So I think over a year or more ago I bought this book. Whenever I’ve seen Danny Wallace on the TV sometimes he’s got a little bit on my nerves but after a while he kinda started to grow on me (unlike people like Jimmy Carr who I just don’t get!). I remember talking about him to my friend at school when he did the “How to Start Your Own Country” project.

I remember standing in front of my friends computer telling him I actually thought he was a little potty for going with the idea!

I loved the book – so much I think I recommended it, lent it to a friend and then didn’t receive it back.  (I’ve been trying to find it so that I can add it to the read list again!) 

Anyhoo! So as soon as I heard on Film 2008 with Jonathan Ross (which was stopped after that incident!) that there was going to be a film made of the book and Jim Carrey was going to play the main role I’d already decided I was going to see it!

(Just a side note – while I am writing this post CJ is building a Lego town on our living room floor!!! I am so glad he is building it that way he can trip over it and whinge about it being in the middle of the floor!)

I love the film.

Jim Carrey plays Carl Allen, his life is going nowhere (no being the operative word!), he’s been in the same job for 5 years and has just been turned down for a promotion. He bumps into an old friend who encourages him to go to s self help program. It’s based on one idea: say yes to everything and anything. 

By starting on this journey the idea of saying yes begins to transform his life in new, amazing and unexpected ways. He gets promoted and then it opens the door to a new romance. However after a while it begins to cause problems.

Zooey Deschanel plays Carl Allen’s (Carrey’s) love interest in the movie. I love her character as she’s quirky! (Zooey does quirky well just look at The Hitchikers Guide to The Galaxy – she plays Trillian) I especially like the running photography – apart from the fact that I’d probably fall over and break my camera I think it’s a great idea! maybe blurry photos are the way forward! 

On the Hannah Scale I’d say it’s a 9 – it annoys me a little that it didn’t stick to the book but then again which adaptations do (I saw Angus, Thongs and Perfect Snogging a few weeks ago and this had the same issue!) I loved the chemistry between Carrey and Deschanel’s characters – I could actually believed that they liked each other! The thing I noted was that when I was growing up apart from Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Carrey was famous for playing quirky characters like The Mask or Ace Ventura. Although Bruce Almighty was serious it was still comedic. There are places where Carrey plays for the laughs but it’s more accidental rather than on purpose (if you catch my drift!)

So here is the second post about 2008 at the Movies. As the post was verging towards 2000 words I decided I’d split it in half. 

Here is 10 down to 1.

10. Sex and the City – I used to watch the TV series but as I was getting into it, the final series was coming to an end. (Remember how Fraiser and SATC were killed off in the same week!) I went to see this with my friend Phil. We hadn’t decided what we wanted to see but we stood in the foyer of the cinema and he decided he wanted to see this over anything else that was listed! At the very sad bit of the film both Phil and me were in tears! 

A New York writer on sex and love is finally getting married to her Mr. Big. But her three best girlfriends must console her after one of them inadvertently leads Mr. Big to jilt her.

9. The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian – I haven’t seen this yet – I was meant to go and see it with the Twenties Group but I had to go to band practice rather than skive off for the evening. So I keep meaning to see it but I haven’t seen it yet. When it was decided that The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe was going to be remade (there was a TV adaptation back in the 80s/early 90s) I wasn’t too entralled. The chronicles of Narnia were okay but never particularly captured my attention as a book. I was bought the box set of the books and have never actually read the whole set. Ben Barnes who plays the title role, starred in Stardust (one of my faves!) and is about to take the role of Dorian Grey in the film of the same title (which should be out later in 2009 – according to IMDB it’s in post-production now).

The Pevensie siblings return to Narnia, where they are enlisted to once again help ward off an evil king and restore the rightful heir to the land’s throne, Prince Caspian.

8. Wall-E: I ADORE THIS FILM!!!!! There are a couple of famous voices knocking about through out the film but the clever thing about the film is that other than incidental music, there is very little noise. Both Wall-E and Eve just bleep or make a tiny about of dialogue but between them it’s mainly physical actions. I saw this at the cinema and can’t wait to get it on DVD. 

In the distant future, a small waste collecting robot inadvertently embarks on a space journey that will ultimately decide the fate of mankind. 

7. Quantum of Solace – This is Daniel Craig’s second outing as James Bond. It’s sounds really old but since Daniel Craig took over James Bond it’s not been the same. I tried to explain what I think of it to  CJ but he never gets what I mean. I was dragged up on the old style of Bond. So Sean Connery, Roger Moore and Timothy Dalton amongst others were the Bonds that I watched on TV with my Mum and Dad. I get that some stories need to be changed and developed for the future and stuff like that but James Bond has become about the violence and stuff like that rather than the girls, gadgets and saving the day.

Seeking revenge for the death of his love, secret agent James Bond sets out to stop an environmentalist from taking control of a country’s valuable resource.

6. Mamma Mia! – I could actually probably write a whole post about how much I loved this film but then you would be bored and would stop reading! I ended up seeing it three times at the cinema with different friends. All of whom loved it and would have probably seen it again. I even have the soundtrack on my iPod and on CD so that I have it on in the car lots. 

The story of a bride-to-be trying to find her real father told using hit songs by the popular ’70s group ABBA.

5. Iron Man – On the day that my Grandparents ended up moving house my brother had also bought this on DVD so we ended up watched bits of it when we had set the TV up (after all you need something to test these things!)

When wealthy industrialist Tony Stark is forced to build an armored suit after a life-threatening incident, he ultimately decides to use its technology to fight against evil. 

4. Hancock – I saw Hancock at the cinema. It was good and I enjoyed it but it did seem like the story was building to somewhere but never quite got there. 

A hard-living superhero who has fallen out of favor with the public enters into a questionable relationship with the wife of the public relations professional who’s trying to repair his image.

3. Kung Fu Panda – I wanted to see Kung Fu Panda as it was by DreamWorks and also because it had Jack Black in it unfortunately I never ended up seeing it as I was meant to go with my friend who adores pandas but for one reason or another we never seemed to be free at the same time!

Po the Panda is the laziest of all the animals in the Valley of Peace, but unwittingly becomes the chosen one when enemies threaten their way of life. 

2. Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystall Skull – I went to see this at the cinema and I did enjoy it however it wasn’t clear when it was set until Indy started talking about the McCarthy Witch Hunts. The story was written by George Lucas and it was directed by Steven Spielberg – which should have made it awesome! (Useless piece of information I thought Steven Spielberg was a lot younger than George Lucas – actually theres only two years between them)

Famed archaeologist/adventurer Dr. Henry “Indiana” Jones is called back into action when he becomes entangled in a Soviet plot to uncover the secret behind mysterious artifacts known as the Crystal Skulls.

1. The Dark Knight – This was the next film in the Batman series. It was directed by Christopher Nolan who also directed Batman Begins back in 2005. Heath Ledger took the role of The Joker, and unlike previous roles where the Joker has been played as more of a trickster, Ledger’s portrayal of The Joker was more that of a Sociopath who commits the crimes and murders for his own kicks. Ledger has been nominated for the Best Supporting Actor category at the Oscars. I liked the film but I think Maggie Gylleenhaal could have been stronger in her role. 

Batman, Gordon and Harvey Dent are forced to deal with the chaos unleashed by an anarchist mastermind known only as the Joker, as it drives each of them to their limits.

All the synopsis/summaries come from the relevant pages on the IMDB website.

So Tuesday afternoon I had been hanging out with Lambkin – we watched the end of The Wild Thornberrys Movie then played Lego Star Wars on the Xbox 360.

Then when I got home I watched 2008 at The Movies on BBC iPlayer. There are various other bits but the main bit is counting down the biggest films of the year. So here they are:

20. What Happens in Vegas – I rented this one from our On Demand service. It was good and in general I like Ashton Kutcher (I like him in A Lot Like Love and Just Married).

Set in Sin City, story revolves around two people who discover they’ve gotten married following a night of debauchery, with one of them winning a huge jackpot after playing the other’s quarter. Unhappy pair try to undermine each other and get their hands on the money — falling in love along the way. 

19. Jumper – Hayden Christensen – I didn’t see this film. It did interest me but I never got round to see it! When my brother has it on DVD I’ll watch it and be back with a review!

In Ann Arbor, the teenager David Rice was left by his mother when he was five years-old; he does not have a good relationship with his father; and he has a crush on his schoolmate Millie Harris. When David gives a snow globe with the Eiffel Tower to Millie, the bully Mark Kobold throws it onto a frozen river. David tries to retrieve the object, but the ice shatters and David fall under the ice. Suddenly he teleports himself to a library and discovers that he has the ability to jump anywhere he wants. He decides to run away home, moving to New York, and uses his power to rob a bank vault. Eight years later, David is living in a fancy apartment in New York and having a life full of adventure, traveling to the most exotic places in the world. He decides to visit Millie in Ann Arbor and invites her to visit Rome. While in the Coliseum, David meets the jumper Griffin that explains to him that the dangerous Roland Cox and his team of Paladins are chasing him and his family and friends are in danger.

18. High School Musical 3: Senior Year – I’d seen both HSM and HSM2 when they’ve been televised. The Wendy Lady wanted to go see it so I went with her. If it hadn’t been for her dragging me I doubt I would have seen it! Apparently although it’s the Senior Year and so the high school students are moving on to college, there’s going to be a new class starting or High School Musical @ College!

As seniors in high school, Troy and Gabriella struggle with the idea of being separated from one another as college approaches. Along with the rest of the Wildcats, they stage a spring musical to address their experiences, hopes and fears about their future. 

17. Get Smart – Steve Carell plays a Bond kinda character – but think of an American version of a Yankee Johnny English (played by Rowan Atkinson). The movie also starts one of my favourite actresses that is Anne Hathaway (she plays Agent 99), Another one that I didn’t see but hope to see! 

American Maxwell Smart works for a Government spy agency in an administrative capacity. When the agency’s head office is attacked, the Chief decides to assign Maxwell as a spy and partners him with sexy Agent 99, much to her chagrin. The duo nevertheless set off to combat their attackers by first parachuting off an airplane and landing in Russian territory – followed closely by a over seven foot tall, 400 pound goon, known simply as Dalip. The duo, handicapped by Maxwell’s antics, will eventually have their identities compromised, and may be chalked up as casualties while back in America their attackers have already planted a bomb that is set-up to explode in a concert.

16. The Incredible Hulk – This is another film that was a remake of an original (obviously we’re struggling with new ideas!) I didn’t see this as it’s not really my cup of tea – I didn’t really like the original series. 

Depicting the events after the Gamma Bomb. ‘The Incredible Hulk’ tells the story of Dr Bruce Banner, who seeks a cure to his unique condition, which causes him to turn into a giant green monster under emotional stress. Whilst on the run from military which seeks his capture, Banner comes close to a cure. But all is lost when a new creature emerges; The Abomination.

15. 10,000BC – Another I didn’t see (or rather haven’t seen yet!). I saw lots of reviews about it particularly on Film 2008 with Jonathan Ross before it was pulled when he was suspended. Although it did look interesting it didn’t really grab my attention.

A prehistoric epic that follows a young mammoth hunter’s journey through uncharted territory to secure the future of his tribe.

14. Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa: Another one I haven’t seen but want to! I love DreamWorks (and Disney Pixar) movies.

The sequel to 2005’s “Madagascar”, in which New York Zoo animals, Alex the Lion, Marty the Zebra, Melman the Giraffe and Gloria the Hippo, still stranded on Madagascar, start to leave the island. All of a sudden, they land in the wilderness of Africa, where Alex meets the rest of his family, but has trouble communicating with them after spending so much time at the Central Park Zoo. 

13. Dr Seuss’s Horton hears a Who!: Another one I didn’t see! I’m not so keen on the Dr Seuss adapatations. I saw The Cat in The Hat (starring Mike Myers as the cat) and it just annoyed me! 

One day, Horton the elephant hears a cry from help coming from a speck of dust. Even though he can’t see anyone on the speck, he decides to help it. As it turns out, the speck of dust is home to the Whos, who live in their city of Whoville. Horton agrees to help protect the Whos and their home, but this gives him nothing but torment from his neighbors, who refuse to believe that anything could survive on the speck. Still, Horton stands by the motto that, “After all, a person is a person, no matter how small.” 

12. Wanted – Since seeing James McAvoy in Starter For 10 I’ve been a fan lol. In this film he starts along side Angelina Jolie. I didn’t see this at the cinema as to me it echoed the Matrix (the whole bending bullets thing!) but if I can I’ll watch it on DVD at least once. 

A frustrated office worker learns that he is the son of a professional assassin, and that he shares his father’s superhuman killing abilities.

11. The Mummy: Tomb of The Dragon Emperor – This is a film that my brother likes – I wouldn’t go and see it myself as it’s not really my cup of tea any more, however I might borrow the DVD from my brother as he received it for Christmas. Brendan Fraser resumes his role as 

In the Far East, trouble-seeking father-and-son duo Rick and Alex O’Connell unearth the mummy of the first Emperor of Qin — a shape-shifting entity who was cursed by a wizard centuries ago.

So I’m hoping by writing this now and then schdueling the post for midnight it should post even though I’m partying and the mobile signal will be shot.

Happy New Year!!!! Welcome to 2009!!!!

So today was Sunday and I should have got up and gone to church. I woke up at about 9:30 and felt like I’d been hit by a bus or something so decided I’d go back to sleep rather than get up.

I woke up at about 12:15pm I went to check my phone and CJ was already on the way to my Parents house. So I got up and got dressed as quick as I could so I could get to Mum’s in time for lunch.

We had a roast dinner which was lovely. We all sat round the table which was good – something about family time is just good.

After lunch I helped Dad to load the dishwasher. It took ages to sort stuff because it was half packed anyway from breakfast stuff. After packing the dishwasher we played Pub Quiz (me and my Mum won by one point which is amazing in itself as my Dad is a walking encyclopedia!)

Then we had a game of University Challenge. It’s kinda like the TV show. There are four levels of questions, the hardest level is equivalent to the questions on the show. We had two rounds the first was at the second easier level and then to see if it was too easy we had a round at the easiest level. It was funny because we won the easier round.

After those two we had a game of Scrabble – Chris and Dad played individually against me and Mum who had a team – I’m not keen on Scrabble but I played because everyone wanted to play. Vicky arrived in the middle of the game of Scrabble and came to hang out with my brother. We then had tea together round the table. After tea we played Trivial Pursuit. My Dad won but we knew that would happen!

After the game I quickly checked my phone and had a couple of emails. I quickly checked them and saw that Mr C had posted on Facebook about his day. Turns out that after church Princess Nat did a vanishing act, as explained here (copy and pasted from Mr C’s Facebook Note:

Natalie did one of her disappearing acts again, this time to be found on the doorstep of No 90 (the office next door!) she told me that she was looking for Hannah, just to explain, Chris (our youth worker) and Hannah, used to have a flat in where the offices are but don’t live there now but Natalie got used to seeing Hannah there sometimes when we used to go into the office so presumably hoped to see her there, Hannah wasn’t at church this morning, a little over tired from all the Christmas Celebrations I think, anyhow, Natalie had obviously missed her and wanted to see her.

Christmas kinda started on Tuesday when we had our Christmas Bring and Share Buffet lunch at work. I took fairy cakes which when down a storm. The big Cheese even took three home for his wife and two sons.

Yesterday I got up and went to work as normal. It was a short day as it was Christmas Eve which was good. After work I popped home to pick up some bits then I went to my Mums to drop off some bits. We sat and chatted for like 45 minutes about random rubbish but it was so good. I felt like me and mum hadn’t seen each other in years or something.

I met Kez for a hot chocolate at The Gordon Arms but it was so busy we ended up at Jaffa Orchard. It was very cool. I got a quick Christmas hug from Essie, Abster and Mrs W. After our drink and cake, I dropped Kez in town and drove over to Kitten B’s to see her and my Goddaughter and deliver Christmas presents. It’s super cool my goddaughter has started walking – what an awesome Christmas present. After that I headed back to Mums to sort out two presents for friends at church. I came home and CJ was still in front of his computer even though I’d asked him to help with washing (which is why although it’s Christmas Day – I’m going to have to hang out washing!!) so I freaked out at him. The flat was still a mess and it was winding me up for once lol.

Today is Christmas Day. Me and CJ went to church this morning, it was good fun as we hung out with Princess Nat. Lambkin was curled up on the chairs next to us as he wasn’t feeling great. I was too warm so I gave him by jumper as a cover and my scarf as a pillow. At one point he felt asleep!!

After church we came home me and CJ took turns to open presents. I have a DVD fest planned. From my brother I got Season 3 of House M.D. And from my mum and Dad I got alsorts of bits including season 4 of House, P.S. I Love You and St Trinians. From CJ I got The Da Vinci Code and Long Way Round on DVD. He gets a gold star as I wanted both of them. 🙂

So now I’m watching P.S. I Love You while nibbling on carrot sticks with ketchup. Lunch is on it’s way but won’t be ready for like half an hour to 45 minutes.

Over and out

So we’re now one service down! The Carol Service this morning went okay, We’re now just got the Christingle Service this afternoon. 

I hear you say what’s a Christingle Service about….well this is it.

The Christingle celebration was started by the Moravian Church in the 1700’s. Over the year it’s changed and since the 1960’s became very popular again. I had actually never been to a Christingle Service until I moved to RP. 

The Christingle is made of: 

An Orange – this represents the world. 

Then there is a red ribbon wrapped around it which represents the blood of Jesus (This is his death on the cross for our sins.)

Then there are cocktail sticks with fruit or sweets on it (usually you use dolly mixtures). This represent the fruits of the earth and the four seasons. (So the fruits of the earth and the things we have provided for us like food and stuff like that)

The candle at the top then represents Jesus being the light of the world. As Jesus describes himself in the Bible. In John 8 vs 12 it says:

I am the Light of the World, if you follow me you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life (NLT)

In some services (we do this at church) there is tinfoil around the base of the candle. This is to reflect Christ’s Light and goodness.

OMGoodness!!!!

Tom won! In the first week we said it would be Tom or Austin. Rachel and Lisa were so close they could smell the mirror ball lol.

My mum voted and she’s chuffed.

I just received two emails for comments. When I got to my blog and read them they were really rude. I then cleared out my Spam box and there were over 70 comments. That was since yesterday evening when I last cleared it out. Can someone tell me: what is the point to spam comments and emails? How many people actually read them rather than just to delete them?

Eek!!!!! Strictly Come Dancing Results are about to be announced how exciting!!!!!

This evening was the Carol Service at Renhold Village Hall. The group I sing in led the songs and perform some other ones as well. The kids from the school were awesome! They did really well!

There was one boy who is 8 and can already play the French Horn and the Violin – I was gobsmacked! At 7 or 8 years old, I think I could just about get a few notes out of the recorder! The flute was a little out of my reach at that point! (I didn’t start playing the flute till year 5 so I was 9 I think)

After the carol service we dropped Grandad S home as he came to the service. I went to Mum’s and at about 11ish before I left I checked my phone. There were 5 missed calls and 2 voicemail! It would seem that CJ was worried I’d been in an accident or something. The voicemail went something like this: 

Hello. I’m getting a little bit worried because you haven’t returned my phone call earlier, I know it wasn’t anything important it was the light one. But i haven’t heard from you all afternoon and I couldn’t remember what you said you were going to do this evening. I presume you are out with some friends or something but you’ve not been answering your mobile and you’re obviously  not at home but you had been home as the light was on but i just haven’t heard from you so i’m a little bit concerned. i guess you’ll turn up at some point i’ll start getting worried if you don’t. 

Then literally as he put the phone down from this call he called again. 

and this is me calling to say that i’ve just remembered where you said you were. so i hope the carol service thingy went well and yeah please don’t worry that I’m worried about you because I’ve just remembered where you are.

Now the reason I am documenting such a random occurance is that lots of time I go at CJ for vanishing and not telling me that he’s not going to be home or that it’s going to be later than he said before. So firstly, issues he forgot again but 2. he remembered and worried about me! How sweet!

Anyhoo it’s bed time now. 

At 10am-12pm there is carol singing outside The Jaffa Orchard in Pembroke St, Bedford. Me and CJ will be there singing our socks off. 

Our street has been a hive of activity – there were at least two police cars and a riot van (ok it might not be a riot van but it was a transit with police written all over it lol) and now theres a recovery truck picking up a car.

Another Meme. I found this at Elle’s Blog! I am so loving her blog! She rocks too she’s the Chief when it comes to Jane Austen January!

What was the last book you bought?

Apart from Christmas presents at the weekend I bought 4 second hand books. I know in that pile there is High Fidelity by Nick Hornby (I love the film it has John Cusack and Jack Black in it!) and White Teeth by Zadie Smith.

Name a book you have read MORE than once.

I read lots more than once! I think I’ve read the first chapter of Jane Eyre about 3 or 4 times – I keep deciding that I’m going to read it and then really struggle with the language and keeping focused on reading it!

Has a book ever fundamentally changed the way you see life? If yes, what was it?

The Bible or is that a cheaters answer! I know it sounds a bit kinda holier than that but it’s really not intended to be!

How do you choose a book – eg. by cover design and summary, recommendations or reviews?

I sometimes pick by cover as that is whats caught my eye but then I do it by reviews or recommendations as well.

Do you prefer Fiction or Non-Fiction?

Now that’s difficult. I think it depends really. I do like fiction but then I like the books to accompany shows like Long Way Down/Round or By Any Means so I guess Non-Fiction Travel comes in there as well. (Blame it on my Dad! He used to watch Michael Palin going round the world in as many different directions as possible)

What’s more important in a novel – beautiful writing or a gripping plot?

I think plot rather than writing – I love kids stories because they are so simple but have a point to them – why over complicate with oversized words.

Most loved/memorable character

I have no idea lol! I read so many books that sometimes I can’t keep up with who I like lol!

Which book or books can be found on your nightstand at the moment?

Erm a few books there.

Identity by Charlotte Scanlon-Gambill,
Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky,
Becoming Bindy Mackenzie.

What was the last book you’ve read, and when was it?

I’m still reading Identity by Charlotte Scanlon-Gambill it’s taking me ages lol!

Have you ever given up on a book half way in?

I try not to give up half way because other wise you’ve spent that effort getting to know characters and then you give up and don’t know where it goes next.

So once again I started a comment then found that my comment was getting longer and longer so here is my reply. The original post is here.

[I’m still unsure of everything]

Me too! I’ve been in my job for 9 months and I know I need the job to pay the bills but do I want to stay here? Do I want my own company and if I do can I risk it? There are lots of questions and no answers!

I can easily pick out an outfit and deciding what to order at a restaurant has never been a problem for me. It’s those major life decisions that always give me trouble.

This is so me too mainly because I have such a small taste in both areas that it’s not hard when the list is made dramatically shorter.

Here are some things that Coffee_Girl knows for sure…(along with my adaptations!)

Rubber Soul Sgt Peppers is my favorite Beatles album.
John Cusack is dreamy – I kinda agree here theres something about him lol.
Without coffee I cannot function. I hate the stuff!
All forms of public transportation smell weird. – yep!

This is what Coffe_Girl needs some help on…

Is Marketing a career I actually like and want to pursue?

I don’t know if you want to pursure it. I thought teaching was what I wanted to do but I got to the end of Uni and then wasn’t sure. Now I’m a Customer Service Rep stuck in a rut lol.

Why do cubicles make me so unhappy?

Like office cubicles? I think it’s because they are enclosed spaces – I have the opposite – My office is very kinda open planned and we’re all in one office. It’s nice but because of where I sit I feel very left out as I’m on a little island on my own.

Should the line between friend and more than friend be crossed if you think there is something there?

I think so maybe.  How else are you going to identify if there is more? When I realised I liked my hubby as more than friends I needed to take a step over that line to be able to find out how he felt – after all we’re not psychic! lol

What are my realistic goals for the future?
I don’t this is something you need to work out yourself.

Is there a real life Lloyd Dobbler?
I may regret this but I  don’t know who Lloyd Dobler is!

So yeah some times life is confusing and rubbish but as my cousin put it the other day so eloquently if it was simple it would be boring!

Oklahoma Supercell

Originally uploaded by Elemental Project

How this for a photo op!

When I was younger I had a dream about being a storm chaser! I blame it on my Dad as we used to watch lots of documentaries on Twisters.

This is a supercell formation. Now according to the wonderful peeps at wikipedia if the wind forms an updraft it can then start spinning and form a twister.

There was a film that is specifically about a supercell but I can’t remember what its called lol! I watched in with my Dad and the supercell cloud actually drops lots of twisters rather than just the one.

I’ve recently become a co-author of another blog hosted on WordPress. I don’t write posts but I go in and spell check them for the main author and authorise comments.

What do we need to change so that I get the email telling me theres a pending comment and the comment is then only sent to the main author when it’s been approved?

Can you help?

 
2009 is the year of the book, I’ve decided! I’m going to take part in Jane Austen January as hosted by Ellefie and these books also add into the above challenge. You can find my list here. This will be nearly 6 books in January!

Yesterday was cut off for orders at work so I was a little bit short of things to do, following my post yesterday about how many posts I needed to do to hit 400 on New Years Eve my friend asked me how I planned to do it. I pointed out to him that I didn’t think I would be able to do it given the fact that I wanted to make posts at least a little worth while rather than just a few sentences about my lunch after all no one really wants to hear about what I ate for lunch! (This book is on my Christmas list btw and it’s written by the author of this blog).

So it’s now 10am and the next thing on my list of things to pretend to do is filing. YAY! Not! Really don’t like filing!

It’s now quarter to one and I’ve been home for lunch. While I was there I picked up the mail and found that my pen pal letter for the Penpals for Life swap on Swap-Bot had arrived. It was from Robert who goes by the nickname of Bobberdilly. He blogs and is an artist (apparently not well known but he decorates the envelopes that he sends his pen pal letters in – when I get chance I photograph today’s envelope.

So those of my readers out there who have ventured to CJ‘s blog will see that on this post he mentions Social Capital.

Now the slightly mad reason for that is that over the next four months we get invaded by the dreaded Dissertation – technically it’s already started but we’re not quite at the point where CJ feels the need to curl up in the fetal position and sleep for a week because he’s run out of ideas – then again that could have just been me – I took this position up under the dining room table – usually when people were out!

So apparently Social Capital is a concept in various different sectors that refers to the connections that you make with the people around you. There is also Physical capital which is like how a screwdriver can improve your work speed if it’s the tool you need for a job or Human Capital which is having an extra person help you push your car when it won’t start or something like that! 

Now it’s 15 minutes past midnight and I really must go other wise I will turn into a human pumpkin hybrid thing. 

Hannie Over and Out!

As I write this post I am on 368 posts – this will be 369. 

I’ve set myself the rather geeky challenge of hitting 400 posts by the end of the December – I’ve worked this out at about two posts a day. 

I struggle with NaBloPoMo so I’m not sure how I am going to manage this but given it’s two posts for half a month and there is plenty going on between now and Christmas – I should be sorted! 

So here we go….

So Poppingbubbles strikes again! I love her Meme’s this one she found at Zen Goddess Jen’s Blog

I have changed it to what Poppingbubbles did. crossed out means I’ve done it and I’ve deleted any that aren’t suitable for my youth groups eyes lol.

1. Started your own blog 
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland (Well I went to Disneyland Paris)
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo (And I’m singing another on Friday at the Carol Service)
11. Bungee Jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch (Taught myself guitar)
15. Adopted a child 
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitchhiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon 
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice 
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language – Depends on how much of a new language!
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris – Maybe one day! I’ve stood underneath it and looked up
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie – Of sorts it was my cousins final assessment piece!
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma – 6 times I think I’m up to on Blood Donations

65. Gone sky diving 
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp – No I plan to visit Auschitz at least once.
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy – She’s on my wardrobe – Do you need photographic evidence?
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life – not yet maybe one day – save someone from choking or something!
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous – Sarah Kennedy – BBC Radio 2 presenter
92. Joined a book club – kinda in one now! RYOB and Jan-Austen-ary
93. Lost a loved one – G-ma S and G-G-ma B
94. Had a baby – Not yet maybe one day
95. Seen the Alamo in person 
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit – I was kinda it went with the ride in the Ambulance – I didn’t have to give evidence though as the guy pleaded guilty before they needed mine.
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Read an entire book in one day 

Those of you who know me in RL know that Princess Nat is my sidekick at church. She gives me hugs, we do drawings and we dance to the worship songs together. She comes and sits with me and CJ in the front row.

She’s my little ray of sunshine!

I read Life With My Specials Ks. It’s written by Renee who is Mum to four gorgeous kids. Her daughter Kennedy has DS (Down Syndrome).

On Friday Renee posted about a guy called Burt Holbrook. The story can be found here. He’s aiming for to be included in the Guiness Book of Records as the Oldest living man with Down Syndrome. When he was born the expectant age for DS kids was about 9 or 10. That means he’s outlived that about 8 times! In 2005 this had rose to mid-fifties.

The second link I wanted to show you is for Reece’s Rainbow Down Syndrome Adoption Ministry.  (This is from their website just slightly tweaked) It was started in 2004 as an outreach program to serve new families with babies with Down syndrome in Atlanta, GA. In 2006, the program expanded to include promoting the international adoption of children with Down syndrome.  By raising money to offer adoption grants on waiting children, we are able to give adoptive families the extra financial help they need to bring a child with Down syndrome home from a miserable existence in overseas orphanages.

In alot of countries, because of the cost of medical bills and stuff like that children with DS are often institutionalised by about the age of 4. In some countries, they don’t even make it that far. The idea behind the international bit of Reece’s Rainbow is to raise money and aid adoptions of these children. These Children then move to live with families across the USA. It is possible to adopt to the UK through Reece’s Rainbow but it is restricted on which countries you can then adopt from. There is a page on the website with scary facts about these children with DS here is just one for example

In Central and Eastern European countries alone (this would include Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Romania, etc, but NOT Russia), there are more than 1.5 MILLION CHILDREN who have been abandoned by their families for one reason or another and are living in “public care” (that’s the nice way to put it).  If statistically, 1 out of every 733 live births results in a child with Down syndrome, that means at any given time there are 2,046 children with Down syndrome who need families.  THAT’S JUST IN EUROPE!!  Some do not survive because of serious medical complications…some do not survive because of lack of medical attention, lack of food, lack of LOVE.

I read lots of blogs and one of those is Miss Geeky. This is written by Melinda.

She posted this video earlier today. It’s very very interesting.

I’ve been catching up on reading blogs this evening so I could be back with lots of posts! My blog Buddy Sara posted a picture of her keys the other day and an explanation about her keyrings and what she has on her keys.

Sara’s are really simple with only a couple of keys but i have lots!

So starting on the left hand side. There’s my VW Beetle key ring that I was given by Lilychouchou as part of You’ve Got Mail on Swap-Bot. It’s attached to my BBC Radio 2 key ring. I won this as part of my prize for taking part in The Big Quiz on Steve Wright in The Afternoon. On this keyring there are three keys and my Hannah keyring – this used to have a little cartoon character attached to it but it came off and I lost it. 🙁  

The next bunch across has my house keys, my work keys and some other keys on it. The “bracelet” at the top is a key chain made by Sweetirie (Take a look round her shop she has them in many different colours and patterns!) 

Underneath this there is my car key and my keyring that I was given for free when I was in Milton Keynes on Saturday with my cousin Tubi.   

I found this Meme on at Popping Bubbles. Now I watch alot of films but half of these I haven’t seen! Take a look….
Take this list of the top 100 movies from the IMDB and bold the movies you have seen. (I’m not sure where this is originally from). This list is from May 2004.

1. Godfather, The (1972)

2. Shawshank Redemption, The (1994)

3. Godfather: Part II, The (1974)

4. Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, The (2003)

5. Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, The (2002)

6. Schindler’s List (1993)

7. Shichinin no samurai (1954)

8. Casablanca (1942)

9. Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, The (2001)

10. Star Wars (1977)

11. Citizen Kane (1941)

12. One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest (1975)

13. Dr. Strangelove (1964)

14. Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back (1980)

15. Rear Window (1954)

16. Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)

17. Pulp Fiction (1994)

18. Usual Suspects, The (1995)

19. Memento (2000)

20. North by Northwest (1959)

21. 12 Angry Men (1957)

22. Buono, il brutto, il cattivo, Il (1966)

23. Lawrence of Arabia (1962)

24. Psycho (1960)

25. Fabuleux destin d’Amélie Poulain, Le (2001)

26. Silence of the Lambs, The (1991)

27. It’s a Wonderful Life (1946)

28. Goodfellas (1990)

29. American Beauty (1999)

30. Sunset Blvd. (1950)

31. Vertigo (1958)

32. Matrix, The (1999)

33. Cidade de Deus (2002)

34. To Kill a Mockingbird (1962)

35. C’era una volta il West (1968)

36. Apocalypse Now (1979)

37. Pianist, The (2002)

38. Third Man, The (1949)

39. Paths of Glory (1957)

40. Taxi Driver (1976)

41. Fight Club (1999)

42. Sen to Chihiro no kamikakushi (2001)

43. Some Like It Hot (1959)

44. Double Indemnity (1944)

45. Boot, Das (1981)

46. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)

47. Singin’ in the Rain (1952)

48. Chinatown (1974)

49. L.A. Confidential (1997)

50. Maltese Falcon, The (1941)

51. Requiem for a Dream (2000)

52. All About Eve (1950)

53. M (1931)

54. Bridge on the River Kwai, The (1957)

55. Se7en (1995)

56. Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975)

57. Saving Private Ryan (1998)

58. Rashômon (1950)

59. Raging Bull (1980)

60. Wizard of Oz, The (1939)

61. Alien (1979)

62. American History X (1998)

63. Sting, The (1973)

64. Léon (1994)

65. Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939)

66. Manchurian Candidate, The (1962)

67. Vita è bella, La (1997)

68. Touch of Evil (1958)

69. Treasure of the Sierra Madre, The (1948)

70. Finding Nemo (2003)

71. 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)

72. Reservoir Dogs (1992)

73. Great Escape, The (1963)

74. Modern Times (1936)

75. Clockwork Orange, A (1971)

76. Amadeus (1984)

77. On the Waterfront (1954)

78. Ran (1985)

79. Kill Bill: Vol. 1 (2003)

80. Annie Hall (1977)

81. Wo hu cang long (2000)

82. Jaws (1975)

83. Apartment, The (1960)

84. Braveheart (1995)

85. High Noon (1952)

86. Aliens (1986)

87. Fargo (1996)

88. Strangers on a Train (1951)

89. Shining, The (1980)

90. Metropolis (1927)

91. Blade Runner (1982)

92. Sixth Sense, The (1999)

93. City Lights (1931)

94. Donnie Darko (2001)

95. Duck Soup (1933)

96. Great Dictator, The (1940)

97. General, The (1927)

98. Sjunde inseglet, Det (1957)

99. Princess Bride, The (1987)

100. Dogville (2003)

Perky who writes at The 6 Senses of the Insane is running a competition at the moment.

The prizes include:

First Place: Wins $20.00 paid via PayPal and get featured on this blog (well her).
Second Place: Wins $10.00 paid via PayPal.
Third Place: Wins $5.00 paid via PayPal.

All you need to do is be a KO Bloggers member and blog your answer to this question….

A genie came up to you and asks you to choose between 2 options:

a) To live life as an immortal, or
b) Go back to a point in your life and make a change in your past (yes, you will still be a mortal).

Well it’s definately a toughie! It’s taken me 8 days to come up with a response! So I think I would go with a) To live life as an immortal because although going back in time and making a change in the past would be good – it might change who I am today (or whether I’m alive today!). Also if my decisions were wrong I’ve learnt from them and it’s developed me into who I am today.

Then again if I was immortal I think it would depress me if I’d have been born on my Great-Grandma’s birthday (14th October 1914) I would have witnessed World War 1 and 2, the War in Vietnam, Iraq both times round, Afghanistan, Kuwait and the Falklands. I would have witnessed events like JFK getting assassinated, the Watergate scandal and many others. I was born in April 1986 and I’m now 22 – I’ve witnessed enough wars and tragedies in my lifetime already. I remember where I was on 9/11, I remember where I was on 7/7 those are days that I will remember for my short little life and to me being mortal is fine. Yeah life is too short to fulfil all your dreams but you can step out and complete the achievable ones. 

I have a Bucket List. I wrote it as part of a Swap on Swap-Bot it was interesting to write as my Grandma’s past away less than a week before the deadline. I am going to keep that Bucket List and I am going to achieve as many of those things as I can between now and the day that God decides my time on earth is up. But for now I am going to show love to my neighbours, my friends and my family. I am going to be there for them (I am in the process of staying up for the 45 minutes like I told my friend I would do as I think she has just broken up with her boyfriend 🙁 ), I am going to baby-sit their kids so that they can have time out to spend with their partners, husbands or wives. I am going to use my spare time to help those around me rather than hogging that time to myself (ok there will be days when I need that time but if a friend needs me I will surrender it for them). 

So I’d be mortal, and I’ve just thought of the thing I would change. I would go back to March when I started my new job. I’d ask that I could leave at 5 every Friday and on my way home I’d go see my Grandma. I’d hang out with her and when I had the money I’d take her flowers or a cream cake (cos she liked them even though she said how bad they were for her!). And if my employer said no I’d make sure that if it was okay with her I’d go round for tea anyway. 

Now I am going to call Grandad and go see him, save up the flower money and get him a jigsaw every so often. 

Hope this answers the question 🙂

Today I’ve been having a real rough day. I was ok this morning but then about lunchtime it just hit me and I felt so down and like everything was majorly wrong. So much so that when I got home I got into bed fully dressed and stayed there like an hour and a half – I just couldn’t think of what to do. 

I felt a bit better after that and got up and didn’t my normal bits and pieces that I do on a Sunday. When I got back from 24/7 this evening this song just kept ringing round my brain. 

I break tradition, sometimes my tries, are outside the lines
We’ve been conditioned to not make mistakes, but I can’t live that way

Staring at the blank page before you
Open up the dirty window
Let the sun illuminate the words that you could not find

Reaching for something in the distance
So close you can almost taste it
Release your inhibitions
Feel the rain on your skin
No one else can feel it for you
Only you can let it in
No one else, no one else
Can speak the words on your lips
Drench yourself in words unspoken
Live your life with arms wide open
Today is where your book begins

These are the lyrics from Unwritten by Natasha Bedingfield. I always have liked this song since it came out and I never get fed up of hearing it. I love the bit

“Feel the rain on your skin, No one else can feel it for you, Only you can let it in”

I have a friend. I’m not going to say where I know him from or his name or stuff like that because then people who read this will know who I’m talking about but hopefully those kind of details will be vague enough that I can talk about it. So I have a friend, he’s a bit older than me and for about 75% of the time I’ve known him he’s had depression in varying degrees. I’m kinda writing this bit of the post to him. You know who you are! As the lyric goes only you can let it in, yeah I know that it seems like the big black cloud just keeps getting bigger and you can’t find the way through but one day it could be tomorrow it could be next year (preferably the first but we’ll pray for either as only God knows when he’s going to go) that big black cloud is going to break and it’s going to start raining and in the end the cloud will clear and the sunshine will come out again. I know I’m not exactly in the best place at the moment as I seem to be up and down like a rollercoaster but you are my friend and I will be here, whether it’s reading emails that you send with how you are feeling or babysitting so you can have a break for an evening. I am here and I will help whichever and however I can.

I try not to let my friends down because they mean the world to me. You were there back in November when I needed my friends so now it’s my turn to return it.

Hi speed post before I go to sleep.

Les mis tonight was fab. My ex-drama teacher remembered me even if my Music teacher didn’t (how can I thank her for keeping me in 6th form when I should have been kicked out if she doesn’t remember me??!?)

Ended up sat next to one of the elders from my old church and his wife.

At one point the scenery fell over but I was amazed at how they kept going without getting the giggles or having any major problems.

I’ll be back with a better report tomorrow.

Over and out.

Today I’ve been off work sick (will come back to why and how it went at the Doctors this morning). I spent most of the day watching various programs including Spooks and ER (Mainly series 14 -I think!). 

So after some quick research (I wanted something fun or that would make me smile rather than something that would make me cry or feel down) this afternoon I ended up renting Smart People from the On Demand service that we get from our TV supplier. I did look on iTunes but it was cheaper to rent it on the TV. 

I was looking for the poster and found it on a blog called “Kill Jill Goes to College” which can be found here. 

A brief synopsis of the film:

The film is about a widow/father/college professor (played by Dennis Quaid) who is kinda up himself and is generally unhappy. He doesn’t really care about his students and is more concerned about getting through the day rather than helping anyone. He’s been trying to get the position of Head of Department at the college he teaches at (which is Carnegie Mellon, Pittburgh). He has also been trying to get his book published but has been rejected by several publishers. I’ve seen a couple of his films but my favourite would have to be Yours Mine and Ours (Another one I should review one day! Maybe tomorrow!). 

I’ve only seen Sarah Jessica Parker in a couple of things (The Family Stone and SATC to name two of them) She plays one of Quaid’s Ex-students and his love interest. There’s conversations between them but there isn’t alot of chemistry between them. 

Ellen Page plays Quaid’s super-brain of a daughter. She’s become “Little Miss Wife” to her Dad following the death of her mother, at particular moment she cooks Christmas dinner for the “family”. She does everything in her power to try and impress her father including doing her best to get a high SAT score (This pays off as she ends up getting into Stamford University).

As Kill Jill puts it:

Page makes such an easy transition between playing the uber-Liberal, bass-playing, pregged-up teenage rebel in Juno to the exact opposite so easily. I’m beginning to think that this girl can do anything. I found her character kind of annoying too, and not just because she’s a Republican. That’s probably why her character doesn’t have any friends. (On a side note, I don’t think Ellen could ever play a dumb girl. Now that would be a challenge.)

The last main character in the story line is Quaid’s adopted brother (played by Thomas Haden Church). He ends up coming to live with the family after several failed business attempts. I agree with Kill Jill again that his character is a little unnecessary. He seems to drift in and out but never really has any substance within the story. 

Overall it was a good story and worth the money but it wasn’t what I expected. I have seen the DVD box in the shop and it looked interesting. I would recommend it if you wanted to watch it.

English

Originally uploaded by hanniejo

So today’s word is English which seemed to be considerably harder than the other nationalities that have so far been prompts.

I ended taking a photo of my car stereo (which is interesting as my car is a Fiat which makes it Italian) but the stereo is made by JVC (any answers to where JVC have their HQ???). More to the point it was the text on the display. Okay so it’s a bit of a stretch but my point was that BBC Radio 2 is British which is kinda almost English!! (CJ keeps rabbiting some rubbish in my ear about radicals and Vitamin C)

I didn’t know this but back in April my blog was reviewed by Lisa at Lisa Reviews.

Lisa wrote:

Journal of A Rock Angel is a personal blog that should be checked out.  She has an awesome layout that includes intense colors, but it is enjoyable to look at.  I personally love the three flowers in her header.  They are really pretty, and I think they actually set the tone for the blog.  Sometimes when you read another person’s blog, there is no emotion there.  However, with hers, I can definitely “hear” her voice.  You can easily laugh with her, cry with her, be angry with her, and smile with her.  That is talent you don’t see all the time.  I think she gives us an awesome glimpse into her life.  I almost feel like I am there.  This is blog that is never boring and always interesting to read.  Go check it out!

That’s my blog! She likes my blog and she liked it that much that she took the time to write about it! How awesome is that?!?!?! I am so excited if I could breathe without coughing I would dance round the living room!!!

So I found it because having seen a comment on Twitter by the guy who created CommentLuv I decided that I would Google my blog and see what happened. Yes it’s Friday and I am sat in the usual position reading things from the internet and watching TV and videos over the internet.)

I had about 966 hits. Now I’ve not written that many posts so that can’t be for every post.

A bit further down the list I found a link to The Happy Cactus now I’m no longer on the Blogroll but back in May I was. Maybe I changed or my blog changed and it was no longer liked or maybe my reader’s taste changed – not that I mind I know that my changes over time.

Then I also found that Alex at Abandon All Fear still likes me. You can find me along the side on the blog roll but I have also commented on a lot of posts including this one. This time last year there was a TV show on BBC3 called Singing With The Enemy. Me and CJ used to watch it. This particular episode caught our attention as one of the bands was called Dweeb (they attend Nexus music college in Coventry). I’ve heard them play twice i think now and I think that they rock! 

Both me and CJ talked about the editing and wondered if would be played up that they were “holier than thou”. However it wasn’t – it was very respectful of their faith which was interesting. 

I like what Alex said:

What I found myself watching instead was 4 very earnest and very real Christian lads who came across credible and sincere. They handled the whole situation tactfully, not wanting to compromise their principles whilst at the same time trying not to project their faith onto PW or cause them conform.

Suzy decided she could no longer continue with PW but was quick to point out this was her own decision, that it felt like she was following her destiny and it was completely her own choice. The last part of the program saw Suzy walking towards a church as the BBC explained she was “still following her spiritual path”. There was no brainwashing, evangelising or advantage taking involved- she was not shown to have joined Dweeb or even be taken into their church fellowship.

What else can I find on this list….

Theres Links all over the place

There’s a link to 365 Days of Madness. This is where Shannon is writing about her experiences doing Project 365/HSMSHS.

There’s a link to Paper Kitty she makes these fabulous handmade books. You can find these at her Etsy shop. 

I’m also mentioned on the list of blogs at this site called Welcome to My World in Photos – the author is called Janmary and she now blogs here.

There are plenty more but if I blog about them all tonight who am I going to write about then!

🙂

At the moment my MacBook is working hard to upgrade my blog to the new WordPress that came out so I can’t properly post.

Here I am posting from my iPhone while it updates.

My first bullet point on my last post was about Kat @Tough Girl 101 and the advice she gave me. On KO Bloggers we were discussing how we promote ours blogs (and out of that there is a little review panel forming) and I asked about keeping a steady flow of traffic. I seem to go through stages where there are more visitors and then there are less. (I found if I use images from Google that somehow makes me more popular!!!)

Anyway from our conversation I was going to find an RSS button so it would be easier for you lovely readers to subscribe to me should the interest take you.

Point 2

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving. I had a funky picture all lined up to go in this bit but because I was having trouble with my iPhone app I couldn’t get it to upload properly so this is also a short post buy I will be back to edit and complete tomorrow.

Han =D

I was all ready to write a post but CJ has asked me to read through his essay so my post is on hold.

Here is a briefing:

• Kat from Tough Girl 101 helped me with a little bit of advice about my blog
• Tomorrow is Thanksgiving
• And it’s Thursday
• I still have work!
• Swaps
• Christmas is coming – officially according to my Mum
• Tidying
• Kewey
• and more if I think of anything!

Yesterday I wrote a bit of a garbled post while I worried about the choir.

So main thing is that I dream really big and think that I can achieve the goals and then when I have the opportunity to do it I get all doubtful and like worried that I will mess up and wreck that dream.

I was listening to the songs that I’ve picked to try and have this amazing idea for a big Trumpet solo bit and get all the worship band involved and stuff but there is no way I can write the parts in time. If it wasn’t that Kewey is busy I’d probably call her and ask her to help me out with some parts.

Why do I have massive dreams that make me feel like an ant?

It was my birthday nearly exactly 7 months ago (my birthday is the 27th April). 

On the 26th April me, Chris and my best friend Kewey went to my parents to do presents. Kewey was armed with her camera and managed to snap this one of me as I headed into the hallway! The flash was so bright I’m glad that my hair was in the way! 

This was just the start of a very fun evening! We got in the car and Kewey told me I needed to be blind folded as where we were going was a surprise and I was allowed to know where. Well Kewey took a wrong turn and we ended up going for more of a ride than was expected by all parties involved. As far as I knew it was just me, Chris and Kewey and that we were going out but it was a surprise as to where we were going. 

Kewey and Chris let me through the restaurant and we got to the bar and I was allowed to unblindfolded. My Mum and Dad were stood at the bar!!! They were taking us three out for tea for my birthday! I was so chuffed! My parents and my friends rock so much!!!!!!

This was taken at my 21st Birthday picnic. I decided that I wanted to go out for a meal but I didn’t want to spend lots of money – so we ended up having a picnic in the park. We were doing cartwheels and stuff on the grass before going to play in the park before school was let out lol. (I think we upset one of the Mum’s who was at the park as we had kinda taken over!)

Presents so Far

Originally uploaded by hanniejo

I decided that now I am nearly half way through my christmas shopping I really should start wrapping the presents – at least I feel like I’m achieving something!!!!

So here are the first few – I would tell you who they are for but that would ruin the surprise for those people!!!!!

I still have a couple to get – they are the harder people who aren’t so obvious to buy for.

I also need to sort out presents for friends – like am I getting a small present each for my 3 best friends or are we doing like a secret santa thing and buying for 1. It’s so complicated!!!! lol

I was over panicking the choir is going ahead. I would write so much more but it’s bed time now but I promise to be back tomorrow.

If you’re bored take a look at Adventures of an Idiot he’s also a photographer and blogger from Bedford and his photos rock. I found him via Flickr and google.

Anyhoo night night.

I took 4 photos to try and get the right shot of this book but it wasn’t working so here are two that I think came out the best. 

When I was younger I wanted to learn French but it wasn’t part of the school curriculum and the extra lessons were expensive – my Dad had this book and so I tried to teach myself.

I’m at work at the moment and my manager has put some music on. So far we’ve had Pink and Christina Aguilera – maybe I should be scared we’re now listening to Paramore!!! I’m not complaining cos I like Paramore!

EDIT: It got more weird after that!!!! We also had Hannah Montana/Miley Cyrus followed by Maroon 5.

Posted by email from GodsRock Angel’s posterous

 

Spanish – 20th Nov

Originally uploaded by hanniejo

Today’s word is Spanish. It inspired me to Paella.

When I went to Spain in July 2003 on the school music tour I decided that I would try proper paella rather than the re-hydrated stuff from the supermarket but when I tried it, I really didn’t like it. It all tasted of fish! EUGH! lol

The tour was really good we stayed just outside Barcelona and visited Tarragona as well. I went swimming in the Meditteranean but it was kinda cold and because I’m quite short and the people I was hanging around with I ended up in it right up to my neck and at one point a wave went over my head! 

We were messing around and one of the guys picked me up and dropped me in the water – it would have been okay if I hadn’t swallowed half the Mediterranean Sea!

When I was in Turkey in 2005 I went swimming in the other side of the Mediterranean now i just need to visit North Africa then I will have done 3 sides!

I stole this random Meme from Popping Bubbles

1. When showering, do you start the water and then get in, or get in then start the water? 
I start the water then get in because ours can be scolding hot or freezing cold – it’s the only way to make sure its bearable.

2. Do you read the labels on your shampoo bottle? 
Sometimes but only like the first few times I use it then I just use it! I used to read them more when we had a bath tub but now we just have a shower.

3. Do you moan in the shower like the people on the Herbal Essences commercial? 
No! lol I sing or just over think what I have left to do that day.

4. My youth group have access to my blog so I have to vet some of these Meme’s why are some people so rude? lol

5. Have you ever been forced to shower with one of your siblings? 
Me and my bro used to have baths together when I was like 4 or 5 because it saved water!

6. Have you ever brushed your teeth in the shower? 
Yep

7. Have you ever dropped your soap on your foot? 
Occasionally tends to be the shampoo or the shower gel!

8. How old do you look? 
today i look tired so probably 30! hehe i’m actually 22

9. How old do you act? 
At work 22 at home about 10 and hanging out with my friends kids it varies between 2 and 7 lol

10. What’s the last song you sang? 
Humans by the Killers I think it was on the radio earlier.

11. Have you recently become a member of anything? 
Erm yeah Posterous!

12. What are your plans for the weekend? 
Read and sleep and church I think

13. Do you kiss with your eyes open or closed? 
Closed. Open is kinda freaky

14. What’s the sexiest thing about Condoleeza Rice? 

She’s a politician – does that make her sexy in some geek-ish random way? I guess there are guys out there some where who think she’s hot!

15. Does anything on your body itch right now? 

Nope don’t think I itch. Have a little tummy ache but I’m ok other than that

16. Who’s the sexiest famous woman alive? 
Erm, I guess it depends on your type lol!

17. Who’s the sexiest famous man alive? 
I don’t know. One of my friends thinks that David Tennant is like super lovely! And she also likes Johnny Depp!

18. Does every family have a crazy uncle? 
Erm I have a slightly loopy Aunt – she’s loopy in a funny way. I did think my Uncle was about to throttle me or something when I split his coffee – if looks could kill I was dead!

19. Have you ever smuggled something through customs?
Nope

20. Does playing the guitar make a guy more attractive? 
My OH doesn’t play guitar he plays violin! lol

21. Do you live in a city with a good sports team? 
Yeah! Bedford Blues Ruggers team!

22. Have you ever finished off the popcorn and ate the junk from the bottom of the bag?
Nope – I don’t normally see the bottom of the popcorn as my OH eats it!

23. What about in a boat? 
What about what in a boat? I’ve been rowing in a boat and then fell in the river (well one leg up to my thigh!)

24. Have you ever dated a Goth? 
No dated a metal head and that was kinda enough for me!

25. Can you fix your own car? 
Erm well no. lol. I usually phone my Dad in a bit of a flap! Like I did earlier this week when I got a puncture (I couldn’t get the bolts undone! I’m not that pathetic that I don’t at least give it a little attempt!)

Posted by email from GodsRock Angel’s posterous

Why am I struggling to focus?

I’ve done a couple of orders but no where near as many as I usually do. Has anyone got any suggestions for me?

I’m off to find myself some Spanish stuff for todays HSMSHS later on. Yesterday was Italian and it was really easy but todays is more of a challenge.

Posted by email from godsrockangel’s posterous

   

Italian 2

Originally uploaded by hanniejo

Today’s word is Itailan.

When I was at school I had the option to pick up a second language in Year 9. I picked up Italian and carried on with French until the end of Year 9. In Year 10 when I started my GCSE Studies I dropped French. My teacher had been on maternity leave and out stand in was a waste of time – so that was probably one of my main reasons for dropping that.

I passed my GCSE but when I started AS Level Italian it went pear shape – I gave up after walking out my AS Level exam knowing I’d failed (I got a U!). The photo is of the homework sheets that I got back out when I did some translation at work.

(The picture has come up tiny!!! How did that happen?!?)

So I keep trying to collect images together so that I can do a straight catch up for HSMSHS but I’m struggling to get them in order so here is a selection. I’m working on the rest!

Music – 14th November

Since April I’ve been playing the bass guitar. I decided that this was the music I would include. They were three attempts at what I was going to use – they can be found on my Flickr Photostream

Game – 12th November

One of my new games on my iPhone – I love this game! 

More to follow!!!!!!!

My Mum sent me this email about 5 minutes ago and i had to post it.

‘ PO TATERS’

There are some people never seem motivated to participate, but are just content to watch while others do the work.

They are called ‘Spec Taters ‘.

There are some people never do anything to help, but are gifted at finding fault with the way others do the work.

They are called ‘Comment Taters’

There are some people are very bossy and like to tell others what to do, but don’t want to soil their own hands.

They are called ‘Dick Taters’.

There are some people who are always looking to cause problems by asking others to agree with them. It is too hot or too cold, too sour or to sweet.

They are called ‘Agie Taters’.

There are those who say they will help, but somehow just never get around to actually doing the promised help.

They are called ‘Hezzie Taters’.

Some people can put up a front and pretend to be someone they are not.

They are called ‘Immy Taters’.

Then there are those who love others and do what they say they will. They are always prepared to stop whatever they are doing and lend a helping hand. They bring real sunshine into the lives of others.

They are called ‘Sweet Po Taters’.

No don’t panic. I’ve not made some drastic decision to quit my job.

I’ve quit the youth work at church. Yes CJ is the main dude when it comes to youth work at our church but it does help if you’re willing to be open to ideas, suggestions and most of all listen to your leaders

I’ve had major heart ache for the last week. Some mornings it takes me a lot of mental energy to put one foot in front of the other to remember what I’m doing and what I’m trying to achieve (which probably means I’ve made mistakes at work this week).

Next week is going to be mentally tough as well as it’s the funeral on Wednesday. This weekend there is a retreat where we are going to the Scout Camp near Sandy. The young people are going to be sleeping on the floor of the hall (yes people in November!!!!)

Me and CJ live in a Victorian built house (converted into flats) and it’s permantly cold (or at least rather cool!). I believe that it’s that temperature which has been making me ill (we had the same problem at no 90 between the temperature and the penicillin that CJ was trying to grow)

So I am now free at the weekend for babysitting, putting up sheds and other flat pack furniture. I am however car less and my bike has no lights so you may need to be within walking distance or able to supply transport.

You are also not allowed to say you’re sorry or to get over the pain and move on.

— Post From My iPhone

I’ve lost my post from the 10th does anyone know where it went? I might have to repost it if I wanna complete NaBloPoMo this year.

(If you know where it went drop the answer on a postcard!)

Kewey arrived yesterday!!!!! EEEEE!!!!

I’m worried though 🙁

This week I’ve been excited about Kewey arriving at the weekend but also grieving my Grandma (see previous posts from this week if you need to find out why). I’m worried that when Kewey leaves tomorrow I’m going to go head first of the top board and not being able to stop crying or being rubbish because of how I feel.

Today, Chris, Kewey and me wandered into town to do some various bits like get a toothbrush and toothpaste as Kewey was so excited to get here that she forgot to pick them up before leaving the house!

(Maybe this is where I suggest that she leaves the tootbrush here so that she has a back up!) While we were in town we also when and played with the Google Phone in the T-Mobile shop. Admittedly it is quite nice, the keyboard is easy to use (but would take two hands) and the screen is clear however I could list various things that got on my nerves even just playing with it. The internet loaded my blog with Kewey extremely quickly. I wanted to get my iPhone out and see them load side by side and see how much quicker it was. (Although I couldn’t do that as Chris had started a debate with the T-Mobile man)

Anyhoo after being into town we walked back and Laura and Andrew popped round for a little while having been shopping for bits for their new house that they move into next week!!!! How exciting!!!!

After that we went to the Supermarket so that Kewey could get some bits for Serena so that she didn’t have to fit getting to the supermarket and getting the bus from Milton Keynes to Bedford in before going out to the Reunion.

We then went to the hotel so that Kewey could get ready (when she posts some photos I’m going to post one of Serena and Kewey in costume). She grabbed a shower then I helped her to do up her corset top thingy – You see it in period dramas where the actress is laced into her corset – it was like that but I didn’t want to pull the ribbon too hard in case I broke it. Having just seen Kewey in that bit of her costume with her jeans I think she is going to look awesome this evening!

At about half 5 Kewey brought me back to my flat so I could get ready for the fireworks social with the youth group at church (ok so there wasn’t much to get ready just put on extra socks! – Also I now must have a shower because i reek like a bonfire!!!!)

Kewey went back to the hotel to finish getting ready and I went to church ready to pick up my car full to take to Godmanchester (we were going to Chris’s parents as he had cohersed them into hosting us) unfortunately there was a miscalculation on the number of people coming so we did leave a little late having waited for one of the parents to come back and play taxi for their young person!

The fireworks were good fun but if I don’t grab a shower and go to bed I think I might freeze to death (I took my hoody off because the smokey smell was doing my head in hehe!)

So night night my dears – I have some of my NaNoWriMo story to type up and hopefully I will then have a better word count! I know I am behind (50,000 words in 30 days thats 1667 words per day! That means by the 8th November you should be on about 12,000 if i did my maths right!). I am even further behind than Kelly who posted about her “epic FAIL“

Barack Obama – Santa Fe Art District

Originally uploaded by Seetwist

If you’d asked me over a year ago who Barack Obama was I’d have said I have no idea!

Now I can say he’s the President-Elect – after inauguration he’s going to be the most powerful man in the world! I can also say that because of him and the media attention on this Election I am more interested in current day politics rather than just ancient history.

I like this quote! It’s like saying I can make the change but you’ve got to help me to get the ball rolling.

I like the idea that Danny Wallace had (well I’m sure someone else thought it up before him but he’s the notable one I can remember) on a Friday find one thing you can do for someone else as a random act of Kindness or an AOK as CJ found on one of the Soul Survivor websites.

That AOK can be opening a door, helping your gran with the shopping, going to see a friends because you know that they need a hug,

If every person did a AOK for their neighbour how much better would life be?

My grandma is seriously poorly as may not see it through the night. I will blog later but nanowrimo and nanoblopo are on hold.

As are the hsmshs catch up.

Han
— Post From My iPhone

So I cheated today, I know I know a Screenshot of a website isn’t a photo but taking a photo of my computer screen wasn’t practical at the time (I have also come back to edit it now more at 6pm on Thursday). I do plan to catch up with the HSMSHS photos that i have missed over the last few days. (As this was posted yesterday and it’s now today and Grandma has past away and stuff I don’t know if I will get to catch up just at the moment but I might use it as a distraction to try and organise myself and get back on track. So the picture is a screenshot of the blog of Mr Stephen Fry. I found his podcast on iTunes at the weekend and I’ve listened to 6 in the last 4 days ish! For those of you who don’t know who Stephen Fry is, he was Hugh Laurie‘s partner in comedic crime before Laurie knew he’s play House. (who Angelika adores! BIG TIME!)

I’m writing this post now but for certain reasons it would be technically posted till tomorrow (it’s 23:34 on the 5th Nov)

Firstly my cousin past his driving test this morning. 

Secondly I was called at about 4ish to go to the hospital as my Grandma had had a stroke. She passed away at about 10 past 7 this evening.

I am still feeling really numb and almost feel like I’m not on the planet atm I plan to go into work at least for the morning so that I don’t feel like I’ve let people down – I’m going to speak to my manager when I get there and say that I will stay til lunch and then if I really cant hack it any more i’ll come home at lunch or if I can hack it i’ll stay through till the end. I was off sick less than two weeks ago so I really don’t want to let people down again.

This day might need to just be recorded in some way. Obama won – yup landslide victory apparently – I will be back with more info and opinion when I have read some more news hehe.

NaNoWriMo 4th November

Originally uploaded by godsrockangel

So I finally got down to it and started writing yesterday – I am on about 400 words plus what every is in this picture – I want to work on it more but unfortunately at the moment I should be working.

I also have found a cool job I’d like to do – researcher for QI or for Eggheads!

I am so stuck!!!!

I have like 3 beginnings which die out after about 50 words. HELP!!!!!!!

— Post From My iPhone

So although I am finally finishing this post on Monday I started on Saturday which is why I’ve post-dated it.

Friday was our first Chill @ The Church (It wasn’t our first alternate halloween party though as we brought in the name change this year.)

So this is what the “lovely” t-shirts looked like! I had to wear one as I was on team – even though orange is really not my colour! CJ had asked my Mum and Dad to help him out as he needed more over 18 year old helpers. My Mum really doesn’t like the colour orange unless it’s on an orange hehe. Also she’d have liked a V-neck. One of the lads suggested that we should have pink t-shirts – I think this was originally a joke but given the fact that Friday was Dare to Wear It day for Breast Cancer Awareness.

Anyhoo so once we got over the colour of the shirts we were set for a good evening. I was on the X Factor side show which was basically Karaoke we used my brothers PS2 Singstar games as the Karaoke machine. The most popular songs of the evening were Pieces of Me by Ashlee Simpson and Sk8er Boi by Avril Lavigne.

Me and Jeccy were really fed up of these two songs by the end of the evening so we decided that before we packed up we needed to do something different – so we sang I Want You Back by The Jackson 5.

I was very tired by the end of the evening as I had done a full day at work and then went straight to church via home. By tea time, I’d realised that maybe I should have had a cooked dinner from the work canteen rather than sandwiches like I do alot of days.

Saturday

Saturday morning CJ had a Hope 08 meeting, where CJ and others who were involved fed back information about the projects that have been done over the year back to the people who were supporting the teams from different churches and organisations.

CJ arrived home and I was still asleep – as I’d had a really mad week between being at work 3 days and helping at Grandma and Grandad’s house two days in a row and then doing Chill @ The Church I think I had the right to sleep!!!

So I got up at 11:15am (apparently my Dad was having a good long lay in as well!), we then headed off for the Centenary lunch at Howard Memorial Church in Cardington. It was really interesting as I bumped into people and watched a video of different holiday clubs and different bits and pieces that have happened over the years.

After lunch, we went across the road to the farm shop – when the church is busy we use the farm shop car park. Usually when we’re at the church we’re there at the wrong time of day to go into there and had a look. So we had a look in the shop – it was nice to be able to kinda say thank you in a way.

We then headed back to Mum and Dad’s were me and CJ along with Vicky and Rich played Rock Band for like 2 hours straight! My Mum even stuck her head round the door and took photos of us playing computer games!

We went out for tea which was really nice as it was good to spend that time with my family for once normally my brother hides in his room avoiding all company!

We then watched Strictly Come Dancing and I liked Austin’s dance but I really think that Rachel’s Jive didn’t have enough bounce like Louisa and Vincent (Autumn/Winter 2006) or Jill and Darren (Autumn/Winter 2004).

I then came home and worked some more on my presentation and talk.

Then it was bed time!

I wasn’t tagged I stole this meme from Heather at Seams of Life

10 years ago I…
1. I was 2 months into Year 7
2. My best friend was Cat
3. I was in every music group apart from String Group
4. I had an interesting fringe and rather long wavy hair
5. I think I was about to get my braces!

5 things on today’s to do list
1. Finish lunch (yup I had one sandwich at about 2ish and still trying to decide if I want the other hehe)
2. Finish work
3. Write this post
4. Help out at Chill @ The Church
5. Decide how people win The X Factor Game

5 snacks I enjoy
1. Caramel Snack A Jacks
2. White Chocolate
3. Aero Chocolate
4. Haribo
5. Pistachios

5 places I have lived
1. With my parents in Bedford
2. No 90
3. Flat 3
4. With my grandparents for a few days each summer when I was growing up
5. Various fields in various towns in various tents or caravans

5 jobs I’ve had
1. Cashier at a supermarket
2. Customer Service Assistant in a Builders Merchant
3. Waitress
4. Barmaid
5. PA/Housekeeper

On Tuesday Grandma and Grandad moved house but my morning didn’t start so smoothly.

I got up and got dressed like every other Tuesday morning.

I was convinved that my Grandparents were moving house on Wednesday so I came into work on Tuesday and my manager looked at me like I was nuts – she checked the planner I’d asked for Tuesday and Wednesday off – I was sure that I’d asked for Weds and Thurs and that the planner was wrong – so I called my Mum to find out when they were moving.

They were moving Tuesday and I’d just got ready for work and drove to work when I was supposed to be in scruffs to help my Grandparents move!!! EEk!

I was the butt of the joke again!!! Everyone laughed and it was good to see everyone smiling even at my expense hehe.

So after my two day break to help my Grandparents, I am back at work today – kinda glad for it and kinda not. Yesterday it was decided that the hole would be knocked in the wall today – which is what I want to help with. However I was rather destructive clearing the garden of weeds – and thistles – some were nearly longer than I am tall  (so thats like 5 foot long!).

I was blog reading this morning on my phone and via this blog and more specifically this post found the blog called An Island Life (I would post her name or nickname if I knew it).

At moment she has this fab giveaway for a BusyBodyBook. They are a great idea for Mum’s who need to keep track of where their kids are – I think my Mum could have done with one. I also think it would be good for me to keep track of CJ as he always seems to be in a meeting or at church doing something that he wasn’t doing last week.

I always seem to be losing him and not knowing whether he’s home for tea or not and where he’s dashing off to next. For example it’s Thursday so I have band practise – CJ is coming today so that he can teach one of the lads how to use the sound desk. Tomorrow I know that he’s at church doing the Chill at The Church set-up. Saturday and Sunday I roughly know but written down and in my hand would make life so much more easier! My favourite design would have to be the stripes!

SOS

Originally uploaded by godsrockangel

While we were out on our walk (I went with the Connect Group from church) and I took this photo – I thought that you can’t really tell where in the world I was taking it.

SPS

Originally uploaded by godsrockangel

Our Connect Group from church went for a walk a few Saturdays ago and Dave decided to pick up Lambkin and hold him upside down – Lambkin went a rather interesting pink/red colour!

This was also just before Dave decided to pick up The Murf.

Apple

Originally uploaded by godsrockangel

Before Grandma and Grandad moved house they had to pick the apples from the tree as they were ripe enough to pick. We ended up with a bag – not quite sure what we are going to do with them as we weren’t expecting them – so recipes would be good as the only ones I kinda know are crumble and pie.

Moist

Originally uploaded by godsrockangel

Chatty Ali made this cake for V-Day.

There was a secret ingredient and it was very different!

Chatty Ali is an amazing baker of cakes they are always so yummy!

Here is my next catch up!

I have taken to self-portraits recently as I seem to have lots of camera shy friends who won’t let me take their portraits.

One of my favourites songs for stretching the vocal chords is Reflections from Mulan (Christina Aguilera sings it on the soundtrack)

Who is that girl I see?
Staring straight,
Back at me.
When will my reflection show
Who I am inside?

Tough Girl Kat told me that a singer called Lea Salonga sang the actual version that is the film. She also sang A Whole New World in Aladdin.

Set

Originally uploaded by godsrockangel

So on several occasions I manage to take the photos but then don’t post them.

On the 20th October the word was Set – and here are my set of keys, there are my house keys, keys to my parents house, my keys for work, my clubcard keyfob thing and my rather large VW Campervan!

My grandparents finally moved house yesterday. They are settled and sorted just need to start work on the kitchen and they will be well and truely organised. 

It’s not that I want to write about though. 

When we were clearing the old house yesterday morning we found the old mattress that was used in the “kids” bed that was built when my Aunt Uncle and Cousin moved in to live with my Grandparents while they found their new house back in about 1998ish. 

Someone asked my Grandma whether they were taking the mattress with them or not. My Grandma’s response was words to the affect of “Well when I’m gone and Hannah has kids…..” Sorry Grandma but I don’t think you are going any time soon and even if we don’t have kids for another 5 years I am sure you are going to still be here organising us and keeping us in line. You’re only 70 and thats still young compared to some oldies. 

(Then again maybe it’s a mind game – she wants to be a Great-Grandma so she’s trying to “encourage” us to get a move on….)