Dusk

Everybody post something about Xmas and me not, don't wanna be worse than others so I post too, but since I don't really have my own thoughts about Xmas I used those of someone whose writings I like;-)
If you are American or Christian, please don't be offended, this is a fanfic quote;-)

( The quote )

Dragged from here.

This post is a sublimation;-) You are warned (as if this would stop you from reading further...)

Bellydance goes well, on 25th there will be a big party, many of the girls will be dancing, and clarieberry and me will be dancing too. I'm very looking forward to it. Got new earrings, very jingly;-)
Been to Stock House, got two metres of light blue satin to make harem pants and little top for the party. I wanna decorate it with golden and silver beads if I have time, as my jewels are both silver and golden, so I wanna bring it all to accordance.
On 24th will also be xanalith's party with Dr Who theme, and I need to make Leela's costume, but I haven't started yet... Oh well, it's not that much of a costume to make;-))) I wanna wear it with my white boots.
allova's and sven_helsong's 21st party on Saturday was great, I had a very good time. There were lots of funny moments, like when allova ran up to me and several other people to whom I was talking, and hid behind one of them screaming "Hide me from the Russian!" Me got puzzled;-) Then found she was running from xepera_xeper who tried to pull her ears, that's a Russian birthday custom. Eventually he got her, and then had to run from Tigger who chased him all around and was generally very scary. It's nice to have a man who can protect your honour *sigh*. Live music by Amplitude, the band from 2014, was great. I notice I use quite a lot of bellydance moves while dancing with modern music, it's not all about belly;-) Cake was huge and very yummy. And ten people fitting into little children house in the kindergarten was just dodgy, very dodgy.
I'm officially out of Auckland Sword and Shield now, talked to Chief_Instructor today. Will not be coming to the end of the year feast neither, as suddenly found it's a Nightmare Circle weekend, alas. I'll keep doing the secretary stuff till the AGM so will be coming to committee meetings, and then will pass it on to someone and quit completely. Still, have no intentions to leave events like NAAMA and Easter Camp, it's fun, even though I'm a poor fighter *sigh*, but it's not all about fighting.
I'll be at St Cath on Saturday (one day only), so slothphil and other people from outside of Auckland, I'll see you there!
Also planning to be at Mistletoe's party on 7th, she said come as your favourite fantasy creature, here it is, my chance to wear the ears again!
And then there will be Nightmare Circle, and I'll be crewing, yay!
And then there will be Christmas and the 3 weeks break, and lots of sleep and free time!
Life is good.
Now I'll go buy some oranges, have food, and take my antibiotic, as I'm still fighting the virus.
*happy hugs to everyone*

Arm feels much better. Still hurts, but just a bit, only bad when touch uncarefully. So trying to stay careful.
Will go to bellydance tomorrow. And today to the Tolkien event. And on Wednesday - dance practice for Saturday's Frostbane festival. And on Sunday we'll be killing coke bottles with sharp swords. And on Friday there are movies, I think.
I only have Thursday free. Need to fill it with something.

It was great. Really, really great.
I enjoyed it very much.

gryphon_nz has given me a ride, and we came to the camp when it was still light, so we set up the tent in convenient conditions. Our silent friend arrived right after that, very squashed (the Roman has managed to fit 4 people into his car), she was staying with me. On the way back Gryphon gave her a ride too so she didn't get squashed again.

The weather was fine, very warm, sunny, clear sky, very-very lovely.

That was my first fighting event, so I got my first inter-club battle experience. I found that I enjoy it much more than I could expect, and from the inside of the battle it doesn't look as scary as from outside. I wonder why.

It took me a bit of time to understand what to do, but then I was ok. And I found that fighting again spears can be managed even with short weapon like dagger, it just depends on how fast you move. (Note in diary: increase the speed of movements by the time of Labour weekend).

Now I have bruises all over my body, and they bloody hurt with every move. Plus I got a spear strike to the right hand, between the thumb and the next finger. Ravens said that was the worst injury of the weekend. Luckily it was just a strike with a bit of blood, and I got all possible treatment immediately. Now the bruise is getting blue and visible, it takes half of the hand on the outer side and continues to the inside part. I'm trying not to touch it at all, because when touched it hurts, and when touched uncarefully it hurts like hell. I'm gonna make chainmail gloves. And my helmet is very good.

My hand got tired after some time of fighting with sword, so I'm thinking more and more about case of daggers... (Note in diary: learn case daggers fighting).

The food was nice, the people were nice, everything was very fun.
Though there was a lot of bawdy stuff involved as well, of course;-))

I've met cat_i_th_adage whom I haven't seen for a long time, that was so nice to see her again! She sang a Volga Birthday Song for me, and we shared lots of hugs. Yay!

The Roman got knighted, I've been one of his attendants (the other was our silent friend). I'm very honoured by this.

I took some photos so I need to get them from the camera and upload. This time there are very few of them, maybe about a hundred for the whole week-end.

*hugs*

Things sometime look really terrible and depressing, especially if you have recently been depressed and upset.
However, one thing I just found recently is that socializing tends to make you feel better.

And I think it's stupid to try to stay away from it. Old habits must be destroyed if they are not of use any more.

So tell me a happy birthday now.

The actual thing will happen at 10.30.am Moscow time, which would make it 6.30.pm in Auckland. This time most of you will be not at work any more, so you can even have a drink for me;-)))

For those who's wondering - I'm turning 26.

Gosh, nine more hours to go...

Ok, first Ravenholme game took place yesterday.
THAT WAS SO GOOOOOD!
And I actually played, not just physically been there. Yay!
Here are the pictures of people in their costumes, including me in my dress which I made completely myself (big thanks to allova who took the photos!)
http://www.diatribe.co.nz/viewtopic.php?t=1038

Yay, holidays! 3 weeks I don't have to do anything, so here is what I'm gonna do:

For some reason before big long holidays or big important event I always think of how I should feel when it's all over. And when it's over I remember how I was thinking I would feel. Weird.

P.S. And photos to upload. Oh gods...

This year's NAAMA was a very wet NAAMA, but still we had lots of fun.
I got a ride from gryphon_nz who picked me up on Friday at 9.10 - 9.30 (twenty minutes were spent for loading all my dresses into the car), and we came to the place at 3.30 so had lots of time to socialize. I was in a cabin with Nadia, Julianne and Adam. And I bought a fork and a little knife at the market that day. The sausages for dinner were nice. 
On Saturday there were some fighting, and very few of it on Sunday as it was incredibly raining, so most of people stayed in the big marquee and socialized (some of S&S members were playing a very medieval card game called "Stop the bus"). I took a lot of pictures, of course.
Both Saturday and Sunday evenings were pretty much uproarious (I had to look in my dictionnary for this word as I didn't know how to describe what was going on. This word is rather soft but steal gives some inmpression). People were having fun, singing, dancing, eating, drinking. Keeth (don't know if the spelling is correct, it's about Steve's son) was very nice to everyone and very sociable, and he managed to bring a lot of drinks to the S&S table (and we didn't manage to find out where he was bringing all this stuff from;-). And we also celebrated Indian New Year and said "Salma Barek" which means "Happy New Year" in Indian.
On the way back gryphon_nz and I happily avoided the traffic and even saw some blue sky in the gaps of the clouds. 
In whole - everything was very nice.
And I'm not gonna write anything about bawdy songs that Argent Lords were singing, about their games under the table, about how Barry pulled up BigMac's kilt, about Nora's cleavage that seemed to impress so many people, about her stripped socks that were so similar to mine, about a girl whose name I don't know but she was wearing a very opened dress, and she is only seventeen so this looked pretty specific, and about the slave auction, and how Stefan was running around the marquee wearing mini-skirt and being whipped, and what Patch was doing with him later, and how Stefan was fighting Womble (again not sure about correct spelling).
That's all for now, thank you for your attention. I'll go back to work as my lunchtime is over.

I feel freaky.
I received an email that was CC'ed to me (so I'm not the main recepient), and it was addressed to someone named Victoria. I felt completely as if it was addressed to me (explanation for those who do not belong to anime freaks: Victoria is the name of the person on my avatar). Well, watched "Hellsing" again just on Monday...
The IT Guru guy said he's gonna be away next week, mountain climbing, and for the question about where he's going he answered: "To the West" (explanation for those who do not belong to Tolkien freaks: Tolkien's elves' main idea is to travel to the West, to the land of Valinor where they are going live happily ever after (they have left it following the greatest freak of Middle-Earth, but that's a long story).
I've read a surname Smith wrongly. It's difficult to read this surname wrongly, bu I managed. I read it as Sith (explanation for those who do not belong to Star Wars freaks: the Sith Lords are the "bad" guys).
I definitely need a rest. Looking forward to relaxing during the upcoming weekend. I'm not gonna fight. I'm gonna relax and restore my Health Points (explanation for those who do not belong to larp/game freaks: I'm gonna bring myself back to functioning normally).
Bloody hungry. And still a whole half-an-hour till lunch.

The news of the last few days (in chronological order):

I have been given the Sith name. Darth Llama. May the Force be with those on whom I'm gonna inflict the llama idea.
I've been to a Friday the 13th party at Secret Lair. I was wearing a black t-shirt with red sign that looks like the intel one, but with little devil horns, and inside this sign there was written "evil inside". People were paying quite a lot of attention to this sign. Or maybe not so much to the sign...
I've slept untill 11am on Saturday which let me feel slightly better after exhausting week. I've made a white tunic. I've made chocolate muffins. Started making a cape. Eventually have gone to sleep at 5 in the SUNDAY morning.
What I really wonder is how a little stone with several little lines on it can know so much about you? Took a rune out of the runebag. Thurisaz. One of the sources I use says it's a rune of warrior initiation. What does it mean in this context...
Got up at 10 on Sunday. Got call from Head Trainer who gave me a lift to the Scout Hall, and trained me for a bit on the stuff I didn't remember.
After that I've passed my Dagger Grade.
And I wasn't anxious or nervous at all. All calm and relaxed. I just did it.
It really feels different with dagger grade than whithout it. I got a club helmet just in case, though for a whole bunch of reasons I'm not gonna fight at this NAAMA.
Celebrated my Dagger Grading with chocolate muffins. Had a long talk with gryphon_nz  about tabletop games, D&D and stuff like that. Interesting.
After gryphon_nzand starfirenz  gave me a lift home I had some food and lots of rest. My body was still kinda trembling or whatever you call it. Tired. Yes.
Made the cape. Now only need to attach possums to it, but the cape itself is all done. Very warm which is so much important. Started thinking of what other cloth I can have time to make before NAAMA.
Dyed my hair. Look very nice.
Monday. Came to work, checked the weather forecast for the weekend for Palmerston North (the closest big place that can be reflected at the global website I use for weather stuff). No rain is promised, mostly cloudy, and pretty cold. For a Viking like me - lots of cloths possibilities;-)
Hungry. Lunch wil happen soon.
My shoulders and arms hurt pretty much which is normal after Sundays. But why do my ribs hurt as well? Probably because of friendly hugs.
I have my special Darth Llama's balance-stealing hug. I wonder on whom I could inflict this...

There are things to be done...

I need to go through Immigration Service website and understand the process of submitting the Expression of Interest for residence. I need to finish some other stuff that is not yet done but the faster I do it the better it would be.

I have heaps of fabrics and I need to sew lots of things, including possum cape, white tunic for dagger grade and some more viking dresses. And I really want to make embroidery, it's just so much a thing for me to do. I really like needleworking, don't even know why so much.

I need to buy spring steel for daggers and actually make the daggers. I need to make chainmail gloves. I need to get more rings and make a chainmail. I also need to get a helmet, don't even know where this can be obtain from. Luckily I have enough people around to ask.

I need to pay for the archery club and buy equipment (bow, arrows, etc.). And update Fanyare website. And upload photos to internet. And get the old photos from old computer where they stay.

I need to apply and pay for St Cath, and also buy a tent to stay at St Cath (and in whole I wanna have my own tent - that seems to be a good thing to have for every occasion).

Hmm, did I forget anything? Ah, yeah, I need to actually pass the dagger grade. And learn some more medieval dances. Including belly dance.

Well, I seem to be pretty busy.

P.S. And I also need to memorize my part of the play, I'm Dame Siriz, an old procuress.

Alchemist is back and still alive.

Surprised? Me too.

Dad returned to Moscow and will soon be sending me documents for visa. 
My manager is very happy with my performance. 
My appartment is completely in chaos, no idea when I have time to make at least an impression of order here:))
I have bought "Stargate" movie! 
Viking seem to be my type of things.
Stew called and confirmed my booking for NAAMA (cabin).
I have to put a huge piece of paper on my wall, make it something like wall planner, and write about all medieval events and stuff like that. There are a lot of them.
This weekend we are going to Hamilton.
Next weekend we go to Hamilton again, if I'm not mistaking it.
I definitely need to join SCA.
Met Ryan Paddy in the bus. The trip was very nice.
Missed the Guild Day, that is pitiful, but on Sunday morning I suddenly remembered there was a work to do (a week before! hate this feeling), so went to Uni and did most of stuff. Finished today. That should give me a bit of money. I seem to need lots of money. Need to pay for all the clubs, and buy a bow, and pay for the sword, and I'm sure there are heaps of other things... Ah, photo for visa, for example.
Damn, too late, need some sleep, so will visit friends' pages tomorrow. Be aware:)))

The recovering was an illusion, after spending a day at work yesterday I felt MUCH WORSE today, so my manager sent me home (I actually came to finish some urgent stuff, but then was told it's not really urgent at all. Well, the heap of papers on my desk is growing:).
It seems one of the new problems is increased blood pressure, so that my right eye is getting red with blood (Sauron would be envious), and the head feels uncomfortable too. And movements coordination is bad, I almost dropped a cup of tea to the keyboard, luckily the tea didn't reach it a bit.
Today there is a company party which I'm missing, there is another party that I'm missing too, and tomorrow there are also some nice things to be missed as well. The most regretable one is the Tolkien Quiz Night, which I was really looking forward. Forgive me, livin_with_jim, I cannot make it. With the kind of non-stop cough I have any social life is impossible, and I don't want my precious tolkiendili to catch this bloody infection from me.
Another bad news is that my Dad's flight is delayed due to the weather, so he will only be coming tomorrow if he's lucky, and I prefer to think he is. Currently he's staying in Hong-Kong airport with the meal tickets he received from the aircompany, and no normal place to sleep in(unless you count a chair as one). Mom is calling me several times a day to speak on that and to ask how I am here with my illness. What can I say? I'm bad.
And now the stubborn Alchemist will try to make itself eat those nice pieces of griled chicken that are waiting on the kitchen table, just cooked and warm. It's now 46 hours I had no food at all, surviving on the hot sweet tea only, as I couldn't make myself eat anything. And still can't, but will have to do something with that.

The spring is coming. I feel it in the air.