Clean Monday

Today was clean Monday, a Greek celebration which marks the end of eating meat for Lent. There's a little more to it than that, but you know. I only realised after returning from another 14 hour 160 mile uni Monday to see my friend Theo and his mates in full swing. I then did what any good mate does and dropped in for a quick one.

Today was also our last interim before Easter and a day beyond all others in my 3 and a half year short academic career that I REALLY REALLY didn't want to go into uni. I'd done about 20% of the work expected for the crit and that was pretty rubbish too. I'd had tears this weekend, I'd had tantrums and I'd not managed to get a fraction of my work done. Not to mention the fact that it was the last class before Easter. I could so easily just not go in and then work like grease lightening during the holidays. However I've not missed a lecture yet and don't intend for this to happen if I can possibly avoid it.

I pinned up (it didn't take long) and then I was the first to present, typical. Jamie and Julia gave me my crit which included the expected slap of the legs and the 'you're not going to get through this degree unless you empty your head into your sketchbook, design freeze and get it onto your A1's'. They are absolutely right. You see I expect people to know what I'm designing in my head by telepathy, that ain't ever going to happen and will always end in tears.

Their feedback was far more constructive this crit and I've left feeling more encouraged than disheartened and suitably booted up the arse, which is good because I have 3 weeks ahead in which I need to kick my projects derrière - starting with a rendering style.

I love watching the Greeks celebrating, Clean Monday was no exception. The Greeks are (generally) united by music, food, drink and celebration. However they are also a hugely Patriarchic society and the Greeks have dramas in a way that the East Enders cast can only look on and admire. Drama is a Greek word. Part of the reason I'm so blocked with producing work for uni is that I can't find a rendering style. Maybe it's a bit like my beloved Greeks, It's perfect in some ways and so broken in others but you just get on with it.