Oh starry night!

Tonight as I walked home after a night of monopoly at a friend's house, I saw the starts for the first time ever in Hull. Maybe it's just because I've never looked before, but they were all there; Orian's Belt, the saucepan, the holy goat, the pyramid... Or whatever they're called! I was walking in the direction of Orian's Belt to get home - it seems somewhat ironic that I followed a star to arrive at my final destination on the night leading into Advent. And now, here I sit, in my newly decorated room, in eager anticipation for the first Christmas carol to come on to Classic FM. I'm sure I won't be waiting long.

A long, long day

Today has been my longest day of the year, and I probably won't ever have a day as hectic again in my degree! 7 hours of university, and I was totally prepared for ALL of it, and even got to my first seminar (at 9am) half an hour early! Unheard of!!! I powered through and even had the energy to go to town after to get some new trousers. A VERY productive day (I've even decorated my bedroom for Christmas!). I've finished editing my pics from Manchester Christmas market and this is probably my favourite! Plus, the man on this stall gave me some very tasty serrano ham to try!

Giant Whirlygigs

Something magnificent that I have previously failed to mention is the giant whirlygig at Manchester market. I have no idea what the real name for these things is, but how awesome is this?! Of course they had normal, table sized ones as well. But who cares about those when this wonder is overshadowing the entire market! I think there are actually two... I glimpsed what looked like it could have been another giant whirlygig as I was wizzing to the station but unfortunately didn't have time to go up close and investigate :(

German Sausages

As hoped, I had a chance to have a little wander around the German market in Manchester today after my open day and I had gone prepared with my camera! I find German markets absolutely thrilling - the lights and the smells and the friendly people and pretty produce... there's really nothing like it! So, I wandered round, took a few photos, soaked up the atmosphere and had a bratwürst before having a panic and nearly missing my train home! All in all a very enjoyable experience and I really hope I have a chance to go back before it all packs up!

Off to Manchester!

About to set off for a day in Manchester! I've got an open day to attend tomorrow and at some point I'm hoping I will have a chance to get some snaps of the Christmas market! Off I go! 

Brown hair!

A terrible photo, but look! I have brown hair!! 

Cartoon hat.

To elaborate on the dalek incident yesterday, on arrival to the cinema there was a dalek roaming around the foyer. First off, it came up to my friend and told him it liked his head. Then as I stood next to it for a photo, it said, 'cheeeeeeeese!'.. As we were about to leave the dalek started prodding my friend with his plunger, asking him if he liked his toilet cleaning equipment. It doesn't sound that funny when written down, I think it was probably one of those 'had to be there' moments! Anyway I have done a Frida Kahlo today, and spent most of the day in bed drawing and painting. Not quite on the same par as her, but never mind, I had my cartoon hat on!

Day of the Doctor

Today, was the day of the doctor! I had an awesome cinema experience which I will elaborate on tomorrow, but for now here is a dalek!! 

The Return of Wilbur Wombat

Today was another Wombat Friday! We were looking at Holman Hunt's religious paintings created on his return from the Holy Land, focussing in particularly on the scapegoat (or the 'Manky Old Goat', as our lecturer kept referring to it as), and The Finding of the Saviour in the Temple (which I've now decided I really like and want a postcard of it to stick on my wall!). So. Art, cake, biscuits and a wombat - the perfect ingredients for a delightful wombat Friday!

Whilst I'm on a religious note, I have finally found out where the church with a gospel choir is!! And I've also decided that everyone is going to get Bible gobbets in their Christmas cards this year, if they like it or not.. At least I'm not taking the standpoint of a friend of mine - he has decided that this year, to save money, he is only giving Christmas presents and cards to practicing Christians!!!

Baked goods.

I have spent nearly all day today working on my presentation for tomorrow. Fascinating topic (Manet and prostitution) but come 8pm I was happy to have a few hours of chill out time. So what did I do with this time? Bake! I haven't done any biscuits since being in my new house so it was about time I rectified this situation! The first batch were rubbish, as I wasn't sure how powerful the oven was so they were burned to a crisp. The second lot were a slight improvement although my biscuit men still got more of a sun tan than they bargained for! The last lot came out fine, thankfully.. I then got onto my favourite part, the decorating! Turned out I had run out if butter, so ran (yes, I really do mean ran!,) to sainsburys to get some more for my buttercream so I could finish everything off! They're now sitting in the kitchen so the buttercream can dry properly and are coming to uni with me tomorrow to my PreRaphaelite Brotherhood lecture (hence the PRB)! 

I should be working...

A very very quick post today, since I really should be working. I have a 20 minute presentation to give on Friday.. I have done all the reading I need to, however sticking everything together in a fashion that reads well is not fun. Not fun at all. I have already cut out a few thousand words from my script but still need to cram some more info in somehow. And then tomorrow, I have the joy of making the accompanying PowerPoint and handouts to go with the presentation. I'm not going to lie, I have left this VERY late to finish.. I know I work well under pressure but this is probably taking the biscuit just a little bit. Looks like an allnighter for me tonight then! 

More soap production

Anyone who knows me well enough for me to grace you with a Christmas present will be receiving homemade soap. It's not looking too bad though! So far I've managed pretty good honeysuckle, orange blossom and rose tea, and candied orange with 'festive spices' soaps. Now to work out some half devent looking packaging. 

Self destructing room?

I've only been away for 10 days but in that time my room seems to have magically made a huge mess of itself. Nothing serious but it makes me wonder if I have a poltergeist. All of the birthday cards I had stuck to my wall had come down, despite them having been there for 2 weeks and being fine until now... A photo frame somehow managed to fling itself from one side of the room to the other, and one of the shelves of my bookshelf has all of a sudden decided it's not happy and wonkified itself. Needless to say I find this all a little odd. Other than that, my 5 hour journey from South to North went brilliantly, I was able to sleep for most if it, and nobody stole any of my massive amounts of luggage whilst I was sleeping. Bonus. Now to set my alarm for some unGodly hour in the morning and hope I get through the morning's lectures without my coffee fix as I haven't had a chance to buy milk yet! I'm afraid I have nothing to show you, so here is a blurry picture of my super awesome owl nightlight that I've only just found and started re-using today! Sorry, I realise this is a poor effort, it can only get better! 

The Lion King

Today, I did something possibly very stupid... I applied for an audition for the West End Lion KIng. The problem is, I look good enough on paper that they might ACTUALLY want to call me in for audition, which is craziness!! Whilst I'm going through this mad frame of mind, I might send off my video audition for star wars! Who knows, in a year's time, I might be an international superstar! These are photos from yesterday I've just had some fun messing about with :)

Life Ambitions

Today I found myself in the cathedral precincts so snapped this! I was lucky to be out and about on such a lovely day! It's been absolutely freezing but blue skies all round! I've prioritised my life ambitions. I've narrowed my top 2 down to writing a book and painting a masterpiece!! :D

Don't mess with me

Another day at home working, not doing anything or going anywhere exciting. I did however find this from when I was 17 and in the CCF. I can't remember the exact distance of our range, but it was more than a double decker bus! Not too bad if I don't say so myself! 

Cats, cats, and cats!

I forget how many cats there are at home! They turn up everywhere! Here's Oddbod making himself at home sitting on a harp cover in the dog's bed. Earlier I was minding my own business when Mosest he cat came along looking for attention. I gave her a stroke then went back to what I was doing, but that wasn't good enough and she batted me with her paw until I stroked her again. 

Fruits

Today was a new first for Canterbury experiences, which considering I've lived here nearly all of my life, doesn't happen all that often. Firstly, for the first time in my life, I saw avocados being sold on a market stall by the hundreds! I absolutely LOVE avocados so this was a very happy sight indeed! Secondly, I played an arcade game! One of those big bulky things that have since been seriously outdated. It just so happens that there's a gaming shop very close to the cathedral where there are a few arcade games. So that was GREAT and I will definitely be going back in there in the near future to play more silly Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles games :D

Goings on in Canterbury

Today has been another Canterbury day - slightly more exciting than the last as I went to the opera! Glyndebourne are on tour at the moment and Canterbury happens to be one of the places on their agenda. I've actually been to Glyndebourne before to see L'Elisir D'Amour but it's pretty convenient having it come right to my doorstep! Tonight it was Hansel and Gretel and the whole thing was stunning, as to be expected... but the absolute highlight for me was the set (if you see it then you'll really appreciate how epic it is). I've just uploaded a few photos from the day before yesterday; the old weavers and some Dutch stained glass! 

Real Photos Coming Soon to a Blog Near You

Today, I was out and about around Canterbury so I took a few photos on a REAL camera! They will be up tomorrow so no more of this rubbish quality! This is a photo of what I spent about 2 hours doing last night.... It's just a thank you card but as you can probably see, I went a bit mad with the glitter and general sparkly stuff. 

Soap

For anyone who knows me, every so often I have a new crafty craze. Tonight, it was soap. 

Happy to be Home

Had a super busy day today, so coming home to see this on my bed was a nice surprise :) (she normally sleeps UNDER my bed rather than ON it!) 

Train Journey

It feels Iike I've spent most of my day on a train today. It also feels like there hasn't been much sunlight today either (although that might be down to me getting up late). Anyway, nothing much has happened. I've eaten my second mince pie of the season, drunk a hot chocolate, and contemplated cleaning my boots, which are starting to look rather grubby. That's all to report today! I will try to put up some proper photos this coming week, not so much iPad rubbish!

I Look Like a Giant Christmas Decoration

It's at times like this when I wish I had done art at school! I love drawing, but to be perfectly honest, I hardly know which end of a pencil is which. I know nothing about technique or materials, I just sort of make it all up and hope to come out with a good result. Sometimes I'm quite pleased with my artistic attempts but most of the time they come out as glorified doodles. This is today's effort which I'm pleased with! I was flicking through pictures of pre-Raphaelite women and decided to have a go and draw my own. 

I also look like a giant Christmas tree decoration today, and am genuinely contemplating going to sainsburys like this to get my tea because this onsie is far too cosy to change out of. 

First Mince Pie of the Season

Today was the first day I really felt like it was winter; I was battling my way through Manchester in the blisteringly cold winds and the rain and felt that on arriving in the warmth of Starbucks, a mince pie was deserved! 

Terrifying snowmen

Last time I was in the Lush in Manchester Arndale centre, one of the super over-friendly staff came over to me and was getting very excited about the new Christmas collection. She kept telling me about the new adorable snowmen and how cute they were. THIS is what she was talking about! I am sorry but these look like little monsters!! I think they were more suitable for Halloween than for Christmas. 

If there's one thing I do well.....

Birthdays! I love doing things for other people's birthdays and challenging myself to do the best I possibly can and making everything heartfelt and personal! I've just spent my evening making one of my signature 'birthdays in a box' for my boyfriend on Wednesday! Let's hope he likes everything! 

New mug

My most recent hot chocolate picture, in my new birthday mug! 

Birthday meal!

Went out for a little birthday meal this evening, was absolutely chuffed when my lovely friends came out with a balloon and a cake for me! :D 

Smellies

These were my best smelling birthday prezzies by far, and look how colourful they are!