2013

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RIP Lola x

Posted on Monday, 30 December 2013


This is my lovely friend Rachel. In last year, her family took in two rescue dogs. Kea and then Lola. They were never meant to get Lola (the lovely Labrador) but their dog trainer told them of a poorly treated and unwanted dog he was training and they offered to take him from the family. The family happily gave her up. She was insecure and extremely needy. She also was rather nervy. This was after having being abandoned and neglected by her previous family.

Rachel's family took her in and looked after her. They had just got used to have one BIG dog in the house and now they had to make room for two. Kea, the mix breed doggy sitting up, took Lola in under her wing too and they became firm friends. Lola was often more naughty than Kea but she became so good natured. She would literally jump up and sit on people's laps and she became more independent and confident. She was a lovely dog.

Yesterday, whilst playing in a field she got hit by a car. She had only spent six months of her life with Rachel and her family and i know those six months were the best. I am so glad she got to experience such a happy life before she passed away :(.

I never usually comment on or announce deaths, not on facebook or twitter or anything, but I felt I should mention this just because Rachel is such a close friend's of mine and to emphasise the importance of a) dogs in the family and b) to encourage people to take in rescue dogs. I know technically Lola wasn't from a rescue home but I think she would have soon ended up in one if Rachel's family hadn't rescued her. She was, technically, a rescue dog and even though she passed away, she passed away at the happiest point in her life. I will miss her lots. x

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Nivea Cellulite Review

Posted on Saturday, 28 December 2013


Nivea Cellulite Gel and Moisturiser

Having gained some (*cough* a lot *cough) of weight during my time in America, I started losing weight seriously when I returned to University in September 2013. Due to some the yo-yo dieting over the year, my skin was beginning to reject what I had done to it. It became wrinkly.....and weirdly saggy...and then it hit me. 

Oh my gosh, I had cellulite. The thing I thought was only present on celebrities and were bits of skins awfully circled by crude magazine editors who are jealous of the celebrities hot bikini bodies. Those lined parts on the backs of people's legs that I didn't actually understand and I thought was only present on old people. And I mean old. I am not old! Am I?! Maybe I am! PANIC. 

So this panic and sudden desire to anti-age myself made me impulse buy. I bought the two creams pictured above. I bought a brand in which I trusted and I read the instructions carefully. The rules were simple. You were meant to rub them into the parts of your body containing cellulite for two weeks and there would be an obvious difference.

I was totally sucked in. I thought it would definitely work. Nivea stuff usually works. Nivea is a good company. Nivea is the foundation for all other companies (most beauty companies actually list Nivea as an ingredient in their products!) 

I enjoyed putting it on. I have never put on moisturiser on after showering, or any other creams for that matter - I am not a big girly-girly - so it was slightly strange for me to get used to. I found it a bit odd as I didn't know whether you're meant to hop around until you feel dry or put clothes on afterwards. Did I hair dryer myself afterwards so that I could avoid that sticky feeling when I got back into my clothing? It reminded me of when I was little and Mum would pin me to the floor to make me wear suncream on holiday. I'd refuse to put clothes on for at least half an hour because I believed my clothes would stick to me. I would run around flapping my arms. However, this is less cute when you're a 21 year old who has places to go, things to do, and is in a freezing cold Student apartment rather than a nice warm tropical country. Furthermore, is quite horrified by the sight of her own body and therefore, consequently, wants to hide it from the walls, let alone the mirrors, the moment she gets out of the shower. 

I opted for loose pjamas as I was scared I'd get cream all over my clothes and it felt comfortable to get into them rather than more constrictive clothing. 

At first I believed the creams were working. 

They weren't. When I finally looked in a different mirror to my usual one I realised that it hadn't worked. None of it. Once I stepped away from my usual mirror I realised that the lines were still all there and it was simply my brain projecting onto the previous mirror that the cream had worked. I did it for three weeks, until both bottles ran out and I saw no difference. You are meant to see the difference in two. I saw Nada. 

The only thing that was making my cellulite improve was that I was losing more weight and drinking more water. That was what was helping. NOT Niva Cellulite Cream. I won't be buying these expensive products again and I wouldn't advise anyone else to. I wouldn't advise anyone to buy any of the 'body firming', 'body toning', 'cellulite vanishing' products from any company because I do think it is a big scam based on the placebo effect. If you really want to lose cellulite I'd advise drinking a ton more water and exercising more. It is boring and a long process but it is the only way, alas. 

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Merry Christmas Everyone!!!!!!!

Posted on Tuesday, 24 December 2013



Merry Christmas Everyone!!!

I have slept for an hour...usually this would be because I am too excited to sleep but this year I was shattered. No, it is because my throat kills. It is really sore. So I am drinking tea and may prepare myself a bath soon. Very happy it is Christmas though :D Been having a good Christmas (very early) day so far!!!!!

I've snuck the dogs up to my room to keep me company. I was also worried about them because one of them ate a Chocolate Orange that I had in my room. It was hidden away and has been for aggggesssss but clearlyyyyyy they found it! SO BAD!


They seem fine.

Christmas Eve was lovely. Woke up with an awful throat but when to a beautiful ballet with my family. The Nutcracker. It was gorgeous. Such good dancers and the outfits were so magical. Felt so christmasy especially when The Nutcracker is set on Christmas Eve. I wore my new dress (literally had arrived in the morning!) and then went to London. When we came back I finished off wrapping a variety of presents, watched some TV and skyped Andy as he worked. Then my family and I had little nibbles for dinner (a special treat so prawns, tiny spring rolls and tiny cornish pasties). Nibbles always seem so fancy! So it was brilliant! And we had champagne :D And we watched Miracle on 31st Street. 

 So much fun!

Anyway have a brilliant Christmas. Absolutely brilliant Christmas. Hope it is magical. If there are any family fights (apparently there are lots at Xmas time) just breath, smile and escape to your happy place (with the sparkly wine, chocolate and Xmas TV!!!) But seriously, I am sending you hugs. I love you all! Merry Christmas!!!!





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Reasons To Miss America!

Posted on Tuesday, 17 December 2013

Ok, a couple of weeks ago, Scott Bryan posted '18 Things You Will Miss If You're a Brit In America'. I laughed a long happily to this article but, I have to admit, I miss America terribly. Even things I used to complain about in America, I MISS!!!!!!!

So here is:-

18 Things You Will Miss If You're a Brit Who Has Just Returned From America

 The People

I have to start by saying the people are amazing. They are incredible human beings and I love all the amazing friends I made in America dearly. It wouldn't have been the same without them and I love them to pieces. I will take about how lovely Americans are in general below but I am not talking about all the lovely friends, American or not, I made in UCSD. They were amazing. I have made some friends for life and I miss them so very much.

 The Weather
It was sunny in San Diego. It was pretty much sunny all of the time. I adored it. I seriously get sad and depressed when it is cold (SAD disorder potentially?). I hate getting so cold that my fingers turn purple. I hate wrapping in so many layers that I look like a right chubby chap. I hate having to take off all those layers the moment I get into the warmth. I hate having to have tissues at hand as when I change from a drastically cold temperature to a warm one, my nose begins to run (sorry too much info?). I hate scarring myself with hot water bottles every winter as I press them up against my skin and they leave ugly purple lines up and down my body. And I hate not being able to eat yummy cold foods like yoghurt or the occasional ice cream.

SAN DIEGO WAS WARM AND GLORIOUS! You felt on top of the world. The sun was constantly in sight and you could feel the warmth of it all around you. People smiled. People were happy. No one was really shivering. And if they were, all they had to do was put a cardigan on. Not quite the same back here in freezing cold England.

The Salads

America had such interesting salads on their menus. I am not joking, even the University diners were full of yummy salads and interesting foods. In England, it pretty much is 'Caesar Salad or Tuna Nicoise?'. Andy and I have taken to making our own healthy salads as both of these are calorie-laden in England. Furthermore, despite salads being expensive in America, they are MORE expensive in England. To get an interesting one for dinner will cost you around £5 at the supermarket. In a restaurant, £9-14. They always make it the most expensive thing on the menu! Now all my friends just stare at me when I say "I'll have the soup please." Only healthy equivalent on there even if it is on the starters menu. Once England restaurants cotton onto this however, that price will soon soar. Oh and Shrimp salads in America were not a 'crazy' thing. Here, if you want prawns with anything it'll usually cost about £3 more. WHY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 




The Beach

La Jolla Shores 


Brighton Beach

Need I say more? Yes? Ok. Well the first beach is beautiful, sand beneath your toes, sun in the sky, very cold sea but hey you'll dry off when you get out of it.
Brighton beach. THOSE ARE STONES. A stony beach. That is all we have in England. STONY BEACHES. You want to walk barefoot? Go on then, see how long you can manage before hopping in pain as one embeds itself into the soles of your feel or you stub your toe. Or just until you can't stand the uncomfortableness of the stones beneath your feet. Also those people are wearing clothes - jeans, hats and gloves. And they are not going to dare go in the water because they will freeze and when they get out they will freeze. ALSO this is a very rare occasion - the sun is out and it is not raining. 

Ralphs



All you need is a Ralphs card and you get discounts on the food. Why doesn't England have this? I have a Tesco clubcard but have never received my supposed voucher booklets in the post. I have rung Tesco twice asking where it is and I have had a clubcard for four years. That is a lot of points I must have stocked up and a lot of 'monthly voucher' booklets but I still have not received a single one. :( Ralphs - so much easier. Also they have such a range of cooler foods. So many types of cereal, so many types of diet drinks, so many types of everything. They have everything. The new Tesco layouts are good and clearly trying to mimic the amazing American supermarket....but it still isn't quite Ralphs. 

Free Buses For Students


This little b**ch of a bus was the bane of my life during second year. I lived in South Leamington so at least I got a seat in the morning, but it took forever to get to University and often students had to wait for three buses to pass before getting on. They were OBSCENELY EXPENSIVE - you usually got a bus pass for some ridiculous price, and went you registered for it, they didn't save your data so if you lost it, you had to pay the full price all over again - and they were always late. ALWAYS. And waiting on freezing cold morning, when everything is frosted over at 5.30am isn't a pleasant thing. The buses in UCSD were regular, free and the bus drivers were nice! They would talk to you. In Warwick, my friend Chloe actually had three bus drivers removed from our route because they were so rude to her and she kicked up a fuss. Glad to not be travelling on these anymore. 
(slight benefit of English buses vs American buses - no homeless people are on them who will try and sell you things because the buses are really too expensive for them to afford it).


American People

 They are just so nice in general. Americans always want to talk to you, they don't avoid eye contact, they smile if you open a door for them and they are nice people. They wish you a nice day. They are considerate. Yeah. Some people may think it is all fake....but hey, that's nicer than being greeted by sulky silent people.

American Shop Assistants

 I know, I know. I am a hypocrite. I did a blog last year about how awkward it was being greeted by happy shop assistants who wanted to help you with everything. Well....look I'd still feel uncomfortable if they followed me around and tried to make me buy something. I do like being left to my own devices. BUT English shop assistants are usually so miserable. They disappear so you can't ask anyone for help if you need to find something. They run a mile if they see you trying to catch their eye and they are so sulky and grumpy when you try and pay for something. "Oh ok, so if you really don't want me in your shop, I just won't buy this shall I?" It is a bit of a nightmare.

UCSD Gym/ Swimming Pool was Free and Beautiful

 Enough said really. Everywhere in England, the gym is crowded, smelly and extremely expensive (although I have just joined Gym Group who are so cheap and have such amazing equipment so thank you Gym Group). Gyms with pools are over priced and filled with grannies who can't swim or just people who can't swim who want to socialise and not swim. SWIMMING IS A SPORT. IT IS A GREAT WAY TO TONE UP AND BURN CALORIES. You wouldn't just chat leisurely whilst running on a treadmill so have some respect for other people's hard sports You may see it as a 'cool-down' after a gym session but some people are trying to work up a sweat.


This is UCSD's pool and it really is this empty. All the time....well apart from at weekends. It usually is this empty during the week. I love it. And it is outside!! Beautiful! 


This isn't Warwick Swimming Pool but this IS similar to how I feel Warwick swimming pool looks. Crowded and dirty. And lots of people talking. No lanes. Great....

American TV Shows

I actually get to watch the shows on time. They are shown on time and I don't have to wait three weeks to watch them, like in England. I also don't have all the story lines spoiled online by the time I watch them. I find it really unfair that Americans get British shows on the same day they are shown in Britain but British people have to wait a month! But if you are in America...well it is a great advantage. And their shows are advertised on huge billboards so you can always pick a new one to watch and find out about new shows easily. Also American TV is full of short comedy sketches, only 30 minutes long. Brilliant!

Bolba Tea

This is slowly starting to appear in England, but it is not a widespread phenomena like it is in England. BOLBA is so amazing. I used to have Bolba Hibiscus Tea. I haven't had any bolba since I got home :( I miss it. Hibiscus Tea is also amazing. So refreshing and healthy. However, there seems to be no such thing in England. Whenever I type it into supermarket store websites, it only offers me Strawberry and Raspberry tea. I love Bolba. I miss it so much. So chewy and yummy. 


Smores



Do I really need to say anymore?? Smores are amazing. I only had them like three times but oh my gosh they tasted good. By a campfire on the beach. Lovely. I did this with Laura on the third day of having known her. It was night time and it was just really nice. I was a bit scared of having the smores as other people had brought the foods but they let us have them. Definitely an American tradition you should not miss out on. 

American Accent

I love it. I love all the american accents. There is something so positive and energetic about them. Beautiful. I love all the different tones from all over America. I shouldn't be surprised that Americans have such varied accents as a Londoner doesn't sound anything like a Liverpudlian and we have an even smaller country. But I just didn't expect such varied accents. It is kind of wonderful. 

American Responses To Your Own Accents

Everyone is so nice about the English accent. They say you sound posh all the time, get you to repeat words and are just lovely. I love that sometimes they completely don't understand what you have been saying but they nod along anyway. They sometimes even get the totally wrong end of the stick because they think you mean something else. I just find it funny and a really good way to bond. You can't help but laugh like idiots when it happens and it really is something amazing. 

The X

They don't do X's at the end of their texts or messages. It is so sweet that they don't tell you they have no clue about what you're saying with the 'x' at the end of the message till you are way into your friendship. They usually give you a smiley face which is also very sweet sign off gesture.

The Doggies
Americans love their doggies. They are so cute. They are big fluffy and cuddly. Or they are teeny and are so adorable and travel via their owner's handbag. I just love how much they love animals out there. They are adorable. They are so cute. And they are worshipped by their owners. They take them to lectures for goodness sake! Furthermore, you don't see as many aggressive dogs out and about. Often one sees known aggressive dogs in the streets in London. Now I am a firm believer that it is the owner that makes the dogs bad or good but sometimes one should be more careful when buying a dog who is known to be more aggressive and violent. And I am not sure why so many people in England are prone to buying known aggressive dogs??? 

The Theme Parks


I mean look at it! Look at it! It is beautiful!!! So magical. It fills you with joy and makes you so happy. I just love it so much. DISNEY LAND/ DISNEY WORLD. They are both amazing. So if California Park and Universal Studios. Oh and Knotsberry Farm. They are all amazing. They are huge with so many different rides and so many places to eat and to try new things. Each is so different and their individual way and they bring back so many happy memories of my childhood.

England has roughly three main Theme Parks - Thorpe Park, Alton Towers and Legoland. They are good. Don't get me wrong they are good. And I enjoy them a lot. But they don't have that magical touch. They aren't filled with sunshine and happy families. Usually English weather spoils the day and then half the rides have to shut...yeah. And they rip you off a lot! America does that too but it kind of feels worth it...and dollars aren't really money anywhere! Are they?! 

The Range of California Food On Your Doorstep

California food is amazing. Like really amazing. And there is such a variety. Yes I live near London and there are many different types of cuisine. However, in Bushey and at University there isn't much choice. At Uni, there is pizza (as always), baguettes and pub food available. In Bushey there is the traditional Chinese and Indian food. England is full of Chinese and Indian restaurants. Oh and wannabe Italian restaurants - basically Pizza but from a fancier place than Dominoes. In California, there was Japanese, Chinese, Vegetarian, American, Mexican and European ALL ON CAMPUS. I mean within a twenty minute walk and it was good food. Yummy food. Sometimes a tad unhealthy but if you have everything in moderation it is fine :).

Also there were new things I had never tried. Bubble tea? Sprinkles Cupcakes? I mean amazing foods that were such treats! Such yummy special things. There was 'WholeFoods' which allowed you to buy the yummiest food to put in your salads. I loved it. Now I am living off Baked Beans on Toast and crackers (yep it is healthy and way cheaper and I am losing weight buuuttt....it isn't no where as much fun!!!!). 

Anyway I've probably missed a gazillion things. I really have. And I miss America a lot. SO MUCH. Too much to put in a list. I miss it a lot. But I am glad I have finished this list :) 

Sorry it took so long. It's hard to put things into categories. I want to list so many things. Like lots of little things but they are personal :) and not everyone who appreciate them probably. 

So YES AMERICA IS AMAZING. Don't diss it! x

  




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Teachers

Posted on Thursday, 5 December 2013

This year, I am blessed with amazing lecturers. However, I have not been so successful in previous years. And neither have any of my friends. It is quite a shock going from School to University. It is an even grater shock when you realise that sometimes....your lecturers really don't care about you. My sister is just experiencing this as she enters her first year of University. And my boyfriend is getting extremely upset as in his final and most important year, none of lecturers appear to care (for multiple reasons I will not go into)

Which is a reason why I believe teachers should get a higher salary than lecturers. Teachers don't have a high salary. They don't get to do their own research. No. Instead they work continual for the students. Their jobs and reputations are on the line if their class doesn't get good grades. So they work hard. They push their students and want to help them. This is quite evident with the recent two series 'Educating Essex' and 'Educating Yorkshire' which focus on quite 'rough' schools and the teachers never give up. Teachers go through so much physical and emotional strain. At the end of the day, they don't get to switch off, they do lesson plans, mark work and do more reading into what they are required to teach. They also spend time with their students. Offering to do extra revision sessions, helping students with their personal problems and offering to grade extra practice papers.

They also have to work with students who don't want to be there. They have to deal with it, inspire them and motivate them. They have to get students the grades they don't realise they need for future life. Those students who want to leave school the moment they can don't realise many jobs require them to have school qualifications, no matter what job it is. So teachers work with troublesome students, bothersome students, uncaring students and try and inspire them and get them the grades sometimes they almost try not to get. Lecturers are dealing with students who have applied to go to University and want to be there. They have chosen higher education as a route.


x

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Dec 1st - HAPPY DECEMBER

Posted on Sunday, 1 December 2013

Hello December!!!

I love December, don't you? The excitement running up to Christmas, the festive cheer in the air, the decorations. And you can't actually stand it being cold because it is Christmas soon so that makes it worthwhile. The chill actually adds to the Christmas spirit. That is something I missed in America actually. In California, I didn't really feel the Christmas Spirit. It was all about Thanksgiving and Halloween but not really Christmas, which seemed odd coming from England :). Maybe that was just because it was sunny all the time but I just didn't see as many decorations or things like that. (On that note, still working on that really big blog I mentioned a few blogs ago).

x

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November 30th - Bring Me December

November has been ok. I have enjoyed parts of it and have loved being so close to Andy all the time but....there's been so much work.

So much of my life has just been filled with stress since the start of Uni and it's driving me slightly insane. I dream work, sleep work, wake up and immediately think of work. And now I am planning on working all Christmas to get ahead in my degree. Groan. But I know it is necessary otherwise I won't have Easter to revise - it'll just all be about my dissertation and long essays and I can't have that clutter my revision time.

I posted a picture the other day saying 'Woooop crazy Friday night out....Not' and it was me working. Apparently I am letting students down everywhere but not going out partying but I don't think that is the case at all. I have had three years of occasional partying (first year I had a year of constant partying pretty much) and I don't want to do it anymore. Second year I didn't go out really either as when the year counts, I work hard. And that means not going out partying. It saves money and it also means I feel less like I am flushing my student fees down the toilet. Why pay all that money for Uni to go out partying and damage my degree in anyway?

 Also if you think your real friends are the ones you party with you are sorely wrong. I realised this a long time ago but drunken buddies does not mean your best friends for life. Your best friends are the ones who make you crack up when you are just in your PJs. The ones who make you smile even if they are miles away :)

Also I have got really picky about wine. It's my mother in me. "it's not Sparkling wine? Then what the hell is the point in wasting calories on it?" That is literally what goes through my head!!! I am so snobby when it comes to drink :( I mean I still occasionally get the House Rose in the Dirty Duck but when I had it recently after not having had it for ages it tasted disgusting! Oh expensive taste :( will be the death of me :(

Also going out costs so much!!! I not only usually get the taxi for people (and they never remember to pay me back! Convient), but drinks, entry and everything else is just expensive. To dance around in a club of sweaty people. And right now, it's cold! SO COLD! Why would I go outside in weather like this!!!! Much prefer staying inside and having a good night with television, good conversation and friends than do the former.

I sound like an old woman. Old age is coming fast *Head in hands* x

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November 29th - Believe It or Not

Posted on Saturday, 30 November 2013

Believe it or not I am actually writing a really long blog post to be posted soon. I wanted it to go up yesterday but I didn't finish it so here is a quick replacement one! I hope you'll like the long one, it just takes a while to think about everything. I'll give you a clue, it's a response to the recent buzzfeed article concerning '18 things A Brit Will Miss in America'.

But for now, what can I talk about???

Black Friday madness in England.

It seems the Black Friday tradition of sales galore has passed over the Atlantic. However, not very well. Black Friday in America actually shows deals whereas in England, the shops pretend to give deals. I have seen so many Nexus 7's for sale at the discounted price of £159 - down from £199! WOW WHAT A DEAL. However, if you do your research, this is an old Nexus 7 and was retailed at £159 in 2012. So there is no deal. It is exactly the same price. And one can buy an old Nexus 7 for cheaper than that in a local store. SO THIS IS NOT A DEAL BUT A SCAM. Many shops have tried this new technique on Black Friday and it feels very cold hearted and cruel, pretending to SLASH prices when really there is no difference. Some things were on sale - I bought 2 Xmas pressies on a Black Friday deal which were great bargains - but most things weren't.

I also find it funny how after a day when everyone is meant to be grateful for what they have, they rush out to tackle one another to get to shops? Does this make sense?? There are fights, squabbles and tears just over a few items of discounted clothing (P.S they will probably stay discounted all weekend - most shops do this now!) This bad behaviour travelled over the atlantic very successfully. There were loads of articles over fights in shops in England and police being called. It made me want to slam my head into the desk in despair. Really? Really? Where has everyone's dignity gone??

Well I guess this is just the start. With Xmas drawing closer.....I bet the shopper's violence will just get worse.

x

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November 28th - HAPPY THANKSGIVING

Posted on Thursday, 28 November 2013

Right now, my friends are all eating thanksgiving dinner together. Betty and Laura are in the lovely Sacramento, all cosy and eating turkey (I am guessing).

I am rather jealous. I am snuggled up with a duvet, it is freezing outside and I have four crackers and a stir fry today so my stomach is rather hungry (something I now continuously have to put up with). I have a hot water bottle on my legs, the heating doesn't work and there is a large cup of tea by my side. I look to my right and see the foreboding pile of books I have yet to read to start my 3000 word essay that is due in next year (yep, I am that prepared folks!). So yes, I am rather jealous.

My last thanksgiving was rather funny and un traditional. I went for a run with Betty in the morning, tried to contact Mikey to say the Cheesecake Factory was closed and did he want to do something, had a lasagne lunch (which tasted rather rough), saw one of my 'best friends' flirt with the guy I told her I liked, saw that girl and Betty leave to go for a dinner (they asked me to go (the 'friend' did) but I had to wait for Mikey to see if he was free anytime soon). That friend got pissed off as she thought I was just going to go after my crush - by the way she had a boyfriend at this point - but no, I waited in my apartment for Mikey, and played basketball briefly with a deflated ball.

Later in the evening, things picked up. I did go over to my crush's apartment (BTW this is Andy if no one had cottoned onto that already - hehehe :D) and played on the Wii. It was really fun. We then waited for the Spanish boys to cook their turkey. Said friend and Betty returned later in the night. Said friend began questioning me over how long I'd been in the boy's apartment *roll eyes* -  I was so naive! - and we ate raw turkey. Yep RAW. The Spanish boys claimed that they did this all the time at home and that it was fine. Raw turkey is apparently a Spanish delegacy. Hehehe. Well I didn't get ill and it was an odd thanksgiving, but it is one I'll never forget. Just wish I'd got to contact Mikey as I feel he could have felt left out :(.

But anyway, this year I am grateful for so many things. I am grateful for Andy (hehehe, sorry had to put it in), grateful for my family and friends, grateful for the amazing new friends I made on my Year Abroad, grateful for my year abroad opportunity, grateful for my doggies, grateful for my health, grateful that I still have the motivation to work my arse off even when the future isn't looking bright, grateful for my warm pjs, grateful for my cups of tea, grateful for Ryvita crackers and chocolate spread, grateful for the swimming pool (OF SAN DIEGO :'( I MISS IT), grateful for 'Doctor Who' and 'Sherlock', grateful for Adobe Premiere Pro and grateful for how much this year has taught me. I have grown up a lot yet when a rather evil person was removed from life, my hope and faith in humanity came back, so I haven't quite lost my gullible and vulnerable side. And I am grateful for that because I was starting to turn into a different person - a harder, tougher and more disbelieving one. And I never want that to happen again.

I love you all

Happy Thanksgiving x


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November 27th - Sports Clothes

Posted on Wednesday, 27 November 2013

I just want to buy all the sports clothes I can. Especially from Nike. They all look so amazing and I WANT THEM ALL. On Tumblr they all have really cute slogan tops and I want one. I also want a sports bra. I just want the bright colourful sports clothes and I want to exercise and run around in them and feel good about myself. Instead I am usually tugging at my clothes as the others around me in the gym look so glamorous whilst I stand there awkwardly. Ah well!!! When I have the money right?

I'm not that interested in any dresses etc at the moment as I want to get them when I reach my target weight. A little reward for me, kind of thing. At the moment I have to find a tape measure to measure myself for my friend's wedding and I am dreading it! I don't want to give my measurements yet when I have such a long way to go before I hit my target weight!!! But she said she would alter it by next summer if I lost weight, which kind of sounded like a challenge in my head, so I was immediately geared up and ready to continue this hard long battle down 'safe' dieting hill.

I had my first Juice day yesterday (planning on doing one a week). It was ok. i got hungry but the smoothies were nice. It is too expensive to make my own as I would have to buy a blender and all the fruit each week so I just buy small bottles of smoothie for that day. I cheated by having soup in the evening but in these cold cold cold winter days I think that'll be ok. It's still all very cleansing. It's weird how much you wish you could chew something though whilst you are on a juice day.

Anyway, small, rather uninteresting update from me! Hope you're well x


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November 26- Doctor Who

Posted on Tuesday, 26 November 2013

Hi There!!
First apologies for not writing in so long (particularly due to my November promise). I do have good reason for that. First, I am extremely busy with work but the real reason is I went back to Warwick and left my charger in Bristol! Sigh! What a nuisance. So I'll just add on extra days at the end of November.

So firstly I want to talk about Doctor Who. So if you don't like it or don't want spoilers, turn away now and look away. I love Doctor Who so much and this episode brought back so much of my obsessive feelings for it. I believe it was utterly amazing and deserved to be watched by all. However, I will try and be a bit less like "IT WAS ALL AMAZING" in my review and actually give a proper review. I will however lay it out in bullet points so not quite like a proper review.

So my favourite moments from the episode :-

Peter Capaldi Debut
A few seconds. That is all it took for me to fall in love with this new Doctor. Literally a few seconds which made my stomach jump and my heart race. The introduction of a new Doctor is always hard. Peter Capaldi had already faced some critics believing he was "too old" to be the new Doctor. But those few seconds banished those thoughts from anyone. Personally, I love Capaldi, I saw him in the show 'Fortysomething' and I have seen a few episodes of the 'The Thick Of It' and he is a fantastic actor. AND HE IS A LONG TERM FAN OF THE SHOW! Which means he will be awesome and dedicated. But yes, those few seconds, were amazing and literally I couldn't stop raving about it after the show. Powerful entrance. *ROUND OF APPLAUSE* to Steven Moffat.



"It's all twelve of them!"
"No sir, thirteen!"

David Tennant, Matt Smith and John Hurt Banter
They were amazing. It felt very traditional Who for the Doctors to meet and take the micky out of them. I enjoyed that a lot and I loved the fact they're seem to be some competitiveness over the size of their sonic screwdrivers. John Hurt just made this even better. He was fantastic. The way he just put downt he other two like a disapproving Dad was fantastic. He told Matt of for waving around her hands and he asked why they were both using their sonics as weapons. Oh it was just too good. I loved all of their interactions and I think you could tell that all the actors were loving actor off from one another.

John Hurt
He was brilliant. The War Doctor. A fine British actor. One of the most superb British actors. He joined Doctor Who and was like a shining beacon. The emotions that ran through his face and the emotions he dealt with were so well displayed. It was just a brilliant piece of actor by a man who combined the hurt, sorrow, troubles, tiredness and humour of the Doctor so brilliantly.

Billie Piper
She wasn't Rose but I can understand why Steven Moffat didn't make her Rose. It would have made for a too complicated plot. She was brilliant as Bad Wolf. Showed the range of her acting ability. She was amazing. Bad Wolf. What an incredible storyline. Bad Wolf was such a good story line. A really good way to bring back Billie because she is iconic to the Doctor Who reboot and needed to be celebrated in her own way in the 50th Anniversary.

The Plot
It was an extremely good plot. I loved it. It felt too epic for the short time it was broadcast. I am not going to reveal too much, but bringing back the concept of the time war and involving paintings and Zygons. Just glorious.

Dislikes
I felt that David Tennant was initially not written very well. His doctor appeared to get everything wrong at first. He was never that stupid! He is the Doctor ! He didn't do mistakes!!!! And there were some plot holes like what actually happened to present day London or what happened to the mysterious world that the Doctor and Clara found themselves in at the end of the last series. Did they just disappear???? I also am not too convinced by how close the Doctor and Clara are, I don't feel they are close as they are represented to be because Clara doesn't live on the TARDIS. It seems all the adventures they have are shown to the viewer so they may have only had about eight adventures? Potentially. I am not too sure about their relationship but I do love Clara.

Sorry if that review was a bit of a shamble. I was trying my hardest not to be like THIS WAS AMAZING. But I feel this review has become just like that.

Anyway, more content for a wider audience tomorrow!! :D x


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November 22nd - My Little Sister's Party

Posted on Saturday, 23 November 2013

What happened to a princess cake, a movie and a couple of pizzas? That used to be the most supervision I ever had to do for my little sister's birthday parties. I was in charge of ordering pizza and making sure she didn't damage the DVDs. Now....not so much.

My sister had a house party. My parents left (trusting my sister more than me then in terms of house parties!) and I was left to run the household. To be honest you would think there would be less to do as my sister is 19 and all her friends are 18/19 so they hardly need a babysitter. Exactly, they don't....until alcohol gets the better of them.

Food Everywhere
It seems that my sister's friends enjoy throwing food....um just about everywhere. I found rolls on the floor, crisps everywhere, bits of peanut getting stuck in my foot and pizza curled up beside the spa. The dogs had a field day as they ran around trying to snag a few treats. Think they felt a bit sick the next day though. I ran around with a dustpan like a little mosquito chasing people.

Spa Antics
I have had many parties involving our amazing outdoor spa. It is an amazing place to socialise and it always feel glamorous drinking wine in the Spa. However, my friends and I remain fully clothed. A bikini may not cover up much but it covers up enough....

Sick
Do I need to go on? But to be honest I felt really sympathetic for the poor ill girls as they actually all seemed nice and had clearly just drunk a lot because they were nervous or didn't quite realise how much they had drunk till the last and fatal minute.

Sticky Floors
As everyone ran in from the house, to the spa, and back out again the floor slowly got stickier and stickier. Soon you couldn't walk on without the "SPLURP" sound. It was a disaster. I was getting stuck to the floor and Saxon hated it. This involved a lot of mopping after everyone had gone to bed and then more mopping the next morning!

Broken Glass
The occasional dropped glass is understandable but when one is thrown down as the girl jumps up and down in excitement....it isn't so amusing. It was thrown with such force as well it meant the glass went everywhere. I am very grateful to my friend Will for cleaning up the most of it! Very nice of him. Whilst the girl who dropped it began insisting she wasn't drunk.

Tonsil Tennis
Another activity that is rather rare at my parties. However, lusty 18 years olds have a mind of their own ( a mind set I clearly missed). A lot of kissing. A lot of manoeuvring around kissing couples. A lot of heartbreak from other girls who potentially liked the boy now kissing someone else. Oh the drama.

Cold 
The door was constantly left open to the outdoors as people rushed in and out for the spa. Us sober ones got cold very quickly as we were not wrapped up in our alcoholic blankets. I wore a coat for 3/4 of the evening.

Injuries
One boy sprained his ankle falling into the spa (sober, believe it or not). I got punched in the face by my over hyperactive sister who thought that would be a hilarious thing to do as I made her friends tea and tidied up, and a girl had a bleeding ankle (we are not too sure why).

Cleaning
The majority of people were tucked up by 2am, 3am the latest. All fast asleep. Including my sister. I was downstairs cleaning until 5.15 in the morning. I didn't even manage to finish it all but I thought it was presentable when Mum walked in the next morning (even if her shoes made a slight weird noise as she stuck briefly too the floor - this was after 3 mopps!)

At the end of the day I enjoyed myself. I like looking after people and all of Becky's friends were nice people. It was definitely fun to watch, like a visitor to a zoo. I also felt quite nostalgic as I realised my sister had got so old. However, I also felt so grateful because the wildest thing to happen at my party was that someone fell asleep in the study....
x


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November 21st - Happy Birthday Becky

Posted on Thursday, 21 November 2013

Happy Birthday to my little sister. She is now 19, in school and so grown up. So proud of my little sister! She is with someone who is apparently lovely (I haven't met him yet!) and she is very very happy. She is a gorgeous girl, has a healthy attitude towards life and health and I love her humour to pieces. We are so different but she is my little sister and I'm so proud of her. She is one of my best friends and I confide everything with her.

This morning I took the Megabus to London. I met up with my Dad and sister in St Paul's and he took us out for lunch for a Japanese meal :D It was lovely. I had prawn soup and it tasted scrumptious and so different to all my diet cracker bread meals I have been having of late.

I got treated to a second meal later on as my parents took me out for dinner :D it was lovely :D. They were chatting away and my Mum was so happy to see me. It was flattering :D. She hadn't seen me in six weeks and you'd think after not having seen me for four months at a time whilst I was in the US she would be used to it but no :D Which actually makes me all fussy inside. It was a nice compliment. And despite what she thinks I had missed seeing her too.

My dogs went crazy when I came in. They were running around like crazy. Bonnie quickly got bored but Saxon is my dog and consequently acted out of the ordinary by running around, jumping on my chest, licking my face and not letting me get up. Made me laugh so hard.

I wish Andy was here though. He can never come home during term time so that sucks :( but I will hopefully see him soon! x

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November 20th - Student Scam Tumble Dryers

Only in America have I found a student tumble dryer works! All the others are rip offs.

You have to pay £1 to dry your clothes and when you take them out, they are wet, so you have to buy a drying rack too at an extra cost....so really there is no point in drying  your clothes but you tell yourself "This time will be different, this time my clothes will be dry" and no, they are not. And due to the cold temperatures, your clothes don't dry very fast on the drying rack so you find yourself uncomfortably getting into wet socks, underwear and clothing the next day and walking outside to brave the cold - AHHHHHHHHHHHH

You could put your clothes in for another dry? Yes, well you could. I did this once and quite a few of Andy's clothes shrunk a little so it's either wet or tiny clothing? Which one would you prefer? It's a tough choice. And also putting your drying in for another cycle is not a cheap affair when you have just paid £5.40 for the privilege to wash your clothes.

I believe the tumble dryers are deliberately set to an extremely low setting just so that people do put them in for another spin. It's not dependent on how many pieces of clothing you put in because this morning I put in less clothes than I ever have and I swear they came out wetter. The tumble dryers also take longer than my parent's old old old one so I KNOW it is a set-up.

Also they never put coin machines in the student washing rooms. This is deliberately so people spend more on the washing machine than they are meant to as they never give back change. It also means I have to go out and buy something deliberately in order to get change.

Ohhhhhhh the woes of student life. I guess it's better now I actually have a tumble dryer though. In Second year, I didn't have one and my housemates didn't believe in putting the heating on so therefore my clothes were like ice ALL THE TIME. I dreaded washing day. Literally dreaded it.

Rant over!

(I updated my other blog gymsloth.tumblr.com too so go check it out if you want!)
x

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November 19th - It's Getting Cold

Posted on Tuesday, 19 November 2013

Oh I did not miss winter. My Mum says she loves the seasons and that's why she loves England. The cold winters and then the, sometimes, warmish summers. However, I loved San Diego. I loved the continued warmth. The sun. And the sun bathing in the winter. I mean, it wasn't boiling in the winter, it got a bit chilly, but I could wear a hoody and jeans and feel warm. I didn't get the chills.

This morning, I was freezing. I was stone cold, sitting on a Megabus. I had to put my hat, gloves and scarf on whilst jogging my legs up and down and lifting my arms up and down. I looked like a mad woman. How could I be that cold on a bus??? I was that cold for three hours.

There is an ice breeze in the air and apparently, it is going to stay for about two weeks. It is snowing elsewhere in the country. However, what the news really means is that it is going to stay this cold throughout the winter. Usually England is its coldest during February and March. The temperatures right now are reflecting that. And I am suspecting it will not get warmer, it'll just stay the same, or get colder as the months drag on.

The cold makes me so miserable. Even with a sunny sky, the cold grabs at my muscles and bones and makes me sad. It makes me preoccupied all the time as I can't work whilst I am trying to get warm. i can't think whilst my limbs are shaking. I dislike it a lot. The only time I enjoy the winter is when I am properly wrapped up inside. Maybe with a cup of tea between my fingers and a fire by my feet. And with a good book or film. That's the time when I like winter. I like the sky getting darker earlier. It makes me cosy. I also enjoy winter because it suggests Christmas. In America, I never got a Christmas vibe because it was that bit warmer (also they don't really enjoy Christmas, they prefer Halloween or Thanksgiving).

Anyway, hope you're all wrapped up warm.

Things You Need to Wear for Winter

 - Get a good hat. I never believed that I would be warmer if I wrapped up my head as I always felt cold in my extended limbs. But keeping your head warm really does warm you up. You lose the most heat through your head. It helps keep you warm. I got mine from Primark - £5.

- A scarf. Similarly it helps keep your head warm and does heat you up. Protect your neck. Get a big thick scarf so it can flow over your shoulders and keep them warm too. Mine, once again, Primark - £3.


Wear a coat. I had to borrow Andy's for a while as I only had hoodies. I had my old one in my Warwick room though when I returned. It is a very old coat from Next but an old coat lasts a long time. One button may be missing and there may be holes in the pockets but it keeps me snug and warm.

Below is a picture of from the bus this morning. It looked so lovely outside but the gorgeous sun did not warm me up. It was just cold and frozen. Hope you're warmer wherever you are.
x




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November 18th - Old Friends

Posted on Monday, 18 November 2013

I met up with a lot of friends this Monday. It is usually what I do as whilst I am at Warwick I want to make a dash around people to make sure no one thinks I've forgotten them. As normal, Chloe and I met early in the library and she very lovingly gave me half of her homemade chocolate chip scone. The chocolate chips were actually chocolate buttons which made it all the better. We then waited for class and chatted away about graduate schemes as she has just started applying.

I really am the most gullible person in the world.

I saw her write on her CV "Got ten million award points for being Queen of the World" underneath her "Gap Kids" Job and I said "Wow, is that a thing at Gap?"
"Oh  yeah you get points for every month. I didn't get the title Queen of the World but it is good to make someone laugh when reading their application because then you stand out."
"Oh." I said thinking of my very boring and professional CV.
"OH MY GAWD! YOU ARE SO GULLIBLE!" and she cracked up laughing as she began to edit the sentence. She had written it as a joke whilst we were talking about what she could say underneath "Gap Kids".

That's me Gullible, naive and I will believe everything you say,

We also had a girl's history dinner. I didn't actually eat but I drank two glorious pints of diet coke. It was fun. We were all discussing our course and our stresses of final year and our graduate applications. However, when Chloe started saying our degree was ridiculous, in terms of, we're not going to get a job, I got slightly upset.

It was lovely seeing them all though and it is so weird how we are now planning the next chapter of our lives. It all seems so daunting.

I then saw my old housemates Holly and Rose. I went to Holly's for a movie night. It was really sweet, it was so nice seeing them, once again, our conversation revolved around graduate schemes, but it was so nice seeing them both and hearing about their lives. They haven't changed much even during their year abroad. It was sweet and I definitely plan on doing it again :).

So that was my busy busy day. Around ten o clock, I came back and had my dinner of four crackers :D yum! (And I am being serious it was delicious) and then went to bed at 12. Only to be getting up at 4. OUCH! Yeah, me = little of sleep at the beginning of the week. Going to watch some Big Bang Theory whilst I do my morning routines to make up for it!

Anyway, I love you all :D x

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November 17th - One Work Out From...

Posted on Sunday, 17 November 2013

Ok so I woke up today in a sad mood. You know one of those days you just wake up in a bad mood. Not even a bad mood, just a sad one. Maybe it was because Andy and I had been studying till 3am each morning this week and had no rests, maybe I was tired, or maybe I just felt had a bad day...I'm not sure.

There is a phrase that your one exercise away till a good mood. I am not to sure if it was the hug from Andy or the exercises, or probably the two combined but I just squatted, squatted, squatted and did as many sit ups as I could until my stomach was screaming and I felt better. I genuinely did. After a few minutes, I felt so much better. I breathed and I was me again. So I guess when your clum...perhaps that is the thing to do. Or get a hug from your best friend. Always helps. Makes you feel like all the bad junk within you is flowing out into the ground.

It is nice :) I would recommend it. x


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November 16th - Nivea Face Cream

Posted on Saturday, 16 November 2013

I thought I'd do a little review for you! I know, I've never done those before! It'll be something a bit different I feel.

I had been told Nivea Face cream was amazing. For the cheap price of £3.57 I heard it was better than most expensive face creams. My friends have already got into their anti-wrinkle routines and trying to buffer their skin in advance for their inevitably aging and I thought it was about time I joined in the trend. This was about the time I decided to take my diet super seriously and step up my work outs at the gym. I am trying to transform myself. Also I felt if I was seen to be doing things to my skin, my Mum might not nag me as much about make-up (no, not wearing too much, too little)

So taking the recommendation of Daisy, I purchased Nivea day cream.



Benefits 
It feels wonderful. It is really smooth and it makes you feel more awake in the morning. It definitely has had an effect of my skin and I feel my skin is more firm and soft because of it. I also think it aids the black bags that collect under my eyes in the morning. It makes them seem less aggressive. So I would definitely recommend this cream for all of those reasons. It is cheap, lasts for a long time and is small enough to fit in your handbag.

Disadvantages
If you rush in the morning to get out and you live in England, this cream can be a nuisance. After application, if you leave your house and begin to walk in the cold weather it turns into wet cream which slides around your face. It shines and makes you face look glowy. It also makes you look sweaty and unfit. I once arrived at Bristol library to have the left side of my hair soaked from the stuff so it looked like I was sweating like crazy. Not fun. In turn this can make your make-up run and when you try and wipe the sweat like substance from your face even your lightly applied make-up comes off to. So leave it at least two hours before you go outside into cold temperatures.  I would put it on at night before I go to bed (despite it being a day cream) but my boyfriend says it doesn't smell of me so he doesn't like it when he snuggles up to me and I smell of it.

Overall a good cream with some side effects which one can avoid. 3/5

x

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November 15th - Water

Posted on Friday, 15 November 2013

Water is meant to be really good for you, right??

Well this is what I have been trying to tell myself. Anyone who knows me will know I am a diet pop/soda/fizzy drink fanatic. Hate the full sugar version as it makes my teeth feel funny and I soon after get a headache from it. But diet anything, especially 7up, sign me up.

However, lately I have tried to detox my body from these drinks, truth be told, I've been trying to save money. I know feel bad if I buy any goods for myself without buying Andy something. Consequently, it would be stupid of me to buy cans of diet 7up everyday if it also meant I wanted to buy Andy tons of sweets/bread/chocolate/meat (this boy will eat anything). Soooooooo as I am also trying to save up for an apartment ASAP so Andy and I can live together, it has been bye bye fizzy drinks (except on small occasions whereby Andy and I actually have a night off from working and we chose to celebrate - yep diet 7up is my celebration drink)

And you know? I have started to like water.....GASP. I know! I have started drinking roughly 1.5 litres a day and it makes me feel good. Not for the reasons people say, like it makes you more awake, or concentrate more etc etc. but just so I can be like "AHHHHH I HAVE ONLY DRUNK WATER TODAY!!! YAY ME!" Selfish, I know.

I also still drink tea by the gallon. OF COURSE. What would a british humanities student be if they were not addicted to tea or coffee??? Tea is my friend. Unfortunately, over the summer I slipped back into my sweetener habit. I kept it a secret from my parents and only had it when out with Andy. However, that stopped three weeks ago. I was spending far too much money on tea when I was out just so I could experience the sweet calorie free taste of sweetener and I was become addicted to it. Once I finished a cup of tea, onto another one. And a box of sweetener is not cheap. Therefore, I stopped. I also thought it would help with my weightless as sweetener has been known to prevent weight loss even though it is zero calorie. And I feel better. Now I am drinking normal tea. I wait till I get home to have a mug so I am not wasting money whilst I am in the library or out and about and I feel good! I feel great! I don't have a bloated tummy from so much tea drinking, I don't have sudden scares of "WHAT IF THIS GIVES ME CANCER" and I don't start to panic about the condition of my teeth. I also don't rush to make a cup of tea the moment Andy offers to (I used to always want to offer to make it myself as he put less sweetener in my tea than I wanted and I would feel rude going to correct it). I can sit back and let him make me a cup of tea.

So if tea counts, I am drinking plenty of water!!! Hopefully it is doing me good. Only time will tell but it is good for hydration and now I find myself craving an ice cold glass in the mornings when I wake up and I drink tons while I am exercising. It is good. It may all be psychological but I am enjoying it. However, don't get me wrong, if I go to meet my friends at the pub (On the RARE occasion I am free) I will opt for a pint of diet coke (as I am now dieting). Not water. What's a girl to do? A nice treat once in a while keeps you going in the long term :).


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November 13th - Scary Stuff Happens on The Thirteenth

Posted on Wednesday, 13 November 2013

Ok, so to get to Bristol I take a 5.20am coach. This means getting up at 3.15am. It is only a ten minute walk to the bus stop but I want to make sure I get there early incase the lovely people at Megabus actually arrive early and leave without me. Doesn't usually happen. Them getting there early that is. The Megabus bus stop is just outside a shopping centre so I wait in there so I don't have to wait in the dark for the bus. Now, whilst I was waiting a creepy sound suddenly began and starting echoing through the halls. I hated it. It freaked me out and I didn't like it. I knew it was probably something that hadn't been turned off in a shop properly but the thing was, I had been there for twenty minutes already and not heard it and now it was going off every 2 minutes. Also it was extremely loud and the only shop near the source of the sound was a Wilkinsons (a shop for home supplies). This was the sound.


At first I was just waiting so turn your volume up and skip to 0.25 if you want to hear the noise ASAP. Wilkinsons does not sell toys which makes this even scarier. x

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November 12th - Bullying

Posted on Tuesday, 12 November 2013

Bullying is a serious issue today. I have been a victim to bullying in the past but with modern technologies growing and growing, I feel it is worse today than ever before.

I have recently read a lot about teen suicides. These teenagers often take their lives due to severe bullying. Their schools do not provide help and they do not know what to do. It is heartbreaking. Bullying is seriously damaging and school's need to do more about it. Furthermore social networking sites involved with the suicides, particularly ASK. FM should be shut down. The recent case of Izzy Dix's death seriously upset me. Her Mum wrote to the school over and over again about the bullying and Izzy even went to see the headmaster. The school did sh*t all. And the day after Izzy say the headmaster, she killed herself. The story is a really horrible one to read and makes you feel so upset. I will leave a link to it below and a link to a petition below that. It is called for the ban of ASK.FM, involved in so many suicides and the prime place for bullies to reside. I was lucky not to have social network sites when I was younger. Consequently, when I ran home, I could escape. However, now teenagers do not have the same privilege and we need to protect them as much as we can.

Izzy Dix article - http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2483851/Izzy-Dixs-mother-gives-heart-rending-interview.html

Izzy Dix Anti-Bullying Memorial Facebook Group - https://www.facebook.com/IzzyDixAntiBullyingMemorialPage?fref=ts

Izzy Dix BAN ASK.FM Petition - http://www.change.org/en-GB/petitions/shut-down-cyberbullying-website-ask-fm-in-memory-of-izzy-dix-11-other-teens-globally




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November 11th - Squat

Posted on Monday, 11 November 2013


I can’t bend my knees. No I am not joking, I literally am finding it hard to bend down to pick things up. This is potentially because I have squatted myself to death.

Recently, I have been following an intense fitness regime. I go to the gym but I also have a thing called a ‘Fitbag’ which I use every day I don’t go to the gym (So every other day). I also do morning exercises everyday which involve 30 squats. However, the ‘Fitbag’ routine also includes a lot of squats. And basically, I feel my thighs have just given me the finger and strolled off. This may have not been helped by the fact I also have to use a thigh master in the ‘Fitbag’ (I’ll do a future blog about all the contents of the ‘Fitbag’ and whether I think it’s a worthy buy).

The weird thing, is that the muscles that are aching are not ones I have ever felt ache before. They are on the top of my thighs. I don’t even know what those are called. But literally I dropped my shampoo in the shower later today and I had to lower myself to the floor because it hurt so much. I felt like an old woman!

My squats have given me muscle pains before. First my knees were killing me. I felt like I was having growing pains all over again. I literally lay in bed one night in agony. I tried to smother them in tiger balm which helped slightly but then I was in pain with a peculiar smell all around me.

Following this my bum hurt for a while. The muscles at the side of it. But that made me happy because that is supposedly the area squats target the most and that is why I am doing the squats.

Ah well. Squats are meant to be really beneficial for a woman so I’ll continue squatting away but maybe I’ll let my legs rest for a day. I know that is what you’re meant to do with really sore muscles. I just find it hard to stop a routine once I have started it as I feel so guilty! And until I have a bum like…well someone with a nice bum then I won’t stop squatting.

Oh and Happy Birthday to my lovely friend Laura Anderson x