AwkwardInk

I joined the library last week. This is significant because I am trying to travel light, and thus I am adverse to collecting heavy things like books. So I find it easy to talk myself out of buying them when I am in a bookstore.
At the library however, I have no such need for self control. I had forgotten how nice it is to be able to select books just beacuse they look interesting, and not have to tally up the cost or the weight to carry around. I love the library.
I borrowed On Writing, by Stephen King which I have been meaning to read since last year. I finished it in a day. It had some great advice on how to develop one's writing skills. When reading the advice that he gives, which involves setting yourself a target word count every day and not letting yourself leave your room until you finish, I thought I could commit to it. But alas, I am not as motivated as I would like to be. But I will try to write more this year, even if it is only to work on some children's stories that I can illustrate.
I have also started reading 'The Seven Basic Plots' by Christopher Booker. It attempts to outline the seven archetypal storylines and in doing so explain why we tell stories. I've only read the bit on Overcoming the Monster, but it is quite interesting to think about stories in this way.

Alessia and I had a big night out in the city on friday and went to see Happy Feet, whilst eating crazy amounts of chocolate mintrals. The baby penguins were so adorable. And it was nice to recognise so many Australians in the cast and crew. Strangely enough the plot resembled the overcoming the monster plot, except the monster (which is meant to represent the worst aspects of humanity) is in fact mankind and our careless disregard for the environment that is the actual monster to the penguins. Some of the story is a bit silly, but who could hate a dancing penguin?

I got my hair cut ealier in the week by a crazy chic named Sylvie. The haircut is ok, although it is quite a bit shorter than before, but I really liked Sylvie. Half french, quarter chinese, and quarter madagascan. Very kooky girl.

We trouped out into the miserable weather to hang out at a bar near Picadilly Circus for New Year's. Had a great time trying to get home with the millions of other people out on the street. I thought we might have to walk the whole way home at one stage, which was not cool. But we made it through the crowds, past the man carrying the pineapple, and navigated past the drunken lads and lasses out to have a good time. Luckily there was no sight of vomit all night. Had a close call with a randm guy who we saw pissing on the side of the street. When he finished his business he ran over to us trying to get some directions to a tube and wanted me to hug him. Gross but i got away. Ended up in the local cottage chicken waiting for the others to get food. A predictable end to a long night out.

The Xmas break was a great time to relax and feast when required. The business leading up to Christmas, meant that i was more than content to do pretty much nothing except prepare for the various meals that we had planned.
These included:
Christmas Eve Dinner - Baked Salmon, with roasted peppers with goat's cheese and a salad of baby spinich, avocado and pine nuts. Prepared and enjoyed with a lovely bottle of champagne.
Christmas Lunch - The whole roast thing, followed by chocolate cake and ice cream. I lost my vegetarian morals for a moment and partook of an organic chicken that we purchased from the organic butchers up in clapham. It was one big bird, and I'm pretty sure it had a nice free range life. Sarah did an amazing job of handling the uncooked bird, while I fled the scene. Th bird turned out amazingly. As did the rest of the meal. We ate chicken left overs for days afterwards in the form of all sorts of things, including soup and pie. Now I'm back on the vegetarian band wagon.
Boxing Day Breakfast - Pancakes with caramalised banannas and blueberries. (i might have had to put some ice cream in there as well)

Thank god I joined the gym just before Xmas.