Ouch. And more ouch.
On Sunday we went paint balling as a very late birthday present for my brother (his birthday was in August just to give you an idea of the extent of the lateness. Mum's organisational skills. Pfttt.) And I have been left with a delightful array of bruises as a momento. Blue, purple, brown and greeny yellow. The whole spectrum.
It was SO much fun but my competitive streak was definitely unleashed and I can't say that it's the best part of my personality. The thing is, the guys in charge split us into two teams - one consisting solely of grown men and teenage boys, some with their own equipment, ready to destroy and defeat. Our team was predominantly made up of boys of eleven and twelve. So the outcome was pretty easy to foresee from the start.
The other team, the blues, were utter pooheads. They took no notice of the fact that the majority of our team had not yet entered puberty and proceeded to take no pity whatsoever. The rule of 'no shooting from closer than 10 feet' was ignored and the rule of 'stop shooting someone when they are already out and screaming "I'M OUT YOU IDIOTS"' was pretty much overlooked too.
At one point the Marshall made the call of cease fire. Our team lowered our weapons. The blue team, however, decided to carry on sending a shower of bullets over the fort wall. A second call of cease fire was made. And ignored again. Then, just after the Marshall shouted 'cease fire!' for the third time, I got absolutely pelted in the face by a convoy of bullets. The bullets move at 100mph. So, I will shamelessly admit, I stood up, seething and choking on a mouthful of paint, and shouted "CEASE FIRE MOTHERF*CKERS". As I said...not the best side of my personality...
Anyway, the day was lots of fun and a good work out too but I would strongly recommend that you try to avoid fat, smelly men who will insist on shooting you at point blank and behaving as if they believe they are truly fighting for Queen and country. Jeez Louise.
xxx
Monday, 26 May 2008
Saturday, 17 May 2008
A Streetcar Named...satisfaction
HAH. What a cheesy headline. I should write for a trashy newspaper.
Last night I went to see 'A Streetcar Named Desire' at the Nuffield Theatre with school. I totally enjoyed it and I was impressed with almost every aspect. It was met with some mixed reactions from my class but I think people were a bit harsh on the cast and designers simply 'cos our expectations were too high. Some of us were expecting performances to rival Vivien Leigh and Marlon Brando but those two were so perfect for the roles and such legends that I don't think anyone will ever live up to them.
The set was really good considering it had to incorporate the outside, upstairs, and downstairs of the little flat in New Orleans. But...Blanche was brunette. It took us a good half hour to get our heads round that'un. It seemed to contradict Williams image of her. In his stage directions she is described as a moth, white, pure, fragile, dressed head to toe in white. The director pretty much ignored all of that and dressed her in a tailored outfit on her first entrance which, instead of enhancing her delicacy, made her seem harsh and angular.
Stanley, Blanche and Stella were all fantastic, despite a few lapses in their accents. I absolutely love the play because it's so full of passion and, inevitably, desire. In the audience there was an annoying group of people who decided that watching a woman being destroyed and violated and watching a man struggle with his fury was absolutely hilarious. They actually laughed. Out loud. Idiots.
Exams are rubbish. Someone should call up that lot up in the houses of common and ask them to abolish exams altogether. Only one thing is saving my sanity at the moment - the prospect of being able to retake them all in January! Ha.
Hugs all round
Last night I went to see 'A Streetcar Named Desire' at the Nuffield Theatre with school. I totally enjoyed it and I was impressed with almost every aspect. It was met with some mixed reactions from my class but I think people were a bit harsh on the cast and designers simply 'cos our expectations were too high. Some of us were expecting performances to rival Vivien Leigh and Marlon Brando but those two were so perfect for the roles and such legends that I don't think anyone will ever live up to them.
The set was really good considering it had to incorporate the outside, upstairs, and downstairs of the little flat in New Orleans. But...Blanche was brunette. It took us a good half hour to get our heads round that'un. It seemed to contradict Williams image of her. In his stage directions she is described as a moth, white, pure, fragile, dressed head to toe in white. The director pretty much ignored all of that and dressed her in a tailored outfit on her first entrance which, instead of enhancing her delicacy, made her seem harsh and angular.
Stanley, Blanche and Stella were all fantastic, despite a few lapses in their accents. I absolutely love the play because it's so full of passion and, inevitably, desire. In the audience there was an annoying group of people who decided that watching a woman being destroyed and violated and watching a man struggle with his fury was absolutely hilarious. They actually laughed. Out loud. Idiots.
Exams are rubbish. Someone should call up that lot up in the houses of common and ask them to abolish exams altogether. Only one thing is saving my sanity at the moment - the prospect of being able to retake them all in January! Ha.
Hugs all round
Monday, 5 May 2008
Ouch of the Brain variety.
There are far far far too many things happening at the moment.
I shall list them to emphasize my point:
1) AS level exams starting in a week. Oh dear.
2) Driving lessons. Although they've fizzled out slightly due to lack of funds
3) A new job at the Bosham Inn. I need the dosh rather badly.
4) I'm in the lovely Scotsman's play!! That is very exciting.
5) My Spanish oral exam is on Thursday. I should probably learn that.
6) Preparation for the Edinburgh Festival. I am playing Francipante. Cool.
7) Splitting time between la mamma, la papa and the ill grandmammas. If I was very rich I'd put all my relatives in one huge mansion so that I'd be able to see them all lots.
It doesn't sound like that much but put it into context, (I am unorganized and useless and a bit scatty) and I think you'll find that this amount of busyness is a recipe for disaster.
Moving on to my next random thought. I was trying to practice writing essays about Stanislavski for my drama exam. I am aware that, to a great many people, he was revolutionary and pioneering and made theatre what it is today. But he was a bit of a pretentious old sod wasn't he. I mean, I think all of his techniques make a lot of sense - he cleared the way for realism and sincerity of emotion on stage and an empathetic audience. But how on earth he managed to repeat himself and waffle on enough to stretch his principles across 3 books is a complete wonder. This led, almost inevitably, to my essays all being of the same nature: blundering and repetitive. Hmmmm, I think perhaps some more revision is in order.
What else is new? Well, I am currently excited for my Cowboy because he is doing an Open University course on photography. Hopefully it will help him open some new doors and nice things like that. I will be there to give him a little push over the threshold too because I don't want him to miss any opportunity - that photographering malarkey is a competitive business y'know!
And here's something VERY exciting! I am going to Glastomaberryyyyy. I am most excited about this. I have compiled a list of things I must aquire if the weekend is to be perfect such as: A nice straw hat, lots of hippy bangles, some hair clips shaped like daisies, baby wipes (in excess) and a poncho. If anyone knows where such items can be aquired I would be most grateful. Ta.
Over and out. I s'pose.
I shall list them to emphasize my point:
1) AS level exams starting in a week. Oh dear.
2) Driving lessons. Although they've fizzled out slightly due to lack of funds
3) A new job at the Bosham Inn. I need the dosh rather badly.
4) I'm in the lovely Scotsman's play!! That is very exciting.
5) My Spanish oral exam is on Thursday. I should probably learn that.
6) Preparation for the Edinburgh Festival. I am playing Francipante. Cool.
7) Splitting time between la mamma, la papa and the ill grandmammas. If I was very rich I'd put all my relatives in one huge mansion so that I'd be able to see them all lots.
It doesn't sound like that much but put it into context, (I am unorganized and useless and a bit scatty) and I think you'll find that this amount of busyness is a recipe for disaster.
Moving on to my next random thought. I was trying to practice writing essays about Stanislavski for my drama exam. I am aware that, to a great many people, he was revolutionary and pioneering and made theatre what it is today. But he was a bit of a pretentious old sod wasn't he. I mean, I think all of his techniques make a lot of sense - he cleared the way for realism and sincerity of emotion on stage and an empathetic audience. But how on earth he managed to repeat himself and waffle on enough to stretch his principles across 3 books is a complete wonder. This led, almost inevitably, to my essays all being of the same nature: blundering and repetitive. Hmmmm, I think perhaps some more revision is in order.
What else is new? Well, I am currently excited for my Cowboy because he is doing an Open University course on photography. Hopefully it will help him open some new doors and nice things like that. I will be there to give him a little push over the threshold too because I don't want him to miss any opportunity - that photographering malarkey is a competitive business y'know!
And here's something VERY exciting! I am going to Glastomaberryyyyy. I am most excited about this. I have compiled a list of things I must aquire if the weekend is to be perfect such as: A nice straw hat, lots of hippy bangles, some hair clips shaped like daisies, baby wipes (in excess) and a poncho. If anyone knows where such items can be aquired I would be most grateful. Ta.
Over and out. I s'pose.
Saturday, 12 April 2008
¡Dios mío! A week in Spain
I am certainly, truly, absolutely, positively, definitely and without doubt the luckiest girl on this spinning orb.
Mr Finch took me on holiday last week to Spain. We stayed in his mums apartment in Calahonda. It was on the Costa del Sol so, granted, we ran into more tourists than locals but it was still lovely and we managed to search out some real rural Spain.
It was an amazing holiday and I didn't really want to have to come back home.
We went to the beach and got beautiful, bronze tans.. (well, okay, so I went red as a lobster...).
We enjoyed rainy days running from shelter to shelter in the city of Fuengirola. This is where I was allowed to go shopping. Yay.
We used solely public transport - the buses and trains were cheap as chips! - and managed to find our way around all by ourselves.
We tried in vain to find a tapas bar to no avail but settled with a paella which was yum yum.
I think Mijas was my favourite day. It was a small town up in the mountains and it was wonderfully Spanish. The streets were cobbled and enclosed by flat, white houses where little Spanish ladies were hanging washing from their window sills. There was a tiny Church that we ventured into (how cultured) and there was even a bull ring. We went into the bull ring for a tour, excited to be able to explore the location of such a prodigious Spanish tradition. It was sad though, how quickly our smiles faded when we saw the blood stains in the sand and the sight of the little bull looking out at us from over his gate. Bull-fighting is strange.
Torro torro!
Another brilliant day was our beach trip. I love beach trips and this one was especially perfect. We took sandwiches and cans of coke in our little cool box so lunch was sorted. Bat and ball was a fabulous form of entertainment. We managed 13 hits without dropping it! And we even got some Spanish little'uns involved! Cowboy decided to throw himself into the sea, which must have been below freezing. He also found me a shell and taught me to skim stones. AND bought me an ice cream! He is amazing.
All week I was treated like a princess and I was a little spoilt I must admit. I was bought souvenirs, cooked dinner and my every wish was granted! Thank you to my cowboy.
I love holidays.
Mr Finch took me on holiday last week to Spain. We stayed in his mums apartment in Calahonda. It was on the Costa del Sol so, granted, we ran into more tourists than locals but it was still lovely and we managed to search out some real rural Spain.
It was an amazing holiday and I didn't really want to have to come back home.
We went to the beach and got beautiful, bronze tans.. (well, okay, so I went red as a lobster...).
We enjoyed rainy days running from shelter to shelter in the city of Fuengirola. This is where I was allowed to go shopping. Yay.
We used solely public transport - the buses and trains were cheap as chips! - and managed to find our way around all by ourselves.
We tried in vain to find a tapas bar to no avail but settled with a paella which was yum yum.
I think Mijas was my favourite day. It was a small town up in the mountains and it was wonderfully Spanish. The streets were cobbled and enclosed by flat, white houses where little Spanish ladies were hanging washing from their window sills. There was a tiny Church that we ventured into (how cultured) and there was even a bull ring. We went into the bull ring for a tour, excited to be able to explore the location of such a prodigious Spanish tradition. It was sad though, how quickly our smiles faded when we saw the blood stains in the sand and the sight of the little bull looking out at us from over his gate. Bull-fighting is strange.
Torro torro!
Another brilliant day was our beach trip. I love beach trips and this one was especially perfect. We took sandwiches and cans of coke in our little cool box so lunch was sorted. Bat and ball was a fabulous form of entertainment. We managed 13 hits without dropping it! And we even got some Spanish little'uns involved! Cowboy decided to throw himself into the sea, which must have been below freezing. He also found me a shell and taught me to skim stones. AND bought me an ice cream! He is amazing.
All week I was treated like a princess and I was a little spoilt I must admit. I was bought souvenirs, cooked dinner and my every wish was granted! Thank you to my cowboy.
I love holidays.
Friday, 21 March 2008
And it's the end of an era.
Just So is over.
I don't really know what I will do with my weekday evenings / Saturday mornings for a little while. With such a short run after such a comparatively huge period of rehearsal, it feels like we hardly reached the summit of our potential. Every evening we pushed that little bit harder, got a bit more applause, a bit more laughter. It was so much fun and no-one in the cast can be faulted. Every one was absolutely amazing and I will miss it hugely! I really really did embrace my inner rhino in the end and I am now very protective over my role! She is my very own rhino.
I suppose all I can do now is immerse myself in my studies to make up the lost time (pfffft.)
Yum. I do love a good cuppa tea. The thought just crossed my mind. Very possibly prompted by the mug that is standing right in front of me.
xxx
I don't really know what I will do with my weekday evenings / Saturday mornings for a little while. With such a short run after such a comparatively huge period of rehearsal, it feels like we hardly reached the summit of our potential. Every evening we pushed that little bit harder, got a bit more applause, a bit more laughter. It was so much fun and no-one in the cast can be faulted. Every one was absolutely amazing and I will miss it hugely! I really really did embrace my inner rhino in the end and I am now very protective over my role! She is my very own rhino.
I suppose all I can do now is immerse myself in my studies to make up the lost time (pfffft.)
Yum. I do love a good cuppa tea. The thought just crossed my mind. Very possibly prompted by the mug that is standing right in front of me.
xxx
Friday, 14 March 2008
Skin or fur or feathers..
In a weeks time Just So will be finished forever. A sad prospect in my eyes. I think there will be feelings of relief amongst the people who feel that their lives have been ruled, nay, dictated by this show for the best part of seven months. However we will miss it. I have never in my life endured such an emotional roller coaster as a result of something like this:
First came the excitement for the proposal and the auditions
Then the jealousy at the casting (I'm so nasty sometimes)
Then the acceptance
Then the loss of confidence
Then the period of nonchalance and indifference
Then the excitement and motivation
Then the apprehension
And now, a feeling of terror. I'm also worried that people think I have a much bigger part than I really do. On the contrary; being a mahusive drama queen I have managed to squeeze every last ounce of over-reaction and blown-out-of-proportion-ness out of my role. What can I say! I love the drama.
I'm falling really rather behind with the work at the momento. I feel 'on top of things' if I can narrow it down to 4 overdue assignments. It's getting a bit desperate. And exams in May! Oh dear gosh. On the upside though, I am nearly ready to take my driving test so watch out world! I will terrorize the roads of Hampshire and West Sussex yes indeed.
xxx
First came the excitement for the proposal and the auditions
Then the jealousy at the casting (I'm so nasty sometimes)
Then the acceptance
Then the loss of confidence
Then the period of nonchalance and indifference
Then the excitement and motivation
Then the apprehension
And now, a feeling of terror. I'm also worried that people think I have a much bigger part than I really do. On the contrary; being a mahusive drama queen I have managed to squeeze every last ounce of over-reaction and blown-out-of-proportion-ness out of my role. What can I say! I love the drama.
I'm falling really rather behind with the work at the momento. I feel 'on top of things' if I can narrow it down to 4 overdue assignments. It's getting a bit desperate. And exams in May! Oh dear gosh. On the upside though, I am nearly ready to take my driving test so watch out world! I will terrorize the roads of Hampshire and West Sussex yes indeed.
xxx
Thursday, 6 March 2008
Cowboy.
Yee-hah. Sitting at the computer with my most favourite person in the world. With a cup coffee made by that self same person. Yum yum. (That refers to the coffee and the person.)
Yay.
x
Yay.
x
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