SUMMER TO-DO LIST

In case I lose the note Kerri created, here is the list of Summer activities and events we have planned. Add more in the comments if you can think of any!!

Oh, and Mary-Jane vandalised the sheet by adding her own ideas. (I don’t even know what Dothaki is!)

• Kilbroney Forest Park 
• Pudding/Baking day 
• Cinema Crawl (MayJay edit: Illegally watch films) 
• Get Arrested (?) 
• Bonfire on the beach 
• Ultimate Game 
• Beauty Night 
• Make a Youtube Video 
• Picnic 
• Coneing 
• Beach at Dawn 
• Geocaching 
• Come Dine With Me 
• Movie Marathon at Home 
• Disney Day 
• Arty Night 
• Carboot Sale 
• Fancy Dinner 
• Take part in a Photoshoot 
• Play old Birthday games 
• Singstar 
• Dye someone’s hair (??) 
• Play with fire 
• Learn Dothaki 
• Theatre 
• Hobo Night (??) 
• Road Trip 
• Go Camping 
• Fishing/ Rock Pool 
• Stone Place 
• Learn a new skill 
• Send a random person post 
• Teach a new skill 
• Typography 
• Break into someone’s house (May-Jay once again) 
• Knit something 
• Make bracelets 
• Feed ducks/birds

LONDON

Bonjour,

I meant to write this last week but eh I got lazy and kept putting it off. Which I now realise was silly, because I won’t have as fresh a memory of London if I had written it sooner. Aw well.

I mentioned in my last post that Emma and I were going to London for the weekend! So yes, I have returned and much to share about our travels. I shall summarise each day now...

FUN FRIDAY

I had intended this trip to be stress-free, and if you know me at all, that wouldn’t be easy. Alas, this was not meant to be! Sean the Sat-nav refused to work to navigate us to the airport. Thankfully through trial and error, Emma remembered her bearings and we arrived in plenty of time. 

After arriving at Southend round 10am, we took the train in to London and found our way to the hotel. After dumping our suitcases we tubed it to Baker Street, where we went to Sherlock Holmes’ house! 

Following that we took a tour on an open top bus and saw all the sights, in comfort. A lot of the areas and buildings were under maintenance, presumably for the Olympics. Generally the city didn’t seem as busy as it usually would so we booked at the perfect time. 

That evening, we met Amy and her friends, Matt, Hannah and Jeremy in Piccadilly Circus. We caught up and ate pizza, and then Emma and I went to see Phantom of the Opera. The show was pretty amazing, despite our odd seating. (We were basically looking directly down at the stage?) Definitely a great night out though. 

SHOPPING AND SEOUL SATURDAY

First stop on Saturday was Covent Gardens - which is definitely the place to visit over the weekend. Market is open and the place was buzzing that morning. The stores are so cute and there were musicians and performers entertaining the busy shoppers.

I had the bright idea of making Saturday the ‘big Korea day’ so suggested we should eat in a Korean restaurant. After researching online, we discovered a little place off Soho called Seoul Bakery - a dingy little cafe which served Korean dishes. What brought this odd little place to our attention was the fact that both SHINee and Super Junior’s Siwon had ate there, and signed their names on the wall. Not only wanting to see that, we also both lived in hope we would accidentally bump into EXO too.

It certainly was a strange place to eat, and we felt both super awkward going in but were warmly welcomed by the friendly waitress. I ordered some kind of spicy soup and Emma ordered an egg dish - both were yummy. It was bizarre to be eating out and 2NE1 playing in the background, haha.

Before we left, we were given pens and sticky notes and left our memories on the wall, a common practice in Korean cafes. It was a lovely and enjoyable lunch! For the record, no, we didn’t meet EXO.

Next stop was Harrods and Hamleys - both crucial places that must be visited!! Harrods was outstanding, of course. Hamleys - not so much. Emma was convinced she saw Robert Pattinson walk past on Oxford Street, but after following him...yeah it wasn’t him. To my delight, after four years of waiting, I finally visited the Irregular Choice store, it was wonderful! We went to HMV and gasped at the amount of K-Pop CDs they sell now, and I bought Heartbreaker by G-Dragon and 2NE1’s Second album. (In celebration of the holiday.) After wandering about for a few hours, it was soon time to get ready for the concert!

MBC KOREAN CULTURAL FESTIVAL

We took the tube to the O2 Arena and got some weird looks from other K-Pop fans, who were maybe unsure if we were actually fans or not. Not meaning to be stereotypical or anything, but it’s very easy to recognise fandoms. K-Pop fans are an unusual crowd - often spotted with vividly coloured hair, multiple piercings, light-sticks, high-tops etc - and that’s just the girls. The rest of the audience consisted of mainly gay white boys, asian girls and asian girls’ boyfriends. I’m just observing and making assumptions here! Surprisingly Emma and I were some of the more average-looking people there. We dressed to impress! What if we bumped into EXO?? Surely we needed to TRY to look decent beside flawless Kai?

We stood in the line for what seemed like hours after a tasty burger in the arena, talking to a group of girls whom we met at the burger restaurant. Wye Zhi and Leanne, both DBSK fans, were the two Emma and I made friends with. It was so SO bizarre talking to other people about K-Pop though?!? Unfortunately we didn’t get to see any of the girls after the show and didn’t think of getting our photos with them at the time.

FINALLY we got into the indigo2 arena and THE SHOW HAD ALREADY STARTED! After a stressful period of trying to find our seats, we soon realised we only missed one 4minute song - who opened the concert. (I would be more pissed off about this because it was up to o2/concert organisers to open the doors earlier, but again if we cared THAT much we would have been in the queue earlier.)

The atmosphere was tense - the whole building was going CRAZY. Like I’ve seen in shows and live performances how much the audience screamed, but it’s so different when you’re in the crowd. You can’t help but join in. (I lost my voice the next day, whoops! I’m surprised I didn’t go deaf either.)

4MINUTE opened with four songs: Volume Up, Mirror Mirror, Huh and Hot Issue. The girls had stunning silver and black matching outfits on with a shiny jacket and fringed skirt. 

In-between the K-pop artists performances, traditional acts kept the audience occupied. The first guy performed stunts and the second was a modernised traditional music group called Queen. They played a variation of beautiful and contemporary songs.

Following that, more traditional male dancers appeared, called the Samulnori team, who skillfully whipped back and forth tassels which were attached to their head? It sounds strange but I was enthralled! Afterwards, a combination of the cultural entertainers performed the classic song, Arirang, wearing traditional Korean dress robes.

Next act up was NORAZO - a comedic and eccentric duo who isn’t the most well-known act of the three, probably gained at least 2000 new fans that night in the U.K! Emma and I were flabbergasted at how awesome these guys performed live. It was a blast - and our hearts melted when we saw how incredible Lee Hyuk’s voice is! They performed Happy Song, Curry, King of Sales and Superman.

Dae2Baek Movement starred next - a dance group who psyched the audience up dancing to songs by Wonder Girls, BAP, T-ARA, U-KISS and of course, BIGBANG. The crowd went MAD when Fantastic Baby played! So awesome! Two of the male dancers teased the audience and the response was wild.

4minute members returned wearing Hanboks (traditional Korean dress) for a fashion show. Other models wore hanboks designed by Park Su Nyeol - who was present in the audience and made an appearance at the end. Although this was very enjoyable I was itching to see EXO, lol.

It was clear I wasn’t the only one, the audience couldn’t contain their excitement and at the end of the fashion show people were chanting “EXO EXO EXO!” Cue a blacked out arena and video titles. What’s funny here is I’m not even a big EXO fan, but I couldn’t help but join in with all the screaming! We were both giddy with excitement! 

The boys strutted on stage and History immediately started playing. After much trouser-flapping, sweet moves and lets face it, obvious lip-syncing, they introduced themselves. Well, I THINK they did. Girls were screaming so hard it was hard to decipher what was being said. And I wasn’t quite able to tell them apart, but that’s okay - because my eyes were focused on Kai and his sparkly red vest.

After a stunning performance of Angel, incorporating some sweet-ass ballet moves from my man Kai, EXO finished with MAMA, their debut track. It was absolutely fab! But alas, it was over in a flash - I was expecting them to do another song, but Emma explained that they usually do two, so it’s a surprise they sung Angel. Didn’t mind though because the three they played were absolutely perfect! My ears were ringing and my throat was killing me but heck, it was worth every minute! *adds day to favourite days of life list*

SLEEPY SUNDAY

We took it easy on Sunday - we visited the National Gallery - which was okay for a while then I got bored and began hallucinating that all the paintings were the same (I think I was still on an EXO high so everything else other than Kai just wasn’t worth my time.) I saw Van Gogh and Claude Monet paintings though which was very exciting and caught my attention.

We headed across to the National Portrait Gallery after which focused on modern art and, well portraits. And I saw my first ever real Andy Warhol painting, so it certainly was the icing on top of the cake! 

Then basically we had to head home - although it was just a weekend, it was a weekend of epic proportions, squeezing in so many fun happenings, making many fond memories for both of us.

I only have one thing to say...when’s BIGBANG touring?

SUNNY APRIL

Helloooo,

I can’t believe I only have TWO weeks at uni left! Where has the year gone? It makes me sad - wish it could go on until June like school - I find summer long, tiresome and boring. Hopefully I’ll get a job sorted or else it’s going to be as unproductive as last year’s. Yes it’s lovely to have a break - but I like having a focus on something too, and I desperately need money.

Titanic Sounds

This month marks the 100 year anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic - as you all should know, the Titanic was built in Belfast and the anniversary being marked as an opportunity to celebrate. I think the reason as to why it is being celebrated was because it was a magnificent and beautiful ship that Belfast men built, not the thousands of lives which were lost in it’s sinking. 

Belfast and MTV organised a small concert for the opening of the Titanic Quarter. This was called MTV Titanic Sounds and was held on the 13th April. Pixie Lott, Rizzle Kicks, Katy B, Sean Paul and Olly Murs performed. 

It was a great night and the atmosphere was fantastic. MTV were there recording the show because it is going to be featured on MTV World Stage later in the year.

Coleraine Holiday

I was back at university last week, but I didn’t mind because I had guests! From Wednesday - Friday, Emma, Kerri, Elizabeth and Amy stayed over - it was lovely to see them since we didn’t see each other much over Easter due to work, study and other commitments. 

When they arrived around 2pm, I gave them a tour of the campus and we went for a walk to the Daffodil Gardens. (I honestly didn’t know the place existed?!) They called the campus numerous names, including a train station, hospital and mental institute - but they admitted they liked the place. (Queens students...*rolls eyes*)

Elizabeth made the best spag bol ever and then we went to C.U.

After my seminar on Thursday, we took the taxi to the Strand in Portstewart. The weather was beautiful and we took some photographs. 

We walked to Morelli’s and got ice cream - yummy! 

That evening we went to the Jet Center and had a go at bowling - I didn’t do as well as I hoped. We had a wee meal after that but we were stuffed. However everywhere we went, even on campus, was incredibly empty - where was everyone?

It was like a holiday for me too despite being back at work - I hoped they enjoyed it as much as I did - Thank you for visiting! I’m glad you came do do do doo doo do do... ♫

MOTION GRAPHICS

Hello friends,

Okay super quick report because I’m tired.  My aims were to finish my Motion Graphics before the end of this week. (Friday) I worked like a bulldozer to get it done and successfully completed it today. Wanna see?

I’m pretty pleased with it - there are a few wee tiny mistakes but if you all saw how they looked before you’d settle for it the way it is too. 

I done all the illustrations - drew them out, scanned them in and coloured them on Adobe Photoshop. Some were more difficult than others. (Benedict Cumberbatch may or may have not been traced.)

I wish I could have included everyone - because I know there's some people that should have been in it - but alas, it could not be.

Thanks to all who have liked and commented on it on Facebook. It can be used for feedback in my Visual Diary - which will commence operation next week.

Wow, this sounds incredibly serious doesn’t it? Let’s finish this post of with a celebratory waaayyyyyhheeeeeeyyyyyyyyy!!

Happy Easter everyone!

RESPONSE

Hallo! I answered my own questions, because I am a SADO!

❍ If were forced to change your name, what would it be?

I’m terribly dull, but I do believe I would change my name to Claudine. I like my nicknames and being that bit different, so I feel Claudine is more mature and sophisticated for when I get older. I’m really fussy when it comes to names and I cannot think of any other names in the world that would possibly suit me. For my surname, I do have a small selection of surnames that I do like: such as Button, Valentine, Harrison, Love, Buchanan...alas I can’t remember anymore.

❍ If you were stuck at one age for the rest of your life, what age would you choose?

I wouldn’t choose this age, because although 18 is meant to be a cool, respectable age, it certainly is not as cool as it seems.

I am a confused human who is not old enough to be independent, but too old to be childish without the feeling of stupidity that goes with it.

I’m bombarded with responsibilities that I’ve not been taught to deal with and am criticised when I don’t know how to do it.

Not forgetting the stress and pressure teachers, parents and the society put us all under to the subject of our future. It’s so boring! Leave me alone.

I don’t know why, but my answer here is the age 23. It somewhat appeals to me.

❍ You just got a plane ticket to anywhere on earth. You have to leave right now! Where are you gonna go?

My brain automatically thought South Korea there. I’m gonna stick with this choice because the flights are expensive and I couldn’t pay for them otherwise.

❍ If you only had two music artists to listen to for the rest of your life, what would they be?

Like Mary-Jane, mine changes very often and would be different in like two weeks time. I’d be afraid to pick K-Pop incase I get sick of it - but then again, if it’s the only music I can listen to, there’s little I could do about it. Right now, I’d say I would go for Owl City and 2NE1. (Although no Big Bang ever again would cause me to decay.)

❍ What is your current desktop picture?

It’s actually SHINee. I change my wallpaper a lot. I don’t like this one much because it looks low quality.

❍ If you had to lose one of your 5 senses, what would it be?

That’s a tough one. I couldn’t go without my sense of sight or hearing, because I would find them the most valuable to use. Taste is important for...well eating of course and without it for the rest of your life would be just terrible. Smell would be pretty bad too, because I love perfume and potpourri so that would be sad. And touch, seemingly the least important in my opinion, but I think it would be one of those things that would be a nightmare not to have at all. I’m going to be foolish here and say touch.

❍ Oh no! Your house just spontaneously combusted! Thankfully your family members and pets have made it out safely, so what’s that one thing you are going to save from that blazing inferno?

You actually think Toby is going to move from his throne in the living room? This is an easy answer, my macbook of course. Speaking of such events, I really REALLY should get that insured.

❍ Matt Smith and Amy Pond have just crashed into your living room in the Tardis. They offer you a short trip back to the past. What year/era would you choose to go to?
I’ve answered something like this a while back. I’d go back to the late sixties and join in on Beatlemania.

❍ What one fictional character do you wish was a real person?

Voldemort....Lawl.

Jun Pyo from Boys Over Flowers, because he’s an absolute babe. But that’s a stupid answer because Lee Min Ho technically is Jun Pyo.

Aish I can’t think of anyone really...I don’t read books either, so that doesn’t help.

❍ The government is forcing you to produce children and are offering any sperm/egg from any celebrity on earth. Who would you choose?

I’m going through a T.O.P-is-my-bias stage again so my answer here is Choi Seung Hyun. I was debating wether this was a good idea or not, because if you don’t see his beauty, like old me and other people do too, *cough*kerri*cough*, he maaayyy look a bit creepy. And I don’t want a creepy looking child, do I?

Then I realised we are both sexy beasts so the child is going to look stunning anyway.

Wait, I feel that I’ve actually convinced myself that this is going to happen as I wrote that section. Oh no!! I’m going to be pregnant with T.O.P’s baby! Dad’s gonna kill me!

(But seriously, look at his jawline! And THOSE EYES! WORTH IT.)

❍ You are holding a baby shower for your new born and are allowed ten guests. Who would be invited?

Well the father obviously, although there would be a slight language barrier because it appears he only knows the words ‘Yo,’ ‘Turn it up’ and ‘Yeah.’

Others on the list include:

Emma - obviously because she can speak/write in Korean.

Amy - because she would die inside if she was missing out on something fun.

Elizabeth - although the thought of a mixed-race child may destroy her soul she is likely bring nice presents.

James - he once said that T.O.P was unattractive so this will be the ideal opportunity to prove him wrong.

Mary-Jane, Jordan, Jared, Mum and Dad too.

❍ Wow! You’ve just found your doppelgänger in opposite gender of yourself - how would they look? Speaking of look-a-likes, do you know anyone that looks like yourself?

Well I suppose I already have one, and his name is Jared. Like we have the same colour of hair and are fairly similar looking. So basically let Jared’s hair grow and straighten his teeth, put on a dash of make-up and big blue glasses, and ta-dah! It’s me.

- Claudia

DREAM LOG: JULY

9th July: Day out in Belfast.

Mum, Dad, Jared and myself were going to the cinema in Belfast. The film was some comedy but that doesn’t matter. We were all then told by staff to leave, because the building was unable to remain open anymore. When we got outside we had to make our way to the fields outside Belfast. (For those who were at the Tall Ships last year, it was the fields were the cars were to be parked.) Mum, Dad and Jared went to fetch the car but I got caught up talking to Rachel H, so my family left without me. I asked Rachel for a lift but unfortunately her car was full.

Then I met these two Korean girls who appeared to be tourists. They were both frightened (Understandably, because Belfast was now being evacuated, people were fleeing)

I felt like I had to help them so I called a bus and thankfully it was heading out to the fields.

When we arrived there was one big tent so I went inside to find my family. Members of Westlife were sitting on the floor playing board games with members of the public. There was also Enrique Iglesias there. (I remember making a mental note to tell Laura that I saw him.) I found it very exciting to see all these pop stars because I thought “Wow! I’m going to have a lot of autographs for my collection!”

The finale was Shakira performing on stage. A typical Shakira performance, except the best bit was she was singing, dancing and filling in a large sudoku square at the same time! Everybody was roaring in applause, except by the end of the song, she hadn’t finished it. Jared also pointed out she got most of the answers wrong.

12th July: Terrorists.

Ok this dream started off when I was getting out of school and heading for the bus. Shannon L started walking behind me and wanted to speak, but we only did for a minute or two because then she got in her taxi to go home.

I then followed another girl, who I’m pretty sure was Anna Annett, to make sure I’d get the right bus home. Then she started flirting with a bus driver (a young guy who I also recognize but don’t know by name)

Then it flashed forward to me not even getting the bus, but arriving at home, where nobody was present, except for Mrs Stevenson who was tutoring a young 5th year lad out on work experience? They were both stripping the wallpaper for the walls to be painted. I wasn’t impressed by this but when I tried to persuade Mum to stop them she just laughed and said it would teach the boy a lesson.

I decided to go back to school because I was told Mrs McCullough and my friends all had digestives (which James remarked “These are incredibly high in fat”) and mint vienetta and was throwing a small party.

Kerri, being Kerri, asked if she could leave and retrieve more food from the shop so I accompanied her. It was a good weather so we decided to walk round the harbour.

However, when we reached the harbour, the military had taken over and there were a number of cars blocking the road.

When we were walking past the Nautilus Center, Julie-Anne and Emma J jumped up wearing balaclavas and SHOT ME ON THE ARM!!

Kerri was unhurt but I had a massive indent on my right arm. (No blood though, lol)

We returned to school and I started to complain to all the mothers who were standing outside. Nobody really cared though because everyone liked Jules and let her get away with it.

Jules and Emma reappeared and I slapped Jules across the face because I was really mad. Then I was shouted at by everyone for assaulting someone. Sigh.

21st July: Reality sucks.

I don’t remember much of this dream, but I was at a end-of-exams pool party on holiday which had a Hollister theme. Nobody was wearing Hollister but some of the guests were writing the name ‘Hollister’ on the walls instead. Then I met this blonde guy and started going out with him. He was cute although I don’t like blondes much. I woke up smiling then scowled shortly after in disappointment.

23rd July: Marriage.

I went to Victoria Square car park with some friends. I distinctly remember Amy being there. We needed to get up into the fancy area of House of Fraser but first needed to get past the beefy security guards.

When we finally arrived, (now it was only Mum, myself and a few others I did not recognise) I realised that we were actually there to purchase a wedding dress.

Turned out I was getting married! Nobody, not even myself, knew who the groom was. I think I was meant to know because others kept asking me about him but couldn’t remember at all. The strangest thing was that not knowing who my husband was did not concern me, however finding a dress was more important.

Most of the dress hunting was a blur, but I recall I was talking to Alison F for most of the period Mum spent picking dresses for me to try on. She picked me out a black dress? (Which has a certain similarity to the Lipsy one in my wardrobe!?) and insisted to get it.

We then went to get flowers for the wedding next, but again I was distracted talking to people.

However when I went to pay for the flowers I opened my purse and found a photo of Kim Hyun Joong from SS501? Then I became afraid that I was marrying a Korean pop star and didn’t tell Mum because I thought she would get cross I was wedding a foreigner. Then I woke up.

Unfortunately that’s all the dreams documented in the log. Some of the time I don’t remember my dreams until I wake up and a big percentage of the time I don’t dream at all.

Hopefully August’s log will be more interesting.

- Claudia