Make-up

I’m giving a lot of thought to investing more in makeup and improving my skills. I’ve just ordered this brush set as my current ones are getting a bit rough around the edges. My thinking is that I can always upgrade incrementally to better brushes when my budget and travels permit (Exeter’s department stores don’t have full ranges, though that might change if and when John Lewis finally opens – Oct 2012 is the latest date I heard)

So do you guys have any recommendations or tips?

Another interesting look…

I love Jennifer Morrison’s boots but Louboutins are way out of my league!

(via Booted up)

Team Fortress 2 and Free-To-Play

This is quite a geeky post - you have been warned.

Valve recently made their game Team Fortress 2 Free-to-Play, with ancillary revenue from the in game MANN CO store providing Valve's income. This has caused some controversy from those that have already purchased the game, but I can't see the issue. If you paid £20 on the game's release back in 2007 you've had four years of play, that works out at £5 per year. I wonder if these people complain when other things they have previously bought are discounted, would you be upset if a game you bought a few years ago is now in the Bargain Bin? If you bought a DVD player before they became available in supermarkets for £15 would you feel aggrieved?

It's not just Valve - other companies are also exploring the Free-To-Play model, with income coming via other sources. I guess it is a reaction to the rise of Facebook games like Farmville, where it is possible to play for free with income coming from people buying things they don't need for gameplay. Things like buildings in Farmville, Hats in Team Fortress are all unnecessary but people still buy them. I can see dynamic in-game advertising becoming more common as well.

I guess a good analogy would be the Low Cost Airlines. Flying to Dublin with Flybe in May, the actual fare was £0.00, of course I had to pay airport tax etc which made it £40 but on the fare breakdown the airline claimed that their share of the amount paid was nothing. (how much they add to the taxes is unknown). However then come the optional extras (the Tractors, Buildings and Hats)

• Seats are assigned automatically - but if I wanted to chose my seat on the plane = £6 each way
• Hand Baggage was free, however hold baggage was extra.
• There was advertising both in the in-flight magazine, on the seat backs and headrests.
• There was a stand promoting the airline's credit card in the departure lounge.

It's possible to avoid these extras (apart from the advertising), much like I've yet to buy anything from the Mann Co. Store in TF2

Of course airlines take things further. Ryanair have advertising over the PA during boarding and flight and have many many more extra charges and have grown to be the largest airline in Europe.

Could we see more of the Games industry going this way with games being free or very low initial cost and optional extras providing the company's profit.

A Gothic Fetish Look

I must say that I love this look....

Not sure about the hair though and obviously it would be for gothy/fetishy things :)

A Style Idea

Images from Come Over to the Dark Side

I love this look, while it's probably a bit fashionista, it would fit my own style quite well. Now to find a nice long skirt!

Birthday Drinks

Birthday Drinks, a photo by Miss Batz on Flickr.

This was what I wore for my birthday drinks. I love the way the dress and boots work together, plus low heels are good for the uneven floors in the White Hart

Forgive the angle, I didn't have time to set the tripod up, so improvised!

Weekend!

I've had a rather fun weekend.

Saturday was the munch at the City Gate, and I decided to go girl* (usually for this munch I have to go straight from work for the last hour only). It was pretty good to catch up, even if some factions are way too noisy and need to calm down a bit, while the pub doesn't have a problem with kinky conversation, shouting such things when there are families with kids at nearby tables might cause problems.



I think it's good that I'm getting my girl confidence back, much as I hate to admit, it would appear that I did take a knock when I had the run in with arseholes a couple of months back. (I also find it ironic that the only place I seem to get hassle is in the gay bar!)

Then on Sunday, I was up early to take some friends out to the RSPCA at Little Valley to collect their new rattie boys, then in the evening we met up again for Pizza and to watch Scott Pilgrim vs The World. I love that film so much!

Now just need to endure work tomorrow before my birthday weekend!

*Outfit for those that are interested was the grey dress and pink hoodie from Tuesday with skinny jeans and flat over the knee boots.

By the River

Had a rather good day off from work on Tuesday. I tackled most of the Washbasket of Doom™ and then played with makeup and clothes and then went posing by the river.

A belated Dublin post

I'm afraid I didn't really take to Dublin as much as I'd hoped, it was nice during the day time but in the evening it felt like a ghost town, the major bomb scare on the Wednesday morning didn't help. I really liked the walking along the waterfront to the point. and there were some very interesting buildings but as a whole it didn't seem to click with me.

The flights were good too, my heart sank a bit when the airside bus drove past the Embraer Jet and up to a Dash 8 turboprop, but the flight was quiet so I managed to get the window seat, which meant a fantastic view of Exeter on takeoff and I could see my flat! I'd also forgotten how fast those things accelerate.







North Devon


Approaching Wales






I saw a few buses with this advert, then spotted one waiting at the lights on the other side of the river! Can't see the ad being passed for use in the UK!






I tried to make a panorama of the spire (it's 400ft tall!) but can't get it to stitch correctly!





*curses that Alstom Van*


No inflight pictures on the way back, the seat belt sign stayed on the whole flight! This one was scheduled to be a Dash 8, and the example provided was very clean and shiny; the reason: it was brand new (googling the registration gave a delivery date from the factory of mid April)

A Voice

Am trying to work on my voice a bit, a few people have suggested CandiFLA's videos for a tutorial. I've only watched two so far and there is hope for me!









So far my attempts have been a bit more strangled cat/minebird then sultry, but will try and record/video my efforts at some point.

Just trying to make it through work today, the idiots seem to be more idiotic even by the standards of the Great British Public, this weekend we've had complaints that we can't give times for local buses in Italy. Does make you wonder. Still I have tomorrow off, think I'll finish tidying and play with makeup and further squawking voice work.