Ellis Cameron: Finding the balance

WORKING

Summer for me is finding the balance between work and play. I came home this Summer aiming to work a lot and save a lot for going back to Glasgow in September, and so far, so good.

Although I get paid monthly, we all get our tips weekly, so I save all my pay and use my tips to buy all the extra I need or want, like clothes, nights out and food.

It’s super handy, but it can sometimes be pretty difficult not to spend your tip money on the way to putting it into the bank – I walk past New Look before I hit RBS, so it can be a bit risky.

Mostly though I manage to save a lot, because I know how much I need the money for going back in September, and if I save a bit extra it allows me to go out a little more when I’m back studying, as well as fund all the material fees we have to pay yearly for my course.(Ed: Glasgow School of Art)

Obviously, being in Scotland, the course is free but, as I’m a Silversmithing and Jewellery student, material costs can be quite high.

When I go back in September I get to buy my toolbox, which is exciting as during First Year we just had to borrow tools from the department which just isn’t the same as owning your own things. And if it’s yours, you’re far more likely to take great care of it and make sure it doesn’t go walk-about.

I’m also getting a little excited/nervous for our Second Year Jewellery sale. Even although it isn’t for a few months yet, I’m starting to think about what I could make to sell.

Everyone in Second Year plus all the tutors and Artists in Residence make a single piece in silver, which is then cast to make 10 pieces each in total, and they’re all sold to raise money for the year above’s student trip abroad.

It’s a great way to get exposure for your work, and also to find a balance between what you like to design and what sells. I have no idea what I’m going to design and make yet, but like I’ve mentioned, I still have a wee while to work it out.

Relaxing

Meanwhile back home I’ve been concentrating on work – it’s great because I usually get  5 days at work a week, with 2 consecutive days off to relax.

This week I was fortunate enough to be off on Wednesday and Thursday – the former was so lovely and warm.

I spent the day round at Mark’s Granny’s house, as Mark (pictured at work above) and his Granddad Ted are currently digging a 6 ft by 6ft pond in their garden. Me and Marion (Mark’s Granny) took on the important task of ‘Supervising the Digging’ – and of course drinking Blackcurrant Squash and eating KitKats. It’s tough work this digging stuff y’know.

The boys also ran into the slight problem of groundwater, as once they’d nearly finished digging the soil out, it had already begun to fill up with water.

They decided to break for the day and we all headed inside to eat home-made steak pie (above), which was so delicious I just had to share a picture with you. Me and Mark had our own wee pies and it was so incredibly tasty that even though I was stuffed (usually I don’t eat a large dinner because I’m working at Piazza, so my latest meal is around 5.00pm, and it’s soup!) I just had to finish it.

It was a lovely end to a very chilled out day, which is exactly what you need if you’re working most of the week.

I still have well over a month left at home, so I’m going to keep plodding along at work, all the while remembering to enjoying the sunshine on my days off.

Ellis Cameron, Young in Argyll correspondent

The photographs accompanying this article are by Ellis Cameron