The Office of Lost and Found

I'm still only half way through, but I gotta say- it's pretty epic. Well done Vince! I felt the need to do some doodelz... so here ya go xD

The Madness that is Freshers Week

Well it's been one of the most mental weeks of my life, maybe just falling short of Freshers Week last year, when I had moved from home to live with a bunch of strangers and went out drinking every night (except one, when we drank at the house and watched resident evil).

This year has seen me starting up a new club (Choir) and manning the committee for the Kayaking club, but perhaps one of the most talked about events of the week has been the Rugby boys. At the start of the week a bunch of the Rugby players had been drinking in the Dive (SU bar) all morning, but were kicked out for a couple of hours to prepare for the night ahead. A mother dropping off a fresher had hired out a van to help move in, and as she was driving away a group of the boys pulled off one of the doors.

But that isn't all they've done!

As written about in the Worcester News one of them, dressed as the Hulk (there were three rugby boys as hulks) smashed up a car on Henwick road, and on another night they ripped blackboards from a pub's wall.

Mental! Myself, I've been very well bahaved. *cough* by that I mean I've caused no criminal damage or got in any fights ;) well... it IS freshers week.

FantasyCon

Well I made the trip to Nottingham last weekend to take part in FantasyCon (thanks to Hagelrat) where I had the chance to see some familiar faces from Theakston's Old Peculiar Crime Festival in Harrogate earlier this year.

As happened in Harrogate, I did have a wee bit to drink (though nowhere near as much and not with such dire consequences!) I may still have been the youngest there! But this time I did end up going to a couple of the panels, such as the one where a group of authors discussed crossing genres through their career. Or, as it was put- "being a whore" which was interesting :P

I did also meet a lot of great new people, such as Robert Shearman (who I pretended to be for about half the night using his name tag), Lee Harris,  Suw and a girl called Hollie who works in marketing :) No lush italian boys but well, you can't be that lucky all the time...

Though it was good seeing all of the Un:Bounders, so I can remind myself I'm not the only one suffering as a minion of Adele.

The cat ears made a rather stunning comeback, and we got a few people photographed wearing them! Not that Adele has provided a link to the photos yet. I only have this one of Lee.

It was a lot of fun though, and despite the fact that by the time I was meant to film the award ceremony with Vince I was seriously unsteady on my feet I think I made some friends. I got a great little notebook from Suw though! It's green! and SHINY!

Picked up LOADS of great free books as well, and got a few signings in which helped :)

Also, check out this little guy! So cute! Apparently he's evil... I'll have to read the book Moxyland by Lauren Beukes to find out then! :o

Gah

Emotional tirades are always sickening. I have no excuse except that I've had a bloody awful week xD

This has meant the diet went to pot and somehow I put on almost a whole stone after almost managing to lose that much (after 6 weeks) which sucks! And two members of my four-man committee that were helping to put together a choir have dropped out, which has meant that I've taken on their jobs, and am run to the ground.

And the consequence of this? I'm going to see Resident Evil tonight with friends I've not seen in ages, which should be having me all excited! And all I can think is that I don't want to go out and show them how huge I am. I'm actually considering not going out- because said friends are two boys and two very pretty, rather thin girls.

Why do I have good looking friends?

Joy.

Why the world is better off without spiders

I could only bring myself to include a small spider picture- freaks me out! But I'm not alone; about half of women and 10% of men have a phobia of spiders. Making it the most common phobia around. Looking at it this way- a lot of people would be much happier if spiders were as rare as Dodo birds.

In a recent conversation I had over the phone to my mum (while trying to figure out how to get rid of a particularly nasty hyper spider that was making a web across my kitchen doorway) I was told "but without spiders we'd be overrun by flies" to which I very quickly replied that I would rather have to kill flies all the time than spiders! (I was also told spiders are harmless- but that's not true! They bite!)

And besides- spiders aren't the only things that eat flies. We have frogs! I would quite happily be surrounded by frogs; they're cute, and I can touch one without bursting into tears and hyperventilating. Yes, there are poisonous frogs... but they don't hide in your shoes and find it more difficult to get into your house!

Look at the frog. Isn't he sweet? Wouldn't you rather find him in your house than the eight legged freaks that scurry around attaching themselves to everything?

Yes. I want a world without spiders. :D Muchly

Cornwall

Having spent a week in Cornwall with the family, I can safely say that my poor camera has been well and truly beat up. It has a UV filter STUCK on it, and two dodgy memory cards. I'm missing a lens cap, and a battery charger.

But somehow, I got some decent pictures :D

Murder Mysteries and Genii

Today while doing the ironing (I'm doing cleaning and stuff for my mum at the moment while staying here) I started watching the Poirot box set and it just made me remember how much fun they actually are. The first ten minutes or so are spent saying "He's dead." or "She's dead" as you try to guess who'll die first (and sometimes second) the rest is spent trying to guess who did it. The difficulty with the Agatha Christie ones is that you hardly ever get it right. You're looking for someone who's focused on a lot, then someone who's not given much thought by the characters, but none of these work- it's so frustrating! The bloody woman is too clever for me!

On another note, the new Artemis Fowl book is out today :D YAY my dad's gonna pick it up while at work so I can get a head start reading it :) The first ones may have been the best, but the later ones are interesting and still a lot of fun, so we'll see how it goes.

Men!

(Warning- prepare for mini-rant)

Recently I've been seeing a guy, and it's been going really well. He wanted me to work near his family home over summer, and honestly, no ones been so sweet to me. I went to spend a weekend with him and overnight things made a total about turn. He started ignoring me, and although I got on with all his friends ridiculously well. Gah.

Now it takes a lot for me to like someone that much, but I like to think I go with the flow pretty well; I've not sent any moany texts, and I've barely mentioned it to my housemates (something Natalie gets annoyed at me for- she likes gossip) and this is the last I'll mention of how annoying the whole situation is by my own prompt.

The reason I'm writing about it, is because on Monday night I went out with renewed confidence (though why I'm not sure) and got on very well with a guy I don't plan on seeing again. (To clarify, I don't do one night stands, he didn't come over) but apparently one of my housemates told me he liked me and I shrugged and walked away.

That is totally out of character for me, and I'm horrified- I don't even remember it. Anyway I've apologized and explained that I think of all my housemates like siblings, so hopefully it won't be too weird around here. Anyway, I'm now packing to move house, and going to see the parents tomorrow.

Gah. Love lifeness sucks

Oscar the Bionic Cat

I first saw this story on the news (and cried a little bit) a while ago, and when perusing BBC iplayer I found the documentary about it and watched it about an hour ago.

I have to say, this story is amazing.

Oscar the cat (pictured) had both his back feet taken off when sunbathing in a maize field near his home in Jersey, when a combine harvester caught both his back legs.

Luckily, the local vet had heard of a man in Surrey, Noel Fitzpatrick of Fitzpatrick Referrals, who was a man who used engineering with veterinary practice to help animals who would otherwise be put down. After meeting Oscar and his owner, Noel agreed that Oscar, who was only two years old and of an "above average personality" was a perfect candidate for a thus far theoretical procedure. If the experimental practice succeeded, Oscar would be the first ever Bionic cat, having metal pegs bonded to the bones in his ankles via a drilled hole and chemical covering to encourage bone cell growth.

Basically, after a three hour surgery, healing time and a quick connecting of the prosthetic feet to the protruding joint, Oscar was up on his feet and even climbing around the surgery. Noel's reaction to the success of the operation had me a little bit tearful, it was lovely!

You can see this and more of Noel's work on BBC iplayer, under "Bionic Vet"

Zombies- and possible hideouts should they attack Worcester

Having reviewed World War Z by max brooks on Un:Bound, I've noticed that I am moving to a very insecure location next month.

VERY insecure.

I am leaving behind a solid metal security gate (which can't be easily climbed) with a house that has only one window facing the street outside this secure courtyard (easily secured) and rooftop access to stocked stores in Worcester. WHAT COULD BE MORE DEFENSIBLE AGAINST ZOMBIES?

I'm moving to a lovely house in a cul-de-sac by the railway, with lots of doors and windows and gardens :O Nice for normal day-to-day living, but no good against a raid of Zombies!

I blame Max Brooks- he made it all so realistic, so plausible. I can't wait in THAT house for a 10 year war to finish! I can't! There isn't even a decent castle nearby to hole up in! Also, considering traffic in Worcester during rush hour, I can't hope to navigate those roads during the great panic. My best bet is the river, for which I'd need to travel with the rowers.

Not sure where to, but I have an A-Z in my car :)

As you can see, this book has affected me deeply.

I'm off to buy some swords or something, so I can kill the mofo's when they try taking me on ;)

First Year

Freshers year is now over, and I have to admit it feels like I've only been at university for a month. In this "month", I started by moving into the Gatehouse, which is about 15 minutes from campus, but occupied by all freshers. I met Lizzie, the only other girl in the complex, and the two boys. There was meant to be another housemate, but apparently she pulled out at the last minute.

Next door in the Wall house there were 5 boys. Two of which were neat and the others all... not. Ralf in particular has spent the year high and unwashed. Despite this he's a really nice guy, and so funny to mess with when he passes out!

Freshers week was pretty crazy, and I only remember half of it, but in the Gatehouse we started out with me, who has never been in a long-term relationship and was a massive geek, Lizzie the naive girl from Swanage who spent a year travelling New Zealand with her four-year boyfriend, Ben the Rugby playing private school boy, and Luke, who has three daughters.

That's not even going into Wall house's tenants!

Well Lizzie joined the Rowing team, I joined the Kayakers, Luke joined Tae Kwon Do and Ben joined Rugby.

Only me and Lizzie have attended club activities :P

Lizzie and Ben broke up with their respective other halves and got together, only to break up last month, and Luke's had a string of almosts.

Me? I've had a few non-serious boyfriends who I mostly didn't want to see after a couple of weeks! Ah well. I was pretty sick for my entire first semester, and still got good grades in everything (YAY)

Semester 2 has been a little slower paced, and less has happened now we're mostly settled, though this semester I decided to start up a university choir! Stressful!

This led me to meet some more cool people though, and I wouldn't trade it for the world.

I also ended up the Kayaking social secretary... and joined the rowing club. Next year will be mental!

I also found a fascination with fashion... and clubbing. :P I never saw the appeal but it's so great to just go out and dance! I also seem to be incapable of being drunk, although it seems two bottles of wine will get me tipsy, so my awareness on a night out isn't a problem.

It helps that I live in the town centre.

Uni's a bizarre experience, and nothing like anything else. But brilliant.

Masters degree once I graduate? Maybe!

I'm... Freaking out

Not sure why, might have something to do with THE FINAL CHAPTER OF FULLMETAL ALCHEMIST which was AMAZING!

Geez. I love FMA

Ok, well I'm a lazy blogger, we know this. But life is going pretty weirdly at the mo. Uni is like, a rushed version of normal life. Everything happens quickly, and things change in a second. Nat visited me at the gatehouse this week, and stayed for three days of lovin' :P haha there's a running joke that she's my ex-wife, and she's the only person in the world who I tell absolutely everything.

<3

She's also the worst influence when out shopping. (We had our hearts broken on wednesday- Accessorize is closed!!!!!!!!!!) and I ended up with LeeLee, Benefit's new perfume. I mean I love it, and it's gorgeous, but WOW it was more than I can really afford.
Though we also went out handing out CVs, so there was a little bit of optimism there too.

Got a load of mangas in the post as well, so Un:Bound can expect some more reviews :P

Oh and also, I got my first grade for this semester today... My screenplay was written in one night (though I spent months researching the accurate history of the Nuremberg war trials for it) and I got an A for it!!! WOW

Haha... fingers crossed for more good grades!

The progression of "Nuremberg"

Isn't bad. :D I have downloaded celtx, which no one told me I needed, but is standard screenwriting software (lovely). This has meant I'm into it, and my lecturer, Andy, told me to stop researching and let things flow, making notes if something needs backing up before carrying on and going back to it later.

So I'm giving it a go.

This is *THE* script for the story based on how my Grandparents met, so I'm being careful at the same time. Here's the basic overview-

FEATURE FILM PROPOSAL


Title- Nuremberg

Genre- Historical Romance

A Welsh woman working for British Intelligence meets and falls for a German soldier helping the Americans during the Nuremberg Trials. Set after WW2, and based on the true story of how my grandparents met.

"Love knows no prejudice"

Synopsis

Gwyn Hodge is working as an interpreter after serving during the war at Bletchley Park. Joseph Werner is a prisoner of War from America helping with Translation and doing odd jobs for the army. He saves her from a drunk German man who attacks her and they forge a friendship.

SET-UP- Gwyn Hodge arrives in Nuremberg with other interpreters from Bletchley Park. Gwyn gets lost that night and is attacked by a bar and is rescued by Joseph, who escorts her back to barracks.

PLOT POINT 1- On a weekend, Joseph shows Gwyn around the city and they become friends

CONFRONTATION- Gwyn’s father finds out from a colleague of Gwyn’s and demands that she return home immediately after the trials and never see Joseph again.

PLOT POINT 2- Confused by Gwyn’s behaviour, Joseph tracks her down and they confess their love. But Joseph shows her letters from his family, who are suffering from starvation and poverty in Berlin. Gwyn realises that things are just as bad for Germans as the English.

RESOLUTION- Gwyn leaves for Wales and Joseph stays with his family, but they promise to write, and meet again when things with their families are sorted out. They kiss.


Characters

Gwyn Hodge prioritises intelligence and serving her country above fashion etc. She longs to make her father proud. She becomes more independant, and grows up.

Joseph Werner comes to terms with his country’s crimes and his patriotism is tested as he deals with “Germany’s Guilt”, eventually vowing to do his part to redeem his country, which he will always love.

A moment on Thievery

On Saturday I had my iPhone stolen while swimming with my friend Abby. I was rummaging through my bag while my phone was in the locker (I was crouched on the floor tipping out the contents of my bag in a quest for Hair Conditioner) when I looked up, the Phone was gone.

The staff at the pool were angels though, I can't fault their immediate and thorough search for the phone, but the little bastard had already taken it. For all I know someone could have put it straight into their own locker before going swimming.

Anyway, it just got Abby and I thinking about society and how opportunistic some people can be, and it was a bit depressing.

Also, a bird shit on my head on my way home.

Glorious.

On second thoughts...

I can't dress as Riza Hawkeye this time. I simply can't afford it. I will still go but I don't know who to dress as. I might go for lightning from FFXIII, or go as Winry Rockbell from Fullmetal Alchemist. I'm undecided.

MCM expo

Well I've made the rather foolish decision to go to MCM in London this year.

For those who don't know, MCM is an expo held in London twice a year, and is basically a whole weekend dedicated to stalls and exhibits (and shows) revolving around Manga, Gaming and Sci-Fi/Fantasy. Last time I went was 2008 (I think) and they had DanceDanceRevolution contests and Japanese gaming stuff. There was a masquerade ball for people to attend in costume, and a parade of people's homemade outfits with awards handed out.

This year I'm planning to dress as the lovely Riza Hawkeye from Fullmetal Alchemist. The costume is ridiculously complicated when you consider the time limit (I have one month) and my skills with clothes making (none). Therefore, I'm going to have to buy a costume off ebay, which is upsetting.

I'm considering changing my idea of who to dress as, but I really love Riza xD damn.

Decisions decisions... I should be sensible, but I rarely am...

Argh. Inner turmoil

Sunny Days

Well I'm tired, and full (due to chinese all-you-can-eat food babies) but today's been pretty awesome. I dawdled round the parts of Worcester I'd never visited before, finding some awesome little boutiques, and then went to the racecourse with my housemates for random hanging out in the sun.

Altogether, it's been awesome. (see right) I got my camera out and got some amazing photos (I forgot how much I love my D-SLR). We were going to have a barbecue but the atmosphere was too nice to ruin by doing anything resembling work. It's rare to get all the housemates out together and we had a lot of fun messing about and bantering.

Although I now know that I have a man's sense of humour. Definitely.

And our shower's cold again...

But at least the weather's amazing.

Why I never do things that I think are important.

Some of you are aware that my university course is a joint Animation/Screenwriting BA Hons, and those of you who know me personally know that while I'm usually a ridiculously laid back and flippant person who takes little seriously, once I get focused on a project it has to be done right.

So I should have realised that doing something important for my feature length screenplay (for assessment) would get me into trouble.

Last year, both of my Paternal grandparents passed away. They were incredible people who both accomplished a lot in their respective lifetimes and it's this, combined with my interest in History that led me to start writing a screenplay for a film based loosely on their experiences after WWII.

My Granny worked as an interpreter for Bletchley Park during the war, and on a visit there to gather historically accurate research for my project (I will be going to Nuremberg in the Summer to do research on the War Trials where they met) I picked up this book.

The worst of it is that since I want to do the rich history and complexity of what went on at Bletchley and the Trials justice, I have scrapped my script 3 times already and so far have nothing to show for my work.

The problem is that I have so much respect for what my Granny and Granddad achieved that I can't fit it all into a single film. I've had to hack it down to focus only on the Nuremberg Trials, and end it after the trials. (Even though my Granny spent about three years working in total secrecy at Bletchley Park as a tranlsator and never told anyone until the 80s, and my Granddad (right) was taken a prisoner of war by the Americans after being one of only a few survivors of his ship, and after the war became a famous man involved with the Northern Ireland troubles)

The problem is that their story is too long and awesome to even include in this blog post.

And so I've become obsessed with doing their work at the Nuremberg Trials justice by making sure there are no historical inaccuracies. I'm even volunteering at Bletchley Park this summer to get to know more.

My love and respect only ever get me into trouble xD I think of this script as so important that I feel like I can't get it wrong. I want it to be beautiful.

And I've written over 6500 words begun again with nothing.

My books on Bletchley Park are on my bed.

My books on the Nuremberg Trials are in the post.

I'm going insane.

Aimless Blog

This is a very pointless blog... Though I keep thinking about turning it into a little webcomic of my life at Worcester uni... But I'm unsure... :P

Gah, anyway.

<3

Pointlessness (Y)

Daisy the Ford KA

You will all be glad to know that after crashing my little car on the motorway, two months ago, I have it confirmed that I will be getting her back after she was written off.

Daisy is a survivor!

She needs a new bonnet, lights and grill, but the rest of the damage is minor and she should be fixable for £800 in the next month.

Daisy, we love you <3

Italy

Well I've been in Italy for the past week (got my passport in time- thank god!) and it was absolutely amazing. You've not lived until you've sunbathed while cooling your drinks in snow, seriously =D

I don't want to go on about it too much and bore you, but the food was amazing, the people were amazing and the festival was amazing! We went for the "Storico Carnevale di Ivrea" a festival in which you take part in massive, mad battles by throwing oranges!

There was a spectacular fireworks display and everyone had a great time. We stayed in a fantastic villa owned by a friend, and I met lots of brilliant people who I'm staying in touch with :D

Not to mention that I'm massively pleased that the passport officer stamped my passport! The first stamp!

Can't wait for my Japanese one!

There was also a lot of fun to be had on an antique Vespa (some sort of vintage scooter moped thing) that the boys paid out to refuel, only to discover that somehow they'd broken it on the first day of driving it!

I had the best hot chocolate in the world! (so thick I'm sure it's just melted chocolate with frothy milk) and had some pretty gorgeous coffee.

Well when I first tried ordering coffee I ended up with a continental breakfast... but I eventually picked up enough of the language to get by!


Ciao Bella!

Her Fearful Symmetry

5th Sentence- On a glorious sunday like this there would be loads of tourists clustered at the gates, wielding cameras and protesting at the rules of proper attire and no water bottles.




Happy Friday!!!

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* Grab the book nearest you. Right now.
* Turn to page 56.
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* Don’t dig for your favorite book, the coolest, the most intellectual. Use the CLOSEST.

Glee Glee Glee

Oh wow

If you've not even heard of Glee, you're deaf. Or from the rainforest. Where they don't have TV or Internet.

I mean, it's pure awesomeness. It's not the most original storyline, but what is? If screenwriting's taught me anything it's that all storylines are recycled and what matters is how it's recycled.

And Glee is recycled with some of my favourite aspects of... well ANYTHING. Acapella singing, Bright Colours, and Slushie Facials (don't ask...)

I've actually watched up to episode 13 online... but watching it today with my family I realised every episode is TOTALLY worth a second watch. I love it. I've pre-ordered the CD which comes out in March this year.

The plotlin basically follows something I think is exclusive to America called a Glee Club, which is basically what we would call Choir, but without anything hymn-like (do Americans know the traditional hymns? or is it all Gospel stuff? Hmm... I'm seerely uneducated in Americanness) the kids in the club are basically below the Dungeons and Dragons kids on the social ladder, so when the Football team's quarterback (a nice guy, talented but hoplessly daft) is tricked into joining it, followed shortly by cheerleaders and other jocks, it begins a competition among the staff and faculty either to help the Glee Club succeed, or to destroy it completely.

The base of it is the faculty fighting over funding, and the students competing for social status despite various obstacles such as... I don't know... the catain of the celibacy club getting knocked up?

Total lighthearted fun with plain awesome songs, had me in absolute hysterics.

Just... just watch it, you'll understand!

Screw it, I won't sleep (and a book that will make you happy to be alive)

I stayed up for the tv but I have stuff to do tomorrow so I'll not go to bed. I'm dressed quite nice too actually, in a new top and xmas jewellery (don't ask why... I didn't go out today) and I feel nice.

Tired, but nice. I blame the book I read last night.

"Before I Die" had me crying constantly throughout, and a lot of it rang true for any teenager. The protagonist's first night clubbing had me painfully nostalgic xD

And the end is unbelievably tragic, (as in I was full-on sobbing for a couple of minutes) but the overall book had me feeling refreshed and valuing every little thing around me.

I will review it later... but not sure if it's Un:Bound material. It's not fantastical at all... but it might be a nice change... but i did something a tad alternative last week...

Ohhhh decisions decisions...

Being Human and Heroes... Sunday night? Gone!

Tonight my mum called me (at 9) to tell me to turn on BBC3 at 9.30 to watch (drum-roll please!)

THE SECOND SERIES OF BEING HUMAN!

That's right the vampire, the werewolf and the ghost are back sharing their house in Bristol and...It's not bad.

I have the entire 1st series on DVD and I loved the absolute... innocent humour beside the gore and dark undertones. The menace and the horror that happens was still kept funny somehow, and I LOVE George.

The second series has started and from the look of the first 20 minute episode it's getting darker. Mitchell (vampire in leather jacket) has a few more old friends popping up to go round killing people, and there's a mysterious scientist trying to cure the werewolf curse and killing the werewolves in the process with no remorse. A mysterious group are seeking the trio out and George's girlfriend Nina was given the curse in last series' dramatic climax.

Meanwhile the series continues with the trio's somewhat futile attempts to integrate themselves into society.

And every episode seems ready to continue with George's bum making regular appearances :P

The first episode was sadly sparse with the jokes however, and although all the character development is pretty perfect (George has a cocky smile! I love it!) I really miss the wry wit and optimism of the first series. Although there were some brilliant lines (even if they were muttered).

Overall, I love it, I do, but the first episode of a new series could have been more eye-catching.

And Heroes... well it's brilliant, but more of the same.

Oh dear, that sounded like I was moaning. I do love them both, and I know my sunday nights are going to be my wrapped-in-a-dressing-gown and cuppa-tea night.

Riveting :P

Also, on a fanfiction note... when my assignments are done (Thursday) I will finish that Bleach story. After one or two raving nights... :P

MC out!