tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-57525259906945565372023-11-16T17:10:07.964+00:00Confessions of a Tea-AholicSarah Picketthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15278793985679995547noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5752525990694556537.post-77853514494136002932013-09-24T22:00:00.000+01:002013-09-24T22:00:11.408+01:00The One With All The Jokes<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">"How did the man become Thor? He forgot to thtretch."</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I never know how to open blog posts so I cunningly have side-stepped my dilemma with a joke. Hope you laughed as much as I did.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">So I haven't blogged in a while. I keep getting into the rut of not blogging for ages and then doing never-ending blog posts that are far too long to read. I'm sorry. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Before I begin, however, I can't believe I'm saying this, but in four days I will be moving to Durham to study English Literature this October. It still hasn't properly sunk in that I will actually be going to uni, nevertheless Durham, but I'm so excited for the challenges and experiences that it will bring! No doubt there will be many more blog posts to come with Uni stories!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">My summer started on the 7th of June, after an intense two day exam period. Whenever I told people that I only had two exams, and that they were on the 6th & 7th, I was met with intense jealousy and stories of millions of exams spread over decades. But there we go. Definitely a pro of taking Arts subjects!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">My first big excursion was to Holland, to visit Anne-Mai, an old friend from Nepal. I know I go on about Nepal sometimes, which my Brownies kindly reminded me of on Pack Holiday, but my childhood is a big part of who I am. Some people forget that I have spent more of my life in Nepal than in Wales, and therefore will have a big impact on the way I view things. It was really nice to be able to talk through cultural differences with someone who had a similar childhood to me, who can relate to growing up with shoot-to-kill strikes and bomb drills and fun things like that. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">So anyway, Holland. I absolutely loved experiencing the Dutch culture, which is completely stereotypical; cycling, Stroopwaffels, flatness, cheese, more cycling, canals, double decker trains, etc. Straight after we arrived at Anne-Mai's house from the airport we went on a family cycle trip, which was tiring but foreshadow of how the week would pan out! I must've toned up a bit with all the cycling we did. I definitely think the Dutch are onto something; I didn't see a fat person all week, which is more than I can say for Bridgend!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I also, however, experienced the less savoury side of Dutch culture by visiting Amsterdam. Just to clarify, it is a beautiful city, which I will hopefully demonstrate in my pictures, but the drug culture really puts a damper on the mood in the city (well, not for the people on drugs I suppose!)</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The first major culture shock was walking past 'coffeeshops'. To anyone who hasn't heard of this phenomenon, basically cannabis is legal for 18+ in Holland, and they have 'coffeeshops' which don't actually sell coffee, but weed. It was just crazy to walk past them and think that it is perfectly legal, and in Amsterdam, almost celebrated to get high. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The amount of weed memorabilia was insane; tops with cannabis cartoon characters, cannabis lollypops, literally anything that you can print a logo on. To top it all off, we went in a shop which had a sign on the counter that said 'Do a line, 5 Euros' and had some form of legal cocaine substitute right there in a pepper shaker. Insane.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">*Joke Break to lighten up the somber mood* </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Knock Knock!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Who's there?</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Hula!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Hula who?</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">P</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">*End Of Joke Break. Please don't despair, there is a happy ending.*</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I also walked through the red light district. Again, for people who don't know, this is some streets in Amsterdam where there are big glass windows with a neon red light above it, and a prostitute stands behind the window, waiting for her next customer. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I literally could not believe it when I walked past. Although friends had told me about it, to actually walk past it all was absolutely crazy. After passing the first window I was literally gaping and repeatedly gasping 'whaaaaaaaaat?!' and Anne-Mai had to remind me to keep walking and stop staring.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Apart from all this, though Amsterdam was absolutely gorgeous. I loved walking up and down the canals, looking in the quirky little shops and art studios, perusing market stalls (in one I bought vintage Twinings tins!) and chilling in<i> actual</i> coffee shops. It was so rich in culture, and it was so interesting to talk to various people and listen to buskers along the way. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">We also got to walk past Anne Frank's house, which was completely mind-boggling and humbling. Unfortunately the queue was too long to go inside, but to see the house in real life was amazing. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Whilst we were traipsing around Leidseplein, a guy approached us. He quickly introduced himself as 'Dez' in a strong Scouse accent and proceeded to try and entice us to go on an organised pubcrawl. He was all like 'You'll be partying wi' me' (as if that would be an incentive to sign up!) I was clearly uninterested and made it very clear on my face, as I'm not the best about being subtle with my expressions when I don't like something. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Anne-Mai, however, being the smily, friendly girl she is, asked him questions about it, which prompted a 10 minute conversation about details and meeting places etc. After he finally moved on to his next victims, I asked Anne-Mai if she actually wanted to go, to which she replied 'Noooo! Of course not!' Evidently we have different ways of dealing with people that we want to go away.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Apart from our Amsterdam day, the rest of my trip was quite uneventful but lovely. We talked a lot, cooked pancakes, had a painting day, listened to hipster music, visited her school in Utrecht, played boardgames and cycled. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I won't bore you with a detailed explanation of the rest of my summer, so instead, here is the last 3 and a half months in a nutshell.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Prom. Spray tan. Plane. Holland. Waffles. Plane. Painting fences. Back-to-back episodes of The Renovation Game/Motorway Cops. Tea. Painting dining room chairs. Tea. Painting Lydia's wardrobe. Baking. Brownie Pack Holiday. Painting more fences. Heatwave. Camp 3. Bala. Sweet Fellowship. Family camping. Tents. Loud drunken Scousers. Aber. Curry. Sister Mary. Lighthouse. Results day. Crying. Driving test. Jubilation. The Lorax. Uni Paperwork. Reading list. Robinson Crusoe. Parent trap dance. Balloons filled with paint. Paddleboarding. Gloucester. Friends. Minute mysteries. Dunelm Mill. 18th. More friends. Packing. Goodbyes.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">So there we go. It'll be sad to leave, but I'm really looking forward to starting a new chapter of my life! Cheeeeeesy. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I'll leave you with my master plan of How To Make Friends In Uni. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Step 1: Make them chai tea lattes with my new milk frother.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Step 2: Give them cake.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Step 3: Tell them jokes like: </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Me- Knock Knock!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">New Super Cool Uni Friend-Who's there?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Me-Little old lady</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Other New Super Cool Uni Friends joining in-Little old lady who?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Me- I didn't know you could yodel!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">*New Super Cool Uni Friends hysterically laugh*</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I think I'll be just fine.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Story behind this photo: I took a photo of the cheese as I was passing, armed with my Stroopwaffel, saying loudly 'ooooh cheese!' This guy was like 'have a picture with the cheese!' Typical tourist photo.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>Sarah Picketthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15278793985679995547noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5752525990694556537.post-10260241158546404642013-04-04T20:57:00.000+01:002013-04-04T20:58:10.555+01:00Liebster Award aka 11 Things You Probably Don't Want To Know About Me<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">So today my good friend Jemimah, who can be found on her lovely blog <a href="http://regardingteaandcake.blogspot.co.uk/" target="_blank">here</a>, nominated me for a 'Liebster Award'. I'm not trying to devalue the award or anything, but it's more a 'Here's an idea for another blog post you can do' kind of thing, rather than 'Wow, your writing is so fantabulous that I just have to award you!'</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Basically, the 'award' gets you to write 11 facts about yourself, answer the 11 questions set my your nominator, and then nominate 11 people yourself and give them 11 new questions. As you may know, I did a '10 facts about me' sort of post when I started on the bloggersphere, but I suppose my life has changed a bit since then. So here goes.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>11 Facts About Me That You Probably Don't Want To Know</b></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">1) I am 17 years old, and the youngest person in my year. I am actually meant to be in the year below, so this fact is cheating a bit.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">2) I am 1 of 5 children, 4 of whom are girls. I love being the eldest girl, because being bossy is pretty much expected of me.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">3) A llama spat on my face when I was about 12. I know I said this one in my last list of facts, but I think it is worthy enough for a second list.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">4) I am currently learning to drive, but I was held up a bit since my last instructor was a criminal and I didn't know it. Long story.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">5) Linked to the last point, I have failed my theory test twice. Did you know that was possible? Nope, I didn't either.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">5) There are two number 5's in this list. Hahahaha made you look.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">7) I drink milk like an alcoholic drinks wine. That's a clumsy way of saying that I drink a lot of milk.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">8) I have a growing obsession with One Direction. There, I've said it. Please don't judge me. I know half of you are closeted Directioners really! But T-Swizzle is still my no. 1 :)</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">9) I like tea. A lot. I can't remember the last time that I didn't have at least one cup in the day. My favourite is Twinings English Breakfast, but my dad only gets that when it's on offer in Tesco, so I have to put up with Yorkshire Tea at the minute. Not complaining though, it's quite nice!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">10) I make really good crepes.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">11) I don't eat raw cheese. Or seafood (tuna doesn't count).</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>Okay, now for Jemimah's questions.</b></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">1) <i>Where is your favourite place in the whole world? </i></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Chicago. I went there last summer and absolutely loved it. When I get the chance, I want to go there for a summer, or possibly live there. That would be nice.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>2) What's the most annoying idiom/phrase you've ever heard?</i></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Probably 'reem'. Euch.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">3) </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>Would you prefer to be absolutely freezing or absolutely boiling all the time?</i></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">This has been a dilemma of mine for a while. I think freezing (no change there then, thanks Wales!) because I hate the idea of burning to death, but I'm still wrestling with this one. So yeah, freezing I think, but I may change my mind later.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>4) Would you rather be deliriously happy for a short period of your life, or content for your whole life?</i></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Deliriously happy. Absolutely.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>5) If you were only allowed to listen to one song for the rest of your life, what would it be?</i></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Ooh, that's a hard one. I would probably say the song that I posted on my last blog post, which was the O.C theme tune. I don't know why, but I can listen to that again and again (trust me, I had it on repeat a few days ago) and I don't get sick of it.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>6) Name three things that make you happy.</i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Tea. Pretty things. Other people being happy.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>7) What is your favourite film of all time?</i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The Parent Trap.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>8) What annoys you more than anything?</i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Injustice. It sounds really fake and contrived, but it's true. It makes me really angry, like the type of angry where I shake, go really quite and keep muttering how angry I am. Not a pretty sight.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>9) Why did you start blogging? </i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I've always written in some form to formulate thoughts, in diaries, letters, stories etc. but blogging was a new challenge since it is so public. I suppose I started blogging to express my rambling thoughts and feelings to the world, and kept going because for some reason some people like reading my ramblings!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>10) Do you see yourself as more creative, or more practical? </i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Creative, definitely. If you asked me to replace a lightbulb I would probably have a mental breakdown and electrocute myself, in no particular order.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>11) Would you rather have a house made of cheese or a cheese made of house?</i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Neither, I don't like cheese.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>My 10 Questions</b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">1) What is your most embarrassing memory?</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">2) Cats or dogs?</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">3) W0uld you rather freeze to death or be burnt alive?</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">4) What is your favourite book?</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">5) What is a fact no-one knows about you?</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">6) If your last ever meal was a pizza, what toppings would you order?</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">7) Would you rather be an anxious genius or a carefree 'simple-minded' person?</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">8) Would you rather be deaf or blind?</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">9) If you had to speak another language for the rest of your life, what language would you choose to learn?</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">10) Mac or PC?</span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">11) What is your favourite word?</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Sadly, I'm not really <i>in</i> the blogging world, so I don't read that many blogs...but I shall nominate the ones that I read but haven't been nominated for this award (as far as I know). </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><a href="http://katie-graves.blogspot.co.uk/" target="_blank">Katie</a></span><br />
<a href="http://libby-grin.blogspot.co.uk/" target="_blank">Libby</a><br />
<a href="http://anoldheadonyoungshoulders94.blogspot.co.uk/" target="_blank">Luke</a><br />
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So there is is! The 'Liebster Award'. I'll leave you with this jolly (albeit extremely politcally charged) song that my brother found. Happy (belated) Easter!<br />
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<span id="goog_1008239676"></span>Sarah Picketthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15278793985679995547noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5752525990694556537.post-84296711002374947812013-03-09T20:24:00.000+00:002013-03-09T20:33:53.998+00:00"Life Is Like A Camel's Back..."<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Okay, so I made that quote up. But it definitely applies to my life right now. Hopefully you'll understand my little analogy by the end of this post!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The past few weeks have been quite exciting. If my life was a newspaper, the headline would be 'DURHAM OFFER!' with a tearful picture of me holding my acceptance letter in a very Bridgend-Gem-esque manner. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">In other words, I could potentially moving up North (and I mean proper up North where they say 'rate' instead of 'right') in 6 months. Writing that has given myself a slap in the face from my good friend Reality. Ouch. Better get revising!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">In Durham, you are sorted into a college (where you live) after you have been given a place to study your desired subject (mine being English Lit). I like to think of it in Harry Potter terms, Hogwarts being Durham and the houses (Gryffindor etc) being the colleges.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">As I waited for the e-mail telling me which college I had been allocated to, I genuinly felt like Harry when he has the sorting hat on, and is begging it not to put him in Slytherin. Seriously, I had a nightmare the day before I was allocated where I was put into Trevelyan (the equivalent to Hufflepuff in my head) and woke up in a state of panic.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Thankfully, this was not to be. No offence to any Trevelyan people out there, I'm sure your college is lovely really (!)</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I was allocated St Hild and St Bede, which I am pretty happy about after researching it about, so I thought I would share a couple of pictures with you. Alternatively you could be even nosier and google it yourself, whatever.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Despite the lovely surroundings, I was quite upset when I found out that St Hild and St Bede is one of the only colleges in Durham not to wear gowns (basically Harry Potter cloaks) to formals. Since I have to buy a gown anyway for matriculation (big word for officially joining the uni) I may as well get some use out of it. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Maybe I should walk around in it all the time anyway, humming the Harry Potter theme tune as I go. I'll be known as the Crazy Cloak Lady. That has a ring to it, don't you think? </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">My other </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>slight</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> concern is that the college is known for its intake of 'rah's' and its sporting prowess. Since I am not a 'rah' and certainly have not been blessed with sporting ability, let alone balance, I wonder if I will be a bit out of my comfort zone.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">However, they stressed on their college video that they encourage everyone to take part in sports, no matter their ability. They might want to retract this statement after I join, as I fully intend on joining the rowing team as the 'cox' aka the person that tells everyone else to row whilst they enjoy the ride. Watch out Rio 2016!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">This is where my little 'Camel's Back' analogy comes in. Hopefully, you would realise that my Durham offer made me happy. However, as I have experienced in the last few days, disappointment rears its ugly head just when you least expect it to. To make this part slightly less depressing, here's a picture of a camel smiling. You're welcome.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I don't want to go into great detail about my trials of life, as they are completely trivial when you think about people in developing countries, but nevertheless, I will briefly summarise them.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Thursday was results day. I had resat my German AS after being convinced by my teachers that you always improve in a language. I still think this is true, and have definitely seen a big improvement in my attempts to 'spreche Deutsch', but my result certainly did not show this. Somehow, I got 14 marks less than before, which was a bit of a surprise and a knock.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Then, that same day, I had my driving theory test. I went up with two friends from Bridgend, Morgan and Tom, and they passed whilst I failed by one mark. I didn't even think it was possible to fail theory, but apparently so. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Since I had already foolishly made a deal with the other two, that whoever gets the highest mark gets their meal paid for by the others, I then had to fork out for half of Morgan's meal. When it was time to pay, my card was rejected at first, and I told the waiter that the world was against me. Evidently thinking I was being dramatic, he asked why. Bad move.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">After ranting at him whilst he desperately tried to work the card machine, he concluded 'well I haven't passed an exam in my life but the one I have passed was my driving theory!' Ever heard the saying 'rubbing salt in the wound'? There's the definition.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Then, after enduring never-ending mocking on the way home ('Sarah, what does that sign mean?' Hahahahaha.) I realised that the Eisteddfod was the next day, and I was meant to be playing piano, and hadn't practiced my piece in about a week.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">So, in short, I came last. Not because I played badly, as despite my lack of practice, I played it quite well. To put things in perspective, someone playing a grade 3 piece beat me playing a grade 8 piece. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">When I asked the judge after why I placed where I did, she responded that she's played the piece, thought I interpreted it wrong, and told me to do a more clinical aka boring one next year. Except there won't be a next year. Thanks a lot, judge-that-shall-remain-nameless.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">This is why life is like a camel's back. There are ups and downs, but that's just how life is. If a camel didn't have it's humps it would be like an ugly horse. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I'll leave you with that strange mental image, and the song I've been listening to one repeat whilst writing this. Whenever I hear it, I immediately think of The O.C. - loved that show! Enjoy.</span></div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/wq-S8CIU7VA?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
Sarah Picketthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15278793985679995547noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5752525990694556537.post-40512161470870769822013-01-24T22:11:00.001+00:002013-01-24T22:11:44.340+00:00Giving is in my Blood*<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">As many of you know due to the need to show everyone my 'scar' and bruise today, I gave blood yesterday. It was a very interesting experience, and although I'm glad I did it, I'm not sure I will do it again. I know it saves a life and all - actually 3 lives, did you know that? - but...it hurt.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">This might seem kind of obvious, since a thin tube is stuck in your arm for about 10 minutes, but I was convinced by the nurse that the miniature iron blood test you do before hurts more. It doesn't. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">So instead of basing your decision to give blood in the future on the nurses with their false promises, dear blog reader, you can get a more unbiased view from cynical old me in the corner. Mwahahaha.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">So one of the things they tell you is that you will be in and out in 45 minutes. Lie Number 1. I was there from 3.30pm til 5.40pm. I may not be a mathematician, but that was 130 minutes. And no, I did not just use a calculator to work that out.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">There was a good reason why it took so long, though. There were so many people going to donate that there were longer waiting times, which is great for them, but not so great for the would-be donor sitting in a room with an automatic door leading outside that keeps on opening. Oh, and did I mention that this was when Porthcawl had gone into shut down because we were having a blizzard? Yep.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">But 1 hour later-ish, my name was called. I had become pretty nervy by this time, and my poor friend Harvey, who had agreed to go donate with me, was probably more relieved to hear my name that I was. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I was escorted to the next waiting room. Just to clarify, there were 3 waiting rooms. It was like levels of tension. And so the waiting game began again. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The next level was The Interrogation. They escort you into this little cornered off section of the room, sit you down, and ask you loads of questions to make sure you aren't infected or something.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Another thing: every time a new nurse talks to you, they ask you to confirm your age, address and date of birth. By the end I had worked a way to say this in the quickest way possible. Not that I'm going to write it on here, I don't know if any of you are stalkers of pedophiles or something (I'm sure you're not. Please don't go.)</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">So anyway, they asked the usual questions about drugs and stuff, even though I had filled out a questionnaire before hand. There were some very obscure, specific ones, but not for young ears, so I shall leave that to your imagination.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">But then it got complicated. I had put down that I was born in Nepal, which has caused me loads of problems in the past, particularly on my UCAS form. I've realised recently that if you say you were born outside the UK, especially in somewhere like Asia, alarm bells ring in people's heads. It's like 'IMMIGRANT ALERT!' or something. So anyway, they clearly were concerned I had malaria or something. I would have thought I would know if I had, or had ever had malaria, but there we go. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I was finally cleared by the Senior Nurse ("Can you confirm your name, address and date of birth please?") and moved on to do the blood test. This involves them practically stapling your finger with this little device, and then squeezing the blood out of it, and dropping it into solution. The idea is, if your iron levels are right, the blood will sink in 15 seconds. Guess who's blood didn't sink?</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">She reassured me that a lot of people's blood doesn't sink the first time, so I should try again. Yip-de-doo. Thankfully she didn't have to staple my finger again, as the hole from which the blood was squeezed last time was still oozing blood. Yummy. And, hurrah, the blood sank! Meaning I was put through to the final waiting room. Cue Jaws music.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">This was probably the most tense part of the whole experience. By the time they called my name, I was literally shaking. Stupid, but true. I lay down on the bed and waited for my nurse. I think I probably looked pretty pale at this point because random nurses kept smiling at me reassuringly and asking me if I was okay.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Finally, my nurse arrived. He put one of those tourniquet things on my arm so he could see which vein to use. He looked and prodded. Looked more. Prodded a bit more. And then it happened again. He called the Senior Nurse, or the 'Special Nurse' as I had started to call her, to try and find my vein. Turns out I have small veins. The Special Nurse reassured me about my 'small veins' by telling me that it was normal as I have small arms, like I was going to go away with a vein complex or something.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">So there they were, both prodding away, trying to find a big one, but their search was in vein. (See what I did there? I'm so punny.) So they tried my other arm, but no such luck. I was starting to get cold feet by this point, so I slightly hopefully asked them if I wouldn't be able to donate but they assured me they would use the best vein I had. And they did. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Giving blood is completely different to when they take blood in the doctors. My friend Jon thought it was taken through a needle into a tube and that was that, so when I told him your blood is sucked through a tube into a bag he almost spewed. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Finally, after much prodding and sighing, the needley-tube-thingy was inserted. And it hurt. They tell you that the iron blood test hurts more than the needle. Lie Number 2. I'm fine with injections, seeing as I had about 10 year growing up in a foreign country, but this is quite a chunky needle. Ouch.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">It is quite an odd experience, though, lying there squeezing a roll of dressing to keep your blood pumping, while seeing your blood flow through this tube into a bag which is rocking back and forth in this cradle-esq contraption next to you. The special nurse stayed with me the whole time, asking if I was okay and trying to make conversation. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The funniest was when she saw my Head Team badge and thought it was some sort of sports team. Just to clarify with anyone out there that doesn't know me, the closest thing I do to sport on a regular basis is 'stew' with my Brownies (which is a strenuous workout, I can assure you!)</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Apart from my blood mysteriously slowing down half way through, the actual giving of the blood was quite uneventful. I was a little bit irritated when after the nurse had taken the needle out, she was chatting to another nurse and said 'Well I was going to stop it at 420ml but it was going so well...' </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I was rather disappointed, however, at the final part of the process, which they said involved a 'cup of tea and biscuit'. Lie Number 3. I was offered squash, which is possibly my least favourite drink ever, but I was a good girl and treated it like medicine. No tea though. It was a sad day.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Reading back through this I just realised how negative the whole thing sounds. It was fine, honestly. I would definitely recommend you doing it at least once in your lifetime. And it probably will be different for you because you don't have an awkward birth place or small veins. So whatever you do, don't let this put you off! Hahahaha.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">In other news, I haven't blogged in ages (yet again.) Things are happening though. I've had 3 offers for uni (Royal Holloway, Leeds and Exeter) which I'm really happy about. A few months ago I didn't feel ready to go at all but after enduring 2 months of sharing a room with my sister Lydia I am more than ready for a change of scenery. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">People think I'm exaggerating when I say how irritating Lydia can be to share a room with. Don't get me wrong, she's lovely, but singing 'On My Own' for about an hour non stop at the top of your voice (TOP of your voice - I had my headphones full blast and I could still hear her) and then after all this telling me how she wishes she was 'Epony' is just too much to handle. Eponine, Lyd. Eponine.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">But back to uni and all things exciting. Looks like I'm going to be somewhere in the north of England, as if Durham don't give me an offer I'll probably go to Leeds. This is rather exciting as I find northern accents very amusing. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I was musing over this the other day and said to my dad 'Wouldn't it be funny if I went to Durham and came back with a Yorkshire accent?' to which he dryly replied 'Well yes it would be funny, as Durham's not in Yorkshire!' </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Apparently the whole of the north of England isn't called Yorkshire. Whoops.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">*As much as I wish I had made up this clever little pun thingy, I didn't, it's the slogan for Welsh Blood. But still, isn't it clever?! Bud-dum-tshhhh.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>Sarah Picketthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15278793985679995547noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5752525990694556537.post-37279069172190667272012-09-09T22:04:00.000+01:002012-09-09T22:05:06.524+01:00Land of the Free<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia;">I'm
squeezed on a cramped economy seat about to take off on the flight back to
sunny Wales as I reminisce about my amazing, whirlwind holiday in America. It's
been an absolutely incredible 4 weeks visiting my family in New Jersey and Wisconsin.
(I'm half American, if you hadn't gathered from my weird accent. Actually
though, hardly anyone can actually place my accent. I've been asked if I'm from
countries like Ireland, Scotland, Canada and even Dubai!)</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Before
I continue with my holiday tales, I need to explain something once and for all.
I am English and American, not Nepali, even though I was born in Nepal, as I
have dual citizenship of England and America. What I love about having dual
citizenship is that I can live in so much of the world easily - pretty much all
of the EU and America. Also, because my family is so spread out throughout the
world, I can visit loads of places that my family have access to because of
their local knowledge, which I love.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;"><br />
Well I was just about to take off, but we’re being delayed as the New Jersey
airport (I’m flying from Milwaukee to Newark to Heathrow) has been closed for
some mysterious reason that they have failed to disclose to us poor souls.
Great.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Anyway,
this holiday has probably been my favourite holiday in all my sixteen (almost
seventeen – 1 month!) years of life. I’ve done so much and have so much to be
thankful for. I have cantered through forests, window shopped in fancy malls,
actually shopped in cheaper shops, swum in lakes, met a Native American and found out I'm related to him,
paddled in a water fountain in Chicago, got interviewed for a news channel, canoed along rivers, sunbathed on
Jersey shore, ambled through Central Park, laughed with my cousins and cried
with my Grandma. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">It’s
been amazing to catch up with my family and see where they are in their lives
now. I’ve never had relatives live nearby so any time I spend with them is so
precious. In fact, I love my family so much I think you should meet them, so
here’s the lovely photo from our family reunion (this is my American side by
the way.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> Okay, so I'm writing the rest of this post a few weeks after I arrived back. I got way too tired on the plane to think straight. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">I have no idea how to put any structure to my crazy holiday, so I guess I'll summarise it chronologically. Here goes.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia;">Firstly, we managed to choose just about the worst possible day to fly to New Jersey. We had to land in a random military base and wait for 2 hours because a runway in Newark airport had been struck by lightening. We flew over the worst thunderstorm New York has seen in a long time. Drama seems to follow me wherever I go!</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">I find travelling quite a surreal experience, even though I have done so much of it. It's so weird to step in a metal cylinder, watch a few films, try and swallow some chicken that tastes like plastic, watch another film, step out of the metal cylinder and BAM - you're in a new country with new culture, a new language (American is practically a whole different language) and a new time zone to adjust to. I think I would've suited living a century ago much more, where you take a two week voyage to discover foreign lands, as you have plenty of time to process the idea that you're going to a different country. But I digress. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia;">We experienced a lot of very stereotypically American things whilst in New Jersey; Bill Bryson would've had a field day. We went to a baseball game, shopped in malls, had countless Dunkin Donuts and drank a lot of coffee, due to the tea in America being absolutely revolting. Seriously. Even the Twinings English Breakfast 'British Blend' was different. Twinings, I expected better.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia;">I insisted that we had to go into New York city, as the last few times we've been to New Jersey my mum has been put it off, as people from New Jersey have a pretty negative view of Manhattan. In the end I went twice, which was incredible. Manhattan is such a busy, vibrant city - I'd always heard people saying how full of life it is, but until I visited I never realised how crazy it was. I would probably end up in a mental asylum if I lived there, but it was fun for 2 days. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia;">On my first visit with my cousins, we went to the Museum of Modern Art (or the MoMA to you arty people out there.) I love art museums. They're always so quiet and peaceful, and I love the spaciousness of the big, white rooms with the big, white walls decorated with a painting or two, even in the middle of Manhattan where space is so sought after. Some of the art was pretty weird, but most of it was beautiful. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia;">I saw loads of art that I had </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia;">an</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia;">alysed</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia;"> last year for my AS exam (yes, you do do writing and thinking in art) - Warhol, Lichtenstein and Wesselmann, as well as other famous artists like Dali, Van Gogh, Monet and Rothko. If you didn't recognise at least 3 of those names, please google them. Then you can feel as cultured as I did, strolling around, saying "Oh look, The Persistence of Memory! How fabulous, darling!"</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia;">My second visit was with the family. I was determined to see the Alice in Wonderland statue, so we traipsed the length of Central Park to find it. On the way, we had lunch at a cute little lakeside cafe. As we were ordering, Beth, like a magnet, was drawn to two chihuahuas sitting with a woman. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia;"><br /></span>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglAA-zsQpIOGqifdVsKyPT_hwG_6wYE-Ddfa36VVaL7lzNXz-C6jevjuSDDNVwqA2_JdyVLx2qtjeWSiClXdAs9xC2vYZF1YEAVPwS6TjqcJIpELuF_6c5-QBZFX-4ENF7ansfmA90V2wa/s1600/IMG_2721.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglAA-zsQpIOGqifdVsKyPT_hwG_6wYE-Ddfa36VVaL7lzNXz-C6jevjuSDDNVwqA2_JdyVLx2qtjeWSiClXdAs9xC2vYZF1YEAVPwS6TjqcJIpELuF_6c5-QBZFX-4ENF7ansfmA90V2wa/s320/IMG_2721.jpg" width="240" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia;">For those of you who don't know Beth, she is animal crazy. She loves all animals, but has an infatuation with dogs. Seriously, she goes on walks with my mum to meet dogs that are out on walks with their owners. That kind of animal crazy. You can imagine her delight when my grandma announced she was going to get a dog in January. The dog, Molly, was not as excited as Beth was, however, as every waking moment was spent poking, preening and picking up Molly. (Exhibit A, our family photo at the top of this post.)</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia;">Being the responsible older sister that I am, I went along with Beth to meet the chihuahuas. Inevitably, I ended up making polite conversation with the woman while Beth cooed at the dogs. </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia;">As most of you know, I don't like dogs. The only dog I will ever love is my grandma's dog. This woman obviously lived for her dogs (she was breaking off bits of her bagel and giving it to the dogs. Ew.) To tell her I didn't actually like dogs would've probably deeply offended her, so I obligingly patted the dog on the head when she insisted, thinking I was too shy to ask. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia;">As we filled the awkward silence, however, she told me how her dogs visit children in hospital, and how the bigger dog had found the littler dog in a bin. Cute stuff. People in Manhattan fascinate me.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">We also ventured into Times Square, which is amazing. I looked like the typical tourist; neck craned looking at all the massive buildings and screens and taking pictures of anything and everything, which is why Hello Kitty targeted me, I guess. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">I was taking pictures of Beth with Elmo and a Smurf, not realising you were meant to tip these people, when Hello Kitty barged up to me, grabbed Beth, and in a chinese accent shouted 'Picture, Picture!' I obliged, even though I don't like Hello Kitty, and then took Beth's hand and carried on walking. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">I suddenly felt an urgent tap on my arm, and the same voice in broken English demanding a tip from me. If you have never had a giant Hello Kitty demanding money from you, you cannot being to realise how scary this is. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">I've never been good at saying things under pressure, and had no idea what to say to this terrifying cat with a square head, and so blurted out 'no-money-ah-blueasdfhjasdhgf' and ran off with Beth in tow. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Sorry, whoever was underneath that awful costume. I'm sure you were just trying to put your kid through college or something. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Then we ventured into Wisconsin to visit my Aunty, Uncle and cousin. We did loads of great things, including many fishing trips where I caught my first fish, stayed on my Aunty's parents' horse ranch, went to a beautiful hipster coffee shop called Mama D's, had countless McDonalds 50 cent cones, and toured Chicago. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">I definitely felt a connection with Chicago - I loved everything about it. The old buildings mixed with the new buildings, the Starbucks at every corner, all the art and music schools and the beach at the edge of the city (not the sea, as I originally thought, but Lake Michigan.)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">One of the surreal parts of my visit to Chicago was this wall in Chicago. I'm not sure if it has an official name, so I'm going to call it the Wall of all Walls. It had bits of famous walls and buildings from all over the world stuck in it, as you can see below (my cousin is such a poser!)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">The wall stretched for ages with stones from the Great Pyramids, the dome of St Peters Cathedral, etc. As I was looking along the wall I suddenly came across this stone. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">It was so odd so see something from Wales stuck next to something so famous. I felt rather patriotic and proud as I saw it though - the strong Welsh spirit must be getting to me.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia;">I confess, I bought far too many edible and drinkable things (okay, mostly Starbucks) whilst I was walking about 500 miles around Chicago. I always find it funny ordering things in restaurants or cafes in America, because you can see people around you pricking their ears to try and inconspicuously listen to your accent as you order.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia;">Whenever I ordered anything, I would always play up my English accent, as my theory is that they enjoy serving British people, and sometimes give you free food. I once got a free Starbucks in America after the Barista complimented me on my top (it has a marshmallow roasting over a fire, with the caption 'Working on my tan' - I found it hysterical.) I doubt that he gave it to me because of the shirt, though, I reckon it was my accent.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia;">So there I was, in one of the million Starbucks in Chicago, buying a coffee for my cousin. I'm so kind. I asked in my poshest accent "Can I have an Americano, please?" </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia;">The barista chuckled and loudly exclaimed "I'm an Americano, you can have me!" </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia;">I politely laughed, wishing I hadn't promised to buy my cousin a coffee. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia;">As I took the coffee, he asked me where I was from in England. I explained that I was actually from a little country called Wales in the UK (not technically true but I'm wasn't going to tell this guy my life story!) </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia;">He told me that he lived in Wigan for a year, which apparently is near the Welsh border (I nodded politely, not knowing where the heck Wigan was, but not wanting to show how bad my geography of Britain is), and, leaning on the counter, drawled in his american accent 'schlan-vayre-push-gwin-gish-gogely-schluwen-droberth-lanty-sillio-go-go-gogh' with a look of triumph. Grabbing the americano, I corrected his 'll' sound, said bye and hurried off, not wanting to seem to desperate to get away. Bless. At least he tried.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia;">On that note, I conclude my whistlestop tour of my holiday, not that you probably cared to know any of that, but hey, you're reading this, which means you either read it all word for word (pah!) or you skipped to the end after you glanced at each photo, wondering how I would awkwardly conclude another blog post (this is the hardest part, bar starting the post.) And so, I conclude with my cousin's little film project that he did around Chicago with us - it was a lot of fun, as you will soon see. Enjoy!</span><br />
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<!--EndFragment-->Sarah Picketthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15278793985679995547noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5752525990694556537.post-47247745473924674152012-06-12T22:44:00.001+01:002012-06-12T22:44:38.863+01:00A Month of Madness<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I can't believe it's been a month since I last wrote, so much has happened in my life! I did my AS exams (which by the way I have decided not to tell anyone my results as I don't like the whole system of everyone asking each other what they got) and had almost 3 weeks of holiday which were filled with many, many adventures! </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Since it was my second day back in school today, which was day 2 of our UCAS induction (which was <i>incredibly </i>interesting, especially Debs' talk yesterday in which she used a consistent sporting lexical set throughout to link UCAS applications to the olympics) I thought it would be good to sum up the last 3 weeks. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I had a number of things in mind for my 3 weeks of madness...</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>1. Camping with Tash </b>(and Dad)</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I have been persuading Tash to go camping with me for the last 4 years, so I was delighted when she finally broke and agreed to come on the condition that I bring her tea in bed in the morning. Being the organising freak I am, I planned out in great length where we could camp that was also in walking distance of a horseriding centre. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I finally found Llangorse Lake in the Brecon Beacons, and so we were all packed and ready to go when I thought we should check we would be allowed to camp by ourselves. Turns out we weren't (even though we are probably 'sensible and responsible' they couldn't risk it) so in the end my lovely Dad came with us. We had wonderful weather as shown in the next few photos, and so the afternoon we got there we decided to hire a rowing boat and go out in the lake. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Being the good dad he is, my dad rowed us out into the lake so we didn't kill any of the swans swimming around (or the hoards of kids in kayaks) and then let Tash and I take turns rowing the boat. I think it's safe to say I got the gist of the whole pulling-two-oars-together-at-the-same-time business a little bit quicker than Tash, who, despite her continuous mocking at my lack of balance and general awareness of gravity, was actually the less co-ordinated of us (exhibit A).</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">That night we had just settled down to go to sleep (on a side note, I absolutely hate sleeping in sleeping bags. It's horribly constrictive) when we heard this scuffling, nibbling noise. We both dismissed it at first, but it carried on and we could hear the sound moving around to right outside where our heads were, like a horror movie in surround sound. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I should have probably said that Tash hates mice and rats to the extent that I hate bugs, so when we heard this sound she sat bolt upright, eyes round and dramatic (what a diva) and started crying. We first tried scaring the creature away with various loud 'scary' noises, but to no avail.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Oh, and by this time we were both desperate for the toilet. Not good.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Being the brave person I am, armed with a flashlight I ventured outside, much to the chagrin of Tash who thought the creature was going to come in through the zip as I opened it. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I never saw the creature, but what met me when I crept out of our bedroom was a pot of honey. Turns out Tash didn't realise that sticky sweet food would attract unwelcome visitors, so her personal pot of honey that she brought around with her while we were camping (weird, I know) turned out to bring creatures instead of comfort!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The next day, after packing everything up and Dad giving me my first driving lesson around the field (such fun!) we went to the riding centre. When we were offered the choice of having 1 hour for £20 or 2 hours for £30. Being the savvy money saving girl I am, I thought 2 hours was a good deal, so off we trotted (literally), but not before we were assigned horses. This is how the conversation went:</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Horse Lady: Have you got riding experience? </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Tash: Yeah I rode when I was younger...</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Horse Lady: Okay, you can have Whitney. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Although Tash was telling the truth, I think Horse Lady may have thought Tash was a <i>little</i> more experienced than she actually was, as once Tash was on Whitney she realised she had been given the fiesty little pony that wasn't well trained yet, hence why only "experienced riders" can ride her. I was perfectly happy on my slow, ploddy horse Dante, and felt quite smug when I was ambling through the countryside whilst Tash was constantly having to grip the reigns so Whitney would walk and not constantly try and graze. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I blame Tash's "experience" for the series of events that happened next. Horse Lady said we would have a go trotting (which is absolutely horrible and does not do favours for the backside) and so off we bounced.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Whitney doesn't just trot though. Whitney isn't trained enough to trot with all the other horses in a nice line. Oh no, Whitney likes cantering freely. So off she canters, and Dante </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">was suddenly not the slow ploddy horse I thought he was, but a wannabe Whitney, so off he canters too. Before when we were trotting, I thought I was about to fall off in a very ungraceful manner every 2 seconds, so needless to say I thought I was going to die when Dante bolted and started dashing across the field, ignoring my feeble effort at pulling the reigns. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Apart from me waving at someone who I thought was my dad but was actually just a butch woman (she was far away, okay?) the rest of the horseride was pretty normal, although if you are ever offered the choice of a 1 hour ride or a 2 hour ride, <i>always</i> choose the 1 hour. 2 hours sufficiently bruised our backsides to the point that once we got off our horses we could barely walk.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">And so our fun packed 2 days had come to an end. I think this next photo sums up how much fun it was (Tash'll love me for including this beauty of a photo).</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I was planning to write about my other adventures, but seeing how long that one took to write about, I'll finish this blog post another time - ooh the suspense! </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Also, I have brownie camp this weekend (as an leader (Eagle Owl, nice to meet you), not a brownie, before you ask) and then the week after I have my D of E practice expedition (oh the joys!) so I'm sure I will have <i>plenty </i>to write about in the next few weeks! </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">When I told Mr Blanche a while back I wanted to be a journalist, he asked me what I wanted to write about, to which I replied my life. He laughed and said sarcastically "Today I had beans on toast for breakfast..." but the amount of weird situations I frequently get myself into prove that I could probably write about my life and might possibly be able to get away with it. We shall see. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I'll leave you with a piano piece that I have almost finished learning, it's absolutely beautiful. I play it a bit differently to this recording, but you can get the gist.</span></div>
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</div>Sarah Picketthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15278793985679995547noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5752525990694556537.post-43544957105025640092012-05-08T22:07:00.000+01:002012-05-15T20:14:33.779+01:00Vegetarianism<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Right now I'm lying in bed with a bin overflowing with tissues beside me and sipping a hot cup of tea, trying to remember what I have done this past month.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">One significant thing, I suppose, was my decision to become a vegetarian. Not forever, just for a month to see if I could manage it. Most people looked at me strangely when I told them I was doing it to challenge myself, but I think it's good to challenge yourself now and then. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">For example, in December I made up my own advent calendar and stuck to it quite rigidly. Granted, I didn't do everything on my list (I still need to make a cloth wreath) but I was pretty faithful to my challenge. I also came across an facebook conversation I had a while back when I put on a bracelet and tried to go 21 days (don't ask me where this figure came from, I have no idea) without complaining. If I complained, I would swap the wrist the bracelet was on, and start again.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The ironic part of this challenge, I suppose, is that I write frequently in this blog about things that frustrate me. A few friends have picked up on this, one telling me 'I like the way you moan about things'. Trust me, this was not my intention when starting this, but there we go. There are some things that need to be vented.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The trigger for this challenge, however, was because I was countlessly being mistaken as a vegetarian. I have absolutely no idea why, but so many people have challenged my meat purchasing over the past few months especially, thinking I was a vegetarian. Even people I have know for almost 5 years. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">When I questioned them as to why they thought this, I had a few funny responses, such as that I seemed like a 'caring person' but the most memorable was my friend saying with the utmost sincerity 'It's, like, something <i>you</i> would do'. Emphasis on the you. I'm not sure whether to be flattered or not.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Anyway, this month's challenge went of to a flying start. I celebrated my last carnivorous day with the best sunday lunch I have ever had, and then embarked on the challenge. At first, it was quite easy. I didn't miss meat much at all, and my mum was very kind and made vegetarian food all week so I wouldn't have to cook for myself. But school was where it was hardest.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Those of you who have the pleasure of attending the best school in Bridgend County Borough (no sarcasm intended) will know that despite the good academic results, the food results in the canteen aren't so great. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Don't get me wrong, I love our school dinner ladies, they're amazing. Every morning, several times a day, Tash and I cue up, and as soon as they see us they say 'tea laave?' and give us tea without waiting for a response. Their school dinners are a different story, though.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I don't know why, but they feel the need to put sweetcorn in everything they make. I know that this has nothing to do with being a vegetarian, but I really don't understand it. I can justify sweetcorn in tomato pasta, and at a stretch bolognase, but baked beans and sweetcorn as a pasta topping? I don't think so.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">But besides the sweetcorn problem, there was literally nothing to eat except a cheese baguette and a cold tomato and basil pasta (with sweetcorn added, naturally). I chose the tomato and basil pasta (which was foul just in case you were thinking of buying it), since I don't eat raw cheese. And yes, there is such thing as raw cheese, a.k.a unmelted. Trust me, I have met many that find the concept of raw cheese hard to understand.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I didn't really miss meat much though. The point when I suddenly wanted to stop being a vegetarian was when I saw a picture of </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> Haribos </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">on Facebook somewhere, and suddenly craved gelatin and everything meat related at once. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">And so, Sunday came around, mother dearest took the roast beef out of the oven and I decided to end my week of vegetariani</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">sm. It may not seem much, and I may not have completed the full month, but meat has never tasted so good.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">A little side note, you may have noticed my new snazzy blog title. I'm very proud of it, as I struggled greatly with the concept of trying to put a few images and some text together. You wouldn't believe how long it took me to make it (including the little teacup sketch of mine that I scanned) so appreciate it. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">To end, I'm leaving you with a song I stumbled across. They're a relatively unknown band, so I suppose I'm quite 'hipster' for liking them. Enjoy! </span></div>
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</div>Sarah Picketthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15278793985679995547noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5752525990694556537.post-37130225273954524852012-04-09T10:46:00.000+01:002012-05-15T20:19:49.756+01:00Breaking the Preconceptions<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I've been wanting to blog about something for a while, but have never felt that the time was right. However recently I've been experiencing it more and more and so I have decided to come out with it.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Just because I am doing A Level Art, I am not dull.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">For some reason society has this ranking order of different subjects in school, and immediately categorise people for the subjects they have taken. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">For example, I know plenty of people (my brother included) that have taken all sciences or maths for their A levels, and because of this, <i>some</i> deem themselves to be a cut above everyone else. I find it irritating when people ask me what subjects I have taken, and then when I answer English, German, History and Art I get the 'that's a nice mix!' response, or 'nice creative subjects then!', but when someone answers 'Physics, Chemistry, Maths and Biology' the asker is overwhelmed with how intellectual said person must be to take such demanding subjects.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Don't get me wrong, I find those subjects hard. I did triple science last year, and apart from Dr Wellington's amazingly dry wit and the banter that accumulated between our table and my biology teacher (who hates anyone associated with drama in any way) I didn't enjoy those lessons at all. Dr Wellington thought I was a joke, and a clumsy joke at that, as I sliced my hand open somehow in one of the controlled prac assessments. And don't get me started on Mr Lawson, who probably thought I was in need of a trip to the psychiatrist when he, along with the rest of the class, caught me showing Zoe what an awkward whale looks like. Whoops.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">But I wasn't bad at science. I just didn't enjoy it, which is why I didn't take any sciences this year. I love writing (hence the blog), playing piano, looking at pretty things like cherry blossom trees, painting, trying to become fluent in German (I know the word for hermaphrodite so I figure I'm almost there) and baking, amongst various other activities that I partake in. Just because I don't enjoy measuring leaves (one of the biology pracs we did last year, complete with safety goggles) or solving simultaneous equations does not mean I'm not the sharpest tool in the box.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Imagine a world without creative people. A world full of 'intellectuals'. What a dull world it would be! Sure, we need our doctors and engineers and astronauts, but what about our poets and actors and artists and musicians? In my mind they are of just as much worth. Deep, I know.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">In other news, I've had a lovely easter holiday so far. I have actually been quite productive with my time, and amongst other things, I have restored a vintage bike.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Some of you that follow me on Twitter will already know this. If you don't, you should. I don't tweet incessantly, I promise.</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">But anyway, two weeks ago my next door neighbours left an old bike outside their house, with a sign saying 'Scrap Metal'. I was immediately drawn to the bike and decided to cart it off and inspect it, and found that it was a vintage Raleigh. When I say vintage, I mean 1970s, but I'm counting that as vintage.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I cleaned it up with some special liquid that was ironically called 'Gunk' and, after a lot of hard work and scrubbing with wire wool and this cream stuff, I derusted most of it. For those of you who aren't in the know about DIY as I am, wire wool is literally wire that has been woven into wool. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I was amazed when I saw it, but not so amazed when I started using it and found it sheds fibres like real wool, but unlike real wool these fibres can stick into your skin. Ouch. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Thankfully, Papa Pickett (has a ring to it, don't you think?) is a bit of a DIY connoisseur, and helped me put together my beautiful bike (thanks Dad!) </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">But this is when it gets interesting. When I saw the bike, I named her Clemency Rose straight away. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">(Since I will probably never be allowed to name my child Clemency Rose I figured I might as well use it for a different purpose.)</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">So when I was cleaning her up, I was amazed to find a postcode and the name 'Rose' printed on the bike. Incredible, I know. It's like fate, Clemency Rose and I are meant to be together. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I've since bought a wicker basket to complete the vintage look, as you will see in the next few photos. I wanted to do a before and after kind of thing, but the whole rust bucket look doesn't come across as much as I was hoping in the before pictures. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Happy Easter!</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">PS I would LOVE if you retweeted or shared my blog on Facebook, you know, if you feel like it.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><b>Before </b></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large; font-weight: bold;">After </span>Isn't she beautiful?</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg00UKkmAKNBr6Ghyphenhyphenw0Iq2B8ZVE0TPej4SzraJNizS2UjG1pXckmzDOxEAhQqe_P6CcS_7_xojpG1K8OWie06SgICgYMTHZpwAn60t21afVRFYkSTHwPW3a_yYg-VgJOMTc7ZN-MsXcmhlk/s1600/IMG_4347.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg00UKkmAKNBr6Ghyphenhyphenw0Iq2B8ZVE0TPej4SzraJNizS2UjG1pXckmzDOxEAhQqe_P6CcS_7_xojpG1K8OWie06SgICgYMTHZpwAn60t21afVRFYkSTHwPW3a_yYg-VgJOMTc7ZN-MsXcmhlk/s400/IMG_4347.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">(the imprint of 'Rose')</span></td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>Sarah Picketthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15278793985679995547noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5752525990694556537.post-46305743185309224402012-03-16T16:16:00.001+00:002012-05-15T20:20:28.223+01:00Wuthering Heights<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">It has been almost a month since my last post,
and what a month it has been! So much has been happening in my life, and
although as always it has been busy, I have had so much fun. Valentines Day has
come and gone (this year I had a lovely candlelit dinner with Corrie - I bought
her roses and everything – wouldn’t I be the perfect boyfriend?!), and most
recently, so has the Eisteddfod.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I love the Eisteddfod. I know most people hate
it, and sit there the whole time counting how many light bulbs there are in the
Grand Pavillion ceiling, but being involved in it is always so much fun, as
well as proudly watching my friends sing their little hearts out! Last year it
was taken much more seriously by Morgannwg, as we were determined not to come
last for once, but after winning last year, we became a bit more complacent
this year.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Okay, a lot more complacent. For those of you who
had the decency to look up from your avid light bulb counting, you may have
noticed an “emotive and powerful dance, which told the tale of Cathy surrounded
by souls on the Yorkshire Moors” (Okay, slight exaggeration to Miss Maddy’s
adjudication, but that was her gist.) Yeah, that was us. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I know you were all deeply moved by our powerful
and meaningful portrayal of Cathy’s love for Heathcliff that looked like we
took weeks choreographing the dance, but in fact it was concocted on the
Wednesday night before the Eisteddfod. Joe started playing ‘Wuthering Heights’
by Kate Bush, I started leaping around to the music jokingly, and, soon enough,
our dance had emerged. The cloaks were just the icing on the cake. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I think the reason that I enjoyed the Eisteddfod
so much this year is that we didn’t take it seriously. With that kind of
competition, if you take it too seriously, it isn’t enjoyable for either you or
the light bulb counters (oh, and by the way, if you were wondering how many
light bulbs there are, I have been informed that there are 280.) I genuinely
enjoyed leaping around on stage in cloaks, and by the sound of it Tash, Cath
and the rest of the hecklers in her row at the front enjoyed watching it, much
to the chagrin of Mrs Evans, who kept pursing her lips in their direction.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">However, there was a part that I didn’t enjoy.
Most of you know by now that I am not particularly stable when both my feet are
on the ground, so imagine my horror when I was told that since the girl that
was meant to be doing the lift didn’t have her costume, I would have to do it.
I freaked out. We practiced it quickly once, before we went on stage, but then
it was the real thing. When the time came, I tentatively placed my feet on the
boys’ hands, and was raised up into the air. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I was absolutely terrified. Now, I haven’t got a
phobia of heights, but I don’t like them, and even being raised a little bit
off the ground freaks me out, so once I was up there I went with my instincts.
I knew I wanted to get back down, so I practically jumped off the boys’ hands,
much to their surprise, which is why I think they kind of dropped me. I say
kind of because I don’t want to blame my clumsiness on them, but I do want to
clear the record and say that I didn’t fall. Honest. It was more of a jump that
ended with me crouching on the floor. Silly gravity.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I think the most random and bizarre thing that
came out of the Eisteddfod was brother told me (it’s nice to have siblings in
high places) that I had come second place in the English Bard competition. The
reason I found this so hysterical was that I had written half a poem about
‘Goldie’, which was a twist on goldilocks in a chavvy welsh dialect, as our
theme was Welsh Gold (thanks Miss Raine for the idea!) and so for me to have
come second makes me wonder what the other poems that were entered were like...<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">On a parting note, I am about to embark on the D
of E training weekend (why I signed up for D of E is beyond me), so wish me
luck, I’m going to need it! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">And finally, what you have been waiting for - the
dance.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_CYNNPfdUmE&feature=share">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_CYNNPfdUmE&feature=share</a></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Bell MT';"><br /></span></div>Sarah Picketthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15278793985679995547noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5752525990694556537.post-10217286673797774092012-02-11T22:15:00.000+00:002012-05-15T20:21:46.799+01:00The Art of Circle Walking and Rubbish Tea<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I haven't blogged in almost a month again. I'm sorry, I know you have missed scanning through my ramblings about my life. But I have actually had a genuine reason, and that reason being that I have been incredibly busy recently. The type of busy that makes you so sleep deprived that as soon as you get home from school on the last day of the half term you fall asleep. Yep, my life's been fun recently.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">That isn't sarcasm either. Although this last month has mainly consisted of a lot of work and countless hours of rehearsing for Fiddler on the Roof (the school show I have just been in), I have thoroughly enjoyed it. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Well, most of it at least. I don't think many people could find a silver lining in staying in school 'til 5.30pm on a Friday afternoon, walking around in a circle slowly for most of the 2 hour rehearsal whilst constantly being told to be quiet as 'this is the easiest thing you've been told to do', but there we go. That circle walking definitely paid off. The show was a success and by the end of the show I understood the plot, which is more than can be said about Les Miserables last year! </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">January has been an exciting month for me. I've learnt a few important things, which I have listed below:</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">1) Islands do not float.</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> Not even the little ones. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">2) Dogs do not like me.</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> Especially not Jon's dogs, Molly and George. According to Jon, this is because I give off a dog-hating vibe, but I think it may be more due to the fact that I </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">accidently</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> kicked Molly in the face the other day. Whoops.</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">3)</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">There is a really famous street artist called Banksy. </span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Apparently everyone has heard of him, but I only discovered him on Stumbleupon recently, to which I bounced into Art the next day, excited about a new artist that I found out about, only to be met with incredulous looks, as I had not indeed been the first to find out about him, but rather, it seems, the last.</span></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">4) People actually read this blog. </span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I know this may sound stupid, but I am still amazed to find out that people actually read this. I am incredibly grateful to anyone who has read any of my blog posts, especially if you read them all the way through. I love finding out when people have liked what I have written, or even if they haven't, why they haven't. So if you have any feedback, whether it be good or bad, please share with me! Even if you don't know me, I would love to know.</span></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">5) Most people hate the name Clemency. </span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I heard this name teamed with the middle name Rose the other day as a possible name for my friend's sister's baby. I loved it, but most people that I shared this view with were horrified, especially when I told them the shortened name of the version, Clemmie. Apparently it sounds like Clammy. Obviously people just don't appreciate classy names these days.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I've also learnt to read instructions on an open day timetable, as otherwise it can land you in situations that make you look stupid. I learnt this on a delightful trip that I took with the languages department of the school to Swansea University, on an open day for languages. It was probably a waste of time going, as I am not looking to study languages in Uni, or go to Swansea Uni for that matter, but I was told that there would be freebies and that I would miss double german (oh, the irony) so I happily went along.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">When we arrived we were ushered into a foyer filled with students wearing printed 'Routes into Languages' t-shirts and an 'I'm friendly and here to help you' smile. My attention, however, was focused on the neatly stacked teacups, box of tea bags, hot water dispensers, milk jugs and mini packets of biscuits. Needless to say, I was first in line to make myself a cup, and after taking two packets of biscuits, using the 'one for now, one for during the lecture' rule, settled down to drink the delicious beverage.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Delicious it was not. It tasted like sewage that had been fermented, dried and put in a tea bag. I was revolted not only by the tea, however, but also by a fellow pupil who failed to see what was wrong with it and went to get a second cup. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Despite this, however, the first two lectures were quite good, although this may be more due to the fact that I accumulated a free water bottle and a folder containing a timetable, a notepad and a pen, and so spent the next hour or so doodling various pictures of owls and other random creatures whilst listening intently to the lectures.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Then it was time for the third lecture. We were ushered by our teacher through to a 'language lab' where Luke (my german buddy who also liked the idea of skipping double german) and I seated ourselves in front of computers and listened to a short, rather plum Spanish lady telling us about language interpretation in Swansea Uni. Then she instructed us to put on our headphones, start the software and translate the passage we heard, first onto paper, and then into microphones to save as a sound clip on the computer.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Fine, I thought, as I happily put on my headset, which was one of those ones that you see pilots wearing in the cockpit of a plane (little things...) and opened the software. It soon became apparent that it would not be as easy as I had hoped, as the options for the languages to translate were Spanish or French. As I know absolutely no Spanish, and did French until year 9, I clicked on the French option, and hoped that miraculously some French would come back to me.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">It didn't. I sat, listening to a french man prattle away, trying to recall some words, but all that came back to me was 'Quelle est la dat de ton anniversaire?' (thanks, Miss Rees.) Every time I took off my headphones to try and convey my confusion with Luke, whose computer was broken, the Spanish lady who was watching me like a hawk would motion for me to put my headphones back on, which I did, sheepishly.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Finally, when she came round telling us all that we should be speaking our translations into the microphones, I plucked up my courage and tentatively prised the headset off and raised my hand. When she asked me what the matter was, I said </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">"Here's the thing...I don't speak any Spanish or French..."</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">She looked at me like I had just slapped her. After coming round to her senses, she, with great difficulty, asked why I was there in the first place. Naturally, being the good student I am, I blamed it on my teacher. Always the way to go. For the rest of the session, I enjoyed myself, watching everyone else struggle under the wrath of the Spanish Lady.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">And the best part of the day? I got a free lunch out of it all, which was large enough that I didn't eat any dinner either.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Before I sign off, there are a couple of things I need to mention. Firstly, my friend has recently started a blog, and it would be cool if you could check it out - </span><a href="http://anoldheadonyoungshoulders94.blogspot.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">http://anoldheadonyoungshoulders94.blogspot.com/</span></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Also, another love or hate artist, who I feel the former way about, has come into the limelight. If you haven't listened to her yet, do. She's amazing. </span></div>
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<br /></div>Sarah Picketthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15278793985679995547noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5752525990694556537.post-64692039350852980042012-01-19T22:25:00.000+00:002012-05-15T20:22:17.882+01:00Annoyances<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I have an apology to make to you all. I have not written in a month and 3 days, as I have had the worst writer's block - or blogger's block if you will - that I have ever experienced. I have been waiting for inspiration to leap out at me, and have been waiting, and waiting...and still nothing. Zilch. Nada. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Despite this, however, I have decided to write a blog post anyway, to ease myself back into normality. Those of you who know me well will know that I write lists for everything. I list things in school, I have to-do lists (Yes, really. You only thought middle aged mothers do that, didn't you?) and just generally organise my thoughts using lists. Those of you clever readers out there will realise I just wrote a list. See? It's in my nature. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">And so, just for you dear followers, I have compiled a list of things that irritate me. This could be used to annoy me purposely, or you could realise that some things that you do annoy me, and stop doing them. I'm hoping you will choose the latter.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>1) Invading My Personal Space</b> <b>-</b> If you're standing so close to me that I can smell your breath, then you're too close. Also, take a hint, if I am slowly backing away to regain my precious space, don't follow me. I heard someone give a girl advice once to pretend that everyone has a personal bubble around them that you're not allowed to pop. Write that one down, kids.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>2) Bad Spelling & Grammar</b> <b>-</b> Please don't think that I have perfect grammar and spell everything correctly, but if you mix up too/to, they're/their/there or it's/its, I <i>will</i> correct you.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>3) Polystyrene - </b>This is not just an annoyance, but also almost a fear. </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">It makes me feel physically sick. </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The sound of polystyrene rubbing together goes through me more than anything else ever. Scrape your cutlery on your plate, fine. Scratch a chalkboard, whatever. But polystyrene, no. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>4) Hollister - </b>The concept of Hollister irritates me. How the image is so manufactured, and how people still think they are being original and fashionable by wearing Hollister. Let's cut to the chase; you're not. Wearing Hollister, Abercrombie, Jack Wills etc. says that a. You are a sheep and b. That you have alot of money to spend on clothes that, lets face it, all look the same. Be adventurous, don't just wear what your friends wear, explore your own style! Sounds incredibly cheesy but I mean it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>5) Facebook - </b>Although there are many reasons why I think Facebook is great, some people on facebook shouldn't be allowed on. You know, the ones that include extra letters/emoticons/words in their name eg. T@niquaaa x Chaantellee x Supastarrr or the ones that constantly send you invitations for CityVille and all the other mindless games found on facebook, and even when you decline the request, they don't take the polite hint and carry on sending requests...you get the picture. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>6) Unenthusiastic People - </b>I understand that we all have days when we don't want to do anything, and are depressed about life in general, but it is draining to be around someone that has no energy, motivation or drive in life. I don't understand it, there is so much to be excited about! Be happy!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>7) Fake Harry Potter Fans - </b>There is an unwritten rule amongst those of us who are true Harry Potter fans, that if you haven't read the books, then you are not a true fan. Sorry, but seeing a few of the films does not qualify you to exclaim that your Hogwarts letter was lost in the post, nor shout 'Wingardium Leviosa!' whilst waving a stick (misprounced, I may add.) </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I have a confession. I have read all the books at least 8 times through. I told this to the 12-year-old girl in year 8 set 5 that I mentor as part of a reading scheme, and she looked at me like I was a patient that had escaped for Glanrhyd. Whoops, so much for being an inspiring role model.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>8) 'Phobias' - </b>So many people claim to have a phobia of spiders, heights, or claustrophobia, but I'm certain that most of these claims are exaggerations. If you really have claustrophobia, you feel like the walls are closing in on you, find it difficult to breathe, and can experience heart palpitations. Google it, I did. Most people aren't fond of enclosed spaces, but they deal with it. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>9) Photography - </b>Being able to take a few 'artistic' photos with your super cool snazzy camera does not mean that you are a photographer. Neither does taking photos of sunsets, as beautiful as they are. I'm not saying that you shouldn't take photos, as cameras are wonderful things, but just don't think that you are the next Ansel Adams.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">As you may have noticed, this list ends on number 9, which is very unsettling for me, but I didn't have any more pet peeves. I suppose that slightly counteracts how cynical and scathing I have been over this last post. Despite what you may think, I am actually a very happy and optimistic person. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Now something completely unrelated, I overheard something in the school toilets today which made me laugh, so I thought I would share this intelligent little snippet of conversation with you.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Little kid 1 : Look there's an empty packet of paracetemol in the sink! Someone must have taken the whole packet! Yuck!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Chorus of rest of small children : Ewww! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I was fascinated hearing this, as I firstly wondered why they automatically assumed that just because the packet was empty, someone had taken all the tablets in one go. I was also very worried that they were more disgusted than concerned at the thought of someone taking a whole packet of paracetemol, as anyone with an ounce of common sense would realise that this would kill you. Wow.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">On a final note (quite literally) I just saw this and thought it was genius, so I thought I would share it with you lovely people. Enjoy! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>Sarah Picketthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15278793985679995547noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5752525990694556537.post-14285054414657693172011-12-15T22:41:00.000+00:002012-05-15T20:23:08.186+01:00Misunderstandings and A Lot of Whipped Cream<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I just came back from my school's Carol Concert. I think have I have contracted hypothermia from sitting on a hard wooden pew in a gigantic stone building for two hour.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Now, though, I'm snuggled cosily in bed, listening to Taylor Swift's amazing new song on repeat, writing this blog and eating a whole can of whipped cream. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">If you were an avid 'Confessions of a Tea-Aholic' fan, you would be doing this as well, as I know many of you are, since it is Day 15 of my own special advent calendar, aka Eat A Whole Can Of Whipped Cream Day. I suggest you go buy a can of whipped cream, snuggle up and click play on this link below before you commence reading this blog.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I've had quite an interesting week. On Monday, I went to B&M bargains (classy, I know) to buy my secret Santa present for a friend. I thought that we were all buying joke presents for each other (I was wrong) but nevertheless trawled this vast warehouse of odd bits and bobs, including these magic straws that make normal milk turn chocolatey when you sip through them. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">If you were considering purchasing this ingenious idea, don't. I fell for this 39p bargain and was thoroughly disappointed when I sipped through the straw and tasted practically normal milk, with a hint of powdered processed chocolate. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Then I came across the perfect gift for our set budget of a measly £3. It was a 'Santa's Little Helper' costume, complete with a tiny felt dress and long striped socks, that made some outfits witnessed on a Saturday Night in Porthcawl look like habits (which are nun's gowns, if you didn't know.)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">As I was paying for said costume, I made a passing comment at the delightful checkout woman, telling her that it wasn't for me, it was a joke present for a friend. She looked at me and cheerfully chirped "I'm not judging, love!"</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">As you can probably imagine, I was mortified. As I desperately tried to convince her that I wasn't lying, she glanced up at me as she gave me my 1p change and said "Well, if you've got the body, I say flaunt it!"</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I realised there was no chance that I would be able to convince this 50+ woman that I was not buying the lovely costume for myself, and so, clutching my practically see through B&M bag, I hastened out of the shop, aghast.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I get myself into these kind of situations very frequently, as all my friends would testify to, especially Tash. I don't know how. Perhaps it is my general awkwardness. The amount of times I have trip, slip and drop things in a day is ridiculous. I like to blame my height, as you might have noticed, I am quite tall for a girl. Not clown tall, but not short either. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">A lot of people say that they are clumsy. But I really am. Particular instances spring to mind, such as in a GCSE chemistry practical last year, I somehow managed to drop a beaker with some sort of dangerous looking chemical in it, and gouge my hand open in several places. Dr Wellington still thinks I'm a complete joke after that. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Other times that my clumsiness has shone is the countless times I have slipped on completely dry ground and fallen on my backside, once with a hockey stick, flute and games kit clattering to the ground with me amidst the laughter of random people in the street. Definitely a character building experience.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I've finished my can of whipped cream. My pride did not let me give up, seeing as my parents looked at me like I had the IQ of a 4 year old when I told them what I was going to do. I feel proud, and I hope all of you that had ate a whole can of whipped cream (I know you avid followers are out there, somewhere) feel an immense sense of accomplishment. There's something interesting that you can put on your CV when applying to university. It's sure to get you noticed. You can thank me when you're a high flying politician. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">One last thing; one of my best friends is a fellow blogger, and I would love you to read his blog. He's hysterical, and it would definitely make his day if his blog views rose dramatically. Here's the link; Merry Christmas!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><a href="http://guysthatwrite.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">http://guysthatwrite.blogspot.com/</a></span></div>
</div>Sarah Picketthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15278793985679995547noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5752525990694556537.post-58322412155431920342011-12-01T17:04:00.001+00:002012-05-15T20:23:36.917+01:00A Special Advent Calendar<br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia;">It's December the 1st everyone! Only 25
days 'til Christmas! Today I opened my first advent calendar pocket, which
contained a small Cadbury's chocolate christmas cracker (wow, look at that
alliteration!) and I was quite disappointed that that was what I was
to look forward to every day. </span><span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia;">So, being my quirky self, I have
decided to embark on a series of challenges, one for each day of Advent. An
Advent Challenge, if you like. Once I complete each daily challenge, I get the
chocolate. If you would like to accompany me on this character building
experience, feel free. It'll do you good.</span><span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia;"><b>December 1st - Good Neighbour
Day: </b></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia;">Put up Christmas lights in your bedroom window to spread some
christmas cheer to your neighbours. If you haven't got a spare set, buy an Asda
value one. Literally £1.60 or something. </span><span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia;"><b>December 2nd - Sing Down The Phone
Day:<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></b></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia;">Call a friend and sing 'We Wish You A Merry Christmas'
loudly down the phone, and then hang up. Don't say hi or bye, just do it.</span></span><span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia;"><b>December 3rd - Buy A Tree Day: </b></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia;">If you haven't
already got a real Christmas tree, go get one. Christmas just isn't the same
with a synthetic one. You don't get that lovely piney smell. I said this to my
friend Tash the other day, to which she replied 'You've got a blocked nose all
winter though, so the smell won't make a difference to you!' Witty child. </span><span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia;"><b>December 4th - Bake A Christmas
Carol Day:<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></b></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia;">Choose a
Christmas carol, and bake cookies shaped as the carol. For example, last year I
did this and chose 'The 12 Days of Christmas'. I gave up after 'three turtle
doves', though. </span><span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia;"><b>December 5th - Hug Your Mum Day:</b></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia;"> Hug your mum. Easy, I know, but she'll appreciate
it. </span></span><span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia;"><b>December 6th - Make A Snowman Day:<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></b></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia;">No, not a real one. A
sock one. Genius, I know. I've already done this one with my little
sister, and it turned out really well. <a href="http://www.homemade-gifts-made-easy.com/sock-snowman.html">Click here</a> to
make it. You know you want to.</span><span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia;"><b>December 7th - Hug Your Dad Day:<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></b></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia;">Go on, he's probably
feeling left out now, after you hugged your mum and not him. In fact, go hug
all of your family. They deserve it for putting up with you.</span><span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia;"><b>December 8th – Charity Day: </b></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia;">Count up
how much you spent today on food, double it and give it to a charity of your
choice. You’ll feel good, trust me.</span><span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia;"><b>December 9th – Christmassy Nails
Day: </b></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia;">Paint your nails Christmassy colours. Go wild! Green and red
stripes, silvery snowflakes, the possibilities are endless. Boys, embrace your
feminine side. Or try out your nail art prowess on an unsuspecting girl.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia;"><b>December 10th – Bubble Bath Day:</b></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia;"> For some
this may be a hard challenge. Immerse yourself in a bubbly hot bubble bath and
relax! See, that wasn’t so hard now, was it?</span><span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia;"><b>December 11th – Friends Day: </b></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia;">No, not
real friends, Friends as in the program. Watch a Christmas episode of it here,
it’ll make you happy. Especially Phoebe and Chandler. They’re comical geniuses.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia;"><b>December 12th – Wear A Tinsel Scarf
Day:</b></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia;"> You’ll look pretty, trust me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia;"><b>December 13th – Jingle Bell Day:</b></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia;"> Learn
jingle bells on an instrument. If you don’t have a piano or guitar, learn it on
the pots and pans. I’m sure your mum will appreciate it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia;"><b>December 14th – Fabric Wreath Day: </b></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia;">I found
this wreath thingy on the Internet and I fell in love with it. So make it and
we can be wreath buddies! Click <a href="http://gardenmama.typepad.com/my_weblog/2010/01/i-look-forward-to-sharing-with-you-today-a-sweet-project-my-children-and-i-have-been-working-onwe-have-enjoyed-our-time-sif.html" target="_blank">here</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia;"><b>December 15th – Whipped Cream Day: </b></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia;">It’s 10
days ‘til Christmas! Buy a can a whipped cream and eat it all. Literally all of
it. Only stop if you’re sick. And then man up and finish it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia;"><b>December 16th – Funniest Joke Ever Day: </b></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia;">Tell the
funniest person you know this joke. And no, before you ask, you can’t tell it
to yourself.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">What's an ig?</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-align: -webkit-center;">An eskimo's home without a toilet.</span></span></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia;"> </span><b style="font-family: Georgia;"> </b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia;"><b>December 17th – Cake Baking Day: </b></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia;">It’s time
to bake again! Your choice this time, I'm being nice.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia;"><b>December 18th –Hot Chocolate Day: </b></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia;">Drink a mug
of hot chocolate. Preferably the milk kind. That’s definitely the best kind.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia;"><b>December 19th – Winter Walk Day:</b></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia;"> I love
winter walks. Go on a winter walk and enjoy the crisp air. Don’t stay out long,
though, otherwise you’ll get hyperthermia and die.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia;"><b>December 20th – Glitter Day: </b></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia;">Glitter and
Christmas go together like Ant and Dec. Coat something with glitter. Anything.
A picture, a jumper, yourself, your little sister…the possibilities are
endless.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia;"><b>December 21st – Language Day: </b></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia;">Find
someone from a different country and say ‘Merry Christmas’ to them in their
language. You’ll look super brainy. Just don’t tell them you used Google
translate.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia;"><b>December 22nd – Random Act Of
Kindness Day: </b></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia;">It’s nice to be kind to someone at Christmas. So do
something nice for someone. Buy them a cup of tea, offer to do the washing up,
or whatever other kind acts you can muster up. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia;"><b>December 23rd – ‘Twas The Night
Before Christmas Day:</b></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia;"> Yes, I know it’s not actually the night
before Christmas, but tomorrow’s movie night so you have to read the poem today
instead. Read it <a href="http://www.christmas-tree.com/stories/nightbeforechristmas.html" target="_blank">here</a>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia;"><b>December 24th – Movie Day: </b></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia;">Watch your
favourite Christmas movie. Mine’s 'The Snowman'.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia;"><b>December 25th – Christmas Day: </b></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia;">You did
it!! Well done! That is if you did it all. If you didn’t, shame on you, you
lazy thing. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia;">Wow, that was a long calendar. I didn’t
envisage it was going to be that long when I started writing it. It’ll be worth
it though, don’t you worry. So go on, go put some Christmas lights up to spread
the Christmas cheer! Got to love the cheese.<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>Sarah Picketthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15278793985679995547noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5752525990694556537.post-37022201955516614172011-11-27T16:08:00.001+00:002012-05-15T20:24:43.885+01:00Chicken for Thanksgiving<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">In case you didn't know, it was Thanksgiving last Thursday. Embracing our American heritage, my family always enjoys celebrating it. The crispy roast potatoes, corn, sweet potatoes, butternut squash with marshmallow topping (alas my mother refuses to put the marshmallow topping on now), jelly (yes, literally on the plate, all mixing in with the gravy), honey glazed carrots...oh, and turkey.</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Except this year we didn't have turkey. </span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">We used to have a big box freezer, but after moving house and leaving that one behind, we got a normal shelfy kind. Unfortunately, the measly little shelves don't fit a twelve pound bird. Shame, I really like turkey.</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">At least we celebrated it on the right day though. A few years ago, I skipped to school merrily, and wished 'Happy Thanksgiving' to my friends with a grin that could put the tro-lo-lo-lo-lo guy to shame. (If you don't know who this beauty is, I've linked the sing along version of the song here.)</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/2Z4m4lnjxkY?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The next day, I trudged in and mumbled to my laughing friends that my mother (not I, just for the record) had got the date wrong, and subsequently we had celebrated Thanksgiving a week early. My mum had only realised when she phoned her mum in America to wish her a happy thanksgiving, only to hear laughing down the phone for the next fifteen minutes. She hasn't made that mistake again.</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I love Thanksgiving. To be honest, I love food in general, which is why I am thankful for my friends and our dinner club.</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I, along with a few of my friends, have had a little dinner club for the past year or so, eating various impressive dishes at each others houses. Last night we had another amazing meal of various types of pasta, garlic bread and homemade ice cream with hot fudge sauce. </span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">After eating, we have gotten up to quite a variety of things, including carving Mary (as in Jesus' mother) in butter, dying Richard's hair brown and going into hysterics when it came out ginger, and going on Omegle dressed with headscarves and sunglasses. Love you guys.</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Oh, for the record, Children in Need went well. Children froze in terror as we swept past them with our capes billowing behind us. We definitely went all out, compared to some that dressed up. We literally studied the characters down to the last detail, which included the dark marks, and in my case, a winge. </span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">You may not be familiar with winges. Basically, they're clip on fringes. I wore a dark brown one as I was Narcissa Malfoy. For those who didn't know who I was, shame on you. Go read the Harry Potter books. Like now. Well after you finish reading this. You won't regret it.</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">It was pretty funny walking home dressed like Narcissa Malfoy though. You know when you usually are walking and as people drive past you, they quickly glance at you and then look forward and keep driving? </span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">People were not glancing. They weren't even staring. They were glancing at me, having a double take and then turning in their seat, straining to see the weird emo girl with the black fringe. Actually, the crazy weird emo girl, as I found this so funny I was laughing to myself as I walked home. </span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">On a parting note, I was in England recently with my dad. After we passed someone, briefly smiling, my dad told me that that was probably the last time we would ever be in contact with that person. Ever. Mind Blown.</span></div>Sarah Picketthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15278793985679995547noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5752525990694556537.post-33477459157821231452011-11-20T20:54:00.001+00:002012-05-15T20:25:40.139+01:00Hair<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I have had quite a few different hairstyles over the years,
varying from the formidable bowl cut to an I-wish-I-could-do-my-hair-like-Princess-Leah type. Of course, changing
hairstyles means a trip to the hairdressers, of which I have had many over the
years. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I’ve look up some interesting but useless facts to do with
hair for you to impress your friends with. I guarantee that when you tell them these you'll be Mr Popular.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">- The average person gets 6 haircuts a year. That means that if you live the average life-span of 72 years you would have 432 haircuts. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">- The average person grows 6 inches of hair a year. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">- The average person loses 100 hairs a day.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">- The world record for the longest hair is 18 feet long. I find it hard to comprehend length, so I imagined how long three 6 foot people would be lying down in line. That's long.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I've always loved having my hair cut, since I was very young. I was always the angelic child, which was easy to play on having Philip as a brother. When we went to get our haircut, because Phil would kick up such a fuss, my mum would buy us a pack of crisps to pacify the whinging. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">'Crisps as a treat?!' you say scathingly? Well yes, my dear friend, I lived in Nepal where people look through rubbish for valuables as a job. So yes, crisps were a treat.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I've had many memories in the hairdressers. When I was 8, a new hairdressers opened in Kathmandu called 'Cinderella Beauty Parlour'. Naturally, being the blonde haired, blue eyed stereotypical little girl I was, I was hooked, and after much begging, was taken by my mother as a treat. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Some treat it was. When we got inside, after much scrambling as I seemed to be the first customer that had entered their doors in a while, they sat me on a wooden chair, and my mother explained that I wanted a wash and cut.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">"Okay, no problem" said the young woman "but we haven't got any warm water. But the cold wash will be very refreshing?" She smiled hopefully, but my mum being the savvy woman she is told her that I would just have a trim and forget the wash. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Have you ever referred to someone as 'scissor happy'? I suggest you go to them right now and tell them that you're sorry, because you don't understand the meaning of scissor happy until you have met this woman.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">She chopped away at my hair like there was no tomorrow, until finally my mother stepped in and assured her that my length was perfectly fine now, albeit slightly uneven. Then onto the fringe she went with just as much vigour, snipping away while my mother looked on with worry. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The woman finally stepped back to admire her masterpiece. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">My fringe was wonky.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">So wonky and short that I looked like I had been in an argument with Beth Ditto (who FYI scares the living daylight out of me.) My mother let out a cry of horror, and snatched the scissors out of the woman's hands and finished the job herself. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">That was the first and last time I ever went to Cinderella Beauty Parlour. It closed down shortly after. I wonder why...</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">More recently, I had an interesting experience with my current hairdresser, who comes to my house to cut my hair. She was checking to see if my hair was even, and asked me to stand up. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">As a brief introduction, I have had a history of light headedness from standing up for too long. Weird I know. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Anyway, there I was standing up whilst my mother was checking my hair from behind (she doesn't take chances with haircuts anymore), when I started to feel dizzy. I ignored it, but carried on feeling worse and worse, when suddenly everything started going black. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The next thing I knew I was lying on the kitchen floor, confused. It honestly felt like I had had a really nice long sleep. I later found out I was only out for a few seconds. Fainting's weird. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">On a parting note, I love hair. Imagine if there was no such thing as hair? We'd all look pretty egg-like. So be thankful for your hair. Deep, I know. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">'You can't part the skin of a sausage,</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Or a dad from his fond son and heir.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">And you can't part the hair on a bald-headed man,</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">For there'll be no parting there.'</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">- Billy Bennett</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>Sarah Picketthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15278793985679995547noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5752525990694556537.post-18937242548527499512011-11-13T00:02:00.000+00:002012-05-15T20:26:38.152+01:00Tea, Death Eaters and Clair De Lune<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I love tea. You may have realised from the title of this blog. Tea, however amazing it may be, is not what I created this blog to write about all the time, although there will be frequent references, let me assure you.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">My friends and I are dressing up as death eaters for Children in Need this year. You may think 'Meh, that's easy! All you need is a cape and you're done!'</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Alas, I am friends with the thespians of the school. So when I say dress up, I don't mean just putting on a cape and smiling for a camera. I mean buying a wig, hand sewing a velvet cape, making an exact replica of the character's wand of whom you are portraying (Narcissa's Wand, in my case) and creating a secret Facebook group to discuss costume and make up ideas.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Although this may seem over the top to those of you who have purchased a costume to show as much flesh as possible, I would much rather it this way. Dressing up is MUCH more fun when you make passersby cross to the other side of the road in fear. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">On a different note (no pun intended) I have conquered Clair de Lune! If you do not know what the heck Clair de Lune is, please educate your uncultured mind and listen to it. There's a link at the end of this post. It's amazing. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Coming from a family where classical music has always been playing in the house and car, my parents will probably be horrified for me to say that I do not enjoy alot of the classical music that I hear. I enjoy some, particularly those involving piano, as I play piano, but others as well. I think it is ignorant, however, to say you enjoy classical music and never express your dislike of a piece. I like pop and acoustic music, but I don't enjoy EVERY song that comes on the radio. Just because it's pop or acoustic, it doesn't mean I like it. (Dad, if you're reading this, this is directed at you.)</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Rant over, I love playing piano. I started having lessons when I was around 8, after coming home from a friend's house and feeling determined to learn after hearing her play 'Mary had a little lamb' which she had learned in her first piano lesson. She quit about a month later. I persuaded my parents to buy a second hand little yamaha keyboard and a ragged looking beginners book. A month or so later, they hired a friend's 17 year old son to teach me. My style of learning definitely didn't suit his teaching style, however, as he made me play the same piece week after week until I had played it perfectly. I can still see the pages of the songs about snorkelers and astronauts. I think he gave up in the end with the perfection idea. He was probably just as sick of hearing the boring 5 note melody as I was.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">5 teachers later, after many years of plodding through book after book, I have reached a point where I play piano for enjoyment, and although I am preparing for my grade 8 exam, I am loving the freedom of being able to play so many pieces that I have heard over the years and only dreamt of playing. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I'm also a piano teacher now which I really enjoy. It definitely has its perks above other jobs; I choose the hours I work, good money, great little kids (mostly!) and a skill that I have been convinced by Debz, the careers counsellor in school (Ha!) that will look 'fab' on my CV. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Tonight I made a list of ten random facts about me, my tea addiction being one of them...</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">1) I love the taste of Colgate toothpaste.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">2) I wear sundresses all year round, whatever the weather.<br />
3) I have a slight obsession with Taylor Swift.<br />
4) I am the only person below the age of about 40 that I know that reads the news every day.<br />
5) Once a llama spat in my face when I stroked its nose.<br />
6) I have read the Harry Potter books through about 9 times and I am still in love with them.<br />
7) My favourite word is mellifluous. Go on. Say it. See, you feel instantly happy. You're welcome.<br />
8) I'm addicted to Twinings English Breakfast Tea.<br />
9) I grew up in Nepal, live in Wales, have an American Mother and a British Father. I have no idea where I come from.<br />
10) I love playing piano, especially pretty pieces like Clair De Lune. I know I mentioned it above, but it seriously is amazing. Listen to it, it'll make you happy. In fact, listen to it and say mellifluous as well. Bam. I should be a counsellor for depressed people.<br />
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I'll leave you with this to ponder over: If you ate yourself would you double in size or disappear completely?<br />
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<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZIsQPdC9YnY&feature=related">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZIsQPdC9YnY&feature=related</a><br />
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</span>Sarah Picketthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15278793985679995547noreply@blogger.com5