Model behavior

Despite my recently developed swollen lymph nodes, today and yesterday have been SO AWESOME. Forgive me for this entry if I sound doped up because I think I have a fever and I think the package of lemon and honey lozenges I downed are making me nauseated.

We had our two photo shoots with our models. Yesterday was for our fashion jewellery supplement with Lianna and Holly. Lianna is a total doll and I love her. She has the cutest smile! We were doing one of our early shots and Lianna was wearing a black and white bead necklace with matching earrings. She put one of her earrings in, played around with the other one for a bit, and then said, "Um, I can't get it in." It turns out that she had gotten her ears pierced a few years back but hadn't worn earrings for awhile and the hole had closed up. So what happened next? I, Ashley Thomas, insignificant peon from Illinois, literally took the earring and pierced it through the ear of BRITAIN'S NEXT TOP MODEL. That is totally going to the top of my CV.

These past two days were totally my favorites of every day I've been here. If you'll remember from my earlier post on the tea near-fiasco, the photographer is Will and he is absolutely lovely. Photographers, I have decided, are the epitome of charm. I totally see why Julia Roberts fell for Danny Moder now. It's such a sensual job and they're such a reassurance - "Beautiful. You look lovely. Absolutely stunning. Turn this way a bit. Thatta way, doll." Their whole job is to make you look hot, and you are literally at the mercy of their mad skills. Will was so sweet to me and kept making sure I was okay and gave me a huge hug when I left and also a box of chocolates.

His assistant was Matt, and he was from Wales. The hairdresser was Bea. Matt was like a little leprechaun - running around, fixing lights, fixing the model's hair with his mad pencil skills. I kept teasing him over his horrible spelling when he was trying to name the picture files. "The next jewellery is by Coeur de Lion," I said. He wrote it down and said, "I think I've got this one!" So I looked over his shoulder and said, "Um, Matt - Coeur de Lion is actually more than one word." So cute. He taught me how to make real tea, too, after Will made fun of the first cup I made him. Bea was so sweet. Everyone was, "Hey, love!" and she is an amazing make-up artist. She does amazing eyes. I can't wait to get a copy of this magazine and all its pictures when it's released at the end of January!

Cliff and Thea were really great today. All of the girls were cracking jokes about Cliff, and I'm pretty sure they made him unbutton his shirt in all the shots so they could drool a little longer. He did this really cute shot with Thea where he's kissing her temple and she's smiling sweetly at the camera. He gave me a kiss on the cheek when he left. Siiiigh. Australians, Britons - I'll take both, please.

I almost started crying when I left Will's house today. Everyone is just so thoughtful and sweet and lovely, and I love it here. I don't want to leeeeeeeeeeave. Maybe Will would let me put a twin bed in the corner of his backyard studio and then I could live in Wimbledon forever. That's close enough to central London.