Tantai Jin Apologist

Second time I essentially got my own private screening, as I went to a small independent cinema on a Wednesday afternoon & it's a few weeks into its run, so it was just me. Did nearly get lost in the place, even though it only has 3 screens, because in order to fit within the fairly small building its located in, the layout is odd & the hallways are a maze.

I'm rereading the book now, because it's been a while since I read it.

Speaking of books, I managed to pick up a copy of Ways of Seeing by John Berger from WH Smith (or whatever its calling itself these days) for £1 on clearance. I absolutely was not expecting that. Just went in because I needed stationary & that shop is so overpriced, the clearance section is the best option. I such a good book & I've wanted by own copy for a while, so randomly stumbling on one like this was very nice indeed. There was also a fun art book (Journal With Purpose by Helen Colebrook), that might actually encourage my creativity. Every art guide aimed at beginners is like 'Just draw things! Be creative!' & I'm like OK, but draw what? My mind is as blank as the paper I'm looking at. Or they're step guides on how to draw specific things that I don't necessarily want to draw ('Do you mean step-by-step guides?' No, because they don't have steps. It's like 'Step 1: Draw some circles & then some lines between them. Step 2: Fill in a shitload of detail & you're done!'). This book is full of little motifs & designs to try out doodling in order to add decorative touches to stuff & play around with. This is exactly what I want. I don't have any grand designs on being some skilled artist. I just wanna doodle stuff & have fun with shapes.

Annoying that I wasted a day, but at least it didn't mean extensive repairs to my flat.

The end result: I've whittled own the number of recipes I have saved to a few favourites at I'll know I'll make again. And the box of assorted kitchen equipment got taken to a charity shop yesterday, without even glancing at what is still in it. I did cheat a little - there were a couple of things I took out for a recipe, but I hated the result, & will therefore never make it again, so using the item didn't count & it went back in the box.

Same with the microwave. Once in a while there's been something I've wanted to heat & being able to just stick it in the microwave would be convenient. But there's always been other ways, or I've decided it's not worth bothering.

There are one of two recipes left, so that part's not finished, but they don't require equipment I don't already have.

I definitely need to rewatch at home to catch everything I totally missed. Though I feel this won't be one I'll watch over & over like the previous two.

First time I've been to the cinema since before covid (last film I saw in the cinema was Rise of Skywalker, which would put anyone off wasting money on cinema tickets, especially considering how much they cost nowadays). To be fair, there's been stuff since that I might have been interested in seeing, but the cost of tickets means I have to be sure I really want to see something, & have money to burn that I'm willing to make a risky bet with. And have the time. This was the first time all those things have applied.

Also today I checked out a vintage kilo sale on my way to the cinema, but didn't see anything that interesting.

Have to wait a few days because my parents are in town & expect me to spend time with them (while being vague on their plans for each day, so I spend my day sitting waiting to see if they'll arrange to meet up & so get nothing done *sigh*). But hey a few days is fine.

Then I stumbled onto the concept of customisable multi-function pens. I can pick my colours! Not only that, but I can pick thickness, which is extra useful as I have awful handwriting & a fine tip makes it slightly less illegible. I got the 5 colour version of the Uni-Ball Style Fit, with black, red, violet, & rose pink inks (all in 0.28mm), & a pencil.

So I've packed it up in its box, & will leave it for a month or so. If I don't have any desperate urge to get it back out within that time, it goes.

That also made me realise how much kitchen utensils & bowls I have when I haven't bothered cooking owt from scratch in a few years. I just got out of the habit. I also have a bunch of recipes I've wanted to try that are cluttering up my notes app. So I've chucked all the stuff I don't use in a box, & I'm going to go through those untried recipes (as well as a bunch I've tried before). I'll make stuff & remove items from the box as I need stuff (though if I end up hating that particular recipe or see no reason to make it again, then the item will go back in the box). Anything left at the end goes. I've already made bread, & the large mixing bowl, loaf tin, & a wooden spoon have been deemed worthy of retrieval from Box Purgatory.

:(

Then a few weeks ago I went to a car boot sale & a guy had a whole box of cameras for sale. Not tested, & most were grimy & had clearly been left on a shelf somewhere gathering dust & dirt, but they were only £1 each, so not too big a loss if I choose poorly. I rummaged through the box, &... recognised one of the cameras. I was the one my family had as a kid. A Hanimex 35HS. Bought it for the intense nostalgia alone. And also since I'd used it before, I knew it took decent pics. Though sadly when I got it home, away from the crowd, it was unlikely to work, as something was rattling around loose inside. Still, it was nice to know the make & model of camera I learned to take photos on.

Then a week later I was in a vintage/antiques store, & there was another one. This one would be more than £1, but had a higher chance of working, but there was no price. A tag had been attached, & there was even a £ sign, but no price, & the lady at the counter explained that the guy who valued stuff & set the prices wasn't in that day, but I don't live in the town so I couldn't just come back.

At that point it felt personal so I went on eBay & looked & someone was selling one boxed with the manual for £4, so I bid & won.

Now I have film for it (which cost more than the camera did lol). Just got to find stuff to take photos of that are worth the cost of developing them.