Sometimes life is like standing on a stepping stone in the middle of a roaring river.

The good thing about stepping stones is there's never just one.
If you keep moving from one to the next, eventually you'll reach the other side.

Friday 17 December 2010

Daft Friday

I met a gentleman tonight.  The fire alarm went off halfway through the ceilidh so we all had to stand outside in the freezing cold, and he gave me his jacket to keep warm. He danced nearly the whole ceilidh with me and when I decided to leave he offered to walk me home. Right now I'm kicking myself for not getting his number. He was Scottish as well. Sadly not wearing a kilt though.  Oh, I thought my head would explode when we pulled up at the GUU and I saw that trousers were actually the minority! So many kilts, so little time :p

 My feet are absolutely killing me now, but I have to say I'm incredibly proud that I managed to wear heels for more than 8 hours and even dance in them!

  I love ceilidh dancing because it's absolutely mental. There's one called the progressive barn dance where everyone stands in two huge rows facing each other then the couple at the top link hands and spin round like crazy then make their way down the whole line. Oh, I can't think what the move is called. You link right arms and spin round in a circle, it's a country dancing move. Oh fiddle I can't think of the name at all, but you know what I mean. And they do this all the way down the line getting faster and faster til you can hardly breathe! And most of the dances are like that, it's just full on mad!

  The theme for the building was Lord of the Rings and it was AMAZING! I'm going to put what photos I got up on facebook asap so people can see. It was just mad how much effort they put in to transforming the place. 

  So overall a pretty good night. 11 hours til I'm home :D

xXx

Thursday 16 December 2010

I'm too small

I've just been into Evans with my American twin and had a strange experience. They didn't have my size... because I'm too small.  Even weirder is the fact that I was disappointed. Sure it proves I'm thinner, but they have some really pretty stuff in there and I want it! 

  I'm slightly more rational now and find myself enjoying the fact that I've lost so much weight. May it continue just a little longer!

xXx

Wednesday 15 December 2010

3 days to go

I just sat and read a book cover to cover, simply because I wanted to, and it was wonderful. No pressure to finish it, no need to search desperately for something clever to say about it - just reading. It's a whole different experience to reading the set books for my course.

  Only six or seven more Christmas cards to make, although it seems like every time I finish one I think of someone else who should be on the list! I'm fast running out of ideas though. Today's job (aside from packing) might have to be scouring the internet for some ideas to steal. Oh, I also need to go shopping. Better get a wriggle on!

xXx

Tuesday 14 December 2010

Nearly there

At exactly this time in four days I will be on a train bound for Crewe, and I can't believe how excited I am about that. For so long it's been my goal to get away from the place but now I can't wait to get back. Although I suspect I'm looking forward to seeing the people in it rather than seeing the place itself.  It turns out I'm only home for two weeks, not three like I thought, so now I'm slightly worried that I won't have chance to see everyone. I'm going to try my hardest though!

 Feeling productive again today because I've managed to get my backside down to the gym. It's strange how doing that one thing for an hour can make the whole day seem worthwhile. Even so I'm not going to stop there; I've still only made 19 Christmas cards so I'd better get a move on and make the other 30!

xXx

Sunday 12 December 2010

Ouch

I was thinking about posting on the topic of how incredibly glad I am that the snow has finally gone from Glasgow. Then I slipped on the ice that the melted snow has formed. Twice.  I fell forward both times so at least I don't have to worry about spinal injuries, but I do seem to have hurt my wrist.  It's quite enlightening actually - I didn't realise I used my left hand so much. 

 For tea tonight I'm having a go at home-cooked haggis. It doesn't seem too difficult (although it would be a hundred times easier if the microwave were working), you just stick it in a casserole dish and let it cook. I'd like to try steaming it but that'll have to wait til I get home as neither me nor Rachel own a steamer.

  I miss salsa.
xXx

Saturday 11 December 2010

They just don't make gentlemen like they used to

If it's possible to overdose on gentlemanliness then it's entirely possible I shortly will. I've now seen North and South three times this week, and the ending scene about ten times, as well as various fan videos. My word that final kiss. I can honestly say I've never seen anything so sexy in my entire life. 
xXx

Friday 10 December 2010

It's alive!

Hallelujah, my laptop lives! No idea what happened to make it die, Dad just took the battery out and put it back in and voila. Life. 
xXx

Monday 6 December 2010

Gutted

Things are going to go quiet for a while as I've somehow managed to kill my laptop. No idea how I'm going to afford a new one, but I need it so I'll have to find a way. 

Hopefully normal service will resume asap.
xXx

Saturday 4 December 2010

Owwww

I slipped on the ice again today, and this one hurt. I'm seriously wondering if it's possible to get whiplash from falling over. Luckily there was a nice man passing who helped me back onto my feet and made sure I stayed upright before he left. I wish I'd thanked him but I was so close to bursting into tears that I didn't dare say anything. Hopefully it won't put him off helping damsels in distress in the future! Ah my back hurts :(

I've managed to make 11 Christmas cards so far, which is really pretty good for just one day. I'm not going to think about the fact that that's not even a quarter of the number I need.

 xXx

Friday 3 December 2010

It's Christmas!

Well it's not, obviously. But it is the day of the creative writers' Christmas meal! It's so ridiculously early because most people have finished for this semester and they're going home in a few days. But that's fine with me, I'm all for spaced out Christmas meals.

  Today is also the day I'm going to watch North and South with my American twin, a big bar of chocolate and a tub of marshmallows. I am going to feel so fat by tonight....

 But before I can scoff all the marshmallows I have to go and buy them. Off I go to brave the snow/ice/slush/neds.

xXx

Thursday 2 December 2010

Slow down!

I cannot believe it's December already. I'm going home for Christmas in just over two weeks, where the heck did November go?? It's good in a way because I haven't really had chance to be homesick. I've been here nearly twelve weeks but it feels like I've only just arrived. Still HUGELY looking forward to going home though, I'm so excited about Christmas and seeing everyone again!

  The snow is getting kind of old now. It was fun for the first few days but now I would really quite like it to naff off so I can get on with things. It took me an hour and a half to get to town and back on Monday, which is just ridiculous. It had better clear off in time for the 18th. If my train is cancelled I shall cry!

xXx

Wednesday 1 December 2010

Experimental cooking

What do you get if you cook peppers, onion, mushrooms and egg in a frying pan?  

I don't know but it's pretty tasty! I used a bit too much onion though, considering I don't really like it. Even after more than two years practice it's still really hard to get portion size right when I'm cooking.

 Woke up this morning to find my first Christmas card had come through the door. That's a bit too enthusiastic for me. Or maybe it just makes me feel guilty because so far the grand total of Christmas cards I've made is none. It's from the lovely old lady on the ground floor (not the one who looked down her nose and asked if I was in the right sound), I wonder if she's written one to everyone in the sound. I would like to but I don't know anyone else's name! Except Rachel of course.

  I had such a lovely dream last night. It was kind of sad to have to wake up from it.

  Last night our lecturer took everyone to the pub and bought us a drink. I would have appreciated it more if the drink hadn't been wine so I could have had one, but it's the thought that counts! It was at Oran Mor, which is a converted church that has a blue halo round the spire and I've wanted to go there since I first saw it, so I guess he gets some points for taking us there. 

  A few of us were on the brink of leaving and then we just randomly decided to go to the cinema. We got chips and gravy on the way, which was an absolutely gorgeous treat. I love the way things taste better when you hardly ever have them! Anyway the flim was the girl who kicked the hornets nest. It's a very intense film, but what actually struck me most was how strange it was to hear Swedish again. I had forgotten about the little things that we just don't have in English, like inhaling to mean 'yes'. I really want to go back again!

xXx

Monday 29 November 2010

Sleeeep

Just a brief update. So far the snow has been here three days and I've managed to slip and fall over three times. Only the first time really hurt because I went straight on my backside. On the plus side, it's the first time I've ever been glad to have so much padding there. 

  Got separated from the main pub crowd tonight but ended up having a really good chat and coffee with Erin instead. She is my American equivalent, it's quite scary how alike we are! Possible theories about her and Rachael being swapped at birth will inevitably surface.

  I read a whole book today, just for fun. I cannot describe how much I enjoyed it.

  Much to do tomorrow so I'm off to bed.

xXx

Sunday 28 November 2010

Heck yeah, I can dance!

I almost, very nearly had another tizzy fit this week.  The going to bed early plan failed epically so I woke up today even more knackered than last Sunday. Plus there was a good 2 inches of snow on the ground. Turns out my boots aren't waterproof too... let's just say by the time I got to salsa I wasn't in a brilliant mood to start off with.  

  I tried my best; I made sure to have a drink of water, I bought a bag of crisps in case my blood sugar levels were the reason for my meltdown last week and I made sure to have a sit down between classes. But still it got to the intermediate class and my brain just would not register. I've got quite a bad ache in my shoulder because I kept doing this one move completely wrong. At one point I walked away from the dancing, but something made me go back and keep trying, and I am IMMENSELY glad that I did.  When the instructor got fed up of teaching (it was a phenomanally awkward move) he just set up a rueda and put some music on, and we just danced. 

  Rueda means wheel so basically the couples dance in a circle. The leader of the rueda shouts out moves or instructions and everyone does it at the same time. The instructions are like Fly, where you have to clap on the first beat, and Moderno where you have to lift your left leg and clap your hands under it. I think my favourite is Intima - the girls step one leg out and the man behind turns round and claps his hands round the other leg. Hard to explain but always makes me laugh, I'll have to demonstrate it some time. Anyway the track that he put on was seriously fast and, because most of the leaders were also instructors, I actually managed to keep up and keep dancing and it was so much fun I was actually breathless at the end of the song. 

  There was supposed to be a club night tonight but because of the snow it was cancelled. Instead they just left the music running for an hour after the class finished so we could hang around and freestyle. And it was brilliant. Turns out I was only so bad at the last club night because I got terrible leaders. 

  It was just so encouraging today. When we were in the rueda one of the leaders just kept saying now and then that I was following really well. He didn't have to sound quite so surprised but never mind :p In the freestyle I danced with the instructor and at the end of the dance he said he'd really enjoyed it. Now, he could just have said that because it's fairly obvious that I have no confidence, but I don't think he did. I really felt good. And one of the other instructors asked me to dance twice so I can't be that terrible! 

  I'm so, so, SO very glad I didn't give in to the urge to go home. I would have missed out on a ginormous and much-needed confidence boost.

xXx

Saturday 27 November 2010

SNOOOOOOW!

Snow, snow, snow, snow
snow, snow, snow, snow,
lovely snoooow, wonderful snow, snow, snow, snow
snow, snow, snow, snow.

I'm just a little bit excited about the snow :D It's much easier to enjoy snow when you don't have to worry about driving in it. Today's the first time I've been glad not to have my car! 

 Went to an AMAZING thanksgiving dinner on Thursday night and didn't get home til about 4 in the morning. I'm going to another one tonight but I cannot stay that late this time. I'm absolutely knackered.

 Oh, the reason I'm knackered is because I got up at 2.45 this morning and haven't been back to bed like I planned to. And the reason I got up at 2.45 is because a bunch of CUs are doing a 24/7 prayer week and for some reason, which I can't quite recall, I thought it would be a good idea to sign up for the 4-5 am slot. Genius. It's slightly less stupid when you consider that I thought we would be praying at uni so I would only have a 20 minute walk. I didn't know it would be at some random church 35 minutes away. 

  It was well worth it though. I expected it to just be a plain room but there are cushions on the floor to sit or lie on, fairy lights up on the wall, there's a map of Glasgow so you can pray for specific places, a map of the world so you can pray for specific countries and any missionaries you know are out there, a cross to stick post-it thank yous on, an area to do painting and drawing, a CD player and stack of worship CDs, strings hung on the wall and paper clips so you can write out a prayer and hang it up, and some clear plastic on the wall where everyone's written names of people to pray for. My hour went so fast, I thought it had only been about half an hour at the most but then Lindsay started getting her coat on and it was time to go! I might go back again tomorrow. I think I could pray more effectively if I were properly awake.

xXx

Friday 26 November 2010

Oh for flips sake

Last night I got a text from a certain someone. To sum it up - the new girlfriend is now another ex-girlfriend and, as she was the reason for not talking, let's be friends again.  It's my own fault really. If I hadn't wussed out when I had chance to explain to him then he would know my answer, probably wouldn't even have asked in fact. Although I don't know. He can be pretty flippin persistent. 

  I didn't react the way I thought I would when I read the text. Crazy, twisty feelings, I've never yet been able to figure them out. But I know my answer - the problem is working out how to say it. I'm so fed up of hurting him. I wish he hadn't asked.

xXx

Wednesday 24 November 2010

Dobby didn't mean to kill...

Just to maim or seriously injure - Possibly the best line I have ever heard in a film, ever! And I STILL keep laughing at the bit where Harry tries out the new wand. But I have to say, for such a long film, not a lot happens. 

 I definitely need to read the book again; I didn't recognise a single thing that happened in the whole film, especially not Harry's wand breaking and Dobby at the end! It'll probably have to wait til I go home though as I don't actually own a copy and I imagine the libraries will have it reserved for quite some time.

 Tonight was the first rehearsal for the carol concert I'm playing in. We're doing all the traditional songs and now I feel even MORE excited about Christmas than before! I didn't think that was actually possible. There's also the fact that I've sorted out a meal with one of my friends, date set and everything. So excited!!!

xXx

Tuesday 23 November 2010

Strange peaches

Yesterday in the discussion of James Baldwin's depression-fest Another Country, the discussion leaders decided that they weren't going to read the text out themselves; everyone had to read, a paragraph at a time. And of course when it got to my turn we arrived at a paragraph with swearing in. It was only two words, which isn't much compared to the rest of the book, but still a 200% increase in swearing for me. Saying no didn't seem to be an option so I took a deep breath and read it, trying to think of the words just as sounds instead of thinking about what they actually meant.

 It was very, very weird. I'm not sure I can explain properly how strange it felt to hear those words in my own voice. There was a physical reaction in my ears, almost like they were ringing. It was probably one of those horrible blushes that starts at your ears and works inwards. 

 Aha, I've got the comparison! It was like saying a word in a different language in the middle of an English sentence. "I'm not too keen on chocolate ice cream but I älskar vanilla." It was that jarring.

 But at least I didn't have to read any of the sex scenes!
xXx

Monday 22 November 2010

Mustache Monday

Today, to commemorate/celebrate the last workshop of this semester, we had Mustache Monday! Everyone met up in town before workshop, then we bought some really cheap stick on mustaches and put them on before heading to uni. We got some seriously weird looks and a few comments, but it wasn't as embarrassing as I thought it would be. The worrying thing is, mine looked natural. I wish I'd had my hair down today coz I swear I just looked like a hairy man. 

 Last night I had a third dream about someone on my course. I wonder if I should be worried that he's showing up so often. I don't think I'm attracted to him; a few times I've felt a very protective urge towards him, but it felt more kind of mothering than fancying him. I dunno. He, also, has shown no preference for me so I don't think I really need to worry about it.

 One day I will find my ginger Scotsman.

xXx

Sunday 21 November 2010

Oh dear

Meltdown Week is over, so I really have no excuse. It just happened.  I had a tizzy fit so big I walked out of salsa (leaving my cardigan behind, genius!) and cried all the way home. Then a bit more once I got home.

 It seems so silly now I think about it. The instructor introduced two new moves today and I just couldn't wrap my head round either of them. And it turns out being a perfectionist is actually a fault; I couldn't get it right so I refused to do it at all.  Being incredibly tired didn't help. Normally I'm fine with spins but when I'm tired even spotting can't stop me feeling dizzy, so on top of my brain refusing to wrap it also felt like it was still spinning even when I stood still.  

 So the moral of the story is get enough sleep! I'm having an early night next Saturday, I don't care how boring it makes me just as long as I can dance properly. Although, I can't really complain. The instructor of the beginners class only had four hours sleep last night and he still managed to teach for two hours, man and woman steps! I tried to do the man's part for about 30 seconds and it fried my brain, so kudos to him. 

xXx

Saturday 20 November 2010

Boy, you wouldn't even recognise me

What a day. I'm almost too tired to type, but I want to make sure I remember today. 

 It started off at 10 with breakfast at Rebekah and Lindsay's (egg in toast, gorgeous), which lasted over an hour thanks to the number of people and the fact that we had a spontaneous Bible study. I was exceptionally happy because I finally remembered to take some 'thank you' banana bread with me. Eventually the 7 of us piled into the van and we headed off to Stirling, with no idea what there was to do there except go and look at the castle.  
  
  At first I tried to be really good and read Another Country, but it's the first time I've been to a different part of Scotland (and the book is hideously depressing) so I soon gave up on that and just watched the view changing. It sounds terribly twee but Rebekah had her guitar with her and we sang some hymns to pass the time.

  Stirling is very pretty, and it has a character hugely different to Glasgow. The buildings are all made of the same golden stone, but they're more spaced out and don't have as many storeys. It feels more relaxed. There are also more hills and mountains to look at; this time of year the trees are turning an extraordinary orangey-yellow colour. I tried to take a picture but my camera just couldn't handle it. 

  We parked on the castle car park, then found out that it's £9 per adult to get into the castle itself. None of us can afford that right now so we wandered round the few bits you could get at for free and took a whole bunch of photos of the incredible views (which are all up on facebook) and kilted statues. I saw two real men in kilts, which was possibly the highlight of my day :p we spent quite a while in the shop and I fell in love with every single item of jewellery they had. My favourite was a pair of silver studs in the shape of bagpipes. I boguht a green celtic knot fridge magnet because it was on sale, a thimble for Grandma's Christmas present and a postcard to send home, because that's what Thorleys do.

  After a picnic lunch (during which my banana bread was much admired) we drove to a little village called Aberfoyle, which had been recommended to us by a local. It was during this drive that I felt something strange happening inside. I'm not sure how to describe it. It was a kind of opening feeling in my chest, and I found myself desperately wishing that I was Scottish. I've often joked that if I could have chosen where to be born I would have picked Scotland, but today I really, seriously, desperately wanted it. I wanted to be able to call this place home and know in my bones that it was. 

  By the time we arrived this feeling had settled down to an unshakable feeling of contentment.  We had a look round the Scottish Woolen Mill, which sells an awful lot more than wool and its products. I fell in love with yet more jewellery, as well as the purple kilts (£50!!), a gorgeously soft, deep blue scarf and a canvas bag covered in sheep with Scottish flags on. If I ever win the lottery I am going straight to that shop. 

  Then Glen and Denise (who, I just realised, are like the Mum and Dad of our friendship-family) had a sit down in the coffee shop and the rest of us went for a walk. I'm tempted to call it a hike, I was so knackered by the end of it. But that's probably just becuse it was mostly uphill and my little Crewe legs still aren't used to such slopes. We walked round the village, looking at all the pretty houses, then wandered on to a bike trail. I was kind of worried that someone would come freewheeling down the hill and knock us over, but apparently it was too cold for cycling coz we didn't see a single biker. 

  When I eventually got to the top, gasping for air, it turned out to be well worth the effort just for the view. I can't even begin to describe it, you'll just have to come and have a look one day.  We found the start point for a Go Ape (always worth knowing), a few wooden carvings and a visitors centre. I would have loved more time to look round the centre properly, but by then the sky was starting to turn pink so we headed back down the hill before it started getting dark. The timing was brilliant; as it got just too dark to see properly under the trees, we walked into the coffee shop. 

  Lindsay bought me a cup of tea and a cake, although I REALLY didn't need any more sugar in my system, and when everyone had finished their drink we headed home. It was a comfortably quiet drive home - the kind that only comes from a day of fresh air. I think I must have slept a little bit because we seemed to go from little country lanes to the streets of Glasgow remarkably fast.  When we got back Denise gave us homemade chilli and rice with garlic bread and then we just sat around and chatted. 

  And now I'm home. I feel like I shouldn't eat for a week to balance out my average weekly calorie intake, but I'm happy. On the way back I found myself praying Lord, if you ask it of me, I could make this place Home.

xXx

Friday 19 November 2010

¬_¬

 I do not understand how someone as small as my landlady can make so much noise. I've lost count of the number of times she's woken me up by walking round the flat. Even Rachael's never managed it just by walking! 

 She excelled herself today; she woke me up by walking, banging a pan onto the stove top, turning the radio on at almost full volume, slamming the kitchen door four times and the bathroom door twice.  

 I've tried earplugs a couple of times but thanks to my freaky ears they just keep falling out whenever I move. I'm trying very, very hard to resist the urge to get up at some unearthly hour in the morning and start playing flute or something equally annoying. Two wrongs don't make a right and all that.

 I feel quite productive already today. I've had a cooked breakfast (coz I ran out of milk so couldn't have cereal), made two cards and read a bit of this week's set book. Neither of the cards are Christmas cards though so I've still got a ways to go with that!

  Is anyone else really excited about Christmas? I feel like a little kid again I'm looking forward to it so much.  Blimey it's five weeks tomorrow. 

IT'S NEARLY CHRISTMAS!!
xXx

Wednesday 17 November 2010

Mmm radiator

Oh, Glasgow. Dear green place. I feel quite different about you tonight. I'm not sure what it is. It's not so much that you feel any more like home than before, but that I feel like I could one day come to love you. Almost but not quite there yet.

 I don't know if it's the effect of being in Glasgow, or being away from home, or something I can't think of right now, but I feel like the me of 6 months ago wouldn't recognise the me of today. Yesterday I hugged a guy; I initiated it and I didn't obsess over it for hours after. Tonight I started conversations with four or five people, and managed to keep it up, and it didn't even cross my mind to worry that they didn't want to speak to me.

 I'm starting to think that moving up here is the best thing I've ever done.

xXx

Look, no hangover!

I'm still pretty tired thanks to a late night yesterday, but I don't have a headache! Although that could be because I had a non-alcoholic drink after the cider this time. 

 I'm going to name this week Meltdown Week. So far I've had a miniature breakdown about not being able to do salsa and feeling fat, one person in my workshop group decided they were going to completely give up on their novel idea, and another had a good, long complain because they couldn't write a perfect first line.  I think we're better now though; there were cookies bought and hugs given and I've had a word with myself, so I think we'll all manage to keep going. It's just a bit strange that everything has been fine until now and suddenly it's all coming out. Maybe we're all just tired. Reading week feels like such a long time ago.

Well, I've just worked out I need to make 52 Christmas cards so I'd better go and get on with it!

xXx

Monday 15 November 2010

Reality check

Last night the GUU was transformed into a salsa club (by the strategic placing of a few candles and a Scottish flag) and I decided to go along and put my dancing skills to the test.  

  Turns out I'm nowhere near as good as I thought I was. There is a HUGE difference between dancing in the classes with the instructors shouting out the moves, and dancing to music with someone.  I think my main problem is that I'm so used to doing ceroc where the steps are almost always 1-2 1-2 but for salsa, in the same amount of time, I have to go 1-2-3-rest 1-2-3-rest. I'm tying my feet in knots trying to remember which one I'm doing. I suppose the only way to sort that out is to keep practising, which I have every intention of doing!

 The best bit of last night was at the very end. They put on this really sexy, bassy track and everyone stood in a massive circle to dance. Well, it wasn't so much dancing as grinding but if you heard the music you would have done the same, it was just that kind of beat. Then people took it in turns to go into the middle of the circle and dance on their own. I probably don't need to say that I didn't do that bit. It's my goal that before I leave Glasgow I will work up the confidence to get out of the circle and dance in the middle.  But anyway it was someone's birthday so she stayed in the middle for a while and all the male instructors danced with her for a bit. My favourite Scottish one was dancing away and then he just randomly lifted her over his shoulder in a lift. It was awesome!

 Now there's a weight-loss goal for you. I want to be light enough to be lifted like that :p
xXx

Sunday 14 November 2010

Another parody

It's time for another installment of Hannah's Parodies! This is a piece inspired by James Joyce's A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man.

The stones are cold on my legs and I wish I didn't have to wear a skirt. Mummy says skirts are like ladies so I have to wear one so I will be a lady when I grow up. I want to be an astronaut when I grow up. Alex says girls aren't allowed to be astronauts because they're stupid, but he never gets his spelling right and I always get it all right so I think he' stupid.

My front is warm because it's sunny. You're not supposed to look at the sun so I look at a cloud that is next to it. It's very bright and makes my eyes hurt so they cry a bit.

 "Crybaby." Victoria Manning stands in front of me, She is taller than me but shorter than Sarah and I don't like her because she calls me names. "What are you crying for, Mrs Blobby?" She stands close and now I can' t see the sun and everything is green. I want to make our room green, I want to paint it myself but Sarah says she doesn't like it. I know she likes green because she always takes green first when we do colouring and won't let me have it for ages. "Hey fatty, is your Mum older than your Dad?"

 Yes, Mummy is older than Daddy, but not as old as Gramps. Gramps is a hundred years old. Gramps showed me how to box and I would like to box Victoria Manning but it's not nice to hit girls. So I won't say anything. Mummy says it's rude to ignore people but I don't have to talk to Victoia Manning because she's not my friend. 

 Sarah comes on the playground and sees me. She comes to stand next to me and crosses her arms. Now both of them are blocking the sun and my front is cold as well as my legs.  "What do you want, Victoria?" She says.

"Your Dad's going to prison 'cause your Mum's older than him."

I start crying. Proper crying, not looking at the sun crying, and Victoria Manning laughs at me. "Crybaby!" She shouts and I wish I could box her. 

 Sarah pushes her shoulder and shouts back at her "Leave her alone, fatty." You shouldn't call people names but she deserves that because that's what she called me. 

 "I'm not fat." 

 Sarah pushes her shoulder again. "You're fatter than me." She is fatter than Sarah. It's not name calling if it's true.

"Yeah well your Dad's going to prison!" she shouts very loud because her mouth is so big. She is starting to cry and she runs away.

 Sarah sits next to me and I can see the sun again and I start to get warm. She gives me a tissue but I'm not crying now. It was funny when she called Victoria Manning fatty.  "I don't want Daddy to go to prison." I wonder who will pick us up from school if Daddy is arrested.

xXx

Saturday 13 November 2010

This place called love

I just want a man with real soul, who wants equality and not control.
I just want a man who's good and smart, a really sharp mind and a very big heart.
I just want a man not scared to weep, to hold me close when we're asleep.
I just want a man who loves romance, who'll clear the floor and ask me to dance.
I just want a man who's spirit is free to hold my hand, walk the world with me.

xXx

Friday 12 November 2010

Smile :)

Today is To Write Love On Her Arms day. Check it out  http://www.twloha.com/vision/

I'm so happy right now. Not in a running-around-laughing kind of way, I suppose a better word would be content. I still have this solid belief that I'm exactly where I'm supposed to be (and a fair idea of what I'm supposed to be here for), I'm making some amazing friends, I've managed my work properly so I actually have some free time this weekend, and I've got enough money to last me til at least February. The last time I felt so right with the world was in 2006 when I was sitting in the living room in Sweden, sewing patches on my jeans. It was only for a few minutes then, but this has lasted 9 weeks now. It's amazing.

  This morning I was praying and I had a kind of epiphany. God sent Jesus to die for me, which is an absolutely phenomenal thing and if that was all he ever did for me that would be far more than I could ever earn or deserve. But he still keeps on giving me things. After letting his son die such an awful death for me, he still keeps providing enough money for me to live, and people to be friends with, and time and space. Because he loves me. God loves me. I've had this said to me millions of times since I was born, but this morning it really hit my heart and I felt it. He loves me.

I'm going to take this opportunity to tell anyone who's reading that there's a circle of post-it notes up on my wall with the names of my friends on. Every day I pray that the people in the circle will be saved, because I can't stand the thought that any of them won't make it to heaven when they die. I think heaven without my friends would be a sad place. So now you know I'm praying for you on a regular basis; expect things to happen. You have been warned :p
xXx

Thursday 11 November 2010

eeny meeny

There's a clapping chant that the girls at camp always sing at least once every year and for some reason I woke up with it in my head.

eeny meeny deci meeny umm on a walka meeny
education lamentation I like you
saw you with your boyfriend, naughty, naughty
saw you eat a whole cake, greedy, greedy
didn't do the washing up, lazy, lazy
jumped out the window, mm-mm crazy
eeny meeny deci meeny umm on a walka meeny 
education lamentation I like you.

Not the faintest idea what it means but the tune is really catchy.

Last night I had a dream about Scottish David, which made a nice change. We were at a festival and he was my bodyguard or something. He kept following me round (in a good way) then he got me in to see Kings of Leon, we had a really good chat and I did some belly dancing for them! At the end David offered to buy me a drink and I said no because I didn't want him to run out of money, then he took out about £100 and set it on the bar. When I asked why he had so much money, he said "oh it's fine, I just carry round a lot of change." I let him buy me a drink after that.

I don't know if I would let him buy me a drink in real life. I did say that I would try and find a nice ginger Scotsman up here, but now I've found one I'm not too sure. Lately I have been thinking about being with someone quite a lot, but I think I still rather like the idea of a boyfriend more than the fact of actually having one. 
But I'm not going to worry about it yet. He's shown no preference for me so I might not have to worry about it at all!
xXx

Wednesday 10 November 2010

Noggin ache 2

Why yes, it is possible to get a hangover from one bottle of cider. I thought vodka was meant to be the demon drink, not wild berry cider.  Oh well, now I know! Vodka and coke for me from now on. 

Still not heard from the agency and it's been a week now so I'm going to have a look at some others and see if I can sign up for a few more. It's not such a desperate issue since last week when I got a lot of help, but I still don't have enough to last me the whole year so I will need a job at some point. Unless I get a ridiculous amount of money for Christmas :p
xXx

Monday 8 November 2010

Monday, Monday

Still happy from my trip home :)  It was so, so good to see people again. I'd forgotten just how friendly my church is! I was sufficiently hugged and now I feel ready to face the six weeks until I go home again for Christmas. 

 My only regret is that I didn't have chance to meet up with my friends as well. But I'm planning to make up for it over Christmas! They'll be sick of the sight of me by January :p 
xXx

Sunday 7 November 2010

trippy

A couple of years ago I did a presentation on 'writing when in an altered state of consciousness'. I covered drugs, alcohol, sleep deprivation and music, but I think I should have added another section on travelling by train in the dark. Although this could have something to do with the fact that I'm absolutely shattered, I feel that the setting of the train helped. So without any more waffle, I present the Random Train Ride Ramblings of Hannah Thorley:

My reflection frightens me. I am colourless. Note to self: never wear black when tired. 
My eyes reflect black as the clouded night sky, vacant holes in a two dimensional face.
Coulda, woulda, shoulda.
The captain said this will never, never do, never, never do, never, never do. The captain said this will never, never do on the last day of September.
Twenty minutes until I get...where? It's not home and yet it's where I belong. Where it rains. Where it hills and stairs and rains every day. Where the library is the ugliest building I know. Where there are so many men. So many, meny men, so much potential. Twenty minutes until I get...There.
It's the quiet coach. Shut up.
I see a carpet of orange as far as I can see - we must be there. Glasgow means Green Place, but now it will always be black and orange to me. Oh no. They're David's colours. Curses.
I wonder what day it is.
Here's the rain. We're definitely there.
I wonder if anyone thinks I'm pretty.
I wonder how long I was asleep before I started snoring. I wonder how long I was snoring before I woke up...
I want to dance with Scott Maslen.
The windows bounce back a double reflection, a carriage five wide. I could be in a flight simulator there's so much Nothing outside the windows.
This train will terminate.
It's raining! I feel comforted. The buildings wrap around me and keep me from the sky.

Make of that what you will!
xXx

Friday 5 November 2010

You must allow me to tell you how adrently I admire and love you

I have a GINORMOUS urge to read Pride and Prejudice again, even stronger than the urge to read New Moon whenever I get to the end of Twilight. But I can't! I've got to make some banana bread, write a 500 word parody, print off three lots of work (which is turning out to be an exercise in not smashing my printer on the floor), make some dinner and pack my bags because I'm going home tomorrow!  

 I've managed to stay up here a whole month and I'm really looking forward to seeing home again. It's only until Sunday afternoon, but that's plenty of time for hugging. I'm kind of sad that it'll make me miss salsa though, I've been looking forward to it since Monday morning and it's hard to think I won't get to do it again for more than a week yet. But hugs!! Yay! 

 Anyway, I suppose I'd better get on with that long list of things, as I've only got five hours now to get them all done. Off I go!
xXx

Thursday 4 November 2010

Dreamland

What a strange dream I had last night.  There were a bunch of people being taken to China in a lorry to be sold as slaves and I volunteered to go too (it's fun in my head). The truck was one of those with holes in the side that they use to transport animals and the only thing in the back was hay for us to lie on. It was so crowded that we all had to lie down and spoon to fit in.

 When we got to China all the other slaves turned into the people in my creative writing workshop and me and another girl, Kirsty, got arrested because we had done something wrong, although neither of us had any idea what. Our trial was in some kind of weird arena that had an absolutely massive bouncy castle maze/obstacle course in it. We stood outside the bouncy castle facing this table full of Chinese men. I can't remember what they said but I know it was complete gibberish and I still had no idea what we were supposed to have done. 

 Eventually the men decided that either me or Kirsty had to die, but they couldn't decide which so we had to go into the bouncy castle bit and fight to the death. We had some time to prepare so we went up some stairs at the side of the room and suddenly we were in our lecture theatre. I said that I would go and be killed so Kirsty didn't need to worry about anything. Then Dan, someone else from workshop group, came up and hugged me and wouldn't let me go. He said "When I left that first workshop and I tried to think of the nice people, all I could remember was you and Kirsty. That's why I went and bought that chocolate bar for you." (He didn't, he bought me a drink because I asked, but never mind) when he let me go he was crying, but he went and leaned on the lectern and said something about his contact lenses hurting. 

 They called for us to go down to the fight and I went down on my own. The Chinese men were impressed that I had volunteered so they said that if I survived the maze I wouldn't have to die. 

 The maze was remarkably easy. As soon as I got in this giant inflatable hand came up behind me and started pushing me through faster than I could have walked. There were things rolling from side to side across where I was supposed to walk but the hand just pushed me through and took all the force.

 I was pushed back to the beginning then a girl appeared next to me (as people do in dreams) and said we had to do the number test. There was a board on the wall with different coloured numbers on and then a man came into the bouncy castle and started twisting his body into really weird shapes. The girl explained that we had to guess which number the man was making before he got his body completely into the shape. I guessed 5 but the judges came in and said no, it was 2 because he was bending his leg backwards not forwards.

  Then I woke up. Seriously, it is fun in my head!
xXx

Wednesday 3 November 2010

noggin ache

Is it possible to have a hangover from one bottle of strawberry pear cider? It's either that or lack of sleep. I was really hoping to be down to a certain weight by this Saturday but it's quite hard to get motivated to go to the gym when I can feel my pulse banging on my forehead. I'm kind of cross because I was down to that weight at the weekend, but then I had a lazy, stuff-my-face day and I've gone right back up again! It's remarkable just how easy it is to put weight on compared to losing it.

 I absolutely LOVE my new boots. They are so incredibly warm! I never expect much at all from Primark produce but in this case I'm pleasantly surprised.  I honestly tried to just go in, get the boots and leave, but on the way out I saw a gorgeous jumper. It's scarlet (which is why I noticed it) and made of really thick wool. I reckon it's probably meant to be worn as a dress or over leggings but I'd wear it as a jumper. It might just have to be added to the 'things I will buy if I ever get a job' list. And I can justify it too - it's nearly Winter and I'm in Glasgow, known for it's white Winters, so I'm gonna need all the jumpers I can get!

 No news from the agency yet but I'm not worrying. Just keeping my phone with me at all times.
xXx

Tuesday 2 November 2010

I see now

I figured it out! The whole spelling issue.  I am phenomenal at spelling, and I've always been quite proud of this. But deep down I really truly believe that I'm stupid. So if I'm stupid and I can spell words correctly just by hearing them, what does that make someone who can't spell? 

 Still no idea if this makes me a snob, but at least I understand it now.

 It's been an amazing night. Went out with the creative writers as usual (which I'm REALLY going to miss when this course is over) and I spoke to a lot of people that are usually away on the other end of the table. It was good but I think I may have offended one of the American guys by saying I don't like his accent and that Americans can't spell. I feel sorry for that now. I mean they weren't at the same time, there was quite a gap between the two so at the time it didn't feel like I was attacking his American-ness. But now I'm worried in case that's how he saw it. I'll apologise next time I see him.

 But anyways it was amazing because I realised that there are about as many different reasons to write as there are writers. I write to escape from reality, because quite a lot of the time reality sucks. That's why I don't like novels that keep you hanging and leave it up to the reader to decide what happens - I have enough of that in real life, I want clear cut endings to my books!  But it had never ever occurred to me that some people don't write for that reason. It sounds stupid but the thought has just never crossed my mind before. Even when everyone was telling me why they write I couldn't quite get my head round it. I couldn't imagine being motivated to write by the things that motivate them.

  I'm still struggling a bit with Dan, who writes 'non-happily ever after's because they don't happen in life. It's the exact opposite of why I write and it's just boggling my brain to think about it. Or maybe that's the strawberry pear cider...
xXx
How long today seems. I managed to sign up with a grand total of one agency. I should really have looked up some addresses instead of wandering round for 3 hours. 

 But the day wasn't wasted - I picked up an application form for some Christmas work and got a pair of boots to replace my holey trainers. I managed to resist the urge to go to Mcdonalds and/or KFC and even dropped some spare change into a bucket. I felt sorry for the guy, it was absolutely chucking it down with rain. Hopefully I should hear from this agency tomorrow and soony soon I can start earning some money at last.
xXx

Monday 1 November 2010

Best CV forward

Last night I had a dream that I went to see Debbie and when David saw me there he was absolutely livid. He went mental and started screaming at me to get out and how dare I even show my face there. It was kind of scary actually.

I'm off to bed in a minute; early night because tomorrow I'm going to do my best to look presentable and head off to every agency I can find. I have my form of ID, smart boots and newly updated CVs ready to go. I am not coming home again until I've at least got the potential for some work to come my way! If it sounds really promising I might go and have a cream tea at the Butterfly and Pig tea rooms. Although I should probably buy some trainers before I go buying non-essential things like scones with vanilla cream.

So yeah, off I go. Hopefully I'll be able to sign in tomorrow and type in an overly-large font I HAVE A JOB!
xXx

Sunday 31 October 2010

When did 22 start feeling so old?

I think I want to dance. Like properly dance, as a job. I love belly dance, I love Ceroc, I love salsa when I've got the right partner and right now I have this incredible urge to dance with Scott Maslen. Or anyone who could lead me. I want that feeling I get when I'm dancing and I just can't stop smiling, and I want it more often. To be paid for it would just be unbelievable.
What a shame I'm about ten years too old to start training to be a professional.
xXx

Oh my word

I've just got home, ten hours after leaving the house. My feet are screaming at me that it feels more like ten days. They feel twice as wide as normal and I keep getting shooting pains in my heels. 

 It was the salsa that did it. By the end it felt like my shoes were lined with hot metal and my brain was completely clogged with spanish words that I couldn't remember the meaning of. When it comes to salsa two hours is fun, three hours is okay but four hours is torture. I stayed for the intermediate two hours because I'm a sucker for flattery. The instructor singled me out in the beginners class and used me to demonstrate some of the moves to the newer people, then said that I should try intermediate because I was really good. So I did! It was a humbling experience.

 I think I might try just the intermediate class next week so I've got enough energy to do it properly. When it works it's such incredible fun! I most enjoyed dancing with the instructor because he was by far the best leader. The problem with dances like salsa is that if the man doesn't lead properly you can end up walking into people, standing on each others toes and generally having a rubbish time. But when you get a good leader it is amazing. 

 I really struggled with being led when I first started Ceroc: I don't see why any man should be allowed to tell me what to do!  But now I've got it, there's something sexy about the man being in control. The way he can get me to do almost anything just by having his hand on my back or my shoulder. Mmmm. 

  Anyway, those of you who might be hoping something will happen with sexy, in-control instructor (as I was, briefly) can forget it. My flirting voice is remarkably close to my whining voice - I reckon he's sick of the sound of me. I know I was!
xXx

Saturday 30 October 2010

HA!

I both love and loathe boxfit. 

I love it because there is absolutely no denying that I've had a good workout by the time I get to the end. It sets me up for a whole day of slobbing because I can't physically move myself any more than I did in that class.

I hate it because so far I've always been the biggest person there and this wee toned instructor keeps yelling at me to "PICK YOUR HEELS UP! LET ME HEAR THOSE PUNCHES!"  I would love to pick my heels up like everyone else, but I'm at least 4 years older and 4 stone heavier than all the skinny twigs around me and my heels just can't handle being up. As to 'hearing the punches', I'm having trouble breathing enough to stay upright, never mind shouting every time I throw a punch.

At least I managed to stay for the whole hour this week. I was ill last time but I still felt a bit feeble for giving up halfway through. It probably helped that I got an incredible breakfast cooked for me this morning. I've made friends with two girls, Rebekah and Lindsay, who live quite near to uni and even though I'm older they seem to have adopted me. So last night I was round at their's and we had lasagne made with cottage cheese (nummy and low fat!) and this morning Lindsay made pancakes, scrambled egg and garlic mushrooms for breakfast. I was stuffed completely full, which is a feeling I haven't really had since coming up to Scotland. I'm feeling like a total scrounger though so I've bought the ingredients to have another go at banana bread. Let's see if I can get it to rise this time and I'll take it round as a thank you.

xXx

Friday 29 October 2010

Ping

I've always preferred listening to other people's conversations to taking part in them. But the last couple of days I've realised that it goes a bit deeper than just lack of conversational skills. I went to see Aunty Edie earlier this week because I was feeling quite low and discouraged and a little bit lost. I think the word is weary. I got there and we started chatting about uni and such, and I instantly felt a bit better. But then Aunty Muriel turned up (I never knew I had so much family up here) and when the two of them got talking it was phenomenal; I only understood about two words in ten! I didn't get to say more than three sentences between then and the time I left, but when I did leave I realised I felt a hundred times better than I did when I arrived.

 So I started to wonder. Maybe I don't just like listening to other people talk, maybe I need it. I got chance to test the theory at house group last night. It got to the end and we were all chatting away, then the person I was talking to got up to get ready to leave so I was sitting on my own. I looked round at everyone talking and I thought I would feel left out, but I didn't. It felt good to be in this room full of conversation that I didn't have to put anything into. It's like conversation is the electricity that recharges my batteries.

 Now I kind of want to experiment with it, just sit in a cafe or pub and see what effect the conversation has on me, see if it only works with people I know.  It's kind of strange to get all the way to 22 and only just realise something like this. It seems this year is a year of discovery.
xXx

Thursday 28 October 2010

Little stones

CU was amazing last night. Well, the worship didn't go great as they picked some pretty obscure songs and the way the projector's set up meant that we couldn't see the first or last lines of the verses. But the talk was brilliant. It was looking at Ephesians 4 and 5 and the challenge that it sets for Christians. 
  
  First of all it was incredibly helpful because it cleared up a few points that I've never been sure about, like the drink issue. I could never work it out - Jesus drank, the first miracle was making wine and there's even a verse that says 'drink wine because it's good for your heart', but then the Bible says such a lot that drunkenness is a sin. The speaker cleared it up in a couple of sentences. Ephesians says that we are supposed to live as God's light in the world and to be holy, so drinking only becomes a sin when it affects our holiness. So if you're starting to say mean things or to consider doing things you never would when you're sober then you've gone too far. How simple it that!

 It highlighted a lot of things in my life that I hadn't even noticed, like how angry I get. You'd think that'd be kind of hard to miss, but in my whole life I'd say I haven't shouted more than 10 times so I thought of myself as a non-angry person. I didn't really register the absolutely furious thoughts that go through my head on an almost daily basis. Then there was the time I was washing up and two cups got stuck together and I got so angry I threw them into the sink and broke a plate. How ridiculous does that sound - I was angry with some cups. 

 There's also not forgiving people. The speaker said if you've been holding onto something for more than 6 months then it's a problem. And I realised I was still holding something from my 21st birthday, something from 2007 and something from pretty much the first time I was aware that parents could treat their children differently.

 But this is the amazing thing; we prayed for freedom from these things we couldn't stop doing and couldn't let go of and I got a feeling in my chest, a physical feeling like little stones were being lifted out of my heart. They were only small but there were so many of them that I'd been weighed down and when they were all gone I felt incredible. I'm not saying I've forgotten what hurt me in the first place, but it's not about that. It's about getting rid of all the revenge-type feelings inside that weren't hurting anyone but me. 

 I feel so much better :)
xXx

Wednesday 27 October 2010

Yawn

Now that was a rubbish sleep. Thanks to the howling gale outside and the complete lack of double glazing in the flat, I now look like I've got a halloween costume ready a week early. Zombiiiieeeee. 

 Oh well, I'm going to visit Aunty Edie today, which will be really good. I know I'd only met her once before I came up here but she's still family. I feel like I could do with a bit of family right now.

 I'm trying to SORN my car so I can claim the tax back, and because I can't afford insurance any more. But my licence is registered at Nantwich Road, so before I can sort the SORN I have to change my address. The problem is the paper part of my licence is at home (genius) and I need a number off that to be able to change my address. Dad said he would email it to me, but of course he hasn't. There's no way I'll be able to get my new licence, send the SORN info off and get confirmation back in time to tell the insurance people that I don't have to pay them this time because I'm not driving my car right now. I really, really can't afford this.

 I just want a job. No, actually I just need a job. If I can't get one by January 19th I'll be out of the flat. I'll have to go home and use the deposit money to travel up on Mondays and Tuesdays for my lectures then go home again. I just don't understand, ever since I've got here I've had this concrete feeling that this is exactly where I'm supposed to be and exactly what I'm supposed to be doing. But if that's true why can't I get a job that will let me stay where I'm supposed to be? My next plan of action is to take a day wandering round the city centre and mithering at every agency I come across. Something's got to come up soon. I don't want to go home.
xXx

Tuesday 26 October 2010

Grrrr

I'm very irritable today and I don't know why. I mean I should be happy; it's reading week, I just got some much-needed money in the post, my weight is finally going down again and my cold has almost entirely gone. But for some reason I just feel like screaming.  
Maybe I've finally lost it.
xXx

Monday 25 October 2010

Mmmm new hoodie

I love the inside of new hoodies, it's so soft! The problem is it's so soft I want to wear it all the time and then it'll need to be washed which will stop it being as soft :( If only there was a way to make hoodies permanently soft inside...

Anyway, here is the last parody that I've written so far. There should be five at this point but I'm seriously struggling to write an ironic one. It would help if people could make up their mind what the heck 'irony' even means. But anyway here is my parody of Natalia Ginzburg's The Things We Used To Say.

When we were younger Dad used to take us to see our grandparents almost every day. Each time Nanna opened the door she would say, "Haven't you grown!" This annoyed my brother Andrew who, being much older, realised that it was impossible to have grown a noticeable amount in a single day. He would stamp into the house, muttering, "I literally doubt it." He had read a book with the word 'literally' in and he used it enthusiastically without fully understanding what it meant.

  Nanna's "haven't you grown!" could have been referring to our waistlines. We mainly enjoyed going there because we were allowed sugar in our tea and unlimited access to the biscuit box. It was inevitable that we would get fat.

  Gramps never seemed to have an ounce of spare fat on his body. He would sit in his chair and hold out his skinny arms as we entered the living room. We took it in turns to sit on his knee, give hima hug and answer the question, "So what have you done with yourself today?"

 Andrew would sigh and say, "Literally nothing." Before stepping away to turn on CITV. Rachael would give him a replay of her day in minute detail, sitting there so long that Gramps' legs must have ached by the time she clambered back to the floor. I would just lean into the hug and tell him which book I was reading at the time.

  Nanna and Gramps always knew when we had tests or exams at school, and one of them would lean forward over their cup of tea and say, "So how did you do?" If we had done well Nanna ordered us to have another biscuit to celebrate, and if we failed she held out the biscuit box as consolation.  Gramps would always react the same way. We would say, "I got seven out of ten on my spelling test!" and Gramps would reply, "Where's the other three?" He always smiled to show he didn't mean it. We never minded but it was still motivating to try and get full marks just to see what Gramps would say.

  As we got older our visits grew less frequent. We no longer sat on Gramps' knee in case we blocked the pipe to his oxygen tank. But he still used to smile and say, "So what have you done with yourself today?"

  One day Nanna opened the door with a digital camera in her hand. "Haven't you grown," she said, "Can you help me with this thing? I can't make it work."  We explained batteries and memory cards to her and eventually she managed to take a picture. "Let's have one of you all with your Gramps," she said. We carefully crowded round him and smiled as the camera flashed.

  When I was fourteen I got full marks in my music exam, but by then it was too late. I stood in front of that photograph of Gramps surrounded by his grandchildren and held up my certificate. "They're all here." I said.

xXx

Sunday 24 October 2010

cha cha cha one two cha cha cha

There's so much going through my head at the moment, I'm just gonna splurge it out as and when it comes to me.

Today has been a really, really good day. I gave myself an extra hour in bed and still managed to make it to church in time to get my cup of tea and doughnut, because I managed to find it without getting lost once!  I'm starting to learn the songs so I could actually join in with the worship and the sermon was really relevant to me. It's really making me think about the way I'm living.

So far I've managed to have four portions of fruit today, which is far more than I ever usually manage. I've had some really good faff time in the library (it's so nice knowing that this week is reading week), I've been to salsa which is SO MUCH FUN!!! And I've just had a nice healthy baked potato with tuna and mayo. I feel good! 

Now I've been here a while I can't deny that Glasgow is a beautiful city. If I stopped to take a photograph every time I noticed something I'd never have time for anything else. I wish I had a camera good enough to capture all the different colours I've seen in the sky as the sun's gone down, or the way the church spires look against the night sky, or the way the main tower of uni stands out above everything around it. It's gorgeous. But it's still not home.

Some people have 'one of those faces' that just looks familiar even if you've never seen them before. I think I have a face that just looks foreign. Over the years I've been told I look Indian, Greek, Spanish, Italian, mixed race (don't get me started on this), Asian, Native American and black Welsh (apparently that's what Catherine Zeta Jones is). I get why people may think I'm not English, although I think my tan is undetectable when I'm this tired, but I wonder why I remind people of so many different places.

Every time I even begin to think along the lines of 'hey, this guy's cute' I find out that he's got a girlfriend or fiancee or wife. I'm not too bothered because I've learned the art of being happy single, but it's started me thinking. They're all paired up because they're around my age, which is the age where it wouldn't be unreasonable to consider getting married and settling down (what a hideous term). But I don't have a boyfriend, never mind someone to marry. And I wonder if that's right. I wonder if the perfect man for me has been and gone in my life and I didn't see it because I was too busy looking at David. It's over three years since we broke up, that's more than enough time to meet someone new and get to know them really well.  I'll never know, will I. But still, it's something to think about.

I wonder what 'English' looks like. what kind of person would you look at and say "you look English!"? I honestly can't think what it looks like. How strange. 

Okay, I think that's my head empty for now. Aside from one last thought that seems to pop up completely at random from time to time.

I wonder if David hates me yet.
xXx