A testament of Youth.

Next month I turn 22. (Cue ridiculous amounts of people singing a Taylor Swift song at me all year) 

I only graduated University a year ago and, if I'm honest, I knew I wouldn't have my life completely together straight away. To clarify, I don't. But after reading ridiculous amounts of Buzzfeed and Cosmopolitan articles like "30 things to do before you're thirty" and "3,000,000 things every girl does in her twenties", it's nice to know that I'm not the only early twenty-something in the world who doesn't have her whole life together. 

There are those women in the world who graduated University, got their perfect job and are now engaged, with a mortgage and are quite happy. I have two feelings towards those women. I both commend them for being strong willed and unafraid to grab the bull by the horns. But, for goodness sake, they're making girls like me look awful! 

I always knew that wouldn't be me. I'm not a headstrong, work-focused young woman like those girls. I'm lazy and, to be quite honest, sitting in a hot room (like I am right now) typing out cover letters that make me sound interesting and smart is one of my least favourite activities. Well, that, and I'm not interesting. I didn't take a gap year volunteering in a village in Africa building houses. Nor did I teach little Romanian children how to speak English. And I most certainly don't have a Duke of Edinburgh award. Instead,  I have 11 GCSEs, 3 A levels, a 2:1 degree in Drama and a can-do attitude. Surprisingly enough, that hasn't landed me my dream job. 

I bet you're sat there thinking "If she doesn't make a good enough point soon, I'm going back to Facebook". If so, just go with it. 

The saying goes "A Leopard cannot change his spots", this is true. But you can change the body underneath the spots and make the spots look better. It's just a matter of being pro-active. 

If, like me, you're stuck in a bit of a rut and you don't think you're life has a direction or that being in your early twenties is worse than being a teenager, do not fear. The average life expectancy in the UK right now is 81 and a half years old. (If you're reading this is America, its 78 and three quarters), which means you have 60 years to make more bad decisions, life choices, changes and a family. Why rush into things? Go travelling. Make friends. Drink ridiculous amounts of alcohol. The only thing you don't want in life is regrets! 

I've never been one to listen to my own advice, but this time I might. I don't want to be lying on my death bed in 60 years thinking of all the opportunities that I missed and all of the chances I could have taken. There is so much in the world to do and see that, sometimes, risks need to be taken for life to be lived. 

I shall leave you with T-Swift.

So long, and thanks for all the fish. 

Taylor Swift - 22

What a way to make a living!

After finishing University with a good 2:1, it is finally time to get a job and grow up. 

Yeah, because I'm going to grow up. NOT.

But, in terms of employment, I thought it was going to be impossible to get a job when I leave uni. I was terrfied I'd spend the entire summer unemployed and searching fo a job. Joining the extremely long queue of people outside the job centre. 

Alas, it was quite the opposite. 

Though I applied for several jobs in theatre, I admit I was punching above my weight to apply for some jobs I wasn't qualified for. Instead, I applied for jobs that could keep me going until I found my perfect job. So, in light of this, I went online for days on end applying for anything I knew I could do: Serving food, working in a shop, bar tender. I applied for about 50-60 jobs in a few days. And, true to form, I got at least 6 replies for interviews and from those, I was offered the job. 6 interviews, 6 jobs. It was crazy. 

I started by taking up a job at Pizza Hut, working in the kitchen making pizzas and then eventually progressing to waitressing. It wasn't the best job, but it was a job and it was money. After working there for a week, I received a phone call from another interview I'd had. They were offering me a part time position, even though I'd interviewed for a full-time role. It was less money than pizza hut, but it gave me the chance to progress in the future. Naturally, I was in a pickle. Do I take a risk and take the part-time job, or stick it with Pizza Hut and hope for the best? I had one weekend to make up my mind. 

Then, to make it worse, whilst I was trying on clothes in a New Look changing room, I had a phonecall offering me Full-Time in the role. I decided to take it, simply because it was a better opportunity than Pizza Hut. 

Since accepting the job at Pizza Hut originally, I keep getting an influx of people offering me interviews. One was from a job I didn't even apply for, but they received my CV through a website I uploaded my CV on to. 

In retrospect, I would have applied to some places that I avoided (Because I thought I wouldn't be able to work there) because I feel that, actually, I would have been good at them. But now, I have a salary job, which means I can start paying off my student loan, a 2:1 degree and I'm sending off plenty of applications for Agents. So, maybe in the near or distant future, I'll get plenty of responses from them as well. 

If you are applying for jobs at the moment - Don't feel disheartened when you get a rejection. Take it on the chin and find out where you might have gone wrong. Mostly, feel grateful that they replied to you. Out of the jobs I applied for, I only got 10 rejections and 6 interviews. The rest just didn't bother to reply. 

Just keep your head up and know that the right job will come around soon enough. If it makes you feel better, Johnny Depp used to sell Ballpoint Pens over the phone before he became the great actor he is today! 

Good luck!

Dolly Parton - 9 to 5

The fault in our times...

As you may have guessed by the title of the blog, I have recently finished reading The Fault in Our Stars by John Green. A beautifully written book which shows that Oblivion may be inevitable, but there's also an infinity there for everyone.

This isn't going to be a boring book review, don't worry, but it is going to be a reflection.

After reading the book, it made me realise that love stories are more than just boy meets girl, they fall in love and have babies, end of. There's so much more depth and beauty in a story than that. Disney Princess stories are typically an hour and a half of a strong female protagonist doing something cool, fighting baddies and winning the heart of a young man. And, as much as I love a typical love story like that, I prefer stories that don't have love at the heart of them. Obviously, TFIOS follows Hazel and Augustus' relationship, but at the same time, its also following Hazel's time with Gus, as opposed to just their 'lovey dovey stuff'.

Lets take, for example, Legally Blonde.

Elle Woods is a Fashion Major and President of her University's Soroity, she hopes to become engaged to her sweetheart, Warner... Who has other plans. He dumps her. She eventually follows him to Harvard Law School, where she aims to win him back. (BUT THAT'S A LOVE STORY, I hear you cry.)

Incorrect. The love story appears towards the end of the film. The whole of the film follows Elle through a tough semester, working her way to the top of the food chain, earning her own way and proving that there is more to her than just her blonde hair. She doesn't fall in love until the end of the film, when you see her and Emmett grow closer. And then, in the second film, (SPOILER) though she is marrying Emmett, that's put aside to show Elle becoming a successful lawyer.

Why is this important? Well, how many other films are there where the love of the female protagonist is put second? I'm sure there are a few good ones, but that's the problem, there are only a few.

What's my point? Why are we so engrossed in ridiculous ideas of love and fantasy? Why can't we all embrace our inner Elle and try and prove the people who have hurt us in our lives, wrong?

Frozen proved it right even more so:

If you're one of the few people out there who haven't seen Frozen, here's a run down. The girl pictured is Anna. She is one of two Princesses of Arendelle, with her older sister Elsa. However, after an accident as a child, Anna and Elsa are separated as Elsa has dangerous Ice and Snow powers which she loses control of and hits Anna, leaving her scared with a white streak in her hair. Eventually, they grow up and after the death of their parents Elsa must become Queen of Arendelle. At her Coronation, the people of Arendelle find out about Elsa's powers, and so Elsa runs away into the mountains. (And she sings the famous 'Let it Go')

This is where the story gets interesting, and important to this post. During Elsa's Coronation day, Anna meets Hans, a charming young Prince, because what else would you expect from a Disney Princess, right? Wrong. (Spoiler alert) Hans is a loser. Whilst Anna goes in search of Elsa in the mountains, she leaves her betrothed Hans, who she met the same day (Don't worry, Disney redeem themselves later on), in charge of Arendelle. If you want the rest of the plot, click here. (Another spoiler) All is well in the end.  What I'm trying to say is that there are two heroines in this story. Not just one, but two, as Elsa, though it seems as if she is the antagonist, is as strong as her sister. And, rather than the story being focused around the traditional form of love and marriage, we find that the strongest form of love comes from siblings. You could be separated for as many years as Anna and Elsa were, but you can still be there for each other and love each other. And it's beautiful. 

WE NEED MORE GIRL POWER FILMS. 

My favourite example of a girl power film, despite Frozen and Legally Blonde is Matilda. 

A story of a smart young girl who uses her brains to help other people, as well as her self. And the best part of this film, I hear you ask? There is no love story. Matilda does everything she does for the love of her friends, not just because there is a cute boy that she wants to marry. It could be said that Miss Honey and Matilda is the story's equivalent of a Happy Ending, rather than a traditional love story, because she does find love in Miss Honey, that which she lacked from her birth family, a slightly less traditional family love. Though there are some women in Matilda who are presented as vain or greedy, the story focuses on what you can achieve with the right support and motivation. 

What I'm trying to say is, there are too few films out there that focus on people's stories, instead they focus simply on love. Throwing in a love story to a film adaptation just because it'll make it more interesting? No. For the Fault in Our Stars, the love was the story. But for Legally Blonde, Frozen and Matilda, the story was the protagonist and their events. Any love that came out of it was naturally integrated into the story or wasn't present throughout. Make more films that tell the story and less films where a female protagonist is hopelessly in love with a man, who isn't actually that important to the story, for no good reason. 

Destiny's Child - Independent Women

Modesty, and all that.

I've never really been a campaigner.

I give money to charities and I enjoy fundraising, but leading a group of people into a campaign is never something I've been good at.

This week, it's emerged that my Union have banned the sale of The Sun newspaper on campus, because of the Page 3 content and it's suggestions of it being a 'family friendly' publication. Which, don't get me wrong, is great. It's stopping the exploitation of women, it's promoting gender equality, etc.

But, the thing that gets me, is that the newspapers are always on the bottom shelf, tucked away, so you can't even see them and everyone knows that the page is going to have a half naked woman on it, and if you don't want to look at it, buy a different newspaper. However, when you stand in line for your sandwich at lunch time, you look at the magazines and the rack is full of women displaying their racks (If you'll pardon the pun) Magazines, like FHM, are displayed quite prominently in the shop in full view of customers, and the women aren't exactly very well covered up.

(I used a PG friendly version, just to prove a point.)

I'm glad that the Sun is being banned, it's a great step on the route to the end of the sexualisation of women, but PLEASE can FHM be next? Because, I don't know about you, but I don't really like the idea of a half naked lady pointing in my direction when I'm on about to eat. It feels wrong somehow. 

It's unlikely, but say a child is to walk into the Union Shop they're more likely to see the magazines with the women on than look at the newspapers, which are lined across each other, often out of view.

At the very least, following the trend and covering them with 'modesty bags' just so we don't have to see them.

So, this marks the start of my 'campaign' (It's probably not going to be that big a deal) to follow in the work of the Union, and stop publications like this from being so openly available and visible in the shops. First stop - The Better Staffs Forum in a few weeks. Nothing might come of this, but I'm going to fight for it. Because it's something I believe in. And I also hate, when I have my fatty meal deal, a skinny woman mocking me as I go to pay for it. 

It's probably not the best time for a joke, but I have to end on something funny. 

Slumpy slumps...

I have recently hit a slump. Both in body and in mind.

Now, don't worry, this isn't going to be a depressing blog about how I'm giving up on life and not putting any effort in anymore. And it's also not going to be one of those annoyingly motivating 'I'M GOING TO CHANGE EVERYTHING ABOUT MY LIFE' blogs.

Basically, I'm a firm believer in Karma, everything happening for a reason, etc etc. I don't know why, it's all rubbish, but I'm sure I believe in that more than I believe in Christianity, because I have proof of that happening. ANYWAY (getting off topic) I'm basically saying that the Universe decides everything, not us.

I know, right. I'm a deep person.

Recently, I've had a lot of downturns in my life: Couple of bad grades, lost an election, got a bad attitude, among other things that I'm not cool with posting on the interwebs. Because this has all happened, I felt, at first, depressed. Like, really sad all the time. I'd not talk to anyone, would be slamming doors in people's faces, and it would make everyone else feel uncomfortable. And it wasn't nice.

Things kept getting worse and I felt worse and the people around me felt worse. I wasn't getting anywhere.

Then I realized, I can't sit on my bottom and expect the world to stop turning because I've had a bad couple of weeks. You have to move on and find new opportunities for yourself, because they sure as hell won't come to you.

You've got to find a telescope that is big enough to look over the whole horizon, not just a tiny spot.

I'm getting all philosophical.

If you're sitting at home, right now, reading this after having a rejection email from a job you applied for or the love of your life just broke up with you, just take a deep breath and remember that there are better things for you out there, despite how it might feel right now.

Something good always comes around eventually, but sometimes you have to go and find it!

Procrastinating.

I'm supposed to be writing an essay right now. But I got bored and decided to write a blog to get my mind off it and re-focus my mind on something else for half an hour. I mean, I wrote about 150-200 words in about half an hour, and none of it makes sense, so my thinking is, if I stop, I'll have a reboot of my brain and  I can change it and make it better and get a first. 

It's weird logic, but it's my logic and it normally works. Except the 'getting a first' part. That never happens. 

Apart from last year. Once. When I wrote an essay in three hours and got a really high grade. 

But I digress. 

Christmas is over for another year. So is New Year. 

Now, I'm not a fan of this whole 'New Year, New Me' rubbish, because I don't want to change right now. I think I'm heading in the right direction. I've lost some weight over the past 12 months, I've improved at University and I've improved my general being. 

I mean, obviously, I'm not a size 8, I'm not getting straight firsts and I'm not nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize, but, you know what, I'm improving. And that counts for something. Not much, but something. 

I don't have a specific New Years resolution, because I never stick to them and, to be honest, I don't fancy saying 'Oh, I'm giving up chocolate' or 'Oh, I'm not going to watch as much tv' because I love chocolate and tv too much to give them up. And I probably wouldn't stick to that one anyway. 

Instead, I'm going to carry on with where I'm going from last year, because I can't help but think I'm on the right lines. Eating well, exercising and just generally feeling better as a person. 

I mean, come on, I graduate this year, I need to buck up my ideas or no-ones going to hire me, are they? 

2014 is the start of my life, I turn 21, I graduate, I'm going travelling... 

I actually have to start taking things seriously and focusing. 

Anyway, I should probably get back to this 5,000 word essay, other wise I'm never going to graduate. It's not like I've got another 2,500 word essay to do as well or anything. No. Not at all. 

I hope you all have a happy and prosperous 2014 and you achieve all that you want to achieve! 

Live long and prosper! 

ABBA - Happy New Year 

(Seems fitting seeing as the majority of my essay is about ABBA and Mamma Mia.) 

Wake me up when it's all over...

This is it. 
The beginning of the end. 

I'm starting the third year of my university life. And it's going well already. 

No, seriously. That wasn't meant to be saracastic at all! I'm really having an amazing time. 

And we've only just finished Fresher's Week. 

I've decided that I'm going to aim for a first for my degree. I know it's a high target but, at the end of the day, you have to aim high to get anywhere in life. I won't be disapoointed if I only get a 2:1 or a 2:2 but I want to try for the highest possible. 

There are quite high possibilities of me being unemployed for a while after I graduate University. And that's not a very nice thought. So, the higher the grade, the more likely I am to get a highly paid job or getting onto an amazing MA course, which is also a possiblility apparently. 

This year is just going to be me grabbing the Bull by it's horns and facing life head on. I've already found closure on my summer and my youth and I think I'm ready to grow up and go out into the real world and live and function like a normal adult. Which is something I never thought I'd be able to say about myself. 

And I haven't even started third year properly yet. Bloomin' heck. 

So wish me luck as I dive into the unknown and start to grow up. 

Peace out. 

Wake Me Up - Avicii 

“Imagination is the beginning of creation." - George Bernard Shaw.

I'm not the most creative of people. If you were to give me a piece of paper and a pencil and told me to draw, the most creative thing I could do is a cloud. Or a sheep. Which is essentially a cloud with four black sticks for legs. 

I'm not one of those people who goes around saying 'I hate people that are naturally good at drawing' or whatever, because I'm not really jealous of them. They're naturally talented and creative, they should be celebrated, and I've always been bad at drawing. It's not what I want to do, so why should I declare my hatred for them? 

However, the people I am jealous of are people who can wake up in the morning, sit at a piano and write a beautiful song. Or sit at a computer and write a beautiful story. That, to me, is one of the most amazing type of creativity. Words are the most important thing a human being can produce. Yes, a picture paints a thousand words, but without the words to inspire the picture, then what is the point? 

I have tried, many times, to write songs, poems, plays, stories, and none of them have ever been finished because the words don't feel right. And if the words aren't right, then the story that you're telling isn't good enough. 

'Imagination is the beginning of creation' is one of my favourite quotes to live by. If you can imagine something, then you have the potential to make it happen and you can create it in your own way. 

I might sound like a hypocrite, because I'm not imaginative or creative, but I love to try and create new things. They aren't always original, but trying and failing is the best way to discover something new. 

Anyway, the point of this is: If you ever get the chance to give a character a voice, do it. Because words are wonderful things, and there are people in the world who don't have a voice. So, when you create the words, make them count. 

Farewell. 

Everybody Talks - Glee Cast

(A bit of a tenuous link, but there ya go.)

The final countdown...

I am one month away from leaving teenage-hood forever. 

OH MY GAWD. 

But seriously, what? I've got to start being mature, and do adult-type things like pay for my own phonebill and stuff... Since when did I have to grow up? 

Anyway, lets not worry about the future. Because I'm all about living in the now. 

I'm still 19. For now. I've got one more month of being immature and acting like a 5-year-old in public places, I might as well make the most of it. I've got things planned for my birthday, and running up to it, and I will release my inner child into the world for one last 'hurrah' before having to climb back into myself and start being grown up.

Last year, I tried to compile a list of things I wanted to do before I turned 19. 

That didn't happen. 

So  I turned it into a list of things I wanted to do before I turned 20. 

I forgot about it. 

And, before you say anything, I'm not going to try and make a list of things I want to do before I'm 21! Instead, I want to simply say this: 

My childhood hasn't been the greatest. It was difficult growing up, as it is for anyone, and it's awful to say that I had the worst childhood, because I certainly didn't. But that doesn't mean that I'm happy it's ending. Instead, it's a new page of a new chapter in the story of my life. Something new to look forward to. It may be scary, in fact, it's terrifying, but I'm  willing to grab the bull by the horns and attack life. I will take every opportunity I am given. Take risks. Be daring. And I want all of my friends and family to be there, standing by my side. Just like I would do for them. Wish me luck as I delve into the big, bad, scary, exciting world. Who knows where I'll end up. Whether I'll live in a mansion in the country or an apartment in the city, I will get somewhere in life if it kills me! See you on the other side. 

xxx

'Broadway, Here I Come' -Smash

Completing each other's... sandwiches?

As per usual, I learnt an important lesson from an American Sit-com. 

I have a problem with closure. 

(In other words, things have to be finished, or I get all Sheldon Cooper.) 

I hate when someone tries to say something, stops mid-sentence, and then completely changes the topic. Like, seriously, just finish your sentence. 

But sometimes, it's a lot more serious. 

If someone's started something, like a project, and they stop half way through, it bugs me. If I've put time and energy into something, and then half way along the line, we just stop, I get frustrated. And it's happened so many times to me. Why start something that you know, mid-way through, you're going to stop because it's going to fail or you can't fund it. If you know it might not work out the way you want, don't bother trying and let people down. It's not worth it. 

It's even more serious with unfinished business. For example, if I have a bit of trouble with someone, and we've parted ways before I've had chance to say what I've wanted to say, I literally get full of rage. Again, it happens a lot more than people expect. (I have a lot of enemies who walk away too easily, put simply.)

I am the sort of person who,  despite something going obviously wrong, I'll see it through until the end. Because, even if it does go horribly wrong, I've still had the chance to see it through, rather than giving up and wondering what could've been. 

The only exception to all this is when I say 'I'm going to get fit and exercise'. That's usually the only thing I don't see through fully. 

To finish off this blog (see what I did there?) I couldn't find an appropriate song, simply a video clip demonstrating the exact frustration I have with my issues regarding closure. 

From The Big Bang Theory. Naturally. American Sit-Coms have all the answers. 

A scene from The Big Bang Theory. 

And now the end is near...

So, I just arrived home from Uni at the end of my second year. And I found myself crying in my room before I left. (My mum was in the car so she didn't see me. Score.)

It's upsetting though, isn't it, when you find yourself in a situation where you have to... Grow up. I don't like it. I don't want to live in the big, scary world. It's scary enough being in the world protected living with my mum and having everything done for me when I come home on weekends. The fact that in a years time, I'm going to have to move out and grow up terrifies me. 

Hence why I cried in my room. 

I know I have a whole year left of University, you don't have to remind me, but it still feels like I should be a Fresher arriving on my first day. But I've already done two years. The time has just flown. And it's weird. I want to go back to that first day. When I met my housemates and we stayed up for hours getting to know each other. To the first few weeks when I met the people I now can't live without.

I'm not sure I'm ready or mature enough to grow up and live on my own and have to do stuff on my own. Fair enough I'm at Uni and have to live alone, but I have friends around me all the time, so there's always somewhere to go if I get lonely. The second I get home next year, I'm alone again. Everyone will get jobs and boom, you're on your own in the world

I'm going to make the most out of third year. Take all the opportunities given to me. And embrace life. Because as soon as I leave, I'll regret every decision I didn't make and every wrong choice.  You only get once chance to be at University properly, I'm going to do it right and I'm going to graduate and not be a failure. 

This is probably the most overplayed song at graduation parties, but I don't care right now. It's just perfect. 

Simple Minds - Don't You (Forget about me)

Willkommen, Bienvenue, Welcome back!

HELLO! 

Okay, so I haven't posted in a while. (Dreadfully sorry.) And I know you all missed me terribly. 

I've just had a very busy year. 

No, seriously. I have. 

But I must apologise in advance. Because I have a very busy summer ahead.

No, seriously. 

However, let me back track a bit. 

I've just finished my second year of University. That was fun. And hectic. And scary. And infuriating. But fun.  But it's all over now, thankfully, and I can look forward to the AMAZING year ahead... and then the real world. I'm not looking forward to that at all. 

As well as my course, though, I have been busy doing sport (kinda.) and my beloved 'Am Dram' (Pictured below) And that's probably what got me through the year. When my course got that little bit too tough, I have my friends there afterwards to push me through (And occasionally telling me to shut up because I was being seriously stupid)  and I appreciate it so much!

Thanks Guys <3 

I did a couple of shows, had a couple of nights out. Got a bit drunk. I shan't say anymore: 

And so, next year. Well. It's looking good already. Got myself a job. Got some good modules. Hopefully, I'll finish my degree with an average 2:1 and then I can spend the rest of my life in debt with no job prospects. It's always good to be positive, right?

Any who. I shall have to leave you. Hopefully, I'll keep blogging over the summer, in my usual annoying manner. However, I've now got a proper job and a fitness regieme. Yes. I'm getting fit. So what? 

In the meantime, I'll try and keep you updated on my mediocre student life and suchwhich. 

Farewell. 

Taylor Swift - 22

(This song is for my Uni buddies. This song describes my life at Uni. Apart from the fact I'm 19. Not 22.) 

Since you've been gone...

Sorry I haven't been blogging for a while, I've had a lot on my plate.

I've recently moved back up to the land of Stoke on Trent for the second year of Uni. I've been packing, sorting out my student finance (Which was a nightmare) and generally getting myself together. 

I had my birthday, which was nice. Then I had a lot of work. Can't complain about that, to be honest, it's getting me money. Something of high value to me. 

But I still can't wait to get back to studying. I'll try and keep my blog all updated for you all, because it's always so thrilling. Sometimes, though, finding an interesting topic to write about is harder than actually writing it. So bear with me if I don't blog for a very long time. 

So, anyway, previously in my life (To quote the fabulous Miranda Hart) I've become a Welcome Week Rep for Freshers Week at Uni. Or, as they are called by most people, a 'Purple Person'. Basically, I walk around campus in a purple t-shirt, offering help to Freshers who feel lost. It's only volunteer work, but it's all good to put on the C.V for when I want to get a job. It's all 'Such Fun!' (Sorry, I'm in a Miranda-quoting mood today)

Hopefully, I'll be all moved into my new house in a week or so, I'm just sofa-hopping at the moment. Sleeping wherever I can. Living off a small amount of money. Today, I had only £1.30 to go and do shopping with. I ended up spending £1.10 and got enough food for 5 days. I've never been so chuffed. 

I don't get my loan for a week or two, so I now have £5 to last me, unless I get a miracle amount of money. So, until then, I'm living on chicken noodle tinned soup and some kind of sachet food that serves 4 people that I can make then keep it in the fridge for a few days and keep eating little bits of it. I'm a very resourceful student. Can you tell? 

Anyway, that's a recap of my life. It's still not very interesting, but thanks for reading the update anyway. It's much appreciated. I'm just going to use this moment to thank you all for reading. I've recently hit nearly 700 views on my blog and I'm grateful for each and everyone. Thank you very much. I love you all.

Keep calm and carry on. 

Since U Been Gone - Kelly Clarkson

Back to school again...

Another summer gone. Another glum start to the academic year for all the young school children who wish their summer holidays were much longer. Wishing they had a few more days of freedom before heading back to the depressing corridors and classrooms of their school. 

I completely sympathize with them. I hated going back to school. 

But then, when you get to my age (Apologies for sounding like an oldie), and you're at Uni, you find yourself WANTING to go back early. Those kids must think we're crazy. 

University just has a different vibe to it. There's more freedom, everyone bonds and you just enjoy yourself. In Schools these days, kids judge each other and bully each other so easily. There are different friendship groups and gangs forming, that it's hard for kids to make friends so easily. No wonder they don't want to go back. 

The thing I hated most about going back to school was the awkward conversations about your summer that you'd always have with people: 

Person: "Did you go anywhere nice over the summer?"
Me: "Nope, stayed at home most of the time."
Person: "Did you go out on day trips anywhere? A theme park? The Zoo?"
Me: "I went shopping a couple of times?" 
Person: "Go and see any family or friends?"
Me: "I had a small birthday party."
Person: "Oh, that's nice what did you do?"
Me: "Stayed at home"

I never did anything in the summer. So, I suppose, the only good thing about going back to school was having something to do instead of sitting around waiting for something to happen. I think it's fair to say I wasn't a very 'pro-active' child. 

Anyway, if you're heading back to school, College, Sixth Form or University, just remember this: Every year is a new beginning. Use this to make a new start if last year was rubbish. Start buckling down, doing your work and make this year your greatest. 

That sounded really pretentious and I apologise profusely. 

Just have a great year and try not to get into trouble too much.  

Stay classy, San Diego. 

Pink Floyd - Another Brick in the Wall

Happy birthday to youuuuuu!!!

It was my birthday this week, which is why I haven't been around much... Sorry.

But, on my birthday, I woke up at 6:45. Yes, you read that right, I woke up at 6:45. And, as usual on your birthday, once you're awake you can't go back to sleep. So, I stayed awake until about 8am, which I thought was a reasonable time to go downstairs and make a cup of tea and open my pressies!

But, before I did, I got my present and card from my lovely boyfriend. I wasn't expecting much, but I got a card shaped as a TARDIS. The cutest card I've ever seen! Then I read the cute message inside: Georgie, I might not be Matt Smith or the Doctor. But this card makes up for that. Pretty happy that you're my companion. More than happy. Here's a fez.*picture of fez.* Have a great birthday.

He's rather charming, isn't he?  Then, just to top off the cuteness, he got me a home made Hufflepuff bracelet, which looks amazing! I reckon he did a good job. 

So, as well as my awesome card and bracelet, I got some useful Uni stuff from my mum. Including an air bed which, as weird as it sounds, I wanted. If I have visitors at Uni,  they have somewhere comfy to sleep, as I don't think my sofa will be comfy enough. I got some pretty awesome stuff overall. 

My sister told me off for waking up so early on my birthday. Well, I say she told me off; She said that I shouldn't wake up so early on my birthday. I'm growing up. I'm getting old. 

She had a point. 

Apart from the 'getting old' thing. I'm still as immature as I was when I was 7.

Sorry to go on about my birthday, especially if you don't have a birthday for a while. I just like talking about it. If you prefer I do a countdown until Christmas then that can be arranged. Trust me, I love Christmas. 

To anyone who had a birthday recently, the song at the end of this blog is for you! 

Keep calm and carry on. 

Stevie Wonder - Happy Birthday

Birthday blues...

Normally, in the weeks leading up to my birthday, I'm all excited about becoming a year older. 

When you're younger, you look forward to all the presents, silly party games, and all the other stuff children do at parties. 

But as I get older, with the exception of my 18th birthday, I haven't really felt the buzz I used to get. 

I guess it's just because I don't like the idea of getting older. It scares me. I'm going to have to live in the real world and get a job and stuff... It doesn't sound all that fun to me. 

Despite this, I'm turning 19 in under a week and I'm determined to say goodbye to my year as an 18-year-old in style, as I haven't really had chance before. My 18th was fun, but this year will be better! 

I'm doing what the Queen does. TWO BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS. Because I'm greedy. 

Yes, not one birthday celebration but two. I say "Celebration" because they're not really parties. They're more 'getting together and going out'-type celebrations. One on my actual birthday and one when I get back to Uni, considering not many people could actually make it to my birthday. 

I used to want my birthday to be like the spoiled brat birthday parties you see on MTV, where they all get a snazzy new car and a pretty dress. They all seem to have hundreds of friends, even though very few of them actually get invited. 

Then I realised that I don't have a rich daddy. So I usually just settled for whatever I could manage. 

I guess there isn't really a tale to take away from this blog post other than enjoy your youthful birthday parties, because they only happen once a year. Unless you're the Queen. 

Carpe Diem. 

We Are Young - FUN

"And bad mistakes, I've made a few"

We've all made mistakes. We can't deny it, we can't repress them. They happened and, annoyingly enough, we have to learn from them and carry on with our lives.

Mistakes are the worst thing to happen to anyone because, once they've happened, we have to face the consequences. We can't change the past.

I'm really good at making mistakes and then not learning from them.

I'm not going to sit here and list every mistake I've ever made because the post will just never end. (Plus, some of them are just so cringeworthy!)  

Some of you may remember the post I did a couple of weeks ago called "Nothing Good Ever Happens After 2am". I still stick to this motto. It's currently 2:04 and I can already feel any sense of staying sane dripping from my body. So I decided to write a blog post. It's a brilliant idea that can't fail. 

I'm always the first person to admit that life has been a bumpy road. I've said things I shouldn't, done stupid things and risked a lot. But, for me, this has made me a stronger person. I know it seems weird but it's true. I wouldn't be the person I am today if I hadn't made the mistakes I have. 

(By the way, if you don't like me at the moment, then I am sorry for making the mistakes and being who I am. Just thought I'd cover all of the bases.) 

Some of the things I have done may seem unfair or cruel, but I accept that and I have moved on. 

What I don't understand, however, is when I've done something wrong but accepted fault and apologised, outsiders always try and make it worse. They always stick their oar in where it isn't needed and it makes me really angry. 

If two people are having a dispute, they don't need a third party, who isn't even involved, to start causing trouble. It just makes things worse. So stop it. It's none of your business. It's between the two people arguing and no-one else. 

Okay, rant over. 

I hope this short post has given you a different perspective on things. If you know two people are having trouble, just stay out of the way and let them sort their problems out on their own. It makes everything easier and it's over quicker. 

Just keep swimming. 

We Are the Champions - Queen 

Misery guts...

WHY ARE WE ALL SO MISERABLE. 

British people always have something to complain about. Normally it's the weather, the fact we've got no money or the fact that someone else is complaining about something. 

And, usually, if we are miserable about anything we take it out on the people around us. And they don't often have anything to do with it. 

We always seem to blame things that have happened to us on other people. Then we just aim all of our anger at them. 

It's a bad example I know, but this happens to me at where I work all the time. If something has happened to something that a customer purchased, they always seem to blame me if something happened to it. When, actually, it was probably their fault if it had broken. 

I don't understand why we are always so miserable. There is just no pleasing anyone these days. 

We all need a little boost of happiness in our lives everyday. Then we might just cheer up a little bit. 

In an attempt to cheer you up today, here's a picture of a cat with it's head through a slice of bread. If that doesn't cheer you up even a little bit, then you're impossible. 

See, it's hilarious. 

So, next time you're taking your misery out on another person, who actually has nothing to do with what you're miserable about, just step back and realise what you're doing. And find a reason to smile everyday. Whether it be a picture of a cat in bread or a funny video on youtube, just make an attempt to make the world slightly less miserable. 

Keep your chins up.

Always Look on the Bright Side of Life - Monty Python - Life of Brian