The last classes of the semester were on Friday, so obviously instead of starting working on my essays like I was supposed to, I've been sick for the last couple of days; I always get sick only on holidays. The good thing about being sick and absolutely dying is that now that I'm better I feel very Fresh™ without actually being that fresh. Simple things like Pikachu socks and coffee made me happy today. Anything's better than the feverish sleepiness - but now I should actually work and I don't feel like it.
Time has gone by so quick, like it always does. I'm going home on Sunday and I'm counting days to see my cats and get home to rest. I still have to do my essays though, my original plan was to write all of them this week but it would be impossible at this point so I just have to go with it. But hey. Life is life.
I have good vibes for 2017. I already know some lovely things will happen: we'll go see Nutcracker with my Mom in National Opera of Finland in early January, I'll see couple of plays in March, I think I'll return to some of my hobbies.
Christmas is my favourite time of year and at this point of my first university year I really do need some relaxing. Everything has been so new and sometimes more tiresome than I've wanted to admit myself but after the winter break, I'll be ready to face the rest of it. It's only the beginning of my London life, after all, and there's a lot to look forward to.
I stumbled upon this idea online while thinking what to make out of a pretty beer bottle I didn't want to throw out. We can't have candles in the halls so as the nights become darker, I was really yearning for some lighting with bit more soul. The way tiny Christmas lights reflect out of the bottle is absolutely beautiful and it makes a simple yet very cute little decor.
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them was worth seeing for the entertainment purposes - and for the visual quality and experience at the BFI IMAX - but nothing I'd see again (or want to be followed by four sequels). It was just too much everything and it made me bit puzzled of who it was actually aimed for; it was partly too dark for the younger audiences but overall not very "adult" for the original Potter generation. The plot had too many lines going on, some of them absolutely useless, but still left the main characters without any depth. I'm honestly surprised J.K. Rowling did such a bad job with the script.
My favourite things in the film were character design and Colin Farrell.
About this time last year, me and my friend Inari came to London for a holiday. I had bought a video camera bit earlier, so I thought that instead of taking millions of photos, I should shoot around a bit and edit a travel video.
It was my first time in London - and in England, I had been to Scotland before though. Lovely autumn. Lovely holiday: most of all, I felt very at ease here.
So, it was a little before my UCAS application. I had the clear plan to apply to universities in Scotland - but while in London for a week, I secretly started thinking about how it would be to live in London. To go to museums anytime you feel like it, seeing amazing work by the masters you completely adore, walking by Thames and seeing all the city has to offer... But it would be so so expensive, I thought, and forgot about it.
Finding a perfect song for my travel video was a hard task, somehow nothing seemed to fit. At last I chose Chris Garneau's Hands On the Radio - for no particular reason, it just fit my footage and feelings for the city. Then, while applying to universities, I ended up with one free spot on my application. I added randomly King's from the top of the rankings lists for film studies - I thought I couldn't have a chance to get in.
But I got in.
The lyrics of the songs in my video became reality: "I promise I'll come back." I just did that sooner than I thought.
I went home to Finland for couple of days for reading week. I loved seeing my family and how normal it felt: my mom said "it's like nobody ever left". My cats were at first bit confused of me being home, then they were super cute and cuddly. Love those furballs.
But I learned something: the timing was not right. My genius plan was to rest for couple of days without thinking about university (expect finishing my first assignment). Great plan, right?
When I came back home to London - honestly the greatest feeling in the world, realising that I was going from home to home - and continued my coursework (had three deadlines this week) it hit me that the way my brain works with languages wasn't happy about the sudden change from English to Finnish and back to English.
It always feels really weird talking Finnish after a while, sometimes I can't even write properly. I forgot words from time to time. And then I got used to my first language again, and while writing my essays I had to use online dictionaries from time to time. I got slower even though usually my writing abilities in English are almost as natural as with Finnish.
So, lesson learned. Next reading week I'm going to sleep for one day and then work work work work and then offer myself with couple of days of rest back home. Because I'm a good student.
Or at least try to be.
Leaving London in the sunrise, returning at the sunset.
Not doing anything is hard for me. I've become better in it, after tiring myself so badly I realised I'm not invincible. I feel weird not doing anything but on the same time I know I shouldn't be doing anything right now. Today, after a crazy deadline week, I've been just hibernating, thus I didn't really see the sun. Sunlight affects my moods quite a lot so I have bit of a love-hate relationship with autumn: I love the coziness of it, hate the darkness.
To get over the autumn blues today, I decided to spare a thought for spring and go pink. I ordered on sale mac from Alice Takes A Trip, probably my favourite fashion brand; I usually tend to buy second hand and not be that brand "religious", but I just love their whimsical clothes. I have a backpack and dress from them, both of which I completely adore.
It will be perfect for my first London spring; my trustworthy waterproof second hand jacket is bit too heavy for warmer days. Ready to kick some ass etc. (picture borrowed from Alice Takes A Trip)
Strolling around watching fireworks and all the fun stuff in middle of the days of
essay panic. The night was super windy and freezing, but hey, it was
pretty, so it was worth it.
