Here's a new page of Clematis.
I meant to draw this yesterday. But I ended up buying Kill Bill 1 and watching it instead. So, I didn't put as much effort into the new page as I would have liked, but I did get to watch Kill Bill again (I can never watch this film enough; it is just so cool), so the outcome was good for me.
I'm watching Final Destination 2 at the moment. It's quite fun to try and work out how everyone is going to die.
I used to watch this before I went up to uni in the mornings. As children's programmes go, this one is quite high up on the really really weird scale. I mean, come on, trying to motivate kids through sport and Euro pop? It is awesome. Also, Sporticus is great and I love him.
It turns out that I'm pretty slow on the bandwagon and that this is all over the internets. So I had some fun on YouTube (watch me jumping on that bandwagon Ma!):
THE definitive song. You knows it.
Possibly the best song ever. WOULD I LIE TO YOU?
Man, I don't think I ever grew out of children's TV. Something about it just holds my attention; it might be the surrealism that is just lacking in most adult TV shows (I think my brain is wired up to enjoy surreal things more than most people), or maybe it's just that I only respond to bright colours.
But of course, in my day, children's TV made a lot more sense, you know, like giant turtles fighting crime.
Hey guys.
I haven't really been up to much at all in the past few days.
Go to work
Come home
Sleep
And repeat
Mostly all I've been thinking about has been Seishirou/Subaru. The more time passes, the more I think this is becoming my OTP. Because, because! It has to be the most tragic romance ever created, ever. Seriously. It's kind of really beautiful, in a really really sad way. I could go on for longer, but I don't want to be flinging out any spoilers; it was only once I'd been through all of Tokyo Babylon and all of X that I realised how heart-breakingly beautiful their story is.
There was only one thing I could bring myself to draw yesterday. Click for big (warning, words can't explain how truly awful this picture is. I apologise):
TRC version! The reason that I'm excited about TRC!Seishirou and TRC!Subaru is the same reason why it was so difficult to draw this fanart: in TRC there is still everything to play for. Let me reiterate: there is still everything to play for! I am filled with some kind of ridiculous hope that CLAMP will humour the fangirls and give these two a happy ending. This hope is ridiculous because even though anything goes in TRC (see: giant worms!), I very much doubt that any incarnation of Subaru is going to get a happy ending. That poor boy is doomed; he'd even be doomed if he was a magical pony, or a rainbow (and I'm sure that in some CLAMPverse, there really is a magical pony!Subaru). But! I'm still going to keep my hopes up! Because we still have no idea what the situation is; I repeat, there is still everything to play for!
What have I been watching recently? Round-up!
- Code Geass 12 - Hellooo uncomfortable fan service! Hellooo heterosexual Lulu! (where on Earth did you come from?)
- Bakumatsu Kikansetsu Irohanihoheto - episode 10 and I still have no idea what's going on. I really think I need to know my Japanese history much more (read: at all) to follow this plot. But the fight scenes are just so good that I can't stop watching. But why oh why does Okita Souji always have to be dying in every series he's in? It makes me sad T_T
- Celebrity Big Brother - Brilliant. I love the way that the housemates keep doing Bo Selecta impersontations of Michael Jackson, even though Germaine looks really uncomfortable every time they do.
Today I went traipsing through the pouring rain to buy myself a frame for the batik that Mariya so kindly made me. Take a look:
My wall doesn't look so empty any more! I couldn't place the frame very centrally on my wall because I'm not alowed to put any nails in, so I had to work with the nails that are already in the wall. It's so pretty (the batik, I mean, not the frame)! It's based on Kimono patterns and xxxHolic; the rich colours are certainly very Yuuko, as are the butterflies now I come to think of it. Anway, what I mean to say is THANK YOU MARIYA <3
I had wanted a white frame, but this was the lightest colour (and weight) that I could find in Habitat; it was either this or beech or black (I don't like black outlines on pictures at the moment, I don't know why, I think it may be fashion). Also, annoyingly, Habitat only have paper bags, which is cool and all (and they can be recycled), but completely useless in heavy rain. By the time I'd reached the tube station (maybe 3 minutes walk from the shop) the bag had fallen apart! I had to carry it the rest of the way home under my arm.
I also went to Waterstones and bought myself a copy of Master and Margarita. The girls at the till were very enthusiastic about the book when I was buying it, so it bodes well that this will be a good read.
I'm watching The Sixth Sense at the moment. I've never seen it before. It's quite scary. I can't help thinking that this is what it must have been like for a poor young Watanuki, only without anybody to help him.
There's a new page of Clematis!
Today I decided to try my hand at drawing in a realistic style (I've not actualy tried it before). And what better way to start than with a self portrait (click for big):
I'm pretty sure it's, at best, rubbish; but that's forgivable seeing as it's a first attempt. I went a bit mental with the colouring of the lips (my lips aren't black I swear), and colouring in nostrils, I have decided, is a no-no. And crikey I have a lot of moles on my face.
I go back to work tomorrow @_@
At least I've had a lovely time off, and it's the weekend soon anyway.
I went to Norwich to visit Theresa for New Year's eve. It was fun; there was quiche and chipolatas and twister and bongos.
Upon retrning to London I went to see Rock 'n' Roll, the new Tom Stoppard play. It was alright, but seeing as I don't know much at all about 70s rock music or communist Czechoslovakia, most of the plot passed me by.
Also, I had the most disgusting garlic bread I've ever had, ever (it tasted like death and poo).
My final days of freedom are being passed by not doing anything at all, and gladly. Also, I've started watching celebrity big brother; I think I have some sort of illness that forces me to watch big brother every year.
I drew it all this evening. This page was brought to you by:
Lack of food
Lack of sleep
CSS and Rodrigo y Gabriela albums (both awesome) on repeat
I haven't stayed up late drawing in ages. Also, it turns out that skipping dinner gives you more time to draw. I'm all tanked up on adrenaline and sugar at the moment.
I'm so hardcore.
Deborah was visiting yesterday and today. Yesterday we went to a meal in a Thai restaurant in Stoke Newington of all places. I KNOW.
My haul from the January sales:
- 1 (one) bag, Accessorize, half price
- 1 (one) pair of trainers, Office, 15 squids
Then there was cake in Soho.
I think I have to sleep now. Linda and Steve are visiting tomorrow morning and I'm going to have to wake up before 10am D:
I'm going back to London tomorrow. I must make a fond farewell of all the Christmas food that my parents have at home, this may take some time.
I am trying to start on the next page of Clematis, but I feel there is going to be a steep learning curve for this one. Stay tuned.
Right, I shall be entertaining guests for the next few days, and then it's New Year's eve, so I might not be able to post for a bit.
I shall leave you with the most recent images from CLAMP's private boards: found at this site. Hahaha! Everybody in maid costumes! You know, sometimes I get the feeling that CLAMP aren't taking things seriously at all (I get this feeling a lot of the time). Also of note is kitty!Lelouch down in the slightly older pictures. Thank you CLAMP!
Secondly: Clematis update!
I would have finished this page earlier, but Christmas got in the way a little. I have a Christmas themed Clematis picture on the way to make up for it.
So, how was my christmas?
1. My wrapping paper was awesome:
2. James' party had rather a low turnout, but plenty fun was had anyway. We visited Hampstead, which I've never been to before. It's a really nice area, and really posh too. It seemed just like the sort of place to set a winter romcom, and as much as I despise the genre, I found myself caught up in the atmosphere (things soured slightly, when I was relegated to the role of 'Fanny', the comic relief). We also walked upon Hampstead Heath and tried not to get caught up in some accidental cottaging; it was getting dark, but luckily surprise bumsex was avoided by all. Phew.
3. I came home to a parcel that had come all the way from Mariya in the New of York. Thank you Mariya, I loved the presents! Not only was there an I <3 NY coktail shaker, but also an amazing T-shirt:
I think I spy some Engrish! The T-shirt reads
Wise words indeed. The batik is really pretty, I'll take photos as soon as I can frame it and put it up on my wall <3
4. The present I was most excited about was a knife sharpener. You have no idea how useful this will be (my knives are rubbish, I doubt they'd even cut butter).
5. The highlight of visiting my relatives yesterday: my Mum shouting out of the kitchen,
My cousin, ever the fan of innuendo, laughed until he was red in the face.
6. I just watched 4 Disney movies in 2 days.
So, aside from Christmas, I just finished reading The Ladies of Grace Adieu. I really do like the universe that they are set in. Partly this is due to the versatility of the universe and the similarity to our own; I think a great many pieces of fiction could be made to cross-over with these stories with very little trouble (I love that The Duke of Wellington Misplaces His Horse is actually a cross-over itself). I also like it because I get the feeling that Susanna Clarke has done quite a lot of world-building. It seems like there is a lot going on that isn't actually told in the stories (for example, I love that entirely ficticious quotes are cited properly, with Susanna Clarke even going as far as to name the publisher). Stories with good world-building always have a lot more depth, and are subsequently a lot more interesting, than stories that have been placed in 'generic fantasy world'. Take The Lord of the Rings for example, that had the whole of the Silmarillion behind it, and more besides, which makes the whole thing seem a lot more real. In short, I think the world of Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell has a lot of mileage.
Going on a very slight tandem to that; I just watched the first Pirates of the Caribbean again. I love this film, it is such a feel-good romp. Now that I've watched the second film, I seem to be picking up on a lot more Jack/Elizabeth (and also Jack/Elizabeth/Will, OT3! OT3!), but that is all by the by. The conclusion I come to time and again, whenever I watch Pirates of the Caribbean, is that Johnny Depp is amazing; he steals the whole show, every time.
So, coming back to Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell, I have come to the realisation that, in the up-coming movie, no-one would be better suited to play the gentleman with the thistle-down hair than Mr Johnny Depp himself. I think the gentleman with the thistle-down hair is verging on my favourite character from the book; he is so animated! I think that Johnny Depp would be able to bring the amount of energy to the role that is required (also, he is pretty enough to play a fairy). But please, on no account must Orlando Bloom be let anywhere near the gentleman with the thistle-down hair; in every film I've seen him in, he's managed to make the characters he plays completely and utterly boring.
It's the shortest day of the year. And that means that from now on it will only be onwards and upwards my friends. Yes, from tomorrow, the days will be so long that it will be practically summer HAR HAR HAR.
It is so cold today! Proper coat and scarf and gloves weather. I quite like it though, it's not rainy, and the mist makes everything look kinda cool.
Alllllso, and this is good: I'm now on Christmas holiday!!! No more work for a good number of days! I shall use all my free time to draw, yes. I shall also go to James' Christmas party tomorrow, which should be lots of fun. (I am so excited about everything right now)
@Mariya: I think your parcel has arrived! I'm not at home so I haven't opened it yet, but my Mum told me they'd got it.
I feel much more perked up after visiting my parents for the weekend. I ate ham and did some chirstmas shopping, and finally sent off my christmas cards.
We watched some episodes of Monty Python as well. This sketch was one of my favourites.
HELLO!
I just watched part of the Hogfather. It was one of the first discworld books that I read you know. It was what I was expecting really, but sadly a lot of the humour was lost in the transition from print to film; which is a shame, because the humour is the best part of the Discworld series. The funny thing is, the realy funny thing is; I don't have sky, so how on Earth could I watch the Hogfather on my TV? I really have no idea.
I finished Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell yesterday! I haven't read a book so eagerly in ages! It really was very good. At first I enjoyed it for the language and the little historical accuracies that made me happy inside. After a while though, I started reading it for the plot. For some reason it makes magic seem quite realistic, maybe it's because the book is so very English. I spent my train journey back to London, staring out at the passing countryside and trying to spot fairy roads and read the writing of the trees. Sadly, I didn't succeed, but it really doesn't seem too farfetched that magical lands are just a step away. Hahaha, why do I let my imagination run away with me?
Also, it turns out that the book is being turned into a film. If you're going to read the book, and you should, then you've only got a couple of years before the film takes over. Go! Read it now!
Truth be told, I really couldn't bear to part with the book just yet, so I bought The Ladies of Grace Adieu. Luckily, the illustrations for this book are much much nicer than those for Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell, hurrah!
Ok, ok ok ok. Guys, if you are going to James' party next weekend I have an idea. I think it would be awesome to enter the W.A.Y.U.H. video competition. What do you think? Mostly this boils down to: I want to film you dancing around London, YES!
I am going home for the weekend \o/
I'm less stressed now because it is closer to christmas.
Things to do this weekend:
- send off all my christmas cards
- buy christmas presents
- buy a copy of The Ladies of Grace Adieu because I'm going to be finished with Jonathan Stange and Mr Norrell so soon but I can't bear to let it go just yet.
- sleep and eat properly and watch tv
*sigh* But why is my DVD recorder not working all of a sudden? *emo again*
I think I must be well tired and stressed at the moment. I just spoke to my parents on the phone and I'm bawling my eyes out? Ok.
Dear Brain,
WHAT ARE YOU PLAYING AT? SRSLY.
love
Janine
I prescribe sleep right now. Aw man, I hate being all emo.
I went to Bristol with James to visit Steve this weekend. I had a grand old time. Here's a quick run-down of what we did:
- Ate sushi
- Went on 0 (zero) boats
- Went to a Christmas party
- Walked around in the freezing cold (why of why didn't I take my scarf?)
- Watched Derek Acorah on the tele
- Saw a girl get stuck in the flaps at the train station
- Danced around Steve's room in our coats
- Saw Clifford the friendly bridge (see below)
I also discovered what has to be my favourite song in the whole world at this moment in time. The song is Whoo! Alright-Yeah...Uh Huh by The Rapture. It is an awesome tune; it makes me feel kinda tingly on the inside.
You can listen to the song over at The Rapture's Myspace page. Go! Go listen right now!!!