_Mx8BkjfuJrTsFBrjG-mSWJZiHG7/w244-h400/September16.jpg" width="244" /></a></div><p></p><p>Saw a passionflower for the first time and had to draw it. Didn't even know such a ridiculous flower could exist! Let alone just in some petrol fumey front garden in Wandsworth!<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdpwfWjNPMvPqu0Vb-b0cNmCOhzdPs5QErizcU8YqUE1UCAKoDTBgR5qhzmeAUx4Nzfct41Kt7_DA-ZoLMG0NvfQ4O96mVC-UWyUsCNDBcnv6Ct1TADhuAl4-NcB3x3iTxfbldoH9N3vobMXImnBKS5fPreku_Ju90mBd_SpvZhFOR979-xXF3kbyOmyOH/s2488/September17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2488" data-original-width="1514" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdpwfWjNPMvPqu0Vb-b0cNmCOhzdPs5QErizcU8YqUE1UCAKoDTBgR5qhzmeAUx4Nzfct41Kt7_DA-ZoLMG0NvfQ4O96mVC-UWyUsCNDBcnv6Ct1TADhuAl4-NcB3x3iTxfbldoH9N3vobMXImnBKS5fPreku_Ju90mBd_SpvZhFOR979-xXF3kbyOmyOH/w244-h400/September17.jpg" width="244" /></a></div><p>As part of my preparatory work for teaching, I have been reading Donella Meadows "Thinking in systems: A primer". Tried to put my learning into visual diary form (I understand the principles but struggle to actually put them into practice)<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicFnBkh0R4q7z6xjx1hWFI3E0xlUWte2Etu0-bRRiGrTcGLw0HLtEjFEbDiqVZykhpmI4TiQiqfG9xvZjqzpfNETO9o3rT-QEVetsIFLVM8_0yY3wIW2C3QI-qxfi6bLYVDTBFvzJJpRLm0NV88MEoF5zfVpmfizXzHeVbOsYEzTideLWBEssPOeCWSLIp/s2488/September18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2488" data-original-width="1463" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicFnBkh0R4q7z6xjx1hWFI3E0xlUWte2Etu0-bRRiGrTcGLw0HLtEjFEbDiqVZykhpmI4TiQiqfG9xvZjqzpfNETO9o3rT-QEVetsIFLVM8_0yY3wIW2C3QI-qxfi6bLYVDTBFvzJJpRLm0NV88MEoF5zfVpmfizXzHeVbOsYEzTideLWBEssPOeCWSLIp/w235-h400/September18.jpg" width="235" /></a></div><p>Had some extremely weird ramen</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRGLcvio9KIKs34B0siJKUNnoOIeqO9MUaxnnftOBwJLbjptzPQWenohTox4rCdm2-fDlhPfd2cguhYxqWF_HubIucJleCrc7joz43NUpt73mVvNejIBYW3KsvzQJJhUokWK5kYaTNDHBlXYK7iphso48A6cL6mj7DjTxotFlw6UX5KxSYqJSRZ6QMFAu6/s2488/September19.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2488" data-original-width="1514" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRGLcvio9KIKs34B0siJKUNnoOIeqO9MUaxnnftOBwJLbjptzPQWenohTox4rCdm2-fDlhPfd2cguhYxqWF_HubIucJleCrc7joz43NUpt73mVvNejIBYW3KsvzQJJhUokWK5kYaTNDHBlXYK7iphso48A6cL6mj7DjTxotFlw6UX5KxSYqJSRZ6QMFAu6/w244-h400/September19.jpg" width="244" /></a></div><p></p><p>Then I got a succession of VERY STRESSFUL NEWS all in one day.</p><p>1) I had been looking forwards to restarting teaching in just a few days time. Got some news (which I can't recount here) which suddenly meant this work was going to be a lot more intense, complex, and demanding than I had anticipated</p><p>2) Got the survey back for the house we're trying to buy which revealed dry rot, asbestos, and potential root damage to the drains. OH NO WHAT NOW</p><p>3) Took Chase to the vet, who suggested the reason she was struggling so much may be that she had ruptured her cruciate ligament, and we needed to return the next day for further investigations</p><p>4) My partner started complaining of sudden dramatic chest pain which was probably heartburn but still MORE ADDITIONAL STRESS THAN I NEEDED</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUPZF-y0bykgb7n4vZExMZDmvjHypXaAQPfYHvqijbUjtpcDIPG5ctDUt_Ej2GVObv2ItT2B1Azzb4F9jgPDfzhapLIN2P_JLpqVjtoGY8LBYSRi13sRXOmQP19A7dlh-a2igQnF0Gn34MS5P-BDhu_fBI6mdXTaNXAgI2v77og8TyuOs0FwbYG1ckIPsV/s2488/September20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2488" data-original-width="1515" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUPZF-y0bykgb7n4vZExMZDmvjHypXaAQPfYHvqijbUjtpcDIPG5ctDUt_Ej2GVObv2ItT2B1Azzb4F9jgPDfzhapLIN2P_JLpqVjtoGY8LBYSRi13sRXOmQP19A7dlh-a2igQnF0Gn34MS5P-BDhu_fBI6mdXTaNXAgI2v77og8TyuOs0FwbYG1ckIPsV/w244-h400/September20.jpg" width="244" /></a></div><br />Spent a day wheeling Chase back and forth from the vet and wrestling with solicitors, surveyors and estate agents trying to figure out wtf to do. <p>(It turned out Chase didn't have a cruciate ligament issue. In fact, her spine is far more calcified than we expected and has basically lost all it's flexibility. The reason she's wobbly like a drunk is either that her spine is crushing a nerve and causing damage, or that she has developed some other kind of neurological condition. Either way, the problem is not going away. She probably doesn't have that much longer with us. Crushing grief on top of everything else.)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQouQdVtUtPBAxpq2JU9l234mytdzdJGzsqylWwkJ7-qXH6GQbLQT6tbutPlShf3cNIXW0RYNNdJ6QU2PhM0jCZExkDzG7o4XYsDdoQsfAXYL_CYcuV09xtYpZ6Igb_qGZpDgwLP_fPX98V2R3zfYy7hjrMc03FZtJBNQ3Qf_lmjdYORJ7jHLw59ktvNOb/s2488/September21.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2488" data-original-width="1514" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQouQdVtUtPBAxpq2JU9l234mytdzdJGzsqylWwkJ7-qXH6GQbLQT6tbutPlShf3cNIXW0RYNNdJ6QU2PhM0jCZExkDzG7o4XYsDdoQsfAXYL_CYcuV09xtYpZ6Igb_qGZpDgwLP_fPX98V2R3zfYy7hjrMc03FZtJBNQ3Qf_lmjdYORJ7jHLw59ktvNOb/w244-h400/September21.jpg" width="244" /></a></div><p></p><p>Fend off the despair with a cute lil dim sum dinner, or something.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8I3jKaHsMWTxMXou_preu_rony0iEjOnqDCRfqSrXyGVyHSprBFO0_fjjdcySTzXxqPGO4P1Pni4evU9HhAik45S2kLytdI4q8yBC4BmFFdRB0Hi58pcouoA_oXdNtRwr5Z7xb5ffKT-fjicJZcGHrI0jcT1a8D4UuCMbzCdoYobm4V95ArKvO1vkptn8/s2488/September22.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2488" data-original-width="1515" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8I3jKaHsMWTxMXou_preu_rony0iEjOnqDCRfqSrXyGVyHSprBFO0_fjjdcySTzXxqPGO4P1Pni4evU9HhAik45S2kLytdI4q8yBC4BmFFdRB0Hi58pcouoA_oXdNtRwr5Z7xb5ffKT-fjicJZcGHrI0jcT1a8D4UuCMbzCdoYobm4V95ArKvO1vkptn8/w244-h400/September22.jpg" width="244" /></a></div><p></p><p>Waaaaaahhhhhh everything all at once<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsDfUNXpTSGbvG74u0uXESPtcShjiKWpC9vQVvcJKcXyoRoG3NYTHa690N8fTgHdFZE0XNLALcTsQllSyefXlRKIjJz97re5d9DnK4ViWUR0Jn5V6bckj4EZJ_lYQ7d0vxllPC8NiThwdtnozNBqBqH3BkIUSKQH7lhgfumQeVnPHzePhl8sASB5v_7rAX/s2488/September23.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2488" data-original-width="1514" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsDfUNXpTSGbvG74u0uXESPtcShjiKWpC9vQVvcJKcXyoRoG3NYTHa690N8fTgHdFZE0XNLALcTsQllSyefXlRKIjJz97re5d9DnK4ViWUR0Jn5V6bckj4EZJ_lYQ7d0vxllPC8NiThwdtnozNBqBqH3BkIUSKQH7lhgfumQeVnPHzePhl8sASB5v_7rAX/w244-h400/September23.jpg" width="244" /></a></div><p></p><p>Realised I had to go to a wedding in less than a week and didn't want to wear a dress, panicked, bought a weird suit in Waterloo station Monsoon?!?!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN2IBZV7ggxboHSdylW2wjXjZUwuy08dnlGZkh2s8o98A8ZKCYNbii2oyaDQvQ4dRPoqYJlajMvvdcld7yJPJ9i7rJYzVKFtiaN1Re_OBBGG-zMFJW5mGhYjveUCs8Im2MFbmd1QIJLHd3pTa2ajLzZxNJA2unv7K6l-_9-55a_9PlNuW7ptxpAO7iNSbq/s2488/September24.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2488" data-original-width="1458" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN2IBZV7ggxboHSdylW2wjXjZUwuy08dnlGZkh2s8o98A8ZKCYNbii2oyaDQvQ4dRPoqYJlajMvvdcld7yJPJ9i7rJYzVKFtiaN1Re_OBBGG-zMFJW5mGhYjveUCs8Im2MFbmd1QIJLHd3pTa2ajLzZxNJA2unv7K6l-_9-55a_9PlNuW7ptxpAO7iNSbq/w235-h400/September24.jpg" width="235" /></a></div><p></p><p>I am a luxury stress eater </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFYFLESGGW3kwcEKL61eN3t9M4Kl-INu-qQ3QNahnH6FDe3ZBj9EyETGll_nsb0iYSUEc1I0Pmm4JQL9fwmCC092PiXwRXr_97oXmMrtt6_diAk0n1EveaBuXLLL_UBNrvOoZmuhRt87lV1nQZVQIginfEdUzjrNnGkD6QRHaothEUSA-QkgKgxd4dsNq2/s2488/September25.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2488" data-original-width="1514" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFYFLESGGW3kwcEKL61eN3t9M4Kl-INu-qQ3QNahnH6FDe3ZBj9EyETGll_nsb0iYSUEc1I0Pmm4JQL9fwmCC092PiXwRXr_97oXmMrtt6_diAk0n1EveaBuXLLL_UBNrvOoZmuhRt87lV1nQZVQIginfEdUzjrNnGkD6QRHaothEUSA-QkgKgxd4dsNq2/w244-h400/September25.jpg" width="244" /></a></div><p></p><p>The first day in my new teaching role was hilariously stressful, but in many ways kind of a distraction from the absolute shit show of everything else that was going on. (Suffice to say, I suddenly find myself in a role with a lot more responsibility than I have previously had, and fully intend to rise to the challenge, but fucking hell, did it really have to start THIS WEEK)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIVZKgsppggASxug15p3NW3DryvLeksGCO3bmp5VyvQmoTqisvJxR0bveyU5KCyIqiyg8OQWHVMPKZUXwmbGdHSDrNWJBT1w8qh8zaEgD-XwVVv1kQILWkweH8-hnUtndKJq1wqi-GGztNoSoGoUS0-BFXGogrT2h4leSk1CG5lfy4PyNc-aUlFxXKtLei/s2488/September26.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2488" data-original-width="1449" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIVZKgsppggASxug15p3NW3DryvLeksGCO3bmp5VyvQmoTqisvJxR0bveyU5KCyIqiyg8OQWHVMPKZUXwmbGdHSDrNWJBT1w8qh8zaEgD-XwVVv1kQILWkweH8-hnUtndKJq1wqi-GGztNoSoGoUS0-BFXGogrT2h4leSk1CG5lfy4PyNc-aUlFxXKtLei/w233-h400/September26.jpg" width="233" /></a></div><p></p><p>Bought the dog a wheely cart to tug her over to the park for a shit. She doesn't like it AT ALL.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2ac5vKjSt9r2D2OU-v_jXLDw924p1XzBcWHQjL4B2OcUSNjxw5LQ_W5cX_bTvvRL8dtNk95wT6vMa4T1-lpKQJsouIB7GFXm_x3WqixTKFOspZ-mp-9LuZG-S_OaB0Rv5G-p1laIApnlX7bPGU_RlM4OI6niQD3If5fgebWrAnP07VoCyyLNSCHqNiaAO/s2488/September27.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2488" data-original-width="1514" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2ac5vKjSt9r2D2OU-v_jXLDw924p1XzBcWHQjL4B2OcUSNjxw5LQ_W5cX_bTvvRL8dtNk95wT6vMa4T1-lpKQJsouIB7GFXm_x3WqixTKFOspZ-mp-9LuZG-S_OaB0Rv5G-p1laIApnlX7bPGU_RlM4OI6niQD3If5fgebWrAnP07VoCyyLNSCHqNiaAO/w244-h400/September27.jpg" width="244" /></a></div><p>As if I didn't have enough going on, our housemate announced she was moving out a few
months earlier than expected which meant back to SPAREROOM HELL TO
SEARCH FOR A REPLACEMENT. Posted the ad for the room and recieved nearly 100 messages in 24 hours, which was frankly an admin burden I could have done without. (Rai-Lee and Charli were both nice?! But not perfect? But who is perfect?! Should we hold out for perfection?!)</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj591sf9mTQwAuO6P1Sijflij9jsYi7F-TRMd8YLxaCQWwFeiA29T16MMYCSkt7XaCCYJR4mELoDp6SSu2-bbqbgdUfMHTxq8sEmt3SB-XXEswHwIXSjJmWjbOO3Hm1edSUO4f0v5sElak65Z57eYdlKE9XBHXWDClSiwFAdivwhfM7fL7DIJvRpD6LDaB3/s2488/September28.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2488" data-original-width="1515" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj591sf9mTQwAuO6P1Sijflij9jsYi7F-TRMd8YLxaCQWwFeiA29T16MMYCSkt7XaCCYJR4mELoDp6SSu2-bbqbgdUfMHTxq8sEmt3SB-XXEswHwIXSjJmWjbOO3Hm1edSUO4f0v5sElak65Z57eYdlKE9XBHXWDClSiwFAdivwhfM7fL7DIJvRpD6LDaB3/w244-h400/September28.jpg" width="244" /></a></div><p></p><p>Fiona was also nice?! But not perfect?!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTIuhMK4D0B9lx5Ohv55ccKKI7_AXLhpGBBM9_x7KG5lnSta2WK-M-vl8oM7UvTGqvlR9FLpqztzT5Z9fyJpp3DDTSR_IAwC7-7Q3JGccdgdKz9KtxCERIW9h_d8oa4AlEZXPecJUdU8B_0nnZk66x0ycw7iNVdCNHZ3Yh5_NkJ_jZVlEYPZjC14dS-EdU/s2488/September29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2488" data-original-width="1514" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTIuhMK4D0B9lx5Ohv55ccKKI7_AXLhpGBBM9_x7KG5lnSta2WK-M-vl8oM7UvTGqvlR9FLpqztzT5Z9fyJpp3DDTSR_IAwC7-7Q3JGccdgdKz9KtxCERIW9h_d8oa4AlEZXPecJUdU8B_0nnZk66x0ycw7iNVdCNHZ3Yh5_NkJ_jZVlEYPZjC14dS-EdU/w244-h400/September29.jpg" width="244" /></a></div><p>Took a day off from being stressed about everything to attend my old uni friend Lucy's wedding. It was extremely charming. The dining tables were each named after a tarot card, and we got THE MOON. Coincidentally there was also a great full moon. It's been years since I went to a wedding and I had such a nice time.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1pOsyQIZ7qbS-mHouurJDFZ8KLnZ-T1bS0QB8VwWVOvWF17JkqBInAVt0GZJ2t5zHImB8U0I2K0Xvkoi_iGqGmPUB5x3_qqn8KUmfgMrvTmuCFkvdJeq5jc6u7yP9J5K6FsciL9tbCPWMQhDntTDgSWMa_wpF_zwGl1OZ8GlwAf5BPbmvhhotlVScmc8q/s2488/September30.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2488" data-original-width="1515" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1pOsyQIZ7qbS-mHouurJDFZ8KLnZ-T1bS0QB8VwWVOvWF17JkqBInAVt0GZJ2t5zHImB8U0I2K0Xvkoi_iGqGmPUB5x3_qqn8KUmfgMrvTmuCFkvdJeq5jc6u7yP9J5K6FsciL9tbCPWMQhDntTDgSWMa_wpF_zwGl1OZ8GlwAf5BPbmvhhotlVScmc8q/w244-h400/September30.jpg" width="244" /></a></div> <br />Youssef, Jude and Sara were all also nice?! But none of them perfect?! But we probably just have to make a decision?!<br /><br />Ugh, I hate this.<p></p><p>Anyway, lest you worry that I am having a nervous breakdown, a few month-finishing updates:</p><p>My new teaching role IS high pressure but I am SO enjoying it, and can't wait for everything else to chill out a bit so I can really throw myself into it</p><p>After a week or so of uncertainty, haggling and stress, we ARE still buying the place we've been in the process of buying since the end of July, but we have negotiated a 10k discount off the price, which will hopefully enable us to do all the remedial works needed before we move in. I did not want a project house, but a project house is all I can afford, so let's go I guess (pls send me your London builder recommendations)</p><p>We clearly now have several potentially great housemates to choose from, we just need to pick one.</p><p>After a few very touch and go days with Chase, where she entirely stopped eating, shitting, moving, or showing any enthusiasm for anything or anyone, we have got her on gabapentin, which is a drug that deals with nerve pain, and is also conveniently an anti anxiety drug. She is still extremely wobbly and unable to walk far, but she is eating and shitting again, and is generally a bit more pleased to see us and interested in life. These may well still be her last few weeks, but at least she is not suffering as much as she was earlier in the month. Brace yourself for dog angst though. It is a constant lingering cloud on my horizon at the moment, sadly. I love her so much 😭</p><p>See you next month, for hopefully less stress, but also possibly more of the same...<br /></p>Emmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03307690577227053266noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6149147983678759733.post-22506825643133803832023-08-31T20:55:00.001+01:002023-08-31T20:55:43.934+01:00August 2023<p>It's funny how sometimes at the end of August I am excited for cosy autumn and sometimes at the end of August I am DEVASTATED summer is nearly over. This year is definitely the latter...</p><p>I have tried to make the most of my summer-ish August though. Freelance work has continued to be very quiet, and obviously teaching doesn't recommence until September, so life has been much less frenetic than I have become accustomed to work-wise, and that has probably been good for me. (That said, it has NOT been good for me financially, roll on September UAL big bucks please)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwIZYGL06FmWzLEN1wGPq4r0Eik2JeFNlk3XsncXhHcmoFYleoqenXpNUFVNkpvikKvy1h8vXzRK4Pw4YOEQ2GVIYXLzdMC332n8TBCKMH539E2YMDe9C5JfGTpgkqayaOZhRO5EeavOd652tXH4Y8IsY3WKjdQtS3r1vFqhnM_jclpaojg8c-GTxfENru/s2493/August1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2493" data-original-width="1526" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwIZYGL06FmWzLEN1wGPq4r0Eik2JeFNlk3XsncXhHcmoFYleoqenXpNUFVNkpvikKvy1h8vXzRK4Pw4YOEQ2GVIYXLzdMC332n8TBCKMH539E2YMDe9C5JfGTpgkqayaOZhRO5EeavOd652tXH4Y8IsY3WKjdQtS3r1vFqhnM_jclpaojg8c-GTxfENru/w245-h400/August1.jpg" width="245" /></a></div><p></p><p>Annoyingly I do find that when work is light, I become far less productive. If I have 8 hours work to do in a day, I'll crack on at 8.30am-ish, and be done by 5.30pm-ish. If I have 4 hours work to do in a day, I'll crack on at 8.30am-ish, and... somehow still not be done until 5.30pm-ish. Where does the time go?!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS516nMaZHTxn8thJVuTq1wzTDVU57cd4CFy7qjRJ2px4ftOB1DjGMjBR-r9-Y4HDarEqbx1GqCGN9QbID2y_B-2n1eBXLQxZ3k2lww7WmIQ0pNeJIzTAl8tbHgjrcWPJflpUOAFo_ivHkk4k0psKMac6jnyq7OxOvg2Raz4UY9rLbkyzYkLr-vUceKqRj/s2493/August2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2493" data-original-width="1526" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS516nMaZHTxn8thJVuTq1wzTDVU57cd4CFy7qjRJ2px4ftOB1DjGMjBR-r9-Y4HDarEqbx1GqCGN9QbID2y_B-2n1eBXLQxZ3k2lww7WmIQ0pNeJIzTAl8tbHgjrcWPJflpUOAFo_ivHkk4k0psKMac6jnyq7OxOvg2Raz4UY9rLbkyzYkLr-vUceKqRj/w245-h400/August2.jpg" width="245" /></a></div><p></p><p>I also lose all sense of focus and tend to work on tasks in a very bitty way.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi32G3FPZ0ZmPhVME7356CmmlDam8AAyjBpm1dROZnyPuZmujPkmbTIWJWRrlPxaNLQOL43n4Ejv06STqA1oH4nz-RkFmhN94TZ5X4GTUknTyBRw6RUx2zotSUfOZtxBZjlVChqmfsTmtMfwLPrk4SmzHpKUMnZMtUfVhoHMRTQqMk17tPKwmpvCbScSpBt/s2493/August3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2493" data-original-width="1526" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi32G3FPZ0ZmPhVME7356CmmlDam8AAyjBpm1dROZnyPuZmujPkmbTIWJWRrlPxaNLQOL43n4Ejv06STqA1oH4nz-RkFmhN94TZ5X4GTUknTyBRw6RUx2zotSUfOZtxBZjlVChqmfsTmtMfwLPrk4SmzHpKUMnZMtUfVhoHMRTQqMk17tPKwmpvCbScSpBt/w245-h400/August3.jpg" width="245" /></a></div><p></p><p>Went out on a school night for my pal Ellis's book launch. Several of my fav people have books coming out now or soon, (<a href="https://blackwells.co.uk/bookshop/product/Unquiet-by-Esther-Saxey/9781803364469">Link</a>, <a href="https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/612711/how-infrastructure-works-by-deb-chachra/">link</a>, <a href="https://www.hachette.co.uk/titles/jay-owens/dust/9781529362671/">link</a>, <a href="https://www.versobooks.com/en-gb/products/991-systems-ultra">link</a>) and I am inordinately proud to know all of them.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj35ET_5s-0FuDTIALoZQSoI92fLvXZM-DMdb7cfc5c_u4h2YGTLN9VcCFJwAVGn-0q8lfYkoRtDaIGP4mjyB2BUsQBtZtAFb0cFVqD6sufvYih-9JVDHewfBekpg8A-bA3GAAhp4f00EGKgM3v9aNGTtavwe3xzVOKBrPpHh3P4qU1Q-Hsf3W_oxMKlnDw/s2493/August4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2493" data-original-width="1526" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj35ET_5s-0FuDTIALoZQSoI92fLvXZM-DMdb7cfc5c_u4h2YGTLN9VcCFJwAVGn-0q8lfYkoRtDaIGP4mjyB2BUsQBtZtAFb0cFVqD6sufvYih-9JVDHewfBekpg8A-bA3GAAhp4f00EGKgM3v9aNGTtavwe3xzVOKBrPpHh3P4qU1Q-Hsf3W_oxMKlnDw/w245-h400/August4.jpg" width="245" /></a></div><p></p><p>In theory I'm buying a house but it doesn't feel that way right now because aparently both solictior and estate agent fucked off on holiday for the entirety of August and basically nothing has moved and I am getting stressed and annoyed. However at this point I was less stressed and annoyed, and mostly just excited to explore our new neighbourhood (Norwood) a bit more!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy__7iVgt8_6wu6n5bzHi4Ov0bnO2BZDiRmEfDbulSBUS9yV3CkevQPGGD_16qiTQl2aNPpy5iJ53DbZSAASMsI2tW8IFRb_dSIw8TLC3EtqRrAmE1E6Vffx_EaQrGWANEbyAiwLo8ysdeMpfr3WQXhylpL6ubtJpvg4vRXASulK0NLk2JHv3UukBiMM5Q/s2493/August5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2493" data-original-width="1526" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy__7iVgt8_6wu6n5bzHi4Ov0bnO2BZDiRmEfDbulSBUS9yV3CkevQPGGD_16qiTQl2aNPpy5iJ53DbZSAASMsI2tW8IFRb_dSIw8TLC3EtqRrAmE1E6Vffx_EaQrGWANEbyAiwLo8ysdeMpfr3WQXhylpL6ubtJpvg4vRXASulK0NLk2JHv3UukBiMM5Q/w245-h400/August5.jpg" width="245" /></a></div><p> Went to the Anselm Kiefer exhibition at the White Cube, it was fine, but very busy.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNc1Wm2MFKyIEUM-G7yV9I5w51QFjZXwBZiKddO9LtRyIf3enZYosWw68ZHLhu2KY2_bXNyzgTX8vRcfubjzvVo5i1-tB9yvQoUzmKdnlbyk_tYWIhRaFoRQwivQtL2XGuGfaqwzD7ohRk8pMZGRub-uyrlEp_AJZ4VzzlytvqRGZlKZLcFCHLmGfS5OIF/s2493/August6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2493" data-original-width="1526" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNc1Wm2MFKyIEUM-G7yV9I5w51QFjZXwBZiKddO9LtRyIf3enZYosWw68ZHLhu2KY2_bXNyzgTX8vRcfubjzvVo5i1-tB9yvQoUzmKdnlbyk_tYWIhRaFoRQwivQtL2XGuGfaqwzD7ohRk8pMZGRub-uyrlEp_AJZ4VzzlytvqRGZlKZLcFCHLmGfS5OIF/w245-h400/August6.jpg" width="245" /></a></div><p></p><p>If Spareroom will keep providing me with far-too-young housemates, I WILL keep making them watch the Matrix if they have never seen it.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwszDUOMnkrdsqDY7ME-wH6vCIgqFjq9TMuT7Tgv1G-_MffgmVVdW3sLy2IbHv5K-erXg2pYehwBRndMXO-egGfUPcJ4VoELzjKPAguB--bJOe_KN_9HrLBKRnMT5Vzc3I5tDbcKlXzNf4bHVNHmyR-Lh1lpBwKuXTj7ANTSQ_Lf4qf8BFi9XgerzviK5O/s2493/August7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2493" data-original-width="1526" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwszDUOMnkrdsqDY7ME-wH6vCIgqFjq9TMuT7Tgv1G-_MffgmVVdW3sLy2IbHv5K-erXg2pYehwBRndMXO-egGfUPcJ4VoELzjKPAguB--bJOe_KN_9HrLBKRnMT5Vzc3I5tDbcKlXzNf4bHVNHmyR-Lh1lpBwKuXTj7ANTSQ_Lf4qf8BFi9XgerzviK5O/w245-h400/August7.jpg" width="245" /></a></div><p></p><p>A nice night walk with lots of public transport views.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL6S1ghJ9zNBmqu8PnsHmkGHnE35fTT_8R3STdMAvENAv1K625MCdytAOFAvzODiC8FxFim60B8fUIp_Uh5CLJ13aTnkjObDUibZc9s5MarYRrdITRUd1IdjlfA0ecf4sxcKo39UPOge5kgxRr_foG4ZjaYA47-_4m05jRDqrPblxoOQTeI_C652Nh7K97/s2493/August8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2493" data-original-width="1526" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL6S1ghJ9zNBmqu8PnsHmkGHnE35fTT_8R3STdMAvENAv1K625MCdytAOFAvzODiC8FxFim60B8fUIp_Uh5CLJ13aTnkjObDUibZc9s5MarYRrdITRUd1IdjlfA0ecf4sxcKo39UPOge5kgxRr_foG4ZjaYA47-_4m05jRDqrPblxoOQTeI_C652Nh7K97/w245-h400/August8.jpg" width="245" /></a></div><p></p><p>Maybe the reason I'm so sad summer's over is because it's been RUBBISH</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKUrKWqPdpArcTLfeB0MJuFvOe_4_jCQDxqXUk3T8CfCKQgMiHwvuAuJIGRcLHIO9hlNwXtv0vdF9lKOhwFWfmmEkjP8y8_dmY91kL4hf5tLvYN4qVvZm_Cy4lr5QnPSV1GVGwsiSMEfeVKh_Il6ljk4LsE2bNkkJM7oCT_kKcO1f3JJ-EyFAbOSS0lGXn/s2493/August10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2493" data-original-width="1526" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKUrKWqPdpArcTLfeB0MJuFvOe_4_jCQDxqXUk3T8CfCKQgMiHwvuAuJIGRcLHIO9hlNwXtv0vdF9lKOhwFWfmmEkjP8y8_dmY91kL4hf5tLvYN4qVvZm_Cy4lr5QnPSV1GVGwsiSMEfeVKh_Il6ljk4LsE2bNkkJM7oCT_kKcO1f3JJ-EyFAbOSS0lGXn/w245-h400/August10.jpg" width="245" /></a></div><p></p><p>My fren</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhehRMHfvtv-pJHKXjlNAk9wI9ZGqvdF-eP3pUJUr9dY09jxny9fK354ekwkKyrYqh2YEBft6eEjo2Zx5xsjT3CjqOaYhAqWddMHDrR8XRu7YxABXwwE-jmF2Yf7GLQc7sieI8bAfz6rEcrA-EeGJFtW9p3Ijm4CsgiG2EPUk6zjSWFd27PWrHlaI7-wkq3/s2493/August11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2493" data-original-width="1526" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhehRMHfvtv-pJHKXjlNAk9wI9ZGqvdF-eP3pUJUr9dY09jxny9fK354ekwkKyrYqh2YEBft6eEjo2Zx5xsjT3CjqOaYhAqWddMHDrR8XRu7YxABXwwE-jmF2Yf7GLQc7sieI8bAfz6rEcrA-EeGJFtW9p3Ijm4CsgiG2EPUk6zjSWFd27PWrHlaI7-wkq3/w245-h400/August11.jpg" width="245" /></a></div><p></p><p>Twitter's dead huh (frankly astonished that I do not miss it, after nearly 15 years of dependency)</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgveJo3pLfQYFKSXZuXXc27_Zg24jtHorpE5ePZZ6aVVi0LC8NWfweDtJXeY85lDM6h0II39UnSxoMcYG0HOn5hFR7Y5mk4xTeBPODd0fFE4Q8T6-pnFOXGMvwWDcmo8MDHLZx7mjMOdQlK0FCf055Arz2DrhiMU8R-5EySXB3Rae7mYXxm2eSCwRxn7zWc/s2493/August12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2493" data-original-width="1526" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgveJo3pLfQYFKSXZuXXc27_Zg24jtHorpE5ePZZ6aVVi0LC8NWfweDtJXeY85lDM6h0II39UnSxoMcYG0HOn5hFR7Y5mk4xTeBPODd0fFE4Q8T6-pnFOXGMvwWDcmo8MDHLZx7mjMOdQlK0FCf055Arz2DrhiMU8R-5EySXB3Rae7mYXxm2eSCwRxn7zWc/w245-h400/August12.jpg" width="245" /></a></div><p></p><p></p><p>Did another capital ring, didn't especially like this one</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_KQZnzrLMZtRc-IGGwZSUHZKAHEVLt540kCO8IW4rtu1GAhvCYwVlB6p_tuVtaZdC3RHQ6Ybj-d4ltlUON6iUrPWgbcn7KbRBdIxDdlLxKmAJe3OxvAVGeHP0ed_hd2aTCxF-LibHVae1e7UyMBJLuJYBxQTgXy-6xjea-bBp6nYPGMvSvSqT8_SBHhQC/s2493/August13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2493" data-original-width="1526" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_KQZnzrLMZtRc-IGGwZSUHZKAHEVLt540kCO8IW4rtu1GAhvCYwVlB6p_tuVtaZdC3RHQ6Ybj-d4ltlUON6iUrPWgbcn7KbRBdIxDdlLxKmAJe3OxvAVGeHP0ed_hd2aTCxF-LibHVae1e7UyMBJLuJYBxQTgXy-6xjea-bBp6nYPGMvSvSqT8_SBHhQC/w245-h400/August13.jpg" width="245" /></a></div><p>Loved seeing Jimetta Rose and the voices of creation at Jazz Cafe (which is rapidly becoming my favourite venue for both line up, comfort, and ease of access)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFumeOU25TOcVNgJT3e7a5hA8IJ_o8h1rFvkY5HzVcQlh3mU4qYy3KQToHxI1AI7kvvAOXo2srYtsHEV2CLh4Ma4HN9oVeXwNGqoMnC-SxYX1cmtS9H-bqnCWZ_8onUvxcrda5H-ztIc9viaDn9VQP2pHw9jkSSSHSc6UbG3GcCudfu6Y0tPeTlQf2-s5k/s2493/August14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2493" data-original-width="1526" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFumeOU25TOcVNgJT3e7a5hA8IJ_o8h1rFvkY5HzVcQlh3mU4qYy3KQToHxI1AI7kvvAOXo2srYtsHEV2CLh4Ma4HN9oVeXwNGqoMnC-SxYX1cmtS9H-bqnCWZ_8onUvxcrda5H-ztIc9viaDn9VQP2pHw9jkSSSHSc6UbG3GcCudfu6Y0tPeTlQf2-s5k/w245-h400/August14.jpg" width="245" /></a></div><p></p><p>Sometimes it be like that (also I briefly got confused and thought it was APRIL wtf)<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_dVQPUtf5rX15jA0GgVCIGMu6BlBe0sncHjOvYYICL_t44JriverPO9D0tUYUpBZnsn6yH0ttUgcFcZ3o6gdXfXFy5AnzwGDbJkJKvrXOMDYwkQTOCGysKfBawXOjuQM9VY6TidAo8-EMA5aeCYQVGaCfYaQHMSRMfXteXOtYRM0lfUcCMeSrfPwTx7lz/s2493/August15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2493" data-original-width="1526" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_dVQPUtf5rX15jA0GgVCIGMu6BlBe0sncHjOvYYICL_t44JriverPO9D0tUYUpBZnsn6yH0ttUgcFcZ3o6gdXfXFy5AnzwGDbJkJKvrXOMDYwkQTOCGysKfBawXOjuQM9VY6TidAo8-EMA5aeCYQVGaCfYaQHMSRMfXteXOtYRM0lfUcCMeSrfPwTx7lz/w245-h400/August15.jpg" width="245" /></a></div><p></p><p>My friends Jonathan and Dan were visiting all the way from AUSTRALIA! We met to stroll around Hampstead Heath, which I'd somehow never been to before. Was a gloriously sunny nice time, with bonus stately home and cake.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9GY67o6TJQ50cUz004N8O7_6Abesn0GoOS3uLxvOVgU_zDJxM8avs1lnJidDLQQ1TeV3hd64FGYogE1D6Bvl1Q5MK7oHRyza3DUlkrjnGXI0-3t3WYF6CLAu12nqGMINtniqFavXTbMqmroJNw0DbBPDaJtuVAQj3vRP-_ca8iDlJxuw99Bhz3pd_3ivw/s2480/August17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2480" data-original-width="1535" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9GY67o6TJQ50cUz004N8O7_6Abesn0GoOS3uLxvOVgU_zDJxM8avs1lnJidDLQQ1TeV3hd64FGYogE1D6Bvl1Q5MK7oHRyza3DUlkrjnGXI0-3t3WYF6CLAu12nqGMINtniqFavXTbMqmroJNw0DbBPDaJtuVAQj3vRP-_ca8iDlJxuw99Bhz3pd_3ivw/w248-h400/August17.jpg" width="248" /></a></div><p></p><p>I went down to Brighton for a long weekend to cat and dog sit for my friends Jade and Emil. I've cat-sat Pog before, but hadn't met Sylvia. She's a sweet good girl who loves her friends and has a big penchant for treatos. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcqkJm2gHBTg1MelbtubaTGv8gdwAnqZv3ATUEqt24UDqtYbrzI-h3uYdtN4GJc0L1Mr-M_zY2mqh-P_ilkdUsOG9uBzeJWInhChu0NHeyxsaBzEDxRIZ650AtfJMRonpgaYCBeO0Yw7AMZ7bFc4wtkOL-KxtBPa23_jTrO1tx7Ias4gDmDZVjzMpAppvZ/s2480/August18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2480" data-original-width="1535" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcqkJm2gHBTg1MelbtubaTGv8gdwAnqZv3ATUEqt24UDqtYbrzI-h3uYdtN4GJc0L1Mr-M_zY2mqh-P_ilkdUsOG9uBzeJWInhChu0NHeyxsaBzEDxRIZ650AtfJMRonpgaYCBeO0Yw7AMZ7bFc4wtkOL-KxtBPa23_jTrO1tx7Ias4gDmDZVjzMpAppvZ/w248-h400/August18.jpg" width="248" /></a></div><br />On Friday Sylvia went to doggy day care, and my mum came to see me from Chichester. We had a nice stroll round Brighton and some extremely good vegan fish and chips for lunch.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjSFypyUT0xmxec-0UfCUq7shGn7HSOVy0g0jB3ngxUITGeCrbmNx6LH-bM3lJmtdlhF149B9vj524YRRx2FpcueHKerHEu2XiMOY6hHx3t6IZ-97b7Vt_Q_lbWT5DDNRNjq5YokD8cMlzXcNfT5nX4jKyLDHTo3Tw2Lm9g1HEg2wQYriHTnmostgPKw7H/s2480/August19.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2480" data-original-width="1535" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjSFypyUT0xmxec-0UfCUq7shGn7HSOVy0g0jB3ngxUITGeCrbmNx6LH-bM3lJmtdlhF149B9vj524YRRx2FpcueHKerHEu2XiMOY6hHx3t6IZ-97b7Vt_Q_lbWT5DDNRNjq5YokD8cMlzXcNfT5nX4jKyLDHTo3Tw2Lm9g1HEg2wQYriHTnmostgPKw7H/w248-h400/August19.jpg" width="248" /></a></div><p></p><p>On Saturday my friend August came to see me, and we took Sylvia for a lovely sunny walk over the race-course, which has gorgeous views down across Brighton.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDmxzDObWqRrkIVJZTs-IS6vrYeun5YeJNn6SiJ70-te-aE6kksGCnBUeQPNhfCcMwZOeCyaZGk-4cbuZzkizi56It8e-1_Q55PtMZRGlSeLX9fondKtyBEo_aau09CChWdZDSxlbdkY45jt94YWKZ6I35-9NugFvzOkEBcLJ3bxr-FY27R71ZmMcndtrI/s2493/August20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2493" data-original-width="1526" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDmxzDObWqRrkIVJZTs-IS6vrYeun5YeJNn6SiJ70-te-aE6kksGCnBUeQPNhfCcMwZOeCyaZGk-4cbuZzkizi56It8e-1_Q55PtMZRGlSeLX9fondKtyBEo_aau09CChWdZDSxlbdkY45jt94YWKZ6I35-9NugFvzOkEBcLJ3bxr-FY27R71ZmMcndtrI/w245-h400/August20.jpg" width="245" /></a></div><p></p><p>And on Sunday I went home, but before I went, my old friends Kris and Jonny (who I don't think I've seen since around 2018) came to see me, and it was so lovely to have a catch up. Hopefully it won't be 5 years until next time!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV0TGicwiHyQlKIVfx0L9m_UnZKq_pdaoCMY4PfFNpyMjkVuoPYrub-oNKL2WyBsHVOyqQNL2bMMPttwQQ-vThRxXNRxu8Hu8qA7rI07o7CcUmop5BxndcP--LX4M6IwJ7HFyWyrHn5XjnZ47XGyvodYTemIv6Yoc7Pba4qcJVO-r-2ufD70DnJasxRXdJ/s2493/August21.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2493" data-original-width="1526" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV0TGicwiHyQlKIVfx0L9m_UnZKq_pdaoCMY4PfFNpyMjkVuoPYrub-oNKL2WyBsHVOyqQNL2bMMPttwQQ-vThRxXNRxu8Hu8qA7rI07o7CcUmop5BxndcP--LX4M6IwJ7HFyWyrHn5XjnZ47XGyvodYTemIv6Yoc7Pba4qcJVO-r-2ufD70DnJasxRXdJ/w245-h400/August21.jpg" width="245" /></a></div><p></p><p>In the knowledge that we're (hopefully) going to be moving sometime in the next few months, and having had a bit more time than usual on my hands, I have been furiously freecycling and tip tripping and depoping and ebaying everything I dont think I need. I love a clear out. This duvet belonged to my ex Martin's parents, and they gave it to us when we moved in together in 2008. 2008!!! They'd already had it at least 10 years, so suffice to say, this duvet is OLD. I love it, but since my current partner we've been using their duvet instead and it now smells like cupboard and feels kinda gross and oily, so it's time for an emotional goodbye to my cosy friend. (For some context it was a REALLY NICE feather duvet that clearly cost a lot once and I always felt very lucky to have it)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUN0B4Ctp95dgHLDdzlb513bO7UZ-sWXDgcKTxkA1fH_TAWdYVMQnV1Mw3YOt4r6Pdvgtsls4DuOtIPLzcsE7tkxcYybhZH_c-4o1Hkh419nrmbVN0wWZ-WDiNzySfKP3QLn0d3_1X26xDFNB52UUMZUOEJqSFpwDqswzRyOBv8kAf2JaPLAg9T-Byg6v0/s2493/August22.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2493" data-original-width="1526" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUN0B4Ctp95dgHLDdzlb513bO7UZ-sWXDgcKTxkA1fH_TAWdYVMQnV1Mw3YOt4r6Pdvgtsls4DuOtIPLzcsE7tkxcYybhZH_c-4o1Hkh419nrmbVN0wWZ-WDiNzySfKP3QLn0d3_1X26xDFNB52UUMZUOEJqSFpwDqswzRyOBv8kAf2JaPLAg9T-Byg6v0/w245-h400/August22.jpg" width="245" /></a></div><p></p><p>Very soon after getting back from Brighton, it was time to prep for PARIS! Me and my partner haven't been on many holidays together (and never abroad), and I generally prefer travelling alone, but we decided Paris would be fun as it's so easy to get to, and they speak a little French. I always get stressed pre travel though.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ9X1LB6DHabJd7aDO6K7nxQ965Nc6EIuPPxxZ3CNt6NFfpDP7THWJFFsQOK6_A-Gd8KxpGuVWNTUdF2IiRtZqJNAT4jEzdOg2TM38BD2_v_Y73JXaFee2PMidceQ9QMMYw9sEpfWwA_J5R2i_JaS5R71foBB0goSk9q8U5oTD3vSQTaSMOZNp6jq6-6h2/s2480/August23.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2480" data-original-width="1535" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ9X1LB6DHabJd7aDO6K7nxQ965Nc6EIuPPxxZ3CNt6NFfpDP7THWJFFsQOK6_A-Gd8KxpGuVWNTUdF2IiRtZqJNAT4jEzdOg2TM38BD2_v_Y73JXaFee2PMidceQ9QMMYw9sEpfWwA_J5R2i_JaS5R71foBB0goSk9q8U5oTD3vSQTaSMOZNp6jq6-6h2/w248-h400/August23.jpg" width="248" /></a></div><br />We arrived in Paris on Wednesday afternoon after a very smooth, fast journey. Our accommodation was lovely, and it was so nice to walk round a new city. We had a delicious dinner at a fancy all vegan place and I got very excited about all the art nouveau street furniture.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSKBeCPQfaZQy8vV7yB1ElMiw6mKB8446TdCfbnEqZIXLfuXRd3778AxW2faPYl3Zcf85hOoPvn2JcMi7xs_8nk0j-uyIu7Ze-pXfFT0P2ZZaBsBtvqm1uKoNMMTWlwfoCN5_6W_xGeWkNrKQyJN1nb989P11l16QnpIy2CIEEMCJtvgvKF7YiJdsxhI6N/s2480/August24.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2480" data-original-width="1535" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSKBeCPQfaZQy8vV7yB1ElMiw6mKB8446TdCfbnEqZIXLfuXRd3778AxW2faPYl3Zcf85hOoPvn2JcMi7xs_8nk0j-uyIu7Ze-pXfFT0P2ZZaBsBtvqm1uKoNMMTWlwfoCN5_6W_xGeWkNrKQyJN1nb989P11l16QnpIy2CIEEMCJtvgvKF7YiJdsxhI6N/w248-h400/August24.jpg" width="248" /></a></div><p></p><p>My partner's 'must see' was Versailles, which I had absolutely zero interest in, and it turned out to be even more tourist hell than anticipated. It was also extremely boring, and my partner was disappointed by how little of the (genuinely fascinating) history that has happened there was actually reflected in the displays. I was very happy to leave and go back to Paris and have another great dinner.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiER6HDf1AGpABYTeTL4274fu7UUpLgFYkBQQav_gbRGVIB9SgSloMEJYixMZ-IgHNZA-Oda_lop6aclL0cTyJ1LgzixG_YXH5WLSMsg8C-ckrBnVQnmIRQOz-cn4PK7ZPBXXDg_Or_EcoXB3LnOLnUovsausso5QXYWWm41xg_cQN-LcVfLsBd0kSLWOWd/s2480/August25.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2480" data-original-width="1535" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiER6HDf1AGpABYTeTL4274fu7UUpLgFYkBQQav_gbRGVIB9SgSloMEJYixMZ-IgHNZA-Oda_lop6aclL0cTyJ1LgzixG_YXH5WLSMsg8C-ckrBnVQnmIRQOz-cn4PK7ZPBXXDg_Or_EcoXB3LnOLnUovsausso5QXYWWm41xg_cQN-LcVfLsBd0kSLWOWd/w248-h400/August25.jpg" width="248" /></a></div><p></p><p>We did LOADS on the Friday — walked past the Pompidou Centre (but it was sadly closed that early in the day), walked down to the Seine, saw Notre Dame above the scaffolding, went to the elaborate holocaust memorial, had a tasty pizza, went to the botanic gardens AND the zoo, saw Bastille (at my partner's request), and had some fancy vegan patisserie. Yeaaah!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF4At2Ic_PJc2zUsWXNoXbNDG6hGYVS_xqddvu9_KTfxlyP_1CbKPBaOi29K-c4bWhBB2ITnHvcEBkryEQunnE99eOzHvNBBVICU7KacXKTiDEsd30C-c1LqymaSwwAZK0sQxhBVVteY8mO3MKc4G6WRGgvqmoo0VmwjyR6z6_DAVe7L8R1319L8JV3ngv/s2480/August26.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2480" data-original-width="1535" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF4At2Ic_PJc2zUsWXNoXbNDG6hGYVS_xqddvu9_KTfxlyP_1CbKPBaOi29K-c4bWhBB2ITnHvcEBkryEQunnE99eOzHvNBBVICU7KacXKTiDEsd30C-c1LqymaSwwAZK0sQxhBVVteY8mO3MKc4G6WRGgvqmoo0VmwjyR6z6_DAVe7L8R1319L8JV3ngv/w248-h400/August26.jpg" width="248" /></a></div><p></p><p>On our last full day we went to Pere Lachaise cemetary (extremely cool, recommend). My partner wanted to see the Louvre glass pyramid, but (unsurprisingly) we both hated that bit of Paris and though we'd planned on going to the museum of decorative arts nearby, they were tired and we couldn't face staying there long. So they went back to our accommodation, and I went back to the Pompidou and had a GREAT time going round the art gallery there.</p><p>It's always fun to do ipad visual diaries for a few days, but I do always have to remind myself that I should take advantage of the iPad to try out things I can't do using analouge materials. So this was an experimental one that I kind of enjoyed. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLqbrUXa_0xgsMPtve_5BDtX8BwJmOL74Sls7uphk6OY9kJ-mdZXFXo7C64yP-bAPX94i1gpRW2SBO1iztoFjltBx9Vz_41aVbCYYSfssvtbeC78gtlu6euSRCbWuA30wtRfwbTcXS1rxxplO0DcezhU51esCcrly4Cv0t5a_2cQS3eyFXbIdJ5aksHs82/s2493/August27.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2493" data-original-width="1443" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLqbrUXa_0xgsMPtve_5BDtX8BwJmOL74Sls7uphk6OY9kJ-mdZXFXo7C64yP-bAPX94i1gpRW2SBO1iztoFjltBx9Vz_41aVbCYYSfssvtbeC78gtlu6euSRCbWuA30wtRfwbTcXS1rxxplO0DcezhU51esCcrly4Cv0t5a_2cQS3eyFXbIdJ5aksHs82/w231-h400/August27.jpg" width="231" /></a></div><br /><p>On our travel home day, my partner woke up clearly sick — I went out and got French lemsip and a test, and sure enough it was COVID. Fucking Versailles, I am adamant that's where they got it.</p><p>Anyway, we had no choice but to get home on the Eurostar, and endeavoured to do it in as distanced and lightly breathing a manner as possible. <br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVCcLg_OO2SU6LP3soxZx9nSBrYT40MMa53rF23f_oRsPZ59cmDDChjCCj5OXx5A2nlsZzTjMp6bWEveW9p9qaPfE4_I8_Jf4AxQjK9oN3txsxRQlzUlKZaSO0O_PEXyeCQw3TFaMZnnOnf2fnrvDKIsKkAqDlLsscq18VaposY6nfF11gnM37qZgETBkE/s2493/August28.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2493" data-original-width="1451" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVCcLg_OO2SU6LP3soxZx9nSBrYT40MMa53rF23f_oRsPZ59cmDDChjCCj5OXx5A2nlsZzTjMp6bWEveW9p9qaPfE4_I8_Jf4AxQjK9oN3txsxRQlzUlKZaSO0O_PEXyeCQw3TFaMZnnOnf2fnrvDKIsKkAqDlLsscq18VaposY6nfF11gnM37qZgETBkE/w233-h400/August28.jpg" width="233" /></a></div><p></p><p>I, however, remained happily symptom free and test negative, FOR NOW...</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAKv6fPYbEpJnsIMXC4fS7SmcckfrT5ba02m2gupvkmqJimggouB5zzJXQMf4ecqArbKj28jV7E7ExgSjHqFohPoBxwwh2dvbovKYL8dAlc9Na8gHU6MKUCqK04IXv5NZYP3BbVmLDdmYVwtH_d9y_cvvp3JgLp1VaokmN4HyJB94bEnb1sPO1pNsSTFLp/s2472/August30.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2472" data-original-width="1514" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAKv6fPYbEpJnsIMXC4fS7SmcckfrT5ba02m2gupvkmqJimggouB5zzJXQMf4ecqArbKj28jV7E7ExgSjHqFohPoBxwwh2dvbovKYL8dAlc9Na8gHU6MKUCqK04IXv5NZYP3BbVmLDdmYVwtH_d9y_cvvp3JgLp1VaokmN4HyJB94bEnb1sPO1pNsSTFLp/w245-h400/August30.jpg" width="245" /></a></div> <br />But, my destiny was inevitable. Kinda astonishing how fast it comes on, huh — from nothing to everything all at once. Luckily it's really not that bad this time round — I am snotty and tired and feel like I'm constantly on the brink of a sneeze, but thus far the throat stuff has been less bad this time (that's what's really got me the worst with previous COVID editions). Sad to have had to cancel a few plans in the next week...<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgBq7gQQssjrUB_UMdS55fUvN5JqyoPEHmbqb245984T8PLaa6_Kg7z5JwioAY1cZmT7oaqMGldpVx0oguLtsZkHUhQWFrlYWFhcIXBz8EzNYRM9XUoXeUxrdywasnTtyfIx_vrcsBHdMbcJzxAk1Y4zM68kk8ONTW15fBXikUsZs22igBsJkYckx-CYBg/s2472/August31.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2472" data-original-width="1515" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgBq7gQQssjrUB_UMdS55fUvN5JqyoPEHmbqb245984T8PLaa6_Kg7z5JwioAY1cZmT7oaqMGldpVx0oguLtsZkHUhQWFrlYWFhcIXBz8EzNYRM9XUoXeUxrdywasnTtyfIx_vrcsBHdMbcJzxAk1Y4zM68kk8ONTW15fBXikUsZs22igBsJkYckx-CYBg/w245-h400/August31.jpg" width="245" /></a></div><br /><p>But as regular readers will know, DELIGHTED to have an excuse to work from bed :)</p><p>Onwards to September, and probably a few days of especially boring diaries to start it off...</p>Emmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03307690577227053266noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6149147983678759733.post-84657807628058613432023-08-01T14:54:00.001+01:002023-08-01T14:54:03.564+01:00July 2023<p>It has been a bit of a whirlwind month (as you will see) and I am coming to its end feeling slightly emotionally (and financially) fragile, but broadly optimistic.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLrwJ2JFaa8Kki-05zorD_JLyV87lksUJFaAIkwcYVPWiqSoP9B3D28ZXN0czYVgVI-ExbfaFqnwxLzj_7-7Sv8HYZWP_4oJKBhVaRMjJpMB-rSLcii6ucQotRveuF-4xA71NKpeX1cj_MAPg94pxaG_3sKWsndJ6jhpAoEXuksk-MhBrqq7ON-rBYlsOa/s2493/July1.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2493" data-original-width="1526" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLrwJ2JFaa8Kki-05zorD_JLyV87lksUJFaAIkwcYVPWiqSoP9B3D28ZXN0czYVgVI-ExbfaFqnwxLzj_7-7Sv8HYZWP_4oJKBhVaRMjJpMB-rSLcii6ucQotRveuF-4xA71NKpeX1cj_MAPg94pxaG_3sKWsndJ6jhpAoEXuksk-MhBrqq7ON-rBYlsOa/w245-h400/July1.jpeg" width="245" /></a></div><p></p><p>Started the month with another (very nice) Capital ring walk. Work always gets a bit quieter in summer (no teaching, and freelance work tends to taper off too), so I've had a tad more free time and less spillover of work into the weekends, which is both nice, and lightly stressful.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUtdWwVLK_Ndd-4kz6NhypPcCoPAsFMiisl9aVC5IYz7q7mceedTRO5x8fb-jeZYziaHDD_PKDheqp0hHg_GC2ZcddBGF1bWbQy6VqedoDRT-dGvc1O09XPRpVUKpfvpWKp6E4p1JMHgAwiH34s3-SxZnvepe_LEI2Uc9nbgNGT68pl06NW6jadpM4f0C7/s2493/July2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2493" data-original-width="1526" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUtdWwVLK_Ndd-4kz6NhypPcCoPAsFMiisl9aVC5IYz7q7mceedTRO5x8fb-jeZYziaHDD_PKDheqp0hHg_GC2ZcddBGF1bWbQy6VqedoDRT-dGvc1O09XPRpVUKpfvpWKp6E4p1JMHgAwiH34s3-SxZnvepe_LEI2Uc9nbgNGT68pl06NW6jadpM4f0C7/w245-h400/July2.jpg" width="245" /></a></div><br /><p>I am loathe to use the word 'diet', so let's just say instead that I have 'taken control of my eating'. And it really does feel like that. Because of a combination of over-work, laziness, and simply LOVING 2 EAT, I'd got to the '10 Ritz crackers dunked in mayonnaise while standing in front of the fridge' style of snacking which frankly was not working wonders on either my body or my mind. It's not for everyone, but good old calorie counting has always helped me bring spiralling habits back under control. I am feeling a lot better about myself, and even though I've barely lost any weight, I HAVE stopped gaining it, and I am feeling a lot less oily and gross at the end of each day, which is nice. Once again, I TRY with fruit, but I just <i>cannot.</i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJOi2FyWLcjbL5MPemx_p3VVL6d_ctZ3lfi6OSnmyK1QXmFQ3NCypTfIsPULjOLccDrdzHSE8DUZuIJgy8rlEXRuWhESjnrnqeORZgR4wPvVzueR7vkvvx16rJrqOQS-GG6p_dGxVvEPWNzvvuDWX4z6FFijsY1zbeEAJm7Z3gw-uyZz6F2Xa41Xt8iQ7d/s2493/July3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2493" data-original-width="1526" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJOi2FyWLcjbL5MPemx_p3VVL6d_ctZ3lfi6OSnmyK1QXmFQ3NCypTfIsPULjOLccDrdzHSE8DUZuIJgy8rlEXRuWhESjnrnqeORZgR4wPvVzueR7vkvvx16rJrqOQS-GG6p_dGxVvEPWNzvvuDWX4z6FFijsY1zbeEAJm7Z3gw-uyZz6F2Xa41Xt8iQ7d/w245-h400/July3.jpg" width="245" /></a></div><p></p><p>Vegetables though, I am and always have been down with.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs0bXpXvCUFAX72bBF1QiPz7Juu6fQB2JozqUZwOl4DVnZIIRCnYJXUBL8BSufB29gHpMPdR-oA7zx4nFF1cmPh64a5GGslSl65eAgQac9f47uUuvcpI7uJRx81StSCyhxLYXTiDFdab3aoT7rB0BCIz6rF7PMMr3s54hGXMcAdwhWbhrYJ9lAaeBjJl2l/s2493/July4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2493" data-original-width="1526" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs0bXpXvCUFAX72bBF1QiPz7Juu6fQB2JozqUZwOl4DVnZIIRCnYJXUBL8BSufB29gHpMPdR-oA7zx4nFF1cmPh64a5GGslSl65eAgQac9f47uUuvcpI7uJRx81StSCyhxLYXTiDFdab3aoT7rB0BCIz6rF7PMMr3s54hGXMcAdwhWbhrYJ9lAaeBjJl2l/w245-h400/July4.jpg" width="245" /></a></div><p></p><p>Love when the event gets cancelled and I get to stay hommmmmme (I was even quite looking forwards to this one)<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR7FR0tF0OI_k6RJ3Lf9nFQq1bDAU5EIV2vJyGzcHgVmH8l_zCe7WGf06SItSmr-xj7ckfDZZ7nYiD8efgzYkQhDdYbs1gUA7P1gJr6oBeMZf-pauAFqQnrA8NElJsRmnKl2Mfewp7PnelA56DmeoQdJFTjjRKA_frtmb22kmQwK_Rf_QnXVOnx6BFu0Tf/s2493/July5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2493" data-original-width="1526" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR7FR0tF0OI_k6RJ3Lf9nFQq1bDAU5EIV2vJyGzcHgVmH8l_zCe7WGf06SItSmr-xj7ckfDZZ7nYiD8efgzYkQhDdYbs1gUA7P1gJr6oBeMZf-pauAFqQnrA8NElJsRmnKl2Mfewp7PnelA56DmeoQdJFTjjRKA_frtmb22kmQwK_Rf_QnXVOnx6BFu0Tf/w245-h400/July5.jpg" width="245" /></a></div><br /><p>Okay so here's the big thing I have not really talked about. Those of you who know me will probably know that my parents had managed to save up a chunk of money — enough to buy a comfortable family home in Yorkshire, which is exactly what they did with it — for me, Ava and Justin, back in 2018. We lived there for a year or so, paying them rent (it was an investment for them as well as a nice thing to do for me). </p><p>I then blew all of that to pieces by breaking up with Ava, getting rid of almost all of my furniture, and moving back into a shared rental house in London.</p><p>My parents sold that house, and, quite rightly, said 'we're not doing that again, you can wait until we die for the money'. So that was what I decided to do, coming to a begrudging peace with living in shared houses or shitty rental flats until, most likely, my 50s or beyond.</p><p>However, my parents, both because they love me, and presumably recognise the boomer/millenial privilege gap, decided to gift me that money for a deposit now (because obviously, enough money to buy a family home in Yorkshire is not even though to buy half a modest one bed flat on the outskirts of London). </p><p>I am so lucky in this that I have almost been embarrased to admit it, but realistically this (or a family bereavement) is the way most millenials ultimately get on the housing ladder, so there it is. Anyway, I was going to just quietly try and buy a place and not really mention it here — I found the perfect flat in around May, put in an offer, had it accepted, and proceeded to... Wait. The seller of the house was a very elderly lady who was moving very slowly with everything, but I wasn't too concerned, as I was under no time pressure to leave the place I'm in now.</p><p>Except suddenly, I WAS.</p><p>One of our housemates announces she's to move out at the end of the month. I mercifully managed to avoid Spareroom hell for a replacement by recruiting an old friend to move in for 6 months, as she needs a bolthole between houses (as she also attempts to buy). However, my landlord let me know that as soon as she moves out (around early 2024) he is going to (possibly substantially) put the rent up. Suddenly there IS a pressure to get things moving with the purchase, as I a) cannot take a rent increase, and b) do NOT want another fucking run at Spareroom for another new housemate</p><p>Ugggghhhhhh hurry up please lovely old lady with the nice flat we are trying to buy<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMBh36A1FXo_aV1QwidMWZu1ewbP9DhA90Pz9Qka8HWrY2P5edWGVCRBxGEi2kvqj1xfyrjYXzVYP2NGnxG2NwrYGg8-4j3zViz58Fem9aBDGXk1WABkiptGG6-AeA6EKDx9VAvFrkMkJDPRffXuD4wDI9PYfWJ8vId203pF-y862wiO4fKs6UZXhdHZe0/s2493/July6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2493" data-original-width="1526" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMBh36A1FXo_aV1QwidMWZu1ewbP9DhA90Pz9Qka8HWrY2P5edWGVCRBxGEi2kvqj1xfyrjYXzVYP2NGnxG2NwrYGg8-4j3zViz58Fem9aBDGXk1WABkiptGG6-AeA6EKDx9VAvFrkMkJDPRffXuD4wDI9PYfWJ8vId203pF-y862wiO4fKs6UZXhdHZe0/w245-h400/July6.jpg" width="245" /></a></div><br />I've actually quite missed teaching during the summer break. Enjoyed going to a planning meeting to talk about first year projects — including one called 'Objects of Provenance', where students are encouraged to select a small object they like, and then explore it in a wide range of different ways. Such a fun project! I drew a few small objects lying around on my desk — a very nice heavy electric lighter for candles, a necklace, a bottle of nice smelling oil, a good teaspoon, my 'salt pipe' (does it work!? no one knows), and a fidget toy.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw1p1eV_u6Z42ECEI2ZxEvjTqmFQAyZYunF1XsrgrtcvvL9W1htgV3GVkfn0DtsZwz9GkIS7mLSvDfyocq1o6Kbzak45iOqAK0-xDVhWGgC5C_m7sXjcjKay5RmfnUlKsj0CZu0h872B5jGDfOA74ioMDoTDru2ryuti2thAib5Ayb9RnIvTLcGx_mCge7/s2493/July7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2493" data-original-width="1526" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw1p1eV_u6Z42ECEI2ZxEvjTqmFQAyZYunF1XsrgrtcvvL9W1htgV3GVkfn0DtsZwz9GkIS7mLSvDfyocq1o6Kbzak45iOqAK0-xDVhWGgC5C_m7sXjcjKay5RmfnUlKsj0CZu0h872B5jGDfOA74ioMDoTDru2ryuti2thAib5Ayb9RnIvTLcGx_mCge7/w245-h400/July7.jpg" width="245" /></a></div><p></p><p>The only area of my work that HAS been busy is the studio I work for, Geeks For Social Change. I delivered a body of research work that I am very proud of this month, for a project called 'Patchwork Gardens' (which unfortunately I have nothing to link to yet, as we have not had time to write about it!)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf9cmxQ0LH2rJczazQZdlB3d9yGehFxVq6c104eK6-QiDuCf6xhAl5ZeY-yntRpUDjfW4FpBeFS8t3motgHs4FYRIOsJY0gOT3NsAgdA4fbbqMwreIOTmRFHjeJtZAbALBRIJCknqg8ytwMLCG_e-wsf0U0c2XGu-rXax1ZlOxMTWFn4XgRthJj7PdMGC3/s2493/July8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2493" data-original-width="1526" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf9cmxQ0LH2rJczazQZdlB3d9yGehFxVq6c104eK6-QiDuCf6xhAl5ZeY-yntRpUDjfW4FpBeFS8t3motgHs4FYRIOsJY0gOT3NsAgdA4fbbqMwreIOTmRFHjeJtZAbALBRIJCknqg8ytwMLCG_e-wsf0U0c2XGu-rXax1ZlOxMTWFn4XgRthJj7PdMGC3/w245-h400/July8.jpg" width="245" /></a></div><p></p><p>After subjecting our friend Vaishnavi to 'The Dark Crystal' a couple of months ago, we invited her over for a fun evening of Labyrinth and MarioKart</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5k1MUaeW10KDzqy7WSDLDS97q2T0U2Tm01ETfq8Pudjx2mbGoWS-Fn0P52K1TvC0AIP5SxImFMDyrNsq--6RxjNp3JsMA8dDIbNAdWzNEMMwBKWx8m-5TuIPxglZ09BtJ9jhcdR8JDiCffngH-2fGueHGTcA2_RX3j5JnuhEW1-6W8wxMPZvKCbDwJIUj/s2493/July9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2493" data-original-width="1526" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5k1MUaeW10KDzqy7WSDLDS97q2T0U2Tm01ETfq8Pudjx2mbGoWS-Fn0P52K1TvC0AIP5SxImFMDyrNsq--6RxjNp3JsMA8dDIbNAdWzNEMMwBKWx8m-5TuIPxglZ09BtJ9jhcdR8JDiCffngH-2fGueHGTcA2_RX3j5JnuhEW1-6W8wxMPZvKCbDwJIUj/w245-h400/July9.jpg" width="245" /></a></div><br />Another capital ring, for funsies<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj19BGMpYxJV8YIBVigvHndxvjinBnwJb0vwg9wpFlG_NxBV72e2Xo2X15qeG3szBix7CFYgEGHo4PE4lNRGeod3Jylm-MKhJDl4Vbl5I1HECUb8cqqdyf-C5RKS_OZ24ZDF_RQoiMEqB6LyetkT-8OI7VWBfo4kxwne3ElIFdk1NnQpzONhpxD_7FL6LfJ/s2493/July10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2493" data-original-width="1526" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj19BGMpYxJV8YIBVigvHndxvjinBnwJb0vwg9wpFlG_NxBV72e2Xo2X15qeG3szBix7CFYgEGHo4PE4lNRGeod3Jylm-MKhJDl4Vbl5I1HECUb8cqqdyf-C5RKS_OZ24ZDF_RQoiMEqB6LyetkT-8OI7VWBfo4kxwne3ElIFdk1NnQpzONhpxD_7FL6LfJ/w245-h400/July10.jpg" width="245" /></a></div><br />The only other teaching related commitment I had for this month was attending a staff 'away day', which mostly involved an important lady from the university talking about a lot of high level strategy stuff that was mostly way over my head, albeit lightly interesting. But there was a free lunch, and a few activities — the one I chose was by far the funnest (IMO), walking around the campus led by a sound arts guy, each equipped with a tiny device that turned electronmagnetic waves into sound that played through headphones we were wearing. TIL: there are a LOT of electromagnetic waves. It was extremely cool.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrcSKgE5MdYpW03V9JhWSAsqABono3dLQ0vy29kEAAUpThqS_jzE0PsVOJqTkiUqT7RSzeKj05_k0aobzAhNwT-xy16R65BgBTbvsNdPZJne--2yGyFZ45tn4oPt-S2ZQdJtLNyQIXAGgQahHR8jBTphDb4TNTxOoz7hae6DB2DB44yAEbe3gab3HSrujG/s2493/July11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2493" data-original-width="1526" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrcSKgE5MdYpW03V9JhWSAsqABono3dLQ0vy29kEAAUpThqS_jzE0PsVOJqTkiUqT7RSzeKj05_k0aobzAhNwT-xy16R65BgBTbvsNdPZJne--2yGyFZ45tn4oPt-S2ZQdJtLNyQIXAGgQahHR8jBTphDb4TNTxOoz7hae6DB2DB44yAEbe3gab3HSrujG/w245-h400/July11.jpg" width="245" /></a></div><br />One good thing about (at some point) moving, is that I have truly walked this neighbourhood to death (especially during the pandemic). I walk a LOT, for leisure and exercise, and I am so over this place. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2k67CRQXJtjLMGMnydDAHyuxv5-hJ109ID3PkNCexZbp9oHTzNvWJgEN2IxWzs_nX3HfSy-Rjt0vK27BuyMgh0lGi8GaC6Q_EBe6uErsvQGoIf2bKInoVtv1XxjTUrj9bCJi3SCPN0xyFKTb8XdSGpeimq81vlfJN9zVGzUmDcuJddqT5z9BeNpcieVmp/s2493/July12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2493" data-original-width="1526" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2k67CRQXJtjLMGMnydDAHyuxv5-hJ109ID3PkNCexZbp9oHTzNvWJgEN2IxWzs_nX3HfSy-Rjt0vK27BuyMgh0lGi8GaC6Q_EBe6uErsvQGoIf2bKInoVtv1XxjTUrj9bCJi3SCPN0xyFKTb8XdSGpeimq81vlfJN9zVGzUmDcuJddqT5z9BeNpcieVmp/w245-h400/July12.jpg" width="245" /></a></div><br />While getting my nails done, the trashy commercial radio station they were playing asked the audience, 'what does your favourite animal say about you'. My mind spiralled<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLBeKvRzbrdExyX3NWs5Cq8OuaKgbFs2nQZq9yRcEfoElnTKA72DDdluU0h15qPu_o7EwHfBmWbpX8ta0hG6Aw9pItVr8keo7OuHOX6cjicGc4QdYjuXvPXy3yMoqZfHyhr9_wRuKclDzpfQNPBMcO3MbRP7snA9-a1kn3Y6fQZHHYUTcG0eUDAoq1g8Bw/s2493/July13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2493" data-original-width="1526" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLBeKvRzbrdExyX3NWs5Cq8OuaKgbFs2nQZq9yRcEfoElnTKA72DDdluU0h15qPu_o7EwHfBmWbpX8ta0hG6Aw9pItVr8keo7OuHOX6cjicGc4QdYjuXvPXy3yMoqZfHyhr9_wRuKclDzpfQNPBMcO3MbRP7snA9-a1kn3Y6fQZHHYUTcG0eUDAoq1g8Bw/w245-h400/July13.jpg" width="245" /></a></div><p></p><p>I was offered some teaching training by the university, signed up for it with great excitement, and then the organiser never sent me the link to the event. I still have no idea what happened there and should probably follow up about that actually...<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVG-DNLcbEbVPLU6_zxl8VmSh9weimS2sIcEzb-jW-rFrBbPPjkqcb-Nwh4Ut64rv-BwlKYbVGhKmqiB8yzzHm1-2i2MIkEAq8SvHbchNmB5RJ98PV7zVKj5rgrBQzWrzCvlmG69ku_SSGRZydsM_EzBySxQ5_8YAdbnLFHsmIafKyOHIywh1IPtaAXAsl/s2493/July14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2493" data-original-width="1477" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVG-DNLcbEbVPLU6_zxl8VmSh9weimS2sIcEzb-jW-rFrBbPPjkqcb-Nwh4Ut64rv-BwlKYbVGhKmqiB8yzzHm1-2i2MIkEAq8SvHbchNmB5RJ98PV7zVKj5rgrBQzWrzCvlmG69ku_SSGRZydsM_EzBySxQ5_8YAdbnLFHsmIafKyOHIywh1IPtaAXAsl/w238-h400/July14.jpg" width="238" /></a></div><br />My partner got upset because people kept asking them where they were going on holiday, and their answer was 'nowhere because I like to stay in my house'. So we decided to book a lil break to Paris in late August, as it's easy to get to by train, neither of us have ever been, and my partner speaks a little French. I would entirely not have booked this had I known how financially fucked I was going to get later on in the month, lolsob, but I guess we're going!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhut10ntMcs5lJZxyeQDHpP1d57BqvmBolUP6agimylJu1MSXBkvDZl-ZMsRsgMj5RnxmoJKTSNpR7yr11vLqE2B_ErS3FeKxESMFNZdUHI6PUcDolpG0VtNucFcFeJfZx8hnzUiGyy7T4adGaWSAfzDWV0XIBMtb6oC8yPDAarAZHhJtD9vSXBFDlfFOZM/s2493/July15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2493" data-original-width="1526" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhut10ntMcs5lJZxyeQDHpP1d57BqvmBolUP6agimylJu1MSXBkvDZl-ZMsRsgMj5RnxmoJKTSNpR7yr11vLqE2B_ErS3FeKxESMFNZdUHI6PUcDolpG0VtNucFcFeJfZx8hnzUiGyy7T4adGaWSAfzDWV0XIBMtb6oC8yPDAarAZHhJtD9vSXBFDlfFOZM/w245-h400/July15.jpg" width="245" /></a></div><br />In further 'Emma actually has free time' adventures, went to see the af Klint and Mondrian exhibtion at Tate Modern. Kinda an interestingly curated show as I didn't feel there was that much connetion between the two artists (they had never met, didn't know each other's work, though they were working around the same time, so obviously there was some link there). That said, I respected the premise, which was mostly to shine a light on the under-recognised af Klint (a woman), but still bring in the crowds with Mondrian as a big name. Af Klint's work was much more exciting to me!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLw7UsZpWLQFwxU6YjjNYuEP1RhU9dt_VV8ksmJBrXuVKNliewi3-oH_lhmKR7tOO-WUH_o6YT5g3-1W6jh7vdNYADq10g0RYt2NNXfyrzOX7TpUJwN3jSiQ3xslTOkXm4f4HllOMYeoGDAjrRQ6TC3_uXQRsN9YfGvaTSMMMYTZSXPPzMHmdclZ43_XAI/s2493/July16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2493" data-original-width="1526" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLw7UsZpWLQFwxU6YjjNYuEP1RhU9dt_VV8ksmJBrXuVKNliewi3-oH_lhmKR7tOO-WUH_o6YT5g3-1W6jh7vdNYADq10g0RYt2NNXfyrzOX7TpUJwN3jSiQ3xslTOkXm4f4HllOMYeoGDAjrRQ6TC3_uXQRsN9YfGvaTSMMMYTZSXPPzMHmdclZ43_XAI/w245-h400/July16.jpg" width="245" /></a></div><br />And the next day I got over to South London Comics and Zine fair — I had applied to table here and was rejected, which I was kind of annoyed about, but actually attending the event it became clear that's because it was waaaaaaay out of my league, haha. Got some lovely stuff, and very much enjoyed visiting the great venue Stanley Arts (which is in the rough part of South London I am hoping to move to)<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi63kszdr0wF9Sl_UaTtky2ZETfCmZsJbtpW44mqInnDQ6idWN7Ib5FpJz2xL9B0mLMyx-kPmZpu-LvALc4UlmB7iIMLi7M2IxN-WH3jLsjeIbKFJO1EoI1lLrEoohdg1P-LbUGj5RfMS21WGTJW9-i78lJRhQAE6-i9RUHqb1FuW-WkwW-JJBVn0DiLryn/s2493/July17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2493" data-original-width="1526" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi63kszdr0wF9Sl_UaTtky2ZETfCmZsJbtpW44mqInnDQ6idWN7Ib5FpJz2xL9B0mLMyx-kPmZpu-LvALc4UlmB7iIMLi7M2IxN-WH3jLsjeIbKFJO1EoI1lLrEoohdg1P-LbUGj5RfMS21WGTJW9-i78lJRhQAE6-i9RUHqb1FuW-WkwW-JJBVn0DiLryn/w245-h400/July17.jpg" width="245" /></a></div><br />I guess tomatoes are a fruit? I have been getting very excited about fresh tomatoes this month, as is right and proper for July.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEYjcxG_4zZixNDshX_z1gnR5iagmpgfj1Zic7tNW4Cpe0j3P46uKNsiSKDzpQ0bZY-8WR19PtlJHv1hvvdFfifkfSsYV2YzLSETpJIaiQJSM2TZfQd1p8mKRS0sEQlIMvvvccSd5HQ14FPc6vLw4W6fE7zSS77viLeAK6lezYr5MDjVEIfHmFTTs5juEz/s2493/July18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2493" data-original-width="1526" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEYjcxG_4zZixNDshX_z1gnR5iagmpgfj1Zic7tNW4Cpe0j3P46uKNsiSKDzpQ0bZY-8WR19PtlJHv1hvvdFfifkfSsYV2YzLSETpJIaiQJSM2TZfQd1p8mKRS0sEQlIMvvvccSd5HQ14FPc6vLw4W6fE7zSS77viLeAK6lezYr5MDjVEIfHmFTTs5juEz/w245-h400/July18.jpg" width="245" /></a></div><br />With my partner's birthday upcoming, I and housemate Beth got together to make a complicated cake! (and I did this bad drawing of it with biros on my lap at Samaritans before my night shift started)<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGeIJgfHenrUNHgzY5sv7SfJ9l370REoBAqdUEj2TXIyrDGvgmCcE82SxIuBrpIzx8riFDS-U3zOfxTAypWGwUlgUpk5J2Z8nb1XU72gb2gihqTk8TxGxS3Jn27Jr80LKuhfhWXhzssfhE_XebfP4nQi-rWP43qp69Cts73l_TaGCaglALjj2UE68uOGDS/s2493/July19.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2493" data-original-width="1526" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGeIJgfHenrUNHgzY5sv7SfJ9l370REoBAqdUEj2TXIyrDGvgmCcE82SxIuBrpIzx8riFDS-U3zOfxTAypWGwUlgUpk5J2Z8nb1XU72gb2gihqTk8TxGxS3Jn27Jr80LKuhfhWXhzssfhE_XebfP4nQi-rWP43qp69Cts73l_TaGCaglALjj2UE68uOGDS/w245-h400/July19.jpg" width="245" /></a></div><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p>I think my partner liked it...</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHqLwYRP0rfVL_RrE_XrK4p8iUJwKFxVV87IoLyi4ebFGBEykre3rwIC53VdMhgEc3y81HPDvLLoxwU8TAEEmneEZpICYK8x-WgJAqU9rN-cuTY3gZeQpRkefbQm5orXUDQ82mtrUBz6TAaOWxzoCKODe3UMRsi1P6qUzP-U3z1CxPRaFhVQ8Oz1qOUI9Q/s2493/July20.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2493" data-original-width="1526" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHqLwYRP0rfVL_RrE_XrK4p8iUJwKFxVV87IoLyi4ebFGBEykre3rwIC53VdMhgEc3y81HPDvLLoxwU8TAEEmneEZpICYK8x-WgJAqU9rN-cuTY3gZeQpRkefbQm5orXUDQ82mtrUBz6TAaOWxzoCKODe3UMRsi1P6qUzP-U3z1CxPRaFhVQ8Oz1qOUI9Q/w245-h400/July20.jpeg" width="245" /></a></div><br />And then the bad news. The old lady selling us the house decided to pull out. The lease was below 80 years, she needed to renew it before we would buy, she couldn't handle the admin and decided to just die there and make it someone else's problem. (She was very sick and had literally told us at the viewing that she wanted to go back to her home country of Albania 'to die', so this is not me hyperbolising)<p>Anyway, I immediately threw myself back into rightmove listings. Basically, we have enough money (generous deposit and mortgage) to get something that is not QUITE nice enough. There's always a catch. Too small. Terrible location. Haunted. Weird layout. Disgusting. etc.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg73s9faPqsERnHz639gqSn2f0uJ85ThDod3YKx1sLZZdgrazO4tYU_n-VneDB5wdHjEwVEx7RP0eGuSgH_2Fiq2p8GudZjDa5Dnb6h14W6dZwio100-IHR88qYn52qNmf7g3h_vFZzfjk282rsnGaNQ6SmLcMcp7PI8BRz1gWPNzceQqoSDW2d0_8SdryC/s2480/July21.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2480" data-original-width="1535" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg73s9faPqsERnHz639gqSn2f0uJ85ThDod3YKx1sLZZdgrazO4tYU_n-VneDB5wdHjEwVEx7RP0eGuSgH_2Fiq2p8GudZjDa5Dnb6h14W6dZwio100-IHR88qYn52qNmf7g3h_vFZzfjk282rsnGaNQ6SmLcMcp7PI8BRz1gWPNzceQqoSDW2d0_8SdryC/w248-h400/July21.jpg" width="248" /></a></div><p></p><p>Anyway, I booked in a bunch of viewings and then went up to York for the weekend to table at a zine fair there (tis the season) and more importantly, visit Justin and Dav. (iPad drawing as is my habit when I am travelling, fun to be able to take advantage of MORE, DENSER colour possibilities)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-DMHuLu38F4PhA8edT3SRMv0HBt0qHpw29Mc2l0CKyt7kQ6H2psYUQ1OfErlAJtt0_mShmbXZGrE-raMROzLDOgTetHWTDql2H-Mr5HLBtBHhdUKFbmfF77TCaBwnzAr3Dhis0qAjsirF2Ml9RnbGn0DenCABnQPtzfH_7EiJDKxdbcBXjxa5M-SY26AP/s2480/July22.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2480" data-original-width="1535" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-DMHuLu38F4PhA8edT3SRMv0HBt0qHpw29Mc2l0CKyt7kQ6H2psYUQ1OfErlAJtt0_mShmbXZGrE-raMROzLDOgTetHWTDql2H-Mr5HLBtBHhdUKFbmfF77TCaBwnzAr3Dhis0qAjsirF2Ml9RnbGn0DenCABnQPtzfH_7EiJDKxdbcBXjxa5M-SY26AP/w248-h400/July22.jpg" width="248" /></a></div><br />Zine fair was fun good vibes and got to see a bunch of familiar faces! In the evening I also got to go and meet my friend Thryn's extremely good boy dog pal, Goose. Excellent.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaApZqgjre_6vB4oasUrRfh66Zs3CWZZGOxxboxrzZ58aG9RApGW_52B5AP7tMPhmW8qsjRxPSVzAobrjqxbRCuXQhK7bwg4Kg-HgEv_Wafg-IAK4CsVj---XYjnv_jZ0MnvW4qitLn3JClT6UkiUdWbiMSUN8gqp0T3CBZIiojKwEGY99gwd0tuKoI89J/s2480/July23.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2480" data-original-width="1535" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaApZqgjre_6vB4oasUrRfh66Zs3CWZZGOxxboxrzZ58aG9RApGW_52B5AP7tMPhmW8qsjRxPSVzAobrjqxbRCuXQhK7bwg4Kg-HgEv_Wafg-IAK4CsVj---XYjnv_jZ0MnvW4qitLn3JClT6UkiUdWbiMSUN8gqp0T3CBZIiojKwEGY99gwd0tuKoI89J/w248-h400/July23.jpg" width="248" /></a></div><br />Then had a nice Sunday mooching round York — finally visited the Jorvik centre, went to the art museum with Dav, and had a great lunch with the two of them. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZs1pdufmZToZqLx3ja2A8clYadTy_D7jnH_FJjX9uvkCprVy5am34TJRA2gUva6mH1nAmpxd3maLwV8TTm2E5z-S1pOmxf_GhJKnOHbQ2jQpdkCtjBhfuScgtopP-Xom0ubCcVaj8kj-E-rA3z8hRUOmkmaS7ZwYGSnRyyoSQSL6XUDNr_XkJhAvsof_h/s2493/July24.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2493" data-original-width="1526" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZs1pdufmZToZqLx3ja2A8clYadTy_D7jnH_FJjX9uvkCprVy5am34TJRA2gUva6mH1nAmpxd3maLwV8TTm2E5z-S1pOmxf_GhJKnOHbQ2jQpdkCtjBhfuScgtopP-Xom0ubCcVaj8kj-E-rA3z8hRUOmkmaS7ZwYGSnRyyoSQSL6XUDNr_XkJhAvsof_h/w245-h400/July24.jpg" width="245" /></a></div><p></p><p>Then I came home. I like trains.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfC3FDgKXoCIKacV9kSaZMWH_mkqy87RCRcU9XKw04Da9u2iMC4TgQLEzSlJB_MYZEl1DfnfNBl4iyTb_omkrnZDIksjPBqSDiESrbt5gmxS-4nFAm6P-qp1xhPWJcMaBP4aVAWjj9FbkfMhTpOpgmrUz7vDYY5KuZCPXKO8FNAuY0UlhOBMaL1Y48YjUD/s2493/July25.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2493" data-original-width="1526" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfC3FDgKXoCIKacV9kSaZMWH_mkqy87RCRcU9XKw04Da9u2iMC4TgQLEzSlJB_MYZEl1DfnfNBl4iyTb_omkrnZDIksjPBqSDiESrbt5gmxS-4nFAm6P-qp1xhPWJcMaBP4aVAWjj9FbkfMhTpOpgmrUz7vDYY5KuZCPXKO8FNAuY0UlhOBMaL1Y48YjUD/w245-h400/July25.jpg" width="245" /></a></div><br />You have one quiet week and you're like 'oh that's nice'. You have two and you're like 'oh huh, more free time eh, cool cool', you have three, and then more and the freelance panic sets in. <p>(Repeatedly telling myself it's FINE, this happens EVERY YEAR, things will SURELY pick up in September, and hopefully I will secure a good amount of teaching work then too)</p><p>Still though, my income this month is about half what it usually is, and next month thus far is looking like it might be even worse. Breaaaaathhhhhhhe it is finnnnnnnne<br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBLRNTKbLTd9PGeKGPExwrB6p62z7D6RGVHjuZndqzz6NVh32JYV8JbEDJ-ww0ENQ7SQHnRyUm1nhYgJRydgTzc1mnItUuVr4fUXBgAunYRl1nn2pKSIA1u8zXf32by8UI1BniPWWlPa_ei0xxZKWKvl_y5DyMtFOGsYS00qjHYZQO45NbfVUDwRBdaXJ5/s2493/July26.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2493" data-original-width="1526" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBLRNTKbLTd9PGeKGPExwrB6p62z7D6RGVHjuZndqzz6NVh32JYV8JbEDJ-ww0ENQ7SQHnRyUm1nhYgJRydgTzc1mnItUuVr4fUXBgAunYRl1nn2pKSIA1u8zXf32by8UI1BniPWWlPa_ei0xxZKWKvl_y5DyMtFOGsYS00qjHYZQO45NbfVUDwRBdaXJ5/w245-h400/July26.jpg" width="245" /></a></div><p></p><p>In some ways though, not having work on feels like it was perfectly planned, because it gave me loads of time to obsessively scour rightmove and book in loads of house viewings. (And I'm not gonna lie, I kinda love house viewings, and we didn't really do many first time round as I'd already found the perfect place). We saw 7 places on the Wednesday which varied from 'yes, quite nice actually' to 'cat piss hell'<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnZ2HuH1EVVtVPeOn5rqoeEkU_Q1DrWbuP3wR9xMaA-q1B8tJ1UyspLLgNipxyVsvSm5p3_cdvI5-S-GFLALSaP7poebInpF51pfrB1RXbrMbt9PRvLjS0kBprkKlT6Kt7ggPUF9KrayrlVQjYR-o3QEqkulh2AFINkGF7SRF2TieqODoWvYyBFj5u-_Y4/s2493/July27.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2493" data-original-width="1526" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnZ2HuH1EVVtVPeOn5rqoeEkU_Q1DrWbuP3wR9xMaA-q1B8tJ1UyspLLgNipxyVsvSm5p3_cdvI5-S-GFLALSaP7poebInpF51pfrB1RXbrMbt9PRvLjS0kBprkKlT6Kt7ggPUF9KrayrlVQjYR-o3QEqkulh2AFINkGF7SRF2TieqODoWvYyBFj5u-_Y4/w245-h400/July27.jpg" width="245" /></a></div><br />We put in an offer on 'Huge garden with a great tree, wild layout, possibly haunted cellar', which was OVER BUDGET. They did not accept our lowball offer. I had a painful day on and off the phone with my mortgage advisor in which I established I COULD get more money, but was setting myself up for 35 years of suffering. Decided to come to peace with not over-stretching myself and making more compromises. Our second choice was 'a bit dingy (but perfect location), a greyhound lives here, and you can see trains from the kitchen!'<p>It's a bit smaller than we'd hoped for, and needs work doing, but we CAN afford it (and afford to do the work). We put in an offer on that place, and waited.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg180rpxAlg0_se6cjN8DH3x91k3AWERaqiBErA8pNcFb4iQOTV_G48jAy2DkrnRamGh_fKmZj-6LsSPzICgjgQqpNjAU2fEGWVCwxj9T7BveZPsF6oB4tHk9V-ffbioBZCYXyA6mvfmsRV4rCvRnaH7dJccS4PciZnObpasqgEtugHpK22sLhSuKOjOLKH/s2493/July28.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2493" data-original-width="1526" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg180rpxAlg0_se6cjN8DH3x91k3AWERaqiBErA8pNcFb4iQOTV_G48jAy2DkrnRamGh_fKmZj-6LsSPzICgjgQqpNjAU2fEGWVCwxj9T7BveZPsF6oB4tHk9V-ffbioBZCYXyA6mvfmsRV4rCvRnaH7dJccS4PciZnObpasqgEtugHpK22sLhSuKOjOLKH/w245-h400/July28.jpg" width="245" /></a></div><br />One of the things me and my partner liked most about the place was MELVIN (who sadly does not come with the flat), a large and extremely enthusiastic greyhound who currently lives there, and who greeted us with great enthusiasm at the viewing. (Besides just being excited to meet a beautiful greyhound, it mostly confirmed that you could keep a big fast dog there and have a nice time)<p>The seller initially accepted our offer at 5k under the asking price (the property had been on the market for over a month with little interest), but then SOME FUCKER came in and offered 10k more the same day, so we had to match him, and yes, I am mad about it. (As we now do NOT have the money to immediately do the renovations it needs)<br /></p><p>I spent the entire day EXTREMELY ON EDGE waiting to hear if our offer had been accepted. </p><p>Right before I went to my Samaritans shift, I got the good news — yes, the seller accepted (for 5k over the asking price, 10k more than we originally offered, grump grump grump), and there would be no more bidding. After reciving that phonecall, I was immediately bombarded with the next stages, solicitors touting for business, requests for paperwork etc.</p><p>Before my Samaritans shifts I often eat at a cheap chain udon restaurant. I wolfed down my noods while frantically texting and emailing and prepping everything I needed to do. The restaurant has signs up everywhere saying they have a pickpocket problem, so I always keep my bag next to me, or looped around my ankle if I'm at the high benches (as I was that day). A big group of tourists came and sat at the bench around me, so I moved my bag to my other side. I did NOT, however, reloop it round my ankle. Less than 5 minutes later I had finished my noodles and got up to go, and my bag was gone.</p><p>(Basically that drawing of a guy with my bag is an imagined artists impression, it could have been anyone, I did not see it happen)</p><p>Suffice to say, having already been extremely strung out because of house stress, I was NOT in a good mental space to handle this setback.</p><p>But luckily, kinda the best possible place you could go at your most vulnerable is the Samaritans, so I headed to my shift anyway (but did not actually do it), and my fellow volunteers turned their extremely good caring and empathy skills on snotty sobbing me, and helped me undertake all the neccesary card cancelling steps (which my thief friend was already rinsing in various shops on Finchley High Road) and pondering everything else I needed to think about. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHnqsr0oFXnJiFpMz6GzLRTesMlvtDE2j9wNsZPsMrFTAiM63S4aAOaybeZnJKd2zVUy3eWLH4WlGBjHsSQm_T631yT_SIhaNt-9EaUSoaGBYx9fAps_mAupDR76tp5Uy3s-jEprWFOjSvWr3412YI3fz1FwHs1C1fpsqmSdG9TFFo_hibkAJBoT5EFB6q/s2493/July29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2493" data-original-width="1526" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHnqsr0oFXnJiFpMz6GzLRTesMlvtDE2j9wNsZPsMrFTAiM63S4aAOaybeZnJKd2zVUy3eWLH4WlGBjHsSQm_T631yT_SIhaNt-9EaUSoaGBYx9fAps_mAupDR76tp5Uy3s-jEprWFOjSvWr3412YI3fz1FwHs1C1fpsqmSdG9TFFo_hibkAJBoT5EFB6q/w245-h400/July29.jpg" width="245" /></a></div><br />Luckily neither my phone nor laptop were in the bag, but it was still
a hit. I'd only recently bought both the bag (£60) and wallet (£25) as
an attempt to streamline and degrungify my handbag setup, so was sad to
lose (and have to replace) them so soon. I had a hefty c £120 power
brick in there, which was the most expensive single item, as well as
some sunglasses (c £25) and an expensive extremely high power sunscreen
for my stupid ginger skin (c £40). I also had around £80 in cash from
zine fair takings (damn it, I NEVER normally carry cash), so it was
probably a medium-lucrative snatch for the thieves. They also managed to
spend around £120 before I got my cards locked down (I will get that
money back but they will get away with the goods).<p>So it goes,
y'know. My fault for being sleep deprived, distracted and under-vigilant. I'll still go back to the udon place because the food is
fuckin great. </p><p>The biggest expense though, was changing the locks on our house. I couldn't really get consensus on whether this was neccesary or not. My landlord said he didn't care because it's not his stuff in the house (which is fair enough). My housemates were divided. Having initially thought it was excessive (yes, my keys were in the bag, but there was nothing in there to tie them to my address — my drivers licence doesn't have my current address on), I then decided I would be too paranoid about ever leaving the house if I DIDN'T do it, so promptly called a locksmith. (What would you have done, reader?!)<br /></p><p>I was just going to replace the Yale Lock, but (presumably looking for some extra £££ as well as out of concern) the locksmith showed me just how easy it is to pick a yale lock, and I begrudgingly shelled out a total of £388.80 to replace BOTH locks (plus an additional £47 for extra sets of keys for all housemates and the landlord) </p><p>Fucccccccckkkkkkk thissssssssssssss!!!!</p><p>I have bought a house though I guess. c £600 pales in comparison with [threateningly large 6 figure number]<br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnGBkct-tC5E3EF7D8naBfmvlkZEg_9PisqGGhlXLsWxzpOlIjkTmAmUNfcR4b-Xsjz9g9rPQx1f1W-GH9ve-uRyAo1SJQAn38f9Zc6K6CD8yKBTM_hNbBtznduBndCg3MHjqGuM574KA_7P9z9YsQhIh4S4UAlZocxmjwuhy0en5OFN56nCFqYPlHqzR6/s2493/July30.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2493" data-original-width="1526" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnGBkct-tC5E3EF7D8naBfmvlkZEg_9PisqGGhlXLsWxzpOlIjkTmAmUNfcR4b-Xsjz9g9rPQx1f1W-GH9ve-uRyAo1SJQAn38f9Zc6K6CD8yKBTM_hNbBtznduBndCg3MHjqGuM574KA_7P9z9YsQhIh4S4UAlZocxmjwuhy0en5OFN56nCFqYPlHqzR6/w245-h400/July30.jpg" width="245" /></a></div><br /><p>Turns out, losing access to all your cards is REALLY ANNOYING and I kept repeatedly forgetting about it.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZWD4mf98zcVPmTcKpWQFGmvQ9B4_2NX8FPYmiGJ5jDAu1v0Amr4IcsMl2UxlzYxtcchBv2jOL7caG8Y5d0fZdyRuuhPlUwXqXOcpM_9MYpjbJmDzjto6K7WgjvMVhmTpvQGfo6EgHD8YSMy1UGLR89E8-toYOdA7KlLZC8iMYl7b35Qvrp-2SFHzogz3p/s2493/July31.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2493" data-original-width="1471" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZWD4mf98zcVPmTcKpWQFGmvQ9B4_2NX8FPYmiGJ5jDAu1v0Amr4IcsMl2UxlzYxtcchBv2jOL7caG8Y5d0fZdyRuuhPlUwXqXOcpM_9MYpjbJmDzjto6K7WgjvMVhmTpvQGfo6EgHD8YSMy1UGLR89E8-toYOdA7KlLZC8iMYl7b35Qvrp-2SFHzogz3p/w236-h400/July31.jpg" width="236" /></a></div><br /><p>But anyway, after a long and at times trying month, my friend Jess came to visit, we played some nice games and ate some nice food and I now feel just about ready to face the perils of August. (Which is good, because it is August)<br /></p>Emmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03307690577227053266noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6149147983678759733.post-16234446822411262262023-06-30T14:09:00.003+01:002023-06-30T14:09:24.238+01:00June 2023<p>Last month felt like a bit of a moan-fest work wise, so I made a very conscious effort to do a minimal number of visual diaries about 'I am very tired after a long day of big brain think work' (even though there has still been a lot of that this month). I am mostly annoyed because I let two clients pay me up front for work (bad, don't do this!!) which they then didn't send until this month. Meaning I've had a month of working very hard, to do both their work, and all the regular work I have on — and my end of month invoicing really does not reflect quite how many hours I've put in! Oh well, I think/hope this coming month will get slightly easier...</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj89LcmaaKHJGHLyYMW1iDh2iK3UM5p8MZw1NGMkACKOfpLteUkY2MVjEmo4OVf-KCNlPBEuVHiuArC7ADWGWnUjdErPviLQg474ayuOWHPOcEOH2KJQD6JUSvzYxHxIRew7sAi4W6Z-6PFQAlazhCyt8rEnD_iovzBjj6Bsj-bWku1EjnraJAB4OHxH80K/s2493/June1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2493" data-original-width="1526" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj89LcmaaKHJGHLyYMW1iDh2iK3UM5p8MZw1NGMkACKOfpLteUkY2MVjEmo4OVf-KCNlPBEuVHiuArC7ADWGWnUjdErPviLQg474ayuOWHPOcEOH2KJQD6JUSvzYxHxIRew7sAi4W6Z-6PFQAlazhCyt8rEnD_iovzBjj6Bsj-bWku1EjnraJAB4OHxH80K/w245-h400/June1.jpg" width="245" /></a></div><p></p><p>The teaching year has pretty much wrapped up now, which has freed up some time (helpful) — but I am sad about it because I love teaching, and also am on a zero hours contract which means they don't pay me in the summer! Boo! On June 1st I had to attend a marking meeting which I THOUGHT was online, but which was actually in person, on campus. OH NO (I raced over there and got there only 45 mins late into a 2.5 hour meeting so it was... okay?!)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkOFU1OzHawqXdwohYFkVGXtxLpjPeevL_lva0hlkcp6QGrKFn0CA9VVJ5srIxSHQVjsmj48TdvifdEs2N5rykZO7skenAau_fjsX_cFqDLO6k_ZU6MaGhs9EYFmDoTd4H8OrSmo_9nZAubDLHzcEscvwbm_PXyhGmOnhARhz3jw8wL3yMLRZoDibnQsOA/s2493/June2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2493" data-original-width="1526" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkOFU1OzHawqXdwohYFkVGXtxLpjPeevL_lva0hlkcp6QGrKFn0CA9VVJ5srIxSHQVjsmj48TdvifdEs2N5rykZO7skenAau_fjsX_cFqDLO6k_ZU6MaGhs9EYFmDoTd4H8OrSmo_9nZAubDLHzcEscvwbm_PXyhGmOnhARhz3jw8wL3yMLRZoDibnQsOA/w245-h400/June2.jpg" width="245" /></a></div><p></p><p>A couple of people (and loads of ads on the tube) recommended Floradix for tiredness. The main catch with it is you have to take it 30 mins before eating, morning and evening. I literally never remember to take it in the evening, and in the morning I basically want to eat breakfast RIGHT AWAY as soon as I am awake, and having to wait half an hour is very annoying. I forlornly text my partner every morning while half asleep begging them to bring it to me so I can take my dose while I wake up (it also has to be kept in the fridge?! Hassle). Overall — I've been taking it for 3 or 4 months and am not sure I have seen that many effects?! AM I less tired? It is very hard to quantify. I quite like the taste though so I guess I'll persist.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLkSW4upMUKcamz0jjywlV3NPQSqKrjgeUAiY0kHwibMlOQrCM6STO1qkOUXRKNBB-3GOZ2TViswEP-5UVEXN-S1Uzs1Xp7qtkZxdBO5CR1eIM0Js4JhJa4wq7oLTd7Rzj8uoj9Rz8A4r6icPLe16LAJEQ8fHbQCut5_Ca3eAa-xYVDZj95nHoJexzO7Ym/s2493/June3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2493" data-original-width="1526" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLkSW4upMUKcamz0jjywlV3NPQSqKrjgeUAiY0kHwibMlOQrCM6STO1qkOUXRKNBB-3GOZ2TViswEP-5UVEXN-S1Uzs1Xp7qtkZxdBO5CR1eIM0Js4JhJa4wq7oLTd7Rzj8uoj9Rz8A4r6icPLe16LAJEQ8fHbQCut5_Ca3eAa-xYVDZj95nHoJexzO7Ym/w245-h400/June3.jpg" width="245" /></a></div><p></p><p>Finally got a gang together to play one of my all time fav boardgames 'Dead of Winter'</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYCEr81h7MlDYJytQilMf-6LoYzVSZ9aTJPKRtPR0sSjVxltAWw816iK_NY0VyVKK-jgw6l9fl-ZRtypRM4hpTa-S8sxzyYvxRMTT_kfjmpCnibRGoGcJJjxSTinDHQN03AGQzCwbRO5MUV-kdamyRV_Th16d7Jam3EahVLA_kAZcdqL4atmzfBn3xGRSj/s2493/June4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2493" data-original-width="1526" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYCEr81h7MlDYJytQilMf-6LoYzVSZ9aTJPKRtPR0sSjVxltAWw816iK_NY0VyVKK-jgw6l9fl-ZRtypRM4hpTa-S8sxzyYvxRMTT_kfjmpCnibRGoGcJJjxSTinDHQN03AGQzCwbRO5MUV-kdamyRV_Th16d7Jam3EahVLA_kAZcdqL4atmzfBn3xGRSj/w245-h400/June4.jpg" width="245" /></a></div><p></p><p>It's ice cream truck time!! (I love summer)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxBfIW3Oej7sd1cnfIbrMbDqak1_VnYqy8O9sX74E47debXwwN7yrTHpSFx92SWnhmmdvo1bhQbrutDz_AEHfyCq0YTGjEEZKij8vBi6Qc0wPipHQETJOS6B-oKC7Zfuhjd5bWVf98ICJxDLTEBwk-8hqor493lzs0cXHEweuT2tzZ_OkZ3NFDy0Ke0V6l/s2493/June5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2493" data-original-width="1526" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxBfIW3Oej7sd1cnfIbrMbDqak1_VnYqy8O9sX74E47debXwwN7yrTHpSFx92SWnhmmdvo1bhQbrutDz_AEHfyCq0YTGjEEZKij8vBi6Qc0wPipHQETJOS6B-oKC7Zfuhjd5bWVf98ICJxDLTEBwk-8hqor493lzs0cXHEweuT2tzZ_OkZ3NFDy0Ke0V6l/w245-h400/June5.jpg" width="245" /></a></div><p></p><p>A boardgame flurry in which I also got to play another fav: Galaxy Trucker!!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjweZ9fEFPMj3wUGRaD-WQW32rTKh6msZHwOsEKXeYrqaqbmO2eM9kBVDd8OFeKq-2-_dvlIjSzpKao6ZW7fYq-iFTLpIh91BMj-6n7zCcuNYyrjkh-_kRNtrgZ8Xn8FSoVVNPsiUmDZ-NiNwyNhXk4eSWrNr1je0pSOvwn2mX0erYuVJp68dxZyfEXfgjF/s2493/June6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2493" data-original-width="1526" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjweZ9fEFPMj3wUGRaD-WQW32rTKh6msZHwOsEKXeYrqaqbmO2eM9kBVDd8OFeKq-2-_dvlIjSzpKao6ZW7fYq-iFTLpIh91BMj-6n7zCcuNYyrjkh-_kRNtrgZ8Xn8FSoVVNPsiUmDZ-NiNwyNhXk4eSWrNr1je0pSOvwn2mX0erYuVJp68dxZyfEXfgjF/w245-h400/June6.jpg" width="245" /></a></div><p></p><p>Warmer weather means it's time for Chase's annual haircut, where she goes from one kind of fuzzy to another kind of fuzzy. Both equally sweet, one decidedlylower maintainance.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSP4rItkyok51JB5bT91khoBIOMnzAKOFZX-BiKuqQD667iCUVjF1CRU7uWU9MTEunZyijxZyf-idSkpKOHacx6Yga3qquRCiMcHi3JvbYKIYhjRC3u757vjjyXK0krYGuGP8q7eUUQBDzJG1l_IQLmynZV0Z9CajTdNphYBbbax8C7l6SMkc0ujgjff1i/s2493/June7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2493" data-original-width="1526" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSP4rItkyok51JB5bT91khoBIOMnzAKOFZX-BiKuqQD667iCUVjF1CRU7uWU9MTEunZyijxZyf-idSkpKOHacx6Yga3qquRCiMcHi3JvbYKIYhjRC3u757vjjyXK0krYGuGP8q7eUUQBDzJG1l_IQLmynZV0Z9CajTdNphYBbbax8C7l6SMkc0ujgjff1i/w245-h400/June7.jpg" width="245" /></a></div><p></p><p>The excitement of playing Tears of the Kingdom each night is still getting me through long work days</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglbmf-zT45rC0HqJczBYBklUoGip6r0Wmy0U2nkmH31_GJG1SR6RU8rpj7OEK-VxwfqJAIUalvdJzyqUvBEGHbFzhFy4KsS3cixP9_NdqBVQ-nA3-lPfEHYOyqH_tnBcLEXGoVZDVcsEiCbK4uE4WmiXqKpC5rTlvhFLH3dmfX_G0Y8VN2XIJvVGS4dMnQ/s2493/June9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2493" data-original-width="1526" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglbmf-zT45rC0HqJczBYBklUoGip6r0Wmy0U2nkmH31_GJG1SR6RU8rpj7OEK-VxwfqJAIUalvdJzyqUvBEGHbFzhFy4KsS3cixP9_NdqBVQ-nA3-lPfEHYOyqH_tnBcLEXGoVZDVcsEiCbK4uE4WmiXqKpC5rTlvhFLH3dmfX_G0Y8VN2XIJvVGS4dMnQ/w245-h400/June9.jpg" width="245" /></a></div><p></p><p>My partner has been sporadically making is tempura for a couple of years and they finally got it SPOT ON! (The secret was a really thin batter!)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3ehFbZfrKKKgoSAU2WDN_d-D2HDJCvYtlkdh5DUKVU4sEIBkZCKQWYUSxr3PppaEJCEtaVADNCl3iRwT8xqNeqoA2xRv4TF1-HdIPtsu7xKuUrGCvdWEpfgcTz1zi0oihgN_3E4HW0wwdomq86-ivm-r1kZRG5KTqh7pGt_Iz-fTA54OM2FclsqCeQxHz/s2493/June10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2493" data-original-width="1472" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3ehFbZfrKKKgoSAU2WDN_d-D2HDJCvYtlkdh5DUKVU4sEIBkZCKQWYUSxr3PppaEJCEtaVADNCl3iRwT8xqNeqoA2xRv4TF1-HdIPtsu7xKuUrGCvdWEpfgcTz1zi0oihgN_3E4HW0wwdomq86-ivm-r1kZRG5KTqh7pGt_Iz-fTA54OM2FclsqCeQxHz/w236-h400/June10.jpg" width="236" /></a></div><p></p><p>Went to see Moki Cherry exhibition at the ICA with my friend Vicky — her work is really fun and made me want to paint (badly)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgieHrXCwmLMDVP_UfM5MD_V1FcGWU5gSpSTuAFAZuC0RPV3UH29QSQ4mrfhY3l740_V3rKAcH_WAN4PsXEwAexJxX8TDRzwk7irgndb3RoSgo_oFWt8RTThoxcJuq-wS5jCM6S8MwX6YVAB3CuAFgsf8bbjRAmINS-mw2vx_hoPhN71ZH_yObxVJpG3fzn/s2493/June11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2493" data-original-width="1526" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgieHrXCwmLMDVP_UfM5MD_V1FcGWU5gSpSTuAFAZuC0RPV3UH29QSQ4mrfhY3l740_V3rKAcH_WAN4PsXEwAexJxX8TDRzwk7irgndb3RoSgo_oFWt8RTThoxcJuq-wS5jCM6S8MwX6YVAB3CuAFgsf8bbjRAmINS-mw2vx_hoPhN71ZH_yObxVJpG3fzn/w245-h400/June11.jpg" width="245" /></a></div><p></p><p>It is finally, at the age of 35, time for short shorts</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6LBWPc9Zxldb2P1iCu6in_BWMAILNhZsoe91WP37Y_d9Z3ate-5AFFoffC-uKfo-WUwzxzpRKrAUXPfOdT2emXoWEnvbrdpdI3CsJybZBnZ22uwcp_nH1aHrmRAKv_pYhvrnpqbaVtBlfIcjpolq9541cQKuse28bBMRiFiF_XpfrxDwu3dLckOl-xuDQ/s2493/June12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2493" data-original-width="1526" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6LBWPc9Zxldb2P1iCu6in_BWMAILNhZsoe91WP37Y_d9Z3ate-5AFFoffC-uKfo-WUwzxzpRKrAUXPfOdT2emXoWEnvbrdpdI3CsJybZBnZ22uwcp_nH1aHrmRAKv_pYhvrnpqbaVtBlfIcjpolq9541cQKuse28bBMRiFiF_XpfrxDwu3dLckOl-xuDQ/w245-h400/June12.jpg" width="245" /></a></div><p> Really enjoyed Kenny Segal and Billy Woods at Village Underground (even if I did miss playing Tears of the Kingdom for a night because I had to actually leave the house)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgijJhu9e_PwqLuA5zJrH_VhyASFRSfzZfk5o4GynpLaZ456X-e5YOkyFAItkPXcfqNV98LyNiMpgPaTgcEcpp6t4rIJMISh6b_vP8-S-OGVtFpUmchs7VkQOx1HpK3l5RDWV0ZyzMmSt5or7NerIdU4Py4LiMLRI79c5KL5jUhVx_8nEtA5A7IEQXSb7Y5/s2493/June13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2493" data-original-width="1526" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgijJhu9e_PwqLuA5zJrH_VhyASFRSfzZfk5o4GynpLaZ456X-e5YOkyFAItkPXcfqNV98LyNiMpgPaTgcEcpp6t4rIJMISh6b_vP8-S-OGVtFpUmchs7VkQOx1HpK3l5RDWV0ZyzMmSt5or7NerIdU4Py4LiMLRI79c5KL5jUhVx_8nEtA5A7IEQXSb7Y5/w245-h400/June13.jpg" width="245" /></a></div><p></p><p>A mean dog in the park (A labrador!!!) bit Chase on the ear and I had to take her to the vet and get her bandaged up (she is fine but will probably always have a little nick in the edge of her ear now)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKjoe1Q522hX7yf_dw-WPD270Xe_e-4Q3NIFBh65N3lWqi7u2PXjK-Uco8rTs3uTdKuNwOvjDhJ8IxXlVkjJpZGfG7W3VngWLkphvuuhROk4sGgs7AHZmpT9rByPiGxTfX0ho7l6cloYuuZGPBFwcKDrtP0X9RVN8ooshCQWko3JSckYaqT-O9XP4SFokC/s2493/June14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2493" data-original-width="1526" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKjoe1Q522hX7yf_dw-WPD270Xe_e-4Q3NIFBh65N3lWqi7u2PXjK-Uco8rTs3uTdKuNwOvjDhJ8IxXlVkjJpZGfG7W3VngWLkphvuuhROk4sGgs7AHZmpT9rByPiGxTfX0ho7l6cloYuuZGPBFwcKDrtP0X9RVN8ooshCQWko3JSckYaqT-O9XP4SFokC/w245-h400/June14.jpg" width="245" /></a></div><p></p><p>I barely watch any TV (so it's kinda funny I've done two visual diaries about TV this month — there's another later) but I do LOVE Springwatch. It's so brutal AND cheerful.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhClaX2_ouJ-B89_Pby8HJ8DpPpyJ8GifSfb_mDE_cJostukhPHX93sHaJUxFHcZmNKY97NutFDo_VeJBdn7jsTNW96s7JGfPk2UJpKmKxruKWQqPQqoWMsZI-_V79aVSjl6c4Iq6IKGK3A8dnOaOXu7s8S6ejQiNWC8wUqx0nq5DInxuAqdLwd5f7eLSjE/s2493/June15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2493" data-original-width="1526" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhClaX2_ouJ-B89_Pby8HJ8DpPpyJ8GifSfb_mDE_cJostukhPHX93sHaJUxFHcZmNKY97NutFDo_VeJBdn7jsTNW96s7JGfPk2UJpKmKxruKWQqPQqoWMsZI-_V79aVSjl6c4Iq6IKGK3A8dnOaOXu7s8S6ejQiNWC8wUqx0nq5DInxuAqdLwd5f7eLSjE/w245-h400/June15.jpg" width="245" /></a></div><p></p><p>Went to the summer exhibition with mum and did these bad drawings about it</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj57Ih5Hsn4rrrBkkJunBmTjeiEJWIiw1DhadHfM4hGvgr7ZoPPPBh82JwUaFJanw2pQACULrkg3GbZclfbPwZMY0kaRCi_yPBTrpu7ZxN_Cv_17apZ5kQEyvVzMI_hfHBwvvUz4KdFUDaXZsjT3UWitKvTplt3l8nfKghbng85Z5tIyuQ96e6PEptaJur3/s2493/June17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2493" data-original-width="1526" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj57Ih5Hsn4rrrBkkJunBmTjeiEJWIiw1DhadHfM4hGvgr7ZoPPPBh82JwUaFJanw2pQACULrkg3GbZclfbPwZMY0kaRCi_yPBTrpu7ZxN_Cv_17apZ5kQEyvVzMI_hfHBwvvUz4KdFUDaXZsjT3UWitKvTplt3l8nfKghbng85Z5tIyuQ96e6PEptaJur3/w245-h400/June17.jpg" width="245" /></a></div><p>Summer is exhibiton season I guess because I also went to the UAL grad show and made this out of some students cut up business cards (thanks students for the cute free riso prints)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig3FHFL2FckCN1TTYtI1LIZOE_HyB4A41RfOK573q-Twds2_dH7PtsCKbtutJeiqeO0uG--nVD7aPREftOMC9F6i_mxASs_KMnQE969NEuYLBHnym9JkGVRVvJ1IYKgvVneuwKm7uRsJzS4jQcbuTcw8vkDCVTEtaC-9AGdsMdsZ-66OLbndHSg2xEvQf1/s2493/June18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2493" data-original-width="1526" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig3FHFL2FckCN1TTYtI1LIZOE_HyB4A41RfOK573q-Twds2_dH7PtsCKbtutJeiqeO0uG--nVD7aPREftOMC9F6i_mxASs_KMnQE969NEuYLBHnym9JkGVRVvJ1IYKgvVneuwKm7uRsJzS4jQcbuTcw8vkDCVTEtaC-9AGdsMdsZ-66OLbndHSg2xEvQf1/w245-h400/June18.jpg" width="245" /></a></div><p></p><p>LET ME PLAY MY SILLY GAME (Tears of the Kingdom fan art)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghXnM4NeURAhHeUO1rOWBlwbErIllUpHipuFCtP72RwJNZViePQQlHf2mQljpMfHmaTf4bzjTrkEqHJ-z5LxaINJfBaWEGUfgtYPyjZAoh3o773Q3kXWwlijoow56c7E1RyO1daMp4jTRKc4XuNpM70JUvnUM891FAkei1BK3KP33NZzmGRSodpAwxIOho/s2493/June19.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2493" data-original-width="1526" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghXnM4NeURAhHeUO1rOWBlwbErIllUpHipuFCtP72RwJNZViePQQlHf2mQljpMfHmaTf4bzjTrkEqHJ-z5LxaINJfBaWEGUfgtYPyjZAoh3o773Q3kXWwlijoow56c7E1RyO1daMp4jTRKc4XuNpM70JUvnUM891FAkei1BK3KP33NZzmGRSodpAwxIOho/w245-h400/June19.jpg" width="245" /></a></div><p></p><p>Sometimes Mondays go on forever</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX-wU6aD_dpJZQoQSjuD5rB0STVOM9B9NAqa5k48B2xYpt2fBnUxWbiSUdZ-Gw41fInAUBhrtve-pH8EQevbM3vExOqyLBrSt-PV98lw7IAVtRAc1EQ7CqdjUlAT38os9dW3WsxP52ACG9yxbgPiZXdEBiwW6auwHWTcIIfj_03YVy1kaVuat73zdW-dWp/s2493/June20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2493" data-original-width="1470" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX-wU6aD_dpJZQoQSjuD5rB0STVOM9B9NAqa5k48B2xYpt2fBnUxWbiSUdZ-Gw41fInAUBhrtve-pH8EQevbM3vExOqyLBrSt-PV98lw7IAVtRAc1EQ7CqdjUlAT38os9dW3WsxP52ACG9yxbgPiZXdEBiwW6auwHWTcIIfj_03YVy1kaVuat73zdW-dWp/w236-h400/June20.jpg" width="236" /></a></div><p></p><p>When the weather gets hot, our house fills with flies — it has been particularly bad this year. We live on a grotty London street of shops and there is an alley behind our houses that some businesses leave trash in. There might also be standing water back there. I dunno, it's hard to see. Anywhere, wherever the flies come from, on hot days they love to come into our house and be annoying. I bought an electric fly swat and initially zapping them felt horrendously brutal, but but now I actually quite enjoy it, as a sport. <br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh54kX8kMYHlaFoFUC7iKYNjCtYDxt1lua90DvXXG1pB6KPTUmTUIgdWyxDlwBToElPFMum0ljeg8uTYV8-a2p9mEgjL7KK_g3665vfZzujmU8FMkY-yVoavzk8HoTErQ4Fmq-LTaAp5r_wQKZKIvihGsa4wAnS-lgwDQphNXMb52HZcjeCYxTw717GVXPU/s2493/June21.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2493" data-original-width="1526" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh54kX8kMYHlaFoFUC7iKYNjCtYDxt1lua90DvXXG1pB6KPTUmTUIgdWyxDlwBToElPFMum0ljeg8uTYV8-a2p9mEgjL7KK_g3665vfZzujmU8FMkY-yVoavzk8HoTErQ4Fmq-LTaAp5r_wQKZKIvihGsa4wAnS-lgwDQphNXMb52HZcjeCYxTw717GVXPU/w245-h400/June21.jpg" width="245" /></a></div><p></p><p>I have precisely zero interest in prestige netflix drama, just give me Springwatch and Gregg Wallace goes to the factory. I want his big gurning face yelling at me about how many millions of doritos come off the production line every hour. I also learned, from watching this show, what the UK's most popular flavour of Doritos is. (Feel free to email me with your guesses)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPHEd0xqPCUnujrIB97OBUHIi4l2lglA5NPe147rHlD54MdT5hZMZ60dSbChgupf2Vw9kosvgyeh2DkZ1O_v5rvVbVkuLLspxGbrZS2rJ4t_YEwk5bViLl7pOfvqpk4umWUgo2Xf91_v3ub0e1ukR4F3pSMef1Yri46ZGdDgRqM5iLtSlxK-PkJ5lKBCBO/s2480/June22.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2480" data-original-width="1535" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPHEd0xqPCUnujrIB97OBUHIi4l2lglA5NPe147rHlD54MdT5hZMZ60dSbChgupf2Vw9kosvgyeh2DkZ1O_v5rvVbVkuLLspxGbrZS2rJ4t_YEwk5bViLl7pOfvqpk4umWUgo2Xf91_v3ub0e1ukR4F3pSMef1Yri46ZGdDgRqM5iLtSlxK-PkJ5lKBCBO/w248-h400/June22.jpg" width="248" /></a></div><br />I went to Norwich to <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CtzHt1eqYg_/?hl=en">get a tattoo</a> with artist Lacey Law. Had a very lovely overnight trip there in the glorious sunshine, and got to see my colleague/friend honor for dinner!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYFg4_kbIJhLPE8d89AQrkMB9eDUa1rcgVSpEqCswquj0LB0wPcvQsNMSj6rXdEiM50PszHgWwreVERBlV3G5Z_ES5XBRA-y3LXyywc_sF4QPgtQwHNXZTJ5m7u3168sSLXfixAkWBHqyVYmw7eAn6-tsXg3UpqkEVQAdKPxke8bjVpfkk9awjikvk1wPL/s2480/June23.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2480" data-original-width="1535" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYFg4_kbIJhLPE8d89AQrkMB9eDUa1rcgVSpEqCswquj0LB0wPcvQsNMSj6rXdEiM50PszHgWwreVERBlV3G5Z_ES5XBRA-y3LXyywc_sF4QPgtQwHNXZTJ5m7u3168sSLXfixAkWBHqyVYmw7eAn6-tsXg3UpqkEVQAdKPxke8bjVpfkk9awjikvk1wPL/w248-h400/June23.jpg" width="248" /></a></div><p></p><p>Before I got the train back the next day I walked through town a big more and got to see the arts space honor runs (the incredibly named 'Ambition's Graveyard'). Did some bad drawings on the rattly (but very nice) train home.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6tzqsMX8EKCqCqb-ZbJCQhXijURhHUvMrxEyuNLabIlFYCks1hM-p72yeurLLJEwTq4fBAch50MS5DxXfaMWbGjxc6rdJfjRpls0MXRygrrNVsLCfsykz2wn4iAb28EzGNu0SEF5MlIkufVf3S34le8rlYgYZ_mhy1qJZs5J8qQ0yQM0utodobtVN2yyt/s2493/June24.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2493" data-original-width="1526" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6tzqsMX8EKCqCqb-ZbJCQhXijURhHUvMrxEyuNLabIlFYCks1hM-p72yeurLLJEwTq4fBAch50MS5DxXfaMWbGjxc6rdJfjRpls0MXRygrrNVsLCfsykz2wn4iAb28EzGNu0SEF5MlIkufVf3S34le8rlYgYZ_mhy1qJZs5J8qQ0yQM0utodobtVN2yyt/w245-h400/June24.jpg" width="245" /></a></div><br /><p>Justin was visiting from up North, and so his old school friend (also my friend) Harriet and her husband Tom and toddler Max came up to London, and we all met to go see the Crystal Palace dinosaurs. The highlight for me was actually the nearby petting zoo of REAL animals, including some extremely sweet alpacas! (Max still preferred the dinos though, I think)<br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiouELMTGFKzsvNtrQ9toq3aDZgJRLQ4h_9wLUuRffzFbg_u7-bwjHgKCRVPKsa7qB2C_vLzsqs79QNaBT9s0xv4pvfby7D3S7GQgjWio38B96Q8L8TxNA5nSuE7O1GP_YNmoqp-9tOMUBv5Mr_W19bxEzYJBnmcjRs8oNXXKr0BClkO1pyf3HYXzV-UXuu/s2493/June25.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2493" data-original-width="1526" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiouELMTGFKzsvNtrQ9toq3aDZgJRLQ4h_9wLUuRffzFbg_u7-bwjHgKCRVPKsa7qB2C_vLzsqs79QNaBT9s0xv4pvfby7D3S7GQgjWio38B96Q8L8TxNA5nSuE7O1GP_YNmoqp-9tOMUBv5Mr_W19bxEzYJBnmcjRs8oNXXKr0BClkO1pyf3HYXzV-UXuu/w245-h400/June25.jpg" width="245" /></a></div><p></p><p>My friend Jade invited me to go on a Bishopsgate Institute walking tour of London's port history. I am not especially interested in London's Port history but I really like Jade, and I do design work for the Bishopsgate, so figured it'd be good to actually engage with some of their content. The walking tour was actualy very interesting, though both Jade and I were very tired by the end as it was 30 degrees out that day! (Luckily Jade came prepared with icy water bottles for both of us, incredible).</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNXII3ptcgq8crQAA6clvAodg-uRQNC4_ENNpE_bSWVGk7QjykhgYRLlou5pyU8wyX5TxZXbonpZAwOOV2ewM0eY2XgdbsELyE6KdRWMAYoyDJcya0sZJBU4pVZ2D9zM7h0xZ_AM5dbK3ico3xXlopoRAZaB8LmxF9V1IHXVhiKWcLO9huxjf21PVngaSH/s2493/June26.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2493" data-original-width="1526" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNXII3ptcgq8crQAA6clvAodg-uRQNC4_ENNpE_bSWVGk7QjykhgYRLlou5pyU8wyX5TxZXbonpZAwOOV2ewM0eY2XgdbsELyE6KdRWMAYoyDJcya0sZJBU4pVZ2D9zM7h0xZ_AM5dbK3ico3xXlopoRAZaB8LmxF9V1IHXVhiKWcLO9huxjf21PVngaSH/w245-h400/June26.jpg" width="245" /></a></div><p> As well as playing Tears of the Kingdom, I also get to have a mini magnum when the day is done. It's all worth it.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9iNBHn0qo0hMegQJpa7U0de0QZVLjWK0THJJT86tQvVRdlOXaeMhI4UmPbsJ8pPdxPEOHyngDGr3_EdI9GdJpTj6FH4H-hUKnznoxXRGLLGeRc0-DYgO1czqIgGHG5ZLetbuH5Hgo6W7VTvyIevtPWVyeYNKTu_l4b-XTdoi5fDW9_ta-CsrqAFWGj-do/s2493/June27.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2493" data-original-width="1526" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9iNBHn0qo0hMegQJpa7U0de0QZVLjWK0THJJT86tQvVRdlOXaeMhI4UmPbsJ8pPdxPEOHyngDGr3_EdI9GdJpTj6FH4H-hUKnznoxXRGLLGeRc0-DYgO1czqIgGHG5ZLetbuH5Hgo6W7VTvyIevtPWVyeYNKTu_l4b-XTdoi5fDW9_ta-CsrqAFWGj-do/w245-h400/June27.jpg" width="245" /></a></div><br /><p>I'd been thinking for a while of getting little dot tattoos on my fingers just under my nails — I mentioned it to my tattoo artist earlier in the month and she offered to throw them in for free at the end of the session. I know my mother will very much disapprove. Hand tattoos!! You can never become a teacher or a cop or a lawyer or other upstanding careers now!! I consider these tattoos, as well as being decorative and extremely cute, my statement of confidence and intent to never have to get a sufficiently respectable job that these would be considered unnacceptable :) (They are very subtle)</p><p>Also, 10 years of doing this and drawing hands is still REALLY HARD<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw3VNUUOIJQ_sp2xbm0A0M1GH--Gl33DtpNfzrdq32gP32KjpeJjbNPymUMx7ZcQgbNZshzGzf6ZC_bky_ogszeK_N-O-f8PqOpNnAocd5VCks6gDNFOFn44Eszcb-j0P4LIKBJYZb_mCz7bxgyWSN8NJ7htZvxnqW8EJJUv6zU_gfdC3r6DBH75l7yOxx/s2493/June28.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2493" data-original-width="1526" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw3VNUUOIJQ_sp2xbm0A0M1GH--Gl33DtpNfzrdq32gP32KjpeJjbNPymUMx7ZcQgbNZshzGzf6ZC_bky_ogszeK_N-O-f8PqOpNnAocd5VCks6gDNFOFn44Eszcb-j0P4LIKBJYZb_mCz7bxgyWSN8NJ7htZvxnqW8EJJUv6zU_gfdC3r6DBH75l7yOxx/w245-h400/June28.jpg" width="245" /></a></div><p></p><p>Did an extremely professional and convincing job on a difficult zoom call and I wish you could all have seen it. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNkINFzSdPybFYADpauxPkf5RO7MQzOQbZ_R9ceRvs37Jvl3vUjc3udMXjc_PFdyB3LrKfHoY0svD-LYIrFs0CBHzgRcRk36QW_rfQKyRhPBQm0zWXS6NlxBRvsOCvfgCYBhko-tHsv7oQUN6LxbEfugbYf89irB0Wqtq3Qt4AfUWs6SVReiTg-QNNc4W8/s2493/June29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2493" data-original-width="1526" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNkINFzSdPybFYADpauxPkf5RO7MQzOQbZ_R9ceRvs37Jvl3vUjc3udMXjc_PFdyB3LrKfHoY0svD-LYIrFs0CBHzgRcRk36QW_rfQKyRhPBQm0zWXS6NlxBRvsOCvfgCYBhko-tHsv7oQUN6LxbEfugbYf89irB0Wqtq3Qt4AfUWs6SVReiTg-QNNc4W8/w245-h400/June29.jpg" width="245" /></a></div><br /><p>The perpetual work stuggle — wait... where did you share that link with me again?</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAxn_uYaSLKIoUd-Wj4HMDSqJJKtu6rm78Cb5EmJ2B4Zj4ntc4P0HaFLikElStCqOMMAx0pDy4eHX3CaJW-9cnU-QT8bxSvIxsaYG21xvW_HcC8i3SIAOfwSNlCVUf_QL0PnXNw6xAa-MLTVk5TL6HXfaKsMm5A0R7GkiAYrBibFs7q2fNmTOIsxHxod7C/s2493/June30.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2493" data-original-width="1526" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAxn_uYaSLKIoUd-Wj4HMDSqJJKtu6rm78Cb5EmJ2B4Zj4ntc4P0HaFLikElStCqOMMAx0pDy4eHX3CaJW-9cnU-QT8bxSvIxsaYG21xvW_HcC8i3SIAOfwSNlCVUf_QL0PnXNw6xAa-MLTVk5TL6HXfaKsMm5A0R7GkiAYrBibFs7q2fNmTOIsxHxod7C/w245-h400/June30.jpeg" width="245" /></a></div><p></p><p>It's really grey today (and the last couple of days) — unacceptable! I demand sunshine! Hopefully more (within reason) during July... </p><p>Rest assured I will draw about how much I love the sunshine if we get it!<br /></p>Emmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03307690577227053266noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6149147983678759733.post-19297152259690738542023-05-31T18:39:00.005+01:002023-05-31T18:39:56.490+01:00May 2023<p> May has been a very busy month work-wise and some other life stuff wise, and I am coming out the other end of it feeling a little drained but quite optimistic and excited about the rest of the year...</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLXjDd-WAoZuMDqsNohYL8vApLkD6juFTxY0r5flO0MUNu9duiSbI1_OnEd41nbG1KEgys0_KsXsMipmufKys8rhl5MIYOllxDkJAJRza-4MGSyiG3jqqQxeiizpLzKvwsYv9rlJu6EmOgMWfgUyQNQnNRhUfvm-PPVIMeDjBhLZIQhTi7sdObP4ijHQ/s2493/May1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2493" data-original-width="1526" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLXjDd-WAoZuMDqsNohYL8vApLkD6juFTxY0r5flO0MUNu9duiSbI1_OnEd41nbG1KEgys0_KsXsMipmufKys8rhl5MIYOllxDkJAJRza-4MGSyiG3jqqQxeiizpLzKvwsYv9rlJu6EmOgMWfgUyQNQnNRhUfvm-PPVIMeDjBhLZIQhTi7sdObP4ijHQ/w245-h400/May1.jpg" width="245" /></a></div><p></p><p>I am increasingly learning that an important part of trying to build a truly collaborative studio is being open and up front when things aren't going so great. Telling someone they've upset you is hard but it feels SO MUCH BETTER to get stuff out in the open. (For anyone who's lost track, yes, I have three jobs — I lecture at UAL, I am still freelance, but I also work around 2 days a week with a tech studio who are currently going through a period of some growing pains, and as I increasingly somehow tumble upwards into a leadership role there it's proving ever more important to try and get ourselves on an even keel emotionally, as well as practically...)<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1O9kG1HKtWJKBg-uJCKRiE691V-1z2yQp96biGWYlAfHlq6UEg-qXc-r5eeSFsDw77_UAccssTTJEjBhUTfa7azIveBTmztQrFa9wxtfglPzzHO_dphgFmKP6mPtQMc_mj2wJoeNTVZZHTrsSPEA1iPrWOsx9TuMRsDWZXHCmQVpel39KGVFr0WOoFQ/s2493/May2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2493" data-original-width="1526" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1O9kG1HKtWJKBg-uJCKRiE691V-1z2yQp96biGWYlAfHlq6UEg-qXc-r5eeSFsDw77_UAccssTTJEjBhUTfa7azIveBTmztQrFa9wxtfglPzzHO_dphgFmKP6mPtQMc_mj2wJoeNTVZZHTrsSPEA1iPrWOsx9TuMRsDWZXHCmQVpel39KGVFr0WOoFQ/w245-h400/May2.jpg" width="245" /></a></div><br />Haircut! It's frightfully impractical but conceptually impressive...<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS583St-skb-qvld8xuOAJneW5edx55Q39ysHR_Aaf1-KXoW3-UoO_0OPfQs8z0MxJeAiK5c2toOv1hoFxaRJyL0LQTbbfNgiJ8KRD4V3pv8VyWCBi2po3anMYSP9SHCYvytz3yS_egkG8teBN9Pw896B30XrMknRjbAtUoSraQVxNBBWe36ebzkn96A/s2493/May3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2493" data-original-width="1526" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS583St-skb-qvld8xuOAJneW5edx55Q39ysHR_Aaf1-KXoW3-UoO_0OPfQs8z0MxJeAiK5c2toOv1hoFxaRJyL0LQTbbfNgiJ8KRD4V3pv8VyWCBi2po3anMYSP9SHCYvytz3yS_egkG8teBN9Pw896B30XrMknRjbAtUoSraQVxNBBWe36ebzkn96A/w245-h400/May3.jpg" width="245" /></a></div><p></p><p>Big thoughts and small thoughts. Chase is very achey and slow.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVA5s6FiUqcbpvnBtkkUVEu5JNTDkiudsFa2b1Ogc3zUERNfyjaJJ5r49sTWaeQXJO7QvAFagf-gIwP77ea7pIL6FP3EY9_Wgd6P36_50tEO_zddKHvmObeYiGTdeIIg4YZWNaVfYmuxFE7DAyDYPw18wVB86_6P2AC1rKVqcUTqgX9wgVNvb29QEHoA/s2493/May4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2493" data-original-width="1526" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVA5s6FiUqcbpvnBtkkUVEu5JNTDkiudsFa2b1Ogc3zUERNfyjaJJ5r49sTWaeQXJO7QvAFagf-gIwP77ea7pIL6FP3EY9_Wgd6P36_50tEO_zddKHvmObeYiGTdeIIg4YZWNaVfYmuxFE7DAyDYPw18wVB86_6P2AC1rKVqcUTqgX9wgVNvb29QEHoA/w245-h400/May4.jpg" width="245" /></a></div><p>Yelling "THAT'S PEDAGOGY, BABY!" as I fling a bag of colourful trash into the middle of a room of students</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbSHSzB7t2R-_YdXDSwkAN1g7rfY2G72i66ccY8dD3WKi1sHiMUqKmkHKCPPAcGuvwGTUGZFz6IqPfLt9RtwH91n8znGBcmtmwdLKrAitoWG4vAnfOGO8VzUjGXSgKsC_dM969BlsGe7lASFa-Tt5gAzutSfXrH1MxK1iHJ3rTnlmFx21muJOQ874oNw/s2493/May5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2493" data-original-width="1526" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbSHSzB7t2R-_YdXDSwkAN1g7rfY2G72i66ccY8dD3WKi1sHiMUqKmkHKCPPAcGuvwGTUGZFz6IqPfLt9RtwH91n8znGBcmtmwdLKrAitoWG4vAnfOGO8VzUjGXSgKsC_dM969BlsGe7lASFa-Tt5gAzutSfXrH1MxK1iHJ3rTnlmFx21muJOQ874oNw/w245-h400/May5.jpg" width="245" /></a></div><p></p><p>Sometimes I just wanna try and be <a href="https://grainedit.com/2010/08/27/job-wouters/">Letman</a></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi4MKmsFpF8Mdei052-VJuSHRIJCQQHWsu9wpgh6n0FkuaG81CAy7qQYGqJC4WWo7fUre_nQs2I3s_Tpc9zKjOrrkpuTwI2mLI2bbKhJKsnvhB3Nmf6FMCR378lRy4zJCA6-AxnCPgx_vZpawLMTaKMZURUqDtGYQAMMBbM1YoOHvhd29Nts5JlZecPw/s2493/May6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2493" data-original-width="1526" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi4MKmsFpF8Mdei052-VJuSHRIJCQQHWsu9wpgh6n0FkuaG81CAy7qQYGqJC4WWo7fUre_nQs2I3s_Tpc9zKjOrrkpuTwI2mLI2bbKhJKsnvhB3Nmf6FMCR378lRy4zJCA6-AxnCPgx_vZpawLMTaKMZURUqDtGYQAMMBbM1YoOHvhd29Nts5JlZecPw/w245-h400/May6.jpg" width="245" /></a></div><br />Fuck the coronation! Let's eat rice bowl in the rain and go see some apocalyptic art!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC7jo_jU3iVyIyLUMau3LFh0b-pMRQigInC_c_qMkCkdBz0GQj5aeG6MMdrVetx7gD4vsuKBAnEF1e4ixEKFhuFcmqWPCyGKbwSgoLXFxFatGi6ti5U_HQepIEHG2rqEG_qnv6xMqNZ-Bs4rBxMi8-fdGQqn6ez8zmIOl0qdsn-6tmRCvtCMrXloHoag/s2493/May7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2493" data-original-width="1470" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC7jo_jU3iVyIyLUMau3LFh0b-pMRQigInC_c_qMkCkdBz0GQj5aeG6MMdrVetx7gD4vsuKBAnEF1e4ixEKFhuFcmqWPCyGKbwSgoLXFxFatGi6ti5U_HQepIEHG2rqEG_qnv6xMqNZ-Bs4rBxMi8-fdGQqn6ez8zmIOl0qdsn-6tmRCvtCMrXloHoag/w236-h400/May7.jpg" width="236" /></a></div><p></p><p>My partner is really cute and they bought a cute outfit</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfFFNCpOuQE03dBU4UwT83zZ--nG5I2Dj57-PdKhGhRv674G-TiC7pjQRaHEQXh0VYR2P-_8_CRDxX5rXLnDKR9x__meto3LTSbawaOE5dnXSY5fBgmIpsaPDfdUIox8dPLfLyv9QQ5g159mhyCPn3lgnCKuHV3LE4PWK5apEhBIxbsTUqUKRGqlLIYQ/s2493/May8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2493" data-original-width="1526" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfFFNCpOuQE03dBU4UwT83zZ--nG5I2Dj57-PdKhGhRv674G-TiC7pjQRaHEQXh0VYR2P-_8_CRDxX5rXLnDKR9x__meto3LTSbawaOE5dnXSY5fBgmIpsaPDfdUIox8dPLfLyv9QQ5g159mhyCPn3lgnCKuHV3LE4PWK5apEhBIxbsTUqUKRGqlLIYQ/w245-h400/May8.jpg" width="245" /></a></div><p></p><p>Chase is also incontinent, but it has improved a LOT since we got her on HRT. (It is currently... 4 days since Chase had a wee accident?! And that was only because we accidentally missed her dose the night before?!)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA36_ZPGt08K5GdOrBwWz6XXRJOK7Hls1uUWmpMvRY8q8bL5yhs7r9nX3mmirQfgM-tzpEJdI3ylyAEw4sDONaJBCrMHZcANhyxux0pUG4rRAC7oHqhGE-yXvO5x39-6ke2NreyrlXAcIBQ2Wj-P6fBDDp-Ohzb_guNUB_UcEHw2N7bKUBp3SlUpWG0g/s2493/May9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2493" data-original-width="1526" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA36_ZPGt08K5GdOrBwWz6XXRJOK7Hls1uUWmpMvRY8q8bL5yhs7r9nX3mmirQfgM-tzpEJdI3ylyAEw4sDONaJBCrMHZcANhyxux0pUG4rRAC7oHqhGE-yXvO5x39-6ke2NreyrlXAcIBQ2Wj-P6fBDDp-Ohzb_guNUB_UcEHw2N7bKUBp3SlUpWG0g/w245-h400/May9.jpg" width="245" /></a></div><p></p><p>Some days you just see a REALLY big woodlouse and need to draw it</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNuGCKSkPQ1QqdKrAlDxEcPMQLzFva21m6duiKtBtsPoDnG66CPgbAO5o0aAp4OhZ5Ign5uDvcsKXBIbFiH95ZKW9pGIgAsipGD0nhvZAPsPLrK0VWUzjq5_EK58yCzN5KoRQUoHl0ytCQiTkmdCwY4h-HCEvY1S1a7Z2P1aE3FD80nqzoxMkNLldAgQ/s2493/May10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2493" data-original-width="1526" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNuGCKSkPQ1QqdKrAlDxEcPMQLzFva21m6duiKtBtsPoDnG66CPgbAO5o0aAp4OhZ5Ign5uDvcsKXBIbFiH95ZKW9pGIgAsipGD0nhvZAPsPLrK0VWUzjq5_EK58yCzN5KoRQUoHl0ytCQiTkmdCwY4h-HCEvY1S1a7Z2P1aE3FD80nqzoxMkNLldAgQ/w245-h400/May10.jpg" width="245" /></a></div><br /><p>Too many to dos, too many little red boxes with numbers in...</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1HgMTL6k0uKYMY4qPXahnVywi6gkAHkO-6Slop-bxCNKbpH71xD0_OyBsRammGbkSpvQaIydR6i5JzSK8CQ8a9oIQf8Qel40XMhEGnSgsgk7lE02TnmZblbXjWxTzw1LSxyHXNJ07cq6HIypITfTAqgIJwJiEuy34cUqHpqHcdAjYnmYku6ISwPjJsw/s2493/May11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2493" data-original-width="1526" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1HgMTL6k0uKYMY4qPXahnVywi6gkAHkO-6Slop-bxCNKbpH71xD0_OyBsRammGbkSpvQaIydR6i5JzSK8CQ8a9oIQf8Qel40XMhEGnSgsgk7lE02TnmZblbXjWxTzw1LSxyHXNJ07cq6HIypITfTAqgIJwJiEuy34cUqHpqHcdAjYnmYku6ISwPjJsw/w245-h400/May11.jpg" width="245" /></a></div><p></p><p>Our friend Heidi invited us to go see a contemporary dance rendition of Jim Henson classic movie 'The Dark Crystal', so we figured we'd better watch/rewatch before we went. It's a lot, huh</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb4239LVsFikt97BvTlafN5d8r_Uc2ltaDks8YGCfPtW5ejKTAeiKigKCtXyNVQDNm2uCvNlvGoBlTn4QhLW2NIEF0qBpeLJqq8NQfvQA8zucEcp-Xk_bRjucPHeFt1PIDoUZSKRrAVVV4XPASbMFrTMzOmfMP4XOp2xG7-mEz6dhvxJmZNx-_kIgYGQ/s2493/May12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2493" data-original-width="1526" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb4239LVsFikt97BvTlafN5d8r_Uc2ltaDks8YGCfPtW5ejKTAeiKigKCtXyNVQDNm2uCvNlvGoBlTn4QhLW2NIEF0qBpeLJqq8NQfvQA8zucEcp-Xk_bRjucPHeFt1PIDoUZSKRrAVVV4XPASbMFrTMzOmfMP4XOp2xG7-mEz6dhvxJmZNx-_kIgYGQ/w245-h400/May12.jpg" width="245" /></a></div><p></p><p>Love a big infrastructure</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYdH8ldHVZmVZ-S03kNa-C1fq00eUHgxqvRPF6xa1IqSRPl5LrcxRfbgVHACqifBkiY-B9Nc1lpTEF87sBwAxeFNKzMGAD32c5PARAUQ4KNSXsIvGBiF4cv7OI--r8NrcOdwl2ap7p_fF13DOS9c-567wq1gr530jMyCKAIxpJ9dRFTDQT2rZT31b8SA/s2493/May13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2493" data-original-width="1526" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYdH8ldHVZmVZ-S03kNa-C1fq00eUHgxqvRPF6xa1IqSRPl5LrcxRfbgVHACqifBkiY-B9Nc1lpTEF87sBwAxeFNKzMGAD32c5PARAUQ4KNSXsIvGBiF4cv7OI--r8NrcOdwl2ap7p_fF13DOS9c-567wq1gr530jMyCKAIxpJ9dRFTDQT2rZT31b8SA/w245-h400/May13.jpg" width="245" /></a></div><br />Also love Wisteria (and all the other scented flowers) season<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFyyNJo8r1usXWHy0hVKjaOsdrWj-wGGP6UAxyK0ax_vmFF1Zo2_o5PguU-YWXKRgJSgL4sBC4oorEm6KRyYP_smKCc0OPqkPPJmVyf50rQfKIz1KYWCOrofDvznJfLwqSQvvJ-mG1q_TJ1Jl4rFrkVMU7C9T3lmO645X-xt8horM_dQQ22tC40dWqEw/s2493/May14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2493" data-original-width="1526" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFyyNJo8r1usXWHy0hVKjaOsdrWj-wGGP6UAxyK0ax_vmFF1Zo2_o5PguU-YWXKRgJSgL4sBC4oorEm6KRyYP_smKCc0OPqkPPJmVyf50rQfKIz1KYWCOrofDvznJfLwqSQvvJ-mG1q_TJ1Jl4rFrkVMU7C9T3lmO645X-xt8horM_dQQ22tC40dWqEw/w245-h400/May14.jpg" width="245" /></a></div><p></p><p>I reeeeeally need to find a way of fitting 'exercise' into my days, but the problem is: I hate exercise (and work is really fun and financially rewarding). Also I love food. What do?!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb7n2LWKevjgaNKpQD9hB0tgMmlIDtnWTsQYkRPQN19km2EqMw_yjS_yB1tig788olMz5J8tunZBevPKakP7Pf580M7RcFTBCrskm8EdgOxjwBPA3me_nZdNAV9vSbXBeEUsTAhtscZjcOzk1vEPs59xWiTQLRfGuER5ecpkICqU5CmcUxoU6fpQleLA/s2493/May16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2493" data-original-width="1526" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb7n2LWKevjgaNKpQD9hB0tgMmlIDtnWTsQYkRPQN19km2EqMw_yjS_yB1tig788olMz5J8tunZBevPKakP7Pf580M7RcFTBCrskm8EdgOxjwBPA3me_nZdNAV9vSbXBeEUsTAhtscZjcOzk1vEPs59xWiTQLRfGuER5ecpkICqU5CmcUxoU6fpQleLA/w245-h400/May16.jpg" width="245" /></a></div><p></p><p>Got an unexpected Justin visit and it was great</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXWLXUmrKjLq8Cdq1q8eqoIdwuAEK0n7Als4o1THImj7nkWVe0QQuYg6morPbAmes03qUBpomQTg2u1KO6DU2-VijTcWQvWbVp6WbKGP1PFyxT3ubEI2AgdjBccZ4YRyDIyP_QE5xoNzwn6sGQVMA62yEjvtBEmFkkbj-Jw2A0YwaBZLgecUdgBSkKyA/s2493/May18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2493" data-original-width="1465" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXWLXUmrKjLq8Cdq1q8eqoIdwuAEK0n7Als4o1THImj7nkWVe0QQuYg6morPbAmes03qUBpomQTg2u1KO6DU2-VijTcWQvWbVp6WbKGP1PFyxT3ubEI2AgdjBccZ4YRyDIyP_QE5xoNzwn6sGQVMA62yEjvtBEmFkkbj-Jw2A0YwaBZLgecUdgBSkKyA/w235-h400/May18.jpg" width="235" /></a></div><p></p><p>I am a professional, who can absolutely deal with alarmingly coloured contact lenses...<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4CYCKAeUftOtt2hNu7WkSBQiOZMUu8dAQUDyvQ7B_Y1beuNwn5tP7Slmv-mfkeI0Jyqvc4ayYN_eEH9tylaylGjVqqx6_m7XwN7eyEZdgW3x7g4bgTaE3IEjztRvI-yvmWaN0CoyVy5xF3dtyHDmgn0R1ZMg21wxUtGAkxqiHJwiA5vjMxpTOJsNuDQ/s2493/May19.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2493" data-original-width="1526" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4CYCKAeUftOtt2hNu7WkSBQiOZMUu8dAQUDyvQ7B_Y1beuNwn5tP7Slmv-mfkeI0Jyqvc4ayYN_eEH9tylaylGjVqqx6_m7XwN7eyEZdgW3x7g4bgTaE3IEjztRvI-yvmWaN0CoyVy5xF3dtyHDmgn0R1ZMg21wxUtGAkxqiHJwiA5vjMxpTOJsNuDQ/w245-h400/May19.jpg" width="245" /></a></div><p></p><p>Had a really 'wow London is a lot' day which commenced with opening my front door at 8.30am to see a cyclist splattered across the road directly outside my house, which I think got me into a particularly "isn't existence intense" mood for the rest of the day</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsERMROAyq8ZH0S7f_b7X8W6m_xhptob3S5f-4908xgWUPQ1jJiss4v2GXGL9f99sWfNoAr8SfHM7f1zdEIrD0_j-W6u7CgbmfLlrYKpintErzkhPZQOB5j76opeAIurcFOOQ_iiYQL7JJcEI9t40SO1hynF8zVlOZU_i0WQfS0XI5CxQWHhNbsyqNSg/s2493/May20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2493" data-original-width="1526" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsERMROAyq8ZH0S7f_b7X8W6m_xhptob3S5f-4908xgWUPQ1jJiss4v2GXGL9f99sWfNoAr8SfHM7f1zdEIrD0_j-W6u7CgbmfLlrYKpintErzkhPZQOB5j76opeAIurcFOOQ_iiYQL7JJcEI9t40SO1hynF8zVlOZU_i0WQfS0XI5CxQWHhNbsyqNSg/w245-h400/May20.jpg" width="245" /></a></div><br />It turns out — I do not like contemporary dance<p>(Also, excuse me, not enough puppets — none — for a supposed Jim Henson adaptation)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHXhg4jtNbQBtXssde7TqOqiSiBCDP_e8_YzdglzSWSznmKNIF9Hxu3skWZtWxjpQ_eLeRTlKCjqaQcmIbT2bEtGMx3MvmQpYfpG9FZmGmGt-3bxb-O2hzZS_j9L68TwQW6lJRJVMBmjPGszzcSmk09w67bdcKZVacwC1IfoMiVUth1td_CfHMmMtxiw/s2493/May21.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2493" data-original-width="1526" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHXhg4jtNbQBtXssde7TqOqiSiBCDP_e8_YzdglzSWSznmKNIF9Hxu3skWZtWxjpQ_eLeRTlKCjqaQcmIbT2bEtGMx3MvmQpYfpG9FZmGmGt-3bxb-O2hzZS_j9L68TwQW6lJRJVMBmjPGszzcSmk09w67bdcKZVacwC1IfoMiVUth1td_CfHMmMtxiw/w245-h400/May21.jpg" width="245" /></a></div><br />It's fun to try draw the bad angles as well as the good...<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbrU94KljuFgO0L_z0rYDoieGy3FTxY9pbJqSeYOenUGdh7njFxWxUc5r7qeYupbQW__NcEKFjqZ4o93pcqmILkedy4RS9owzDzaTKacRWGlKMWKWkIv5ZTvL2mObQ_cvV64DkXjcH95ncYIVzXIImYq3ZpnHZs0sc6QownrMYFgR3PlIWNnbj_cg9cA/s2493/May22.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2493" data-original-width="1526" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbrU94KljuFgO0L_z0rYDoieGy3FTxY9pbJqSeYOenUGdh7njFxWxUc5r7qeYupbQW__NcEKFjqZ4o93pcqmILkedy4RS9owzDzaTKacRWGlKMWKWkIv5ZTvL2mObQ_cvV64DkXjcH95ncYIVzXIImYq3ZpnHZs0sc6QownrMYFgR3PlIWNnbj_cg9cA/w245-h400/May22.jpg" width="245" /></a></div><p></p><p>My mood generally elevates by approx 20% from May – September simply because I AM THE RIGHT TEMPERATURE AT LAST</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIq1ElRQJAuEEi69zmZzQKI6F9cCNA5aespAM4ItGl3gLBzTojoCd0qN8iuwRo6sR9sqOdGCtihLvRACX-ICnkLUj4r-1cmM2eHRrtMo5V3kTFIdOi_ZPcOTlu4yHhKsmE7mPh8evApD6djHLrnAbJLA_PsEuujVYlObFAQqPrF95E7LBi3Hv3KvQVFA/s2493/May23.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2493" data-original-width="1526" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIq1ElRQJAuEEi69zmZzQKI6F9cCNA5aespAM4ItGl3gLBzTojoCd0qN8iuwRo6sR9sqOdGCtihLvRACX-ICnkLUj4r-1cmM2eHRrtMo5V3kTFIdOi_ZPcOTlu4yHhKsmE7mPh8evApD6djHLrnAbJLA_PsEuujVYlObFAQqPrF95E7LBi3Hv3KvQVFA/w245-h400/May23.jpg" width="245" /></a></div><br />It's even better this year because NO SWEATY TITS! Despite them being drastically reduced just over a year ago, this is the first month that I've finally been bold enough to just abandon all bra wearing and I feel so freeeeeeeee<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqnb0cvfymdcQY_uNJFIPuClBYsL5w0CD9pnO9lnVOPYe-LnkZByKIRDcOBk-f4pEEdxsc4IGRffa8Rb47Di6EzcHIkIZ7VHWuBRKZZYi12IkQgyVENmpFGfg7ec2CK0k3niZwPcZ60Hj6ifyG6QbuVUrNzqJkx7Joggrtj3uZgJ66JySQP517EiE3jg/s2493/May24.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2493" data-original-width="1526" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqnb0cvfymdcQY_uNJFIPuClBYsL5w0CD9pnO9lnVOPYe-LnkZByKIRDcOBk-f4pEEdxsc4IGRffa8Rb47Di6EzcHIkIZ7VHWuBRKZZYi12IkQgyVENmpFGfg7ec2CK0k3niZwPcZ60Hj6ifyG6QbuVUrNzqJkx7Joggrtj3uZgJ66JySQP517EiE3jg/w245-h400/May24.jpg" width="245" /></a></div><p></p><p>I do love my work but any time after 20.00 is TOO LATE to still be working</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLSrdjwqZW2JADl8R4ZXEvaXRjqVBj5kNbpLfCFro7upOro_rIfLdFwoxw1T9cAHU8Gi0YWs0jaNR5BmQ0AEHJQDiKx0dEWcdJbhYjJlNrtYeT4uCSYNsWc8tCux8hJHMk-CFV8FK43GmuyCO1x-p_aC7oVgobV55VaGhJiQWu74sHX-fejFzZPrlvVA/s2480/May26.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2480" data-original-width="1535" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLSrdjwqZW2JADl8R4ZXEvaXRjqVBj5kNbpLfCFro7upOro_rIfLdFwoxw1T9cAHU8Gi0YWs0jaNR5BmQ0AEHJQDiKx0dEWcdJbhYjJlNrtYeT4uCSYNsWc8tCux8hJHMk-CFV8FK43GmuyCO1x-p_aC7oVgobV55VaGhJiQWu74sHX-fejFzZPrlvVA/w248-h400/May26.jpg" width="248" /></a></div><br /><p>But I had to work extra hard because I took Friday (mostly) off to head up North and see my lovely friends!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZjhW2c-7lrWfCAUpBPA_LdQ_UGY5zP7ZRdkCFvNcs6D5YwchLt3jO8s-LN55LKJDqh37qTfUUHhPyo2sqG9tJwsCEOll3lbWVwyWrmLehBGt6oJ6xqa3XLFXqHNoDBOEJK9EFnhQYaGh-a-i1zpEweHsVTEbL6vjsigcqPNwuudqrp7vNmmgF_J-hQg/s2480/May27.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2480" data-original-width="1535" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZjhW2c-7lrWfCAUpBPA_LdQ_UGY5zP7ZRdkCFvNcs6D5YwchLt3jO8s-LN55LKJDqh37qTfUUHhPyo2sqG9tJwsCEOll3lbWVwyWrmLehBGt6oJ6xqa3XLFXqHNoDBOEJK9EFnhQYaGh-a-i1zpEweHsVTEbL6vjsigcqPNwuudqrp7vNmmgF_J-hQg/w248-h400/May27.jpg" width="248" /></a></div><br /><p>And on Saturday we went for a big bike to Lumb Hole Falls. Returning to Hebden Bridge is always a bit of a mixed feelings thing. I miss Charlie SO much, and I miss how fit I was while I was there, and how I knew that valley and all its winding footpaths like the back of my hand. I do NOT miss feeling trapped in a bad relationship, the near constant rain, and being generally miserable, so swings and roundabouts I guess... But anyway, it was nice to do a good long clamber at the time of year when Hebden is at it's absolute best</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwkHfy4VC3DIH4FQETv5OsKcdbIQ65zUf2GwLJU32b8vENGds0K7FsIFu8TxpMNT6X7B730h4K-bI05GO0zj2FE7pHLwoESuDYgv9GK2rz3LFUHxC5WiRyTtlDRbl1iYSAab9Hl_zXKXja3M78Hq9vreau3vPEHEs7YbbsKePIUFQJg9RxdMkyig6RGw/s2480/May28.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2480" data-original-width="1535" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwkHfy4VC3DIH4FQETv5OsKcdbIQ65zUf2GwLJU32b8vENGds0K7FsIFu8TxpMNT6X7B730h4K-bI05GO0zj2FE7pHLwoESuDYgv9GK2rz3LFUHxC5WiRyTtlDRbl1iYSAab9Hl_zXKXja3M78Hq9vreau3vPEHEs7YbbsKePIUFQJg9RxdMkyig6RGw/w248-h400/May28.jpg" width="248" /></a></div><p></p><p>I had to dash back down south on Sunday but not before our wonderful host James made us a big breakfast!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgszzugOeNR5SA5l4iJEpdX0cbgFmfHUKcNoWtVnodRNMrlA8R5vYql1_5FkHpdBmGxStZUL0VQJkFuucCKAkel_ax7IUFD3pr-kc1Bh85QrYnRy1la3HXW4D0EfX4Fgx7j8LfACTD1cUGx20e643M6QqtHaeS-UYlqSkuPxxpCCP3XYI4NANoqnxBr5w/s2493/May29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2493" data-original-width="1469" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgszzugOeNR5SA5l4iJEpdX0cbgFmfHUKcNoWtVnodRNMrlA8R5vYql1_5FkHpdBmGxStZUL0VQJkFuucCKAkel_ax7IUFD3pr-kc1Bh85QrYnRy1la3HXW4D0EfX4Fgx7j8LfACTD1cUGx20e643M6QqtHaeS-UYlqSkuPxxpCCP3XYI4NANoqnxBr5w/w236-h400/May29.jpg" width="236" /></a></div><br />I am sorry to report the imminent deterioration of my visual diary quality. There are only so many hours in the day and I need to spend as many as possible of my non work ones playing TEARS OF THE KINGDOM<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBdgCRboR9dLgnVayLOYut9Oy1R9sRg55FZVy5dptwgQ4WYifpKw9EMIewdK95c9AQmK8suCAMOLEsi0mneGcYZs_Xu5TwJ4SyM2yov2ziC5skEwtnEVqZdXS7LVbmvQUFWReoGXw2lv5s2O1lwI-iR_lUFUpdV7x2fIqIugT9LWHQSE7gI-dSgJqKQw/s2493/May30.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2493" data-original-width="1526" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBdgCRboR9dLgnVayLOYut9Oy1R9sRg55FZVy5dptwgQ4WYifpKw9EMIewdK95c9AQmK8suCAMOLEsi0mneGcYZs_Xu5TwJ4SyM2yov2ziC5skEwtnEVqZdXS7LVbmvQUFWReoGXw2lv5s2O1lwI-iR_lUFUpdV7x2fIqIugT9LWHQSE7gI-dSgJqKQw/w245-h400/May30.jpg" width="245" /></a></div><br /><p>Really though, I AM fine :)</p><p>For the last year or so, I have, for the first time in my life, felt like I am actually working TOWARDS some things, rather than just 'working'. I am building things. I am doing good work. I am EXCITED! It's taking a lot of me right now, and will likely continue to do so for the foreseeable, but I hope I can get the balance right of taking care of myself and doing what I want/need to do to get ahead, and build the things I am excited about. <br /><br />Maybe I'll try for less 'I am too busy' drawings next month though hey...<br /></p>Emmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03307690577227053266noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6149147983678759733.post-32552670724699357012023-05-14T15:56:00.002+01:002023-05-14T15:56:42.920+01:00Eurovision 2023<p>Once again, it's the most wonderful time of the year! Always fun to take part in #draweurovision — I do feel like I get just a tiny bit incrementally better each year, which is satisfying.<br /></p><p>You can see my previous years of illustrations here: <br /></p><p><a href="https://emmacharleston.blogspot.com/2014/06/may.html">2014</a>, <a href="https://emmacharleston.blogspot.com/2015/06/may-2015.html">2015</a>, <a href="https://emmacharleston.blogspot.com/2016/06/may-2016.html">2016</a>. <a href="https://emmacharleston.blogspot.com/2017/05/eurovision.html">2017</a>, <a href="https://emmacharleston.blogspot.com/2018/05/eurovisions-2018.html">2018</a>, <a href="http://emmacharleston.blogspot.com/2019/05/eurovision-2019.html">2019</a>, <a href="https://emmacharleston.blogspot.com/2021/05/eurovision-2021.html">2021</a>, <a href="https://emmacharleston.blogspot.com/2022/05/eurovision-2022.html">2022</a></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLdZh_TdupUc91mLfguzg5v5x9ZfJd4yDBF-hObzLL6rnacuHeov8i_rjcvGNj2vIq2omHeNwGsTIWnx5lmbnHV01my8TOMQTgp4xDw57sucsynjgEGLap7r-HH2xj_jLuPwyXynLOAIt2VhULpOIrtCcS54lq0xPfTrhJDlwSzL6fYO1SLUc2e7zM2g/s1080/Untitled_Artwork%2025.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; 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margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaGLBBCGxzkqA8oPLde7ROg9nEH1AXybEaLBIN0M_Qe2-wqJxeA3IuuNYLV9-TqcckdthWOeCSVBOeCg6lCmS84-kjTvVXHIcZ-IX-gjsXmG04rkIWNTXa6zhHeMOKqCroKAl0OU83B8E87s6GGf4Zd0mqiqHOLDxS8T6oR7UheGVjrkMizNMdQa70Zw/s320/Untitled_Artwork%207.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiahu9HFL4gJ_GEBW4Hi8wZuGAb9RnuAsVfhYFA4wqKdd4m5QgM8LBCtvXtFT_7SF-RmOJgJAtBC4txJcMxnmxBUBLka7ynkJvQahHUJOFGxiZAwyJGuFX0VL-EH-EU8L2yuiWTt9C6VnwBjR4Pr6LA0jUo6Cqz_gzxXViSPFd7F0gqWU0QCAxeb9NjHw/s1080/Untitled_Artwork%206.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiahu9HFL4gJ_GEBW4Hi8wZuGAb9RnuAsVfhYFA4wqKdd4m5QgM8LBCtvXtFT_7SF-RmOJgJAtBC4txJcMxnmxBUBLka7ynkJvQahHUJOFGxiZAwyJGuFX0VL-EH-EU8L2yuiWTt9C6VnwBjR4Pr6LA0jUo6Cqz_gzxXViSPFd7F0gqWU0QCAxeb9NjHw/s320/Untitled_Artwork%206.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeah5zhcYcBuzlhvftQ5Ypw3J7d5bMeZStxob_6JsG8X936EIzR12cDcHjsI51-6RtFnLBNZ6Mb3QZN3j9Rk3ZsEYD806jymlNQ044vxgGKEL4YP3R_itmd1dzg5k1E5lvTTZfOvyGxOlqdmJ4zQdhwm01wNVPTMq93Avxqw_mlWzSoeOTHO9OD60usg/s320/Untitled_Artwork%201.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijbzCSk2nj5qJ_HAYHOAzbs8-2eWb22jYxs2--4NDmmngEVY5Z6gmJ9mSZLDUonCPPJQtNkcAXZBKnEUwUUm9S1l1TH2k4tMlRps7FIttO9puGNlmVy7EpXFSqh_zkrQ5Klz_qFL_EO66obqtf_EmQW1A97EvxPsK5SOHPpcxe7jZ7amj2M9KsGKQW8A/s1080/Untitled_Artwork.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijbzCSk2nj5qJ_HAYHOAzbs8-2eWb22jYxs2--4NDmmngEVY5Z6gmJ9mSZLDUonCPPJQtNkcAXZBKnEUwUUm9S1l1TH2k4tMlRps7FIttO9puGNlmVy7EpXFSqh_zkrQ5Klz_qFL_EO66obqtf_EmQW1A97EvxPsK5SOHPpcxe7jZ7amj2M9KsGKQW8A/s320/Untitled_Artwork.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Emmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03307690577227053266noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6149147983678759733.post-49168096328395497162023-04-30T20:41:00.001+01:002023-04-30T20:41:12.790+01:00April 2023<p>Well, I forgot '30 days has September, APRIL, June and November', so I have left this blog writing a little more last minute than I would like, ho hum.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqfgx1P0ER0SH0nV6vRvPpZpRCRkJyKdGYymoOWxaY8LY91850Pv1SBAIZJYhesz7g8BuY_GwQ2sz1Qpw2IWx3fUD1AHA0Q5F8L35BFjSikw_AdkYsnXeznjUnbo0gEf7uwfk2RioiUo009jCQUyU2xmxYKtlffQuoY9nAni5qAx1M-VdNytzka2Q-ig/s2493/April1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2493" data-original-width="1526" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqfgx1P0ER0SH0nV6vRvPpZpRCRkJyKdGYymoOWxaY8LY91850Pv1SBAIZJYhesz7g8BuY_GwQ2sz1Qpw2IWx3fUD1AHA0Q5F8L35BFjSikw_AdkYsnXeznjUnbo0gEf7uwfk2RioiUo009jCQUyU2xmxYKtlffQuoY9nAni5qAx1M-VdNytzka2Q-ig/w245-h400/April1.jpg" width="245" /></a></div><br /><p>April started off nicely — I enjoyed going up the silly Battersea Power Station chimney lift with my mum and aunt so much (even though it's a rip off), I persueded my friend George to come up it with me again. And then we had a delicious curry date, very good.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzd-KvRiWkzQT8KvtnZQ1NRd_0oXZRHWEawjTJKhdPTRBDvBLWWv7zn3kJkIF4_TQHLcfNmaL_LSOomCNHSGPirWlTjtNz67R2k3nLheN4mRCsLD4XfgxaXxC16LSb4qzCEzW-Fq0WiWQPWHFklYVm8HDZn7mQ3OhoMPegr3eyCHwR9kS8zwiLAv4n8g/s2493/April2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2493" data-original-width="1526" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzd-KvRiWkzQT8KvtnZQ1NRd_0oXZRHWEawjTJKhdPTRBDvBLWWv7zn3kJkIF4_TQHLcfNmaL_LSOomCNHSGPirWlTjtNz67R2k3nLheN4mRCsLD4XfgxaXxC16LSb4qzCEzW-Fq0WiWQPWHFklYVm8HDZn7mQ3OhoMPegr3eyCHwR9kS8zwiLAv4n8g/w245-h400/April2.jpg" width="245" /></a></div><br /><p>My partner was away for a few days at the end of March and they have very high standards domestically, so they realistically end up doing most of the housework. I did lots of domestic labour before they came back to try and get things up to their exacting standards (they didn't immediately start complaining about things when they got back so it must have been okay?!) They were away nearly a week so it was lovely to have them back again (they don't normally go away that long, usually I am the one jollying off and leaving them with the dog)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLVQazdgj01kXnb4SLnqVQPJK4gW0IZVKXvNOmQyPidVW-KJRQx28rAs2IIBet3ri6X3WeoXPZXRNHsqz95xlfmdCXPnm1qRY5jm9RqmMdOv7_tnkNpgDaMJ05ZPnAK5QHJj9tA8qg7liXJ48nBYrFDwFZ_E2Q4Kso-UlVnBgMK8p_LUTwkduNU9o_tA/s2493/April3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2493" data-original-width="1526" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLVQazdgj01kXnb4SLnqVQPJK4gW0IZVKXvNOmQyPidVW-KJRQx28rAs2IIBet3ri6X3WeoXPZXRNHsqz95xlfmdCXPnm1qRY5jm9RqmMdOv7_tnkNpgDaMJ05ZPnAK5QHJj9tA8qg7liXJ48nBYrFDwFZ_E2Q4Kso-UlVnBgMK8p_LUTwkduNU9o_tA/w245-h400/April3.jpg" width="245" /></a></div><p></p><p>I'm having a bit of A Time work wise at the moment. I work some of my week with a tech studio, and at present we're sort of between bodies of work that require my expertise. So I'm feeling like a bit of a spare part — trying to help other people with their things but mostly just getting in the way and annoying people. It's left me feeling a bit grumpier and more disatissfied than I usually would with my work (though everything else is going fine, in terms of my freelance and teaching work, which have both been fun and satisfying)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHRSoALf4L5Qf7isZFRrs0pm1VREUsAp3CdNQufAiy1mY0cle5Sw5SX1LJvtRctfChYUdj353j5DYy6kDAUNGg0YJcWtCIcA9xAazkrQP_-JxbAxwJt0-kX8CbIqQsukRQvcT7VLeUxWm19kzumVPpl6l7v3dkwfiniBk8WQ3gQmPQecEKKmtTATkdow/s2493/April4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2493" data-original-width="1526" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHRSoALf4L5Qf7isZFRrs0pm1VREUsAp3CdNQufAiy1mY0cle5Sw5SX1LJvtRctfChYUdj353j5DYy6kDAUNGg0YJcWtCIcA9xAazkrQP_-JxbAxwJt0-kX8CbIqQsukRQvcT7VLeUxWm19kzumVPpl6l7v3dkwfiniBk8WQ3gQmPQecEKKmtTATkdow/w245-h400/April4.jpg" width="245" /></a></div><p></p><p>Had a couple of different 'receiving critique' situations around this time... Little bit of type 1, little bit of type 2...</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFdqqKR_HEh62dy1GfldNKrKypAMWLzevObc_ezl2i6vfdwz2PCze7icDxkvL68Ca4pjSBx7qpmjSWh2cJ2kVekt50Cv2bvKtbYhI-OdetCRwJfa0i8FRxKLVXY3AvkR_wUHjj7M_l2SihIUg9aLpGRCluAN1xKjwl7xRhs4TbzTV0ra6ZAqypySjLfw/s2493/April5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2493" data-original-width="1526" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFdqqKR_HEh62dy1GfldNKrKypAMWLzevObc_ezl2i6vfdwz2PCze7icDxkvL68Ca4pjSBx7qpmjSWh2cJ2kVekt50Cv2bvKtbYhI-OdetCRwJfa0i8FRxKLVXY3AvkR_wUHjj7M_l2SihIUg9aLpGRCluAN1xKjwl7xRhs4TbzTV0ra6ZAqypySjLfw/w245-h400/April5.jpg" width="245" /></a></div><p></p><p>I bought her a plastic basket with a new more easily washed cushion because her incontinence is still not entirely fixed and she still sometimes has accidents in the night. I THOUGHT she liked it because she got straight into it but nearly a month in and I think she really misses her old, squishier (harder to clean bed), waaaaaah I feel like a big meanie :(</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ0_SxtK6H4JQO0hZVhJ_5lZ7tMKA669cVDed5Y92nKajyb_KZOeDrSpbPAdg0ixVeFqCOsGfx_4tD44oHaTD-9mIWDjhZWFWp5mzzstlGv4mcGjc8TAtXAnHw1vNiC0vovSD3BeWiNflG4I0JiRfw5_o1rRd68a0vV9E0AjSKMeqErrtkak1aTgN2eQ/s2493/April6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2493" data-original-width="1526" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ0_SxtK6H4JQO0hZVhJ_5lZ7tMKA669cVDed5Y92nKajyb_KZOeDrSpbPAdg0ixVeFqCOsGfx_4tD44oHaTD-9mIWDjhZWFWp5mzzstlGv4mcGjc8TAtXAnHw1vNiC0vovSD3BeWiNflG4I0JiRfw5_o1rRd68a0vV9E0AjSKMeqErrtkak1aTgN2eQ/w245-h400/April6.jpg" width="245" /></a></div><p></p><p>Very much enjoyed visiting annual games exhibition 'Now Play This' at Somerset House with pals George, Dan, Ellis and V (also bumped into old aquaintance Siobhan!) Played lotsa fun stuff, had lotsa good chats</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcmSI-BhIKuVEbINDponLSPVbdr0zTp3LyDq20KDAb-ni5je26wdWDKBO4FjP1nqeFIrFjzMg1bsvjFXJS7xXwS5jWUlUr2tuEcPQQFZF7YlJwaDmUqprAl_kqCHY7QVP1v6uZHmMwK5YhUYgo8T0oCHfGyii1__fwMQicqVFSt9yLBOGsW6clvbwM2Q/s2493/April7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2493" data-original-width="1526" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcmSI-BhIKuVEbINDponLSPVbdr0zTp3LyDq20KDAb-ni5je26wdWDKBO4FjP1nqeFIrFjzMg1bsvjFXJS7xXwS5jWUlUr2tuEcPQQFZF7YlJwaDmUqprAl_kqCHY7QVP1v6uZHmMwK5YhUYgo8T0oCHfGyii1__fwMQicqVFSt9yLBOGsW6clvbwM2Q/w245-h400/April7.jpg" width="245" /></a></div><p></p><p>Every week before I go to my Samaritans shift I treat myself to a tasty dinner beforehand. For a long time I was going to Wagamama but I got bored of that. Then I went to Island Poke for a while which I still love but it's nice to have something hot. Now I go to Marugame Udon every week and I am obsessed with it, I love the chill vibes and canteen style service. Was very excited to try their blossom season special, vegan takoyaki! (Fried octopus balls)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8BSqoM0zcqKNVq1WsPQdcWpfC-2dG3jz8GaFpGiEBVD7BKPfSC8GJlZGtsACH9xirbs8L_Pi2eYplxuKNndx4mAGM3iahIu5z2WpGUJITZt7TWcBB5Fty7HBjyrNv-M0oJ4yqPX6sfGjkIzM3tbEhnlEAWYyv_41d6vQcVIC7D6ECL5E18BKWavYK6w/s2493/April8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2493" data-original-width="1526" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8BSqoM0zcqKNVq1WsPQdcWpfC-2dG3jz8GaFpGiEBVD7BKPfSC8GJlZGtsACH9xirbs8L_Pi2eYplxuKNndx4mAGM3iahIu5z2WpGUJITZt7TWcBB5Fty7HBjyrNv-M0oJ4yqPX6sfGjkIzM3tbEhnlEAWYyv_41d6vQcVIC7D6ECL5E18BKWavYK6w/w245-h400/April8.jpg" width="245" /></a></div><p></p><p>Working on a Saturday agaaaaain (this is what happens when I take time off in the week to do fun things like Now Play This)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ944grOiwKy4l2IQ_jwU3zWr9J3DoBJbm1zfI-AQWjTlFRQNClEIM5Y7z1XlMm4qP99kgJKLaOsRUgSuwt05IfeVAJZ5TES0JMduv8bCVSCC4fftmvUBWmom_BmzSOmNgw5DsiHEeJqyFKgBUluEbn7r1uDpr5OSWjnRdw2QvhspnY8b5N98IoCfQAA/s2493/April9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2493" data-original-width="1526" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ944grOiwKy4l2IQ_jwU3zWr9J3DoBJbm1zfI-AQWjTlFRQNClEIM5Y7z1XlMm4qP99kgJKLaOsRUgSuwt05IfeVAJZ5TES0JMduv8bCVSCC4fftmvUBWmom_BmzSOmNgw5DsiHEeJqyFKgBUluEbn7r1uDpr5OSWjnRdw2QvhspnY8b5N98IoCfQAA/w245-h400/April9.jpg" width="245" /></a></div><p></p><p>My friend Hazel and her friend Danni came down from Cambridge and we went to Queer Mart, a cute lil makers market in Deptford! Then had some very overpriced Bao in Borough because everything else was closed on a Sunday which I had NOT forseen</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1eL_SY9gXTCvLcQO5SAS_28NaFKSwAcnODEUY4kbn8DqzzkgN54Vir_Z1NE0ljjD_pTAFuHotOAUN6xgowRThpbsdopt1MLh1yYGwaOFg-bR4bNtLAR1kgmd3F2xOetIxQ6A16dHgffYEkRVgoMDD-tIKaPAGp5BrPjrHOpCk52Bvmxs_LkQuUecHWQ/s2493/April10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2493" data-original-width="1526" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1eL_SY9gXTCvLcQO5SAS_28NaFKSwAcnODEUY4kbn8DqzzkgN54Vir_Z1NE0ljjD_pTAFuHotOAUN6xgowRThpbsdopt1MLh1yYGwaOFg-bR4bNtLAR1kgmd3F2xOetIxQ6A16dHgffYEkRVgoMDD-tIKaPAGp5BrPjrHOpCk52Bvmxs_LkQuUecHWQ/w245-h400/April10.jpg" width="245" /></a></div><p></p><p>I had planned to take the bank holiday Monday off to make up for working the Saturday, but then got a stressful work related message first thing that morning which I proceeded to spend the entire day thinking about, SIGH</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYpluayLAW27lEXDP8CK3YgvuvpM9b-lgquA7j-OsMdL9Mv5zcL9ImjRYtihD-eRgW1QrH266_24DUVvrrHYZO3yS7NyIUoVtN_jyMr2dipXuM0BlLuqgGvaqrUydSXBSKY6PFCZLgRgGdej8jztkTOQaqzWEfxZU-q954TTcpeSeB0MLUKRq8zh2q7g/s2493/April11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2493" data-original-width="1477" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYpluayLAW27lEXDP8CK3YgvuvpM9b-lgquA7j-OsMdL9Mv5zcL9ImjRYtihD-eRgW1QrH266_24DUVvrrHYZO3yS7NyIUoVtN_jyMr2dipXuM0BlLuqgGvaqrUydSXBSKY6PFCZLgRgGdej8jztkTOQaqzWEfxZU-q954TTcpeSeB0MLUKRq8zh2q7g/w238-h400/April11.jpg" width="238" /></a></div><br /><p>Getting sick of all this rain</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZPh512fhgkDZDghY59xOEIPIVLgORkNZF-PjPdjmfniOdFTeVAaHU1wmtbxVgk2Pmt-gqqDW78n-BRqwfwydG63gL9TBkcuZWIwdkl5fqMA8AoCmt47exFiC4HqtDBB4ZtBHVH17U5wuMYHWEXl7yH6YOJEqzFx0SQG6fz2JSijcK7Fex-qnoZr9yKQ/s2493/April12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2493" data-original-width="1526" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZPh512fhgkDZDghY59xOEIPIVLgORkNZF-PjPdjmfniOdFTeVAaHU1wmtbxVgk2Pmt-gqqDW78n-BRqwfwydG63gL9TBkcuZWIwdkl5fqMA8AoCmt47exFiC4HqtDBB4ZtBHVH17U5wuMYHWEXl7yH6YOJEqzFx0SQG6fz2JSijcK7Fex-qnoZr9yKQ/w245-h400/April12.jpg" width="245" /></a></div><br /><p>Chase likes to dip her belly in the muddy puddles though</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK3iZ7Fbnc0kzbDASmVAhcnEnovI8iPJ1U8kg7dHhGtgSLIy52aHg3ANZOo4e5qvj_PmXj7qcmjbCah3r8juvzNgmcxhaHZ_qCfPy0DWlEiHvwbxEYRyCZnjcuQfBMBqC-NML57cgaG7F-11cHIYf1eugpfRJdCSOj2qQiJeT4AZipMd99JrcDkynDpw/s2480/April13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2480" data-original-width="1535" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK3iZ7Fbnc0kzbDASmVAhcnEnovI8iPJ1U8kg7dHhGtgSLIy52aHg3ANZOo4e5qvj_PmXj7qcmjbCah3r8juvzNgmcxhaHZ_qCfPy0DWlEiHvwbxEYRyCZnjcuQfBMBqC-NML57cgaG7F-11cHIYf1eugpfRJdCSOj2qQiJeT4AZipMd99JrcDkynDpw/w248-h400/April13.jpg" width="248" /></a></div><p></p><p>Had a VERY BUSY DAY — teaching all day, and then getting the train down to Brighton straight after to cat sit for a friend for the weekend! I've been struggling a lot with my lungs/throat/breathing again recently (on and off for the last couple of years). Gonna go bother a doctor about it again soon, though it has eased a little since this especially bad few days. My triggers seem to be cold temperature (walking outside in winter), physical exertion (like running for a train), spicy food, dry air (air conditioned or over-heated rooms), and possibly also some pollen. Also it's worse at night and first thing in the morning. Just like, a hacking, phlegmy cough right down to my chest. I want to be cured!<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAt2YRZJelEtyydvl2eYbQsFH2QC3kLE7Xd_bgl9bMvZEV-0cDNLztDQ7OKas4Nah5SW9H3lwr7ixS8k_gB3L2MeEkecd2_veUVNu_FqrrFBzpipUL8hyBgVlvhOaaM8nT2bcBD6eCOyL-nvpkGhBGLiAaaVbBWweEq64esCz_zDC6lWSOpDaVotjebw/s2480/April14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2480" data-original-width="1535" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAt2YRZJelEtyydvl2eYbQsFH2QC3kLE7Xd_bgl9bMvZEV-0cDNLztDQ7OKas4Nah5SW9H3lwr7ixS8k_gB3L2MeEkecd2_veUVNu_FqrrFBzpipUL8hyBgVlvhOaaM8nT2bcBD6eCOyL-nvpkGhBGLiAaaVbBWweEq64esCz_zDC6lWSOpDaVotjebw/w248-h400/April14.jpg" width="248" /></a></div><p>I was super excited to have a whole weekend down in Brighton — my first proper 'away time' there since I lived in Yorkshire way back in 2019! (I've only made day trips these recent years now I live in London). Sadly my first day there it rained ALL DAY (but I guess that was mostly okay as I stayed in the flat and worked a bunch while Pog the cat cuddled me)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd6aYloxd7p5JjgNnSS1tAe-Qz6zOubCyc6qtOw6jQ0kBBxAvQ9-XlaBgCo3Wpqu--qiIqZleGSWAAn33WizlRPntIacf8v2PjrN3BVb7HWYi1dh2e6A6gmFxobTce-izsTZWTVuCjuAe7pVsDx3MhrqvIKn3EyRwvbuxnvTBAWx3ZpxdNhx8CeUcjtw/s2480/April15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2480" data-original-width="1535" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd6aYloxd7p5JjgNnSS1tAe-Qz6zOubCyc6qtOw6jQ0kBBxAvQ9-XlaBgCo3Wpqu--qiIqZleGSWAAn33WizlRPntIacf8v2PjrN3BVb7HWYi1dh2e6A6gmFxobTce-izsTZWTVuCjuAe7pVsDx3MhrqvIKn3EyRwvbuxnvTBAWx3ZpxdNhx8CeUcjtw/w248-h400/April15.jpg" width="248" /></a></div><p></p><p>As always, ipad drawings while I am away from home. This day was much nicer weather and I enjoyed doing a digital painting of the sunset over a street near where I was staying.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkWCCz3SIdP8y_hQDq3xSLBG-iCuC32-CTxZue20ENVRaIupc5jf85iEzPPzRIPTKXIK5i4PsEyv-tVjO7g7hsocQnFW4YxPT4i1VzsauYXxyGzs_Jl_4IqTeGlNrS6RKPkPd2I8CVqbs6XnD9oalIQvCM4uwOWSUAxjfLi5q8a9a9FNit23Qxg9gu3g/s2480/April16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2480" data-original-width="1535" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkWCCz3SIdP8y_hQDq3xSLBG-iCuC32-CTxZue20ENVRaIupc5jf85iEzPPzRIPTKXIK5i4PsEyv-tVjO7g7hsocQnFW4YxPT4i1VzsauYXxyGzs_Jl_4IqTeGlNrS6RKPkPd2I8CVqbs6XnD9oalIQvCM4uwOWSUAxjfLi5q8a9a9FNit23Qxg9gu3g/w248-h400/April16.jpg" width="248" /></a></div><p></p><p>On my last full day there I went to visit some old special places. (Also ate a vegan scotch egg and saw the ridiculous Simpsons House)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj12xDbXsHbACiZxhuCJmXlyeSOGI7T6o1lJZy_-3-cGUobZ3B-9HfU0UG-PwT2J6ZT6-zTNZmXOfSstMzqVUgwYyHZLIl7sagpilIRneqO257FMkye6ZlA3QIU5zVK1tJdKklCM8nXBmmdfUsw68USGRYtkna04zuB2bEIDw7PQs7YeNRT3gS3TErVoQ/s2493/April17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2493" data-original-width="1476" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj12xDbXsHbACiZxhuCJmXlyeSOGI7T6o1lJZy_-3-cGUobZ3B-9HfU0UG-PwT2J6ZT6-zTNZmXOfSstMzqVUgwYyHZLIl7sagpilIRneqO257FMkye6ZlA3QIU5zVK1tJdKklCM8nXBmmdfUsw68USGRYtkna04zuB2bEIDw7PQs7YeNRT3gS3TErVoQ/w236-h400/April17.jpg" width="236" /></a></div><br /><p>Said a fond goodbye to Pog before heading home</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh25mfPJ70GnmqR9XKGsiVvzB0PbdAqZ6pG9lA6Ciyvap3AY-5CDuo9V0THfmiSLS67Pdmh-Q-_nKD0wWFMKRLjouMrkAtpPsh2vcfUdBWKE8tmp6yABIg8bHKAUNdfknHLvcwdSFRg08KQTWigq1nyZXNSAGiRLd_TqQKOsA5b7xVRtaQuy930wFKg2g/s2493/April18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2493" data-original-width="1526" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh25mfPJ70GnmqR9XKGsiVvzB0PbdAqZ6pG9lA6Ciyvap3AY-5CDuo9V0THfmiSLS67Pdmh-Q-_nKD0wWFMKRLjouMrkAtpPsh2vcfUdBWKE8tmp6yABIg8bHKAUNdfknHLvcwdSFRg08KQTWigq1nyZXNSAGiRLd_TqQKOsA5b7xVRtaQuy930wFKg2g/w245-h400/April18.jpg" width="245" /></a></div><p></p><p>Still trying to decide if I care how heavy/big I am at the mo. Since lopping most of my tits off I like my body in general a lot more, but I do not much like being unfit (though as previously mentioned, I am struggling with exerting exercise as it's quite hard to breathe through it). Keeping up the swimming as much as I can and trying to go back to the gym for some slow high resistance bike and fast incline treadmill walking too.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmV3sjBZcAQfbU7G1Mub8Ckh2A4RRO3Q6Y2XRNJRJASwVHy94LSCNOVq4q7JPlXseWcfftW7F2DGW0i-Oo3h-lJ6_9AJSotCchKveF5ouX0SBJDfrR_ucxRgQ6YzQWC_KnslWnSeee_vJKn_YZ3b_ldfwWhEdDv1ya0zjGhXLQWgoBPXB5zCeX_ZkbjQ/s2493/April19.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2493" data-original-width="1526" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmV3sjBZcAQfbU7G1Mub8Ckh2A4RRO3Q6Y2XRNJRJASwVHy94LSCNOVq4q7JPlXseWcfftW7F2DGW0i-Oo3h-lJ6_9AJSotCchKveF5ouX0SBJDfrR_ucxRgQ6YzQWC_KnslWnSeee_vJKn_YZ3b_ldfwWhEdDv1ya0zjGhXLQWgoBPXB5zCeX_ZkbjQ/w245-h400/April19.jpg" width="245" /></a></div><br /><p>As a bonus I watch some dude on Youtube playing through the entirety of Yakuza 0 as my silly fandom continues. <br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg85DaeeXsYeHWpuQpFJhUP-UZVZNXOPG5FB4CGmrSH5mEcf9Insk3APybCmh-l6KmwIcpb8oAhCazIn90Gf298uqNgK3MnoZ3SmlzytGp2omyGtCu5zX1yaZskRF2y1lUYi8SLBnX2ynjEDlsfRuWgQxwRsaQL3M6nKOQrc_nplN-a63-oF-2XgSXf3w/s2493/April20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2493" data-original-width="1526" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg85DaeeXsYeHWpuQpFJhUP-UZVZNXOPG5FB4CGmrSH5mEcf9Insk3APybCmh-l6KmwIcpb8oAhCazIn90Gf298uqNgK3MnoZ3SmlzytGp2omyGtCu5zX1yaZskRF2y1lUYi8SLBnX2ynjEDlsfRuWgQxwRsaQL3M6nKOQrc_nplN-a63-oF-2XgSXf3w/w245-h400/April20.jpg" width="245" /></a></div><p>Gave our students some somewhat unhelpful materials to try and realise their ideas (including coloured sugar paper, what is this, preschool?!) was hugely inspired by one of the students use of coloured pencils on sugar paper, so made my own take on her style.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1GWuFTyWMhqS0XOLYqk6L9ZHmNDd1VdpyccvQNjlbs3JBaLPUWoVHPs5zYVxJ9bJQJJqVactzXoqajrKGYq1M7MNRranAkrccMcinmeZoU2sN0i8fdbcDIbtghDfzKMKYosZZ0PxCYJgpJEWpEtrhW-DfD9vofRuouJemUgjSroXYWqHHzBKijilWDQ/s2493/April21.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2493" data-original-width="1475" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1GWuFTyWMhqS0XOLYqk6L9ZHmNDd1VdpyccvQNjlbs3JBaLPUWoVHPs5zYVxJ9bJQJJqVactzXoqajrKGYq1M7MNRranAkrccMcinmeZoU2sN0i8fdbcDIbtghDfzKMKYosZZ0PxCYJgpJEWpEtrhW-DfD9vofRuouJemUgjSroXYWqHHzBKijilWDQ/w236-h400/April21.jpg" width="236" /></a></div><p></p><p>...SO I DIDN'T!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh22xayT3SMxOKz2jKhxRg8fP2IzdO11juqJjWgWwaTCzrZsX4ij2kmOd4N28aQ_Zrr1AsVvWl5bb7N6n5WKUPHkSMS1RDTCjUBaN7exkdC4It9FekYC0QHmoBtSIfEaagF1F6iAveexpmy2fdjvCxZka54MEEklTXC_UMXfrrbdCw2OAPO45N4_aVWjw/s2493/April22.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2493" data-original-width="1526" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh22xayT3SMxOKz2jKhxRg8fP2IzdO11juqJjWgWwaTCzrZsX4ij2kmOd4N28aQ_Zrr1AsVvWl5bb7N6n5WKUPHkSMS1RDTCjUBaN7exkdC4It9FekYC0QHmoBtSIfEaagF1F6iAveexpmy2fdjvCxZka54MEEklTXC_UMXfrrbdCw2OAPO45N4_aVWjw/w245-h400/April22.jpg" width="245" /></a></div><p></p><p>Went to John Lewis for a browse and found a big cosy jumper I'd coveted reduced down to £20 from like £90. Yessss, roll on winter again! (This design is based on the colours and the pattern on it)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0bjxvWXVzxHzpe7y54RkmXpRfuyOXEWVDCqYiroLuh7n9-T4o4XlbhZJXoVZdDnc9bIbzzTwJSR9iVf49EKDQzsBKvkYaEPILo8tZvKrLHbKz44_N55FH2i8EHg9XxXIcwCWKgXgYWDXHPrJpLUu-5c7_wDhI7hKgizja4A_4suAO4AktrhkHNIwbOw/s2493/April23.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2493" data-original-width="1526" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0bjxvWXVzxHzpe7y54RkmXpRfuyOXEWVDCqYiroLuh7n9-T4o4XlbhZJXoVZdDnc9bIbzzTwJSR9iVf49EKDQzsBKvkYaEPILo8tZvKrLHbKz44_N55FH2i8EHg9XxXIcwCWKgXgYWDXHPrJpLUu-5c7_wDhI7hKgizja4A_4suAO4AktrhkHNIwbOw/w245-h400/April23.jpg" width="245" /></a></div><br /><p>Oh there's that regret</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS_4jKJ4ioRWjPhliCZpSFOdTf1dvW1IIbTwwlPREIX5l8y2M1_6GdPsc8oqGwmQ_4STtqxLP97DW8MEA8oo2skJfTN-BVvsUYxc2B8s8ikD1A_tjnpED0SI5dkpkMI8AhdQlj7ZV50XTGh9huUJRU5tkhv0p8DD3BbmB7UAwv4yHG7RDyZccCSAYttA/s2493/April24.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2493" data-original-width="1526" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS_4jKJ4ioRWjPhliCZpSFOdTf1dvW1IIbTwwlPREIX5l8y2M1_6GdPsc8oqGwmQ_4STtqxLP97DW8MEA8oo2skJfTN-BVvsUYxc2B8s8ikD1A_tjnpED0SI5dkpkMI8AhdQlj7ZV50XTGh9huUJRU5tkhv0p8DD3BbmB7UAwv4yHG7RDyZccCSAYttA/w245-h400/April24.jpg" width="245" /></a></div><br /><p>I get some meal kits to help me cook when I'm tired and they're usually great or at least good but this one was probably in the top 10 worst things I've ever made.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU-0qKu6ZiP6zGZznNWx618wXMGEQJUiYVpB71mr3xx0l0d8i1JXEi4ILtyirdFalgNfVZBKjPpZ78hzxYD89S3lO5Vtk1MLN03bYtxM4uGkKGTpEwIfbUEMXb2pqbjOyXq7KgVWe-xHbxp_CiYWdnJQOwbM8Vt7-IlcWrY510E2uMEp8x4xCX0_lRCg/s2493/April25.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2493" data-original-width="1526" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU-0qKu6ZiP6zGZznNWx618wXMGEQJUiYVpB71mr3xx0l0d8i1JXEi4ILtyirdFalgNfVZBKjPpZ78hzxYD89S3lO5Vtk1MLN03bYtxM4uGkKGTpEwIfbUEMXb2pqbjOyXq7KgVWe-xHbxp_CiYWdnJQOwbM8Vt7-IlcWrY510E2uMEp8x4xCX0_lRCg/w245-h400/April25.jpg" width="245" /></a></div><p></p><p>My girl is lonnnnnnnng</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm5irxdZehRWe_6CvxqOJsVBWNQgyMppAIxzkJMN1bgoi2vz09lxruJ_Ff2mlfNJGyARA6WFk95Xx-PTBPiYLxZW5WLSHtgGPjBiHOD2RveHLGAVBF3qxTHsVKlcZlNP_iPMzhqP6xhdzhCih2T5G9-RabZSizs7WD_AOOfG_nMZgbbsuQndkcaEMH-A/s2493/April26.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2493" data-original-width="1526" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm5irxdZehRWe_6CvxqOJsVBWNQgyMppAIxzkJMN1bgoi2vz09lxruJ_Ff2mlfNJGyARA6WFk95Xx-PTBPiYLxZW5WLSHtgGPjBiHOD2RveHLGAVBF3qxTHsVKlcZlNP_iPMzhqP6xhdzhCih2T5G9-RabZSizs7WD_AOOfG_nMZgbbsuQndkcaEMH-A/w245-h400/April26.jpg" width="245" /></a></div><p></p><p>Misread the time I had to go to Samaritans for a training meeting and got there an hour early, livid. (Made this while waiting with the limited art supplies available)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmzEnBfoAxbgN86K5Uasq37rLL_ADyK8GXbHDQYj3vcrbnGu9wg1c58cqNH1-_IlyfdK_iItqxWNdjG8nLA9S3Xu8C01LPK4_IdSkF8p7jmnZG55_UCaHy0ojeSDNv3C3AYxlyzkNGM4gM3ivhrA8h03gtyA5OQuFuppjKnuJsil2WGdm8DSMtIHhK2g/s2493/April27.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2493" data-original-width="1526" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmzEnBfoAxbgN86K5Uasq37rLL_ADyK8GXbHDQYj3vcrbnGu9wg1c58cqNH1-_IlyfdK_iItqxWNdjG8nLA9S3Xu8C01LPK4_IdSkF8p7jmnZG55_UCaHy0ojeSDNv3C3AYxlyzkNGM4gM3ivhrA8h03gtyA5OQuFuppjKnuJsil2WGdm8DSMtIHhK2g/w245-h400/April27.jpg" width="245" /></a></div><br /><p>My partner became obsessed with the idea of creating a new deck of cards with 4 additional suites, and we spent a long time debating what they should be</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpchuVsthPURJFfKHT4cEJdMfLuiYyPlSTF29Nm8PCJRtP3PC94C7xyagaFl77ddhw_9fSMQ17Upj1RCXixha3_25Ui0pktpqzjUKDwx0Wgm5s5hxQk8CJtJ-_klpVLRXJbyhZ2p-EZFi_MKCmmusxP2c5vlwZF6tWKbAwENUlTJZUzzYwtRVN0218FQ/s2493/April28.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2493" data-original-width="1526" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpchuVsthPURJFfKHT4cEJdMfLuiYyPlSTF29Nm8PCJRtP3PC94C7xyagaFl77ddhw_9fSMQ17Upj1RCXixha3_25Ui0pktpqzjUKDwx0Wgm5s5hxQk8CJtJ-_klpVLRXJbyhZ2p-EZFi_MKCmmusxP2c5vlwZF6tWKbAwENUlTJZUzzYwtRVN0218FQ/w245-h400/April28.jpg" width="245" /></a></div><br />Turned on tiktok for the first time in ages to check something and couldn't resist trying out a horrible 'beauty' face filter I was immediately bombarded with, which was kind of alarmingly high quality.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7-BMwsocfH-Hz2zLyn6XLRWIeBiElY6LOvb4xe8ZqyV6jzCuJxOLg_O8-WWImdMmzsVQbUDBO610nuOeJctsdUBAqupR_nAfl63mSdGJmoJZZftVkb7GxTRfIenIhrAyQgViMybeUkQdoTF4mdSKbBYD1RY4z9fADTq83b4gkwfNgtgkIUA5QQ1H6Dg/s2493/April29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2493" data-original-width="1526" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7-BMwsocfH-Hz2zLyn6XLRWIeBiElY6LOvb4xe8ZqyV6jzCuJxOLg_O8-WWImdMmzsVQbUDBO610nuOeJctsdUBAqupR_nAfl63mSdGJmoJZZftVkb7GxTRfIenIhrAyQgViMybeUkQdoTF4mdSKbBYD1RY4z9fADTq83b4gkwfNgtgkIUA5QQ1H6Dg/w245-h400/April29.jpg" width="245" /></a></div><p></p><p>Went to visit my parents and other family in Chichester, because my 'first cousin once removed' (we had to look it up) was visiting from New Zealand, and she bought my great aunt (who is 91) down to see everyone. I don't normally go in for big family stuff but all of these people are quite agreeable and share a similar brusqueness to me, so it didn't all take too long. AND I got to visit Bognor Regis pier for the first time! It was a gloriously sunny day and I had a blissful moment of zen like calm sitting on a bench soaking up some of the first warm sun of the year in silence next to my great aunt. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6T4O_1D-BcgpRBzvrTZpAI0sPZKSbUdgp1_xVz9vWBs_XsFi-JqEaT0giBNOPJdvRoGfNX2bV1eiJUrii0rD25C0s065GTTBW-pH9gmh7CfkfPLTkLkNhdGHqVgWtu9euk_Cb420FRovpBeyQJB1UltD5rjKZUGDF1gqAeD2EPuupgjJYBRxMXyw5iA/s2493/April30.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2493" data-original-width="1526" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6T4O_1D-BcgpRBzvrTZpAI0sPZKSbUdgp1_xVz9vWBs_XsFi-JqEaT0giBNOPJdvRoGfNX2bV1eiJUrii0rD25C0s065GTTBW-pH9gmh7CfkfPLTkLkNhdGHqVgWtu9euk_Cb420FRovpBeyQJB1UltD5rjKZUGDF1gqAeD2EPuupgjJYBRxMXyw5iA/w245-h400/April30.jpg" width="245" /></a></div><p></p><p>I got the train to Brighton to go to Vegfest today — this was a much loved event for me, c 2014 – 2018ish. A big, packed convention centre full of all the latest vegan food innovations, I'd always come away sustantially cash poorer, with bags full of weird new cheeses and unusual 'meat'. </p><p>I went today to their first event since the pandemic, and... it was really shit. </p><p>Half (if not less) as busy as it once would have been, and probably with half the number of stallholders too. I'm entirely in it for the food, but none of the big exhibitors come any more, because they're all stocked in supermarkets these days! (Which is great, but probably like, the death knell for 'specialist' events like this given veganism isn't really like, a niche hobby any more)</p><p>The remaining stallholders were mainly hocus pocus health woo, unrelated stuff like crystals, and loads of angry animal rights activists (which is fair enough I guess). I still got some weird meats but NOT ENOUGH. </p><p>Anyway, I'm home now and suddenly it's (nearly) May! Onwards!<br /></p>Emmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03307690577227053266noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6149147983678759733.post-39052206858048113702023-03-31T20:53:00.003+01:002023-03-31T20:53:49.134+01:00March 2023<p>March feels like it's been quite a nice month. It's somehow STILL winter, but I did briefly manage to escape the cold... More on that later.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8d4TtX8ed1_C-k14b56PY2trzMoMt9wIG4ov2rDDJ03jxDZmW6hy1yyBsfyV_l7mxACU2XJgoVKaWnm8CVYlE5r7T_b140KlFWBnjALRpGHCMj-HfgG1t_4uXoRw6D1vOIUMl1FxJPwIvbbCxGdOGlch4VaOX1BdC8_8F4M15qgEz_ZVkTACy3w_szQ/s2472/March1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2472" data-original-width="1460" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8d4TtX8ed1_C-k14b56PY2trzMoMt9wIG4ov2rDDJ03jxDZmW6hy1yyBsfyV_l7mxACU2XJgoVKaWnm8CVYlE5r7T_b140KlFWBnjALRpGHCMj-HfgG1t_4uXoRw6D1vOIUMl1FxJPwIvbbCxGdOGlch4VaOX1BdC8_8F4M15qgEz_ZVkTACy3w_szQ/w236-h400/March1.jpg" width="236" /></a></div><br /><p>I've been enjoying having consistently long, nice looking nails for the last year or so, thanks to the revolution that is builder gel (aka BIAB) — it's a bit pricey and you have to get them infilled once a month (c £50 for infills and art each time) but in exchange for that I get a happy little glow every time I see my hands, plus lots of compliments. I justify it on the basis that I do pretty much no other body self-care stuff, and don't really spend anything on all the fancy cleansers and other body products everyone else seems to go in for (let alone make up, which I've never worn)... So this is my treat, while I can afford it. </p><p>Still, I have yet to learn the art of actually getting anything done once my nails get more than 4 – 5mm past the end of my fingers, the salon staff are always surprised when I'm like 'please, shorter, my productivity is at around 50%'. (How do other people do it?!)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHw005F-HrBeyBZYnefVH7hf7Cp3uwKY40_9xKEU8RTcB5cMV4CNfvPaW_tpopLJyC8n9Pw52oHUrA5JrpEd2uvgVYKS-KWhS24C8t5sq9MgvCE9XiKEiUi9Y9GwqPiCCMPOsG8l6qORHOlmw0vzV9pUiViCtHHwVDw2_l_9RDFOyhfngspp8a4jTIVw/s2472/March2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2472" data-original-width="1513" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHw005F-HrBeyBZYnefVH7hf7Cp3uwKY40_9xKEU8RTcB5cMV4CNfvPaW_tpopLJyC8n9Pw52oHUrA5JrpEd2uvgVYKS-KWhS24C8t5sq9MgvCE9XiKEiUi9Y9GwqPiCCMPOsG8l6qORHOlmw0vzV9pUiViCtHHwVDw2_l_9RDFOyhfngspp8a4jTIVw/w245-h400/March2.jpg" width="245" /></a></div><p></p><p>After a long teaching day, took my partner out on a pizza date as an excuse to get them to take my laptop home so I could go and enjoy a gig for the first time in ages without a heavy bag (Homeboy Sandman at the Jazz Cafe)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY9xnktxdRpTfzoY5FerIghutQhcQIFexohg9hCqiQ0jkvJDsEUkHOIeABau6XBVl34b45iPJkiXtOw83thv_TddX1G3xVWxT8D2PBXm0tTcez_lsJO1ANImSL7fC2p_GpNbU8aSBgyZBxEGypU2JD1hSeP2V3m1UG2zd5Os118f7RbwEXbcuEA0HxKA/s2472/March4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2472" data-original-width="1513" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY9xnktxdRpTfzoY5FerIghutQhcQIFexohg9hCqiQ0jkvJDsEUkHOIeABau6XBVl34b45iPJkiXtOw83thv_TddX1G3xVWxT8D2PBXm0tTcez_lsJO1ANImSL7fC2p_GpNbU8aSBgyZBxEGypU2JD1hSeP2V3m1UG2zd5Os118f7RbwEXbcuEA0HxKA/w245-h400/March4.jpg" width="245" /></a></div><p></p><p>My old friend Reggie was in town for a show, and asked me to come join him (and a bunch of other old friends and aquaintances). This time it was at the O2 arena, which is such a weird space, weird vibes. Nice time though, and I successfully public transported my way across London at around 2.30am, which ridiculously, is a first for me. Thank you night tube!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUEIEx9AUScq-h8ltz2EcctidKQMdSn3FRu1cmw-gA7HdEDuhxILsm64njfJrPT6G5xjG5Q0uqDkcIPdZLcxXuiO7fFZ1uA7nTPWD96pCtFQrQ7iaSyMnhdH7cDBlW5Mxg07qRXXQ7dW6vrMeDmYOSF65C3EqI3lTQVq8UFp5beI_DmV4lX7S2_STuCQ/s2472/March5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2472" data-original-width="1513" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUEIEx9AUScq-h8ltz2EcctidKQMdSn3FRu1cmw-gA7HdEDuhxILsm64njfJrPT6G5xjG5Q0uqDkcIPdZLcxXuiO7fFZ1uA7nTPWD96pCtFQrQ7iaSyMnhdH7cDBlW5Mxg07qRXXQ7dW6vrMeDmYOSF65C3EqI3lTQVq8UFp5beI_DmV4lX7S2_STuCQ/w245-h400/March5.jpg" width="245" /></a></div><p></p><p>Bought a NEW new phone for the first time in many years (i.e. not a second hander from CEX). Got sick of big stupid phone for man hands and decided to treat myself to an iphone 13 MINI (thankyouverymuch) which hopefully will keep me happy for many years to come. (It's actually just like the first iphone I ever got in 2010 which was probably still the best phone I ever had, form factor wise)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyQ5HgxE1Nk6RaZlos3F1UPa8gOCdAny090_0d64EE9XphywfUwqNguKd0D_flsju85eiXqs28Szmyr4ILfrzw4ScRUQNn3lpRtoktnfLgSSBVzTlP0brBpuHycmMZAymbX-xKYc2eXS-WK2Gli8CCk5rr5g9L0ki6-UpqxbxuBZVLhS0-6G-gvY4lmw/s2472/March6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2472" data-original-width="1513" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyQ5HgxE1Nk6RaZlos3F1UPa8gOCdAny090_0d64EE9XphywfUwqNguKd0D_flsju85eiXqs28Szmyr4ILfrzw4ScRUQNn3lpRtoktnfLgSSBVzTlP0brBpuHycmMZAymbX-xKYc2eXS-WK2Gli8CCk5rr5g9L0ki6-UpqxbxuBZVLhS0-6G-gvY4lmw/w245-h400/March6.jpg" width="245" /></a></div><p></p><p>Got to have a cuppa with my old senior designer James. Kinda wild that we talked/worked together every week for a decade and then after we both left the job it's like... Guess that's over?! I do still sometimes miss having a super tight colleague friendship like that sometimes (but we will always still be friends!)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAyk99Wp5V3h25CVhoT255Xhwaj9lZqPRpU6Z13fR2Ztp-a-HeOibNSQ4xXstLHTt0aaIOGWQIQjEsBwVhshzXgMF5dNhw_eTa19CMLAHpk0iP1JDwwhUX9PitofVJVNjsaUSUyGZTBdG_FTKFPdFZLXGC16hArnL9u47on1HK59GmZLxoscYyWuHGpA/s2472/March7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2472" data-original-width="1513" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAyk99Wp5V3h25CVhoT255Xhwaj9lZqPRpU6Z13fR2Ztp-a-HeOibNSQ4xXstLHTt0aaIOGWQIQjEsBwVhshzXgMF5dNhw_eTa19CMLAHpk0iP1JDwwhUX9PitofVJVNjsaUSUyGZTBdG_FTKFPdFZLXGC16hArnL9u47on1HK59GmZLxoscYyWuHGpA/w245-h400/March7.jpg" width="245" /></a></div><p></p><p>Knowing I was going on holiday later in the month I bunched two packs of the pill together to make my period come a week earlier (rather than while I was away), and while it is effective, by about halfway through the second pack I am always IRRATIONALLY EMOTIONAL about pretty much everything</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrAJCChC4TjnnC2oIPh_A-moQju9VRISA0ObXkv43ynS05ENeDj1me1FBWVbLvMLlJXfGGs6pwXGm4T8MoWg-21qePXdhiSGjd5aAToYmEgKMIR2kpgbvsUimQYZvmhThkaYOAfQMxTXhjUvIlx0xAcL2Domc_Xy82VYS-7tPixnuJjq2-JHVDRRSOww/s2472/March9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2472" data-original-width="1513" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrAJCChC4TjnnC2oIPh_A-moQju9VRISA0ObXkv43ynS05ENeDj1me1FBWVbLvMLlJXfGGs6pwXGm4T8MoWg-21qePXdhiSGjd5aAToYmEgKMIR2kpgbvsUimQYZvmhThkaYOAfQMxTXhjUvIlx0xAcL2Domc_Xy82VYS-7tPixnuJjq2-JHVDRRSOww/w245-h400/March9.jpg" width="245" /></a></div><br /><p>Had a cute house sushi n games night!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLi5YgsWCaw2ytry9XY5TNJdU_3-RexhaQqvrJyvKmjl0T5PlZCow4FGs-vHYf34bkVm0igedS4hPM7f4hV6fKz1HjpvkmBLnVaVrKypRfC6vF7_tUzgfKA-2Q8pRMhFww1ngHeLXDZrY2bH81whXV0ezhDcKQO1sDRLWk09LuQojD1_xTSGQ5ZSiMyA/s2472/March10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2472" data-original-width="1513" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLi5YgsWCaw2ytry9XY5TNJdU_3-RexhaQqvrJyvKmjl0T5PlZCow4FGs-vHYf34bkVm0igedS4hPM7f4hV6fKz1HjpvkmBLnVaVrKypRfC6vF7_tUzgfKA-2Q8pRMhFww1ngHeLXDZrY2bH81whXV0ezhDcKQO1sDRLWk09LuQojD1_xTSGQ5ZSiMyA/w245-h400/March10.jpg" width="245" /></a></div><p></p><p>WHY is it still big coat season?! (That said, still feeling extremely smug about the brand new big puffy Cos coat I picked up in a charity shop last summer for a mere £40, it has had a lot of use)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs0j3dhUv8K9Ao3i_5VbX55giS9yBqhVPgZm4VfWc1TxgF0IdFKWeUTJIW0Ycy6TlbfSL28JZRQ0fi5_SSh1DMiQ8bsJv_hkiljOCFjzKkjKqhKsnUPMkUkbvLP8_IHMqlDNnDtbdaQfMpQUexOkdYhdPfv3un1xUb3WSyMthbSRfcetY5fTWhFGTzfA/s2472/March11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2472" data-original-width="1513" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs0j3dhUv8K9Ao3i_5VbX55giS9yBqhVPgZm4VfWc1TxgF0IdFKWeUTJIW0Ycy6TlbfSL28JZRQ0fi5_SSh1DMiQ8bsJv_hkiljOCFjzKkjKqhKsnUPMkUkbvLP8_IHMqlDNnDtbdaQfMpQUexOkdYhdPfv3un1xUb3WSyMthbSRfcetY5fTWhFGTzfA/w245-h400/March11.jpg" width="245" /></a></div><p></p><p>As part of 'trips week' for Graphic Media Design students at UAL, I was asked to run a walking tour with a colleague. We ummed and ahhed and settled on a brutalist walking tour, which neither of us are exactly specialists in, but we figured we'd know more than the students?! My route started with the various buildings that are part of the Southbank complex, passed over the river past 180 Strand and the KCLSU building, the sadly under hoarding 'space tower', on to iconic tower block Centrepoint near Tottenham Court Road, and then on the Elizabeth line (arguably an example of contemporary brutalist architecture in itself) to Farringdon, where we finished off at the Barbican. This wasn't the actual walk, just a test walk which I did on my own to establish timings.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm5itWDBc89nX7R6_VlvPPvzTsugToIeuguhu-iqrwapxwNttZtwMRpWlTOp5J0fssDbiVxCBYEntNUS3dvV-YfmXowAPP4pExdnLHRmXWHxyldVWG9qQ-LsLwl4BKEknSHJDwBMqBr6XiNEQwRU9ACzlKYu08nNfm7AiuDTu6PUXGkF3KIeH7CxukOQ/s2472/March12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2472" data-original-width="1513" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm5itWDBc89nX7R6_VlvPPvzTsugToIeuguhu-iqrwapxwNttZtwMRpWlTOp5J0fssDbiVxCBYEntNUS3dvV-YfmXowAPP4pExdnLHRmXWHxyldVWG9qQ-LsLwl4BKEknSHJDwBMqBr6XiNEQwRU9ACzlKYu08nNfm7AiuDTu6PUXGkF3KIeH7CxukOQ/w245-h400/March12.jpg" width="245" /></a></div><p></p><p>So I booked my holiday with a provider called 'Journee'. Their gimmick is that you don't find out where you're going until you get to the airport — they arrange all your flights and accommodation, and activities while you're there, if you want them.</p><p>This appealed to me, because I've been a bit paralysed by indecison about where to go on holiday for a while... I hadn't left the UK since December 2019 (when I spent 3 weeks in Boston), and had mostly been considering going (again) to Germany or the Netherlands, both of which I love and can get to easily by train from the UK... But there's a whole world out there and maybe I shouldn't keep going to the same places?</p><p>I really hate flying and find it quite hard to justify, but Journee just hooked me in, and they only book destinations within 2 – 4 hours flight, so I decided to go for it.</p><p>You fill out their form and tell them your likes and dislikes, and you can veto things you wouldn't want to do (like boat trips, or wine tastings, no thanks from this motion sick teetotaller). They do try and make the packing process easier by giving you a weather forecast for your destination (which I was told should be 9 – 10 degrees warmer than London, yes please!)</p><p>They also give you a series of clues, which were sufficient to enable my partner to correctly guess where I was going, but having little personal interest in history or geography, I had no idea. Yay for ignorance! </p><p>(Side note, I put the dates on every day of my visual diary by checking the previous day — mistakenly read 'is' as '15', and got v muddled with the dates over the next few days, just FYI for anyone who pays attention to such details)</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwFTpBXkz0ktlsNmaWhwJqJ85k_0B4sd7fe4D56aOyZ4veiFlvZmJ4eMXbLi0chYCjZ1Yg--Z8VKk3ptd7yMRyfKDxr2-hX4C-ruYy0dQHbfzgMVSwMX32gKoQ_P86rN9DE9zjthbkPAjrWgWG2EMTij_XzbYEKkjPEOSvZBl6ID62_kyCR5-aNsQSfw/s2472/March13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2472" data-original-width="1513" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwFTpBXkz0ktlsNmaWhwJqJ85k_0B4sd7fe4D56aOyZ4veiFlvZmJ4eMXbLi0chYCjZ1Yg--Z8VKk3ptd7yMRyfKDxr2-hX4C-ruYy0dQHbfzgMVSwMX32gKoQ_P86rN9DE9zjthbkPAjrWgWG2EMTij_XzbYEKkjPEOSvZBl6ID62_kyCR5-aNsQSfw/w245-h400/March13.jpg" width="245" /></a></div><p></p><p>Still though, everyone knows going on holiday means you've gotta work extra hard in the run up to try and clear the decks</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxI0oabjG_NAX7JFpssg7u_cTpz2jWpExtn8hKpLQ6Y3LHikQPZEv-L2PefsSGspNh01P03BJl7wwWKL9DrTJRTP6Ls_N-gD7uusTyLz21_azA5XFDyNj6kjjz3yVMNMUakInHxzviN0k-7Rcban_IzTvFkWSzPTQJFk6h0GX4-Qym1NsWwOtli78jIw/s2472/March14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2472" data-original-width="1513" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxI0oabjG_NAX7JFpssg7u_cTpz2jWpExtn8hKpLQ6Y3LHikQPZEv-L2PefsSGspNh01P03BJl7wwWKL9DrTJRTP6Ls_N-gD7uusTyLz21_azA5XFDyNj6kjjz3yVMNMUakInHxzviN0k-7Rcban_IzTvFkWSzPTQJFk6h0GX4-Qym1NsWwOtli78jIw/w245-h400/March14.jpg" width="245" /></a></div><p>In 34 years of riding the tube, truly, the most astonishing and hilarious thing I have ever seen.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyBcrSBVe0h0vaRsnrnI60PGMt6Dy5FQCTTG2JYTPdklFXy9Tb41tJkPRewNAVueCty86Lf8dpVF6N9CZyyp1V7sGZw8AIre-KOyXBfIay7nY300Y_8XV8xBYq4tYgGwja6HAiXALyBnIPsVhT6ljRKcv0-lyICC0AtA9M5ipNsfy_7JZTgneMRkpYNw/s2472/March15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2472" data-original-width="1513" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyBcrSBVe0h0vaRsnrnI60PGMt6Dy5FQCTTG2JYTPdklFXy9Tb41tJkPRewNAVueCty86Lf8dpVF6N9CZyyp1V7sGZw8AIre-KOyXBfIay7nY300Y_8XV8xBYq4tYgGwja6HAiXALyBnIPsVhT6ljRKcv0-lyICC0AtA9M5ipNsfy_7JZTgneMRkpYNw/w245-h400/March15.jpg" width="245" /></a></div><p></p><p>There's a series of video games about the Japanese Mafia (Yakuza) — they're fighting games, on the surface, but they're actually incredibly rich in plot and are more about men feeling feelings and doing cute little side quests in early 90s Japan than they are about beating the shit out of each other (though there also is a lot of that). My partner is about to replay Yakuza 1 (which comes after Yakuza 0, which was a prequel), so decided to rewatch all the key cinematic scenes to remind them of the plot. I watched with them and got SO INTO IT, I dug out a 19 hour Youtube video which shows ALL scenes (not just the edited plot highlights), as some fun holiday viewing. I'm not super interested in playing the game because I don't like combat games, but in every other respect am enjoying it entirely as much as other big games I've loved. Here's some terrible fan art of the two main characters.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzXXlb1IuEI6mST3OFlZbl7rSKT0u1ESPGWHmY7e_lWGGj2Usp8J-a4PkT3KirFzuQ3Kow9lgAfNt1nOUExM-GJSesd5CJ7Oe1-hbbDLyey4AiWjzSK9TB5BqRQKbjJl4tcKOgGdgIYYpY5DU-m8wUN8lY2ZC6kWhOoLRf-bUV6VE6Clg-Xq2mS24OqA/s2472/March16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2472" data-original-width="1513" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzXXlb1IuEI6mST3OFlZbl7rSKT0u1ESPGWHmY7e_lWGGj2Usp8J-a4PkT3KirFzuQ3Kow9lgAfNt1nOUExM-GJSesd5CJ7Oe1-hbbDLyey4AiWjzSK9TB5BqRQKbjJl4tcKOgGdgIYYpY5DU-m8wUN8lY2ZC6kWhOoLRf-bUV6VE6Clg-Xq2mS24OqA/w245-h400/March16.jpg" width="245" /></a></div><p></p><p>Did the actual Brutalist Walking Tour with 7 surprisingly enthusiastic students. My colleague's kid was sick so she couldn't come, which meant I ended up leading it alone... I think it went well?! To my delight, the Barbican conservatory was open at the end — some of them had never even been to the Barbican before, and none of them had been in the conservatory, so it was a very cool way to wrap it up. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj85MJZDZf91JlwAB21v7xTVePKQ25WJPEyzdEKL21lNkurj3Slpn6w2C4UgU3ByHMJqW5Fx4OYJnQj0b0iDXzVtnOGvyspn0zBImr8kCwgdKR3GyepMFDL8IcqcFCbXChaY3u4KewDLslLLGUU2Gm424YzkqKjBfwRN2izepq0HzF9ms7zpzpkAugrg/s2472/March18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2472" data-original-width="1513" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj85MJZDZf91JlwAB21v7xTVePKQ25WJPEyzdEKL21lNkurj3Slpn6w2C4UgU3ByHMJqW5Fx4OYJnQj0b0iDXzVtnOGvyspn0zBImr8kCwgdKR3GyepMFDL8IcqcFCbXChaY3u4KewDLslLLGUU2Gm424YzkqKjBfwRN2izepq0HzF9ms7zpzpkAugrg/w245-h400/March18.jpg" width="245" /></a></div><p></p><p>Goths on holiday innit (still packing)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyrvf_KT-FREKzzBHeoK-WxY2e80zkQIs3azEtMFwX73rc2EVgAASZ4vqE0G4xA3ayHppUiBgV_YuneMrrkMG4D9JXRIyrSoZAxH19XfMX_RM14BwtY_COUCxFNgjAmbHDKgfNQmYLLrZv3peydCqS582iHuDjKXMugqmY8gcNw4t9lHcaLx_h0scfXQ/s2472/March19.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2472" data-original-width="1513" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyrvf_KT-FREKzzBHeoK-WxY2e80zkQIs3azEtMFwX73rc2EVgAASZ4vqE0G4xA3ayHppUiBgV_YuneMrrkMG4D9JXRIyrSoZAxH19XfMX_RM14BwtY_COUCxFNgjAmbHDKgfNQmYLLrZv3peydCqS582iHuDjKXMugqmY8gcNw4t9lHcaLx_h0scfXQ/w245-h400/March19.jpg" width="245" /></a></div><p></p><p>I haven't travelled in so long I forgot how it all works</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2eTDsx1dGP9x8XmIH66Xn5GU13JWN-yc4jjhoUhIJcXlJJSTjTvnnbejKWCoGRtO_C1wDzYV9Ej8mOhq66j6By5bl9e4aXHZTLFIGmHLWUqKPdpJHmhyG8wIbRt9gTO6jq2Km1wtzCMGyHPIpynVR7OwBtyndpWuZJWBezApKzYHm58FhiArnj4Lqqg/s2480/March20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2480" data-original-width="1535" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2eTDsx1dGP9x8XmIH66Xn5GU13JWN-yc4jjhoUhIJcXlJJSTjTvnnbejKWCoGRtO_C1wDzYV9Ej8mOhq66j6By5bl9e4aXHZTLFIGmHLWUqKPdpJHmhyG8wIbRt9gTO6jq2Km1wtzCMGyHPIpynVR7OwBtyndpWuZJWBezApKzYHm58FhiArnj4Lqqg/w248-h400/March20.jpg" width="248" /></a></div><p></p><p>One of my (very few) criticisms of Journee is that they booked flights at really (to me) silly times. I understand they want to max out on the time you have at your destination, but my outward flight was at 7.35 from Luton — there's no practical way for me to get from Battersea to Luton at 5am (even if I drove that would mean a 3.30/4am start), so I had to get a hotel near Luton the night before, which was extra expense. I was quite anxious about travelling the next day but enjoyed watching an episode of 'Inside the Factory' on the big hotel TV all about how they make London buses</p><p>(Note, these next few days illustrations are done on my ipad, as is my away-from-home practice these days) <br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDsuzX819pl5h2HPHSzfdy87AbeQccCDFzwG5bi0OTUfYTonciQ5IZS1bKmCMsBUfgwNmMMPiZ9Mq6Wo5L-bjOJ5IULz1jFJMR9GR0yKRuk2vASzDxEsaoFgufLwLihZyin3wg9Xvnvkb99i1x49oydAgap7k2hNMB42tcOF6oCOi-rRWWa_LYrF5jCw/s2480/March21.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2480" data-original-width="1535" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDsuzX819pl5h2HPHSzfdy87AbeQccCDFzwG5bi0OTUfYTonciQ5IZS1bKmCMsBUfgwNmMMPiZ9Mq6Wo5L-bjOJ5IULz1jFJMR9GR0yKRuk2vASzDxEsaoFgufLwLihZyin3wg9Xvnvkb99i1x49oydAgap7k2hNMB42tcOF6oCOi-rRWWa_LYrF5jCw/w248-h400/March21.jpg" width="248" /></a></div><p></p><p>I got up super early to get to the airport for a little after 5am, and open my envelope from Journee and find out where I was going! I had convinced myself they were going to send me somewhere obscure that I'd never heard of in Eastern Europe (which admittedly might have been fun), but was quite delighted to discover I was actually headed to Lisbon — mostly because I feel like I've seen loads of other people going on holiday there recently, and it looks SO NICE! Also pleased because it's only a little over 2 hours flight and as mentioned, I hate flying.</p><p>Because of the early start, my flight arrived at around 10.30am, which was kind of nice, but I wasn't able to check into my accommodation until 14.00. They sent a man to drive me from the airport to my accommodation, but once I got there it was like... well why did you bring me here, I can't even check in?! They'd also given me the wrong reference number and booked it under my middle name which meant there was some confusion, but luckily we eventually figured it out. </p><p>The accommodation was some nice serviced apartments, and they did have lockers in the basement where I could leave my suitcase, but first I had to source a 2 euro coin... Easier said than done. After some difficult English > Portuguese translation in a very seedy Bureau De Change I finally got my bag dropped off, and found myself blinking in the light trying to figure out wtf to do in this beautiful new city I suddenly found myself in</p><p>Obviously the first thing I did was ride the metro!</p><p>I got a train to what looked like it might be the seaside (actually a river, sorry Lisbon), and then slowly meandered my way on foot back to my accommodation over a couple of hours, taking in the beautiful sights and sounds and colours.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhAjepO14CfnsBOB1gwxeSURYmyDOtSWqvotVCyflMFxmu3zfdzTIJskkO7ZKRyifpqxnQqJjXncmTw5ZRdSL0GAKoNv2AYgRUdwWpqO4u-v1PkwMdRyV3ZOZCd5sMF0lVOnHm-EAo5xCwp0lzzB0xGs2hJdPqbA3vNEH_9gJjuhPwxRE2qj-FxsP9Rw/s2480/March22.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2480" data-original-width="1535" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhAjepO14CfnsBOB1gwxeSURYmyDOtSWqvotVCyflMFxmu3zfdzTIJskkO7ZKRyifpqxnQqJjXncmTw5ZRdSL0GAKoNv2AYgRUdwWpqO4u-v1PkwMdRyV3ZOZCd5sMF0lVOnHm-EAo5xCwp0lzzB0xGs2hJdPqbA3vNEH_9gJjuhPwxRE2qj-FxsP9Rw/w248-h400/March22.jpg" width="248" /></a></div><p></p><p>The next day Journee had booked me a tour of Sintra, but I had specifically asked them not to book me any car or coach travel because I get motion sick and just generally hate travelling by road for any amount of time. I looked at pictures of Sintra and decided seeing it on google was probably sufficient and there were more interesting places I could go that wouldn't involve suffering in a mini bus all day.</p><p>I instead got the metro to Oriente, home of the '98 world fair and all the associated infrastructre, including a cable car, aquarium and lots of great places to eat. Had a very lovely time exploring that area before heading back to my accommodation.</p><p>Every day while I was away I had a nice lie in until around 9, woke up in the sun, and left where I was staying by around 10. I'd have a nice outing with lots of walking, and then head back to my apartment by 15.00 or 16.00. I'd then spend two or three hours drawing, reading or napping (I read the entirety of NK Jemison's 'The City We Become while I was away). I'd then head out again for dinner, be back again by 19.00 or 20.00, and lie around all evening texting friends and watching Yakuza 0. It was so restful and calming to just have a bunch of days like this. No work! No emails! Just see some cool stuff, do some gentle hobbies, walk a bunch and eat well. And all in the warm and the sun. What a dream, ugh, take me back.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4qVMcf_PW4mPPOSPx14VlvzAFYNyoB6Oj0BFT4QoJX_VrqSH6shnB-xGPzrv8YBM5Zn-J84j11EGsTeCRyUr7Sasgy_lioUL1HT8_LczeudYpCNYDt4-vnkZrH8MmbAjRbGCVB4ZcsDdyjEY3rBAGdBHWHuNzR6OKaRbHDeB2QPNBDOz37BHT0jDbQA/s2480/March23.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2480" data-original-width="1535" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4qVMcf_PW4mPPOSPx14VlvzAFYNyoB6Oj0BFT4QoJX_VrqSH6shnB-xGPzrv8YBM5Zn-J84j11EGsTeCRyUr7Sasgy_lioUL1HT8_LczeudYpCNYDt4-vnkZrH8MmbAjRbGCVB4ZcsDdyjEY3rBAGdBHWHuNzR6OKaRbHDeB2QPNBDOz37BHT0jDbQA/w248-h400/March23.jpg" width="248" /></a></div><p></p><p>The next day Journee had also booked me tickets to go see some famous monastery but when I got there it was tourist hell and the queues were like hundreds of metres long. Again, I googled it, decided I literally couldn't care less about seeing it, and instead on a friend's recommendation went to MAAT (The museum of Art, Architecture and Technology) and had an absolutely brilliant time there. (I cannot recommend it highly enough!)</p><p>I also rode one of the old trams for ages, had two desserts, met a cute dog, and saw a cool bridge. Plus delicious dinner. Dreamy.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiCNYeujPgiOtBSjXiqQ2Q4Fe56pKa_sGurd0m0lOlTtDJEIInRR7m5j_4hQzwxnyCnqgkAtSPsUXqfa3t_F8bKSHgEJRMD9Ey07SwM9FimBflZm0IbDery6jfgWlg1eO8KOUADQbtX1Ke194skjliBT9WKf5UnrYtdauCasSK4Rb1yc_unKPpEKf_RA/s2480/March24.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2480" data-original-width="1535" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiCNYeujPgiOtBSjXiqQ2Q4Fe56pKa_sGurd0m0lOlTtDJEIInRR7m5j_4hQzwxnyCnqgkAtSPsUXqfa3t_F8bKSHgEJRMD9Ey07SwM9FimBflZm0IbDery6jfgWlg1eO8KOUADQbtX1Ke194skjliBT9WKf5UnrYtdauCasSK4Rb1yc_unKPpEKf_RA/w248-h400/March24.jpg" width="248" /></a></div><p></p><p>On my last full day I crammed in a bunch of lovely stuff — went to see some very cool water infrastructure (an old viaduct, a weird resovoir in what felt like a church), and after lunch, visited the tile museum (cooooooool) and the incredibly beautiful botanic gardens, which weren't too far from my accommodation. </p><p>There's so much more I could talk about from this trip, and for anyone who follows me on Instagram you can see a bunch of photos and more detailed day to day stuff on my profile as a story highlight ('journee trip') <br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh35L6dAKIgdSsaQNiGp8-vhg_JHLTkUt6za-vyIYdhlukD04qhn5U4d56XCEvzs74URMO8Xa7u_CxD133G3VjoQLXQBud6dpxx3kpZxy0qUfLYmxxqsFuxhnWHtu4jXyYmUQ7pYhcD1U9elFjUE4j0ZkyY__GCWGWagrpCZxl-RWp8D6IvSdlnDJWCCg/s2480/March25.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2480" data-original-width="1535" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh35L6dAKIgdSsaQNiGp8-vhg_JHLTkUt6za-vyIYdhlukD04qhn5U4d56XCEvzs74URMO8Xa7u_CxD133G3VjoQLXQBud6dpxx3kpZxy0qUfLYmxxqsFuxhnWHtu4jXyYmUQ7pYhcD1U9elFjUE4j0ZkyY__GCWGWagrpCZxl-RWp8D6IvSdlnDJWCCg/w248-h400/March25.jpg" width="248" /></a></div><p></p><p>The flight back was similarly annoying to the flight out, in that it wasn't until 19.35. I stayed in my accommodation until 12 to max out on that, then tromped around annoyingly trailing my suitcase for a couple of hours, and got lunch. I got tired and sick of that pretty quickly, and didn't really wanna leave my suitcase anywhere as it cost money and I always worry something'll go wrong and I won't be able to get it back. So I just headed to the airport, getting there around 15.00. Annoyingly my flight was already delayed by an hour, so I had a very long tedious time in the airport being grumpy (did read a lot of book though). The flight itself was technically fine but they made us wait a long time stood on buses on the runway and there were a LOT of screaming babies all the way. And when we got back to Luton they also kept us on the runway for ages.</p><p>At the weekends the last train from Luton to London goes at midnight. As soon as I saw my flight was delayed by an hour I booked myself the same hotel I'd got on the way out — annoying to have to spend yet more money, but my only other options were sleep on the floor of Luton airport (no thanks, it's my birthday tomorrow), get a coach (as mentioned, no) or call my partner and get them to hire a car to come get me (ditto). So I treated myself and I'm glad I did, because I didn't get through customs until just after midnight, and was very glad to be able to immediately collapse into bed rather than fight my way across London.</p><p>Though what ACTUALLY happened was that I was a) hungry (because barely any vegan options at Lisbon airport), and b) too grumpy and stressed to sleep immediately, so I ate an M&S pasta salad, had a lovely shower, watched a little bit of Yakuza 0, and then suddenly looked at my phone and it was 2.30am because CLOCKS CHANGE (honestly, the hotel should have charged me less as I really did not get my money's worth...)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisZSTffhlvgOgDW2TauoT0opTfevpbpqLTjLGMcC4N-LcTDiMUdSO6ffEwApkRt04woqbVpsKtGKXkdNeTdoxb8qyD3mzPydzu_TZeIbshLmryurf53004sqWsbkHUkipQvLk25SQfvadtmvfvQ96sUbp2lc576RAS792M1IMzSbZSxBjZnBIWS2DrOw/s2472/March26.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2472" data-original-width="1513" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisZSTffhlvgOgDW2TauoT0opTfevpbpqLTjLGMcC4N-LcTDiMUdSO6ffEwApkRt04woqbVpsKtGKXkdNeTdoxb8qyD3mzPydzu_TZeIbshLmryurf53004sqWsbkHUkipQvLk25SQfvadtmvfvQ96sUbp2lc576RAS792M1IMzSbZSxBjZnBIWS2DrOw/w245-h400/March26.jpg" width="245" /></a></div><p></p><p>Anyway, then it was my birthday! Love to start off my birthday on a rainy, bitingly cold train station at Luton Airport Parkway :)</p><p>Got home by lunchtime, opened my lil present collection, tidied up my holiday bits, and then welcomed a gang of friends in the evening for pizza and boardgames. I was very tired but it was so nice to see a bunch of people.</p><p>Now I am 35!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnzATNVCb_iJbb4CAU_Xk__jHw8Al8y0efczWp8UTFLKmQ_RGBRiRh37nd_luFqLGAr4nm7uAfkPV8ocCjkYFJPJVTQn72xXuZz9AeUyXwVOhD1FHILrY9v20v5mMqVfDUGHVwAZrwQMUZ44uKS82UmDcqwb4XbgJgYDDSsxMKtbb30hvP_1tEguo8pw/s2472/March27.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2472" data-original-width="1513" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnzATNVCb_iJbb4CAU_Xk__jHw8Al8y0efczWp8UTFLKmQ_RGBRiRh37nd_luFqLGAr4nm7uAfkPV8ocCjkYFJPJVTQn72xXuZz9AeUyXwVOhD1FHILrY9v20v5mMqVfDUGHVwAZrwQMUZ44uKS82UmDcqwb4XbgJgYDDSsxMKtbb30hvP_1tEguo8pw/w245-h400/March27.jpg" width="245" /></a></div><p></p><p>And then suddenly it's Monday and I have to work again and I feel thoroughly discombobulated. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi_DNySZzJeFlzz9wlUx84oiFOOqdul3kffSswk8RCHUhI4D6ZRVt3djMzXVPDs4r5V36G06-z-ZymDDqY8CzwJftFK5h6ERju-fRhhcr-2DA1p3654fy__pAtbnvIS46aXVDxCcfgUduieghxOWldDJq93tWxICVZkvxBFt_VeIGk7LO3rBKVFprdmQ/s2472/March28.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2472" data-original-width="1513" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi_DNySZzJeFlzz9wlUx84oiFOOqdul3kffSswk8RCHUhI4D6ZRVt3djMzXVPDs4r5V36G06-z-ZymDDqY8CzwJftFK5h6ERju-fRhhcr-2DA1p3654fy__pAtbnvIS46aXVDxCcfgUduieghxOWldDJq93tWxICVZkvxBFt_VeIGk7LO3rBKVFprdmQ/w245-h400/March28.jpg" width="245" /></a></div><p></p><p>Keeping busy still, my friend Vicky came over for dinner and we played Railroad Ink! Always a fav, particularly fun to play with an urban planner...</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdOzutlvd9iSre7unX0_Epigr-wnKgxykDFYy3S75wP2ZAI7AlWP9WCTJKA_c2RJAYrKS4wmU1nnQZoRlBaR0u1e7tTkMaadKx89pXDDttASyYmIzrYHoiRYGmwGuSFOQiDQbeSSX-eh_k6TVvpVmANa20YJh4u9jzxHT0uPwfy8ZlIHokZiRhpNYqmg/s2472/March29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2472" data-original-width="1513" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdOzutlvd9iSre7unX0_Epigr-wnKgxykDFYy3S75wP2ZAI7AlWP9WCTJKA_c2RJAYrKS4wmU1nnQZoRlBaR0u1e7tTkMaadKx89pXDDttASyYmIzrYHoiRYGmwGuSFOQiDQbeSSX-eh_k6TVvpVmANa20YJh4u9jzxHT0uPwfy8ZlIHokZiRhpNYqmg/w245-h400/March29.jpg" width="245" /></a></div><p></p><p>Got my nails done again, for spring! (Blossom is out!)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgILaJlH-SiabVwDLTwZKqgyi_xUTOPK7Ls7djOqG_TQNLpTE4tc0-qDZXu484nny2VIlg_lQbt3R30ZfR6RAo3J7r0wuNa_swnBSBcViVnrI_3H36HIbaGG1vWAe3uWV26AgDU8hPp3KalLqNNs8L-khBEuXHPSz51yUZLFLmkYb0_KNc5b9uYXMJAVQ/s2488/March30.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2488" data-original-width="1441" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgILaJlH-SiabVwDLTwZKqgyi_xUTOPK7Ls7djOqG_TQNLpTE4tc0-qDZXu484nny2VIlg_lQbt3R30ZfR6RAo3J7r0wuNa_swnBSBcViVnrI_3H36HIbaGG1vWAe3uWV26AgDU8hPp3KalLqNNs8L-khBEuXHPSz51yUZLFLmkYb0_KNc5b9uYXMJAVQ/w231-h400/March30.jpg" width="231" /></a></div><p></p><p>It's easter break at the mo which is nice as it means my workload is reduced (no teaching), but I did do this course on name pronunciation with UAL, as we have so many international students (80 – 90% of most cohorts I teach). It was good, but mostly served to highlight the sheer vastness of my ignorance. Sorry students. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-6FTSK6u7GIvoZijGFAqT4fUGd2tvqANUON9WmXpXy7PFQBh1p9RegBUJP-tix55hf2aMGtKiOwrq-Di6lslN6j2IsAh8FI_KsZWAQXFYFQhan5WJ8WiWPhyPZyG9gCNO7mK6sU5_zv6RrJORfOirGJhA1X-jI2I2DBgpNt7oh6s4E15CaRIopST_dg/s2488/March31.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2488" data-original-width="1526" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-6FTSK6u7GIvoZijGFAqT4fUGd2tvqANUON9WmXpXy7PFQBh1p9RegBUJP-tix55hf2aMGtKiOwrq-Di6lslN6j2IsAh8FI_KsZWAQXFYFQhan5WJ8WiWPhyPZyG9gCNO7mK6sU5_zv6RrJORfOirGJhA1X-jI2I2DBgpNt7oh6s4E15CaRIopST_dg/w245-h400/March31.jpg" width="245" /></a></div><p></p><p>Haven't swum in ages because I got a tattoo in Feb and it didn't heal entirely smoothly (I had an allergic reaction to the red ink, which is apparently quite common). I wanted to leave it an extra long time to be safe, but it is now beautifully healed and I decided to return to the pool. Swum a mile in 55 mins just to prove I can. (Not a super fast pace, but slow and steady wins the race. Sharing my lane with an incredibly annoying man who kept ploughing along really fast to splash past me then standing at the end of the pool huffing for ages until I catch him up, then immediately ploughing past me again. Just go to the fucking fast lane dude, don't ruin it for me and all the other sedate ladies)</p><p>And suddenly... April is here!<br /></p>Emmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03307690577227053266noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6149147983678759733.post-74317336653332483982023-02-28T19:21:00.005+00:002023-02-28T19:21:54.779+00:00February 2023<p>February began, as it always does, with Hourly Comic Day — you can see my hourlies (as well as previous years attempts) <a href="https://emmacharleston.blogspot.com/2023/02/blog-post.html">here</a>.</p><p>February also began, as it has every day for the last 12 years, with the birthday of Chase the dog.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZo7ZFKCzSLKmbVvZ5HknR13HL_K-mcA_fUlXIG-A8T8D4NpFwvhG5qZEi0sUDOUNpPZsQpk6dH5GTHbdEMjHDcmHxfMHrZ6q5o-GqfFD1OnAt71nmEg4Lmp9_wQY8xfM6nnLjInilxDuoOEqhzXecmWmJUf8ZirMNsiQHGJnVEYqegNyHyywWDTfqFA/s2498/February2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2498" data-original-width="1528" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZo7ZFKCzSLKmbVvZ5HknR13HL_K-mcA_fUlXIG-A8T8D4NpFwvhG5qZEi0sUDOUNpPZsQpk6dH5GTHbdEMjHDcmHxfMHrZ6q5o-GqfFD1OnAt71nmEg4Lmp9_wQY8xfM6nnLjInilxDuoOEqhzXecmWmJUf8ZirMNsiQHGJnVEYqegNyHyywWDTfqFA/w245-h400/February2.jpg" width="245" /></a></div><p></p><p>She's good.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8-4TZgj5hlYsjiIYc11WOlJprWaz5rnhnaKMkpTXluTHZoXujK8K3-gMxsPJj79uAi4lfQH3lYbSYMTFefKNvzFRkjOk8bfsX6yB3iUEDwO9Olh_IR0PyITr9TSJ1es8-PokQH-IlwA0gy-PBZzTc98duJb0rELi8EjMUXGihWaiMd1qqUG_Ewwd-3w/s2498/February3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2498" data-original-width="1527" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8-4TZgj5hlYsjiIYc11WOlJprWaz5rnhnaKMkpTXluTHZoXujK8K3-gMxsPJj79uAi4lfQH3lYbSYMTFefKNvzFRkjOk8bfsX6yB3iUEDwO9Olh_IR0PyITr9TSJ1es8-PokQH-IlwA0gy-PBZzTc98duJb0rELi8EjMUXGihWaiMd1qqUG_Ewwd-3w/w245-h400/February3.jpg" width="245" /></a></div><p></p><p>A couple of years ago, while I was deep in MA stress, and ranting to anyone who would listen about my love of trains and public transit, an aquintance let me know that her husband was a tube driver, and he loved having guests join him in the cab. Sadly due to COVID restrictions at that time it wasn't possible, but now finally the wait was over and Rich got in contact with me to let me know I could come join him any time. Why wait?! Just a few days later I rocked up a Edgware Road, and with a surprisisng degree of casualness, sauntered into tthe cab of a Hammersmith and City train, and rode up and down the line with him for a couple of hours. It was truly everything I had dreamed of and more, and were it not for my IBS and tiny bladder I would genuinely be tempted to quit everything else and go drive trains. What a joy. I learned SO MUCH about how the tube runs and all the different lines and the challenges there are in maintaining the network. <br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUZVcay_SzmNcgboZFv1UPqQBglWqSwFGr3K6-eKr051H-9qpcZOg2xBKxzP6qlPdCVSFoFZ7gL_fPs0FqOzpkaWt3vf8yX618WhVApBJFX3Ra0HRol-Td5J4Hcj7rrbfMthbFewc_24u4aWyLXMHFCK3Ag6wLff73dRsHUkno2oYKrZbk9fJdTCO07w/s2498/February4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2498" data-original-width="1528" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUZVcay_SzmNcgboZFv1UPqQBglWqSwFGr3K6-eKr051H-9qpcZOg2xBKxzP6qlPdCVSFoFZ7gL_fPs0FqOzpkaWt3vf8yX618WhVApBJFX3Ra0HRol-Td5J4Hcj7rrbfMthbFewc_24u4aWyLXMHFCK3Ag6wLff73dRsHUkno2oYKrZbk9fJdTCO07w/w245-h400/February4.jpg" width="245" /></a></div><p></p><p>The next day I hopped on (the passenger section of) a train down to Chichester, where I met my mum and friend Heidi to go see an exhibiton of South Downs related art at Pallant House art gallery. Afterwards, me and Heidi went for a hike up said downs, with creepy forests and beautiful views down to the coast. A lovely day out.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOTieyIFADnNJYXPdyIWIYIirKHjY7X0RL7ytZnsI2A5G6K0Vhyj9UIA7cEB7tga1lA633_GYbYmGxRYVzGODXjLNRbJJ-uE-Yelq5fnBqEO3py0eFx1iNcFy4oTHjDOnUh39Iw128uaXxTKjOqooMturz4rC3M-ue3jy7X6t4M7Qhzq_W_Vg3BM0V4g/s2498/February5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2498" data-original-width="1527" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOTieyIFADnNJYXPdyIWIYIirKHjY7X0RL7ytZnsI2A5G6K0Vhyj9UIA7cEB7tga1lA633_GYbYmGxRYVzGODXjLNRbJJ-uE-Yelq5fnBqEO3py0eFx1iNcFy4oTHjDOnUh39Iw128uaXxTKjOqooMturz4rC3M-ue3jy7X6t4M7Qhzq_W_Vg3BM0V4g/w245-h400/February5.jpg" width="245" /></a></div><p></p><p>The new Battersea Power Station development is mostly a temple to capitalism but there is a really good Korean supermarket where I can buy exciting noodles, chilli crisp, and weird junk foods like these slightly hectic corn snacks. (That are not actually as spicy as they say they'll be, but are a very alarming shade of red)<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTUgsHAB-HK7aZuRFeMv0zYZEMxI3BuGyECWJgPedo_Id6qnNVN4aIzlcRw26sQwVCHrfe4zUWk5rjhHx-OVGLA-XPvopsOemX6NzOxw18U_urLUEeFpH4R-mJTXiqLhB1FYg7A6sE4H0wpyHVZXsJuDx21nK_ANvGlWht2Fnln3qIEz8mwF0eDPWtvQ/s2498/February6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2498" data-original-width="1528" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTUgsHAB-HK7aZuRFeMv0zYZEMxI3BuGyECWJgPedo_Id6qnNVN4aIzlcRw26sQwVCHrfe4zUWk5rjhHx-OVGLA-XPvopsOemX6NzOxw18U_urLUEeFpH4R-mJTXiqLhB1FYg7A6sE4H0wpyHVZXsJuDx21nK_ANvGlWht2Fnln3qIEz8mwF0eDPWtvQ/w245-h400/February6.jpg" width="245" /></a></div><p></p><p>BeReal is still my favourite social network. Pls join me there<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFm3Xix_7OHaob_BLq-50pkxXs2zfRXL5LWjvgL6E7PC82XHyJ_-ueJzHzclI2qS7i0aX6y3p3wXABQc-ukdPd2UvhHuYt4T-G3zfmx0xgVrfBiYxX5R3KnTw1QWFFTU3tOsNHAWefd9QSu3QFXCai1HB2nF3jobHJbTr1Q1C1iDKq6cbtuQouTUDyeQ/s2498/February7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2498" data-original-width="1527" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFm3Xix_7OHaob_BLq-50pkxXs2zfRXL5LWjvgL6E7PC82XHyJ_-ueJzHzclI2qS7i0aX6y3p3wXABQc-ukdPd2UvhHuYt4T-G3zfmx0xgVrfBiYxX5R3KnTw1QWFFTU3tOsNHAWefd9QSu3QFXCai1HB2nF3jobHJbTr1Q1C1iDKq6cbtuQouTUDyeQ/w245-h400/February7.jpg" width="245" /></a></div><p></p><p>Still searching for a hairdresser who understands my apparently quite difficult hair, after my fav guy in Brighton retired. This place did okay — it looked great straight out of the salon but I can't re-achieve that cute quiff curl now...</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0mEQPlpkas44l_UkbG6GHvx7JHnwCcEkfYht3TnkHdpKBex_HMIHPMocbjRDZzmfXbxZKBL83CjQ8aB8oDG-9vuFmYiTbLR2Sv9Eb8OZodGKmZ7jqqZmLyITgkTy57xJHEY1shzGM7hkNgly-hZxGXJj2kNkVtrM58oU0x2MShr3KLGqAjV55dvKoBQ/s2498/February8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2498" data-original-width="1528" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0mEQPlpkas44l_UkbG6GHvx7JHnwCcEkfYht3TnkHdpKBex_HMIHPMocbjRDZzmfXbxZKBL83CjQ8aB8oDG-9vuFmYiTbLR2Sv9Eb8OZodGKmZ7jqqZmLyITgkTy57xJHEY1shzGM7hkNgly-hZxGXJj2kNkVtrM58oU0x2MShr3KLGqAjV55dvKoBQ/w245-h400/February8.jpg" width="245" /></a></div><p></p><p>Spring is (maybe) springing! (It is still very cold)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFIAg9Gqq4d33G7SIbKcHgH7GVAhx-tOTwN1910V3R6GAFTXs9V7vMKua9aXm6Ch3fezV1bJAtfqZeCFRBWDheU5bILRvMgBHp5r9uV6WB8PqS6bJQX_1E8W_aTL1NcjCDV56HOzahGArs4cRNyE1-GHWl82kt6-SAi-ViBNCbrGx8dLmR5KYiIJpT_Q/s2498/February9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2498" data-original-width="1527" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFIAg9Gqq4d33G7SIbKcHgH7GVAhx-tOTwN1910V3R6GAFTXs9V7vMKua9aXm6Ch3fezV1bJAtfqZeCFRBWDheU5bILRvMgBHp5r9uV6WB8PqS6bJQX_1E8W_aTL1NcjCDV56HOzahGArs4cRNyE1-GHWl82kt6-SAi-ViBNCbrGx8dLmR5KYiIJpT_Q/w245-h400/February9.jpg" width="245" /></a></div><p></p><p>Me and my partner went to Ikea! I love living (kinda) near Ikea!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrTazzIlL0DaZojaTAxCdo-ekEeoLL33-BKVES3v0BeEALpPdOyfXJ6gTBjCP3-WrvB3vMakDUpUL0Zuzs-AoaLmULvdjkzeM3VLR-5GwC85kAMQiv3LrIULIuSdRyY2ncbB5EjRXuvYQphM3CV3sINc_t2uJT1Awisibyr2rtU4MSrMrrX8YPjhTlVQ/s2498/February10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2498" data-original-width="1528" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrTazzIlL0DaZojaTAxCdo-ekEeoLL33-BKVES3v0BeEALpPdOyfXJ6gTBjCP3-WrvB3vMakDUpUL0Zuzs-AoaLmULvdjkzeM3VLR-5GwC85kAMQiv3LrIULIuSdRyY2ncbB5EjRXuvYQphM3CV3sINc_t2uJT1Awisibyr2rtU4MSrMrrX8YPjhTlVQ/w245-h400/February10.jpg" width="245" /></a></div><p></p><p>Facing some new teaching challenges this term, and it's going quite well?!!? Had a very successful day running a self-written workshop and then got home to an email from a student insisting I'd graded them incorrectly on another module I recently marked. DID I?! IDK?! Marking is new and hard?! I think I'm right but what if all creativity is subjective and impossible to grade?! Aaargh?!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWutHEoclV4sAhe6ozPkJM-n_E0HsssJcX7vh4hsUi-Ia__dFhsp1z8OtXbv7OJML2QA6DxQtAPxdm_5S3sK7IJ1yBWJFUZoiQMxwuAky4tm1SuTDHZIFpy1BYotsvdmw3oLaLVxgGdbMUJ-Z6yGyFKUT-zVL3nSd4aP4mp9cY62lbtLZTOvJ1E-Y-LQ/s2498/February11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2498" data-original-width="1527" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWutHEoclV4sAhe6ozPkJM-n_E0HsssJcX7vh4hsUi-Ia__dFhsp1z8OtXbv7OJML2QA6DxQtAPxdm_5S3sK7IJ1yBWJFUZoiQMxwuAky4tm1SuTDHZIFpy1BYotsvdmw3oLaLVxgGdbMUJ-Z6yGyFKUT-zVL3nSd4aP4mp9cY62lbtLZTOvJ1E-Y-LQ/w245-h400/February11.jpg" width="245" /></a></div><p></p><p>I am in an extremely wholesome whatsapp group called 'Riso working group' which is basically just people from mostly the UK asking questions about why their riso machine is or is not doing the thing. It's sweet and friendly and supportive and educational, and in the 'before times' they also hosted sporadic IRL meetups. This was the first one of these since pre-COVID, hosted by the lovely Pagemasters in Lewisham! I was a bit socially anxious about going but recognised a few other people there, and everyone was very sweet. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilHQ92MY8SmBMXxOsq8_vC7N_H5mknXXSL3fmwXHk-PLDHMXzXhKlZ_ckciOZ5NUsSkVPRgaJSnBMybb-0R_psW2nqJnny9GS3vMkLFk0ir4L9ZjajKw25FuBH7tPQKGgXzIPGe8QldBhl0fhRQlDpexiS615-JlsMSAaTVnKUyjyN_yUgGJlF_BIvxA/s2498/February12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2498" data-original-width="1528" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilHQ92MY8SmBMXxOsq8_vC7N_H5mknXXSL3fmwXHk-PLDHMXzXhKlZ_ckciOZ5NUsSkVPRgaJSnBMybb-0R_psW2nqJnny9GS3vMkLFk0ir4L9ZjajKw25FuBH7tPQKGgXzIPGe8QldBhl0fhRQlDpexiS615-JlsMSAaTVnKUyjyN_yUgGJlF_BIvxA/w245-h400/February12.jpg" width="245" /></a></div><br /> People are gross (that includes me I guess)<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivXgAbe26zYC6HUeW8Vi9cEHQziks3iFXGabe5Gb24moPich2R34_qQEleHckTos7ze75OdvFubC2MB60GSjmMGeWKDGcdIpXikleBWlTf4OCin7tekkdMtJwHcYj7078yEjRz-u334rJU2eO0pr__YukbWcj3VnNZRkzGs4a8yUIuAkQ23nfNYFSGAw/s2498/February13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2498" data-original-width="1527" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivXgAbe26zYC6HUeW8Vi9cEHQziks3iFXGabe5Gb24moPich2R34_qQEleHckTos7ze75OdvFubC2MB60GSjmMGeWKDGcdIpXikleBWlTf4OCin7tekkdMtJwHcYj7078yEjRz-u334rJU2eO0pr__YukbWcj3VnNZRkzGs4a8yUIuAkQ23nfNYFSGAw/w245-h400/February13.jpg" width="245" /></a></div><p></p><p>Lovely lunch out with a friend of a friend who is now a friend of ME!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCA6ITCfWWOVW2nDxaP1PdTSDMVUYokHM24TMciDA2CKJAIDcHpYJr0lPblTTlMARyVrDPvJjk0-OyU2l16gruqNHmGFiWiE1Qiz64u25Bq5-U8Vfzst3V93SFMsNWsxc8hW1UUJtaNVs5AtkpvphIsuHjz_P86MHcu0X4OyDKDHe6BFOE-waIEesMPQ/s2498/February14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2498" data-original-width="1528" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCA6ITCfWWOVW2nDxaP1PdTSDMVUYokHM24TMciDA2CKJAIDcHpYJr0lPblTTlMARyVrDPvJjk0-OyU2l16gruqNHmGFiWiE1Qiz64u25Bq5-U8Vfzst3V93SFMsNWsxc8hW1UUJtaNVs5AtkpvphIsuHjz_P86MHcu0X4OyDKDHe6BFOE-waIEesMPQ/w245-h400/February14.jpg" width="245" /></a></div><br /><p>I only have to do the bad Samaritans night shift (2.30 – 6.30) once every three months. It's always less bad than I expect it to be but I still hate being awake at night. On my way in, I always pick up lots of snacks to sustain me, but some nights I don't really feel like getting to them until the end of the shift (sometimes I munch all night though tbh). I was delighted to find WHSmiths selling the new(ish) vegan kitkats, one of my fav childhood chocolate bars, and one I probably hadn't had for well over a decade. I snapped it apart and ate it while blearily eyed walking home down Carnaby Street at 6am and had a vivid 'many years have passed' flashback to tiny Emma enjoying a kitkat in her lunchbox at school in North Wales. </p><p>Then I later remembered they're made by Nestlé and so I guess I'll go back to not having kit kats again.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS76tft2ZKzf-mNAXF84EoSf_vVEvohiljoacoib_VjNUgtOLhZDWlRqyfkf_e_fKVwTUE04HFvOEAMrB_f2pbQnRZTluIv5SuDJof6Gqjv-qnl3Q88HXoj0e2fXOyzq4tHy387Ra_zY40Dl7AOb19LSYHh5RkLFLdCMJJm84Swsjiw9nCX8UqD6hCNw/s2498/February15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2498" data-original-width="1527" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS76tft2ZKzf-mNAXF84EoSf_vVEvohiljoacoib_VjNUgtOLhZDWlRqyfkf_e_fKVwTUE04HFvOEAMrB_f2pbQnRZTluIv5SuDJof6Gqjv-qnl3Q88HXoj0e2fXOyzq4tHy387Ra_zY40Dl7AOb19LSYHh5RkLFLdCMJJm84Swsjiw9nCX8UqD6hCNw/w245-h400/February15.jpg" width="245" /></a></div><p></p><p>From culinary highs to culinary lows.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNSPrLOljJApvHj65IwO8ho8beyWpPL1l0CoCrQHW9munjbUdwIAUAfJwhP4LvUn5gi_adHyZVfxly7wRIkWA5gRPak72LbtPlY3RAiB6EG-4FFtNcbFnuhEywr5YWPnpZYYOMXi3mmu-VtlbR2corAzXQx8In9cFIpCcZSS6Dg7HN458mZlsMbMQT9w/s2498/February16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2498" data-original-width="1528" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNSPrLOljJApvHj65IwO8ho8beyWpPL1l0CoCrQHW9munjbUdwIAUAfJwhP4LvUn5gi_adHyZVfxly7wRIkWA5gRPak72LbtPlY3RAiB6EG-4FFtNcbFnuhEywr5YWPnpZYYOMXi3mmu-VtlbR2corAzXQx8In9cFIpCcZSS6Dg7HN458mZlsMbMQT9w/w245-h400/February16.jpg" width="245" /></a></div><p>Someone in the park mistook my partner for my SON. Misgendering aside, I know I look my age, but REALLY?!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSU3AvRWJs0MtLxdpxFFZ1N6bBT7ZrdXpjNhCODojk5v7eFLB7KgVjTwcZPJhVsdpUmS1wqOfHiYsvHWZVPj2WbJECimNhbLGkX1qIQmGx4IChygdI3H-OloPHymSMDzrsBrjm5F8vGvKkLoRDsyU1vrFXiHyulEE7O0DDa8jhvEbDGnll8W_RT1tMMA/s2498/February17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2498" data-original-width="1527" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSU3AvRWJs0MtLxdpxFFZ1N6bBT7ZrdXpjNhCODojk5v7eFLB7KgVjTwcZPJhVsdpUmS1wqOfHiYsvHWZVPj2WbJECimNhbLGkX1qIQmGx4IChygdI3H-OloPHymSMDzrsBrjm5F8vGvKkLoRDsyU1vrFXiHyulEE7O0DDa8jhvEbDGnll8W_RT1tMMA/w245-h400/February17.jpg" width="245" /></a></div><br /><p>I made a visual diary mistake here — walked section 5 of the capital ring but forgot to draw it in the same style as all the others, damn it! Got distracted I guess because it didn't feel as novel as other sections (being the one closest to my house I'd walked a lot of it with Charlie already). Plus I was joined by my old college friend Vicky who I hadn't seen in several years, to offload our respective life trauma of the past few years. So probably spent more time gossiping than appreciating the features of the walk.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn4GcUQ5KCmyLt8aoGawZE_CkK0EsZluGipzV2Uv9cTge_JmWY25KO57-7GPoeLEqHKMqSIFyujClW1hHtVWRshOt7csaRlIgtXY88tGWi17fJwm2xdOj8xL2aqAwHyFpvNpqSQoTIxUDBiJ1JTJIkovH3EDU1rdI_IEuLiFV7QRJW0esLcFVpo0xIiQ/s2498/February18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2498" data-original-width="1528" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn4GcUQ5KCmyLt8aoGawZE_CkK0EsZluGipzV2Uv9cTge_JmWY25KO57-7GPoeLEqHKMqSIFyujClW1hHtVWRshOt7csaRlIgtXY88tGWi17fJwm2xdOj8xL2aqAwHyFpvNpqSQoTIxUDBiJ1JTJIkovH3EDU1rdI_IEuLiFV7QRJW0esLcFVpo0xIiQ/w245-h400/February18.jpg" width="245" /></a></div><br /><p>Talking of the new battersea power station development, took my mum and aunt up the fancy lift which runs up one of the chimneys. The views were great but it was VERY expensive and you barely get any time up there.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6kBTGIFM21mCFSHAPo52cT8xRHOJmZwz5s2Z1WGVfTLw9Bn2ODrZ4mHrbRYsj_tMJxE7B_TIf4ZHfhCn0G6Swixmii2K8C5G15cBCaJ9i3VIXV1j2JSAfOF2ePxngRcjfin6A7bVMXVksx0ZexDU2-LRvC4V0vA7PUrFGf-p0AmwTPJ-4PNpXtOtg6g/s2498/February19.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2498" data-original-width="1527" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6kBTGIFM21mCFSHAPo52cT8xRHOJmZwz5s2Z1WGVfTLw9Bn2ODrZ4mHrbRYsj_tMJxE7B_TIf4ZHfhCn0G6Swixmii2K8C5G15cBCaJ9i3VIXV1j2JSAfOF2ePxngRcjfin6A7bVMXVksx0ZexDU2-LRvC4V0vA7PUrFGf-p0AmwTPJ-4PNpXtOtg6g/w245-h400/February19.jpg" width="245" /></a></div><p></p><p>We sometimes walk an elderly neighbour's dog to help her out. His name is Tippu and he's a weird little guy.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwyCUeAK6zpUOEklmeoKk7IWfKZEK_e6P2lTvdsyLQyLDGiW9uicKxvAkRYQnh7bEDL57-Cl01AjhfbejVgVMYV3a6yhYj7-CP2eKtq7svUYymJvPc94ZQi6zEPxQr_Iqk0g1cAn5GRM450lcIAoGDFLAJzSxOYLVQbEwQ_GWGkEMx1hElZR_z9XjGSQ/s2498/February20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2498" data-original-width="1528" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwyCUeAK6zpUOEklmeoKk7IWfKZEK_e6P2lTvdsyLQyLDGiW9uicKxvAkRYQnh7bEDL57-Cl01AjhfbejVgVMYV3a6yhYj7-CP2eKtq7svUYymJvPc94ZQi6zEPxQr_Iqk0g1cAn5GRM450lcIAoGDFLAJzSxOYLVQbEwQ_GWGkEMx1hElZR_z9XjGSQ/w245-h400/February20.jpg" width="245" /></a></div><p></p><p>Lent cometh!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHrNHxWH_pG-6lRVbAGo6wKozYQ1Zt7eEJqoF6BeV4qYh2HzEJ79kcBtWkxLd3GNsRnigGHu_e9MLk_XvVzTqt_HarxDwlyECgOdqyAJAMdK8Bl8ThS_xbc5fK4UnwXLkaAo_hSw6rBXZObrP7bpQ9DxzAradXSJYvJBt09fhfyIKUHy4pw9QpRPsW3Q/s2498/February21.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2498" data-original-width="1527" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHrNHxWH_pG-6lRVbAGo6wKozYQ1Zt7eEJqoF6BeV4qYh2HzEJ79kcBtWkxLd3GNsRnigGHu_e9MLk_XvVzTqt_HarxDwlyECgOdqyAJAMdK8Bl8ThS_xbc5fK4UnwXLkaAo_hSw6rBXZObrP7bpQ9DxzAradXSJYvJBt09fhfyIKUHy4pw9QpRPsW3Q/w245-h400/February21.jpg" width="245" /></a></div><br /><p>Got a large tattoo on my thigh, but haven't really shown it off yet as it's not healing very well. I think I've had an allergic reaction to the red ink, as all the black areas are healing and peeling as they should, but the red area has scabbed over with thick scabs and is still really tender over a week on. Hoping it will heal tidily given a bit more time!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF4XfpYj-c3WX4ZomZcZhxok7kB_ytyjxy94FMS6tuOo0o8O6bGSSdB-keCU1pkKqORw06l3IKFkHgjqSMwjmPk6QCk4MC4nuPHJk7CuPY_jKVB6oK1ybQgQYlnV3EClsg3Gd2MjAc7cMz1irdSQTqzr6mSC1q-V6Lhu8sQ9VOMHWt2LS0QzF6qsA_iQ/s2498/February22.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2498" data-original-width="1528" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF4XfpYj-c3WX4ZomZcZhxok7kB_ytyjxy94FMS6tuOo0o8O6bGSSdB-keCU1pkKqORw06l3IKFkHgjqSMwjmPk6QCk4MC4nuPHJk7CuPY_jKVB6oK1ybQgQYlnV3EClsg3Gd2MjAc7cMz1irdSQTqzr6mSC1q-V6Lhu8sQ9VOMHWt2LS0QzF6qsA_iQ/w245-h400/February22.jpg" width="245" /></a></div><br /><p>Had to give a very technical presentation to over 70 people about research process, which was stressful.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOZfRfryzBVe-EmVe4WmniIhs4LSDO2AmyZpOiuxJePSOnOQ2ap7d-M3lk0elQTus_HSyePMBAs73gjC-6p9K8SY_tdPwTvIuw21CywI14sJwo1cAcRSlrULh4y8m_L9BaGkUTjt-6f_XRmge_Y2n7wEVKp4xbQUrOl-g2_1A9Z44R6fL9ioHz2LGzRQ/s2498/February23.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2498" data-original-width="1527" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOZfRfryzBVe-EmVe4WmniIhs4LSDO2AmyZpOiuxJePSOnOQ2ap7d-M3lk0elQTus_HSyePMBAs73gjC-6p9K8SY_tdPwTvIuw21CywI14sJwo1cAcRSlrULh4y8m_L9BaGkUTjt-6f_XRmge_Y2n7wEVKp4xbQUrOl-g2_1A9Z44R6fL9ioHz2LGzRQ/w245-h400/February23.jpg" width="245" /></a></div><p></p><p>I mostly try not to think too hard about the air on the tube, but</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbpXdL-ynWBqQ_b3lIp_5bc7QNA6AzRpzZI6y9-TMe_o_RAFY4n3WlF8jCWFni-JNFV6kI09Ac3fPL-hrrR7tix58k0JkvcAN43MdOXK0P1l6j_bxgjpiQHX4MypfJcPk7RGUtRsJRF7sNXmXPpBihGh_T-HkIk_sWQjnz4Y-97rDA7P9J2r86MdDxkw/s2480/February24.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2480" data-original-width="1535" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbpXdL-ynWBqQ_b3lIp_5bc7QNA6AzRpzZI6y9-TMe_o_RAFY4n3WlF8jCWFni-JNFV6kI09Ac3fPL-hrrR7tix58k0JkvcAN43MdOXK0P1l6j_bxgjpiQHX4MypfJcPk7RGUtRsJRF7sNXmXPpBihGh_T-HkIk_sWQjnz4Y-97rDA7P9J2r86MdDxkw/w248-h400/February24.jpg" width="248" /></a></div><br /><p>To escape from the foul London air, I got the tube up to Hebden Bridge for a long weekend. Finally visited my friend James' very lovely new house.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi69lulbESYCV4N6UkeMUHa69T2E7KukEuo3UEPx-gWeZSfzro7HMXkAGJuS6DS1HBujSAnxqqE9E0b7maJq3G3a7_BmjblEg-tFbkoplDaEkBXOwy6uRPFGDWzC5IoZ8AHsVn-ExOKqIIC4aEJXoh7quPE8UT5_AFJju1M1wmmNdunKHlnlLzss1I4A/s2480/February25.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2480" data-original-width="1535" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi69lulbESYCV4N6UkeMUHa69T2E7KukEuo3UEPx-gWeZSfzro7HMXkAGJuS6DS1HBujSAnxqqE9E0b7maJq3G3a7_BmjblEg-tFbkoplDaEkBXOwy6uRPFGDWzC5IoZ8AHsVn-ExOKqIIC4aEJXoh7quPE8UT5_AFJju1M1wmmNdunKHlnlLzss1I4A/w248-h400/February25.jpg" width="248" /></a></div><br /><p>And enjoyed some of my old favourite hiking routes (while trying not to think too hard about how much I miss Charlie)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2ghZ2e2ZaVwjNlw84i-WcrtjPPvJjqFEtwYGayUSYuoIo5yfOF8PJnlViVPam7Pxq34IOrlfXpi7t6WbtEQepXgPRu7c8Eq-qcap_3rpgTDWk3lLSDdEJyWE7z0UXvedSaQAdewFD5Egk1KpOp5SLYCADLWKUeePdMgBC7RbQo4xubaoFx1k4Wj1vaQ/s2480/February26.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2480" data-original-width="1535" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2ghZ2e2ZaVwjNlw84i-WcrtjPPvJjqFEtwYGayUSYuoIo5yfOF8PJnlViVPam7Pxq34IOrlfXpi7t6WbtEQepXgPRu7c8Eq-qcap_3rpgTDWk3lLSDdEJyWE7z0UXvedSaQAdewFD5Egk1KpOp5SLYCADLWKUeePdMgBC7RbQo4xubaoFx1k4Wj1vaQ/w248-h400/February26.jpg" width="248" /></a></div><p></p><p>Managed to catch up with a few of my HB favs over the weekend, which was really lovely.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq7HlhqmTAjPOoA-cjtDIEjMm48rc4bHH0wRow0F7o69ytejNsds6s5JD_pLU9bi3QdBXIErRaCOymW-DC5auNAiStkrdeTd4Lr7g0t6vRrSAIsXLCanwvmsh8_yyi-6zCDJH_ohEkRcNLhOjqi28oX3oa3BmeMbCqyE7-UnfF-8rLJCV4SkJhpFzcGw/s2498/February27.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2498" data-original-width="1527" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq7HlhqmTAjPOoA-cjtDIEjMm48rc4bHH0wRow0F7o69ytejNsds6s5JD_pLU9bi3QdBXIErRaCOymW-DC5auNAiStkrdeTd4Lr7g0t6vRrSAIsXLCanwvmsh8_yyi-6zCDJH_ohEkRcNLhOjqi28oX3oa3BmeMbCqyE7-UnfF-8rLJCV4SkJhpFzcGw/w245-h400/February27.jpeg" width="245" /></a> <br /></div><p>Headed home yesterday — feeling the lenten hungriness (I always use this as a time to eschew snacking between meals, crisps and chocolate) — spent the entire 15 minutes running up to midday staring hungrily at my delicious pasta lunch on the train.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD5caZVFNfjKa6ZVex7AVQw9LOnMz0H74pvSFGe9Nk0hWiNGP2RKjujtn2Gw89dmwyiCVZgH90Wr_9-_vHiL5jI6LK0JufUIyKJMTq4C98QTH40TU5X7VxXcpam0jouxIsxl-DK1CIBwEqG-ygax3HjsWX0UcqsMdM7rl7FMoGmy6RHlljbBMsoL8kZQ/s2472/February28.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2472" data-original-width="1496" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD5caZVFNfjKa6ZVex7AVQw9LOnMz0H74pvSFGe9Nk0hWiNGP2RKjujtn2Gw89dmwyiCVZgH90Wr_9-_vHiL5jI6LK0JufUIyKJMTq4C98QTH40TU5X7VxXcpam0jouxIsxl-DK1CIBwEqG-ygax3HjsWX0UcqsMdM7rl7FMoGmy6RHlljbBMsoL8kZQ/w242-h400/February28.jpeg" width="242" /></a></div><p>Home now and desperately hoping for warmer temperatures. As part of my lenten penance I have also (finally, after maybe 5 months?!) returned to my actual grown up desk (rather than just working from bed). I hate it. <br /></p><p>I have some adventures lined up in March to look forwards to/be anxious about, so hopefully some interesting drawings to come next month...<br /></p>Emmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03307690577227053266noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6149147983678759733.post-91816543237715979042023-02-02T09:22:00.016+00:002023-02-02T09:23:38.762+00:00Hourly Comics Day 2023<p>It's hourly comics day once again!</p><p>You can see the last 9 years hourly comics here:</p><p><a href="https://emmacharleston.blogspot.com/2014/02/hourly-comic-day-2014.html">2014</a>, <a href="https://emmacharleston.blogspot.com/2015/02/hourly-comic-day-2015.html">2015</a>, <a href="https://emmacharleston.blogspot.com/2016/02/hourly-comics-day-2016.html">2016</a>, <a href="https://emmacharleston.blogspot.com/2017/02/hourly-comics-day-2017.html">2017</a>, <a href="https://emmacharleston.blogspot.com/2018/02/hourly-comic-day-2018.html">2018</a>, <a href="https://emmacharleston.blogspot.com/2019/02/hourly-comic-day-2019.html">2019,</a> <a href="https://emmacharleston.blogspot.com/2020/02/hourly-comics-day-2020.html">2020</a>, <a href="https://emmacharleston.blogspot.com/2021/02/hourly-comics-day-2021.html">2021</a>, <a href="http://emmacharleston.blogspot.com/2022/02/hourly-comics-day-2022.html">2022</a></p><p>Making this my TENTH year of hourly comicsing! It was a very busy day but I was determined to do a full 6-panel'r every hour 😅</p><p>Here they are!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtAMoVBT7XMIog0o-I3cmjm4MBEJmfGLWXDsN65leIyyvWwAzV-G_4KO8xksKzvLefxyyZGwNttAvv76hdGmblcJFUD7HGH90Th0i9JhkQUMbpqfCW-RSxdaqVcIZUIuXUH_Sj8bjrhur0L0CE95QN-lWub4bXk9we2en0iymp1aPgNESAs1HQ6RuxRA/s2480/Untitled_Artwork%200.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2480" data-original-width="1535" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtAMoVBT7XMIog0o-I3cmjm4MBEJmfGLWXDsN65leIyyvWwAzV-G_4KO8xksKzvLefxyyZGwNttAvv76hdGmblcJFUD7HGH90Th0i9JhkQUMbpqfCW-RSxdaqVcIZUIuXUH_Sj8bjrhur0L0CE95QN-lWub4bXk9we2en0iymp1aPgNESAs1HQ6RuxRA/w248-h400/Untitled_Artwork%200.jpg" width="248" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnyRvVD03hLCEuQLFyuSzPWmmUl7Y302M6j6lFIc0y9iR1JaQJWbpQpoMKynxvpuRGJ-MQg2_KoctXQIrG2onbi7AKdbKqKf7FysVXT1sHJ_quQl8alMYIJMvcpzGaR05YWfrw_Hz4D1e2w0aLRY7WP_8DnsIsxJaQ3kMQ8T6a7vX9BzbPqBCGMNLAuw/s2480/Untitled_Artwork%2010.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2480" data-original-width="1535" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnyRvVD03hLCEuQLFyuSzPWmmUl7Y302M6j6lFIc0y9iR1JaQJWbpQpoMKynxvpuRGJ-MQg2_KoctXQIrG2onbi7AKdbKqKf7FysVXT1sHJ_quQl8alMYIJMvcpzGaR05YWfrw_Hz4D1e2w0aLRY7WP_8DnsIsxJaQ3kMQ8T6a7vX9BzbPqBCGMNLAuw/w248-h400/Untitled_Artwork%2010.JPG" width="248" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU0gUCnHJDoLK-rX2UmqrkKXDSQNqyEJL7PI6wwX86NT9R3K-h6XJ1BFMGFPl3jnB_neiA5AEMKkeY-aaIx3dr-HyCe_Wb3Wm322K_i8CU2D3dxeCoeMVIbUY56xS4oAC3q6C2ojkm3PiMrxnRiNqSUNLUVqH471CDOiBRMbZhIXRk-reClRiUZLqWiA/s2480/Untitled_Artwork%209.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2480" data-original-width="1535" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU0gUCnHJDoLK-rX2UmqrkKXDSQNqyEJL7PI6wwX86NT9R3K-h6XJ1BFMGFPl3jnB_neiA5AEMKkeY-aaIx3dr-HyCe_Wb3Wm322K_i8CU2D3dxeCoeMVIbUY56xS4oAC3q6C2ojkm3PiMrxnRiNqSUNLUVqH471CDOiBRMbZhIXRk-reClRiUZLqWiA/w248-h400/Untitled_Artwork%209.JPG" width="248" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDcEF_fDo5kA4BXboxZjKUWclU5hSX3FSmmcgJ_at6p_SmmgSSXigYqouwivbFKhuKZxPPGAKdh9hMzRRLCKWfM8lMNfkYhI1fawTeaITujvYyBBXw2qzWWZ01_wxlxIFMbM0FMDBUM31eOWPMb7OkKY9Yi2-RGMOFG-sFUr3bn77P-KBsSbDs-xsQ2A/s2480/Untitled_Artwork%208.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2480" data-original-width="1535" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDcEF_fDo5kA4BXboxZjKUWclU5hSX3FSmmcgJ_at6p_SmmgSSXigYqouwivbFKhuKZxPPGAKdh9hMzRRLCKWfM8lMNfkYhI1fawTeaITujvYyBBXw2qzWWZ01_wxlxIFMbM0FMDBUM31eOWPMb7OkKY9Yi2-RGMOFG-sFUr3bn77P-KBsSbDs-xsQ2A/w248-h400/Untitled_Artwork%208.JPG" width="248" /></a></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglahfCxzWtjZYHKO9zKDmVAqQ1kuFY6qxLOrXE1CN3qpkLIbcwOhi_RyoMKPLCLX3UOV95Fo6AAz25qrrdp6Pr7CBvNNf3be4uV-vYd4HjLphXn1TXIKL-wD1qLeyjzhNwsAzvSrAC4foLXhZEPL61HZzuZ6uOAdZiEWStr2G-XeQjVQ3EGCRO1jz9Ag/s2480/Untitled_Artwork%201.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2480" data-original-width="1535" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglahfCxzWtjZYHKO9zKDmVAqQ1kuFY6qxLOrXE1CN3qpkLIbcwOhi_RyoMKPLCLX3UOV95Fo6AAz25qrrdp6Pr7CBvNNf3be4uV-vYd4HjLphXn1TXIKL-wD1qLeyjzhNwsAzvSrAC4foLXhZEPL61HZzuZ6uOAdZiEWStr2G-XeQjVQ3EGCRO1jz9Ag/w248-h400/Untitled_Artwork%201.jpg" width="248" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLloNaeCl-Qoh2zYj4Wd5GReY8o3Ubv-Mut973YNbyP7D9B2kJpeJSDxsYnNUmen1XuuypFPhjNkmExjkl8kfuwgdU-m152h-uM1ke9nIobpEZiYmCcamLL3sUO78bad6KuCTsCGImSKNc6OXRK33JPNToI_ZTRdX01fYa96M6gP0jsJbQVa8NFXGxow/s2480/Untitled_Artwork%202.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2480" data-original-width="1535" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLloNaeCl-Qoh2zYj4Wd5GReY8o3Ubv-Mut973YNbyP7D9B2kJpeJSDxsYnNUmen1XuuypFPhjNkmExjkl8kfuwgdU-m152h-uM1ke9nIobpEZiYmCcamLL3sUO78bad6KuCTsCGImSKNc6OXRK33JPNToI_ZTRdX01fYa96M6gP0jsJbQVa8NFXGxow/w248-h400/Untitled_Artwork%202.jpg" width="248" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2480" data-original-width="1535" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlx5JxPEmYP73vfj27d3vvXsuOgjIL3tKvzlfr8ySDK96DR_9-9Zc4d_ILmVMV5W3x5ygD_37SOCbCBc3v1E1Vbb9F-xk-yux4CrY7veekDzmr0pDShbljrNsZFjDl4UKYe9PKZcMdIqNUx31vmuFFS7zXIeEXaMVf1Pa7s1dG7QP0TEr6Wxn0aS1cHQ/w248-h400/Untitled_Artwork%2020.JPG" width="248" /></a></div><br />Emmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03307690577227053266noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6149147983678759733.post-65081597687180656712023-01-31T21:31:00.003+00:002023-02-28T17:03:10.662+00:00January 2023<p>As is often the way, I write this blog late in the evening, feeling hazy after a long day of many itty bitty tasks... But annoyingly, much of my month has been a bit quieter than I'm accustomed to work-wise, so it's annoying that today has been a bit of an 'everything all at once' day</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCV_y0LBot0UmOpYqKNzQ9QPHfFwFqXXZVnP5gFQUOmuhyOeXZEYvN4l2SwZlVajow-X_8xVW51VU_bTb9fjYXeiVO13yODGMR7O5NO6aYtiiMD446LCtPhhTzNOigLeuOFVXZVQIjzZT4pBUdzsNCw4f4qm-_6TiA-x3KHIVhuUvrlRLhocpVpdhyQg/s2487/January1.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2487" data-original-width="1525" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCV_y0LBot0UmOpYqKNzQ9QPHfFwFqXXZVnP5gFQUOmuhyOeXZEYvN4l2SwZlVajow-X_8xVW51VU_bTb9fjYXeiVO13yODGMR7O5NO6aYtiiMD446LCtPhhTzNOigLeuOFVXZVQIjzZT4pBUdzsNCw4f4qm-_6TiA-x3KHIVhuUvrlRLhocpVpdhyQg/w245-h400/January1.jpeg" width="245" /></a></div><p> I started off January dusting my house. Our flat directly overlooks a 24 hour bus route, outside the low emission zone of central London, which means everything in my room slowly becomes coated with a fine layer of soot, and living here is probably the equivalent of smoking a cigarette a day. Dusting is both refreshing and depressing.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMB6-XASiZ_qd0F6KCmf3zdX8UCs4QekUZb1UZb_wLhGIzQebLrnf9Fc9F5mZx0ltNtY8tuCq0Sph2svyO1ucLQ6qrp5jZ-HxPJY0WcTF0SoyKaqjlMV7SltXzWh4mSpsUf95GBshgjBksxwMohztvZ1OoF55rBFujifs0yFx4I9OE_qoUh7hb-x3cxw/s2487/January2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2487" data-original-width="1525" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMB6-XASiZ_qd0F6KCmf3zdX8UCs4QekUZb1UZb_wLhGIzQebLrnf9Fc9F5mZx0ltNtY8tuCq0Sph2svyO1ucLQ6qrp5jZ-HxPJY0WcTF0SoyKaqjlMV7SltXzWh4mSpsUf95GBshgjBksxwMohztvZ1OoF55rBFujifs0yFx4I9OE_qoUh7hb-x3cxw/w245-h400/January2.jpg" width="245" /></a></div><p></p><p>A few months ago, Samaritans Central London branch flooded, and the building was so badly damaged that it hasn't yet re-opened again. In the interim, we have been offered a temporary home in the basement of a company called Arup, whose offices are situated near the big cool BT tower. I like getting to see it up close regularly.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjovICxHF8MFonAg2-3RAb_ohAsWBX7nVbrlw7gd5lark_xZ6SY421yAzBbdNmZ8huoxJKAs3bD7IGS4OX5fivNeqCnkGlMrGzhjndjbKfGiom0bIBaz3QhBd4krRO7nF05svBS12RWI76iSqJfbdjVC_sYZ_UiB1O3E8WRpcZs1lT6wN0qkbh0AEZpdg/s2487/January3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2487" data-original-width="1525" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjovICxHF8MFonAg2-3RAb_ohAsWBX7nVbrlw7gd5lark_xZ6SY421yAzBbdNmZ8huoxJKAs3bD7IGS4OX5fivNeqCnkGlMrGzhjndjbKfGiom0bIBaz3QhBd4krRO7nF05svBS12RWI76iSqJfbdjVC_sYZ_UiB1O3E8WRpcZs1lT6wN0qkbh0AEZpdg/w245-h400/January3.jpg" width="245" /></a></div><p></p><p>Took down my christmas cards and made all the ones with cute animals on them into a bad collage</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjJxUn5GBpI2u6poz5OAjW3OHBdTt58ogGLHft4lgKZmUxlHipEv0M_Q14rKu5_RPRVbR2zQU4npWsI7A9PIrUWusTb3xmBIezfjcuKmIggLERBnXtbAbj8y3zrgsISYaXhe8IDdVMUVyif6sWdnyQImLnw_9Nd1HhskKFOETFtK5WHBHwWwNFIC_-7A/s2487/January4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2487" data-original-width="1525" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjJxUn5GBpI2u6poz5OAjW3OHBdTt58ogGLHft4lgKZmUxlHipEv0M_Q14rKu5_RPRVbR2zQU4npWsI7A9PIrUWusTb3xmBIezfjcuKmIggLERBnXtbAbj8y3zrgsISYaXhe8IDdVMUVyif6sWdnyQImLnw_9Nd1HhskKFOETFtK5WHBHwWwNFIC_-7A/w245-h400/January4.jpg" width="245" /></a></div><p></p><p>For the uninitiated, flu camp is medical trials. You can get paid several thousand pounds to be shut in a room for 2-3 weeks, infected with flu, and dosed up on experimental (but low risk) drugs. My partner signed up for it...</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd_ByOIaUGbu3RwNQSOEEEUtkVQoed6AZdpnKrksBt8oB4JwUnKWZvYxSV4iVgliBHBeCVYGtZDsoMaNaOAY0-zbocOE_J9xlZYtXdxubA9thhnzJjdAezExEQom1N6u17cFW9x3KALYCAkVVO85vPngqoPON45PR8QcmL9Q1uVxURwTqnqiu69nKZIA/s2487/January5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2487" data-original-width="1525" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd_ByOIaUGbu3RwNQSOEEEUtkVQoed6AZdpnKrksBt8oB4JwUnKWZvYxSV4iVgliBHBeCVYGtZDsoMaNaOAY0-zbocOE_J9xlZYtXdxubA9thhnzJjdAezExEQom1N6u17cFW9x3KALYCAkVVO85vPngqoPON45PR8QcmL9Q1uVxURwTqnqiu69nKZIA/w245-h400/January5.jpg" width="245" /></a></div><p></p><p>But flu camp fucked up!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtmZykKnLuW-yw6anYNrVFN2AuKpkBjg8r9RX1Tt64P8yNDtIPG36VFUZaLAs9KmEne2UYMKGvxB-M5fpTkny5ShWhf6qOooUsRZ2SlfEcrx4lwviJ8Mt0xe2tmZSCF9zA0iXSbIkEfCT_Y6XFBqMHtTXF_e_U5bdDmK7F1jS4g1BXli1xMOPoPdmOUQ/s2487/January6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2487" data-original-width="1525" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtmZykKnLuW-yw6anYNrVFN2AuKpkBjg8r9RX1Tt64P8yNDtIPG36VFUZaLAs9KmEne2UYMKGvxB-M5fpTkny5ShWhf6qOooUsRZ2SlfEcrx4lwviJ8Mt0xe2tmZSCF9zA0iXSbIkEfCT_Y6XFBqMHtTXF_e_U5bdDmK7F1jS4g1BXli1xMOPoPdmOUQ/w245-h400/January6.jpg" width="245" /></a></div><p></p><p>My housemate Camille bought me back lots of exciting supermarket goodies from Belgium, including CRICKET CRACKERS!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCfXmND1vEpRB2WfUWoHaqAUPd66HN3qLopTjR0eeueX8nFBlB_tKoD_Hyq1O907xqJpnMN7leZRZiXXL5UZyeKGuajkKbMvTkyvQhML6uXvR6U5m9Us3LA7DkJkVccjB9jkDoiuNYtkAv4R5P6OBGtw1L6OcyOiOCgAHr5Si4YKEuiw0DfViNJEazcg/s2487/January7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2487" data-original-width="1525" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCfXmND1vEpRB2WfUWoHaqAUPd66HN3qLopTjR0eeueX8nFBlB_tKoD_Hyq1O907xqJpnMN7leZRZiXXL5UZyeKGuajkKbMvTkyvQhML6uXvR6U5m9Us3LA7DkJkVccjB9jkDoiuNYtkAv4R5P6OBGtw1L6OcyOiOCgAHr5Si4YKEuiw0DfViNJEazcg/w245-h400/January7.jpg" width="245" /></a></div><p></p><p>I allowed myself a relatively leisurely ease back into working at the start of the year (well, I say allowed, also clients never send any work in the first week back, and term doesn't start again until later) — enjoyed wrapping up my break by completing my walk of the Wandle River. Got to see an actual real life Kingfisher!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHJ_uOxqROB241jON8kRAB8Qo1zXSte7Ee0EHP8jZT0xuLC9E6qb0Pn1TNyM0vHL86kd7LRMHzlBGVsjQlspG6uIBvr_nTh79ghr5xS4qlqj_clqUTt3s4z1RLRvcl3_qBc2y7B-wFgIbElEldWOmvyltPXHiu73la3I6ECX1Q9Z72eoWuaYwZm_g5hw/s2487/January8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2487" data-original-width="1525" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHJ_uOxqROB241jON8kRAB8Qo1zXSte7Ee0EHP8jZT0xuLC9E6qb0Pn1TNyM0vHL86kd7LRMHzlBGVsjQlspG6uIBvr_nTh79ghr5xS4qlqj_clqUTt3s4z1RLRvcl3_qBc2y7B-wFgIbElEldWOmvyltPXHiu73la3I6ECX1Q9Z72eoWuaYwZm_g5hw/w245-h400/January8.jpg" width="245" /></a></div><p></p><p>Spent a happy few hours playing the game 'Unpacking', which was, frankly, ASTONISHINGLY emotionally resonant and left me thinking a lot about posessions, what we hold on to, what we let go, and how we share our space.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisAkTtjzsG393JoYGK41kd3wwsrgLhzfNTQkzeDVaAtdfthsGPxkUYXG5t5v-x0l8NSPpuDSJ3xc7VSV2yoWFx3KoT-uDVhdvEjlHCux3TJRGx2Buy1h-WfeuVdpT2XUIVZfd3k_byJFP4mOJhEPj_AIuCAF0FXGxC6dCp9oIkzHbPb6-DxdvLxvVLxw/s2487/January9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2487" data-original-width="1525" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisAkTtjzsG393JoYGK41kd3wwsrgLhzfNTQkzeDVaAtdfthsGPxkUYXG5t5v-x0l8NSPpuDSJ3xc7VSV2yoWFx3KoT-uDVhdvEjlHCux3TJRGx2Buy1h-WfeuVdpT2XUIVZfd3k_byJFP4mOJhEPj_AIuCAF0FXGxC6dCp9oIkzHbPb6-DxdvLxvVLxw/w245-h400/January9.jpg" width="245" /></a></div><p></p><p>BACK TO TEACHING!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1q_JCOVGVMMxlH2nBCFgi7n1qgNFF2qo11AT7Le8uKsa-_rYkVZP-uO1BoHhtHxe9qeOz4jT1BG_0LGi-TC7LzaWsPbuFnWciZVjiTv96PEzQQiRXbaIXFxzybhgy2F1setFyZFk9kbsa885hu1qBWjdpYLQG7UfYjUB2TWKhP5m7R5THyXfznvHL1A/s2487/January10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2487" data-original-width="1467" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1q_JCOVGVMMxlH2nBCFgi7n1qgNFF2qo11AT7Le8uKsa-_rYkVZP-uO1BoHhtHxe9qeOz4jT1BG_0LGi-TC7LzaWsPbuFnWciZVjiTv96PEzQQiRXbaIXFxzybhgy2F1setFyZFk9kbsa885hu1qBWjdpYLQG7UfYjUB2TWKhP5m7R5THyXfznvHL1A/w236-h400/January10.jpg" width="236" /></a></div><p></p><p>And then IMMEDIATELY got sick. (Realistically, got sick way too fast to have caught it from all the gross students though)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYU6XlqpLHreI7Ftp_yDUYwP4WDMy0DUtn1R5PIfr0gzv9m5PBOZ6s9A2sw7DPRj4wDmMTquv5_lUikW9Rup9Gtv6wBNkBx4WT9bBn5Eh6oreMAWLPW8wmVE5aN-cLmexFuqzcxNm1KgiOUm1Pwbj8qzzuYIiTJGLNrmpKtDJNPDKtEGS-TPif3ZwlNw/s2487/January11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2487" data-original-width="1525" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYU6XlqpLHreI7Ftp_yDUYwP4WDMy0DUtn1R5PIfr0gzv9m5PBOZ6s9A2sw7DPRj4wDmMTquv5_lUikW9Rup9Gtv6wBNkBx4WT9bBn5Eh6oreMAWLPW8wmVE5aN-cLmexFuqzcxNm1KgiOUm1Pwbj8qzzuYIiTJGLNrmpKtDJNPDKtEGS-TPif3ZwlNw/w245-h400/January11.jpg" width="245" /></a></div><p></p><p>Ugggggghhhhhh</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7LQD_9btvwM96cYWOzcdVXntrPc6SlDQJq_mrncrT9X6J6TdkjI1uRubpBk6Sm9wpqrXlv6v4d65MqikjPe694j1mejs7RhfIjo9VDFO_Ecp1sF23FICVxJAKqXdUuaYpjtxo549j-1BH9d5aOXjVz03jr3cnEVDJKMBgnUUSrfA_ljfKkLwPOAPnmg/s2487/January12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2487" data-original-width="1525" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7LQD_9btvwM96cYWOzcdVXntrPc6SlDQJq_mrncrT9X6J6TdkjI1uRubpBk6Sm9wpqrXlv6v4d65MqikjPe694j1mejs7RhfIjo9VDFO_Ecp1sF23FICVxJAKqXdUuaYpjtxo549j-1BH9d5aOXjVz03jr3cnEVDJKMBgnUUSrfA_ljfKkLwPOAPnmg/w245-h400/January12.jpg" width="245" /></a></div><p> Exploring some new and innovative cold symptoms here, lads</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTgBJskoPcVIiRPAZ5mkktiQ5Oev4ke_Ha3f5r45kNARQ_TWOsweXGWP68gkHDP9XZJQET_kY2oKwlQkULVaRsI1WXw6TcnUvKnDrxK46lITxQd8zmRreWRqxODUhocoj8V8KLiyx90fa5WpOcVSGX7SF4e314zZGV66zdzv30OeijS3j6jRa6kqTkBg/s2487/January13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2487" data-original-width="1525" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTgBJskoPcVIiRPAZ5mkktiQ5Oev4ke_Ha3f5r45kNARQ_TWOsweXGWP68gkHDP9XZJQET_kY2oKwlQkULVaRsI1WXw6TcnUvKnDrxK46lITxQd8zmRreWRqxODUhocoj8V8KLiyx90fa5WpOcVSGX7SF4e314zZGV66zdzv30OeijS3j6jRa6kqTkBg/w245-h400/January13.jpg" width="245" /></a></div><p></p><p>And then my eyes got really crusty and itchy and weird?! Basically this entire week was a write off, work and general functioning-wise</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnIY1a9VMSSgPUGb9sCUl-8qXp7A5vnGFRRC6LQM9R11R_J9aLC07N_VCo1vA072YCooTo1QHrOI8xepA-Yn3qb9ykNCdpT4z5Rn267r_a5BqTGzY5tRIc-KF3i8JYXboZL4u8ngYGUnpwMZFR4JSgFh39uN6RqaO4BCfPVVQMsRBFDYn75II_Hrwufw/s2487/January14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2487" data-original-width="1470" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnIY1a9VMSSgPUGb9sCUl-8qXp7A5vnGFRRC6LQM9R11R_J9aLC07N_VCo1vA072YCooTo1QHrOI8xepA-Yn3qb9ykNCdpT4z5Rn267r_a5BqTGzY5tRIc-KF3i8JYXboZL4u8ngYGUnpwMZFR4JSgFh39uN6RqaO4BCfPVVQMsRBFDYn75II_Hrwufw/w236-h400/January14.jpg" width="236" /></a></div><p></p><p>Finally managed to leave the house again, on exciting errand to buy anti-mould spray (realised during my start-of-the-year dusting session that some of the black dust was in fact black mould, and having lain in bed for a week with respiritory sickness just LOOKING at the black mould, I felt compelled to deal with it). Also went to Holland and Barratt and bought myself various vitamins and minerals.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhANF1zmzxBiUXaZwb2IsqX6wRQGAjqk43GllKThYOx8WDr_QliuVjfIVsY0cAGJBCqQoZyBF5OA4SKsXSCwxnH8Krngg1Gm6dxNiNWtuCsR6rJnjwq5JR1RNzVKvpcPfajA_DIU9ddMWiZTJ98m4LnyDPHlbS8_8WDWd_fO5irNp5KvP6J1CHihOIpw/s2487/January16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2487" data-original-width="1525" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhANF1zmzxBiUXaZwb2IsqX6wRQGAjqk43GllKThYOx8WDr_QliuVjfIVsY0cAGJBCqQoZyBF5OA4SKsXSCwxnH8Krngg1Gm6dxNiNWtuCsR6rJnjwq5JR1RNzVKvpcPfajA_DIU9ddMWiZTJ98m4LnyDPHlbS8_8WDWd_fO5irNp5KvP6J1CHihOIpw/w245-h400/January16.jpg" width="245" /></a></div> <p></p><p>Still distinctly snotty, embarked on a much procrastinated spell of jury duty. Unlike what most people think of jury duty (declaring people 'guilty!' etc, making lots of <a href="https://tenor.com/en-GB/view/ace-attorney-phoenix-wright-objection-capcom-gif-20965907">ace attorney style gestures</a>), this was at coroners court. The role of coroners court is to determine cause of death, and it is not a court of blame. 99% of coroners court cases go without a jury, but a jury must be summoned for any cases where deaths occur due to accidents at work, or deaths in police custody. <br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdr5OD3GHu1dlVxhGmeWEY3EIsfjvYJJlOGnlfEScN2S1j_H3Jd04uqK8aHzv1C9BT8xMka0xYUCPdKrc2A1WG2EaQN4rR9EjmFIzDcYBJaNDodqwfLCYMR9y3PggrXP7KKGN6E-7ldAYFwCIXwaWxW5Y5ycIELM1VrhLT66LGV_sCnQZX76_RwgV17w/s2487/January17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2487" data-original-width="1525" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdr5OD3GHu1dlVxhGmeWEY3EIsfjvYJJlOGnlfEScN2S1j_H3Jd04uqK8aHzv1C9BT8xMka0xYUCPdKrc2A1WG2EaQN4rR9EjmFIzDcYBJaNDodqwfLCYMR9y3PggrXP7KKGN6E-7ldAYFwCIXwaWxW5Y5ycIELM1VrhLT66LGV_sCnQZX76_RwgV17w/w245-h400/January17.jpg" width="245" /></a></div><p></p><p>Days in coroners court were mercifully short (mercifully, because my time in coroners court happened to coincide with the exact time period in which I was supposed to be marking over 40 students work). We only had to be there from around 10 – 4, with an hour's lunch break every day. But a lot of the evidence was verrrrry long and boring, and it's actually been a really long time since I have had to sit still and focus on something boring all day. It turns out, I am REALLY BAD AT IT! I found that the only way I could keep my mind on task with hearing the evidence was to do a focussed doodle. Not so focussed that it became all consuming but not so formless that my mind would wander. Without the doodling, my mind would just totally wander away from what I was supposed to be listening to and start thinking about lunch, or dinner, or marking, or my dog, or passionate love affairs of my youth, or how much I hate the tories (which admittedly was topical in these cases). Kind of alarming to be so unable to focus, but doodling, and unfolding and refolding a paperclip over and over again got me through. (In this doodle I was attempting to fill each circle with a totally unique design.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2CtSPcdqPxFPjMl4cIp1a9iq-SE7k0RDjGrcFAIb_bi2vKaVbmwBth12SnooTvnxmI7rQR1vfL1hAHcJHwpypdA8GeXYBWa7-oLhDsQFma0CZ3NGhWZy7s9_XwGV5AmO_VdXLj6FZG1cX7teNDGgApI6Rqjfb1CUco32jpB_3luEMJ2gOL4oSlwRwaw/s2487/January18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2487" data-original-width="1525" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2CtSPcdqPxFPjMl4cIp1a9iq-SE7k0RDjGrcFAIb_bi2vKaVbmwBth12SnooTvnxmI7rQR1vfL1hAHcJHwpypdA8GeXYBWa7-oLhDsQFma0CZ3NGhWZy7s9_XwGV5AmO_VdXLj6FZG1cX7teNDGgApI6Rqjfb1CUco32jpB_3luEMJ2gOL4oSlwRwaw/w245-h400/January18.jpg" width="245" /></a></div><p></p><p>Another thing that I spent a lot of time getting distracted by was my fellow jurors. Who ARE they? What do they DO? I made some guesses based on purely circumstantial evidence.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-BzXKSSWC9r8UDLUVCxgb2aC6XuFnQP4YkXy0TQeP2pP8h6KqkqAJ2iO8SyHcpv5cUktDNZ7Zq-JVJ3qiVWu4M-b_3LzOcBZF7_NTWQIC0h2o2stcueJZZQrPOuFDsMg7iDPiPbUS8alDz-veUnhnvY6pI08n86jAsnjONiZHAJvhzI64oA-Jnfp--w/s2487/January19.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2487" data-original-width="1525" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-BzXKSSWC9r8UDLUVCxgb2aC6XuFnQP4YkXy0TQeP2pP8h6KqkqAJ2iO8SyHcpv5cUktDNZ7Zq-JVJ3qiVWu4M-b_3LzOcBZF7_NTWQIC0h2o2stcueJZZQrPOuFDsMg7iDPiPbUS8alDz-veUnhnvY6pI08n86jAsnjONiZHAJvhzI64oA-Jnfp--w/w245-h400/January19.jpg" width="245" /></a></div><p></p><p>And then when we finally all got to hang out together I initiated a round of introductions and kicked off by telling everyone my name and job so that everyone else then also felt they had to tell us their jobs :) (I forgot two of them though, agh!) I guessed like, two and a half right?! Not bad!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_oDwxwTuIlny27SHJbF1NO_XjCQz1Zuoz-VoP_HHs9bHIttqbPracOlL19WleFIrJfJaYfNNqhoQ0SW_iuuqitTEBydxa7fo9HNqt2nFVgkZOK1Q8CLR797W9Mqez4x78TNWXjSjTQyhSCQFHOPXj57zZo3FU8S1qxmMXO7X3Az8jggks2x4N1Mtx7Q/s2479/January20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2479" data-original-width="1524" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_oDwxwTuIlny27SHJbF1NO_XjCQz1Zuoz-VoP_HHs9bHIttqbPracOlL19WleFIrJfJaYfNNqhoQ0SW_iuuqitTEBydxa7fo9HNqt2nFVgkZOK1Q8CLR797W9Mqez4x78TNWXjSjTQyhSCQFHOPXj57zZo3FU8S1qxmMXO7X3Az8jggks2x4N1Mtx7Q/w246-h400/January20.jpg" width="246" /></a></div><p></p><p>Jury duty was two weeks, but our first case ended on the Thursday, which was good because it meant I had more energy for CURLING! After a brief foray into fake plastic curling in December, we had another go with the (sort of) real deal (scoring target and overall rink length a lot smaller). It turns out, real curling is REALLY HARD, and over our 45 minute session, only one of the 6 of us managed to actually even get a stone into the scoring area. Fun was had though, and I want to go again!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIHLkaV1U6uMWw1GpYIGyJ_KXNuOgdMm0gUNDssEfu1ehrsjZR0zufs21LnKGVWX2MrKRIBUPDHAGypbfq6TG5QsPdplyLcISpZsEwqnrqCFLB0UnuslntDV_SjX8VxK3b-uUUOrv9AA5CheKR-p2FW59OybA9_QjBZLmO-Zp29Pr8BoK6BFIWa011wg/s2479/January21.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2479" data-original-width="1524" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIHLkaV1U6uMWw1GpYIGyJ_KXNuOgdMm0gUNDssEfu1ehrsjZR0zufs21LnKGVWX2MrKRIBUPDHAGypbfq6TG5QsPdplyLcISpZsEwqnrqCFLB0UnuslntDV_SjX8VxK3b-uUUOrv9AA5CheKR-p2FW59OybA9_QjBZLmO-Zp29Pr8BoK6BFIWa011wg/w246-h400/January21.jpg" width="246" /></a></div><p></p><p>Went with Rosie and Heidi to see the Canary Wharf light exhibits. A lot of them were just instagram fodder really, and it was absolutely packed most of the way round the route, but it was nice to see my friends and walk around a different bit of town at night.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgBK-5exKA4N6W_ggiY49DBMoUm16D1o4pkXSvhMsBrRMqqOFExY9Q5er-4VMQ5xXN0IE975u20DtUOmPfIZjYPV6C7je8Nqt32wTnqVJ4_7NegceuyHfJqFprtru9UsOQnjHpMz7VFczPgYHuG2sYoWtt0AAsZvYPswPPuSfeB20WplvouwA4ZZ18aw/s2479/January22.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2479" data-original-width="1524" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgBK-5exKA4N6W_ggiY49DBMoUm16D1o4pkXSvhMsBrRMqqOFExY9Q5er-4VMQ5xXN0IE975u20DtUOmPfIZjYPV6C7je8Nqt32wTnqVJ4_7NegceuyHfJqFprtru9UsOQnjHpMz7VFczPgYHuG2sYoWtt0AAsZvYPswPPuSfeB20WplvouwA4ZZ18aw/w246-h400/January22.jpg" width="246" /></a></div><p></p><p>I've put on a lot of weight since I moved to London and Charlie died, and while that in itself is not bad (and I care a LOT less since I lopped my tits off) I am also very unfit and very inflexible. So, for about the 10th time in my life, despite repeatedly establishing that I hate yoga, I am trying yoga. Just 5 or 10 mins a day. SURELY I will downward facing dog if I just persist</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPjBabRalE1sZbhJA4pyr9hTta2tAWmH24z3l9l1cYD5HtLxCNAiVDPZ18G6qPBeDIQbE85KsB1XSjUUbPIN3-FBynwWDv67h61iSfodCEvp42h5zi3UqKjp21BzLCZOArga7wEjiN46YLgjJLBLnzySP0RzzEdk8ke-Qp41n-4gE_62J5ID1OtFAfCA/s2479/January23.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2479" data-original-width="1524" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPjBabRalE1sZbhJA4pyr9hTta2tAWmH24z3l9l1cYD5HtLxCNAiVDPZ18G6qPBeDIQbE85KsB1XSjUUbPIN3-FBynwWDv67h61iSfodCEvp42h5zi3UqKjp21BzLCZOArga7wEjiN46YLgjJLBLnzySP0RzzEdk8ke-Qp41n-4gE_62J5ID1OtFAfCA/w246-h400/January23.jpg" width="246" /></a></div><p></p><p>Back in court for a second week and a second case. The court was a bit disappointing in truth. The room looked more like a boring modern classroom than a court, and each juror was sat at an individual desk, rather than on benches like you always see in the movies. There were lots of weird little rituals and turns of phrase, like how the coroner and lawyers would all say 'I'm grateful' or 'Grateful' rather than 'thank you', and everyone calls the coroner 'sir' (even though the second one was younger than me, yes yes I know I sound like an old lady). And they'd say 'ah, yes, just one small question' and then keep us all there for AGES with boring minutiae (I guess boring minutiae are the whole point of evidence)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvt0Tm8ZhW3kqg0EIGe_0aBiMfr_skvaojNNMSJwp1gafhv0upkJLH7F-ZssIBBHTeOS6pSopYtsk-Hhix6TgFbMWfRn9cBtj1sK1QnKXlr51u2wb4gxaHIIh9MbWrtLT4_kxOlDZlOXjgq6yZRuLoJy3mKQzxtUrfECecW4KTsLESzoC_Z1mJjUpt9w/s2479/January24.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2479" data-original-width="1524" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvt0Tm8ZhW3kqg0EIGe_0aBiMfr_skvaojNNMSJwp1gafhv0upkJLH7F-ZssIBBHTeOS6pSopYtsk-Hhix6TgFbMWfRn9cBtj1sK1QnKXlr51u2wb4gxaHIIh9MbWrtLT4_kxOlDZlOXjgq6yZRuLoJy3mKQzxtUrfECecW4KTsLESzoC_Z1mJjUpt9w/w246-h400/January24.jpg" width="246" /></a></div><p></p><p>To keep myself sane and focussed I decided to create an imaginary new alphabet.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5APTk_1awAZaggPUL5J5vP5yEKNwNw9o6C9PgTpOiTB8AV0sP9AIWRL9qQTnPoDYDXMLzxsBqN58iCLxdLtmcS78x_0NygtBedNvCol65Iq8ycBf5qCPbIYBexgmTxReagWXGFisAcxggM3HouFbnoau4Z4EO3qguPgX1K0mkDDedFmhHs6-tal9bxg/s2479/January25.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2479" data-original-width="1524" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5APTk_1awAZaggPUL5J5vP5yEKNwNw9o6C9PgTpOiTB8AV0sP9AIWRL9qQTnPoDYDXMLzxsBqN58iCLxdLtmcS78x_0NygtBedNvCol65Iq8ycBf5qCPbIYBexgmTxReagWXGFisAcxggM3HouFbnoau4Z4EO3qguPgX1K0mkDDedFmhHs6-tal9bxg/w246-h400/January25.jpg" width="246" /></a></div><p></p><p>Or buid up a fictional city map layer by layer, from river to trains to roads to parks, to houses</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicX6vXvpo8z3lcPlHhSFTcjqDzED-kJ7tUuGMvYVMz86Nwz8aNCsSpt6xBPBzrJ88H2OxEtb-dKmN9Mawka7BS8GlSopY7QtA8xsUyRtpoo96Sb76u9sxpzcs_q2Fai8elmo2wjjET-zalFSbLGwBOxtYWMFCgvAVOZauPjahm8QtDRFxLrlhXUAPjPw/s2479/January26.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2479" data-original-width="1524" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicX6vXvpo8z3lcPlHhSFTcjqDzED-kJ7tUuGMvYVMz86Nwz8aNCsSpt6xBPBzrJ88H2OxEtb-dKmN9Mawka7BS8GlSopY7QtA8xsUyRtpoo96Sb76u9sxpzcs_q2Fai8elmo2wjjET-zalFSbLGwBOxtYWMFCgvAVOZauPjahm8QtDRFxLrlhXUAPjPw/w246-h400/January26.jpg" width="246" /></a></div><p></p><p>The second case was over even more quickly, and to celebrate (not really, it had been planned anyway), me, my partner, and our housemate Camille, went out for dinner with Vaishnavi. We met Vaishnavi on Spareroom, and for various reasons (mostly with her best interests at heart!) did not offer her the other room in our house, BUT we really liked her, and want to be her friend, so we are trying to make an effort to welcome her to big scary London by being there for her when she needs some company and friendship.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTZcnkFP9v2vBBYSDqMm12FLUXsqk8V99By9rCnDw84ofoH9VH8c0aWhd48ohyvrjY2OSZXnbywi_uMzW3WEHzv1c2iYEPOtDzspd9qG1F0P3gCLn0nVLAPImuaFi1u_uXbXANWj74oGpi7fS5S6UeYm2Pc691vqvIHOA3JSve4_UCRE6m0mI2soFc4g/s2479/January27.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2479" data-original-width="1524" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTZcnkFP9v2vBBYSDqMm12FLUXsqk8V99By9rCnDw84ofoH9VH8c0aWhd48ohyvrjY2OSZXnbywi_uMzW3WEHzv1c2iYEPOtDzspd9qG1F0P3gCLn0nVLAPImuaFi1u_uXbXANWj74oGpi7fS5S6UeYm2Pc691vqvIHOA3JSve4_UCRE6m0mI2soFc4g/w246-h400/January27.jpg" width="246" /></a></div><p></p><p>Spen got enrolled for another flucamp! BUT they had the common cold in their system (presumably caught from me), and so were sent home. Damn it!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-uE6R0iJQutHPJnjNMx_8Ie7YYqMG8oh7JikClaasiPXqtJNehd7uwbjyKAiuADr_R8KKpkMughHwUZO4itjJMloCjXuxyDC11mwu_V5UNQdK8icSkmeuotige-exY1OhiJyaP6i_iYwho8XZQ7ddsYgANsi_uwTTfXoHclZl43LzKd0-hpT8PZ1VnQ/s2479/January28.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2479" data-original-width="1524" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-uE6R0iJQutHPJnjNMx_8Ie7YYqMG8oh7JikClaasiPXqtJNehd7uwbjyKAiuADr_R8KKpkMughHwUZO4itjJMloCjXuxyDC11mwu_V5UNQdK8icSkmeuotige-exY1OhiJyaP6i_iYwho8XZQ7ddsYgANsi_uwTTfXoHclZl43LzKd0-hpT8PZ1VnQ/w246-h400/January28.jpg" width="246" /></a></div><p></p><p>I've been marking students work pretty consistently over much of this month and it's probably the hardest bit of the teaching work that I've done so far. Marking the graphic design students was okay, I know what is good and bad. But marking the PPU (personal and professional development) students was a lot harder, as this was essay marking, and trying to assess them on whether they had REALLY taken on board all of our teaching about how to grow up to be confident and professional 'creative practitioners'. </p><p>Bonus: none of my marking time is paid!! 🙃 I don't resent it too much because I do get paid very handsomely for the actual contact hours I have with students, but between my cold, jury duty (which is frankly abysmally compensated if you're a freelancer), and general slow-client-work january, I have made VERY LITTLE MONEY this month, lolsob</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKiOKY7PY3jYqE0HxUJpsIeymbGLHaZSu0XKHf3r2NYW4SByIcTTHDeoOJN5uGYgn9eu1SrsJPAWYlngs-N3W4CuXuKmo_8IG7xFqrM_JuDYTHaqzZjLSIzCs-LCw5cHn9Adg-XBh8ChT8BuD8rsZA0-LSOCW3WnS_bOyyaf2tQ-OiYDB6nFKUzZVWWg/s2479/January29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2479" data-original-width="1524" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKiOKY7PY3jYqE0HxUJpsIeymbGLHaZSu0XKHf3r2NYW4SByIcTTHDeoOJN5uGYgn9eu1SrsJPAWYlngs-N3W4CuXuKmo_8IG7xFqrM_JuDYTHaqzZjLSIzCs-LCw5cHn9Adg-XBh8ChT8BuD8rsZA0-LSOCW3WnS_bOyyaf2tQ-OiYDB6nFKUzZVWWg/w246-h400/January29.jpg" width="246" /></a></div><p></p><p>Once jury duty is over, you can talk about the cases. So here they are. Both cases were the same basic facts: a male prisoner who commited suicide by hanging within HMP Wandsworth. Both cases were clear cut. There was no question it was suicide. Whether they were failed by the system is another matter entirely, but not for us to determine. All of the evidence presented to us in court came from the NHS trusts who provided care at HMP wandsworth, and from the prison themselves. It was all absolutely intended to cover their backs and show them in the best possible light. It even nearly brainwashed me! Especially given that we are not allowed to do any of our own research or talk to anyone else about the case during it.<br /></p><p>But we all know <a href="https://insidetime.org/seven-suicides-in-a-year-at-wandsworth/">it's bullshit</a>. <br /></p><p>Those men, both in their own unique way, were failed by the prison — failed by this government. Their deaths were needless, and senseless. </p><p>I regularly talk to prisoners in my work as a Samaritan (they are given phones to keep in their cells which only have the Samaritans number on them, so they often use them for purposes other than emotional support, sigh, but we do have a LOT of legitimate conversations with prisoners too). I have some inkling from this of how desperate their lives can be. (And if I was interested in pursuing this work further, the Samaritans do more direct outreach work into prisons that I could join). </p><p>I am also friends with a retired woman at Quaker church who spends three days a week in HMP Wandsworth doing chaplaincy work (in practice, given that the Quakers aren't really evangelical, this is mostly bringing the men warm clothes, colouring pencils, jigsaws, reading glasses and the like, and if they end up having any positive conversations, that's a bonus). </p><p>I had a long talk with her after Quaker church on Sunday, and she shone a fairly bright light on what it's ACTUALLY like in there, and blasted through all the flimsy claims I heard in court about how these men are adaquetely supported. (They are not). In both court, and through my Quaker friend, I learned some 'prison hacks' if you will. A lot of efforts in prison go towards preventing prisoners a) getting weapons, b) getting drugs, or c) getting a means of taking their own lives... But despite all of their best efforts, there will always be hard objects and ligaturable materials, sooooo</p><p>Anyway. I guess it's all pretty bleak. But I really valued my Quaker friend's insights (and those of another Quaker who joined the conversation) about HMP Wandsworth and incarceration more generally. A lot to think about, I guess.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIz16BgWsFs0Ly17uKU5WkD8VIlam-uhNMkY5_ZxVjGNx3E2YpcZeLw478mwYY3cwEQuueVYj7gOlR9Y1x_w6JbO5ONKWHHDWg53G_N1eiO3OVqnzBijHpe-ZY0hqzemYEGdKfmaEJZbNEyQHZNvJmaPy3U7q0-jYqBg2IHumdORB7xAjZ0oGUt2QDQg/s2479/January30.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2479" data-original-width="1524" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIz16BgWsFs0Ly17uKU5WkD8VIlam-uhNMkY5_ZxVjGNx3E2YpcZeLw478mwYY3cwEQuueVYj7gOlR9Y1x_w6JbO5ONKWHHDWg53G_N1eiO3OVqnzBijHpe-ZY0hqzemYEGdKfmaEJZbNEyQHZNvJmaPy3U7q0-jYqBg2IHumdORB7xAjZ0oGUt2QDQg/w246-h400/January30.jpg" width="246" /></a></div><p></p><p>"Let it all goooo" says the lithe californian yoga instructor in the video, so I do.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBQ_UCLq2YgHgmxHSFlPT7KYvBUsbHxYI5M_BEymGsTjBSFdLWVMhhUOLvdmDQW0c7tLO8BMhcqfepZyfAMq-xd3G5sJ36TmZ7cMq1hY7bBZa23RDLM6UPZRNCn0rdkX1qNIvK50oyb7d0fj1abxCqAMk38CXXC2rIlzsAemaWmpDGV3EYX9hVtAOgew/s2479/January31.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2479" data-original-width="1524" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBQ_UCLq2YgHgmxHSFlPT7KYvBUsbHxYI5M_BEymGsTjBSFdLWVMhhUOLvdmDQW0c7tLO8BMhcqfepZyfAMq-xd3G5sJ36TmZ7cMq1hY7bBZa23RDLM6UPZRNCn0rdkX1qNIvK50oyb7d0fj1abxCqAMk38CXXC2rIlzsAemaWmpDGV3EYX9hVtAOgew/w246-h400/January31.jpg" width="246" /></a></div><p></p><p>Got really muddled with my google calendar today, went to the wrong Samaritans shift, double booked myself for a meeting, and forgot to schedule in time for dinner. Lolsob. And tomorrow is hourly comic day! Waheyyyyy!</p><p>See you on the other side...<br /></p>Emmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03307690577227053266noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6149147983678759733.post-47358130912764505592022-12-31T15:35:00.002+00:002022-12-31T15:35:47.783+00:00December 2022<p>December's been a bit of a mixed bag. Mostly I am just VERY TIRED. Despite being vegan for many years now, my mother still saw fit to suggest that I might be lacking in some essential nutrients. Given that I have survived this long and mostly felt great for the entire nearly-decade, I doubt it, but maybe I should concede and start taking a multi-vitamin.<br /></p><p>I maintain that it's some kind of lingering post-COVID physical and/or psychological exhaustion, which doesn't seem beyond the realms of possibility... But as always the end of the year is a time for reflection, and I do hope I can spend 2023 doing more stuff that's not just work or sitting in my house (trouble is I do REALLY love sitting in my house)</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPkJZ_yZTFPAgw3KLfHWogQ4F1udCznkwmaV6v0xlAx8BvBbUWmSu6lFcKgovZc2H0gd3ucEAvnw6QH5LB75o7EsFGl_Gx6IvVt1ylRAkJ-MG1k2FTeYvvSuvljsY9E7UiMfKIN6pKMkIT7ZbHJlrIkXirj5eIvQaXx-JHasDBRVX_iKIjIJm5bpO3gA/s2480/December1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2480" data-original-width="1541" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPkJZ_yZTFPAgw3KLfHWogQ4F1udCznkwmaV6v0xlAx8BvBbUWmSu6lFcKgovZc2H0gd3ucEAvnw6QH5LB75o7EsFGl_Gx6IvVt1ylRAkJ-MG1k2FTeYvvSuvljsY9E7UiMfKIN6pKMkIT7ZbHJlrIkXirj5eIvQaXx-JHasDBRVX_iKIjIJm5bpO3gA/w249-h400/December1.jpg" width="249" /></a></div><p></p><p>After several years in the advent calendar wilderness, I finally had MORE than my fair share of goodies. Until I was 30, my mother filled up my childhood advent calendar with treats every year, but at that point she decided it was too difficult to find vegan chocolates that fitted (FINE) and stopped. I think I only had a paper advent calendar for a couple of years, but this year <i>I</i> filled up my old childhood advent calendar with vegan chocolates for me and my housemates to share, my partner got me a chocolate advent calendar of my own, my mum got me a tea advent calendar, I got my partner a coffee advent calendar, and we got the fancy Lily's one for Chase the dog. Finally my desire to open many tiny doors every day is satiated.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPrRPy_VixtYLIrVnkIXo8sBiX9fp_j0TlW9OmkS1W7kVzWWzQFwgyKHZT5obnOmcj-3uH6POSYnL5RPMOlCFEr71qGQUl_IFzrMezyQJPkXJPdJJMOTTUB-TCl7pTai0sK8HspID7oollIkO9AXvq6pfrGpB5lq8_o49arkvUzFNtSfylB3SszUyoVg/s2480/December3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2480" data-original-width="1480" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPrRPy_VixtYLIrVnkIXo8sBiX9fp_j0TlW9OmkS1W7kVzWWzQFwgyKHZT5obnOmcj-3uH6POSYnL5RPMOlCFEr71qGQUl_IFzrMezyQJPkXJPdJJMOTTUB-TCl7pTai0sK8HspID7oollIkO9AXvq6pfrGpB5lq8_o49arkvUzFNtSfylB3SszUyoVg/w239-h400/December3.jpg" width="239" /></a></div><p></p><p>Me and my partner went to see the always fun 'Gingerbread city' at the museum of architecture — basically all of London's prominent architectural studios make exciting and elaborate gingerbread buildings around a theme (this year, climate change in different parts of the world). They'd introduced a fun voting system when made it even more enjoyable.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSt-pFF_iaq1d37TnGKGU3FZWLTluSANAfJjU3U7H5y5J2FEhZaoylXJvVObdJBnHGOalZslgWfnib7Z98vZ3nnhD9e0Ah376uQYdijq_ah2j8jrTbgBMNvWweF-v6tINt-sA2ySx9XEs30dQzLsRmGE6yRbzbkyqRBwrIGHPtypAnYy9HY19BT8skHQ/s2480/December4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2480" data-original-width="1541" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSt-pFF_iaq1d37TnGKGU3FZWLTluSANAfJjU3U7H5y5J2FEhZaoylXJvVObdJBnHGOalZslgWfnib7Z98vZ3nnhD9e0Ah376uQYdijq_ah2j8jrTbgBMNvWweF-v6tINt-sA2ySx9XEs30dQzLsRmGE6yRbzbkyqRBwrIGHPtypAnYy9HY19BT8skHQ/w249-h400/December4.jpg" width="249" /></a></div><p></p><p>Ate a lotttttt of sprouts this year lads. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlL8YKEWJxrG59HngorsTeBLgAwx4BqSrDEMKsaKzKXl0SJg7e7cgEGEldw07XXq41450-osKg-pp4WrdAUZ12UcI7l8VwYZ0Q_JAcJcoygIQe6O18pEVtwhmALDiy-Pq_Q8Xdz6ydquKZjmhKvKQQJWieLFhmwusEDJntVdihNh2p5vu-Hko6BYi6IA/s2480/December5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2480" data-original-width="1493" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlL8YKEWJxrG59HngorsTeBLgAwx4BqSrDEMKsaKzKXl0SJg7e7cgEGEldw07XXq41450-osKg-pp4WrdAUZ12UcI7l8VwYZ0Q_JAcJcoygIQe6O18pEVtwhmALDiy-Pq_Q8Xdz6ydquKZjmhKvKQQJWieLFhmwusEDJntVdihNh2p5vu-Hko6BYi6IA/w241-h400/December5.jpg" width="241" /></a></div><p></p><p>I know some of you do this all the time, but I do not know how</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirV1z4qGG-jW_ghRosIbI0T-PZ6m7qJjaLnvlovDdXHRGYjE_DlZBNTc65exbWhpFBWwDmGpFMLi8pr-lz87wVaAKtu166Z69w0tiI9cqP8gn8_Of_6dd5sZ0CgR01qp_azhkiMNMJR0pTfLmL_NfY8cHzvmZq9J2uGPJwtVLjX7xc-PJYZYg2Mu_4Ng/s2480/December6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2480" data-original-width="1541" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirV1z4qGG-jW_ghRosIbI0T-PZ6m7qJjaLnvlovDdXHRGYjE_DlZBNTc65exbWhpFBWwDmGpFMLi8pr-lz87wVaAKtu166Z69w0tiI9cqP8gn8_Of_6dd5sZ0CgR01qp_azhkiMNMJR0pTfLmL_NfY8cHzvmZq9J2uGPJwtVLjX7xc-PJYZYg2Mu_4Ng/w249-h400/December6.jpg" width="249" /></a></div><p></p><p>Since September I've been an associate lecturer at UAL. When I applied for the role, I expected that I might get, I dunno, one workshop or something, couple of hundred quid on the side, nice. What I did not expect was 10 hours a week from September through to January, which bumped it from 'nice bit of cash on the side' to 'a quite major source of income/drain on my time'. I also got really excited about teaching!</p><p>What sucks is that this work is not guaranteed. Sure, for a term they want you for 10 hours a week... Then the next term, there might be nothing. It's basically a zero hours role, and that is bad.</p><p>So when a 'real job' came up, and one of my colleagues suggested I apply for it, I figured it would be sensible. The money I've earned since September has totally turned my prospects around, from 'I will probably live in a shared house forever' to 'maybe one day I could buy', and I actually really enjoy the work, which is a bonus. I'd love to do a PGCE and make this a more permanent part of my career life, and this seemed like the perfect chance to do that.<br /></p><p>So anyway, I applied, and I got an interview! I think it went quite well. I came across well in the panel interview itself, and had to run a mock teaching session with some real students, which was nervewracking but apparently they rated it very highly. This little drawing was something I made in that session, as I encouraged the students to make a postcard sized piece which summarised their feelings about climate change.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbFQcqHdkJv58_OcdUJ8pFffHcG5uwUTcP71lTiAU4Hrs0rBQmniNz_4kkOE6_uxRW9raqL5Hzt6s_q1nqaWoNLSz7IM-UhtiOXtbJxxZiZjhhapyd3VVe-BSx4Q7cVOgwyu3TyvvCOftPeknnUoBE6uGkuOlmheyXSbQsjVb0foXO0vqt9RKVOhoo_w/s2480/December7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2480" data-original-width="1541" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbFQcqHdkJv58_OcdUJ8pFffHcG5uwUTcP71lTiAU4Hrs0rBQmniNz_4kkOE6_uxRW9raqL5Hzt6s_q1nqaWoNLSz7IM-UhtiOXtbJxxZiZjhhapyd3VVe-BSx4Q7cVOgwyu3TyvvCOftPeknnUoBE6uGkuOlmheyXSbQsjVb0foXO0vqt9RKVOhoo_w/w249-h400/December7.jpg" width="249" /></a></div><p></p><p>Didn't get it though. And I'm kind of annoyed with myself, because the feedback they gave was that I 'didn't want it enough'. In truth I was very conflicted, because it was a 3 day a week role. I also have a 1.5 day a week role with Geeks for Social Change, and that would have left only a half day for my freelance clients (which is not enough!)</p><p>I would much rather it have been a 2.5 or 2 day a week role, and I was honest with them about this, but apparently that was unwise. Oh well, lesson learnt. It's not the end of the world, because I do still have my studio work and freelance clients, but this would have offered me a lot more certainty of income (as all freelancers know, that can vary wildly)</p><p>Anyway, they told me really quickly because they wanted me to come to the Christmas Party and not be worrying about whether I'd got the job or not. So instead I went to the Christmas Party and was miserable because I didn't get the job. OH WELL</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEzgTdJ9gQU_E95Ba-j25dJqCXAVE9wzu7h4_T14vcSX3ZTrElvfMHH0md2Walz63JH7eWKBVm-cgnDJq1GIFYBFB-ZioK5K4smKum083Hx4auwDTYH-9TsNly5RbvMU9VVuW1KddVhCu1NCPLYXOG_7PfHs9ua2JhA8vDxZ-FC1ht2910euS3UzMvoQ/s2480/December8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2480" data-original-width="1493" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEzgTdJ9gQU_E95Ba-j25dJqCXAVE9wzu7h4_T14vcSX3ZTrElvfMHH0md2Walz63JH7eWKBVm-cgnDJq1GIFYBFB-ZioK5K4smKum083Hx4auwDTYH-9TsNly5RbvMU9VVuW1KddVhCu1NCPLYXOG_7PfHs9ua2JhA8vDxZ-FC1ht2910euS3UzMvoQ/w241-h400/December8.jpg" width="241" /></a></div><br />Even though everyone was very kind about how much they like working with me and how good I am at teaching, my percieved failure totally drained all my energy and I ploughed through the last teaching session of the year in a somewhat zombie-like state. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2WHdSVvEzOGwSJ7Q8pH9VKZV8QyX_nhPbVisBNuC-YPQONedx-6NNRm7dbHUutZ5bFGxf_hAAhscU2Lei97lNQTFPdk50PW9UGFH2ci6Y6_Bi1QDJb9Qmkwh8CEt3nzBh5E4u_uxZzuVOAVcK9Gcuj6T6Z3TVdLNVpLwGAZHae_VJ7k2dEQSU9Qkjqw/s2480/December9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2480" data-original-width="1477" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2WHdSVvEzOGwSJ7Q8pH9VKZV8QyX_nhPbVisBNuC-YPQONedx-6NNRm7dbHUutZ5bFGxf_hAAhscU2Lei97lNQTFPdk50PW9UGFH2ci6Y6_Bi1QDJb9Qmkwh8CEt3nzBh5E4u_uxZzuVOAVcK9Gcuj6T6Z3TVdLNVpLwGAZHae_VJ7k2dEQSU9Qkjqw/w239-h400/December9.jpg" width="239" /></a></div><p></p><p>I was excited to refresh my mind and stop thinking about all of that work stuff by going up to Yorkshire. There were train strikes on the Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday of that week, but I was going to work around them by travelling up on the Monday and back on the Thursday. But then I found out that Northern just weren't running any trains on the Thursday either so I'd be stuck there until the following Sunday or Monday, and I just couldn't face it. I was excited to visit my friend James in Hebden Bridge and see his lovely new house, but honestly, going back to that valley always makes me a bit depressed and I didn't really want to spend that long up there. (Especially knowing I couldn't pop out to Manchester or Leeds at all)</p><p>So I grumpily cancelled.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhew2wHd1h7h3J3LpezxXSVhf_fzV6x-u6B2f2EcdzGj6WPPuZwOxmJNfY2F4_udEHORhL8NghSqD7jC7v7l-NQlcDNtb3uESjrqa4L6rzNUmrZ1yMuj57kB_hPCHunKqIBzesLjH4u6nnwDn262tuU_62Q2a5pICPgRMYxUWMqhEFm7Y3_Y-s3UN0Inw/s2480/December10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2480" data-original-width="1481" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhew2wHd1h7h3J3LpezxXSVhf_fzV6x-u6B2f2EcdzGj6WPPuZwOxmJNfY2F4_udEHORhL8NghSqD7jC7v7l-NQlcDNtb3uESjrqa4L6rzNUmrZ1yMuj57kB_hPCHunKqIBzesLjH4u6nnwDn262tuU_62Q2a5pICPgRMYxUWMqhEFm7Y3_Y-s3UN0Inw/w239-h400/December10.jpg" width="239" /></a></div> <br />It was around this time that the weather started getting very cold. I had basically decided I've been so tired and worked so hard these last few months that I was going to try and (mostly) stop working from about December 12th onwards, so I was pretty much just counting down the hours at this point.<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDw7juWARKSgr-O8hsjmXAQvj_OQKJWCMjSSwqVJeVEm-k-1-WJb4GRQtNoy11LXDM43QgvG2pgNSwYoqE8QRRt1qJh2UBMTL5US9Pt7XhRD4z0o_C_2YcUAzBPdYaXfQPfpiSqOxu1m7DIWV8UMgCNsKZ6lNM1YsJztckx14FMk6XvNzUEs2ry1Yxhw/s2480/December11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2480" data-original-width="1478" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDw7juWARKSgr-O8hsjmXAQvj_OQKJWCMjSSwqVJeVEm-k-1-WJb4GRQtNoy11LXDM43QgvG2pgNSwYoqE8QRRt1qJh2UBMTL5US9Pt7XhRD4z0o_C_2YcUAzBPdYaXfQPfpiSqOxu1m7DIWV8UMgCNsKZ6lNM1YsJztckx14FMk6XvNzUEs2ry1Yxhw/w239-h400/December11.jpg" width="239" /></a></div><p></p><p>On my first day off I decided to go for a nice cycle along the river! However I got 5 minutes from my house when temperatures were sub zero before realising I might lose my hands if I kept going.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqwtVrGrvnfcIHr_T0fgZbYDeIvcvaYBh4OimMLqjXXNBI0sjaIQQxGULPglaUXhJZEc0xzajhYlNvz347srDcwG3yCWSzF05dlzalm7gtGZlijZSIU4Ey4Vv4P7qAWVtoDE5dd6BXDKYPvvSOvod7HmhE9CyuwNNx07_MG_zI3p-IP7OlJ_NC8P4xxg/s2480/December12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2480" data-original-width="1541" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqwtVrGrvnfcIHr_T0fgZbYDeIvcvaYBh4OimMLqjXXNBI0sjaIQQxGULPglaUXhJZEc0xzajhYlNvz347srDcwG3yCWSzF05dlzalm7gtGZlijZSIU4Ey4Vv4P7qAWVtoDE5dd6BXDKYPvvSOvod7HmhE9CyuwNNx07_MG_zI3p-IP7OlJ_NC8P4xxg/w249-h400/December12.jpg" width="249" /></a></div><p></p><p>It was that night that it snowed very heavily. The next day I had planned to embark on the next section of the Capital Ring, which I had tried and failed to start several times previously. It's one of the sections which is furthest away from me and hardest to get to the start point (to the south-east of London) and every time I'd previously tried to start it, I'd been hindered by train strikes or engineering work. The heavy snow meant all trains were cancelled until mid morning, but I was still so grumpy about not getting up to Yorkshire that I was determined to GET OUT and DO SOMETHING with my day, so I just got to London Bridge by tube and waited until trains started going.</p><p>I was rewarded with a beautiful snowy walk! The walk was meant to be Falconwood to Grove Park, but when I got to Grove Park, no trains were running back up to central London (as more snow had fallen), so I just kept walking the next section until I reached a train station on a different line (Kent House) where trains were running. I walked a long way, but had a lovely time!</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPkdGczeAtFNom9boYULA825eO6BALlI3E0_fOIeGyoZq77jGiva6InKsOqL7q9tpP2rtUKedtUPQgsrTb0fVXKvn8LuC1RppRR5wbUzWxX_Jm_YKtVHcy2zix5wZdFB23cQdykbmWO9EZovq_bJcG67rFeMSjXNYWZWnIuUT1UpB2TPrAdW0b1JNfXQ/s2480/December13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2480" data-original-width="1481" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPkdGczeAtFNom9boYULA825eO6BALlI3E0_fOIeGyoZq77jGiva6InKsOqL7q9tpP2rtUKedtUPQgsrTb0fVXKvn8LuC1RppRR5wbUzWxX_Jm_YKtVHcy2zix5wZdFB23cQdykbmWO9EZovq_bJcG67rFeMSjXNYWZWnIuUT1UpB2TPrAdW0b1JNfXQ/w239-h400/December13.jpg" width="239" /></a></div><p></p><p>I managed to get a refund on my Yorkshire train ticket, and I decided to spend the money on a spa morning to cheer myself up. Aire Spa is a real fancy one. I like pools more than I like saunas, so this one is great for me. There's only one sauna (like a steam room), and the rest of it is all just a variety of pools of different temperatures and textures to move between. I had a very nice time and would highly recommend it to anyone who wants to spend silly money. I'm not sure I felt any different coming out than when I went in, but on balance it did definitely help me calm down a bit.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrj4Em3WhurbwSRyX-DqBgAdbgcNVVZ5OkK5Urp206wBHnV7yzfM087xX3AHdx4Om0kBnsemvKfU-BFDxEo53NfmFAm8jyX3ujXFrIHl-QjGuQq8mjUPXM4z7kybmEGDYCoVZn4HkvWO69bADiybQBMmOY6OzFODzVWrg6_mr6Y-tO79qB4JCMoQKZnQ/s2480/December14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2480" data-original-width="1541" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrj4Em3WhurbwSRyX-DqBgAdbgcNVVZ5OkK5Urp206wBHnV7yzfM087xX3AHdx4Om0kBnsemvKfU-BFDxEo53NfmFAm8jyX3ujXFrIHl-QjGuQq8mjUPXM4z7kybmEGDYCoVZn4HkvWO69bADiybQBMmOY6OzFODzVWrg6_mr6Y-tO79qB4JCMoQKZnQ/w249-h400/December14.jpg" width="249" /></a></div><p>It was very cold back there, and every year this seems to make my body feel worse. My skin is awful, especially on my hands. I think I have poor circulation, and no amount of moisurising seems able to prevent them from getting horribly dry and cracked. New for this year, also ACHEY and WEAK! Welcome to mid 30s body I guess.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz7KGalACfdPSi50znBmctRynpj4hOkYddY00xcWPu6BilFHhNY1H4TzBzeDiyxLJ3-FEypbdfhVw76smq5TTV6AjS03d4_2FWYPgEayYk5vkeIhd8EXkemcmmoR_iqlIuZlw8BQw7A65llrOC2p8-aOHklH2y8fvV7AQp6SrY8z16wt-SMvpa8Sl6Tw/s2480/December15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2480" data-original-width="1541" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz7KGalACfdPSi50znBmctRynpj4hOkYddY00xcWPu6BilFHhNY1H4TzBzeDiyxLJ3-FEypbdfhVw76smq5TTV6AjS03d4_2FWYPgEayYk5vkeIhd8EXkemcmmoR_iqlIuZlw8BQw7A65llrOC2p8-aOHklH2y8fvV7AQp6SrY8z16wt-SMvpa8Sl6Tw/w249-h400/December15.jpg" width="249" /></a></div><p></p><p>I unexpectedly got to go see the Kew Christmas lights, which was wonderful! You usually have to book months in advance to get tickets, but a friend of friends had a spare going, and I managed to nab it. Lovely people, a lovely walk, and the lights were beautiful. It was minus 5 degrees while we were going round though, so I was quite glad to get back home into the warm at the end of it all.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqjskOT6yTSi6bt4S9e2KMNOuRLXRVAyCiI4jv9uDievyTWRaBaSt494LGvV8zILmj-WrZWnYMyreAOni7_ow93hzeh77p1J63GScKcA11fWWgreoJD2tZLcidASlhjPu4wLlEC3Kj2tpGwhZS04-Zxf9Q6FkYphoVQTH_ZwZteaCcIDUj8gJrtIifxA/s2480/December16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2480" data-original-width="1541" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqjskOT6yTSi6bt4S9e2KMNOuRLXRVAyCiI4jv9uDievyTWRaBaSt494LGvV8zILmj-WrZWnYMyreAOni7_ow93hzeh77p1J63GScKcA11fWWgreoJD2tZLcidASlhjPu4wLlEC3Kj2tpGwhZS04-Zxf9Q6FkYphoVQTH_ZwZteaCcIDUj8gJrtIifxA/w249-h400/December16.jpg" width="249" /></a></div><p></p><p>Got our tree, and the tree salesman threw in a free potted Christmas tree which I now feel an enormous amount of pressure to keep alive until at least next Christmas (my partner will do all the labour though, because they are the green fingered one)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIrsoZnrvj0iCUsXrDrInXWXn8uiFH8RV99oU2hMNO0bkJFcEhzXQJeCZr4QuPh1fjjtENcgNK-NkKJFbKAdeIKrHMKJYOY6vE6wDrtjaLbJ4k8nvkp2p8rjbrQ3Rf1wF4PIawpV0OUGEaZskMGGAErrcZPof-2gm4CwPu7LRwM0DRUIEipyKlb6hiuA/s2480/December17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2480" data-original-width="1460" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIrsoZnrvj0iCUsXrDrInXWXn8uiFH8RV99oU2hMNO0bkJFcEhzXQJeCZr4QuPh1fjjtENcgNK-NkKJFbKAdeIKrHMKJYOY6vE6wDrtjaLbJ4k8nvkp2p8rjbrQ3Rf1wF4PIawpV0OUGEaZskMGGAErrcZPof-2gm4CwPu7LRwM0DRUIEipyKlb6hiuA/w235-h400/December17.jpg" width="235" /></a></div><p></p><p>I had promised to do the next section of the capital ring with a friend, so, craving another walk, I instead did the next section of the Wandle trail, from Carshalton to Morden. It was a nice time, and there was still lots of lingering snow around making things pretty!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK8A9F099jifGccoVrGNXliPp6Dyy-Vp2zCJQaSmY982IRz_zO3Z-YOLf_Bg-tRe2qRCoX8KjtWB5FwBhEFuBysZFUlo6u0By-WUOJJAzLMUpXTLFb8RLtL_cjYWO3vMCHNvsBRx5MdyyrRi4CWn1jHGTWnmmAtaaGgHZ9KK2AutNWBcSlnC5rM3O8XQ/s2480/December18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2480" data-original-width="1493" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK8A9F099jifGccoVrGNXliPp6Dyy-Vp2zCJQaSmY982IRz_zO3Z-YOLf_Bg-tRe2qRCoX8KjtWB5FwBhEFuBysZFUlo6u0By-WUOJJAzLMUpXTLFb8RLtL_cjYWO3vMCHNvsBRx5MdyyrRi4CWn1jHGTWnmmAtaaGgHZ9KK2AutNWBcSlnC5rM3O8XQ/w241-h400/December18.jpg" width="241" /></a></div><p></p><p>EMMA HATES WINTER!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA4mFQRppkuANyTgxXYBlff86Dqv6ByxQJFgDLxw5mw4KaALc3rOOQvY2AD9jRN8kXlyTDZbUO_wqyO2KagO8-peSerRStiq3-Vjg6xpwWv3VWhT3vnHE7jAWpCPOWSHQ2_O7gvX-2JxpW8LNZZ-RG5zzdpDsXJAx5bF2pgkWWJw4z9I2wi6l9HCDpZw/s2480/December19.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2480" data-original-width="1492" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA4mFQRppkuANyTgxXYBlff86Dqv6ByxQJFgDLxw5mw4KaALc3rOOQvY2AD9jRN8kXlyTDZbUO_wqyO2KagO8-peSerRStiq3-Vjg6xpwWv3VWhT3vnHE7jAWpCPOWSHQ2_O7gvX-2JxpW8LNZZ-RG5zzdpDsXJAx5bF2pgkWWJw4z9I2wi6l9HCDpZw/w241-h400/December19.jpg" width="241" /></a></div><p></p><p>Mum came to visit and we handed over our presents to one another.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbqcLUhIX-t3p8nnEVU2Y3Pfai2daJJwZ14rQPCH-0NvqKy3A1rrPT46aa-xafatXA31HyQu9BHcjDvdfRWWGLMfyz1zrBArQzOgxSKGCbIgtMIVFK5a6CFYTHrwB0toKRsZpzc_oS_yA5OxktEUaCIOdkCdbiI9vzguUqr7vbmqx41otjKTrjw5jYiA/s2480/December20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2480" data-original-width="1541" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbqcLUhIX-t3p8nnEVU2Y3Pfai2daJJwZ14rQPCH-0NvqKy3A1rrPT46aa-xafatXA31HyQu9BHcjDvdfRWWGLMfyz1zrBArQzOgxSKGCbIgtMIVFK5a6CFYTHrwB0toKRsZpzc_oS_yA5OxktEUaCIOdkCdbiI9vzguUqr7vbmqx41otjKTrjw5jYiA/w249-h400/December20.jpg" width="249" /></a></div><p></p><p>I'm not the only one who's been achey! Chase always gets a bit stiffer and slower in the winter (at least that's what we've noticed the two winters we've had her), but I felt a vet trip was in order because she had started limping, and also seemed to be needing to pee more. The vet's diagnosis was basically just that she has arthritis and the cold weather might have especially aggravated it. Chase hates going to the vet, and since Charlie died after we mis-dosed his meds, I hate going to the vets too. They wanted to prescribe Chase the same medication that killed Charlie and I got quite upset thinking about it. (And am constantly low key upset thinking about how much longer we have with Chase — not long enough)<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga_a3JXZI9LVrUqDNMPkSBEWiQzDmHmI6OUrOdORrrwJ1n1Sfq0qeIhwZuU4UnpaX2hzwjYSI8qV9N0JCRC_0e0YL-LaKl1YhXAhG3FbmWDitJ2f_uKuKJjCnMCnA6fOPrJoo8sXymrK8a9gaLgOToc0Km_D-UplgxcdRAK-U7lAgxu6vfH47emPQYGA/s2480/December21.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2480" data-original-width="1541" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga_a3JXZI9LVrUqDNMPkSBEWiQzDmHmI6OUrOdORrrwJ1n1Sfq0qeIhwZuU4UnpaX2hzwjYSI8qV9N0JCRC_0e0YL-LaKl1YhXAhG3FbmWDitJ2f_uKuKJjCnMCnA6fOPrJoo8sXymrK8a9gaLgOToc0Km_D-UplgxcdRAK-U7lAgxu6vfH47emPQYGA/w249-h400/December21.jpg" width="249" /></a></div><p></p><p>Now it was time for the end of Capital ring section 3, and we did 4 as well! I was joined by my friend Ellis who was excited to do the Crystal Palace bit, having spent a lot of time there as a kid. I enjoyed seeing the dinosaurs for the first time ever! There was lots of other nice stuff on this section, including some fancy gardens near Streatham Common which I had no idea existed.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvBuKM35dQsbh-NJ2Zo7DNubocAwygmewwbg_fiVOs7fzOtPYbdL6PT_hWivaWCPbdQfMM4mO2WXHj0HzFhiQiwiuVIV9vE-IqSsMqsaro7uAlHXWFPB6x_thb7w2Ghar889onF64v7vYFK71HG6F-ttUrdtmogsGaG5PiBgb77SURJI6tc-jAcjIgzA/s2480/December22.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2480" data-original-width="1541" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvBuKM35dQsbh-NJ2Zo7DNubocAwygmewwbg_fiVOs7fzOtPYbdL6PT_hWivaWCPbdQfMM4mO2WXHj0HzFhiQiwiuVIV9vE-IqSsMqsaro7uAlHXWFPB6x_thb7w2Ghar889onF64v7vYFK71HG6F-ttUrdtmogsGaG5PiBgb77SURJI6tc-jAcjIgzA/w249-h400/December22.jpg" width="249" /></a></div><p></p><p>There's a constant need for scrap paper in the Samaritans phone room (it's useful to note down people's names and other details, because there's nothing ruder than forgetting someone's name mid call, but it's surprisingly easy to do!) There are semi regular pleas sent out via email for people to bring in any scrap paper they have which is blank on one side. There's a particularly esoteric mix at the moment, which is pleasing, because I find doodling helps me focus, and it's fun to have some nice source material.<br /></p><p>I have tried to do a whole bunch of Samaritans shifts over this period, because I know that, for various reasons in January I won't be able to. We have a somewhat decrepit building near Carnaby street, which flooded in November. The damage is so severe that we haven't been able to return, and are instead being hosted temporarily by a company called Arup, in their basement. It's actually a lot nicer than our regular building but it doesn't really feel like home (and there are a few key issues with it like the lack of bedrooms for night shifts, and the fact that we can't welcome people face to face). It all feels a bit uncertain and weird at the moment.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQbs5PsH5AvTUvu-yituIte9OCDB55bG4nimMwNGZlnZDFA__l2T1kTqqCdUkKLE8PuBmwMDMAU9RbA-PrSQixo38IjXPMmuBFxk9ucqw9qGTpvtSpyj4wEpPaV2Y_LBS71ddbA0XlrthBHSbSJmJFfFC2QDlc90bx99WVGx4LEDX7jxNYvc2e8tTOKg/s2480/December23.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2480" data-original-width="1541" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQbs5PsH5AvTUvu-yituIte9OCDB55bG4nimMwNGZlnZDFA__l2T1kTqqCdUkKLE8PuBmwMDMAU9RbA-PrSQixo38IjXPMmuBFxk9ucqw9qGTpvtSpyj4wEpPaV2Y_LBS71ddbA0XlrthBHSbSJmJFfFC2QDlc90bx99WVGx4LEDX7jxNYvc2e8tTOKg/w249-h400/December23.jpg" width="249" /></a></div><p></p><p>Still keen to get out and about, I took myself to see the Wellcome Collection's 'In Plain Sight' exhibition, which I really recommend. Their exhibitions are usually free, and combine science, history and art in a way that I don't think anywhere else in London does.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5P1kSglEipLzYkyHSdzadWaq4czFnqefnRoR6sV33K5lPjhpR1ppgM-sudjMbR718lAPPTmOVf8WaLEPB-ZEbBGs2pg_5NGdOjo1ai41JqdceG9qkrzuKE2ovKJ-LbO1yFJzICAjfopsAbOmMVst1oKZtaBqR0QQYkrwu2CiYOlANVZo0ndzUT-nmWQ/s2480/December24.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2480" data-original-width="1541" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5P1kSglEipLzYkyHSdzadWaq4czFnqefnRoR6sV33K5lPjhpR1ppgM-sudjMbR718lAPPTmOVf8WaLEPB-ZEbBGs2pg_5NGdOjo1ai41JqdceG9qkrzuKE2ovKJ-LbO1yFJzICAjfopsAbOmMVst1oKZtaBqR0QQYkrwu2CiYOlANVZo0ndzUT-nmWQ/w249-h400/December24.jpg" width="249" /></a></div><p><br />Gettin' cosy.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJQ4KhsfhDa4EivRNpmujRUHOh8bv_C5bubIanSw1NbLv2rXcwPDRknL_uTGh7iu_Ti_DteORjD7nghk5c_iKEb7N1CIvd8IGIjQdlPV5ugRELkbtlKMS_vxG4bt-OSqdC8pBL0MqfLGlLv_Hi7HnnPuaYquU4rg8IHLVhS9VvTpq2kEyQ44VWSRTBNA/s2480/December25.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2480" data-original-width="1541" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJQ4KhsfhDa4EivRNpmujRUHOh8bv_C5bubIanSw1NbLv2rXcwPDRknL_uTGh7iu_Ti_DteORjD7nghk5c_iKEb7N1CIvd8IGIjQdlPV5ugRELkbtlKMS_vxG4bt-OSqdC8pBL0MqfLGlLv_Hi7HnnPuaYquU4rg8IHLVhS9VvTpq2kEyQ44VWSRTBNA/w249-h400/December25.jpg" width="249" /></a></div><p></p><p>My favoured Christmas will always be 'cosy at home' and I am lucky that I come under no pressure whatsoever to return to my parents' house (I haven't done so in well over a decade). My partner's mum would probably like it if they went to spend it with her, but they too prefer to remain cosy at home, so we managed it this year. Tasty foods, cute gifts, and I managed to get to Quaker meeting in the morning too. Perfect!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcMKyOJQMBAn39gL7MXzvIzuQyon0ENmKcbWCAh2QUsH9Geb_qhZMcCe1rKmBRQQih4DrkqWetw5ZxXhl_50Yt_gtO9pkKV2rCYS2mCo03Knrn8i7bWaY1oN9VgE7MnEHLrAwm2wMYHaaxQ8n4jkbaY-SAIUGYYTY98uDohF5gs26jIlOUMpstOrPuNw/s2480/December26.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2480" data-original-width="1541" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcMKyOJQMBAn39gL7MXzvIzuQyon0ENmKcbWCAh2QUsH9Geb_qhZMcCe1rKmBRQQih4DrkqWetw5ZxXhl_50Yt_gtO9pkKV2rCYS2mCo03Knrn8i7bWaY1oN9VgE7MnEHLrAwm2wMYHaaxQ8n4jkbaY-SAIUGYYTY98uDohF5gs26jIlOUMpstOrPuNw/w249-h400/December26.jpg" width="249" /></a></div><p></p><p>Got some good books for Christmas, and also FINALLY catching up on some of my massive reading pile. (My fault for having a couple of really heavy non-fictions on the go which are taking me forever)</p><p>Also yes I KNOW I spent Quartz wrong – I'm sure the Germans have a long word for when you spell something wrong because you were focussing too hard on drawing the typography?!</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI6PEnZu1v2OP9td1n0BGjUBrJU8-9KOTagbR0kBabdy77Eb9aoz0joS4A3CF3C3FoJ75nDpFngzbB5PhGtq1uDM-xTWfLqo8HoZZr7lErxPlFHB5ACp-zuB0xfP62F1_nP4Ipi9FuTqJcXg2m8D660CTc-oIVsNDJrOttkW4De9-M3gHuGLM0r0lxsA/s2480/December27.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2480" data-original-width="1541" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI6PEnZu1v2OP9td1n0BGjUBrJU8-9KOTagbR0kBabdy77Eb9aoz0joS4A3CF3C3FoJ75nDpFngzbB5PhGtq1uDM-xTWfLqo8HoZZr7lErxPlFHB5ACp-zuB0xfP62F1_nP4Ipi9FuTqJcXg2m8D660CTc-oIVsNDJrOttkW4De9-M3gHuGLM0r0lxsA/w249-h400/December27.jpg" width="249" /></a></div><p></p><p>Another Samaritans shift, another lightly festive doodle.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0HUZVFQv5nAvDJThXGiAlYgS6pJn5Jm2ar0XfoqN2mDOoLNR8RL_i-UHbpvyeYsU3WxEVn-00JN_ROW75p70cPxg4nkFuy1USYalagF0F48LZp9zrSWCUHMQ8q4RqlW4Irk78awivBF6RrDGEKwYNVgfX6GBZ20S86U5-bWk5iaTLKCWgjUQSBOqfpQ/s2480/December28.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2480" data-original-width="1541" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0HUZVFQv5nAvDJThXGiAlYgS6pJn5Jm2ar0XfoqN2mDOoLNR8RL_i-UHbpvyeYsU3WxEVn-00JN_ROW75p70cPxg4nkFuy1USYalagF0F48LZp9zrSWCUHMQ8q4RqlW4Irk78awivBF6RrDGEKwYNVgfX6GBZ20S86U5-bWk5iaTLKCWgjUQSBOqfpQ/w249-h400/December28.jpg" width="249" /></a></div><p>I have been playing Spiritfarer for an hour or so every night since around October, and it's nearly over, and I'm sad about it! A really beautiful little game that I am quite emotional about.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjay9DnWhy74-zgWbWFSL9FgBm5wcUdVis-XPb0L3_bSFRsI0GR-ZEtibOuVQKur2Onx0Fnuy3z-jgGebGKIyYGqj7MFYhDrbMbCwqyX7IvvFWrmNjSMDrJ8Y3_eTdiUQ2sr0wq1H6IxHrXg58fTBO9KVEplGUZSTAFAEOw00-TGYCoHblwSci7K3bhbg/s2480/December29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2480" data-original-width="1478" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjay9DnWhy74-zgWbWFSL9FgBm5wcUdVis-XPb0L3_bSFRsI0GR-ZEtibOuVQKur2Onx0Fnuy3z-jgGebGKIyYGqj7MFYhDrbMbCwqyX7IvvFWrmNjSMDrJ8Y3_eTdiUQ2sr0wq1H6IxHrXg58fTBO9KVEplGUZSTAFAEOw00-TGYCoHblwSci7K3bhbg/w239-h400/December29.jpg" width="239" /></a></div><p></p><p>Me and my partner went to check out the new Battersea Power Station development together. The old control room is now a fancy cocktail bar but you can still twiddle the dials and flick the switches, so that's fun. (The rest of it is just a terrible shopping mall for rich people)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9bbvwmcJZ8lAQV0kk33RnmKQERhWZ02Xe-AZwJVaiciH0z-v60ezpV4iLYKZDeCwsk28129wv7ElLMeGqewNQo36vcsy8cvZi-IXEZBltXAWc2okCEA9-LkCE47bQIE7mj1bkUKD7AoXpJn-TLRzp2yKTBoZnktGiOshHOFu6VVa1KybARwDPO-BikQ/s2480/December30.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2480" data-original-width="1499" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9bbvwmcJZ8lAQV0kk33RnmKQERhWZ02Xe-AZwJVaiciH0z-v60ezpV4iLYKZDeCwsk28129wv7ElLMeGqewNQo36vcsy8cvZi-IXEZBltXAWc2okCEA9-LkCE47bQIE7mj1bkUKD7AoXpJn-TLRzp2yKTBoZnktGiOshHOFu6VVa1KybARwDPO-BikQ/w241-h400/December30.jpg" width="241" /></a></div><p></p><p>It has been SO nice not to work for a couple of weeks. I've really been able to get a lot of stuff done that just wasn't happening previously, which is a relief.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBVplMjPDcn_FlTSJSXAmpaiDzL7KvQhPHaSdOvEApjilJJ0GLpTOy_6EVO05bdNOGHBIJjH7t51WezG7NY6r9WorsgdWx36Uwdylzs1Dv6sh6zlAZKINtGDlO-AtK63ROIckL_43kcdL4pOVKS5MPHTxS-ZG-M2NciWxUk83dcSqbskbkTm8pUlztyA/s2480/December31.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2480" data-original-width="1502" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBVplMjPDcn_FlTSJSXAmpaiDzL7KvQhPHaSdOvEApjilJJ0GLpTOy_6EVO05bdNOGHBIJjH7t51WezG7NY6r9WorsgdWx36Uwdylzs1Dv6sh6zlAZKINtGDlO-AtK63ROIckL_43kcdL4pOVKS5MPHTxS-ZG-M2NciWxUk83dcSqbskbkTm8pUlztyA/w242-h400/December31.jpg" width="242" /></a></div><p></p><p>Today's drawing, December 31st 2022 marks TEN YEARS of visual diarying. I haven't missed a single day!</p><p>Kinda wild. I am lucky to have had so many wonderful people along for the ride (the life ride, though also the visual diarying ride). I hope I didn't miss anyone too important...</p><p>Thank you for reading these silly blogs, kind words over the years, and for just generally being in my life. I always found it sweet when people would say how excited they were to be featured in my drawings (they're not even very good!)</p><p>Onwards... to the next 10 years?!<br /></p>Emmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03307690577227053266noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6149147983678759733.post-451800103455146372022-11-30T22:01:00.004+00:002022-11-30T22:01:55.892+00:00November 2022<p> November summary: I am having a good time but I am also extremely ready for a break.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHjn_UgXFWlbSH4L9ocL6aplV5rpqtdOUJ2QPEPoC4pod17umvLqBV6YjNC7gKVFHOOpkSgWrZ1MehsfQSBYCiALW0qV7yXJVAX-14baQ-PZL9pwFUkW-tX8HjQrC1O2mKKJcm-sLjI0Wkw9Lnrr3G46OiH3hgEpqnzO4aBg3_B2Aa8uwdekFrxsxLBA/s2491/November1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2491" data-original-width="1535" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHjn_UgXFWlbSH4L9ocL6aplV5rpqtdOUJ2QPEPoC4pod17umvLqBV6YjNC7gKVFHOOpkSgWrZ1MehsfQSBYCiALW0qV7yXJVAX-14baQ-PZL9pwFUkW-tX8HjQrC1O2mKKJcm-sLjI0Wkw9Lnrr3G46OiH3hgEpqnzO4aBg3_B2Aa8uwdekFrxsxLBA/w246-h400/November1.jpg" width="246" /></a></div><p></p><p>I have also been thinking a lot about pEDaGoGY</p><p>A word which I am still not entirely sure how to say out loud. An absolute professional, obviously.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4IHWNF849G8KqY7M_c3-wzx3gkKdh3Ze8j0QuPgPJvyPKIAeKMjWPExyQpv9JAJMj4k203yZhWJ8YaH-mkb--MBt0Ssns4bxczrLLIT2VMqatoE5QB8aGx-vAc9aBOCf0lUhIf8dXLPGCOxPrqRAHhePERjfJO15uVKWXQ7ak9LS-3tglz0KKItBU3g/s2491/November2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2491" data-original-width="1534" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4IHWNF849G8KqY7M_c3-wzx3gkKdh3Ze8j0QuPgPJvyPKIAeKMjWPExyQpv9JAJMj4k203yZhWJ8YaH-mkb--MBt0Ssns4bxczrLLIT2VMqatoE5QB8aGx-vAc9aBOCf0lUhIf8dXLPGCOxPrqRAHhePERjfJO15uVKWXQ7ak9LS-3tglz0KKItBU3g/w246-h400/November2.jpg" width="246" /></a></div><p></p><p>Central London Samaritans decided to celebrate 70 years of being open 24/7 by trying to fill the phoneroom for 24 hours! Usually there are between 3 and 6 people on duty at a time, but there are 12 call stations in total, and it's very rare that the phoneroom is at capacity. We did it! It was also very hard to actually hear calls because maybe 12 people is actually too many people in that space 😅</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyH0Co8maa-aEUzr6PyKGed-NcdMbW7pj6QJgYmrzuwQ1pmrs577kle9BEE7jCdKI8V-XR8-NZL6U3WYz_duFOQw2PAZ2Y7itVnyDzrG_IEo_QSzEhO-g5-JMYuvPYbY2j3f9olYNiavGCt6elnY08oF7RvnKIUd7ihcQo1CixAyQRuxX48gna6iTRtA/s2491/November3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2491" data-original-width="1535" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyH0Co8maa-aEUzr6PyKGed-NcdMbW7pj6QJgYmrzuwQ1pmrs577kle9BEE7jCdKI8V-XR8-NZL6U3WYz_duFOQw2PAZ2Y7itVnyDzrG_IEo_QSzEhO-g5-JMYuvPYbY2j3f9olYNiavGCt6elnY08oF7RvnKIUd7ihcQo1CixAyQRuxX48gna6iTRtA/w246-h400/November3.jpg" width="246" /></a></div><p></p><p>The next day, ironically, the branch's ceiling collapsed in heavy rainsand took out all the electronics, and we had to close for the first time
in 70 years (though have now reopened at another premises nearby until
everything gets fixed)</p><p>My historic Quaker church's ceiling also fell in, and the steady drip from the ceiling in the room where I teach at UAL shorted all the electronics in half the room and turned into a flood in the basement toilets below. My lifelong rain anxiety returns.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjARU3XR6TOBrk_sNEaeeV_1wDDGAzcAP9J8mH-5XetGqjimon3vGHrcWfxmjGM1NoDqtZS8qAHW-VCBW9saXnmetP33dLaiKBG75L4BaxTrcBhBQuEpn9BFAyi1LkQdtnu2mIrFnC9si6bPrmJfC5J-2-QhoYcu4QNu_V22OloVz8irXeagFXIJD73w/s2480/November4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2480" data-original-width="1535" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjARU3XR6TOBrk_sNEaeeV_1wDDGAzcAP9J8mH-5XetGqjimon3vGHrcWfxmjGM1NoDqtZS8qAHW-VCBW9saXnmetP33dLaiKBG75L4BaxTrcBhBQuEpn9BFAyi1LkQdtnu2mIrFnC9si6bPrmJfC5J-2-QhoYcu4QNu_V22OloVz8irXeagFXIJD73w/w248-h400/November4.jpg" width="248" /></a></div><p></p><p>Early November is a tough time for me and for Chase. Charlie died on November 6th two years ago, and even when I manage not to think about it, there's something about the changing of the seasons, oncoming darkness, leaves falling and chillier temperatures that brings back the memories unprompted. Meanwhile Chase hates the scary fireworks day bangs, which become ever more persistent in the run up to the 5th.</p><p>So me, my partner and Chase decided to run away from our fears and sadness to a cottage in the countryside (though it turned out I was still sad and Chase could still hear bangs, but it was all still a lot better than it would have been in London)</p><p>Chase hates trains but she managed to be a brave girl and tough out the journey, and was rewarded with her first time in the countryside since she came to us in January 2021. <br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb0wi7SO-FOLsR2MATaPVetmuLMUcupdtpBZBp7aa_HSVYNnH17WapWYrepojrMvs2dC4SYOS7JBAl3w1UbMN9JZm_TZIi8Y2_MHwpLNZTGsevGsakB4VUTH_umqo8o5hJf70EP6Pu62n9A0ZEaU6huole7fmue_kJdt0FTvV6mUm5scYxESZoZ5E3ow/s2480/November5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2480" data-original-width="1535" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb0wi7SO-FOLsR2MATaPVetmuLMUcupdtpBZBp7aa_HSVYNnH17WapWYrepojrMvs2dC4SYOS7JBAl3w1UbMN9JZm_TZIi8Y2_MHwpLNZTGsevGsakB4VUTH_umqo8o5hJf70EP6Pu62n9A0ZEaU6huole7fmue_kJdt0FTvV6mUm5scYxESZoZ5E3ow/w248-h400/November5.jpg" width="248" /></a></div><p></p><p>I tried to be very gentle with myself, and it did help. <br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIL1xmXA602RBvzxruSwhtp1zasoKq7yqVddj8xwl-pN7Y18bptHLPfIvGzIKm9L7XozIVCm53sfkOH2nDmqmnjZku9KWt2lkxwZgOsjAwnOhinQByckmHSyzidq9bBHzO5cQ0cy84z8x5cQQf7zLDNqdPKdFl-DynHO7KtH_JIZDD7lcaH_C2m4cwFg/s2480/November6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2480" data-original-width="1535" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIL1xmXA602RBvzxruSwhtp1zasoKq7yqVddj8xwl-pN7Y18bptHLPfIvGzIKm9L7XozIVCm53sfkOH2nDmqmnjZku9KWt2lkxwZgOsjAwnOhinQByckmHSyzidq9bBHzO5cQ0cy84z8x5cQQf7zLDNqdPKdFl-DynHO7KtH_JIZDD7lcaH_C2m4cwFg/w248-h400/November6.jpg" width="248" /></a></div><p></p><p>We took Chase for a long walk both days and she loved it. She's nearly 12 and it often feels like she's slowing down — especially in the winter when she gets scared of the dark and the noises in the park and just wants to go home all the time. But she ran through the long grass and mud in the fields like a puppy, and it made me feel a bit bad that we don't take her more exciting places more often (we don't take her more exciting places more often because she hates all forms of transport!)</p><p>Anyway, we had a nice time eating nice food in our nice cottage, even if it did rain most of the weekend.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitJQo6Jm5yBTj8tOK5_P4z_B3abLBvz3ZpyGu9YoNO_7-gPhDpJv57fLV7Y8k5ZqVbH5TDN7L5Thl_35lN_YhC3iLSxpUueu7kY_tr5h0CPznCl3aCzxyaSo0h1leSgrq-URktT1EQYIfumEPt-t8ItVQaxfQfshfufTUj4bLx3xkbE2oYfsV6t5osZw/s2491/November7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2491" data-original-width="1535" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitJQo6Jm5yBTj8tOK5_P4z_B3abLBvz3ZpyGu9YoNO_7-gPhDpJv57fLV7Y8k5ZqVbH5TDN7L5Thl_35lN_YhC3iLSxpUueu7kY_tr5h0CPznCl3aCzxyaSo0h1leSgrq-URktT1EQYIfumEPt-t8ItVQaxfQfshfufTUj4bLx3xkbE2oYfsV6t5osZw/w246-h400/November7.jpg" width="246" /></a></div><p></p><p>I returned and threw myself back into work. It was ACTIVITIES WEEK for second year Graphic Media Design students at UAL, which meant a break from usual teaching, and a week of workshops and trips. On Monday I took around 50 students to see the Hallyu! Korean Wave exhibition at the V&A and it was hilariously stressful.</p><p>It was supposed to be me and my colleague Siân taking all the students round together. But the V&A let us know that due to ongoing COVID restrictions, we'd have to take them in three groups at staggered times. Okay, that's no biggie. But on the day, Siân had terrible flu, so I had to go it alone. Fine, I can cope, right?! Well, my printer was out of action so I only had the tickets digitally (Siân was going to bring the print outs) which meant I had to show each individual student in rather than just being able to hand them their tickets and send them on. This was... a bit stressful. But to make everything 10x worse, my colleague who arranged the trip had just put that students should meet me at 'the gallery entrance', which in the V&A could refer to any one of about 4 different places. </p><p>As a result of this I spent the entire afternoon running around the V&A herding random groups of 1 or 2 students at a time into the show as I found them, and by the time I finally got to go round the exhibition myself (alone, as I'd had to wait outside until the very end of our time slot for any stragglers), I was too exhausted and strung out to fully appreciate it!<br /></p><p>(It WAS good though)</p><p>The whole experience was very stressful, but definitely a learning opportunity...</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPF6po0cKiIkdY_JarkO7XZBpbp5_zT0c3l6PVMdAxnumL3QLItWsgyLkEsHlSvGuLEqtewK11AuvSMAbC08-46xgejecy5tWUVfsGvB3R0uuVg4Jw-UAStv7FsKLvLDocrnxkG5iaOqpF7AzGnsqGvdk0xT2rc0xBjCr4ddIRyhDVCJlc4QTdAqDqpg/s2491/November8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2491" data-original-width="1534" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPF6po0cKiIkdY_JarkO7XZBpbp5_zT0c3l6PVMdAxnumL3QLItWsgyLkEsHlSvGuLEqtewK11AuvSMAbC08-46xgejecy5tWUVfsGvB3R0uuVg4Jw-UAStv7FsKLvLDocrnxkG5iaOqpF7AzGnsqGvdk0xT2rc0xBjCr4ddIRyhDVCJlc4QTdAqDqpg/w246-h400/November8.jpg" width="246" /></a></div><p></p><p>The next evening it was finally time for the launch of <a href="https://transdimension.uk/">THE TRANS DIMENSION</a>! The Trans Dimension is a project that the studio I work for (<a href="https://gfsc.studio/">GFSC</a>) have worked on in collaboration with Gendered Intelligence — it's a listings site specifically hosting events by and for the trans community. In London for now, but soon to expand!</p><p>It's been a long time coming, and we were so excited to actually get a launch party for it! We all headed over to Queer Britain near Kings Cross, where we were joined by the incredible Travis Alabanza, who gave a deeply moving (and funny) speech about the importance of the site. It's so nice to see something kind of abstract that you've been involved in working on for so long actually come to fruition in a real place, with real people.<br /></p><p>It was also lovely to see a bunch of familiar faces, and catch up with Kim and Ivan from GFSC. As a remote studio, we don't all get to see each other IRL that often!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9FqcVD0XLKWrYNddQVfTmpiEpEZOnN159oR3pm8nxT24MIXf0wigFQetPkvX8XdiKBZ23K2BvVhkFat0QzC4A6AFtvdr7UaqL4rtgc7BlAG5BH4fTqK_pnZ78HKPPnkZfKit0TjbupAveSqlK9E8GUNY9ScGLUgWjpeMPCDM_EPFZXd3mNtmOd6AnOw/s2491/November9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2491" data-original-width="1486" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9FqcVD0XLKWrYNddQVfTmpiEpEZOnN159oR3pm8nxT24MIXf0wigFQetPkvX8XdiKBZ23K2BvVhkFat0QzC4A6AFtvdr7UaqL4rtgc7BlAG5BH4fTqK_pnZ78HKPPnkZfKit0TjbupAveSqlK9E8GUNY9ScGLUgWjpeMPCDM_EPFZXd3mNtmOd6AnOw/w239-h400/November9.jpg" width="239" /></a></div><p></p><p>With the news of Twitter's (possible) imminent collapse, I finally joined both BeReal and the Fediverse (aka Mastodon), where you'll find me as @undividual and @undividual@toot.wales respectively. I am still getting to grips with the latter, but I can safely say that BeReal immediately leapt up to top spot as my favourite social network (ever?!)</p><p>The basic premise is that at a random time each day (though in practice it's usually afternoon/evening, so maybe not truly random) it pings all its users at once, who are given two minutes to open their camera, and take a snap of whatever they're currently up to, with the front and back facing cameras at the same moment. </p><p>It goes live for 24 hours and after that is only visible to you in your archive. Users can add basic comments and reactions to each other's posts, and, that's it.</p><p>If you miss the 2 minute slot you can post up to 24h late, but everyone else will know you did. (There's no shame in it, it just means that it's a bit more obvious if you're intentionally framing your life to be a bit more exciting than it actually is)</p><p>Anyway, I think it's great and I think you should all join.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKfpTI-Zu17RYt0h5iMqeQH1nL2ejQZgNehsfvl-E1xCPXsLtWRZhMnGiq_JcqtBv-EuxQwrfNu2n8Ty0p0SJ7U80xTQJkDLWnJdo7sVNM5-teO6p8Yr-wRmR3iEG_k6zinq-fshyKkYfONtf90BZxlfT3QeU9ZaK4SSMaln7FEf0OwsctTwAzmsnnHQ/s2491/November10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2491" data-original-width="1471" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKfpTI-Zu17RYt0h5iMqeQH1nL2ejQZgNehsfvl-E1xCPXsLtWRZhMnGiq_JcqtBv-EuxQwrfNu2n8Ty0p0SJ7U80xTQJkDLWnJdo7sVNM5-teO6p8Yr-wRmR3iEG_k6zinq-fshyKkYfONtf90BZxlfT3QeU9ZaK4SSMaln7FEf0OwsctTwAzmsnnHQ/w236-h400/November10.jpg" width="236" /></a></div><p></p><p>My second session in 'activities week' was a workshop! I got to choose the subject matter, so I did one all about visual diarying. A decent number of students showed up and humoured me as I talked through my history with the practice, other artists visual diary work, and set them some fun (?) exercises. I made this while they all worked on theirs :)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMi0BEcmryyPQYHBXwOXYuPs1uecTYXAxlBQkGCN8rhtuh_YT2L1TJDPJBzw3JyP8KH-FtqlIHpbuXHFG9S9J4NV6oHNVhc-mBtsWa5EEF7ZMi5k_ZysSYZk3BKWt_WAsvXY0JIj1pP-6h8rOFB9CbqvistFZbcMg9T7E2NCn0Z-gg9I0I6fVgD3wQcg/s2491/November11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2491" data-original-width="1482" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMi0BEcmryyPQYHBXwOXYuPs1uecTYXAxlBQkGCN8rhtuh_YT2L1TJDPJBzw3JyP8KH-FtqlIHpbuXHFG9S9J4NV6oHNVhc-mBtsWa5EEF7ZMi5k_ZysSYZk3BKWt_WAsvXY0JIj1pP-6h8rOFB9CbqvistFZbcMg9T7E2NCn0Z-gg9I0I6fVgD3wQcg/w238-h400/November11.jpg" width="238" /></a></div><p></p><p>Just in case you were wondering how this is going (the only real bad part is that they're actually still quite a lot bigger than I wanted, but this is still a drastic improvement on how things were before)<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmGxg4cDszbeErveGQoP8t1G-nzxKgZOd-RvmEHCiM4Vn5nZIsapRk72oLekL5QVLxWmHuzUTM_7Hq6c10-BgWgvzFpOYQJPv0gqq_f_9pVFD7E40zTD8F1wyWx4sn2Qi-v9EUr-2hZ1OdTm3VikQDjhJvgi2Se4cLOXmyP9Y2HsHUcNk8TcpkyT-BNQ/s2491/November12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2491" data-original-width="1408" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmGxg4cDszbeErveGQoP8t1G-nzxKgZOd-RvmEHCiM4Vn5nZIsapRk72oLekL5QVLxWmHuzUTM_7Hq6c10-BgWgvzFpOYQJPv0gqq_f_9pVFD7E40zTD8F1wyWx4sn2Qi-v9EUr-2hZ1OdTm3VikQDjhJvgi2Se4cLOXmyP9Y2HsHUcNk8TcpkyT-BNQ/w226-h400/November12.jpg" width="226" /></a></div><p></p><p>In further 'Emma bites off more than she can chew' news, here's my fun (?) side project for 2023... </p><p>When I was doing the open houses festival at my Quaker Meeting House, I became aware of 'the information boards' — a set of around 30 x A1 sheets of grey card which someone in the 90s stuck loads of tiny photocopied text, clip art, and poorly reproduced archival photographs to, with information about the meeting house, Quakers, and the surrounding area's history. Honestly, at this point they look like shit and most people there agree, but they still get dutifully wheeled out for every school visit, open house event, and any other time when the meeting house has visitors.</p><p>I naively thought 'well, I could just redesign them!' and dutifully volunteered to do so, but quickly realised this was a much bigger job than that. The content is, at this point, outdated, much of it is irrelevant and/or badly written, and there's loads of great stuff that we need to talk about more missing.</p><p>So not only have I offered to redesign the boards (much later on), I have also taken on the process of attempting to facilitate my fellow Quakers in discerning (a Quakerly word) what a set of boards made for the NEXT 30 or so years should contain. What do we keep, what do we cut, what do we add?</p><p>I ran a session with 6 of us to try and get the ball rolling on this, and it WAS fun but I am also very daunted by the scale of the task ahead of me...<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHwfd67CMPOzC4eQoSIntj7xelO1l_8fyKmw6779PGbzXPzfNX3Ohbo7sPT1cSfEKLfTGmh-VxOjvktEZnazI6fnEqdIwpzjnQKrfm3WdlMVA4RCV5A3fOBlUiu0RanhMCi2OsMgJD3WGiU3QE-6VfAslc4XLcEIw1pjK5gyq4KADx2mPgZySgRoC5SQ/s2491/November13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2491" data-original-width="1535" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHwfd67CMPOzC4eQoSIntj7xelO1l_8fyKmw6779PGbzXPzfNX3Ohbo7sPT1cSfEKLfTGmh-VxOjvktEZnazI6fnEqdIwpzjnQKrfm3WdlMVA4RCV5A3fOBlUiu0RanhMCi2OsMgJD3WGiU3QE-6VfAslc4XLcEIw1pjK5gyq4KADx2mPgZySgRoC5SQ/w246-h400/November13.jpg" width="246" /></a></div><p></p><p>The long dreaded moment arrives — Beatrice is leaving, and we have to find a new housemate.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnbo_LAHFEbaXlN7QLNRZp4wiiyPGyH-HDtTZJm9ZCXVKOXAYGRXsrkbnA4oeHJnhhyTf_Bi_oLLbCZ7kIF3A03PZa4ojHzM_yXITs4bxlLvNz0LBJb5szJTm4a4lK8Qx2IVZCF5f9vUsEeWBvFGEp759vA_QQlUEqRpYunmn7PXrq7xfURe-duRWvKA/s2491/November14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2491" data-original-width="1534" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnbo_LAHFEbaXlN7QLNRZp4wiiyPGyH-HDtTZJm9ZCXVKOXAYGRXsrkbnA4oeHJnhhyTf_Bi_oLLbCZ7kIF3A03PZa4ojHzM_yXITs4bxlLvNz0LBJb5szJTm4a4lK8Qx2IVZCF5f9vUsEeWBvFGEp759vA_QQlUEqRpYunmn7PXrq7xfURe-duRWvKA/w246-h400/November14.jpg" width="246" /></a></div><p></p><p>I'm having a sad cycling time. Every ride is just such an adrenaline fest that it's really making me not wanna go out on my bike. I'm sometimes only cycling once every couple of weeks or so, and that's real sad when I have such a lovely bike, but especially as it gets colder and wetter, I just feel more and more like I'm gonna die under a van. (Not helped by my housemate Camille getting her bike, and nearly herself, crushed under a van later in the month)<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGjzFks0feWKcsOxaYmalFubucDNrl0mAeSvhmtYLtzIeYSlkFAWbn1b7tS5mHRCdHjy_8c6E9-yYskZr4Jm6_R-lIzrLBxHvPfSTEeeeyTAZXjfMwgrsw_qR0Mgnttu2E2o5SClIDPsi1lm2TY91zoCVdeLNI0-g1W96lSIiOlrFtSvVfpNJM5gmDlw/s2491/November15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2491" data-original-width="1535" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGjzFks0feWKcsOxaYmalFubucDNrl0mAeSvhmtYLtzIeYSlkFAWbn1b7tS5mHRCdHjy_8c6E9-yYskZr4Jm6_R-lIzrLBxHvPfSTEeeeyTAZXjfMwgrsw_qR0Mgnttu2E2o5SClIDPsi1lm2TY91zoCVdeLNI0-g1W96lSIiOlrFtSvVfpNJM5gmDlw/w246-h400/November15.jpg" width="246" /></a></div><p></p><p>We moved FAST! Get the listing on Spareroom! 50 responses in >24 hours! 3 interviews with our favs lined up, BOOM</p><p>I am getting better at this process (I hope?!), after previous learning experiences with Tabitha and Camille. Rather than inviting the first people who message for interviews, I instead waited until we had like 50 applicants and picked the best, and encouraged them all to come in one day, so that we could make a fast decision. It was actually harder than previous times because we loved all three of them, but also a lot less stressful than having interviews distributed over a whole week, and having to keep people waiting (and potentially losing them)</p><p>The London housing market is so brutal.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEQoyPUYyHcgmPByh1l45UN6sLuDKVdXp_DL1NbkqCgdmOVMqCcacPGSHl681BUBAPfUAFR-4f3djnwcbVWSWDBAxn8LIcmG6PvSDphfoFhGo8e-Hh-0jY1KbeYF-ipNXo1OEwmuwPUfKDfFSFzRcI8fgmX1UswKss1wY29hDnnxCU8kR8L7cOFQqR5A/s2491/November16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2491" data-original-width="1534" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEQoyPUYyHcgmPByh1l45UN6sLuDKVdXp_DL1NbkqCgdmOVMqCcacPGSHl681BUBAPfUAFR-4f3djnwcbVWSWDBAxn8LIcmG6PvSDphfoFhGo8e-Hh-0jY1KbeYF-ipNXo1OEwmuwPUfKDfFSFzRcI8fgmX1UswKss1wY29hDnnxCU8kR8L7cOFQqR5A/w246-h400/November16.jpg" width="246" /></a></div><p></p><p>Forgot my swimming towel like a idiot<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIHteS3mES9_AJvFljFkpmEA2yljF_uhiy5AnlTJuyBHJRr5AyWMEne1rnrLjPf1eT8J5fkvZZRCCZH1lWKPU0cR9pUC8dXf7NAcXmkVVBq8HhUYtJK-2x76IceCTRJNq99RKwa_tK5Y3-je7q7ZhuYAH2V92uEh07AilJ_sekqLc3mDuZ7l9YLba5KA/s2491/November18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2491" data-original-width="1534" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIHteS3mES9_AJvFljFkpmEA2yljF_uhiy5AnlTJuyBHJRr5AyWMEne1rnrLjPf1eT8J5fkvZZRCCZH1lWKPU0cR9pUC8dXf7NAcXmkVVBq8HhUYtJK-2x76IceCTRJNq99RKwa_tK5Y3-je7q7ZhuYAH2V92uEh07AilJ_sekqLc3mDuZ7l9YLba5KA/w246-h400/November18.jpg" width="246" /></a></div><p></p><p>Picked up a trashy free magazine on the tube and decided to make this vaguely apocalyptic/extremely 2022 collage </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfeJJMJCjcXOLtcA1EMQsPnvv0NqcbeRbNv-fWjZxdbjf9KGZEeCxB1FfG0bgzOvYpnB2l2-BMpvmno_2tN2H4_xcDVXEOovgznnk0ZzN83DvC91OrRud44jZzeBBeLBb1cnBptWbOloQdMyQfsDLm1-ZjWWMcXgOhJf5ZZo3jKlDtEysUMGtIfobmTQ/s2491/November19.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2491" data-original-width="1535" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfeJJMJCjcXOLtcA1EMQsPnvv0NqcbeRbNv-fWjZxdbjf9KGZEeCxB1FfG0bgzOvYpnB2l2-BMpvmno_2tN2H4_xcDVXEOovgznnk0ZzN83DvC91OrRud44jZzeBBeLBb1cnBptWbOloQdMyQfsDLm1-ZjWWMcXgOhJf5ZZo3jKlDtEysUMGtIfobmTQ/w246-h400/November19.jpg" width="246" /></a></div><p></p><p>Sometimes it's nice to go to Borough Market and just buy lots of exciting vegetables</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXyhj_T9naz1K5abZDhHbcWoVWTSE99pqxomEKiaB1oQ5l3aLN7utl9boLMdLRzl5Gyda8hRbq1YKs3xDRmiBnPFZDRXoqTOAXaW9b8bzl2_YzdAxZ8knA3y0vhdJCX67GYgA41sI51WW8xRHCoNNvLHfdt7mccBT7GWrL2F5m5rF4WoII1woZ_9liVQ/s2491/November20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2491" data-original-width="1534" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXyhj_T9naz1K5abZDhHbcWoVWTSE99pqxomEKiaB1oQ5l3aLN7utl9boLMdLRzl5Gyda8hRbq1YKs3xDRmiBnPFZDRXoqTOAXaW9b8bzl2_YzdAxZ8knA3y0vhdJCX67GYgA41sI51WW8xRHCoNNvLHfdt7mccBT7GWrL2F5m5rF4WoII1woZ_9liVQ/w246-h400/November20.jpg" width="246" /></a></div><p></p><p>I've finally fully embraced my puffy unflattering duvet coat destiny</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0VYnzGKREF-7JD0wC6htEbghhmiRf8JU9ZzULIHgH8VrlHaO63aesgmSATB6DQfL3QBH3peymGBAqWQTUw49ZjaaNzgJgeOHSvNUU9gnbO92FqKCFsH1mtekGBPQim5GWFeVtgYpbwilp9SKmFDgcSGSl-zry5bOLi_0y28XclY4JXBx66h7PaTjYiQ/s2480/November21.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2480" data-original-width="1535" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0VYnzGKREF-7JD0wC6htEbghhmiRf8JU9ZzULIHgH8VrlHaO63aesgmSATB6DQfL3QBH3peymGBAqWQTUw49ZjaaNzgJgeOHSvNUU9gnbO92FqKCFsH1mtekGBPQim5GWFeVtgYpbwilp9SKmFDgcSGSl-zry5bOLi_0y28XclY4JXBx66h7PaTjYiQ/w248-h400/November21.jpg" width="248" /></a></div><p></p><p>For one of Beatrice's last nights, former housemate (both here and for a couple of years in Brighton) Alex came for dinner! We had tasty treats and played some stupid games</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2IP5eQJ_Vd7RBLlB5kUQ4LoZ9SaVqsTF98KyTzLdl99Ga84LZW3-gKeen_-5NTGD9bTeJxJyBx13Osb4OmtTZZzaKBQtoB42zHr4FjXqi1j0cB4LRPOLrrGcE8U5d4w8ngMI4YWuynT-nWF0d4B930gnx5zOtjNjpo5lEsb8oNn8QF7XdXQRvZEQKxA/s2480/November22.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2480" data-original-width="1535" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2IP5eQJ_Vd7RBLlB5kUQ4LoZ9SaVqsTF98KyTzLdl99Ga84LZW3-gKeen_-5NTGD9bTeJxJyBx13Osb4OmtTZZzaKBQtoB42zHr4FjXqi1j0cB4LRPOLrrGcE8U5d4w8ngMI4YWuynT-nWF0d4B930gnx5zOtjNjpo5lEsb8oNn8QF7XdXQRvZEQKxA/w248-h400/November22.jpg" width="248" /></a></div><p>Went to see the incredible My Neighbour Totoro production at the Barbican! Drew this drawing of the building on my ipad while waiting to go in, added the characters later that evening after we left :)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgciJlylmwauqeQITnLL9vtzLAzzi8QmFZbdflRHDIxSATwkmdcrqjJl2aCD_vsiwz8-qUK8VgYy1JqiP7HoQ34Jq_crqhO_nUk6jSmyNBw3pX-p8-6gnGHVn9oo3qdl3hDuYzEDUPOnUk0kttOXp6SukWUXhoP-p95HB0Sn3iKEAm5DL3GnVzlOjmIKg/s2491/November24.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2491" data-original-width="1534" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgciJlylmwauqeQITnLL9vtzLAzzi8QmFZbdflRHDIxSATwkmdcrqjJl2aCD_vsiwz8-qUK8VgYy1JqiP7HoQ34Jq_crqhO_nUk6jSmyNBw3pX-p8-6gnGHVn9oo3qdl3hDuYzEDUPOnUk0kttOXp6SukWUXhoP-p95HB0Sn3iKEAm5DL3GnVzlOjmIKg/w246-h400/November24.jpg" width="246" /></a></div><p></p><p>Beatrice left! I'd like to say 'I'll miss her', but to be honest, I've barely seen her! She spent most of the pandemic with family in France, and after a sudden bereavement has been in France since February this year, so she's hardly been around for the three years I've lived here. It's kind of nice to have an absent housemate, in the sense that they're no hassle, but we're very much hoping our new housemate might be a bit more present — in a good, and not annoying way, of course 😅 (I didn't do a drawing about her moving in, but in the end we picked Beth as our new housemate, so she will probably pop up in future drawings)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIsDHYwE1_YnwsPimr6eeeyK8EODQRsC5F-LQCzpG7u54kL0Rw0NY8am4f0U5w-VkEX0QK7YxLmevQC6ePjHOgYJCpDixGfKz5ffAPzYxqw5TQvdAxZu3uGJErD45x8iRgUy6xvMCBH07jxTwsO80QNVH4GMw5linUUFDo5bHaYREf5RYovqGRayH4og/s2503/November25.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2503" data-original-width="1519" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIsDHYwE1_YnwsPimr6eeeyK8EODQRsC5F-LQCzpG7u54kL0Rw0NY8am4f0U5w-VkEX0QK7YxLmevQC6ePjHOgYJCpDixGfKz5ffAPzYxqw5TQvdAxZu3uGJErD45x8iRgUy6xvMCBH07jxTwsO80QNVH4GMw5linUUFDo5bHaYREf5RYovqGRayH4og/w242-h400/November25.jpg" width="242" /></a></div><p>Perhaps my lack of sadness about Beatrice leaving is influenced by my extreme grump about her failure to properly prepare for moving out (she didn't clean her room and left loads of trash behind). Spen loves driving, and so volunteered to drive her all the way to Lille in a van with her stuff (which they had a great time doing!) Beatrice persueded Spen to take her trash to the tip when they returned in the van, so we dutifully prepared to do this. </p><p>(Not mentioned in this comic, we live near a funeral parlour, and when we got back, all the parking spaces outside our house were taken up with a funeral cortege. Spen parked the van round the corner for half an hour while we had lunch and waited for the hearse and limos to leave, and GOT A DAMN TICKET. So we're already stressed as we headed to the tip.)<br /></p><p>It takes ages to drive to the tip, which is only around a 25 min walk away. It takes nearly 25 minutes by van because DRIVING IS BULLLLLSHITTTTTT (like I literally cannot overstate how much I hate riding in cars, vans etc. It is the worst and beyond my comprehension why anyone would willingly travel that way. Claustrophobic, aggravating, and soooo slowww)</p><p>So anyway I'm already stressed and mad when we get to the tip. We think we can just go through the regular way to the big hoppers where you dump different varieties of junk, but it turns out vans are NOT meant to go that way, and we land a big scrape in the side of the van squeezing through the too narrow entrance. (Potential £1500 fine from the van hire company, arrrrgh?!?!) And when we get in, the tip man immediately makes us leave because NO VANS</p><p>We have to drive to the other side of the site to the scary industrial tip where all the big waste vans go, and it turns out you have to jump through a load of hoops like buying a high vis vest, showing ID and proof of address, and have the van weighed before you go in.</p><p>Another technically challenging ramp to go up (I mean, not for Spen who is a very good driver but I find it stressful to observe), and then we have to queue behind house clearance trucks and those wire sided vans for AGES. </p><p>And when we finally get in — no hoppers, just A GIANT INCINERATOR! Most of Beatrice's trash is recyclable but the tip people won't let me just walk it over to the hoppers a hundred metres away, for health and safety reasons (I'm wearing my damned £9 high vis!!)</p><p>By this point I am so mad and desperately need to pee that I just throw almost all of it into the incinerator and get the fuck out of there (with the exception of the bags of clothes which I just couldn't bring myself to dispose of in that way)</p><p>The whole thing was just inordinately stressful (I may also have been PMTing) and left me with (a probably unfair amount of) bitterness towards Beatrice for not dealing with her shit herself.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipwKEMhKt5Tprwv3LxkIs4HpJ2ITQVbz3z6GfkFQ9r69peSmxUCTg0FgvKCHJatzg-SQNXZnwFuAdwotQeKoFhjV_5tWz77kcyUXvdNch2Qz2e2EMPDjF0ELPTFaoTs1TV7y77UzIqwsWl8SQ8mDMdgphUpMU0nJ1We27ms_CskkJngrZZrCltyXQDxg/s2503/November26.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2503" data-original-width="1518" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipwKEMhKt5Tprwv3LxkIs4HpJ2ITQVbz3z6GfkFQ9r69peSmxUCTg0FgvKCHJatzg-SQNXZnwFuAdwotQeKoFhjV_5tWz77kcyUXvdNch2Qz2e2EMPDjF0ELPTFaoTs1TV7y77UzIqwsWl8SQ8mDMdgphUpMU0nJ1We27ms_CskkJngrZZrCltyXQDxg/w242-h400/November26.jpg" width="242" /></a></div><p></p><p>Anyway, cheered myself up the next day by going (fake) curling with pals.</p><p>At a summer party two years ago, me and a few others randomly got chatting about curling and how much we'd all like to try it. I told them all to hold that thought for 6 months, and once winter came, I organised a curling session at one of London's 'pop up' curling clubs, for winter 2021. However, it got cancelled due to high winds, so my tickets rolled over to this year, when we FINALLY got our long awaited curling trip!</p><p>We were devastated to discover that a) it was not on ice, and b) no brushing... And yet we still had a really good time!? We've now found an actual ice curling venue, and so are going to try and go there in January for Curling episode II.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlt7_xsIK4fe3SkuXxOazTbE_iFvLp_YsdLWekL7xbU2IabIMsiE9aXeAhkLf3eI8hQoAK-IqO4gIKsw3y9bolwn2Xu9-IR-VIKd_Rb2umrHALNHVNWI23q7gFP9SnQdmfFWSBefcG0MbEfZ7FjgayUDwdW7JzeLPkBixDZlsc5nQShcnecnaKPZMKQw/s2503/November27.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2503" data-original-width="1519" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlt7_xsIK4fe3SkuXxOazTbE_iFvLp_YsdLWekL7xbU2IabIMsiE9aXeAhkLf3eI8hQoAK-IqO4gIKsw3y9bolwn2Xu9-IR-VIKd_Rb2umrHALNHVNWI23q7gFP9SnQdmfFWSBefcG0MbEfZ7FjgayUDwdW7JzeLPkBixDZlsc5nQShcnecnaKPZMKQw/w242-h400/November27.jpg" width="242" /></a></div><p></p><p>Had a BUSY WEEKEND — Dav and Justin were in town catsitting for Dav's sister, and Harriet, Tom and Max came up to London for the day, and we all went to the Horniman Museum. I'd forgotten how much I dislike taxidermy but I did enjoy the retro displays and the room of instruments (and seeing some of my fav friends)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdIg_g1EngmX-pLzRGE-shmbts9ZtjoXRpDWaPh7vy83lNOorxwBLGusiUzAUf9ClTPtaDEkUQ45tiJgFNPt498PDaVg_-HqYLH7NZsYF_PKKtpIMfnGEnz_etwu07D91_vh7foLe5GU9Xb5cQWiVHQXgWwtZA5gNTflfluotfEOrRuG8dn8lwNHRhTQ/s2503/November28.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2503" data-original-width="1518" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdIg_g1EngmX-pLzRGE-shmbts9ZtjoXRpDWaPh7vy83lNOorxwBLGusiUzAUf9ClTPtaDEkUQ45tiJgFNPt498PDaVg_-HqYLH7NZsYF_PKKtpIMfnGEnz_etwu07D91_vh7foLe5GU9Xb5cQWiVHQXgWwtZA5gNTflfluotfEOrRuG8dn8lwNHRhTQ/w242-h400/November28.jpg" width="242" /></a></div><p></p><p>Put on my rubbish tip high vis to try and make cycling less scary</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwXQYqsby52lROEAFZE2InboHKIlpEWVMeAM6R_OrlBeGIrx8SRal9SJyOgevI0qAefNKvvc_20KNJaUnyLG96NASQvex5yZ2nSZn517LCluKWZ8iWppsSigdKaLXd88tC741EovKezHAVxPRJ6ZIZ1YeVVjxBgbVPjEnyO9C94CaV7sgletMzhA3GXw/s2503/November29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2503" data-original-width="1519" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwXQYqsby52lROEAFZE2InboHKIlpEWVMeAM6R_OrlBeGIrx8SRal9SJyOgevI0qAefNKvvc_20KNJaUnyLG96NASQvex5yZ2nSZn517LCluKWZ8iWppsSigdKaLXd88tC741EovKezHAVxPRJ6ZIZ1YeVVjxBgbVPjEnyO9C94CaV7sgletMzhA3GXw/w242-h400/November29.jpg" width="242" /></a></div><p></p><p>I cannot overstate how much I am looking forwards to having a break over Christmas</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWSEBp6iPtViEtawj_SEsL8w2waCa-R91YqdHcgUMzMXtmIdJEKX_mc9Rk-2P5CBTKpsqaHDyZo8s0PLo9zWb1YqD8JgF0MptK3G_YMasFu-WkowbWvOWBajcDJjNmunTVFo2bVzRq5nYmiy2HzRpegaBut_GAh-JjKjzM4ogdXi_T3atNHo3w6Rl8Aw/s2503/November30.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2503" data-original-width="1518" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWSEBp6iPtViEtawj_SEsL8w2waCa-R91YqdHcgUMzMXtmIdJEKX_mc9Rk-2P5CBTKpsqaHDyZo8s0PLo9zWb1YqD8JgF0MptK3G_YMasFu-WkowbWvOWBajcDJjNmunTVFo2bVzRq5nYmiy2HzRpegaBut_GAh-JjKjzM4ogdXi_T3atNHo3w6Rl8Aw/w242-h400/November30.jpg" width="242" /></a></div><p></p><p>Had a lovely dinner out tonight with a friend — bought the fancy drinks for £5.50, and was then outraged when the waitress swept them away with like, 1/4 glass of juice and the tasty lumps of fruit left behind! (Am I a cheapskate?!)</p><p>I am very much looking forwards to December — got some more hard (but interesting) work, a cute lil mini break, and of course, christmas! More on all of that next time...<br /></p>Emmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03307690577227053266noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6149147983678759733.post-2380596010370290762022-10-31T19:48:00.001+00:002022-10-31T19:48:41.325+00:00October 2022<p>I've been thinking a lot about my daily documentation practice recently. I can't see myself stopping my visual diaries, but I also feel like, somehow, the more interesting my 'work work' gets, the less interesting my visual diaries get. I originally started doing them to make sure that I was getting some freeform creativity every day, even where my job was a bit dull or uncreative (plus to gain skills)... But maybe it's still important to force myself to think about my days in interesting ways. (I am thinking of stopping my photo a day project at the end of the year, though that will make it 9 years and I feel like I should push for 10, ha).<br /></p><p>In part it's because I feel like I'm working so much I'm barely doing anything interesting outside of that, so maybe I should draw a bit more about my work, I don't know. Or maybe I should actually try and get some work-life balance so that I can have the energy and time to go places and see stuff again and then draw about that... Who could say :)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkJ3H944iOT0oHrfbUKEeWSbat75L6B5owIfRwwOANqb9Ys8pUFm5YKrsJAkygZF0Vw-4N4aYR9XcjF2sVpBY1dZMClkMt5IYOOjK-z3X5t2jQGiZevrctqbQ2w1UlxDuanrMW0rRlj29Njv7HhBaSUgCwML2A7rqOOztIb8Gltsu4FNqRXkDjSxRY9w/s2504/October2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2504" data-original-width="1529" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkJ3H944iOT0oHrfbUKEeWSbat75L6B5owIfRwwOANqb9Ys8pUFm5YKrsJAkygZF0Vw-4N4aYR9XcjF2sVpBY1dZMClkMt5IYOOjK-z3X5t2jQGiZevrctqbQ2w1UlxDuanrMW0rRlj29Njv7HhBaSUgCwML2A7rqOOztIb8Gltsu4FNqRXkDjSxRY9w/w244-h400/October2.jpg" width="244" /></a></div><p></p><p>Something that I also like though, is staying at home and eating tasty food, which luckily I DO get to do often.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_9L9PCUmK2Kh-v99sxYKfayTl6WBBJqwXOiewYXJXjN3gFADA7R9BrAcfqXLgerP4qMW0poUE61hYCslO5mLpLZP24eHHnTTIaaTnKiUqBD65OlR-4EXH8e4Ziz4GrybHTL4keqWUlCfmZlV_OVnhxpN79cCyeTCAlNijTVVqAtIqlBXg-SC2cva9OA/s2504/October3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2504" data-original-width="1529" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_9L9PCUmK2Kh-v99sxYKfayTl6WBBJqwXOiewYXJXjN3gFADA7R9BrAcfqXLgerP4qMW0poUE61hYCslO5mLpLZP24eHHnTTIaaTnKiUqBD65OlR-4EXH8e4Ziz4GrybHTL4keqWUlCfmZlV_OVnhxpN79cCyeTCAlNijTVVqAtIqlBXg-SC2cva9OA/w244-h400/October3.jpg" width="244" /></a></div><br />I've been finding it hard this month to keep up swimming as much as I'd like to. My local pool only has early morning sessions (as established here, NO), one single lunchtime session from 12 – 1 which is when I usually go, but doesn't work on my teaching days as it's too late for me to get to uni after, and evening sessions (don't wanna swim after dinner)... This is kind of annoying as it's the only meaningful exercise I really do (increasingly realising I'm deluding myself to think riding an electric bike is meaningfully 'exercise' which is probably why I like it so much)<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfOjNI2f02XNDtLiNEG4szZomqKitgQcjyisftt25d3pQBv1YdQvymLH_FrrsEmGoM006DiBJJx7j7YkiqAUmdnq9XhA2oq--6Z8yh4qh0nJxJ8etNys8siSE0Myqi-QjjRINH5b9tHKBDdeeOu12EegZqOyS2eoAKT3Sbp9nb6UeQxzXIFxpMWffVkw/s2504/October4.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2504" data-original-width="1529" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfOjNI2f02XNDtLiNEG4szZomqKitgQcjyisftt25d3pQBv1YdQvymLH_FrrsEmGoM006DiBJJx7j7YkiqAUmdnq9XhA2oq--6Z8yh4qh0nJxJ8etNys8siSE0Myqi-QjjRINH5b9tHKBDdeeOu12EegZqOyS2eoAKT3Sbp9nb6UeQxzXIFxpMWffVkw/w244-h400/October4.jpg" width="244" /></a></div><p></p><p>I got to do some super fun teaching about designing speculative futures, which is an area I've been lucky to just dabble in previously. It FELT like I delivered some really good content, I guess I'll only really know when I see how good the students outcomes are at the end of this project though?!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcKpMZGZUlMvJSOJNZS164TPwWADQnbsLzBRQgT5knEc8UihSHgSDhiovo_FfuULggqnyZxAQBMJ0-f5I3EuLiy-M6UexXly6theSpfKtg9ri3jGIPiuF9pYoDGO936VAELyQiZLJmJsPWcgPeLxTK-dDis-lHZGiscsKWXPxvPr-I6bQbpxa364OaYA/s2504/October5.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2504" data-original-width="1529" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcKpMZGZUlMvJSOJNZS164TPwWADQnbsLzBRQgT5knEc8UihSHgSDhiovo_FfuULggqnyZxAQBMJ0-f5I3EuLiy-M6UexXly6theSpfKtg9ri3jGIPiuF9pYoDGO936VAELyQiZLJmJsPWcgPeLxTK-dDis-lHZGiscsKWXPxvPr-I6bQbpxa364OaYA/w244-h400/October5.jpg" width="244" /></a></div><p>Treated myself to some stupidly shaped trousers from Cos as I slide ever more into art school teacher cliche</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijYEkTZunIhg-6Ob6fURdU_uV2T_sDLKtrjYBeZHsKZIOvVRwcMRROsje0N3uvcY8gqthtJAD4G3D5MdsK8YZJVzRrGDkORtGvbrDdUxlHTShmJNTPX3pWNSKm7RMau-55cM2A_UVB_8Kd4Yq96VpEVpZ42vSHJSY8aM3gLhTF_eSyqM4LlsoEWTxbDw/s2504/October6.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2504" data-original-width="1529" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijYEkTZunIhg-6Ob6fURdU_uV2T_sDLKtrjYBeZHsKZIOvVRwcMRROsje0N3uvcY8gqthtJAD4G3D5MdsK8YZJVzRrGDkORtGvbrDdUxlHTShmJNTPX3pWNSKm7RMau-55cM2A_UVB_8Kd4Yq96VpEVpZ42vSHJSY8aM3gLhTF_eSyqM4LlsoEWTxbDw/w244-h400/October6.jpg" width="244" /></a></div><p></p><p>I volunteered months ago to travel down to Brighton as a 'responsible adult' on an away weekend for Quaker teenagers. It sounded really fun when I signed up, but teaching is tiring and the thought of not really having any downtime at the weekend was really stressing me out. (Not to mention I didn't know when I signed up that there were to be NO SHOWERS OR REAL BEDS, hell)<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhidmEmSIT9VZLNeuUHVlPOc8nMlL8NKUuth-lUWqsCu8XUzuLl-YKJqlNzYxbGqo-Fm6HvC3JG-_F8BCQmoFuZVbtjjzkPT5RE927gkBEW6EOys9CZRxt-lY5ol3IM1k4QY8_FvgjcJdYpP-VZ-QRjCw2dt31s4MVuRK7PMRMEie0yeL9Mt5XRxAiQ3g/s2504/October7.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2504" data-original-width="1529" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhidmEmSIT9VZLNeuUHVlPOc8nMlL8NKUuth-lUWqsCu8XUzuLl-YKJqlNzYxbGqo-Fm6HvC3JG-_F8BCQmoFuZVbtjjzkPT5RE927gkBEW6EOys9CZRxt-lY5ol3IM1k4QY8_FvgjcJdYpP-VZ-QRjCw2dt31s4MVuRK7PMRMEie0yeL9Mt5XRxAiQ3g/w244-h400/October7.jpg" width="244" /></a></div><p></p><p>Anyway, at the last minute one of the other responsible adults let us know that his wife had COVID, and what did he think we should do. My response was 'well I'm not hanging out with you thankyouverymuch', but everyone else felt absolutely fine about it, so I ended up dropping out (with everyone's blessing). It made me feel kind of silly for being so petty, but like, I still really don't want to get COVID?! I know I'm almost certainly going to get it again because I spend three afternoons a week in a room with 50 students, but like, I'm still gonna go out of my way to avoid spending time with someone who has a known contact. I felt pretty guilty about it, even though skipping the trip did make my life a LOT easier.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoAfodP24etg3odsavJakau7pXlPrPl0OUHZIBX-qbaAjMeFj1kBBrJus0M8XC11s1hrNogocTFGc2JILDj6riMLf3zJ310HcjdHLP3oo8tRt15X0xSs3SQ9IJay9RRKzA8dqflWburFZlMz_xQyy0qYiBmLyg6ficcJ3H3RyYenEsMQ2jiz35Mr71rg/s2504/October8.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2504" data-original-width="1477" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoAfodP24etg3odsavJakau7pXlPrPl0OUHZIBX-qbaAjMeFj1kBBrJus0M8XC11s1hrNogocTFGc2JILDj6riMLf3zJ310HcjdHLP3oo8tRt15X0xSs3SQ9IJay9RRKzA8dqflWburFZlMz_xQyy0qYiBmLyg6ficcJ3H3RyYenEsMQ2jiz35Mr71rg/w236-h400/October8.jpg" width="236" /></a></div><p></p><p>My partner got this Monstera a while ago and it's suffered a number of mishaps since then, but it's still soldiering on.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb6vo-p66b44Lz5Ur2jW4s6JiWNvJfqKuanhYhxLrYtIrtDgyzdupD1nBxr6F4SgwxXAIQD5Yen2ANPJkbnn0-piW89u6DN-4GGTinkU29hnPZSd9aSXniSUjULv0dwJB-F7Wog-oHDz72JNG5UsJyCNc_xy6k0x6HiOCaI4qmb6U2iC_lJ82LFkVNbA/s2504/October9.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2504" data-original-width="1529" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb6vo-p66b44Lz5Ur2jW4s6JiWNvJfqKuanhYhxLrYtIrtDgyzdupD1nBxr6F4SgwxXAIQD5Yen2ANPJkbnn0-piW89u6DN-4GGTinkU29hnPZSd9aSXniSUjULv0dwJB-F7Wog-oHDz72JNG5UsJyCNc_xy6k0x6HiOCaI4qmb6U2iC_lJ82LFkVNbA/w244-h400/October9.jpg" width="244" /></a></div><p></p><p>Still feeling guilty for skipping out on that trip, I decided I should do SOMETHING worthwhile with my weekend. I wanted to continue with my capital ring walks, but I've been struggling to get to the starting point of the next one because every time I try, there's either train strikes, or rail replacement buses or something. So in the meantime, I started walking the length of the Wandle river, which is a lot easier to get to from here, and really enjoyed it.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOPhvIrfa0-i5opSm2a-qZiG4UAPdiQp9zoCuvflI_0zemN4TS9xw8FR6qyl1SmtFqt3S-9b1C2pinkm1idgxPXs9Ytbwo5iZyFg1U-rqW8T6dgI_SAyS9A6VAbQ37Etnhbp413QVDFpGlQUYXLAJznRHZQyMTuuBGcllUgY6MroKXF6ssXBjCwIdFmQ/s2504/October10.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2504" data-original-width="1529" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOPhvIrfa0-i5opSm2a-qZiG4UAPdiQp9zoCuvflI_0zemN4TS9xw8FR6qyl1SmtFqt3S-9b1C2pinkm1idgxPXs9Ytbwo5iZyFg1U-rqW8T6dgI_SAyS9A6VAbQ37Etnhbp413QVDFpGlQUYXLAJznRHZQyMTuuBGcllUgY6MroKXF6ssXBjCwIdFmQ/w244-h400/October10.jpg" width="244" /></a></div><p></p><p>Having said that I'm enjoying cycling, I am still extremely not enjoying the experience of dicing with death on every trip, in fact, it's making me really not want to go out on my bike. Between cars, other cyclists, and London's surprisingly potholed roads, every trip feels like taking my life in my hands, and I hate it. Because of where I live, I often have to navigate around Vauxhall's huge intersection, and though it's far from the worst place for cyclists, it's also far from the best. There's also a number of different ways to tackle it, and I did manage to find a slightly less perilous route through.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhniv5imD-_NFXweE5RgXnNsqP8wLHWnoA430_OvUUYNgVwiCJBDRZBg3YR-bteVK-vd6jQye7L31ayLsGbrcvxS4nMFZ8yfDIbcIqd1P-uAa0b1Ru48PXM-ZdQmrtuIWy1GDSICSffJ59avsi8ktH37uZr-bA_1l_NVski3DTJheAsohZBERMcOeuoA/s2504/October11.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2504" data-original-width="1529" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhniv5imD-_NFXweE5RgXnNsqP8wLHWnoA430_OvUUYNgVwiCJBDRZBg3YR-bteVK-vd6jQye7L31ayLsGbrcvxS4nMFZ8yfDIbcIqd1P-uAa0b1Ru48PXM-ZdQmrtuIWy1GDSICSffJ59avsi8ktH37uZr-bA_1l_NVski3DTJheAsohZBERMcOeuoA/w244-h400/October11.jpg" width="244" /></a></div><p></p><p>Was nice to see an old friend visiting from up North! Especially nice to have a chat with another 'creative practitioner' who recently started teaching at university level. Still feels like I'm just winging it a bit sometimes, but reassured after chatting about it all that maybe I actually do know what I'm doing...</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_s3B0wNM3mbL3ge6xQH5yQME_O4upHZrpD6K4xYrCbNVPFE38q-WLVKwhUkLLZqIT5aMxNSly7xlWlx_FkT-EBr68m4oUT8I8QjWh3O7Of95VO30nnwf65abhsZl7o6PGimaDpsjameOeswHvGo2KXlBJiHzgr3XTpbRqFKW1sWWv_ItMTSIcp4ph6A/s2504/October12.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2504" data-original-width="1480" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_s3B0wNM3mbL3ge6xQH5yQME_O4upHZrpD6K4xYrCbNVPFE38q-WLVKwhUkLLZqIT5aMxNSly7xlWlx_FkT-EBr68m4oUT8I8QjWh3O7Of95VO30nnwf65abhsZl7o6PGimaDpsjameOeswHvGo2KXlBJiHzgr3XTpbRqFKW1sWWv_ItMTSIcp4ph6A/w236-h400/October12.jpg" width="236" /></a></div><p></p><p>I think I've mentioned this before, but I go through phases where I absolutely CANNOT face sitting at my desk. At the moment it's proving particularly hard, given that three days a week I'm only working from home in the morning... It's like... well why WOULD I get up and get dressed and sit in a real chair if I'm just going out at 12?! I know it's probably not good for me, and yet it <i>feels</i> so good :)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHAXUeYGuXWWbp2zLUwL_ifjhEMLkML5pnKkKnq7Kxa-bbxlkr-k2RQ5ROkwAdJf5qWZq7ggLNXk_myuEvNd6I5G7e3zR2krxNkxzIT5Da0Gi8PX5SD2aA_OR2CNL7XhvlUpymkDR_MZGV-sEQz58oDRv8U5vJ_cVIqmcnykKQ-L8GhiBnV-NarpRaWg/s2504/October13.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2504" data-original-width="1529" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHAXUeYGuXWWbp2zLUwL_ifjhEMLkML5pnKkKnq7Kxa-bbxlkr-k2RQ5ROkwAdJf5qWZq7ggLNXk_myuEvNd6I5G7e3zR2krxNkxzIT5Da0Gi8PX5SD2aA_OR2CNL7XhvlUpymkDR_MZGV-sEQz58oDRv8U5vJ_cVIqmcnykKQ-L8GhiBnV-NarpRaWg/w244-h400/October13.jpg" width="244" /></a></div><p></p><p>Talking of potholes, my absolute least favourite stretch of road to cycle (that I've found so far) is the stretch along past the US Embassy and the fancy rich-people towers with the 'sky pool'. It's an absolute death trap of grit, wonky manhole covers, gigantic potholes and uneven surfaces, and I HATE IT</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQudWlNRYCsqLAHFkmkJU9X5eDUJkYucukf9Kx2_UWyiUqy6HUXoOiSFMGxfPmkUf_0jcYCpryg0KMNTxySFnFzbPdJPE2p07kLAtes0oo-qrgqAWVhPpQRgRQ4Hoci3cMM7mZdQUFLe5NbLawgbeTU78_LChLg28WlTzRbOwcPgwouJ5ZL5Qf_bJDYg/s2463/October15.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2463" data-original-width="1488" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQudWlNRYCsqLAHFkmkJU9X5eDUJkYucukf9Kx2_UWyiUqy6HUXoOiSFMGxfPmkUf_0jcYCpryg0KMNTxySFnFzbPdJPE2p07kLAtes0oo-qrgqAWVhPpQRgRQ4Hoci3cMM7mZdQUFLe5NbLawgbeTU78_LChLg28WlTzRbOwcPgwouJ5ZL5Qf_bJDYg/w241-h400/October15.jpg" width="241" /></a></div><p></p><p>In a rare turn of events, my partner wanted to go see some art (they normally hate leaving the house and have little interest in art). It was a show of work by turn of the century Lithuanian painter MK <span aria-level="1" class="yKMVIe" role="heading">Čiurlionis at Dulwich picture gallery, and we really enjoyed it! He was working in an almost 'fantasy' style using surprisingly cheap materials, and he died incredibly young, so despite having prolific output in his lifetime, it was hard not to feel that he hadn't really reached his full potential.</span></p><p><span aria-level="1" class="yKMVIe" role="heading">We also enjoyed griping about Dulwich Village, the poshest place in South London (?)</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAiCJIGl2d7AG3_tFDw4nxcos-ko-4jyHs9ocbJa0qaBT_XB24Ugb_aldp_BjyYSlgFQqmyXgGrghnMyVAkLdw0RMBZ77FtfLoossAxpJ5d0zryQFvLSIFcr8b9pRuMrRtPKdXJdp6tQmRcRHQ9oFSGhlDOX8Eoc-IA21flpe69Y53thqBJvxw2WZGig/s2489/October16.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2489" data-original-width="1491" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAiCJIGl2d7AG3_tFDw4nxcos-ko-4jyHs9ocbJa0qaBT_XB24Ugb_aldp_BjyYSlgFQqmyXgGrghnMyVAkLdw0RMBZ77FtfLoossAxpJ5d0zryQFvLSIFcr8b9pRuMrRtPKdXJdp6tQmRcRHQ9oFSGhlDOX8Eoc-IA21flpe69Y53thqBJvxw2WZGig/w240-h400/October16.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p></p><p>Pleased to report, it's tea season again! (For me who only drinks herbal teas for half the year when it's cold)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvOMt1ZqnshLq-FdFGJ-6QmmjwKRxC-CiZrBcRxNn6SmPvyjobhwaRiqbxNW3q630y_3CaV7ityx_HF5Xwod6a7M2A05dt0bQzuf6E0Bha2Ia1v7l00zaLcMU5sjHmEBsLNIjgzI1-KM1ZIBxIzXiwYV2DaKizM5yEvTD5cnKd3M6_ZBlwxq3Ason9xw/s2489/October17.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2489" data-original-width="1522" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvOMt1ZqnshLq-FdFGJ-6QmmjwKRxC-CiZrBcRxNn6SmPvyjobhwaRiqbxNW3q630y_3CaV7ityx_HF5Xwod6a7M2A05dt0bQzuf6E0Bha2Ia1v7l00zaLcMU5sjHmEBsLNIjgzI1-KM1ZIBxIzXiwYV2DaKizM5yEvTD5cnKd3M6_ZBlwxq3Ason9xw/w245-h400/October17.jpg" width="245" /></a></div><p></p><p>Please?!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-mAVkm34zl_OizduipaH64YVox_f7w5Af1devtIcVvURPjI_eP7ZDB97gDVRVzsFRprlTHqqq6zPfYXu_xicbm--oW6Kx8WSI4H7nxQEZVq-Oao2HfYxb4GG9MZ1G89lPPy7w_LY5PK6VjVYjOJ1wkZdH2taWvU5BoW10y7upbtN8RZTdBxIYXPIskw/s2489/October19.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2489" data-original-width="1522" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-mAVkm34zl_OizduipaH64YVox_f7w5Af1devtIcVvURPjI_eP7ZDB97gDVRVzsFRprlTHqqq6zPfYXu_xicbm--oW6Kx8WSI4H7nxQEZVq-Oao2HfYxb4GG9MZ1G89lPPy7w_LY5PK6VjVYjOJ1wkZdH2taWvU5BoW10y7upbtN8RZTdBxIYXPIskw/w245-h400/October19.jpg" width="245" /></a></div><p></p><p>Payback for relaxing morning is STRESSFUL AFTERNOON</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7oPkd2TkPvx46eFte2HJqSBvzqhF9-Sh_EOFm53cSBXeAjhEm-Exh0slT-whGx4UTmhIyQG3nqG003rZqLBvTIeDiPincUn52BldOqU5eB8p5T5UWb8cqgl1-AU_CRDZlBENsC3vd8jz9htro03-4QbHOiGmgLjJub0IRyZSK0wEw5HiezxMxmCJl7A/s2489/October20.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2489" data-original-width="1523" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7oPkd2TkPvx46eFte2HJqSBvzqhF9-Sh_EOFm53cSBXeAjhEm-Exh0slT-whGx4UTmhIyQG3nqG003rZqLBvTIeDiPincUn52BldOqU5eB8p5T5UWb8cqgl1-AU_CRDZlBENsC3vd8jz9htro03-4QbHOiGmgLjJub0IRyZSK0wEw5HiezxMxmCJl7A/w245-h400/October20.jpg" width="245" /></a></div><p></p><p>Me and the dog are united on three things. (Actually probably more things if I really get deep into it)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPGz_RAlMVAj16Bm_lW3bx5ht6mgPhnmgvt4m2xhUEW--YDjCb5l-3cwYphEGE7Ny487Juz-e89DSeNILyaxkfF5BRhfS_voVLC8zz4kgtHxrb3TZ6ExS-AhmkMZexvlcNaWADbC_Stw_igXBnViaSlGHujCgo8Ne12aude9xKZH74ML5_W91BZQ76LQ/s2480/October21.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2480" data-original-width="1535" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPGz_RAlMVAj16Bm_lW3bx5ht6mgPhnmgvt4m2xhUEW--YDjCb5l-3cwYphEGE7Ny487Juz-e89DSeNILyaxkfF5BRhfS_voVLC8zz4kgtHxrb3TZ6ExS-AhmkMZexvlcNaWADbC_Stw_igXBnViaSlGHujCgo8Ne12aude9xKZH74ML5_W91BZQ76LQ/w248-h400/October21.jpg" width="248" /></a></div><p></p><p>Been doing this silly series on my instagram where I take self portraits in convex mirrors, here's a drawn one. (Digitally, as I was away!)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwXpd8yYvRXFYQoiHzWPI6rdVKKYb7Qjp5fXFmJfrT-YwI7oBV0oDfztLle135sQkOaHjymUwYOVaVsv-tpYoxODmoErSrdVwenNjkQ9nsPKZLhf85JeaEiQDcW1GNfLWOYuOPbSY97knft4ywBfTHLMSKCG7xEn33thZMN9Qy55HNDBntiixEFReGvg/s2480/October22.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2480" data-original-width="1535" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwXpd8yYvRXFYQoiHzWPI6rdVKKYb7Qjp5fXFmJfrT-YwI7oBV0oDfztLle135sQkOaHjymUwYOVaVsv-tpYoxODmoErSrdVwenNjkQ9nsPKZLhf85JeaEiQDcW1GNfLWOYuOPbSY97knft4ywBfTHLMSKCG7xEn33thZMN9Qy55HNDBntiixEFReGvg/w248-h400/October22.jpg" width="248" /></a></div><p></p><p>An unflattering double chin drawing of me cuddling my sweet sister (went to visit my parents and their dog Fern) We have both got a bit pudgy tbh, but my parents won't admit the dog could stand to lose some weight :)</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrZ4BbDA7XXtWQpL0mL4j9hVSICyVDsRa1pCyyDq830LMlbUpW1YLH08g1aEUYZaXT7pfTgjr5h58rb2HLW8G77oCfvC6jicULa2Q0DPsiQK-KyASCh9bqDdcewygBnBmGSPNPc4RcPzxUJgbS7obAGc6b4wBomRRP08yB7bIQEP_zRGzO2DJwX0iBBg/s2489/October23.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2489" data-original-width="1522" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrZ4BbDA7XXtWQpL0mL4j9hVSICyVDsRa1pCyyDq830LMlbUpW1YLH08g1aEUYZaXT7pfTgjr5h58rb2HLW8G77oCfvC6jicULa2Q0DPsiQK-KyASCh9bqDdcewygBnBmGSPNPc4RcPzxUJgbS7obAGc6b4wBomRRP08yB7bIQEP_zRGzO2DJwX0iBBg/w245-h400/October23.jpg" width="245" /></a></div><p></p><p>Swung by Worthing on my way home the next day to see Heidi and Harriet, eat great bunch and look at the sea!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixB7HcsuHQ7kMw-ftWNsVjRgMWEU1SY-O9QxuR87FICm-UoJ1AMEWRMMBPqYWigFm9UC3p9qlepLhvELyE1NsPmkYpD9Gas6H46NDdR9FZyfjRkfQvvtCTXnQf1dlkG2vza4VyHUVk34xDkIQmW43mSn9JmwQ9uylDjyBXQWgbAPEo-tsy0uUsunrOlw/s2489/October24.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2489" data-original-width="1474" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixB7HcsuHQ7kMw-ftWNsVjRgMWEU1SY-O9QxuR87FICm-UoJ1AMEWRMMBPqYWigFm9UC3p9qlepLhvELyE1NsPmkYpD9Gas6H46NDdR9FZyfjRkfQvvtCTXnQf1dlkG2vza4VyHUVk34xDkIQmW43mSn9JmwQ9uylDjyBXQWgbAPEo-tsy0uUsunrOlw/w238-h400/October24.jpg" width="238" /></a></div><p></p><p>Was getting repeatedly confused by the layout of the tower block at LCC before realising there are two staircases RIGHT NEXT TO EACH OTHER running side by side in opposite directions, but never intersecting. It is hard to explain and I have never seen anything like this before in any other building. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOzMMQL0lhMZfzLfWdYbHGXz82CnWtCQ2BzspZAQE-6_gmvqvnMyZohwH45dWzQhBIuqjGzMDmIq1gMemT89E4HKP8o5qbgNgf2_HicFE1KPvsIjmFquKXyTy0FLDULgdvLJQY5poVq_c7OrVDnGxFQtqKcEi8ATPVhf2Yx8T6t7-Xud74-dntkrjrTA/s2489/October25.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2489" data-original-width="1522" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOzMMQL0lhMZfzLfWdYbHGXz82CnWtCQ2BzspZAQE-6_gmvqvnMyZohwH45dWzQhBIuqjGzMDmIq1gMemT89E4HKP8o5qbgNgf2_HicFE1KPvsIjmFquKXyTy0FLDULgdvLJQY5poVq_c7OrVDnGxFQtqKcEi8ATPVhf2Yx8T6t7-Xud74-dntkrjrTA/w245-h400/October25.jpg" width="245" /></a></div><p></p><p>Had a very efficient day and was heading briskly home on the northern line when I realised I'd left my bloody charger at LCC. Raging. (Karma for the other day when a student did the same and I thought 'I would never be so irresponsible, those things cost like £70)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG1tUhb2-UDBKnhnDQVXpiqLIyBK1s8IKexeDY7UA44a9Za_XmJFtajK8y9LH-Z1CWO_i8lt3UGxR5kDVCpiZhcOPu6jI4E0tg5J-dvKz4dyEEcfRSJz2zWCIPRezGdIZmI5l_uewPrnXFtuDetk1GZyunnFlD83YAWsqS5uZthg_Brx5e4vWI2Yqp8w/s2489/October26.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2489" data-original-width="1473" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG1tUhb2-UDBKnhnDQVXpiqLIyBK1s8IKexeDY7UA44a9Za_XmJFtajK8y9LH-Z1CWO_i8lt3UGxR5kDVCpiZhcOPu6jI4E0tg5J-dvKz4dyEEcfRSJz2zWCIPRezGdIZmI5l_uewPrnXFtuDetk1GZyunnFlD83YAWsqS5uZthg_Brx5e4vWI2Yqp8w/w236-h400/October26.jpg" width="236" /></a></div><p> Arrived early for Samaritans night shift and realised I'd forgotten to do my visual diary.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAHiu9qT6fuoDMl9-FTXPVWya2bkBi26k1WIiupKptObzbfAgJSkrxB3m9-G2ik4CVAwctYoZwQ8vG56favyu3uBHKe0N0XAUNdH5rwC2C8CJMNf8AngQTiHLl58Df_vvsUrLxUvNsaYwCqP1bpBk77--e7HLbF_ESZMK46BYd9XCsjQAMQ3bf0GQfTw/s2489/October27.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2489" data-original-width="1522" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAHiu9qT6fuoDMl9-FTXPVWya2bkBi26k1WIiupKptObzbfAgJSkrxB3m9-G2ik4CVAwctYoZwQ8vG56favyu3uBHKe0N0XAUNdH5rwC2C8CJMNf8AngQTiHLl58Df_vvsUrLxUvNsaYwCqP1bpBk77--e7HLbF_ESZMK46BYd9XCsjQAMQ3bf0GQfTw/w245-h400/October27.jpg" width="245" /></a></div><p></p><p>I just think it's kinda wild that for a month or two every year the public can just buy explosives and set them off wherever and whenever they want with pretty much no consequences. (I am mostly pissed off because Chase is terrified of them, and if I take her out to go to the toilet and she hears even a distant bang she gets too scared to go... It's becoming increasingly hard to find a five minute window when someone's not setting one of the damn things off)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJp_QB_jPymiNHrkbQwuVvRC0S6pOy8QxR5dFc07ErlAToD5iCY7bjjH3XjeLgKqrDWJmS37wXHFsz9SRcjP26l7nC79P2DtEIFBBHw55YmqjJ_dQlwnCqmaiC5yDkZ4ereImvxVAVljNbwxbAQ9IgPjT5t1Em2M_P4xk59lRmFpZZBQRIuln0rUgGTg/s2489/October28.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2489" data-original-width="1523" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJp_QB_jPymiNHrkbQwuVvRC0S6pOy8QxR5dFc07ErlAToD5iCY7bjjH3XjeLgKqrDWJmS37wXHFsz9SRcjP26l7nC79P2DtEIFBBHw55YmqjJ_dQlwnCqmaiC5yDkZ4ereImvxVAVljNbwxbAQ9IgPjT5t1Em2M_P4xk59lRmFpZZBQRIuln0rUgGTg/w245-h400/October28.jpg" width="245" /></a></div><p></p><p>Managed to carve out a day for errands/self care. My beloved Brighton hairdresser retired and I am devastated! Every other hairdresser I've ever been to fails to understand my slightly weird hair type (Very coarse! Very thick! Holds a lot of water! Dries unpredictably!) and gives me a mediocre haircut because of it. Most hairdressers also wanna style me a bit more femme than I entirely want, so I decided to give Open Barbers (the queer hairdresser in East London) a shot. They were LOVELY, everyone there is really hot, and even if they still probably didn't entirely understand my hair, they did a decent job and didn't just try and give me a bob and a fringe like everyone else always does. (Also the way they structure their service is super consent based, so they're like, constantly getting out a mirror to show you the back, telling you what they're doing and why etc, which is really nice.)</p><p>I also took my bike to the bike shop, gave blood, and did some other bits and bobs I'd been struggling to find time for! <br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw-49gKo4tF_8vucg_uS_m1YRWy-PxcKdoIrvH5eBpfEMhsiaxukvenrWdvjwwS3t2-ST1_tLXUjy1HHoYAHIN_y57kJGZiMek5F_wdY7Dv-Tnyph38pitWb9XZbAm7dh84YxPZq-gljJpKKBZzvCnnDQQvjqXJ-WLdpVTFxdVdkt2fnn3Gr7LL5s21A/s2489/October29.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2489" data-original-width="1522" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw-49gKo4tF_8vucg_uS_m1YRWy-PxcKdoIrvH5eBpfEMhsiaxukvenrWdvjwwS3t2-ST1_tLXUjy1HHoYAHIN_y57kJGZiMek5F_wdY7Dv-Tnyph38pitWb9XZbAm7dh84YxPZq-gljJpKKBZzvCnnDQQvjqXJ-WLdpVTFxdVdkt2fnn3Gr7LL5s21A/w245-h400/October29.jpg" width="245" /></a></div><p></p><p>I am extremely un-green-fingered but I love plants, so I feel very lucky to live with someone who takes such good care of so many plant pals that I get to enjoy too!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxyF8MBJq2qQGFsjLHTQOjjjbcyrd2IY6GGuCunk1IW3L2sVjNNECQLIdOaWZqGTyfEVSh0SnZqanjUSaiBe96qXroovT1eQY5uL7fdMwinbxJoW1b7Hu6cWd8_9v66djjMKYg8CGbgWdbetd7Bh5OD5LOgaZ2FQ1L7A7b03izQfd_Y7okl3ypZwiZBg/s2442/October30.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2442" data-original-width="1518" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxyF8MBJq2qQGFsjLHTQOjjjbcyrd2IY6GGuCunk1IW3L2sVjNNECQLIdOaWZqGTyfEVSh0SnZqanjUSaiBe96qXroovT1eQY5uL7fdMwinbxJoW1b7Hu6cWd8_9v66djjMKYg8CGbgWdbetd7Bh5OD5LOgaZ2FQ1L7A7b03izQfd_Y7okl3ypZwiZBg/w249-h400/October30.jpg" width="249" /></a></div><p></p><p>I was going to have a lazy Sunday at home, but my housemate Camille was going to Kew Gardens for their Mexico event, and she was able to get me a civil service guest discount, so I decided to go along too! Saw a Mariachi band in one of the glasshouses and got some early Christmas shopping done (plus lots of walking). A lovely unexpected treat.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFcJ4QgL506UXWPcB-aMK63qiavYbEOd9_Vfjfscy06K8FeOxRCKIgRFguWzLBQ8xtI4S31N3DmFrAssBbXjzyknBvSi5zYFf8zLKXDnRl3_y_AWoyKW-Yfb9X0TGSL5Er9tLM22FvbNNnB4Aisdi9r_2xGjxXcWMeQg6oabj2TFmdI0zDYFB1alUeYQ/s2442/October31.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2442" data-original-width="1497" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFcJ4QgL506UXWPcB-aMK63qiavYbEOd9_Vfjfscy06K8FeOxRCKIgRFguWzLBQ8xtI4S31N3DmFrAssBbXjzyknBvSi5zYFf8zLKXDnRl3_y_AWoyKW-Yfb9X0TGSL5Er9tLM22FvbNNnB4Aisdi9r_2xGjxXcWMeQg6oabj2TFmdI0zDYFB1alUeYQ/w245-h400/October31.jpg" width="245" /></a></div><p></p><p>Spent this afternoon doing my first session of one-to-one tutorials — 9 x 20 min tutorials with students to chat about their current project progress. Was really fun and felt like I did good, but by the end I felt like DEATH. Just draining doing a long talk? Didn't drink enough? Or have I finally succumbed to an autumn lurgy? (Kind of amazed to have held out this long tbh, as I assumed I'd immediately catch something in Freshers week). I guess I'll leave you on that cliffhanger of 'is Emma sick or not', ugggh<br /></p>Emmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03307690577227053266noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6149147983678759733.post-15757708297999817812022-09-30T20:42:00.000+01:002022-09-30T20:42:05.866+01:00September 2022<p>I will concede, as I tap away at this blog from my bed on a Friday evening, having worked an extraordinarily long week (and expecting to have to throw in several more hours down the graphic design mines tomorrow), that it's possible I am doing TOO MUCH.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFMyumheKoOP99Kz8rOP92zO6jjN6C_FU6ItHWbsZMtfvAT3aAYKCi4qbdO2gKHVdBvRwPziZWbH07YdtoPeFWxs3QlikVBa91mjlMKXJqPnXSTMqEhekzqfN3cv3HBBKTgS8oJBUPv6h4-GosYNPpC0YXAAjLgHqv6E7pQqxTVEmn2Jz5nQABmQVClA/s2468/September1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2468" data-original-width="1457" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFMyumheKoOP99Kz8rOP92zO6jjN6C_FU6ItHWbsZMtfvAT3aAYKCi4qbdO2gKHVdBvRwPziZWbH07YdtoPeFWxs3QlikVBa91mjlMKXJqPnXSTMqEhekzqfN3cv3HBBKTgS8oJBUPv6h4-GosYNPpC0YXAAjLgHqv6E7pQqxTVEmn2Jz5nQABmQVClA/w236-h400/September1.jpg" width="236" /></a></div><p></p><p>One of the many lingering, ominous feelings I have, is that I've got rubbish at being a friend. I am so lucky to have so many friends and I love them all. I like people. I like thinking about my friends and celebrating their successes and laughing at their jokes and sitting quietly in the same room as them while we chill out and do our own tasks. But somehow going OUT and being SOCIAL has become achingly exhausting and I do it now probably about 20% as much as I did pre COVID. I worry that this is the road to losing friends in the long run, but I'm struggling to be better right now. Sorry pals. Anyway, I DID do some social stuff, like going out for a wonderful dinner with my friends Heidi and Rosie at Mallow near Borough Market (I thought it was GREAT but they both ordered the same thing and thought it was a bit rubbish, oh well)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg94XHW7K-ruXm_56kITalQs7Itryy6t9yi5lFT9RncowF7Y8E1wbvxgVxMasYtsL6HzP8_IY2bEl3eMDRZTuIVz7Pd0p0frZyjRw_kdq9IPcyw7jt6QxDY21JyqJapquxwTCNf04ItG99PWC75-Rty8CGVEy8O8lUESzUdOUHZc56G6l9PE4CuKoe8Dg/s2468/September2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2468" data-original-width="1523" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg94XHW7K-ruXm_56kITalQs7Itryy6t9yi5lFT9RncowF7Y8E1wbvxgVxMasYtsL6HzP8_IY2bEl3eMDRZTuIVz7Pd0p0frZyjRw_kdq9IPcyw7jt6QxDY21JyqJapquxwTCNf04ItG99PWC75-Rty8CGVEy8O8lUESzUdOUHZc56G6l9PE4CuKoe8Dg/w246-h400/September2.jpg" width="246" /></a></div><p></p><p>I bought a new desk work stool at the end of last month, but I regret to inform you, new stool is BAD. Or maybe new stool is in fact, good?! But everything else about my desk setup is incompatible with it because it's too tall, which means it's bad and I probably wasted my money, but I'm keeping it because I like it in THEORY and hope one day it might be useful?!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgstREayrx2mkQfoiwL_cHZbPTh7TPj-xYf8riIxYM79dUZZUCJDcZY9gwHWXeV2K78ivTkppBVWzgj2ifhyEsivUmSBqwQXbjizeXtp9zxu6F5BFBzKbHfwP2L4Jot3ZKvKbEYCaXPW01iX1LRp2C7XoOBwChEsaEplsYGJImPnHtgSnkXsachrLRXYg/s2468/September3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2468" data-original-width="1522" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgstREayrx2mkQfoiwL_cHZbPTh7TPj-xYf8riIxYM79dUZZUCJDcZY9gwHWXeV2K78ivTkppBVWzgj2ifhyEsivUmSBqwQXbjizeXtp9zxu6F5BFBzKbHfwP2L4Jot3ZKvKbEYCaXPW01iX1LRp2C7XoOBwChEsaEplsYGJImPnHtgSnkXsachrLRXYg/w246-h400/September3.jpg" width="246" /></a></div><p></p><p>Got the free face mask from Lush, the minty one, not sure if it does anything good, but I like the <i>process</i></p><p><i></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXISXINFdHClmDZzVLiWUiwZQfkg-SMznZRVaUojzIcBfV4eyMvAsfYYuojSpV3uWwBRADl_NU6mwsajrlVo7gQEiRzM752q1kLmBC9qBAGnRavv7Re0USk1OrA2Hz3ihkP4Gn3qF9-ML_poeMF-QkYJQXK-BaP5mUN4MNF7-Y0gjH3T9XtBMWuoLihQ/s2468/September4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2468" data-original-width="1523" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXISXINFdHClmDZzVLiWUiwZQfkg-SMznZRVaUojzIcBfV4eyMvAsfYYuojSpV3uWwBRADl_NU6mwsajrlVo7gQEiRzM752q1kLmBC9qBAGnRavv7Re0USk1OrA2Hz3ihkP4Gn3qF9-ML_poeMF-QkYJQXK-BaP5mUN4MNF7-Y0gjH3T9XtBMWuoLihQ/w246-h400/September4.jpg" width="246" /></a></i></div><p></p><p>Met a new Borrow My Doggy friend — he's a beautiful boy but he's naughty. I hope we'll see him again but I've been so busy we haven't had the chance to hang out more than twice! He's a similar form factor to Chase but much skinner, which is kind of disconcerting.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcvg7THfNf6TiSt13QOEkFzP1BonoT6i18N-f5W5fCDwMc2cNU6SRV4bBXWRUPeZbDgk6Dit6jLsqsMKX70eBIhWoyHmBsHstP0nG2KupDaiqHUBHgefW8EjJnN7GUxJC-2g7DVn8kne5IV6zC5z11JdV069Uez4P-6C_AA2mb2wTPA1Hzqxb7q06_9g/s2468/September5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2468" data-original-width="1522" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcvg7THfNf6TiSt13QOEkFzP1BonoT6i18N-f5W5fCDwMc2cNU6SRV4bBXWRUPeZbDgk6Dit6jLsqsMKX70eBIhWoyHmBsHstP0nG2KupDaiqHUBHgefW8EjJnN7GUxJC-2g7DVn8kne5IV6zC5z11JdV069Uez4P-6C_AA2mb2wTPA1Hzqxb7q06_9g/w246-h400/September5.jpg" width="246" /></a></div><p></p><p>Please</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgav3rwBlXaUh1-RLP_uJIgcL9hZQGXzZTSwhiGUpc5HKlnvhwvgJMxkCdeQF9sU2fYbc72utk4sAkuXiAObWQCWpcLLZ3qjLP5U3jCEF7zh9hIVL8v7P4pFo2BXn5_vvWQaeS7GW6jsPdQ889rESTIAPKjZtOJ1IM9bpzML87JPHI9DpfAqjFiyFkr-g/s2468/September6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2468" data-original-width="1523" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgav3rwBlXaUh1-RLP_uJIgcL9hZQGXzZTSwhiGUpc5HKlnvhwvgJMxkCdeQF9sU2fYbc72utk4sAkuXiAObWQCWpcLLZ3qjLP5U3jCEF7zh9hIVL8v7P4pFo2BXn5_vvWQaeS7GW6jsPdQ889rESTIAPKjZtOJ1IM9bpzML87JPHI9DpfAqjFiyFkr-g/w246-h400/September6.jpg" width="246" /></a></div><p></p><p>Had a meeting at the RSA, ooooh. They have lovely stairs n floors n stuff</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM0lgATS-bLKsHqOr8X5LJef3BN_aV4nLUoePyS5YQwHLMBNNEBg5OQ1_1b6SJkSThajP4mb1cxhHvsDauUKyhLZ0AvjanuoYhUesqPQr9SaE5xq0ov1HBjXCLHSqRGyi7SKfPx9dHTs5ZzyNRNlw6gJnX-gWMRiib2ESCxnxrgF6mUW0IWbHhATwDjQ/s2468/September8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2468" data-original-width="1469" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM0lgATS-bLKsHqOr8X5LJef3BN_aV4nLUoePyS5YQwHLMBNNEBg5OQ1_1b6SJkSThajP4mb1cxhHvsDauUKyhLZ0AvjanuoYhUesqPQr9SaE5xq0ov1HBjXCLHSqRGyi7SKfPx9dHTs5ZzyNRNlw6gJnX-gWMRiib2ESCxnxrgF6mUW0IWbHhATwDjQ/w238-h400/September8.jpg" width="238" /></a></div><p></p><p>'lol' / 'oh well'</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpu0riruUPSaNNGKKehKAb8lI9s-vdSzq3b-0n1zU4l7iiX2TgirxPT8jJJvALlV1BtTQ4szG4m7lMjPo7r4jDfmCfXsTYfHzkiP2iO5kGykk2qy3AjzaqLCF_wq2y1Zy5jKIeL65jUncPcCA22ElwNe9YxWX0GrR4qYqE6MvTz2P7hGLO6hr2drBlrg/s2468/September9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2468" data-original-width="1522" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpu0riruUPSaNNGKKehKAb8lI9s-vdSzq3b-0n1zU4l7iiX2TgirxPT8jJJvALlV1BtTQ4szG4m7lMjPo7r4jDfmCfXsTYfHzkiP2iO5kGykk2qy3AjzaqLCF_wq2y1Zy5jKIeL65jUncPcCA22ElwNe9YxWX0GrR4qYqE6MvTz2P7hGLO6hr2drBlrg/w246-h400/September9.jpg" width="246" /></a></div><p></p><p>Obviously an entirely helpful brain function when one is extremely tired and over-worked is to lie awake thinking about those things in the early hours of the morning. (More about exactly WHY I have bitten off more than I can chew later)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6_s2s0qu1PeeHxEHd-hdPxru3lOaAD5vxQmnrt_HrprNi69sPlijiCZd1mvPvhm-b-NWJm6VzEy6ew6vSLW7igCfn7n8sjNvs_LZNqPQrTuYsmxU0C4aC9DTUPvjJj2CGvo9l-nJBrAIwafFMprfRuaWwxwFnLbU_8l6wip1kEXM_KT3_Cay-NSH82Q/s2468/September10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2468" data-original-width="1523" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6_s2s0qu1PeeHxEHd-hdPxru3lOaAD5vxQmnrt_HrprNi69sPlijiCZd1mvPvhm-b-NWJm6VzEy6ew6vSLW7igCfn7n8sjNvs_LZNqPQrTuYsmxU0C4aC9DTUPvjJj2CGvo9l-nJBrAIwafFMprfRuaWwxwFnLbU_8l6wip1kEXM_KT3_Cay-NSH82Q/w246-h400/September10.jpg" width="246" /></a></div><p>Back when I had NOT bitten off more than I could chew, I volunteered to lead my local Quaker Meeting House's contribution to the London Open Houses Festival. The Open Houses festival is basically a couple of weeks (or weekends) where all sorts of normally private cool buildings in London open their doors to the public. Part of the current Wandsworth Quaker Meeting House were built in 1778, and it's a building and plot of land with a lot of super interesting history. We opened for two Saturdays, and I organised all the volunteers and was generally 'in charge' during the times we were open, which was kind of stressful! But the Quakers are always lovely and it was nice to spend the two days sitting in a lovely building on the last warm-ish days of the year, chatting with interesting and interested folks. (I made a very tiny flower display out of the absolute last flowers of the year in the garden)<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL6mDqUgxNuAAg2uNoLrVf1v_x58mnYWEEHhO9Zd11wwibcaPqkG0sW7TNIgwtkDn4jSGgxhOpITlrC-BsR1ffFW-T-syCnrc-oqptw6aTPqo8zODqhn0xXdwA1dWZS_LFYBNiwjtfLNpDbC7M40eR2Wyg_tFqbz1AkA7S-rlqH-wQt569CObJyDjnjQ/s2468/September11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2468" data-original-width="1522" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL6mDqUgxNuAAg2uNoLrVf1v_x58mnYWEEHhO9Zd11wwibcaPqkG0sW7TNIgwtkDn4jSGgxhOpITlrC-BsR1ffFW-T-syCnrc-oqptw6aTPqo8zODqhn0xXdwA1dWZS_LFYBNiwjtfLNpDbC7M40eR2Wyg_tFqbz1AkA7S-rlqH-wQt569CObJyDjnjQ/w246-h400/September11.jpg" width="246" /></a></div><p></p><p>And here's me trying to remember the names of my many new F/friends — though I attended this Quaker meeting for a few months when I first moved to London in September 2019, I mostly kept myself to myself — then I entirely stopped going during the pandemic, and after Charlie died I was too upset to do 'God stuff' for a long time. But I've started going again recently and I am trying to actually be part of the community there now.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicmN5YTB0JIlW1KkZBZsTgbzWeEVzMu_9-L7QhspjeM0BxLRhM3akL3mQj30_ynfUBaxUmRm-quTUoO7ngRI90gON5hMEUC0dq3_bx_-G-7KjEGMnkeqtemeYu7FaUCHzxoxweBtvX5MGVw9FsOYzCGcKdUZxwUkbj85fh17a5sesJRfGVrhwZYPTbKw/s2468/September14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2468" data-original-width="1523" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicmN5YTB0JIlW1KkZBZsTgbzWeEVzMu_9-L7QhspjeM0BxLRhM3akL3mQj30_ynfUBaxUmRm-quTUoO7ngRI90gON5hMEUC0dq3_bx_-G-7KjEGMnkeqtemeYu7FaUCHzxoxweBtvX5MGVw9FsOYzCGcKdUZxwUkbj85fh17a5sesJRfGVrhwZYPTbKw/w246-h400/September14.jpg" width="246" /></a></div><p></p><p>Several months ago, willing Samaritans were briefed on the Queen's inevitablly imminent demise (they assured us they didn't know she was going to die soon, but I don't think they'd have briefed us if they didn't have a sense of things maybe being upcoming...) </p><p>I'm mostly in the 'abolish the monarchy' camp and couldn't care less about the Queen dying, but I figured this made me relatively well placed to support mourners in a Samaritans capacity, given that I myself wouldn't be in any way emotional.</p><p>I believe volunteers in the floral garden had a lot of meaningful contacts, likewise volunteers who were meeting mourners leaving the lying in state area, and those in the accessible queue found many people greatly in need of emotional support. But I joined the main part of the queue, before it started moving, which meant it was the keenest, and seemingly, most steeled and actually borderline cheery queen fans were there. Though I had lots of interesting conversations, there was no one who I'd really describe as SAD, the whole thing actually had quite festival vibes to it, like people were queuing for a sporting event or something.</p><p>It was definitely an interesting thing to be part of, and I know the Samaritans did provide a lot of support to people over those 10 days, just maybe not me specifically, oh well!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSKKKH_nK8ewUEFyy2xNsCCQRYuOgoZKuxxueWKKKaPjxKcYGQHhgQTSNtUtEy9Oy3HjfYfyRL-wiYQgIiPvgiUHtoWsV8bQh5Yf9llyZo_Vm3uraKQV4Fv67SyswiWAT4LNYWX0nlejDsKUYYAz83VlkPsC6vKOqNOtUd1JtWkYX-b7uHYp_q29kDuA/s2468/September15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2468" data-original-width="1522" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSKKKH_nK8ewUEFyy2xNsCCQRYuOgoZKuxxueWKKKaPjxKcYGQHhgQTSNtUtEy9Oy3HjfYfyRL-wiYQgIiPvgiUHtoWsV8bQh5Yf9llyZo_Vm3uraKQV4Fv67SyswiWAT4LNYWX0nlejDsKUYYAz83VlkPsC6vKOqNOtUd1JtWkYX-b7uHYp_q29kDuA/w246-h400/September15.jpg" width="246" /></a></div><p></p><p>I haven't been cycling much this month and I feel bad about it. I didn't draw a diary about it but I got slammed off my bike in the middle of a junction by an errant JustEat courier on an electric bike in early September. He was totally in the wrong, which I guess is heartening, but still meant I was the one who ended up lying on the tarmac being picked up by passers by, while he happily cycled off. I wasn't really injured — scraped hand, massive bruises all down my hip and leg, plus achey for days, but really nothing major... And my bike was fine. But, perhaps unsurprisingly, it's put me off. Cycling was already an adrenaline filled experience for me, and having — less than two months into doing it regularly — already been hit off my bike despite doing nothing wrong, it's hard to summon up the desire to do it when I could just, y'know, get a GLORIOUS TRAIN. Plus it's getting colder, and rainier. But I do have this lovely bike, so I am really trying to force myself to do it as often as I can, I just wish it wasn't so damn scary.</p><p>(Anyway this is just a drawing about the stupid faces I pull while cycling)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCuHYO3RYz9482G7u_Bx4ButRxN-Y9TiAesOlMheHIab_vibA-a0O4sVX9YST7wMaHXNV8QVK30hs7X4419khzAHu-TlXvNvYXQ5fjebVWSdakzIRmA6iiLWs_kEXtkOjmPcLqqMTEGuBkYA_HDKiCCDyoAW0vtpcu-2e8JXcylOoR7FxbY4KcvdhMkw/s2468/September16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2468" data-original-width="1462" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCuHYO3RYz9482G7u_Bx4ButRxN-Y9TiAesOlMheHIab_vibA-a0O4sVX9YST7wMaHXNV8QVK30hs7X4419khzAHu-TlXvNvYXQ5fjebVWSdakzIRmA6iiLWs_kEXtkOjmPcLqqMTEGuBkYA_HDKiCCDyoAW0vtpcu-2e8JXcylOoR7FxbY4KcvdhMkw/w238-h400/September16.jpg" width="238" /></a></div><p></p><p>Me and Heidi went to see Teebs with the London Contemporary Orchestra, at the Southbank Centre! Last time I saw Teebs was in a damp basement in Manchester and it was all glittery beats and dreams of LA nightclubs. This was a much more elegant, sedate affair, with precisely zero beats and lots of soaring strings, while seated in big comfortable chairs. I miss beats but I don't miss standing. I guess this is what it means to be old. (Artwork inspired by Teebs' own paintings)<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGLivrb_Ld7qr2QKPZok48ljCPg3Rz3wdpi268DeGzJwuVSpMeCR7SF6pWljJMD4GXY6mANZ_ux-1F2hdvpHFZtadXK-zT1sT12ejhSlOeMWcgr5tM6BTusOF0b3a0tHMjb44igBuWRAOQ5kW_j5ehmF4r9saxkWypIRCiDBltLzBvDE7c7XrUqn1fCA/s2459/September18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2459" data-original-width="1521" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGLivrb_Ld7qr2QKPZok48ljCPg3Rz3wdpi268DeGzJwuVSpMeCR7SF6pWljJMD4GXY6mANZ_ux-1F2hdvpHFZtadXK-zT1sT12ejhSlOeMWcgr5tM6BTusOF0b3a0tHMjb44igBuWRAOQ5kW_j5ehmF4r9saxkWypIRCiDBltLzBvDE7c7XrUqn1fCA/w248-h400/September18.jpg" width="248" /></a></div><p></p><p>Me and my partner alternate the weeks of shopping. They insist on doing theirs with Ocado. I use Sainsburys because Ocado suuuuuuuucks</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwDeaZn-R6wLY5iZmp38FXadDGQwZL3fdp6mDf4hg03lLEtKvsDfrc7ifhbXcPimqaB-I1-5Oxw_8w-f9ypnECxlRbnEtIttBN2cL2pqUaZw4QxA94LtwR8Wa5psAha-Js6_zORZ-P-u-ndI4gjCDLuhllkV3plxOgN7rbAi48bl9Xa_wooDkoo02LQQ/s2459/September19.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2459" data-original-width="1520" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwDeaZn-R6wLY5iZmp38FXadDGQwZL3fdp6mDf4hg03lLEtKvsDfrc7ifhbXcPimqaB-I1-5Oxw_8w-f9ypnECxlRbnEtIttBN2cL2pqUaZw4QxA94LtwR8Wa5psAha-Js6_zORZ-P-u-ndI4gjCDLuhllkV3plxOgN7rbAi48bl9Xa_wooDkoo02LQQ/w248-h400/September19.jpg" width="248" /></a></div><p></p><p>"And we'll all remember what we did on this momentous day" — well I will, because I did a stupid drawing about it, same as I do every day</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7ekgSDKRT7QxjE9GLvMVZR4BN3hzfDk1NY6GD_mpo1Y2_5rt26Z4tLjH19gDlYQIE37z6xcYEwM1K1Tbu2H10lqKCi11aBfayICA4UUOyw20_J_mS1KiHX4x-4qojq5yBxlTK82PLdbiVbtyLquTRhHkHXfV0BiLdKhEYRTiEVAo58pu0U2ef63Wspw/s2459/September20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2459" data-original-width="1521" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7ekgSDKRT7QxjE9GLvMVZR4BN3hzfDk1NY6GD_mpo1Y2_5rt26Z4tLjH19gDlYQIE37z6xcYEwM1K1Tbu2H10lqKCi11aBfayICA4UUOyw20_J_mS1KiHX4x-4qojq5yBxlTK82PLdbiVbtyLquTRhHkHXfV0BiLdKhEYRTiEVAo58pu0U2ef63Wspw/w248-h400/September20.jpg" width="248" /></a></div><p></p><p>When I first met my partner, I was both horrified and impressed by their meticulous use of Google Calendar to run every aspect of their life. Now I too am that person, though neccesity rather than desire. (I am into it though) I feel like I've done a few visual diaries like this, because I kind of love how it looks.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIiKjwGMZqlnS4-VqbfdoTFi20FGEE85t6jcbiEZj7tb-Fb3xk0vh3Xh7nf6VO4kGeqqdWUUeF0FO9J3owvu2Nd_8SHM91mJja_8sIQgHqDJ22sB9HcjVsfzONUowu-UCi1OOWZyDg8A0Co5hkngOqX70-0nKw9u4nlWcjQbsb07eP8EVbPT0B4m46YQ/s2459/September21.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2459" data-original-width="1520" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIiKjwGMZqlnS4-VqbfdoTFi20FGEE85t6jcbiEZj7tb-Fb3xk0vh3Xh7nf6VO4kGeqqdWUUeF0FO9J3owvu2Nd_8SHM91mJja_8sIQgHqDJ22sB9HcjVsfzONUowu-UCi1OOWZyDg8A0Co5hkngOqX70-0nKw9u4nlWcjQbsb07eP8EVbPT0B4m46YQ/w248-h400/September21.jpg" width="248" /></a></div><p></p><p>One of my favourite boardgames (well, card games really) is Arboretum. I almost never win and yet somehow I'm still obsessed with TRYING.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOc75ulprkZKq3RZPlmUGuc4ikv5yJcoXHdbQKsS-0wMB0wA1wcLEm2SStqH2cWsZhLJMl-RQKGgxTasyxPX8a99YyXzPh3Iu-WmlZe0MQhykPJQgWHDlI8PnacBmXFvucohgiesYkQTTjPZma6iZSrVLi0uwCsfNmi5YZId5O68nteYIobPX91DYvkQ/s2459/September22.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2459" data-original-width="1521" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOc75ulprkZKq3RZPlmUGuc4ikv5yJcoXHdbQKsS-0wMB0wA1wcLEm2SStqH2cWsZhLJMl-RQKGgxTasyxPX8a99YyXzPh3Iu-WmlZe0MQhykPJQgWHDlI8PnacBmXFvucohgiesYkQTTjPZma6iZSrVLi0uwCsfNmi5YZId5O68nteYIobPX91DYvkQ/w248-h400/September22.jpeg" width="248" /></a></div><p></p><p>Self care? I've never heard of her<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCHCVlRT1shyLdhFg9XhwE2-fL5E8m7zysb9aciYHfOtixdydXXkDE1f7e28ounNxhtCo0apYx290pWkgmWdk7aNwNA_KE9rcKr72wO4LWhkKRHOb5wPbbVPdhGeZJ25oGfw3jCgCpLGJCRgfhndOukO7aSqBvUmpXIVW-f9AYlV7iKtVWCCkyicbtkg/s2480/September23.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2480" data-original-width="1535" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCHCVlRT1shyLdhFg9XhwE2-fL5E8m7zysb9aciYHfOtixdydXXkDE1f7e28ounNxhtCo0apYx290pWkgmWdk7aNwNA_KE9rcKr72wO4LWhkKRHOb5wPbbVPdhGeZJ25oGfw3jCgCpLGJCRgfhndOukO7aSqBvUmpXIVW-f9AYlV7iKtVWCCkyicbtkg/w248-h400/September23.jpg" width="248" /></a></div><p></p><p>Travelled up to York to see my faaaaavs — Dav and Justin, and by lucky coincidence, Davey too, all the way from Montana! (We had been planning to hang out in London a few days later, but Davey had to head back to the US early so I was lucky to catch him). This group of people are my ROCK/s and it is depressingly rare that I get to see them all in the same room, so this was a lovely treat. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcYIlaakPu2RkKDXhFOG7i8P1g-oG-DUDdwkiWSRvKMBzlRNq8MgtcM4cwp2Da4V1lUgTuNzakAKNBgTM50neeQ-qPTOY1IJgbyKnoUiEPR5sBBFX-YAXAkPV0bUc9bwryCq7-9upFu2JQb7VoEUoYYzYLSmYdoouY5oMuoEqDRMQtZVa_oyYA_wy2lA/s2480/September24.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2480" data-original-width="1535" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcYIlaakPu2RkKDXhFOG7i8P1g-oG-DUDdwkiWSRvKMBzlRNq8MgtcM4cwp2Da4V1lUgTuNzakAKNBgTM50neeQ-qPTOY1IJgbyKnoUiEPR5sBBFX-YAXAkPV0bUc9bwryCq7-9upFu2JQb7VoEUoYYzYLSmYdoouY5oMuoEqDRMQtZVa_oyYA_wy2lA/w248-h400/September24.jpg" width="248" /></a></div><p></p><p>The reason I was up north was to table at Leeds zine fair the next day! Had a great time seeing other old friends who I don't get to see often enough (maybe I did okay in that respect this month actually?!), eating goodies and buying zines. (Selling some too, but as always, never really enough to make the whole thing worthwhile financially, but that's not why we do it...)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgku7amciuj_y4gE2fCTi_AEl9RMJwf7z-sAyq2g_veqKKO5R4CV_zrGXv_xh77nokzX2c9Av7nQ9T7AIk6OyS46BRebzm2AkSV7oh_uWm44lyZ1mSFhJccLsSwBhwUvNnzkHB8pLDUAKSjrNk-LGmcIRmcpyTRdl2A7h5_86CilXTBJsJUtXRcFfwPcw/s2459/September25.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2459" data-original-width="1520" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgku7amciuj_y4gE2fCTi_AEl9RMJwf7z-sAyq2g_veqKKO5R4CV_zrGXv_xh77nokzX2c9Av7nQ9T7AIk6OyS46BRebzm2AkSV7oh_uWm44lyZ1mSFhJccLsSwBhwUvNnzkHB8pLDUAKSjrNk-LGmcIRmcpyTRdl2A7h5_86CilXTBJsJUtXRcFfwPcw/w248-h400/September25.jpeg" width="248" /></a></div><p></p><p>It was a flying visit though, home the same evening so that I could spend all day Sunday lying still and cuddling my dog, before...</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQf2Zzoerssq6vlZ7nlJ13I_rgXdELf2fcPfYFZOo3LiqiJZewxinpSMnyUhlnrug2cAnwObEo4RM_bY5t5O_auJY025ETmjT-QmluVFDMyUqmBi6dLNNcn1tL7yFesAPqSouqCBrcCar6EHsks8d2rkxAM_0RVO5ozCLPzan1oYgUn_D6a13kLZkZ-w/s2459/September26.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2459" data-original-width="1521" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQf2Zzoerssq6vlZ7nlJ13I_rgXdELf2fcPfYFZOo3LiqiJZewxinpSMnyUhlnrug2cAnwObEo4RM_bY5t5O_auJY025ETmjT-QmluVFDMyUqmBi6dLNNcn1tL7yFesAPqSouqCBrcCar6EHsks8d2rkxAM_0RVO5ozCLPzan1oYgUn_D6a13kLZkZ-w/w248-h400/September26.jpg" width="248" /></a></div><p></p><p>FIRST DAY IN A NEW JOB, WHAAAT</p><p>So yeah, hot news for September, got hired as an 'associate lecturer' at LCC where I did my masters. DELIGHTED, frankly, bc I've always kinda wanted to do higher ed teaching, but never thought I'd be smart enough to get there. Am I smart enough now?! Only time will tell!</p><p>Associate lecturer is a zero hours role, where basically you're in a 'pool' that people can call upon when needed, so you might or might not actually get any work. I was excited enough to be in that pool, EVEN MORE excited to be invited to teach two afternoons a week on the second year of BA Graphic Media Design course (from now until late January), with a specific focus on Design Activism. (I am also teaching a third afternoon on a cross-course Professional Practices module, which is where I espouse the virtues of things like a really fuckin' organised google calendar)</p><p>This was my first day teaching the GMD cohort, and it's a very particular kind of fun. Like really fun but also exhausting?! Emma is a teacher now. Who'da thunk</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlBhGhXgOI1-dx-Qu51d8JFJTgLyF3C0wZDS0Toz8LRRdRfqyP4U0tMdfXeJf_cMxABDiijAVtC0fAGMcaHX_wXevg2AhXtGD3m-y2r-wNPJwOjq5IeWpzbsM1YRyxJiokSKMUJbNEP0JEHK98b33Atoxx0MNHSU1IR5hqpnYxabPuqMnArKz5YAJZcQ/s2459/September27.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2459" data-original-width="1520" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlBhGhXgOI1-dx-Qu51d8JFJTgLyF3C0wZDS0Toz8LRRdRfqyP4U0tMdfXeJf_cMxABDiijAVtC0fAGMcaHX_wXevg2AhXtGD3m-y2r-wNPJwOjq5IeWpzbsM1YRyxJiokSKMUJbNEP0JEHK98b33Atoxx0MNHSU1IR5hqpnYxabPuqMnArKz5YAJZcQ/w248-h400/September27.jpg" width="248" /></a></div><br />Monday and Thursday afternoons are BA GMD, and Tuesday afternoons are Professional Practice. In both instances, I am co-teaching rooms of around 50 students with another more experienced tutor, so it's not too stressful (though it is a bit). Love to build a whole new set of paranoias around how I am perceieved by 'the kids' :)<p>Anyway, THIS is why I have bitten off more than I can chew, this is why I am so busy, this is why I am so stressed, but... it's worth it?! The money is sufficiently good that it's worth dropping everything for, but I also kind of CAN'T drop everything, because, come January, they might not need me any more when all the modules change over, and then it's back to my 1.5 day a week studio role at GFSC and my freelance work. The sensible thing to do in this moment would be to drop some freelance clients, but come January, I might desperately need them. So, I am <i>doing it all</i>, and trying not to burn out in the process. Wish me luck?!<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQMaZPW6XyXz9hgS8rhB4eeEXWSINyjBBRgJPOPjyyKy2KdoA_pA4Kwn40jL5MKRHfiXgsuDspCqC6vLLrK9OI3U6ZFqmuf9ini3bsWQjLfAHDHzXzTwJuB1_cvrd_Bde-dUpCaRDSsLYp5LzvQOLecYR8wsCE1Fvzr8d9kHGjt5op4vGk20Y6G__LJA/s2459/September29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2459" data-original-width="1520" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQMaZPW6XyXz9hgS8rhB4eeEXWSINyjBBRgJPOPjyyKy2KdoA_pA4Kwn40jL5MKRHfiXgsuDspCqC6vLLrK9OI3U6ZFqmuf9ini3bsWQjLfAHDHzXzTwJuB1_cvrd_Bde-dUpCaRDSsLYp5LzvQOLecYR8wsCE1Fvzr8d9kHGjt5op4vGk20Y6G__LJA/w248-h400/September29.jpg" width="248" /></a></div><p></p><p>London is beautiful in Autumn. Having a job that actually ties me to the city is starting to make me (finally?!) feel like I deserve to be here. Like I can actually build a home here in the long run. Hell, if they keep hiring me, maybe I could even actually BUY a (small, shit) home (in a few years time). That has NEVER felt possible before, so I do feel a bit glowy inside about it, despite the fact that the economy is crumbling around me as I speak...</p><p>(I haven't shared as many drawings as usual this month, mostly because quite a few of them were just shit?! Guess the workload has gotta take its toll somewhere, but I will keep visual diarying no matter what...)<br /></p>Emmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03307690577227053266noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6149147983678759733.post-37034721685104897182022-08-31T18:01:00.000+01:002022-08-31T18:01:06.347+01:00August 2022<p>I've been swimming a lot this month, and I've also been working a lot. On a domestic and personal level I'm very contented, but I'm finding that during any mental-downtime, my mind is becoming preoccupied with a whirl of national and global crises. I can't stop thinking about how the cost of living rises are going to severely affect me, and push probably tens or hundreds of thousands of people into destitution. Oh also the planet is fucked? When I'm swimming all I can think about is how many lengths I've done, and maybe on more annoying days, about the interactions between me and other people in my lane. It's a peace of sorts, and one that other forms of exercise have never bought me, so I feel very glad I decided to return after nearly two decades away from the pool.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0I3LajxsRT1LmsKdgZ3iAgH_ILsegSdAsIU9xysE91UYmdTVvJ0f7Pp7pLJntkrfJmxAyxL--46WXYDe1RMHKFeulPFDoWftY7LxBNU5w6Wyv-yTQM0-Im3bK5oWcgI9dcI6pNuhBMTySEw884VWyGhhFx0lBwXnU0V5lOISYa_R2Q7CaDRYNClZZIw/s2483/August1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2483" data-original-width="1516" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0I3LajxsRT1LmsKdgZ3iAgH_ILsegSdAsIU9xysE91UYmdTVvJ0f7Pp7pLJntkrfJmxAyxL--46WXYDe1RMHKFeulPFDoWftY7LxBNU5w6Wyv-yTQM0-Im3bK5oWcgI9dcI6pNuhBMTySEw884VWyGhhFx0lBwXnU0V5lOISYa_R2Q7CaDRYNClZZIw/w244-h400/August1.jpg" width="244" /></a></div><p></p><p>But anyway, this drawing isn't about any of that good stuff. It's about the sheer quantity of disgusting gubbins that floats in the water of my local municipal pool. (Another thing to occupy my mind with during the back-and-forth)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkJmJVvWb6zJs2FjVXZvPzsyZRb3cWFIqjOFoHunND2GEbP4aKc9XVS5J7EOFYbExAl0u8z4uwUz2z-yl-uH4_6TM8tJgNFFE79avohR2qhUUkcqRyGU2vvFj_z5D_PZRdbZkaymtJiuu89N94HPhG6ru6kYCcX8eZe-Czi82YD2OZuX5e2IIAvbVL7w/s2483/August2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2483" data-original-width="1515" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkJmJVvWb6zJs2FjVXZvPzsyZRb3cWFIqjOFoHunND2GEbP4aKc9XVS5J7EOFYbExAl0u8z4uwUz2z-yl-uH4_6TM8tJgNFFE79avohR2qhUUkcqRyGU2vvFj_z5D_PZRdbZkaymtJiuu89N94HPhG6ru6kYCcX8eZe-Czi82YD2OZuX5e2IIAvbVL7w/w244-h400/August2.jpg" width="244" /></a></div><p></p><p>After a long break for my surgery and recovery, back at it with the Capital Ring walks (I started on section 10, and have done 10 – 15, so now getting to the official 'start' of the route).</p><p>Woolwich to Falconwood, a section of London I know basically nothing about. Also apparently one of the greenest sections! We certainly enjoyed it.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOBRj5JKBu3sSZZhVmAKyNHoRJvr-YUFHLXCinuav_3R-L8IaP-Sy_5UPqF9YdgDpqk6cIoZh8AHSj3OjYXSUKCdmU1hQz37I1yDsssb96cQyQYGFlzVLJLnz5UxfN-Z_orHv4VVVwI0qXv2XDQVtgFZWxEAdbApzIX7hso-sxrr1gxeI79Cvv7943iw/s2483/August3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2483" data-original-width="1516" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOBRj5JKBu3sSZZhVmAKyNHoRJvr-YUFHLXCinuav_3R-L8IaP-Sy_5UPqF9YdgDpqk6cIoZh8AHSj3OjYXSUKCdmU1hQz37I1yDsssb96cQyQYGFlzVLJLnz5UxfN-Z_orHv4VVVwI0qXv2XDQVtgFZWxEAdbApzIX7hso-sxrr1gxeI79Cvv7943iw/w244-h400/August3.jpg" width="244" /></a></div><p></p><p>Given that the last time I went swimming was in my childhood, and maybe a little of my teens, I'd never been to formal lane swimming sessions before. I am simultaneously greatly annoyed by, and filled with the utmost affection for, my fellow regular pool users. </p><p>Like the guy who just strides along sideways like a crab in the slow lane getting in everyone's way. Terrible! Unacceptable! The sheer audacity of it! But also, you do you, I guess?! I find myself both annoyed and amused by around 1 in 10 people's total inability to judge which lane they should be in. Like, I am MINUTELY aware of whether I am keeping pace with everyone else in my lane, whether I am slowing people down or going too fast... And yet, most days, there will be at least one person in the lane totally fucking everything up for everyone else — either totally unaware of what they're doing, or willfully determined to continue, for reasons entirely their own. </p><p>(Anyway that last drawing is supposed to be me, though obviously I never actually say anything to anyone, as that would be the ultimate breach of etiquette)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx173VGdcCQ8xR7M0NaN-zOZk5LjILchB0Jri6M2gIZ2OJrqtJYx7AvPbZDmQ1_X_BjE_9kpcSZ863Lm71cSLEOHGY9G2mkyVAcRMLu7MpRcjQksKLE2-8yGHpHVQwghbk6P54AVZM31GRWJ6Irab94Fv2LpR1d1Gx_k_paG8Pwh1vx_C4V2nMVS7xBA/s2483/August4.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2483" data-original-width="1515" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx173VGdcCQ8xR7M0NaN-zOZk5LjILchB0Jri6M2gIZ2OJrqtJYx7AvPbZDmQ1_X_BjE_9kpcSZ863Lm71cSLEOHGY9G2mkyVAcRMLu7MpRcjQksKLE2-8yGHpHVQwghbk6P54AVZM31GRWJ6Irab94Fv2LpR1d1Gx_k_paG8Pwh1vx_C4V2nMVS7xBA/w244-h400/August4.jpg" width="244" /></a></div><p></p><p>And you know what, I think you probably earned a burger too. Treat yo' self.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVuB3Qi4vo8xNMyRfJrilvMhUdAJJ1T5lnhrPinot-SZ4Gjex21qJx-1ilFQEj9JFbIeyF6oSJzAy0v6HUeUOcOxhgBiGI11CI3lptBYkfOSFL5WvEPhz1JpSmu_tFOpVCcTw0-qeEFZouyCTAGyY6DjbCMTcGIuqkSswKRW4Q6JpHw16RSK-g6NnLmA/s2483/August5.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2483" data-original-width="1515" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVuB3Qi4vo8xNMyRfJrilvMhUdAJJ1T5lnhrPinot-SZ4Gjex21qJx-1ilFQEj9JFbIeyF6oSJzAy0v6HUeUOcOxhgBiGI11CI3lptBYkfOSFL5WvEPhz1JpSmu_tFOpVCcTw0-qeEFZouyCTAGyY6DjbCMTcGIuqkSswKRW4Q6JpHw16RSK-g6NnLmA/w244-h400/August5.jpg" width="244" /></a></div><p></p><p>Guess who put the 'A' in the wrong place so this doesn't read well. Yes I am a professional graphic designer.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicUWOhAq2OzoFEWb-HXkjpVNjOaPatyr7rbmmCnEAHpKz0EHIIcVAtbeIK5I3CoNnThm7_RSVntdXQCEM7GR-jJWoTef6tQ1bSkYuJtSIE2FlXekfPewQx9Jf_WenShLc8cq_vFdUwJWHLjOMuKIusnQWsTKKBOJ-QE7E2uAhIv_df8DwNDKcBsrUYMA/s2483/August7.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2483" data-original-width="1516" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicUWOhAq2OzoFEWb-HXkjpVNjOaPatyr7rbmmCnEAHpKz0EHIIcVAtbeIK5I3CoNnThm7_RSVntdXQCEM7GR-jJWoTef6tQ1bSkYuJtSIE2FlXekfPewQx9Jf_WenShLc8cq_vFdUwJWHLjOMuKIusnQWsTKKBOJ-QE7E2uAhIv_df8DwNDKcBsrUYMA/w244-h400/August7.jpg" width="244" /></a></div><p></p><p>I've been too busy to have lie-ins much recently (even at the weekends!) but I do get to sleep in after my Samaritans shifts, and Chase likes to keep me company.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq0QHhfmAlDH1iD1lFwSgtfxa2dYOB3r634aniNnDNldqsmkfsmqW4nBnJUZGnKfiRpOemr3a22AxVjvp5k5xsv8UQZ3Inq3IThAoPfamMit3GxYbA5csdbtavQwxi01AhA1Q9HCiY4xFqTS3vlcpfoKavcfDbin95UkOt2j--gkIj8wDkJykj5S2VQg/s2483/August9.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2483" data-original-width="1516" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq0QHhfmAlDH1iD1lFwSgtfxa2dYOB3r634aniNnDNldqsmkfsmqW4nBnJUZGnKfiRpOemr3a22AxVjvp5k5xsv8UQZ3Inq3IThAoPfamMit3GxYbA5csdbtavQwxi01AhA1Q9HCiY4xFqTS3vlcpfoKavcfDbin95UkOt2j--gkIj8wDkJykj5S2VQg/w244-h400/August9.jpg" width="244" /></a></div><p></p><p>Loving no-nip-life tbh :)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDGlnnwuJ45_H6nqPAwvcAe4EG1L_s0um_lIE44pQMK5hbXcTP8O_bsVkrOhKyEWOswlgdRI6Hs94HcfvcDYTiI1Cn3rs4B3NWUcJnQKGQYt2bc9QwgxzA7EFS2A2D4bVstE8HxHBrOQgq5ejk7vPU3o9NqbLDknkCCvRzV6pJ-46wKlhykKTLIH7swA/s2483/August10.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2483" data-original-width="1467" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDGlnnwuJ45_H6nqPAwvcAe4EG1L_s0um_lIE44pQMK5hbXcTP8O_bsVkrOhKyEWOswlgdRI6Hs94HcfvcDYTiI1Cn3rs4B3NWUcJnQKGQYt2bc9QwgxzA7EFS2A2D4bVstE8HxHBrOQgq5ejk7vPU3o9NqbLDknkCCvRzV6pJ-46wKlhykKTLIH7swA/w236-h400/August10.jpg" width="236" /></a></div><p></p><p>Very much enjoyed the <a href="https://wellcomecollection.org/exhibitions/YZeNOxEAACQAXM-0">'Rooted Beings'</a> exhibition at the Wellcome Collectio, which I visited with my friend Jade. "‘Rooted Beings’ invites you to embark on a meditative reflection on the
world of plants and fungi. The exhibition considers what we might learn
from plant behaviour, and the impacts of colonial expeditions on the
exploitation of natural resources and indigenous knowledges."</p><p>It's in its last week now, so if you're in or near London, go soooon!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBlMyO3x53KFdcmuoopHpW82GtlH769Qkg2XmrZbbeKYQcS2Cx1znMkeB29ih_VRFdm3We8lsabA9b74dF0z-GDq86gXsILmj0_mErXbuFiOnRKoBGC0_eR_CKArzDm6GJk3zweLhUuufpW7S9AWTEawztcvy30Rg-knBZNzRrih3Vdwcsq4oNRSkGHQ/s2483/August11.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2483" data-original-width="1516" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBlMyO3x53KFdcmuoopHpW82GtlH769Qkg2XmrZbbeKYQcS2Cx1znMkeB29ih_VRFdm3We8lsabA9b74dF0z-GDq86gXsILmj0_mErXbuFiOnRKoBGC0_eR_CKArzDm6GJk3zweLhUuufpW7S9AWTEawztcvy30Rg-knBZNzRrih3Vdwcsq4oNRSkGHQ/w244-h400/August11.jpg" width="244" /></a></div><p></p><p>Applied for a (small, part time) job, got it?!?!? I'll talk more about this soon I guess...</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge_kQWFxeYQjjnajocE7zMAf4peeO4Hb3YFUOLZXRRvuSdj1q2lIlY6Vhx04WHDuA77iGpK5r_J22ITGhbC37dKC4PlisFCQmI8lkSx7Ldzu82s9uMESC6kEWgrEqFPulvRAvx8Ls66gx_gKm5i4-xx0BYVBM0VIWKxc-mvxFDIRJ-tRc6H81Ghlju4g/s2483/August12.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2483" data-original-width="1515" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge_kQWFxeYQjjnajocE7zMAf4peeO4Hb3YFUOLZXRRvuSdj1q2lIlY6Vhx04WHDuA77iGpK5r_J22ITGhbC37dKC4PlisFCQmI8lkSx7Ldzu82s9uMESC6kEWgrEqFPulvRAvx8Ls66gx_gKm5i4-xx0BYVBM0VIWKxc-mvxFDIRJ-tRc6H81Ghlju4g/w244-h400/August12.jpg" width="244" /></a></div><p></p><p>Another reason I'm not having many lie ins at the moment (not that I'm complaining, I love the sun)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJbSLYHYsh-wHeNKLqD0T-Af-rEOSIrohjBYBt-Zzjl8lzhsxMFMl-no5OPccm3COU2z1fKjee0Ez35hhbyUi3IMM_NkR_M6fnpwqWY5DmP2IHcSLV8EEp8AOc3hluR2Vi9-tD1j0eqPflmR91johQqbDI55jT3Vob0zEW77jn3fgD5zpfJjV7quAg2Q/s2483/August13.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2483" data-original-width="1516" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJbSLYHYsh-wHeNKLqD0T-Af-rEOSIrohjBYBt-Zzjl8lzhsxMFMl-no5OPccm3COU2z1fKjee0Ez35hhbyUi3IMM_NkR_M6fnpwqWY5DmP2IHcSLV8EEp8AOc3hluR2Vi9-tD1j0eqPflmR91johQqbDI55jT3Vob0zEW77jn3fgD5zpfJjV7quAg2Q/w244-h400/August13.jpg" width="244" /></a></div><p></p><p>Got hot again (I'm into it)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8mODhLumEYGq4GFe3F5TOWh-Mtt8jBbvwQob-zpeLq37UUENme9qVyKXKM-17lQsl_fuOyNyPvO-sOmHdUsM6jnM1V6sf3ajHTYH1GZYB_qyHiaH0PAh_trRhT6C1UKYdSAIEvSzUZR45Z518S4FcF-7p7PU_dv22GRcAOUCO7ToZGY7ML8J1a-2m5Q/s2483/August14.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2483" data-original-width="1515" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8mODhLumEYGq4GFe3F5TOWh-Mtt8jBbvwQob-zpeLq37UUENme9qVyKXKM-17lQsl_fuOyNyPvO-sOmHdUsM6jnM1V6sf3ajHTYH1GZYB_qyHiaH0PAh_trRhT6C1UKYdSAIEvSzUZR45Z518S4FcF-7p7PU_dv22GRcAOUCO7ToZGY7ML8J1a-2m5Q/w244-h400/August14.jpg" width="244" /></a></div><p></p><p>I think I've said this before, but I travelled so little during the pandemic that I kind of forgot how to pack, and now every time I go away, I pack way more than I need! Anyway, I actually did a lot better this time, which I feel pleased about.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFSFmJ2pcSDJeAkmep20wQN490jymuVKS98tYAXaX4LjiCnRRdMpf5MAssivPv0L87vSBJrjrVgewILjRiM3ybNrTHnH_-IQBcjww2mHO-kXzlc3TAb8qLVRsxbiBHJd39MaKREbeUjs0BSuazLW7J40jP0OROliKgMtGvPad1A8py1yUnEPtTblizLg/s2480/August15.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2480" data-original-width="1535" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFSFmJ2pcSDJeAkmep20wQN490jymuVKS98tYAXaX4LjiCnRRdMpf5MAssivPv0L87vSBJrjrVgewILjRiM3ybNrTHnH_-IQBcjww2mHO-kXzlc3TAb8qLVRsxbiBHJd39MaKREbeUjs0BSuazLW7J40jP0OROliKgMtGvPad1A8py1yUnEPtTblizLg/w248-h400/August15.jpg" width="248" /></a></div><p></p><p>I was packing because it was finally time for me and my partner to go on holiday!! We've been together nearly 3 years, and yet we'd never been away together before. Mostly because of the pandemic, but also because they're a homebody who hates holidays, and I am extremely contented travelling alone (maybe I even prefer it?!). Plus Chase is a big baby who hates all forms of transit and also hates going to anyone else's house, and because we can't bear to see her suffer, we can't really go away unless we find someone willing to come and stay in our house to keep her company.</p><p>Anyway, I finally got my act together, persuaded my cousin Sarah to come stay with Chase, so me and Spen were able to pack our bags and head north for a nice, not-too-ambitious five day break, starting in Harrogate.</p><p>We stayed in a lovely airbnb (that they thought was tacky), and enjoyed walking around one of Harrogate's lovely parks. We also totally failed to find a decent independent restaurant serving vegan food, so ended up having Wagamama, oh well. Also met LOTS of very good dogs, which slightly eased how much we missed our own buddy.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_fU-ezfOF-qPiWiTHnaiVJRer5jnBj9DCGbBH3sa6bNrETHejBtvqeyAkRj_k9hJiuAmDI72CRIkYOYO17HsZ1iFax6JyB3RHL81wlTKFGWFlAO-Nei8eSU9aS2dohA4lbdcjxuoope_r44V-PHjm91YCHg8Zke1golyX4oeH3kVQ2gC22wQm4lwUyQ/s2480/August16.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2480" data-original-width="1535" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_fU-ezfOF-qPiWiTHnaiVJRer5jnBj9DCGbBH3sa6bNrETHejBtvqeyAkRj_k9hJiuAmDI72CRIkYOYO17HsZ1iFax6JyB3RHL81wlTKFGWFlAO-Nei8eSU9aS2dohA4lbdcjxuoope_r44V-PHjm91YCHg8Zke1golyX4oeH3kVQ2gC22wQm4lwUyQ/w248-h400/August16.jpg" width="248" /></a></div><p></p><p>I booked us into Harrogate's historic Turkish Baths spa for a luxury day out, and it was very lovely. In the morning we just got to parade around the spa area, various different levels and humidities of sauna, plus a lovely plunge/swimming pool. In the afternoon we had 'treatments' (massage, facial, mani/pedi) which were kind of mediocre, but I still felt lovely afterwards.</p><p>We cancelled out some of the 'wellness' by having a big chippy tea for dinner.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7ll2rGV1LLslPmBnvxorUI_s3UHT6hx4D2efJbohpO_lSJeftZOYblsinm5YjyW8WGQsRSC2s22I5OZzJ0_8dw21QcU1ON4Ps5HaBslPFLMVdQbvyBUFlLwf1kPfdnuvDxYHS6Xe40hot8PFmWMXKtJ4Cp1D7JCXOjnpN2NBJ10JrhZA_JSYS2xZsTA/s2480/August17.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2480" data-original-width="1535" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7ll2rGV1LLslPmBnvxorUI_s3UHT6hx4D2efJbohpO_lSJeftZOYblsinm5YjyW8WGQsRSC2s22I5OZzJ0_8dw21QcU1ON4Ps5HaBslPFLMVdQbvyBUFlLwf1kPfdnuvDxYHS6Xe40hot8PFmWMXKtJ4Cp1D7JCXOjnpN2NBJ10JrhZA_JSYS2xZsTA/w248-h400/August17.jpg" width="248" /></a></div><p></p><p>The next day we briefly stopped in on my partner's mum (and cat) who I had not previously met, and then headed to York for a new days staying with my friends Justin and Dav. Dav's allotment continues to go from strength to strength, and it was lovely for my partner to get to visit it for the first time. Dav let me do some flower arranging of his lovely blooms!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ8QiWuaAr1wtDmZwH-yxQwAWooZxyJzUNFILWtjeqcx-WzyfuylZlbZcp1URNOrU-mVMV15j9wFanqDhgUil1d5lVga9mHBZ2-jZYedDp5KofOoUuKKfmshcrWzPtZnoUMNADpnHUzLQvYPrN-Gof866llHZ-KRq95xp05y5aj956HQOSNVvE2CocWw/s2480/August18.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2480" data-original-width="1535" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ8QiWuaAr1wtDmZwH-yxQwAWooZxyJzUNFILWtjeqcx-WzyfuylZlbZcp1URNOrU-mVMV15j9wFanqDhgUil1d5lVga9mHBZ2-jZYedDp5KofOoUuKKfmshcrWzPtZnoUMNADpnHUzLQvYPrN-Gof866llHZ-KRq95xp05y5aj956HQOSNVvE2CocWw/w248-h400/August18.jpg" width="248" /></a></div><p></p><p>My partner mostly failed to have a good holiday, complaining of an upset stomach, a headache, and fever at various different intervals, being at their worst on the Thursday. I think it was 'I-can't-cope-with-being-away-from-my-own-house-itis' :) </p><p>I'd booked us a Betty's lunch, so selfishly left them in bed feeling sorry for themself and went to Betty's by myself anyway. Betty's is famous for its afternoon tea, and now has a wonderful vegan option, which I thoroughly enjoyed munching my way through over the course of a couple of hours, accompanied by a good book.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGwOqreLKEzIwSw_XyTX-hXhSd9-xqNAZNI_70haINd1ApBN5Wiok51ehgVd62i9IJPPCgZjBKlxD6PE2F9D2gNPFsj30mkeVTSCo79APXD-9KfrFqHnC54zWJtmVrbjjUw1cvIjlG5g-tGx8sGd6fmTkVo-cQr1OQvB6DWD8s68QQAkWs7k4wGUoj7w/s2483/August19.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2483" data-original-width="1516" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGwOqreLKEzIwSw_XyTX-hXhSd9-xqNAZNI_70haINd1ApBN5Wiok51ehgVd62i9IJPPCgZjBKlxD6PE2F9D2gNPFsj30mkeVTSCo79APXD-9KfrFqHnC54zWJtmVrbjjUw1cvIjlG5g-tGx8sGd6fmTkVo-cQr1OQvB6DWD8s68QQAkWs7k4wGUoj7w/w244-h400/August19.jpg" width="244" /></a></div><p></p><p>We headed home on the Friday (which I think my partner was thoroughly glad about), after a nice lunch in York. I will now take seriously their belief that holidays are in fact, bad, and not make them come with me for at least another three years :) (I had a lovely time, and I think they did enjoy SOME aspects of it, not least finally meeting Justin and Dav, spa time, and petting lots of cute northern dogs)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzM6Z9iTdBdDh-q1wYzqGCBH_g0f5pbK4uHSG4Z75ZRsh6kBQkAiG6yaTS90UeXhjUvEVALQs0U0AByyTq2I8YJjZ0-wcWkXqhjJdemhfFDlZ-kCTmRJjnjv2-ighVcloe9MSpV6VXkV3W_2OdeNM1wUuA4cD1ccsiEUHc1coCaZA0Uo-0-JLpqD8CKg/s2483/August20.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2483" data-original-width="1515" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzM6Z9iTdBdDh-q1wYzqGCBH_g0f5pbK4uHSG4Z75ZRsh6kBQkAiG6yaTS90UeXhjUvEVALQs0U0AByyTq2I8YJjZ0-wcWkXqhjJdemhfFDlZ-kCTmRJjnjv2-ighVcloe9MSpV6VXkV3W_2OdeNM1wUuA4cD1ccsiEUHc1coCaZA0Uo-0-JLpqD8CKg/w244-h400/August20.jpg" width="244" /></a></div><p></p><p>It's really hard to take time off as a freelancer though</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGEsWuVzWEk57GpDMSi0FE5am4hDpvurpVCJD2K0g1oz3ADmUPIXEpjpYMoANFrXdbmTxqn64KGBO2VIB0tIut4dL5C7MsfrAe88PoSSqA5aQkkzygTKKAVZxDjOgsl_8-6hMPLT5g6qWbOhF6hjicE4U36D9jsFXELqSkuxV6n1ecCiQNnij9TzRd3g/s2483/August21.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2483" data-original-width="1516" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGEsWuVzWEk57GpDMSi0FE5am4hDpvurpVCJD2K0g1oz3ADmUPIXEpjpYMoANFrXdbmTxqn64KGBO2VIB0tIut4dL5C7MsfrAe88PoSSqA5aQkkzygTKKAVZxDjOgsl_8-6hMPLT5g6qWbOhF6hjicE4U36D9jsFXELqSkuxV6n1ecCiQNnij9TzRd3g/w244-h400/August21.jpg" width="244" /></a></div><p></p><p>I can't remember if I mentioned, but I've been getting more involved with STUFF at my Quaker Meeting House, including overseeing the open houses festival this September. As part of this, I put together <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/ChjhKv5rhbv/">a cute worksheet for kids!</a> <br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuD1e33h6RNLvzrm0OfTHmakLzee7H0Ykhzo_TX9X5P5lgtYbxSG3y424CHWadBUe4OwH_Ze7PGIS8utLEUvNP7iiZxssx2kOlmFew7eh2VTWvnN6tnT27DeXpTknUY1Fj2e8YmIYFoqywVTqw7OuI5yZVqDFVxM3gNFTcb2MEYppJOVsf3x2DBCfTaQ/s2483/August22.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2483" data-original-width="1515" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuD1e33h6RNLvzrm0OfTHmakLzee7H0Ykhzo_TX9X5P5lgtYbxSG3y424CHWadBUe4OwH_Ze7PGIS8utLEUvNP7iiZxssx2kOlmFew7eh2VTWvnN6tnT27DeXpTknUY1Fj2e8YmIYFoqywVTqw7OuI5yZVqDFVxM3gNFTcb2MEYppJOVsf3x2DBCfTaQ/w244-h400/August22.jpg" width="244" /></a></div><p></p><p>It took me ages to find a swimsuit that fit. I thought the problem would be solved by lopping my tits off, but unfortunately I also apparently have a LONG TORSO, weird. Anyway, I finally shelled out for <a href="https://andieswim.com/en-gb/products/the-malibu-flat-black-long-torso">this cute swimsuit</a> and it's great. Hopefully it will last me a long time, as I don't want to spend that much money again in a hurry!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI7W9YifW7bBbTCr8STFjH_O54fWTX3ZetBcVrqIPLq587jSdzVZwDTeVt7AadfQbKe-PnBlT1nlrXf2UTHxajROf25kbLE6-FfjxHwdKWiVnsvy4axV7XHXldRNTWNwAGwBoCknwDOTwYox0JXB47jjuMgRbVkWDCUT9OnZiCDO_pFN17RFYN3q3o4g/s2483/August23.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2483" data-original-width="1516" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI7W9YifW7bBbTCr8STFjH_O54fWTX3ZetBcVrqIPLq587jSdzVZwDTeVt7AadfQbKe-PnBlT1nlrXf2UTHxajROf25kbLE6-FfjxHwdKWiVnsvy4axV7XHXldRNTWNwAGwBoCknwDOTwYox0JXB47jjuMgRbVkWDCUT9OnZiCDO_pFN17RFYN3q3o4g/w244-h400/August23.jpg" width="244" /></a></div><p></p><p>My ebike stopped charging?! Apparently this is a common problem and I have to take it back to the shop I got it from to get a replacement charger, but I just have noooooo timmmmmme. I do need to do it soon though because I am way too unfit to cycle anywhere the old fashioned way...</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1kXzmoVh2L7XZA2YdLUEyoNyDxIF8FrO8c4V_gXWM0s0hSmzIxNCghXW2Ss_-V17MPKHXICChGAiR_226gtT_b8hbzmg-8YDeEdCSe-WN2GUQf-wYF81WPx5nhHtf8tefup4Al1Xhi0C3CI9o6TNC8w05YiOeIspbEW7tkDntkVTkZ__AAaWdIMOITw/s2483/August24.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2483" data-original-width="1515" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1kXzmoVh2L7XZA2YdLUEyoNyDxIF8FrO8c4V_gXWM0s0hSmzIxNCghXW2Ss_-V17MPKHXICChGAiR_226gtT_b8hbzmg-8YDeEdCSe-WN2GUQf-wYF81WPx5nhHtf8tefup4Al1Xhi0C3CI9o6TNC8w05YiOeIspbEW7tkDntkVTkZ__AAaWdIMOITw/w244-h400/August24.jpg" width="244" /></a></div><p></p><p>I arrived early for my lane swimming session at the local pool and caught the end of the kids session, during which I discovered THERE'S A WAVE MACHINE (not only that, but <a href="https://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/maccabees/latchmere.html">the Maccabees wrote a song about it</a>?!)</p><p>I got talking to the lifeguard later, who told me that apparently the manufacturer of the machine has gone out of business so they can't get it serviced at all, and occasionally it just doesn't work for a couple of days. Plus they have to run it on a really low voltage otherwise it shorts, so the waves aren't as big as they once were. I still thought it was GREAT.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6EdoMhtjobAViGgLNl44gFXAXPTyO-uiCxN6DBgp8BUIX2Je0BHHcS2OLCP9HOXD1KtPT57LOc3HdBKNi5QNDUuFSLQtNwLXkcTYysvIuy7t4O1Uzfb6tgigQjLNNK3xIIJqAEDSYqfOaz0xieOOmibtdBYBvIerthPP095ZjFL84WlUyCeqHEG-uPA/s2483/August25.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2483" data-original-width="1516" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6EdoMhtjobAViGgLNl44gFXAXPTyO-uiCxN6DBgp8BUIX2Je0BHHcS2OLCP9HOXD1KtPT57LOc3HdBKNi5QNDUuFSLQtNwLXkcTYysvIuy7t4O1Uzfb6tgigQjLNNK3xIIJqAEDSYqfOaz0xieOOmibtdBYBvIerthPP095ZjFL84WlUyCeqHEG-uPA/w244-h400/August25.jpg" width="244" /></a></div><p></p><p>In the middle of a fun logo design project.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZFcw8JhOl1YOrgseXip5eaQJdKDrf5wznyWcg0oTUAhzW9_LO9uHzGE33pavm7ofWYvrku_LLz55Yqlv_AxAI5Lxoin5zYgouRDcGY2ZO5HjZLIJd_jYyAz9V39r3umcjF_uIHjtUvtSA5yaO7b5UST2evHTbqIYBgIozcprLQcMVX98_GkwJZhwPNg/s2472/August27.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2472" data-original-width="1519" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZFcw8JhOl1YOrgseXip5eaQJdKDrf5wznyWcg0oTUAhzW9_LO9uHzGE33pavm7ofWYvrku_LLz55Yqlv_AxAI5Lxoin5zYgouRDcGY2ZO5HjZLIJd_jYyAz9V39r3umcjF_uIHjtUvtSA5yaO7b5UST2evHTbqIYBgIozcprLQcMVX98_GkwJZhwPNg/w246-h400/August27.jpg" width="246" /></a></div><p></p><p>As a special treat to myself after a long week of work, I trekked over to Stratford for a swim in the OLYMPIC POOL! So lonnnnnng, so bluuuuuue, so deeeeeeep, so cleeeeeaaaan...</p><p>I will definitely go back, though it's a bit of a mission to go very often, it does feel like a nice change. I swam a whole mile! (Slowly) (Had a burger again afterwards obvs, just in case anyone was under any delusion that I might actually be getting healthy here)<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl7FRxmQ9CP5QiQA2FvTrfbq2m7iu0bKtzhe04G4qnqFg7h1dq2QRxWrJQCQWg62420K9BNj5rzn_60qBGxMvKllJ_AzoOXw2bDiZCivLNaEiQM17IDC-HkJOPjBqtpVbFcdpgHybD7kfzgdk8mYJMSA2WxnY4iXrSC3tIbZlhBo3ZytiOyqJSGbqhbg/s2472/August28.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2472" data-original-width="1518" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl7FRxmQ9CP5QiQA2FvTrfbq2m7iu0bKtzhe04G4qnqFg7h1dq2QRxWrJQCQWg62420K9BNj5rzn_60qBGxMvKllJ_AzoOXw2bDiZCivLNaEiQM17IDC-HkJOPjBqtpVbFcdpgHybD7kfzgdk8mYJMSA2WxnY4iXrSC3tIbZlhBo3ZytiOyqJSGbqhbg/w246-h400/August28.jpg" width="246" /></a></div><p></p><p>Chase's old cooly mat got worn out so I had to get her a new one. I got it out of its packaging and flapped it down on the kitchen floor and she immediately emerged and lay on it (and it wasn't even that hot!) She seems to love it year round, so we basically always have it out for her.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvamTXFnklHv-uPzhBk97EbE_lluSPH1ogRXIjJ4LU-pNub1IGN8del1VJFldBDVC6LkbtLxGXpd7W2S62POHz1nZhq-4KxtHihk5izd71wWtTbvxbdlkgxCjjIi8dLUlLR7RJnsjv0zBSIgKOD8PpYa2kh3RxIQZaNVkVrC2NN2zWufsSXHEeZjZOGg/s2472/August29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2472" data-original-width="1519" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvamTXFnklHv-uPzhBk97EbE_lluSPH1ogRXIjJ4LU-pNub1IGN8del1VJFldBDVC6LkbtLxGXpd7W2S62POHz1nZhq-4KxtHihk5izd71wWtTbvxbdlkgxCjjIi8dLUlLR7RJnsjv0zBSIgKOD8PpYa2kh3RxIQZaNVkVrC2NN2zWufsSXHEeZjZOGg/w246-h400/August29.jpg" width="246" /></a></div><p></p><p>Back when I started this project nearly 10 (!) years ago, I remember saying to myself 'look Emma, there's ALWAYS something to draw about'... Which is why sometimes I end up drawing about something as utterly banal as this — my ongoing quest to find the very specific tiny halogen lightbulbs that my landlord installed in the bathroom, that have been discontinued from almost every outlet.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDv3TfBphQ-3gaNx3zhQVnYpb1pAvbXC2pBjDb5dBOSYVFFGVYcqNHgiq3qZw1eRplnfwlFb6aMHHTD6tNW8Ai6eJNghOkKci6bwCdIucj4jk3Qs9L2Ky9ye_vV-kmTkTgt0SZBAAmZ3ePqbfXZIIWQC8xp9HwDIn5c_WLyFtZcydCEpXAg5wGez67pg/s2472/August30.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2472" data-original-width="1518" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDv3TfBphQ-3gaNx3zhQVnYpb1pAvbXC2pBjDb5dBOSYVFFGVYcqNHgiq3qZw1eRplnfwlFb6aMHHTD6tNW8Ai6eJNghOkKci6bwCdIucj4jk3Qs9L2Ky9ye_vV-kmTkTgt0SZBAAmZ3ePqbfXZIIWQC8xp9HwDIn5c_WLyFtZcydCEpXAg5wGez67pg/w246-h400/August30.jpg" width="246" /></a></div><br /><p>I treated myself to <a href="https://www.ikea.com/gb/en/p/lidkullen-active-sit-stand-support-gunnared-dark-grey-70445786/#content">this new stool</a> for my work desk — review to come soon probably, once I've figured out whether I like it or not?! It's supposedly 'active' (i.e. kinda wobbly) so my posture will be better and I'll keep my core engaged or something. So far kinda tiring tbh...</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw5OA-w4Pz0YZpJRoXbEpEiP3HsddWsS5AL1e5H1TJ69ggpesQlK-wiOtMStIQm5mOASsFmVUPCMILfkIpys13sgM8XajVHL8hShSpt7hUkUrhJxhlxw3W4huo_eK2L5yOxuE6PBvYQ8PKkvyGPeSzCLSsi7LECCx6oIUZX6A3LL1zo5gG1zZ8jq2iww/s2472/August31.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2472" data-original-width="1519" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw5OA-w4Pz0YZpJRoXbEpEiP3HsddWsS5AL1e5H1TJ69ggpesQlK-wiOtMStIQm5mOASsFmVUPCMILfkIpys13sgM8XajVHL8hShSpt7hUkUrhJxhlxw3W4huo_eK2L5yOxuE6PBvYQ8PKkvyGPeSzCLSsi7LECCx6oIUZX6A3LL1zo5gG1zZ8jq2iww/w246-h400/August31.jpeg" width="246" /></a></div><p></p><p>My partner saw this and said "I really like that joke" — so I hope you do too :)</p><p>See you at the end of September! (If you're not too grossed out by my snot story to return)<br /></p>Emmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03307690577227053266noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6149147983678759733.post-24378310975433108432022-07-31T16:02:00.001+01:002022-07-31T16:02:12.870+01:00July 2022<p>July has felt long, mostly because I did lots of stuff, I spent too much, and it's been too hot. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvaUt7r4hFZUrpJc0ddh63u5OJAsdvNSJ7x7X1mcmbnwU_kCUuA3RVxjfsR95fUiT4IOlGv3YuWtuDSDBUCiZeDZBy0utcFwOnUu9SVFVwRIckcta1UfjEiBsMI3nefZd_6boVlWrXnQBACmJDVFcYAW7QQKK588VLNwwETtO7nDQwVNQB0vX5wVyaDw/s2501/July1.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2501" data-original-width="1530" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvaUt7r4hFZUrpJc0ddh63u5OJAsdvNSJ7x7X1mcmbnwU_kCUuA3RVxjfsR95fUiT4IOlGv3YuWtuDSDBUCiZeDZBy0utcFwOnUu9SVFVwRIckcta1UfjEiBsMI3nefZd_6boVlWrXnQBACmJDVFcYAW7QQKK588VLNwwETtO7nDQwVNQB0vX5wVyaDw/w245-h400/July1.jpeg" width="245" /></a></div><p></p><p>As mentioned at the end of <a href="http://emmacharleston.blogspot.com/2022/06/june-2022.html">last month</a>, my old friend Reggie was in town. Mostly doing some UK recordings of the Late Late Show, but also doing a show of his own, at the extremely lovely Hackney Empire (go if you ever get the chance, it's an absolutely gorgeous venue, some of the ornate details of which I captured here). I took my housemate Camille along for fun, and it was a real nice time. Reggie continues to be at the top of his game, and despite an early flight the next day, we hung out after to eat some free green room apples and steal fizzy pops from the fridge. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMBGrrZj7uQhMVaSUDlDY4AaruJiODVD7vthwhYklBVU4aAkw77aNCGq_KnPx5uy4MfX8oQOOv7Fw7dxT6CopPXg5qkS8SsQOlRrplkR3wjsHJ3FJdppb3EBuN1Ltj5K8xdeQvHuo-GxWu9b6usKlR17iXNzrqcYSaIdM6S7oIPz7qlP5uTsZjcJtFQQ/s2501/July2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2501" data-original-width="1531" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMBGrrZj7uQhMVaSUDlDY4AaruJiODVD7vthwhYklBVU4aAkw77aNCGq_KnPx5uy4MfX8oQOOv7Fw7dxT6CopPXg5qkS8SsQOlRrplkR3wjsHJ3FJdppb3EBuN1Ltj5K8xdeQvHuo-GxWu9b6usKlR17iXNzrqcYSaIdM6S7oIPz7qlP5uTsZjcJtFQQ/w245-h400/July2.jpg" width="245" /></a></div><p></p><p>As also alluded to at the end of last month, I have a lifechanging new... Gadget? Companion? Suffice to say, I am not made of money, and came into posession of this beautiful minty green electric Brompton through means entirely not my own (<a href="https://www.dropbox.com/s/x4pozrxkcxerv68/IMG_9264%201.MOV?dl=0">👀</a>)</p><p>I haven't regularly cycled since around 2013 – 2015ish, when I had a lovely Bobbin Bramble bike in Brighton. The reasons I stopped were... several. The first of which was really stupid — I managed to cycle for like 3 years without getting a puncture, and then I got THE MOTHER OF ALL PUNCTURES which resisted all attempts at repair, and I was so broke at the time, and it was the middle of winter, so I just... never got it fixed. And then we moved to Hebden Bridge, which is IMO, cycling hell, and then we got Charlie, who is fairly bike incompatible (he needed so much exercise that it basically made more sense to take him everywhere with me, and that meant walking).</p><p>But my life has changed again — I live in flat south London, have a sleepy dog who barely wants to leave the house, and I'm kind of sick of how long it takes me to get everywhere in this city (public transport is great but sometimes it still conspires against you)</p><p>I'd been talking for a while about how I was trying to pluck up the courage to get back on the roads by bike, and had been planning to start off with Santander bikes or a hiring scheme (London pals who are considering similar, my housemate Camille uses <a href="https://swapfiets.co.uk/">Swapfiets</a> and they are very good!) But realistically I would probably have just procrastinated forever, so suddenly coming into ownership of my very own bike basically forced me into getting my arse into gear, and for that I will be eternally greatful. </p><p>I ordered a helmet but that took a few days to arrive, so to start off I just cycled round and round Battersea Park and desperately tried to remember how on earth I was brave enough to cycle even Brighton's roads, let alone London's...</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbf9AIeqOqTNaHWzXhJV9v7uxliAM2f0lZJgiIQIxLfo6l63MpHngb2XaYPr66YI3X40kWqIP4_fdXq6BI5jXGuKkD8CuvBwWkSz3kSLYZHHwOwd4rbaDD33KxuhYJyUeynaItOCKsX9yvx6mr1tXajHyWcEfwAnYI_LFV_OZtPtcxC0bWl0vB7ovnWQ/s2501/July3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2501" data-original-width="1530" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbf9AIeqOqTNaHWzXhJV9v7uxliAM2f0lZJgiIQIxLfo6l63MpHngb2XaYPr66YI3X40kWqIP4_fdXq6BI5jXGuKkD8CuvBwWkSz3kSLYZHHwOwd4rbaDD33KxuhYJyUeynaItOCKsX9yvx6mr1tXajHyWcEfwAnYI_LFV_OZtPtcxC0bWl0vB7ovnWQ/w245-h400/July3.jpg" width="245" /></a></div><p></p><p>In other good things, I FINALLY started attending Quaker meeting again. I hadn't been to meeting since pre-pandemic. But, albeit just as a lurker, still felt very involved with the Wandsworth meeting, thanks to their active google group pinging me emails with news every few days.</p><p>Obviously for the first big chunk of the pandemic, the meeting house was closed. Then Charlie died, and for a long time (the longest of my life), I felt very far from God, and very far from being able to spend time in silence with my own mind. I felt pretty sure that the moment I sat down in the peace of the meeting room and let myself truly be quiet in my own thoughts, I would burst into tears. Which is technically FINE, but not really dignified. Then months passed, with my own ongoing sadness and anxiety, and fluctuating limits on the meeting like fixed numbers, distancing etc, and... it just never felt like the right time. </p><p>But now it is the right time, and I'm glad to be back. (And also I did not cry).</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYYEx3U7BVSbj3DibV57xgv9QfIrlEZkJxLNVO1Q_jQzANHYkO82vfvSvf5sTMZsa0iBkc-vinFL0Z3Pj7mioE02ar9YGf06Frf6nSsZDynMCBvSAHLlrhYo0FHz15WfHnd07Y_qqn9fdly7Aq113Oa5JJuwHimXdovzvENbi2tAl__5CFqG7dZHRpHg/s2501/July4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2501" data-original-width="1531" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYYEx3U7BVSbj3DibV57xgv9QfIrlEZkJxLNVO1Q_jQzANHYkO82vfvSvf5sTMZsa0iBkc-vinFL0Z3Pj7mioE02ar9YGf06Frf6nSsZDynMCBvSAHLlrhYo0FHz15WfHnd07Y_qqn9fdly7Aq113Oa5JJuwHimXdovzvENbi2tAl__5CFqG7dZHRpHg/w245-h400/July4.jpg" width="245" /></a></div><br />There's no escaping the fact that Bromptons look silly, but also at least like 50% of other London cyclists seem to have them, so at least we all look silly together?!<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkIe3Cd7UeJosZfxaA4DxVdZFi5_pFJeoPX0E74Gu2UlFYrXIHBZ4eRAsabwf7MyT9PIIR3eLG1kbNm06AVBp3lsjzb_HmsSe7gL8XX58tl08hj6RuCRpP6yAXB4ZI3kCk_rngUKBB9f239ewEHuT_AIYP5tYuyNvfOOnh5ZUVGQXZtAc2_5JBPC4sGA/s2501/July5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2501" data-original-width="1530" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkIe3Cd7UeJosZfxaA4DxVdZFi5_pFJeoPX0E74Gu2UlFYrXIHBZ4eRAsabwf7MyT9PIIR3eLG1kbNm06AVBp3lsjzb_HmsSe7gL8XX58tl08hj6RuCRpP6yAXB4ZI3kCk_rngUKBB9f239ewEHuT_AIYP5tYuyNvfOOnh5ZUVGQXZtAc2_5JBPC4sGA/w245-h400/July5.jpg" width="245" /></a></div><p></p><p>Just a brief tribute to the best kitchen gadget of all — the rice cooker. If you know, you know.</p><p>(If forced to choose, I would literally pick this above kettle, toaster, everything)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyvwSPkZjRM7C4q8aab86tpMXRQEc6AVXxJcu7ZG5sHf68_zwGExrtXg5u6oVv6yIQImBuQd6Yq3xocme0USZbrfeGoJsgOf_gyzcuQkqL9cW4ai6CGaM1HM88H7Q_hw9qwjBwf5HE8d2ZrsEs8-N8zls6ff1ghW0_VJLMvSyo2CQObMAdwfWZWoJjLg/s2501/July6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2501" data-original-width="1531" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyvwSPkZjRM7C4q8aab86tpMXRQEc6AVXxJcu7ZG5sHf68_zwGExrtXg5u6oVv6yIQImBuQd6Yq3xocme0USZbrfeGoJsgOf_gyzcuQkqL9cW4ai6CGaM1HM88H7Q_hw9qwjBwf5HE8d2ZrsEs8-N8zls6ff1ghW0_VJLMvSyo2CQObMAdwfWZWoJjLg/w245-h400/July6.jpg" width="245" /></a></div><p></p><p>Pleased to report she is ABSOLUTELY FINE</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisOt5TdyIZ4y6K6k-8dBSXVxx1vVUlVpGi3CZMinDFrs7XrXRKBKVhLs6DgitLv-6eDABOvLMaJrtpklqc8oY-jdtgK26boYe76I4LajDaOggqBNaZ3DlMILqjiAKM4pnTdIQmyfn9MCAblEyDLBTz-BNY_RaCmcPHoZoGRMYgpG1HVpwlXf0gzWT3ng/s2501/July7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2501" data-original-width="1530" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisOt5TdyIZ4y6K6k-8dBSXVxx1vVUlVpGi3CZMinDFrs7XrXRKBKVhLs6DgitLv-6eDABOvLMaJrtpklqc8oY-jdtgK26boYe76I4LajDaOggqBNaZ3DlMILqjiAKM4pnTdIQmyfn9MCAblEyDLBTz-BNY_RaCmcPHoZoGRMYgpG1HVpwlXf0gzWT3ng/w245-h400/July7.jpg" width="245" /></a></div><p></p><p>Went to see the critically acclaimed '<a href="https://www.thealbany.org.uk/shows/sun-and-sea/">Sun and Sea</a>' opera, here's a not particularly good drawing on the libretto. The opera is staged on a fake beach, with casual scenes unfolding before your eyes while the occasional person sings a short section. The focus of the opera is on climate change, and given how incredibly hot it was on the day I went there, it felt pretty fitting. (I have been having a lot of climate anxiety this month, as I suspect many of us have)</p><p>Anyway, I really enjoyed it, and if it's ever being performed near you, I highly recommend going.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDBgv_Qmlc0fbYojPQp169VApfNDmro1FV3ZbD-b5GJgopFQGiwmcMyMSqZtSdW35YFTSiMNfzFe10o7LcXTFdT7w1Pubjxlw1qXaBdUx-Bgtg1weIa8qz4gwA7ElA2MVlfdHfdwXHwoBuYyRHFz2vxDqd7BF7aPVE_H9YIqz_V9IauHwwm51xPVOZOQ/s2501/July8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2501" data-original-width="1531" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDBgv_Qmlc0fbYojPQp169VApfNDmro1FV3ZbD-b5GJgopFQGiwmcMyMSqZtSdW35YFTSiMNfzFe10o7LcXTFdT7w1Pubjxlw1qXaBdUx-Bgtg1weIa8qz4gwA7ElA2MVlfdHfdwXHwoBuYyRHFz2vxDqd7BF7aPVE_H9YIqz_V9IauHwwm51xPVOZOQ/w245-h400/July8.jpg" width="245" /></a></div><p>Then it was my graduation ceremony! Wear the big stupid coat! Try and make the hat stay on your head! I'm not that fussed on this kind of thing really, but I went because it was important to my mother. I extremely DID NOT want to go to my undergrad ceremony back in 2010 because I only got a 2:2 and didn't feel particularly pleased or proud of it, but I got a fuckin MERIT this time, so why not, eh?</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2auPRhxm7EKTapXbl5umZvNGt7Pmqz5-LFpHaVtNv4kmhU46iK8RDY2rIvtPp0-yZMnw2YXLK590m-osxyGmYls7NcKEvLx4VRBotOeIbow0vqRvO5d8BUV7lSguU9FpKLBk9ioPDW4LV3OGwhB4mo0o3WPcdGReBpY1JsGqZW8EnrCNfJ1ISiBkOAA/s2501/July9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2501" data-original-width="1530" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2auPRhxm7EKTapXbl5umZvNGt7Pmqz5-LFpHaVtNv4kmhU46iK8RDY2rIvtPp0-yZMnw2YXLK590m-osxyGmYls7NcKEvLx4VRBotOeIbow0vqRvO5d8BUV7lSguU9FpKLBk9ioPDW4LV3OGwhB4mo0o3WPcdGReBpY1JsGqZW8EnrCNfJ1ISiBkOAA/w245-h400/July9.jpg" width="245" /></a></div><p></p><p>Why not GO AND GIVE EVERYONE COVID. </p><p>I had been feeling cold symptoms since the day before my grad ceremony, but tested negative on both the day before and the day of, so I still went. I feel pretty shitty about it, but equally at that point the stats were something like 1 in 12 people in London had it, so in a room with hundreds of people, I wouldn't have been the only one. Still though, ugh. Somehow both my mum and my partner managed to escape getting it though, which was a relief.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSFArYgS9-HRjXkoeMPwjC5Otg89TgjscwFUpDAbhSB_Wpyd23UROdwKM3NNLfKv3JoheIoO8auS0v18L0WdXWerUAxUh32na8bmMW9TbLEVVx_hSz8jIOMUSU0ab9LBMk51_gfqIrKDIffDBeMYuymNPFLxUtqt5gcZEIQmW7CFPQgDGFan1i1SfMgA/s2501/July10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2501" data-original-width="1531" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSFArYgS9-HRjXkoeMPwjC5Otg89TgjscwFUpDAbhSB_Wpyd23UROdwKM3NNLfKv3JoheIoO8auS0v18L0WdXWerUAxUh32na8bmMW9TbLEVVx_hSz8jIOMUSU0ab9LBMk51_gfqIrKDIffDBeMYuymNPFLxUtqt5gcZEIQmW7CFPQgDGFan1i1SfMgA/w245-h400/July10.jpg" width="245" /></a></div><p></p><p>So followed a week and a bit of isolation until I felt better. Luckily... Wimbledon?! I hate pretty much all televised sport, but for some reason Wimbledon always seems to be on when I'm having a shit time and need distraction, and I find it weirdly compelling, so for that I was thankful. (I felt pretty rough this day and maybe the next, but it was definitely way less bad than the first time I had it at Christmas) (Also the fact that it was like 30+ degrees didn't help, hence keeping the blinds closed in my room to block out the sun)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzdXya6nVIO6z8BvZlAjyi7rUBwC7h-OCpxx73QFEpRTefLgPyiCqAud_AM_0WVloL5YV17NZinkdgIdd4H1DG2YYdiUXdDpHrSwM5xegDdtFLA5zBNVLBAuvdeOk6g9OO6dO57SuK5WcT6hNziWyzPr0CeXS1qa8UR2TYbn1sScksQfKegbOzbLvyzA/s2501/July11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2501" data-original-width="1530" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzdXya6nVIO6z8BvZlAjyi7rUBwC7h-OCpxx73QFEpRTefLgPyiCqAud_AM_0WVloL5YV17NZinkdgIdd4H1DG2YYdiUXdDpHrSwM5xegDdtFLA5zBNVLBAuvdeOk6g9OO6dO57SuK5WcT6hNziWyzPr0CeXS1qa8UR2TYbn1sScksQfKegbOzbLvyzA/w245-h400/July11.jpg" width="245" /></a></div><p></p><p>TITS OUT! But there's no nips so it's not porn right? Also I've got COVID and I'm disgusting and it's TOO HOT</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ4fvpbD_UzS81VUuwFR8YqR7IKIqUWrN3TqAbbcvlpXVnSMH8uPaenGsCRKisAqFR-TXBROqREMWP-DDCRRJj44QixzLXdkNU1hH_dvW7DQ_vQdo2yRhOIvdJ2BGDGi0sbfibw5V_s3mt9niCLafMfaexh8M6l4fOCtXMmXahXkOQPKQbHkz4EcpOag/s2501/July12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2501" data-original-width="1531" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ4fvpbD_UzS81VUuwFR8YqR7IKIqUWrN3TqAbbcvlpXVnSMH8uPaenGsCRKisAqFR-TXBROqREMWP-DDCRRJj44QixzLXdkNU1hH_dvW7DQ_vQdo2yRhOIvdJ2BGDGi0sbfibw5V_s3mt9niCLafMfaexh8M6l4fOCtXMmXahXkOQPKQbHkz4EcpOag/w245-h400/July12.jpg" width="245" /></a></div><br />EVEN HOTTER! And this isn't even the worst it will be this month! (This isn't a very good drawing of me melting but I suspect I will have lots of chances to try improve on it during coming months/years)<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPlhA6prpv9gxM_aYMGZZ8jTxIx_cHGClbPs5TCB9BkVnaw1wnuE1S8Nlv1c-Wfehc4mlhpPbgmbFW10-BW0OCrpZF_46Nwkf4ShKGLqEyphgJdX6TYwnnXrEyZjRlk5_REW3pIiYdYY2svbOHxwxwjlBmnINfe6YZ465XPbU9YG-PXWHXxfIjlGAQyQ/s2501/July13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2501" data-original-width="1530" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPlhA6prpv9gxM_aYMGZZ8jTxIx_cHGClbPs5TCB9BkVnaw1wnuE1S8Nlv1c-Wfehc4mlhpPbgmbFW10-BW0OCrpZF_46Nwkf4ShKGLqEyphgJdX6TYwnnXrEyZjRlk5_REW3pIiYdYY2svbOHxwxwjlBmnINfe6YZ465XPbU9YG-PXWHXxfIjlGAQyQ/w245-h400/July13.jpg" width="245" /></a></div><p></p><p>Meanwhile, absolutely fuck all of these guys</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-4MWz6of3JVTcwsGlWLDsIzLBJNMlz_XMs0Sw3T_toGTIgOxv1R9YLIbC4zePUqJFwDwMpHgUt5scGrc_SgGf2BF-5gbJvl_AZL7WeOGvlI5WFUxeIVoiN3Wi2yGOHMnOZWCMVr_rXMkPNimFCQ-kqOPCd4BtLk1TN_reTqeZvCB9GQY-cbV0ySXu4A/s2501/July14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2501" data-original-width="1531" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-4MWz6of3JVTcwsGlWLDsIzLBJNMlz_XMs0Sw3T_toGTIgOxv1R9YLIbC4zePUqJFwDwMpHgUt5scGrc_SgGf2BF-5gbJvl_AZL7WeOGvlI5WFUxeIVoiN3Wi2yGOHMnOZWCMVr_rXMkPNimFCQ-kqOPCd4BtLk1TN_reTqeZvCB9GQY-cbV0ySXu4A/w245-h400/July14.jpg" width="245" /></a></div><p></p><p>I'm trying to buy fewer new clothes but I love Lucy & Yak and I think their production methods are at least a little more ethical than some other suppliers? Anyway they made these fun trousers with a <a href="https://lucyandyak.com/collections/organic-cotton-trousers/products/alexa-trousers-organic-cotton-dawood-yak">hilariously graphic design about periods</a> and I was like 'is this too much?!?!!' But I just found them really funny, so couldn't resist buying them to wear round the house when I am actually on my period.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfvtErN19veUJw6prN5rtKOL0HLgGc4evFvkAV3O9Ya38oHvzNLrBmwygz0aT-fA6hDiZl3jnS9qVPmdsGGc-QvSs7BX3VKCP0CouXN_vo1zb52_h1MVNHLzEcgAyprt9jp6E3_aMcTvZaIBflOzHBStg2YTUSwSTPlZ2xdHfziklxLNdFEvn99Xlt-Q/s2501/July15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2501" data-original-width="1530" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfvtErN19veUJw6prN5rtKOL0HLgGc4evFvkAV3O9Ya38oHvzNLrBmwygz0aT-fA6hDiZl3jnS9qVPmdsGGc-QvSs7BX3VKCP0CouXN_vo1zb52_h1MVNHLzEcgAyprt9jp6E3_aMcTvZaIBflOzHBStg2YTUSwSTPlZ2xdHfziklxLNdFEvn99Xlt-Q/w245-h400/July15.jpg" width="245" /></a></div><p></p><p>Anxiety time! (A pipe behind my shower sprung a slow leak and water started flooding through the floor into the living room, also it's still TOO HOT)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivVspJbEcExxreoIoOdQu40ugtmwM8jWvzM8-A5gf2Y4fWromgxESL2fPi1lihQfBU1hXyVuk8Ty83TTh3-wA3ckg5KlrBFIpXgPX_ZzvQgSvm_PFLtEhDxGby5roDl0Apdd5zbW4869HJrxT7QEM8tqCAMrofiAFOK3IS1tOGIUWPsdzzOrVo-S_x_Q/s2501/July16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2501" data-original-width="1531" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivVspJbEcExxreoIoOdQu40ugtmwM8jWvzM8-A5gf2Y4fWromgxESL2fPi1lihQfBU1hXyVuk8Ty83TTh3-wA3ckg5KlrBFIpXgPX_ZzvQgSvm_PFLtEhDxGby5roDl0Apdd5zbW4869HJrxT7QEM8tqCAMrofiAFOK3IS1tOGIUWPsdzzOrVo-S_x_Q/w245-h400/July16.jpg" width="245" /></a></div><p></p><p>Now in possession of a bike helmet, I decided to tackle my first LONG cycle — got the train over to Whitechapel for Q-Mart, a queer makers fair, and then cycled all the way back to Battersea! 7.5 miles!</p><p>I think this was honestly the best way of doing it. I'd been anxiously pootling round the streets near my house for a few days, but kind of just had to be brave and do a big long cycle along roads I didn't know in order to break the back of my fear. It was just a little too hot and there were a couple of moments where I stopped at traffic lights and was like 'is this heatstroke, lol' but I persisted and had a big icy drink when I got home and was FINE.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxkDYq65EEn8uq4rLXeFfjyQz8bRINPxa0QQKqlvyIdR4qSHvKI1728LhtiLPYbgp_1JahbwqJrEhDlAqYmezYmuomqlkQRsvvNDbYRpwR6BWbYRqzBIOn1lU1Ln95RWHbfYpvnSGUca9DeykAL0-6QRBVnw4kWkSU-fk-sL_dHWYS0vGY7jSb-HEwKg/s2501/July17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2501" data-original-width="1530" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxkDYq65EEn8uq4rLXeFfjyQz8bRINPxa0QQKqlvyIdR4qSHvKI1728LhtiLPYbgp_1JahbwqJrEhDlAqYmezYmuomqlkQRsvvNDbYRpwR6BWbYRqzBIOn1lU1Ln95RWHbfYpvnSGUca9DeykAL0-6QRBVnw4kWkSU-fk-sL_dHWYS0vGY7jSb-HEwKg/w245-h400/July17.jpg" width="245" /></a></div><p></p><p>Headed over to Deptford (not by bike this time because I genuinely would have got heatstroke) for my friend Lucy's engagement party. It was nice to sit in a garden and drink icy drinks and hang out with some old uni friends.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijMAXPwoP2wM3xYOpeI2qeKTktuWuKoLsTTBwwiFKXf48i0hbO0UlXmHodPByEgmCaUzMyn32ZGgKymbYAxB0b9t7mDUBeyBWbhtD-JxeAdY-Y2w5ykaiw-D76EEn4ikAXDYqnQIe07OysO6HqHC7N63C1UQv0xhV7W3xVYiFxhBJEReY56vyeTU9sbg/s2501/July18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2501" data-original-width="1531" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijMAXPwoP2wM3xYOpeI2qeKTktuWuKoLsTTBwwiFKXf48i0hbO0UlXmHodPByEgmCaUzMyn32ZGgKymbYAxB0b9t7mDUBeyBWbhtD-JxeAdY-Y2w5ykaiw-D76EEn4ikAXDYqnQIe07OysO6HqHC7N63C1UQv0xhV7W3xVYiFxhBJEReY56vyeTU9sbg/w245-h400/July18.jpg" width="245" /></a></div><p></p><p>Then came those two REALLY hot days.</p><p>I feel like I've been complaining about the heat a lot this month. I actually should say that I kind of love the heat — much more than a lot of people I know. It kind of has to cross 30 before I start getting really uncomfortable. My natural state is as a person who is perpetually cold, so for the most part, right through the 20s, I am delighted.</p><p>But the whole thing is scary. No matter how much I, on some level — like it — it's not right, it's not safe, it shouldn't be like this. And 36 degrees is definitely too much.</p><p>Something I'd been looking forwards to post-boobs was starting to swim again. I loved swimming as a kid, but when I hit my mid teens, I got really self-conscious about my boobs, body hair, and also my phobia of vomiting really kicked up a notch, and I couldn't bear the thought of swimming in that water full of other people's bodily secretions. </p><p>But now, boobs gone, I could care less about body hair, and my phobia is a lot more under control, I was excited to try it again. I'd been planning to wait a while longer (I figured better to be safe than sorry wounds wise, even though they are obviously totally healed and have been for ages) and I'd take myself to a really fancy pool somewhere nice a bit later in the summer.<br /></p><p>But suddenly I decided to scrap that plan and just immediately get into my slightly disgusting local pool, and it was GREAT, extremely nice time, absolutely here for swimming, mostly managing to ignore the soup of plasters and hair and goodness knows what else.</p><p>(For my whole life, municipal style pools have been a recurring theme in my dreams — some based on places I've been, others completely made up. Since I started swimming again they've all been horror dreams about stuff in the water — last night I dreamt that I finally went to the olympic pool in stratford, but for some reason the bottom of the pool was carpeted, and crawling with maggots... So clearly my subconscious is still deeply unhappy about the idea of going swimming...)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkymLEB-RPgJyPLt2v4k79JkUtNJUNT8Mn8TTmYQUKnRH4skcRWCn2oUZN_nckPIuhK0HAplBnTKYIb_J7pxMKnP8pJh9WPyGduQrD_ybLNZ5Dcni1zdYIYoAA3-4K2XCrckAeSmGX35E1OsBsV_ouKmmPy9gOBaIxciw9lCC5afJ8HND2foPhI9kqUA/s2501/July19.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2501" data-original-width="1530" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkymLEB-RPgJyPLt2v4k79JkUtNJUNT8Mn8TTmYQUKnRH4skcRWCn2oUZN_nckPIuhK0HAplBnTKYIb_J7pxMKnP8pJh9WPyGduQrD_ybLNZ5Dcni1zdYIYoAA3-4K2XCrckAeSmGX35E1OsBsV_ouKmmPy9gOBaIxciw9lCC5afJ8HND2foPhI9kqUA/w245-h400/July19.jpg" width="245" /></a></div><p></p><p>The 19th was the hottest day EVER, and my partner was deeply upset that it was also their birthday.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtQcu6kO8kzxNOwvhc6qauqYupw6CEHpdF6uZW7zf5rnbswgLEmCnKaKtrXIe1iqHuZ9-oHtN5A0JI6E6H60esc20elTuj-OmsAL_m9yubJeLIkZvtVRNsMcfoP_8eJSNLo6J6cftWjfevXUlguWvmFc0AxaMkZJc1PGlenLthkJ-ensWgnBK0Pm2glQ/s2501/July20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2501" data-original-width="1531" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtQcu6kO8kzxNOwvhc6qauqYupw6CEHpdF6uZW7zf5rnbswgLEmCnKaKtrXIe1iqHuZ9-oHtN5A0JI6E6H60esc20elTuj-OmsAL_m9yubJeLIkZvtVRNsMcfoP_8eJSNLo6J6cftWjfevXUlguWvmFc0AxaMkZJc1PGlenLthkJ-ensWgnBK0Pm2glQ/w245-h400/July20.jpg" width="245" /></a></div><p>Cycling has definitely helped me start falling in love with London again. I've wanted to live here my whole life, and I'm still, on some level, starstruck by the place. On a bike it's so much quicker to get right to the heart of things, plus I can better understand how all the different parts of the city connect together. It's a real good time (though it would be a lot nicer with NO CARS as depicted here)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd3pWozeyE-Vy_dajKKg5tWvL1DBdVAFcP-zvSRUC_dAqN66v27KGFsM4VCZrec69YDQ2n0JNbGcpPyFzvBgR0fG6hGzFWHcpmU_1_fZMnQILumKUo831tS0aDLyPYfyRB1JubcwUG59a0KKriN9XY9_yIkRFP1_EygWUoWyPEum2scHeX4un_sDModQ/s2501/July21.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2501" data-original-width="1530" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd3pWozeyE-Vy_dajKKg5tWvL1DBdVAFcP-zvSRUC_dAqN66v27KGFsM4VCZrec69YDQ2n0JNbGcpPyFzvBgR0fG6hGzFWHcpmU_1_fZMnQILumKUo831tS0aDLyPYfyRB1JubcwUG59a0KKriN9XY9_yIkRFP1_EygWUoWyPEum2scHeX4un_sDModQ/w245-h400/July21.jpg" width="245" /></a></div><p></p><p>Cycled all the way to Islington for dinner with my friend George before she heads off to Berlin for a few months!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ7IA70_M7NJux2TRtwH1wWvS0gx8Dbj5eVs8WtQQh2zeJcvmNmRwCun_RbHVoUIjPARvlW5NaKy5fitC1kDSpJc6a5wIETriS2Xxhv8nvtG-vwTBIkV1aGdyKRoKvdwcPTLd6eBNWNFxw8jnYSnVJ_qAWWTIupg8c48fOyKjRTXvItAi7948jMNO3vQ/s2465/July22.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2465" data-original-width="1526" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ7IA70_M7NJux2TRtwH1wWvS0gx8Dbj5eVs8WtQQh2zeJcvmNmRwCun_RbHVoUIjPARvlW5NaKy5fitC1kDSpJc6a5wIETriS2Xxhv8nvtG-vwTBIkV1aGdyKRoKvdwcPTLd6eBNWNFxw8jnYSnVJ_qAWWTIupg8c48fOyKjRTXvItAi7948jMNO3vQ/w248-h400/July22.jpg" width="248" /></a></div><br />I'm having a good time with my work at <a href="https://gfsc.studio/">GFSC</a> at the moment — currently doing some interview based research for a project I'll hopefully be able to talk about soon. However I guess it is possible to do too many zooms in a day...<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwO8MR8kXuOV2wMRsdSTar9FJKmOVuWZVZOM9jsyEHEHRnd1vwK-GGZrq5neosjpK0QTYqFmwt2F6A5t1go5vs43Re-x1qGJqX4OzE2mU2IDLyZH__Y9wOUIf_RgggntIFSwvE_CThvk4IIOdspVcpyVk2WptpRNAt49gw0sSMAA2pxRAUHR-b6dlxFg/s2465/July23.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2465" data-original-width="1526" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwO8MR8kXuOV2wMRsdSTar9FJKmOVuWZVZOM9jsyEHEHRnd1vwK-GGZrq5neosjpK0QTYqFmwt2F6A5t1go5vs43Re-x1qGJqX4OzE2mU2IDLyZH__Y9wOUIf_RgggntIFSwvE_CThvk4IIOdspVcpyVk2WptpRNAt49gw0sSMAA2pxRAUHR-b6dlxFg/w248-h400/July23.jpg" width="248" /></a></div><br />Me and my partner have been rewatching the Wire over the last few weeks, and we're having a really great time with it. I last watched it around 8 or 9 years ago, and it might be my favourite TV ever? Highly recommend if you've never watched it, anyway.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsfj938orEh0OPcYWaZUEDVLlfPNAT4ZzNj_emhnItuaLTq1ZKWYh7MqdsAkQMhes_zmfuaG1807w7W5Me-ReNd3KeK3jtIvbGxuq11u6yr91n9e1OjB4wiXz2j1k_XdBm5T43y9EYVxq8sFT0K4aH2kkxQA-cF4o6k8jcg9eEHWbvxsJtuZOXa4w80w/s2465/July24.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2465" data-original-width="1526" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsfj938orEh0OPcYWaZUEDVLlfPNAT4ZzNj_emhnItuaLTq1ZKWYh7MqdsAkQMhes_zmfuaG1807w7W5Me-ReNd3KeK3jtIvbGxuq11u6yr91n9e1OjB4wiXz2j1k_XdBm5T43y9EYVxq8sFT0K4aH2kkxQA-cF4o6k8jcg9eEHWbvxsJtuZOXa4w80w/w248-h400/July24.jpg" width="248" /></a></div><p>Very much enjoyed the Quaker Garden Party, with lots of cute lil sandwiches and cakes. One of the organisers set up a 'garden party fact bingo' game, where around 25 people in attendance at the party had told her a fun fact about themselves, and your challenge at the party was to mingle and find out which fact belonged to who. The Quakers are generally interesting people, and extremely easy to mingle with, and I had a much better time than I even expected to.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB7oO6-oyQ6VNMhOIiit9hf8r9uOKd1xCFhUDPW0EMVRN7kghFWU34vpGHhIShfybVEo3fUqg0eHHj78FCYmFVm6y5iSY2jc-TjdCtX6Tf5tTJuyNZsYNnw-SS1rehro8P1vsOYKRH732asMWTxDtW9w81ZdzH6BDWd7YohtBaN_vy3y1INnb9Da1I3w/s2465/July25.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2465" data-original-width="1526" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB7oO6-oyQ6VNMhOIiit9hf8r9uOKd1xCFhUDPW0EMVRN7kghFWU34vpGHhIShfybVEo3fUqg0eHHj78FCYmFVm6y5iSY2jc-TjdCtX6Tf5tTJuyNZsYNnw-SS1rehro8P1vsOYKRH732asMWTxDtW9w81ZdzH6BDWd7YohtBaN_vy3y1INnb9Da1I3w/w248-h400/July25.jpg" width="248" /></a></div><p>Our housemate Camille has a juicer and occasionally makes us extremely delicious fresh juices.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBqbVmvbMDuVDU4WOKXIi3rtJvY9i0SAxm-QCfyQz67BDuX10d8fpwbq5M5oBAjiJmXDDS5UEv0bnEHVUXRunP2jXASYxgIaeqetjEOP4tuAc2InTi_f0tGAQnVwKFTVVWxRJ9jGet4OXEnk3thsfymaFtEoah7BcKhr7g2fklfR0XYTC01ilTChIhiQ/s2465/July26.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2465" data-original-width="1526" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBqbVmvbMDuVDU4WOKXIi3rtJvY9i0SAxm-QCfyQz67BDuX10d8fpwbq5M5oBAjiJmXDDS5UEv0bnEHVUXRunP2jXASYxgIaeqetjEOP4tuAc2InTi_f0tGAQnVwKFTVVWxRJ9jGet4OXEnk3thsfymaFtEoah7BcKhr7g2fklfR0XYTC01ilTChIhiQ/w248-h400/July26.jpg" width="248" /></a></div><p></p><p>One of the reasons I spent too much money this month was because I went to the podiatrist. I have cute lil feet (if I do say so myself) but over the last few years they've been getting more and more rough and calloused and I wanna know WHY. Turns out I've been wearing shoes a size too small for many years?!?!?! So firstly I spend £75 for this nice woman to tell me this, and meticulously shave all the horrible skin off my feet with a scalpel and sandpaper, and then I have to replace ALL MY SHOES?! (Most of which were uncomfortable anyway, guess that's why)</p><p>(Anyway I've only bought like two pairs of shoes so far, gonna try and go for a less-shoes lifestyle I think...)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUGtEqlmlIbwUy9CwagjxIgKqBI1neXuUnhjuKmqAJb_Yj5fqP-lTm_1GF40RYVmxFEvQ1lN-PmrlMvKEZqKj_UvxmMvER5mK0ZfaO58mGLjj2MaqhKBCsDeCcldlehJRyckNXmDdoLEM9MjZMri0xw_C8COGwZTjfmQdhqS8bh3bAo5wfv23vHskv8Q/s2465/July28.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2465" data-original-width="1526" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUGtEqlmlIbwUy9CwagjxIgKqBI1neXuUnhjuKmqAJb_Yj5fqP-lTm_1GF40RYVmxFEvQ1lN-PmrlMvKEZqKj_UvxmMvER5mK0ZfaO58mGLjj2MaqhKBCsDeCcldlehJRyckNXmDdoLEM9MjZMri0xw_C8COGwZTjfmQdhqS8bh3bAo5wfv23vHskv8Q/w248-h400/July28.jpg" width="248" /></a></div><p></p><p>Yay Brighton! It was my former colleague James's leaving do — James hired me at Kings back in early 2011 when I was but a tiny, freshly graduated baby designer, and patiently mentored me until I was actually competant. We worked together for TEN YEARS! Kinda wild. Anyway now he's left Kings too and it feels like the end of an era. One bad thing about being a freelancer is that there aren't any 'work dos' to go to. I hope Kings might still occasionally invite me to a do or two!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvtW1eWIryfRkfDiqIhBx3Y8v1xu9XnqraTVyA6Bubc8w7B9Z6rQqY1ZgGvRQwc7GaC8NyQkMVEZTSGmU9RkY6BErZqj7O784Mgp_PWBvqpUrPc0irfmQGJrm0IgxNqLYnSWPWO59XlMUaZHwGj1QkzZcaKYW3GdTfDW1vHP6kzLNSFG7wQjejIOIe4Q/s2465/July29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2465" data-original-width="1526" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvtW1eWIryfRkfDiqIhBx3Y8v1xu9XnqraTVyA6Bubc8w7B9Z6rQqY1ZgGvRQwc7GaC8NyQkMVEZTSGmU9RkY6BErZqj7O784Mgp_PWBvqpUrPc0irfmQGJrm0IgxNqLYnSWPWO59XlMUaZHwGj1QkzZcaKYW3GdTfDW1vHP6kzLNSFG7wQjejIOIe4Q/w248-h400/July29.jpg" width="248" /></a></div><p></p><p>More about this at some indeterminate point in the future?!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6H38cm3FEHUvlRbkgtV73e99luYUSacJdU2CCqOTcNhdFVQGVqQOnXUu9pNLqC-6OeNdR65AjQNM3kZjLeFJPoVSlZlEJ74dcgCfrI-PALOveR0g2xn2ehLnRNYnMdnIYJz8w5Cah-ef4Eep7d-SVmvqbCNYjMwIfD0nRZ-Yx_9BtTNyHuGbcrZ_Www/s2465/July30.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2465" data-original-width="1526" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6H38cm3FEHUvlRbkgtV73e99luYUSacJdU2CCqOTcNhdFVQGVqQOnXUu9pNLqC-6OeNdR65AjQNM3kZjLeFJPoVSlZlEJ74dcgCfrI-PALOveR0g2xn2ehLnRNYnMdnIYJz8w5Cah-ef4Eep7d-SVmvqbCNYjMwIfD0nRZ-Yx_9BtTNyHuGbcrZ_Www/w248-h400/July30.jpg" width="248" /></a></div><p></p><p>Just FYI</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGXfWUOC5vj_8Otgh_kvK5HGnn6x_TxAQShQr62vZQDPrIZFr56WtmxP6MboJFvyYkntM48Z3tMLdmWl-HdKTBtsMPZZjwYwTykjEDTgKlWHrPQJ-H7ZtsW5bHC09nFmprFf6no8WhenQ-INLyfn91G8f-6Ze96FP0bctHqJX02yigVhVv73s_oxlCOQ/s2465/July31.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2465" data-original-width="1526" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGXfWUOC5vj_8Otgh_kvK5HGnn6x_TxAQShQr62vZQDPrIZFr56WtmxP6MboJFvyYkntM48Z3tMLdmWl-HdKTBtsMPZZjwYwTykjEDTgKlWHrPQJ-H7ZtsW5bHC09nFmprFf6no8WhenQ-INLyfn91G8f-6Ze96FP0bctHqJX02yigVhVv73s_oxlCOQ/w248-h400/July31.jpg" width="248" /></a></div><p></p><p>I've long been fascinated by the way old ceramics form these weirdly patterned hairline cracks. Our other housemate Beatrice went to France in around February and never came back, but for reasons entirely her own, continues to pay rent on her room. I guess it's good having one less person in the house, even if it does feel like a bit of a waste of a very nice room. Anyway, maybe the cracks in her sink have always been there, but I never noticed them before. (We occasionally use her bathroom if the other ones in the house are busy).</p><p>I looked up what this is called, and it's known as 'crazing' and can happen under high or fluctuating temperatures. Her room is the hottest in the house (being in the attic), and, even though we kept her blinds closed and windows open, the temperatures in her room during the heatwave were frankly unbearable — probably well over 40. I do wonder if these cracks in the sink are as a result of the extreme heat that sometimes occurs in there. Previous summers she's found it pretty unberable up there — I guess it's good she's not been here this month.</p><p>Anyway, I like how these cracks look like the map of some old European city. </p><p>Let's hope for no more heatwaves in August (though it does seem entirely possible, still), and I hope you all got through these ones okay.<br /></p>Emmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03307690577227053266noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6149147983678759733.post-2912865508148464862022-06-30T20:48:00.003+01:002022-06-30T20:48:52.873+01:00June 2022<p> We made it through June!!<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKMe2AI0Qkam7X0GPEqbGVth2e1b6bQPUI1kNL1umxHWDXimzNRLt6oNdIFQHTGW7hKvferegTE3cByDUr5H2BO3xqPqsZtMJ71WzXxfwQZamxP-VUhHuJ3KcMJG8akGwjuXZBlB3jSCtfvZcLMNLSXtNMXK3H3HCEpcSxZLaA75vf3qWf2n9DvNx8OQ/s2501/June1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2501" data-original-width="1504" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKMe2AI0Qkam7X0GPEqbGVth2e1b6bQPUI1kNL1umxHWDXimzNRLt6oNdIFQHTGW7hKvferegTE3cByDUr5H2BO3xqPqsZtMJ71WzXxfwQZamxP-VUhHuJ3KcMJG8akGwjuXZBlB3jSCtfvZcLMNLSXtNMXK3H3HCEpcSxZLaA75vf3qWf2n9DvNx8OQ/w240-h400/June1.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p></p><p>And I for one have been heartily enjoying a June of TINY TITS</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjAU-u9H5QZ7kAe9dX-Xi-qWpZ27tfn9VAkmXsGWI8-vwq2yIVg3T3k_QJoO4CBP_ArDZ7EFGE-R7KnoohJsrV_ymhXiS_IXTaiGbcGPdoD3iKwmoqBnmxIs5zXzB80zd_0g4Vu9CELTCcLmq8MQJ1aRwOJVq8Aw9lzM0xeuDFl0kkVYR4UWCD1WOhtA/s2480/June2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2480" data-original-width="1535" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjAU-u9H5QZ7kAe9dX-Xi-qWpZ27tfn9VAkmXsGWI8-vwq2yIVg3T3k_QJoO4CBP_ArDZ7EFGE-R7KnoohJsrV_ymhXiS_IXTaiGbcGPdoD3iKwmoqBnmxIs5zXzB80zd_0g4Vu9CELTCcLmq8MQJ1aRwOJVq8Aw9lzM0xeuDFl0kkVYR4UWCD1WOhtA/w248-h400/June2.jpg" width="248" /></a></div><p></p><p>June also marked my first Big Outing post-surgery. I can't remember how much I've talked about this here, but since July last year, I have been working 1 (now 1.5) days a week for <a href="https://gfsc.studio/">Geeks For Social Change</a>, and having a thoroughly good/interesting time doing so. Studio Lead Kim is an old friend, and my main motivation for persuading them to hire me (or perhaps more accurately, them persuading me to be hired) was my desire to do more actual, tangibly, meaningfully 'good' work. I also am a big Kim fan more generally, and could see them starting to flail at the prospect of managing a rapidly growing workload/studio/team and wanted to chip in. (It also offered me an avenue to quitting my previous part time job, but that was not my main motivation, honest). I started off as a general design dogsbody — muddling my way through Adobe XD to help redesign the main GFSC website (still to be unveiled), making our funding bids, reports, zines, pitches for work and so on look nice. However I'm also delighted to have started taking on more project management and client liason work, plus the chance to start pursuing design research again more meaningfully for the first time since my MA.</p><p>Anyway that's probably all a bit of uneccesary context but I guess this blog is my 'here's what's going on in my life' space, so it feels important to mention that I'm doing it and that I'm having a nice time. Kim was invited to speak at <a href="https://www.emfcamp.org/">EMF festival</a>, about our work at GFSC. They got two free tickets, so they and I headed over, and we bought tickets for two of our other GFSC studio colleagues, Katja and Aster. Because Kim has various health issues, and I was relatively recently post surgery*, we got an Airbnb a few miles from the festival rather than camping, thank goodness. (*The main reason I got in on the Airbnb is because I HATE CAMPING and after I split up with Ava I promised myself I would never camp again for any reason :)</p><p>We arrived into Ledbury on a gloriously sunny afternoon the day before the festival started, and found our wonderful airbnb was absolutely surrounded by cool animals. The owners had seven or eight lovely dogs, and over thirty (!) peacocks. They were mostly cool, and in full plumage, though it's mating season so they were quite noisy...</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4llMPYfIkYFyy_4mqZbSCjHTNusDiZ4TQTAQeSHAGg91qA3682e6itWODMVA1zQIEhMVkU19PtTWfwuNvqRKPaHo82I7_ay9XJFb2X5HP92HCEW-kIsXFCfUMGC3t7PBe7DUYSgo5bYwB1OVdPlUfgBsZUgYxtjNozv5QWBt_iXn3XraDTswDgVtnKw/s2480/June3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2480" data-original-width="1535" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4llMPYfIkYFyy_4mqZbSCjHTNusDiZ4TQTAQeSHAGg91qA3682e6itWODMVA1zQIEhMVkU19PtTWfwuNvqRKPaHo82I7_ay9XJFb2X5HP92HCEW-kIsXFCfUMGC3t7PBe7DUYSgo5bYwB1OVdPlUfgBsZUgYxtjNozv5QWBt_iXn3XraDTswDgVtnKw/w248-h400/June3.jpg" width="248" /></a></div><p>EMF Camp feels like something kind of hard to explain if you don't know what it is. I've known about it and wanted to go for a number of years (and am friends with some of the organisers!) but my hatred of camping put me off. I am extremely greatful to Kim for enabling. I guess I sometimes summarise by saying it's 'a festival for people who like tinkering with electronics', but it's a lot more than this, because that's not me, and I had a great time! The website describes it more broadly, as a festival for people with 'an inquisitive mind', and it certainly is that. The schedule is fully blocked out with talks from everything about how to hack train tickets, to the economics of popular video games. From how to build an electronic hurdy gurdy to the current state of tech in the sex industry. Some talks are serious, some are funny, some are both. There are also myriad workshops (I went to two very crafty ones — cyanotype printing and making a macrame water bottle holder), plus loads of random art and tech installations, many of which you can interact with. My personal favourite was a rigged xylophone which would play with more and more intensity as you exposed a piece of radioactive rock to power its automaton. As well as this, every year they create a weird, wild nightclub space with rowdy beats until the early hours. Some highlights from my first day were the lockpicking tent (I was very sad I didn't make it back to this again when it was open as I found it SO fun), getting my face painted with some equations in the maths tent, and the aforementioned cyanotype workshop. I was then extraordinarily glad to return to a REAL BED, REAL SHOWER and REAL TOILET at the end of the day :)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiB5MYvM6SXp-aESFBDM2Q1dmhj0NwsyDc3Ts7OvpULYgClNeE8nJE0ADq3RJMfkGcSi4QVYZmXxzagENz6DdskG9URZdAwCuXZS6y29ErHoJPxlo0o1FNmpCXETjQyaX0KzBr96Mxuk7fMcTFzSaoJfNJNdIyb-wDJjMM2ty68rp1UbAYX6cYMWxkSw/s2480/June4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2480" data-original-width="1535" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiB5MYvM6SXp-aESFBDM2Q1dmhj0NwsyDc3Ts7OvpULYgClNeE8nJE0ADq3RJMfkGcSi4QVYZmXxzagENz6DdskG9URZdAwCuXZS6y29ErHoJPxlo0o1FNmpCXETjQyaX0KzBr96Mxuk7fMcTFzSaoJfNJNdIyb-wDJjMM2ty68rp1UbAYX6cYMWxkSw/w248-h400/June4.jpg" width="248" /></a></div><p></p><p>Loads more fun on the second day of EMF, I particularly enjoyed artist <a href="https://timmb.com/">Tim Murray Brown</a>'s interactive AI piece, powered by the motion of audience members in front of a camera, with imagery sourced from his own extensive photography library. (You can see it in action <a href="https://timmb.com/the-limits-of-abstraction/">here</a>). As always when travelling these days, I took my ipad to do these visual diaries, so it was fun to be able to do a 'painting' like this. I also did some lino printing in a phone booth, played loads of fun games, saw a man with a top hat that contained a flamethrower, and pet several robots.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ2N1NaKe7_JZQiX35ZP4B52u3FJKN-wMXc7Kwa7fRFJ_Sp27oLPc-HX63WvdrKuuDBQOTB1n0sKwVHJM3eoCszmDt4kUfqk-xvbfGe12jtVAV-aILpqOkGjUtv1acKwXo2WTMmQEbgUK-mq40RYdBPQ-x4Dsov-GYCf7rPHD5B3g4M8lmoGQjAWfbhg/s2480/June5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2480" data-original-width="1535" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ2N1NaKe7_JZQiX35ZP4B52u3FJKN-wMXc7Kwa7fRFJ_Sp27oLPc-HX63WvdrKuuDBQOTB1n0sKwVHJM3eoCszmDt4kUfqk-xvbfGe12jtVAV-aILpqOkGjUtv1acKwXo2WTMmQEbgUK-mq40RYdBPQ-x4Dsov-GYCf7rPHD5B3g4M8lmoGQjAWfbhg/w248-h400/June5.jpg" width="248" /></a></div><p></p><p>Kim's talk was on the Sunday, which was a bit of a shame, as after heavy rain overnight (lol, glad I'm not camping for the millionth time) lots of people decided to pack up and leave quite early on the Sunday morning, so it wasn't quite as busy as it might have been. Still, there were probably well over 100 people in attendance, which was fun/stressful! The talk was called "Why is it so hard to do nice things, that make a difference, with other people", and you can read a blog version of it <a href="https://gfsc.studio/2022/06/30/why-is-it-so-hard-to-do-nice-things.html">here</a> (I illustrated it!) It was fun to get to help Kim out by designing the slides, controlling the slides, and generally guiding them around the campsite while they tried not to panic about giving the talk. As soon as they were done, I too packed up and left, and got a shockingly packed train back to London (on which I caught something that apparently wasn't COVID but felt like it).</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2XdO-ZIlpySfjk0-z8aMLUmalrGGbfInI6Ula9AXT4BL-GhqF6teWbSaffEhkeW3i6HbW2jGEKk317F3NHWfP26gzWut9UJhKBaoT1-8THZteM3NSKoLXGWu_VqX4tWwBYhqpVr1wjwiToTWfpz6R_IVBylkfkz7ew5AzUW84ujfKWO2B63NAWCmg1Q/s2501/June6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2501" data-original-width="1531" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2XdO-ZIlpySfjk0-z8aMLUmalrGGbfInI6Ula9AXT4BL-GhqF6teWbSaffEhkeW3i6HbW2jGEKk317F3NHWfP26gzWut9UJhKBaoT1-8THZteM3NSKoLXGWu_VqX4tWwBYhqpVr1wjwiToTWfpz6R_IVBylkfkz7ew5AzUW84ujfKWO2B63NAWCmg1Q/w245-h400/June6.jpg" width="245" /></a></div><p></p><p>Mols and their partner Alex were visiting London all the way from Maryland USA! They took me to an extremely cute British tea shop which had loads of cats just hanging out. I had a fancy cold tea cocktail and it was all extremely wholesome.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8YoOaNSd60AE7ZxAQwaOsOfUGJ9QlIGhx6pTCoCQPha6lntWlbXPH-cP7D-2WIjI0xsrTT5iqDvmJE7x1H99UEzxQmFC7nWEqHfLmT5vmqROC-EonrRu_NesXF6s9_of4NFUm-YEqVGt2baSH5rEEwUTNPHLxi3x1OSlXxs9KHw1yEP_FyRXiTKx8MA/s2501/June7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2501" data-original-width="1530" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8YoOaNSd60AE7ZxAQwaOsOfUGJ9QlIGhx6pTCoCQPha6lntWlbXPH-cP7D-2WIjI0xsrTT5iqDvmJE7x1H99UEzxQmFC7nWEqHfLmT5vmqROC-EonrRu_NesXF6s9_of4NFUm-YEqVGt2baSH5rEEwUTNPHLxi3x1OSlXxs9KHw1yEP_FyRXiTKx8MA/w245-h400/June7.jpg" width="245" /></a></div><p></p><p>Occasionally I look at my google search history and I'm like 'wow, what is life' (This omits all my stupid searches for how to solve puzzles in Skyrim or lists of the bugs and fish in Animal Crossing) </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUHQlZRquR-5r6Ehrv2XiyuykIP3iPY8AjN72dEM3bG7jNQ7Gi8nDFHQkdmhqQXlKwWuRAi5SrwKxTZKCwQ5Ym1_go1AAlY3W9scdbujrnpctSClZYl1Npctkj4wwfY4KNfx9IIbpCk5AeY-WtVtAHkeeMxcMR0Mr7UzZt497F3rbOO-guGOJ-dST47g/s2501/June8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2501" data-original-width="1531" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUHQlZRquR-5r6Ehrv2XiyuykIP3iPY8AjN72dEM3bG7jNQ7Gi8nDFHQkdmhqQXlKwWuRAi5SrwKxTZKCwQ5Ym1_go1AAlY3W9scdbujrnpctSClZYl1Npctkj4wwfY4KNfx9IIbpCk5AeY-WtVtAHkeeMxcMR0Mr7UzZt497F3rbOO-guGOJ-dST47g/w245-h400/June8.jpg" width="245" /></a></div><p></p><p>I haven't started going back to the gym yet (but I must?! Soon?! Now my boobs can safely jiggle again) but I have been trying to take long walks most mornings to make sure I get some exercise. Despite it being quite close, it had been a while since I walked through the new Battersea Power Station development. It's simultaneously really nice and really gross (really nice because it's so clean, it looks great, and it's well designed) (really gross because it's just made for rich people). </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkY_6MymyqlIoe1hhZfbcV8BQf1S74OcQTW_vWJ1c_pAqtUZ4Z6ky5HPoVtoOQ9A-W87oQCcOav-yegMsSW__CwggD1xknZBDujIv8kFTdZftTR3jIlezjFC1G7UB8qefgYENNGzTVlQ_7N6aTbIOVdy1vU2f2G1q6GCTutnHYUZCFj-EGxBMhtIr-sw/s2501/June9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2501" data-original-width="1470" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkY_6MymyqlIoe1hhZfbcV8BQf1S74OcQTW_vWJ1c_pAqtUZ4Z6ky5HPoVtoOQ9A-W87oQCcOav-yegMsSW__CwggD1xknZBDujIv8kFTdZftTR3jIlezjFC1G7UB8qefgYENNGzTVlQ_7N6aTbIOVdy1vU2f2G1q6GCTutnHYUZCFj-EGxBMhtIr-sw/w235-h400/June9.jpg" width="235" /></a></div><p></p><p>Railroad Inc is a really cute, fast lil boardgame that you should check out if you like a) trains, b) map building games, c) puzzles, or any combination of the above. It's super easy to pick up and teach, and you get to draw on the boards!<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpzhnu7f3NtKZTTe-6amzyI9ab7fuK8RCZdBgaAnwH3_v9l3Wlr_QxeKJnC7nSC0EJ2eV4EhjjXc6w-rE8hsngnBTJTCGbqWs8O9L5VYRUi8c4YIR6rf0GL6mgXPHZV-wftI0Z1fFH1MQhloOHGETQNkJfKJNRpqYo8KDgeEB_JwjPq5FoVDRRRjhakA/s2501/June10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2501" data-original-width="1583" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpzhnu7f3NtKZTTe-6amzyI9ab7fuK8RCZdBgaAnwH3_v9l3Wlr_QxeKJnC7nSC0EJ2eV4EhjjXc6w-rE8hsngnBTJTCGbqWs8O9L5VYRUi8c4YIR6rf0GL6mgXPHZV-wftI0Z1fFH1MQhloOHGETQNkJfKJNRpqYo8KDgeEB_JwjPq5FoVDRRRjhakA/s320/June10.jpg" width="203" /></a></div><p></p><p>Oh there's that lurgy I mentioned. UNFAIR!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPnFJafXfvFDaQqpTNU4xu1qrtdaQSEWYSc-DoqcKRxEkrg2SE8xnuYzWrI8kZsk2FX2VBnunjgF_eviYIAG336ZytrfQj8F4SVhE67hPOs8CfSkQsjBZ-0PFdit3uwuQKT8p6emWfSBMUxmbqFdsbYJKmbky1tO7gN0Nt1AibYOuORLOg1A_bhDrTAg/s2449/June11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2449" data-original-width="1476" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPnFJafXfvFDaQqpTNU4xu1qrtdaQSEWYSc-DoqcKRxEkrg2SE8xnuYzWrI8kZsk2FX2VBnunjgF_eviYIAG336ZytrfQj8F4SVhE67hPOs8CfSkQsjBZ-0PFdit3uwuQKT8p6emWfSBMUxmbqFdsbYJKmbky1tO7gN0Nt1AibYOuORLOg1A_bhDrTAg/w241-h400/June11.jpg" width="241" /></a></div><p></p><p>A goblin</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYF2R9x6cmsmegJQfcvNtnwb0TvshBfwFyq6yIHnRc19zITSLKeDKI3UAsi6fzS9k6MvEORKT6gE-hU6hs_WHd-JC_qrUH673mqkCzlA3CdTfd2tDDmC9F3qFnZBnYjBjKJFHO-GotHclYFzWxsCdiYvojO0UB1BgpRYRW1N6n4qiGYSp-pLusRdNXlg/s2501/June12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2501" data-original-width="1531" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYF2R9x6cmsmegJQfcvNtnwb0TvshBfwFyq6yIHnRc19zITSLKeDKI3UAsi6fzS9k6MvEORKT6gE-hU6hs_WHd-JC_qrUH673mqkCzlA3CdTfd2tDDmC9F3qFnZBnYjBjKJFHO-GotHclYFzWxsCdiYvojO0UB1BgpRYRW1N6n4qiGYSp-pLusRdNXlg/w245-h400/June12.jpg" width="245" /></a></div><p></p><p>At around 11.00 at night, just as we were falling asleep, we were awakened to the sound of banging right outside our second floor window. I opened the blind to find myself looking directly at a man in a cherrypicker hammering at the streetlight outside my window, trying to get the entire top of the thing off. He then replaced it with a fancy new LED version which, I'm not gonna lie, has totally harshed my vibe. I never minded having a streelight directly outside my window, in fact I'd often leave the blinds partly open because I liked the orange light. But this one is nasty white light and it's way less bright (I LIKED the light pollution in my room, okay?!), and it's totally changed the vibes of my room, and the street. I am mostly used to it now, but it does feel weirdly like the end of an era as these orange lights are gradually phased out. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaRqmyPqDXHWDLkTtIEr61aX--XdfTYJ1ObWjDbEA291bB8lC-sOGoGI5osQ5__BpCSthWcroa8zTnl5wVk1OrnxxuqrGSdHJOcMDcP20EWJ69s3n6014rso7TGUhCaVzRsxbzu_WGRZlvn5wSSRpcJ8kHCPU8i6DxdZVXireJ01DnEV3tBrvQY-8w1g/s2501/June13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2501" data-original-width="1530" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaRqmyPqDXHWDLkTtIEr61aX--XdfTYJ1ObWjDbEA291bB8lC-sOGoGI5osQ5__BpCSthWcroa8zTnl5wVk1OrnxxuqrGSdHJOcMDcP20EWJ69s3n6014rso7TGUhCaVzRsxbzu_WGRZlvn5wSSRpcJ8kHCPU8i6DxdZVXireJ01DnEV3tBrvQY-8w1g/w245-h400/June13.jpg" width="245" /></a></div><p></p><p>Moving through the cold phases to SNOT DAY! (Still testing negative for COVID though it's hard to test when your nose is full of snot and the throat swab makes you gag, but I did my best)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwNdz7mD2UzpKq6bci9m37eeOhLNFmabSVM7rh_ikVRt8aqSgOQelqfSBDnpMUGpsprw6okUV4AtaBZdenW3ehkm5eN1hIsu7lEoDnyMgavznpuqkj6JAsm0NWPgYIaOy7qqCT2Kh4dhwzR3Qf24XqiOc7JhSbmgAeaMvZd2UaMluxdqP4iINad222AQ/s2501/June14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2501" data-original-width="1531" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwNdz7mD2UzpKq6bci9m37eeOhLNFmabSVM7rh_ikVRt8aqSgOQelqfSBDnpMUGpsprw6okUV4AtaBZdenW3ehkm5eN1hIsu7lEoDnyMgavznpuqkj6JAsm0NWPgYIaOy7qqCT2Kh4dhwzR3Qf24XqiOc7JhSbmgAeaMvZd2UaMluxdqP4iINad222AQ/w245-h400/June14.jpg" width="245" /></a></div><p></p><p>Obivously my partner got the lurgy too.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf6vSZtiTAriEXnsHpu7qI2MKR_bGI8HYlgpUQ3RFKEZQUuzH-cRtVYs9X2AYA0mKyETZhnvH_3SKFIvlz_wk2oPBZHK7Gur4u073axuWEV_0YVq1bnFpxygjZCwHeZDEqpI2qMbNAhq3suqVNnP77qdWw8RzYeraoWv8OoQB2ZqarVfgWpOtdG_egqA/s2501/June15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2501" data-original-width="1479" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf6vSZtiTAriEXnsHpu7qI2MKR_bGI8HYlgpUQ3RFKEZQUuzH-cRtVYs9X2AYA0mKyETZhnvH_3SKFIvlz_wk2oPBZHK7Gur4u073axuWEV_0YVq1bnFpxygjZCwHeZDEqpI2qMbNAhq3suqVNnP77qdWw8RzYeraoWv8OoQB2ZqarVfgWpOtdG_egqA/w236-h400/June15.jpg" width="236" /></a></div><p></p><p>Luckily feeling mostly better (and still testing negative) for a long awaited trip to see Ralph Fiennes in Straight Line Crazy, a play about notorious (ly racist) mid century New York urban planner Robert Moses. Kinda wild to see a play about urban planning tbh, and I'm a big nerd about that kind of thing, so it was really fun, and I actually wished they'd gone harder on the detail in that respect, but then maybe it would have been less appealing to a mainstream audience. Ralph Fiennes was obviously great and so was everyone else. I'd recommend it, but it's over now, alas, I just caught the end of the run!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRz2A9pobDcfeh0pk2DLPatgtYLEZCZHtq7-oOGku8A8Bw-aLnoc9Bsk8DN1JZ2wUxUmpezAm7IzNcti-wT36EFH-PrXUKMcfC-omzLV9ZNMFCCEYD2QrcFZ8f_gsGCwnRz49XqPL7TQNaHudahRZMfyJViyGvcdNDalKCmLQkJJrCAwS37N9iIAAuWQ/s2501/June16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2501" data-original-width="1531" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRz2A9pobDcfeh0pk2DLPatgtYLEZCZHtq7-oOGku8A8Bw-aLnoc9Bsk8DN1JZ2wUxUmpezAm7IzNcti-wT36EFH-PrXUKMcfC-omzLV9ZNMFCCEYD2QrcFZ8f_gsGCwnRz49XqPL7TQNaHudahRZMfyJViyGvcdNDalKCmLQkJJrCAwS37N9iIAAuWQ/w245-h400/June16.jpg" width="245" /></a></div><p></p><p>Sun's out, BOOBS OUT!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRfD0Ha4_OZ6a-9rl1zYjjL8vUUZaDFYnY-At6N6w30MOqMIkGA84eD84WAXlD7zI6Q-B1Bhq6dy1rSdtEtxZa6DQciURkp5uXXmuKdpaxv7hzZuARPk5i_Fn8swIAUNqelt_v8mmkV48Y7zW1wD4tP4qN29h-S3RQh42DAq-uYFUeF1BFCblINu0Npg/s2501/June17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2501" data-original-width="1530" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRfD0Ha4_OZ6a-9rl1zYjjL8vUUZaDFYnY-At6N6w30MOqMIkGA84eD84WAXlD7zI6Q-B1Bhq6dy1rSdtEtxZa6DQciURkp5uXXmuKdpaxv7hzZuARPk5i_Fn8swIAUNqelt_v8mmkV48Y7zW1wD4tP4qN29h-S3RQh42DAq-uYFUeF1BFCblINu0Npg/w245-h400/June17.jpg" width="245" /></a></div><p></p><p>I feel weirdly un-shy about illustratively flashing to you all, now that I have no nipples. Kinda wild. (I am SO glad I went no nipples, I know most people think this is weird but I just feel so liberated being without them). As part of my surgery recovery I bought two hot/cold compress things from Boots, to make them cold you just put them in the fridge. I didn't really need them as part of my recovery as I didn't end up suffering that badly, but they are soooo nice to get out of the fridge and drape over yourself on super hot nights, like a reverse hot water bottle. Highly recommend</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2YjYXTP0sOXl2Sf6o7SsLY3S85bc96Z8DKcuhmrt0dwS4RCteGbIUZLYLuiG1ka6oB0MRGH0OjRfQtmjP46WTknTRYw2XbkkUsNU_ZjODx3A1IKLhxyHX0OjJJ40eib87nVUhMbQWVKbV7cqgYFQRwhyKU4S8XQh0ThzDN4GB51tf2SfbkS1zr1ljkQ/s2501/June18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2501" data-original-width="1531" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2YjYXTP0sOXl2Sf6o7SsLY3S85bc96Z8DKcuhmrt0dwS4RCteGbIUZLYLuiG1ka6oB0MRGH0OjRfQtmjP46WTknTRYw2XbkkUsNU_ZjODx3A1IKLhxyHX0OjJJ40eib87nVUhMbQWVKbV7cqgYFQRwhyKU4S8XQh0ThzDN4GB51tf2SfbkS1zr1ljkQ/w245-h400/June18.jpg" width="245" /></a></div><p></p><p>One thing I'm finding weird (though I guess not surprising) is that I'm still kinda self conscious about actually 'getting them out' — mostly because I've spent a lifetime dressing to minimise and disguise my chest. (As one friend said, "I don't think I've ever even seen any flesh below your neck") So when I wear a low cut top now I'm like 'is this too much?!', but then I go out and I see other women living their best boob lives and I'm like 'Huh I guess it's not'</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYF4HnTziZfGMQBOsZZjsxoeDrBsKu7w90rgp0sPmkgToNIrUItQz7k138VzVkTGW-SFh2mFub2GKZFu-n5oGgPIUrctLAze8cUrEl4Fi1VL__eVeLhlINayRAzsCUn0GEwU6Cs79NIb8vf_pSIfmWQaIF9PvKeUxVz86fUWHG4sMjklDwyp0LRNu_tQ/s2501/June19.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2501" data-original-width="1530" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYF4HnTziZfGMQBOsZZjsxoeDrBsKu7w90rgp0sPmkgToNIrUItQz7k138VzVkTGW-SFh2mFub2GKZFu-n5oGgPIUrctLAze8cUrEl4Fi1VL__eVeLhlINayRAzsCUn0GEwU6Cs79NIb8vf_pSIfmWQaIF9PvKeUxVz86fUWHG4sMjklDwyp0LRNu_tQ/w245-h400/June19.jpg" width="245" /></a></div><p></p><p>Chase doesn't like it when it gets too hot (but actually I think it is good for her achey joints?!)<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_VNplVwqftKCTK06ePr9s51sC1IMAYx5wePmvoxuQ3YQvrCw92cR2Or09NKi4uhLC7uLvrtP6mYm1knSWhZ5njolB2zx6iE5pwzI1-iIxKOjoqLUuZMFSCZ4cR8fLiqXTE6hokMPu9QPL4QMtMkYXGAXW8zrvnLGz7eUe5Q09Dbtix6gZnCbeKm2cAw/s2501/June20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2501" data-original-width="1531" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_VNplVwqftKCTK06ePr9s51sC1IMAYx5wePmvoxuQ3YQvrCw92cR2Or09NKi4uhLC7uLvrtP6mYm1knSWhZ5njolB2zx6iE5pwzI1-iIxKOjoqLUuZMFSCZ4cR8fLiqXTE6hokMPu9QPL4QMtMkYXGAXW8zrvnLGz7eUe5Q09Dbtix6gZnCbeKm2cAw/w245-h400/June20.jpg" width="245" /></a></div><p></p><p>I was dubious but I got one of these fidget toys and it actually has made a big difference to my ability to focus in meetings! (When I actually use it...)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-_Mrgs2RPtniCAu__rFsM4DcZHxP_-2tuB1g05HO2mBxqnCuLplecB78r5AeFfLheD92XtHfuKcHZlowGUq3XwuYjc1MkQa84qIr8prNfN4LFHuDA4fKby7QDwZxx5VyU6i1DqsclswRGPuuLUW0SjI7OsbQrRcTlu0FxDNLWRsLm_feZpbH33TgE4A/s2501/June21.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2501" data-original-width="1530" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-_Mrgs2RPtniCAu__rFsM4DcZHxP_-2tuB1g05HO2mBxqnCuLplecB78r5AeFfLheD92XtHfuKcHZlowGUq3XwuYjc1MkQa84qIr8prNfN4LFHuDA4fKby7QDwZxx5VyU6i1DqsclswRGPuuLUW0SjI7OsbQrRcTlu0FxDNLWRsLm_feZpbH33TgE4A/w245-h400/June21.jpg" width="245" /></a></div><p></p><p>I was doing a Samaritans night shift (10 – 2.30) on the night of the solstice, and because of the train strike I decided to walk there (near Oxford Circus) from my home in Battersea. The weather was lovely and I hugely enjoyed strolling through central London as the sun went down.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrLATqILrhXgJLRLaR4HH8Ok471RKUIo-UumOSdlHcYcaQvDQImMvv5uuvCSpknAzajmi65CsXw6yzdA4N0_02iWP6CZ7LkZuqvbFb4EdBPP4W1unWuWMaGZ-xeWR7DjUE7onS-JpA4W-3pM_QUwR7g1luVrLP_lKzCIRaE45QTCqW1duWfbTZOHgibw/s2501/June22.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2501" data-original-width="1531" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrLATqILrhXgJLRLaR4HH8Ok471RKUIo-UumOSdlHcYcaQvDQImMvv5uuvCSpknAzajmi65CsXw6yzdA4N0_02iWP6CZ7LkZuqvbFb4EdBPP4W1unWuWMaGZ-xeWR7DjUE7onS-JpA4W-3pM_QUwR7g1luVrLP_lKzCIRaE45QTCqW1duWfbTZOHgibw/w245-h400/June22.jpg" width="245" /></a></div><p></p><p>Doing my best at being a goth but sometimes I slip up a lil :)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA7rSdw3xTD4M5Jw_lCZCw_nvcn9-9fQa1r3NM9mesKeVHMh0p4n8bCQc7flNI1vIhWQFeIC4pQrGlZtuJI8KZDT18vyQCSD7hRySYXzTcYjwv-j1QO-RxrLCCyWicLUUAlSnWxep7mWkUjPiOkRmtdl1walHFLAj83bB_ZVUBk5e8DFqXbNFlZK_Q-Q/s2501/June23.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2501" data-original-width="1530" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA7rSdw3xTD4M5Jw_lCZCw_nvcn9-9fQa1r3NM9mesKeVHMh0p4n8bCQc7flNI1vIhWQFeIC4pQrGlZtuJI8KZDT18vyQCSD7hRySYXzTcYjwv-j1QO-RxrLCCyWicLUUAlSnWxep7mWkUjPiOkRmtdl1walHFLAj83bB_ZVUBk5e8DFqXbNFlZK_Q-Q/w245-h400/June23.jpg" width="245" /></a></div><p></p><p>I can't be trusted </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg41oBgqtSezPw455PCQa4_ijTzy7Ou7iVaPJDF4ohviEkinK6N4qQ0HDU_rSHmZUHcsAqQkFXGLvb18ja8K4Uc0t_gFZDuVFhDN9RkUQrfx0QIIf7HeoXtwDjR3e8uq1FHzwv2VQZS97kbDkrAM95SQA-3qNMTshCLd2GaogMDDJVyCCVdWKS34MwXkQ/s2480/June24.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2480" data-original-width="1535" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg41oBgqtSezPw455PCQa4_ijTzy7Ou7iVaPJDF4ohviEkinK6N4qQ0HDU_rSHmZUHcsAqQkFXGLvb18ja8K4Uc0t_gFZDuVFhDN9RkUQrfx0QIIf7HeoXtwDjR3e8uq1FHzwv2VQZS97kbDkrAM95SQA-3qNMTshCLd2GaogMDDJVyCCVdWKS34MwXkQ/w248-h400/June24.jpg" width="248" /></a></div><p></p><p>In further delightful June things, a weekend in Margate! My friend Jade managed to get a table at Margate zine fair and invited me to share it with them, which was an absolute joy — I hadn't tabled at a zine fair since before the pandemic and I've missed it so much! We decided to treat ourselves to an Airbnb together which made the whole thing feel like a cute lil mini break (originally Jade's partner and dog were supposed to join us but they couldn't make it in the end), and helped us avoid the train strikes.(Solidarity with those striking, obvs! More strikes! Longer strikes! Let's do this!)</p><p>I travelled down early on the Friday because I wanted to go for a nice hike — all the way from Broadstairs back along the coast to Margate. It was absolutely gorgeous the entire way (though long and at times somewhat precarious). I have missed being by the sea SO much, and it was so good to see some beautiful cliffs and weird cliff infrastructure and beautiful cerulean blue sea. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz1GgeMymK2Py9rOBnOJFpcpVd23WmQGDmO-jX49daOyA9WLCTKqCJbeuhfvMMVwkDnNGVyD0Ba6t-FCVZ0-peNKFOpHUBccfeUvSdL7M_ZAwP3LK3JNED7Ou2oDR0b-bBMpFUwvfbCBaOE-8j5LBQUQAs-1yybMzrF0_2BCIDwfZORk0kT9IKoxHiug/s2480/June25.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2480" data-original-width="1535" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz1GgeMymK2Py9rOBnOJFpcpVd23WmQGDmO-jX49daOyA9WLCTKqCJbeuhfvMMVwkDnNGVyD0Ba6t-FCVZ0-peNKFOpHUBccfeUvSdL7M_ZAwP3LK3JNED7Ou2oDR0b-bBMpFUwvfbCBaOE-8j5LBQUQAs-1yybMzrF0_2BCIDwfZORk0kT9IKoxHiug/w248-h400/June25.jpg" width="248" /></a></div><p></p><p>The zine fair the next day was great fun too — it was at a really cool venue, 'Elsewhere' in the centre of Margate. I sold a bunch of zines, met some cool people, got to pet some visiting dogs, and got a stick and poke tattoo! Yeah apparently 'getting a tattoo spur of the moment in a sticky basement at a zine fair' seems like a reasonable thing to do to me now :) (It's only little and I'm really pleased with it!) I also went out and had an amazing Po Boy for lunch, which was very delicious but very difficult to eat with any dignity.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvv6GH8gkl-oyCd8DK75_c4dUYsFVViG9DpZUw6wVb5doHWU7Mmch5vlUBe4GGI7_LU59H8Ja3a1aSQcfg0elrTSCuUeeIYRV6Zc-QEQ5XxwvZNRBvNtCyV1ZSW9CAovqkSzgsq8C6j8xXJr9Tq-tVfM11lXS24YeCBOQD5ruVlMtwSx8jLc9sTuFe4g/s2501/June26.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2501" data-original-width="1531" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvv6GH8gkl-oyCd8DK75_c4dUYsFVViG9DpZUw6wVb5doHWU7Mmch5vlUBe4GGI7_LU59H8Ja3a1aSQcfg0elrTSCuUeeIYRV6Zc-QEQ5XxwvZNRBvNtCyV1ZSW9CAovqkSzgsq8C6j8xXJr9Tq-tVfM11lXS24YeCBOQD5ruVlMtwSx8jLc9sTuFe4g/s320/June26.jpg" width="196" /></a></div><p></p><p>We headed home on Sunday (and I got another po boy), but not before visiting the Margate Crab Museum. I will not tell you anything else about the Margate crab museum other than it's extremely good and you should go, and it's probably not quite what you're expecting. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8geWptNWOCALGcEYZJx8L0p39iyQYUuZ2aqq4kYk3MDYQPdnQqaJlHeM3kFOrCBOupw-AGdlNx5hfkknFU5m_GmD-d8JSSVux_HQYVV7BN7liRuui3-JjVHk9J6D622DqBNBQhPr37ToMuZThxe0F3Z0OxllHsdCpGYWIjGyaWHnk_wXHnwOJNIHklA/s2501/June27.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2501" data-original-width="1530" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8geWptNWOCALGcEYZJx8L0p39iyQYUuZ2aqq4kYk3MDYQPdnQqaJlHeM3kFOrCBOupw-AGdlNx5hfkknFU5m_GmD-d8JSSVux_HQYVV7BN7liRuui3-JjVHk9J6D622DqBNBQhPr37ToMuZThxe0F3Z0OxllHsdCpGYWIjGyaWHnk_wXHnwOJNIHklA/w245-h400/June27.jpg" width="245" /></a></div><p></p><p>I really enjoyed the process of having a stick and poke tattoo. The artist was really nice, and it felt a lot more intimate and soothing than a machine tattoo (though I never minded those). It also healed WAY faster, which was pretty cool. (And no mother, it did not get infected, everything was actually very hygeinic considering it was done in the basement of a nightclub) </p><p>The tattoo is of a creepy little eye on a long flower stem, and I love it so much I kind of want to commission another tattoo artist to create a really big, realistic version of the same thing to get done somewhere else on my body</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzHkTY5b1KSqVlRAwcQ5Ej2ZH9WnpfXmqScxxuCTOChZwhveHz8uZaGLlSp9-ucf91g4PSgpnypkffTIidcUvD56NSocvZqBXrPfRCTB2Z6zOXxqKcdulX5ApKYIh2wIIdcO-n764tA4o28tomxmdRBsyuE0VfHhzK8ibW1PJnjWFN3DMsKVlmicO0Rg/s2501/June28.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2501" data-original-width="1531" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzHkTY5b1KSqVlRAwcQ5Ej2ZH9WnpfXmqScxxuCTOChZwhveHz8uZaGLlSp9-ucf91g4PSgpnypkffTIidcUvD56NSocvZqBXrPfRCTB2Z6zOXxqKcdulX5ApKYIh2wIIdcO-n764tA4o28tomxmdRBsyuE0VfHhzK8ibW1PJnjWFN3DMsKVlmicO0Rg/s320/June28.jpg" width="196" /></a></div><p></p><p>I guess I'm having a good time at the moment. Feels kinda weird to say given how truly terrible the world is. Whenever I look around me and think 'this is nice' something in my brain goes* 'when the apocalypse has come and you're fighting for your life in whatever the wasteland looks like, you'll look back on these as some of the last good times'. Maybe this is cynical. Maybe we'll all be fine. I am going to lean into being happy where I can, because it gives me the energy to (hopefully) do more good with my life/work. Plus it feels like about time, after a difficult several years. </p><p>(*Something else in my brain also often goes 'I see you're having a nice, carefree time, so here's a flashback to the moment you found Charlie dead' which is something I am still really struggling with, but I've mostly managed to find ways of pushing those thoughts aside when I need to. If anyone has any advice on stopping intrusive thoughts though, it would be appreciated.)<br /></p><p>ANYWAY, all of that aside, this is a drawing about how much I am enjoying my work at the moment. Being a freelancer is always somewhat precarious, but it has been a long time since I've had anything close to a 'bad month', and I now have enough work that I can start saying no to the jobs I don't like, which means my work is both more ethical and more enjoyable. (Any clients reading this, please keep hiring me, ily, thanks)</p><p>I have worked hard to become my own boss, and sometimes that means long hours, sometimes that means frayed nerves, but that also means that I can (sometimes, not too often), just say 'fuck this' at 4pm and stop working to play video games, or spontaneously take the Friday off to go walk along the Kent coastline. </p><p>There's probably an upper threshold to how much I can earn as a freelancer in this role that still means I'll never be able to afford a house (in London? Anywhere good?!), but it has given me enough to pay for my surgery, have a few takeaways a month, and buy one (1) item of clothing from Cos per month, should I desire it. And what more do I really need?! </p><p>(To start paying into a pension probably, lolsob)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE5CEjHAdryTF3UEa0Bw96ThSGYXIOIWWFx198NwFW7TX9zkEqTqOhKW-hl27Wd9CO-E9CnVrHsupCw0IrF91p-ao4DFkmm2wBPPOi2TrUBcIQyAUBSOgR-Tdqr_Y-Stoa1_rsPjRrfSipuOiH28VTUF5KkcxBCJD4A1HSanUx0NMpZDrSvyvW14RE4A/s2501/June29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2501" data-original-width="1530" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE5CEjHAdryTF3UEa0Bw96ThSGYXIOIWWFx198NwFW7TX9zkEqTqOhKW-hl27Wd9CO-E9CnVrHsupCw0IrF91p-ao4DFkmm2wBPPOi2TrUBcIQyAUBSOgR-Tdqr_Y-Stoa1_rsPjRrfSipuOiH28VTUF5KkcxBCJD4A1HSanUx0NMpZDrSvyvW14RE4A/w245-h400/June29.jpg" width="245" /></a></div><p></p><p>Talking of spontaneously taking the day off... My old friend Reggie was in town and he's always a good time, so I dropped everything to go out for lunch with him and get taken along to a recording of the Late Late Show. <br /></p><p>TV is really wild — if you're in the audience for these things you have to be constantly ready to lose your shit. Holler and scream and clap and generally act like you've never had a better time in your life. After a while, if you're susceptible to this kind of nonsense (which I am), you genuinely start to believe you've never had a better time in your life. John Boyega makes a saucy joke and you howl like it's the funniest thing you've ever heard. The hype man tells you to dance and you DO IT. Some guy does an obviously set up magic trick and you GASP and SHRIEK with shock and awe. All the while this perfectly choreographed team of camera men, audience organisers, directors, sound guys, make up people and more just glide around making everything work. It's like a masterpiece. </p><p>Reggie's the band leader, and he and his band are seasoned improvisers so it all just feels effortless. At lunchtime I told him that my parents live in Chichester. 'Oh, Chich?' Well, apparently the locals call it 'Chi'. He thought that was really gross, and during the recording of the show, sung a lengthy song about Chichester which probably baffled the entire audience. </p><p>As I say, always a good time. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWuz7m5R2nCIrBWPkux71EnKZ4_uFa-uIdvumV2DFbLcEtRyJOx2Zq0jGsrpkewLlKhi1MHMfaIgDKpotgBW24wvQA_-HOnAwx7IUegqXPadNfieG4YKXQgfSK5y1kw9xnXgX3moopIXsdFoNxPhsRQbFYueK7Fey5zW2s3PyajZqDHpCEEf2r8bNOeg/s2501/June30.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2501" data-original-width="1531" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWuz7m5R2nCIrBWPkux71EnKZ4_uFa-uIdvumV2DFbLcEtRyJOx2Zq0jGsrpkewLlKhi1MHMfaIgDKpotgBW24wvQA_-HOnAwx7IUegqXPadNfieG4YKXQgfSK5y1kw9xnXgX3moopIXsdFoNxPhsRQbFYueK7Fey5zW2s3PyajZqDHpCEEf2r8bNOeg/w245-h400/June30.jpeg" width="245" /></a></div><p></p><p>So yeah. Life is nice right now?! Except for the fact that I am doing ABSOLUTELY NO EXERCISE (apart from my lengthy morning walks and the occasional hike), and I'm really starting to feel it. The trouble is, all exercise takes time, and despite what some people say, I have absolutely not once in my life experienced these supposed 'endorphins' that happen after you work out. Exercise takes time and you feel awful afterwards, and when life is busy, literally who has time?! Anyway I am trying to figure out how I can make time for something that doesn't make me hate existing within a body, and I have a feeling a solution is about to present itself... imminently...</p><p>Anyway, on that mysterious note, it's nearly July, so I will see you on the other side!</p>Emmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03307690577227053266noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6149147983678759733.post-57204288860115681452022-05-31T19:30:00.000+01:002022-05-31T19:30:09.726+01:00May 2022<p>Well, at the <a href="http://emmacharleston.blogspot.com/2022/04/april-2022.html">end of April</a> when I last wrote to you, I was just freshly recovering from my long-awaited breast reduction surgery. I am pleased to say that it has been a very smooth month for the most part, and I'm feeling great!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlPxvpDMUdkzIGT4t1YTosk_E_xzqMFiKQ8mPLsOGiJEdus2m272CdhrANx7I6Di442nDAjGGQBkHoa55DI5mI8LWdUdXwBLgO6RyswF01HYeZz9Tpg5yr7s28_5FN5c8ahbDz4VxXH2goeGQDterJpON4fbtxFmAaO1eQuyAuMa-Is_9Y9-T1KPafZQ/s2484/May1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2484" data-original-width="1526" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlPxvpDMUdkzIGT4t1YTosk_E_xzqMFiKQ8mPLsOGiJEdus2m272CdhrANx7I6Di442nDAjGGQBkHoa55DI5mI8LWdUdXwBLgO6RyswF01HYeZz9Tpg5yr7s28_5FN5c8ahbDz4VxXH2goeGQDterJpON4fbtxFmAaO1eQuyAuMa-Is_9Y9-T1KPafZQ/w246-h400/May1.jpg" width="246" /></a></div><p></p><p>For the first couple of days after my surgery I was kind of on a high. I survived! No pain at all! I can do anything! But then I got reallll sleepy, and so I slept a bunch, and it was great.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7VtFYVAboEsVDgc4euW1IyjuPkqWbqftH3NRW5SGhYjEpiswAWgiKD7Fa_js5O4KhrQb27Wtp0LLDr7XRtGqzzAeXuNxvE1gSSLPnjHA-EWl6rloZ3l0nAo32WMFf5HAhtAGqxEDSTOTJPFxVDwLgl0veAoN1uY9hCDXJi6gLxqnmXI2rwwXgTPItig/s2484/May2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2484" data-original-width="1526" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7VtFYVAboEsVDgc4euW1IyjuPkqWbqftH3NRW5SGhYjEpiswAWgiKD7Fa_js5O4KhrQb27Wtp0LLDr7XRtGqzzAeXuNxvE1gSSLPnjHA-EWl6rloZ3l0nAo32WMFf5HAhtAGqxEDSTOTJPFxVDwLgl0veAoN1uY9hCDXJi6gLxqnmXI2rwwXgTPItig/w246-h400/May2.jpg" width="246" /></a></div><p></p><p>My friend Heidi came to visit and she bought me some trashy magazines and grapes. We also had burgers and played a boardgame. Exactly the healing energy I needed.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuUORleTTRnJr22ywTfAfZFR1oLK6o-q8gW5QvEwQbZvgMNUQ1wlxKsjAnikcIS_596-i0ajZRSxUBarad-JWTO3PRSy6i1jXKI2Rz7dLlqVU9GMO1SnZlSOhvuoKIF1Ot7rbVySZqxRdSlu4jyWISPPJfeTX1MhbMpzqYwMtscNOXwXLYJAOpyvO0PQ/s2484/May3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2484" data-original-width="1526" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuUORleTTRnJr22ywTfAfZFR1oLK6o-q8gW5QvEwQbZvgMNUQ1wlxKsjAnikcIS_596-i0ajZRSxUBarad-JWTO3PRSy6i1jXKI2Rz7dLlqVU9GMO1SnZlSOhvuoKIF1Ot7rbVySZqxRdSlu4jyWISPPJfeTX1MhbMpzqYwMtscNOXwXLYJAOpyvO0PQ/w246-h400/May3.jpg" width="246" /></a></div><p></p><p>6 days after surgery I felt able to go for a tentative walk down the street to the post office. I had to walk verrrrrryyyyy slowly because (despite the incredibly tight binder in which I was still encased) it felt like I was jiggling. (I was a little upset about this because I didn't really want there to be enough boobs left behind to be able to jiggle...)</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZQrruyTcOrEwoEF_sNYq1VtncE0zf8Re5dB9Y9w_CBxR7JW8MuqbrD8IUJXgTO4dFjkhNdsqDQ5Jne91QA1oT7R8oYc4Roc78KIjlrRz0Q3P2k45jL9APwyivPxzE2HQ4zLAJr2zmiVTvGiu8-lTsyyMTRePRedHWUlmHlb1X0rVcLPYsjJOodZCfdg/s2484/May4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2484" data-original-width="1526" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZQrruyTcOrEwoEF_sNYq1VtncE0zf8Re5dB9Y9w_CBxR7JW8MuqbrD8IUJXgTO4dFjkhNdsqDQ5Jne91QA1oT7R8oYc4Roc78KIjlrRz0Q3P2k45jL9APwyivPxzE2HQ4zLAJr2zmiVTvGiu8-lTsyyMTRePRedHWUlmHlb1X0rVcLPYsjJOodZCfdg/w246-h400/May4.jpg" width="246" /></a></div><p></p><p>Made a stupid collage out of the Hello Magazine that Heidi bought me (burn it all down)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0l-Lr6X29_PhL2owc_0qv0NuPW-4nysogHXcFW4wFkYBJxUzJIUEcGVpoEz6KZ0eaJJah3VavUFaZRI770e-CQCn4yKMfTXpow3Eb6DoUrjfom33GRAvXLxQrQGRfkkSjku_umJO_RFrScSj411k9ixVagHw0J48c7p4oSLG7ReKriJljdsCu2lF22Q/s2484/May5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2484" data-original-width="1526" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0l-Lr6X29_PhL2owc_0qv0NuPW-4nysogHXcFW4wFkYBJxUzJIUEcGVpoEz6KZ0eaJJah3VavUFaZRI770e-CQCn4yKMfTXpow3Eb6DoUrjfom33GRAvXLxQrQGRfkkSjku_umJO_RFrScSj411k9ixVagHw0J48c7p4oSLG7ReKriJljdsCu2lF22Q/w246-h400/May5.jpg" width="246" /></a></div><p></p><p>Usually when I try and take a break I just end up working, because my brain won't shut up and I like making money (the joy of freelancing), but my brain had been very 'no thoughts just eat n sleep' since the surgery, and I was sort of worried that I'd got too used to the leisure lifestyle and would never want to work again. But hey ho, only took a week for me to be back to normal...<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmcFTjoybEGjj3mg2lUMOQyepI866Q9u8jEmsRfI_-0HJgUH-AAYIqzqvSiLu3Of3p92OkJmcUDsZnVFRAig0S9gQFsYWGZyY_w0vEYBy0W22tm2KT_FPwRi5td-uSUwdtokXkgSHGTRPsujMIEl1pe_DnExT96UYYXstaY-bRCGUnWs8rH1rtXFIfng/s2484/May6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2484" data-original-width="1526" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmcFTjoybEGjj3mg2lUMOQyepI866Q9u8jEmsRfI_-0HJgUH-AAYIqzqvSiLu3Of3p92OkJmcUDsZnVFRAig0S9gQFsYWGZyY_w0vEYBy0W22tm2KT_FPwRi5td-uSUwdtokXkgSHGTRPsujMIEl1pe_DnExT96UYYXstaY-bRCGUnWs8rH1rtXFIfng/w246-h400/May6.jpg" width="246" /></a></div><p></p><p>After 9 days I went back to the hospital to have the terrible tight binder and massive bandages removed. Freedom! I'd had a bit of an allergic reaction to some of the sticky plasters they'd used to seal me in, so my skin was realllllly itchy, but aside from that, everything seemed to be going fine?! The nurse who changed my dressings said my wounds were healing really well, and it was so exciting to finally get to see the new boobs.</p><p>Except it also kind of isn't really seeing the new boobs, because they take 6 months to a year to fully 'settle', and they were (and are) still very swollen. They are definitely waaaaay bigger than what I asked for (I wanted like an A cup or less, they're currently closer to a B/C), and kind of disconcertingly perky, because they're full of fluid. WILD. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjikTKYC2E9-_TrBYdjXQRJQk8nuP0bTbyJUSEIIvrprbZsRKJ6WZA30uwG6VNNxrwU5YzD19_agcJVD1tO7frPm1war-Ky1poBdYsbjD42IIIJ-XTtg_jGjQZVGEAm5HZbNRVxCvTzMOQAFQmH4yFf5vPKVX3E8yz5WnrXDYIxrE5s5C-lJvYanD4CLQ/s2484/May7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2484" data-original-width="1526" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjikTKYC2E9-_TrBYdjXQRJQk8nuP0bTbyJUSEIIvrprbZsRKJ6WZA30uwG6VNNxrwU5YzD19_agcJVD1tO7frPm1war-Ky1poBdYsbjD42IIIJ-XTtg_jGjQZVGEAm5HZbNRVxCvTzMOQAFQmH4yFf5vPKVX3E8yz5WnrXDYIxrE5s5C-lJvYanD4CLQ/w246-h400/May7.jpg" width="246" /></a></div><p></p><p>Didn't stop me trying on ALL MY CLOTHES to see how much better they fit now. (Also calling bullshit on that mean nurse and my mother who were both like 'You don't want to go too flat chested, everything will look bad on you', well sorry, everything looks great, and will look even better once they've shrunk down a bit more.)</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFQ2DuRPnRZQpgiFXDsQLCmRrt4x4J1j7DrxpHgoEQzJiyU-E4AjSHuE5lO95_SyfoNdOBJfiUQTfdHnBDcy0wgdG7rZCpqX4meXInvCDvFedZp05nxRC5PezYZU7l9yRHLzYRDKP-jVWRbxOnoTVleyC-kBB7-1OMH_WO_jqZubd_n3gCzr4YrQovAA/s2484/May8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2484" data-original-width="1526" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFQ2DuRPnRZQpgiFXDsQLCmRrt4x4J1j7DrxpHgoEQzJiyU-E4AjSHuE5lO95_SyfoNdOBJfiUQTfdHnBDcy0wgdG7rZCpqX4meXInvCDvFedZp05nxRC5PezYZU7l9yRHLzYRDKP-jVWRbxOnoTVleyC-kBB7-1OMH_WO_jqZubd_n3gCzr4YrQovAA/w246-h400/May8.jpg" width="246" /></a></div> <br />My pals Michael, Lucy and Lyall came to visit and we had pizza in the park by my house! Almost like it's summer or something!<br /><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGvCO1K_E2PIERgAQhr4pCIDUBiA_daFX7p4hf6SCvRkEbsUU-6l7P-gLV3Ty7nzrf9pxxfocoemE5PkT4JwM2lgirf3GeT347HBdx4wtq4R0tJfebF472vY1u9JNZCkre0XaKebTMC25o3Fo3bTWPi-yFyQvsq4oIBl_q3cQ3uatAFdA9Zcck_-4YDQ/s2484/May9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2484" data-original-width="1526" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGvCO1K_E2PIERgAQhr4pCIDUBiA_daFX7p4hf6SCvRkEbsUU-6l7P-gLV3Ty7nzrf9pxxfocoemE5PkT4JwM2lgirf3GeT347HBdx4wtq4R0tJfebF472vY1u9JNZCkre0XaKebTMC25o3Fo3bTWPi-yFyQvsq4oIBl_q3cQ3uatAFdA9Zcck_-4YDQ/w246-h400/May9.jpg" width="246" /></a></div><p></p><p>I bought my partner a book about making bento because they really like Japanese food. But they don't like cold lunches (wtf) so I have claimed the book, and have been getting really excited about trying to make myself a cute bento each day. I think it's been really good for me?! I eat way more vegetables at lunchtime now, anyway. (Also there were loads of bees in the park that day)<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8NIuWRxLseLOmhWZz_a3SfUk84zxVgzIEzLj_DVZB_FROfQs6v8QgJSUPA3jGtBNb2P3mj6vpVrx_CkZ4KyF9392WyZZk7DMyg2WlUswv0SucI12rkih9gcrX048yiH1c7Z1lgUKHwYDkxARWhDo3Q3KllL6SzZqCCrTYX4s3tKO-u9SlWqEw2PQ0lA/s2484/May10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2484" data-original-width="1526" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8NIuWRxLseLOmhWZz_a3SfUk84zxVgzIEzLj_DVZB_FROfQs6v8QgJSUPA3jGtBNb2P3mj6vpVrx_CkZ4KyF9392WyZZk7DMyg2WlUswv0SucI12rkih9gcrX048yiH1c7Z1lgUKHwYDkxARWhDo3Q3KllL6SzZqCCrTYX4s3tKO-u9SlWqEw2PQ0lA/w246-h400/May10.jpg" width="246" /></a></div><p></p><p>Walked to John Lewis and bought myself a power suit (kinda, mostly just a cute waistcoat with matching trousers). The exciting thing to note here is THE BUTTONS ACTUALLY DO UP AND THERE'S NO GAPING. Hello.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0XNBLXVQrOHowF6OlaXvA6iclTMF8n6Fcy90dyjNxzqv7dxwh175Fzlsbfo_UIX_VXzEi3N-2dY0yMG-XhhT-prMUqKt5sr-YvkYz1sgIN1TCcCpaSvmfJFS9GZJ_ypftO2i0HDckfObZLnZh-SyCrSUxy5GqFwCp8HncR4jOzogYl3b_D-_pMI5euQ/s2484/May11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2484" data-original-width="1526" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0XNBLXVQrOHowF6OlaXvA6iclTMF8n6Fcy90dyjNxzqv7dxwh175Fzlsbfo_UIX_VXzEi3N-2dY0yMG-XhhT-prMUqKt5sr-YvkYz1sgIN1TCcCpaSvmfJFS9GZJ_ypftO2i0HDckfObZLnZh-SyCrSUxy5GqFwCp8HncR4jOzogYl3b_D-_pMI5euQ/w246-h400/May11.jpg" width="246" /></a></div><p></p><p>Finally started doing some actual work again (from bed). Ughhhhh</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkqKaCui2T2I-pSVLQ9fA79_EL1YtXU-6mfgMPlgMoT5WhY0PQcbsoHVTvGjAbcHFWoRQ6warIyb_xrBNNTcmDKrmCgUBQ4Xudnfpu3Q5aCggup0bGzWlIB6IdBQVSqRC1hQHDY4SwSFC4tf5CFMsKF36XaJoq4xS21AMXCVuFxAaGa6ao8_wnNEaEog/s2484/May12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2484" data-original-width="1526" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkqKaCui2T2I-pSVLQ9fA79_EL1YtXU-6mfgMPlgMoT5WhY0PQcbsoHVTvGjAbcHFWoRQ6warIyb_xrBNNTcmDKrmCgUBQ4Xudnfpu3Q5aCggup0bGzWlIB6IdBQVSqRC1hQHDY4SwSFC4tf5CFMsKF36XaJoq4xS21AMXCVuFxAaGa6ao8_wnNEaEog/w246-h400/May12.jpg" width="246" /></a></div><p></p><p>Time for Chase's annual shear! She's so soft and fuzzy right after her clip, she feels like a puppy! <br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzI0fz4BM0nNOkeqadXB6bLvVyQMlBqXcIJg-motnwBzRdIANmF8Ui0fEELvPkph7VrV-UhIztStxCFti0zFHNYaJePAZJn1d1PxzPGCvOhM6q-7IgT8VWq8yqaSOqWTQa8oR36ExgMvzwG2QmyfpaBfC2rav3RVCdaNpSMm6EnudYePUPNToDC1dy3w/s2484/May13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2484" data-original-width="1526" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzI0fz4BM0nNOkeqadXB6bLvVyQMlBqXcIJg-motnwBzRdIANmF8Ui0fEELvPkph7VrV-UhIztStxCFti0zFHNYaJePAZJn1d1PxzPGCvOhM6q-7IgT8VWq8yqaSOqWTQa8oR36ExgMvzwG2QmyfpaBfC2rav3RVCdaNpSMm6EnudYePUPNToDC1dy3w/w246-h400/May13.jpg" width="246" /></a></div><p></p><p>Went back to the hospital for another bandage change. Still worrying a bit about how big the new boobs are. Like, YES, it's a VAST improvement on how things were before, but also it's kinda not what I asked for?! Like why was it so hard to convince the surgeon I want what I want (basically no boobs) and won't regret it? It's just a lot of money to spend on (what I see as) half a job. However I have spoken to the surgeon since this, and she assured me that they are still REALLY SWOLLEN (yes, even 3+ weeks on, that is not long in the scheme of things!) and they WILL go down more. So I'm not feeling as grumpy about this now. Also it's hard to deny how cute they are, even if they are bigger than I want, so I really shouldn't grumble. She has done a lovely job, technically. (And they're still healing great! I'm kind of amazed how thin the scars are, I was expecting much worse)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhObU6pYKst4RuUCvV43v1ww13LsEERZOBNNFmq4vCGyEw2fb9d5s3vDoxY2o9OenJ3PkeYlSC4eoQjjpABSfrW7Q6IwtmgIhyuzz5psS4YWRA-D8IGF9ZmjtaIj3tz00FKvxkigCBq32He9z_HGGCoAcYz_sT-yBOZL4DHixsmHIHRfmSSXDFPqPMmiw/s2484/May14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2484" data-original-width="1526" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhObU6pYKst4RuUCvV43v1ww13LsEERZOBNNFmq4vCGyEw2fb9d5s3vDoxY2o9OenJ3PkeYlSC4eoQjjpABSfrW7Q6IwtmgIhyuzz5psS4YWRA-D8IGF9ZmjtaIj3tz00FKvxkigCBq32He9z_HGGCoAcYz_sT-yBOZL4DHixsmHIHRfmSSXDFPqPMmiw/w246-h400/May14.jpg" width="246" /></a></div><p></p><p>EUROVISIONNNN! Got really carried away on the snacks front and made like 9 or 10 different country themed bits. Heidi and Rosie came over and we watched it with my housemate Camille and her partner and it was GREAT. (You can see my drawings <a href="http://emmacharleston.blogspot.com/2022/05/eurovision-2022.html">here</a>)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibqqD1uRAwwAiXbxfo5j7Cw3hBWDv0r4-uUEiTJKj20qcXhgK5curxGB_RzmJX391Sjl81RN8TOvCy8kX_FphixKbIvu95Vzx_eIrcH78EXwKKTZnaIUudRVEJIx-BveaIF6NPVp7QBUuH58INLbwOEx_Cuwh-EpjHIDUztgZX4OBcCVTQjTyM3jThxA/s2484/May15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2484" data-original-width="1526" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibqqD1uRAwwAiXbxfo5j7Cw3hBWDv0r4-uUEiTJKj20qcXhgK5curxGB_RzmJX391Sjl81RN8TOvCy8kX_FphixKbIvu95Vzx_eIrcH78EXwKKTZnaIUudRVEJIx-BveaIF6NPVp7QBUuH58INLbwOEx_Cuwh-EpjHIDUztgZX4OBcCVTQjTyM3jThxA/w246-h400/May15.jpg" width="246" /></a></div><p></p><p>Starting to get a bit more back into the normal swing of things — Heidi stayed over and we played another boardgame, then I went out for a wander round the shops (but it was actually kind of rubbish, turns out tiny boobs does not solve all clothing fit woes, though it definitely helps...)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu7HMM8clwd9EY9B3n-P78_Qyu-UIG90JQ-kCc6XufRZQ42Xc1ffFpe9x0fWdTBxNXlVyBWp-6FiDuhbx5PuL0sXOkIk60q_V9U1IqgL1d_k3yzYqtAmS4iRoOrVLep-qArYgd5jBFAwMm8uz1nszrxmsdMo2zn5vE6qE_kh3ziKgG47VLusGBV690_Q/s2484/May16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2484" data-original-width="1526" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu7HMM8clwd9EY9B3n-P78_Qyu-UIG90JQ-kCc6XufRZQ42Xc1ffFpe9x0fWdTBxNXlVyBWp-6FiDuhbx5PuL0sXOkIk60q_V9U1IqgL1d_k3yzYqtAmS4iRoOrVLep-qArYgd5jBFAwMm8uz1nszrxmsdMo2zn5vE6qE_kh3ziKgG47VLusGBV690_Q/w246-h400/May16.jpg" width="246" /></a></div><p></p><p>Still not quite back up to full speed workwise tho (also got really into Skyrim during my convalesence, which I'd been playing kinda half heartedly for like 6 months already, but suddenly for some reason got REALLY obsessed with)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt0lho-WjGoWD3D7rWn5lESRzAUiNrTU0NA0Up3DIu5DjE4doWxOOXVxruWCaS3HEk5dWfHVjoUb02j5Yj4xCQTnrzX3aKl0rFW5VwMX_OWryjGLG1SbIbURCY3S8_4ug3H7GJea6C-I5cY5Wj4M5jOGAZQYoR7DqhxX5Xjk_0CTidshjGPV3JwpTncQ/s2484/May17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2484" data-original-width="1526" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt0lho-WjGoWD3D7rWn5lESRzAUiNrTU0NA0Up3DIu5DjE4doWxOOXVxruWCaS3HEk5dWfHVjoUb02j5Yj4xCQTnrzX3aKl0rFW5VwMX_OWryjGLG1SbIbURCY3S8_4ug3H7GJea6C-I5cY5Wj4M5jOGAZQYoR7DqhxX5Xjk_0CTidshjGPV3JwpTncQ/w246-h400/May17.jpg" width="246" /></a></div><p></p><p>Recognising that I really need a holiday (despite feeling slightly conflicted about it because I've kind of just had a holiday?! Albeit a holiday that consisted of lying in bed a bunch and sleeping and not really being able to move). Basically I just wanna get out of London for a bit later this summer, gonna head up north I think. But booking things and making decisions is haaaaaard</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglYyNkqgYXOTgcgh-71BFiXtKZu2peNtF4zvNAHWyFk0wcd5mSHFc79hQkCDFnx_l111bXK8CTFXwKhl6dIn0K9tuA-1LC1BHYou3XRgXfo_YaODYR480h8jNxZHSCDmX50CUAo2V30vnnbIyClt7Uhz7WIrEYtREK98zBLMx7tDWdsQEkjOzears-xg/s2484/May18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2484" data-original-width="1526" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglYyNkqgYXOTgcgh-71BFiXtKZu2peNtF4zvNAHWyFk0wcd5mSHFc79hQkCDFnx_l111bXK8CTFXwKhl6dIn0K9tuA-1LC1BHYou3XRgXfo_YaODYR480h8jNxZHSCDmX50CUAo2V30vnnbIyClt7Uhz7WIrEYtREK98zBLMx7tDWdsQEkjOzears-xg/w246-h400/May18.jpg" width="246" /></a></div><p></p><p>One of my absolute fav pals Davey came to visit all the way from Montana! I mean he was here for someone else's wedding but I insist it was mostly to come and see me. Had my first cross-London outing since the surgery to go to Tofu vegan chinese in Islington. It was extraordinarily good!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDxkPRIUuAhWWCT4kRBu5HKvzIedzBW7Q_NlFD3Y4V3XQyXvLh6LRE8id-oDPZNN8qJLLYAFtRfXgPXJ_s0Apmo0VKmiFrdQxgqo0ZQEZtz5KW23mVU7zIPgMxDTEubrWyAiwIKcODdueR32ikmEVaf6x_PaC4GSx2sTOqyHuxBatsv5uhwIAkF_igog/s2484/May19.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2484" data-original-width="1526" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDxkPRIUuAhWWCT4kRBu5HKvzIedzBW7Q_NlFD3Y4V3XQyXvLh6LRE8id-oDPZNN8qJLLYAFtRfXgPXJ_s0Apmo0VKmiFrdQxgqo0ZQEZtz5KW23mVU7zIPgMxDTEubrWyAiwIKcODdueR32ikmEVaf6x_PaC4GSx2sTOqyHuxBatsv5uhwIAkF_igog/w246-h400/May19.jpg" width="246" /></a></div><p></p><p>Got grumpy with a client for trying to make me add a BAD colour to my extremely nice colour palette :) (This is not actually a good depiction of my nice colour palette because I didn't have the right colour pens...)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLSN6ON2-IhQ4ScY8ftK8UsMof89V6Sce5SZ2tB9IjJIoa982-zqMvw91aCxfTJFPq-9huxjhBNtRATUrzsI_QI6ug79sIMu39tYanhVDgYfALvRnB1lUkDpYN1uRDklQP1LSiXh8GBOkke-U1JcOohZzcoPamu-mdEivcUK8NUUBBi0sZRxVIawyueA/s2484/May20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2484" data-original-width="1526" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLSN6ON2-IhQ4ScY8ftK8UsMof89V6Sce5SZ2tB9IjJIoa982-zqMvw91aCxfTJFPq-9huxjhBNtRATUrzsI_QI6ug79sIMu39tYanhVDgYfALvRnB1lUkDpYN1uRDklQP1LSiXh8GBOkke-U1JcOohZzcoPamu-mdEivcUK8NUUBBi0sZRxVIawyueA/w246-h400/May20.jpg" width="246" /></a></div><p>First shift back at Samaritans after my leave of absence for surgery! I am a shift leader now! I have to control the BIG PHONE<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5Q6l3qMhpfVjARlbjQQx9QvmoZ7WgGYp85artdbscwfA8Wg--qYGlwzANB5PmcnY_r4fR3FYDjEOLzRb6S67YBlvpVqA-4Ybu9BuQ5w-yRbvhMa1azPJRCzyHNILEgMhihOLePPM2QBGiDZJnob2J8FfqEUXGSZ_xYP4fnXj6jbENNS0YQHAUpMmz_A/s2474/May21.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2474" data-original-width="1478" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5Q6l3qMhpfVjARlbjQQx9QvmoZ7WgGYp85artdbscwfA8Wg--qYGlwzANB5PmcnY_r4fR3FYDjEOLzRb6S67YBlvpVqA-4Ybu9BuQ5w-yRbvhMa1azPJRCzyHNILEgMhihOLePPM2QBGiDZJnob2J8FfqEUXGSZ_xYP4fnXj6jbENNS0YQHAUpMmz_A/w239-h400/May21.jpg" width="239" /></a></div><p></p><p>Even though I'd been working to a greater or lesser extent since the 11th, and was absolutely back up to full speed at this point, I have stubbornly refused to return to my desk. I have done this before. (Like at Christmas when I got COVID and refused to return to my desk for over a month). The disadvantages of working from a tiny, single screen, with a trackpad, not to mention the terrible ergonomics, feel far outweighed by the notion of sticking it to the MAN (who, in this case, is also me, because I am my own boss) and just working from my bed or armchair for... anything up to several weeks until I eventually realise the folly of my ways?!</p><p>Anyway I have still not left my bed and though for some people this might be a warning sign of depression, I am feeling GLORIOUS (famous last words)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7wE7yBdH4ItFBDtitsc6hPN8b5bz15awuWg7PwaMFLm24QGeYrdwLghD9zaG1OU0P4ojMJXI2zMc0KwAXmdAoE_KnW7OJTD-eOzB8LfUHUYkBbDrgrEBfXVjE3oMWnG4EfgHx7mLCT_GjWmKhhi0qCrVMdBjN13z_seftu1OGS4WtWmLcCiPEZUeDIA/s2474/May22.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2474" data-original-width="1530" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7wE7yBdH4ItFBDtitsc6hPN8b5bz15awuWg7PwaMFLm24QGeYrdwLghD9zaG1OU0P4ojMJXI2zMc0KwAXmdAoE_KnW7OJTD-eOzB8LfUHUYkBbDrgrEBfXVjE3oMWnG4EfgHx7mLCT_GjWmKhhi0qCrVMdBjN13z_seftu1OGS4WtWmLcCiPEZUeDIA/w248-h400/May22.jpg" width="248" /></a></div><p></p><p>Went back to the hospital for my final bandage removal a couple of days prior to this, to discover that I had had an even worse allergic reaction to the glue of the smaller bandages, and basically all of the skin on my chest was sloughing away. However, tits look great (and wounds totally healed over, incredible, bodies are magic). By a couple of days later I was WILDLY, UNBEARABLY itchy across my entire chest, and had a livid red rash. I took myself back to the hospital to confirm definitively that I did not have an infection (phew) and it literally was just a bad skin reaction. They suggested I up my dose of anti-histamines (which I'd already been taking to deal with the itching from the earlier bandages)<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTWFb8OZ8ULBb5ACeGa8V6ur2bxvi5ZNHBgIEjVYjubXsNjeyiOxPz12ZIkkgC13K-cgFWlqf8lXXJtGn0dMded9Lc9SEbP1upkwpW9DpkBjpKb490cMGngza3v1apkYw1mBzRCZvP7BhEVJ-_pQcJ6AQG2dcmXFFqKZi_9E7_Whk04JnP2pEGNnlT6A/s2474/May23.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2474" data-original-width="1531" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTWFb8OZ8ULBb5ACeGa8V6ur2bxvi5ZNHBgIEjVYjubXsNjeyiOxPz12ZIkkgC13K-cgFWlqf8lXXJtGn0dMded9Lc9SEbP1upkwpW9DpkBjpKb490cMGngza3v1apkYw1mBzRCZvP7BhEVJ-_pQcJ6AQG2dcmXFFqKZi_9E7_Whk04JnP2pEGNnlT6A/w248-h400/May23.jpg" width="248" /></a></div><p></p><p>Unfortunately, this made me... sleepy</p><p>(I find it kind of funny that the worst bit of recovery from someone literally hacking me open and sewing me up again was... a skin rash?! And subsequent drowsiness from the drugs I took to deal with the skin rash?! lolsob.)</p><p>I actually felt less able to work at this point than I had done in the days immediately following my surgery, but powered through nonetheless because the work is there and it needs doing. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEnHYfby2BwXDEa3ONwmtBcuZ48Crq3inoraiTyRMGqs0_8cskvIOpoqH5JlNtGqdfT-sRzbAVyqKYhaUry99O-kWRP1kbRL0KSIttbAAFDsSmZ8xLwFCS_mzgAzI_qFQTTQlAedaFIw2bOlEKpivqizfBzuRnYWOU0R_1BDlOeoJKLkpIdgo4a2BtHQ/s2474/May24.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2474" data-original-width="1530" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEnHYfby2BwXDEa3ONwmtBcuZ48Crq3inoraiTyRMGqs0_8cskvIOpoqH5JlNtGqdfT-sRzbAVyqKYhaUry99O-kWRP1kbRL0KSIttbAAFDsSmZ8xLwFCS_mzgAzI_qFQTTQlAedaFIw2bOlEKpivqizfBzuRnYWOU0R_1BDlOeoJKLkpIdgo4a2BtHQ/w248-h400/May24.jpg" width="248" /></a></div><br />My friend Davey was still in London and we'd promised ourselves we'd go for a ride on the first day of the Elizabeth line together. It was meant to be like a whole day out, but I still felt wildly drowsy, and there was a big storm which a) put us off the idea of going for a walk, which had been part of the plan, and b) scared my dog so much I wanted to stay home with her. We did eventually go for a ride, much later in the day than planned, and it was great! Then we went to a super cute lil vegan Brazillian place in Brixton with some of Davey's other friends, which was lovely.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho8ICeVKy73jMvZ6Ahn-WCFNAmaHX8FCfYn_MUS6CZRrMXh3J8xReSbHuoB98S7k6v6eHVpzBJFELX87VCQtBtxfmpkUC6yRrgYbtNJ94KDXEKo7gHpgLl4fJlY_DHmhQ2Ltv256orm9_rPRELwg9wYJjecEBKqAWYjsw9NAOLmUTW0ev85P_XLRa7Mw/s2474/May25.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2474" data-original-width="1531" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho8ICeVKy73jMvZ6Ahn-WCFNAmaHX8FCfYn_MUS6CZRrMXh3J8xReSbHuoB98S7k6v6eHVpzBJFELX87VCQtBtxfmpkUC6yRrgYbtNJ94KDXEKo7gHpgLl4fJlY_DHmhQ2Ltv256orm9_rPRELwg9wYJjecEBKqAWYjsw9NAOLmUTW0ev85P_XLRa7Mw/w248-h400/May25.jpg" width="248" /></a></div><p></p><p>Feeling still not on top form, but slightly better, I got the train down to Brighton to attend one of <a href="https://www.designcouncil.org.uk/our-work/news-opinion/explorestation-have-your-say-network-rails-new-local-station-design/">Network Rail and the Design Council's 'Explorestation' workshops</a>, looking at the architectural future of small to medium sized sized railway stations in the UK. It was super fun! I wrote a whole blog about it <a href="https://manyemdashes.wordpress.com/2022/05/29/explorestation-workshop-the-future-of-british-railway-stations/">here</a>!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_gzxlUg4R4QLAOIX0fzdlPPbdHEPC9JEN5VEcjpsUj9mNL4aim3eOW2eNw2Sdw_sm9w2ZUQaVp-0hoBkJEUAWAUtMCN_a2iUzGuHAvBlNGCwQxDrRu0qsnmoDtJItoXL425-sHtOY7ezpBpaYXTxVV2Q1oTWGZzelWixnPFNdqTmIqjbBH4sprsoX9w/s2474/May26.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2474" data-original-width="1479" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_gzxlUg4R4QLAOIX0fzdlPPbdHEPC9JEN5VEcjpsUj9mNL4aim3eOW2eNw2Sdw_sm9w2ZUQaVp-0hoBkJEUAWAUtMCN_a2iUzGuHAvBlNGCwQxDrRu0qsnmoDtJItoXL425-sHtOY7ezpBpaYXTxVV2Q1oTWGZzelWixnPFNdqTmIqjbBH4sprsoX9w/w239-h400/May26.jpg" width="239" /></a></div><br />The next day (considering how rough I was feeling, I had a very busy week), I headed out to <a href="https://www.lethepressbooks.com/store/p640/Lost_in_the_Archives.html">my friend Ellis's book launch party</a>! It was lovely to see some familiar faces and have a natter in the occult bookshop basement :) <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwz1CU_HEJxmSeGrslcOmiab4ktWHw9gF-wHgK5u510y9yhUKyVcWKjf8zqBJaTv8mT38donGWau5-BYvV_1kdTaSlkyW2Rf1b1DqKref-BAs4J1BnNH_yGtOndNf41KykFJEdUXN7AaFcmQbVq0U0apZz2MZtUJkzNCGO53ETCKqEuzBse3hoP21Qiw/s2474/May28.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2474" data-original-width="1530" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwz1CU_HEJxmSeGrslcOmiab4ktWHw9gF-wHgK5u510y9yhUKyVcWKjf8zqBJaTv8mT38donGWau5-BYvV_1kdTaSlkyW2Rf1b1DqKref-BAs4J1BnNH_yGtOndNf41KykFJEdUXN7AaFcmQbVq0U0apZz2MZtUJkzNCGO53ETCKqEuzBse3hoP21Qiw/w248-h400/May28.jpg" width="248" /></a></div><p></p><p>For most of May I've been totally failing to get my 10,000 steps a day, and I'm trying to get back on it, because I am woefully unfit, and spending a month not doing much hasn't helped. It's way too soon to go back to the gym (gotta wait 6 – 8 weeks for that), but I can walk as far as I want now. Trouble is, my walking buddy isn't exactly motivational — her favourite thing is bed, and while that is extremely wholesome and sweet, it ain't good for me. (I miss Charlie, every day, still)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP2Coob54c86hyTMrUKpn8_r-Dpf7b9lYHZ26X2AzWklIJBLJl8B-roe1j65KT8j1A_PKtPMiNvWJshxX0BAjo4jP6Vw_Uqj5zBeHHD9rdn23YIZtdVjrsHy_JIZNNRsrHeVNNWOjxev11VN03UpqNd42ZIrkyKO0UEmU7j4PW-tJ0HVcXcK2GZ6hNxw/s2474/May30.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2474" data-original-width="1530" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP2Coob54c86hyTMrUKpn8_r-Dpf7b9lYHZ26X2AzWklIJBLJl8B-roe1j65KT8j1A_PKtPMiNvWJshxX0BAjo4jP6Vw_Uqj5zBeHHD9rdn23YIZtdVjrsHy_JIZNNRsrHeVNNWOjxev11VN03UpqNd42ZIrkyKO0UEmU7j4PW-tJ0HVcXcK2GZ6hNxw/w248-h400/May30.jpg" width="248" /></a></div><br />I was worried work would be quiet when I came back from my recovery time, but luckily all my clients were just waiting in the wings ready to pounce on me as soon as I said 'I'm back!' — this is good! But also... so many tasks 😅 (though admittedly some of those tasks are self inflicted, like, uh, writing this blog)<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOe3A-rOaJ74JcvoeicDnAcJZywup4RCbuAENMGR7CmTvLSOPaQdE9UH9ZD6wMHiRGaBcQt-uJeWcRh7Z44V77UI7RvUb4-418S6yEuzAOhXgwCRT53BEA4iEGYPbXkcSJAHQH6ffGIJeyybPAVDb4CH9cW5Tg_3cUPMrrKj2GhXSuaWJjEi6eKC9I_g/s2474/May31.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2474" data-original-width="1498" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOe3A-rOaJ74JcvoeicDnAcJZywup4RCbuAENMGR7CmTvLSOPaQdE9UH9ZD6wMHiRGaBcQt-uJeWcRh7Z44V77UI7RvUb4-418S6yEuzAOhXgwCRT53BEA4iEGYPbXkcSJAHQH6ffGIJeyybPAVDb4CH9cW5Tg_3cUPMrrKj2GhXSuaWJjEi6eKC9I_g/w242-h400/May31.jpg" width="242" /></a></div><p></p><p>More thunder storms! Oh no!<br /></p><p>I hope you've all had a restful, soothing May (hopefully less itchy than mine). I'm excited to start getting back into the world a bit more in June...<br /></p>Emmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03307690577227053266noreply@blogger.com0