Saturday, May 12, 2012

Myatt's Fields Park in May / 春天的米亞法羅公園


今天傍晚從書桌抬頭一看,窗前的樹已經冒出嫩綠的葉子!

This evening when I raised my head, the tree in front of my window has grown some tender new leaves.


從賽倫賽斯特回來之後只想待在家裡,但是每天一定要去米亞法羅公園散步,老實說我覺得它比庫肯霍夫花園還美麗。

Since I came back from the trip to Cirencester, I have felt the strong desire to stay at home. However, it's my routine to go for a walk in Myatt's Fields Park every day. To be honest, I find it much more beautiful than Keukenhof.






樹木都穿上綠色的衣服!

The trees are all clad in green! 




不同品種的花朵輪番綻放,顏色美不勝收。

Different kinds of flowers are in bloom one after another as if they were in a relay game. The colors are more than amazing. 




再來點藍天白雲和陽光,這就是我會最懷念的倫敦景色。

And some clouds, blue sky, and sun. This will be what I miss most about London. 





Sunday, May 06, 2012

Cirencester / 賽倫賽斯特


賽倫賽斯特位於倫敦西北西方向距離一百五十公里,我們搭了兩小時又四十分的巴士才到。

Cirencester is about 150 km west northwest of London. It took us 2 hours and 40 minutes to get there by bus. 




賽城曾經是重要的羅馬城鎮,從簡樸的石砌風格可以看出來和一般英式小城不太相同。

Cirencester used to be an important Roman area. You can tell that from its stone architecture, which is different from that of other British towns. 


賽西里山丘城堡,現用來做為賽倫賽斯特預備大學用地。

Cecily Hill Gate. It is now used as part of Cirencester College. 


有店面的蔬果店。

Vegetable and fruit shop. 




一般住宅的門不是很高,巷道裡非常安靜。

The doors to houses are not very tall. It's rather quiet on the streets. 




聖約翰浸禮會教堂。這座教堂裡有羅馬時代、諾曼時期遺留下來的圓柱共存,教堂服務的阿姨要我們親手撫摸歲月的痕跡。因為英國是個很有歷史的國家,我發現英國人在這方面非常感性。

The Church of St. John Baptist. In this church, there are pillars left from the Roman and Norman periods. The lady that works there wanted us to feel the traces of time by touching them. Britain is a country with a long history, I find that the British people are  easily moved when it comes to witnessing historical artefacts. 




教堂背後是優雅寧靜的墓園。

Behind the church is an elegant and serene cemetery. 


我們一到賽城就感受到鄉下居民的熱情,大家很習慣湊過來和我們聊個兩句再繼續前進。這是週五的古董市場。

We were impressed by the locals' friendliness as soon as we arrived in Cirencester. People are used to approaching us for a small talk before moving on. This is the antique market on Friday. 


連我在酒吧和自己用中文喃喃時,年輕人問我是不是在和他說話。

Even when I was murmuring to myself in mandarin in the pub, a young man asked if I was conversing with him. 


賽城很小,所以我們晃了不到兩個小時就有種景點用完的感覺,因為閒著也是閒著,我們見很多年輕人沿著石牆走,我們也就跟著他們。

Cirencester is very small. After strolling for less than two hours, we had the feeling that we had visited all the major tourist attractions. Since we still got a whole afternoon, we decided to follow the young people that walked along the stone wall. 


於是發現了位於賽倫賽斯特公園裡的賽城預備大學。在台灣陌生人是不能隨意進高中以下學校的,我們不只走進去,連學校的工作人員還友善地和我們打招呼,不然我們還都想好了要說我們是轉學生的爛台詞呢!

We thus discovered Cirencester College in Cirencester Park. In Taiwan, strangers are not allowed to walk into schools without any permission. We not only went in, and the staff even greeted us warmly. Well, that saved us the trouble of faking to be the new transfer students. 




我們本來還想在學生餐廳吃一點二五磅的學生餐呢!

We had even planned to try the lunch that cost only 1.25 pounds in the student canteen! 


也有人在戶外用餐。

There were also students that had lunch outdoors. 


還有一些小朋友去公園裡踏青。

Still others went on a hike in the park. 


賽倫賽斯特公園腹地廣大,一片綠意盎然。

Cirencester Park is a vast piece of land vibrant with the green color. 


公園裡有一區給露營車休息的地方。

There is a parking lot for the caravans in the park. 






賽城是科茲沃的大城,而科茲沃是英國西南部綿延的山丘和農地,風景非常出名。

Cirencester is a very major market town in the Cotswold, which is known for the landscape of rolling hills and farm fields in southwest England. 






這些都是我們在路上走來走去看到的農家風景,幾乎每個路過這裡的居民都會摸一下Amigo喔!

These photo shots record scenery we saw while we were strolling along the roads. Almost every resident living here would caress Amigo when passing by. 


最後來到我們今日的重點:科里寧博物館。

In the end we went to the highlight of the trip: Corinium Museum. 


不能說我們受到熱烈的歡迎,但起碼有飲料可以喝。

I couldn't say we received cordial welcome, but at least there were free drinks. 


其實這個展覽很小,是為了慶祝女王登基六十年(1952-2012)而舉辦的,但小鎮裡好多人都盛裝打扮,沒有打扮的人還覺得很不好意思。

In fact, this was a rather small exhibition to celebrate the Diamond Jubilee of the queen (1952-2012). Many town folks were well dressed, and those who didn't felt kind of bad. 

在賽城處處可見女王登基六十週年慶的宣傳,感覺女王在小城裡更有重量。

There are all kinds of celebrations of the Diamond Jubilee in the town, and we felt the queen's importance here. 


我的紅色雙層巴士在正中心。

My red double-decker is in the middle. 


紅色巴士被印成磁鐵和卡片(右上角)。

It was printed onto magnet and cards. 


勵雯的圖被印成一張二點五磅的卡片喔!

Li-wen's image was printed into a card that costs 2.5 pounds each! 


這是冠軍作品。

This is the winner of the competition. 




在這裡留下我的足跡,我就要踏上回家的路啦!

After leaving my footprint here, I am about to go home! 

Friday, May 04, 2012

Miss You everywhere / 在世界各地想念你


朱勵雯繪 / illustration by Li-wen Chu 

今天和露做完討論之後,她說已經和德瑞克說我要離開的消息,她充滿感情地說這一年有我這樣的學生真好,我心裡一陣不好意思,因為不可能改變心意,卻又感受到她那樣誠懇的言語,覺得能遇到這樣的老師,我真的很幸運。

After my tutorial with Lou this afternoon, she said she had told Derek that I am going to leave after the third term ends. It was hard for me to hear her say with sincerity that it's nice to have a student like me this year because I am so firm-minded about my decision. But meanwhile, I felt her devotion to students. I know I am more than lucky to have run into someone like her.

勵雯送給我一張美麗的手繪卡片,是我喔!特蕾莎也一直問我有沒有萌生要留下來的念頭,在倫敦不過八個月,卻也有很親愛的朋友在我離開之前就開始想念我。

Li-wen gave me a beautiful hand-drawn card, featuring me! Tereza also kept asking if I have changed my mind. I have lived in London for about 8 months, and it's nice to know that some dear friends have begun to miss me even before I leave.

同時世界的另一邊也有另一群很親愛的朋友趕著去看我去年夏天留下來的壁畫,麗說我真是很幸運的人。

Meanwhile, some other dear friends at the other end of the world rushed to see the mural I did last summer. Lee said I am such a lucky person.

我一直都知道‧‧‧

And I've always known that...

Thursday, May 03, 2012

Marionettes, Inc. 2 / 傀儡公司 2

今天要進畫室和老師決定做哪一個版本的故事插畫,因為有了GF Smith紙張的加持,不管怎麼發想都因為多彩的紙有了靈感。

Today I am going into the studio to decide on the final version of illustration for Marionettes, Inc. With the help of GF Smith paper, I am greatly inspired, especially by its huge variety of colors.

版本二 / Version 2:



版本三 / Version 3:


版本四 / Version 4:



最近和認真地和嘉蕊學基礎Illustrator。今天放學要去Nobrow校外教學‧‧‧

I've been learning basic Illustrator with Jazel. This evening after school, we are going to Nobrow...

Wednesday, May 02, 2012

Marionettes, Inc. 1 / 傀儡公司 1

第三學期的作業之一是為老師選的四個文學作品作插畫,我選了雷布雷得貝利的短篇故事「傀儡公司」,內容有關兩位中年男子,想要暫時逃離婚姻的枷鎖,其中一位,布瑞林,訂作了和自己一模一樣的機器人,但最後分身愛上了他太太,他於是被分身取代。

One of the assignments this term is doing illustrations for one of the four pieces of literary works chosen by the tutors. I decide to illustrate Ray Bradbury's short story Marionettes, Inc. It's about two middle-aged men who would like to get away from their marriage. One of them, Braling, orders a robot which can take his place at home. However, Braling 2 eventually falls in love with his wife, and he thus replaces Braling.


我們可以選故事其中一個主題或一位主角做四張插圖,我的主題之一是婚姻,主角想從婚姻裡的位置逃開,但是當那個位置被佔走,卻又不知所措。

We can focus on one of the themes or characters to do four illustrations. One of my ideas is marriage. The characters want to escape from marriage, but when his place in marriage is taken by someone else, he feels threatened. 


我借用克林姆的「吻」作,就算最後沒有這個版本,我在過程中畫得很開心!

I derive inspirations from Klimt's Kiss. Even if I do not use this version in the end, at least I have much fun drawing the images.