Weekly Update 06/10/12

This week:

• Received my socks and wig for my Jushiro cosplay. Decided to make my own sandals for it, just waiting for the materials to arrive.
• Really worried my Deidara wig won’t get here in time because I ordered it a couple of weeks ago and it still hasn’t even been sent yet. I don’t know what I’ll do if I don’t get it. Also decided to make my own shoes for this cosplay. Just need to get the stuff for it.
• Classes and anime society were fun as usual. There are a couple of anime I’ve really liked in the last couple of weeks, one of which I’ve already watched the entire first season of, and I may have more cosplay ideas but I want to watch more first.
• Had a couple of issues with flatmates but it seems to be resolved now so I’m not going to talk about it on here out of respect.
• Sorted out the key problem that I kept having. I’m happy because the email implied we had to get our own photos done but they take both for us.
• Getting excited about NaNoWriMo coming up again.
• Decided on my need to create some form of schedule.

Next week:

• Going to London and staying there from Thursday to Monday. Should be fun, aside from the work I have to do while there.
• May need to talk to reception about how long they can hold a parcel before getting rid of it. My binder is due next week but it sounds like they only hold stuff for three days so if it doesn’t come before I leave I need to talk to them so I won’t be screwed if it comes at the end of the week.
• A bit worried about having to comment on other people’s work in class. It sounds like we’ll have to read them out loud. I’d be much more comfortable if we could just hand over our written versions.
• Going to be sad to miss anime society on Thursday night, but I will be happy to see my family and my cat again. My mum said she’d make my favourite dinner.

My NaNo Survival Kit

This is a popular thread on the NaNoWriMo forums, basically a list of the things you'll need for getting through NaNo. Since I want to keep updated here with my progress I thought it would be good to post mine here too.

My laptop and charger

The internet - the following tabs should be on at all times: facebook, youtube or other viewing site, one google tab for research (more if required), another to keep up with emails/uni site/forums/etc, and one for any online thing I'm using to help with writing (at the moment I'm a fan of Written? Kitten!)

Word

My phone and charger

Notebook and pens - for when I'm out or feel the need to write on paper

Paper/pencils/rubber/sharpner - drawing character/settig designs

Folder - to keep plans and such in

Diary

Dressing gown - pretty much wear it constantly while I'm in my room because it's comfy and warm

Motivational poster - Just because

Coffee

Pepsi Max

Snacks

Uni stuff, since I'll be doing that as well, keeping it all together

Books for inspiration

I think that's pretty much all I need.  All the important things anyway.

Pinkie Pie Cupcakes Cosplay Part 2

 A couple of weeks ago I was looking through some pictures on my laptop and found the sketches for the Pinkie Pie cosplay I had planned. It occured to me that I never did get around to posing them online despite having an actual post about the cosplay. It was off of my list for a while for reasons I can't quite remember but it's recently been put back on, though I'm not sure when I'll do it, perhaps next Halloween.

I've learnt quite a bit since first planning this so there are changes to my original plans but I'll show the sketches as they were originally drawn:

The Dress

Most of this plan is still the same, assuming I can aquire or make a base dress of my own, simply because it seems easier than just sewing the top fabrics together. I might make the cutie marks out of felt or some other fabric and make them match ones from actual drawings or represent actual ponies from the show.

Wings

Wire may still be needed but I've seen tutorials suggesting other things for the actual base. I'm not sure which I'll use yet. The rest is pretty much the same. I think I still need to find a better way of holding them on. I'll be doing a different cosplay requiring wings before then so I'm sure I'll learn from that. I may even just make them plushie style as it may be lighter and easier to keep together considering I need so many of them.

The Hat

Okay, this wasn't part of the original costume but I thought it would make a nice addition. After reading the cupcakes story again I at least know what colours it needs to be now. I'm still not completely sure how to make it. Likely foam or paper mache or something of the sort.

Other Stuff

I'm not going to try to make hooves anymore, most people who cosplay the ponies don't so neither shall I. Saves some of the work and will be a lot easier. The other bits I'm keeping, I just need to decide how to do them still, I don't think the ideas I have down for either will work. I'll have a real hacksaw by then but I doubt I'd be allowed to carry it around. The tail I'll probably do a plushie type like I mentioned before. And of course I'll have a wig, as well as lots of blood and cupcakes.

That's basically it. I probably won't think too much more on it until I'm ready to do the cosplay, but I thought it would be nice to share since the original post about this cosplay is my second most popular post.

New Red Dwarf Tonight!

Tonight is the night! The first episode of Red Dwarf X is going to be on TV!

I’ve been watching Red Dwarf pretty much for my entire life and it’s always been among the list of my favourite programmes. I’ve been waiting for this series to begin since I found out it was being made around a year ago, maybe more.

I expect it to be awesome as usual, though I will say it’s weird how much the characters look like they’ve aged. I mean, it’s kind of obvious they would have because it’s been a while since the last series and of course the actors have aged, but it’s still a little odd.

Unfortunately I’m not going to be able to watch it while it’s on TV as it’s on at 9 and I won’t be home from anime society until about 9:20. If the plus channel comes on freeview I may have my chance to watch it then if my flatmates don’t have the TV, otherwise I’ll have to hope I can find it online.

3 Weeks to Expo - Cosplay Update

Deidara

Ordered my wig but I'm really worried it isn't going to come in time. Not sure what I'll do if I don't have it by expo, will either have to pass on doing it or dye my hair and use that.

Still looking for suitable trousers.

Still need to figure out how to do my hands.

Need to make my shoes.

Zexion

Still need to buy new boots.

One of my friends has said I can borrow the book from him so at least I'll have a 'weapon' for one of my cosplays.

Jushiro

Wig has arrived. It wasn't made as a character specific one but it's perfect.

Decided to make my own sandals. Ordered the materials and waiting for them to arrive. Going to start making them next week when I'm in London. I have my socks for it now too.

I’ll probably have pictures next week to show the progress I’ve made so far. I’m getting really excited about expo but, as I said, worried I won’t have everything in time. I’m actually looking forward to next year more in a way because I really want to make my own costumes. That’s why the most excitable part with these ones for me at the moment is the sandals, I just hope they turn out right.

NaNoWriMo is Back!

NaNoWriMo begins on the 1st of November and I am determined to win this year. I had to quit last year because I lost a few days on the uni residential and had a lot going on both in and out of uni. I have even more to do this year but I'm going to manage this as well.

I have no idea what I'm going to write for it yet so I'm going to start making plans. I'll be updating here as I develop plans and make progress once November actually arrives. I think I'll actually have quite a bit to talk about.

Doctor Who - Series 7 So Far - My Thoughts

So series 7 finished on Saturday until the Christmas episode which – making an educated guess – will be on around Christmas. I wanted to review a couple of episodes but then I thought I might as well wait until Saturday’s episode so I could do them all together. There will be spoilers in this for anyone who hasn’t seen some of the episodes so if that’s the case just skip the ones you haven’t seen, I’ll be doing it by episode.

First however, a word on the series as a whole. Doctor Who is one of my favourite shows and has been since it started off again in 2005. I’ve seen every episode since then and recently started watching the older series’ as well. I’m only a few episodes into the first so far however, so I’m not counting it in this. In all honesty, the recent series has been my least favourite so far. That isn’t to say it’s not good, it is, just not as good as the previous ones in my opinion. I find that this one for me has lacked some of the intensity that previous episodes have, which I will explain by episode.

1.            Asylum of the Daleks

The first episode of the series was pretty good. I found the beginning entertaining, as it always is when a dalek has to ask the Doctor for help, of course they did think it would bring about his death as well, but that’s beside the point. Amy and Rory’s relationship is something I’ve always alternated between loving and being annoyed by and in this episode it was more of the latter. They did have good moments in the episode though, such as when Rory triggered the broken dalek to go into exterminate mode.

I loved Oswin’s character, she was fun and pretty awesome and I couldn’t help thinking that she would make a great companion and my friends have agreed, so I was excited when I found out the actress that plays her will be coming back as the Doctor’s new companion in the Christmas episode. We wondered if it would be as the same character but apparently not, so I hope the one she’s going to play will be just as cool.

I was genuinely shocked by the ending although watching the episode again there were so many hints that Oswin was actually a dalek, but I couldn’t predict it. I was actually a bit upset by it, especially when it became clear she would have to die, because I really liked her. I was impressed when it turned out she had made all the daleks forget about the Doctor, but I can’t help but feel that that will make any future encounters with them less exciting. I could be wrong of course.

2.            Dinosaurs on a Spaceship

The title itself implies awesomness and that’s what it was. Maybe it’s just me, but I love dinosaurs, and I’ve been hoping for a long time they would do a Doctor Who episode involving them. I also loved the inclusion of Rory’s father in this episode. I didn’t think he would be a lot of use at first but he turned out to be a great addition and I found myself wishing he would be included in more episodes. Although I felt the same about Nefertiti, it’s nice seeing someone from the past be brought to the future for once. My favourite scene in the episode would have to be the triceratops riding scene, though I was upset when it was killed.

I must admit though, I found parts of it rather predictable. Perhaps that was intended as we were told the actual purpose of the ship before we met Solomon, but it was obvious to me who he was and what he was going to do. I also had an idea of what the Doctor was going to do to avoid the missiles, but I was surprised when he allowed Solomon to be destroyed with his ship. I did enjoy that as it isn’t often the Doctor allows people to die, but this guy deserved it.

3.            A Town Called Mercy

I’m not really a fan of Western themes so I wasn’t sure I was actually going to like this episode, but I did.  Although again, I found it rather predictable, realising who Jex was and what he had done quite early on in the episode. Also as with the previous episode, the Doctor shows his dark side again, wanting to hand over Jex to be killed rather than trying to find a way to save him. Again, I was surprised, though I really enjoyed watching and almost hoped that he would be killed. Later however I found myself sympathising with him though I was happy when he killed himself. I did enjoy the war theme and usually enjoy the ‘person being turned into a weapon’ idea. Especially when they decide to seek revenge and I was happy with the ending as things seemed to work out well for the Gunslinger as well.

4.            The Power of Three

Although I liked this episode and found it to be fun, that’s all it really was. I was actually a bit disappointed with this episode. It was good but nothing really happened. These cubes and those controlling them – who I would have liked a bit more backstory on – had a year to prepare, and yet when they finally took action it was over in a matter of seconds. The Doctor stopped and reversed it all without facing any kind of challenge, it was all too easy. I fail to see how after a year of preparation the ship would have no kind of defence against someone trying to stop them.

5.            The Angels Take Manhattan

Following the last couple of episodes I didn’t think this one would be particularly good, especially as they brought back the weeping angels. They were never my favourite enemy and to be honest I couldn’t think how they might use them in a way different from the previous times. I thought it would end up too similar. I was wrong. This was easily the best episode of the series. It was also the only episode so far this series that made me cry. The ending was beautiful and I found it to be the perfect send off for Amy and Rory, this being one of the episodes where I love their relationship and willingness to die for each other. The scene with Amy saying goodbye to the Doctor and River was heart-breaking. I still have no idea how River’s timeline works and this adds to it. I’ve watched videos specifically on this timeline and there’s always a part where I lose it. I’ve decided to stop asking about that though. As always, I loved her character, though it’s a good thing she refused to travel with the Doctor full time. I’m also confused about how they knew Amy would be the one to publish the book but I suppose it does make sense.