So, 2014 aye

So 2014 huh. The year of slack blogging. This is only my 19^th post this year and for that I am somewhat ashamed. I love blogging, and there have been plenty of things going on that I could have blogged about. I think it’s partly because my job involves writing. So I’m writing all day and don’t really feel like it when I get home.

I have kept a record of every book I’ve read each year since my first year at high school (when I used to read 100+ books  a year – yes I was a book nerd!) and the other day I counted the amount of books I’ve read this year and it was only 11. I was less than impressed with myself so I set myself a goal of reading at least one more so I would get to 12 which equates to one a month. That’s still not very good but I can live with it.

è I’m currently reading Eat Pray Love. It’s excellent. I’ve already got massive wanderlust and this book just feeds that. It’s about a lady who leaves her monotonous life and spends a year travelling Italy, India and Indonesia on her own. It’s such a delicious book.

è Before that I read Pig Island by Mo Hayder. Also excellent. A thriller unlike I’ve ever read before and the entire time I was reading this book I was thinking ‘gosh this would make a good movie!’

Part of the reason that I’ve become so slack at reading is because of the number of excellent television shows these days. Once I find a show that I like, I’ll stream an episode with my dinner every night and then usually watch at least one more episode during the night. This year I’ve made my way through Pretty Little Liars (guilty pleasure – it’s pretty stupid), Luther and White Collar and just this week discovered an absolute gem – How to get away with Murder. Hnnnng this show is fantastic. I love legal dramas (Suits is one of my great loves) so this immediately appealed to me and BY GOLLY it’s good. I’m a little sad though because it’s only in season 1 and only has 9 episodes, which I’ve finished. I also flirted with Teen Wolf this year but got over that after a few seasons. Next up I want to try True Detective, Vikings, Gotham and finally get into Community.

In other news, I’m moving to England next year. I’ve just started the process of getting my working VISA and then I’m applying for a live-in pub job through the London Pub Company. My aim is to do that for 4 months then look for a job relevant to my field. While I’m over there I want to see Europe too. I’m doing this on my own which is scary but I think it will be good for me. I’m going to be forced to make friends and rely on my own resourcefulness.

I’m going to take my time getting to England before I start my job and stop in LA, New York and Reykjavik on my way over. I’m so very excited. It’s going to be epic. I may love it or hate it but I won’t know until I try!

I’m looking forward to the Christmas break! Spending time with friends and family, good food, sitting in the sun with a good book and just relaxing will be so therapeutic. I’ll be in Hawke’s Bay and Hamilton for my break – hopefully the weather is good so time can be spent outdoors.

Bye for now xx

What's been up lately...

Apologies for my delay between posts, I have been all over the place lately and haven't actually found the time/have been too lazy to sit down and write. But I will be better from now.

Over the past few weeks I have been on the hunt for a job, which is getting more and more desperate/depressing/scary/worrying as time goes on and my savings keep whittling down. Thankfully my hours at my current job have picked up a bit again but still not enough. I have lost count of the number of jobs I've applied for online, but the problem with online job-hunting is that all those jobs are applied for by hundreds of people, and there will always be someone more qualified or better for the role than me. It's hard to not get really down about the lack of success, but I'm trying to keep my head up!

In talking about my monetary woes though, I have myself to blame for a lot of it. I've been travelling around a lot lately, which hasn't helped my funds! I had the 21st of one of my dearest friends in Hamilton one weekend (which was awesome!) then was up in Hamilton again the following weekend for the Parachute music festival (sooooooooo much fun) which was a real money-killer. Fortunately since then I've been able to curb my spending quite a bit, and I've had some decent work shifts too.

Here are some pics from my life lately...

Social social social!! Sorry some of the pics are terrible quality (they're from an iphone).

My next step is to go door-knocking with my CV. I am dreading this very much, but I must do it.

Ly xx

Coldplay

So, last Thursday I journeyed up to Hamilton and then to Auckland on Saturday to go to the Coldplay concert at Mt Smart Stadium. Having never been to a big concert before, I didn't really know what to expect, though I'd heard that they put on an excellent show. I don't really know how to describe it other than in single adjectives: Amazing. Mind-blowing. Extraordinary. Fantastic. Brilliant.

Every song was a hit, Chris Martin was perfect live (and mega energetic - had to change shirts about 4 times due to sweat soakage), and the crowd were soooo into it. Such a buzz. My personal favourite was Princess of China because the band relocated to the front of the stage (it was a runway sorta shape) which was super close to us!!

Also very cool were the different coloured wristbands that every audience member got. These lit up during certain songs, in time with the music!! Soooooo awesome. The stadium looked like a Christmas tree (minus the tree part hah). The show also included fireworks, confetti blasts, a laser show and these giant inflatable ball thingys that were sent through the audience. It was truly spectacular.

After my first concert experience I can definitely say I am keen to go to many more in the future. And I love Coldplay very very much :)

The Temper Trap (most famous for Sweet Disposition) who opened for Coldplay were also amazing.

All in all, a great experience. I want to go again. 

xx

Making the most of the holidays

Wow. You know how I said I was mega excited for exams to be over and done with cause there was so much excitement to look forward to? Well, all the things I was looking forward to certainly didn't fail to provide one of the best weeks of my life. It's been crazy. It's been eventful. It's been entertaining. It's been soooo much fun. And that, dear readers, is why I haven't posted for so long. Sorry 'bout it ;)

A sample of what I've been up to: movie marathons, late-night convos, playing pool, the cinema (saw Snow White and the Huntsman - was pretty average), a 21st, town two nights in a row, pokemon, pizza roulette (hilarious), and just general catching up with 6 of my best friends that I don't see often enough. The people were definitely the best part about my amazing week. I have the best friends and flatmates I could ever ask for. 

During this epic week I've stayed up past 2am every single night. lols.

And to top it all off, I'm going ice skating tonight with a good friend and probably out again this weekend!

LOVE the holidays!! 

Have been spending lots of time with this lovely lady 

Hope you readers are all doing good :) x

The art of film

Hey there! Thanks for stopping by :)

Today's post topic is film for the simple reason that I heart film. I've always been quite a movie buff, and enjoy watching movies with friends and family. Film study in English at high school was always one of my favourite units and instilled an appreciation for the way films are made. But it wasn't until uni, this year in particular, that I really came to appreciate the way films either reinforce or challenge our beliefs and ideas. I love being challenged in this way, and formulating my own standpoints on issues, so I think it's awesome when you can really sink your teeth into the issues a film raises. This has made me really want to watch some films that are praised for being contentious or effective in the message they want to get across. I also think that like books, movies can make you smarter and more well read. While doing some internet trolling about acclaimed (but perhaps lesser known) films, I have compiled a list of films I want to watch, and since the mid-year break is fast approaching, I should be able to make a start.
Here's my list...

Elephant
Brick (the protagonist is played by Joseph Gordon-Levitt so I'm pretty sure this will be a goodie)
Boyz n the Hood
Memento
Running with Scissors
The Artist
Donnie Darko
Life is Beautiful
Sonatine
Small Change
Citizen Kane



I love discovering a movie that I absolutely love, so hopefully one of these will be like that!
Have you seen any of these? Can you recommend any others?
xx

South Island Trip (part 1)

So am finally getting round to blogging about my trip down south, sorry about the delay!

I'll begin with Friday...
Got up at 6am (packed the night before), flatmate drove Jac and I to Wellington airport at 7:30am. Got to airport, had a mocha (yum) and muffin (horrid - had been heated to the point of inedible dryness and upon losing heat turned rock solid, ick). Caught our flight and an hour later we were in Christchurch! What a b-e-a-utiful city that is! Such gorgeous weather too. Got to our mates flat, dropped our bags off and went walkies to the nearby Westfield mall. Checked that out for a bit, had a smoooooooooooooothie then walked back to the flat to wait for the mate to get home from work. Not much later we left the garden city for our final destination: Dunedin!

4.5 hours and a subway dinner stop in Oamaru later, we arrived. Got out of the car and sheesh was it cold!! Put the puffer on straight away. Then finally got to the flat of two of my best and oldest friends. Went for a walk round Otago University (beaut! so flash!) then headed back home and stayed up chatting with friends and friends of friends until 1am. Was great. Had a mean sleep in the 'fort' that night :)

One of the beautiful Otago Uni buildings 

Saturday...
Got up late then headed into Dunedin town with Jess, Jo and Jac. Went for a tour of the Cadbury chocolate factory (got a goodie bag of chox && a sample of liquid chocolate *drool*). Then headed to the Botanical Gardens with lunch and sat in the sun enjoying nature, good food, great company and great conversation :) was grand. Also visited the aviary at the gardens but the parrot wouldn't talk to us. shame. Then headed back to the flat, got alc, got dressed up and settled in for a few drinks (which became more than a few for one in particular ;p but that's history now). This period from 8-12am included: beer pong, snap, many shots, second trip to liquor store, catching up with 2 old school friends, an American with something interesting in his pocket and a shoe-swap incident. Headed into Dunedin town after midnight which was pretty coool, was lots of fun dancing with J&J. Got home and crashed around 5am.

Stay tuned for part 2 :)
xx

Happy Days + Crazy Nights

Sorry for the long delay between posts! I'm so much better when I'm at uni and get into my regular routine, so bear with me! Life highlights since my last post include: A 7.5 hour Downton Abbey marathon (with the bestie and some lovely nosh), another great night with friends which involved new card games, playing on the playground at the park, excessive rhyming and a 2am visit to McDs, slushies with the sister, night-time tennis and work (which has been surprisingly bearable lately). Looking forward to a busy weekend coming up too, I'm working at a Hall & Oates featuring Icehouse concert at Church Road Winery which should be fun!

Some things I've been appreciating recently...

These stairs Jo and I discovered - so cool! And culminating in Charlie Chaplin, even cooler.

 (Charlie's art deco Restaurant in Napier)

Coldplay's superb newest single Charlie Brown

(hmmm what is it with Charlie's lately)

This little doggie, Kobe, my work friend :)

Peace out homies

xx

Dear F.R.I.E.N.D.S

Hi. Hello. I've just finished watching all ten seasons of you, and it has been an absolute joy. I don't think there is a show out there that comes even slightly close to your absolute awesomeness. You never fail to put a smile on my face and make me laugh, especially you Joey and Chandler. One day I will visit Central Perk in New York and sit in that famous red couch, and bask in your legacy. I'm gonna miss our dinner dates, I don't know what I'm gonna do without you! But the good thing about you is that you can be watched over and over and never get old, so I shall come back to you at some point in the future and re-enjoy you :)
Some of my favourite moments from you...

I salute you F.R.I.E.N.D.S, you are truly one of a kind :)
xx

Mad Men

We watched the pilot episode of Mad Men yesterday in tv studies, as part of our debates over how you define what is 'quality tv'. I'd heard of it and knew it had won lots of awards and stuff but I'd never been particularly interested in watching it. Buuuuuuuuuuut I really liked it. It's about Don Draper, the creative director of an ad agency in New York in the 1960s and his work and home life. It had intelligent plot lines and dialogue, interesting characters, great acting, no drugs or sex, a great setting and great styling. It's refreshingly different, and I can see why it's won critical acclaim.

I think I may have to try and rent the series and watch it over summer.
xx