2010

I have been reading a lot of posts lately about what other bloggers have achieved in 2010. I've only had one truly major achievement this past year but I'd say it was a pretty important one so I'm quite content. As I started this blog in January I decided to look back to see if there was anything I'd missed that could be construed as an achievement. There were a few tiny ones but what I really noticed was how much fun I had this year! Here's a few things that I got up to:

January:

This happened to Britain. I got bored. I started the blog.

February:

The Boy and I went on our first proper holiday abroad together (my first holiday abroad ever!) There aren't any photos because it was awful. We went to Tenerife and both became ill 2 days into the trip. The Boy has had ill health since before I met him and it really hit him hard, so hard in fact I thought he would have to go to the hospital and we would be stranded there. In hind sight he probably should have gone into hospital but he's tough and stubborn as a mule even when he's as weak as a kitten. He's been through a lot worse so I'm guessing that's what got him through and I'm grateful it did. We're never going back to Tenerife.

March:

I learnt how to make sugar paste flowers.

April:
It was my birthday so there was cake...

and more cake...

and even more cake.

A trip to Kensington Palace.

And some Mojito's thrown in for good measure.

May:
I went to my friend Roz's Hen Weekend where there were more mojito's thrown in but we had to learn how to make them...and then drink them.

Everyone had to wear pink.

And proceeded to jump off stuff.

June:
I sewed my first plush toy. His name is Icabod.

And that major achievement? Well, I got a promotion! I am now the Trainee Conservator at the Gwent Record Office. Yeah Baby.

July:
I went to Yorkshire to see my friends and we went to Castle Howard.

Ma and Pa took me to North Wales for a family holiday and I snapped a good photograph.

In late July The Boy passed his driving test and drove us to Devon a week later to attend Roz and Andy's wedding.

It was a wonderful weekend and don't we all look fancy?!

August:

I went to my first ever Ice Hockey game...and surprisingly I enjoyed it.

I also went to the Eisteddfod which was being held in my home town.

September:
My friends Jayne and Paul got engaged and I went to their party in Kenilworth. Squeee!

October:
I went to The British Library for my first ever Conservation Training Day.

I had fun with some old...

and some new friends at Halloween.

November:

I was meant to go up north, see my chums and have a great time at the Harrogate Knitting and Stitching Show but it snowed, my mother bumped my car and I couldn't make it. Boo Hiss.

December:

The first ever annual event of 'Metalmass' happened and it was epic.

Christmas happened and I got some really thoughtful gifts.

So there you have it. It's been a great year, I've thoroughly enjoyed myself and just want to thank all the people who made it so fantastic!

Metalmass Time

Good news! Metalmass did take place and it was a huge success!

I was official photographer but unfortunately when I tried to upload my photos my card corrupted and I lost the lot! Boo Hiss. So all photos you see here were stolen from Kim, Gemma, Delyn and Steph. (Fanks you guys.)

Lazarus taking good care of Kim's presents

Gemma's amazing Choc orange cupcakes

My efforts: Pear and Almond Flan. Which seemed to go down quite well ^_^

Myself, Kim and Lee getting the dinner ready.

The Metalmass table wonderfully arranged by Delyn.

Our 'gravy boat'.

Lee carving the bird. Very manly.

Delyn andSteph

Photo booth.

Steph's Secret Santa Gift.

Kookee one of many goodie bag gifts lovingly prepared by Delyn.

Gideon getting into the Christmas spirit.

I have such amazingly generous friends and they all went above and beyond to make Metalmass special. I hope they all had as much fun as I did. I can't wait to do it all again next year!

Hello there! Sorry there was no 'Fanciful Friday' this week, I was in London for the last few days combining work with a little socialising.

I had to attend a training day at the British Library on Friday. It was very worth while and I met some very interesting people; including the author of a book I have to read for my conservators course.

Photo stolen from here

Afterwards I met up with friends and went to one of Marco Pierre White's restaurants; Wheelers of St. James'. Fancy.


The food was scrumptious but the service as awful. I think it was because we were having the cheap-o menu and therefore Fernando our waiter just didn't give a toss. He even tried to do us out of a quid at the end of the night by giving us Euro's. Lame.

On Saturday we went to 'Shadow Catchers' at the V&A; it's an exhibition about camera-less photography. If you're in London I recommend going to see it as the whole exhibition is very intriguing. The results you can achieve with just photographic paper and a flash light is incredible, it made me want to go out and try it for myself.

Adam Fuss
From the series 'My Ghost' (Butterfly Daguerreotype)
2001

Susan Derges
'Arch 4 (summer)'
2007/08

After the exhibition we headed to D'Arblay Street for a late lunch at The Breakfast Club, where I had the most amazing haloumi, spinach, houmous and sundried tomato wrap. Drool. We then moved onto The Hummingbird Bakery to pick up something sweet for the road.


I definitely deserved that Red Velvet Cake as the journey home was dreadful. Oxford Circus tube station was temporarily shut down due to congestion just as I was meant to be catching my tube to Paddington Rail Station. This meant I had to get a later train, which was delayed in Bristol due to drunken football fans. The drunkenness continued for an hour on the local train home. Joy. Even so I really enjoyed my weekend and can't wait to go back in December, especially since the Christmas lights etc. will be on!