Sunday, 3 January 2010
End of the year survey re:2009
1. What did you do in 2009 that you'd never done before?
Cruised on the Thames twice (even if it was for work, still cool).
2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
My resolution for 2009 was to 'remember to see the big picture and keep working towards goals that might not be clearly in view just yet'. I think I did do that. It has been damn hard, feeling almost impossible at times, but I think I can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel. For 2010 my resolution could be to have the strength push towards taking the final steps into a more emancipated way of living, and once you get there, remember to enjoy what you've achieved, but never stop working towards being better/happier/closer to where you want to be.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Well, he probably didn't give birth per say, but Ride became a father in December.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
No. For which I'm grateful for. I don't think I could have handled that sort of things this year.
5. What countries did you visit?
France, Switzerland and Finland.
6. What would you like to have in 2010 that you lacked in 2009?
A HOLIDAY. One that lasted more than 2 days.
7. What date from 2009 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
I don't know the exact date, the whole year is pretty blurry on dates. But there was one specific moment when it really hit me that hey, I'm a professional photographer - people pay me to take their picture. I know it sounds simple, but it's a pretty profound shift inside.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Taking my business to the level it is at now in such a short space of time. There's nothing big headed about that statement, I have worked fricking hard for it and I am proud of myself for it.
9. What was your biggest failure?
Sometimes losing sight of the goals and sinking into a funk. Not having time for anyone, least of all my loved ones or myself.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Funnily enough, I've been pretty ok this year. I've only gotten ill on the few days that I've had off. I guess the body sort of 'gets with the program' when it realises there are no other options but to push through and live on pure adrenalin. Probably can't go on forever though.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
My tilt shift lens, hands down. Plus quite a lot of other photography-related things.
12. Whose behaviour merited celebration?
Susanna has proven to be an absolute star this year. Both on professional and personal front.
13. Whose behaviour made you appalled and depressed?
There are some people that have disappointed me... by getting annoyed that I haven't been in touch (through lack of time), or by dropping all communication whatsoever. Phone lines for example work in both directions.
14. Where did most of your money go?
Camera gear.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Booking a shedload of exciting weddings.
16. What songs will always remind you of 2009?
Kings of Leon - Closer.
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder? Both.
ii. thinner or fatter? Fatter.
iii. richer or poorer? Richer.
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Sleeping, socialising, relaxing, loving life, exercising.
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Worrying.
20. How did you spend Christmas?
Christmas Eve at home with Stu. Christmas Day and Boxing Day with Stu's family.
21. How did you spend New Years?
Sitting in a sauna in very snowy Finland.
22. Did you fall in love in 2009?
In some ways.
23. How many one night stands?
0.
24. What were your favourite TV programmes?
True Blood, err... nothing else comes to mind.
25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
Hate is a strong word, but certainly dislike.
26. What was the best book you read?
Hmm, maybe Audrey Niffenegger - The Time Traveler's Wife.
27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Crikey... haven't had much time for that. Damien Jurado, Citizen Cope, Tiny Vipers... oh and Kings of Leon, as I'm always late to the party. :P
28. What did you want and get?
To make a success of my business.
29. What did you want and not get?
To find and buy a flat.
30. What was your favourite film of this year?
Burn After Reading (although this was probably released in 2008).
31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
Shot Eleni & David's wedding. I turned 33. Jaysus.
32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Not having two full time jobs...
33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2009?
A complete meltdown.
34. What kept you sane?
Self belief.
35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Colin. (And also Robert Pattinson... just a little bit. Sorry Colin)
36. What political issue stirred you the most?
Stirred? None.
37. Who did you miss?
Everyone.
38. Who was the best new person you met?
So many lovely clients, some of whom have become friends.
39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2009.
You can do things you never thought capable of when you put your mind to it.
40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
Not now but soon,
The most beautiful light
Will wake us to pillow fighting excitement
Not now but soon,
Bright into
Every corner,
Satellites manoeuvre in beams of change,
Standing by the best days of our lives,
Magnificent, the best days of our lives,
Big bang boom, the best days of our lives
They’re coming right up
If we can just get through this one.
Who said it was over?
It’s as good as it gets
Well we’ve got a few tricks up our sleeves yet
If we swallow "it’s all over" and open wide on these make-to-believe
Sullen, chewed up, sodden soliloquies,
Oh, we’re sweet nothings anymore
Terrifying best, days of our lives
We’re hanging on the best days of our lives
No two ways about it, best days of our lives
They’re coming right up, if we can just get through this one.
I’ll hang on grab onto your feet
Someone else holds tied to my shoelaces
When their trouser leg tears, runs and stops at the seam to keep us
dangled together
Until help finds us here
I’ll hang on grab onto your feet
Someone else holds tied to my shoelaces
When their trouser leg tears, runs and stops at the seam to keep us
dangled together
Until help finds us here
Best days of our lives
Better be the best days of our lives
Bring on the best days of our lives
Coming right up, woah
Coming right up
If we can just get through this one.
Imogen Heap - Not Now But Soon
Labels: end of year survey, my life, surveys etc.
//posted by Marianne @ 18:04 0 comments
Monday, 26 October 2009
Tiiiired + chocolate schooling
Oh man am I tired today. Starting work at 8am is definitely not my thing. :|
But looksie here, on Sunday I actually did something that wasn't work-related, so I now can offer you this very rare 'normal life' themed blog entry. You lucky, lucky people. What happened was that last Christmas all the Taylor siblings, and their better halves, got gifted with these 'experience vouchers' for a chocolate workshop. It took us 10 months to get organised enough to actually book and attend this strange sounding occasion (which is odd since you'd think the idea of chocolate was a tad more motivating wouldn't you) - and yesterday was finally the big day.
When we met with Nikki, Ian, Chris and Amy outside the course centre, there were a load of other people there waiting for the workshop to start, which got us all a bit nervous - I certainly got that first day of school sort of feeling. Stu gave his best shot trying to persuade everyone that going straight down the pub would be a much more sensible thing to do, but our curiosity won over in the end. We followed the others (who, incidentally, asked us whether we were the 'chocolate lovers'... umm) in and down to the cellar. Once there, the first thing we had to do was to get kitted out with lovely plastic aprons. At this point it was all looking suspiciously like a mortuary experience, rather than anything chocolate-related.
Luckily the latter part of the day was a bit more fun as we got our hands dirty - quite literally and exuberantly. I was pretty proud of my efforts until I made the mistake of looking over to the other tables and seeing their professional level (non-messy) creations. I somehow get the feeling that we were the only group who had been gifted this experience, while the other folk in attendance had actually paid for it themselves and took it all quite seriously. Oh well.
Messy as it was, the actual making the choccies bit was pretty good fun, and we got to go away with a bag full of goodies made by our very own hands (boy did I feel ill in the evening).
After the workshop Stu finally got his wish as we went for a nice meal (albeit in a strange place [yes yes, chosen by me]) and to the pub, before heading home. Scary school flashbacks aside, it was really nice hanging out with the Taylor gang after a very long while. I do miss living closer to them and seeing them more often. We're off to Rayleigh next Sunday for the first time in a long time, and hopefully I'll get to see at least some of the new houses everyone else seems to have been buying lately. :D
But looksie here, on Sunday I actually did something that wasn't work-related, so I now can offer you this very rare 'normal life' themed blog entry. You lucky, lucky people. What happened was that last Christmas all the Taylor siblings, and their better halves, got gifted with these 'experience vouchers' for a chocolate workshop. It took us 10 months to get organised enough to actually book and attend this strange sounding occasion (which is odd since you'd think the idea of chocolate was a tad more motivating wouldn't you) - and yesterday was finally the big day.
Once we took our seats things kicked off with our 'teacher' telling us about the history of chocolate, with other people in the room actually sticking their hands up and answering her questions while our table snickered in the corner. Quite disconcertingly, the next stage involved 'volunteers' going up and demonstrating things in front of the 'class'. Terrifying. I had to fight my natural instinct to flee at this point as my mind was catapulted 20 years backwards into a school classroom.
Messy as it was, the actual making the choccies bit was pretty good fun, and we got to go away with a bag full of goodies made by our very own hands (boy did I feel ill in the evening).
After the workshop Stu finally got his wish as we went for a nice meal (albeit in a strange place [yes yes, chosen by me]) and to the pub, before heading home. Scary school flashbacks aside, it was really nice hanging out with the Taylor gang after a very long while. I do miss living closer to them and seeing them more often. We're off to Rayleigh next Sunday for the first time in a long time, and hopefully I'll get to see at least some of the new houses everyone else seems to have been buying lately. :D
Labels: chocolate workshop, my life
//posted by Marianne @ 15:41 1 comments
Wednesday, 7 October 2009
Monthly round-up and a bit of a slump
The Autumn somehow creeped in from around the corner while I wasn't looking. Suddenly the days are getting shorter and the rain wetter. I've just realised that's it's now pretty much a year since I started my photography business. A year of 13 hour days and working all weekends. I think I've had about 5 days 'off' in the last year. If someone had come to me with this sort of proposition at the beginning of it all I would have laughed and ran away pretty promptly. But somehow, when you're in it, and you have to do it, you just get on with it. I'm glad I have a two month break from weddings now, even if my weekends are still filled with other kind of shoots and business-related work. It still feels a little less crushing than the pressure weddings, and editing them etc., puts on you. I do love shooting, no doubt, but unfortunately running a business is probably about 20% shooting and 80% of all the other gubbins.
I am pretty amazed and happy about what I have managed to accomplish in just a year, and how quickly I seem to have established my business. I have a healthy amount of weddings booked for next year, and currently get more inquiries than I am able to accommodate. People keep telling me how 'lucky' I've been, getting my business established and actually making some sort of profit so quickly (I did make a pretty big loss in the first financial year, mind). I do believe you make your own luck though, by trusting your gut feeling and your abilities, being honest about who you are, and by working bloody hard. Luck alone gets nothing done unless you put the hours in.
At the moment I find myself in a bit of a slump. I think it's because I've just realised that the summer just whizzed by without me even noticing. We've also started looking around for somewhere to buy, which is demoralising to say the least. Prices are astronomical, and no amount of working or saving seems to get us anywhere closer to a deposit for anything decent. I've just moved from searching for two bedroom sh*tholes onto searching for one bedroom sh*tholes. Cheery. I miss our flat in Finland.
I guess there's nothing else to do than to keep your head down and plough on, and hold on to the faith that it will all be worth it in the end.
And since it's become a bit of a routine, here are a few images from last month.
Magali & Jeff got married.
Had a blast shooting Sophie & Henry's engagement photos.
I made a bit of a departure by doing a jewellery shoot for Melanie Eddy.
Trinh & Alastair got married.
Had an engagement session with Heather & Mark.
Took baby portraits of Jodie...
...and Alice.
I am pretty amazed and happy about what I have managed to accomplish in just a year, and how quickly I seem to have established my business. I have a healthy amount of weddings booked for next year, and currently get more inquiries than I am able to accommodate. People keep telling me how 'lucky' I've been, getting my business established and actually making some sort of profit so quickly (I did make a pretty big loss in the first financial year, mind). I do believe you make your own luck though, by trusting your gut feeling and your abilities, being honest about who you are, and by working bloody hard. Luck alone gets nothing done unless you put the hours in.
At the moment I find myself in a bit of a slump. I think it's because I've just realised that the summer just whizzed by without me even noticing. We've also started looking around for somewhere to buy, which is demoralising to say the least. Prices are astronomical, and no amount of working or saving seems to get us anywhere closer to a deposit for anything decent. I've just moved from searching for two bedroom sh*tholes onto searching for one bedroom sh*tholes. Cheery. I miss our flat in Finland.
I guess there's nothing else to do than to keep your head down and plough on, and hold on to the faith that it will all be worth it in the end.
And since it's become a bit of a routine, here are a few images from last month.
Magali & Jeff got married.
Had a blast shooting Sophie & Henry's engagement photos.
I made a bit of a departure by doing a jewellery shoot for Melanie Eddy.
Trinh & Alastair got married.
Had an engagement session with Heather & Mark.
Took baby portraits of Jodie...
...and Alice.
Labels: my life, photoblog, photography, wedding photography
//posted by Marianne @ 17:07 4 comments
Thursday, 3 September 2009
Hello time, where do you go and hide?
How has another month slipped by again?? Perplexing... I don't mean to neglect this blog, honest. Somehow time just, disappears.
Right, what has happened in the last month then. Well, S and I celebrated 10 years together (I say celebrated, we got chinese take away :P), which is another perplexing time vacuum conundrum in itself. I think the rest of the month will be explained via the images below. Very sorry to re-hash content from the other blog, but have no time to take other photos at the moment. Hopefully I will get to do some personal projects again in the winter months.
Eleni & David got married on my birthday. (Oh and someone asked me what I do with my t/s lens, so here's one example.)
Baby Lucinda was born.
The first couple to ever officially book me (back what seems like a lifetime ago), Sarah & Dan, finally got married.
I did an engagement shoot with Ana & Alan for charity.
Carolyn & Marc had a kick-ass wedding at Leadenhall Market.
And finally, I got to return to The Garden Museum for Claire & Ben's wedding.
Oh completely forgot to add Georgina & Mark's engagement session on the last day of August! :D
So that's August pretty much wrapped up. It's been hectic to say the least, but has also included some real high points of the summer. Tonight Sooz is dragging me to Westfield for a 'mini makeover' of some sort. Let's see just how small they manage to make me (it was a bad joke the first time round and hasn't really improved, sorry).
Right, what has happened in the last month then. Well, S and I celebrated 10 years together (I say celebrated, we got chinese take away :P), which is another perplexing time vacuum conundrum in itself. I think the rest of the month will be explained via the images below. Very sorry to re-hash content from the other blog, but have no time to take other photos at the moment. Hopefully I will get to do some personal projects again in the winter months.
Eleni & David got married on my birthday. (Oh and someone asked me what I do with my t/s lens, so here's one example.)
Baby Lucinda was born.
The first couple to ever officially book me (back what seems like a lifetime ago), Sarah & Dan, finally got married.
I did an engagement shoot with Ana & Alan for charity.
Carolyn & Marc had a kick-ass wedding at Leadenhall Market.
And finally, I got to return to The Garden Museum for Claire & Ben's wedding.
Oh completely forgot to add Georgina & Mark's engagement session on the last day of August! :D
So that's August pretty much wrapped up. It's been hectic to say the least, but has also included some real high points of the summer. Tonight Sooz is dragging me to Westfield for a 'mini makeover' of some sort. Let's see just how small they manage to make me (it was a bad joke the first time round and hasn't really improved, sorry).
Labels: my life, photoblog, photography, wedding photography
//posted by Marianne @ 17:55 6 comments
Monday, 27 July 2009
Another year older
Poof. Another year has yet again disappeared somewhere, as I turned 33 (yikes) on Saturday. Most of the day was spent shooting a wedding (and a lovely wedding it was too), but when I got back home in the evening S had prepared a delicious birthday feast for me, which was pretty awesome. My presents this year have been pretty incredible as well, I can't remember when I've gotten such uber birthday pressies before, if ever. Jumping the gun a bit, earlier in the month I bought a 45mm tilt & shift lens for myself, which we agreed with S was to be my main birthday present. I wasn't 100% sure how much use I'd have for the lens, but it turns out I'm really loving it and use it at least once in every session. Another awesome present was my new phone. Since my INQ trial came to an end, and my old Nokia had died in the meanwhile, I really needed a new handset. Dad was kind enough to get me the Nokia E75, which is hands down the fanciest phone I've ever owned. And since it was purchased from Finland it has a 'proper' keyboard and everything - a bonus! Also, while in Finland, mum treated me to a facial and some Clinique stuff, which I couldn't live without.On the actual day I got lots of pressies from Susanna, one of them being her offering to assist me for free at the wedding, which was very kind of her indeed. I also unwrapped one present from her only to find a book I'd lent to her earlier, which was a bit peculiar, but thoughtful, as everyone hates a non-returning borrower. :D On closer inspection I saw that she had actually gotten my book signed by the author, none other than Mr Ethan Hawke himself! How awesome is that! (You must excuse me for I can't seem to stop using the word 'awesome').
Three presents in one: Sooz posing with my Ethan Hawke autograph, taken with my new E75. :DThe biggest surprise awaited me when I got home from the wedding though, and went to transfer my images from the cards to the computer. I thought something looked 'off' with my desk, but I couldn't quite put my finger on what it was. Only after turning the computer on did I eventually realised that there was a brand new 24" wide screen monitor sitting on my desk! I was pretty gobsmacked I can tell you that much. :D It takes a brave person to try to surprise me, and S had definitely gone all out on this one. I must say that I love love love the extra screen space. I'll just have to get the calibration right as I've now noticed that yesterday's edits look awfully dark on the monitor here at work. Have now ordered a Spyder from eBay, and hopefully once it arrives I can truly enjoy the benefits of the new beast. Can I please say awesome again.
Thank you for all my amazing presents (oh including shopping vouchers from Marjut - woo!), and all the birthday wishes I got via text and Facebook. <3
Labels: Ethan Hawke, my life, Nokia E75
//posted by Marianne @ 11:42 7 comments
Wednesday, 22 July 2009
Tap, tap, tap... is this thing on?
Will you look at this, it's a genuine new blog entry. I bet you're as flabbergasted as I am. Yes, talk about being busy! When ever I've said I've been busy in the past, I take that all back. This year has taught me the true meaning of being busy, in good and in bad, and it has made me ponder about the origins of the word business. :D The business has indeed taken off at a rate I couldn't have dreamed of last year when I made the decision to start charging for my photography. It's all happened so organically, intuitively, that sometimes I have to force myself to stop and really take in how fast it's all happening. I feel extremely lucky, not in a stroke-of-luck kind of way, but in a way that makes me appreciate the fact that I possess a skill that people are willing to pay for - and if I work hard - has the potential of changing my life.
But for now, I just have to make sure it doesn't kill me first. While I still have my full time day job as well, there just is no extra time for anything. Every waking hour is pretty much about work in some form, even if the photography side of things doesn't really feel like work (but trust me, all the nitty gritty of running a business sure does). For now I'm just trying to keep my head down and plough on. If I get through this year in one piece, it will all be worth it in the end I hope. I have some amazing clients (now this does have something to do with genuine luck as well) and weddings in beautiful locations coming up next year. I really can't wait. That goes for each and every one of them.
In other news, Miikka finally got married last Saturday, and even if it meant travelling all the way up to Juuka, of course we were there. We treated the (8 hours each way) drive as a road trip, as that was pretty much all the 'holiday' we'll get this year. The weather was perfect and Finland was definitely showing its best. The only minus side of being on the road for most of the 4 days we spent in Finland was not having any time to meet up with other friends and family. You can look out for pictures of the wedding over at the wedding photography blog, but for now, here is a quick collection of snaps from along the way of our road trip.
But for now, I just have to make sure it doesn't kill me first. While I still have my full time day job as well, there just is no extra time for anything. Every waking hour is pretty much about work in some form, even if the photography side of things doesn't really feel like work (but trust me, all the nitty gritty of running a business sure does). For now I'm just trying to keep my head down and plough on. If I get through this year in one piece, it will all be worth it in the end I hope. I have some amazing clients (now this does have something to do with genuine luck as well) and weddings in beautiful locations coming up next year. I really can't wait. That goes for each and every one of them.
In other news, Miikka finally got married last Saturday, and even if it meant travelling all the way up to Juuka, of course we were there. We treated the (8 hours each way) drive as a road trip, as that was pretty much all the 'holiday' we'll get this year. The weather was perfect and Finland was definitely showing its best. The only minus side of being on the road for most of the 4 days we spent in Finland was not having any time to meet up with other friends and family. You can look out for pictures of the wedding over at the wedding photography blog, but for now, here is a quick collection of snaps from along the way of our road trip.
Labels: Finland, my life, photoblog, wedding photography
//posted by Marianne @ 14:45 0 comments
Sunday, 21 June 2009
Out for count
Soo the cold I was trying to fight off developed into a full-on chest infection and really knocked me out for count. Annoyingly it meant that I had to reschedule consultations and a maternity shoot, which has now been moved a week further, which is making me feel a bit nervous and I'm really hoping that the baby doesn't decide to arrive a bit earlier than expected. Fingers crossed we're still good to go on the shoot next week!
Just to add insult to injury I (of course!) got ill on press week, and so I had to drag myself to the office on Friday, even though I lasted just for half a day. Still, that certainly wasn't fun. I did get antibiotics and they started kicking in by yesterday, and today I'm starting to feel like a different person already, so phew. Next week is going to be pretty hectic so I'm very relieved to be feeling better.
I did make it through Claire & Hywel's wedding last Saturday before the illness really hit me, and I'm glad I did as it was one of the nicest weddings I've ever had the pleasure to attend. Pictures are now up on the wedding photography blog.
Just to add insult to injury I (of course!) got ill on press week, and so I had to drag myself to the office on Friday, even though I lasted just for half a day. Still, that certainly wasn't fun. I did get antibiotics and they started kicking in by yesterday, and today I'm starting to feel like a different person already, so phew. Next week is going to be pretty hectic so I'm very relieved to be feeling better.
I did make it through Claire & Hywel's wedding last Saturday before the illness really hit me, and I'm glad I did as it was one of the nicest weddings I've ever had the pleasure to attend. Pictures are now up on the wedding photography blog.
Labels: my life, photography, wedding photography
//posted by Marianne @ 19:13 2 comments
Friday, 12 June 2009
Fighting colds and sipping cocktails
Oh my where does the time go.
I'm currently trying desperately to fight off a sore throat and a cold that's trying to sneak up on me. If I can hold it at bay at least long enough to get through tomorrow's wedding I'll be happy...
Last night I went out for some cocktails with a few fabulous ladies. Me, Sooz, Kat, Chanelle, Liz, Ly and Rhiannon, among others, headed to the Cellar Door and took full advantage of their happy hour. Lots of fun was had and useful contacts created. I'm feeling really good about getting a bit of a network of like-minded photographers/wedding people going. Who ever says Twitter is useless just has no idea. Of anything. End of.
After my painful computer meltdown I fell so behind in all sorts things that I decided to admit defeat with my 365 Bokeh project. No matter how much I love doing it, when something becomes a chore it's not really beneficial to try to desperately to fit it in... Perhaps I'll pick it up again in the autumn when my calendar calms down a bit.
Oh and Maesha & Pete's wedding is now up on the wedding photography blog. What a long, but fun, day that was!
I'm currently trying desperately to fight off a sore throat and a cold that's trying to sneak up on me. If I can hold it at bay at least long enough to get through tomorrow's wedding I'll be happy...
Last night I went out for some cocktails with a few fabulous ladies. Me, Sooz, Kat, Chanelle, Liz, Ly and Rhiannon, among others, headed to the Cellar Door and took full advantage of their happy hour. Lots of fun was had and useful contacts created. I'm feeling really good about getting a bit of a network of like-minded photographers/wedding people going. Who ever says Twitter is useless just has no idea. Of anything. End of.
After my painful computer meltdown I fell so behind in all sorts things that I decided to admit defeat with my 365 Bokeh project. No matter how much I love doing it, when something becomes a chore it's not really beneficial to try to desperately to fit it in... Perhaps I'll pick it up again in the autumn when my calendar calms down a bit.
Oh and Maesha & Pete's wedding is now up on the wedding photography blog. What a long, but fun, day that was!
Labels: my life, photography, wedding photography
//posted by Marianne @ 16:17 2 comments
Friday, 5 June 2009
A gentle reminder
//posted by Marianne @ 10:22 1 comments
Sunday, 24 May 2009
End-of-week round-up with added sea air
A little round-up of end-of-week happenings. Did manage to get the new magazine to press ok, so yay for that. Had two wedding consultations, and the couples were lovely. Friday night I headed off to the Photographer's Gallery with few of my fellow Timeliners to check out The Photographic Object exhibition, which, to be perfectly honest, didn't really do very much for me. I guess I'm just an old fogie but I just don't get the whole 'gimmicky idea=art' concept.
Yesterday I got a craving for some sea so we headed off on a little road trip in search of some seaside. We ended up somewhere close to Worthing, in a little place where evidently people only go to die. But still, I got to breath some sea air, which was nice. The trip was hampered somewhat by a headache that wouldn't leave me alone all day.
Today I had an engagement shoot in Regent's Park, and boy was it hot! It seriously made me rethink any dreams I had of shooting destination weddings on tropical islands. :D Jeez. I think I should consider specialising in winter weddings, much less sweating involved. Anyhoo, I'm about to edit some of today's shoot now, before collapsing into bed. So it's over and out from here.
Labels: 3mobilebuzz, my life, photoblog, Photographer's Gallery, Timelines, worthing
//posted by Marianne @ 23:48 0 comments
Wednesday, 20 May 2009
Happy bokeh Wednesday!
How can it be press week again?? Time is a perplexing thing. So far this week has been super knackering for a lot of reasons, keeping my fingers crossed I'll make it through to the other side. It's Bank Holiday weekend coming up, and I only have one engagement shoot so should hopefully have some time to just chill as well. Having multiple blogs is getting slightly confusing and I'm not quite sure what I've told where. But yeah, if in doubt, you can always check out the other blog as well. :P
But now I've got to go tidy as, unusually, I have a consultation at home tomorrow evening. (Meeting at a pub involves a lot less cleaning! :D)
//posted by Marianne @ 20:46 0 comments
Tuesday, 12 May 2009
Just roll with it
Days in the office are starting to feel almost like 'down time' to me, funny that. :D I shouldn't really complain though, as I do feel really fortunate to be as busy as I am. Sometimes the physical and metal exhaustion just gets the better of me and makes me turn into a little whiner. :P And sometimes dragging myself to a shoot after a full day at the day job feels like too much. But then when I get there, and when it's good, it's really good. I had a brilliant engagement session last night with a couple who's wedding I'm covering next month. They were just so nice and sweet that I know the wedding is going to absolutely kick ass. So today I'm feeling pretty excited.
I've got two sessions to edit by the end of this week, but tomorrow I'm having a night off to go see Lisa Hannigan at Shepherd's Bush Empire. Yay.
Here in the office it's not actually the worst time at the moment. After months of re-design work, we're finally working on the June issue, which will be the first new look magazine. And we have at last migrated to InDesign (hallelujah), which makes life so so much easier. So it's pretty much as 'exciting' right now as this job is ever likely to get.
Oh I don't think I ever mentioned anything about the Miles Aldridge exhibition I went to last week. It was pretty awesome and inspiring, even though the prints displayed could have been a bit bigger! But then the prices would have probably climbed out of reach for everyone. Personally, if I did have an extra £1800 lying around, I so would have bought a picture then and there. :D Now I'll just have to try to find the new, freshly published book from somewhere.
p.s. Sooz took this sneaky shot as my mobile was being too loud for any sort of espionage!
I've got two sessions to edit by the end of this week, but tomorrow I'm having a night off to go see Lisa Hannigan at Shepherd's Bush Empire. Yay.
Here in the office it's not actually the worst time at the moment. After months of re-design work, we're finally working on the June issue, which will be the first new look magazine. And we have at last migrated to InDesign (hallelujah), which makes life so so much easier. So it's pretty much as 'exciting' right now as this job is ever likely to get.
Oh I don't think I ever mentioned anything about the Miles Aldridge exhibition I went to last week. It was pretty awesome and inspiring, even though the prints displayed could have been a bit bigger! But then the prices would have probably climbed out of reach for everyone. Personally, if I did have an extra £1800 lying around, I so would have bought a picture then and there. :D Now I'll just have to try to find the new, freshly published book from somewhere.p.s. Sooz took this sneaky shot as my mobile was being too loud for any sort of espionage!
Labels: Lisa Hannigan, Miles Aldridge, my life, photography, wedding photography
//posted by Marianne @ 11:03 0 comments
Sunday, 3 May 2009
Welcome to the dark side
I think I'm starting to go a bit cross-eyed from all the editing I've done in the last two days. And I'm not even half way through yet! :D Oh well, I do enjoy it really. But it would be nice to one day be in a position where I wouldn't have to be doing it at weekends/annual leave days. But yes, so far I've gotten as far as the ceremony of Lucy & Richard's wedding.
You can see a few more pictures over at MTP.
I'm currently contemplating on carrying on further into the night, but my neck and head is giving me such grief that I might have to call it a day and start on the mammoth task of reception shots tomorrow.
Not doing anything else but sitting in a darkened room staring at the screen doesn't really give much material for any other exciting blogging I'm afraid. Oh, on Friday we did have a little May Day cocktail party with Sooz, which I suppose could count as exciting under normal circumstances. But, as yummy as the cocktails were and as enjoyable the company, I quite embarrassingly ran completely out of juice before 11pm. Me! I was quite shocked myself to find that I just couldn't keep my eyes open for any longer. But still, fun was had none the less.
While I've been working away S has been busy being a very exemplary husband. He has tidied the flat (and the car) from top to bottom, and we have more clean clothes than we have space to put them in! I am very impressed indeed. Finally the training is starting to pay off. :D
You can see a few more pictures over at MTP.
I'm currently contemplating on carrying on further into the night, but my neck and head is giving me such grief that I might have to call it a day and start on the mammoth task of reception shots tomorrow.
Not doing anything else but sitting in a darkened room staring at the screen doesn't really give much material for any other exciting blogging I'm afraid. Oh, on Friday we did have a little May Day cocktail party with Sooz, which I suppose could count as exciting under normal circumstances. But, as yummy as the cocktails were and as enjoyable the company, I quite embarrassingly ran completely out of juice before 11pm. Me! I was quite shocked myself to find that I just couldn't keep my eyes open for any longer. But still, fun was had none the less.
While I've been working away S has been busy being a very exemplary husband. He has tidied the flat (and the car) from top to bottom, and we have more clean clothes than we have space to put them in! I am very impressed indeed. Finally the training is starting to pay off. :D
Labels: London, my life, photography, wedding photography
//posted by Marianne @ 23:46 1 comments
Monday, 27 April 2009
Two things
One. Adam at Quark technical support rocks!
Two. Starting the week with a stomach flu of some sort, not so much.
Two. Starting the week with a stomach flu of some sort, not so much.
Labels: my life, quark, social networking, technology
//posted by Marianne @ 22:25 2 comments
Sunday, 26 April 2009
Getting to know you
This week has been pretty full on, in good and in bad. Can't remember a time when I've last been 'out' after work nearly every night of the week. Slightly exhausting. But there's something to be said about being busy, it definitely has a way of making you feel alive, and like you're a part of life in general. As much of a homebody as I am, not making the effort to interact with the outside world can have a very isolating effect. And currently I'm really enjoying just getting out there and meeting new people, making new connections, getting new ideas.
On Tuesday I attended a 'round table' do, with some techy bloggers and representatives from 3UK, which came about through my association as an INQ1 tester. I was all prepared to share my views on what 3 is getting right, what wrong, and where I think they should be heading towards. But as it happened, I was waaaay too slow to butt in anywhere in the conversation. I felt like a bit of a dunce to be honest, but none the less, it was still really interesting, I think I went as far as saying 'exciting' on the night. God knows I've at times been really frustrated with the 3 coverage (and help desk) during my years as a customer, but after hearing for myself how they are going about trying to make a difference, I feel quite intrigued to stick around. It's refreshing to hear from a company who genuienly wants to listen to their customers and make new ways of communicating available for everyone. A fact which was confirmed on Thursday, when came the announcement that 3 will be offering free skype calls to everyone, which I'm sure left other operators reeling.
On Wendesday I had a meeting with an author about shooting headshots for her book jackets, which was pretty exciting. She divides her time between Venice and London (jealous much?) and her flat by the Thames was as unbelievably nice as she herself was. I must say I've never visited such a beautiful home before. One of the things I absolutely love about my photography gigs (apart from the photography itself that is) is getting the chance to take a peek into the different lives people lead. It's truly fascinating.
And to tie that thought into Tuesday's 3 event, I'd add that on a personal level, the best thing that comes from that sort of things is getting to meet new interesting people. It's really refreshing to hear new points of views and life stories. Which leads straight into my Thursday when I popped out for after work drinks with Ant from Fresh Plastic, whom I met at the round table do. I'm glad I did as the weather was gorgeous, the South Bank heaving with people, and I thoroughly enjoyed the company. Good times.
And then Friday. Less said about that the better. A complete meltdown in the office due to a network error, which resulted in a big part of the issue - due to go to press that day - having been wiped out. Long story short, the latest backup files we ended up with were from the previous Friday, so I'm still in the middle of trying to re-create a week's worth of work by next Tuesday for there to be any chance of the magazine going out in time. Hey ho. Oh but I must say that Twitter is pretty friggin amazing. As soon as I posted about my problem the advice started flooding in from all over the world. I felt truly amazed and humbled at how many people were trying to help me! Anyone who says social networking is a waste of time has no idea what they're talking about. End of.
Yesterday was finally Lucy & Richard's wedding day. In the morning it looked like it was going to rain, but luckily the weather held out and what started as a gloomy morning turned into a gorgeous sun-baked afternoon. The wedding was brilliant, even if I was absolutely cream krackered afterwards. And again, I could go on and on about how cool it is to be able to get to be a part of other people's lives if even for just a brief moment. So very very cool indeed. But yes, I was way too trigger happy and the editing work looming ahead freaks me out a bit. Not going to even start on that until next week though. I've booked a couple of days of annual leave from the day job, which, when added to the Bank Holiday weekend, should hopefully give me enough time to process this wedding. Dreading and looking forward to it in equal amounts. :D
But today has been all about re-charging. I was sorely in need of a day off, so today I 've been concentrating on catching up with my Sky+ recordings and unread magazines. Even got around to reading the David LaChapelle special edition of PHOTO magazine I got in Paris. That was a long time coming!
Oh and can I just finish up with sharing how much I love Red Direct, the online store for Red magazine. I especially adore the little catalogues that come with the magazine, so well layed out, bursting with such perfectly photographed pictures of their brilliantly edited collection. Someone there really knows their stuff. Is it weird that flicking through the catalogue gives me immense pleasure even if I didn't order anything...
Wow. This turned into a bit of a monster post! I guess a day off can have that effect... :D
On Tuesday I attended a 'round table' do, with some techy bloggers and representatives from 3UK, which came about through my association as an INQ1 tester. I was all prepared to share my views on what 3 is getting right, what wrong, and where I think they should be heading towards. But as it happened, I was waaaay too slow to butt in anywhere in the conversation. I felt like a bit of a dunce to be honest, but none the less, it was still really interesting, I think I went as far as saying 'exciting' on the night. God knows I've at times been really frustrated with the 3 coverage (and help desk) during my years as a customer, but after hearing for myself how they are going about trying to make a difference, I feel quite intrigued to stick around. It's refreshing to hear from a company who genuienly wants to listen to their customers and make new ways of communicating available for everyone. A fact which was confirmed on Thursday, when came the announcement that 3 will be offering free skype calls to everyone, which I'm sure left other operators reeling.
On Wendesday I had a meeting with an author about shooting headshots for her book jackets, which was pretty exciting. She divides her time between Venice and London (jealous much?) and her flat by the Thames was as unbelievably nice as she herself was. I must say I've never visited such a beautiful home before. One of the things I absolutely love about my photography gigs (apart from the photography itself that is) is getting the chance to take a peek into the different lives people lead. It's truly fascinating.
And to tie that thought into Tuesday's 3 event, I'd add that on a personal level, the best thing that comes from that sort of things is getting to meet new interesting people. It's really refreshing to hear new points of views and life stories. Which leads straight into my Thursday when I popped out for after work drinks with Ant from Fresh Plastic, whom I met at the round table do. I'm glad I did as the weather was gorgeous, the South Bank heaving with people, and I thoroughly enjoyed the company. Good times.
And then Friday. Less said about that the better. A complete meltdown in the office due to a network error, which resulted in a big part of the issue - due to go to press that day - having been wiped out. Long story short, the latest backup files we ended up with were from the previous Friday, so I'm still in the middle of trying to re-create a week's worth of work by next Tuesday for there to be any chance of the magazine going out in time. Hey ho. Oh but I must say that Twitter is pretty friggin amazing. As soon as I posted about my problem the advice started flooding in from all over the world. I felt truly amazed and humbled at how many people were trying to help me! Anyone who says social networking is a waste of time has no idea what they're talking about. End of.
Yesterday was finally Lucy & Richard's wedding day. In the morning it looked like it was going to rain, but luckily the weather held out and what started as a gloomy morning turned into a gorgeous sun-baked afternoon. The wedding was brilliant, even if I was absolutely cream krackered afterwards. And again, I could go on and on about how cool it is to be able to get to be a part of other people's lives if even for just a brief moment. So very very cool indeed. But yes, I was way too trigger happy and the editing work looming ahead freaks me out a bit. Not going to even start on that until next week though. I've booked a couple of days of annual leave from the day job, which, when added to the Bank Holiday weekend, should hopefully give me enough time to process this wedding. Dreading and looking forward to it in equal amounts. :D
But today has been all about re-charging. I was sorely in need of a day off, so today I 've been concentrating on catching up with my Sky+ recordings and unread magazines. Even got around to reading the David LaChapelle special edition of PHOTO magazine I got in Paris. That was a long time coming!
Oh and can I just finish up with sharing how much I love Red Direct, the online store for Red magazine. I especially adore the little catalogues that come with the magazine, so well layed out, bursting with such perfectly photographed pictures of their brilliantly edited collection. Someone there really knows their stuff. Is it weird that flicking through the catalogue gives me immense pleasure even if I didn't order anything...
Wow. This turned into a bit of a monster post! I guess a day off can have that effect... :D
Labels: 3, 3 network, 3Network, engagement photography, INQ, INQ1, my life, PHOTO, Red, red direct, wedding photography
//posted by Marianne @ 13:35 1 comments
Wednesday, 22 April 2009
This is me
I've been thinking about things like branding and online identity a lot lately. Or rather, they have been issues that have come up over and over again in various conversations in different contexts, with people such as Jonas and Cathie to name but a few. And for a while I was struggling over how I should brand myself/my business in order for all the different messages to be clear and not get muddled up by all the noise.
The thing is, I am interested in a lot of things. I am what could be called an enthusiast in a lot of different fields, and often those areas don't necessarily relate to each other. So what do you do if you don't want to alienate anyone? Is it possible to relate to everyone? While this really wasn't such an issue before, it was something I had to get my head around when setting up my wedding photography business. It was quite clear that the business needed to be a separate entity from everything else - it makes no sense for a bride to be reading about gadgets or trips to the hairdressers. But then again, I had quite a widely spread online identity as mnoo (from dA to pretty much every other service there is), and mnoo.com was pretty established at that point in terms of showcasing my personal photography, so it would have been a waste not to use that presence to drive traffic, and more importantly, to allow for a more in-depth picture of me. And why is that important? Well, because in any business, which is built around you and your skill, and where you deal with the end customer directly, you are effectively selling yourself. You want to attract clients who can relate to you and your personality, and your clients need to feel like they 'know you', and thus, can trust you.
There are people out there who are very suspicious of laying it all out online. I think, in this day and age, there is really no place to hide. If you want to make the most of your opportunities, you just have to be out there. As transparently as possible. And wouldn't you want to be the one in charge of how your identity is perceived in any case?
Right, did I have a point in my head somewhere when I started. I guess what I was thinking about today, was how my wedding customers reading my Twitter might get confused about what I get up to. And how those people coming to this blog for pretty pictures of flowers might get bored by the gadgetry things, and the gadgetry people by the wardrobe silliness. But the thing is, this blog, and especially Twitter, is just purely all the things I am about. And it's not thought-out or aimed at any specific reader, it's just about me putting it out there - regardless of whether it's 'of value' to anyone. I am interested in a variety of things and get excited over different non-related events. And I couldn't for the life of me edit myself down to just one clearly branded - soberly positioned - identity, with one specific interest. It's all me, and if that's confusing to some, then so be it.
This is me: photographer, wife, magazine designer, Finn, internet addict, cinema lover, gig goer, technology enthusiast, fashion fun (for everyone) advocate, gadget twiddler, social networking fiend, traveller, lover of words.... who loves colours, pretty things, reading books in one go, weddings, open mindedness, meeting new people and chocolate.
The thing is, I am interested in a lot of things. I am what could be called an enthusiast in a lot of different fields, and often those areas don't necessarily relate to each other. So what do you do if you don't want to alienate anyone? Is it possible to relate to everyone? While this really wasn't such an issue before, it was something I had to get my head around when setting up my wedding photography business. It was quite clear that the business needed to be a separate entity from everything else - it makes no sense for a bride to be reading about gadgets or trips to the hairdressers. But then again, I had quite a widely spread online identity as mnoo (from dA to pretty much every other service there is), and mnoo.com was pretty established at that point in terms of showcasing my personal photography, so it would have been a waste not to use that presence to drive traffic, and more importantly, to allow for a more in-depth picture of me. And why is that important? Well, because in any business, which is built around you and your skill, and where you deal with the end customer directly, you are effectively selling yourself. You want to attract clients who can relate to you and your personality, and your clients need to feel like they 'know you', and thus, can trust you.
There are people out there who are very suspicious of laying it all out online. I think, in this day and age, there is really no place to hide. If you want to make the most of your opportunities, you just have to be out there. As transparently as possible. And wouldn't you want to be the one in charge of how your identity is perceived in any case?
Right, did I have a point in my head somewhere when I started. I guess what I was thinking about today, was how my wedding customers reading my Twitter might get confused about what I get up to. And how those people coming to this blog for pretty pictures of flowers might get bored by the gadgetry things, and the gadgetry people by the wardrobe silliness. But the thing is, this blog, and especially Twitter, is just purely all the things I am about. And it's not thought-out or aimed at any specific reader, it's just about me putting it out there - regardless of whether it's 'of value' to anyone. I am interested in a variety of things and get excited over different non-related events. And I couldn't for the life of me edit myself down to just one clearly branded - soberly positioned - identity, with one specific interest. It's all me, and if that's confusing to some, then so be it.
This is me: photographer, wife, magazine designer, Finn, internet addict, cinema lover, gig goer, technology enthusiast, fashion fun (for everyone) advocate, gadget twiddler, social networking fiend, traveller, lover of words.... who loves colours, pretty things, reading books in one go, weddings, open mindedness, meeting new people and chocolate.
Labels: branding, my life, photography, social networking, twitter, wedding photography
//posted by Marianne @ 11:44 5 comments
Sunday, 19 April 2009
Sock it to me
I just had to show you these amazing wool socks, made by my mum's friend Kati, and given to us as an Easter present. She's been keeping us in wool socks for years now, and I'm not quite sure how my usually frozen feet would have ever survived the English 'central heating' without her. Thank you so much Kati, you are teh awesomes! :D
Labels: my life, photoblog, wool socks
//posted by Marianne @ 21:55 1 comments
Friday, 17 April 2009
Hitting the ground running
As nice and relaxing as my mini-break was, getting back to the normal rhythm has required hitting the ground running. Catching up with work in the office, and gearing up for getting the issue to press, has made these couple of days feel like a lot longer time, with the amount of work I've packed in. In other ways I do like being busy though. There's no rest for the wicked at the weekend either. Tomorrow I'm off to The Gadget Show Live in Birmingham with 3, which should be fun. But also means I have to get up before 6am. On a Saturday. Surely there's a law against such inhumanity. After surviving tomorrow I have two shoots on Sunday. Which is all nice and the stuff I love doing, but then just around the corner comes Monday and press week... And I haven't even unpacked my suitcase yet.
Bookings for my wedding photography are rolling in at a nice pace. I'm now at a point where I have turn people away as there's only so many weddings I can do while still being in full time employment as well. In fact, I've just about booked all my annual leave until the end of the year, just for wedding work. No holidays for moi this year... Oh how I yearn for the time when it will be possible to ditch the day job and concentrate just on the photography. It still seems such a long way off though, with us being nowhere near qualifying for a mortgage big enough to buy even a cave in the area we live in (out of commuting necessity). Oh well, just trying to keep my head down and push through it, as hard as it is. Fingers crossed it will be worth all the hard work in the end.
Hmm, I think I'm gonna head out to grab some lunch while there seems to be a break in the rain.
Bookings for my wedding photography are rolling in at a nice pace. I'm now at a point where I have turn people away as there's only so many weddings I can do while still being in full time employment as well. In fact, I've just about booked all my annual leave until the end of the year, just for wedding work. No holidays for moi this year... Oh how I yearn for the time when it will be possible to ditch the day job and concentrate just on the photography. It still seems such a long way off though, with us being nowhere near qualifying for a mortgage big enough to buy even a cave in the area we live in (out of commuting necessity). Oh well, just trying to keep my head down and push through it, as hard as it is. Fingers crossed it will be worth all the hard work in the end.
Hmm, I think I'm gonna head out to grab some lunch while there seems to be a break in the rain.
Labels: my life, photography
//posted by Marianne @ 12:56 0 comments
Monday, 13 April 2009
What day is it again?
It's only been a few days, but I've managed to quite blisfully detach myself from the normal trappings of time. All I've done is read books, sit in the sauna and sleeeeep. I'm not entirely sure which way up the day is, which will probably turn out to be painful to snap out of, but for now I'm loving it. In a minute I will have my last sauna of the trip. Then what's left of this mini Finnish holiday, is a hairdresser's appointment tomorrow, with some speed-shopping thrown in afterwards. And then it's time to head back home to London and reality. At the moment I'm really not feeling ready to return at all. Hopefully I'll start feeling differently tomorrow.
Definitely feeling relaxed though. Right now. In this moment.
Definitely feeling relaxed though. Right now. In this moment.
Labels: my life
//posted by Marianne @ 19:26 2 comments
Monday, 6 April 2009
Glittering cloud
To write something would mean moaning about the reasons I haven't had time to write, which would make for a futile blog entry with very little in the way of entertainment. I don't suppose this is exactly the kind of place people come looking for entertainment but still...
It'll suffice to say that life's been super busy. It's good and exciting and scary and big all at the same time, and I'm not quite sure how long I can go on at this pace until bits of me start falling off. Looking forward to next weekend and my mini-mini Finland break, which will consist of a trip to the hairdressers, sauna, sleep, sauna and some more sleep.
At least the sun has come back home from where ever it spent the winter.
//posted by Marianne @ 18:34 10 comments
Friday, 27 March 2009
Hey I'm alive!
Phew, what a week it's been. Getting the magazine to press in the day job, and getting ready for Saturday's wedding in the 'evening job' has certainly taken it's toll this week. Oh and I've also been working on setting up the client-side of my website, with the help of the indispensable Paul. On Tuesday I went to check out the venue for tomorrow's wedding, and yesterday I finally met up with the couple. It was slightly nerve wracking not having met the clients until two days before the big day, but luckily it turned out that they're all-round lovely people.
Running around all over town has meant that I have had zero time for housework and the flat is an absolute mess, which kind of adds to the stress of everything. Hopefully, unless I'm completely dead, I can do something about that on Sunday. S is off to Ireland on Sunday for two weeks with work. It'll be strange having an empty house for that long...
Despite being tired and stressed I'm really looking forward to Saturday. It's great to finally start shooting these weddings that have been in the pipelines for so long. It's actually the enjoyable side of running the business, unlike all the admin work that's been piling up recently.
It's Layla's birthday on Sunday (I know this since she's been reminding me every day for the last month), and today we went out for a celebratory lunch in Nando's in her honor. It was only my second time in Nando's ever, and it wasn't half bad. Even if my food took forever to arrive and I then had to practically run back to the office as my lunch hour was up. Oh well.
I'm taking a couple of days off work next week (thank god for April and the start of new holiday year) in order to process tomorrow's wedding and partly to avoid all the G20 hoopla. I just have no energy for any extra commuting disruptions.
But yeah, I'm alive, just a bit snowed under!
Running around all over town has meant that I have had zero time for housework and the flat is an absolute mess, which kind of adds to the stress of everything. Hopefully, unless I'm completely dead, I can do something about that on Sunday. S is off to Ireland on Sunday for two weeks with work. It'll be strange having an empty house for that long...
Despite being tired and stressed I'm really looking forward to Saturday. It's great to finally start shooting these weddings that have been in the pipelines for so long. It's actually the enjoyable side of running the business, unlike all the admin work that's been piling up recently.
It's Layla's birthday on Sunday (I know this since she's been reminding me every day for the last month), and today we went out for a celebratory lunch in Nando's in her honor. It was only my second time in Nando's ever, and it wasn't half bad. Even if my food took forever to arrive and I then had to practically run back to the office as my lunch hour was up. Oh well.
I'm taking a couple of days off work next week (thank god for April and the start of new holiday year) in order to process tomorrow's wedding and partly to avoid all the G20 hoopla. I just have no energy for any extra commuting disruptions.
But yeah, I'm alive, just a bit snowed under!
Labels: my life
//posted by Marianne @ 14:19 1 comments
Sunday, 1 March 2009
Hellos & goodbyes
Paul came over from Ireland for a quick visit. We had fish & chips, went shopping in Kingston, saw Vicky Cristina Barcelona, and learned about the importance of truth. Good times.
//posted by Marianne @ 12:48 2 comments
Sunday, 22 February 2009
Twilight zone
I've been busy catching up with admin/paperwork today, which makes me feel a bit more organised - in my life and in my head. Last week was somehow just... awful. Lots of conflict, stress and feeling sad. And on top of it all an old problem decided to re-visit me and I broke my stupid tooth. After a couple of dentist trips it's now ok, I think.
Yesterday I had this somehow really surreal trip to the dentist. My appointment wasn't until 5pm, so the sun was already setting when I got to central London. My dentist's (the lovely Maarit Spiridonis) reception is located in a part of town where there are not very many people around at the weekends. Walking through the empty streets felt... peaceful. The reception itself is in a quirky old building and the space is just insane. Antiques and heavy colours everywhere. She took over the lease from a Dentist who retired, and he'd been a big fan of dance. There are these signed fading posters of famous ballerinas, thanking him for his services, on the walls. All the equipment is very old school, but seems to work, and somehow has this very sympathetic feel about it. Somehow the whole thing feels like being inside one of those surreal movies, such as Amélie.
I walked back via Oxford Street, and turning the corner on to it, the throng of people was a shock to the system. It's funny how turning one corner can change everything. Getting home was a bit of a nightmare with engineering works on most of the tube lines, and I didn't get back until 9pm.
Regardless of that, the whole trip somehow had this calming and uplifting effect on me. You can't say that about most trips to the dentist!
//posted by Marianne @ 16:50 4 comments
Tuesday, 3 February 2009
Winter wonderland
Some more pictures of snow. Gee, it's like I've never seen any before. :D This was the view from our front door yesterday.
I made a perilous trip around the corner to the local shop. Really not a good idea with my ankle. This is also where it becomes clear why snow doesn't belong here. There's just no infrastructure to deal with it. No gritting on pavements, no ploughing on other that a few main roads... it makes getting around pretty damn difficult.
This was the view that awaited me at the shop. It's like the end of the world! :D They were all out of bread and eggs.
I'm still working from home today, mostly due to the combination of my sprained ankle and icy streets. Some trains are running but our train line is advising people not to travel. Hopefully tomorrow things will start getting back to normal...
//posted by Marianne @ 11:23 3 comments
Monday, 2 February 2009
Snow Day
It started snowing in the evening. I kept waking up throughout the night because of my achy ankle, and took a picture out of the window each time. It just kept on snowing.
Finally I woke up to this.
It's weird. I've lived in snow for a big part of my life, but it just seems so out of place here. I think it's because there are no snow ploughs out there doing anything about it. Everything just stops.
Originally I phoned in to ask to whether I could work from home as I couldn't walk in the deep snow with my ankle. I soon found out that my trains and all the buses have been cancelled anyway. We're officially snowed in it seems!
//posted by Marianne @ 09:35 1 comments
Sunday, 1 February 2009
This little life goes so fast
It's funny. I dream of this sort of weekends where I have completely cleared my schedule and just do nothing. But every time a weekend like this gets to the Sunday I start feeling really down... like I've wasted time, missed opportunities, let life pass me by... Silly really.
I guess it doesn't help that my ankle injury, instead of getting better with the rest I've had, seems to have gotten worse. I dragged myself to the post office yesterday and it was such a painful trip I wasn't sure I was going to make it back! After that the ache has just gotten more and more constant an persistent, and I can't seem to put any weight on the foot. The sun outside my window seems to tease me, of course the weather looks perfect out there just when I'm stuck inside...
I've been toasting my feet in my lovely new slippers. The warmth helps the pain. And the strokable softness of them makes me smile every time I look at my feet. :)
I've also medicated my mood with a naughty breakfast of hot chocolate and de-frosted buns from Christmas...
I did see two good films this weekend. Yesterday I finally watched The Fall, by Tarsem Singh, the director behind one of my all time visual-inspiration films The Cell. The cinematography certainly didn't disappoint! Having been shot in 20 different countries, everything on the screen was just pure visual gluttony. And pleasingly the storyline wasn't bad either, certainly a step up from The Cell.
Today I've watched Thumbsucker. The script is an adaptation of a book with an unusually honest look at us humans as intrinsically faulty, with a desire to fix ourselves and the people around us. The film boasted an impressive cast, which turned what was essentially a teen coming to age drama, into something relevant to everyone. I can't fault any of the performances, the casting really was superb. Every word delivered was meaningful, even each and every throwaway side comment. I can thoroughly recommend this film if you want to watch something that should be depressing in revealing our limitations, but actually manages to be uplifting in delivering the message that all of us are somewhat defected. And that's ok.
I also have to mention that yesterday I got tickets to see Rachael Yamagata in February, and today I've been mostly listening to her new album 'Elephants... Teeth Sinking Into Heart'. And it. Is. Brilliant.
Labels: movies, my life, photoblog, Rachael Yamagata, The Fall, Thumbsucker, video
//posted by Marianne @ 16:01 3 comments
Sunday, 18 January 2009
Achy breaky everything
Sorry for the silence, I've had a bit of a manic week and weekend. Every bit of my body aches and I could do with a complete re-boot, but still, I'm happy to be doing what I'm doing.
Today I had a pre-wedding shoot with Magali and Jeff. We spent the day traipsing around in the mud on Hampstead Heath, braving the bitter wind. At least the sun made an appearance, which was nice!
I'm still in the middle of editing those pics (and should probably sleep at some point), so I'll show you some later on.
After the shoot we went to check out their wedding venue, Burgh
House, which is also the home to a little restaurant - and possibly the cutest place you could ever find. Warm tea and soup was just what we needed.
Now I really gotta go rest my achy bones...
Today I had a pre-wedding shoot with Magali and Jeff. We spent the day traipsing around in the mud on Hampstead Heath, braving the bitter wind. At least the sun made an appearance, which was nice!
I'm still in the middle of editing those pics (and should probably sleep at some point), so I'll show you some later on.
After the shoot we went to check out their wedding venue, Burgh
House, which is also the home to a little restaurant - and possibly the cutest place you could ever find. Warm tea and soup was just what we needed.
Now I really gotta go rest my achy bones...
Labels: my life, photoblog, photography
//posted by Marianne @ 23:09 0 comments
Monday, 5 January 2009
Rude awakening
Phew. First workday - done. It was a bit of a shock to the system to first of all wake up to a snowy and freezing London, and then get out of bed when every fibre of my body was convinced it was still night time! It was also a bit difficult to get my 'work head' on at first, but by mid day it all started feeling like I'd never been away... Not sure if that's a good thing.When we got home yesterday the flat was like a bloody igloo. We'd had the heating turned off (as it costs and arm and a leg) for the two days we were away, and of course those days were the start of the longest cold snap in London in however many decades. Today the inside conditions are starting to be a bit more humane, but last night was certainly no picnic! Oh how I miss Finnish central heating at times like these... Outside it's a different story, I'm quite liking the cold crisp weather. Although once the snow turned into sleet and icy wind in central London I wasn't enjoying it that much any more. :P
I've decided to ignore my to-do-list for tonight. So there.
//posted by Marianne @ 19:02 5 comments
Friday, 2 January 2009
Unexpected turn of events
It comes as a bit of a surprise, not least to myself, but I'm currently writing this sitting on a bed in a motel room in Cornwall! :D This morning we woke up to a serious case of end-of-holiday-angst and swiftly decided just to jump in the car and drive. The thought of no holiday until April is giving me the heebie-jeebies so it felt right to come down here for a few nights while we still had the slightest window of opportunity. The weather actually feels a lot warmer down here than in London, and tomorrow is supposed to be a sunny day. Really looking forward to spending the whole day out and about on my beloved cliff tops, camera in hand. Sometimes impulsives decisions are just the best.
Labels: my life
//posted by Marianne @ 21:02 6 comments
Thursday, 1 January 2009
End of the year survey re:2008
1. What did you do in 2008 that you'd never done before?
Hmm. I can't think of anything! Ack.
2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
My resolution for 08 was 'try to be happy'. I think I failed dismally for most of the year, but there were some happy bits I suppose. For this year my resolution is to remember to see the big picture and keep working towards goals that might not be clearly in view just yet.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Yes, there seems to be a baby boom around me again! Elisa gave birth to the gorgeous Hilla, Annis to Jules and, just before Christmas, Mirka had a little xmas princess. There's also more to come very soon.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
No. But I did miss people who have passed more than usual last year.
5. What countries did you visit?
What a washout. Just Finland and Sweden.
6. What would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008?
A plan.
7. What date from 2008 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
25th August. Standing on a cliff top in Cornwall with my two favourite boys in the world.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Finally taking the plunge and starting to charge for my photography. Also, setting up DLB.
9. What was your biggest failure?
Not having enough time for friends, family or myself.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Yes, another bad year for illnesses. Seems like I'm down with something constantly. Also had a neck injury which was possibly the most pain I've ever been in.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
Camera gear, especially my cute straps from PhatStraps. My darling Wind. Also, concert tickets.
12. Whose behaviour merited celebration?
Stu's! (as always :P) Also, couldn't have done half the things I've done without Paul.
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
I don't know if there's been a specific person this year. Well maybe, but I'm not mentioning any names.
14. Where did most of your money go?
Camera gear, concert tickets.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Seeing Cat Power, Turin Brakes, Reverend and the Makers, David Gray, Sia, Matchbox Twenty, Joshua Radin, Alanis Morissette (!), Rufus Wainwright, R.E.M., Heather Nova (!), Antony & The Johnsons, Lisa Hannigan and Tracy Chapman play live in concerts. Also saw Simon Amstell and Bill Bailey live, both of whom were very very funny.
16. What songs will always remind you of 2008?
Weirdly, Apulanta - Koneeseen Kadonnut. Sign of an angsty year? :P
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder? Sadder.
ii. thinner or fatter? Fatter.
iii. richer or poorer? Poorer.
Oh dear.
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Socialising, relaxing, loving life, exercising.
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Wasting time feeling angsty.
20. How did you spend Christmas?
Christmas Eve at home with Stu. Christmas Day and Boxing Day with Stu's family.
21. How did you spend New Years?
Unfortunately, after our lofty Southbank plans with Sooz, I was feeling kind of rough during the day and ended up spending the evening at home with Stu.
22. Did you fall in love in 2008?
Not really. Well, there were those fleeting moments when I was in love with music.
23. How many one night stands?
0.
24. What were your favourite TV programmes?
Heroes, Brothers and Sisters, QI.
25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
I don't think so.
26. What was the best book you read?
This is going to be embarrassing. Sophie Kinsella - Remember Me? Ooh I read it in one go, was such lovely fluff! :D
27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
It's been a very bad year for discovering new artists... just haven't had the time to listen and find as much music as I'd normally do. Lisa Hannigan, CALLmeKAT, Brand New, Santogold, Sophie Zelmani, Tanya Donelly...
28. What did you want and get?
A new job.
29. What did you want and not get?
A new job that would have felt a step forward...
30. What was your favourite film of this year?
The Savages.
31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
Flew to Finland on the actual day and had a lovely BBQ with friends a few days later. I turned 32.
32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
The economy not going into a complete meltdown.
33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2008?
I think with DLB my focus moved a bit away from myself and more towards fashion in general. Personally I still tried to make an effort most of the time, not always so successfully.
34. What kept you sane?
Susanna. Miikka. Music.
35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Colin.
36. What political issue stirred you the most?
The end of the world as we know it. Also, Obama, couldn't really avoid that one if you wanted to.
37. Who did you miss?
My nan. Certain people from my previous life.
38. Who was the best new person you met?
Layla! What an inspiring ray of light you are.
39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2008.
If you want to change the direction of your life you have to work hard, things don't just 'happen'.
40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
Tiredness fuels empty thoughts
I find myself disposed
Brightness fills empty space
In search of inspiration
Harder now with higher speed
Washing in on top of me
So I look to my eskimo friend
I look to my eskimo friend
I look to my eskimo friend
When I'm down, down, down.
Rain it wets muddy roads
I find myself exposed
Tapping doors, but irritate
In search of destination
Harder now with higher speed
Washing in on top of me
So I look to my eskimo friend
I look to my eskimo friend
I look to my eskimo friend
When I'm down, down, down.
When I'm down, down, down.
When I'm down, down, down.
Damien Rice - Eskimo
Labels: end of year survey, my life, surveys etc.
//posted by Marianne @ 03:24 0 comments
Tuesday, 30 December 2008
Local tourism
We had a lovely time yesterday. It's fun to be a tourist in your own town, it makes you take a step back and really take notice of the hustle and bustle around you. Our hotel room was pretty fancy pants as well, it was weird having huge windows looking straight out onto Shaftesbury Avenue. We spent quite a lot of time just people watching.
And of course, Bill Bailey was so much fun, I can't remember the last time I've laughed so much.
And of course, Bill Bailey was so much fun, I can't remember the last time I've laughed so much.
Labels: Bill Bailey, London, my life, photoblog, photography, theatre
//posted by Marianne @ 21:13 2 comments
Sunday, 28 December 2008
Holiday continuum
Well, I'm still on holiday for a week (WOO-fucken-HOO!), but today has felt a bit less so. I spent very nearly 8 hours faffing about with excel sheets (yuck), trying to figure out my wedding photography packages and prices for next year. It's so bloody difficult trying to calculate how much you'd need to charge even to just break even, versus what kind of package would give most value to the client. Argh. I really hate this side of entrepreneurship.
Tomorrow we're off to enjoy Stu's birthday present. We're spending the night at a fancy hotel near Piccadilly Circus and seeing Bill Bailey do stand up at the Gielgud Theatre. Should be a fun day!
//posted by Marianne @ 22:36 3 comments
Saturday, 27 December 2008
Christmas roundup
Christmas kicked off on Christmas Eve when we celebrated Finnish xmas at home with S. It was such a treat to be able to watch Santa's Hotline via the miracle of the interwebs. For my generation of Finns listening to little kids phoning Santa, trying to impress him at the last minute, and make sure he'll find the right address, is a pretty integral part of getting xmas started. And of course then there's The Snowman, a true sign that yet another year has passed and Christmas is here.
In a fairly non-traditional fashion, I had pancakes and hot chocolate for breakfast.
On Christmas Day we headed to Essex for the English onslaught of xmas traditions. This lasted for two days, and included two different turkeys.
Such happy Christmassy faces... :D
Certain someone got an air drums set for Christmas. Much hilarity ensued.
And finally, here's my loot. I must have been a fairly good girl this year!
//posted by Marianne @ 21:52 0 comments
Tuesday, 23 December 2008
Back on track
It took me a little while to get back into the swing of things. Somehow that one working Monday left a really bad taste in my mouth, and I had to try really hard to shake all thoughts of work from my mind and get rid of a feeling of underlying dread over the inevitable end of the holiday looming somewhere ahead.
Filling the flat with the smell of baking seemed to do the trick. Can't wait for tomorrow now. Bring on Santa! :D
//posted by Marianne @ 21:38 0 comments
Monday, 22 December 2008
The day that wasn't
Uhh it was ghastly to go back to work just when you had sort of slipped into that Christmassy state of being. To ease the pain we went for a nice pub lunch with Layla. Made it all seem a bit more bearable.
Now finally the holiday stretches in front of me. I have waited for this moment for so long. I hope it doesn't go by in a flash!
Now finally the holiday stretches in front of me. I have waited for this moment for so long. I hope it doesn't go by in a flash!
//posted by Marianne @ 19:39 1 comments
Sunday, 21 December 2008
Slipping into Christmas rhythm
I've made the bed with fresh new sheets bought especially for Christmas, the lights and decorations are up and twinkling, and our traditional pyjama party with Sooz has been held... I feel like I'm softly slipping into the luxuriously lazy rhythm of Christmas time. Just have to remember to go to work tomorrow!
Annoyingly I have a bit of a suspicious feeling in my throat and really achy shoulders... I'm trying to think positive and consume as much echinacea as I can. Surely my luck can't be so bad that I'd get ill for Christmas, no no no.
I spent the first half of this day catching up with some admin work, but my plans for the rest of the day include such laborious tasks as playing with my new lenses and reading magazines. Actually, I better get to the magazines right now, the sofa's looking awfully lonely.
//posted by Marianne @ 14:42 0 comments
Friday, 19 December 2008
A temporary dive
I could get some of the office Christmas party pics from earlier today off the camera but I'm on the sofa with my laptop, and watching Eddie Izzard, so can't really be arsed. Maybe tomorrow. :P
I'm so tired that everything aches, not sure how long I'll manage to stay up for. Doesn't matter though. I'm treating today as the start of my Christmas holiday, even though I still have to go in on Monday. I'm thinking I will treat Monday as 'popping up to town to have lunch with Layla' sort of thing. Sounds much more inviting that 'going to work'.
I've been playing with my INQ a lot yesterday and today, and am getting to like it more and more. Funnily, this being a mobile phone trial, I've actually used very few traditional phone functions, like making calls or even texting, in the past two days, since I can pretty much satisfy most of my communication needs via other methods. There are certainly a lot of things I like about the INQ, but also some niggles that could do with a bit more work in my opinion.
Last night after work I headed up to a very snazzy office in the West End (oh it was quite lovely to be back at my old stomping grounds!) to meet up with Matt from 3mobilebuzz and to find out a bit more about what's actually involved in the mobile trial. It also gave me a chance to share the biggest gripes I've had with the handset so far, which Matt then forwarded to INQ/3, which is kind of cool. Not sure if my user experience is going to make any actual difference when it comes to the future INQ models, but here's hoping.
But yeah, the things I really like about it so far:
Sometime next week there's something a bit exciting happening regarding the trial. Will tell you more about it when it's live.
Uhh I think I'll have to give up now and go to bed. Hopefully will have a lot more energy tomorrow, have shedloads to do. And also, we're having a little xmas do with Sooz before she's off to Finland (sniff) for Christmas.
I'm so tired that everything aches, not sure how long I'll manage to stay up for. Doesn't matter though. I'm treating today as the start of my Christmas holiday, even though I still have to go in on Monday. I'm thinking I will treat Monday as 'popping up to town to have lunch with Layla' sort of thing. Sounds much more inviting that 'going to work'.
I've been playing with my INQ a lot yesterday and today, and am getting to like it more and more. Funnily, this being a mobile phone trial, I've actually used very few traditional phone functions, like making calls or even texting, in the past two days, since I can pretty much satisfy most of my communication needs via other methods. There are certainly a lot of things I like about the INQ, but also some niggles that could do with a bit more work in my opinion.Last night after work I headed up to a very snazzy office in the West End (oh it was quite lovely to be back at my old stomping grounds!) to meet up with Matt from 3mobilebuzz and to find out a bit more about what's actually involved in the mobile trial. It also gave me a chance to share the biggest gripes I've had with the handset so far, which Matt then forwarded to INQ/3, which is kind of cool. Not sure if my user experience is going to make any actual difference when it comes to the future INQ models, but here's hoping.
But yeah, the things I really like about it so far:
- It's really easy to switch between all the different networking clients, which means you can be writing on people's walls on Facebook, having a skype or live messenger chat and checking your mail, all practially at the same time.
- The facebook client is really handy as you can write messages and update things even when outside of network coverage, it will then post everything once you are connected again.
- Skype works like a charm. On my Nokia you have to keep on connecting to skype every time you need to use it, which makes it less than ideal, but on the INQ it is actually always on and connected (as long as you have network coverage). I've used the skype chat a lot instead of sending text messages and really like the ease of it.
- It's cool to be able to merge all the instances of the same person from skype, msn, facebook etc. into one contact. That way you can always see if they are online with some client and thus use the most convenient way of communicating. Can't wait to see how easy (or difficult?) it'll be to really get all the contacts integrated when I get the phone synched with my Outlook.
- I like the pared down simplicity of everything. It does the things you want it to do and there's no 'fluff' to confuse you.
- The build of the phone feels a bit cheap and flimsy.
- There's very little control over sounds in different clients, for example the skype incoming chat message is driving me nuts, and there doesn't seem to be any way of turning this off.
- The facebook client is missing one crucial navigational aid from the top menu - 'home'. At least for me this is the page I want to generally start from, but to get there you'll have to go to a submenu menu and 'jump to' the homepage.
- The phone keeps buzzing (especially in the middle of the night) to inform me of some sort of event or message, but when you have a look there's no actual way of knowing what the hell the buzz was for. Quite annoying.
- The window turns horizontal in a very random manner. Browsing some websites it'll suddenly turn sideways at a slight flick of your wrist, but it's impossible to actually make it do this on command. I have no idea why and when it happens, and whether it's supposed to do it every time you turn the phone sideways.
- Why no blogger or generic blogging client?
Sometime next week there's something a bit exciting happening regarding the trial. Will tell you more about it when it's live.
Uhh I think I'll have to give up now and go to bed. Hopefully will have a lot more energy tomorrow, have shedloads to do. And also, we're having a little xmas do with Sooz before she's off to Finland (sniff) for Christmas.
Labels: 3 network, 3Network, facebook, INQ, INQ1, my life, social networking, technology
//posted by Marianne @ 23:14 8 comments
Wednesday, 17 December 2008
Perverts and phone testing
Today didn't start very well. Waterloo was in chaos and getting on the tube was a right palaver. And not just in the usual way. While waiting on the platform for the (5th) tube that I might fit in, I got a bit annoyed by the person behind me getting a bit too close (and that's saying something with the way people were packed there). He was very short though so I assumed it was a kid, they don't generally have a similar sense of personal space as adults tend to. Finally there was a train I could squeeze into and the person behind me pushed me in with such force that I had to swear out loud. Once we were all squeezed in I realised the someone had their arm practically around me. Trying to turn my head wasn't very easy as the car was so crammed with people, but I did realise that it was the same shortarse from the platform, who had now squeezed himself behind me. I then realised that he wasn't a 'kid' at all, but indeed some mutherf*****g pervert trying to get off by humping my leg! Eugh! All I could do in the tight space was to elbow him in the chest really hard. I later hoped I'd said something to embarrass him for good, but I was too shocked to speak at the time, besides, he was behind me so it was a bit difficult. After I elbowed him he got off the train at the next stop... only to move on to the next carriage. Uhh. I still feel violated!
The day didn't get much better once I got in the office. We still have no internet/server access due to problems that have now been going on for a month. The atmosphere at work is very tense as people as just so over not being able to do their work and just having to sit there and wait... it's soul destroying. And to add insult to injury, we're supposed to get the issue to press tomorrow. Hey ho.
There were some positive points to the day though. Since going to the INQ launch party, I was chosen to test out the new handset for a month, and I received my review copy today. It was good timing as I really could use some distraction at work, which playing with the phone provided. In this short space of time I have already grown to like it quite a lot. All the social networking tools are easy to use, and dad already managed to phone me on skype while I was on the train. :D
I think I mentioned after the launch the original artwork created for the cards that work as a manual. They're super cute.
I'm not quite sure how I can synch the phone with my address book and calendar, something that would be vital for me if I was using the phone for real. For now it grabbed all my facebook contacts and added them into my phone book. Note sure if that was the way I wanted to go about things. :D I think I'll have to have further play with it to figure out what's the best way to do things. I will let you know my thoughts over the month.
The day didn't get much better once I got in the office. We still have no internet/server access due to problems that have now been going on for a month. The atmosphere at work is very tense as people as just so over not being able to do their work and just having to sit there and wait... it's soul destroying. And to add insult to injury, we're supposed to get the issue to press tomorrow. Hey ho.
There were some positive points to the day though. Since going to the INQ launch party, I was chosen to test out the new handset for a month, and I received my review copy today. It was good timing as I really could use some distraction at work, which playing with the phone provided. In this short space of time I have already grown to like it quite a lot. All the social networking tools are easy to use, and dad already managed to phone me on skype while I was on the train. :D
I think I mentioned after the launch the original artwork created for the cards that work as a manual. They're super cute.
I'm not quite sure how I can synch the phone with my address book and calendar, something that would be vital for me if I was using the phone for real. For now it grabbed all my facebook contacts and added them into my phone book. Note sure if that was the way I wanted to go about things. :D I think I'll have to have further play with it to figure out what's the best way to do things. I will let you know my thoughts over the month.
Labels: 3, 3 network, 3mobilebuzz, 3Network, driedonpaper, facebook, INQ, INQ1, London, London Underground, my life, social networking, technology
//posted by Marianne @ 19:36 1 comments
Sunday, 14 December 2008
Sunday visitors
Today the in-laws came down for a visit and brought Stu a fancy pants coffee maker birthday present. They also treated us to a lovely meal at the pub. Just what the doctor ordered.
//posted by Marianne @ 23:02 0 comments
Tuesday, 9 December 2008
Smells like winter
Christmas and holiday can't come fast enough... Yet again another nightmare week, when nothing works in the office and when the bonkers, illogical bureaucracy of this country infuriates me at every juncture. At least I'm liking the crisp, cold weather. It's nice to be able to breath some fresh air and enjoy the twinkling Christmas lights instead of the endless grey rainy days.
Labels: London, my life, photoblog, Richmond, Twickenham
//posted by Marianne @ 21:46 2 comments
Tuesday, 2 December 2008
Finding the Xmas spirit
Lookit! I got a little xmas tree for the office. :D I haven't had any time to put any decorations up at home yet, but I'm thinking I'll start with some fairy lights next weekend... I don't think I'll ever get tired of Christmas, everything christmassy just makes me feel all giddy. It's the only thing that gets me through winter. Every year I get worried that the xmas spirit won't find me this year, but every year it eventually does. Can't wait to get wrapping presents and baking goodies now! :D Also, can't wait to have some time off and just slouch around in my pyjamas.I went to do some Christmas shopping (and attempted to execute a shopping assignment, which got sabotaged :P) on Oxford Street last night after work and that was a bit of a nightmare. It's hell at the best of times, but even with the credit crunch going on, braving it in December is just madness. Nevertheless, I think I have most of the presents sorted now, which is a relief. Bring on Christmas!
//posted by Marianne @ 10:00 4 comments
Sunday, 30 November 2008
Busy weekend
What a busy, exhausting weekend it's been. I'm still battling the remnants of my latest nasty cold, which doesn't help with the energy levels either. On Friday we headed to Ikea with Sooz after work, and nearly got stranded at Edmonton coming back as no buses were picking up passengers. It was such a cold night as well, brr. I've never been so glad to be on a manky old train than I was when we finally got on one at Tottenham Hale. Ahh the warmth. Also, I've decided that ikea shopping without a car (and a man to carry stuff) is too much like hard work!
Saturday morning we headed to the Finnish Xmas Bazaar at the Finnish Church in Rotherhite. It was the last day of the bazaar so apparently they had run out of a lot of stuff already, but I still manage to fill my bags with some goodies for Christmas. It was thoroughly weird suddenly being in the middle of all these Finnish people and products though. A bit overwhelming even. I did get to say hi to Asko, which was nice, hopefully we'll manage to organise to go for a coffee or something in the near future.
And last night ended with Layla's and Mike's engagement bash in Staines. It was a fun party, but boy did I feel tired at the end of it. We took a cab home, via the chippie, after which I flopped in front of the telly with my recording of the X-Factor (how on earth did they get Britney??), aching limbs and hot chips... Bliss.
Saturday morning we headed to the Finnish Xmas Bazaar at the Finnish Church in Rotherhite. It was the last day of the bazaar so apparently they had run out of a lot of stuff already, but I still manage to fill my bags with some goodies for Christmas. It was thoroughly weird suddenly being in the middle of all these Finnish people and products though. A bit overwhelming even. I did get to say hi to Asko, which was nice, hopefully we'll manage to organise to go for a coffee or something in the near future.
And last night ended with Layla's and Mike's engagement bash in Staines. It was a fun party, but boy did I feel tired at the end of it. We took a cab home, via the chippie, after which I flopped in front of the telly with my recording of the X-Factor (how on earth did they get Britney??), aching limbs and hot chips... Bliss.
//posted by Marianne @ 15:58 2 comments
Saturday, 22 November 2008
I will deliver the explosion
Gosh, what a week! I've packed in three different ailments, press week with catastrophic network-failure-lost-files incidents in the tune of your worst-nightmares, stress over S's company laying off 30% of their staff, and just general anxiety over not having enough time to get organised. Yes, it's safe to say this has been the worst week this year, no contest.
Santogold is getting me through it. I hope she gets me through this latest development that is yet another nasty cold too.
Santogold is getting me through it. I hope she gets me through this latest development that is yet another nasty cold too.
//posted by Marianne @ 10:22 2 comments
Thursday, 13 November 2008
Facebook fans and mystery launch suspence
I feel like I ought to let you know that MTP now has a facebook page, just in case you feel a strong urge to become a fan! :DIn other news, I've sent a strongly worded letter to London Underground today, as this morning I'd just had enough! I've had to walk from Waterloo every morning this week because of disruption on the Jubilee line. What exactly is the point of paying for a season ticket if you can never get on the train?? But yes, I expect they will jump into action any minute now, after receiving my letter. I can only wonder how many zeros there will be on my compensation cheque. :P
Tonight's the night of the mysterious driedonpaper launch party. Sooz is coming with me, and we've been pulling our hair out trying to figure out what it might be for - with no success. Is exciting! I hope it's something good after all this suspence... will let you know tomorrow.
Labels: 3, 3 network, 3mobilebuzz, 3Network, driedonpaper, facebook, INQ, INQ1, London Underground, my life, photography, social networking, technology
//posted by Marianne @ 14:11 1 comments
Wednesday, 12 November 2008
Shelter me
Frustrating week. Trains are being rubbish, shoulder is acting up and my to-do-list feels endless. At least it didn't rain today!
//posted by Marianne @ 18:26 1 comments
Saturday, 1 November 2008
Flutastic
The stupid cold that has been doing the rounds has finally caught up with me. But I won't go down without a fight! I've been consuming vast amounts of echinea and hot lemon and they're helping me to keep my head above the water, so to speak. Jen came over for yesterday's Antony and the Johnson's gig (more about that when my head isn't quite so woolly - it's safe to say it was mindblowing though), and I was clever enough to take Friday off work so we had a chance to spend some time together and pop to Richmond for a bit of shopping. Today she's gone to central London on her own, while I've been trying to go through my to-do-list, with Stu constantly complaining that I should be in bed.
We were testing my new cheapo macro ring flash on each other yesterday.
We're supposedly going down the pub tonight, not quite sure how I'll cope with that though... hmm. Might have to change that to a Sunday lunch thing, we'll see. I don't want to be a bad host though, it's just that I feel pretty shit...
Since the concert finished at a reasonable hour last night (who knew symphony orchestras are so punctual!), we decided to come back home afterwards. Originally we were going to stay at Sooz's flat, while she's living it up in NY. I must say I was pretty glad to wake up in my own bed this morning.
Here's our train arriving at Vauxhall last night.
P.S. if anyone is interested in booking me to shoot their wedding at a discount price, I'm currently running a pretty generous wedding photography promotion!
We were testing my new cheapo macro ring flash on each other yesterday.
We're supposedly going down the pub tonight, not quite sure how I'll cope with that though... hmm. Might have to change that to a Sunday lunch thing, we'll see. I don't want to be a bad host though, it's just that I feel pretty shit...
Since the concert finished at a reasonable hour last night (who knew symphony orchestras are so punctual!), we decided to come back home afterwards. Originally we were going to stay at Sooz's flat, while she's living it up in NY. I must say I was pretty glad to wake up in my own bed this morning.
Here's our train arriving at Vauxhall last night.
P.S. if anyone is interested in booking me to shoot their wedding at a discount price, I'm currently running a pretty generous wedding photography promotion!
Labels: London, my life, people, promotion, Twickenham, wedding photography
//posted by Marianne @ 16:36 1 comments
Saturday, 25 October 2008
On the road - literally
Well, there's a first time for everything. I'm sitting in the car on the M25 (not driving I might point out), updating my blog on my laptop. Now that is proper geekage. Or just brilliant time management! :D Yeah, it feels like ages since I've actually written a blog entry, I just tend to chuck a few photos this way when ever I have a minute. Life's been a bit full on lately. Admittedly, it's all my own doing what with effectively having two jobs, two websites and three blogs to try to keep up with.
Talking about two jobs, what's kept me most busy is doing the groundwork in setting up a little part-time business. The website took quite a few nights to put together, but is mostly finished now (Paul, I could seriously not function without you!), and I'm moving onto a marketing phase. What I want to do this year is get some bookings for next year, and then start properly working from the start of 2009. Weekends will never be the same again I'm afraid... But something needed to be done. That is if we ever want to get out of renting in this country. It'll take a lifetime to try to save up the deposit banks are demanding in these mad times. But yeah, hopefully I'll get enough work to get at least a little bit closer to home ownership once again. Oh and by the way, there's also a new blog, which will eventually be for sharing shots from client shoots mostly, but for now there's some overlap with this blog for obvious reasons.
Eugh, starting to feel a bit sick now what with looking at the screen instead of the road.
We're on our way to spend a night at Nikki & Ian's, it's been too long since the last time again! The sun is trying to shine and it'll be nice to see Southend again, I do miss the place at times.
Have a nice weekend everyone!
Talking about two jobs, what's kept me most busy is doing the groundwork in setting up a little part-time business. The website took quite a few nights to put together, but is mostly finished now (Paul, I could seriously not function without you!), and I'm moving onto a marketing phase. What I want to do this year is get some bookings for next year, and then start properly working from the start of 2009. Weekends will never be the same again I'm afraid... But something needed to be done. That is if we ever want to get out of renting in this country. It'll take a lifetime to try to save up the deposit banks are demanding in these mad times. But yeah, hopefully I'll get enough work to get at least a little bit closer to home ownership once again. Oh and by the way, there's also a new blog, which will eventually be for sharing shots from client shoots mostly, but for now there's some overlap with this blog for obvious reasons.
Eugh, starting to feel a bit sick now what with looking at the screen instead of the road.
We're on our way to spend a night at Nikki & Ian's, it's been too long since the last time again! The sun is trying to shine and it'll be nice to see Southend again, I do miss the place at times.
Have a nice weekend everyone!
Labels: my life, photography
//posted by Marianne @ 14:36 2 comments
Saturday, 11 October 2008
Whirlwind
My head is whizzing. I've been trying to come up with prices and strategies and marketing copy and all the kind of things that make my brain hurt. I'm really hoping that at some point I will arrive at a point when all the hours of work start paying off and I'll start seeing the changes I'm striving for. Until then, all I can do is keep pushing. I think I'll have to try to simplify my extra-curricular workload though. Something's got to give. Lately that something has been blogging and DLB. But I don't want to give up on those either. I will come up with a way to do it all. All it needs is a workable structure, I hope.
//posted by Marianne @ 23:24 0 comments
Wednesday, 8 October 2008
Back on the bike
I so could have had the whole week off. Two days of holiday sure doesn't feel like enough! But still, it was nice to have mum around for a long weekend, even though we completely ran out of time to do all the things we would have wanted to do (like go see a musical, go to Paris, go to Cornwall, go to Richmond Park, go to the London Eye etc. etc.). We did manage to spend some time in the National Gallery and walk around London in general. Mum also went a bit shopping-crazy on Monday and I only managed to drag her out of the shops when I started feeling decidedly dizzy. I did get (another) pair of lovely boots out of it though! Apparently they're the only Christmas present I'm getting this year. :D I'm not complaining...
Having my normal routine interrupted meant that I couldn't really keep up with any of my blogs/websites, or work on other projects I currently have on the go. I really have to pull my finger out now and get back to working on all my stuff. If I'm totally honest, I think I've created a bit too much work for myself lately, but hopefully it will all pay off in one way or another in the long run...
Hmm I'm supposed to have a shoot on Saturday but I haven't heard a peep from the model. I hope she's ok and still up for it.
Having my normal routine interrupted meant that I couldn't really keep up with any of my blogs/websites, or work on other projects I currently have on the go. I really have to pull my finger out now and get back to working on all my stuff. If I'm totally honest, I think I've created a bit too much work for myself lately, but hopefully it will all pay off in one way or another in the long run...
Hmm I'm supposed to have a shoot on Saturday but I haven't heard a peep from the model. I hope she's ok and still up for it.
Labels: my life
//posted by Marianne @ 15:47 0 comments
Thursday, 25 September 2008
My average day in pictures
Saw this challenge here and loved it. The aim is to photograph your daily commute and what you have for breakfast, lunch and dinner. I widened it a bit to include pretty much the whole day. So, here's my 'average day' in pictures.
8am. I leave for work. The street looks fairly quiet. But then again, it always does.
On our station, waiting for my train.
I get a seat, result! First we cross the bridge over to Richmond.
Getting closer and closer to Waterloo (I had more pics from along the way, but this entry was getting waaay too long).
Get off the train. I then walk to the other end of Waterloo station.
1st and 2nd escalator down to Jubilee line.
2nd and 3rd escalator...
I just manage to run into a tube that's ready to leave. Can't get a proper picture as am squished against the wall.
Get off the train at London Bridge. There's two escalators but the other pic was too blurry.
Finally some air!
9am. Our swipey thingy isn't working at the moment so I have to ring the bell to get in.
Can you guess what the official company colour is? :P
Have a muesli bar for breakfast. Suz has left me a note.
It's press day so I'm super busy getting pages through pre-press in the first half of the day.
1.30pm. Meet Layla in the lift, we then wonder where to go for lunch.
I get to treat myself to a tuna melt in Costa, since it's a hectic day and all.
Back to work. There's the view as well. Super.
Layla calls me into a 'very important' meeting in her office. Bump into Hassan in the stairway. Serious business.
John sees a photo op and elbows into our 'very important' meeting.
5pm. I force Layla to walk back to Waterloo with me, since the sun is out.
See, is sunny!
There are those sunflowers again.
Nearly at Waterloo now.
5.30pm. Walk back across Waterloo station again.
I get on Layla's (stupid) train. No seats. I have to change trains at Richmond.
6ish pm. I get off the train and go to the store to get some bits and pieces for dinner tonight.
Almost home, just around the corner.
Nasty spider tries to prevent me from getting to the front door. I showed him!
6.30. Get in and have some water. I see that the sun is just setting so get my SLR out and take a picture for 365 Bokeh.
Start making dinner, but get bored with it so S takes over and cooks me sausage and mash. Is nice. I do the dishes though! I spend some quality time with the sofa and remote.
Have shower, update bloggy things and then head to bed. Where did the evening go?
8am. I leave for work. The street looks fairly quiet. But then again, it always does.
On our station, waiting for my train.
I get a seat, result! First we cross the bridge over to Richmond.
Getting closer and closer to Waterloo (I had more pics from along the way, but this entry was getting waaay too long).
Get off the train. I then walk to the other end of Waterloo station.
1st and 2nd escalator down to Jubilee line.
2nd and 3rd escalator...
I just manage to run into a tube that's ready to leave. Can't get a proper picture as am squished against the wall.
Get off the train at London Bridge. There's two escalators but the other pic was too blurry.
Finally some air!
9am. Our swipey thingy isn't working at the moment so I have to ring the bell to get in.
Can you guess what the official company colour is? :P
Have a muesli bar for breakfast. Suz has left me a note.
It's press day so I'm super busy getting pages through pre-press in the first half of the day.
1.30pm. Meet Layla in the lift, we then wonder where to go for lunch.
I get to treat myself to a tuna melt in Costa, since it's a hectic day and all.
Back to work. There's the view as well. Super.
Layla calls me into a 'very important' meeting in her office. Bump into Hassan in the stairway. Serious business.
John sees a photo op and elbows into our 'very important' meeting.
5pm. I force Layla to walk back to Waterloo with me, since the sun is out.
See, is sunny!
There are those sunflowers again.
Nearly at Waterloo now.
5.30pm. Walk back across Waterloo station again.
I get on Layla's (stupid) train. No seats. I have to change trains at Richmond.
6ish pm. I get off the train and go to the store to get some bits and pieces for dinner tonight.
Almost home, just around the corner.
Nasty spider tries to prevent me from getting to the front door. I showed him!
6.30. Get in and have some water. I see that the sun is just setting so get my SLR out and take a picture for 365 Bokeh.
Start making dinner, but get bored with it so S takes over and cooks me sausage and mash. Is nice. I do the dishes though! I spend some quality time with the sofa and remote.
Have shower, update bloggy things and then head to bed. Where did the evening go?
Labels: my life, photoblog, surveys etc.
//posted by Marianne @ 22:24 8 comments
Sunday, 21 September 2008
Books, gigs and inspirational homes
I finally finished laying out Nikki's wedding book today. It ended up being 84 pages, and looks pretty good to me. Am very pleased with it. I think the fact that I'm a designer in my day job helps me automatically think about the layout when I'm taking the shots, which makes laying out quite easy (if still laborious). I'm thinking maybe photo shoots delivered as a book could be my little 'niche', if I was to start taking photography a bit more seriously... Hmm.
As a side note, one thing I've been meaning to mention is this wonderful website called The Selby, which showcases real homes of interesting people. It's really inspirational, not to mention addictive, snooping around in people's homes!
Fanny Bostrom, artist and Bill Gentle, photographer, at home - Brooklyn - August 18 2008
But yeah, I've been quite busy today so far. I've done the dishes, hoovered, put summer shoes and clothes into storage... Oh yeah and sent Stu to Rayleigh to do some washing as our washing machine is broken. :( Sooz is on her way over and I think we're gonna head out to try to make the most of the super nice weather (strange to pack summer stuff away when it's bright sunshine and +20C, but I know it won't last!).
Today's productivity made up for yesterday when I didn't get anything done, thanks to Marjut. She pointed me towards Fabchannel, which is where you can watch full concerts from many (of my favourite) artists. I even had to send Stu out to get a cable so I could hook my laptop to the telly and watch them full screen. :D What a great resource!
As a side note, one thing I've been meaning to mention is this wonderful website called The Selby, which showcases real homes of interesting people. It's really inspirational, not to mention addictive, snooping around in people's homes!
Fanny Bostrom, artist and Bill Gentle, photographer, at home - Brooklyn - August 18 2008
But yeah, I've been quite busy today so far. I've done the dishes, hoovered, put summer shoes and clothes into storage... Oh yeah and sent Stu to Rayleigh to do some washing as our washing machine is broken. :( Sooz is on her way over and I think we're gonna head out to try to make the most of the super nice weather (strange to pack summer stuff away when it's bright sunshine and +20C, but I know it won't last!).
Today's productivity made up for yesterday when I didn't get anything done, thanks to Marjut. She pointed me towards Fabchannel, which is where you can watch full concerts from many (of my favourite) artists. I even had to send Stu out to get a cable so I could hook my laptop to the telly and watch them full screen. :D What a great resource!
Labels: home, music, my life, photography, video
//posted by Marianne @ 12:19 4 comments
Friday, 19 September 2008
Here comes the sun
The sun came out to play today in honour of it being Friday!
It's been a long old week, or at least it feels like it. I had two days of training in Farringdon (what a bitch that was to get to!) on Wednesday and Thursday, so it seemed to sort of stretch the whole thing out. It was nice though, the training. I would even go as far as to say inspiring. Hmm. Let's not get carried away though.
Hopefully this weekend I'll have time to catch up with stuff. There sure is a lot of it to catch up with.
The Bride-to-be enjoying some rays (and trying not to pose :P)
It's been a long old week, or at least it feels like it. I had two days of training in Farringdon (what a bitch that was to get to!) on Wednesday and Thursday, so it seemed to sort of stretch the whole thing out. It was nice though, the training. I would even go as far as to say inspiring. Hmm. Let's not get carried away though.
Hopefully this weekend I'll have time to catch up with stuff. There sure is a lot of it to catch up with.
The Bride-to-be enjoying some rays (and trying not to pose :P)
//posted by Marianne @ 19:45 0 comments
Monday, 1 September 2008
9 years and counting...
I have a feeling someone's going to kill me for this, but you're allowed to be mushy at specific times of year! We're not 'officially' celebrating 1 September any more since the wedding, as apparently wedding anniversaries are the only 'proper' anniversaries. :P But never the less, today still means something to me, and I can at least celebrate our 9th anniversary of being together with this mush-fest of pictures. :D If nothing else, looking at it brings back good memories (while also making me feel incredibly old, like where an earth did 9 years disappear??). Also, check out that fringe. WTF. :D
(Sorry S, I know it must be a pain to be married to an overly sentimental photographer!)
(Sorry S, I know it must be a pain to be married to an overly sentimental photographer!)
//posted by Marianne @ 18:00 10 comments
Saturday, 30 August 2008
Thanks for the honour + road trippin' video
I got these honours from Eveluna and Emmie, respectively. Thanks very much girls! I think both of these have pretty much done the rounds in most (Finnish) blogs that I read, so I won't pass them on for now. I'm a little bit busy at the moment, getting ready for our first wedding anniversary present to eachother, an R.E.M. concert. I'm not sure whether to take my camera as these are the first tickets I've seen where it says that they categorically refuse entry from people carrying cameras. :| Not sure whether to be a wuss or not...
Oh and I spent most of the morning putting together this little one-day road trip video from Cornwall. If you're not a fan of driving, you might want to pass. :P
Labels: my life, surveys etc., travel, video
//posted by Marianne @ 15:23 0 comments
Phew!
There, photos are done. Sheesh there was a lot of them! And I only chose about half of what I actually took. I've added the ones that are on Flickr to the blog underneath the correct dates. If you want to see where they were taken, click on them and have a look on Flickr, I've added them on the map there. If you want to see all of the pictures (are you sure, no really?), you can clickety click over here.
Oh, and here's approximately the route we took. We took the long way down to Cornwall, via the South Western coastline, and came back home a more straightforward route.
I think my hand might fall off now.
Oh, and here's approximately the route we took. We took the long way down to Cornwall, via the South Western coastline, and came back home a more straightforward route.
I think my hand might fall off now.
//posted by Marianne @ 00:45 5 comments
Friday, 29 August 2008
Making connections
Finland finally got added to the Skype world subscription, so I signed up instantly. Now I can use skype to make calls from my mobile (yay) and I can also have three numbers (in different countries) so people can phone me as they would a normal landline. I set up a Finnish number to start with, can't really think of in what other countries there are desperate people wanting to get in touch with me. :P But yeah, if you want to get my 'Finnish' number, which will cost you no more than a normal landline call in Finland would, and to which I can answer via skype (when I'm home), let me know.
Thank heavens it's Friday. The worst of the gloom has definitely lifted, on all fronts. Just have to get through today.
I didn't even turn my computer on last night, so I will have to finish sorting the photos tonight. The blog is looking awfully text heavy without any pictures! Oh I know, here's a camera phone snap of the ring I'm wearing today. I got a gift voucher to New Look for my birthday and this ring was one of the things I bought (for £1!). It just cheers me up looking at it. Little pretty things make me happy.
I should probably get on with looking like I'm busy now.
Thank heavens it's Friday. The worst of the gloom has definitely lifted, on all fronts. Just have to get through today.I didn't even turn my computer on last night, so I will have to finish sorting the photos tonight. The blog is looking awfully text heavy without any pictures! Oh I know, here's a camera phone snap of the ring I'm wearing today. I got a gift voucher to New Look for my birthday and this ring was one of the things I bought (for £1!). It just cheers me up looking at it. Little pretty things make me happy.
I should probably get on with looking like I'm busy now.
Labels: my life
//posted by Marianne @ 10:38 0 comments
Thursday, 28 August 2008
A glitch in the matrix
Today is a slightly better day. I'm feeling a tad more optimistic, even though work has been a total drag. At least it's Friday tomorrow! This weekend I really need to figure out what to wear for this wedding... If I can't find anything that fits from my wardrobe, Sunday is pretty much the last chance to go out and look for something else. Hmm.
I got about halfway through processing my road trip pics last night. Man, there are a lot of them. And about a gazillion of them are practically identical. Editing the selection down is so very tiring and time-consuming. Although having said that, it's lovely to be able to look at pictures of all the places we went to, and to return there in my mind. Photography sure is a worthwhile hobby when it comes to preserving memories.
My head is experiencing weird glitches today. Normally during a workday I pretty much think in English, but today strange thoughts keep popping into my head in Finnish. Go figure.
I got about halfway through processing my road trip pics last night. Man, there are a lot of them. And about a gazillion of them are practically identical. Editing the selection down is so very tiring and time-consuming. Although having said that, it's lovely to be able to look at pictures of all the places we went to, and to return there in my mind. Photography sure is a worthwhile hobby when it comes to preserving memories.
My head is experiencing weird glitches today. Normally during a workday I pretty much think in English, but today strange thoughts keep popping into my head in Finnish. Go figure.
Labels: my life
//posted by Marianne @ 14:10 2 comments
Wednesday, 27 August 2008
Escape plans accepted here
It's hard to be back at work. Like, super hard. It's not just the work thing, but the whole having to deal with reality thing. And I'm not really 'feeling' reality at the moment. Everything seems to be a bit distorted and overly complicated and not fitting together quite like it's supposed to. The job isn't really giving me anything, but the occasional angst-attack, and life in general seems to be a bit off-track. I also feel like I'm watching a close relationship inexplicably crumble before my eyes and I can't figure out why. I'm so tired of wondering why and second-guessing everything I say or do in case it's the wrong thing. And I'm sort of at a point where I'm just tired of constantly feeling sad over it. Perhaps I never was on the same page to start with, and I'll just have to deal with it and move on.
I have the worse headache and I'm so tired I might accidentally doze off any minute. I hope I'll have enough energy to go through the road trip pictures tonight, or at least make a start on them. I shot a few films on the Holga as well, but one of them I managed to ruin when the back of the camera came off in the bag. Ho hum.
I can't believe we're working on the October issue of the magazine! Where on earth did this year go?? Or the summer... I really really have to get a grip and find some time to reschedule all the postponed photo shoots from the start of the summer. Damn. Can't believe it's Nikki's and Ian's wedding next week already either! And I still have nothing to wear... erm...
*Sigh*. Can't I just sit on a cliff listening to the waves. Forever.
I have the worse headache and I'm so tired I might accidentally doze off any minute. I hope I'll have enough energy to go through the road trip pictures tonight, or at least make a start on them. I shot a few films on the Holga as well, but one of them I managed to ruin when the back of the camera came off in the bag. Ho hum.
I can't believe we're working on the October issue of the magazine! Where on earth did this year go?? Or the summer... I really really have to get a grip and find some time to reschedule all the postponed photo shoots from the start of the summer. Damn. Can't believe it's Nikki's and Ian's wedding next week already either! And I still have nothing to wear... erm...
*Sigh*. Can't I just sit on a cliff listening to the waves. Forever.
Labels: my life
//posted by Marianne @ 15:28 4 comments
Work bleugh
I don't want to be here. End of.
Labels: my life
//posted by Marianne @ 13:03 0 comments
Monday, 25 August 2008
Atlantic whispers
I do love the sea. Everything about it. The fresh, salty air on my face, which makes a sticky tangled mess of my hair. The roar of the waves crashing against the rocks beneath the cliffs I'm standing on. The screams of the seagulls when they fly by. The soft sand between my toes on a beautiful beach at sunset... the list goes on. What I adore about the Cornish coastline is the rugged, primal nature of it. The coarse cliffs scarred with jagged ravines. And the constant movement of the water, the wild crashing of the Atlantic Ocean when it drives itself against the ancient rocks.
I think I'll just have to live by the sea again at some point in my life. It's where I feel such peace of mind, such completeness.
Today was a good day. M felt a lot better (we traced his condition back to a food poisoning caused by some apparently dodgy beaked beans he had, the only thing that was different from our diet) and we managed to cover quite alot of ground. My spirits were dampened a little bit by the mostly grey weather and outrageous period pains, but being by the sea compensated for all of it more than enough. Starting the day, first we went to gawk at the cliffs at Lizard, and after having gotten stuck at traffic heading to the Fish Festival at Newlyn, (the biggest festival in Cornwall don't you know), ended up unwittingly at Land's End (which I knew would be a mistake, it's such a nasty tourist trap). Then we drove some ridiculously narrow roads through Pendeen to St Ives, and later on up to Portreath, finishing with sunset at Hell's Mouth.
I've got a million pictures of cliffs and of sea, which will take some time to go through and process. I also got a lot of film clips of our drive today. Originally I planned to film a little bit here and there throughout the whole trip so I could edit it all together into a continuous road trip showing how the scenery changes while the trip goes on, but with all the drama at the start, I sort of forgot about it. Today's footage should make for a nice one day's road trip video though when put together.
Sadly, tomorrow we'll have to head back to London. I'm going to have one last stop at Perranporth, but after that's it'll have to be the quickest route home. Sigh. Well, I'll have the memories and the pictures, and the knowledge that I will be back. Hopefully sooner than it took me to come back this time!
I think I'll just have to live by the sea again at some point in my life. It's where I feel such peace of mind, such completeness.
Today was a good day. M felt a lot better (we traced his condition back to a food poisoning caused by some apparently dodgy beaked beans he had, the only thing that was different from our diet) and we managed to cover quite alot of ground. My spirits were dampened a little bit by the mostly grey weather and outrageous period pains, but being by the sea compensated for all of it more than enough. Starting the day, first we went to gawk at the cliffs at Lizard, and after having gotten stuck at traffic heading to the Fish Festival at Newlyn, (the biggest festival in Cornwall don't you know), ended up unwittingly at Land's End (which I knew would be a mistake, it's such a nasty tourist trap). Then we drove some ridiculously narrow roads through Pendeen to St Ives, and later on up to Portreath, finishing with sunset at Hell's Mouth.
I've got a million pictures of cliffs and of sea, which will take some time to go through and process. I also got a lot of film clips of our drive today. Originally I planned to film a little bit here and there throughout the whole trip so I could edit it all together into a continuous road trip showing how the scenery changes while the trip goes on, but with all the drama at the start, I sort of forgot about it. Today's footage should make for a nice one day's road trip video though when put together.
Sadly, tomorrow we'll have to head back to London. I'm going to have one last stop at Perranporth, but after that's it'll have to be the quickest route home. Sigh. Well, I'll have the memories and the pictures, and the knowledge that I will be back. Hopefully sooner than it took me to come back this time!
//posted by Marianne @ 22:48 2 comments
Sunday, 24 August 2008
Over the hills and far away
Today has certainly had its ups and downs. We've driven through some amazing scenery, but the enjoyment has been dampened somewhat by Miikka being violently sick all over the south west coast of England... Yes, he's in a bad way and we're not quite sure why, as we've all eaten pretty much the same things (and both Stu and I are fine - so far...). It's quite heartbreaking really, to see him feel that bad. We planned this trip for quite some time and I was so looking forward to showing him all these amazing places... We can only hope that he feels better by tomorrow so we can at least have one proper day of full-on tourism.
We did drive through pretty places with beautiful beaches like Teignmouth, Torquay and Torcross (where Layla was just on holiday for a week but they had driven home yesterday, damn!), and one of my all time favourite places, Dartmouth(which involved a rather lengthy queue for the ferry). Finally crossing over from Devon to Cornwall, we did miss out on places like Looe and Polperro as we took a quicker route in order to get the quite grey looking patient into bed. But that's ok, it's still great to be back in Cornwall. I can't believe it's seven years since we were here last, for my 25th birthday! Crikey time flies. After tucking M into bed and arming him with bottles of water, Stu and I went for a quick drive to St Ives, just to make it a reality that we're really here. Oh how I wish it was for longer than one day.
Right now all I can hear is synchronised snoring. I think it's time for me to dive into my book for a while before falling asleep. Here's hoping tomorrow starts in a more positive manner than today...
We did drive through pretty places with beautiful beaches like Teignmouth, Torquay and Torcross (where Layla was just on holiday for a week but they had driven home yesterday, damn!), and one of my all time favourite places, Dartmouth(which involved a rather lengthy queue for the ferry). Finally crossing over from Devon to Cornwall, we did miss out on places like Looe and Polperro as we took a quicker route in order to get the quite grey looking patient into bed. But that's ok, it's still great to be back in Cornwall. I can't believe it's seven years since we were here last, for my 25th birthday! Crikey time flies. After tucking M into bed and arming him with bottles of water, Stu and I went for a quick drive to St Ives, just to make it a reality that we're really here. Oh how I wish it was for longer than one day.
Right now all I can hear is synchronised snoring. I think it's time for me to dive into my book for a while before falling asleep. Here's hoping tomorrow starts in a more positive manner than today...
//posted by Marianne @ 22:04 4 comments
Saturday, 23 August 2008
Living for the weeked
Greetings from Exeter! We have a long day of driving behind us, most of which was spent at various traffic jams on the M3, one of which was cause by a car catching fire and burning to a crisp. But we did manage to break through from the worst traffic after The New Forest though and drove through some lovely scenery. There was the hustle and bustle of summery Weymouth, the cliff top view at Abbotsbury, and taking a break so some of us could have a beer - in Beer, the name of which provided hours of entertainment in the car. We got to Exeter sometime before 7pm and went out to eat the biggest portion of fish & chips known to man. Hence all three of us are still feeling quite uncomfortably full.
Since I took my laptop with me I'll write little updates here and there, but I'll add pictures to the entries once I get home. I don't have any appropriate software on the laptop to process my pics, and the screen isn't really big enough either.
The whether today was mostly lovely and sunny, with little spells of drizzle here and there. It's raining now but tomorrow it's supposed to be 28C in Cornwall, which is where we're heading.
Oh by the way, there's loads of rabbits outside our motel window, just sitting there! Jenni would be in bunny heaven. :D
Since I took my laptop with me I'll write little updates here and there, but I'll add pictures to the entries once I get home. I don't have any appropriate software on the laptop to process my pics, and the screen isn't really big enough either.
The whether today was mostly lovely and sunny, with little spells of drizzle here and there. It's raining now but tomorrow it's supposed to be 28C in Cornwall, which is where we're heading.
Oh by the way, there's loads of rabbits outside our motel window, just sitting there! Jenni would be in bunny heaven. :D
//posted by Marianne @ 21:45 3 comments
Thursday, 21 August 2008
Testing 1, 2, 3.... 4
I was testing out ping.fm for posting blog entries and status updates earlier today. It all seems quite straightforward, and will probably help with the angst of trying to keep up with different social networking sites. Not that ideal for posting a blog entry though, as the input window is really rather small, and the text huge, so you don't get any sort of idea how big your entry is or what it looks like... Also, not so ideal is that the blog entry I typed out never got published, but seems to instead have disappeared somewhere into the ether. So thumbs up for keeping your status updates, well, up to date, but boo for losing my blog entry.
This week seems never ending. I will be sooo glad to see the back of this issue of the magazine! Miikka landed at Heathrow a few hours ago and is currently entertaining himself with the TV and beer back at the flat. It's kinda weird to think he'll be there when I get home. Strange thing this air traveling huh.
When I have time, I should try to answer this challenge, which was thrown my way. For it, you'll have to think about what you think you would be like as a man. :D Should be quite fun. The challenge was really pointed towards DLB, but I was told I can do it in either blog! :P
Talking of DLB, I've been thinking about whether I should move my wardrobe images over there as surely that's a bit more appropriate place for them. Then again, I don't really want that blog to be so personified on me, but rather a hub for anyone looking for, and wanting to share, tips and stuff. I don't know. What do you think?
This week seems never ending. I will be sooo glad to see the back of this issue of the magazine! Miikka landed at Heathrow a few hours ago and is currently entertaining himself with the TV and beer back at the flat. It's kinda weird to think he'll be there when I get home. Strange thing this air traveling huh.
When I have time, I should try to answer this challenge, which was thrown my way. For it, you'll have to think about what you think you would be like as a man. :D Should be quite fun. The challenge was really pointed towards DLB, but I was told I can do it in either blog! :P
Talking of DLB, I've been thinking about whether I should move my wardrobe images over there as surely that's a bit more appropriate place for them. Then again, I don't really want that blog to be so personified on me, but rather a hub for anyone looking for, and wanting to share, tips and stuff. I don't know. What do you think?
Labels: my life, social networking
//posted by Marianne @ 16:10 6 comments
Sunday, 17 August 2008
Sunday scrubbing
My new baby is enjoying the new fluffy bedding as much as I am it seems. Yesterday's Ikea trip was exhausting, but totally worth it in the end. It feels like the bed has been upgraded to a new standard.
Today's been a busy day of cleaning, scrubbing and getting old quilts and sheets packed away for Oxfam. There's still some stuff to do, like the kitchen, which is a tip, but mostly the flat is already feeling fresher, calmer and airier.
When I'm done with rest of the cleaning I'm going to finally dive into this month's magazines.
Labels: my life, photoblog, technology
//posted by Marianne @ 15:30 5 comments
Friday, 15 August 2008
My time
Thank God for Fridays! I'm dog tired, aching all over, but I am determined to stay awake at least past midnight because... well, because I can. Because this is my time. If there's one thing (apart from commuting) that I detest about an office job, it's the way it robs me of my nights. I love night time, I'm at my most efficient at around 2am. But with having to wake up at 7am on most mornings these days, it makes it physically impossible for me to get much enjoyment of night time.
I think it's complete rubbish when people say that anyone can 'train' themselves into being a morning person. No matter how many years I went to classes starting at 8am at school, or how many years of 9am office starts I've had, each and every morning has always been absolute torture. There are plenty of people who get up at the crack of dawn and claim that that's when they feel their brightest - even at weekends. As far as I'm concerned, they can keep their mornings... Just give me the quiet calm of the night time. When my thoughts are at their sharpest and when ideas flow.
But yes, right now I'm not really enjoying my achy existence. My mind wants to stay up and is bursting with things I'd want to get doing, but my body is so very tired that I will have to give into it soon. What a waste.
Tomorrow I'm braving Ikea for the first time in a long time. And quite appropriately, the purpose of the trip is to upgrade some of our bedding, like duvets and stuff. New fluffy, soft and clean bedding is one of those things that makes everyday life a little bit more enjoyable, luxurious and, well, more bearable.
I think it's complete rubbish when people say that anyone can 'train' themselves into being a morning person. No matter how many years I went to classes starting at 8am at school, or how many years of 9am office starts I've had, each and every morning has always been absolute torture. There are plenty of people who get up at the crack of dawn and claim that that's when they feel their brightest - even at weekends. As far as I'm concerned, they can keep their mornings... Just give me the quiet calm of the night time. When my thoughts are at their sharpest and when ideas flow.
But yes, right now I'm not really enjoying my achy existence. My mind wants to stay up and is bursting with things I'd want to get doing, but my body is so very tired that I will have to give into it soon. What a waste.
Tomorrow I'm braving Ikea for the first time in a long time. And quite appropriately, the purpose of the trip is to upgrade some of our bedding, like duvets and stuff. New fluffy, soft and clean bedding is one of those things that makes everyday life a little bit more enjoyable, luxurious and, well, more bearable.
Labels: my life
//posted by Marianne @ 23:12 4 comments
Thursday, 14 August 2008
Dead woman walking
Someone living on the ground floor flat of this one estate I pass on my walk between work and Waterloo station, has really pulled out all the guns in their little bit of garden (I don't actually think it's their garden, just this bit of communal grass in front of their front door). There is a multitude of flowers in there and these sunflowers are pretty amazing if you ask me. What a way to make the most of your surroundings.
I've been such a rubbish blogger lately. This first week back at work has been so tiring that I'm surprised I'm still standing. Well, actually I'm not really, more like about to fall into a dreamless coma in a few short moments. Needless to say I haven't had much energy for anything extra. I have all these new ideas for DLB, but no juice to even make the least amount of effort... Soon, I hope. Although I'm still feeling sort of halfway between holidays as Miikka is coming over at the end of next week, when we're heading for a four day road trip to Cornwall. First I'll have to get through the toughest press week ever (I really feel like putting together a magazine in five days flat right about now) and Stu has to get through the first week at his new job. I dare say we'll both be a bit worse for wear come next weekend. Well, hopefully the weather will be nice and some fresh sea air will be just the ticket.
Today was the first day that my neck felt more or less normal, i.e. there was no extra pain involved in normal movements. It's such a relief not to have to be, or to be afraid of being, in pain all the time!
Oh and I finally got my little mini laptop, like two months after I ordered it. It's lovely and cute and everything, but annoyingly the screen has some dead pixels so I'll have to send it back for repairs. Ack. Still, it's nice to have the freedom to use a computer anywhere anytime, and it's so light that I can carry it in my handbag most days. I think I should lighten the contents of my make-up bag and stuff though, just to make a bit more room for it...
Uhh yeah, but anyways. Goodnight, sleep tight, don't let the bedbugs bite!
//posted by Marianne @ 21:46 0 comments
Saturday, 9 August 2008
From nirvana to world of pain
I'm back at home, feeling relaxed but also a little beaten down and broken. On the morning of the last full day in Finland I woke up, stretched, heard an almighty 'crunch' sound and felt pain like no other. It felt rather like my head had come unstuck from my neck. After that I pretty much couldn't move. We had to cancel our rental car and plans of driving around the countryside. Instead, I spent most of the day at the doctor's office getting jabbed in the butt with muscle relaxant and painkillers. Not my idea of fun. Even though I got a doctor's note saying that I couldn't (or shouldn't) fly, I decided it would be too costly and too much of a hassle to try to get new flights... In hindsight, not my brightest moment as the flight was pure agony. But alas, I made it home. I didn't however make it to Nikki's hen do tonight, for which I'm really bummed out about. I had such a cool 80's outfit thought out and everything! :(
Despite the tragic end to the holiday, most of the two weeks were pretty perfect. I got a lot of sunshine, saw friends and new babies, read books, ate a lot of good food... and in general just chilled out to the best of my abilities. I've added some pictures to the blog retroactively, but if you want to see all of the holiday snaps you can head here.
Despite the tragic end to the holiday, most of the two weeks were pretty perfect. I got a lot of sunshine, saw friends and new babies, read books, ate a lot of good food... and in general just chilled out to the best of my abilities. I've added some pictures to the blog retroactively, but if you want to see all of the holiday snaps you can head here.
Labels: my life
//posted by Marianne @ 22:01 2 comments
Friday, 25 July 2008
Happy Birthday to meeeeee....
It's weird that it's my birthday and that I'm so old. Doesn't really feel like it's my birthday (or that I'm so old). We're off to the airport in an hour or so, I can feel the M.A.C. counter calling my name already... I think when I get there, then it starts feeling like a birthday. :D
I've gotten very nice birthday cards this year. Some people have really outdone themselves (hello mother! :D). They're all so pretty, see.
Well, there's still a few bits and pieces to pack and rubbish to take out etc etc, so I'll get to it. See you on the flipside!
I've gotten very nice birthday cards this year. Some people have really outdone themselves (hello mother! :D). They're all so pretty, see.
Well, there's still a few bits and pieces to pack and rubbish to take out etc etc, so I'll get to it. See you on the flipside!
Labels: my life
//posted by Marianne @ 10:26 5 comments
Thursday, 24 July 2008
Counting the minutes...
My holiday starts in one hour and 20 minutes... Just have to put this issue to bed and somehow survive the last hour and then I'm freeeeee.... :D
I got lovely birthday flowers and chocolates. I'll have to leave the flowers here though as we're flying to Finland tomorrow and I'd rather people enjoyed them in the office than be forced to throw them away. They're gorgeous!
The summer has well and truly hit London, and hopefully Finland will follow suit. I can't wait to put my feet up and not think about work for two whole weeks! How lovely.
I'll probably blog a bit from Finland, or not, depending on how I feel.
I got lovely birthday flowers and chocolates. I'll have to leave the flowers here though as we're flying to Finland tomorrow and I'd rather people enjoyed them in the office than be forced to throw them away. They're gorgeous!
The summer has well and truly hit London, and hopefully Finland will follow suit. I can't wait to put my feet up and not think about work for two whole weeks! How lovely.
I'll probably blog a bit from Finland, or not, depending on how I feel.
Labels: my life
//posted by Marianne @ 15:36 3 comments
Tuesday, 22 July 2008
Freedom!
I think it's probably accidental, and most likely very short-lived, but it seems that the internet is unblocked at work today! Woohoo. I just had to come and post a pointless blog entry just because I can! Although, as luck would have it, this week is the busiest week of the month, made especially hectic by the fact that I'm off on holiday from Friday onwards, so I don't seem to have any time for the internet. Bah. Well, at least I'm enjoying the sense of freedom if nothing else.
Two days and three and a half hours left until holiday. Bring it on!
Two days and three and a half hours left until holiday. Bring it on!
Labels: my life
//posted by Marianne @ 14:31 0 comments
Sunday, 20 July 2008
Some things take my breath away
We drove to a lovely little country pub for a wedding anniversary lunch. While there, 'our song' suddenly came on. And it's a song which very rarely plays on the radio, or anywhere. Was quite a magical moment. Must be sign... of something?
//posted by Marianne @ 20:45 2 comments
Wedding anniversay, Dirty Dancing and a lot of pictures
Today is our first ever wedding anniversary. Surprisingly, this time I won't add how quickly a year has gone, as it feels like ages since the wedding! So much has happened in a year... we changed jobs, homes, countries... everything really. It's been quite a whirlwind of a year.
So far today we've been mostly trying to prepare for holidays at the end of next week. Washing clothes, getting the suitcases down from the loft, that sort of thing. We're planning on driving down to some little country pub for lunch later on.
Yesterday we went to see Riina, Noa and Elli, and in the evening us adults went to a (yet another) picnic concert at Audley End house. This time we were more prepared though, with an actual picnic, woolly cardigan, and the most genius idea of all, woolly socks! The weather was also a bit more pleasant. Even though it rained on and off during the day, the skies cleared by the evening and we had blue skies and sunshine, all the way until the sun went down. That's when my woolly socks really came into their own!
No matter how tacky the idea of the 'Music of Dirty Dancing' sounds like, it truly was great fun, with everyone singing along and dancing around us. And the place was gorgeous! I'm definitely going to attend another picnic concert there, maybe next summer. I'm sure we'll slowly advance into picnic master-class!
First, there was some baking to be done...
Then S attended Elli's 'beauty class'...
Noa fell on his bike and broke his front teeth a couple of weeks ago. Hardcore.
Riina's budgie.
We arrived at Audley End just when the concert kicked off. There were some very fancy picnic set-ups, with tables and wind breakers and all, to be seen all around. There's still a lot to learn...
Blue sky!
Our picnic was a bit more humble, but most delicious never the less!
It got a bit chilly after the sun went down, but it was all still throughly enjoyable up to the end.
Full moon.
We decided to drive home in the night. Was quite nice actually, even though we got stuck in some roadworks.
So far today we've been mostly trying to prepare for holidays at the end of next week. Washing clothes, getting the suitcases down from the loft, that sort of thing. We're planning on driving down to some little country pub for lunch later on.
Yesterday we went to see Riina, Noa and Elli, and in the evening us adults went to a (yet another) picnic concert at Audley End house. This time we were more prepared though, with an actual picnic, woolly cardigan, and the most genius idea of all, woolly socks! The weather was also a bit more pleasant. Even though it rained on and off during the day, the skies cleared by the evening and we had blue skies and sunshine, all the way until the sun went down. That's when my woolly socks really came into their own!
No matter how tacky the idea of the 'Music of Dirty Dancing' sounds like, it truly was great fun, with everyone singing along and dancing around us. And the place was gorgeous! I'm definitely going to attend another picnic concert there, maybe next summer. I'm sure we'll slowly advance into picnic master-class!
First, there was some baking to be done...
Then S attended Elli's 'beauty class'...
Noa fell on his bike and broke his front teeth a couple of weeks ago. Hardcore.
Riina's budgie.
We arrived at Audley End just when the concert kicked off. There were some very fancy picnic set-ups, with tables and wind breakers and all, to be seen all around. There's still a lot to learn...
Blue sky!
Our picnic was a bit more humble, but most delicious never the less!
It got a bit chilly after the sun went down, but it was all still throughly enjoyable up to the end.
Full moon.
We decided to drive home in the night. Was quite nice actually, even though we got stuck in some roadworks.
//posted by Marianne @ 13:39 2 comments
Monday, 14 July 2008
Sleepless nights and colour-coded wardrobes
For some reason I couldn't get to sleep last night. I spent the whole night tossing and turning and getting up every hour to go observe the progress on the huge (human-size, seriously!) web, which a monster spider was working on outside our kitchen door (fixing of which, by the way, has finally been finished - I think). It was sort of fascinating and repulsive at the same time. Anyways, feel kind of out of it today. Not so much sleepy, but that sort of tired hysteria just bubbling under.
The weekend itself was rather nice. On Saturday I didn't do anything, as planned. Which was lovely, and very much needed. Sunday was spent cleaning since I realised this was pretty much the last weekend we'd get a change to clean before going on holiday Friday next week (which, by the way, is my birthday :P), as next weekend we'll be in Saffron Walden.
As a part of Sunday's cleaning operation I attempted to organise my wardrobe by colour. It didn't really work that well since everything I own seems to be muti-coloured, and -patterned. Umm. What it does show quite clearly is that I don't own that many pink clothes! And almost none white. Ever since I had to downgrade from my old walk-in-wardrobe to one rail and chest of drawers, I have been forced to do some heavy
editing. So, even if my wardrobe is a lot smaller these days, and a cacophony of patterns, it's somehow more functional than before (which doesn't mean I wouldn't miss my old walk-in-wardrobe dearly).
It's lovely and sunny today. So sunny in fact that I was lured into walking to work from Waterloo. A sunny walk sure beats the tube, even if it takes a bit longer. Here's hoping the sun will stay with us and make this week a more positive one than the last.
The weekend itself was rather nice. On Saturday I didn't do anything, as planned. Which was lovely, and very much needed. Sunday was spent cleaning since I realised this was pretty much the last weekend we'd get a change to clean before going on holiday Friday next week (which, by the way, is my birthday :P), as next weekend we'll be in Saffron Walden.
As a part of Sunday's cleaning operation I attempted to organise my wardrobe by colour. It didn't really work that well since everything I own seems to be muti-coloured, and -patterned. Umm. What it does show quite clearly is that I don't own that many pink clothes! And almost none white. Ever since I had to downgrade from my old walk-in-wardrobe to one rail and chest of drawers, I have been forced to do some heavy
editing. So, even if my wardrobe is a lot smaller these days, and a cacophony of patterns, it's somehow more functional than before (which doesn't mean I wouldn't miss my old walk-in-wardrobe dearly).
It's lovely and sunny today. So sunny in fact that I was lured into walking to work from Waterloo. A sunny walk sure beats the tube, even if it takes a bit longer. Here's hoping the sun will stay with us and make this week a more positive one than the last.
//posted by Marianne @ 13:09 2 comments
Friday, 11 July 2008
Dreams of survival
Hallelujah, it's Friday finally. This week has felt excruciatingly long, days seem to drag by and there hasn't been much light at the end of the tunnel. In the 12 or so years that I've been working, I don't think I've ever before found getting through the weeks quite this difficult. But here we are, at last at the end of another week. Finally today the sun is challenging the weather forecast and the clock is ticking slowly but surely towards the freedom of the weekend. Can't wait to get home and do nothing for a change. A lovely clean slate of a weekend, with no plans, is unfolding in front of me. In fact, my pile of unread magazines has been waiting for this weekend for ages. I'm currently trying not to think about the cleaning that needs to get done and just concentrating on the things that don't require any effort. :D
It was lovely having Riina over on Tuesday night, although it now feels like ages ago already. After a long gap, we're now seeing quite a lot of each other, as the following weekend we're going to that Dirty Dancing picnic concert at Audley End House. I just hope the night won't be as cold as it was at the previous picnic concert... Brr. The memory still gives me the chills.
It's now exactly two weeks until holiday. I will survive... I will survive...
It was lovely having Riina over on Tuesday night, although it now feels like ages ago already. After a long gap, we're now seeing quite a lot of each other, as the following weekend we're going to that Dirty Dancing picnic concert at Audley End House. I just hope the night won't be as cold as it was at the previous picnic concert... Brr. The memory still gives me the chills.
It's now exactly two weeks until holiday. I will survive... I will survive...
Labels: my life
//posted by Marianne @ 13:58 0 comments
Tuesday, 8 July 2008
Slow greyness
Another miserable rainy day. What happened to the summer....
Feeling a bit angsty at work again. Really really don't want to be here. Why is it so hard to maintain that more manageable, if fragile, feeling of vague contentment. Some days are truly ok. I think those are the days when I'm busiest, that's when there's no time to think about anything and days slip by more easily. But on a slow day, on a slow grey day like today, all this feels like a massive waste of hours in my life. No-one seems to be in a particularly good mood today. Even the usually up-beat Steve is looking sombre and is visibly struggling with trying to sound cheery on the phone to the endless barrage of advertisers at the other end of his forever-ringing phone. I don't fancy his job much either...
I'm constantly keeping an eye out for something better. But what is something better? Is there such a thing? Won't it just be the same thing but in different surroundings? Are there really people out there who love their jobs and don't do it just in order to pay the rent? If there are, I would hazard a guess that at least 80% of those are working for themselves. But where do you get the courage and determination to go it alone, when at the same time you're trying to save for a deposit on a house or are wondering how you could live without the safety net of a monthly paycheck, pension policy and the possibility of paid maternity leave? It's really hard to overcome that primal need for safety. And yet, the happiest people in life seem to be the risk-takers. Figure that one out then...
Oh yay but Riina is coming over tonight. She's in London for the opening of her exhibition, and needed a place to crash. Seems like ages since I've seen her last, can't wait! Oh look, even the sun winked from behind the cloud at that! :D
Feeling a bit angsty at work again. Really really don't want to be here. Why is it so hard to maintain that more manageable, if fragile, feeling of vague contentment. Some days are truly ok. I think those are the days when I'm busiest, that's when there's no time to think about anything and days slip by more easily. But on a slow day, on a slow grey day like today, all this feels like a massive waste of hours in my life. No-one seems to be in a particularly good mood today. Even the usually up-beat Steve is looking sombre and is visibly struggling with trying to sound cheery on the phone to the endless barrage of advertisers at the other end of his forever-ringing phone. I don't fancy his job much either...
I'm constantly keeping an eye out for something better. But what is something better? Is there such a thing? Won't it just be the same thing but in different surroundings? Are there really people out there who love their jobs and don't do it just in order to pay the rent? If there are, I would hazard a guess that at least 80% of those are working for themselves. But where do you get the courage and determination to go it alone, when at the same time you're trying to save for a deposit on a house or are wondering how you could live without the safety net of a monthly paycheck, pension policy and the possibility of paid maternity leave? It's really hard to overcome that primal need for safety. And yet, the happiest people in life seem to be the risk-takers. Figure that one out then...
Oh yay but Riina is coming over tonight. She's in London for the opening of her exhibition, and needed a place to crash. Seems like ages since I've seen her last, can't wait! Oh look, even the sun winked from behind the cloud at that! :D
Labels: my life
//posted by Marianne @ 11:05 4 comments
Monday, 7 July 2008
A wet start to the week
My train was delayed, the Jubilee line was suspended and I had to walk to work from Waterloo in the pouring rain. Not an ideal start to the week. Even though the weekend was nice enough, all the traveling back and forth from Waterloo on both days made it feel a bit like I didn't get any break from the commuting. Next weekend I definitely won't be going anywhere.
It's no wonder people are so obsessed with the weather here, it certainly has a huge impact on your general mood. On a lovely sunny morning the walk from Waterloo for example is almost a joy, but on a miserable windy and rainy morning like today, it makes you wish you could just disappear. The greyness is a bit overwhelming today.
I'm thoroughly fed up with the internet regulation here at the office. How is reading a few blogs on quiet moments going to affect the way I do my job? Probably in a positive way actually, as feeling more content and connected to the rest of the world would make me feel better about being in the office in the first place, thus resulting in better work morale. Currently I'm just sitting here feeling a bit depressed, typing out moan-y blog entries which I'll have to publish by email (oh by the way, if anyone knows how to add tags/labels to a post when publishing via email on blogger, do let me know!), and trying to avoid any sort of work whatsoever.
Talking about jobs, Stu accepted a new job offer last week. :D He gave his notice on Friday and will start at the new company on 18th of August. The offices are in Reading and he's already dreading about his commute getting longer. Well, it's probably hard to go from a 20-minute drive to over an hour… Possibly as difficult as it was going from no commute at all to over an hour – so I feel for him there. But at least he gets to sit in the comfort of his car and not on an overpacked train! :P Anyways, I hope the new job will be a good move and that he'll be happy there. At least that would make one of us!
I signed up with Technorati, mainly in order to try to get some (non-finnish) action to DIVA Look Book. I was very annoyed when I realised the nick 'mnoo' was already taken and grudgingly went with another nick, only to realise today that hey, actually, I was the one who had already signed up with 'mnoo' sometime last year. Erm. Well, how are you supposed to remember everything?? Anyways, in case you wanted to add this blog to your favs you can as well, although I'm not that bothered, as long as you add the Look Book! :D Thanksplease.
Busy making other plans:
DIVA Look Book:
It's no wonder people are so obsessed with the weather here, it certainly has a huge impact on your general mood. On a lovely sunny morning the walk from Waterloo for example is almost a joy, but on a miserable windy and rainy morning like today, it makes you wish you could just disappear. The greyness is a bit overwhelming today.
I'm thoroughly fed up with the internet regulation here at the office. How is reading a few blogs on quiet moments going to affect the way I do my job? Probably in a positive way actually, as feeling more content and connected to the rest of the world would make me feel better about being in the office in the first place, thus resulting in better work morale. Currently I'm just sitting here feeling a bit depressed, typing out moan-y blog entries which I'll have to publish by email (oh by the way, if anyone knows how to add tags/labels to a post when publishing via email on blogger, do let me know!), and trying to avoid any sort of work whatsoever.
Talking about jobs, Stu accepted a new job offer last week. :D He gave his notice on Friday and will start at the new company on 18th of August. The offices are in Reading and he's already dreading about his commute getting longer. Well, it's probably hard to go from a 20-minute drive to over an hour… Possibly as difficult as it was going from no commute at all to over an hour – so I feel for him there. But at least he gets to sit in the comfort of his car and not on an overpacked train! :P Anyways, I hope the new job will be a good move and that he'll be happy there. At least that would make one of us!
I signed up with Technorati, mainly in order to try to get some (non-finnish) action to DIVA Look Book. I was very annoyed when I realised the nick 'mnoo' was already taken and grudgingly went with another nick, only to realise today that hey, actually, I was the one who had already signed up with 'mnoo' sometime last year. Erm. Well, how are you supposed to remember everything?? Anyways, in case you wanted to add this blog to your favs you can as well, although I'm not that bothered, as long as you add the Look Book! :D Thanksplease.
Busy making other plans:
DIVA Look Book: Labels: my life, social networking
//posted by Marianne @ 11:22 2 comments
Friday, 27 June 2008
One step forward two steps back
For those of you who've been biting your nails over what's been happening with our back door, some news at last. Not sure if they're what would be considered as 'good' news, but I suppose all progress is a case of one step forward two steps back, right? Let's see, the door was screwed shut on the 9th of June and we were told they'd be back to change the door in a 'couple of days'. It's nice that we finally learned the true meaning of the term a 'couple of days', it seems it's exactly 16 days. Live and learn eh! So on Wednesday, S was on overseeing-workmen-duty as I had a press day. When I got to work I got a phone call from the man who was (once again) lost outside somewhere in the vicinity of our flat. I phoned S to go outside and grab him. About an hour later I got a frantic call from S because he couldn't find a tape measure. 'Doesn't the workman have a tape measure?' I innocently asked, only to be told off for not being co-operative. Eventually the elusive tape measure was found and things could move forward. Next phone call from S: 'He took the door and the frame off and now he's done his back in and can't move'. I wasn't quite sure whether to laugh or cry at this point. A new man was then called in from Southampton (apparently very inconvenient for him indeed), who then took over from the injured one. All plain sailing from there on right? Well, not so much.
When I got home the state of the kitchen was something else. Mud and dirt everywhere, all plaster having been ripped off from the wall, with a lovely gaping hole at the bottom corner of the door to boot. The bloke was very pleased with himself though as, the way he put it himself: 'it looks like a door dunnit'. Well, yeah. Apart from the fact that we're not supposed to touch it because it's not tacked to the wall. However, our man was in a hurry to get somewhere else and said that he'd come to finish the job the next day. Or maybe the one after that. 'So that's secure now then?' I asked. 'Yeah yeah, just don't, like, use it'. Umm. I'm pretty sure anyone could just come and lift the door off, with the whole wall probably following. Needless to say no-one has yet been to 'finish the job'.
In other news, the nasty stomach cramps have turned out to be a tummy bug of some sort and I didn't make it to work today.
When I got home the state of the kitchen was something else. Mud and dirt everywhere, all plaster having been ripped off from the wall, with a lovely gaping hole at the bottom corner of the door to boot. The bloke was very pleased with himself though as, the way he put it himself: 'it looks like a door dunnit'. Well, yeah. Apart from the fact that we're not supposed to touch it because it's not tacked to the wall. However, our man was in a hurry to get somewhere else and said that he'd come to finish the job the next day. Or maybe the one after that. 'So that's secure now then?' I asked. 'Yeah yeah, just don't, like, use it'. Umm. I'm pretty sure anyone could just come and lift the door off, with the whole wall probably following. Needless to say no-one has yet been to 'finish the job'.
In other news, the nasty stomach cramps have turned out to be a tummy bug of some sort and I didn't make it to work today.
Labels: my life
//posted by Marianne @ 10:32 2 comments
Thursday, 26 June 2008
Under the weather
It's the second day now that I've been suffering from a really achy tummy. Bleugh. Horrible painful cramps. No idea what gives. It's kind of dampening my joy over the sunny weather, being hot doesn't really help with the painful uncomfortable feeling.
Photographing curvy ladies for DLB is turning out to be more difficult than anticipated. It's hard to judge who would be comfortable enough in themselves not be offended for being photographed for a 'plus size' blog (especially since I don't want it to be a marginal thing but for everyone over size 12), and also, it turns out it's not THAT easy to find bigger girls who dress inspiringly... Which is a shame, and something I hope projects like DLB will change. Also, for some reason the whole exercise seems to make me dissolve into nervous babble, which isn't so good when you're trying to get someone to agree to do something. Erm. Oh well, I suppose it'll get better with time. Also, lunch breaks around where I work are probably not the best hunting ground for fashionable curvy girls. Must go to a proper high street with clothes shops one weekend to people watch.
Really really could do with a sauna right about now. Humph.
Photographing curvy ladies for DLB is turning out to be more difficult than anticipated. It's hard to judge who would be comfortable enough in themselves not be offended for being photographed for a 'plus size' blog (especially since I don't want it to be a marginal thing but for everyone over size 12), and also, it turns out it's not THAT easy to find bigger girls who dress inspiringly... Which is a shame, and something I hope projects like DLB will change. Also, for some reason the whole exercise seems to make me dissolve into nervous babble, which isn't so good when you're trying to get someone to agree to do something. Erm. Oh well, I suppose it'll get better with time. Also, lunch breaks around where I work are probably not the best hunting ground for fashionable curvy girls. Must go to a proper high street with clothes shops one weekend to people watch.
Really really could do with a sauna right about now. Humph.
Labels: my life
//posted by Marianne @ 18:26 0 comments
Monday, 23 June 2008
My trainers are cuter than your trainers
Aren't these just the prettiest trainers you've ever seen?? Thank you eBay! <3
I'm using the joy of the pretty new trainers as an attempt to distract myself from the frustration over the stupidity of my office's new policy to block just about anything you could do online. No more flickr, no more facebook, no more Jaiku, not even personal blogs! Pfft. Moronic. Some would say fascist even. This will seriously hamper my plans to take over the world.
There was one nice thing that happened today though (since I got the trainers on Saturday already they don't really qualify for today's nice things) and that was having lunch with the lovely Anne. It was quite relaxing to get a bit of a 'Finnish break' in the middle of a frustrating work day. :D
I'm using the joy of the pretty new trainers as an attempt to distract myself from the frustration over the stupidity of my office's new policy to block just about anything you could do online. No more flickr, no more facebook, no more Jaiku, not even personal blogs! Pfft. Moronic. Some would say fascist even. This will seriously hamper my plans to take over the world.
There was one nice thing that happened today though (since I got the trainers on Saturday already they don't really qualify for today's nice things) and that was having lunch with the lovely Anne. It was quite relaxing to get a bit of a 'Finnish break' in the middle of a frustrating work day. :D
//posted by Marianne @ 20:41 4 comments
Wednesday, 18 June 2008
Punky
I just got home and these cute little things I'd ordered from Punky Pins were waiting for me. Gotta love the mixtape necklace!
It's been a super hectic week, press day getting close again. And my new hobby seems to be stealing most of my free time! I am having fun with it though, new ideas keep popping up. The week is not slowing down any though, Alanis tomorrow and on Friday night Sooz and I are going to some night photography thing (read: a 5-mile hike from 11pm to 4am). Come Saturday I will most likely be dead on my feet.
Finally watched Capote last night. Was very good indeed, like I had anticipated. Philip Seymour Hoffman was just astonishingly good, he was Truman Capote and yet he was a human being. And the rest of the production supported his brilliant role beautifully, from set design to cinematography to supporting roles. Pure cinematic bliss.
//posted by Marianne @ 18:22 2 comments
Monday, 16 June 2008
Diva's ahoy!
Well, health wise the weekend was a total washout. I really should stop having these colds, it's such a waste of time. Although having said that, I did manage to get quite a lot done. After a fever-based epiphany on Friday I certainly made the most of being stuck inside all weekend and sitting by the computer with woolly socks on and hot lemon at hand. On the train home from work on Friday I had this idea and a flash of inspiration, and by the same evening I had a domain and hosting sorted. During Saturday and Sunday I pretty much built the site up from scratch, with technical help from Paul and handwriting help from Sooz (thanks guys!). And despite there being a few little kinks to straighten out, it’s now live.
So what is it, you may ask. Well, as some of you may have gathered I quite like clothes, and playing dress-up in general. I'm always on the lookout for inspiration and tips from magazines and online resources and I follow a lot of style and fashion blogs. What I've struggled to find though, are any style blogs that would cater for us curvier girls as well. And on Friday something just snapped and I decided that if it isn't out there, I will have to put it out there. Thus came the idea for the DIVA Look Book. I'm stupidly excited about it, which is kind of weird as on Thursday the whole concept had never even crossed my mind! I have no idea where I'll find the time for it (seeing as I have another idea, which has been brewing for much longer, in the works as well), but I will try my darnest to keep updating it on regular basis. And hopefully it will eventually work as a source of inspiration for a lot of girls out there, what ever size they may be. So go ahead and have a snoop around. There's obviously not much content up yet, but I'll try to keep posting regular features on almost daily basis. Do share any ideas you might have as well, that would be much appreciated! Actually, I was thinking about putting up a little goodie bag contest on Friday in order to get wishes and suggestions from potential readers, so you might want to keep an eye out for that.
So what is it, you may ask. Well, as some of you may have gathered I quite like clothes, and playing dress-up in general. I'm always on the lookout for inspiration and tips from magazines and online resources and I follow a lot of style and fashion blogs. What I've struggled to find though, are any style blogs that would cater for us curvier girls as well. And on Friday something just snapped and I decided that if it isn't out there, I will have to put it out there. Thus came the idea for the DIVA Look Book. I'm stupidly excited about it, which is kind of weird as on Thursday the whole concept had never even crossed my mind! I have no idea where I'll find the time for it (seeing as I have another idea, which has been brewing for much longer, in the works as well), but I will try my darnest to keep updating it on regular basis. And hopefully it will eventually work as a source of inspiration for a lot of girls out there, what ever size they may be. So go ahead and have a snoop around. There's obviously not much content up yet, but I'll try to keep posting regular features on almost daily basis. Do share any ideas you might have as well, that would be much appreciated! Actually, I was thinking about putting up a little goodie bag contest on Friday in order to get wishes and suggestions from potential readers, so you might want to keep an eye out for that.
Labels: my life, social networking, wardrobe
//posted by Marianne @ 10:11 9 comments
Thursday, 12 June 2008
Whingey whine
Uhh. Have sore throat, runny nose and dizzy head. Brilliant. Also, according to the weather forecast it’s going to rain on Saturday. Hence, I’ve had to reschedule a photo shoot. Again. Trying to do shoots on weekends, when there’s such a limited space of time available in which all the elements have to click into place, seems impossible. It’s truly depressing.
Still haven’t heard any news about the new door. I wonder if it’s ever going to turn up, not feeling overly optimistic at the moment.
Work is being a drag. It’s the third week now where it seems that I’m the only one in the office while everyone else is on holiday/sick leave/conference and I’m getting a bit fed up. Not only is it excruciatingly boring, but I also resent feeling like a glorified secretary having to answer everyone’s phones. I’m not used to having to deal with anything much on the phone in my previous jobs, apart from some press-time dealings with the printers and the occasional wrong number – most correspondence was always by email. I don’t really consider the phone to be an integral part of my job. And especially answering other people’s phones, trying not to sound like an idiot, is driving me up the wall. Gah.
This has all turned into a bit of a moan now. Better stop before it gets worse…
Still haven’t heard any news about the new door. I wonder if it’s ever going to turn up, not feeling overly optimistic at the moment.
Work is being a drag. It’s the third week now where it seems that I’m the only one in the office while everyone else is on holiday/sick leave/conference and I’m getting a bit fed up. Not only is it excruciatingly boring, but I also resent feeling like a glorified secretary having to answer everyone’s phones. I’m not used to having to deal with anything much on the phone in my previous jobs, apart from some press-time dealings with the printers and the occasional wrong number – most correspondence was always by email. I don’t really consider the phone to be an integral part of my job. And especially answering other people’s phones, trying not to sound like an idiot, is driving me up the wall. Gah.
This has all turned into a bit of a moan now. Better stop before it gets worse…
Labels: my life
//posted by Marianne @ 13:02 2 comments
Wednesday, 11 June 2008
I take the blue ones every time
Bush Hall was a cute little place, a room bit ‘like wedding cake’ as Joshua himself described it. :) It was painfully hot though and the odour wasn’t the most pleasant mix of mouldy old building and sweaty people…
The venue definitely suited his kinda of ‘whisper rock’ better than the vast stage of Hammersmith Apollo, where I saw him last. The intimacy of the space added something special and you could hear the nuances of his voice a lot better.
All in all it was a very enjoyable gig, even though Stu and Sooz were up to some mischief and even though I felt reeeally tired. Walking back from the train, not having really eaten anything much all day, we checked out whether against all odds our chippie would be open (which it’s usually not). And what do you know, there was a big sign in the window declaring that it was now ‘open all day’ and that it was under new management. I must say I was very impressed on all levels, it was much more pleasant in there and the fish & chips was definitely up there among the best I’ve ever had. Very good news indeed.
Feeling absolutely knackered today.
Labels: Bush Hall, concert, gig, Joshua Radin, London, music, my life, photoblog
//posted by Marianne @ 10:37 0 comments
Tuesday, 10 June 2008
The saga of the violated door
As it happens, our back door is not just a back door. On top of its door-like qualities it's also a) the quickest route to the car, which lives just next to the stairs leading out of our back door; b) and to the bins that live underneath the stairs, thus making taking out the rubbish a lot more straightforward operation that lugging it out the front door and the all the way around the building; c) it opens up to the only realistically usable outside space (unless you fancy sitting in the front garden while the people downstairs sit next to you on the other side of their lounge window), in a shape of a landing at the top of said stairs; and d) it also has a very important function as a cooking-aid, when the two (yes two) fire alarms inevitably go off while you're trying to cook anything involving the hob.
So, as you can imagine, when the lock on the back door broke in a way that prevented us from getting the door open, life became just that little bit more aggravating. Yesterday was finally the day when a man was coming to 'fix the door' (I use the inverted quotes quite purposefully here). I had to take a half day off as holiday, so I could be at home to welcome the saviour who was going to return our standard of living back to the level of only mildly annoying, as yesterday afternoon was apparently the only time it could be done and I certainly didn't want to risk it never getting done.
After hurrying back home at lunchtime I found a man in a suspiciously paint-spattered attire wandering outside the general vicinity of the building looking lost. I asked him whether he might have been there to fix our back door, and it turned out that indeed he was the right man, albeit he had been given a completely incomprehensible address by the company through which we rent our flat. Lucky that I caught him wandering around, otherwise he would have never found his way to the right door. I showed him in and he eagerly took to the task at hand, i.e. took my key and tried to get the door open. Nothing doing. Which I could have told him. It took about an hour of further swearing, violence and power tools until he finally got the door opened up. A great moment you'll agree. What followed then were multiple phone calls to someone who was requested to purchase a new 'strippy bit' and a lock for the door. I must admit that my spirits started to waiver a bit at the mention of 'strippy bit'. Surely an actual locksmith would know a slightly more technical term for the strippy bit? But perhaps that was just their chummy way of communicating, I concluded, probably after you spend most of your time installing strippy bits you start referring to them in affectionate terms.
The next task was for him to get the whole mechanism (i.e. strippy bit) removed from the door so it could be replaced with a new shiny, and most of all, functioning one. Easier said than done. An hour of a lot more swearing ensued. Finally with the assistance of a power drill, the door was stripped down to a virginally strippy-bit-less state, the only thing that refused to move was the actual lock itself. Turned out this was the least of his problems though. While he'd been swearing and hacking into the door, the elusive partner at the other end of his phone calls had been on the hunt for the new mechanism. Funny thing (and I use the term 'funny' very loosely here) was, the manufacturer had apparently seized producing new strippy bits for this particular type of door. 'Sorry love, you're gonna have to get a new door', were the words that once and for all brought my dreams, in the vain of summer nights on the balcony with a jug of Pimm's, crashing down.
At this point the door was looking a sorry state and, defeated, I was inquiring the man how we were supposed to live there (or more to the point, ever go out again) when we now had a door without any sort of way to lock it. 'Don't worry, I'll screw it shut, it'll be no big thing'. And so he did. With much further swearing and with screws that are bent completely out of shape, refusing to properly sink into the metal frame of the door. I don't dare try how much pulling or pushing the door would take before the screws give in and anyone can just walk in. I also don't dare to think how long it will take for us to get a new door, not that I have very high hopes of the door actually fitting the frame when it finally comes.
All in all, not only did yesterday turn out to be a spectacular waste of precious annual leave hours, it also seems to have taken our predicament back a few steps instead of fixing any problems, as you can see from the picture. The sellotape is a touch added by me as it turned out that night time bugs were relishing the opportunity to fly in through the newly required airing holes.
To sum up, I'm not best pleased.
So, as you can imagine, when the lock on the back door broke in a way that prevented us from getting the door open, life became just that little bit more aggravating. Yesterday was finally the day when a man was coming to 'fix the door' (I use the inverted quotes quite purposefully here). I had to take a half day off as holiday, so I could be at home to welcome the saviour who was going to return our standard of living back to the level of only mildly annoying, as yesterday afternoon was apparently the only time it could be done and I certainly didn't want to risk it never getting done.
After hurrying back home at lunchtime I found a man in a suspiciously paint-spattered attire wandering outside the general vicinity of the building looking lost. I asked him whether he might have been there to fix our back door, and it turned out that indeed he was the right man, albeit he had been given a completely incomprehensible address by the company through which we rent our flat. Lucky that I caught him wandering around, otherwise he would have never found his way to the right door. I showed him in and he eagerly took to the task at hand, i.e. took my key and tried to get the door open. Nothing doing. Which I could have told him. It took about an hour of further swearing, violence and power tools until he finally got the door opened up. A great moment you'll agree. What followed then were multiple phone calls to someone who was requested to purchase a new 'strippy bit' and a lock for the door. I must admit that my spirits started to waiver a bit at the mention of 'strippy bit'. Surely an actual locksmith would know a slightly more technical term for the strippy bit? But perhaps that was just their chummy way of communicating, I concluded, probably after you spend most of your time installing strippy bits you start referring to them in affectionate terms.
The next task was for him to get the whole mechanism (i.e. strippy bit) removed from the door so it could be replaced with a new shiny, and most of all, functioning one. Easier said than done. An hour of a lot more swearing ensued. Finally with the assistance of a power drill, the door was stripped down to a virginally strippy-bit-less state, the only thing that refused to move was the actual lock itself. Turned out this was the least of his problems though. While he'd been swearing and hacking into the door, the elusive partner at the other end of his phone calls had been on the hunt for the new mechanism. Funny thing (and I use the term 'funny' very loosely here) was, the manufacturer had apparently seized producing new strippy bits for this particular type of door. 'Sorry love, you're gonna have to get a new door', were the words that once and for all brought my dreams, in the vain of summer nights on the balcony with a jug of Pimm's, crashing down.
At this point the door was looking a sorry state and, defeated, I was inquiring the man how we were supposed to live there (or more to the point, ever go out again) when we now had a door without any sort of way to lock it. 'Don't worry, I'll screw it shut, it'll be no big thing'. And so he did. With much further swearing and with screws that are bent completely out of shape, refusing to properly sink into the metal frame of the door. I don't dare try how much pulling or pushing the door would take before the screws give in and anyone can just walk in. I also don't dare to think how long it will take for us to get a new door, not that I have very high hopes of the door actually fitting the frame when it finally comes.All in all, not only did yesterday turn out to be a spectacular waste of precious annual leave hours, it also seems to have taken our predicament back a few steps instead of fixing any problems, as you can see from the picture. The sellotape is a touch added by me as it turned out that night time bugs were relishing the opportunity to fly in through the newly required airing holes.
To sum up, I'm not best pleased.
Labels: my life
//posted by Marianne @ 10:55 2 comments
Monday, 9 June 2008
Living is easy
Ahh, gotta love summer. Even though I’m not a big fan of sweating (especially at night, what with sharing a bed with the human radiator), hot weather definitely lifts my spirits. I had quite an enjoyably slow weekend. Saturday I just lazied around the house, reading magazines and doing some laundry. But yesterday was so hot that I just had to drag myself out to the park, and it was so worth it, I even managed to finish the book I've been trying to read for months. Lying on the grass, reading and listening to music mixing with the sounds of people playing cricket or kicking a football around was the most relaxed I've felt in weeks.
Here's the obligatory Marble Hill House shot, I hope no-one's getting bored of the view yet. :P
Last night S was looking at job listings and asked me whether he should apply for one in Vienna or one in Gibraltar. 'Hot place, thankyouplease.' :D One might think we have some commitment (to location) issues… I dunno, I doubt we'll be going to Gibraltar any time soon, but even the thought of the opportunity sort of helps make me feel better. I think what gets me most down is the thought of 'this is it'. It's such a soul-destroyingly crushing concept, that your life would be somehow set and there would be no flexibility in it for the rest of your years. I think where the conflict lies is that at the same time I crave for stability, I take the 'safe' option because I want to feel like I'm settling down, and then I promptly proceed to feel like a prisoner. Funny that.
Joshua Radin tomorrow! Eeek! I hope I won't act quite as embarrassingly as last time…
Here's the obligatory Marble Hill House shot, I hope no-one's getting bored of the view yet. :P
Last night S was looking at job listings and asked me whether he should apply for one in Vienna or one in Gibraltar. 'Hot place, thankyouplease.' :D One might think we have some commitment (to location) issues… I dunno, I doubt we'll be going to Gibraltar any time soon, but even the thought of the opportunity sort of helps make me feel better. I think what gets me most down is the thought of 'this is it'. It's such a soul-destroyingly crushing concept, that your life would be somehow set and there would be no flexibility in it for the rest of your years. I think where the conflict lies is that at the same time I crave for stability, I take the 'safe' option because I want to feel like I'm settling down, and then I promptly proceed to feel like a prisoner. Funny that.
Joshua Radin tomorrow! Eeek! I hope I won't act quite as embarrassingly as last time…
//posted by Marianne @ 11:06 0 comments
Friday, 6 June 2008
Pahempi toistaan
Miksei aina voi olla perjantai, perjantai, perjantaaaaai. Vaikkakin mieluummin kylla vois aina olla lauantai, perjantaina kun taytyy kuitenkin raahautua tanne toihin. Tanaan ei vois kylla taas vahempaa kiinnostaa tama toimistossa istuminen. Alkuviikosta oli sentaan fiilikset jokseenkin positiiviset. Tai ainakin sellaiset ‘kai tasta jotenkin selvitaan’ tyyppiset. Mutta nyt sellanen lohduton alavire on taas tehnyt comebackin ja vaikka onkin perjantai ajatukset vetaa vaan samaa kehaa tyyliin ‘kuuluuko elaman olla vaan selviytymista?’. Jotain tarttis vissiin keksia joo.
Tuon taantuman huomaa myos siita etta iPodiin eksyy enemman suomalaista musiikkia. Kun selvittaa tietaan lapi aamuruuhkaisen Borough High Streetin ja kuulokkeissa pauhaa taysia Apulanta, kokee jotenkin selkeasti elamansa kahtiajakoisuuden. Miten onkin Suomeen niin ikava talla hetkella. Se on toi kesa. Ja tama masennuksenpoikanen. Noh, pitaa yrittaa sinnitella Heinakuun loppuun niin helpottaa…
Ihanaa kuitenkin, etta edessa on viikonloppu jona kalenteri nayttaa jokseenkiin tyhjaa. Jospa saisi vihdoinkin vahan jarkattya kotona juttuja joita ei koskaan ehdi jarkkailemaan. On myos kaikenlaisia keskenjaaneita projekteja joihin olisi kiva yrittaa puhaltaa uutta tuulta. Ja jos saa pysyy nain kivana voisi menna myos puistoon tai joenrantaan nauttimaan vahan elamasta ja auringosta. Toivottavasti nuo viikonlopun tunnit ei taas karkaa kasista. Niin kay nykyaan vahan liian usein… huomaa etta kaikki oma aika on hassattu johonkin taysin yhdentekevaan eika ole saatu mitaan jarkevaa aikaiseksi.
Mulle on tullut yon aikana joku omituinen mustelmantapainen ranteeseen. Sellanen pieni pyoree sinisenmusta juttu joka on keskelta selvasti punaisempi. Mikakohan verisuonenpoksaus siella on kayny, aika mysteeri. No ei ole ainakaan kipee ni ei niin haittaa, silti vahan ihmetyttaa.
Olen ihan yltiopaisen kateellinen tuolle uudelle toimittajalle joka on taalla nyt toista viikkoa. Se on taalla vaan kaks paivaa viikosta ja loput kolme tekee jotain omia freelance juttuja. Myoskin nayttaa ottavan tuollasia puolentoistatunnin lounastaukoja niina paivina kun on taalla… Se oikeen huokuu sellasta ‘elaman tasapainoa’... siina maarin etta tallaiselle suomalaisttain kateelliselle kyrailijaluonteelle tulee mieleen kaikenlaisia maanpallepudottamisfantasioita. Noh, pitaa varmaan kuitenkin yrittaa olla toisen puolesta iloinen ja ottaa ennemminkin ehka mallia omiin elamanmuutoksiin. Valittamisella ja toisten elaman kadehtimisella ei kai kovin pitkalle paasta.
Omista projekteista puheenollen, yksi verkkoon liittyva idea on niin pitkalla kehittelyvaiheessa, etta yritan varmaan viikonloppuna aloittaa varsinaisen rakentamisen. Mulla on vaan ajatus niin solmussa ideaan kiinteasti liittyvan sloganin osalta, etta se on hidastanut tata projektia jo jonkin aikaa. Mietin etta olisikohan tyhma ajatus laittaa blogiin pienimuotoinen ideakilpailu, jossa parhaat – ja toivottasti toimivat – ideat palkittaisiin jotenkin. Hmm. Toisaalta en haluaisi ikina paljastaa mitaan juttuja ennen kuin ne on valmiita, mutta olen taman yhden lauseen kanssa niin jumissa etta muiden freesit ajatukset voisivat ainakin potkia omat aivot enemman liikkeelle jos ei muuta…
Pahoittelen muuten skandien, seka suomen oikoluvun mahdollisuuden puutetta...
Tuon taantuman huomaa myos siita etta iPodiin eksyy enemman suomalaista musiikkia. Kun selvittaa tietaan lapi aamuruuhkaisen Borough High Streetin ja kuulokkeissa pauhaa taysia Apulanta, kokee jotenkin selkeasti elamansa kahtiajakoisuuden. Miten onkin Suomeen niin ikava talla hetkella. Se on toi kesa. Ja tama masennuksenpoikanen. Noh, pitaa yrittaa sinnitella Heinakuun loppuun niin helpottaa…
Ihanaa kuitenkin, etta edessa on viikonloppu jona kalenteri nayttaa jokseenkiin tyhjaa. Jospa saisi vihdoinkin vahan jarkattya kotona juttuja joita ei koskaan ehdi jarkkailemaan. On myos kaikenlaisia keskenjaaneita projekteja joihin olisi kiva yrittaa puhaltaa uutta tuulta. Ja jos saa pysyy nain kivana voisi menna myos puistoon tai joenrantaan nauttimaan vahan elamasta ja auringosta. Toivottavasti nuo viikonlopun tunnit ei taas karkaa kasista. Niin kay nykyaan vahan liian usein… huomaa etta kaikki oma aika on hassattu johonkin taysin yhdentekevaan eika ole saatu mitaan jarkevaa aikaiseksi.
Mulle on tullut yon aikana joku omituinen mustelmantapainen ranteeseen. Sellanen pieni pyoree sinisenmusta juttu joka on keskelta selvasti punaisempi. Mikakohan verisuonenpoksaus siella on kayny, aika mysteeri. No ei ole ainakaan kipee ni ei niin haittaa, silti vahan ihmetyttaa.
Olen ihan yltiopaisen kateellinen tuolle uudelle toimittajalle joka on taalla nyt toista viikkoa. Se on taalla vaan kaks paivaa viikosta ja loput kolme tekee jotain omia freelance juttuja. Myoskin nayttaa ottavan tuollasia puolentoistatunnin lounastaukoja niina paivina kun on taalla… Se oikeen huokuu sellasta ‘elaman tasapainoa’... siina maarin etta tallaiselle suomalaisttain kateelliselle kyrailijaluonteelle tulee mieleen kaikenlaisia maanpallepudottamisfantasioita. Noh, pitaa varmaan kuitenkin yrittaa olla toisen puolesta iloinen ja ottaa ennemminkin ehka mallia omiin elamanmuutoksiin. Valittamisella ja toisten elaman kadehtimisella ei kai kovin pitkalle paasta.
Omista projekteista puheenollen, yksi verkkoon liittyva idea on niin pitkalla kehittelyvaiheessa, etta yritan varmaan viikonloppuna aloittaa varsinaisen rakentamisen. Mulla on vaan ajatus niin solmussa ideaan kiinteasti liittyvan sloganin osalta, etta se on hidastanut tata projektia jo jonkin aikaa. Mietin etta olisikohan tyhma ajatus laittaa blogiin pienimuotoinen ideakilpailu, jossa parhaat – ja toivottasti toimivat – ideat palkittaisiin jotenkin. Hmm. Toisaalta en haluaisi ikina paljastaa mitaan juttuja ennen kuin ne on valmiita, mutta olen taman yhden lauseen kanssa niin jumissa etta muiden freesit ajatukset voisivat ainakin potkia omat aivot enemman liikkeelle jos ei muuta…
Pahoittelen muuten skandien, seka suomen oikoluvun mahdollisuuden puutetta...
//posted by Marianne @ 11:16 0 comments
Thursday, 5 June 2008
Her pinkness
Today was pretty yawn-inducing and loooong. The weather outside is lovely though, it's nice to at least be able to see the sun, even if it's through an office window.
When I got home the new Glamour had finally arrived and with it came a surprise pressie in the form of Benefit Her Glossiness lip gloss. Yummy colour as well. Since it went so well with my yesterday's H&M purchases - a clutch bag and some colourful bangles and a weird necklace - I let them pose together. I think I'm slowly turning pink all over, must keep on eye on that...
Now it's already 8pm and I suppose I'd better start making some dinner. I don't know where all the hours in the day go. Oh, yes I do. Bummer.
Oh oh, one more thing. I got tickets for S, Riina and me to go to a picnic concert titled 'The music of Dirty Dancing' at Audley End House in July. :D I have no idea what it'll be like (lame most likely) but I couldn't miss the opportunity of spending some quality time with Riina, since the concert is practically at her doorstep. And in case you're wondering how I talked S into going... well the following day is our wedding anniversary, so he couldn't very well deny me some Dirty Dancing romancing could he! :P
//posted by Marianne @ 19:53 2 comments
Monday, 2 June 2008
Seashells on the seashore
How can it be Monday again already?? Perplexing. The weekend was quite nostalgic as we went back to Essex for a family party in honour of my father-in-law’s birthday. First though, on Saturday, we went for a quick walk around Southend to see how things have changed around there. A lot of development has been going on since the Uni came to Southend (which happened just after we moved out), and the seafront is looking quite posh these days. One thing that wasn’t there at all when I was down last time was a huge new building for New Look… it looked like shopping heaven! I didn’t get to go in though as apparently there wasn’t enough time… :|
I miss living by the sea, a lot. It’s something I think we’ll have to think about at some point. Even though we can get to the seafront in about an hour and a half from where we live now, it’s just not the same as walking out of your door and straight down to the front. Also since we moved to west London we’ve been quite far away from family. I miss the days when we could go out on the piss with Nikki and E without having to plan it all months in advance, or pop down for a Sunday lunch in Rayleigh more often. Having said that, I really like the area we live in and it’s good for S’s career prospects, but it is also so expensive that I don’t think we’ll ever to be able to buy a house, or even a flat, there. Which would mean possibly moving even further to the west… Not sure if I want to do that. Oh well, we’ll have to see how things go I suppose. I’m not completely opposed to the idea of one day returning to Essex though, providing we got reasonable jobs at a reasonably commutable distance… Ah, I don’t know. Will we ever ‘settle down’ anywhere I wonder??
The meal on Saturday night was good fun. It was nice to have everyone together for the first time in a long time. The drink and laughter flowed and the food was lovely. I took some photos but they’re all pretty much non-publishable. :D
When we got home yesterday we commenced a proper cleaning operation, which was long overdue. Even though it’s Monday today the thought of going back to a tidy flat and a bed with fresh sheets makes life just that tiny bit more bearable.
I miss living by the sea, a lot. It’s something I think we’ll have to think about at some point. Even though we can get to the seafront in about an hour and a half from where we live now, it’s just not the same as walking out of your door and straight down to the front. Also since we moved to west London we’ve been quite far away from family. I miss the days when we could go out on the piss with Nikki and E without having to plan it all months in advance, or pop down for a Sunday lunch in Rayleigh more often. Having said that, I really like the area we live in and it’s good for S’s career prospects, but it is also so expensive that I don’t think we’ll ever to be able to buy a house, or even a flat, there. Which would mean possibly moving even further to the west… Not sure if I want to do that. Oh well, we’ll have to see how things go I suppose. I’m not completely opposed to the idea of one day returning to Essex though, providing we got reasonable jobs at a reasonably commutable distance… Ah, I don’t know. Will we ever ‘settle down’ anywhere I wonder??
The meal on Saturday night was good fun. It was nice to have everyone together for the first time in a long time. The drink and laughter flowed and the food was lovely. I took some photos but they’re all pretty much non-publishable. :D
When we got home yesterday we commenced a proper cleaning operation, which was long overdue. Even though it’s Monday today the thought of going back to a tidy flat and a bed with fresh sheets makes life just that tiny bit more bearable.
Labels: my life
//posted by Marianne @ 10:07 0 comments
Thursday, 29 May 2008
The good and the bad
What a day it's been so far. To start with, the train was a complete nightmare in the morning. There were some problems on the line and all the fast trains were being diverted via Hounslow, which meant our train was so packed it was literally bursting at the seams. I spent the whole journey standing on someone's toes with my nose squished against a not-very-pleasant shoulder of a man with an itchy suit. Not my idea of fun at all.
The advertising manager is on holiday this week and I’ve been answering his (forever-ringing) phone. My god people who work in advertising/marketing are aggressive! With most of these people it’s like trying to have a conversation with a machine gun. Ugh. Can’t really wait for this week to be over and for my ear to cool down. A new journalist started today (she seems nice enough) and I’ve been setting up a new user account for her on the computer she’ll be sharing with Suzanne. Still waiting for her email account to be set up so I could get the machine all sorted. If IT support seemed bad at my previous job, here it’s pretty much non-existent. Support is outsourced to a company that’s meant to be fairly good, but the problem is that mac support, which pretty much just our department needs, is then outsourced by them to a further company. So nothing happens very fast when it comes to issues with macs.
But it's not all gloom. Today is finally THE day. The day when Sooz and I are going to go see Sex and the City: The Movie! In less than four hours in fact. Ooh can’t wait! I was supposed to dress a bit more ‘appropriately’ for the occasion but ran completely out of time in the morning so ended up looking more like a scarecrow. Let’s call it the ‘straight out of bed’ look. Yup. At least I re-did my pink nails last night.
Ooh! Just got an email that the lift is finally working. Thank fuck for that! It’s only been, what, a month? Longer maybe. The novelty of thinking how fit I’d get from running up and down between the 3rd floor wore off pretty quickly.
I might have accidentally placed an order with ASOS while I was twiddling my thumbs all on my lonesome in the office at lunchtime. It wasn’t a very big order, mind! There was just this gorgeous clutch in the sale, which I couldn’t resist…
The advertising manager is on holiday this week and I’ve been answering his (forever-ringing) phone. My god people who work in advertising/marketing are aggressive! With most of these people it’s like trying to have a conversation with a machine gun. Ugh. Can’t really wait for this week to be over and for my ear to cool down. A new journalist started today (she seems nice enough) and I’ve been setting up a new user account for her on the computer she’ll be sharing with Suzanne. Still waiting for her email account to be set up so I could get the machine all sorted. If IT support seemed bad at my previous job, here it’s pretty much non-existent. Support is outsourced to a company that’s meant to be fairly good, but the problem is that mac support, which pretty much just our department needs, is then outsourced by them to a further company. So nothing happens very fast when it comes to issues with macs.
But it's not all gloom. Today is finally THE day. The day when Sooz and I are going to go see Sex and the City: The Movie! In less than four hours in fact. Ooh can’t wait! I was supposed to dress a bit more ‘appropriately’ for the occasion but ran completely out of time in the morning so ended up looking more like a scarecrow. Let’s call it the ‘straight out of bed’ look. Yup. At least I re-did my pink nails last night.
Ooh! Just got an email that the lift is finally working. Thank fuck for that! It’s only been, what, a month? Longer maybe. The novelty of thinking how fit I’d get from running up and down between the 3rd floor wore off pretty quickly.
I might have accidentally placed an order with ASOS while I was twiddling my thumbs all on my lonesome in the office at lunchtime. It wasn’t a very big order, mind! There was just this gorgeous clutch in the sale, which I couldn’t resist…
Labels: my life
//posted by Marianne @ 14:21 6 comments
Friday, 23 May 2008
I'll shine for you
Woo bring on the Bank Holiday weekend! Passed for press without too much hassle and finally made it to the other side of press week. Once again.
I'm really itching to do some proper shopping tomorrow. Haven't had a girlie shopping day for ages. My model wanted to reschedule Sunday's shoot (I'm seeing a trend here...), which is probably for the better as Sooz is staying over (Eurovison night! :D) and it would be good to get going towards Dorset at a reasonable hour on Sunday. The forecast for Sunday and Monday looks shit, but ho hum, at least we have a hotel room to retreat to.
Righty ho, gonna go put my feet up now methinks!
//posted by Marianne @ 18:45 3 comments
Wednesday, 21 May 2008
A day of sticky surprises
Just found out that Antonia has landed a new posh job and is leaving in 6 weeks. It makes me sad since she’s really nice and now I won’t have the chance to get to know her better. When I came here for an interview my first impression was that this place was a bit stuffy and scarily similar to my old stuffy work environment. Antonia was the first person I met when she came to greet me and brought me up for my ‘test’. She was so nice and relaxed (and young!) that I thought, hmm, maybe it wouldn’t be so bad here after all… So it really bums me out that she’s leaving so soon after I started. Well, at least there’s leaving drinks to look forward to!
Heard from Matt today. Everything at the old office sounds like business as usual (it’s press week there as well). The usual entailing the not so pleasant atmosphere and difficult managers. In a way I really miss it there, especially certain people, but at the same time I’m also relieved that I don’t have to deal with that atmosphere anymore. Really should get around to arranging meeting up with folks from there though.
The weather is warming up, which is nice. It could kinda cap at about 20C, that would be warm enough to not wear a coat, but not so hot you melt commuting to work. I do hope the weekend will be nice though. Want to go to the seafront on our little trip, Weymouth or somewhere. I don’t know what it is with the sea; it just calms me down and makes me feel more complete.
Back from lunch. Can I just say: Oh. My. God. I decided to walk to House of Fraser at Monument as the weather was so nice, just to maybe pick up a new mascara. I was looking at pretty packages at the Benefit counter when a girl came over and asked if I wanted her to tell me about their new products. I hesitated just a nanosecond too long (while I was thinking that yes, I would actually like to know about that new product which is like benetint but isn’t benetint) and she managed to pin me down on a high chair and proceeded to slap stuff on my face at warp speed. I think I was in too much of a shock to move and just glazed over while she was fetching more and more product to rub on my face. Actually, on half of my face. Umm. I sat there thinking how on earth can I go back to work with half of my face covered with all sorts of stuff and managed to convey my worry to the girl. She was very understanding and decided to include the other half of my face in her experiment as well.
The end result? My face was completely orange and so shiny it could probably be seen from space, with some lovely red cheeks to boot, to give it that ‘healthy glow’, also known as the ‘clown look’. Nice. Obviously I hadn’t taken my makeup bag with me as I didn’t want to carry too much stuff on my trek over there so I had to sheepishly walk back to work with my shiny orange face trying hard to avoid catching anyone’s eye on the way. I’ve now managed to tone my ‘look’ down slightly with the help of tissues and a lot of powder, but I still feel oddly sticky… Talk about traumatic!
Having said that, I did in the end buy a benetint pocketpal (and got some free samples as well).
Heard from Matt today. Everything at the old office sounds like business as usual (it’s press week there as well). The usual entailing the not so pleasant atmosphere and difficult managers. In a way I really miss it there, especially certain people, but at the same time I’m also relieved that I don’t have to deal with that atmosphere anymore. Really should get around to arranging meeting up with folks from there though.
The weather is warming up, which is nice. It could kinda cap at about 20C, that would be warm enough to not wear a coat, but not so hot you melt commuting to work. I do hope the weekend will be nice though. Want to go to the seafront on our little trip, Weymouth or somewhere. I don’t know what it is with the sea; it just calms me down and makes me feel more complete.
Back from lunch. Can I just say: Oh. My. God. I decided to walk to House of Fraser at Monument as the weather was so nice, just to maybe pick up a new mascara. I was looking at pretty packages at the Benefit counter when a girl came over and asked if I wanted her to tell me about their new products. I hesitated just a nanosecond too long (while I was thinking that yes, I would actually like to know about that new product which is like benetint but isn’t benetint) and she managed to pin me down on a high chair and proceeded to slap stuff on my face at warp speed. I think I was in too much of a shock to move and just glazed over while she was fetching more and more product to rub on my face. Actually, on half of my face. Umm. I sat there thinking how on earth can I go back to work with half of my face covered with all sorts of stuff and managed to convey my worry to the girl. She was very understanding and decided to include the other half of my face in her experiment as well.
The end result? My face was completely orange and so shiny it could probably be seen from space, with some lovely red cheeks to boot, to give it that ‘healthy glow’, also known as the ‘clown look’. Nice. Obviously I hadn’t taken my makeup bag with me as I didn’t want to carry too much stuff on my trek over there so I had to sheepishly walk back to work with my shiny orange face trying hard to avoid catching anyone’s eye on the way. I’ve now managed to tone my ‘look’ down slightly with the help of tissues and a lot of powder, but I still feel oddly sticky… Talk about traumatic!
Having said that, I did in the end buy a benetint pocketpal (and got some free samples as well).
//posted by Marianne @ 14:33 2 comments
Tuesday, 20 May 2008
Lunchtime musings
While air conditioning is without a doubt a good thing to have in the office, it does also mean that you’re constantly freezing while indoors. It’s hard to dress for warm(ish) weather when you know that most of your day will be spent in an ice box. Or is that just our office… do other places have more reasonable air-conditioned temperatures? Hmm. I shouldn’t really complain too much, remembering the horror that was my previous non-air-conditioned office during the summer months. But why is it so difficult to obtain a humane and pleasant inside temperature, beats me.
I painted my nails hot pink last night. I haven’t really worn nail polish, other than french manicure, on my hands for ages. To jump right into such a strong hue seems a bit daring. I keep glancing down at my hands while I type and think that they look like somebody else’s hands. Freaky! I just couldn’t resist the pink bottle when I saw it yesterday. Will try to take a pic later when I get home.
In general I’m feeling better this week. The sadness is still there, somewhere in the background, but I feel like I’m more in control of it. The worst time is still just before falling asleep when suddenly these waves of despair appear from somewhere. I’ve been finding myself going to bed later, making sure that I’m tired enough to just pass out.
Looking forward to next weekend already. Have some retail therapy lined up on Saturday, and on Sunday I have a photo shoot scheduled. It’s the first shoot in a long time and will hopefully work as a catalyst to help me get going with my photography again. Am excited and a bit nervous, feels like a lifetime ago since I took any ‘proper’ pictures. Since Monday is a bank holiday, I booked us into a hotel in Dorchester for Sunday night. Will be nice to go for a little road trip and to get away from it all, if even just for a day.
It’s press week again so I should probably get on with it. Despite the pressure of deadlines, I kind of like press weeks. At least it means days go a bit faster since you’re busy and there’s no time to get overly bored…
I painted my nails hot pink last night. I haven’t really worn nail polish, other than french manicure, on my hands for ages. To jump right into such a strong hue seems a bit daring. I keep glancing down at my hands while I type and think that they look like somebody else’s hands. Freaky! I just couldn’t resist the pink bottle when I saw it yesterday. Will try to take a pic later when I get home.
In general I’m feeling better this week. The sadness is still there, somewhere in the background, but I feel like I’m more in control of it. The worst time is still just before falling asleep when suddenly these waves of despair appear from somewhere. I’ve been finding myself going to bed later, making sure that I’m tired enough to just pass out.
Looking forward to next weekend already. Have some retail therapy lined up on Saturday, and on Sunday I have a photo shoot scheduled. It’s the first shoot in a long time and will hopefully work as a catalyst to help me get going with my photography again. Am excited and a bit nervous, feels like a lifetime ago since I took any ‘proper’ pictures. Since Monday is a bank holiday, I booked us into a hotel in Dorchester for Sunday night. Will be nice to go for a little road trip and to get away from it all, if even just for a day.
It’s press week again so I should probably get on with it. Despite the pressure of deadlines, I kind of like press weeks. At least it means days go a bit faster since you’re busy and there’s no time to get overly bored…
Labels: my life
//posted by Marianne @ 14:15 2 comments
Sunday, 18 May 2008
Birthday girl
Sooz's birthday celebrations were rather restrained yesterday, due to my still aching head and the rubbish weather. We made up for it today though with a trip to the New Forest. Was a lovely day out and the sun even shone throughout. Will post photobloggy pictures in a minute. Yikes, also have to go to bed very soon! :O
//posted by Marianne @ 23:16 0 comments
Saturday, 17 May 2008
Uphill struggle
There's something lovely and fresh about the world after the rain. Everything seems cleaner and clearer for a little while.
It was a tough week. After an accidental collision with S on Tuesday night I had the worst headache of my life throughout the week. On Friday I finally went to see the doctor who told me I'd been suffering from a concussion. How weird is that. In a way it was a relief as I was starting to get worried that my eye had been perhaps damaged somehow. Luckily that wasn't the case.
Today is Sooz's birthday and we're expecting her round any minute. I've put pink decorations up and got some flowers and Barbie soap bubbles and pink butterfly plates. As you do.
It was a tough week. After an accidental collision with S on Tuesday night I had the worst headache of my life throughout the week. On Friday I finally went to see the doctor who told me I'd been suffering from a concussion. How weird is that. In a way it was a relief as I was starting to get worried that my eye had been perhaps damaged somehow. Luckily that wasn't the case.
Today is Sooz's birthday and we're expecting her round any minute. I've put pink decorations up and got some flowers and Barbie soap bubbles and pink butterfly plates. As you do.
//posted by Marianne @ 15:04 3 comments
Wednesday, 14 May 2008
What's the point
Feeling very anxious again. I had trouble sleeping last night, couldn’t switch my head off. Or not so much my head but this overpowering feeling of sadness. I don’t know… My thoughts run in a circle and I feel completely powerless. I feel like I’m losing focus on who I am.
What was lovely about going to Finland this time around was the sense of space and calmness. It was just what I needed right now. Now that feeling is already slipping through my fingers and there's no way of holding on to it. For me the essence of Finland is in the simplicity of things, the open spaces, simple architecture, the feeling of having enough room around you to really breathe properly. On the other hand, those are precisely the things that drive me out of Finland, the things that make me feel bored and restricted, and give me a sense that I’m missing out on something. In the UK I love the richness of everything, the crazy mish mash of intricate details everywhere, the mix of cultures, the hustle and bustle of people, the pace and the opportunities. At the moment I just don’t know whether my personal speed is really in sync with the life I’m living here at the moment. I yearn to slow down, to have time for my thoughts and ideas, to really concentrate on something that interests or fulfills me, for more than a few stolen moments here and there. I carry around with me this overwhelming feeling of dissatisfaction and I don’t really know how to fix it.
I should get back to work now. Although, to echo Marvin, ‘What is the point of it all…’.
What was lovely about going to Finland this time around was the sense of space and calmness. It was just what I needed right now. Now that feeling is already slipping through my fingers and there's no way of holding on to it. For me the essence of Finland is in the simplicity of things, the open spaces, simple architecture, the feeling of having enough room around you to really breathe properly. On the other hand, those are precisely the things that drive me out of Finland, the things that make me feel bored and restricted, and give me a sense that I’m missing out on something. In the UK I love the richness of everything, the crazy mish mash of intricate details everywhere, the mix of cultures, the hustle and bustle of people, the pace and the opportunities. At the moment I just don’t know whether my personal speed is really in sync with the life I’m living here at the moment. I yearn to slow down, to have time for my thoughts and ideas, to really concentrate on something that interests or fulfills me, for more than a few stolen moments here and there. I carry around with me this overwhelming feeling of dissatisfaction and I don’t really know how to fix it.
I should get back to work now. Although, to echo Marvin, ‘What is the point of it all…’.
Labels: my life
//posted by Marianne @ 14:07 1 comments
Friday, 9 May 2008
Last day of freedom
Since it was effectively our last day of holiday, we decided to rent a car on a whim. Financially not the most viable option but it was so worth it. It was lovely to have that sense of freedom, not being dependent on anyone to get us from point a to point b, even if it was just for a few hours. We drove to Kuusijärvi to enjoy the sunny day and silence. Had a little picnic by the lake.
Then we drove to Järvenpää to see Johanna and the gang. Olli and Aleksi are growing way too fast! It's scary. Aleksi was already speaking, to the extent of correcting Stu's Finnish pronunciation. :D
All in all, the day was a perfect ending to our little Finnish trip.
Then we drove to Järvenpää to see Johanna and the gang. Olli and Aleksi are growing way too fast! It's scary. Aleksi was already speaking, to the extent of correcting Stu's Finnish pronunciation. :D
All in all, the day was a perfect ending to our little Finnish trip.
//posted by Marianne @ 22:45 0 comments
Thursday, 8 May 2008
Roadtrippin'
Went for a trip down memory lane with Miikka. Was quite nostalgic to drive around the places of my youth.
The video is probably pretty boring to anyone else but me. Don't care. :P
Then we went to visit Annis and her growing bump. It's so strange how much has happened already while we've been away! Got treated to a lovely meal, as is always the case with Annis.
The video is probably pretty boring to anyone else but me. Don't care. :P
Then we went to visit Annis and her growing bump. It's so strange how much has happened already while we've been away! Got treated to a lovely meal, as is always the case with Annis.
//posted by Marianne @ 22:58 0 comments
Wednesday, 7 May 2008
Taxes and babies
Yesterday was the big tax office day. It went a lot more smoother than anticipated, only took about an hour or so to get all the forms filled and my massive stack of receipts sorted. And if the calculations are correct I should for the first time in a long time get a rebate. Woo. It pays to leave the country mid-year. :D It's a huge relief to get the last one of those difficult tax years sorted. A word of advice to anyone planning on living in a different country to where they work in: don't.
After the tax office excursion we went to see Elisa and Hilla. Hilla is a month old now but still very tiny and delicate. Gorgeous in every way really.
S and I had a go and trying not to drop her as well. :)
In the evening we met up with Dad, Karola and my brothers. I also invited Ride to come along as it was his birthday on Monday and despite all the good intentions we didn't manage to see him then. It was a fun night, highlights being Vesa's amazing card tricks! I'll post a video later if he gives me permission... I was very impressed indeed. Well, what can I say, we obviously must have brilliant genes in common... :P
After the tax office excursion we went to see Elisa and Hilla. Hilla is a month old now but still very tiny and delicate. Gorgeous in every way really.
S and I had a go and trying not to drop her as well. :)
In the evening we met up with Dad, Karola and my brothers. I also invited Ride to come along as it was his birthday on Monday and despite all the good intentions we didn't manage to see him then. It was a fun night, highlights being Vesa's amazing card tricks! I'll post a video later if he gives me permission... I was very impressed indeed. Well, what can I say, we obviously must have brilliant genes in common... :P
//posted by Marianne @ 09:43 0 comments
Sunday, 4 May 2008
Change of scenery
It was strange coming back to Finland. At the same time so familiar and normal, but also freaky as the fact that we don't have a home here any more really hit home and the whole thing became that much more real. I don't really regret any of the choices I've made in life, I've always believed that all the things you go through shape you into the person you are, but I can't deny that I felt a huge sense of loss when driving back from the airport and passing the junction to our old home. I had all these plans for the future and the visions always included living in that flat for some time to come. Letting go of it meant I had to let go of a lot of dreams. I think leaving that flat was ultimately a lot more difficult that leaving Finland 'for good'.
The weather has been gorgeous so far. We had a barbecue and a belated Vappu celebration on mum's patio with sima and tippaleipä. Mmmm lovely.
The weather has been gorgeous so far. We had a barbecue and a belated Vappu celebration on mum's patio with sima and tippaleipä. Mmmm lovely.
//posted by Marianne @ 21:32 0 comments
Thursday, 1 May 2008
May Day
Happy May Day to all you!
I'm getting text messages from people having a sunny May Day picnic in Finland, while sitting in a boring office over here in London. At least I can see the sun today! Hopefully it'll stick around for a bit... After the hot summery weekend the horrible rain throughout this week has been a bit of a slap in the face. Combine that with the nasty tummy bug I was suffering from at the start of the week and you can see that it hasn't been such a jolly week so far. Things can only get better though eh. Tonight we're off to Wembley Arena with Sooz to see Matchbox20. I'm looking forward to her making a fangirl-fool out herself for once and not me. :P
And then it's off to Finland. I'm soo loking forward to having a sauna! I really have to remember to get all my tax forms and receipts in order and also to actually take them with me. The schedule for next week looks quite scary. I've actually had to assign time slots for different tasks and people in my calendar! Judging by the hectically colour-coded look of the calendar it doesn't seem like much of a holiday. But I'm sure it will be, it'll be nice to get things done and to see people (new tiny people as well!) again.
But have to get through this day and a bunch of boring admin tasks first.
And now I'm going to attempt something I've never done before, send this to my blog via email. Fingers crossed... :D
I'm getting text messages from people having a sunny May Day picnic in Finland, while sitting in a boring office over here in London. At least I can see the sun today! Hopefully it'll stick around for a bit... After the hot summery weekend the horrible rain throughout this week has been a bit of a slap in the face. Combine that with the nasty tummy bug I was suffering from at the start of the week and you can see that it hasn't been such a jolly week so far. Things can only get better though eh. Tonight we're off to Wembley Arena with Sooz to see Matchbox20. I'm looking forward to her making a fangirl-fool out herself for once and not me. :P
And then it's off to Finland. I'm soo loking forward to having a sauna! I really have to remember to get all my tax forms and receipts in order and also to actually take them with me. The schedule for next week looks quite scary. I've actually had to assign time slots for different tasks and people in my calendar! Judging by the hectically colour-coded look of the calendar it doesn't seem like much of a holiday. But I'm sure it will be, it'll be nice to get things done and to see people (new tiny people as well!) again.
But have to get through this day and a bunch of boring admin tasks first.
And now I'm going to attempt something I've never done before, send this to my blog via email. Fingers crossed... :D
Labels: my life