Last touch

Last week of the year - last day snowboarding, showing Nes Room (she cracked it in 3 days), discovering on the plane that we have been to 12 different cities in 12 months.

New Year's Eve back home in front of a cosy fire. Hop skip 2013

Christmas X2

Jet lagged while unpacking, repacking, buying and wrapping Christmas presents. Saturday was all about AC3, Deliverance and trying to stay awake till 9. Monday, train to Dover.

Christmas with the inlaws, breakfast, stockings, Christmas dinner, presents, mix tape for my parents, 3D universe DVD, Andrew & Nicole.

Kings Cross breakfast, Gatwick, Geneva (awful landing!), Christmas 2.0, SNOWBOARDING! Mom, Bernard, Nes, Anton, all the runs. Sarah jumped!

The Iron king of Scotland assassinating the remains of the day

Surfing, stood up! Sydney, Cousin Francois' facebook revelations, assassins creed all day, Thai restaurant with the boys, walking around Crown street, wine tasting restaurant, opera house, Sydney harbour bridge, Annette and Fritz, hop on hop off bus tour, ferry to Manly, cocktails in the beach lounge, bus to bondi, shopping, Darling harbour, cocktails in the hotel lounge. Flight back, finally watched Remains of the Day and was not disappointed. Also watched The Iron Lady and The last King of Scotland, and would not have watched The Blind Side without having met Theresa on the plane.

Tangalooma island, Chris's mom's house, chicken tagine, duck salad, date and banana pudding, kayaking in the sea, swimming, tanning, no smoking, tennis, assassins' creed, koala sanctuary, driving Chris & Brian's car, taking the bus into town and back, the unit, Thai food in Moffat beach, body boarding, surfing, swimming in the sea, macadamia caramel ice cream, rain, sunshine, Maloolaba, Noosa Heads, meteor shower, homemade prawn salad.

Tree surgeon. A/h work. Packing. Sarah rents. Pumpkin pie. Quantas flight with extra seats. On the road, the Godfather, Hysteria.

In Australia!. Home-made pizza, red wine, birds

Breakfast at the frizzle, national portrait gallery, suda cafe.

Finished the godfather

Watched some big lebowski

Painted a bag for Justine
RCI Sun City trip booked




Velvetines gig with Helen

National Gallery, Covent Garden, shopping!
Christmas cards all posted!

Played drums until my shoulders ached and the blisters on my fingers were ready to bleed
Cedar lebanese
iPad app design
Another Facebook app design
Bizarre lunch: Roast Butternut squash on a bed of spinach, with a fried egg on top, surrounded by goat's cheese and pine nuts.
Time-lapse of building construction site outside my window.

Picking fights, exhausted.
Formulations for next year: Write this book

Mala in Cuba
Jackie Tarot
Gail baby shower
Mobile 5
Watched half of The Godfather part II. Watched Keep the Lights on on Curzon on Demand. Prepared quilt photos for blog. Nikon is amazing at gigs. RSL tentative ruling is in our favour! Reading The Five People you meet in Heaven for book club.

Finished reading book

L'Oreal men expert done

Colorectal 

Finished machinarium

Caught the first northern line train of the morning to fetch Helen

Wrote out Christmas cards to the whole family and friends!

Breakfast in the village

London bridge, southwark, globe theatre, tate modern, st pauls, nice little place off regent street, forbidden planet, frizzle.

Science museum, hyde park, westminster, velevtines at the rattlesnake in angel

Started designing a Javel website. Sunday lunch at Sam and Chris'. Maak'it blog about quilt. Ran into Jo from Seven in Wimbledon village. Spotted more heather plants. Noisettes with Anne-Marie and Lorna. Tegan & Sara. Date night at Reds. JavaScript and AS3!
Levi Demi curve colour 63 skinny coupe 26 modern rise

Cedar Lebanese restaurant. Discovered Machinarium in the App Store - could be a good template for the sign man. AS3! Finally! I have climbed the first mountain!. Back at Mobile 5 and L'Oreal. Book club Monday with Anne-Marie. Booked SA internal flights, car hire and hotels. Kruger park booked by Oom dirk. Hotel in Sydney booked. Missed seven drinks at slaughterhouse, got fitted in Levi's and bought a coat in esprit instead!

Mom's visit. Caffe concerto. New coat. New boots for mom. Baking! Apple crumble! Apple pie! Cheese cake with ginger biscuit base!!. Watched Mozarts sister. Halloween decorations and bucket. Quilt. Gardening. Homebase. Dinners and cocktails with mom and Sarah. Mercury at the Wimbledon theatre. Aya lebanese restaurant. Yoga!

Whatever

Friday night, Saturday morning. Anyway. Finally bought and built the second shoe rack. Nicola's company has an app. Looking for a nice place to stay in Richards Bay for Feb next year. Portfolio has finally been updated to the new look across the board. www.aneldebruyn.co.uk. Didn't even take that long.

Tickets to SA booked. Accommodation at Imvubu Lodge in Richards Bay booked by the rents. More T-shirts prepared for quilt. Spent 2 and a half days getting my accounts up to date - expenses, invoices, payments, and a webinar. My first webinar ever :) Sleeping over at the Harringtons, watching Modern family and talking crap.

Working on my mouth animation

Lady Gaga in my VEINS!

Resolved to finish that snowboard video. Green Card Lotto entered... Joined new accountancy company Crunch for half the price of others (the cute girl on the phone may have had something to do with it as well).

Drumkit is finally up again - not as difficult as before! Learning JavaScript. Signed in to Jottify again, and posted a short story, as well as the complete incomplete ramblings of my novel.

Ladies and gentlemen, Augustine has launched: http://www.augustinefp.co.uk/. Updated LinkedIn company page with 2 new services - feeling all commercial... Painted Chris' shirt! Went to see Barbara at HMV Curzon - distinct improvement on last week's film! Watched Melancholia on the iPad - hmmm nah.

"Honest, Officer..."

Lost my iPhone. Friday night at the Velvetines was messy! iPad replaced. Sick with flu. New accountants meeting. SJD is testing my patience (again) on the 2011 tax return issue. Starting to really hate accountants (sorry Richard). Cannot believe it's almost the end of my second business year... Pizza Express with my woman on Wednesday night. US Green Card lotto open for one month... Listening to British accents. Just got invited to a piss-up with the Seven Team! I'm cool...

Almost got arrested at Wimbledon police station. Went home and danced and it was good. Saw Holy Motors. Cousin is coming to visit in November! Movie with Chris in Richmond tonight.

Ally Apple Augustine

Out-of-action weekend chilling on the reef, watching copious amounts of Ally McBeal (by Wednesday night we're halfway through disc 5) and eating home-made apple crumble!

Back in Farringdon this week, doing some Premiere Pro video editing. Mobile 5 job offer still under discussion... for the first time ever I am receiving a lot of signs from the universe on a decision. Deciding to go with it and see what happens (recognising signs from a few weeks ago now too). Thursday night with the PD crowd was awesome - really good to see everyone and it had me smiling all day Friday (even with the hangover...) Sarah had to miss Carina Round because of a stomach bug :(

Augustine website almost done! Ouma's labels have been printed and hopefully on the way, compliments of Loren. Dried apple rings made with an Abel&Cole recipe - interesting... Discovered Amazon Cloud Player - awesome in the absence of Spotify. Can't believe the end of the year is 90 days away. Velvetines gig tonight.

Boring But Lucrative

BBL work at PruHealth in Bank - beautiful area with great architecture around every corner - it's so built up it almost feels like NYC. Loving just walking around and feeling lost, staring up at the buildings. Spent Monday at home having another look at my online portfolio - REALLY need to just finish that cycle already! Job offer has shed a lot of light on my current situation. I made the salary requirement quite high, to match the perks of my current life. They have rejected it so far - still in talks, but it has made me see how much I love what I'm doing now.

Started reading Portia De Rossi's Unbearable Lightness at the absolute insistence of Sarah. Now I cannot stop thinking about it. Taking regular bathroom breaks to sit and read! I want her and Ellen over for supper - I think they would love it and we'd all have a great time.

Amir is leaving PD for City Index. Been invited to the leaving drinks (but it's on the same night as Carina! Don't know what to do yet...)

Gaga was AMAZING! Could see almost nothing of the actual show, but for once just enjoyed BEING there, with all the other freaks and monsters. We danced till we were sore for days afterwards.

Final week of fencing and it's brutal Epeé! One match after another on the electric pistes, boys and girls and some serious bruising. Went to have a look around at Escape 3D Studios - very arty and impressive, but it may have made my mind up about staying in my field for now - if only because of the money.

Flash app is pretty much a success - enjoyed working with a developer and seeing the final product on the web! http://apps.facebook.com/messwithyourhead/ I built that! Before I left the office for the last time, they called me in and made a casual job offer. Actually considering it, because it's a nice place!

Loving the US political scene unfolding with John Stewart before the elections.

Shopping video still going - discovering loads of interesting features to use in more exciting projects. Enjoying being at home, picking apples, doing the garden, scrubbing and oiling the deck, getting the council to clean out the &^$$£@ dead mouse from the shed, then having a look around and discovering - a SANDER! Promptly dusted off the outside table, sanded it down, tightened up the screws and bolts, and used the last of the decking oil to make it look almost brand new.

Planning our Kruger National Park weekend with Oom Dirk. Flash project suddenly overturned with new AS3 requirement. I am trying to convert it but slowly starting to hate it too. My AS2 file is perfect, so that will go up on my portfolio, but this one is a mess. New Spotify and Hype Machine tunes are awesome. Shopping at HMV like a bitch. So many tight new jeans! So many Cardies! Gilly Hicks is confusing and wonderful with its giant sea cam screens and bright clothes in dark rooms!

In other news: I am now a Facebook Developer. And downloading Flash Builder. Not bad for someone who doesn't want to be in Marketing anymore!

Friday working on an AE video featuring a shopping trolley going through a supermarket. Friday night sucked, but I made it. Nothing on TV. I am the legend who got Gaga tickets when ours didn't come in though - very excited!

Mom coming to visit end of October! Might bring my sister with!

Unpacking all weekend and learning the new house. Bought an apple-picker and seeded the lawn. Funny smell in the scullery... Our two-year anniversary! Korma curry from Deliverance! Started Mobile 5 work - going very well. ActionScript level: Mike Strick Jnr. Watched Pride & Prejudice. Following the US elections and watching the Daily Show.

Moving day! Lots of rushing around, forgetting keys, cutting keys, forgetting Jim's boys' snacks. Being called by Virgin to arrange installation for Saturday while their guy is busy installing our stuff on the Friday. Attitude from the dishwasher guy and my first plumbing job finishing what he was too much of a d*ckhead to do. Apples apples everywhere. Wednesday I went in to Regent Street to meet Mobile 5 for an independent Flash job - swish offices and nice project! Fencing continues.

Totally killed a mosquito on the ceiling with a tie. Had two awesome braais, moved half of our stuff over to Croft Road with the rents' help. Chatted to my sister for long and long.

First fencing class this week!  Was amazing! Good workout and very exciting...

New blog on Maak'it. New header for my digital sphere too :) Got my new phone back. Went out for drinks with Mel and some of her friends on the beach at the Roundhouse in Camden.

Curiosity lands on Mars! First Paypal invoice sent :) Packing, olympics, dealing with a water leak from our bathroom into the basement flat. Thanking the universe that we're moving :) British Gas Infographic Interactive complete - Rusty AS2.0 took half a day. Going to see The Woman in Black tonight - free tickets! New image uploaded to Imgur. Woman in Black was terrifying.

OMG I'm on the Guardian website!!
(I did the Interactive Infographic)

Olympics

Watching fencing, swimming, tennis, beach volleyball, shooting - discovered handball. Table tennis, Judo and archery are not as exciting as I thought they would be. Three golds for SA! Sarah organised fencing classes :)  Booked tickets to Australia in December and Geneva after Christmas. Saw Nessie's dungeon puzzle and suggested entering a game competition together. Possible collaboration with Vida on a new website...

Quick tattoo design for Azza

Joined Guardian Soulmates dating site lol. Pushed back successfully on a client project after visuals came back indicating work way out of scope. Virtual awnings installed for Kenrock Estate.

Finally!

Caught up with 95% of my life after that project. Amsterdam was great.

Will probably go alone next time though. The jet stream that has been responsible for the worst summer in my UK memory has finally lifted - Sunday evening braai after coming back home was amazing. At Seven for 3 weeks now - good for some routine :) Potential tenants viewing our flat this evening.

Injured my left arm quite badly doing I have no idea what. 

Dying to play with Adobe Edge...

Arm feeling much better after being strapped in yesterday. 

Finn's 1st birthday!!

Finn's 1st at Helen's house. Awesome party, and I feel great for finally having left MBA.

Organised to see a doctor at Parkside for the tiny bump on my Sternum, found a gardening service to mow the lawn, de-weed the garden and remove the tree branch that had fallen over.

Dentist appoinment made for next week, tax affairs sorted out by going back to original company. Delayed Maak'it blog up, Ultrasound done, Bupa organised, quote for Augustine, Sarah's headphones taken back to Currys - stood there until they took them back :-/
Planned and cooked another Leon Gobi with Poppadoms, and Chocolate Mousse cups for dessert for Sarah's early birthday celebrations. Chopped up the rest of the veggies in the fridge and made butternut soup. Painted two T-shirts for Sarah.

Phoned Ouma and Mom. Sorted out erroneous Southern Electric Bill. Updated Jackie's Destiny Duo website.

Sense of achievement!!

Dinner and cocktails with Lynda on Thursday. Amsterdam on Friday!
After a whole year of keeping a M&S voucher for Ms Harkin (intending to use it), the lady herself comes knocking on the door to ask if another money envelope had been delivered. It does, the next day.

Omg - discovered that AE animation can be controlled by mathematics.

Friday the 13th

Farnborough Airshow STAG video done, and client is happy. Wednesday this project will be done too and I can run away!

Very excited about Amsterdam. Also about next week which I've kept open and free of anything. Wimbledon continues...

Missed Maak'it this week. Missed a lot of my life, actually. Note to Self: Overtime baaaad. Almost missed getting Mom a birthday present - thank God for Nessie.

Notice given on our flat :) Client invoice misunderstanding with STAG. MS website goes live 2 hours late and with a host of precicted problems. Thank fuck I wasn't there. Sarah placed an ad on Gumtree for our flat.

Wimbledon!

Carrying my laptop into work to watch the Tennis >:-) Crunchtime for the STAG video. Learning After Effects on the fly again. Working late almost every night, eating Nandos, smoking, and trying not to jump every time I see a mouse. Company-paid taxi home every night. Swapped from monthly subscription to After Effects for £65, to a monthly subscription of the entire Adobe package for £30 :-DAleph is amazing. Great LinkedIn recommendation from Rob on LinkedIn - returned the favour. Managing people is stressful, especially when it's not your job!

MBS

Bought Aleph on my Kindle. Indi Natural Stone website has gone live. Putting my entire life on hold for this MS project. Trying very hard not to get sucked in too much - already been asked to work the weekend and said no. Design work is giving way to CSS.

Sarah is going for Laser Eye Surgery!

Wimbledon! RSL Blacony - our response sent off. Wonderful evening out with Sarah on Tuesday, after walking around looking for a place to eat, luckily found something AWESOME - SUDA Siamese. STAG video for the Airshow coming along slowly - time is being compromised by the MS website, so I'm having to fend off the client.

Alanis ar Brixton! New Maak'it post! Two week booking received for Seven Digital in about a month - very welcome ticket out of this here mess.

Happy Anniversary, Happy Anniversary

Trying to organise a trip to Battersea Cattery for a new little thing - was hoping to do it for our Anni, but it's quite a process, so it will have to wait a bit. Maybe if Lynda's place comes through we'll do it then! Found a New York Cheesecake Bakery.

Involved in a Facebook Timeline design for Duracell, another Eurocopter banner and potentially a video for the Airshow (which I totally want to go to!!) via Design Inc. Found Lip Service 2 for our upcoming anniversary, and heard about an Astonishing X-Men issue coming up featuring a gay wedding :) It seems to be fate that I have just discovered the Orbital Comic Book shop in Leicester Square where I'm working at the moment.
Visited the rents this weekend, Father-in-law very happy with my DVD copying skills. My iPhone is screwed - guess I can't blame it after taking a dive in the toilet.
Impromptu promotion to Art Director for the MS project.

Cried for the Beloved Country

Watched Bloomingtons. Did a design for the Velvetines T-shirts. Won £2.60 in the lottery. My first ever guest blog post was published on Tuesday on Vida's Maak'it website \0/. Panicking about my Tax Return a little... JM from PD asked me about web design for a new client of his - seems like a well-organised project for once! Working at MBA, on a potentially awful website for TMS. Passed up a magazine advert for Indi Natural Stone to go in the Architectural Review, but the site is going live soon! Buying Sarah's birthday presents :)

Happy and Glorious!

Rediscovered Bob Marley's Redemption Song and played it on Sunday morning, while making red pepper, mushroom and courgette pancakes with Brie cheese for breakfast. This all before suddenly deciding to head out and see the Queen. What a lady. Came back and watched Invictus.

 In reverse, the rest of the weekend went like this: Mellow birthday party braai in North London with the Geldenhuyses, passing left, mixing Pimms and Jack Daniels and Corona in a drinking game that went on the entire night and/or ended up in Charades. This after having bought all the ingredients for Mojitos and a 9:40 am hair appointment in Wimbledon after a late night with Gina and everyone in Old Street, an unexpected Vietnamese restaurant, a pool game and far too much smoking. The rest of the week spent in Leicester Square, working on a sinking ship with a deranged captain at the helm. It's beautiful and thank God I don't have to stay forever. Nice crew to work with though :) Embarked on an impromptu blog project with Vida, called maak'it. Wrote my first guest post, ready for publication on Tuesday. Vivaldi's 4 seasons on Friday in St Martins church by the LMAO. Lol. Injured my back doing Thursday exercises, also known as swinging dumbells like a golf club.