Well, it’s been a while…

5 months to be exact!

I’ve certainly been a little rubbish in the upkeep of this blog! I think it became one of those things where it had been so long since I wrote something, that I found it a little too easy to keep putting it off as it had already been so long anyway.

So, sorry about that, dear readers. I will certainly be making a much better effort to be updating this regularly- I miss blogging!

Well, since I last wrote a post, quite a lot has happened! In the time I’ve been gone, I’ve completed my degree, graduated and moved out of my student house and into Manchester. So, in my very weak defence, I have been busy!

I think this post is lacking in some colour, so let’s throw in some photos of the above events. Let’s start with mine and my boyfriend’s graduation!

Dom’s graduation!

My graduation with my nutcase of a sister and brother in law!

My graduation! (This isn’t my ‘final’ professional photo by the way- just one my boyfriend took as I was posing!

So, that was a pretty big thing! A few other big things happened in the time that I’ve not blogged for (turning 22, meeting one of my best friends for the first time in seven years!) but I think I will leave some of that for the next post! (Let’s not dry up all my subjects too quickly!)

Oh, and for anyone who may be wondering, I graduated with a very high 2:1 (as in, a few points from a 1st) in Photography and Creative Writing. 🙂

Well, that’s it for now! Just a quick little update! It’s good to be back!

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My Life in Letters: W.

Writing.

It’s the other half of my degree, it’s the thing that kick-started any creativity I’ve ever possessed.

I first starting writing when I was 9 years old. One Saturday morning I was bored while my mum had a lie in. Back then, the internet wasn’t really something a nine year old was interested it, so the computer for me consisted of Paint. And that’s about it.
However, on this particular morning the Word Processor attracted my attention for some reason. 
So I decided there and then that I would write a story. Being a huge Buffy the Vampire Slayer fan even at that age, my first paragraph was essentially regurgitated Whedon script, and as a nine year old thinking it was totally cool and not knowing the word ‘plaigarism’ then. 😉
So, what started as a bored nine year old wanting to pass a few hours, turned into my first novel. Which then spawned a sequel and eventually transformed into a trilogy, which I completed when I was 13. 
These early novels were terribly written, but the plot showed potential. I am currently trying to dig through it to find some gems for the basis of an adult rewrite.

From the second I started writing that first book, I decided (and told anyone who’d listen) that I wanted to be an author when I grew up. 
I continued writing through my teen years, starting a handful of projects that I never saw through to completion, but at least continuing to stretch my writing brain.
When I found the course at Bolton University, I decided it was ideal for me. At that point writing had taken a back seat to photography in terms of a career path, but was still a passion of mine and one I wanted to pursue. The course offered me the chance to study both photography and writing together, which was perfect for me.

Since coming to university I’ve steered more into poetry, as the fiction tutor wasn’t inspiring me to try my best, while my poetry tutor was. Strangely, before coming here I hated poetry. I hated how it was taught, I didn’t like the typical overly dramatised representations of it I’d been exposed to and the archaic language I’d experienced with poets such as Shakespeare- which let’s face it, is all you’re ever really taught in high school. 
Since learning it in university however I’ve fallen in love with it. I’ve built myself a good body of work, and I may even pursue getting it published.

In the meantime my fiction has been put on a back burner, but it’s all still there, and I have several ideas to work on in the future. 

Although my career path has changed course a little, I still want to pursue writing, and I still want to eventually get those books published that I so long ago sat down and started writing, thinking to myself “wow this is awesome, I can do anything I want here!”

Eventually, I want to make that girl’s hopeful dream of “when I grow up I want to be an author” a reality. Until then, poetry me up baby. 🙂

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Motivation.

Normally by this point in the year I’m still completely immersed in projects, New Year’s Resolutions and completely overcome with drive and motivation.

This year, for some reason this just isn’t the case. 

I’ve been really struggling to find any motivation to get done the things I know I must. This is my final ever semester at University before I graduate, and the work load is disappointingly light in comparison to last semester.
At the end of last year I put on my first exhibition of my work for that semester- that was a huge module. It consumed my every waking moment. In comparison, the work load for my final term is just not enough to keep me motivated.

I’m someone who loves to be busy, to be out and about all of the time. And yet, within the last few weeks mostly I’ve been watching TV, putting off tasks that would take minimal time and effort and playing video games in my pyjamas. 
I’m sure that the reason for this lack of motivation is down to the workload- for some reason the lack of has induced a sense of non-urgency in me. Last semester I hardly had a free moment to myself. This time around I’m procrastinating the days away without so much as looking at my assignments.
I’m up to date (for the most part) on my workload- it’s not building up or anything. But maybe that’s the problem- I’m doing nothing with my time and yet I’m on top of my work. That to me seems a little wrong and weird. The fact that these are the modules that will determine my graduating grade seems just off to me. 

The good thing about having free time though, is that I’ve starting shooting for myself again. I did my first self portrait in months yesterday and uploaded it, which was good! ( http://www.flickr.com/photos/bryonyharwood/12617987223/ ) 

This is my super excited to be shooting again face from yesterday. 🙂

I think the fact that I am graduating soon is becoming a little difficult to swallow. For the last three years of my life I’ve had my own home, my own time, my own money and my own work to do.

After graduation we will be having to move back in with parents before we can afford our own place. That is something that deeply depresses me. As much as I enjoy the company of those I will be living with, I’m used to my own space and my own way of handling a household now. I don’t want to be in someone else’s home. I want to be in my own.

That is a motivation thought in a way- I want to get a job ASAP and save up enough to move out. But until then, I have to do assignments that feel well below my intellectual level and continue to have not enough of it to keep my time occupied.

Has anyone else gone through something like this? Total lack of inspiration and motivation? Any tips on how to overcome it? 
Anyone who also has been to university- did this happen to you when you were on the brink of finishing? Or was your motivation stronger than ever? Let me know, I’d like to hear from you.

New glasses, though. 🙂

 

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Exhibition Update!

Well, today, after weeks of stress, screen punching and swearing, I’ve finally finished my final images and printed them ready for the exhibition! 
Tomorrow I will be framing them, and we are putting together the space ready to hang our work as a group tomorrow too.
It’s gonna be a busy week next week- every single day is accounted for in a 9-5 to get the space prepped and ready and full of our work ready to open to the public on the 9th.

Although I’ve so enjoyed the experience of putting together our own exhibition and the learning curves have been so beneficial, I am so looking forward to it all being completed so I can sleep for a week.

I will be writing a new Life in Letters hopefully over the weekend before next week kicks me full in the face. 

Watch out for that! But for now, it is over and out.

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Update- I’m organising an exhibition!

Well, well, well… long time no see, huh?

I’ve not posted a blog post in a LONG time… for various reasons that I shall get into in a moment. But this post here, marks my come-back to blogging and I will be posting regularly once more as of now. 

Now, as for the reasons behind my extended absence from WordPress… In early September my beloved cat Misty passed away. This was a really hard time for me and my family, and I felt as if I needed to write a blog post about it. I felt as if I had to write SOMETHING about her before I could continue with anything else, but I didn’t feel ready yet. Now, I feel as if I can address this and continue writing.
Some people may think it’s silly to be so devastated over the death of a pet, but to me she was a lot more than that- pets become a part of who you are, and you develop bonds with them you just don’t with anyone else. Misty was only 6 years old too- she wasn’t meant to die so young. She developed a form of blood cancer about a year ago and she had been battling it ever since. She had a nice last summer, but her condition deteriorated within a matter of days, and we ultimately had to decide to have her put to sleep. I stroked her and relaxed her and held her paw as she slowly passed. It was awful but we know we made the right choice for her.
I will miss her forever and life will definitely be a lot less bright without her.

 

Well, that was September. As for the time between then and now- I’m now in my final year of university. This semester my class and I are putting on an exhibition of our work on 12th December in Bolton, Manchester. Organising this and getting my work together has taken up a LOT of my time these last few months. Hence my delayed absence. 

HOWEVER, I am now back! I will be aiming to post weekly blogs again, probably updates on the exhibition between now and when we open mostly, but I’ll fit in some other stuff too. 🙂

To check out our exhibition website go to: www.exposure13.co.uk. 
You can also follow us on Twitter, Tumblr and Instagram and like us on Facebook. All of the information about the work and the dates we will be open will be announced on those sites. Go over and share the links and support our work! 😀

Until next time, kids!

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My Life in Letters: T.

Well, I’ve finally finished my second year at university. I say ‘finally’, but it feels like I only just started it… either time is flying by, or I’m paying four grand to be in Uni for 3 lectures a week and for only 6 months a year. Or both.

The summer is now stretched out before me, with Download Festival fast approaching, a trip to Venice not far behind and then finishing off with my 21st birthday. When the hell did a quarter of my life disappear? Wowzers.

Over the summer I’m also planning on doing a few personal projects, one of which is starting to really dedicate my time to my 52 Week Project. I’ve neglected it so badly within the last few weeks of semester, with it turning more into a 52 Week Project Over The Space Of (Undisclosed Amount Of Time.) That’s going to change over summer- I have a lot of photo opportunities coming my way, plus the time to really focus on it.
I also aim to do some writing projects, including getting back into blogging frequently again. Maybe even start a YouTube channel finally. We’ll see on that one… (I’m shy).

ANYWAY, onto the letter ‘T’. (I’m taking so long to do this series- I swear I started this over a year ago now).
The obvious person to talk about for the letter ‘T’ is my oldest friend Tom.
I’ve known Tom since I was four years old, and he was only two. (aww).
We’ve consistently been BBFL and never once had a falling out.
We don’t get to see each other often now that I’ve moved to the other end of the country for uni, but when we do see each other, our friendship just falls back into place like no time has passed, which is something that I think is a very rare thing to happen in a friendship. I’m very thankful to still have this guy in my life, even though he’s an unreliable bell-end. 🙂
He is like my brother, and I love him to death.

 

Tom and I- 2006. (HAHA).

Tom and I, 2011. (Look how much we’ve grown! *cough*)

Love ya, buddeh. ❤

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Resolutions Update!

I’ve done pretty good with my resolutions so far this year. I’ve not thrown in the towel on any of them yet and it’s already been a month! 😀

So, first off, I’ve started my 52 Weeks Project. I had a bit of a delayed start thanks to illness, location, lack of camera etc… but I’ve started it now, and I just published week 2 the other night.
Please go check out my Flickr stream, where each photo will be uploaded, plus a few others here and there outside of the project. Please help get my views up and leave me criticism. Help me get better!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/bryonyharwood/

As for healthier lifestyle, I’ve been half good half bad… I’ve found a gym I will be joining very soon and mostly been eating pretty damn well. A few Dominos slip ups is fine for only the first month, right? 😛

The technology free night a week hasn’t happened yet. Frankly, I forgot about that resolution until I re-read my post… whoops… I will be starting that soon though!

As for having fun? Well I’ve got a lot planned coming up!
This weekend marks mine and Dom’s one year anniversary! Exciting!
He’s planned out a whole weekend too, and won’t tell me what any of the plans are. I’m excited! 😀
I’ve also got a lot of other things in the works… if money allows. 😛

So far, so good!!

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University is hard.

It’s come to my attention that I have now not written a blog for well over a month. Whoops.

The main reason for this is the amount of work I’ve had on with my degree. I’m studying a joint honours BA in Photography and Creative Writing. This semester, I’ve had two photography modules and one poetry module.
For one of my photography modules I was expected to create an entire book of 18 individual concepts within a time frame of approximately nine weeks. Pretty tall order, as I had another two modules to find time for too.
However, I’ve done it! I’ve sent my book to be bound now, and I’ve finished shooting for my other module too! So now, I can finally focus on my journal works and essays. Those, for me, are easier to do as they are less time consuming.
I sent my book to be bound last night, and I breathed a massive sigh of relief. However, it won’t be delivered until the 18th… which kind of sucks as I need to hand it in before then. I’m hoping I won’t be down-marked for that though; my tutor said that as long as we all have receipts to show we ordered it before the deadline then it is fine.
The theme I chose was to transform each poem I have written into a photo. It actually worked out pretty well to be honest. My photos translated really well.

I have about two weeks left of this semester now before we break up for Christmas; that means two weeks of trying to find the money to pay for presents and travel and all sorts of things- that’s another thing that makes university a pain in the ass; the amount you have to spend! I’m paying almost 4,000 a year for my degree, another 50 a week in rent, plus bills etc… all without a job or any kind of government help. Plus as a photography student I have a lot of supplies needing to be bought- the book alone cost me 30 and my other final piece will cost another 20 minimum. Then there’s 40 each time my printer runs out of ink- which is does very often as I have to print out every single thing I shoot… Sigh.
Next semester I will be working though. I wanted to work two jobs but my boyfriend has more of less forbidden me to do that as he thinks I will run myself into the ground with the stress of it. To be honest he may be right- a joint honour degree means I have twice the work load most have anyway, and I get the least financial help.

Next semester should be easier- the work load won’t be as intense, and having a job will help with financial problems.
2012 has been a really hard year for various reasons; it’s also been an awesome year, thanks to spending it with Dom.

Here’s hoping 2013 has some cool shit to offer me too. 😉

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My Life in Letters: O.

For the letter ‘O’, I thought I would talk about my hometown, and the city of my birth, Oxford, England.
I’ve always been someone who’s lived all over the place, not due to my parents moving or anything, but just because I tended to move all around the place personally. However, out of all of the places I’ve lived, Oxford has been the most consistent.
20 years ago now, on the 16th of July, I was born at the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford city center.
I lived in a small village outside of the boarders of the city after that, in and out of different areas of the outskirts.
I lived in the center of Oxford while working through my gap year, where I lived independently, before moving to Bolton for University.

Although I no longer live in Oxford, and I’ve spent time living elsewhere, such as Yorkshire and Manchester and Aylesbury, I will always consider it my original home. I doubt I will go back there to live permanently again after University, but it will always be another home to me.

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The Time We Accidentally Called The Police On Our Landlord…

So we moved into our house a week ago now, and since we moved in, we’ve caused our landlord a fair amount of grief, including calling him in over problems with sanitation and cleanliness in the house, issues with billing and various other issues… however I think we may have topped it all with accidentally calling the police on him within the first week of living here.

Now, I know you must be thinking “How the hell could you ‘accidentally’ call the police on someone?” and let me assure you, there is a genuine reason behind this mistake. And yes, it was a mistake.

As I’ve mentioned, we’ve had a few issues with the house. One of these is the way that most of the things in the house have not been fitted correctly; basically the owner of this house did a very cheap job on it despite being perfectly able to afford to fix things correctly. A brief summary of some of the things he has done a botch job on include;
– The carpets being stapled to the floor several inches away from the edge. Yes, really.
– The shelf in the shower cubicle being fixed into place with a rusty nail and a hole in the tiles for a wall plug. (This one particularly amused me.)
– The edge of the shower basin being covered up not with poly filer, which would have been a very simple, cheap and quick solution to a crack, but instead covered over with duct tape.
– The general state of the house when we moved in. Mould in every single bedroom being one of the more minor issues here.
– The landlord providing us with a miniature dryer, yet no washing machine… this one confuses me beyond belief.

There is more, but I’m sure you get the point. Now I should get to the botch job in question, and the culprit behind this mishap. The bedroom doors are not accurately fitted to the frames. While in two of the bedrooms, this is just a minor irritation more than a pressing problem, in my house mate Steph’s bedroom, it went one better and was so badly fitted to the frame (not to mention that the handles on either side of the door weren’t the same as each other… as tends to be the norm for handles on the same door) that is actually jammed her into her bedroom. 

So after a night of the four of us watching a few films with dinner, we headed for our bedrooms. Steph, after entering, pulled the door shut behind her, only to find that when she wanted to open it again, the handle wasn’t activating the mechanism inside the frame to open the door. 
Dom, Matt and myself then spent the next hour trying to open the door from the outside, while she pulled from the inside, to no avail. We took off the handle, we pushed it, kicked it… nothing. We were starting to think we had no choice but to kick the door down to get her out. 

Now, as you can imagine, a week after moving into a new house, we weren’t too keen on the concept of damaging a door of the rented property perhaps beyond repair, and then being forced to cover the costs of this damage that was the landlord’s responsibility in the first place. So we decided that before resorting to breaking down her door, we should call the non-emergency fire service number for advice on what would be the best course of action.

We got through to the police service, who after lecturing us on “this isn’t really a police matter” eventually listened to us stating that we wanted to speak to the fire service, no the police service (the reply to which was slightly sheepish), passed us through to the fire department, who said that they would contact our landlord, and if he did not respond, they would send someone down to break the door down. 
A few minutes after this, we got a call back from the operator, who sounded very embarrassed, and explained that for some unknown reason, the police, who evidently decided that this was a job for them, not for the people from whom we’d requested help, had taken over the case and had called the landlord on our behalf, rather than the fire service, as we had wanted.

So, cue a very nervous and irritated looking landlord arriving at our house at 12.30 am with a box of tools, because his tenants of just over a week, had called the police on him, because a door had gotten stuck.

 

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