Friday @ BBC-

The actor, Bruce, who played the Headmaster in The History Boys came in and gave us tips on how to direct and work with actors (Patrick and Jenny). It was fun, and although I didn't get to direct, it was interesting seeing the techniques.

That night, Wesley swung by and we went to dinner at this little Thai place on Exmouth. It was really good, except don't get the Massaman Beef. DO get the Chicken Satay, Tempura Prawns & Chicken Pad Thai.

We then went to Farringdon to pick up Ricard(o) and Scottish Matt. Brought them over to Kamen for the BBC reunion/party.

Today, I met up with Dad and Carmen in Notting Hill to walk along Portobello Road. It was a beautiful day, just chilly. I also made a pitstop at H&M, TopShop & Sainsburys before heading home.

Laziest Saturday night ever.

plus, my eye keeps twitching which probably means I need some sleep. Good night.

Wednesday:

Had a really cool storytelling class with Kate. She told really fantastic stories that made me appreciate the art. She also made us tell one, and as horrible a storyteller I am, she said I did well. :)
She also told me where to go to get babyclothes (John Lewis on Oxford)
So I headed over to Oxford Circus and surprisingly, I Found it! What a fun street... I need to go shopping there soon (and on Portobello Road & Leather Lane...and...Longacre...)

Then I went to Putney Bridge, so I got to see my Aunt Lisa, Uncle Sam, Dad, Carmen, my grandma & Harrison!! He's SO cute and tiny and I got to hold him until he fell asleep in my arms. They fed me and thats always appreciated

I headed out after a couple of hours to catch Blackbird, this play at the West End. I think it could've been a play I would've really enjoyed had I just read it, but I wasn't crazy about the actress, nor the set, nor the music, nor the ending.... I really disliked it, which is unfortunate because thats the last play in my class I have to see. So far, of the 6 I saw (The History Boys, Once In a Lifetime, Paul, Journey to London, The Prince Among Men & Blackbird).... I have liked 2.5. History Boys & Prince Among Men were about a fictitious Boys Boarding School... and the latter I saw purely by chance. The .5 was A Journey to London because it was somewhat comedic and I fancied the Colonel.

Then I got to hang out with Sean and Phillip... which is always fun.

So much so, I went out to dinner with them, Erin and Kathlyn tonight at Sofra. it was a lovely time and the food was of course delicious (though last week's dinner with Wes was better). But the waiter tonight was adorable and fed me an olive. long story...

more tomorrow.

Rain, rain go away.

It is rainy out, and I am exhausted.

Valentine's Day was nice. I spent the morning with Saela at the Tate Modern. Then our Arts in London class was cancelled. So Michelle, Saela, Mengfan & I lounged on the steps of the ICA, and headed through Hyde Park to Buckingham Palace... It was lovely. Then afterwards... we had our double date like we had planned at Yo! Sushi. It was disappointing only because of the fact of how pricey it was. The couple across from me had ordered at least £75 worth of food and drink. :-o and I had ordered £12 and don't think it was worth it.

Wednesday, the four of us decided to go to the London Eye on our day off. It was chaotic there. I got really good pictures, none of which I can upload, unfortunately. But it was a nice half hour of just seeing the entire city in a glass capsule.

That night, I went to the Union Theatre and saw my independent play, A Prince Among Men by Henry Eric Sanders (a NY playwright!). The boys were undoubtedly cute, and I got front row center (or what is equivalent to it since seating was L-Shaped.

Thursday & Friday we got to work with the Sony Z1. Quite a neat camera... My project turned out alright, unfortunately.... I don't get a copy! ugh. But it was fun working with the actors, Stephen & Emma.

Saturday, Wesley and I walked to Leicester Square, grabbed coffee at Covent Gardens, wandered over to Picadilly Circus, where he showed me the glory that is Hamley's... the wonderful 7-story toystore. Then I took him to the falafel place that Michelle and I went to a couple of weeks ago, because he had never had one prior (gasp!). Afterwards, he took me to see Memoirs of a Geisha at the Vue theater. It was his idea, not mine; I never would've paid £10 ($19) for a ticket.
Luckily, I really enjoyed it. I only had a problem with the fact they spoke English. I definitely would've put subtitles in. But it was absolutely gorgeous overall; you can take any frame from the film and it would be beautiful.

It was fun, but now he's gone back to Evesham. and now I have to do my homework, write out emails and book my spring break trip!

So, I admit I was incredibly spoiled last week: Our own rooms, with big comfy pillows, a view overlooking the lawn, Taxis to bring us door-to-door to our classes and back to the hotel, all meals provided, an indoor pool if we had so wished to swim, books, games, ping pong and British boys to keep us sane on Wednesday and Thursday night.

Walking to class this morning was a lumbering and tedious task, though not as hard as the walk to Holborn Station on Saturday night when we had to take the 1 hr train ride to Richmond to see A Journey to London. Lisa offered to give us Valentine's Chocolates (Dove), if we left within the 5 minutes she offered, so we dragged our feet out of the door.

While Lisa's chocolate wrapper said "Love with your heart, not with your head", Inside my foil wrapper was, "Chocolate. Always your Valentine.". How sad, but true. I've never had a Valentine and this year won't be any different. I think I'll go with the other single ladies to get some Sushi for dinner because once again, they gave us free money. £10, in fact.

I do, however, have something to look forward to this weekend. It just so happens that the guy who Mengfan and Saela met that first day, Wesley (who also introduced us to the BBC boys, ate with us at breakfast & dinner, and who I took a liking to), is visiting London. And so proves the point that things happen when you least expect it... Someone else (I won't name names) had a visitor this past weekend from one of the guys, who is quite the sweetheart and lucky for her, from London.

but enough with all the gossip.

My projects went alright; nothing perfect, but Mike, one of our producers, said I should think about directing, and that there were few things I should just work on. So who knows what I'll do now...

But look who I found at the BBC Training site! They liked their gnomes there...


and here is a picture of the pool...(i'm on the green raft.)

Yesterday was stressful, but ended up pretty well.

I know whatever happens in Evesham, is supposed to stay in Evesham, but I will mention that I directed much better than the day before... just missed a few camera cues and such.

And then for dinner, I had Artichokes and Avocado, duckling de mure...

THEN... Wesley invited the girls out to the BBC Club with the other boys in the engineering class.

It was fun to mingle with other people outside of our group. We also went to a club. and that's all I'll say for now.

Evesham!

Monday started off with taxi's to the ICA because we had to bring our luggage for our week long stay in Wood Norton...
After a quick fire evacuation (t'was no biggie), and class, we took the tube to Paddington Station.
Here is Michelle and me-


The place we're staying, the Evesham Hotel, has won many awards and is known as the "Teddy Bear Hotel" for good reason... it's amazing here. The owners are super nice.. and the place has such a fun atmosphere. It's one of the finer establishments I've stayed in... also because I get my own room (although, tonight, Michelle is sleeping over because her room gives her the creeps which you'll understand why in a moment...)

My room is pretty basic, but pretty:

(for some reason, I cannot flip it)

and every bathroom gets bubblebath and rubber duckies!


Across the way, is Klara, whose room is Sea themed... which would frighten the hell out of me:

Now Michelle's room... which is famous, a family suite valued at ￡200+ and in the attic of the building (built in the 1500's!!), AND Alice in Wonderland themed!

However, because of it's large size, it can also be scary:
this is the kids room:




and this is the crawl-space in the master bedroom, that has a pretend tea set and the mad hatter's hat as a table:



BUT... nearby my room... is the indoor Pool (Which I'll post pictures to once I get them)
Here is Lisa and myself on some lounge chairs by the pool:

and of course, after a long day's work, we can play dress up in the children's/library/really dimly lit and creepy corridor:

(Michelle, Mengfan, Me)

and Of course the Restaurant (which we get free dinner to) is delicious. it has flavours and all that good variety...
the first night I ordered Lamb which would've been like $30... crazy
and a Turkish Delight Ice cream... which is rose flavoured ice cream in a brandy snap shell. I can't even describe it...

Anyways, i'll update soon... I've got a big day ahead (directing a 1+2 interview segment!)

business vacation...

I will be away at WoodNorton until Friday night.
There, we will be training for the BBC by directing multi-camera setups (interviews and tv-shows).

I will update and try to answer everyone's email while I am there...
but I doubt my hotel room (single!) will get internet.

But this past weekend was fun. Hanly and her friend, Allison, came to visit. 11 of us ended up going to the Apple Tree, which is this pub that plays 'rockin'' country music. It was actually a lot of fun...

until then...

-me.

new addition to the family!

First and foremost,
Congratulations to my Aunt Lisa and Uncle Sam on their new baby boy!!
I have a new cousin, Harrison Joseph!! :)

I can't wait to go see him...

This also means, my family is visiting soon...

Also,

I would like the following:
-10 pack of Wrigley's Doublemint gum
-Cortisone (Duane Reade's brand)
- Adida's 24 hr control Deodorant with Cotton Tech (this part is tres important)
-more pens (black Pilot G-2... Jared and Eric were right, they are truly amazing pens)

ok, more later.