AwkwardInk

So this weekend I decided to stop sitting around on my ass. Enough hibernation has been done! I caught up with Scott to see the Wildlife Photographer of the Year Exhibition at the Natural History Museum. It was pretty amazing. Although the fact that most of the images weren't actual photographs, but back lit slide type screen displays, really affected the quality of the experience. There were a few black and white prints that were the stock standard mounted photographs in frames, and they were much easier on the eye, and also alot nicer to look at in everyway.
Let's bring back real photographs in photography exhibitions.
It was also a little disconcerting seeing the work of the young photographers sections. Especially the 10 and under category. The winning photos were awesome, and from the story outlined in the informatin blurb next to the image, the winners sounded like over achieving freaks. Well I couldn't help but be completely in awe of them, but also quite intimidated by their focus and achievements.
I shook off the feelings of under achievement though, and went out last night with Mel and her crazy Saffa friends to a local club in Putney. Its really nice to be around new people sometimes. And the thing I like best about London is the chance to hang with a diverse range of people. I would never meet these people at home, I'm am 100% certain of that. So it is nice to do it here, and revel in the similarities and the differences. There was also the very cool light up disco dance floor, which kept me entranced for quite a while. After all this hibernating, it felt good to get out and about. M.

So the hours of daylight are getting longer. Hurrah. When I've been on the tube to work this week, I've even had to shade my eyes from the sun burning my fragile and sleep sensitive eyes. Since I don't get to see the sun much these days it has been a rare treat. Luckily I have my summer holiday photos to remind me what being in the sun is like. (My travel photos are online here http://photos.yahoo.com/cdemkiw)
So my friend from work Yudhana had his farewell on friday. I know he'll be back, but I'm quite jealous of the 6 month holiday he has planned, first back to Australia and then onto South America. Before finally coming back to London. I've really got to get about orgainsing some more holidays. Although there is my trip home in March to look forward to. I've started dreaming about home quite a bit. Although I had quite a bad nightmare the other night, which involved being at my parents house and being bitten by a snake. I wasn't all that worried about it though. I ran to get my camera to take another photo of the snake to show the doctor's and the snake came right for me and started biting me again and again. I woke up struggling with my doona.
I looked up some dream interpretations online, and one theory is that I'll have an epiphany soon. It hasn't happened yet, but maybe with some more sunlight, the little light bulb in my head will go off as well!
I've been marching on with my Stephen King books too. I nearly killed myself this morning trekking between various post office dispatch offices to collect a parcel but somehow found the energy to keep going to the library branch on the other side of town to get the last in the Dark Tower series. Which was no small task. But I did find it and I'm glad to continue on with the story. Just one more book to go. It is inspiring me to get stuck into some more creative projects. I just need to finish the book first!

[Found these great images by Parskid. His work is so dark and beautiful. Very Inspirational. http://www.parskid.com/]

So its Friday evening and I am so happy it is so! It has been one long week, even though it has only been of the four day variety. After just over a week off for Xmas and New Years, going back to the salt mine is difficult. Transport has been hell and not wearing as many clothing layers as I should have has made me cold and angry as hell at the world and everyone in it. (I really should try the whole buddhist thing again. Finding inner calm is difficult with a two hour commute to work each way)

So here I am in bliss. As Helen said once, so wisely, 'Friday is the perfect distance away from Monday morning'. Love it.

I've been reading Stephen King's Wolves of the Calla, and it is so gripping I can't put it down. I have been staying up way past my bedtime to read it and even forgoing extra napping time by reading it on the tube. It's been so long since I read the other books in the series but his writing is so captivating and inventive. I can feel my speech patterns wanting to change into the slang speech he uses. 'Thankya, big big', is just crying out to be said out loud at some inappropriate moment.

So my plans for the weekend are to finish the book; cook some vegetarian curried sausages (just like my mum does - except her sausages are always piggy pork ones); see the film, Brokeback Mountain (primarily because Anne Hathaway is in it and I'm hoping for a song and dance number as good as the one in Ella Enchanted); and to book my flight home in March (which I have been meaning to do since November).

Hopefully I'll find enough time to sleep alot too!
Anything feels possible on a Friday eve. M

That the menu bar of the website isn't functioning. That's just because these sections havn't been created yet. So no need to fret. They are under construction.

[DMI Xmas Party pics]

So it seems as if 2006 has arrived. Freaky.
My holiday is almost over. Just one more day to go. I seem to have accomplished sleeping until about midday almost every day for the past week. An impressive talent of mine honed on Uni breaks. I've also eaten an amazing quantity of refined sugar in all sorts of different forms. Brownies, pudding, fondue, cookies, chocolate etc. Its disgusting thinking about it really.
I can't belive how much has happened in this last year. Travelling all over the place with Claire last November and December. Xmas in London with Jane. Living in the crack den that was Earl's court. Working various random jobs and meeting so many new and different people.
I left home because I wanted a bit of risk and challenge in my life. London has definately provided that. The last year hasn't been what I planned. But it has been worthwhile. Here's to another adventure filled year in 06. M