Exploring the world of Skype

I have finally downloaded Skype - after a bit of encouragement from Eryn! My technology master (aka Mhairi) has been using it for ages (of course - where she goes I follow - eventually...), and it looks fab.

Free Skype to Skype calls (and video calls - which Eryn and I are going to check out), plus it has an instant messaging function as well which looks pretty cool. So I'm strongly encouraging people to download it - or let me know if you are on it already. Even if we can't video call (or even normal call), we can instant message each other!

Films still going well...

Went to see 'There Will Be Blood' last weekend which I thought was just fantastic. Should have got the best film Oscar in my opinion, even though I did also think 'No Country for Old Men' was good as well...

Photographer extraordinaire...

Well sort of...

I got an email a couple of weeks ago from Schmap.com saying one of my photos from my Flickr account had been shortlisted for their new Memphis online guide, and today I heard it had been included!

No money involved - just the kudos really. But if you look at the Memphis guide its one of the photos of the Rum Boogie Cafe - feeling smugly pleased with myself really...

Interesting as well as I hadn't come across these guides before but they have one for Salzburg so will have to check it out for mine and Tracey's upcoming adventure!

I have been doing stuff....

Just have been being a bit slack about updating the blog to reflect it. But read on...

I'm at home at the mo - suffering from/fighting off cold number 2 for this winter which is a bit of a drag. I'm hoping this day under the duvet will enable me to fight it off. I'm sure its cos we haven't had a particularly cold winter - so the germs are multiplying and mutating...

My two favourite nieces...

OK - I only have two anyhow.... but they are still my favourite nieces...

Maya and Lucy in Opotiki, February 2008








(with thanks to Marilyn for posting the pic on her blog. If it wasn't for you I'd never see pictures of the Abrahams! Maurie's bike pics don't count...)

So what is a Black Hole exactly?

Sadly I'm none the wiser, despite going to the Black Holes show at the Planetarium on Saturday... My poor wee brain just struggled with all of the too big concepts for it... But it was great - narrated by Liam Neeson, fantastic visually, and I can now throw around words like wormholes (and others which I can't quite remember right now...) with confidence.

Then we (being Jackie and Mhairi) met Nicola, who took us to the fantastic Greenwich Union for lunch - delish food and great beer - and not bad puddings either!

Then we wandered around Greenwich Market for a wee while - which I love. But it was sooooo cold I made sure we headed off home before the sun went down cos I wanted to be home in the warmth before that happened!

Nicola has a birthday...

Which involved a double celebration - a quick drink after work on the actual day (Waitangi Day - if only she was a NZer...) and then the following Saturday we trooped off to Guanabara for a very enjoyable evening of sort of Brazilian music, some food, some Brazilian beer, and a great display of Capoeira.

I wore my 'date top' - so named for the unlikely event that I do ever go on a date, but I did get several compliments (from my friends I hasten to add) on it which was nice!

Musically...

Not much - but I did go and see The Hours who were great. They have been one of my fave bands for a while - so much so that their CD formed part of Thomas' very late 21st birthday present!

But it was a good gig to start the year on - next up is Band of Horses (who I'm fully expecting to be fantastic), and Hot Chip - which is a late show at Brixton so I'm a bit nervous about that!

First walk of 2008

Was undertaken by me, Julia, Craig and Kevin on February 2nd. Borough Green to Sevenoaks - 9.5miles.

Not a particularly outstanding walk scenery wise - we never really felt like we were that far away from anyone else, but it was a lovely day weatherwise, we had a great lunch at yet another fantastic country pub, and as it was quite short we were home quite early!

Although we did pass some quite fantastically posh houses and stables - oh how the other half live....

There are some photos on Flickr - which seems to be down at the mo so I can't blog them. Do take a look tho.

A film-ic life

I've been making a real attempt to get to the movies and actually see the films that I want to, instead of just saying 'Oh I want to see that' and then ending up watching it on DVD when it comes out.

So... Recently I've seen:

• 'Sweeney Todd' which I thought was fab. Another great Tim Burton film.
• 'In the Valley of Elah' - also fab. Tommy Lee Jones was great - and it just told the story in such an understated way. Made me think.
  
• 'No Country for Old Men' - new Coen brothers film. Another great TLJ performance - and looks like a sure bet for the Best Film Oscar.
• 'Control' - story of Ian Curtis from Joy Division (OK - that was on DVD at Kevin's, but he has a big tv and a great sound system so its like watching it at the movies anyhow...)

On my hit list are 'There Will Be Blood', 'The Diving Bell and the Butterfly' and the 'River Queen' - which is finally being released here!

Cushion Cover - 7 years in the making!

Cushion Cover - 7 years in the making!
Originally uploaded by Megan Shields.

So after 7 years I've finally finished it! Just need to get it made into a cushion cover now...

But I have done other projects in the interim - including 2 cross-stitches and another tapestry...

But I'm pleased to have this one done!

Pretty Thames view, Jan 2008

Thames, Jan 2008
Originally uploaded by Megan Shields.

Photo from my stroll last Sunday from Surbiton to Richmond via the Tow Path - making the most of the rarely seen sun!

Looking towards Richmond, Jan 2008

Looking towards Richmond, Jan 2008
Originally uploaded by Megan Shields.

And another one...

The History Boys

Divya and I went to see The History Boys on Thursday night. Really good play, even though we were up in the Gods, so it was a bit like watching the top of their heads at time! But it was so well done that we forgot that we were so high up. And as the tickets were only £10 I can't complain!

I'm quite keen to watch the film as well, but I think I'll wait a while before doing that. The play is meant to be better.

The Lovely Lenny!

The Lovely Lenny!
Originally uploaded by Megan Shields.

Isn't he gorgeous?? First Lenny pic of 2008. How more handsome could he be??

Holding my position

For the second year in a row, Megan is the 17th most popular girls name. Still haven't climbed back up to the dizzying heights of 6th (2003), but I'm still in the top 20!

Proof can be found here.

Happy New Year!

2007 is on the way out...

And I'm sat in front of the TV watching the 'World's Strongest Man' - always been one of my fave tv programs at this time of year. So while I watch crazy men do ridiculous feats I'll update my blog with some of the things I've been doing over the last couple of weeks.

Apologies for sporadic-ness of blogging recently - I'm finding it difficult to get the energy together to do it. Hopefully this will improve as time goes on.

Christmas 2007

Was a very low key affair. Kevin let us use his house as he disappeared back up to Wem for Christmas, so me, Maya and Chris spent the day with a lot more space and better TV toys etc than we would have had if we'd spent it in my one bedroom flat!

Chris cooked us a lovely roast chicken, we opened our presents and then we just watched lots of TV...

Boxing Day we headed off for the second year in a row to Hampton Court to go ice skating. This year though I passed the skates over to Chris...

Maya and Chris and dinner

Maya and Chris and dinner
Originally uploaded by Megan Shields.

Me and Maya amongst the ruins of dinner!

Me and Maya amongst the ruins of dinner!
Originally uploaded by Megan Shields.