Dogs Are Everywhere...

Two of my housemates are ridiculously obsessed with dogs. No matter how big or small, you are always aware of a dog in the vicinity purely by the squealing that ensues at the sight of them. Initially annoying and then somewhat endearing, this thrill at seeing a jolly dog jogging along has started to rub off on me. Everywhere I seem to look there are tiny puppies tucked under arms, little dogs running after balls and big dogs with their tongues lolling out. Each and every one I see now makes me smile and brightens my day just the tiniest bit. There’s nothing sweeter than a wet nose and a happily wagging tail.

Here's a photo of our old dog 'Rudi' who was always such a jolly chap. Looking very young and dapper here, taking a rest from raiding workmans lunchboxes!

Hand in Hand

My friend and I made a deal –amongst others- a couple of years ago when we first moved to Brighton. We aimed to meet on a regular basis and seek out all the great pubs that we would never end up finding with anyone else. The last little gem we found was Kemp Town’s ‘Hand in Hand’. Noted as ‘the smallest pub in Brighton’ with vintage newspapers on the wall, micro brewery out back and jazz on a Sunday; what more could you possible wish for? Chin Chin!

And breathe in...

So I joined the gym. Yeah I’m not sure why either. It’s costing me silly amounts of money I don’t really have and I’m not even that keen on exercise. However- exercise classes are included in this horrendous fee, of which Pilates and Yoga I frequent. At the risk of sounding incredibly middle class and airy fairy I must point out that I am doing these merely for medicinal purposes. My back and neck have always been an issue for me but I seem to find that a good stretch sorts me out. The first few lessons were somewhat bizarre- mainly due to all the heavy breathing that goes on. Having managed to refrain from laughing at this curiosity I stupidly invited a friend along to join me. One aghast glance from her set me off with the giggles and I nearly toppled over trying not to laugh out loud. Never again! Humorous exercise should only be undertaken in private.

Walking The Line

Maybe it's the child in me, but everytime I see any form of raised line - the division between pavement and cycle lane, low walls, the occasional disused rain track, I feel the need to walk along it. Palms outstretched to my sides and a curious wiggle as one foot is firmly planted infront of the other I can pretend I'm a gymnast balancing on a beam or merely a kid trying not to fall off a wall. Looks like Johnny Cash gets the same feeling.

Nostalgia

This week has been an odly nostalgic one, smells and sounds have transported me back to my childhood and bought back memories I'd completely forgotten. Here are a few of my stops down memory lane...

• Smelling banana shampoo in Body Shop made me grin madly to myself. Crouched on the floor- open bottle in hand reminded me of when having hair that smelt like bananas was the paramount of importance.

• Listening to Erik Satie- my aunt used to play one of his songs on my Granddad’s piano when I was tiny. I remember standing in the hallway just crying because it sounded so beautiful (I was a strange child!) hearing this music again at 21 still makes my stomach knot up and feel a little overwhelmed. Weird as I don’t usually like anything classical.

• Buying fennel tea only to find that the smell reminds me strongly of my Granny who inexplicably always smells of fennel. I remember wandering around in the garden at her old house picking at the chives and avoiding the fennel because it tasted too strong and liquorice-like.

More Japanese!

After my Japanese experience I realised how incredibly (and i’m going to extend this to all us Brits here at risk of offence) lazy we are at learning new languages. Strangely, at the same time of thinking this I was browsing Gumtree , I have become a slight addict of this amazing website. And on this said website was an offer of free Japanese lessons, so who am I to turn that down? I’ve had a months worth of lessons so far and although I’m learning slowly – the script is particularly confusing yet beautiful- I’m actually really enjoying it. I am aware that adding another language- I’m also currently trying to teach myself French on top of my degree- is a difficult task but I figure it’s another string to my bow and can only be useful.

Updates...

So I havent written anything in a Very long time- pretty poor effort on my part I think. Its nearing the end of the year and naturally I am looking back on what it has held for me- Ive had a pretty productive few months. The main highlight being:

My visit to the wierd and wonderful Japan...

Kinkaka-Ji / The Golden Temple in Kyoto

Bento style lunch complete with tuna sashimi, seaweed, sweet omlette and fried chicken

Hot springs / 'The Hells' in Beppu, Kyushu

Two lovely ladies out shopping in traditional dress

My trip mainly included eating lots of interesting food- a tremendous amount of Sushi and Sashimi as well as Tempura, copious bowls of noodles and Japanese curry and such delicacies as pigs heart. I vowed to try everything once so ended up eating both tongue and sea urchin. I recommend neither!

I managed to see one (and a half!) Geishas in the Gion district, visited the Manga and Studio Ghibli museum - home of these little guys-which made me very happy!




I also bathed in the Onsen / Hot Springs. A lovely yet unnerving experience as you have to get fully naked and being the only white girl makes you stand out and feel even more self concious. Still- it was an amazing experience and id love to go and do it all again!

Tim Walker and Stephen Jones

Sitting in a Starbucks today flipping through this months Vogue i notice that there are not one but two Tim Walker photo shoots featured. How lovely! I have no shame in saying that i absolutly love this guy. I want to step into his world and wander around amongst all the gigantic swans and golden eggs and mountains of bubbles. Im starting a photography project this semester and i think he is going to be my main focus- his work makes me very happy!

Following in a similar vain- things i love of a whimsical nature- i have found that Stephen Jones (hatmaker extroadinaire!) is having an exhibition in the V and A. Very, very excited about this seeing as i love anything hat related and find everything this man makes utterly beautiful!

Horoscopes

There seem to be hundreds if not thousands of horoscopes floating around on the internet, all giving you vague advice on what to do in order to better yourself. Having always been the kind of person who would love to put her faith into the hands of fate ive decided to give them a go. For each day this week i am going to conduct my own kind of experiment and act on what it says.

Monday-

Msn tells me to be sure to ‘attend a social event as i may meet some powerful people.' Interesting...im not too sure about this one but i give a yes to going out on Friday with a friend of a friend who i don’t know too well. Should be interesting...such event includes an evening of comedy and gay clubs. Could prove interesting!

Tuesday-

Today i am told that i should 'treat myself' and so i end up on asos.com buying two lovely dresses in the sale. im starting to feel a bit like 'yes man'. this sure better be worth it!

Wednesday-

Apparently today i should 'keep creative efforts under wraps' therefore i decline when my housemate asks if she can see the story ive been writing. To be honest- i would have said no anyway- its not finished and is a bit of a mess!

Thursday-

'engaging in eccentric behaviour' could 'alienate' me from 'the crowd'. it seems today i need to 'fit in'. hmm. not sure about this...i dont think im a particularly eccentric person...but at the same time im not going to take up jeans and ugg boots and talk about boys all evening. everyones off out tonight for a few cocktails and a dance so i shall keep an eye on myself! have had a very excited morning because my dresses arrived today and actually fit!! not sure which to wear tonight tho...such a dilemma! maybe the pink and green is too 'eccentric'!

Friday-

Today im told not to focus on material things. How contradictory! I shop for food- surely that doesnt count?!

Saturday-

I should 'march to the beat of my own drum' and not take a loved ones advice. This is relevent in no way- i tend to do what i think is best anyway (not in an annoying arrogant way- at least i hope not) and i dont have any kind of looming dilemma at the moment. However the days not over yet so i shall have to see!

Snowdays!!

so, 'bad weather' has 'gripped' the country. transport links have 'ground to a halt' and one man on BBC news felt the need to liken England to 'a third world country' (bleddy daily mail readers!) but i dont mind! snow makes everything about 95% more pretty, my assessment today was cancelled and i spent yesterday larking around in the snow and watching my housemate fall off 99p turkey tins in a bid to sledge down the beach. freezing toes and soggy knees are worth it for the fun!

entered my first writing competition the other day- not a particuarly big one but thought id 'get the ball rolling' as it were! was a short story comp and the only brief was that it had to give the reader a 'feel good factor'. cue scrunched up face! i wrote about lots of people going about their boring daily business then all stopping to enjoy a snow drift. was pretty cool if i may say so myself! have no chance of winning but im glad ive finally sent something as its one of those things i keep meaning to do.

http://www.writersreign.co.uk/

am loving being back in brighton- went home for christmas- i've missed all the quirkiness of the places and people here, my favourite being this little old lady who i often see feeding the seagulls and pigeons from one of those weelie trollies that old biddies almost alway seem to cart around. i always wonder who she is and why she feels the need to cater for many of the birds in brighton. on encountering her in town last summer i surreptitiously took a few photos on my phone, felt a bit like a stalkerish but im glad ive immortalised her somehow!

have recently decided to stop drinking- many reasons to do this. firstly- its expensive, secondly i am starting to get a beer belly (admittedly a small one but these things add up!) and also because pretty much every mistake i have ever made involves alcohol. im not an alki i promise and i can drink quite a bit since i started uni last year and im not one of those pukey slithering wrecks you see staggering around in heels and smudgy mascara on a friday night. however. i have recently found myself to be single, which is something im not entirely use to just yet; ive been pretty much spoken for since i was 15. and its only really now that ive realised that the kind of blokes i meet when im out are pervy, boring idiots. unfortunatly i am prone to finding out the nature of said men a day or two after kissing/giving them my number/giving them my name (damn facebook!) and ive decided this has to stop. i dont particuarly want a boyfriend. i dont want random sex. and i definatly dont want some irritating fool texting/calling me every five minute because he thinks we 'have a connection'. i know it sound cruel but i think its time to give it a rest and attempt to have normal nights (and days for that matter) out without it ending in disaster! the not drinking is going pretty well considering im a student...however i did dream of a pint of guinness the other night. oops!

soo...its a new year and all. ive given it a week- so as not to go overboard and make bizzare resolutions and i have decided on my plan of action of the year. it basically goes as follows and in no particular order...

make use of the stupid amounts of hats that i own and actually wear them (though i think the top and bowler may be exempt)

do ballet again

book my millinery course that i have been swooning over for ages but couldnt afford (still cant, oh well- overdraft!)

floss

try not to binge as much- eating whole packs of biscuits at once probably isnt that healthy.

write more

concentrate more in lectures, rather than doodling, giggling and napping

and thats it, for now! not sure any of them will stick but im going to have a go...