Human sign post for a day

Hi! This is my uni, Edge Hill in Ormskirk and we had an open day today. It was my second time on the job and last month I was in Hale Hall registering people and this time I was a sign post, so I had to stand around and direct people to the places they needed to be at. Doesn't sound like a very fun job does it? I was slightly worried this morning, but now I'm glad I did it. I meet lots of new people and was mega helpful to all of them. I had fun and I was able to discuss courses and the campus, I also got asked questions about the accommodation, why I came to Edge Hill and where the nearest hot drinks were!

I really like my job, it gives me the chance to represent my uni and shows my love for the place. I just feel the need to let everyone know how good EHU is and how it changed my life. Even if that means I've to spend the whole day outside, freezing and smiling all the time. I'm glad I could happy those people and I hope the make the right choice! Next open day, I'd like to take people on campus tours and show them around, I think I'd be good at that now, I've more confidence in talking to people. Today I learnt that by me starting the conversations it got people talking and so asking if they were going the right way, which I think they might not have done if I hadn't said hi. Sure building my communication skills there. :)

The other thing that happened this week is that I got to meet Adam Marek, writer of the book above. I know it looks a little strange, but its a collection of short stories and each of them have two running story-plots, so they are pretty interesting. He did a reading at the Rose Theater and then a two hour workshop with my class, where he give us tips and had us thing about story openings and what readers expect from stories. That was amazing, I learnt a lot and it reminded me how many different writers come to EHU to talk about their work.

I think I'll wonder off and have something to eat now, but I'll try to come back soon to write some more. :)

Remembrance Sunday

Hi readers!

I thought today, I'd write about yesterday and Remembrance Sunday. It's a special day were people gather together to remember those lost in the wars and also pray for them. Many people wear poppies to show their support and it really units everyone together. It's a thoughtful time and on Thursday which was 11/11/10, everyone stopped for a two minute silence at 11am, which was when the first world war stopped.

I don't know any of my family who died in the war. I know my grandad was a desert rat in WW2, but he never spoke or wrote down anything about his time there, I guess it was just too painful. He did collect newspaper cuttings and cigarette cards which we have in the attic. I would have liked to speak to him about his experience but he died before I was born. I'm sure that there is someone connected to my family out there, but finding them could be tough, still though I'd like to find out one day.

This time of year I do go slightly weird and began writing poetry. I don't know why, but I get inspired by things and just have to let all this stuff out. I've written four poems about Remembrance Day now, many about Halloween and a few about Autumn. I need to start writing again really, but so much has been distracting me and now Xmas and three 12st birthdays' around the corner, so I doubt I'll find the time soon.

I think I'll close with a poem, but first I'm going to write about a talk I've to give on Tuesday. It's about something that's happened in my life which could be turned into a script and I decided to talk about what happened to me when I was 12. My family decided to move to New Zealand and we went out there for a 3 weeks holiday to see what it was like. I remember a few things; the first is that we built a toy railway line on the plane and had trains going under our seats, the second was playing with Kori cap at Singapore airport.
Then there is meeting with some cousins who were out there already and staying at their house. Next are the  places I remember; hot springs beach, volcanic area, kiwi land, sheep world, a restaurant, a cafe and a hotel.

My mum give me her diary, but there's not a lot in there, so I'm going to have to remember it. Hope it goes okay. :) Here's my poem anyway,

Silent remembrance

(An Amnesty day poem)

When the world is silent

The wind blows through the trees

Scattering leaves on the white stones

These trees saw the end

Shook as the guns fired

And the deaths ended for the first time

Silence filled the rocking branches

The leaves tumbled to the wet grass

The fog cleared from that autumn day

Revealing the destruction of nature

The black, burnt trunks, lined with cracks

The holes were great trees stood

The fields covered by the late yellow harvest,

Turned to mud

The trees stand almost the red flower, today

Each petal representing a snuffled out life

Minimus Nos Obliveisci

Exploring Anime

(BLEACH)

Hi! I decided that though it wasn't time to update my blog I'd do it anyway, because though I've not been doing a lot over the past week, I thought I'd talk about anime for once. Firstly though since Halloween and the Tunnels, I've been working hard on two essays. Number 1. my first short story complete with self-assessment and an annotated bibliography is now complete and my second is a critical commentary about an Victorian article on writers which I wrote a 3rd of today. I think also the fact that the weather has been so bad I've not want to go out. Really it feels like winter has arrived a month early, because its been so cold, rainy, windy and dark, the only thing I've been wanting to do is go back to bed and hibernate!

So I've decided to spend the very dark evenings which anime online. I think that though I've been interested in anime for a while thanks to my little bro, it was only through joining the anime society at uni that I got into it further. Now I've two new shows to watch; Samurai Champloo and Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann. So I'm expanding out. Some of the other stuff they show isn't so good and not really my thing. I tend to go for the action and stay away from the scfi, girly and dramas.

Of course it all stayed with Spirited Away and Howl's Moving Castle, which I still love and recommend everyone go and see. Also I'm a big fan of Dragonball/z and Bleach, though I've yet to see them all or any films.

So that's my de-stressing for now really, though it involves more staying at a computer!

Ps can anyone recommend any more which I might like?

Halloween trick or treats?

(My pumpkin this year)

Yeah! It's Halloween! Though I've been celebrating since Wednesday, that was the night of our party-due to the issues with the other nights. Anyway, a lot seems to have happened since I last typed and its only been 10 days. I've lots of photos as well, so I'll be posting them as I go along. 

So the set up for my party went on for 3 days before hand, because we had to turn the house into a giant spiders den with lots of black cobwebs and candles for light. We carved the pumpkins on Tuesday, which took an age- as you can see. Then on Wednesday I made pumpkin pie and a sponge cake.

 Then it was party time! We made a rule that everyone had to come as a movie, TV, anime character and anyone who didn't turn up as such had to take off an item of clothing and run down the road screaming little green men are chasing me! Luckily, everyone turned up in a good costume and we had a good time.

 

Then on Thursday I had booked my ticket to go and see the Poet Laureate- Carol Ann Duffy and Billy Collins who's sort of the USA PL. I'm not really into poetry but this seemed like a once in a life time thing and it was free as well! So I went along and saw them both read out some of their poems and then I brought some books and got them signed! I seem to be building up a collection of signed books now.  That was a good experience.

 On Friday I went on a field trip with creative writing fiction. We went to the Williamson Tunnels in Liverpool for the afternoon. It is meant to be the inspiration for our next short story, but the small area of tunnel we were shown didn't hold much inspiration, though the information the guide give us did. I heard that many people were disappointed in the trip, having no doubt built up the same expectations I did and then had then crushed on arrival. Thing was it would have been nice to spend more time down there and to explore other sections, though I know how dangerous it could be, also the fact that the tunnels were built for nothing and had no real sense of history was a down side. I think what made the tunnels most interesting to me was the fact that they were setting up for Halloween and that added a whole different face to the tunnels. I'm not sure about ideas either, because I already had one, but it seems like it's been done a billion times already. Still shall have to see how it goes.

Lastly, I'm waiting for the trick or treaters now, its almost time for them to start showing up at the door. Some how though I think my dog has given up on them already! Still I shall light my pumpkin and see if anything decides to visit me. Happy Halloween!

Halloween plans

(Me and my housemates)

Hi, not wrote again in awhile but I've been mega busy with uni stuff and friends and there's no slowing down in sight of these things. I went to a 21st on Monday, which was okay, but didn't like the restaurant, they made us wait for food too long and I had a killer headache, so no drinking for me! The after party didn't work out much better and though I had a good time it was difficult because I felt so ill.

I'm better now, though I'm running short of money, which doesn't help with Halloween just around the corner and my party next Wednesday. Its' set to be good though and today I'm going to practise making my sponge cake in the oven and I've already tidied my room and vacuumed the house. Still have some homework for tomorrow to do and so need some more sleep. I'm home alone right now so I'm doing some clothes washing and listening to loud music.

(The 21st meal)

Not a lot of interesting stuff has been going on really, just been ill- this cold is still within me-and been doing boring uni work and having no time to work on my own novel, which is slowly killing me inside. There really is not enough time to get everything done and I'd love a 25 hour day, that added hour could be mega useful for me. I do have to be thankful that my housemates are getting on and that there has been no issues, beside from the fact one believes he can live on takeout food for the rest of the year!

Anyway with the house tidied, the Halloween decs can start going up on Monday and I've been planning my pumpkin pie- already got a pumpkin and some spices-need to get the recipe from my mum and then I can make that on Wednesday morning. Good job I've no essays due in till 10th November and I'm off wed and Thursday. Excited about that now! Better go do my homework before I get the Halloween box out again!

(Me and in some of my Halloween costume)

Scriptwriting

The fresher's flu caught up with me on Sunday, so now I'm in bed sniffing loudly and wishing for hugs. I seem to be coughing a little too and my head is so fuzzy. Luckily, I've no classes today or yesterday, so I've had time to recover, but I've had to do some uni work as well. I can't drop everything because I'd be two days behind the rest of the world and catching up at this stage is tough. So to sort this out I've been doing the easy work; watching short films online for my scriptwriting class and also doing research into trucks.

Sounds a bit strange that, but I'm thinking about writing a short film which involves trucks; like the one above. I think this happened because I had a strange dream about it, but then as if by fate channel 5 decided to show a documentary about ES trucks; Demand.five.tv/series.aspx?/seasonbasename=eddiestobarttruckstrailersseries1

It's not my normal thing, but I become fascinated by the facts and the stories of the truckers' lives. I've seen the first two now and I'm looking forward to seeing the 3rd tomorrow. I'm also hoping the information I'm gaining will help me with my script. So watch this space!

Oh, my training for student guide went okay, I'm working on Saturday now in Hale Hall. Have to be there at 8am and I'm hoping my cold will be gone by then, though the fact I'm in all day tomorrow won't help. At least I've done my reading for my classes, though N/S is still giving me the run around...The never ending tale of struggles for sure! Time is running on again now, so its time to get moving and do some more work.

You got to be fast to get on this band wagon!

Hi, :) Guess what I'm mega happy! I just made student guide! So pleased, because it was mega harder to get though. In the interview they said that they had like 90 students already and that they weren't too keen on taking 3rd years on, because well its their last year and they are so busy. Also there was like four other people there who had so much experience working with people and they had done so much in their lives and here was me and abi, just in our twenties and not a lot to show for it. Well, I did put in about how I already worked for edge hill and the fact that my blog had got some great comments and how people were thinking about coming to edge because of my posts. Also said that my tutor, yesterday told me I was to become student leader in a new project where some students go into primary and secondary schools and do workshops with the kids. So I'm mega looking forward to doing that, get some experience and see if I'm any good at that.

I'm still applying for my teaching, but going to do my MA too, busy busy. Nothing on my LRC post yet, still not really sure I need to do that now. but still, hopefully that'll be okay. What else....I like scriptwriting, well sort of, got some books out to do that and have made a list of script writer people to study for my first essay. Reading north and South right now, because its the first novel I'm studying. Read like 5 chapters now and I think its pretty good. Though like Jane Eyre its going to go on forever!

Celebrating coming back to uni on the first pub quiz night!

Got one of my ordered books today as well- Instruction manual for swallowing, still waiting on The Ice people though. More are due tomorrow. I'm going to Anime Society tonight in the hopes of broadening my horizons a bit more. Oh and I have to stay this weekend for the training session for student guide- so no going home which will mean that I've done three weeks at uni, cause normally I just do two and then I really want to go home. But I need to start learning that its okay not to go home all the time.

Now I'm rambling a bit, but so much is happening, like someone opened a massive door and all this stuff is coming out and I'm like I want to be on that band wagon and that one and that one cause that sounds mega good....shocking really! I just hope I've not taking on too much really. We'll have to see...juggling stuff is a big part of life too, so hopefully I'll get more experience with that now.

Tea's in the oven and I'm just waiting to hear if Abi will be spending the day training with me or not. She's had no emails yet. Fingers crossed for her. :)

Another happy photo

First day at uni

So I thought before I had my tea I'd post on my blog and get some stuff out of my head. This stuff is not about my 3rd year at uni and my classes, though I've to say my first one-Modernism was good this morning, though they messed up the class rooms big style! But the hot American boys in my class made up for that! This post is about what's going to happen after I graduate.....thing is we had another lecture on this today and though they have been hounding us since we first started uni, it just doesn't get any easier.

My problem is that I was thinking of doing a teaching course, but it seems that its not going to be easy to get on that. Though I'm applying for the further and higher eduction course, it seems I need some experience at teaching and I've no idea where to even begin with that one! I'm left to do it by myself and my head already hurts with just filling in the form. I know I've to do this though and I'm not going to let it stop me. So I'm going to try and speak to my tutor tomorrow about it and see what he says.

I start script writing tomorrow too, that's my worse subject. I can't write in the style they want me too, but I'm going to try harder this year! Bug my tutors, I guess. lol. I'm stressed about stuff right now, though I know I shouldn't be! I just need to chill out, so its off to the pub quiz tonight! Lots of fun and drinking and though people have already pulled out I don't care. I'll go by myself if I've too!

Making my tea now and trying to come up with a group name....got a meeting on Thursday about me applying to be a student guide. Hope I get that and also the LRC post. I've been thinking about doing the uni mag too, but I think that might be too much, shall have to wait and find out. Think I've been boring enough for one day now. Hopefully I'll write something more fun next time and with photos too!

New house!

Hey everyone, this is the view from my new room! and the rest of the photos are the first from my new house in ormskirk. I moved in on Sunday and have only just finished sorting my room out last night. Had to wait because the landlady was being funny about putting posters up on her newly painted walls. But the house looks so bare! It least it feels homely and we are going to buy some more posters tomorrow at the freshers' fair.

The best feature of my room has to be this! my double bed, which I only found out I had got the day before I moved in. Luckily my mum lent me some sheets - purple satin ones! but they do fit in with the theme of my room. Only problem is I have to be careful getting out of it, because the sheets are slippery and I already fell out of it on my first night! But I like it anyway. I'm sleeping really good too and that's something I know I don't do well with when I'm away from home.

The first wall in my room, my wardrobe and the bean bag chair -Ally's shrine. My room is massive! I like it a lot and I've checked out how my housemates have set up their rooms and I decided that though I wasn't bothered about which room I got, I'm glad I choice the one I did, because its the best! I love the house though AKA The Pineapple, there's a good size living room and kitchen and its closer to uni. Only problem is that there's a very busy main road just outside, and though its very noisy I'm not going to let this get me down.

Some idea of how big my room is and my door! the sticky note that my housemate suggested says the room the size of a planet. I've to agree there. :)

That's mostly it. I applied for two jobs at uni and I need to apply for my teaching course too. Already the days are flying by. I'm also wearing my contact lenses too and its messing up my vision so its time to go!

Autumn knitting for xmas

The summer has all but faded now, yes its still clinging in the warm air and the sun is still warm when it appears, but there is that unmistakable hand of autumn in the air now. The nights are getting darker and longer, there's a cold touch to the ground and walls and there's so much more rain now. So, its time for people to spend more time in doors and what better way to pass the evenings then knitting?

That's what my mum is doing in the photo, knitting me an autumn jacket. I can knit too, but it takes me forever and I'm not as fast as her and I just seem to get bored unless its something small like a patch for my blanket or a part of something my mum is knitting. I hear that knitting is coming back now and that people are buying more knitted things in the shops. There's just something different about knitted clothes and I know that most people-me included-remember times when wearing something knitted made you look stupid. Not the way now it seems!


This is my latest jacket, the one my mum is knitting above. Its a summer one, but she's making the sleeves longer so that it'll be more suitable to autumn. Its the same blue colour, but a different wool and I'm hoping she'll have it finished before I go back to uni next week!





I'm so looking forward to that, can't wait to move in and all my housemates are just as excited as me now. I've already packed all my clothes- just need to find some more socks! Isn't that always the case? I'm sure the washing machine has eaten them and just left me with all the odd ones! I'll have to go to Primark and buy some more again.

I'm already making plans for winter and Xmas too. Like my next photo; a winter coat, yeah knitting again! But this one is going to be my Xmas present. The wool is mega expensive - sirdar's Nomad, its really soft and woolly, but light at the same time and mum's going to make me a hood. So it'll be a great winter coat then.

But of course before winter and Xmas, comes autumn and Halloween! One of my favourite times of year to be sure! And that also seems to be coming back, well in the shops and some areas. Halloween is becoming a bit like Christmas really; people have forgotten what its about and how to celebrate it. They seem to use it as an excuse to behave wrong and ignore others beliefs.

Anyway, in my true fashion, I've begun my Halloween shopping. As its easier to buy the things I want to add to my Goth/Halloween collection before everyone else decides that they need to buy things! So I started with 2 signs last week and I brought the one below today. I thought I could use it in the kitchen when I host my Halloween party. The plans for that are already under way. I've my costume already now-because I had to hand make it with my mum. I'm going as a Gypsy fortune teller, which was suggested by my best friend because I'm tarot card reading at the party. The theme is movie/tv/anima characters and I still have a lot to plan!

Lastly, the gnomes are back! They are also on the knitting list, two of them this time and they are for two people who got left out both times around, but I've now decided that its time they join the gang. But these gnomes are mega special and of course top secret at the moment, because I know that one of those said two people reads my blog, so I can't write or show my plans on here. So for now here's a photo of the gnomes who were made Xmas 2008 and who led the start of me giving gnomes out to my friends. May their numbers continue to grow!

Last weekend at home

Hi, know I've not written in another age, but I've been busy once again. Busy with my volunteering job, getting use to contact lenses and making future plans at uni. Also I've been reading The Black Dagger Brotherhood and watching Heroes. So yeah, almost a total waste of another summer. Not been much in the mood to write though, but I've to say in reading BDB I've realized that I can fix the problems I've in my novel set in Liverpool. This is my plan now, to go back to uni, get back into working and writing and try to fix my novel.

It sounds a lot of work, but I've done it before! When I did my GCSEs I wrote a whole series of novels I think there was like 7 or 8 books in all and they range from 50-70 odd pages (was aimed at teenagers) Then during my as/a levels I wrote 3 adult novels (My first trilogy and also first novels about vampires!) I'd done two years of animal care before that, but I suddenly started writing again and was inspired to carry on by a friend who I'd met in high school. She then wrote herself into the second book, (which reminds me I need to bring her back from the dead at the end of that novel!) and helped me edit the first one as my college years drew to an end.

Then there's been uni and my chance to prove myself. Mostly its the fact to prove to myself that I can write and I can turn my hobby into something else- my dream job. Also its to prove to people who said I couldn't get into uni and pass, wrong, because there's been a lot of them in my past and now I can already feel it happening. I mean I've written another trilogy now -minus 1 book, have written a few single novels, though most I still have to finish and I've another trilogy- a fantasy one still in the making. I've also written poems and short stories now and proving that I can write not just about vampires but about other stuff too.

I guess I sort of got on to that subject because I've just learned about my second best friend failing to pass her second year. I also know that my housemate has also failed and I've heard of other people doing like wise. This lead on to me thinking about how far I'd come and how though it seemed against all the odds I'd passed my second year with a 2.1 overall. Yet there are others, who I believed were better then me or just had put in more then me, who I believed would pass, but have failed for whatever reason. So in a way I'm sorry to all those who haven't passed and hope they have better luck in the future and me well.... I stand by what my parents have always told me; you can only try your best.

So I'm going to turn to my final year at uni and keep that saying close to my heart, just because that's what I do!

Lots to say in this small space!

Hi, followers!

I've been away on holiday again and this time I was staying on a narrow boat and traveling along the Grand Union Canal. Me and my family hired a 6 bed boat called the Carisbrooke Castle and it was massive! A living room, kitchen, two bedrooms, two bathrooms and seats at the front and back of the boat. The space was so needed because we took Sandy- my dog-with us as well.



Most of the time we were just relaxing and watching the world pass us by. Everything seems slower on the boat because you are just traveling gently along the water and watching the nature and other boats around you. The other times were spent dealing with the locks. They are scary things at first and do take awhile to get use to. They are used to get a boat up or down because the canal fits in with the landscape and therefore has different water levels.

This is a lock.

So, firstly the water inside the lock must be at the same level the boat is at. If not the water must be flooded or drained from the lock and this is done by using a windless to wind the paddles on the gates up or down so that the water can flow. Once this is sorted the boat can go in the lock and both gates and the paddles get shut.

Next, the paddles are open on the other gate, so that the water can drain/flood to make it level on the next side. Once this is done, the gates can be opened to let the boat go on. There are lots of different kinds of locks and most of them can fit two boats in. Some are single, but you can get a staircase 2/3 locks together or a flight 3+ all after each other, others can have 2 sets of paddles and the bottom ones must be open first or the boat could be filled with water!



The locks were the hardest part. I mega enjoyed all the nature though! check these pics out.

Those are like my highlights. So after all that fun, today has been an important day for me. I started my volunteering job today at the RSPCA Charity shop. The only thing I did was put clothes on hangers and putting tags on the clothes. I did some teddies too and that was about it. I've got to go back tomorrow, so hopefully they'll give me some more things to do, I get bored so easily!

Also I got fitted for contact lenses today. I had to have new glasses first because my eye sight has changed again. I don't much have a choice where my glasses are concerned because I need to wear them 24/7 and without them I just can't see anything! So now I've some cool brown square shaped glasses that look really nice and also I'm able to wear the standard contacts which is mega good. I've to wait a week now for them, can't wait!

That's about it for today anyway, think that's enough.

Random update

Yeah, I'm bored, it's too dark to read and I'm too late to start typing a new story. I'm waiting for The Deep to come on TV, last week it was so cool and scary, I just need to see what happens!

Today though I got a job volunteering at the RSPCA Charity shop, so I'll be working there in the mornings now and that'll be cool! A new thing to do. Also booked to get contact lenses, very scared about that. Been wearing glasses since I was 6 so the change is going to be hard to get use to, but I only want them for going out, I really want to show of that green eyeshadow I like wearing. Hope that'll work out okay....

Started the 3rd Black Dagger Brotherhood today and wrote another short story about someone making a pact with the Grim Reaper. These short stories seem to be going well, really getting into writing them now. Need to start writing my novels again now though. Hope I can have enough time to do that now! I've no pics, not been taking many photos, not a lot has been going on though, just boring stuff whilst I try and get fitter. That's not going so good either. I'm trying hard but nothing seems to have changed. I know it takes time to show but I thought I would have something by now.....

Not a lot else to write about, been packing for the narrow boat holiday on Sunday, cut my dog's nails, though she needs a bath now before she goes on the boat. That'll be hard, she hates the bath tub!

Summer's still dragging

Hi followers!

I hope your summer is going better then mine, at the minute things are heading downwards again. I got out of my Sims3 addiction because I was bored of it and all that time in Sim world was making me believe that living in that world would be easier then this one! I mean you just have a pile of money, you buy a house straight way, fill it with cool stuff, go and get a job straight way and make more money to buy more stuff. So I had to get myself out of there!

I'm struggling on the main pc today, can't be bothered getting my laptop out, but so typical some idiot has come along and messed everything and me not really knowing my way around computers is having to cope with what reminds of someone downloading a new Internet explore link, so that I've no fav files, no tool bars and a home page which keeps demanding I sign up to 02 phones. I only came on here to listen to music whilst I finished my book off, but my msn had to start playing up when my friend tried to talk to me and now It's been like half an hour and my book-4 chapters from the end! has been abandoned.

It's a hard book to abandoned though..... Lover Eternal by J .R. Ward and if you go down a few posts to 'rocking out the summer house', you'll see that I'm reading it from the second time now. I got the whole series (The Black Dagger Brotherhood) and I've given up with the uni novels now-I was just suffering under their heavy weight of Victorian/Edwardian life. So much that I'm now positive it effected my need to write my own novels. Once I read Wuthering Heights and Jane Eyre I was like what kind of novel can I write to top that? So I've not really wrote much, beside from one short story and some of a random novel was writing an age ago.

Anyway, I've to leave and go on a quest to find a dungeons and dragons board game for our boat hire holiday.

Photo highlights-please read blog below!

Bodmin Jail

Surf boards on Newquay beach


Building at Pendennis Castle

St. Mawes Castle

Boats in Harbour at Polperro

Black crane bird

Fowley habour

Spainish garden at Eden Project

Eden Project

Me and an kid at Land's End farm

View from a point around Land's End Coastal walk

Land's End Building

The Mud Maiden at Heligan

View of Mevginessy

Our tent! Home for 2 weeks.