Nico Space

Everyone (my mom and luke) keep on telling me about this crazy heat. Damn, it is rare I see the sun here. So much rain. Luckily Cardiff has not had any flooding as of yet. It has been pretty terrible elsewhere.

This photo is of cardiff bay, Abi and I went down to the restaurant on top of the water for lunch yesterday. It wasn't this rainy though. We actually caught a little sun. I just feel like I have been missing out on the summer fun. But maybe it is uncomfortable?

Abi left for home to Geneva yesterday. Can't wait to go home myself. I have been saying that for a long time now...
I just feel like all I do is work and watch TV. However, I have been very lucky to have so many visitors and I sill have some friends here that I meet wih from time to time.

My God. I feel like I am whining. Things are pretty damn good when I think of it. I am almost one my MA and going home in a week. August is just so amazingly full of fun things to do. The Fringe, Folfest, Mike and Deanna's wedding extravaganza, Daniel's crazy ass huge wedding. Wow. I suppose I can put a little work in and suck it up butter cup. I actually have quite a bit to do this week and the time will be sucked away.

I suppose if I am asking other people to blog (chris) I should do the same. I don't want to be called a hypocrite. I don't want to be called a hippo anything.

Well, as you probably know I am really looking forward to going home. My doumentary is put together in a sort of draft version. I still need to work on my levels. I may need to enlist some help from teachers with that. It seems the more I fiddle the worse it gets.

My prof is in France so there is no going over it with her until next Monday. So I am going to try and get all the other stuff out of the way. I have to finish my reflection and do a conclusion. I also have to get my production file all sorted and looking organized. Definitely not my style.

I am happy Abi is still with me for a week. I had to say goodbye to my other two roomies on Saturday. I don't think I have quite come to grips with this year coming to an end. I am just looking forward to sitting around in my backyard and having a little holiday.

Luke told me he was going to be on CFCR today so smart me I am checking it out via web.
Man! He is awesome at being interviewed and I am very impressed at how well he sounds live via radio!
Fantastic Luke!!!

Daniel is still here. I am happy about it but it is too bad he forgot the day of his flight. He has rebooked and is now leaving tomorrow. What a horrible feeling that is. I am sure evryone in the world has had a similar experience.

Anyway, it gave us time to have a BBQ in the park tonight. My roomate Abi got it all together for us. It was quite relaxing.
It has been great hanging out and doing fun things with Daniel.

I have been going through the process of possibly getting a real job and it has been an emotional roller coster. Actually thinking of a real job is a really hard shift after so many years of school.

Hey yo,


Things have been really good lately. I have been having fun with Mike, Deanna and Daniel. Now it is just me and Daniel left and we are still having fun! Des took Abi, Daniel and I out for supper last night and it was extremey tasty.
Today I hink we are going to go to Castle Coch and Cardiff castle in the same day!!! It will be very interesting since it is the same designer. It's not ABC (another bloody castle) for me yet. I still get excited by it, even if I have been to these two before.

I miss you all back home and can't wait for an amazing August. I am determined to make it incredible. August is my favourite month ever! But July has been sweet.

This week it's back to work!! I will sleep at the Bute building if I have to. I want to finish this thing!!!

This is a photo of a cock fighting ring at St. Fagan's.

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=35270&l=3256a&id=687205614

Mike was saying that people blog a lot less since Facebook and it's sooo true! I need to keep this up because it's a good record of where I have been.

We have been having a great time here. It is so nice to have friends from home around. Mike, Deanna, Daniel and I went to the Museum of Welsh Life yesterday and then came home and we all made Fajitas together. We drank lots of the rum my dad brought back from India then walked down to En Route the Funky Buddha.

Today we are planning to go to Bath. I really don't mind going there again because it's so beautiful. It's only an hour away on the train so it's the perfect day trip.

Things are going pretty well with school. I had a super meeting with my supervisor. i am very happy I agree with most of her suggestions. It would suck if we didn't see eye to eye. She also pushes me to be more straightforward. I do have the tendency to tip-toe around things and expect people to know what I am really trying to get across. So hopefully I will get better at that.

Just thought i'd give y'all some warning.

I had my last day with my dad here today. Finally, a sunny day! Haven't had any of those till now.

Dad and I were sitting on the patio at the Claude today and there was a girl who had a tatoo saying "Hardcore til I die'. Yes, it was spelled out exactly like that. Oh my, that is the last thing I would have written on my body (snort snort chuckle chuckle). You know, this world, it takes all kinds.

It has been really fun going out for supper and hanging out with Des and dad. Last night we went to a little pub on the way to Caerphilly. It was very, very yummy. There sure are some amazing restaurants here.

Ok, I am tired and not sure why I am blogging....

Later

My digital story is now up on the BBC website! They sent me the link today:

"My cousins and I were amazed by the way she could blow cigarette smoke out of her ears."
'To know someone' by Nicole Lavergne-Smith
http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/audiovideo/sites/yourvideo/pages/nicole_lavergnesmith_01.shtml

The video didn't work very well at school (the moving pictures weren't moving) but it worked when I played it at home.

The best thing about this documentary is the familiar voices I get to listen to all day. I always forget that I am in Cardiff because I am constantly listening to Canadian accents.

I went to Boxersize last night. It was the first period of major exercise in a few months. I went back to Sk and sort of gave up. This cannot happen when I return!I need to get in shape to dance the night away at Daniel's wedding.

I love how my family is talking about their outfits for the wedding. I am so excited to see how everyone looks! My mémé showed me her outfit twice! Which, reminds me that I still need to find a dress. I told everyone I was going to wear a large brimmed hat with big feathers so that everyone behind me can't see a thing!

It is the first period I have been alone at night in quite a while. My flatmates are all gone this week so I have the house to myself. I thought it would be terrible but apart from sleeping with all the lights on it is going pretty smoothly.

Humans are meant to spend time with one another and it is comforting to know someone is there. It is too depressing to be alone all the time but it is unhealthy to not be able to be alone. We need time to reconnect with our innards.

Hello,

Well, I am all settled in.

Dad and I had a great trip this past weekend to Llantrwyd Wells. Or, as I say, one of those double L places.
We stayed in a little hostel right beside a pub. The first night everyone turned around an stared at us wondering who we were when we walked in and the second night we were greeted by everyone with a friendly knowing hello. The second night there was a man playing guitar in the pub. It reminded me a lot of Luke's gig at Maud Millars. One lady came up to dad and I during it and told us we were very welcome in the town. I thought that was very nice.
That day we had gone to Aberystwyth. It is a little run down but still a nice town.
Last nigt and tonight I went out for supper with Des and Dad. Both wonderful suppers. It sure is nice to have family in town. Today I spent some time working on my documentary. I also had my first meeting with my supervisor. She was really happy with my progress and very encouraging. I will meet with her again next week. I want to go hardcore this week getting it all together so that I have some free time for Mike, Deanna and Daniel coming next week. I can't wait to have my Canadian posse here.