Sunday 10 October 2010

Well, It's about bloggy time!

Ok so I have been absoloutely terrible with keeping my blog up-to-date, and one doesn't have to speculate much to find procrastination at the heart of this post.

Instead of the boring diary-like crap like "I bought some socks in Primark today" and "My dissertation sucks"(although you will indeed hear much about this over the coming months...), I thought I'd include some pictures and videos (if I can technologically handle it) that make me literally lol.

I guess its slightly reflective of my boredom/general contentedness with life, things are going really well, im working hard, playing harder and have so many great friends. I'm mentally bubble wrapping myself for this winter, protecting myself from the cold, dark days with lots and lots of fun.

Hope this cheers you up too:

Monday 5 July 2010

Things I miss about England:

(not in any particular order)

1. qwerty keyboards
2. Philadelphia cheese spread
3. chocloate hobnobs
4. SQUASH
5. 'normal' bread
6. Nightclubs
7. Current Music
8. SHOPS in particular useful shops like: LUSH, Boots, M&S, Primark, Dorothy Perkins.
9. My friends
10. My family

Things that I'm enjoying out here

1. 35-40 degree heat daily (although working in this heat is not enjoyable)
2. Swimmingpool on site
3. Lots of amazing sight-seeing opportunities in and around Provence
4. Proximity to sea (warm mediterannean sea not crappy east english coast)
5. 4 hr lunch breaks
6. I now eat nutella, after 21 years of rejection.
7. crepes and croissants (not eaten together)
8. suntan
9. went to paris to see friends and family on my days off a couple of weeks ago
10. french tv, shockingly bad, but kind of scarily addictive.

I'm sure theres lods of other things, and don't get me wrong, there's downsides to both sides, and I'll miss the heat and the pool and the frenchy things, and the people.... but hey - only 41 working days left/8 weeks


Random blog I know, not working on anything particularly witty, but there you go, just my thoughts and feelings at the moment, thought I'd note them down.

Ciao for now

KKKKKKaty

Wednesday 23 June 2010

Neither Sex nor City

I have been watching way too much Sex and the City recently, and it has made me very pensive about my impending future. In ten years I will be in my thirties... ten years ago I was only just getting out of my first decade. Obviously I imagine every girl thinks that she is the Carrie character, the fashionista with cute flaws and little luck with keeping men (though good fortune in finding men), a self indulgent let’s write about my life, and actual success in doing so. The truth is, I really do think this is me – except I’m 21, and despite my wit, am seriously lacking in the ‘ex’ department except a handful of puppy love and failed crushes and one huge heartbreak, also I can’t see my little blog-ettes really taking off and being turned into either a) a column or b) a book, let alone c) inspriring a tv show and 2 films... Is this me lacking self confidence? Or am I just a realist...

So my dream is Carrie, but maybe its better in reality to be Miranda – the career woman who’s really independant... this is going to be my new aim. The sad thing is that before the [much] aforementioned heartbreak I used to be the Charlotte character, innocent, naive, believing in love and marriage and soulmates etc etc. Sadly I have never been the Samantha character...yet.

This week I told off a 3 year old French boy and felt really good about myself, I also sleep-shouted “what happened to you?!” at my roommate, poured fruit juice on my cereal, and laughed out loud when i saw at work when someone came from Espoo (POO) – Finland. I think perhaps my dreams of the glitzy-glamourous 30 something independant and sexually active, stylish woman with a successful career in media is a massive, unachievable dream for me. Afterall, I am me. And look at the last paragraph I’ve written... I am the silly clumsy cute funny friend. Doomed? Or just about original / weird enough to make a success of my random musings? Only time will tell...

Vex & The Katy

Thursday 17 June 2010

I realised that I haven't posted a blog in absoloutely ages, I apologise! but the trouble is, I'm working down in Provence with very little internet access, and by the time I get round to going on the interent, catching up on facebook and American tv series, I can scarecly be bothered to write about my life.

I've been thinking alot recently about what I want to be when I grow up... The trouble is I really wanted to be a radio dj, writer, or teacher. These three things seemed to be the new top 3 jobs for everyone, forget "lawyer" "doctor" "vet" its all "media" "rich" and "famous" (or teacher).

So what will make me stand out? I like to think my wit, but is there room for another bridget jones wannabe? Could I write a book? what about? Been as my blogs are few and far between, it appears as though I have a lack of commitance and nothing very interesting to say...

I had been thinking along the lines of "diary of a hypocondriac" - a semi-autobiographical tale... or just generally "The Thoughts of a Twit" or something along those lines...
These are the two things that I seem to be making myself famous for: always being ill or having hurt myself somehow and asking the most random unanswerable questions like "if an ant fell off a 6foot wall would it die?"

Could I turn my weird and complex complexes into a career? should I publish more of them here or might someone steal my ideas? tricky world..

anyway for the mean time I think we can all rest assured that I am going no where fast and that its going to stay that way for the foreseeable future. (Could I have used many more clichés in that sentence?)

ps: In actual news of my life and not just the ramblings of my inner thoughts - I spent my two days off work this week up in Paris, met up with some family and saw some friends, which has been great, and I'm hoping to come back next month or in August to go to Disneyland with Aurelie!

à plus tard,
Mlle Blake

Tuesday 18 May 2010

Escape to another country

So I have left my Wuthering Heights behind me, and gone off to do some work in France, (Saumane de vaucluse in Provence). I am working as a receptionist intern and work 9-12 and 4-7 mon, tues, fri, sun and basically 8-8 saturdays. This means i get 2 whole days off, and 4 hour lunch breaks 4 days a week. Not bad! The weather in May is already 25 degrees, with a nice cool breeze thanks to the mistral.

The place I'm staying at is 4* and has a golf course, tennis courts and swimming pool, one of the girls I live with has a car, which means we can pop to the shops or local towns whenever we want, and as we have the same days off I'm sure we'll end up taking lots of day trips etc, I mentionned that I'd love to go to St Tropez...

I'm not far from Avignon so intend to visit that soon, maybe catch up with some people from uni who are still studying there at the moment...

Im feeling quite happy, its gorgeous weather and the job is good, obviously Im struggling a bit, not knowing how the place runs etc, but I'll get used to it gradually and hopefully my french will come on leaps and bounds... I really am trying to work at it, so I can get much better grades next year in Uni.

Apart from that everything else in my life is pretty quiet, had to leave manchester which was a bit sad, but no one is staying there in the summer really, so Id much rather be here anyway. I'm going to miss the nightlife a bit though! and my lovely housemates :(

I'm pretty sure lots has occured since my last blog, but you can't always mention everything or keep playing catch up.

At the moment, la vie est belle, we'll see how 6 days in a row at work including the dreaded busy saturday change that...
I don't have the internet in my appartment, so blogs will not be too regular (not that they ever have been) but maybe that will give me the inspiration I need to be bothered to write. I went on facebook not having been on it properly for about 4 or 5 days, and I can tell you I didn't feel like I was missing much!

I highly recommend the life of southern france.

Sunday 18 April 2010

...and she also said the same

I am in Naples, visiting my friend Liz. I am absolutely loving it!!! The weather is really good, though it is overcast today to be fair, but it has been gorgeous. Spent some time down by the sea and round on the amalfi coast too, gorgeous!!
I love basking in the sun soooo much!!!!

I have a telephone job interview on tuesday, in French, i am sooo nervous.. Its just for reception/waitressing in a holiday camp for 3 months. If I get it then I can technically complete my year abroad requirements which will be fantastic news. So fingers crossed!!

I have met some great people in Naples, we have shared so many laughs (that phrase is a bit middle aged/like a kodak advert(?)) anyway, I have decided that laughter and sunshine are two of my favourite things. If that sounds really corny I'm sorry, but Im just having SUCH a good time at the moment!! Im making Liz and Charlie an aubergine and robiola lasagne tonight, got some red wine, its all good..

We just watched the film 'Party Monster' and I recommend it!! If you're interested you can google it to see what its about, I don't feel as if I should write a full synopsis been as if you're reading this you're already a) an internet user and or b) bored/have spare time.

I am getting myself all political, and have enjoyed deciding who I'm going to vote for, though I do need to read the manifestos to double check things, need to get on that really. I'm really proud of our generation, from the facebook and twitter feedback it seems that alot of people have an opinion and care, I just hope they all organised themselves enough to actually be in a position to vote.

In other news, I am on a daily basis more and more sure that I have some mild OCD and or Autism (I really apologise if you or someone you know suffers with these in a serious way, and this offends you) but, I definitely have some weird complexes.
For example: what I call "all or nothing" the need to have a bit of everything, this can affect trivial things like pizza toppings, or make me obsessed with needing to know the ins and outs of an event, or reading a book, seeing the film, seeing documnetaries, reading about the people etc etc... I get a bit obsessed. This is also displayed with my obsession with rice - that every single grain must be cleared from the plate and surrounding area.
Another problem I have is with sudden loud noises which often induce an unecessary scream from me, and has made me despise people sneezing.

Anyway that was a random snippet from my life, Im not weird or anything, I think. Not too weird anyway. Its just these things have been quite noticeable as Ive met new people here, and it seemed like they needed a mention.

To explain the blog title: Liz told me a story of when they taught a german friend to play "that's what she said" and he didn't quite grasp the concept, and anyway ended up saying "and she also said the same" which has turned into a phrase in its own right now with us. NB has to be said in a german accent.

I don't know if I'll be able to get back to the UK tomorrow because of Eyjafjallajokull - yes that is the volcano in Iceland's actual name. So we'll see what this next weeks holds in-store for me...

Miss Spontaneity.

Wednesday 7 April 2010

Long Time, No Blog

Ok I have about four weeks of Katy's life to catch up on, so get a cuppa tea and a biccy, put your dressing gown on, and get cosy...

Generally I'm loving life, feeling really happy, loving being single! I have ridiculous cravings to own a dog - a border collie puppy to be specific, I've now set a realistic date - June 2011 (if I don't go travelling), speaking of which, following trip to Spain on TOUR (which will be spoken of later on) and an upcoming trip to Naples, I seem to have got the travel bug, I just want to go abroad, go on holiday, go travelling, go exploring, go party! Anyone want to go on holiday with me this summer?

The house was broken into again for the second time in two months, this has really disturbed me, resulting in sleeping with the light on, feeling incapable of sleeping in a house alone, and deciding to go into private halls at £109 a week, just for the security.

I'm loving being at home, seeing family and catching up with friends, although sadly I don't have enough time to do everything that I want, and some people are missing in action, so I am not able to fulfil the satisfactory feeling of having seen all the best people.

I went to Salou in Spain for Tour, this is where about 8000 students go to a resort to have a sports tournament but mostly treat it like Spring Break/and 18-30s/a four night fancy dress binge drinking bonanza. It was absolutely immense, I met loads of people travelling with my University's football and netball team. I also had my fair share (the most of anyone in our group) of male attention, woop! There were so many legendary moments which have formed 'in jokes' which I feel now leave me as a public liability when I'm in a crowded pub and feel the urge to take my shoe off, bang it on the wall and chant: "SHOE ARMY" etc...

I am suffering post-Salou with a cold, probably as a result of 30 hour coach journey and its inconsistent heating/air conditioning, drinking every night until 6am, and kissing total randoms. eurghh. Before I went I had just got over the flu, so its a bit annoying being ill AGAIN. By the way, it WAS the actual flu, and not 'flu' or 'man flu' I had the can't get out of bed for 50 quid syndrome...

I am spending much of my time stressing about summer plans; my parents will be in France for 4 months, so I can either choose go with them (with no tv or internet) or work near them, or stay in Manchester (alone?) or work in Essex or London and stay at home (alone) tough choices. Annoying because I don't know if and when and where I'll get a job, so don't know whether to get tickets for events like Pangaea, Beach Break Live, The Big One, etc etc. Annoying times.

I apologise that this blog has not been too interesting or in any form witty, but I just felt that I needed to spew brain thoughts of what I've been upto, then once that's out of the way I can continue to blog about the smaller, more comical aspects of weekly life.

Also I am very keen to hit the gym on a potential daily basis when I return to Manchester, and also diet/be very well behaved about what I'm eating, as I've had a real self induced epiphany about how I want to look and feel. (thinner) So with the aid of public humiliation, I may comment on weight loss with each blog as a way to keep on track, so keep reading/snooping...

Until then, I'll be chilling at home with family and friends and then visiting Liz in Naples, so I'll update this blog after that, heading back to Manc, to see which of my possessions have and haven't been stolen, and to start a military style self induced fitness plan, along with the first rehearsals for The University of Manchester Glee Club, as well as general job hunting for solving my summer problem. If anyone can think of a job/solution/wants to live with me in Essex or Manchester then let me know!

Peace Up
A Town Down
Yeah

Wednesday 17 March 2010

Political Rant

I am facing my first general election in which I am eligible to vote, and after having done some research on who to vote for, I believe that I’ll be abstaining, as many young people tend to do.

The problem lies with the voting system which the UK has, ‘First past the post’ is the name given to the system in which seats in parliament are awarded in proportion to the number of constituencies in which party has won the majority. Therefore, your vote may not count in a community where the political beliefs are the majority. If the majority vote X party, then your vote for Y will not be noticed or have any effect on parliamentary seats. However, in ‘proportional representation’ each vote is counted and seats are awarded for overall number of votes. I am not completely naive, I am aware that this creates hung parliaments and minority or coalition governments, which have their own complications, but is it not better to try this, and try and find compromises and have the public’s votes counted, rather than stick to an old tradition which keeps the powerful in power, and ignores the thoughts of the people that they are supposed to be helping?

For this reason, I may abstain from voting, as my vote for change will not make a difference owing to the area in which I live, and the presiding thoughts of the majority of inhabitants. I feel that people who care about politics and turn up to vote should be recognised, as currently votes that are ‘spoiled’ (not ticking the box for any particular party) are not counted. Why not count them? See how many people did bother to turn up to vote, and had considered the options and decided that ‘none of the above’ was what they wanted. I fear it is because the people who have the power to make this difference and make peoples voices heard do not want to risk losing their power, and the people who are the naive voters are perhaps those that always vote the same way, without looking at particular policies or the unfairness of the system. It is these people who are ruining the free speech of those who’d like to vote, and who would like to make a change, but who are just not being listened to.

We are stuck in a political rut whereby we swing backwards and forwards between two political parties. And the regrettable truth is these powerful parties know of the situation, they know how unfair it is, but will not change it as that could cause them to lose the benefits that they reap from this ‘democracy’.

I am so disheartened with the entire UK system, that I barely consider individual party policies, as I just feel that my vote is not counted, my voice is not heard, and I fear that with little contemporary political education, and little pressure for a change in the system, that it never will be.

Monday 1 March 2010

Concorde Crashes and Chicken Sandwiches

It seems to be the 'in thing' to get blogging these days, and I thought that it is a bandwagon that I should be jumping on.

I had previously started a blog during my time spent abroad in Paris, and it was rather witty and interesting. However, that got seriously neglected and with a change in my circumstances (back in Manchester and single for the first time since I moved here in 2007) I thought what better way to express myself than recapture that part of me that simply loves detailing my inner thoughts on the interweb.

And yes, the title of this entry does have a meaning... I am actually studying (hard to believe as I only attend 3 hours a week at the moment, as I am technically in degree limbo, waiting for my final year to start in September).
Anyway, I am trying to write about Concorde, and did some wikipedia based background research on it(as all students tend to). However, this now doesn't seem to blogworthy in itself so I will move on to the chicken..

I bought a rotisserie chicken and had a fresh hot chicken sandwich, a luxury that can only be compared to that of taking a stagecoach bus around Manchester instead of the peasants' Magic Bus.

I have loads on this week with Netball, Work, Uni work, organising a University of Manchester Glee Club Social, and my university radio show to plan and produce, yet I feel eternally guilty when I hear about those people writing dissertations etc, and I just think, where would I fit it in? I did go to the library the other day to try and get inspired for my own dissertation (to be written next academic year), and within 5 minutes I had a headache and needed a sit down, I just don't understand why or how people can spend all day in the library~ Have you no life? do you not need to refresh facebook every 10 minutes? why haven't you seen the latest episode of Grey's Anatomy?!

Maybe this means that I have no life, but who can say that I'm not thoroughly enjoying it!

Ps I went to the Gym and watched the conservative party's pre election speech thing, which I was really proud of, who exercises and takes an interest in politics at the same time?! I'm definitely a changed woman.