send me the pillow, the one that you dream on

It is true.

2012-01-28T14:04:00.000-08:00

Riding Lesson on lucy 24-01-2012

2012-01-24T16:44:00.001-08:00

ノースマックイーン: The unseen ones

2012-01-22T06:13:00.000-08:00

Two years on, it's time to share.

Another celebration of Taylor's 18th

2012-01-15T09:58:00.000-08:00

Usual haunt.

Isabella done up for the occasion

Taylor & Lauren

Lauren getting her gob around a burger

Who wants to look at a camera when they can look at me?

Tried to get a groupy but it didn't exactly work out

I look drunk. But wasn't.

Cake wasn't up to it's usual standards, but we tried.

Too much copper + too much spare time results in...

2012-01-11T16:58:00.000-08:00

THIS.

Booked my flights :)

2012-01-10T16:24:00.000-08:00

I'm flying to Japan with Air France this time. Finnair have put their prices up since the good old days, and I don't much fancy a repeat of Air China. Plus, I've been able to book a return Manchester > Tokyo, Fukuoka > Manchester for £600. Not bad!

Now I just have to be on Sky Mark at 00:30 exactly on the 15th March to get my flight from Haneda to Fukuoka.
LIFE.

Exciting times ahead!

2012-01-07T15:34:00.000-08:00

This year is set to be more exciting than 2012 anyway.

In May I'm going back to Japan!
First I'm going to Tokyo, where I will be staying with my friend Jeffrey.

Plans are generally to get down to Tokyo Riding Club and see my Northy, for which I am the most excited everevereverevereverEVERRRRRRRR! <3<3<3

There's also some places I haven't been yet that I'd like to go, such as Myogyo-ji in Sugamo, and a few places in Saitama. I'd also like to go back to Kamakura and Odaiba. Oh, and of course no trip would be complete without visiting at least six seperate Book Off stores!
I'm then hopefully off to Fukuoka to see my friend Fumie for a few days. I've never been to Kyushu before so it will be good!

THEN in October, I'm off to Russia with the one and only Smurf.
We plan for three nights in Moscow, followed by an over night train to Saint Petersburg, where we'll stay for a further three nights.

HOW FRIGGING EXCITING GUYS.

Good riddance shitty 2011

2012-01-01T07:16:00.000-08:00

New Year's Resolutions for the first time in my life;
-Get my Northy tattoo.
-Visit two new places in Japan I've never been.
-Walk to work instead of getting the bus, and save £46 a month.
-Learn Russian.
-Go to Russia.
-Be even more of a selfish bitch and look out for number one (it's working so far.)

2011

2011-12-30T13:50:00.000-08:00

1.What did you do in 2011 that you’d never done before?
-Graduated

2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I've never made any before for 2012 I've made several;
-Get my Northy tattoo.
-Visit two places in Japan I've never been.
-Visit a new country.
-Learn Russian.
-Walk to work from now on and save £46 a month!

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Jenna had Isabella :)
I also acquired a new cousin, Mason.

4. Did anyone close to you die?
No

5. What countries did you visit?
None. BOOOOOOOO rubbish year.

6. What would you like to have in 2012 that you lacked in 2011?
Travel, actually.

7. What date(s) from 2011 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
Can't think of any really.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Graduating without dying of stress first.

9. What was your biggest failure?
Not getting back to Japan when I was determined I would.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Nope.

11. What was the best thing you bought?
Morrissey tickets! Although, technically, my Dad bought them LOL.

12. Whose behaviour merited celebration?
Jenna for being a legendary mother! (Not to me, but ya know)

13. Whose behaviour made you appalled and depressed?
Manchester University's tbh.

14. Where did most of your money go?
Horse riding, as always.

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Coming up with my plan to go back to Japan next year.

16. What song will always remind you of 2011?
Cloudbusting- Kate Bush.

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
Happier or sadder? Happier, I think.
Richer or poorer? Richer. OMG!

18. What do you wish you’d done more of?
Travelling..

19. What do you wish you’d done less of?
Stressing out over that stupid degree.

20. How did you spend Christmas?
At home with family.

21. Who deleted question 21?
Vladimir Putin.

22. Did you fall in love in 2011?
No.

23. How many one-night stands?
Who would seriously answer this?

24. What was your favourite TV programme?
Home & Away, let's face it. I also got addicted to a Korean drama, Secret Garden.

25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
Don't think so. I hate everyone tbh anyway.

26. What was the best book you read?
Uh...

27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Pony Pony Run Run

28. What did you want and get?
My flipping degree!

29. What did you want and not get?
To see Northy :(

30. What was your favorite film of this year?
I likeed Insidious.

31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
FUNNY THAT. I went to see Insidious with Louise Methusla Howard. I was 23.

32.What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Actually leaving this shit country for a bit.

33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2010?
Black. Like that's ever gonna change.

34. What kept you sane?
The knowledge that I will be seeing Northy in 2012! And the knowledge that I'll never have to put up with another shoddy learning experience from Manchester Uni.

35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
I liked Mark Wright in I'm A Celebrity. Other than that I can't think.

36. What political issue stirred you the most?
I quite liked it when Bin Laden got fucked up.

37. Who did you miss?

Same answer as always.

38. Who was the best new person you met?
Don't even know, can't think of any.

39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2011.
A Japanese degree is pretty much useless. Yes, I'm bitter.

40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
SCHOOOOLS OUT FOREVERRRRRRRRRRRR.

Two reasons why Japan 2012 is meant to be!

2011-12-28T13:00:00.000-08:00

I realised yesterday that 2012 is the year of the dragon... WELL GUESS WHO WAS BORN IN THE YEAR OF THE DRAGON. THAT'S RIGHT, THE AWESOME WRITER OF THIS AWESOME BLOG.

Secondly, I found 740 yen in my kitchen today. Northy obviously sent it. Thanks boy ♥
If you could send 10,000 yen next time, it would be appreciated ;)

Several things

2011-12-26T13:15:00.000-08:00

Firstly, the DVD collection is now taller than me and is getting slightly out of hand. Especially when I need to get one out from the bottom.

I would just like to point out that these DVDs are NOT in random order, but are in fact in the following order:
-Japanese Horror
-Japanese Other
-Korean Horror

-Korean Comedy
-Chinese Horror

-Thai Horror

-Several Kung Fu Classics
-John Travolta Films
-Everything Else

I'm that cool.

Also, the fund for my Japan Trip May 2012 Northy Reunion has started to grow nicely, and the eBay effort has begun;

Festivities III: Standard Christmas Eve

2011-12-24T14:46:00.000-08:00

Standard Slater Taylor Christmas Eve Special.

Our playlist;

Festivities II: Chimp Outing

2011-12-23T15:29:00.000-08:00

A little snowman..

Fascinated by a balloon..

Opening her present..

A grand present from grand old me..

Jenna & Bella..

Me & Lauren

Me & Bella

Jenna, Me, Lauren & Bella

Lauren & Bella

It was all too much for some of us..

200 Things To Die Before You Die

2011-12-18T15:36:00.000-08:00

01. Bought everyone in the pub a drink
02. Swam with wild dolphins
03. Climbed a mountain

04. Taken a Ferrari for a test drive
05. Been inside the Great Pyramid
06. Held a tarantula.
07. Taken a candlelit bath with someone
08. Said ‘I love you’ and meant it
09. Hugged a tree
10. Done a striptease
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Stayed up all night long, and watch the sun rise
15. Seen the Northern Lights
16. Gone to a huge sports game
17. Walked the stairs to the top of the leaning Tower of Pisa
18. Grown and eaten my own vegetables
19. Touched an iceberg
20. Slept under the stars
21. Changed a baby’s diaper
22. Taken a trip in a hot air balloon
23. Watched a meteor shower
24. Gotten drunk on champagne
25. Given more than you can afford to charity
26. Looked up at the night sky through a telescope
27. Had an uncontrollable giggling fit at the worst possible moment
28. Had a food fight
29. Bet on a winning horse (even if it was only £1)
30. Taken a sick day when I was not ill
31. Asked out a stranger
32. Had a snowball fight
33. Photocopied your bottom on the office photocopier
34. Screamed as loudly as you possibly can
35. Held a lamb
36. Enacted a favorite fantasy
37. Taken a midnight skinny dip
38. Taken an ice cold bath
39. Had a meaningful conversation with a beggar. (I think I have, but he was Korean and I didn't understand a word he said, so my replies probably didn't match up.)
40. Seen a total eclipse. (Through one of those fourth grade cardboard “save your eyes” thingies…)
41. Ridden a roller coaster
42. Hit a home run
43. Fit three weeks miraculously into three days

44. Danced like a fool and not cared who was looking
45. Adopted an accent for an entire day
46. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
47. Actually felt happy about your life, even for just a moment
48. Had two hard drives for your computer
49. Visited all 50 states of America
50. Loved your job for all accounts

51. Taken care of someone who was shit faced
52. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
53. Had amazing friends
54. Danced with a stranger in a foreign country
55. Watched wild whales
56. Stolen a sign
57. Backpacked in Europe
58. Taken a road-trip
59. Rock climbing
60. Lied to foreign government’s official in that country to avoid notice
61. Midnight walk on the beach
62. Sky diving
63. Visited Ireland
64. Been heartbroken longer then you were actually in love
65. In a restaurant, sat at a stranger’s table and had a meal with them
66. Visited Japan

67. Benchpressed your own weight
68. Milked a cow
69. Alphabetized your records (and CD’s and tapes and and and…)
70. Pretended to be a superhero
71. Sung karaoke

72. Lounged around in bed all day
73. Posed nude in front of strangers
74. Scuba diving
75. Got it on to “Let’s Get It On” by Marvin Gaye
76. Kissed in the rain
77. Played in the mud
78. Played in the rain
79. Gone to a drive-in theater
80. Done something you should regret, but don’t regret it.
81. Visited the Great Wall of China
82. Discovered that someone who’s not supposed to have known about your blog has discovered your blog
83. Dropped Windows in favor of something better
84. Started a business
85. Fallen in love and not had your heart broken
86. Toured ancient sites
87. Taken a martial arts class
88. Swordfought for the honor of a woman
89. Played D&D for more than 6 hours straight
90. Gotten married
91. Been in a movie
92. Crashed a party
93. Loved someone you shouldn’t have
94. Kissed someone so passionately it made them dizzy
95. Gotten divorced
96. Had sex at the office
97. Gone without food for 5 days
98. Made cookies from scratch
99. Won first prize in a costume contest
100. Ridden a gondola in Venice
101. Gotten a tattoo
102. Found that the texture of some materials can turn you on
103. Rafted the Snake River
104. Been on television news programs as an “expert”
105. Got flowers for no reason
106. Masturbated in a public place
107. Got so drunk you don’t remember anything
108. Been addicted to some form of illegal drug
109. Performed on stage
110. Been to Las Vegas

111. Recorded music
112. Eaten shark
113. Had a one-night stand
114. Gone to Thailand
115. Seen Siouxsie live
116. Bought a house
117. Been in a combat zone
118. Buried one/both of your parents
119. Shaved or waxed your pubic hair off
120. Been on a cruise ship
121. Spoken more than one language fluently
122. Gotten into a fight while attempting to defend someone
123. Bounced a check (I didn’t mean to! But alas, more than once…)
124. Performed in Rocky Horror
125. Read – and understood – your credit report
126. Raised children
127. Recently bought and played with a favorite childhood toy
128. Followed your favorite band/singer on tour
129. Created and named your own constellation of stars
130. Taken an exotic bicycle tour in a foreign country
131. Found out something significant that your ancestors did
132. Called or written your Congress person
133. Picked up and moved to another city to just start over to be with the one you love
134. Lived in a large city
135. Walked the Golden Gate Bridge

136. Sang loudly in the car, and didn’t stop when you knew someone was looking
137. Ridden an Elephant

138. Had plastic surgery
139. Survived an accident that you shouldn’t have survived.
140. Wrote articles for a large publication
141. Lost over 100 pounds
142. Held someone while they were having a flashback
143. Piloted an airplane
144. Petted a stingray
145. Broken someone’s heart
146. Helped an animal give birth
147. Been fired or laid off from a job
148. Won money on a T.V. game show
149. Broken a bone
150. Killed a human being
151. Gone on an African photo safari
152. Ridden a motorcycle
153. Driven any land vehicle at a speed of greater than 100mph
154. Had a body part of yours below the neck pierced
155. Fired a rifle, shotgun, or pistol
156. Eaten mushrooms that were gathered in the wild
157. Ridden a horse

158. Had major surgery
159. Had sex on a moving train
160. Had a snake as a pet
161. Hiked to the bottom of the Grand Canyon
162. Slept through an entire flight: takeoff, flight, and landing
163. Slept for more than 30 hours over the course of 48 hours
164. Visited more foreign countries than U.S. states
165. Visited all 7 continents
166. Taken a canoe trip that lasted more than 2 days
167. Eaten kangaroo meat
168. Fallen in love at an ancient Mayan burial ground
169. Been a sperm or egg donor
170. Eaten sushi
171. Had your picture in the newspaper
172. Had 2 (or more) healthy romantic relationships for over a year in your lifetime.
173. Changed someone’s mind about something you care deeply about
174. Gotten someone fired for their actions
175. Gone back to school
176. Parasailed
177. Changed your name
178. Petted a cockroach
179. Eaten fried green tomatoes
180. Read The Iliad
181. Selected one “important” author who you missed in school, and read.
182. Dined in a restaurant and stolen silverware, plates, cups because your apartment needed them
183. …and gotten 86′ed from the restaurant because you did it so many times, they figured out it was you
184. Taught yourself an art from scratch
185. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
186. Apologized to someone years after inflicting the hurt
187. Skipped all your school reunions
188. Had sex with someone half your age or twice your age.
189. Been elected to public office
190. Written your own computer language
191. Thought to yourself that you’re living your dream
192. Had to put someone you love into hospice care
193. Built your own PC from parts
194. Sold your own artwork to someone who didn’t know you
195. Had a booth at a street fair
196. Dyed your hair
197. Been a DJ
198. Found out someone was going to dump you via LiveJournal
199. Written your own role playing game
200. Been arrested

Festivities I: Denny Reunion

2011-12-18T09:19:00.000-08:00

A good old Denison Road reunion. Gallerz ruined it by not turning up.

Sam stuffing a pie down her face;

Me & Doohan showing them how it's done;

Sam & Emily;

A gangsta;

On another note, Blogspot you are utter shite. It's taken me about 20 minutes to post this. FIX IT.

Taylor has a frigging party

2011-12-17T10:12:00.000-08:00

Taylor had a party, and me & Jenna showed up with our dinner and too much alcohol.
I then proceeded to make a complete prat of myself, get very drunk and make lots of new friends...

Planning a little trip for 2012...

2011-12-13T16:16:00.001-08:00

...back to Tokyo!
To see my baby of course.
Missing him so much at the moment.

Update on my EXTREMELY EVENTFUL LIFE

2011-12-10T16:06:00.000-08:00

Uh, right, so an update. Just in case there's actually anyone who still bothers to ever look at this page. (Not that I'd blame you if you didn't, because lets face it, effort put into this blog = zero.)

ANYWAY, let me see (*scrolls down to see when I last posted something of substance*).

Right.
Well last time I blogged about a marvellous outing to the Bell House with some members of my squad. So let us begin there.

We went all mature and had a little gathering in Costa, where Bella was forced to dress as Piglet <3

Then, SOMETHING RIDICULOUS HAPPENED. My dear friend Jenna became 20. I had to accept that she was no longer 9 years old. It was a difficult time in my life.

The cake did not reflect the age.

I should also get a job on Blue Peter/ Art Attack. Didn't even TOUCH the PVA glue bitches.

I went to a charity football match with Sarah Ashworth. We saw some 'famous' people.

Elliot Tittensor was there and it made me happy.

Vivian visited from London and we went to Tampopo. I have never been there before but I'll tell you something: the katsu curry is LEGIT, people.

OMGPOSTINGPICTURESOFMYFOOD,THATISSUCHANASIANTHINGTODO.

Peanut had a skin problem and cost me £30 at the vets... Thankfully it was money well spent as she is back to her usual cheeky sod self now..

In other exciting and eventful news, not only do I have a job. But I have TWO.
I signed up for some freelance translation work, and got a test piece (Japanese to English) for a project with the Ministry of Justice. I passed, and I'm now on the panel for the next four years.
I am also working for The Co-Operative Banking Services :B (Yes, ME, who just about scraped a pass at GCSE maths...)
Oh, I'm trying learn Russian too. WHAT A LOL THAT IS.

I saw some pictures of my beloved North McQueen in Tokyo recently. He is looking very well, which makes me happy. I hope I can get back soon to see him. In other horsey worlds, I've been riding a lovely mare called Snowy recently, I like her :)

That's all folks.

OH HAI

2011-11-26T07:40:00.001-08:00

CBA with this blog to be honest.

I've been busy...

http://kaidancentral.blogspot.com

GO.

This week's adventures (minus one chimp)

2011-09-24T10:38:00.000-07:00

Isabella

Jenna stuffing her face

LOL

With Bella

Lauren & Bella

That is really all from this happening weekend.

One year owniversary

2011-09-21T14:06:00.000-07:00

One year today since Peanut came home :')

When she first arrived..

'Mummy? Is that you?'

Upside down, OM NOM NOM

Launching a vicious attack

A very serious discussion

Favourite photo ♥

She will sit like this for hours..

♥♥♥♥

And just to mark the occasion, she trashed her cage good and proper this morning.

Tales from Russia

2011-09-12T14:54:00.000-07:00

I found this in the cupboard. When I was little I was frigging absolutely obsessed with this book..

Peanut 11/09/2011

2011-09-10T17:01:00.001-07:00

Wild times

2011-08-29T17:19:00.000-07:00

Here they are in Mongolia International Airport, and I do feel it is time to tell you all the story of this messy night and how we ended up there.
It started off innocently in Wetherspoons, however after tipping a whole bottle of Amaretto into a pitcher & drinking it to herself, Doohan was very drunk, at which point we had to take her to the MRI. The doctor advised that we did not drink anything else for the forseeable future. However, we didn't think he was ACTUALLY SERIOUS, so after we left the MRI we went to Font Bar. Doohan got on the bus for free after pulling a scam. We eventually got to Font, where we continued to give ourselves alcohol poisoning. And the next thing you know we're in Mongolia International fucking Airport boys & girls. Now, as you can see from this picture, Doohan was asked to wear a berka, and readily accepted. HOWEVER, myself & Emily were not so keen to conform. We refused, and hey presto, we were extradited back to Longsight Police Station. Before we could say ALLLLBAGHDADY CAFE, we were being strip searched in HMP Holloway. Thankfully, Grace Galloway paid our bail, and we were able to leave Holloway and return to Manchester for a hearty helping of Chicken Meal 1 before bed.

Also today we went to see Smurfs 3D and were HIGHLY entertained, despite our age.

Recent adventures

2011-08-23T12:53:00.000-07:00

Last night Louise Howard just invited herself to my house like the cheeky cow she is.

You can see I am not impressed.

Peanut was then brought out to share in the joy.

Later the fear of god was instilled upon when Louise Howard had yet another psychotic episode in her sleep.

This time, at 3am, as I was minding my own business, Louise Howard sat straight up in bed at random.

Of course, as any normal person would, I asked 'what the hell are you doing you freak?'

To which I received an answer in a foreign language, not once but TWICE. Now don't ask me what language this was, because it was nothing of this earth. I promptly told dear old Louise Howard that she had lost the plot, to which I was told 'OH BE QUIET' whilst she lay upside down on the bed with no pillows, stole the whole duvet and went back to sleep. Disgusting behaviour from a disgusting individual.

Moving slowly on, we briefly visited town this morning where Louise Howard could not control her food urges.

This was followed by a trip to see Alfie!

I LOVE THIS HORSE WAY TOO MUCH.

Mr Alfie!

2011-07-29T14:23:00.000-07:00

Handsome man ♥

A budget Chimp Squad outing

2011-07-27T09:38:00.000-07:00

A grand Chimp's picnic in Abney Hall

My new best friend!

2011-07-20T13:17:00.000-07:00

Meeeet....

Alfie!!!

New horsey I've been riding :)

He's very cute! Only a baby, so still learning.

Our half decent jumpies, although we knocked one and clipped the other LOL

Graduationnnnnnnnn

2011-07-14T13:01:00.000-07:00

Some pictures and blah.

Me & Emily

Oh NO the parents.

Me & Paulina

Vivian, Marc, Me, Paulina & Emily

Cayley, Me & Emily

Me & Grace

Ruben, Tom, Me, Vivian, Paulina & Cayley

Hat throwing, missed the hats off though..

Kat, Marc, Me, Ruben, Vivian, Tom, Paulina & Cayley

Too far

Emily, Stefano & Me

Ruben, Cayley, Ian, Me, Tom, Kat, Vivian & Paulina

Mozzzzzz

2011-07-12T12:39:00.000-07:00

Well this is a bit late but um, I went to Morrissey last week and he was A M A Z I N G !
I was fairly near the front, and got absolutely battered in a crowd surge. But it was GOOD.
Favourite was a toss up between 'There Is A Light That Never Goes Out', 'Everyday Is Like Sunday' & 'First Of The Gang To Die.'

So a few pretty poor photographs, my camera tried bless it.

Videos tooooo!

However, aside from the gig being BRILLIANT, the rest of the day was a bit of a disaster. Everything that could go wrong, did go wrong.
1.) Airport trains delayed, I had to go to Piccadilly.
2.) Louise Howard charged £29.50 to get to Leeds, whereas I was only charged a tenner.
3.) I tried to get information from the guy at the ticket desk in Piccadilly, who could not speak a word of English. Nice one BRITISH rail.
4.) We got in a taxi at Leeds, only to take the shame of him telling us it was a 2 minunte walk and you could see the building right in front of us.
5.) The taxi driver was in fact lying, and we had to trek.
6.) The support band were crap and went on for 55 million years.
7.) Louise Howard spent half the night in the toilet.
8.) I got beer thrown all over me.
9.) We ran for the 10.35 train back to Manchester. Or rather, I ran for it, thinking Howard was behind me. But Howard was not. Howard wasn't even through the ticket gate. Then strolled at 1mph and we missed the train because this BASTARD wouldn't wait for two seconds. So I abused him.
10.) I lost the straw for my drink.
11.) We had to wait in the freezing station for an hour, with this girl who couldn't be arsed to go and check the train route so just kept asking everyone. No one knew.
12.) We finally got on the train and ended up next to these women who did not shut the FUCK up the whole way.
13.) The train was freezing because the aircon was on, at midnight. Work that out.
14.) Mate, I'm not joking, it took an absolute AGE to get back to Manchester. Including a nice ten hour stop in Salford Crescent, which wasn't even on the same line?
15.) Got back. 60p to use a pay phone? It was 20p in my day.
16.) £1.60 for a drink from the vending machine...... what?
17.) We ordered two taxis, mine came 55 million years before Howard's.

But Morrissey was bloody beautiful so its fine.

Some from today's hack!

2011-06-21T11:10:00.000-07:00

Cayley on Bilko

My view from Bruno's back!

Mel on Tegan, Me on Bruno & Cayley on Bilko

Cayley & Bilko

Handsome man ♥

Royale ♥

Foxyyyyy!

Some horseys!

2011-06-14T14:46:00.000-07:00

A couple from today.

My new love, Royale ♥

Little Charlie

Good friend Foxy :)

Recent Adventures

2011-06-07T12:25:00.000-07:00

Well, how grand.
The University ordeal has been over for a week now, and I have done a grand total of: not much.
Applied to more jobs than I've had hot dinners with zero results so far. Not that there's ANYTHING decent out there, unless you're interested in recruitment consultancy. Which, in case you were wondering, I am not.

ANYHOW
Louise Howard's birthday was celebrated in style earlier this week;

It was all very quaint, apart from the fact I was nearly frozen into hypothermia by Hard Rock Cafe's aircon.

This, my friends, is England. No need.

Also just in case anyone cares, I rode the new horsey today. She's called Royale and is an absolute B E A U T ♥ Pictures soon oh yes.

Oh, and AND.
At this exact time in exactly one month, I will be in the Leeds o2 Academy, stood in front of MORRISSEY!!!!!!

THE 4 YEAR ORDEAL IS OVER

2011-05-31T04:21:00.001-07:00

My last exam was this morning.
GOOD BYE UNIVERSITY OF MANCHESTER.

Useless degree: check.
No job prospects: check.
Massive overdraft: check.
Waste of time: check.

Lets all get on with our lives.

one down, one to go

2011-05-26T07:04:00.000-07:00

Well, only one exam left before I finish university foreverrrrrrrrrr.
I'm done with language now too. We had the advanced reading exam the other day. It wasn't as bad as expected; one gender translation and an essay on 不登校. Now all I have left is Japanese Theatre exam next Tuesday. In English.
I celebrated this victorious return to not worrying about kanji by:

Chucking out a big pile of useless notes from first, second and final year,

Going riding. On my favourtiest horsey, Lady ♥

And we also all went for a jolly garden party at one of the lecturer's houses.
LOL.None of the other lecturers turned up of course. Shows the respect for us. Thank you for being the first year of mugs to take this course. Etc. Not.

Graduate me out of this shit hole!

Happy Birthday Moz!!!!

2011-05-21T18:14:00.001-07:00

Morrissey on the 7th July!

2011-05-19T12:50:00.000-07:00

I AM GOING TO SEE MORRISSEY IN JULY!!!!! OMGOMGOMGOMGM!

I can edit this slightly, now I am able to structure a sentence.
I AM GOING TO SEE MORRISSEY LIVE IN LESS THAN TWO MONTHS!
Got two tickets to his sell out tour, at Leeds o2 Academy.
STANDING NEAR THE FRONT TOO.
YESSSSSSS!

13,178 words later, dissertation is DONE!

2011-05-14T08:16:00.000-07:00

Yes, it has been a long and stressful week in the world of dissertation.

Thursday was a hard day in the life of many, including our house...

I finally finished writing at 10.30pm. Then I had to format the bastard; page numbers, table of contents, double spacing (which I do not believe in) blah blah blahhhhhhhh. Then we headed to print them out. At 1.30am, £12, 88 pages and lots of stress later, it was done. The next morning we had to trot on down to get the buggers bound, another £7.

THE FINISHED PRODUCT:

Well THANK GOD FOR THAT.

Post-dissertation hand in celebrations included a trip to the pub with the chimpsquad...

....followed by a further trip to another pub with other dissertation celebrators and a few tag alongs

Cayley even consumed alcohol because of the stress. O M G

Only two exams to go until freedom.

日本のホラー映画とハリウッドのリメーク

2011-05-09T11:37:00.000-07:00

１９５３年に公開された「雨月物語」という映画は小説をもとにして、ホラージャンルにとってかなり大切な映画だった。この映画は浪人と迫害された女がたくさんいたので、１９６０年代の江戸ゴシック映画に大きな影響を与えた。１９７０年代の怪談ピンク映画に恨みを持つ女の数が増えてきて、伝統的な幽霊のイメージは人気が出た。江戸ゴシックと怪談ピンク映画という二つのスタイルで四谷怪談やぼたんどうろうなどの有名な怪談が使われていた。１９８０のホラーは殆どスプラッター映画だった。スプラッターとは、暴力や殺害シーンが多い映画のことで、視聴者は男性が圧倒的多数だった。しかし、１９８０年代の後半にスプラッター映画は問題になって、このような映画を見る人は実生活で暴力犯罪を犯す恐れがあると思われるようになった。だから、１９９０年代に日本の映画産業は新しいスタイルを探して、もっと心理的に怖いホラー映画を作り始めた。初めはいろいろな「怖い話」のテレビ番組が公開されたが、このジャンルの一番有名な作品は「リング」という映画だ。
この心理的に怖い映画は「Jホラー」と呼ばれて、江戸ゴシックと怪談ピンク映画と同じような幽霊のイメージを使っているが、暴力の代わりにサスペンスが一番大切な要素だ。
以前の日本のホラーだけでなく、Jホラーは１９９０年代のアメリカのホラー映画と全く違った。そのとき、アメリカでスプラッター映画はとても人気があった。普通のアメリカのスプラッターはモンスターやストーカーがいてたくさん人々が殺される。しかし、モンスターにしろ人間にしろ、結局は負けるだろう。一方で、Jホラーは幽霊や見えないものを使って、この物の呪いなどは止まりにくい。例えば、「リング」の貞子という幽霊は呪われるビデオテープを作って、見た人は１週後死ぬ。自分の命を救う方法があるが、呪いを全く隠滅するのは無理だ。この呪いそのものは本当のホラーだと私は思う。

「The Ring」は２００２年に公開されて、Jホラーのリメークの最小だった。「The Ring」は作るのに４千万ドルかかったが、興行収入で２億ドルを設けた。
この映画は最も成功したホラー映画・成功したリメークの一つだといわれている。というのは、公開のとき欧米の視聴者にとって、「The Ring」はとても新しいスタイルだったのではないだろうか。
「The Ring」の話の筋は「リング」と大体同じだったが、日本の代わりにアメリカを舞台にして、俳優はみんなアメリカ人だった。「リング」と比べて、リメークは特殊撮影が多くてもっとはっきりした筋の説明があった。「The Ring」のあと、日本のホラー映画をリメークするのは大変人気になった。この日本の映画はアジアで大ヒットしたので、リメークの成功と利益が保証された。

しかし、日本の映画とリメークのどちらの方が怖いの？勿論、人によって意見が違うが、私は６０人の意見を調査することにした。半分は日本人で、半分は欧米人だった。
調査に日本の映画とリメークの写真があって、回答者は一番怖い映画を選んだ。映画の選択は「リング」、「回路」、「呪怨」、「ほの暗い水の底から」と「着信アリ」という５つの有名なホラー映画、そしてこの映画のそれぞれのリメークだった。
全体的には、日本人は日本の映画の方が怖いと思ったことがわかる。すべての映画で日本人の回答者の５０％以上は日本の映画を選んだ。いろいろな理由が挙げられたが、一位は「特殊撮影があまりないから」だった。化粧にしろCGIにしろ、リメークは特殊撮影が多くて怖くないということだ。二位は「日本の映画の方が心理的だから」だった。見えないものとサスペンスを通じて、多くのことが想像に任せられるということだ。三位は「日本の映画の画像の方が強いから」だった。一方で、リメークを選んだ欧米人が多かった。この主な理由は「リメークの特殊撮影のほうがいいから」だった。二位は「リメークの幽霊の方が怖いから」、三位は「無気味なシーンが多いから」だった。

次、「日本のホラー映画がリメークされるのはなぜか」と６０人に聞いた。
３０人は「日本の概念などが分かりにくい」という理由を挙げた。日本のホラーは民話、伝統的な信念や死生の概念が多いが、欧米でこのような概念の意味が失われる可能性がある。
１０人は「日本の映画は説明があまりないので、分かりにくい」という理由を挙げた。例えば、「ほの暗い水の底から」という映画で、幽霊が本当に存在するのははっきりしないが、欧米人は説明が好きで、もっと論理的な映画が欲しい。
９人は「欧米人は特殊撮影が好きだ」と思って、そして６人は「欧米人は字幕が嫌いだ」という理由を挙げた。

このような結果を見ると、日本の視聴者と欧米の視聴者の好みが全然違う。日本のホラー映画で曖昧さが多くて、特殊撮影を使わないのはいいことだと思われるのに、アメリカで他のスタイルが怖い。新しい視聴者の好みに合わせるために多くのことが変えられる。

Today...

2011-05-06T13:46:00.000-07:00

I had my last ever ever ever class!
After 19 years of sitting in a classroom, I HAVE BEEN LIBERATED.

In other news, I am actually wondering whether Steven Patrick Morrissey might possibly be God?
Consider that your thought for the day.

Our Birthday Cake!

2011-05-05T08:23:00.001-07:00

Mine & Cayley's birthday cake sent by Cayley's mum LOL.

Royal Boredom

2011-04-28T07:51:00.001-07:00

Absolutely do not care about this royal wedding.
Keep it.
DO NOT WANT.
Get off the TV, get out of my life. They weren't even considerate enough to have it next week so I could have a day off uni. Bastards.

A Chimpsquad 18th celebration!

2011-04-27T15:15:00.000-07:00

Shocking really to think that just a few years ago (well, ten to be precise) we looked like this!

BECAUSE YESTERDAY we gathered to celebrate the 18th birthday of our dear chimpsquadron, Lauren.

Can't believe it!

I have known her since the day she was born.

We were innocent until Taylor and Jenna joined and corrupted us!

Token chimp

I decided that to mark the occasion, I would buy her an alcoholic drink. IT FELT WRONG! I was scared in case I was arrested for supplying alcohol to minors, even though shes not a minor..

Token chimp cake (we didn't make this one, but we were nervous the whole time waiting for it to come out LOL)

Wiggas at the bus stop, even managed to get baby chimp in this photo!

Debdale Park, and memorial for Mrs H

2011-04-17T20:41:00.000-07:00

Well myself & Louise Howard had a day of thrills today.

(Though I think we should probably say yesterday, since Its like, 4.43am. And I have no life.)

Our action packed day included a trip to Debdale Park in Gorton, one of our favourite haunts.

Lets not lie, its aite for the middle of Manchester dont you think?

Anyway, the purpose of the trip to Gorton today was to mark the 1 year anniversary of Mrs H.

However, since this is us, it could not go to plan.

We had this grand plan, involving two of those memorial lanterns & a candle lighter.

So you know, we opened the paper lanterns, fixed the candles in, Howard stood there and I set it alight.

What is supposed to happen next, you ask?

Well, in theory, the lantern is supposed to fill with hot air, and then you can let go and it will float away serenely.

No. It wont.

The lantern just WOULD NOT lift off.

In the end we gave up, and dunked it in Gorton resy before we caused a bush fire. I believe my choice of wording was something along the lines of "dunk the fucker in."

Good times.

Hacking in North Wales

2011-04-10T08:28:00.000-07:00

A couple from this weekend!

Me & Herbie! Handsome boy :)

Cayley & Amran

What a pair of posers those horses were!

2011-04-06T18:46:00.001-07:00

SPOILT.

2011-03-28T18:20:00.000-07:00

Just thought I'd share with you all the story of Peanut, my spoilt brat.
Peanut is a hamster.
Better still, Peanut is a dwarf hamster.
But most of all, Peanut is a spoilt little princess, it would seem.
Last week I was running low on her food, so I went to buy another bag. They didn't have the usual stuff I buy, so I got something similar, in a bigger bag.
But will she eat it?
Oh no.
It appears, ladies and gentlemen, that I have a brand-loving hamster.
Peanut will not touch her food bowl. In fact, she looks at it in disgust. She will not eat this stuff.
I have been strong for two days now, but she still refuses. She has been living off the stuff she hides all around her cage, but obviously thats run out now and she is not amused.
I said I would be strong.
I SAID I WOULDN'T GIVE IN.
But alas, Peanut has had three treats and a helping of broccoli for dinner tonight, and I suppose I'll be going to get the brand hamster food tomorrow.
Let this be a lesson to you people, NEVER SPOIL THEM or, like Peanut, they will refuse to accept anything but the manner to which they have become accustomed.

THANK YOU, AND GOOD NIGHT.

50 THINGS WE HATE, by Rachel & Louise

2011-03-25T16:14:00.000-07:00

50.) SLOW WALKERS.

Why do you exist? Do you think we have got nothing better to do in our lives than walk so slow that we are at one with the snails. Speed up, or get in the slow lane.

49.) PRAMS

Just because you couldn't keep your legs shut doesn't mean I deserve to be run over by your oversized, overpriced baby bed on wheels. You do not have a right of way just because you spawned another little chav in your uterus. Oh, and when you're getting on the bus, fold it the fuck up, because I want to sit on the front seat.

48.) CHARGING FOR CARRIER BAGS IN SHOPS

I'm sorry but are you that desperate?

47.) SPEAKING OF CARRIER BAGS, "DO YOU WANT A CARRIER BAG?"

No, I'm just going to carry a week's worth of shopping in my hand.

46.) PEOPLE GIVING OUT LEAFLETS OR TRYING TO GET YOU WITH CLIPBOARDS

No, I dont want a haircut. I'm not interested in Jesus. And I don't use deodrant. So just FUCK OFF.

45.) PEOPLE WHO WHISPER ALL THE WAY THROUGH A FILM IN THE CINEMA

I'm not saying I'm entiley innocent, because when I was 15 I used to pay to go into a film and cause disruption. However, I did it for the thrill. If you can't stop your shit conversation for 2 hours of your life, you don't deserve to be on this planet.

44.) HERE COME THE GIRLS

No body fucking likes Boots.

43.) PARK CHRISTMAS CATALOGUE

Who the hell plans ahead for Christmas 3010?

42.) WHEN YOU'RE 394832948 MILES BEHIND SOMEONE AND THEY HOLD THE DOOR OPEN FOR YOU, AND YOU HAVE TO RUN

I'm actually capable of opening the door myself, and it requires less energy than the 100mph sprint I had to do to reach you.

41.) SPEAKING OF DOORS, WHEN YOU'RE BEHIND SOMEONE FOR LIKE 10 DOORS IN A ROW, AND THEY HOLD EVERY DOOR OPEN FOR YOU.

Saying thanks everytime gets boring, if not awkward.

40.) WHEN YOU'RE IN A RESTAURANT AND THEY ASK YOU "IS EVERYTHING OKAY WITH YOUR MEAL?" AT THE EXACT MOMENT THAT YOU HAVE YOUR MOUTH FULL

Next time I think I will just show you the entire contents of my mouth and say "you tell me, how does it look?"

39.) PEOPLE OF THE INTERNET, WHO CANNOT SPELL OR USE CORRECT GRAMMAR

Learn how to spell before you hit the keyboard.

Common mistakes:

Your and You're

Their and There

Two and To

Common misspellings:

Ppl

Kwl

Dat

38.) COUPLES WHO INSIST ON MAKING OUT IN PUBLIC

I just puked in my mouth a little bit. Get a room.

37.) PEOPLE WHO CANNOT CONTROL THEIR CHILDREN

Give them a fucking good hiding and tell them to shut the fuck up please.

36.) PEOPLE WHO WALK DOWN THE STREET EATING

Can you not just wait for 5 fucking minutes?

35.) PEOPLE WHO CANT KEEP THEIR ELBOWS TO THEMSELVES ON BUSES

I'd hate to see you reading a broadsheet if you can't even keep your elbow from breaking my ribs with your shitty heat magazine.

34.) INDIES WHO THINK THEY'RE ORIGINAL

They are all so busy trying to be original, that none of them seem to notice they all look the same

33.) CHAVS SHARING THEIR MUSIC WITH THE WORLD

Do you understand the concept of the earphone?

32.) GIGGLEY, SILLY GIRLS

Listen to yourself. The brothel is that way.

31.) PEOPLE WHO MAKE A HUGE DEAL WHEN THEY MISS A BUS THAT COMES EVERY 5 MINUTES

Fucking hell why didn't you just get a career in drama

30.) PEOPLE WHO TRY TO BE THE CENTRE OF ATTENTION IN MANCHESTER

Getting out their stereos, busting some moves, tranna be Michael Jackson. No.

29.) PEOPLE WHO COMPLAIN ABOUT A CULTURE THEY'VE CHOSEN TO LIVE IN

Either like it, or get out. Preferabley the latter.

28.) DISNEYLAND ADVERTS

Not every person under the age of 15 has a cornary when they are told they are being dragged to this overly sweet and sickly hell hole.

27.) THE WAY AMERICANS SAY 'PALM'

Polm is not a word, actually.

26.) EMMA GWILT NOT CONTACTING YOU FOR 4 MONTHS

Who the fuck even is she?

25.) KATIE PRICE GOING BACK TO SLAGDOM

I preferred it when you were a really boring part of that programme, where Peter Andre just used to stand in the kitchen waffling on about his life. And if you don't want them horses, I'll have em.

24.) BOG OF OFER

Its not even spelt as 'bog off'.

23.) 13 YEAR OLD GIRLS THINKING THEY'RE MATURE JUST BECAUSE THEY'VE DISCOVERED EYELINER

I hope you blind yourself

22.) PEOPLE WHO START A CONVERSATION WITH "HOW ARE YOU?"

Clearly don't give a damn.

21.) MEN IN THOSE SHIT OVERSIZED CHRISTMAS JUMPERS FROM PRIMARK OR TOPSHOP

You look like a fucking wufter

20.) MEN IN GENERAL

Man up and be a man. Yours sincerely, Louise Howard

19.) PEOPLE WHO THINK THEY'RE REALLY HARD ON THE INTERNET

Yes I am shaking at my keyboard, because I really care what you think!

18.) PEOPLE WHO SIT NEXT TO YOU WHEN THE WHOLE BUS IS EMPTY

Piss off

17.) PEOPLE WHO OPEN THE WINDOW ON THE BUS WHEN ITS MINUS 5 OUTSIDE

Go back to where you came from, ya eskimo

16.) GIRLS WHO WEAR RIDICULOUSLY HIGH HEELS AND THINK THEY LOOK GOOD

You. Can't. Walk.

SNAP.

You have broken your neck, soz.

15.) MASSIVE BUNS ON THE TOP OF ONE'S HEAD

In no universe does this look goo

14.) PEOPLE WHO CANNOT GET OFF THEIR FUCKING MOBILE PHONE FOR ONE MINUTE ON THE BUS/ IN THE SHOP

Stop talking to your fucking dad

13.) PEOPLE WHO THINK THEY'RE GOOD SITTING IN STARBUCKS WITH THEIR LAPTOPS

Get off microsoft paint and get a life. Oh and buy a kettle.

12.) PEOPLE WHO TAKES AGES TO REPLY TO EMAILS

Don't try to pretend you have an exciting life. I know I am your only friend.

11.) THEM STUPID "HEADBANDS" THAT LOOK LIKE HATS

You look like a twat.

10.) THEM UGLY FAKE ANIMAL FUR COATS

Firstly, its quite warm. Secondly, you look like a knobhead. Thirdly, that coat needs a wash.

09.) PEOPLE WHO THINK THEY'RE REALLY INTO VINTAGE

You just bought that from topshop. You have no idea what the 1960s was like.

08.) PEOPLE WHO WALK AROUND IN EQUESTRIAN COATS AND JODPHURS.

If you so much as looked at a horse you would break a nail. Plus the maroon coats look like morrisons uniform

07.) PEOPLE TAKING A YEAR AT THE ATM MACHINE

Don't pretend you have money. Now slide that fiver in your purse and roll.

06.) PEOPLE WHO WALK UP AND DOWN ESCALATORS

Go back to London

05.) PEOPLE WHO THINK "RECIEVE" IS SPELT "RECIEVE"
Just because the dictionary says it is spelt "recieve" doesn't mean IT ACTUALLY IS
04.) PEOPLE WHO ASK YOU HOW YOU ARE, JUST SO YOU WILL ASK THEM, THEN THEY CAN MOAN ABOUT THEIR LIVES
I don't give a fuck

03.) SOUTHERNERS

Why are you littering my city? You all look the same. You all dress the same. And unfortunatley for me, you all talk with the same shitty accent. No body on the bus wants to hear about your fucking gap year. No one wants to hear about what you did last night. NO ONE WANTS TO HEAR ABOUT WHAT YOU GOT YOUR FUCKING MUM FOR HER FUCKING 100TH BIRTHDAY. Why do you have to talk so frigging loud, and in such a fucking Kiera Knightley way? Stop piling on the busses constantly. Stop trying to look "grimey" yet "fit"- the two do not go together. Wash your hair once in a blue moon. And next time you try to make the journey from the South to the North, look out for the wall that I am currently building entitled "The Great Divide". It seperates the scum (you) from the bourgeois (us.)

02.) ANIMAL CRUELTY
Perhaps I will come and rip your limbs off and the RSPCA will give me a little fine of £25. After all, an earthworm has more intelligence than you.
01.) PEOPLE WHO WRITE LISTS ABOUT THINGS THEY HATE
Get a fucking life.

Bruno the big hairy beast!

2011-03-21T11:44:00.000-07:00

Roar?

2011-03-17T10:49:00.001-07:00

Fundraising for the Red Cross Japanese Tsunami Appeal

2011-03-16T12:21:00.000-07:00

Fundraising with the Manchester Japanese Society today in Manchester city centre for the Tsunami appeal.
It is great to see there are so many generous people out there showing support :)

British Red Cross Japanese Tsunami Appeal

2011-03-13T09:21:00.000-07:00

 DONATE

Samson!

2011-03-08T04:56:00.000-08:00

Meet the new coblet on the riding school, Samson.

I am in love!!!

The Human Centipede (2009)

2011-03-05T15:37:00.000-08:00

So what exactly is this?

I'd like to say its an insult to the world of horror films, but can we really even call it a horror film?

If, by film, we mean a vile little piece of gratuitous shite, then this is indeed a film. But I think we all know the truth about this "film"!

There is nothing in this crap that you can't get faster sticking pins in your eyes.

I have seen a lot of gross things in my time ladies and gentlemen, but this surely tops it all. 'The Human Centipede' isn't really worthy of a film review, so it's just going to get a good slating instead.

This came out in 2009. The only reason I am coming back to it now is because recently I have heard that this bollocks is being shown on national television.

Sorry, what?

And what is worse than a "film" about a freaky German doctor who likes connecting people together arse to mouth? I'll tell you what- the fact that somebody actually sat down, thought this up and decided to share it with the world.

This is the most pathetic excuse for entertainment I have ever come accross in my life.

True shite from the word go.

AVOID.

The 30 Day Photo Challenge, Day 30: A picture of someone you miss

2011-03-04T13:44:00.000-08:00

MY BABY

***

And on that note, THE END of this bloody 30 photo challenge. Which clearly took alot longer than 30 days, considering I had a week where I just could not be arsed.

Anyway, I shall also take this opportunity for a good bloody rant about how crap my life is!! I can't wait to graduate. Seriously. I'll be lucky if i do even graduate though, LETS FACE IT. And on top of the fact the whole thing is a shambles, I am SWAMPED....

-Presentation for theatre class on Abe Kobo. (Yup, I didn't know who he was either.)
-Essay for the same class. On Kabuki.

-Three more presentations for reading class on academic nonsense. And one of them has to be filmed :(

-Grammar coming out of my ears.

-I still have to deal with the fact I want keigo to get out of my life.

-Another ridiculous oral exam to prepare for.

-Translation woe.

-The small matter of my 12,000 word dissertation.

Get the picture?

The only highlight of the week is horsey hour on Monday.
I want my life back.

I want my soul back.

Plzthx.

The 30 Day Photo Challenge, Day 29: Day 29 - A picture that can always make you smile

2011-03-03T13:42:00.000-08:00

Clearly cause its meant to be 1245

The 30 Day Photo Challenge, Day 28: A picture of something you're afraid of

2011-03-02T00:38:00.000-08:00

The 30 Day Photo Challenge, Day 27: A picture of yourself and a family member

2011-02-28T17:02:00.000-08:00

Cousin Peter

The 30 Day Photo Challenge, Day 26: A picture of something that means alot to you

2011-02-27T20:13:00.000-08:00

CHIMPSQUAD

(Ten years on, and I so do not look like THAT anymore.)

The 30 Day Photo Challenge, Day 25: A picture of your day

2011-02-27T06:34:00.000-08:00

The best kind of day ;)

The 30 Day Photo Challenge, Day 24: A picture of something you wish you could change

2011-02-26T15:30:00.000-08:00

Wish I had seen him again :(

The 30 Day Photo Challenge, Day 23: A picture of your favorite book

2011-02-24T08:11:00.000-08:00

I don't really have a favourite book but I suppose this is as near as damnit.

The 30 Day Photo Challenge, Day 22: A picture of something you wish you were better at

2011-02-22T17:53:00.001-08:00

Goodbyes!

The 30 Day Photo Challenge, Day 21: A picture of something you wish you could forget

2011-02-22T10:18:00.001-08:00

The period of my life in which I had this hairstyle.

The 30 Day Photo Challenge, Day 20: A picture of somewhere you'd love to travel

2011-02-20T16:39:00.000-08:00

The 30 Day Photo Challenge, Day 19: A picture and a letter

2011-02-20T12:40:00.000-08:00

I don't really know what this means tbh.

JUST FOR THE RECORD.

2011-02-16T18:45:00.000-08:00

I cannot flipping wait to get out of this stupid university.
SICK OF THE WHOLE BLOODY LOT.
ROLL ON JULY 14TH.

The 30 Day Photo Challenge, Day 18: A picture of your biggest insecurity

2011-02-16T14:26:00.000-08:00

ELBOWS. HEELS. THE LOT.

The 30 Day Photo Challenge, Day 17: A picture of something that has made a huge impact on your life recently

2011-02-15T04:56:00.000-08:00

Not really recent, but I tend to avoid impact these days.

The 30 Day Photo Challenge, Day 16: A picture of someone who inspires you

2011-02-13T16:10:00.000-08:00

Consider yourself inspired. Not that it takes me much persuading to be a freak.

The 30 Day Photo Challenge, Day 15: A picture of something you want to do before you die

2011-02-12T17:07:00.001-08:00

This ones a bit shit, but theres no photo for world domination.

Jenna (& "Isabella")'s Baby Shower 12/2/2011

2011-02-12T11:37:00.000-08:00

A quaint day, organised (sort of) by myself and my constituent Taylor.

The banner, as designed by me & Taylor.

The cake. I'd like to take the credit, but actually I got Cayley to ice it, cause I'm SHIT!

Lauren, Rachel & Mr H.

Getting cozy.

Opening presents. Spoilt baby already! ;)

Ashley, Molly, Jenna, Rachel, Me, Lauren, Jess.

Chimpsquad! Rachel, Me, Lauren, Jenna.

Lauren stuffing her face!

With my good friend Mr H.

Clearly there is nothing wrong with waltzing in the kitchen?

Rachel, Lauren, Rosie & Me.

We shall look forward to meeting Isabella in June ;)

The 30 day Photo Challenge, Day 14: A picture of someone you could never imagine your life without

2011-02-11T17:29:00.000-08:00

The 30 Day Photo Challenge, Day 13: A picture of your favourite artist or band

2011-02-10T19:00:00.000-08:00

The 30 Day Photo Challenge, Day 12: A picture of something you love

2011-02-10T10:40:00.000-08:00

The 30 Day Photo Challenge, Day 11: A picture of something you hate

2011-02-08T17:29:00.001-08:00

The 30 Day Photo Challenge, Day 10: A picture of the person you do the most ****** up things with

2011-02-07T17:42:00.000-08:00

The picture speaks for itself really, doesn't it?

The 30 Day Photo Challenge, Day 09: A picture of the person who has gotten you through the most

2011-02-06T18:52:00.001-08:00

The 30 Day Photo Challenge, Day 08: A picture that makes you laugh

2011-02-05T16:21:00.001-08:00

The 30 Day Photo Challenge, Day 07: A picture of your most treasured item

2011-02-04T16:14:00.000-08:00

MA BABY.

The 30 Day Photo Challenge, Day 06: A picture of a person you'd love to trade places with for a day

2011-02-03T16:25:00.000-08:00

OUTTA MY SEAT, BITCH

The 30 Day Photo Challenge, Day 05: A picture of your favourite memory

2011-02-02T17:05:00.000-08:00

My last ride on Northy in Japan.
Perfect boy ♥

The 30 Day Photo Challenge, Day 04: A picture of your night

2011-02-01T16:24:00.000-08:00

I'm presuming this wants a picture of a typical night. This picture sums up pretty much every night out since I started uni. LOL.

The 30 Day Photo Challenge, Day 03: A picture of the cast from your favorite show

2011-01-31T16:19:00.000-08:00

Shameless, of course ;)

The 30 Day Photo Challenge, Day 02: A picture of you and the person you have been closest with the longest

2011-01-30T17:11:00.001-08:00

The 30 Day Photo Challenge, Day 01: A picture of yourself with ten facts.

2011-01-30T05:49:00.000-08:00

1.) I have an unhealthy obsession for John Travolta.

2.) I wanted to be a vet for the first 16 years of my life.. until I realised I fucking hated science & maths.

3.) I am allergic to Morrisons own peanut butter. But any other type is fine.

4.) I fell off a horse in Japan and managed to crack my back tooth completely in half.

5.) The country I would most like to visit next is Russia- Moscow & Vladivostok please.

6.) Speaking of which, I don't want kids of my own, but I'm going to adopt from Russia.

7.) I have ridden an elephant.
8.) I was born in the wrong era. I should have grown up during the 60s, the 70s, or the 80s. But NOT the 90s.

9.) When I get my own horse, I'm going to call it Pannochka. FACT.

10.) I had a paranormal experience whilst I was in Japan. Nuff said.

The 30 Day Photo Challenge

2011-01-30T05:44:00.000-08:00

Day 01 - A picture of yourself with ten facts
Day 02 - A picture of you and the person you have been closest with the longest
Day 03 - A picture of the cast from your favorite show
Day 04 - A picture of your night
Day 05 - A picture of your favorite memory
Day 06 - A picture of a person you'd love to trade places with for a day
Day 07 - A picture of your most treasured item
Day 08 - A picture that makes you laugh
Day 09 - A picture of the person who has gotten you through the most
Day 10 - A picture of the person you do the most ****** up things with
Day 11 - A picture of something you hate
Day 12 - A picture of something you love
Day 13 - A picture of your favorite band or artist
Day 14 - A picture of someone you could never imagine your life without
Day 15 - A picture of something you want to do before you die
Day 16 - A picture of someone who inspires you
Day 17 - A picture of something that has made a huge impact on your life recently
Day 18 - A picture of your biggest insecurity
Day 19 - A picture and a letter
Day 20 - A picture of somewhere you'd love to travel
Day 21 - A picture of something you wish you could forget
Day 22 - A picture of something you wish you were better at
Day 23 - A picture of your favorite book
Day 24 - A picture of something you wish you could change
Day 25 - A picture of your day
Day 26 - A picture of something that means a lot to you
Day 27 - A picture of yourself and a family member
Day 28 - A picture of something you're afraid of
Day 29 - A picture that can always make you smile
Day 30 - A picture of someone you miss
Day 31 - A picture of yourself

Some horsey action from today!

2011-01-24T13:17:00.000-08:00

Louise & Dazzler

Toffee ♥ (please excuse the fact I look like a disgruntled 6 year old..)

With Freddo, both blatez trying to pull the most stupid faces we could

With Rupert!

Louise & Domino

Oh, and a video of me riding Rupert!

Introduction to Japanese horror? More like an introduction to most mispelt words EVER.

2011-01-18T17:58:00.000-08:00

I'm currently reading this book for my dissertation. "Introduction to Japanese Horror Film" by Colette Balmain.
Not by choice, let me assure you! It's just thats theres not so many books on Japanese horror film around in this country.
Anyway, the useless and irrelevant rambling- I can overlook. But for a published book, its got more spelling mistakes than stories I wrote when I was 6.
Academics eh? They like to be so high and mighty, yet 90% of them can't even get their stuff spell checked.

東京乗馬倶楽部 The revised exam version!

2011-01-14T14:33:00.000-08:00

留学をしていた間、私は乗馬をしたかったのですが、このスポーツは日本では珍しくそのためそれにかかる費用が高すぎました。だから、東京乗馬倶楽部で厩務員として働いていました。
それは、ボランティアの仕事でしたが、そのおかげで週二回無料の乗馬レッスンを受けられました。
多くの面白い人に会って、そして日本の職場を経験することができましたから、私にとって、本当にすばらしい体験でした。今日は、その体験から学んだこと、そして日本の乗馬倶楽部とイギリスの乗馬倶楽部の違いについて書きたいと思います。

馬房を掃除したり、馬を洗ったり、手入れをしたりすることは私の仕事でした。この仕事を通して、大切なことをたくさん学んだと思います。
まず、言葉だけでなくスポーツでさえ、国によってやり方が違います。自分の国のやり方に慣れるからといって、それは一番いいやり方や唯一の方法だというわけではありません。
例えば、仕事を始めたとき、日本で馬の乗り方がイギリスとちょっと違うことに気がついて、最初は「この方法が間違っていて、変だ」と私は思いました。しかし、自分の意見を強く主張するわけにはいきませんでしたから、思い切って新しい方法を使って乗ってみました。まもなく、もっと乗りやすくなってきて、色んな方法があるのが私にわかりました。

馬の乗り方や世話に関しては、違いがたくさんありました。

例えば、日本の乗馬倶楽部で、多くの馬はもともと競走馬でしたから、号令が違います。このような馬はテンションがありますから、より気をつけたほうがいいです。乗馬の道具なども違って、新しいスタイルに慣れるのに時間がかかりました。

また、日本の馬産業を取り巻く状況や雰囲気が違うのもわかりました。
イギリスで、馬に乗る人々はお高いとよく言われています。それはいつも本当ではありませんが、イギリスの馬の世界ではイメージや地位がとても大切で、お高い人が多いと思われているのではないでしょうか。
多分、どこに行っても、このような人がいますが、イギリスの乗馬倶楽部と比べて、日本ではとてもいい雰囲気があり、東京馬術倶楽部でみんなは仲良くやっていて、私を快く迎えてくれました。

多くの人は「外国人にとって、日本の職場に入るのは大変だ」といいます。大企業について私は全く知りませんが、仕事を見つけ、東京乗馬倶楽部に入るのはあまり難しくなかったと思います。もちろん、言葉の壁があって、特に日本語の馬の専門用語は大変でした。でも、みんなは馬が大好きだったからこそ、はやく溶け込めました。
このように、私は東京乗馬倶楽部で仕事をすることによって、たくさん大切なものがわかるようになりました。
イギリスと日本の文化は違っていて、乗馬でも相違がたくさんあります。初めてちょっと変でしたが、今その相違はいいことだと思います。
私の国で馬が好きな人はステレオタイプが多いですが、日本でそのステレオタイプはあてはまりません。
さらに現在の日本の職場についてのイメージは一般化されすぎているのではないでしょうか。だから、「本を表紙で判断してはいけない」ということわざは本当にそのとおりだと経験を通じて実感しました。
私は東京乗馬倶楽部で多くの優しい人に会ったり、すごい馬にたくさん乗ったりしましたから、生きている限り、この経験を忘れることはないでしょう。

Peanut!

2011-01-13T12:01:00.000-08:00

Well, I thought it was about time that Peanut was properly introduced!
Peanut is a 6 month old Russian Winter White dwarf hamster.

When she first arrived. Tiny!

"Mommy, is that you?"

She then got huuuuuge.

Attacking her christmas present with enthusiasm..

Contemplating escape?

Sitting on a loofah, eating her favourite banana snack..

And running on her wheel, looking like a fattyyy..

Thats all folks!

PS, I am thinking to get rid of blogspot and move elsewhere. It's bloody bollocks!

A successful celebration of Taylor's birthday.

2011-01-07T15:28:00.000-08:00

Yes, today we completed another successful chimpsquad event, this time in the aid of Taylor's birthday.
This event took place at my grand palace, and was kicked off with this beautiful masterpiece;

Exhibit A: The Chimp Cake, created by me & Jenna.

This was followed by prime scoffing..

And some good old fashioned playground immaturity...

Next some creative photo taking;

Concluding in sheer & utter exhaustion for Lauren!

Вий

2011-01-05T07:08:00.000-08:00

I am recently in love with the first horror film ever to be produced out of Soviet Russia, in 1967!
Known as 'Viy', it is originally a story from Ukrainian folklore. The film had a remake in 2010. I'm yet to see it, but the original is aboslutely awesome. EVERYONE should see this!!!

The original story, written by Nikolai Gogol, in 1835;
Gogol begins the story, asserting that he is retelling it exactly as he heard it. The story concerns three students from the Bratsky Monastery at Kiev. At the seminary, there are four types of students: the grammarians (freshmen), rhetoricians (sophomores), philosophers (juniors), and theologians (seniors). Every summer, after classes have ended, there is usually a large procession of all the students moving around the area as they travel home, getting progressively smaller as each student arrives at his home. Eventually, the group is reduced to three students, the theologian Khaliava (which roughly translates to "lazybones"), the philosopher Khoma Brut ("Thomas Brutus"), and the rhetorician Tibery Gorobets ("Tiberius Sparrow").

As the night draws in, the students hope to find a village near the main road where they can find some rest and food. However, they become lost in the wilderness, eventually coming upon two small houses and a farm. An old woman there tells them she has a little room and cannot accommodate any more travelers, but she eventually agrees to let them stay. The rhetorician is put in the hut, the theologian in an empty closet, and the philosopher in an empty sheep’s pen.

At night, the old woman comes to Khoma. At first, he thinks she is trying to seduce him, but then she draws closer and he sees that her eyes are glowing strangely. She leaps on his back, and he reluctantly finds himself galloping with her all over the countryside with a strength he previously never knew. (This flight obviously influenced Mikhail Bulgakov's depiction of Margarita's violation in the novel Master and Margarita[citation needed]). He eventually slows her by chanting exorcisms out loud, and then rides on her back and later picks up a piece of wood and beats her as punishment. The old woman later collapses, and he discovers she has turned into a beautiful girl.
Khoma runs away to Kiev and continues his easy life there, when a rumor reaches his dean that a rich cossack’s daughter was found crawling home near death, her last wish being for Khoma the philosopher to come and read psalms over her corpse for three days after her death.
Although Khoma is uncertain why the girl requested him specifically, the bribed dean orders him to go to the cossack’s house and comply with her last wish. Several Cossacks bring him by force to the village where the girl lived. When he is shown the corpse, however, he finds it is the witch he overcame earlier in the story. Rumors among the Cossacks are that the daughter was in league with the devil, and they tell horror stories about her evil ways, such as previously riding on another person, drinking blood, and cutting off the braids of village girls. Therefore, Khoma is reluctant to say prayers over her body at night.

On the first night, when the cossacks take her body to a ruined church, he is somewhat frightened but calms himself when he lights more candles in the church to eliminate most of the darkness, other than that above him. As he begins to say prayers, he imagines to himself that the corpse is getting up, but it never does. Suddenly, however, he looks up and finds that the witch is sitting up in her coffin. She begins to walk around, reaching out for someone, and begins to approach Khoma, but he draws a circle of protection around himself that she cannot cross. She gnashes her teeth at him as he begins to exorcise her, and then she goes into her coffin and flies about the church in it, trying to frighten him out of the circle. Dawn arrives, and he has survived the first night.

The next night similar events occur but more horrible than before, and the witch calls upon unseen, winged demons and monsters to fly about outside the church, but Khoma is invisible for them. When the cossacks find the philosopher in the morning, he is near death, pale and leaning against a wall. He tries to escape the next day but is captured and brought back to finish.

On the third night, the witch’s corpse is even more terrifying, and she calls the demons and monsters around her to bring Viy into the church, who can see everything. Khoma realizes that he cannot look at the creature when they draw his long eyelids up from the floor so he can see, but he does anyway and sees a horrible, iron face staring at him. Viy points in his direction, and the monsters leap upon him. Khoma is dead from horror. However, they miss the first crowing of the rooster and are unable to escape the church when day begins.
The priest arrives the next day to find the monsters frozen in the windows as they fled the church, and the temple is forsaken forever, eventually overgrown by weeds and trees. The story ends with Khoma’s other two friends commenting on his death and how it was his lot in life to die in such a way, agreeing that he only came to his end because he flinched and showed fear of the demons.

2010

2010-12-29T11:52:00.000-08:00

1.What did you do in 2010 that you’d never done before?
-Went to Korea
-Fed senbei to a deer
-Fell of an ex-racehorse

2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I told myself, as always, that I wouldn't get attached to any horses. As always, I failed.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Nope.

4. Did anyone close to you die?
One family member and one close friend.

5. What countries did you visit?
-Japan
-Korea

6. What would you like to have in 2011 that you lacked in 2010?
Northy in England. Not gonna happen :(

7. What date(s) from 2010 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
20th July, when I left Japan

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
My bond with Northy <3
Passing my year abroad at Keio

9. What was your biggest failure?
Falling off Espasu and cracking my tooth. Nice one!

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
See above!

11. What was the best thing you bought?
Peanut the dwarf hamster :)

12. Whose behaviour merited celebration?
Northy's blatez.

13. Whose behaviour made you appalled and depressed?
People who are an embarassment to the male species, perhaps.

14. Where did most of your money go?
It went to the many businesses and establishements of Japan, particularly Tokyo Riding Club.

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Seeing Toffee again.

16. What song will always remind you of 2010?
John Lennon- Beautiful Boy (used to sing it to Northy!)

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
Happier or sadder? Sadder without Northy :(
Richer or poorer? Poorer fo' sho'

18. What do you wish you’d done more of?
Time with my babies at TRC.

19. What do you wish you’d done less of?
Spending!

20. How did you spend Christmas?
At home with family.

21. Who deleted question 21?
Your Dad.

22. Did you fall in love in 2010?
No.

23. How many one-night stands?
Who would seriously answer this?

24. What was your favourite TV programme?
Considering I spent half the year on the other side of the world, and the other half without a TV lisence, none.

25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
Yes. EGOS.

26. What was the best book you read?
Um... The one.. I will read... soon..

27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
MORE MOTOWN!

28. What did you want and get?
Peanut!

29. What did you want and not get?
A horse! As usual.

30. What was your favorite film of this year?
Can't really say I discovered anything that good.

31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I was 22. I was in Japan. Karina was there. We went to Harajuku and had Mexican for dinner with Emily, Cayley and Stefano.

32.What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Being able to bring all the horses back to UK with me!!!

33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2010?
I spent half the year in horse riding gear.
And if all else fails (which it usually does), BLACK.

34. What kept you sane?
Horses. And my MP3 player, blatez.

35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Obviously I'm still stuck on John Travolta...

36. What political issue stirred you the most?
I like to stir others with my opinons on political issues more.

37. Who did you miss?

< Him. Always.

38. Who was the best new person you met?
I met some classics in Japan!

39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2010.
Never work for Wetherspoons.

40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
I left my heart in Tokyo!

i've already celebrated christmas 5 times this month

2010-12-22T15:11:00.000-08:00

Oh YES that is correct. 4 christmas celebrations before the 25th of December.

On Wednesday we decided it would only be decent of us to show our faces at the Japanese Studies christmas party.

Unfortunatley the red wine was too much for Stefano..

The following day we went for a nice quaint christmas dinner fest at Vivian's place..

Friday was the event of the year: Withington Palace Shit Christmas Day.
Only our oven was still broke, so we had to move it to Stefano's house.
We bought each other shit presents from the pound shop..

We made a shit Christmas meal, although it wasn't all that shit..

Monday was a nice reunion of the St James crew..

This was followed by another chimpsquad annual christmas outing on Tuesday..
Whereby Rachel Taylor showed us all how it was done in Stockport..

Chimps all round...

The end.
Now I am going to sleep until the 6th celebration on the 25th...

horsey adventures of today

2010-12-13T16:25:00.000-08:00

Me & Freddo

I rode this pony today. He's tiny, and usually has a reputation of being lazy and grumpy! Today he was such a good boy, very speedy :)

"DO NOT WANT!"

NOM NOM NOM

Me and Toffee

Of course! <3

I tried to teach her mine and Northy's carrot trick, but she didn't understand. "JUST GIVE ME IT!"

Domino!

"Dear Santa, this year for Christmas I would like..."

YES MATE.

2010-12-12T17:29:00.001-08:00

I just want to inform everyone that I have literally just whacked a 2000 word essay out in about 5 hours.
GET
THE
HELL
IN.

a rare update.

2010-11-28T19:32:00.000-08:00

I love it when I forget I own a blog for 2 months, then come on for a sweeping update at 3 in the morning.
WHERE TO START?
I'm back in the UK, but you already knew that.
I'm in the world's COLDEST fucking house in sunny Manchester. Honestly about -20 in my bedroom.
I have a pet!
Meet Peanut, the 6 month old Russian Winter White dwarf hamster!

She is small. And fat. And rather noisey after hours.

What else?

Well I went to MONKEY FOREST with my crew.

My crew (freezing their bottoms off in Stoke-On-Trent) just incase you want to visualize it..

Unsurprisingly, we saw monkeys. Many, many monkeys.

What else what else?

Oh yeah, I quit my job at Wetherspoon.

Basically because I was sick of being taken for a slave.

University, of course is disgusting. I hate dissertation. I hate writing essays. I hate having to have an opinion on things I don't have an opinion about. (And for someone like me, who has many opinions, such a case is rare.) I WANT TO BE A FIRST YEAR AGAIN!

And, someone from Keio sent me some long awaited pictures of Northy :(

WANT HIM NOWWWWWW

I passed Keioooooooooooooo

2010-09-03T08:06:00.001-07:00

GET IN.

a st ives reunion

2010-09-01T15:35:00.000-07:00

Fun times with the cruddy Market St statue...

Amazing pizza hut hats....

Mike the waiter who gives people free drinks cause he loves them...

And many...

...many..

...MANY crazy photos..

= St Ives reunion, tbh.