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?