School Holidays! Finally...

I apologise for the 5-day gap however I have been super busy. However, it has not been having a life. It's been school work. All week. I've been at school doing work then coming home and doing more school work. It hasn't been a particularly interesting week. In fact, I it has been so tiring that I almost fell asleep on my table in English today.

But anyway, it's officially Easter! Well, not quite but it's the Easter holidays which means two weeks of school however, I'm working during the first week (not for very long though, 10 till 3 every day) and I'll be doing revision and school work in the second whilst trying to cram in some sort of social life in and around the edges along the way.

Tonight, I'm going out with my boyfriend and his family to the Annual Cricket Dinner. James, his brother, his dad and his sister all play cricket so they're going with the club and invited me. There is a slight problem though, I don't know all that much about cricket so conversation with people I don't know could be limited unless, by some very happy coincidence, they like motorbikes. Or netball. Or listen to the same types of music to me. Ah well, maybe I'll learn something whilst I'm there.

Now, I'm off because I need to shoot off to James' house so we can go to this dinner. Toodle pip.

Yeah, you read it right, I just said toodle pip.

Welcome to... British Summer Time!

It is now officially the British Summer! Well as of 2 o'clock this morning. I'm very happy to say that today has somewhat resembled summer as the sky is practically cloudless and the sun is shining bright. As I sit here typing out this post it is 6:43pm and at the moment the sun shows no sign of setting for a couple hours at least.

I don't know what it is about the sun, but it just makes everyone immediately happier and slightly more pro-active. People have been out at barbecues today and I've heard lawn mowers going since about 11 this morning. It's lovely.

Hopefully, this weather (sunny, very little breeze, no clouds and relative warmth) will continue right through now until October, when it will begin to get colder again. Obviously a little more warmth would be nice though. However, warmer weather does have some consequences. For example, as soon as it gets above 12 degrees boys (major stereotyping here; be warned) seem to think its perfectly acceptable to walk around without t-shirts on. It's not acceptable at all. It's 12 degrees for goodness sake! Of course, sun burn will soon become a topic of conversation because no one ever wears quite enough sun cream (myself included - that idea of a perfect even tan is just way too tempting). Despite this, I love the summer. Everyone just seems a lot happier to be around other people and all your photos automatically look a lot better because the sun makes everyone glow.

Now, I'm off for a brief evening stroll (I would say walk but that implies some sort of purpose and an idea of pace which is definitely not going to be happening) whilst the air is still warm and the sun is still shining. Enjoy the rest of your Sunday and I hope you all have a good week.

Too. Much. Work

Sorry about not posting yesterday but I'm buried under work at the moment (this is the main reason I didn't post a lot last week as well) and at this moment in time, there is very very little light at the end of the tunnel as my teachers, oblivious of all other subjects except their own, keep giving me more and more work to do.

I've still got quite a bit to do yet, so I'm not sure about how high the frequency of posts will be for the rest of the week so I'll apologise in advance.. Sorry




p.s Sorry about the really short post

My Life in Letters

Today, I wanted to do something slightly different in my post so I decided to do my life in letters. Basically, I took each letter of the alphabet and linked it to something in my life. I will write a brief sentence afterwards to explain what it means. Enjoy..

A - Aston Martin. My favourite car is an Aston Martin, I'd love to have one, in Aston Martin green of course.
B - Big Bang Theory. Best TV program ever, shown on channel 4 and E4.
C - Chemistry. What I want to do with the rest of my life and the course I plan on taking at uni.
D - Dogs. I used to be terrified of dogs after a bad experience when I was younger involving a giant Alsation and a lack of signs, I now like dogs and they don't frighten me whatsoever.
E - Exams. Major part of my life at the moment.
F - Friends. The ones that keep me sane, I have a close group of friends and they are all brilliant in their own way.
G - Guides. I was a Rainbow, a Brownie, a Guide, a Ranger, a Young Leader and now I am becoming a Leader.
H - Harry Potter. I am part of the Harry Potter generation, I absolutely love it to pieces.
I - iPod. I cannot live without music.
J - James. My boyfriend.
K - Keyboard. I used to play the keyboard but I gave it up last year because I had other commitments.
L - Love. Possibly over-rated and over-commercialised with it but I still believe in the Fairytale idea of love.
M - Motorbikes. Always have been and always will be a massive part of my life, if that makes me a petrol head, so be it.
N - Netball. I play and train around 3 times a week, I am currently completing an umpiring course in netball and I've been playing it since I was 7 and still think its brilliant. Plus it keeps me fit.
O - Origami. There's something soothing about folding paper and creating birds and flowers and boxes.
P - Pasta. That's about as far as my culinary skills can stretch too.
Q - the Queen. I'm proud of our monarchy in Britain.
R - Russia. I have always wanted to go to Russia, preferably travelling across it on a motorbike.
S - Super Ted. The teddy I was given as a baby.
T - Travelling. I love visiting new places and would like to take a gap year to go travelling around the world.
U - Uganda. I fully support the trip my school runs to Uganda every year and think its a great cause. I would love to go.
V - Vimy Ridge. The most beautiful place ever.
W - Wishing Wells. I always used to make a point of throwing a coin over my shoulder into a wishing well and making a wish.
X - Xylophone. I love the sound it makes.
Y - Youtube. The growing Internet sensation, I think it's brilliant.
Z - Zzzzzz. Sleep, the best medicine along with laughter.

And with that I am done. Until next time.

Forgetful me

I haven't posted since Tuesday! Oops, sorry everyone. I would give you a brief overview but I can't remember what happened on Wednesday, I don't remember much of Thursday either except that it was non-uniform day at school to raise money for Sport Relief and that I thought it was an easy day. Friday was an inset day and I did my CBT and...... I passed!! I was super tired afterwards and couldn't stay awake for much past about 9 which on a Friday is pretty ridiculous.

I watched my first ever rugby match yesterday. It was a 6 Nations game, England vs Ireland. Everyone I was with was supporting England and I'm English but my family originate from Ireland so outwardly I was supporting England (who won - sorry if I just spoilt the result for you) and inwardly I was supporting Ireland. I don't get rugby in the slightest but oh well, it provided some entertainment for a while and its a lot more interesting than cricket.

It was Mothering Sunday today but I failed at making my mum a cup of tea as I woke up really late - I was still really tired but I'm not really sure why. Still, she liked her card and present and we just sat chatting for ages so it wasn't too bad.

Sorry again about the 5 days without posting, that really is bad. I would say I'm determined to post tomorrow but Sod's Law states that that will not happen so I hope I have the chance to post tomorrow, if not don't get too depressed about the fact its Monday. Happy Mother's Day to all the wonderful mothers out there and Happy Mother's Day to my own amazing mum!

Easter plan no.1 - Learn to cook

I'm planning on cooking over the Easter holidays. It should prove to be interesting as its not very often I step into a kitchen with the intent of actually cooking something. The most I do is find food I can munch on and put toast in the toaster. Exciting, I know. But this Easter I have decided I should learn how to cook properly so I've been looking for things I can cook, like egg fried rice and sausages on penne pasta. I'll let you know how this plan progresses.

My bedside lamp broke this morning when I was waking up. I turn my light on to help keep me from drifting back to sleep. It works. Kind of. I think it was a sign personally but I'm still unsure of quite what it symbolises. It'll present itself in time I guess. Maybe dark times lie ahead? Or of course, I could have just blown the bulb, but I'm going with a sign.

That's all I've really got time for today and I rambled on for quite a while on Sunday so I've tried to keep this post down to minimum for you. Enjoy your Wednesday, just think we're on the run up to the weekend now!

Too much Music

Before I get on with the actual point of this post I thought I'd tell you a little bit about my daily living recently.

I've begun making another bracelet. I made one a few months ago and I just had a random burst of spontaneity so I started making another. It's only got 3 strands, a teal one, a mustard yellow one and a brown one. I think it looks quite nice. I will let you know how I get on with it as I'll be doing it when I have a few minutes to spare. If I was working continuously, I think a 16/17cm bracelet (my wrist size is 16cm so I normally make them that size) would take me an evening. You've got to make them neat and tight see. That's what takes time.

I've got my CBT on Friday. I'm super excited. If I pass, hopefully I will, I'll soon be whizzing (that's probably not the best word, its only a 50cc and the top speed is about 35mph) around. The idea of a CBT is to train people who want to ride motorbikes how to be safe on the road and what dangers to look out for on the road. I'll spend the morning on a car park weaving through cones and doing various manoeuvres and then if the instructor thinks I'm competent and that I wouldn't be a danger to myself or others on the road, in the afternoon I can go out on the road with an instructor who will tell me to do various things via a radio connecting my helmet with the instructors. It should be good fun, especially if I pass.

I don't know whether anybody else has this problem but my iPod only holds 4GB (supposedly) of data but I have 1531 songs in my iTunes library which is 8.5GB of data and choosing what makes the cut and what does not is really difficult as I listen to the majority of the songs a lot. I try to keep updating it and changing the music on my iPod but my library isn't getting any smaller, in fact its growing by the day as I add more and more music to it.

My music library is at least double the size of all of my friends' libraries and the main reason for this, I think, is the fact I've not only got all of the stuff from when my lifetime and all the music I like (which is pretty varied in itself), I've also got the stuff I have grown up with which is all my dad's music as well. For example, I've got George Harrison's album All Things Must Pass and multiple Beatles albums featuring alongside bands like Busted, R.E.M and Oasis. Crosby Stills Nash and Young have also recently been uploaded along with Simon and Garfunkel and Ed Sheeran. So most people say I've got an eclectic music taste as I've got almost 50 years worth of music in my iTunes library whereas most of my friends have the latest music on theirs.

Obviously, this then becomes a massive problem when you try and decide what songs and albums to upload onto my iPod. The only solution I can see as a logical way forward is to get a new iPod with a bigger memory but I can't get rid of my current iPod as its got that worn look as its been bashed and dropped and it fits perfectly into my hand unlike any other iPod could. So for now, until I get up the courage to exchange it for a newer one (and also the money to actually buy a new one), I've made a load of playlists which I mix and match and I update and sync my iPod as often as I can. Which isn't actually that often as I always forget to do it.

My library will of course keep on growing as I get older, I still listen to songs from my childhood, and I recently emptied out my dad's CD cupboard and took about 40 odd CDs and I also bought another CD yesterday as I thought the band looked quite good.

Currently, I am searching for a record player as the family one has mysteriously disappeared and no one seems to remember what we did with it. My dad has around 200 vinyls and they are coming back into fashion it seems what with the Kaiser Chiefs and Coldplay amongst others releasing their latest albums on vinyl as well as releasing them on the Internet and in CD form. Please let me know if you see a cheap one going.

Until whenever folks. Keep listening to music, especially the words. The lyrics are more often than not the best part of the song and some songs will be linked to a memory you have making them even more special. Keep tuned in and stay on the lookout for old or new songs that you could fall in love with!

You'd never think 3 things could make your week super busy..

Today I got my results for the exams I did in January, granted it was only 4 which is barely registers next to the amount some people did. But hey, it's their own fault they chose those subjects although everyone appears to have done alright in the exams they took though there were several disappointed faces and I definitely saw a couple of people crying (I think that was a little over the top personally).

The four exams I sat were Biology, Chemistry and Physics Unit 2 (I'm doing the Triple Science Award) and English Literature Unit 1. I'm pleased to say (write, whatever) that I got high A's in all except Physics where I got a high A* which I'm totally chuffed about as that has boosted my overall grade up towards the A/A* I'm working towards. I found out later in the day that in Chemistry I was 2 marks of getting an A* and in English I was 3 marks off but never mind, A's are still A-mazing in my opinion (pun totally intended).

I've been umpiring the Year 7 interform netball all week (at our school, you are split in to 10 forms in your year and in years 7 and 8 they like to do interform competitions to help you get along better) which has been interesting. Some girls are a bit patchy on the rules though; at one point they ignored my whistle so I ended up walking onto the court and taking the ball off one team and giving it to the other team whilst attempting to explain what they'd done wrong. Not the easiest of tasks. I think I've got to repeat the same next week but with the Year 8s which could be worse as they are much more likely to backchat. On a happier note, the form I've been working with won today which was a great confidence boost for them.

If you've read my last few posts you will know I have been attempting to complete my Statistics coursework and I am delighted to announce that I have finished it! I must have spent about 14 or 15 hours on this one piece of coursework and I have slightly neglected other school work so I hope that I get a good mark. Fingers crossed, eh?

I'm not sure if I'll get chance to post tomorrow but I'll try my best. Enjoy your Friday everyone!

Motorbike count now equals 4

I'm still attempting to finish my Statistics coursework. I'm still failing. Majorly.

My dad has sold another bike today, the man has just been to pick it up so it was goodbye to the Yamaha Teneré. This brings down our total to 4 (including my scooter) as we also sold the Moto Guzzi last week. The four we have now are: Mum's Kawasaki Versys (she picked it up on Thursday as she's got a 12 plate), Dad's new Ducati Multistrada 1100s (its new for him, but its a 10 reg I believe), the ever-faithful BMW F800R (in orange - its beautiful) and the wonderfully amazing 50cc scooter, Noah the Neos. Yes, I named my scooter Noah. Its a Yamaha if you were wondering. That's the past month (ish) in motorbike terms for us.

I had a bit of a rant yesterday whilst watching Top Gear when Jeremy Clarkson, who knows nothing about bikes and completely detests them (you will know this if you've ever watched the Vietnam Special), said motorbicycles. I mean, seriously, motorbicycles?! That's unheard of. I doubt its even a correct name for them. Motorcycles, fine. Motorbikes, fine. Motorbicycles, so not fine.

Anyway, to replace the Teneré, we are currently looking at a Triumph Scrambler. In green. Its a nice green though, Google it. A lot of you are probably now thinking 5 bikes? For 3 people?! But that's a good amount of bikes to have. I know you can only ride one at time but its about having the choice. Anyone that has never been linked with bikes or never ridden a bike won't understand this concept and I don't think anyone can ever explain it properly, so I won't even try. Just trust me on this one.

Just a final note on motorbikes - they are not dangerous! More motorbike accidents are caused by car drivers than riders. Bikes aren't dangerous, bad drivers and riders are. Please watch out for motorbikes on the road and treat them as you would any other vehicle. Don't try and squeeze past us because we're 'only a bike', its that sort of mind set and impatience which means that we end up in a ditch or gutter with broken bones.

Now I must get back to this Statistics coursework, until the next time...

Success and failure in one day. Impressive

So, I attended a meeting today and it turns out that Race Night was a massive success and has broken all the records (even without an extremely generous donator who remains anonymous). Not much else happened today to be honest. Megan broke a test tube in Chemistry and I saved another from breaking with my awesome reflexes.

Tomorrow, I am starting my umpiring for the Year 7 interform netball. I have been attached to a form and I have helped organise the team and I will be umpiring their matches. I won't be bias, of course; even though I would love the form I've been assigned to to win.

On a side note, I strongly dislike Statistics coursework - it's really not going well for me. Totally going to fail this GCSE. But never mind, I've got to do it so I will. Even if I am grumbling and moaning all the way.

That's all I've really got time for today, I've got a school netball match tomorrow so I'll let you know how that goes. Until then folks, its adios!

Half a week, double time

Wow, no post since Wednesday! I'm so sorry, I'm an epic fail. But my life kicked off and went a bit hectic.

Thursday - I can't even remember what happened, it seems like so long ago!

Friday - Really busy but amazing! Race Night was a brilliant success and I have decided that I will never EVER be a chef. Waay to stressful. Full respect to all the top chefs. On the plus side I didn't poison anyone with any dodgy food and everyone said it was really nice. However, there were about 200 people there so maybe everyone on my table thought it was horrible but just didn't say anything.

Saturday - Work was pretty average, the phone rang, enquiries came through etc etc.

Today - Homework. Well, just Statistics coursework really but that was bad enough. We seem to be attempting to complete an impossible task with no teacher guidance. Our chances of success look pretty slim, right? This is for a GCSE as well so its looking like good grades all round... not.

Sorry about the unbelievably basic post, I'll try and dredge up something more interesting tomorrow.