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Word up.

Last weekend, Mariya and I went to see a big old stately house. And I've spent the rest of the week wishing I could live in one.

But really, I'm not asking to live in one all the time; I'm not crazy. I'd just like to have the chance to hire one out for a weekend so I could throw a fantastic party. Not a big thing mind, just a few friends with some good food and some good music, and some dvds, a wii, some dressing up and a huge game of hide and seek. HOW AWESOME WOULD THAT BE.

(note to self: stop watching tv shows about the huge costume parties the rich kids used to have in the 1920s.)

(note to self the second: I really need to watch Bright Young Things.)

In other news, I've just finished reading Tom Jones, which was actually shockingly good, despite the fact that it was written 250 years ago. Most of the goodness comes from the fact that it is absolutely hilarious. My favourite character was, by far, Squire Western, who had a big kind of Brian Blessed thing going on :D

And finally, not related to any of the above: This week I've been mostly listening to oldschool rock.
Jimi Hendrix - Voodoo Child
I feel like I should grow a door in my head or something.

So, I went to see James' new pad in London at the weekend. It's very nice when all's said and done. He's got an amazing chair and an amazing radio and a kitchen that's great for blind people and a jacuzzi bath that sounds like an elephant in labour :D

We met Nick and Steve and Heather and Siân and Sarah there, and we went out in trendy Shoreditch and Hoxton. Where, I have to say, we went to a club that played the best music out of any club I've ever been to, ever. And it was free to get in! They already had me by the time they played Bonkers by Dizzee Rascal, but then they played Daft Punk and Justice in quick succession. If I wasn't in love with them enough by that point, they then played the Twelves. The Twelves! God, I danced so hard. I want to go back! I need more electro fun! More!

And then, of course, the rest of my trip was spent moping over the fact that I don't live in London where it's cool anymore. When you live in London you practically absorb cool by osmosis. You can't help it, not when there's places with people playing the Twelves and drinking out of goldfish bowls and boys wearing skinny jeans everywhere.
*sigh* I'm not cool any more. I miss it. But then the next day you're stuck on a hot, crowded rail-replacement bus, surrounded by noisy, smelly people and driving for ages to reach an anonymous tube station, and you realise that there are some parts of London which you won't miss at all XD

In other news :D :D :D :D :D
Have you seen the GUNDAM00 MOVIE TRAILER?

I've shocked myself by how excited I was when watching it. We've only got a tantalising glimpse so far, but hopefully this movie is going to be awesome.

Did you see the part where Tieria is now a hologram? How cool is that? So he's not just stuck in a computer any more and he still looks like the Tieria we've grown to love, but he doesn't have a proper body, so can switch to NAKED IN SPACE any time he wants to! Fantastic.

And, the bonus is that Tieria is actually becoming more and more like Arnold Rimmer with every day that passes, and, while that's not necessarily a good thing, it is hilarious!

MOVIE MOVIE MOVIE MOVIE :D :D :D :D

So, I finally got unpacked and finished buying all my furniture (I have still yet to give the flat a thorough clean, but there's no need for you to know that :D) And here, as promised, are photos!

After 3 years of not having one, it's really nice to have a living room again. I love my sofa. It's almost the cheapest one that Ikea will get me, so it's not a paragon of comfort, but it does look good! Most of my furniture though is second-hand, which is far cheaper (and more interesting, if you ask me). In the back of the photo, you can see my solid oak dining table, which I got for only 40 pounds :D

A view into my kitchen, which is tiny, but suits me pretty well (it's not like I have to share it with anyone!) The vase was a present from Theresa as a thank you for being her bridesmaid, and the new home cards are from my many relatives.

Yes, that's right, I now own a second bookcase. It's so nice not to have to squeeze my books onto tiny shelves any more, and now I can buy more manga :D
The blanket is one that I've had since I first left home many moons ago; it was knitted by my Mum <3

My coat rack has been taken over by bags, scarves and hats.

The view from the window is rather leafy. My bedroom gets a lot of sun in the mornings.

My chest of drawers is another second-hand bargain. I love its retro feel; you can't see it in the photo, but its feet are wonderfully 1950s, and quite by accident, it matches my coffee table (which I got for free from a bin, oh yes) really quite well.

I have 5 x more wardrobe space than I had before. I clearly need to buy more clothes!

What I haven't shown you in these photos is how the green carpet fights with the red curtains (Why, Mr. Landlord? Why?) And how they both clash horrifically with the upholstery on my new dining room chairs, which insist on being orange. Oh well, at 5 pounds each, I'm not complaining!

Heyyyy Guys!

So, I'm in my new flat and have just gotten connected up to the internet!

I still have tonnes of unpacking to do, and yet more buying of furniture to do (my poor bank account!) but soon I will be all settled in. (And rest assured, photos will come as soon as I've unpacked my camera!)

My new job is going well too. Everyone is very nice, and I think the work is going to be really interesting :D

More later, once I have time to sit down (and a chair to sit on!)

So, it was my last day at work yesterday. I spent the whole day running around like a lunatic trying to finish everything off. So much so, in fact, that it was only at 4:45pm that I actually realised I was leaving.

Luckily, I didn't have much time to mope before we went off to the pub for drinks, and then on to go have a lovely curry.

I'll be sad to say goodbye to everyone though. I really did get on well with a lot of people there.

Oh well, my new job starts on Monday. Time to move on and meet new people!

BUT FIRST...
I have to move flats to be closer to my new work. I'm moving tomorrow in fact.

WHICH MEANS that today I have to pack all my stuff.

Current packing status = 0%

Goddammit.

Hiya!

So, for the past few days, Mariya's been here and we've been gallivanting around London town. Then, yesterday, I helped Mariya move into her new room and get some of the stuff she needs for her new life as a student. (I am so jealous! I don't relish the idea of having to do more coursework, but I am suddenly looking back on student life as being a lovely and joyously joyous time. Ah, the wonders of nostalgia.)

So, we did a few things while Mariya was here, including:
- Eating a very rich raclette
- Eating a pasty
- Eating tasty Japanese food
- Eating cake

Also, we went to see some modern art at the Saatchi Gallery. (I love the Saatchi Gallery; it's just so clean and nice to walk around.)

And then we wandered around Highgate Cemetery, which is very pretty with it's tumble-down, over-grown, jaded tombstones and large, extravagant mausoleums.

And, as a thank you for letting her stay in my flat, Mariya gave me presents! (And far more presents than I deserve, too! Mariya, you are so good to me!)

1. A fantastic scarf, which I have been wearing all day.

2. A set of flannels in the shape of a swiss roll (no, I don't understand why either!)

3. A set of matching Death Note magnets and keyrings. (Little L is so adorable!)

4. A selection of books including (most excitingly) an album of photos from Mariya's wedding; plus a guide to the live action death note movie; and a Code Geass artbook.

Haha, now, you might have noticed the scantily clad ladies on the front of the Code Geass artbook, which pretty much sets the tone through the whole thing. We couldn't look through it without laughing; I really get the feeling that I am not the target audience for this book!

Many pictures prompted responses such as:
'Why's she straddling a large banana?'
'Why have her clothes fallen off?'
'What on Earth is Lelouch doing to his mother???'

And that last one was particularly mind-boggling:

Why Lelouch? Why? I know he's royalty and so prone to a little family-loving, but his mother? Oh, just another complex to add to the many others that he's accumulated.

Hahaha. What a crazy crazy book.

AND FINALLY:

In completely unrelated news, I've really been enjoying this song recently:

Window Blues by Lykke Li

Here, let me share with you two funny videos that I've been enjoying greatly over the past few days.

1. Rowan Atkinson as a school teacher.
It's often easy to forget that Rowan Atkinson does anything other than Blackadder and Mr Bean, so here's something a little different. He's so good at doing what he does (and with a straight face too), and his enunciation, as always, is brilliant.

2. Flight of the Conchords sing a sweary song.
I love the Flight of the Conchords and I love their songs. I've been relistening to a few of them recently, and this is my favourite of the moment (the bit at the beginning is pretty funny too - 'get out of here before I peel your beard off!')

Whew. I still haven't stopped to take a break yet. Oh well, it's the best way I suppose.

So, you know how I said I got a new job?
1. My old job ends in just under two weeks time, so I'm busily trying to get all my loose ends tied up before then.
2. I'm also busy getting everything together and making phonecalls to get my new job sorted. Hopefully I'll get a contract to sign sometime soon :D

And, I found myself a new flat! It's not too fabulous on the inside, but it'll be MINE. MY OWN. I WON'T HAVE TO SHARE WITH ANYONE ELSE HAHAHAHAHA.
Also, it's unfurnished, so I get to choose some furniture for myself. Hopefully I'll have just gotten the bed sorted, woo!

Of course, after that, I just have to deal with the moving all my stuff and the changing my address for everything and why are there so many things that I have to try to remember to do?

In much more exciting news. Mariya is coming to start her MBA this week \o/ She moves into her new home on Saturday, but for two days before she'll be homeless, so the two of us are going to have a nice jolly around London. I'm looking forward to it! A final fling with the big smoke before I have to move on to more boring sedate parts ;_;

So, yesterday was finally the big wedding day, and the second time I've been a bridesmaid in under 12 months!

I am glad to report that everything went wonderfully smoothly. The weather was lovely; the guests all had fun; and I didn't trip and send Theresa flying as she walked down the aisle.

Also, there was much eating and dancing and getting to play dress-up, which is always great fun.

Photos!

Deborah and I in our bridesmaid dresses, which you can't see at all because of our shawls (it was cold!). There was another bridesmaid, Theresa's cousin Sarah, who is 12 and absolutely adorable, but sadly I don't have a decent photo of the three of us together.

The cake!

The happy couple, cutting the cake.

The first dance. Afterwards there was a BARN DANCE in which there was lots of skipping and lots of frantic stepping on toes and lots of very tired and sweaty people afterwards :D

Me, Theresa and Deborah, three friends together! I really like the way this photo echoes another one of the three of us, which was taken seven years ago, at our school leaving ball.

Isn't it funny how things change, and yet stay the same?

Hi!

After a hectic week last week, I am back! And I'm back with news!

Guess what? I got a new job! Woo! All going well, I should finish my old job and start my new one in the next few weeks.

The only thing is, my new job isn't going to be in London, so I've got to move away from the big smoke. I'm kinda sad, and I think I'll miss the place, but I'm also kinda excited about moving somewhere cheaper.

So, after that news, I think I promised to show you some photos? From way back when?

Here we go!

My Holiday

We went to deepest darkest Shropshire. It's a nice place if you like hills and craggy landscapes. Also, I saw a stag's head.

Theresa's Hen Party

Was a roaring success I reckon. I also got some beautiful socks out of it, which I will have to show you at some point (they are so beautiful).

We were very sophisticated and had afternoon tea.

And then I was very sophisticated by wearing my free flower garland (from Chiquitos!) in the "Rambo fashion"

It's the wedding this Saturday! How exciting! (I'm having nightmares about my bridesmaid dress not fitting.)

Gundam00 Second Season Complete Mission Fanbook

Because Mariya is so good to me, she got me this for my birthday. It's got some nice pictures in it (and some crazy Japanese stuff that I can't read, but is nevertheless crazy), and I promised Mariya that I'd give her a poor, camera quality, glimpse of the best parts.

Front cover (very serious)

Allelujah and Lyle. WHY ARE THEY BLUSHING. I find it quite disturbing for Lyle to be blushing at Haro like that.

Once again, Haro steals the show! The Christmas in which Allelujah gets wasted, Setsuna gets a gunpla and the person who forced Tieria to dress up gets a smack in the face (he doesn't look happy).

And finally, a picture I like to call Hahaha, no, it's not fanservice, really, whatever gave you that idea? For some reason, schoolboy Tieria weirds me out more than schoolgirl Tieria.

Hiya! Today I'm running in the door to run out again. I'm rather busy at the moment. Here's the lowdown:

1. It's Theresa's hen party this weekend. The one I've been organising for the past four months or so D: Hopefully the weather will hold out for us and it'll be fun! The organising has been stressful, let me tell you.

2. I'm looking for yet another new flatmate. (Ellen's moving out to move in with her boyfriend.) So I'm fielding calls about the room left, right and centre. Fingers crossed we'll get it all sorted out next week.

3. I've spent the past few days frantically cleaning (see above).

4. I've got two job interviews next week! Woo! I have to write a presentation for one of them. Golly.

5. Work has been hectic recently, because I've only got 3 and a half more weeks before I finish my current job (see above).

5. And the weekend after next there's a bank holiday in which I'm running home to my parents house to get a haircut so I'll be ready for the next weekend which is Theresa's wedding :D
And then after that, maybe I'll get the chance to sit down.

6. In the meantime I've been trying to write a crazy fanfic which is a crossover of Mononoke and Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell D: Yes, you heard me. Dear God why.

So, um, yes, busy is probably a good description.

And now I have to go pack clothes and other such hen party paraphernalia.

p.s. I had a lovely time on holiday, thank you! We got chased by dogs and I also fell on my coccyx and now it hurst when I bend over \o/
Photos at some point in the future!

Oh man, I am so tired today!

Here's the deal:
- I finished writing my job applications! *weak cheer* Now all I have to do is wait and see if I get an interview.

- I'm going on holiday tomorrow! For a week! I'm really looking forward to relaxing and sleeping-in every day. So if you don't see me around here for a while (well, a week), I will probably be in a field somewhere.

STOP PRESS!

Here's some exciting news. Mariya's just got a new blog!
http://marishasdress.blogspot.com
In it, she really puts my wardrobe to shame. I tend to spend as little time as possible deciding what to wear for work each morning, and it shows! Boy does it show!

I have been really busy recently.

Here are the essentials:

1. So I didn't get the job. Never mind, that's the way the cookie crumbles.
2. I'm currently applying for more jobs. Filling in application forms takes so much time D:
3. I went to a music festival with James and Steve. It was well fun, and we only got rained on once. Also there were nachos. Awesome.
4. I had a birthday last week. I am now half-way to 50. Good golly. I went to see Theresa, and we baked cakes :D Also, I bought a ruddy lovely new skirt, which has made me realise that my current tights situation is dire.

5. Song of the moment, to keep me going through the applications, is aNYway by Duck Sauce, to which it is impossible not to boogie.

I had a job interview today!

But I have to wait until next Tuesday (possibly Wednesday) to find out if I've made it to a second interview.

It's all quite nerve-wracking.

Wish me luck!

Howdy!

Do you want to know what I'm loving at the moment?

1. Psychoville is brilliant.

I'm not sure if it's as funny as the League of Gentlemen or if I'm just finding it funny because I know what to expect (which is creepiness, and boy, do they deliver it in spades). Either way, I was laughing hard at the 4th episode.

So dark and yet so good.

2. Here's a song:
Fire by Kasabian makes me want to rock out in the best possible way.
(Vlad the Impaler deserves a mention too, because it contains Noel Fielding being a goth in the video.)

3. And last but not least: My copy of Yun Kouga's Dear Meisters Comic & Arts came through the post today \o/

Look at it! Look how pretty it is! It's very nice. If you like Yun Kouga and Gundam00 you will not be disappointed, let me tell you.

I had previously bought Yun Kouga's Gundam00 Design Works, but this new volume is, without a doubt, better. This is because Dear Meisters contains all the artworks that were in the Design Works plus loads of new artworks from the second season!
So, I am a little miffed that I have had to pay again for some of the illustrations I already own, but I am glad that I bought this book, because I'm glad to see all the new artworks.

And those new artworks include, not only coloured pictures and character design sketches, but also the minicomics for each meister! Each comic is absolutely adorable, and I really don't know who will give me the most cavities. At the moment, I think it might be a tie bewtween Moe Tieria:

And baby Lyle with a plaster on his nose:

One day I will get out my Japanese dictionary and try to read these properly! But for now I will just look at the pictures and cry tears of sugary joy.