Hello folks!
Yes, it's been far, far too long since I was around in these neck of the woods for more than a fleeting moment!
I've been busying myself with two jobs and a homelife, meaning I have little time to squeeze in those 5-hour long commenting sessions. Unfortunately, I'm a few thousand messages behind, as deviantART is adamant that my commenting is spam! Alas, it means I get to say a lot less on here than I wish to, but c'est la vie.

Anyway, since my last journal entry back in August 2011, my life has rather changed slightly. I now own a house, and not only have I got my full time job as before, I'm also juggling it with my small jewellery business. It's not a huge earner, and I'm far from quitting my day job, but then it's helping me to save for important things like decorating and fixing up my home.



A few of my favourites...

Holy jaysus
Where does time go? I swear it was Christmas about 10 minutes ago- now it is May?! Whut?!
Everything seems to be running smoothly these days. Had a nice time these past couple of weekends with free time off work. I've also had a nice training session on how to describe rocks under a scanning electron microscope. Win.

FAYSE
Well, I gave in to the Face your avatar courtesy of MyLastBlkRose who decided to ask me where my face was! Well, here it is in all it's black and white glory!

This photo contains me, a crisp and one of my many hats. Photo taken by my darling AphexPhoton at work

FAYSEBOOK
I've recently set up a facebook page for my jewellery. Yes, it took forever, but I've been in a million different places for the past few months! I would much appreciate if any fans here added the page of their 'Like's. The photography page is just for photography. Xerces Art has all my jewellery stuff
Facebook page for Xerces Art
Facebook page for Xerces Photography

Pimpage
For those that haven't ventured to my page in a while, I've got a new box above the comments to pimp anything worth pimping (Not images, mind). If you've got a news article, contest or journal to pimp, give me a shout and I'll add it in.

Forum Features 16
Reports of Malware and Virus Advertisements
Forum features 15
Face your avatar
Forum features 14
One Cat, One Fruit, One Clock Semi-Finalists
Putting the ART in #devART Vol. 19
The LOL Corner [#107]
I Came, I dAmned, I Founded [12]
Those dAmn Rules Explained! [ #1]
Recommend a print
Earth Day, 2011
Volume 13 Contests Accepting Artisan Craft Entries
Interview with metalsmitten

Jewellery
I''ve been on a total roll this weekend in hyper concentration mode making loads of jewellery. All I need to do is take photos of all the things I've made now before they get put up online. I have a few bits and pieces to submit to dA shortly- some of them seem to be quite popular. One sold before I had a chance to put it on dA for you all to see D:

Much needed features! _{Featuring favourites regularly since 2007}
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And by short I mean..
Not that short
A lot has gone on since my last journal back in November. Alas, it has been much too long, but my life has rather been cast into turmoil these couple of months, and unfortunately, I have had no real internet connection of which to speak while I've been tidying my life up.

WTF happened?
In short:
My grandfather died
I split up with my boyfriend
Got together with my best friend, AphexPhoton
Moved out of my house unofficially and into my bosses house
Moved out officially
Taking steps to move in with AphexPhoton and begin a new life together

While this above description seems simple, it was indeed a rather messy affair and has caused me a lot of grief and hurt in the process. I'm not particularly innocent in the way it has all happened, but I do not regret what has happened. This series of events, although including that of my grandfather's passing have made me realise a lot of things, and although I've been so sad as a result of this loss, my choice of getting together with AphexPhoton has made me very happy- happier than I ever imagined I could be.
It's odd feeling to see that friends and family are so happy for me getting with Robert- like they've all been waiting for it or something. It was made apparent that a lot of friends had seen us getting closer, but hadn't said anything. Perhaps that is why they're happy too.

Normality will resume shortly
Once I get a place to live, a consistent internet connection and my desktop beast up and running again, normality will resume in the form of more photography and more jewellery. I can't wait to get it all started again. Work and my personal life have rather taken over recently, and I have many messages still to respond to and many deviations to comment on. My apologies for not being able to get to them all sooner.


Thank you
Thanks to everyone that wished me a happy birthday last month, and also many thanks to all of you that sent your kind words and feelings in November when my grandfather died. It has been a very hard tome for me, and it is so nice to know that there are so many people that care- even if just that little bit to send a quick message. It was much appreciated


Welcome
Welcome the new recruits to the MN@ team, the lovely junoknight, evilsyndicatemember and TRlCKS!

Also, send some love to ananasjihad, dxd, Oukan and kit-y for their upgrade to MN@ mentors! Well done!

Much needed features! _{Featuring favourites regularly since 2007}
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Mature Content

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Mature Content

Sad times
My grandfather died today while in the garden.
Very sudden.
I was going to tell him how much I enjoyed my trip to Munich for mine and Geoff's 5th Anniversary, but I missed my chance. I'm confident he knows it all the same. I'll miss him so much.
A guiding light and a beautiful person. Someone that has gone so far, and seen so much. I've learned so much from him, and it pains me to know I will never get to learn more.
I'm not a religious person, but I would like to believe we all end up where we think we will- heaven, a parallel universe, wherever. I'm sure he's ended up where he thought he would, and that is bound to be a good place.
May he Rest in Peace.


Thanks Rob for being there, and being an awesome friend.
Thanks Geoff for driving me home and being there.
Thanks big bro for calling me when I needed it.
My heart goes out to my dad, who lost his father today.


It's been a while since I wrote a journal without all the regular features, so normal transmissions will be resumed shortly.
Thanks for understanding if I'm not replying to your messages.
<3