Lou: The Common Ground/O pacífico

I love the people in my life who accept me for who I am.

2011-06-18T05:14:00.000-07:00

'To be nobody but yourself in a world that's doing its best to make you somebody else, is to fight the hardest battle you are ever going to fight. Never stop fighting.' EE Cummings.

I'm fed up with people thinking I should change. Be quieter. More refined. Go out and party more. Go out and party less. Be thinner. More confident. Less confident. Stop changing my hair colour. Be more ambitious. Stop being Ambitious, be content with now.

Of course some of those 'threats' come from me. But its the ones that come from others that hurt. I've spent years trying to accept myself, who are you to say I should change?

I love the people in my life who accept me for who I am. Insecure, flamboyant dresser, hair and accent chameleon, excitable with a good measure of decorum.

5 ways I don't fit in.

2011-06-08T14:05:00.000-07:00

1. I talk to animals. With farm animals I occasionaly try to warn them of their impending doom, but perhaps I should let ignorance be bliss.

2. I hate wearing shoes.And not just after 2am and 2many glasses of rose Trips to sainsburys, in the office.....beee free my feet.

3. I'll always choose to sit on the floor over a chair. Closer to the rats.

4. I think 'Who are you?' is an acceptable way to greet people

5. I don't care if people don't like the way I look, as long as I do:
I liked my peroxide blonde that made me looked about as natural as a tiger on the high street.

And I don't mind being a dark shade of orange. I feel exotic.

What I love most about Leeds.....

2011-06-02T14:08:00.000-07:00

...The wide selection of buskers: bollywood-style guitar player, guy doing chris brown impersonations, guy playing the drums on trash, middle eastern trumpet quartet, and the man with the singing dog. something for everyone.
Apparently Leeds is the only place in UK where you do not need a liscense to busk. Shrug.

Oh and Madge from neighbours, Chris Moyles and The Kasier Chiefs can be spotted (I served a Kaiser Chief at work once. Dunno which one)

10 reasons why dejected England fans should now be supporting Ghana with all their heart and flag.

2010-06-27T13:38:00.000-07:00

1.I was supporting Ghana from the start, and I am wise. Follow in my ways.

2. Seriously, they believe they can win it for Africa, and their united pride as a nation is awesome. If there was only one team left in Europe, I highly doubt, to give a poignant example, France and England will be supporting Germany if Spain leave Germany the only team remaining in the football.

3. Is there another team with any major link to England/Britain left in the tournament? No. Ghana have the link. Former colony, LOVE the Queen. Therefore it makes historical and political sense sense to support them. Plus, one might argue the British weren't always incredibly nice to the country in colonial times, so It'd be a nice peace offering. They are the most warm welcoming people, especially to the English, despite the constant reminders of the legacies of slavery and colonial exploitation in their land, its a massive lesson in forgiveness.

4.It would really suck if we lost our world cup spirit in wake of the Ger-turmoil. I'm not gonna lie, it bought a massive lump to my throat when I saw some Japanese guys crying at the end of the match, and almost 'kissing their England shirts goodbye' but I'm sure we can still enjoy it, right? It's football!! And the wise choice is to support Ghana.

5. Their faith as a team is inspiring, they genuinely believe its God's grace that's got them this far.

6. Having said that, they are a little bit immodest, but I think its a positive thing. To quote Asamoah Gyan: "I asked God to make me the greatest striker in the world, and he did".
A little far off the mark maybe, but couldn't we all do with a dose of that kind of self confidence?!

7. Celebration at a Ghanaian foot ball game is awesome. Celebration after a Ghana game, win or lose, is awesome. To quote Marcel Desailly (ITV Commentator from Ghana)
"I can imagine now, there will be dancing, and beer, and singing, and there will be a goat just there *points* "

8.They are in the quarter finals, i.e still in the contest.
9.They play as a team, not as a random bunch of individuals. I imagine they would consider each other brothers on and off the pitch, and it shows in the game, again, win or lose.

10. THEY KNOW THEIR NATIONAL ANTHEM!

11.They play as if it means something to them personally. And probably get paid shockingly less than the England team,whilst playing extortionately better. As the BBC pointed out, the England team: 'Will probably be banging in 3 goals a match like its no effort when the premier league starts.' WHERE IS YOUR PRIDE in your job to represent your country?

12. Ghanaian football games are always entertaining! Scrappy, drama dives, praying on the pitch, yellow cards agogo, more gestures than Fabio Capello at a night club doing sign language. I'm eagerly anticipating a match in the African cup of nations when the entire 2 teams get red carded. Also, they are a rather attractive bunch.

OK, so that was 12. But, I have a point, seriously....wouldn't you rather look like this...

than like this?

*****With Massive Thanks to David P Wright, Rebecca Gathercole and
Jade L Beakhouse for their ideas.*****

I can only think of 2 reasons why life sucks right now....

2010-06-14T19:28:00.000-07:00

.....so everything must be going swimmingly on average. However:

1)It's 3:28, and I'm sat up waiting for the police to come round on account of an attempted burglary at my dear abode about 15 minutes ago. The scary thing is I was due to move out tonight, and as my bedroom window was the 2nd port of call for their attempted entry, they might have just skulked in unnoticed. Am listening to Glee soundtrack and imagining rainbows and the like until the police arrive.

2)Yesterday, after frolicking in the park and playing basketball, I got on the bus. Whenever I get on a bus, It is guaranteed that the drunk,disheveled, mentally unstable bloke will accost me. Today, It went something like this:

*Bloke sits next to me*
"F****in hell, your nails are disgusting!! I CLEAN mine."

I would like to point out that my nails are not THAT dirty, and it must have taken some fairly close inspection for him to observe the feint, bohemian traces of dirt under my fingernails, which were only there due to park-frolicking and basketball twirling.

Man.

Misfortunes: The International Years. Chapter 1: VIVE`BRASIL

2010-06-05T15:26:00.000-07:00

Often in the process of working a 6 day week, I manage to find the time to daydream. Today, I found myself recounting previous travel mishaps, and wondering why I didn’t publicize them more. I know, everyone has funny, ‘This one time, in Africaaaaa, I like, drank water and it was SO not purified ’ stories.

Mine are more just a mockery of my general misfortune.

Chapter one: Vivé Brasil

I’ve always had a problem of needing to pee whilst on public transport. One time, in another very hot country, I almost didn’t go on a trip of a lifetime because I was so scared I’d pee myself on the 14 hour coach ride. Luckily there was one bathroom break on this occasion, and was sweating so much there was no need to pass water.

Ahem.

On the incident in question, I was traveling from Trancosco (a), to Caraíva (b), a coach trip of around 6 hours. Which, in somewhere the size of Brazil, is pretty much the equivalent of popping over the road to buy some toilet roll.

Not hard to not need the toilet on a journey of such relatively small proportions, or so one might think. We nearly missed the bus, (due to my obsession with ‘cheesebread’ and just HAVING-TO-GET-SOME-FOR-THE-JOURNEY), but after running along a dust track and some Portugues expletives (from the driver, not us) we boarded.

The problem with Cheesebread (bao de Quejo) is that

a) its addictive, probably on account of the salt

b) due to the salt content it cannot be consumed without liquid. Seriously, that stuff is powerful.

After 3 weeks in Amazon land, I had become a bit cocky and convinced myself my bladder had the super-powers of your average giraffe.

So alongside my cheesbread for the bus, I had purchased its very best liquid- friend, 2 cans of Cola tZero (no that’s not a mistype, portugues pronouncing).

My friend Josie fell asleep, and people came on and off the bus, and we went though what I can only assume was rainforest with INSANE hairpin bends… as the 'crow flies' the journey should have taken 25 mins.

Major crisis. After 2 hours, and 2 cans of Cola tZero, I unsurprisingly need the toilet. I try to compose myself, with thoughts such as

‘I am a strong, confident woman. My bladder does not control me.’

To no avail.

I considered asking the bus driver to stop so I could pee, but having upset him earlier I was afraid he would either drive off and leave me, or watch and laugh.

Time passed.

I had no strength left.

It had to be done.

The window was open….but there was no way I could bend that way/not be seen, plus, WHO does that?!

My friend was still asleep and the people behind/in front were occupied/asleep, with the exception of one guy who was definitely AAE (alive, alert, enthusiastic). Then, in an epic must-be-divine intervention, his stop came up, and he departed.

The plan? The plastic carrier bag that I had bought my cheesebread and Cola tZero in. Fortunately rural Brazil doesn’t seem to have cottoned on to the ‘putting holes in carrier bags so small children don’t suffocate’ extravaganza

So, without leaving my seat, waking my friend, drawing anyone’s attention, or, ahem, ‘spillage’, I did it..

I’m sorry Brazil. I love you and your people and your crazy long bus journeys sem banheiro.

Ich muss mein Pferd verkaufen

2010-06-01T14:18:00.000-07:00

Those of you that know me well will know that my plans change often. As soon as I had found a job in Italia (my 1/2 motherland), I got one in Leeds, and decided to stay in the Northern Smoke. Its pretty sweet, Govt travel agent....Still framing pictures on a Saturday.

Though, working a 46 hour week, and being 'social' 5 nights a week has its disadvantages

a) my feet hurt. A LOT. solutions on a postcard please.

b) when I have down-time to myself I contract chronic boredom. When It got to the point that I was stalking my best friends- sisters-boyfriends friends on Facebook I decided it might be time to forcibly invent something to do, in the form of visiting same friend whilst revising to administer massage.

I always think ts polite, when calling a foreign country, to at least say "Good morning, Do you speak English please?' in the appropriate language. Like, if someone called you at work was was like 'Guten Morgen, Ich muss mein Pferd verkaufen' or even " Доброе утро, вы продаете сыром?" (that's Russian by the way, which i don't try to speak, as I cant read the pictures, but I do begin Russian-bound emails with "Доброе утро")
You'd be like.....

*nervous shuffle*
"....errrr, I don't think they're in the office today. or ever. please don't call back."

However one day I got a bit too big for my boots, and decided to expand from the above, to 'Hello, Please may I speak with reservations?' upon a call to Paris......

He was Scottish.

And I'm pretty sure I translated 'Reservations' wrongly.

Most influential politcal Quotes.

2010-05-04T03:43:00.000-07:00

"We can't possibly vote for the green party. their supporters have such untidy gardens"
: My Granny

"I'm not voting Labour, the local candidate cut off my phone line for 2 hours" : My boss

"We wont tell you what to do" : Local UKIP manifesto.

"It does not appear that Nick Clegg likes the Labour Party" : The Times

"My love of hunting stags is eco-friendly,as it keeps the population at sustainable levels, venison is very tasty if it's properly hung" : UKIP leader Lord Pearson

PS: Manish Sood, be quiet!!!! You're not going to be elected in NW Norfolk anyway.

Why does Train WiFi speak sweedish?

2010-05-03T02:55:00.000-07:00

I’m writing this on the train, with bed-head that I'm not sure is acceptable for 10:36 in the morning:

I am reminded of January/February last year, when I literally use to commute on the trains, for the sake of it. It was social commuting to an extent, but I just loved the buzz of sitting there with my laptop, and a box of sushi, pretending I had some epic meeting to attend, (when really I was just going to change trains to go to Bangor/Bristol/Watford/Norwich), sneakily obtaining 1st class upgrades, and meeting a lot of African businessmen/Eastern European surgeous. Was a pretty fun time though. I need to rediscover that side to myself, the spontaneous explorer.

I’ve been offered a job in Italy for the summer, my initial thought was ‘I can’t do that.’

But why not? That’s the kind of thing I love to do, and I’m happiest when I’m exploring, and getting myself into scrapes that ‘could only happen to you, Louise’.

Either,

a) that fun part of me has been repressed over the last little while because I’m not as happy as the national average (?!), or

b) maybe I am becoming permenantly mature and responsible.

I kinda hope it’s the former, then at least I can rekindle it.

Third Leg...ey?

2010-05-01T14:33:00.001-07:00

After seeing the above headline, and the picture of the nervous legs of Brown and Clegg (look closely)...

I could only assume this was the sequel to the televised debate:

PS: Any likeness between Cameron and a Vampire in this pic is purely accidental.

PPS: Yes, I could have made a very rude third leg joke. But I didn't. Respect n'stuff.

xxx

Poem for my blackberry

2010-04-30T14:03:00.000-07:00

Dear Blackberry,

I like you.
Sometimes when you ring,
I ignore you.
Please don't take it personally;
I just know its probably an email from Frank Rumbunkasisi.
I don't know who he is,
but I'd like it if you could filter him out.
I find it disconcerting that you're made by a company called RIM,
But I'll let you off,
as you help look occupied in awkward situations,
and sometimes make me look professional,
at least that would be the case,
If I'd brushed my hair today.
Please try and make your battery last a bit longer.

The End.

PUBLIC TRANSPORT IS DANGEROUS

2010-04-24T07:01:00.000-07:00

So, on Tuesday, I left my friends house about 10pm, and went to get the bus. At the bus stop i bumped into my friend Johnny, which was of course lovely, but was also really fortunate for me, for reasons below.
Johnny and I had a bit of banter about the Election, and then boarded the bus.

Until the on the near deserted bus, a woman threw herself on the floor, and started fitting, banging her head and trying to choke herself.

Jonny, authoritatively, instructed the bus to stop, the bus driver whips out his phone and calls an ambulance, or so we think.

Actually, he was calling the bus depot to let them know he was running late.

So, My blackberry got to call 999 for the first time in its life. I didn't actually make the call, Johnny did.

I can't deal with that kind of pressure. I dread to think how a 4 month old piece of plastic felt.

So Johnny spent 10 minutes trying to explain where we were (My thoughts.....For goodnesssake were a massive bus pulled over on a hill, its not that hard!) whilst I tried to pad the bars the woman was banging her head on and stop her trying to choke herself. She was really strong and I couldn't move her hand, so I just made sure she was still breathing, whilst trying to reassure her. I actually surprised myself, normally in those situations I'm a complete awkward idiot, but I imagine from a Birdseye view I could have been on a cool medical drama like House. Or maybe something more low-budget, like Dr Quinn, Medicine Woman.

So, then the ambulance mooches up, ambulance men walk on....

'Oh, hi Phyllis'
Apparently this woman throws fake fits all the time for attention.

It was quite scary seeing her be strapped down and wheeled off, and really really sad.

Cue *somber mood for rest of journey*
The thing I found most sad about it was how troubled one must be to let yourself be patronised like that.

On Wednesday I started using my bike, far safer. I think.

Is this a good idea?

2010-04-14T15:27:00.000-07:00

So, because my blog doesn't have a particular theme, I end up rambling about my life and views on the world. Which may be entertaining for some, who knows.
But due to the fact I am not anonymous in the blogosphere, I feel as though I must severely edit what I write, because I may ruffle someones feathers.

I would never purposely insult ANYONE.

Maybe if I want to be honest I should keep it to a diary. But I do love to write, and get feedback.

Hm.

What do you DO?

2010-04-11T04:58:00.000-07:00

This question haunts me for many reasons. Most of the below conversations are factual, the internal monologue that I have given other people are not, it just goes to emphasises my neurotic nature.

Circa 2008-..Me= age 20.

*conversation dries up*'so....are you a student?'
Me: "Yep"

'What year?'

Me: 'First year'

This then either results in said person saying....
a) "Oh, i would have thought you were older than a first year"(subsequently making me think 'DAMMIT! ARE YOU SAYING I CAN'T PASS FOR 18?? WHERES THE WRINKLE CREAM?')

b) "oh, right." (subsequently making me think WHAT THE HELL? THEY THINK I'M 18? AM I THAT IMMATURE?

At this point, if you have identified that I have a complex about my age, you would be correct.

Circa 2009...Me age 21

'So......what do you DO?'

Me: 'Oh I'm at uni studying worldwide famine solutions '[read: international development]

'Oh....What year?'

Me: 'er , first year'

"Oh....but you've been around here longer than a few months no?'

Me: 'er, yeah, I should be in my second year but I quit my first year just before exams so had to start again'

'Oh.........' (I can only assume their internal monologue is something like 'Huh? What kind of an idiot doesnt complete first year? YOU QUITTER. I dont make friends with quitters.)

(thus they realise I'm a fail-loser, without even having to take into account I'm 3 years older than the average first year, or experiencing my age neuroses'

Circa 2010.....Me age 21 3\4

"So....youre a student then?" (which subsequently makes me think....Why would you assume I'M A STUDENT? is it because I look like I don't shower. Because I do. So there.)

Me: "No...I...er...work ...er...part time in an art shop'

"Oh so you have kids then?" (because obcviously thats the only reason for part time working, nothing to do with the jobs vortex that surrounds Leeds.......ALSO...I look like Ive had kids? Is it my baby bump? because that's the product of too much wine.)

Me: "er, No"

"But youre married, right?" (******* IMPORTANT NOTE ...most Christians believe in, aside from the bible, the doctrine you must marry once you are no longer a student. Or so the single ones of us are lead to believe.)

Me: "er, No...I was engaged but not anymore"

*AWKWARD SILENCE* (In which i laugh heartily in my head for purposely making the other person feel guilty.

I can only dread next year....

2011...Me age 23

SCENARIO A:

'So, which ones are your children?'

Me: 'Oh i don't have kids, I'm not married, Ive quit education 4 times and I'm a first year student at University.'

'But you're 23?!!!!!! What have you been doing until now?'

*AWKWARD SILENCE* In which I laugh in my head at myself for being such a fail-loser.

SCENARIO B:

'So, what Do you do?'

Me:' I'm a student, first year' (voluntary information to eliminate unnecessary question)

'Oh right'

(I then think...Dammit...I blantantly don't look 18 so I must act it. WHY AM I SO IMMATURE?)

Fin.

So basically, I am paranoid about acting younger than I am, and looking older than I am. The plan is to slather on the anti-wrinkle cream, pretend I'm 18...but also get myself a subscription to The Week and a bag of werthers original for a dose of maturity.

Google fail.

2010-04-08T02:36:00.001-07:00

"We found no matches for "mke poverty histry" . Below are results for "mike" "

BEEE PREPAREEEEEED

2010-04-07T14:49:00.000-07:00

It's basically the same picture.

I heart everyone

2010-04-05T10:51:00.000-07:00

Blog resurrected. Please scroll through the last few previous posts. If this is your first time here....
WELCOME!
I know you're unlikely to come back. Maybe. but its nice to be nice.

I wish WISH wish i had kept this blog going over the last year. As someone very near and dear once pointed out to me 'No, these things don't just happen Louise, They just happen to YOU'.

I fully intend to draw a comic strip about the last year, that way it would be funny rather than just depressing and should be confined to therapy.

That will take a while. So lets talk about a hotbed topic, according to the D aily Star*

Immigration. Whats the big deal? The daily star says 'THIS COUNTRY IS FULL' (In bold lettering, crap, they must mean business)

Seriously. Go for a drive in the country.Not only will it do you good to get away from drinking Stella and wishing you were Peter Andre, but you will realise that there's plenty of space!

Now, obviously, I'm not saying it'd be good for the whole of England to become some kind of battery farm.
Actually, I plan on emigrating as soon as I'm qualified to do anything so I don't care.

But, when considering that, apparently, the non English speaking world considers the English to be pill popping, obese weirdos with an unhealthy obsession with our ex- prime minister (please see previous post, or click here ), i think we should take it as a compliment, that a few, educated, probably more attractive than us, enterprising people take it upon themselves to get to England by any means possible.

The length some people go to to get here is heartbreaking, and the fact that some people get kicked out is also heartbreaking. I'm sure I don't need to comment on the dodgy boats, drug smuggling, trading in your life savings and goat farms that people are prepared to go through. I think the effort deserves a reward.

My boss thinks that it should become like a game show....'Overcome Sharks, hurricanes, malnutrition, scurvy and CUSTOMS...and win a lifetimes supply of ENGLAND!!!!!!

Ill leave you to decide whether that's funny or immoral.

I should probably point out that all my best friends are foreign, and probably wouldn't have been able to live in England if the daily star had had their way.

If eurovision isnt enough proof about what other countries think of us....

2009-06-04T10:19:00.000-07:00

I am sitting in the Language library doing my german homework.(Library, homework, what?????) & listening to a Portuguese news report.

The girl next to me is obviously studying English as a foreign language (i deduced this from the nature of her textbooks). I just looked at her computer screen, and and it says her English exam conversation topics are:

-Blairs Legacy

-Drugs in sport

-Obesity.

Wow.

God save the queen.

Spot the phantom

2009-05-05T10:26:00.000-07:00

The Phantom is once again with us. In case a few of you didn't know the extent of the hauntings of our flat, a phantom appears in our shower now and again. The shower turns itself on BUTTT not just on by the pully thing, in fact the tap turns aswell.

In which, normally I scream and my flatmate runs to scare it off HOWEVER, this time Hannah came across the new sensation of the phantom. Except, this time it "banged" hmmmm. Has the phantom developed human mannerisms? I hope not. It'll be opening doors and creating a facebook account next.

Now we are laughing at ourselves to be so ridic as to think a phantom would have nowhere better to be.Anyways, life has hit an all time low. Hannah just ate mould because she thought something had 'dropped' in her pesto. What a woman.

I spend most of my day in a duvet.

2009-03-03T10:09:00.000-08:00

I live with 4, wonderful female creatures, in a flat that looks like we are in some kind of witness protection program (boarded up doors and windows on account of our neighbors penchant for snowballs).

Once a beautiful time we were all single ladies of free lancing passion and pleasure, but after 2 weeks of this bliss we seem to have all been taken agag! Louise cannot deny this fact, everyone else acknowledges that she is a taken woman.

Anyways, so I would like to reiterate the point that the single ladies life has not left the flat. I think that we all imagine oursleves to be in a sex and the city episode, this is not the case.

We merely just prance about, warn each other when we are going to the toilet-shower-moving-eating-boiling the kettle or logging into facebook.

Sweet.

2009-02-19T05:52:00.001-08:00

Baby hope and freedom

2009-01-21T04:40:00.000-08:00

OK so, post-inauguration post......

Here are the hillariously diferent styles in which the UK news service that was broadcasting the event (BBC) and the US channel (CNN) commentated on the election.

CNN: Obama is changing our lives today! He will be sworn in, and then Baby hope and baby freedom wil be born, God bless America!

BBC: Obama will be sworn in.....and then he’ll have some lunch.
(later) Joe Biden is not a short man, but Michelle Obama is of similar height....quite a tall lady.

Ha. It reminds me of when i was in Ghana and the lovely American people I lived with said living with british people was more of a culture shock than being in Africa!

So many individuals have inspired so much hate and inequality in our world. I really hope, and in spite of the pessimists, believe Obama can be the true opposite to this.

The End.

2009-01-04T10:54:00.000-08:00

?! ?!?!?!?!?

Perfect New Years Resolutions

2009-01-03T10:07:00.000-08:00

Ok so 3 days into 2009 I feel obliged to comment on 2008. Some of it has been good,developing wonderful friendships, starting Uni, and lots of foreign wanderings, America, Spain, Greece, South Africa and Mozambique at the end being definite highlights. Some of its been not so great, but instead of misering on about that...

...I look forward to 2009....and I think I'm happier than I have ever been, mostly because I've almost accepted I'm never going to be the perfect person that I think that others think I should be. Perfectionism is a tricky subject, its a case of finding the balance between being the best you can be, and cutting yourself a bit of slack sometimes when it is needed.
New years resolutions were probably made 3 days ago, and many of them may have fallen by the wayside already. Mine personally haven't, as I've chosen gradual ones, eg: Take up yoga, try and get in some kind of routine, Learn Portuguese and eat properly. Also maybe another reason they haven't yet failed is that they are about doing things, not about not doing things (eg: I wont smoke, I wont eat cheese, I wont terrorise auntie Margaret's cat).
I could be said if we set too high standards for ourselves we are just setting ourselves up for failure, and subsequently guilt.
(eg: 'I will go for a run 3 times a day'. You only manage 2 times on Friday January the 2nd so you think 'Stuff it, I cant even stick to it until January the 2nd, what hope have I ever got of achieving anything?)

A good example within this theme is Bill Gates. I'm sure many of you have your gripes with Microsoft. Microsoft has its fair share of critique as being a flawed program. for example, a new version of MS Word was released in 2008, and I'm sure many would say it's still not perfect. But It's probably just as well for Mr. Gates that he didn't wait until it was perfect to release it: People are still buying it, imperfections and all: If he had waited till he got it perfect, it would not yet be on sale and he would not have billions of dollars to show for his work. Though Imperfect, It was arguably the best it could be at that point in time, and has helped countless people.....er write essays and make birthday cards.

Also, apparently, most drum sounds on music today are made by drummachines. (clearly the world ran out of attractive male heartbreaking drummers)
The problem is that drum machines are musically 'perfect'. That’s why the machines have a setting that tries to recreate human error. Theres a sticker around, popular with drummers, that says 'Drum Machines Have No Soul' The imperfections in the sound give the music soul and our imperfections as people give us soul to,o and ultimately make us the strange, creative beings we are.

So aim for the best, but don't beat yourself up if you fail, its not gonna help yourself or anyone if you punish yourself with guilt, or abandon your dreams by giving up. In the words of Ashanti 'Pick yourself up and try again'. And in the words of my friend Helen 'Aim for the Moon, for if you miss you will be among the stars.

HAPPY new year!!!! xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

The rediscovery of the flute in a flooded Maputo bar.

2008-12-30T01:12:00.000-08:00

So on my last night in Mozabique we went to a bar. I use that term loosely. It was more of a large hut, that was incredibly flooded (much like the living room at my friends apartment but thats another story) with a small stage. After waiting an hour for a CApirinia (nice coktail, brazil style, google it), we convinced the guy to put an extra shot of sugar cane alcohol in it to compensate for our wait. Bad idea.

I'm not sure if it was the heat or the strength of the cocktail, but one drink certainly rendered me slightly intoxicated. Me and Julia were chatting to many Mozambiquan men, who, of course, are all famous musicians and have all been to London to 'Get to know big ben'

I then mention to one man (Don? I personally thought this name was surprisinlgy english) that I used to play the flute. So he proceeds to tell the guy leading the funk band that are playing on stage this, and lo and behold a flute was produced.

So I go up on stage, and according to popular consesus, rock this flute (I must point out it was a VERY nice flute, I can take no creidt for the sound).
I then proceed to step off the stage, and due to me forgetting the floor is underwater, fall flat on my butt and scrape up my hands. Classy. I think i made it look like part of the act.....

Christmas.

2008-12-26T11:37:00.000-08:00

It's been really refreshing and interesting to spend christmas in a country that doesnt make a big deal out of it. Christmas in Mozambique was abolished for a few years after independence, as the church was something very much associated with the portuguese colonial rule. It was reinstated later as 'Family day' which is still the term used now, along with the greeting 'Good party'.

I know in England some of us get up in arms about supermarkets being open on Christmas day, but in Mozambique life truly goes on as normal.

People are still trying to sell fish on the market. severely disabled people are still directing traffic in hope of earning a few pence. Old ladies are gossiping on street corners, young men are hanging around dumpsters and children are on the streets trying to sell whatever they can.

Do they know its christmas? I dont think it really matters.....

But in the words of one incredibly jolly market trader with a santa hat on Christmas eve:

'I am closing my stall! I have babies! I must prepare them in their dresses, then I will take them to church tomorrow to THANK GOD! One year is a long time.'

Amen sista!!

Mozambique to South Africa.....England to Wales it aint.

2008-12-23T04:31:00.000-08:00

Ok so I went with my amazing friend Julia and her amazing parents to the coast in the south of mozambique for a pre christmas chillout a few days ago. Must legitamately be the best beach I have ever seen (if any ex team-brill-obrunis are reading this, i think it outdoes Safari Lodge! Shocker!). As I was reasonably close the the South African border I decided to ´pop over´to ZA for the day.
Apparently there was somewhere in this village that does border transfers so at 5am I got up and went in hunt of it.

I walked the 2 miles down to the village from our campsite (acompanied by a stray dog, who didnt inflict rabies on me) and tried to establish how to find the company that does transfers, or, how to get public transport to the border.

However, there is no public transport to the border. Which makes sense really, as its just a load of sandunes and you need a 4 wheel drive. I find out from some locals the place that does transfers is 'cafe do mar'. no one seems to know where this is. I cannot find it in the village, so walk along the beach (dog still in tow, playing with crabs)in search of wisdom. I ask some more locals a) how to cross the border and B) how I can exchange some dollars as I have no Mozambiquan currency left. The answer to these questions seems to be the same from everyone 'OH! YES! you could do it illegally!!!!' )obviously a cause for great excitement. I decline on both counts.
I ask some reasonably friendly south africans who recommend I try to go cross with border with the police. Er, No. I discover that Cafe Do Mar, is actually called 'Prawns', which is why i cant find it. and its closed til 10am.

I then stumble across a dive resort, and ask some worldly looking divers if they have any ideas. they point me in the direction of an awesome mozambiquan dreadlocked guy with a 4x4 pick up truck, who takes me across the ZA border (about 10 miles) and into the nearest town kwanGeese, in exchange for a bottle of water and a banana. we pick up mnay hitchikers, and get across the border easily.

I have great fun in the town, including making people fall about laughing when I asked them if there is a pay phone anywhere (Africa runs on mobile phones, there was about 70 mobile repair shops in the kwanGeese i went to, which maybe says something for the quality of the phones).

Mr Dreadlock (Raphael) said he would only be in town for one hour, so after 6 hours i decide its time to try and find another lift back.
I go back to the place that Raphael parked and see that his car is still there. Good old Africa Time.
He comes back about 30 mins later, and we proceed to buy some 'Juice' (Petrol). this takes 2 HOURS. No lies. We then drive back to the Mozi border, who proceed to charge me $30 to get back in. (Gah)

Oh and despite turning down offers of illegal money and immigration, I did indulge in smuggling a Mango from ZA to Mozi. (not allowed, apparently.) Its inside me now, having cut it open with a pen as nowhere sells cutlery.

Awesome.

The other side of the equator...

2008-12-18T05:11:00.000-08:00

Ok so mozambique is amazing. I didnt take to it at first, mainly because it was raining and I dont speak portuguese! Buti LOVE it now, it has to be the most beautiful and laid back place I have ever been to in my life. Such a contrast from west Africa too. Now the sun is shining, I have explored, can speak a little portuguese and am working with my friends momma on her various projects helping vunerable children. May bring one home. Watch this space.

Feli Natal Amigas!! xxxxxx

The world is/was a game of risk

2008-12-10T03:39:00.000-08:00

BIt of a long one, bare with me!

For one of my first modules in my international relations degree I've been studying 'The making of the Global South', which largely covers issues regarding the G77, Colonialism and the slave trade. It's something I've always had an interest in so not that many of the atrocities of global history came as a large surprise, which I'm not sure is a good or bad thing.

Yesterday we were discussing the implications of colonialism on the third world, and whether it was a 'Good' thing. My opinion was that regardless of changes brought about by colonialism, it is intrinsically wrong to take something that does not belong to you in the first place. I honestly can't fathom why 'western' nations felt it was their right to take over other cultures, especially as at the time the western nations were under a largely christian ethos, and so surely would have been intelligent enough to realize that 'The earth is the Lords, an everything in it'(Psalm 24:1). obviously i understand this was all mixed up with the attempt to 'civilize' developing countries by 'converting' them to christianity, but with the colonizers acting in an entirely uncivilized manner, largely using the countries for their own economic gain.

Its like the world was a game of risk.. I'll have that country, and that one, and you can have that little one there, as you were too slow to get a good one.
Or maybe a more appropriate analogy is Monopoly. I'll have that country and that industry, build a hotel, make some money, try and make money off the other countries.
Then comes the problem of decolonization, you run out of money and realize you need to give the country back to its people, or if sticking with the monopoly analogy 'mortgage it' Sure, you may not continue to profit from it, but at least you get out without making a huge loss and overcomplicating your 'game plan'. Incidentally, this is pretty much what happened in the decolonization of Africa, India etc: the popular perception may be that former colonies were granted their independence because they pushed for it, it is far more likely it was due to the huge amount of debt the 'colonial masters' were in at the time, and so got out before they made too much of a financial loss.

Then what happens after that? If you look at any statistics, any photographs, speak to many citizens, it appears that it is probabale that a majority of former colonies are in much worse social, humanitarian and economic states than they were whilst they were ruled by the colonial masters: and more importantly, worse off (in accordance with the current climate...eg: before colonisation most 'developing' countries were economically and industially on a par with, or at least close to the countires that were to become their rulers.)

Therefore it would seem inarguable that colonisation retarded development in these countries.
Firstly by taking something that did not belong, motivated by greed, trying to run another culture and therefore not crediting the people of that county to know the culture better than they did. When Germany/Russia invaded poland (and of course I realise the differences in these situations) world war 2 began. Now I'm not saying that it would have been beneficial to start a world war over the takeover of african, asian and latin american nations, but shouldn't some of the other 'developed countries' have made a fuss? Probably not, because the colonization would probably be likely to assist them financially, and who would have taken on the UK/France/Spain back in the day? (I also find it interesting that Germany didn't successfully colonize anywhere outside of europe... but thats another story.)
Secondly, and this is another abstract analogy, when the colonies were decolonised they were left with little economic and political support. I'm not for one second saying that the people of these cultures were not capable of running things, but when you have relied on someone/thing for 50 years its a bit much to suddenly be cut loose. Broadly speaking, if you have children, you dont support them financially and offer them adviceetc until the age of 16, then when you run out of money/they push for a little more freedom leave them high and dry, with little financial advice, or help in general. You would take responsibility for the person/country you have moulded and try and help them to become successful independent people/nations.

Arguably, this is all water under the bridge. The effects of colonialism are still obvious: the few good ;legacies (some transport, education& democracy) the bad (poverty, reduced/obsolete manufacturing and trade, underdeveloped health care, corruption) and the mediocre (the use of european language in former colonies. However placing blame, no matter how much I may enjoy it is not really going to help. The only thing to do is look to the future, try and mend previous mistakes and ensure they never happen again.

The Common Ground

2008-12-08T07:22:00.000-08:00

It that time of year again....The time I decide it might be god to verbalize myself on the world wide web, and stay logged into blogger, thus being able to comment on others posts! I've renamed the blog, if you were ever an 'avid' reader, you will know that my blog used to be called 'Let the Sun Shine'. However given my current location I have given up any hope of the sun materializing for at least another 9 months.

I found a couple of other blogs called The Common Ground, my title was inspired by Virginia Woolfes book, however there are other interesting ones with varying inspiration....

http://www.commongroundfellowship.com/plog/?page_id=3&cp=16 This one appears to be a unitarian (is that the word?) prayer blog...

http://www.findingcommonground.info This one seems to be a commentary on contentious church/state issues.

http://oncommonground.blogspot.com/ Not too sure on this one but the soup at the top looks nice!

Today, I went to Leeds market and bought cheap vegetables and am Just in the middle of watching the BBCs series of 'The British Empire In Color', very mind turmoiling. But overall life is peachy.

Getting...

2008-05-16T07:00:00.000-07:00

As I have a blog, should I write what I'm up to? Well, not much.

Getting good marks in college(still in a slight state of shock), Getting tired of studying and petty college cat-fights (not literally, although there were some moggies fighting on our street yesterday...made the dog look serene...), Getting excited about Uni, Getting my butt into gear and seeing lots more of my Little sister, which has been lovely! And getting SO HORRIFICALLY SUNBURNED MY SHOULDER IS BLISTERED...and will not be allowed in the sun for a very significant period. Sad.

American Politics

2008-05-15T16:10:00.000-07:00

Carls post on the US democratic candidate contest reminded me of this:

Don't watch if you'd be offended by a Christina Aguilera Music Video

I don't remember anyone doing ntyhing like that for Blair/Brown/Cameron. You gotta hand it to her for dedication. Or trying to make a music career. this is why I think America/ns are fabulous, albeit nuts. And soooo much more passtionate about politcs than the Brits. Or, at least, my generation. A couple of months ago I sat in a Taxi in New York for 30 minutes inbetween two american students, I learned a lot about The American Political Situation, and it did suprise me that at such a young age they were so passionate.

But maybe it used to be like that in the 'old days' in the UK. When clearing out my nan's house, me and my Dad found his GCSE maths book, 'Graffiti'd' with slogans of support for the Labour Party and its leader of the time, Harold Wilson. Haha.

How hard is it NOT to electrocute a kitten?

2008-05-15T15:50:00.000-07:00

Apparently, very.

I have just had the pleasure of watching Derren Brown's 'Trick or Treat', I've never watched it before, and despite expecting it to be some crazy occult shindig, it was actually just about psychology.

The whole programme centred around Negativity, and the negative messages that our brain gives us that can cause us to fail.

One example was a guy who could jump-rope on a tight-rope, and had never fallen off in his life. Until, he was told to focus on NOT wobbling or falling off, and a crash mat was placed beneath him. He fell off.

More bizarrely, a girl was placed into a room, and told explicitly not to press a large red button, as It would electrocute the fluffy kitten in a glass cage in the same room. Despite liking cats, and gazing fondly at the kitten for 5 minutes, she eventually pressed the button.*

This supposedly proves the theory that the more we try not to do something, the more we want to do it, and the power of negative thoughts on our ability to make the choices. And it was probably all staged.

But I think there's some real truth in that. For example, there more I tell myself not to waste time, I find, the more time I waste. And the more effort we spend focusing on stuff that isn't good for us, the more tempting it becomes to do it. So, I will try and think about what I will do, rather than what I'll try not to do.

Or perhaps I could try the negative thought test on myself for useful purposes: 'Whatever you do Louise, do NOT tidy your room/write your research Essay'. Hm.

*No animals were harmed, actually, the cat didn't die in the end, she was just lead to believe it would. It may have been 11pm at night but I guess there are limits to what they will show on TV...

Let the sun shine?

2008-05-06T03:33:00.000-07:00

I considered starting up my blog again, and thought of renaming it. What would I call it? Who would read it? Who knows?

I decided I should keep blog as is, not least because I look back over my old posts and laugh, at either what I was writing, or the crappy typing and punctuation in it! But mostly because I think the sun should shine. Its a beautiful day today (and I have funky tan lines from yesterday, singing in the park.) and it makes so so much difference. If I could live somewhere with constant sun, I'd be a much nicer person, but I'm not sure that place exists.

Re: Laughing at previous posts, If you're reading this you probably know me and therefore probably know that the trip depicted oh-so-technically in the below post never came to fruition. Mainly because I haven't been very well, and it would have just been a bad idea. But I'm sure one day, my itchy feet will be aloud to escape England (I should note here my excessive jealousy of a certain Miss Gathercole).

Er so, that's it. I guess I've started this back up in anticipation for when my life becomes exciting enough to blog about! For now, my life consists of a Psychology paper I can only describe as 'Impending doom', the fear of going back to work on Saturday after 4 months off sick, and the excitement of going to Leeds Uni in September, to pretend I'm 18 again and haven't been dossing around for the last years.....honest ;-).

But for now....sunshine.

30th June 2008 - 8th September 2008

2007-10-25T03:50:00.000-07:00

And all the flights were... £700!! I did bargain between two travel agents though (thanks to inside information from Miss B K. )

SO...bascailly I have 8 months left living in Norfolk before this adventure and my relocation to where ever takes me in for Uni! Not that I really see any of my fellow Norfolkish citizens due to working (inc college) 52 hours a week.....my maths is getting better! (I worked it out as 40 the other day.) which is good because I need to retake my GCSE maths and get an 'A' if I want to be able to relocate to bath.

So if you know maths, a free holiday to bath could be in it for you! :-)

Conversation with unspecified customer

2007-10-25T03:17:00.001-07:00

me 'do you have double glazing madam?'

them 'oh yes'

me 'which pane of glass is broken? the outer or the inner?'

them 'the one in the middle'

me 'um, do you have triple glazing?'

them 'no..'

(it later gets pointed out to me that I am a doofus because how could the middle pane of triple glazing be broken without the outer two?

If you've ever been to Africa....

2007-10-23T04:33:00.000-07:00

...and been mildly frustrated by the wait for public transport to depart, thank your stars you've never been to The Democratic Republic of The Congo (unless you have which, I'd be fascinated to learn)

The main form of trade transport is along the river Congo, Where large barges transport up to 500 people. In Ghana it was not unusual to for me to wait a few hours for transport to fill up so it could depart.

Transport in Ghana, just after we crashed ;-)

In the DRCC, if one wants to travel to another town on such a barge (which is common due to the only vehicles being military or UN ones) a minimum wait of one month is expected for the barge to accumulate enough passengers to depart, with a maximum wait of THREE MONTHS on a dirty, overcrowded metal barge with one 'toilet'

A river barge...finally on it's way.

True, Public transport is probably the leaset of concern for the population of DRCC, I'm quite sure they are more concerned about the mass slaughter of innocent people due to civil war. And time doenst exsist in Africa so it's not like anyone will be late for anything. But geez, I get narked about waiting 5 minutes for a bus.

I first became aware of this having watched a programme called 'Equator' on 'Dave- the home of witty banter',though actually a repeat from the BBC). If you've got a spare 40 minutes please go here >

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/equator/5264140.stm

And watch the programme titled 'Africa'. Thanks. It's not your bog-standard geographical documentary. It is in fact, really really good.(if you have a spare 3x 40 mins then by all means watch all 3 programmes!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Democratic_Republic_of_the_Congo

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghana

What a load of rubbish....

2007-10-21T17:00:00.000-07:00

...I talk.

Don't know if anyone still reads this/blogs in general, so this is a test, due to my complaint I recieved from one of my fans about my blogs one year.....(I want
to use the word here that vicars use when they are on holiday...Amnesty?). So this is a test, I'll write something proper when I've worked out whether the blog community is still active. For now, I'll leave you with quotes from some of my wittier previous posts. Forget Dave, I am the home of witty banter.

"A thought to leave you on,how do you know what someones opinion of you is if the only indication of it is in a dream that you had ??
(unrelatedly in the same dream I walked the entire English coastlitne whilst escaping from and avalanche with Katie and played Keiths' bass which was, in fact, a baguette.)"

"Whats the stupidest animal in the rainforest?

A Polar Bear"

That is all.

Safety pins

2006-09-13T12:12:00.000-07:00

Article here

Although whilst I think this is a good thing, I think its dreadfully sad that it has to be implemented in the first place.
Although I was pleased to read that the people dismissing the models were advising them to seek medical help. I just hope they do it in a constructive and sesitive way, as loosing something youve worked hard for(a modelling career) because of something most of these women have probably worked even harder for (an unaturally low weight) must be incredibly messing with the head, and could have quite serious consequences to their mental wellbeing.

Maybe I'm being over dramatic. Also whilst it is good that these models are being told to seek help, it still concerns me that just as many, if not more, beautiful women are told they are 'fat' by the modelling industry, and there's certainly nothing constructive or sesitive about that one, thus runing confidence and any sense of self worth and potentially sparking on more serious problems.

I Just felt I should post on this. And I also think that if this is being implemented, then Jane Norman should get real sized mannequins. The size 6/8 clothes that are put on them are saftey pinned at the back of the mannequins as they are too big. And 13 year old girls shop in there and wonder why the clothes don't look as good on them as on the plastic doll in the window.

Conclusion: Inconclusive.

Good site

do something that terrifies you....

2006-07-31T15:34:00.000-07:00

If you do what you always did, you wil get what you always got.

come up smelling of lavender

2006-07-08T13:20:00.000-07:00

Sorry for the lack of blogging, sometimes it feels like effort to collect my thoughts into typable format! Crrently I'm sitting on Phils Sofa watching the kaiser cheifs on T in the Park (oh how I wish I hadnt sold my reading ticket), Elle is asleep and one of their cats (not sure which) is drooling on me.

Not been up to much, except getting unfairly fired from my early start job, but in the same day (after muchos freaking out along the lines of 'I CANT AFFORD TO NOT BE WORKING I HAVE A £2000 TRIP TO PAY FOR') my part time evening job offered me more hours. So one could say I came up smelling of roses (although I do prefer lavender).

I really must start thinking about fundrasing for my trip in January, Though I am so so lacking in ideas and motivation, so If anyone has any ideas or experience of this type ofthing please let me know!

A thought to leave you on,how do you know what someones opinion of you is if the only indication of it is in a dream that you had ??(unrelatedly in the same dream I walked the entire english coastlitne whilst escaping from and avalance with katie macinnes and playes keiths bass which was, infact, a baguette.)

Hooray for the NHS

2006-06-09T02:08:00.000-07:00

well today I saved myself a grand total of £212.00

I was going to have to p[ay £100 each for cholera and rabies vaccinations for when I go to Ghana, but because I'm doign volunteer work in a community centre, although its not strictly listed as eligibility for a free vaccination (only volunteer medical work is) she let me have it free. And the £12.00 precription fee i didnt have to pay because until July 7th im techincally still in FT education.

So I might actually have some money to live on when I'm out there :-)

In other news, I have a new job waitressing on 1st class trains (alongside my other job), early morning service from Norwich to London. So some days I'll have been from Norwich to London and Back before you've had breakfast ;-)

Now off to appreciate the wonderful creation that is scorching sunshine :-)

Beautiful

2006-05-07T04:10:00.000-07:00

What's the stupidest animal in the rainforest?

2006-05-02T10:34:00.000-07:00

A polar bear.

Oneofakind

2006-04-23T06:52:00.000-07:00

This is a pjama top I made fliss for her birthday. I like making things, although it takes so much effort once ive made one it puts me off for life. Even though my 'one of a kind' valentines cards sold so well, i couldnt be bothered to repeat the prescription for easter. Fliss suggested I made more tops, but I pointed out that the whole reason the stuff I make is one of a kind, is because more than one of each kind will never be produced, becuase I'm too lazy.

Hvae a job interview for freedom finance processing loan aplications on thursday. a lot of people have turned their nose up at this as its 'telesales'. However, its all inbound calling, at with money from £6 an hour im not going to complain. There will probably be less snotty people than i encountered in the chocolate shop (Which my carreer in ended one and a half days ago :-D )And if its that awful, never mind, ill take the money and run (somewhere really really far away :-D )

Where oh where has lou been?

2006-04-20T06:00:00.000-07:00

To be truthful, nowhere. And nothing particularly exciting to report, but for the purposes of this post I am going to try and find ten things that will interest any readers (if you havent all gone with my lack of commitment to blogging)

1. Friday is my last day of employment at the chocolate shop, leaving in preference to be a nanny for my cousins, and myabe work somewhere else, to get money to save for something very exciting (see a later point)

2. Today I had a chocolate crossaint for lunch(and very nice and cheap it was too)

3. I have aqquired a ticket to go to reading festival. Unsure as to whether I want to go as to be truthful I'm not sure if I'm hardcore enough, so Ill see how I feel in a couple of months as whatever happens I cant lose, they are selling for ridiculous amounts on ebay.

4.I went to london and saw faem in a covent garden theatre. It sucked.

5. I need to read. I cannot seem toread anything except health magazines at the moment, and its just sad. I want to read entertaining/intellectually developmental books that will hold my attention for more than 2 minutes. Suggestions welcome.

6. In the summer I'll be working in Cafe Life. Another reason to come (though I realise what an insane amount of money it is, I suggest sneaking under the fence)*

7. In 7 months time I will be somwhere very very different :-D

8.I'm leaving the chocolate shop!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Repetiotion I realise but oh so long I have waited to leave of my own free will.

9. The end to my AS level english is nigh. I really want to do my best but I have the issue of not being able to read for more than 2 minutes as mentioned above.

10. I'm in quite a lot of pain at the moment a) due to my auntie getting a 14ft trampoline and lou being slightly over ambitious and b) due to playing 'lets see how far we can run up a cliff' with some of my friends. The answer in my case is: Not very far without falling down and scraping all the skin of my leg. Several times.

* Not an official cafe life staff comment.

So theres a brief update on m,y life. I will post something insightful/intersting/intellectual soon, but had to get started on something simple!

Lots of love to you all xxx

Changing rooms

2006-02-07T14:10:00.000-08:00

(No not the swimming pool kind)

Well, It's taken me over 6 months, but finally the transoformation is complete, and has convinced me that I am invincible. I can paint walls, hang curtains, bang nails in the wall and use scissors as a sucessful substitute for a braddle.

Below are the before and after photos.(or after and before due to me being silly and posting them in the wrong order) Please note I have trademarked the design of the mirror.

After #2

2006-02-07T14:09:00.000-08:00

After #1

2006-02-07T10:54:00.000-08:00

Before #2

2006-02-07T10:52:00.000-08:00

Before #1

2006-02-07T10:51:00.000-08:00

Cards and puritans

2006-02-01T12:32:00.000-08:00

Have just started making Valentines cards. Theyre actually really nice. My boss at work is going to srell them for me and we'll sort out the profits (I hope I'm wise enough for this) So if you live in norwich, please come buy them! Alternitavely, if I can make enough in time I might sell a few at fridays and my church with profits going to respective places! Will post a picture tommorrow of the finished lot, so you can all marvel.

Im really glad I've stuck with doing english (though I had a threatening answerphone message from the college which I need to sort out tommorrow, eek), We're studying 'The Scarlett letter' Which, despite my original use of it as a sleep inducer, is really interesting, as it deals with the popular 'Christian' religion of 1600's america, Puritanism.

I'm pleased because I'm enjoying studying the wierd aspects of their practises, and trying oh so hard to convince the other people on my course that not all Christian breeds are as odd, and their idea of God was a bit warped. Read up on it if you have a chance, then be thankful that you are alive in the year 2005 in Norwich England :-)

Grid

2006-01-31T15:16:00.000-08:00

Yay for poundland glass frames and picture hooks! This creation cost me £5 and is better than any large picture frames I've seen! :-D

Helens 21st

2006-01-29T13:56:00.000-08:00

I never thought I looked at all like helen til I saw this......

Odd.

Helens 21st

2006-01-29T13:54:00.000-08:00

How much wine?

None.

We are so naturally cheerful we are

2006-01-27T11:57:00.000-08:00

On our way out of sainsburys, on emilys 3rd visit that day, and my 2nd (though I actually went 3 times by the end of the day)Where we bought fruit to make smoothies, we saw a road sign: A perfect road sign to start us off on our beautiful adventure.

2006-01-27T11:55:00.000-08:00

Emily: Ahh! I can't see him! Where have I put my glasses?

We don't get very far before we lose our newest recruit on the beatiful adventure: Emilys dog ben.

2006-01-27T11:54:00.001-08:00

Emily: I think I see it! The beauty calls!

Lou: Uhuh. em, you still havent found the dog.

2006-01-27T11:54:00.000-08:00

Hooray! Now we may continue!

2006-01-27T11:53:00.000-08:00

Emily Robinson in B minor: Oh I hath foundeth the beautiful place

2006-01-27T11:52:00.000-08:00

Yeah whatever emily, I'm a dog, I'm not going to pose and look all reflective

2006-01-27T11:50:00.001-08:00

The perfect 'woman and dog photo' (Has any one watched dave gormans googlewhack?)

of us both....

2006-01-27T11:50:00.000-08:00

Yay! a perfectly placed pole means we can take a photo of the beautiful people both in the beautiful place!

2006-01-27T11:49:00.000-08:00

Let us reflect upon the beauty that is....the place

2006-01-27T11:48:00.000-08:00

This is what goes into a smoothie....

2006-01-27T11:43:00.000-08:00

And this is what its useful for!

Cross/wall/cross????

2006-01-20T15:52:00.000-08:00

Yay for norwich cathedrals artistic potential.

Tag tag

2006-01-16T14:59:00.000-08:00

Tagging Again again

7 Things I would like to do before I die (no particular order):

1. See the world
2. Get married
3. Have children
4. Make a positive difference
5. Be free and content
6. KNOW KNOW KNOW the truth
7. Have a average house in the suburbs

7 Things I can't do (yet):
1. Drive (Don't really have much desire to)
2. Eat meat (same as above)
3. Play the piano (one day....)
4. Cats cradle (seriously, what?!)
5. Maths. Not gonna happen.
6. Travel the world
7.Get out of bed

7 Things that attract me to Blogging (in no particular order) :
1. Being able to show people cool photos
2. Saying odd things youd never drop into normal conversation
3. Its like an online forum, except people cant complain at what you say cuz it's YOUR blog :-D
4. Getting other peoples' comments and thoughts.
5. Being able to comment on others and therefore being a small part of their life
6. Keep up with what I've been doing!
7. It's nice to have somewhere to vent.

(sorry helen i kept some of yours)

7 Things I say most often (in no particular order):
1. Dude
2. Something Im trying not to say as it makes no sense in the context i use it so wont write it here
3. like
4. brilliant
5. and it was just like, oh no
6. umm
7. I'm fine

7 Books I love (no particular order):
1. My life on a plate
2. Don't you want me

these are the only 2 books that iev managed to read al the way through and enjoy in recent memory. I fail. They are by india knight, a very funny columnist in the times.

7 Movies I watch Over and Over:

Dont get me started on films.....Televisual entertainment will do
1. Family Guy
2. The simpsons
3. Little britain (but nothing beyond series 1 as it just gets sick and wrong)
4. Friends
5. Documentaries
6. My Parents are Aliens...would love to be home on time to watch this!!
7. Notting hill....If anyone has found a similarily good film do please let me know.

7 People I want to join in too (you've been tagged!):

Dont think theres anyone I know with a blog that hasnt been tagged!

True friendship is....

2006-01-11T03:17:00.001-08:00

...being gracious when your friend cancels on you for her boyfriend, then her boyfriend cancels on her, and only then does she want to see you. But thats not a friendship issue as such, thats a males are mean issue ;-)

My film viewing has increased, i went to see brokeback mountain the other day. Well. Sick and wrong don't even encompass it. I was sooooo not impressed. But on thursday I will be watching 10 things I hate about you and madagascar.

I really value your love and support at this time in my life of getting over my fear of watching films ;-)

True friendship is....

2006-01-11T03:17:00.000-08:00

Success!

2006-01-07T15:56:00.000-08:00

My English coursework is starting to take shape, I'm writing a childrens book in the style of Dr. Seuss (but probably not as well decorated) Hvaing trouble thinking of rhyming words but I'm sure theyll come.

Fridays was really cool last night, I felt like I found a part of me again that hadn't been around in a while (a good part)

Gonna run upstairs so I can make it to bed before midnight at least one day this week!

more snow

2006-01-04T15:32:00.000-08:00

I like this, though I dislike the blurryness of the close leaves on the lefthand side, dunno if theres anyway I can fix that on the computer or if its a camrea adjustment issue? Anyone know?

Snow

2006-01-04T15:31:00.000-08:00

Although its pretty I have no desire for any more snow

Photos

2006-01-03T01:13:00.000-08:00

not sure about this one, was just excited about the software that came with my new camera thatallos me to exciting stuff with layers, I like the way riverside road looks at 12am though....not sure about me at 11am last week...

A stranger is just a friend you havent met

2005-12-21T16:25:00.000-08:00

You can always rely on the kindness of strangers so the simpsons say, and Id like to say thanks to the guy who saved me from a panic attack when I was visiting my nan in hospital, and bought me a coffee.

On the way back from visiting her, having said indefinitley goodbye, good old cliff richard was playing on the radio and in my dazed state I just heard the line 'time to rejoice in the good that we see' So from now on I shall make every day about that.

Merry christmas to you all, and to all a goodnight x

2005-12-21T16:23:00.000-08:00

I made it to christmaaaaaaaaaaaas

2005-12-16T14:14:00.000-08:00

I'd stopped attending year 11 and dropped out of 6th form way before this point in previous 2 years, but im still at college :-D so proud of myself!!!

Number of meaningful hugs today: 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9 (but you could add an extra few for the amount of times i hugged helen when i saw her)

Hooorah!

Genius

2005-11-22T01:12:00.000-08:00

Theres too things I really want to br able to do at the moment: Play the piano and drive. Trying to fiugre out which was better I thought probably piano as you could earn more money from it in the long run. Then I thought (out loud) 'Maybe I could make like vanessa carlton and drive a piano'.

Mat

2005-11-20T15:05:00.000-08:00

Little known fact about me: I'm almost always the first one to grovel/apologise after a rift/argument/misunderstanding. Wouldnt think it would you?

Though I must say I have a stale-mate with someone at the mo...Oh the maturity.

yey

2005-11-08T00:54:00.000-08:00

I dyed my hair!

(I wasn't playing dress up again, honest :-D)

Sparks through the window

2005-11-05T15:40:00.000-08:00

Was meant to be going out into the big ide world to see fireworks, but ended up watching them through the window whilst waiting to throw up. Nice.

Had an idea on the purse...Home contents insurance? Worth a try...

The Defragmentation of the suposedly focussed laser beam

2005-10-31T00:51:00.000-08:00

TO quote Laura

"Am I destined to become bored with everything I do within a year?"

Or in my case 3 months...

I don't like having the next 2 years of my life planned out. I want to go do stuff that needs doing (so beautifully phrased) I want to get out of england. I want to not have to be in college for 2 years! Its such an incredibly long time...

Maybe I'm just not meant to be a student, everything says I should be, I've got half decent GSCES, everyone else is doing it/has done it etc, but I wasnt last year and that was fine. I dont know if this is a whim or not, but ive been thinking like it for the last week or so.

Mind you for the week before that I was thinking about where I'd like to go to uni...Seems like such an unnatainable goal, and by the time Ive got there I'll probably have changed my mind and the 2 years will have been a waste.

What to do?

the best things in life...

2005-10-30T09:40:00.000-08:00

...Are free

Maybe this is my lesson to learn for this week.

AS you can see from Helens Blog trying on pretty dresses is fun, and free...the york railway museum is free and so is a walk on the beach. and watching other peoples fireworks :-D

And for the min the best things in life (or just life in general) will have to be free as Ive lost me purse and all my money :-(

Back to college tommorow..Yawn.

Today

2005-10-20T09:52:00.000-07:00

Was a good day. I had the pleasure of taking Grace Tuma for a walk. We went to wensum park and sat and looked at the ducks, though I think she got annoyed cuzx everytime the swarm of ducks got interesting I got scared because some swans came along with them (and swans are my biggest fear, aside from fish) so we had to move on! I guess ducks are fairly fascinating to babies, as Grace seems to gurgle with delight at them, and the ducks seemed fairly intrigued by her too. We played on the swings too....and she didnt cry at me the whole time we were out *huge smile* :-D Please can I day sit more often Mark?

tag

2005-10-19T03:35:00.000-07:00

I was tagged by helen boutell, the 5th line of my 25th blog is:

'my leg by the end of the day!), had a cancelled college class and picked'

Lol! I tag La.

road

2005-10-18T00:59:00.000-07:00

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth.

Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same.

And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I--
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

My favourite poem, and just happend to come up on our english syllabus. And i got an A- for the essay on it! Wooo! The only other productive thing I have done recently is discover the fast play buttong on WMP, way to make tim hughes sound like Drum and bass!

Picasa

2005-10-07T00:59:00.000-07:00

Just wanted to recommed the above wonderful piece of free software. If like me, any thing too confusing on a computer makes you want to cry, this i s for you. Its an image organiser and editorm and couldnt be easier to get really cool effects from your pictures:

Was going to write something like 'Knock and the door will be opened on the above one but I can never get text on photos to look like its meant to be there...

Picasa

Ok, Maybe really cool was an overstatement, I know most of the people who read this are genii when it comes to computers anyway, But I was sooo impressed! It's much nicer organisation-wise for pictures than Windows as well. Also it has a 'Blog this!' button! Yey!

Funny

2005-10-03T06:27:00.000-07:00

In expansion the above post, the group of friends I appear to have aqquried at College I am the 2nd youngest out of 6! Shows how silly I am to worry about such issues.

Have just purchased Athletes album, I say just, I mean I've just got round to listening to it. Half light is such a good song and makes me want to cry as doesn Lucie Silvas' 'what youre made of' I'm struggling twith her Celine Dion-ness but it's a beautiful song. Also have discovered Save Ferris
http://http://www.geocities.com/SunsetStrip/Palms/6567/ a brilliant ska band from The OC, USA.

Yeah, I did feel ashamed...thats a double bed my clothes are pile on(very high pile)it's just a good job at present I have no job to buy clothes. Not that I'm compaining...I lurve being lazy.

I really should go to uni or something...then I'd have an exciting blog.

New blog

2005-09-29T15:06:00.000-07:00

Clear out! My old blog is still availiable on everythingtonoone1.blogspot, should anyone wish to step back in time [/80's music]

Had an excellent day today, went to help Naomi with housework, Managed to convince Grace I'm not scary (it worked, she climbed over my leg by the end of the day!), had a cancelled college class and picked my little cousins up from school. A couple of my friends have gone back to uni and a couple for the 1st time, and got back in contact with some old friends & Have made some really really cool friends at college! and on wednesday I spent lunchtime with someone I didnt know that well and it wasnt arkward at all! I've been worried recently that I'm losing my power of conversation (I know I talk a lot, but its mostly drivel) but I'm feeling much happier now. In fact, I feel very happy.

Concerts I am going to soon:

InMe
Blooshound Gang (Don't ask)
Starsailor (woooooo!)
[spunge]

Now thats either a really nasty snarl or a excessive grin.

And thats a very self centred post friends. As I learn more long words they shall become better reading. X