aliceievins

Wed, 13 Aug 2008 09:49:19 GMT

Adnd by this party tomorrow, I of course mean this party today, The Murder Mystery Party.

Worrying

Wed, 13 Aug 2008 09:48:48 GMT

I am abso-uckinglutely terrified and pacing up and down and couldn't sleep last night and can hardly eat. Not about tomorrow, that has barely entered into my mind, I am really really really uber anxious about this party tomorrow. Me and Ellie and Laura have done loads of work for it and I don't know if it's even going to actually work, let alone not be a massive huge let down to everybody! Why oh why didn't we properly plan everything before going on holiday! I might scream!

Fri, 25 Jul 2008 09:18:14 GMT

I got my reading list today. It seems we start by studying Mediaeval and Reformation Literature, the first of which in particular I know nothing about and don't particularly desire to know more. But on the plus side, I am quite well acquainted with three of the four key texts throughout the entire degree, (The Bible, The Odyssey and The Aeneid). I will buy the other, Ovid's Metamorphoses today, and save the rest until I know whether or not I'm getting in.

In other news, almost everyone is away, but I'm meeting up with Laura tomorrow, which will be fun.

I am become a plastic

Tue, 24 Jun 2008 15:52:06 GMT

I am really quite ashamed of myself. For my 18th birthday my parents said they;d get me an outfit for the Leaver's Dinner and other events on the future. The shoes, dress and bra I had to buy came to £165 in general. I think I like it all, although I have a horrible suspicion that they are old people clothes, (I saw the 30 year old widow wearing a similar dress in the film PS I love You yesterday). I can also hardly walk in the shoes, and they were £50!!!!! (They were the only pair f black evening shoes I could find in eterborough that fitted and that I could bear to look at, but it doesn't stop me feeling humiliation and horror). I have justified it to myself on the basis that they're uite classy, (I hope) and therefore I'll still be wearing the same clothes to social events in my 20s.

That is quite a shameful livejournal entry, especially since I haven't written in a while. I must write something more intellectual to make up for it. I got 'The God Delusion' out of the library. It's much less offensive than I was expecting, although his tone is slightly sneering occassionally, but I suppose he is a very clever man and it is probably hard not to think that everyone else is stupid if you're very very clever. It doesn't at all challenge my faith, I spend a lot of the time agreeing with him, although I've only read the beginning. He describes the God he is going to argue against at the beginning and that isn't the God I believe in, (I was slightly annoyed whren I first saw that, because there were still 400 pages to go). He talked about Catholicism and the ridiculousness of worshipping saints and I almost whooped! I also read 'Gods Behaving Badly', which was quite amusing, and I've almost finished 'June the Obscure', (I started that before exams and it's taken a while), which is predictably extremely depressing but very good. Amazingly well written. It would be fun to study it.

I'm enjoying the summer holidays. I'm much less disturbed by leaving school than I was expecting, it feels quite good. I'm still terrified by the prospect of going to university though. I think most people feel sad about old things ending but are excited by new things. I'm the exact opposite. I don't care about old things ending but anything new chills me to the bone. But I'll survive. Sigh.

I am 18 in 12 days. Isn't that terrifying?

If you don't know, don't ask

Thu, 17 Apr 2008 14:36:45 GMT

I know you're not supposed to care what people think of you. And I don't really care if people think I'm a geek or dress badly or have a silly laugh. But I do care if my class teacher geneuinely beleives I write/receive pornographic letters about my mother. I don't think that's a very silly thing to care about. Oh dear.

Thu, 28 Feb 2008 20:57:58 GMT

I got rejected by Warwick. Which makes my insurance decision much harder. But oh well.

Lent

Thu, 07 Feb 2008 20:52:04 GMT

I have given up youtube. It sounds silly, but I spend so much time watching 'Ianto/Jack' fan videos or Les Mis clips or old Doctor Who scenes or whatever, and it means I waste so much time when I'm supposed to be working. I spent 3 hours in youtube on Tuesday when I only went on the computed to find and print off a poem.

So far, no withdrawal symptoms. But it's only Day Two.

My ball gown

Fri, 01 Feb 2008 18:48:31 GMT

It arrived to day, (I'd bought it off ebay). It is one of the most appalling excues for a dress I have ever seen. They claimed it was 8-10 but it really isn't at all and it seriously doesn't fit. The torso bit also has no shape at all and is a bit like a tunic, which it shouldn't be, it's supposed to be sort of fitted. I can't afford a new one, (especially if I want to buy an ipod before uni), nor would I want to put myself through the stressful hell of buying one again. I shall therefore have to put my pitiful textiles skills into use and hope it doesn't fall down on the night.

Oh well. Worse things happen at sea.

Torchwood

Thu, 17 Jan 2008 12:43:34 GMT

Was awesometastic. It was just a ridiculous fanfiction written for giddy teenage girls, and thankfully, I am one of them! And I am worried by how much I like the Captain Jack / Ianto pairing....

Thu, 03 Jan 2008 17:27:10 GMT

I got an offer from Cambridge. 3As. I am very pleased but very shocked and not a little frightened. Hopefully it will sink in soon. Lizzie Court got in too, and will do English at a different college, which will be nice, (I'll have someone to sit with in lectures), and Daniella, the girl I met at my interview, who was applying to the same college as me, (Pembroke) got pooled, so fingers crossed she'll get an offer.

New Year was pleasant, I played Trivial Pursuit with a large group of my family, and my Grannie is getting better after being ill. These things are good. Although bad things include my brother losing his job.

Christmas

Wed, 26 Dec 2007 01:58:30 GMT

Was fun and all, but as everyone says, not quite as amazing as it should be. Charlotte's party was naturally amazing, it was nice to talk to Lizzy and Anna a bit, I don't normally talk to them much. Went to see St Trinian's which was good but a bit uneven. I spent Chrsitmas Eve bailing my mother out of various Crib Service holes, including her blowing up loads of 'Happy Birthday Jesus' balloons and then transporting them around village churches. Presents were good:

-Chitty Chitty Bang Bang Special Edition DVD set, (don't laugh, it was awesome, including the stage show CD and a model car!!!!!!! I <3 Dick Van Dyke)
-A scarf for TwoToo, an organisation which gives a scarf to homeless people in Brum for each one that it bought
-A book by John Ray, (I think), on How Markets Work, Why some countires are rich and others stay poor. Or something like that. Its about that, anyway
-A spinning top!
-Lots of chocolate
-Some random pretty paper
-A cheque
-An Ode Less Travelled, a book by Stephen Fry on how to write poetry
-A book of sound recordingd of poets born in the 19th century reading their poetry, (including Tennyson, which is pretty incredible, because he dies in 1890 or something, and also one by Browning in which he just forgets the words)
-Glove and scarf set from work colleagues

Will get more soon when we go up north to see my mum's family. Unfortunately, I managed to buy both my father and my brother things which they already have, which was crappy, ( a book and a DVD boxset respectively).

Dr Who was pretty death-filled, and alright although they're never as good without a regular companion. Changes to the theme tune were unexpected but pretty rocking. Sad at the end. I appear to have lost the ability to write proper sentences.

Dinner was good, then my brothers were all crappy and my brother sat on me and stopped me from breathing for a large period of time. They also tortured me by repeatedly saying my name. I might scream.]

Anyway, MERRY CHRISTMAS, (it lasts 12 days), PEACE ON EARTH ETC.

xxxxxx

Two reasons why I am happy

Wed, 19 Dec 2007 22:04:02 GMT

1. I have just finished my French coursework
2. My big brother John has had his shifts changed, so he can come home for Christmas after all!

My Mother

Tue, 04 Dec 2007 20:17:19 GMT

She wrote a letter to Pembroke admissions tutors, after I asked her not to, saying that I was very late for the first interview, and saying that she thought this made me underperform, and asking if they could take it into account. Shedid say in the letter/email that I didn't want her to send it, and Mr Davies said it couldn't do any harm, but I'm a bit worried. I don't think it can help for them to think that I make excuses and have a pushy mother and am whiny. If/when I get my rejection letter, I want to be a good loser at least.

Plus, it said that the professor gave me a few extra minutes after I explained that I'd just arrived, which wasn't quite it. I had a few extra minutes bcause the othr guy was let out early, I think. If she remembers this and it looks like Mum's lying, it can't help. grrrrrr.

My Cambridge Interview

Mon, 03 Dec 2007 18:37:00 GMT

It was today. The first interview was horrendous. They didn't tell you that you were supposed to arrive 15 minutes early until you got to the Porter's Lodge, which was a massive benefit to those who stayed at the college overnight, which they told you not to do unless absolutely unavoidable. I turned up one minute before the interview, (literally, Cambridge traffic is appalling), and had to analyse an awful and really confusing 17th century poem. I didn;t understand the first half at all, and at one pount sat in silence for two minutes, becaue I said it was prayerlike, and she asked me why, and I had no idea. It also took me far too long and my fingers to count the syllables on the lines, and I got sonnet forms confused. She wilfully misinterpreted my questions, about how many books we would have to read a wekk and whether we would have to buy many, and made it seem as though I didn't want to read or buy books, which isn't true at all. Overall, I got the impression that she thought I was stupid and wanted me to leave her alone. I backtracked on most of the points I made, and made waffling an art form. At this point I didn't want to go to Cambridge.

I then met up with my mum, and tried to eat a cake, then we popped into heffers, (the bookshop), and then I tried to eat a baguette. I failed to eat each time. My attempt on my Shreddies in the morning was also rather unsuccessful. I got to the test on time, fortunately, and chatted to some other applicants beforehand. It turned out that the first Doctor was just cold and intimidating for everyone, and a passing English undergraduate shaid that she gave off that impression, but was good once you got to know her. The test itself was OK. I had to compare two poems about birds. The first was about birds and God and sex, and the second was about birds killing rabbits and Jesus. It turns out I have no understanding of grammar or spelling, but that was OK.

I then met up with my mum again, and succefully ate a slice of lemon tart. We then wondered once more around heffers, and was at my last interview with 15 minutes to spare, but I wasn't given anything to study. That was good, I think. The man was lovely, and I found it really stimulating, and even persuaded me to read some Auden. I think I did a bit better in the interview, but I'm not sure. Either way, it made me really want to go to Cambridge, so the refusal letter will be upsetting. If I get one, blahblahblah.

My mum only just managed not to fall asleep on the way home, and we were home in time for Neighbours. I am very glad it's over, have no real idea how it wentn and now I just need to wait and see.

My piano exam

Thu, 22 Nov 2007 19:50:10 GMT

Grade 4, (yes, I know most people my age are much better, don't rub it in). It went appallingly. I felt pretty confident, I could play everything, but at the beginning they asked for B major and I accidentally played Bflat major and it all went downhill from there. I got flustered, and had to start a piece again, and missed an entire line out of another piece. I will be lucky if I pass, which is excessively shit, as my piano teacher said I ought to be getting a merit at least. I hate being unmusical.

In other news, I am manically reading stuff for my interview which is a week on Monday, and (slowly) enjoying Dr Who Series 3 all over again.

I got an interview at Cambridge...

Tue, 06 Nov 2007 18:24:33 GMT

...on the third of December. Aaaaaargh!

I got an offer from York!

Mon, 05 Nov 2007 20:38:32 GMT

For AAA, not including General Studies but including English, which is pretty damn high, but quite exciting.

The fair

Sat, 06 Oct 2007 15:06:02 GMT

The fair yestarday was pretty fun. Whe I got home I was hideously ill though, despite the fact that I only went on two slightly bad rides. Am getting better now, I wasn't actually sick but I nearly was several times and fought to keep it down, I was shaking heaps, couldn't stand and had a temperature, so I probably ate something bad too. I really ought to learn y lesson.

I have chickens!

Tue, 25 Sep 2007 18:50:03 GMT

They are called Alexandra, Olga, Tatiana, Marie, Anastasia and Anna Karenina, and they are beautiful, although a tad stupid. They have an irritating habit of excreting in their water or their food, and they fight for the food that we handfeed them, but ignor ethe food in their food bowl unless we shake it. Eggs were good on the first day, (7 from 6 hens), but it's been three a day since then, but we were told to expect that, theyve been shaken up by moving. Two of them escaped today, that was frightening. They just stood outside their coop, but I completely lost it. They'll be allowed to wander round the garden soon though, which I'm sure they'll appreciate.

Any other news? I have more work than I was planning to have. House Music is rolling along happily, our Senior Choir is good. Nothing else to say really.

Hungersite

Mon, 17 Sep 2007 19:09:46 GMT

I can't believe I haven't advertised this website here yet. Everytime you are online, (well. once a day at least), go to www.hungersite.com. The sponsors who advertise there give food, (as relief) to starving people, normally following big disasters, and you don't have to pay anything. If you follow the flappy link things at the top of the page, you can also 'donate to breast cancer research, the provision of health facilities to children, the provision of books for children and food for animals, and to save rainforests which face deforestation. It only takes about twenty seconds and doesn't cost you anything, so I feel that I ought to preach at you about it. There.

I have finished my History coursework!

Sun, 09 Sep 2007 19:06:12 GMT

Yay! Admittedly, it's really shit, (genuinely, there is very little historical debate, it seems, or at least very little historical debate that I can understand), too long and I'm terrified that the teachers won't mark it properly so I'm going to cover it with questions etc first, so that they know.

We had a bbq at home today for the youth of my mum's benefice, and B2B, the Oundle youth group which I sometimes go to. It was good I suppose, people came for one thing, although they didn't eat enough at all so I am going to be living on cold, congealed charcoaled sausages for the next few days. Yummy.

Does anyone know if the word count for the History coursework includes quotes, by the way?

Sat, 08 Sep 2007 16:47:45 GMT

I hate Stalin. And not for the reasons that I should.

Greenbelt

Wed, 29 Aug 2007 22:10:11 GMT

I was at Greenbelt last weekend. It was absolutely fantastic, it had a brilliant atmosphere which I can't quite explain. It was more than just people being friendly, it was more like everyone being loving, an d accepting and passionate and whatnot. I spent most of my time with Jodie, and we never properly argued, which was nice. I went to lots of talks, including two by GP Taylor. I didn't like Shadowmancer, but he was very funny, although that occassionally got slightly in the way of the argument, (as did being recorded and being unable to be libellious about specific parts of the media in his talk on the media and the mind battle for his children, which did actually make me think differently about the sorts of things people see on TV all the time. No wonder people are selfish, shallow, materialistic and obsessed wit fitting in through loud drunkenness, TV really does glorify all this). Billy Bragg talked well about a British Bill of Rights, which I'd always thought would be a bit gimmicky, but despite several grammatical issues, he was pretty convincing. I'm Sorry, I haven't Another Poo was completely hilarious, I don't know what is so funny about haring a random Irish guy singing 'Umberella' by Rihanna to the tune of 'How Great Thou Art', but urine was close to escaping. Another highlight was a talk/performance by Peterson Toscano, who is an American gay Christian social activist. he did extracts from his play 'Doing time in the homo nomo halfway house', about those being gay rehab centres, Queer 101: Now I Know my Gay B Cs, and The Re-education of George Bush. It was obviously all wishy-washy liberal stuff, but since I agreed with it, (obviously, homophobia is bad, and I feae that I myself am a bit wishy-washy liberalesque. Although I don't think we should withdraw from Iraq blahblahblah) and he didn't do it in an irritating self-important way, I didn't find him annoying. Also, Joseph, (with the coat) was a transexual. You heard it here first.

Musically, it was pretty good too. The Band With No Name had an admirable purpose, (spreading the message of God's love in schools), but it was the worst music I've ever heard, rap-rock that was like 5ive without the tunes. Linchpin were like Busted with the same problem, but Delirious? were less worship-song irritating than I expected, even if I was the only one in the audience who didn't know all the words. Chas and Dave were brilliant and very well received. Rabbitrabbitrabbit etcetera. Billy Bragg was pretty good, very idealistic and he seemed like a lovely guy although occassionally, in the songs, you ust wanted to say 'Dude, it's not actually 1984, and Thatcher is not the same person as Hitler, chill out', but I guess it was all part of his charm. The musical highlight was definitely Duke Special though. He's a Northern irish singer who plays piano and sings with a beautiful voice and a lovely accent. It's kinda 1930s, a bit jazz, and could be pretty huge, (in a Radio 2 sort of was at least).

What else? Staying in the tent was fun, although I didn't sleep much. Getting changed in the dark/light in a very confined place with another girl is very fun, leading to such classic utterances as 'We were just having a regualr conversation, and then I realised you were bottom naked', and we talked about poo and periods a lot, (yay! I didn't mesntruate! And barely shat untyil the end when it needed poking, but that's a different story). Speaking of which, the toilets were quite good, a bit smelly towards the end but not especially dirty or anything. The sinks were worse. There were lots of stalls and hippy stuff everywhere, and an awful lot of political activism, and a very good indie disco, (the smiths, the clash, the gossip, arctic monkeys, the undertones, plus a bit more drum and bass than I would like, but meh). Food-wise, I avoided the worst of the vegan/vegetarian disgustingness and had pasta, pizza and meat sandwich things most of the time. And chocolate fountain with edible paper! And I brought a Casanova jacket for £2, which was cooool! And I discovered that Shaun the Sheep is actually genuinely hilarious television. I got accused of being a bishop and Jodie smeared an awful lot of melted chocolate on my face. I've forgotten a lot, but that's more than enough to bore you all.

All in all, a very good time was had by all, and next year Jodie and I have decided to avoid Laura's den of sin and vice and go back again! Sorry, but Billy Bragg said Greenbelt was better, which counts as objective proof to me.

Wed, 22 Aug 2007 22:44:25 GMT

I don't remember when I last posted, but oh well. Last weekend, we had some relatives from Latvia staying with us, Guna, my dad's cousin's wife, her daughter Marta and her friend Danija. It was nice, but a bit awkward and Danija and Marta are quite shy, and we weren't really doing much that they might be desperately interested in. We went for walks round my area, whereas Danija wanted to go to London, but it wasn't really our fault, they weren't here for long and my parents are pretty busy at the weekend. While they were here, various cousins and an uncle and aunt from that side of the family came, and we had a bbq and played football, catch, twister and snap, which was very pleasant. I don't tend to like my cousins, but I liked them a lot then, even though Alex revealed that he had just got a first in Natural Sciences from Cambridge. Clever little wanker.

I also have ridiculously high amounts of work to do. I don't understand how it is physically possible to do 2 huuuuge pieces of coursework, lots of research for Classics and about 50 chapter summaries in the summer, when they must understand that we go away with families and have stuff arranged. I literally don't know what I'm going to do about the amount of work I have, as I'm quite busy until the end of the summer. Sigh.

I'm off to Greenbelt, (a Christian Arts Festival) the day after tomorrow, which I'm quite looking forward to, although I fear I shall be menstruating then, and I'm not looking forward to doing that in a place without showers, proper toilets, (portaloos don't count) and hot water bottles, but Im sure I'll cope.

Results and stuff

Thu, 16 Aug 2007 18:47:00 GMT

I got my results this morning. I got As overall in all of my ASs, but Bs in my English History module, (I knew I would, the exam was shitty and Mrs Broad wasn't a great teacher) and Greek Tragedy, (again, that was expected, as for some reason I wrote the essay on the play I barely knew). After having made a big fuss about my English coursework, the mark thankfully didn't go down, so I just got an A in that, but I was very jealous of several people (Anna) who got full marks in English, when I want to do it at uni, not them. However, thou shall not covet, and whatnot. I only dropped 2 marks in the General Studies Maths, Science and Technology module which I was thrilled with since I don't do a maths or science subject. I am pleased and relieved, but not thrilled by ay individual results.

After results we went to Ellie's and played Singstar and with her iToy. I rock at boxing, I was a champion and only got knocked out by a superheavyweight. After initial grumpiness and shyness, I got into Singstar and did a particularly masterly 'Stacey's Mom'.