I'm a million different people from one day to the next...

The only consistent thing about me is my inconsistency.

I've made some decisions, and considering I'm useless at making my mind up, this is impressive.
I miss blogging, it helped keep me sane through the horror that was the first 3/4 of 2010, and was there when it all started to go right. I'm stupidly busy working, doing my Masters, and falling in love (!) but I'm going to try to find some more time to write here.
I won't be posting any book related stuff on my other blog, in fact, once I've archived it, A Book A Day Bookworm will cease to exist. Instead I will from time to time write book reviews and literary articles here, as a Bookworm feature.
I'm also attempting to get more creative writing done, there's a story I've been developing and have had percolating in my brain since I was about 5, it's a lot more sophisticated than 5-year-old or even 15-year-old me was, as someone who's slightly dreading leaving her early 20s, (I'll be 25 this year, eek!) I think it's about time to get to grips with the idea that has dominated my brain for so long. What this means is that any long absences from the blog are probably due to having a deadline for uni very near (I'm with Douglas Adams on this one "I love deadlines, I like the sound they make as they whoosh by") or because I'm attempting to cudgel my brain into handing over another bit of my book.
There may be some more poetry and random snippets of ideas, please comment constructively, it helps and keeps me writing, anything overtly negative really isn't helpful, if you don't like something, just keep schtum.
I will attempt to post regularly, once I'm back at uni next week and settled into a routine again, I'll try to pick a day to blog and keep it consistent.
I'm also trying to keep up with the blogs I follow, some of which are listed down on the right hand side, if yours is one of them, I may not have commented much recently but I am trying to make sure I read your posts, even if I'm a little behind.

So lovely blog readers, Happy New Year!! Hopefully you'll hear a lot more from me soon. :-)

I'm still here!!

Hello!
It's been a while. Things have been insane recently. Work, uni, trying to see everyone who's home for the Christmas break, spend time with my family, my boyfriend, my wonderful friends and Christmas itself on top!!Christmas was quite nice, spent the day with my family, went out for a lovely meal (saves my mum from having to do all the cooking), unwrapped my presents (Ab Fab boxset, oh yeah!), watched Doctor Who, napped from food fatigue. Did the cooking on Boxing Day with my mum, fell asleep as I was completely worn out from all the stuff I've been rushing around doing. My friend threw a Christmas party at her house on the Bank Holiday Monday, which was a giggle.
Then Tuesday (another Bank Holiday!) I went round to the boyfriend for our own Christmas, he was away over the weekend seeing his mum and family. We had a lovely roast dinner and unwrapped our gifts to each other, snuggled up and watched movies. Because I was off from uni yesterday we got to spend another day together, before I came home to sleep as it was back to work for me today.
Still, it's New Year's Eve tomorrow and another long weekend. How is everyone spending the last evening of 2010??

Something to look forward to in 2011 is the introduction of World Book Night in March, 2 days after World Book Day. 1 million books are being given away and they're looking for givers, go to http://www.worldbooknight.org/ and find out how to get involved, I've already signed up!

Happy New Year everyone!! See you in 2011 :)

Some bits and bobs floating around my brain

Firstly, sorry for the sporadic nature of my posting recently, between uni, work and attempting to have a social life, blogging has fallen by the wayside.

I'm sick, and at home, not at uni attending lectures like I should be. I have some delightful chest infection thing, that's making me really grouchy. So I'm in bed, at half 11 in the morning, wondering whether I can go to work tomorrow, because I don't want to take too much time off, and I was off yesterday because I felt like death, and not even warmed up.
I went to the theatre last night, and if the tickets weren't already booked and paid for, I'd have given it a miss and gone to bed early. I saw Wicked, it was really good, but I'd definitely enjoyed it more if I'd been able to breathe properly and didn't feel so green (and not in Wicked Witch of the West way). My friend thought he'd spotted Swedish pop star Robyn in the crowd, but it wasn't her, just someone who looked a bit like her. Though that's a secret as he'd already told some people it was her, so now I have to play along with it! I did see indie popstar Lightspeed Champion in the pub though, recognised him from Never Mind the Buzzcocks a while ago.
Friday is payday, finally! So I'm Christmas shopping this weekend, though if I'm still sick, it'll all have to be online, hopefully everything will get delivered by next week!!
For Christmas itself I'm spending the day with my family, we're going out for lunch at a restaurant, we did the same thing last year, so my mum doesn't have to spend all day slaving away. Boxing Day will probably be spent watching films and eating random things from the fridge. Also chocolate.
My friend Emma is throwing a party on the 27th, Secret Santa, drinks, laughs, should be good. Usually is when we all get together. Then I get to spend the 28th and 29th with my lovely Boy. His dad's bringing him down (he's going home for the holiday weekend), so I'll get to meet his dad, and have another Christmas, opening presents and being cosy. Watching festive films and eating yummy things.
I'm seeing my grandparents next week, so really it's like 3 Christmasses this year. I think I'll survive it all, but it'll probably wipe me out.
There's a few things planned for the new year too. On top of which I have essays to write and work to turn up for. This being a grown up lark is starting to wear me out. Can't I just be irresponsible again.

So what are you lovely people doing for the holidays this year??

Screen Queens - Girl Heroes?

From the movies I used to watch, where the heroine's always skinny and perfect,with the fat best friend, the dream guy, the ridiculous odds, the happy ending etc I learnt one lesson. And no, it wasn't in order to achieve you have to starve yourself, there's a lot to be desired there in terms of positive body image and realistic role models in our weight obsessed society; it was this - you can get what you want when you work out what it really is that you want.
Even somewhat trashy films like Bring It On or Center Stage have girls who work this out. Stick It and 10 Things I Hate About You have somewhat feistier heroines, but they do what they have to without compromising themselves, and that's even better. You shouldn't have to change who you are to find the guy of your dreams or win something or achieve in your field. You can do all of that and still be you. This applies to my life, and it probably applies to yours too.
Be who you are, and not let anyone tell you otherwise. So whether you're the perfect movie princess, the fat (or just slightly less perfect) best friend, the handsome prince who's also looking for Mr Right (although there's another concept I don't agree with, but that's another post) or just someone trying to find their path in life, remember to stay true to yourself and what's in your heart and you'll get there. It won't always be easy but if you trust yourself and those around you, you'll be fine. Better than fine. You'll be whoever, and whatever you want to be. Promise.

Busy bee!!

I finally started my new job, the CRB came through at long last. It's not the most exciting job in the world, and not something I want to spend my life doing, but it's a job, another note on the CV, some money in my pocket. I started on Thursday, so far so good. Here's to my first full week at work. I can tell I'm going to be knackered.

This weekend I got to see comedian and musician Bill Bailey live. I love him, witty and funny. If you're in London, beg, borrow or steal a ticket to see him. Hilarious and brilliant. (It's sold out).

Unfortunately my stupid phone crashed and deleted a bunch of stuff, including some photos I hadn't uploaded to my laptop yet, so I'm a bit fed up (if you're following me on Twitter, you might have seen this.) The software seems to be refusing to work, so I can't fix it. Very frustrating. Anyone know how to get a Blackberry to do as it's told??

I also have two essays due in this week, so far I've barely started writing one of them. Excellent studentship. I actually forgot that one of them was due in. I got my dates muddled up, so annoying. So now I'm under the pressure of getting it all done while tired and busy. Fun.

My friend is in a play this week, so Thursday night I'll be there, luckily the essays are due in before then (I say luckily) so I'll still be able to go. It should be really good, I'm sending her lots of luck!

Once again, a brief post. As soon as I have a little time and am not so rushed I promise a decent post or two. and to get around to people's blogs. I miss reading your posts, but I just don't get enough time to read any more. Have a good week.

Blogging Admin!

Hi, it's been a while I know. But I'm still here, floating around in cyberspace while trying to get my life organised.

First thing's first. My CRB finally, finally came through, and so I start my new job on Thursday. Yay!! Obviously admin is not something I really want to do, but it's a job, and I'm broke and it'll look good on the old CV. Plus they're flexible about uni and hours, so it's where I'll be spending my week days (minus uni Wednesdays).

Speaking of uni, I couldn't get there last week as there was a tube strike which pretty much crippled the whole of London and made me really grumpy. I missed 2 classes and a meeting, all in all, bad day. But it seems to be going ok, I'm getting really into being back in academia, reading furiously, writing essays (I should be doing that, not blogging), discussing ideas and training myself to stay awake on the underground so I don't miss my stop!

Things with The Boy seem to be going well too. We've had a few minor disagreements, but nothing major, I don't like the video games he plays, they're really noisy and violent, and it's hard to concentrate on reading or anything when they're on. I'm not allowed to do the washing up, but he's quite happy for me to do all the cooking, which is a point of contention. I like cooking, I don't like the assumption that I'll happily be on my own making his dinner while he plays video games. That bugs me. But I know we'll work it out, I want this whole relationship to work out (my track record isn't great), so I'll have to adjust, so will he. Compromise is key.

I'm still uncertain about the fate of ABADBW (aka my other blog), apart from the occasional book, I'm focusing on uni reading, which I won't blog about because it's too boring and I have essays to write, so there's less and less being written for it (having said that, there should be a couple of reviews etc up there at the moment worth a look.) Part of me wants to merge Note to Self with it, and just have more book related content here, but I just don't know right now. Any ideas/suggestions/comments welcome on this.

Ok, well that was fairly boring. I suppose I'm an Administrator at home as well as at work now!!

The trouble with Dickens

I'd suggest any hardcore Dickens fan skip this post.

I'm a lifelong book geek, bookshops and libraries are my idea of Heaven. Reading is both a pleasure and a source of joy to me. I have a Bachelors degree in English Literature and am currently studying for a Masters in the same. I wouldn't do this if I didn't enjoy it.
But I do have a problem with the next book I have to read for class. It's Bleak House by Charles Dickens. I don't like Dickens, never have, probably never will. I can just about tolerate Great Expectations (because I feel for Miss Havisham) and A Christmas Carol (it might be the Muppet version that makes this one ok), but beyond that, thanks but no thanks.
Part of the problem is that many of his books are the same. Poor little orphan, terrible trials, benevolent benefactor, happy endings. Even Great Expectations follows this pattern. I know it isn't exactly the same in each book, but the basic plot is.
I'm not negating his works importance at the time in raising awareness of poverty, workhouses and the contribution his writing may have made to changes brought about to alleviate the suffering, but, like many of the other C19th members of the literary canon (Brontes, Austen, Hardy, Eliot) I just cannot get along with him.
So this week's reading assignment is going to be oh-so-much fun.
My friend has lent me the recent BBC adaptation, but that may take longer to watch than the book takes to read, so no joy there. Off I go to read a book that is described in the title. Bleak.

Are there any books/authors you can't stand?