You may have noticed a new blog layout. A radical change I think, but I was bored of white and green. Although they might not be as blatant, it may be perhaps the first of a few changes around here.

Last night I sort of picked my Leaver's Ball hair, the front half anyway, but my hairdresser and I agreed that we should have a trial run, so she's coming over in two weeks with armfuls of hair products and objects to experiment with. I should probably also try and work out what I'm doing makeup-wise as well, really, shouldn't I?

Grandma sent me a cheque to spend for hard-work with exams, but I don't really feel as though I've earned it yet so I'm putting it away until exams are over so that I can spend it and feel as though I deserve it. I have a couple of ideas, but nothing solid yet as to what it will be put towards.

The St Albans City 6-a-Side is coming up and I've been asked to work on the climbing wall again. I have no problems at all with this, I always have a good time and the weather is usually very good, plus, I'll be working Saturday and Sunday apparently so it'll give me lots of time to get out of the house and away from revision. Despite the fact it's on the weekend before my drama exam (blarghehsdkjflaskfj).

Doctor Who tonight, wheee!

Revision is really difficult. It's not as easy as they make it out to be, those Rory Gilmores and Hermione Grangers. Damn them. So I've moved on to Lysistrata, and I'll be doing that for the rest of the week, and then in half term I'll somehow fit some Twelfth Night in as well. I still have to read Dracula, don't I? I don't know how much longer I can put that off without a York Notes. I'm pretty confident on Macbeth though, and Paradise Lost was never going to be a piece of pie was it?

Drama drama drama. What a kerfuffle and a half you are. Thank God you're nearly over.

Also today, I went, albeit incredibly reluctantly, to the gym where I had a very strenuous work out and came home to find that all the water had been turned off in the house because we were having plumbing problems. These problems did not get sorted until a plumber arrived in the late afternoon to fix it up. I couldn't shower until it had been mended. Ergh, I know.

Revision is a bore, but what must be done must be done and I think that hopefully we'll all be thankful that we did some once results day rolls around.

In light of Jess' Ashes to Ashes write-up, which you can find here, I feel compelled to write down a few of my own thoughts and opinions regarding the finale of what was undoubtedly one of the best television series' the BBC has produced for a number of years.

I'll admit, I didn't watch the first series when it was broadcast. I'd seen Life on Mars on DVD only after people had kept raving on about how good it was. I watched the first five or so minutes of the first episode of Ashes, and when Layton appeared in the back seat of Alex's car I jumped a foot out of my skin and dismissed it as a little too jumpy for my innocent nerves. What a mistake.

Thanks to Laura, and Jess and Doug, I was warmly invited to several 80s themed get-togethers in which several packets of garibaldis were digested and numerous litres of Tizer were consumed, and Ashes to Ashes was the show to keep us entertained. It really didn't take long for me to get hooked inside the world of 1980s Fenchurch East CID.

For me, the first series was excellent. Unsure of whether they were to have another series comissioned, the creators set about producing eight episodes of television gold and wrapping it all up in an explosive and emotional bundle at the end. Series two, I felt, wasn't as good. It was good, but not good, you know? I didn't like Martin Summers, but you weren't meant to anyway and throughout the series the relationships between Alex and Gene and Chris and Shaz really developed into something worth watching. When the final episode of S2 was screened, and that cliffhanger was broadcast, I was left wondering quite how I was going to manage waiting another year to find out what was really going on, and what the answers were.

And then series three rolled around, to much excitement from the aforementioned Ashes stans, promising to answer all the questions that bugged us and finally telling us who Gene Hunt really was. For the first part of the series, I did begin to tire of the constant appearances of the ghostly copper with no explanation or development as to how or why he's haunting Alex. But the Gene/Alex dynamic was fabulous and Keats gradually began to generate feelings of hate inside me for him. Discipline and complaints? An office "...hotter than a Mallorcan minge" as Ray put it? There was always something dodgy about him.

A two-part finale ended the series. Following the death of Sgt. Viv James, the team were in disarray and it seemed that Keats was winning in his attempts to turn Ray, Chris, Shaz and Alex against Gene. I read a great theory somewhere that the characters were following a 'Wizard of Oz' theme. Chris wanted intelligence, or a brain, Ray wanted a heart and a Shaz wanted courage. Alex wore red shoes, or ruby slippers throughout S3, and Gene was the wizard who could grant them their desires. This made sense.

I don't really have any strong religious beliefs. If there is a place the soul goes after death then I'm happy to believe that, and if that place is a police station governed by a mysoginistic, racist, arrogant yet strangely attractive and dynamic DCI, then that seems good to me. Of course, I'd have to become a police officer first, as it turned out that this police station is in fact a sort of purgatory for police officers who died with issues needing answers.

And Gene Hunt? Well. Watching as Alex dug up with her hands what was revealed as his shallow grave, meaning he was the ghostly copper, and that this purgatory was his domain was not only harrowingly upsetting but allowed a sense of relief to wash over me. Finally, we knew who Gene Hunt was. He'd been dead the whole time, creating this place where he guides police officers to their eventual 'Heaven'.

Remembering that this place isn't real caused Gene to regress into that young man state, where he couldn't even stand after being kicked about by Keats. Alex pleading through whispers for him to 'get up' really marked a change in their status. And Alex choosing to stay with Gene whilst the others followed Keats truly showed what their relationship was about.

I said to Caitlin earlier, the kiss was much anticipated and great to see, but the circumstances in which it took place made it less 'yay!' and more sobbing sadness. Alex volunteering to stay with Gene, so as to stop him being 'alone' was heartbreaking.

All in all, in my opinion, a perfect ending. Gene Hunt, is and always will be, the Guv.

I have had such an awesome two days. Seriously.

Yesterday, I went into London with Dad and we did a tour of the Globe theatre and the exhibition inside. We were late to the tour, and a lady had to take us down the back way (ooerr) and made us join onto the group who had already been told about photos etc. so we missed nothing important. I learnt about prostitutes, a recurring theme when it comes to going out with my father. Inside the exhibition there was some helpful information on Middle Temple Hall and an account of a first viewing of Twelfth Night that will be helpful, as well as your clothes, props and stuff.

We were there to see Macbeth (you see, combining Drama and English revision in one day) and it was really, really good. I really enjoyed it and it was definiatly one of my favourite theatre-going experiences of the last few years. It was bloody and gory and funny and generally awesome.

We then went for dinner in one of my favourite spots to eat in London, the Strada facing St Paul's and the front steps. I like it because of a fandom reason that if I put on here, Mother will mutter 'oh, for God's sake' out loud. Sherlock Holmes 2009 is all I'll say.

Today I went to town with Mother and we went to Carluccio's for coffee and I had the thingy with three mugs, one each of coffee, chocolate and cream and a plate of biscuits between us. I got Neil a birthday card and some black jeans from New Look (the jeans were for me) after spotting Laura in the library. I went to get a Dracula York Notes from Waterstones, and saw Caitlin but you looked busy so I didn't want to disturb you. They didn't have the book, by the way. And then Mother took me to Clarks where she bought me the most gorgeous pair of boots I have ever seen in my entire life, and that I intend to wear even though it's hotter in England at the moment than it is in either LA or Johannesburg.

Ashes to Ashes was incredible on Friday night, and I'm so so so sad it's over. Laura and I (depressingly) ended up sobbing on msn whilst discussing it. Keats was freaky ass and bloody scary and Keeley Hawes killed me with her acting and the Gene Genie was perfection and, well, it's going to take a lot for the BBC to trump that hour of TV, let me tell you.

Tomorrow, I take Mutti to the Earthworks open day and attempt to open my Lysistrata, which has remained on the corner of my desk, ignored, since study leave began. I did finish Frankenstein today though, which is something.

EDIT: Oh, I forgot to say: I'VE DROPPED A JEANS SIZE! THAT'S 2 INCHES!

Oh hey there. I haven't blogged since Saturday but then again I have been a busy little bee so excuse me. That was an unintentional rhyme.

So yeah. On/off since Saturday I've been feeling a little funny. What started on Saturday as a total lack of energy and a stomach ache and headache seemed to get better by the end of the weekend, but on Monday I stopped wearing a belt as I thought it might be a cause for the stomach ache and yesterday I was really tired all day. I went to town and literally could not summon the energy needed to get out of the car until I remembered why I was in town in the first place. I seem fine today though, so maybe it was just a bug or something. I have energy!

I bought Sherlock Holmes on DVD yesterday. It seems as though they're being weird about DVD distribution, as the two-disc version is available to buy in Holland and Poland and presumably northern Europe, but not in the UK. So mine is a one-disc, but I don't mind all that much. I re-watched it last night and it was fab-u-lous. It reminds me of Christmas which is weird, and shopping in Homebase and painting my bedroom and sleeping in the back room and rehearsals and all that stuff. Bizarro.

I've also been doing a close analysis of Frankenstein. I've done five chapters a day, except for today where I did ten as I won't have time tomorrow. I have quotes and all sorts. Unfortunately, the more I do, the more I realise it is a perfect comparitive text for Paradise Lost. I intend to do the same thing for Dracula, so we'll see how it goes. Essentially, I've actually been revising! Which is madness if you know me at all!

Tomorrow I am off to the Globe to see Macbeth and then it's the last ever Ashes to Ashes in the evening. What are we going to do without the Gene Genie?!

I feel like pants this morning, and I have no idea why. The assumption that it was last night's chicken dinner was flattened when Neil said he wasn't feeling at all dodgy. I am feeling crap for no legitimate reason and it's not nice. Anyway, this isn't why I wanted to blog.

I finished school on Thursday. This hasn't quite sunk in yet, probably because I still have Media lessons for two weeks and revision sessions (lolol, my attendance to these is yet to be confirmed) and actual exams and then coming in next year for help with my personal statement and stuff.

But you know, no more actual Beaumont lessons in which I do an excited dance or shout 'DETONATE THE REALITY BOMB' or Laura jumps out of her bag pretending to be Dracula or Michael Ojo hurls himself head first into a stack of chairs. Sad times.

So we went for a Nandos to celebrate and it was good fun and typically yummy.

Because double English isn't funny enough already:




Oh, the fun you can have with your brand new leavers hoodie.
I've had California Love by Tupac stuck in my head since yesterday, but I'm not complaining.

I'm going to see Neil's AL4 theatre thing tonight and planning that Drama question Rolo wanted us to do and had a massive paddy because none of us had done it ("You have no idea how hard the world is out there do you? You all live in your little St Albans bubbles and people are surpassing you into university as I speak") yadda yadda yadda. Apparently Sheps just had a massive go at the Drama staff and that's why they were in stupid stress mode.

Today's lunch talk consisted of breakfast time rat-beating, The Human Centipede movie and dodgy goings on involving bins and faces. Probably best not to ask.

I decided against the gym today. I feel crap about it because this week has been abismal regime-wise and I really should try and find something that gives me a bit of motivation. I'm trying to convince myself that by doing what was essentially four days worth of exercise in two days, I finished yesterday but that's a stupid thing to say, especially as I went to Anne's last night and ate two Twirls and some Haribo and Kettle Chips and finished up Laura's noodles from the Chinese. NICE WORK, GENIE.

So I came home and on the way back my legs went a bit weird and wibbly and (trying not to be too graphic here) I had seriously bad cramps on top of that. Figuring it wouldn't be a good idea to attempt an hour's worth of pumping iron and running like a crazy lady, I just decided to have a bath and see how that worked. Very well, apparently. I found some olive oil bath lotion from L'Occitane and it made the tub smell good and my skin is now very soft and I rather wish I hadn't used the entire bottle. It was only a small one.

I've spent the rest of the afternoon trying to find a Prom dress. I found quite a nice, simple navy blue one that would double up for a gorgeous dinner dress for Corfu in Anthropologie for £88.00 and I figure that might fit snugly into Mother's budget. We'll see.

Also, I put on a pin-striped shirt this morning that I haven't dared put on since I realised that wearing it was causing serious button strainage issues three months ago, and it fitted perfectly. That was a nice little surprise moment. Needless to say, I took it off and stuck with the old t-shirt and cardigan combo that I'm favouring for smart-casual at the moment. Typico.

Chips for dinner (ahahaha - what weight loss regime?!) and Ashes to Ashes tonight and then bed.

(Btw, I don't know why I'm doing all these long posts, but it just seems logical to try and write a bit more like an adult.)

34 Days Until The FIFA World Cup 2010 Kicks Off!

I am getting really quite excited. Here, have the official World Cup song.

Evening. I'm going to vote soon, how exciting. Being considered an adult is a very interesting experience. Today I've been doing very housewifey things, and I don't mean that in a particularly derogatory way, I just can't think of another way of saying jobs-that-you-usually-do-in-the-day-to-make-the-house-look-nice. Other than chores, but that's American and aimed at lazy teenagers. Oh, wait. No, actually, it's okay - I'm an adult now.

I've also, for some mad reason, ramped up my gym workout routines to a level that causes me to have to walk home slowly and sit down with a bottle of water half-way and pretend that I'm actually watching empty bags of crisps drift beautifully across a grassy landscape as opposed to not collapsing with exhaustion. And, as an ex-P.E. student, all I can really think is 'I shouldn't be sitting down, the build up of lactic acid in my legs will surely result in some painful cramps the minute I stand up'. So it's 20 minutes of treadmill at 8.5 speed and then a weight-loss specific programme on the cross trainer for 30 and then another kilo up in weights after that.

I'm planning to try and find my way to Sainsbury's via the Alban Way as Laura tells me that it's possible, and get some ingredients to try a variety of what the health websites call 'Vitamin Weight Loss Gross Looking But Apparently Delicious If You Have No Tastebuds Or Sense Of Smell...Juice'. Actually, it's kale juice, which seems to be a type of cabbage. MmmMmmm.

Ta ra, dears. Mother's home soon and I must make a pot of tea.

"You guys look like two seals fighting over a grape."

"Tastes like coconut...and metal!"

I saw Iron Man 2 again today, and if possible, I think I enjoyed it even more the second time. I've also been doing Drama and English revision and though I've been doing it for the majority of the past two days, I don't feel like anything has gone in.

OH, BUMSY.

You catch me on this, the Saturday of the Bank Holiday weekend, during a day which is jam-packed with fun and japes. This morning, I woke up first, and, heading into the kitchen to make scrambled eggs and a strong coffee, I was stopped in my tracks by a mess of dark feathers at the bottom of the stairs. Muttering an 'Oh God' to myself, I proceeded to step carefully into the hallway, unsure of what I'd find. Turning to the left, I spotted the latest little victim of the cats, a bluetit. Quite a clean kill, I thought, and I was thankful for it as it meant I didn't have to fetch a cloth and cleaning stuff to scrub birdy bloodstains out of the cream carpet.

So I sorted that, or not, as Mum just announced Dead Birdy has disappeared from the dustpan by the back door. I hope Dad has buried it, otherwise Lord knows where we'll find it next.

Anyway, so I did that and then went to Morries where I got the new Empire (which is excellent and features a full account and pictures from the Jameson Awards night, including a gorgeous b&w photo of Jude Law and Gwyneth Paltrow, which I may have to wall). In other news, the Iron Man 2 score isn't released until JULY 7th. This is vair irritating as I won't have it to go to Corfu with. Which is major bumsy as I was really looking forward to that.

This afternoon I am being taught how to repair bike wheel punctures and going to Harpenden to buy curtain material. Even though I haven't told Mother this (she'll read it here anyway), I'm quite happy to just leave the curtains as they are as a last memento to my old room. I suppose new is new though and gift horses and all that, or whatever. What the hell is a gift horse anyway? All I know about them is from that song from the crappy Trestle Christmas fiasco we had to do a couple of years ago.

EDIT: I got new curtains. They are awesome and stripy and super cool. Out with the old, in with the new!

Spare ribs and Doctor Who tonight, so, you know, silver lining and all that. Oh, and has anyone seen that new John Lewis advert? You can find the song HERE. A lot of people have said it makes them very emotional, but sadly, the closest I've got to tears (for media consumption reasons) this week is during Iron Man 2 or watching the brand new Audi R8 V10 Spyder advert on telly. Pathetic, really.