This past week has been busy.
Monday was just work, 12.30 till 8pm. Something thought-provoking happened that day...
A lady pulled up in a Ford KA, but didn't purchase any fuel. She came into the garage, and asked if anyone on the premises could change a flat tyre. Of course, I had no idea, and neither had the garage manager. The lady explained that she had an important appointment to get to in the town centre, and she absolutely couldn't miss it. I offered to phone the main store to see if any managers on duty there knew how to do it. So I did, and five minutes later got a return call explaining that no one was prepared to do so, due to the fact that if something went wrong and the lady had an accident due to the tyre change, our company would be held liable.
The woman was starting to panic, and didn't know what to do. No other customers were offering to help her, and I couldn't do anything. I felt so bad for her, it was obvious this appointment was pretty important to her.
I suggested there was a mechanics about a five minutes drive away, and had a number she could call to get them out to change the tyre, but she wasn't keen on that. She asked if there were any local taxis, but as I don't live in that town I didn't know any, and neither did the manager.
The manager had to go back to her manager-tasks, and I was left with this increasingly-panicky lady in the shop. She didn't have any signal on her phone to contact anyone, as the O2 network has dire reception in the town. Nothing was going right for her, so I gave her my phone to call her husband who would hopefully come to the rescue. He had around a twenty minute journey to get from their home to the garage, so wouldn't be there until around 2:15ish, traffic permitting. She then rang the appointment place and let them know that she was trying to get there but may be late.
She asked to stay in the shop where it was warm until her husband arrived, and I said of course. I offered her a chair and took it round the counter, and she was really thankful for what I was doing, and she started getting teary. I said, 'Do you need a hug?' and she just looked at me like I'd sprouted another head or something. But she was still crying, so I held my arms out and was like 'Come on, let's have a hug', so she did. It was a proper hug, you know? Considering the fact I had no idea who she was, and we were complete strangers, she really did give me a proper hug like we had been firm friends for years. That actually shocked me a little bit, but of course I was glad that I could give her some emotional release I guess.
Well, I got her a glass of water and some tissue for her tears.
Whilst this was all going on, I had to serve customers in between. It was a good thing we weren't tremendously busy that day else I would have felt so bad for not being more helpful to the woman. When her tears had subsided and she'd pulled herself together somewhat, I started talking to her to keep her mind off of her plight, and found out that the reason her appointment was so crucial was because she was a surviving cancer patient, and was on her way to a homoeopathy centre for treatment (I didn't know what homoeopathy was at the time, and have since learned that it is natural remedies). She said that her appointments had to be booked months in advance as they were so hard to come by, which was why she couldn't afford to miss it.
We were talking and she said her son was a up-and-coming musician in a band called Chipped Spanners or something like that, and that he was touring all over Europe at the moment and was playing in France that night, which was very impressive.
Eventually, she had to move her KA to make room for customers wanting fuel, and she never came back in the shop. She sat in her car until her husband arrived, and she drove off just after half past two, so I don't think she was too late for her meeting.
It was just one of those events that really plays on your mind, you know? I haven't seen her since and I doubt I will before I go to Australia, but I really hope everything turns out okay for her.
Well, that was Monday. Tuesday, the big surprise happened that I mentioned in my last blog. I went and visited my friend Malice at her university in Lincoln! Her mum invited me along, and I was taken along with another friend to see her. Mal knew that her other friend was coming up, but had no idea I'd be there too. I felt quite honoured to be such a big surprise!
It was quite amusing, because we arrived at around 6 o'clock in the evening, when Mal was supposed to be on her way to the Christmas play, but she hadn't actually left yet. We got up to her flat, and Mal's mum, her friend, and then me entered the communal kitchen. Lo and behold, there was Mal. When her friend saw the pink hair that we identify with Mal, she just turned and shoved me out of the kitchen before I was spotted. I ran back to Mal's room and sat on her computer chair, acting like I'd been there for ages. Literally, I just had time to cross my legs and fold my arms before the door opened and she came in. Mega surprised to see me, might I add! We had a great big ol' hug, and I swear that she got teary. She denied it, but her eyes definitely looked shinier than normal. Hee.
Well she had to go get ready for her play, so she left pretty quick. We left at seven, but it was so hard to find the actual place the play was held. We were going in completely the wrong direction, and the SatNav wasn't any help either. Stupid machine. The doors shut at half past seven, and we only just got in before they would have stopped accepting entry. We have found out that Lincoln is ridiculously difficult to navigate, and that they don't ever never want you to turn right. The people that designed the roads of Lincoln must all have been cack-handed or something, because it was all NO RIGHT ENTRY, NO RIGHT ENTRY. O, YOU WANNA TURN RIGHT? WELL YOU CAN'T! HA HA HA! Which got incredibly frustrating.
Anyway, we did get in to see the play, and it was very good! It was the drama society's production of A Christmas Carol, and the guy playing Scrooge was fabulously in character. Mal was the Ghost of Christmas Yet To Come, and as such, didn't have any spoken lines. We also couldn't see her face as that character had to be all covered up and point everywhere. The whole play was very good, though some people could have done with speaking up a bit more. It was a tad difficult to hear what they were saying.
Other than that, I was very impressed with the quality of acting. At least two had potential to make it big time. If I could remember any of their names, I could say 'I saw them when they were a student!'... But I can't remember their full names. I think I've still got the program around somewhere though...
After that we went to student bar with Mal's drama friends, who are all lovely! Although for a student bar, it sure was expensive. Remember how in one of my blogs I said that at Maddy's student bar, it was 3 drinks for 5.80? Well here, it was 3 for 9.60. And that was drinks on offer. I'd hate to see how expensive it is when they're not on offer! It's a student bar, for Heaven's sake! Raaaage.
*Ahem*. Well, like I said, Mal's friends were all lovely. I had lovely talks with at least three of them, and felt comfortable with them all. There was even a guy there who was a Pony fan too! We had long conversations about Ponies, and fans taking things too far with them, the songs they used etc. It was lovely to be able to talk to someone and them actually know who and what I'm referring to. Don't get me wrong, Bestie listens to me when I go off on one, but she doesn't know what I'm talking about. There is also a limit on Pony conversations! I don't mind really though, I just appreciate that she listens :P The amount of time I spend talking about them; she could very well draw up a 'No-Pony-Conversation' law for us, and I wouldn't have a leg to stand on against it!
We stayed till about half eleven, and then went back to Mal's flat. She and I had the floor, and her other friend had the bed. Mal's mum went to stay with another uni friend for the night. Mal's friend fell asleep at around half midnight? And Mal and I stayed up talking till half past four. It was a long chin-wag full of girly giggles and bitching :P As teens our age do. It was nice though, cause it'd been ages since I'd had a sleepover with hushed conversations in the dark.
Wednesday morning, we packed Mal's stuff up and then went to a Toys R Us that was like a ten-minute walk from Mal's flat, and a one-minute drive :P I'd been trying to persuade Bestie to let me take us to our local one for ages, but it never happened, so it was great to go to this one. I'm like a kid in a candy store, and I was totally in my element. We stayed for ages, and when me and Mal's uni friend found one of those pony-heads-on-sticks, we decided we had to have a race down the aisles. I definitely won, but she wasn't convinced!
After that, it was McDonalds, and then we headed back home to Essex. We got to Mal's house at around ten past six, and I left at around half past. The journey home took much longer than I'd anticipated, because as it was dark and I'm not too familiar with the roads I was going at around 40-50MPH whenever it was the national limit. Eventually I acquired a line of vehicles behind me, but I wasn't about to speed up for them. I got home at around half seven.
The next day was busy too, as I took my Nan into town that morning for Christmas shopping, and then I had work 4-9pm. Yet another long and busy day, although it was nice spending quality time with my Nan. I'm making the most of my grandparents before I head out to Oz. Although I am stuck for a Christmas present for my Nan, so I really have to turn the cogs in my head for that, and soon. It's crazy to think that this time next week is Christmas Day. Where has the time gone?
Friday was a good day. A very good day. Me and Bestie went to London :) Although getting there was a bit problematic, as the card machine at the station declined my card. Twice. So Bestie ended up paying for my ticket (so much guilt for that), and because it messed around declining my card, we missed the ten o'clock train. We decided to brace the sleet/snow/rain/whatever-it-was to go into town and go to the bank and check what was going on with my card. Apparently I only had 7GBP on there. How on Earth did that happen, I asked myself? Then I did the maths and unfortunately, my card was right. I was poor. However, Bestie had already bought my ticket so we went anyway. I just didn't spend any money except for food.
It was Hamleys, not Harrods that we were visiting, and according to Bestie it's a famous toy store. Well, I'd never heard of it before, but it was A-MA-ZING! It was everything a toy store is supposed to be - five floors of absolute, beautiful magic. I had more fun going around Hamleys than Toys R Us, which I thought was the King of toy shops. I was wrong about that! I can't even begin to comprehend what it must be like working at Hamleys; the staff all looked like they were having so much fun. They were flinging boomerangs around, flying helicopters, brushing peoples' hair (including mine) with a rubber brush to show how soft it could be, whizzing UFOs around - it looked amazing. There were bubble machines going, and music playing, and PONY TOYS THAT LOOKED HALF-DECENT! Seriously, the new chain of Pony toys aren't incredible, but it was the biggest and best selection I've seen so far.
We spent a happy time in there before heading off to find a McDonalds (two in one week, someone shoot me now), and then to find a table. God, it was so busy! We were very lucky to get one, although it was outside and I was constantly consciously aware of the pigeons that were circling me with evil glints in their eyes. They're out to get me, I tell you!
After that we wondered down to the National Gallery, which was very nice :) I can't remember ever going there before, and Bestie and I were actually able to have many a conversation about artwork. It was amazing - we don't see eye-to-eye on modern art, but this was proper art, and we were actually able to have civil chats about it! I relished those chats - where art is concerned, they don't happen too often.
We then went to the National Portrait Gallery, which was interesting too, looking at photos of people that have influenced film or media in some way, shape or form. Although there was a mould of a person's head which was made out of the artist's donated blood... that was pretty disgusting. What is amusing about it is that the thing has to be kept refrigerated because it's made of 'a delicate material'. Ha! That's not art. That's bonkers.
By this time it was around four o'clock, and we were getting tired. We decided to go to Westfield shopping centre. You know, I'm so glad Bestie was there because I'm useless at navigating things. Well, because she was there I didn't need to try, but you know what I mean? I'd have been lost without her. Literally and emotionally :P Also, because I had a completely irrational fear of escalators, Bestie had her work cut out for her, trying to keep my fear under control when we were on the underground and in Hamleys. This usually involves squeezing the life out of her arm or hand, which she willingly lets me do. I am not worthy :')
Ooh, we might be on tv! We were walking out of Waitrose and this guy and girl walked past us with her saying 'She's got to be an attractive girl, right?' and they were being filmed by a two-person-film-crew. Exciting! My bobble hat will be famous! :D Exciting stuffs!
We got on ze train for home, and it was reaaally packed. We had to stand, on a train! The insanity of it all... It was so so quiet as well; we didn't feel that we could say anything too loudly for fear of disturbing people. Everyone was, as Bestie put it, 'incredibly British'. I sang under my breath 'It's oh so quiet, shh, shh', and really really wanted to get to the bit where the song explodes, but don't think anyone on the train would have liked me very much. Bestie was whispering 'shall we start a sing along?' and I responded 'The wheels on the bus go round and round' which made us both get the giggles.
We didn't have to stand for too long thankfully as people got off at Shenfield and then Chelmsford, so we could be a bit louder. But because it was so dark we didn't get to see the Minellium dome from the window :( sad times.
On the train back from Whitham, I happened to hiccup. Bestie said she didn't hear it, so I did a really loud fake one, and this guy the other side of the carriage tutted really loudly and gave me proper evils, which gave me the giggles again. Then Bestie said at times I could be weird. Which is probably true, but I prefer to be labelled 'strangely adorable'.
Saturday was work, 9-6pm. For two hours of my shift, they had me standing in the foyer handing out leaflets. It was freezing, not to mention insanely drole. I also didn't know what to say to the customers, so I had different sayings:
Super savings this weekend - Great deals today - Our big bonanza saver weekend - (now for my personal favourite) Seasonal Savings on Festive Favourites!
Oh alliteration how I love you :')
Then after work, it was my sister's fancy dress party. I eventually decided to go as Supergirl. Mainly because all the other costumes were far too revealing (Wonder Woman) or just very slutty. I felt quite good, and got some appreciative comments from the male population so all in all it was a good night.
Today I have watched the Strictly final (gutted Chelsee didn't win) and the penultimate Merlin episode. Wrapped some Christmas presents, bought some stuff online with my 7GBP, went for a walk, have been negotiating a date with Maddy to stay over, and have spent around two hours writing this thing. Turned out a bit longer than I anticipated.
Also, next week on Friday I'm meeting up with all of my friends from college for the first time since we all went our separate ways. Really looking forward to seeing everyone (mostly), although we're going to Nandos and I'm not a mega fan of spicy food :P Maybe I could boycot that and sneak of to McDonalds? ... This blog makes it seems like MaccyD's is the only place that I eat. Just want to clear up any suspicions about that, cause that's not the case!
Well I feel I've written enough for today so I think I'll sign off. Till the next time!
Sunday, 18 December 2011
Sunday, 11 December 2011
28 Days Later...
As of today, I have exactly four weeks left in the United Kingdom. Scary much?
A lot, a lot a lot, has happened since I last blogged. I'm a fiend for leaving it so long.
Firstly, my passport came through! And I'm happy to report the new photo is at least six times better than the old one. Huzzah! I can definitely live with this new photo for ten years. Which, you know, is a good thing, cause I have no choice in the matter.Whatever happens to me in the next ten years; that photograph shall accompany me through it all. Like a ghost, or a poltergeist ... except I'd be haunting myself? Would that be breaking the fourth wall? I don't know any more. Pinkie Pie.
Once I got my passport through, it was time to start thinking Visa. I already knew I was going to get a working holiday visa, because I need to be able to support myself financially whilst I'm out there. OF course I'm taking a substantial amount with me, but I'd also get rather bored (six months, remember) just being a tourist for half a year. Being the eager-beaver that I am, I didn't pause to consider which website would offer the best deal for a visa. Stupidly, I googled 'working holiday visa australia', and clicked on the very first one that came up.
The keenness cost me an extra 90GBP. I didn't go via the Australian Government House, or Embassy, or whatever official Australian place there is in the UK. I went via the Visa Bureau, a private company. And because they are private, they cost more. About 90GBP more. Boo hiss...
Well, I only have myself to blame. I shall learn from this mistake and shop around for things in the future. But I mean honestly, how was I supposed to know you could shop around for Visas? I'm only 18 for Heaven's sake...
Right, so eventually I phoned the real Australian Embassy, and they confirmed that the Visa has been added onto my passport. Huzzah again! My parents had been worried that I'd been conned out of 270GBP (sorry to have to write GBP all the time, but my laptop doesn't actually have a 'pounds' sign. Stupid, eh? It's got a dollar one ~.~), but I haven't. Good news :)
So, by this point in November I have only just been paid. I have to move money from my savings account to my bank account to have enough for the flight, which I was quoted at around 1250GBP. To do that, I need to fill out a form. To do that, I need to get the form.And to do that... TO THE POST OFFICE!
So I filled this form out, took it back and it takes quite a while to come back. Like, two weeks. And due to working/not having enough time/wanting to book it when Bestie was there, I wasn't able to book my flight until this past Friday, the 9th of December. Three weeks after I was quoted.
In that three weeks, the price had risen by 113GBP. I'm not even joking. My flight to Oz cost me 1363GBP, which does include all my taxes. I just can't believe that it went up so much. Oh, and I got ten pound off for booking it through the Co-Op cause I'm a staff member. Boo yah!
At first, the travel guy's computer was down, so he phoned his company and did it on the phone, which took about fifteen minutes alone. He then quoted me 1480GBP or something, and I was like Woah, woah, what's going on here?! That flight was with Singapore Airlines, and according to this guy, was the cheapest one he had. That didn't sit right with me, as on every flight website I'd been on, and every travel agents I'd been in, Malaysian Air had been the cheapest. So, naturally, I objected. Said 'What about Malaysian?' and five minutes later the guy told me that particular company didn't do Malaysian Air flights.
Well, that utter tosh, as I went into that very same branch of the Co-Op Travel three weeks prior and was quoted the 1250GBP with them, with Malaysian Air. And so, I told him that was rubbish, and how could they quote me Malaysian previously if they don't deal with them?
The guy then said that maybe it was with their other company that they deal with. So, he phoned them too. Went through the same details, and ten-fifteen minutes later come up with the figure of 1373GBP. It was more than I had wanted to pay, but I had to book the flight that day, and at least I got ten pound off... :P
Oh, and all the while I was nervously fidgeting in my chair about all this money I hadn't expected on spending, Bestie was going through holiday books for Italy.We're planning another holiday when I haven't even started my great big six-months-backpackers-adventure yet. Go figure.
So, I've been buying lots of clothes and stuff. Mainly tank tops and essential underclothes, and I also bought a pair of high-waisted denim hot pants. Ohh yes ;) I was feeling brave at the time... Not sure how I'm feeling now though!
I also wasn't tremendously sure of what shoes to wear out there... I mean, I'll be in shorts practically all the time, I should imagine, so I needed something that will look good but still be comfortable and support my ankles and whatnot. I eventually got these little babies, and oh my stars aren't they brilliant?! I'm wearing them constantly! (Even to work today, but shhh!) My excuse is that I'm 'breaking them in'. Mm, yeah. Pretty sure they're broken in by now... but I love them, so my parents don't need to know that just yet.
Oh, and I bought the cutest jumper ever. Literally, it's so cute. It sort of looks like this one, but it's a dark navy blue, and there's no knot at the front. I don't understand why it's not on TopShop's website, considering that's where I bought it from, but there you go... Anyways, I love it, and it's not too thick, so I could definitely use it in Oz. I'm 'breaking that in' too.
In addition to a very large rucksack (which has a special function in that it arches inwards to stop me from getting a perspiratory back) which I'll be carting all over the continent, I have also bought a suitcase. This is to put my rucksack in, as I don't want to risk my stuff getting damaged with the baggage handlers chucking it around on the aeroplane's cargo hold. If it's in that suitcase it'll be tonnes more durable. I don't intend on lugging a suitcase around Oz though, so hopefully I'll be able to leave that in a garage or something at my friend's house.
Other than that, all I have to do now is get travel insurance, which is around 100GBP. I'll be doing that sometime this week, I should think. It's starting to sink in how close I am to going... I think I have ten shifts left at work - I had to hand in my letter of resignation at the beginning of the month. We're all gonna go to the pub the day before New Years Eve to say goodbye to those of us who are leaving - there is me and two others moving on.
Oz stuff aside, since I last blogged my life has been full of work, Christmas shopping, my grandparents and seeing Bestie. I guess me hammering on about 'We should spend lots of time now because I won't be here for half a year' to her is paying off because I suddenly feel quite popular with her! We're headed to London next Friday, and the only thing I'm not looking forward to is contending with the Christmas crowds. But we're going to a famous toy store (Hamleys? Harrods? It begins with an H) so I am absolutely not complaining. We were meant to be going to an art exhibition but Bestie's decided she doesn't want to go anymore. I am suspicious that's because of what happened last time we went to an art gallery in London, but she said it wasn't. That doesn't stop me from being suspicious though!
Something exciting is also happening next Tuesday, but I'm not allowed to say what. I'm not sure who of my friends reads this and I don't want to give anything away. It's gonna be great though :D
What else happened? Dad invited me to get a coffee with him in town during his lunch hour... I've taken Nan into town shopping once or twice, stealed round to her house more than once for lunch... Been keeping up to date with my Ponies, thoroughly enjoying that at the moment... Oh, and I don't know if I mentioned it, but Bestie invited me to a New Years masquerade ball! How extremely lush is that?! Mega excited. I can't afford to buy a totally new dress, so I'm going to wear the one I had for my high school prom (hopefully it still fits, I'll have to try it on again soon) and buy a mask for it. So so excited :) I've never really been to a proper New Years party before so this seems like the best way to have your first one :D
Oh, and it's my sister's 21st birthday soon and she's having a fancy dress party at a pool/snooker bar/club/thing in town which I have to dress up for. I will get back to you on that and let you know how things turn out. *Still needs to find an appropriate costume*
Well, I can't think of anything else at the moment. If it crops up I'll pop it in my next blog :) Adios, people!
A lot, a lot a lot, has happened since I last blogged. I'm a fiend for leaving it so long.
Firstly, my passport came through! And I'm happy to report the new photo is at least six times better than the old one. Huzzah! I can definitely live with this new photo for ten years. Which, you know, is a good thing, cause I have no choice in the matter.Whatever happens to me in the next ten years; that photograph shall accompany me through it all. Like a ghost, or a poltergeist ... except I'd be haunting myself? Would that be breaking the fourth wall? I don't know any more. Pinkie Pie.
Once I got my passport through, it was time to start thinking Visa. I already knew I was going to get a working holiday visa, because I need to be able to support myself financially whilst I'm out there. OF course I'm taking a substantial amount with me, but I'd also get rather bored (six months, remember) just being a tourist for half a year. Being the eager-beaver that I am, I didn't pause to consider which website would offer the best deal for a visa. Stupidly, I googled 'working holiday visa australia', and clicked on the very first one that came up.
The keenness cost me an extra 90GBP. I didn't go via the Australian Government House, or Embassy, or whatever official Australian place there is in the UK. I went via the Visa Bureau, a private company. And because they are private, they cost more. About 90GBP more. Boo hiss...
Well, I only have myself to blame. I shall learn from this mistake and shop around for things in the future. But I mean honestly, how was I supposed to know you could shop around for Visas? I'm only 18 for Heaven's sake...
Right, so eventually I phoned the real Australian Embassy, and they confirmed that the Visa has been added onto my passport. Huzzah again! My parents had been worried that I'd been conned out of 270GBP (sorry to have to write GBP all the time, but my laptop doesn't actually have a 'pounds' sign. Stupid, eh? It's got a dollar one ~.~), but I haven't. Good news :)
So, by this point in November I have only just been paid. I have to move money from my savings account to my bank account to have enough for the flight, which I was quoted at around 1250GBP. To do that, I need to fill out a form. To do that, I need to get the form.And to do that... TO THE POST OFFICE!
So I filled this form out, took it back and it takes quite a while to come back. Like, two weeks. And due to working/not having enough time/wanting to book it when Bestie was there, I wasn't able to book my flight until this past Friday, the 9th of December. Three weeks after I was quoted.
In that three weeks, the price had risen by 113GBP. I'm not even joking. My flight to Oz cost me 1363GBP, which does include all my taxes. I just can't believe that it went up so much. Oh, and I got ten pound off for booking it through the Co-Op cause I'm a staff member. Boo yah!
At first, the travel guy's computer was down, so he phoned his company and did it on the phone, which took about fifteen minutes alone. He then quoted me 1480GBP or something, and I was like Woah, woah, what's going on here?! That flight was with Singapore Airlines, and according to this guy, was the cheapest one he had. That didn't sit right with me, as on every flight website I'd been on, and every travel agents I'd been in, Malaysian Air had been the cheapest. So, naturally, I objected. Said 'What about Malaysian?' and five minutes later the guy told me that particular company didn't do Malaysian Air flights.
Well, that utter tosh, as I went into that very same branch of the Co-Op Travel three weeks prior and was quoted the 1250GBP with them, with Malaysian Air. And so, I told him that was rubbish, and how could they quote me Malaysian previously if they don't deal with them?
The guy then said that maybe it was with their other company that they deal with. So, he phoned them too. Went through the same details, and ten-fifteen minutes later come up with the figure of 1373GBP. It was more than I had wanted to pay, but I had to book the flight that day, and at least I got ten pound off... :P
Oh, and all the while I was nervously fidgeting in my chair about all this money I hadn't expected on spending, Bestie was going through holiday books for Italy.We're planning another holiday when I haven't even started my great big six-months-backpackers-adventure yet. Go figure.
So, I've been buying lots of clothes and stuff. Mainly tank tops and essential underclothes, and I also bought a pair of high-waisted denim hot pants. Ohh yes ;) I was feeling brave at the time... Not sure how I'm feeling now though!
I also wasn't tremendously sure of what shoes to wear out there... I mean, I'll be in shorts practically all the time, I should imagine, so I needed something that will look good but still be comfortable and support my ankles and whatnot. I eventually got these little babies, and oh my stars aren't they brilliant?! I'm wearing them constantly! (Even to work today, but shhh!) My excuse is that I'm 'breaking them in'. Mm, yeah. Pretty sure they're broken in by now... but I love them, so my parents don't need to know that just yet.
Oh, and I bought the cutest jumper ever. Literally, it's so cute. It sort of looks like this one, but it's a dark navy blue, and there's no knot at the front. I don't understand why it's not on TopShop's website, considering that's where I bought it from, but there you go... Anyways, I love it, and it's not too thick, so I could definitely use it in Oz. I'm 'breaking that in' too.
In addition to a very large rucksack (which has a special function in that it arches inwards to stop me from getting a perspiratory back) which I'll be carting all over the continent, I have also bought a suitcase. This is to put my rucksack in, as I don't want to risk my stuff getting damaged with the baggage handlers chucking it around on the aeroplane's cargo hold. If it's in that suitcase it'll be tonnes more durable. I don't intend on lugging a suitcase around Oz though, so hopefully I'll be able to leave that in a garage or something at my friend's house.
Other than that, all I have to do now is get travel insurance, which is around 100GBP. I'll be doing that sometime this week, I should think. It's starting to sink in how close I am to going... I think I have ten shifts left at work - I had to hand in my letter of resignation at the beginning of the month. We're all gonna go to the pub the day before New Years Eve to say goodbye to those of us who are leaving - there is me and two others moving on.
Oz stuff aside, since I last blogged my life has been full of work, Christmas shopping, my grandparents and seeing Bestie. I guess me hammering on about 'We should spend lots of time now because I won't be here for half a year' to her is paying off because I suddenly feel quite popular with her! We're headed to London next Friday, and the only thing I'm not looking forward to is contending with the Christmas crowds. But we're going to a famous toy store (Hamleys? Harrods? It begins with an H) so I am absolutely not complaining. We were meant to be going to an art exhibition but Bestie's decided she doesn't want to go anymore. I am suspicious that's because of what happened last time we went to an art gallery in London, but she said it wasn't. That doesn't stop me from being suspicious though!
Something exciting is also happening next Tuesday, but I'm not allowed to say what. I'm not sure who of my friends reads this and I don't want to give anything away. It's gonna be great though :D
What else happened? Dad invited me to get a coffee with him in town during his lunch hour... I've taken Nan into town shopping once or twice, stealed round to her house more than once for lunch... Been keeping up to date with my Ponies, thoroughly enjoying that at the moment... Oh, and I don't know if I mentioned it, but Bestie invited me to a New Years masquerade ball! How extremely lush is that?! Mega excited. I can't afford to buy a totally new dress, so I'm going to wear the one I had for my high school prom (hopefully it still fits, I'll have to try it on again soon) and buy a mask for it. So so excited :) I've never really been to a proper New Years party before so this seems like the best way to have your first one :D
Oh, and it's my sister's 21st birthday soon and she's having a fancy dress party at a pool/snooker bar/club/thing in town which I have to dress up for. I will get back to you on that and let you know how things turn out. *Still needs to find an appropriate costume*
Well, I can't think of anything else at the moment. If it crops up I'll pop it in my next blog :) Adios, people!
Sunday, 13 November 2011
Plans be a-forming!
Ahoy, people.
It's been thirteen days since my last blog, so I'll try to work through them chronologically. Well, the days when anything important happened, at least.
On the second of November, the first important day since Hallows Eve, it was Madison's birthday. The big one-nine! I was very proud. Sent her a congratulationary text when I awoke from my slumber (meant to send it at midnight, but totally forgot to set an alarm) and text her for most of the day. We would be meeting up that weekend, as she would be coming home from uni to celebrate her birthday. And, because she was, so was another friend, Beth, from the University of East Anglia. And, that weekend it would be Bonfire Night.
So, instead of going clubbing, we decided to go to the show at Colchester Castle Park instead. I took it upon myself to buy the tickets, and the guys would pay me back on the night. Maddy wanted to take her sister with her, and I also found out that our friends Skye and Liam would be there too, as they had already planned to go. So of course, we arranged to see them too :) And after posting a facebook status about buying tickets, two other college friends announced they'd be there too. So, what originally started with just five people extended to nine, and it was just like old times - mostly, because a few key members were missing.
But the day before the display was another important day - my daddy's birthday! I got up early just to give him his presents. A lovely sentimental-like card, a lovely smart jumper and some David Beckham aftershave. He was very happy. Every year I want to try to top last year's present, but seeing as last year I bought him an expensive gadget to transfer his vinyl LPs into CDs, I thought I would start again with that tradition :P So next year I just have to top this years :) No problem. His birthday cake was a glorious thing, topped with smarties, rolos and other nommy chocolate delights. And as I don't normally eat chocolate, the taste was simply divine.
Well, anyway, the day after that was the 5th of November - Bonfire Night. It would be a bit of a tight schedule for me, as I had work 9-6pm, and at 6pm the gates opened for the firework display. So once I'd finished work, I hastened home (whilst being very careful behind the wheel of my car), speedily got changed and immediately left for town... and because I was so speedy, I completely forgot to take Maddy's birthday present with me. Fool.
Well, I parked in the restricted section of Brittania's car park. Restricted because at 7pm, there were a lot of signs saying that at that time the gates would close and no car would be able to get out. Still, considering that it was Bonfire night, I nervously figured that they would take that into consideration and leave the gates open. I did have a few panicked rants throughout the evening, but all was good when I finally got back to my car after everything and found the gates blissfully open.
The display itself was fantastic. Really, really good. It was all set to music, all timed, and all awe-inspiring. The music had a space theme to it; songs such as Queen's Flash Gordon, David Bowie's Life on Mars, R.E.M's Man on the Moon and Sting's Walking on the Moon were just a few. It opened to War of the Worlds, and that was just fantastic. Just pure brilliance. I thoroughly enjoyed the whole thing.
Maddy's sister, Jessica, hadn't really spent time with me before. Well, it wasn't like she was spending time with just me then, but if you get what I mean... Around your friends you're a completely different person, aren't you. Well, I am at least. When I visited Maddy's house I toned done any flirting, teasing and playful comments to a bare minimum in order to make a good impression on her family. But, surrounded by my friends, there was no way I was toning down anything that night. So, whenever I made a flirtatious comment, which is every other line where Bestie and Maddy are concerned, she'd turn and have a disbelieving smile, or say 'You're so smooth'. Yes, yes I am. Whatever natural talent I have at being a suave devil, I have perfected it. So yes, I am a very smooth person. I also take immense pride in this.
Maddy commented that she'd missed my flirts anyway, and that makes it more than worth it.
We went to Sloppy Joe's, an american diner, afterwards - well, Maddy, Jess, Bestie, Beth and I. The others went to their respective homes. We ordered two Bacon Bonanza pizzas, and two sides of fries. Apparently, that wasn't very much as the waitress had a look on her face, like is that all? Because in America, one person would eat a Bacon Bonanza themselves. And we were sharing one between two and a half peoples. So, this just explains to me the reason why Americans may have a weight problem.
Que sera, I suppose. Well, anyway, a Bacon Bonanza consists of double bacon and double cheese. I didn't like it. I like bacon, and I like cheese, but there was far too much of each. So I eated the chips instead :) And stole Bestie's tomato ketchup, which she wasn't impressed with. But I returned what I didn't eated, and she was happy again.
Well, we walked back to my car, and I insisted on giving them a lift back to the car park they were parked in. For one reason, to save their legs from the journey. For a bigger reason, for the rush of excitement I got from giving my friends a lift (I hadn't driven Bestie or Beth before, so it was all new). As usual, I got my way and happily drove them to their car park :) I did have to quickly and discretely turn my PonyBeatz CD down, to save myself some flushed cheeks. Long live My Little Pony!
So after that day, it was back to doing normal things. I went to work on Monday, lounged about Tuesday, spent an afternoon with Quinn on Wednesday, lounged about on Thursday, and then on Friday went into some Travel Agents in town to discuss flights to Australia. Turns out I could be going as early as the 8th of January, because that's when my friends will be on school/university holidays. It's really hitting home now how close I am to going. It means I'll have to spend less on Christmas presents for my friends and family, and be very careful with my money.
So, it's with a heavy heart that I turn a blind eye to the new Zelda game being released on the 18th of November. I have so been looking forward to this release, it's unreal. I love Zelda, I love Link, and I love Hyrule and the many different lands it has. So it really is quite upsetting that I'm having to forego this latest edition to the Zelda saga. But that 35pounds could get me something very nice in Australia.
It also means clubbing needs to be kept to a minimum. Sad times right there. I do so like my clubbing. I'm not going to go to town, to save petrol and parking fares and the temptation of anything in the shops. I shall only go in for christmas presents, and even then I shall have a list that I shall stick to like glue.
Right now, Australia comes first.
I have ordered my passport, and that should come through sometime next week. I'm actually rather thankful to be getting a new one - my last photograph was just gosh-darned awful. Really. I know people are all like 'don't look at my photo, it's really bad', but they don't know anything. My photo was absolutely dire. So, I'm happy to report, this one looks far far better :)
So, my friends, plans are beginning to take shape. Now, it's only a matter of weeks before they're being carried out.
It's been thirteen days since my last blog, so I'll try to work through them chronologically. Well, the days when anything important happened, at least.
On the second of November, the first important day since Hallows Eve, it was Madison's birthday. The big one-nine! I was very proud. Sent her a congratulationary text when I awoke from my slumber (meant to send it at midnight, but totally forgot to set an alarm) and text her for most of the day. We would be meeting up that weekend, as she would be coming home from uni to celebrate her birthday. And, because she was, so was another friend, Beth, from the University of East Anglia. And, that weekend it would be Bonfire Night.
So, instead of going clubbing, we decided to go to the show at Colchester Castle Park instead. I took it upon myself to buy the tickets, and the guys would pay me back on the night. Maddy wanted to take her sister with her, and I also found out that our friends Skye and Liam would be there too, as they had already planned to go. So of course, we arranged to see them too :) And after posting a facebook status about buying tickets, two other college friends announced they'd be there too. So, what originally started with just five people extended to nine, and it was just like old times - mostly, because a few key members were missing.
But the day before the display was another important day - my daddy's birthday! I got up early just to give him his presents. A lovely sentimental-like card, a lovely smart jumper and some David Beckham aftershave. He was very happy. Every year I want to try to top last year's present, but seeing as last year I bought him an expensive gadget to transfer his vinyl LPs into CDs, I thought I would start again with that tradition :P So next year I just have to top this years :) No problem. His birthday cake was a glorious thing, topped with smarties, rolos and other nommy chocolate delights. And as I don't normally eat chocolate, the taste was simply divine.
Well, anyway, the day after that was the 5th of November - Bonfire Night. It would be a bit of a tight schedule for me, as I had work 9-6pm, and at 6pm the gates opened for the firework display. So once I'd finished work, I hastened home (whilst being very careful behind the wheel of my car), speedily got changed and immediately left for town... and because I was so speedy, I completely forgot to take Maddy's birthday present with me. Fool.
Well, I parked in the restricted section of Brittania's car park. Restricted because at 7pm, there were a lot of signs saying that at that time the gates would close and no car would be able to get out. Still, considering that it was Bonfire night, I nervously figured that they would take that into consideration and leave the gates open. I did have a few panicked rants throughout the evening, but all was good when I finally got back to my car after everything and found the gates blissfully open.
The display itself was fantastic. Really, really good. It was all set to music, all timed, and all awe-inspiring. The music had a space theme to it; songs such as Queen's Flash Gordon, David Bowie's Life on Mars, R.E.M's Man on the Moon and Sting's Walking on the Moon were just a few. It opened to War of the Worlds, and that was just fantastic. Just pure brilliance. I thoroughly enjoyed the whole thing.
Maddy's sister, Jessica, hadn't really spent time with me before. Well, it wasn't like she was spending time with just me then, but if you get what I mean... Around your friends you're a completely different person, aren't you. Well, I am at least. When I visited Maddy's house I toned done any flirting, teasing and playful comments to a bare minimum in order to make a good impression on her family. But, surrounded by my friends, there was no way I was toning down anything that night. So, whenever I made a flirtatious comment, which is every other line where Bestie and Maddy are concerned, she'd turn and have a disbelieving smile, or say 'You're so smooth'. Yes, yes I am. Whatever natural talent I have at being a suave devil, I have perfected it. So yes, I am a very smooth person. I also take immense pride in this.
Maddy commented that she'd missed my flirts anyway, and that makes it more than worth it.
We went to Sloppy Joe's, an american diner, afterwards - well, Maddy, Jess, Bestie, Beth and I. The others went to their respective homes. We ordered two Bacon Bonanza pizzas, and two sides of fries. Apparently, that wasn't very much as the waitress had a look on her face, like is that all? Because in America, one person would eat a Bacon Bonanza themselves. And we were sharing one between two and a half peoples. So, this just explains to me the reason why Americans may have a weight problem.
Que sera, I suppose. Well, anyway, a Bacon Bonanza consists of double bacon and double cheese. I didn't like it. I like bacon, and I like cheese, but there was far too much of each. So I eated the chips instead :) And stole Bestie's tomato ketchup, which she wasn't impressed with. But I returned what I didn't eated, and she was happy again.
Well, we walked back to my car, and I insisted on giving them a lift back to the car park they were parked in. For one reason, to save their legs from the journey. For a bigger reason, for the rush of excitement I got from giving my friends a lift (I hadn't driven Bestie or Beth before, so it was all new). As usual, I got my way and happily drove them to their car park :) I did have to quickly and discretely turn my PonyBeatz CD down, to save myself some flushed cheeks. Long live My Little Pony!
So after that day, it was back to doing normal things. I went to work on Monday, lounged about Tuesday, spent an afternoon with Quinn on Wednesday, lounged about on Thursday, and then on Friday went into some Travel Agents in town to discuss flights to Australia. Turns out I could be going as early as the 8th of January, because that's when my friends will be on school/university holidays. It's really hitting home now how close I am to going. It means I'll have to spend less on Christmas presents for my friends and family, and be very careful with my money.
So, it's with a heavy heart that I turn a blind eye to the new Zelda game being released on the 18th of November. I have so been looking forward to this release, it's unreal. I love Zelda, I love Link, and I love Hyrule and the many different lands it has. So it really is quite upsetting that I'm having to forego this latest edition to the Zelda saga. But that 35pounds could get me something very nice in Australia.
It also means clubbing needs to be kept to a minimum. Sad times right there. I do so like my clubbing. I'm not going to go to town, to save petrol and parking fares and the temptation of anything in the shops. I shall only go in for christmas presents, and even then I shall have a list that I shall stick to like glue.
Right now, Australia comes first.
I have ordered my passport, and that should come through sometime next week. I'm actually rather thankful to be getting a new one - my last photograph was just gosh-darned awful. Really. I know people are all like 'don't look at my photo, it's really bad', but they don't know anything. My photo was absolutely dire. So, I'm happy to report, this one looks far far better :)
So, my friends, plans are beginning to take shape. Now, it's only a matter of weeks before they're being carried out.
Monday, 31 October 2011
Manicness! (With Fudge)
It's been absolutely manic since I last blogged.
I did a week of work, and have started some new hours at the petrol station across the car park from the main shop. That's where I'll be spending my Thursday evenings and Monday afternoons now. On a Monday evening I'll then head over to the shop for a three hour shift. So I now do nineteen official hours per week. Woo! Nice little boost of money for me there for Australia :) That hasn't stopped them asking me for loads and loads of overtime though - sometimes I feel thoroughly overworked and underpaid! But I do enjoy working there - I did an office job for about a year and the solitude was just awful. So the interaction I get with the public in my job is just fantastic, and I keep reminding myself of that when I feel down or upset at work - I could be back in the office - and I'm not as unhappy anymore. Positivity, people!
On the tuesday of that week I did take my best friend out to lunch, though. I always try to keep my Tuesdays free in case we want to do something (it's her only day off of college during the week). We went to Frankie and Benny's, a restaraunt that's an Italian American diner. I haad an all day breakfast, and the sausages were herb sausages. I mean, why? Why would you want it? I found a horrible green thing about half the length of my pinkie finger in a sausage. It's just plain wrong. So I asked for a bag and took the sausages home for my dog. She appreciated them, anyway.
My bestie had a huge bacon burger, which she seemed to enjoy quite a bit. She didn't enjoy dessert quite as much - she could hardly get into the darn thing. It was their version of Pizza Hut's Cookie Dough, and it was literally a cookie with a dollop of ice cream on the top. Only, this wasn't hot like Pizza Hut's, and the darn thing was practically frozen solid. We joked that she needed a chainsaw to cut it up, but she very nearly did. I have never seen someone struggle so much with a cookie.
I, on the other hand, had a white chocolate brownie sundae. Oh yes, it was as tasty as it sounds. I would quite happily go to F&B just for that dessert. It was exquisite.
So then work took me up to half term. Well, I don't actually get half term anymore since I'm not in education, but I was determined to keep this week relatively work-free because I could meet up with Bestie loads. As you can probably tell by now, I don't get to see many people. I have Bestie, and a friend in the village that I've known since like, birth. Village Friend and I go on lots of walks together with the dog, but even then it's not as regularly as I'd like.
On Tuesday work bugged me and bugged me to go in, but as mym mum and I were going to visit a family friend in the afternoon, I only agreed to work till one o clock. An assistant manager grumbled something like 'I suppose that's better than nothing', and I was quite affronted by that. At least I'm doing some hours for you, you ungrateful depressed monkey. (Yeah, positivity!) Then mum and I spent around three hours at our friend's house, in which I learnt the daughter has an obsession with New Zealand. In particular the rugby team. Not much of a rugby person myself, as I don't understand what the hell is going on half the time, but I get the feeling she was looking more at the actual men than the game. It was rather funny when she learnt that I pay rent to my parents; her parents are very very well off, so price is never a problem for her. She really really couldn't understand why I have to pay my parents to help with the bills, bless her... How the other half live, I suppose.
Anyway, Bestie and I decided to go visit our Southampton Uni friend (all these 'friend' tags are long to write. So I'm naming Southampton Uni friend Madison, one of my all time favourite names. Village Friend shall be called Quinn, because she likes that name). We planned it just-so, and on Wednesday I got up at 6:45am (shock to the system much) and left for Bestie's house at 7:20. Arrived at just before 8:00am, and we got in her car and drove to Southampton. Took us about three hours, but it went so quickly. It was an exciting thing for me to do - go on a little road trip - and as such I was such a chatterbox on the way up there. I was playing My Little Pony songs that I'd downloaded (I affectionately call them PonyBeatz) and she was exasperated because as she was driving I was in control of the music. Mua ha ha ha. But she did incredibly well, and I was very impressed and proud of how she handled the M roads. We pulled up in West Quay, apparently the biggest shopping centre in Southampton. By God was it HUGE. seriously, it was gigantic. I commented that I felt like a country bumpkin when we entered it, because I was just staring around me in awe because it was that damned big. Whilst waiting for Madison to finish her lectures for the morning, Bestie and I did a bit of shopping. Trying to navigate the pace was a chore in itself!
Also, whilst I know escalators can be useful, why does there have to be so many of them everywhere? I hate the damn things. After an incident when I was a child, I have had an immense dislike/borderline fear of them. In West Quay the bathroom is only accessible via escalators. Thankfully Bestie knows how much I hate them and lets me grip her hand/arm to death when riding them.
Once Maddy got there after her lectures we did a bit more browsing of shops ate lunch, walked up to this castle-gate thing in the town, then promptly went back to Bestie's car and headed for Maddy's flat, nearly getting lost on the way. Yay for sattelite navigation!
Maddy's flate is about half an hour's walk from the actual University campus. It's a lovely little place, very cosy and nice. Her room is so so her - full of nature-y stuff like plants, a wooden carving of a giraffe, a pet rock... And just about big enough to sleep two people. So Bestie and I were to share the airbed, and Maddy on her own bed. We sat for ages, catching up and just talking, and then took a walk to Maddy's Uni. She gave us a tour, and it is huge. I swear, everything about Southampton is just enormous. The library is just insane, though that was only from the outside - as two of our party weren't students there, we couldn't get in. Though according to Maddy it has five levels to it. Like, Hogwarts much? :D
Eventually we came to an art gallery that Maddy hadn't discovered yet, so we went in. Always a bad idea to take me to an art gallery, especially when it's modern art. I can't stand it. So unfortunately that, and a few other factors, put me in a grouchy mood. I feel bad about it now, because it was obvious that I was sort of ruining a happy day. Thankfully it didn't last too long, and a few quiet words after we got back to Maddy's flat sorted things out properly.
Maddy offered to cook us dinner, and, being tired from the travelling we'd done, we weren't going to say no. She cooked us up a lovely meal of pasta with chicken, and did an onion-sauce-thing for herself and Bestie - she knows I don't eat that sort of stuff. After dinner, the camera came out, and many photos were taken to give us reminders of the day. A couple of hours after dinner, we had woken up a bit and decided to go to the Uni for some drinks. Some of Maddy's flatmates lent us their bus passes (thankyou!) and we ran out in the pouring rain to the bus. Literally, it was chucking it down. Thankfully there was a bus shelter, so we were able to dry off a little bit, but we were still pretty soaked. Therefore, when we got to the Student Union pub, named the Stag's Head, we headed straight to the bathroom and dried off under the hand-dryers. Cool, eh.
Drinks there were an absolutely fab price - we got three for £5.80. It's just incredible. I had an Archers and lemonade, and Maddy and Bestie had a Dissarono and coke. We each bought a round, and that was just enough to make our tummies warm. Bestie did have to drive home the next day, and I just didn't have the money to get drunk. So we stayed there for a few hours, and then caught the bus back to Maddy's flat, pumped up the airbed and settled down for the night. Except I'd only bought a thin sleeping bag-liner, and after an hour I was a bit chilly. So I hopped into the bed with Maddy and was asleep in seconds.
Thursday we got up at six and left Maddy's at eight. The drive home was a bit more stressful than the drive there, purely due to people being idiots on the road. Nevertheless, Bestie dealt with it all fabulously. Except she never noticed when she had to turn her windscreen wipers off due to lack of rain, so I gladly took that job role for her. My catchphrase is now 'Your wipers seem to be struggling a bit, my dear.'
Check me out, right? Official windscreen-wiper-turner-offerer.
Bestie got home at half eleven, and started work at twelve. I got home at twenty past twelve, had a haircut at two, and started work at four. Needless to say, I was knackered. As such, I was grouchy and more picky with my hairdresser, and my hair looks rather good (not to toot my own horn), so I think I may be more picky in the future. I had a nap after my hair was done, and got up at half three to motor myself to work. 5 hours later, I was only awake due to Lucozade, and was incredibly chatty when I got in, much to my parents' surprise.
Then, Bestie went into another bit of his enclosure and scattered some fruit and veg. She never got actual contact with him, and according to the keeper he would have tried to pull her hair a bit, so maybe that was a good thing. Wouldn't want my bestie with a bald patch!
Bestie then left that part, and Mr Monkey entered it to have a go at the food. Bestie then went into the big original part of the enclosure, and scattered more food, putting it in places where Mr Monkey would have to work to get it - stuck in a bottle for example. Just little things like that to stimulate his brain. Some of the things he got to play with in his enclosure we long rope-things that looked like they were made of plastic - I later informed Bestie that these were in fact hoses donated by the local fire station. I has knowledge, like.
So, that's something Bestie can tick off her bucket list - stare an Orang-utan in the eyes whilst drugging him. WAaaaaaaaaaaaaay.
We then spent the rest of the day at the zoo, visiting our favourite animals - mine being the short-coat-otters, and the sealions, and Bestie being the orang-utans (obviously) and the red pandas. It's a huuuge zoo, and eventually I sat down on whatever ledge I could find wherever we were because I was so tired from Southampton and everything. But that was all fine, and humorous, so no worries there.
However, something amazing DID happen just as Bestie and I were leaving the zoo - I tried some fudge. I'd never had fudge before, and this was homemade milk chocolate fudge. It was incredible. So much so that I'm going to buy it for my dad as part of his christmas present :D I bought Bestie some Devon Toffee Fudge, and she seemed to quite enjoy that too. Fudge all around!
So, Saturday was work. Nothing tremendously ground-shaking happened there. HOWEVER! I did manage to persuade my manager to let us dress up for Halloween! Cue buying a sequin-bat-mask, a sequin top and weird pvc-looking leggins. They weren't pvc, but they... well, actually, I haven't got a clue what they're made of.
Anyway, today was Hallows Eve. And, true to my Taurean nature, I courageously went to work dressed as a 'Sparkly Bat', as I told the customers. I got some very flattering comments, one in particular when a man stepped through the door, saw me, stopped dead and just breathed "Wow..."
Thank you, thank you very much! Quite possible made my life!
Oh no wait, that couldn't have made my life, as seeing The Lion King in 3D made my life yesterday... it was incredible! I was crying within two minutes of the opening sequence because it was just so damned awesome... *sniffles* And I never remembered it being so funny! Scar is hilarious! Haaa I have a whole new appreciation for it. And, of course, I cried when Mufasa died :'( poor guy... I really did like him.
So, Quinn told me that this blog, supposed to be for Australia, isn't really about Australia at all. That, people, is because I'm not there yet. So I can't write tonnes about it. But here's a little update - getting my passport photos done tomorrow so I'll send that off then! Watch out Oz, here I come!
Friday, 21 October 2011
My Little Pony - Friendship is Magic
I have been so incredibly smiley the past few days. Why, you might ask?
Well, because of the ponies from Equestria of course!
Yes, my friends, I have recently discovered the revamped versions of MLP, and it is amazing. I have never smiled so much at a cartoon show, I swear! (Technically, anime doesn't count as cartoon else it'd be a fierce rival against Lucky Star). In the past three days I've contented myself with watching episodes after I get home from work, and last night I finished the first series. Today, I started the second. I'm so pleased to have found it; it really is a gem of a cartoon, and teaches viewers valuable lessons on friendship with each episode.
It usually wraps up each episode with Twilight Sparkle writing a letter to Princess Celestia about what she has discovered about friendship - kind of like the moral of the episode. Since this show is primarily aimed at young kids, I think a moral about friendship is a fantastic thing to show them. Kids can nowadays be so caught up in stuff like mobiles and computer games that they may forget what really matters. This show teaches them right from wrong when it comes to friendship, and I really think that is fantastic.
But wait, my friends! MLP: FiM is not just for young kids! Ohh yes. It is loved by adults as well. This fun, colourful, insightful program is such a joy after the depressing/repetetive things on television for adults. You have the soaps - Home and Away, Holby, Casualty, Corrie, Eastenders etc. You have the sports - football, rugby, golf, tennis etc. You have the documentaries - history, geography, animal life etc. The worst perpetrator is... THE NEWS! Hardly anything happy is ever broadcast on the news. I have personally stopped watching it. I get my information from newspapers (which always have at least two happy stories in it) and gossip. Whilst I don't condone the latter, it's much better than watching the news.
All of these TV programs may have some good points, but seriously? Where is the fun? Where is the colour, the laughter, the rainbows? WHERE ARE THE GOD-DAMN PONIES?!
So, whether by happy mistake or for their child/sibling's sake, these teens+ have stumbled across My Little Pony. Eh hee hee hee! And oh, how they are hooked! Male fans of the show call themselves Bronies (inventive, eh?) and I do believe that the females call themselves (even if they don't, I will) Pegasis. If I remember rightly, the best comment I ever read from a FiM episode was by a Brony who wrote - I am an adult male and I watch this instead of porn. That's right I said 'instead of', not 'as well as'.
MLP is helping to cure men of the lure of pornography, people! Bravo, I say!
MLP is even a popular tattoo design. This is a great example of a Brony, though the pony is not from Friendship is Magic. This Brony is just awesome too! Much err... respect is not the right word, but I was slightly impressed at first. And lastly, this pony is Rainbow Dash from FiM :D
Of course, my favourite is Fluttershy! *Squee* She is so adorable. So so adorable. There is no one more adorable than her on TV. Even Pocoyo is having a hard time competing against her adorableness. But I wouldn't want to get on her bad side! I have the Sparta Remix on 'You're going to LOVE ME!' on my phone, and Flipped Fluttershy is scary Fluttershy. BEWARE THE FLUTTERAGE!
Now that I've got all of that out of my system, I hope that people may be inspired to watch this brilliant thing. I was a mega fan of MLP when I was growing up; I watched my VHS of Rescue at Midnight Castle so much that we had to throw it away in the end because the quality got so bad. But this is a fantastic revival of My Little Pony, and has an uber uber UBER thumbs up from me!
Well, because of the ponies from Equestria of course!
Yes, my friends, I have recently discovered the revamped versions of MLP, and it is amazing. I have never smiled so much at a cartoon show, I swear! (Technically, anime doesn't count as cartoon else it'd be a fierce rival against Lucky Star). In the past three days I've contented myself with watching episodes after I get home from work, and last night I finished the first series. Today, I started the second. I'm so pleased to have found it; it really is a gem of a cartoon, and teaches viewers valuable lessons on friendship with each episode.
It usually wraps up each episode with Twilight Sparkle writing a letter to Princess Celestia about what she has discovered about friendship - kind of like the moral of the episode. Since this show is primarily aimed at young kids, I think a moral about friendship is a fantastic thing to show them. Kids can nowadays be so caught up in stuff like mobiles and computer games that they may forget what really matters. This show teaches them right from wrong when it comes to friendship, and I really think that is fantastic.
But wait, my friends! MLP: FiM is not just for young kids! Ohh yes. It is loved by adults as well. This fun, colourful, insightful program is such a joy after the depressing/repetetive things on television for adults. You have the soaps - Home and Away, Holby, Casualty, Corrie, Eastenders etc. You have the sports - football, rugby, golf, tennis etc. You have the documentaries - history, geography, animal life etc. The worst perpetrator is... THE NEWS! Hardly anything happy is ever broadcast on the news. I have personally stopped watching it. I get my information from newspapers (which always have at least two happy stories in it) and gossip. Whilst I don't condone the latter, it's much better than watching the news.
All of these TV programs may have some good points, but seriously? Where is the fun? Where is the colour, the laughter, the rainbows? WHERE ARE THE GOD-DAMN PONIES?!
So, whether by happy mistake or for their child/sibling's sake, these teens+ have stumbled across My Little Pony. Eh hee hee hee! And oh, how they are hooked! Male fans of the show call themselves Bronies (inventive, eh?) and I do believe that the females call themselves (even if they don't, I will) Pegasis. If I remember rightly, the best comment I ever read from a FiM episode was by a Brony who wrote - I am an adult male and I watch this instead of porn. That's right I said 'instead of', not 'as well as'.
MLP is helping to cure men of the lure of pornography, people! Bravo, I say!
MLP is even a popular tattoo design. This is a great example of a Brony, though the pony is not from Friendship is Magic. This Brony is just awesome too! Much err... respect is not the right word, but I was slightly impressed at first. And lastly, this pony is Rainbow Dash from FiM :D
Of course, my favourite is Fluttershy! *Squee* She is so adorable. So so adorable. There is no one more adorable than her on TV. Even Pocoyo is having a hard time competing against her adorableness. But I wouldn't want to get on her bad side! I have the Sparta Remix on 'You're going to LOVE ME!' on my phone, and Flipped Fluttershy is scary Fluttershy. BEWARE THE FLUTTERAGE!
Now that I've got all of that out of my system, I hope that people may be inspired to watch this brilliant thing. I was a mega fan of MLP when I was growing up; I watched my VHS of Rescue at Midnight Castle so much that we had to throw it away in the end because the quality got so bad. But this is a fantastic revival of My Little Pony, and has an uber uber UBER thumbs up from me!
Sunday, 16 October 2011
Zwei - Clubbing, Buddha and Pikachu.
In the past month-ish, not too much has happened.
It was my best friend's nineteenth birthday in early October, and we went clubbing for that. Unfortunately all of our friends have gone off to Uni, apart from herself who is doing a one-year Art course at a different college, and myself who is just working to save money for Australia. Ergo, not many people were there. It was upsetting for her, and as she was upset so was I. So in the end it was just myself, herself, her boyfriend and another guy friend of ours.
It was a good night,and she seemed to have a time despite the lack of people, and to have played a part in that made me rather pleased. It wouldn't have said much about our friendship if she was out with me and had a bad night.
Actually, I was out the week before that, too. With my sister, which is a very rare occurrence in itself as we don't exactly get on brilliantly. But hey, I had a good time. The only weird thing about it was that, as she socialises with people a bit older than herself, we were spending our night out with a guy who's in his late 30's. He was genuinely lovely though, and we got on fabulously. So much so that he kissed me before I got into the taxi. I was a bit freaked by that, because he's like twenty years older than me. He also invited me for drinks, but as he's engaged and is quite a bit my senior, I haven't mentioned it. Neither has he, thankfully. He was so lovely, it was just a shame he wasn't my age. That's the way my life goes, I suppose. Meet a fantastic guy who seemed to be everything I would want from a man, but he's 30-odd and engaged. Typical.
I haven't done much else really. I've not even been meditating that much, which I suppose could be a good thing - meaning I'm not as stressed or lonely so don't feel the need to. Although I did do a tarot reading for my sister yesterday, and convinced her it wasn't just 'messing about' as all of my family seem to think. So that was nice :) When I went out to a garden centre I stumbled across some CDs for spas and salons, although they are brilliant when meditating and simply to chill out to. With names like Inspiration, Relaxation, Freedom, Serenity, Bliss etc you can kind of get the idea of what they sound like. In any case, I love them, and bought four of them to add to the three I already had. Along with two new cream candles and holders, I think I'm doing pretty well. Sometimes I feel like a Bhudda :') But then I remember that if I see a spider I kill it, so I remember I'll never be a Bhuddist.
The other day however, I rather felt like a Pikachu. I work at the Co-Operative, and on Wednesday we were dressing up to raise money for the local Air Ambulance - a very worthy cause, cause you'll never know when you'll need it. Well, anyway, since I already had a Pikachu suit (£60 eBay, thank you very much!) with a tail and everything, so I thought it would be a good excuse to wear it out of the house without getting too many funny looks. One of my colleagues was dressed as Red Indian, two came together as 118, and I pressured another into coming as a pirate. I even bought the costume in for her to make it easy! She did enjoy herself in the end, so I don't feel too bad for pressuring her into it. I can't pretend that I didn't enjoy it myself, because actually I love the spotlight. I was totally in my element. I dressed up (sort of) as a nurse on Friday, for the same charity. I just wore smart trousers and a white blouse, a badge with Consultant written on it, and a little silver disc taped onto a black alice-band. Et voila! Semi-nurse-thing. I told a customer I couldn't really be bothered after the great effort I had done for Pikachu, and we agreed that as I was a half-nurse, I was a Nur. I have finally found a customer with my sense of humour! *Fist-pumps*
Today has been a slow day. Well, it's a Sunday, so it's supposed to be slow anyway. I checked to see if any of my favourite fanfictions had been updated (they hadn't, so I read some of the older chapters), checked ma facebook, and then decided to write a letter to my friend at Uni. Letters are a lot of fun to write, actually. They're also more personal than an email, and I think also a lot more in depth than texts. I don't like writing long texts but I'll gladly spill my soul onto a piece of parchment. So once I'd finished my letter, added in a drawing and written the address, I thought I'd be uber special and seal the envelope with wax and stamp it, like they used to do in olden times. But first I needed a stamp.
So, I found a small block of wood from the shed, rid it of the cobwebs that had gathered on it and grabbed a Sharpie. Drew a great big 'M' on the side, grabbed a scalpel (very carefully) and got to work. After a while my throat felt a bit sore and I realised I'd probably inhaled some sawdust, so I grabbed a bandanna and tied that around my nose and mouth. I was proper impressed with myself for coming up with that.
I did about six trial runs with the stamp, to make sure I'd get it right on the envelope. Of course, the only one to go wrong was the one on the envelope >.>
The wax dribbled all over it. I'm not sure what the postman is gonna think when he sees it. He'll probably peel the wax seal off. Douche. If it doesn't arrive in your mailbox with the seal, babe, I'm so sorry but it isn't my fault. It was on there when I posted it.
I also filled out my passport form today - yay! Now I just have to go into town and get a photo taken for it, and I can post it off and be that one step closer to going to Australia! So looking forward to it.
So I think that's about everything. It was just a little update on my humble life. When I said nothing had happened in the past month, I'd obviously forgotten everything that had.
It was my best friend's nineteenth birthday in early October, and we went clubbing for that. Unfortunately all of our friends have gone off to Uni, apart from herself who is doing a one-year Art course at a different college, and myself who is just working to save money for Australia. Ergo, not many people were there. It was upsetting for her, and as she was upset so was I. So in the end it was just myself, herself, her boyfriend and another guy friend of ours.
It was a good night,and she seemed to have a time despite the lack of people, and to have played a part in that made me rather pleased. It wouldn't have said much about our friendship if she was out with me and had a bad night.
Actually, I was out the week before that, too. With my sister, which is a very rare occurrence in itself as we don't exactly get on brilliantly. But hey, I had a good time. The only weird thing about it was that, as she socialises with people a bit older than herself, we were spending our night out with a guy who's in his late 30's. He was genuinely lovely though, and we got on fabulously. So much so that he kissed me before I got into the taxi. I was a bit freaked by that, because he's like twenty years older than me. He also invited me for drinks, but as he's engaged and is quite a bit my senior, I haven't mentioned it. Neither has he, thankfully. He was so lovely, it was just a shame he wasn't my age. That's the way my life goes, I suppose. Meet a fantastic guy who seemed to be everything I would want from a man, but he's 30-odd and engaged. Typical.
I haven't done much else really. I've not even been meditating that much, which I suppose could be a good thing - meaning I'm not as stressed or lonely so don't feel the need to. Although I did do a tarot reading for my sister yesterday, and convinced her it wasn't just 'messing about' as all of my family seem to think. So that was nice :) When I went out to a garden centre I stumbled across some CDs for spas and salons, although they are brilliant when meditating and simply to chill out to. With names like Inspiration, Relaxation, Freedom, Serenity, Bliss etc you can kind of get the idea of what they sound like. In any case, I love them, and bought four of them to add to the three I already had. Along with two new cream candles and holders, I think I'm doing pretty well. Sometimes I feel like a Bhudda :') But then I remember that if I see a spider I kill it, so I remember I'll never be a Bhuddist.
The other day however, I rather felt like a Pikachu. I work at the Co-Operative, and on Wednesday we were dressing up to raise money for the local Air Ambulance - a very worthy cause, cause you'll never know when you'll need it. Well, anyway, since I already had a Pikachu suit (£60 eBay, thank you very much!) with a tail and everything, so I thought it would be a good excuse to wear it out of the house without getting too many funny looks. One of my colleagues was dressed as Red Indian, two came together as 118, and I pressured another into coming as a pirate. I even bought the costume in for her to make it easy! She did enjoy herself in the end, so I don't feel too bad for pressuring her into it. I can't pretend that I didn't enjoy it myself, because actually I love the spotlight. I was totally in my element. I dressed up (sort of) as a nurse on Friday, for the same charity. I just wore smart trousers and a white blouse, a badge with Consultant written on it, and a little silver disc taped onto a black alice-band. Et voila! Semi-nurse-thing. I told a customer I couldn't really be bothered after the great effort I had done for Pikachu, and we agreed that as I was a half-nurse, I was a Nur. I have finally found a customer with my sense of humour! *Fist-pumps*
Today has been a slow day. Well, it's a Sunday, so it's supposed to be slow anyway. I checked to see if any of my favourite fanfictions had been updated (they hadn't, so I read some of the older chapters), checked ma facebook, and then decided to write a letter to my friend at Uni. Letters are a lot of fun to write, actually. They're also more personal than an email, and I think also a lot more in depth than texts. I don't like writing long texts but I'll gladly spill my soul onto a piece of parchment. So once I'd finished my letter, added in a drawing and written the address, I thought I'd be uber special and seal the envelope with wax and stamp it, like they used to do in olden times. But first I needed a stamp.
So, I found a small block of wood from the shed, rid it of the cobwebs that had gathered on it and grabbed a Sharpie. Drew a great big 'M' on the side, grabbed a scalpel (very carefully) and got to work. After a while my throat felt a bit sore and I realised I'd probably inhaled some sawdust, so I grabbed a bandanna and tied that around my nose and mouth. I was proper impressed with myself for coming up with that.
I did about six trial runs with the stamp, to make sure I'd get it right on the envelope. Of course, the only one to go wrong was the one on the envelope >.>
The wax dribbled all over it. I'm not sure what the postman is gonna think when he sees it. He'll probably peel the wax seal off. Douche. If it doesn't arrive in your mailbox with the seal, babe, I'm so sorry but it isn't my fault. It was on there when I posted it.
I also filled out my passport form today - yay! Now I just have to go into town and get a photo taken for it, and I can post it off and be that one step closer to going to Australia! So looking forward to it.
So I think that's about everything. It was just a little update on my humble life. When I said nothing had happened in the past month, I'd obviously forgotten everything that had.
Friday, 23 September 2011
Numero Uno
Well, this is new.
My very first blog. Can you also define that as an online-diary? I never was any good with diaries. Hopefully, as it's online, a blog will be easier to keep up with.
So, where to start? I decided to keep a blog because I'm running out of things to do with my days. I'm hoping that this will keep me entertained for a while. I have a part-time job, and only work Saturdays and Monday evenings, so I have a lot of free time. Most of it has been spent on Dragon Quest IX for the Nintendo DS, I have to admit. I spend far too much time on that game, for it's incredibly addicting. Die, Liquid Metal Slimes!
Most of my friends have dispersed into other paths of life. We've all just finished college, and most of them are off to university. One's gone off to Lincoln to study Forensic Science and Criminology, and another leaves for Southampton tomorrow morning to learn how to save the world environmentally. Luckily, my closest friend decided to do a year at a nearby college doing art, so I have some company other than those Slimes.
I did get accepted into university, at Canterbury Christ Church in Kent. But I'd always wanted to take a gap year; I knew I wasn't mentally ready to take on a 3 or 4 year educational commitment. So instead I'm headed off to Australia in February for three or more months, which is gonna be so so so awesome! I can hardly contain myself when I take a moment to sit and think about it :D
I've compiled a list of what I'd like to do out in Oz. It consists of awesome things such as swimming with dolphins and going out to the Great Barrier Reef, seeing the Sydney Opera House and hiring a cheap old car and driving along the Great Ocean Road. I'm going for the adventure, the weather, and the men (that are supposed to be very nice). I'll be a trekking back-packer making my way into the world. It's gonna be absolutely fantastic!
But first there are things to get. With my next pay-cheque I'm ordering my passport (always a fun and expensive task) and I've still got things like walking boots, a little first aid kit and a very large rucksack to get. It's not going to be a cheap vacation by any means, but it's going to be one of those once-in-a-lifetime sort of things :D
This blog has been kind of a mishmash of things to just get the feel of it, I'd reckon. I think I'll be leaving it here. More blogs will come in the future, I'm sure. Mostly just musings from a Merlin...
My very first blog. Can you also define that as an online-diary? I never was any good with diaries. Hopefully, as it's online, a blog will be easier to keep up with.
So, where to start? I decided to keep a blog because I'm running out of things to do with my days. I'm hoping that this will keep me entertained for a while. I have a part-time job, and only work Saturdays and Monday evenings, so I have a lot of free time. Most of it has been spent on Dragon Quest IX for the Nintendo DS, I have to admit. I spend far too much time on that game, for it's incredibly addicting. Die, Liquid Metal Slimes!
Most of my friends have dispersed into other paths of life. We've all just finished college, and most of them are off to university. One's gone off to Lincoln to study Forensic Science and Criminology, and another leaves for Southampton tomorrow morning to learn how to save the world environmentally. Luckily, my closest friend decided to do a year at a nearby college doing art, so I have some company other than those Slimes.
I did get accepted into university, at Canterbury Christ Church in Kent. But I'd always wanted to take a gap year; I knew I wasn't mentally ready to take on a 3 or 4 year educational commitment. So instead I'm headed off to Australia in February for three or more months, which is gonna be so so so awesome! I can hardly contain myself when I take a moment to sit and think about it :D
I've compiled a list of what I'd like to do out in Oz. It consists of awesome things such as swimming with dolphins and going out to the Great Barrier Reef, seeing the Sydney Opera House and hiring a cheap old car and driving along the Great Ocean Road. I'm going for the adventure, the weather, and the men (that are supposed to be very nice). I'll be a trekking back-packer making my way into the world. It's gonna be absolutely fantastic!
But first there are things to get. With my next pay-cheque I'm ordering my passport (always a fun and expensive task) and I've still got things like walking boots, a little first aid kit and a very large rucksack to get. It's not going to be a cheap vacation by any means, but it's going to be one of those once-in-a-lifetime sort of things :D
This blog has been kind of a mishmash of things to just get the feel of it, I'd reckon. I think I'll be leaving it here. More blogs will come in the future, I'm sure. Mostly just musings from a Merlin...
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