Just as things were getting warmer last week in London, an arctic wind in London pushed the temperatures back down again to a couple of degrees above freezing during the day.
I love Spring with all the new greenary and snowdrops peeking up. Its the season of cute animals as well. Lambs, chicks and of course, bunnies:)
I'm off to New York in just under three weeks. Will probably go for a stroll in Central park at some point. Although it has more paths and rocks then London's parks, it also has its fair share of great statues. The best place is near the boating lake on the South East side of the park. If you want. you can sit on Hans Christian Anderson's knee as he reads a story or you can clamber over the Mad Hatter's Tea Party statue around the corner. I managed to get a picture of it between swampings of school kids and their parents.
I quite like statues. Not the military ones of stern Victorian generals as much. I studied A Level Classical Civilisations, so saw loads of Greek and Roman gods, goddesses and heroes. I love the dramatic poses eg Herecles throttling snakes as a baby ect... The more movement and drama the better. I also like Anthony Gormley's still figures and the Angel of the North is one of my favourites. Thanks to Dr Who and the Weeping Angels, statues have been given an extra frisson. Did it move? Did it? I'm sure it moved! DON'T BLINK!
A wide-eyed Bunyip.
Friday, 4 March 2011
Wednesday, 16 February 2011
Saving Money
Hi,
At the start of each month, I take a look at my bank balance and try to work out how much "spending" money I'll have for the month. So, I subtract payments like rent, phone bill, therapy payments (not cheap) ect. Then I take what is left and divide it by the number of days in the month and that's how much I have to spend per day. If I feel I'm going over this figure midway through the month, I do it again.
Yesterday, I worked out I've only got £6 per day spending money until I get paid on 28th February. (Sigh.) Bye bye lunches from Pret and Eat. Bye bye second latte after lunch. Must walk past book shops and the Virgin Megastore. Hello lots of pasta, veggies and other cheap things to cook in bulk, then reheat the next day. Hello making my own lunch. At least I'll be a little healthier. I do have savings, but I don't want to dip into them too much.
I wouldn't mind, but its not as if I've been spending my money left, right and centre! I've talked myself out of trips to the cinema to see Black Swan, Kings Speech and all the other films that are talked about every five minutes at the moment. I've saved some money not being in a show at the moment. (Don't like to miss after rehearsal drinkies. This is my version of a social life!) Yet I keep being invited to other acting group drinkies and drinkies for the short film Network theatre did last autumn which I really want to see.
I still need to buy this month's copy of Dr Who Monthly! Ho hum. Roll on pay day.
A broke Bunyip
At the start of each month, I take a look at my bank balance and try to work out how much "spending" money I'll have for the month. So, I subtract payments like rent, phone bill, therapy payments (not cheap) ect. Then I take what is left and divide it by the number of days in the month and that's how much I have to spend per day. If I feel I'm going over this figure midway through the month, I do it again.
Yesterday, I worked out I've only got £6 per day spending money until I get paid on 28th February. (Sigh.) Bye bye lunches from Pret and Eat. Bye bye second latte after lunch. Must walk past book shops and the Virgin Megastore. Hello lots of pasta, veggies and other cheap things to cook in bulk, then reheat the next day. Hello making my own lunch. At least I'll be a little healthier. I do have savings, but I don't want to dip into them too much.
I wouldn't mind, but its not as if I've been spending my money left, right and centre! I've talked myself out of trips to the cinema to see Black Swan, Kings Speech and all the other films that are talked about every five minutes at the moment. I've saved some money not being in a show at the moment. (Don't like to miss after rehearsal drinkies. This is my version of a social life!) Yet I keep being invited to other acting group drinkies and drinkies for the short film Network theatre did last autumn which I really want to see.
I still need to buy this month's copy of Dr Who Monthly! Ho hum. Roll on pay day.
A broke Bunyip
Tuesday, 1 February 2011
Year of the Rabbit
Its soon going to be the Chinese Year of the Rabbit. As I was born in a "rabbit" year, according the Chinese, this means that good fortune will come my way:) Lets hope that it does because I've just applied for a new job! Fingers are being crossed as I type. (Actually, its hard to type with crossed fingers. I'll recross them when I've finished.)
So, here is what I would like to do in New York when I visit there in seven weeks:
1, Visit the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island
2, Reacquaint myself with the Alice in Wonderland statue in Central Park.
3, Gaze at amazing artwork in the Met.
4, Walk over the Brooklyn bridge.
5, Visit the Russian Tea Rooms.
6, Find an independent book shop.
7, Have a wander around the East Side.
8, Go inside St Patrick's Cathedral
9, Learn more about New York's history eg Tenement Museum
10, Just wander around and see what I can find!
Looking forward to it:)
Take care all.
A Happy Bunyip
So, here is what I would like to do in New York when I visit there in seven weeks:
1, Visit the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island
2, Reacquaint myself with the Alice in Wonderland statue in Central Park.
3, Gaze at amazing artwork in the Met.
4, Walk over the Brooklyn bridge.
5, Visit the Russian Tea Rooms.
6, Find an independent book shop.
7, Have a wander around the East Side.
8, Go inside St Patrick's Cathedral
9, Learn more about New York's history eg Tenement Museum
10, Just wander around and see what I can find!
Looking forward to it:)
Take care all.
A Happy Bunyip
Tuesday, 18 January 2011
Hello 2011!
We're already 18 days into 2011 and quite a lot has happened. Where to start?
First of all, I did get some of what I wanted for Christmas. I received half a day in a spa, loads of chocolate and Baileys, and a Next voucher. I've also bought a new winter coat from Monsoon amongst other things. (Managed to get Stephen King's latest book from the library and read it.)
The headline news is I'm going to write a play this year!! Working title is Will woz here. Shakespeare comes back from the grave and helps a girl sort out her love life with six of his leading ladies. I've been reading a massive biography by Peter Ackroyd and finding out loads of stuff about Will that I didn't know before eg he played the Ghost of Hamlet's father. I'm also getting lots of odd ideas at odd moments eg our heroine works in a call centre and is contacted by one of the leading ladies via the phone. I've got an idea for another encounter on the tube. Its showing how Shakespeare's characters are relevant today.
Went to the playreading for "Road". Hmmmm. Not sure whether to audition or not. I can do a Northern accent, just not consistently. Would like to get one of the monologues if I do audition, not a small part. There is nothing worse then spending most of a play sat in the dressing room. I don't mind not having not many lines, but stage time is important or else why bother?
Oh and I was off work with an awful stomach bug the week before last. I won't go into details....
Its about nine weeks to my New York trip. Need to save more money. I'll share my list of places I want to visit and experiences I want to have in my next blog.
Take care,
A creative Bunyip
First of all, I did get some of what I wanted for Christmas. I received half a day in a spa, loads of chocolate and Baileys, and a Next voucher. I've also bought a new winter coat from Monsoon amongst other things. (Managed to get Stephen King's latest book from the library and read it.)
The headline news is I'm going to write a play this year!! Working title is Will woz here. Shakespeare comes back from the grave and helps a girl sort out her love life with six of his leading ladies. I've been reading a massive biography by Peter Ackroyd and finding out loads of stuff about Will that I didn't know before eg he played the Ghost of Hamlet's father. I'm also getting lots of odd ideas at odd moments eg our heroine works in a call centre and is contacted by one of the leading ladies via the phone. I've got an idea for another encounter on the tube. Its showing how Shakespeare's characters are relevant today.
Went to the playreading for "Road". Hmmmm. Not sure whether to audition or not. I can do a Northern accent, just not consistently. Would like to get one of the monologues if I do audition, not a small part. There is nothing worse then spending most of a play sat in the dressing room. I don't mind not having not many lines, but stage time is important or else why bother?
Oh and I was off work with an awful stomach bug the week before last. I won't go into details....
Its about nine weeks to my New York trip. Need to save more money. I'll share my list of places I want to visit and experiences I want to have in my next blog.
Take care,
A creative Bunyip
Friday, 31 December 2010
Bye bye 2010.
This is me, sat at my desk at work, on the last day of 2010. (Before you feel too sorry for me, my lovely boss has told me I can leave at lunchtime!) Sooooo, 2010. What happened? Lots of stuff.
1, My sister finally got married. Day of great joy, (and fustration down to clutch bag that wouldn't stay shut!)
2, Spent a week in New York, (Concrete jungle where dreams are maaaade of, there's nothing you can't do...) Ahem! Stood on the top of the Rockfeller Centre with my friend, TJ, saw the Tim Burton exhibition at MOMA and discovered the yumminess of BBQ ribs. Watch out Manhattan, I'm coming back!
3, Got Eli Roth and Charlaine Harris's autographs. (Not at the same time!)
4, Went and saw not one, but two great performances of Hair. One of them was with my Mum and I have now danced onstage in the West End:) I'm getting her the soundtrack for her birthday.
5, Discovered and worked with No Logo Productions who I did Mistaken for Strangers with. The character we created, Louise, had really good feedback and I enjoyed playing her. I'm hopefully doing the Buxton Fringe Festival with them next year.
6, With the help of my therapist, I found out a bit more about what makes me tick and how I deal with it.
7, Got upgraded to one of the suites at the St David's hotel in Cardiff. Wow! Wish I could have spent more time there.
Well, those were the highlights. Am not going to think about the lowlights. By the way, I don't do resolutions. I never keep them. I like to take the future as it comes. Hope that we all have the courage to grab great opportunities when they are close to us and to say no when we have to.
Happy New Year from me and my orangutang, Aphrodite who is sat on my desk today.
Love from a hopeful Bunyip. xx
1, My sister finally got married. Day of great joy, (and fustration down to clutch bag that wouldn't stay shut!)
2, Spent a week in New York, (Concrete jungle where dreams are maaaade of, there's nothing you can't do...) Ahem! Stood on the top of the Rockfeller Centre with my friend, TJ, saw the Tim Burton exhibition at MOMA and discovered the yumminess of BBQ ribs. Watch out Manhattan, I'm coming back!
3, Got Eli Roth and Charlaine Harris's autographs. (Not at the same time!)
4, Went and saw not one, but two great performances of Hair. One of them was with my Mum and I have now danced onstage in the West End:) I'm getting her the soundtrack for her birthday.
5, Discovered and worked with No Logo Productions who I did Mistaken for Strangers with. The character we created, Louise, had really good feedback and I enjoyed playing her. I'm hopefully doing the Buxton Fringe Festival with them next year.
6, With the help of my therapist, I found out a bit more about what makes me tick and how I deal with it.
7, Got upgraded to one of the suites at the St David's hotel in Cardiff. Wow! Wish I could have spent more time there.
Well, those were the highlights. Am not going to think about the lowlights. By the way, I don't do resolutions. I never keep them. I like to take the future as it comes. Hope that we all have the courage to grab great opportunities when they are close to us and to say no when we have to.
Happy New Year from me and my orangutang, Aphrodite who is sat on my desk today.
Love from a hopeful Bunyip. xx
Thursday, 23 December 2010
Christmas Tidings
The snow did hit London after all leading to many travel delays with planes, Eurostar and some train services. Fingers crossed the 8.15 from Paddington to Bristol Parkway is running tomorrow. I don't really fancy spending Christmas on my own!
The panto in Brighton didn't go as well as planned. The snow prevented the majority of our audience from travelling to Brighton. We had a couple of actors who didn't know when to stop ad-libbing and get on with the plot. Ho hum. I've also discovered that I didn't get cast in the play I auditioned for a couple of weeks ago:( Oh well, means that I can audition for Road by Jim Cartwright in January.
Anyway, the pressies are wrapped, the cards are sent, I've nearly eaten all the chocolate in my Advent calender and I went to a great carol service at St Martins in the Fields. I really went for it singing O Come All ye Faithful and Hark the Herald Angels Sing and strained my voice slightly! (I love those carols.) I have about two hours left at work and then, as far as I'm concerned, it is officially Christmas!
This time tomorrow, (trains permitting), I'll be decorating the family Christmas tree. I'm looking forward to turkey, brandy sauce and Dr Who on the telly:)
Hope that anyone reading this has a Merry Christmas and a Happy 2011!
A Festive Bunyip.
The panto in Brighton didn't go as well as planned. The snow prevented the majority of our audience from travelling to Brighton. We had a couple of actors who didn't know when to stop ad-libbing and get on with the plot. Ho hum. I've also discovered that I didn't get cast in the play I auditioned for a couple of weeks ago:( Oh well, means that I can audition for Road by Jim Cartwright in January.
Anyway, the pressies are wrapped, the cards are sent, I've nearly eaten all the chocolate in my Advent calender and I went to a great carol service at St Martins in the Fields. I really went for it singing O Come All ye Faithful and Hark the Herald Angels Sing and strained my voice slightly! (I love those carols.) I have about two hours left at work and then, as far as I'm concerned, it is officially Christmas!
This time tomorrow, (trains permitting), I'll be decorating the family Christmas tree. I'm looking forward to turkey, brandy sauce and Dr Who on the telly:)
Hope that anyone reading this has a Merry Christmas and a Happy 2011!
A Festive Bunyip.
Friday, 10 December 2010
Brrrrrrr!
Wow, its been cold, hasn't it? London seems to have escaped the worst of the snow. I saw what it was like in Newcastle when I went up for a much missed relative's funeral. We were driving along the Whitely Bay coast to the crematorum with snow flurrying around us and all we could see was white and grey everywhere.
The past six weeks have been insanely busy with a major work event and Sinders is a Gay rehearsal and press night. I've done about 75% of my Christmas shopping. Still need to get pressies for my Dad and my brother in law. Meanwhile, this all important question has been occupying my mind....
What do I want for Christmas? Erm.... (Discounting the obvious wishes that my family and friends remain healthy next year, world peace ect....)
1, Stephen Kings latest book.
2, Tickets to see as many of the Shakespeare plays at the Camden Roundhouse as possible.
3, A patchwork quilt to snuggle up in.
4, A part in Torchwood, Dr Who, True Blood, (yes, I know we're now in the realms of fantasy here. So what!)
5, A day at a spa.
6, A trip to San Francisco or New Orleans. (Fantasy again, I know. Can't really afford these.)
7, Chocolate!
8, Money to go mad in Monsoon with!
9, A way of getting out of the Civil Service straight into an acting or digital media career with minimum loss of income. (Just seen a flying pig zoom past!)
10, Some good sex would be nice. (Just seen a squadron of flying pigs fly past the window in formation!)
Anyway, something tells me I won't get all of these. So, I'll just settle for a happy, stress-free Christmas:)
Take care,
A wistful Bunyip x
The past six weeks have been insanely busy with a major work event and Sinders is a Gay rehearsal and press night. I've done about 75% of my Christmas shopping. Still need to get pressies for my Dad and my brother in law. Meanwhile, this all important question has been occupying my mind....
What do I want for Christmas? Erm.... (Discounting the obvious wishes that my family and friends remain healthy next year, world peace ect....)
1, Stephen Kings latest book.
2, Tickets to see as many of the Shakespeare plays at the Camden Roundhouse as possible.
3, A patchwork quilt to snuggle up in.
4, A part in Torchwood, Dr Who, True Blood, (yes, I know we're now in the realms of fantasy here. So what!)
5, A day at a spa.
6, A trip to San Francisco or New Orleans. (Fantasy again, I know. Can't really afford these.)
7, Chocolate!
8, Money to go mad in Monsoon with!
9, A way of getting out of the Civil Service straight into an acting or digital media career with minimum loss of income. (Just seen a flying pig zoom past!)
10, Some good sex would be nice. (Just seen a squadron of flying pigs fly past the window in formation!)
Anyway, something tells me I won't get all of these. So, I'll just settle for a happy, stress-free Christmas:)
Take care,
A wistful Bunyip x
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