I like you so much better when you're naked...

My first post of 2009 and start of the second calender year of blogging. How exciting!

I am now back in Sheffield and attempting to hurry on with my project and do some of that pesky revision, whilst trying to keep in constant contact with Karen, run a Sunday school and advance my photography. At least I have enough to keep busy.

The past two weeks have been great, really relaxing and I don't feel like I am too far behind with work either. I spent a few days at home when Karen came to visit and we did the typical studenty things, slept lots, ate lots, played on the wii and went to a garden centre (=S). Then we drove all the way to Preston to spend New Year's Eve there. It was a stark contrast to last year, when we spent it with some drunk Australians on the Charle's bridge in Prague! But by staying in we got to keep warm and watch lots of Planet Earth, which I think is Karen's best Christmas present if I don't say so myself. =P

On the 30th we met up with Karen's girl friends from School which was less nerve wracking than I made out to be. We had tapas and the food was good if not a bit expensive. I now officially have to say I like Chinese as much of this food was consumed on the 2nd but it was tasty tasty and I felt very stuffed afterwards! Kazz and I took Chippa to the beach for a run and I got to play with the faster frame rate on my D300 which is going to be so useful for sport once I get the hang of the autofocus system. I have taken just over 900 photos in two weeks which I am rather impressed (shocked!) with. Sadly this rate of photographising will diminish due to revision but I have two weeks after exams with only my viva thing to worry about so I will be making the most of getting out and getting more practice!

Karen has her PGCE interview tomorrow which is both exciting and scary. I am really very proud of her for being confident enough to do it! Seeing how keen she is to succeed and how much enjoyment it brings is great. I am going to write my prayer diary now and head over for some final interview prep. =D

Could it be that everything goes 'round by chance, or only one way that it was always meant to be...

Today has been a pleasant day.

I spoke to a couple of potential supervisors in my department in preparation for applying for level four. I am very much liking the sound of working with sheep on coat colour and pattern and the linkage between the two. I am also looking forward to dissertation in a scary sort of way as Burke appears to be a most decent and helpful chap.

I did a bit of photo editing last night using the new colour boosting technique (Lab colour boost) and created this:


I am currently looking at programs to organise my photos, I want something that will allow me to rate and tag shots so I can look for stuff efficiently.

Karen and I are fervently planning Karen and Simon Christmas which is getting more exciting by the second! I can't wait to giver her her amazing present tehe. I should really wrap it up!

New Year is to be spent in Newton, which is great as we may well have the house to ourselves leading to fun and frolics cooking and photoing! David picks my D300 up on Thursday so I am looking forward to getting that and playing with my new toy!

Work is ticking along and is getting done, hopefully we shall have our poster done by Wednesday night at the latest.

I successfully cooked carbonara for my tea tonight which I am very proud of and I got 68 for my fieldcourse write up from MSJ which I count as a pretty good achievement considering my stats were "terrible".

Anyway back to procrastination!

Say whatever you want 'cos I can laugh it off...

Its been a very up and down for week for reasons mostly related to my own short-comings.

I am determined to enjoy the last three weeks of term despite having a substantial amount of work to do and revision to start. I do however have my mind firmly fixed on Christmas and New Year. I can't wait to see my folks again and spend some time away from Uni, I am feeling a it sick of my housemates as they are not living up to my ridiculous ideals. I am looking forward to being cooked for and doing minimal washing up oh and clean clothes and heated house!

Karen is coming to mine on the 27th and we shall have Rio to drive about in! Although I shall take us places in our car to avoid Kazz having to pay for petrol if posssible! I can't wait for festive fun food! New year is going to be awesome too, having Karen's house to ourselves to play married couple will be fun and much food and drink shall be consumed and hopefully a lot of baking will be done!

I am also getting my new camera soon, I really want to improve my photography and eventually turn it into something more than a hobby. I already have a business partner waiting for me!

Next week I shall attempt to finish most of my project write up and get the majority of my poster done. Hopefully I will have a good mark for my abstract from two weeks ago too!