Good thing the first:
I got a job interview! It's in a couple of weeks! \o/ \o/ \o/

Good thing the second:
I just bought myself this.
Oh God, I can't wait for it to arrive. If it's anything like the first season Yun Kouga artbook, it's going to be wonderful. But I think it also contains bonus comics (including young Neil and Lyle! Together!) so it sounds like it's going to be even better. NOT TO MENTION THE FACT THAT IT HAS NAKED TIERIA IN SPACE ON THE COVER!!!
:D :D :D

Whew! It's been a while, hasn't it?

I seem to have been particularly busy recently. Let me give you the lowdown.

1. So it's that time of year again. That time of year when I find myself in need of another job. My contract runs out in September, so in a desperate bid to not be unemployed when the time comes round, I've been applying to jobs. Or should I say, 'applying to job'. Because the job market is looking a little less fruitful this year. Damn you recession! Damn you!
But as I pointed out: if it comes to it, being unemployed won't be so bad. It'll be like being a student again, only without all the stress and coursework or the price tag of a few thousand pounds. Sounds alright to me.

2. I found myself at the Globe again last week. We went to see As You Like It for Susan's birthday. It was fun, and decidedly cheap at only five pounds per ticket. Standing for two and a half hours is slightly taxing though. My feet fared bravely throughout the whole thing, until it was time to go home when they decided to 'stuff that for a game of soldiers' and promptly gave me cramp.

3. I had to work late on Thursday evening, helping to set up my first proper exhibition. It was, sadly, the most exciting thing I've done in a while. But, I mean, come on. They had canapés! How is that not exciting?

4. And I've just been to see my parents all weekend on account of it being my Dad's birthday. I did the dutiful daughter thing and bought him lovely presents, all of which I would like to steal for myself at one point in the future. So we spent the weekend sitting in the sun (and the heat! Golly, I'm fanning myself with an actual FAN at the moment! It's proper summer now!) and later sitting in the pub through a thunder storm that went on for ruddy ages. That was one serious storm let me tell you; it's rare to see one last that long! And it had proper thunder claps too. None of that low rumbling nonsense.
We spent most of the time doing evil laughs and shouting things like 'It's alive!' hoping to catch the thunder at the most dramatic moment. You will be glad to hear that we failed miserably on that front.

And now for some breaking news (shut up I know it's three days late):
I am still quite shocked. It's sad news. Yes, he was mental, but he also made some great songs and boy could he dance well.
Little known fact: this was the first single I ever bought. And don't tell me you never tried to recreate the video by standing in a door frame with a fan blowing in your face. I KNOW YOU DID.

Good Lord, why haven't I posted about this already?

Literal video version of Total Eclipse of the Heart
This is my favourite thing at the moment. I've almost memorised all the lyrics.
Slo-mo dove~

In other news, I've just had a new flatmate move in today. He's called James, like the flatmate who just moved out. Which is handy.

An old song, but shockingly relevant:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UymKurTBdhw (Warning, it's a bit sweary so NSFW)

I walked to and from work today, and now I'm really really tired. I feel like I could fall asleep right now, but I have to force myself to cook dinner. And it's walking to work tomorrow as well *tired sigh*

While we're on the subject of the tube, here's a clip of Michael Mcintyre telling it like it is.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Es2l4yUBY6M (If you keep watching, the bits about talking on the phone are funny too.)

Other things:

- I discovered a type of music called Balkan Beats during my trip to Germany. It's rather fun:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xAdkIQbKtPc

- I am looking for yet another new flatmate. It's taken over my life this past week. I hope we find someone nice to move in.

I've just returned from a long weekend visiting Nick in Germany. Steve, James and I flew over on Friday afternoon, and we had a fantastic time, despite the fact that Nick doesn't live anywhere particularly interesting at all <3

Highlights of the trip include:
- Being harangued by a multitude of dogs.
- James shutting his foot in the car door.
- Teaching Nick's German friend, Toby, all manner of English swearwords (although he was already very competent with a highly inventive 'Drink piss out of my ass!')
- Finding out that Nick is very good at speaking German, apart from the German word for kitchen roll, which apparently makes him sound like an idiot.
- And I got some new shoes, which are lovely, and were only 10 euros! But they hurt my feet in a really big way. orz

But enough of that. Let me give you a massive photo-spam of my trip \o/

We arrived on Friday afternoon, and spent a while nosing around Nick's flat.

James and I were very miffed that neither of us were anywhere to be seen on Nick's photo wall. Where's the love Nick? Where's the love? You should print this photo out and add it to your wall, then James can be on it after all! (You'd do this if you were a good friend.)

Nick's flat is actually really nice. And full of really nice stuff. And he rents it for cheaper than I rent my shared, skanky flat in London ;_;
This sofa was my bed for the next few nights.

Steve and James shared the air-bed, which was, as we later found out, really really noisy whenever anyone moved.

Once we'd settled in, and Nick had made us a very nice dinner, we put on our party clothes! We went to a club in town, which was hot, small, undeground, and reminded me a lot of all the hot, small, underground clubs we used to go to in Bath together. There was much dancing and chatting to Nick's friends.

The next day we went to the market to get supplies.

While there we saw a stall that was selling soup and sausages. It was very tasty, but also very very filling.

Then it was off in the car to Wiesbaden, to do some shopping and some wandering around in the sunshine.

While there, we had ice-cream. Mine was much larger than I expected (but no-way near as large as some I saw), and I shocked myself by finishing it all.

Then we drove back to Nick's place and wandered out to dinner. I was wearing my new shoes (and subsequently nearly dying) by this point. But the schnitzel was nice (if confusingly garnished with a multitude of radishes).

Then we went to Toby's, house, where we admired his collection of hats. And his axe. Which didn't make Nick look like a crazy lunatic at all.

From there we took a taxi to another club in town, which was less small, and underground, and looked more like a disused prison (which was slightly disconcerting). It was a jazz/disco/rock and roll/boogaloo night, and it was incredibly fun to dance too. Although there were some people there who looked like the jazz had gotten into them a little too much. For a while, we worried that the jazz might get to us too, but luckily we were all spared from too much rogering by the jazz beast.

After a quick stop off at (apparently) the most left-wing (but definitely, the most smoky) club in town, where some very drunk people tried to chat me up in a language I don't understand, and Nick was bought a beautiful rose, we wandered (or in my case, limped) home.

Nick's beautiful rose is beautiful. Steve, meanwhile, was working the whole 'sunglasses while indoors' look.

The next day we drove to the lake for a barbecue. For a while, we worried that we were going to burn the whole place down, but in the end it was ok.

The weather was lovely, although there was some mighty pollen in the air, and I felt like I had two mucus-tipped feathers stuck up my nose the whole time.

Nick and Steve went for a dip in the lake. Although Steve was a silly boy and did himself a damage when he jumped in. Like the good friends that we are, we laughed heartily at his misfortune.

Eating a lot of meat is a very tiring business.

After that we went back to Nick's place to eat the most exciting salad in the world and then went for a quick drink before calling it a night.

Sunday was mostly spent pottering around Nick's flat and looking for an archive that didn't exist, before heading to the airport to catch our flight home.

The flight wasn't so nice, and kinda turbulencey. I normally like flying, but not this one. When I got back I heard about that flight from Brazil that they lost yesterday morning, and suddenly I felt very glad to be back on solid ground.

I've taken the rest of the week off work. Hooray! So now I've got to spend my time shopping, resting my poor poor feet, and going to my granddad's birthday party \o/

It was a lovely bank holiday this weekend. The weather was absolutely perfect... for a change.

I went to visit my parents.

Among other things, we watched Eagle versus Shark, which is always a wonderful film, and The Hunt for Gollum, which was shockingly well done considering it was just a fan-made thing.

Also, we walked through some beautiful countryside and, at the end of it, had a cream tea in a little village hall <3

In other news:

Latin status: Rapidly deteriorating.

Conjugating verbs, I can get. That's fine. That's easy. But who the hell thought it was a good idea to conjugate nouns? I've never had to conjugate a noun before! Shit's ridiculous! Bloody Romans.

...What the hell's a genitive anyway? Sounds dirty if you ask me.

So, after my first Latin tutorial I-- haven't actually learned how to put a sentence together yet-- but I can now conjugate a few verbs! Check this out:

Edificare

Edifico
Edificas
Edificat
Edificamus
Edificatis
Edificant

Shit me, I'm almost fluent!

(I keep trying to pronounce everthing in a Japanese accent, which is as sad as it is embarrassing because my knowledge of Japanese is pitiful. Note to self: Dare = To Give. Dare =/= Who. ORZ)

So, Mariya came to visit last weekend. It was awesome. And it would have been even more awesome if I hadn't been struck with a cold at the time, but as it was, I had to make do with not being able to taste anything and being full of mucus all the time. Hurrah.

Hey, Mariya, I just got your letter! Thank you! Also, thank you for the gifts! It's fun to have Light-o judging me every time I open the door!

We packed a lot of stuff into just a few days. Here's the lowdown:

1. Feeding the God of commercialism in Camden Markets. I've never really done much shopping in Camden before. Some of the places there are crazy. Like dancing robots techno techno techno crazy.
2. An abrupt change of scene with very posh tea in Harrods. Followed by a glimpse of some adorable bunny rabbits in their pet section.
3. Conveyor belt sushi \o/
4. Having a look round St Pauls. Turns out, if you go on a Sunday, you don't have to pay anything! I've never been in before; it's shockingly a lot more elaborate than I expected. I think I may need to go again to get the most of it.
5. Going to Fleet Street to look for Sweeney Todd. Sadly, Johnny Depp was nowhere to be found. We did, however, find Dr Johnson's house down this tiny little alley. God, I love tiny little alleys. Oh London, you never cease to fascinate me.
6. Tate Modern to mock the art.
7. Then to the Globe to see Romeo and Juliet. It's a cool theatre. I highly recommend it if you want some Elizabethan atmosphere.
8. Fish and Chips. Nom Nom Nom Nom Nom.
9. Also, we watched Kill Bill Vol.1. God. I love that film so much. It's just so cool. But I think I shocked the people at work when I told them that I prefer the first film because it has more killings and less plot. Is that so wrong???
10. And more culture with a visit to the V&A, where we finally caught up with Johnny Depp! Ok, not the man himself, no. But we did get to see the hat that he wore in Pirates of the Caribbean. IT STILL COUNTS.

And then Mariya went home and I had to sleep and sleep to try to shake my cold. You will be glad to hear that I was mostly successful.

Photos! I didn't take many, but I think Mariya managed to take enough for 5 of us.

Mariya in Harrods.

Dr Johnson's house. Shut up, it's exciting to me.

The new coat I bought in Camden because my old summer jackets just don't cut it any more.

And in other news:

1. The Flight of the Conchords is back on TV! I'm so excited about this. They are very funny people. Why don't I own the DVD already? Also, dear Flight of the Conchords, please tour the UK so I can see you live. Thank you.

2. I have been watching this series called Inside the Medieval Mind. This programme is absolutely fascinating. Did you know that people used to believe that men with dog's heads actually existed? They did! St Christopher was one, in fact, apparently. Nom Nom Nom, my appetite for learning history knows no bounds.

3. So, I went to go see In the Loop in the end. I have not enjoyed a film this much in ages. It is absolutely hilarious. A must see.

Now I have to go try to teach myself Latin \o/

IT'S TOO EXCITING

For one: I have a new flatmate. She moved in on Saturday. It's weird having different things in the house (and no bike in the corridor). But she's very nice (and she cleans the kitchen!) so it's all good.

For two: MARIYA IS COMING TO VISIT ON SATURDAY
Talk about short notice. I am so excited :D
Hay Mariya, is there anything in London that you haven't seen yet and want to see?

Seriously guys. Seriously.

Tieria x garter is my new OTP

Also, is it bad that I'm a fan of a song by Dizzee Rascal?

I have been SO BUSY recently. Too much organising! That's my problem. Currently, on my list 'things that I am organising' are:

1. Find a new flatmate
2. Move offices at work
3. Book a holiday to go see Nick in Germany \o/

No-one wants to live in my flat! I don't understand! And I didn't even tell them about the silverfish in the toilet! Oh woe is me...

In other news, I have 2 things to say.

1. I need to see this film so bad. The Thick of It was so funny, and everything I've heard about this film suggests that it keeps the humour up nicely *jumps up and down in an excited way*

2. I finished playing Hotel Dusk. It was really fun. It was also great because it was easy and very hard to die. Exactly what I like in a computer game. And while the story is interesting, I think it's the characters that made the game for me. I really really wanted a bro end between Kyle and Louie where they would become partners and go fight crime. What a trip that would have been, man!
I'll leave you with this. Somebody wrote a song about the game. It is, shockingly, actually pretty good.

I was going to post a huge Tieria character essay. But, um, I haven't gotten around to writing it yet.

But I got the accompanying fanart done at least.

Disclaimer: Artist's impression of Tieria's genitals (or lack thereof) only. Tieria's genitals may be subject to change. You should aim to invest in Tieria's genitals for at least 4 years. Calls may be charged at a premium rate.

There's going to be a Gundam00 movie out next year.

\o/

Now I've got a valid reason to continue fangirling over the show for at least another 12 months!

Let's talk about the ending of the second season. SPOILERS BELOW.

=> Read more!

I was going to make a huge post about the latest episode, because I am having MIXED REACTIONS. But I think, actually, seeing as we're close, I'll just leave my reaction post until the series is over.

Only one episode left though! I CAN'T WAIT. (And then it will be all over, and I will have no idea what to do with my life anymore. Oh well, I'll cross that bridge when I come to it.)

In other Gundam00 news: did you see the new Tieria figurine?

THOSE HIPS. Seriously. Seeeeeriously. THOSE HIPS. His waist is smaller than mine! And I am petit, let me tell you (others might say short and unhealthily skinny, but I think petit sounds better~)
There's another new figurine that showcases Tieria from episode 8 of the second season, which, if you know what I'm talking about, is exciting.

I can feel Tieria fanart imminent. (Hahaha. As if it's ever not iminent!) But first I have to go home for the weekend and apologise for not being around for mother's day to my dear mummy.

So, I saw some things recently. They included, but are not limited to:

1. houses of 19th century prime ministers
2. Cloverfield

Cloverfield is goooood. I really enjoyed it. Now, I heard that opinion is split over this film, but it did it for me. And I think I got so much out of it because I'm familiar with New York. The whole hand-held camera style made it feel so real. Seriously. I wasn't just watching the film, I could smell it too. I could feel it. That's kinda cool. Also, films that show normal people's reactions to horrific events that they don't understand and have no control over. IT IS SUCH A FILM OF THE TIMES. If the monster wasn't an allegory for a terrorist attack, then I don't know what is. (50 years in the future, films like these will give people quite an insight into what the general consciousness is like at the moment.) So, enjoyable film. Did I mention it was kinda scary too?

Sadly, after that heady high. Yes I know, prime ministers' houses. I woke up on Sunday morning to find out that my throat didn't know what the hell it was doing. And today the illness has progressed. I still only really have a sore throat so far, but I'm at that kind of tired and achey stage too. Urgh.

In good news, who cares how ill you feel when there is GUNDAM?

SPOILERS FOR SEASON 2 EPISODE 23 AHEAD!

=> Read more!