Hihi, I have finally started lectures at the University of the West of England for an MA in Journalism! We've already got stuck in and I'm currently forgoing my weekend and catching up on some homework, having ill-advisedly spent my free weekdays not doing any work.
We started with an introductory lecture on Media Law and Ethics, followed by a seminar and then a three hour Journalism Writing workshop, where we discovered the joys of "dalek chairs" (which I've just found out is actually the Node by Steelcase). After whizzing around like small children for a bit, we were paired up and set the task of interviewing our partners. With no preparation. Just like that.
Yeah, it was kind of hard.
I'm now writing up the scribbled intro and notes, attempting to form a coherent article, yet realising I have a number of gaps that only further interviewing would be able to fill. Top it off with the fact my partner, Aaron, already known as Rowing Guy, has forbidden me from mentiong the r-word in my article.
As well as the packed day on Tuesday, we had a 9 - 4(ish) workshop yesterday on Multimedia Journalism. Again, thrown totally into the deep end by being instructed to pair up and get vox pops from people on campus about the recent controversy caused by Tesco and Asda releasing (and subsequently withdrawing) some poorly thought out Halloween costumes. We had a few minutes to prepare, but Nicole and I were pretty nervous and kept dithering near people, not knowing whether they'd react well to being approached. Listening back to all the vox pops everyone had recorded, we were told we'd clearly drawn the short straw with the rather...odd responses we received. It's ok, we'll get a further opportunity to practice on Monday, when Nicole and I are heading out to the streets of Bristol to start our homework of recording more vox pops and a short interview. Goodness knows what it's going to be on!
Right, probably time to get back to work, or else I'll be drowning in it come Tuesday.
Oh yes, on a side note, the buses in Bristol are awful. Get good, Wessex. Thanks.
Saturday, 28 September 2013
Sunday, 1 September 2013
Correct Country
Hi, Internet. I have been back in the correct country for a little while, having returned from Malaysia. I am excited to start my new course, MA Journalism, later this month, but until then I have very little to do so I've been trying to tackle my Steam backlog and get some reading done. Currently working my way through Deus Ex: Human Revolution, which is fairly enjoyable (save for the ludicrously difficult bosses). Made a trip to the library to help my younger sister find some books to read; we ended up with a large stack of books and she is getting through them far quicker than I am. Since I started university, I've not read as much as I used to and when I do read, I do so at a more leisurely pace.
I'm back in London for a few days as I went to see Franz Ferdinand play an album launch show, was good fun! It's pretty exciting to see someone live for the first time when you've listened to them for 10 years, plus their new album is rather good. I'm going to the BBC Proms tomorrow with my family and then it's back to Bristol for me, until the end of term, most likely.
Lastly, here is a drawing I did last week when my brain decided it needed a break from sneaking around corners sniping people in the head:
I'm back in London for a few days as I went to see Franz Ferdinand play an album launch show, was good fun! It's pretty exciting to see someone live for the first time when you've listened to them for 10 years, plus their new album is rather good. I'm going to the BBC Proms tomorrow with my family and then it's back to Bristol for me, until the end of term, most likely.
Lastly, here is a drawing I did last week when my brain decided it needed a break from sneaking around corners sniping people in the head:
Monday, 17 June 2013
Green Tea Panna Cotta
Adapted from a BBC Food recipe
The other day, I decided that I wanted to make something with green tea in, so I scoured the internets and found a recipe for panna cotta. I had some Vege Gel (vegetarian gelatine) left over from making jelly for a vegetarian friend, so I thought I would have a go at adapting the recipe to make it veggie-safe.
Serves 2
Ingredients:
- Half a sachet of Vege Gel (one sheet of leaf gelatine)
- 50ml milk
- 200ml double cream
- 2 heaped tablespoons sugar
- 1 green tea teabag (I used green tea with peach infusion)
- Generous sprinkling of cinnamon
Directions:
1. Grease two ramekins with sunflower oil.
2. Add milk, cream, sugar, teabag, cinnamon and Vege Gel to a saucepan and mix.
3. Heat the mixture at a low temperature and graduaally bring it to a boil, then remove it from the heat.
4. Pour into ramekins and leave to cool.
5. Chill for at least four hours in the fridge.
The other day, I decided that I wanted to make something with green tea in, so I scoured the internets and found a recipe for panna cotta. I had some Vege Gel (vegetarian gelatine) left over from making jelly for a vegetarian friend, so I thought I would have a go at adapting the recipe to make it veggie-safe.
Serves 2
Ingredients:
- Half a sachet of Vege Gel (one sheet of leaf gelatine)
- 50ml milk
- 200ml double cream
- 2 heaped tablespoons sugar
- 1 green tea teabag (I used green tea with peach infusion)
- Generous sprinkling of cinnamon
Directions:
1. Grease two ramekins with sunflower oil.
2. Add milk, cream, sugar, teabag, cinnamon and Vege Gel to a saucepan and mix.
3. Heat the mixture at a low temperature and graduaally bring it to a boil, then remove it from the heat.
4. Pour into ramekins and leave to cool.
5. Chill for at least four hours in the fridge.
Monday, 27 May 2013
Various Drawings
Don't worry, I haven't given up on the 30-day challenge yet...just struggling to find a photo to work from. In the meantime, have some other drawings:
Finally, a creative-technical-type friend of mine discovered an interesting website that allows you to earn skill patches for real-life skills. While some of the challenges seem restrictive, I am tempted to try out a couple so I have a starting point to work from, but I really should finish the 30-day challenge first.
Finally, a creative-technical-type friend of mine discovered an interesting website that allows you to earn skill patches for real-life skills. While some of the challenges seem restrictive, I am tempted to try out a couple so I have a starting point to work from, but I really should finish the 30-day challenge first.
Friday, 10 May 2013
30-Day Art Challenge - Day #2: Draw a figure from a reference
Challenge details
After about an hour crowdsourcing ideas for who to draw (no thanks to you, BUNCS - Spongebob Squarepants is NOT a person), I settled on Gendry from Game of Thrones, but I couldn't find a suitable photo. I ended up with this but he was doing something funny with his eyes and I was sick of looking for pictures so I decided to draw Arya Stark instead.
The figure itself wasn't too difficult, aside from the heavy jacket, but it was a real challenge making the face look like Arya. First it looked like some kind of teenage version of her, so I scrapped that and redrew it. I still don't think it's quite right, but it'll have to do. I think it was just difficult to draw a face so small, since I am used to drawing portraits of people that only include the face. In addition, I usually draw men so transitioning to drawing a girl was a bit odd. Anyway, here she is:
Looking at it now, the shoulder is also a bit wonky, but her clothing pretty much covers her figure up so much that it is hard to distinguish what is going on.
After about an hour crowdsourcing ideas for who to draw (no thanks to you, BUNCS - Spongebob Squarepants is NOT a person), I settled on Gendry from Game of Thrones, but I couldn't find a suitable photo. I ended up with this but he was doing something funny with his eyes and I was sick of looking for pictures so I decided to draw Arya Stark instead.
The figure itself wasn't too difficult, aside from the heavy jacket, but it was a real challenge making the face look like Arya. First it looked like some kind of teenage version of her, so I scrapped that and redrew it. I still don't think it's quite right, but it'll have to do. I think it was just difficult to draw a face so small, since I am used to drawing portraits of people that only include the face. In addition, I usually draw men so transitioning to drawing a girl was a bit odd. Anyway, here she is:
Looking at it now, the shoulder is also a bit wonky, but her clothing pretty much covers her figure up so much that it is hard to distinguish what is going on.
Sunday, 5 May 2013
Let's Get Down to Business
Business...busy-ness. Get it?
Ahem. I'll see myself out.
Back in London now to look after the small person while mum does jury service. I will resume the drawing challenge tomorrow. Yesterday was a bit hectic with packing and seeing people and today was mostly spent on trains reading Game of Thrones.
I've signed up for a couple of Coursera courses that start on Monday and the Monday after, so we'll see how those go.
Finally, I've booked my tickets to go to Belgium to see a friend who did an Erasmus year at Bristol when I was in first year, yay!
Ahem. I'll see myself out.
Back in London now to look after the small person while mum does jury service. I will resume the drawing challenge tomorrow. Yesterday was a bit hectic with packing and seeing people and today was mostly spent on trains reading Game of Thrones.
I've signed up for a couple of Coursera courses that start on Monday and the Monday after, so we'll see how those go.
Finally, I've booked my tickets to go to Belgium to see a friend who did an Erasmus year at Bristol when I was in first year, yay!
Thursday, 2 May 2013
30-Day Art Challenge - Day #1: Self-portrait
Challenge details
First day, and I did this at silly am because who needs to go to bed early when you haven't got anything to get up for? I drew this from a photograph. Max is a giant cat that belongs to my cousins. I went for this mainly because I like kitties, so an actual cat in my self-portrait is perfect :D I got a bit bored after drawing the face and went scribbly, which has led to an inconsistency in detail - not the intended effect.
I'm not entirely sure how to approach this challenge. I mainly draw with pencil or a fine felt-tip pen, but the styles I use for each method of working are quite different. If I want to improve, I feel that I should use the same medium for all the challenges, but but but I want to draw with a pen as well! I could do both, but I'm far too lazy for that, so I think I'll stick with pencil for now and perhaps find a different challenge to do with pen at a later date.
First day, and I did this at silly am because who needs to go to bed early when you haven't got anything to get up for? I drew this from a photograph. Max is a giant cat that belongs to my cousins. I went for this mainly because I like kitties, so an actual cat in my self-portrait is perfect :D I got a bit bored after drawing the face and went scribbly, which has led to an inconsistency in detail - not the intended effect.
I'm not entirely sure how to approach this challenge. I mainly draw with pencil or a fine felt-tip pen, but the styles I use for each method of working are quite different. If I want to improve, I feel that I should use the same medium for all the challenges, but but but I want to draw with a pen as well! I could do both, but I'm far too lazy for that, so I think I'll stick with pencil for now and perhaps find a different challenge to do with pen at a later date.
Thursday, 25 April 2013
Typing
Due to the cable on my gaming mouse dying, I am currently using an ambidextrous mouse that isn't nearly as comfortable. Combined with the bizarre way in which I type, I am now putting an awful lot of strain on my right index finger. While touch typing involves using all of your fingers to cover the entire keyboard, I use my right index finger to cover just over half the keyboard, leaving my left hand to add in letters that are just too far for my right hand to reach. I also type at around 80wpm, going up to 100wpm at full speed. Given that my poor finger is doing most of the work, my joints are not too happy with me at the moment.
To take some of the load off, I decided to learn to touch type properly. This is currently not working too well, as I am now typing at around 15wpm. It is also incredibly frustrating to be forced to type at a much slower speed than I am used to, so I keep finding myself reverting to my old method, but switching in my middle finger. This isn't ideal either, as I will just end up putting too much strain on a different joint. It seems that I have muscle memory in my whole right hand, enabling me to type with any one of my fingers in addition to using my left hand. I've been typing like this for over 10 years now, so this is a pretty difficult habit to break.
I am going to keep on practising touch typing and hopefully I can get up to at least half of my original typing speed by the end of next week...and then in May I will be sent a replacement for my mouse so I will have significantly reduced the stress on my finger. I am fairly sure it's the combination of using this old mouse and my unusual typing style that has led to the joint pain, so eliminating at least one of the factors will hopefully be enough. I don't really want to do myself any permanent damage, especially as I play guitar and piano, so if I can get my touch typing speed up (to speed...heh) I'll be a lot happier.
In other news, I've been quiet since I was away visiting family in NYC and Kansas. It was good fun and really great to meet some cousins closer to my age. Since I've returned to Bristol I have played many board games and I am getting through my list of tasks to do.
To take some of the load off, I decided to learn to touch type properly. This is currently not working too well, as I am now typing at around 15wpm. It is also incredibly frustrating to be forced to type at a much slower speed than I am used to, so I keep finding myself reverting to my old method, but switching in my middle finger. This isn't ideal either, as I will just end up putting too much strain on a different joint. It seems that I have muscle memory in my whole right hand, enabling me to type with any one of my fingers in addition to using my left hand. I've been typing like this for over 10 years now, so this is a pretty difficult habit to break.
I am going to keep on practising touch typing and hopefully I can get up to at least half of my original typing speed by the end of next week...and then in May I will be sent a replacement for my mouse so I will have significantly reduced the stress on my finger. I am fairly sure it's the combination of using this old mouse and my unusual typing style that has led to the joint pain, so eliminating at least one of the factors will hopefully be enough. I don't really want to do myself any permanent damage, especially as I play guitar and piano, so if I can get my touch typing speed up (to speed...heh) I'll be a lot happier.
In other news, I've been quiet since I was away visiting family in NYC and Kansas. It was good fun and really great to meet some cousins closer to my age. Since I've returned to Bristol I have played many board games and I am getting through my list of tasks to do.
Thursday, 14 March 2013
Today I Learned: Walking Edition
Today I went for a walk. Not just any walk though, a "brisk walk"! Under doctor's orders, I will be doing more exercise, so after dismissing the idea of sneezing into the UBU swimming pool for an hour, I took my doctor's suggestion of going for a walk.
Now, I regularly walk around Bristol, but I was told it had to be 30 minutes of "brisk" walking to bring my heart rate up. I wondered to myself, since I already walk much faster than the average person, does that not count? I suppose not, as it doesn't make me break out into a sweat, which is what Dr G said should happen. So...I plotted a vague route, taking in the popular joggers' spot of Durdham Downs, checked the temperature outside and set off.
It was awful. Truly, truly awful. The one thing I didn't account for was wind chill. Looking at a couple of websites, three layers were recommended for walking, but I'd only gone for two, which definitely didn't help. Walking across the flat downs with gusts of wind attacking me was pretty bad, so I detoured down some residential roads. In addition to the other ailments that plague me, I have asthma triggered by cold (among other things), so that just amped up the pain factor. Luckily, I had the good sense to take my inhaler, so it wasn't too bad.
Aside from being uncomfortable, it was rather dull. I took to jogging for a few minutes to break the monotony. As pleasant as the streets in the Syned Park area are, walking down them just isn't that interesting.
So, what did I learn?
1. Check the wind chill factor before going outdoors.
2. Three layers!
3. Residential roads are less painful than the Downs.
4. As soon as I shake off this everlasting cold, it's time to start swimming again.
Now, I regularly walk around Bristol, but I was told it had to be 30 minutes of "brisk" walking to bring my heart rate up. I wondered to myself, since I already walk much faster than the average person, does that not count? I suppose not, as it doesn't make me break out into a sweat, which is what Dr G said should happen. So...I plotted a vague route, taking in the popular joggers' spot of Durdham Downs, checked the temperature outside and set off.
It was awful. Truly, truly awful. The one thing I didn't account for was wind chill. Looking at a couple of websites, three layers were recommended for walking, but I'd only gone for two, which definitely didn't help. Walking across the flat downs with gusts of wind attacking me was pretty bad, so I detoured down some residential roads. In addition to the other ailments that plague me, I have asthma triggered by cold (among other things), so that just amped up the pain factor. Luckily, I had the good sense to take my inhaler, so it wasn't too bad.
Aside from being uncomfortable, it was rather dull. I took to jogging for a few minutes to break the monotony. As pleasant as the streets in the Syned Park area are, walking down them just isn't that interesting.
So, what did I learn?
1. Check the wind chill factor before going outdoors.
2. Three layers!
3. Residential roads are less painful than the Downs.
4. As soon as I shake off this everlasting cold, it's time to start swimming again.
Monday, 11 March 2013
Watercolours
Right, I've been suffering from some sort of dreaful lurgy on-and-off over the last month, hence the delay in updating. I am currently tucked up in bed reading the entire internet and feeling rubbishy, unfortunately.
A few weeks ago, I started a painting class at Bristol Folk House to fill up my time. The main focus is botanical watercolours, so we started off drawing flowers and went on to painting flowers and leaves. I've mainly used acrylics before, so this is fairly different, plus the delicate nature of watercolours is somewhat at odds with my scribble-madly-all-over-the-place style. That said, it's good fun and I am enjoying being in a classroom, makes a nice change from the impersonal lectures I've had for the last few years.
This is the first painting I did, of a closed-up rose. I took my rose home in the hope it would open up a bit so I could practise...it sort of did, but the centre remained steadfastly closed, which was a shame.
The second painting is of the same rose, after the outer petals fell away a bit. Posted it to mum for mothers' day; she was pleased with it!
A few weeks ago, I started a painting class at Bristol Folk House to fill up my time. The main focus is botanical watercolours, so we started off drawing flowers and went on to painting flowers and leaves. I've mainly used acrylics before, so this is fairly different, plus the delicate nature of watercolours is somewhat at odds with my scribble-madly-all-over-the-place style. That said, it's good fun and I am enjoying being in a classroom, makes a nice change from the impersonal lectures I've had for the last few years.
Thursday, 14 February 2013
Not final year!
Hello Internet! It's definitely time for an update...I've left my course for various reasons, which means I will be graduating in July with a BSc in Computer Science (oh my, I actually have a degree now). I haven't written anything for a while, but I'm currently working on the latest edition of Rebellious Jukebox for Intuition, so that will be out in a couple of weeks.
So, what am I actually doing with my life? At the moment I'm volunteering at an Oxfam bookshop in Bristol and I'll be starting a watercolour painting class next week. I also need to get some driving lessons, which I'm sure will be terrifying on the ridiculous hills of Bristol. I'm treating this as a gap year of sorts, with the intention of starting a different masters course in September or going into the scary world of work and becoming a real person.
I've done a little bit of drawing to break in my new sketchbook but it hasn't made it onto my computer yet, so that will appear online eventually. In the meantime, have a digital drawing of a quetzal. I have a small backlog of photographs from Christmas to sort through as well. My 40D is currently still in London due to me being far too small to carry things on trains so I haven't taken many photos since my A700 is slowly dying. I'm plodding through a roll of film but the awful weather recently has made me shy away from using up colour exposures on drab photos taken out of my window.
Right, now I'm going to wallow in my dressing gown and play Pokemon Pinball (yes, I got my old Gameboy Colour out of storage) as I have a terrible cold so I can't bear the though of going outdoors today.
So, what am I actually doing with my life? At the moment I'm volunteering at an Oxfam bookshop in Bristol and I'll be starting a watercolour painting class next week. I also need to get some driving lessons, which I'm sure will be terrifying on the ridiculous hills of Bristol. I'm treating this as a gap year of sorts, with the intention of starting a different masters course in September or going into the scary world of work and becoming a real person.
I've done a little bit of drawing to break in my new sketchbook but it hasn't made it onto my computer yet, so that will appear online eventually. In the meantime, have a digital drawing of a quetzal. I have a small backlog of photographs from Christmas to sort through as well. My 40D is currently still in London due to me being far too small to carry things on trains so I haven't taken many photos since my A700 is slowly dying. I'm plodding through a roll of film but the awful weather recently has made me shy away from using up colour exposures on drab photos taken out of my window.
Right, now I'm going to wallow in my dressing gown and play Pokemon Pinball (yes, I got my old Gameboy Colour out of storage) as I have a terrible cold so I can't bear the though of going outdoors today.
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