1. What did you do in 2010 that you’d never done before?
Bought property in the UK.

2. Did you keep your new years’ resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
My resolution for 2010 was 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‘. I definitely achieved the emancipation, no doubt about that. I haven’t really had time to enjoy it all yet though, it’s been such a whirlwind of a year. Very very satisfying, but hard work none the less. For 2011 my resolution is to build on what ever success I achieved in 2010, but also work on getting the balance in my life right. To have more time for family and friends. To take better care of myself. And to properly ENJOY the ride.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Seems like everyone is on their 4th round already. 2010 was the year where I completely lost the plot on what’s happening in ‘normal life’.

4. Did anyone close to you die?
No.

5. What countries did you visit?
France, Finland and ALL over the UK.

6. What would you like to have in 2011 that you lacked in 2010?
Some downtime with friends.

7. What date from 2010 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
12th of August when we finally completed on our new flat. It was a long road, but it was such a relief to finally be able to step through our own front door.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Finally resigning from the ‘day job’ and becoming a  full-time photographer.

9. What was your biggest failure?
Not being able to balance work and life.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
I had an accident in May where I pulled the ligaments in my ankle. This having happened right at the beginning of the busiest wedding season meant that I had to work through some horrid pain over the summer.

11. What was the best thing you bought?
A home.

12. Whose behaviour merited celebration?
Susanna continued to be a rock. I also am very appreciative of all the support I’ve gotten from Stu this year, it never goes unnoticed even if I don’t always remember to express my gratitude.

13. Whose behaviour made you appalled and depressed?
I think I’ve grown a pretty thick skin this year as a result of having to deal with customer service. Not many things affect me negatively any more, but sometimes lack of respect can sting.

14. Where did most of your money go?
Home, home, home. Can you say ‘money pit’.

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Jesh de Rox Life {as an artform} workshop. My new floor. Seeing Imogen Heap live – twice.

16. What songs will always remind you of 2010?
Citizen Cope – Fame.

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder? Happier x 1000.
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. (No change from last year there!)

19. What do you wish you’d done less of?
Over-delivering.

20. How did you spend Christmas?
Christmas Eve at home with Stu. Boxing Day with Stu’s family.

21. How did you spend New Years?
At home surrounded by boxes of office stuff while S stripped wallpaper.

22. Did you fall in love in 2010?
Possibly fell more in love with witnessing love.

23. How many one night stands?
0.

24. What were your favourite TV programmes?
Good Wife, True Blood, Vampire *cough* Diaries.

25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
I’ve been disillusioned with a lot of people.

26. What was the best book you read?
Emma Donoghue – Room. So so good.

27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Really should make more of an effort with new music… Sebastien Schuller, Rebekka Karijord, Florence + the Machine.

28. What did you want and get?
Work for myself successfully. Grey walls and wooden floor in my own home.

29. What did you want and not get?
iPad.

30. What was your favourite film of this year?
Inception.

31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
Woke up in a little room in a Chateau in rural France after having photographed Alix & Manu’s wedding the previous day. Spent the rest of the day on a scary trip home. Turned 34 (which looks completely insane in black and white).

32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Lack of pain.

33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2010?
Pyjamas vs. black.

34. What kept you sane?
Succeeding. Which proved I wasn’t insane to attempt it.

35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Colin.

36. What political issue stirred you the most?
Burn a Koran Day man. Although ‘stirred’ is a bit strong. Wikileaks.

37. Who did you miss?
Everyone. Especially Miikka.

38. Who was the best new person you met?
Maz and the girls from WWJD camp. Rosie. Lots of lovely people I’ve got to know through Twitter. And so many awesome clients.

39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2010.
Be authentic and it will resonate with the right people.

40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
Your love is better than ice cream
Better than anything else that I’ve tried
And your love is better than ice cream
Everyone here know how to fight

And it’s a long way down
It’s a long way down
It’s a long way down to the place
Where we started from

Your love is better than chocolate
Better than anything else that I’ve tried
Oh love is better than chocolate
Everyone here knows how to cry

It’s a long way down
It’s a long way down
It’s a long way down to the place
Where we started from...
Sarah McLachlan – Ice Cream

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

Since I archive my digital files by year/date, it wasn’t exactly an adventurous task for me. The archives on my HD’s start from 2004, everything before that is archived on discs. So, this is how I landed on this picture, titled ‘Love Overdose’. It was taken on 21.12.2004.

This was taken at a time when I was starting to experiment with studio flashes. The fact that I could produce high key images made me quite delirious, up to the point where most of the shots from then now look over-exposed to me. Seeing this again, the original tone seemed very blue. So this task prompted me to correct it a bit.

(Just remembered I’ve done a similar one before a couple of years’ ago.)

1. Put your iTunes/Napster/Zune Player/WinAmp/etc on shuffle.
2. For each question, press the next button to get your answer.
3. YOU MUST WRITE THAT SONG NAME DOWN NO MATTER HOW SILLY IT SOUNDS!
4. Tag 10 or more friends who might enjoy doing this as well as the person you got it from.

IF SOMEONE SAYS “IS THIS OKAY” YOU SAY?
I can’t believe it’s not love!

WHAT WOULD BEST DESCRIBE YOUR PERSONALITY?
Reacharound

WHAT DO YOU LIKE IN A GUY/GIRL?
Grey gardens

WHAT IS YOUR LIFE’S PURPOSE?
Bloodbeat

WHAT IS YOUR MOTTO?
Silent all these years

WHAT DO YOUR FRIENDS THINK OF YOU?
Better do better

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT VERY OFTEN?
Losing my mind

WHAT IS 2+2?
Free until they cut me down

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR BEST FRIEND?
Children in bloom

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE PERSON YOU LIKE?
Get home

WHAT IS YOUR LIFE STORY?
The rain must fall

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GROW UP?
Passing by

WHAT DO YOU THINK WHEN YOU SEE THE PERSON YOU LIKE?
Open your eyes

WHAT DO YOUR PARENTS THINK OF YOU?
Talking to strangers

WHAT WILL YOU DANCE TO AT YOUR WEDDING?
Unsung psalm

WHAT WILL THEY PLAY AT YOUR FUNERAL?
Hypnotize

WHAT IS YOUR HOBBY/INTEREST?
Sweet religion

WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST SECRET?
Martha’s foolish ginger

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR FRIENDS?
Close up

WHAT’S THE WORST THING THAT COULD HAPPEN?
False alarm

HOW WILL YOU DIE?
Help me Mary

WHAT IS THE ONE THING YOU REGRET?
Confessions of a teenage girl

WHAT MAKES YOU LAUGH?
Dark side

WHAT MAKES YOU CRY?
Primitive

WILL YOU EVER GET MARRIED?
No cheap thrill

WHAT SCARES YOU THE MOST?
The letter

DOES ANYONE LIKE YOU?
Special needs

IF YOU COULD GO BACK IN TIME, WHAT WOULD YOU CHANGE?
Chasing cars

WHAT HURTS RIGHT NOW?
Calling love

WHAT WILL YOU RE-POST THIS AS?
Pleading my time

–

I’ll pass this on to anyone who feels like doing it!

(bold the ones you’ve done)

01. Bought everyone in the bar a drink
02. Swam with dolphins
03. Climbed a mountain
04. Taken a Ferrari for a test drive
05. Been inside the Great Pyramid
06. Held a tarantula
07. Taken a candlelit bath with someone
08. Said “I love you” and meant it
09. Hugged a tree
10. Bungee jumped
11. Visited Paris
12. Watched a lightning storm at sea
13. Stayed up all night long and saw the sun rise
14. Seen the Northern Lights
15. Gone to a huge sports game
16. Walked the stairs to the top of the leaning Tower of Pisa
17. Grown and eaten your own vegetables
18. Touched an iceberg
19. Slept under the stars
20. Changed a baby’s diaper
21. Taken a trip in a hot air balloon
22. Watched a meteor shower
23. Gotten drunk on champagne
24. Given more than you can afford to charity
25. Looked up at the night sky through a telescope
26. Had an uncontrollable giggling fit at the worst possible moment
27. Had a food fight
28. Bet on a winning horse
29. Asked out a stranger
30. Had a snowball fight
31. Screamed as loudly as you possibly can
32. Held a lamb
33. Seen a total eclipse
34. Ridden a roller coaster
35. Hit a home run
36. Danced like a fool and didn’t care who was looking
37. Adopted an accent for an entire day
38. Actually felt happy about your life, even for just a moment
39. Had two hard drives for your computer
40. Visited all 50 states
41. Taken care of someone who was drunk
42. Had amazing friends
43. Danced with a stranger in a foreign country
44. Watched whales
45. Stolen a sign
46. Backpacked in Europe
47. Taken a road-trip
48. Gone rock climbing
49. Taken a midnight walk on the beach
50. Gone sky diving
51. Visited Ireland
52. Been heartbroken longer than you were actually in love
53. In a restaurant, sat at a stranger’s table and had a meal with them
54. Visited Japan
55. Milked a cow
56. Alphabetized your CDs
57. Pretended to be a superhero
58. Sung karaoke
59. Lounged around in bed all day
60. Played touch football
61. Gone scuba diving
62. Kissed in the rain
63. Played in the mud
64. Played in the rain
65. Gone to a drive-in theatre
66. Visited the Great Wall of China
67. Started a business
68. Fallen in love and not had your heart broken
69. Toured ancient sites
70. Taken a martial arts class
71. Played D&D; for more than 6 hours straight
72. Gotten married
73. Been in a movie
74. Crashed a party
75. Gotten divorced
76. Gone without food for 5 days
77. Made cookies from scratch
78. Won first prize in a costume contest
79. Ridden a gondola in Venice
80. Gotten a tattoo
81. Rafted the Snake River
82. Been on a television news program as an “expert”
83. Gotten flowers for no reason
84. Performed on stage
85. Been to Las Vegas
86. Recorded music
87. Eaten shark
88. Kissed on the first date
89. Gone to Thailand
90. Bought a house
91. Been in a combat zone
92. Buried one/both of your parents
93. Been on a cruise ship
94. Spoken more than one language fluently
95. Performed in Rocky Horror
96. Raised children
97. Followed your favorite band/singer on tour
98. Passed out cold
99. Taken an exotic bicycle tour in a foreign country
100. Picked up and moved to another city to just start over
101. Walked the Golden Gate Bridge
102. Sang loudly in the car, and didn’t stop when you knew someone was looking
103. Had plastic surgery
104. Survived an accident that you shouldn’t have survived
105. Wrote articles for a large publication
106. Lost over 100 pounds
107. Held someone while they were having a flashback
108. Piloted an airplane
109. Touched a stingray
110. Broken someone’s heart
111. Helped an animal give birth
112. Won money on a TV game show
113. Broken a bone
114. Gone on a photo safari
115. Had a facial part pierced other than your ears
116. Fired a rifle, shotgun, or pistol
117. Eaten mushrooms that were gathered in the wild
118. Ridden a horse
119. Had major surgery
120. Had a snake as a pet
121. Hiked to the bottom of the Grand Canyon
122. Slept for 30 hours in a 48 hour period
123. Visited more foreign countries than U.S. States
124. Visited all 7 continents
125. Taken a canoe trip that lasted more than 2 days
126. Eaten kangaroo meat
127. Eaten sushi
128. Had your picture in the newspaper
129. Changed someone’s mind about something you care deeply about
130. Gone back to school
131. Parasailed
132. Touched a cockroach
133. Eaten fried green tomatoes
134. Read The Iliad and The Odyssey
135. Selected one “important” author who you missed in school, and read
136. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
137. Skipped all your school reunions
138. Communicated with someone without sharing a common spoken language
139. Been elected to public office
140. Written your own computer language
141. Thought to yourself that you’r
e living your dream
142. Had to put someone you love into hospice care
143. Built your own PC from parts
144. Sold your own artwork to someone who didn’t know you
145. Had a booth at a street fair
146. Dyed your hair
147. Been a DJ
148. Shaved your head
149. Caused a car accident
150. Saved someone’s life

1. This year it’ll be 10 years since I first moved to England. I have no idea where that time has gone. It’s petrifying.

2. I don’t really drink alcohol anymore. I think I more than consumed my share when I was younger and at some point I just realised that, actually, I really don’t like the feeling of being drunk anymore. Occasionally, when the mood is right, I do still get drunk, but it doesn’t happen very often at all.

3. I recently saw a very inspiring TV show where Rankin was re-creating famous fashion photographs, from the likes of David Bailey and Cecil Beaton, in his own style. When he was making his own version of a photo by one of my personal icons, Guy Bourdin, I caught myself thinking ‘Hmm I would have done that differently’. Followed instantly by a sense of embarrassment over subconsciously criticising the work of one of my favourite photographers. Then I got a bit upset. Because something was suddenly very clear to me. I want to be a photographer. That’s what I want to do in life. And I got upset because I’ve wasted so many years trying to deny it for no apparent reason. One thing’s for sure though. I’m not wasting one more minute.

Picture: RANKIN. HOMAGE TO GUY BOURDIN – UNTITLED

4. I’m at my most awake in the evening/at night time. No matter how many hours I sleep I’m always dog tired in the morning.

5. I get lost in my thoughts easily. And also, when I’m concentrating on something I can’t really hear or see what’s happening around me. People sometimes take that for rudeness.

6. I create too much work for myself. And then complain about it. :P But it does mean that I very rarely get ‘bored’ (except if it’s slow in the office where I can’t control my environment, that’s soul-destroying), I always have something to do.

Well, there you go… not very riveting things but at least there’s 6! :D I think this has done the rounds in all the blogs that I read so I won’t pass it on to anyone else…

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
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZEB5Ypqg34A]

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.

When I’m down, down, down.
When I’m down, down, down.
Damien Rice – Eskimo

Elikkä, haaste kuuluu “Paljastan viisi omituista tapaani. Tämän jälkeen valitsen seuraavat viisi ihmistä, jotka haastan tekemään saman perästä. Heidän tulee myös kirjoittaa nämä säännöt merkintäänsä. Linkitän haastamani ihmiset tämän merkinnän loppuun ja käyn ilmoittamassa heidän kommenttilaatikkoihinsa haasteesta ja tästä merkinnästä.”

Jaa-a, mitäköhän omituisia tapoja meikäläisellä sitten mahtaisi olla…

1. Rakastan uusia lehtiä, niiden tuoksia, sivujen siisteyttä ja sitä odotuksen tunnetta kun en vielä tiedä mitä sivuilta imestyy. Yritän välttää tilanteita joissa joku toinen saattaisi päästä käsiksi lehteeni ennen kuin olen lukenut sen. En toki suoraan kehtaa kieltää ketään lukemasta lehteä jota en vielä ole avannut, mutta toimenpiteen seuraaminen suorastaan raastaa sydäntäni. :D

2. Jalkani vispaavat lähes aina, etenkin sängyssä. Mies aina valittaa tulevansa merisairaaksi.

3. Jätän syödessä aina ‘parhaan palan’ viimeiseksi. Tämä tuottaa harmia silloin jos vatsa ehtii täyttyä ennen kuin pääsee sinne parhaaseen osaan saakka…

4. Ajattelen enimmäkseen englanniksi tai ainakin englannin lauserakenteella, tämä tekee suomen kirjoittamisesta hidasta, mietin koko ajan onkohan tämä nyt oikein.

5. Rakastan ja keräilen kaikkea lapsellistä krääsää, kuten tarroja. Pienet söpöt jutut voivat piristää päivääni kummasti.

Jaa, olipas hankalaa miettiä mitään omituisuuksia. Ehkä olen vaan liian normaali tälläisiin juttuihin. :P

Eteenpäin laitan tämän kaikille, jotka eivät ole vielä kyselyyn vastanneet, mutta jotka palavat halusta niin tehdä!

In the meanwhile, while the blog’s been out of action, I received this lovely rose award from Kutri. Thanks very much!

I also received this ‘art award’ from Bisquits for best photography, for which I’m very honoured! (I later received another one of these from Lehtokotilo, thank you!)

I’d like to pass both of these awards onto couple of my favourite blogs. For gorgeous photography to Kortteja Kaliforniasta, Unikuva and Liivian talossa. And for entertaining me with their hilariously funny and brilliant writing, Dallas Pullaa and Tyttö sinä olet rätti.

Despite the hosting kerfuffle, it has been a pretty good week so far. I’ve got possible clients lined up, Jenni’s coming over on Thursday and we’re off to see Antony and the Johnsons on Friday. Yay.

Right, have to try to sort some dinner out now.

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?