It's Halloween!!!!!!

Hey everyone, It's Halloween! :) and this is my choice of pumpkin design this year. 'The Headless Horseman Rides Again!' :) pretty awesome, hey? I love Halloween its my fav day. I know there are many reasons behind this and it links to the traditions and history of the actually event and day. To go and look them up in books or the internet though gives mix results. So to link with my love for Halloween, I thought I'd write this post about what it means to me and include some of the stuff I know.
On Halloween night at Midnight it's believed that the veils between this world and the spirit world reach there thinnest. This means that lots of spirits can pass between the two different plains some good and bad. So ghost activity is said to be at its highest during this time. So the traditions of pumpkins? In Britain it use to be other squash vegetables and then pumpkins came over from the USA and they were easier to carve. The idea behind carving and making a scare face is actually to ward off the bad spirits from entering your house. You place the pumpkin outside or in a front window in order to do this. The pumpkin is then light up by a candle and it is this light that attracts family and friends who have passed on back to visit you. Of course now a days, people don't just carve scary faces, the idea of carving different things has taken off in a big way specially in the States, where they do go all out for Halloween, much more then we do in Britain! Though you still find that many pumpkins get carved with subjects that link to Halloween.

This is the second pumpkin I carved - Grim Fright Night It's a grim reaper in a graveyard. Oh, it's midnight! Let's see if anything creepy happens! So why is a carved pumpkin called a Jack O' Lantern? This cames from an Irish legend about a man called Jack, who couldn't get into Heaven or Hell, so instead he had to walk around with just a lantern till judgment day arrives.
Okay, next is the dressing up part, people started to believe that by wearing masks and dressing up they could pertained to be spirit whilst going about their business at night, thus no harm would come to them. The idea of Trick or Treating came about because of another event which was celebrate close to Halloween and that was Souling. Where people went around asking for soul cakes and in return they would pray for the departed relatives. This is also connected with Mischief Night, which has kinda merged with Halloween now. Boys would go out and cause Mischief, but they would also knock on door and ask for treats in order to behave, so that's where the whole Trick Or Treat thing has come from possibly.

Me and my 3 best friends dressed up.

One of the games that is traditional played is Apple Bobbing. Apples are placed into a large bowl filled with water and just using your teeth you have to grab an apple. It is said that this came about because of the Roman tradition of celebrating one of their Gods who was connected to apples about this time. In fact it seems lots of religions and countries celebrated simlaire events about the same time, most of these had to do with remembering the dead like the Roman Catholic All Saints' Day and All Souls day, (Which got the name of All Hallow's Eve which then become Hallow'een) Mexico and their Day Of The Dead. There has also been links to Celt and Pagan festivals. So yeah, Halloween has no clear beginnings.

So that's something of a history then. :) I always stay up past midnight on Halloween, just because its something I have always been drawn to do. It's like I'm waiting to see if any ghost come for a visit. Nothing has happened so far, though I got sticky stuff on my keyboard thanks to a midnight snack attack! Anyways that's all for tonight and I'll be back tomorrow.

Your Favourite Book Needs You! -World Book Night 2012

Hi readers,

My title and the theme shall be in both my blogs today, but afterwards I'm going to write some different things. so go to http://hayleyhardman.wordpress.com/ to check that out once your done here!

So yeah, what's going on then? Well, this year saw the launch of World Book Night 2011. I did write a blog post about it on my uni blog so here's what it said;

2011/03/05

At 9.30am, I was on a train heading for London and it took two hours to get there. Strangely, we part followed the canal which, last year I had a holiday on a narrow boat sailing up. When we arrived in London, we went on the Underground and to Piccadilly Circus. The Underground was scary and the train was fast moving and the doors shut quick, but I made it!

We went to Trafalgar square and wondered there and the streets near by. We then meet with other Book Givers and talked to them. Then we had to queue up to get back into Trafalgar square and we sit on the edge of the fountain and waited for things to kick off. It was really cold, but at least we weren't standing up for two hours.

The event started with the guy who came up with it and then Graham Norton was hoisting it! On the stage they had some people who were giving out books to charities and were founding members. They also had authors and other famous people reading form their books or different books. I saw Philip Pullman, Sarah Waters and the front man from MAD. It was really good to hear these people reading and I doubt I'll get another chance to do that again!

Afterwards people started giving out their books, but we had not brought ours and I still need to put in the special numbers. That's my next task for today now. We were really cold so we went for food and then to Waterstones- brought lots of books! Then after going to StarBucks for hot chocolate, we caught the Underground back to the train stations and from there had 2 hours and half on a train back home. It was about 1am, when we arrived back and I was so tried I went to bed straight away.

I had a good day though and London is pretty cool! Now I just have to give out my books.

*

That sound good? Well guess what? You can now apply to be a World Book Giver for 2012! Go to the website and choice your fav book from the list and maybe you could be in London next year supporting your book!

http://www.worldbooknight.org/index.php

I've already done mine, but I'm not going to say what I choice. I've so much more to write about, but I know people like reading short posts, so I'll save my musings for my other blog. :)

The Changing Word - hey, let's keep the bats though!

(Halloween pumpkin, 2008, made by my dad.)

For people who might be reading this for the first time;

 I am a horror writer. Mostly, I write vampire novels. I've yet to have any of my novels published, though I've had poetry published online and in magzines. Being a poet isn't me though! So I'm trying to make my dream of being a novelist come true.

I graduated from Edge Hill Uni, with a 2.1 BA Hons in Creative Writing joint English Lit course. I'm now back to my uni, taking a Masters in Creative Writing. I've been called foolish for deciding to do this so soon after spending 3 years getting  my degree. I don't think I am though! If you want something, then you should always go for it. Doing my Masters, just seemed the right move to me. I'm loving it right now! I get to read and write all the time and since that is something I love doing, its a perfect fit!

I know that I've not written a post for this blog in ages. I think this is because the one I wrote for my uni sort of took over and then I found that I was repeating myself acrosss the two of them. The idea of pasting and coping stuff on both blogs also didn't last long. So I think that's why this blog has fallen. I'm back now, because I can no longer write my uni blog and have had to find another source for my blog writing.

Instead of creating a whole new blog, I just thought of updating this one. Now my only problem is I can't seem to change my background. I know one of the key things about someone's blog is what they decided to display behind the words they write. I think though, if I did get rid of the bats, then I'd have gone for books or more halloween/dark things. So maybe, it's wise to just stick with them! I know some people might not like them or thing my page is too dark. I can prove that they do fit in though!

To contuine, my current jobs are a writer and a student guide for my uni. At the minute I'm looking for another job, having need of the money and I'm thinking of doing some online freelance work. I also work in my local RSPCA chairty shop. I voleenter there two mornings a week. It gets me out of bed, in a different envioment and meeting new people. I also get to buy a lot of books!

I found this book today- just with a different cover- stuffed in the back room. I couldn't believe it! I've fallen in love with Marakami's writing. I've read Norweigen Wood and Sputinik Sweetheart now. This book and Hard-Boiled Eggs, were on my list to buy. So I got lucky finding it when I did. It's actually a large book, so I'm thinking of making it a summer read, no doubt that won't happen though! I read the first two pages before and was hooked!

I've lost count of the number of people, I've told to go and read Marakami now. The style of his writing is like poetry, because it flows so well, but it is also very simple langauge and highly effective. You get drawn into this world of Japan that he creates and his characters are very real to life. Though his writing style is so simple, tht themes he deals with are not. They come across on many different levels and I'm always pondering over them. So, yeah, if you've not read Marakami go and do so now!

I've to be off now to walk my dogs.

At Home for the summer!

I’m back at home now! I had forgotten how difficult it can be to settle back into my old bedroom and family life. I’ve not been doing much since I moved out of my student room. Mostly it has been sorting out my stuff and deciding where to put it. I’ve to become more radical with my bedroom though! My room is a box and there’s no way all my stuff from my uni can fit back in. So I’m going to have to get rid of a lot of things!

I’ve also started playing Bioshock 1 again. I’m not one for 1 person shooter games normally. I’ve been known to be ‘another player’ when needed, but it’s not been since DOOM back in the ’90′s that I’ve been known to play shooter games by myself. There’s just something about Bioshock though and I think its got to do with the plot and the actually backgrounds to the game. My creative and imaginative sides seem to like the idea of a future that is actually set in the past under the sea. The world of Rapture was designed to give people freedom from the constraints of normal life. What happens though is it goes to every one’s heads and the Utopia is destroyed. So if you’ve not had a chance to play this game yet I’d recommended it! The 3rd one is coming out in Autumn and the movie next year.

Moving on again, I’m currently trying to apply for my Masters in creative writing at EHU. I’m having some trouble getting references right now. So annoying! But references are highly important because they show from another person that you are able to do tasks, you have the skills, right attitude and a good background also. So choosing who to ask is also important so that person can give you the best possible reference to get that place you’re applying for!

I so have the urge to bake cookies now…..think I’m getting all homely. It looks like its going to rain though. I don’t think it has been doing much else since I got home. I hope the weather changes soon though, I go on holiday in about 2 weeks. No where special really, just down the south of England. Looking forward to that, a nice break and a recharge is needed. I’ve not been working on my novels for a while now. I’ve forced myself to take a break, but now getting back into writing is proofing to be a little difficult! There’s lots of techniques to try out though and one of them is just writing whatever comes into your head and not thinking about. Or else, like I’m going to do, just pick up where you left off writing and just let it roll on.

I could do with starting to look at summer jobs too now. Gosh there’s so much to do!

Moving On

Hi readers,

Sorry I didn’t blog early this week! I’ve been busy with a few things and the days are just flying by. I now have only 3 weeks left in my uni house and then I’m moving out and back home! I can’t believe how fast this year has gone, nor the last 3 year. You just get so caught up in student life that for awhile it does feel like an endless streach of time. Like you could be a student for the rest of your life because time is moving far too slowly. Other times though, (like now!) you wonder where the time has gone too and maybe you lost a night partying or maybe redoing an essay? Or like now when uni is ending and it’s offically the last time.

I keep thinking back to all my memories I’ve of my time at uni. I’m still shocked I’ve made it this far really. I’m dysleix, but I’ve a degree in Creative Writing and English Lit now! I’ve not failed or had to redo anything and somehow it looks like I’ll get a 2.1 over all. It just goes to show though, if you love and want to do something so badly, you can over come all of those obsticals life decides to throw at you to get there in the end. Picking yourself up after a fall is often bad and I’ve had a few of them-espically this year- but I’ve pulled throw with the help of my amazing family and friends. There’s no way I’d be the person I’m today without those people! Plus the really good times equal out the bad ones and I’ve had a lot of good times- mostly nights out and trips to Liverpool. Random conversation in the LRC when we had work to do, but chatting was more important. My favourites though are all the times late at night and the small hours of the morning when I’d be up with my housemates just talking. I’m going to miss the 3/4 of us standing in the upstairs hallway outside our rooms just having a laugh. I’ll miss sitting down to watch movies with them and talking through most of it as well! Or singing along to some great songs and knowing that stuff just didn’t matter any more, because we were having a moment together. Yeah, I’m going to miss student life….not the essays though! Not going to miss them!

So, to catch up on what I’ve been up to then…..I’ve been out twice last week-first time random drinks with my housemate and the second time was the last time in the SU/The Venue and Alpine. That was lots of fun and I do have some pics, but since I put the ones of Chester Zoo my friends have rebelled against me. So, I’ll have to sneak them on soon! Also I’ve been reading this;



I’ve be come addicted and I’m gettting through Quinn’s story very fast. I was a little disappointed that it wasn’t more of Lestat’s story, but he’s still making his presence felt. I do love the way Rice writes-she makes this whole world come to life and the characters are so rememberable. I hope my novels will one day capture people the way Rice’s does. I’ve been busy working on mine. Second drafting it and thinking about the way I’m writing. Though I was sadden to hear last week that my tutor who helped me start this work on my novel had passed way. So, I put her name in my dedication, because I’m not going to forget all the help she give me.

I had other things I wanted to write about today, but it loooks I’l have to come back. My housemate is offically leaving and I want to spend a few minutes with him saying goodbye. I hate that stuff has to come to an end. It bugs me! But hopefully a new chapter will be starting soon

Chester Zoo

Hi readers,

Yesterday I spent the day at Chester Zoo with my friends as this cool photo above shows! They take your photo when you enter and you can buy it afterwards. That's what we ended up doing when we saw this pic! It's good as well because you can access them online and there's two other backgrounds one with elephants and the other with rhinos. I like this one though.

We had an amazing day out and took a lot of photos! Some of my pics turned out pretty good and we had a close experience with many of the animals. The weather held out too and it was sunny, though slightly cold in the wind, but all the animals were out. Enough of us went as well, so we were able to catch up on things that had been happening since we were last together. So the zoo was a back drop for us getting together really, but it was still interesting. I've not been to a zoo in awhile, last time must have been Blackpool zoo with college for my animal care course. I think also a small part of me is against zoos, because I like animals to be in the wild as that's where they belong. I know that they are not safe in some areas and the conservation works most zoos do around the world is important to
make sure these wonderful animals are still around for future generations to see for real.




My favourite animals had to be the fruit bats, red pandas, meerkats, the elephants (pic above) and some of the tropical birds, because they were cool. I was most excited about seeing the bats and it's a shame you couldn't take pics inside their house. I don't think they would have turned out anyway, because the bats move so fast and it is really dark. I liked just standing there and watching them flying around. They come really close to you as well and you can feel the air moving around you. I could have spent more time in the bat house, but some of my friends were getting a little scared, so we left. I didn't get any pics of the red pandas either because they were hiding high up in the trees when we walked by. They are really cute though! The meerkats were cute too, because they had babies and I took a lot of photos of them. I'll put them up at the end with some of the other good ones.

In the tropic house there was some cool birds, and we were kept amused by one of these bird which took a liking to one of my housemates! There's video evidence of this as well, but I don't think anyone is going to forget it any time soon. My housemate spend a lot of time whisling and talking to this bird and then he trainned it to follow him. So he would run from one side to the other and the bird would copy him and jump from one branch to the next! We had a right laugh over that and it was hard to tear ourselves away, but more animals were waiting. This is bird below- a White-Crested Turaco.




I also really liked the butterfly house because there was so many large and pretty butterflies fluttering about and it was hard not to stop and stare at all the bright patterns on the wings. It was interesting too because my other housemate wrote her dissertation on butterflies-though it was just the one kind, but she still knew some interesting facts about some of the others. I liked the big black and white ones and watching them drinking up orange juice was really cool. I also really liked the glass wing butterfly because it has see through wings. It was hard to take a photo of, but I think I just about got it. The reason why it's wings are like that is for camaflage so it can survive longer in the wild.



We had a good day out over all and Chester Zoo is well worth the visit any time! They have some many cool animals there and the staff are really friendly and know the different animals well. I've some other cool pics too, so I'm going to put them up now.

Liverpool Night out

Hi readers,

I've been baking again! It's a birthday cake this time for my housemate last saturday. I had a problem with the oven though and there's still two peices of cake sitting on the kitchen table waiting to be eaten! It doesn't taste so bad, but the oven just didn't have the energy to cook the middle, so it was slightly uncooked.....still though it's better then no birthday cake! I think it'll be awhile before I cook cake again though....

On saturday night, I went out to celebrate my housemates birthday and that of my other friend who was turning 21. I spent an age getting ready, because I wanted to curl my hair and wear my dress too. It was worth it though and we set out for her house first with presents and drinks. We did get a little lost once we got off at her station though! But we made it to the party and had time to join in the fun and eat these amazing fairycakes....

Then we headed into Liverpool! Has we had caught the train ahead of everyone getting taxis, we got lost finding the nightclub we were going to meet in. We went to Walkabouts first, but left after one drink to try and find everyone. Luckily, I found the place thanks to a few text messages from another friend and we caught up with the group. After that we went to Krazy House. I'd not been before because it only opens a few nights a week and so far I'd not been on nights out on that night or else other plans had meant that we'd not go to that club. I still can't believe I've missed out on that place for 3 years though, because it was really good. There's like 3 different floors and they play didn't music on each. My favourite was the heavy metal one because that's my kind of music. (We're still at the house in the pic below)

I had a great time and I'm so looking foreward to doing it again soon on just a general night out. We got back at like 3am and had pizza- my idea to make sure we had something in to eat after drinking. So it was like 4am by the time we decided to go to sleep. I didn't take that many photos actually, think all that dancing must have got to me, it didn't help that we lost everyone in Krazy House and then because we had kept to the space we had first gethered in, met up with some of them again. My head was fine in the morning, surpirsingly, but I didn't do much on Sunday!

Not been doing much since really, been writing and reading. Going home tomorrow for a break and a catch up with family and next week I'm off to the zoo!