Soggy biscuits

Hi everyone!

So, I haven't updated in over a week (nearly 2 actually- eek!) and I have no real excuse for that other than that I don't feel I've been doing stuff worth blogging about. I expected the frequency of my posts would start to slow once I started uni, but because I was so busy... not because I was so un-busy, as is the case now. I'll admit I am struggling a lot with the way things are at my university. I honestly haven't had a proper class yet that I am supposed to go to (I've been going to history lectures and life drawing classes, but they're optional). We're supposed to have a 'personal tutor' who kind of mentors us as we develop our own body of work, and then there's these 'sources and references' seminars were we get together in groups and discuss our work. So far I've had no contact with my tutor (I've contacted them, but they're also the head of the department as well, so they're super busy, I guess) and I can never find when and where the seminars are on. Pin up boards in the studios are only so helpful. I hate to complain. This right now is the time when I need to get over this dependency on 'mentors' and deadlines, and develop a way of working where I can be self motivated and meet self-set goals under my own steam... but I'm struggling. I'm sitting on my laurels. I know what I want to do for my project, but at the moment it's still just some doodles and notes and brain storms in my visual diary. I think my goal for the next week should be to actually make something... ANYTHING. I just need to start churning things out, to kind of get my brain (and hands) really going, to get ticking a bit faster than they have been.

ANYWAY.

I have been attempting to keep busy. I've joined the gym at uni (I think I already mentioned it?). I'm really enjoying getting back into fitness and running. I also enjoy working out little routines (like what to pack if i'm going to a class then the gym; how to organise my workout with the bus timeable) because it's sort of settling. I like that I have a life in London, so to speak. I mean, I'll probably get bored and restless eventually but right now I like to see this change as it's happening.

I've also started volunteering at a local vegan store in Kings Cross. I had my first shift yesterday and the bossman (owner) seems pretty cool and I think he wants me back. I got free cake during my shift, so I'm definitely going back, haha. Next Saturday is their 2nd Anniversary so I'm heading in, not to volunteer but to just check it out and maybe meet some of the other vollies. And there's free ice-cream! (I'm sensing a theme here...)

Last night I went to see The Black Keys. I really enjoyed it:

Early in their set I heard some guy behind me mention to his friend how he saw The Black Keys years ago at Fly-by, which is a place in Fremantle. I turned around and asked, turns out he was a Perthian too! His mate was from Sydney but we spent the rest of the show rocking out together and then they were nice enough to invite me out with them afterwards as they were heading into Soho to keep drinking. I had a few drinks and jumped around to this cover band in an Irish pub, then caught the bus home. It was so nice to get out and socialise!

I like to keep my posts generally packed with photos so below are just a random collection from the past 2 weeks.

So, in case you can't tell from these photos, it snowed this week! I was so excited when it started coming down on Sunday night and I was so anxious to wake up the next morning super early because... I don't know, it's like I had this fear that if I waited too long someone would come along and clear away all the snow before I got a chance to play in it/take photos. Anyway, almost everyone has seen the photo of my first snowman (snowchild?) ever, but I'm putting it here for the sake of the blog. Bottom photo is of the grounds outside the art department at uni. So pretty! I am also really glad Ella lent me her boots, as my $10 canvas slip-ons would not have protected my feet from the snow for long. Thanks Ella!

Huuuuge selection of vegan cupcakes at a Whole Foods market in Kensington. I had the choc-chip and walnut banana with toffee butter-cream. Sound good? It sure damn was.

This is the reason I was at a Whole Foods market in the first place: for my veganiversary. It's been about 3 years since I went vegan so I wanted to celebrate by having a nice meal. Above is the appetiser I had at Saf in Kensington (which was in the WF market). It was a platter of raw cheese (so, made out of nuts) and flax crackers. When it comes to vegan cheese, I find I'm very much a fan of the raw, nut-based ones as they're generally less processed than the serious faux-cheeses and the nut cheese is kind of a different type of food altogether. It's fatty, salty and satisfying the way a nice cheese might be to an omni or vego... but, I don't know, it's like it's doing it's own thing. I'm not thinking about how it could be dairy cheese when I eat it, I can just enjoy it for what it is. Also the waitress at Saf was super nice and came up to me as I was eating and started talking to me about how she was vegan too and how she liked working at a vegetarian restaurant. We vegan highfived, it was nice. She only chatted to me for a little which was good 'cause then it wasn't fully interrupting my meal but still lifted my mood. [Note: a vegan highfive is the same as a regular highfive, except they only happen between vegans, which is why you don't see them that often.] 

Notes in the drawing room. I like going to life drawing class. It lets me socialise a bit and flex my drawing muscles, which doesn't come easy to me. Also: more free food! Tea break in the middle of class is actually a legitimate tea/coffee/biscuit break where we gather 'round the table and pour ourselves tea from the pots provided, whereas at uni in Perth everyone just scatters off to buy a coffee or get something from their bag. I'm sort of impressed with how seriously the Brits take their tea. I've noticed in most semi-formal gatherings the person leading it (so, generally a tutor, as has been my case) always brings tea, coffee, milk and some sort of biscuit for dunking.

Black tea with one sugar for me, thanks, could you pass the biscuits...?