Mama Mia, here I go again, my my how can I resist ya?

Mama Mia was amazing! If you ever get the chance, go and see it! Here are some photos, none of the actual show as we weren't allowed!
The very beginning...
Girls' night out!
Jo and Robin - don't they make a cute couple?
Before it started
A typical Jen and Juls pose ;-)

Jen and Juls arguing about who did the best dance moves in the car...
Jen Flem
Jen and Juls in the toiletten (the Ladies to be polite)
Jo and Robin again - funny how they always seem to be together in photos...
Steph doesn't like getting her photo taken.

I'm going to see mama mia tonight!

Youth service last nite, I really enjoyed it, even though i did go home and work till 3 in the morning! That was worth it though because I was all prepared for my tutor visit today.

Going to see the Abba-ness of mama mia tonite

Youth Night

Tonight was our church's second youth outreach night. There was blackout cloth over all the walls and it looked amazing. The band was also rocking it out, they were called The Reason but they used to be Smallfish, if anyone remembers them... Of course come tomorrow night and you'll hear the best band of all, our very own THICKET ;-) if you don't agree with that opinion, please don't tell me, you'll burst my bubble, or as I said to my mum the other day, stick a pin in my balloon!!. Don't try that thicket link for a wee while, the site's being redesigned, but you can look at our blog or our myspace.

Over and out.

Laura x

Petition - signatures needed!

Who liked Lee-Anne's blog? If you want to join me in the campaign for her to start posting again, please sign your name in the comments section. Thankyou.

Doin' my markin'

Teaching practice over for the week and I've a mountainload of marking to do. I'm not doing that right now though, I'm typing out the lesson plans I scribbled out for last week because my tutor's coming out on Monday. Also trying to plan out next week so I don't stay up until 4.30 EVER AGAIN like I did on Wednesday night.

MY TEAM CAME 2nd IN A TABLE QUIZ LAST NIGHT. My usual place is 2nd last (meaning we don't even get the booby prize) so I'm rather chuffed. I probably should have been in my bed but I slept in till 10.30 this morning to make up for it.

Curl up and dye?

Today is the 100th anniversary of perms. It's amazing the things you learn in school staffrooms. Honestly, I dread to think what perms were like in 1906, they can't have been that effective...

Apparently the man who invented perms burnt off all his wife's hair while experimenting... i wonder did she soon after become his ex-wife?

Have you ever had a perm? Leave a comment and tell us about it

I haven't. But I would like my hair permanently straightened!

My Groovy Weekend...

Well i don't think from today it will be groovy cos i'm teaching the children again on monday and have to work hard to prepare lessons. But on thursday nite I stayed at Julie's and had a cool time. We went to uni, then to McDonald's in Carryduff, then to Jenny's to mind her wee brov and watch Peter Pan (such a good movie!), then to Julie's for her mum's famous (and very tasty) curry then back to Jenny's for yummy chocolate cake (shh don't tell I broke lent) and then back out to Glengormley cinema to watch Lucky Number Slevin which is a brilliant movie! No joking; I know some people out there wouldn't think I'd enjoy it but I really did, apart from the bit where the guy got a baseball thrown in his eye - that was a bit gross!

Went to Indianaland last nite with the youth club, but cried* cos they wouldn't let me in (I'm neither under 12 nor under 5 foot, but I thought I would have at least passed for being under 12!)

Tonight was supposed to be going to Manifest with the yf but since they didn't need me to drive and i have loads of work to do (sob sob) i didn't go. Bit disappointed about that, i really enjoyed manifest last couple of times i went, the band's excellent!

So tonight and tomorrow avo I'll have to do loads of work. Please think about me while you're enjoying yourself.

Thanks,

Laura*

*this is a joke, i didn't really cry.

Hey...just thot I'd make a wee post about...nothing. What have I done today? I've been to uni, that's about it, ooh and went to Foo Kin for lunch. I think that's how you spell it. It's a really cool chinese where you can eat all you can for a mere fiver, of course us feeble females could only get thru one helping so maybe it's not such good value as we think...

Gonna start taking some random photos and posting them cos my wee rambles are getting less and less interesting ... maybe it's just my life... you can decide on that!

Ooh another wee thing - THICKET (you know, the really cool band i'm in) played for the last time ever at REAL youth church, i'm going to miss it, we've played every month since last September and i now know a couple of people. BUT we are playin at Campbell College later this month and also at something in Enniskillen so looking forward to those.

I better go here it's past my bedtime. Please leave a comment if you're passing through, I love reading them, although no more proposals unless you tell me who you are. Oh and mr I L Oveyou...love to know who you are too!

Yesterday I was really excited. I found something i used to eat years ago but haven't been able to find for ages. Anyone remember ready-to-bake croissant dough in a tin? Well I baked them today for my lunch and they were delicious, a little overdone but still nicer than the ones you buy in Tesco (i know i bought this in tesco, but i meant the ready-baked ones!!) Of course once I've been to gay Paris I'll probably think they're not a patch on the originals but hey!

Watch for Ice

It's been snowing for a few days now. I still haven't put the de-icer back into my boot, or my ice-scraper, or even a flask of lukewarm water which would also do the trick! So I have had several experiences of this routine lately:

1. Trying to open up my car and finding that the lock's frozen
2. Eventually unfreezing the lock and discovering that the door is also frozen.
3. Yanking open the door
4. Getting frostbite while trying to clear my window manually (unsuccessfully)
5. Putting on my wipers and trying to squirt on some water (usually frozen)
6. Seeing if I can possibly see for a short distance until it clears itself
7. FINALLY running back into house in a hurry for some lukewarm water OR borrowing workmates' de-icer.
8. Driving off while defrosting my fingers on the 'just off freezing cold' air from my car's blower.
9. Realising my rear windscreen is also frozen and just hoping i don't have to reverse before the heated windscreen makes the ice melt.
10. Worrying about 'Little Chip' turning into 'Big Chip'.

Your Candy Heart Says "Hug Me"

A total sweetheart, you always have a lot of love to give out. Your heart is open to where ever love takes you! Your ideal Valentine's Day date: a surprise romantic evening that you've planned out Your flirting style: lots of listening and talking What turns you off: fighting and conflict Why you're hot: you're fearless about falling in love

What Does Your Candy Heart Say?

You Are Fozzie Bear

"Wocka! Wocka!" You're the life of the party, and you love making people crack up. If only your routine didn't always bomb! You may find more groans than laughs, but always keep the jokes coming.

The Muppet Personality Test

The Rules of Shotgun

Prior to a conversation with friends last night, I was not aware that there were rules to shotgun. This made me curious to what they were so I did a google search.

The front seat of a passenger vehicle, next to the driver, is called the shotgun in an apparent, though disputable, reference to men who rode on stage coaches next to the driver with a shotgun to protect the stage from banditos (highwaymen), literally "riding shotgun." No use of the term is recorded during the actual years during which stage coaches were in use; the first known reference to "riding shotgun" in print occurred on 27 March 1921, and the first use of the phrase in print to refer to automobiles occurred in 1954 when the TV series Gunsmoke became extremely popular, and used the terminology of riding shotgun nearly weekly). [1]

In contemporary tradition, in order to claim that seat, one must "call shotgun" according to a set of standard rules. Today, many passengers consider the front passenger seat to be preferable to riding in rear seats due largely to greater control over leg room, an unobstructed view out the windshield, and better access to the vehicle's stereo and air conditioning system. In the United States and some other English-speaking regions, there is a longstanding tradition — especially among teenagers and young adults — of trying to get to sit in the seat next to the driver of a motor vehicle.

To call shotgun is to, at minimum, yell out "shotgun" while approaching the vehicle. Depending on the situation and group, rules may also be enforced in order for the call to be valid. However, in most cases this is not necessary by virtue of calling "shotgun" in the first place. In some groups, yelling "shotty" or "gunshot" are also acceptable and equivalent. The specific rules are the subject of much heated but good-natured debate, and a number of websites claim to have the official rules.

"Calling shotgun" is also done in situations other than driving a vehicle in which order is important. For example, when playing a console game, it is typical for the loser of the round to give up his controller; the next person to play is the one who called shotgun.
In certain regions the term is called "next".

THE ABOVE CONTENT THANKS TO WIKIPEDIA

Now for the rules...

1. The first person to yell 'Shotgun!' gets to ride in the passenger seat.
2. The word 'shotgun' must be loud enough to be heard by at least one witness. If no witness is to be found, or in case of a tie, the driver has the final word. After all, it is most likely his car. (note: if it isn't his car, and the owner is present, the owner's decision is final.
3. Early calls are strictly prohibited. All occupants of the vehicle (including the driver) must be outside of the building and directly on the way to the vehicle before shotgun may be called. Under no circumstances may a person call shotgun inside a building. For sake of simplicity, a garage is considered to be outside. Parking structures and detached garages are always considered as being outdoors, even if they are underground.
4. The person calling 'shotgun' must be within sight of the car in which he/she will be travelling. (the line of sight rule)
5. A person may only call shotgun for one way of a trip. Shotgun can never be called while inside a vehicle or still technically on the way to the first location. For example, one can not get out of a vehicle and call Shotgun for the return journey.
7. One is allowed to ride shotgun as many times as he can call it, but for himself only. No one can call shotgun for their slower friend, unless the friend has a speech or mental handicap that prevents them from calling it for themselves.
8. The driver has final say in all ties and disputes. The driver has the right to suspend or remove all shotgun privileges from one or more persons.
9. Variations of the word 'shotgun' which are allowed include 'shot' and 'topshop' (ask jen). Variations which are not allowed are 'i'm in the front' (ask jo)


Special Cases
These special exceptions to the rules above should be considered in the order presented; the case listed first will take precedence over any of the cases beneath it, when applicable.
1. If the person who owns the car is not the driver, he/she is automatically given shotgun and section 8 from above applies to them and not the driver.
2. In the instance the driver's spouse, or partner is going to accompany the group, he/she is automatically given Shotgun, unless they decline.
3. In the instance that one of the passengers may become so ill during the course of the journey that the other occupants feel he/she will toss their cookies, then the ill person should be given Shotgun to make appropriate use of the window.
4. In the instance that only one person knows how to get to a given location and this person is not the driver, then as the designated navigator for the group they automatically get Shotgun, unless they decline.
5. In the instance that one of the occupants is too wide or tall to fit comfortably in the back seat, then the driver may show mercy and award Shotgun to the genetic misfit. Alternatively, the driver and other passengers may continually taunt the poor fellow as they make a three hour trip with him crammed in the back.

Survival of the Fittest Rules
1. If the driver so wishes, he/she may institute the Survival Of The Fittest Rules on the process of calling Shotgun. In this case all rules, excepting 1.8, are suspended and the passenger seat is occupied by whoever can take it by force.
2. The driver must announce the institution of the Survival Of The Fittest Rules with reasonable warning to all passengers. This clause reduces the amount of blood lost by passengers and the damage done to the vehicle.
3. Please follow the above rules to the best of your ability. If there are any arguments or exceptions not covered in these rules, please refer to rule 8 in the first section.

Hope these are extensive enough to cover any arguments. If not, I don't know what I could do to help, perhaps refer you to a psychiatrist for taking things too seriously??

Sometimes Tuesday mornings feel just as bad as Monday mornings...

How cute!

Lee-anne is clearing out her room at the minute and tonight I acquired two boxes of hair dye and an eyeshadow (thanks daahling!) I think I'll visit Lee-anne (and Lisa's) house more often! HAPPY BIRTHDAY LISA!!!!!! (the reason I was at their house tonight!)

It has been pointed out that I omitted to include the source of my knowledge of de-lurking week. Ok I first heard about the idea on The Teahouse but, John, I did go straight to the source (can't remember that person's blog address rite now but I'm very grateful, whoever you are!)

Just to clarify a little bit about my last post. I am, believe it or not, a bit of a romantic. I think Pride and Prejudice is the best love story out etc etc. I simply find as a single person that Valentine's Day is a bit pointless. But that's not even what the post is about, I just genuinely thought that these were very funny, and as an aside would cheer up an otherwise pointless day!

Anyway enough of that waffle. How was your day? It's officially de-lurking week, meaning that if you visit a site you have to leave a comment. Simple as that. So go on, what you waiting, what you waiting for? (slightly plagerised from Gwen Stefani - you will forgive me Gwen my mate won't you?)

This made me laugh...

Sorry it's a bit late to cheer up your Valentine's Day, but maybe you'll remember it for next year! Pictures and captions copied without permission from another site. But I have linked, Cap'n!

This just goes to prove to those who want to believe it that Valentine's day is stupid and a waste of time. At the worst it'll take your mind off not getting any cards; who would want to get these ones anyway!

PS i don't really think Valentine's Day is stupid and a waste of time, it only is if you don't get any cards.





Hello, I'm Batman. When I was just a child, my parents were murdered right in front of my eyes. I made a solemn vow that day to commit my life to fighting crime. I've sacrificed my childhood and any efforts toward personal enjoyment. My nights are spent in deadly combat with everything from common street thugs to grotesque psychopaths. What little sleep I ever get is usually interupted by horrible nightmares and my waking up soaked in sweat. I fight a war that can never be won. I strive toward a goal that can never be reached. I am haunted. I am relentless. I am tortured.
Won't you be my valentine?




So sad.
It's the card that says, "I've given up on any hope of real love, and will accept any affection I can get, even if I know it is only in pity."
Just what is the Cupid doing here anyway? Here's your pity, lady! Whack!




How is this read?
We would make a happy pear.
OR
We would make a happy mutant freak with a repulsive, oversized fruit for a head that enjoys sailor suits and pie.
Also, the pear-monster doesn't look happy to me at all.But, then, why should he?




This is the card to send if you want your boy in the armed forces to get relentlessly ribbed by the rest of the squad before he secretly cries himself to sleep over a mix of humiliation and a desperate longing to be back home with his girl.By the way, which war was it that we sent the four-year-olds to fight?




This card reads "Loving thoughts to my Valentine."Above it, there is a picture of two goats ramming into each other with intense violence.If you can make any sense out of this at all, please leave a comment!




"To fall out of love is simply awful."But not nearly as awful as the sight of these horrific, bitter Valentine heads. Valentine's answer to drama's comedy and tragedy masks: angry and sleazy.




To see more of these fabulously ridiculous valentine's cards, visit Cap'n Wacky's site.

In the absence of anything interesting to write, I thought it might be a good idea to write about myself! So here goes...

These are some little things about me you might or might not know, some of my favourites...


My favourite songs in the Whole Wide World:
I can only Imagine - Mercy Me
Angels - Robbie Williams
Let there be Love – Oasis
Umm Bop – Hansen
Staring at the Sun – Rooster
Run - Snow Patrol
Beautiful - Christina Aguilera
Accidentally in Love - Counting Crows


My favourite places:
Glasgow
Anywhere in Scotland, especially Girvan, Ayr, the west coast, Skye, Fortwilliam, Inverness, Aviemore, did I mention Glasgow??
Portrush
Coleraine
Portstewart
Anywhere on the north coast
Bantry Bay (near Cork)
Killarney, Kenmare, Clear Island (goats ice-cream - yummy!), Dingle Pass, Lauragh (yes, there IS a village named after me!)
Anywhere past Larne on the coast road
Anywhere new

My favourite things to do, EVER:
Being on the beach
So, like, going for walks on the beach, beach fires, sandcastle building, beach barbeques, everything really
Being with friends, no matter what we’re doing
Watching Friends and the O.C.
I’ve recently discovered that I like ice-skating (after a five-year gap due to my brother breaking his wrist at this activity) but I have yet to regain my ability to both skate and support myself, (this is obviously only because the ice was wet the night I tried again!)
Reading other people’s blogs
Playing the piano. Anywhere. Any song.
Going to Springsteens
Going to the Cinema
Shopping
Exploring

What I really like:
Pretty things
Hugs
Getting comments on my blog (how sad!)
Nice texts
When someone says or does something really thoughtful (I am blessed with some really thoughtful friends.)
Beautiful literature
Love stories like Pride and Prejudice

Don't worry, I haven't disappeared off the face of the earth! Just be patient while I finish teaching people that don't want to learn things that they don't want to know...! No, only joking but I am teaching at the moment so that's why I have no time and shouldn't really be writing this post right now because I need sleep as well!! Goodnight everybody!

All together now...

Hi folks, incase you didn't know, i'm now in my second week of teaching practice, which explains the fact that I haven't posted in about a week and a half! Teaching Practice really takes over your life, i really hope that when I'm a teacher that's not also the case... cos i would like to maintain the social life I already have, and it wud also be good if i could go out more once i'm not studying! (not that i do much of that anyway!)

I haven't really got much news so this is a bit of a pointless post. I should really write up some of the nonsense that i get in children's work - except that these are good children and don't write nonsense!!

For the time being my favourite phrases are 'now everybody just settle down. Stop talking. Shhhhhhh..., ok we want to have two nice quiet straight lines...!!'

Just to prove...

Just to prove how much work I actually did for my exams this year (ie very little), this image can be found on the back of one of my Education class readings...


I think i spent more time drawing it than i did reading the notes.

I haven't been updating my blog very recently, spose i haven't had much interesting stuff to write but that doesn't mean i have anything interesting to write now, it just means I'm currently high on caffeine. I forgot that chilled coffee drinks have just as much if not more caffeine as regular coffee!!

First of all I want to appologise to all those poor people who washed my car this morning - i haven't washed it in ages, but i also took it to Cullybackey on Thursday nite which really didn't help. However Jonny I'm sorry to correct you but Laura B said your car was definitely worse than mine!!

I'm beginning to teach little children next week so naturally I went on a bit of a shopping spree

Apology re random picture

Appologies for that random picture which wasn't relevant to anything!! I meant to post in in June 2005 so i could use it for my profile picture!

Hooray the exams are finished!!

I did my last exam today, it actually went much better than those before so I'm pretty pleased altho i still think i mite have failed overall... I'll work harder next year, but I also said that last year!!

So to celebrate me and the strannies went to the Globe for lunch, then tonight we went to the Bot for ... drinks and pringles...lol!

So erm i'll finish this post later i'm gonna watch some Frasier with my dad, someone lent him a dvd!

Store Wars...

yea just to link to a post on my wee brov's website that links to a really funny rip-off of star wars. it's genius (even if it is only promoting organic food lol!) see http://thelastteahouse.blogspot.com

On my i-Pod rite now...

Actually i-tunes. I'm not cool enough to have an i-Pod, or rather thought a keyboard for Christmas might be more use!! Anyway here's what's playing:

House of the Rising Sun - The Animals
NH-Fruit-1DM (??)

(don't ask, Dermo sent me these two, something to do with songs we were going to sing in church, i am going to have to get rid of the second, it's one of those midi files with pretend instruments that go way slower than the tune's supposed to!!)

Thunderbirds are Go - Busted
Accidentally in Love - Counting Crows
9 to 5 - Dolly Parton
Hallelujah - Rufus Wainwright
I'm a Believer - Smash Mouth
All Star - Smash Mouth

(bit of a random collection altogether, but that's cos these were the wee gems i bought last nite, because i wasn't going to buy the albums but loved these songs!!)

I really should post some pictures of my room with the brand new wood floor that seems to change everything - even my mess doesn't look that bad anymore!! But it's late and i've an exam tomorrow!

What have i been doing since the 3rd jan?

When was the 3rd january again? Oh yea, last tuesday!! Well, i went to work on wednesday nite, not much biz there, same old same old. Oh but i did get told i'm being kept on ,which is good news. Thursday nite was my day visit in my teaching practice school, it was ok, but wierd being in a school again. The kids are really well behave which is really gd! Thursday nite was also REND, photos can be seen on my photos page, plus i'm sure they'll be going up on the thicket site sometime.

On Friday nite i went to see Narnia, i kind of missed it when it first came out cos I was in the middle of coursework and things, but it is really good and you should go and see it if you haven't already!

Saturday was another day of work, and then last nite thicket played in REAL in Greenisland. I really enjoyed playin last nite, you know the way sometimes you really just get into the music and the odd time you don't...? I don't think there are any photos of last nite so sorry folks! I really need to make this blog more interesting... Hmm... or maybe i'll just think about it...

Word for the Day

Acquiescence: the act of accepting or consenting to something
without protest [quoted without permission from the Concise
Oxford English Dictionary.]

Just to make clear that I did not trawl the dictionary looking for this word, I was merely reading a book which used it a lot and before I put it up on my blog I thought I should research the real meaning. I did use this word earlier when talking to Tracy, i am assuming as an english student she'll know what it means, i will find out sometime if she really did!!

Which brings me on to my next subject : Jane Austen. I have just finished reading 'Emma' which is a very good novel (this is where I read the above word). I have become a very great fan of Jane Austen, after watching and reading Pride and Prejudice, and even though I did not enjoy Sense and Sensibility so very much, I really did like Emma. I am very proud to admit that after the second page, i was much convinced that she would marry mr knightly,

I got to thinking, though, that in many books there are two kinds of men who become an interest to the heroine of the story - the mr darcy and the mr wickham; the mr knightly and the mr churchill. One is dashing and charming (wickham and churchill), the other constant and full of goodwill (darcy and knightly). I really think that every girl has sometimes two different people she likes - one will be the stunning, charming, flirty guy; the other will be a really good person and someone who will be there for her (that is if he likes her too lol!). And the confusing thing ist that she prob likes them at the same time and just as much as each other! It's interesting that in both the Jane Austen novels i've been talking about, she doesn't go for the handsome charming guy. Anyway it's just a thot, and it's probably just as well that i don't philosophise about the world more often as the above maybe didn't make sense to a lot of people.

It's twelve midnight and i'm going to bed. sorry for the spelling mistakes people. I'm all acquiescence to any NICE comments you might want to make. nite nite xx

New Photos

I've added some new photos to my msn space. Click Here to view them!

The Making of the Tooth Fairy...

This came in a wee pack of bits and pieces, if I had thought earlier I could have taken pictures at all stages of her growth, but I didn't think; here are some of the components used to make her...









And this is the finished fairy (although some of her glue hasn't dried clear yet!!) Ain't she the cutest thing...?

Christmas at Laura's (*)

well, it's not really my house but i like to think it is...!

here are some pictures from my day. First, some of the interesting (and extremely cute!) presents i got...

And of course the Tooth Fairy (see above for the Making of the Tooth Fairy...)

A picture of my keyboard, with one of the socks Tracey and Julie bought me...

And some of the cards my v creative friends made me...

Driving thru Toome Bridge!

I put up a post a wee while ago about driving over the Toome Bridge, with a picture I stole off the internet somewhere. I actually took a picture myself that nite but didn't think it was very good, but recently saw a similar picture on a website where someone said it was their best picture ever! So I thought I'd put mine up just in case people think it's good!

I won a cup for music yesterday. Isn't it lovely??











I'm being sarcastic. I don't really like cups, i think they're horrible things. But this carried with it £50 of Matchetts vouchers which was quite nice!! I feel it's ok to put this on my blog because i don't really think i deserved it, i put absolutely no work into music last year, and i can only guess that the only reason we three got the cup was that the others put just a wee bit less work in. Or were less awake at 3am than us or something. And I won't get it next year, because, well this year I'm crap at writing essays. Full stop. I'm so glad Steven hasn't handed his in yet either cos I felt like the wee dosser of the class earlier (yea i know i actually am but u don't have to say it... no i'm not shouting at music people, just you people reading my blog cos you all know i'm a dosser. and i usually get away with it, but not this time.

Santa Clauses are coming to Town!!

Back to Blogging...

Here's some photos of a formal i went to about a year ago. I stole them off julie's blog (hope you don't mind!!)

just a few more... (i think i'm addicted...)

You Are Mud Pie

You're the perfect combo of flavor and depth Those who like you give into their impulses

What Kind of Pie Are You?

Your Eyes Should Be Brown

Your eyes reflect: Depth and wisdom What's hidden behind your eyes: A tender heart

(they are actually!!!)

What Color Should Your Eyes Be?

Your Summer Ride is a Beetle Convertible

Fun, funky, and a little bit euro. You love your summers to be full of style and sun!

What's Your Summer Ride?

You Are 48% Addicted to Blogthings

You're a Blogthings fiend - addicted but not totally dependent. So what if you know your personality type by heart? And while you may feel like Blogthings is crack... There are people much worse off than you!

How Addicted To Blogthings Are You?