Finally, the year has started! I had been waiting for everyone to wake up and get back into the swing of work. Mainly because i have been waiting to contact with a fair few people involving my next project. Since university has opened on the 5th i have managed to have a meeting with the university environmental manager, get in direct contact with the bog's environmental warden and arranged a meeting next week, gathered information on equipment rental and started making head way with the purchase of 8mm filming / projecting equipment and work 32 hours in the hotel!!!!!
In short, on the 8th of January, only 3 days into the semester and i've done a lot. But it doesn't feel like i'm progressing at all. Every activity seems to take twice as long and, in turn, requires just as much effort. After suffering with illness, working and house decorating i don't feel that refreshed and alert. (surprise surprise)
Even if i had the chance to stop and relax, i am certain that i would fall into a dark damp muddy hole. So maybe it is a blessing that this year is all go go go.
In university the hallways are still echoing. The people i have seen have had their heads buried in books or their eyes forced open as they wearily type away. I do not envy them. I was there, a year ago, and it is so very hard. I try to encourage my friends within the studio. You start the year with a slight grumble about the dissertation, which soon turns sour by christmas. But now is when things start to turn around, all the little bits of paragraphs start linking up. And you love it, i honestly handed in my dissertation – thankful that it was over for a little while, but thinking about my next article of writing with enthusiasm. Mind you, it's easier to say that now.
So the meeting with the environmental officer went well, found out a lot about the bog that i didn't know. Also left with my arms filled of maps and documents she allowed me to take copies of. Turns out the ground is highly dangerous, a large area of the bog is unattainable to the public (sometimes even when you have a warden guiding you). The landscape is deceiving, a few years back a bulldozer was lost – it had sunk into the bog and was never found. (Sounds like a ghost story for industrial vehicles everywhere).
My assessment is on tuesday, about 15mins after i finish an 8 hour shift at work. I'm praying that the lectures will be running late and i have a little bit of prep time.
I can't wait until i am an unemployed student bum again. (18th January)
