Hi all.
Sorry i have neglected this page a bit recently. I have been swamped with uni work and meetings none stop since September. Looking forward to a good old chilled out family christmas. Just one more week to go until i finish uni and i can get in to full on christmas mode!!
Stay tuned for a hell of a lot of random blogging as i catch up with EVERYTHING!!!
Friday, 13 December 2013
Saturday, 3 August 2013
Date or no date?
I have just stumbled upon this draft of a blog i meant to submit a few weeks ago, after reading through it i am still none the wiser about dating as a whole.
Thursday night at 9 and I'm watching First Dates on Channel 4.
I have been fascinated by this show since it started. About how people deal with first date nerves, small talk and awkward silences (of which there seem to be many)
The idea behind the show is that the initial 'couples' applied on line and from then on, throughout the week, members of the public can apply via the website to go on a date with a particular person on the show and so on and so forth as the weeks go on. A subtle reality dating show perhaps? This also translates as an interesting social experiment into showing the dating habits and personality traits that we find attractive or not. Although i am currently puzzled by the couple right now who are taking it in turns to say the guy's name - Hank. Hmmmm, Struggling for conversation??
In full honesty it is a clear way of highlighting that some people just aren't compatible but too many relationships are lived out over the cybersphere, in a world of emoticons and lol's. When it comes to a traditional 'date' have we completely forgotten how to act?? Or do we even go on traditional first dates anymore??
Speaking from experience, i have been on one 'official' first date. All i will say is that first impressions mean everything and this person's red velvet attire didn't impress me in the slightest! It still makes me cringe to this day!
I had been chatting to the person by text for a few days and seemed to get on OK but then the red suit put me off. Is it shallow of me to base the rest of the evening's enjoyment on that one first look i had of him in that hideous suit??
On the show, all the women came up dressed to the nines while the men looked much more casual and to be honest in most cases, the women seemed to flow through the conversations whist the men stumbled and stutter.
Do we put too much pressure on ourselves when getting ready for a date over what we wear, what we need to say, how we put ourselves across because we no longer have a computer screen to hide behind?? or a couple of minutes to think of a witty/flirtatious reply to a text/e-mail
Perhaps i should set myself a little social experiment of my own and go out on a 'first date'
Thursday night at 9 and I'm watching First Dates on Channel 4.
I have been fascinated by this show since it started. About how people deal with first date nerves, small talk and awkward silences (of which there seem to be many)
The idea behind the show is that the initial 'couples' applied on line and from then on, throughout the week, members of the public can apply via the website to go on a date with a particular person on the show and so on and so forth as the weeks go on. A subtle reality dating show perhaps? This also translates as an interesting social experiment into showing the dating habits and personality traits that we find attractive or not. Although i am currently puzzled by the couple right now who are taking it in turns to say the guy's name - Hank. Hmmmm, Struggling for conversation??
In full honesty it is a clear way of highlighting that some people just aren't compatible but too many relationships are lived out over the cybersphere, in a world of emoticons and lol's. When it comes to a traditional 'date' have we completely forgotten how to act?? Or do we even go on traditional first dates anymore??
 |
| http://cdn.sheknows.com/articles/2011/07/woman-on-bad-date.jpg |
I had been chatting to the person by text for a few days and seemed to get on OK but then the red suit put me off. Is it shallow of me to base the rest of the evening's enjoyment on that one first look i had of him in that hideous suit??
On the show, all the women came up dressed to the nines while the men looked much more casual and to be honest in most cases, the women seemed to flow through the conversations whist the men stumbled and stutter.
Do we put too much pressure on ourselves when getting ready for a date over what we wear, what we need to say, how we put ourselves across because we no longer have a computer screen to hide behind?? or a couple of minutes to think of a witty/flirtatious reply to a text/e-mail
Perhaps i should set myself a little social experiment of my own and go out on a 'first date'
Friday, 2 August 2013
Summer days at Silverstone
Summer days at Silverstone are a new favourite of mine after 2 days at the home of British Motorsport watching the Young Drivers test days with some of my favourite people! Here are some of our snap shots:
Monday, 29 July 2013
A Primark Bowie Bargain!
Hi all
One thing i love about summer is that my mum is off work for 6 weeks. We are in the middle of having a few girly days out doing what i do best..... Shopping. I just had to tell you all about my bargain of the day/century!
Had a quick mooch around Primark and stumbled upon a t-shirt that I have had my eye on for a month or 2.
As you have probably seen from my previous posts, i am a tiny bit of a David Bowie fan. I do love a bit of the starman. So what better way to show it off than on a t-shirt. This was originally £8 so i trundled off to the till and was given a fabulous surprise when it went through as £1... Now that is what i call a Bowie Bargain!
Saturday, 27 July 2013
Olympic legacy??
Hi all
Hope all you sun kissed lovelies are OK. Its a beautiful Saturday afternoon and i am about to sit down to watch the Sainsbury Anniversary Games on the beeb. Quite frankly i am flummoxed as to how this past year has flown by. This time last year we were just sitting down to watch the first full day of competition in London Town.
The legacy is something that as been mentioned many times in the last year and it annoys me how fast people have been to comment on the supposed lack of a legacy. Me thoughts are.... Chill out, it has only been a year! It is going to take many years to feel the impact of London 2012. I truly believe it won't be until 2020 until we really see the begin stages of our true legacy. It will happen though! Our Olympic heroes Jess Ennis Hill, Greg Rutherford and Mo Farrah have become household names and icons in the eyes of children, teens and adults alike. As i mentioned in a previous post i love the idea that these 3 and also paralympians are now role models to our children instead of footballers and singers.
The worry I have regarding the legacy revolves around the government's money saving measures. Growing up in Yorkshire i have seen this at first hand with the devastating news that Don Valley Stadium, the training hub of our golden girl Jess Ennis-Hill is to be demolished in the near future. This in my opinion is a complete travesty, not just for people wanting to follow in her actual footsteps at her home track but for the home of athletics in South Yorkshire. There is talk about moving training facilities to the nearby woodburn Road Athletics stadium but these facilities will require development also. The Don Valley facilities are due to demolished to make way for a newer sporting centre but my worry is that the build time will be too long for any potential olympic hopefuls wanting to take early advantage.
To have your say and sign the Save Don Valley petition please click here
Hope all you sun kissed lovelies are OK. Its a beautiful Saturday afternoon and i am about to sit down to watch the Sainsbury Anniversary Games on the beeb. Quite frankly i am flummoxed as to how this past year has flown by. This time last year we were just sitting down to watch the first full day of competition in London Town.
The legacy is something that as been mentioned many times in the last year and it annoys me how fast people have been to comment on the supposed lack of a legacy. Me thoughts are.... Chill out, it has only been a year! It is going to take many years to feel the impact of London 2012. I truly believe it won't be until 2020 until we really see the begin stages of our true legacy. It will happen though! Our Olympic heroes Jess Ennis Hill, Greg Rutherford and Mo Farrah have become household names and icons in the eyes of children, teens and adults alike. As i mentioned in a previous post i love the idea that these 3 and also paralympians are now role models to our children instead of footballers and singers.
The worry I have regarding the legacy revolves around the government's money saving measures. Growing up in Yorkshire i have seen this at first hand with the devastating news that Don Valley Stadium, the training hub of our golden girl Jess Ennis-Hill is to be demolished in the near future. This in my opinion is a complete travesty, not just for people wanting to follow in her actual footsteps at her home track but for the home of athletics in South Yorkshire. There is talk about moving training facilities to the nearby woodburn Road Athletics stadium but these facilities will require development also. The Don Valley facilities are due to demolished to make way for a newer sporting centre but my worry is that the build time will be too long for any potential olympic hopefuls wanting to take early advantage.
To have your say and sign the Save Don Valley petition please click here
Saturday, 6 July 2013
Give me a bed and a bookshelf and i'm happy!
Happy sunny Saturday everyone!
Hope everyone is enjoying this truly stunning weather we are having. lets make the best of it, yes?
My day will be spent in the garden reading while listening to the fabulous Mumford and Sons - I have fallen in love with them even more after their Glastonbury set!
But first i must tell you about my week.........
Well this week has been one of growth and big choices. I am happy to announce i have recently got my own flat and will be moving in within a fortnight! It really is the perfect size for me! I am rather excited but in the same breath i feel a bit empty, as if it hasn't hit me fully yet. I know its not far away but as a family girl, it is a huge step for me to live on my own after growing up surrounded by my beautiful family. Everyones time comes I guess as the baby of the family. its my time now! I am now looking for furniture of some description! Give me a bed and a bookshelf and i'm happy
Something like this would be fabulous for me
The other significant moment in my week was my beloved Ford KA, Vimto failing its MOT (again) I got a rather serious sounding phone call from the mechanic and when i arrived i was greeted with a list as long as both arms, full of things to fix. To cut a very long list short, it was going to cost WAY too much to fix so Vimto is no more, i drove him home one last time, reminiscing about all the good times - the road trips, the laughs, the singalongs.
Goodbye friend!
Hope everyone is enjoying this truly stunning weather we are having. lets make the best of it, yes?
My day will be spent in the garden reading while listening to the fabulous Mumford and Sons - I have fallen in love with them even more after their Glastonbury set!
But first i must tell you about my week.........
Well this week has been one of growth and big choices. I am happy to announce i have recently got my own flat and will be moving in within a fortnight! It really is the perfect size for me! I am rather excited but in the same breath i feel a bit empty, as if it hasn't hit me fully yet. I know its not far away but as a family girl, it is a huge step for me to live on my own after growing up surrounded by my beautiful family. Everyones time comes I guess as the baby of the family. its my time now! I am now looking for furniture of some description! Give me a bed and a bookshelf and i'm happy
Something like this would be fabulous for me
The other significant moment in my week was my beloved Ford KA, Vimto failing its MOT (again) I got a rather serious sounding phone call from the mechanic and when i arrived i was greeted with a list as long as both arms, full of things to fix. To cut a very long list short, it was going to cost WAY too much to fix so Vimto is no more, i drove him home one last time, reminiscing about all the good times - the road trips, the laughs, the singalongs.
Goodbye friend!
Thursday, 4 July 2013
REVIEW: David Bowie is at the V&A
As a big David Bowie fan i had to see the David Bowie is, exhibition at London's V&A museum. I discovered to my horror months ago that all pre released tickets had sold out instantly so i would have to get all retro and go down south and queue outside the venue. Saying that my visit to the exhibition was more than half way in to the exhibition's residency by the time it got to 10am, there was a large queue of like minded fans who had missed out on the original ticket sale. The V&A release an undisclosed number of tickets each day for people wanting to queue. All i will say is that if you want to get your hands on one of these tickets, you need to be there early.
One major factor became increasingly obvious while looking around the exhibition is that we see how Bowie influenced and was also influenced by contemporary art and culture; the art of Andy Warhol, and also the fashion house of Alexander McQueen to name a few..Without this man, where would we be? Would we have artists like Lady Gaga? He has well and truly embedded himself in the fabric of contemporary culture and i am happy to say, that is where he will stay.
The performance footage allows the visitors the chance to step back in time and give them the feeling of seeing him in person. The star man exhibit especially! I had to remind myself that i wasn't actually at one of his gigs (unfortunately)
This is a must see exhibition for any Bowie fan but also for any music fan around the world!
The David Bowie is.. Exhibition is a previously unseen
selection of notes, costumes, video footage and photographs that allows us to
get a step closer to forever elusive and rather mysterious David Bowie. This
icon of style and music still intrigues his fans to this day. Long gone are the
days of Ziggy Stardust and Aladdin sane but the mystery of this star man
remains.
The 300exhibits on display have been selected by the V&A and plot the career of Bowie from his
humble beginnings as David Jones to the release of his latest, somewhat
surprise of an album, “The next Day”
Just the mere selection of photos of illustrate the monumental
changes (Didn’t mean to quote the man himself) that he has gone through
throughout his career. At the peak of his career, Bowie’s alter egos allowed him
a force field operate behind without baring himself to the world. This allowed his creativity to flow. We are treated to a view of how he created some of his more famous lyrics with a process of word selection. (see Below)
 |
| Cut up lyrics for ‘Blackout’ from “Heroes”, David Bowie 1977, © The David Bowie Archive 2012. Image © V&A Images. |
One major factor became increasingly obvious while looking around the exhibition is that we see how Bowie influenced and was also influenced by contemporary art and culture; the art of Andy Warhol, and also the fashion house of Alexander McQueen to name a few..Without this man, where would we be? Would we have artists like Lady Gaga? He has well and truly embedded himself in the fabric of contemporary culture and i am happy to say, that is where he will stay.
The performance footage allows the visitors the chance to step back in time and give them the feeling of seeing him in person. The star man exhibit especially! I had to remind myself that i wasn't actually at one of his gigs (unfortunately)
This is a must see exhibition for any Bowie fan but also for any music fan around the world!
Sunday, 30 June 2013
REVIEW: Eddie Izzard - Force Majeure
Saying as i haven't been blogging regularly for a while i feel that i need to catch up so expect lots of random blogs in the next few weeks until I feel satisfied
On the 10th May i went to see one of my favourite human beings! Eddie Izzard brought his latest world tour to the steel city! Force Majeure covers topics such as the puzzling sport of dressage to an argument over the final plate of spaghetti carbonara between god and Darth Vader.
Loyal fans of Izzard will be accustomed to his unique delivery and once again, the subject matter doesn't disappoint. Izzard's surreal comedy has brought him an army of fans all over the world and he continues to offer the public a breath of fresh air from panel show regulars that grace our screens most nights. His storytelling is as gripping as it has been since the famous brought up by wolves sketch.
The colossal Force Majeure world tour is a true reflection of Izzard's all or nothing way of life. This multi marathon running action transvestite never seems to sit down and has now set his sights on politics - he has set himself a time plan of his goals and his step in to politics is set for 2020. He gets my vote, that is for sure!
Eddie bring his passion of politics in to his stand up by making stabs at the far right wing and even at the late Margaret Thatcher (Which went down very well in Sheffield)
This tour is definitely one for his loyal fans who understand Eddie's comedy as newbies may struggle to keep up with his train of thought. It is still an amazing show and lucky for us it will be out on DVD winter 2013
On the 10th May i went to see one of my favourite human beings! Eddie Izzard brought his latest world tour to the steel city! Force Majeure covers topics such as the puzzling sport of dressage to an argument over the final plate of spaghetti carbonara between god and Darth Vader.
Loyal fans of Izzard will be accustomed to his unique delivery and once again, the subject matter doesn't disappoint. Izzard's surreal comedy has brought him an army of fans all over the world and he continues to offer the public a breath of fresh air from panel show regulars that grace our screens most nights. His storytelling is as gripping as it has been since the famous brought up by wolves sketch.
The colossal Force Majeure world tour is a true reflection of Izzard's all or nothing way of life. This multi marathon running action transvestite never seems to sit down and has now set his sights on politics - he has set himself a time plan of his goals and his step in to politics is set for 2020. He gets my vote, that is for sure!
Eddie bring his passion of politics in to his stand up by making stabs at the far right wing and even at the late Margaret Thatcher (Which went down very well in Sheffield)
This tour is definitely one for his loyal fans who understand Eddie's comedy as newbies may struggle to keep up with his train of thought. It is still an amazing show and lucky for us it will be out on DVD winter 2013
Saturday, 29 June 2013
Hello, is it me you're looking for?
Hi all.
Firstly i feel i should apologise for the shameful Lionel Richie punchline but hey, i bet it got your attention didn't it. My second apology is for my poor blogging commitment over the past few weeks. I have been busy busy working for the race team at uni so that hasn't given me much blogging time.
I had a chat with my course leader the other day and agreed that blogging would be a great way to help my analysis and review skills within my course and what a perfect time to do it with so many fabulous things coming up over the summer months.
To start this i am going to travel back in time and review a few shows and films i have seen recently. Lets bring the culture!!
Ciao for now!
Firstly i feel i should apologise for the shameful Lionel Richie punchline but hey, i bet it got your attention didn't it. My second apology is for my poor blogging commitment over the past few weeks. I have been busy busy working for the race team at uni so that hasn't given me much blogging time.
I had a chat with my course leader the other day and agreed that blogging would be a great way to help my analysis and review skills within my course and what a perfect time to do it with so many fabulous things coming up over the summer months.
To start this i am going to travel back in time and review a few shows and films i have seen recently. Lets bring the culture!!
Ciao for now!
Monday, 27 May 2013
10 things that have made me happy since my last weekly update
Well it has been a while so i thought I'd do an update on the past month or so. Narrowing it down to 10 should be interesting! Wish me luck!
1. Handing in my final 1st year essay and finishing an exam - Oh i love that feeling of relief on your final day! Can't believe how quickly the first year has gone by and believe it or not I'm excited about getting back in September - I'm missing my uni life already!
2. Old friends coming back to the running club after years away.
3. Seeing one of my favourite human beings in Sheffield!! Eddie Izzard!! He was a fabulously hilarious as always on his Force Majeure world tour! Haven't laughed so much in an age, my ribs actually hurt afterwards! I could listen to that man talk all day everyday. I even had the honour of meeting the man himself after the show before he had to nip off for another gig in Sheffield. My night and life were made when getting a kiss on the cheek from the man himself! <3
4. Ticking 'see the rock horror show' off my bucket list! The can be no better night out that seeing that show, it is so much fun! Next time I'll be dressing up
5. Afternoons with my lovely friends! I've had some fabulous days out with my lovelies in the past month! Saturday's in London town, Window shopping in Meadowhall and wet afternoons at the cinema. Love every second of these days and need them more often. Love each one of my girlies so much!
6. Making plans - This just makes me sooooo excited! Got the best weekend of the year coming up - Goodwood Festival of Speed!! Highlight of the entire year! I think this year I'll mix it up with a trip to b-town and Eastbourne. Saying as the best race of the season has just past, my girlies and I are making plans to head to Monaco next year! Penny saving begins now but we will be there looking fabulous!!
7. Inspirational/motivational quotes - I find these are often the highlight of a lovely bit of procrastination when you know you should be working. They really do bring a smile to my face and cheer me up when I'm having a tough day.This Oscar Wilde quote has to be one of my favourites!
8. Looking for my own place! So excited to be flat hunting! Feel all grown up! Doing this has inevitably guided me towards the mecca of Ikea and their pure loveliness!
9. Finally using the camera on my iphone! This gives me so many smiles on the train home when i finally sit down to look through my album - full of happy places and faces.
10. I don't want to jinx it too much but now that summer is here (for now) I'm gonna get out and about with my camera again! I find it very therapeutic and it gives me a good excuse for some road trips and afternoons reading in cafes in beautiful little villages :-)
1. Handing in my final 1st year essay and finishing an exam - Oh i love that feeling of relief on your final day! Can't believe how quickly the first year has gone by and believe it or not I'm excited about getting back in September - I'm missing my uni life already!
2. Old friends coming back to the running club after years away.
3. Seeing one of my favourite human beings in Sheffield!! Eddie Izzard!! He was a fabulously hilarious as always on his Force Majeure world tour! Haven't laughed so much in an age, my ribs actually hurt afterwards! I could listen to that man talk all day everyday. I even had the honour of meeting the man himself after the show before he had to nip off for another gig in Sheffield. My night and life were made when getting a kiss on the cheek from the man himself! <3
4. Ticking 'see the rock horror show' off my bucket list! The can be no better night out that seeing that show, it is so much fun! Next time I'll be dressing up
5. Afternoons with my lovely friends! I've had some fabulous days out with my lovelies in the past month! Saturday's in London town, Window shopping in Meadowhall and wet afternoons at the cinema. Love every second of these days and need them more often. Love each one of my girlies so much!
6. Making plans - This just makes me sooooo excited! Got the best weekend of the year coming up - Goodwood Festival of Speed!! Highlight of the entire year! I think this year I'll mix it up with a trip to b-town and Eastbourne. Saying as the best race of the season has just past, my girlies and I are making plans to head to Monaco next year! Penny saving begins now but we will be there looking fabulous!!
7. Inspirational/motivational quotes - I find these are often the highlight of a lovely bit of procrastination when you know you should be working. They really do bring a smile to my face and cheer me up when I'm having a tough day.This Oscar Wilde quote has to be one of my favourites!
8. Looking for my own place! So excited to be flat hunting! Feel all grown up! Doing this has inevitably guided me towards the mecca of Ikea and their pure loveliness!
9. Finally using the camera on my iphone! This gives me so many smiles on the train home when i finally sit down to look through my album - full of happy places and faces.
10. I don't want to jinx it too much but now that summer is here (for now) I'm gonna get out and about with my camera again! I find it very therapeutic and it gives me a good excuse for some road trips and afternoons reading in cafes in beautiful little villages :-)
Secrets of an English Literature student: Book Shopping
We all know that uni can be an expensive experience, lets not get started on the tuition fees argument but once you get accepted on to your course, you then have to put the student loan to use to purchase all your course material. Which if you are an English Literature student is what seems to be a never ending list of set texts we are going to study and numerous text books which are never cheap. You are going to have to face the fact that you will spend significant hours of the next 3 years of your life in book shops of all kinds.
Like most English lit students, i started my course with every book needed for that semester, all of which were recommended editions (I'm talking about you Norton!) You soon realise that you don't need brand spanking new copies and you definitely don't need particular editions (although the theory in the back can SOMETIMES be handy as secondary sources for essay - You'll need many of this during your student career.)
Online
During your time as a student you will spend many hours online for researching purposes and perhaps a tiny bit of procrastination which often leads to spending the day on youtube, watching anything you can possibly think of, most likely a subject as far away from 'the respresentation of class in (enter novel here)' or '(novel) and the supernatural.' If you find yourself on line for book shopping then check out some of the following for good deals.
Amazon - Whilst everyone knows Amazon.co.uk is the mecca of Internet shopping, it is a pretty good bargain bin for book lovers. For the majority of modules you will only need certain books for a week or 2 so why waste a W H Smiths amount of money on a crisp new copy. You can find many used copies of classics as cheaply as 1p or for even for free if you have a Kindle! For as little as a penny you would assume that the book would be in poor condition but some are real gems. Plus every now and again, if the copy has been previously owned by a fellow student, they might be rather lovely and have highlighted passages from when they used it (always helpful!)
One thing with looking for cheap books like this, you do have to pay postage for each purchase which can soon add up, just try and get these in as many orders as possible if bulk buying.
AbeBooks - Launched in 1996, AbeBooks is an online marketplace where you can buy new, secondhand, rare and out-of-print books, as well as cheap textbooks. Essentially like your favourite book shop online!
Out and about
Rare and Racy: Sheffield - This is by far my favourite book shop in the world. A fabulous second hand book store down Devonshire Street in Sheffield. It is a must for Sheffield English Lit students and a haven for any book worms amongst you. This isn't a shop you can just nip in and out of, you'll need to spend a long time searching the floor to ceiling shelves of everything from Classic literature, art, children's literature, and local texts to name a tiny example. I can promise you you'll find the majority of your reading list in this one shop at amazing prices!
Charity Shops - If you are like me, you can't resist a glance at the packed bookshelves in charity shops,you know that you can never guarantee what you're going to find but if you do then its always going to be for a great price for an even better cause.
Do you have any shopping secrets?
Like most English lit students, i started my course with every book needed for that semester, all of which were recommended editions (I'm talking about you Norton!) You soon realise that you don't need brand spanking new copies and you definitely don't need particular editions (although the theory in the back can SOMETIMES be handy as secondary sources for essay - You'll need many of this during your student career.)
 |
| Source: http://observando.net/page/4 |
Online
During your time as a student you will spend many hours online for researching purposes and perhaps a tiny bit of procrastination which often leads to spending the day on youtube, watching anything you can possibly think of, most likely a subject as far away from 'the respresentation of class in (enter novel here)' or '(novel) and the supernatural.' If you find yourself on line for book shopping then check out some of the following for good deals.
Amazon - Whilst everyone knows Amazon.co.uk is the mecca of Internet shopping, it is a pretty good bargain bin for book lovers. For the majority of modules you will only need certain books for a week or 2 so why waste a W H Smiths amount of money on a crisp new copy. You can find many used copies of classics as cheaply as 1p or for even for free if you have a Kindle! For as little as a penny you would assume that the book would be in poor condition but some are real gems. Plus every now and again, if the copy has been previously owned by a fellow student, they might be rather lovely and have highlighted passages from when they used it (always helpful!)
One thing with looking for cheap books like this, you do have to pay postage for each purchase which can soon add up, just try and get these in as many orders as possible if bulk buying.
AbeBooks - Launched in 1996, AbeBooks is an online marketplace where you can buy new, secondhand, rare and out-of-print books, as well as cheap textbooks. Essentially like your favourite book shop online!
Out and about
Rare and Racy: Sheffield - This is by far my favourite book shop in the world. A fabulous second hand book store down Devonshire Street in Sheffield. It is a must for Sheffield English Lit students and a haven for any book worms amongst you. This isn't a shop you can just nip in and out of, you'll need to spend a long time searching the floor to ceiling shelves of everything from Classic literature, art, children's literature, and local texts to name a tiny example. I can promise you you'll find the majority of your reading list in this one shop at amazing prices!
Charity Shops - If you are like me, you can't resist a glance at the packed bookshelves in charity shops,you know that you can never guarantee what you're going to find but if you do then its always going to be for a great price for an even better cause.
Do you have any shopping secrets?
Wednesday, 22 May 2013
Time to grow
I know some would say I'm a bit late in doing this but i think finally, at 23 I'm growing up. Don't get me wrong, I have always felt like an independent person - more so in the past year but the desire to spread my wings and fly is increasing day by day now!
Take today as a key example. I am spending the day flat hunting on line and also looking for a second job. Everyone needs extra pennies, right?? Especially with what i have planned - trips to see my fabulous friend in the Caribbean, F1 holidays with my girls starting off with Monaco next year and wanting to move down south after my degree.
 | |||||
| Next year girlies!! |
I feel like i am in a truly positive place at the moment and have my fabulous friends to thank for this! After a bit of a shake up last year that i have mentioned previously, i have purposefully surrounded myself with only positive people who bring out the best in me who I know only have my best interests at heart and i have so much love for these people. I don't need a mile of friends, i just need the best of the best.
:-)
Friday, 17 May 2013
Farewell fresher year!
Hi all!!
Sorry for my silence over the past few weeks and months. I have been swimming in deadlines and exam revision but the first year of my life as a Hallam uni student is officially over! Can't believe i am no longer a Fresher! I am in awe of how fast this first year has flown by! It doesn't seem two minutes since i was sat nervously in hallam hall waiting for my interview!
The decision to do this course really has changed everything! It has brought me to some fabulous people and is opening up doors to great opportunities!
The new start is exactly what i needed!!
Sorry for my silence over the past few weeks and months. I have been swimming in deadlines and exam revision but the first year of my life as a Hallam uni student is officially over! Can't believe i am no longer a Fresher! I am in awe of how fast this first year has flown by! It doesn't seem two minutes since i was sat nervously in hallam hall waiting for my interview!
The decision to do this course really has changed everything! It has brought me to some fabulous people and is opening up doors to great opportunities!
The new start is exactly what i needed!!
Tuesday, 16 April 2013
My thoughts on the Boston Marathon horror
I feel numb after seeing the horrific images of the blasts at the Boston marathon.
I have grown up surrounded by lovely runners, running clubs and going to races every weekend for as long as i can remember, so this event has truly hit me hard! I can't comprehend why someone would want to attack a marathon. I honestly don't know whether to cry or to scream and shout. I just have one thing to say:
My thoughts are with all the people caught up in the chaos and would just like to say how touched i am at the stories of marathon runners finishing the race and going straight to give blood for the victims and also the people running towards the blasts to help those at the scene. The aftermath of these situations renew my hope and belief in the the human spirit.
I have grown up surrounded by lovely runners, running clubs and going to races every weekend for as long as i can remember, so this event has truly hit me hard! I can't comprehend why someone would want to attack a marathon. I honestly don't know whether to cry or to scream and shout. I just have one thing to say:
To the scum who attacked Boston marathon! You
have messed with the wrong people. Long distance athletes train for
months and years to undertake unbelievable things, they test human
endurance to the limit again and again! Runners have stamina unlike any
others and will not be stopped by your disgusting attempts. Humanity,
innocence and stamina will win. You will not break their spirit. You are
only making them stronger!
Sunday's Virgin London Marathon will only show how defiant we are against the troubled individuals who plan these attacks!
My thoughts are with all the people caught up in the chaos and would just like to say how touched i am at the stories of marathon runners finishing the race and going straight to give blood for the victims and also the people running towards the blasts to help those at the scene. The aftermath of these situations renew my hope and belief in the the human spirit.
Tuesday, 9 April 2013
Quotation Inspiration
Just thought I would share some tumblr posters that I just love! All of them make me smile!
Thursday, 4 April 2013
1 thing that made my day!
I just couldn't wait for the weekend to add this to my 10 things list.
Hearing that Oscar Pistorius was seen back on the track has made my day!
How can a little grainy image taken by a kid's hockey team create so much excitement?? I've been trying not to get myself too excited about this, i really have but I'm just so happy to see him get back on the track, one step at a time! He is innocent until proven guilty so should be able to live his life doing what he loves!
Whilst I understand this image doesn't prove that he is back in training and it has been dismissed by Oscar's agent saying that he it was "only a jog" but at the moment the news is full of differing reports regarding his training but according to numerous publications, Oscar, his agent and his trainer all sat down to discuss his future yesterday (Tuesday 3rd March)
Making a return to competitive racing is a decision that can only be made by Oscar but hopefully one day he'll be back on that start line! Quite frankly, that day can't come soon enough for me!
This moment only seems like yesterday! I miss it!
Please come back Oscar!
Wednesday, 3 April 2013
Hello April!
My April began as I wish it to go on. Surrounded by all things Bowie!
After a Meadowhall shop on Monday night, I came home with a mini Bowie haul of Cd's and a Bowie t-shirt from Primark (yes i know, I was surprised too) Quite a productive shopping trip me thinks! I got home, put a new CD on and it hasn't stopped playing since! Oh Starman!
I hope my April continues in the same manner. I am currently desperate to get to the "David Bowie is" exhibition at the V&A in London. Trying to get tickets for the marathon weekend in a fortnight so i think my plan of getting the earlier train after my lecture could pay off =)
Keep everything crossed for me!
April is also going to the month of gym visits galore. I'll state straight away, i am not trying to lose weight, in fact i would like to put some on! I just want to tone up. I've re started my on and off relationship with yoga to increase my flexibility and better my posture (muchly needed) I have also started a mini regime of sit ups, press ups and planks to occupy my mornings and evenings. This latter exercise plan is slightly easier when i have my gym buddy telling me how pitiful my efforts are.
I hope your April is full of spring sun, music and smiles
xx
Sunday, 31 March 2013
10 things that made me happy this week!
Well this week has been rather lovely!
1. Being at the naming ceremony of my fabulous friend's gorgeous little boy Rohan! It was so lovely seeing her so happy, it has been too long since our last catch up so I'll have to be making the journey more often =) Getting out there, meeting new people and having a laugh was exactly what i needed and has put me on such a high. I was lucky enough to have lots of cuddles with the main man on his big day. It is fair to say I'm feeling VERY broody at the moment!
2. Representing SHU Racing at a uni open day. Feeling like a team member gives me such a buzz, I had such a laugh with the guys. Our blog has just gone live so check it out for the latest news and photos from factory to track - SHU RACING BLOG
3. Sitting down to watch The Boat Race. Love it and I swear I will get there to watch it one year! I do love a rower :-)
4. Getting back to the gym after a few weeks! Always feels good (afterwards) A gym session is always better with a friend, even if all that friend does is criticise you for "not sweating enough!"
5. Hearing that Oscar Pistorius has won his bail conditions appeal! He is now able to travel abroad and compete if he desires. I know it is probably the last thing on his mind but I for one hope he'll be back on the track before the trial but more than anything i pray that the Olympics weren't the final time we'll see him doing what he loves. The world needs your inspiration Oscar!
6. The pure fabulousness of David Bowie! Enough said!
7. Realising I have another week off uni =)
8.Sitting in the car waiting for mum to finish her marathon training in the beautiful sunshine, reading, while listening to Bowie. Feel so relaxed
9. Chilling out with a good magazine and a comfy chair for a while.
10. The start of British Summer! The clocks went forward last night and I'm already enjoying the extra bit of daylight we are getting. Can we have some warmer weather now??
1. Being at the naming ceremony of my fabulous friend's gorgeous little boy Rohan! It was so lovely seeing her so happy, it has been too long since our last catch up so I'll have to be making the journey more often =) Getting out there, meeting new people and having a laugh was exactly what i needed and has put me on such a high. I was lucky enough to have lots of cuddles with the main man on his big day. It is fair to say I'm feeling VERY broody at the moment!
2. Representing SHU Racing at a uni open day. Feeling like a team member gives me such a buzz, I had such a laugh with the guys. Our blog has just gone live so check it out for the latest news and photos from factory to track - SHU RACING BLOG
3. Sitting down to watch The Boat Race. Love it and I swear I will get there to watch it one year! I do love a rower :-)
4. Getting back to the gym after a few weeks! Always feels good (afterwards) A gym session is always better with a friend, even if all that friend does is criticise you for "not sweating enough!"
5. Hearing that Oscar Pistorius has won his bail conditions appeal! He is now able to travel abroad and compete if he desires. I know it is probably the last thing on his mind but I for one hope he'll be back on the track before the trial but more than anything i pray that the Olympics weren't the final time we'll see him doing what he loves. The world needs your inspiration Oscar!
6. The pure fabulousness of David Bowie! Enough said!
7. Realising I have another week off uni =)
8.Sitting in the car waiting for mum to finish her marathon training in the beautiful sunshine, reading, while listening to Bowie. Feel so relaxed
9. Chilling out with a good magazine and a comfy chair for a while.
10. The start of British Summer! The clocks went forward last night and I'm already enjoying the extra bit of daylight we are getting. Can we have some warmer weather now??
Thursday, 28 March 2013
SHU RACING 2013
Hi all.
Just a 2 minute blog entry today to let you all know about SHU RACING. Sheffield Hallam University's 2013 Formula Student racing team.
I am doing my bit and i'm working as part of the marketing team.
We are building, marketing and racing the car from scratch which will culminate in the competition weekend held at the historic Silverstone circuit in June.
To keep up to date on all the latest goings on, follow our Twitter Feed
Watch this space for website and blog details
Just a 2 minute blog entry today to let you all know about SHU RACING. Sheffield Hallam University's 2013 Formula Student racing team.I am doing my bit and i'm working as part of the marketing team.
We are building, marketing and racing the car from scratch which will culminate in the competition weekend held at the historic Silverstone circuit in June.
To keep up to date on all the latest goings on, follow our Twitter Feed
Watch this space for website and blog details
Monday, 25 March 2013
F1: Inter team politics vs Instinct
Like every other petrol head in the country, I spent yesterday morning watching the Malaysian Grand Prix. What an event full race it was too for the obvious reason which has undoubtedly trended on twitter and graced most back pages today.
I am talking the team order fallout which has surrounded Red Bull Racing & Mercedes.
For any of you who didn't catch the race I will simply go over the key points of the battle between the Red Bull boys:
- Vettel starts on pole and leads the race
- Webber managed to overtake during a pit stop
- Seb ends up behind Webber and puts a radio message out telling the team "Mark is slower, get him out the way"
- Rocky (Seb's engineer) tells Seb to keep the distance as it is only half race distance.
- Seb overtakes Mark, apparently disobeying team orders to hold station
- Seb wins the race and is told by Rocky "Well done but there is some explaining to be done"
- Mark finishes 2nd and lets his anger show in an awkward post race podium interview
While this is going on, Mercedes have a similar experience but those on the pit wall refuse to let Nico Rosberg overtake a slower Lewis Hamilton, who has been slowed by a poor fuel strategy throughout the entire race. Nico reluctantly holds station and finishes the race in 4th. Lewis Hamilton has since said that he believes that Nico should've been on the podium instead.
My thoughts
 |
| Yesterday's podium 'celebrations' |
I am quite frankly proud of what Seb did! He is a red blooded racer and was following his instinct to race. Why should he have to hold station in only the second race of the season! I understand the team view of wanting maximum points from the drivers but i question the system of team orders so early on in a season. Nor do i like how Seb has been attacked by the press
The polar opposites happened during the race. Sebastian went with his instinct and went for the win while Rosberg followed orders but yet Sebastian has taken all of the abuse from the F1 paddock, fans and the media calling him a spoilt brat etc but i don't understand why so when Nico has received criticism for not taking advantage. Contradicting yourself much??
Aren't we forgetting Silverstone a few years back when Mark chose to "ignore a radio message" but then, he was given the sympathy. Why is Vettel always the one in the wrong??
Could it be a case that the public are simply attacking the person who has been at the centre of the sport for the past number of years? The public being bored of the sport's golden boy??
I wonder if the public would hold the same view if it was Senna or Hamilton in Seb's position???
I wonder if the public would hold the same view if it was Senna or Hamilton in Seb's position???
Does Hollywood have no shame??
Hello all.
Hope your Monday is going well
I needed to share this story that I have just stumbled upon on the Daily Mail website that has truly shocked me.
The Mail has revealed that from "LA Sources" Ryan Gosling and Charlize Theron are being lined up for the lead roles for an Oscar Pistorius biopic which is due to cover the ongoing murder case (never thought I'd have to type that) with Charlize Theron staring as Oscar's late girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp.
The Daily Mail claims that a number of scripts are being developed and an announcement is expected soon from a major film studio.
To read the full the story please click here
I don't even know where to begin with this article! While I have no doubt that a biopic about Oscar's amazing life would be a blockbuster without the events of the past month but it simply angers me that they are now trying to cash in on someones heartbreak and grief. It really is as if everyone has forgotten that a girl tragically lost her life. How dare people take advantage of that and the turmoil Oscar is no doubt going through after a month since that tragic event.
Why couldn't they have considered the amazing story of his fight for equality, immediately after the paralympic games to tell the true amazing tale of his life? Why does a scandal have to equal a blockbuster?
Oscar remains under strict bail conditions until the trial which is reportedly due to begin on June 4th in Pretoria. Even then, we have no idea how long it will take to reach an agreement on Pistorius's fate.
I only hope that the dollar signs will subside for a long time to come and people discover some heart.
Hope your Monday is going well
I needed to share this story that I have just stumbled upon on the Daily Mail website that has truly shocked me.
The Mail has revealed that from "LA Sources" Ryan Gosling and Charlize Theron are being lined up for the lead roles for an Oscar Pistorius biopic which is due to cover the ongoing murder case (never thought I'd have to type that) with Charlize Theron staring as Oscar's late girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp.
 |
| Source : www.news24.com |
To read the full the story please click here
I don't even know where to begin with this article! While I have no doubt that a biopic about Oscar's amazing life would be a blockbuster without the events of the past month but it simply angers me that they are now trying to cash in on someones heartbreak and grief. It really is as if everyone has forgotten that a girl tragically lost her life. How dare people take advantage of that and the turmoil Oscar is no doubt going through after a month since that tragic event.
Why couldn't they have considered the amazing story of his fight for equality, immediately after the paralympic games to tell the true amazing tale of his life? Why does a scandal have to equal a blockbuster?
Oscar remains under strict bail conditions until the trial which is reportedly due to begin on June 4th in Pretoria. Even then, we have no idea how long it will take to reach an agreement on Pistorius's fate.
I only hope that the dollar signs will subside for a long time to come and people discover some heart.
Just remember that Oscar is innocent until proven guilty!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)