Everything's Simple...

Fresh Start ...Again... Again.

2010-09-26T16:15:00.000-07:00

So,
Looking back at all the previous things I have blogged, I couldn't find the heart to delete it as it has a whole bunch of stuff that made me remember things and giggle, but, things have changed so much since I last posted a blog that it is actually ridiculous to go from there to here without a bit of an explanation.
For one thing, I live in Leeds now, not London. In a big house with it's own Jim. There's also a Lauren and Christopher who come round a lot, and are awesome.
So, here's a list of stuff that has happened in the last month since moving to Leeds, to keep on track. ..in no particular order:

*Jam. Home made Jam from hand picked plums.
*New Cat and a bag of garden apples, swapped for a jar of home made Jam.
*Watching Opera, then, immediately after, seeing 'The Room' and throwing spoons at the screen.
*Broken Ankle.
*Started work in a Boat (which is also a pub, on land).
*Started University.
*Spent 2hours in Milton Keynes, for no good reason.
*Had a weekend in a gorgeous country house by the river in Knighton.
*Had a Tonsillectomy.
*Started an actual diary! (Called the bubble book, ..it involves prit-sticking stuff in).
*Made a bag.
*Discovered a market that sells 5 red peppers for 40p!!!
*Attempted a Stop Motion. (Need to add this to my 'to-do' list)
*Played Grand Designs drinking game ...with Vodka... and couldn't see!
*Watched a falconry and an owl called Bungalow.
*Went to Cambridge to see Andy. (Shortbread is not a drug and there may be such thing as 'submerays')

So.. for about a month, that's not too bad.
Jeez, I am rubbish at blogging.. chances are i'll not update again for a long time.. hmm

Fresh Start ..again

2010-03-10T16:36:00.000-08:00

I'm always starting afresh, but heck, so does a field of hay..

This time I'm going to follow some goals:

1: Stop eating crap!
(I'm not allowed Wheat or Dairy, and I'm a veggie.. but still manage to find crap food to munch.. crisps and chips, macaroons.. hmpf, from now on it's lovely fruit and veg!)

2: To just get to June, to work hard, to earn hard, and to pay off bills then I'm freeeee!

3: To not spend any money on crap, like crisps or chips.. or yummy chai lattes with soya milk.. until June.

4: To just get to June..

5: JUNE!

(All my outstanding bills are paid off by June, leaving me with much more time to dabble in looking for a job I like, travel, fun, frolics and friends... roll on June gosh'darn'it so I can have my life back..)

The last few months:

2010-03-10T16:28:00.000-08:00

Rather than bore you with the full, long story.. here's an equation:

Jess - Money + Bills + Living = No Alcohol / (Nanny Job in Knightsbridge + Personality Clash = Month - Time) x (Doctors = No Wheat No Dairy) + (Healthier = More Sleep x Energy) / (Uni application + Not Being Accepted)

= Fresh Start!

Day Something: Left and Left Again

2010-01-10T11:29:00.000-08:00

January 10th 2010
Phew, it's been a busy few months I tell thee!
I haven't been able to keep up with on-line life, I've had too much going on in the real world... but I am also not falling flat on my face, everything is working out, and I am currently working mainly as a Lice Assassin, and a Life Model. The tax man has had fun trying to determine what I am... but, I am officially a "Self-Employed Creative". I like the sound of that!

So, this is just a quick update, I had an e-mail saying something along the lines of: "Jess, ...are you ok? you've disappeared since you're last post... not skint are you?", so, guess I just wanted to let who ever stumbles on this blog know that, yep, I'm good and still living my way.

(I've also just got 'google chrome, and it's correcting my spelling mistakes! Rock on!)

Day TwentyNine: Lost but loving it!

2009-09-28T13:40:00.000-07:00

September 28th 2009

Earning: £..I have no idea!

Spending: £.. not a clue!

Bank I, Days am, Pot lost,

Ok, so I have lost track. Big flaws in this plan are:
A: I am usless at maths... seriously.. utterly usless
B: I am so unorganised! I have a diary written on a scrap piece of paper, mainly in pencil.. and all important contact numbers/details/general stuff I need to remember on various other bits of paper and post it notes (oh, and the side of a ciggie packet!)

But, I feel like I am on track, and am not spending money at the moment (well, at least as little as possible) ... new plan.

I will start again next month, from zero (because I think I may be at zero) ...I will work out, from bank statements, how much money I made, v's, how much I spent... generally though, I know my outgoings are too high and need to be reduced.

In other news: I have been to two amazing days of live music! Hungamunga Festival and Iktoms Wired Festival!... both were incrediable! I learn't I can't make a space man out of paper, but I can make a peacock from lego. I crossed a road, ...with a lollypop lady! and saw a bike, big-brown-sticky-taped to railings with 'Banksy was here' written on one of the many celotape strips! Best bike security ever!

Oh, also... I am still living on afore mentioned soup! And... for £10 I bought two bottles of red wine (blossom hill, no less), a tub of potato salad, stir fry stuff and sauce, some reggie reggie sauce, a tub of country soup and about 15 tomatos! Yes... £10!! In your face credit crunch! Mwohaha *sups pretty much free wine with no guilt* mmmmmm

Day TwentyThree: Variety is the spice of life!

2009-09-22T13:05:00.000-07:00

September 22nd 2009

Earning: £25 (Portrait Modelling)

Spending: £12 (Important girly things for girly hygine and some veg, to make enough soup to last forever and then some!)

Bank 0. Days 9. Pot £18.

Another nights work at the West London bar became a complete and utter contrast to the rest of the day. A private party for a 21 year old, who put £300 behind the bar so his friends could have free drinks! Wow! And fancy dress too, the theme, ...Roald Dahl! Genuis! One of the partygoers had made, possibly the best costume I think I have ever seen in my life, (and, therefore, intend on copying at the next availiable oppertunity!)
A Turtle!
He was dressed in green tights, green pants and green t-shirt, green facepaint and a shell on hs back made of fabric over something roundish.. but, the best bit, ...he was carrying a lettuce, and picking bits off it all night to nibble on! *nods a cool nod in appreciation*. Though I can't think of where a turtle is involved in any of the Roald Dahl books.
So, being a 21st Birthday with free drinks, needless to say it was quiet busy and loud. I didn't get home until about 4am, but that was ok because earlier in the day I spent 2hours sitting totally and utterly still, in an artists home in Pinner. Being a portrait model is wonderful, but tricky. It's just the face and neck, so all features have to remain still. But it's a great excuse to think things through, it's rare I get the excuse to sit and do nothing, so to be paid for it is wonderful!
I am now also half way through my training to be a Lice Assasin! I hoovered the PR's head! Tommorow I do it again, timed and then I get some lice to assasinate! *Punches the air* Oh yes!
Right, i'm off now to do my 'books' and make sure they balance. I'm making sure I pay my taxes and things, so it's important I do this, however boring it may be...

Day TwentyOne: People

2009-09-20T18:19:00.000-07:00

September 20th 2009 (and 21st morning)

Earning: £91 (Bar Shift West London)

Spending: £20 (Goodbye meal for a much loved housemate..) £5 (Goodbye Breakfast with same much loved housemate) £5 (Oyster Card)

Bank 0. Days 9. Pot £5. (may need to revise some addition somewhere, but the running total of everything is this... if you're good at maths and like a challenge, do feel free to correct me. £25 = one day..)

Yep, I am now the person who has been in my house the longest. Mark, and his lovely girlfriend Charis have left and moved in together, so I had to say goodbye properly... a dent in the bank, but it would have been an even bigger dent to me if I hadn't. It's been so much fun living with Mark and i'll miss him. But it's ok,i've already invited myself to there's for dinner! Know one gets rid of a Jess that easily!
Other than that though, I've been pretty busy with tons of other things. I have some more life modelling jobs lined up, one of which is only my face and another which is fully clothed! Lovely, considering the pay is just the same! There's also the possibility of me becoming a part time 'Lice Assasin'! Oh yes! Boys and Girls with itchy heads, look out! Jess has a special hoover and isn't afriad to use it! The company is called 'HairForce', look out for them, they happen on telly every now and then, I think the next one is 'embarrising bodies'. It's a lovely, lovely team of people. The buisness has been set up in a family home. Dee, the ladie in charge, is such a jem! Very friendly and accomidating, I can't wait to be part of the team. (If they'll have me, I've alot of 'prior engagements' this next two weeks that may affect my training) *crosses fingers*. It'll be part time work, and flexiable so it'll fit in to my bad habits of not wanting a boring job.
Also, SqueezeIn Presents (my music promotion thing) is back on track, having secured a residence at The Albert and Pearl on Upper Street, every second tuesday. The first one is set to be amazing, with three amazing musicians all willing to play! I can't wait! I won't spill the beans on who just yet, as there's still time for them to change their minds, but it'll be increadible even if only one of them can make it. I saw another great musician tonight whilst on the bar shift, and hope to book him in future. Very much loved his philosophy on life, he stole my heart.
So, still lacking in funds, as you can tell, but still very confident... also met one of the guys from 'Last man standing', though i've never watched the programme. Turns out he's also a music promoter.
Oh! And I met two lovely people on a very crowed bus on the way home (notice I am taking buses now, after tha previous traumatic experience). One of which (I didn't get his name) I am going to try to see again. He told me he starts a new job in a bar soon, and that I should come along. Both people were from the states and didn't understand why, when there is a bus so full, that people don't chatter more. It's a good point.
Walking from Marble Arch to Tottenham Court Road at 1am, (as the traffic was ridiculous) was another 'experience'. It's London Fashion Week. Recommended song for such an experience is: Kat Flint - Fearsome Crowd. "In a city where the drunks are dressed in suits worth twice my rent". So many drunk contradictions from the dirty-pretty-rich. My favourite being, (as they were balancing on expensive heels, chomping down a macdonalds and throwing the packaging to the floor) "yeah, like, i'm totally trying to spend less thish (hic) year", "yeah, it's like, scary innit! everyones skint man, it's like, y'know", "yeah (hic) totally". *slaps head* London Fashion Week illuminates Oxford Street with colourful shop windows, ...and colourful conversations.
...and on that note, it's time for me to read more. G'neet x

Day Eighteen: Yippie for Yummy

2009-09-17T12:17:00.000-07:00

September 16th 2009

Earning: £35 (Selling an old gold necklace ...that I hated, yippie!)

Spending: £3 (Toothpaste and morrisons value food! mmm, yummy)

Bank £0. Days 5. Pot £21.

Another lesson to be learnt on the food front. £1(ish) on biscuits and £1(ish) on a bag of rice.. which do you think'll last longer and be more filling!? Exactly... If I was cleverer... *slaps head* but still, I now have biscuits, which is nice. I also got soup.

Full in the knowledge I have a food cupboard glowing a lovely sunshine yellow from 'morrisons value' food packaging, I sat and read through some of my previous posts.
I am rubbish at this!
I said previously that I'd try not to spend anything for the rest of the month, now that was never going to happen. Silly Jess. However, I have just done a sneeky adding up of my total spending verses earning and I fair pretty well considering, even though I still have to make up a whole bunch of days before the month is out.

Productivity is flowing through me at the moment though, and I am now off to photograph my handmade products so that I can put them on my website and sell them in various online shops! Yippie! ...then I'll play guitar for a little while I think. Yes.

Oh, on the TV front. *hangs head in shame*, I have turned on the telly myself this month (certain rules allow me to be sat infront of the TV if it has been turned on by one of my housemates, and only if i'm not fully consentrating on it) ..I have, and i'm ashamed, but this will stop, because both times there was nothing on, at all.. and both times I was online so therefore could have been listening to music instead.

If you do fancy looking at my website it http://squeezein.weebly.com/

Day Seventeen: Bearing It All

2009-09-16T14:09:00.000-07:00

September 16th 2009

Earning: 50p (Found in my duvet cover when washing it!?), £14 PA for calling a plumber and 'being in'.

Spending: £0

Bank £0. Days 4. Pot £14

Today has been a day of getting back on track, re-mind setting and the odd bit of creating. I had to call a plumber, again, because the place I live has decided to fall apart, little by little, but it's ok, because now both toilets, sinks, the shower and a radiator have all been repaired one at a time.
I've just come home from my audition for RAM (Register of artists models), and, news is I am now an official model! Hoorah! I will now be able to pop a bit on my website about it, and hopefully get more work. It went very well, they were impressed with my 'ability to hold athletic and tricky poses for long periods', and a good few people complimented me afterwards. I'd never stand naked in a room containing my friends, and I am very shy when it comes to my naked body in any other situation, but as a life model it's different, I feel like a fruit bowl. I Guess being an artist myself helps.
The rest of this evening is going to be spent editing my website, and odd job hunting... or, I could phone Andy (my best friend ..but don't tell him that *giggles*), because he played a gig in Camden this evening and I missed it.

In other news, I opened my kitchen cupboard today and it's contents include glue, paint brushes, cumin, charcoal, two papermache'd empty wine bottles, salt, flour and other things i'll describe as 'misc art materials'. But no food. So for dinner I have had the rest of my frozen peas.. with cumin and a dash of salt. mmmmm. Tommorow, for my housemates sanity, I think i'll tidy up. I've 'artyfied' the entire house! Haha!

Day Sixteen: Catch Up and Progress Report

2009-09-15T15:50:00.000-07:00

September 15th 2009
Earning: £5 (£5 Camden Market Stall)

Spending: £35 (wine, cigerrettes, some arty stuff and a small amount of veg)

Bank £0. Days 3. Pot £24.50.

Progress Report:
Good: So much has been going on that I have simply not had time to write the blog. From a free camden market stall, to cocktail and shooter testing, flatmate hunting, amazing storytelling and tons of other little things... it's all so much fun!
Bad: I'm obviously not making any money, kind of defeating the entire point of this, and also spending money on silly things like wine and ciggerrettes..
Status: Jess needs to kick herself in the bum and actually start making money. Jess needs to learn to say no to silly little things, and, instead, use the time or money for more productive pursuits, for example, two bottles of wine and a pack of ciggies cost £15.. the same price as the rent of one day on the camden market. (Jess also needs to learn to spell).

Twelve days behind target and counting... eep. Tommorow see's me auditioning for this years official life-model registration, and perhaps selling some dvd's and second hand bits to a trade shop, whilst also making more for the camden market stall. I had a fairly good day today, but feel I could really make it work with a little bit more to display, decoration and sign wise.

Day Twelve: Plenty to talk about, but very tired...

2009-09-11T21:08:00.001-07:00

September 11th 2009 (and five hours of Sept 12th too)

Earning: £54 (Bar Shift, west London), £20 (Found on floor! Again! Whoop! Looking down can sometimes be the way up!), £2 (Tips)

Spending: £1 (Chocolate. Sugar energy aftereating nothing all day)

Bank £0. Days 5. Pot £4.50.

*smiles a happy smile to herself, full in the knowledge that she'll still be happy in two hours, when she has to wake up to show possible new housemates around the house... and, even though she has lots to think about whilst sleeping on her sofa, rather than in her bed, ...it'll have to wait.. *

Day Eleven: Fake Cardboard Trees

2009-09-10T16:24:00.001-07:00

September 10 2009

Earning: £10 (found!)

Spending: £0 (Hooray!)

Bank £0. Days 2. Pot £4.50.

"Thankyou!, Thankyou so much! What's your name!?" ...*giggle*, "oh, it's Jessica".
I find myself shaking hands and exchanging manic smiles with a man, in his mid forties i'd guess, on the street, at midnight-ish.
"You have made me smile, like, really smile, for the first time this year!" he says, still shaking my hand. We exchange massive grins that show our teeth, and, waving goodbye, he skips towards his night bus and disappears in to the evening, leaving me, and four six foot, cardboard trees standing proud, and tall at the bus stop.
There are a few reasons for this short, but wonderful moment in time happening, one of which was that, moments before, I had found a ten pound note on the pavement, which lead to me humming to myself in a jaunty fashion whilst holding afore mentioned trees at the bus stop. The jaunty tune I was humming was played at 'Baobabs' live music night, and it was for this night that I had made the six foot, cardboard trees... and also where I had just spent my evening.

Occasionally I look at my life and think, 'blimey i'm lucky'.

Day Nine and Ten: hmmm...

2009-09-09T15:09:00.001-07:00

September 9th 2009

Earning: £24 (PA and 'odd jobs')

Spending: £10 Art Equipment, £10 Food, £10 A stall at Hungamunga Festival, £10 Music Downloads for an important playlist (covered by 'earnings') and £6 Story Telling

Bank £0. Days 1. Pot £19.50.

Ok, ok.. I know it's not looking good.. but bear with me, it's not possible to earn £25 each day, everyday in this life style.. but I have full confidence. Infact, I now have another 10 bar shifts secured this month (with a possibility of more), I've handed out a few c.v's for part-time and 'odd job' work in Camden, and .. dun dun dun.. I have secured a place at four market stalls to sell my crafts! One of which is in Camden itself. I have a 'free trial' day, given to me, very sweetly, by the manager who hopes I do well. That will be this coming tuesday.
Hooray!
A cherry on the top is that, just down the road, some lovely builders are fitting a whole house with new stuff and have been disguarding the boxes... so I have nabbed a whole load, and they will make up the bulk of my first 'creations'. I also popped a big smile on a newspaper hander-outers face by taking about 30 of them, ...I've been papermacheing my heart out for two days!
From here on out, for the rest of the month, I hope to have no spendings (a very tricky goal, but a goal non-the-less) and earn back the days I have been living.
Oh, there's so much to tell you, especially about the story telling, but for now I need to say a goodnight as I am up tommorow to voluenteer all day at the Candid Arts Trust, then helping out at Baobabs live music afterwards. ...who needs money when life's full of little gems!?

Day Eight: Paper Creations

2009-09-07T15:50:00.000-07:00

September 7th 2009

Earning: £14 (PA)

Spending: £3 (wine... it's in my blood)

Bank £0. Days 2. Pot £16.50.

Papermache and paper creations are the theme of today, with the added bits and bobs such as a new housemate hunt and some admin for my landlady, a great, but fairly average day. (I think I may be the only person in the world who's average day consists of making cardboard trees and talking to around 15 people I don't know about them looking around the house I live in).
eh well.. you don't need to know my every move and thought :oP

Day Six and Seven: Swindonisms

2009-09-06T11:06:00.000-07:00

September 6th 2009

Earning: £0

Spending: £5 Oyster Card. £5 Lunch with a friend

Bank £0. Days 2. Pot £5.50.

Tanya, Rich, George and Ralph... the most loving and wonderful family household I will ever have the pleasure of knowing. Tanya and Rich got married after a 7year relationship, and planned for baby George, who appeared after the first 'try'. Ralphy is the doggy, a careing soul and together they make up 'The Hewitts'.
I admire them, they are wonderful, honest and loving. They have no unreal expectaions of how family life should be, and because of that, I truely think they are the happiest little family in the world... and will be for a long time.

Tommorow, I very much need to get back on track with the making money theme of things... the alarm is set for 8am, i've made sure there is a sufficient supply of tea and milk, and ideas are all set, neat and tidy, in small, organised bundles in my mind, ready to be filtered through first thing. I need to catch up by five days, it can be done.

Day Five: Cycling Trivialities

2009-09-04T22:11:00.000-07:00

September 4th 2009 (Though, technically the 5th.. it's 5am)

Earning: £47 (Bar Shift, West London) £2 (Tip) 5 mixed shots and various other alcoholic beverages

Spending: £2 (A sandwich... that I really could have avoided)

Bank £0. Days 2. Pot £15.50.

Okey, so I gave in and had a sandwich... which contains wheat, I know. But at 4am after doing a nine hour shift in a bar which allows (and encourages) you to drink, before cycling an hour to get back home (more on this wild ride in a bit), knowing that you can't sleep because you have to be on a bus to Swindon at 9am... you'd give in to a little bit of a 'pick-me-up' that doesnt come in the form of some moldy fruit or an over-priced chocolate bar too. Blimey, what a night this has been.
The shift was ok, pretty average really... busy bar, enjoyable work, plenty of people to natter to and new shot combinations to try out. I cycled in today, due to the fact it's previously taken me up to three hours on night buses to get home, and, seeing as i'm reading 'Mark Watson, Crap at the Environment', which is very inspiring and making me feel I should get my green act together, I thought it a good idea (plus, I could do with loosing some pounds round my waist whilst saving some for my pockets).
Note to self; when cycling somewhere new, it's useful to note the path you take, so you can follow a similar route home again and avoid cycling, in the pitch black, along the A40! ...A particular part of the A40, may I add, called 'Westway'. A 2.5 mile long, elevated dual-carryage way, ...go on, wikipedia it, I dare you! The bloomin' road has even inspired musicians such as The Clash and Blur to include it in their lyrics. (I know this because I am trying to find things to do to stay awake ...I'm off to Swindon, remember).
Triumphantly surviving the horror of riding a £50, second hand, big kids bike along one of the fastest roads entering London, at 5am on a saturday morning, I entered a part of London I knew, and was just about to pop up on the pavement for a bit of an easy glide and a breather, when two guys came running from out of a bus stop and tried to grab hold of me!
Ha! Knock me off my bike!? I don't think so! Not after that unexpected adreniline rush... and with the added energy of a £2 ham and mustard sandwich!
A sound that would make a preist blush, bellowed from my mouth, and, head down, elbows out and pretty much doing the splits upon my saddle, guy number one cowerd back just in time to see his friend (the guy who i'd heard, just seconds earlier, shout "lets knock'er'off!"), take a full blow to the knees!
So, here I am, 6am, with a scratch on my arm and a proud feeling bubbling inside me, waiting a few more minutes to jump in the shower so I don't wake up my lovely housemates. ...think i'll dig my oyster card back out, just for now.
Look out Swindon, here comes Jess...

Day Four: Becoming a Quitter

2009-09-03T16:44:00.000-07:00

September 3rd 2009:

Earning: £0
Spending: £0

Bank £0. Days 0. Pot £18.50.

I have officially quit TV. No, really, I have. I don't really watch it anyway, but now I have a valid reason..
I watched a program called "How the other half live" lastnight, which basically had a rich, white family who "sponsered" a poor, black family. Both of which lived in Britain. I put 'sponsered' in "these" because it was so utterly patronising and unrealistic. The program, which I assume, was meant to encourage the wealthier population of Britain to consider sharing a bit to balance out the economy, pretty much had the message "unless you can find an over paid buisness man with a bored wife and wannabe princess child to buy you a dining table and give you the odd thousand quid here and there, then you're doomed to be debt ridden and on benifits, so don't even bother trying". Big thumbs up and round of applause to channel four for that wide spread confidence boost!
Add to this the fact that every news story, across any channel, is now 'breaking news' and nothing lasts long enough to get any worthwhile, factual background, ...and the shear amount of 'vote off the telly', bullying, reality programs (one of which, I have heard, is based on a bus!?) .. I see no way in which TV can possibly be of any use other than as an extra place to put a pretty pot plant.
And I have now seen every episode of Friends at least 6times.
Because of this new feeling of realisation, spending my day packing around 1500 envelopes with invitations to an art fair over the sapce of eight hours, felt like a breeze!
I like to voluenteer at various bits and bobs, and Candid Arts Trust has a big show coming up, so helping them out, just once a week, is a great way to re-inspire myself whilst meeting some other arty types and getting a free, and very tasty lunch (..and, of course, cheeky amounts of free tea!). ...follow this with the Baobabs, un-plugged, acoustic night (featuring the amazing Jess Bryant!) at the same veune in the basement gallery, and I can pretty much conclude that I have had an awesome day.
There has been no spending, nor earning, but plenty of inspiration!

Oh, and I'm also quitting yeast and gluten... (which I should have done ages ago, seeing as I have an intolerance) ...but I can't tell myself i'm quitting it, because toast smells so much nicer in the morning when I know I shouldn't eat it.

Day Three: Back To Day One

2009-09-02T11:57:00.000-07:00

September 2nd 2009:

Earning: £10 (Sale of old phone)
Losses: £80 (Accedental carelessness)
Spending: £16.50 (Swindon Bus Return for the weekend)

Bank: £0. Days: 0. Pot: £18.50

Frustratingly, I woke up this morning to have my wallet handed to me by my flatmate. He had found it outside the front door with a note saying "Lost + Found" (encased in a small, drawn box, as if the person was well experienced at making posters for things lost and found). "FOUND outsiDe DoorStep thouGht it couLd be yours". It was hand written on a bit of brown envelope with no clues to who found it, other than their ability to make a well presented poster, and the fact they're probably not the chavs that live upstairs (not the spelling of 'thought' and 'yours' ...rather than 'thort' and 'urz' ...detective, me). But, future detective work may be needed, as I would love to say thankyou for it's return, ...but also ask for my well earned £80 in cash back.
Human nature eh!?
So now, after two long shifts and barely any sleep, I am back to 'skint', but it's still onwards and upwards, and it'll teach me to be more careful with my wallet.
Other than this mornings ugly patch though, I've generally done nothing but browse the internet for ideas, random shifts here and there, and the like.. I am having a 'me' day, and other than to sell my old phone, i've not been out. It's been lovely! Here's to collecting thoughts! *raises her tea and continues about her buisness*

Day Two: Ultra-Productive!?

2009-09-02T00:32:00.000-07:00

September 1st 2009 (after a small sleep):

Earnings: £35 (Personal Assistant).
Spending: £2 (Beer, ok, not really a good thing to spend money on... but it was worth it)
Bank: £0. Days: 4. Pot: £8.50p

I have, very recently been asked by my landlady to be her personal assistant, which I am very happy to do. Annette (the landlady, who’s lovely), is currently travelling, solo, on a motorbike from Alaska to Argentina, and needs someone to look after her bits and bobs back here in London. I open mail, look after her houses, find new tenants if needed and generally keep things in check.
Her trip is amazing, her blog is at www.alaska2argentina.com and it’s well worth looking at! She’s raising money for children’s charity ‘Casa Aliaza’, and is such a great inspiration!

I’ve just had the most productive day, which is weird, as two hours sleep on a sofa after a bar shift which allows you to drink, doesn’t really tend to leave most in a productive feeling mood… it doesn’t seem to leave most in any type of mood to be honest. But, low and behold, I am now sat back on afore mentioned sofa safe in the knowledge that all mail has been opened and filed properly, documents have been scanned, all my flatmates and myself are registered to vote, and I’ve even done my self-assessment tax forms a whole few months before deadline! The shower screen is back on the wall (after 3months of being stood up near the bathroom waiting) and the down stairs toilet now has a sink that doesn’t need to prop itself up on a chair for fear of falling off the wall completely.
I tackled my plumber phobia and it was surprisingly easy. Pimlico Plumbers, boys and girls, now they’re the good guys… and he didn’t even want a cup of tea. (He was, admittedly, an hour late, but that’s part of their job description anyway, and he didn’t charge extra for working past 6pm).
These efforts were rewarded with a beer in Tottenham Court Road, another silly spend considering, but well worth it, as it also acted as a ‘here’s to the future’ drink with my good friend, and fellow deep-end-jumper (through different means), Melody.

Day One: Getting Started

2009-09-01T00:47:00.000-07:00

September 1st 2009:

Earnings: £80 (Bar Shift, West London), £1 (Tip).
Spending: £5.50 (Oyster Card and a bag of very unnecessary but very yummy salt and vinegar French fries at 3.30am before getting on a bus full of drunks. It’s things like these crisps I will be trying to avoid).
(£81/£25 = 3days + £5)
Bank: £0. Days: 3. Pot: £0.50p

So, as you can see, I have earned three days of this month. ...as long as I spend no more than 50p, then I can keep those three days safe and bank them later.
If I need extra cash I can add a ‘day’ to my ‘pot’ making it 2days and a ‘pot’ of 25.50p.
See?
By the end of the month I need to have earned 28days. Simple!
(3 days means £75 …but bank remains £0 until I actually put money in to my account and it’s safe, otherwise I’ll misguide myself, and that would be daft…)

Occasionally I may feel the need to share some other information about my days, seeing as bits and bobs happen quiet often that I feel should not be just flittered passed, like, for instance, yesterday I rescued a gorgeous yellow butterfly from a tube carriage near the Notting Hill carnival, goodness knows how it got there! I popped it in a small pencil sharpener case and let it loose on to big a purple flower just before hoping on to a bus, on which a man asked if he could listen to my music with me. I was happy to oblige. (Note to self, attempt to find cheap/free headphones that have more than one earpiece). He listened to Jacob Golden whilst I rattled on about how much of a great musician he is and that he should buy the album!
I have started the day by loosing my diary, which happens to have everything written on it, …boo! But will make another over a relaxing pint of tea. I’m reading a book, leant by a friend, called “Mark Watson, Crap At The Environment”, (more on that later) and, thinking I was being clever, popped my handwritten, one paged calendar/diary between the pages… but, as I tend to read sitting, standing, travelling, walking and at every giving opportunity, it (and I knew it would *slaps head*) fell out somewhere between home and not home. It’s ok though; I have it all on e-mails and my phone… (I hope).
Anyway, this Mark Watson book… he’s an inspiring bastard! It’s got me to thinking that, perhaps, an extra bonus of this little mission I am on, could be to go ‘eco-skint’n’green’. Little things to help the environment can also have a huge effect on savings too! I’ll cook using local grown stuff that hasn’t travelled miles and been sprayed as often as a wag gets a fake tan. I’ll cycle (a given really…) instead of bus and tube. I’ll use my Internet as little as possible (i.e. not play ‘farm town’ on Facebook when I could actually be growing more than the two spring onions I managed to produce this year, a good effort, but not really …considering I planted around 50 seeds). I’ll take to phone communication and word of mouth… if I do one job well, surely they’ll pass on a good word.
I can’t give up tea, but I already drink it in pints, which saves boiling the kettle again (and because I’m greedy and love tea!).
I know how to make body washes and bath time ‘luxuries’, also facial washes and body scrubs from day to day items that cost next to nothing, and I’ll use flour and water for my papier-mâché rather than glue.
*Considers things in a proud way*, I think I can do it.
Now, seeing as I doubt anyone reads these things anyway, I’m off to start my day… by re-making a diary!

The Beginning!

2009-08-31T03:35:00.000-07:00

Each Day Lived Is Another Day Gained

Mission:
To earn each day.

The (basic) rules:
- Each day is worth £25*
- I have to earn each day.
- To spend money I have to deduct a day from my ‘Days’ total, giving me £25 in the ‘pot’.
- The trick is to earn at least £25 a day.
- Money must be ‘banked’ to cover bills each month.
- ‘Roll Over’ money gets carried over to next months ‘Pot’
- All spends must be noted.

*£25 a day, seven days a week is the amount I need to cover my personal living cost, including bills, rent, gym, charity donations, phone bill and a loan payment (boo, hiss!).

It sounds complicated, but you’ll get how it works once I start out, (I have been on a test run for a short time, and it’s do-able). Bare with me boys and girls, it may seem crazy… but it makes perfect sense.

To start this off, I need to jump in at the deep end. I have paid my Rent, all bills, bought food and teabags to last an age… and am set to go with these figures:

September 1st 2009:
Bank: £0 Days: 0 Pot: £0

Scary, but refreshing. Oh! I feel, at this point I should mention I lack the comfort of a stable job. Oh yes, a stable job is not something I am able to do, thus, why this is slightly crazier than you may have first thought. I will need to earn my days by working odd shifts in bars, cafes, shops etc here, there and everywhere, making and selling art and crafts, running workshops, photography, busking (god help those who’ll hear that) and generally keeping my fingers in all pots. The point is to have much more flexibility in my lifestyle, and to prove that it’s possible to enjoy life without actually ever becoming ‘someone’.
I have never wanted to be anything more than just me… my aim in life is to live it.

(I just want to say, I do not intend to offend those who do have regular jobs, and are aiming for bigger things, I completely understand, it’s just not for me. Also, do not jump in and copy me, this has taken a lot of thought, and is not going to be at all easy… oh, and I will be registered as self-employed, all money made will be noted and I will be paying tax and national insurance, so I am not ducking out of that at all. I am honest and respect the way our country works. I vote and like my opinion).

The reason I am doing a blog is because, if I have to prove to others, rather than just myself, that this is feasible, then I’ll be much more likely to try and take it seriously… so, chances are, you will know my full earnings and spending through this. Please do not judge me for my immense tea drinking habits and the occasional chocolate binge. Haha.