I could be happy just living to learn...

Hello! Sorry for my un planned absence at the end of last week, things got a little on top of me (once more!) and unfortunately this blog is the one and only thing I can let slide.


Picture Credit here

I'm currently going through the process of applying to university to start again in September next year (eek!) and I had the joy of having to write a personal statement for this! A process which I detest, because I hate telling people why I'm so utterly amazing they would be wrong not to give me a place and lots of money! Hence this has taken me much longer than perhaps it would the average person, and has involved much more hand wringing. But, I have nearly finished and hopefully can submit my application this evening. Which means I shall be free from the stress of getting it done before the deadline, and can hopefully start looking forwards to planning our christmas.

My 7 Good Things this week are a little eclectic to say the least...

1. Pretty yarn, which helps me to make a present for a loved one
2. Simon and Garfunkel- Bridge over Troubled Water is just sublime and has been on repeat this week
3. James' hugs
4. Snow! I can't be the only adult who thinks this is a good thing all round
5. My beautiful new pendant from Paper Sparrow. (I won a giveaway on the blog A Beautiful Mess, which is amazing within it's self, and was privileged to receive some amazing art created by unique souls.)
6. Planned visits with friends this weekend
7. A hot cup of tea whilst it snows outside and the temperatures are below zero

Here's to hoping that I can get myself a bit more sorted in the next few days and can actually tell you lovely people about some of the things I want and plan to!

Hoping that your week will go serenely to plan

Lindy xxx

PS: for music I'm back to the genius of the Court Yard Hounds

PPS: yes I do sit on my iPad in my lunch break and write my blog, why do you ask!

Catching Fire and Mockingjay

Spoilers Ahead!!

I thought I would combine my reviews of the next two Hunger Games books in too one long hyper review. Otherwise I fear I would be at risk of repeating myself for what I have to say on these two!

Overall I felt that they were a pretty good extension of the first book in the series. A number of the questions which I had stemming from the first in the trilogy were answered and this can only be a good thing.

Catching Fire was a good bridging novel between the other two. I enjoyed the expanding vision and understanding that Katniss gained of her world, and the reader developed their understanding of this world along with her. As I’ve said before these novels are written in the first person so this means that by their very nature the reader is stymied by Katniss’ limitations as a character and I couldn’t help but feel that I waned to know more. More about the political system. More about the history of Panem. More, more, more. But perhaps I’m just greedy!

My problem with this series as a whole, one which was encapsulated in the third book, Mockingjay, was that it seems to have been set up as some sort of tragic love triangle a la Twilight, between Katniss, Peetra and Gale. Through out the entire series, however, I have felt that Gale was criminally underdeveloped and used as a character. By the time the novel was trying to create some romantic tension I thought that it was almost obvious that Katniss wouldn’t end up with him, as Gale’s relationship with Katniss, and Gale as a fully rounded character with complex motives just hadn’t been developed enough to make it a viable prospect.

I read these books quickly and the story gripped me. I wanted to know what happened to these characters and where their lives would lead. On that level I would heartily recommend them as casual reading. But for books which deal which such a difficult subject area as their main concept (children being forcibly taken to kill each other for other citizens enjoyment) I just didn’t feel that this issue was addressed comprehensively on a moral level at any point. In fact the books seem to purposefully avoid any sort of moral discussion, which is a pity as I feel that this would have really added to the depth of the novels. A characteristic which I felt was sorely lacking here.

Manic Monday

Today is what counts as a no good, horrible, defiantly bad day. I went back to work to be faced with the prospect of looming redundancies, which for those of us on temporary contracts can only be bad news. I managed to break my nice expensive headphones. I only got two hours sleep last night. This all adds up to a pretty nasty Monday.

Then I found this email in my inbox;

Every compliment, criticism, promotion, setback, good vibe, cough or really long line you have to wait in, Ros, is a gift that was meticulously designed to make possible your becoming more than who you were, and ultimately, happier than ever before, as we dance into forever.
We've only just begun -
    The Universe

Sometimes the Universe really does tell you exactly what you need to hear. I guess I just need to look beyond the bad and towards the good. I think I'm going to try and start counting 7 good things every week, one for every day. I begin today, as an attempt to let go of my self inflicted worries.

1. My newest cousin was born two days ago and he is gorgeous.
2. I have two jobs so if I loose my main one it is not the end of the world.
3. James loves me enough to take time out of his really busy day to spend it cheering me up and finding me alternate jobs to apply for.
4. I have a lovely warm brightly coloured hat to wear.
5. I have a cupboard full of tea.
6. My Dad and Sister came for dinner last night and we had a really good evening.
7. The sunrise was beautiful this morning.

What are the good things in your life?

Lindy xxx

(The above message ones from the TUTs Adventures Club, daily emails designed to make you feel better and think a little more. I love them, and would recommend them without hesitation)

PS: Music credit today goes to The Bangles

Delight

I'm back!

James and I had a wonderful week relaxing and chilling out. It was exactly what we needed; we have come back feeling refreshed and ready to go. Just what you want from a holiday. Now I just have a mountain of washing to do before I go back to work next week!

I have a couple of book reviews and some art projects coming up next week. I hope everyone has a relaxing weekend, I'm going to sort out some governors stuff whilst James makes a delicious smelling dinner!

Lindy xxx

(Music once again courtesy of the Courtyard Hounds)

Joy

This is where James is taking me this week! I couldn't quite contain my excitement and had to share! I will defiantly be without Internet for a week, so I shall see you all in a few days!

I hope everyone has a fantastic week, I know I shall be!

Much love, Lindy xxx

The Coast

James and I have just got back from an insanely relaxing week in Centerparcs. I am tempted to say that it is one of my favourite places to go on holiday, it is just so peaceful. It is possible that I like it so much because I spent a guilt free week sitting in front of a fire, in a forest, reading a book, chilling out. Pretty much heaven for me. I also got to go to a spa and have a full body massage. (If anyone ever offers you one of these, in a non dodgy manor, please accept!) I don't think I have been this relaxed for a very long time. Sometimes a holiday is a very much needed thing, work has the unfortunate habit of getting on top of me most days, and I needed a break.

Because I am uber lucky, James is taking me away again next week! To where I know not. He has been very good at keeping this a secret from me. It's a surprise trip for my birthday present, I don't think very excited really covers it from my end! I will be sure to update you all when I get back! Since I don't know where I'm going, I can't be sure if I'll have Internet access so things may be a little quiet over here for the next week or so.

Being as though I have an insatiable desire to know what happens in things, I have already finished the second book in the Hunger Games series, Catching Fire. I will post a review next week, safe to say I am now upset that the third one has not arrived yet!

I think I shall go an eat some of the Maison de Chocolate chocolates that James brought me for my birthday before going to bed- a pretty good way to round off a day, don't you think!

I hope everyone has a lovely week,

Much love

Lindy xxx

(Music this week comes from the new Courtyard Hounds album- it's excellent)

The Hunger Games

The Hunger Games. It would seem that this book has received a lot of hype, most of which I seem to have been oblivious of. However, I have fancied reading it for a while as it struck me as interestingly more dystopian than most of what I may catorgarise as 'easy reading' texts. Thus when the dreaded question came round of what I wanted for my birthday (I can't be the only person who hates asking for things)I suggested this.

I should probably point out right now, that even though I am a girl, I don't realy like chick lit novels. I will go out of my way not to read about a woman who is struggling in her life, meets a perfect man and suddenly, with a few predictable hiccups all is resolved. So when I heard about this book; dystopian future, violence games, machievellian leaders, I thought perfect a little light holiday reading! Yes, I know I'm weird!

So I settle down, I start reading and three hours later, I look up and I've finished the book. It was addictive. That kind of addictive where you know that it isn't good for you, but you keep on reading. I thought it was written in an engaging style, the first person narrative could get a little annoying but over all, I though it was well structured. The pace was fast and the book felt well balanced between action and descriptive passages. The one point that I would make is that when a book is written in the first person it does kind of kill any tension that the author is trying to create about the uncertain future of the main protagonist!

This book is a lot like a box of chocolates. It's good when you begin, but then it's so addictive you keep on eating, way past whist is good for you, so once you've finished you feel more than a little sick. In fact it's so addictive that once finishing I ordered the next two books in the series just so I could find out what happened! My need to know was so great.

This book belongs firmly in the young adult genre, now there is nothing wrong with this, I am guilty as anyone as wanting a little easy reading from time to time, but for some reason this time I was left wanting more. As with many young adult novels, I felt that some of the characters were horrifically underdeveloped. I was left craving a fuller picture of this world, the why, why, why questions in my mind were just not answered and I really wish they had been. I am left hoping that the next two books in the series can fill in some of the gaps that I felt were left in the picture of the world presented in this one.

All in all, an addictive read, but thus far there are too many questions left unanswered. I can only hope that the next two books plug some of the gaps. I think what I really wanted was the concepts of this book transformed in to a fully fledged and developed 'adult' novel which I could really get my teeth in to.

2-4-6-8 ain't never to late

Today I thought I would explore the novelty of blogging on the road! I have this fancy pants iPad with mobile Internet (something that is yet to cease amazing me) so I thought I would actually use it for something other than Facebook! So here I am sitting at a junction to get on to the M25 so that I can go on holiday- it's my birthday today and James and I seem to have a little bit of a tradition going where by we go away near my birthday.

However, this being a Monday morning, and this being near London, one of the most congested cities in the world, I am in a queue of traffic. Because, of course Monday morning is the best time to try an do road works. Not at say 3 in the morning when no one actually wants to use the road. Fun fact for the day, there are around 30 million people living in the South East of England, a large proportion of which are currently trying to use this road. (To give them their due they are trying to do carriage way widening to 12 lanes, but then these road works have been going on for years, so maybe that excuse is starting to wear a little thin!) It's a wonder that anyone ever gets to work round here.

Next fun fact for the day, using your mobile phone whilst driving is illegal in England on the grounds that it say distracts you from the rather important task of driving which you are attempting to complete. As we have established I am currently on one of the busiest roads in the world, in one of the most congested areas. The traffic is heavy, there are road works getting in the way and the volume of traffic is great. You would think at this would be a perfect time for people to start obeying this law in the spirit of safety (did I mention that it was also tipping it down with rain?!) but no. A man just drove past me in his huge Audi smirking as he texted. I glared. He did not look guilty.

On to our last point for today's musings the local radio station is BBC Radio Beds, Herts and Bucks. Is it just me or does this sound like a sleazy club to anyone else?! I sniggered for quite a while after the jingle!

Happy Monday

Lindy xxx

Ps: music credit here goes to the Tom Robinson Band (and yes I listen to motorway songs whilst on one!)

Pps: I am yet to work out how to upload photos on my iPad so we might be reverting to text only for a while!

Young at Heart...

Here is a picture of me grinning inanely...



Apart from this photo showing you that I have recently gone from having long blond hair to having short red hair, there is another reason which I am this happy.

Maybe this photo gives a better clue...



A little while ago I won a prize from the lovely Camille over at Archive of Our Lives, since I had never won a giveaway before I was ridiculously excited, and today it arrived! My very own handmade hair clip. I did the dance of joy. (And a bonus point to anyone who recognises that reference!)

Off of this delightful little gift I have come up with a new plan for world peace. Now I was very happy and over excited when my hair clip arrived, and it got me to thinking- if every one was this happy all at the same time, what would the cumulative effect of that amount of joy be? It would have serious world changing power. Wars would stop. Peace would reign, and cake would be free to all. Just simply by the happiness created by a hair clip. *Obviously* the next logical step would be to give everyone a hair clip I thought. This is simple. Why have I not been consulted before on the intricacies of the Middle East peace process? Or given free reign in Africa? Taken over Northern Ireland? Centuries of conflict would come to an end with the simple gift of a hair clip.

Its entirely possible, I thought, that I should be in charge. At the very least everyone would have snazzy, accessorised hair. Hey Camille, fancy revolutionising the world with hair clips?

Lindy xxx

EDIT: You can tell how tired was when I published this, as I totally forgot to give it a title. All credit here to The Bluebells and a slap on the wrist and an earlier bed time for me!