The xbox360 broke Friday night. I beleive they call it the ring of death. Because it basically means the xbox has fried. But through the despair and worry, we went online and booked it in to get fixed, not really knowing how we'd find the money to get it done, we learnt that because this is a known problem with the xbox360 console, and because we've had it less than three years (not even a year yet actually!), we can get it fixed for free. Which is a big relief. Ray packaged it up and today the man from UPS came to collect it. The only good thing we can take from it is it does mean we've dug out the old xbox console and are now playing the original Lego Star Wars game. Ray is very upset, though. He loves his xbox360. I've spent most of the weekend keeping his hands busy elsewhere...

I went to see the new Narnia film Saturday afternoon with Mammy and Jemma. Such a good film. I highly reccomend it. It's darker and yet funnier than the first one. Jem is suicidal, though, cos Peter has said he won't be returning to Narnia again. We're meant to be seeing Hancock this weekend, which looks so funny. I'm really starting to get used to these girlie afternoons we spend in the cinema. I'm going to be sad if they stop.

At the moment I'm listening/watching live wimbledon because I don't want to miss my favourite player: Lleyton Hewitt. Typically he's up against Federrer, which means this will probably be the last game I see him play this tournament. I'm trying to write Olimpia Valley at the same time but something tells me I'm going to get distracted by a cute Australian in white shorts.

Labels: films, jem, lego star wars, lleyton hewitt, mammy, narnia, ray, tennis, wimbledon, xbox, xbox 360

by Ys | COMMENTS? 3 | permalink |

For those who don't follow my writing blog/journal (here or here), I have some very exciting news.

I'm going world wide with Shadows.

Okay, yes, technically I am already world wide with Shadows @ LuLu but I'm going to be even more accessible in a few weeks time. Why and how? I qualified for a free distribution package (it was always out of my price range), which means my book will soon be available at Amazon and Barnes & Noble, and will be listed in the Bibliographic Database. Because the book now has its own ISBN number.

This doesn't mean I'll sell more books but it does mean there's more chance of people stumbling across it. Heck, I don't care if I don't sell a single copy - the fact that I'll be on Amazon is exciting enough! The fact that there's a possibility of people seeing it and liking it and purchasing it is also extremely exciting, of course, but you know me: I write cos I have to and not for profit.

The book won't be available for about six-eight weeks so there's plenty of time to wait yet. But as soon as it's there I'm sure I'll post time and time again with giddy excitement.

Labels: books, self-publishing, shadows, writing

by Ys | COMMENTS? 5 | permalink |

After all that serious talk about life and the future, let's get back to something much more fun: sex.

Now, you know I'm on The Pill but because because we also use condoms as well. Because they're not needed for protection, as such, anymore, we've started using all kinds of different ones to see which ones feel the best. This month I saw this ad:



Says the porn stars love it so why wouldn't we, right? ;) I'll have to let you know. So far I haven't been overly impressed with the supposedly amazing-feel condoms on offer.

We tried the Love Condoms, which were meant to be the thinnest you could find. They were not at all lubricated so not much fun from my side, and from the male perspective Ray said he couldn't feel a thing. Pleasuremax: I could feel the ridges and dots when I was putting the thing on but once inside? Nothing. Same for him.

So we've stuck with the ones that feel the best for the both of us, funnily enough the first style of condoms I ever bought, Durex Elite. I can't say enough good things about them: they feel good for both of us, well lubricated, nice fit. All good. Seriously, we should have stocks and shares in these condoms! I know they're a little more expensive than the old favourite Extra Safe, but if you have another form of protection then these ones are really no fun anymore.

Any good condom recommendations? They don't have to be Durex, although I've just realised they do seem to be a favourite of mine. As long as they give good fit, lubrication and a natural feel then I'll be happy :)

Labels: condoms, sex, shopping

by Ys | COMMENTS? 3 | permalink |

My ambition in life is a simple one. It's been the same one pretty much all my life. It was intensified through my later teen years and I've been obsesseddriven to making it a reality ever since.

All I want is to meet the man I love (check), marry him, buy a house together and fill it with lots of children and animals and love.

Now that ambition does not sit well with feminists. Does not sit well with teachers in school. Does not sit well with women who feel they were forced to live that life yet always wanted more. But to me that is more. That is everything I want.

I was talking last night, just throwing out words to see how they sounded, see where my mind was at. And I just came to realise that that's not what a woman of twenty-five is meant to wish for. I'm meant to want a fulfilling, busy career, which pays me heaps of money so I can go out drinking every night, and buy shoes with the rest of it. I'm not meant to want to save for the future, to make tentative life plans about wanting a house in the country and neighbours close to my age who I can go for drinks down the local pub with, meet up with outside the school gates and be happy with that life.

Have I just been told the wrong things by the teachers in school and the adults in my life? Is it just me or does the media tilt everything in favour of frivulous single life, while painting the family life as boring? And why does it do that? Why can't you mix both and enjoy both? I don't intend on giving up my social life, my youth, just because I've fallen in love and want to get married to that person.

I count myself lucky in that I had two young parents who devoted their lives to me and my siblings in their own ways. Daddy always provided for us financially, with trips out at the weekend to teach us things about life, and Mammy always provided love and fun and games and food. But that didn't stop them going out and enjoying themselves, having friends over, getting drunk. My childhood home was always filled with laughter and friends. And boy did my parents argue when they wanted to. And it was real life and it was emotional but always, always fun. I want that. I don't want the career and the bags of money. I just want laughter and babies and family life. And I want that life to be as fun for my children as it was for me.

Labels: children, daddy, family, life, love, mammy, marriage, work

by Ys | COMMENTS? 4 | permalink |

Do you remember how two weeks ago I said I was broody? Well I still am. And it's got much worse. In fact, throughout all my years of getting these bouts of broodiness, they've never quite felt like this. Could be simply because I could technically have a baby this time, what with me having a boyfriend who I have sex with. But then again it could be because I'm at that age where having babies goes from something I'm going to do some time in the future to something that's going to happen sooner rather than later. It also has a hell of a lot to do with the fact that I really love Ray and want to have his baby. And I've never really wanted to physically have children before; my plan was to adopt. I just keep looking at Ray and thinking of the very beautiful children we could make together.

But that was not in the plan. I was all set for enjoying a few years with Ray alone. Just me and him and no one else. We've never been on our own yet, not properly. I wanted marriage, a house of our own, time to ourselves. Then babies. And I still want that. But my hormones are screaming out in pain because that means another couple of years, at least, without having a baby of my own.

So there's the cause of my recent downward mood swing. I was hoping it wasn't that but it is, I know it is. My plan is to talk it out of my brain, my heart and soul. Then in a few days time, maybe a couple of weeks, I can look back and think Phew, thank God I didn't go and get myself pregnant; I so don't want a baby now. That's the plan anyway.

[P.S. Martha has finally updated her blog.]

Labels: broody, children, life, love, ray

by Ys | COMMENTS? 2 | permalink |

I was going to say how my new outlook on life didn't start off too well. I argued with Ray Friday and we didn't make up 'til Saturday morning. Then all that day I spent curled up on the sofa ill. But on Sunday things got much better. My health improved therefore my mood did and I had a great time visiting the two families, and finally celebrating Father's Day with Daddy, a week late. [Pictures can be viewed HERE] But I need to talk about a door.

This door sits down the far end of the kitchen. It is a spare door. We think it used to be in the archway that separates the kitchen from the hall (there is no door there now). It was left here by the landlord (in fairness he didn't know we were moving in when we did, thanks to the rip-off estate agents, so perhaps he'd have got rid of it had he have had time). It has a big glass panel at the top and one at the bottom. And it's heavy. It's been left behind the door that seperates the kitchen from the back-room. This door is only shut if the dogs are in bed at night. But the spare door has always sat happily behind it be it open or shut. I forget it's there, to be honest. I just clean around it, mumble how it's kind of getting in the way, then forget all about it again.

That was until today.

When it fell on me.

I was vaccuming the kitchen floor and I pulled open the door between the kitchen and back-room to clean up the dog hair that had gathered there. One hand on the vaccum cleaner, my head tipped down looking at the floor, and suddenly I saw this great big thing - made of glass! - coming straight at me. I looked up just in time to see the glass a mere inch from my face. I don't know how I did it but I somehow managed to get my free hand up to catch the thing. My wrist twisted, I dropped the vaccum cleaner, that got crushed under the door, and grabbed the door with my second hand. I cried out for help but no one answered. So I pushed it back up, put it back in place and just stood there looking at it.

It's never fallen before. It hasn't even been moved so why it would suddenly decide to drop on me today I don't know. I hadn't even gone near it when it fell. Needless to say I was/am a little shaken up. I mean, that glass would have caused me some damage, not forgetting the sheer weight of the door probably would have knocked me out. Bleurgh. Doesn't bear thinking about. I know have an aching wrist, which hurts up to the elbow, but nothing's broken so I live to see another day.

I've texted Ray. He says we can smash the damn thing up tonight with a hammer. Hehe. He always knows how to cheer me up ;) I think the moral of this story is not to clean!

Labels: daddy, house stuff, illness, in-laws, life

by Ys | COMMENTS? 2 | permalink |

I read the following article and thought Ahh, thank God, at last someone who says it how it is:

• 'Miserable' voters slammed

Then I noticed there was nearly three hundred comments after it so I clicked on them and read a few. Everyone was disagreeing with the article, going on about how hard life was and how the Labour government had ruined our entire lives. I was beyond shocked. I mean, I was a child in the 80's so if I can remember how bad life used to be in this country why can't the older generation who were actually paying the bills during that time? How can people honestly say that we live hard, poor lives these days? Think of all the gadgets in your home and how much they cost. When I was a child we had hand-me-down clothes and toys, we could only just afford to run one car - and that car was not brand new, it was always second- or even third-hand. Our family "holidays" were just camping trips by the beach because we couldn't afford anything else. The high-paid, yuppies in the cities were well-off in the 80's but the ordinary people were not. These days those ordinary people are driving thousand-pound's worth of cars - at least two per home! They're jet-setting off to hot countries two or three times a year. Their children have mobile phones, and TV's and DVD's in their bedrooms. They have XBOX's and Playstations - and they have PC's as well.

I am so infuriated with the whining, whinging, self-obsessed people who live in this country alongside me! We all spent like lunatics for years and years and no one saved. This is the downside of living such a life. You always have to pay in the end. You'd have thought a credit-obsessed nation would understand that. But, no, they'd rather moo on about how hard their lives are because they can only afford to have one holiday a year. Well, in this house we can't even afford that one holiday. We can make the bills - just. The cost of the car kills us but we do what we know has to be done: we sacrifice frivulous spending, we sacrifice our social lives, so we can afford to live. That's how life has to be sometimes. If I'm only twenty-five and I've already got that message, why haven't the older generation?

And then I went along to Jenn's blog and she totally put into (beautiful) words exactly how I've been feeling lately.

Lately my... positivity(?) has been taking big hits. So last week I began working on gaining it back ("it" includes me enjoying work, having good self-esteem, being excited over the little things... ) All those things have been slipping away from me for the past month. I don't like be unhappy (who does?) b/c unhappiness is so addictive. it's so easy to stay unhappy and it's such a self-validating drug. It's destructive and I know it's not worth putting mental energy into.

Ray and I had a date last night (our first one in months cos we haven't been able to afford it) and I tried explaining to him how something feels missing from my life, as if I want to do something but I'm not sure what and it's driving me up the wall. That coupled with my everything's-getting-me-down mood has made me feel really weird lately. Money is a factor, I know that. Worrying about it and having to keep a tight hold on the reins, not being able to do whatever I want whenever I want. I have my independence but I've not really been able to use it since the first month we moved in because then life got in the way. I miss being happy and positive and giggly and silly. The house feels very oppressive. When Hilary stayed she lifted us all up and I worried about not a single thing. As soon as she left I felt the house dip again. I hated that.

So I'm making a firm decision now: no more moping, no more I-wish-this, no more listening to crap that doesn't even matter. I am in love, I am loved in return, I have my own place, Sweepie is a naughty little thing but she's my baby and I love her and I have her here with me. I have the sea and the beach and beautiful walks. I don't want to listen to woe-is-me anymore. I'm taking my life back. My life.

Enjoy your weekends! :)

Labels: life, love, money, politics, rant

by Ys | COMMENTS? 4 | permalink |

I got itchy feet with my writing/author/book website so I did a brand new layout:



What do you think?

I used books because obviously the website is about writing books, and I added pictures of my cute glasses, which are the ones I leave upstairs for when I'm writing. The orange colour just came from the glasses. I also decided to switch the updates over into Blogger because Jem wanted to subscribe to them :) Makes it all look a lot neater now, as well, I think; plus it'll be easier to update now.

That just leaves one more site to work on before I get back to my real job (writing)... my photo site. I'm thinking of closing it down. I never add anything new to it anymore because my photography bug seems to have passed itself onto Ray. I really only liked taking photos of the puppies and live bands anyway. I don't have any more puppies because they grew up (yes I do still love taking pictures of Sweepie but I don't feel they're good enough for a website; they're just for me), and the live bands I do see (if I see any) tend to be getting-squashed-down-the-front bands, where you do not want to take your precious camera (well I don't anyway). So I think the website might soon close down. I haven't decided yet, though.

I'll be a bit behind on the blog-reading today because I'm baby-sitting Falls for my mother (Sweepie's brother) and he needs constant attention. So I'll read the blogs tomorrow. Don't all post a hundred times just because I'm a day behind now, okay? ;)

Labels: Fall Out Boy, gigs, layout, photos, puppies, sweepie, websites, writing

by Ys | COMMENTS? 3 | permalink |

I just wrote a post and have deleted it. I'm in one of those moods today: can't settle on anything, my mind racing around a million ideas at once. I think I might start calling this My Last Pill For Another Week And I'm Freaking Out About The Fact That I Might Now Turn Into A Hormonal Girl day.

So instead of trying to tackle anything that might need my mind focused or might stir up hysteria (not that I think any of my posts could ever do that to be honest, but you get the drift...), I thought I'd post a picture of my new shower-rail and curtain.



The one that was here when we moved in was made of plastic. It held itself together for about a month before the poles started slipping away from the wall and drooping down further and further into the bath. It fell down on me once when I was in the shower but Ray managed to put it back together and it held on for another couple of weeks. By this time I'd found a new Shower Rail, which was chrome not plastic, and at a bargain price. Using Hilary's visit as an excuse, we all scraped together our pennies and bought the thing. To go with it, we treated ourselves to a new shower curtain (the original ones had gone disgustingly brown at the ends that would not budge even after I washed them).

So although our bathroom still makes an awful lot of noise (I will get round to posting about our Saniflo Toilet one of these days...) it does now have a very pretty shower-rail, and the curtain has brought some blue into an otherwise beige room. Oh how I hate beige after six months of living in it...

Labels: bathroom, house stuff, photos, toilet

by Ys | COMMENTS? 1 | permalink |

As I said in my last post, my friend Hilary came to stay at the weekend. And it was so much fun. I'd forgotten how much fun it was/is to have friends stay over. And she has so much energy!

On Saturday us three girls went down the pub for a drink and a catch-up. I can't remember everything we talked about because we seemed to talk about everything! Hilary serenaded us with a couple of songs. We thought she was kidding about one of them - actually we were convinced she'd just made it up but I have actually found it online! "Istanbul (Not Constantinople)". And, yes, she sang it all and that fast and she knew every single line! Hahaha.

In the evening we (including Ray this time: our photographer for the weekend) went for a walk around our cycle track - it is ours; we love it so it's ours. We showed off the crummybeach and then started teaching Hilary how to pronounce Welsh words. Cefn was her favourite because she pronounced it Kevin.



That night we stayed up talking 'til 1am. Religion and politics and school and sex education and friends we'd lost to sex or drugs. It was so good to discuss so much politics and religion, which are two of my favourite topics of discussion, because Hilary has so much knowledge on both. It was just so invigorating. I had no idea that the American law stated that religion and politcs were meant to be separate, and that therefore the party's are breaking the law. Fascinating. And on a weird side note: we saw one of the Mormon guys who tried to convert me a few weeks back.

On Sunday we went down one of our local woodland parks and had a picnic and a wander around, and, of course, did much talking. I don't think I've ever been with anyone who can talk that much and never run out of stories to tell. It was fantastic! We also gave Hilary her first ever pasty.

At 4pm we bid a sad farewell as Hilary climbed aboard her train and headed back to London, where she hoped to get some sleep, something of which she'd missed out on all weekend. I think we all moped around that night missing her company. She really injected some life into the house, after we'd all been getting quite stagnant and mopey about constantly being broke and the mundane 9-5 lifestyle.

Come back soon, Hilary! You're always welcome :) A few photos from the weekend.

Labels: friends, hilary, life, photos, politics, religion, woodland park

by Ys | COMMENTS? 3 | permalink |

Tomorrow I will be receiving my first official house guest. My friend Hilary.

Hilary is actually a friend of both me and Jemma because we both met her when we were hanging around outside Cardiff Arena waiting to see Five. Ahh, remember Five? All that getting jiggy with it and rocking us, etc., etc. Hilary had come over from Florida to see relatives (was it relatives you were visiting, Hils?) and because she was such a big fan of the band had persuaded a family member to drive her to Cardiff to see them. You see? People always slagged off boybands but just think how many people from different cultures they brought together? Just through being a Take That fan I made friends with girls from Germany to Finland to Australia.

But anyway I digress...

Jem and I got talking with Hilary about the band. I seem to recall doing my impersanations of the band (oh Lord whatever posessed me?). I think it was purely my British accent that won her over; it really couldn't have been my act. We swapped addresses and started writing to each other.

Our crushes on Five melted away to be replaced by other boybands then real life boys who broke all our fragile little hearts. I left school, Hilary's brain got bigger and bigger and she went onto uni. If there was one word I could use to describe Hilary it would be: brainy. She has the biggest mind I've ever known. And she's not at all snobby or pretentious with it. She has to be one of the few intelligent people I've met who listen to everything everyone says and learns something new every single time.

A few years ago, Hilary came to London for the summer. We were broke (aren't we always?) so she came to see us. We showed her our not-so-glorious town and got very silly over some men playing bowls. Then last year Hilary got her wish: to study in London full-time (as if any uni was really going to turn her down?). Finally, after much juggling of work and finances, Hilary is coming to stay this weekend and we're going to finally see each other again after four years.

I haven't had a houseguest since my friend Sarah came to stay back in the summer of 2003 (Ray aside who was a completely different kind of guest). What if I've forgotten how to entertain? What if Hilary goes home saying what an awful hostess I/we were? I have activities planned and, weather permitting, it should all be lots of fun.

So, welcome back to Wales, Hilary. You will be the first person to stay here overnight in our little house. I hope you have fun :) And don't be afraid of our extremely loud toilet (that deserves a post all of it's own).

Labels: boybands, five, friends, hilary, house stuff, take that

by Ys | COMMENTS? 3 | permalink |

I'm having trouble settling down with a book. I still want to read and still find myself curling up with a book but I can't seem to find the right one for my mood.

I thought I'd love the Mary Magdalene book but that didn't grab me at all...

The Secret Gospel of Mary Magdalene by Michelle Roberts

rating: 1 of 5 stars

It's not often I can't finish a book but this one just didn't grab me at all. I thought it might be interesting but it wasn't. A lot of people have said it's controversial and passionate but for me it just didn't show me anything new. I'm not at all shocked by the idea that Jesus might have had sex, that he might have been in love with someone. The idea that women need to be liberated and celebrated in the Bible isn't a great cause of mine. I believe if you are a true Christian then you know that God means love and that's all that really matters - be you woman or man: both are equal, be you whore or celibate: God loves you.

I hope to go back to the book in a few weeks time. Maybe on second read I'll get further along. I'd like to complete it if only to see what makes it so controversial.

After putting that one down I had an urge to read one of the books that I read every year or so but I still couldn't decide on which one. Plus I had a couple of other books from the library I wanted to read because God knows if I'd find them again. I struck it lucky.

The Girls by Lori Lansens

rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is a very touching book about sisterhood, only it's tackled in a way which I found to be very true-to-life. The gripes the sister's have about each other, the love that they share which is very unique, as any person who has a close bond with their sibling can relate to.

My favourite thing about this book was the fact that although they both witnessed the same events they remember them in completely different ways to each other. That is something I think we should all try to remember: that no matter how we're affected by something the person next to you will be seeing it in a completely different way and reacting to it accordingly.

I was sad to see the end of this book. The ending was bittersweet and brought tears to my eyes. This is a story that is both moving and funny: a book I will definitely be recommending to others.

The only problem is I enjoyed that book so much I don't know what to read next. I thought about Stephen King's Dark Tower series but I don't think it's quite right for my mood. Then I wondered about Cell because I really enjoyed that one. But I think maybe I might go back to the Idlewild Series because I love, love, love those books.

Any good book recommendations for me?

Labels: reading, religion, review

by Ys | COMMENTS? 3 | permalink |

I'm broody.

This happens from time to time. I have this overwhelming urge to be a mother. It's not neccasarily about babies or being pregnant or any of that, it's just about being a mother. I've always felt like this. That's why I assumed I'd adopt or foster, that that's what I was made to do. Originally I didn't question it but now I wonder if it's God's plan for me, or/and if maybe my one remaining ovary might be a dud. Losing the ability to have children would be extremely depressing, no matter how much I want to adopt/foster because then the choice is taken away and not being able to conceive feels like the worst pain imaginable.

I'm going to blame my cousin for this recent bout of broodiness. I went to visit her and her family (my aunt, uncle and other cousin) last week. She had a child four years ago who I've only seen once before and that was a few years ago. It was at a family party so he was asleep and being taken off to bed. So this was the first time I really met him. And what a kid he is to meet. He doesn't stop talking - ever. He's the most confident child I think I've ever met. I'll admit that during the first hour I was petrified of him. I thought there was no way I was ever going to have children. But once he calmed down and stopped showing off he became this adorable little boy who just needed constant attention. We ended up playing Refreshment Library Trolley for about an hour, with him delivering us books and giving us all of a minute to read them.

I can see that living with him, raising him, being with him twenty-four-seven would be an endurance test of the most patient, but just visiting him for a few hours has set off the mother within and now I'm broody for my own little nest of children. The weird part is is that I know I don't really want children now. I think there's an inner battle between Psychotic Mother Me who wants to save all the children of the world now now now, and Sensible Selfish Me who wants time to grow up without children hanging off me, wants to be alone with Ray before children come into the mix, and, well, we honestly can't afford children.

Needless to say, I think Ray is keeping a very close eye on my Pill packet to make sure I'm swallowing all the tablets ;)

Labels: broody, children, motherhood, ray

by Ys | COMMENTS? 2 | permalink |

I know I'm blogging again only a day later but I didn't want to leave the weekend with such an angry and bitter post. It would have spoilt the excitement I feel about having a weekend on my doorstep. I do love the weekends. So a happy post instead...

The first blog, and website, I ever had was called STUPID FAT HOBBIT. I was obsessed with Lord of the Rings and the line was always a favourite of mine from the film. For those who don't know the scene goes as follows...

Gollum finds some rabbits and tries to make Frodo eat them raw. Sam takes them off him and boils them...

Gollum: Argh! What's it doing? Stupid, fat hobbit! You ruins it.

Sam: What's to ruin? There's hardly any meat on 'em. What we need is a few good taters.

Gollum: What's taters, precious? What's taters, eh?

Sam: Po-Ta-Toes! Boil 'em, mash 'em, stick 'em in a stew. Lovely, big golden chips with a nice piece of fried fish.

I always liked the "taters" exchange as well but I couldn't think of a good way to play with the dialogue to come up with a good website name. So I stuck with Stupid Fat Hobbit.

People used to come to see the blog just because of the name. I understand that's probably because the entire world was obsessed with Lord of the Rings at the time. It was still a snazzy title, though.

I thought I'd look it up, see if someone else had nicked my fabulous name. If they hadn't I thought I might reclaim it, take another blog, fill it with nonsense that wouldn't fit on here. Maybe go completely against the silly title and fill it with my political rants. But those plans are on hold now cos it turns out someone did take the name.

But that was my first blog anyway. Stupid Fat Hobbit. Filled with stories from my daily life and girlish squeeing over Lord of the Rings and its cast. I closed that a few years ago, tried a new one, closed that within a couple of months. I put the new one at my main domain (Incidently, another Lord of the Rings quote, this one from Sean Bean, who I will always adore). But, typical me, when it started getting fifty-odd hits a day I got bored and closed it down. I've never liked being popular. And finally my new blog was opened here at A Light's On. Why A Light's On? No particular reason. I just thought it was a bit clever. You know, how there's a light on at still-sharpe.com, as in I'm in, hello, come talk to me. It wasn't meant to be a blog originally. I thought I'd use the subdomain to house some art stuff. But I longed for my blog again so I let it become a blog instead.

It's nearly two years old now. Probably the longest I've stuck at any blog. I'm not bored yet, it's not overly popular so I don't need to start freaking out about too many people knowing too much about me. I get about thiry-odd hits a day, which for me is more than enough. I kind of like it that I attract people who don't comment because I'm much the same myself: I prefer to read and not comment, which may have something to do with being shy in real life.

To say thank you to everyone for reading and returning to read sounds a bit silly but, you know what I mean. I'm glad some people out there find my words in some way entertaining. As a writer that means a lot to me :) Happy blogging! And have a great weekend; and maybe watch "Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers" to enjoy the stupid, fat hobbit line ;)

Labels: blogging, lord of the rings, websites

by Ys | COMMENTS? 4 | permalink |

This morning I had to go and see the estate agent to try and get my bond back. He'd been adamant that on the 5 June he'd sign the paper and we could have our money. Of course today he tells us that we have to wait 'til 4 July because that's the earliest it can be retrieved. Understandably I got extremely annoyed. The contract he reckons we have with his agency isn't valid because the contract he had with our landlord was broken - by him breaking the agreements of said contract by not paying the landlord any of the rent we'd paid through the estate agent - therefore any hold he had over this house and of the people living in it (i.e. us) was over. He won't accept that, though. He still thinks the landlord has a contract with them!

The landlord ditched them back in March and we had a new contract directly with him from the beginning of that month. Therefore the estate agents should have got in touch with the government scheme holding our deposit money, explained their company was a waste of space who stole money off people, and then our deposit would have been released and we'd have had our money. But, no, he won't do that. He thinks he's right and we're wrong. So I shouted. I know you're not meant to do that. I know you're meant to stay calm, explain your situation, get your point across calmly, etc., etc. but I've already done that too many times to remember. So I told his contract meant nothing, that I knew my rights, that I was going to get that deposit back whether he liked it or not. I said I'd ring the people myself and get it back. I had to leave the shop (storm out more like... ;D) then because I honestly thought I was going to hit him. And I'm not a violent person in any way. He just really wound me up.

Half an hour later Jemma got a phone call from him. He'd rang the place who had our deposit (the government scheme thingy that keeps all deposits safe from scrupulous estate agents and landlords who'd otherwise pocket it) and he claimed they said they couldn't release our money 'til 4 July. But that he'd sign the cheque himself in front of us on that day. If he doesn't have our money himself, if that deposit money is in this government scheme then why would he be the one signing the cheque? I'm very suspicious. I've contacted the government scheme place myself and am waiting to hear if our money is with them or not. If it's not there'll be hell to pay. No one steals from me! Not when I'm so skint I need every penny I can get.

The moral of the story is: shout and demand and you get things moving. As to whether or not I'll ever get this damn deposit money back... well I'll just have to wait another month to see.

Labels: estate agent, house stuff, jem, money

by Ys | COMMENTS? 2 | permalink |

I got waylaid and ended up reading...

Children of the Dust by Louise Lawrence


rating: 5 of 5 stars

I first read this book when I stole it from my older sister who was reading it for a school project. The first section of the book "Sarah" had me in tears. Being of a similar age to Sarah I was really upset by the horrors she had to face.

The next two books go on to show the next generations of Sarah's family and how they survived the nuclear holocaust. It's an interesting view. I like the way the author didn't shy away from the mutilation, from the harsh reality of life after a nuclear holocaust.

It still is one of my favourite books and I read it frequently.

View all my reviews.

I love that book so much. I think it's what made me a little bit sickly obsessed with nuclear war. I'm calling it research for my next novel but really that's a lie. My next book does not deal with nuclear war but it does deal with bombs of some nature, more the long-term effects. Yes, the new novel is dark.

There was also, rather spookily, a programme on TV What Would Happen If Human's Suddenly Disappeared, which was also very helpful.

I'm a little weirded out by how much information I'm getting without even having to really sit down and do proper research. I'll take it a sign from God that my next project should be Olimpia Valley. That I should stop thinking about what to do and start planning the damn book. At least sort out the concept. I still don't know whether to do a series or one big novel, how to set the chapters out - long or short? One character's perspective or a few? Whether to pepper the chapters with additional information, such as history and politics? Hmm, so many questions to answer. I love this part best of all. So many ideas, so much excitement, so much hope.

And last night Ray and I went out on an impromptu date to... Homebase, where we played house. I've found the toilet seat of my dreams. Ray says he'll buy me it for Christmas ;) I also fell in love with some handles for the kitchen units (can't find them on the website...). And something we should be picking up this weekend: Shower Rail because the plastic crappy one the landlord left us with has fallen apart for the last time. I can't wait 'til we're able to do proper decorating in our own house.

Labels: house stuff, olimpia valley, ray, reading, review, writing

by Ys | COMMENTS? 2 | permalink |

Wow it's been a busy weekend.

First of all: Joe Absolom finally has a new project. So I was running round (online obviously) trying to find news about that. I love it when he does new projects cos I get to play with my site :)

The weekend was ruled by dog-sitting. Not paid this time, just looking after the dogs, cats, rabbits and birds for my parents while they're away on their holidays. Amber was doing some days and when she was out me and Ray took up the challenge. The first afternoon was awful. The dogs were wound up because we'd brought Sweepie with us and just basically misbehaved the entire time. We went back Saturday for the night and that was much more bearable. We watched Alien Vs Predator - Requiem. It was Ray's choice of film. I didn't really understand what was going on so just before it ended I had to admit my stupidity and ask him what the Predator guy was up to. He explained the history of it (why didn't the film explain he was after the Queen Alien?) and then it made more sense. It was still quite a pants film, though.

In between all the dog-sitting, I suggested we go have a picnic in the water park. That was really nice. The sun was out, it was lovely and warm, the dogs had a great time, and we treated ourselves to some yummy food. Mmm. The coast was covered in mist from the sea so we went for a walk in it. It was quite spooky. And when we came home the second time from my parents house, we decided to eat pizza and chips outside in the garden. It was great to be able to really enjoy our surroundings and make the most of it. The picnic, the walk on the beach, the dinner in the garden: it was great to really appreciate this place, this place that is my home. I'm so lucky :)

You can see pictures from my weekend here, including shots from home, the picnic, the beach and our dinner in the garden.

Not being at home for most of the weekend does mean I have heaps of stuff to catch up on today. Expect multiple comments on missed blog entries, emails answered, my hair freshly dyed and a new book to read because Ray liked the sound of other one I was meant to start and has nicked it to read first.

Labels: amber, beach, daddy, dog-sitting, films, house stuff, joe absolom, life, mammy, photos, ray, reading, websites

by Ys | COMMENTS? 3 | permalink |