elisi's humble abode

I'm terrible at updates, but let's try!

- First of all, today is Impish Girl's Birthday. (As well as being Juneteenth of course - happy Juneteenth! <3) She turns 22, but we had to have all the celebrations yesterday because today (and for the next few days) she is in Manchester for her first proper acting job in TV! She has 1 line, and a few scenes in the background, but it's a proper big TV thing (like... BBC or ITV or Channel 4 or something, she's not allowed to say beyond 'TV') and they've put her up in a hotel and done costume and hair/make-up etc. She is Quite Overwhelmed, but we are sure she will have a great time. Also, one heck of a birthday story to tell. ^_^

- I've lost touch with the Ao3/OTW mess and just hope they manage to sort it out. I remember the Before and really want the whole idea to work, because the basic concept is good and important. However, by now it all seems a bit like this, what with the various infighting between those trying to hold the OTW to account:



- Sidebar: Speaking of Monty Python, then this is a very nicely considered short video:

John Cleese & Recontextualizing Art
(The comments also make sure to point out that Eric Idle is supportive of trans rights! <3 Delightful interview here, talking about Stan/Loretta at 11 minutes in.)

- Anyway, I have created a Squidgeworld account (if nothing else just to make sure no one takes my name) and it's always good to have a back-up. But ugh, so much work if/when I decide to upload stuff.

- Have also set up a Squidge Images account (not sure if the platforms are linked at all, or if the name is a co-incidence?), because at some point LJ will stop adding paid time to my account and I need to think of somewhere else to store images. And it's difficult to find a good place. :(

- I also checked in with the Teaspoon and uploaded a fic - and then got the message about a moderator going to check it and omg I had completely forgotten that was even a thing!

- magnavox_23 has icons for OFMD icons ep 6

- TV watching... We are currently watching two shows which are complete opposites:

Show 1) Shiny Happy People, which I knew a bit about, having read a few articles etc, but is still just... *hands* Cults are scary, yo.

Show 2) ANNIKA. This on the other hand is a delight. We tried it on a whim a week or two ago, as it looked like Scandi Noir but set in Scotland, and we generally like Scandi Noir. Except - it's not Noir! Annika is funny! Now it's a detective show, so there are murders and all that, but the throughline isn't grimdark, but oddly light-hearted. It's difficult to explain, although one part that I remember particularly is in the very first episode when Annika goes to meet her new team for the first time (she has just been promoted). She turns to the camera and says: "They were going to send me on this management course, but I went on holiday to Spain instead. Kinda regretting that now." Also all detectives should have teenage daughters!

In short, there are some shows that are just amazing, some that are brilliantly written, some where the actors are outstanding etc etc. This is a show where I just want to hang out with everyone: it's a comfy happy blanket [with murders].

Also ( Casting spoiler )

~~~

ETA: OMG!

Boris Johnson denied special access to parliament as MPs endorse report which said he lied
MPs voted by 354 to 7 to back the report's findings.

On children growing up, since we now have a full house again:

But they learn how to walk, and they learn how to talk… and you want to be with them. And they turn out to be the most delightful people you will ever meet in your life.
From 'Lost in Translation'

It's lovely to have them back. <3

~

On the general state of the country:

'Not getting covid 10 days before Christmas is our nation's Squid Game.'

From British Memes on Instagram

(Somehow that is also the most 2021 post.)

~

Daily Dimash: Dimash & Shilei Chang: Tian Di Jian ('Heaven and Earth')

From The Silk Road International Film Festival, Fuzhou, 12-12-2021. Just beautiful.



Here is an instagram post by Dimash where he talks about the performance and working with Shilei Chang.

(Quote: 'Chang Shilei is not only an amazing composer who wrote music for such world projects as the opening and closing of the Olympiad in Beijing 2008 but also a talented singer.')

ETA: Reaction video (turn on subtitles):



( More )

Today is Impish Girl's 20th birthday (yes I know!), so we went to London to meet up.

This is easily the most exciting thing we have done in the past year.

Also Happy Juneteenth to all my American friends.

Meanwhile, in elisi's abode...

Last weekend it was the Cherub's 12th birthday.

And today we took Miss M to Cambridge.

So... that's why I've not been around. But life is good. <3

(Closing comments, because... no time.)

And Miss M is off to Cambridge!!!



She will be studying Philosophy.

They asked for A*AA and she achieved A*A*A!

/proud mother

We made Miss M's day as we had bought her Nietzsche's 'The Birth of Tragedy'.

In case I have failed to properly update LJ on the progress of her A-Levels (she has just finished Year one), her favourite subject is philosophy, and she is planning to go on to read that subject at uni. Possibly at Cambridge.

(Earlier in the week I bought her 'Moominpapa at Sea' since we (shockingly) do not own it [in English], and it is also a deeply philosophical work. We are such bohemians...)

Otherwise all girls are enjoying the holidays, and we are currently forcing them to pack as we go away on Monday.

Oh, and this article caught my eye:

An extraordinary first week for Boris Johnson

The big vote was a month ago. It feels so much longer. And the changes have been... At the rate we're going, in a month's time Diane Abbott could be Labour leader. (I think I'd like that, to be honest.)

Icon is v. appropriate, as it is actually snowing right now!

Which is crazy, because it's been practically warm, recently. (Like... 12 degrees the other day? Celsius, obvs.)

Hope you all had/are having a lovely Christmas.

We spent yesterday with family (and watched Frozen - in-laws had never seen it), and spent today being supremely lazy and watched the Doctor Who Christmas Special (it was Doctor Who does Inception, but with Santa Claus and loveliness ♥ ♥ ♥), the LEGO movie, the 2nd & 3rd Harry Potter films (The Cherub got these for Christmas - as in, the whole box set with all the films), and now we're watching The Big Fat Quiz of the Year. (Mel B is on one of the teams - I always manage to forget just how Northern she is. As in, she might as well have 'Leeds Lass' tatooed on her forehead. Reminds me of some of Darcy's cousins. And... Well, lots of people generally. They dun't mak' 'em like that down South!)

( Cut for present talk )

But I'll go back to the family & be sociable, just wanted to check in. Oh, and at some point the_redjay and I might post fic. Not just yet, but maybe around New Year. Like, a chapter-a-day fic. :)

Love,
Elisi

Miss M has been chosen as Head Girl for next year.



She is very pleased. Esp because the Head Girl is responsible for the Prom, and she wants it to have a Frozen theme. *g*

(She is 15 and currently in year 10, next year she will finish her GCSEs.)

ETA: As part of the application process she had to write a statement. Most of the other kids were very careful, and some got the teachers to check them over etc. But MY daughter started off with:

'Dear Miss X. I would like to apply for the position of Head Girl. As a result I have sent you 36 pages detailing my reasoning behind this on Google Drive.

Just kidding.'

She can't really remember the rest, but it was generally light-hearted and funny. After getting a few of her friends to check that it wasn't terrible, she handed it in. And here she is. (She also has a deputy - luckily enough the girl she was hoping for, as they'd already started making plans. *g*)

ETA2: Heeee! Just checked my phone! She actually texted me the news:

I got head girl!!!!!!
All your base are
belong to me!

I must have done something right... :)

The Cherub (8 y.o): "Dad - what's a placenta?"

Kids - the cure for boredom!

Apparently we have Dan & Phil (youtubers) to blame for this. They were making biscuits, and one of them turned out 'placenta-shaped'...