I added this gadgets with quotes from six first Harry Potter books which I love :) (where's the seventh?)
And I love all the remarks that show up in them.
My favourite so far:
Now if you two don't mind, I'm going to bed before either of you come up with another clever idea to get us killed - or worse, expelled. Hermione
:D She is such a nerd and I love her.
Monday, September 13, 2010
Blissful morning
I'm back. And I'm here posting an entry after a hot shower and a hot cup of tea.
So this was definitely one of the best mornings of my life!
I rode to this place which is just made for watching sunrise. I had it marked on my gps, though I was sure I could find it with not much effort. And I did! (I was there last about a year or so ago)
I stopped on the way to take a snap and realised I left my camera memorystick in my other purse. What a shame ) Anyways I went on as I was determined to drink my cup of coffee facing the sun. I arrived just in time as it was already light enough but the sun wasn't yet to be seen. I "parked" the bicycle and climbed the tree to see the world up this thing (about 5 flights of stairs, i didn't count) and then up there I knew I felt good. I was just standing there and doing nothing, just smiling to myself. I felt so relaxed and sooo blissful. This is the word. The sky was pale blue with a group of little white clouds scattered across it. I looked around, spotted some recognizable high buildings.
And then just stood there and waited sipping my coffee.
And then it all began!
The sun was getting up so fast that it was hard to make up my mind of what to contemplate! My parents? My sister? My friends? My future? Any other trifle? I gave up and just stood there smiling like a village idiot.
I stood there watching it come out of the mist until it was fully risen and my eyes ached. Then I just put on my sunglasses and kept looking.
Having descended I watched the scenery finishing up the crap of coffee I had the misfortune to take with me. And I saw a stout and rather sad woman passing by and behaving as if it was something quite ordinary for her to meet a girl at 7am standing by the rail roads and having her morning cup of energy (or whatever she thought I was drinking).
I stood there watching it come out of the mist until it was fully risen and my eyes ached. Then I just put on my sunglasses and kept looking.
Having descended I watched the scenery finishing up the crap of coffee I had the misfortune to take with me. And I saw a stout and rather sad woman passing by and behaving as if it was something quite ordinary for her to meet a girl at 7am standing by the rail roads and having her morning cup of energy (or whatever she thought I was drinking).
As one can assume, I didn't take any decent pictures (I will see to it next times I go watching the dawn breaking) but I can share some of those I took with my camera-phone.
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| this is when I found out I had no card in my cam. |
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| on top, it hasn't started yet |
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| if you look northwardly |
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| southward |
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| IT HAS BEGUN! |
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| the sun is up! yay! |
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| i realised I could zoom in with my camera, take a snap, hold it and take a pic with my mobile. which I certainly did. :D |
On my way back I passed rather beautiful places with fog all over them! It was so strange to be seeing fog ahead and not noticing it when I actually entered it! I hoped it would be like cotton candy (only much softer) for me to reach out and touch it. But alas!
And one more thing :) I almost fell off the byke giggling cuz I lived a hundred of moments up to this line of Jason Mraz's I'm yours. But my breath fogged up the glass.
Fogged sunglass lenses totally obscured my poor vision to that extent that I had to slow down and take to the roadside in case there were any cars approaching. I had to breathe through the nose all the time, though I'm used to inhaling through the nose and exhaling through the mouth while working out. I consider washing the sunglasses with this special liquid for scuba masks.
And something else. When I was headed for the outskirts the traffic was mostly moving in the opposite direction (i.e. to the center of the city, going to work) and when I was going back home most of the traffic also moved in the opposite direction (I assume they left something behind (at home) and had to rush back and then back to work again, funny isn't it?)
I want to go there again tomorrow. Only I wish the whole place didn't smell of lube and black oil so bloody much. I can stand even the rattling of locomotives. But not the horrible smell.
Breaking dawn
I'll be quick this time :)
I just started worrying about the way I'm spending my nights. Reading a book till the dawn, then practicing my German for an hour (revising grammar, doing exercises) and then falling asleep. Occasionally I would sneek to the kitchen for a slice of smoked meat or a cup of tea.
But today I'm gonna do something different.
Although I've been reading till half past five in the morning I'm not going to pick up my German grammar book and read about endless ways of using articles. I am going to take my camera, mount my bike and go and watch the sun rising. I've even turned on the computer to look up what time is the sunrise today.
So I tell you. It'll be at 6:57, another hour to go!
I only need to put really warm clothes on as it's terribly cold outside.
PS. If you ever happen to come across a hardcover copy of Chris Manby's The Matchbreaker with a tiny blood stain at page 212 - you have to be informed: the blood is mine :)
I just started worrying about the way I'm spending my nights. Reading a book till the dawn, then practicing my German for an hour (revising grammar, doing exercises) and then falling asleep. Occasionally I would sneek to the kitchen for a slice of smoked meat or a cup of tea.
But today I'm gonna do something different.
Although I've been reading till half past five in the morning I'm not going to pick up my German grammar book and read about endless ways of using articles. I am going to take my camera, mount my bike and go and watch the sun rising. I've even turned on the computer to look up what time is the sunrise today.
So I tell you. It'll be at 6:57, another hour to go!
I only need to put really warm clothes on as it's terribly cold outside.
PS. If you ever happen to come across a hardcover copy of Chris Manby's The Matchbreaker with a tiny blood stain at page 212 - you have to be informed: the blood is mine :)
Saturday, September 11, 2010
Le Paradis de Nina
We wanted to do this shoot back in August, but I had too little time and didn't want to shoot in a rush.
So here are the pics. We found the dress, the apple garden and used Milena's perfume bottle. It's actually just Nina by Nina Ricci, not the paradise edition. anyway.
These are just four of about a hundred pics I took in that garden.
Before the shoot. Chillaxing at this oriental restaurant.
So here are the pics. We found the dress, the apple garden and used Milena's perfume bottle. It's actually just Nina by Nina Ricci, not the paradise edition. anyway.
These are just four of about a hundred pics I took in that garden.
Before the shoot. Chillaxing at this oriental restaurant.
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| Milena |
Little red riding cap!
This week was umm.. okay. I hate when weeks are ok! Need to do something special every week, otherwise I'm bored to death.
So Thursday night I decided it was the time to get a bit crazy. Took my camera and headed for my neighbours'. We took loads of funny pics and had so much laugh! One of my favourite pics ever is here. I couldn't help uploading it as my new profile picture on FB. I just love it!
And just another one in the same outfit. (I know this red cap looks crazy, but I love wearing it at home. And it reminds me of seven little dwarfs all the time)
And yet another one
Next entry will be about a themed photoshoot :)
So Thursday night I decided it was the time to get a bit crazy. Took my camera and headed for my neighbours'. We took loads of funny pics and had so much laugh! One of my favourite pics ever is here. I couldn't help uploading it as my new profile picture on FB. I just love it!
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| Oh no! |
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| Bashful :S |
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| My first kiss went a little like this :D |
Tuesday, September 07, 2010
Flying back
The two accompanying me were a bit nervous first, they almost expected me to run off any time. Only they had all my things and my documents in their hands. When John said he could deal with the trolly I gave him a look full of love and said he was such a sweetheart. I think he went red in the face.
When we were going down a slope, the plastic bag with the rabbits fell off the trolley, I ran to pick them up, but there also was a nice gentleman who picked them up before me and with a look of concern handed them to me carefully. The same way as one would deal with little kids. It was so very sweet of him. I walked on with Max and Moritz in my arms, and then the accompanying woman (lets call her Jane, cuz I didn't look at her nameplate) then Jane took Moritz out of my arms (very rudely indeed) and said: He is so lovely! :)
I winced and replied:
- I don't think he liked the way you took him.
- Oh, is he a human? (she was mocking :S )
- Of course not, he's a rabbit. But he's got feelings!
- Oooh..
- Yes, and they both are claustrophobic. At least that's what they told me when I tried to put them in the suitcase back at home.
- Now you scare me. (Turning to John) Hope she's not crazy (she said it in a mock-shocked way, with her lips shaped as a perfect O)
We laughed and the tension was gone.
When we were passing the duty-free area with gorgeous sport cars a gentleman by the cars shouted: Hi there! And waved to me and the rabbits. And when we looked up, he made a gesture towards the cars, as if inviting us to get in. I waved to him with Moritz's arm and apologized that we could hang around for long. And added:
- They say they both admire the car (it was a black Audi R8 I guess) and the red one too! (a red Ferrari convertible)
He laughed and waved again.
While Jane was looking at me curiously, I said:
- Such things are useful, aren't they? They brighten up the boredom.
She smiled and said:
- Oh yes, they brighten up the day. So that you can remember something at the end of it.
They led me to the check-in desk (it was not the same one for other passengers) and then accompanied till the plane entrance.
When we were going down a slope, the plastic bag with the rabbits fell off the trolley, I ran to pick them up, but there also was a nice gentleman who picked them up before me and with a look of concern handed them to me carefully. The same way as one would deal with little kids. It was so very sweet of him. I walked on with Max and Moritz in my arms, and then the accompanying woman (lets call her Jane, cuz I didn't look at her nameplate) then Jane took Moritz out of my arms (very rudely indeed) and said: He is so lovely! :)
I winced and replied:
- I don't think he liked the way you took him.
- Oh, is he a human? (she was mocking :S )
- Of course not, he's a rabbit. But he's got feelings!
- Oooh..
- Yes, and they both are claustrophobic. At least that's what they told me when I tried to put them in the suitcase back at home.
- Now you scare me. (Turning to John) Hope she's not crazy (she said it in a mock-shocked way, with her lips shaped as a perfect O)
We laughed and the tension was gone.
When we were passing the duty-free area with gorgeous sport cars a gentleman by the cars shouted: Hi there! And waved to me and the rabbits. And when we looked up, he made a gesture towards the cars, as if inviting us to get in. I waved to him with Moritz's arm and apologized that we could hang around for long. And added:
- They say they both admire the car (it was a black Audi R8 I guess) and the red one too! (a red Ferrari convertible)
He laughed and waved again.
While Jane was looking at me curiously, I said:
- Such things are useful, aren't they? They brighten up the boredom.
She smiled and said:
- Oh yes, they brighten up the day. So that you can remember something at the end of it.
They led me to the check-in desk (it was not the same one for other passengers) and then accompanied till the plane entrance.
The airhostesses thought that I was being sent back because I was an unaccompanied child without a parent's permit. And out of curiosity I asked my two guardians how old they think I was. Both said 19-20. That was funny. They both smiled when I said I was 24.
Then they left and the airhostesses led me to my seat, helped with my hand bags. They tried to be really nice to me. And I was the first passenger on the plane. They admired the rabbits. I wish I had asked them to sit with the boys for some shots.
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| safety on board |
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| following the instructions on safety on board |
While we were getting higher over the clouds, Max was reading about sushi (I didn't know it was his favourite food!) and Moritz was daydreaming. They both were upset that they never got to know their new twin-friends in the UK.
I mostly slept during the flight, cuz I was exhausted. The airhostesses did everything possible to make me at home. Extra refreshments, extra salted peanuts, extra smiles.
When we landed, everyone was ready on their feet to move to the front exit. But out of a sudden, they opened the back exit (which was closer to my seat) and a male voice asked for the deported to be getting out first. The airhostesses said that there was only one girl, and she was not deported (i.e. me). They anyways let me out first and showed me into a comfortable minivan, the signs under the windshield read: VIP bus and Business Class. The rest of the passangers had to go in a simple city bus standing upright with no place to rest their butts and put their bags. :D How fun is that?
Then in the airport building they copied my passport's main page and asked me to put down why I was sent back. Then I was free to go.
At the luggage collection area a nice Tajik guy helped me with the trolley and loaded my huge suitcase on it.
The air outside was so chilly and unwelcoming, you couldn't imagine.
My first (and last) detention.
We landed at 11:15 gmt, it took me about 15 minutes queueing to get to the immigration officer desk. She asked me some questions and then asked me to wait while she was making some additional inquiries.
I waited for almost an hour sitting at a chair just in front of customs desks. I was sooo tired I couldn't sit straight.
Then I saw a couple moving in the queue. Both had orange long clothes and sandals on. They looked so out of place. The lady had an air of serenity upon her face, with long dark curly hair, no make-up. And the old man was long-haired and bearded, grey and with a kind of strict face expression. Then they were gone. I still think that they were not real, a trick of my tired brain.
Then the lady returned and took me to another officer, who collected my suitcase with me. He looked through my things with me, asking questions like - why do you need 3 notebooks? (To make notes) What are these wooden things? (Presents) He only took my documents and we moved to a room full of cameras and computer stuff. He finger-printed me (that was for the first time in my life), then photographed me and gave some gelish thing which easily dissolved ink on my palms. While he was filling in some papers I looked around. There was a notice on the scaner saying: Please don't scan finger-prints on Saturday from 12:00 to 15:00. Thank you. Hilarious.
And the guy had really poor vision, a couple of times he had problems making out certain letters and digits and had to ask me for help. On the whole he was trying to be nice, asking questions like - have you ever been finger-printed before? Is this your first visit here? How did you like the Isle of Wight? And he told me he spent his leave at the Isle of Wight and got back from there a week ago.
Then he took me to the detention room while they were doing other inquiries. I had to leave my things in the corridor, including my mobile phone (because it has camera) and they gave me a small Nokia instead and I didn't have any numbers in it.
The room was very bright. It had 3 rows of chairs, a tv in a box, a vending machine with drinks, a couple of boxes with crisps and syruped fruit, a bowl with oranges. A stack of newspapers, a bookshelf with books in different languages (including all kinds of religious books). There also were interview rooms (totally soundproof) and a family room with toys and other kids equipment. There were 2 wc-s for ladies and gents and a bigger one for disabled people or for mums with kids. No mirrors at all.
I took my eyemask, and tried to rest my eyes a bit (they were burning and I assume they were bloodshot), then a lady brought in a pillow and a blanket, I refused to take any, though I asked for my eye drops. Actually I didn't touch anything in the room except for the tv remote control. I was watching some cooking show and doing my stretching exercises.
Although I am a crybaby, I didn't cry. I was on the verge of tears twice, when I heard my parents concerned voices on the phone. I stayed really calm, no nervousness, no nothing. In fact, I surprised myself. And the lady who was looking after me was surprised as well cuz I never forgot to say thank you when she opened the door for me to reach my bags. And she said that detainees always cursed her and said they hated her while they were there. And no one ever smiled to her :) Poor thing. Then the immigration officer (who was always really nervous in my presence and avoided eyecontact) returned with the decision on my case, and informed me I had to fly back to Russia in an hour and a half. And she also said that I wasn't being deported, I can apply for a new visa anytime.
I immediately phoned my parents and my guest-mum, and I called Rachael but vainly.
Then another half an hour of waiting and two people came to collect me from the detention room to take me to the check-in, one was a tall blond guy, his name badge said he was John Cobb, and the other a nice blond lady. She took my umbrella and one of the bags, I took my camera bag and my purse, and the young man was pushing the trolley with my suitcase and the rest of the bags on it.
to be continued
I waited for almost an hour sitting at a chair just in front of customs desks. I was sooo tired I couldn't sit straight.
Then I saw a couple moving in the queue. Both had orange long clothes and sandals on. They looked so out of place. The lady had an air of serenity upon her face, with long dark curly hair, no make-up. And the old man was long-haired and bearded, grey and with a kind of strict face expression. Then they were gone. I still think that they were not real, a trick of my tired brain.
Then the lady returned and took me to another officer, who collected my suitcase with me. He looked through my things with me, asking questions like - why do you need 3 notebooks? (To make notes) What are these wooden things? (Presents) He only took my documents and we moved to a room full of cameras and computer stuff. He finger-printed me (that was for the first time in my life), then photographed me and gave some gelish thing which easily dissolved ink on my palms. While he was filling in some papers I looked around. There was a notice on the scaner saying: Please don't scan finger-prints on Saturday from 12:00 to 15:00. Thank you. Hilarious.
And the guy had really poor vision, a couple of times he had problems making out certain letters and digits and had to ask me for help. On the whole he was trying to be nice, asking questions like - have you ever been finger-printed before? Is this your first visit here? How did you like the Isle of Wight? And he told me he spent his leave at the Isle of Wight and got back from there a week ago.
Then he took me to the detention room while they were doing other inquiries. I had to leave my things in the corridor, including my mobile phone (because it has camera) and they gave me a small Nokia instead and I didn't have any numbers in it.
The room was very bright. It had 3 rows of chairs, a tv in a box, a vending machine with drinks, a couple of boxes with crisps and syruped fruit, a bowl with oranges. A stack of newspapers, a bookshelf with books in different languages (including all kinds of religious books). There also were interview rooms (totally soundproof) and a family room with toys and other kids equipment. There were 2 wc-s for ladies and gents and a bigger one for disabled people or for mums with kids. No mirrors at all.
I took my eyemask, and tried to rest my eyes a bit (they were burning and I assume they were bloodshot), then a lady brought in a pillow and a blanket, I refused to take any, though I asked for my eye drops. Actually I didn't touch anything in the room except for the tv remote control. I was watching some cooking show and doing my stretching exercises.
Although I am a crybaby, I didn't cry. I was on the verge of tears twice, when I heard my parents concerned voices on the phone. I stayed really calm, no nervousness, no nothing. In fact, I surprised myself. And the lady who was looking after me was surprised as well cuz I never forgot to say thank you when she opened the door for me to reach my bags. And she said that detainees always cursed her and said they hated her while they were there. And no one ever smiled to her :) Poor thing. Then the immigration officer (who was always really nervous in my presence and avoided eyecontact) returned with the decision on my case, and informed me I had to fly back to Russia in an hour and a half. And she also said that I wasn't being deported, I can apply for a new visa anytime.
I immediately phoned my parents and my guest-mum, and I called Rachael but vainly.
Then another half an hour of waiting and two people came to collect me from the detention room to take me to the check-in, one was a tall blond guy, his name badge said he was John Cobb, and the other a nice blond lady. She took my umbrella and one of the bags, I took my camera bag and my purse, and the young man was pushing the trolley with my suitcase and the rest of the bags on it.
to be continued
Well now
I know I need to blog something, but I don't know where to start.
Seems to me I haven't written about my applying for the international driving license.
That was so funny indeed. They refused to take my photograph, though it was alright. Then they said that my surname will be spelled not the same way as in my foreign passport and I became furious.
Anyways I got my license later that day. And of course it spelled my last name as Asatryan. Geez.
I don't exactly remember the next day. I only can say it was really full.
The 2nd of September when I was supposed to relax before the trip I had to pack urgently, cuz dad said we were going to stay at my aunt's for the night. So we had to start moving at 4pm.
Both my bestest friends were giving a helping hand. Milena called on and was repacking my suitcase (cuz I wanted to take my IBIZA suitcase, and she said that all my things wouldn't fit in and took out my huge Boomerang one). And Masha was doing her best to cheer me up on the mobile loudspeaker.
Then I just stuffed the rest of my belongings scattered around the room in my IBIZA suitcase and shoved it under the desk.
We moved on at about 5pm and arrived at my aunt's late evening. When everyone else went to bed, we stayed up whole night with my best bro, played UNO (I lost millions of times) and had a hilarious photoshoot with magic tricks and all.
When my dad got up Ara and I were both sad and tired.
At 6am we moved on after a very full breakfast with a hot sweet tea from a lovely Sweden cup.
Then I had a nice flight to Heathrow. And then it all began.
Seems to me I haven't written about my applying for the international driving license.
That was so funny indeed. They refused to take my photograph, though it was alright. Then they said that my surname will be spelled not the same way as in my foreign passport and I became furious.
Anyways I got my license later that day. And of course it spelled my last name as Asatryan. Geez.
I don't exactly remember the next day. I only can say it was really full.
The 2nd of September when I was supposed to relax before the trip I had to pack urgently, cuz dad said we were going to stay at my aunt's for the night. So we had to start moving at 4pm.
Both my bestest friends were giving a helping hand. Milena called on and was repacking my suitcase (cuz I wanted to take my IBIZA suitcase, and she said that all my things wouldn't fit in and took out my huge Boomerang one). And Masha was doing her best to cheer me up on the mobile loudspeaker.
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| Frau Larsson with Max and Moritz |
We moved on at about 5pm and arrived at my aunt's late evening. When everyone else went to bed, we stayed up whole night with my best bro, played UNO (I lost millions of times) and had a hilarious photoshoot with magic tricks and all.
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| Isn't this magic? :D |
When my dad got up Ara and I were both sad and tired.
At 6am we moved on after a very full breakfast with a hot sweet tea from a lovely Sweden cup.
Wednesday, September 01, 2010
Mad world around me.
Every few minutes there's a new notification on my mobile to-do list, telling me I have to do something else no later than in an hour. Agrh! Besides there were two notifications set for one and the same moment. I think I'm going insane.
I handed in my international driving license papers earlier this morning and will get back there at 4pm to collect it. Now I need to verify two passport translations (last minute work) and do some paperwork. Then a technician is arriving at about midday.
And I'm still out of money.
I handed in my international driving license papers earlier this morning and will get back there at 4pm to collect it. Now I need to verify two passport translations (last minute work) and do some paperwork. Then a technician is arriving at about midday.
And I'm still out of money.
Oh. that's awesome!
I just found out that I've got audience! Yep!
87 pageviews in almost two weeks. Haha :D
And here we go:
Seems to me I've got fans over there in Scandinavia :D Girlz, you rock!
And hello to Canada, the UK and the USA :) I'm so flattered by your attention :) I want to thank my family for their love and support no matter what. Thank you to all of my friends for always being there for me, I appreciate it so much. Thank you to my audience, you mean a lot to me. :)
Gimme the damn Oscar :D
ps. too many I-s, me-s and my-s, don't you think?
87 pageviews in almost two weeks. Haha :D
And here we go:
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| hello there, Finland! |
And hello to Canada, the UK and the USA :) I'm so flattered by your attention :) I want to thank my family for their love and support no matter what. Thank you to all of my friends for always being there for me, I appreciate it so much. Thank you to my audience, you mean a lot to me. :)
Gimme the damn Oscar :D
ps. too many I-s, me-s and my-s, don't you think?
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