Who let the dogs out...

I slept for about 9 hours last night. Not lots I know but it certainly helped me catch up after only five hours of sleep the night before. In the shower I was listening to the radio and it was talking about a veterinary nurse who couldn't bear to see unwanted dogs put down (rightly so!) and so turned her home into a sanctuary for stray dogs. Apparently she now has about 38! Now a few years ago I would have baulked at that number and been horrified, however today I thought she was a saint and that I would emulate her if given the chance. Well maybe not me per se but my house for doggies! And maybe not 38, something like 6 would probably be more than enough. But its a lot more than I previously thought!

Its a sunny day so I may have a wander down to the wetlands area and see what I can spot after lunch. I took photos in Durham yesterday, but I'm not particularly happy with any of them, I would like to blame the sky but unfortunately its more likely that my own skills and creativity that are lacking. In other photography related news I am going to become a professional heelwork to music photographer and make millions (of half pennies ;~) to fund Karen's expensive dog habit (=P).

I did a lot of looking in town but nothing really took my fancy so didn't actually buy anything! Ah well. Feels like lunchtime now, even though I only had breakfast an hour ago (counterfeit crunchy nut cornflakes).

Opinions are immunity to being told you're wrong...

I went to church today and listened to Ben and Rick speak about growing fruit from your relationship with God and that bad things in your life will be pruned away if you ask God for help. I feel like a bit of pruning, particularly in my devotion of time would be very much appreciated!

Tuesday is my first exam (oh to be able to cut that out of my life =P) and I'm nervous yet not too scared, I feel ok and hope that a good question comes up. Doing the external reading of some funky papers has been way more useful than the lecture notes I made. Maybe I'm now getting to grips with reading for my degree, ah well better late than never.

I'm processing a few HDRs (my new favourite photography play thing), I really like the effect although it does make me want a tripod to try out night time shots. This summer I hope to get some really good photos of Chippa, probably in the Lakes as I think I may have to get good at dog shots for the future. =P I'd also like to have a real good go at some landscapes in the Lakes, I may even climb a mountain to pursue such an idea!

I'm really feeling attached to Sheffield at the moment, maybe its because I will be leaving for my MRes. I feel very connected with church and the general atmosphere, I didn't quite anticipate this when applying four years ago. I really hope I can come back here for some if not all of my life...

Nobody plans to be half a world away at times like these, so I sat alone and waited out the night...

I think I have blogger's block! Having made it to the magic 100 posts last week, my attention span has dwindled slightly. I shall hopefully be able to pick up in the near future to chronicle my trials and tribulations as I finish my undergraduate degree here at Sheffield.

I had a really good weekend at home, I took some pretty good photos of JB in action for his last game for DCHC which was enjoyable. I really like it when people like my photos. I sometimes have a sneak around facebook and see who's using photos I've taken as profile pictures and its occasionally rewarding. I'd love to turn my serious hobby into a little money earner one day. Maybe I'll get my chance, however as long as I am still enjoying taking photos I don't mind.

I am still in limbo regarding what challenges, both academic (hopefully!) and photographic, await next year. I am really liking the idea of a masters course I think as it will give me more experience, some more letters after my name, and a bit more of an insight into academia, which is where I would really like to stay. Whilst I'd have a hard time turning down a PhD offer from Oxford I'd have to have a serious think about what I really want to do, and equally importantly what's best for Karen and I.

I am scared of what happens if M has to bail on K and T, as its another thing that we really couldn't do with at the moment. Its very difficult to feel that there is a direction for any of us to go in at times like these but perseverence is key and new opportunities are worthwhile. I think I would like to end up in Nottingham as it'd be a whole lot easier for staying in close contact with Karen plus having C and J there would probably help me settle in to a new place.

My weight has decided to climb again, silly not being able to eat what I want. I shall go to the gym tomorrow and have an intense cardio session, maybe even 20 mins of running and biking! I want to get some weights I think, as Karen likes my arms when they are a bit more toned. Maybe I should buy something really heavy to lug about with me, such as a massive diamond ring, or a camera lens, or a dog!

One day Bertolli and fear of bears shall be shared...

And I'll take the first step of a million more...

-25 Facts-

1. I am a Christian and lead a Sunday school.
2. I have swam with tuna fish in the Red Sea.
3. I listen to a lot of music but would never describe myself as someone into it.
4. At various points in my life I have wanted to be: a farmer (tractors are cool), a sports journalist (sports are cool) and a linguist (linguists are cool). Currently I want to be (sort of am) a scientist (scientists are cool).
5. I have a strange obsession with being able to procrastinate and seem to be able to exhaust the internet of all its crappy flash games frequently.
6. I firmly believe that ice hockey is the best sport in the world.
   
7. I am rather accident prone and clumsy but have never broken a bone.
8. I feel happiest when I am outside (unless it is raining) taking photos and going on adventures with Karen.
9. I enjoy going on holiday to places with famous sporting arenas and pointing out that I have been to them once I return.
10. I hate spending money yet have very expensive tastes in, mostly pointless, gadgets.
11. I want to live abroad but haven't decided where, although Canada or the States would be a safe bet.
12. I have learned to like dogs and am rather excited about owning one in the future.
13. I got DNA and RNA mixed up in my Cambridge interview, pretty good show for a biologist really. =P
14. I have watched a shocklingly small number of films in my life.
15. I would like to make money from my photography but wouldn't want it to be a full blown career.
16. I own a ridiculous number of rucksacks (6 plus an extra camera bag).
17. I really like dark chocolate.
18. I think its much more fun to drive at night than in the day time.
19. I read far too many blogs and webcomics.
20. I like to cook and clean up afterwards!
21. For some reason I own three woolly hats.
22. I want to learn to ski and snowboard despite my abysmal sense of balance.
23. The most beautiful place I have ever been was the Sinai desert, seeing all the stars at night was fantastic. I also rode a camel, this was less fantastic.
24. I genuinely do want a pet minipig and would call it Jeremy.
25. I would still call Durham home but feel a very strong attachment to Sheffield and all the friends I have made in the past two and half years.
    
    
    
    I want to cheat and add a 26th thing.
    
    
26. I genuinely feel that I have met the love of my life and want to make the perfect proposal to spend the rest of my life with her. No matter what I am doing as long as I am doing it with her its the best thing in the world, it could be watching a sunset (we don't do sunrise =P) or watching the news, it doesn't matter.
    

The company you keep is what makes life worth living.

Carry this picture for luck, tucked in your pocket...

Today has been manic then depressive (Oh I am witty =S). Boulders was crazy this morning I can't believe how hyper and thus noise and badly behaved the kids were. Hopefully it is down to still being on a sugar high after Christmas and won't last. Although I did have suggestions that it was to do with the wind (weird or what?).

This afternoon and evening have been a more sedate (boring!) affair with my project inching towards conclusion although I still have a lot to do. I simply must get it finished by the weekend as I really really don't want to be still working on Monday afternoon.

I can't wait to get that first exam and project hand in over and done with then its only one more exam and a viva before the whole slog starts again except I have cleverly given myself three lecture modules in 2A. Hopefully my interest won't be my undoing.

I am really itching to get out and take photos despite it being incredibly windy today! I also love my new hat! Its super warm and I think I look amazing. If I am feeling frivolous I may even post a picture! I should probably start a photo a day album on my pbase at some point as I have heard so many people say they improve their photography; once exams are over I think I shall do that!

Karen get's back to Sheffield tomorrow so I am looking forward to just hanging out with her again. People keep asking when we are going to get married! I don't deal well with pressure but I feel warm and fuzzy that people think we should! =P

Keep your head still, I'll be your thrill, the night will go on, the night will go on, my little redmill...

Today has been a busy and confusing day. I have finally (I think) figured out what to do with my project but I have tried the stats tonight and they haven't gone anywhere. Ah well.

I took pictures in our lecture theatre today which was fun and a bit weird although I am happy to have some photographic reminder of where I have spend mornings the past 3 years.

I stumbled upon a couple of good photo sites (DPS and WeSay.com), I am getting a bit more excited about my new camera and hoping that I will be able to use it to its full potential and improve my photography as a result.

I am nervous about getting my abstract back tomorrow as I really need a good (65>) mark to give me any chance of getting near a first in this module. I'd love to be able to push and possibley sneak a first overall but I'm not sure if I have got too much ground to make up. However most importantly is my project, hopefully I shall be able to get something that I can discuss and get a really good mark in it to get on level four as I really want to stay in Sheffield as I am confident Karen will be here on the PGCE course.

I am off to be now, absolutely shattered.

This is my United States of Whatever...

Today it is sunny which is nice. I went to the gym and had a fairly comprehensive workout and a super hot shower.

I am just about to eat lunch and head into uni for an afternoon in labs/reading.

The weekend was fairly hectic what with waking up for winkle picking at 7am on Saturday and finally getting to bed after Pop Tarts at 2am on Sunday morning. Winkle picking was rather good fun and the weather was great although a bit windy. I did manage to get some photographs which I converted to jpegs last night and shall finish editing tomorrow most likely.

A woman from Hong Kong wanted to use a hockey photo I took in a publication but wasn't going to pay me for it so I had to politely decline. However it is nice that people like my photos.

The winkles are a pain in the arse - they don't like to show you their genitals which makes them annoying to sex although we do have more than enough for our experiments!

I am staying at Karen's tonight which I am looking forward to. Plus this weekend we get to go to the lodge and have a bonfire and fireworks and lots of scrumptious food yay!

Karen hasn't heard from Hallam yet and is a bit worried but I think it will be OK and hope and pray that she gets an interview because she definitely deserves one!

Anyway its lunch time and I sm starving.

Did you whisper in my ear, the things you want to hear...

Gah my laptop is annoying. Media player keeps dieing and I am rather desperate to actually hear some music rather than me tapping at the keyboard for a change. Sadly Karen's laptop died again but Dell have "graciously" agreed to fix it. Although they took their time about it, harumph.

Today was fairly up and down, Church was awesome, really great morning. I love to see the kids enjoying themselves. I really need to put in more time and thought with my planning because Martin's was genuinely top notch. Hockey was rather boring though, whilst a good work out, its clear that this season won't happen easily. Its going to be a struggle to be heard and whilst were clearly not the most important people in the club it'd be nice to have a bit more recognition, especially when you put in so much effort sorting things out and to then have them ignored.

Karen is really bored and it sucks that I couldn't be there to cheer her up because of trying to get my project done. Hopefully tomorrow will be better and she will enjoy looking at moorhen stuff. I really want her to enjoy her project even if her supervisor seems like a pain. Hopefully I shall be meeting Prof Butlin on Tuesday to talk about my winkles. I may even have a look at some papers beforehand!

My field course write up is going OK, I am fairly close to having a first draft done and then go over it all this week. Organisation is going to be tough this year as I have a lot to do between, Church, Work, Hockey and a social life! I'll try my best though.

We had a fun day on Saturday, we woke up late, went into town and pottered about and then went to Opal just to see Dazi, Ria and Chris who we hadn't seen for a week. We eventually left just after half 11 at night, having vaguely watched the Flintstones and Core and properly watched Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire which was entertaining. We also ate pizza so I feel fat this week, I may go to the gym tomorrow to row once Karen has gone off Moorhen spotting.

I am just about to edit some photos and send them to my first "client" a kayaker who I was shooting last weekend. Client is totally the wrong word as I was shooting whatever and she would like the photos. But I may someday have clients!

We have decided not to go to Southern Africa this Summer as it would be far too expensive (at least 2k) which is more than we can afford. However we are thinking of trying Morocco or Tunisia which will be very different! I am very much looking forward to it. We shall not only take some cool photos because we are good photographers, but we shall have an awesome time together which is the most important thing to me. I genuinely want to take in everything, even if we only went to the Lakes for a week I would try to get out from behind the lens more!

Anyway (not hoo!) I shall go and edit my photos.

What you feel is what you are and what you are is beautiful...

Finally got internet sorted today so no more scabbing the IC.

Kazz and I are talking on MSN, I feel better today although its still raining.

My TV tuner came yesterday although it won't fit in my laptop so that was useless. However once I get a PC it shall be used!

I made chocolate mousse today! I whipped my own cream which was a right task with only a tiny little whisk.

I want to get out and take some photos. May try that tomorrow night depending on weather and work.

Still listening too Goo Goo Dolls repeatedly...

You move through my soul like a hurricane wind...

I am back home now after a hectic journey yesterday.

Getting up at 6 after 3 hours sleep and navigating two airports, a but and two train stations is tricky when you want to fall asleep every time you site down.

Karen picked me up from the station and it felt so good to hold her in my arms again. Its like I have never been away. I love it.

We had karenlemonchicken last night and cake!!! She's amazing.

I am currently at home whilst allllllllllll my washing gets done.

I have to go to York on Thursday to talk about my job which shall be interesting. They have offered to pay for train fare so I may go first class. =P

I shall edit my photos ASAP too as hopefully my locust one has come out well.

Laughter is my soul's release...

Its finally over!


I am rather relieved. Had a great time in town with Kazz and a fun lunch with the Opal crew. Today we shall be going to the botanical gardens for ice cream and photographings! I love having nothing to do.

I get my new sunglasses tomorrow too!

Alton Towers is going to be ace. I really hope the weather stays nice.