Parrot

Went to the park a while back. I took way more pictures that I shall remember to post soon-ish, but I figured this one deserved its own post, since it's now one of my favourite pictures that I ever took.

Also, cross fingers for me, I'm still waiting to hear back about a job in a sex shop, that should give me some writing fodder.

Maaaaacrooooo

I did mention I'm in love with the macro setting on my camera, right? 

Like really, really in love. 

Look how pretty:

Moved

So...I moved a few weeks ago. I could fill pages with how the cretins that run our former letting agency tried to screw us over(one story: to take the garbage out, we had to walk to the other side of the building, go down to the garage, then use a keypad to get out again. The jackasses changed the lock and didn't give us the new code, which would have led to me being locked in there if I hadn't had my phone on me by a fluke). No, I'm not bitter, why?

Bottom lime is: we've moved, our new agency is brilliant so far(love, guys, love) and our new flat, while smaller, is still very, very awesome. 

And the entire point of this post is for me to complain about how the heck can people acquire as much stuff as we did? This is for 3 people, keep that in mind.

It also does not include kitchen stuff, furniture, duvets, electronics. That was the pile of clothes/books/shoes/random small crap. 

Some of the kitchen crap:

I know, it doesn't look that bad. However, it took us about...8 hours to be sort of but not fully done moving everything. Which led to me pushing our hoover down the street a few days after because there was no way I was paying a fiver for a 10 minute walk. 

However, at the end of the day, the view may just make everything worth it:

Coffee

While out with the Haribo Husband^TM yesterday, we stopped for coffee. And since I am in love with the macro setting on my phone, here's the result.

I may even learn how to use aforementioned setting one day. 

And in the funny section, which you've already read if you're following me on Twitter, there was the blonde young lady looking at her significant other with a bored look on her face while whining.

"Why do you need the new Xbox? You already have one!" 

I valiantly resisted the urge to go all feminist rage on her.

I also saw the greatest sign, of which I didn't take a picture because it was in front of a charity shop and I was lazy. But they were asking for clothe's donations.

*facepalm*

Book nerd

You know when you realize you have problems?

When, after you've just managed to pack all your books for yet another move in one(almost construable as tiny, may I say-albeit, stuffed to previously unknown levels) bag and you show said bag to a flatmate, she lovingly looks at you and asks if that's all.

Because then you have to admit that, you know there are the books that are in the other bag and the three you have in the backpack, just in case there's a lull in your moving process and oh, yeah, the ones that you're leaving for the bag that you still haven't packed and where the heck did all these books come from in less than two years, because you swear you only brought 3 with you when you moved here.

Oh, well, one's a library book.

Snooker

Went to Sheffield last night for the World Snooker Championship. Had a fabulous time, Sheffield is very pretty, had a chance to test out the camera of the new phone(not very pleased with the pictures, but I haven't spent a lot of time tweaking with the setting yet).

Oh, and saw Steve Davis play. Did I mention I love Steve Davis? He's awesome. This is the 30th year he's played in the World Championship and it was incredible watching him play. Game was good, almost saw a century break from Mark King(missed a black when he was at 94 points), also got to see Mark Williams and Marcus Campbell who were playing the other table and Ken Doherty who was there to give an interview, from what I could tell.

In one word though? Fabulous.

Pictures next(clicks make 'em bigger. Please note the awesome 8MP resolution on the camera, mkay?):

Random from around town:

Stage entrance. No, I did not stalk it. Yes, I wanted to.

Cue Zone. Nothing going on when we were there, sadly. 

The actual entrance to the Crucible!

The trophies for the 5 main championships in a season.

Awesome seats, right? 

The ceiling was awesome.

And a goodnight to all. 

Goodbye

This time, the bartender won't be coming to open the door while we stupidly wait outside because it's too early and we don't want to be home.

Goodbye, old friend. I'll miss you.

*I realize that this post won't mean anything to anyone who reads this, with maybe one exception. But to many of us, it's the end of an era.

Why we do not assume

Or how I got called the slightly less polite version of a hussy.

I was on a plane flying back to Romania a few days back. Now, this was a connecting flight from Birmingham to Amsterdam(off topic but Amsterdam Schiphol Airport? Awesome! They have a freaking museum there). I was sat in my usual window seat when this older couple sits next to me. Now for the record, I was wearing short shorts. However, I had black tights and I’m not exactly one known to wear skimpy outfits anyway. But yes, they sit next to me.

And for the entire 55 minute flight, the woman commented on the length of my shorts and how I was obviously only wearing them to attract attention. And I was a hussy, streetwalker and a few other names because of the length of my shorts. 55 minutes of that. Now I was seriously tempted to offer her a book, since clearly she was very bored if she had nothing better to talk about. Never mind that I was freaking comfortable and I had a stained hoodie on(what can I say, coffee is not my greatest friend). No. I was trying to pick up men and make them look at me and stuff. It was awesome.

Oh, did I mention this entire monologue mostly(since her husband would just nod) was in Romanian? Which she assumed I don’t speak, since she talked to me in English when I helped her with her bag and the overhead bin?

And this, ladies and gentlemen, is why we do not assume. This and because at the end of the flight, the person you’ve been bitching about might just turn around and thank you politely in Romanian when you help her with her bag(unintentionally, I swear, but oh, so satisfying. The Romanian bit was unintentional, not the thanking them). Kodak moment, party of 3. 

Part 2 of best day ever :)

I promised a few days ago a post with all the lovely vintage-y ads and signs from the afternoon spent on the steam train.

Windows. 

Don't forget to label your luggage. 

Be sure to go by train.

It will ease the strain.

Don't forget to visit London in coronation year!

And have your cup of Lyon's tea.

Best day ever :)

This weekend, I went on a steam train ride from Loughborough to Leicester. It was possibly the greatest thing ever. Had lunch, wine, coffee, chocolate. Did I mention it was awesome? Made that point clear enough? Because it was. And pictures! (There will be another post tomorrow with just the signs and vintage ads).

The platform, train, people.

 

The table.

First class. 

The windows were a mess. 

But the lake was beautiful. (This was the view while we were having lunch.)

Water tower.

Various tools. 

Made me think of Hemingway.

 

The ceiling of the station. 

My favourite picture of the day, taken in the waiting room.

Signs

How I feel today:

And just because I saw this on my way home from uni today and I like the picture:

Picture day

Exams are finally done.

I'm exhausted.

I'm double billing the pictures today because I missed last week of posting.

I may have missed last week of life.

What's a life?

I love Leicester's randomness.

It's been bleak and winter-y here for the past few weeks/months.

This picture makes me happy.

Snow

I'm not a brilliant photographer. Hell, I'm not a brilliant writer either, but that doesn't stop me from doing it. So I'm going to post at least a picture a week, because if nothing else at least I'll have an excuse to take more pictures.

This isn't my favourite picture in the world, just proof that it does snow in England. Again. I seem to be obsessed with upping the contrast/colour saturation lately.

Nuttier with extra nuts

I am alive. Just busy. And honestly, I needed a break from blogging, not that I do it that often. But let’s try to do a retrospective of my last few months and resurrect this baby, with a new face and a new and improved me. Well, no, same old me. But slightly less balanced. Maybe I should take up yoga, I hear they teach you balance.

So in the past three months or so I have:

• Joined the theatre society which, while a great idea, means I have far less free time right now to do anything. I’ll write about this later in the week, just to brag about my play being in the Leicester Comedy Festival. It’s less impressive than it sounds, but still pretty cool.
• Gone back to writing on a regular basis. This isn’t totally new, since I re-started my fanfic in April (maybe? Around that, anyway), but I have a new one as well. I update both of them at least once a week. Which is a good idea, until you realize that my chapters tend to be at least 2500 words each.
• Done NaNoWriMo. Yes, again. Despite my chronic lack of time, I gave up sleep for a month to do NaNo again this year. And win. Third year in a row. Sometimes I wonder if I’m crazy or if I just enjoy not having a life.
• Gone to school. I’m on the staff student council, student rep(which isn’t adding much to my already too tight schedule, but even not much means too much sometimes), I have to study, I’m trying to pass exams. Yes, it’s exam time again. Don’t remind me.
• Started to walk 2.5 miles daily. I don’t know why I felt the need to throw that in there, but I just had to, okay? It’s the only time I have to think and not stress about things(most of the time. Sometimes I’m trying to learn lines furiously).

That’s about it, mostly. The big things anyway.

But it’s good to be back.