As I opened the web page up to start a blog about superstitions, I sneezed. How uninteresting you may think, but as my father said 'Bless you', I replied 'Thank-you...Clap the fairies (whispered)' and started clapping. I received an odd look from my dad unsuprisingly. I can't even remember why I started this compulsive clapping to rid myself of 'fairies', though I do seem to remember an old headteacher Mr Harrington explaining about a story that escapes me now about evil spirits causing the sneeze or something to that effect. This story was simply to illustrate the hold that superstitions have over people.
I wouldn't say I am super superstitious (see what I did there?), but out of habit I habitually jump into the road to avoid 3 drains, or walk over two and do an unusually big step to avoid the third. I blame that on someone I used to know, the psychological impact of being shoved violently to the side every 10 minutes because of the threat of 3 drains has evidently scarred me for life. I don't think I have any other superstitions; I open umbrellas wherever I like, I definitely won't be throwing salt around all over the place and ladders I only avoid due to the occupant falling on my head or the ladder itself. Thankfully I have never broken a mirror, and for some reason that would probably affect me!
I read a story a few weeks ago about how some aeroplanes are so serious about superstitions they now have rows 10, 11, 12, and 14, completely missing out 'unlucky number 13'. I understand flying for many people is scary enough, and supersititious people find the number 13 terrifying. Put those people on a flight from America on 9/11 with a seat in row 13 and I can't even begin to imagine their terror! I did see a sketch about this by a comedian saying something similar, and I agree with their logic that the people sitting in row 13 are not going to have the floor crumble and fall out of the plane, while the rest remain seated for the duration of the flight. One of my friends flew back from New York on 9/11 this year, and his brothers had researched how reasons why an attack could happen again due to 9/11 falling on a Holy Day for Muslims for the first time in so many years, trying to freak him out. I laughed, a lot, but I may have gone a bit crazy if that was me.
Just had a couple of thoughts on superstitions, as normal no real point to my blog as much of being superstitious is psychological and unfortunately it was not something my A Level psychology teachers deemed to teach us. Maybe it is linked to self-worth or insecurities we have with ourselves? All I know is that I am going to carry on with my OCD behaviours to avoid 'bad luck'.
Also, my Dictionary.com app on my iPhone has a great word of the day - olio. Not only phonetically sounding incredible, but meaning : a mixture of heterogeneous elements; a hodgepodge. What an incredible word with an amazing definition! I am determined to use olio in a sentence in the next couple of days and cement this word into my everyday vocabulary.
Saturday 27 November 2010
Thursday 25 November 2010
University
Unbelievable amounts of money I will be pumping into the Government in the next couple of years! Just having a discussion with my parents about the Conservatives and Labour and about who should be in power and why. I don't follow politics much at all (probably should though as I have applied for Journalism) and in my first legal year of voting I chose not to, simply because my ignorance of politics. After receiving various looks and comments when sharing this with my friends, I realised I should change my ways and embrace the society I do indeed inhabit. Admittedly, it has taken a while and i've only been prompted to take more of an interest after being urged to by universities.
I haven't really learnt all too much yet. Scanning the political scandals doesn't really count as reading into the subject, but I am getting there! I've begun to recognise names for different reasons and I can finally differentiate between the Tories and Labour (just had to Google it to make sure) and I can successfully name the leaders of the parties. I will obviously have to read up slightly more information before my test but I will get full marks! Or just do well on every other section.
On another note, I, as a Harry Potter maniac, read through the Sunday Times magazine which was dedicated to the wizard himself. In an interview with Emma Watson (Hermione), she explains the reason behind her pixie crop; she just fancied a change after being unable to cut her hair due to living and breathing as Hermione for the past 10 years. After thinking about this when driving today, I wondered how the people at Hogwarts get their hair cut? I know the accomplished witches and wizards are able to do whatever they like with a wave of their wand, but what about everyone else? Ha J.K Rowling, got you on that one! (and I love you)
I haven't really learnt all too much yet. Scanning the political scandals doesn't really count as reading into the subject, but I am getting there! I've begun to recognise names for different reasons and I can finally differentiate between the Tories and Labour (just had to Google it to make sure) and I can successfully name the leaders of the parties. I will obviously have to read up slightly more information before my test but I will get full marks! Or just do well on every other section.
On another note, I, as a Harry Potter maniac, read through the Sunday Times magazine which was dedicated to the wizard himself. In an interview with Emma Watson (Hermione), she explains the reason behind her pixie crop; she just fancied a change after being unable to cut her hair due to living and breathing as Hermione for the past 10 years. After thinking about this when driving today, I wondered how the people at Hogwarts get their hair cut? I know the accomplished witches and wizards are able to do whatever they like with a wave of their wand, but what about everyone else? Ha J.K Rowling, got you on that one! (and I love you)
Monday 22 November 2010
A very moving story.
I haven't followed much on the war in Afghanistan; the stories I tend to hear of are of death and heartbreak for friends and family on the news almost everyday, and sadly, they all seem to have blended into one.
My late grandfather's father served in World War 2, and was killed while serving the country. This led to my grandfather having to be adopted when he was very young, and didn't have his father to turn to while growing up. However, it was not an uncommon story during the 1930s-1950s; many families lost loved ones as every man in Britain was called up to fight for their country, with no choice whether to serve or to protect their families at home.
Watching the X Factor (of all things) last night opened my eyes to what young men and women are going through these days. Unlike World War 1 and 2, these men and women CHOOSE to fight for their country, and to help people in countries such as Afghanistan. On the show they showed a feature on Lance Corporal Matthew Wilson. He, like other people in the UK, lost his father in the war, but through admiration and for his father he joined the army when he turned 19. That to me stood out as incredible itself. The bravery Matthew Wilson must have had to join the army when tragedy was so close to home moved me even there! Tragically, Matthew Wilson stepped on a hidden bomb in the ground, and had to have a leg amputated. He was critically ill and was flown to the UK for life-saving treatment. After getting treatment, Matthew says 'I just wanted to get fit again and be back on the front line'.
I was definitely humbled, and brought to tears at the bravery and dedication this soldier has to protect and serve our country. It also must have been terrible for his mother as she had already lost her husband, and said she was so proud her son chose to join the army. It must have taken much bravery from her to allow her son to follow such a dangerous path!
There isn't really a point to this blog, just to vent my feelings on a subject I have never been exposed to in this way. I'm glad they made such a point of it on widespread television, to put this subject at the forefront of everyones minds, and to either donate money to Help for Heroes or buy the X Factor single.
My late grandfather's father served in World War 2, and was killed while serving the country. This led to my grandfather having to be adopted when he was very young, and didn't have his father to turn to while growing up. However, it was not an uncommon story during the 1930s-1950s; many families lost loved ones as every man in Britain was called up to fight for their country, with no choice whether to serve or to protect their families at home.
Watching the X Factor (of all things) last night opened my eyes to what young men and women are going through these days. Unlike World War 1 and 2, these men and women CHOOSE to fight for their country, and to help people in countries such as Afghanistan. On the show they showed a feature on Lance Corporal Matthew Wilson. He, like other people in the UK, lost his father in the war, but through admiration and for his father he joined the army when he turned 19. That to me stood out as incredible itself. The bravery Matthew Wilson must have had to join the army when tragedy was so close to home moved me even there! Tragically, Matthew Wilson stepped on a hidden bomb in the ground, and had to have a leg amputated. He was critically ill and was flown to the UK for life-saving treatment. After getting treatment, Matthew says 'I just wanted to get fit again and be back on the front line'.
I was definitely humbled, and brought to tears at the bravery and dedication this soldier has to protect and serve our country. It also must have been terrible for his mother as she had already lost her husband, and said she was so proud her son chose to join the army. It must have taken much bravery from her to allow her son to follow such a dangerous path!
There isn't really a point to this blog, just to vent my feelings on a subject I have never been exposed to in this way. I'm glad they made such a point of it on widespread television, to put this subject at the forefront of everyones minds, and to either donate money to Help for Heroes or buy the X Factor single.
Tuesday 16 November 2010
A general post.
The reason I have decided to start a blog is to keep my mind busy; a year off of doing any writing will ultimately lead me to starting university with a numb brain that refuses to absorb any information thrown at it. Personally I dont want that to happen, and think this will be a way to prevent said dead brain.
I have never thought of myself as a blogger; I haven't even read any others so I'm not sure what is considered the norm, but I hope to probe and explore random thoughts that come into my head (very often by the way). They probably won't be useful to anyone else apart from myself and that is why no one will probably read this, and that may be because I won't tell anyone it exists!
Today is the day the royal wedding has been announced. As I haven't lived through a royal wedding before I am not sure what to expect, but my mother assures me it is a time of widespread celebration. Personally I have grown up to believe when the latest celeb in magazines such as Heat gets married it is a time of widespread celebration, but I am hoping to be suitably impressed by the royal day. I must say, Kate Middleton has the most gorgeous ring. Not that I would be able to cope with a £30,000 corker; I would end up catching it on my clothes or getting food (probably cheese and it would mould) in the gaps between the diamonds. Whatever I get as an engagement ring will need to be Vicky-proof - probably best kept in the original case in a drawer where this numpty can't get hold of it.
I have never thought of myself as a blogger; I haven't even read any others so I'm not sure what is considered the norm, but I hope to probe and explore random thoughts that come into my head (very often by the way). They probably won't be useful to anyone else apart from myself and that is why no one will probably read this, and that may be because I won't tell anyone it exists!
Today is the day the royal wedding has been announced. As I haven't lived through a royal wedding before I am not sure what to expect, but my mother assures me it is a time of widespread celebration. Personally I have grown up to believe when the latest celeb in magazines such as Heat gets married it is a time of widespread celebration, but I am hoping to be suitably impressed by the royal day. I must say, Kate Middleton has the most gorgeous ring. Not that I would be able to cope with a £30,000 corker; I would end up catching it on my clothes or getting food (probably cheese and it would mould) in the gaps between the diamonds. Whatever I get as an engagement ring will need to be Vicky-proof - probably best kept in the original case in a drawer where this numpty can't get hold of it.
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