space cadet

14/12/2013

07/12/2013

19/10/2013

Today would have been my Papa's birthday. Every year I try and have a wee dram of whiskey around this time - this year whiskey-purists would have hated me, on Thursday I had a Tennessee Honey Jack Daniels with a couple of girlfriends and it was OH SO good.

Papa (Ingram Taylor McLaren - what a name) was a fantastic man. I was only young when he died but I remember this. I won't root up all the stories of him here but one in particular is special to me: Papa took the exam (unbeknownst to everyone) and was accepted into MENSA in relatively ripe adulthood. I'm the proud owner of his certificate, which sits on my dresser at home proudly displaying his enormous IQ. I think this story has always been a secret inspiration to me to be smart and have a geekish enthusiasm for studying. I thought of him a lot when I got my acceptance letter into Cambridge, and also on the day I finished my final final last year. No doubt he'll be on my mind when I'm receiving my degree in June next year.

Here's me and the big guy:

Papa was a Burns' fan I believe but I'm more partial to a bit of Robert Service - he was a Scot born in England, spent his youth in Glasgow and went to British Colombia at 21, and so I identify our England-Scotland-Massachusetts family spread with his life. Here's my favourite of his works, My Madonna:

I haled me a woman from the street,

Shameless, but, oh, so fair!

I bade her sit in the model’s seat

And I painted her sitting there.

I hid all trace of her heart unclean;

I painted a babe at her breast;

I painted her as she might have been

If the Worst had been the Best.

She laughed at my picture and went away.

Then came, with a knowing nod,

A connoisseur, and I heard him say;

“’Tis Mary, the Mother of God.”

So I painted a halo round her hair,

And I sold her and took my fee,

And she hangs in the church of Saint Hillaire,

Where you and all may see.

10/10/2013

TEDing

I haven't posted in a WHILE but fortunately that means I've been far too busy moving back to Cambridge, starting this year and loving life. SO MANY updates to come, including the fact that living with four boys has possibly been the best decision I ever made (you guyz are so sweet), but for the meantime here is a bit of this evening's headspace:

I hate working in silence so whilst doing a bit more maths prep tonight (business maths, as it turns out, is terrifying) I've been playing a few TED talks in the background. First was a Steve Jobs one which was very emotional very inspirational yada yada yada. My favourite this evening however and one which I just felt compared to share was one from Amy Webb on hacking online-dating. For some reason I just love it. It's so great. Watch it!

(From TEDSalon NY2013 see here)

23/09/2013

old stuff

So I've been so busy jetsetting I haven't sorted out any Americuh photos yet. I managed to get away on a college travel grant to ROMA with Hazza T last last weekend. Now I'm back on the couch watching endless episodes of full house (television royalty) and lamenting the departure of my younger sister to university. You really get a sense of how little you do on summer holidays when you've no longer got someone to do nothing with. Anyway here's a few from day one of the Rome excursion. Despite having shy of three days to explore Rome we really did experience the city - sightseeing everyday, eating ALL THE PIZZA AND THE GELATI and hanging out with Russians with matching names / Americans gatecrashing their friend's honeymoon / Italian hotel owners at night. I think it's safe to say we'd both return to the city in a heartbeat. B&w photos for b&w times:

Colosseum kitty.

This happened a plenty.

Back to Cambridge next weekend to move into DREAM HOUSE. We can't believe how much of a good deal we've got for a student house this year.

04/09/2013

my blood and sweat

America 2013 Highlights from Megan McLaren on Vimeo.

This video has been my blood and sweat for the past few weeks - the reason none of my America photos are getting any attention!! Just a small glimpse into the trip from the girls' point of view. Enjoy!

the curtains are up!

If you've asked me over the last few months what I'm up to over the summer I may have mentioned the new family business. On Saturday we finally had our GRAND (RE)OPENING (the dance shop has been going for years before us and has a great pointe-fitting reputation). We took to the streets to harass the local people of Warrington with our flyers and neunundneunzigluftballons while the adults did adulty things inside. Friends old and new came along to support the shop, including our very own Miss Nicola the Ballerina and Wolfie - the local rugby team mascot. The day culminated in a McLaren-style celebration (i.e. alcofrolic) with family and dance enthusiasts. Seeing as this is free advertising space..why don't you like the Barnum's Dance page!