The New Year gets underway

The year seems to be flying by already, perhaps because I have exams this month that I'm dreading - when you don't want things to happen time seems to speed up! So, a quick update on what I've been up to lately.

We got a snow day on Jan 6th, although it was apparently accidental - the teachers were planning on opening, but the school bus company rang up the local radio station and said they weren't running buses, so the radio station assumed school was closed - and therefore the school had to go along with it! Although it was a day where I usually only go in for one lesson anyway, I'm glad we had it - otherwise I would have had 14 years at school without a single snow day!

I've been rather stressed lately, as exams are looming, and I have my English Literature exam re-sit tomorrow, which I'm not really sure how to revise for. I was predicted (and achieved) A grades in Eng Lit all last year, but then I got a C in the final exam in June. My teacher requested my paper back, then requested a remark, but nothing changed - and my teacher, head of English, has no idea why I got the grade I did; she couldn't see any difference between mine and the students who got A grades. So my only option was to retake it, which I shall be doing tomorrow...so fingers crossed. I get really nervous about exams, and start feeling ill, so I'm annoyed that it's an afternoon exam as it means I'll have to keep my cool all day - but there's not much I can do about that! Anyway, I've reread the texts and the poetry and I'm just going to hope for the best for tomorrow.

Mostly I've just been in the usual routine - school, homework, bed - and I haven't had a chance to do a lot of writing unfortunately. I've really got into a TV series called the Gilmore Girls though, which is repeated on E4 daily. I started catching odd episodes during school holidays, and have now borrowed all 7 series of a friend of mine and am working my way through them when I have time/no motivation to do anything.

I'm having problems with my dad at the minute. We have a tendency to argue, probably because we're very alike, and because he is definitely not the typical dad. My parents have been divorced since I was 8, and I'm great friends with my mum, but dad and I have an argumentative relationship. When I was younger we got on well - I didn't see him much when I was younger as he worked a lot, but when he moved out we got on well and I'd go and stay at weekends. I feel though that since I started to have my own opinions and to disagree sometimes with the way he acts that we just can't get along anymore. He camw round for five minutes yesterday to fix something on my car, and somehow it turned into huge argument. I guess that's why I'm rambling here - feel free to stop reading! I just need to get it off my chest. I sometimes wonder why he had kids, and I don't think he would have done had it been solely his choice. He has a very addictive personality, and was an alcoholic before I was born, but he's been tee total for years now. But then that addiction went to cigarettes, and now that he's kicked that habit too, he's addicting to gambling. He always has been, but online poker has meant that it now takes up all the time that he's not working. I stopped staying at weekends about two years ago now because there was no point, he'd just be playing poker, and since then it's got a lot worse. He doesn't think he has a problem...he doesn't understand how hurtful it is that poker is always more important than anything else, including me and my sister.

I hate the fact that we end up arguing permentantly, and that we can't get on, and that he has me in tears so often that it doesn't even surprise me any more. I have to bite my tongue around him but he can never do the same around me, and he just doesn't get that he's the adult. He doesn't do a lot for us, in my opinion, but when he does anything he acts like it's this huge big deal. He makes me feel guilty and not good enough and I am so fed up of crying because he's said something horrible or because I know that on his list of priorities I'm below poker, and also my sister, and my mum too, even though they're divorced. I'm sure he doesn't mean for it to be like that but that's the way it is, and even though I love him I can't deal with the arguments. I don't want to end up barely talking to him but I never ring anymore because I know he'll be distracted and not interested and I'll get upset.

Sorry for this crazily long rant, I just really needed to say all that and I've got no-one I can tell who would understand!

Wish me luck for the exam tomorrow :D

New Year; More Blogging

So, Happy New Year! One of my New Year's Resolutions is clearly going to have to be to blog more regularly, so I'm going to try to update this blog weekly. I hope you all had a good Christmas and New Year.

I can't believe it's 2010. Ten years ago, we had just celebrated the Millenium. 2000was quite a chaotic year for me; it was the year my gran died, aged 56, which changed my life. Firstly, we had been living with her to look after her, and we used to go round every weekend, so she was a big part of my life. I was only 7, nearly 8, at the time, and so it was my first experience of death. My gran's death was a catalyst for many things, including my mum's depression which has a big affect on day-to-day life, and my parents' divorce, which happened in the same year. It is probably the year that I remember the most clearly from my childhood, and I think it was when I grew up (although apparently I was born as a forty-year-old, lol) and when I started to really question religion.

So, I'm finding this year is starting off as being quite reflective. I can't believe that all that was ten years ago, and this year is going to be just as big a year for me as 2000 was, I think - but hopefully in good ways. I'm going to America, then I'm turning 18, and in September I'll be moving out, moving away, starting a whole new section of my life at universtiy. And that's scary, but exciting too.

So I'm hoping 2010 is going to be an amazing year. I'm going to do my best to make it one. So, my New Year's Resolutions:

1. I am going to keep up with the writing, but I have a goal for the year - I want to have one of my novels polished up enough to be able to start sending it out to agents, and I plan to start sending at least one out to agents this year. I want to finish the trilogy too, start new projects, but make sure I perfect the old to the best of my ability.
2. Blog more!
3. Try to find my motivation (if anyone has seen it then I could really do with it being returned!) and dop the very best I can in my exams this year.
4. Read 100 books this year.

This has been an odd and rambly post but I hope you'll forgive me as I haven't posted in a long time. I'm going to end it on a sad note, because I really want to mention someone who passed away at the end of 2009. My best friend's dad had a stroke and ending up passing away on Christmas Eve, which was of course devestating for my friend and her siblings. I just wanted to mention him as he was such a kind man, a real gentleman who's going to be missed by a hell of a lot of people. It was all so sudden and I can't really believe he's gone. RIP.

Happy Christmas!

Happy Christmas everyone - hope you have a great day! I shall be posting more in the future, I promise :D I see a 2010 resolution in the making...

May your day be merry and bright!

All Hallow's Eve? No, it's NaNo Eve.

It has begun. We're 28 minutes into NaNo '09 and I'm excited! I've writeen 550 words so far, but will not be staying up late, as I'll be meeting up with some local WriMos tomorrow!

More updates coming soon...expect them to become less and less coherent. :D

Names!

I have a basic idea of what my NaNo novel is going to be about. Now, I need character names! The main characters are a brother and a sister, and I think I'm going for Jesse for the brother. I'm struggling to think of a girl's name for his sister, so I'm throwing it to anyone who has any ideas...

Please?! :D

I also need a surname, ya know, if you think of any!

*Cross-Posted to 'Family Portrait' blog.*

Disciplined Writing!

I am making this week the week I try to finish Snap Shot - probably an unrealistic goal, since I have, if it's the same as Family Portrait, just over 20,000 words to go, in the 8 days before NaNo starts. However, I am aiming to write at least 1500 words a day, and the other day I wrote 4000, so maybe it's possible. It's all good practice for NaNo! I'm aiming to have it finished by Christmas, including the month out for NaNo.

So, I am having to be disciplined. Inspired by some other blogs, I am gonna set out my rules for this week and next month:

NO: endless repeats of FRIENDS. Not only do I have them all on DVD, they're always on E4/Channel 4, and I love them. Cpnsidering I can practically quote every episode, this is a waste of time. It is. So, no more. Also, I must sit down and write something every day, even if it's rubbish.

LESS: Facebook. Seriously, I don't care that much what people are doing and who's playing FarmVille - why do I feel the need to compulsivley check? I think internet in general needs to be limited.

I won't say less AbsoluteWrite, because I've told everyone on the TWFT thread to kick me off if I'm procrastinating too much!

So, let's hope Snap Shot will get a big wordcount boost this week. :D

I'm a useless blogger

Okay, it's been a long time since I've blogged, and I'm sorry! Lots of things have happened since my last post, such as me passing my driving test :D and getting up to 50,000 words on Snap Shot! So, I'm going to try and blog more regularly on day-to-day stuff, but this blog post is about NaNoWriMo. If you don't know what it is, check it out here: http://www.nanowrimo.org/eng/whatisnano

Anyway, the basic gist of it is that I will be (attempting) to write a 50,000 word Novel during the month of December, one which will be completely unrelated to Family Portrait/Snap Shot/Camera Shy. I'm going to attempt to blog daily about my progress - small updates, as you can imagine with 50k to write, but I'm going to try. I'll post here and maybe on my other blog, not sure as it's not Family Portrait related, but I thought I'd let you know what I'm up to!

I'm sure encouragement will be required when I'm struggling to juggle school/uni applications/writing. And hopefully some celebration too if I hit 50k!

I seem to have a label for NaNo, so maybe I've already blogged about it. Ah, memory loss at 17...

A Tragic Day

At seventeen, the worst thing you think will happen wilst driving is smashing the car up and having to face your mother's wrath. We think we're invincible - recently passed our tests, freedom to go anywhere, do anything.

I woke up this morning to a text message informing me that a friend of ours - a guy who had been in my year, my tutor, my classes, and had hung around with a similar group of people to me for the past six years - had died in a car crash last night.

It's still sinking in: it's unfair, that someone so young, with so much ahead of him, had his life taken away. In the car there was also an eighteen year old, who I vaguely knew, and a nine-year-old. They both died too. I could not believe it when I heard; it seemed like some awful prank. Not only is it a sad loss for their parents, siblings, families and all the friends they had, but it's also a wake up call: who knows when their time is coming.

I had to post in memory of them all, but especially for the guy from my year, who will be missed by us all. I have just left flowers at the scene; RIP, to three young men whose lives were taken far too soon.

Veganism - Day one

I've been vegetarian for thirteen years now, and have always wanted to become vegan - that is, removing all products that come from animals from my diet - but have never had the willpower. After reading another article on the way animals are treated for eggs/milk etc, I decided yesterday to take the plunge - and so today is my first day as a vegan!

I'm starting the process slowly, as it will take a while to get used to checking all food packaging for any animal products, but I'm hoping I'll be able to stick to it - even though my friends are quite cynical! Today I've eaten completely vegan, and have bought some vegan 'butter', vegan pate, vegan 'mozarella' and vegan ice cream - which I'm going to go and try now! I think the hardest part will be going out and going to friends' houses, and so I may end up being a flexi-vegan at those times - it's quite difficult, I would imagine, to be vegan outside your own home.

Anyway, just a quick update! In other news, Snap Sho - the sequel to 'Family Portrait' - is nearing 20,000 words, which I'm very pleased with!

A lot of reading

Lately I seem to have been having less and less time to read, chill out and blog. Unfortunately, I have completely lost my revision drive this weekend, andhave done nothing. I worked all day today, but have found that I'm caring less and less about revision, which is really quite worrying. My last exam's on Monday, and I really need to revise, but I just can't find the motivation to. I'm really exhausted all the time at the minute, and not really sleeping, and feeling quite down about going back to school. I'm not sure why, but I'm dreading it. So, I've been reading quite a lot, and taking advantage of the nice weather to sunbathe.

So, my reading list this week has been: The Other Boleyn Girl, The Luxe, The Manny, and Cradle Snatcher. I loved The Other Boleyn Girl - I'm really interested in the Tudor period, and found the book fascinating; I'd definitley recommend it. The Luxe was also interesting - it's all about high-class society in New York in the 19th century, and whilst it was quite predictable, I enjoyed it. The Manny was a light chick-lit book, but I was quite disappointed with it. I tend to feel I have to finish books as I always want to know what happens at the end, but the writing style really annoyed me. I've always bene quite critical, and since I've been writing and criticising my own work, I'm even worse. The use of '!!!!' and '??!!' really bugged me, as did the constant use of caps lock - "YOU! SUCK!" is an example of one sentence in it. Another thing was having to use repeated vowels all the time - "Pleeeease!" and "Noooooo". I just feel that if you need to use things like that (little bit of English Language showing off here - it is called replacing prosodic features) then it means your writing can't show the way it's being said without it.

Anyway, enough moaning :) I'm off to watch ER!

Abandonment of Blog

Ah, I've been a bit useless at blogging lately! Things have been so hectic, I'm afraid i just haven't had a time to post, but I'm here now!

The reason for the chaos is mostly down to exams; so much revision to do, so little time and motivation! I've done four exams so far, and have another two to go. I hope that the first four went ok - French Speaking, French Reading/Writing/Listening, English Lit, English Lang - but the next two are the hardest, as they're for History which I hate & have the most to study for. The problem with it is that the revision is really important - with English Lit, for example, it's difficult to revise; the work you've done all year is what pays off ,if you get what I mean.

My lack of motivation is proving to be a problem too; I think it's because I've worked pretty hard this year, and so now there's no homework I just can't face doing the work. Plus, with revision you're never truly finished, there's always more that can be done, which I don't like!

My last exam is on June 8th, and although I still have another 6 weeks at school after that, I hope it will be a little more relaxed than the rest of the year has been. Other than revision, I have been focusing on my novel - something else which distracts me from revising! I have finished the first round of edits, and have some people currently reading it, although I'm looking for some more who'd like to take a look at it. Luckily people have more free time now that we're heading for summer! I have been planning a sequel, and a third book too - it seems it will be a series! - and have finally worked out the titles: Family Portrait, Snap Shot and Camera Shy. Now I just have to finish my exams so that I can get writing again! I've been trying to fit in some reading too (more distractions!) and have finally finished 'Extras' by Scott Westerfield. I then started 'The Other Boleyn Girl' by Phillipa Gregory, and was so addicted I read it all last night - I definitley recommend it!

Right now I'm on a lunch break from revision (and it is actually a deserved break - I've bene revising all morning!) but I'm gonna to get back to it soon. I promise another blog post soon!

A Bad Day

I knew today wasn't going to be great; I had a mock history exam scheduled for the morning, a difficult essay due in for a teacher I'm not too keen on, my French Oral exam in the afternoon, and a dentist appointment after that. Luckily, I managed to escape the History mock: I told my teacher I hadn't had a chance to revise, as I had my real exam that afternoon, and she allowed me to reschedule it for tomorrow. I got the essay done, and whilst it wasn't fantastic, I did at least have a few pages to hand in.

I felt really rough all day, because I was so nervous: I find nerves affect me really badly, and I end up feeling or being sick, and having crippling stomach pains. Because of this, I'd asked to have my exam in the morning, but she decided to put it in the afternoon.

So, after a long day of worrying, I got to the exam, and I think it went ok; I was opretty fluent, although I know I made some mistakes. I'm hoping it'll be alright. After that, we went to the dentists; now, I don't particularly mind the dentists, but it's not exactly the nicest place to be. Luckily, he said my teeth looked fine.

Then, around half an hour ago, my mum wanted to go to the garage, and I asked if I'd drive. She checked to make sure all our cats were inside, as one of them is quite deaf and so doesn't move when cars start. Then, I began to reverse of the drive - and heard a squealing. The deaf cat had come outisde, unseen by my mother or me, and I think I ran over his tail. We're waiting for the vet now. I feel terrible, and really put off driving; I'd checked, and just didn't see him at all.

Here's hoping for a better day tomorrow.

I have...

finished the book I'm writing! This is a quick post, as it's late and I have work tomorrow, but I had to post it (yes, on both my blogs. I'm happy!) The first draft of 'Family Portrait' is now complete =]

I have done a word count of everything I've written for this book, and it's ended up at over 91,000 words. However, I decided tonight that a section I wrote just didn't quite work, and ruined the book a bit, and so the first version now stands at around 86,000 words. But I already have a sequel planned out, so all the cut bits will most probably end up in there.

Right, I must sleep. Just had to post it! =]

New Blog

I've started a new blog (which, if you want to see, www.kingsleyfamilyportrait.blogspot.com) which I plan to be just about the progress of my novel, as this one is just about my life in general. I quite like having a blog just about my writing, as it means I can see what I've done when, explore new ideas and let anyone who's interest know how I'm getting on! Still, I reckon I'll still mention it here - it's taking up a lot of my time at the minute!

On that note, sorry (again!) for not posting recently - homework, revision and novel work had just been eating up all my time. First major exam is on Wednesday, so I'mn revising loads. It's my French Oral Exam, and I always find those nreally scary :S on the same day, I also have a mock history exam and a dentist appointment, so I'm guessing it's not going to be the most fun day ever!

I've found a website that I'm on quite a bit at the minute, called Absolute Write, which is great for anyone who wants to be an author - it's great for ideas and support. I've also said I'm going to join in a challenge to read 100 books this year (Alhough as it's nearly May, I'm aiming for fifty - I started late!) I know I read fast, and quite a lot, but I;ve never recorded it, so I haven't a clue how I'll get on - but I'll let you know! I'm also planning on taking part in NaNoWriMo in November. You may have heard of this - I heard about it about a year ago, but never got round to entering. It's short for National Novel Writing Month, and you basically have to write 50,000 words in November. You enter you're word count so everyone can see how you're doing. Obviously, it's not going to be perfect, but I think it'll be great for getting more ideas off the ground!

Sorry for the brevity of this post, but my driving instructor just rang to bring my lesson forward, so gotta go and wreak hell on the roads! Only joking :) I'm gonna post again soon though, and expad on the stuff I've written about in the last paragraph. Promise!

Long time no post!

Sorry for the lack of blog updates in the last couple of weeks: I've been really busy, and haven't been able to find the time! I'm on holiday from school for Easter now, which is really nice - although I'm working loads!

The first week of the holiday was really busy for me: I worked loads, and went up to Manchester for two days to see the University of Salford. It was a really interesting Open Day, and I loved the feel of the Uni and the city: the shops up there were amazing! Obviously, shopping is not what it's all about...but coming from a tiny place like I do, anywhere big with nice shops is amazing! We had a nice but busy couple of days up there: we managed to pack in two shoppoing trips and dinner out as well as the visit to the Uni! The course there sounds great, so it's defnitley somewhere I'll be considering applying to.

I've been working a lot, with cafe work as well as babysitting, which is good as I need money for my America trip, driving lessons, car insurance and to do a little bit of shopping for some summer clothes! I have a laugh at work, so I don't mind doing it. Today I was meant to be working all day, but it was so quiet I offered to go home early. Unfortunately I seemed to miss all the sun! I enjoyed it yesterday though, and sat out in the sun doing homework (although not enough :S) and working on my novel.

On the novel front, I'm now up to 75,000 words, which I'm very pleased with! I think I'll have finished it within the next couple of months, as I've realised that to fit all my ideas in, it's gonna have to be more than one book - so book one will hopefully done soon! Then I plan to go through it all and edit it, and then maybe attempt to send it to some agents/publishers. If I manage to finish it, I figure I may as well have a go at getting it published!

If you haven't already, take a look at Holly's Blog and Molly's Blog for how Donor Day went: I'm so impressed with what Holly's managed to achieve! It's a great cause.

Anyway, I'm off to work on my novel a little more (I should be doing homework, but I just can't face it!) and then I have a driving lesson at 5.30. I'll try and update again soon this time! Happy Easter to everyone :)

Donor Day

Ok, so my links in the post below don't work - if anyone could tell me how they do it, I'd be really grateful! Also the picture I wanted didn't come up, so let me just add this now!

Post Pals = www.postpals.co.uk
Sarah's Blog = http://sarahmilne.blogspot.com/
Molly's Blog = http://bookworm-molly.blogspot.com/
Holly's Blog = http://lifeondialysis--waitingforthecall.blogspot.com/

I can't get the flyer to work...I'll try and sort it tomorrow, I just don't understand blogger sometimes!

Donor Day - April 7th

I know it's been a while since I updated, and I plan to do a proper updating post at the end of the week, but I wanted to blog now about Donor Day. It;s on the 7th of April, and as I'll be away on that day, I wanted to do something to help - So I'm going to blog and put it on my facebook status.

I haven't personally had much contact with organ donation - up until last year it had never particularly crossed my mind: as it had never affected me, I didn't think about it - something I've blogged about before. However, I came across a site called Post Pals, and the stories of children waiting for, recieving and, unfortunately in some cases, not recieving transplants in time, made me really think about it. Once I'm dead, I would really like someone to be able to benefit from my organs if they can. Then I stared following Sarah's blog on her son William, and Molly's blog, and I really started thinking. I've signed up to the organ donor register now - and I think everyone should at least consider it. So, if you stumble across this blog and haven't considered it, please do. There's more info on Holly's blog: please consider signing the register, and if you're in London, support the campaign there! Also, please think about reposting this, to spread the word.

Be a hero: Put the kettle on.

Allergic to Tuesdays?!

I am off school again, and coincidentally it is once more on a Tuesday! I go all school year without a day off, then take two Tuesdays off in a row. I woke up Sunday morning feeling as though I had a cold coming on, and had a sore throat by the end of the day. Then, yesterday I started getting a blocked and runny nose, and my eyes started streaming. This morning I woke up feeling the same, and decided it made no sense to push myself to go into school, as I can't concentrate anyway - my head is pounding. So, another day in bed - so far I have watched Everybody Loves Raymond, Frasier, Will & Grace, Jeremy Kyle, and now I'm watching This Morning. There's not a lot of choice on weekdays, and I don't feel up to reading or doing homework at the minute.

Thank-you to Molly and Jess for the kind messages on my blog from last Tuesday. I'm still feeling quite stressed - I have a feeling that I'm feeling so rough with this cold because I'm stressed, although there is a flu bug going around here at the minute - with schoolwork, but I'm trying to stress myself out less. My step-grandad had his scan, and it revealed the cancer hasn't spread, which is relieving: the cancer is localised, and although it will require a major operation to remove it, hopefully the fact that it hasn't spread so far is a good sign.

I finsihed sorting out a visit to an open day of Salford University two days ago, and the tickets arrived today: it's quite an early open day, but as the course there is my top choice at the minute (English Language with Linguistics) I've decided it's worth the money. I'm going up with my mum, as my dad and sister will be in Germany visiting my family, and I'm looking forward to it!

Wow, I managed a relatively short post - probably because my eyes are stremaing alot, and it's taken a while to write this much! - and I will update more soon. Right now, I'm going to close my eyes and hope to get some more sleep!

A tough week

The last few days have been quite stressful, and as I have a free five minutes, I thought I'd blog about them now. As you may have noticed, I'm blogging in the middle of a week day - I just couldn't face school today. I've not really just taken a day of before, without being quite ill, but after very little sleep, and waking up with stomach cramps and what felt like the beginnings of a migraine, I decided to have a day at home. I'd been stressed last night, and hadn't had a chance to finish all my homework due in today, so I thought I could catch up on my sleep and my homework today. I've spent the morning so far in bed, reading a book I have to read for school (Lies of Silence) and then had a bath; I'm about to start some history homework now.


On Friday I took part an a three legged race for Comic Relief, and ended up falling over, ripping my expensive jeans and hurting my knee. It's still hurting quite a bit, and keeps starting bleeding again - all in all, quite bad end to what was already a very long & dragging week!

Yesterday was not a great day: as seems to be quite normal for me, I didn't have a good nights sleep Sunday, and then yesterday was the anniversary of my Grandad's death. We were extremely close, and so yesterday was quite an emotionally difficult day - I still can't believe he's gone, or that it was a year ago he left us, and miss him every day. It's hard too because my mum finds it very difficult now he's gone, and so we were all quite upset yesterday. On top of that, I found out that my step-grandad's cancer has returned, and he has to have another scan on Thursday to see if it's spread: if not, they will remove the lymph nodes in an operation soon; if it has, then they have to consider chemo. It really wasn't a good day, and I was in a poor mood all day. When I realised that my teachers for my afternoon lessons weren't there, I was quite annoyed: I'd only had two lessons in the morning, and had I known earlier I could have gone home.

Last night I started to get quite stressed about my step-grandad, and then about school-work, and when I get stressed I tend to start feeling ill. Sure enough, I started getting a migraine and chest pains. I tried to get all my homework done, but gave up at ten and decided to try and sleep. I then ended up waking up about ten times throughout the night - and woke up exhausted this morning. I got up, and then decided I'd probably do better to have a day off.

Well, I'd best get going and do some homework - I have to go to the opticians in an hour or so, as my glasses have decided to be a pain, and the lenses have twisted slightly, making them very uncomfortable!

Keane Pictures!

The whole band, at the end of the show.

The lead singer holding the microphone + stand over the crowd so we could sing the lyrics for him!

The whole band near the front of the stage


'Perfect Symmetry' - during this song, the screen was split into two



The album art from 'Perfect Symmetry'

I want to see them again!

You can see how close we were, here's the lead singer Tom.

I just realised I never got round to putting up photos from the Keane concert I went to, so I thought I'd do it now - I'll never get round to it otherwise, and I'd quite like them up here =] They're in a bit of a backwards order, but they're there!