15/10: Delivering my own brief

Today I planned and delivered my own session to my Yr 2 Graphics class. I was extremely nervous but also excited so it was a good mix. I completed my researched my using my mentors collection of books relating to the subject of the brief in his staff room and also online resources. From the time I have shared with the class I knew they was going to be very quiet, not ask many questions (if any). I did stutter at first and started to lose my words but then I just threw myself in. I talked about each slide, I had researched the photographs and sources I was using, so I did know what I was talking about and was well prepared for any questions asked. I had another peer sit in my session as well. I wanted to have some peer to peer feedback and hopefully some constructive criticism.

I am still waiting for some feedback from my mentor but I’m happy with the response I got from my peer and also the students. I thought it would be easier to find out who understood the brief and what was asked of them during 1:1’s. This proved very valuable as the learners seemed to be more open to discussing ideas just with me alone and not as a team. This could be something me and my mentor could try and improve? Possibly more collaborative briefs or more group critiques just to get the learners out of there shells.

Overall I am very happy with my session today, I feel I am making more of an impact on the students and they seemed to be warming to me a lot more. So quite thrilled. Excited to see the work they have achieved after half term! I just need to make back up files of my presentations. I had a hick-up last night with my Mac and my PDF had deleted itself, luckily most of the information was very fresh in my mind and I remembered a lot from thought but I had to remake another quick powerpoint presentation. These are all things that can be easily avoided so will not be making that mistake again.

Magnetic island, Cairns, & Melbourne

23/11/2016

After leaving Airlie Beach very early we headed towards Townsville so we could catch a ferry over to Magnetic island onto Nelly Bay Harbour. We had a few hiccups in the morning but luckily we all managed to make the coach in the morning so we didn’t miss the ferry. Once we got onto the island we figured out the bus times and realised our hostel wasn’t too far away! Only a 3 minute bus ride! The weather was crazy hot, you could feel your back burning through your t shirt. It was definitely sit in the shade weather. We planned only to stay in magnetic island for one day and I wish we did stay longer as it was gorgeous. Our hostel was on the beach front, very pretty. That night we all settled down and watched a film, it was the first chill night in a long time and it was long over due. Everyone needed it. 

24/11/2016

Back on the road again back to Townsville to catch our coach to Cairns, our final stop on our East Coach trip! The coach was a easy 5 hours, I think we have all managed to hack these coachs! Nearly 4 weeks later and 40 hours worth of coach rides we arrived in Cairns, it was around half 10 at night and it was only a 10 minute walk to our hostel Gilligans ,it is part hostel, part club/restaurant. Tad lively. We ended up going down for just a ‘couple’. 

25/11/2016

Up nice and early today, we met up with George yesterday who was in our group at Fraser Island, so we ended up hiring a mini bus, him as our designated driver and drove to most of the water falls and some drop off points over looking lakes and the sunset. It was a brilliant day! To start off we drove to Josephine falls in the Wooroonooran national park. That was brilliant! Nearly had a scare though jumping off the rock edges into the water pool but it’s all good, didn’t try it again though. The water was very deep and it was difficult to just breath normally, very strange but so refreshing. 

Next along the table lands we arrived at Millaa Millaa falls, we all swam under the fall into the shelted rocks. It was honestly boss. Our aim was to swim at every  waterfall, however we couldn’t at Zillie falls, we managed to find a man made foot path through the forest, so we could get a better view of the descending water. I think the fear of snakes and spiders has faded now, walking through dense forest floors does not bother me anymore. Touch wood. On the way to Ellinjaa falls we stopped off at North Johnstoneriver lookout 1.7km down. It was beautiful.  Last on the cards was Heals Outlook, we went to watch the sunset then realised we was on the wrong side of the mountain road, well we tried and it was still a belter view.  26/11/2016

Much needed rest day is needed soon but we will be up for a good 20 hours as we have to be at the airport for 3 in the morning as we all decided to get a flight to Melbourne, and believe it or not but the flights 3 hours and 20 minutes long, mental. You forget how big Australia is! Our last day at Cairns we spent at the lagoon which was lovely, you can’t actual swim in the sea due to the salt water crocodiles which is poop. Later that night me and Luke then went to the pictures which was nice, little date night with Luke. 

27/11/2016

From being in the 33 degree heat in Cairns to 16 and cloudy in Melbourne it was definitely a bit shock it went from bikini weather to jumper and jeans within a few hours. Lucky I brought a pair of jeans! We are staying at a base hostel in St Kilda which is very quirky and lovely it’s on the beach front by Lunar theme park. As it was Sunday there was also a stall market along the beach peer. After a few hours and checking into our room we all had a little nap and headed into the city. We walked to the national museum and library, both gorgeous buildings, next we headed to The exhibition statue which was so pretty the water fountain and all the lights just illuminated Carlton park with was opposite the building and it was full of possums. It was mental they was just running around everywhere! That night we stayed out an headed towards Fitzroy and went for a drink it didn’t half remind me of lark lane, very quirky and cool looking. On the walk back to the tram we walked passed St Patrick’s Cathedral, fantastic looking building.

28/11/2016

Today we literally got a tram into town city centre, went to the entry that’s famous for pbeing completely full of graffiti? It’s brilliant when you look around and realise everything it literally covered from sourround buildings to the street bins, this was in Melbourne CBD. After that we walked to China town and obviously had Chinese food then went back to the hostel for mad mondays bingo, quality. However we didn’t win. 😦

29/11/2016

Today was a chill day, we headed to the beach with George and enjoyed the only sun we might get on our visit to Melbourne, it was only a 5 minute walk from our hostel so we didn’t really have to do much walking, we then found out that penguins live on the pier of kilda next to the beach but mainly come out after sun set, so we waited till 9pm and headed to the pier and I had no thought that we would actually see one let alone 50 it was incredible and I found out they are called little penguins because they are tiny!! Cutest things ever. I even seen some babies, It was hard to get a good photo as we wasn’t allowed to use flash on the poor things but I managed to get some while they walked under the post lights, such a boss little experience ! 

30/11/2016

Back to the city centre me Luke, Stu , and George headed to Southbank and went into Eureka tower and went to the top floor, 88 stories high, the views were incredible. We literally had a 360 view of the whole city. AAAND then we had another Chinese, blame george for that. We also went into happy travels and hired a camper van for the following day to get us to Sydney for Monday! Road trip!!! 

Whitsundays

20/11/2016

Checked in to Oz Sails at 8 in the morning to get ready for our Whitsundays tour! Two nights, three days sailing around the cluster of the Whitsundays 72 islands. It was brilliant the boat was a racing boat built in the 80s so it was very steady and heavy, 44 ton in total and 36 metres tall! It was a lovely little boat however there was 3 members of staff and 28 people so it was a tad cramped! 

We first set off to Hook island on route everyone had to get involved and listen to the sailing rules and regulations, they even got (forced) volunteers to help get the sails up and tighten the rope. It was all very technical. Once at Hook island we got our swimming stinger suits on and prepared to snorkel! The weather wasn’t too great but the visibility under the water was still pretty good! At first getting into open water is very nerve racking but I think once I was in it was brilliant! I didn’t want to swim I just layed on the water taking everything in, I didn’t want to miss a second of the coral city’s under me surrounded by dozens and dozens of fish. It was honestly brilliant. We all got reassured about the presence of sharks and that he highly doubted that we would see one. Didn’t really reassure anyone! After about 20 minutes floating around we all started to get picked up in groups of 10 as the bad weather moved in quick and made the water very choppy and visibility under the water was quite poor, after getting everyone on the main boat he then told us he has never put snorkelers  out in that condition, apparently we all done a great job though! I would like to say once we was dry on the boat we had dinner under shelter but in fact there was no shelter and it was raining, so everyone just waited around on deck, wet and a bit cold. (We wasn’t allowed to go below the deck wet) luckily it only rained for about 30 mins. Matty was our host on the boat, like our mum, he cleaned and cooked for everyone while also assisting Alex, who was one of the sailers. Once Matty brought out our dinner everyone started to lighten up, dinner was cheesy mash and chives, chicken and fresh veg. It was the best all of us have ate In a whole month! It was a early night as we all had to be up extra early the next morning ready to go and see whitsunday beach. While me and Luke was setting up our bed I head a massive slap, turn around and there’s just a squid sitting on the floor! It had literally jumped right in through our window on the cabin! I pooed myself, it was only little though so Alex through it back overboard. 

Oh forgot to say, all our scraps of food went over board, at first I thought nothing over it but you realised it turned the surrounding areas of the boat into a full feeding frenzy. Everyone saved all the chicken scraps till last for one reason only to get the sharks in. And it worked! It was only a little one but it still looked around 4 foot long. Scary! 

21/11/2016

5:10 start for most people on the boat to see the sun rise at 5:17, as much as I should have got up to see it I couldn’t be bothered. I seen everyone’s pictures and it did look stunning, me and Luke finally got up at around 5:45 to have breakfast  and to get ready for our early arival at tongues bay. Once at the bay we had to walk up an unmarked foot bath to Bette beach, once we was here we had some pretty amazing views of whitsundays beach, like it was honestly brilliant and stunning. The swirls around the water and untouched beach was spectacular. The weather could have been better but can’t have it good always! We got back to the boat around half 10 in the morning and started sailing accros the Coral sea and over the Great Barriar Reef conservation area. Completely stunning I think I would have most definitely enjoyed the whole experience more if I wasn’t sea sick! Not good at all, going below deck made you feel 10x worse too! Luckily it didn’t take us long to get to our next snorkelling location which was Blue Pearl Bay. We got a little heads up from Alex about George. George is an Australian groper and weighed in at 400 kilograms and is 3 metres long and he was extremely friendly and didn’t mind the attention of all the snorkelers. I even got to give him a big stroke. He has been the king of the Great Barrier Reef for around 25 years. We then sailed for another hour to our next spot, it was here I got to see Nemo, however he was more emo, his skin was a lot darker than our first idea of a clown fish, instead of having white strips he had black. Still cute though, hiding in a huge piece of coral that had a small opening on the top. There was another fish similar to George at this location but her name was Lisa and she was just as welcoming and friendly managed to get a good cuddle of her. It was here that I truely felt that I was in another world. Being around thousands of fish and jelly fish and swimming through mountains of multicoloured corals is something I would most definitely do again. Once back on the boat we sailed to the back/south side of Hook island to rest and get ready for dinner. We had two extra guests on board today, Steve and his mrs , the boats seagulls. Steve has worked out if he stays with the boat he will get his three meals a day. Clever seagull.  That night I was once again stunned there’s is nothin better (once you have had an anti sickness tablet) looking at the sky, and listening to the soft waves and jumping fish around the boat.

22/11/2016

Last day of our adventure on the Spank Me boat, and we headed out nice and early to Black Island. Breading ground for turtles, this was Alex’s favourite spot to snorkel and he told us to look out for the coral. It was here I managed to trick the fish to swim around me by dangling my fingers in and out of the water, it back fired as one little bugger was really quick and leaped out the water biting my poor finger. It wasn’t all bad as the fish were so close to my face and hands I managed to give lots of them a little stroke. While swimming with the current me and Luke noticed a off shape on the sea bed and it was a resting sting ray! It wasn’t too scary though only a little one the size of a diner plate. I did love all the other places we went snorkelling but there was something about this Reef, the sheer depth and beauty, and mass of openness, it didn’t half make you feel very insignificant, by far one of the wonders of the world. 

Fraser Island

16/11/2016

Started the day early at half 5, group meeting was at 6.30 in the morning and check out was 6am. Killer, we headed out I think at around half 7 from Torquay to drive and depart from Hervey Bay onto a barge, it was quite exciting! We traveled over the barges in 4x4s. Luckily it fitted 8 people so non of our group got spilt up, which was good. I have never been in a car driven off road so once we got to Fraser Island and got off road it was brilliant! Me and Luke were in the back on the car which felt like we might as well of just sat in the boot as the seats were lifted! At one point Luke forgot to put his seat belt on and went absolutely flying everywhere, luckily he’s fine so no one needs to worry! Before we got to our base camp we drove about 30 minutes to Lake Birrabeen, through the ancient rainforest, it was honestly breathtaking and full of awe. The lake was fresh water and it is completely lifeless, It was also full of natural oils from the tea tree plants. So it was brilliant for your skin. We had a little dip and then dried off on the clear sandy sorrounding beachs. It was truest a hidden paradise. It was just our tour group here which made it extra special. Apparently most tour buses don’t head up to that part of the island so it looks very untouched and peaceful! 

After that we drove for another 20 minutes to the eastern part of the island and ended up next to a walk clearing and stairs, our tour guide Tony told us to follow the path and we will find Lake Wabby, which has lots of fish in it, the kid that nibble at your feet. He left us to walk up, we realised why as it took us 35 minutes in total to find the lake. Walking through the subtropical rainforest was spectacular it’s depth and hidden wildlife is something I wont forget. Once we walked through the forest we walked into a open field which was just covered in untouched sand. It was amazing. We followed the vague foot prints from people before us and at the bottom of a huge sand dune was Lake Wabby. It wasn’t as pretty as other lakes as it’s green complection doesn’t look as pretty as a blue lake but it’s full of history and heritage, rich green waters full of wild life and having the chance to witness it was truley lovely to see. In 100 years time the lake will not be there no more due to the movement of the island and the high surrounding sand dunes around the lake. It will be swallowed up. I had a little swim but I’m a little poo bag when it comes to water I can’t see through especially water with fish and stuff in it, so after the quick swim I sat on the edge and let the fish nibble at my feet and legs. Everyone was doing the exact same it was strangely satisfying and tickly but the a bigger fish would eventually come over and it felt like a good chew so I couldn’t handle that! 

After the walk back to the cars we drove around 15 minutes up the beach to our camp site. It was surrounded by electric tenses as wild dingos are a problem especially when food is left out. However the fence did not stop snakes or spiders and we had a little spider scare on the second night. Luckily it was only a baby huntsman (they usually grow about the size of a dinner plate but this one was around the length of my finger.) I managed to get some good photos of it though! Everyone then went down to the beach to watch the moon rising, it came up around 8pm and was honestly brilliant, it was the brightest moon I have ever seen and I have never seen so many stars in the sky , It was just platsted with sparkling white dots everywhere. Completely beautiful!  I was gone so I went to bed early at 9 but most people stayed up till around 2! 

17/11/2016

Today Tony got us up at half 7 to head down to Eli Creek on the way we stopped off at 75 Mile Beach, to see Maheno Shipwreck which has been half sunk onto the beach for 81 years. Very airy and interesting Tony gave us a little history lesson about the ship and it was the fastest cruise liner for 25 years before anything was built to go faster. It got sold to Japan when one of its engines blew and it wasn’t cost effective to fix it so they sold it to Japan who then crashed it by accident. Very interesting. We then got to Eli creek which was a rapid freshwater stream which traveled from the opening of the forest down to the beach. It was adorable you had to walk along the man made wooden walkwells to a set of stairs descending into the knees high stream. We all took the plunge and realised it was freezing! But once we was in it was colder out of the water so it was easier to just hold it out till the bottom and enjoy the view. Me Luke and ate ended up doing it twice. Once we got out of the water and back onto the beach we noticed everyone looking and circling the left part of the beach, turned out it was a lone wild dingo ! Just having a little stroll. As cute as they look they can be vicious and are known to pinch people’s children. Scary stuff.   Then we traveled up to Cathedral Beach and walked up a tiny hill to find the champagne pools, which is meant to be like being in a spa in a jacuzzi pool. However it wasn’t so much like a spa but like a cold pond of the ocean. Still nice though!  We then walked up to Indian head which is the most easterly point of the island which provided us with a 360 view of the beaches and rain forest.     This was the last thing we had scheduled that day so as tony said ‘it’s drinking time’. It took us around 40 minutes to get back to camp in the cars. Which wasn’t too bad. That night we had another stroll on the beach and there’s something special aboutstanding on a beach that’s 75 miles long with nothing either side of you just beaches. Literally that’s all you can see, no other people, no cars, no street lamps just beaches and the edge of the rain forest. We noticed lots of little holes along the beach and it turned out it was tiny crabs and once we noticed them, we seen crabs everywhere however they was scratchy little buggers if one walked past you and got too close it would give you a little pinch.  

18/11/2016

Last day at Fraser, very sad had a wonderful time and experience it’s exactly how I imagined what Australia would be like. The whole group we was put wit was a lot of fun as well full of all different characters and cultures. I think the most memorial people was the South Americans, the latinas were very crazy ladies. The last place to see was Lake McKenzie, that was lovely however the sun was hiding and once you got out of the water you was bloody freezing! Still gorgeous place to see and visit and it topped up the whole trip perfectly. 

Brisbane, Noosa

Brisbane was what you expect a few developed city to be like, not in a bad way but it had nothing on Sydney and didn’t offer much activities, however we did walk around and through the Boltanic gardens and along the water front which was lovely. It sort of reminded me of places like Manchester. It had all the Christmas lights up and lots of shops but it just didn’t have the vibe I loved, can’t beat Byron, famous place so far on the trip! 

The building we was staying at looked very 1850s, reminded me a lot like New Orleans. It had all the original wooden beams through the stair case and had a old fashioned lift. The ones you have to open and close the mental doors and you can see people walking up the stairs as you go up. However it was very temperamental. 

12/11/2016

Loved today, got up nice and early to catch the 8:37 train to Beerwah to then get a free bus to Steve Irwins zoo, ‘Australias Zoo’ it was really nice! Watched a bird and crocodile show at 12 and then saw a tiger show at 2.30 it was crazy. Especially when you see what the tigers can do! We then walked through the Red kangaroo area. It was brilliant you was able to stoke and feed them. I couldn’t believe how friendly they was. After we left it took us on a path to see the koalas. However every single one of them was asleep, in all mad positions, it was brilliant. I had a little stroke of one of the Ines of a lower tree, it felt like a old rug, but it was adorable! I could have taken all of them home. We ended up going to another kangaroo enclosure (because I couldn’t help myself and had to stroke another one) got a good photo of me and Luke next to a very chilled one as well! All the animals were lovely, got to see a tiger cub and leopard out on a walk, very strange seeing them walk around on a lead! It was the train on the way back that was a killer, it took around two hours. Jeff proper needed a wee as well, which entertained everyone for about 25 mins!  

14/11/1016

Yesterday we all arrived in Noosa by coach, it was a bit of a stressful coach journey as our accommodation plan sort of fell through so we (I say we but I didn’t really help at all as I didn’t have any data left on my phone) to sort out new accommodation for that night, after about 30 minutes of Connor making phone calls we found one that even picked us up from the bus station. Result. It’s beautiful, the whole place is very chilled and we are within walking distance of Pelican beach, and the water front. And when I say walking distance I mean it’s literally end the end of our street! As soon as we checked in and got settled in it was the daily commute to finding a Aldi, which was only a 15 min walk away, not too bad. In the evening we spent our time at a little restaurant and bar which was only next door to our hostel. 

Today we had a walk around the local shopping area and the water front. And in about an hour we are going kayaking! Can’t bloody wait! 

15/11/2016

Yesterday all of us went kayaking up the water front and onto a little sand island just off the coast of Noosa, it was brilliant. We left Pelican beach around half 3. (There was in facts lots of pelicans, it was fantastic) However It wasn’t half hard work, killed my poor arms and fingers but got to see a pair of Eagles and a sting ray. It last around 3 hours and on the way back we got to see the sun setting which was gorgeous, the sky was a mixture of light blues and pinks. Luckily our tour guide took a so many pictures which she will be sending to us in the next couple of days, can’t wait to see them. At one point she made us all stand in a line and jump it was very cheesy but we all put the effort in, especially because she was a lovely woman and brought us loads of snacks. One we got back into the beach, we walked to woolies to get some drinks and food for the BBQ, we used the BBQ tables available on the beach front which was boss.    And we sat under the super moon. 

I am now currently on a gray hound coach on the way to Hervey Bay off Fraser Coast! 

16/11/2016

Today I emailed Vince Frost Studios to see if I could get a tour or even a placement *touch wood* when I’m back at Sydney, and guess what! Frost has requested I add him to his linkdn account which of course I did and they emailed back just asking if I had a portfolio I could Send them, since I am here, in Aus, I don’t have anything physical of my work, so I had to send them to my blog, which basically has a digital portfolio on my home page. Even if nothing comes out of it at least I have been in touch and maybe still get to see the studios! 

FRASER ISLAND DAY 1 

Bangkok

Bangkok is brilliant, seedy, smelly and 6 days was enough! However I will be returning to Thailand to see everything else. I loved the capital but more adventures in the outskirts is needed. I am currently in the airport waiting to get to oz. I will update my blog with the ins and outs of Bangkok tomorrow. 😁

Getting the portfolio

I’m off to uni now, maybe for the last time, who knows. But technically it’s not even uni anymore, it’s just a university centre. Absolutely nuts. The past 3 years have flown by, so scary. Anywho, going to pick up all my last little bits, my portfolio, and exhibition bits.

I also left my tub of gravy granules but I might leave it for Andy to keep, you can thank me later Andy. I am also going to be really cheeky and use the macs and printers for free, thanks, Hugh Baird.

Very neglecful

I feel like a bad mother, I have not updated my site in over a month! I’m terrible. And it is not even due to the fact that its summer time and I’m busy working, it’s because  I’m not in uni. I loved the creative energy that I felt when I was in there and being surrounded by creatives didn’t half make you just want to do stuff. I don’t get the same kind of vibe sitting in my bedroom by myself. I have come to the conclusion that I have to consciously look for inspirations, either reading and dare I say it, places online like Pinterest. I have also felt a big load of guilt by not even drawing or water colouring, which are things that I love doing, I have neglected by creative self and hobbies. Well, that is going to change. Today, I have decided to give myself a new project. I am hoping it lasts a couple of months and I can get in finished in time for Australia, as I am moving there in October for a year! Inspirations, illustrations, and images which be uploaded pretty soon. Here’s something that I did this hour to keep me sane. The theme, of course, it’s bears!

BearPress

Graduation 2016

Graduation at Uclan was on Tuesday just gone and it was brilliant. Had a wonderful time, truly gutted that this was the last part of my degree, the final stepping stone. It is over and I’ll never forget all the amazing memories

First Class

I could not be happier. I have waited over 4 weeks to find out my results for uni and overall I got…. ‘drum rolls please’.. a FIRST!! I don’t think I have ever felt such a mixed bag of emotions. I cried, laughed, and then fell asleep. I think a lot was the relief, I have been very stressed and emotional and full of anxiety lately, I wanted to do the best so bad and It did keep me up some nights and have me either starving myself or binge eating. But like I said its done! It was most definitely worth it and I wish I could do it all over again. Now onto new projects, I have currently been working with a girl called Meg, she is starting up her own business (well with other people) but It’s nice to be a part of something. And I get to watch the development of the company and the logo grow! Happy Days