Lazy Boy

I'm on holiday. Sue me.

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C

Content

But not thrilled.

Play went well, all my colleagues who came along enjoyed it, anyway! Scene Three was a bit of a train wreck as far as lines went, but we recovered and covered and no-one that didn't know the script would have noticed / did notice. Still, before Saturday's performance, I'm going to make Andy run lines with me until they're coming out of his ears!

Some pics are up on flickr of Torchsong Part 2, Fugue in a Nursery.

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Last day at work for a week! Woop!

Not quite feeling in that holiday mode, though. Got to do the second performance first, then I can relax. But still - time off. How pleasant.

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Not had a bunny in a while. One for Patrick. Also, some wise words.

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C

First Night

No jitters today. Mostly because I am of the Tired. Reckon I'm going to take a couple hours off this afternoon and go home early for a nap. Then we will buy a BeanScene Ultra Wicked coffee - its almost narcotic level of caffeine will, I'm sure, perk me up just marvellously!

Dress went...OK. Could have been better, but could have been worse. And, you know what they say - bad dress means good first night. It bloody better be. Half my work's coming. Which is lovely, but pressure, nah? Way more than pals, anyway. They have to say it was good, even if it sucked beyond the telling.

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Check this out. Pants to Poverty! Now, that is a fashion statement.

I'm so having some of them! One should give back, after all.

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I'm on holiday next week. Woop! Not sure what I'm up to. I've been keeping my eye on lastminute.com and might still jet off somewhere exciting, but we'll see. Sensible is telling me that I should keep all moneys for the moving.

Quality Idea is telling me that I could, conceivably, put an ad up on the Student and Graduate Employment Service for some pack mules to move with. It's a thought, anyway. I'm running out of friends good will. (And the brass neck to ask - yet again - if they can help me shift boxes.)

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C

"Arnold, please, I'd like to talk to you."

Fucking line.

That and "Arnold, this is not going to do any good for either one of us."

Dress rehearsal tonight. And regardless of all, "Bad dress rehearsal means a good first night" sophistry, I am...somewhat nervous. Which isn't a new feeling, but it's a dated one. I don't wish to sound arrogant (usually do, though ;) ) but I've done a lot of theatre and I'm not really worried about the performance per se, but of something going wrong that I can't control or cover for.

Eeeeeeeeeeek!

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Back to blether next week, I think. For the meantime, I think 'eek' covers it. We'll see how dress rehearsal goes. Might (WILL!) be high as a kite tomorrow what with rampant success of dress.

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C

I might go mental

If I don't get to write something soon. My head's twitchy to get things down. And my fingers are itchy for plasticine.


It's of a piece with 'the more I do, the more I do.' I want to write, I want to model, but I really don't have the time. Not unless I want to skive off work and quietly scribble something. When one works with Word, words looks like work. But - and this is what we're up against at the moment - if I am taking illicit time out (not that I can - far too busy with projects and suchlike) then it should be spent going over lines. (pdfs look like work, too.)


It doesn't help that those people I write with, for and to are charging forth and producing marvellous pieces. I've even had to dump the website updating on my writing partner. Not that I've had time to put together instructions for her. And, no, you're not getting the link. Vain enough to say that if you like the kind of thing we put up there, you quite probably already know it. ;)

Aaaand, I think I might actually have a book to do. Or at least a collection of short stories. I've got one complete chapter and two works in progress which are dancing around the back of my head demanding attention. Which I haven't got time to give them.

Ach - over dramatic, really. Once play's in bag I have a whole week off work with no plans in it. Let's reflect after my week off and see if I achieved or spent the whole time playing computer games, eh?

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Right - one thing that doesn't look like work is the blog, so you'll have to be content with a bit of whining today. (And, obviously, this counts as writing and I am ever grateful to those of you who listen to my wittering!)

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C

Nearly there

Only three days until curtain. Rehearsal, rehearsal over weekend but I did take some downtime on Sunday just to chillaaaaax, man. Running lines like a MoFo this evening, proper rehearsal tomorrow, tech and dress Wednesday (yawn fest of standing around while people focus lights, but has to be done) and then performance Thursday.

Well chuffed with all the people who are going to pitch up and see it. Loads of folk coming from work, which is nice. So long as the play ends up any good, anyway. Which it will as Andy, Jenni and I are so GODDAMN TALENTED!

What? Look, you have to have an ego you could bounce bricks off to get out on stage in any kind of calm and relaxed fashion and I don't do catastrophe curve acting any more. It's too stressful. (That's where you go on and charge forth, hoping like Hell that nothing will go wrong.)

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You'd think Jenni would be a better influence not five days before performance but on Saturday, when she and I were buzzing about town, I bought Final Fantasy X for the PS2. I've picked it up, fondly stroked cover and decided 'No. Too much time sucked away by that sort of thing.'

Only, you see, Jenni and I used to play FF back in the Old School days at Montpelier. So, she was all, "geddit geddit geddit!". So, I did. And played it for the entirety of Saturday night, with Jen, and a significant portion of Sunday all by myself.

It's awesome. :) And I did make myself clean the flat before turning it back on on Sunday, so am a Good Boy and was Allowed to play the computer.

I would have gotten X-2, as the more recent, but the entire cast is wimmin! Fit's 'at a' aboot?

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Pretty.

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I'm starting to jones on my camera. I haven't taken any proper pictures in ages and long. I'm not entirely sure when the last big set was. Could very well be London since I took the beast out for a proper walk. Eek.

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C

Tiiiiiired

My entire being is focussed on 5pm when I can hit the couch and nap for an hour or so before rehearsal. Went out for a couple of drinks last night, after going down to Mum and Dad's to help fit kitchen together. Didn't get home until yon time and I am gagging - gagging, I say - on an early night. Not getting one tonight as I'm dodging along to some Friday Fun after rehearsal. Hamish is off to Canadia for a bit, so it behooves to drop by, dunnit? :)

But it's Saturn's Day tomorrow. Lie iiiiiiiin.

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Check out the Big Art Mob. It's a Channel 4 initiative - a collective blogging effort which asks members of the public to send in photos of the public art they know and love straight from their mobile phones.

The culmination is a year away: a featured series on Channel 4 in which six (already picked) communities work with a high-profile artists to develop pieces for their own sites.

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I am conflicted! I have some cash (sic the freelance work) and I cannot decide how to spend it. Which has made me think a bit about money and I realise that I never want to spend money. Never have. I don't necessarily mean I'm tight (stop laughing at the back, please) but even when I was little and being taken into 'town' to spend my birthday money, we'd always get to the end of the day before I could be persuaded (read harangued) into deciding what I wanted.

So, even though there are many pretty things I'd like, I'm going to hang onto the cash this time. Unless, of course, I decide to indulge myself beyond comparison and bugger off to Rome for a few days. Wouldn't that be nice...

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C

This, that and the other.

There's such a terribly lot going on. And I'm aware that my witterings are still tracking along the 'what I did on my holidays' line. I've barely even linked to Sinfest lately! Bad Chris. Where is the entertainment?



So - this here. Is way cool. It's an article on a hip, hop and happenin' (in geek and academic ways - something to be said for amalgamating those two) 3-D model of Ancient Rome at its height.



"Frischer says he's in talks with online community Second Life as well."



It's a bit odd, actually. I've read a ludicrous amount of sci-fi and it's both exciting and a little awe-inspiring to see so much of what I read about becoming a reality. It's nice to have that, "I read about that years ago," thing - it makes me realise just how truly awesome (and I use that word as it should be, not in reference to a good coffee/chocolate bar) and priveleged a life we Western types lead.



Now, there's a thing. 'Western types'. Given that Japan and China are now (and have been, for the pedants) p*ssing on the Western world's technology from a great height, do we get to hold onto that definition? 'Western' has been synonymous with privelege, prosperity and, (within dependents!) freedom for quite some time now. Eastern markets are booming, however, both domestic and inter-national. China and India are carefully wooing African nations - and they're not telling them they can't use their hydrocarbon and fossil resources.



Access speeds in downtown Tokyo make the broadest of British bands look like dial-up for dummies. And it's free, and it's wireless, accessible on mobile tech (I won't say phone, even though they mostly are) which, again, p*sses on our humble Nokia N93s, one of which I want even so.



It's definitely a very interesting time, internationally speaking. (NO duh!, I hear you cry).



Maybe I should learn Cantonese. I can already count to ten! Look



Yut
Yee
Sam
Say
Nnn
Loak
Chut
Put
Caow
Sup



(And I didn't even look it up to check)



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Blast from Belfast past.

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Rehearsal went well last night. Night off tonight (to help my Dad put in the new kitchen units - damn, I am tired.) Andy got frocked for the first time and I can't believe the difference him being in costume made to the lines. It always gives you a perk, as an actor, to get your costume and props (especially props - I remember once I was handed a sword about thirty seconds before I was due on stage for first night - didn't have a clue what to do with it). This was definitely something else, though. He looked so different - very much the character.

Me - I'm wearing jeans and a Tshirt. Isn't it lucky that the eighties are back in? I've already got the clobber.

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Stick in,

C

Happy Happy

You’ve got to love Karma – it always comes round for you. The largest, or only, concern I had with moving again was the clearing of bills and sorting out of deposits. It’s funny how everyone says ‘my deposit from current flat will sort that out’ when you don’t get your deposit back until as much as ten days after you’ve moved.

But – happyhappy – I’d put a couple of bids in for some freelance work, which have been accepted. Very nice little earner (it’s a flat fee and I hope I’ve picked out the least hours-intensive sections of the publication) and the prospect of more.

Aaaaaand, I might just be able to afford a Wii. You know – to assuage all the stress that comes with moving.

*grins*

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On the other hand, there is this. It’s a supershinyzippityooooohlookithe camera. Panasonic Lumix (initials) with 10 x optical zoom with a wide-angle lens. It’s practically perfect. I need/want (mostly want) a mid-range camera. Much as I love the beast, it’s big and a bit heavy. My wrists were definitely a bit sore after toting it around, lifted up to my eye, for hours on end in London. Of course, if I was on a trip then I’d have both with me, which would be more rather than less weight. Main point is I want something that can fit in a pocket but still gives me a hefty technical range.

This does.

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Whoops – meeting! Display boards and such. In a team of six people. Making design decisions. *groans*

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C

Enough whining

Not that I'd indulged myself too terribly much, but it's such a useless exercise. So, only positive thoughts and feelings from now.

And if you believe that, I've got a bridge to sell you. *grins*



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Got the link wrong yesterday for flickr (transposed some words), but lookit my cool new box-thing! Finally found the link through to creating it. Now if I can only figure out that word cloud thang.

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Dentist refitted tooth yesterday. I got the big boss guy who made no mention of replacing it. I decided not to complain (coward) to him. If it comes out again then I'll browbeat the Registrar into replacing it completely. I think I've used about three days annual leave or TOIL all told in order to attend dentist so many goddamn times.


Happily, I was able to redeem the wasted afternoon by helping my Dad shift a whole load of rubble - rapturous joy. Ah, didn't take long and it's quite a pleasant thing to casually lift two bags of stuff, one of which your Dad was struggling with. Makes one feel all grown-up and manly like. *laughter*. On top of that, we went and hit some golf balls and I took some rapid fire pics of Dad playing so he could check out his swing.



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Philosophy to come, I swear. Things have become a bit, "What I did on my holidays" around here.

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Stick in,

C

Quickly Quickly

Got to go to the bluddy dentist AGAIN! Crown fell out AGAIN! But I'm told this time I'm going to get a brand new one made and fitted - about which I intend to be very fussy indeed.

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Decent weekend - got a couple of rehearsals done, which I'm glad of. This close *tiny space* to having all my lines down, thank the Gods. Looking forward to the performances. Which are next week - EEP!



Went for a run up to SteveO's on Saturday and man, am I unfit. Burst boiler doesn't even come into it and my legs were nearly locked solid yesterday. Eesh. One more thing to do...I know - I'll stop sleeping. Who really needs sleep, anyway?

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Today's mood on the move: pensive. Even my happy-go-lucky oh-so-philosophical outlook occasionally takes a dent, you know. I keep looking around the flat and mentally boxing stuff up, making lists, deciding what furniture will need taking apart and it's just so much feckin' hassle! I'll be able to do it, I've done it before, but STILL!

S'not fair.

*stamps foot*

*pouts*

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Merry loads of photos up on flickr.





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C

Mildly Ticked

I think that's how I'd typify today's mood. I suppose that no matter how philosophical a person you are, or try to be, one must still be pissed off with life's little vagaries. I can't *believe* I've got to move *again*. It's not so much an attachment to the flat I'm in just now - I never really do get attached to a specific place, as there's always (always!) another one. It's just the thought of packing it all up, cleaning the place, sorting out bills from this pad, getting bills set up for new pad.


Urgh. I have already had one offer of help, though, which cheered me right up. :)


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I did do it. I did buy a flickr pro account. It's ludicrously cheap, considering. £12 for the year. So now I have lots of lovely sets and all the photos that have been dropping off the end of my stream (oo-er) are available again. Going to go a bit crazy over weekend and upload so verymany photographs. Fun and games. I've also started making comments and contacts on there - hooking up with likeminded snappers.


Oh - and tangentially speaking of games - I totally won a war in Civ 4. At near-deity level. I rule! (And it was against that bitch Isabella of Spain. Feckin' hate here, warmongering cow.)


Yes, I know these aren't real people. Put the sectioning pad down.


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Picked that one up from my Mum's photos last night. Little hint - don't expect a great meal when someone hasn't got a kitchen. I'd forgotten they were remodelling and it'd be micro meals.

Went and hit some golf balls with my Dad and I'd say I'm improving. Only hit one that didn't go more than ten feet. Other than that it was a good average of 150 yards. Tiger I'm not, but there's progress. Maybe I'll head down to Killspindie with my Dad, as he keeps asking, but it's such an unforgiving course. If only Mum hadn't made him quit the Royal Musselburgh. It was far more lenient on an erratic player.


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C

Proactivity

I happen to rock at it. It seems.

Been to see a flat. Too small, unfortunately. Livingroom Kitchen, my ar*e. Kitchen with a sofa chucked in. He was amenable to getting rid of his furniture and letting me put mine in, though.

I've also been in touch with a couple of banks and talked about mortgages. It seems they're willing to loan me x amounts of pounds, for x much a month. With a stakeholder application (basically a housing association type thing pays one third or one quarter of the property price) I could reasonably speaking get a decent flat in a decent area. There's one on the ESPC's website which could even be a goer. But it takes a few months to organise the stakeholder part, so that's just being taken as encouraging just now.

I'm still mighty impressed with how calm I'm being about the whole thing, and I don't think it's all inside waiting to blow up. But hey - this is not the first time I'll have moved.

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These fellas aren't contemplating a jump. They're part of an art installation in London. Iron men peeking round chimneys and such. It's a bit disconcerting when you first spot them, especially at a distance. You do think for a wee second that it might be someone about to...

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Rehearsal went well last night - I did learn my monlogue, I did. Getting together with Andy on Saturday and Sunday for a couple hours each time. Should get the rest of it down then.

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I have been abandoned, btw. Average readers has dropped to just thirteen! I was flying high at twenty-six for a while. (so many, I know! )

I dunno, you take off for three lousy days and everyone buggers off. :)

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C

Woe, woe and thrice woe

I think I must have gotten far too smug about the 'only four minutes walk to work' thing. Got home at lunchtime (natch) to find a Notice to Quit Property amongst my post. God knows why - I can only assume the owner is selling it. And that Karma hates me.

Godsdamn it but I have the worst, the very WORST luck with renting property.

Given that I found this out an hour ago, though, I’m fairly pleased with my attitude. Called Alexis and had a quick whine, but I’ve been on citylets.co.uk having a look and finally gotten round to downloading the pdfs on stakeholder mortgages. Yes, mortgages. Proper sodding fed up at being at the mercy of other people’s plans. I’m still very keen on the houseboat idea, too, but there doesn’t seem to be much in the way of moorings in and around Edinburgh.

A new build seems like an attractive proposition. There’s quite a few nice looking ones dotted around town and that way it’s got a price tag rather than a competition for bidding.

Further bulletins as events warrant.

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Happy thoughts?

Well, London was still great and I’m chuffed with the photies I took. Rehearsals are really kicking in for the next two weeks (considering dress rehearsal is two weeks yesterday – eeeek!) but they’re going well. S’going to be good. Hope all in Edinburgh can come along (hint, hint). Come on – I’m bereft of flat here. Geez an audience. J

Damn. Downward turn on that thought. Day to leave is 7th August and I’m supposed to be doing a performance on 11th August at the Theatre Workshop. Do-able, yes. Advisable? No. Not with the stress and strain of moving four days before. Will have to see.

OK, happy thoughts, back to happy thoughts. Hmmm. Other than ongoing happinesses in creativity, that’s about it for the cheerfulgrinning. Note to self – get laid soon. That’ll put a smile on yer face.

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Now, if you'll excuse me, I've just seen a lovely spot of wall that looks favourite for banging my head against.

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Stick in,

C

London

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I was quite restrained, I thought. I only took 544 photographs. Would have taken more, actually, but my battery died and - muppet me - I forgot my charger. That is the only thing I forgot, though. I'm quite good at the old packing these days. That said, both of the dear ladies I stayed with found something I'd left behind at theirs!

I did a lot of culture and a load of walking around, nice food, and cracking weather.

The British Museum was great, as was the Tate Modern. Quite amazingly, you're allowed to take pictures in the museum, which I thought was odd. But welcome, I suppose. I'm a little conflicted on this piont, to be honest. On the one hand, it's a museum, not a gallery. No-one is losing out and nothing is being devalued by their being a lot of images of the exhibits. On the other, there's what I suppose is a very British attitude. "Photographs? In a museum? Why, you might as well talk in a library or walk on the grass!"

I actually went in twice. It's nearby to the Royal College of Surgeons (RCS) where lovely Jane and Clare work, so it was a convenient place to fill time. The Enlightenment rooms were astonishing. I just kept thinking of that famous quote. "Beautiful things!"

"Icky things!" was another phrase I could have used. Went into the Hunterian Museum at the RCS and there are some crazy, crazy things in there. In jars yet!

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I was a bit of a miserable failure as far as the night of debauchery in Soho went. *laughs*. I went into town with Jane on Friday, when she went to work, and spent the day walking around town taking pictures, which was lovely but left me a bit footsore. By the time we'd dropped in on a leaving do south of the river (check me with the London turn of phrase), walked back over to Soho, and got some dinner, it was 11 o' clock and my head was nodding towards the table. So, when Jane said, "We can just go home, if you like," I was all pathetically, "Ooh, yes, please!". Still, it's hard to do a full day and a full night, especially when I was up at 4.30am the day before to get train down!

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Weather was lovely pretty much the whole time. I've actually come back with a bit of a burn. Silly boy going out without the SPF.

Photos will be uploaded to Flickr, for the most part. I chucked a couple up this morning, just to be able to salt this post with them. I'll do a proper sort this evening. Maybe. I've got rehearsal till nine, though, and I am still a Tired Boy. Should have taken today off too, really. Had some 'me' time.

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There were a couple of really perfect moments while I was down. Had a quite blissful small nap in Lincoln's Inn Fields after striding around all day on Friday. I don't think I was actually asleep. More eyes closed and dreaming, but the sun was belting down, the grass smelt good and there were some kids playing far enough away that their shrieks were present background noise rather than something that went straight through one's brain.

Second one was on Saturday night. Julia, the second friend I inflicted myself upon for the weekend, has a whole load of scaffolding up round her flat. After she and Mathew (her partner) had dodged off to bed, I climbed out on it and sat, listening to the city for a bit. Nice to take a breath and just be in the place. And, yes, that is a bit wanky, but still...a perfect moment.

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I bought myself a particularly fine hat. :) A trilby, in dusky rose. It's lovely. LOVELY, I say!

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More to come,

C