I have started jogging. Saturday, Sunday, and today, I ran 4km and walked 1km. That's in addition to my usual walk to and from the train station and whatever else I do. Let me tell you, I should have started small. My legs are killing me - but I'll be doing it again tomorrow! It's kind of fun.

Well, I've put up a few of my earrings on Ebay - click here to have a look! Unfortunately Ebay's picture uploader didn't work for me, so I had to upload my pictures elsewhere. It meant I couldn't put the pictures in the search results, so a potential buyer has to actually click on the item to see the picture. Not so good, but there's not much I can do about it. Incidentally, if any of the items shown take your fancy, or if you want anything specific made, let me know and I'll have a crack at making it for you - and I'll even do "mates rates" if you promise to spread the word on where you got it! (Hey, it was worth a shot!)

I finished the Deathly Hallows in about seven hours yesterday. Boy it's good! Couldn't put it down. I queued for an hour to get it, and midway through my queueing I was joined by Andrew who went to a quieter bookshop and got his in under ten minutes. Then we went and drank lots of tea and read together! I won't tell you anything about what happens or who dies, and I'll try not to gloat too much that I know.

However I am now feeling somewhat lost. There is a profound sense of having finished with something the like of which I will never see again. I now don't know what to read, as very little seems to have the same appeal anymore. It's odd that I was so easily satisfied before, knowing the last Harry Potter was still to come, and now no other book really seems worth reading. I'm sure this feeling will pass - it must simply be the realisation of the event anticipated for so long. For months it was "on the way", for seven hours it was "reading it now", and now it's "all over".

In the aftermath of Potter, I picked up something I haven't read for a long time: Isobel Carmody's collection of short stories, Green Monkey Dreams. I had forgotten how intriguing and otherworldly her stories can be. I sometimes think she is like me: the world as it is isn't enough, or is too much, and must be pushed away in favour of fantasy and dream worlds. She often writes of events supposed to have taken place after some great apocalyptic catastrophe, the world wiped clean of the scourge of humanity as it is, and started anew. She writes, too, of human nature and the ways in which we delude ourselves. Poor Poppy, who pretends to be a monster and chases her siblings, runs the fastest to escape herself. Rian, who learns anguish through loving and losing. Matthew, who sacrifices happiness for the chance to fit in. And Noah. Noah embraces his different-ness, uses it as a defence, is proud of it. Noah knows he has fairy blood, even though he's an orphan. I like Noah.

Stories make me wish there was something different about me. Why don't I have fairy blood, why aren't I a witch, or a gypsy, or the daughter of a god? I guess that's escapism, pure and simple. I'd rather be anything rather than the painfully normal person I actually am. I still want Hagrid to knock down my door and say, "You're a witch, Stacy!" Silly, I know. The only person likely to knock down my door is the landlady, and she'd only say "Clean up the back yard, Stacy!"

Well, here are a few very early efforts...

As you can see, two pairs of earrings and a bracelet... nothing spectactular or out of this world, but some fun. I'll probably even wear them! I'm not really a bracelet person, but I'll wear it just to prove a point. I'd like to get into more "real" jewellery - setting precious stones and things, rather than just wire and glass beads, but this is some entertaining experience in the meantime!

Well, the weekend was lots of fun and I'm not yet sick of Harry Potter. I'm still hanging out for the book this Saturday - We have it on pre-order, so I'll be lining up outside the bookshop waiting for it to open...!!! I think Harry's going to die, so I'm going to buy a big box of tissues before I even start reading!

We saw my parents on Sunday, and we're seeing Aidan's parents tonight. It turns out that our fathers' birthdays are within days of each other, which is just another eerie similarity in the lives of Aidan and myself.

I've started to make jewellery. Nothing fancy or flash, just little simple creations of wire and beads, but it's fun. I'm thinking of trying to do an apprenticeship and becoming a real jeweller, but it's still just a grub of an idea so far.

Anywho, some of us have got to get to work... Take care!

I have a feeling that I'm going to be very sick of Harry Potter by Sunday! Andrew, Chantell, Aidan and myself will be watching the first two movies on Friday, the third and fourth on Saturday, then heading out to catch the fifth at the cinemas on Saturday afternoon. Although reviews have been somewhat scathing, I'm still looking forward to it. The weekend promises to be lots of fun!

There's nothing wrong with doing cryptic crosswords in the bath!

I passed on my second try! I am now officially able to ride a scooter. Pictured is the V Moto Montego 125, which is probably my first preference to buy. Would anybody care to donate to the Stace Needs A Scooter Fund?! Never mind, my father in law reckons we can get it cheap through his contacts, so we'll see what eventuates!

Not much time right now, I have to get to work. More later!

I survived my first motorbike lesson! Actually I got to ride a scooter instead of a geared bike, because I told the guy I was looking at buying a scooter. I didn't know I'd be able to choose, so it's great that I'm able to learn and practice on a machine so similar to what I will eventually own. Anyway, the lesson went really well, I was scared and nervous about a few things, but managed to complete all manoeuvres successfully! I fell once - and this is embarrassing - I wasn't even moving at the time! I was straddling the scooter, both feet on the ground, then I tried to kick the stand up... I couldn't find the kickstand, lost my balance, and fell! Not to worry, Scooter and I are both fine apart from a small graze on my knee! So tonight I have my theory class and test, and then next Sunday is the practical skills test, back on the scooter. I'm now confident that I'll pass just fine!