Saturday 28 December 2013

Christmas Disney

Christmas was typical. Panic about the food and wrapping the presents. I also played Santa this year, my little brother was surprising concern about Santa. He autistic so never had the normal excitement for christmas. I got a Nintento 3DS, Pokemon X&Y limited Edition Blue Version. I was meant to be getting red one but my little brother, being that arse that he is, decided that he wanted a red one even though he said he had wanted the blue one. Frankly, if I hadn't been getting one he would have been up a gum tree. It didn't help that my mum had got them mix up. She had given him the wrong game as well. I got Pokemon X as well. I've started playing it, I've got to it seems a lot easier than other Pokemon games I played, which is actually only Ruby, but I do have other ones waiting to be played.

I got two dolls of my mother, a monster High one and a Belle Doll. I also a dress, gloves that work on Touch screen and of course chocolate. Christmas was nice, though a lot of it did get wasted due to the fact that I was ill and so were other family members. Also I think it was probably a tad too much.

Today I went to see two Disney films, Frozen and Saving Mr Banks. At Frozen we were probably the oldest people there without a kid (I went with my mum & sib). We were also late but they had technical difficulties so it was fine. Frozen was a lot better than I expected. It would have been really good if it had been one character shorter. The Snowman character was just annoying and pointless. I just think the film didn't need him and was only there because they don't give kids enough credit. He has this song in the movie as well that just kinda crashes with the film. He starts singing about modern things in a film that meant to be set sometime time in the past.

We then went to the Chinese which we haven't been to in ages and then we went to see Saving Mr Banks. It was a good film, bit historical inaccurate. It ends all bit pettily. I'm such a Disney geek that I know the facts and heard about  P. L. Travers. It was still good if you look past that.

So that all I have to this week and I guess year. I've decided to reflect upon it once it actually finish. I write to you next year then.

Wednesday 25 December 2013

Book Review: Bellman & Black by Diane Setterfield

Christmas does not feature in this book at all despite it going on for a lifetime.

ONE MOMENT IN TIME CAN HAUNT YOU FOREVER.
Caught up in a moment of boyhood competition, William Bellman recklessly aims his slingshot at a rook resting on a branch, killing the bird instantly. It is a small but cruel act, and is soon forgotten. By the time he is grown, with a wife and children of his own, William seems to have put the whole incident behind him. It was as if he never killed the thing at all. But rooks don’t forget . . .

Years later, when a stranger mysteriously enters William’s life, his fortunes begin to turn—and the terrible and unforeseen consequences of his past indiscretion take root. In a desperate bid to save the only precious thing he has left, he enters into a rather strange bargain, with an even stranger partner. Together, they found a decidedly macabre business.

And Bellman & Black is born. 


 This is not the sort of book you read to cheer you up but rather to enjoy misery.  There a lot of death in this book, I would its sort of it main theme. I also I know this get sold as a ghost story but its not really ghosts, more supernatural forces going on involving rooks. I don't maybe it is the ghost of the Rook William killed. I'm just that I wouldn't necessary say it ghost story. Yes, there a recurring strange man in black but he might not be a ghost per say.

The book is separated into three parts. William Bellman's life leading to deal, Bellman's life after it and part III is a tiny thing. I think it works for the book but I don't like how the chapters numbering resets at Part II. Through, that just mean like to know the number of chapters I've actually read of a book. Through out the book there is tadbits about Rooks somewhat corresponding to what going on in the story.

William Bellman is an interesting character, not perpendicularly lovable but do you feel for him. I really liked how well thought the background of characters are and their relationships with each other very rich. Even relationships from before William is born have been thought out.The characterisation was very good, they all felt rather real to me.

Overall, this was very good, creepy book. It will make you teary at times. It just generally interesting book. I gave it 4 out of 5 stars for a parliament of rooks.

P.S. Happy Christmas Losers, I didn't plan to put this up on Christmas. It just happen. At least next year I won't have to worry about the fact that last Wednesday of the year is on Christmas. No, it'll be New Years Eve.

Saturday 21 December 2013

Panto Happenings a.k.a I'm going sleep till Christmas

Hello peops, today has been a very busy day fro me as I had the two finials shows of Jack and the Beanstalk, so I be left at quarter to 2 and didn't get back till 11. Fun. I mean it has been fun doing it but after a week of shows everyday and another day with two of them, I'm exhausted. I'll probably sleep till Christmas.

Overall, everything went fine but there was issues. I messed up a dance in somewhere every night. The Beanstalk failed to appeared one night and on the last show the Beanstalk got caught up in the wires above it and was stuck there so didn't fall down with the giant. We were meant to be have smoke during a Thriller dance, however failed to appear again after one dress rehearsal. On Wednesday we had threats of power cuts during the performance. The road we normally take to the threatre was actually blocked with trees, we still made it petty of time. There was no actually power cut except for the planned fake one during the show and the lights flicking a few times in the dressing room. Another thing about that night was that a guy in a high vis jacket came in late, bit of a distraction but understandable with the weather conditions. The thing is he wore it through the whole show meaning the first thing you would see when you go on the stage was this guy.

We had banter and treat filled dressing room. We took in cakes, chrisps, biscurds and on the finial show we had homemade Bean theme cupcakes. There were lovely, but negated to get a photo of one. We also went out for a meal between today shows. I got ribs on mash, it was nice but it was not a half a rack of ribs. I had Hot Chocolate Fudge cake and could not recomended it from this perdicualar hotel restant.

I've been knitting a lot between being on the stage and that this week. I finally finished a bag I've been knitting since before I first went into Sixth year (though I do need to stitch it together). I've started on another bag just because I was in the mood to knit and couldn't think of anything else to knit. I've came up with idea (not completely by myself) to start a scalf the next show which I will I knit only in my spare time during the show and then the next show add to it in a different colour, so I'll be able to count my involment on the length of the show. I'll probably use green or maybe yellow wool for next year's musical.

That all I have to say on the Panto (or what I can remember at the moment about it). I'm aware that this is also the Christmas BookTube-Thon weekend, I had plan to take part but I've only read like 20 pages since it started and I'm so tired that I doubt I read much tomorrow. However, I will try to make an effect of some sort. Especially since I'm behind on my reading challenge for the year and want to conquer it.

That all for this week, I will see you next time when I hopefully be recovered.

Wednesday 18 December 2013

Book Review: The Bloody Chamber and Other Stories by Angela Carter

This book is so bad that I almost wasn't going review it but I change my mind.

The Bloody Chamber (or The Bloody Chamber & Other Stories) is an anthology of short fiction by Angela Carter. All of the stories share a common theme of being closely based upon fairy tales or folk tales. However, she's stated: "My intention was not to do 'versions' or, as the American edition of the book said, horribly, 'adult' fairy tales, but to extract the latent content from the traditional stories."

Lets start by saying that these are all fairy tale retelling. Some are just weird (in a bad way) and stupid. Just like where are you going with these. I mean some of the stories were alright, but then next one would be utterly terrible. The title story, Bloody Chamber was just bad. It was boring, overly long and the girl just straight up went to the forbidden room and opened it. Like there was no build up to that part. However, it was unnecessarily long in other parts.

My real issue with this book is that the writing is so self-indulgent. It also bugged me that things are constantly being compared to a Chinese box. Its like Carter got this nugget in her head about Chinese boxes being the only thing that hold secrets and are puzzles. It like she so in love with them that there nothing possible else she could use to add detail. I mean she uses it three fucking times. It might worked the first time but you can't keep using it.

Also it trying so hard to be shocking at times, I mean it seems like Carter just threw certain things in only to be shocking. It all bit trying too hard to be statement making. I mean you can make a statement with literature but Carter just doesn't do very good job of it. It was more she trying to be intelligent when it not. There's too many big words being throw about. At one point she uses a word that just makes no sense, I even looked up to make sure that this word meant what I thought it did which it did. I mean if going to use a word make sure you know what it actually means. 

Overall, I give this book 1 out of 5 stars for too many Fing Chinese boxes. I wouldn't recommend it to anyone, if were possible to rate lower than 1 star I would. It just petty bad and not many redeemable factors.

Saturday 14 December 2013

Panto Panic

I've had strangely busy week considering I had plans to do nothing. Well, except Panto rehearsal. On Monday I found myself driving up (I didn't actually do the driving) to Ayr to dump my sister on my other sister so they could go galavanting to the Hard Rock Cafe in Glasgow. We got decent Fish & Chips, went to Primark and ASDA. Just a few things I miss out whilst living in the Borders.

So I was sister free for like two days. On Tuesday, I actually did nothing, but it felt like I did something. It just not true. On Wedesday, it was my little brothers Birthday so that sort of family chaos. I also had a lunch thing with the Carer people. Apparently, they getting someone to just work with the Young Adult Carers. Right now we get lumped in with the adults but we like different.

On Thursday, I went into college for the last time this year to finish something and see about applying to this course. It turned out that my Personal Statement was already fine and I only actually need to say why I was applying. University Personal Statements on the other hand are nightmares and I look forward to writing one this summer as while filming that portfolio *brusts into tears*.  So I have now applied to college for next year and now I have "Advise Session" in February. Oh, what fun that sounds like *Rebrusts into tears*.

Everything else had been Panto related. Been in every night for rehearsal this week and tonight was the opening. So we had the first show, there some last minutes changes and issues. I messed up dances that I've never messed up before. We're doing Jack and Beanstalk this year. Its been an interesting experience so far. I will probably do it next year. Definitely doing the musical this spring which will be a fun and interesting experience as well.

I'm going to go now as I have to get up early to a show in the afternoon. See next week where I will be exhausted from 9 shows.

Wednesday 11 December 2013

Book Review: Anatomy of a Boyfriend by Daria Snadowsky

Nothing sexier than a naked Ken doll.
Before this all happened, the closest I'd ever come to getting physical with a guy was playing the board game Operation. Okay, so maybe that sounds pathetic, but it's not like there were any guys at my high school who I cared to share more than three words with, let alone my body.

Then I met Wes, a track star senior from across town. Maybe it was his soulful blue eyes, or maybe my hormones just started raging. Either way, I was hooked. And after a while, he was too. I couldn't believe how intense my feelings became, or the fact that I was seeing—and touching—parts of the body I'd only read about in my Gray's Anatomy textbook. You could say Wes and I experienced a lot of firsts together that spring. It was scary. It was fun. It was love.

And then came the fall.


 I generally like this book, though they were few issues with it though that bugged me.

Domuqiue is a virgin with access to the internet yet she never looks up Sex tips or whatever. She relays on her Best Friend for her sex info mostly. I actually cringe at certain parts because even in my inexperince I know they're doing it wrong. Remember kids, if someone bleeding you're doing it wrong (even if it your first time). Dom is all about the safe sex, it just seems a bit weird that knowledge about that but not actual sex.

I don't percudilair like Dom, I don't perduliar like Wes. Maybe that makes them a perfect couple then. Probably not. Though, I do think they are very realistic teenagers, just the sort of teens I would roll my eyes at whist I passed them the hall at school. This book deals with Teenage sexuality realistic. They certain thing in here I could critised for being stupid but sadly certain things Dom does are what actual real woman do.

Overall, I give this book 3 out of 5 stars for buckets of fiction tears. I recommended it for anyone who likes Romance and wants a YA book that actually deals with sex. 

 Joins us next ( month probably, certainly not next) week where I shall be reviewing the sequel 'Anatomy of a Single Girl'.

Disclaimer: I was sent this book for Review by the Author, but you know me I'm highly critical of everything, even things I love, so I won't be swayed by free books. I just felt I should tell you that.

Book Review: Zom-B by Darren Shan

If Zombies ever attacked my school, I would have just fed the House teachers to them and leg it.
.
 When news reports start appearing of a zombie outbreak in Ireland, B's racist father thinks it's a joke-- but even if it isn't, he figures, it's ok to lose a few Irish.

B doesn't fully buy into Dad's racism, but figures it's easier to go along with it than to risk the fights and abuse that will surely follow sticking up for Muslims, blacks, or immigrants. And when dodging his fists doesn't work, B doesn't hesitate to take the piss out of kids at school with a few slaps or cruel remarks. 

That is, until zombies attack the school. B is forced on a mad dash through the serpentine corridors of high school, making allegiances with anyone with enough gall to fight off their pursuers.


I really like this book, I plan to read the sequels as soon as I managed to acquired the 2rd one from my local library because they basically have them all and I'm not meant to be buying books at moment.

This book is quite misleading. It tricks you at least two times. It would be a major spoiler to tell how its misleading. But it was a highlight of the book for me, maybe even my favourite part.

This book has some series issues, spouse/child abuse and Racism plays a big part in the book due to B's father being a extreme racism. English Defence League and all that sort of idiocy. Like B's Dad literally thinks everyone who isn't white is below him. B struggles with this and whether kidding on to be racism makes you racism or not. Basically, B does it to have an easy life as Dad tends to beat those who disagree with him. B isn't really a racist but doesn't stand up when should.

Obviously, Zombies also play a major part of in this book. It be a random title/misleading summary if there wasn't any Zombies. There's a scheme behind the zombies, some weird guy that B apparently met as a toddler. Zombie look people stealing babies. B having dreams about Killer babies on planes. Interesting things happening. The zombie attack is built up well, we know the rumours and videos on YouTube. We also meet the background characters enough to actually care about them when the Zombie attack happens and to route for them to live. It big with Horror that you actually have to care for the main character for it be decent, the others for it to be good (unless the main character the only one in danger).

Also I enjoy that B is character that you don't like till you get to know them. It really works for this book and the issues within it. You still don't like or agree with most of B's decision but you see where they come from.  B is interesting and I like that.

In summary, I really enjoy this book and think it good addiction to the Zombie craze we're been having. I give it 4 out of 5 stars for making me realise something that bit of spoiler to say and fleeing masses. Basically, read it horror fans and everyone else. You might like it because it's good, god damn it.

Saturday 7 December 2013

A Day and Half without Power

I am now a graduate, no not the type with a degree or diploma. But I have so many certificates. Most of them useless, but hey I have them god damn it. Basically, this my complicated way of saying that I finished that Prince's Trust Course with a Presentation night that they like to call Graduation. It felt as meaningfully and as important as Nursery school Graduation was. Though, now I can no longer say that everything went down hill after Graduation (I have specifies it now). We all got Alphabet books which they no longer use to teach the Alphabet. I'm such a positive person, that must really show on this blog, doesn't it?

You can tell that I'm really inspired by this course to do great things with my life. Frankly, I'm not. Though, I now know what I'm hopefully doing next year if I get into the course, of course. I still have to write a Personal Statement thing and it's in high demand. So you know worrisome. I also might be a little over qualified for it. It basically to do more Highers so I can finally get an A. I plan to do 3 more next year. Should be hilarious next to the other five.

The presentation thing went fine we took pictures, people cried for some reason. We got terrible take-way. I order a large doner kebab, however, I received a tray of meat with a single, tiny pita bread, which I work out that pita bread cost a pound. So in summary, Fuck you Dante's in Dumfries, even if I lived in Dumfries I would never fucking go to you again. I get very worked out about my food. I mean the Kebab meat was still nice, but still I didn't order a tray of it. I knew I should have just order Pizza. I didn't understand why we didn't get Chinese or Indian, anyway.

We also had the opportunity to get our Hair and Make-up done by Students studying such thing. I took this opportunity by having my hair curled and make-up applied. I did now however touch my make-up with more colour.

We had went shopping on Thursday where we had got £50 off this other Trust to buy clothes for our Graduation/Interview wear. The boys all brought suits, the other girls brought party dresses/cat suits that there's no way you would go to a interview in. Though, in truth none of the stores in town really had anything at all. I mean if I had wanted to go down the party dress line, I saw nothing. I did get lucky with buying real leather brogue shoes for £6. There said were half price at £12. My family have it in their head that I have incredibly lucky just because I cleared out a School charity raffle thing one year. I think it more if you put yourself out there, you bound to eventually win.

Look at me Speaking.
I also won books (and minty biscuits) on Tuesday. I've been doing the British Book Challenge this year and there is a monthly draw of reviews entered which is of course a book prizes. I won November's which I was quite chuffed with considering that I didn't enter at all in October. Tuesday hadn't really been a good day, just little stuff that did it, though winning books turn it around some what. I was actually so depressed that I had actually already purchased four books before I had found out my winnings. I'm not really excited about the books I won, but that mainly to do with the fact that I never check out them out and I figure I just leave them till they arrived to see what they're about. However, any books make me happily, especially when they free to keep.

It strange I won this month as I've decided that December will be the month of reviews. I mean I'm planning to catch up on the books that I need to read/write reviews on. You know just getting all unfinished business over before the end of the year. These upcoming Wednesdays will have several books and you should enjoy that. I'm working on two right now and know what the one after them will be. also need to finish tidying my room.

The other major event of this week, was the fact that my house was without power for two days. Though, I only experienced a day and half of it as I had just left when power disappeared. I mean we had power issues before then. The power had cut out in the midnight of the night, I know this because I woke at 5.40ish to darkness. My TV was off and my alarm had reset so it was good thing I woke up when I did or I would have ended up missing the bus. Well, I would have been lucky if the bus had show up at 7.15am like it was meant to. However, it never showed due to the same reason we lost power and now have a fallen tree in a garden. I'm sort of going to miss that tree but it's a lost cause. You probably know that the wind was windy as hell and took down several trees/branches causing hazards on and blocking the roads in South of Scotland/something about the North of England. The power also briefly went off right before I left at house at 8.30am and apparently went off straight after I finally left for College. It then didn't come on till Midnight on Saturday. We had been told it would come on at 10pm on Thursday, then 6pm on Friday, then 11pm.

In the meantime, we had a lot of fun with fire and takeaways. We had MacDonalds, KFC and chip shop. We try to warm up the left over KFC by the Gas-fire (which was the only heating we had, really miss the Rayburn at times like that). I read Batman comics by Candle light and attempt to write a review by candle light before losing patience with the idea of work. BATMAN SPOILERALERT!(Though, I'm sure most Batman fans have heard about this already), I read the Death of Damian Wayne by Candle light, I'm just hating (not in the crap sense, more emotional pain of it) the whole of arc of Bruce grieving. It just so terrible. I mean Damian had start to grow on me but its the Bruce's suffering that really getting to me. It just so sad. I don't like and it the tiny stuff as well. Like cat Alfred sitting on his grave and stuff. SPOILERALERT! OVER!

I've made quite leeway with my pile of comics. I've Batman:The Dark Knight (which turns out is being rebooted as Asylum next year). I've got four comics left to read in Batman ones and then it Justice League and Superman action left. Well, before this month actual comic arrive. Though, I'm sort of annoyed with Titan as last month Superman has yet to arrived. I'm going to contract them about it because it sort of ridiculous how late some of the comics come. The last Dark Knight comic came a day early but that doesn't make up a Superman and Justice league one was sort of late too.

I also had to sleep downstairs on the couch due to the power cut as my mum has a thing about candles being upstairs. I suppose my mum has point considering how many books I have in my room that I would hate to see burn. Also all my other stuff is important I guess.

This week has actually been that eventfully. Next week probably won't be, but it certainly will be busy as I have Panto rehearse every night week and then the actual thing so I shall be rather tired by Saturday(a.k.a Opening night). Type to you then.

Wednesday 4 December 2013

Book Review: The Dead Men Stood Together by Chris Priestley

Have you ever pick up a book and wonder why you picked it up?
 
'The Devil is coming to your house.

Crazy words begin a gripping story of madness, demons and death. Home from the sea, a boy’s uncle entrances him with tales of life aboard ship and of foreign lands. Soon the boy decides to join his uncle on his next voyage.

A violent storm blows the ship off course and the crew find themselves marooned in a sea of ice. As their despair grows, an albatross seems to befriend them and restore their hope. But seized by an evil madness, the uncle kills the great bird with his crossbow, and so condemns all on board to unimaginable horrors, of which life in death is the greatest . . .

This book and me didn't really mix well. I'm not why I initially wanted to read it either. I think it was because I had been tempted to buy another book by Chris Priestley. It just kinda dull. I don't know maybe if you like adventures stories for the sake of adventure, then it might be the book for you. It just wasn't mine.

I think my biggest problem is motivation. I mean most of the event that happen because of one person, but I never understand his motivation for doing what he doing. I suppose it might not be him doing per say, maybe just puts things in motion for spite but doesn't actually know what his actions will do. I don't buy insane and kinda evil as motivation since he wastes a lot of his own time.

My favourite character was the Harbour Master's son. What a shame he was barely in it. I guess the characters all fine, but I didn't feel much sympathy towards any of them and their fates. Maybe the protagonist's mum, I have a soft spots for mums (Hi mum, though you don't read my reviews and I don't really want you on my blog at all. I wish to leave, if you reading this now. Bye).

I found myself rather bored once we got to the second half of our sea voyage. All of the bad stuff happening, just wasn't that interesting. It was bit boring after a while. I had to make my self finish the last half of the book.

I gave this book for teaching the lesson of not trusting strangers just because they're family and not to leave home (well, that's what I got as the morals). I gave it 2 out of 5 stars for dead birds. I recommend it to people who like adventure without purpose and younger than me.