days go by

Today was one of those days that started off not all that much different from any other, and proceeded to spiral abruptly downwards into a barrage of stresses one after another. Probably nothing I can’t cope with taken individually, but all at once makes for quite the sucker-punch. I feel a little lost, a little frustrated, more than a little guilty (probably needlessly, as usual)… and really exhausted and burnt out, which is odd considering I’ve not done much today at all. Why is it that emotional drainage invariably translates to physical drainage but not the other way round? Thank goodness for the lingering high from Star Trek last night – movie of the year so far ♥

Thank goodness, too, for today’s brilliant free public screening of the Royal Ballet’s Ondine in Trafalgar Square tonight. It was a great introduction to an art form I’ve had little to no experience with, and the atmosphere in the square was fantastic: very informal, relaxed, lively – huge cheers and waves from the 4000-strong crowd every time a live broadcast from Trafalgar Square went up (to be viewed by all the other 19 BP Big Screens round the UK watching Ondine tonight! envy us Londoners) – and lots of hearty applause during the ballet itself. It reminded me of Fort Canning outdoor movie nights with my family, picnic packed and all, and made me feel like… this is what the arts should be. Just a bunch of people sitting around to watch a performance, without any need for a lavishly decorated hall, perfect acoustics, glossy programmes, interval snacks, and comfy seats. There was a strange camaraderie about it all – like we were a horde of crazy people all in this together, willing to stake out good spots early and sit in the cold for hours just to watch a ballet on a big screen under Nelson’s Column.

London’s sunny days are over, apparently, at least for a while – the perfect preamble to a forthcoming weekend of holing myself up with job applications once again. Onwards, as always.