model mayhem

This week has been dominated by one thing - work. Apart from an excursion on Monday to have a few drinks with Czech mates (see what I did there?) Honza and Mira, I have had my head down all week - focused on the prize. The prize in question was the successful development of some models for a place to write and perform haiku in. A nice and fairly open brief. Friday is crit day, and today was our final opportunity to get some formative feedback on our design models, so we were going at it "bags out" as we say in Shetland, to have our models finished to the best of our ability. We were also being given a provisional grade, which was kinda scary. So, in order to meet this challenge, I have been putting in the hours at the studio - until 11pm on both Wednesday and Thursday nights. And I think it paid off. I don't know what my provisional grade is, but I feel reasonably satifsied with my scheme and my progress. So fingers crossed.

Whats really nice, is I can hardly beleive that this is my occupation these days. Gone are the woes of life in the world of education research. Instead, long hours in college are a relative pleasure! Hurrah for architecture!

Grassmarket

I walk home from college through the Grassmarket in Edinburgh - a square in the heart of the old part of the town which is dominated by the towering castle above to the north-west. The Grassmarket is lined with places to eat and drink (especially drink), a few hotels (mainly Apex) and, I think its fair to say that its a place for having a night out, either for dinner, drinks, or a night or two away in a different city.

Amongst the tourists I encounter checking out the bars and the places to catch some nosh, I have recently spotted a youngish guy who seems to be homeless, sat on the pavement near to one of the classy hotels. The first time I saw him I prepared myself for the typical "spare any change?" line,... which didn't come. He didn't even notice me walk past. Somewhat surprised, I looked down and saw that he was far too engaged in writing in a book. Even more surprised, and probably slightly relieved, I carried on. I came across him again later in the week, in the same place, and as I approached I wondered if he would still be writing, and what words could occupy him more than the thought of change in my pocket. As I grew closer I found that he was busily completing sentances in a language learning activity book. I almost fell off the pavement. Now, firstly, I was amazed and yet pleased to see someone in such dire circumstances attempting to learn something. I couldn't tell if it was English or a foreign language, but that might not matter. The point is this person was learning, doing something about his situation. Secondly, and much less importantly, I was pissed off with myself, for having made so little progress in learning another language, despite all the linguaphone materials on my bookshelf at home in my comfy, warm flat on the Royal Mile. It was a real kick up the arse for me. I was really impressed with this guy, and I suppose he's taking the same steps that people who sell the big issue have made - doing something. But his quiet and dignified modesty makes me more inclined to support him. Although I have thousands of pounds of debt, I think I'll give him a few pence next time I see him.