A year on...

I've spent all afternoon curled up on the sofa reading a range of blogs and then decided it would be a good time to look back at mine. I think it deserves an update...


A year ago, as I finished uni and had to enter the big wide world of work and other adult things, my main concern was being able to support myself financially. It turns out that I needn't have worried too much, as it took me just 3 weeks to find a job (even one in law) and a week Tuesday will mark a whole year since I became a paralegal.

Days spent wandering into uni at any hour, watching TV and discovering the latest bands have become days of drafting transfer deeds and dealing with mortgage lenders. It's fair to say my life now is totally different, but it's pretty much what I expected working life would be.Fun has to be fitted in around housework and sadly, music has very much taken a back seat.

There are new exciting things even a year on though. I've just booked a badminton class with the boyfriend for tomorrow evening so he'll be seeing just how bad I am for the first time. Although I'm appalling at it, I'm really looking forward to giving it a go. I also have a house (albeit rented) that I can fill with things I like. Just yesterday I went shopping and found a photo frame.

The next project will be to take and find enough decent pictures to fill it. I thought it was a bargain for £6. Once I've done that, I intend to find a craft-type project to do. Everyone knows I'm not good at art and am useless with fashion so I've no idea what it'll be or when it'll happen, but I'd like to have something I can aim to complete.

Will I have completed either project by the time I get around to posting again? When will that even be? I've no idea.


Socks: One pale pink with dark pink edging, one black with red spots

The beginning or the end?

I've been wanting to start writing this again for a few months now but I've been so busy with studying for my LPC elective exams that I've just not had chance. Today seems like a good day to do it though.

Today is officially my last day in education. It's the beginning of the rest of my life.

Although I actually finished exams last Wednesday, today is the last day of student discount and the day that my course officially ends. Although I've had a job before, it's only ever been part time so this is where it all changes. Since I started full time education on 16th September 1992 I've learnt and changed so much. On my 5th birthday I could count and read. Now I have 9 1/2 GCSEs, a GNVQ, 2 AS levels, 3 A levels, a law degree and by the end of the year I will have graduated for the second time and received my Postgraduate Diploma. I'm proud of what I've achieved. It's not been easy, but I've survived education, had some amazing times, met some brilliant people and I'm out the other side.

So what next?

Well to start off, this morning I made a claim to go on the dole. Not exactly what I've ever wanted, but if I'm entitled to some money I'm sure as hell going to claim it. I'd be stupid not to. I thoroughly confused the people at the job centre when I told them that I'm moving back home this week and therefore wouldn't actually be signing on in Cardiff, but the person I spoke to last week told me to claim ASAP anyway so tough. Once my claim is processed I'll be taking my place in the most joyous of British institutions, the fortnightly dole queue. It'll never be something to look forward to, but necessary for now.

Although I originally wanted to work in law, I've really enjoyed the financial side of the LPC. I scored 94% in Solicitors' Accounts and got one of the highest marks in the year (of 160). Maybe I always should have gone for a career in accountancy, but I'll never know. I've been doing some research into it and I think it'll suit me. I went to the Careers Centre at uni today for a quick CV check and ended up seeing the business school specialist by accident. She was brilliant and gave me a load of accountancy based leaflets while I was there. She loved my CV too, which was a pleasant surprise. I guess I'm just too hard on myself. I've not ruled out law at all, but law and accountancy are both horribly competitive areas to start a career in. I'm going to apply for both and see what comes up first. I'm just widening my options really. Seeing an accountancy specialist today did help though. She seems to think that accountancy firms would actually really like me. Apparently they love law graduates, plus doing the LPC means that I have experience in bookkeeping, tax, the Financial Services Authority, money laundering and client care. She said that based upon my CV I should apply for the schemes that require a 2:1 even though I got a 2:2, because I have extenuating circumstances and to add to that I have a lot of experience that might just give me the edge against others. I came out of that feeling quite positive.

I hate describing myself as unemployed, and want a job sooner rather than later so I'm pleased that I have a decent idea of what I'm aiming for, but in reality I have pretty much the world open to me now. I could end up anywhere, doing anything and it's really really scary.

Scary, but so so exciting.

Music: The Killers - Mr Brightside
Socks: One blue, one red.

Madness

I've really neglected this. It's been absolutely months since I last made an update. I had very little worth writing. My mind has been in a million places, and able to concentrate on nothing. I've had so much that I've wanted to do, and despite being insanely busy I've achieved virtually nothing. I've had some big losses, yet gained in other ways. My biggest loss is definitely the fact that my Gran died 3 weeks ago, but somehow I think I've gained from that too. Unlike the rest of my family I couldn't be there when she died and have felt really horrible about it, but I'll always know she was proud of me. For being the first in our family to go to uni, for having a dream, for facing some of the things I have overcome, for everything I've ever done. For being me, just because she was, and always will be, my Gran. It's taught me quite a bit though. I now know who I can depend on and who means most to me. Actually, thinking about it, of all the reasons I could have had for not being with her when she died, I'm quite glad it was something she was proud of me for.

I've got just 3 weeks of lectures left before Graduation and I'm seriously scared. I don't have a clue what I'll be doing in a few months time yet, and although I've got some big decisions to make, my future, for now, partly lies in someone else's hands while I wait to see if I've got any offers for next year. I should know in about 2 weeks time.

Things in the more recent future are getting insane. I've now got 2 dance classes a week, with extra rehearsals in the lead up to the show. I'm also modelling in a fashion show on Thursday (EEK!), going to the Networking Dinner on Friday, AU dinner on the 16th and my Dad's wedding on the 26th. Some time before then I've got to find outfits, sort out lecture notes, study for seminars, start coursework etc. It's getting stupid. There's a chance I'm going on holiday on the 27th and I'm going to need it.

I'll miss uni so much when it's over though.

Music: Kyte - Eyes Lose Their Fire ♥
Socks: One orange & stripy, one blue with a teddy sewn on

The Joys of Wii Ownership

This man talks sense

All I want is to be able to play on my lovely new Wii! Without a new remote, I can't get the TV into AV mode. I bought a new one, and unsurprisingly it's going straight back

Music: Kings of Leon - Revelry
Socks: None today :)

Old Things and New Things

Since the bank holiday weekend I've been pretty busy. A large-ish part of that time I've been at home. As much as the place usually bores me to tears, and isn't a patch on being here in Wales, it actually wasn't all that bad. It involved a fair few nights out which helped. Sitting on my own during the day wasn't overly fun, but I was busier than I thought I'd be. It seems like people at home are part of a completely separate life that I've moved on from, but it was still nice to see everyone.

I got back on the day before my 21st birthday. My birthday was one of the best days I've ever had. It was great to have the time to sit about and do very little, whilst being spoilt. It was a shame that my hair had flattened quite a lot by the end of the day but it was still amazing. Getting to spend the day with my best friend, being looked after and doing something I've wanted to for years was a fab way to spend my birthday. I love the makeup I had done. The difference the foundation alone made was great. If I wasn't skint by now I'd have bought it. The best bit of the day, however, was having my photo taken. They've come out really well and I can't wait for them to arrive on CD soon. I'll be showing them to everyone.
My birthday night out was pretty great too. I was really pleased that so many people came out with me. It was a fairly tame night, but having had my hair and makeup done, and wearing my favourite dress made all the difference. It was one of the best nights out I've had in a long time. It was a special night out with special people. Being able to walk home along the beach was a perfect way to end it. It's fairly safe to say I was really happy by the time I got home.

Now I'm about to start my final (hopefully) year of uni. I still can't believe that so much has happened in the past 2 years, and yet in just 10 months it'll all be over. In some ways I can't wait for the end because it'll be the start of something else new, but at the same time I'll have to leave behind what I have. For now though, I'm going to make the most of it and fight the whole way to pass the year well enough.

Music: Johnny Foreigner - Sofacore
Socks: Pink and blue with rainbows.

This Weekend

The plan for the last year was to spend this weekend sleeping on the floor in a tent, spending most nights in something that resembles a war zone and generally turning into a dirty festival goer at none other than the quite frankly fantastic Reading Festival. I'm now typing this from the comfort of my bed in rather wet Wales. The big glaringly obvious difference is that I'm not in a tent, I'm not in Reading and I'm not at a festival. This is down to a number of reasons, but mainly the fact that I'd have missed a whole day's worth of music due to a particularly evil exam I had yesterday (which, by the way, I'm fairly convinced I failed due to a migraine). Money also had a small part to play in this but if I hadn't had the exam I'd have put up with that.

Bands I'm missing that I was planning on seeing:
Day 1 - Blood Red Shoes, byoP, Florence and the Machine, Biffy Clyro, Ida Maria, Friendly Fires, MGMT, Vampire Weekend, The Wombats, Rage Against The Machine
Day 2 - Collapsing Cities, The Subways, Mystery Jets, Los Campesinos!, Editors, Justice, Bloc Party, Manics (Clash of the festival for me, I'd be so tempted to see The Killers instead, but have a feeling I'd have been dragged to see the Manics. Not that I'd have complained)
Day 3 - Adam Green, Holy Fuck, Johnny Foreigner, Lethal Bizzle, Pendulum, Tenacious D, Wiley, The Cribs

When I realised I'd definitely have to miss Friday, most people reacted by saying something along the lines of "Oh well, at least it's the weak day". Not for me it wasn't. Bands I love, plus no clashes. Saturday was the 'bands I like and a few I love' day, but with a few clashes, and Sunday was, to be honest, fairly meh-some. A catastrophic clash between Holy Fuck and JoFo, nothing much worth seeing for 2 hours, and everyone seemingly bumming headliners I have no interest in whatsoever.

Actually putting it like that, it's probably just as well I ended up not going. I'm feeling a bit better about not being there. I'm missing some bands I'd love to see live, but of the 26 I'd have planned on seeing at least some of, I've seen 10/11 and will be seeing another in a few weeks.

At least I'll be buying next year's ticket on Tuesday :D

Music: Friendly Fires - Paris
Socks: I'm not wearing any :P

Just Me

I set myself a challenge. It was inspired by the quiz about me I made on Facebook, which in turn was inspired by a conversation about how everyone is different and that we should embrace our differences. I didn't have any particular time scale in which it needed to be completed; just setting myself the challenge of doing it, and well enough, will do.

So... here's a list of things about me. 100 things to be precise.

1. I was born at Princess Margaret Hospital, Swindon on 16th September 1987, at teatime.
2. I was born 2 weeks late when I was forced out by modern medicine, and its often said that I've been late ever since.
3. At 9 months old I got a virus and died. You won't get rid of me that easily though.
4. I learnt to read 4 months after I learnt to walk.
   
5. I didn't walk until I was 14 months old.
6. My earliest memory is sitting on the floor in the living room reading the Argos catalogue when my Mum walks in. This was when she was pregnant with Adam, so I must have been 2 at the time.
7. My first full day at school was my 5th birthday. My teacher didn't know what to do with a 5 year old who could read pretty well already and didn't believe me. I kicked her, then finished a novel by the end of my first term. That showed her.
8. I used to be clever. Now I'm struggling.
9. I did French lessons for 7 years. I can't remember quite a bit of it, which is a shame because I'd quite like to be fluent in another language. I could still get by if I needed to though.
10. I was seriously bullied almost as soon as I started school. This continued from various people to various degrees right until I left college. It kinda screwed me up. "Kinda" is an understatement.
11. I have a GNVQ Part One in ICT, just because I thought it would be fun to do in my spare time. I later found out that it was a total waste of time and most of it had more to do with English than anything to do with computers.
12. I did less GCSEs than most people. My school was strange. I still got enough As to do what I wanted at college, despite having less chances than most.
    
13. I have 3 A Levels in Maths, English Lit and Geography, with AS Levels in Drama and Tudor History. My degree has nothing to do with any of this.
14. While I was at school I had 2 years of Keyboard lessons. I can't play very well anymore, because I've always been useless at reading music, but I try. Apparently I have a musical brain, but can't read music fast enough to play it. Once I learn something I'm quite good at it. I play my keyboard most days.
    
15. The first album I ever bought was (What's The Story) Morning Glory by Oasis. I bought it as soon as it came out with money I'd saved from my birthday. It was on cassette.
16. I can't remember what the first single I bought was. I'm not sure why this is.
17. The first CD I bought was Everybody Get Up by Five. It was from Gatwick Airport 2 days after I got my first CD player for my 11th birthday, and I was on my way to Minorca on my first foreign holiday.
    
18. I've always loved music, from a really young age. My blog picture kinda shows this.
19. I think a lot of people take music way too seriously.
    
20. I saw Steps at Wembley Arena, but the first gig I went to was The Subways at Bristol Academy just before my 19th Birthday. It is stupidly hard to go to gigs for people living in Swindon.
    
21. I'd never been to a festival until Reading 07, but had been desperate to go for years before that. It was one of the best weekends of my life and I have my 2008 ticket. I don't mind who's playing; I'll find something. Despite issues with my resit being on the Friday afternoon, I'm very tempted to still go.
    
22. The first flight I went on was just before I turned 4, when I went to Jersey for the day with my parents, leaving my 11 month old brother behind. As we landed on our way home, I threw up all over the plane... on its first ever passenger flight. Oops.
    
23. I've been to France, 2 of the Balearic Islands and Tunisia.
24. I love travelling to new places in the UK, especially if they are on gig related trips.
    
25. My old passport has 2 stamps in; To and from Tunisia.
26. I don't have a passport anymore.
    
27. Watching the sun rise over the Sahara desert, a 4x4 ride across sand dunes and a camel ride made my week in Tunisia unforgettable.
28. I haven't been on a proper holiday in 6 years.
    
29. The 10 days I spent in Northern France were horrible. I DO NOT want to go back...EVER.
30. I plan to go to Melbourne once I finish my degree with my best friend, but the place I really want to go to is Iceland. Australia, Canada and USA come pretty close behind Iceland though.
31. I'd quite happily swap a foreign holiday for a spa break, and have a load of relaxing beauty treatments instead.
    
32. Due to my horrible reaction to strong UV rays thanks to PLE, I don't like sun all that much. When I go to Melbourne I'll get 3 winters in a row, and no Summer.
33. I had braces, but since found out that I've got something stupidly rare that means I never should have had one. It caused all of the problems I've had with my jaw.
34. I have weak ligaments in my jaw, something (the hospital have never found out what) wrong with my sinuses (I permanently feel like I have a cold), a perforated septum, weak knees, a weak shoulder (from having it in spasm for 3 weeks), eczema and asthma, and am prone to stress, depression and migraines. I've probably missed something. Oh, and the PLE I've already mentioned.
    
35. I dislocated my shoulder while watching Klaxons live. I did it on a Sunday night and didn't know until I had to go to hospital on the following Friday and the doctor accidentally put it back in...without anaesthetic. It was worth it to see Klaxons, CSS, The Sunshine Underground and New Young Pony Club together.
36. I'm fairly accident prone.
    
37. I've never had stitches. God knows how I'd react if I had to.
    
38. I have had 1 operation. It was 6th October (my mum's birthday) 2004. I was NOT a good patient. To say I was scared would be an understatement. I had no side effects from the anaesthetic whatsoever, and came out feeling much better than when I went into the hospital 6 hours earlier.
39. I reacted so badly when my ENT (Ear, Nose and Throat) consultant told me that he wanted to operate that I now have the words "PAIN/NEEDLE PHOBIA" scrawled across the top of my hospital records. They sent a letter to my GP too.
40. I signed up for a college trip to Tunisia without realising that I'd need 4 injections. If I'd known I never would have signed up but I'm glad I did because it forced me to face my biggest fear.
    
41. I am very slightly short sighted and due to that I think I have the coolest glasses in the world. They're blue and schmexy with grey reactions lenses. I don't have to wear them very often though.
42. I have one brother and no cousins. I don't find the lack of people my age in my family strange, because it's all I've ever known.
43. My parents split just before I turned 16 and their divorce was finalised the day I had my operation. I'm glad it over. I get on with both of them much better now.
44. Next year my Dad is getting remarried (apparently) and I'll inherit an older stepbrother and a younger stepsister. Despite my Dad living with them for the past 4 1/2 years, I've never met either of them.
    
45. I've had 2 jobs. The first was as an assistant in a pharmacy after school for 2 years, then I was an Argos minion for 2 years at weekends. I think this is quite interesting (see 5). I somehow managed to pass a group interview the day after having a general anaesthetic. I felt fine but don't remember doing it so I must have been out of it. God only knows what I said/did. I was one of 4/40 to be offered a job though.
    
46. I haven't worked since the day before my first gig. Getting a job during the holidays isn't as easy as it may seem, especially in a town with no university and therefore no students who need to be replaced over the holidays.
    
47. I decided that I wanted to be a solicitor when I was 9. This is why I'm doing a law degree. To be honest, I'd rather work in music. I still want to be a solicitor, but I want to work in music more. I'm still aiming to be a solicitor, whether I really want to be one or not. The chances of it happening are getting smaller by the day.
48. This woman has my dream job.
    
49. I am not confident in the slightest. I always have this feeling that people don't actually want to talk to me, but that they just put up with me being around because they don't have any other choice (see 11). This is the reason that I don't start conversations very often, but am fine once I'm having one.
50. I have totally changed since I started uni. I put this down to finally escaping the place I announced I wanted to leave aged 11, leaving behind the bad memories, finally getting the independence I've wanted for years, leaving behind the people who made my life a misery on a daily basis and making the best friends I've ever had. I owe a lot to my friends at uni.
51. I am definitely a city girl. Why I ended up in Swansea is beyond me. Although its a city, it doesn't feel enough like one. Once I've finished my degree, I have a feeling I'll either go to Cardiff or back to England to do an LPC. I know I won't be going back to Swindon and I doubt I'll stay here.
52. The thing I like most about where I live at the moment is the beach. Swindon is about as far as you can get from a beach, so it's a real novelty to be walking on the sand within 2 mins of leaving my front door. Spending the evening on the beach with cider, a fire and my night frisbee is one of my favourite things to do.
53. The thing I like least about where I live is the constant going on about Rugby. It seems that you can't spend 10 mins in Wales without having Rugby rammed in your face. I do not enjoy Rugby at all. I didn't learn about it at school because the teachers realised that trying to teach it to 30 girls who would much rather play Football or Basketball was pointless. Football > Rugby. I once went to a uni rugby match and spent the whole time looking over the pitch watching football instead. This is one of the main reasons that I want to go back to England once I've finished uni.
    
54. I am horribly jealous of anyone brought up in London. Anywhere with a decent enough music scene would be OK, but especially London.
55. I've been surfing a few times and really enjoyed it. The problem I have is that I'm too much of a wimp to go in the sea when its freezing cold, so I only surf in nice weather. If I lived somewhere with nice weather and a higher sea temperature I'd go all year round and properly try.
56. I'd quite like to try snowboarding too. Seeing as I'm useless at sport, have no balance and it took me 3 months to learn to ride a bike, I don't think I'd be very good at it though. I'd be the one watching from the side with a sling or crutches after my latest accident.
57. I don't like taking part in sport very much, but I like watching football. I support Swindon Town FC, but I don't get to see them play very often. Usually I have to keep track of games and progress online. I grew up spending most weekends watching my brother playing for about 6 years, then watched him every now and again for another 3 or 4.
58. I can hardly swim. I once managed 50m but I was about 11. Due to the asthma, I just can't breathe well enough. I probably should swim more because it would be good for me and its apparently easier for asthmatics to swim than do most other forms of exercise. It doesn't help that I haven't been swimming much for over 2 1/2 years and hadn't been for 2 years before that.
    
59. I have awful balance. It took me 3 months of constant practice to be able to ride a bike. I was horribly jealous when my brother picked up a bike and rode it with no practice a year before I could do it.
    
60. My favourite food is Fox's Classic Bars. I quite often get through 8 in a week, but that's because I usually limit myself to a pack a week. I could very happily eat a pack a day.
61. Given the choice, I'd have doritos over regular crisps. I love all 3 flavours, but think Cool Original just edges it at the top.
    
62. I HATE milk, yet love milkshake. Once the flavour is covered up, preferably with Camp Coffee, its all good. I love the places that have now appeared all over the place that make milkshake out of strange things, like Shakeaway. If anyone would like to donate one I'll have either a Tim or Ben. YUM!
63. I love Orange Juice. I'm quite strange because I don't like freshly squeezed as much as I like concentrate. I can quite easily drink a carton of Sainsbury's Basics juice (my favourite) in one go. I prefer it to their more expensive version.
    
64. I don't like red meat at all. I'd be vegetarian if it wasn't such a hassle, and I didn't love Roast Chicken dinners so much.
65. I've never liked tea much, and if I ever drink it I'll have it black. I've recently discovered that a light cup of Darjeeling is quite nice though. Despite not liking hot tea, I love Iced Tea. Yes, I'm odd.
    
66. I seem to be in the minority who don't like berries and never have. Strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, gooseberries, redcurrants, blackcurrants... Just yuk.
67. When I come home from uni my Mum always asks what I want for my first meal back. It is always Roast Chicken. I wonder why she bothers asking sometimes.
68. Despite my near vegetarianism, it's not anything to do with cruelty to animals etc. I hate animals. Fish are OK, but I've never liked the rest, EVER. Don't ask me to choose between dogs or cats. I equally hate both.
69. If I have pets in the future, although I don't really plan to, it will be a tank of Neon Tetras because they're tiny, yet look powerful because they're so bright.
    
70. My bedroom is usually messy. I hate having a tidy bedroom because to me it looks clinical and un-lived in.
71. I think that the Tweety poster I have on my bedroom wall is possibly the coolest poster I have ever seen. I had to have it. Tweety > You. Zippy is close behind though.
72. I once found a Googlewhack, but can't remember what it is anymore. If I put it in here, it wouldn't be one now anyway. It was some music genre I made up, with the sole purpose of finding one.
    
73. A lack of Internet is possibly one of the worst things that can happen to me. A lack of music is worse, but I spend far too much time online. I don't care whether this is a good thing or not, and it won't change until I find something better to do, that makes me happier.
74. My favourite sound is rain, especially if I'm lying in bed in the pitch black trying to get to sleep.
    
75. I love storms and am a bit of a weather geek. I'm fascinated by thunderstorms, hurricanes, earthquakes etc. I'm quite jealous of people who've lived through them really, although I'm quite glad I haven't had to face they danger they bring with them. A small, yet noticeable UK-sized earthquake would be quite fun. Or a hurricane, knowing that nothing bad could happen to anyone.
76. I can stay awake for hours and hours. This comes in very useful on nights out, because I love to party. The longest I've manages to stay awake is 60 hours, although the second half wasn't by choice.
    
77. I love to dance. I did Ballet lessons for 2 years when I was little, but left because I felt horrible about being the only one in the class who didn't do Tap straight afterwards and had to go home, while the rich girls got to carry on dancing. I did Disco Freestyle for a year in my mid-teens, but had to give it up when I got a job. If I'm in my bedroom, I'm usually either sat on my bed or dancing around the room.
78. I'm a member of the uni radio station (music team) and dance society. Unfortunately I couldn't join any of the dance classes I wanted because they all clashed with my timetable. Cheerleading in the first year had exactly the same problem. In the 3rd year I'll either be a dancer or cheerleader, or possibly both. It depends on the timetable. It's the closest to decent exercise I'll get other than the walks to uni or town.
79. I wish I was a model, purely because I'd love to be in front of the camera and have my hair/make up done all the time. I'd love so many good photos of me too. This is why I'm having a makeover photoshoot done on my 21st birthday, and I can't wait.
    
80. Although I hate hospitals, my favourite TV shows are Grey's Anatomy and Scrubs. When I get the chance I also watch the odd bit of House, Doctor Who, Gavin & Stacey, Hollyoaks and Brothers & Sisters. I wish Green Wing hadn't ended.
81. I think that TV on Demand is one of the best things ever.
    
82. My favourite films are Sliding Doors, Notting Hill, Love Actually and Juno. I'm quite partial to the Spider-Man trilogy and Pirates Of The Caribbean too, but don't like the 3rd of either as much as the previous films.
83. My first phone was a Philips Scavvy, followed by a Siemens A50, Nokia 3200, Sony Ericsson w810i and now a Sony Ericsson w910i. Nokias are useless. Don't buy them. Sony Ericsson FTW. The last 2 were on contract, and I wouldn't have replaced my w810i if my contract hadn't been up. My phone is an extension of my hand.
84. PPL hu tlk lyk dis dryv mi insayn. I think "txt-spk" is horrible and should be banned. I've never liked it. If something is worth saying, say it properly.
    
85. My favourite colour ever is sky blue. Even when I was little everyone else had pink bedrooms, but I wanted blue. When everyone else had red Splash bikes, I had the blue version. Everyone else had pink Snatch the Dog bedrooms, I had the blue version. I'd love a sky blue car.
86. If I could, I'd have a Laser Blue Mini Cooper S and a TVR Tuscan S Convertible. Failing that or the £100k plus I'd need to buy them, I'd settle for an Oxygen Blue Mini One in the meantime.
87. I passed my driving test in September 2007. I haven't driven since. I miss driving because I love it so much. Having a car would be useful when I'm stuck at home in the middle of nowhere, but I just enjoy driving, especially in the country. Living in the middle of nowhere on the edge of the Cotswolds has its advantages sometimes, especially when it involves driving to a little pub with a garden that backs onto the Thames. It's lovely.
    
88. If anyone I know breaks a computer, its usually me who fixes it. I was made one of 3 IT Monitors when I was in Class 3, when my teacher realised that the 3 of us knew more about how to use them than her.
89. I don't like tattoos. I think they're ugly, especially on anyone over the age of 30. I will never, ever have one.
90. I wasn't allowed to get my ears pierced until I was 12, but I didn't get it done until just after I turned 18. I wish I hadn't bothered. I think people who stretch huge holes in their ears are stupid, but simple piercings can be quite nice. It's just not for me though.
    
91. My favourite place is my bed. Going home is strange because I have a child sized bed, and I'm now used to sleeping in my Queen sized bed at uni. I love both equally though. Many times people have tried to force me out of my bed and failed miserably.
92. I don't remember dreams. I haven't in years.
    
93. I'm not bad at cooking, and could make pretty much anything if I was given a recipe. I just don't like doing it very often. The thing I'm best at making is cheesy pasta, and about a million variations of it, depending on what I have in the cupboard.
    
94. I love 18th century period dramas, and quite often wish I was a character in a Jane Austen novel. Life was so different then...
95. When I was little I read loads. I always used to be taken to the library on a Saturday morning, and by the end of lunchtime I'd have finished my first book. Now I hardly read at all. I wish I read more though and keep thinking of books to add to the ever increasing 'To Read' list.
96. I want a hammock.
97. I've wanted to go White Water Rafting since I was little. Definitely since before I was old enough to have a go or could swim well enough.
    
98. I also want to do this.
    
99. I think Popping Candy is vastly underrated.
    
100. I wear odd socks

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2-0

I've been on the Waverider at The LC twice.
I've been to the pool first aid room twice.

I was bodyboarding it just fine, even if the water was a bit too strong for me, when I fell off, smashed my face on the side and now have a nasty graze and cut on my chin.

Ouch

Music: Patrick Wolf - Accident and Emergency (not overly keen on it)
Socks: Grey spotty and yellow spotty

Results

I passed all but one of my exams :D

OK, so I failed one, but with the way I felt most of last term I really don't mind. I really thought I was heading for 3/4 resits. Unless there is a miracle, my chances of becoming a Solicitor are almost nil now, but never mind. Such is life. I'm just glad that I managed to pass more exams than I ever thought I would. I even managed to get a 2:1 in my second family exam, and I thought I'd failed it!

On Tuesday I went bowling. In the first game I got every score above 7 and got over 100 overall. In the second I got 26. Go figure. I improved in the 3rd, but still only got 69 with 10 points help. Ah well.

Music: Lostprophets - Last Summer *love*
Socks: None

Doctor Who

I've just found out that I have the 2nd series on demand on my TV. I REALLY, REALLY love Virgin Media sometimes.

Having said that, The Stolen Earth wasn't half bad.

Super Busy

The past few weeks have been a total blur really. I've been so busy and I just haven't had time to sit and update. I've hardly been online at all.

On the 27th I failed my EU exam, and to de-stress went on this. It didn't exactly work. I ripped my toenail in half backwards and had to spend 3 hours having it sorted/pushed back into place in A&E, sending my stress levels through the roof. So much for a fun surfing session.
Wednesday and Thursday were revision and do very little due to pain days. Friday however was much better. It started with a 3 hour Criminal exam, that I think I failed, but at least it was better than I expected. From there it was food, nap and tidying before Lowri arrived. A quick trip to Siro's was had before we popped home to change and get ready for the big night out. Seeing as Danielle and Rachel were visiting, and quite a few of us finished exams that day, it always was going to be a drunken affair. Starting at Siro's then heading to all you can drink at Jak's and finishing at Monkey made it really good fun. The only downside was the awful queues at Jak's for the first half of the night. They really need to get more staff and open both bars on nights like that. With the amount of pain I was in (toe is more painful than it sounds) I really didn't want to be queuing for ages. Luckily they eventually died down somewhat as most people moved towards the dancefloor, having drunk as much as they could early on. This left me the opportunity to grab as much to drink as I could. The tiny amounts of lemonade used allowed me to down an Archers & lemonade without it even touching the sides and going straight back for another. This = fairly drunk Amie. You know it's been a good night when you're totally hyperdrunk and hobbling down the road at 4.30am as it gets light.

The weekend started with a café breakfast before Lowri and I headed to Swindon. It was nice to see everyone for the first time in 8 weeks. Having relatives visiting from Melbourne was good too. I haven't seen them in 5 years so it was nice to go out for a big family meal. I'll definitely be heading out to see them next Summer. The weekend was fairly quiet really, but gave us all a good opportunity to catch up. I spent a few days recharging before coming back to uni for the madness that is the end of year.

On the 3rd I spent 4 hours on trains. Or at least that was the plan. Two lots of delays and a broken train pushed it to over 5. I would have got quite pissy about it, but I saw Black Kids so that made everything good. Grabbing my usual spot at Clwb Ifor Bach helped as I could lean on an unused speaker stack, but wearing shoes for the first time in a week HURT. A fantastic set by them and a surprisingly good opener in Collapsing Cities (who were better live than on myspace) made me smile. I was in the perfect position to sing and half-dance and grab my first setlist at the end. Spending the nightmare journey home on a train full of hyperactive Girls Aloud fans was...interesting.

The 5th was Playzone! After going there for the CIN Dance social, I'd been looking forward to going back, even with an injury. As long as I didn't overdo it with the toe and start it bleeding again I thought I'd be fine. Thought being the key word there. James came running towards me, we collided and I flew through the air. In true Amie style, I was left in a ball on the floor, half struggling to breathe and half trying not to laugh and make it worse. Being badly winded is not fun. Whoever thought of opening a kids play area to adults is a genius though. Loads of drunk students, some sober students and a kids play area is a recipe for organised mayhem. It's quite tempting to do something there for my birthday party. I'm v proud of myself too. I overcame my severe dislike of heights and went down the big red slide. I was too scared to do it the first time I went, but this time I was determined and got on with it. I'm so glad I did, just so that I can say I did it. It really wasn't as bad as I thought it'd be, but then again things like that never are.

The 7th was the yearly village carnival. Going back to where I lived last year was slightly surreal, and I knew it could never be as good as it was last year, when i could run in and out of my house for supplies all day. It was still a good day though. There was a bouncy castle, drunk students (when are there not in Swansea!), sun, some semi-decent bands, a doughnut stand, general fun stuff... If it had rained it wouldn't have been anywhere nearly as good, but luckily the weather was kind to us for the day.

Monday 9th for everyone else was spent on the beach, in most cases getting sunburnt. Seeing as I have PLE and Lowri was arriving that night I thought it would be a good idea to stay out of the blazing sun and tidy my room. I swear my room has never been so tidy. After picking Lowri up from the train station, we had a fab beach BBQ. I love living so close to the beach. I also love taking pictures of fire. I'm quite proud of some of them. There are far worse ways to spend a Monday night than with food, a fire and friends.

Tuesday was chilling in town, getting nails done, last minute ball shopping and drinking wine on the beach. Luckily the heat had dropped since the day before so I could enjoy it a lot more. Sunbathing on the beach in the late afternoon with a bottle of wine is a good way to do things.

Wednesday was THE day...Ball day. I always love getting dressed up for a big event with my friends. Sadly it poured. I got some good photos before the rain started, but nowhere near as many as I'd have liked. I ended up very cold and very wet. Luckily I'm happy with the photos I got of me in my dress. I did my first spot of drink-driving on the dodgems and proved that I am definitely better at driving than Paul. We had a good few goes on there. By the time it had been raining an hour I was bored and ventured out to the main stage. Killa Kela was surprisingly good. It's not my sort of music at all but he was definitely worth seeing. The announcement that Mutya Buena was on next instead of The Vengaboys was time for a toilet/jagermeister bar run, and I arrived back at the front of the stage a couple of songs into her set. By this time most people had disappeared as everyone fought for space inside the tents. I braved it out with Matt, James and Emily right to the end. Dancing to The Wombats in pouring rain is probably even more fun than doing it in the sun. I was quite surprised by the number of crowdsurfers, even girls in dresses. There's no way I'd have done it in mine. It was bad enough being on the barrier in a silk dress.

Since then I've just been chilling really. This update has been somewhat delayed by the fact that I've just been busy doing not much so I've not massively been online and the laptop has been off for repair. Yes, even this one has problems. My phone is away at the moment too, but I've been borrowing one, so that's not been so much of a problem.

The Muxtape

http://amie.muxtape.com

So after much mind changing and getting annoyed with the internet here it is. It's largely as I originally made it, but I had to edit the ending a few times. It's kinda in two parts, but I've made it so that they fit together as one whole list pretty well. It's best listened to on iTunes as I made it, with a few seconds crossfade, but ah well. Just imagine each song is merged into the next.

Part A - the "listen to" songs
OK Go - Maybe, This Time
If I could play any instrument it would be Bass Guitar. I've had a fascination with Bass for a long time. You don't notice it being there so much, yet really notice when it isn't. I love how this song is so bassy, yet still sounds quite minimalistic to me.

Aqualung - Cinderella
I downloaded this as part of a playlist a while ago, and it really stood out to me. It stood out enough that I went and bought the third album, Memory Man. I'd heard quite a few Aqualung songs before, but none of them had made me want to buy an album. I love how this song has quiet moments, yet really builds up into something a lot more powerful at times. It's an album that I quite often put on and lie listening to in the dark.

Paramore - My Hero
If I could sing, I'd want Hayley Williams' voice. This was the first song I immediately put in the list of potential songs. It's the first of two covers on this list, but I think it's probably my favourite cover ever. It's totally different to the original, but so much better. Links pretty well here too.

Regina Spektor - Us
The first song I ever heard by Regina was Carbon Monoxide and I'm still determined to learn it on piano, but this is probably my favourite. It's so...unusual.

Death Cab For Cutie - Summer Skin
This is another song I love to listen to in the dark. Whenever I'm in a bad mood, I put this on, lie in the dark and by the end of it I'm usually feeling a bit better. I love how it's so slow, but doesn't feel like it's dragging.

Bloc Party - So Here We Are
This is possibly my favourite Bloc Party song. I seem to change my mind ever few minutes, but it always seems to revert back to this. I love Russell's guitar work. On this song, it's really delicate, almost like it could shatter at any second. Even when the song builds up, that fragile guitar line is still there. On top of this, it blends really well into part B...

Part B - The "dance to"songs
Lostprophets - Cry Me A River
In a change from the usual, I have a Lostprophets cover. I loved the original, despite not being a massive JT fan. There was always something about it that appealed to me. I think it's pretty perfect as a pop song. This cover though improved it, and showed just how great covers can be when they're done well. I'll make no secret of the fact that I love Lostprophets, and live they're something else, but this just showed how fab they are, when they can totally rearrange a great song and make it even better.

Metric - Monster Hospital
This isn't exactly typical Metric, but it's still fantastic. On top of that, it was rocky enough to perfectly bridge the gap between Lostprophets and Mystery Jets. Pretty good to dance to too.

Mystery Jets - Metal Soul
I picked this after seeing them live at the beginning of May and loving them. It would be rude not to have included them. I thought I'd go for something a bit unusual though and pick a Young Love B-side. It's just as fantastic as the album and would probably have fitted in quite well.

Pin Me Down - Cryptic
I first heard this online without realising who was in the band. The second it started I just wanted to dance, and I love to dance. It's a perfect mix of 80s electro-pop and choppy guitars, by none other than the master of danceable choppy guitars, Mr Russell Lissack.

(We Are) Performance - Vandals
This is a song I first heard when it was iTunes song of the week. I quite often download whatever iTunes are kind enough to give away, and 9/10 times never listen to it again. In this case I listened again, and again, and then it was stuck in my head for a week.

Holy Fuck - Lovely Allen
I thought I'd finish with something instrumental, purely because quite frankly, it's amazing.

Song: Holy Fuck - Lovely Allen
Socks: One sailor blue one, and one bright stripy one

Time To Pretend

Why is it that I want to tidy? I'm in the mood to tidy. It's not just procrastinating tidying either. I properly want to tidy my room, and then clean it for good measure. I NEVER want to tidy! What the hell is happening to me?! My room is usually a tip. I finally want to clean/tidy and I can't because I have revision to do. Having said that, the exam is at 2pm tomorrow and I can't remember anything. Revision with a migraine isn't a great idea, but I don't have much choice. At this rate I'll be revising for much of tonight then going to bed stupidly late and getting up just before the exam. The other option would be to go to bed early and revise tomorrow morning, but I can't see me getting up any time before 12. Sod's law strikes once more.

For the last few days I've not been wearing socks. I've hardly left my bed. I've just been sat on/in my bed reading Key Facts books. It's almost like everyone here is brainwashed by sun. The first bit of sun appears, and everyone runs to the beach for sunbathing/revision during the day, with beach BBQ/parties every night. The skirts and boardies become like an unofficial uniform with everyone wearing flip-flops. The sun then disappears and nothing changes. We're all stuck in the 'Summer Uniform' until October. Even in the rain it feels like there's something wrong with being by the beach and wearing jeans. I'm not complaining though. I love living here.

Music: We Are Scientists - Lousy Reputation

The "Joys" of Exams

It doesn't seem like 2 minutes ago that I was about to sit my January exams, and now here I am all ready to do it again. Well, maybe not ready...definitely not ready, but either way come 9.30 I'll be sat in Dining Hall C about to start a 2hr paper on the joys of family law in England and Wales.
Topics on this paper cover:

• Family Law Act 1996
• Parenthood and Child Autonomy
• The Legal Response to Private Disputes Over Children
• Child Protection
• Surrogacy

So far I know only surrogacy. The exam starts in almost 9 hours and I can't remember 4/5 of it at all. Oh hell.

Music: Mystery Jets - Metal Soul
Socks: Still wearing flip-flops

Update...

It's been a while since I last updated. Too long really but I've been busy. I keep starting posts and never getting around to finishing them before I'm distracted. I've got so much to do at the moment but I never know what to do first so nothing gets done.

5th May: CSS/The Futureheads/MGMT
It's fairly safe to say that that day led to me hating Arriva Trains Wales more than ever. First Great Western have a pretty poor reputation, but at least they have nice trains and in this case at least they got me to Cardiff. Getting on a train, it breaking and having to get off again without even leaving the station was not a good start. I then found out that the next train wasn't running and I wouldn't be leaving until 6.30. With doors at 7 and the band I wanted to see on first, I wasn't happy. Pulling out of the station an hour after we were supposed to didn't leave me exactly confident that we'd make it in time. This wasn't helped when we pulled out of the station and stopped for 10 mins. Luckily catching up time on the way and crossing Cardiff in record time meant that I'd only missed 5/10 mins of MGMT. I'd heard various reports about their live shows, so wasn't sure how much to expect from them, but I was really glad I've seen them. They didn't play the one song I really wanted to see, but at least I didn't miss it. When I was at the bar after they'd finished, it became apparent that a lot of people had gone purely to see them. The Futureheads followed and weren't that great. They have the odd song I like, but just didn't seem to be on form. After the stage was reset and loads of balloons appeared for the end of filming. I tried to get one of the balloons passed into the crowd but spectacularly failed. It made for fun spotting people as they walked through Cardiff afterwards anyway. CSS were good, but not as good as MGMT. The songs went down well but the set was full of new songs, as it was being filmed for a MTV special and it was the first time they'd ever played most of them. Overall it was good, but the best band were on first and I came out still singing Mystery Jets songs from a few days before.

Since then I've not been to any more gigs but I have had fun, with the exception of getting ill for a few days. It wiped me out last weekend, but at least the weather was good so I relaxed on the beach and eventually I'm feeling better. I fail at revision in a big way so I'll do something I'm good at by having fun. Foam party, a stupid number of beach parties in glorious sun, BBQs, trips to Siro's, shopping and a trip to an Indian come to mind. I may fail the year, but at least this year is memorable. Cramming really is my only option.

Music: Delays - Pieces
Socks: Not worn any in days, it's flip-flops weather :D

A World of Odd Socks

I've been wondering how many people in the whole world are wearing odd socks at any one time. There were 3 of us in my living room earlier, all wearing odd socks.

Music: Spider-Man Theme

Last Night

Mystery Jets. Live. Fab.


Two Doors Down - recorded last night

Music: Mystery Jets' album
Socks: Cocktails and spotty pink ones

Adventuring

I ran out of aniseed balls :(

The past few days have been busy but really good fun. Thursday was "Fake North" adventuring day. It started with a train to Crewe, then another to Stoke. Almost 5 hours on a train is a lot more enjoyable if its a FGW and is generally nicer but at least we weren't delayed. This is where things could have gone very wrong.

I trekked all that way to see The Wombats. I first saw them last June and then again in December, and they cannot be described as anything other than fun. Thursday night was the biggest venue I've seen them in by a long way. We got there during the first support. I've no idea who they were, but they were a local band who were well known by quite a lot of the crowd. It was first time I've ever seen a pit and crowdsurfing before 8pm. Half the time I think they were just acting like it because they could. I could tell already that there were going to be a lot of annoying people. I was later proved right. The band weren't bad and played quite well, but would be liked by fans of The Enemy/The Twang.
It then got worse. We worked our way forwards and were almost at the front when I Was A Cub Scout came on. I now have another band to add to the "Oh Dear God That Was Awful" list. I felt sorry for the drummer really. It looked like he was stuck in a band of idiots. There was a Keyboard player who went AWOL during every other song and a fat guy at the back who didn't seem to do much. He spent half of it with a trombone in his hand walking about the stage, looking at a keyboard and walking off again. I think he played in about half a song. By the end it was just the guitarist and drummer left with backing tracks. The music wasn't good either. I'd love to know who told them they were good or who gave them a record deal. If I never see them live again it will be too soon. As usual the crowd were going mental, but then got worse and started the football chants. Yes, your football team are doing well and are going up. Good for you. Now shut the hell up.
By the time The Wombats were due on stage it was a contender for gig from hell. Half the crowd looked under 12, including the girls in front of me on the barrier, who could only just see over it. The other half probably couldn't have passed a GCSE between them. Annoying was an understatement. Luckily the band were fab. The first time I saw them was in a pub with about 150 other people. When it was announced that they'd be playing an arena by the end of the year I thought it was seriously over ambitious. After Thursday I'm not so sure. I've now seen how they've adapted to 3 totally different sized venues and they done each with ease. If anything they put in an arena performance at a theatre. They played pretty much what they were expected to, but didn't play any of their older songs as the have in the past. The only additions were a new song they wrote at new year, and 'Girls, Boys & Marsupials', which they played the first time I saw them, but not in Cardiff. Highlights were going mental to 'Moving To New York' and 'Let's Dance To Joy Division'. It was worth going just for those alone.

The trip home was...notable. As far as Crewe it was fine. Nice, even. Arriva Trains Wales should note that halving the number of carriages on a Friday before a bank holiday is not a good idea. Not everyone fitted, even standing. By then I was tired, hungry, thirsty, bored and squashed. After a stop or two enough people had got off for me to sit on the floor in the bike rack, but that's not exactly the best way of reading the Guardian, let alone attempting Sudoku or Kakuro puzzles. Eventually I got a seat and it even turned into a train party with 3 groups of Rugby fans and a group on a hen weekend all heading to Cardiff leading to banter flying across the carriage. Not something I'd do again in a hurry though.

Last night was the drunken BBQ/Tooters trip that I'm surprised so many people can remember. For some reason it seems a lot easier to get drunk there than anywhere else. After a busy few days I could do with a night in to recharge but no...I'm off to see Mystery Jets in Cardiff in 10 mins. Woot!

Music: Mystery Jets - Two Doors Down
Socks: 2 different sailor ones.

Addiction

I seem to have developed a nasty evil addiction. It is slowly taking over my life. I am actually quite fearful of what will happen when I run out of what I want. I'm sure I'll cope...somehow, but I'm not looking forward to it one bit. I could get more, but life isn't that easy. I may force myself to face the withdrawal.

I'm addicted to aniseed balls. Mmm, sweet aniseedy goodness in one tiny little mouthful.

Despite this, it's been quite a good day so far. Spending the day in flipflops in the sun is nice, especially when a trip to get shoes reheeled ends in buying 2 more pairs too. Oh and coffee frappucinos, and bagels. Yum and yum.

Music : Bloc Party - Flux (I have a lot of love for Bloc Party)
Socks: Today is a sunny sockless day.

Post :D

What arrived through my front door this morning was an envelope. Inside the envelope was this...

Aren't WeePOP Records fantastic? I order one CD, and it comes in its own little envelope with a handwritten note, badge and a tasty orange sweet. Orange = my favourite.

Inside the little envelope was this...


One 3" CD in handmade card case, complete with furry animal on the front (available in about 6 different colours!), one yellow handmade authenticity card ( I got 36/160), a little booklet with tracklisting and band details and little pictures, and a sticker.

How lovely.
The lovely band in question are Little My. They supported Los Campesinos! in Cardiff, and although we didn't get much chance to see them, I thought they were...lovely. 12 people on one stage with glockenspiels, recorders, kazoos and whatever it seemed they could buy from Early Learning Centre's music section made the sort of noise with a shambolic charm that made me smile. They, in their own words, can be compared to the sound of a primary school music lesson. They are twee and perhaps overly so, but totally unashamed about it. 'All But The Beeps Meep' will be the perfect song to listen to on the walk into uni as the weather gets nicer, on the days that I can walk along the beach in my flipflops and sunglasses.

Music : Little My - All But The Beeps Meep
Socks: Two different striped sailor ones.

Sunday

I've just noticed that my sundays are all the same. Unless something is planned, I've realised that I always do the same things. It's quite nice really.

12.30: Get up and eat
1.30: Shower
2.00: Laze about, usually online
4.45: Come Dine With Me (one of the best things on TV)
7.25: Jamie At Home
8.00: Eat
8.30: Start working on whatever is due the next day

The only difference if I'm at home is that after dinner I'll get ready to go to the pub. None of it is intentional, but I've done it through habit. I'm surprised I've never noticed before.

I've spent the last few days listening to Pin Me Down. They remind me of grown-up pop, and best of all, they make me want to dance. 'Cryptic' is about to be released, and is one of my favourite songs at the moment.

Music: Pin Me Down - Cryptic
Socks: pink spotty, and yellow spotty

Fun In The Sun

Musings...

Why is it that updates are so much easier to do when I have a stupid amount of work to do? Criminal law is one of the more popular areas but it bores the hell out of me. For some reason I'm in the minority and prefer Land/Property. I've noticed that I seem to prefer areas that don't necessarily involve somebody doing something wrong. I like the idea of being able to help people get over an issue or problem in their life. They may not have done anything wrong, but just need help in moving on and reaching another stage in their life, whether that's buying/altering a house, marriage/divorce or having a child. Criminal law is rubbish.

Saturday night was Ice Cream Social. I've been looking forward to it for a long time. The problem with monthly club nights is that it's always clashed in the past. It was the 7th, but only the first I've been able to go to. It was well worth it. Roll on May 24th and ICS8. Ok, so being fairly drunk helped, but I was good drunk, not bad drunk as I can be sometimes, but it was really nice to go out and dance to bands that don't get played at the standard "indie nights". There's no way I could go out on any other night and dance to Vampire Weekend or Los Campesinos! I was in such a good mood and giggly drunk, yet dancing always puts me in an even better mood. It was probably one of the best nights out I've had in a long time.

Roll on Wednesday!

Music: Johnny Foreigner - Suicide Pact, Yeah?
Socks: Well actually, they're tights.

Sod's Law

Anyone know how I can get hold of Mr Sod? I'd quite like a few words with him about this Law he wrote (It could only have been written by a man). I'd also quite like him to un-write it.

Holiday summary and LC! review

It's been a long while without an update. 3 1/2 weeks without an internet connection wasn't as bad as I thought it'd be, but it was still horrible. It was almost like living in a parallel world. Life was still carrying on, but I wasn't part of it. Being separated from the best friend I've ever had wasn't much fun either. Thankfully trips to Bath/Bristol and London were the highlights of my holidays thanks to the people I was with. Bath/Bristol and the afternoon in Swindon made for lots of new in-jokes, even though we forgot to play Thomas Top Trumps and I then forgot to take them to London too. They will be coming to the next meetup, sometime in the summer. If I have to sit at a party dressed as a character from Aladdin, drinking wine and playing Top Trumps Junior, so be it.

Although it was during the holidays, I came back to uni early so that I could see Los Campesinos! Although they're based in Cardiff, they hadn't played there much, and hadn't at all for 10 months, so I'd never had the chance to see them. After getting the train with Duncan, we met Olli and Rosie for a much needed Pizza Hut dinner before trying to find Cherry Pie (tradition) and heading off to the union.
After being told that first support, Little My, were far too twee for their own good I wasn't holding up much hope for discovering a new band, but was pleasantly surprised by them. Any band who use recorders, kazoos and glockenspiels is fine by me. It's a good job Solus has a big stage. fitting bands of 7 and 12 onto a stage is no mean feat. Having found via the medium of myspace that Little My have 3" cds with handmade covers featuring furry animals I had to have one and its now on its way, so I think I'll have to review that once I get my eager hands on it.
Lovvers were as expected...horrible. They were horrible when they supported BRS, and equally horrible, if not worse on Thursday. This seemed to be a sentiment echoed across the crowd, small though it was at the time. On arriving, we'd discovered that not many people had arrived yet, and those who had were stood towards the back, allowing us to score a decent spot on the barrier. While this meant we'd had to suffer through Lovvers at the front, it also gave us a perfect view (and Sweet Dreams... dancing spot) for the night's headliners.
Los Campesinos! were as I'd imagined they'd be and more. The band were obviously nervous about playing on a stage they'd looked upto many times before as students, but they put their nervous energy to good use. The crowd were in good spirits, with many knowing the words to every song. This wasn't something the 7-piece were used to judging by Aleks' reaction when she realised that the crowd could be heard singing over her during Math(s). By the time they got onto Y!M!D! the crowd were singing and dancing, front to back and right out to the sides. There's something wrong about standing still to that. It's a song that makes your feet lose control. You have to dance like nobody's watching and your body takes over, which is quite apt really, given the lyrics. Being on the barrier gave me a perfect spot to do the Sweet Dreams... dance with Olli and Rosie, but the band didn't bring it back for the night. Shame on them. They really are the perfect band to shout random lyrics at the top of your voice whenever you feel like it. And I did. More than once. Although it was the first time I'd seen them, it definitely won't be the last. 9/10

So now I'm back and have 4 seminars to prepare for Monday, Tuesday and Friday. It's just as well that I don't have any gigs to go to until April 25th now, but I'm really looking forward to that one.

Music: LC! - C Is The Heavenly Option
Socks: Snoopy and rainbows

Good News & A Busy Week

My final result arrived today, and I'm pretty pleased with it. For the first time since I started uni, I've managed to pass all of my exams.

I've not been feeling brilliant today thanks to this god-awful cold, so with the bad weather I've not been able to get to town. Hopefully I'll be able to get there over the next few days, because I want my new phone contract sorted before I go home on Sunday. I've been looking forward to this week. SU elections, BOTB final, summer ball ticket buying etc. It's not going to be that busy, but I have quite a few small things to do.

At least it'll be a good week before the dreaded trip back to Dullsville on Sunday.

Music: Aqualung - Cinderella
Socks: Non-existant

WHAT?!

Doing a piece of coursework in under 2 hours, the day its due in, and only writing 1600 words when the word limit is 3500 would suggest that something has gone badly wrong. It had. My old laptop, as much as I loved it, was a heap of junk.

Maybe the pressure did me some good. I'll never know. What I do know is that I managed to get myself a 1st! I'm still in shock. I was pretty happy with my essay despite its length, but I have been with most of the work I've handed in. Before this, my highest single mark had been 60 (low 2:1) for my contract coursework last March, and my highest module mark was 55. I was starting to lose hope that I'd ever be good enough to get a decent degree. I was hoping I'd done fairly well with my Family exam, but got 40. Most people got low results though.

Only one more result to go, and to be honest I'm not holding out much hope for that one.

Music: We Are Scientists - After Hours
Socks: Blue tartan, and blue with rainbows

Illness

Being ill is not fun. Anyone who has ever been ill will realise this. I have found one major advantage though. Last night I went to bed at 6.30 and slept for 14 hours. Usually I'd quite enjoy sleeping this long, but I'd feel bad about going to bed so early or sleeping for so long. It's as though sleep is necessary, but only allowed in minimal doses. Today I don't feel bad at all. I can answer every little bit of doubt in my mind with the words "So what I'm ill"

After all, I don't wake up at 8.30 very often, even if I have set my alarm.

Music: Art Brut - Blame It On The Trains (interestingly about staying in bed)
Socks: Give me a chance I'm still in bed! :D

Songwriting

I have discovered that I can't write songs to save my life and I am very envious of anyone who can. It is harder than it looks. This is most unfair. I'm especially jealous of anyone who can write Los Campesinos style lyrics.

On a kinda related note, my signed album arrived today. I believe the best word to describe it is snazzy, in an understated way. Snazzy is not used often enough in everyday life. I think I should start a campaign to make people say snazzy and pesky more...

Socks: pink & spotty on the left, with black and pink cocktail one on the right foot

"Oh My God! They match!" - Laura

I rebelled against myself and wore a matching pair of socks. To be honest I was just being lazy. They were a brand new pair, so I took them out the packet and put them straight on. I couldn't be bothered to find another sock when I had brand new ones in my hand.

Last Friday night was my Law Society Networking Dinner. It was more than just a chance to dress up in anything vaguely resembling black tie. It was a chance to freely talk to working lawyers about their paths into a legal career, discover their opinions on key legal issues and for some people, try to get noticed by the right people. Every table had a different legal guest per course, but unfortunately I got mostly Barristers. It wasn't an ideal situation for a table full of future solicitors, but we made the most of it. It was still interesting night. Finding out about the legal professions from those who we were training to one day replace was a good insight into our potential futures. I had been thinking about giving up on law after uni, but it's reignited my desire to become a solicitor. I think I'll always want to become a music journalist more, but for now I'm happy with the path I'm taking. The best bit of the night was the amount of new people I met. Everyone was placed on tables, so I spent several hours with a mix of students from all 3 years. I'd never met any of them before. I also met some of Becky's friends, and friends of friends etc. I ended the night in a cocktail dress and heels with a group of girls I'd never met before, at a rock club. I think that only 2 of them had ever met before that night. It was quite surreal, but the whole night was well worth the £35 ticket. The food was really good too :D

Last night was quite strange too. It started with the idea of a girls trip to the pub. Kayleigh, Brownie and me set off to the Bryn. We hadn't realised that there was a Swansea football match being televised on Sky Sports, so the place was packed. We couldn't get a table, so the three of us decided to stand near the pool tables, in the last little bit of space we could get and talk to randomers. By the end of the night, we'd had a bottle of wine each, and a butterscotch shot (yummy!). The influence of alcohol meant that the three of us headed to Jaks for the roller disco. We didn't get to skate. We hadn't been there too long when Brownie decided that she was too drunk and needed to go home. By morning, she'd nicked 3/4 of my chips despite refusing to eat anything and I'd had to sleep in her bed after the words "GET IN MY BED! NOOOOOOW!" had been screamed at me.

I don't think anyone's ever done that to me before.

Socks : Brand new rainbow ones
Song: The Academy Is... - LAX To O'Hare

Big News!

I really am rubbish at updating. I can only ever feel bad for that, but seeing as I've had a pretty decent reason, TOUGH.

Anyway...
See the title? Yes, that thing up there. It means I have news. On Thursday, I spent £25 and 3 hours travelling for so that I could spend more money. I have a yummy new laptop. I love it more than I should, but oh well. It means I can play The Sims 2 properly (I've never been able to before) so I've spent part of the last 2 days playing. I'll also be getting Spider-Man 3 on Blu-Ray disk in the next few days. The laptop has a Blu-Ray player built in so the nice people at Sony are sending me a free film to play on it.

Yay!

I got back to uni on Friday afternoon, just in time for Brownie's party. I couldn't decide at first whether to dress up as Jasmine from Aladdin, or a ladybird, but then I decided to go with Jasmine because everyone else was dressed as characters. I'm glad I chose that one. It took a few drinks before I was feeling brave enough to wear it, but by the end of the night I was definitely drunk. The sight of Jasmine, Little Red Riding Hood, Ariel, Snow White and Batman Walking down the road must have been slightly surreal. Most people bowed out before the end, but I was one of the 4 who made it to 4am at Sin City. Drinking cocktails for hours, followed by Tinto, then double Jagerbulls would have put a lot of people on the floor, but luckily I wasn't too bad. I like being able to handle my drink. On the way home I decided to polish off an onion bahji, garlic bread and a portion of chips. This is most unlike me. I can only blame the alcohol. While at the takeaway, I realised I'd left my keys at home so I stayed at Powell's house. The night ended at 5am with 4 people collapsing drunk in 2 single beds, glasses of water being knocked on the floor, and about 90 glowsticks being thrown in various places. I got home at 12.30 on Saturday, amazingly hangover free.

After the stress of coursework and all of the laptop problems, I really had fun. I'd been looking forward to it for ages, and it didn't disappoint. Spending a night with my friends, in my favourite club, listening to my favourite music was exactly what I needed.

Socks: One blue with rainbows, one grey with multicoloured spots.
Music: Air - Sexy Boy

Looking Back...Musically

I'm really missing my music. Having no laptop for a while is bad enough, but being unable to listen to most of my music collection at the moment isn't helping. To be honest, it's making me miserable. I've just been thinking about all the live music I've now seen. Moving away from home is one of the best things I've ever done. Even though I'm not where I wanted to be, I'm still a lot better off than I was, and I'm thankful for that.

Bands I've Seen (inc. supports, festivals & club nights where I can remember)...
Arcade Fire
Au Revoir Simone
Billy Talent
BRMC
Bloc Party
Blood Red Shoes (4)
Boy Least Likely To
CSS
Crystal Castles
Delays
Elle Milano
Fall Out Boy
Funeral For A Friend
Gym Class Heroes
Hellogoodbye
Jimmy Eat World
Kanye West
Kings Of Leon (2)
Klaxons (2)
Lostprophets (2)
Mates Of State
Maximo Park
Mika
New Young Pony Club
Paramore (2)
Pendulum (2)
Razorlight
Red Hot Chili Peppers (awful)
Reel Big Fish
Shy Child
Switches
The Automatic (2)
The Dead 60s
The Gossip
The Killers
The Like (worse than awful)
The Little Ones
The Pigeon Detectives
The Stills
The Subways (2)
The Sunshine Underground (2)
The Wallbirds
The Wombats (2)
We Are Scientists (2)

...and there's actually more than that. I can't remember many of the club night bands, or some of the supports. I've seen Nine Inch Nails too, but I didn't bother counting it because it was just the one song. Seeing as all of those 59 have been in the past 17 months, I'm quite pleased with my list. There's still 3 more I'd love to add to the list though...Air Traffic, Muse and The Strokes. I can't see any of them happening any time soon, but I've got a few more booked and a ticket to Reading again this year so that number is going to shoot up again by the end of 2008. I've missed out on seeing Air Traffic 4 times now, but hopefully they'll be on the list by this time next year.

Today's post was brought to you with the help of... last.fm, a borrowed laptop, insomnia and Amie's new colourful spotty socks.
Music was helpfully provided by Los Campesinos! (add them to the "I want" list too)

Good day

I got a 2 week extension for the coursework, plus I've managed to borrow a laptop from uni. Yay!

I can't wait for this weekend. Mucho partying and a trip to Cardiff :D

Today's socks: The other Snoopy and Penelope Pitstop ones.
Today's song: The Wombats - Moving To New York

Sadness

I'm really upset at the moment. I love my laptop to bits. It's the one thing I'd save from a burning building. I've had some amazing times and some horrible times since I started uni, and my laptop has got me through them. I was so excited when I got it. The 2 days that it sat in a box in my bedroom before I was allowed to open it once I got my A level results were horrible, but I have loved it dearly since.

8 hours time may be the last time I ever see it.

It's sad, but fingers crossed I'm getting a new one on my insurance. They're picking it up to have a look at it, and if the laptop person who looks at it is as nice as the one I spoke to on the phone, they'll write it off. It's broken so many times now, and after the serious system errors i've had over the last few days, I've had enough. It's so unreliable. I'm excited that i might be getting a new one, because shiny and new is always good, but at the same time I'm going to really miss it, and it might be a while before I can get a new one. The thought of my precious laptop being trashed is horrible. I can't see them being nice to it :(

A sad day indeed

In other news, I watched Juno for the 10th time while I can

Socks of the day: One Snoopy, one Penelope Pitstop

Achievements

Today has been a good day. Things I have achieved...
1. Some seminar work has been done. I'll have to work harder and faster over the weekend but I'm getting somewhere
2. I've realised that Sainsbury's Banoffee Pie isn't as good as Tesco's, but Tesco's doesn't have half the things I wanted. Sainsbury's > Tesco
3. Watching both of the best Mighty Boosh episodes, one after the other, is a good idea.
4. Superbad is funny, but was overrated. Juno is better
5. Watching Juno 8 times in such a short space of time is getting obsessive. I must stop
6. I may be in love with Michael Cera.

Tomorrow (well 8 hours time) I have a 6 hour exam. It will be evil, hard and I will struggle to answer it. I may well fail. Such is life. I can only try.

Today's socks: One blue and white stripes, the other pink with black spots
Song of the day: Michael Cera & Ellen Page - Anyone Else But You

1 down...

Exams have finally started. I've actually been looking forward to it. Hopefully it went ok, so for now I'm all smiles.

Today's good things:
1. Exams have finally started, and therefore exams and coursework will be over this time next week.
2. I'm waiting for yummy pizza to arrive.
3. Drinking Malibu & Cranberry and going to the pub later.
4. Juno got 4 Oscar nominations, which is fab cos I do love it so
5. I didn't wear ANY socks, just because.

The Basics

I like...
Music, Shopping, Cherries, Dancing, Coffee, Uni life, Sleeping, Internet, Sequins, Dr Pepper, Sparkly stuff, My bedroom, Nights out, Gigs, The beach, Iced Tea, Bright colours, Orange juice, The dark, Fox's Classic Bars, Mess, Trying to play piano, Milkshkes, The sound of rain, Wearing odd socks

I dislike...
Needles, Broken internet, Boredom, Animals, Bills, Txt spk, Insomnia, Bad Spelling, Most meat, Berries, Oversleeping, Deadlines, Tea, Milk

Song of the day: Rebellion (Lies) - Arcade Fire