(no subject)
When I handed in my dissertation, and my essays, I felt like I was waving hello and goodbye at once.
It was a glorious feeling. Giving over that big wad of what in the end, comprised with the essays, amounted to about 100 pages. For one of the first times in my life I felt the weight physically come off of my shoulders as the women took it from me. It was actually, very strangely, an emotional moment. I didn't expect to really care, but it was a combination of factors. It was the pride of finishing everything, it was the sudden realisation that I'd invested so much time in that dissertation: so much research and thought. It was the symbolic act of handing over the dissertation, almost like I was handing over my progress over the last three years: the culmination of all the essay techniques, archaeological though and historical fact I'd accumulated. It also signalled the last time I'd ever hand that stuff in, like that, all gathered around outside talking about how stressed we'd been.
I got it bound with John and Lucy, then took the 'Long Walk' from the Library to the HISAR office. It's not really that long, but it's long enough for you to think about what you're about to do. It really doesn't sound like much: handing in your third year work, and I suppose it's not really. But there is something both saddening and so majestic about giving that stuff in, and going downstairs to sit in the coffee shop and relax. And when I say relax, I mean relax.
As a reward for myself, after that Tuesday, I went home and didn't think once about archaeology. I gave myself the day off, picked up my guitar, and had a taste of writing music again. I didn't get much done, but I realised just how used I've been to constantly having music there, wherever "there" is. Just always having it around, whether I'm consciously working on something, or just have my piano turned on and an acoustic within arms reach. It was so nice to be able to write and think about music again. I just felt like myself a bit more after it. Like I'd cleansed myself in some strange way. Don't get me wrong, I love archaeology. But I'm not going to be an archaeologist and I thought more about that than I really ever thought I would. What I don't know about Trelleborg Fortress couldn't fit on a postage stamp at the moment ;)
Ever since completing the whole thing I've just felt like being on my own. Not in a sad way, or a brooding "I have to be alone with my thoughts" way, just that now is really the time for that reflection on the whole time. I went to the pub quiz on Tuesday, after the handing in, and it was good, but I wasn't really listening to what anyone was saying. You know sometimes, and everyone gets it, when you just don't seem to be able to focus on whats going on around you with people? I've just had a bit of that, and being at the pub quiz and in work for the last three days has just been a bit disorientating. I still have some archaeological drawing to do, and exams to revise for, so I still can't afford to go off on a tangent too much.
Still, it's been great to sit down and have my thoughts to myself again. I'm still nervous about leaving Uni, but writing that music the other day really made me remember what I've got to look forward to, so I'm not too cut up about the situation. I'm also realising its not that bad. Most of my friends are staying in Cardiff until July at least, quite a few of them are staying there for good, so it's going to be a good June if nothing else. I hope that the next two months will be like Uni without the learning bit.
I finally got around to starting work on the final script of "The Gent". I'm only about 8 pages in (of a planned c.40 pages), but it's nice to see it taking shape. I've started talking to people about filming it. A few of my friends are making a mockup 3D model of "The Gent" himself, and we're going to start trying a few test scenes to see how hard and authentic the whole thing is. I'm also looking around for some actors now, to start filling the parts. I have to find a few people, but I'm confident I can choose the parts properly. My only worry is, some of the roles, in fact most of them, are for people above 30. Therefore, none of this getting your mates to do the acting will suffice. I gotta try and get some real actors!
I so want to finish that film by the end of the Summer. I'm not sure if I can, but I'd like to make one decent film this summer and maybe try and show it around some local universities and festivals. I quite like the idea of the film and I think I can make a decent mockumentary out of the whole thing. If I can plan it all well, I'm confident I can produce the film quite quickly, and that it won't take up too much time.
The band, and the issues surrounding it, will be my priority next week. I'm not sure how I'm going to initiate the whole thing, but I promised myself next week or the week after latest and I aim to have things sorted ASAP, so we can move on with rehearsals and photos at the end of this month.
It was a glorious feeling. Giving over that big wad of what in the end, comprised with the essays, amounted to about 100 pages. For one of the first times in my life I felt the weight physically come off of my shoulders as the women took it from me. It was actually, very strangely, an emotional moment. I didn't expect to really care, but it was a combination of factors. It was the pride of finishing everything, it was the sudden realisation that I'd invested so much time in that dissertation: so much research and thought. It was the symbolic act of handing over the dissertation, almost like I was handing over my progress over the last three years: the culmination of all the essay techniques, archaeological though and historical fact I'd accumulated. It also signalled the last time I'd ever hand that stuff in, like that, all gathered around outside talking about how stressed we'd been.
I got it bound with John and Lucy, then took the 'Long Walk' from the Library to the HISAR office. It's not really that long, but it's long enough for you to think about what you're about to do. It really doesn't sound like much: handing in your third year work, and I suppose it's not really. But there is something both saddening and so majestic about giving that stuff in, and going downstairs to sit in the coffee shop and relax. And when I say relax, I mean relax.
As a reward for myself, after that Tuesday, I went home and didn't think once about archaeology. I gave myself the day off, picked up my guitar, and had a taste of writing music again. I didn't get much done, but I realised just how used I've been to constantly having music there, wherever "there" is. Just always having it around, whether I'm consciously working on something, or just have my piano turned on and an acoustic within arms reach. It was so nice to be able to write and think about music again. I just felt like myself a bit more after it. Like I'd cleansed myself in some strange way. Don't get me wrong, I love archaeology. But I'm not going to be an archaeologist and I thought more about that than I really ever thought I would. What I don't know about Trelleborg Fortress couldn't fit on a postage stamp at the moment ;)
Ever since completing the whole thing I've just felt like being on my own. Not in a sad way, or a brooding "I have to be alone with my thoughts" way, just that now is really the time for that reflection on the whole time. I went to the pub quiz on Tuesday, after the handing in, and it was good, but I wasn't really listening to what anyone was saying. You know sometimes, and everyone gets it, when you just don't seem to be able to focus on whats going on around you with people? I've just had a bit of that, and being at the pub quiz and in work for the last three days has just been a bit disorientating. I still have some archaeological drawing to do, and exams to revise for, so I still can't afford to go off on a tangent too much.
Still, it's been great to sit down and have my thoughts to myself again. I'm still nervous about leaving Uni, but writing that music the other day really made me remember what I've got to look forward to, so I'm not too cut up about the situation. I'm also realising its not that bad. Most of my friends are staying in Cardiff until July at least, quite a few of them are staying there for good, so it's going to be a good June if nothing else. I hope that the next two months will be like Uni without the learning bit.
I finally got around to starting work on the final script of "The Gent". I'm only about 8 pages in (of a planned c.40 pages), but it's nice to see it taking shape. I've started talking to people about filming it. A few of my friends are making a mockup 3D model of "The Gent" himself, and we're going to start trying a few test scenes to see how hard and authentic the whole thing is. I'm also looking around for some actors now, to start filling the parts. I have to find a few people, but I'm confident I can choose the parts properly. My only worry is, some of the roles, in fact most of them, are for people above 30. Therefore, none of this getting your mates to do the acting will suffice. I gotta try and get some real actors!
I so want to finish that film by the end of the Summer. I'm not sure if I can, but I'd like to make one decent film this summer and maybe try and show it around some local universities and festivals. I quite like the idea of the film and I think I can make a decent mockumentary out of the whole thing. If I can plan it all well, I'm confident I can produce the film quite quickly, and that it won't take up too much time.
The band, and the issues surrounding it, will be my priority next week. I'm not sure how I'm going to initiate the whole thing, but I promised myself next week or the week after latest and I aim to have things sorted ASAP, so we can move on with rehearsals and photos at the end of this month.