Just got back from seeing Rise Against at the Mean Fiddler. I haven't really heard a lot of their stuff before, I actually only really knew one of their songs, Swing Life Away, but it was good all the same, and Tom had a really good time. We also got to see Ben and John too which was cool.

Tomorrow I'm working from 12:00 until 23:15, so will probably not have enough time to post as I also need to go shopping. Hopefully at some point they will put me on screen 2, I really want to see Snowcake and that is the only thing on at Swiss Cottage that I haven't seen now!

So my next post will probably be on Friday just before Jen, Penny and Clare come to visit, who I'm really looking forward to seeing again, but I haven't planned what we are actually going to do at all! I'm sure I'll work something out...

Another fun day off today. Stayed and had a nice lie-in for a while today just surfing the net and Tom managed to cook us both some pasta for lunch, which was nice.

Then we went out into London, saw Tom's uni (UEL) which is massive compared to mine and we had a drink in the student cafe. Then we explored around the Tower of London for a bit before going to Swiss Cottage park for a picnic and then to the cinema to see A Scanner Darkly. It was... different... an animated conspiracy film about drugs in the future, but was very complicated and difficult to keep on track of things.. Let's just say I'm glad it was free.



Then off we went to Leicester Square and Tom persuaded me to go to the casino. I soon found out why he wanted to go in - he won £13 overall. I lost £15... oh well! I had fun all the same. Mel, I promise to take you one day - just try not to lose everything!!

There have been some horrible rumours at work - there are lots of new starters at the minute, me being one of them, but apparently, the cinema only usually keep two of us, then get rid of the rest after the probation period. At first I was very worried about this. What if I was fired? Then neither me, nor Tom would have a job. But then, a miracle happened - they made me poster girl. I am now in charge of all promotional material, which is usually a supervisor's duty, so I suppose they must like me - so I think my job is safe. It has really pissed off some of the other new starters though - some of them have been there over a month, then I stroll on in and steal their job after 3 shifts. Oh well, as Kiddie says "its a dog eat situation".

Since then, I've decided that working at the cinema is quite cool - mainly due to all the free films I get to see...

Last week at work I got to see The Sentinel, which is about a plot within the Secret Service to kill the president. I thought it was quite good, but as always with these high suspense mystery films the acting was slighty over done and there seems to be a slight twinge of propaganda about it.

I also saw Volver, a subtitled Spanish film starring Penelope Cruz as a grieving daughter, whose mother, after burning to death years ago, come back to help resolve the problems occuring around her family. This is a truly moving film, and I urge you all not to be put off by the subtitles. This is easily the best acting I have seen for years.

We went to Leicester Square on Friday night to see You, Me and Dupree, which, whatever raziel79 says, isn't that bad. Yes, predictable, but still a nice easy to watch film with a feel-good ending. Then me and Tom went to a 50's diner called Ed's where they sell the best milkshakes in the world. I had a strawberry shake and Tom had an oreo cookie shake, which he has barely stopped talking about since.



Then yesterday my whole family came over and we went to Pizza Hut and then saw The Wicker Man, which, is horrible. I thought it was really good to begin with, and then the ending was just awful. I literally left the cinema in tears, I think that might be because I'm a little more stressed and on edge recently though.

Today I worked, and because it was a day shift on the quietest day of the week, I got to watch 2 films and didn't have to do very much else! I saw Little Miss Sunshine, which is about a dysfunctional family making it across America in time to enter the daughter into a beauty pageant. Then I saw Right at Your Door, which is no where near as funny. It is about a series of chemical bombs going off in LA and centres on one man who has to seal himself into his house, whilst his wife is missing outside. It has quite a clever ending, but still, the majority i quite depressing and I really wouldn't recommend it.

For more in-depth reviews I shall be updating the_film_club soon.

So until next time - live the dream!

I've been offline for the past few days because our landlord had an overdue bill for the internet, and so they cut us off. Great way to start off in our new pad, but its all cool now.

It's all been going great - but not without a few hiccups of course.

The lock on the front door is so stiff I can barely (if at all) open the door, I lost my keys down the bathroom sink, the fire alarm kept going off (one night at 3am) and both me and Tom are hideous cooks (I can't scramble eggs, and Tom burns toast).

Never mind!

My travel skills have also improved a lot - this time last year I could never have made it around the tube alone, now I think I've got the hang of it. Even if Tom doesn't think so - he's taken to habit of walking behind me in my shadow letting me decide the direction we're supposed to take next. It's kinda creepy sometimes, like having a stalker lol. One day I am gonna have a mugger following me or something and just think that its Tom!

Above is one of my most frequently used stations, Westminster. That's the station where I change to get on the jubilee line to university and work.

Work has been going ok. It's a much different set-up to Cineworld, and they don't seem to have any formal training, they kinda dump you in the deep end, wait till you make a mistake, and then tell you what you've done wrong! The other thing thats weird is that its even more quiet than Cineworld, which I thought could never happen - they had a small rush at the end of the evening last night and all the staff were shocked and proclaimed, "Isn't it so busy!" I felt like saying, "No..." but oh well, at least it will be easy.

I also got an employee film card yesterday, so I can see as many films at any Odeon in the UK that I want and I have 12 tickets per quarter(3 months) for family and friends, so me and Tom are going to Kensington Odeon on Friday, and then as soon as something decent comes out at Leicester Square in the big screen we're gonna go there.

My next shift is today, so I better hurry up and get ready. I'm working from 13:00 to 23:15, so have to leave here at about 12:15ish. It's quiet a long shift I suppose, but I need the money of course. Hopefully they'll put me back on screens today and so I can just sit and watch the movies hehe.

See you soon!

Well today is my last day at Activity Superstore.

Besides the nagging customers, the annoying journey to work and the frequent buzzing in my ears I have quite enjoyed working here. I will definitly miss the people very much, and hope they all keep in touch.

Thanks for making my GAP year interesting guys. Wishing you all luck for the future, whatever you do.

Mindy (aka The Machine)
xxx

On Tuesday, because my Mum wanted me to stay in and pack, I wasn't able to go to bowling in Harlow with Penny and the gang as usual. But last night, kinda made up for it by taking Kay bowling.

It felt really good actually - I won everything! Both games of bowling, three games of pool and a game of air hockey. Champion!!!

Will miss Kiddie, I don't really talk to her all that much at home, and we argue a lot, but 'twill be weird not to have her around to annoy anymore. Or borrow her clothes. Mind you, she was really sweet last night, and gave me one of her tops that I really like :)

Bye bye Kay
xxxx

Having a good bank holiday weekend so far.



Had to work Saturday, but it was ok because they are always really easy. Then in the evening me and Tom stayed in and watched Half-light starring Demi Moore. It's quite good, but because I'm a wimp I did spend most of the evening hiding behind tom.

Then, yesterday me, Tom and my family all went to the beer festival at The Gate Pub in Sawbridgeworth. It was quite good, even though neither me nor Tom drink real ale lol. There was a bit of drama with Kiddie, but its all sorted now I think. She kept disappearing to meet up with some guy at another pub, who my mum seems to think is a pimp. Don't ask me to explain, because I don't really understand it much myself!

In the evening me and Tom stayed in again and watched Initial D, its a Japanese film about boy racers, I didnt want to see it, but Tom had been wanting to watch it for weeks so I gave in. Oh well, at least he bribed me with toffee popcorn. I love popcorn!

Got to go, I'm off to the Water Margin soon with Mum, Dad, Kay and Tom. Should be fun :)

Long time, no update.

Life is getting quite exciting now. It's a bit chaotic with the rush to try and read all my books before I start at university, get everything sorted and packed for moving in and arranging my new job, which I start the day after I leave! So yeah, chaotic, but exciting.

Apart from the chaos have had a good week.

On Tuesday, me, Tom, Ben and John went to see Dashboard Confession at the Barfly in London. Was wicked!!





Then on Wednesday, me and Mum went out for an Indian. We went to the new one near Flaunt, and I have to say, it was the best Indian ever! Go to Top Table for a review, star ratings and menu.

Yesterday, Thursday in the evening I went around my friend's for a take-away and was very unimpressed with Chuntney Joe. I have never had such a watery massala - plus it was yellow. Korma is yellow, shouldn't massala be red?

Don't know what I'm doing tonight - probably reading... I have 10 books to read before the 25th September. Wish me luck!

He's our new cuckoo clock! We didn't get a toaster in the end, because Heather bought one for us, so we splashed out on a funky clock instead. It's really funny :)

In other news I have a job for when I got to university. I had my interview yesterday and got a callback within the hour. I start on 2nd September, the day after I move to London, at the Odeon, Swiss Cottage. It's pretty much next to my university - so really easy for me to get to.

Tom's still looking, but we handed out a load of CVs yesterday, so fingers crossed!

Going to Bibbey's tonight which should be fun. He had a load of his weird friends there last time, who kept looking at me as though I was the devil. Not just a devil, THE devil. But hopefully they aren't coming.

UPDATE: Have now made a new icon featuring our cool new cuckoo clock!

Oh my god! I totally forgot to tell you guys - I'm going to see Dashboard Confessional!!

It is absolutely amazing, because not only are they my favourite band but it is at a really small venue - only about a 200 person capacity! Yay!!

So, to celebrate I have made 4 new icons:



Tell me what you think, and if you like take for your own use :)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY michygeary

Yesterday was a pretty standard day. Went to work - did get a pleasant suprise, I came 3rd place in the Summer incentive so I got some strawberries and champagne. I ate most of the strawberries and have saved the champagne for when Tom and me move to London (Yay!! - still really excited!)

Then in the evening we went to see Cars. It was ok. Not terrific, but quite cool.

Yay!!!

We found a flat. It's a bit small, but compared to some of the flats we looked around on Thursday its a palace!! One of them had damp, and another place described a strip of concrete as "a garden".

We're on the very top floor of a five story town house in Kensington. Its sooo cool! Its right by a Tesco Metro, launderette and the tube station. Plus its in the West End, so close to theatres - which is of course, great for the drama student!

I got a little worried yesterday, but now I am just so excited about moving out. Me, Tom and my Mum are gonna go shopping on Thursday to get a duvet, pillows, bedding, kettle and microwave. Tom says that we can splash out on a cool toaster from one of my favourite shops in the world - Octopus.



( Look at our new flat!! )

So, much to Chris's insistent warnings, Mel actually behaved herself last nght! And it didn't cost any of us a bomb!

All the tapas were free and they were great. Had funky prawns, spanish omelette, parma ham, cheese and loads of olives. Yum :P Plus, Jen's parents had put a tab limit behind the bar, so I ended up having 3 glasses of rose before having to pay for anything, which is good cause I'm poor at the minute :)

So even though we had loads of free drink, Mel didn't get plastered and she managed to retain her dignity, which is rare but great. We came home reasonably early so that Kay could go out to her friend's, and then just went to bed.

Actually, I'm still in bed! Ha! Sucks to be you at work Juliet!!!

This afternoon we'll be going house-hunting. Wish us luck :D


Me and Tom looking sophisticated

So last night I sucked at bowling. But it wasn't so bad, because Tom is even worse!



To be fair we both did quite well in the first game. I was losing to everyone, even Dom who has the tendency to just stand by the line and swing the ball into the lane rather than actually bowl! But then I had a miraculous comeback and beat everyone, well everyone apart from Penny, but she doesn't count anymore - you can't beat her! It's impossible!!!

Then in the second game I did appaulingly, but then Tom started getting several gutterballs in a row. I was sure he was doing it on purpose to make me feel better, but he swears he wasn't. So I ended up beating him by 1 pin. Yes!

Tonight me, Tom and Mel are going to a 21st Birthday party at Host. Should be good. I haven't seen Jen K-A in ages - I used to work with her at the cinema. But drinks are really expensive, so I think I'll buy wine - hopefully that will work out cheaper. Hopefully Mel won't squander all her money on booze. Again. But I won't keep my hopes up.

This is a twist on the letter meme. Instead of coming up with ten items for a certain letter, you come up with five song titles for a certain letter and explain why you picked them. If you're interested, then leave a comment. I'll give you a letter. You post this blurb in your journal along with your list.

I got "T" from michygeary



( So here goes! )

I am currently wearing a pair of sunglasses and some brightly coloured flowers around my neck.

No. I'm not in Haiwaii, I'm at work!

We are currently having a Summer Incentive, which is wicked. I won the last incentive which was based around the World Cup, but so far am not doing too well in this one. I'm currently in 5th place. Oh well! At least we get fruit punch with crazy straws every day :)

Going bowling tonight which should be good. I will never win - Penny is simply too good. But hopefully I won't get too many gutter balls. Perhaps I'll beat Tom... Wish me luck!


World Cup incentive decoration in the office

Grabbed this from michygeary. I've bolded all the ones that apply to me...



( You're a 90s kid if )

My weekend, although I had to work Saturday, was really good.

On Saturday night I went to a barbeque at Steve's house which was great, we hadn't seen Tom's friends in a while so it was nice. Steve is such a great host - he had even made us New York Cheesecake! Then we watched Jack Ass the movie. I thought it was really funny, except the paper cut bit - I had to hide behind Tom when that came on.

Then on Sunday we had ANOTHER barbeque. Tom's uncle Graham had his 50th Birthday and so they had a massive family and friends barbeque, I will post some photos soon. The food was even better than at Steve's, but I can't say that I was too suprised - Graham used to be a chef! In the evening me and Tom went home and played Poker with Mel and Kay. Tom and Mel, who enjoy Poker the most - lost abysmally. I did quite well, until we started to run out of time and so I started betting a lot higher than I normally would, so Kay won. She isn't even old enough to gamble yet! lol

So I have slept in my own bed the last couple of nights, by myself I might add - so Chris and Juliet - you can stop calling me a SSLLLLLLAAAAAAGGGG now!!

Sorry that I have not updated in a while. I've been quite busy...



I've had to work everyday since then, well except Sunday obviously, and I've been on 6 O'Clock leaving, so by today I'm more sick and tired of work than I usually would be. Also, my evenings have been full constantly!

Last Saturday stayed over at Patey's. He has a free house for 2 weeks and so has been having friends round constantly just drinking and hanging out - which is good because I am poor at the minute so it costs me a lot less than going to the pub!

Then on Sunday we were back at Patey's briefly to play a bit of X-Box before going to meet John, Bibbey and Steve at the Harvest Moon, which was quite cool, because we don't go there too often.

Tom had a poker night on Monday, which I was doing quite well at until I started feeling sorry for Tom and giving him my chips and then because people noticed I gave a different Tom (Tom Nicholas) a chip because he was almost out, and he then went on to win! Oh well - the prize was only a coconut and it was good fun all the same. At least I did better than Tom - he lost everything lol. By the time poker was finished, I was tired and it was late so I stayed over Tom's.

Tuesday I went bowling with Penny, Gareth, Clare, Sophie and Dom. It was good fun, and a bargain! £4 for two games plus shoe hire. We're going again next Tuesday and Tom'll be able to come as well because he isn't working. So that should be good fun :)

Wednesday night went round Helen's for her belated birthday, and we had some really nice food. Helen can cook! Why didn't she tell us this before! We had a ravaoli starter - and she made the pasta herself from scratch. Then we have roast chicken, roasted vegetables and noodles with sweet and sour sauce. Finally for dessert we had chocolate mousse with amaretto. It was gorgeous. I think we should go round Helen's every Wednesday! I'd offer to cook - but only only hurt myself, and probably poison everyone else... Then Tom picked me up and I stayed over his.

Thursday night we were going to go to Chicago's. Then we both remembered that we are skint - so stayed round Patey's again.

Friday night we went to Patey's AGAIN, but because I was so tired and I got bored of all the spoof films (the guys decided that they would watch Airplane 1 and 2 and Hotshots), I fell asleep and so I went back to Tom's to go to bed.

So in the past 7 days, I have only slept in my own bed twice. No wonder my Mum is starting to clear out my room - I barely use it any more!