Freezing Moustaches

Freezing Moustaches

Freeze, Facial Hair and some Tunes

My wonderful sister told me about the above artist - Benjamin Francis Leftwich. After watching this video, which I personally think is how every childhood should be remembered - in that disjointed, rose tinted way. It has also totally inspired me to make the most of my week off (ok fine, 'Reading Week').

After my birthday on Wednesday - the facial hair was most certainly a grand idea I must say - D and I went to London for the Freeze festival (my birthday present to him). It was - in the words of the highly annoying commentator - 'GNARLY', 'EPIC', 'RAD' - pretty much any stereotype word that you can possibly think of with the skiing world - insert here! It was grand though. Plenty of wonderfully retro ski outfits and shell suits - trust me - neon is ALWAYS good on the slopes!

In a free magazine Cooler I found a rather interesting and wonderful opportunity. The SKETCH BOOK PROJECT! I am trying to figure out if I have the funds to pay $25 to take part. BUT...I am thinking how fantastic it would be to have my sketch book, in a gallery, with other people looking at it and inspiring them (maybe selling it?!) all in another country! I will keep you updated.

Also - thanks to people doing what they say (plus a smidge of birthday money!) I am now in a position to buy a new camera. I adore my Canon PowerShot SX110 IS, but feel that I have reached my limits of what I can do with it. Plus, to be fair, it was going back from what I previously had (the Canon G9 - how I miss it!) So - any advice that you Bloggers out there may have - I would appreciate.

Summer Sights

Full Bloom till Spring

Here are a few (very brief) snaps from the summer. I suddenly realised that I had been horrendously slack. As They say; Life happens whilst you're making plans! Anyway, I shall shortly do a very quick summary of the summer, then head on to (in my opinion) more exciting stuff...like the autumn!

It's great for a number of reasons.

Crunchy leaves.

Red, orange and yellow rain from above.

Pumpkins! (I will see a pumpkin patch at some point!)

My birthday! (although the number 23 doesn't seem quite as young any more...)

Frosty mornings.

The air of change.

The joy of being able to dress up in cosy (or 'gemutlich' - clearly my German is coming in handy!) clothes and not feel silly in big warm knitted things and hats and scarves.

In my up-and-coming posts I will be asking for advice. As it is the season of change (in my view anyway) my trimmer waistline (yay!) and the anticipation of my belated grant coming through, a much needed trip to the Realm of Shops and Culture is needed. A few choice pieces are to be bought...but what to get?! Any ideas??? Also...hairstyles - my hair now resembles a mop even more than usual, and feel a need to do something, ANYTHING to it! Fringe? Yay? Nay? Help!

After a few months of travelling and what not....Wee Bonnie Scotland

Wee Bonnie Scotland

After a few frenetic months of being super busy, I am finally able to upload some pictures! These first ones are of my first trip to Scotland this year (others will soon be up).

(These pictures are actually digital pictures of the originals which are from a Kodak throw-away point and shoot)

I have decided that Scotland dislikes me taking a digital camera. Last time I was up (in Fort William last summer) my camera broke half way through the weekend whilst watching the downhill bike trials. This time, 20 minutes into the train journey from North Wales, I realised that I hadn't even packed my camera! I was luckily able to buy a couple of disposables.

I forgot how much I adore the anticipation of waiting for my film to be developed (second only to developing it myself in the dark room), and the techni-colour grainy feel of these pictures makes me glad that I forgot my digital camera. Plus it made me really think about what I wanted to take a picture of. I found that I've got into a habit of just taking photos for the sake of it, rather than actually thinking what I'm trying to take a picture of. Anyone else the same??

From Inverness, we travelled the long way around Loch Ness, across the Isle of Skye, caught the ferry to the Isle of Lewis and drove all the way up and along the single tracks that inhabit the island, trying to dodge the sheep.

Deserted beaches, sun (speckled with rain, but barely) and I even went into the sea...3 times! Granted, it was a short, sharp blast of icy water, but it was so worth it, and a true beach BBQ solves any shivers you may have!

OK - so this is the first in my updates - we have Switzerland, Lichtenstein, Scotland again, and probably a few more to be sprinkled up here. I hope that you will be patient - I'm trying to revise for my looming German retake on Friday...!

A film to look forward to...I think so!

Inception

Not since Sherlock Holmes have I been quite so excited to see a film in the cinema. From the director of The Dark Knight (Christopher Nolan) and staring Ellen Page, Leonardo DiCaprio, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, MichaelCain & Cillian Murphy, and set inside the minds of people, it doesn't sound like it could get any better.

I have a bizarre obsession about writing down my dreams (any one else do this???) and I feel that they have great control over how I feel the next day. Sometimes I get so involved in them that I find it painfully hard to distinguish from dream and reality. This film is about the control of dreams, and blurring both aspects - everyday life and the life of when we sleep. DiCaprio has excelled himself in the last few years in terms of film - obviously the clincher was Titanic in terms of his film career, but I personally feel that films such as The Beach and Blood Diamond do far more for him in terms of showing his acting skills, and don't even get me started on What's Eating Gilbert Grape? His acting was so good, that I honestly thought that he was mentally challenged.

It also hosts Ellen Page and Joseph Gordon-Levitt. Page is the golden child of Juno, the film that made so much sense, and makes me cry and smile in equal quantities with some of the best music for that plinky-plonky honky tonk feel of goodness; and Gordon-Leviit over the years has done so much that I adore. Not that I am a tad biased with a teen crush on him IN the slightest...but such iconic films that depicts certain periods of my life such as 10 Things I hate About You - that absolute gem that re-does Shakespeare so grungy and real with one of THE BEST soundtracks to a film that I springs to mind, as well as more up-to-date projects as The Lookout, and the Indie film, Brick, as well as (500) Days of Summer - which I have only just seen somehow and instantly fell in love with - the music, the colours, the clothes, the brutal honestness of a man's journey through love and beyond.

So yes - as you can tell, I am indeed excited to see what this film has to offer, as it also has Breakfast On Pluto and Batman Begins star, Cillan Murphy. Roll on July 16th!

Cirque du Soleil

Saltimbanco!

A few weeks ago, my boyfriend and I went along to Liverpool (after Scotland - the photos will be up soon - they need to be developed). I haven't been to Liverpool since 2005(?!) with Foundation, and even though it's been a fair ol' while, I still utterly adore it. When we arrived (keeping in mind that we barely had time to actually sight see etc, just get to the Echo Arena) it was bright and blue and sunny. Liverpool architecture is all about the juxtaposition - old versus new, all next to each other, but all fitting together well like some giant puzzle.

The show itself was mind blowing (thanks to all the seats not having been sold, we got upgraded!) It started off a tad disjointed it seemed, but when the music started, that was when the proper show began. The gymnastics were exceptional, and the costumes (keeping in mind I started a degree in Costume, and even though I didn't complete it, doesn't hinder my love of beautiful and well made outfits) were inspiring and wacky and amusing. I managed to sneak a few photos (minus flash - as you weren't really supposed to take any - and I did get told off!) so excuse the poor quality of them - but hopefully it will give you some idea of how great it was! It was visually stunning, amusing, and just generally enjoyable. If you ever get the chance to - go and see a show!

Music to my ears

Whitley

After a bit of a strange day (I'm doing my month's placement at a butterfly / reptile / bugs / small pets place called Pili Palas), and having been crapped on by a snake (NOT something that I suggest in any shape or form) I came home to listen (AGAIN) to Whitley. I found out about him from watching Flashforward (what can I say - I got hooked!) and it was on the final episode of the first series.

So far he has totally rocked my epicentre of music, and I can't wait to listen to him whilst at a BBQ on the beach when I'm not working!