Ceci N'est Pas Un Blog.

noreply@blogger.com (Alexa) — Sat, 19 Jan 2013 17:22:00 +0000

Apparently I still have followers on here! Hello.

I'm now blogging from http://greatlakeswimmer.blogspot.co.uk/ if you're interested.

Alexa

xo

noreply@blogger.com (Alexa) — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 22:16:00 +0000

I have just entered myself in Digital Camera magazine's Photographer of the Year competition. I don't see much chance of winning, but then again, I have nothing to lose! Especially as the prize is a share of £20,000 which would be life changing.

It mean so much if you could vote. Go to this page
http://www.photoradar.com/photographer-of-the-year/photos/80307/allyjade
and click on any photograph that takes your fancy then click Vote To Like This.

noreply@blogger.com (Alexa) — Sun, 28 Aug 2011 14:27:00 +0000

European Road Trip

noreply@blogger.com (Alexa) — Mon, 22 Aug 2011 14:34:00 +0000

Monday 8th

Sat in Adam's car in Angus' pub car park as the car won't start - excellent! The boys are fiddling under the bonnet with jump leads and fuses whilst we wait for the AA to come. I hope this is us getting all our bad luck out of the way before we get out of the country. If we had to break down anywhere, it's better in the car park than on the Autobahn.

Tuesday 9th

I've woken up in Germany after falling asleep in Belgium. We got to Brussels at quarter past 6 and fell asleep in the car. I feel like I've been asleep the majority of the time to be honest, but there isn't much else to do. We walked around Brussels for a few hours in the morning then headed back on the road to Nürburg. At the moment it feels a bit like boys vs. girls, which is to my advantage at this point as Christie is driving so I'm riding shot gun. Adam and Angus are watching Bridesmaids on Angus' laptop. Germany is so pretty - lots of picturesque trees and wind turbines, we even just saw a whole field of prancing deer! Looking out the window to this view makes me grateful, not to mention reiterating how we are miles away from the riots in London. It's about an hour until we get to the Nurburgring and the boys are very excited. We've done 400 miles already.

5:30pm

So we're currently at the Nurgburgring waiting for Angus and Christie to come back from their lap. Adam and I are sat in the car park over looking a hell of a lot of trees and the last straight of the track. We're sat on camping chairs snuggled up in hoodies, as well as jackets on our laps. We must look like a couple of old ladies at the beach with their blankets. We spent ages looking round the car boutique shops in the Nurburgring centre, as well as watching some of the proper racing drivers go round the circuit.
6:30pm
Adam and I just went round the track, it was so fun! We didn't manage to get little Peugeot to 100mph, but we were going bloody fast all the same, even managed to over take a whole bunch of cars so Adam is chuffed. Off in search of somewhere to eat now, I can't wait for a proper meal.

Wednesday 10th

We are in Les Gets! (The next town over from Morzine) The Alps is absolutely beautiful, just breath taking. All these wooden houses with pretty flowers and colour shutters. I want to stay here forever. When I'm rich I'm going to buy a house here to spend weeks in the summer and at Christmas. The sky is bright blue and the weather is glorious. We set up camp in a cute little site with an amazing view of Mt. Blanc and the landscape. Currently in the car on the way to an adventure park.

4:30pm

Sat in the car whilst the guys go and buy dinner and drinks for tonight. The adventure park was awesome, although my arms and hands are paying for it now. Loads of climbing and zip wires and swing ropes at ridiculous heights, definitely not something you'd get in England. Even with the adventure park, hand gliding and mountain biking, which is tomorrow's challenge, everything is so serene here. Everything's really green and natural, not an inch of cyber space in sight; I'm so very content. I'd love for Mum and Dad and the rest of the clan to come here. I think Jon Jo might like it too, for the mountains more than anything else. I think tonight's plan is to chill out at the camp site, have some food and some alcohol and really chill out. Adam is super excited just to sleep lying down on a bed. I definitely don't blame him.

Friday 12th

Everything is aching. Yesterday we got up and went mountain biking, I haven't actually been on a bike for God knows how many years but I did okay ..on the flat bits. The "tres facille" green tracks were horrendous. Going down extremely steep cliff sides, the 'track' covered in rocks or mud and thick tree roots. I kept having to jump off my bike super quick so I didn't go over the handle bars. My valiant attempts were in vain however when I fell down a cliff face. My whole body is covered in scratches and bruises. It was like the epic falling scene in Hot Rod. I managed to do the other half of the track and another whole one, although by the end of it I was very close to breaking down. It wasn't at all enjoyable, just a case of trying not to die. Not exactly my idea of fun.

The other 3 did another track before lunch, by which point I'd raised my white flag to mountain biking and we took my bike back to the rental shop. I went up the chair lift with them again so I could take some pictures of the view, counting on being able to get the chair lift back down to the town afterwards. However I was told that was impossible so I had to walk down instead, which was incredibly hard (and yet another reminder of how un-supple my leg joints are, especially my knees.) I then had to wait quite a while at the lake for the others to get back from their next trail. Eventually they came back and we sat by the waters edge to look at the tadpoles and frogs. We some how ended up making friends with some kids who were catching them in a water bottle. We stayed there for a good few hours - the kids were really sweet. They were adamant the frogs and tadpoles were sunbathing, and determined to catch the newt swimming around. Adam was being Mr Grumps in the heat but I persuaded him (/forced) him to do a video whilst standing in the lake. It's a new song about falling in love.

After realising we were the last people at the lake, we headed back to camp to freshen up then went to Morzine for food. We ended up eating at a little american style diner and stuffed our faces with pizza. Nearby there was a little wooden stage snuggled between the shops which had a big band playing on it. They started playing a song from West Side Story and I couldn't help but think how my dad would love to be there. If I had the money I'd pay for him and Mum to hop on a plane here.

Right now we're on the way to Nice (through Italy and some very expensive tolls), due to arrive in 3 hours. We all got a good sleep and packed up all our stuff in pretty good time. It's probably best we're in the car right now as it's really hot outside and Angus, Adam and I are pretty damn burnt from yesterday. After sun has permanently been on hand since yesterday evening. Luckily for Christie, she just added to her already-golden tan. I, however, look like Rudolph's human sibling.

Saturday 13th

After reaching the campsite yesterday (which leaves a lot to be desired for a "4 Star" site) we drove to the nearby pebble beach. I finally learnt how to skim stones. We then walked to a Chinese restaurant and had some pretty yummy food; I just like eating with chopsticks. Everyone was kinda stressed still from driving and getting lost, but we got back to the camp and opened the bottle of vodka we bought on the way and things soon chilled. We all hung out together until we were too drunk to stay awake. The woodland floor of our pitch looked less than inviting so Adam and I slept in the car. We're currently on the hunt for a sandy beach and I'm wearing a bikini for the first time in at least 6 years. It's really rather unnerving, especially when my pale, squidgy legs are now covered in bruises and scratches from falling off the bike in Les Get. I also have no make up on so I'm pretty offensive for the french public's eyes right now. Definitely going to have to start fake tanning when I get home.

7:00pm

On our way back to the campsite, complete with McDonald's meals and mixers. We found a nice beach where we chilled out and played in the sea. We stayed there until after lunch then set off to find somewhere to jet ski. Except we couldn't. We drove and walked for about 3 hours in the blazing sun, to finally find where we were supposed to be and told they were fully booked. Gutted. By this point we were hot and irritated, and decided to head home. Instead we found a jet ski place near the campsite and rented them for 20 minutes each. It was so much fun! Adam drove most of the time but did let me have a go too. I'd have loved to have done it for longer but it is rather pricey. It would probably be far too cold to do it back home.

Sunday 14th

We are on our way to Paris. We've been driving since 7am (now 11:50) and still have 5 hours to go. It's 25 degrees and it's pretty sucky that we have to spend all day in the car again.

9:30pm

Back on the road. We reached Paris at about half past 5 and went to see the Eifel Tower. As well as being hassled every other minute by street sellers, we took some pictures and Adam did another video. After the longest wait for a public toilet in history, due to the fact it cleaned itself after every use, we walked around to find a nice place for our road trip Last Supper. The majority of shops/restaurants were shut as it was Sunday but we managed to find a cute little place, and I am now full to the brim with pasta. 2 hours to Calais.

noreply@blogger.com (Alexa) — Sun, 24 Jul 2011 10:09:00 +0000

I have far too much to say on this subject so I apologise if my points seem jumbled but after coming on the internet for the first time since Friday night there is plenty to talk about.

So tragically yesterday, as I'm sure most people who would ever come across my blog know, Amy Winehouse was found dead in her apartment. Now, apparently I have already said something people want to dispute, which is my use of the word 'tragically'. It would seem most people believe that because she had problems with drugs, it doesn't really matter that she died, it's her own fault anyway. Obviously I can't deny that she played her role, but she didn't have a drug habit, she had a drug addiction. Anyone who has tried, and failed, to give up smoking will understand that word, will understand how your body fools you into thinking that it is dependent on it. People die of lung cancer caused by smoking addictions all the time, would you turn round and tell me they deserved to die? What if it was a member of your family who smoked and passed away from it; "It's their own fault really." And before you pipe up (no pun intended) and say "But smoking isn't as bad! Smoking's legal." then you're a fool. That view has been drilled into you because of how much money is made by the tabacco industry. It's the same with alcohol. Both are far more detrimental to your health than cannabis but the government can tax the shit out of the public for them so they wouldn't dare make them illegal, they'd lose an insane amount of profit.

Before I go off on a tangent about that I'm going to bring it back to what's most important in this situation, which is respect. "Who cares if Amy Winehouse died? She was just a crackhead anyway." And a daughter. And a sister. A cousin. A wife. A friend. A bloody talented musician. Drugs can take over your life but they don't erase all those things. My brother's partner commited suicide due to drug addiction. I dare anyone of you to say to my face "But he was just a druggie anyway." He wasn't. He was the love of someones life. He's the son his mother can never hold again. He's the brother they wish they'd done more for. Let me tell you now, he was no angel, and at some points over the years I despised him for his behaviour, but he deserved to die as much as Amy deserved to die as much as you deserve to die, which is zero.

Which brings me to my next point, Norway. 85 people and counting shot dead at a summer camp two days ago. An overwhelming incident and an unimaginable devastation for all involved. And something that deserves more sympathy in the eyes of a lot of people. Like it's some kind of competition. Why I can't feel equal sympathy for both of these situations I have no idea, but it would seem I am some kind of monster if I do. 85 deaths out weigh one death of someone with a drug addiction, obviously. I can't help but think that there is a possibility one of those 85 could have dabbled in drugs. One of them could have been a drug dealer for all we know. In which case, the general consensus would have us say "RIP all of those killed in the Uteoya shooting ..apart from that one kid that did drugs because he doesn't really matter and he deserved it. He wasn't wholesome and pure like the rest of us."

I have plenty of other points to make, but very little time to do so today. All I wish is that, for once, before people sit on their 140 character peda-stool, that they actually think about what they are typing. I just want to quickly share one of the more intelligent tweets I've seen over the past few days.
"UK press: I want to the news from Norway and the debt crisis and to mourn Amy but PLEASE don't let Murdoch tiptoe away..."

Future Plans

noreply@blogger.com (Alexa) — Fri, 22 Jul 2011 11:34:00 +0000

Ciao a tutti!

Back from a wonderful trip in Italy and very much missing the sunshine. Adam and I had an amazing time in Rome and Venice, both were absolutely stunning. I took 5 rolls of 120 film so I'm hoping to get them developed in the near future, but it's going to be pretty pricey so I'm not sure when. It all depends on job change overs and the like. If all had gone to plan this morning, I would currently be sat in the offices of Future Publishing in Bath having my interview for Staff Writer, but unfortunately the recession got in the way. Luckily, I have a job waiting for me with more hours at H&M which will mean the traveling fund can get back into full swing.

If you fancy stalking our personal photos of Italy taken on Adam's digital compact, you should be able to by going here. To warn you now, there are some unflattering drunken pictures - Italians make a dangerous Long Island Ice Tea.

noreply@blogger.com (Alexa) — Fri, 08 Jul 2011 21:53:00 +0000

No Rest - Dry The River

Annoyingly, because it's on Vevo, I can't upload the video I want to so I have linked it above. I just can't stop listening to it, and the rest of Dry The River's songs.

I got a distinction in my college course and I am absolutely elated, especially after working so hard for the last few months. It really did pay off. I now have new business venture to pursue, as well as looking for new jobs, but I'll write more about that when it's progressed further.

For now, I'm off to sort myself out for a weekend in a tent on a farm with my lovely boyfriend. Here's us after my exhibition a couple weeks ago; we had far too much fun on photobooth.

Lake Set One

noreply@blogger.com (Alexa) — Sun, 19 Jun 2011 11:13:00 +0000

Lake Set Two

noreply@blogger.com (Alexa) — Sun, 19 Jun 2011 11:10:00 +0000

noreply@blogger.com (Alexa) — Wed, 15 Jun 2011 21:34:00 +0000

Adam's had me doing various little photoshop things for him, this is one of them. I took a few promos of him in April which this photo is from. It would seem square black and white photos are taking over my life at the moment, but I do love them.

If you'd like to listen, then click here.

noreply@blogger.com (Alexa) — Mon, 13 Jun 2011 16:48:00 +0000

Spent my morning helping out Sandy (pictured) with a photo shoot to show off her 1940's inspired clothes. Such an amazing location! I will definitely be shooting there again.

noreply@blogger.com (Alexa) — Thu, 09 Jun 2011 16:49:00 +0000

Another photograph of Sandy, taken today on my digital camera this time using the same premise as the contact sheet shoot. It's nice to keep the colours true to life sometimes.

noreply@blogger.com (Alexa) — Wed, 08 Jun 2011 16:27:00 +0000

This is a set of photographs I shot yesterday with my friend Sandy and her son Charlie. The idea for this composition is from a flickr stream I came across. Creating an image using a contact sheet is such a good idea, I had to try it out for myself. Despite the image being so low res (the scanners at my college are awful) I'm really happy with the outcome. I can't wait to do some more!

noreply@blogger.com (Alexa) — Wed, 08 Jun 2011 16:20:00 +0000

So I decided to start a new blog. The last blogging network I used was getting too trivial, too much about popularity and aesthetics, so I upped sticks and here I am. This blog is going to be about things that really matter to me; the people in my life, my work, and things that have got me thinking. I have a couple of things I want to write about that I have to get round to, but for now I think you should all watch this 20 minute Ted talk from Jill Bolte Taylor, a Neuroanatomist. I've lost count of how many times I've watched this, I find it so fascinating. The brain is one bad ass mother f.