a quick update in photo's.

Friday 30th October, I went to see Eddie Izzard. Very, very funny man





Sunday 8th November, I went to see Julian clary. Even funnier dirty minded homosexual. And i got to meet him after the show. He commented that I wasn't wearing very much.





And some graffitti I was shown yesterday in Newcastle. The second one is my favourite!





Today Wednesday Loves: Clips from cheesy films (Casablanca and Brief Encounter)

Today Wednesday Hates: cold hands and the looming prospect of an exam

YOU ONLY HOLD ME UP LIKE THIS BECAUSE YOU DON'T KNOW WHO I REALLY AM

this is the start of a short story based on two of my friends. Please read and let me know what you think:

‘Stick ‘em up, Kitty’.

            David slammed the door as he entered the flat. The walls shook. He sat down at the table across from Jason, holding the cat with arms its stretched out like a surrendering hostage.

            ‘I wish you’d leave that cat alone’ David murmured with his head in his hands.

            Jason dropped the cat and watched it walk away around the sofa.

            ‘What’s up with you? Nobody answer the phone?’

            David scowled. He ran his fingers through his hair and sighed. ‘I’ve been sacked ... Three years tomorrow and I’ve been sacked’. He raised his head to face Jason, ‘and the reason for it?’ He drops his hands, resting them on the table. ‘They’re changing their system so it’s all computers. I’m being replaced by a fucking answering machine!’

            Jason pats him on the back, trying his best to be human and comfort his oldest friend. ‘It’ll be alright.’

            ‘How? How is it going to be alright?’ David gets to his feet, shouting, ‘Not as if you’ve got a job or money we can fall back on. I mean, you haven’t left the place for two years’

            ‘I told you, I can’t go outside.’

            ‘Why? What’s stopping you?’

            ‘I…’

            ‘Come on. What? You’re agoraphobia’, he said in a mocking tone.

            ‘I … I just can’t. OK!’ Jason turned in his chair, facing away from David. He crossed his arms in protest.

            David, too angry to say another word, clenched his fist and punched the wall, making a dint in the plaster. It hurt. He turned back at Jason to see if he was looking. He wasn’t. David kissed his knuckles, almost dancing with the pain he’d inflicted on himself.

            After a moment, regaining his pride, David slammed his bedroom door behind him. Jason turned to look where he was standing. He looked at the new dint in the wall and the cat scratching at David’s door.

            He got up from the table, picked the cat up, and went into the kitchen. He took some food from the cupboard, fed the cat and put the kettle on.

To Jason, there’s an unwritten law about a cup of tea acting as an olive branch. His grandparents did it when they fought. His parents did. And so did he and David.  There’s something about the humble cup of tea and being able to say anything, then say sorry.

The kettle clicked to say it was boiled. He took two cups from the cupboard: a Batman mug and a Wolverine mug, and poured water over the tea bags. He made the tea, took both cups to the table and knocked on David’s door.

‘Made a cup of tea.’

 

The tea had a skin before David came out of hiding. His eyes were bloodshot. He sat in the same chair as before and put his head in his hands. Didn’t say a word. Tiddles, their ginger tabby, sensing something was wrong, starting rubbing her face against David’s leg. He reached down and scratched her ear.

He faced Jason. ‘What are we going to do? We’ll have no money coming in. How are we going to afford this place?’

‘Something’ll come up’.

Jason slid the cold cup of tea towards David. He picked it up and drank, only to spit it back in the cup.

‘It’s cold.’

‘I’ll make another one’.

Jason took the two cups into the kitchen and put the kettle on. He watched David drop his head back into his hands. He knew he had to do something.

The kettle clicked. And the idea shot into Jason’s head. He smiled to himself as he made the tea in the same cups.

He took the mugs back to the table and sat down. David didn’t flinch. A moment of silence passed before Jason spoke.

‘Ok. I know this is going to sound stupid, but I know how we can sort our whole money situation out.’ David glared. ‘Well, you know how I haven’t left this place in a long time. Well, I’ve been planning something. Something big. Just in case.’ Jason stood up and walked across the room. He bent to pick up a metal box from under the sofa.

David followed him with his eyes. He didn’t know what Jason did in the flat on his own. All he thought he did was watch the Ocean movies on repeat. And any other films with scams and car chases and murder. And try teach Tiddles how to kill. The only thing she could do was meow you into surrender.   

            Jason came back to the table, sitting at the chair next to David. He took out a sheet of A3 paper and spread it the table. On the paper was a plan of the Co-op and the Bank.

            ‘Right, this is going to sound a bit crazy, but I’ve been planning this for ages. You know how I watch all those films about scams and stuff. Well, I’ve come up with the perfect plan to rob the TSB. ‘

            David stared.

            ‘To start with, we need to get in. We need a rope and something on each end to secure it. What we do is climb up the stairs behind the Co-op onto the roof. Then, swing the rope across. Tug it to make sure it’s tight, and then climb across. On the bank roof, there’s a vent. We go down the vent, around the bank then drop down where the vault is. Then, this bit I’m not sure about. We need to get into the vault. If it’s a laser security system, that’s going to be a bit difficult. I’ve been watching the way they do it in Tenacious D, and he’s a big man, so it might not be so bad. But, if it’s a finger print thing, then we can do what they did on Scooby Doo’ Jason looked at David as if he’d recognise what he was talking about. David just stared. ‘Right, what you do is put some powder on the machine, then a bit of CSI, put some tape over the screen and it should come up with the last finger print and let us in. If it’s a big vault turning lock thing, then that wont work. But, I’ve been training my ear to hear when the lock is unlocked. I’ve been listening to the front door lock when it clicks open, and I think I’ve figured out the right noise. But, after that, we should be able to get into the vault and take what we want. ... What do you think?’

            David was speechless. He looked at the plans on the table; at how much effort and time Jason had put into this. Was this all he’d been doing for the last two years. He looked up at Jason. He was like a dog that’d learnt to drop his toy at a masters’ command, waiting for a treat, some form of recognition for doing something good.

            ‘So, what’d you think?’

            ‘I think it’s time for something stronger than tea.’ David left the table, and Jason, for the comfort of the whiskey bottle he had hidden under his mattress. He closed his bedroom door behind him. Jason, angry with himself, crumpled up the piece of paper and threw it on the floor.

            When David came back into the living room, it was empty.  The cups of tea were still on the table. Tiddles was playing with the ball of paper beside Jason’s door. He took the cups from the table into the kitchen, and put the kettle on. He started at the cupboards while it boiled.

            He knew that the plan was stupid, and ridiculous and far fetched. But … he thought … maybe … the kettle clicked. He emptied the old tea down the drain, rinsed them out and refilled them with hot water. He took the cups to Jason’s door. He knocked with his foot. No answer.

            ‘Listen, I’m sorry about before. I’m just pissed with work. … Made a cuppa.’ After a moment, Jason answered the door. He took the Batman cup from David’s hand. Friendship rebuilt.

            ‘So, what do you think?’

            A pause. David looked down at the cat with the ball of paper in its mouth. ‘Okay then.’ They chinked cups and drank.

Photographs from my twentieth birthday celebrations. The full selection are available on my facebook for anyone who wants a laugh.

I'll start with my cake:













It did start out as a plain red lego brick, but we went a little crazy with extra stuff.

How i celebrated with the Family:



£70 worth of Yo Sushi between three of us ... very tasty!

And the evening ... Swing Dancing:


Me looking pretty



The girls by the fire place



All of us



My bottles of wine i went home with



And some remnant of our table.

Swing Dancing was really fun, and we're thinking of making it a weekly thing. We keep practicing our steps.

So ...

Yesterday Wednesday Loved: Celebrating her birthday

Today Wednesday Loves: Getting work done and getting white crepe paper for her ruffle (dressing as Shakespeare for Halloween) Oh, and lectures on Sex and Gender - loads of dirty words!!!

Yesterday Wednesday Hated: aggrivating family members talking to her like she was stupid and hearing the birth story AGAIN!!!!

Today Wednesday Hates: having a poorly head this morning and aching legs from dancing in heels

TWISTIN' TWISTIN' TWISTIN' THE NIGHT AWAY

I should be heading into the shower right now, but i'll wait another 10 minutes. Need to put the lectures on.

I came to realise something the other day. and i want to know if it's just me that gets this.

I've been a bit vague about the whole thing for a month or so now, so i'll tell you: I broke up with nucliardisastar a few weeks ago. It was amicable. We're attempting to be friends, which never comes easy to me (Ask Ghost or 'ghosttwo'). But, i'm ok with it. Keeping myself busy with uni work and a few nights out planned through til December. So, i'll be ok with the backing of a good few friends. Smailw says i'm taking it well. I'm fine, really.

But, my reason for writing.

A pattern has emerged when it comes to break-ups. I seem to fall in love with a new band when i break up with someone.

When i was with ghost, the week we broke up, my mother introduced me to Antony and the Johnsons, and i fell head over heels in love with that mans voice. He can move me to tears with one quiver. I guess that kind of got me through it. and that love has carried on several years now. But, no longer associated with the week of my first listen.

And recently, breaking up with Nucliardisastar, i've fallen for Mumford and Sons and Bombay Bicycle Club. Again, bands that send chills down my spine. and on first listen of 'White Blank Page' by Mumford and Sons, I cried my eyes out. It's beautiful.

Is music a coping mechanism? Or just a coincidence?

I'm also listenig to a lot of Voltaire. Trying to rediscover the me of yonder years. Lots of Blink 182, Murderdolls and some Marilyn Manson from Holywood. I've taken everythying that was him from my playlist.

Guess it's the same with my hair. But red/brown this time rather than black.

either that, or i'm holding onto my youth with my 20th birthday on Tuesday. ... EEK. I have to start growing up soon.  Don't like it. Decided, for my 20th, to have a lego birthday cake and go Swing Dancing with a load of people from uni and some old friends, one in particular i'm looking forward to seeing. My big gay husband who moved to Hull.

So ....

Today Wednesday Loves: Voltaire and a girly shopping day ahead

Today Wednesday Hates: clingyness, Secret Santa shopping and her curtain rail completely falling off!!!!!

CAUGHT A LITE SNEEZE, CAUGHT A LITE BREEZE

Oh, p.s.: My sisters Tattoo:



Damn proud of her for getting it, And it looks amazing
 

Afternoon Xanga.

Feeling a little hungover today. But last night as worth it.

I was invited to a party to celebreate a 25th wedding anniversary and the renewing of their vows. It was a good laugh. Can't beat a cheesy pop disco every once in awhile. And by cheesy, i mean cheesy: Living on a Prayer, Summer of 69, Sex on fire, Material girl etc.

I've posted some pictures from last night, but not all. The rest are on my facebook.

From the party, I went back to Sarah's for a bit, then went into Chester le Street. Hmmm. Got talking to the Bulgarian bouncer in the first place we went into. Even though his accent hinted at Canadian. And sarah was talking to a girl that worked in another Savers shop somewhere else. Then we ended up in Studio. .... I don't think i'm going to forget that place for a while. Frickin hillarious. Didn't think much of the men Sarah was dancing with. Well ... I got talking to one of them, who lives not far from me. He had solid muscly arms. Had to have a squeeze. Oh, and the guy who was dancing by himself, who later on walked passed me and whispered 'sexy' in my ear. *SHUDDER*

Was really fun. Needed a night out. and sarah is always a laugh.

Only spent £30 ... and that included £15 for a taxi home.

Cold today. But might just be me.

Finished reading Henry V. Still got to write up some lecture notes and stuff for the seminar tomorrow. And read Machiavelli for Wednesday, even though i won't be attending the lecture. That reminds me, need to email lecturers about Wednesday. ... I'm going to be a Course Rep this year and have to do a training course on Wednesday.

I might be out Thursday and Friday if i get the Aim Higher job I was interviewed for on Thursday. Fingers crossed.

Neeeed Foood.

Today Wednesday Loves: a well needed night out

Today Wednesday Hates: the consequences of a well needed night out

I'll end with lyrics from a song from last night and the song, to which, several men were trying to bodypop:

IT'S TRICKY TO ROCK A RHYME, TO ROCK A RHYME, THATS RIGHT ON TIME, IT'S TRICKY