Junctus Journals

A client who lives in Muswell Hill sent me this picture today:



It might be amusing to go eat there, if anyone would like to join me? Obviously, it's a muggle restaurant in a muggle area, so robes wouldn't be appropriate garb.

Be an artist. Sounds so romantic. It can be hard to break into and hard to make money from. That bit I was fine with and expected. No no, it's the fact it's basically running your own small business that's hard to deal with. And unless you're sharing space in some way or have an apprentice you basically do everything yourself most of the time. And mostly I don't mind. I like the painting, obviously, and I'm fine with the paint making and canvas prep, and even the buying supplies. I've been doing all that since I was an apprentice. And I shared a building for enough years that the business stuff is okay (although not my favourite). But research for new art projects just gets so overwhelming sometimes. I am surrounded by so many books and magazines and pieces of parchment and notes.

Why is the main magical part of Switzerland in the German speaking part? I don't speak German.
I speak English, okay French and I can kind of understand Jamaican Patois.
Where else speaks French? I've been to France and I was hoping to stay in Europe for now.

Anyone with experience of magical Europe I'd appreciate chatting about the ways areas are accessed, any local museums, gallery sections, hotels etc. which aren't in the main magical area. I'm a bit swamped at the moment. Also if it's somewhere I can get by without speaking the local language that would be amazing. Unless it's French, then I'll cope.

Sorry. I'm kind of just whining. I should go home.

Someone today asked me to rate the seven artistic mediums (art, cinema, literature, music, television, theatre and video games) in order of their importance to me personally. Obviously, art ranks the highest, but I found the rest surprisingly difficult.

1. Art
   
2. Cinema
   
3. Music
   
4. Theatre
   
5. Literature
   
6. Video games
   
7. Television

I'm not entirely pleased with it, but I think that probably is what my list boils down to and I don't care to spend more time obsessing over it. What about you?

I'm spending the weekend in Sweden to enjoy an exhibition on physics and the artistic imagination, and I think I should have scheduled a longer trip.



I'm quite sure I could spend the whole two days walking around Energy Forest by Sou Fujimoto and I wouldn't take in every detail of how intricate it is. I've set myself a time limit, so that I can still comfortably visit the rest of the exhibition - as well as having enough time to eat and sleep.

I'm glad to be back in somewhere that celebrates something on 1st March.

Happy St David's Day everyone! There are lots of daffodils and leeks around at the office and there was a (questionable) chorus of the Welsh anthem from the Welsh keepers.

In Romania I got used to Mărțișor on 1st March. Has anyone heard of that before?



It's a celebration of the start of spring. People (traditionally women) wear red and white things their family or friends give them. I don't know what to call them. Some people wear them as badges, some tie them around their wrists. They come in all sorts of designs. We used to all give them to each other at the Reserve, but they usually weren't the big ones because of them getting in the way.

Being single, I'm obviously not celebrating Valentine's Day this year, so I thought I'd make a list of other ways to celebrate the 14th of February.

1. Watch Dracula, starring Bela Lugosi, which was released on the 14th February 1931.
   
2. Listen to Respect by Aretha Franklin, which was released on the 14th February 1967.
   
3. Watch Shaun of the Dead (or any other film) starring Simon Pegg, who was born on 14th February 1970.
   
4. Listen to Whitney Houston's self-titled debut album, which was released on the 14th February 1985.
   
5. Read Satanic Verses by Salman Rushdie, against which a fatwa was issued on 14th February 1989.
   
6. Watch The Silence of the Lambs, which was released on the 14th February 1991.
   
7. Watch Hard Candy (or any other film) starring Ellen Page, who came out on 14th February 2014.

You might notice a slight bias towards horror movies, and a very definite lack of any idea what magical things might have happened on tomorrow's date. I'll apologise for the latter, but horror movies are excellent.

My band's caller is planning a stag do for her brother, and has been regularly updating our group chat with some of the options available to her. So far, things you can pay to do have included: smashing up a car (€320); learning to fire-breathe (£200); floating in a hot tub down the river (£225); being chased by a rabid dog (£290).

I feel very fortunate that none of my friends are ever likely to suggest any of these options.

Do wizards have stag dos? (Or hen parties?) What would you plan for your friend's, if money were no object?

Merlin it's been ages since I've been this sick. Between training, matches, press and promos, and attempting to keep fit and having coughing fits I feel like I've not slept in years.

Anyone have a good potion that might knock this out proper? At this point I'm willing to go to a muggle doctor.

Do you ever get that feeling that the universe knows what's going on in your life? This afternoon's walk was almost eerie with how many things seemed aimed specifically at me. I mean, they weren't, I'm sure of that, but I can't help but wonder how many other ways our brains trick us like that.

Oh, and my decorations are all down. It took nearly two hours to get everything packed away and the flat now looks bare, but at least I'm no longer having to do daily bauble repairs from Goose getting curious and nudging the things on the lower branches off and onto the floor.

( Miles Bletchley )

I am extremely pleased with my Secret Santa gift of magical sheet music, so thank you to whoever was in charge of buying that for me. It does raise some questions: does the Statute prohibit me from playing magical music where non-magical people might conceivably overhear, or do laws governing 'reasonable expectation of privacy' give me some leeway? If they don't, I wonder if Crosshaven has a room I could borrow over the Christmas period.

Is everyone else equally pleased with what they got?

I read a review today of The Hazards of Time Travel, in which the main character is sent back to Wisconsin 1959 as a punishment for political dissent. It got me thinking about why 1959 in particular, wouldn't there be worse times and places to be imprisoned in?

Since that's a depressing topic, instead I decided to pose a question: If you could take a year-long 'sabbatical' in any period of history, where and when would you go? I think I'd go to Paris around 1909 — late enough for the Metro, buses and taxis but before the introduction of neon lights.

My coworkers are a load of delightful wankers.

I arrived to this office:

( Read more... )

Yes, they wrapped EVERYTHING in Christmas paper.

Well, almost. One of those mysterious packages has two layers of paper because it's actually my birthday present.

I applaud the excellent prank but if they've fucked around with my in tray or prioritising they are getting retribution.

Question of the day; Would you rather remember something painful or try and forget it?

Also, if you'd rather forget that painful thing, what are some tips and tricks to forget about it or to distract yourself from it?

I've been trying my hand at wizarding crossword puzzles, to see just how far I still have to go in learning about all the vocabulary. Actual crosswords are still far beyond me, but I've mostly been doing alright with this word-association puzzles. I'm just stuck on one corner.

Can anyone think of a word that links 'pox', 'dung' and 'reserve'?

Don't forget to go and support the Godric's Hollow Amateur Dramatic Society from tonight

Into the Forbidden Forest begins tonight.

Shows also Friday night, Saturday Matinee, Saturday Night, and Sunday Night and all of the same shows next weekend too (Thursday - Sunday). Evening shows: 7pm, Matinee shows: 1.30pm

Please go and support all the hard work of the cast and crew. Proceeds go towards costs and funding the next show (look out for the panto announcements I think).


Although if you are particularly scared by foreboding forests maybe ask if you can take a look at that set before you go to the show. I can vouch for it being very realistic.

Thanks again to everyone who showed up to help with the painting.

Because caretaking and writing both occur at all hours of all days, I am starting to lose track of weekends. This is not really a problem, but I am aware that cities tend to have a sort of weekly ebb and flow, their own patterns that are very different from the patterns of the places I am used to.

Is there anyone particularly in touch with the ebb and flow and patterns of nightlife within the service area of the Knight Bus? I would welcome a recommendation. I am in a mood to go dancing somewhere interesting.

Also, this winter's first bloom of Frosted Euphoria Flowers opened this morning. They're a lovely icy purple colour, even more vivid than last year's batch, so I imagine they'll be quite nice. We have enough to share, if anyone is interested. Look how beautiful they are.

( Picture Enclosed )


( Ginny )


( Dean )

There's something very satisfying about the first day of the month being a Monday. It's impossible not to know where you are. It does help that I'm also on holiday, and after breakfast today I'll be driving out to Admont Abbey, Vienna.

While I'm not a huge fan of Gustav Metzger's work individually, I do find this gallery set-up incredibly aesthetically pleasing.



Postcards to come later in the week, most likely.

( Liv and Baxter )


( Blair )


A customer told me a riddle today, and while it certainly wasn't the most inventive or challenging riddle I've ever heard, I did find it unexpectedly amusing enough to share:

Which word in the dictionary is spelled incorrectly?

Today is an excellent day. The sun is shining and warm, the Hammers won 8 frigging 0 last night (not that I found out until this morning, the internet can't cope with the magic I use at home and it wasn't worth listening to the other matches just for random updates). And designs are final for the Amateur Dramatic sets.

Who wants to help me come and do set painting? Saturday 6th October, Crosshaven Community Centre. 3pm onward. There will be tea and coffee to keep you going. No real skill required (although that's a bonus if you've got some), just be able to paint inside lines. Wear clothes you don't mind getting dirty.

Sam,

I can't actually make anything specific to one person, what with not having magical skillz (yes, with a Z), but thanks for finding my portkey.

Liv.



Justin,

No, I totally did not lose my portkey. Ignore everything I've said.

Liv.



Baxter,

I'll just text you.

Liv.