Fictional Dinner Party

I stole this from Caragh (loaded shelves) so here is my dinner party.

THE RULES: you must invite 11 guests, and there must be

1. One character who can cook/likes to cook

I think this would have to be Sunny from The Series of Unfortunate Events (Lemony Snicket), because who wouldn't want an infant to cook their meal.

2. One character who has money to fund the party

Damon Salvatore from Vampire Diaries (L.J. Smith)

3. One character who might cause a scene

Richard from Wizards First Rule (Terry Goodkind)

4. One character who is funny/amusing

Technically two people but they are almost joint at the hip, Ari and Janco from the Study Series (Maria V Snyder)

5. One character who is super social/popular

Albus Dumbledore from Harry Potter (J.K Rowling)

6. One villian

Skilgannon the Damned from White wolf (David Gemmell)

7. One couple - doesn't have to be romantic

 Durzo Blint and Kylar Stern from The Night Angel Trilogy (Brent Weeks), they would make sure all my guests behaved themselves.

8. One hero/heroine

Sam Vimes from Terry Pratchett's Discworld to keep Durzo and Kylar in check.

9. One under-appreciated character

Dervish from The Demonata series (Darren Shan)

10. One character of your own choosing

Death from Terry Pratchett's Discworld

Returns, Charities and Pottermore

Returns

Return tickets have been around of quite a while and are found on a range of transport. Most people would agree that they are particulally useful as they allow you to travel to somewhere, and return again without having to purchase another ticket, and therefore as long as you don't lose your ticket your return journey is garinteed (even if you spend/loose all your money). They are also often cheeper to buy than two single tickets.

However despite their usefulness and them being pretty much a universal thing. The bus company Arriva, no longer sell return tickets (because bus travel needs to be more expensive)

Charities

I think charities would be a lot more effective if they merged together, we don't need 10 different cancer charities, if they all merged and worked together I'm sure they would be more effective. As well as this i think they should be more equal, and some get over looked because they are for a relatively uncommon diseases - which are no less impacting than the more common ailments. A possible solution to this would be to have a national charity - just one - which those who want to donate to charity donate to, the national charity would then equally share the money between all the charities.

Pottermore

My younger siblings just joined Pottermore. Now at the moment I am stuck waiting 4 chapters into the second book, waiting for the school year to commence in accordance to the date. The house cup was also awarded at the correct time of year as the house cup would be awarded in. So from both of these I take it to understand that each 'book' will open a year apart so that users play through Hogwarts. Then why can my siblings play through the entire fist year in a day? Surely it would make sense that they should spend a year in first year, ensuring regular and continuous users and also extending the life of the site. For example I joined in April and by May I had finished first year... and I had only been on a few times between then and now. I have come back on since the opening of 'book' two and I have been very active on the site. I know I am not alone in this as my good friend Cazz agrees. Now if a few chapters were released periodically over the year Pottermore would see a lot more activity.

Also I would love to see more lessons/activities I think herbology and care of magical creatures could be easily done.

First Opinions, Careers Advice and 2012

First Opinions

   Recently my eyes were opened to how first opinions are often wrong, and sometimes hugely wrong. I had to visit a little welsh town, in order to do my research project for my degree. I visited Llanrwst I didn't have a very good day. The weather was overcast with occasional showers, the town looked deserted and grey, the people who I met in the town, were mostly grumpy and unfriendly. I came away from this encounter with a bad view of Llanrwst. However I returned to Llanrwst last week, this time with nicer weather, a mild spring-like day with sunshine. This time the streets were lively and everyone I spoke to that day was very friendly (if not over friendly in comparison). Needless to say my views on Llanrwst have greatly improved and I feel bad for the way I judged it the last time and apparently just like you shouldn't judge a book by its cover I think that you shouldn't judge a place on one day/visit.
 

Careers Advice - The gaping hole.

   So since year 9 (ages 13-14) pupils are made subtly aware for career options, after all that is the year you pick you GCSE's and god forbid you not choose based on the career you want. Again during years 10 and 11 Career options and advice are thrown around freely making a conversation about your future prospect unavoidable and as this is the last year of compulsory education it is expected if not necessary. If you choose to go to 6th form (I can't speak on behalf of colleges as I went to 6th form) Again careers advice and suggestions are shoved down a pupils throat (I mean you need to know this sort of thing before you choose your degree course, right?)

   So taking into account all the effort mentioned above in giving career advice, why is it that after 2 and a half years at uni is the first hint at advice the ramblings of a lecturer at the front of a bus on the way back from a trip (not to discredit the advice or the action - It was interesting and helpful) but why has it taken this long for a hint? Is it that we are supposed to know all this before we get here? Or is it assumed that the advice is not needed? Because in my opinion that sort of advice and outlining options is never needed more than during the 3 years in uni at the end of which you are expected to settle into a career. It can't be that the idea of having a set career is outdated, (I've never felt more pressure to 'have a plan' or to have a set career that I want to have). So why is there a gaping hole in the career advice system?

 2012 - Apocalypse?

   Last week I went to a lecture at my uni by Myles Dyer about the Internet and using it to solve the problems in the world. During this lecture he suggested that the world and society would have to be hit hard before the majority realised that there needed to be change.
   I stumbled across a song by Gotye who currently has a different song at #1 in the UK charts. But this song that I stumbled across is called Eyes Wide Open, the subject of the song is focused entirely on the destruction of the planet and how we refused to change in order to save it.

If only this was the song that is in the charts - maybe it would open some eyes but it looks like it will take something drastic to make change. If loads of people can care about what one man if Africa does surely it should be so hard for people to care about the planet that effects every single person on the planet. 2012 may not be the Mayan apocalypse. But maybe it is the start of the end, it won't happen over night but maybe this year starts being the final straw for the planet. The End has to start somewhere.

Pocahontas, CAT and the Environment

    So it's been a while since I wrote a blog. I meant to write one to sum up the week that I spent in Barcelona, but I didn't. And since Barcelona I haven't done, been or experienced anything of note (not something big enough to warrant a blog). I did however visit CAT (Centre for Alternative Technology) today. So this blog will be a summary of any recent thoughts I've had and some thoughts on renewable energy and CAT.

Random Musing (Of the Month)

Pocahontas - Colours of the Wind

   I was listening to the soundtrack from Pocahontas (I'm cool) more specifically Colours of the Wind, and for once I listened to the words, I mean really listened. Pocahontas is not something I've ever given too much thought to, other than being my favourite when I was young, and like any good kids film, it has a message. The message in Pocahontas is still just as relevant as it was 15 years ago, as the the natural world is not yet full respected and appreciated, not only that but the other theme running through it is the idea of accepting people who are different, and that just because they are different it doesn't make them any less than you.

"You think you own whatever land you land on, The Earth is just a dead thing you can claim"

"You think the only people who are people, Are the people who look and think like you"

"Come roll in all the riches all around you, And for once, never wonder what they're worth"
  

I wonder whether growing up with films like Pocahontas has influenced our generation, and whether our generation will be more environmentally aware (not just due to Pocahontas) but because we grew up when the world was starting the realise the damage that had been done. I'd like to think that Pocahontas had an effect but it's taken me til the age of 20 to really listen, so surely 5 year old me didn't understand. But I am doing Geography, I do have respect for the natural world and I do have respect for other cultures. So maybe it rubbed off on me after all (Forget other sources of influence - I'm sticking with this theory I like it better).

CAT - Centre for Alternative Technology

   Firstly I'd like to point out irony of getting a bus from North Wales to Mid Wales through Snowdonia (Not the flattest of roads) roughly a 2hour journey to the centre of renewable technology, not that there is any other way but the idea of creating a carbon footprint just to visit a place dedicated to reducing carbon emissions and promoting sustainability is a little off.

   Secondly I was a little disappointed when I was there to find out that CAT is not self sustainable and that they use power from the national grid. After all that is what they are about surely they should be self-supporting?

   Thirdly I learnt that solar panels should be used solely to heat water in the UK as we are just not sunny enough to efficiently use solar panels for anything else. The UK would struggle to put into place anymore hydroelectric stations. I also found out that the UK is one of the windiest places, certainly Europe, so wind power = good, put little wind turbines in gardens and houses are mostly useless. The other good option for the UK's future renewable power is biomass (wood burning).

I really am disappointed that they use power from the national grid though.

And as a side note - Bloggers spellchecker does not recognise the word 'blog'

Barcelona: Money, Monks and Monarchy

Day 3 - Wednesday
I'm aware that there have been several errors in the last few blogs - typing on my my phone is quite mistake inducing.
Today we visited Montserrat (the mountain, not the volcano). Not great weather, the cloud cover was too low shrouding the top of the mountain in fog. There are multiple regious building on montserrat - we visited a monestry near the top.
What we saw upon arrival was not what I had expected at all. In fact I think it was every thing a religous building should not be. Several shops and an art gallery. Now I'm not saying that a monestry can't have a gift shop or a cafe, or that it can't be a tourist attraction. But something can be too much. Monks are supposed to be devoted to god, they should not be lining their pockets with money. Or is this a sign that money is replacing god. I'm not a religious person but I like churches and other places of worship. They have a great presence and I believe they are places to be respectful of, however this place had lost part of it's presence dispite the inside being stunningly decorated and I think this is to do with thw encroachment of the shops.
On the way back into Barcelona we were told how all the beaches in spain are public, yet there is a hotel built into the sea (like the one in dubai). It just shows that with enough money even laws are insignificant. The bit of beach that it was built on has long been known as a nudist beach, however guests complained, hotel appealled, law has been passed - it is now illegal to be nude on the beach - even though the hotel itself is illegal.
Spain has had a lot to deal with over the last century, this I never knew: WW1, Spanish revalution (Franco + Hitler), WW2 followed by a dictatorship. Until spains King restored democrasy.

Barcelona, Volcanoes and the Greeks

Day 2 - Tuesday

So the population of the world hit 7 billion yesterday - on hallowe'en - I wonder if that is the sign of things to come, the universe joking with us.
So fitting that the day after we go and look at aincent ruins - what would future civilizations make of our ruins, what would they think of us? Will we leave the planet in a state in which it is possiable for a future to exist. Maybe no one will examine our ruins. What ever any future civilization think of us, I hope we are used as an example - an example of what not to be.
The other thing we saw today was a volcano, that had been exploited, a huge chuck quarried out of it. The idea of quarrying a volcano just sounds wrong to me, even one that last erupted 10,000 years ago. But that is a blink of an eye for a volcano. I think its important that we cannot tame volcanoes and earthquakes and I don't think dormant volcanos should be ignored, even extinct ones. We need to be reminded that there is a force bigger than us - if not for the planets sake, for our sake.
The architect who designed La Sagrada Familia - Gaudi - said that there was no greater architect that god, therefore La Sagrada Familia could not be built higher than montjuic. Taking the religous statement out of that, the message is a valid one - we can't out do nature and the natural forces of the world.
After inspecting my water bottle it turns out that its a product of guess who - thats right Coca-Cola (what are the chances?).

Barcelona, Catalonia and Europe

Day 1 - Monday

The day started with a cycle tour around barcelona which was nowhere near as bad as I thought it would be.
It was a good way to explore parts of the city - so long as you don't run anyone over or get run over yourself.
It was interesting to find out that st. George is also the paitron saint of catalyunia - so due to this dragons feature heavily in the architexture of the old town.
The zoo and the parliment building are in the same park - an interesting mix

The differances between mediterranean europe and the UK are still striking - you think I'd have notice the difference before now as although this is my first time in spain, i've been to the med a few times. Is the tiny bit of sea between us and france really big enough to cause such a cultural gap? I don't think it is. So what makes us so estranged - do we belong to europe, because britons talk of visiting europe (implying that they do not view themselves as european).

However dispite the difference there are issues that catalonia has faced that the UK can relate to. For example spanish is not a language, saying spanish is like saying we speak british. Spain in the eyes of the spanish is as much one country as the UK. Catalonia has a vibe that it gives off that is very similar to the vibe of independance that wales gives off.

It just shows that issues can be the same dispite all other differances. 

On a less philosophical note, I've been drinking water :o

Barcelona

I somehow appear to be in Barcelona... Not sure how that happened really, its a little surreal (as is the city).

I had planned on posting a follow up blog about returning to halls but I'm not ready to do that yet. Orignally there was only going to be one blog while I was here but it appears I am required to write a diary on this trip, so why not blog?

So, I can't speak a word of spanish :/ . We landed in barcelona at 4:35 pm - it was uneventful though the baggage area smelt of vanilla.
After getting to the hotel and having a meeting we were then set loose in the city.

-The cultural differances between the UK and contenental europe is huge - on a sunday night you wouldn't expect shops to still be open until 10 pm-

We found somewhere to eat (and we could even read the menu!). Ordering was a little complicated but we managed - the food was okay. And who can complain when ypou accidentally get a bottle of sparkiling wine free?

I can't forget to mention the guy we saw in the shop who was pretending his bottle of water was a baby (we woke it up - and it cried) 

The Impending Return

So... in about 5 days I will be moving back to university accommodation for my 3rd and final year of my degree. I lived in halls in my first year so you would think that in the run up to returning I would not be nervous about my return yet I am.
In fact I am more nervous about my return to halls than I was when I originally left home for halls in first year and I'm a little confused as to why that is. Maybe its because on my original run up to halls I was also excited to be going whereas this time there is no excitement and just the nervousness.
But as well as that I had an amazing group of people as my flatmates in my first year and due to that the bar has been set high and I'm worried that my new flatmates will not live up to the legacy my previous flatmates set which of course sets me up for disappointment. I am trying not to expect anything but it is very hard not to look back on my experience in first year. I guess I'll find out within the next month how it'll work out.
 
To make it that little bit more complicated halls is not where I want to be I'm not complaining because its a place to stay and not a bad place, beggars can't be choosers as the saying goes. But what I really want is a flat or a house that I can call my own (at least partially) somewhere where I can settle down and start my life yet at the same time I don't want any of that at all, sometimes I feel as if I'm growing up and leaving the rest of me a couple of years behind playing catch-up and it still wants to play with toy cars and barbie yet the part of me that is ahead wants a house and kids (which is an idea that it'll have to talk me into a lot). And I guess I'm talking about all of this because moving back into halls, signals the start of my third year, my last year, and that fact scares me shitless because I don't feel ready and I kinda thought that by now I should be, hell I was meant to pick up an idea of what I was going to do with my life and everyone else has plans, ideas and ambitions most people had these ideas before coming to uni, I came in the hope I'd pick them up... so I guess I'm destined to be a bum... cause I can't see my life panning out any other way, and I honestly never have.

A Message To All Vloggers and Bloggers

Okay so If you have done nothing or have nothing to say why make a vlog/blog to detail how you did nothing or even worse a vlog that is completely pointless... WHY?

So since this seems to be the common theme of vlog/blogs these days I will join in. Yesterday I got up in the AM!! and the went to Mandy's house and spent the day watching Heroes (I'm Sooo confused) and I failed at Mario Kart. Back at Cazz's I ate pizza and watched high school musical 2... ARE YOU BORED OF MY DAY YET? cause seriously I don't understand why anyone but me should be interested in this information, so why is this the context and numerous vlogs/blogs???

Now moving on... I have failed at updating this blog about dreams because I forget them and to be honest I'm not sure if they are any better than the vlogs/blogs I am talking about above I did watch inception the other night though and wow... I would pitty anyone who found their way into my dreams... especially last night, there was an aweful lot of running to do in it. A FLYING CAR MONSTER was attacking people sooo yeah.

Lastly while dressing/sorting out clothes for the day why is it that SOCKS are forgotten about and always the last thing to be put on... does this make them special?

Catch-up and Dresses

Okay so a dream from a while ago...

I got stabbed then for some reason someone cut the stabbed bit of me out.... it then somehow got set on fire :/ then to conbat this someone poured tea into it (you know who you are) then I had to make an excuse for the fact I couldn't go to a ball :o

And another point. why is it if a girl that doesn't often wear dresses or skirts expected to never wear one... sometimes everyone likes to feel feminine once in a while. So please don't judge :)

Strange-Geek??

So yeah - bit of a geeky dream.

The dream starts on in a street that is all old fashioned with old shops (its not normally like this but its some kind convention). Me and Kylie are dressed up. We go looking for some kind of fabric, which leads us to ask a woman in a shop. At which point the woman complains about puppies needing to be paid higher wages than kids [I have no excuse or clue what that was about].

[Now we have a breif interlude O.o about fishing] 
 There is a room/cave its square full of water and dark... no idea how deep and I'm trying to catch a dolphin in a net but the net is a loop [no idea how that was supposed to work]

[this next bit I blame The Day the Earth Stood Still for, oh and Independance Day]

There is a war and for some reason I'm in the control room [are they stupid??] so yeah the control room and the world is under attack but its all fine because we are protected by force field shields (like the alien ship is in Independance Day) but the the shields fail and the world starts being hit by spheres (like the ones in The Day the Earth Stood Still).

[we now change scene which seems to follow on from the first section - but at the same time doesn't at all]

Me and Kylie are in a building and we have to kill storm troopers (but not really storm troopers) and only certian storm troopers. Also a really annoying woman appears in this bit and she just won't die no matter how many times she was shot. anyway back to the storm troopers one of the ones we have to kill is on the ship so we decide that we need to dress up as a storm trooper to get onto the ship so we kill a storm trooper to steal its uniform. At which point the leader of the storm troopers appears (who isn't from star wars and is actuall the captain Clicky me to see) so kylie tries to distract him and fails at which point he starts talking to me about whether his goggles are too muddy and doesn't care that I'm stealling a uniform. Then I put the uniform on even though I only have half of it (I don't have the white armour platey bits)

[At which point the scence changes again - I'm getting whiplash]

and we are now at a comic con Kylie still dressed up from the first time and me still half a storm trooper (with helmet which is infact a white motorbike helmet) we then go into a building and meet Cazz who quickly informs us that we have put far too much effort into it and that I don't need to find another storm trooper to complete my outfit.

[The End]

Weird Question for the day: Do doctors get ill a lot??

Hello, Hello...

So I guess I have a blog now O.o 

I was told that I need to keep a "blog about my diary" soo urm yeah...

Here it is, although I think they may have meant dreams... which would make more sense.

So in this spot you can expect to find dreams and any random thoughts/questions I have which friends refuse to answer *frown*

- How are you supposed to put suncream on your own back???

- And what do you do if your in the shower and voldermort appears - you would be wandless