Books, Films, Gigs, and My Life!

( Books from 9th May to 26th May 2011 )

Wow. Well it does look like that I’ve read 91 books this year – but not 91 “proper” adult books! I’ve read 91 books in total, but “proper” adult novels is a lot less, as a lot of them were childrens or poetry, which aren’t any less good than adult novels of course, but they do take me a lot less time to read. I’m pleased I’m getting through so many books though, as I now can actually tell that I’m getting through the piles of books I have to read in my bedroom, which is good!

In terms of other “media”, I still haven’t got round to writing reviews of all the films I’ve seen so far, but the last one I saw was Pirates of the Caribbean 4, in the cinema, which was actually great! I really enjoyed the first three and the new one is just as good. There haven’t been many films which have come out recently which I have wanted to see, so I’m glad it was good. Plus I’ve also just discovered the series “Are You Being Served”, and it is so great!! So funny, I love it! :D Can’t believe I’ve never got into it before. I think its because the characters are so well drawn and have such distinct, erm, characters, its really good. I’m really into “characters” at the moment, as I’ve read some books with some really good characters in as well.

In terms of general life things, generally happy at the moment…going to Slimelight for a friend’s birthday tomorrow, which should be great! Also another friend who has only recently got into EBM / industrial music is coming along with their friends, which should also be great, I haven’t seen them for a while. Oh and I’ve just started my next OU course, its one which is just psychology, and from what I’ve read so far is really interesting! I’m really looking forward to working through it. The last essay for the previous course was incredibly boring, so I’m really glad I’ve got that all done now!

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I really love the whole Christmas dinner, I really enjoy roast dinners anyway, and at Christmas when its all a little bit nicer (i.e. more expensive, hehe!) makes it even nicer. My favourite individual things are bread sauce - which we never have any other time of year! - the chicken - we don't have turkey, my mum just buys an expensive chicken from M&S - and the roast potatoes, which my mum somehow manages to make them taste amazing!

We also have this tradition in my family of having croissants on Christmas morning, with butter and strawberry jam. Yummy!

My least favourite, unfortunately, are the main vegetables you have with a Christmas dinner - brussel sprouts and carrots! My mum usually does some other vegetable as well though. Oh and I'm not so keen on Christmas pudding or mince pies - but we have trifle instead!

I'm sure you're all thrilled to know this about my Christmas dinner. haha! I wasn't very excited about Christmas until today, as I had a OU essay which I was finding extremely boring, but I've done that now so can relax a bit. And its not due in until 11th January, so I'm really ahead on the course, which is good as I'm planning to start another one before this one ends! :)

day 18 → whatever tickles your fancy

I'm glad its this today, so I can talk about my OU course! I've just got the result back from my first assignment and I got 82%!!! wooooo :D :D yay! I'm so happy with that, especially as other people on the facebook group were saying they were getting things like 40 and 50%, which I would have been a bit disappointed with. I was really worried I would have really misunderstood the question and got it all wrong. But luckily not! I think it was because, as I said before, people seemed to be having lots of problems with it and I found it relatively simple, so I thought I might have done it wrong. This is an excellent start, even though this course doesn't count towards the degree mark (I don't think it does anyway) but hopefully I can keep this standard up. Although saying that...I did start with good marks on my History degree when I was at uni, and that went downhill, but the circumstances in which I lived also went downhill, so that contributed to that I think. Anyway now I'm determined to do well in this, and I would be really interested in going into some kind of psychological research or something, so I have to do well in it. I've actually also realised that I didn't have to do all of this course, I could have done half this course and half another psychology course, but as I need more credits anyway to make up the degree, I think next I'll do the psychology course. It starts a month before my current course ends - but I'm already 2 weeks ahead on this course, so I should finish it early. And I feel like I'm not doing that much work on it (compared to the 12 hours a week it says to do I'm doing about 6), so I will do some more hours and get it done.

Oh I'm all excited and positive about it again, its great! Over the last week or so I'd got a bit fed up as the chapter I'm studying at the moment has gone a bit economic, which I'm not so interested in (although I know its important) but now I'm happy!

Now I have to think of a way to celebrate :D

( the rest of the days )

....I've finished my archaeology questions! woo! :) That was definately the hardest thing I've done in a long time - which I suppose was good, as it really challenged me, but still, I'm glad its over. I just don't have a science mind! I just need to check I've formatted it all right and then submit it this evening! I'm really looking forward to starting the next course, so that should be great :)

This is the book which I can't remember what its about, so apologies if the review isn't too good!!

Book 71 - Utterly Monkey by Nick Laird

This is about a man, Danny, who lives in London and has a good job, when an old friend, Geordie, from his childhood home in Ireland comes to his door and ends up staying with him. Geordie is fleeing some kind of trouble which he got into in Ireland, to do with some money that he owed some people (I think), and he also arranges for his girlfriend to come over and stay at Danny's as well. Danny just wants to forget about his past, but Geordie brings it all back to him. Because I can't remember much of the story, it obviously wasn't particularly memorable, but I think it wasn't too bad a read, quite entertaining. If this is the only thing there, read it, but there are other books read them first! :) 5 / 10

My current complaint at work: HR and their forms. They're the HR department, why are they asking ME for payroll details, they should have them! Pah! Plus they ask us to complete the forms on the computer, but make them really difficult to type into. I could never work in HR, too many fiddly little processes! But anyway, on with me catching up on my book reviews!

( Book Seventy - Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom )

And in other news - almost finished my archaeology course, woo! :D Just got the questions to finish now, then I'll submit them on Sunday I think. Quite good timing really, as I think I'll get more information, and hopefully some books, for my next course, Introduction to Social Sciences, on Saturday. It starts in October, but I like to start early! :)

Plus I'm going to have a great day tomorrow hopefully, I'm planning to go to Buckingham Palace (state Rooms, Queens Gallery and the Royal Mews), and possibly a photography exhibition at Tate Britain too. Then I'll come home and watch some of the tv and films which I have recorded and bought recently and haven't had a chance to watch yet! :)

Another update...now fully updated! :D

( Book Forty Two - Birdman by Mo Hayder )

( Gig at Slimelight featuring Nightporter, The Mumbles, Luxury Stranger and Voices of Masada, with XP8 during the night )

( Gig - Anathema )

( Book Forty Three - The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold )

( Book Forty Four - The People's Manifesto by Mark Thomas )

( Book Forty Five - The Last Dickins by Matthew Pearl )

( Book Forty Six - I Am Ozzy by Ozzy Osbourne )

To keep up with my goal for the year (10 books a month), I'll have to read four more books by Monday...I might read 3, but 4 might be a bit much! For the last few weeks the Times has been giving away books with it, a few of them look really good, and some are lesser known novels by famous authors, so they should be good. I might read a few of these to catch up as they are quite short! :)

Currently watching the second part of "Money", the adaptation of Martin Amis' novel, starring Nick Frost. I haven't read the book, but I have quite enjoyed the adaptation. Plus it has lots of great 80s music, even the mainstream stuff is really good. Hmm now they seem to be in the Winchester..haha.

This OU Archaeology course I'm doing is quite different from the other course, theres a lot more things to actually do and work out instead of it just being reading, but it is interesting. Although it has made me glad I didn't choose to do archaeology at uni - its a bit too much maths and science rather than just history. But still good! :)

Well I haven’t written in here for a while – I’ll just say that all the book reading has meant I haven’t had time, but I have had a really busy couple of weeks. It was my birthday and Katie’s birthday so we went out a few times for both of those, and then I’ve been trying to get my second OU essay done, now I finally have the feedback from the first one. I did well on the first one though, just one bit where I forgot to answer a bit of the question – forgot to say which bit of the essay I found easy – but that was really hard as I actually found it all quite easy! So maybe that’s why I missed it out. The second one I will send off today and then get on with the third one at the weekend. Although I can’t submit it until June or something, at least I will have it done. And then I can get on with the archaeology course, which should be good! From the sound of the course it sounds really sciencey, but as I found the psychology one so easy, and the archaeology one is of the same level, I don’t think it’ll be too much. I am ok at science, just not as good as most people I know, haha.

For Katie’s birthday I went up to see her on the Thursday before, and then her party was on the Friday. It was great! The theme was Tim Burton, and quite a few people dressed up. Katie was in a black and white stripy outfit, Ben was Jack Skellington, Hannah was the white queen, and others. I was the ladybird from James and the Giant Peach! :D as I handily had a ladybird costume from Katie’s last birthday party, and luckily Tim Burton produced the film. Probably no one knew who I was supposed to be though. We had a bit of a party, including cocktails, fish and chips, pass the parcel, and lots of black and white sweets, then went to Camel, which was the same as normal! Too much music which I used to listen to before I really go into alternative music (ska, in other words) and no good metal, they’re supposed to be an alternative night and I’ve never heard an Iron Maiden song there, which is just not right! Although they do play some good songs, like NIN, Manson, Rob Zombie etc. I think one of the DJs likes NIN, we requested NIN and he played Capital G, which was great, as its not one of the most popular songs, and it cleared the dance floor (apart from us of course!) but he still played it. And then a slightly obscure Manson song (can’t remember what it was now!) which kept the dance floor clear, but it was great there was someone who was willing to play songs which aren’t the most popular ones of a certain band. The back room was playing indie, and they actually played some good songs, Joy Division and some other goth things. We finished that evening with some nice food from Noodle Bar – that’s becoming one of my favourite Chineses I think, along with the Dragon Garden and the one in Leverstock Green.

The next day we went to Bradford, where we had booked to see Alice in Wonderland at the IMAX. It was really great, despite the fire alarm in the middle!

( Film 19 )

I will edit this later to add a great picture of everyone in their 3D glasses!

After the film we went to Frankie and Bennys and had dinner, which was really nice. I had a chicken carbonara calzone (I think that’s what it was called) – which was basically pasta carbonara with chicken in, in a folded pizza instead of with pasta! Yummy!

The next day was Katie’s birthday, and as she was going to see HIM in the evening in Manchester, we didn’t stay too long, but just travelled home. It was a really great weekend – just as great as the next weekend! :D which I think I should talk about in the next entry as this has gone on far too long so far…..

Finally I have a chance to update the books I have read! This week has been a bit strange, as I've been quite stressed out with my OU course. I had to write a 1000 word essay, which I thought would be quite straightforward, but it was harder than I thought, as I ended up writing 1600 words and it was really hard to cut it down. Which really annoyed me, because I actually found the writing of the essay quite easy! Now I think I've got it down to the right amount...well...on one computer its 1127 words and on 1144, so I just have to take out one or two sentences. Apart from that its a really interesting course :)

Now on to the books I've read :)

( Books Fourteen to Nineteen )

I am currently reading The Hidden Life of Otto Frank by Carol Ann Lee, its good so far. Last time I started it I couldn't really get into it, but this time it seems ok.

( Films 17 and 18 )

I've had a lovely day today, went to see my grandparents in Rochester. Spent part of the day trying to explain to my grandad the different ways to transfer files and photos from his desktop to laptop computer, which was amusing as it always is when he tries to work out technological things..the classic quote today was "This is the slow computer as its not..you know, fast..." :D

No books or films this time - mainly because I'm reading quite a boring book so its taking me a while to get through it, and plus I haven't been reading or watching films as much as I got all the stuff for the OU course I'm doing. I'm a bit ahead already though - I've already studied the first three chapters and should be on the first assignment, and the course hasn't even officially started yet! (It starts in March). I think I will just press on with it though, while I'm motivated to do it, and then discuss it with the tutor and make changes if I need to. Its really interesting so far, a little bit science-y, but not as much as I thought it would be, so thats good. Have done 2 1/2 hours of studying today, doesn't sound much, but considering I haven't really done any for about 5 years, I'm quite pleased with myself.

Having a bit of a weird day today, Katie went back to uni today, which always makes me feel a bit meh, and we went out to a gig and Slimelight last night, neither of which were as good as they could have been, so we just went home early and got the last train instead of the first train. but oh well. we've got other trips to slimelight planned, so hopefully they'll be better :)
( Assemblage 23 at Islington Academy, and Slimelight )

But ah well. Some things are good, some things are bad, thats just how it goes. Its strange writing things in here really, as I don't really know who I'm writing this for - just random people who come along, my online friends, or my real life friends. I've asked my real life friends enough times (Well through facebook) to add me if they have a Livejournal, but none of them seem to have done so. But oh well. I'll just carry on writing, its good practice for essays I suppose!

By the way, if you're just a random, Katie is my sister, we get on really well and I visit her a lot in Huddersfield where she's at uni! :)

Might watch a film tonight I think - after Lark Rise to Candleford that is! :)

You know, I never realised I watched so many films! Although maybe now I’m writing about them, I’m making the effort to watch more. I do feel like I watch a lot of TV as well – but its not just random things, its series that I watch every week – currently Being Human (Sundays, 1 hour), Larkrise to Candleford (Sundays, 1 hour), University Challenge (Mondays, 1/2 hour), and QI (Fridays, 1/2 hour). Just recently there has also been a really interesting programme on the British Family, with episodes on Children, Money, Divorce and…well another one that I can’t remember! It was so interesting, all about how things have changed over the years and how families have changed. I love programmes like that. My favourite series at the moment is Being Human – it is just so amazing!! I don’t even usually like things like that (“supernatural” things) – but, as the title suggests, this is a lot more about how they cope with their issues (of being a werewolf, vampire and ghost) and “being human”, so it’s a good mix. The characters are so likeable and believable. I wish they’d hurry up and explain who the scary looking religious man is though, I really want to know!

But anyway, on with the books and films!

( Book Eight – The Slave Ship by Marcus Rediker )

That ends the books I have read in January – I read eight in total, which is a good start. I’ve decided I will read one fiction and then one non-fiction book, otherwise I end up getting bogged down in the non-fiction books and not get on well with the fiction books. I have, amazingly, not bought any books from charity shops since October! (although I have donated money to charity instead, to make up for their loss!) This year I am determined to work through the piles of books I have to read in my bedroom – currently I am reading a book that Kt bought me for Christmas, The Cemetary of Secrets, which is a historical crime book, its great! And then next I have The Life of Graham, biography of Graham Chapman, so that should be good 

( Films 13 and 14 )

I think I’m going to have another quiet weekend – it’s the rock night on Friday, but haven’t got anything else planned, so will probably just stay in and read my book. On the Open University website they have short courses which are free for you to print off, so I’m going to work my way through some of them in the next little while – they only take about 4 or 5 hours to do each one. I am definitely thinking of doing an Open University course (probably “Starting with Psychology”) but I’m just a bit worried about if I do it and don’t pass – it would just all be a waste then. Although I definitely need more things on my cv, as its really not that impressive at the moment. I have a degree – but it’s a bad grade, so compared to everyone else who has a degree as well, I need other things to make myself look better. I have found quite a few OU courses that I’d like to do, which is good, I just need to find the courage to go for them and not worry!! I do feel like I’m stuck in a bit of a rut at the moment, so I need to get out and *do* something with myself. I really enjoy the weekends when I go out and go and see Katie and things, but I’m not really doing anything during the week, so I need to do something else. Oh, apart from the quiz on Tuesdays – which we did quite well in on last Tuesday. They have started an extra quiz, which all builds up to a grand final in March, and we are joint first in that at the moment, so that’s excellent so far! Hopefully it’ll continue and we can get into the final – the top prize is £500 