After a visit from a friend the weekend before last and a busy busy last weekend I have officially got absolutely no money. Did I find that my money was slowly trickling away, but unable to stop it as I had so many things I needed and wanted to do? No. Instead this unfortunate discovery occurred when I went to pay for my bi-weekly food shop in tesco only to have my card declined. Horror of horrors. Fortunately I was not alone otherwise it would have been an inescapable embarrassment. I paid what I do have left in cash that I ran out to get from the cashpoint, at which point I shamefully looked at my bank balance, and my friend paid the rest on her card. This is not only embarrassing, but worrying; worrying as I don't know how I am going to survive for the next three weeks, and worrying because I have no idea how I managed to spend a five week budget in two. It is a good thing I do have a job, although I was not given any shifts last week and as my friend visited the week before I only worked on, but at least I have some small income which will immediately vanish on books for my course and food so I can survive. Another relief is that all the bills are paid and I'm still owed a little bit for them. As long as I remember my phone bill's going to come out at the end of the month I'll be fine.
I am still confused and shocked at how I managed to spend so much in so little time as I haven't bought myself any clothes or shoes or anything else that I usually spend my money on. However as I am about to write what I did last weekend I can only imagine that the answers to my unhappy confusion will emerge. Such as my Saturday which was spent in Swansea eating pizza, going bowling and watching Juno at the cinema. After a bit of a crazy Friday night this really seemed like the only option. And, of course, going out drinking also costs money. I got up late and slightly hungover with the full intention of doing nothing requiring any energy or thought. The first stop was Pizza Express: the same universally, from Edinburgh to Delhi to Swansea. It worked a treat. Then it was a wander around town in which I managed to resist buying a tutu which I am very pleased with myself about as at this point I didn't realised how much I was suffering financially. Then we had a few hours to kill so decided to go bowling. I was with a friend from the pub I work in and he is officially the smuggest person ever to play and booze or pub orientated sports. I reluctantly played pool with him once and of course he beat me. I, thinking I was actually quite good at it, challenged him to doubles at table football and he wiped the little green floor with all three of us, yes even his team mate. Me and my team mate managed to win on a sneaky technicality, exclaiming loudly at the end that the last ball would win the whole match and we, through pure fluke though we put it down to talent, managed to get the ball in. Despite this we all knew it really didn't count and so he still remained irritatingly smug about being the best at everything. This included bowling.
He announced before I had even agreed to playing it that he was "awesome", but I knew from the beginning I was terrible which made losing inevitable therefore easing my naturally competitive nature. Whilst waiting for an alley I suggested playing air hockey which, again, he smugly announced, he was "awesome" at and would definitely beat me. He did. 7 -3. It killed about 2 minutes of a 20 minute wait. I suggested playing the dance game on the arcades, but he vetoed that plan. I'm not particularly good at it, although from his absolute dismissal of the idea I took that I might actually win, but I just enjoy playing it. Still, it was a no. He suggested another game of air hockey. I suspected I would lose again, but I enjoy it so I agreed. I hit the puck first, but instead of hitting it my little wacker thing (I have no idea what they're called) went flying out of my hand and hit against the glass in the middle of the table. We both burst out laughing and I felt completely ashamed. However, I had to persevere and so I continued. He was still giggling away to himself and claims this is why I got the puck in. And the next one. He may have been laughing, but I don't think is a good enough excuse. Especially as the first goal he scored was because I hit the puck in myself. He scored again so we were even, but then I scored the next. When we were 4-4 I excitedly wagered that if he lost we would have to play that dance game on the arcade. He, being the smug winner that he is, agreed. Much to his mistake. I thought I had doomed my chances of winning by announcing this challenge, but the next thing I know it's 7-6 to me and I am running around the arcade like I have just saved the world from Armageddon. Or something equally exaggerated. Unfortunately we ran out of time to play it as our alley became free, but next time...oh yes next time we will have a dance off. And until then I will keep reminding him of the time I beat him at air hockey and he will be forever shamed.
After bowling we went to the Monkey Cafe for a drink before the movie. The Monkey Cafe is one of the nicest places to drink in Swansea. It does food although I have never eaten there and turns into a club at night. It also does Salsa classes on Mondays. The ceiling is covered with lights of various colours hanging in differently shaped lampshades. There are sofas and the tables and chairs are all wooden giving it an Eastern feel. They have a great selection of beers too, one of which being Hoegaarden which might be my favourite. Delicious.
After a cosy drink we went to see Juno. When I first saw this film advertised I though it looked awful. A film about teenage pregnancy? I couldn't imagine how it would be any good. Then I see all these great reviews for it and everyone who I know who has gone to see it say it's fantastic, and the comedy is very off beat, one person compared it to Napoleon Dynamite. I wouldn't go so far as to say it was that quirky, but it certainly had a Wes Anderson feel. The soundtrack was very off tune, light singing, which is a sign of an American quirky comedy movie, but it was a little too much at times. I thought there were some moments which required a slightly different kind of music, especially as the protagonist claimed her favourite singers were Iggy Pop and Patti Smith. The subject itself was anything but controversial and the humour played well with it. I was probably the one laughing the most in the entire movie theatre, but that didn't bother me too much.
Despite the fact I would love to go and see Be Kind Rewind next I don't have the funds for it, so from now on my mission is to seek out fun things to do for absolutely free! It's a challenge, but I like a challenge. The lack of money does have some advantage, however, as I have an essay due in on Friday which is coming along, but very slowly, and I need as little excuses as possible to procrastinate. No play and all work might be boring, but it save Rachael a lot of money.
Monday, 3 March 2008
Friday, 29 February 2008
Schedules
You know that feeling when you realise it's suddenly Friday and it felt like the week only began yesterday? That disconcerting shaken feeling that time has been lost, slipped through a haze of menial tasks; when it felt like you were being productive you discover that it seems you have done nothing at all. This is how I feel. It's Friday and the last thing I remember was it being Monday and having a week to get back on track after my weekend of madness brought upon me by my friend from Edinburgh. I also remember being busy, doing work, getting things done, but I look at what I have done in these past 5 days and can't find one thing that deserves any recognition as an achievement.
The last time I wrote my blog I was preparing for my friend's arrival. I had all these plans which mainly involved drinking and meeting people, but did have the visit to the beach and a trip to the cinema. The beach did not come about largely because the weather was pretty poor. It had been lovely and sunny, for the four days she was here it was grey and cold, and then up until today it has been lovely again. The word that leaps to mind is 'typical'. However I am not entirely sure we would have been productive in this respect even if the weather had been better.
She arrived on the Thursday only slightly later than I had anticipated. She managed to catch the airport bus immediately, but on arrival at the train station she discovered that all the trains had been cancelled due to a fatality on the tracks. This was bad. Not only because she might have to wait around for a long time, but also because I was on my way to the pub thinking I'd have only just over an hour to wait for her, finding out it would be longer and trying not to be drunk when she got there as she would be tired and not too appreciative of this. Fortunately the trains were put back on not much later and although the next train from Swansea wasn't due to leave until half past 10 it left at half 9 and by 10.30 she was in the pub with me and a group of merry people. A couple of drinks turned into many and a late night trip to Tesco to buy beers before arriving at mine and drinking until the early hours of the morning much to the annoyance of my flatmates.
The Friday was probably the only day everything went to plan. We left a little later than intended, but we wandered around town, had an overpriced and not too impressive lunch at the Rose and Crown. Although my friend was working in the kitchen so I did get a smiley face in the salad. We then went back to mine and got ready to go out to the union. The music was poor, but the company was excellent and it was another party at mine afterwards, the best part of the night, until the even earlier, or later I'm not sure how I would phrase that, hours in the morning. That was the first time I drank aftershock. Not the first time I tasted it. Back at a school party I was offered what I think was cinnamon flavoured aftershock and immediately spat it out in the face of whoever gave it to me. However the union was out of tequila and I cannot stand Sambuca and my friend is incredibly persistent when it comes to alcohol or anything that will get us obliterated so it was that or aftershock. I tried mint flavour and loved it. After a few of those the music was still terrible but a bigger party at mine seemed the only option when the union doors closed.
I woke up on Saturday still feeling like the night before. Two nights drinking and extreme sleep deprivation left me feeling completely wired and the more I buzzed the more worried I became of the crash that was to follow. In the shower the night before came back to me in waves. One thing I remembered as our weak shower trickled hot water on me was our decision to get something pierced. Thinking my friend would not be so keen in the light of day I mentioned it to her. The next thing I know an unbelievably hyper me and my sleepy yet chipper pal are sitting in Nobby's Tattoo Parlour; me getting my tragus pierced (the inner ear bit) and her getting her upper ear and the lobe pierced and bleeding a lot. A lot. Mike, the piercer, joked if we'd had a bit to drink last night. An exchanged look and embarrassed and slightly manic laughter ensued. We were meant to go to Swansea and see 'Be Kind Rewind' but by the time we left and then had it done we had missed the train and although it might not have been the best idea (we were hardly in the state to make sensible decisions) we went to the pub.
On Sunday it was a fry up, a film and not very much conversation. Understandably.
On Monday I had a nice new piercing which really didn't hurt at all and the sudden realisation that I have an essay due in next week. Since then I have tried to order myself into doing all the reading I need for the essay and start planning it out and eventually writing it. Along with catching up on my creative work and all the other reading I have to do for my other modules. On top of this our house is falling apart. Our washing machine is bust and although the guy did turn up on Wednesday he said he needed to return with a new pipe and hasn't. So none of us have clean sheets or clothes and it's not nice. The drawers in the kitchen are all falling off along with the freezer doors and yesterday the hob's started clicking like mad for no particular reason. Curiouser and curiouser. I did have a particularly productive day on Wednesday though; paid off the water bill, bought many bits and bobs for our crumbling abode and wrote almost 2,000 words of my story. Despite this it is now Friday and I feel worryingly behind in my essay, the washing machine is still not fixed, I need to write more, my flatmates are going away for the weekend and have left behind a sitting room floor covered in tobacco and roaches, days old dishes by the sink and a general disgruntled feeling. It is also raining. However as soon as I finish this blog I am going to write a schedule. Not only do I enjoy writing them, but they are useful in organising my frazzled life.
I must get a substantial amount of work done before I go out tonight. My hair is still very orange and I bought a sparkly green Collection 2000 eyeliner the other day which is amazing. I love it.
I had to experiment with it and I loved using it underneath the eye with the normal black I do on top. The eyeliner lasts wonderfully as I am not one to be particularly careful with my make-up once it's on. I think it looks best directly on skin as it wouldn't come out as bright over a powder eyeshadow, although might work over a dark creme shadow. This photo is with the flash and the one underneath is without.
The hair colour is over 2 weeks old now and although isn't as vibrant as it was originally it is still brilliantly orange. I have decided to dye it orange again when I need to redo my roots, which won't have to be for another few weeks, so I went on the website beeunique and ordered the 'Napalm' Orange and a 'Limelight' Green for my friend. I was going to go blond after the second time I dyed it orange as although I love having bright coloured hair it is a bit of a hassle redying it when it fades even if it is only once a month. However as soon as I logged on I started thinking about other colours I might want to go. I've been pink many times and purple, but never blue and they have a wide variety of shades. So I bought 'Blue Haired Freak' for when I have done the orange for the second time. It's not going to cause such a stir as the orange did when I was suggesting it to my friends but I am actually more worried about it than the orange. I have also got the piercing bug back again which is worrying as there isn't anything left that I want done except ear stuff and I don't want to weight them down with silver. Must. Control. Myself.
Now I need to quickly write a schedule so I can think about what I'm going to wear tonight!
The last time I wrote my blog I was preparing for my friend's arrival. I had all these plans which mainly involved drinking and meeting people, but did have the visit to the beach and a trip to the cinema. The beach did not come about largely because the weather was pretty poor. It had been lovely and sunny, for the four days she was here it was grey and cold, and then up until today it has been lovely again. The word that leaps to mind is 'typical'. However I am not entirely sure we would have been productive in this respect even if the weather had been better.
She arrived on the Thursday only slightly later than I had anticipated. She managed to catch the airport bus immediately, but on arrival at the train station she discovered that all the trains had been cancelled due to a fatality on the tracks. This was bad. Not only because she might have to wait around for a long time, but also because I was on my way to the pub thinking I'd have only just over an hour to wait for her, finding out it would be longer and trying not to be drunk when she got there as she would be tired and not too appreciative of this. Fortunately the trains were put back on not much later and although the next train from Swansea wasn't due to leave until half past 10 it left at half 9 and by 10.30 she was in the pub with me and a group of merry people. A couple of drinks turned into many and a late night trip to Tesco to buy beers before arriving at mine and drinking until the early hours of the morning much to the annoyance of my flatmates.
The Friday was probably the only day everything went to plan. We left a little later than intended, but we wandered around town, had an overpriced and not too impressive lunch at the Rose and Crown. Although my friend was working in the kitchen so I did get a smiley face in the salad. We then went back to mine and got ready to go out to the union. The music was poor, but the company was excellent and it was another party at mine afterwards, the best part of the night, until the even earlier, or later I'm not sure how I would phrase that, hours in the morning. That was the first time I drank aftershock. Not the first time I tasted it. Back at a school party I was offered what I think was cinnamon flavoured aftershock and immediately spat it out in the face of whoever gave it to me. However the union was out of tequila and I cannot stand Sambuca and my friend is incredibly persistent when it comes to alcohol or anything that will get us obliterated so it was that or aftershock. I tried mint flavour and loved it. After a few of those the music was still terrible but a bigger party at mine seemed the only option when the union doors closed.
I woke up on Saturday still feeling like the night before. Two nights drinking and extreme sleep deprivation left me feeling completely wired and the more I buzzed the more worried I became of the crash that was to follow. In the shower the night before came back to me in waves. One thing I remembered as our weak shower trickled hot water on me was our decision to get something pierced. Thinking my friend would not be so keen in the light of day I mentioned it to her. The next thing I know an unbelievably hyper me and my sleepy yet chipper pal are sitting in Nobby's Tattoo Parlour; me getting my tragus pierced (the inner ear bit) and her getting her upper ear and the lobe pierced and bleeding a lot. A lot. Mike, the piercer, joked if we'd had a bit to drink last night. An exchanged look and embarrassed and slightly manic laughter ensued. We were meant to go to Swansea and see 'Be Kind Rewind' but by the time we left and then had it done we had missed the train and although it might not have been the best idea (we were hardly in the state to make sensible decisions) we went to the pub.
On Sunday it was a fry up, a film and not very much conversation. Understandably.
On Monday I had a nice new piercing which really didn't hurt at all and the sudden realisation that I have an essay due in next week. Since then I have tried to order myself into doing all the reading I need for the essay and start planning it out and eventually writing it. Along with catching up on my creative work and all the other reading I have to do for my other modules. On top of this our house is falling apart. Our washing machine is bust and although the guy did turn up on Wednesday he said he needed to return with a new pipe and hasn't. So none of us have clean sheets or clothes and it's not nice. The drawers in the kitchen are all falling off along with the freezer doors and yesterday the hob's started clicking like mad for no particular reason. Curiouser and curiouser. I did have a particularly productive day on Wednesday though; paid off the water bill, bought many bits and bobs for our crumbling abode and wrote almost 2,000 words of my story. Despite this it is now Friday and I feel worryingly behind in my essay, the washing machine is still not fixed, I need to write more, my flatmates are going away for the weekend and have left behind a sitting room floor covered in tobacco and roaches, days old dishes by the sink and a general disgruntled feeling. It is also raining. However as soon as I finish this blog I am going to write a schedule. Not only do I enjoy writing them, but they are useful in organising my frazzled life.
I must get a substantial amount of work done before I go out tonight. My hair is still very orange and I bought a sparkly green Collection 2000 eyeliner the other day which is amazing. I love it.
I had to experiment with it and I loved using it underneath the eye with the normal black I do on top. The eyeliner lasts wonderfully as I am not one to be particularly careful with my make-up once it's on. I think it looks best directly on skin as it wouldn't come out as bright over a powder eyeshadow, although might work over a dark creme shadow. This photo is with the flash and the one underneath is without.
The hair colour is over 2 weeks old now and although isn't as vibrant as it was originally it is still brilliantly orange. I have decided to dye it orange again when I need to redo my roots, which won't have to be for another few weeks, so I went on the website beeunique and ordered the 'Napalm' Orange and a 'Limelight' Green for my friend. I was going to go blond after the second time I dyed it orange as although I love having bright coloured hair it is a bit of a hassle redying it when it fades even if it is only once a month. However as soon as I logged on I started thinking about other colours I might want to go. I've been pink many times and purple, but never blue and they have a wide variety of shades. So I bought 'Blue Haired Freak' for when I have done the orange for the second time. It's not going to cause such a stir as the orange did when I was suggesting it to my friends but I am actually more worried about it than the orange. I have also got the piercing bug back again which is worrying as there isn't anything left that I want done except ear stuff and I don't want to weight them down with silver. Must. Control. Myself.
Now I need to quickly write a schedule so I can think about what I'm going to wear tonight!
Wednesday, 20 February 2008
Entertainment
I know it's only Thursday tomorrow, but for a student with as little hours as me it's the beginning of the weekend. I have a lecture from 12.15 until 2.15 and that is the end of having to be in college. Now on any other week I would go home and do work and continue to do work over the weekend provided I wasn't either going out or feeling hungover, but this weekend a very old and good friend from Edinburgh is coming down to visit. This means that I have been trying desperately to get my flat clean, do as much work as possible so that I can take the weekend off guilt free and, the most exciting and most challenging, find enough to entertain her for an evening, a morning and two full days. Her flight is due to arrive at 6.45 tomorrow evening which means that she'll probably arrive in Carmarthen train station between 9.30 and 10. The length of her journey depends on the terrible bus system between Cardiff airport and train station/town centre. There is no internet access, as far as I am aware, for bus times to and from the airport so it really is a matter of arriving in enough time to be able to miss the bus and catch the next one. When this bus comes hourly, as it does Saturdays and Sundays, this requires leaving a lot of time. It's every half hour on weekdays which isn't much better. And with Arriva trains fixing the tracks, or whatever they've been doing for the past 2 and a half years or more, on a Sunday it means that Sunday is a write off for travelling. It is impossible to go anywhere on a Sunday. So if I was getting a flight at 3 in the afternoon on a Friday, one of the easiest days in the week as the bus comes every half hour, I would have to leave hours. I would have to arrive an hour, an hour and a half early, so let's say 1.30. This means the latest bus I could get from the train station, which takes half an hour to get there, would be at 1. The bus comes every half hour, but I don't know when exactly so I would have to get there to catch a 12.30 bus so that it would definitely come in between then and 1 and I would get there on time. Of course once my friend did this and the bus didn't turn up at all and she had to catch a £30 taxi, but in this hypothetical situation let's imagine the bus, as useless as it is, at least arrives on time. In order to get to the station at 12.30 I would have to get a train from Carmarthen at around 10.15. So for a 3 o'clock flight I would have to leave my house at 9.45. And this is on a quick day. The maths is far too much for me on a slow Sunday. And forget travelling in the morning as the bus is not 24 hour. At all. So in general it is completely useless so if it's winter wrap up warm and make sure you have something to keep you entertained and away from frustration.
As I was saying, she arrives at 6.45pm, it will probably take up at 3 hours to get home, so let's amend my original time to between half 9 and half 10. That seems reasonable.
So there won't be too much to do that evening. It is a shame she isn't arriving earlier as it is the last performance of 'From Morn till Midnight' by the non touring half of BA3 Theatre and Performance. I live with two theatre girls; one Acting and one Theatre Studies and they have been in two separate groups over the first terms back and so far until the week after next when they join together to do one main production of 'Alice through the Looking Glass'. The 3rd year splits up into two groups; one goes on tour and the other does main house at the college's Halliwell Theatre. Then they change over. Before Christmas they did 'The Handmaid's Tale' as a touring piece and 'Playhouse Creatures' for main house. Last week there was a performance of 'Be my Baby' which has been on tour for almost two weeks now and yesterday I went to see 'From Morn till Midnight' which is also on tonight and tomorrow evening at the Halliwell Theatre. I saw it last night and although there are places which need working on there are moments of brilliance. It is a shame that my friend will arrive far too late to take her to it. We will probably just go for a drink.
We have the whole day on Friday however so I plan to take her out in town, show her around in the day. If it is a nice day maybe take a train to the beach which is also a possibility for Saturday although the weather doesn't look too great, showers and clouds have been forecast. Friday evening will probably be spent drinking, either heading down to town or going to the union as always. I haven't been to the union for almost a month however so as long as there are a lot of people out then I will be there. Otherwise town. Or maybe both. On Saturday I was thinking a day trip to Swansea to have a hungover lunch and watch a movie. This was only my plan as of yesterday when I found out that 'Be Kind Rewind' comes out in the cinemas this weekend. I highly suggest visiting the site by the way as it's very entertaining which bodes well for the film. Michel Gondry, the director of 'Be Kind Rewind' also directed 'The Science of Sleep' and 'Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind'; two absolutely stunning films. This one stars Jack Black which has put me off a little bit as although I have nothing against Jack Black as a slapstick type comedian I don't see him up there with Gabriel Garcia Marquez and other kooky actors. But then I have never rated Jim Carey and his performance in 'Eternal Sunshine...' is wonderful. Regardless of my preconceptions I honestly believe this film will be incredibly entertaining.
In the middle of writing this blog I was interrupted by the friend that is visiting me and after reeling off various plans she seemed to agree with the aforementioned one. This is excellent. I do hope the beach works out at some point although I did go to Tenby last Saturday once is just not enough.
More sun I say.
As I was saying, she arrives at 6.45pm, it will probably take up at 3 hours to get home, so let's amend my original time to between half 9 and half 10. That seems reasonable.
So there won't be too much to do that evening. It is a shame she isn't arriving earlier as it is the last performance of 'From Morn till Midnight' by the non touring half of BA3 Theatre and Performance. I live with two theatre girls; one Acting and one Theatre Studies and they have been in two separate groups over the first terms back and so far until the week after next when they join together to do one main production of 'Alice through the Looking Glass'. The 3rd year splits up into two groups; one goes on tour and the other does main house at the college's Halliwell Theatre. Then they change over. Before Christmas they did 'The Handmaid's Tale' as a touring piece and 'Playhouse Creatures' for main house. Last week there was a performance of 'Be my Baby' which has been on tour for almost two weeks now and yesterday I went to see 'From Morn till Midnight' which is also on tonight and tomorrow evening at the Halliwell Theatre. I saw it last night and although there are places which need working on there are moments of brilliance. It is a shame that my friend will arrive far too late to take her to it. We will probably just go for a drink.
We have the whole day on Friday however so I plan to take her out in town, show her around in the day. If it is a nice day maybe take a train to the beach which is also a possibility for Saturday although the weather doesn't look too great, showers and clouds have been forecast. Friday evening will probably be spent drinking, either heading down to town or going to the union as always. I haven't been to the union for almost a month however so as long as there are a lot of people out then I will be there. Otherwise town. Or maybe both. On Saturday I was thinking a day trip to Swansea to have a hungover lunch and watch a movie. This was only my plan as of yesterday when I found out that 'Be Kind Rewind' comes out in the cinemas this weekend. I highly suggest visiting the site by the way as it's very entertaining which bodes well for the film. Michel Gondry, the director of 'Be Kind Rewind' also directed 'The Science of Sleep' and 'Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind'; two absolutely stunning films. This one stars Jack Black which has put me off a little bit as although I have nothing against Jack Black as a slapstick type comedian I don't see him up there with Gabriel Garcia Marquez and other kooky actors. But then I have never rated Jim Carey and his performance in 'Eternal Sunshine...' is wonderful. Regardless of my preconceptions I honestly believe this film will be incredibly entertaining.
In the middle of writing this blog I was interrupted by the friend that is visiting me and after reeling off various plans she seemed to agree with the aforementioned one. This is excellent. I do hope the beach works out at some point although I did go to Tenby last Saturday once is just not enough.
More sun I say.
Monday, 18 February 2008
Sunshine, piercings and aliens.
It's been almost a week since my last post and the weather is still sporting clear blue skies and glorious sunshine. It's not always particularly warm, in fact sometimes it's freezing, but an icy breeze is enjoyable if noticed when brought forth by sun. This is why people who are from hot countries are friendly and happy and incredibly good-looking: they have sun. Sun = happiness. It's not exactly a scientific equation, but for me it rings true. Britain is known to be a miserable country and our weather is grey rain and clouds. It makes sense. So, naturally, I have been taking advantage of the beautiful weather in order to be as happy as possible while it lasts. Well, that is what I should have been doing. Only on one day out of the last five have I actually done anything made for the sunshine. On Saturday I went to the beach in Tenby. I was taken on the premise that I had never been there before and I was to experience a part of Wales that was new to me. In that respect I failed, remembering as soon as we arrived that I had already been there with my flatmates last year. Despite the fact it was not a new and surprising experience it was still thoroughly enjoyable. It was absolutely freezing cold and absolutely beautifully sunny so I was rocking the thick woolly hat and giant sunglasses look. One of the best things about February weather is being able to wear sunglasses.
I am now not poor, but completely penniless, so buying anything is not an option, meaning I shall have to make do with what I own and create new and recreate old looks and be satisfied with them. This is not an easy thing for me to do, but I will and I am hoping that I will discover bits and pieces that were forgotten and see some things in a new light. I hope. This inability to buy anything new has proved annoying after the ball on my lip ring fell out. Again. I have gone through a black one with a silver one with a small black diamante decoration, a black one, a silver one, a tiny conical spike, another silver one, another spike and now another silver one. The screw on the hoop seems to be backwards as nothing screws on to it properly. This has meant I have been trying, for a couple of months now, to buy a new hoop but it has been incredibly difficult. Of all the online shops I have been to none of them seem to do hoops, spiral ones, smaller than 10ml and that is far too big for me. Also there is only one piercing and tattoo shop in Carmarthen which didn't have any and weren't able to order any either. I have become frustrated with only having one ball on the end of my ring, meaning it keeps sliding off, and am now wearing a stud which I really don't like. It takes a while to get used to the end of it which seems to be constantly hitting off my teeth. I am still on the look out, however, and I'm sure I'll find it eventually.
On a work related note I am becoming increasingly aware of how much I have to do and how little I have done. I have an essay on Midnight's Children due in, in less than 2 weeks and I have to read a book about an alien invasion for this Thursday. Aliens do not particularly excite me. However I will remain open minded about the book. I have to. It might turn out to be absolutely fascinating. My plan is to find a nice spot in the sunshine and read it there. As I mentioned everything is great in the sunshine. Even aliens.
I am now not poor, but completely penniless, so buying anything is not an option, meaning I shall have to make do with what I own and create new and recreate old looks and be satisfied with them. This is not an easy thing for me to do, but I will and I am hoping that I will discover bits and pieces that were forgotten and see some things in a new light. I hope. This inability to buy anything new has proved annoying after the ball on my lip ring fell out. Again. I have gone through a black one with a silver one with a small black diamante decoration, a black one, a silver one, a tiny conical spike, another silver one, another spike and now another silver one. The screw on the hoop seems to be backwards as nothing screws on to it properly. This has meant I have been trying, for a couple of months now, to buy a new hoop but it has been incredibly difficult. Of all the online shops I have been to none of them seem to do hoops, spiral ones, smaller than 10ml and that is far too big for me. Also there is only one piercing and tattoo shop in Carmarthen which didn't have any and weren't able to order any either. I have become frustrated with only having one ball on the end of my ring, meaning it keeps sliding off, and am now wearing a stud which I really don't like. It takes a while to get used to the end of it which seems to be constantly hitting off my teeth. I am still on the look out, however, and I'm sure I'll find it eventually.
On a work related note I am becoming increasingly aware of how much I have to do and how little I have done. I have an essay on Midnight's Children due in, in less than 2 weeks and I have to read a book about an alien invasion for this Thursday. Aliens do not particularly excite me. However I will remain open minded about the book. I have to. It might turn out to be absolutely fascinating. My plan is to find a nice spot in the sunshine and read it there. As I mentioned everything is great in the sunshine. Even aliens.
Wednesday, 13 February 2008
Orange Hair
When I first had the idea to dye my hair orange the first person I told was incredibly supportive. Not supportive, in fact, but actually thought it would look great and that i should absolutely go ahead and do it. After her, however, the support vanished behind quizzical eyebrows and sceptical comments. There were comments such as "ooo I don't think so" to "orange?! Oh no no no", and threats of taunting me with "ginger minger". Despite my clear explanation that it was not going to go ginger and I was aiming for a bright reddish orange people were very negative about the whole thing. I managed to get a few reluctantly convinced when I gave the example of Mila Jovovich in The Fifth Element 
as something I was aiming for, although I was actually intending to go more red than that, as that is very orange, I think it swayed a couple of people because she's incredibly hot as opposed to their love of her hair colour. Although I was a little disheartened that nobody was going for the idea I remained determined that I would do it and that it would look good. I challenged my friends to tell me they didn't like it, claiming that they would have to take everything they said back as it was not only going to look good, it was going to look amazing. I believe I used the term "frikkin awesome".
Yesterday I died my hair, incredibly nervous about the whole thing as my peers scepticism weighed down on me, but I was relieved and very pleased when the colour turned out to be exactly what I wanted and to suit me wonderfully. The hair dye glows under blacklight, therefore it is brilliantly bright; shining up and out of any heavy doubts and glowing through the town. So far my flatmate, one of the severe sceptics, and another uncertain ginger friend were forced to admit that it suited me and not only that, but that it looked good. I am feeling very smug about the whole thing. And I have great hair. And the sun is shining.
Now where's the U.V. light?
as something I was aiming for, although I was actually intending to go more red than that, as that is very orange, I think it swayed a couple of people because she's incredibly hot as opposed to their love of her hair colour. Although I was a little disheartened that nobody was going for the idea I remained determined that I would do it and that it would look good. I challenged my friends to tell me they didn't like it, claiming that they would have to take everything they said back as it was not only going to look good, it was going to look amazing. I believe I used the term "frikkin awesome". Yesterday I died my hair, incredibly nervous about the whole thing as my peers scepticism weighed down on me, but I was relieved and very pleased when the colour turned out to be exactly what I wanted and to suit me wonderfully. The hair dye glows under blacklight, therefore it is brilliantly bright; shining up and out of any heavy doubts and glowing through the town. So far my flatmate, one of the severe sceptics, and another uncertain ginger friend were forced to admit that it suited me and not only that, but that it looked good. I am feeling very smug about the whole thing. And I have great hair. And the sun is shining.
Now where's the U.V. light?
Monday, 11 February 2008
New Season - New Style
The main concern I have with new trends is that, as exciting as they are, they are inevitably going to go out of fashion. This is not exactly a revelation, but for someone like me who, despite trying to buy everything that is in the shops, cannot afford to buy something that is in one month and out the next. There are certain styles, however, that are always going to be in. Not all year round, but every winter, every summer, spring, autumn. Aviator sunglasses will always be fashionable in the summer. Wellies emerge with the festivals and continue throughout autumn. Flower print skirts and dresses will always bloom during summer. These things are obvious and therefore dependable. Something like nu-rave, however, is a trend which needs to be approached with caution. Well, not anymore, now it needs to be avoided completely. Exactly why when it was fashionable anyone who felt youthful enough to wear neon leggings should have considered seriously the repercussions of such a fashion decision.
Last summer I dived head first into dresses. A line and baby doll shaped dresses began filling up my wardrobe, needing to be pinched in with a waist belt for the winter, now awaiting permission to be let loose again and float in the summer breeze. The flower print has been a key theme of these dresses.
The flower print dress. Not ideal for the depths of winter, but not exclusive to summer either. In Autumn it can be accessorized with an oversized knitted cardigan and wellies and a very similar thing can be given to it for the Spring, but instead of an approach into winter it needs to show an emergence from it; a slow stripping off of heavy layers until the dress can be worn with nothing but a pair of flip flops.
I took one of my dresses, one I bought in Urban Outfitters in Washington last July, a dress I haven't worn since Autumn and decided it was time to start wearing it again. The current weather situation is absolutely clear blue skies and there is no way I am going to pass up an opportunity to wear a dress that lives for the sunshine. The trouble is that the sun is deceitful as it in fact still quite cold, not freezing, and today didn't require wearing a hat, which I must say I have become so used to I felt quite naked. So the dress is not quite ready to be worn without tights and with flip flops. A perfect opportunity to accessorize it with some of my new purchases. Although I bought a dark brown heeled brogue ankle boot in Glasgow I couldn't resist New Look's black shoe boot brogues with a low heel. New Look shoes
Not as sophisticated as the brown heels, which are almost witch like and more adult, these shoes go perfectly with a baby doll style, and of course they are black so go with a lot more than the brown ones. Different colours are essential. I wore these black shoes with black tights, my flowery dress and a black waistcoat left open to give it a quirky Indie edge.
Just throw a warm coat over it or a loose knitted cardigan with a wooly hat would go perfectly. I decided to punk it up, largely because I am still in love with my leather jacket and it gave me an excuse to wear my new 80's sunglasses from Urban Outfitters. As it's black leather it will soon become inappropriate when the sun is not the only sign of summer, but at the moment it works very well. I simply threw that over and along with the sunglasses it clashed well with the dainty floral pattern.
With this outfit the heels are fine, but black tights with thick socks over the top and some chunky black boots would really make this dress work. The clashing of the light floaty material with heavy leather is perfect for this time of year when there are signs of summer, but it is still slightly hidden under the cold days and frosty nights.
The leather jacket was £34.99 from H&M and is honestly a fantastic purchase. I can wear it with anything and although I am not in love with the chunky bangles over long gloves trend I do think that slipping a chunky bangle over the tight sleeves of the jacket looks very good indeed.
This particular one was given to me as a gift so unfortunately I don't know where it came from, but it works well as it is covered in silver glitter so sparkles against the black backdrop of the leather. So anything with bright colours or an eye catching pattern would go well.
The sunglasses were something that I have wanted for a while, but have been very aware of how nauseatingly trendy they are. I like fashionable items and sometimes cannot help buying something I am well aware many people will have because I like it so much, but although I wanted these glasses I didn't want them THAT much. However when I saw these in Urban Outfitters they were quirky enough for me to change my mind.
I hope it is visible enough in this ridiculously posey photograph; the frame is decorated with a leopard print pattern. A spot on trend pattern on an otherwise generic pair of sunglasses. I am not claiming these are unique or even very quirky, but they are just that little bit different from the regular black ones sold in TopShop.
Now all I need is some rockabilly music playing in the background and the title of posing idiot will be mine.
Last summer I dived head first into dresses. A line and baby doll shaped dresses began filling up my wardrobe, needing to be pinched in with a waist belt for the winter, now awaiting permission to be let loose again and float in the summer breeze. The flower print has been a key theme of these dresses.
The flower print dress. Not ideal for the depths of winter, but not exclusive to summer either. In Autumn it can be accessorized with an oversized knitted cardigan and wellies and a very similar thing can be given to it for the Spring, but instead of an approach into winter it needs to show an emergence from it; a slow stripping off of heavy layers until the dress can be worn with nothing but a pair of flip flops.
I took one of my dresses, one I bought in Urban Outfitters in Washington last July, a dress I haven't worn since Autumn and decided it was time to start wearing it again. The current weather situation is absolutely clear blue skies and there is no way I am going to pass up an opportunity to wear a dress that lives for the sunshine. The trouble is that the sun is deceitful as it in fact still quite cold, not freezing, and today didn't require wearing a hat, which I must say I have become so used to I felt quite naked. So the dress is not quite ready to be worn without tights and with flip flops. A perfect opportunity to accessorize it with some of my new purchases. Although I bought a dark brown heeled brogue ankle boot in Glasgow I couldn't resist New Look's black shoe boot brogues with a low heel. New Look shoes
Not as sophisticated as the brown heels, which are almost witch like and more adult, these shoes go perfectly with a baby doll style, and of course they are black so go with a lot more than the brown ones. Different colours are essential. I wore these black shoes with black tights, my flowery dress and a black waistcoat left open to give it a quirky Indie edge.
Just throw a warm coat over it or a loose knitted cardigan with a wooly hat would go perfectly. I decided to punk it up, largely because I am still in love with my leather jacket and it gave me an excuse to wear my new 80's sunglasses from Urban Outfitters. As it's black leather it will soon become inappropriate when the sun is not the only sign of summer, but at the moment it works very well. I simply threw that over and along with the sunglasses it clashed well with the dainty floral pattern.
With this outfit the heels are fine, but black tights with thick socks over the top and some chunky black boots would really make this dress work. The clashing of the light floaty material with heavy leather is perfect for this time of year when there are signs of summer, but it is still slightly hidden under the cold days and frosty nights.The leather jacket was £34.99 from H&M and is honestly a fantastic purchase. I can wear it with anything and although I am not in love with the chunky bangles over long gloves trend I do think that slipping a chunky bangle over the tight sleeves of the jacket looks very good indeed.
This particular one was given to me as a gift so unfortunately I don't know where it came from, but it works well as it is covered in silver glitter so sparkles against the black backdrop of the leather. So anything with bright colours or an eye catching pattern would go well. The sunglasses were something that I have wanted for a while, but have been very aware of how nauseatingly trendy they are. I like fashionable items and sometimes cannot help buying something I am well aware many people will have because I like it so much, but although I wanted these glasses I didn't want them THAT much. However when I saw these in Urban Outfitters they were quirky enough for me to change my mind.
I hope it is visible enough in this ridiculously posey photograph; the frame is decorated with a leopard print pattern. A spot on trend pattern on an otherwise generic pair of sunglasses. I am not claiming these are unique or even very quirky, but they are just that little bit different from the regular black ones sold in TopShop.
Now all I need is some rockabilly music playing in the background and the title of posing idiot will be mine.
Thursday, 7 February 2008
Music and Midnight
The first Thursday of February and I feel as if I am being incredibly productive. I now have a job working in a very nice little pub in town, I am a third the way through writing my novella which when I say it like that makes me sound very intelligent which I like, and I know where I am going with it which for me is an achievement as I usually hide from plots and cower away from structure. These two things are very good. I have a lot of reading to do, but I don’t think that will change at all and in fact will only get worse. I am currently desperately trying to finish ‘Midnight’s Children’ by Salman Rushdie, reading a collection of Postmodern theorists such as Jean-Francois Lyotard and Jean Baudrillard and I’m about to begin reading ‘The French Lieutenant’s Woman by John Fowles and ‘Childhood’s End’ by Arthur C. Clarke. I’m sure these are all interesting and very good books, but I cannot seem to enjoy anything as much as I should when I have to read it for a class. ‘Midnight’s Children’ for example is a wonderful book, but as the class we’ll be studying it in draws nearer I begin to focus entirely on getting the thing finished and the enjoyment of it gets thrown out of the window. Despite this I go on. So as far as university and money goes I have managed to become organised and I am feeling pretty good about the whole thing. However, in terms of breaking out into the social scene I must admit I have become somewhat of a recluse and although I may know about a small collection of things to do so far I have failed to partake in anything. As far as films go I have been invited to see ‘Cloverfield’ which I know little about apart from that it was written by the same person who wrote ‘Lost’. As yet I haven’t seen it so mentioning it is not much use to anyone who will be reading this. However if you want to read a review of it by someone who has actually seen it I suggest visiting The List website, the Scottish equivalent of Time Out which I have always relied on and seeing as there is no Welsh equivalent of either as far as I know I rely on that for general reviews of films.
Someone who loved 'Cloverfield' was Lightspeed Champion who my friends are going to see in Cardiff at the Barfly tonight. He is the former member of Test Icicles; a band I absolutely detested as I, in general, prefer being able to understand what the singer is saying instead of listening to, what is as far as I can tell, just screaming. However, Lightspeed Champion is apparently quite different, although I have not heard him myself, and only know of him because of the massive press he has been getting recently. In other music news I am aiming to finally get organised and book my brother’s band to play at our union in April. His band is called Ruby and The Emeralds and they play a mixture of psychedelic funk, reggae, rock, soul and general madness. They are absolutely brilliant and despite my uncertainty of how popular there music will be with my sometimes backwards college, I am sure that their charm and wackiness will confuse and entertain all spectators. Much better than the Beatles tribute band we had playing at the college last Friday. Not to say they were terrible, they weren’t, they were surprisingly good, but I suppose they were playing excellent songs so they were already half way to being brilliant. Ruby and The Emeralds are better though and although I could be a tad biased it is the truth. When they’re playing in Carmarthen Union this blog will have an exclusive of the dates.
Watch this space.
Someone who loved 'Cloverfield' was Lightspeed Champion who my friends are going to see in Cardiff at the Barfly tonight. He is the former member of Test Icicles; a band I absolutely detested as I, in general, prefer being able to understand what the singer is saying instead of listening to, what is as far as I can tell, just screaming. However, Lightspeed Champion is apparently quite different, although I have not heard him myself, and only know of him because of the massive press he has been getting recently. In other music news I am aiming to finally get organised and book my brother’s band to play at our union in April. His band is called Ruby and The Emeralds and they play a mixture of psychedelic funk, reggae, rock, soul and general madness. They are absolutely brilliant and despite my uncertainty of how popular there music will be with my sometimes backwards college, I am sure that their charm and wackiness will confuse and entertain all spectators. Much better than the Beatles tribute band we had playing at the college last Friday. Not to say they were terrible, they weren’t, they were surprisingly good, but I suppose they were playing excellent songs so they were already half way to being brilliant. Ruby and The Emeralds are better though and although I could be a tad biased it is the truth. When they’re playing in Carmarthen Union this blog will have an exclusive of the dates.
Watch this space.
Wednesday, 6 February 2008
internet
Just to say apologies as the previous blog should have been posted yesterday but my interent just stopped working at the moment i clicked on 'publish post' and it hasn't picked up again since. I'm back to college computers which are no fun, but the need to get out of my house in order to write a blog might motivate me to do so more regularly once more.
Sun is shining, hair is pink (not red), Napalm Orange has been received in the post along with a pair of black tights with red lips all over them and I'm working in the pub tonight.
Hope the sun is shining wherever you are too!
Sun is shining, hair is pink (not red), Napalm Orange has been received in the post along with a pair of black tights with red lips all over them and I'm working in the pub tonight.
Hope the sun is shining wherever you are too!
Tuesday, 5 February 2008
Thunderstorms and Sunshine
We're six days into February and apart from the unseasonable weather in London when I was there over the weekend, hints of Spring are beginning to emerge from the cracks in the clouds and occasionally it feels like it could be warm enough outside to emerge from my heated sitting room with a jacket instead of my heavy winter coat, albeit I have to wear three or four layers underneath. However, the attitude that severe determination will bring me to the Spring weather I deserve combined with my new leather jacket make the layering a more favourable option than wearing a warm coat despite its complete lack of practicalities. I say new, I mean the leather jacket I purchased in Glasgow which was over a week ago now and therefore not new in the terms of any shopaholics wardrobe. I purchased it as a celebration of extending my overdraft. Perhaps not the smartest of decisions, but an irresistible one and one that I am quite surprised I don't regret in the slightest. I expected a leather jacket to be a whimsical purchase, one which would not last longer than the already extended season. Granted it has only been slightly over a week so I can't predict how I will feel about it, but since I have been wearing it (as often as I can except when it clearly would not go and when I wanted to wear the blazer I bought as we were approaching winter and it was clearly too cold to wear it), it seems like something that I will be able to wear for many years to come. Hints of spring as aforementioned might connote to some people images of baby lambs, blossoming flowers, clear blue skies with an icy breeze and other beautiful things, but what I meant was occasional sunshine splattered with downpours, sometimes pleasant weather blown away by strong gusts of wet, grey wind. This is what spring means to me and what I associate with this time of year. Perhaps as it reaches Spring Proper the idealised image I described will come forth from the depths of the thick dull sky, but I honestly doubt it very much.
Despite what appears to be a gloomy outlook on spring and perhaps Britain's weather in general, I take this sporadic changing of the weather as entirely a good thing. Naturally I am not in the best mood after trying to walk home after work (yes I am now employed - who would've thought it?) when it is raining very hard and at the same time the wind is hurling my umbrella into a number of awkward positions, yet it is not cruelly cold anymore and that is a small shuffle forward in my mind.
Yes, I am working at a wee pub in town. I have only done one shift and that was last night so it was painfully quiet and I was only serving regulars, but it was giving me the opportunity to accustom myself to working there and I think I managed fairly well apart from the need to be able to add in my head. I spent so long pinning down maths at school as something completely unnecessary, but it might have been a good idea to learn how to add and take away without making a foolish error or freezing up completely. I will look forward to Saturday night to see how well I do.
I am also half way in to the orange hair stage. I have died my hair red - photos of many things to come in my next blog. It turned out a very pink red, but I like it very much. I am only concerned about the transfer to orange, but I will just wait until it fades out dramatically before I dye it and it shouldn't affect the colour too much. Exciting stuff.
Despite what appears to be a gloomy outlook on spring and perhaps Britain's weather in general, I take this sporadic changing of the weather as entirely a good thing. Naturally I am not in the best mood after trying to walk home after work (yes I am now employed - who would've thought it?) when it is raining very hard and at the same time the wind is hurling my umbrella into a number of awkward positions, yet it is not cruelly cold anymore and that is a small shuffle forward in my mind.
Yes, I am working at a wee pub in town. I have only done one shift and that was last night so it was painfully quiet and I was only serving regulars, but it was giving me the opportunity to accustom myself to working there and I think I managed fairly well apart from the need to be able to add in my head. I spent so long pinning down maths at school as something completely unnecessary, but it might have been a good idea to learn how to add and take away without making a foolish error or freezing up completely. I will look forward to Saturday night to see how well I do.
I am also half way in to the orange hair stage. I have died my hair red - photos of many things to come in my next blog. It turned out a very pink red, but I like it very much. I am only concerned about the transfer to orange, but I will just wait until it fades out dramatically before I dye it and it shouldn't affect the colour too much. Exciting stuff.
Thursday, 31 January 2008
Too Long to be Apart
I knew there was a good reason why I promised to write this at least every other day; it is far too difficult to come back after a week and try to summarize everything I have been doing in one coherent blog. My aim for this blog is to write something widely interesting and a short bullet point diary of things I did over the week does seems tedious to me so I am going to avoid attempting a quick summary and write about today, now, this moment. Well, I am allowing myself to reflect upon things that have happened, but as they become relevant to my current topic of conversation as opposed to rattling out a long list.
I have been away in London, which I summarized briefly and without much finesse in my last blog, and then I was in Glasgow for a week in which I made sure to peruse the shops, the Kelvingrove Gallery, walk across the city, sample the restaurants, check out a couple of films, go to a music gig and of course have a drink or two in the endless amount of bars and go dancing. Although I love Edinburgh and still maintain that is one of the most beautiful cities I have ever been to, Glasgow is much more beautiful than I thought and there is always something to do there. I was there for only a week and I was kept busy every day.
Now I am back with a few new items in my wardrobe, much less pennies in my pocket and a new and final term of my University degree. Exciting. So exciting, in fact, that I feel the need to celebrate it with a radical change of hair colour. OK, that is not why I want to dye my hair, I have wanted to dye it for a long time, but I have been uncertain as I have my natural hair colour at the moment for the first time in almost 8 years, and I like it. However, I also like change. I had also just been growing my hair and after Christmas I cut it short at the back and left the front long as it is in my profile photo. I like this style and I think I might go back to get it even shorter at the back and more of a quirky cut. I prefer to wait until I go back to Edinburgh and go to my hairdresser Kipps who works at Cheynes on York Place. I am always wary about going to new hairdressers, because for some I might be a dream come true, but others their worst nightmare. I never know what I want and feel the most comfortable telling whoever it is do be creative and exciting and do whatever they want. This makes some hairdressers nervous and they insist that I pick a picture from a magazine to inspire me, but I don't know what to pick because most of the hair in the pictures has been styled, often doesn't work on fine hair and might not suit my face shape. These are things that a hairdresser should know about and it is why it should be perfectly reasonable to expect a senior creative director to be let loose on my hair. Kipps is one of those hairdressers who takes this task and revels in it. He did not actually cut my hair this time as he was on holiday, a woman called Kirsty did who is also a senior creative director and I would highly recommend her although I must be loyal to Kipps. He is always excited by the prospect of being allowed to do whatever he likes and every time I come away satisfied.
I became addicted to bizarre haircuts when I went to my mums hairdresser Rob who no longer works there when I was 14. He was very quirky and straight away cut it in an asymmetrical style. At that age I have to admit I didn't quite appreciate it as I did not have the confidence, but I know it grows out and that is something I have had to tell myself when I am not entirely sure about some of the "interesting" haircuts I have had. After Rob left I was left with a regular hairdresser for a period and expanded on my hair dying, from semi-permanent reds to bleaching, pink, red, purple, and black and even braided my hair with black, purple and red wool which defined my gothic teens.
At one stage when I was 19 I had normal, if not very dry, red/blond/brown hair and it was a reasonable length and I was working in a restaurant in Edinburgh when a hairdresser asked if I wanted to model for a Vidal Saloon hair competition the whole company partakes in. It meant a free cut and colour and something interesting so I agreed. Biggest hair mistake of my life, more of a mistake than when I accidentally died my hair grey because at least I could fix that.
There was a girl for each hairdresser and one morning we all turned up to have our hair cut and died under the supervision of two established hairdressers from England. This was the most unprofessional hair cut I have ever had. She did not cut my hair at all how she told me she would and I had one side very long which was fine and the other short and square like an army boy in the 1930's. So this was not to my taste, but that was not the main problem. She bleached my hair in order to dye the short section a purple tint of blond and the longer section a red tint of blond. Now bleach always tingles a little bit, sometimes even stings, but I have bleached my hair many times before and when this was hurting I knew I had to say something. It was dismissed as fine, despite the fact it clearly was not and I could feel a drip of bleach burning into the back of my neck. This is not good for anyone's skin, and I have mild to sometimes terrible eczema. When she washed it out my scalp was red raw and the skin on my neck had flared up to an unbearable rash. What was the reaction I received? Comfort? An apology? No. The senior, supervising hairdressers laughing at me because I looked like an albino. Perhaps a humorous situation for an observer I do not doubt it, but certainly not a professional one. I was not only in a lot of pain, but totally humiliated. Then she had to finish cutting the already hideous hairstyle and after having been there for around 6 hours she cut my ear. I was not impressed. At all. After this horrible experience I was left with a disgusting haircut so as soon as the photos were taken two days after (another 6 hours wait) I made an appointment to have my hair fixed as best I could. I was given Kipps who did not just make it better, he actually made a hair cut I actually loved; it was a pixie crop with a few long pieces. So he is my hairdresser and I will wait until I get home before I get my hair cut again.
I have not revealed the colour of my hair to be. I am going to dye it red and then when it begins to fade, orange, so it becomes a fiery orange red. I have never had it orange before and although many of my friends have reservations about the whole concept I have a strong feeling it will look fantastic. There is a fantastic brand of dyes sold at Superdrug although I can't seem to find them on the website. They have pink, red, purple and blond which go straight to brilliant bright colours and don't require any bleaching as they have bleach in the product which is wonderful. This is why I am dying it red first as I was going to go straight to orange, but trying to bleach it perfectly is very difficult and a problem that can easily be avoided by using this Superdrug product. Finding an orange colour was very difficult. I have used Rusk Scream before when dying my hair pink, but I could only seem to find it in US stores online and they only had one orange colour which didn't look too good. I did a Google search for bright hair dyes in the UK and was presented with a brand called Special Effects which has a wonderful range of bright hair colours. I bought mine on the website beeunique as the Special Effects website was out of stock in the colour I wanted. They have two oranges, 'Napalm Orange' and 'Hi-Octane Orange'. The latter is more of a red orange, which is what I wanted, but there pure orange was a fantastically bright and exciting colour and as I am dying it over red anyway I opted for that one. I am very excited. I am going to buy the red today and should hopefully receive the orange in time to go over that colour and be very shiny in the sun.
I have been away in London, which I summarized briefly and without much finesse in my last blog, and then I was in Glasgow for a week in which I made sure to peruse the shops, the Kelvingrove Gallery, walk across the city, sample the restaurants, check out a couple of films, go to a music gig and of course have a drink or two in the endless amount of bars and go dancing. Although I love Edinburgh and still maintain that is one of the most beautiful cities I have ever been to, Glasgow is much more beautiful than I thought and there is always something to do there. I was there for only a week and I was kept busy every day.
Now I am back with a few new items in my wardrobe, much less pennies in my pocket and a new and final term of my University degree. Exciting. So exciting, in fact, that I feel the need to celebrate it with a radical change of hair colour. OK, that is not why I want to dye my hair, I have wanted to dye it for a long time, but I have been uncertain as I have my natural hair colour at the moment for the first time in almost 8 years, and I like it. However, I also like change. I had also just been growing my hair and after Christmas I cut it short at the back and left the front long as it is in my profile photo. I like this style and I think I might go back to get it even shorter at the back and more of a quirky cut. I prefer to wait until I go back to Edinburgh and go to my hairdresser Kipps who works at Cheynes on York Place. I am always wary about going to new hairdressers, because for some I might be a dream come true, but others their worst nightmare. I never know what I want and feel the most comfortable telling whoever it is do be creative and exciting and do whatever they want. This makes some hairdressers nervous and they insist that I pick a picture from a magazine to inspire me, but I don't know what to pick because most of the hair in the pictures has been styled, often doesn't work on fine hair and might not suit my face shape. These are things that a hairdresser should know about and it is why it should be perfectly reasonable to expect a senior creative director to be let loose on my hair. Kipps is one of those hairdressers who takes this task and revels in it. He did not actually cut my hair this time as he was on holiday, a woman called Kirsty did who is also a senior creative director and I would highly recommend her although I must be loyal to Kipps. He is always excited by the prospect of being allowed to do whatever he likes and every time I come away satisfied.
I became addicted to bizarre haircuts when I went to my mums hairdresser Rob who no longer works there when I was 14. He was very quirky and straight away cut it in an asymmetrical style. At that age I have to admit I didn't quite appreciate it as I did not have the confidence, but I know it grows out and that is something I have had to tell myself when I am not entirely sure about some of the "interesting" haircuts I have had. After Rob left I was left with a regular hairdresser for a period and expanded on my hair dying, from semi-permanent reds to bleaching, pink, red, purple, and black and even braided my hair with black, purple and red wool which defined my gothic teens.
At one stage when I was 19 I had normal, if not very dry, red/blond/brown hair and it was a reasonable length and I was working in a restaurant in Edinburgh when a hairdresser asked if I wanted to model for a Vidal Saloon hair competition the whole company partakes in. It meant a free cut and colour and something interesting so I agreed. Biggest hair mistake of my life, more of a mistake than when I accidentally died my hair grey because at least I could fix that.
There was a girl for each hairdresser and one morning we all turned up to have our hair cut and died under the supervision of two established hairdressers from England. This was the most unprofessional hair cut I have ever had. She did not cut my hair at all how she told me she would and I had one side very long which was fine and the other short and square like an army boy in the 1930's. So this was not to my taste, but that was not the main problem. She bleached my hair in order to dye the short section a purple tint of blond and the longer section a red tint of blond. Now bleach always tingles a little bit, sometimes even stings, but I have bleached my hair many times before and when this was hurting I knew I had to say something. It was dismissed as fine, despite the fact it clearly was not and I could feel a drip of bleach burning into the back of my neck. This is not good for anyone's skin, and I have mild to sometimes terrible eczema. When she washed it out my scalp was red raw and the skin on my neck had flared up to an unbearable rash. What was the reaction I received? Comfort? An apology? No. The senior, supervising hairdressers laughing at me because I looked like an albino. Perhaps a humorous situation for an observer I do not doubt it, but certainly not a professional one. I was not only in a lot of pain, but totally humiliated. Then she had to finish cutting the already hideous hairstyle and after having been there for around 6 hours she cut my ear. I was not impressed. At all. After this horrible experience I was left with a disgusting haircut so as soon as the photos were taken two days after (another 6 hours wait) I made an appointment to have my hair fixed as best I could. I was given Kipps who did not just make it better, he actually made a hair cut I actually loved; it was a pixie crop with a few long pieces. So he is my hairdresser and I will wait until I get home before I get my hair cut again.
I have not revealed the colour of my hair to be. I am going to dye it red and then when it begins to fade, orange, so it becomes a fiery orange red. I have never had it orange before and although many of my friends have reservations about the whole concept I have a strong feeling it will look fantastic. There is a fantastic brand of dyes sold at Superdrug although I can't seem to find them on the website. They have pink, red, purple and blond which go straight to brilliant bright colours and don't require any bleaching as they have bleach in the product which is wonderful. This is why I am dying it red first as I was going to go straight to orange, but trying to bleach it perfectly is very difficult and a problem that can easily be avoided by using this Superdrug product. Finding an orange colour was very difficult. I have used Rusk Scream before when dying my hair pink, but I could only seem to find it in US stores online and they only had one orange colour which didn't look too good. I did a Google search for bright hair dyes in the UK and was presented with a brand called Special Effects which has a wonderful range of bright hair colours. I bought mine on the website beeunique as the Special Effects website was out of stock in the colour I wanted. They have two oranges, 'Napalm Orange' and 'Hi-Octane Orange'. The latter is more of a red orange, which is what I wanted, but there pure orange was a fantastically bright and exciting colour and as I am dying it over red anyway I opted for that one. I am very excited. I am going to buy the red today and should hopefully receive the orange in time to go over that colour and be very shiny in the sun.
Friday, 25 January 2008
Half a week in Glasgow - Half a week to go
The train is probably my favourite mode of transport. I get car sick if I do anything other than just sit perfectly still and listen to music so coaches and cars are not ideal. Airplanes are fine. Not brilliant. On long journeys where I can watch a movie and listen to music they're better, and if I am ever lucky enough to fly Singapore Airlines then the journey is fantastic (best airline ever) but funnily enough they don't do flights from Cardiff to Edinburgh. Another problem I often suffer from flying is that my ears pop and it is incredibly painful. My friend who is a diver tells me all I need to do is equalize by holding my nose and closing my mouth and blowing to pop my ears back to normal, but I tried it and it just did not work. At all. So i don't believe her. Either that or I'm doing something wrong. So that leaves the train, I'm not counting ferries. On the train I can read, sleep, listen to music and even just travelling in the UK meet some interesting characters. It is an experience, and unless it is delayed, an enjoyable one. Unfortunately, the train from London Kings Cross to Glasgow Central was delayed by almost an hour. I am sure I am not alone in experiencing a growing feeling of agitation when the train just stops and after a few minutes or so we finally receive an announcement that only says 'we are delayed due to [insert generic technical difficulty here] and will be on our way shortly'. But how shortly?? Ten minutes? Twenty? Just 'shortly'?! This does not satisfy my irritation and it is only increased when in ten minutes we are still at a standstill and hearing exactly the same announcement.
Fortunately I had plenty to read. We have been given a book a week for my Postmodernism class beginning with 'Midnight's Children' by Salman Rushdie. I hope the length of this book is not setting a precedent for the books to come as I am only beginning book two of this lengthy novel and I need to have finished the final book, book 3, by Monday. It is simply not going to happen. I am enjoying the book so far. Rushdie moves back and forth in time in a matter of sentences, referring to past events discussed and future events that have not been revealed. I am also particularly enjoying it being set in India which is a country I have visited twice and although it took me a while I have now fallen in love with it. Due to the complicated narrative it is impossible for me to skim read it which would be the only way I could finish it in time. I am also enjoying it so am reluctant to skip it and ultimately have no idea what is going on.
I eventually arrived in Glasgow at 9 instead of 8.15 and the first thing that I noticed was the dramatic temperature difference. From around 12 degrees in London to about 2 degrees in Glasgow was quite a shock to my system. Yes there was rain in London, yes it was grey, but I didn't think the temperature difference would be so dramatic. It may be cold in Glasgow, however, but in Edinburgh it is cold and it is windy. So windy I have to push my entire weight forward just to walk along the road. Thankfully I was only in Edinburgh last night, took the Internet access as an opportunity to write my blog, but I am going to struggle back up Leith Walk and take the bus back to Glasgow to begin the weekend of parties.
Firstly I should start with what I have done before I move on to the present and future plans. On Tuesday, the first full day in Glasgow, I went shopping. A necessity I think, despite my previous plans to not spend any more money. I only wanted to go to H&M because the nearest one to me in Wales is almost 2 hours away on the train in Cardiff which is a little awkward. I almost stuck to this one shop rule (I made the mistake of looking in Schuh and buying THE shoe that I wanted) but it didn't do my any good as I haven't been to H&M since the summer so there was A LOT of things I wanted. And after increasing my overdraft there was a lot of things I got. I'll just quickly mention the shoe.
It is not exactly the same as the one I posted earlier, but it is pretty similar and has a slightly lower heel, around 2 inches, which suits me much better and is incredibly comfortable as I discovered when dancing in it all Tuesday night. A classic style and despite being on sale goes well with the high waisted skirts and shirts that are currently very fashionable and therefore had to purchase in H&M.
The reason I wanted to go to H&M was because I had been reading the latest Cosmopolitan on the train and in it I saw a gorgeous strapless dress with a tulip skirt. I went into the store - two of them in Glasgow - and neither of them had the dress. I went into the Edinburgh store - again there are two of them - and again neither of them had the dress. The H&M website is useless only showing a preview of the Spring 2008 collection and not the clothes they have in store. This is not the first time that I have seen something in a magazine and not found it in the shop. It is very irritating. I went on to the Cosmopolitan website and saw that someone else from Birmingham was experiencing the same problem and had not yet received a response. However, I managed to find a few other items to soothe my disappointment.
As aforementioned the high waisted skirt with a shirt tucked in has been filtering out on to the high street for a while and is slowly, along with bows and lace and frills, taking over the electric nu rave look which nobody over 14 can fully pull off. On this note I bought a shirt with a printed bow on front, something that H&M are doing a lot of - printing pattern on to tops and skirts instead of adorning the items with these things in the first place. I saw a t shirt with braces and a waistcoat and a tie, all common prints which some people prefer to actually wearing these things over their t shirts, but most unusual was the t shirt with the corset print over the top. That does not make any sense to me. It looks tacky and wearing it over a baggy t shirt defeats the only point of a corset which is to pull the waist in. Just not my thing I suppose. The shirt I did buy goes well under the new high waisted buttoned skirt with attached braces and I also bought a faux vintage style high neck dark green top with a square frill around the chest and a bow at the neck. None of which can be found at the entirely pointless H&M website. I also bought a leather jacket despite my mum's consistent argument that it is a pointless purchase. But, at H&M prices I simply could not refuse.
Looking at the H&M website in order to attempt to find the dress I cam across a new Fashion Against Aids range which involves celebrities designing t shirts and jumpers. Fashion Against Aids has designs from people like Good Charlotte to Timbaland to Chicks on Speed. None of them particularly captured my attention, but if anyone is thinking of buying a t shirt than 25% goes to charity so I'd suggest checking it out. This range launches on the 31st January and caters for men and women.
I realised I have been talking about clothes and I have not even touched upon the other things I have been doing. Before I go I will have to mention my trip to the cinema to see 'No Country for Old Men' which is the new Coen brothers film. It is incredibly dark and appears to have not even the slightest hint at a happy ending, making it a film I would not rush to see again as I know it would depress me. However, not only because it had that much of a powerful effect on me, but also because it was brilliantly written, directed and acted, this film was very moving and without any doubt I give it five stars. I am very keen on discussing it with someone else as at the very end (this is not a spoiler don't worry) Tommy Lee Jones tells his wife a dream, before it abruptly finishes. I want to know what people make of that dream as I am sure it means something though I am not sure what. I am very intersted to see what someone else made of it.
Now I am being very rude to Steven, it is his birthday on Monday and we are going out tonight in Glasgow to celebrate, and he is currently watching 'Whose line is it anyway?' while I type away on the computer. I am honestly more excited about Vegas tomorrow though which will involve snazzy dress-up so expect many fancy photos!
Fortunately I had plenty to read. We have been given a book a week for my Postmodernism class beginning with 'Midnight's Children' by Salman Rushdie. I hope the length of this book is not setting a precedent for the books to come as I am only beginning book two of this lengthy novel and I need to have finished the final book, book 3, by Monday. It is simply not going to happen. I am enjoying the book so far. Rushdie moves back and forth in time in a matter of sentences, referring to past events discussed and future events that have not been revealed. I am also particularly enjoying it being set in India which is a country I have visited twice and although it took me a while I have now fallen in love with it. Due to the complicated narrative it is impossible for me to skim read it which would be the only way I could finish it in time. I am also enjoying it so am reluctant to skip it and ultimately have no idea what is going on.
I eventually arrived in Glasgow at 9 instead of 8.15 and the first thing that I noticed was the dramatic temperature difference. From around 12 degrees in London to about 2 degrees in Glasgow was quite a shock to my system. Yes there was rain in London, yes it was grey, but I didn't think the temperature difference would be so dramatic. It may be cold in Glasgow, however, but in Edinburgh it is cold and it is windy. So windy I have to push my entire weight forward just to walk along the road. Thankfully I was only in Edinburgh last night, took the Internet access as an opportunity to write my blog, but I am going to struggle back up Leith Walk and take the bus back to Glasgow to begin the weekend of parties.
Firstly I should start with what I have done before I move on to the present and future plans. On Tuesday, the first full day in Glasgow, I went shopping. A necessity I think, despite my previous plans to not spend any more money. I only wanted to go to H&M because the nearest one to me in Wales is almost 2 hours away on the train in Cardiff which is a little awkward. I almost stuck to this one shop rule (I made the mistake of looking in Schuh and buying THE shoe that I wanted) but it didn't do my any good as I haven't been to H&M since the summer so there was A LOT of things I wanted. And after increasing my overdraft there was a lot of things I got. I'll just quickly mention the shoe.
It is not exactly the same as the one I posted earlier, but it is pretty similar and has a slightly lower heel, around 2 inches, which suits me much better and is incredibly comfortable as I discovered when dancing in it all Tuesday night. A classic style and despite being on sale goes well with the high waisted skirts and shirts that are currently very fashionable and therefore had to purchase in H&M.The reason I wanted to go to H&M was because I had been reading the latest Cosmopolitan on the train and in it I saw a gorgeous strapless dress with a tulip skirt. I went into the store - two of them in Glasgow - and neither of them had the dress. I went into the Edinburgh store - again there are two of them - and again neither of them had the dress. The H&M website is useless only showing a preview of the Spring 2008 collection and not the clothes they have in store. This is not the first time that I have seen something in a magazine and not found it in the shop. It is very irritating. I went on to the Cosmopolitan website and saw that someone else from Birmingham was experiencing the same problem and had not yet received a response. However, I managed to find a few other items to soothe my disappointment.
As aforementioned the high waisted skirt with a shirt tucked in has been filtering out on to the high street for a while and is slowly, along with bows and lace and frills, taking over the electric nu rave look which nobody over 14 can fully pull off. On this note I bought a shirt with a printed bow on front, something that H&M are doing a lot of - printing pattern on to tops and skirts instead of adorning the items with these things in the first place. I saw a t shirt with braces and a waistcoat and a tie, all common prints which some people prefer to actually wearing these things over their t shirts, but most unusual was the t shirt with the corset print over the top. That does not make any sense to me. It looks tacky and wearing it over a baggy t shirt defeats the only point of a corset which is to pull the waist in. Just not my thing I suppose. The shirt I did buy goes well under the new high waisted buttoned skirt with attached braces and I also bought a faux vintage style high neck dark green top with a square frill around the chest and a bow at the neck. None of which can be found at the entirely pointless H&M website. I also bought a leather jacket despite my mum's consistent argument that it is a pointless purchase. But, at H&M prices I simply could not refuse.
Looking at the H&M website in order to attempt to find the dress I cam across a new Fashion Against Aids range which involves celebrities designing t shirts and jumpers. Fashion Against Aids has designs from people like Good Charlotte to Timbaland to Chicks on Speed. None of them particularly captured my attention, but if anyone is thinking of buying a t shirt than 25% goes to charity so I'd suggest checking it out. This range launches on the 31st January and caters for men and women.
I realised I have been talking about clothes and I have not even touched upon the other things I have been doing. Before I go I will have to mention my trip to the cinema to see 'No Country for Old Men' which is the new Coen brothers film. It is incredibly dark and appears to have not even the slightest hint at a happy ending, making it a film I would not rush to see again as I know it would depress me. However, not only because it had that much of a powerful effect on me, but also because it was brilliantly written, directed and acted, this film was very moving and without any doubt I give it five stars. I am very keen on discussing it with someone else as at the very end (this is not a spoiler don't worry) Tommy Lee Jones tells his wife a dream, before it abruptly finishes. I want to know what people make of that dream as I am sure it means something though I am not sure what. I am very intersted to see what someone else made of it.
Now I am being very rude to Steven, it is his birthday on Monday and we are going out tonight in Glasgow to celebrate, and he is currently watching 'Whose line is it anyway?' while I type away on the computer. I am honestly more excited about Vegas tomorrow though which will involve snazzy dress-up so expect many fancy photos!
Monday, 21 January 2008
Weekend in London
It was a very busy weekend in London! But honestly I would have been disappointed if I hadn't packed it full of people to see, places to go and things to do. I arrived at London Paddington a little late at a quarter to five Friday evening. The friend I was staying with graduated from Cambridge in the first part of her seven years of studying architecture. She's working in London as part of the next section and doesn't finish until around seven in the evening. I had a few hours to kill and it turned out for the better as I met up with an old friend in Angel and we went to a pub called the Winchester which reminds me of 'Shaun of the Dead' although it was a lot classier and apparently the pub in the film is further north. After a couple of Chocolate Martinis and some necessary yet not desired pasta I headed over to meet Natasha and make the long trek to Voxhill, south of the river making it apparently an unknown and not so very appealing mystery to all North Londoners. Why did we go all the way to South London? Well, if I said Roller Disco would that answer the question? I think so. There was no way I was going to turn down the opportunity to go to a Roller Disco even if I was inevitably going to end up on my bottom. The original London Roller Disco is in Kings Cross, but it has been closed down, I think for renovations, so we had to leave early in order to get there at a reasonable time and make it worth our £12.50. It's open from 8pm to 2am and we arrived there at the back of 10pm. It is advisable to book online as the queue for unreserved tickets was tremendous. Four out of the five of us had booked, but with the power of blagging, an unreliable trick, we managed to get all of us in without waiting hours in line. The entry fee includes skate hire and although the drinks are extortionate I decided I would either have to get so obliterated I wouldn't feel a thing when I fell or be sensible and drink water, saving my arse and my bank balance. I went for the latter more sensible option, yet fell over anyway. Of course. Despite being the only one of the five who tumbled it was brilliant fun. There are two dance floors, one which plays 80's cheese and pop and the other R'n'B. We went in that room once, but it was full of people who could not only skate, they could dance and skate, and some even perform specific skate dancing tricks. Where such a talent is practiced and perfected apart from at such a venue I have no idea. Incredibly impressive on a Friday night at a Roller Disco, but otherwise does anybody care? I am just jealous I know. Obviously I would love to be able to skate and dance, perhaps just skate and not fall, but I console myself with the thought that I have much better things to do than practice my roller skating. Right.
After a long and exhausting night and very little sleep it was up again on Saturday for a wander around Hackney and Angel before packing up my suitcase again and setting off to Kentish Town for another night of fun with my cousin Ilana. I arrived we got dressed up, of course I was wearing my green ankle boots with the gold cat brooch, and headed off to an Ethiopian restaurant which, from looking at Time Out and trying to match their description with my memory, I believe is called Lalibela and is on Fortess Road. Ilana described the traditional Ineja bread as being similar to sour dough which I detest so we avoided sharing it and went for the rice much to the disappointment of the waitress. The menu had a huge choice, which is rare for a Vegetarian, dedicating an entire page to Vegetarian dishes. I was ecstatic and my thus high expectations were matched by the delicious food. After our reasonably priced meal we moved on to The Oxford on Kentish Town Road which is where Ilana works. I have eaten here once before, typical Gastro Pub food; sometimes average to disappointing, sometimes delicious. We shared an apple and pear crumble, which leaned on to not so brilliant side of food as I felt the crumble was too soft and sweet. My idea of a good crumble requires an almost crunchy topping and a sour twang from the fruit which is complimented by the sweet cream or ice-cream or in this case custard. Asides from this I was introduced to all of her coworkers resulting in slightly cheaper drinks, they don't give staff discounts but not adding on the £1 mixer charge does make a difference, and very service.
We headed out to the Underworld just after 11 and were faced with a ridiculous queue and no luck in skipping it despite our best blagging efforts. However it moved quickly and we immediately hit the indie orientated dance floor...after waiting in the cloakroom queue. After several hours of dancing and the occasional unfortunate run in with one inappropriate chat up line after another we left a little early to avoid the queue and picked up some much needed fatty chips and cheese from one of the many kebab shops. The night was not yet over as we returned to the inevitable lock in at The Oxford and joined the remaining staff members still clinging on to the beer taps as slowly another one trickles away to fall into their bed. Unfortunately I was exhausted and could not take advantage of the all night party opportunity. My previously inexhaustible conversation with the slightly too old yet ruggedly handsome French waiter had fizzled as I felt myself becoming grumpy and indifferent the more I craved sleep. Fortunately I was not the only one and when the clock hit 4am we said our goodbyes and it was not long before I got to bed. Up again the next morning though. Ilana and I made plans to meet my friend John, a lovable pretentious Camberwell art student. Ilana, despite me telling her my friends and I are not so organised, felt we should set an alarm just in case we were going far away and needed time to get there. Of course when I called John he was still fast asleep and had no idea where to go for lunch. An hour or so later I received a message suggesting Brick Lane, East London being, according to John, THE place for trendsters to hang out. It is true. Ilana and I were a little early and John was very late so we had an overpriced cup of fresh mint tea and felt very uncool amongst all the people who had clearly thought a lot about their outfits in order to lounge around drinking overpriced mint tea and show everyone else this cool new vintage jacket or that "vintage" trilby. Hardly anything is really Vintage anymore so adding irony with an oxymoron or speech marks best suits the description of Brick Lane. When John arrived he had not thought of anywhere to go so after much wandering around, pressed by hunger and the fact Ilana had to get to work, we chose a greasy spoon cafe and I ate some questionable scampi and chips which I will be forgetting the minute I finish typing this sentence.
This almost brings me to this morning. After Ilana went to work John and I went for what was originally going to be a cup of tea, but he suggested this very nice pub and I didn't want to take the one decision he had actually made and turn it down. I agreed to this, but he couldn't make it so simple, turning a five minute walk around the corner into a half hour walk around East London because we took the wrong turn. No complaints though, or not many, as the pub WAS lovely and despite the overly intimate couple sitting opposite us the decor was very pretty. I returned to the pub, again, to collect Ilana's keys and ended up staying for a bloody mary and a long vodka, sampling a flirtatious staff members sticky toffee pudding and wangling a half price main course of Gnocchi with butternut squash and a cheesy sauce that reminded me of feet. The main course was not so delicious although the sticky toffee pudding was amazing and Ilana's dinner, a fillet of plaice with caper suace and mash was also fantastic. It seems to always be the things I choose that don't work.
Now it is Monday and in two and a half hours I will be on the train to Glasgow Central. I cannot wait. I am also yet to shower or re pack or eat anything at all so on that note I must sign off.
After a long and exhausting night and very little sleep it was up again on Saturday for a wander around Hackney and Angel before packing up my suitcase again and setting off to Kentish Town for another night of fun with my cousin Ilana. I arrived we got dressed up, of course I was wearing my green ankle boots with the gold cat brooch, and headed off to an Ethiopian restaurant which, from looking at Time Out and trying to match their description with my memory, I believe is called Lalibela and is on Fortess Road. Ilana described the traditional Ineja bread as being similar to sour dough which I detest so we avoided sharing it and went for the rice much to the disappointment of the waitress. The menu had a huge choice, which is rare for a Vegetarian, dedicating an entire page to Vegetarian dishes. I was ecstatic and my thus high expectations were matched by the delicious food. After our reasonably priced meal we moved on to The Oxford on Kentish Town Road which is where Ilana works. I have eaten here once before, typical Gastro Pub food; sometimes average to disappointing, sometimes delicious. We shared an apple and pear crumble, which leaned on to not so brilliant side of food as I felt the crumble was too soft and sweet. My idea of a good crumble requires an almost crunchy topping and a sour twang from the fruit which is complimented by the sweet cream or ice-cream or in this case custard. Asides from this I was introduced to all of her coworkers resulting in slightly cheaper drinks, they don't give staff discounts but not adding on the £1 mixer charge does make a difference, and very service.
We headed out to the Underworld just after 11 and were faced with a ridiculous queue and no luck in skipping it despite our best blagging efforts. However it moved quickly and we immediately hit the indie orientated dance floor...after waiting in the cloakroom queue. After several hours of dancing and the occasional unfortunate run in with one inappropriate chat up line after another we left a little early to avoid the queue and picked up some much needed fatty chips and cheese from one of the many kebab shops. The night was not yet over as we returned to the inevitable lock in at The Oxford and joined the remaining staff members still clinging on to the beer taps as slowly another one trickles away to fall into their bed. Unfortunately I was exhausted and could not take advantage of the all night party opportunity. My previously inexhaustible conversation with the slightly too old yet ruggedly handsome French waiter had fizzled as I felt myself becoming grumpy and indifferent the more I craved sleep. Fortunately I was not the only one and when the clock hit 4am we said our goodbyes and it was not long before I got to bed. Up again the next morning though. Ilana and I made plans to meet my friend John, a lovable pretentious Camberwell art student. Ilana, despite me telling her my friends and I are not so organised, felt we should set an alarm just in case we were going far away and needed time to get there. Of course when I called John he was still fast asleep and had no idea where to go for lunch. An hour or so later I received a message suggesting Brick Lane, East London being, according to John, THE place for trendsters to hang out. It is true. Ilana and I were a little early and John was very late so we had an overpriced cup of fresh mint tea and felt very uncool amongst all the people who had clearly thought a lot about their outfits in order to lounge around drinking overpriced mint tea and show everyone else this cool new vintage jacket or that "vintage" trilby. Hardly anything is really Vintage anymore so adding irony with an oxymoron or speech marks best suits the description of Brick Lane. When John arrived he had not thought of anywhere to go so after much wandering around, pressed by hunger and the fact Ilana had to get to work, we chose a greasy spoon cafe and I ate some questionable scampi and chips which I will be forgetting the minute I finish typing this sentence.
This almost brings me to this morning. After Ilana went to work John and I went for what was originally going to be a cup of tea, but he suggested this very nice pub and I didn't want to take the one decision he had actually made and turn it down. I agreed to this, but he couldn't make it so simple, turning a five minute walk around the corner into a half hour walk around East London because we took the wrong turn. No complaints though, or not many, as the pub WAS lovely and despite the overly intimate couple sitting opposite us the decor was very pretty. I returned to the pub, again, to collect Ilana's keys and ended up staying for a bloody mary and a long vodka, sampling a flirtatious staff members sticky toffee pudding and wangling a half price main course of Gnocchi with butternut squash and a cheesy sauce that reminded me of feet. The main course was not so delicious although the sticky toffee pudding was amazing and Ilana's dinner, a fillet of plaice with caper suace and mash was also fantastic. It seems to always be the things I choose that don't work.
Now it is Monday and in two and a half hours I will be on the train to Glasgow Central. I cannot wait. I am also yet to shower or re pack or eat anything at all so on that note I must sign off.
Thursday, 17 January 2008
Leaving Wales
I've finished my exam and I feel as if, sorry about the cliche, a weight has been lifted off my shoulders.
That is all I am going to say on the matter.
Right. To move on and forget about it as I now have nothing to do. Well asides from all the reading and preparation and try to catch up on my creative project which I have almost forgotten about because of all these deadlines. So almost, nearly, not quite nothing to do. My creative project is exciting though, I'm just worried about getting back into the flow after being away from it for so long. For my third year we have to write something, anything, which is the equivalent of 20,000 words. One of my lecturers, the head of department, suggested I did a collection of short stories as that was something I was best at and when I cam forward with my idea he felt that it would be better as a collection of related storied as opposed to attempting a full 20,000 piece. I wanted, however, to do something that I haven't already done before and try to write something longer. Last year I wrote a piece that was over 8,000 words long and that was the longest thing I have written. I want to challenge myself to write something 20,000 words long and maybe one day I'll be able to write a novel. One day. I don't want to attempt to describe what I am doing for various reasons. Not because I am shy about it, because I am proud of what I write and when I do get it out there I am told it is very good, but I cannot really find the words to accurately describe what I am trying to do. I'm honestly not entirely sure. I would have to say it is influenced by Modernist works such as Virginia Woolf who we studied in this last term and from before then I loved the way James Frey wrote 'A Million Little Pieces'. First person, very dense and sharp, short sentences. I wrote my last piece in first person and have decided to move away from one individual and, like in 'Mrs. Dalloway' write from a number of perspective. It has been going well, but as I mentioned I haven't looked at it for over a month and do far my word count is around 5,000. And we're already half way. Yikes!
So I will be reading 'Midnight's Children' for my Postmodernism course on the train to Glasgow and borrowing friends' computers to write as creatively as I can in between gigs and dinner and clubbing and lunch. So not quite a holiday, but the work is very enjoyable so I don't mind. Also, I am not sure about my Internet access in London so I may be down in blogging for a few days, but it is guaranteed that I will have a tonne of things to say as soon as I log on, especially if I have been for a few days in London without. Exciting. I know I have Internet access in Glasgow, although how often I will get a moment on my own...no excuses! It will happen!
As soon as I log off I am going to get my timetable for next term and then I must pack! One of my least favourite activities as in order to avoid taking a huge suitcase which will be very awkward when I have to carry it around on the tube in London, I must be very strict with my packing and only take things that I WILL wear. And I want to take my new boots so I need to find a couple of outfits that will go with them. When I pack lightly I basically have to pack around a select 2 or 3 pairs of shoes. I can only fit about 2 pairs in my case if I want to take a reasonable amount of clothes, for 10 days so a little choice is good, so I need to decide on the shoes and make sure everything I pack goes with them. For a pair of high heeled fake crocodile skinned emerald green boots with a gold cat brooch there isn't a wide selection. This only causes problems as the other 2 pairs I take will have to go with LOTS. So no trainers because I only really wear them with my scabby jeans. This means I cannot revert into lazy comfort mode at any point, but my black canvas boots with silver stars will have to do...just as long as it doesn't rain. Hmmm...I haven't quite thought this through. I think when it boils down to pretty over practical I always go for the pretty option. It's a city break though. It's not as if I am going to be trekking through valleys. Canvas boots will do fine.
And maybe if I forget my umbrella I can buy that cute Topshop one I was looking at...
That is all I am going to say on the matter.
Right. To move on and forget about it as I now have nothing to do. Well asides from all the reading and preparation and try to catch up on my creative project which I have almost forgotten about because of all these deadlines. So almost, nearly, not quite nothing to do. My creative project is exciting though, I'm just worried about getting back into the flow after being away from it for so long. For my third year we have to write something, anything, which is the equivalent of 20,000 words. One of my lecturers, the head of department, suggested I did a collection of short stories as that was something I was best at and when I cam forward with my idea he felt that it would be better as a collection of related storied as opposed to attempting a full 20,000 piece. I wanted, however, to do something that I haven't already done before and try to write something longer. Last year I wrote a piece that was over 8,000 words long and that was the longest thing I have written. I want to challenge myself to write something 20,000 words long and maybe one day I'll be able to write a novel. One day. I don't want to attempt to describe what I am doing for various reasons. Not because I am shy about it, because I am proud of what I write and when I do get it out there I am told it is very good, but I cannot really find the words to accurately describe what I am trying to do. I'm honestly not entirely sure. I would have to say it is influenced by Modernist works such as Virginia Woolf who we studied in this last term and from before then I loved the way James Frey wrote 'A Million Little Pieces'. First person, very dense and sharp, short sentences. I wrote my last piece in first person and have decided to move away from one individual and, like in 'Mrs. Dalloway' write from a number of perspective. It has been going well, but as I mentioned I haven't looked at it for over a month and do far my word count is around 5,000. And we're already half way. Yikes!
So I will be reading 'Midnight's Children' for my Postmodernism course on the train to Glasgow and borrowing friends' computers to write as creatively as I can in between gigs and dinner and clubbing and lunch. So not quite a holiday, but the work is very enjoyable so I don't mind. Also, I am not sure about my Internet access in London so I may be down in blogging for a few days, but it is guaranteed that I will have a tonne of things to say as soon as I log on, especially if I have been for a few days in London without. Exciting. I know I have Internet access in Glasgow, although how often I will get a moment on my own...no excuses! It will happen!
As soon as I log off I am going to get my timetable for next term and then I must pack! One of my least favourite activities as in order to avoid taking a huge suitcase which will be very awkward when I have to carry it around on the tube in London, I must be very strict with my packing and only take things that I WILL wear. And I want to take my new boots so I need to find a couple of outfits that will go with them. When I pack lightly I basically have to pack around a select 2 or 3 pairs of shoes. I can only fit about 2 pairs in my case if I want to take a reasonable amount of clothes, for 10 days so a little choice is good, so I need to decide on the shoes and make sure everything I pack goes with them. For a pair of high heeled fake crocodile skinned emerald green boots with a gold cat brooch there isn't a wide selection. This only causes problems as the other 2 pairs I take will have to go with LOTS. So no trainers because I only really wear them with my scabby jeans. This means I cannot revert into lazy comfort mode at any point, but my black canvas boots with silver stars will have to do...just as long as it doesn't rain. Hmmm...I haven't quite thought this through. I think when it boils down to pretty over practical I always go for the pretty option. It's a city break though. It's not as if I am going to be trekking through valleys. Canvas boots will do fine.
And maybe if I forget my umbrella I can buy that cute Topshop one I was looking at...
Wednesday, 16 January 2008
Finally - My Exam
I'm not going to go on yet another rant about how incredibly pointless this exam is. I'm not. I'm really going to try not to. Now it's just the waiting that's the problem. I've written the essay, memorised it quite successfully and now I just have to wake up at 8am tomorrow morning to write it down for them! Instead of hand it in all typed up and lovely. What has been keeping me very upbeat this week is after ordering a couple of things off the Internet, mainly books for my course but also those wonderful boots from EBay and some undies from Urban Outfitters. When they arrive it feels like it's my birthday as I get to madly unwrap a package and put it on my bookshelf, or perhaps my feet. Sometimes I get confused and try to read my shoe which is a little bit bizarre. Anyway I was flicking through this month's Company and, as I had read most of the article already I was back onto looking at the pictures. There is a system to reading magazines which I'm sure applies to a few people. First; flick through, glancing at every single article and only reading the silly or rude ones that don't have very many words and mostly have facts or pictures. Stop to look at the new clothes and make-up. Do the quiz.
The second reading; Read the articles that weren't originally interesting. Everything about a horrible experience or something attempting to prove a very serious point. Go through all the pictures of shoes and clothes and everything and ask your friends which one they would wear IF THEY HAD TO.
Third Reading; go through every line, every word printed. Basically.
Fourth: not so much of a reading. More just looking at pictures to avoid doing any real work.
The last is what I was doing. I was flicking through the pictures and I noticed that a lot of the clothes that had been selected for the shoot came from
.Urban Outfitters
There is usually a favourite shop each issue, whoever the stylist is bases their design on a particular collection, but I never think of Urban Outfitters. It is not a shop I really go to, knowing that it is quite expensive and when I did once go in America it was the same price but with a $ sign in front instead of a £ making it almost half. Excellent. And I think the clothes are fantastic. I bought some lovely dresses there and they have a nice selection of shoes and jewellery and everything you got in any high street store I suppose. The style has been predominately indie-art-student-quirky which I love, although I obviously think if anyone is really truly indie hardcore then they would probably only be shopping in charity shops and rummaging through bins. Regardless of this they make very very nice clothes. What particularly captured my attention were the pants. The large undies spread, no jokes please, was filled with ruffled pants and they all came from Urban Outfitters. I immediately went on and bought two pairs, as they are very over priced, and a little 'bralette'. I presume it is called 'bralette' as it can hardly be called a bra. It consists of barely any material and has no support of any kind. It doesn't even undo at the back, just slides over the head. It is a decoration, a little fancy, a 'bralette'. I love it. It is perfect for a girl with a very small chest, I can't imagine anyone blessed with large bosoms wearing it, and I fit the small chest category which in this case suits me fine.
So it was 'Happy Birthday' to me again today, but unfortunately tomorrow I have to wake up bright and early to spend an hour and a half writing out an essay I've written over and over again. This also means that I will have to start talking about something other than my evil exam. From tomorrow at 11am I will no longer have to think about anything other than packing to go away!
I'm sure it will make my blog much more interesting when I stop ranting about exams and calmly discuss something entirely different.
The second reading; Read the articles that weren't originally interesting. Everything about a horrible experience or something attempting to prove a very serious point. Go through all the pictures of shoes and clothes and everything and ask your friends which one they would wear IF THEY HAD TO.
Third Reading; go through every line, every word printed. Basically.
Fourth: not so much of a reading. More just looking at pictures to avoid doing any real work.
The last is what I was doing. I was flicking through the pictures and I noticed that a lot of the clothes that had been selected for the shoot came from
.Urban Outfitters
There is usually a favourite shop each issue, whoever the stylist is bases their design on a particular collection, but I never think of Urban Outfitters. It is not a shop I really go to, knowing that it is quite expensive and when I did once go in America it was the same price but with a $ sign in front instead of a £ making it almost half. Excellent. And I think the clothes are fantastic. I bought some lovely dresses there and they have a nice selection of shoes and jewellery and everything you got in any high street store I suppose. The style has been predominately indie-art-student-quirky which I love, although I obviously think if anyone is really truly indie hardcore then they would probably only be shopping in charity shops and rummaging through bins. Regardless of this they make very very nice clothes. What particularly captured my attention were the pants. The large undies spread, no jokes please, was filled with ruffled pants and they all came from Urban Outfitters. I immediately went on and bought two pairs, as they are very over priced, and a little 'bralette'. I presume it is called 'bralette' as it can hardly be called a bra. It consists of barely any material and has no support of any kind. It doesn't even undo at the back, just slides over the head. It is a decoration, a little fancy, a 'bralette'. I love it. It is perfect for a girl with a very small chest, I can't imagine anyone blessed with large bosoms wearing it, and I fit the small chest category which in this case suits me fine.
So it was 'Happy Birthday' to me again today, but unfortunately tomorrow I have to wake up bright and early to spend an hour and a half writing out an essay I've written over and over again. This also means that I will have to start talking about something other than my evil exam. From tomorrow at 11am I will no longer have to think about anything other than packing to go away!
I'm sure it will make my blog much more interesting when I stop ranting about exams and calmly discuss something entirely different.
Monday, 14 January 2008
On the slow road to freedom
I have completed my essay and I am now hobbling slowly down the road of memorising the key quotations and the general structure of the essay. What is the point? I may have said it before, but I will be forced to say it again; what is the point in a timed essay?!? A normal essay requires time and effort and an exam requires thinking on your feet, being able answer anything off the top of you head. What is the point in being given a choice of four questions and plenty of time to prepare a quality essay before then being asked to memorise it and write it down blind in an hour and a half. What is the point? I want to be able to find the language to express my annoyance, but until then I will have to make do with D'AH!!
On the bright side I woke up at 8am fully awake without the alarm clock having to painfully drag me out of bed so I had lots of time to do work.
On an even brighter and more sparkly side; my shoes from Ebay arrived today.
I am content.
On the bright side I woke up at 8am fully awake without the alarm clock having to painfully drag me out of bed so I had lots of time to do work.
On an even brighter and more sparkly side; my shoes from Ebay arrived today.
I am content.
Sunday, 13 January 2008
rain rain go away
Sunday evening and the rain has hit Carmarthen with a vengeance. I write this as if rain is something unusual for someone who is from Scotland and is now residing in Wales. Well of course it is not. Rain is something I am used to but it doesn't stop me, or anyone else from the sparkly Great Britain, complaining and moaning every time we return from a reluctant trip outside with our wet hair plastered to our foreheads, or frizzed up in random directions. I think this is justifiable. Rain requires grey, unless we're thinking of unusual summer warm pleasant rain or those glorious moments when we spot a rainbow, and grey has never lifted the spirits. Rain aggravates us. It sparks moaning which leads to misery which drifts into dreaming of a wonderful land where the sun always shines, which returns us again to a resigned defeat that we are stuck here for the present and do not have the means to travel to the land of sunshine and happiness.
For example, yesterday I made my way down to town to enjoy a tasty veggie burger and chips despite the light drizzle watering down the sunset. Company was good as was the food although I could not say the same for my friend who took one bite of his meaty burger and slipped off to the toilet for fear of vomiting over his chips. That's what drink does to you, I felt like saying, but as soon as I looked outside at the ever increasing rain fall and sunk deeper into the sofa my laziness, which can only be assigned to a hangover, took over and I knew I would have to fork out a couple of quid for a taxi home. So I wrapped myself up and began walking towards my house, which passes my friends, knowing I would soon come to the main square where, if I was ever going to get a taxi, that's where I would get one. As I reached the square I thought everything was lost, I couldn't see a taxi, but just then my friend pointed out one just sitting there. Waiting for me. I felt a small boost of energy and sighed with content at the thought of sitting in a warm, dry car that would take me to my front door. These thoughts all skipped through my head, but as soon as I reached it the taxi drove away. My fingertips brushed the handle, I felt so close to a dry warm seat, but it was taken away from me. I was livid. Of course, my friend found it hilarious and I have no doubt that if it was me I would also be laughing. But it wasn't me. I was so absolutely happy that I would not have to walk home and every profanity I could muster came hurling out of my mouth when I was faced with the grim fact I had to walk. Of course I was soaking when I got home spurring me to dream of lovely wet weather wear that I shall be adding to my 'to buy' list.
Number one has to be an umbrella. I do own a couple, but they are in tatters which may come as a surprise to no one.
This particular one can be found in Topshop . It reminds me of one I used to own which I snapped up on my travels in Japan and resembled a harajuku girl parasol. Unfortunately,when I was in my own world, as I often am, I walked underneath a car barrier as it was going down and it was trampled in a very Warner Bros way. The one I spotted in store was plain white, unlike this poppy one, but it has the same feel. The frills around the end and the old fashioned hooked handle give it a Victorian parasol feel, but protects from the rain which is handy. Another thing about the umbrella is it means you don't necessarily need a hat or a waterproof coat unless you're going trekking or the wind is against you. I am also not a huge fan of raincoats apart from once when I thought I would buy a Little Mermaid one from the Disney store because it was so cute and the flared sleeves and triangle cut intended for 11 year olds made a lovely 3/4 length sleeved baby doll coat, which of course I never wore. The next time I required a waterproof was for the dependably rainy festival season and a 'kag in a bag' which can be found at most outdoor stores such as millets, is ideal for such situations.
But, this brings me to my favourite and last years most fashionable wet weather item which is, of course, wellies. These can be found anywhere, its just finding them at a reasonable price for something that if you can only wear when it rains otherwise you do look a bit foolish. As long as they have a quirky pattern then its fine, like at funky wellies . The leopard print ones being an obvious favourite.
However, if you don't feel like braving the wet weather which is my own sensible choice, nothing to do with the fact I have lots of work to do, then I suggest finding out what's on the telly. Go to tv guide to find out what's on. Sunday night's a brilliant night for easy to watch Blockbuster films and Freeview is showing Men in Black, Ace Ventura and About A Boy. Then there's the newest mindnumbing telly like Big Brother: Celebrity Hijack which I'm sure many people have vowed not to watch and have become entangled. I have to admit that I will get excited if there is a good celebrity on, although so far only Russell Brand entertained me. Peaches Geldoff is incredibly annoying and Janet Street Porter...OK I'm not talking about Big Brother. That's the worst thing to do.
No. No TV tonight. Just hard work...of course.
For example, yesterday I made my way down to town to enjoy a tasty veggie burger and chips despite the light drizzle watering down the sunset. Company was good as was the food although I could not say the same for my friend who took one bite of his meaty burger and slipped off to the toilet for fear of vomiting over his chips. That's what drink does to you, I felt like saying, but as soon as I looked outside at the ever increasing rain fall and sunk deeper into the sofa my laziness, which can only be assigned to a hangover, took over and I knew I would have to fork out a couple of quid for a taxi home. So I wrapped myself up and began walking towards my house, which passes my friends, knowing I would soon come to the main square where, if I was ever going to get a taxi, that's where I would get one. As I reached the square I thought everything was lost, I couldn't see a taxi, but just then my friend pointed out one just sitting there. Waiting for me. I felt a small boost of energy and sighed with content at the thought of sitting in a warm, dry car that would take me to my front door. These thoughts all skipped through my head, but as soon as I reached it the taxi drove away. My fingertips brushed the handle, I felt so close to a dry warm seat, but it was taken away from me. I was livid. Of course, my friend found it hilarious and I have no doubt that if it was me I would also be laughing. But it wasn't me. I was so absolutely happy that I would not have to walk home and every profanity I could muster came hurling out of my mouth when I was faced with the grim fact I had to walk. Of course I was soaking when I got home spurring me to dream of lovely wet weather wear that I shall be adding to my 'to buy' list.
Number one has to be an umbrella. I do own a couple, but they are in tatters which may come as a surprise to no one.
This particular one can be found in Topshop . It reminds me of one I used to own which I snapped up on my travels in Japan and resembled a harajuku girl parasol. Unfortunately,when I was in my own world, as I often am, I walked underneath a car barrier as it was going down and it was trampled in a very Warner Bros way. The one I spotted in store was plain white, unlike this poppy one, but it has the same feel. The frills around the end and the old fashioned hooked handle give it a Victorian parasol feel, but protects from the rain which is handy. Another thing about the umbrella is it means you don't necessarily need a hat or a waterproof coat unless you're going trekking or the wind is against you. I am also not a huge fan of raincoats apart from once when I thought I would buy a Little Mermaid one from the Disney store because it was so cute and the flared sleeves and triangle cut intended for 11 year olds made a lovely 3/4 length sleeved baby doll coat, which of course I never wore. The next time I required a waterproof was for the dependably rainy festival season and a 'kag in a bag' which can be found at most outdoor stores such as millets, is ideal for such situations.But, this brings me to my favourite and last years most fashionable wet weather item which is, of course, wellies. These can be found anywhere, its just finding them at a reasonable price for something that if you can only wear when it rains otherwise you do look a bit foolish. As long as they have a quirky pattern then its fine, like at funky wellies . The leopard print ones being an obvious favourite.
However, if you don't feel like braving the wet weather which is my own sensible choice, nothing to do with the fact I have lots of work to do, then I suggest finding out what's on the telly. Go to tv guide to find out what's on. Sunday night's a brilliant night for easy to watch Blockbuster films and Freeview is showing Men in Black, Ace Ventura and About A Boy. Then there's the newest mindnumbing telly like Big Brother: Celebrity Hijack which I'm sure many people have vowed not to watch and have become entangled. I have to admit that I will get excited if there is a good celebrity on, although so far only Russell Brand entertained me. Peaches Geldoff is incredibly annoying and Janet Street Porter...OK I'm not talking about Big Brother. That's the worst thing to do.
No. No TV tonight. Just hard work...of course.
Saturday, 12 January 2008
celebration and back to work
My blog will be very short today for a few reasons. One is the darkening hangover clouding my brain which I have to clear if I want to do any work today. Yes, my deadline for many an essay was yesterday and I surprised myself by not only getting everything in without a panic, but finishing it early and getting it in with a feeling of absolute calm. However that isn't the end. I have an exam on Thursday for which I am not particularly prepared for. I, of course, went out to celebrate the end (nearly) last night with many people who had no deadlines at all or for them that deadline was their last. Beginning with a couple of pints at 2 in the afternoon is never a good sign, but I managed to keep my composure despite having lost my sobriety down the bottom of a beer bottle and ended up playing the confidant for many of my friends in not very serious, thankfully, relationship issues. I enjoyed myself despite the terrible music our student union plays, there is yet to be a quality club night in Carmarthen and I have toyed with the idea of starting my own on many occasions so maybe this year, along with all of the other things I want to do, I will make it happen. It can only be this year, so I should make it as great as I can. I wore the dress that I mentioned in a previous post with a waistcoat and flat boots because I didn't feel quite like wearing heels, I expected to be doing a lot more dancing. I am also far too excited about the shoes I won on eBay to think about wearing anything else and I am going over in my head about the various items of clothing I own that can accompany such splendid footwear and trying not to think about things I don't own that would go. Always a difficulty.
Another reason for this blog being short, my original intention yet at the rate I am going it looks like it will be the same length as all of the others, is that I am meeting my friend for a post drinking binge burger (veggie for me) and chips with a nice cold pint of coke and a necessary pint of water to make me feel slightly better about what I've been putting in my body.
I could have come down to my university computer rooms earlier today, but realistically that was never going to happen. Instead I spent my morning repairing my coat and my bag which were both barely held together by very loose threads until I launched at them with my needle and thread. My wonderfully warm Zara coat which must be reaching its third year was in ruins. The lining in the pocket and the right sleeve was in shreds. My Beatles bag is the perfect size for fitting everything I need and lots of things I don't in, but isn't too clumpy which I have never been a fan of. The inside lining again was torn, I swear I must unintentionally abuse everything I own, resulting in many losses of little hair clips and other random items until I realise I have to shove my hand in the lining, only worsening the wound, to retrieve them.
My last reason is that I have to get back to work. Despite drunken celebrations and procrastinating by sewing up things I'm sure could last a little longer, I am faced with the inevitable fact that I have a timed essay to prepare. Write it, memorise it, forget it as soon as the hour and a half is up. Pointless, but there we go. Not entirely sure what life skill this is teaching me, but it must be done.
On this negative note I will sign off with the promise that I will return with a lot more cheer even though the exam will be closer than it is now.
But first things first; I have to go for a burger.
Another reason for this blog being short, my original intention yet at the rate I am going it looks like it will be the same length as all of the others, is that I am meeting my friend for a post drinking binge burger (veggie for me) and chips with a nice cold pint of coke and a necessary pint of water to make me feel slightly better about what I've been putting in my body.
I could have come down to my university computer rooms earlier today, but realistically that was never going to happen. Instead I spent my morning repairing my coat and my bag which were both barely held together by very loose threads until I launched at them with my needle and thread. My wonderfully warm Zara coat which must be reaching its third year was in ruins. The lining in the pocket and the right sleeve was in shreds. My Beatles bag is the perfect size for fitting everything I need and lots of things I don't in, but isn't too clumpy which I have never been a fan of. The inside lining again was torn, I swear I must unintentionally abuse everything I own, resulting in many losses of little hair clips and other random items until I realise I have to shove my hand in the lining, only worsening the wound, to retrieve them.
My last reason is that I have to get back to work. Despite drunken celebrations and procrastinating by sewing up things I'm sure could last a little longer, I am faced with the inevitable fact that I have a timed essay to prepare. Write it, memorise it, forget it as soon as the hour and a half is up. Pointless, but there we go. Not entirely sure what life skill this is teaching me, but it must be done.
On this negative note I will sign off with the promise that I will return with a lot more cheer even though the exam will be closer than it is now.
But first things first; I have to go for a burger.
Thursday, 10 January 2008
The mystery of the disappearing loan
I have solved the not so difficult mystery of where my loan goes and why I end up with no money at the end of term. On the arrival of a nice sum of money into my bank account which brought my balance up to a plus figure – unseen in months – I immediately purchased tickets to London and then Glasgow. I managed to get a good deal, but it still exceeds more than I can truly afford if I want to be able to pay rent and bills. But, no this was not quite enough. 
I bid on a pair of shoes on ebay, my logic being that if I bought them in the shop they would have cost £99.99, but on ebay, slightly used but in pretty good nick they have cost me £54.95 including post and packaging. This pleases me. They are also absolutely GORGEOUS and I have wanted a pair of ankle boots for a long time. Again, I am just making excuses. This isn’t all though. Oh no, when I spend, I spend. I had already reserved a dress from dirty addiction. I have bought two dresses from her before. Her designs are eccentric and not particularly practical for everyday wear, but I fell in love with the first dress I bought from her.
Excuse the ridiculous pose, when I bought it she wanted a photo of me in it and it was the best, I felt at the time, I could come up with. I loved the tuxedo top and I also have a thing for tutus. I have managed to stop myself now, but unfortunately only because my attentions have moved on to dresses in general, a far more dangerous territory in terms of quantity as opposed to one expensive item. I have worn this dress on 3 occasions, all fancy dress, but I have always been given a compliment on it and I am pleased to know that I am wearing something that is one of a kind. The second dress I bought was intended for everyday wear, but although I gave her my measurements the stretch on the material made it far too big for me when I put it on. I tried to alter it, but there was something not quite right, and she does not do refunds. This, along with a growing number of other items, will be sold on my ebay account over the summer when I begin a mass clearout of my wardrobe. However, I reserved this dress because the design is co cute and quirky. Although I cannot post a picture of it until I get it, as it is one of a kind in terms of exact design and material, if you visit the website there is one very similar to it which might help you visualise it as I am sure my description will not. It is a strapless dress with a small block print of green frogs and pink hearts. It is very short, but I will wear it over tights and a top underneath as I am not a bare flesh girl. This might be self consciousness, but it is more than likely due to the fact that I live in a very cold country. What attracted me to this dress, however, was that she has designed it with a hood which comes up from cross straps on the front. It is incredibly cute and is now the second item I have bought with little body and a lovely hood detail. So, of course, when my loan came through the money went out and as soon as I send her my measurements, and she makes it a little smaller than those, it will be on its way!
I have vowed that these items will be the only items I buy this term, until the next instalment of my loan comes through in April. If I can stick to this is a different question all together and one which I will not try to answer. I have been so used to seeing DR printed after my bank balance that I’m not sure if I can cope with anything else. I won’t have to worry about this problem, however, as I am almost back in the comfort of DR already as my loan barely pulled me out of it. Once I’m in there it is merely a countdown until I hit my limit again.
I always buy a magazine before I get on the plane. The journey is only an hour long and I more often than not leave it on the plane when we arrive. This magazine cost me between £2 (if it’s reasonable) and £3.80 and there is nothing in there the interests me apart from flicking through the fashion photographs, and at the moment there is very little even there. Anyway, I read an article in Company by Alexa Chung who presents for T4, who was talking about how despite the fact she had so many clothes she never felt like she had anything to wear. I don’t feel like I have too many clothes, I think that is an almost impossible feeling for any owner of something they are passionate about, but I can relate to her on the second point. She wrote that although she would have things that would match she would always be desiring that particular kind of black scarf to go with this top as opposed to a black scarf she might have already. This is me exactly, and I have no doubt that I am not alone in this. I pick out a dress I have and wish I had these shoes to go with it, before I realise that I own ones so very similar. So I begrudgingly put them on, wishing I could only afford these dream pair of shoes. On the occasion when I buy them, I am filled with glee and put them on with this outfit. Then I never wear them again. The items I wear over and over are always the ones I least expect. The scabby denim skirt, the £3 second hand white beanie, the plain black long sleeved t shirt from h&m. Despite this, I don’t think the thrill of blowing a huge amount of money on something totally unique or totally fabulous or, if I’m lucky, both will ever pass. I just hope my wallet will stand by me as my faithful beanie has.
I bid on a pair of shoes on ebay, my logic being that if I bought them in the shop they would have cost £99.99, but on ebay, slightly used but in pretty good nick they have cost me £54.95 including post and packaging. This pleases me. They are also absolutely GORGEOUS and I have wanted a pair of ankle boots for a long time. Again, I am just making excuses. This isn’t all though. Oh no, when I spend, I spend. I had already reserved a dress from dirty addiction. I have bought two dresses from her before. Her designs are eccentric and not particularly practical for everyday wear, but I fell in love with the first dress I bought from her.
Excuse the ridiculous pose, when I bought it she wanted a photo of me in it and it was the best, I felt at the time, I could come up with. I loved the tuxedo top and I also have a thing for tutus. I have managed to stop myself now, but unfortunately only because my attentions have moved on to dresses in general, a far more dangerous territory in terms of quantity as opposed to one expensive item. I have worn this dress on 3 occasions, all fancy dress, but I have always been given a compliment on it and I am pleased to know that I am wearing something that is one of a kind. The second dress I bought was intended for everyday wear, but although I gave her my measurements the stretch on the material made it far too big for me when I put it on. I tried to alter it, but there was something not quite right, and she does not do refunds. This, along with a growing number of other items, will be sold on my ebay account over the summer when I begin a mass clearout of my wardrobe. However, I reserved this dress because the design is co cute and quirky. Although I cannot post a picture of it until I get it, as it is one of a kind in terms of exact design and material, if you visit the website there is one very similar to it which might help you visualise it as I am sure my description will not. It is a strapless dress with a small block print of green frogs and pink hearts. It is very short, but I will wear it over tights and a top underneath as I am not a bare flesh girl. This might be self consciousness, but it is more than likely due to the fact that I live in a very cold country. What attracted me to this dress, however, was that she has designed it with a hood which comes up from cross straps on the front. It is incredibly cute and is now the second item I have bought with little body and a lovely hood detail. So, of course, when my loan came through the money went out and as soon as I send her my measurements, and she makes it a little smaller than those, it will be on its way!I have vowed that these items will be the only items I buy this term, until the next instalment of my loan comes through in April. If I can stick to this is a different question all together and one which I will not try to answer. I have been so used to seeing DR printed after my bank balance that I’m not sure if I can cope with anything else. I won’t have to worry about this problem, however, as I am almost back in the comfort of DR already as my loan barely pulled me out of it. Once I’m in there it is merely a countdown until I hit my limit again.
I always buy a magazine before I get on the plane. The journey is only an hour long and I more often than not leave it on the plane when we arrive. This magazine cost me between £2 (if it’s reasonable) and £3.80 and there is nothing in there the interests me apart from flicking through the fashion photographs, and at the moment there is very little even there. Anyway, I read an article in Company by Alexa Chung who presents for T4, who was talking about how despite the fact she had so many clothes she never felt like she had anything to wear. I don’t feel like I have too many clothes, I think that is an almost impossible feeling for any owner of something they are passionate about, but I can relate to her on the second point. She wrote that although she would have things that would match she would always be desiring that particular kind of black scarf to go with this top as opposed to a black scarf she might have already. This is me exactly, and I have no doubt that I am not alone in this. I pick out a dress I have and wish I had these shoes to go with it, before I realise that I own ones so very similar. So I begrudgingly put them on, wishing I could only afford these dream pair of shoes. On the occasion when I buy them, I am filled with glee and put them on with this outfit. Then I never wear them again. The items I wear over and over are always the ones I least expect. The scabby denim skirt, the £3 second hand white beanie, the plain black long sleeved t shirt from h&m. Despite this, I don’t think the thrill of blowing a huge amount of money on something totally unique or totally fabulous or, if I’m lucky, both will ever pass. I just hope my wallet will stand by me as my faithful beanie has.
Wednesday, 9 January 2008
Carmarthen
A new year marking a change in my life; a move out of education. I took a year out before I went to university, travelling around the world with The Puppet Lab performing a shadow puppet adaptation of The Tempest. This was an unforgettable experience and something which was essential for me in order to return to education with any excitement, asides from the actual travelling itself which would take a lot longer than one blog to describe. I did keep a blog while I was going to all of these countries, which was on the website linked above, although I only think I have hardcopies of it now. Maybe I will write about my experiences one day. It is something I often think about, but never feel like I could do, and I know that one day I’ll wake up with a powerful urge to write everything down. However, although I was away from home, Edinburgh, for eight months I was in education the year I left and returned to it the next year. Although I begin this year in education I will be leaving indefinitely in six months. Dropping into something completely new and, although frightening, incredibly exciting.
Until then I have to attempt to graduate with the best qualifications I can achieve. This is where the most stress I feel will come from. Not from the lecturers, nor from my parents or friends or anyone, but from myself. I am constantly worrying about whether or not I am doing my best, if I’m working as hard as I can be. The answer is sometimes ‘no’ which makes me very annoyed, so I have become more and more motivated in this first week of January and have all intentions to continue. This blog is enabling me to strengthen my motivation as I began with the intention of writing it every other day. So far I have written it everyday, except for yesterday as I was travelling down here, to Carmarthen, all day. This is the problem. Not travelling, but Carmarthen. At my parents home in Edinburgh I have easy access to the internet. Here it is not so simple. However, I am not going to let that idea, really only an excuse my laziness tells me, stop me from writing, if not every day, every other day. Once I have something to aim for I will find it a lot easier and a lot more enjoyable to do all of the other uni things I have to do. The hardest thing about motivation is when I am lying around doing nothing and I have to bring myself to do something. Once I start it’s easy. It’s the starting that’s difficult.
Carmarthen also presents a problem in the form of a small town providing little in the way of entertainment. Edinburgh is hardly London, but in comparison to this small South West Wales town, there is a never ending choice of ways to amuse myself. Again, I am going to have to find something to talk about and make it interesting. Discover the hubbub of Carmarthen; the rural ‘scene’. On my ‘Hitlist’ this month, at number one, is ‘Sweeney Todd'. I believe it comes out on general release on the 25th January and I intend to be straight there.I thought the bbc adaptation starring Ray Winstone was fantastic and I am looking forward to seeing it with a different edge on the big screen. It combines my love of Johnny Depp, Tim Burton’s magnificent Gothic style and, perhaps best of all, the music of Stephen Sondheim. I have never actually seen his musical, but being a musical lover I have, of course, heard the original West End Soundtrack of which my mum has a copy on record. It is brilliant. I saw one fantastic modern musical in 2007, ‘Across the Universe’, which was a Beatles musical. I read some poor to moderate reviews of it, but in my opinion it was wonderful. Julie Taymor is a brilliant director, it has Eddie Izzard in it, the surreal colourful imagery was beautiful, it features Bread & Puppet and the music was The Beatles! If that isn’t enough then I don’t know what it. This, along with ‘Moulin Rouge’ has to be one of my favourite modern musicals. They aren’t so popular these days, but with the release of these two and ‘Hairspray’ and now ‘Sweeney Todd’ this may be an injection of life into the 2008 cinema experience. I can only hope. I am leaving out ‘Hedwig and the Angry Inch’ which is a modern rock musical and one of my favourite films, but it is sadly not recognised by far too many people. I am aware that a high majority have no interest in seeing it, but I also know that everyone I have showed it to like it. A lot. I just had to advertise it briefly there. It’s brilliant. It almost makes me want to be a drag queen.
So ‘Sweeney Todd’ is something I must see. I am going to be cheating a little bit as I am heading off to London for a few days and then up to Glasgow for my boyfriend’s birthday. This will take up about 10 days in total and I’m sure it will be very eventful. I know already that my cousin in London is taking me to the pub she works at in Kentish Town and we will be ending the night in the Underworld which will be a blast from the past! It will be hilarious. I can already picture both of us dancing and singing very loudly in the centre of the dance floor. I’ll be in Glasgow for Burns night, although I don’t know if we will be celebrating it. I might have to encourage some poetry and (veggie) haggis with a dram of whisky. The night after, the 26th, we are going to see the Peatbog Faeries who I saw at Belladrum Festival last year. The are, as best I can describe, Celtic pipe music with a fast punk beat. Very energetic and an exhilarating experience. On his actual birthday, the 28th, we are going to see Seasick Steve. All I know about him is he played at Connect Festival,its first year last year, and I met him. He had a long grey-white beard and wore dungarees. I can’t say anything more. I have a feeling he will be enjoyed for providing a novelty experience, but I am willing to stand corrected. That is the end of January. Until then I need to delve deeper and discover what Carmarthen has to offer.
Until then I have to attempt to graduate with the best qualifications I can achieve. This is where the most stress I feel will come from. Not from the lecturers, nor from my parents or friends or anyone, but from myself. I am constantly worrying about whether or not I am doing my best, if I’m working as hard as I can be. The answer is sometimes ‘no’ which makes me very annoyed, so I have become more and more motivated in this first week of January and have all intentions to continue. This blog is enabling me to strengthen my motivation as I began with the intention of writing it every other day. So far I have written it everyday, except for yesterday as I was travelling down here, to Carmarthen, all day. This is the problem. Not travelling, but Carmarthen. At my parents home in Edinburgh I have easy access to the internet. Here it is not so simple. However, I am not going to let that idea, really only an excuse my laziness tells me, stop me from writing, if not every day, every other day. Once I have something to aim for I will find it a lot easier and a lot more enjoyable to do all of the other uni things I have to do. The hardest thing about motivation is when I am lying around doing nothing and I have to bring myself to do something. Once I start it’s easy. It’s the starting that’s difficult.
Carmarthen also presents a problem in the form of a small town providing little in the way of entertainment. Edinburgh is hardly London, but in comparison to this small South West Wales town, there is a never ending choice of ways to amuse myself. Again, I am going to have to find something to talk about and make it interesting. Discover the hubbub of Carmarthen; the rural ‘scene’. On my ‘Hitlist’ this month, at number one, is ‘Sweeney Todd'. I believe it comes out on general release on the 25th January and I intend to be straight there.I thought the bbc adaptation starring Ray Winstone was fantastic and I am looking forward to seeing it with a different edge on the big screen. It combines my love of Johnny Depp, Tim Burton’s magnificent Gothic style and, perhaps best of all, the music of Stephen Sondheim. I have never actually seen his musical, but being a musical lover I have, of course, heard the original West End Soundtrack of which my mum has a copy on record. It is brilliant. I saw one fantastic modern musical in 2007, ‘Across the Universe’, which was a Beatles musical. I read some poor to moderate reviews of it, but in my opinion it was wonderful. Julie Taymor is a brilliant director, it has Eddie Izzard in it, the surreal colourful imagery was beautiful, it features Bread & Puppet and the music was The Beatles! If that isn’t enough then I don’t know what it. This, along with ‘Moulin Rouge’ has to be one of my favourite modern musicals. They aren’t so popular these days, but with the release of these two and ‘Hairspray’ and now ‘Sweeney Todd’ this may be an injection of life into the 2008 cinema experience. I can only hope. I am leaving out ‘Hedwig and the Angry Inch’ which is a modern rock musical and one of my favourite films, but it is sadly not recognised by far too many people. I am aware that a high majority have no interest in seeing it, but I also know that everyone I have showed it to like it. A lot. I just had to advertise it briefly there. It’s brilliant. It almost makes me want to be a drag queen.
So ‘Sweeney Todd’ is something I must see. I am going to be cheating a little bit as I am heading off to London for a few days and then up to Glasgow for my boyfriend’s birthday. This will take up about 10 days in total and I’m sure it will be very eventful. I know already that my cousin in London is taking me to the pub she works at in Kentish Town and we will be ending the night in the Underworld which will be a blast from the past! It will be hilarious. I can already picture both of us dancing and singing very loudly in the centre of the dance floor. I’ll be in Glasgow for Burns night, although I don’t know if we will be celebrating it. I might have to encourage some poetry and (veggie) haggis with a dram of whisky. The night after, the 26th, we are going to see the Peatbog Faeries who I saw at Belladrum Festival last year. The are, as best I can describe, Celtic pipe music with a fast punk beat. Very energetic and an exhilarating experience. On his actual birthday, the 28th, we are going to see Seasick Steve. All I know about him is he played at Connect Festival,its first year last year, and I met him. He had a long grey-white beard and wore dungarees. I can’t say anything more. I have a feeling he will be enjoyed for providing a novelty experience, but I am willing to stand corrected. That is the end of January. Until then I need to delve deeper and discover what Carmarthen has to offer.
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