winding down?

This is hands down the best time of the year.  My birthday is coming up and Christmas means that I can allow myself to shut down for a few days without hustling for work.

My work as a commercial model means I can be called upon to do some very odd shoots.  I was asked to do something for a nearby (but not too local) council to highlight some attention on the very serious issue of elder abuse.  For my part, I was featured as a care home assistant up to no good. There were three featured models, and I was the dodgy person who was swindling an old man.   The range of expressions were; carefree and laughing to guilty and remorseful.  When I hear the director express surprise that someone" gets it" I don't realise how much experience I actually have until I contrast myself with extras hired for the day (who are blurred out in the main poster ads).   It's really second nature to have hot camera lights on me whilst taking direction.

This is a change from product ads, whether toothpaste or cars, they have similarities.  

It all went quickly for the 'pub' scenes but as ever the real office shoot (after I've been 'caught and exposed') had its problems.   The lighting in an office is never bright enough and there's always someone in an impossible position attempting to hold the backdrop in place.

I can't wait to hang about in the locale after looking at the posters and poring over the press to make sure I've got a copy for my scrapbook.  I'm still trying to put a showreel together and it's slightly easier now than when I first started.  YouTube has my Bad Girls appearances, and it's easier to source things with the internet, no matter how obscure.

Socially, I'm getting into the mood for Christmas... See my handmade door wreath...

I'm just awful at present wrapping as I lack any kind of patience for it.  I have to get Ma around to dress the tree and wrap presents.  Perhaps when I'm her age I'll have learned to sit still for long enough.

I've earned a little Christmas money from my recent work, enough even to inspire my daughter to sudden announce that she fancied getting in on the action.  Even though agents always ask for her, she has kept maintaining she's given it up.  Recently, she agreed to sign to my agent at the last minute.  I called a quick cab and asked the driver to wait and return while we dashed in to sort out the contract.  He rang me while we were inside to say he couldn't wait.  Grrrrr.  I persuaded him that he had agreed to so he had to.  

So this month has been castings, possible overseas work coming up (passport at the ready), cat sitting for Ma while she was away, friends appearing for drinks and present swapping, and cooking, baking and shopping.  

I'm ready to wind down until the beginning of next year.  Happy whatever-holiday-you celebrate everyone.