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It's been entirely too long since I last posted. Here, have a list of contents:

1. Deborah's Birthday
2. Snow!
3. Things I've been enjoying recently

***

1. Deborah's Birthday

So, I toddled down to London to go see Deborah for her birthday. It was lots of fun in a very London sort of a way. Deborah's flat is in a building that used to be offices and it's huge. The ceilings are tall and it's split level and Deborah has an en-suite and a magical mystery cupboard in the back of her wardrobe!

We went out dancing for the evening, which was fun, and then, because we were in the vicinity, we went for 2am noodles in Chinatown afterwards. God, it's times like this that make me miss living in London; it's so exciting!

The next day, I had a little look around Petticoat Lane market and managed to get myself a dress for £3. That's right. £3! It's a nice dress too! I was going to show you a picture, but I forgot to take one when I was wearing it and now it's too cold to change into it just for a photo. Which brings us nicely onto topic #2.

***

2. Snow!

It's November. It's England. And yet there is snow on the ground. What is going on? It's never normally this cold at this time of year!

Turns out, this is all because the Jet Stream has gone crazy, so now we have to suffer mad weather until it decides to right itself again.

I'm always amused by how ill-equipped we are in this country to deal with snow. There was only an inch of snow on the ground this morning, and yet it felt like an achievement to be able to get to work in one piece. I was very proud that everyone I work with was able to make it in this morning, despite the usual, snow-related transport chaos. It was all I could do not to high-five people as they came in through the door!

So, I've got the wellies out and the thick jumpers on. Let's see how long this snow lasts (hopefully not long, please, Mr. Jet Stream).

***

3. Things I've been enjoying recently

- Kings of Leon
I've been going back over some of my old Kings of Leon albums this past fortnight. It's nice to remind myself what a cracking band they are. Have some YouTube links:
Sex on Fire
Day Old Blues
Molly's Chambers

- Giles and Sue Live the Good Life
From reading the reviews, it seems like you either enjoy the team of Giles Coren and Sue Perkins or you don't. I am very much on the enjoy side of the equation. They make me laugh a lot. I don't really care that their Good Life experiment seems to be a bit of a shaky idea; I'd happily watch them both present anything, even the Shipping Forecast.

- Peep Show
Yet another new series of Peep Show and it's still as funny as it always was. Whatever it is you do, Peep Show writers, don't stop. Don't ever stop :D
The first episode of the new series had a lot of good parts, but one of my favourite lines has to be:
Jez: I've always wanted to watch a woman give birth. It'd be like Alien, only sexy.

Golly, I've been a busy bee recently.

Theresa and Colin had a bonfire party last weekend, which was lots of fun. Here, have a picture of some sparks from the fire:

Poor bonfire. It had rained so much before the party began that the bonfire never really got going properly; it was still plenty warm though (and the barbecued sausages helped too). I also got to see Theresa and Colin's new house, which is absolutely lovely, and their new dog, who is even lovelier! She's a greyhound and I've never seen a more calm dog before, or a more elegant one.

And then this weekend, Susan came to visit. We did plenty of shopping and ate some nice cake too. Oh, and I bought myself a new handbag :D It's big and black and Susan said it looked like I was going to rob a bank with it, but it'll fit all my things so I'm rather pleased with it.

In other news, I drew a fanart and I'm still not sure why. It's probably best not to ask questions.

I love that coat ♥

If you feed a cow alcohol, does it start producing Baileys instead of milk?

I don't have much time to write this post, so I shall just dump a few youtube videos that I've been enjoying recently and then run away ♥

Mostly, I've been on a Richard Aoyade kick, recently.

Here's a video of him being interviewed by Armando Iannucci
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L6QhIvVxc6E

And here's a video of him doing some wonderful physical comedy in The IT Crowd
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f-l_e3CcU20

And something completely different to finish off. Here's Peter Serafinowicz doing some impressions.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TPhsON-DUYQ

It's been ruddy ages since I've posted here, hasn't it? I keep meaning to, but I amass tonnes of things that I want to write about and then I don't feel like I have enough time to write about them all.

So, let's keep it slow. Today, I shall post about TV shows that I have been enjoying at the moment.

TV show number 1 - Churches: How to Read Them

This show has been my favourite thing for weeks and weeks. The basic premise is that they take you through the history of Christianity in the UK and show you how this has affected the way churches have been built and decorated.

It is absolutely fascinating.

This show is full of facts that I didn't know. Such as:
- When the early Christian missionaries arrived, they set up altars. It was only later that churches were built around those altars to protect them from the weather.
- Some churches are covered in carvings that appear to be very shocking to our modern eyes.

I haven't been in a church since I started watching the series, but now I really want to go take a look at some. British churches are fascinating, simply for the fact that most of them are so old! The fact that people have been using the same space for the same purpose for the past 800 years or so, without stopping, is pretty darn exciting if you ask me.

TV show number 2 - Michael Wood's Story of England

This programme is in a similar vein to the previous one. The deal here is that they use documents and archaeology to trace the history of one village, and relate that to the history of England as a whole.

While I love learning about the history (because I can always do with learning more), what I really enjoy about the programme is that they show how abundant the evidence of that history is: in things like place names, the location of roads and houses, and of course, all those lovely records.

When I see them going through a pile of deeds and getting all excited, it makes me feel so lucky that I get to do this sort of thing on a daily basis :D

Besides, who can't help but get excited when you realise that the place you live in has been occupied for the last 1500 years or more?

TV show number 3 - Downton Abbey

This is the new drama from Julian Fellowes of Gosford Park fame. Downton Abbey is very similar to Gosford Park; it doesn't quite have the same sense of humour, but it definitely has the same feel.

Luckily for me, I loved Gosford Park, so I don't mind the similarities at all. I could quite happily watch people doing the upstairs downstairs thing all day, especially if you pair it with a huge country house and gorgeous Edwardian costumes.

Here, have a trailer.

These past two weeks, I have been going to bed at 9am. It may not sound cool, but it's been awesome. And suddenly I don't feel so godawfully tired any more! The only problem with this plan is that it eats away at all my free time, so I'm sure I'll push my bedtime back later soon enough.

In other news, I have been watching some comedy.

I have just discovered. David O'Doherty. He's rather funny. I like this song.

I have also been watching David Mitchell rant about stuff. He's very funny when he gets his rant on.
Here he is ranting about giving girls flowers.
Here he is ranting about having to sign a girl's boobs.

Hi o/

I've been meaning to blog for ages, but I've just been so lazy!

It seems that all my mind is able to comprehend at the moment is Sherlock Sherlock Sherlock :D So I've not been very good company.

The final episode, by the way, was wonderful, and just as fast paced and funny as the first. But I shan't spoil you if you haven't seen it yet. And if you haven't, then why not?

The most important thing that I learnt from the final episode, of course, is that THAT COAT comes with A FUR COLLAR ATTACHMENT.

FUR. COLLAR. ATTACHMENT \o/
(In the words of Steve and James, from when I bought my own jacket with a fur collar attachment: That coat is rogering on all cylinders.)

In unrelated news, I really need to remember how awesome Peter Serafinowicz is. He's a very funny man.

Here, have a look at his video about markets.

Table of Contents:

1. More birthday cards!
2. Blenheim Palace
3. Sherlock :DDDDDDD

1.
It was only after I posted the pictures of my wonderful birthday card from Nick, that I received one from Linda. I'm not sure, but I think Linda's might trump Nick's in the vileness beauty stakes.

Take a look:

Is it the 1980s all over again??? Because it suddenly feels like it's the 1980s all over again! Words can't even begin to describe this card, nor the horror I felt when I read what Linda had written inside:

...I have bought a batch of these, which you will be receiving in the forthcoming years...

D:

2.

As more birthday fun, I went on a trip to Blenheim Palace with Mariya. We didn't find time to go inside the house, but that doesn't matter, because the gardens were lovely. (It didn't rain on us either! Although you could see it wanted to. And Mariya got to experience the wonders of eating outside in the British summertime, by which I mean: WASPS)

Obligatory photos:

We then went to see the Globe Theatre's touring production of A Midsummer Night's Dream. I'd come across this play at school, when I was 14, and I remember the teacher having to explain to us that it was a comedy - no really! There are jokes in it I swear.

It just goes to show how different it is to see it performed, with good direction and good acting:

Because this production was hilarious! By the end, I could hardly stop laughing. And now I keep boring everyone by regaling them with tales of it. Awesome. Awesome. I AM A FAN OF BOTTOM. Bless him, he's so enthusiastic!

3.

I am still completely and utterly mad for BBC's Sherlock. It's pretty much all I think about these days! I'm not sure I've ever fallen for a fandom this hard and this quick. (I even got a little giddy when I travelled through Baker Street station on the tube the other day.)

And here's the funny thing: the second episode wasn't even very good! But I am still champing at the bit for the final episode. Oh God. I can't wait :D

I've even gone so far as to draw fanart. I don't understand what's come over me.

(One day I will use my new tablet to draw something other than a headshot. But not today.)

I am madly in love with Sherlock's wardrobe: the suits, the scarf, the leather gloves, THAT COAT THAT COAT THAT COAT.
They manage to make him look like a Victorian gentleman, while still wearing modern clothes. FFFFF. I wish more people owned coats clothes like that.

Gentlemen of Britain, take heed! Alter your clothing to suit my whims! Please!

Also, one of my favourite parts of the show are the tie-in websites. It's so much fun to see the characters bickering between each other. (I'd link you to show you how wonderful they are, but they're full of spoilers and I am under the impression that everyone in the world will watch this show at some point.)

Also also, I'm revelling in the fact that I'm a fan of a BBC prime-time drama. I can actually talk about it with my colleagues! I get to read articles about it in the Radio Times! Oh glorious day :D

Hi!

Guess what? It was my birthday a few days ago. Woo! There was much cake and joy :D

Also, I got some lovely things. Let me tell you about them.

Lovely Thing #1

Nick sent me the most vile beautiful card in the world. Look at it!

Look how beautiful it is! And Nick even wrote a beautiful message on the inside!

D'awww.

Lovely Thing #2

I am so chuffed with this book. I found it in a random pub when I was on holiday. I hastily tried to read as much as I could in the time I was there, but eventually we had to leave the pub and I had to say goodbye to the book.
But my sneaky parents were keeping an eye on me and ordered me my own copy from amazon.

It's very interesting in a light-hearted sort of a way. The law is a complex and shady subject!

Lovely Thing #3

I got a new tablet. I was fed up of my old one refusing to work every 5 minutes, so I decided to ask for a new one for my birthday. I just installed it today; it only took 2 hours! (Windows 7, your inability to install new hardware easily is criminal.)

Still, after much stress, I managed to get it working. And, I have to say, it's so much easier to use than my old tablet. I don't know why. It could be that I'm actually using a widescreen tablet for a widescreen, um, screen. Or it could be that I've never had a pressure sensitive tablet before. Either way, it's a joy to use.

To practice, I scribbled out a little doodle of Rochelle.

The good thing about vampires that are really old is that you get to dress them in lots of old costumes! This time I decided to draw 16th century Rochelle. I imagine him being rather young at this point; young enough that he hasn't had time to build up all his walls, so his youthful arrogance and ambition shine through. Or something :D

Lovely Thing #4

This one isn't a birthday present, but it is lovely!

I have just fallen hook, line and sinker for the BBC's new Sherlock Holmes drama.

Now, I don't normally watch dramas. It's not really my thing, but one of my friends mentioned having enjoyed the first episode so I decided to give it a go. I only had half an hour to spare, so I thought I'd watch the first part and then watch the end later. As it turns out, I couldn't turn it off; I watched the whole hour and 30 minute episode in one sitting!

The basic premise is that they've set Sherlock Holmes in the 21st century. It sounds gimicky and awful, but actually, it's really good! It's fun and fast-paced and has some amazingly funny lines.

I don't quite know what's wrong with me. I never normally become a fan of things so quickly, but I can't stop thinking about it. (Only 4 more days until the next episode!) :DDDD

I spent all evening making this. What that says about me, I don't know.

In other news:

I have to thank Auto for pointing me in the direction of this Vampire Weekend remix by Miike Snow.
It's like a burst of euphoria on my eardrums. Oh baby. *heavy breathing*

I have been so productive recently! Woo!

It's all boring real-life grown-up sort of boring stuff though:
- I applied for some jobs!
- I filed my CPD notes!
- I cleaned the flat!
- I went to visit my Nan!

Although, I think all this productivity has worn me out. The last couple of days, all I've done in the evening is go to bed early (which is boring for you, wonderful for me).

Today though, at work, I did completely un-grown-up un-boring stuff: I spent the morning drawing and colouring a map of a Tudor village that I made up. So much fun :D (If only I could use colouring pencils at work every day, it would be awesome.)

Re the conversation I mentioned in my last post:

I decided to draw everyone's favourite monarch.

When it comes to running the country, Elizabeth I likes to use the carrot and stick approach.
Both.
At the same time.
Preferably.

So. I suppose I owe you folks an explanation. It goes a little like this:

1. I got hacked.
2. So I pulled the blog from the internet.
3. To get everything back up and running again, I had to reinstall the blog script and customise it all over again.
4. I went on holiday.

Point 4 isn't actually related, but it does explain why it took me so long to post :D

So, now I'm back and can have my blog fix again (going cold turkey is hard ;_;), there are a few things I'd like to point out:

- I am now running on a new version of the blog script and it looks like it has a few more bells and whistles and bells than before

- I think I've got everything looking and working ok, but I'm not entirely sure (see above). If you see something that looks off or doesn't work right, please let me know and I'll try to fix it.

AND NOW, because I'm back, I can post about all my wonderful adventures that I've been having in the mean time :D

Adventure #1: BATH

I took Mariya to Bath so we could be proper tourists for the day. We also met Steve and Heather there and had some French sandwiches :D

Among the touristy things we saw:

1. ROMAN BATHS

2. FASHION MUSEUM ABOUT FASHION

3. NON-ROMAN BATHS
Here. I'd never been to a spa before, but now I can happily say that I am a convert. Scented steam rooms are officially the best thing ever! I've tried to recreate the experience at home, but sadly, drinking mint tea while in the bath doesn't quite cut it.

4. SITTING IN DIDCOT PARKWAY STATION FOR AN HOUR
So much to see and do! Including a departure board and a ticket booth and a toilet and a Spar!

Adventure #2: LONDON

I went on a jolly to London with Susan and Emma and the three of us went up the monument near the Bank of England.

A large phallic object in the heart of my capital city? Why yes!

The views from the top were pretty cool (even if the stairs are murder on the old calves and feet).

Then we toddled along and had a look in the church of St Magnus the Martyr which used to stand right at the entrance to London Bridge. It's not beside the bridge any more because they knocked the bridge down and built a new bridge a few feet further upstream (crazy victorians). So we had lots of fun standing next to the church and saying: LOOK! I AM STANDING ON OLD LONDON BRIDGE EXACTLY WHERE IT USED TO BE. (Yeah, we're hardcore like that.)

Adventure #3: WEST SUSSEX

I went there for a week with my parents. It was nice in a quiet, walking in the countryside and enjoying the wonderful sunshine kind of a way.

The village we stayed in was very pretty and overflowing with flowers.

Things I did on holiday:

1. Saw some Roman mosaics (my parents love them some Romans like you wouldn't believe)

2. Walked up a lot of hills

3. Had a fun conversation with my Dad, in which he proposed that Elizabeth I was actually a man and that she he kept his country in line through the use of some tactical buggery.

Dad: Listen! I can do an impression of Elizabeth I! Sir Francis Drake, get over there, I'm going to bum you.

I love my Dad.

4. Importantly. I played some serious Phoenix Wright. I've just finished Justice for All and I can't get enough of those crazy lawyers. It is so much fun. The last episode, in particular, was brilliant. I cackled so loudly that my parents asked me if I was ok. Matt Engarde, you are hilarious.

Apologies for the quiet spell!

I've been busy continuing my developing profession (developing my professional continuance?) or, as it is more commonly called: Learning Stuff For Work

I've just started putting together a portfolio of all the stuff I've learnt so far and it's hard, because I've kind of gotten used to full-time work and having free time to piss away as I see fit. Oh well. This stuff's not too hard once I actually get down to it.
Bonus: I just SWOT analysed myself! (No, I didn't realise that was possible either.)

Other things I need to learn in the next 5 days: Everything there is to know about the Swing Riots of the 19th century.
D: Oh God, I actually know nothing. And I feel like this sort of thing should be common knowledge too. Why isn't it my common knowledge? How embarrassing.

But the reason I'm doing all this learning stuff (apart from the swing riots, which are terrifying but not really related) is because it's that time of year again: TIME TO FIND A NEW JOB
Goddammit. Now I get to piss-away the rest of my free time on job applications.

In other news:
I went to see some hills at the weekend. They were quite pretty.

In other different news:
I forgot to mention earlier! Deborah is getting married next year and she's asked me to be one of her bridesmaids! Awesome. Not only do I get to play dress-up again (and help Deborah play dress-up too), but she's having two weddings: one in London and one in Milan! So I might get a holiday out of it too :DDD

PISS

Oh well, at least the Tories will be watered down with a bit of Lib Dem.

But let's think positive here (because we have to put up with it now - providing the coalition actually works of course ahahahahaha ;_;) It is the 21st century after all. Maybe the Tories have changed. Maybe they're not all twats. Only time will tell.

(But the thing that really concerns me: David Cameron, why is your face so shiny all the time? You look like you're wearing a mask of your own face. That's weird, man, really weird.)

In other news, I went to go see Four Lions at the weekend. My review:
It was good. And it was funny. Not quite as funny as I'd been hoping (it doesn't reach In the Loop standards) but I did spend a large portion of my time laughing. What I wasn't expecting was how dark it was going to be. I should have known given the subject matter, but maybe the fact that it was a comedy had lulled me into a false sense of security.

As the film went on, the laughter from the audience grew more and more hysterical (not hysterical in a 'I'm wetting my pants laughing' kind of a way, but hysterical in a 'I feel kinda bad for laughing, but if I don't laugh I'm going to start crying' kind of a way). And, you know how normally, when a film ends and the credits start rolling, you hear a murmur as people begin to gather their things and leave? At the end of this film, when the credits started rolling, no one moved. There was nothing but complete silence for a good few minutes. Everyone was just stunned.

So, yes, most funny film I've ever seen? No. But a thought-provoking emotional rollercoaster with a lot of laughs along the way? Yes.