Beedly-Beedly

That's what I'd call a new country, if I founded it. Beedly-Beedly, with a capital city of Oompa-Oompa. None of this "New Britain", "Nova Scotia" or even "Dunedin."

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Come close.

No, closer.

Closer still.

*whispers*

Had job interview today. Went well. :)

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Late again!

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Nihil obstat, baby!

C

Pardon the tardy

Late again with the random ramblings. It's a busy time for young Reynolds, though. Got myself in a mood yesterday afternoon. Didn't know why, just knew I had that tight feeling in my stomach and that my lip was in danger of tripping me up.


So, I set about rearranging plans for last night and tonight, feeling that it wasn't fair to inflict my mood on undeserving others. By the time I'd got all that sorted, I was a lot more relaxed and realised that I was in a huff with myself as everything was getting a bit much. I'm having a lovely time with all my many things to do, but there are only so many hours in the day after all.


Mildly chuffed that even though I didn't know why I was so ticked off, I set about making sensible changes, which took my mood away without that being the specific plan. I must know myself deep down, even if I'm not always talking to myself. :)


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Flickr. I'm back-and-forthing a bit on it at the moment. Not the use thereof, which I'm quite worryingly addicted to, but what I upload and how. I'm most likely to settle on a compromise between the two, but at the moment we're considering active and rutheless discernment as opposed to 'lookit what I done' and uploading the lot.

Whatever I decide, it's going to have to be soon. With 2,259 photos currently up there, reining myself back in is going to be a bit of a chore.

The compromise? Two collections "First Cut" and "All the rest" so that it's easy to find those I've selected from each set as 'ra best'.

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I is in your head. Controllin' your minds!

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Sunday Sinfest Rocks! Can't wait until I have flat again and can start covering walls in fun things to look at!

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Nihil obstat (maybe the occasional bad mood),

C

All your base are in the loft

Well, it's not, actually, but that's a good title and I suck at those. *laughter*

I walked Mum up to fetch Dad's car, in exchange for being left severely alone when we got back to house. Which did give her a bit of pause. She actually thought about walking up to next village herself rather then agree to not bug me for a whole three hours.

Crazy. Lady.

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Ho and a hum. Going out for a wee drink tonight, which should be pleasant. Caved in and booked for Feurzabruta as a last gasp of Festival attendance before Sunday's fireworks. And for £25, I'd damn sure better be allowed to take photographs!

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And, as it's nearly half three and I am so very behind on the day, that's your lot. Come back tomorrow. Or go look at Dave again. He's cool.

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Nihil obstat,

C

Brrrrrrr

It's bloody chilly today! "Indian Summer" my butt!

I know. We shall have Dave build a fire for us:



Currently unsure as to whether Dave is Good or Evil. There is this to be taken into account, though:



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We are in the final two weeks of the expected turnaround time for Homestake application, so here's hoping I'll be able to start viewing flats soon! Not a lot on the market at the moment, but there has been. Patience for the process.

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I may have to kill my mother at some point. Not badly, you understand. Just a little bit. Last night we had a grand round of loft putting-in and taking-out. Four dining room chairs - which she 'helped' me put up. Read 'shoved on the bottom completely buggering up the angle I had them at'. All this one-handed on my part, too, you know, as the other hand was involved in balancing.

She's expecting to somehow magic the dining table base part through the loft access this evening. It'll have to be bloody magic as it's so big. I did try and explain how I only had one hand to do this with. She doesn't think this'll be a problem somehow. *sigh*

Oh, be quiet. Yes, you. I can hear every single last mother of you *thinking* at me. I did it all, didn't I? AND while I was trying to make Dave.

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Very close to being finished checking my web links at work. Yes. Still. Then I've got Education to do, and then finally I'll be done with click - OK - click - OK - click - not OK Fix - click - OK.

Mind. Numbing.

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Got a new contact on Flickr. Some incredible shots/morphs.

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If only it were possible.

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Nihil obstat,

C

Blogger Videos!

Better get my software together on the animations - then I can show y'all the Wonderful World of Squashies.

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In the meantime, after much churlish lip-pouting from me, and not a little "lots of people would give their eye-teeth to be here" thinking, I got some great shots of street performers on the Royal Mile. Heartily enjoyed their show and tipped them a fiver. I'm a big believer in tipping buskers - I like the idea of people entertaining us as we walk around. These two got a fiver as they entertained me for 45 minutes. They were far superior to Phil Kay, on Saturday which cost eleven quid. Bad pick from me and Steve. He used to be funny, you know.



More shots on Flickr, as usual. I has triptychs.

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Tekkonkinkreet was awesome! Beautiful, shocking and thought-provoking. It did get tied up in a neat little bundle with good or light winning out over bad or darkness. Not without a lot of blood and guts, though.

Going still-hunting today as the environments were just dandy. I think the most impressive thing about it (of many) was the sound and volume levels. It managed to hover at that harassing-for-effect-without-being-biologically-offensive-to-ears level. Nice definition, eh? *laughter*

One of the main characters was 'touched' - and I use the word advisedly. I used to work at a Playscheme for the Handicapped and I remember very well the way some kids just never learned to moderate volume. Use of that communicated a lot of character and really brought you into those interacting with him's viewpoint.

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Busy week ahead. Much to achieve on a personal level. Work is work, as it always is. STILL checking feckin' web-links!

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Nihil obstat,

C

Weekend - Woop!

My wrists are aching. *pause for snickers up sleeves*

Finished? Good.

Lots of lifting and carrying yesterday and the day before. Getting rid of the leftover (makes it sound small - two van loads!) of this academic year's takeaway literature. Plus all I've done at the computer at work is click links, as we're doing our annual check of all our web pages. That said, I'm picking up little bits and pieces of interest - like the marauding elephants in Malawi. They've had to have a people-curfew.

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Starting to run up against the straight-out-from-work-or-not-at-all quandary. One must be so organised when living out of town, don'tcherknow. If I am planning on going out, or even want the option, then I have to pack street clothes for the evening. There's also that dead time between five and seven (before which no truly civilised evening society begins) to fill. Fair enough is weather is nice - can wander around, especially just now with FestiVAL to gad about in. Not looking forward to winter time for same - dark at 4pm.

Eesh. Ach, well. Optimism. Could very well have my very own flat by then.

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Great shot - not mine. Is giggle-worthy.

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The show I went to last night, with Liz and Jenny was very funny indeed. Aeneas Faversham Returns. I'll let you read the review for details. Most proud of Jamie who I used to be in drama societies with. Doing very well for himself.

The sketches are all very Victoriana, or Georgian or Edwardian. Muzzy period, not really mattering, but it put me in mind of something someone, I think it was Hamish but I could be wrong, said: that you have to limit yourself in order to be creative. 'tis true, I feel.

"I'm going to write a story."

OK, well done, but what about? And in what style? What do you want to communicate?

This spun me down another wee thought trail to what is fast becoming my philosophy on art, if you like. It can be summed up in one word and everything: Intent. Art is intent.

I reached this particular conclusion mostly through the photography. Digital is all so very easy, you see. At least in part. Takes away all the technical necessities, most especially with the point and clicks. I personally don't understand those who use the "auto" setting on their fancy-pants cameras. Why not just buy/bring the ittle one?

Anyway - if there's no requirement to know any great deal about processing or developing, then do you get to claim yourself as a photographer? If all you've done is the aforesaid point-and-click. I think so. I think if you intend to create something, then that's good enough. It won't necessarily be good, but it'll be definable as art.

Which is just the start, really.

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Nihil obstat,

C

Missing music

Dad isn't really a music kind of guy. When we were kids, he'd come in from work, turn whatever music my brother or sister were listening to (at the time, I was usually reading), turn on the TV, and then (and this is the insulting part) bugger off upstairs for half an hour.

I miss the radio. First thing I put on in my own house, in the morning, when I get in from work, when I'm doing dishes, whatever. Just now I'm catching the odd tune when I'm in my bedroom. Moving around would be fine, except the second hands-free kit (kindly donated by Patrick) has broken. In exactly the same fashion. Left earphone stopped working, then right, now it's bust. Bloody Sony.

I'm being tight - getting an upgrade in November, so I'm not buying another set, just to break. (I do take after my father in some ways - *laughter*).

I am missing the music, though - probably driving my colleagues mad with a confusion of unconscious humming, whistling and singing. And the songs that are coming out - "Three Little Maids from School"? This is not cool. Good, but Not Cool.

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Off to see Mr. Jamie of the Anderson tonight - finally! I have been seriously lame friend, as he's been doing the stand-up and comedy malarkey for about four years now and this is the first show I'll have been to see. Looking forward to it, though - it's had some great reviews, and he's always been a funny fella.

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I am Very Happy today. Can't tell you why. It's that 'nothing I wouldn't want employer, mother or possible lover to read'.

Which doesn't narrow it down much, I realise, but VERY HAPPY!

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Nihil obstat - MOFO!

C

Ever Decreasing Circles

A "Normal" person is the sort of person that might be designed by a committee. You know, "Each person puts in a pretty color and it comes out gray." ~Alan Sherman

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What are you all looking at?



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Moments of anticipation: realising there's an update at a site one enjoys - spotting a new pic from a particularly fond contact on Flickr - getting an email from Edinburgh Property about new properties in my price band. Yay!

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Being at Mum and Dad's is going to be good for Creative Chris. Once I'm home, I'm home - I'm not bouncing up and down to Edinburgh in the evening. It's not really worth it for a couple hours social time, unless I stay in town after work. Maybe once I've sorted out rail pass. Maybe.

But, yes, being home and staying home means I've been getting more done. Dad watches crap TV so I'm pushed up off my butt, too. Hence, the more podges. :) Question is, once I've got all the pics I want, do I squish them?

Do I?

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Nihil obstat,

C

Wave back!

Pleased with la Familie Podge Blanc (White Podge Family). For many reasons. One - they're a progression from this guy:



And two, they progressed themselves. Started off with basic body shape, then heads happened by themselves (plasticine does this - it makes itself). They also sexed themselves, by virtue of very small tilts of head, or where they were standing in relation to each other. They also informed me that they, unlike the other podges, needed eyes. I've got photos of the process but not posting them. I'm not done with these guys - they're surprising me and I think I'm learning a lot from them. No, I'm not crazy. I don't think lumps of modelling material are actually speaking.

What I mean is that moving arms, changing the direction they're looking - at each other, away from each other, all that; makes a huge difference to the mood. Which means I'm learning a fair bit about portraiture and group shots without the attendant harassment of working with actual people. Be warned, though, those of you who live near - I'm going to start begging you to let me take your photo. (No, Liz, not you.) I've got a few contacts on Flickr who are regularly coming up with astonishing portraits, just by grabbing a mate and going for a wander.

Another reason I like them is that my Dad laughed at me. In a gentle, pleasant way - with love. But still laughing.

"Wot?" I asked.

"Nothing," says he.

"Wot?" I asked again.

"Oh, nothing. It's just - do you not sometimes worry?" says he, chortling.

"No," says I, quite content with the fact that I'm the kind of guy who spends a chunk of his evening playing with plasticine and taking photos of the results.

Of course, when I showed him these, he asked could I do this? Maybe it's the plasticine...

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Work is dull, work is dull. Well. Not that dull. But I wouldn't describe myself as 'engaged', particularly. Awaiting the dreaded feedback on three submissions. Let's see what I've got entirely wrong this time. A lesser person would be doubting themselves by now, you know.

Good job I'm so fan-feckin-tastic, eh?

;-p

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Gods, I've not been paying attention and now it's half past three.

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Nihil obstat,

C

Did Royal Mile

Yes, I've been looking at canhascheeseburger and the damn talking is infectious.

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So, yes. Royal Mile. Liz and I had a playdate on Sunday. We did go up and down Royal Mile, which was all right - pretty good in places. Awesome brass quarter. Didn't have much cash in pocket otherwise I would have bought their CD they were so very good. Plus, I thought the horn player was hot.



And there were some other points of interest. We saw two unicyclers with exactly the same patter, though. This is what's so tired about street performance. Stand around for half an hour listening to (sometimes good) chat in order to watch them unicycle around in a circle for all of two minutes. Rah. Still, we went. And we did. And now don't need to again. I'm really enjoying the festival this year, but the Royal Mile you can keep. Was much better when you didn't book a slot - you just turned up and whoever shouted the loudest got the most attention. Now, that's marketing!

After our wander, we played with plasticine, along with Patrick who showed up in time for toy-fun. Lookit - birds n' bees.



Needs a quick wash in photoshop, that one.

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The first time you buy a house you see how pretty the paint is and buy it. The second time you look to see if the basement has termites. It's the same with men. ~Lupe Velez

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Check out the dude Hoho's latest. Shivery-scary.

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This week? Oh, gods know. So much to do, and inclination to do it, but it's not all going to get done this week, so one thing at a time. But...

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Nihil obstat,

C

Thank the gods I checked

It is Friday! Hurrah, hurrah. And not much on this weekend at all. Going to see Torchsong Part 2 tomorrow afternoon, but other than that I am free. I might just hang out at home, but the attendant on that is my mother viewing me as an assignable resource. Any weekend day in which I am home is punctuated, at least once an hour by, "Could you just - "

Perhaps I shall tell her she gets a block of time when she can ask for things, other than that I get to have some peace. I know I'm being put up and all that, but still - I'm allowed to have my day off, just like everybody else.

Woman can't sit still, you see. My Gran has a lovely turn of phrase for it - "Ann's got a glass erse - if she sits down it breaks." Mum must also keep at something until it's finished but, strangely, also has the staying power of a stunned herring. Anything her eye falls on that needs doing gets attacked. Plus, I'm battening down hatches against her plans to shred my Dad's pride-and-joy ivy which is growing up the side of the house. Oh - and she wants to destroy the greenhouse, too.

Should be fun.

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Lovely walk down to the harbour last night.



View the whole set.

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Everyone cross their fingers, please - waiting for security deposit to clear. Could be today, could be Monday. Which will more or less decide whether or not I'm out and about or at home this weekend. Service has been good since last Friday's debacle, though, so not complaining. Just hoping!

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Found a new comic. www.unshelved.com - it's set in a library and is verra funny.

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Nihil obstat,

C

Nice to have done one

Aaaaawwwwweeeeesssssoooooommmmmeeeeee!

The Bacchae was SO good. (I'll be articulate in a minute - for now - Whooping!)

And spoiler ALERT! I mention a couple of things below which might detract just a tiny bit from surprise if anyone is yet to see it.

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OK, seriously. Tour de force. Well done, National Theatre of Scotland. You have earned your public funding - not least because scripts were available for £3 only. Programme notes and all.

One might have expected an Allan Cumming vehicle - all of the press has certainly been about him, and he was absolutely superb, but all credit to both him and, more importantly, his fellow performers - he didn't swamp anyone. Nor would I have wanted him to. The real import of the play would have been lost if it had been all about how great Allan Cumming looks in a skirt (strangely great, in fact). And loving the hair.

A technical marvel, too. Nice conjuring tricks from Dionysus (Cumming) and an actual wall of flame, at one point. I jest not. Dionysus heaves a lightning bolt at Pentheus' palace to punish him for not recognising Dionysus as a God. The set was made up of two curved walls, with what one thought were just handrails / climbing frame type stuff for the Bacchae to pose and preen on. Turns out they were piped through with gas. The flame was so intense it forced you to look away and the heat hit you like a slap. Truly impressive and not something you get in your average performance.

The chorus mostly sings, rather than chanting, as one would expect. Excellent technique to give the play a modern polish. You didn't lose out on the language, either, as it was all very well pronounced.

I was good, though, and didn't take camera. Would have been nice to get a wee shot of the man himself or just the curtain call, but I decided I'd rather just be there. Very glad I did. Was truly great. Considering going through to Glasgow to see it again.

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One tiny point of irritation - bloody Hub tickets don't charge your card until they print the tickets (unlike King's Theatre's usual process) so I thought I'd already paid for the tickets. About two months ago! So today I am suddenly skint.

Really don't care, though. It was sooooo gooooood.

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Nice to have done one? Well, that's because I have, as we know. Last year, after seeing Troillus and Cresseda, again at the King's, in the International Festival (I have expensive taste in theatre!) I got a bit down about not having done a play in a while. So it was very cool to enjoy the play(s) I've seen in a contented "I've done my bit" kind of a way. Very keen to catch a couple of visual art exhibits. One at the Dean, one at the Modern Art Gallery.

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Oh - if any of you Edinburghers fancy it, I'm going to see Part 2 of Torchsong Trilogy on Saturday at 2.30pm. Worth a look. I've seen it three times already and am still looking forward to seeing it again.

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Nihil obstat,

C

More slacking

Spent yesterday evening playing computer games and watching four episodes of Angel. Bliss.

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The Bacchae tonight. Very excited indeed, as I've been waiting months to see it and every other b*gger seems to have been along. Everyone very complimentary about it, though, so good to know. My Mum was funny - kept stopping herself from telling me bits so as not to spoil it. Had to tell her that I'd studied the play at Uni so I kind of know what happens. It's how it's done that's exciting. I've decided to take one photograph, too. Bedamned to rules of no photography.

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Physical labour this morning. Good to be on my feet. Taking down all the old, wall-fixed shelving, replacing with stand-alone units and reshelving everything. Took four of us four hours. Not that we were knocking our pans in or anything, just nice and steady. I quite like a bit of physicality occasionally. Does no good to be sitting at a desk all day every day. Get a flat, fat arse if nothing else.

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Kind of late for this, what with morning running into afternoon and all. Will gush about Bacchae tomorrow. And there is a storm brewing for the weekend. Mum wants rid of greenhouse, Dad having none of it.

Should be fun.

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Nihil obstat,

C

And relax

Which I did. Last night. First night in a very long time where I didn't have to pack, or move, or rehearse, or some other bloody thing. I got an early night and everything.

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And now I can catch up on my reading. Although one book, ordered from Amazon, has been a bit of a disappointment. Billed as a 'romance', it's pretty much porn. Not that I'm against a good, honest, dirty book, you understand - mainstay of my teenage years - but is a *little* plot too much to ask for? Porn I can get for free. Literature? Not so much.

Still, it's slightly encouraing in one way. (No, not that way, thank you). I can write better than this guy. Didn't realise there still was a market for that kind of book, what with the great morass of filth - or t'internet, as it's commonly being referred to.

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Oh, my God, he's Inside My Head!

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Much to do, much to do. I'm cutting myself a break, though. This week is about the downtime - plus, I'm off to see Bacchae tomorrow. Get head straight this weekend, make some plans. And maybe some models.

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Nihil obstat,

C

Early Doors

...for blogging. But I am tired. Should have taken today off, but I've got very little annual leave left for the year. Will have to get on with some work, I suppose...

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Performances went well and I actually enjoyed doing them, so all those rehearsals (since January!) were not in vain. Hamish and Justin and Ellie all came along. Biggest gold start goes to Ellie. (Sorry, chaps, but she did come all the way from Ireland). And a fellow Flickrite came along on Saturday and took some pics, so now the Luvvies have a complete set - all three plays - and I've got a couple of pics of me that I'm quite pleased with, amazingly. Check me bein' all pensive, an' that. :) Have to say, though, the ones of Andy are brilliant.



The rest are here, if'n you're interested:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jondavey/

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So, that's done. Woop. And here comes a week of as little as possible. Work - home - sleep will be the order of the days. Ish. There are still a couple of boxes to unpack, modelling materials and such like to sort out. This will be nice, however. Bumbling around in my bedroom. Is always fun. Like Calvin once said, "I can't wait until I'm old enough to 'putter around'."

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I think next proper priority for the old creative urges is 'The Book'. Not that I'm giving it that much pressure. I'm still plugging away at chapters two and three. When I write, I tend to let the characters do it. Writing is pretty much an exercise in shutting the voices in my head the Hell up. :)

Now that the play is out of the way, I can tag specific evenings for the writing.

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Said to myself, at the time, "Stop. Stop. Stop and take more. No, really."

But didn't. This was taken with Little Blue, so I'm planning on going back up with the Beast. Hope he's still sitting in same place!

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And my blistering email of complaint to Rydens has borne fruit. Very sorry that I got such a response. Money will be sent by electronic transfer just as soon as I fax them a copy of my last electricity bill. There was enough bowing and scraping, so I suppose I forgive them.

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Nihil obstat,

C

As per usual

Well, there's a surprise. A letting agent who is far more keen to take money than give it back. Inspection of the property I was renting was on Wednesday. Not having heard anything from them, I called to speak to the property manager. Informed she is on holiday and that no-one else can help me. Nor can they say when I could reasonably expect my deposit back. I am so very, very glad that this (hopefully) is the last time I'll have to deal with the underhanded, grasping set of sh*ts that dominate the letting service.

"You're a landlord? Oh, allow us to massage your feet and ply you with the finest of wines and sweetmeats."

"You're a tenant? The queue to get f*cked is over there. Drop 'em and bend over - we'll get to you when we feel like it."

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Photos from Macbeth are up on Flickr. They're none of them awesome, but they're nae bad. It was very dodgy lighting and the actors just did not stand still! Excuses, excuses. Maybe I need to buy another camera....

What's that? Just did, you say.

Yes? And?

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Performance, performance. Tomorrow and Sunday, which is going to be good, but I'll be glad when it's done. Started rehearsing in January, after all, so it's been going for a long time. Plus, with the move and all, I haven't made one single plasticine animal in two weeks. Itchy fingers.

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Nihil obstat,

C

I did want to

Unfortunately, Blogger wouldn't let me. Log in yesterday, that is. So none of my blethers yesterday. You must all have been devasated. *grins*



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First pic(k)s from the new camera.

Been having fun with it, snapping away in a very casual manner. The Beast does not encourage 'casual'.

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Rehearsal last night went Well. Woop! I was getting really, seriously concerned, but nary a line out of place and there were sparks flying back and forth. I am now looking forward to this weekend's performances instead of dreading them.

I also had this crazy, rather fantasist thought, that as Allan Cumming is in town and Torchsong is such a famous bufter play, that he might come and see it. What? I can dream...

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I have said this all along.

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Nihil obstat,

C

Official Last

Stayed in town for last night in a while. Picking up last bits of stuff from flat, then down to Mum and Dad's. Hopefully not for long.

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Macbeth was verra good. Was going to be me, Steve and James, but happily Alexis got away from her outreach work a wee bit early and was able to join us. Don't get out very often just the four of us these days, so this was nice.

You weren't allowed to take pictures, but I didn't let that stop me. :) And it took ages for someone to notice and give me a row. Haven't uploaded yet as they're still on camera. Laptop is at flat, but data cable is at M&D's house. Wasn't the easiest to do as everything / body was moving round very quickly, in dim light, with flames and dancing and motorbikes. Most are for the recycle bin, but there are a few that have turned out well - and one that would be absolute feckin' genius were Lady Macbeth about three inches further to the left. But hey ho.

Worth the £9 if any one is looking for a show to go to. Brilliant atmosphere in Old College Quad, too, with loads of search lights playing in the clouds above while the stars came out.

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And speaking of pictures - my new camera is here! A -wooooooop! And it's blue! BLUE, I tells ya!

Me? Excited? Naaaaaah. Slightly like torture, though, as I'm at King's Buildings today and parcel was delivered to Buccleuch Place. I could be stroking it Right Now.


OK, you're right. That got a bit weird.

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Nihil obstat,

C

Nearly there

Thanks to the mad lifting skillz of Patrick, Justin, Liz and SteveO the loading of all my worldly goods into a wooden box went off without a hitch. Only took an hour and a half which I think was quite impressive, all told. :)

Thanks, once again, to the pack mules. You may have one Marquis standard 'significant favour'. Not that you couldn't already, by virtue of being your sweet selves, but you get what I mean.

Very nearly moved out, then. Got a few bits and pieces to shift down to Maw and Paw's tonight (most significantly the Patsy Cat) and then that's me. Come on, mortgage approval. Let's be having you.

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Could not agree more.

I prefer man bag.

I want a list.

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Picked up some free tickets for Macbeth at the Old College quad for this evening. Still somewhat fatigued from a rather raging evening for James' 30th on Saturday but the photo opportunities for this show are not to be missed. It's dance an' stilts an' fire an' ALL SORTS!

Going to book for some fillums today, too. Neil Gaiman fillum and a cool looking Mang-GA!

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Nihil obstat,

C

What? Oh, yes.

Blogging. Of course. Yeeeeeah.

Quick - look over there!

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Nihil obstat,

C