Melbourne

Wakeboarding got cancelled, sadly, as one of the drivers has gastro. Hoping they feel better soon.

In other news, the other day, I went to a crystal shop (Sacred Gems). I don't subscribe to the new age belief that gems and minerals have energy or power, but fuck I love them. I go full Magpie "must have shiny rock!"

Here is the garnet I bought, I edited it a bit to be more indicative of the colours I see in the light. My phone seems to edit photos automatically and darken them? (I need to fiddle with the settings).

the Garnet

We've gone into a 5th set here? C'mon Zverev beat this cunt. 🎾

Sup y'all

There are a lot of bangs outside. I guess we're celebrating being Australian by blowing things up. Fortunately Mr Woof and Miss Meow don't seem concerned.

BE WITNESS TO MY HOMEGROWN POTATO

I've never planted them they must've come in from compost.

Time for Pokemon concierge! Cat is fed and entertained, pizza is ready.

I've never played Pokemon before but this show looks cute as hell lol

Okay... next time I'll be less heavyhanded and draw the same thing as the guy because I kind of went off doing my own thing there. It's recognisably a mug but not a good one (perspective of the top doesn't quite match the rest of it) and the unevenly sharpened tip made it difficult to stroke down thin even layers. So it turned out harsher and was hard to gradually shade things to the right shape as I went. Note to self.

But one thing I found to be a problem was not my fault. I bought a cheap portable easel intended to help my posture using a limited space but the bottom ledge thing that the sketchbook rests on actually projects out enough to be in the way of my hand and my pencil.

It's actually inhibiting my ability to draw on the bottom half of the page if I'm not using the 'writing' position (which in this exercise I am not meant to). When holding the charcoal overhand and vertically while gliding my fingernails over the paper the end of my charcoal pencil is actually hitting the damn ledge. I have to turn my hand sideways to get the bottom half of the page.

The bummer? I had already seen this could be restrictive and flipped that piece so the lip on the edge was downwards, trying to make it less annoying. I wonder if I could get a piece of thinner flatter balsawood or something to make a new rest but I don't own a drill for the bolt holes.

Similar issue with anything that has that rest really. I wonder if I'm doing something very obvious wrong or the art guy just has a much larger easel and canvas space to work with so he doesn't have to use all of it/the awkward half

Should I or shouldn't I book the flights to Vietnam?

We are playing charades and my word was wombat. My actions of shitting out square poo was award winning.

Headed down the coast, and competed with the tourists. While it was absolutely insane, I'm kind of glad I went, it was super lovely and warm out.

Little picture of my outing-

Got super held up today but managed to help out a bit more at my aunt's. Yeah she's definitely on the hoarder spectrum for sure. We didn't do the spices but the upstairs room that has all sorts of junk from over the decades. It's time for her kids to come and sort some of their dumped stuff too because she doesn't have the heart to throw any of her kids things away.

I've also inhaled more dust in 5 hours than I probably have for 5 months, amazed I didn't explode in a fit of sneezing.

e: definitely makes me feel better that I've been somewhat parsimonious with accumulating stuff at home, even if that tendency often means I just don't start new projects or hobbies.

e2: going to watch Lee Chang-dong's Burning tonight after a shower to get all this dust and sweat off me. Time also for ye olde melatonin because I'm a bit over going to bed at 1-2am every night. Must not get too deep in NEET hole

Roast chooken is done. I made a glaze with kumquat marmalade , garlic, sesame oil, chili and soy sauce. It smells delicious.

I'm watching a guy sketch in charcoal pencil and am like... damn. I doubt I'd be able to successfully sharpen one of those let alone wield it. Eh. It's nice to watch other people be skilled at things