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life rules: never go to a wedding alone.

So I almost went to London last weekend. My brother got married there on Saturday, so I flew over late Friday night and then back on Sunday. Since this was my very first trip to England I really hoped I could explore central London, but there was no time for that… But I am planning on another trip soonish, to see Hilda, so more London-time then.

The wedding was spectacular, probably a once in a lifetime experience for me. I kept thinking it was something straight out of the movie and waiting for Hugh Grant to show up. I won’t go into details but there was a mansion, ponies (hired), flower girls (with semi-hideous dresses), gooseliver to go with champagne, marquee in an old fruit orchard, funny speeches, dance… But it really sucks to be at a wedding without a date. It kind of makes you feel like you’re missing a half, even when on all other days you know you are a happy and whole in your single life.

On Sunday I got to spend some me-time walking around Tunbridge Wells, taking photos, trying on stuff at Topshop, looking for vegan lunch goodies at Marks&Sparks (salt&vinegar crisps, yum!), sipping a soy-latte and reading my travel-book, the perfect antidote…
And then it was time to fly home.

and that’s about all i can say in Nederlands, for now.

Yesterday was the first dutch lesson. To our surprise the teacher was a youngish, very enigmatic guy with big curly hair… easygoing and talkative, just like all the dutch guys I’ve met. “You know what,” I said to Kaisa after the lesson, “I am gonna marry a dutch man. They are talkative enough for me. It’s destiny.”

What I hate most about Finland is the casual manners. Or total lack of manners, I should say. Especially when it comes to dating. I want to be called, not text-messaged. Or at least not messaged when drunk. I want to be asked out. In no circumstances do I want to be groped. Maybe I am getting old or something but manners is the thing I first pay attention to in people.

Okay, that’s it for a rant. Maybe we could start with developing better ways of greeting? Hugging is reserved for close friends and shaking hands is just awkward. When will the cheek-kissing reach this hemisphere?

Dear You,

Today was perfect. Crisp, cold, sunny, just right for the first real Sunday walk of the autumn. I felt I haven’t really seen, looked around.. in a long time. (I haven’t breathed this deep.) Slowing down doesn’t come naturally for me, but this weekend my todo-list was wiped empty. And now, Sunday night, I feel calm, happy. I have it in me, still. Right now, I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else in the world.

The decision to concentrate on studies fulltime feels like the right thing to do. Even more so after this weekend. I rattled around, nervously, not knowing what to do, when there was nothing I had to do.. I claim back my weekends, to work on that. And to go for more walks. And to read books.

I will do this at my own pace. Lately I have thought of this concept - slow work. When everything in our culture seems to be about faster, faster, more, more…

Last week’s lectures were interesting and disturbing. I am even more confused about what I want to do in the future. But it’s an ongoing state, I think. I also think I might be allergic to ad agency people.

Yesterday I went to see Rut Bryk exhibition at the design museum and fell in love with her work. The colour combinations were amazing and the less modern pieces very illustration-like.

P.S. Today’s soundtrack (still love this song).

“Happy new year!” we said to each other in the morning. And it’s fitting. The fall is always a new start for me. I feel a lot of things are changing - shifting. I like it, I feel awake.

One of my goals this year is to report here more on what I am doing and learning at school. Writing things out like this will probably help me make sense of my education and perhaps even be of interest to someone.

One other thing I decided on today was to start a proper skethchbook/scrapbook/notebook for school, similar to the ones I kept at fashion school. It worked wonders in clarifying my design style and will probably work again. Also I hate it when I feel like I have nothing much to show for my work, a few grubby sketches maybe and a finished project. I want to chart the process too.

I go to a great school, and I really want to experience that to the fullest, that’s why I am trying to concentrate on school more and cut back on work projects now. I feel last year I just waltzed it through… well getting good grades but nevertheless… I was pretty burned out in the end. I hope to spend a bit more time socializing and just lazing about as well.

Today’s highlight was the presentation of Dai Fujiwara at the opening ceremony of the university. He works as a creative director at Issey Miyake (one of my all time favourite designers). I love the A-POC concept. It reminded me what I really want my future work to be - developing ideas and concepts.

The rest of the week will be about more inspiring people. Starting tomorrow we have four days of nothing but guest lecturers talking about things relating to graphic design and design (and sometimes life) in general. It was excellent last year, so I hope to be inspired…

And on Friday there is a party.