Sunday 25 May 2014

The Dark Writer Returns

It's been a while, hasn't it? I guess I have sort of neglected my blog for a while as I've tried to get things sorted out in Edinburgh. It's quite odd...I've been back for around two months but I still feel like I'm just settling in. I think that I've just realised that I am here for good and that this is my new home. This was actually punctuated by a thoroughly enjoyable morning with a friend at the farmers market followed by lunch. A great way to spend a morning and was only a couple of hours but it was very different to how I had to  meet friends when I lived abroad: I would need to plan in advance and usually spend the entire evening/morning with them, to maximize time. Anyway, this isn't an excuse. I apologise for neglecting the blog and I will make sure that this is done regularly from now on.

So what have I been up to? Well I had my birthday weekend a few weeks ago which was a medley of good food, drinking, great company, walking and a brilliant card game (discussed below).  I've also been home for a quiet weekend as well, where I just relaxed, walked a little and started planning my trip to Canada (whilst marathoning Agents of SHIELD), which I've now almost completed! Yes, it might be about 5 months away but that doesn't mean that I can rest on my laurels! I've got to plan dammit!  It has to have military precision!  Oh god, I have a problem...

So, it has been a quiet few weeks but that will hopefully change soon! And really, this week's blog was just to slowly bring myself back into the habit of blogging again and to convince you all that I am still alive and kicking! Don't fret though: you didn't think that I would let you leave empty handed, did you? I'm not a monster. Here are some pictures from my walk up Arthur's Seat...amazing as it is in the middle of Edinburgh.























Pick of the Week

Cardsagainst Humanity - This card game has a simple premise: you get 10 cards (white) and the 'reader' draws one story card (black). They read it out and then you pick the funniest card to submit, which the 'reader' reads out randomly and then they pick the winner (usually the funniest answer). Doesn't sound like much, does it (though it doesn't help how I explained it)?  And yet it my friends and I were in tears from laughter for around 3 hours. You will laugh; you will be judged; you will feel a little bit awful and awkward afterwards but, at the end of the day, you will have had one hell of a good time.  Check them out but be warned, a sense of humour is absolutely necessary.


Music of the Week

Thanks to Derek for this week's song and it has been one that has been playing a lot whilst I've been at home: Five Finger Death Punch's cover of House of the Rising Sun.


So that's it for this Sunday.  A short blog to get us all back into the habit but next week will be longer!  See you then!

Sunday 11 May 2014

The art of the fold

First of all, apologies for missing the Wednesday time frame for this blog post: not a great start, is it? However, I've been fairly busy the past week and it helps me out being able to post this on Sunday as well. Second of all and just before we get to the main event, it's time for Bonsai Watch!


Bonsai Watch

Ok, so not exactly impressive that out of 5 pots filled with multiple seeds, I have just one growth. But I have faith! More to come next month.




Origami

Never thought I would have said the phrase 'do you have any paper for origami, please?'. But here I was, uttering it in Paper Tiger as the customer assistant looked at me quizzically. Not a great start when the person working in the specialised paper store looks at you like that. However, with the help of another customer assistant, I emerged with a pack of multi-coloured paper and my journey into origami had begun.

So, for the uninitiated, Origami is the art of folding paper (Ori meaning paper and Kami meaning paper...kami changed to gami), which originated in Japan and for some reason, I had decided that I would take the challenge of learning this unusual skill as my first monthly challenge and I'm pleased I did. Now, I won't lie: for many people, it's not exactly the most exciting of things to do as you are, as the name implies, folding paper. However, it is creative, relaxing and you end up with something out of a sheet of paper like a flower, or a bird, or like several pieces of mine, a mess. I prefer to think of them as 'modern art' though.

Plus, there are a number of different techniques and styles (I will admit, I never thought that there would be different ways to fold paper. Shows how much I know). There is action origami, where you actually use kinetic energy to make the finished article move. There is modular origami, where you put various pieces together. Wet folding, mountain folds and origami tools are things that I've barely even begun to examine! It's a complicated and deep activity to learn and I guess, near impossible to master.

So, how did I get on?

Not too badly, I must admit though perhaps not as well as I could have. Throughout the month, I used an app called 'Origami' and various websites to make and practice a selection of different items. These were:


  • A boat,
  • A love heart,
  • A bird,
  • A modular flower, and
  • A jumping frog

Below, I will chat a little bit about each.


The boat

The boat was the first item that I made as it was the easiest to do on my app. Below I've got some pictures showing some of the folding and the finished items but overall, it wasn't too difficult. I struggled with folding the corners a certain way but I can probably chalk that down to being a beginner.







The Love Heart

I actually only made two of these, as I needed triangular paper and as I only had square, I had to cut or tear it, which I didn't hugely want to do. This was pretty easy actually but I wasn't a huge fan of the end result...a bit too square for me.






The Bird

The bird was probably my favourite to make and is one that I've memorized. It is perhaps not the greatest looking bird (it's no crane) but I think it does look pretty good and it does look like a bird. This was more difficult that the boat or the heart, as it involved various amounts of pre-folding and re-folding but it wasn't too bad at all.






The Modular Flower

This was the most complicated thing to make, even ignoring the fact I had to make 5 different petals and connect them. The actual process involved again, various amounts of pre-folding but then actually involved you unwrapping the entire item and then folding it again but in a different way from the first time. This was another favourite as although the petals are connected, I've used nothing other than the paper itself to do it. No glue, no paper clips...nothing.







The Jumping Frog

I won't lie...I wasn't too impressed by the jumping frog at all and only made it once. Not because I thought I hadn't made it properly for a while nor not because the jumping is somewhat random. No it's because I don't think it looks very good at all. However, you can judge for yourself. This was another complicated project but mostly because of the thickness of some of the folds and because you have to make what I would call 'z' folds. When I first made it, I actually thought I hadn't done it correctly and left it for a week. Then, just as I went to bed one day, I decided to try it one more and it jumped! As I couldn't exactly take a picture of it jumping, here is a rare video of it (and a picture as well).







So having spent a month doing this, what do I think of it? I really enjoyed it actually and I will probably continue to practice it. It's great when you have a few minutes to spare or if you want to surprise someone with something a little unique. Don't get my wrong...you're never going to use it in your everyday life but that's what they say about differential equations, right?

So what's the plan for next month then? Well, I'm going to introduce jogging into my life and I thought I would document it this month!  Wish me luck!


Pick of the Week

An Astronaut's Guide to Life - I read a lot.  Newspapers, manga, books and comics...blogs and cooksbooks...you name it, I will read it but it's not often I read a book that changes my outlook to life.  Reading about how Chris Hadfield (the author) lived his life and how he approaches challenges (such as going blind in space).  Check it out and remember, 'sweat the small stuff'.


Music of the Week

This week, it's one of my favourite songs from my youth: Adema - Giving in.  Enjoy!


Well, that's it from me for this week.  Now then, I need to go fix 1000 paper-cuts.  See you next week.

Saturday 10 May 2014

Surprise Eurovision Blog

It's real people!  I made the blog!  Saturday night and Eurovision: sponsored by  Duvel Beer.  I missed most of it but I'm ok with this.  I enjoyed watching the show and this is all in fun :D

Russia: too many jokes but we all know they are all for peace and love. As long as it's the way they want it. Shirts on. Lights off. And at a pace set by the government


Finland: Hair gel and over-dramatic drumming. Followed by an angsts-filled scream. GAAAAH I'm representing my country and I AM SAD.


Spain: Wash your hair...since I started counting (halfway through), she has said rain 17 times...


The country with the see-saw: One of them had manic eyes...just kidding. They both did.


Switzerland: They have a banjo. THEY WIN...and fireworks!!! If the banjo shoots out flames, I will die


Graham Norton just mentioned the UK act is soon. I CANNOT WAIT. Also, what's with the video clips in between? Did you know that the inventor of the rubik cube was Hungarian? I didn't


Hungary: Cannot keep up with the tempo changes...unremarkable. Not happy...they let down the inventor of the rubik's cube


Malta: No words...I do dig the 'grass' carpet thing.


They are painting things in this 'postcard' and happily taking pictures. More beer


Denmark: And scat singing starts it off. Too easy. Next. Scooby dooby doo, where are you?


Netherlands: and so they begin on what looks like a road. Great advert for road safety...and I'm pretty sure the man in black (see what I did there??? Johnny Cash as it's totally country ahahahha) is raising his eyebrows too much at the camera. Oh god, he winked.


San Marino: Is it bad I had to google this country? It claims to be the older sovereign state in the world...It sounds almost like a bond theme...


Molly (the UK): Power to the people! She looks like she is cosplaying he-man. I HAVE THE POWER...Ladies and gentlemen, the revolution will not be televised.


The singing is over: I'm out. Peace. Drops the mic and walks off stage.