My gf is doing an A-Level Art project at the moment. Subject: Freedom.
We visited London to hunt out some grafitti expressing the people's plea for Freedom here in the world's 4th richest country that heralds it's version democracy yet with a government that acts more like a dictatorship. Unfortunately we are sleepwalking deeper into this dictatorship as long as the majority of people retain their "ignorrance is bliss" attitude towards politics and fail to see though the lies and scandals obscured by the popular press. Read between the lines. Pictures here soon.

Here's a little input after disappearing off the face of the Earth for a while. In the past whole year that I haven't posted I've just been skateboarding along a dirt track whilst clinging onto the back of a 4x4 running at breakneck speed. I'm missing all the important signposts as they fly past as blurry straight lines getting sucked into the horion behind me. I think I need to work out a way of slowing down or at least keeping my balance.
So here I am, posting about 11 months since my last. My second year at university has been turbulent, but I got by and I'm on work experience at a petrochemicals company near Redcar, England working on their Lotus Notes computer systems. I am currently deprived of the Internet as well. I've been stuck in Tees Valley all summer and I've rarely visited my home town in South Shields. If it wasn't for the fact my parents lived there, I probably wouldn't return to the dismal coastal seagull, pidgeon and redneck colony. Middlesbrough isn't any better however; it's a hundred times worse! But at least I have most of my friends here which is the most important thing. I'm worried I could be losing touch with my friends further North. I am planning a visit to Newcastle very soon however. Perhaps for Hallowe'en! Last fortnight however, I decided I needed another breather away from this separatist island nation, and this time I didn't just shuffle across the border to Scotland. A short visit to Amsterdam gave me a chance to unwind and file away a lot of the overload in my head.

In the next few weeks I hope to take a greater part in the DeviantART community because over the past year I've forgotten how great you people are! Especially these fine people:

Hello again to my good friend *R-D-X-83 introduced me to this community over a year and a half ago and of course there's li'l kimmy ~ILovePink across the Pennines in Manchester who is officially one of the coolest gals I know on the planet. To the other people who are watching me right now, thank you for taking an interest! I will comment on your latest deviations as soon as I can.

Hi all!! I'm back, did ya miss me? Haven't posted for a looooong time becasue I've been very busy lately. I finished my first year at the University of Teesside and moved temporarily back to my hometown of South Shields, near Newcastle Upon Tyne for a while. During that time I needed to earn lots of money fast, so I got myself a full-time job as... wait for it... a warehouse operative in neighbouring Gateshead! What a time I had there! I learned what it was like to be paid for what you do rather than for what you know. It was a designer clothing warehouse for the Triple S stores in Newcastle, Gateshead and Durham City. Basically I had to look at the sales from the previous day, pick those items from the shelf, shove them in a box to be shipped to the appropriate store before noon to replenish their stock. The rest if the day was spent on sticking labels things and checking off deliveries. It would have been ok except I was working with a bunch of redneck arseholes who thought that working in a warehouse was a fulfilling career prospect. They made me realise something however... that I was not going to be doing this when I leave university... even if I fail.

Anyway... that was just an aside. All of my time was spent during the summer shifting boxes and sticking labels, but this coming summer I'm hoping to move to Scotland for a work experience placement with DuPont, the petro-chemical company, in Dumfries for a year. I could do with getting out of this crappy country anyway. It's not too far away from my friends either, which is good. This is all depending on an interview though, for which I'm currently waiting.

I should be posting lots more photographs over the coming weeks. I recently went to get a film developed and it all turned out bad. I'm not sure what was on it. I hope it wasn't my pictures from the Cleveland Hills that I promised everyone!!! I'd have to go back up there and take some more, but winter is setting in now! I've got one more film left to develop and I have no idea what is on it. It'll be a surprise. Watch this space!!

Take care!!

hmm... it's starting to get light outside and I'm not even tired yet. Supposed to be going to Newcastle tonight. My flatmate Jim and his girlfriend Laura are going too, which is cool. None of my other flatmates can ever be bothered. Last time they came, it just totally fell apart because I got fucked around. Happens to me waay too much these days. I could stay up another few hours or maybe just not go to bed at all. And this Journal has no structure whatsoever I know... I'm just randomly typing becasue it's almost 6:00 and I'm still awake. Jim get's the train to Newcastle at 20:00, meeting Laura at Chester-le-Street on the way. I was going to try to go up there early afternoon but at this rate it looks like I'll be on the train with Jim. Doesn't look like I'm gonna go to sleep until at least 9:00. This is my last chance to go to the greatest rock club in the North East of England before my exams start next week. Not getting drunk, I've had it with alcohol lately. Don't drink if you haven't eaten for four and half days, it's not good. I learned that on Thursday night. Then it's my birthday on 27th yey!! Except I have an exam @13:55 grrrrrrr :@ Oh well, it's my last exam, so I can have a double celebration that night. I think everyone is coming to Newcastle on the 29th, but some people have told me they're not gonna make it. C'est la vie. I'm just pissed off at certain people for not making an effort. I'll just go out on my own if it comes to it... I don't care.

Hmm... what can I do between now and 20:00... ?
Wonder what the Cleveland Hills look like at sunrise. I'm sooo tempted to just go out and climb them again right now and just sit at the summit until I'm ready to get my train to Newcastle. It's warm enough... I'll just sleep there I guess.

Ok... strange day today. My parents came over today to pick up the forms I need for my Student Loan next semester. I was in the process of making Pop-Tarts when they landed. Totally forgot about them when I was sitting in my room with them.

And then the fire alarms went off. I thought... damn... not another drill? I walked into the corridor and there was a bit of smoke. I thought... ooops, the Pop-Tarts are burning. Then I walked into the kitchen and the heat and the stench was overwhelming; flames up to the ceiling. Couldn't evem reach the fire blanket because of the heat. So I ran and grabbed the foam extiguisher. Impressive fire I must say! I think Jonny was more bothered about being woken up before 16:00 to be honest.

Now I have to buy Ant a new toaster, and I'm not allowed near it LoL. I was just left trying to explain to my parents that I can cook by myself... I'm totally independent... honestly!! Most of my flatmates just thought it was pretty cool! [link]