Ma Vie En Photos

Final Post....

2010-09-09T14:35:00.004+01:00

Ma Vie En Photos was a lovely project idea which I simply couldn't carry through.

The sad fact of the matter is that this year, I've had days where nothing, simply nothing, has been worth photographing; great swathes of time where I haven't left the house, punctuated by events of frenetic activity from which choosing just one photo would have been impossible!

Instead of bringing me happiness, this blog was simply becoming a guilty burden as days went by where I didn't update it. So I've decided to leave it unfinished, open and still available to browse through when I fancy it, but unfinished.

I have a different project which will be much easier to maintain, and hopefully be more fun.

Red Top Hat

2010-04-04T23:22:00.000+01:00

Me, modelling an awesome red top hat in Beyond Retro, Brighton. If it was green, it would be the best hat ever.

Box of American Treats!

2010-04-03T10:00:00.001+01:00

My friend Annie sent this box of amazing American treats for my Prom birthday!

Slytherin New Rocks!

2010-04-02T19:34:00.000+01:00

Becca gave me a pair of black and silver New Rocks which she didn't want...I swapped the laces out for green ones and HEY PRESTO, amazing boots perfect for the Slytherin Head Girl!

Kitten 1 goes walkabout...

2010-04-01T22:10:00.002+01:00

How cute is this kitteh?!

Kitten 2 - a.k.a Runty!

2010-03-22T12:33:00.000Z

This is my current fave kitten, number 2, the runty one. He/she is so ugly and cute and adorable!

Kitten 1

2010-03-21T23:25:00.001Z

Kitten 1 falls asleep in my hand :)

Snuggle time

2010-03-20T23:14:00.000Z

Sleepy kitties!

Painting Hogwarts...

2010-03-19T22:53:00.000Z

Rachel and I painted about 95% of the backdrop for my Birthday Prom Photos tonight!

Tentacle V 2.0!

2010-03-18T23:16:00.001Z

2nd prototype tentacle ear-stretcher, as modelled by me :)

Hiding under the bed

2010-03-17T20:24:00.001Z

Celia moved all the kittens to under Phil's bed the other morning - I have no idea why, but suspect it may have been to do with the fact that there had been too many people in the living room for her taste! Just snapped this one of her :)

Seedlings

2010-03-16T20:21:00.000Z

Check out the seedlings! Aren't they doing well? Will be able to plant them out in the window boxes before long...

Tea in the Garden

2010-03-15T19:08:00.001Z

Rachel and I had tea from a thermos in the Garden in the early evening today - lovely.

No Photos Please!

2010-03-14T12:49:00.000Z

Kitten 2 is shy of the paparazzi :P

PDSA

2010-03-13T16:32:00.001Z

This is where I spent the afternoon volunteering - such a great charity and such good fun to work there!

Tentacle!

2010-03-12T12:42:00.001Z

Proto-type tentacle ear-stretcher which I made today! :D

Feeding Time!

2010-03-11T22:23:00.004Z

One happy Mummy, three hungry kittens :P

Celia's Family

2010-03-10T11:51:00.002Z

Here's Celia's happy little family - Kittens 1, 2 and 4. Kitten 3 was very sadly stillborn :( Very sad. Celia seems to be OK with this now, although for the first day she did wander round calling for him quite a bit. Expect a lot more kitten photos in the days to come! :D

Newborns!

2010-03-09T09:33:00.002Z

Two of Celia's three kittens fight for a nipple! Kitten 1 is the dark one and Kitten 4 is the ginger :)

Cat Midwives

2010-03-08T22:13:00.000Z

Celia and Morgan on the sofa - Celia had pretty much gone into labour at this point, heavy purring and the very occasional contraction. She was snuggling with us on the sofa and enjoying lots of belly rubs.

The Petty Concerns of Luke Wright

2010-03-07T22:49:00.000Z

Had a wonderful evening this evening. Met up with my friend from the days of UEA, Luke Wright, and had a lovely dinner (thanks to him!) and then went to see his current show at the Komedia with Phil. As ever, he is a genius and I can't recommend his show enough!

Fail

2010-03-05T15:02:00.001Z

I have to apologise for the glaring gaps in the photo updates.

The digital camera's cable which enables me to transfer the photos from said camera to my laptop has gone walkabout which is really, really annoying :(

Seeds

2010-03-03T17:19:00.002Z

Barnaby and I bought loads of gardening gubbins from the 99p store earlier and this is a photo of one tray of peat pots filled with seeds! We'll be planting them up in window boxes when they've sprouted!

Celia Again!

2010-03-02T17:22:00.002Z

Celia's in the last week of her pregnancy now, bless her and she's really getting big and unwieldy :)

Smile With Your Eyes!

2010-02-27T22:22:00.000Z

This is what happens if you take ask me to pose for a photo when I'm in the middle of doing something else :) "Smile with you eyes" said my friend Dawn and this was the result! We were all dressed up as doctors and nurses for a medical themed night out!

Disgusting knee!

2010-02-23T15:57:00.003Z

Here is my gross and yucky knee from falling arse over tit on Western Road on Saturday night/Sunday. I was running like a complete idiot in very high spirits and took a mighty tumble. It really, really hurts!

Fridge message...

2010-02-22T23:33:00.001Z

I wrote this on the fridge to stop my night-time munchies!

Grazed Knee!

2010-02-21T12:46:00.000Z

This is my wonderful graze which I got last night. It actually hurts a lot more than it looks like it should!

Bunny and Me

2010-02-18T01:00:00.001Z

Curses Bunny and I take a photo together in bed to send to Phil who is far away in the land of Scotland with work.

Inside Out Bookshop

2010-02-17T13:10:00.003Z

The most random second-hand book shop I've ever seen. Adventure in Lewes with Becca (and a place with a castle I'd never been to before which we visited too) today, and saw this in one of the little streets!

Posey

2010-02-16T18:50:00.000Z

Dusting in my bedroom today - Porcelain Posey looks on unimpressed...

Valentines

2010-02-14T16:18:00.000Z

Mine and Phil's Valentines cards :)

Cat Snuggles

2010-02-13T23:57:00.002Z

Myself and Vince send you pre-valentines snuggles from the warmth and comfort of the bed :)

Celia Vs Dreads

2010-02-12T21:22:00.000Z

Celia has a nibble of my dread-kit. Omnomnom.

80's Pyjamas

2010-02-11T21:53:00.004Z

Me, modelling my new Rainbow Brite pyjamas, brought for me yesterday by my friend Taz. I unfortunately have some kind of stomach bug and have been in bed all day, except when I've been being sick :( Gross. Nice pjs though, eh?

Pirate Nails

2010-02-10T22:26:00.003Z

What do you do when your boyfriend is away in London with work? Give yourself a manicure and watch scary movies, that's what you do.

Church

2010-02-09T18:06:00.000Z

St Peter's Church, in the sunset. Lovely, isn't it?

Tarot

2010-02-08T23:41:00.001Z

Practice makes perfect - read my housemate's Tarot this evening.

Door

2010-02-07T16:11:00.002Z

This is the back of my bedroom door. It's perhaps a little adolescent with all it's postcards and pictures, but it's a bit like a collage of my life :)

Prescription

2010-02-06T17:06:00.000Z

I've been tidying my room and though it might be nice to share some of the oddities and pretties I have.

This is a prescription sheet from a genuine Mental Asylum which was given to me by a very good friend. It's on my wall in my room, and I love it so much.

Big Belly...

2010-02-05T13:50:00.002Z

Celia relaxes as her belly gets bigger with kittens!

Dungeon Keys

2010-02-04T22:00:00.002Z

The keys to my friend's Dungeon, which he has left me in charge of for 3 weeks while he's on holiday. *evil chuckle*

Missing Medication

2010-02-03T16:20:00.000Z

This is the medication I forgot to take yesterday. I should take 25mg of it every day, but somehow, with the news of Jasper, I just forgot :(

Kitteh turns her back on you!

2010-02-02T17:49:00.001Z

I went to have tea with my friend Alfie today and met her cat Lula, who is very camera shy!

Jasper

2010-02-01T23:48:00.002Z

This morning, my parents took Jasper, their cat since 1996 to the vets. He's been gradually declining in health over the last few years - teeth problems which meant he wasn't eating properly, general old age stuff. He's been treated and rallied, time and time again. But recently he's sickened again and lost lots of weight, been very disorientated, slept all the time. The vet found a tumour on his liver, the size of a golf ball which had developed very rapidly - it was actually big enough to be felt through his fur. So the vet gave them the option of a steroid shot which will help him get through another few days, or letting him go. They chose the latter.

They were given time to say goodbye, just the three of them and then the vet came back to give him the injection. My parents were with him at the end and he went gently into that good night.

The photo of the day was not taken today - it was last year, when he was warming his bones by the fire in my parents house.

But it's still my photo of the day.

Love you Jasper, you will be sorely missed. Thank you for the time you gave us. Sleep well, Little Man xxxx

Cake in Berlin

2010-01-31T23:50:00.002Z

Been scanning loads of old photos from school and college and adding them to Facebook this evening. This is probably my favourite - me, eating the biggest piece of chocolate cake known to man (and one of the tastiest) in a square in Berlin, on a field trip from St Vincent in 1998.

The Moon, Part Deux

2010-01-30T20:31:00.003Z

The Moon tonight, which is clearly not full, despite what my Emily The Strange calendar would have me believe.

Beautiful.

The Moon

2010-01-29T16:49:00.000Z

This, believe it or not, is the most bright Full Moon in 15 years. Yes, it's ruined somewhat by my crappy camera phone.

Look into my eyes...

2010-01-28T16:28:00.000Z

Me, just before heading out for tea with my friend Sean - which turned into drinks at the Caroline and was an excellent evening out - after listening to Jack Off Jill while getting ready. Black contact lenses for the win! :D

Sealing Wax

2010-01-27T23:26:00.002Z

This is a photo of our friend's wedding invite which arrived this morning! It has been entirely handmade by the bride-to-be. Although my camera-phone doesn't capture it very well, it really is lovely. There's even a wax seal on the envelope!

How exciting!

Grumpy Vince

2010-01-26T23:57:00.007Z

Vince is very grumpy at the moment because Celia is being fed special make-kittehs-faster-and-better food (Whiskas Kitten Food) and he wants in. Naughty Vincenzo.

Sorority Life

2010-01-25T21:23:00.002Z

This ridiculous "game" on Facebook has started to take over my actual life! I'm up to Level 17 in less than 2 days already. Cripes.

TWINKIE!

2010-01-24T21:01:00.000Z

This is me nomming my first and probably last ever Twinkie! :D

Sausages!

2010-01-23T20:07:00.002Z

This yummy healthy salad features three handmade sausages from a packet mix from Asda of all places! Phil made them for dinner and they were LOVELY!

Latex Nurse from the past...

2010-01-22T22:22:00.004Z

Ok, so I confess: This photo wasn't taken today. Phil's camera is playing up and seems to think it has no room left on it for photos, which is very much untrue but it won't listen to me. HOWEVER, this is the photo I would have taken today and it's just by sheer luck that I already have one just like it. I've actually spent quite a bit of time today researching the care of latex, washing the garments I own, drying them, powdering them and storing them away carefully. Oh, and trying them on :)

Lace me up

2010-01-21T14:00:00.000Z

During the tidying of my wardrobe today, I managed to locate most of my corsets and waist cinchers which I relaced properly, as included in my list of 100 things to do before I'm 30. There's a pink tutu thrown in for good measure!

Latex Love

2010-01-20T23:00:00.004Z

My amazing friend Becca gave me this awesome military green latex dress this evening! She's moving house and has sorted out a bunch of things she no longer needs - and very kindly thought of me when it came to this wonderful creation! I heart it so much!

Tiny Soldiers

2010-01-19T22:28:00.002Z

Today's photo is rather nice - a wicked necklace made out of buttons and toy soldiers that Hannah-May gave me for Christmas, and which she is using in part of her coursework. Took this photo to send her just now.

Tidy Shelves, Tidy Mind?

2010-01-18T23:21:00.001Z

In an attempt to make myself feel better I started sorting out and tidying my walk-in-wardrobe. I only managed the top shelf, but it does look nice now.

Staring At The Ceiling

2010-01-17T13:22:00.002Z

Felt really down and depressed all day. Lying in Phil's bed, staring at the ceiling.

Team Edward at the DOY!

2010-01-16T23:56:00.002Z

Went to a 23:59 back-to-back showing of Twilight and New Moon with friends at our local art-house cinema. It was great. We sat in comfy seats and drank Martini and giggled our way through to the 4:30am finish time!

The Stunning Ceiling

2010-01-15T12:39:00.002Z

That's the ceiling in the ballroom where we've been spending our evenings watching TV and knitting. Oh, I love saying that! :D The huge room was restored and redecorated by the V&A Museum!

Pop Tart!

2010-01-14T20:02:00.000Z

Pudding in the ballroom tonight - Rocky Road ice cream and S'mores Pop Tart! Never had one before. Verdict? Not bad :)

You rang, my lord?

2010-01-13T19:44:00.000Z

I'm on an adventure with my friend Hannah-May in an incredible Regency Flat for the next few days. This is the (not working) servants bell system in the basement near the kitchen door. For more photos and a proper right-up, see my main blog!

I Heart Phil

2010-01-12T21:15:00.002Z

The heart-shaped puff-pastry pizza and home-made potato wedges which I made for Phil's tea this evening :) He said it was delicious.

Mostly Haunted...

2010-01-11T23:50:00.002Z

Watching Most Haunted in bed in the dark - not especially conducive to happy dreams. Good dreams, but reasonably scary ones. Poor old Yvette looks as terrified as me!

A Pint Of Ale.

2010-01-10T19:26:00.003Z

This is me cautiously taking the first sip of a pint of real ale - Greene King IPA to be exact - at a pub in Chichester after the ballet. It was one of the things on my list of 100 things to do in 100 days before I'm 30.

Faux Snow Boarding!

2010-01-09T23:50:00.001Z

This is my boyfriend Phil, about to zoom down a frozen slope at Hove Park, on our friend Mike's old skateboard deck. AWESOMES!

We DEMAND hot tea!

2010-01-08T17:35:00.000Z

Barnaby returned from a week away in London with family today - and brought his Xmas/Birthday gifts home with him. Among them, this amazing Terrorist Tea Pot!

Fridge

2010-01-07T23:35:00.000Z

During my epic clean of the kitchen today, I cleaned our fridge out and scrubbed the insides until they gleamed. Then I put everything back neatly. Phil, Barnaby and I each have a nominal shelf - can you work out which is which?

We obviously need to go shopping too - but the snow is going to make that difficult...

The Garden at twilight...

2010-01-06T19:40:00.000Z

It snowed again in Brighton, so Phil and I went for a walk around the garden at twilight and took some photos. Our garden is amazing, and it has these giant gates at the entrance for which only residents have a key. I love the lions guarding the gateposts.

White Stuff

2010-01-05T22:00:00.000Z

Today's photo is brought to you by the letters S N O W.

This is the view of the church in the dark from my bedroom window.

Not Welcome - Ask First

2010-01-04T16:50:00.000Z

This rather odd-shaped woman has been painted near the station in Brighton - but clearly, they've encroached on someone else's canvas.

Ooer!

2010-01-03T22:56:00.001Z

This is Gnarkil and our Celia :) He's finally decided that he does like her, and today got round to trying to woo her ;)

Celia

2010-01-02T15:35:00.001Z

Celia does not approve of being photographed while she is doing her ablutions. So I took one anyway :)

Starting 2010 at Spellbound

2010-01-01T08:05:00.000Z

We started 2010 in the company of friends at Spellbound - the alternative 80's club run by our friends Simon and Jenna. It was AWESOME!!

Proud as a Peacock

2009-12-31T20:21:00.002Z

My peacock feather necklace, as worn by me on NYE with my stunning green 80's prom dress and fishnet sleeves :)

Late night laptop

2009-12-30T23:05:00.002Z

Everyone in the house has succumbed to the snot that Phil had in the run-up to Christmas, and I've spent the day doing nothing more than sneezing, sleeping, coughing and reading. I took the above photo with my new phone, and what you can't see on it is the text of the 4th True Blood novel - I am currently addicted.

100 things in 100 days...

2009-12-29T00:02:00.001Z

Terrible camera-phone in the dark! In 100 days I will be 30, so I've written a list of 100 things to do before then. You can find it here

Ginger in Disguise!

2009-12-28T21:15:00.000Z

This is Gnarkil. He belongs to our friends Hannah-May and Mike and we're cat-sitting him over New Year while they are in France. He looks black in normal light but under the flash, we can see that he is clearly a ginger kitteh in disguise!

He is also Celia's boyfriend (whom he is staring at in this photo), even though she doesn't like him very much.

Sofa Snuggling.

2009-12-27T17:52:00.001Z

This is perhaps cheating because it's rather obviously not taken by me, but rather a photo of me which Phil took while I was asleep on the sofa with Celia. However, as I've spent most of my day feeling really ill and full of cold it really is the most representative of my day!

Also, it's a rare shot of me sans eyebrows and make-up ;)

Christmas Tree Graveyard

2009-12-26T22:09:00.001Z

It's Boxing Day. One day after Christmas Day.

And yet there were already TWO real trees in the Christmas Tree recycling point which the Brighton and Hove Council set up on the Level every year.

This made me rather sad :(

Goffick Boots of Xmas Joy!

2009-12-25T13:15:00.000Z

One of the best presents ever from Mum - bought from my little friend Kat, Neptune New Rocks! Coveted by me since I was 17, now I have a pair! GIANT BOOTS = LOVE!

A Festive Message From My Housemate...

2009-12-24T20:16:00.000Z

We just let Barnaby unwrap one of the presents we bought him early. It's the anti-Christmas present for our resident Scrooge :D

Pub Signs have Feelings Too!

2009-12-23T22:22:00.000Z

The Earth and Stars Pub has the best sign outside which has different things written on it every so often.

Christmas Cake

2009-12-22T19:59:00.000Z

Mini Christmas Cupcake: Made according to the Christmas Cake recipe of my childhood, sent to me by my Mum and adapted into mini versions for my friends and family to enjoy over the festive season.

Winter Solstice 2009

2009-12-21T17:16:00.000Z

My wonderful friend Michelle sent me a parcel of goodies from America a few years ago, and one of the splendid things within this box was the peacock you can see above. Normally, he lives in my room, but he's come downstairs to grace the Yule tree with his presence. The peacock is especially dear to me, and so it becomes the subject of my first photo of this journey through 365 days, from Winter Solstice to Winter Solstice.

MERRY YULE TO YOU ALL!

To Begin At The Beginning...

2009-12-15T22:35:00.001Z

Hello internet!

This is just a quick explanatory post on the whole existence of this blog. Not quite a FAQ, because frankly, I doubt there'll ever be a need for one of those, but a little bit of text about the whys and wherefores.

Ok, so this is the deal: I'm not a terribly good photographer in the traditional sense of the word. I don't really know how to frame a shot, I don't have a decent camera, I no nothing about lighting or angles or anything like that. I've been photographed myself enough times to have an idea what a good photographer looks like and is capable of producing :)

This is just my way of documenting a year of my life with lasting visual memories. I've written a diary since I was about 7 and been blogging since 2003 but this is my first attempt at capturing the essence of the day, recording the most important or striking thing I came across with pictures rather than words. We'll see how it goes.

2009-2010 is a good choice for me for several reasons, the most significant perhaps being that I'll be turning 30 during this chosen time; Winter Solstice 2009 seems like a good and fairly natural place to start...

See you on the other side...