How extremely pleasant

Trip to Guisachan was just lovely. Trees and trees and trees and trees!

Train up on Thursday, drove down the very long way yesterday. Via Findhorn and Pitlochry. More pics to go up on Flickr and so on.

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Merry-go-round life does not stop, however. Going to go view a couple flats today, got some prep work to do for an assessment day and two workshops on Boal to sort out. And pack for Nice - leave for there on Thursday.

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And...coming soon...the blog you've all been waiting for...Abandon Podge!

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Nihil obstat,

C

Last day, last day!

At work. And then I'm off for five, back for three, off for five. Woop!



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Much organising to do tonight. Packing, making sure batteries are charged, decide on whether or not to take the laptop. Figure I might as well. Getting the train then a lift, so it's not like there's a baggage limit or issue. And if I do take it, there won't be any memory card issues, but if I don't there will.



Weather forecast for Inverschneck is cloudy with sun, which suits me. Landscape shots with entirely blue skies are a bit boring, to my mind.



What's that you say? Socialising with others. Well. Yes. After I've taken pictures. *grins*



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Speaking of pictures. I've been trying of frickin' months to get a shot onto this particular Flick group. Finally made it with this one:







Woop! Woop, I say! As much an exercise in viewing the pool, checking out what was in there. But I suppose matching tastes is as much of an achievement as the actual photo.



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Disappointingly, the flat I was going to see last night was already sold. :(

But never mind - as many have already said, "What's fer ye'll no go by ye."

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Nihil obstat,

C

Second viewing

Another one. For the fixed price pad. So, by tomorrow I could be actually buying it. Which is scary and delightful. I like it. Maybe not the ideal shape, but I can see a lot to do that I would like, if you follow.

Take out the current platform and put in something nicer, for one. We shall have to see. Dad's going to give me his considered opinion this evening.

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I like candids, when they work out.

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Kind of hit me today that I'm actually going away on a break / holiday thang. Woop. One more day of work and then I'm off for five whole days. Don't expect a blog while I'm gone. Intent on keeping off computers the whole time away, which shouldn't be hard.

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Must model tonight. Must, must, must.

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Nihil obstat,

C

Cheap cheap

Flat on West Montgomery Street just went to a cheapcheap fixed price. Going to go and check it out.

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Thanks all the gods it's Friday. It's been a week. Drinks out after work as it's colleague's last day. The one that's going to Shanghai. Too cool.

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I don't live in poverty,
I've got a little bit of money
and a healthy body.

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Random sea glass pic



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The sister's birthday tomorrow. About which I am undecided.

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Nihil obstat,

C

So close to holidays

I can taste them. Only in work for two days next week, then three the next! Woop! Woop! And, I say again, woop!

(It's funnier if you imagine Daffy Duck saying it, too)

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I'm really loving this fireplace. I was trying to find out how much the room hire is and I'd seriously considering doing a proper shoot in there. Can't find where to book the room, though. Oddness.

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Not that I've been doing much in the way of photography, but Guisachan and Nice will sort that out. Been trawling flick for Nice pics and it rather looks like I'm going to have a ball. So pretty. Hell, I wouldn't even have to leave the villa. Check out the view from the terrace.

Modelling's been a bit of a casualty the last week or so, as well. I'm kind of tired. Flopped down and read book or watched telly the last few nights. Bit torn between visiting and going home tonight. Mum and Dad are going to Ikea, so I might get some peace and quiet for a while. Longing to do some cloning / self-portraits. Not unlike this one from fellow flickrite Gav. Check out the rest of his stream. Annoyingly talented for such a young fella. ;)

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Work is really sucking. Why can't these people realise I'm a god with genius-like faculties? Eh? Why not?

*laughter*

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Nihil obstat,

C

Always amazes me

When I forget to blog. I mean, me? Miss a chance to flap my gums?

Just. Weird.

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Nihil obstat,

C

Hokay, so...

...decisions have been reached. I'm going to be a sensible boy (maybe sensible) and let a closing date be put on the flat I'm interested in and then put an offer in. At the moment, I'm thinking of a lower number, but you never know, might decide that I Simply Must Have It in between now and closing date.

***update***

Just had a call from their solicitor, asking for 'feedback on the property'. Will have to return their call once I get back off lunch. Will let you know anything pertinent.

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Isn't she a pretty little thing? Got plans for that profile, I do.

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I miss GPs. Got that bit of freelance writing done - occupational profile of General Practitioner. Had to do case studies of the job which brought me back into contact with a few and that has reminded me what generally nice people they are. One would hope so, considering their job, but not all doctors are nice. Trust me. Go meet a few consultant surgeons and see how you feel about this statement.

Anyway. Miss my old client group, they were nice to work for and with.

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Yesterday was very sleepy. I'm in serious need of a proper break, I've decided. Happily, these things are incoming. Looking forward to highland scenery, obviously, but bring on Nice!

Hmm. There's a thought. *wanders off to type 'gay bar Nice, France' into Google*

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Nihil obstat,

C

Laugh loud

I do. Very loud. Occasionally, I worry that I'm being slightly boorish, but then I think, "Naaaah." I'm setting an example. Everyone should roar with laughter.


And sneezes. One should enjoy one's sneezes. One tenth of an orgasm, you know.


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Had second view of the Nicolson Street flat on Sunday. Am now moving towards a decision. A couple of decision. Interwoven decision making. Anyway. It's good. Much to do.

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Have music again. Picked up a wee radio. Got to wait until November to get a phone upgrade and was seriously missing phat choons. :)

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Nihil obstat,

C

Busybusybusy

So.

Flat lovely. Well pleased. Further action on that over weekend, report next week. But glee. Definite glee.

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TFIF.

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Nihil obstat,

C

Referred

I have been referred. Check me out.

Ran the Management School's event last night, which went swimmingly. Nice folk, as usual. Competitive as all hell, as usual. Thankfully we had a clear winner, so there was no need for me to make up some daft game or other to decide a tie breaker. And, as it says, I've been referred. Director of Studies for the MSc programmes wants me to run an event for their cohort next year.

Probably be able to get a bigger fee from them, too, as it's a lot more students to herd. Yippee!

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The nice building we were at for our strategising yesterday had a nice fireplace. And I convinced a few of the ladies to sit in it for me. Only the one up so far. I'm undecided about B&W or colour for the others.



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Flat viewing tonight. Yon studio on Nicolson Street, which is the uber-location as far as I'm concerned. Third floor too, so less noise, lots of light. Only the first one I'm going to see, obviously, so I'm trying to strike a balance between glee and good sense. We'll see who wins.

Bets?

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Been sorting out printing and framing for some photographs today. Going up in reception. Quite chuffed with that. Not getting paid, but will be properly attributed!

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Nihil obstat,

C

That'll be the peace shattered

Mum and Dad get back tomorrow. Urgh. I know, churlish of me when they’re returning to their own home, but it’s been such bliss to have my own space.

On top of that, though, I’m going to go view a flat tomorrow night, for the first time. I’ve got another seven or so favourited on ESPC, but no point in going at it like a bull at a gate. Sunday afternoon, when folks are back to drive me around (natch), is looking good for viewing lots.

…

Strategising at work today. Annual meeting to look at past achievements and future objectives. I’m a wee bit sad in that way, quite enjoying looking at the overarching aims and objectives and how they’ve been delivered in specific subjects.

OK, fair enough. A big bit sad. ;)

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Hardly any comments on my dragons, which I think is just bloody jealousy on the part of every other flickrite. Yes, jealous!



I mean, lookit them!

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Running the Management School’s fresher’s event tonight. Easy money!

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Nihil obstat,

C

Yon dirty book

Ha! That got your attention. I was going to call this 'Talking', but any reference to sex'll get noticed. :)



So, yes, yon book I was bitching about. Turned out to be a decent read. Plot and character and everyfin'. Well, of course I kept reading it. It's a dirty book. *laughter*



Talking, as I said, was my alternate title and that's pretty much what the book dealt with. Talking and the need for. And how all fired bloody difficult that is. Which is a good point.



"We need to talk."



"You should talk to him."



"Did you ask what was wrong?"



Lots of lines, in lots of media, all amounting to the same thing. The point made in this book was that talking isn't easy. Which got me thinking. A lot of people seem to think that talking is, or at least should be. Talking as opposed to chat, you understand. Actually expressing yourself and, at the same time, giving proper attention to what the other person(s) have to say?



Hard. Well, not for me, but then again, I'm very special.



"Like, gold and diamonds special or ride to school in the little yellow bus special?"



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This guy hasn't got a proper name yet.







Cool, though, eh?



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Homestake! Homestake!



Can't believe I forgot to tell you yesterday! I got my Homestake passport yesterday! A - woop! Can start looking for a place to buy. Excitement and fear in equal measures. :)

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Nihil obstat,

C

Better. Much better.

Oh, my goodness me. Chrises really really need the downtime on occasion. Can't tell you how much more calm and relaxed a bunny I am having had some time to myself over the weekend. Sister was down on Saturday to use th internets, and we went for a walk down the harbour (results on flickr) but other than that I kind of mooched around. Read a bit, watched some DVDs, lay in the garden trying to go from pale blue to white. And, yes - SPF factor 25. Momma didn't raise no fool. Freckled, but not foolish.

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The garden is still hanging on to some lovely flowers, and you would not believe the size of the spiders! I got pics, but they're not up yet. Had forgotten them.

Fuschias:



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Also did some plasticines which are cool but not photographed as I let my battery die. It's charging. Oh. Damn. So it is. I hope they don't fry from being overcharged. Anyhoo - plasticines will be up this evening, I expect. Got a dragon anna lizard.

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Ok, so just because I had a relaxing evening does not mean I am not crazy busy still. Got GP profile to write for AGCAS (work - getting paid - hurrah!). Got event to run on Wednesday for Management School (work done - getting paid - hurrah!). Got workshops to design and run for Luvviebabies (work - not getting paid, but fun so - hurrah (no exclamation point)).

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Nihil obstat,

C

Swallowed a f*ckin' dictionary, did ye?

Heard this a lot at school. Along with, after I'd provided a simpler way of saying whatever I'd said, "Why did ye no jist f*ckin' say that, then?"

As if anyone who talks at the rate I do - and when I was a kid, I spoke even faster - could have time to select the words he uses. Why is all this of interest?

Well, I do the writing, as most of you are aware. Just at the moment I'm writing a couple of information publications at work with the concomitant Plain English rules. There's house guidelines for style, too (mine is too chatty - surprise!). All this leads me to various thoughts on the purpose of language. Dumbing Down versus Easily Accessible. And did you know that the average reading age in the UK is, according to which study you believe, between 9 and 12? As in, the level most people in the UK read at is what you would expect from an educated 9 year old? That's personally terrifying.

Anyway - back to the point, or rather the ramble. I'm wondering about communication, target audiences, felicity of style, that kind of thing. My brain doesn't sit still so I need to have some kind of internal guide as to where things are going, otherwise every project leads to six more. Not necessarily a bad thing if I could close out the one before moving to the six.

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Couple more fireworks shots are up. I like this one for the foreground - bits and chunks of the crowd lit by their own lights.



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I got an evening to myself last night! And a whole weekend of the same ahead. *happy sigh*

It has been So Long since I got some proper time to myself. I didn't realise how crazy it would make me. I do have a room to go to, but my being in it doesn't stop Mum or Dad shouting for me whenever they need a hand for something, which is often, as I'm there. I think they have the same mindset on me staying as when I visit once a week. "While Christopher's here...

Only, I'm *always* there, evenings and weekends so I'm spending a lot of time being interrupted. This is not a new whine,I know, but it's a happy one as I'm actually getting some peace for a while. Maybe that'll calm my brain down a little bit.

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Nihil obstat,

C

Peace

Perfect. Mum and Dad have gone on holiday. 'Me' time incoming. *happy sigh*

I know, I'm terribly ungrateful, but I really, really, REALLY need some down time. Would be nice to have had some days off to take, but I've used up the lot of them for this year. On lovely trips away, though, so I'm no' complainin', ken?

I am going to have an entire weekend to myself, I think. Probably won't be assed to come up into town. I've got a teasing suspicion there's plans I've forgotten for Saturday, but hey ho - I'll find out when it starts to smell.

...

Who knows, who knows?

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Lonely man.

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Still love this little guy.

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Nihil obstat,

C

Damn, but this month just got expensive!

But in very good causes. Definitely off to Nice for a few days in early October and, with Patrick's birthday trip the week before, I am going to be such the traveller. And can't complain about expense. Cheapness to lodges for Patrick's birthday do and my brother's picking up the tab for the villa in France, so just flights and some spends to conjure.

And it's not like I'm paying rent...

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Feeling much better today, thankfully. Couldn't put finger on what was up, just felt wrung out. Some non-specific bug or other. Missed a date, though, annoyingly. Chap was most understanding, considering it was the second time I've rain-checked the poor fella.


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Mum and Dad go on holiday tomorrow!


*quick break while Chris does lap of celebtratory honour around the block*


Time spent alone. With nobody else there! *happy sigh*


Concomitant of that is walking the two miles up to Prestonpans to get train, but you can't have everything. ;)


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This pic:





got picked (groan) for somebody's news story, along with another one. To illustrate the Bauhaus Festival of Colour. This year: yellow. Just for a website, but still. Chuffed.

Plus, I've been dancing round various folks and institutions galleries for the Festival Fireworks and I think mine measure up pretty well against them. This guy must have been standing directly above me. Again, chuffed. If only work I get paid for was going so well.

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Writing. Baaad Chris. No further forward with the Sci-Fi malark I'm working on which could very well turn into a book. Maybe I need a To Do list. Another one. Updated. Or something.

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Nihil obstat,

C

Off work

Not feeling my best. Not feeling my worst, either, as I'm up and on computer for a wee bit, to be fair. I reckon I'm just knackered. And I realised it's been something like two weeks at least since I had any time alone. Chrises needs the time alone in order to stop their brain stop buzzing. Otherwise it doesn't. This is bad for Chrises.

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Fireworks pictures turned out eversomuch better than I though they would. O me of little faith!

There's a few on flickr, but here's a couple more that aren't. Best viewed a lot bigger than this, really, in order to get the foreground interest.

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Me bruvva was on the phone last night and, yippity skip!, I'm invited to spend the week with them at a villa they've taken in France (bit of a Christie phraseology there) in early October. How nice. Or Nice, in face. And I still might get my wee weekend away in Italy for my birthday.

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OK, headache kicking in now.

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Nihil obstat,

C

Been there, seen that, got the Tshirt

Feuerzabruta was well, well, WELL worth £25. A quite literal jaw-dropping show. I spent half of the performance grinning like an idiot, and the other half whooping like one. Went with Steve and Alexis (poor James - always working these days!) but we kind of lost each other in the crowd. I felt a tiny little bit off jumping up and down and whooping by myself, but then I thought, "Feck it," and did exactly as I pleased.

I'd describe it, but go check out their website - it's got wee YouTubes of their show on. Nowhere near the impact of seeing someone suspended above you doing crazy leaps and flips with only shower curtain material to press off from, but you'll get the gist.

And, yes, I bought both the Tshirt and the CD. I must go clubbing...

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Another new week. The time is zipping in. Can't imagine what things are going to be like when I finally get mortgage papers through and can start looking for a flat. Of course, that'll eventually lead to a lot more available time, what with the current commute and all, but if I think I'm busy now?

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Fireworks photos will be up tomorrow, what few of them I think are good. Not looked at them on computer yet, as I didn't go home last night, but last night was more about learning than producing, as it turned out. I reckon I know what was wrong with my technique. (Shorter shutter speed, better timed!). We'll see - might not be as bad as I think.

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Going for a wee wander round town tonight, looking for Places of Interest. It's nearly time for the yearly event I run for the Management School so I must pace it out. And they went fewer bars and more culture, which is fair enough. Makes things a little trickier, though. It wouldn't be such a deal, but MBA students are, for the most part, fiercely competitive, so I always have to find things that are far away or tricky to find. If it's too easy, every single team gets every single question right. Then they spend about ten minutes each haranguing me as to why their team should win.

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Nihil obstat,

C