A little bit green

Everything about him you hate so much
Is exactly what I love
He's always there to make me smile
But to you he's talking double-dutch

You say he's childish, it gets on your nerves
Well that's perfect for me
Coz like him I don't want to grow up
But like always it's not me he loves

Maybe if I looked a little different
He'd see into the real me
And see together we're a perfect match
But it's to get to you that he's hell bent

I wonder if he'll ever be interested
To get to know me
We can always talk so easily
But it's you that's running through his head

Everything about him I like so much
Is exactly what you hate
So why do you go for him
When you're drunk and want his touch?

You asked me once if it's him I like
I told you the truth
But there's no point in hoping
As I know it's always you they like

EMPLOYMENT!!!!!

I have a job! This is gonna be a real quick post, just to say that as of yesterday I have a job! It's not a very glamourous job or anything, just an admin type thing. But the people are nice, and more importantly it will pay my bills! YEY! thank you for the comments guys, it really means a lot to me!

I'll write more soon about my awesome trip to London on sunday! Hope everyone's well!

take care...

Unemployment...

It's been about a week now, and I still don't have a job. I was working for a couple of days at the start of the week, through a temping agency. It was actually loads of fun, because I was working at the university where I attended. It was wicked strange though as to get to where I needed to be I had to walk through doors that said, "Authorised Staff Only". I kept thinking I was going to get in trouble for going in there, as I'm still a student! (in my head at least!!!!!) I was working in the department where the students hand in their assignments, sorting through them and making sure that the correct tutor picked up the correct pile of assignments. Watching the young students panic and rush to get their slaved-over projects in on time brought back so many memories...I remember it well. It was almost like looking into a mirror. Also, at the minute it's exam time, so there were a few people worried about what room the exam was in, and what time it started and all the usual things you worry about at stressful times like that. It was really nice to be able to help them out a little bit and pass on some of my experiences, which are all too close to memory to be called experiences in my mind, I mean it was only 18 months ago! I would like to work there again, but unfortunately it was only a two-day job.

Also this week, I went into town and bought myself a power suit! haha. I figured I needed some interview clothes, and a trouser suit and £40 later I feel I'm kitted out to knock the socks off what ever company decides they need to interview me! It was kinda fun going clothes shopping, which I'm normally not that much of a fan of! (is that normal? a girl not being a clothes shopping fan?) There's just too many people around, and I'm very fussy when it comes to the clothes I wear..I know whatIi like and I like what I know. Anyway, I digress...Now that I have the suit, all I need now are the interviews!!! haha

Ooh, I'm so excited, I booked my train tickets to go home for Easter this year. I haven't been home to Cornwall since August, and I'm long overdue a trip! I'm really looking forward to it, getting to catch up with old friends, sleep in my own bed, play with the cats, eat some good home cooked food, and of course see the parents!! This Easter weekend should be great!

And on that note I think I'll leave you....

Have an awesome Easter everyone..Eggs galore!!!!

Bye Bye

Well, today is my last day in my current job. Last Friday I was made redundant, and today I leave. As I walked into work this morning for the last time, I took more notice of the nameless faces that I pass at the same time in the same places everyday. It struck me that I'll more than likely never see them again, and although I never actually met them, I would make up stories about them and their lives. Some were on their way to work, some to college. One or two were heading home after a night shift. Of course it's all fictional, but it was the little stories like those that made the 40 minute walk into work bearable in the rain and snow! Those stories will now be forgotten, but new ones will be made as I trek to a different job somewhere else.

Another thing about being made redundant that sucks is I'm going to miss all my friends from work so much. I've been here for over a year now, and I've made some incredible friends. The work itself is pretty soul-destroying, so having people around you that you can get on with and have a laugh with is really important. I keep having reality checks that it's not going to happen anymore...No more throwing stuff around the office, no more making stupid comments and jokes with my section head, no more making countless cups of tea with Laura because we're bored. I'm not even sure when or even if I'm going see most of these people again. I'm sure I will if I (and they) make the effort to meet up.

Looking on the plus side I'm sure I'll have as much fun in whatever it is that I do next, and therefore have more friends than I do now! But either way, I'm just gonna see where life takes me, and what I end up doing now...

A Walk in the Woods

Way back in October I went to stay with an old uni friend in Norwich, Norfolk. It was such a beautiful weekend, so on the Sunday we went for a walk around a very picturesque lake. The only camera I had at the time was the one on my phone, but the photos are pretty good (if i may say so myself!). I particularly liked this one of Chris walking away down the boardwalk...I love the shadows on the ground, and the way I want to follow him to see where that path leads.

Along the way, we came across a bridge over a small part of the lake. The day was so clear and still, that the water was like a perfect mirror. We stood for a while contemplating the clouds reflected in the water, and our faceless images below us. There were all sorts of fish swimming around in there too that every now and then the surface would break into all kinds of patterns.

As we were nearing the end of the walk, we came back to the University of Norwich, where I was awestruck to come face to face(?) with this amazing wall of Ivy. Unfortunately the colour doesn't come through that well here, but the red splash was enough to catch my breath. Through all the autumnal colours we had passed along the way, none were as vivid as this, especially against the grey wall. I'm not sure how long the ivy would have lasted on that building, or even how long the building lasted with the ivy, but it makes you wonder, when it gets that far spread, which one relies on which one? Does the ivy need the wall to survive, or does the building need the ivy to stay in one piece? Maybe it's one of those situations where they need each other to survive; like all good relationships should be. May the both have a long and happy life together!

Scary Tree

Hi Guys...This is my fisrt attempt at putting a picture in here, and what do you know? It worked! I called this one scary Tree. It was taken last summer when I was walking down a random road with my friend. There was such atmosphere and feeling around this tree, and with it's branches gnarled and twisted, it had a very oppressive feel to it. I just HAD to take a picture, and have been meaning to post it!

Well...Now that I can do it, I shall be posting more here! YEY!

The Rest of my Weekend

Sorry this is a bit late...It's only been 2 weeks! haha. So the rest of my amazing weekend was spent with my sister, relaxing and doing not very much! She had subscribed to Sky Movies, so that we could stay up and watch the Oscars live! It's the first time in years that we've been able to watch them together. When we were younger we would camp out in the living room, or curl up in Liz's big double bed and try to stay awake all night. But then we both went to uni/school and they changed the channel showing it to one you had to pay for...But this year we got to do it all again! It was so much fun, we had a bowl of Cadbury's Chocolate Buttons, quilts to wrap up in, and numerous cups of coffee! The show started at 11.00pm our time and finished just before 5.00am! We made it though, we stayed awake all the way through. This year was pretty good, because I had a keen interest in the winners, for the first time in a while. I'd seen most of the Best Movie Nominee's, and was supporting Brokeback Mountain in all it's nominations! Needless to say we spent most of Monday morning sleeping! The rest of that day was spent watching TV and various movies, and again, just general chilling out. That night i was introduced to House, which is much better than i expected...And we also watched a few episodes of CSI, which is excellent! Then it was time for bed, as we all had early mornings! So it was back to work on Tuesday, and back to reality too I guess! It was a wicked weekend which I enjoyed thoroughly!

Happy Anniversary To Me!

Well, it's been 1 year exactly since I first set up these musings. So much has happened and changed in that 1 year! However, I'm ashamed to see the lack of posts here in 12 months, it really should be more, but I guess it's better than none! I would just like to take this time to thank everyone who stops by here to read and those who leave comments, it's really appreciated!

Anyway, that's pretty much all I have to say on that....So thanks, and I'll try to make this next year a better blogging one than the last!

How Rubbish Am I?

I've just had the best weekend! I went to Hemel Hempstead to stay with my friend Beck for a couple of days. We went to a show about/starring(?) Bill Hicks. It was a 1 man show about Bill Hicks coming back from the dead to do one last show. It was incredible. The guy playing Hicks had obviously done a great deal of research, as his mannerisms, his intonation and his stage presence was scarily similar to the man himself! It was so good that at times, I actually forgot I wasn't watching Bill Hicks! Then on the Saturday, we headed into London to have a look around the famous Camden Market. It is such a wonderful place, with such atmosphere, it almost felt like I was holiday! The market has different sections to it, the first part was mostly all clothes - trendy, unusual, funky clothes. So we sauntered and meandered our way around all the stalls, taking in the colours and sights, before heading over to a different section which contained more modern, but still funky and unusual (the only word I can think of right now is...) STUFF. All kinds of things, from jewellery to homemade leather bound notebooks, to candles to crystals..Oh I could go on and on. The colours here were just breathtaking, and I did take a few pictures, but I still have to hook my laptop to the internet so that I can post them. Another thing that amazed me about this part of the market was the smells. Many of the stalls were burning incense sticks, which smelled exactly the same as the Hostel in the Forest in Georgia that I've talked about a few times. The memories came flooding back, which is always a good thing when they're good memories! At this time we made a pit stop for some fabulous Moroccan Chicken. We were stood by the river, holding a bowl full of amazing warming food, which is just what we needed in the freeing cold. It was the only thing keeping the feeling in my fingers! Then finally in Camden we found the final section of the market. This is where all the second hand clothes 'arches' are. I don't know what they were before, but it was a series of tunnels filled with so many varieties of clothes, shoes hats and pretty much anything you can think of. Also, there were furniture shops, more 'stuff' shops. Now, if I had thought the colours were amazing before, this is where they really kicked in. Every arch and shop was a different colour, a different smell, and a different sight to behold. Unfortunately I wasn't allowed to take many photos of these shops because of copyright laws etc. But luckily for me, I have all the memories!

that day was finished off perfectly with a trip to the Maple Leaf, a Canadian Bar in Covent Garden. They serve Molson and Moosehead Beer in the Maple Leaf - the only bar that we've found to serve them! We used to drink a lot, and I mean A LOT of Molson at College in Keene, and I miss it a lot! So whenever we're in London, we have to make a stop for some Beer! While there we met a Scicilian couple who were in London for a few days. They were so funny, and we spent most of the night chatting to them, and giving them ideas of where to go and what to do with their time. Eventually we rushed to the train station to catch our ride home. It was just so much fun, and I can't wait to do it again.

Then on the Sunday, I left Beck and and went to stay with my sister in Letchworth. However, on the say there, we made a sidetrip to the Asda Walmart nearby. It was almost as good at the American Walmarts, but not quite. It just didn't have the same feel to it. But even so, we spent an hour or so in there perusing the shelves. Then we were bored of shopping (is that possible??!?!?!) so we headed home. The rest of that day was spent quite lazily, we watched Batman Begins, which I had never seen before, and was totally blown away by. I think it's the best of the new Batman movies, and Christian Bale makes a very good superhero. Just as a quick sidenote, I've come to the conclusion that Batman is the best superhero. He does everything all the other heroes do, but without any super powers! Amazing!

Anyway...I have to go now....People to meet, but I shall finish the rest of my weekend soon! I promise it will be soon! ;-)

Shameless Plug!

Hi everyone!

This is just a quick and shameless plug for my housemate Daisy. She's an up and coming singer/songwriter here in Derby, and elsewhere in the UK. I wanted to share her websites with you fine people, so that you can enjoy the greatness that is daisy b. Here is her Myspace Website. Then there is a Moonfruit site, and I'm fairly sure there is another one, but i can't remember that one right now. Anyway...EVERYBODY must go and check out her songs. Daisy has a wicked soulful voice, which, when mixed with an accoustic guitar, sends tingles down your spine. I'm not going to go into her sound too much here, i want you to see for yourselves....please please please just check it out. then you can say that you heard it before she got wicked famous!!!

Thanks guys!

Same old...

Recently, I have been feeling like my life is one long routine that never changes. From the order I do stuff, like getting up in the morning, taking a shower, getting dressed, eating breakfast...It's the same thing every day. I go to work, I do the same thing all day every day at work, then I come home, and usually do the same thing week in week out after work. There's no variety in there at all. Is that just part of growing up? Or am I stuck in a rut right now? Don't get me wrong, on the whole I'm pretty happy with my life, I'm surrounded by great friends, have a good laugh and other than keeping the rent and bills paid have very little responsibility. I just yearn for a life where I can wake up in the morning and not have a clue what's going to happen that day, where I'm going to go, what I'm going to do. I'm not a planner at all, I just figure it leaves more room for disappointment when things don't out how you planned...Leave it all up to the last minute, be spontaneous! That's the way to be, but unfortunately this isn't a secure way to be. I need my job to pay my bills. So for the time being I'll survive in my unchanging routine, and wait for the day when nothing is planned!

Shadow Of A Star

Have you ever felt so lonely

You thought your heart would implode

Upon itself, never to be remade

Never to be made whole?

That's the way you made me feel

Last night, whilst you left me there

All by myself, so small, so insignificant

Just a background noise there to fill the silences

I talk to people, they just talk to you

They do not see me, or even hear me

All they want to do is watch you play

Never have an interest in what I have to say

That's the way they made me feel

Last night whilst you left me there

All by myself, so small, so insignificant

Just a background noise there to fill the silences

What can I do to make myself heard?

I try so hard to no avail

To them I'm just a shadow

Of the one who shines so bright

I thought them nice, so open and caring

But that night I realised it was all a lie

As I sat there all alone, staring into space

They didn't even notice when I started to cry

That's the way you made me feel

Last night whilst you left me there
All by myself, so small, so insignificant
Just a background noise there to fill the silences

There I was so totally alone

I though my heart would implode

My soul was heavy I could hardly move

And still I stand among the shadows

Hi there!

Hi everyone, once again I'm so sorry for the delay in posting here. But I think I'll be able to post a bit more regularly now that we have a computer back in the house.

So, a quick recap on the Life of Rach, Christmas was amazing. Spent it with my family in my sister's house, it snowed which topped off the holidays. Then came back up to Derby for New Year, which was spent hanging out with friends, good food and good wine. Then the week after that was my birthday. It was a great weekend as I got to catch up with an old Uni friend who had been travelling around the world for 6 months before hand. I hadn't seen him for a year though. We just went out and about on the town for the evening, catching up, chatting, dancing and drinking. It was so much fun! Then the Sunday was spent on the sofa watching TV before heading off to the cinema to watch Brokeback Mountain. It was the most amazing film I have seen for the longest time. I don't know why, but it affected me a way that no other film has done. All the way through the movie I was trying to work out whether it really was a good film, or whether I just though it was because I like cowboys, the scenery and America in general. And I came to the conclusion that it was. Ang Lee did a great job of the direction, keeping the audiences (well my) attention all the way through the sparse script and slow story. His method of showing the passing of 20 years was pure genius, as his subtle changes of fashion and architecture say everything the script does not. But the acting was the thing that really blew me away. Both Heath Ledger and Jake Gylanhaal play characters you would not expect them to play, and they do it so well. I was totally sucked into the film and the time just flew by. I cried so much, it was untrue. I am a bit of a sap when it comes to films, and I cry at most of them, but this one was different, I could have cried all the way through the credits, all the way home and then some more at home! I immediately went about reading everything I could find about it, and even went out and bought the book it was based on. Because it was based on a short story, Ang Lee had a lot of scope with the movie and could expand on it a lot. I was so impressed when I read the story, because I hate it when I read books of movies, and it's been changed. Whereas this one was exactly the same.....Every bit of dialogue was in there, word for word.

right that's enough of that one for the time being. Lets just say I enjoyed the movie eh?!

Welcome back to Rach's blog people, I promise to update more often!

Hope everyone is well, Take Care!

Welcome to the New Year

I know, I know, I'm a little late on this one! I apologise for the lack of blogging here recently, I've been so busy at work, that when I get home, the last thing I want to do is sit in front of a computer some more! I am thinking of buying a new computer (since my laptop died!!!) so that I can blog more regularly! I'll keep you posted on that one...

But really, I just wanted to say HAPPY NEW YEAR! I hope everyone's holiday celebrations were good, and that 2006 brings you all lots of happiness and good stuff!

Hope you're all well, and I apologise once again, I'll try to be more bloggy this year!

Have fun!

In No Particular Order

Favourite Smells
1. Cut grass
2. Fresh coffee
3. Baked bread
4. Jean Paul Gaultier Cologne for Men
5. Christmas – Cinnamon/Orange/Spice

Favourite Sounds
1. The snow crunching underfoot
2. A Child’s laughter
3. The song Mississippi by Train
4. The waves crashing on a beach
5. A cat’s purr

Favourite Tastes
1. Chocolate!
2. Red Wine
3. A Good Curry
4. Orange Juice
5. A good fresh cup of coffee

Favourite Sights
1. Home
2. The Coronado Bay Bridge
3. The quilt my Mom made me
4. The stars on a clear night
5. My friends and family

Favourite things to feel/touch
1. My silk/satin blanket
2. Anything soft and furry
3. Someone else’s hand in mine
4. Soft sand running through my fingers
5. The mud between my toes!

Comfort Zones?

Once again, I apologise for the lack of blogging here. I've been really busy at work, and then I don't really use the internet much at home. So I've just not got around to it. I keep seeing things that I think I could write about then, I forget what they are when I sit down at my computer!

As I've mentioned before, I've been taking Tai Chi classes every week, which are going really well, and I totally love it. Although each week it's getting more and more complicated. But the other week it struck me that we all stand in the same place. It's as if there's this unwritten rule that you have to stand where you did the week before. I guess it's just a comfort thing, we've become used to our own little spot in the room, and to step away from that, would be something new and scary! I think that if anyone stood on the other side of the room, they would get a funny look from the other people, as if you didn't belong there, a "what are you doing here?" kind of look! I started to think about similar situations where this happens, and I realised that it goes on all the time. In my office, we don't have set desks, but everyone always sits in the same place. Everyone knows that all the computers are the same, and it doesn't really make a difference where you sit, but again, it's just what we're used to. It even happens in our living room at home. the three of us have our usual spots on the sofa. we seem to migrate to our little individual spaces. It amused me to think that a space in a room could hold so much comfort to people, especially when around people you don't really know so well.

On a different note, the weather here in Derby recently has been just wonderful. It's absolutely freezing, but sunny out, so you get that wonderful crisp air that catches in the back of your throat the moment you step outside. The grass is all frosty and crunchy when you walk on it, the puddles are starting to freeze over, so that when you walk to the shops you have to be careful where you stand so as not to fall over. The people you pass are all wrapped up in scarves, hats and gloves (or mittens in my case!!!). The sky is probably more blue now than it was over the summer, and the sunshine takes a little bit of the bite out of the weather. it's perfect walking weather - not going anywhere, just walking. Also, the Christmas lights are being turned on in Derby tonight, which means that Christmas is just around the corner! I'm so excited...i can't wait! Christmas is my favourite time of year, it's so beautiful, with the lights all around the city, and in people's houses. On the whole people are that little bit cheerier around Christmas, after the gloom and doom of September and October when everything is just grey. Oohhhh, it's just too exciting! I become like a little kid again, the magic of Christmas is just too much to take! YEY!

Well, that's enough from me right now, I'll try and update a little more regularly, I do miss blogging!

take care everyone!

Waiting and Hoping

I spent all evening watching the door
Always waiting, hoping for more
Than just a promise of your company
But once again you let me down
Once again it slipped your memory

I’m not sure how more I can take
So many words you say so fake
You raise my hopes and keep me expecting
The happiness that may arise
From our overdue adjoining

When will you realise how good we’ll be
When we’re together, why can’t you see?
This one union of two lonely hearts
Could be the most amazing thing
Never again to be apart

But as it was you didn’t arrive
Are you too scared to take that dive
Into something new and unmapped
You don’t have to worry I’ll be right there
Alongside you to help you adapt

It’s just as strange and new to me
Just do one thing and promise me
I’ll never have to watch that door
And sit here surrounded, alone
Waiting and hoping for that little bit more

Regrets?

I apologise for the lack of posting here recently, but my lack of computer at home is really starting to get to me! The only chance I have to do this is at work, and we have recently been warned about the use of the Internet and especially the updating of blogs at work. So I guess I have to be quite careful when doing this!

Anyway, I have a few bits of news to report. This weekend I went to Somerset to visit my friend and go to the most amazing Halloween party ever! Over here in the UK, Halloween isn’t as big as over in the States, although I’m sure every year the shops are becoming more and more ‘Americanised’, and are stocking the shelves with pumpkins, and outfits, ghosts and ghoulies to fill the need of any imaginative person! But anyway, I digress. This party was incredible. The guy who owns the house takes the week before the party off work to decorate and get things ready. He didn’t have the biggest house, but absolutely everywhere that could be decorated was. There were skeletons that talked monsters that groaned, and Ghouls that squealed hanging on the walls. Spider webs adorned every surface and corner, complete with spiders (ick!). There was a buffet, and a BBQ, homemade cocktails consisting of Vampire Blood, Green Gloop and biohazard. My friends and I went dressed up as witches, with wigs, hats and cloaks, with my friend’s husband as a Ghostbuster. He’d spent about 6 hours making the proton pack and the box to contain the Ghosts in. He looked awesome! All in all it was just an amazing night, we spent the evening standing and chatting, having a good catch up, then mingling with some of the other guests, have those random conversations that only happen with strangers after a few drinks. I met this one guy and we had a very in depth talk about destiny and how to approach life! I love those types of chats! Then as we were leaving the party to walk home, the heavens opened, and it absolutely poured down with rain. But it didn’t matter to any of us; it was just a bit of fun! Splashing in puddles like we were six years old again! Soaking wet but full of giggles, we stepped into the house, and put on our pyjamas, then proceeded to dance around the kitchen like mad people! Listening to The Killers Hot Fuss album, and Tenacious D, we were head-banging around the kitchen floor! My neck is now very painful! :-)

My journey back from Taunton, however, put a bit of a downer onto the whole weekend of fun. It took me 5 ½ hours to get back to Derby, due to the train services being cancelled. I had to take a coach for most of the journey, which is just so slow. However, a plus to this is that I met the greatest guy. We were sat on a coach from Gloucester to Birmingham for about 2 hours, and we just started to chat. It was so easy to talk to him. He’s a French and German teacher in Birmingham, teaching 11-16 year olds. He’s been to South America, Canada and New Zealand, been sky diving, bungee jumping, skiing. He’s into similar kinds of books and films as me, and had the same kind of opinions on many things that we talked about. I think the longest we went without talking was about 5 minutes when we were just arriving into Birmingham Station. We parted ways at the train Station and I didn’t even find out his name. At the time I quite liked the anonymity of it all, to have such an in depth conversation with a total and utter stranger, but as soon as I got on my bus to get back to Derby I regretted not finding out his name. We got on so well and as far as I was concerned there was a little bit of chemistry going on there too. I was tempted to ask him if he wanted to go and get a coffee before setting off for home, but I chickened out! I guess it’ll just be one of those regrets we have that we can’t change. I am a believer in fate, and if I’m meant to meet my mystery man again, then I will, if not then the whole experience will just be a story to tell the new people I meet instead.

On the train on the way down to Taunton though, I finished another book, The Pilot’s Wife by Anita Shrieve. It wasn’t the best book that I’ve ever read, but it certainly wasn’t bad. I got so sucked into the book again that when certain things happened (I won’t go into what in case people want to read it) I felt the same emotions as the characters. I always think it quite silly talking about that, because it is essentially just a book! It’s not real. But I still can’t help becoming part of it, and going though what the characters go through too. I do recommend other people to read this, it’s quite an easy going book, but has lots of intrigue that will keep you turning the pages, right up until the very last sentence.

My T’ai Chi is going well, I’ve had two lessons now, and I’m loving it. It’s much harder work than I thought it would be, but it makes you feel great after. You feel so chilled out, centred and relaxed, but totally energised at the same time. As if you could take on the world! I am looking forward to lesson number 3!

Well, as I’m at work, I should probably go. I hope every one is well, and that you all have a safe but wonderful Halloween!

Just some random thoughts from the past couple of weeks…

I’ve finished Harry Potter. WOW! I need the next one now, but it’ll take forever to come out, like the last ones! I was reading it on a train, and at one point, I was sat at a train station platform trying very hard not to cry! I was getting some very strange looks from passers by. But the book was wonderful, one of those that you really can’t put down. I would start reading as I got into bed, thinking, "I’ll just read for 10 minutes or so." 2 hours later, I’d still be going, only just able to see the words, because my eyes want to sleep!

Derby is looking so pretty at this time of year. The leaves are all changing colours, and as I walk down the street towards my house, it’s like walking through confetti. The trees are shedding their leaves like rain. I love the variety of shapes and sizes, there are big star shaped ones, small heart shaped ones, middle-sized arrow shaped ones, in brown, yellow, red and orange. It’s beautiful. Hopefully in the next couple of days I’ll have the software I need to be able put photos on here, so you’ll be able to see for yourself what I’m talking about.

I am starting a T’ai Chi class this week. I went to an introduction class last week and have decided to sign up. It’s something that I’ve wanted to do for so long now, and what’s more, is it’s taking place just down my road. The introduction class was awesome. There was a fair amount of people there, and we all sat and listened as our teacher gave a quick talk about the WuTan School of Martial Arts, and how it was set up. Then he told us about the different forms of T’ai Chi, and which one we’ll be learning, (which I’ve forgotten already!). After that, we all got up and did the warm up, and then he taught us the first section of the form. It was amazing; my fingers were tingling with the energy. The whole room was filled with the energy being emitted from us all, and by the time we had finished I was so relaxed it felt amazing, but at the same time I was totally energised. I am really looking forward to this Thursday for the first proper class. It’s a 16-week course, by the end of which we will have learnt the complete form. After we had done our little bit, the instructor and his intermediate class performed the full form for us. It’s so graceful and peaceful; I can’t wait until I can do that too. I’ll keep you updated as to how it’s going.

There are so many movies out right now that I really want to see, but I have no one to go with, or even the money to buy the tickets with. I know, I know, get out those tiny violins for me! But I love going to the cinema, that suspended animation, and I haven’t been for so long. Unfortunately, here my nearest movie theatre isn’t close enough to walk to, and as I don’t have a car, I either have to rely on other people, or get a taxi. I don’t really like to do either, so I just have to wait until one of my friends with a car suggests that we go! I guess I’ll just have to wait until they come out of DVD. Anyway…rant over.

As I touched on earlier, I should hopefully have the means to download photos from my phone onto the computer sometime this week, which means I’ll be able to illustrate my little blog with a few photos from here and there. Everywhere I go, I see things that I want to take pictures of, and now that I have a camera phone, I’m able to do it. However, the quality of the pictures is not amazing, but it’s better than nothing. I have a theme that I’ve been working on for a little while, that I think will make a lovely blog entry, but you’ll just have to wait for that I’m afraid!

Well, I’m at work, so I should probably get back to it. I hope everyone is well, and looking forward to Halloween – I know I am!

Rach's Book List

I have been asked what is in my current pile of books, and what else I would recommend to read. Well, right now I'm reading the latest Harry Potter Book, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. When the books first came all those years ago, I was determined not to get sucked into the whole Harry Potter mania that came with it. I didn't want to just jump on the bandwagon because everyone was raving about them. It took me until the 4th book had come out to start reading them, and only then it was because my older sister had read them all, and she literally threw the first one at me saying, "READ IT...YOU'LL LOVE IT!" So I did, and she was right...I read all 4 in about 3 weeks, which is good going for me! And that was it, I was hooked. I've read them all almost as soon as they were released, with the exception of this one because of my addiction to the Dark Tower series! But now that I've started it, I can't put it down! I think one of the reasons I like the Harry Potter so much, (and one of the reasons J.K. Rowling was criticized for it) is because it's not always good winning over evil; bad things happen, and yes, people die. She was slated for it because it was upsetting to children, her primary audience. But I disagree, I think it prepares them for the life ahead, when evil things do happen, and the good people don't always win.

After that I have list of books to read in no particular order that include:-

Lucia Lucia - Adriana Trigiani. I have never read any of her books before, but both my mom and my sister have and say that they are just lovely. This one was given to me by some very good friends, who pretty much ordered me to read it, because they think it will change the way I look at life. So when I've read that one, I'll let you know what I think.

The Devil and Miss Primm - Paulo Coelho. I absolutely love his books. The first one I read was The Alchemist a few years back, and that really did change the way I looked at life. It was the kind of book that I couldn't put down, no matter what time of the night it was, and when I had finished I just sat there on my bed and couldn't think of a thing to say. I love the way he writes about religion and the like, without preaching, and without stuffing it down your throat. Last year I read The Fifth Mountain which is about a small town's struggle with differing religions, having been introduced to Christianity with the arrival of a stranger. It was very much about there being just one God to worship (which I am not a big believer of), but it never felt like I was being told that I must believe it. Veronika Decides to Die is also a life changing book. Although the title suggests a depressing subject matter, and in parts it does touch on it, the basis of the book is actually very uplifting. I'm looking forward to reading this next one.

The Pilot's Wife - Anita Shreive. Again, this one was given to me by my sister, who as already read it, and raved about it. I haven't read any of hers either, but I'm told that this one in particular is very good. I don't even know what it's about, so I can't really say much about this one, but once again, when I have read it I'll let you all know what I think about it.

The Five People You Meet in Heaven - Mitch Albom. I started to read this ages ago, but surprise, surprise the next Dark Tower book became available, so I need to finish this one off. Most of my friends have read it and say it's lovely. So I'm looking forward to finishing that one off!

The Hitch-Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy - Douglas Adams. I read the first book years ago having listened to the old radio show as a child. I loved it. It was normal enough to relate to, but out there enough to be absolutely hilarious!!! For Christmas last year my friend bought be the complete series, so I have all of them to read now!

Books 5 and 6 of the Anita Blake - Vampire Hunter Series - Laurell K. Hamilton. However, its been so long since I read the other 4 that I think I might have to start from the beginning again! These books are amazing. My friend in America gave me the first one to read telling me that I would be hooked within the first 30 pages...Boy was he right! They are full of excitement, thrills, a bit of a love story going on in there too! They're awesome! I'll have to pick them up again when I have a load of time to re-read the first 4!

I think that might be it for the time being, but there are always books that I want to read, and everytime I go into a bookstore I have to restrain myself from buying more!!!

As for books that I recommend - that I have already read...Anything by Nicholas Sparks. He wrote The Notebook, Message in a Bottle and some others. They are wonderful feel good books. They are so beautifully written too, the descriptions are so detailed you're in the book with them! Or the three books by Nicholas Evans - The Horse Whisperer, The Loop and The Smoke Jumper. All three are wonderful books that again, I could not put down. I cannot recommend these highly enough! For those of us who are science fiction/fantasy fans, David Eddings' books are fantastic. The Belgariad a series of 5 about a small boy who discovers he is actually a very power wizard is the first set, followed by The Mallorean - same characters, different story. I have read them over and over again, and they never lose their magic (excuse the pun!!!!)

Well, I think that's probably enough about that....Thanks for sticking it out if you've got this far....lists are never fun to read!

I hope I've inspired some of you to check out some new stuff!

Happy Reading!