THANKS MOM AND DAD FOR THE POPCORN!!!

Norbiton Train Station - towards Kingston.

I am much worse at updating this blog than the one I kept in 2009, I wonder if that means something - haha.

From the last time I posted I have accomplished quite a list of activities - if that is what you want to call them, haha. I had a conference on publishing at Stationer's Hall, I dorked out with Ruth in various geek shops in the center of London, I went shopping for warm clothes, I wrote a paper on production in publishing - which required me to take books from the library - I agreed to attend the mid-night premiere to see the next Twilight movie, I emptied my fridge and have not restocked it, I booked a spontaneous trip to Wales for their Christmas events, and I got a ton of popcorn in the mail from my parents - etc, etc...

In other news, NaNoWriMo is going terribly and I do not know when I will focus on that. Maybe today, before class, and while finishing my laundry, packing and preparing for tonight. Also, I have yet to find a place to live, and I am completely unable to keep up with my incoming emails - so much stuff, all the time. Thanksgiving plans have failed to move forwards, and I am not really motivated to work out the kinks without help. BUT the golden light at the end of this tunnel is -

I AM GOING TO WALES THIS WEEKEND. 

(Cardiff to be exact). 

Mentally - I am still doing really well, and I am really loving everything about being here. But do not worry, I am super excited for Christmas and to see my family and friends. Also I am super excited for New York Pizza, wings and an antipasti salad - So, if someone wants to put that order in for me? All the doubts I had before coming are gone now, and honestly I cannot even remember the details of those extreme moments of panic - I am sure they are in this blog somewhere.

Ruth and I at M&M World, London. 

Sure, I do not know what will happen once I get my degree.

But, I have a plan, and I know what I would like to happen.

But that is all in the future, and there is no point is killing myself today about what will happen in a year. A year ago today, I had no idea I would be back in London. I had the plan of moving to New York City, or Boston - maybe even Seattle - after getting decent experience at The Freeman's Journal. Working towards a degree in publishing and creative writing was not even a real consideration and it took a few more months to bring me to that single decision. Which is silly of me after all, because I love books, so working with them is just the correct answer.

My point is, right now is really good, and in one year the most important thing will be that I am still able to feel confident and happy. That is really the most important thing for anyone. If all I have in one year is the memory of this experience, and the knowledge I have gained, I want that to be enough. However, I am sure my dedication to carving out a niche for myself, and my stellar work ethic will continue to pull me through.

And on that note,

Myself, new winter gear
and a poppy. 

THANKS MOM AND DAD FOR THE POPCORN. 

(It's one of my favorite foods). 

Here's for constant optimism,
xx, Kristin

My week was AWESOME

A quick shot with my Android of the Thames river,
a few boats, Big Ben and the London Eye. 

I began this reading week comparing it the last one I experienced in London. That reading week I travled to Norway and Wales. A piece of me was thinking about that time with a bit of longing, as I had no plans for travel. I figured that I could do a few day trips, but with the beginning of NaNoWriMo - a self-assigned project where you try to write a 50,000 word novel in one month - and all my assignments for school, the thought of leaving London became more unlikely. However, with an incredible and unexpected twist of events it turned out that leaving London would have been a mistake.

NOTE: This is poorly edited on account of time, excitement and exhaustion from the following week.

November 1st:
It was a successful first day with NaNoWriMo. I have an easy goal of 2,000 words a day, and the first day I finished the lot in under two hours. To celebrate my friend and I decided that the most important thing to do was to go see...

Backbeat - The Beatles the Musical!

IT.
WAS.
INCREDIBLE.

I laughed, I cried. It gave me a new idea of what it was like to live during the rise of The Beatles and I have to say, I really wish I was around for that. They played their music and told the story of the fifth Beatle, Stewart. I was so emotionally involved in this musical that when it ended I almost wanted to cry for not being able to listen to anymore of their music. They ended the musical by having a full blown Beatles concert playing four of five of their songs!!! I felt like a screaming fan girl as they asked the audience to get up and dance with them! The whole theater was jiving to the beat, and laughing. It was a blast!

BUT, it gets better!

The whole time we were watching, there was one actor on stage that I knew I had seen before. For a moment I considered that maybe he lived in London and I had walked past him on the street - he was attractive enough for me to remember if that was the case. However, I could not place him no matter how hard I thought about it, so I gave up to just enjoy the moment. When I got home however, I went right onto the internet and looked the boy up. My heart nearly broke as I looked at his name.

It was Andrew Knott.

The Secret Garden, 1993

Picture fromBackbeat website.

Andrew Knott, as in: Dicken from The Secret Garden, and little Joey from The Black Beauty. More importantly - My very first crush... EVER. Later he was in the History Boys, and that time I had no trouble recognizing him. The fact that I spent two hours in the same room as him, watching him preform live and did not recognize him - well, it nearly broke my heart.

So, you can imagine I will be going to see Backbeat again.


November 2nd: 
It was much less successful than the day before with my NaNoWriMo goals, I was 500 words short and for good reason.

I did NOT take this picture,
small credit to google images.

I went for a nice long walk in Richmond park with Philippa and Saxon, the temporary household dog. She drove us deep into the park to a place I have never been before, and as we began to stroll she causally mentioned that the London School of Ballet was the great building I could see in the distance.

The London School of Ballet.

As in where all the greats go for training, as in where part of Billy Elliot was filmed. It was another one of those classic movies in my life, and between this and the whole Andrew Knott surprise thing, my week was already emotionally draining.

That building is magnificent. I did not take any pictures, as I had not expected to need my camera while walking the dog, but I do intend to go back and get some incredible pictures to share. There is a path leading up too the front of the building with great trees and birds. I felt like I was in one of those old classic english movies.

I then had a LONG and fun lunch with one of my classmates at Jamie Oliver's restaurant in Kingston. It was delicious and also... Jamie Oliver - enough said.

Then I did a Pub Quiz with the Adam's family and crew. WE CAME IN FIFTH - also, really exciting!


November 3rd: 
So, I was sitting at computer, slowly waking up and trying to figure out what I was required to do today when I saw this:

Kingston University class of 2012The olympic torch will be on campus TODAY! Come down to have your picture taken with it from 12noon.

And I was like - UM WHAT?! So, as it was nearly 11am I hurried my butt down to campus and got this:

They had four different backgrounds... haha!

I am almost certain this one is my favorite.

I was then required to head into central London to meet up with some Publishing people and see some really old books at the British Library. But on the way, something really incredible happened...


I SAW THE QUEEN!

I snapped this picture after I
regained my ability to move.
 That was her caravan,
but not her car. 

As in, Her Majesty the Queen! How many people jokingly said, "Say hey to the Queen for me," as I got ready to fly over. I laughed, thinking, no one ever sees the Queen. But as we were walking in front of King's Cross station (yes, the one in Harry Potter!) all the traffic was stopped in such a weird fashion. A police man came through on his motorbike, directing traffic to pause - ignoring the traffic lights. After a few more motorbikes came through, two cars passed by. I had stopped, asking "Are we going to see a parade?" (Which I think not one of my friends heard me say) But as I finished the sentence and looked in the window of the car, I saw her. She was just sitting there, like a normal person - THE QUEEN. By god, I have seen the Queen of England - in real life and unplanned. 

Evidence that I went
to the British Library.

Now onto the Library, which for a book person is just as exciting as seeing the Queen. There were books dating to the 4th and 5th century, my jaw nearly dropped. Jane Austen, Bronte, old song workings from The Beatles, the Magna Carta and the list goes on. We were not permitted to take pictures of the books, but seeing old pages from well recognized text in person was humbling. It came with this surprising result of stealing my intimidation from the old greats as I look at their scribbles in ancient notebooks. My own handwriting was simliar to many of theirs, completely illegible and quick. I was inspired to grab a notebook and just write and write - though I may have to wait till after NaNoWriMo to play with that idea.


After the British Library Exhibit, we headed to a pub not so very far away to something called 'BookMachine.' It is a social where people in the publishing world can meet up and make connections. I talked to a few very exciting people, mostly from Random House and got to spend more time with the people from my course which is always fun.


The night was finished by playing Kings in New Malden, like the good Uni kids we are.

November 4th: 
Now is the day before November the 5th.

Remember, Remember the Fifth of November. 

Gunpowder, Treason and Plot.

All I want to do is have a night in and settle down from my week. Figure out how to send money home, fill out applications for a Railcard for the trains, a student Oyster card (which is cheaper), and work on NaNoWriMo and my other heaping pile of ever growing assignments. I would even perhaps like to paint my nails and relax with a movie for just one night, but no. The fireworks are starting and because I have to be involved with everything all the time, even after my amazing week, I am heading out again for fireworks at 8pm.



xx, Kristin