In which there is a Lego ninja village, and nostalgia

Making this village come to life has been my main occupation over the last few weeks. I've been working very hard in my 2 jobs, and feeling pretty worn out. I've also felt worn down by computers and twitter and all the jazz, so just having a project to work on that was nothing like that at all, and involved sitting on the carpet clicking bricks together has been beautifully relaxing. I love this village, and am really proud of it.

My next plan is to build a Lego onsen with little bathing lego monkeys, and then maybe a restaurant! I also love that the style of buildings actually look like those in Yudanaka where I was earlier in the year, in Japan, seeing the monkeys. Ok, so there were no ninjas there (that we saw) but the style and mood of this Lego brings me back.

I'll always look back on 2015 as the year that I got to live my dream and go to Japan.

Wolverine, on one of his many visits to Japan, enjoying a cookie. Well, as best he can with that permanent angry face.

This was the base of the large temple at the point I was confused as to what any of these seemingly random pieces were going to do.

The whole town as it is currently set up.

Man with own firework set, preparing for a proposal.

This little shrine is modelled off one that I saw in Japan.

This is the back of the large temple, with 3 full rooms of stuff.

If you hadn't spotted it, yes there is robo-ninja.

And why wouldn't Deadpool be there?

And Nya is my favourite ninja of all, so she gets to be at the front of the whole thing.

Also: Side point, I got Instagram, and I love it.  The instant hearts for posting things soothes my fragile ego. Why did I even bother with Pinterest for all that time? I'm called Nesient over there if you like these pictures & want to follow. I'm mainly posting stuff I see in London, especially graffiti, selfies, and Lego. 

In which I have been distracted

I can't just keep making excuses every time I sit down to blog, as the last few months have been so sporadic. But all the same, I thought I'd do a little bit of a life update post, answering the question what have I been up to that's been keeping me from the Internet?

1. Christmas. Yes, it was a while ago, but all that Christmas stuff happened, and it was definitely one massive distraction. I went South and saw Andy's parents, and then North to see mine.
And I got some sweet stuff. 

We are calling these new suitcases our 'Stormtroopers on tour' look. And yes, that is a Lego luggage tag!

 We went to visit a fashion exhibition on feathers which was quite incredible.

 Once again I enjoyed having some relaxing moments in the countryside.

2. With a Christmas bonus we bought ourselves a brand new tv when we got back home. I mean check this out, it's actually twice the size of the old one. I'm almost embarrassed by how huge we went.

We also built that unit it stands on which I am so proud of! It was a flat pack thing, it's not like we sawed out the pieces, but I still put hinges on cupboards for the first time which isn't easy. The whole thing means games are actually readable, and we can even play 2 players things which before were too small. So I've been mildly addicted to Mass Effect for a while.

3. Our trip to Japan is almost all booked!
At the end of March my husband and I are doing 2 and half weeks in Japan. I am trying not to talk about it too much, because after all it's only a holiday to everyone else. It's not like we are moving there. All the same, it has been a life goal of mine for about 13 years, that is about to come true. So I've been working hard on my studying the language, going to my classes and reading my text book instead of novels on my commute to work. On my days off I have been going to my local cafe, eating tea cakes and writing kanji instead of blogging and I'm proud of how far I've come.

I have also succumbed a little bit of feelings of pointlessness about blogging. When YouTube is so clearly the thing of the moment, (or is it Vine? or Tumblr?) I sometimes feel that we're practicing a dying art. All the same, the words and pictures combo is what books and newspapers and films with subtitles are made of, so I think it might be kicking around for a while longer. I will try and do my best to go back to blogging, and get some outfit pictures done this weekend. After all, I have a beautiful pink leather jacket that needs flaunting...

In which my Christmas jumper is totally math

Ok, there's no denying I pretty much abandoned blogging in the Autumn. I kept wanting to do it, to read up on everyone, but I didn't feel motivated by it. I was working really hard and when I came in all I wanted to do was relax away from a computer. Well sort of. I spent a lot of time playing this game:

Well actually, Mass Effect 1, and I played a Femme version of Shepherd who looked more like Pousee from Orange is the New Black than either of the usual depictions of her.

Oh and then a lot of evenings were spent on these two incredible shows: Avatar: the Last Airbender and Avatar: The Legend of Korra. I find it hard to explain how amazing these two shows are, or how much they mean to me. 

I can say that they have incredible female characters who are able to achieve everything their male counter-parts are. They are amazing for who they are, as people. There's also so much development of everyone, there's political commentary and interesting family relationships. It has such fantastic moments that you can't believe they are doing them in a kid's show and at the same time it never feels like they are pushing an agenda. It's just all perfect storytelling.

In Legend of Korra I love that they were like 'ok we'll give a female led fantasy show a go' and then didn't just stick with Korra, they made the most wonderful and varied women and girls throughout the whole show. With grandmas and little girls who are all brilliant. Watching 4 seasons of 2 shows meant a lot of evenings sitting with hot chocolates under the blanket, thinking about bending over blogging.

But I wanted to tip my toes back in to giving an outfit post ago, with yet another bit of cartoon love. I brought this jumper after thinking about it for a good month. Then I finally caved in and made an hour and half trip to buy it - getting the very last one in the shop!

I don't know if you can tell but it's all about Adventure Time - another kid's cartoon I'm a fan of. I'd tell you I watch adult shows too, but to be honest since Orphan Black finished I'm all about the cartoons.

Sorry the photos aren't great but I think we were a little out of practice. Also it was really windy!
We had to keep pausing in between to wait for clouds and wind to be in the right position.

So that's a little of what I've been up to. Now to catch up on all the blogs!
Hope you have a lovely Christmas.

In which there is Lego which is one of a kind

I haven't been blogging or commenting much lately because I haven't really had the energy to . I've actually been kind of ill for the last couple of weeks. It's not a pity post, but I do feel I'm going a little mad from frustration. I said to my boss the other day that I feel like a hypochondriac with all these different ailments, but largely the worst of which is that they are contributing to insomnia and I've been having a lot of trouble sleeping lately which means I've had to retain all my energy for work and then collapse. I really want to be blogging and reading everyone's posts and admiring amazing outfits, but I find my level of consciousness more suited to idle Tumblr scrolling and self-pity.

Howver! Tis evening something actually inspired me. I came in at half 7 and spent the next 2 hours (literally) making these beauties. It's crazy that it took me so long but I have Lego all over the house and had to hunt across shelves and in boxes and on top of picture displays to find all the parts. But then I felt a sense of true creative happiness in the creation of Orphan Black Lego. Behold. 

There's Kira, Dr Leekie, Paul, Rachel, Delphine, Cosima, Cal, Sarah, Felix, Alison, Donnie, Art, Mrs S, Tomas

Sisters

"I just want to make crazy science with you."

Felix, Alison and Sarah. Chilling.

Heehee. She has the 'Top Secret Plan' card from the Lego Movie set. *is proud*

Felix, Sarah & Mrs. S. Don't mess with their family.

Ok so it's not all right. Yes, Rachel actually has blonde hair. I only had a red bob, and it seems like a style she could have. Sarah's hood is green and doesn't match her jacket, but that's the only one I got, and Helena's hair just aint got her wild roots and weird look. But please don't get all purist on my ass - or do, and then buy me the extra Lego I want! Hahah.

Also if you are interested some of the people who were decapitated or destroyed in the making of my clones include: a Lego move robot, a fisherman, a tennis player, a vampire, all my scientists, a zombie, a thief, a Lord of the Rings elf, Robin of Batman & Marilyn Monroe, a vampire slayer and a surprising amount of Lego men in suits.

What do you think?