Remember these ad-lib things?

I included the email title because why not?

Beep Boop

Haven't updated for a while, maybe this is worth it? Also hey wow the blogger layout has changed.

What better way to celebrate my 100th post...

...than to you show you my 2 copies of my dissertation, printed and bound? Look at that sexy shiny front cover, so good you can see the reflection of my laptop screen in it.
Anyway, guess where I'm off to right now? That's right, the library. MORE WORK.

Here you see a beautiful colour co-ordinated word bubble (or Wordle) of my dissertation in full, showing what I talked about most. I think formatting this thing is going to take longer than actually writing it. Going crazy.

Spat out another chapter of my dissertation today. I'll hopefully be done by the middle of this week! Then it's the dreaded editing...

Okay I know it's getting late but I saw this and it reminded me of that time I kept getting snow stuck to my jeans. At least I know I'm not alone.

 They just love each other...

...so much....

I'VE WRITTEN THE FIRST CHAPTER OF MY DISSERTATION IN FULL. I know this sounds kind of lame and like I'm really far behind but that's not the case (I think), I've written a very detailed plan for the rest of the chapters too and overall I've got between 7000-8000 words. THE POINT IS I wrote the first chapter in a day (with aid of a detailed plan!!!) and it was my longest one, I hope. There's a possibility I might go over the word count which is scary because I hate cutting essays down. But I'm EXCITED and giving myself the evening off.

Interesting what a bit of research about your local MP will tell you

DO YOU GUYS LOVE THE NHS?

I DO. 4REAL. Now honestly, I know it isn't flawless and there are many holes in the NHS but if you want to defend any system which strives to universal healthcare, you have to be aware of the proposals the government are putting forward at the moment. Take a look at these (or google something like 'Health and Social Care Bill 2012' for potentially less biased viewpoints!):

http://www.bma.org.uk/healthcare_policy/nhs_white_paper/index.jsp
http://bengoldacre.posterous.com/what-will-the-nhsbill-do-i-dont-think-youre-w
http://nhsalert.org.uk
http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions (I signed the Health Care one, but browse the others in your spare time!)

Send an email or letter to your local MP! I've sent an email to the MP (Lib Dem)  in my uni area, and the one at home (Tory), and now I'm nervous about any reply I might get. Considering their past record of listening to the public, I'm not sure how influential it'll actually be but every little helps. I've recently written an essay about the establishment of the NHS and the welfare state so I'm all about defending it.

T&B's Questions

1.What, without fail, always cheers you up?

Hmmm, that's a difficult one... Probably finishing an essay that's been bugging me for ages/getting a good mark back. Or when my nieces and nephews are excited to see me! Kids are so hard (for me) to please.

2.Tea -genius or not?

Uninterested so I'm going to say NOT.

3.Favourite meal ever?

"Salad"/fridge things! Practically picnic food.

4.Favourite day out?

I don't go on days out very often but a couple of days ago I went on a trip to West Midlands Safari Park for R's birthday and it was pretty fun though the weather was sad and rainy. Our car got surrounded by emus and it was simultaneously the most exciting/scary thing that has ever happened to me. That, or when we went on a spontaneous trip to the beach last October. However Harmless Bizzle's suggestion also sounds AMAZING.

5. If you could go on holiday today, where would you go?

Somewhere in Australia! Though maybe not today because it's summer there now and I think I would melt. Honestly I'd really like to go to Scotland... Bit of a contrast.

6. Favourite Disney classic?

Sleeping Beauty. Though I'm not sure why...

7. What  food could you not live without?

This is even harder than the first question. I'm going to say bread, in any of its glorious forms.

8. You're going onto a desert island and can take one person- who do you take?

Mum because she knows everything??? Or dad because he could build a shelter/fire/boat or catch things etc. This answer probably says a lot about me.

9. What is your dream job?

SLEEPING/Writer/Midwife??? The latter is a very tenuous answer at the moment.

10. Do you have any guilty pleasure reality TV shows?

Does Sun, Sex and Suspicious Parents count? Got into the habit of watching it recently. Though I really wish they'd quit with the gratuitous shots of people vomiting...

I'm really bad at thinking of questions, perhaps more so than I am at answering them. However, here are a few that my brain pooped out (answer as many or as few as you would like):

1) What should the background on my "oh my god I'm not an old lady any more" amazing new phone be?

2) Do you have WhatsApp and would you like to exchange some of those funny emoticons with me?
3) Why does my towel keep falling off my radiator?
4) When you get back into your house/room after a lecture, what's the first thing you do? (Don't say "I take my coat off" or something sassy like that... What do you actually DO? Lie down/make a cup of tea/go on your laptop, etc.)
5) Could you ever see/hear the name Casper without thinking of the friendly ghost?
6) What is the best dream you can ever remember having?
7) Does everyone in your house get super stressy when they've all got assignments to do around the same time? This one is particularly directed at people in their final year.
8) What time do you get of bed at the weekends? (Providing you don't have a job)
9) Would you consider yourself a feminist?
10) Butter with jam on toast?
11) Nutella - food of the gods or inadequate spread?

Valentines Day 2012

The day is not complete without a plastic knife.

So my new nephew got officially registered today, and he didn't turn out to be Fraser Hunter in the end... He's now Fraser Phoenix Gideon (surname)...! Bit different to the previous choice isn't it?! Poor Florence (his big sister) only has one middle name. Here is a picture for context/entertainment:

On a more positive note, who watched the second season of Sherlock? Was it good or was it good? The answer is yes, it was good.

Essays... Wow, if I only had to do my dissertation this semester (or more preferably the entire year) I would be a lot happier right now. Yes I've been back at uni for a while. I am currently freezing my balls off in my room wrapped up in king size duvet and huddled over the laptop at my desk alternating between diss work, reading for tomorrow and eating. Also I have chilblains in (on?) my toes because apparently I am an old woman (and my radiator isn't working). Didn't go to my lecture today. Waiting for some orange jelly to set in the fridge right now and it's taking AGES. Just ate egg sandwich. I'm not in a really bad mood, I'm just super cold and busy. This is the most emotional entry I've ever written.
On a sidenote, my housemate's boyfriend (who I really don't like) keeps asking said housemate to invite me over to his flat because she spends so much time over there (he lives in the next town over) and he 'feels bad' (debatable). Apparently his friend/flatmate has asked too. His friend is single. And desperate for sex. I'm sensing an ulterior motive here... Must add I'm not even a little bit interested. My housemate told me (or told him) that he would 'ruin' me so that really sets the scene.
In even more 'other news', I've been struck a little by writing inspiration and am also currently half-heartedly developing characters. I don't know why I get these urges at the complete wrong time... like when I have a MILLION essays to do. Speaking of essays... I need to get back to work.

One of my friends just told me she only has her final chapter to properly write up for her dissertation and then she's done! Well, aside from tidying it up in between writing regular essays. Weeing myself now because I've only written my introduction in full and the rest is a very vague plan.

New Baby Nephew!

My brother's wife had a healthy baby boy (7lbs 2oz) on Sunday, 8th January! Apparently he looks like a (insert my surname here) baby. I'm not sure what that means. As my brother said earlier, "Here's a baby... I hope you like it!"

My mum was making a really good face in that last picture but I thought it was appropriate to make her anonymous too. Baby has tentatively been named Fraser Hunter (surname). Those of you that know me can decide what that name would sound like in full! My dad is somehow horrified by the middle name, which he says is because of his and his dad's vicious opposition to fox hunting. I think it's alright (the name, that is).