JUNE

I had this post written but I forgot to post it. T_T

End of Year Show

So to explain the Harry Styles doll in my room...

I had to display my final University dissertation coursework as an installation piece in a gallery. This took place as a show called FIN. Family and friends were all invited for the opening night, which exhibited various work of all final year Media, Film and Journalism students. My dissertation was about Fan Culture (“The Transformation of Young People’s Identity through Popular Culture and Social Media” - to be exact) so I created an installation piece about how popular media texts can influence how a teenage girl can present themselves in offline spaces (their bedroom walls) and online spaces (their tumblr blog). I focused particularly on two popular fandoms of the present day - the Directioners and Wholock fans, and my goal was to compare and contrast how these fans behave through a case study and analyse the media's representation of the two groups. Basically my installation piece was the bedroom spaces of these two fans and the two computers represented their online presence, which demonstrated their behaviours (my findings) to others through visual arts practice.

I created two flash based mock-ups of Tumblr profiles for guests of FIN to interact with, shown above. There’s so, so much more I could talk about regarding the project, but that’s the basic outline so you have a general idea. I had a blast collecting objects to decorate my installation with, and it turned out sooo much better than I was expected. A lot of people complimented it, so I’m really happy! It was a great evening and worth every second of the hard work!

Comic-Con Belfast

Wayhey MCM Comic Con FINALLY made a stop in Belfast this year. And it was awesome. There was so much merchandise, but I’m afraid to say I bought very little - a Loki helmet shaped ring and a Thor keyring. I didn’t cosplay but I got quite a few photographs with others. All the cosplayers there were really nice, even when we felt so silly asking to get a photo taken with them! I spent the large majority of the afternoon hunting down a Doctor cosplayer who wasn’t 12 years old. (I found one, he was cute and from Australia!)  It was a super fun day out with Emma and Jared. Roll on next year!!

Dublin

To celebrate our results, Emma, Rebecca, Paige and I headed down to Dublin on the train for a spot of retail therapy and sight-seeing! Well, mainly shopping. Dublin seems so cultured and it was marvellous going somewhere new that we weren’t familiar with. Emma’s friend Rosa took us to a delish pizza place and secret cocktail bar - both places we would never have found on our own. It was actually class. We had so much fun!

ROOM (3)

Hello, I’m back!

Good news: After many long and tiresome weeks working, I finally handed in my dissertation and other final year work this week, woohoo! Bad news: It’s the end of my three years as a university undergraduate! I don’t think it has really hit me that I’m basically finished, even though most of my stuff for the flat has been brought back home. However, as tradition stands, I had to take a few photos of my flat before I moved out. I think it’s nice to have some photos to remember what it was like. As you may know, I lived in university accommodation this year (instead of a student house), and it was the best decision ever. The cosy heating, constant hot water and speedy BT internet was all part of the price and the only thing we needed to pay for was keeping the electric meter topped up (between the four of us, about £10 every other month or so) Absolutely fantastic. It was very quiet which was perfect because I was working 90% of the time and a 5 minute walk to class. Plus, my housemates were probably the nicest and coolest people ever (we spent one dinner having a in-depth conversation about Doctor Who, and another was spent watching hilarious Eurovision entries). So yeah, I was super happy living at Maple, and I’m going to miss it!

Photos beside my sink - we shared toilet/shower rooms but had our own sinks

Yes, that is a Harry Styles doll. More on that later.

My desk and shelves - never realised how handy shelves like this were before!

Close-up of shelf

My view from my window - free parking for residents, shame I didn't have my car up.

Cork board!! Very much decorated, as expected.

The final of three university bedroom posts, first year here and second year here.

- Claudia

DECEMBER AGAIN

Hello, remember me?

I’ve missed blogging. Coursework got the better of me. I’m now half way through Final Year, and wow, it has gone so fast. I had a great few months and now I will share...

University

I’m really settled at uni this year, as I mentioned in my last post. I realised how important my friends are and feel I’ve got a lot closer to them this year. Work has tightened up for third year but I really enjoyed what coursework I was working on. You can see here and here where my time has gone during the 12 weeks of Semester 1. In late January I’ll be starting my dissertation (8000-1000 word essay) on a topic I’m interested in, and will also produce a final practical project which will be on display at the End of Year Show in May. Yikes! Although it seems daunting, truthfully I'm excited to working on a topic that focuses on my interests. I think I know what I’m working on, but an assigned supervisor helps me along who I meet once a week to discuss how I'm getting on.

Friends

Home and University life was weird due to a couple of my friends not being at home. Rebecca, Kerri and Emma were studying/working abroad but were coming home for Christmas. I was counting down the days until I saw them again so December was an exciting month! 

Christmas

Christmas is so wonderful I felt it should have it’s own section. Lots of festivities at University, including the Christian Union and my course Dinners. As well as shopping, films, Starbucks, days out with friends and sorting last minute presents.

Remember in my last post I fell in love with a jacket? I am excited to announce my Mother picked up on my many hints and bought me it! (shown above) I think I’ve worn it everyday so yeah I was delighted. I got lots of other awesome pressies too - perfume, an amazing laptop bag from Emma and an external hard-drive. It was nice spending time with my family and chilling for a few days. Hope everyone had a nice Christmas! 

- Claudia

LIFE UPDATE: SEPT/OCT

Hey - I’m writing this post in Starbucks in Belfast. To be honest I feel a bit of a prat sitting in by the window with my Macbook on my knee, sipping my Caramel Creme Blend. (Yum!)

Quick life update. I fear now that I’m in final year I won’t have any time to blog due to coursework/dissertation so I’m making most of this opportunity. I apologise in advance if I don’t post anything.

Final Year

Dun dun dun! My university course is coming to an end. I can’t believe I’ve just started my third and final year - honestly, I would want to do it all again. I really don’t want to leave! No plans as yet as to what I’m going to do for the rest of my life. Right now, I’m just taking it a day at a time. Back into halls this year and loving it. It’s so handy living on campus and my flatmates are lovely. I think it’s going to be a great year. 

Obsessions

I have fallen back in love with Fall Out Boy. The new album ‘Save Rock and Roll’, is okay I guess, but they’ve changed a lot over hiatus and I prefer their older work. Infinity on High is my all-time favourite album and it constantly plays in my car.

Also have got hooked on watching Youtube videos - completely adore Crabstickz, Danisnotonfire and Amazing Phil. I’ve been watching them everyday, so funny! Reminds me of when I was 16 and constantly watched Shane Dawson and Charlieissocoollike. The good old days.

Fashion

Hoorah! It’s finally Autumn! The weather is getting colder which means jumpers, boots, coats, HATS! I don’t really like summer weather (too warm so I die) so I get really excited because it’s coming into my favourite time of year. Was walking through Debenhams last month and a brand caught my eye called ‘H! by Henry Holland’ I’ve heard of him before but since that day I’ve fallen in love with his clothes. I’ve got my eyes on this green coat, it really is beautiful - I’ve tried it on like 4 times now, haha. The t-shirts and jumpers are also very cute and reasonable, I’m bound to buy one soon! It’s hard to save money. ~_~

Life of Claudia

I’m very excited to announce that i’m ~hopefully~ going on holidays next year. Woo! Instead of having a 21st party, Mum said I can go anywhere in the world for a family holiday. My first choice was Japan/Korea but she wormed her way out of that...hmm.. so the second choice was NEW YORK!! Nothing planned or sorted yet but I’m very excited for next summer! :D

Enjoy your weekend everyone!!

- Claudia

SHERLOCK FTW

Heylo!

Okay well I have some exciting news!! Back in May two pieces of my coursework were nominated for the Ulster Media Show. This show is an opportunity to showcase the best and most interesting pieces of work by media students from Colleges and Universities in Northern Ireland.

Although I was nominated last year for my Motion Graphics piece (y’know, the one with the animated version of myself) unfortunately I couldn't make it due to the death of my Granny Green. Thankfully I was given the chance again this year, and submitted my Interactive Flash based narrative “Sherlock - A Scandal In Belgravia” and Interactive film “Ultimate Guitar.”

My classmate and good friend, Rebecca was also nominated for her Flash about Marilyn Monroe “Marilyn and her Monsters”. It was a great opportunity for both of us to meet different people in the media industry as well as showcase our work.

Meeting Sarah Travers with Rebecca! She was really lovely.

There were 5 categories and both of my pieces fell under ‘Interactive Content’. Sarah Travers, who you may know as a BBC Newsline presenter, hosted the award ceremony - and also kindly took photos with us afterwards too! ‘Interactive Content’ was the first category announced. Like most award shows, it showed some of the nominee’s work on screen, that was cool - I felt like I was up for a BAFTA! Then following that a commendation was released, then the winner.

‘Ultimate Guitar’ won a commendation for original idea and special effects so I was delighted for that, but when I went down to collect it, Sarah told me to wait because I also won first prize for ‘Sherlock!’ Then suddenly all these photographers started snapping my photos, and wow, after that I really didn’t take much in after that! 

On stage, award presented by Kate Duffy, NWRC Director of for Workforce Development and Administration.

After the awards, there was food available and a chance to talk to people and get photographs taken too. An excellent evening, definitely the hard work paid off. This year I found my course was a big step up from first year and didn’t think I could handle it - fearing my work couldn’t be up to standard to the level I would want it to be. So I feel these awards have encouraged me to keep going and has given me new-found faith in myself! This is a big deal because it’s been something that I’ve been struggling with for a while. 

The award was engraved with name and work, wow!!

*speech time lolol*

I’d like to thank family and friends who supported me and kept me from going mentally insane during the past academic year and those wonderful human beings who have already congratulated me, because I still can’t believe that I actually won something.

A massive thank you to Rebecca - who although who’s work was in the same nominee category as both of my pieces, kindly and graciously congratulated me ( although I felt so SO bad about it! :[ ) I appreciate it so much, you’re amazing! ♥

In particular I need to thank Jared for his leading role in Ultimate Guitar - it would have been appalling without him and oh, also to Mary-Jane/Emma who introduced me to Sherlock! Whee! You are all brilliant!

With much happiness,
Claudia

ROOM (2)

Lack of blogging about university (or anything at all for that matter) this past year has made me very sad. However I had my hand-in’s today so I can proudly announce that I have got my life back! It’s already May and this afternoon I thought I better take a few photographs of my bedroom before I begin to move out. (Last year's post here)

Unlike last year’s post, this year I moved into a house with 5 other girls. I must admit, I like this room better than my room at home - you’ll see why now...

Reason 1: My room is GINORMOUS

The biggest room in the house. Although sometimes cold in the winter months. (Saying that, I’m usually too warm than too cold so it hardly bothered me.) But what's behind that door, you wonder?

Reason 2: A WALK-IN WARDROBE.

Reason 3: Posters everywhere!

Due to the generous wall space, both in wardrobe and out, I can have lots of posters on my wall! This room has 6 posters up! This little table area is where I keep my beauty stuff. The Doctor Who and One Direction poster was bought by my friends for my birthday, yay!

Reason 4: Double BED!!

I never had a double bed before but they are AWESOME! Fergus and Harold the terriers say hello, they live on the bed and make me feel better. :D And of course, the Andy Warhol cushions have returned.

Reason 5: Study Area

This desk has been a life-saviour this year as I worked. Although I miss looking out the window like last year in Cranagh, I ordered a big corkboard and decorated it with everything I love. Have a look:

Such things which may catch your eye here is my BIGBANG calendar, 16th Birthday Joe Jonas card from Jordan, a drawing of a Princess that a P.3 gave me in Tutoring for Schools, BIRDS, autographs and cute cards. c:

Short post yes, but I have returned, with many more updates of my boring life to come!

Talk soon,

Claudia

SHERLOCK [COURSEWORK]

Hello,

Sorry I’ve gone missing in action - yet again - but shall return to blogging after I finish up this semester at university.

This past couple of weeks I’ve been working on an Interactive Narrative on Adobe Flash. I based my idea on a BBC Sherlock episode, ‘A Scandal In Belgravia’.

(Funny how for two of my modules this year I’ve focused on BBC shows - I made a website on Doctor Who last semester!)

Anyway I’ve never created anything like this before so apologies if it kinda sucks - and to be honest it doesn’t follow the storyline fully but I wanted to base mine on Sherlock cracking Irene Adler’s code on her phone, rather than all the other fantastic things that happened in the real episode.

All drawings done by myself and as you can see from the image above, they have been based on the characters from the show too.

Feedback would be appreciated!

I tried everywhere but failed at hosting and embedding the ginormous sized swf, so please play here.

Many thanks and I shall return soon,

Claudia xo

LIAM DAY

Hello!

Another quick update on my celebrity watching! Last Monday (28th January) famous actor Liam Neeson (Schindler’s List 1993, Batman Begins 2005 and Taken 2008 to name a few) took a trip back to his home town of Ballymena, County Down - which so happens to an hour away from where we study at University! Not wanting to miss the opportunity to see someone so famous (and Hannah to meet the man of her dreams), Rebecca, Emma, Hannah and myself travelled early Monday morning to see if we could catch a glimpse of the movie star.

Although we arrived in Ballymena at the ridiculous hour of 8am, after a yummy McDonalds breakfast and a few hours of retail therapy, we were excited to see Liam at the Town Hall. It rained horribly for the majority of the day but that didn’t put off a crowd of over one hundred people gathering.

Our early start did not go to waste! The four of us found a place at the front of the barrier which gave us a perfect view of everything that was happening. However it also appeared to be an opportunity for the local news too! We got interviewed four different times and posed for endless photos. Although it felt really awkward at first, it was a good laugh.

The weather magically cleared up and just after lunchtime Liam appeared! The camera men went crazy trying to get photographs and we were also snapping away, praying he’d do a round of the barrier. Unfortunately we didn’t get to shake his hand, never-mind get a photo with him! However it was very exciting and I took some photos with my new camera.

When we arrived home, we made sure to catch all the news and by 7pm my Facebook newsfeed was filled with notifications that I was on television!! I’m very awkward on camera but thankfully, they cut the majority of the interview out. We appeared on UTV (below), BBC Newsline and RTE and also some photos appeared in a local newspaper and the BBC website. Here's the clip from UTV - I am on at 0:28 seconds! 

All in all, it was a excellent day and a great way to start Semester 2! Many thanks to Rebecca, Emma and Hannah for making it so much fun!

Lots of Love for Liam,

Claudia

HIDDEN AWAY

Hello,

Just a quick update to show I am still alive. I would apologise that I have got out of my habit of my weekly update but my hands are quite full with stuff at the minute, so really it couldn’t be helped. 

University

So yes, I have returned to the North and am currently habituating in a beautiful rented house in Portstewart with five other girls. I really like it, though I don’t know if I love it yet to be honest. Like second year is rather average compared to first year - where everything is new and exciting. Last year was all about making new friends, this year I think it’s more about maintaining the friendships that matter. This is an odd adjustment to get used to, it’s more settled and in some ways, less exciting.

Although I’m definitely enjoying myself, I’ve had many hilarious moments and terrific memories so far, and quite a few pictures to prove it too.

The work load for my course is quite noticeably heavier than last year and it takes a lot of effort to stay on top of it. Lots of reading, writing and practical work. I’m afraid I won’t be able to keep track of it which could bring my mark down. I’m trying my best though, I don’t want to to start getting stressed out. Like I’m only here for another year (my course is a 3 year course) then I’ll be graduating, it’s really flying in, so I want to enjoy every minute!

Life

My life seems to be revolving around two things at the minute: university and my own life. That may sound incredibly selfish, but I’m trying to get my life into order. I’ve been spending a lot of time by myself praying and pondering, because I feel there’s so much I want to do, but I don’t know where to begin.

After working and socialising, I just want to sleep. It sucks. Any other spare time I have, I put into over-analysing everything and it’s actually cracking me up because my brain doesn’t have enough power left to THINK that much. It’s preventing me from enjoying the moment and loving life. Aragh! It’s so hard to explain. When I make more sense I shall return to this confusing topic.


Things That Aren’t Nice:
I shall start with the bad list then we can end the post positively. 

• Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s make-up in Looper - NOO he doesn’t LOOK right, why mess up his beautiful face? 
• Confliction - Although we have great times together, a six person house can be... let’s say...tense. Especially with girls . Sometimes I feel a negative aura, where people are just in a mood for a good complain and I hate it! It brings me down. Also unnecessary shouting and noise in general within the house is unpleasant.
• Posters falling - My Portstewart bedroom is exposed to various temperatures throughout the day - from ice-cold in the early afternoon to moderate heat from 7:30pm-8:30pm. This has a horrible effect on the blue-tac which holds my posters in my room up. At least one poster a day has fallen off my wall since term started. The slight dent in the Inception one breaks my heart.

Things I Like:

When I’m not being crazy, sad or self-reflective, I do like some things. Recently I like:

• Josh Groban - I started listening to Josh Groban’s albums on Spotify and now I am totally hooked! Yes, I have a free month subscription to Spotify and now have realised I cannot live without it.
• Tumblr - Eugh why is this website so addictive. I have 17 posts of Joseph Gordon-Levitt queued from now to Sunday - that’s not normal behaviour, Claudia.
• Weather - it's now my favourite time of year again! It's dark and cold, it makes me happy, despite the lack of heating in the house. Hat season has begun!
• New Friends - I’ve built relationships with people that I’ve realised I no longer can live without. I look at them and think, wow, you are SO amazing - I actually love you! (In a friendly way of course, haha)

Yay I feel better after blogging!

Night night,
Claudia

CONTROVERSIAL #1

Gonna answer all the dangerous/controversial/awkward questions in a single post.

If you bumped into the person you dislike or if you were stuck with them in an elevator, what would you do or say?
Well I’d probably try to be civil and either say hello, exchange a nod or just say nothing at all if they don’t make eye contact.

Someone who made your life hell, or treated you like shit.
There are certain people who spring to mind here. I find it difficult to forgive people who bullied and made fun of me when I was younger, around 10-14 years old. And no, I can’t say I have forgiven for them yet - I know it sounds ridiculous but words hurt. I still hear those harsh words ring in my ears when I’m feeling crappy. I remember not being able to sleep at night, sick with worry thinking of the next day of school. And if I see them, I feel such a burning anger for making my life so horrible, I can hardly look them in the eye! I hope I will be able to forgive them in the near future.

Someone you didn’t want to let go, but just drifted.
I notice as you get older this happens more regularly. It becomes ten times harder to keep in touch with people, and there’s also some you just have to let go because there is no room for them in your life. This is quite sad really. The ones who have drifted I can’t say I miss much - then there are others who I don’t see but if we would meet up, it would be just like the way it used to be - then there’s some I meet and feel so awkward I can hardly make conversation with. I was afraid I would lose contact with James since we left for university, but thankfully we haven’t drifted apart, which I'm very thankful for!

Someone you need to let go, or wish you didn’t know.
There are a few people who I’ve met in my lifetime who I really didn’t like or wish I never knew. But I think there’s a reason for everything - even if I didn’t impact their life, it maybe was showing me who were good friends for me to have and who were not.

What do you think of religion? Or what do you think of politics?
What’s this now? Religion and politics are in the same question?!
Religion - As most of you know, I am a ‘religious’ person. I have been blessed in a loving Christian family who involved me in church and which also influenced my morals and lifestyle choices. I gave my life to Christ when I was a child, probably round 7 or 8 years old. I never fell away from this faith - and still live by these moral principles today. I don’t drink, smoke, sleep around...etc. It amazes me how stuck by these values for so long - it’s by faith obviously. God has provided me with such a strong faith and I’m not easily swayed, plus this kind of lifestyle never appealed to me anyway. I wouldn’t label my faith a religion, although it probably looks like it is, it’s more a personal relationship. The closer you are to God, other things such as relationships with others, struggles and worries are easier to deal with. I think I would be a paranoid, stressed and horrible human being if I didn‘t have God in my life to conquer my obstacles. I think it takes an open mind to have a faith in something, any religion actually. I can understand that it doesn’t appeal to everyone. It’s not an easy choice though either. I see why people want to live their own life, which saddens me, because I see how powerful and wonderful God works in my life. But flip, I could talk about how God has transformed my life for hours, but it’s something you gotta feel for yourself.
Politics - I am afraid I have a lack of knowledge and understanding in all things political. I wish I even understood what it’s all about - so I would have an opinion. But since I don’t, I shall say nothing at all.

Your views on drugs and alcohol.
Personally I don’t understand why people drink or smoke, never-mind do drugs. Purposively damaging your body never quite appealed to me! Well I actually think it’s very sad when I see friends, flatmates and fellow students away out to nightclubs or parties. I don’t understand this lifestyle at all. Again, I feel I shouldn’t criticise because I’ve never even been to a nightclub, bar or party. Or drunk an alcoholic beverage for that matter. I choose not to drink because I think if I started, I would not stop. There’s a few reasons actually but I’d rather not bore you all to tears. And for drugs, well drugs are stupid, just no thank you.

What has been the most difficult thing you have had to forgive?
A few people do spring to mind unfortunately. In my childhood I was a child who was rarely shouted at (not by my parents though) so when someone actually told me off about something insignificant or said something mean, I tended to held a grudge against them forever. I think I reacted like this because I’m kinda sensitive, believe it or not. Although I try to hide that side of me. I’d rather not list these individuals here because it seems petty. I need to forgive these people for what they said, but more importantly be forgiven for holding these pointless grudges against them.

Your best friend is in a car accident and you two got into a fight an hour before. What do you do?
Eugh! What a horrible question! It’s worse when you’ve already been through a similar scenario before. Thankfully Jordan and I were not fighting before she had her car accident. (I thank God that we weren’t, because we definitely had our tense moments in school.) To be honest I don’t even want to answer this one, I pray none of us will have to go through a similar situation again.

Have you ever did something bad or lied to your parents but got away with it?

No I can’t say I have, haha! My mum can read me like a book. And by a book, I probably would be a children’s book. Very, very easy to read.

The reason you believe you’re still alive today.
I believe I am still alive today because God feels my work on earth is not yet complete. And what this reason is...only he knows. I would LOVE to know what he wants me to do, but for now I will live by his word everyday and believe everything will fall into place when the time is right. God’s plan is good!

MOTION GRAPHICS

I’m not promising any funny and fabulous blog posts until after university has ended.
That’s not saying I won’t post, but it’s less likely.
Also I feel I’m going through a character change at the minute, so I’m on the down-low until I get
myself sorted out.

Over the weekend I finished my Visual Diary for Motion Graphics.
I’m fairly happy with it and glad it’s finally complete! :D

Motion Graphics: Visual Diary by Claudia Green | Make Your Own Book

Although I posted my animation before, I’ve fixed it up and hopefully will post the finished
version soon.
The deadline for all my work is Thursday. 

Talk soon,

Claudia

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!

ROOM

It’s funny, I’ve been at university for a month and I haven’t blogged about it yet. Anyway, I took some pictures of my room just to give you an idea of where I'm living, since it's unlikely my friends will want to stay over up here - there's very little to do. I completely adore it though, and it's probably a blessing there's no shops within walking distance or else I would be completely broke. 

Yes, this is my bed. I love my duvet, got it in Dunnes Stores. Also have my Andy Warhol cushions here too, making it as homely as possible. I wish I brought Flat Eric with me because I miss his smiling face.

Woo work area. I don't think you're allowed to put pictures or posters up on the wall incase it chips the paint, but I done so anyway because you all know I can't stand looking at bare walls. The Camp America wall planner came in our welcome pack and it's very very handy.

 A small selection of my many Snapfish photos I ordered in early September! It was difficult picking a selection which are my favourites but also don't make me look like a weirdo if anyone is ever in my room visiting.

Incredibly poor selection of DVDs up with me but I don't have any good ones at home either so I took ones I knew I would watch sometime on my own. Completely HOOKED on the Doctor Who series at the minute. It's so so GOOD! I don't know what I'm going to watch when I finish watching it all. Can't view any dramas down here because the internet is incredibly slow and dislikes buffering videos.

I bought this little guy at a fair in Belfast and I never have seen anything like it since. Think it's meant to be some kinda Japanese or Chinese dog? I never named him because I could never think of a one good enough, anyway he makes a cute decoration. 

This is my timetable! The highlighted blocks anyway. I'm very impressed with it - late starts on Monday, finish early on Fridays and off Wednesdays. It suits me perfectly. And it's screanings AKA film night every Monday which is just awesome. My favourite class is Digital Imaging - where I'm FINALLY being taught how to use Adobe. I LOVE it :)

Look! I bought this at the poster sale last week. It's so pretty and printed on amazing quality of paper. And it was 3 posters for £10, I'll show you the other two in a minute. Again, this probably shouldn't be up on the wall but I hope I shall get away with it.

This is the view out of my window. The place where I live is called Cranagh Village. I live in the top floor which means I can SPY on people!! Or.. people watch would be a better way of putting it. There's always a lot of activity round here, although on Wednesday nights I can hear everything that's going on outside, which is annoying.

Another view of Cranagh. 

My wardrobe - pitiful because I like hanging all my clothes up and that is difficult to do because it's rather small. I also bought a Bruce Lee poster - I might give this to Jared for his birthday but I haven't decided yet. 

Third and last poster - Japan - I think Hazel has this too? Anyway I thought it was very pretty. It might have to be moved though because inside the bathroom door is not a wise place to put stuff up. :/ 

- Claudia

MEME BLAH

i think: Mainly my thoughts consist of things to do, k-pop and blogging ideas. And if not that it would be repetitive song lyrics in my head.

i know: I need to work extremely hard for my course this year. So much to do but I’M VERY EXCITED! :D

i want: clothes, shoes and perhaps a new handbag. Oh, and a pair of Dr Dre Solo HDs - top of my Christmas list right now. And money. And everything.

i have: 16 autographs now! When I receive more I hope to make a fabulous blog post about it. Mum also told me there are three at home that I still need to open. I’m excited.

i wish: I had whiter teeth and a better figure.

i hate: rude people and poor manners.

i miss: Jordan, but that’s understandable. I’d rather not blog about this for a while to be honest.

i fear: landing in some serious debt in the future.

i feel: awesome most of the time. Unless I’m being quiet, that’s when you should not attempt to speak to me.

i hear: music blaring from my iTunes. Did you know only 31% of my iTunes library is k-pop? Yes, it surprised me too.

i smell: of “Sex and the City: KISS” which I claimed for free on my O2 surprises.

i crave: biscuits and cereal. I swear I’ve never ate so much junk in my life since I’ve arrived here. :( Cry.

i search: korean guys on google images.

i wonder: why I wasn’t able to tell Key and Onew from SHINee apart when I was learning their names??

i regret: not speaking to that cute guy I saw in uni when he smiled at me. Alas, I ran away because I am shy.

i love: random things, like high resolution photographs and videos, getting post and unusual jewelry. 

i care: for Jared. Hurt him and I’ll knock your brain out. 

i always: colour-coordinate my jewelry to match my outfits.

i am not: as intimidating as people seem to think? I am a dead on person, really. Maybe just a bit mad. Don’t judge on first impressions!

i believe: in God. Although I don’t appear to talk about my faith in my posts, I firmly believe in God.

i dance: no I don’t.

i sing: along to k-pop songs. When you listen to it often enough you can sing along. They have lots of English lines too which makes it easier.

i cry: at films. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Pt. 2 I cried the whole way through - my childhood ended then. 

i don’t always: listen to people. I would listen for a while then my mind wanders. 

i fight: with Jared. But Jared punches like Bruce Lee and leaves me rolling on the floor in pain. (I am surprisingly weak though.)

i write: blog posts once a week.

i win: at racing games. Irony because I hate driving in real life.

i lose: nothing. But when I do I get veryyyy annoyed. When packing for uni, I lost my bullet earrings... the one’s I ordered online which T.O.P also has. I was wearing them the day before and they were dropped into somewhere safe the day before. I just don’t remember where. :(

i never: tell lies. I’m very bad at it and someone always catches me out or I burst out laughing.

i confuse: myself easily over simple situations or information. I tend to hear something and look at it at a completely different perspective. Emma, James and my mother understand what I mean. “...Beauticians?”

i listen: TO MISTER SIMPUL. Oh it’s just ended. 

i can usually be found: in my room online or eating and watching T.V. Or boiling the kettle. Or on the trampoline.

i am scared: of daddy long legs - the giant, dancing, flying spider.

i need: a nice cup of tea and another episode of Doctor Who.

i am happy about: that Big Bang is first in voting for the MTV EMA Worldwide Act Asia Pacific award! Hooray!!

Woooo...Yes I shall return to the other meme post...eventually.

SI SI SI SEÑOR!

Don’t read me - I am boring.

Yah!

Quick update, last Thursday I got my A-Level results! Y’know, the important exams that decide if I’m into university or not.

Well guess what! I’m going to University of Ulster in Coleraine! Hooray!

My results were CCC - which I thought very impressive since I consider myself as a bit stupid. I honestly thought I was going to fail English this year, although technically I did since I got DD in my two exams, but that’s beside the point because it’s a C overall.

I’m in no way disappointed with these results, because Upper Sixth, despite being my favourite year of school socially, was a nightmare studying for.

Seemed like everything I worked for went wrong, by the end of it I lost hope knowing it wasn’t going to go well anyway.

What puzzles me most is the fact that I received a D in my coursework part of my art, which I was convinced was the best piece of artwork to date. It made me rather angry, but still confuses me. It’s not the end of the world though, just is annoying because I slaved over it for months.

RealIy should praise God for the unexpected but pleasing grades I was awarded with. No complaining here, no sir!

Don’t think it’s sunk in yet. The whole university thing. Think I’m just gonna take it as it comes.

Like I said, boring post.

- Claudia

NEWS

To inform you all,

Bad News

I did not get into my Viscom course.

I’m completely gutted to be honest, despite knowing well that it’s a tough course to get into on top of it being over subscribed.

It’s hard to understand why a goal feels so so close of reaching but completely fails. Gosh I’ve never worked so hard on something before! It’s really depressing.

I’m guessing God has a much better plan for my future, it’s so scary not knowing what this may be though. :-/

University wise, I’m depending on my last choice which I still haven’t heard from yet: Foundation Art in Belfast UU. Highly unlikely i’ll get into that because it’s so competitive, but I also have the option of this course in Newry tech or Belfast Metropolitan.

Blah who knows, thinking about this hurts my head too much.

Good News

K-POP IS COMING TO EUROPE.

TVXQ.

Super Junior.

Girls Generation.

SHINee

F(x)

Are touring Paris on the 10th of June!!!

SM Town are doing their first tour of Europe (AKA, one city in Paris) with their biggest groups, including ones I adore. My exams finish in the middle of May and I don’t have any holidays booked so I feel the need to GO TO PARIS.

After I sobbed for a good 20 minutes about Viscom rejection, I asked Mum could I go to Paris instead of University. (Who needs a future anyway)

“Nice try.”

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!