State of the Jadesfire

[jadesfire]

I haven't done a proper 'so, how are you all' post in a while, and since I had a good weekend, I felt the need to share.

In list form, of course. Lists are good.

1. Since this is an open post, I can't say too much about what we bought and where (those of you who know, please don't say!), but I am going to list the shops we visited because it was so much fun! We started in Heal's with coffee, then went down to Liberty, which is possibly the most beautiful department store in London. It hasn't really changed since it was built, and the wooden staircases are all still there. Wonderful. Then we went down to Tiffany's to stare at all the sparkly things, and on to Fortnum and Mason's to drool over the food. Since coffee was £4.50 a pot there, we decided to toddle over to the Royal Academy, who had a very nice and VERY reasonably priced restaurant. Then we walked up through Mayfair to Selfridges for more food hall staring. We finished at John Lewis, which is less glamourous than the others, but has just as many pretty things.

We only actually bought the present we went down for and some pieces of fruit to keep me going, but it was a lovely, lovely day. I'd made a point of dressing up a bit (pretty skirt and jacket rather than jeans), which made me feel more confident and meant when the sales girl in Liberty's asked me if she could help, instead of saying 'no, I'm just looking', I asked her about hair stuff. Last Christmas, I bought major_jim some super-strength hand-cream from Aesop, and it smells wonderful, so I thought I'd have another look at their products. We chatted for a while, she explained what everything did and then gave me a couple of handfuls of samples. Result!

It really felt like a proper 'day on the town', and was all kinds of fun. I think I get homesick for London if I don't visit for a while, so this definitely topped up my reserves for a few months.


2. Work continues to be good. I'm staying on top of things and I only get bored when I forget that I have things to do, if that makes sense. Today, I have to go to Blackwells and buy books. Yup, you read that right. It's part of my job to go shopping at Blackwells. Only for Tax Law books but still. Shopping. Book shopping. Part of the job.

I love my job.


3. I got the artword fic done in good time and was relatively pleased with it. The Teyla&Lorne one has stalled a little, so that's tonight's project. Then tomorrow it'll be the SGA genfic, which I have no ideas for. Anyone care to give me a plot prompt? The request is for SGA S5 Teamfic, something cosy and life-affirming. Just a word or a situation should set me off nicely, thanks.

I'm more or less on schedule to be done by NaNo, which I really need to start researching for. The idea I have in mind could either be hard sci-fi, epic fantasy or historical fiction. I quite like leaving it open like that, until I've got some more background info. There's a meet-up for Oxford Nanoites Saturday week, so I'm definitely going to that. One of the things I know I need to do is get out more, and they're very friendly on the forums, so I want to meet them in real life!


4. My recent viewing has included British Style Genius, which is a fascinating look at the history of British style and fashion. I've joined stylishly_yours, and have been having great fun going through their archives.

Also on my list is Stephen Fry in America, which I've only just started. Maybe it's because I'm cataloguing at the same time, but I wasn't overly impressed by it. I might start again, though, because I refuse to believe that Stephen Fry could be dull.


ETA 5: Today's face_of_joe picture is making me sporfle. Image is from S4, and potentially spoilerific. The caption is brilliant and potentially giggle-inducing.

So. That's me, more or less. How's everyone else?

Comments

[dyddgu.livejournal.com]

Me, I'm busy coughing at the undergrads. It's only fair, given they made me ill in the first place.

[jadesfire2808.livejournal.com]

*nods* That's definitely fair. I don't come face to face with them until tomorrow.

I plan to bring a face mask. just to make the point.

[miss-zedem.livejournal.com]

1. Very cool shopping places *nods* We need a trip to London again sometime soon.

2. You actually have to physically go to Blackwell's? Cool. Although won't it be full of freshers at the moment? Still. Book shopping for a living is a Good Thing :)

3. Yay for getting the fic done :) Hmm, prompt... How about 'virus'? Since I've got one, I don't see why the team can't have one too...

4. I refuse to believe that Stephen Fry could be dull. *rolls eyes* Start believing. I watched it last night, and ended up abandoning it to go to bed (okay, I was ill, but still). I'm going to give him the benefit of the doubt and assume a lot of footage ended up on the editing suite floor (yes, I know they don't do that anymore ;P), because oh. My. God. Bad BBC. No cookie.

5. Hee. Cute picture *pets John*

[nnwest.livejournal.com]

The unproductive weekend was actually rather busy, I realize, now that I've recounted it for miss_zedem. I was just writing off being worn out to it being Monday. :) Otherwise, doing just fine over here--apart from the Monday thing and being at work again. Thanks for asking.

[dune-drd.livejournal.com]

So glad to hear the job's going well, it's always so good to hear that when people start something new :)

[jadesfire2808.livejournal.com]

1. It's just so much fun to look at all the sparkly things and go 'ooh'. Of course, if you have to ask the price, you can't afford them, but. Still fun.

2. The Oxford branch was curiously empty. Maybe they're sleeping off lunch.

3. That's perfect, thanks. Just what I need. How do you do that? ;)

4. I heard him talking about it on Front Row and it sounded so interesting. Having watched the first twenty minutes, I think it was more fun to make...

5. face_of_joe is an awesome comm, and I kind of want to send all the fic writers who describe Sheppard as 'impassive' there to have a look!

*sporfles at your icon* I love fandom in-jokes :D

[jadesfire2808.livejournal.com]

heh. It's amazing how busy you can be doing nothing, isn't it?

Mondays are definitely to be endured rather than enjoyed...

[jadesfire2808.livejournal.com]

*nods* It's slightly nervewracking at first, especially when you start thinking "did I do the right thing", but I feel like I'm really getting settled. Which is nice. Odd, but nice :)

[rivers-bend.livejournal.com]

oh, i'm so envious of your london shopping trip! But in a gleeful excited-for-you way *g* That sounds like a great time! and Im' so glad work is good!

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

Yay for the job being good! And for book shopping! :)

[jadesfire2808.livejournal.com]

London was wonderful. The best thing about those kinds of shopping trips is that you end up spending less because you literally can't afford anything. But I could spend hours just being in Liberty's and soaking it all up :)

I keep feeling like I need to pinch myself about the job - it's like I've walked into a management textbook, only with all the best-case scenarios!

[jadesfire2808.livejournal.com]

The book shopping was great fun - I didn't even have to take cash!

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

What SGA gen fic did you have to finish?

Have you made a final decision about whether or not you're doing the last fic writer standing challenge thing?

[jadesfire2808.livejournal.com]

The SGA genfic is for the Fandom Free for all - something teamy from post-"The Shrine" and Z's given me the prompt 'virus', so I know exactly what I'm doing with it \o/ Knowing that will make the Teyla&Lorne one much easier to get done.

I'm still wavering on the Last Fic Writer thing. On the one hand, it's short and appeals to my competitive nature like woah. Also, friends who I trust are taking part, so I'm not quite so nervous about the whole feedback thing - I know they're grown-ups ;-). On the other, H/C isn't my natural territory, and short H/C? I only know how to do smooshy, and I don't really want to spend weeks writing that. I've got two days to decide...

What about you?

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

I'm wavering too... It's nice to hear that you know some of the people involved because the *evil comment* factor was making me nervous (people sniping and being rude just to denigrate others) but... short h/c isn't easy, and I'm not sure I could write for ALL SGA characters, like if they have one challenge be 'write for Ford' or something I'd be at a loss on his voice.

[jadesfire2808.livejournal.com]

I know at least 2 of the keenest people involved, and I *think* it's mostly a Gen contest, which means there tend to be fewer toes trod on, if you see what I mean. It also means I'll know a lot of the writers taking part, as that's my area of the fandom, and, well. I'd trust them to do what it says on the tin, rather than use it as a flaming opportunity. There's also the fact that you won't get the 'didn't like the pairing' comments that you'd get in a more open challenge.

Re-reading the rules, it's actually the amount of reading that could cause me problems. Even if there are only (say) 10 participants, do I have time to read and rate 10 stories?

But I hadn't thought of the character/prompt issue. Argh! Cannot. Decide!

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

I couldn't tell, from the rules, if everyone who writes is supposed to read and vote on ALL the stories. Or/also, people who didn't write are supposed to vote and comment.

But the gen aspect is a good point. No crazy shipping wars because no shipping!

[jadesfire2808.livejournal.com]

kristen999 (one of the people I trust!) asked the question about reading. The mod reply was:

Any specific information regarding the story will be kept a secret too, the only thing the readers will know about each story before they read is the round and the main prompt. That way they will have a hard time choosing which story to read. Besides, they will have to vote for 3 favorites and 1 least favorite, that means that they have to vote for four stories, which could be difficult without reading at least most of them.

It feels like it should be a 'grown up' contest, although you never can tell...

I won't say 'I will if you will' although knowing that someone else sane...er...sane-by-my-standards is taking part would definitely be reassuring ;D

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

oh, that's a good plan- that way people will have to read at least a few each time.

sane-by-my-standards *sporfle*

Oh hell, I'm doing it. It'd be good for me to stretch my comfort zone as a writer.

[jadesfire2808.livejournal.com]

Yay! Oh well. I will if you will, then :D

*goes to sign up*

Although I hope you realise that I gave my flist permission to shoot me if I went near any other challenges before NaNo.

*goes to buy bullet-proof vest*

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

I'll protect you, ma'am!

[jadesfire2808.livejournal.com]

*falls off chair*

You have the best smilies. Ever.

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

aww gee, what a nice thing to say.

*yipes* okay it's official, I've signed up.

[jadesfire2808.livejournal.com]

Me too! Eep! Although I've asked the mods if it comes with a body armour allowance...

Don't forget to put a promo in your journal - it'll earn you an extra skip just in case that Ford challenge comes up...

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

Oh right. It looks like some people have gone nuts with the pimping and have a lot of skips. Skips are a good idea, but have the potential for being abused