:)

It's strange that coming back from Bath seems to have been a bit of a downer on me! I'm not sure why but I am fighting it with all my might as I truly do hate being miserable. The fight is working too which is good. Last night I was on the phone to Alex until 3am! Woops! The time went by too quick as usual. We had a good chat though, even a political debate at one point which was random. Also found that Moo has said some nice things about me to Alex which has made me happy! Always nice to be liked eh!

Today I went shopping for a little bit. I decided to buy a coat I'd had my eye on for a while. It's a red mac style raincoat I love it! Though everything in my life is getting more red! Argh! Over-load! Not sure why I like red so much but hey ho. My sister got a very cute beanie baby mouse to be a best friend for Cheezer who she takes everywhere with her. So everyone is happy!

Tomorrow I have the house to myself as my mum and dad are going away for one day for my dad's work. So I'm going to cook for my sister and then my friends are coming round for a bit before we all head our separate ways again! Though I haven't heard from Marnie at all for a long, long time. I wonder if I've upset her? Ahh well I guess I'm not missing out on much. I've posted on her Facebook wall to ask her why she isn't getting back to me so we shall see I guess. I know I moan about her but I do hope I haven't upset her, I never want to upset anyone no matter how much they annoy me! But anyway, it will be fun to have a good old chat with Bex and Alice about things! We had fun last time at least.

I'm also getting my hair cut tomorrow for the first time in a year. Again. I'm really bad at looking after my hair aren't I? I don't like getting my hair cut though and I especially don't like paying for it but it's getting done tomorrow and my mum is giving me some money for it which is nice! Win :)

OPM work experience

I've just come back from the most amazing week. Obviously I can't put too much detail up here as out of respect, I am keeping most things quiet but I can tell you all a little bit about it.

One my first day I was so nervous. My parents dropped me off and I went into the building. I'd been in here before so I walked up to the desk and explained myself. The lady was nice, got me to fill out a slip and called someone from OPM down. She also gave me a card which turned out to be a lovely good luck card from Martyn and family - so sweet! I sat and waited with another girl who was also doing work experience, not sure where though. Then Leon appeared. I saw his eyes flicker from the other girl to me until he either recognised me or realised the other girl looked far too feminine! I waved to him and then shook his hand. He asked me a few questions as we made our way upstairs and he quickly showed me around the office. He was really the only one in but the others soon started to emerge as the time passed. The IT people set up my own username and password so I could access any computer I wanted but before I logged on Ben invited me to come along to the podcast recording.

It sounds silly but I didn't realise the podcast was recorded in a different building. It was only round the corner and as we walked there I had a bit of a chat with Ben about the minions which was nice. He certainly is very chatty and he makes you feel involved in things, which is lovely. When we got there they all sat round the table and I sat with James Jarvis who was recording and sound checking everything. Everything is recorded on one long take and any mistakes, swearing etc are edited out afterwards so it meant I got to listen to the uncut version, hurrah! It was an interesting experience and meant I now don't have to listen to the next one.

The rest of my first day consisted of collecting screenshots and artwork for the top 50 playstation games of all time as that will be one of the main features for the next mag. As sad as it sounds it's strangely satisfying to see the art guy using the pictures I'd picked out in the feature. It was also very funny hearing Ben commentate on people's votes as he was the one collating them.

Tuesday lunchtime I met Martyn for lunch and he took me to a nice cafe and we had a chat about things. Was nice just to spend time with him - unfortunately I made him a little bit late back for work which I felt bad about. The rest of my days spent at the OPM office was a lot of doing little jobs. But you know what? Even doing the little things wasn't boring! Which made me think if I did end up doing a job like this, it really would be my dream job. I got to write the round up news section which was fun and I'm going to get 2 small reviews published - yay! I can't wait to see my name under something in next weeks mag. That will make me so happy. I think my dad is so proud he's thinking of framing everything I've ever put in the magazine! Such as all the off the wall stuff and the letter of mine that got published.

Wednesday evening I met up with Lee Groom and Martyn, we had dinner somewhere and then pudding somewhere else. Lee was a nice bloke, very friendly and jolly so all in all it was a great evening. But the best day of all was my last day of work. Near the end of the day I'd finished all the work Joel had given me, he felt a bit mean giving me any more work to do so he let me choose a game of my choice to play. I think the choice was dead rising 2, enslaved or vanquish. I really wouldn't have minded any of those 3 as they all appealed to me but I ended up choosing Dead Rising 2 as I love a bit of zombie bashing. So I played that whilst texting Martyn to arrange going to the pub with the minions. Tim and Rachel came to sit next to me to watch and Tim took over at one point to have a play. It really did make me laugh the way he was shouting "HAVE SOME CHAIR ZOMBIE!" Though he ended up killing me and I hadn't saved...woops back to the start then!

As thanks team OPM gave me a copy of Kane and Lynch 2 but they felt a bit mean about that so later on in the pub Rachel came over and gave me some signed Final Fantasy artwork and a God of War 3 box with the game in and loads of other little extras. I was genuinely surprised! I really am a very lucky girl! Plus Ben brought me a drink! Spoilt! OPM couldn't spend too long in the pub as it was someones leaving do. Though she had very kindly invited me and my friends along to it so we said we'd come along later as Ben was very insistent we come. We were hungry so we went to pizza hut first - which was good times. Then we ended up braving the rain to go to this other pub we were invited to. The lady whose leaving do it was, was surprised there was so many of us and Joel said they'd been waiting for us. It was a really good night, felt really happy, surrounded by people having conversations (and sometimes arguments!) about games and, of course, surrounded by my best friends. I was annoyed I had to leave early but it wouldn't have been fair to keep my parents up really late so I had to head back.

All in all I had a great week. Couldn't have asked for a better one :)

Broken

I haven't blogged for a while. This is due to two reasons. The first one being, I have been too busy. The day after Alex arrived back in England he came down to see me and we had a day in sunny Pompey. It was the best day I've had in a long time but I wore my legs out again from so much walking! Keeps me fit at least I guess. The second reason for not blogging is that my laptop has broken. I don't why it broke but one day the hard drive decided to pack up, meaning I couldn't even wipe the system. It's annoying I will lose all my photos, music, etc but that can all be replaced as my music is on my MP4 and my photos are on facebook. My uni work is on a memory stick (not that it matters, first year is gone and counts for nothing). It is however, a huge inconvenience to me but at least it has happened before my guarantee has run out. Someone out there does like me after all.

Anyway, the said laptop was whisked away by someone very early this morning so hopefully it will be fixed and back in my hot little hands by the time Bath is over. Speaking of which I am both nervous and excited about. More excited now as it draws nearer I just hope I can be useful, not get in their way, etc. Argh! It will be okay! Plus I am to invite Martyn round for a cup of tea one evening apparently to meet my parents and crazy dog. Should be nice. Plus I'm seeing ALL the minions at the end of that weeks! *Squee* Going to be good :)

Bipolar

This week has been very up and down for me. It started off good but today it made me feel like my whole week had been rubbish, which is a lie really. But have you ever felt so rubbish it's like it's ruined your whole week? I felt like that today. I guess it's because I woke up ill and I've been stressing about a close friend recently and it's caused me to just be in a bad mood.

Today we went shopping in Chichester. I was not very pleased about this as I'd been twice recently and there's not very much there. Plus without a job I am starting to feel guilty about spending money even though I kind of know I don't have to worry. I am just like that when it comes to money. I worry far too much. Though I guess it's better than being the complete opposite. Anyway, while we looked round the shops it decided to stop being nice and sunny, yep it pissed it down and we got kinda damp. Luckily it was only a shower and we managed to hide in some shops until it stopped. Unluckily, on the way back to the car we got very wet. Swings and roundabouts.

The day got better after I'd gotten home and I am looking forward to Alex coming home this weekend as I have missed not being able to talk to him this week. Just one more week to get through...

Mew

Last night I caught up with two of my best mates, Alice and Bex. I went round to Bex's house in the evening. We had a chat about uni and journalism. Had a nice chat with her mum too who offered me dinner but I declined. Bex made me a hot chocolate and we went to go and sit int he front room together. I'd been there for an hour when Alice turned up who didn't realise she was late! Oops! She forgot the time but ran round as soon as she realised. We spent the time not only talking about current things but also reminised at the past. We all had a funny saying that we'd said at school. Apparently mine was the best: "Don't pick holes in the sponge of friendship!" I still, to this day, have no idea why that came into my head. I don't think I've ever said anything as witty as that ever. Though it probably doesn't sound witty at all to any of my readers...never mind.

Recently I brought the two Sony cats off ebay. Well, I brought one and my dad brought the other for my good uni results. And I love them to pieces. At my age, I really should grow up a bit and stop buying toys but hell, where's the fun in that eh? But in all seriousness: I must stop buying cute Japanese things! At least until I get a job.

Speaking of which my work experience is creeping closer and closer. Eek!

Oops

I know recently I've been abandoning this blog but I doubt anyone missed it to be honest! This week Alex has gone to see ze Germans in Berlin. I know it's only been day one but I am doing well I think! I'm missing him of course but we didn't really text each other much in the last couple of day before he went anyway! So I guess I am not missing much.

When I went to see him the other evening I brought back Lego Harry Potter with me for myself and my sister to play together. It's fantastic! I've always been a fan of the lego games, they take your favourite parts of the film and make them so funny. I don't get people who don't like the Lego games. Are they doing any harm to you? No? Okay shut up then and let us play with our kids, siblings or just be children again!

Also, it looks like instead of going to Thorpe Park, Alex and I will be going to Go Ape some time in September which I am excited about! I've always wanted to do something similar but I've never had the opportunity. Sounds like a fun but exhausting day out! Can't wait.

I feel rather proud that last week I drove a boat! How cool is that? I mean all I had to do was steer it down the river, avoiding other boats and keeping to the right side of the river but still, it was pretty awesome and it's one more thing I can say I've done.

I'm not waiting for my Sony Kuro cat to arrive in the post! It was dispatched today and I am EXCITED. Though I really need to stop spending money on cute Japanese things...

Currently listening to: maroon 5-Infactuation
"Infactuation, I've seen the rest of you, it's getting the best of me. Such a shame that you shot me down, would have been nice to have been around. I'm touching your skin, if it's only a fantasy then why is it killing me?"

Beach party

Well it's been far too long since I went to a party but my God this made up for it. I got to Poole via train around 3:15pm. I saw Jen and others through the railings straight away and when I actually got off the train JB was somehow right in front of me! Wow we were really all here already? Unfortunately I forgot to scream at JB but since we were just opposite each other it would have been a little over the top...

We crossed the bridge to meet up with just about everyone except Iain and Coops who were running late. So we decided to get into town to be ready to start buying stuff for tonight and to meet them in town. So off started the two hours or more of rushing around town buying, well, absolutely everything! It was a bit tiring and crazy and some of us were craving a drink but eventually we were done. New to the scene was Jen's friend Josh who was very lovely and funny. Michelle, Martyn's wife came for a while with mini minion Wren who didn't not cry once! She was such a cutie, even offered me a grape! So, so cute. Also Moo's wife-to-be Kelly came along for the ride. She was also lovely if I little quiet but I suppose it's hard when there are so many people around that you don't know! And everyone was failing on the introduction front. Crazy times.

After the shopping we sorted out who was going and who was staying and who stuff was going in what car, etc. Michelle was taking Wren and going home so we said our goodbyes to them and set off for the ferry. There was a bit of a queue for the ferry but the journey across it was extremely quick. Then came the task of hauling all our bag across the sand to a spot where we could sit for the night. We made our way over to Jen's friends who were over by a camping stove area, handy! We all swiftly got our first drinks down us, some of us made an effort to introduce ourselves. Shamefully me and JB were too lazy but we had a fun time talking utter crap. I don't think either of us remember what was said that was so funny but we laughed at a lot of stuff. Was good times! I especially remember JB suggesting we buried the chicken eggs (meant for breakfast) and then pretended we'd found turtle eggs and then we'd see if they'd hatch. Yeah. A big old what the fuck indeed but my God did I laugh.

Later on after we'd nommed some WTFBBQED food we distracted the boss using Holly and Martyn and prepared Bossman's birthday cake. JB and I were the "little and large" cake hiding wall. Though Jb uttered to me "I came all the way to London for fucking cake!", we both burst into laughter, he was joking of course but it was so funny. Lighting the candles (especially the ones that spelt out: 300), was a bit of a fail on a slightly windy beach but Bossman pretended to blow them out so it was all good! It was a pretty pink Disney princess cake which Bossman loved, though we all agreed it had the wrong princess on it-where was Ariel and Belle?(Respect was given to Belle for shagging a beast).

Wez, Jen's boyfriend, came along and buried me in sand at one point to turn me into a mermaid! I think everyone found it funny how I just sat there and accepted it. Well why not eh!

I spent most of the evening with Jb and chatting to Martyn to be honest! It made a nice to change to be hanging out with Jb, was good fun and he was making me laugh with his theories that the island across the water (which we assumed to be the Isle Of Wight) was actually Jurassic Park. Though he said "He was too drunk to be dealing with dinosaurs". Also the moon, which looked very odd, was apparently the Death Star and we were now all doomed. Luckily I don't remember the planet being blown up so I think we got away with it...

Very late at night, I'm not sure what the time was, Holly really wanted to go for a swim. I was totally up for it as I was drunk but I also was wearing my bikini underneath my clothes. Holly went to change and I stripped off and we ran off into the sea. There was much a squeal over the temperature of the water but it wasn't actually that bad. When we got out Holly had her Lara Croft towel prepared and we huddled together, Holly, Laura and Lara, win! When we got back to camp minion I rushed over to my bag to get my own towel and just sat there wrapped up in it. All I remember then was Martyn, who'd just drunk a load of fermented Archers (it tasted like maple syrup), looked up at me and said "Alex is mental" before proclaiming my lap was comfy and resting his head on it. He actually fell asleep on there at some point! Bossman also got out his Ipod and some speakers and played some old school, tunes. When "Gangsta's Paradise" came on, me and Bossman sung weird Al's "Amish paradise" lyrics along to it which was very funny!

Eventually we all decided (I think it was around 3am) that we should get some sleep. I gently lifted up Martyn off my leg and left him on the sand. He was pretty heavily asleep by now. Holly helped me undo my bikini top which was in a stupidly tight knot and Bossman kindly held up a towel for me as I put on my bra! I wanted to be in dry clothes before I went to sleep you see. So I got dressed and Bossman laid out his huge tarpaulin and we got our sleeping bags on it, turned off the music and went straight to sleep.

I woke up around 6am. The sun had risen over the water, looked very pretty actually. I also felt surprisingly good considering how much I drank and how early it was. I text Alex that I was awake and all was well and he rung me and we had a little chat. He was very confused because he woke up to a text from each of us calling him a "Goldfish-faced fuck". Which, for some reason, was Bossman's idea. After that phone call I had a bacon roll which was nommy. I then made the mistake of going back to sleep as everyone else had and there wasn't anything else to do. Plus I was tired of course. When I got up later I was sick. Couldn't even keep umm the "Um bongo" Iain had given me! That's something that really doesn't need to be tasted twice...So yeah I couldn't keep down anything which was annoyed me because I was so thirsty for obvious reasons. It wasn't that bad though and after sort of throwing up on the ferry my stomach settled down after then. I still didn't eat anything though because I didn't want to be ill on the trains home. We got back to Jen's house at just past midday. Holly and Iain were dying for a cup of tea so some people had tea. I really wanted one too but was worried about my stomach so I stuck to water. Which I did manage to keep down. Good sign.

Eventually people thought it was time to leave so me, Jb and Josh (Jen's mate) squeezed in the back of Bossman's car and got a lift to the train station. Me and Jb then waited for a train to London. We had a few good little chats on the way back before I had to get off at Southampton. I got stuck with getting a fairly long train back to Portsmouth but it wasn't as bad as I originally thought. The whole train journey I was starving and dying of thirst. Now this is ME I'm talking about, the girl that eats shit loads. I was surprised I hadn't fainted but then, I was also wondering why I had no headache! The fuck? I was glad I was well though! When I got back to Portsmouth my dad gave me a lift back in the Mazda and I nommed Nachos for dinner and drank loads of water. All was well again. And today I woke up just before eleven, had a shower and now feel SO much better. My shoulders still kill but other than that I feel good! Best nights sleep ever.

Currently listening to: Elvis Presley-Suspicious minds
"Here we go again, asking where I've been. You can't see the tears, I feel like crying."