The 21st anniversary of the formation of Green Day….and I was there. October 29, 2009

Yeah yeah, I went to go see Green Day last night. 21 years ago on the 28th October they formed. And they are still bloody amazing.

I went to go see them at the LG Arena, missing my 6-9pm lecture…shock horror. The support band, I only caught half of, but they were really good, Prima Donna is what they were called. I don’t think the crowd got into them as much as they should have. But Green Day. Zomg. Immense.

It all started with the drunken bunny, which if you have been to a Green Day gig before, you will know always happens. The crowd got way excited, he started doing the YMCA…we joined in. All good fun. Then along came Green Day. They were perfect in every way. Guys, I honestly cannot express how fantastic the show was. The new stuff went down well, the old stuff even better. The crowd participation was awesome, loads of clapping, hands in the air, singing along, “Hey….ooooos” etc etc. Loads of people got brought up on stage. Firstly a man who had been there the night before,  Billie Joe recognised him and pulled him on stage. Then some kids who had to count down for the first of many fireworks. It was funny afterwards, Billie said “Now get the f*** off my stage you little circus freaks. Their hands feel like wet cabbage leaves.” He also did the water pistol thing, soaking the crowd and getting someone out of the crowd to do some more soaking. He fired t-shirts into the crowd too. He played the two sides of the crowd off against each other which was way fun. Personal favourite moment was King for a Day, with them all dressed up, Tre Cool in a lovely women’s hat and a bra, to which the crowd started singing “get your t**s out for the lads” and Green Day actually laughed out loud. Loved it! We were close enough to the front to feel the flames and I could see the whites of Billie Joe’s eyes.

The songs all sounded perfect. I can’t rant enough about how amazing it was!! Another favourite moment was when Billie Joe came out at the end and actually did some of Christie Road….from the Kerplunk album. I couldn’t have been happier! I love their older stuff!!

The only thing that annoyed me was the two man beasts who decided to stand in front of me. I’m only short and they had to actually push me out of the way to get there. One actually looked me straight in the eye, gave a sheepish shrug, acknowledging he knew I would not be able to see and stood in front of me. How annoying!!

I would put more of the photos up that my concert bud took, but wordpress is being ruuuubbish. Soz.

 

Freshers’ Week October 6, 2009

We’ll ignore the fact it was over a week ago…

I went to Freshers’ Fair…..I know I’m not a Fresher but y’know, I do like free sweets. I got a good haul of stuff, most of which was useless. It included:

A swine flu stress pig – i.e. a pig that you squeeze when stressed with the pandemic number written on the back.

An energy drink called Boost Energy (I had about half before deciding I didn’t like the taste…then I drank some Pepsi forgetting about the caffiene content. Consequently I felt really quite odd for a while, then dead afterwards)

Some Pringles…but of an extra hot chilli flavour, they burnt my mouth.

Some Lynx deodrant stuff

Some after shaving gel

Some Impulse body spray

The obligitory tampons/condoms

Two pegs

Lollipops, toffees and loooooads of tiny Daim sweets (those were from the Ikea stall)

An apple

A Dominos pizza book of vouchers and a free slice of Dominos pizza

A voucher book with many vouchers in that I’ll never use

A pen

Not bad for half an hour at Freshers’ Fair.

 

I only blog when I should be doing something more productive… August 27, 2009

Volunteering is going well. I got asked to do the young children’s anger management group a few weeks ago, it’s half way through the programme and it seems to be going OK. I think I’m probably learning more than the kids are. And then yesterday I got a phone call asking if I’d help do an anger awareness session to some college students aged 16-19. Possibly the most scary thing I’ve done. When I was in school I always used to marvel at how guest speakers always seemed so confident. And there I was yesterday being one of those guest speakers. I didn’t think I came across very confidently at all, due to the fact I was terrified. However the lady I was working with said I just seemed really chilled out and cool. She also said that she had worked with other volunteers that had come across as scared and didn’t really want to do anything and how the groups respond negatively to that, but the way I was acting let the kids feel I was approachable and feel calm in my presence and that she really liked working with me. I felt really pleased.

In other news. I’m totally confused about life. Where am I going in life? Where? Do I want to do a masters? Yes. Do I want to work and move out? Yes. Can I do both? Possibly not. What do I want to be? A clinical psychologist? An educational psychologist? Just a general youth worker? I don’t know. I don’t know. I don’t know.

Recovered July 21, 2009

Well, that’s it. Swine flu = over. I didn’t die. There was no panic. I felt rubbish yes. But I didn’t die. So there. Take that media hype.

I’m really thankful to my friends for being so caring about it. Even those I don’t talk to often wished me good health and this made me feel more cheery. A friend even came round with a get well soon kit which included a lovely card, lots of DVDs to keep me entertained, ice cream and green tea. But now I have a problem. I haven’t drank all of the green tea, I don’t know whether I should or whether I should give the rest back? It’s one of those situations that unsettles me.

And for my current annoyance? Predictive text. I use it ‘cos it’s easier. But it really annoys me that it’ll have some ridiculous word that isn’t even real in it and yet it doesn’t even have the word custard. What sort of world is this!

Sir Carol wants a blog July 9, 2009

Well well my little chickpeas, do I have a tale to tell. It kind of makes me sound a bit like “loose woman” so let me assure you, I am not. I’m just living my teenage years in my twenties is all.

I went to Ye Olde Phoenix last night, with my good friend Joy. I got started on by a fellow who used to go to my school. He is large and he was very aggressive and shouted at me for not stopping him being bullied throughout his school life. He was actually right up in my face at one point, it was really scary and very upsetting. He obviously still has major issues with it and put all the blame on me, in his drunken state, I was like a scapegoat. I was bullied but I don’t go around blaming other people for not saving me from it, I just deal with it.

Now, the next part, how do discuss this on my blog without sounding like a big headed moron. Please forgive me if I do. I do like a guy at the moment. And I do believe he likes me too. He was there last night and I was a bit terrified, what with being terribly shy and all. He wouldn’t leave me alone, he’s very persistent so I had to keep wandering off to give myself some space. At the end of the night however, I had warmed to him more. I acted like a very naughty child though. We went to Ye Olde Oak and played the Game of Life, that’s not why I was behaving like a naughty child, that’s just something we did. Joy wanted to get a taxi home, what with it being 3am and her feet hurting and needing the loo. I however did not want to get a taxi home because I’d previously discussed walking home with Daniel and seeing the sunrise. So I was a stubborn mule and dug my heels in, causing Joy to be very cross and walking ten miles ahead, Daniel hovering not wanting Joy to get killed nor wanting to leave me totally on my own with the liking guy. We reached the end of my road, Daniel went to walk Joy home and the liking guy said he would walk me home. But I didn’t want him to see where I lived and it was getting a bit light so I saw no issue in me just walking down my road by myself. So, as we are both very stubborn, we sat at the bottom of my road for about an hour, talking and play fighting. Then we hugged for it was cold. Then we kissed. Indeed we did. Very nice it was too. 

I did receive a text from him today, he was very complimentary and I am quite happy. But also sleep deprived after having only 3 hours sleep. So that’s what happened in my world. Cool.

I have no title. June 11, 2009

I am bored. I could be doing some dissertation work, however after meeting with my dissertation supervisor earlier than need be, I feel like a rest. Although she does seem like a bit of a slave driver. Eeek.

Yesterday and most of the previous evening I spent my time watching the Lord of the Rings trilogy, the extended edition, totalling 11 hours and 38 minutes. It was the first time I’d seem all of them all of the way through and I enjoyed them immensley. I cried a lot and got quite stressed it has to be said. And felt thoroughly worn out by the end. I did note how similar, in particular the Fellowship of the Ring, was to the Narnia films. And as the LOTR films came first I can only conclude that perhaps Andrew Adamson pinched a few ideas, especially in the battle scene of Lion, Witch and the Wardrobe, which doesn’t really feature in the book. But never mind. After watching LOTR I almost wished elves were real, but they’re not. Shame. They’d be very handy though.

So today, with a lack of anything to watch I have taken to planning a walk my friend and I are going on. It’s only about 7 miles long, from Berkswell to Coventry. But we will have to walk from Berkswell station, to Berkswell village and then over to Coventry. But it’ll be fun. So long as we don’t get lost. I’ve looked at many maps though and I doubt you can get that lost. Even if we did it’d be a tale to tell. And we’ll be walking past some woods that we pass whenever we go to Birmingham on the train, according to my map they are a nature reserve and so we shall take a little look see. Provided that we’re not too exhausted.

From Berkswell to Coventry

 It doesn’t look too far really. And I think we’ll be taking a more direct route than shown. Nonetheless there it is. Maybe we should do Land’s End to John O’Groats!

Manners June 5, 2009

You may or may not know that I place a great deal of importance on people’s manners. Having good manners means a lot to me, as does other people having good manners. It’s the age old thing of good manners not costing anything but they really do help the world go round a little more smoothly. On Friday night I had terrible manners. I was invited to the Ye Olde Phoenix, although I had been feeling a  little ill for a while (possibly from drinking nearly two pints of flavoured milk earlier in the day) I agreed to go, thinking it would not be a problem. 40 minutes after our arrival, I felt very sick, it was so hot there which didn’t help. So I ran to the Ladies….where there was a huge queue. I had to push in front, my friends kindly helped me. A cubicle became free and all I had time to say to the girl that was waiting was “I’m going to be sick sorry” before running in. I went home after this and the next day when I felt a bit better I felt insanely guilty for pushing in. Especially when the girl informed me she’d been waiting ages.  And the guilt just didn’t go away.

My conscience to the left…me to the right.

 

 On Wednesday I went back out to Ye Olde Phoenix, as Wednesdays are the best nights there. I saw and recognised the girl I pushed in front of…and so I went and apologised for doing so, explaining why I had and how people with no manners annoy me and it was hypocritical of me to have behaved in such a way. The girl was very nice about it all, asking how I was feeling and saying how kind it was of me to have gone and apologised. My guilt was gone.

 

But then, that very night something else happened to disturb me and make feel quite disgusted with myself. My friend and I saw someone who was in the year below us at school. It was all very well, we said hello, danced a bit, as you do. But as we left Ye Olde Phoenix when it closed, he began to compliment me. “Add me on facebook” he said. Not wanting to, I said “Well you won’t remember me, so there’s no point.” (For he was quite drunk I’m sure.) “Yes I will.” said he. “You’re the girl with the hot hair.” I blushed and thanked him for the compliment, managing to turn the conversation to the fact Pride and Prejudice is my favourite book and I shall settle for nothing less than Mr Darcy. This seemed to wash over his head. “You are really hot.” he repeated. I thanked him again and tried to turn his attentions to my friend who had at that point gone to get a burger. “No, you’re hotter than she is.” Anything I said did not put him off. He held my hand, I pretended my nose was itchy to free it. Before I knew it he had lent in and was kissing me. And before he knew  it I’d pulled back exclaiming “Dude! I’ve only just met you, give me a break!” It was quite honestly the worst kiss, perhaps because I was unprepared, or more probably that I was in no way attracted to him at all and didn’t really even know him.

My friend and I entered another bar to get out of the cold, whilst the annoying fellow followed. Well I say followed…he walked in front of me, not holding the door open. This was another negative against him I must say. As I have said before I like it when men are gentlemen. When I met Tam he let me go first, that went in his favour. This annoying boy was evidently not like that. In fact he even insulted me at one point, before attempting to kiss me. We ordered three glasses of water. The barman came out with two (what with only having two hands) before getting the other one. Now, what with the annoying boy being the only male…I was half expecting somecourtesy and to have a least been offered one of the glasses of water first. But no, he just took one. It may sound like a small thing, perhaps my standards are too high but y’know, it bugged me. The final straw as it were. I departed pretty soon after with my friend. The more I think of it all, the more I am disgusted. I hope I didn’t come across as “easy” because I most certainly am not and I really do not appreciate that sort of decorum. But never mind, it is fair to say that should I ever have the misfortune of seeing him out again I shall avoid him and should he follow me I’ll tell him exactly what it was that I didn’t like and hope he finally gets the message.  In the most polite way possible, of course

Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep May 27, 2009

Today I saw something fall out of the sky, onto the window sill. “What was that?!” I exclaimed to my bemused nephew, who had been throwing a ping pong ball at me for the previous 5 minutes. I got up to have a look and this is what I saw:

 

A teeny tiny baby Blue Tit

I was really worried for it incase it died, its parents weren’t around. But eventually, they came to rescue him and all was well.

Drip drip drop little….May showers… May 16, 2009

An exam. On a Saturday. Who dreamt up that crazy idea?! Anyway. It’s over. Relief non? I was so happy and relieved when I came out of the exam in fact, that when I got asked for 62 pence I gave the man a pound and told him to have a nice day.

My revision has been craaaazy. My brain can’t rest even now, which is poor. I came home….tidied my room….put some washing in…washed up…sorted through some journals….and now I’m blogging. Below shows the extent of my revision. Although it looks ridiculously pitiful compared to what it actually is in reality.

 

All of this in my brain? Crazy times

It’s pretty blurred too, nonetheless there it all is. 

I found the time, a few weekends ago to plant a little garden. It’s got some nice white flowers, lots of heather and I did put some wild flower seeds in, we’ll see whether they come up or not. I just hope they don’t all die. I was going to take a picture….but it’s pouring down with rain and I don’t wish to get wet.

I’m still doing my voluntary placement. I like it there, although I still get a bit nervous before going. The kids are awesome, they’re great to be around. We went to the park last week, much like my first ever week there, except no one ran away, yay! Everyone had a good time, it was sunny and lovely. This Monday, there’s going to be a magician. I can’t say I’m a fan…but hey ho as long as they like it.

I’ve heard Green Day’s new album (as I’m sure most people have by now), review coming up. I’m going to see them in October. Good times.

Easter April 12, 2009

Happy Easter guys. Hoping the real reason of Easter isn’t being completely forgotten, the resurrection of our Lord.

Rather unrelated to Easter…I’ve had an invitation. To have tea with the Lady Mayoress. For my volunteering work at Mind. I’ll get a certificate…tea…cake…and a tour of the Council House. I don’t particularly want to go….I don’t feel I’ve done anything to deserve it. I dunno, I’ll decide some other time.

Talking of cakes…I made some yesterday.

Pretty cakes I made, complete with names

Other news, I think I have a plan for my life!  I’m going to do the Masters in History. If I can save the money of course. I will work part time, hopefully at Mind, they said they may be able to offer me something and then I’d quite like to have a second job, something to do with History, like at the History centre or something. The best of both worlds, see?