Belated Wishes to all

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you all.

A late post

Sorry for my recent absence, but I wanted this to be my next post and I wanted to write it at a time when I could concentrate on the words and my memories without bursting into tears.

You see two weeks ago we had to have my beloved dog put to sleep. His name was Toto and he was one of the most good-natured dogs you'd ever come across. He was a lovely sandy colour with a white stripe down his nose, I had originally chosen him as a puppy due to this white stripe as it made him resemble my Grandad's dog Benji.

We'd first got him when I had just turned seven years old, I had begged, whined and moaned for a dog, and for my birthday I was allowed to pick out a puppy from the RSPCA. Toto and his siblings had been abandoned while they were very young. I remember that we took Toto home in an empty ice cream tub, that's how small he was. From that day on he settled into our family. And he grew, and grew.

The RSPCA had told my parents he wouldn't grow much because he had small paws, they were wrong. We ended up with a medium sized dog with tons of energy. I remember his tail constantly wagging, him running up and down our back garden and him chasing his tail. I remember being taken for a walk by him rather than him taking me and I remember thinking he'd be around forever.

But he'd aged an awful lot in the past two years and his back legs were stiffening up. It was time to let him go before he started seriously suffering.

I miss him. He was a brilliant dog.

Just a little tid-bit to show I'm still alive!

Click here if you'd like to see what I got up to at the weekend.

On a related note please see the little bit of info at the top right hand side of my page, please give whatever you can, because a) it's a good cause and b) have you ever tried doing a fast pole dancing routine for 10 mins straight? It's tiring!

Google search hilarity

As much as I dislike being referred to as "it" this last search nearly made me wee, I was laughing so hard.

Apologies for the short crappy posts, the stress monster has currently taken over Lola.

Pole Dance

I still can't believe that's actually me, I'm so pleased with myself.

And now for the musicals

In my last post I promised the songs from musicals that make me cry. I apologise to the majority of the people who commented on my last post. Depressing songs actually make me happier as I can have a cry and get things out of my system, I know it's not the same for everyone.

I'll Cover You Reprise from Rent



Why does my favourite character always have to get killed off? The first time I saw Rent live, I sobbed though most of the second act. This song in particular set me off, perhaps it was the way Collins helplessly clutched the coat Angel bought him.

A Little Fall of Rain from Les Miserables



Is there anything sadder than dying in your unrequited lovers arms? It's the line "I'll sleep in your embrace at last" that gets me.

Goodbye Until Tomorrow from The Last Five Years



For those who don't know, The Last Five Years documents a five year long relationship. The female partner shows this from the end to the beginning, and the male partner shows this from the beginning to the end with them meeting at their wedding in the middle. This song is the finale where both of the partners are saying goodbye, the woman at the end of their very first date and the man at the end of their relationship.

My Brother Lived in San Francisco from Angels Punks and Raging Queens



This is a song about having a brother who died of AIDS.

They liked it so much more than anywhere they'd been and we thought they would be there, when we made it back again

And the Rain Keeps Falling Down from Angels Punks and Raging Queens



About losing someone.

In Whatever Time We Have from Children of Eden



Two lovers facing the prospect of being separated by The Great Flood as one is the son of Noah and the other is a daughter of the race of Cain.

Johnny Can't Decide from Tick Tick Boom



The video to this isn't particularly relevant but it's one of the only videos on youtube to include the part of the song that makes me cry. The song is beautiful anyway, but the reason why I cry is the man himself, the writer of this musicalJonathan Larson. He died from an aortic aneurism before his famous musical Rent's opening night. The part that makes me cry is the spoken part of the song when Johnny says "I want to write music, I want to sit down right now at my piano and write a song that people will listen to and remember and do the same thing each morning for the rest of my life."

Without You from Rent



I was never a fan of this song until I saw it live. It affects so many others than just those who are singing.

In His Eyes from Jekyll and Hyde



The best song in the show.

The songs we love to be sad to

I'm one of these people who loves to listen to sad songs, tearjerkers that they are. So as this morning I am in one of these moods I thought I'd share with you some of the songs I love, find beautiful and yes, sometimes cry to.

Winter - Tori Amos



This is a song I've only heard within the last few days and I love it. Some say it is about a girl losing her father, others say it is about the relationship between a girl and her father and how that relationship changes as the girl grows up. Either way I love listening to it. It is a very moving song.

I Will Love You - Fisher



This is one my sister had first heard, and ever since she played it, I have loved it too. It's such a heartfelt song that I think most people will be able to relate to at some level.

But I need to know will you stay for all time? Forever and a day. Then I'll give my heart 'til the end of all time, forever and a day

Nearer My God to Thee



I think most people can understand why I can cry at this one, just watch the video. A lot of people badmouth the film Titanic but this scene is utterly heartbreaking. People from all backgrounds and walks of life preparing to die, and fighting to live. This film shows the best and worst of human nature, so next time you feel like slagging the film off, watch it again but this time ignore the love story and watch whats going on in the background.

You Raise Me Up



For this song my ultimate version was in fact the one sung by the Conway Sisters in X-Factor a few years back. Purely because I think women in a group can make really goosebumpy harmonies that work so well with this song.

Forget Me Not - Lucie Silvas



Please excuse the video to this song, but it is the main reason why it is a tearjerker for me. It is an Angel music video that some talented soul has done by editing together various clip of the show. This one focuses on the episode Hole in the World, and the death of one of my favourite characters. If you're an Angel fan you'll definitely see why it makes me cry.

Goodbye My Lover - James Blunt



A similar one again except this video is a Dr Who one rather than an Angel one. Yes I'm a geek, you've only just noticed?

Everytime - Britney Spears



I can't help but feel I'm destroying any possible street cred I may have had... It's another Angel video in case you didn't notice.

Shine Your Light - Robbie Robertson



Last Angel video I promise. It's the end of the song that gets me in this one, very meaningful. It also made me cry when it was shown in the film Ladder 49.

Until the Last Moment - Yanni



A gorgeous instrumental piece. I'm still not quite certain why it has made me cry on occasion.

Full of Grace - Sarah McLauchlan



A beautiful song.

I could have had more but I've decided to leave it at ten. I'm always on the look out for more tearjerker songs so please feel free to add your own in the comments.

At some point within the next few months I'll be posting my favourite tearjerkers from the musicals. So stay tuned.

Sorry All

I know I haven't been a laugh a minute recently. So to avoid boring you and for a touch of light-heartedness I've decided to complete this meme, which the delightful Domestic Minx filled in earlier.

Five Things

What are five things you were doing ten years ago?

1) Going to High School
2) Started coaching gymnastics (young I know)
3) Dancing in pantomimes
4) Started to learn how to ski
5) Watched cartoons, nothing ever changes

What are five things you were doing this time last year?

1) In the middle of my contract in my first real job
2) Preparing a Halloween costume
3) Being annoyed that my student mates could go out until all hours while I had to be up at six every weekday to get to work
4) Blogging for about three months
5) Trying to make sense of my on and off relationship with my ex

What are five snacks that you enjoy?

1) Pizza
2) Ben and Jerry's cookie dough ice cream
3) Nachos
4) Pringles and dip
5) A moderately healthy one now, mozzarella, parma ham and melon salad

What are five songs you know the lyrics to?

1) Bohemian Rhapsody - Queen
2) Wannabe - Spice Girls
3) Everytime we touch - Cascada
4) Waterloo - ABBA
5) Mary's Prayer - Danny Wilson

What five things would you do if you were a millionaire?

1) Buy my own house.
2) Fork over money to my parents so they can buy a holiday home abroad for them to retire to, and some for my sister and good friends too.
3) Buy some things I've wanted for a while like an X-pole.
4) Donate some money to key charities.
5) Travel everywhere I want to go

What are your five bad habits?

1) Cracking my joints, in particular my fingers, back and toes
2) Biting the skin around my nails
3) Being like a dog with a bone at times/being incredibly stubborn
4) Procrastination
5) Being slightly neurotic and paranoid

What five things do you like to do?

1) Spend time with mates and family, there's nothing like a good old natter
2) Blog obviously
3) Travel
4) Listen and dance to music (with or without a pole)
5) Eat out when I can afford it

What are five things you will never wear again?

1) My hair one length and level with my jaw, it looked naff
2) My hair pillar box red, granted that was a misunderstanding between me and the hairdresser but still I look back on the photos and cringe
3) Matching outfits with my sister, the bane of my childhood, hehe
4) Whatever is fashionable if I don't like it, there's no point in following the trends if the trends look naff on you
5) A nail piercing... granted I was about 13

What are your five favorite toys?

1) My phone
2) My laptop.
3) My mp4 player.
4) My camera.
5) My molecular modelling kit (geek!)

What are five things you hate to do?

1) Physics, gawd I feel thick
2) Get my work done right away.
3) Certain aspects of housework, like ironing.
4) Lectures with the current bunch of rude people in our year.
5) Feel anything worse than ok.

I know some people don't like doing memes, so I'll just leave this one up for anyone who has a few minutes to waste and fancies doing it.

Where my beauty lies

Where Does Your Beauty Lie? ..::Original Pictures Are Back! Detailed Results::..

B:

Your Beauty lies in Plain Sight. Plain, simple and the girl next door. People tend overlook you as you are the "normal girl", but you're actually very beautiful. And you have plenty about you to set you apart, but more that lets you blend. People love the stability you have because as others may come and go, you will always be there and you may always be the same. You like simple things and that's what people like about you. You most likely enjoy things most consider normal, like movies, shopping, that sort of thing and are very friendly and probably have many friends. You are sweet and kind and that shows on you, but you're also strong and not very naive. You're a rather well-rounded individual. Even though some people pass you off as just another girl, shrug it off because they don't know what they're missing.

Some Things That Represent You:

Element:Earth, Light Animal: Cat Color: Pinks, Blues, Browns Song:Girl Next Door by Pilot Expression: Simple Smile

Gemstone:Alexandrite Mythological Creature: Fox Demon, Hobbit Planet: Jupiter Hair Color: Light Brown Eye Color:Brown

Quote:"To the world you may be one person, but to one person you may be the world."

Take this quiz!








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Lecture Rant

First of all thank you to all who commented on my last post for your support. I'm feeling better, I'm just missing all that relationship stuff but I'll live. And now on to the real purpose of this post.

Since finishing my last degree I had forgotten how much this particular thing bothered me, but now I'm back it's rearing it's ugly head once more and causing my blood pressure to creep up. Anyone who has ever done a degree should be able to relate to this one.

How rude is it when the lecture is nearing it's end, the lecturer is still talking and people start to pack their things away? Would it seriously cripple them to hang on for all 30 seconds of the summary of the lecture and then pack away and go? For me it is the height of rudeness, if you were in a job interview would you start putting things away while the interviewer was still talking to you? I highly doubt it, and yet these students think it is ok to pretty much ignore the lecturer at the end of the lecture.

On a related topic there are an awful lot of people who think it's ok to talk in lectures as well, and I don't mean the brief "Oh, what did Dr. Whatdyacallhim say just then?" kind of whispered exchange that I can forgive. I mean full blown what I did last night and what I'm doing tonight kind of conversation that could certainly wait until the lecture is over. It's rude and it's very distracting to those students who are actually trying to listen to the lecturer. I would wonder why they actually came to the lecture in the first place, but our course actually monitors attendance via attendance sheet so they show up to get their mark. I just wish I could forcibly gag them sometimes.

I'd like to wish that this was an unrelated incident but our whole society in general is a selfish and rude one. Yesterday my mum, my sister and I went out and about for a food and drink festival. My sister is currently on crutches having torn the ligaments surrounding one of her toes while dancing (apparently it's more painful than it sounds). On the way back we boarded a very crowded train, with not a single free seat, my sister stood balancing on her crutches and leaning against the edge of a seat. Did the lads standing by us stand up to offer her a seat? Nope. Did the adults sitting by us? Nope. After one stop into the train journey a girl about my age noticed and stood up to let Hop-along have her seat. Am I the only one who finds it disgusting that people are too self-obsessed to think of giving up their seat for someone else? (And before anyone asks, yes I have previously given up my seat for people who are frail/injured/heavily pregnant etc).

On an unrelated note on that same train a girl who had been sitting down chatting on her phone since Oxford Road (I'm assuming she got on at Piccadilly, the stop before) told the conductor that she had got on at Central (several stops later). I was this close to dobbing her in it, and apparently so was my Mum. I sometimes wonder if I'm a bit of a mug for going by the rules?

Back to Studentsville

The one thing I noticed last night was the fact that I did not dread the fact that it was Monday Eve, which was such a welcome relief after dreading almost every single Monday for the past three months (talk to me in a months time and see if I've changed my tune already!).

The early starts aren't bothering me too much, although it was dark at the train station this morning, an unwelcome drawing in of the nights. I've found even more mature students, this time round some from other countries. It still seems that I am one of the less mature of the mature students (yay!). I don't know how the others decided to go for it, I was fretting about having to take a year out to earn money as I didn't want to postpone my life. I've met people who have done a degree and a masters, or a degree and then teacher training, or like myself, a degree and then worked. We all sound old chatting about the way Uni was "in our day" and how old all these 18 year olds are making us feel with all their partying.

It looks like I will definitely be needing help in physics. At first the lecture was fine while the lecturer explained the reasons behind studying physics on this course, and I was enthused by them. Then the real lecture started and I really couldn't understand a thing I was writing down, all these sodding greek symbols that stand for wavelength and frequency etc, and the basic equations that they expect us to know. I do not know any of this, I last did physics six years ago, so just stick me in the corner with a dunces cap and talk very slowly so I can write all this gobbledeegook down.

It's not much to ask is it?

Oh no I've been neglectful

I'm brushing off the thin layer of dust that has managed to accumulate in the cafe after my brief time away. I apologise for the length of my absence and promise to behave in future (who am I kidding?).

Paris was fabulous as a future post will tell you, but for now I wish to speak about tomorrow and what lies ahead of me. Friday was my last day in work you see, and this Monday I start afresh with a new degree course (hopefully the last one!).

I'm absolutely petrified, I don't know where I'm going, who I'm going with or anything. I'm sure that at some point through my day I will run across someone who will talk to me, after all everyone is in the same boat, but the paranoid part of me thinks that everyone will have met up in halls and at various freshers parties this weekend and I will be the only one who doesn't know anyone.

So for now I mentally prepare myself and put my chatty head on, because tomorrow I will need it, wish me luck everyone!

The cafe closes up shop...

For next week anyhow, I'm off to Paris in the next half an hour. I'll miss you all and promise to come back with plenty of tales and photos.

Au revoir!

Ten Eternal Truths About Creamfields

August bank holiday weekend brings with it several events, one of these being Creamfields. Those of you who read this blog last year may remember my Creamfields post that year as a member of SJA. While last years post was a bit long winded I'm hoping to keep this one short and sweet, so here it is the ten eternal truths about Creamfields (which would happen whenever and wherever the festival was held).

1) There will always be a small minority of girls who will show up in a bikini, a pair of shoes/boots and nothing else, not even a jumper for later on. This will invariably happen whatever the weather is like in the daytime.

2) The aforementioned girls will end up in the field hospital/first aid posts at around 3 am complaining that they're cold and asking can they take one of our blankets.

3) Our members will always lose the will to live at around 3 am and wonder why they signed up to do this event.

4) There will always be someone who for whatever reason decides to test their bodies by consuming between 10 and 20 ecstasy tablets. Do they think "Hmm, the first 8 haven't worked so I'll have a few more" seconds after swallowing the first lot?

5) At least one of our members will always get injured at some point in the night. A couple of years ago that member was me, I got clonked on the head by a big tripod light that fell on me and caused me to bleed a little. This year a member sustained soft tissue damage to her knee and ended up on crutches.

6) There will always be people complaining that they feel weird after taking one substance or another and will be taken to our med centre to sleep it off.

7) Those mentioned in point 7, having gotten a nice place to sleep with a pillow and a blanket will now be extremely unwilling to leave it. Not good when we get busy and need to find a bed to treat someone else.

8) There will always be people who come in and say "I haven't taken owt mate" while their pupils are the size of a dinner plate.

9) There will always be violence, the police do well to try and contain it but we do get to see the end result of fights very often.

and

10) Never leave brownies around our members if you would like to eat one later. I have been told by my mum that the brownies I'd made weren't particularly nice too :-( Thanks Mum.

So all in all, a good night. We weren't as busy as we have been in previous years which was good, although the first aid posts had their manic moments. Here's to next years Creamfields!

An open letter

To the two do-gooders who saw fit to make complaints to the RSPCA. No, I'm not an animal abuser, neither are my family. Yes, my dog is skinny and you can see his ribs, but no we are not starving him.

Did you happen to know that my dog is nearly seventeen years old? Did you also happen to know that he is currently undergoing diagnostic tests at the vets to determine the cause of his weight loss? No you didn't and that's because you didn't care to ask my mother who made eye contact with you as you beat a hasty retreat.

Your actions, however well intentioned nearly caused my dog to be put down. Luckily the RSPCA officer who came to our house saw that he was not mistreated and just an old dog. Today she came around again and I showed her videos of him running on the beach earlier in the week. From those she could see that he was well cared for and that he was still lively. Despite losing weight he still has a good quality of life.

I'm not an idiot, I know he wont live forever. Trust me when I say that if I could see him in pain and suffering I wouldn't hesitate to do the right thing and put him down. But right now, he's loving life and I'm loving life with him. I'm glad of every extra minute I get with him because I know how close I was to losing him for good.

I hate being judged like this, anyone who has any sort of experience with animals can see that my dog is not mistreated just getting on in years. So don't scowl at me as I take my beloved pet for a walk, after all if I was starving him and kicking the shit out of him do you really think I'd be taking him for a walk in the park?

Twats.

Final day

I nearly forgot to post. I could have let it slide but since my mate only gets back tomorrow I've decided I should post today. I just want to say thank you to all who have commented over this week, and to all you non-believers, courgette and chocolate go really well together in a cake (try it for yourselves at this site).

Coming up next time; what I have decided to do while in Paris, stay tuned ;-)

And on the seventh day

I tidied out the kitchen cupboards, let's hope they stay tidy for more than two minutes...

Now I know why I dont generally post every day. I run out of things to say and end up talking crap. My friend is back at the weekend anyhow, so the post madness shall end tomorrow and I can get back into my usual style of posting when I have something to say.

Sixth day

Thank god it's friday tomorrow, and I'm so glad I have a half day off work. Get in!

The wonder of google

Check me out, five days into this post per day challenge and I'm already running out of ideas. So I'm looking to my stats for inspiration, and I shall share with you some of the more amusing words and phrases that have brought people via google to my little cafe.

Chat up line physics
I'm sorry but unless she's a physicist too, there's no chance of a physics related chat up line going well

Slobby booty
This phrase would have directed them to this post on my blog, why they were searching for a "slobby booty" I just don't quite know.

Lola's other blog
No I just have the one, unless you count my on the side restaurant review blog

Funny job lola
Well the last funny job was my lab tech stint, the things that I did still amuse me. This post sums up one of my favourite moments from my time there.

How to chat up a scientist
Well it's nice to know that us science gals are sexy enough to chat up, don't expect us to be too easy to get though

Biscuit theory
Oh yes, it's is the one, the only biscuit theory

Show me what happens on monday with lola
Well on monday I went to work, felt crap, cancelled a meeting and went bed early, not very interesting

Magic boobs
Yes they are, dont believe me? Check this out

Bonkers boobs
No, they're magic, not bonkers

Pooing at work
Hmm I may regret doing that post at some point. Remember this isn't instructions on what you have to do, but it's more politeness and toilet manners.

Lola's boobs
It's nice that you want to google my boobs, but I'm not that kind of a girl

The great mouse detective boobs
Oddly enough I can't recall boobs featuring heavily in this film, perhaps it's best if I don't...

"your legs behind your head"
I'm not even going to go there...

Learn how to make cocktails in liverpool
Well give me a buzz I'll teach you how to make them so long as I get to drink some

handcuffed OR cuffed OR handcuffs OR cuffs OR handcuff
I don't think this chappy was intending to find a lovely pic of me in high vis while my first aid kit was arrested. Apologies for it not being sexy handcuffs.

That's all for now folks. Enjoy your evening.

A little late

I bet you thought I'd forgotten to post. Not quite, but I am busy tonight. Why do I always leave things til last minute, grrrr.

A short post tonight, but then again I need my sleep

ciao