A month in summary form

As I commence writing there is but half an hour until my dinner date with The Usual Suspects. Laura, Dania and Thijs are coming round to my, rather bedraggled, flat and we're skyping in the absent pair (Sonja and Leonoor). It's not really enough time to write even a short post but, as I've been absent for so long I felt I should really try to do something.

So, what has happened since I last wrote here? Well, firstly, the lovely Zoë came out once again but this time aiming to explore the museums. Sadly for both of us, it was right in the middle of finals time and I couldn't really spend much time with her. I think we both enjoyed ourselves regardless. We did take time out to go to the Midwinter Fair again and, to be quite honest, that has got to be my favourite festival of the season.

With the Zoë

The evening Zoë left was another social time, this time with the normal lot as we hung around and I painted Sonja's nails. It appears that, if I drop out of university for whatever reason I have a secondary career lined up. I also got to see my delightful neighbour Robbert before I left for England for Christmas and he left to study in Singapore, on exchange. However will I manage without his faultless optimism for a whole semester!

Sonja didn't look this bored the whole time, I swear!

As for Christmas, naturally, I spent it with my parents. We actually spent this Christmas in Wales in this tiny old cottage. It was owned by someone who was from quite a historic family and had worked as a antiques dealer so, as you can imagine, it was full of little bits and bobs to fascinate me. Did I mention we had to drive over a mountain track and through several fields (sans roads) to get there? The first time I've been grateful for there not being snow at Christmas!

Christmas dinner

Actually, this was probably the best Christmas I've had in a long long time. For that matter, it was probably one of the least stressful years my family has had in a long time and I guess it showed in the festivities. It was really relaxed, really pleasant. A lot of time together, a lot of good food, a lot of painting.

As for New Year, that was lovely in quite a different way. We went spent it in a local restaurant (in England) and had a thoroughly wonderful evening. Again, there was a lot of good food, good company, a bit of dancing. My father helped the staff pour the champagne for everyone - somehow that's become a tradition at this place - and that kind of meant we ended up with almost a full magnum on our table at the end of the toast... couldn't let it go to waste!!

This photo was taken before any alcohol was consumed, in my defense!

And then it was back to Amsterdam (which is honestly starting to feel like home) and to my second German intensive period. I've got to be honest and say that I am not enjoying it. I'm naturally very shy and use my language ability to cover that up... take away my language ability through making me speak in another language and it is hell for me. Not to mention the fact that, in the six months since the last intensive I have forgotten everything. That said, i still adore the German language and I am a quarter of the way through. Just another three weeks to survive. I may not be online or blogging while I fight with speed learning but oh well, I shall get through!

And that, ladies and gentlemen, is my speed recount of the last month. Wow, I managed it in circa. twenty minutes. If only I could write that quickly normally!

I'm too young to be 21!

Credit where credit is due, the title is courtesy of something The Best Friend said a little while back but with which I can connect on a deep level!

Liquid lunch in Hooray's 

I've actually always hated my birthdays. I mean that pretty literally too, even as a child I dreaded them. I don't like the fact that they mark the passage of time in such a final way. The day before is the last day of a whole year while the day itself is just a continuation of time, in my mind. Weirdly, I don't have this problem with new year...

However, no matter how much I dislike the idea of birthdays in their own right, I do rather like the fact that I get to do special things.. This year was extra special for me because my birthday feel on the Saturday, thus ensuring that I could indeed go home for the first time this semester. My parents met me with a banner as I came through arrivals which was sweet but also my personal idea of hell. I just don't know how to respond in those situations but I'm pleased that they did it nevertheless and my room is looking rather festive with the banner strung between the book cases.

At The Fish, and yes, that is a
'Foxy Lady' to the right of the image!

As for the day of my birthday itself, I chose to go into Stratford-upon-avon because, to put it frankly, it's a lovely town and quite easy to kill time in, and in the most pleasant of ways. I also wanted to get a few books from the Royal Shakespeare Company shop. The latter idea didn't work out quite as well as I'd hoped because they hadn't got what I was looking for in stock but still got some fascinating looking reads so there's no real complaints there.

I also have to admit that I have found what may well be one of the best ice-cream shops ever, Hooray's on the High Street. Seriously, Dania would have been thoroughly in her element. Also worth checking out their cocktail menu... lunch time drinking is perfectly acceptable on such occasions!

Naturally, I also went out for dinner with my parents. We went to a place called The Fish which is quite seriously one of the nicest places I know. The decoration is super quirky, or just plain odd, and the food is simply divine. Not to mention the staff who are lovely.

And then it was home for cake!

Not for facebook

Glastonbury Medieval Fayre 2015

Held in the Abbey grounds over Easter weekend, Glastonbury Medieval Fayre makes for an enjoyable way to spend a day and this is exactly what we did yesterday.

There's a very good reason I don't get many photos of the locations of events.
That reason is my dad.

We decided to go on Saturday for various reasons, not least to ensure that I could get a proper night's sleep tonight as I'm flying home tomorrow. We probably didn't pick the best day for weather as the sun only made an appearance as the day was winding up but oh well, it's England!

All in all, it was a thoroughly delightful day. In fact, it seemed a lot stronger than last year's event. Perhaps this was because my remembering to pack a telephoto lens meant that we had some targeted things to focus on but I do genuinely think it was because the event was stronger this year.

Perhaps the highlight for spectators was the show performed by the Knights of the Damned Stunt team. They reenact a jousting tournament with great skill and a fair amount of theatrics. I've actually seen them a few times now, at various events, and have not grown tired of their performances. Indeed, we watched both shows on the Saturday to enable me to get some decent photos (a success) and both were different, high energy, and thoroughly entertaining!

The main battle is probably the focus of the day as various reenactment groups gather together to reenact a rather anachronistic battle - both Vikings and Napoleonic (I think) gunners were present, to give you some idea. It’s rather entertaining to watch the combination of people who don’t seem like they’re really into it and those who are about ready to tear each other’s arms off beating each other up in the name of history. That said, and for all the comedy included in the commentary and performance aspects, it’s really easy to see how chaotic a battle really would be. This was a (kinda) choreographed reenactment… imagine the reality whereby people were fighting for their lives amidst the crowd and noise. It’s something that’s hard to picture when our ideas of historic warfare come from a mixture of dusty history books and overly polished Hollywood films.

And that, of course, is the beauty, and the importance, of reenactment and of events like this one. It’s easy to teach people the information given in historical tomes. It’s hard to bring that history to life and to re-imbue it with life. Reenactment does just that. It takes the scholarship and makes it into something real, tangible, understandable, human.

Bonus photo of the most stunning sunset-ish moment.
Couldn't resist popping to the sea on the way home!

I survived Easter ;-)

So far, so good.

In all fairness, I had a wonderful weekend. Although I don't celebrate Easter as a religious festival, I
do celebrate with with my family but in a kinda secular way.

I had the bright idea to make hot cross buns for Good Friday. My first ever attempt and it went disastrously wrong. I actually managed to pull a muscle while kneading the dough, it was so dense. In the end, the result was actually quite edible but not what you or I would deem a hot cross bun but rather a rock cake with some kind of decoration on top. I have to say, the recipe was written by someone who is from a country where they don't eat these buns so I'm not sure he really knew what the finished result was supposed to be, and, anyway, the dough was supposed to be machine kneaded.

I get points for trying though, right?

The Knights of the Damned
jousting display team

Saturday was a more successful day with a trip to the wonderful Glastonbury and a visit to the Glastonbury Medieval Fayre. This was a really nice way to spend the day, especially as we were blessed with some of the best weather of the year so far. The event itself took place in the Abbey grounds, and this was the first time I'd actually been there. We've always refused to visit before as we don't think that people should be forced to pay to visit a site of religious importance. That said, my family are usually pretty fair with donating but we firmly believe that religious places should be 100% free to visit. Anyway, I'm going off on one here! The point being, I was pleased to get the chance to look around!

The event itself was well worth visiting and we quite happily spent the day there. The main emphasis was on the 'living history' aspects but there were plenty of activities, particularly for children. My parents kept dragging me away from various musical instruments as they're currently trying to talk me out of buying a harp and a hurdy-gurdy, both of which were present and both of which I cannot afford.

Probably one of the main highlights was a performance by the jousting display team 'Knights of the Damned'. I've seen them perform at a few events now, and my father works the same festivals as they do sometimes, so I can say that their performances are of a consistently high quality.

A historically accurate setting, I'm sure you'll agree!

Easter Sunday was a quiet affair. For some reason, my father decided to buy me two Easter eggs and my mother bought me one and various boxes of chocolate. I mean, I'm not complaining but since when did we celebrate Easter in such an extravagant style. Interestingly, since starting these tablets I've been able to eat a lot more lactose without feeling ill so it may well be that a lot of my lactose intolerance was caused by underlying stuff. Again, I am not complaining!

I don't really know what happened to Monday but today I finalised my acceptance of the offer to study at AUC and received a new camera lens in the post. Incidentally, the lens I've just bought is the one I could have done with to get better photos at the medieval fayre but that's timing for you!

To see more of my photos from the Glastonbury Medieval Fayre click here.

What a week!

The last few days have been really lovely as my 'really busy week' concluded with the visit from my penpal, and friend, Annelies.

You can't visit Birmingham without having your photo taken here!

She arrived on Thursday and we spent the afternoon wandering around a little bit of Birmingham and exploring the jewellery quarter a little bit. Of course, I hardly know my way around the jewellery quarter as I've only been there once so I didn't really manage to show it off but oh well! That wasn't the important bit!

Friday we went to The Black Country Living Museum which is a museum chronicling life in the industrial area around Dudley. Although it didn't seem as 'alive' as other times I've visited it was great to look around again. I went to this museum many, many times as a child but hadn't visited for a good five years or so. It was also a good place to challenge Annelies' English because goodness knows a strong Black Country accent (and dialect) is hard for even a native speaker at times.

Yesterday was another day in Birmingham. First we went to the new(ish) library, somewhere I hadn't managed to visit since it opened. My goodness, what a library! I really cannot wait to go back there and actually borrow some books. It's huge. I think it's the largest regional library in Europe or something so I guess I should have expected big but my so many books... what a dream! And how exciting to have those resources available for research! Ahem.

So big. So many books. Happy Havanah.

Later we mooched around the shopping areas and also visited the Bullring markets. I was a bit sad that I couldn't find a sheeps head this time but it was still good fun to walk through the stalls with butchers (and other salesmen but it's the butchers that stand out) attempting to sell their wares. We also spent a bit of time in the Selfridges food hall. For some reason, I've not spent a lot of time there although I've been in the store for makeup and clothing. I'll be revisiting the food hall, no doubt!

Anyway, today Annelies went on to London for a few days and, I hope, is having a wonderful time down there. I was so happy to meet her and I think we got on really well so hopefully we'll see each other again soon when I'm out in the Netherlands (or when she comes over here).

Now, I'm going to enjoy catching up on my sleep!

Rain, friends, and cakes

What a couple of days!

I managed to go down to Devon for a few days to meet up with Nené and give her the present I’d made for her 18^th birthday and also to get my Extended Project dissertation off Haydon.

It was so, so good to be back, if rather strange. My mother and I actually stayed in the hotel that we lived in most of the time when we were going through our nomadic stage. I cannot tell you how strange that was. The staff were really happy to see us, which was lovely. The new manager (well, technically she was away on maternity when we were there and has since returned so she’s not really new!) seemed to know a lot about us so guessing we’re pretty notorious hehe

I might not have been able to photograph
Nené but I did photograph cakes!

Meeting Nené on the Monday was quite wonderful. I didn’t manage to take any photos because it was bucketing down with rain (incidentally, I found out that my boots leak) but I don’t really care because it’s been so long since I last saw her! We mooched a lot, chatted a lot. It was lovely. It was also nice to be with someone who appreciates my musical theatre obsession interest. Hopefully it won't be long until I get to see her again.

It was also great to see Haydon again, having not seen him since I finished college. Of course, he insisted on buying me drinks (one day I will manage to buy him a drink!) It seems like he's getting on pretty well even if his university are causing havoc. He also brought me down my dissertation which he kindly picked up for me and put up with me reading all the marker's comments while we were supposed to be socialising. What a lovely chap!

They're heavier than they look!

As Haydon and I were wrapping up I got a bit of a surprise as he said he was going to go and get a tattoo done... rather him than me! Anyway, I faced my fears and actually walked into a tattoo studio just to see Tegan, another college friend, for a brief moment as she is now doing a  tattoo apprenticeship (and did his tattoo in the end but there was no way I was hanging around for that!)

The drive home was pretty hectic. It was sad to see how weather bashed my old area of the country has been and, naturally, the weather made the drive a bit tricksy. Nature couldn't help but send a reminder that, while she might be a bit harsh at times, she's an amazing, beautiful thing.

A day of little gifts, preparations, and music shop annoyance.

So, today I finally received something that I had been waiting for.

Peg paste bought from Hobgoblin Music's website

This little pot of gunk might just be the key to getting my 'cello in a playable condition again and, considering I've been working at doing just that for some months now, I'm quite excited. 

I first ordered some peg paste off 'DJM music'. Don't. I paid for next day delivery and got an email today stating that my order has just been dispatched. It's a week after I placed that order. Naturally, I've sent them a rather strongly worded email demanding a full refund and that they arrange to pick up their item from me which it eventually gets here. To add insult to injury, it's been posted first class royal mail not even as a next day parcel!

Anyway, this wasn't supposed to be a rant about them (trust me, I could go on!) but I do want to comment on Hobgoblin. Hobgoblin are a chain of folk music shops in England, with worldwide shipping, and I must admit that I love them. I have visited their Birmingham store quite a few times now and found the staff to be both welcoming and knowledgeable, which is rather rare in music shops, it seems. I ordered my peg paste from them, online, at 12:30 a.m. yesterday. It arrived today. I paid for standard shipping, which was a bit steep in price but that's Royal Mail's fault really and am really rather pleased with their service. The prices of their instruments and accessories are always more than fair and the quality of their items has always been high in the past so I have no doubt that I have received an all round good service here.

In short, DJM music bad, Hobgoblin music good.

I also received a little gift off of my mother today in the form of a diary for next year. I hate buying diaries for the next year because they're so expensive and at a time of year when money is tight anyway so I'm really pleased that I don't have to go through that pain this year! Actually, mother bought the diary for herself when we last visited Glastonbury but has since decided that it's probably not big enough for her. I don't mind getting pretty hand-me-downs!

It still smells of Glastonbury incense. I keep having a casual sniff!

Other than that, I'm getting ready for tomorrow which will see me going off into the sunset... ahem... going to a holiday cottage for Christmas. So much to do!

Christmas Song of the Day

'Baby, It's Cold Outside' as performed in Glee

Okay, I'm not a huge Glee fan but I did watch the first and (most of the) second season. Although I wasn't a great fan of the plot a few of the arrangements really did catch my fancy, this one being one of them. In fact, I bought the album just for this song, disliking the rest of the tracks!

An eventful few days

On Monday, after singing, I went down to Exeter to collect my exam certificates from college. It was really strange to be back in the old building, walking the same old routes, yet without one familiar face along the way. I can't say I miss college but I do miss some of the people who I met there very much.

There's something slightly anticlimactic about
holding the certificates but all the same!

I also spent most of the day yesterday in Exeter itself with my mother doing some Christmas shopping and generally lurking. First stop was John Lewis to look at a DSLR camera that I'm hoping to receive for Christmas. After a fair old while of photography with compact cameras only I've given in and decided to invest in a 'proper' camera. I'll be honest and say that I'm still not 100% happy with it but my aims are getting increasingly ambitious and I'm getting more and more frustrated with the limitations of the compact camera. Anyway, this wasn't supposed to be a camera rant!

I was especially happy to see that the Christmas Market was up and running on the Cathedral Green, especially as I had read it opened on the 1st of December! It was a lovely surprise. I was also remembered by a couple of the stall holders... I must have spent way too long there last year! It was so lovely to see people having fun together. One college aged girl walked past saying to her friends "I can't help it, I just love Christmas!" while a young boy ran up to a statue of Santa and tried to take a gift from his bag. There was an all round excitement and that is what makes Christmas so special.

I forgot to take photos at the market so have a shoddy
photo of a half eaten cake I bought there instead ;-)

When darkness fell mother and I sat down in a hastily constructed bar tent (which was blasting Michael Jackson songs) and had a glass of Glühwein each. You can blame 'Tascha for that because she was the one who started us drinking it! It was here that I logged into facebook, meaning to message 'Tascha although I never did, and found the following in my update feed:

Post by RASTABAN.

Well, that was unexpected. I write reviews here for my friends or for my own reference and never expect them to be read by anyone else, least of all the person/band I was writing about. I was so touched by what was written though and say, yet again, that this just goes to show that Rastaban are not only a band full of wonderful musicians but lovely people too. If you still haven't listened to them go and listen now!

The other thing that happened that day was on the way back to the car I stopped and chatted to a homeless gentleman. This was something I used to end up doing quite a lot in Exeter and I forgot how worthwhile it was. In the end my mother gave him some money and he gave her an origami crane that he had made. As we walked away he shouted after us: "God bless!". We'll probably never meet again but for those few minutes our lives crossed and it was beautiful.

A joyous week

Well, I have to find some way to keep both Teddy and
myself amused when staying in Travelodges, right?

The last week has been simply wonderful. The (undisclosed) family issues are ongoing but the events of the last seven days have managed to prevail and I have had a fantastic time. Happy October is winning ;-)

As I wrote a few days ago, I managed to see Reckless Love again last week, which was a wonderful evening but just as importantly, if not more so, I got to meet up with Kim and Ola. Although I had only met them once before (and had only briefly met Ola, in reality), it was wonderful to see them again. Kim had been exceptionally kind to Aimee and I last year (I don't think that she knows how to be anything but kind!) and both she and Ola are great fun so that was a great start to my 'social week'.

However, it remained special as I met Pam, a Thai penpal of mine, who is now living and studying in Exeter. Friday was the first time for us to meet face to face and I can only say that I am so pleased that I have met her. She is sweet and lovely, although of course I already knew that! I was also really pleased that she is settling into life in Exeter, and in England generally. Can't wait to see her again!

Pam and I by Exeter Cathedral. Taken on
her phone by some other girls. :-)

And then, here's the bonus, my mother decided to book an extra night in Exeter, Lloyd phoned me randomly and we arranged a brief meet up too as he just so happened to be back from university. What a case of right place right time! He also introduced me to Nandos and I can say that it gets my seal of approval.

I'm now back in Birmingham, for a while, and attempting to get some paintings done ready to sell. Problem is that I keep getting distracted and painting things for myself (i.e. scrapbooking). The light in the Travelodge room is too bad to paint now so I have an excuse to be blogging ;-)

Until later!