I read a book

Today, in this glorious sunshine we have been blessed with here in the UK, I finished The Book Thief, and now I don't know what to do with all these feelings.


In short, I loved it. I only had one tiny niggle with it which I can't tell you about because it's also a massive spoiler. But yeah, on the whole, a fantastic book. I'm not really one for reviews, so just go and read it and judge for yourselves.


It's so nice to be able to sit outside again after all the rain we've had (which is an awful lot of rain). Today whilst I was reading, Daf mowed the lawn and then ate four (yes, four) ice lollies. And now he's complaining that his stomach hurts and I have absolutely no sympathy. I only had one, and I feel great.


Song of the Day: Girls And Boys In Love by The Rumble Strips


Currently reading: I haven't started it yet, but I think I'm going to read A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess next.

Success!

On Sunday afternoon, whilst sitting out in the garden soaking up some of this gorgeous weather we've been having, I finally finished The Hobbit. Don't clap all at once. Despite me taking forever and a day to read it, I did really enjoy it. If you're planning on seeing the film when it comes out in December, you should definitely read it.


But yeah, anyway, this weather is amazing. It's good for gardening, it's good for ice-lollies, it's good for reading. Tomorrow I may even wash the car. I've already made a summer playlist for my i-pod. Too soon? Whatever, I'm rolling with it.


Enjoy the sunshine while it lasts folks. Wear a hat.


Song of the Day: She Bangs The Drums by The Stone Roses


Currently reading: Starter For Ten by David Nicholls

It's not you, it's me

Actually it's not even me. Since getting back from holiday I've had internet issues which were resolved this morning by a technician man sent over from Virgin who told us that the reason we couldn't connect to the internet was because one of the wires for the modem wasn't screwed in. As the technician re-attached it with pliers, I'm at a loss as to how it came out in the first place. But never mind, I'm back online and all is well.

Turkey was awesome. So very very hot, but nice and lazy and great food. I made a friend in the form of a cat who stayed on our villa patio for the whole week (and is still there, according to my parents). I called her Lenny, just because. We played a lot of Rummikub (or 'Plastik Okey' as it is called in Turkey), and I only won once, but got hardly any points. By the end of the week I was last by quite a margin with an impressive score of about -190. It's okay though, because as anyone who knows me will tell you, I am a very gracious loser...

Since I got home I have worked lots, and on Monday I went to see the final Harry Potter. I may have shed a tear or two. It was so good, I loved it.

Next time I will post some Turkey photos, and if you're lucky I might share the story of that time when my Dad had to kill a snake with a spade.

This is what I have been doing

My Dad has complained about the lack of a new blog post, and I'm sure my LEGION of avid readers will agree so, without further ado...

I'm now back at home for the Easter holidays, and have lugged the majority of my possessions back with me to save me a mammoth job when I finish at the end of May. I had a minor panic attack when I was packing and couldn't find my dissertation research anywhere. After watching me frantically search my desk and shelves, muttering profanities as I went, Daf finally said; "Isn't it on that chair?" 
 
It was on that chair, obscured by a mound of clothes, because you know, why wouldn't I keep it there?

Anyway, I am successfully home with everything I need. Yesterday we went to Merry Hill (which is a big shopping centre), mainly because I wanted to go to H&M. It was a really nice warm day, and on the drive there we saw this young gentleman walking along the pavement, cigarette in his mouth, topless, and wearing a woolly hat. Brilliant.

I have bought myself a trilby hat, because I've wanted one for ages and I think that now I have shorter hair I can pull it off. I think it makes me look super awesome. Daf respectfully disagrees.

When we got back, I supervised while Daf mowed the lawn, then I pranced around taking pictures, some of which I will put on here, as soon as I find my camera cable.

It's another sunny day so I should probably get out of my pyjamas and go outside.

******

Today I'm loving: The sun of course!

Today I'm hatin': I keep sneezing, and not like once or twice, but about seven times in a row, several times a day. Could this be hayfever? I've never had it before, but can you develop it pretty much whenever? These are genuine questions by the way, let me know if you are a hayfever connoisseur (if that's even a legitimate thing).

Song of the Day: Last Words by The Real Tuesday Weld, continuing on my Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist theme.

You said you loved me/And I kind of believe that/But these days who knows what it means?

Sunny Saturdays

I was going to go to the library today, but it was sunny out so I made Daf come with me to get a vanilla frappucino and then wander along the seafront. I spent most of the time complaining about how the bastards in Costa trick you into buying the bigger cup sizes, and taking pictures of seagulls/pigeons. Nevertheless, a nice distraction in my day, and the library will still be there tomorrow (boooo).

Quantum of Solace is on right now, which I have on DVD, but somehow it always seems more exciting when it's on live TV. Daniel Craig - what a man. (That's so something Soph would say.)

Here's some photos, hooray!

  

The pigeon was on its own when I first taking pictures of him, but as I was snapping away more of them kept showing up. I think they were jealous of the attention the original pigeon was getting. There was quite a lot of people about, and Daf said: "Emma, please stop talking to the pigeons." I hadn't even realised I was. 

I also discovered that trying to take pictures of seagulls in the air is really difficult. I was sitting on a bench, looking through my camera lens and following the birds as they flew around, and people kept giving me weird looks because I think they thought I was taking pictures of them, in a weird, creepy way. Oh well.

******

Today I'm loving: My new sunglasses.

Today I'm hatin': That Formula One has started again, and I will no doubt be forced to watch every single race from now until November. Fantastic.

Song of the Day: Black Coffee by All Saints

I wouldn't wanna be anywhere else but here/I wouldn't wanna change anything at all/I wouldn't wanna take everything out on you/Although I know I do/Everytime I fall

Happy Days

Evenin'. Long time no see. Well, not really.

I had such a good weekend! Lauren and Sam got here just before 8pm on Friday and we got ready to go out whilst drinking wine and vodka (but not at the same time). By the time we left it was getting on for eleven, so after a quick pit-stop at one of the pubs to meet Alice and her friends, we went to Pier Pressure, because that's where the magic happens. A good night was had all round, except for an unfortunate incident with a ridiculously annoying boy who wouldn't leave us alone. Don't worry, Alice made sure he got booted out by the bouncers. 

The next day was absolutely beautiful so we went for a walk along the sea-front and then went for lunch. I took my trusty camera with me and got a few shots of Lauren which I love, I've had a play around with a couple just to get a few quirky effects (because Lauren is quirky).

 The one above has barely been touched, I just warmed up the colour ever so slightly because other than that I thought it was pretty much perfect.

When we got back to my flat we ended up having a bit of a movie day, watching Van Wilder, about half an hour of Willow before we decided that it just wasn't working for us in a slightly hungover state, and then we watched Moulin Rouge, which was so worth it purely for Ewan McGregor singing Your Song. 

Anyway, now my weekend is over and it's back to work. I've just got a final push at uni and then it's all over - the end seems so near and yet so far away, but at least I can see the light at the end of the tunnel.

Now that's enough clichés for one day. Until next time, folks.

******

Today I'm loving: That I've already finished my seminar reading for tomorrow.

Today I'm hatin': That my ear is blocked, I really don't want to have to go and get it syringed.

Song of the Day: Re:Stacks by Bon Iver

I keep throwing it down two-hundred at a time/It's hard to find it when you knew it/When your money's gone/And you're drunk as hell

Click here so you can hear it, it's so pretty.

Plans

I can't get over how nice the weather is. It's gloriously sunny, not a cloud in the sky, and I'm stuck inside, pretending to write some of my dissertation but actually emailing my Mum and writing this instead. Priorities.

I got my semester one exam results this morning and on the whole I'm pretty pleased. My university has a cascade system where you can see what marks you'd need to get in your last modules in order to get a 2:1 (or a First, or whatever you're aiming for). I was a bit worried that I wouldn't be able to realistically get a 2:1, but thanks to the cascade system I have discovered that a 2:1 is well within my grasps. I feel confident now that I am going to pass my degree and graduate, which (considering I re-took my first year) is an unbelievable feeling. Now it's just up to me whether I get a 2:1 or a 2:2 (I think I'd have to have a bit of a disaster to get any less than that, which is really good news). 

All of this is getting me really excited for summer. I've already made a summer playlist on my iTunes (yes, I'm aware it's March), but the sun has me thinking it's hotter than it is outside. Anyway, it's really not that far off. I don't have any plans for summer yet; I would like to get a job, but I don't know if travelling is on the cards at some point or not. It's all up in the air at the moment, but I like the thought that anything could happen. I know a lot of people who hate the idea of leaving university, but honestly I couldn't be happier that it's coming to an end. Maybe it's because I've been here a year longer than I should have been, I'm not really sure. I just know that I feel really ready to move on and do something else.

What I really want to do is go and live in Australia. I don't mean just go out there for a year or so and travel around, but I mean I want to actually live there, have a house and a job and everything. I spent Christmas 2008 in Sydney with my family, and it was so awesome. It just seems like a much better standard of living, amazing weather, beautiful scenery, all that jazz. I feel like it's somewhere that I could be very happy. The only trouble is that it's a really long way away from family and friends, there's a huge time difference, and I don't really have any money...you know, little problems. I think I could be happy staying in the UK as well though, as long as it was the right location. It'll always be home to me, and I love it. 

I always thought I'd settle in the UK eventually, because I've already lived abroad, and I remember when I left Saudi I was so ready to come back home. But it's been 5 years, nearly 6 (wow, I feel old) since I left Saudi now, and I never thought I'd miss it quite as much as I do. I think it's more the people, and the memories of the times we had that I miss, more than the actual place, but sometimes I do wish I could go back. It wouldn't be the same though; my parents don't live in the same house that they did when I was there, none of my friends are there anymore, and it would just be...different.

The way things are in the UK at the minute make me want to leave, anyway - all the 'doom and gloom', poor job prospects for post-grads - it doesn't sound like a nice place to be at the moment. Maybe I'll win the Euro-millions and then I'll be sorted. 

Perhaps Australia is just a pipe-dream. We'll see. Either way, new things are coming and I can't wait. To show you what a massive nerd I am, this has reminded me of a Lord of the Rings quote which I thought was very apt:

"It's a dangerous business, going out your door. You step onto the road, and if you don't keep your feet, there's no telling where you might get swept off to."

Shut up, I'm really cool! Anyway, here's a photo of me and my brother when we did the Sydney Bridge climb. I think it's my favourite photo of me and James. 

Today I'm loving: That my results have given me back my faith in my ability to pass my degree.

Today I'm hatin': That I still have to actually write my dissertation in order to finish university.

Song of the Day: Roll To Me by Del Amitri

Look around your world pretty baby/Is it everything you hoped it'd be?/The wrong guy, the wrong situation/The right time to roll to me