Hello all,

Yes I am doing that personal task I set myself. So far, 2 down, 363 to go. I did try and get the link to my pictures in my sig (I thought putting them all on here wouldn't really be appreciated as most of them are not 'art' as such, they're just pictures) but failed to make it a link, so you will just have to copy-paste it. Ner.

It's been great to do so far though. Yes I am only two days into it, but allready it's made me look at the world around me differently and pick out things I wouldn't usually have done.

Went into town today, taking the scenic route through a little country lane for some picture inspiration. Had a browse round the shops and was mentally adding up how much what I wanted would cost, decided to check I had enough after New Years' Eve's frivolties ... and realised I had left my purse at home. Buggger! Boy am I glad I noticed when I did!

Poped round to see my parents for a bit as well, and bought some muisc out of the new charity shop near them. So pleased, as I found Different Class by Pulp (an awesome album I already have), with 12 picture cards in it so you can change the cover picture. For £1.50? That is so mine! Yes, I do now have two copies of that album, but one is worth so much more than the other! Whooo! (Sorry, music is a passion of mine).

Came back with a bundle of food (thanks mum) and will be back tomorrow to put my christmas stuff in their loft - it's a damn site safer than my one. The entrance is right at the top of the landing, so if you miss your footing on the ladder, you fall downstairs. Not fun.

Hey folks,

How is everyone? I hope you all had a jolly Christmas! And that Santa brought you everything you wished for. He didn't? Well, you were obviously naughty and not nice then, weren't you?

Myself I had an awesome time with my family. Saw my brother and his girlfriend too, which was lovely. And we actually managed to play a board game without it ending in tears! Wow! That is something to go down in history, I am ashamed to say. I have always loved playing board games, and tried to with my family at Christmas for a number of years now. It brings us together and makes us talk to each other, rather than sit and stare at the rubbish they put on TV. However, my mum gets bored of them (or is usually cooking dinner at the same time, thus not able to play properly); my dad is a stickler for rules and woe betide anyone who tries to bend them the slightest bit (it also helps if he wins); my brother tends to rile my dad by arguing with him; and I sit there thinking "Why did I try this again?"

Past escapades of family Pictionary ended in tears when my dad despaired that I didn't get his drawing of an Aardvark for what it was (I thought it was a tall rat, ok?); Monopoly would end with him buying Mayfair and Park Lane and making the rest of us bankrupt; Scrabble resulted in fights over weather a word was genuine or not (though I did win once, which was awesome!). But this year, it was my mum who suggested a game (WTF?!). She asked me to bring Articulate. So I did. And we played it. And no fighting occurred! Success! I think it was mainly because being the only one who had played it before, I alone knew the rules, so my dad couldn't lord it over everyone. The alcohol probably helped too. But whatever, we all had a jolly good time playing it And my team won, which was an added bonus

I also got some awesome presents - love the new flat screen TV!! Freeview at my fingertips at last, huzzah! Got some nice bath stuff, Jelly Bean machine, Snow Patrol CD, slippers, socks (I love my socks), earrings, Wallace and Gromit playing cards, Tipping the Velvet DVD, Heavenly Creatures DVD. Much love to everyone - secret Santa’s and those who admitted they bought me said item!

I have decided to do a Photo-a-day thing for next year. My brother inspired me on this - he did so this year, on Flicker. I'm not on that site, but rather fancied the idea - it will give me a good chance to improve my currently very poor photography skills. At the moment I tend to just point and shoot, so I'm hoping this will make me take into account the lighting angle and such. Whoo! I like challenges

If you're clever, you will have noticed there are no New Year Resolutions on this journal ... that's because I got the title off the Christmas special of Outnumbered last night. Karen (who is about 5) was making New Year Resolutions, and reading her list. The conversation between her and her mum went something like this:
KAREN (reading from list): "I will not call people idiots."
MUM: Yes, that's a good one.
KAREN: "I will try not to tell lies."
MUM: Very good. I like that one.
KAREN: "Mummy will stop nagging me."
MUM: Well done. Wait, what? No, sweetheart, you make resolutions for yourself, not other people.

Classic! I love that show. But what Karen was doing made me think ... should we make resolutions for ourselves, or should we ask our closest friends and relatives to do so for us instead? They might be more critical of things we need to do to improve our lives. Just a thought for you all.

Take care.

Fang
-x-

Hey folks,

This is probably going to be my last journal before Christmas, so merry christmas and a happy new year to all! I hope you all had much fun in 2009 and that there's plenty more to come in 2010.

Myself I had a rather life-changing year and one a damn site better than last year (well, part of last year anyroad). I re-aquainted myself with some very dear friends and turned to going down the pub with them usuall twice a week, unless it was a strain on my finances - then I opted for one of the two nights they'd go out. They're an awesome bunch of friends who pulled me through last year's struggles (as did some wonderful people through here, so many thanks for that - you know who you are!) and I even went out with one of them for a bit ... until I realised quite what a player he was. But hey. It's all fun and games. And I learnt some interesting stuff whilst doing so

I now have a fantastic new flat which I share with a lovelly guy called Chris and it couldn't be in a better location! Could do with the door bell working, but hey, that's minor details. Caught up with a dear old friend from primary school too.

Got myself involved with three secret santas this year - gah! Work, pub crew and FW. Dear lord! All much fun though. Work's we all get to open presents of tomorrow, pub crew was last night (I was given some interesting presents, and got 4 of my potential santas knocked out without even trying! So that leaves me with 6 people that it could be ... hmmmmm .....)

And now I will shut up and let you lot get on with your lives. But first ...

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

Hey folks,

bit of 'news' as it were for you. I was flicking through the Daily Mail at lunch (there's usually some kind of paper lying about at work), and there was this article that some uni student had done about the sexism in Thomas The Tank Engine. Her little kid watched the show and loved it for what it is - a great kids show - but the mum was all up in arms about how the female characters get side-lined, and that Thomas and his friends are in some kind of heriarchy system among their train buddies, and the cartoon will have drastic effects on kids and how they live their lives.

Much as her view was interesting to read, and actually she kind of had a point, I was mostly thinking "Just leave it alone, will you?! Never did me or anyone I know to watch that show as a kid." I seriously have something against people who get all uppity about legendary shows like that and deem them 'unfit' for children. Does anyone else agree, or am I just a bit of a nutcase?

Anyroad ... rant over ...

I copied this idea off as I think it's an awesome, inspiring one. This is a season of good will and enjoyment, and we can all bring a little of both to someone's lives if we just stop and think for a moment. So have a read though this and see what you can do.

WHAT DO I DO?

Write a Christmas/Holiday wish list of 10 wishes you'd like to have granted, no matter what they are. Possible or seemingly impossible. Then anyone passing by takes a look and grants the wishe(s) if they can. This is not a "I want! I want! I want!" thing, it's more a "Hey, I have that and don't need it. That person would like it. I know, I'll send it to them!" kind of thing.

STEP ONE

** Make a post in your journal. The post should contain your list of 10 holiday wishes. The wishes can be anything at all, from simple and fun ("I'd love a Snape/Hermione icon that's just for me") to medium ("I wish for _____ on DVD") to really big ("All I want for Christmas is a new car/computer/house/TV.") The important thing is, make sure these wishes are things you really, truly want.

** If you wish for real possible things, make sure people can get them to you! Message / note them your contact details.

** Also, make sure you post some version of these guidelines in your journal, so that others can join in and participate to spread the holiday joy!


STEP TWO

** Surf around your friend list to see who has posted their list. And now here's the important part:

** If you see a wish you can grant, and it's in your heart to do so, make someone's wish come true. Sometimes someone's trash is another's treasure, and if you have a leather jacket you don't want or a gift certificate you won't use--or even know where you could get someone's dream purebred Basset Hound for free--do it.

** You needn't spend money on these wishes unless you want to. The point isn't to put people out, it's to provide everyone a chance to be someone else's holiday elf--to spread the joy. Gifts can be made anonymously or not--it's your call.

THERE ARE NO RULES WITH THIS PROJECT, NO GUARANTEES, AND NO STRINGS ATTACHED. Just...wish, and it MIGHT come true. Give, and you MIGHT receive. And you'll have the joy of knowing you made someone's holiday special.

So, my wish-list is thus:

* A deck of cards (playing cards, as in Ace, King, Queen etc) from somewhere outside the UK.
* Everyone has a damn good time this christmas!
* Music from what, to you, is a local band.
* People not to be ill over the festive season.
* Poetry from an unpublished author.
* Snow on christmas morning! That would be amazing
* X-factor and other such rubbish 'talent' shows to be obliterated!
* Tickets to next year's IOW festival.
* People to shut up about how awesome Twilight is *sigh*
* Justice to be done to those who deserve it.

Merry christmas everyone!