Blue Skies smilin' on me,

Nothin' but blue skies do I see.

Wednesday was the clothes show. It was great because right at the beginning we asked about 4 people where we go to pick up our press passes and three of them directed us the wrong way :|. So in the press suite the nice woman asked us if we were media, but we were photographers and needed photographer passes to get us in 'the pit'. We hung around there for a while and clipped our passes to our skirts, shirts and dresses :).
I bought a dress, but I did that thing again where I picked up the wrong size, so...amendments will have to be made if I want to wear it at my expressing-amusement-and-merriment-evening. It's really pretty though :) It is a pretty baby pink with a grey bit at the top which has funny flaps. I would suggest people 'ruffle my feathery flaps' but it's where my boobies are :(.
The woman had suggested we go back to the suite before we went into the show so we can all go down as a big working-for-newspaper group and get in through special side doors after flashing our passes at the security!

When we were sat down, resting our sorry bones a woman came over and handed me a badge that read 'I've been scouted!'. She suggested we go to her stall and see what it's all about. It was a beauty pageant :|
Kathryn Heatley, Miss Teen UK.
It certainly doesn't suit. I'm not expecting any calls soon, so we're on safe grounds m8.

It was my brother's birthday on Wednesday also. Pete's big 2-0. The electricity had gone out early that morning (Which meant I got ready IN THE DARK)...it was off ALL day and meant that Pete had to go elsewhere if he wanted to enjoy what was left of hos day :( So he went to Pip's. I was really sad I didn't get to chat with him. I text him during the day to say Happy Birthday and throw yourself down the stairs. He replied saying he's going to strangle me with the belt I bought him. (L) I love my brother.
He's wearing the belt right now ;) he loves it man.

I haven't checked the pictures yet, I imagine there will be some keepers and some 'OMG NO LAD' ones. I will show when I have done a bit to them.
When I was down in 'the pit' taking photographs, many half-naked men threw themselves off the stage and one actually almost hit me. They were so incredibly ripped that if one was to hit me, I would have been totally squashed :(. Dangerous life this photographer business! I didn't like the bodies-on-show, I was embarrassed to take a photograph. The models were brilliant though, looking right at the camera and stopping to wait for the flash. I felt like their friend.

Tomorrow night is the Christmas tree ball. I imagine the place will be filled with hard-faced chumps.
I'm pretty sure I hate everything about my life.

The Physical Impossibility of Ian

Ian- 'Come on James, bang one out.'

James- 'Okay, if you give me a magazine. I might get it all over people though.'

I'm in Graphics because it makes me feel cool.

Jem Southam was a let down, Pop-Up exhibition was somewhat of a let down, The Lowry in general is a no-go, but A Long Exposure was fucking incredible. For a long time I have been flicking between the ideas of portraiture and documentary/photojournalism, and seeing this exhibition has pretty much made my mind up.
Kathryn Heatley- Photojournalist.

Tomorrow, I am going to help Sam with his developing. Get me back in that sweet, sweet red light darkroom. I miss the alone-time. I am so intolerant now, it hurts. I can't wait to get all the chemicals on me. :|......SAD FREAK.

P.S

I think I am sad most of the time now.

No place for boys like you.

Friday night was nice/manic. I went to my old highschool to shoot the fashion show. It was nice really, I got back stage and even got to run around the stage taking photographs quickly. I didn't expect the girls to be quite as stunning. I remember my year being particularly mongy, but pretty much all of the girls in the show had something incredibly beautiful about them. It was a nice and successful evening. This also gave me the chance to talk to my ol' favourite, Mr Garlington. Who is truely the apple of my eye.

Saturday I went to work like I usually do, but I didn't realise I would have the piss taken out of me so much. My boss and various other people left for a two hour break, whilst about four of us (three really, considering one person did FUCK ALL) worked in the most frenzied way at the peak time of the day. There was a constant flow of customers and almost constantly a line through the shop, which kept me from 9 until 3 o'clock when I finally got my break. I had been working since 8:30am.
I hate moaning about work because some people don't have jobs, and mine is usually quite nice so I tend to keep quiet when something bothers me, but this is simply the most ridiculous example of bad management. When I asked to go on my break (which I wouldn't normally do) at 3 o'clock, my boss was so blase and carefree that she had just abandoned us for two hours said 'yeah sure...go for it'. So I fucking did.

At the night time, it was quite nice, but very cold. I was featured in a film which had me out in the streets of Leyland pointing at circular road signs and specifying how mince pie-like they were. At 9:45pm, we had to leave the 24hr Tesco because they were closing at 10pm. WHAT?

Tomorrow I am going to Manchester, to visit the Lowry with the lovely ladies of my course. I am going to go and see A Long Exposure: 100 Years of Guardian Photography and the Pop-Up- Around The World exhibitions. The latter, I'm not expecting much of. But the photography exibiton, I hope will blow me away. I'll take my ol' pal, the pentax along. There is also an exhibition by Jem Southam on, which I wouldn't mind seeing. I'm unsure if they would let me see it though. I will have to use my awesome stealth to worm my way in.

I'm worried I'm becoming haggared.

Michelle called the local newspapers (when I say local, I mean every newspaper up to Bolton) to ask them if they would consider taking our photographs and using them in the paper, they said email them and they would choose! How fun. She also called the clothes show people to ask them if by saying we worked for a newspaper was fraudulent, considering we're students and acted as someone else. They said just bring a passport and a copy of the letter they sent us each, and they would give us our Press Passes! I hope they hang around your neck so we can look important and people would think we're close with Alexander McQueen and Giles. Cheap thrills.



I do wish my life was more exciting.
And I wish I was drunk more often so I have better stories to tell.
Here are a few from the fashion show...

The Tom Jones of the art world.

I hate watching people flirt. It's disgusting and all full of sexual intent. I don't like where I can see it going.




Another classic quote from the physical impossibility of Ian in the mind of someone living,
'Sean Bean? Who the HECK is Sean Bean?....Sean Flippin' Bean....' Said in utter disgust. (L)



I also need to add that Ian just did an impression of In the Night Garden and said 'brap brap and all that'. He also said that ALL teenagers kill people. (L)

'You didn't think she'd come back the same little girl, did you?'

I did, actually.

On Sunday morning, my Mum nearly choked to death. I have never seen anyone cry like she was crying. It was the worst morning I have ever had.

On sunday evening, Sarah came home from Castle Rigg! She was wearing make up and nail varnish. Now, my sister isn't the kind to be wearing make up or nailvarnish. She's quite the little tom boy, but after spending two nights in a room full of girls, she's completely changed. The first words she said to me were 'can I borrow your mascara' and 'some of the people in my room kissed'. She's twelve years old.
I love my sister, she's absolutely amazing, but she didn't crack a joke at all, nor did she smile at me. I don't think I like her new attitude. I told her that make up doesn't make her untouchable, so she should quit with the lip before she gets herself into trouble and she said 'shut your big gob' and walked away. :(
I hate this.

I'm not looking forward to the upcoming two weeks. I imagine it will be stressful to say the least. I have so many things to do, all of which involve being very nice to people.
However, this wednesday, Michelle is arranging for us to go to a Primary School and help the childen do some torchlight photographs! I think this will be the most exciting part of the week.

I do like that it's the 1st December today, which means in about 12 days, it will be acceptable for me to drink everyday until I don't want to anymore. I think it'll be quite nice.

Oh, Michelle is about to read us a fairtale, 'would you be offended if I read you this story book?'. I was never read stories as a child though, so I cannot wait. The Little Fir Tree illustrated by Marcel Ismand.