2012: THE END

Helllooo - Happy New Year to all! What a strange year 2012 has been - definitely not my favourite to be honest. However the important thing is, did I keep to my resolutions? Here's the original post.

Diet

Aha, I did diet - (although I’m always dieting) - I managed to lose half a stone over the summer but alas, I still haven’t met my ideal goal. The challenge continues...

Photo Diary

I can proudly announce I completed my photo challenge! To those who are not sure what I’m talking about, last year I decided to take an Instagram photo and post it to Tumblr every day for 2012 to illustrate my day. Although it was sometimes an inconvenience and something I was very close to give up on, I’m pleased to have stuck it out to the end! Behold, here it is.

Don’t Complain

This one started out really well, surprisingly. I became really aware of others around me complaining and instead of joining in with them, it made me really thankful of how easy my life was!

However, after everything that happened during the summer, I began to feel down and kinda miserable - and after returning to university everyone’s negativity around me made me feel even worse. Even then, I didn’t complain - although everyone was driving me absolutely insane and everything in my life appeared to be going wrong. It certainly was testing times for me, and I didn’t handle it very well. 

Work Hard

Second semester of first year was great - I created a really cool Motion Graphics piece and got a brilliant grade in it, so I’m really proud of that. Overall, I was really proud of my first year marks so I guess that’s proof that I did work hard!

However I was shocked to see how much of a step up my course was from first year to second year. In first semester I was working so hard and for so long that I wasn’t enjoying what I was doing, it made me sad. I’m hoping this upcoming semester will be better!

Save Money

WOO I actually kept a book of my finances so that’s really impressive for me. I also opened another bank account to save money because to quote Claudia’s Blog 9/1/12 “If SM or YG decide to put a show on in London, I will use it then!” which THEY DID, as you all know, BIGBANG stopped there during their tour in December - success!

No Stressing

Believe it or not, since making this resolution I don’t stress as much as I used to. My whole attitude towards everything has changed. Although I wouldn’t call myself laid back, I definitely have chilled out much more more since 2011.

Get a Boyfriend

LOL - neither Rachel or myself successfully completed this resolution, maybe next year! (I did see T.O.P though...from a distance anyway!)

Much love,

- Claudia

TONIGHT

Things that have been floating round my brain recently and feel the need to talk about, and just write down really.

Penpals

Not sure if I have talked about this, but I have taken up the hobby of snail-mail. I have 3 penpals from South Korea. (Three is my limit, it’s too expensive otherwise!) and it’s just something to take my mind off everything, as well as get some nice post addressed to me. I have got one letter so far and have sent the reply as well as another on Monday. I hope it has arrived by now! I tried to make the letter as pretty as possible. Minjung said she liked TVXQ on her first letter so I decorated the envelope with photographs of them. :)

Viscom

It’s been three weeks since my interview and physiologically it’s tearing me apart waiting for a reply. I’ve been waiting at the postbox every day after school as well as my heart skipping a beat every time an email comes through on my phone, expecting to be UCAS track. It doesn’t seem fair that all my friends have replies from where they want to go except for me! Everything is so uncertain, I just NEED a reply: wether acceptation or rejection, just to give me some kind of purpose to work.

Studying

I feel a bit sick thinking of what’s on in the next few months. I was filling in my calendar the other day and time is so short. There are many events on from March to May. I’m SO gonna fail English, I attempted studying it last week and nearly broke down. I like having something to work for, but I feel there is NO reason to work at the moment!

Future

Although I’ve only caught parts of this topic conversations my friends have had lately, it’s left me thinking of such questions as Am I going to get married? Children? Job? Where will I live? Blah Blah, etc. To be honest I’ve been very cynical lately and disagree with everyone else’s opinion or ideas. I secretly snigger at them, gosh I’m so mean!

I’ve only had 2 and a half days at school this week and it’s left me amazed at what people’s ideas are for their future. At the minute I feel I will be a workaholic in times ahead, working in a busy city, being a boss of a section of a big company.

Yearbook

This year I stepped up to design our 2011 U6 Yearbook. Good idea in theory, yes. But I thought everyone would be keen to help out. They are not.

I’m not sure if I’m power hungry and I’m turning into some kind of yearbook dictator, but our year are atrocious at sending photos. That means I’m looking up ALL the photographs up using Facebook, as well as designing each page separately. And only two people have returned their bio thing. It’s very time consuming and frustrating.

Desire

Don’t know if I’m going through a phase, or am just aware now because of Jordan’s observations, but do I talk and think about men far too much? Is my brain corrupted by unhealthy thoughts?! Subtle! LOL

Big Bang

Big Bang’s new album is out, and it actually made it into the Billboard charts today. It’s so good. I’m getting back into the habit of listening to music again.

Wanting the world

Why is it when you have no money you see everything you like? Especially unnecessary crap online. I would prefer to not say what this all is, because you would look and shake your heads at me in pity.

A lot of that was quite negative and depressing. I think I am tired! Goodnight everybody!

SHAKESPEARE

A much needed blog post!

I have been so so SO busy recently. I don’t think I’ve been so occupied with life ever. So busy I haven’t had time to get a haircut, book a driving lesson or even pluck my eyebrows. It’s been non-stop the last three weeks or so.

It doesn’t stop there: I discovered I have something major on every week until the middle of November. It’s crazy. Having Lady Gaga and the Art Dublin overnight on the same week is NOT good.

So what have I been up to? I signed myself up to the Sound Crew for the Shakespeare performance of ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream” the school is taking part in the Waterfront, as part of Shakespeare Schools Festival. I absolutely love it. I have made friends with people who I would have never talked to before and the rehearsals are great craic. However they are after school and on Saturdays so that’s taken up so so much time. Not that I mind, it’s just mad that I’ve been able to cope.

I also put myself forward as Media Rep for the show: basically advertising the production. I spent two weeks making a Show Programme on Pages on Henry mac, and people were saying how professional it looked. It’s nice being complimented for something you enjoy doing. I also created some posters (more will be printed eventually, I’m just so tired tonight I’m taking a night off) and a 3D art piece with information hanging from it, which only took one day to make!

Our first show was today last two periods to the Junior School. It went really well, the audience laughed a good bit, which kept on surprising me because I kept forgetting they were watching! We have another show for the Seniors tomorrow, then one at 7pm for Parents and Friends. Then Wednesday is the Waterfront performance! Oh I’m rather excited!

I also have G.B on Mondays and Sunday School with P.1s on Sundays, ah! Never realised how much fun helping out with church stuff could be!

I think I’ve become so focused on Shakespeare I just neglected everything else, now I have a humungous pile of school work, ironing and Iris/Betty/xfactor catch up on Sky+.

Things that will be going on:

• More performances
• The Waterfront!
• S.U Weekend
• Richard II in some theatre next Tuesday
• Halloween Holidays
• Lady Gaga
• Dublin Weekend
• Prefect Disco
• G.B Christmas Shopping

AHHH AND CHRISTMAS SHOPPING AND RESITS AND THE GYM AND DIETING AND--

I NEED ££££! :(

3. YOUR PARENTS

Dear Mum and Dad,

Okay, I know you will probably never read this, which is maybe a good thing. I want to thank you for always being there for me, I’m glad you didn’t divorce or die or anything or I’d be even more messed up. I know I owe you a lot, something I don’t think I could ever do. (Unless I won the lottery or something)

Without your influence in my life, I know I wouldn’t be the person that I am today. You gave me the chance to grow up in a Christian home. This was something to build my morals, decisions and personality on. I don’t even want to think what I would be like if I wasn’t raised this way. But today I have an amazing relationship with God and I’m so so thankful for that.

Thank you for encouraging my love of art and broadening my creative talent: I understand if you were bored when I trailed you round art exhibitions all those years. I also want to thank you for accepting my passion for art and supporting me as I discuss choosing it as a course in university, even though I’m fully aware choosing art could get me no-where in life. I really value your opinion about making decisions for my future. It’s so helpful having someone older and wiser to guide me along, especially when you both know me so well.

I’m very grateful for all you have given me. Materialistically yes, but also the love and the memories we have had together. It’s hard to remember that sometimes. Especially when I’m cross. I’m sorry I always get so cross. But I always feel bad afterwards.

I probably have disappointed you in rows and I’m sorry about that. But I do think we get on very well usually.

I know you’re proud of me because I study well, I know you’re proud of me because I look after myself quite well, I know you’re proud of me because I’m a good child. I hope you’re proud of me in everything I attempt to do, especially in the future, which you know I’m terrified of. But I’m certain you will help me through it.

Dad, I want to thank you for allowing me to inherit your genes. I have lovely brown eyes and a round face (which I’ve been told I will appreciate when I am older) I am also thankful for crude sense of humour and interest in technology I have. I also enjoy the craic with you, us roaring mindlessly at each other can be lots of fun. However, you do have faults: I hate ‘Two and a Half Men’ on repeat 24 hours a day, and I despise having to watch it after you fall asleep snoring on the sofa at 9.30pm every night. It’s not fair. And I also don’t like how lazy you can be. Fair enough, you have to work lots but I don’t like cleaning up eggs after breakfast or cleaning the bathroom. Speaking of work, YOU WORK TOO HARD. You are all stressed usually and you pull your hair out. If you’re not careful you will die of a heart-attack, then how will ‘the business’ cope? We will all be screwed, just because you won’t sit down! And I don’t understand how you procrastinate so much, that just makes work worse. By the way, I may have to join Green Electrical if my art career doesn’t work out.

Mum, I want to thank you for all the good talks we have late at night. I feel like I can tell you anything and I usually do, because I don’t understand the concept of kept secrets or barriers between us. I want to give thanks also for my soft heart and awesome sense of style. You allowed me to freely develop my own style until I found what suits me. I’m glad you are not old. Like, really old. I also like how you’re not cross at Jared and I much. I’d usually just shout back, because I enjoy a good shout. I like how you accept me as I am, and handle my obsessions and monitor what I buy quite well. But you have your faults too: you never listen properly! Even though I know I’m sure I told you otherwise, you get it wrong! It drives me mad. Then you ARGUE otherwise, just like Jared, and it cracks us both up. You also make us clean the house a lot, I don’t really mind but it’s annoying when I want to do something else. This year’s exam pressure was grand for me, (let’s just hope I done okay) but Jared’s was absurd. Sure his marks were actually good, but it gets so boring listening to it after a week.

But, flip, this letter has gotten long. But anyway, thank you for setting such a good example for me. I want to be like you when I’m older. (I’m already turning into you anyway with my desire to clean) except I’ll have a little Asian boy who can play the drums. You are so so very organised, I love how I have inherited your instinct to use a to-do list and look after my stuff so well. You need to teach me how to deal with money next, I just don’t understand that.

And Dad, thank you for having an interest in cars, because I honestly don’t have a clue. And thanks for currently paying my insurance because I’m still at school. The craic is good when we go out for a drive and to our occasional Burrendale gym days together.

Okay, I’m ending this now. Thank you for all our memories together, and I hope there will be many more. Even if it’s just sitting in the house watching a film, I’m very happy to be a member of the Green family.

I’d end with saying I love you but you already know that.

- Lots of Love,

Claudia xox

OVER.

Well that’s it.

My exams are over.
Ended this morning with English Literature.

I would be all “WOOP exams over, summer begins!!” etc.


But really, I do not care less.

Yeah, it’s great being stress free over the three exams I did have, but now I have very little to do. I thrive on being constantly productive throughout the day, (flip that sounds weird) so now it’s going to take some adjusting until I manage to slow everything I do over the long, hot probably cold, summer days.
I will update with my progress soon.

Tonight, I’m going to the kids’ school play. They are the ones I child-mind randomly throughout the year. They are well cool, they call me Santa Claudz. Haha. The school are doing Mary Poppins. Last time they put on a play Jared was in it, and the time before I was. *shudder* So it should be alright.

Oh yeah, English earlier. Well it was grand I suppose. No, no it wasn’t. I had to compare and contrast my two least favourite poems and for the Great Gatsby question I recall writing about Twilight. So mmhmm, it was bad. :(
Sure we’ll see how it goes on result day, I wonder when we get our results? We weren’t given a date.

sexy beast.

I’ve turned into a more masculine Claudia (also sounds very weird, maybe doesn’t make sense) and have started to watch the World Cup! I like seeing what’s all the fuss about instead of sitting in the corner giving off about it. I’ve already done this with Big Brother a few years ago (hooked for one series, never watched it again), Scrubs, Desperate Housewives, 90210, Ugly Betty, Eurovision (love it!), and Glee. Some of these trial episodes turned out a disaster but others I went crazy over.

But anywho, I never thought I’d say it: but I enjoy the football! The rest of my family hates it, but it’s actually really good when you get into it. It’s quite satisfying roaring ridiculously at a television screen. And I’d never thought I’d say THIS, but footballers are rather attractive! I’m supporting England and South Korea. Woohoo!

But worry not, after this is over, I won’t watch football until the next World Cup.

- Claudia

SAD;

I am so screwed for this R.E exam.

I quote, Heechul, Full House Ep 9: "I am so very sad!"

ENGLISH REVISION

Remembering Edward Thomas Poems;

This may be strange, but boy, will it be useful in the exam! See, we have two poets, and because the poetry we receive in the exam doesn't have the poet's name printed on it, we have to know which poem belongs to which. So I devised this way of remembering one of the poets, Edward Thomas.

The Owl - KYUHYUN

Kyuhyun would play games instead of sleeping.

The Glory - SIWON

Siwon is the most religious of the group, the Glory, being appropriate title.

The Gypsy - DONGHAE

Donghae, like the gypsy in the poem, is generous in spirit.

Adlestrop - HANKYUNG

"I remember Adlestrop Hankyung."

Beauty - HEECHUL

Heechul is beauty, so he thinks anyway.

The Chalk Pit - EUNHYUK

"I'm LONG!"

As The Team's Head Brass - LEETEUK

I think the title of this sounds like some kind of leader. Leeteuk is the leader.

May the Twenty-Third - KIBUM

Kibum disappeared like Jack Norman.

The New Year - SUNGMIN

Sungmin's birthday is on New Year's Day.

Man and Dog - SHINDONG

Shindong...likes food. Korean's have been known to eat dog...

Aspens - RYEOWOOK

Ryeowook would blow away, like Aspen leaves.

Haymaking - KANGIN

While everything else may change, there will always be alcoholics.

APPLES

Hey,

I haven't blogged for ages. I've been so tired.

I have worked so hard recently but the work just keeps on coming, I can barely keep up. When I do work hard on something, it's always wrong or needs more alterations. My exams are just around the corner and I haven't even finished my art. This is shocking because I had practically everything done last year. Curse AS levels.

Things can only get better.

Things that are keeping me from becoming brain dead:

MAS4

APPLES

THE FAME MONSTER

I MISS LONDON SO MUCH.

THOUGHTS

My Blogger layout is so gay.
Everyone else on the site has the "Minima" layout. They could do with making some different ones. I searched the whole internet for a new one, but unfortunately my Macbook can't download the templates, so I had to make do with the HTML ones, which are rare. I found this cool Heechul one, but it was too skinny for my long rants and big pictures. So I gave up after two days searching and went back to using Minima. =/

Um yeah what else.. I was at the gym tonight. The Fit Chinese Man was there. I've named him that. He's not exactly attractive, but he just walks about looking fit. Somedays he works really hard on the weights and the machines, but tonight he just sat about and chatted to the other fellas. They didn't do much either. It's fun to watch.

He's in every Tuesday evening I see. (sounds stalkerish) Unless there are TWO Chinese Fit Men... maybe he has a twin?! So many questions...

But anyway I want to have more nicknames for my fellow gym companions. It could turn into a fun game.

I am also worried about the future of Super Junior. I know it sounds silly, but when you feel so attached to a bunch of Korean guys you feel a pang of sickness that it could end. Like, a 13 member band can't go on forever.. can it?

I often wish I could blog inside my head and it would automatically post online when I wish. When I sit down and decide to write an entry it never is as effective typed out as in my head. I think about things I could write about during the day, but when I get home I usually forget my good ideas.

I feel so stressed at school recently. Art needs to be done for Friday, and this week I'm getting a pile of essays to do from every class. It scares me so much. I'm getting a sore head from trying to get everything done and I feel exhausted. I hope university is better. University. Another thing to add to my worry list!

It's my birthday on Saturday. (The 6th) It's the last thing on my mind, as I went out to Belfast with Emma and Kerri on Saturday past. So there is nothing to look forward to. My provisional license arrived in the post last week. That doesn't excite me either.

Stay healthy,

-Claudia

HONESTY

Okay, the whole point of this blog is writing what you really think of a certain person. You can say whatever on earth you want to and they won't know. Each number is a different person.

Person 1.) You are so cool. You know everything about me and the way my mind works. I don't know what I would do without you and we share everything with each other. However, I notice you are very distant recently.. are you OK? I wish you were back to normal and everything will be fun and normal again.

Person 2.) Why have you abandoned me?? We used to be such good friends and now you totally ignore me at every possible moment I try to talk. I thought you were quite cool and respected you for who you are. I've given up now. All you think about is yourself-You are a lazy slob... I still miss you though.

Person 3.) Let's add to my anger here for person number 3. WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU. You have changed so much in the two years that I have known you. You used to be so nice and so sweet. Now you hang around with them awful people and you really get on my nerves. Catch yourself on.

Person 4.) I think I'm getting on with you better now-a-days. For a while I really hated you, I know that's harsh. But you got on my nerves so much. Especially last year. But this year things are gonna get better.

Person 5.) Strangely enough, number 5 and I get on great. I never thought I'd be friends with you, you seem too "cool." You are great craic and so so fashionable, I am jealous of your amount of clothes. And you're so funny, you are class. BUT you never listen to anything and you are so unorganised!! You have great ideas but never get round to doing them, which is a shame. I sometimes carry them out instead, but anything I do, you can do better. Which can be a bit sickening sometimes.

Person 6.) HA you make me laugh so much. You have a wicked sense of humour and I think you have more common sense than I do. I feel blessed having you as my brother and as my friend.

Person 7.) Hey, you are so nice. Like, you have changed so much since September and since then we get on so well. You are so lovely. You always smile at me in school and always make an effort in talking to me even though somedays I feel like crap. I love how calm and quiet your nature is. You are really great with kids too.

Person 8.) Why don't we talk anymore? I'm sorry I have been so busy with school and stuff. But to be honest, you are too obsessed with your boyfriend to have time with anyone.

Person 9.) Wowee you are so sweet and kind! You are a darling. You are afraid to offend anyone and you are so so polite. I love how we are becoming more friendly again! Just like old times!

Person 10.) You look at me in school all funny. It's scaring me a bit. You never used to talk to me and suddenly you do. It's odd.

UPDATES

HELLO

I haven't blogged for a while. I've actually forgotten about it because I've been so so busy.

Updates...

TUESDAY: I went to Slimming World, which I had wrote about in my last entry. My diet is going really well. Oh! I also watched GLEE for the first time. I'm still not a fan yet. I don't see what's all the fuss about.

WEDNESDAY: I borrowed a Vibroplate from one of my Mum's friends. All you do is stand on it and it basically shakes your fat about. It helps you to lose weight the lazy way.

THURSDAY: I got my R.E results. I done really badly and was quite annoyed. Only got 50% in my exam. Aw well. It's only mocks. Jared didn't do so great either. Mum wasn't impressed.

FRIDAY: I went on an English trip after school to Belfast til late. Jordan, Kerri, Emma, Laura, Mary Jane and I went to Blue Pizza Co for our tea. (diet ruined) Then we went to the Lyric Theatre (which is across from Queen's University) and saw the worst play in the world. It was called The Caretaker by Harold Pinter. Lethal.

SATURDAY: I cleaned all day. ALL DAY. My container has never looked so good. I woke up at 10am and cleaned constantly til 6pm. I was exhausted. That night I went to Rachel's 17th Birthday party and we just caught up on the craic and watched "Legally Blonde." Seen it about a dozen times, but still really funny.

TODAY: Church as usual. Then after Sunday Dins I went out driving round the yard in Mar's car. It was awful. I HATE DRIVING.

Blast this entry. Time for a new one.

MESS

i can't study....

BLARGLE

Hey,

What a long day. I haven't done much, but I have felt awful stressed. I hate the thought of school tomorrow. Really makes me feel sick. I know that sounds silly but I just hate going back after Christmas, faced with exams and back to normal routine. Kerri's making me a calendar, which makes me feel slightly better. Perhaps she will have it done for tomorrow.

Mum's annoying me, she's forcing me to start to do my own ironing. I wear too much clothes and she says most of the laundry is mine. My plan is to just not iron at all. Or wear clothes that don't need ironing. Let them all pile up outside my room. I shall be lazy and a disgusting woman.

I read Super Junior fan fiction which Emma had sent me, that amused me for a few hours. I sat last night watching YouTube videos til like 1am, I regretted that this morning when I couldn't get up.

I went to Lisburn today to get Henry engraved, but supposedly the machine is too small for the MacBook to fit under it, so I have to find somewhere else. I'm determined to get it done!

I want to become more secretive, more suspicious, interesting and strange. However I have no secrets, and I blab everything. I'll try and accomplish that this week.

I need money soo badly. I might just have to do the lotto.

And I need to stop eating too.

~Claudia

P.S I love Eunhyuk. He's da man.