Wow.

What a wonderful week. I mean seriously.

It was the best.

All of my classes are super interesting. Already had one quiz in Hinduism (random 'pop' quizzes we will be graded on throughout the quarter) and been introduced to using the I<Clicker. I am finding my Eating Disorders class one of the most interesting and yet really hard class for me. It is a rather saddening topic and very deep. I feel very drained after a class but I find it fascinating.

I also got promoted to a Producer of Triton TV. This has made me extremely happy and I bounced around quite a bit especially as my two close friends Betty and Catalina have also been made producers. We are going to make the coolest productions ever...watch this space.

This Friday I went to Tapioca with Andy, Laura, Betty and Arunav which was fun before Laura and I went with the boys to Ralphs to pick up supplies for that evening. Andy continued to tease me about scarring my entire family and himself with 'The Salt and Ice' challenge. I had no idea it did that to someones skin! I feel so bad! I am so sorry!

Ralphs was really fun. We giggled and laughed the entire time and joked about different things such as shampoos...yeah we were all being children but hey, ho Live while your young.

That evening there was a good party and hey! Catalina was back! Just in time to party on! Good to have the apartment back to normal although I did start to just think Betty lived in the room next to mine.

We went to Andys for the party. We entered into a dark room where the boys were bouncing off the walls like crazy. It was hilarious. I then got taken the mick out of for the 'pose' I do in pictures. All my friends started doing it and then Betty made Andy and me have a picture together before telling Andy to do the pose too. Yes, he had noticed in all my photos I did the exact same pose and yes he copied me too. WHAT! It is the only way I can look like an average human being rather than a bleached pig rat.

Soon the apartment began to empty but at one point Andy and I began to dance around with Scruffy (his stuffed dog) in one hand while the apartment was completely empty. We were like a pair of hyper active children. It was hilarious. One Direction was the background music - standard.

I also got a lovely insight into the boy brain about what was attractive which was really surprising and nice :D

So all in. A brilliant way to end the week. And a really funny way to end the week. Hopefully there will be more brilliant weeks to come.

Song of the night:-

It seems rather fitting that my 100th blog is describing my first day back in UCSD. I don't know why it makes it somewhat complete. I can't believe I have actually kept this blog going but I am rather happy that I have because it will be something great to look back on when I am older.

Anyway, sentimental rubbish over and onto my first day back.

When I landed, it was pouring it down. Literally some of the heaviest rain I have ever seen and everything was getting wet, all my magazines look crumpled and the sides are unreadable and yeah I didn't think to bring an umbrella with me because I thought those were best left in England! I did have panic for a second and think we had gone round in a huge circle and I was back in England. Stupid notion, I know, but I have a rather large imagination. The UCSD free shuttle never came so I hoped in a Super shuttle and made my way back to UCSD. I couldn't stop smiling. I was smiling so much it hurt my mouth! I then trundled up to my room where there was a massive sign saying 'WELCOME BACK MELISSA" and Bobby and Laura gave me the loveliest hello a girl could wish for. They were so bouncy and sweet and it was so nice of them. It was good to be back. The living room is also looking amazing because Laura's sister decorated it!

So then the first day hit. I didn't have any jetlag - weirdly - and I woke up to go swimming (AHHH I LOVE BEING BACK IN THIS OUTDOOR POOL) and then go to my first class. It is concerning Hindu Texts (thank you, Mrs Smith for being a lifesaver and teaching me everything I need to know on the topic - sadly, however, I stupidly forgot to bring any of my notes/previous essays out with me so....slow clap for Lissy please, slow clap). The teacher looked amazing - he has grey hair all over and then long long long brown dreadlocks! He was wearing a kind of kimono and carrying a flask but never drinking from it. Too wacky for words.

Then I went for lunch with Andy. It was lovely seeing him after such a long time! Although I feel so bad because he showed me that I had permantely scarred him on his left hand when we were playing the Salt and Ice Challenge! He swore to me at the time it didn't hurt! Now I have scarred him and my two cousins! I am never telling anyone about that challenge again I feel so awful. He told me all about his Winter trip and it sounded really fun! I also apparently have ruined the next two Hobbit films by telling him the dwarves are aiming to slay the dragon and the dragon is going to be played by Benedict Cumberbatch - those are MASSIVE spoilers apparently....

Later in the evening I had a really chat with Laura and we proceeded to watch the new episode of Once Upon A Time and then Betty turned up!!!! She so told me that she was coming back super late! It was such a lovely surprise to see her! We were all chatting and giggling around the table and then Joanne showed up to and it was just like old times.

I am so happy to be back :D I have never been excited for University before so I am so happy that I love it here so much :D


Here is a video I made on the plane on the way back :D I have also been working on it over Christmas. I hope you like it :D x

My last day in England could not have been more perfect.

Firstly, I got to wake up with the lovely Cathi Collier in my house (we had been to a brilliant party the night before and therefore she had slept over) Mum pointed out I should tell her next time people come to stay however as often Dad wonders into the spare room if he is snoring and consequently would have scared a very sleepy Cathi if he had tried to get into bed.

I then to Wagamammas and got to see Josie and Cathi again (she had gone home between that morning and then - yes we are joined at the hip). It was so nice to see Josie. I haven't seen her in such a long time and she is the sweetest loveliest girl ever. We were giggling like crazy and coming out with the most random speaking topics. They were being far too nice to me and I love them so much for it. The other two admired the waiter a lot - and basically it was perfect. It was so nice. I hope Josie has a brilliant time in France.

Cathi and I then rushed off to meet our friend Tasha for her 21st birthday party. We went skating in Winter Wonderland and I got to see people from WGGS who I hadn't seen in ages. I have never been to Winter Wonderland. I always thought it was just a silly little fare which was probably really badly put together and really expensive. YEAH COULD I BE MORE WRONG! Cathi and I were stunned as we walked in. It is not only huge but it is magical and beautiful. Especially at night. We couldn't stop squealing like children! We were jumping around happily. We got to the ice ring and went about our skating. It was so much fun. Once again, loads of couples holding hands but Cathi and I said best friends were way cooler than couples and held hands instead as we skated around. It was really fun. We saw quite a few accidents happen including one lady fall right behind Cathi and smashed her face. She bled a lot. One young child was also escorted of in a wheelchair.  I was a bit worried at how many young children seemed to have been abandoned recklessly on the ice whilst their parents clung to the walls....seriously? And three men thought they were soooo clever swishing around almost knocking everyone down with their races - I hated them. I loved spending my last day with my friends and Cathi and I were literally joined at the hip all day and I love her to pieces! And a massive Happy Birthday to Tasha who is one of the nicest bubbliest people I know!

After that Cathi and I had to sadly rush home - we couldn't enjoy the Winter Wonderland with the others but NEXT year we have sworn we will go for entire days! It was both our last nights with our parents and I knew my Dad had made his special steak just for me. We were also going to the cinema. I got home and discovered...Dad had eaten my steak and dinner. Thanks Dad! Apparently he thought I was coming in too late and had probably eaten earlier. In fact NO I had turned down all the goodies - chocolate crepes, mulled wine, doughnuts, chocolate coins - in Winter Wonderland so I could eat Dads steak.

We got in the car, me grumbling that I was hungry, and went to see the Hobbit. I was a bit worried about doing so because it was such a long movie and I had heard mixed things BUT I LOVED IT. IT WAS SO GOOD! I cannot even put it into words! I was so proud of all the British actors especially those I have loved in mini series and now they have clearly hit the jackpot. Martin Freeman was also incredible as Bilbo. I loved that all the old cast came back! And I loved the two seconds I saw of Benedict Cumberbatch as the Necromancer (I RECOGNISED HIM FROM HIS SILHOUETTE AND THE TWO SECOND CLIP OF HIS VOICE - must be love). And yes, don't worry he will be a way bigger part in the next movie!!! (which can people back me up here - that is no me ruining the next film by saying that).

I got home and was very happy with my last day. I got to spend it with people I love and care about and also got to do some awesome things. What a good memory to leave on for the next 7 months.

x

I feel this would be a good time to update you on a few things I have missed detailing in my blog which happened over Christmas.

1. Ice Skating
So much fun. My cousins came down from Wigan and we all went ice skating outside the Natural History Museum. The last time I did this, I went with Mel and Tasha about four years ago and I remember Mel getting very annoyed that I hadn't fallen over yet so she pushed me over. :P. I didn't fall over this time either but instead had to be on the look out for my poor cousins who fell over a lot. They got very wet. The ice ring did look a bit swimming pool like towards the end, and there were tons of people, but my cousins represented Bambi as they slipped and slid their ways around the ice ring. I was very impressed, however, that they did not appear hurt at all. They had some spectacular falls but simply burst out laughing. Very impressed, well done guys.

2. Maeves.
I went to Maeve's family party last Sunday and it was lovely. Maeve's always is. I have been best friends with Maeve since I was eight and it was lovely seeing her and her family again. I seriously adore them. I felt so honoured to be invited to such a family affair. We played a really funny game at the end concerning words and actions and it was really hilarious. The adults did not understand the game at all! Safe to say the 'children' won.

3. Mary and Michael.
The three Ms. Oh! We could call ourselves the three musketeers...I should suggest this. We went out to a Mexican restaurant the other night and chatted away like crazy. I had one diet coke and was tripping up all over the place like Miranda from Miranda. I walked into a boulder. HOW ON EARTH DID I DO THAT! I also managed to un-elegantly try and eat my fajitas which I thought I got away with until I caught Michael watching me. Fail. Then we went to the pub and I had two glasses of wine and seriously wasn't that tipsy but Mary and Michael were making me laugh so much that I was crying and they were raising their eyebrows at me saying I was very very drunk. I wasn't! But oh well, I really was enjoying myself. Becky then texted me asking if I could pick her up (despite the fact we had had a massive argument earlier in the day over who would have the car!!!! She won and then CLEARLY DIDN'T USE IT!) So Mary, Michael and I went to pick her up and Michael and I were in the back of car acting like school children. Songs kept coming on the radio and I was trying to dance to them and Michael would just look at me and then mock me and then we would crack up laughing. Mary and Becky didn't have a clue what was going on and because I laugh louder and Mary could see me in her driving mirror they just presumed I was very drunk. It was a lovely evening.

4. The Ballet.
I have never been to something so beautiful and magical in my life. Matthew Bourne is famously known as the god of Ballet but wow, he really outdid himself. 'Sleeping Beauty' was magical. It was truly lovely. The dancing was spectacular (they looked as light as air) and the storyline was so sweet. Made me all sopey and I did shed a tear. I just couldn't quite believe how good it was, and I loved all the costumes and Bourne's interpretation of the classic tale. It was fantastic.

5. PANTO
Almost forgot about this. Apparently Pantos are only in England. It was brilliant. It featured Anne Widdecombe (an ex Politician) and Craig Horwood (Strictly Come Dancing) and it was fabulous! I think it is possible the best pantomime I have been to. I was crying so much with laughter and the jokes and the ridicously dancing and the privates jokes clearly meant for the adults and for the children not to understand. The Muddles character was a brilliant Ventriloquist with a Skunk as a the dummy. He was fantastic and made fun of himself all the time. He also referred a lot to fact he was clearly being a Ventriloquist. It was fab.


So those are a few things I didn't have time to write about before but now they are up for you to see :D.

x

"I love men who run after little kids."

"I liked it when you were tanned, go back to America, get a tan and come back."

"SLAP BET COMMISSIONER!"

"Hey, have you met Bobby?"

"Why are there so many pictures of Jocelyn and Andrew kissing on this camera, Melissa are you trying to pick up tips?"

These were some of the quotes of the fantastic evening that was New Years Eve. It all kicked off about four when I turned up to the lovely Sarah's house. She had just got out of the shower but we are like husbands and wives and have seen each other in every state possible so it doesn't really matter at all. Sarah and I chatted for a while, before having some soup and Bobby showed up. Can't believe he managed to find his way from the station so quickly but still - that miracle will remain unexplained.

The night was amazing. Most of the girls showed up first and others began to appear even whilst we were changing, doing make up, re-doing hair - a girl's life is a tough one - and snacking on all the snacky junk food Sarah's Mum had left for us and drinking alcohol. Bobby couldn't quite believe that we weren't having dinner - um, with the amount of food Sarah had in her house...no we were going to choose sweets over an actual dinner. And proceeded to dance, chat and catch up. We met our friend Jocelyn's new boyfriend, Andrew. He was awesome and we all approve which I think we demonstrated throughout the night by making heart shapes with our fingers and thrusting them in Jocelyn's face.

It was the first NYE we have decided to go out. We usually have a house party at someone's and stay in but because our friend Kirsty was being forced into working NYE (SLAVE LABOUR) we all wanted to go and keep her company so we book tickets to Revolution and went into the club. We partied away, dancing, Sarah being far to snap happy, and drinking cocktails and an array of things. It was brilliant. My friend Tasha decided it would be hilarious (as if did everyone else) to try and grind me at every opportunity (I would begin to scream and push her away) whilst Cathi and I had a bit of a drop off - basically a dance off but I am talking about when you drop and hit the floor as much as possible - OWWWW MY LEGS. Megan continued to fall and hate herself for it because she thinks it may have been a bit of a giveaway that she was drunk (as well as throwing her drinks on the floor by accident). Bobby proceeded to tell me he wasn't drunk yet and tried to get more drinks whilst Andrew tried to set Bobby up with a girl - he was being a brilliant wingman.

The New Year Gong went and some of my friends decided to kiss all of us all over the face and we proceeded to all dance to Gangnam Style - brilliant choice of song by the DJ. A slap bet was made (HIMYM fans will understand) and I can honestly say I have never wanted to be slapped in the face more in my life. I hope I lose this bet.

We got home and Olly and Sarah started making eggs and the rest of us got in our jimjams. Soon we hit the sack and although I was whisked away the next morning, I came back later and they were all still in jimjams, they had eaten pizza and now where watching a movie. And that is how we stayed until about five o'clock. My best friends are officially the BEST and I can't imagine ever celebrating NYE without them.

Hope yours were all brilliant too.