herecosyouare

It's the calm after the storm.

Friday was a bit of a panic, but preparations got done, and throught the ever-threatening rain we made our way to Taylor John's Place to set up for the first part of the game. (sry)

The Science! worked well, our monster team were wonderful and executed their various roles beautifully. It was nice to be proper ref/monster again for a change, as opposed to NPC, and to let the characters start to get on with things. Lying as a charred corpse at the end of this section I was loving every single second of debate and discussion that went on over my head.

The evening contained some surprises, not least Felicity's surviving, which I believe may have to be ficc'd later... we now have our work cut out for us to figure out exactly what is happening in certain areas and to certain players!

Today I do feel slightly guilty sat in typing when the weather is so lovely outside, but writing must be done...

A huge thank you to everyone who came and made it a huge success! Get writing your letters and I look forward to hatching more schemes very, very soon...

Did anyone watch War in Afghanistan: the home front on Wednesday night? Because if you watch the introduction, about two minutes in there is a group of school children listening to a teacher who you only see the back of.

The teacher is one of my personal heros, Mr Griffiths and the children are a collection of mine and another class from our school! They're only there for a few seconds and didn't even know they'd been filmed, but it's some kind of awesome... thank Gods they mostly look like they're paying attention...

The trips this week were ace. I was as much of a kid as them half the time!

Also, the Z-phys-repping is almost complete... some dry glue and a few more stitches, not to mention a few more lychees and some food colouring and we'll be about there... pics will come afterwards.

Next week I'm sleeping more!

( Life vent )

More importantly, a poem based on one of my new favourite words. It was completely irrelevant to my mental state when I wrote it, honest!

Echinoderm

Grow me in five parts,
But all the same,
And if a part breaks off
I'll grow it back again!
Let my right side
Become obsolete,
Logic can make things easier then,
I'll take the form most complete;
Symmetrical in design,
Radial and well protected,
Though only loosely connected,
I'll leave no trace when I'm gone.
There is no heart,
And all waste is gently diffused,
And as every part is replacable,
I can be unconscientiously used.
Under the sea is peaceful,
Under the rocks is serene,
For each shed limb a new playmate,
For every conflict a new me.

Jobs done so far;

Start made on Zeit-squick.
Invitations sent; if you didn't recieve one I was unsure about whether the NPC in question would have invited you and need to check! If you know you are NPC-ing then there will be briefs on or before Saturday.
Finally submitted some work that someone's been after for weeks ^_^;
Make-up practice is happening... latex takes so long to dry!!

Jobs still to do tonight;

Music planning for five weeks
Something in Nano

And for later?

More Science!
Lammies (can has submissions, pls?)
R.E.planning
Topic books need a going over
Career Related Learning pilot needs instigating

I know, this is one of those posts that's more for me to look back at on Friday and go "Whoot! I finished stuff!"

In other news, I now have a truely amazing outfit that I need an excuse for... Casp found a skirt that matches my Chinese shrug yesterday... Felicity could pull it off, only it does lace all the way up the sides... next time there's a Lords party, perhaps? I don't think even she'd wear it to the pub...

Very much looking forward to Saturday! Come join us!

Just had this thought as I sat to start today's input!

Trying to think, as I go of songs for the characters, mostly because of the one on the top of the list just happening;

Lady Charlotte de Montford - Bathsheba Smiles, Richard Thompson.
Annabelle Felix de Montford - Her Secret World, The Carter Manouever, Mourning Tree, Leaves Eyes, Joke, Amy Wadge, Puncture Repair, Elbow

Baron Felix de Montford- (maybe, although, y'know, he's dead...)
Baron de Montford the elder - (probably needs a first name ^_^;)
Ethan- (new charcter, stable boy)
Maria- (nc, maid)
Guy de Gaulder - Seven days to the Wolves, Nightwish, The Outsider, A Perfect Circle, I am the Thorn, Cradle of Filth
Marquis Tarquin Belesgar - Relapse, Oceansize, for the crazy,
Will update as they occur...

Suggestions, perhaps?

(No, Casp and Dan, you cannot just have your favourite cool song about being epic :P)

I got back from the Y6 residential to Plas Dol y Moch yesterday. The trip was wonderful, for so many reasons. I'm not going to try posting them, because I have many other projects I need to be working on tonight. If you'd like to hear about the children being awesome, the joys of teaching table manners and polite conversation, Orienteering, rock pooling, kayaking (and NOT falling in) beach scrambling or mine exploration, with waterfalls, and 100ft deep pools, and the awesomeness of both children and instructors in the face of adversity, full moon night walks, the Labyrinth, the list is long enough already! Feel free to ask, but be warned I will froth!

Actually doing NaNoWriMo this year. I ought to mention to any Scarred Lands players that it is the Tale of Anna and Guy, and I may be changing things, including names for the sake of the novel. Please don't pull me up on how it was origonally played out... I'll do my best! Probably going to use this cover in some way; http://www.drunkduck.com/Her_Secret_World/index.php?p=338336

So, writing...

EDIT; for what I mean about changes/making it work, see ( An Excerpt )

So, at Mabon I set myself the challenge of finishing Dubois and the January requests before Samhain. Five minutes to midnight and I started uploading images. The pretty things will be given/posted to their requesters, though I do apologise to Scar... perhaps the paints weren't the best plan...

Pencils for Wol

Copics for Tori

Paints for Scar

As for the comtemplation, I think I'll take that over to CP!! There's a bit in there, though.

Blessed Samhain, I hope your year has had it's ups and that the downs have taught you something new. Here's to a bright future for us all!

I maded an update!

http://www.drunkduck.com/My_Imaginary_Life/?p=629500

Must learn to resize to less than 1000 pixels... but I have much to do! I could be kidnapped at any minute! Casp has plans... they have been weeks in the making... I am slightly nervous XD!

EDIT: Also, finished Dubois' commission! Original can be found here but it also looked good with an antique filter, so have a mini-pic!

Just got back from Durham today! I had a wonderful time! Many hugs and thanks to everyone who was part of either the LARPing or the pub quiz or anything else we got up to! Special mentions of course to marcus_felix, athenegenia and obsidian_sphinx for their hospitality and looking after thesofaofdeath and I so well. (Also thank you Issy for coming and making sure I didn't fall asleep/panic too much in the car!!)

So now I have to consider that marking that needs doing, not to mention the things I promised I'd finish by Samhain on Saturday...

Right now, though, food!

Coventry; are we up to anything Saturday night?

Red String by Gina Biggs. It's a wonderful relationship comic (OK, so it's a bit girly!) but it's beautifully drawn and her characters are very believable. Cute and not too mushy and lovely.

(It's early. I was so tired last night I almost fell over, and even then couldn't sleep properly!!)

Also, if you were considering seeing the Clockwork Quartet but couldn't/didn't, for the love of the Gods go!!! Next time they play I will return! The venue was dingy and close and perfect, the costumes gorgeous and the actors horribly talented. How the General's Wife sang like that in that corset beggers belief!! The over-arching story is not what I'd expected, but then I don't know what I'd expected!! (I may have fangirled the Doctor just a little bit... and I think I love the Magician... I want to hug him so much, his story...all their stories...eep!!)

Finally, Up! is as awesome as my brother said. For a Pixar film, you would not expect the emotional roller-coaster it puts you on. I mean, you can just enjoy it (and the preceeding short) as cute and amusing cartoons, if you want, but if you're me you end up smiling, crying, laughing out loud, actually getting angry at the injustices of parts of it but ultimately with your belief in something good in the world confirmed. (And then you almost fall over...)

Also, I want the baby alligator. I would love it and hug it an call it George.

(I want a boy to play a LARP character names Epsilon at some point too...or I'll play a boy... I don't think it's a girly name...)

One more day of teaching, a spot of training, then I'm off for a week.

I think I need it!!

Right, the silliness continues!

For those of you I drunkenly babbled about this to last night, may it now make something like sense... (PS, thank you for coming, you were all various kinds of awesome!)

We'll start fairly innocently...

All Webster's fault. Just because I draw it, you can't blame me. Possibly NSFW, it's a bit cheeky...

I might be in trouble for this...

Dear Felix, I'm sorry.

Influenced by newvani, some silly pics. There are others coming, a couple of which may earn me beatings, but are only proof that I should not be encouraged. They make me feel better, and one day I will share them with you. But today is not that day. They are not finished!

Me as a...



Me as Edaniel from Bizeghast! (This is my favourite!)



Me as a mobile phone. Which I may as well be at the moment ^_^;



And, chosen by thesafoofdeath, I believe, me as an anteater!

I don't know either!

From an email regarding The Clockwork Quartet performances;

P.S. You are cordially invited to dress as outlandishly as you like on the night. Retrofuturism, Victoriana, tail-coats, ball-gowns - whatever takes your fancy. Also, be advised that our bar is cash only, so if you fancy a drink or two and some luxury chocolates (the best way to enjoy a CQ performance), bring along a little coinage.

This was the plan anyway, I've had my outfit planned since I got my ticket, but it's the little touches that really make these things, isn't it!

Also, two of my favourite performers have the initials CQ; I always think of Colvin Quarmby first, so can't use it for these guys! Lalala, seeing them tomorrow!

Is anyone else? I'm kinda flying solo at the moment!

It's not graphic!!

Something inspired by theviciouspixie and our good friend Rachel. There will be art for this still, but the first section occured on the walk to Co-op. Very much first draft, still not sure I like how the longer sections flow... they aren't scanning like they ought to... we'll see what happens when I crack the guitar out...

WARNING; probably doesn't reflect well on either sex at some level. Please do not think I'm being derogatory, it's meant in the best of humour!!

( At least three men a day would suit me fine... )

Weekends should be longer.
Mornings should be drier.
Bizenghast 7 should happen NOW!!!!

It's wet out there. Not raining, but wet for the first time in months. I've been very lucky with the cycling so far... I get the impression this is soon to change...

I don't want to use the car because of the cost of petrol, and the cost to my fitness...

Why do I always feel sorry for myself at "disturbed o'clock" even though it's the only time I get to talk to Casp at the moment?

Open mic went well. Webster and I had to go on quite late as there was a fair crowd in the Tin Angel by the time we got down there. Also, they'd changed the start time XD but it was all good. I played "Time Apart", to try and wake a few of the remaining audience members up, "Konichiwa", because Webster asked for it and I'd forgotten how much I like throwing in an accapella moment and "The Sex Song", because, let's face it, that late in the proceedings no one wants you to be too deep, cryptic or observational. I certainly wasn't that way inclined. (and I was getting tired and wasn't sure I could pull off the changes!) Yay playing!

Starting to shake slightly... I'm sure I'll be fine when I get to work!!

Right, the bullet is going to be bitten; tonight I'm going to play at the Tin Angel Open Mic. More small steps in my mosaicly-paved life!

Just about decided on a set list, going to stick with what I know goes down well, partially because I know it does and the new batch isn't ready yet... saying that I think I'll put "So long, S- and thanks for all the self-confidence fuckery"* because I really like that one...it has an instrumental break and everything!

Right, to practice. If you're in Cov, it starts at 9pm, £1 entry, the Tin Angel on Medieval Spon Street.

Time to practice...

*This is not it's name, but I love Gerry Colvin's approach to renaming songs depending on how you feel that day/what they're about in a comic fashion...

Drew something else. Now need sleep.

http://bowdy.deviantart.com/art/White-Rabbit-of-October-138883072

I stayed up late tonight, mostly to finish this, and DeviantArt suffers an internal error! The bastards!! So, it's onto Photobucket and implanting...

I'm flirting with art deco at the moment, sort of, so feed back would be appreciated. Yes, it's self-indulgent, but the way I see it, why not use myself as model for practices? At least I'm not going to annoy anyone else if I screw it up! The plant is a giant rhubarb that was opposite me in the park. I think the leaves are poisonous. Make of that what you will. I think the expression has a lot to do with the Munchkin Quest game the night before...

EDIT; here it is!



Also, who's going to the Clockwork Quartet on the Friday? Because I am!

I don't know how many people remember I went on a course in London in July for a new pilot project in Primary schools. Today was the cluster meeting for said project, in Coventry with teachers and partners trying to agree on the next step.

They have adjusted the evaluation so that we don't have to split classes, which is good. All the other schools are one form entry, making Lisa and I believe that only having my class involved will be alright. We have a drama group, Aim Higher, the Healthy Schools board External Services (mostly parent/school liason type stuff) involved. All is boding well.

Then problems start.

1) the drama group want to put the production on in the June half term. This is quickly outlined as a big No for various reasons.
2) A head who was not present in London starts the "This would be great for all children debate" again, which continues in variants for ten minutes. Yes it would, but this is a pilot no one is stopping you using the techniques elsewhere, and we only have a year's funding. Live with it or pull out!!
3) The same head smacks down my idea of using the purpose built forums for discussing which ideas we like and how they should be applied as he types slowly and prefers the phone. One of the drama women agrees. (The external services lady agrees with me, I like her!)

The outcomes are still unclear, a lot of planning needs to be done.

Now I see why The World appeared this morning!!