2014

2015 is going to have to try really damn hard to beat 2014. I’m almost certain it isn’t going to be as good but that’s okay, because this year really was a great year.

• I went to Japan, and for that alone 2014 has been better than all years previously. Japan is somewhere that has always been top of my list of countries to visit. It’s still top of my list now, because I can’t wait to go back! (I’m currently putting together a book of my travels – much like the digital version).

• I moved out, and although only 20 miles or so down the road, I no longer live in Milton Keynes nor with my parents. I live closer to work, and my job/workplace is pretty darn great too, by the way. Not wanting to move back home yet, although it has been nice being ‘home’ for Christmas this last week.

• It’s been an awesome year for music (last years resolution accomplished). Almost all of my favourite bands had new albums – I vote Chuck Ragan’s Something May Catch Fire as my album of the year but The Menzingers’ Rented World was the soundtrack to my Japan trip so that’s special too. And Against Me! at the Electric Ballroom last month was my top gig. Although, again, that was closely followed by The Menzingers closing WTFest in Southampton. I had a top gig buddy (boyfriend) too. :)

2015 will be alright, probably.

Sunday Crafternoon

It’s been a busy weekend for me. Starting Friday, I had a day off work and spent it Christmas shopping, with mama-Prew in Milton Keynes, and then shot off to London to watch Once the Musical, with Becca and Lana. The shopping was very successful and the musical was truly wonderful. Saturday I didn’t do so much but I stuck around in MK and decorated the parents’ Christmas tree among other things.

Today I returned home to Bedford for my weekly pilates class, then spent the afternoon happily out of the cold and busily doing some arts and crafts.

First on my crafting agenda was the WTFest/Menzingers poster-setlist-ticket-wristband combo collage I’ve been meaning to work on since October. Well, I think it was well worth the wait.

I added some ‘polaroids’ of my photos from WTFest weekend, as well.

The next craft is more of a work in progress. I plan to have linocut printed Christmas cards this year and these were my very first attempt. I was intending on this particular lino design being only a tester but I liked my first print so much that I went ahead and produced many more. It won’t be the last linocutting/printing I do this side of Christmas, but I have to wait for all of these mini prints to dry before I do any more! 

And finally, the third ‘craft’ is a bit of a cheat as I simply paper-mâchéd gold tissue paper onto a cardboard reindeer that I bought in Hobby Craft yesterday – on a whim. 

Also worth mentioning: as well as my WTFest collage, I now have these Japanese prints up in my room. The two larger prints I was given by my parents when I moved and the smaller four are postcards that I picked up in Tokyo. All are replicas of ukiyo-e by Hiroshige, my favourite artist.

And it’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas…

Both in my flat.

And at the parental home.

’zilla

I will get back into proper blogging at some point… soon. I have just been really busy with moving house/town and popping over to Northern Ireland for a mini holiday, as well. Plus, I am generally trying to enjoy the sunshine while it lasts and explore my new home location – Bedford – rather than sitting at my computer!

So anyway, here’s a cool poster of Godzilla by Andy Fielding.

I have moved

I no longer live in Milton Keynes. I have now officially moved to Bedford. In fact, I officially moved to Bedford on Sunday.

I wouldn’t say I was glad to leave Milton Keynes – as you may be aware, I have grown to like the place somewhat since returning from university. But I am super excited to be living in my own place (well, half my own place – I’m sharing with a work colleague/friend) and pretty much starting a whole new chapter in my life. Unlike when I left home to go to uni, I don’t intend to go back to living at my parents’ house ever again. Unless I absolutely have to… and of course, I would be welcome back.

I have been pretty non-stop-busy since Saturday morning when I got my keys and started moving my stuff into the new place. It is now starting to look like a home and is almost looking how I want it… or we, I should say, for the lounge/kitchen at least.

I have a wardrobe (with four bonus drawers) being delivered on Thursday which means I can tidy away all my clothes and other bits of clutter that are filling my new room at the moment. We are also getting a sofa delivered on the same day… Then it will be home.

First car load packed up – sadly, Cleo couldn’t actually come with me.

Empty bedroom.

A work-in-progress.

Last night in MK, spent with Cleo-cat.

Milton Keynsian concrete cow, Batcow, has moved to Bedford.

When I was lacking in record player, speakers and Macbook…

It was warm. It still is. Ice lolly as viewed from lounge.

Well-earned/much-needed pint on Sunday night in the lovely D’Parys beer garden.

The view from the window in the hallway just outside my flat front door.

My very own Buddha that Mama-Prew gifted me.

Record player and general music space set up.

Poster framed this evening ready to go on the wall, along with others.

Yeah, the only photos I have so far are as-seen-on-Instagram photos and these don’t even show the actual flat much…

Cleo

It’s been just over a year since Poppy, the Prew family cat, sadly died. We’d been planning on getting another cat for a little while now and went over to the RSPCA cat home in Newport Pagnell this morning. This beautiful, inquisitive and friendly tailless tabby-cat came home with us.

Meet Cleo, she’s lovely and already settling in well.

Yeah, another snow post

I realise I haven’t really posted anything design-related in a while, but the whole country (except Cornwall, but they may as well be their own country) has gone snow crazy. This is certainly the most snow I’ve witnessed at home since I was too young to remember. Plus it’s the first time I’ve had to drive in snow, which is… interesting.

Campbell Park on a sunny day

So it turns out Milton Keynes isn't all that bad. It might not have a beach or be anywhere near the sea but it does have a beautiful park within half an hour from my house. Sitting under a tree in the relative tranquility (there was some grass cutting going on) and reading was lovely.

Obligatory tree photos.

Is that countryside?

Odd pyramid.

Sitting under a tree.

There used to be elephant statues…

Patch of sand = beach?

A picture of MK Gallery, just because it looks awesome.

In other news, I will start volunteering at Oxfam next Thursday which I'm actually pretty excited about. Also, I'm almost all packed for Leopallooza Festival in Bude, Cornwall, this weekend. Very much looking forward to that and for the sea swim that will be happening afterwards on Sunday. Three weeks away from the seaside is a long time for a sea swimmer!

Dalmatian forever

You may remember this dog costume from a few years ago, as it played a big part in my book project of first year – The Child Who Wanted to Be… At the time of doing the project I asked my dad to have a look for the costume for me, in the loft at home, but sadly he said that it had been thrown out years ago.

But no! He found it. So I have been reunited with my 6 year old self who wanted nothing more than to have a pet dog, and when I couldn't have that I settled for being the dog myself.

The head part of the costume still fits perfectly (so my head hasn't grown since I was 6?) For this reason it is tempting to cut the head away from the body and keep it as a hat but… I don't want to spoil the full costume.