Tired of life, but afraid of dying.

4:40pm Tuesday

Tue, 22 Dec 2009 04:28:26 GMT

I mean I can see what Paul Joyce is trying to do, by treating television like film. It is and was the future to shoot things single camera. On the other hand if you don't prepare floor plans or camera scripts until the weekend before the production then something is up.

I am not sure if he should be commended for trying to do something with television production that couldn't be done. It's got to be good to have impossible dreams. But surely at some point you need to say "this is what CAN be done" and aim as high as you can from that point.

I really think before you can revolutionise something or improve something you really need to understand what it is that you are trying to improve or alter. I don't think you can go out and make virtually your first television production not just *the best* television production ever made but also something that is done with the methodology of something entirely different.

I think organisation and communication was his first hurdle, in order to get people to work with you, you need to let them know what your vision is, excite them about what you want to do to give them the confidence to do their jobs well. So when they need to do something out the ordinary they have the confidence and trust in you to make those decisions.

He was working in a studio full of trained professionals, doing extra ordinary things in almost impossible circumstances. And yes a lot of people there knew what worked and what didn't work and wanted to stick to the way of doing things that had been done for the last decade or so. I think that was his worst mistake, don't alienate the people you are working with.

Those people are used to working in very controlled environments, when you have around 20 hours or recording time to get in a feature films worth of finished shots, AND it's a science fiction film preparation and organisation is the only way to do it. A cheap science fiction film today has around 700-750 recording hours to get in the same duration of recorded shots.

And Paul Joyce tried to get them done 'on the fly', 'as he went'. He tells us in the documentary 'the way to go about changing the way people work is just to do it.' He still believes this after 30 years. Even after he was fired during recording and taken off the production. The way to alter a complicated established working system isn't simply to make it up as you go along and not informing people what you are doing.

Look at Harper, who directed Caves of Azdrozani and Revelation of the Daleks, he was on the studio floor, shot virtually single camera, got the episodes done ON TIME, despite having to record scenes from other stories in the same studio as his. And he did it with the cast and crews approval, though planning, preparation, communication.

Yes Harpers shoots were edgy and full and tight, but he planned and prepared for this, he made a strong but flexible schedule highlighting material that could be cut if, and when they fell behind. Rather than taking out pages of the script on the day when they realised that there was no way of getting the material recorded.

Whereas Joyce didn't include scenes simply because they didn't get recorded. Without any regard to what those scenes may have been. I see what he was trying to do, but the way he was going about it was entirely the wrong way to go about it.

I haven't reference my quotes and statements here, but I do have 'the Harper Classic' and 'Warriors Gate' open here. :)

Colonel Barker

1pm Monday

Mon, 21 Dec 2009 02:47:04 GMT

I have let this blog degrade quite a bit over the last few months. Sorry blog. Sorry readers. However I am finding myself with less time to write and less of an inclination to write.

Yesterday I read some of 'Doctor Who: The Inside Story' on 'The Fearmonger', by Jon Blum. It's without a doubt one of the best plays Big Finish have produced and really gets to the heart of the type and style of 7th Doctor adventures I like to listen to. It frustrates me that the story didn't go down with Gary Russell (the then producer) or Nick Briggs (the current producer) but I would loved to have seen what Jon Blum and Kate Orman could have done with a few stories.

I think tonally the 7th Doctor adventures really changed after the first four or so and have really gone in their own direction. And I like that, it's a nice direction. But I would loved to have heard more in that season 25/6 style of story with stories set in a cyberpunk future or a very real now, or a very brutal past. Those very strong early New Adventure themes.

But alas it is not to be.

I am not sure how much I should write about this here, but I managed to persuade Paul Magrs to give me a copy of "The Stones of Venice" script, and I am planning on getting a copy published in a book, just three copies, one for my friend Alex, one for me and one for Paul Magrs. I have put in the DWM preview, review, the Inside story information, the cover preview, the original synopsis and story breakdown, the original script. And I am currently annotating the script listing the differences between the scripts and the published CD. I am really looking forward to getting the finished article. So basically I have a manuscript that is 90% complete.

I have promised Paul Magrs I am not to make more than those three, at ALL for ANYONE, so please don't contact me and ask for a copy. People will anyway, but I am going to say 'no'.

Angus and Jacqui came and stayed the night last night after going out for dinner. We had a nice dinner out at Glenelg and ate quite a lot of meat. Came back, watched films. Then went to Marion this morning. I found the Doctor Who board game (with electronic Dalek) down from $150 to $25. I must pick up a copy ASAP before they go.

They have now left for Mt Gambier while I stay here and really contemplate doing some work. Hannah is having a sleep and we are deciding what to do about this bike. My Sister and I agreed not to get any presents for one another, however my Sister bought Hannah a bike. All good and lovely, it's very nice. However it's too big. With everything at the lowest setting my feet cant reach the ground while I am sitting on it. Even on tipy-toes. It's a very nice present, but we don't know what to do. It's a nice present, but short of cutting the wheels off by about 6 inches or removing the suspension I don't know what to do about it.

I don't think returning it is on the cards because we have put it together and scratched it, gone for a test ride and there is nothing *wrong* with it at all. It's just about 20% too big for us. I must talk to Hannah about it.

Hannah has also left her job at Subway. It's all exciting stuff, we are moving in about 21 days now so finding a job is going to be very tricky indeed, as I have no idea where in Adelaide we will be. So I am not sure where to look. I don't know if I will be at University, or working, or at TAFE or at MonkeyStack. (Hey guys!) So it's all a little bit tricky.

Right. Time for something. The Australian heat is so oppressive it makes you want to lay down and die. Never breathing or moving again.

Next year I would love to write a book. I don't think it's going to happen, I think I am currently too cynically minded towards current western media to write any form of narrative without constantly criticising every word or comparing it to every other narrative out there. I blame Angus. (There is his name check for the day)

Colonel Barker

12:30 Sunday

Sun, 20 Dec 2009 02:05:03 GMT

It's Sunday, last night we had Alex, Brendan and Courtney around and watched the film 'Mean Girls'. There isn't really much I can say about the film, apart from it's a film.

Today Angus is coming over, and will be staying at Jacqui's, I hope we haven't put him off in anyway. I like seeing him. Having said that, we are slowly taking our house apart at the moment too. He is up to go to Games Workshop and buy some dice. I am going to try to my best to sneak along there tomorrow. I do like the store and it's contents.

I am about to eat some eggs and get back to some 3D modelling work. Damien has been terrific help in this project, I don't see why more people ask him to work on projects.

I just got called by the AB of Statistics. They wanted to know who I would vote for, who I voted for and how I feel about various political parties. My answers were sadly predicable.

Time for noms!

Colonel Barker.

Xmas

Sat, 19 Dec 2009 07:29:31 GMT

You Are a Cute Christmas Card

You love the holidays, and it's hard for you to feel any sort of seasonal burnout.

You're the person who thinks the holidays don't start soon enough. You have your Christmas cards picked out months in advance.

The holidays make you feel happy and content. You're tickled by every gift you receive and every old friend you reconnect with.

You are a thoughtful gift giver, and you take the time to make each object you give unique and special. You like to see someone's eyes light up when they open your present.

What Kind of Christmas Card Are You?

Blogthings: We'll Tell You The Truth... Someone Has To!

1pm Saturday

Sat, 19 Dec 2009 02:39:31 GMT

Well this is all very exciting.

It turns out I am 6 units short of my degree again. Somehow. And Hannah has left her job at Subway. Apparently it's mainly cleaning toilets.

I really just want it to be this time next month.

CB

10pm Friday

Fri, 18 Dec 2009 11:31:58 GMT

It's 10pm Friday, and the last 24 hours have been quite exciting. I have managed to obtain copies of the script for 'Sympathy for the Devil' as well as 'The Stones of Venice', two of my favourite Big Finish plays ever. I have spend the last day preparing the the scripts for the printers so I can have a nice bound copy of the script for those long and lonely nights.

My sister today gave Hannah her Christmas Present, a bike to ride to work to. Unfortunately it cost more money than I can spend on Hannah or indeed anyone and it's made me feel much worse really.

I am feeling quite tired after the last few days of writing, putting together bikes and 3D modelling. I have had Damien doing some 3D work for me, I have mentioned it here before, but I want to say again how much I appreciate his help on this project as no one else seems keen to help me out.

Alex's Christmas present arrived a few days ago now, I hope he likes it. Very left field, I don't think he would guess it in 3 days of trying.

Oh, and a Merry Christmas to all the people at MonkeyStack.

I only say that because I know it will turn up in their filter.

Colonel Barker.

Big Finish Podcast

Wed, 16 Dec 2009 23:35:08 GMT

10am Thursday, I have an interview in a couple of hours, I am feeling very sweaty, it seems to have gone from about 40 degrees to a chilly 20 in a few hours, and now it's raining. So my house is stuffy and outside is sticky. Very weird.

Anyway, just thought it was worth mentioning I have a brief mention on the Big Finish Podcast, day three. You can check it out here:

http://www.bigfinish.com/news/Xmas-Podcast--Day-Three

I should probably put a link in there really, but I am too lazy to write the extra three words or so to put a link in. How wonderful.

At the moment I am doing some more character modelling, I have had Damien doing some work on my models for me, I hope he doesn't mind, he does some fantastic work, very quickly on areas that drive me a little bit mad.

I have to say, most of the costumes in Tenth Planet Four are so dull, the ties and collars as so unexciting to model it's not funny. The only model that will prove interesting in any way will be the Cyberman, so I am holding off making him to almost last.

Right, back to work for a few hours, then time to convince people I am motivated and can work all day.

Colonel Barker.

3pm Wednesday

Wed, 16 Dec 2009 04:53:40 GMT

University results: HD, HD and a Credit.

Keeping in mind I didn't do an oral worth 20% of the mark, and the other "HD" subject I wrote a 2'500 paper without a single reference in it, and the last HD subject I didn't hand in a single written piece of paper I think I went quite well.

My Mum is coming up for Christmas now, I think she just wants to watch "End of Time" before my Dad does. And Hannah is on a break from work for a few hours before heading back.

From this Wednesday onwards my life is going to speed up further and further until Janurary ends. Tomorrow I have a MonkeyStack interview, good luck to me.

Colonel Barker

7pm Tuesday

Tue, 15 Dec 2009 08:47:28 GMT

Been doing some modelling work today again finally. Nothing too exciting, just getting back into the swing of it again. Asked my friend Damien to do some folds in the clothes, must remember to give him a modelling credit somewhere.

Apart from that we have been doing some slight packing, and surviving the heat, it was 38 here today and weirdly it just seemed to feel "a bit warm" I think I am beginning to get used to this heat lark again. Must stop writing lark.

One thing that has really annoyed me about the new design of the Dalek is that there is a small circle found behind the 'plunger' that is commonly seen on toilet plungers today, I have no idea why the detail was added, and rather than emphasising the functionality of the design they looked at the roots of the design of a plunger. I am not sure if I agree with that.

Hutchy seem to have disappoint off the edge of the world somewhere. Donny saw him a week or two ago, but apart from that; nothing. I wonder why.

I might go badger Damien for my model back.

Colonel Barker. "This is a leper ship, where all the lepers come to die!"

10:30am Monday

Mon, 14 Dec 2009 00:09:08 GMT

It's 10am Monday, and after spending a weekend searching for places to live, it turns out our land lord will not allow us to move out before the very last possible moment. Well, we have to continue paying for the house until the day we are handing it over, and the days when it's being cleaned, despite the fact we won't be able to live in it at the time.

So, all the research I have done into houses, all the calls we have made, to 40 or so places has been in vein.

Hannah has been looking forward to spending mid Janurary with her family on holiday, however it looks like that is the exact week we will be moving, and I think it's going to be impossible to move the dates of either of them, without it costing us $400+ per week we move it. Given we don't have the money for the bond, let alone the truck, we don't have a choice.

It also turns out it's going to cost $150 to move out internet and phone line to the new house. That's insane, the connection fee for a new connection through the same people is less than that. The only difference would be having a new number, and going from a 20 day waiting period to a 21 days. Madness.

I really need to do some animation work, but have a sick feeling in the pit of my stomach that wants it to be a month away after we have moved, or during, just to get rid of this waiting.

Colonel Barker.

"Got to go, got a thing. Well, four things. Well, four things and a lizard."

Sun, 13 Dec 2009 06:47:05 GMT

5pm Sunday, Hannah and I have spent the day packing things from the study into boxes, and throwing away / cleaning other things. It's a little bit exciting and somehow feels like it's all happening very, very fast indeed. We still have to live in this house for another four weeks or so, and still need to find a place to live in.

We had talks with Jacqui last night about arrangements if we were to move in together, see seems to see eye to eye on every issue we have bought up and discussed before hand. I like this. Monday morning, well tomorrow morning 9am I am going to call real estate places including our own about houses.

It's not entirely clear if we have to continue paying rent if we move out earlier than the 28th of Janurary, or if we have to continue paying rent up until that date, when we would have at least one week's worth of rent overlap.

The two places we have our hearts set on are:

A three bedroom house with Jacqui a hop, jump and fart away from Flinders University. The rent would be a touch over what we are paying here, but would mean significantly less travel.

Or a two bedroom flat up South Road, that is a 30 minute bus ride from University and is the same price we are paying for this flat.

Those two houses are the only two available that are assessable to Flinders University within a single bus trip. If we can't get these places, we have 3 secondary two-bedroom places we are looking into, with one inspection tomorrow. They aren't ideally located, two bus trips (about 90 minutes) from University.

Tonight we have friends over and have cooked them dinner, it seems to be costing us more and more money. So far our contribution has hit $50 worth already, far more than if we had gone out to dinner. I am sure the company will be worth the extra money. I hope. And the excellent location.

Colonel Barker

5:46pm Saturday

Sat, 12 Dec 2009 07:18:49 GMT

It's Saturday, day two of the eviction. We have collected boxes, and I have started the long journey of packing up my Dr Who books and figures. It might take a while, but I wanted to get some of these things sorted out quite early on. We aren't going to start packing properly until Monday.

We have a few house inspections Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and probably more later in the week. However across the weekend many of the real estate places are shut, so we will have to wait until Monday to really get into it.

We have Jacqui over at the moment, and we have been talking through a few options with her of moving into a three bedroom house with her. We have also been discussing moving into a flat with Courtney and Brendan, but full talks will happen tomorrow at some point. There is still about a 50% chance we will move into a flat on our own. But we do want to look through our options.

The houses / flats etc with 3 or 4 people's worth of rent are far superior in every respect than what we can afford on our own, however there is something rather cosy about having privacy.

Colonel Barker,

Eviction

Fri, 11 Dec 2009 10:38:20 GMT

After three years in our flat we are being evicted. Nothing to do with us, they just have other plans for the unit.

Hannah and I are now out looking for somewhere to live in the next 4-6 weeks and are exploring a few options and areas.

I was talking to Hannah about the idea of moving in with Brendan and Courtney. And weirdly, and hour later Courtney PM'ed me about the same idea. I am not quite sure how I feel about the idea. I would need somewhere with my own space where I could work, I don't want to live in someone else's pocket so to speak.

So I think I would only go through with it on the condition that it was in a place large enough for me to have my own space.

On the other hand, I do love living just with Hannah.

CB

12:43on

Fri, 11 Dec 2009 02:14:22 GMT

I think I am going to explode. More details after Hannah get back. Some things in live are designed to really piss you off.

CB

11pm

Thu, 10 Dec 2009 12:34:28 GMT

It's Thursday, I have managed to loose most of the week somehow.

Today I cropped a lot of images and caught up listening to some Big Finish plays. Not very exciting really, as I was trying to get some 3D modelling work done, but the preparation can be just as important really.

I am sure tomorrow I will be ready to start proper.

This evening we had Courtney and Brendan over to eat meat and watch some anime, we had some fun. Courtney pointed out I talk about Angus far too much. Ie- talking about 28 Weeks later, I say I liked it, but then attacked the film with Angus's argument about the first scene. They reply by using my retort to Angus back to me. Leaving me to ask "What would Angus say."

Worrying.

Hannah's got a big day tomorrow, not sure how much I can say about it. I think I need to put more effort into looking for a job now.

I might be going to the cinema with Courtney next week to see a thrilling film. Not 100% sure how I feel about this. I can have female friends.

Colonel Barker.

6:30pm

Wed, 09 Dec 2009 08:08:07 GMT

Today I spend more time looking at tutorials for Maya liquid, I think I will need to find another way.

The afternoon I spent looking through Tenth Planet 4 reference material, ie, going over all the costumes, props, and taking higher quality images of virtually every set/ character from the video tape. I currently have 750+ images from the story that I am sorting through, mainly screen caps. It's all exciting things, finding things I missed the first time around. For example Polly's dress has two seams running up the back, Cutler is wearing a large belt with a belt buckle, and has a wedding ring on.

However, I can't find any reference for Dysons shoes that don't appear in episodes 1-3 but do appear in episode four. Lots of little things like that.

Also, I got Hannah another little Christmas present as her main one is still eluding me right at the moment. Looks like no one will have anything ready for *the day*.

I also gave my Nan a copy of the "Dummies Guide to Photoshop", she has been calling me a lot recently asking me every question you can imagine, from copying, finding files, and I thought the book would be a good place to start. It will be out of date before she works her way through the 450 tome of a manual, but hell. That's life.

Right now I am considering eating a Chicken Kiev. With Caps.

And some amusing caps from Tp4.

Billie having a laugh.

Some.. reference of Polly's stockings.

Barclay spotting what I did there...

Colonel Barker.

11:30pm

Tue, 08 Dec 2009 13:09:10 GMT

Today I did a lot of research in to some Maya liquid techniques for this Loose Canon work, so not very exciting. Although I wouldn't recommend you typing "bubble foam tutorial" into Google any time soon. Disturbing.

The rest of the afternoon I have spent playing "Rise of Nations", one of my favourite presents I have ever gotten; from Joel. A good fun strategy game, hard to win, but most of the time you do. But when you have to play for 4-5 hours solid to win it's always a good feeling.

Tomorrow I am going to get back into work again, despite how much I want to spend another day kicking the arses of some ancient Frenchmen, but that's life.

Also I just got an email telling me Alex's Christmas present will not arrive in time, so I have been quickly moving to plan B, ie getting him half in time, and the other half in time for his birthday. Without giving too much away, negotiation is the word.

Tomorrow I need to shoot a plate shot for an animation, and am kind of annoyed I still don't own a video camera. I have three still cameras that can shoot PAL resolution footage at quite a lot bitrates, four phones that can do NTSC material, and a Dalek webcam but still not a good old fashioned DV Cam. I actually found some very cheap little cams at Target for $75 today that will shoot at PAL uncompressed to a 4gb memory card, so I may have to go for something like that. If my funds ever recover.

I am still waiting to see if the University accept me into honours. It's a frustrating feeling, I am 75% sure I will be turned down. But it's given me a little grace until Janurary at least.

Colonel Barker.

9:30pm

Mon, 07 Dec 2009 11:10:50 GMT

I have finished on "Errors Escape" today, all the shots delivered. I am spending the evening watching television with Hannah tonight, catching up on the new Full Metal Alchemist and the remake of 'The Prisoner'. Lovely series. I love the original, but the remake is too much fun to turn down.

Sometimes my life does feel a bit like Number Six's.

I have 1/2 of Hannah's Christmas present here, the second half however I still need to collect.

Colonel Barker.

11pm Sunday

Sun, 06 Dec 2009 12:31:52 GMT

Alex has been over the last day or two, that's been good fun. We went to Glenelg, ate chips, came home and worked on "Errors Escape".

Then had friends over and watched films. I am not sure how much I enjoy late 80's films. Something about them never quite sits right. I do like my friends however.

It's close to midnight and I have two more shots to finish off, and another two waiting feedback. I haven't gotten any emails in reply, so I assume they are just all good. One thing is certain however, tomorrow will be my last day working on "Errors Escape". Then I get to go back on with other exiting projects.

Regular blogging services will be resumed shortly.

Colonel Barker.

12:30am

Sat, 05 Dec 2009 14:16:06 GMT

Made a little clay cat. Worked on shots.

God life it exciting like that. Also, I fixed my dead pixel on my screen.

CB

10:30pm Friday

Fri, 04 Dec 2009 12:08:26 GMT

I have spent the day working on Error's Escape again. Exciting stuff.

I have little else to write, except I did a few hours sculpting in clay and had a go making a new 7th Doctor head for my Dapol figure. In clay it looked quite nice, I covered it in silicone, made far too much silicone, and used the rest on another head sculpt I had laying about the table.

The silicone dried and of course, there was no way of getting the clay out in one piece. So I squished it out. Poured in some resin and made a couple of heads, and painted them up. My 7th Doctor head looks a bit flat, the eyes are too far apart, and the whole thing has a very lumpy look to it. Despite the 90 minutes or so of flattening it as much as I can.

I suspect if it's something I intend to follow through with I should swap to using sculpty. It could provide a few useful hours of entertainment. I am not terribly good at this, however I am only about three hours into learning about it, I am sure my next sculpt will look much better.

I took a photo with intention to post, but am feeling uncomfortable posting my very first figure online. So, you shall all have to wait a few more goes down the line.

Also, I bought half of Hannah's Christmas present yesterday, I know it's not what she wants, however I am currently very, very poor. Somehow I need to get both halves into the house when she is out and wrap them. Exciting.

I got a rejection letter from 'Subway' today. Bastards.

But, rejection is something we all have to deal with from time to time.

Colonel Barker. "Enough of this meaningless trouser banter."

4:30

Thu, 03 Dec 2009 06:11:54 GMT

So tired.

My Dad has left and I am working lighting some shots. I am feeling too tired to move or speak. Not sure why, got plenty of sleep.

CB

4pm

Wed, 02 Dec 2009 05:49:03 GMT

Brought is to bring something with you.

Bought is to buy.

Simple enough, I wish people didn't get it mixed up quite so often. To and too however are a different story.

I went to the interview at Subway today, along with about 35 others, largely people who don't speak English and school leavers. It went well, I asked some questions, got some laughs. We left, Hannah has some work placement there now too. And I am out looking for work still. Yay.

Also Centrelink cut me off today as they thought I was above 25 for some reason, despite the computers saying I was born in the year of the Cyberman Invasion. So I called them, and discovered their number wouldn't work, tried the non-English number, and they told me to piss off. So I tried the auto service computer thing.

It took me about 25 minutes to register with them, and at the end there wasn't an option to deal with me, so it apologised and hung up on me. So Hannah called them, got onto a person and we sorted it out. Basically because I intend to study, they will keep paying me until mid Janurary. And when I find out if I am doing honours or not they will keep paying me or stop.

I did check, and because I intend to study, they will continue paying me, and even if I don't get the position they won't try to take the money away. Fortunately.

After that we did some food shopping and now it's now.

I am currently re-rendering some Errors Escape shots, however each Maya file is taking 20 minutes+ to download from the server. It's a right pain in the arse. Normally towards the end of the month AAPT message us to let us know we have used X% of out quota, warning us when we get near the end. We didn't get that this month.

My Dad will be here this evening sometime, I imagine in a few hours. He is staying up until Saturday or so, and as much as I want to see him, I am feeling very tired and not at all like entertaining people.

Colonel Barker.

10pm Tuesday

Tue, 01 Dec 2009 11:37:40 GMT

This is going to be slightly bitchy.

I have spent the day trying to catch up on some of this Loose Cannon animation that has been building up for a while on my computer. I also had an "Error's Escape" meeting, we have a week to finish off 45 more shots, glitzing them up a bit and making all the final changes before the vision is locked down. I also got another email from Dan, I am doing some paid work for him, and it's somehow worked it's way to the bottom of my list as he simply hasn't gotten me all the info I need to actually do the work.

I seem to be working with my every waking moment on all these things, however I don't see a cent for any of them, and yet I know I have to do them. Because that is what being a practising artist is all about. Actually doing the work, regardless of if you are being paid, and trying to make it as good as you can at every opportunity. Despite the long hours and the lack of any appreciation from anyone.

All the requests for changes, extra shots and bits and bobs are getting to me, I promised Brendan Sheppard a set of opening titles to be delivered in a week or so that I still haven't touched yet. But will soon.

Also tomorrow I have an exciting interview at Subway. Such is the life I lead.

Colonel Barker

10pm

Mon, 30 Nov 2009 11:33:45 GMT

Feeling slightly down today, I seem to be rushing about doing things all day, but not making progress in any work. Just applications, talking about doing things, emails moving files about. All that admin stuff that can easily eat up a day or two without meaning to do so.

It's 10pm now, and my first chance to sit down, beyond the 4 1/2 hours I spent on the bus today. I am going to have an early night tonight and get back into work proper tomorrow. I am desperately trying to keep the house, well the bedroom and bathroom clean. As basically cleaning in the house seems to stop the moment the Christmas tree goes up, and doesn't continue until it goes down again.

Money is always an issue for Hannah and I around this time of year, it's always the month or two before and after Christmas and mid year, when things start to just *run out*. It comes from the power/water/gas bills coming in at those times, and they are the opposite end of our scholarship times. Things have been made harder this time with neither Hannah nor myself in full time work. I am doing animation work, however the pay is pitiful and we are both shooting our resumes everywhere in the hope of getting work.

You would have thought with a degree things would get somewhat easier.

CB