Am sitting at home dog sick trying to make myself feel better. Thank god for paracetamol.
Tried to get through at least half an hour of historical dance, but faded within the first fifteen minutes. Ropeable. Careered into reception to speak to admissions, then slogged it to Gloucester Road to the doctor. Snoozed groggily on the (beautiful!) couch (LAMDA kids really get looked after here - the medical centre was very posh), then saw the sweetly casually dressed GP who told me I had viral tonsillitis (which is what I had diagnosed for myself already). Thanked the doctor for her time, thanked the lord that Britain/LAMDA/Australia/whatever felt that free health care was important, then braved peak hour subway to get home. Made some dinner, chilled out on my floor, aiming to go to bed within the next thirty minutes. Amen.
Need to slow down and take care of myself. Funny how that's so easy to forget.
Had something brilliant to say but have now forgotten it.
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Monday, July 21, 2008
Germany/London
Back from Germany. Spent two glorious days wandering around the lovely city of Cologne, eating massive breakfasts and drinking kiba, a mixture of cherry and banana juice. Cologne is filled with beautiful, tall men that are the light tan of a pretzel and as smooth as Milka. It's a nice change from the larrikinness of Australians, or the wittiness of Brits. The evening I arrived I didn't get Jen's message in time and had no way of contacting her. After spending a good hour walking back and forth between the airport and the train station (no money, too big a note, couldn't work out how to use machine, had to check the timetable), I finally got myself to Cologne central, then found myself an Internet cafe. The internet cafe was really a pokies room and I sat at the computer for a few terrifying minutes while I tried to decide whether the man in the corner was going to rob me. Anyway, in the end I managed to contact her and she picked me up outside the station, which was rather good considering for a long while I thought I would have to stay in a hostel for the night. But all was good!
That night we went to Verdi's Requiem at a church in Cologne. It was massive, filled with hundreds of people. Jen, her friend Nico and I sat at the back on the floor. Everyone else around us was in their mid-twenties or of student age. As we sat back and drank in the music, people closed their eyes and focussed on the reverberations around them. To see that many people gather for a university concert (it was the University of Cologne) was incredible. I miss the cultural enthusiasm of Europe.
The following day, after late night drinks, we went for a wander around the city, down by the river and around the town. The highlight for me was the chocolate factory, even though there was no chocolate for us to taste :( (too late). We went to the Dom in town which was also incredible, just in terms of the size and the sheer magnificence of it. Massive monuments of art never fail to amaze me. That night we went to Goldfinger and Ivory, hip clubs in Cologne, and danced till morning. That you can dance in a small room with a hundred other people until the sun literally comes up also never ceases to amaze me.
Saturday I went straight from Gatwick airport to London Zoo, where the LAMDA grad ball was taking off. British actors are lovely and screwed up (kidding). Nah, they're a good bunch. All actors are probably a bit mad to some extent ;) Had a few good chats to some people about studying at LAMDA and how they're finding it. People seem to be enthusiastic and really loving what they do. Had a chat to an Australian graduate which was honest. Anyway, will see how things turn out. Am keen to start school tomorrow and meet some of the summer crew, find some people to see theatre with. Every time I've tried this week I keep convincing myself it's too expensive! So I haven't seen anything, which is very unusual for me, normally I have no issue seeing theatre on my own. Having someone to come along will be good.
Today I was reading a map at a bus stop when I was asked for directions by a lovely Japanese lady. We were both headed for Brick Lane and so we ended up spending the afternoon wandering around together, browsing through markets and having coffee. She's a post-grad art theory major, and we had a long chat about art and life and career braveness. We were both surprised to discover so many life and creative similarities to each other. When you're on a particular path you attract other people in a similar boat. Or, as I told her, when you're both just poor and creative people with a lot of time you're likely to run into one another! She was amazed by my bravado and being in London and I told her she was even braver for pursuing post-grad studies relatively late. We shared a chicken, fetta and spinach sausage in a British cafe, then hugged hope and joy into our dreams. I wish her all the best and I know she wishes the same for me.
London is big and tiny and full of people and not full of people. I think I could live here, especially if I thought I would be coming back to Australia eventually. The centre of London is big and beautiful and is much like Sydney in a superficial way. The apartment I'm living in is beautiful. I think I could very well imagine myself living and studying here. The locals seem to like me, and I don't mind them either. I would have to get used to drinking a lot at the pub, converting prices into Australian dollars, really very shit food, and being called 'fit', but I think I could handle that. It's going to be a tough road, but a fun one, and I think I could handle some of that stuff coming my way.
That night we went to Verdi's Requiem at a church in Cologne. It was massive, filled with hundreds of people. Jen, her friend Nico and I sat at the back on the floor. Everyone else around us was in their mid-twenties or of student age. As we sat back and drank in the music, people closed their eyes and focussed on the reverberations around them. To see that many people gather for a university concert (it was the University of Cologne) was incredible. I miss the cultural enthusiasm of Europe.
The following day, after late night drinks, we went for a wander around the city, down by the river and around the town. The highlight for me was the chocolate factory, even though there was no chocolate for us to taste :( (too late). We went to the Dom in town which was also incredible, just in terms of the size and the sheer magnificence of it. Massive monuments of art never fail to amaze me. That night we went to Goldfinger and Ivory, hip clubs in Cologne, and danced till morning. That you can dance in a small room with a hundred other people until the sun literally comes up also never ceases to amaze me.
Saturday I went straight from Gatwick airport to London Zoo, where the LAMDA grad ball was taking off. British actors are lovely and screwed up (kidding). Nah, they're a good bunch. All actors are probably a bit mad to some extent ;) Had a few good chats to some people about studying at LAMDA and how they're finding it. People seem to be enthusiastic and really loving what they do. Had a chat to an Australian graduate which was honest. Anyway, will see how things turn out. Am keen to start school tomorrow and meet some of the summer crew, find some people to see theatre with. Every time I've tried this week I keep convincing myself it's too expensive! So I haven't seen anything, which is very unusual for me, normally I have no issue seeing theatre on my own. Having someone to come along will be good.
Today I was reading a map at a bus stop when I was asked for directions by a lovely Japanese lady. We were both headed for Brick Lane and so we ended up spending the afternoon wandering around together, browsing through markets and having coffee. She's a post-grad art theory major, and we had a long chat about art and life and career braveness. We were both surprised to discover so many life and creative similarities to each other. When you're on a particular path you attract other people in a similar boat. Or, as I told her, when you're both just poor and creative people with a lot of time you're likely to run into one another! She was amazed by my bravado and being in London and I told her she was even braver for pursuing post-grad studies relatively late. We shared a chicken, fetta and spinach sausage in a British cafe, then hugged hope and joy into our dreams. I wish her all the best and I know she wishes the same for me.
London is big and tiny and full of people and not full of people. I think I could live here, especially if I thought I would be coming back to Australia eventually. The centre of London is big and beautiful and is much like Sydney in a superficial way. The apartment I'm living in is beautiful. I think I could very well imagine myself living and studying here. The locals seem to like me, and I don't mind them either. I would have to get used to drinking a lot at the pub, converting prices into Australian dollars, really very shit food, and being called 'fit', but I think I could handle that. It's going to be a tough road, but a fun one, and I think I could handle some of that stuff coming my way.
Thursday, July 17, 2008
Das ist meine hamburger!
Am heading to Germany today. I'll start packing in...a...sec...
Yesterday I wandered around London admiring places from afar. I keep getting turned away because shows are SOLD OUT dammit, who ever heard of theatre being SOLD OUT, but no, it's London, there are no SPARE SEATS, not like in Sydney where you show up and ALWAYS get a seat...even the bloody Globe, ESPECIALLY the bloody Globe had no groundling seats...so I went to St Paul's cathedral and admired it from afar instead. A lot of buildings in London are quite lovely to admire from the outside considering it costs lunch and dinner to go in, so my method has been to get to a subway stop and use my zoom from there. I also admired Westminster Abbey and sat in on a House of Commons debate on fuel taxes. The Tate was quite fun although crowded and noisy. All in all a remarkably cheap day, with only sore feet and a few pounds for food to account for the day's work!
I also spent the evening watching my flatmate's clown performances, which were very fun. Very talented lot, very charming! The first years of the 3 year course (As) are all hyper and mad and talented (with a couple of famous faces) while the first years of the 2 year course (E1s) are much more precise in their work. Then we all went to the pub again, which I have to say is quite a nice, kind of the upmarketness of the Royal but the cosiness of the Rege, and much nicer than both ;)
Ah British actors...if only I could eat them like chocolate chip cookies!
Yesterday I wandered around London admiring places from afar. I keep getting turned away because shows are SOLD OUT dammit, who ever heard of theatre being SOLD OUT, but no, it's London, there are no SPARE SEATS, not like in Sydney where you show up and ALWAYS get a seat...even the bloody Globe, ESPECIALLY the bloody Globe had no groundling seats...so I went to St Paul's cathedral and admired it from afar instead. A lot of buildings in London are quite lovely to admire from the outside considering it costs lunch and dinner to go in, so my method has been to get to a subway stop and use my zoom from there. I also admired Westminster Abbey and sat in on a House of Commons debate on fuel taxes. The Tate was quite fun although crowded and noisy. All in all a remarkably cheap day, with only sore feet and a few pounds for food to account for the day's work!
I also spent the evening watching my flatmate's clown performances, which were very fun. Very talented lot, very charming! The first years of the 3 year course (As) are all hyper and mad and talented (with a couple of famous faces) while the first years of the 2 year course (E1s) are much more precise in their work. Then we all went to the pub again, which I have to say is quite a nice, kind of the upmarketness of the Royal but the cosiness of the Rege, and much nicer than both ;)
Ah British actors...if only I could eat them like chocolate chip cookies!
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Arrival
Hi all,
Just a quick note to say I arrived safe and well. The flight was something like 30 hours and my body clock is whacked (I went to bed 2am London time, and am up again at 7am London time...let me sleep dammit!) but hey I'm in London and the sun is out, so no complaints! My first day I holed up with a family friend in Wimbledon and sat on her serviced apartment couch watching TV till my flatmates finished class and rescued me. My flatties are very lovely and cool and allowed me to take over the living room floor so I am currently swaddled like a fat pink salmon in my sheets and sleeping bag on the floor. When Marc heads home I shall move into his room.
As yet I haven't done a great deal. First day was really waiting around and second day was aimless (but eventually National Gallery) wandering. My aim for today is to barge my way into graduate LAMDA shows (they're free after all) and hang out at the pub. My ingenious back up plans include stealing into a clowning workshop and pretending to be a full time student. I want to get as much exposure as possible, so world domination, here I come!
Off to work out how to use the shower!
x
Just a quick note to say I arrived safe and well. The flight was something like 30 hours and my body clock is whacked (I went to bed 2am London time, and am up again at 7am London time...let me sleep dammit!) but hey I'm in London and the sun is out, so no complaints! My first day I holed up with a family friend in Wimbledon and sat on her serviced apartment couch watching TV till my flatmates finished class and rescued me. My flatties are very lovely and cool and allowed me to take over the living room floor so I am currently swaddled like a fat pink salmon in my sheets and sleeping bag on the floor. When Marc heads home I shall move into his room.
As yet I haven't done a great deal. First day was really waiting around and second day was aimless (but eventually National Gallery) wandering. My aim for today is to barge my way into graduate LAMDA shows (they're free after all) and hang out at the pub. My ingenious back up plans include stealing into a clowning workshop and pretending to be a full time student. I want to get as much exposure as possible, so world domination, here I come!
Off to work out how to use the shower!
x
Sunday, July 13, 2008
Leaving
Hey all,
This was going to be a blog for my travels in Norway. Of course, now that I'm no longer going to Norway, the web address is a little redundant. But, strangely, I like the name, so I guess it stays. I'm also trying to break the habit of blogging because I think it's horrendous and insular and too much inside heady, but I have been convinced, at least for the moment, that this is probably the easiest way to keep in touch whilst travelling. I have also decided to return to Blogger. No reason.
I guess the biggest thing that has happened to me in the past few days is that I had dinner with my father last night, at which he told me that he hasn't closed the door behind me and that should I require any help in London I am always welcome back. He told me I had his blessing although he preferred it if I deferred instead of quit.
*rolls off the seat and falls on the floor*
Good thing I was driving else I would have done exactly that.
So I go to London with a big smile across my face and a lightness in my heart. Although I am relieved to have this turnaround, I am also a little scared. My father giving me his blessing means that I can't lie to myself any more. Everything I do from now on is my responsibility. Every mistake, every success. Nothing from now on can be the result of bad parenting or lack of support.
But what a joy, what a delight.
This was going to be a blog for my travels in Norway. Of course, now that I'm no longer going to Norway, the web address is a little redundant. But, strangely, I like the name, so I guess it stays. I'm also trying to break the habit of blogging because I think it's horrendous and insular and too much inside heady, but I have been convinced, at least for the moment, that this is probably the easiest way to keep in touch whilst travelling. I have also decided to return to Blogger. No reason.
I guess the biggest thing that has happened to me in the past few days is that I had dinner with my father last night, at which he told me that he hasn't closed the door behind me and that should I require any help in London I am always welcome back. He told me I had his blessing although he preferred it if I deferred instead of quit.
*rolls off the seat and falls on the floor*
Good thing I was driving else I would have done exactly that.
So I go to London with a big smile across my face and a lightness in my heart. Although I am relieved to have this turnaround, I am also a little scared. My father giving me his blessing means that I can't lie to myself any more. Everything I do from now on is my responsibility. Every mistake, every success. Nothing from now on can be the result of bad parenting or lack of support.
But what a joy, what a delight.
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