Slink. BA

That's my name now... Officially: Slink BA (Bachelor of Arts). Tuesday was my graduation ceremony, and about two days ago I probably had all this stuff I wanted to say about it but now I can't seem to think of anything. It was relativly pleasant, I felt quite proud and my new shoes hurt the crap out of me... so pretty much what I expected. I didn't think my Dad was going to make it at first as he's managed to do his back in and could hardly walk... but he struggled through the ceremony. I'm dreading getting the official photo's back, I was grinning like a loon, bloody photographers.

The only exciting thing to happen since then is a trip to the Sealife centre yesterday. Man, I am such a big kid when it comes to zoo's and aquarium's... I just love them... I took my digi-SLR along too, see what it could do and got a few decent images, but not many.

Oh yeah... I managed to read Harry Potter and The Half Blood Prince in two days. Godamit I was in shock for about a day afterwards... how? why would you..? There's still some people I know who refuse down-right to read these books... which if you ask me, is just lame. Their excuses being one of the following:

a). "They're KIDS books!" .... er yeah but they're probably more mature than that shitty american teen-flick you're watching.

b). "I just don't get what the fuss is about" ... read them then.

c). "It's Black Magic and all that read it will go to hell" .... bye.

I really couldn't tell anyone what it is about them; I've often wondered but I can't put my finger on it. They're just good. I feel sorry for any kids trying to understand them and work them out because to my little brain they're actually pretty complicated (someone back me up here... please!).

There's some decent films coming out VERY soon, so it's all good for the moment. There's Charlie and The Chocolate Factory, Harry Potter and The Goblet of Fire, Wallace and Grommit and The Curse of The Weir Rabbit.... godamit it'll be ace... then later in the year is the climax- The Corpse Bride. Can't. Wait.

*yaaawwwwn*

Well we're back. And relatively without hangovers which is good. It was a manic two days but it was well worth it I think.

Thursday, we managed to get to Niall's graduation ceremony in plenty of time, though the wally forgot his best shoes so had to rush into town and buy a new pair. He looked really funny in his gown and hat, but I was really proud to see him up on that platform recieving his well-earned degree. I also got to see Dave who was awarded in the same ceremony so that was nice too. The only downside to the day was the sweltering heat and the fact I got pretty bad sunburn, as you'll see a bit later on...

Hee hee... love that picture... it was taken on the procession out of the main hall. He looks proud bless him.

Later that evening I nearly broke both my ankles testing out the shoes I'd bought for the Ball, as we met Niall's parents for a posh meal in a local restaurant. I had Duck liver pate on melba toast with this wierd sauce that had a funny name but was really just like marmalade; then for my main course I had pan seared chicken with sweet potato chips and a spinach and pine kernal sauce. Man, it was yummy. And free... as Niall's parents paid. Woohoo!

So the next day was spent wandering around town in a panic, looking for another pair of shoes so I wouldn't cripple myself, and fortunatly managed to find a pair that fitted. I hate shoes. No scratch that ... I hate ridiculous girly shoes that a) crush your toes to a pulpy mess, b) break bones, c) make you walk like an idiot all night d) create blisters of a size you never thought possible or e) all of the above. And hell, if we HAVE to wear these sorts of shoes, then the establishment making that sort of silly demand should pay for them! Anyways, I digress... yeah, we met up with Dave, John, Rob and Sarah for dinner, then went home to start getting ready. I had a hairdressers appointment at half six which Linz managed to turn into half seven. I was totally blown away at what my hairdresser Jackie did though. It looked fucken ACE even if I do say so myself.

I was soo chuffed. That picture's a little blurry but you get the idea. :-) I even managed to get into my dress after having it all done. Yeah, I was proud.

I think we arrived at about half nine. The Union was all done up to it's Las Vegas theme without being too tacky. They had this laser fountain outside with big candles lining the paths, big gazebo tent things, fire artists, a fair ground, a wrestling ting inside with a casino and karioke bar upstairs. I don't know where to start... there was a big fireworks display and various acts/bands playing though I didn't actually see any one on stage. Most of the night was spent in the company of friends, watching people get drunk, being happily merry without being too drunk, and catching up with people I hadn't seen in a while. Oh yeah... we also got married in an outside fake Las Vegas chapel... we got certificates and photo's to prove it and were given jelly-sweet rings too. It was a good laugh. I had a really good night, I think everyone did. I didn't cry or anything since I'm going to be seeing most of my mates at my graduation ceremony on Tuesday... but it was a bit sad to be in the Union one last time with the people I've spent the last three years of my life with. I must say... it was special. I didn't want to take my camera, but I'm hoping to nab copies of photo's from as many people as possible so I'll have a big collection soon enough. I dread to think what some of them will come out like; for some reason my eyes just glow red ANY time I have a photo taken with flash. Damn eyes.

We left at about half two, retreating back to our hotel room in town. It took about fifteen minutes to take all the hair grippy things out of my hair before spending another ten minutes brushing out all the sprays and 'stuff' that was in my hair. But we were both knackered and slept like ... erm... like tired people. I was relieved of actually getting to sleep since the night before we'd been unable to sleep due to traffic noise in the street below. We may as well have slept outside... it would have been cooler for sure.

But anyway, we're back. I'm pretty tired still. I have my grad ceremony on Tuesday and then start my summer job on Wednesday. URGHghhffflppph. Not much more to say... stay tuned for more photo's.

laters.

Melting...

This week I have been mostly wearing ... ... teeny tiny shorts. But only behind the safety of closed doors or away from the public in general. It's just way too hot outside.

Well, we found a flat. It's absolutely fab, small, but fab. It's furnished and the rent is just about within our budget, though the council tax in that area is higher than we expected, looks like we'll be paying about £1200 a year council tax. The deposit has been paid along with the extortionate admin costs so it's ours in August. Stupidly, we have to pay a whole months rent purely because they don't want anyone to move in before August 10th. We are in fact saving them a hell of alot of money in terms of advertising costs etc, but we have to pay them rent incase.... erm.... oh yeah just because they're greedy mofos. Anyway, we're both pleased with it. Niall will probably move in straight away, and hopefully I will follow shortly afterwards.

It's a busy week really... I've been gathering things for the grad ball etc. I think I'm bout set though I haven't packed yet for our two day trip to Uni-town. It'll be so wierd being back there, but great to see everyone one last time. We're booked in at some expensive hotel for two nights as Uni forgot to tell us that we could have stayed in halls for £25 a night. Thanks for that. But at least we'll have a decent breakfast anyway. Here's the drill:

Thursday:
8.30 am Drive to Uni-town
10.00 am Get my hair done
12.00 noon Meet Niall and his parents for a Barbeque (and yes it does take two hours to do my hair)
3.00 pm Niall's graduation ceremony
6.45 pm Going out for a meal with Niall and his Parents

Friday:
7.30 am Get up early to have a bloody good breakfast to get our moneys worth from the expensive hotel
5.30 pm Get ready for the ball- shower etc
6.30 pm Get hair styled
7.30 pm Continue getting ready for the Grad Ball
9.00 pm Leave for the Grad Ball and get sloshed as quick as possible

Sorted. We'll have to leave for home Saturday morning so getting up after only a few hours sleep will be interesting to say the least. I'm sure there will be a few photos.

Catch you in a few days time.

xx

eek

:-( Glad we didn't go to Eddies last night because of this. I have a feeling there could be a few of these scares in the next few weeks.

I need to go out... god I haven't been out since coming home from Uni. My New Rocks haven't been worn for weeks, poor things are sitting there dreaming of stomping around a dance floor to Nine Inch Nails. I can't afford it though. I need to pay for a decent hair cut before Thursday and I'm stupidly over-drawn.

So today I am launching the "Save The New Rocks Trust Fund- Helping Abandoned New Rocks to Mosh Again (est. a few moments ago) ". Cheques made payable to Slinks. It's for the sake of the boots dammit.

Goose Poo

I do miss my blog. I don't like that I haven't updated in ages but since coming home... nothing too interesting has happened. I've been so up and down lately. I seem to be getting confused easily and just not feeling right. That's the only way I can explain it, it just feels vague. I don't know. Anyways... In the last few days, Niall bought his first car, we've been looking around appartments in Nottingham for September and London got attacked. Very sad and scarey that last one... I was relieved to hear from my friends in London today and I'm happy to say they although shaken they are safe and well. I hate things like this; it really knocks you off balance and makes things seem bigger and scarier than they were before. But as we keep being told, that's exactly what they want. Sure that doesn't help much though. The whole thing is just a bit surreal still, and now it's even nastier because as it all really sinks in we hear more about the aftermath, the cleaning up ... and the remnants. It's just really awful. Not much more to say on it really.

As for the other things... yeah Niall is now the proud owner of a little red peugeot 306. He's particularly chuffed at the bleepy key thing. We drove to Nottingham today to look at a few appartments and man is Notty a bugger to get round! One way systems, out of date maps and the next to NO road signage do not make a very good combination, not to mention the goose poo raid we got caught up in. One minute we're sitting in traffic queue... the next SPLAT. A green one at that. Well sort of this colour. Somehow we got hit about three times in one go, on the windscreen, passenger seat door and roof. I narrowly escaped being hit through my open window, and Nialls attempt at washing the windscreen merely smeared it over a larger area. Yeah it was a nice trip. The appartments were nice... one teeeeeny with gorgeous views, in a lovely area and very nicely decorated etc, the other... larger but unfurnished, less nice area though handier for Niall and a bit grotty. A mix of the two would have been perfect, but nevermind, we're heading back on monday to look round a few others.

We drove past Uni town on the way back. I had a bit of a pang of nostalgia as we drove past the motorway junction for it. Then I saw the goose poo and remembered what Uni town smelled like most of the time... then I was okay.

I now have my shoes and dress sorted for the grad ball, but need to try and do something with my hair before it's too late. yes, must plan.

Before I go, things I need to work on/DO in the next few weeks:

• Better ways of cheering myself up when I feel crap
• Photographing some of my origami and posting them on here
• Setting myself some illustration projects to keep me ticking over and to bulk up my portfolio
• Getting my hair cut
• Psyching myself up for the stupidly loong hours I have to work over summer ( whhhhhyyyyy did I ask for loads?!)
• Avoiding Geese
• Not spending money

That should tidy me over I think.

RESULT

Well I got em... I phoned up for my results yesterday and I got a 2:1 ... that'd be a second class, upper division honours. My break down (not mental) was:

Critical Report : 75 %
Semester 1 mark : 64%
Final 12 week project: 66

Total average: 66.6 % (I think that's what she said anyway)

I was so godamn pleased since I'd totally lost all faith in my course. I can't say it's restored it either, I still think the tutors suck ass, but I feel better about my work in general and am kinda looking forward to the self promotion and stuff come the end of summer. :-)

Niall did well... he got a 2:1 too and he's pleased... and well done to all my other buddies too, everyone's done themselves proud it seems.

In other news this week: I actually unpacked some stuff from the garage so now my room is neat and tidy with all my stuff in!! So I don't have to keep clambering over things in the garage!
It's so strange... we've aldo had to book a hotel for graduation/the grad ball which has cost us 100 squids for two nights... which for me is a bit pricey... but y'know it'll make it all a bit more formal and special.

Not much else to report unfortunatly... I'm going to hunt downt he wimbledon schedule and see when Andy Roddick's on next... purely because he's a good player of course... ;-)

Wet

Well at the risk of flakester being VERY disappointed and posibly seething ... I just wanted to say that I didn't go to Goodwood in the end. What could have been a simple journey there and back turned into a big messy thinge-me-bob and I decided not to go... I also wanted to be back home saturday morning and that wouldn't have happened had I gone, plus it was only the testing day on the friday that they went for and the storms this morning must have been interesting for them to say the least. That's the last time I ever let three engineers try and organise a trip to somewhere... Next year I'll have a car and some money and a tent and I'll drive all the way there, have a great weekend and drive all the way back laughing at how easy things CAN be if you actually PLAN it out. Men suck at organising. They don't see it as necessary which is why they don't like reading maps or instructions and such like and get in a bad mood when they make mistakes. Wierdo's.


... well looks like there were pretty big storms everywhere this morning... I've just seen the news about everyone at Glastonbury getting soaked and having their tents float away down big rivers of muddy water... poor idiots... sure they'll have a great time though, as long as they don't get trench foot.

I heard there was a tornado in the midlands too... which is wierd. I woke up to lots of rain and thunder today... I liked it. I lay in bed and listened to the rain and the gerat big rumbles. it's been ages since we had a storm and though there was no lightning, it was sufficient enough to clear the air a bit after so many stuffy days. I did however, find that when I went into the garage for something (all my unpackable stuff is in there, like my tv and video, boxes and boxes of books and things, my computer and everything I own) and noticed that the floor was flooding. Oh %$*&! indeed. I had to move my computer off the floor but was too weak and girly to lift anything else except Niall's amp and his four track though they were already wet. My VCR is possibly destroyed but I'm not too fussed about that... I don't know the extent of the damage because I haven't been able to move anything... all I could do was get some old curtains to put on the floow to soak up any more water coming in and hope that the rain stops. I guess I should have got round to sorting it all out before now. Hrmm... but fingers crossed I haven't lost anything important. :-(

Change

Things are feeling different. It's as I expected really. I've moved back home to brum now, no longer a student. The move was stressful and sweaty but we got it done eventually. The last few days have been a matter of unpacking a few things and clearing out my room. I've got rid of so much stuff it's crazy. We took about twenty bin bags to the tip yesterday: these were full of models I don't want anymore or can't store and general rubbish hanging around my room. Then we had to make a second trip to get rid of loads of art work, which all went in the huuge recylcing bin at the tip. It was really sad but strangely refreshing. I find the process of cleaning things out and getting rid of stuff quite intriguing, like some sort of cleansing ritual... it just frees up space, and makes you feel de-toxed as it were; like starting anew.

Needless to say the next person who uses that reclycling bin is going to find a load of great big fat naked lady drawings from my life-drawing classes over the last five years. I thought that was quite funny.

So the next thing is to slowly pick through all my stuff that's been shoved in the garage. I have to sort out what I want/need and chuck anything else away or reclyle it if possible. I really can't believe how much stuff I've accumulated over the last few years. I don't know where it all comes from!? It'll be a relief once it's all done. I want to cut it down to just half the garage rather than the whole floor space it's currently occupying.... so in a few weeks perhaps I'll be rubbish-free.

So yeah... things feel different now. I no longer have my 'stuff' hanging around my room, it's been cleared of all my old artwork and sketchbooks. It's wierd to think I won't be going anywhere come september.. I'll just be home, working. There'll be no 'term' or 'semester' starting... nothing. This is my last official Summer Holiday too. I really want to try and make the most of it, try to enjoy it. Obviously Niall could possibly be moving away at the end of summer so it may be the only chance we'll have of being together so much. That's different too.

ooh I'm off to Goodwood this Friday for The Festival Of Speed. I've never been before and it'll be my first taster of sort-of motor racing for about a year now. I can't believe it's been that long since I last went to watch some form of motor sport... I miss it heaps, but hopefully I can get to a few this Summer.

I need food.

Cap'n Slink

pirate slink

So here's me dressed up for Mark's party last week... though that picture really doesn't do my outfit justice. You can't see my kick ass bandana for starters... or my flame boots and cropped trousers complete with stripey socks OR my ace sword. I was a bit upset that no one challenged me to a sword fight or attempted to point me in the direction of treasure, but nevertheless the party was good. We did leave for home though when the others headed into town for the crappy clubs. Niall went as Clark Kent and Dave went as Cunning Linguist. Yes... indeed.

Woah it's sure been ages since then... my show was up then came down again midweek, I've bummed around, done origami, been happy, been sad, spent lots of money, bought Martin Grech's new album (love love love love love love love it), bought other random things that I can't think of, bitched about my tutor (I'm getting very good at it now), been into town lots, watched loads of films, thought about packing, stressed out about packing, avoided packing, been to see Star Wars and just about survived it, been out for a Mexican which was very tasty indeed aaaaand I think that's all.

We're just about finished here in Uni-town. In fact tomorrow is the big packing day. It's such a mammoth task it really doesn't even bare thinking about right now. My Dad's hired a van this time, so we should be able to get everything back in one trip. I hate it... packing, moving, it's such a hastle. Everything's messy and stressful, you lose things and never find them, you live out of bags and boxes for about two weeks pre and post move... the whole thing is just pants. Someone needs to invent that star trekky transportation thingy that I can't remember the name of ... thingey me jig .. y'know... beam me up Scotty... wotsit. Well I know anyway.

In other news this week... my computer's been in another one of it's moods. It keeps 'dumping physical memory' which sounds pretty serious to me, but it restarts and it seems to be fine... for aout three days. All my work's backed up so I'm not going to lose anything but I think it's in need of my Dad having a look at it rather than my usual analysis which goes something like this:

"laa dee daaa (that's me typing or whatever)... wha? ...what the..? eh? .... oh crap... you piece of *!£)£&)_!dumping what??!!! ^@!:£~{ why?! ^£(!_* What are you !(&!£!)/... restart ... hrmm>! £(!&&: ... oh, oh no it's okay... we're back."

Over.

Yeah yeah I cried. I drunkenly cried most of the way home after what was quite possibly one of the best rock nights on record. They played exactly what I needed to hear and I danced til my lil' big boots couldn't take anymore. It was half empty most of the night thanks to the Download Festival being just down the road, but it seemed to fill up later and for the last hour we invaded our old haunt-the main room. For my last ever rock night, I wore my faithful new rocks, my shortest skirt, my studded waspie, fishnets and a simple black halter-neck, in true Slink styley. I did take photos as did a number of others but I'm waiting to get copies of them so that I can post the best ones. At one point in the evening, there was an announcement that next year there will be TWO rock nights, one on the normal Thursday and one on Saturdays after The Comedy Club. Bitter words to my ears, but I dealt with it by jumping around like a loon to soak up as much rock as my little body could bare. My poor little body soaked up rather alot of alcohol too along with a few pints of obligatory water after dancing. Hell I've paid for it today; my tummy has refused point blank to play ball, stop twisting and turning and just settle so I can eat some goddamn food. It sucked that I had to be awake for half eight too as I had an appointment at half nine. Man, post-drunk tummies are the worst, especially when you haven't slept them off enough.

I succesfully survived my appointment but failed to be able to have a nap before I had to force down some curly pasta and pop into the studio to set up a little table of postcards and business cards for the opening night of my exhibition. I was back home in time to try and force down more food before Mum, Dad and Vix (my little sister) arrived for the exhibition 'private view' which started at 6. It went well. My work seemed to go down well though I didn't hang around my display too much. Yet again, some of my course were let down in dramatic style thanks to more tutor incompetence as they failed to set up adequate facilities to watch the animations that had been worked on avidly for weeks and weeks by a handful of students. Other than that though, people seemed to be enjoying the night. I felt way too under-dressed as I turned up in my red vest top, black jeans and spikey metal stud belt while others drifted around wearing their Sunday best. Ah well... I'm an art student for gods sake not a salesman.

I just got back from seeing Sin City at the cinema. It was completely what I expected and does exactly what it says on the tin. It was typical, trashy, violent, male orientated and therefore slightly pathetic in storyline content but it was cleverly done and I liked how the stories overlapped in a non-confusing way. I loved the compositions and mise en scene, the whole artistry of it maintained the graphic novel/storyboard feel and made for interesting viewing. Though it seemed to last forever, I was rather glad that we were fifteen minutes too late to see Star Wars. I haven't got anything against Star Wars in particular it's just that I haven't followed anything through out the whole load of them other than the fact that Ewoks aren't bears OR koala's and that it's high time somebody told Mr Lucas how to write stories in a certain order. I have no idea who anyone is, what age they are, if they're dead or alive, why they keep hitting each other with glow sticks nor who is aware that they're related to anyone else. Far too long winded and confusing for my liking. 'nuff said.

It's Mark's house's barbeque and fancy dress party tomorrow night. I think I'm going to shove the "C" theme and go as a Pirate so I need to make an eye patch and sword tomorrow and if anyone says... 'that doesn't begin with C'... I'll cut them a new gizzard and make them walk the plank.

Final Countdown

... nanananaaa nanananannaaa.... I woke up with that song in my head today and now I know why, it was destined to be the title for this very post.

Countdown to final Subversion : 23.5 hrs

Niall and I went to Notty today for something to do now we've both finished exams and such. Niall's exam and presentation went okay despite an invigilator messing up the programming on his calculator... dumbass. But, obviously a day out in notty with the sun shining was just what we needed to keep our funny little student brains occupied. I bought a silver polishing cloth, some origami paper, some new stud earings, a leather bracelet and a new pair of jeans to replace the ones I got paint on when painting the studios. Oooh I also got this really posh mechanical wine bottle opener for my Dad for fathers day because he lost his last one somehow. Quite successful, I think you'll agree... unless you're my bank manager.

There was a brazilian acrobat in the middle of Notty, doing all these acts and stuff. He was quite good. He managed to sumersault over this poor blokes head, put a nail in his nose, dislocate his neck by spinning his body round this ring on the floor, and diving through a hoop of knives. It was a nice twenty minutes worth of entertainment if nothing else, and I gave him a pound in exchange for his death defying acts. Well worth it. I should have taken a photo with my phone... better yet I should have remembered to bring my camera out with me so I could actually see what it can do.

I *WILL* be taking photos of rock night tomorrow... I want it fully documented because it's the very last one, though I don't think I'll risk taking my new one, I'd hate it to get nicked or damaged or something. I'll post them up as soon as I'm recovered on Friday.

Mark's having a party saturday too and it's fancy dress with a 'C' theme so photo's from that too hopefully, though I haven't actually decided what I'm going to go as yet. Suggestions please...

boo hoo

So I've finished now. It didn't look toooo bad in the end. In fact, my work will have been assessed today so they'll know what mark I got, though it won't be official til after the external examiner has been in. This friday we have the private view and monday to friday after it's open to the public. Obviously it's then all taken down again, and everybody buggers off home for ever and ever. eek.

More disturbing than that is the fact that it's my last EVER rock night. Well, I may come back to see kt and rfa next year some times and go then... but still... it'll be so odd. As a nice touch the organisers said it was going to be moved back into it's old location for the last hour... a really nice carthatic way of rounding up my three years of rocking out on a thursday night. I'm just about sad enough to actually cry about it especially if I'm as drunk as I was this thursday passed. geez... Was another wicked night though. It was that type of drunkeness that only really hits you when you get home and can't stop laughing at stupid things. Part of me really doesn't want thursday to come round; it'll be too sad.

Christ, I'm leaving... I won't see my mates and things... I won't be a student anymore... I'll have to work and ... no more rock night...

*head implodes*

Sponge Brain Square Pants

You realise you've found a new level of boredom when you can actually feel your brain not working, and quite possibly slowly turning to sponge, while your ass aches from sitting in your computer chair for too long.

Thought I'd died of Tetris Syndrome?? Nope... that would be far more interesting.

Almost a week's gone by and I've done nothing. I even found myself willingly helping my automotive engineering student boyfriend with his wierd project poster about engines and listening to him reel off random numbers from squiggly graphs to time him for his presentation. I mean... I'm a creative... I should be out taking artsy photo's with my spanking new digital SLR camera... oh yeah... get on to that in a mo.

The complete monotony of this week will be strikingly juxtaposed (oh god, see what's happened?! art speak... from shear boredom!) by tomorrow's hectic schedule of going into the studio to finally put up my work for the degree show. I have to see Andy before I actually put anything on display, if he refuses to help me I'll quite possibly smack this guys poncy little face because he's really pissing me off at the moment, and then hang work, iron material, suspend things from the ceiling etc. Then it's up to the examiners/assessors to come in say it's not good enough and round up my three years of Uni with a crap mark. Woob!

So, here's my new toy:

new camera
Posted by Hello

It is boootiful. I still haven't tested it out properly though I did spend two days reading the bible sized manual that came with it. It should do wonders for my illustration work and give finished images a really nice professional quality. I'm not going to geek on about technical bits and bobs as I'd bore everyone to tears so let's just say- It's ace.

:-)

Tetris Syndrome

I typed a whole godamn post and stoooooopid blogger decided it didn't like it and just made it all vanish. AAAAALL of it. *%^!$%£~@{#!!!!

So... take two.

Blimey. Yesterday... hot, muggy, stuffy, sweaty, hot. Yes it was hot. Then today... gale force winds. Wierd.

So, all that's left for me to do now is write my statement, get a photo, mount both, hem and iron all the material to cover my display stands (no plinths today Ramzi), then put everything in place next thursday and friday. I mounted all my labels and prints earlier this week so it's all ready for displaying. I'm thinking it's going to take me the full two days as I need to hang stuff from the ceiling and such. It's really nearly over though, I can't believe it.

It's been a good week, I think. Yeah it has. The stress of the start of the week has subsided and I'm not having as many chest pains. I've been to the doctor about that incidentally, and he told me it was nothing to worry about- just the cartlidge in between my ribs being inflamed. All week I've been calling it Tetris (I swear that's what he said) when I actually found it's called- Costochondritis (Tietze's syndrome). So now I know I'm not infected by an old, annoying computer game and that I actually have inflamed cartlidge, I can relax.

I've bought two CD's and a DVD in the last few weeks- The NIN album With Teeth and Mesmerize by System Of A Down, the latter being the clear cut favorite. It's loud, heavy (in places), funny, hilarious, cool, and obviously utterly downright bonkers at times... exactly what you grow to love and expect from them. I'm loving it right now, and hell I've been waiting long enough to hear some fresh, decent, kick-ass music for ages, so I'm happy. I also bought Lemony Snickets A Series of Unfortunate Events too the other day. I can't get enough of the beautiful animation for the end credits; it's worth having just for that. Genius.

My Mum and Dad have bought me a swanky new digital SLR camera as a graduation present and I think they're bringing it up here today. It should really improve my work as the digital camera I have now is old and hardly ever works. So, no more of this poncing around with compacts and SLR rip offs, no more scanning in photographs to upload onto The Hollow. I'm sorted. Plus, it's a Pentax, so all my regular SLR lenses will fit. Should save me a few thousand pounds. woohoo! Can't wait to try it out.

Not much else to say other than I had a wicked time at Rock Night on Thursday. Jane and Mish from my course came down, as did Mark, Jonjon and Dave and a good time was had by all. Highlights included Niall kicking Jane in the ass by accident on the dance floor, Dave exploding a glass by trying to stack unstackable glasses (duuh), and taking advantage of Jonjon's ridiculously ticklish leg. I couldn't dance for shit as my boots were hurting my foot for some reason, but it didn't stop me. I do, however, have a hole in my right ankle now though so I'm semi lame.

Slow Progress...

Well, The boards are all painted, so are the plinths, the floor is scrubbed and now I just have to prepare all my actual work for displaying next week. I've got the doctors tomorrow about my chest pains too, though I'm pretty sure it's going to be a case of check my BP, listen to my heart, tell me I'm stressed, offer me rubbish tablets which I'll refuse, and then I'll be on my way and wondering why I wasted my time. But still, on the off chance they may actually investigate enough to discover something, I guess it's worth it, just in case.

OOOooooooh!!! My postcards and business cards arrived today! I'm really pleased with them... It's so strange seeing my name followed by : Illustrator though. Woah.

Niall's final year project is just printing off on my supa-dupa printer ... reams and reams (I think there's about 90 odd pages) of funny squiggles on graphs, strange charts and funny big words. I stand by the fact that my work is SO much more interesting.

Speaking of which, I've been completely disheartened by my course again this week. While painting my exhibition space, I noticed that I have such a dark corner; there's hardly any natural light. The room in general is a complete tip thanks to the messy graphics students in there who thought it necessary to trash the room with rubbish, scribble on all the walls put sticky fixers all over the place which are a total bastard to get off again. I mean, really, putting their work up was bad enough. (*evil grin*) The whole room is crap and compared to the other two I don't think it's good enough. It's stuck right at the end of the corridoor and I know people will assume that the first two rooms are the whole exhibition, leaving a whole load of work overlooked. It's typical of my course. Andy's excuse was that we've been allocated spaces according to what looks best for the show... does that mean the best work gets the best spaces? Yes. Does that mean that Andy's favorites get the perfect spots? Yes. Does that mean that everyone who's already on a first gets the privilege of a perfect spot while the rest of us have to make do with crappy spaces, making our work look even less appealing???? Bollocks to that. Along with this, I have the distinct feeling that I'm only going to attain a 2:2, which without sounding big-headed, doesn't reflect how much work I've done in the last three years; three years that have been really hard, sometimes completely miserable, with constant ridicule from tutors and constant pressure to do better next time. It takes alot for me to be pleased with my work (you wonder why?), but I have enough respect for it to say that it, or at least the effort I've put in, is worth more than a frigging 2:2. I don't mean to sound snobby about this, I don't. A 2:2 is perfectly respectable, as is any degree, but when you've been led to believe that you can get so high, then get marked down with no explanation, it plain sucks ass. It makes a complete mockery of the so-called marking scheme, or module requirements whatever they call them, because at the end of the day if Andy likes it best, you'll be okay. To hell with effort. I was led to believe I'd done enough to meet those requirements, but if they can be twisted to suit people who blatantly haven't followed them then why fucking bother having them in the first place??

On my course... THIS is worth a higher grade than my work. That's crap. Unfair and crap. Fair do's she's worked hard... fine give her a first, but for god's sake follow it up with the same logic for everyone else. If that can get a first, mine bloody can too.

I can't wait to get away from the complete farce that is my course.

Bitterness, angst and general ranting over for today... I'm off to admire my business cards again.

Two stories...

Two stories that have caught my eye lately:

Going to be made into a film; sad and mysterious. The Piano Man.

Just pure funny. Vibrating Pants.

S.T.R.E.S.S

I keep getting really bad chest pains lately. I think it comes from all the anxiety and stress about planning my exhibition. I'm getting through it slowly, but it's sure taking it's toll on my poor little heart. It feels like it's pounding alot, and I'm getting the old anxiety feelings where I can't breathe or swallow. I just need to try and relax; quite hard when I've got so much to think about and pay for and organise. I'm usually good at organising so that's not the issue, it's getting my head round the big messy mass that is my ever-increasing to do list. So far, here's my DONE list with costs highlighted for extra drama and sympathy:

• Buy new portfolio £22.99
• Buy Inserts for portfolio £15.00
• Buy background card for my portfolio £13.00
• Print off images for portfolio All 6 Epson cartridges- £59.00, printer paper £19.98
• Order postcards £57
• Order business cards £ 18 + £4 p&p
• Bagsy plinths from the studio
• Plan out positions of plinths/tables/images etc in allocated display space
• Put work up on course website
• Buy Photo Mount spray £5.99
• Buy foam board £16
• Order postcard/Business card holder £5
• Send off competition entry £16

Total financial cost so far: £252.95

Total emotional/physical cost so far: Dodgy heart, shortness of breath, crying, general anxiety.

So here, of course, is what still needs to be done with estimated costs too:

• Print off work for display, includes enlargements of work £50
• Mount all work for display
• Buy material to cover plinths and table anything up to £60
• Write and mount statement
• Have photograph taken, printed and mounted
• Compile portfolio and have it checked over by Andy
• Buy odd bits for display (white tack/ tape etc) £10
• Clean, strip, sand down and paint display boards, plinths, portfolio holder - this will probably take about half a week!
• Put up work
• Change things round a few times to make sure it all looks good

Total Cost of exhibition - £372. 95

There's bound to be a few niggly little things too. Nice. Thank heavens our £500 studio fees cover the costs of all the paint and paint rollers etc. Generous huh?

It seems I'm getting through things okay, slowly working my way through the list. The big things next are sprting my portfolio and getting my work printed off to a decent standard which I've so far avoided because I have a feeling it's all going to go wrong. I won't bore everyone going on about image resolutions and pixels etc but I just don't think they're going to turn out okay. I can't leave it any longer though, it has to be done, and done soon.

Deeeeep breaths..... Everything is going to be okay.... Deeeeeep breaths...

Let Down.

I'd like to think of myself as a pretty good friend to those closest to me. I got fed up of people taking me for granted ages ago and always strive to give more back to the ones who make the effort on me. But still I get let down.

I get the feeling I'm left out of things; usually that doesn't bother me as I've never been one to "fit in" with everyone else. Particularly on my course I've been content to reside on the outside of things. But even with the few people I feel closest to, I now get the feeling that I'm left out of things. There's something in particular which I won't get it into but to cut a long story short, things are getting chaotic at Uni, the last few stages of preparing our exhibitions, portfolio's, getting things printed etc which all proves costly, but when a good deal comes up, no one thinks to ask me so I can save a few bob. That pissed me off. I don't ask for much from my mates, I really don't. Even in the thick of total chaos, I'd think about my mates, I'd still help them. I've always gone out of my way to help them, lend a hand in a crisis reguardless of any of my own.

It seems, on my course, it's very much every man for himself. I guess I thought it was different.

Rant over. So if you hadn't guessed I'm back in Uni-ville. Work finished, it's now the manic race to the finish. I spent about £60 on paper, a new portfolio and wallets, more paper, lots of foam board and other gubbins. Yet to come is all the wood for shelves or plinths plus printing costs and postcard/business card production. Oh and possibly the cost of having to buy new ink cartridges for my printer. *%!$*&£!^^~#!$(#@!:~!

Second Rant over. Not much else to add... Oh yeah, Niall decided to dye is hair bright blue while I was away. Wierdo. It's kinda liiiiiiiike... THIS COLOUR. But brighter.

hrm.

Custard and Free wine

I won £100 today.

I went to a presentation evening for that phototgraphy competition I entered, where two of my photo's were being displayed and it turned out that I had won the 'Highly Commended' award. Nice. I got a bright yellow certificate, my cheque for £100 and they gave me loads of postcards with the winners on. i had to have my photo taken too a few times for the local newpapers. Urgh. Other than that though, it was a nice little evening with free wine, champagne and canapes... and since we hadn't had any tea these were pretty damn nice. I managed to eat lots of teryaki chicken, mini hotdogs, coronation chicken on a tiny potato (yeah wierd) and some mozarella and tomato tacos. Yum. I avoided the bree and strawberry slice on a piece of toast (NEVER cross fruit with savory foods); these wierd things with olives on and crab cakes.

The Custard factory was cool. I'd never really been to any particular event there and it seems like a really cool place. Sorry I couldn't have a proper mooch round though and find Flakester's posh business; it was 6.30 in the evening when we got there. I'm determined to find it one day.

Sooo, what to spend my £100 on?? Well, considering I have to plan my whole exhibition, buy a new portfolio, fill it, enlarge and print out images to hang, buy plinths and possibly shelves for my display, and produce postcards and/or business cards... I'd say it was pretty much spent. Godamit.

I hate being an art student.

It Can't Rain All The Time..

I fell in love tonight. Again. I did the last time too.

After an utter crap day, I felt so bad I nearly winded up going home. If I had I would have missed the genius that is Martin Grech in concert in Leicester. Dave got me a ticket for my birthday. What a pressie....

I needed it so bad. I needed to be enveloped in sound, immersed in a beautiful noise. I'd seen this guy once before and have waited agonisingly to see him again. He rocks like a bitch. He oozes art with a god-like quality of Thom-Yorke-like proportions. But he's the most down to earth person; he hides behind his mass of hair, avoids eye contact, seems so shy. But this guy.... geez... he blows your mind. It has been agreed (with Niall too) that I can in fact marry him.

He played some new stuff this time which was just as awesome as the stuff on his album; he blew the minds of Rfa and Niall who hadn't had the pleasure of seeing him before. He's just amazing. I haven't been to a gig in what feels like aaages and the feeling of this one's going to last, I know it... that or it'll leave me totally hungry for more. There's one more band I'll pay to see this year and that's A Perfect Circle (Bar Radiohead, that would go without saying :P ).

It was just what I needed. It sucked all the bad vibes out of me from today and just cleared my head with this resonating euphoric buzz. That'll be the tinnitus then.

Martin2
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Martin1
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Fucking Awesome.

Some Days Really Suck Ass...

... this is one of those days.

£000000000000.0000000000000000

If anyone comes to me asking for money, implies I should spend money or expects me to spend any money this week they will politely be told to stuff it up their ~>!£**$%&!^!(*!?~#. I had to buy even more materials this week which cost me about fifty squids, then some of what I ordered arrived and weren't any good so I had to send them back (I get a "full" refund which excludes the £5 postage and packing on the package that only costs 64p). Then we got a monster gas bill for £280?! WHAT?! But yeah it turns out it was right as we hadn't actually had a bill since we've been in the house. So that was another £70.

I think I've got everything I need for my project now, so fingers crossed I don't have to spend anything else on that. I have to buy a train ticket on Thursday to go and see Martin Gretch in Leicester which I'm totally hyped about, but because I'll be missing Rock Night it means I won't feel like I have to buy a round. Though I usually get away with it... mwah-ha-ha-ha. I do try and tell people not to buy me drinks because I can't afford to buy them one back but they just go and do it anyway. So it's their fault if they don't get one in return.

In other news this week, I got my first comment on my photoblog. I was all excited thinking it was some pro photographer praising my work but it was some wierd sort of marriage proposal instead. Ah well...

Also, Dave created a slink picture on his blog which was rather funky. I set about making my OWN version which is perhaps more what I wished I looked like... If I was a big eyed cartoon doll of course. I'm determined to make as many as possible, the site is SO addictive!

Slinky Doll
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I did find it a bit spooky that Dave has known about this site for some time and has been spending his time in his darkened room making dolls on a rather girly japanese site. Bless 'im. I did see him drawing a plane today though. Out of green and yellow lines. Maybe red too.

Watched the Spanish GP on Sunday and was glad to see Kimi getting a well deserved win. He's no way NEAR as good as Heikki Kovalainen of course, boy he's going to be good when he gets in an F1 car. I really don't want Heikki to be in F1, far too many slags and nastiness going on. He's too nice for it, I don't want him to get 'spoiled' by it all. :( Thing is he deserves to be put in a bloody good car so we can all see how good he is. Good ol' Finnish men.

Right I'm off to design some dollies, or maybe do some work. I'm making teeeeny tiny people to fit inside some clear plastic balls for my juggler. It gives me back ache and makes my eyes hurt, but y'know, we all have to suffer for our art.

Disappointment

Yesterday was, as you may have guessed from the title, a bit of a disappointment. I wasn't feeling hugely up for rock night at the union last night but I went anyway. It's tradition. It was pants. Apart from a slight pick up towards the end, most of the night was full of heavy, sweaty-hair-flinging/head-banging tripe. I can cope with a certain amount of this, and lets face it, it's always quite amusing to watch a circle of leather clad, buckled up first years flinging their greasy, sweaty hair around, but a whoooole night of it merely leaves me with nothing to dance to. I wasn't impressed. But I got to wear the beautiful, spangly new top that Niall bought me which was cool. Sadly that was the only highlight... though they did play Starfuckers.inc by NIN and Jonjon turned up which was nice.... ooooh and we got free 'Hitchhikers Guide to The Galaxy' pin badges too. So, that's four highlights in between the gloom.

After a less-than-average rock night, I get home to discover that Tony Bleurgh was winning the election. Another disappointment. Though I can sort of understand the lack of any true, decent alternative I'm still gutted that they're still there, and that my little sister may not be able, or want to go to university because of the stupidly ridiculous costs involved. Any students who voted labour have since lost the right to ever moan about having to pay off their student loans, their inability to pay off their debts and any financial struggles they bring about. Any one who merely can't be arsed to vote, or claim they "don't know anything about politics" or " just don't care" also should lose their right to have an opinion on the running of their country. It annoys me. Democracy is a blessing and a responsibility. We owe it to the countries who don't have this basic 'right', to use our vote and have our say. One day, one too many people are simply "not going to care to vote" and some biggoted, ugly and disgusting party like the BNP are going to get more power because too few couldn't be bothered to bump up the other parties' votes. It nearly happened in France, it could happen here. Disturbing.

That's enough politics for one day. Here's a story: I was having a nap earlier and in the usual annoying manner, just as I'd settled down I got a phonecall. It was from a guy involved in the photography competition (check paragraph 6) I entered a short while ago. Two of my photographs have been selected for an exhibition being held in The Custard Factory in Brum! :) I was dead chuffed with that. I have to send in my negatives so they can get some big blow ups done of them. I'll have to go back to Brum to get a look at the exhibition when it's all up.

woohoo for me!

Mudfest

Phew. What a day. We headed down to freefest at about mid day to a packed out campus of people soaking up the sun and music. After grabbing a burger (which was 'interesting' to say the least) we settled in the sun to listen to a few bands and met up with Rfa. The weather was sunny and hot for about an hour or two. Then, it poured. Everyone pegged it into the union building, some of the unluckiest people looking like drowned rats and panting from running through the rain. We, however, with mine and Rfa's super extra sensory skills, predicted rain long before it appeared and thus managed to stay dry. After the worst of it, everyone went back outside to enjoy the music again, this time standing on the soaked grass instead of sitting. As the day went on, the music was interrupted a few times by showers of rain, but it didn't dampen the spirits of everyone there. The bands weren't bad, except for one totally appalling one whose name wasn't even worth remembering. The people even, weren't that bad, which is saying something considering some of the total twats you can get round here. At about sixish, we went back home to get some pizza... yeah burgers and pizza. I felt crap the remainder of the day. My tummy didn't agree with two lots of stodgy junk food in one day and felt all fuzzy and grumpy but it didn't stop me donning my boots and short skirt in preperation for returning to Uni for the post-fest rock night in the Union.

On the way back to campus, some tosser in a mint green corsa shouted 'slag' out the window at me... why? because I was wearing a short skirt. Hrmm. This may sound stereotypical but I'm picturing this person as a tart/chav/trendy, whatever you may wish to call them, which brings me on to the fact that these are people reknowned for their slutty attire. This pissed me off rightly. I promptly put it down to them being a total fuck wit and most probably jealous, and got on with looking forward to post-fest. However, it bothered me and I felt really self conscious when I got there. I felt like an alien in my new rocks, tiny mini and fishnet tights, amongst all the trendy townie types who were all now pissed as newts, plus my tummy was hurting even more and i found I couldn't drink alcohol anymore as it made me ache. I really wanted to go home, but I wasn't going to let a tummy ache and a load of knob-heads put me off. So I didn't.

By this time, the grass had turned into mud and much fun was had watching many drunken people either fall over, or have wrestling matches in the mud. It was like a mini glastonbury. After a few glasses of water and having campus empty out a bit, I started to feel much better. I enjoyed Toy Heroes and Threadbare on stage and then went inside for the Post-fest rock night.

Highlights of rock night included hearing 'I'm a Barbie Girl' by Aqua being played rock styley and actually seeing a grown man with dreads dancing along and singing all the words, seeing an old 'aquaintance' look silly by dancing like a loon, and seeing rock night back in it's old home of the auditorium (where it was every week before we were moved into the tiny junction room. grr). Lowlights were having to use my expensive tissues for loo paper (they had animals on them and everything!), and having an old guy with a bald head perve at me and other girls in the room... but then I did look pretty cool. :P hehe. Other than that it was a good night. I didn't dance though... nothing appealed to me that much and I was happy to sit there, observe and bounce/sing along in my seat. :)

We left about one ish so as not to stay out too late. We'd had such a good day, I was chuffed.

This morning got even better... Niall had bought me two tops from my favourite clothing store which he hadn't told me about. I love them soo much, I can't wait to wear them out. He's so good to me, I'm very very lucky.

After this I have to catch up with some more emails. I had 50 emails in my inbox this morning!!! 50!?! With 8 junk emails. I need to sift through them and see whats what. I need to do a bit of work on my model, I need to order some materials, and I need to tell Niall how great he is again for buying me pressies when he didn't need to. I also need to do a bit of research to decide who I'm going to vote for. I've been reading up on the policies but I'm still undecided at the moment, there's a few things I want to look at before I decide. I cannot believe it's May already. The months just seem to fall away at the moment... Only four weeks left until I complere my course! *!^$&~#)£!^*!@:! That's all I have to say about that. There's a real mix of sadness, excitement, complete fear, anxiety and relief every time I think about finishing Uni.
It's going to be so wierd.

Right, better get on to those emails... xx

Weee man and Freee fest

I haven't posted in a few days, mainly due to me being busy working and consequently ruining my hands with nasty sharp wire. I really haven't been up to much else so this post's going to suck. Sorry about that.

I do, however, love this WEEE Man that's been put up on London's South Bank. It's all made up of thrown out electrical products and it's the first piece of sculpture that's really grabbed my attention for some time.

Just thought I'd share that with you.

It's bank holiday monday tomorrow, and in Uni land that means only one thing.... Freefest. For those who don't know this is a free mini-festival on campus. There's a whole days line up of bands playing, lots of drinking, nattering away in the sun/rain/snow whatever, a few small stalls selling cheap plastic jewellery, that sort of thing. In my first year it was brilliant, last year it sucked ass because it rained and was moved inside... so this year, as it's my last one here, I have my fingers crossed for a good event.

Details to follow...