Chihiro and Watson Cosplay

Here they are =) the first pictures of my Chihiro /Sen cosplay from Spirited Away and my John Watson cosplay from Sherlock BBC =)

The making of the cosplay (Chihiro):
Chihiro was a challenge. I don't have a sewing machine here so everything would have to be done by hand =( I knew it would take quite a lot of time but with Salles help I manage to finish the cosplay in 2 days =D
The white undershirt is done like a kimono undershirt with the sleeves sewed on the wrong side out XD I was really tired while doing this part and will have to change the sleeves as soon as I get around to do it ;-D The white underpants were even easier as I already had some pants I could use =D
The red pants were quite simple too and I just cut out 2 big leg pieces, sewed them together at the crotch and then closed the sides. Some long strips of fabric to make it a wrap around pant and tadaaa its finished =D
Now the red top was the challenge which turned out to be really simple. At first I thought it was some weird top with tousands of intricate little things to look after but in the end it was just a really, really, really long piece of fabric in which I cut a hole for my head =) I then added the two kimono like sleeves and the collar =D And Tadaaa =) A finished cosplay as I didn't need any shoes and I could use my hair instead of a wig =)

The making of the Cosplay (John Watson)
This cosplay was done really fast as I bought all the parts. I got the blue blouse and black jacket at Primark and already had the jeans and shoes. I then got the coffee cup and blonde wig =D Oh and Salle as my awesome Sherlock =D (She is really convincing when she's bored XDDDD)

The shootings
Last week we had two photoshoots =D One with just Salle and me in Avenham Park as Chihiro and Salle as Meirin from Black Butler and later both of us as Sherlock and Watson =) Later that week we had another shooting with Mark as our photographer and us as Sherlock and Watson.
The first shooting was really funny as we walked through half the city with me as Chihiro XD The looks I got were hilarious XD There even was a stalker lady in the park that just took pictures of us without asking! In my opinion that was really rude! She did it like four times and always walked away to fast for us to say anything. Taking picutes was a lot of fun and we joked around a lot XD I even got a video of my graceful running downhill as Chihiro which doesn't look awkward at all ;-D
Shortly before it got dark and before we had to go to the Xcerts concert we changed into Sherlock and Watson and just took a couple of pictures before heading of =)
The second shooting was done mostly in Salles living room and in dingy little backstreets XD We took some everyday life pictures and some chasing the evil guy ones in the street =)
All the shootings were really nice and I enjoyed everyday =) Now after all this reading here are some shots from the day =)

The Pictures =D


Chihiro

Sherlock and Watson

sad Watson =(

gazing into nowhere XD

Meirin

Meirin being her perfectly coordinated self XD

Hope you enjoyed it =D

Love
Thym

Spring Time

Spring has arrived!! 20 degress celsius and sunshine the whole weekend!
It's waaaaaay to warm but still great! =)
Encouraged by the beautiful weather Salle and I decided to do some exploring of the city =D We met at her flat and then set of to find something interesting. As it turned out she always walked way to far for grocery shopping as there was an express tesco just 10 minutes from her home XD And they had real ciabatta bread *___* Lovely! (Of ourse I couldn't resist and got one for me ;-D )
We walked around some until we found the canal and started following it. Sadly it looked gross and sometimes it even smelled really bad but at other parts it looked kinda nice and did not smell ;-D (My first thought was: Did we end up in the sewers??)

Further down we started discussing how far we should follow the canal until I saw this to our left:

Just a second later Salle saw it too and our minds were made up and we went into the park, which it was as we later found out =D The park was really amazing. 

It was not overly big like Avenham park, but that wasn't whaat made up it's charme. It was more the families and children running around and enjoying the day without being noisy or anything. There was more of a pleasant hum in the air. =)The big lake in the middle was just an added bonus =D

We stayed on a bench for some time and just soaked in the nice atmosphere and the calm that permeated the air. =D

After the break we went through more of the park and discovered that there are some really nice grass planes further down the way. 

While walking through some housing areas I actually found some houses I could imagine living in, even though most of the english houses are too small and not enough isolated for my taste. 

Not to far down the road we found the Preston Dock at last! I actually wanted to go there since the beginning of my exchange but never got around to it. It is quite nice and I love the sailing boats *__* There were even two ships of the navy. 

At the end of the dock there is a bridge that is opened by just elevating the whole bridge XD Not opening it up in two party like normal bridges but by just pushing up the whole thing. I would love to see it doing that XD

After walking around for a bit, a stop at McDonalds (and Salle accidentally seting of a fire alarm XD) we just sat by the dock enjoying the view and talked a bit =D

Later we both went home with aching feet and lots of nice new places in Preston =D

Oh and the knowledge that Preston was quite famous for its cotton mills. That explains the amount of cotton references in the street signs in Preston XD For anyone interested here is the sign I read it from:

Hope you enjoyed your weekend as much as I did =D

Love

Thym

Origami and Concert

This was an interesting week XD At first of course the assignments I already told you about but then it got really interesting =D
The Anime and Manga Society had the anime movie / origami workshop / tombola night on wednesday =D It was really funny to wach Porco Rosso and just listening to half of it XD But the amount of pig jokes is just too much XD

The best thing is I actually won something in the tombola! =D

I just can't rotate the picture O.o but you can still see it XD Salle actually won the Fullmetal Alchemist DVD and I got the movie, Kamui Lone Ninja! =D I've been looking for this for quite some time now =D
Afterwards we had our little origami session and I made myself a little crane family and a dragon =D

the little family =3

and again with a dragon =D

Although I already forgot how to make the dragon, the cranes and boxes were fun and easy and I think I'll just keep doing them. Maybe I'll reach 1000 ;-D

On thursday evening Salle invited me to concert she got free tickets for. A free concert? Of course I couldn't say no! The band was Xcerts and some others. It was a fun evening but, as I found out, not the type of music I can listen to for hours x.x Still... Salle made it all fun XD And the crazy guy next to me who was the biggest fan ever of one of the supporting bands O.o (I thought he would actually jump onto the stage!)

having fun =D

Bass players are the best! It's always great to watcht them XD

trumpet! That made him my hero XD

the singer from Xcerts 

After a long day of cosplay shooting (yep, got that one done also =D), uni and school I fell into bed and dreamed of a free weekend XD

Love
Thym

Assignments and Cosplay

Hi there =D
This week I've handed in two assignments and the third isn't due before the spring vacation =D I like ;-D
If you're wondering what has kept me from writing any posts: Assignment 1: 2000 words the other assignment: 11,500 words ... Those two kept me busy the last week XD But it was fun ^^ especially the longer one as it was about computer security :3
On a brighter note tomorrow I'll finally get some pictures of my Chihiro and possibly Watson cosplay done =D At last XD
The event I was wearing them to (Cosplay rocks the World! here at UCLan) was last week thursday and it was super funny! I really enjoy cosplaying Chihiro as the cosplay is super comfy XD and being Watson is just tooo funny XD especially with Salle as my great Sherlock ;-D Pictures will probably follow sometime during the weekend =D

Love
Thym

Banana-Chocolate-Muffin Recipe

Here is an easy recipe for banana-chocolate-muffins that everyone I gave them up to know liked =) This recipe is for approximatly a dozen  muffins.

Ingredients for 12 muffins: 

100 g | 1/2 cup      butter
150 g | 1 1/3 cup   flour
120 g | 1/2 cup     sugar
1 tsp                    baking powder
2                         eggs
100 g | 1 cup        chocolate chips
2                         ripe bananas    

Steps:

1. Mash the bananas until nearly a smooth mass.
2. Melt the butter (I do this by putting it into the microwave for 10 seconds)
3. Mix flour, baking powder, sugar, eggs, bananas and butter until smooth mass
4. Mix chocolate chips into the mix
5. Pour the mixture into muffin forms (approx. 1 1/2 tablespoons per form)
6. Put into oven for 13-15 min at 200°C / 392°F.

Take them out in the end and let them cool down for a short time, then take them out and enjoy =)

Hope you have fun baking

Love
Thym

Scotland - Part 2

Soo... here is the second part of our Scotland adventure =)
On Sunday we woke up early, well I at 7 am and the rest whenever it was their turn to shower, only to discover that the shower only had boiling hot water =( It was really boiling and never went colder...  after some awkward moves and burned skin I was was finished and let the others into the monster shower XD
After everyone was done and packed up we checked out and got on the road =D
This is the good part: I got to drive! =D Yes, I drove in Scotland XD It was very funny and not nearly as complicated or confusing as I imagined it to be. I felt kinda natural to be on the left lane XD
We got our breakfast at the coop in town and I have to say it was surprisingly good. They even had some good buns and other sweet pastries. I got some milk,, a croissant and some mini doughnuts =)
Andy wanted to buy some beer for the day but, as we found out that morning, you cannot buy any alcohol before 10 am in Scotland XD  His face was hilarious and I had a laughing fit XD
I ate the croissant before driving and then at last we got on the road to Cannich =D
The drive on the motorway was uneventful from the drivers point of view but what little scenery I could catch a glimpse of was really beautiful =D
After some time we arrived in Inverness though we only passed through. I don't know... I kinda expected more of the town.. I don't even know why.. but driving through was very uninteresting.
Leaving Inverness we drove right next to Loch Ness =D (Though we needed Hanna to convince us that it is the Loch XD We thought it to be a little lake in the beginning)
We found a little stopping place for tourist and as the sun was shining really nicely we stopped and went down to the water =) It was really magnificent! (But also cold after some time XD)

When we came back to the car Andy dissapeared (again) We found him some way on the mountain next to the car O.o He came down and we got back on our way again =)
We drove through the beautiful landscape enjoying the view of the Loch Ness and the mountains until we arrived in Cannich.
After a short stop to find out where exactly we were and where we had to go we set off to the Dog Falls =)
At first it was a normal road with nice animals next to it XD

The road further down was a little mountain road =) It was full of bends and actually to small for two cars so they had passing places everywhere =)

that's the way the road looked XD

We arrived at the parking space for the dog falls and luckily for us you only have to pay for parking after the 1st or April =D
The place looked great! here is a first impression:

We got ready for the little walking trip we had planed and I just took my camera and lenses and some food and drinks and  off we were.
The first 5 minutes were a lot of fun and we climbed on the rocks and just had fun walking around. Then Hanna had the great idea to walk down to the water. I thought the idea to be great and walked in the front to get some god shots of the area and the others.
Then IT happend.
IT happened here:

at the upper left corner near the tree..

 I had just taken a picture of the others walking behind me when I turned around and walked further. I don't really remember how it happned but I slipped and fel right into the river with my camera and lenses still with me. I nearly had a heart attack O.o My first reflex to stretch my arms and legs from me was probably the only reason why my camera is still alive. Myright side was submerged but not really wet yet as my jacket and boots kept the water away. For a few seconds nothing happened and the others could only stare XD Then Otte, my hero, came to the front and helped me out of the water XD The moment I moved a centimeter, the water came through my clothes and I was drenched. When I came out the others took my camera and lenses and I took of my boots (I don't know, I heard somewhere that you're supposed to take of as many wet clothes as fast as you can) before we went back to the car =)
I changed into a nioce outfit consisting of black tights, my blue dress, Ollis UCLan sweater (nearly as long as my dress O.o) and Ottes shoes. Oh and my black scarf =) I was never more happy to have a change of clothes with me (even if it was only the dress and tights XD).
After I was changed we hang my trousers and jacket to dry on the car and put my boots under it and went of again. This time staying clear of the water ;-D
We walked some more and enjoyed the beautiful scenery, it is spectacular! *__* I could walk around there for days! (Btw the following pictures are taken by Olli and me with Ollis camera as I left mine in the car for safety reasons ;-D)

Okay... I actually went near the water again, but only while holding Hannas hand =)

the Dog Falls =)

the thinnest bridge I remember crossing in my life. XD

After we crossed the bridge (guess which one ;-D) we hiked up a mountain trying to get to the top XD It was actually not that hard once we reached a normal road again =) From there it was a normal walk back to the car though we often followed little paths tight into the nature to see which secrets of nature we might find =D

Lord of the Rings, anyone?  XD

The view *__*

These steps might have been a little bit older ;-D

awesome old tree XD

yeah, that makes me feel safe O.o

When we got back to the car we put all my still wet clothes in the trunk and Olli got to drive. We decided to drive to Loch Afric and see how far we would get. The drive was relaxed as we all needed the short break and we just soaked in our surroundings and took some pictures on the way =) (These ones are made with my camera again =D)

Shortly after we arrived at a small bridge that looked like it would collapse if more than one car would be on it. Thankfully it was so small that only one car at a time fits on it XD

Later we arrived at Loch Arfric or more accuratly river afric.
And got this beautiful view:

We got our things sorted and walked the first hiking trail. Not even 5 minutes later we saw it: A Deer! Not running away or anything. No just standing there, eating and only looking up whenever I moved to get another picture XD He was really relaxed and Otte tried to get closer to him but the swamp prevented him from getting to close. Not that the deer seeming interested in Otte in any way XD

After the excitement of the deer abated we started walking again. While walking we had an interesting discussion at what time during the year the deer gets rid of his antlers and when the rutting season (that sounds so wrong O.o) is...  we found out that nobody of us actually knows XD
We then walked further and I totally felt like a part of the Fellowship of the ring =D It was great XD Surroundings perfect, people to run around with and enough swamp to make it somewhat of a challenge XD
Lovely =) We even found a little parted section from the river that looked like the Lake of Avalon O.o Hidden between the mountains and forests and with glittery stones everywhere =D

our fellowship XD

the "lake" 

animal tracks for the win! (I so felt like Strider finding them XD)

We then got back to our car and Hanna saw another trail to a viewpoint on the mountain on the other side =) Young and energetic as we are we went off to climb that mountain too XD
It was pretty easy and funny though I proved my knack for tripping over nothing very thouroughly XD
The view from the viewpoint was worth everything in the end *__* It was fantastic!  (Quote: It looks like a scene from a beer ad! - myself XD)

I could so imagine the fellwhip of the ring running over the right mountain to the snowy one and then getting into moria O.o

We stayed there for quite some time as Hanna wanted to so the sundown and it was a great thing to see! Inbetween Otte went missing and we ran around the swamp trying to find him only for him to come back from a little exploration tour XD
After seeing the begining of sundown we decided to get back so we could return to the normal streets before it would become dark.
On our way back to the car we saw some more deer *__* I love this place for all its deer XD
One was really shy and dissappeared before everyone could get a look at it but the other two were standing near the street and only got moving when I got closer and started making noises to make them look up. Interestingly they stopped moving when I made the sound I normally make to make cats come closer O.o

Thats all that happened in the mountains and we went back to car, got in and drove back home without anything interesting happening after that =) Or at least I can't remember anything interesting after that XDD

For the parting I give you this picture adn see you next time =)

Oh and go visit Scotland! It's great XD

Love
Thym