I have my life back!

FINALLY I have my life back! On Monday I celebrated by lugging all my superheavy folders and books on the Circle line around to Cannon Street, and proceeded to sit outside my boyfriend’s job for 40 minutes (I didn’t even realise it was that long because I was listening to Insurgent on audiobook – oh my god, it was nerve racking!) waiting for him to finish. Walked to the train station and arrived to an absolute utter madness, as half the trains were cancelled and the other half delayed. Finally managed to get on a train after wrestling a dozen people out of the way, went to his place and ate candy and watched Parks and Recreation until it was time to sleep.

Yesterday I did nothing worth mentioning, really. I had to stay at my boyfriend’s because we had ordered some furniture to be delivered. I was woken up at 6.30 by my boyfriend going to work, which in itself is annoying because it was my first actual day off, but it got even more annoying when I couldn’t go back to sleep. Managed to go back to sleep for a bit after putting CBeebies on (lol??) and the rest of the day was spent tinkering on the computer and watching TV. Finally the furniture arrived, and people started coming home from work, put wardrobe together, argued (mandatory when building flatpack furniture) then slept.

But today. Finally. I got to do some London-stuff again. So I went to Greenwich.

all pics by me

The City of London viewed from Heron Quays on Isle of Dogs, underneath a DLR bridge.

And I got to take a look at the oddity that is Canary Wharf. It is just so.. Strange! And the whole concept of the DLR.. It has to be experienced to be understood.

Glass and metal at Heron Quays station.

I decided to go to Cutty Sark and all the historical buildings, Royal Naval College, The Queens House, Trinity Laban and Royal Maritime Museum, just to mention a few. It was a gorgeous day, almost summer again, warm and sunny.

Domes of The Royal Naval College.

Contrasts. View towards Canary Wharf.

Royal Naval College.

Silhouette.

Gorgeous!

Greenwich Park, walking up to the Royal Observatory.

View towards Canary Wharf from The Royal Observatory. The Queen’s House in front.

Then I walked towards Blackheath, another beautiful green lung in London. Both Greenwich park and Blackheath are places I warmly recommend for a stroll. Greenwich park even had a deer enclosure! If it wasn’t for my plan to go to Richmond park soon to see deer I would most definetely have gone to have a look at them.

Now I am sitting with my sketchbook and planning for my meeting with the tutor tomorrow about our end of year exhibition. And then it’s finally my daily excercises and bedtime! Zzzzz….

Hope you had a greaaaat Wednesday!

Tomorrow!

Last efforts with two computers, a large printer, heaps of paper and patience with frayed ends…..

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The hand-in of my Major Thesis Project for the MA in interior design. Tomorrow at 2PM. I. Can’t. WAIT! I have been “done” since Thursday, but as you all probably know, you are never truly done with a project like this. I could have worked on it for another year, and probably still feel like this the day before hand-in; “Is it good enough? Am I going to fail? Should I have done more?” You know….

I think it is because the project is so clear in my mind. Even though 9 months has passed by since I first started thinking about ideas for it, I still remember the first idea. From that moment frustration, hard work and looking for the light in the end of the tunnel. It has been a struggle, which has been quite enjoyable now that I look back. I know that I can do it now. All that remains is to see whether the examinors think it’s “good enough”. All I want is a pass. I never want to look at this project again, haha!

I thought I would share the final, very personal chapter in the design report we have to hand in with the project. Maybe someone that finds themselves in the same situation sometime can find some inspiration or familiar feeling.

Blood, sweat and tears. Literally. Failures and victories, big and small.

Endless hours in front of the computer, in the library, at the studio, hand drawing, queuing for prints, waiting for my time to speak at crits, drawing sketches, Photoshopping, doing flow charts and floor plans…. And now it is all handed in.

12 months has gone by, and before that countless months preparing myself for this year now past. I am supposed to be finished with my studies. But I will never be finished learning.

Doing this project has taught me so much about myself and how I should, want and need to work. It has felt hopeless, useless, endless and worthless. But also inspirational, enjoyable, rewarding and valuable. Memorable. Something to be proud of.

I have learnt that I get easily confused, that I need a set plan to work efficiently. Set deadlines and allocate revision time to ensure high quality work.

I have learnt that I need to trust myself and always aim to be the best I can be, in my way. Trust my instincts and what I feel is right to do, and it will in most cases turn out good.

I have learnt that I can win over myself, even when it felt like I couldn’t. My greatest weakness became an asset when I realised it felt empowering beating the part of me that just wants to lay down and disappear into the ground when things get tough and stressful.

But the most important things I learnt; To be humble. To not take criticism personal, but take it in and carry it with me. If I don’t like something, change it. Trust myself and believe I can do it.

Because I can. And I did.

Motionless

If you turn the light out, even for just a split second, can you guarantee that everything is the same?

Stretch. Clean. Make sure everything is normal. Check. Lay. Run. Run. Run!

Heartbeats. The chest is stretching. The unknown fear, but not fear of the unknown. It is a part of you, but a repulsive part, the part that needs to be hidden away. The part nobody sees and nobody understands. Because it is not you.

Gasping for air. Calm down. It is nothing.

Everything quiet, muffled by darkness. Even the light feels more dark.

Head spinning. Thought tornado. Hopes. Dreams. Wishes. Fears. Death. Threats. Explosion.

Shame. For being out of control. For letting it overtake the barrier. Don’t let them know. Maybe mention it. They will think you are bluffing, because you are not sick.

No. You are not. But the other part of you is.

And it is invisible.

The City of London

Even though City of London (meaning the business district of the English capital, not the city itself, of course) is virtually dead after 6PM, there is something peculiar about this area I really like. It could be the suit-clad men of all ages (y u m), but I think there is something about the whole athmosphere of the area. After starting to go out with a man that works in the City a year ago I have started to strangely appreciate the little break from the rest of London. You can’t get a coffee, unless you are on the border to one of the other boroughs, but that doesn’t mean there is nothing to do!

The City of London skyline at dusk, Picture

The City of London is where many of Londons icons are found, like St. Pauls Cathedral and The Gherkin. It is also where the Romans first settled in the 1st century AD, which I think makes the very interesting contrast between highly modern, 21st century against the Renaissance styled traditional London architecture and even remnants from the early city. This is also where the Great Fire of London (1666) started, which is when the council declared “no more wooden buildings in London”. Fun-fact.

The Royal Exhange and Bank of England

The Royal Exchange © Patric Vacek, Picture

Bank of England (picture from Wikipedia)

Right outside Bank station (Central, Circle, District, DLR, Northern and Waterloo&City lines) you find these two gems. Bank of England is the central bank of the UK. Its interiors were used in the Harry Potter-movies to portray Gringotts. Unfortunately, no one are allowed in the building except in the museum at the back. Here you can learn about the history of the bank and also see a real gold bar! The Royal Exchange started out as the main stock exchange venue in London, however at present day it is home to some of the finest merchants and restaurants. The front is (quite clearly) inspired by Pantheon in Rome.

Leadenhall Market

Leadenhall Market, Photo by DAVID ILIFF. License: CC-BY-SA 3.0, Picture

Walk up Cornhill from Bank station and quite fast you will encouter Leadenhall Market on your right. This is one of the oldest markets in London. It looks quite special placed here in the midst of “skyscrapers”, glass and metal. This is another location from the Harry Potter-films, used to portray the area around the Leaky Cauldron and Diagon Alley. Today it is not so much a market anymore, but it still has restaurants and pubs (some of the only ones I have seen open after 6PM, actually) and a few shops.

The Lloyd’s Building

“Willis and LLoyd’s” by Colin – Own work. Licensed. (Lloyd’s building seen to the right)

This building is known as the “Inside-Out building”, because all the vertical circulation and services are put on the outside of the building to allow for more space inside. I walk past this building quite often as I commute from Fenchurch Street on a regular basis, and I always have to cast a second glance…

The Monument to the Great Fire of London

Monument, picture from Wikipedia

Right by Monument Station (where Bank’s District&Circle lines actually run from) you find this little gem. Not worth it to travel all the way just to see this, but if you are in the area it is quite a sight.

Remnants of the London Wall

“London Wall fragment” by John Winfield – From geograph.org.uk.

The London Wall is the defensive wall built by the Romans around what was then called Londonium. Until the late Middle Ages this wall defined the City of London. Now there are only fragments of it left, most of which around the Tower of London-area and around the Barbican-estate.

Temple Church

Temple Church, Picture

Almost on the border of City of Westminster, this church is placed in almost an alley or courtyard. It is interesting to see how the city has grown around itself, taking up all available space. It was originally built by the Knights Templar but today there are held regular services there.

Greyfriar’s Garden

Greyfriar’s Garden, Picture.

This little park-thingy inside the ruins of Christchurch is something I actually discovered just yesterday on the number 8 bus to Liverpool Street. It is located only moments away from St. Paul’s, but I’d much rather go in this one than St. Paul’s. Don’t you think? So lovely.

Fleet Street

“Londres – Fleet Street” by Josep Renalias – Own work. Licensed.

Last but not least, Fleet Street. Everyone has seen Sweeney Todd-The Demon Barber on Fleet Street? Well, it’s nothing like that film. I am not even sure it used to be, but still I like it very much. It is something about walking down this mixed road, classical looking architecture, then suddenly glass, metal, a Starbucks, an Itsu and then St. Paul’s and a pub. Needs to be experienced. I particularly like walking from Holborn Circus down Fetter Lane and turn towards St. Paul’s when I hit Fleet Street.

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Well, that was my little “London Guide” on a Saturday morning. Hope you enjoyed!

A new blog… Again

I missed blogging. So I am trying it again on yet another platform. This blog will be about my life, style, interests and passion.