tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-226858012024-03-13T10:47:45.422+00:00everyday's like a dreamEveryday's like a dream when all your dreams are coming true...but what happens when life is throwing decisions you need to make at you faster than you can deal with them? This is the personal, occasional journal of a slightly geeky journalist who is still battling various parts of her personality to find something that works.charlie_elisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17501603823568062307noreply@blogger.comBlogger84125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22685801.post-17510533082751477102009-05-12T22:27:00.008+00:002009-05-13T11:48:09.827+00:00Eurovision Moscow 2009 - Semi Final 2<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Semi final two: take your pick! The UK can't vote in this semi, but since when has that stopped the fun? Find me on Twitter on Thursday night during the show for live micro comments, and check back for the big five reviews on Friday, before the final this Saturday.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Croatia </span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Artist: Igor Cukrov feat. Andrea </span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Song title: Lijepa Tena(Beautiful Tara)</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Language: Croation</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">The reckoning: Arty guitar and orchestration accompanied mostly by black scarves. A proper Eurovision ballad this, with added Christian lyrics.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Ireland </span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Artist: Sinéad Mulvey & Black Daisy </span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Song title: Et Cetera</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Language: English</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">The reckoning: Rocky pop Pink style, it’s another catchy tune. Should make a mark on the night but will it win enough votes? Doubtful.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Latvia </span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Artist: Intars Busulis </span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Song title: Probka (Traffic Jam)</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Language: Latvian</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">The reckoning: After the Pirate mega-fail of last year, Latvia brings us a bizarre, repetitive ode to rush hour. On the bright side, it’s rocky and good fun.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Serbia </span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Artist: Marko Kon & Milaan </span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Song title: Cipela (Shoe)</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Language: Serbian</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">The reckoning: Not so much of a novelty as the title might imply! An afro-haired, Barry White voiced singer serenades a shoe while sunglassed men dad-dance.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Poland </span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Artist: Lidia Kopania </span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Song title: I Don't Wanna Leave</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Language: English</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">The reckoning: I can see the far right laughing now. Why, Poland, why? A nice pop ballad, 90s Celine style, and they go and give it that title.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Norway </span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Artist: Alexander Rybak </span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Song title: Fairytale</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Language: English</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">The reckoning: Fiddles, dancing, clapping – brilliant. A young singer who delivers nervous English with gusto and some great string work!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Cyprus </span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Artist: Christina Metaxa </span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Song title: Firefly</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Language: English</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">The reckoning: There’s a great sentiment behind this song: but it just doesn’t get going and is unfortunately forgettable: more TV theme than winning Eurovision tune.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Slovakia </span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Artist: Kamil Mikulčík & Nela Pocisková </span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Song title: Leť Tmou(Fly through Darkness)</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Language: Slovakian( ?)</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">The reckoning: Slovakia seem to be hoping for some of last year’s winning action with this classical, emotional ballad.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Denmark </span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Artist: Brinck </span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Song title: Believe Again</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Language: English</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">The reckoning: I heard this and thought Denmark had kidnapped Ronan Keating. Unmistakable Boyzone. Then I found out Ronan was involved, which explained a lot. Catchy but might slip under the radar.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Slovenia </span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Artist: Quartissimo feat. Martina </span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Song title: Love Symphony</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Language: English</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">The reckoning: It’s all a bit Vanessa Mae here. Martina only makes an appearance about halfway through, but it’s a great performance.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Hungary </span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Artist: Zoli Ádok </span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Song title: Dance With Me</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Language: English</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">The reckoning: Proper 90s pop here. All sorts of shenanigans involving random sailors in the video. Can’t see it winning but good fun nevertheless.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Azerbaijan </span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Artist: AySel & Arash </span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Song title: Always</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Language: English</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">The reckoning: Dance duo with the modern/traditional blend which is so popular in the competition. What I’d regard as a good modern bellydance track.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Greece </span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Artist: Sakis Rouvas </span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Song title: This Is Our Night</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Language: English</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">The reckoning: Sakis is back. Last year’s Greek entry was brilliant, and Greece clearly feel they were robbed so have wheeled out the winner of 2004. It’s catchy, but maybe a bit, well, desperate?</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Lithuania </span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Artist: Sasha Son </span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Song title: Love</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Language: English</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">The reckoning: The boy can clearly sing, but I think it’s a little mediocre. Video is strangely sloganised for no apparent reason.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Moldova</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Artist: Nelly Ciobanu</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Song title: Hora Din Moldova (Dance of Moldova)</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Lanaguage: mostly English</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">The reckoning: A traditional feel with a funky upbeat bridge, giving it an edge. However it may not make the grade by trying to cover all angles and spreading itself too thinly.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Albania </span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Artist: Kejsi Tola </span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Song title: Carry Me In Your Dreams</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Language: English</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">The reckoning: Europop rules! No doubt the girl can sing, this is catchy Eurovision fare. Dreadful (not even funny) video, so look forward to the performance.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Ukraine</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Artist: Svetlana Loboda </span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Song title: Be my Valentine! (Anti-crisis Girl)</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Language: English</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">The reckoning: A trumpet section improves any song in my opinion, and this is power pop with attitude. A hit.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Estonia </span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Artist: Urban Symphony </span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Song title: Rändajad (Wanderers)</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Language: Estonian</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">The reckoning: Haunting vocals and atmospheric violin and electronic combinations. Good song but lacks the punch and conclusion it needs.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">The Netherlands </span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Artist: The Toppers</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Song title: Shine</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Language: English </span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">The reckoning: Cheese. Hilarious, comedy cheese. ‘Love will make us glow in the dark’? Genius. Awful outfits, dad dancing – it should win. </span>charlie_elisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17501603823568062307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22685801.post-64583961931321191882009-05-11T21:32:00.004+00:002009-05-12T08:17:31.519+00:00The Euro fever begins - Eurovision Semi Final One<meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><meta name="ProgId" content="Word.Document"><meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 12"><meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 12"><link style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" rel="File-List" href="file:///C:%5CUsers%5CCharlie%5CAppData%5CLocal%5CTemp%5Cmsohtmlclip1%5C01%5Cclip_filelist.xml"><link style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" rel="themeData" href="file:///C:%5CUsers%5CCharlie%5CAppData%5CLocal%5CTemp%5Cmsohtmlclip1%5C01%5Cclip_themedata.thmx"><link style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" rel="colorSchemeMapping" href="file:///C:%5CUsers%5CCharlie%5CAppData%5CLocal%5CTemp%5Cmsohtmlclip1%5C01%5Cclip_colorschememapping.xml"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:trackmoves/> <w:trackformatting/> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:donotpromoteqf/> <w:lidthemeother>EN-GB</w:LidThemeOther> <w:lidthemeasian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:lidthemecomplexscript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> <w:splitpgbreakandparamark/> <w:dontvertaligncellwithsp/> <w:dontbreakconstrainedforcedtables/> <w:dontvertalignintxbx/> <w:word11kerningpairs/> <w:cachedcolbalance/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> <m:mathpr> <m:mathfont val="Cambria Math"> <m:brkbin val="before"> <m:brkbinsub val="--"> <m:smallfrac val="off"> <m:dispdef/> <m:lmargin val="0"> <m:rmargin val="0"> <m:defjc val="centerGroup"> <m:wrapindent val="1440"> <m:intlim val="subSup"> <m:narylim val="undOvr"> </m:mathPr></w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:latentstyles deflockedstate="false" defunhidewhenused="true" defsemihidden="true" defqformat="false" defpriority="99" latentstylecount="267"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="0" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Normal"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="heading 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 7"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 8"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 9"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 7"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 8"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 9"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="35" qformat="true" name="caption"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="10" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Title"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="1" name="Default Paragraph Font"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="11" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Subtitle"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="22" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Strong"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="20" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Emphasis"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="59" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Table Grid"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Placeholder Text"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="1" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="No Spacing"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Revision"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="34" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="List Paragraph"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="29" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Quote"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="30" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Intense Quote"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="19" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Subtle Emphasis"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="21" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Intense Emphasis"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="31" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Subtle Reference"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="32" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Intense Reference"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="33" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Book Title"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="37" name="Bibliography"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" qformat="true" name="TOC Heading"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><style> <!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:"Cambria Math"; panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:roman; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:-1610611985 1107304683 0 0 159 0;} @font-face {font-family:Calibri; panose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:swiss; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:-1610611985 1073750139 0 0 159 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-unhide:no; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; margin-top:0cm; margin-right:0cm; margin-bottom:10.0pt; margin-left:0cm; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language:EN-US;} .MsoChpDefault {mso-style-type:export-only; mso-default-props:yes; font-size:10.0pt; mso-ansi-font-size:10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;} @page Section1 {size:612.0pt 792.0pt; margin:72.0pt 72.0pt 72.0pt 72.0pt; mso-header-margin:36.0pt; mso-footer-margin:36.0pt; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} </style> <![endif]--> <p style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" class="MsoNormal">Eurovision 2009 – the reckoning</p> <span style="line-height: 115%;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:11;" >I’ve been watching the Eurovision Song Contest for probably 15 years now, and I’ve held a party for friends to celebrate the final every year for the past nine years. There has, admittedly, been a lot of alcohol involved but I’ve picked up a unique appreciation i.e. strange obsession with Eurovision. Here’s my low-down on the songs this year for tomorrow's semi final - the first of two televised semi finals before the grand final on Saturday. </span>
<br />
<br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Country: Montenegro </span>
<br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Artist: Andrea Demirovic </span>
<br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Song title: Just Get Out of My Life</span>
<br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Language: English</span>
<br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">The reckoning: Disco-tastic! Funky and retro – a fun track. Hopefully this will good far in Moscow with its catchy, fresh beat.</span>
<br />
<br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Country: Czech Republic </span>
<br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Artist: Gipsy.cz </span>
<br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Song title: Aven Romale (Come on, gypsies)</span>
<br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Language: English and Czech</span>
<br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">The reckoning: At first glance the band look like a Czech Goldie Looking Chain. This is a song with great humour but will the whole of Europe get it? It’ll be a huge hit or massive miss in the competition.</span>
<br />
<br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Country: Belgium </span>
<br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Artist: Copycat </span>
<br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Song title: Copycat</span>
<br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Language: English</span>
<br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">The reckoning: Rockabilly? At Eurovision? Dreadful rock and roll references but enjoyable. Not entirely convinced Europe will be down with it, but who knows?</span>
<br />
<br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Country: Belarus </span>
<br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Artist: Petr Elfimov </span>
<br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Song title: Eyes That Never Lie</span>
<br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Language: English</span>
<br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">The reckoning: Very Bon Jovi this. Apparently Petr is a bit of a star. Not my favourite but could well be popular with the voters!</span>
<br />
<br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Country: Sweden </span>
<br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Artist: Malena Ernman </span>
<br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Song title: La Voix</span>
<br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Language: English and French</span>
<br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">The reckoning: Another banging dance tune. Malena has a surprisingly deep voice and range, dinging in both pop and operatic style. Could be popular.</span>
<br />
<br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Country: Armenia </span>
<br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Artist: Inga & Anush </span>
<br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Song title: Jan Jan</span>
<br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Language: Armenian</span>
<br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">The reckoning: A dramatic, theatrical performance accompanied by traditional instruments and beat. Strong vocally, but perhaps forgettable.</span>
<br />
<br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Country: Andorra </span>
<br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Artist: Susanne Georgi </span>
<br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Song title: La Teva Decisió (Get A Life)</span>
<br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Language: Catalan and English</span>
<br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">The reckoning: Bubblegum sweet, Alisha’s Attic-esque. Listenable, foot-tappingly funky, but not a convincing Euro-athem.</span>
<br />
<br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Country: Switzerland </span>
<br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Artist: Lovebugs </span>
<br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Song title: The Highest Heights</span>
<br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Language: English</span>
<br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">The reckoning: U2-style rock – and as it turns out, yes, a U2 member was involved. Technically good, but that counts for little in this competition!</span>
<br />
<br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Country: Turkey </span>
<br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Artist: Hadise </span>
<br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Song title: Düm Tek Tek</span>
<br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Language: English</span>
<br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">The reckoning: Bellydance, with the emphasis on dance. A fusion of old and new and her hips don’t lie – I’d love something like this to win.</span>
<br />
<br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Country: Israel </span>
<br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Artist: Noa & Mira Awad </span>
<br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Song title: There Must Be Another Way</span>
<br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Language: English </span>
<br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">The reckoning: A political sentiment perhaps? Gentle lilting pop. Melodic and uplifting despite the title. May find itself overshadowed by showier acts, but pleasant from Israel.</span>
<br />
<br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Country: Bulgaria </span>
<br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Artist: Krassimir Avramov </span>
<br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Song title: Illusion</span>
<br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Language: English</span>
<br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">The reckoning: Fast-paced, dramatic dance with atmosphere. Perhaps not memorable enough but sure to get the crowd on their feet.</span>
<br />
<br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Country: Iceland </span>
<br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Artist: Yohanna </span>
<br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Song title: Is It True?</span>
<br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Language: English</span>
<br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">The reckoning: Iceland’s entry last year was my favourite of the competition, but this year’s song didn’t blow me away. Johanna handles the vocals with ease, but it’s a tough year.</span>
<br />
<br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Country: F.Y.R. Macedonia </span>
<br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Artist: Next Time </span>
<br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Song title: Neshto Shto Ke Ostane (something will remain)</span>
<br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Language: Macedonian</span>
<br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">The reckoning: Heavy rock, inspired by ACDC. Mad hair and rock – could be a popular combination as the popularity of this genre grows in Europe.</span>
<br />
<br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Country: Romania </span>
<br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Artist: Elena </span>
<br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Song title: The Balkan Girls</span>
<br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Language: English</span>
<br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">The reckoning: At first it appears to be a straight-up, high octane Romanian party tune. However it then becomes slower and sadly, a bit disappointing with dire rhyming couplets.</span>
<br />
<br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Country: Finland </span>
<br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Artist: Waldo's People </span>
<br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Song title: Lose Control</span>
<br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Language: English</span>
<br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">The reckoning: Billed as ‘ultimate dance’, it’s a bit Scooter for me but remains a good party track which is bound to get the house jumping on the night.</span>
<br />
<br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Country: Portugal </span>
<br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Artist: Flor-de-lis </span>
<br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Song title: Todas As Ruas Do Amor (All the streets of love)</span>
<br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Language: Portuguese</span>
<br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">The reckoning: This tune showcases Portugal’s traditional instruments and is delivered with passion. Good fun but may find itself overpowered.</span>
<br />
<br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Country: Malta </span>
<br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Artist: Chiara </span>
<br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Song title: What If We</span>
<br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Language: English</span>
<br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">The reckoning: A bit slow to start, but overall, Chiara performs a strong, uplifting ballad: a classic Eurovision entry from a songstress who’s been here before. </span>
<br />
<br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Country: Bosnia & Herzegovina </span>
<br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Artist: Regina </span>
<br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Song title: Bistra Voda (Clear water)</span>
<br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Language: Bosnian</span>
<br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">The reckoning: Look like The Killers, sound like Gogol Bordello have been toned down for the Queen’s ears. Traditional guitar, soft beats and inexplicably, marching women with red flags in the video. Very Soviet.</span>
<br />
<br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Tomorrow: the reckoning for semi final two here along with live tweeting @charlie_elise. Plus, the Big Five - including the UK - who get a free ticket to the grand final every year as the countries which contribute the most money towards the contest.</span>
<br />
<br />charlie_elisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17501603823568062307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22685801.post-51754745238549408842009-03-10T12:51:00.006+00:002009-03-13T09:52:25.697+00:00Om nom nom - the joy of leftoversI haven't blogged in ages, I know. And I will be doing a full 'I'm not fat anymore' update soon (in fact, going to have my programme re-examined tonight so will have something to talk about).<br /><br />As this is my personal blog I should really use it to talk about the more mudane stuff, like, for example, what I'm having for lunch. That's right folks, it's not just the preserve of Twitter, you know! I love Twitter so much but I know, not everyone is on it. You should tweet if you don't already, it's brilliant. Plus, you can keep up with me much better! :-)<br /><br />So on the menu today - leftovers! I was driving home last night and was feeling pretty down and stressed, so like the good vegan I am I just took it out on all the veg we had in the house. I had been meaning to make a ratatouille for ages and had everything I needed so I just chopped away and had a rant.<br /><br />I used the marvellous <a href="http://www.hoorayforhomecooking.co.uk/">Remoska</a> cooker pan I have and threw in two big red onions all chopped up and fried them in some olive oil on the stove. For those of you who don't know, a Remoska oven looks like a space-age saucepan: it has a lid with a heating element in it and it cooks from above. It makes the best jacket potatoes and some pretty damn good roasted veg, and it's very economical.<br /><br />You can use the pan on the stove to fry things and then bung the lid on to do the actual cooking, which is what I did last night. I threw in chunkily-cut peppers of all colours, half an aubergine which was lying around, some courgettes which had seen better days and lots of mushrooms (which were also on the way out, truth be told). I sauteed all of this together, then chucked over a can of tomatoes and a good 2/3 of a tube of tomato puree. Seasoned with a vegetable stock cube and a good pinch of <a href="http://www.seasalt.co.uk/DesktopDefault.aspx?tabid=169">Halen Mon</a> celery salt (wonderful sea salt from Anglesea), which comes highly recommended (by me) for all vegetable dishes, and it was time to bung the lid on.<br /><br />I left it cooking while I got ready for <a href="http://www.monmouthshire.gov.uk/site/scripts/documents_info.php?documentID=156">Monday night Masters</a> and just switched the Remoska back on when I returned to heat the food back up and it was delicious. So many vegetables and so tasty. For lunch I'm having some more, as there was more than enough for three meals!<br /><br />I know it's not a 'traditional' ratatouille, although it's based on quite a traditional recipe. I can't be bothered to cook things separately: having made and tasted both traditional and Remoska-ed I'm afraid this is just as good at a fraction of the hassle.<br /><br />Altogether now: om nom nom!charlie_elisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17501603823568062307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22685801.post-4541687329325800342008-10-11T18:07:00.002+00:002008-10-11T18:55:09.928+00:00Halfway there...Update on the fitness/weight loss front!<br /><br />I did the weekly weigh-in today, and the scales tell me I'm halfway towards my goal of getting within the healthy range for my height. I have lost 16 lbs so far.<br /><br />Now, I'm told BMI isn't everything (and I totally agree: think of all the 'skinny-fat' people you know - those thin people with no muscle tone or fitness) but I haven't yet changed my goal: I'd like to see if I CAN get there.<br /><br />So what have I been doing?<br /><br />Well, I've been packing super-healthy lunches for work, for a start. I've cut down my portions generally, and I exercise between five and seven times a week.<br /><br />My workouts vary from some floor exercises (crunches, press-ups and planks mainly, as my main gripes are my stomach and arms), through to my personal plan at the gym and a master's swimming session which I go to on a Monday night. I also did a spinning class the other week, which was excellent: I'd like to start doing that regularly.<br /><br />At the gym I do a cardio warm up followed by weight-training. The cross-trainer, which I used to call 'the machine of death' I now love, and the most-hated spot has been replaced by the wave machine, which is deadly dull, and if I over-do it hurts my knee. Rubbish. I've always liked weight-training as I'm quite strong and muscular for my size, and easily lift the same weight as most of the men in the gym. (Not the 'muscle marys', obviously, but the average gym going guy.)<br /><br />Unfortunately, I've had to keep the running on hold as everytime I go out my knee plays up. I haven't been out for a few weeks now but have been quite focussed on getting my swimming back. With the help of most members of Dai's family, I've re-learned how to do crawl! So I go to master's, which is a really good, social workout, and from that I've taken some routines which I do when I go to the pool another couple times a week. Dai's sister comes to master's too, and she's a great swimmer and has helped me so much with my technique: she's also lost half a stone already which is great news!<br /><br />I've been logging the distances I swim to raise money to fight malaria: I saw a lot of people suffering with the disease when I was in the Gambia and think it's a great cause. If you'd like to help out, visit my page at <a href="http://www.worldswimagainstmalaria.com/charlie">www.worldswimagainstmalaria.com/charlie</a> -all donations gratefully recieved.<br /><br />I will start running again: I hope that having lost some weight there will be less stress on the joints and that the weight training I've been doing to support my knee will help too. I am aware that I have been challenged to do the Great Gorilla run next year in London by a certain group of Magslags, (thanks, guys) and have to admit, I am well up for it! What is it? You'll have to visit <a href="http://www.greatgorillas.org/london">www.greatgorillas.org/london</a> to find out!<br /><br />So at the moment I'm getting back from work around seven and I go straight to the leisure centre to do a workout (apart from Monday: master's is a late class). I worry Dai is feeling like a gym widow as I don't get back until eight or half eight. However, I very rarely do anything sporty on a Saturday, and Sunday isn't so bad as I just pop out if I feel like it. My weekdays are busy! It's a good incentive not to work too late as I want to get home, and it really helps me unwind and switch off, so I think I'm a nicer person at home for it.<br /><br />I'm still vegan (in case anyone wondered: it's unlikely to change, but you'd be surprised how often I am asked. I have been for seven years since September, by the way) so I've been upping my protein intake to support my exercise (almonds are currently very popular), and I have started taking a calcium supplement alongside the multivitamin with iron and evening primrose oil which I always take, just in case. I used to take a vitamin B supplement and a cranberry capsule as well: I might do so again but I always keep an eye on what I'm eating anyway.<br /><br />So my plan for the next few weeks involve continuing this plan, but as my bike is finally up here I'll try to squeeze in some cycling as well at the weekend. Also: I will be going bikini shopping soon (had to buy new jeans last weekend: put it this way, I haven't worn this size for maybe ten years) for the holiday in November. We'll be taking the bikes on holiday too and I am SO looking forward to a relaxing week with cycling, swimming, badminton, something to do with high ropes and chilling in the spa.<br /><br />So far, so good. I'll keep you posted on how it's going - and whether I find a bikini I'm actually happy in!charlie_elisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17501603823568062307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22685801.post-6453449616902016712008-09-04T13:15:00.003+00:002008-09-04T13:41:15.025+00:00The moment of truth appraoches: goal 1I've posted this over from my Facebook notes: partly so it's uber official, partly because I had such nice comments from all the lovely people below! Unfortunately it will bounce right back there but, meh, deal with it.<br /><br />As you can read below, I've dropped half a stone since posting this originally, and gone down 1.5 on my BMI. This weekend is going to be a bit of a moment of truth - I have no idea if I can drop a dress size yet and I'm out shopping for a dress to wear to a friend's wedding. Yes, my clothes are baggier, but is it enough?<br /><br />I'll let you know!<br /><br />I've definitely got value for money from the gym membership - at the moment I'm there six times a week, swimming or gyming, and loving it. One of the less expected benefits is that it clears my head from work so I'm not so stressed when I - eventually - get home. I went for a run on the bank holiday and my knee started hurting again so I'm sticking with the swimming for cardio -I'm considering taking up some short sprints instead, just for fun, in the hope the breaks inbetween will mean my knee can cope. However in the meantime I'm learning how to swim again, with the help of Dai and his brother Hywel (who's a qualified swim coach, so, Sam, to answer your question, I am paying a big fat nothing for my lessons, and the Masters swim class is included on my gym membership) so I'm logging my distances and helping Speedo swim around the world against malaria! You can sponsor me in my Charlie to mermaid transformation: <a href="http://www.worldswimagainstmalaria.com/charlie">http://www.worldswimagainstmalaria.com/charlie</a><br /><br />From Facebook:<br /><br />It's official, I'm shallow<br /><br />Sunday, July 27, 2008 at 10:09pm<br /><br />Ok. I'm announcing this on my blog in the hope that I'll actually get on and do this. I want to have a healthy BMI. To do that, I need to lose 2 stone and 4 pounds, or 32 pounds.That's a lot. More...than I thought. You'll probably know I'm vegan, and I'm not exactly adverse to exercise: in fact I'm quite keen on it. However, I also love food and I'm only five foot, which doesn't give me much room for manovre apart from, well, outwards.My main problem with losing weight is not the dieting, or the exercise. It's the shallowness of it all. There's a voice in my head shouting, "Do you want to be taken seriously? Do you WANT to be like these orange people, obsessed with everything they ever eat? This is vainty!" And for me, vainty feel more sinful than anything I could ever eat. Yes I wear make up. Yes I do care how I look. However, serious weight loss is seriously VAIN in my eyes, which makes it a real battle.The same voice shouts, "You've always been overweight! It's not going to change! You'll never do it!" Now. I've been heavier than this. I shed quite a few pounds a couple of years ago and at the time I was having a bit of a general change in my outlook on lots of things. I felt really guilty about it too. I'm lucky with Dai because I know he will support me. It feels different this time. I think I've realised that although cardio-vacsularly (is that a word?) speaking, I am probably as fit or fitter than I've ever been, due to the running, I am STILL too heavy. I'm 23. I need to conquer the voice NOW, and then deal with keeping it at bay before I give in and get bigger, or lose my fitness.I don't even want to be thin. I suspect I will never be thin. But I can be healthy. Being healthy is far from being vain, so my goal is to lower my BMI from nearly 31 to under 25. I'm not asking for 20, or even 22. Under 25 - a healthy weight, will do me fine.By November I hope to have lost enough to feel happier in a bikini when Dai and I go to CenterParcs - a stone, plus some toning would do it. I have no idea how long it will take for me to lose 32 lbs, but I hope to have a better idea soon and set myself a time goal to work towards. In the meantime, I'm joining the gym and going at least twice a week, plus keeping up the running a few times a week, walking in my lunch breaks and fitting in some regular swimming (which I love) too.As to the diet I'm cutting down on the portions. My actual foods aren't too bad, although I'm cutting out the crisps (which were beginning to feature a bit too much) and ice cream (same) and down on the alcohol (two glasses of wine this week, not too bad) and sugar (not too much of a problem).It needs to be something I can live with, but I have found that my health is increasingly important to me: I want to be as healthy as I can be. I'll try to blog my progress. This is the first step in ensuring I actually do it this time: keep your fingers crossed for me!<br /><a href="http://www.new.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=33544865768&id=289300870&index=0&add_comment#add_comment">Add a comment</a> <a href="http://www.new.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=33544865768&id=289300870&index=0#comments">16 comments</a> <a href="http://www.new.facebook.com/note_redirect.php?note_id=33544865768&h=4dc9d856885c3d94f5854fbe70ac0c69&url=http%3A%2F%2Fglitterjunkiedreams.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F07%2Fits-official-im-shallow.html" target="_blank">View original post</a><br /><br /><a class="profile_link" href="http://www.new.facebook.com/profile.php?id=718895262">Samantha Wong</a> (Cardiff University) wrote at 8:18pm on July 29th, 2008<br />Glad to hear you're looking to lose weight to be healthy and not the whole "I wanna look like Mischa Barton/Keria Knightley/Nicol Ritchie and disgustingly stick thin. Getting a fantastic body and looking great in a bikini is always a bonus! :) Anyway, you run loads, (where do you get your motivation??) and my bad food habits not only include crisps and ice cream but cake (lots of it) as well! Hope you manage to conquer that inner voice in you and become as healthy as you can possibly be :) x<br /><br /><a href="http://www.new.facebook.com/profile.php?id=289300870"></a><br /><a class="profile_link" href="http://www.new.facebook.com/profile.php?id=289300870">Charlie Elise Duff</a> wrote at 9:30pm on July 29th, 2008<br />Thanks Sam, I went for a run tonight and had some food, have been craving sugar badly tonight. Had a small piece of very dark chocolate - no point in banning it - but your support means a lot so big HUGS! x<br /><a href="http://www.new.facebook.com/profile.php?id=193106718"></a><br /><a class="profile_link" href="http://www.new.facebook.com/profile.php?id=193106718">Cat Hackforth</a> (University of Bristol) wrote at 9:35pm on July 29th, 2008<br />Best of luck, Charlie! :DKeira Knightley freaks me out. Maybe she just naturally looks like skin sprayed onto a skeleton, but even so...<br /><br /><a href="http://www.new.facebook.com/profile.php?id=518446606"></a><br /><a class="profile_link" href="http://www.new.facebook.com/profile.php?id=518446606">Rachel England</a> (Wales) wrote at 10:09pm on July 29th, 2008<br />Well done Charlie! Like Sam said, it's good you're doing this for health reasons and not to look like a lollipop lady.That said, it's interesting that you say your diet is generally good anyway, and that you feel like you've never been fitter. I know a lot of people (me included) who have a BMI under 25 but eat rubbish constantly, find themselves out of puff after very little exertion and have achy arms for days after a go on the Wii. So who's 'healthier'? It ain't me, that's for sure. So I wouldn't stick too rigidly to guidelines and charts, etc. It's how you feel that matters the most - not scientific recommendations.Still - way to go! :) x<br /><br /><a href="http://www.new.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61206510"></a><br /><a class="profile_link" href="http://www.new.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61206510">ElizabethAnne Grummitt</a> (Cardiff University) wrote at 1:42am on July 30th, 2008<br />I think as long as you are thinking about your weight in terms of being healthy there's nothing wrong with that. And wanting to look one's best is no sin, just as long as its realistic. I will say though that BMI is thought to be meaningless by many medical peeps.Obviously I'm not going to join in the 'thin people are vile and disgusting' comments, as being the same size and shape as dear ol' Keira (cept for the boobs, obviously, hurrah!) makes me a hideous skeleton as well. But it is true a fantasy physical size isn't a good goal, as you can never ever win that way. Healthiness and happiness is much better and not shallow at all, in my opinion.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.new.facebook.com/profile.php?id=289300870"></a><br /><a class="profile_link" href="http://www.new.facebook.com/profile.php?id=289300870">Charlie Elise Duff</a> wrote at 1:54pm on July 30th, 2008<br />Hee hee. Yes, I do realise that BMI is not everything. I am rather prone to muscle as well, so it's possible I'll always be slightly over: but currently I'm way over. I'm looking forward to going to the gym tomorrow for the first time in ages - Dai is coming too, yay!I don't know how some people eat rubbish and stay within the range. All I know is, if I was a cow, you'd all be eating me, because I maintain good weight on vegetables alone!<br /><br /><a href="http://www.new.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61206510"></a><br /><a class="profile_link" href="http://www.new.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61206510">ElizabethAnne Grummitt</a> (Cardiff University) wrote at 3:41pm on July 30th, 2008<br />I misread 'cow' as 'crow' then and was very confused...<br /><br /><a href="http://www.new.facebook.com/profile.php?id=514940070"></a><br /><a class="profile_link" href="http://www.new.facebook.com/profile.php?id=514940070">Laura Murphy</a> (Cardiff) wrote at 8:02pm on July 30th, 2008<br />right on charlie. Have you tried having your body fat ratio measured at all? It's better than BMI for working out your overall health and your gym should be able to do it for you if it's one of the bigger ones. You want to get it at around 10-12%, that's the optimum level.I'm meant to be joining a gym at some point once I sort my finances out a bit and get into the swing of budgeting....can't wait til January when my free work membership kicks in and I can go on my lunchbreak with my workmates. If you want any tips on workouts etc then check out the MH website and forums, I know I'm self-promoting but I have seriously learnt shitloads since starting work there about workouts and nutrition and all that kind of biscuit.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.new.facebook.com/profile.php?id=518446606"></a><br /><a class="profile_link" href="http://www.new.facebook.com/profile.php?id=518446606">Rachel England</a> (Wales) wrote at 9:34pm on July 30th, 2008<br />*cough* shameless plug *cough cough*<br /><br /><a href="http://www.new.facebook.com/profile.php?id=514940070"></a><br /><a class="profile_link" href="http://www.new.facebook.com/profile.php?id=514940070">Laura Murphy</a> (Cardiff) wrote at 9:35pm on July 30th, 2008<br />GET ME SOME PAAAAAGE IMPRESSIONS<br /><br /><a href="http://www.new.facebook.com/profile.php?id=289300870"></a><br /><a class="profile_link" href="http://www.new.facebook.com/profile.php?id=289300870">Charlie Elise Duff</a> wrote at 9:40pm on July 30th, 2008<br />I'm going to the gym tomorrow: it's like a proper big one where you get weighed etc. I think I'm full of fat: my arms, back and stomach are testament to that, although my legs are pretty damn toned! But I would like to know what percentage I am. I heard though that women have to be 30% and above to be healthy and concieve etc (which makes me wonder about the infamous Beckham, so that could be crap: or maybe it's 3 or 13 % lol).As token Men's mag fan, I've seen the forums, they ARE really good. Well-populated too! Anyway, as ever, thanks guys! xCx<br /><br /><a href="http://www.new.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61201078"></a><br /><a class="profile_link" href="http://www.new.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61201078">Bethan Price</a> (Durham) wrote at 4:01pm on July 31st, 2008<br />Here's where the nutritional anthropologist in me kicks in: You have to have a body fat percentage of 10-15% in order to be able to conceive, although this can vary. It's quite complicated but there's a gradient with conception, so it's not as straight forward as 'if you are below this fat percentage you can't conceive'. I know this because one of my lecturers was obsessed with this stuff so we had loads of lectures on it and I read all the studies and papers. As Laura said your body fat % is more important than your BMI as is your waist measurement. The size of your waist is a good indicator of whether or not you need to lose weight, as it's the first place you put on excess fat. I may be slight but if I put on weight it all goes on my stomach, which is BAD. I'm also one of those healthy BMI people who I suspect has a really bad body fat percentage - all fat and no muscle. Also BAD. But good luck with it all. I hope all goes well and you hit your target BMI/BF%, etc. Bx<br /><br /><a href="http://www.new.facebook.com/profile.php?id=289300870"></a><br /><a class="profile_link" href="http://www.new.facebook.com/profile.php?id=289300870">Charlie Elise Duff</a> wrote at 1:14pm on August 3rd, 2008<br />Wow thanks for the info Bethan! I wieghed myself at the same time this week as last, the scales say I've lost a lb. Which is not what the scales said at the gym on Thurs, but I'm sticking with my plan. My waist is below the danger zone, and I do put it on there (but also it comes off there first if I lose weight) I've always had a so-called 'vintage' figure - my hip to waist ratio is bigger than the average. Good for corsets, bad for making anything else fit. No idea what this means health-wise, apart from 'you're a curvy freak'?Meh. Anyway did two 5ks this week plus a shorter run. Plus walking and abdominals (I HATE PLANKS)x<br /><br /><a href="http://www.new.facebook.com/profile.php?id=289300870"></a><br /><a class="profile_link" href="http://www.new.facebook.com/profile.php?id=289300870">Charlie Elise Duff</a> wrote at 9:46pm on August 31st, 2008<br />Just posting to say I've lost half a stone! Hooray!I have a few goals:One: wedding on the 13 Sept - I wanted to lose half a stone by then but I already have. I was hoping I would be able to drop a dress size but I won't know if I have until I go to try on dresses next week, eek!Two: beginning of November - I want to have lost at least a stone and feel toned and, possibly more importantly, confident enough to wear a bikini when Dai and I go on holiday.Three: New Year 2009 - a healthy BMI.Four: to discover a way to maintain my new weight - I know yo-yo weights are very bad, and I want to keep to a steady weight and exercise programme, with a diet I can handle. So goal one is partially complete... I'll update with more news when it occurs!xCx<br /><br /><a href="http://www.new.facebook.com/profile.php?id=518446606"></a><br /><a class="profile_link" href="http://www.new.facebook.com/profile.php?id=518446606">Rachel England</a> (Wales) wrote at 9:37am on September 1st, 2008<br />Well done Charlie! Good on you.Having recently moved to within 400m of a leisure centre I went swimming yesterday for the first time in about four years. Jesus. Christ.I'm aching so badly this morning it's like I've been hit by a bus. So that's my new goal now; go swimming without feeling like this the day after<br /><br /><a href="http://www.new.facebook.com/profile.php?id=289300870"></a><br /><a class="profile_link" href="http://www.new.facebook.com/profile.php?id=289300870">Charlie Elise Duff</a> wrote at 2:40pm on September 1st, 2008<br />Nice goal Rachel! I'm off to Masters swimming tonight, boy, that's going to hurt tomorrow - they really push you in the class and I've only just started re-learning crawl....You should see if they do a Masters class at your pool, then you can join me in the pain, haha! x<br /><br />Stay tuned, I do a weigh-in every Sunday and will be posting a round up!charlie_elisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17501603823568062307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22685801.post-49757284134798811662008-07-27T21:09:00.003+00:002008-07-27T21:37:17.242+00:00It's official, I'm shallowOk. I'm announcing this on my blog in the hope that I'll actually get on and do this. I want to have a healthy BMI. To do that, I need to lose 2 stone and 4 pounds, or 32 pounds.<br /><br />That's a lot. More...than I thought. You'll probably know I'm vegan, and I'm not exactly adverse to exercise: in fact I'm quite keen on it. However, I also love food and I'm only five foot, which doesn't give me much room for manovre apart from, well, outwards.<br /><br />My main problem with losing weight is not the dieting, or the exercise. It's the shallowness of it all. There's a voice in my head shouting, "Do you want to be taken seriously? Do you WANT to be like these orange people, obsessed with everything they ever eat? This is vainty!" And for me, vainty feel more sinful than anything I could ever eat. Yes I wear make up. Yes I do care how I look. However, serious weight loss is seriously VAIN in my eyes, which makes it a real battle.<br /><br />The same voice shouts, "You've always been overweight! It's not going to change! You'll never do it!" Now. I've been heavier than this. I shed quite a few pounds a couple of years ago and at the time I was having a bit of a general change in my outlook on lots of things. I felt really guilty about it too. I'm lucky with Dai because I know he will support me. It feels different this time. I think I've realised that although cardio-vacsularly (is that a word?) speaking, I am probably as fit or fitter than I've ever been, due to the running, I am STILL too heavy. I'm 23. I need to conquer the voice NOW, and then deal with keeping it at bay before I give in and get bigger, or lose my fitness.<br /><br />I don't even want to be thin. I suspect I will never be thin. But I can be healthy. Being healthy is far from being vain, so my goal is to lower my BMI from nearly 31 to under 25. I'm not asking for 20, or even 22. Under 25 - a healthy weight, will do me fine.<br /><br />By November I hope to have lost enough to feel happier in a bikini when Dai and I go to CenterParcs - a stone, plus some toning would do it. I have no idea how long it will take for me to lose 32 lbs, but I hope to have a better idea soon and set myself a time goal to work towards. In the meantime, I'm joining the gym and going at least twice a week, plus keeping up the running a few times a week, walking in my lunch breaks and fitting in some regular swimming (which I love) too.<br /><br />As to the diet I'm cutting down on the portions. My actual foods aren't too bad, although I'm cutting out the crisps (which were beginning to feature a bit too much) and ice cream (same) and down on the alcohol (two glasses of wine this week, not too bad) and sugar (not too much of a problem).<br /><br /> It needs to be something I can live with, but I have found that my health is increasingly important to me: I want to be as healthy as I can be. I'll try to blog my progress. This is the first step in ensuring I actually do it this time: keep your fingers crossed for me!charlie_elisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17501603823568062307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22685801.post-7025301910925956142008-03-17T21:49:00.003+00:002008-03-17T22:08:10.573+00:00dis obseshon is reachin bibikalist proptshuns, srsly!K, K, I noes it. I is a bad.<br /><br />But the <a href="http://www.lolcatbible.com/index.php?title=Main_Page">LOLCat bible!!!!1 </a><br /><br /><em>"An Ceiling Cat sayed, Beholdt, the Urfs, I has it, An I has not eated it." LolCat Genesis 1:29.</em><br /><br />This is my favourite Pslam (yes, favorit salm, I has one), 121, in LolCat:<br /><br /><a title="" href="http://www.lolcatbible.com/index.php?title=Psalm_121#1">1</a> A song to goez big up. I lookz upz at da big hillsez, I can has halps?<br /><a title="" href="http://www.lolcatbible.com/index.php?title=Psalm_121#2">2</a> Yes I can haz halps, from Ceiling Cat, doer of Ceiling and Urf<br /><a title="" href="http://www.lolcatbible.com/index.php?title=Psalm_121#3">3</a> He not let ur paw slipz, he not sleepz<br /><a title="" href="http://www.lolcatbible.com/index.php?title=Psalm_121#4">4</a> Protektor of All Kittehs no sleepies no dreamies<br /><a title="" href="http://www.lolcatbible.com/index.php?title=Psalm_121#5">5</a> Ceiling Cat ur protektor, He is ur shadows from da windowsill, He is ur right paw<br /><a title="" href="http://www.lolcatbible.com/index.php?title=Psalm_121#6">6</a> In day, sun no make u go bai, moon not make u go bai either<br /><a title="" href="http://www.lolcatbible.com/index.php?title=Psalm_121#7">7</a> Ceiling Cat make u safez from badness, He protektz ur invisible self<br /><a title="" href="http://www.lolcatbible.com/index.php?title=Psalm_121#8">8</a> Celing Cat protektz ur in and ur out, forevaz!<br /><br />As a procrastinatory device it cannot be beaten.<br /><br />Have a read and enjoy.<br /><br />kthnxbai!charlie_elisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17501603823568062307noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22685801.post-52788008946973028402008-03-15T16:32:00.003+00:002008-03-15T16:39:34.061+00:00Lolinate ur websietO hai!<br /><br />Worrying though the obsession with Lolcats may be, if you click <a href="http://lolinator.com/lol/charlieduff.co.uk/"><a href="http:///">here</a></a> you can see my professional site, in Lolcat format. You can do it too with any site, just visit the <a href="http://www.lolinator.com/">lolinator</a> and type in the address. The kittehs will translate it for you. Just for giggles!charlie_elisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17501603823568062307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22685801.post-71367082338393806542008-02-27T19:53:00.003+00:002008-02-27T20:28:17.868+00:00Things I don't likeBecause I'm feeling grumpy, I'm going to write a list of the things I don't like (instead of shouting them at Tim). In no particular order:<br /><br /><br />• Dry ski slopes. Slippy AND spiky. Yuk.<br /><br />• The smell of prawns being fried in butter. Gopping.<br /><br />• Nature programmes (not all, just the really long, boring, life-cycle ones.*yawn*)<br /><br />• Camomile tea. It’s just not nice. And doesn’t calm me down.<br /><br />• Roobios/redbush tea. As above.<br /><br />• Running machines.<br /><br />• Chewing gum on pavements – I’ve never spat out gum in my life. Who does?<br /><br />• Spam. Grrr.<br /><br />• Period pains. I do not need practice for labour right now, leave me alone!<br /><br />• Coriander leaf. It tastes like soap!<br /><br />• Big leggy ’house’ spiders. Spiders should live outside!<br /><br />• Tasteless crappy lager. Recently discovered Japanese lager is rather nice.<br /><br />• Jools Holland. Smug git.<br /><br />• Carbon offsetting. It doesn’t solve the problem. Fly less, yuppies.<br /><br />• Things (like phones) which haven’t got Wifi, when they so easily could have!<br /><br />• Pro-life people, particularly men (who will never get pregnant anyway), who preach to people, especially young people.<br /><br />• Hangovers. Such a waste of time, it drives me mad!<br /><br />• Jo Whiley. Well maybe not her personally, just the way she sucks up to musicians. Sorry, but not EVERYONE is ‘great live’. And not EVERY single is wicked.<br /><br />Well, I feel better now. I apologise, because I know I've generalised a lot here. But it's a rant. Raaahhhh!charlie_elisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17501603823568062307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22685801.post-48336245414433674242008-02-27T18:45:00.003+00:002008-02-27T19:03:22.510+00:00I can has iphone?I do love <a href="http://www.icanhascheezburger.com/">icanhazcheezburger</a>. This one, featured on <a href="http://www.geeksugar.com/1073362">geeksugar</a> today, made me giggle. Really I want a <a href="http://www.htctouch.com/">HTC</a> something (don't really care which, but I have sworn not to buy anything unless it has wifi capability) for my next phone, but if I was offered an <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qg1ckCkm8YI">iphone (can you believe they did this? I might cry a little...),</a> or it was cheaper, I have to say I'd be there with bells on. My current 'gadgetenvy' is focused on an ipod touch (my obsession with touch screens is becoming a bit worrying) and one day, one happy day, I shall own one. <br /><br /><br /><a href="http://icanhascheezburger.com/2007/06/29/want/"><img src="http://icanhascheezburger.wordpress.com/files/2007/06/want.jpg" alt="want.jpg" /></a>charlie_elisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17501603823568062307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22685801.post-22273382125137093222008-02-08T20:47:00.000+00:002008-02-08T21:11:56.616+00:00Solar powered what? Come again?No, really! I could hardly believe my eyes. Yes, it's what all you girls seeking to reduce your carbon footprint have been looking for this Valentine's day - <a href="http://shop.libida.com/solar_sensations_vibrator.asp">a solar powered vibrator</a>!<br /><br />Get your rocks off the environmentally friendly way!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8CKezSqUYZ9PO0lFwOiFZ_sxia5CCDSLden4T7NNrvh3XbaEIvtbQe4pC2LJDY00NzQfwJvUZM1HatSjLwNrIn_NR-VQfm-AfXPb53B5ojiou3lH7zNylecL3EfAmTlCUPu5N/s1600-h/charlieblogpic1+copy.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8CKezSqUYZ9PO0lFwOiFZ_sxia5CCDSLden4T7NNrvh3XbaEIvtbQe4pC2LJDY00NzQfwJvUZM1HatSjLwNrIn_NR-VQfm-AfXPb53B5ojiou3lH7zNylecL3EfAmTlCUPu5N/s320/charlieblogpic1+copy.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5164719739376772418" border="0" /></a><br />Apart from all that, if bullets are your thing, then it's probably a very good product. Plus, it's multi-speed. You'll just have to hope it's sunny more often, which in Wales might be wishful thinking (most of the time). Then again, it will charge under a lightbulb, but that's not quite so green now, is it?charlie_elisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17501603823568062307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22685801.post-23977866029291828222008-02-08T13:52:00.000+00:002008-02-09T13:23:12.413+00:00I'm giving it away for free!Yes it's true, I will be working for nothing this Easter! I've secured work experience at the awesome, incredible, amazing, award winning magazine that is <a href="http://www.stuff.tv/">Stuff</a>, and I will be hanging out with the boys there for two weeks. I also have another placement which is an exciting, if not a little daunting week planned on the magazine team at <a href="http://www.timesonline.co.uk/">The Times</a>. Plus, I've applied for some launch experience for a new magazine, so altogether I have pretty much obliterated any idea of an Easter break completely.<br /><br />However, it has to be done, because I had no real direction until my last year of uni. That means I don't have any journalism experience apart from <a href="http://www.waterfrontonline.co.uk/">Waterfront</a>, which isn't ideal (even though it gave me realtime editing experience, and I think taught me a lot) so I feel very much like I'm playing catch-up here.<br /><br />In any case, I'm very excited about the whole thing, and feel that with some national, decent work experience under my belt, I'll feel much more confident when it comes to the next task, which is getting a job.<br /><br />Incredible? Yes. Terrifying? Also yes.charlie_elisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17501603823568062307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22685801.post-18383002170036768902008-01-30T20:12:00.000+00:002008-01-30T20:18:17.430+00:00Television is so depressing!I can't watch Neighbours anymore. It's too full of angst. And Doctors (which was a house favourite while I was an undergrad) is waaaay too emotional and deep now, not vaugely crap, which was how I liked it. At the time, we devised a whole drinking game based around its predictability, but now, it's all just too much drama for me. I can't cope with it!<br />Torchwood is the only thing keeping me sane in the television stakes. That and Charlie Brooker, whose book I'm reading at the moment. I just hope his Screenwipe comes back on soon.charlie_elisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17501603823568062307noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22685801.post-35993960381412619402008-01-18T22:03:00.000+00:002008-01-18T22:48:11.755+00:00Blame tearsSince my parents split up, there's been plenty of blame assignment. I've blamed my mother for almost everything that's ever gone wrong: I've been angry at her for not being there, for never calling, for leaving...the list goes on, and on. She (and her partner) have in turn blamed my father for the fact the finances aren't settled yet, for the divorce going on so long, for my brother's apathy. And it's this which has caused the problem today. Zander is supposedly applying to go to university this September. However it looks like he hasn't got his application in yet, and it's past the important date for UCAS. She blames my dad for this, saying he doesn't support him enough.<br /><br />The thing is, no-one has supported him enough. He hasn't got the support of a school, and I'm in another country. My mother calls him from time to time, but won't call the business line of the pub in case my father picks up the phone, even though she knows Zander is often in there, especially in the evenings, when she calls. And she won't visit. The result is she rarely sees or speaks to him. My father has a policy of not nagging him to do anything. Zander is 19, so doesn't need nagging, but he does need support: and he's been missing a real family for nearly four years now.<br /><br />I don't know what's going to happen. He has been let down badly. My parents are irretrivably embroiled in a petty fight which continues to hurt their children, and I worry this may hold Zander back from a successful and fulfilling adult life. I wish they had been able to put aside their feelings to look after Zander properly: I wish they'd been happy together. I wish a lot of things. I wish most of all that the divorce of my parents hadn't had such a massive impact on my life, that it didn't hurt the way it still does. They say time's a great healer: but it's four years on now, and I'm still crying about it.charlie_elisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17501603823568062307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22685801.post-80101138996864038832008-01-10T14:28:00.000+00:002008-01-10T14:41:28.345+00:00The customer is always rightJust a short update - I had a wonderful Christmas, and a drunken New Year, thankyou very much, and all went well and it was less stressful, but still very busy. For a Christmas present from his parents, Dai and I went away to a CenterParcs for a long weekend - my first time on one of those holidays, but I hope not the last. It was awesome.<br />While I was at home, I saw some of my regulars, which was lovely. This was the last Christmas and New Year we're expecting to hold in the club, and it will be strange this year. One of the locals nearly made me cry (not hard, I know, but still) telling me how he watched me grow up and my family fall apart: but despite all that, he said he thinks I'm a strong person and that although it's not over yet, everyone has complete faith in me. Bless. If only I did half the time! I have to get back to revision now: like somebody on my course said earlier this week, blogging is so much more fun when you've got work to do!charlie_elisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17501603823568062307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22685801.post-32606775888609497812007-11-15T22:55:00.000+00:002007-11-15T23:26:38.320+00:00My perfect ChristmasI am not looking forward to Christmas. I kinda like it once it's there, but it's always far from ideal and I basically don't want to do <a href="http://glitterjunkiedreams.blogspot.com/search?updated-min=2006-01-01T00%3A00%3A00Z&updated-max=2007-01-01T00%3A00%3A00Z&max-results=29">this</a> again this year. Yes, it sounds alright, but what I didn't post about was the stress, and dread and worry and the missing of Dai. Sad, but true, and like a spoilt child I want my own way at Christmas. Not that I'll get it, but never mind.<br /><br />So here's my perfect Christmas. I've thought about it and I reckon it involves a small, warm dwelling in a remote area, preferably somewhere with a mountain nearby, a log fire and huge supply of logs, lots of food for me to cook, a television and some good films on DVD (in case there's nothing on). Plus some walking boots and warm coats to attempt the mountain with, or at least a walk. Oh - and Dai. And some wine, and various other drinks. And a working phone to chat to everyone on Christmas morning, before turning it off and going back to bed. A really lazy Christmas, filled with fluffy jumpers and even fluffier roast potatoes.charlie_elisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17501603823568062307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22685801.post-45703804723418547342007-11-05T11:31:00.000+00:002007-11-08T21:30:50.088+00:00A GM activist was killed in BrazilA activist working against GM crops in Brazil was shot dead during an action ten days ago. I think this is the first person to have died on a GM action.<br /><br />For those of you who don't know, the GM campaign was where everything started for me. This is where I started journalism, and where I started politics. The GM campaign is something I feel strongly about, and is close to my heart.<br /><br />So this news is pretty devastating to me. <a href="http://news.independent.co.uk/world/americas/article3129682.ece">This particular story</a> has been complicated because of the added issue of the landless workers in Brazil, who are also part of the anti-GM campaign there. The leader was the one who was killed, which makes it look like whoever did it knew who to go for. Hopefully there will be more news coverage and Syngenta will release their side of the story. Whatever your view on GM foods and activism in general, it's still a tragedy that this happened.charlie_elisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17501603823568062307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22685801.post-88738702873669691732007-10-31T14:21:00.000+00:002007-10-31T14:31:23.886+00:00Halloween/Samhain resolutionsI know it's time for pumpkin carving and trick-or-treating, but here's something else I do this time each year - I make resolutions. Like New Year resolutions (and after all, for pagans this is the beginning of the year.)<br /><br />Last year, I wanted to let go of the stuff I didn't need anymore. And remember to send cards to my relatives on their birthdays. I did pretty well on both, although my birthday thing fell apart when I had to change diary in September.<br /><br />So it's back on the list. Along with, keep in touch with people better, get a better work ethic, get to the gym more often, stop being so embarrassing to my boyfriend when I'm drunk...you know, the usual. The difference this year is that I have noted them on my Facebook, using an application! So we can find out how rubbish (or good) I've been. Happy seasonal festival of your choice, people! I do so enjoy saying that...charlie_elisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17501603823568062307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22685801.post-90447846098504405662007-10-12T10:05:00.000+00:002007-10-12T10:14:33.706+00:00Hooray for rugby!It's been ages since I watched a lot of rugby. For years I wasn't allowed to watch it (don't ask). But having been spending a lot of time with Dai's family, who like most Welsh people, it seems, are pretty keen on the whole game, I've watched a good amount. It's been fun. Even if Wales were awful. We even went to watch Wales beat Japan at the Millennium Stadium, which was lucky, seeing as they only won 5 matches in the past 18 months.<br /><br />Anyway, the World Cup being shown on ITV has been shocking. Adverts, poor camera work and dodgy commentary have driven me insane. And I know virtually nothing about it. There may be good news though - <a href="http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/broadcasting/a77523/bbc-secures-six-nations-until-2013.html?rss">Digital Spy</a> says that the BBC have the contract for the 6 Nations until 2013. It's got to be better than ITV.charlie_elisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17501603823568062307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22685801.post-59812040918080636822007-10-04T15:03:00.000+00:002007-10-04T15:08:25.989+00:00How not to proposeThis is NOT cool.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2007/10/04/euricase_wedding_lcd_box/">The Euricase Ring box</a><br /><br />Seriously. The whole proposing thing? If you're going to do it, you really should BE there. Unless you want it sent back complete with a video and slide show of 'No!' repeated for the whole hour....<br /><br />'How not to propose' could almost be a series...not that I'm very qualified to blog about it!charlie_elisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17501603823568062307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22685801.post-55647476837004519172007-10-02T10:31:00.000+00:002007-10-02T10:36:06.625+00:00Good newsMy loan has been approved, so it looks like I really am on the course. The loan will cover my course fees (and rent) so it seems like I won't need to drop out due to extreme poverty, plus my family won't have to go through hell to support me through the next nine months. Which is great!charlie_elisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17501603823568062307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22685801.post-4511220482759936292007-10-01T10:20:00.000+00:002007-10-01T10:33:27.850+00:00Quotes...From the 'MotorMouth' column in the sunday Times In Gear supplement:<br /><br />"You can't be a superhero and have a proper job. That's why both Superman and Spiderman worked for newspapers."<br /><br />That made me laugh.<br />Also, good old Fresher's week - Quench, Cardiff University's student magazine:<br /><br />"Yes, you will regret sleeping with the engineer next door; he might seem fun now, but later you'll realise you were just desperate and deluded. Besides, he eats your Marmite when you're not there." They started this passage with the phrase "Young, dumb and full of cum." Front would never have allowed that to be printed. I'm not convinced that is a bad thing.<br /><br />Anyway, I would point out here that there's nothing wrong with engineers, but as the girlfriend of a Computer Scientist with an engineer brother, I will refrain. The rivalry bewteen engineering (the dark side) and Computer Science is legendary, and a source of much amusement.charlie_elisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17501603823568062307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22685801.post-24440141789327324672007-09-24T10:03:00.000+00:002007-09-24T10:19:41.504+00:00I'm in Cardiff!<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#ffffff;">So the day has finally arrived. This is my first blog post from Cardiff University. I'm in the Magazine suite, we've had an introductory talk and I am currently listening to some of the other students chat while we wait to enrol. It's unbelievably hot in all of the rooms here! </span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#ffffff;"><br />I haven't yet got my head around the fact that I am a post graduate student now - I remember being so awed by all the clever, resourceful postgrads who helped teach us at Swansea. I even had a favourite - James Beard. He's still there. He was so encouraging when I was a first year. Obviously, I'm not studying for a doctorate or anything, so it won't be quite the same. But it is very exciting. Everyone's going for drinks now...think I may soon be the only one left down here, typing into the computer (no change there then).<br /><br />Anyway, we have a wealth of very 'sexy' (the deputy department director's words, not mine) equipment at our fingertips, and access to InDesign, and both PCs and AppleMacs in the lab, which is great, because I've not had chance to get to grips with Apples yet.<br />So I'm excited, and terrified, and feel out of my depth financially, but as I said to Timmy this morning, I worked my arse off to get on to this bloody course, and I'm not going to give it up easily.<br /><br /><br /></span>charlie_elisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17501603823568062307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22685801.post-53621475292366623872007-09-12T19:02:00.000+00:002007-09-12T19:08:35.734+00:00They won't give up on me<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#ffffff;">Well it's getting close to me starting the course. Still having problems with funding, but my dad and Dai won't let me give up yet. They both say we'll work something out. </span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#ffffff;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#ffffff;">It's good people have faith in me. :-) Even when I don't.</span>charlie_elisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17501603823568062307noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22685801.post-75107617984574299212007-09-01T13:02:00.000+00:002007-09-01T13:22:20.462+00:00And we're off!<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Finally, the day has arrived. This evening Dai and I are off to London, and tomorrow we catch the Eurostar which will take us to Paris. I've been brushing up my French, and have a workbook to do on the train. I've also been researching vegan places to eat. The BBC book we bought effectively warns vegans off trying to eat in France, and yes, I'm expecting some difficulties. But I have done my homework, and I shall attempt to prove them all wrong by having a lovely holiday which hopefully doesn't involve too much stressing about food! My strategy has been to do research: the </span><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(255, 255, 255);" href="http://www.happycow.net/">Happy Cow</a><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"> site is invaluable as ever (it helped a lot when I first went vegan and we went on holiday to Edinburgh and London, we had a lot of fun discovering new places). </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">I also plan to maintain my normal view that if it goes wrong, so long as it's not too wrong, then I won't freak out or beat myself up: at the end of the day, I do what I can to the best of my ability. I don't mind making a fuss, and making an effort to help everyone understand, but I don't want it to ruin a good evening out or someone's day. Or in this case, a holiday. I'm not a vegan to make my life difficult, it's to make the planet's life easier. That's part of the reason we're not flying (although I've never promised never to, as I still want to travel. I haven't flown for many years now though). So I will do my best, and will report back on the whole thing when I return! After a few panics this morning, now the packing is done, I'm looking forward to the trip immensely. I haven't been abroad for so long, or on a holiday for ages! Yay!</span>charlie_elisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17501603823568062307noreply@blogger.com0