Riots, Exams and Employment... or rather lack of

I've been trying to get into the routine of watching the news every day in the evening before I go to bed and in the morning. So far I haven't managed the morning probably because I'm a tad lazy. But last night I watched it for an hour kind of in the background to my seemingly ever present love of Solitaire. On my laptop.
The news was mainly about three things, the recent riots; A -Level results and tagged in with that, the rise in unemployment (again).

I am quite proud to say there wasn't much unrest in Bradfordian town besides the usual stuff that was going on. Unless I completely missed the week where Bradford went completely mental. I remember when I was at work someone mentioned that riots had gone on in the night before because a few guys had gone into a Tesco and tried to steal something, but it's not like that's a new occurance in Bradford these days so I wouldn't have put that down to rioting. And, personally I don't think any sentance given to any of the people who were involved is too heavy. As someone on the news said last night, you wouldn't give a suspected terrorist a light sentance so why give a suspected rioter any less than someone who actually did the deed?

A - Level results!! Congratulations to all those who got the grades they wanted. Especially, my youngest sister Bethany, 4 A level's is AWESOME! Congratulations to all those who should have got the grades they wanted. I can't even imagine how you're all feeling right now but BELIEVE ME, university is NOT the only option in life. My amazing boss hasn't done a degree but I don't think there is another person in the world who would be perfect for the position she is in. University is not the only option. So don't think it is :) And you'll all be fine.

Rise in unemployment. I see it every day at work. The figures are just stupid and the people in the Job Centre are... what's the politest way to put it... incorrigable. Just because you guys have a job doesn't mean it is as easy for everyone else out there. :) I really do feel for all those people who are really trying to find work and just not getting anywhere at all. The job centre has told a lot of people just go look online. But I find that even more difficult. I mean wasn't the unemployment rate supposed to go down? After the 'recession' and all? Even though I completely don't think the recession is anywhere near over. I am so completely blessed to have a job, but I have 20 people that I support who don't have the same luxury and it really can be a catch 22 situation sometimes. All I can say is keep looking or do some voluntry work because believe me your brain can go cuckoo when it's not active for a while. Oh yeah, but don't forget you can't do more than 16 hours a week of volunteering as this obviously put's a shorter time frame for you to be able to find work... like I said 'incorrigable'.

Absence Makes the Heart Grow Fonder

One of my favourite sayings right now. Sorry about not posting. I was away from my laptop for the weekend but I've decided that I really should take this brick everywhere with me. Either that or just get a smaller one specifically for ceremonious blogging.

I was in Newcastle. Or rather in my head, Newscastle. Adam'll probably hate me for saying that but ah well. I had a lovely weekend. I got to Newcastle about 20:00 on Friday and then we went to the cinema to see Bad Teacher. It was funny, but I wouldn't recommend it. It's too provocative and there are SO MANY sexual innuendos it's not even funny, and I kinda draw the line at seeing a massive pair of breasts on the cinema screen, massive because they filled up the screen... there was nothing other them, they were completely nude. They were on the screen for so long it was kinda shifting into the awkward whispering looking away stage. But, apart from that, it was funny. Nothing on my list to see though for now.


Little tip, they're showing all the Harry Potter's in the run up to the new film coming out, at Cineworld and Odeon so you should go down and see them all on the big screen before the mega finale.

Saturday I went to Adam's stake athletics on Saturday and I think his ward came 3rd, which wasn't so bad and Emily's ward came 4th. It was quite funny routing for two different wards but ah well I got the benefits of both worlds. Adam worked hard in all the events he took part in and I scarpered off to help the stake primary with some kid's athletics, old school style. I'm talking obstacle course and bean bag throwing races. It was tonnes of fun though and their primary didn't even know me but didn't care they were still lovely. We topped the day off classic style by watching Cool Runnings.


Today was good. Nothing majorly major happened. We went to church and Adam's ward is lovely. People have seen me there a couple of times now so they're not so shy to come up to me anymore. Weird thing is, they sing quieter than my ward and my ward is like half, maybe even quarter of the size, they're really nice though.

This evening a reversing car nearly tried to run me over, stupid man. I think Emily was trying to do some hero thing and push me out of the way, but all was well. Another car beeped his horn and realise we were there. Moral of that story is:

1. You can't stop a reversing car by banging on the back of it with your hand (which consquently hurts your wrist)
2. ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS check your blind spots before you move off ANYWHERE when driving. Stupid drivers.


Have a good week everyone. I hate it when weekends go this quickly!

Bank's Don't Holiday as we Still Spend

I like Bank Holidays, they do seem to make the weekend go quicker though, when in actual fact it's obviously longer. I get paid tomorrow and I already have a list of 50 things that I know I can't buy. Since I know what my wage will be, pretty much down to the last penny I can work out exactly where it is all going and what needs to be paid first.

But before I do all that, I need to go back to my old bank and tell them to take a long walk off a short pier. I shaln't go into grimey details of how and why I hate them because those who I've already moaned at will know why. Needless to say, I need to get it sorted. So, that's on my list.

At the beginning in there is my tithing, rent, phone bill, driving lessons, bus pass for another month or so I think, maybe couple more months, but I'll keep you updated on when I pass my test and if I get a car, oh and that's not to mention my I.S.A. savings direct debit and my insurance, oh the list goes on. Exciting. Then I owe my sister birthday money, from March. Late I know. I want to get my phone fixed which will cost £30 and then I want to buy a pair of shoes. I also want to go up and see my Boyfriend this Wednesday until Sunday, which will be interesting and luckily the lovely Boyfriend 'I think' will be bringing me back.

I read somewhere that at least half the percentage of those who work; if not more (I can't remember exact figures), spend all their wage within two weeks of receiving it, and I think if you look at my outgoings for this next month, I can kinda see where 'they' (the prospective professionals) are coming from.

So, how can I stop this? How can I, you, stop spending all our wage in the first two weeks of the month? I have a slight idea but I'm not sure if it'll work or not. Getting all the bills and important things paid off then when the coast is clear of anything that might worry you, split the rest of the money into the weeks that you have left in the month, say you have a £100 left, split it between 4 weeks and that is £25 a week to spend on whatever you like. That way when you get to the end of the month and you fancy a nice treat out or some lunch from Tesco because you've been lazy and not brought any from home to work with you, then you can go and buy some, without feeling the pinch on your pocket. I really should try doing this budgeting malarky.

All's Fair in Love and War

My 'o' keeps going dodgy so I will do my best!

I know I said I was going to go wandering today but I just got out of bed and needed to clean my room. I mean it was getting to the point where I had to make a path between the washing to get downstairs, almost like a rescue operation. Plus I was in a very cleaning mood; doesn't mean my other chores are done... but one at a time ay?

I moved my bed around so now I can do starjumps in my bedroom and dance around like an idiot when nobody is looking. I didn't tell you all what my secret was well!! I have a boyfriend woo! We went on a date yesterday and it wasn't very hush hush or anything I just wanted to make sure it was right, and he's lovely bless him, and he's called Adam.


So, no travelling today but next Saturday I am going to Brimham Rocks in/near York. I've never been there before even though mum says I have but pictures don't ring a bell, so I'm not sure; but it'll be excellent me thinks. I travelled very spontaneously to Asda today. I wasn't going to but I had a craving for doughnuts, I blame it on my mum's freshly made bread; it smelt gorgeous but I haven't tasted it yet. I am sure I shall demolish a few pieces tomorrow. But for the rest of tonight I am cutting out paper hands for my lesson and reading my Book of Mormon.

Don't you think it's strange that at one minute we can be at one another's throats then the next some commonality will pull us together. Like Britain for example, yeah not everyone gets on and not everyone will live by 'Love thy neighbour' but when the Royal Wedding was on thousands of people flocked to London from across Britain, and Europe just to see it. Everyone was just talking to everyone and all reporters and spectators said the atmosphere was amazing.

Just like Europe could be at annoyances with one another, yet every year we have this ridiculous Eurovision thing that Britain never wins, but nobody ever seems to care because every year we still get back out there and do it all over again. It's just nice sometimes to not argue, and find that one thing that you all have in common.

Friday 13th, Not Unlucky at all!

Evening everyone,

Today has been one of the luckiest days I've had in a while. You'd think with it being Friday, and all the superstition flying around in the air, the day would have been terrible. I didn't see any black cats, or break a mirror and as far as I can remember I didn't walk under any ladders.

It has been so lucky in fact that I am thinking of permenantly changing Friday 13th to a lucky day... but ironically that could jinx it and make it a bad day. Funny. I've heard on the grapevine that today has been a good day for quite a few other people too which is always great.

I'm extremely tired this week, for some reason I've been getting up in the morning exactly 12 hours after my last meal the night before... spooky right? So every day this week I've been waking up at 7 or 7:30am which considering I go to bed at 1:30 or sometimes 2 in the morning, means I only get about 5 hours sleep. I think it has caught up with me now on the weekend, but I can sleep in tomorrow so I don't mind.
I'll probably wake up at 7am again though knowing me! Short post this evening but what could be better than an unlucky day actually being very lucky! :D

The Rain's Came Down

I love the smell of fresh spring rain, it's so hard to describe the smell too, besides 'fresh'.

I am a bit of a history freak. I can't really decide which period I like though. I am stuck between Tudor, Victorian, WWII or Roman History. The thing is with Roman History I don't really research it or read about it much. But I was fascinated by 'The Young Victoria' and 'The Relief of Belsen'. I enjoy docu-dramas, but who knows why when I watch the type of monstrosaties that happened in the Second World War.

We really don't realise how priviledged we are in this day and age. And, no I am not naive, I do know that things like the Nazi Concentration Camps still happen today and Mass Genocide is still very prevalent, but the way it was filmed back then, in the 1940's; was incredible. I mean, the innocence of the reporters to have seen anything as bad as this before, and for the first time actually showing it to the nation, world in fact.

As I watch things like 'The Relief of Belsen' I pray that we will never have someone like that ruling over our lives ever again. I try and empathise with the Jews of the 1930's and 1940's and nothing comes to mind, complete disarray and blankness cover my mind. I mean they must have been so confused and distraught on so many levels, "What should I do with my life now?", "Where are my family?", "Is my house still there?" a million and one questions whizzing through their mind and not one answer is positive, besides the basic statement, 'I am alive'.

But then as I pray for that, I try to think of the wars happening all around the world; why we get so many immigrants coming to our country, some to escape religious martyrdom, some to feel freedom. I have clients that barely speak a word of english but somehow think that this place is better than the one they were in last time; but somehow believe that they will find comfort and solace in the United Kingdom. What is it we have that they didn't have at home? One of my clients has been married only just a little over a year, they met their partner at college whilst they studied in another country 4 years ago, yet my client left their partner and tarried to England only a year after they were married so they could live and find work here and send for their partner when they had the money. I mean what must be going through my clients mind to do that? What must be going through their partners mind whilst my client is all the way over here?


We all think we have to make sacrifices, 'oh no chocolate for me today', 'this tastes awful I'll just leave it' but really, we don't have to make the same kind of sacrifices as those who barely have anything to eat everyday. One motto my mum literally used to force on me when I was a child is this:

"BE GRATEFUL FOR WHAT YOU HAVE, AND BE GRATEFUL YOU HAVE IT"

Man! Look around you! I am so thankful to just have a roof over my head, clothes to wear, food to eat and clean water. I always think I could never be a greedy and rich business woman because I give my money away too much. Okay, maybe not to charities but I give it to my family because I have satisfied all my little needs, save a little and help others. It really irritates me when some people don't realise how much they really have, they constantly moan about how they don't like this or that or this but others even if they don't like it just stick with it because they appreciate it.

Help someone else today. Doesn't matter how.

Sometimes we walk around in a little bubbles and forget that there is a whole world out there.

The Willowed, Wandering, unWavering World

Good Evening,

I've been trying to log onto my fictionpress.com user for about 10 minutes, don't you just hate it when you forget your password. Then when I logged in the whole website has changed! I mean I know I haven't been on it for a few months or maybe years, but still... took me another 10 minutes to finally find out where my poems have been stashed on the website!

I thought I'd post a couple today. I've just been reading through some of my poems and yeah okay they're not William Blake or anything but they aren't too bad. My creative side seems to have hit a big massive wall that my brain seems to be too fuzzied up to pick at. Maybe I could write a poem on having a fuzzy brain? :)

...Hmm this one is actually quite morbid but I think the matter-of-fact-ness about it kind of shocks you to the core. It's not horrific or too detailed it's just a bit of a thinker; if that is even a word.

Report

His face shone in the midnight moon.
Highlighting every dark, wavy, brown hair on his head.
Just laying there without moving.
His body lay still and dead.

Eyes encased behinds his motionless eyelids.
The hard, gritted, pebble stone floor for a bed.
His bare neck checked for a simmering pulse.
Yesterday's clothes; a blue worn crumpled jacket,

The red t-shirt to match,
Black, metal and leather at his waistline,
Holding up his wrinkled fading blue jeans.
Trainers disappeared maybe stolen in the night.

His mucky, soiled, barely white socks showing with a hole.
A deep red pool of blood lay by his dishevelled face.
The yellow tape guarding his body.
His body outlined with a white marker.

Flashes of light flickering here and there.
The world around him in darkness.
His mother and father stood behind the lines
Distraught with anger, upset and fear.

What is the world coming too
How can someone kill a young child
With dreams, inventions and possibilities
Just waiting for them to happen.

~

You've Gotta Keep Pushing

Try with all your might
To push those feelings out of sight
Rise up your hand high
And say "I will not cry"
"To be me is to be free"
"That's the way its gonna be"
Don't let him hold you back
Scramble through that tight crack
Individuality…
…Is the source of all beauty?
Love and live and like alone
Try this till you are fully grown

~

So, tell me what you think? Good, bad, rubbish, graphic etc. I am not bothered. Let me know what you think. I thought I'd be a little bit creative today since why ever not and I have't done a blog post on literature in ages :D I love reading books especially those weird trashy romantic ones where the girl always ends up with the right guy and you know she does right from the very beginning but, you still have to read on to make sure that's how it happens.

Oh, 'The Kommandants Girl', was really sad. That is one book where she doesn't end up with the guy! And he get's shot. Which is bad and sad and just yeah really rubbish.

Mayday Monday

This Bank Hol seems to have gone past a lot quicker than the last one and I was on holiday longer, so what's that all about??

I remember in school the first and last ever time I danced around a May Pole. I was in Year 4, I must have been about 8 or something. It was supposed to be a school show with all the years at the school doing it and all I can remember about it is that we did the dance completely wrong and all the ribbons got twisted round one another instead of around the pole and it was a big mess. That's pretty much all I remember, I haven't seen anyone do it since then; not even in films.

We went into Leeds today shopping for clothes, namingly t-shirts in my colour. I bought 6. Some just normal T's, one of them was really pretty. I spent £60 and I got a scarf. One of those with all my colours in it and it goes with all the tops I already own in my colour and the ones I bought today so I must have done something right.


I really should get my hair cut but that'll just have to wait another month. My hair is getting quite long now and it just would not do anything I wanted it to do today in the end I gave up with a middle parting in my hair, which looked SO weird. But we all have bad hair days right?

I keep losing my phone, in my house somewhere, not down a toilet or in a hot chocolate cup, but still it's pretty annoying when I can't find it. I know this post is totally random today but my brain can't seem to put a post together, maybe I'm having an off week! I need my brain to work! Especially since I have actual work tomorrow.

Have a good evening everyone!

Friday's Spent Functioning

Functioning as in just being. I didn't have to do anything over the top today to just be.

I love today being a bank holiday, here are a few fantastic reasons:

1. The Royal Wedding, of course, which was absolutely beautiful. Some people are saying they loved Kate's sister's dress more than the actual wedding dress which to me is a completely ridiculous notion. She looked absolutely beautiful.

2. Bank Holiday, I get an extra day off work... I mean I had originally booked this as my holiday days, but since nobody is at work anyway I get an extra day to take off somewhere else! Woo!

3. The shops were still open so I could wander around.
3.5. I just got paid!


I was going to write my post on the Royal Wedding today but everyone has talked it to death; not saying that it wasn't beautiful because it was. Just saying, hmm, I'll talk about something else once I've finished my little warble. She was beautiful, they looked perfect together I mean it's one of those real life fairy-tale wedding tale's that most of us only get to see in romcoms or daft films where dreams of becoming a princess actually come true... and today for Kate Middleton, they did come true. It was lovely.

Tomorrow, Bethany and I go back to Bradford, where it will be a nice change to not eat junk. I swear I'm going to go shopping and fill my basket with so much green stuff people will think I've gone vegetarian.

After the wedding had finished Bethany, Emily and I walked into the town centre where we were trying to predict which shops were open before getting into the shopping centre by looking at the bags that people were walking past us with. We figured that most were open so Emily shopped a little since she'd just got her loan in. I'm still of the notion that she always looks pretty no matter what she wears because she is so slim. So, yes, another health-kick. This time back to the gym in town which is great for to and from work. I don't work that many hours I don't have an excuse.

These posts are so random, has anyone listened to Adele's albums 19 and 21? Does anyone know why she called them 19 and 21? It could be something really simple but I haven't figured it out yet. I've just been flicking through each song trying to find the one I really love on her album 19 called 'Hometown Glory' it's so pretty. Apparently I'm depressing because I listen to it, but I just like easy listening music. I just like day-dreaming probably; too much though. I also like 'Make You Feel My Love' on the same album and 'Someone Like You' on her new(ish) album 21.

My perfect white t-shirt that I bought yesterday... now has a nice bright red sploge on it of curry; that I've only just noticed 5 hours after eating curry. Anyone know if it'll come out or not? How is vanish on this type of stuff?

I went round all the shops today trying to look for some other trousers to wear besides jeans or jeans... but all I could find were cropped trousers which just make me look stumpy and quite frankly awful. I thought the colour was good on them all but my sisters faces didn't. Trust me they didn't have to say a thing. I can't wait to get my clothes from my dad's place so I can sort through everything and most probably get rid of a lot of stuff that I don't wear anymore.

The only nagging feeling I have is that I really want to lose a lot of weight so why spend money on clothes I'm eventually not going to fit into but everyone needs to feel good, and as someone I know says 'To feel good you need to look good'. Okay, so maybe that saying seems a tad 'shallow' but it kinda works and it's the optimism I need to help me when spending money that in a few months or so will be drained.

I'm going T shopping on Monday woo!

Yay! It's Thursday!

Hey everyone,

I couldn't post yesterday. I rushed from work to the park for a 'nicpic' then back home and out again for a Primary meal. I was a late stop out and didn't get back until after 10ish, but... the internet had gone off. After a few miserable attempts to turn it back on again I went to bed. It was a bit weird not posting yesterday. It's like something I do everyday. I wouldn't say it's like missing an arm or anything but it was a bit odd not rambling about my day online.

I suppose this post should be about the beautiful Royal Wedding coming up next weekend. I wasn't really getting into the patriotic side of things but these last couple of days I've secretly wanted to watch it when they show it on TV next week; if it is only to see what she is wearing... I mean it is a bit exciting isn't it. It's not like the Prince of our country gets married everyday.

And they are a beautiful couple aren't they? :)

Well, I think so. I can understand people getting a little irate about the Royal Wedding covering the first few pages of a newspaper I mean people dying in war, and getting lost in earthquakes are probably a bit more horrific, but what's wrong with a bit of good news for once. Are we so addicted to the bad news in the world that we can't appreciate the good?

The answer must quite simply be yes. I am not super patriotic, I don't fly the English flag (nor any other flag) when the World Cup is on but even so, we are the United Kingdom, let's show a bit of unity hmm?

So, last week I'd have said 'Don't watch the Royal Wedding if you don't want to' but this week I say 'Watch it, why ever not?'.

Now, to convince my sisters... They might not want to give up a day on the beach next week.

Have an amazing Bank Holiday everyone!

Fellow Friday

I haven't read the news today. I've been quite busy and do usually pick up the Metro to see what's been going on in the world but today there wasn't one on the bus this morning. So, whose been nicking all the Metro's?

In college; a good few years back now, for a homework assignment, we were asked to buy 'The Guardian' newspaper by our media teacher. Looking back on it I think they were trying to give us some sort of biased view of theirs by asking us to buy this paper although from some of the other choices of newspaper to read I do like this one the most. I got into the habit of the act but then quickly after leaving college I forgot to buy it again. Monday was the best day to buy it because there was the Media section in it. I digress.

One magazine that has taken a spot on our bathroom floor is the National Geographic. I didn't realise this before but I actually really like this magazine and the amazing photography it holds. There was an article in there and a full-page pull out sheet that showed lots of graphs and statistics regarding the 7 billion people who occupy this world. The average person on the earth by the way is male, 28 and Han Chinese.

Take a look:
http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2011/03/age-of-man/face-interactive

Weird thing about it is I am sure only 10 years or so back there were 6 billion people on the earth, so that means there has been an extra 1,000,000,000 people born (we're counting roughly here people) and yet the world still spins on its little axis and still goes the same way around the sun and life still just carries on tick-tocking away... interesting right?

Monday Moans

I called this post 'Monday Moans' because that's all people do when it comes to the news. They hmm and ahh about it but aren't really sure of what else they can do.

It's like our typically British weather we are having at the moment. The whole of the weekend was beautiful and today it rained for about 10 minutes and now it's just a mild breezy Spring day. It's still nice out though.

I think todays News post is going to be all about the horrific devastation that has wiped its way across Japan. It's also going to be about Church too and what the Church has done to help.

My sister noticed in the paper over the weekend (or maybe last Friday) that there had been an after shock in Japan of 7.5 on the scale but I mentioned that it was way too big to be an aftershock; it's amazing how Japan is surviving through all of this. It makes me want to get on the next flight to Japan and help out wherever I can; but alas I can't do that so I have to sit from this safe distance and watch as a country crumbles to pieces. It is extremely heart-breaking to watch and see in the news some days. Beth was also saying that there have been over 1000 after-shocks since the first initial Earthquake and Tsunami. I pray that they will get through this.

The Church:

The Church has reportedly said it would do anything it can to help the authorities in Japan gain back control and food supply to those who need it. 95% of Latter-Day Saints have been accounted for and all Missionaries in the Sendai and Northern Japanese area have been moved to safer places. President and Prophet of the Latter-Day Saint Church, Thomas S Monson has noted the distribution of 70 tonnes of supplies to the most ravaged parts of Japan where suffering is the greatest and continues to supply until need is no longer necessary.

Mixed up Monday!

To anyone who stumbles across this,

My name is Grace. I'm 22 years old and sometimes I forget and once I told someone I was still 21. What's the Bingo call for 22?

I'm trying to bring a uniqueness to my blog; and hopefully this time it'll last longer than 2 weeks.

When trying to decide what to write in a blog I thought of everything:

Fashion: If you've met me, you'll know I'm a comfort clothes wearer, whatever feels right I'll wear. I'm useless at fashion, and I have no money to spend on magazines.

Books & Literature: They take a while to read and I wouldn't post everyday with them and I want to try and make this an habitual thing. I like to write poems and short stories as and when my brain decides to wander into a world of its own but again not a daily thing.

Travel: I go places as and when I can. I am thinking of doing some sort of travel around Yorkshire on my bus pass and visiting as many places on the alphabet as I can find. I thought I'd be stuck for Q until I realised there is a Queensbury in Bradford.

Church: I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. We've just experienced the Semi-Annual Conference so I could have written a blog on my experiences at church but again I wouldn't be posting daily.

Self-Help: You know there are so many self help blogs around these days, how to get yourself out of a rut? How to make money in 10 days? How to knit? etc... The list is actually endless so why not share my fair deal of self-help info.

Art: I really love art and history and the both of them mixed together to make some sort of Michael Angelo painting. I love visiting galleries and looking at the modern art of life and the way contemporary art seems to be a red circle on a white piece of paper, but I also love the detail of the Rennaisance artists among other randoms. I am a secret fan of Charles Rennie Macintosh (I blame my GCSE art project on this love).

News & Daily Affairs: What's going on in the world today and how I feel about it.

So I guess this blog is a mix of everything. Sorry that this post is so long. I am grateful to those of you who've stuck it out and I hope to see you here tomorrow! I think I'll post one of each a week, since I've just realised I've made myself seven categories.