I'M BAAAAAAACK!!!  I just back from my Easter weekend in London, I had a fantastic time!!    

On the Friday I got my mum watching this new documentary series called "Human Planet". If you haven't watched it yet, it is a must see. It's amazing to see how all these other humans live. You wouldn't think we were all on the same planet.  Plus John Hurt narrates it so that's defiantly a plus!
  My favourites were this young boy in Africa who chased off these (bloody scary looking!) monkey's from eating his family's crops, that boy was awesome! He was only 11, I wouldn't have gone near them! They were scary looking!!  They are called Gelada Monkeys, and you honestly tell me, would you want to mess with these?!?!    [link] I sure as fuck wouldn't!!
  My other favourite was this man taking his children to school. They lived in the Himalayan Mountains and to get to school they had to track across the Zanskar River. The river is frozen solid and it took them 6 days to get there. It was so damn scary cos in some parts they had to crawl under these parts of the mountain where the ice was so thin beneath them. Also there was a part where they had to shimmy across this ledge of the mountain that wasn't even 20cm wide. It was terrifying, my mum was almost too scared to watch it! All I though watching it was, "Mate, no school is worth all that!! Your kids are way better staying with you than in any poncy school!" Honesty, their dad is so hardcore! He kicks ass!! I absolutely adore this man for his efforts. He appeared in the Rivers episode and I beg you all to watch it!
Watching them gave me such inspiration for KFP related stories. ^^
Also my mum got me watching this program called "Majestic White Horses" which shows the white horses at the riding school in Vienna. I even learned that a lot of the horses start out dark and turn white when they grow up. It was so beautiful to learn about such an elegant tradition and the music was so beautiful.

Then on the Friday, my auntie Len (sorry if I spelled her name wrong) and after a good pep talk I think I'm starting to grow more confidence in my work. My uncle even phoned me from the US and said he's watching my documentary.  Also on a related note, two of the films he worked on are coming out soon, "The Avengers" and "Battleship".  COMING OUT SOON!!!     He's coming over in the summer so I can see him and the rest of the family then. he told me once he's watched the documentary he will email me I can't wait!!!!!!
All my relatives are quite proud of me and with the documentary and my artwork and I have finally learned to accept my abilities and have more confidence.  After all, I have done well. I'm proud of my drawings. Also the documentary is (so far) my best achievement. I just have to thank this magnificent creature for the inspiration.   It took a lot of will power and it was a long seven months.  I only hope to make my next big KFP related project way better.
My auntie Allison was really proud. She's offered me the chance to come over in August and vista few galleries with her, I'm in! She's also requested a portrait of myself for her to frame. Also I should be able to see my cousin Jake as well; I heard he's been fascinated with some cultures and various things. He even went through a China phase, from what I've heard. I haven't seen him since he was the ring bearer at my mother and fathers wedding.
My uncle Nile was talking to me and he wants me to design a tattoo for him. He suggested something along the lines of a Celtic angel in memory of his mother, my auntie pat. I was more than honoured that he asked me. Also he said that the tattoo artist could pay me a fair amount for it after its done. I was like, That is awesome!! Nile was suggesting all sorts and my dad was defo getting involved! (He doesn't talk much) So that was defo a great leap forward!!   
Also my nana gave me such wonderful gifts. She gave me this beautiful mug that this Chinese friend gave to her. It's this mug that has a lid on it just like a teapot. It is deep pink with beautiful Chinese markings and patterns. I honestly can't describe how beautiful it is.  She also gave me a crucifix, its black. I don't know what metal its made from, but something about it looks kinda hardcore. I think it might be titanium. (It was certainly a challenge trying to get it over my Fro! )  And she also gave me £20. Finally she gave me her Chinese cookery books, these books are really old. They have been in her house longer than me. But I couldn't have been more grateful.
It was great seeing everyone, my nana and granddad cooked some fabulous food, I could have feasted on their rice, red cabbage and sweet potatoes all night! And don't get me started on my mum and my Grandad's famous fish cakes!  Which reminds me, my nan gave her a little miniature painting called "The Black Madonna" and the picture frame has peacocks engraved into the gold.


But the part I know you all want to here is what happened on Saturday!! I went to CHINATOWN BABY!!! WOOO HOOO!!

OMG it was so damn fab!!!! The streets and shops were beautiful!!! There these Lion statues and the plaques had both Mandarin and English writing. I have to tell you about the bakeries. My nan got this AMAZING chestnut cake and I got a cute little Panda cake. OMG if you think the Chinese's savoury cooking was good you should taste their baking!!! OMG I have ever tasted such a lighter, creamier and fluffier sponge in my life!!! They were decorated so beautifully, I didn't want to spoil them! I had to close my eyes as I took the first bite. X3 the box my nana got her cake in was lovely, black and red and it was folded like Origami!
The shops were such marvel to behold. It was just like being there! I noticed on a couple of packets they had something called "Hello Panda" as well as "Hello Kitty". I wish we all had that. I saw those ring shaped cakes just like the ones they had in the winter festivals. And OMG the other goodies and cookies!!! They had round lollipops that were as big as my fist. Also in one of the shops there was this beautiful silk dress with a peacock on it, but they didn't have any in my size, so I couldn't get it. That and my other was determined to get me out as fast as possible before I spedn more money! X3
Of course we went to a Chinese restaurant for a meal; we had plenty to choose from. We went to a place called the Royal Dragon. We had a damn good meal, it was all fantastic. There were even some Chinese singers in the street. On the way back we even saw a Tiger-printed rickshaw. ^^
But of course it didn't take me long grab a hold of my card and give it a good work out in the shops! Here are the things I bought:
I got a green Chinese Opera mask. It is SO going on my wall.
A gold Maneki Neko, I knew about them for years so I've always wanted one to have by my desk to give me good luck while I'm working. It is simply stunning looking.
A Gold statue of the Chinese zodiac animals. It is amazing! It's this really bright gold with all the animals together, with the Chinese dragon as the main, all standing on a pile of Jewells and Yen.  It is one of the most beautiful things I have ever seen. Words simply can't describe it.
A fan with some red crowned cranes on it. I know that they are the most well respected birds in China.  I have had such a fascination for them recently and have been studying them for my project. The fan really works. It defo cool you down.
A fridge magnet. It's basically a blue and green fan that looks kinda like a peacock tail with some Pandas on it.
A red silk handbag with the Chinese phoenix called Fenghuang on it. As soon as I saw her on it with her peacock-like tail on it, I knew I simply had to have it. I just fell head over heels!!
Beautiful carved chopsticks that are wrapped in their own silk case. To beautiful to use.



That's it so far peeps!! I';m on top of the world and while I am back to work, I'm still taking it easy and I'm a lot happier now Ciao!!!