Goodbye 2010, Hello 2011!

Okay, so rather than post a load of blog posts nobody will read, I've decided to post a quick sum up of my year, survey style (that nobody will read), courtesy of Nadine07 on www.bzoink.com, complete with a few songs that have featured prominently in my year, you know, cos I love my music!


Don't Stop Believing, The Journey Version, to start with, I like the Glee version too, but it's not the same. This more or less reminds me all the good times out with my friends in late 09, early 10. Actually, ALL of 09, and most of 2010. Probably gonna look back on this with fond memories forever :)

What Happened In the Past Year???

How many relationships were you in? A few dates, and a few potentials, but nothing lasting any longer than a month! Maybe that's just the way I am...

What did you do for Valentine's day? I worked! How romantic...

Did you recieve your driver's license? This I did! Heather is now moblie! I never thought I'd get there, and I had a bit (a lot) of a breakdown waiting to go in for the test, (to the point my instructor offered to drive me home), but I passed! 3 minors! Now just to get my own car...

Did you graduate high school? Nope! Did that a while back.

Did you graduate college? Also, no :)

Did you move out on your own? No, there were vague plans to, but still with Mum and Dad!

Did you get arrested? No :)

Did you get a speeding ticket? No, and hopefully I don't next year either

What was the best thing you got for Christmas? My coat :) It's really thick and warm!


Next up, is Bad Romance! I've totally loved Lady Gaga this year, as have most people, she's absolutely insane, and I disagree with a lot of stuff she does, but she makes some fab music, and can be such an inspiration (like with the Don't Ask Don't Tell thing), I see her as a bit ironic, which I don't know is right or not, but I love how she uses her fame to get her opinions across. This song made me happy at the start of 2010 when I was a bit down, and I haven't looked back :)



Did you fall in love? Not really, 09 wasn't my year for love, although I did have someone on my mind for a long time, longer than I should have, and for what reason I really don't know. I guess some people just get you, nothing ever came of it, and I don't know if he even knew, but I wasted a lot of brainspace on that one!

Did you become an aunt or an uncle? No brothers or sisters!

Did you have a baby? No, but I know a lot of people who did!

Did you get engaged? Nope

Did you get married? Nope

Did someone close to you die? No, thank God.

How many funerals did you go to? None. Let's hope this continues.

How many weddings? None! But I know a few people who got married!

Did you turn 18? Try two years ago!

Did you turn 21? Try next year!

Did you turn 30? No, not for another ten!

Did you have a car accident? Nope :)


Next song, and a bit of a saddo moment for me. This guy's called Alex Lambert, and he was voted off just before the finales in American Idol this year, he has an amazing little voice, but a lot of stage fright. I was pretty peed off when he didn't get through, and kinda boycotted the series (not through bitterness, just because I wasn't amazed enough to sit through anyone else's performances) and this song is still on my Ipod now. I hope he gets to release it himself one day.




Were you old enough to vote this year? Yeah, and I did, but the Tories still won in the end. Don't. Blame. Me.

How many jobs did you have throughout the year? One, still in that good old shop, just spent my fourth Christmas there!

Did you get a new pet? No, Ozzy's insane enough for me!

Did you get cheated on? Nope

Did you cheat on someone? No

Did you start at a new school? No

Did you make any new friends? Yeah quite a few throughout the year, Danii, who managed Dear Chicago shared many hillarious times with me, and her friend Sammie's a sweetie too! In uni I became a lot closer to people I already knew, and count them among my hand now too, and I'm sure there's more, I love friends, keep em coming!



Did you get a new car? No, but I can drive my Mum and Dad's now :)

(In KFC, the day I passed)

Good Times, by Roll Deep is a typical night out song, and I've had plenty of brilliant ones this year. I love the fun, lighthearted nature of the song, and it ALWAYS gets me in the mood for friends, dancing and fun!



Did you drastically change your hairstyle? I coloured it a few times, but nothing compares to when I tried to cut myself a rather fetching fringe, after I'd just woken up, and with ten minutes before I had to leave for Uni.

This was taken about an hour after I did it. Note the amount of hairspray and clips keeping it glued to my head.

Did you go out of the country? Yeah, to Cyprus, to visit my Auntie and Uncle with my Mum and Auntie Sue. In May. It rained. I sulked. It was really nice though, and brought me and Mum a lot closer :), also, it brought me to the realisation that I inherited my Dad's Irish skin.

(Me, with my Auntie Anne, my Mum, and My Auntie Sue. Notice their tans, then notice my lack thereof).

Also, I went to camp twice, which is technically out of the country being in Wales and all, and I went to Angelsey by mistake (again).

Did you keep your last New Year's resolution? I think it was to lose weight (nope), and to be happier, and live for the moment (yep), so 50/50's not bad!

What was the best movie you saw in theaters? Totally Harry Potter, even though it was only last week, so much better than the first six! The worst movie I saw was called 'Everybody's Fine' but should have been called 'Everybody's Crap.'

What was the best book you read? The Shack, although I still haven't finished it. Once I get to Uni, there's no time for non-course books :(

What was your greatest accomplishment? Probably passing my Driving Test!

I loved 'Hey Soul Sister' before it was even on the radio here, it's just so happy and catchy, but it became one of the songs of the summer, when it got played and played everywhere when I was at seniors one. It came on in the Pub in Port Maddog and Andri said she'd never heard it, by the end of the week she was singing along. One of the groups even rejigged it for their panto, 'Hey Sleeping Beauty'. Fab song.



I my head I renamed the camp girls my soul sisters because we were singing this all week! Although I don't see them as much as my other friends (with the exception of Andri, who I probably see the most out of anyone), these girls actually are like sisters to me, and I couldn't imagine not knowing them now! I love how we can not see each other for six months or so, and then share a room so easily for a week, knowing every single thing about each other! These girls were like my family for that week in July <3

I can't mention camp, without this song either, it's called 'You're Beautiful' by Phil Wickham, and featured pretty prominently in both weeks, but especially Inters 3 week.

I remember being up on stage leading Worship, and trying to be all professional and calm because everybody could see me, but the song just gets me everytime. Not trying to be preachy here, because I know a lot of people I know aren't too Spiritual, but everytime I hear the line about Jesus on the cross, it just engulfs me, and makes me think. I don't even know why it makes me so emotional, but it does, and I know it gets a lot of people in the same way, and I love the fact that I got to stand up on that stage and look out over a hundred people being inspired.


What was the best cd released this year? Erm, I dunno really, I've spotified a lot! I did buy most of Taylor Swift's new album, and it's got some pretty decent music on it, although the lyrics can get a bit samey and some of them I'm a bit, ughh, at. Like Speak Now. Of course she didn't invite you to her wedding Taylor, you want to steal her husband. Argh.

Did you get a new tattoo? No, I wanted one for ages though, but I'm over that now. Maybe if something really touches me, I'll want to represent it, but for now, I like my skin nice and naked!

A new piercing? Yes...I got my nose pierced, at Seniors One, in Wales, then I knocked it, and it went all horrible, and I took it out at Inters 3. I'm glad I did it, because I always wanted one, but now, I like my nose better like this.

Are you still dating the same person you dated at the start of the year? I wasn't dating anybody, same applies now.

The Lasts of the Past

How old were you on your last birthday? Twenteen, and I celebrated with the best :)

Who was your last kiss? It was drunken, and because we shared lecturers. According to Jess, I have weird standards. Maybe less of that next year...he was nice enough though :)

Who was the last person to tell you "I love you"? My Mum, before she went back to bed. I'm a sweetie like that!

Who was the last person you spoke to in person? My Mum, before she went to bed! Before her it was Caro, Abbie, Andri, Rach and Lora.

Who was your last missed call? Hmm, the honour goes to...Hope!

Who was your last phone call to? Lora :)

What was the last movie you watched? Cheaper By The Dozen 2, cos it was on the TV. Love that film though!

The last song you heard? You're Beautiful, because I played it when I stuck it up there!

The NEXT song I'm going to listen to though, is another Gaga one, Dance In The Dark, one of her album tracks. I really wish she'd used this as a single actually, there's something really cool about it, like a kind of sisterhoodly message. I played and played it on repeat when I was trying and failing to get a tan in Cyprus. At least I got to lie on a massive hammock!



The last book you read? The Ice People, by Maggie Gee, for Creative Writing.

The last place you went? The Buffet Star, then Woody's with the camp girls :) Had a fabulous time!

The last time you cut your hair? About two months ago when I tried myself!

The color of the last shirt your wore? Blue

The last person you hugged? Caroline

The last thing you bought? A drink, double vodka and coke, to be exact.

The last time you went to the doctor? About a month ago, for blood tests. I hate seeing blood...I'd make a terrible doctor.

The last time you went swimming? I actually think it was in the sea at camp, there are pictures, but they're terrible!



There are actually a lot of Paramore songs I could put here, but I chose this one because of the time we sat in band practice for about an hour trying and failing to cover this, mainly because of Sean putting a cymbal case on his head and being hillarious. One of the funniest moments of the year, probably only exceeded by the Bat moment, which invloved me, dying for the loo, four or five heads stacked in a doorway, screaming at me that there was a bat flying round the chalet, and to 'go and get a man', me running hysterically across the field, unable to breathe, or wee, laughing too much, being escorted to Jo's closer toilet while the girls stood there completely confused, getting the Pastor Nick to help, which he translated aas run over to the chalet with a toy cricket bat. I still to this day don't know if he just thought we wanted a bat, or if he knew there was an actual live flying bat, but it's the most hysterical moment of my life so far. Jess has a video of me re-enacting it too.

The last game you played? Charades, in my dining room, badly with Andri, Hope and Danni.

The last person's house you went to? Erm, my Nan's I think. I'm usually the hostess out of my friends!

The last un-related guy you hung out with? I actually have no idea, there's been so much family stuff going on this week! Probably one of the guys from the youth, apart from Lora's boyfriend.

The last un-related girl you hung out with? Caroline, Abbie, Andri, Rach and Lora :)

The last family member you hung out with? My Dad, I think.

The last movie you saw in theaters? Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows Part 1 :)



This song's featured a lot in my Winter, whether it's been dancing angrily to it with Andri, or driving and singing along loudly on the way back from the youth. Love it.

(Sorry about the subtitles, the normal version wouldn't embed)!

I first heard this song when Lacey Brown covered it on American Idol this year, and thought it was nice, but forgot about it pretty quickly. I heard it again when I was flicking through spotify a couple of months back, and haven't had it off since, I love the passion Brandi Carlisle puts into it, and it's really beautiful. I hope I get the chance to cover it one day :)

The last time you went to Walmart? Never been to America, but went to Asda regularly for some reason when I just passed my driving test. I know how to drive there really well!

The last time you went to Burger King? When we were waiting for a taxi that wasn't coming after a night out. I hate Burger King ever since I ate one every day on holiday in Benidorm when I was about nine. Disasterous consequences.

The last time you went on vacation? To Camp, if it counts.

The last restaurant you went to? The Buffet Star

The last thing you ate? Chinese food!

The last thing you drank? Vodka and coke

I'm gonna fill this in, if I can, after New Year, based on two things:

1. If I can edit after so long
2. If I actually remember, if you've sat through the whole of this, I'm sure you know what I'm like by now.

The last song for my 2010 blog is Dynamite, by Taio Cruz. It gets me u everytime, and it was on before, it's just such a feelgood song, and I love dancing with my friends to it, and singing along ridiculously badly.



Thank you 2010, for being so good to me, hope it continues into the new year!

Okay, here we go, about ten days late, as usual!

The Firsts of the New Year...(I'm gonna keep this bit simple, I don't know half the answers because of all the wine and sours and vodka).
Who was the first person you kissed? As in Happy New Year kisses? I dunno actually.
Who was the first person you told "I love you" to? Probably one of the girls
Who was the first person you spoke to? Alex's Mum I think!
Who was your first phone call to/from? Erm, Andri
Where was the first place you went? Was at Alex's house, apart from that, The Youth
What was the first thing you bought? Food, probably
Who was the first person to wish you "Happy New Year!"? Not too sure!
What was the first thing you ate? Cupcake
The first thing you drank? Either WKD or Amaretto and coke
What color was the first shirt you wore? My Pj top. It's the comfiest thing EVER.
What were the first shoes you wore? Nude heels. They weren't very nude by the end of the party.
What was the first electronic (not computer or cell) device you used? Erm, kettle?
What was the first movie you watched? Burlesque. Wanna cookie? :')
What was the first song you heard? I honestly have no idea.
Who was the first girl you hung out with? Danni/Andri/Hope
Who was the first guy? Damien and Day
The first relative? My Mum
What was the first thing you did when it became the new year? Said 'Happy New Year'
What the Future Year Has In Store
What are you most looking forward to in the New Year? Loads. It's looking to be an exciting one!
Are you getting married this year? No
Are you expecting a child? No
Will you be getting a new job? Don't think so
Will you be starting a new school? In a sense
Will you be moving to a new place? Possibly!
Will you get your driver's license this year? Nope
Will you turn 18? Nope
Will you turn 21? YES! Bring it on!
Will you turn 25? No
Will you turn 30? No
Will you turn 40? No
Are you going on a vacation this year? Yes! Even if I have to kidnap people in my suitcase, yes.
What movie are you most looking forward to coming out this year? Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows Part 2
What book? Er, dunno
What music albumn? Lady Gaga-Born This Way
Do you expect to find love this year? I don't expect to, no. It'd be nice though.
Did you make a New Year's resolution? Get fit, and do a good deed every day
Have you kept it so far? Ish, had a Maccies today, but it's fixable!
Will you be going to a wedding this year? Possibly
Will you get a new car? Hopefully!
Will you buy a house this year? Not buy no, I'm a student!
Do you expect to be with the same person at the end of the year? Single? Probably
Are you starting the year off single? Yeah
What do you most want to happen this year? Have loads of good times
What are you most excited about this year? Holiday!

Happy Christmas!

So, I've been away from here for a while, lots and lots of essays needed to be written, plus not a lot of interesting stuff's been happening really!

Still nothing on the band scene, except for a couple of work in progresses, but I've found that nothing ever usually goes to plan in winter anyway, Summer is totally where it's at! New year, new band :)

Hope everyone's had a good Christmas anyway, I have, apart from the water going off dead early on Christmas morning, and not reappearing till dinner time, and having to walk all the way to my Nan's because of the ice...it's not that far, only about fifteen minutes, but I haven't walked there since I was little, and I swear it took longer then! If they hadn't turned the field behind ours into houses, we could've cut across dead quick!

Christmas always brings surprises, and this year for me, it was my cousin's heavily pregnant girlfriend sitting on my Nan's couch! I swear, my Dad never tells me anything. Everyone else knew! And I didn't know how much I was supposed to know, so I couldn't ask any questions in case I gave the game away! I love finding out baby stuff, how far along, do you kow the sex, any names etc. The only thing I found out was 'it's the same baby in her belly from Grandad's party, Jamie thought it was a different one.' I love my cousins. Even the ones my Dad's probably forgotten to tell me I have. Slightly crapping myself now though, because there's only two more age wise before me who haven't had any yet!

Anyway, between now and New Year, I'm gonna post my year in pictures (possibly gonna get difficult around July, due to the breakage, secret buyage and apparent breakage of cameras). I seem to be one of the only ones who's really enjoyed 2010, but I hope 2011 brings a couple of things. I'm excited :)

Heather MWAH xxxxxx

(If you want, follow me on twitter, I'm trying to get into it...@Heatherhevs)

Let's get it started...

Okay, so if you read my x factor blog, I apologise for no update at the weekend, I was pretty much laid up with a horrible bit of tonsillitis, ow, ow, ow. I'll be back on Sunday between shows!

So, it's nearly the end of October now, and half of my deadlines are in November, so expect blog overload! You know what I'm like, in fact, I should be writing a short story right now, for 'peer apprasial' (which translates as public humiliation) tomorrow. It's alright, I started it ages ago, when I was all fresh faced and enthusiastic after a five month summer, I'll just tweak it some in a minute!


I really miss gigging! Seriously, not having twice weekly practices and gigs aplenty is really a big chunk missing from my life at the moment, but, I'm in a band, and we'll be good when we get started properly, if they're not sick of me, I've had complete writers block in terms of the music I'm working with so far! BUT, I'm not the only girl this time, our new bassist is of the fairer sex also, which is brilliant!


I really want to start an acoustic thing up, and I have a couple of people I need to talk to about that, I've got loads of lyrics that I have set up properly in my mind, I just can't play much apart from the violin, and it's pretty difficult to sing with one of those bouncing off your chin!

I'll write again soon, this is just a quick one, so you know I'm still here!
XOXOXO

X FACTOR: The Good, Bad, and What Exactly Is THAT?

Hey, I'm Heather, and if you know me, you know I'm an X Factor addict. As in rehab worthy. If you don't know me, hey! I'm Heather, and I'm an X Factor addict!

And now, I'm also a blogger, so the two shall meet!

I felt a bit pathetic in work today, with the amount of excitement I seemed to be harbouring about the first live show, but it honestly is the most excited I've ever been over a TV show before, last year I didn't really have a solid favourite as such, and this year I do (woop!) Which makes all the difference to me, I love being able to get into the show that much more, and although I was rooting for Joe last year, there wasn't really any of that.

So, to business!

The opening of the shows was dedicated to the new 'Wild Card' contestants, Paije, TreyC, Diva Fever and Wagner, showing the judges going to their houses in a (not at all staged) surprise reveal! Alright, maybe I'm being a cynic, but they must have had an inkling. At least Simon didn't pick Princes and Rogues. It would have been difficult getting them all in one place at such a specific time without anyone clicking.


So, the first performance of the night was by FYD.



Up until this point in the competition, I've quite liked these guys. I wouldn't call myself a fan, but I do like them, I like their dancing. Tonight, their dancing was the best part of their performance. The harmonies, weren't brilliant, and one of the guys seemed to struggle keeping strength in his voice. I'm not sure what his name was, but he was the second one to sing, with the mohawk. Maybe it was nerves? I thought the high harmony sounded a bit dodgy as well. I liked the performance though, I liked the choreography, and if they stay in, I hope they do more of that. I agree with Cheryl (for once)! I'd like to hear more of the others' voices too.

My verdict: 6/10
Safe/Danger: In danger. The combo of being first on and the shakiness doesn't get them off to the best start.



Next on was my favourite, Matt Cardle, I promise not to be biased!


I was worried at first, partly because I was expecting him to do a stripped down version of the song, not the full on Summer anthem, and also, because he sounded a bit shaky, and I was willing his voice not to crack (which I needn't have, it's never done it before, and he's got an amazing upper range), but as the song went on, it became obvious that he had a handle on it. The ending, after the 'Tonight, tonight, tonight' bit made me beam, and that's always a good sign, because I'm usually overly nervous for my favourites. I didn't even notice the hat, which may mean I now subconsciously view it as part of Matt himself? I think he should probably lose it though, or it might become his version of Diana's claw.

My verdict: 7.5/10
Safe/Danger: Hopefully safe. Good performance, good amount of airtime, and fanbase indicates yes, and I hope nobody forgets about him because of his place in the running order. YOUTUBE is your friend people!



Next up, Louis with John Adeleye, who for some reason, wasn't shown much at all until the Judge's Houses stage.


I quite liked John at that stage, he seemed fun, and happy, and quirky, and Gnarls Barkley-ey, but hey, I present you with Louis Walsh. The man doesn't do funky contemporary cool, in fact, Louis Walsh does not do cool. Louis Walsh, as much as I love him, has two modes. Westlife and Jedward. That is all. So here we have John, suited and booted singing a 90's ballad. Brilliant. There's him out of the running then.
The guy can sing! He's cool! He's funky! WHY give him THAT song? When JLS did it, they were already in the running, and it was Mariah week. It's 2010. What he was doing was great, current, and Boys II Men/Mariah, just aren't. Louis Walsh, you have crossed me.

My verict: 6/10, :(
Safe/Danger: In danger. Bad song choice, cliche, and third on. Tomorrow it may be bye bye John. Majorly screwed over.



Now the girls, and my other favourite going into the live shows, my fellow Liverpudlian, Rebecca.

I love how raw and soulful her voice is, and you wouldn't expect that to come out of somebody from Anfield, at least I know I wouldn't. Rebecca's amazing. I love her whole image, the classiness, and I love how unassuming she is of her own talent. A voice like hers is so rare. Tonight she sang 'Teardrops', and I think it was the first upbeat song she's done, and way to prove she can! She completely nailed it, and showed everyone that she's not just a sob story, and that she can have fun with a song. Also, she kind of has the same demeanor Leona had. One of my favourites of the night.

My verdict: 8/10
Safe/Danger: She HAS to be safe.



Next, it was back to the boys...oh wait, no it wasn't, does anybody know why they did that? Next, it was back to the overs, with Storm Lee.


I love this man. He has an amazing voice, that goes without saying, and the performance, he really got everyone going, but he could do that even more, really get the audience involved. I love how flamboyant he is, and the dancers, and his style, I do, however, realise he's an acquired taste. He's basically born to do this, and he did it brilliantly in my eyes, but I don't think he has wide appeal. Cheryl said he 'didn't need it', meaning the image and the performance, because he has the voice, but who wants to see him singing Bon Jovi ballads every week? Not me, for one.

My verdict: 7.5/10
Safe/Danger: Safe. Has to be. Made enough of an impact, and has an amazing voice.



The first of the groups was Simon's DIY girlband Belle Amie, who I really wanted to like.


Girlbands never do well on this show, and hey, I like girlbands! Every year I wish and wish they'll find a brilliant, different, good girlband, and year after year, they have potential but nobody votes. Belle Amie sang 'Airplanes' by Haley Williams and BOB, one of the biggest songs of the summer, and ehhhhh...the vocals weren't good. The chemistry wasn't too good. In general, not good. They hadn't really gelled as a group, which is understandable, they haven't known each other too long, and they were thrown together. Maybe some of them have never sung harmonies before, who knows? I bet Husstle were screaming at their TV's.
Part of me wants to see them stay and get better, and show me what they can be, but for me, they were kind of the weakest link tonight.

My verdict: 5/10
Safe/Danger: In danger. There's no girlband vote, and the vocals weren't the best. Would be surprised if they stayed.



Next is Cheryl's pet, Cher Lloyd.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i5PexcDW5R0zI'm confused with Cher. I actually don't know whether I like her or not. She killed Viva La Vida (in a bad way) at bootcamp, yet I found myself weirdly drawn to watching it online afterwards quite a bit! She seems determined, and as if she might be quite sweet, but the faces she pulls scare me, she reminds me of someone who used to annoy me (same scary faces when performing), and sometimes she gives off a cocky vibe, oh, and THOSE EYELASHES! Horrendous. Alright, on stage fine, but she's a gorgeous looking seventeen year old girl, and doesn't need it all, at all. HA. You wouldn't think I was only twenty from that comment right? I sound like my mother...

So Cher sang 'Just Be Good To Me' and at the sound of the first note, I thought, 'oh no.' But it got better as the song went on, she can dance, and she's not afraid to, which is pretty beneficial. She's confident on stage, and it seems as though she's already there, from her stage presence. I didn't really think much of the vocals. The song seemed to be low down in her range, and she has more power at the top, which she should use. I did, however, really like the rap, which surprised me. It was just effortless for her, and didn't sound stupid. I did, however, think the judges overpraised her, but with all the press she's been getting this week, maybe it was what she needed, nobody wants to see a seventeen year old girl break on TV.

My verdict: 6.5/10
Safe/Danger: Safe. She has too much of a media following not to be, and she's not afraid to be different.



Diva Fever...


So they sang 'Sunny.' I liked it. I would. My Dad hated it. He would.

I love that Simon's put these guys back in, they give the show 'the fun factor' as Louis would say. In fact, I bet Louis' gutted he doesn't have them in his group. I love how they played up the campness, it wasn't the best vocal performance, in fact, I'm pretty sure only one of them sang, apart from a few harmonies, but the performance, and the costumes made up for it. I really hope they stay.

My verdict: 6/10
Safe/danger: Safe. There're so many acts, and they were fun.



So at the halfway point, both of my favourites have performed already, which is a bummer, but, the show must go on, and I must remember that I'm not the only person in the country.

Next up is Paije. I loved his first audition, but he wasn't one of my picks for Dannii's category at Judge's Houses, purely because I loved Nicolo and Aiden a teeny bit more. It was a close one, he is brilliant. And this is why they should just pick the best twelve finalists, and then split them into mentor groups.



So Paije sang Killing Me Softly, a song I love, but which since the age of twelve has reminded me of the film 'About A Boy' and killing ducks with loaves of bread.

This was one of my favourites of the night, definitely. Paije just screams 'Old Skool' and I love it. He has a really soulful voice, and I was a little bit gutted when Mary sang 'A Man's World', because it was Paije's audition song. Apart from the blinding jacket, there was nothing really fault worthy here. His voice was brilliant, and I loved the way he walked off into the audience, and had them all up. He didn't come one with a 'fourth pick' attitude. He worked it.

My verdict: 8/10
Safe/Danger: Safe, definitely. Voice, presence, and he's really likeable.



Now, Katie Waissel.



Firstly, I wasn't impressed that she sang a song from her auditions, everyone else managed to sing a new one, so so should she. This is basically how my mind processed Katie's audition.


Oh, I don't think she'll do too good
V
Quite a weak voice
V
Does she only know one song?
V
What is she wearing?
V
Makes her look desperate and attention seeking
V
Looks quite cool though
V
At least she's really trying
V
Ooh, she's playing the keyboard, cool :)
V
What are those men doing?
V
Hey, her vocals are quite good
V
Where are the drums :(
V
Ah, there they are
V
Pleasantly surprised
V
What exactly is that on her head?
V
If someone told me to guess which two contestants were friends, I'd immediately go for Katie and Storm


My verdict: 7/10
Safe/Danger: In danger. I fear the press, and the weirdness of that performance may go against her




Next up is Mary 'Tesco' Byrne, I like her. She seems nice.



A good, solid performance from Mary, looks like a woman I work with. Maybe every shop has a Mary Byrne?
She's got such a powerful voice, and she puts everything she has into every performance, although this one didn't move me, like her others have. When she started the song I was a little scandalised that she was singing Paije's song, but the performance was pretty brilliant, and I would have teared up at the end when she started crying, but my Dad would have disowned me.
I really can't fault this one, apart from the fact that I don't see how she'd fit into the charts. She should go for the West End, and I really don't mean that as a negative, they have to have AMAZING voices, probably moreso than recording artists. I LOVE musicals.

My verdict: 8/10
Safe/Danger: Safe, safe, safe.




Now, Nicolo!



Just Dance, by Gaga. Hmm...his vocals were rough in parts, and his hair!
I like Nicolo though, and I kind of like the performance, he was trying to be the Diva that he's been cast at, it's just, I'm not too sure that that's who he really is. The performance wasn't bad, but it wasn't too good either. I like Nicolo, so I hope people vote for him.

My verdict: 6/10
Safe/Danger: Danger :(



One Direction are next, the guys who make me feel old!


Viva La Vida eh? I was half expecting one or two of them to do a Cher-esque JERUSALEM! BELLS ARE RING-A-DINGING! While the rest sang the normal chorus, but there were just a few overly loud ahhhh, ahhh's.

They were brilliant though, they look really good together, and they sound good too. The blonde one's really happy, and I've developed a soft spot for Zain? He seems to be one of those people that nonchalantly go round messing everything up, bless him. He won't dance, he messed up in rehearsal, maybe one week he'll fall of the stage (not in a serious way), which will make for good viewing.

Seriously though, for a group that haven't been together all that long, they were brilliant, I definitely prefered this to Cher's rendition, and maybe, just maybe, they could win this thing.

My verdict: 7.5/10
Safe/Danger: Safe, without question. They're good, AND have the teenie vote. (But they make me a bit sad that I'm no longer in that category).




So, there was Nicolo, then normality, and THEN.....



Watching this, I had that moment, of What the HELL am I watching? What IS this?
Seriously, I still don't know. I think my jaw was on the floor for the entire performance, but I think...I THINK I liked it. Although Louis, you know you can't just recycle Jedward songs all series!
It was so odd! The bongos! The change from She Bangs to Love Shack! What?
I think Louis may be trying to play him as a Jedward/Chico combo.
Will it work?
Who knows, I don't. I don't know anything anymore, that blew my mind. It'll take days to recover from this.

My verdict: 7/10 (weirdly)
Safe/Danger: No idea. No idea at all.




The final guy is Aiden, who I really like, and who kind of looks like Aaron from Emmerdale.



So, Aiden sang Mad World, like Adam Lambert, off American Idol, I don't know if he was aware of how difficult a position that put him in, after Simon Cowell's reaction to Lambert's version, but it didn't matter, because he loved it anyway.

I thought it was good, but intense. You could see him shaking, and he had a weird look on his face. No idea if he was told to do that, or if he was really nervous, but it really had a almost mad feel to it, and the white polo neck didn't help.
I like his voice though, and I did really like the performance, I just wasn't expecting it to creep me out like that!

My verdict: 7.5/10
Safe/Danger: Safe. He's an 18 year old guy, on at the end, and he's good!



Finally, was Cheryl's wildcard TreyC, who frankly, should have been put through instantly at Judge's Houses, along with (IMO) Rebecca and (Gasp!) Gamu.


She shouldn't have kept saying how grateful she was to Cheryl for putting her through AS A WILDCARD, she should have berated her for making her miss out in the first place. It shocked me in her video when she said Katie and Cher weren't very welcoming. I didn't think she would've been allowed to say that...

Her vocal was faultless, her voice is amazing. And I loved her songchoice. I really hope she goes far, she deserves it, it was one of the performances of the night for me. I loved her 'I'm here' attitude too.

Go TreyC!

My verdict: 8/10
Safe/Danger: Safe. Last place, memorable vocal. TreyC Cohen. Silly Cheryl.


Best of the night: Rebecca, TreyC, Paije
Worst of the night: Belle Amie, FYD, John Adeleye

Happy October!

Ooooh, I love the autumn, I think it's probably my favourite season. Jumpers and hats and scarves, and fires, I LOVE IT. And, yesterday, I finally had a bit of money, *enter shopping trip*, which was exactly what I needed! Nine whole hours of shopping, with Jess, Andri and Abbie. I was in my element. And now, I think I have just about enough stuff to see me through till December, when I can get more chunky knits and hats.

I love hats. Did you know?

I bought some fab boots as well, but they're a size five, AKA too big, which is something I've never done before, I've gone too small, but never too big, but I figured I'd just wear slipper socks with them, because neither New Look store had them in threes or fours.

These are them.

http://www.newlook.com/shop/womens/boots/fold-down-lace-boot_209046701?icSort=-bestSellerScore

So worth it. And, it was twenty percent off, with my student discount.

Which brings me nicely onto my next point.

I spent £42.50 on a poetry book today. £42.50.

I don't even like poetry! My soul shrinks a little everytime we get assigned one to read. I know, I chose literature, and duh, obviously there'd be poetry, but I didn't know there'd be so flippin much, or that I'd have no choice in writing fiction or poetry, and would have to do both! I can't write poetry, I don't like writing poetry, and I think it brings out the pretentiousness in a lot of people, and I don't want to be like that! In all fairness, I don't have to write any until January, I just have to carry a book that probably weighs more than Jessica around with me for twelve weeks, whilst trying really hard not to mess it up because I intend to sell it at the end of the year. Oh well.

Since it's been a while since I wrote last, I get to break the news right now that Dear Chicago are no more. :(

I think it had been coming for a while, it was pretty obvious by the end that certain people weren't happy with how things were being done. In fact, we were all pretty tired. I'm not one to bitch, so I'm not gonna say much. But I'm not too ecstatic with the way things happened, and don't actually think it was too fair on me at all, especially now that a little bit of the truth has come out. But Liam and I have started up a new band, with two new guys, Callum and Nick, which will take some time, but it'll be worth it, to not feel guilty for being a girl...
Sean's started up a metal band as well, with some people from his college, and DC's bassist Chris, and I hope they do well, because Sean's so hard working, and he really deserves it.


So, it's Autumn, pretty much a time of change, and hopefully things are going to start taking shape. I'm applying for teaching courses, so hopefully I get on one of those, and maybe this time in two years, I'll be qualified. I'm pretty nervous about going into Winter though, I definitely don't want to repeat last year, when I was pretty much a nervous wreck for about three months. I REALLY don't want that, it was absolutely horrible, but I don't see why history should repeat itself after a positive nine months. Plus, I know how blessed I am, compared to a lot of people at the moment, and it'd be utterly selfish to work myself up into a state when there's people around me going through some really tough times.

So, on that upbeat note (:P)
I'm going to bed. Work then party time tomorrow!
Nanight! xx

Summer 2010-Best EVER

...has been a busy one!
Lack of continuity on the old blog probably summed this up!
But seeing as I have all of 2 people following this, I'm sure they'll cope!

So September's here. And so much has changed since the last time I set food in the corridors of Edge Hill!

I actually think I've grown up (yes, me!) during the summer. Apparently I've shrunk height wise though, according to my youth group. 4"9. Nah, I don't think so. Five foot and A BIT. That's why I can go on the rides at Blackpool.

So, the summer's been eventful! Loads of gigs, some amazing, and some not so amazing...yes Badformat, I mean you. Two trips over to camp, both of which were eye opening to say the least! The first, I can't remember much of the first few days, I can't really distinguish them which is unusual, but it really really affected me, and gave me a clear view of what I should be doing, and what I shouldn't.

The second, well, was really moving. I was so scared before going to Aberech that week, I should have been going with my cousin Caroline, but she had to pull out last minute, and let me tell you, I was terrified I was going to be completely alone, especially because most of the other leaders already knew each other really well, but I wasn't at all. In fact, when I got home, it hit me how strange it was not to have at least ONE person there, chatting away to me. I feel really blessed to have spent a week working with them all, and of course, with the campers! I found the age range pretty daunting as well, 12-15, especially when some of the boys looked older than I do, but every single one of those people made my week a little bit, and me and Cath had the sweetest group of girls. Even if our group did only make it to fourth place. Out of four. Oh well, there's always next year, which I DEFINITELY want to be a part of!

I sang at the talent show as well, with an amazing guitarist called Naomi. She's only ever played in front of a few people at a time before, and was thrust in front of over a hundred on the girls field, but she played amazingly well, and you'd have never known. SO proud of her.

Just in case anyone from Inters 3 reads this, thanks for making that week one of the best of my life <3.

Got my nose pierced this summer too, at camp, in Barmouth, but me being stupid me, thought it was on the other side and scratched my nose, completely ragging it out, right before Inters 3, and spent the most part of the week with the most ugly little lump underneath the stud, that as much as I cleaned it, refused to go down. So, in a real cycle, starting and ending in camp, my roomies Suzy and Kate made me pop the bump, and it was goodbye Mr Stud. At least my nose looks normal again now. I quite like my nose.

Dear Chicago got the chance to perform at The Breakout Festival in The Cavern, which was last Friday. We didn't really have the chance to practice much due to holidays and stuff, and Sean's guitar basically died on stage, so we didn't get through, but apart from that it went well! And I went out with Andri and her friend Jenny afterwards (which was better than the last night out with those two, as nobody ended up in Casualty, with me and Jenny playing nurses) but we did manage to find Popworld's dodgiest DJ! Ah well.

So, back to Uni time is almost here, so no doubt lots of procrastination blog entries, but hopefully not, given it's final year and I kind of need it!

Ciao! xxxxxx

Okay, I think we've all learnt by now, that when I use the word 'tomorrow' it can actually mean any time up to two months later. In this instance it means a week.

So, to recap, day 1 at seniors 1, I went to a meeting with Dear Chicago (whose lineup has changed AGAIN, may I add...more on that in about three tomorrows), drove past camp, got lost in Angelsey, and finally got there. And now, I've forgotten where post #1 ended, so excuse me, I have to go back and check.

Ah yes, I'd just arrived.

So basically, I haven't even STARTED on day one yet.

So, Andri greets me as I get to camp, just missing a walk to the beach, due to my lateness/lostness, and shows me our room in the BRAND NEW CHALETS. Seriously, compared to previous years, this was, like the Hilton. Our own bathroom and everything! Wowzer. Also, this was the first time in four years I'd taken a bottom bunk, which was a bit of a bummer, but only for half a second. We all usually hang out on the bottom bunks anyway, except these brand spanking new bunkbeds had a lower top bunk than the old ones, so we actually couldn't and took to hanging out on the floor...

The first thing I noticed about our wardrobe (which was actually an alcove) was that hanging up, slap band in the middle, at least, that's how my memory recalls, was my blue stripey shirt dress, except it couldn't be, because it was currently in my case...MAJOR FASHION DISASTER. It turned out to be Carolines, and not only, had she bought, brought, and got dibs on the dress, she also only paid a TENNER in the sale, compared to however much I spent on mine at Christmas...and mine has a weird curry (I hope) stain on it. If she brings hers to inters, maybe I could cunningly switch them...if she doesn't read this...muahahahahaha.

Anyway...camp, oh yeah...

So me and Andri go and find the others, playing pool and table tennis (the source of many laughs through the week) and everything's grand. I don't actually think too much happened on the first night, maybe someone will refresh my memory. It's weird because I always usually remember everything. Maybe I'm getting old...oh well.

xx

In Retrospect-Seniors 1 2010

Okay, so my last post was a bit higgeldy piggeldy. Let me explain. I was in a mood, and I just needed to write something.

So, I figured I should probably post my write up of camp, seeing as it was awesome and what not. So, this post is my little week long diary (from retrospect).

But first, I must mention my beloved Dear Chicago, I promise it's relevant!

So, Day one, (not quite) in the MCYC house...

Have you ever woke up at 5am?
I did. I had a gig the night before, in Badformat, and we went out afterwards, I must have got in about three, so that equals about two messed up hours of sleep. Once I woke up, my mind was racing, and I was lying there in the light having some not so nice thoughts, so I decided to just get up and pack (Yes, I still needed to pack, what you gonna do? I got there in the end...)

And for once, everything fitted in okay! I mean, alright, looking back I'd forgotten a towel, which usually takes up a lot of room, and my favourite jeans, but I SWEAR I put them in there. I am pretty much 100% convinced that Mum took them out while I was out to make room for the waterproof jacket I used a total of one time. On the way back. For twenty minutes, forgetting to put it back in, but it doesn't matter. I managed alright without them. I finished packing about 8am, and had two hours to spare before Liam came a-knocking for our all important meeting, so I watched some TV, fell back asleep at nine, and woke up at ten to ten (COWBOY TIME) and realised I had ten minutes till I was leaving.

So, when everyone else was heading out to the coach, I was heading out to the Crowne Plaza hotel with the band, for a meeting. For once, I was on time, along with Sean and Liam, and we waited by Moorfields for the others.

To cut a long story short, the meeting was about The Breakout Festival, which we'll be playing at, so come on down!

10th September 2010, Tickets £7 Adv, £9 on the night, In the Cavern, 14+
Contact me, bring everyone you can, and vote for Dear Chicago!
It's gonna be epic!

So anyway, my Dad picked me up from the meeting, complete with KFC, pillow, and all my stuff, and we set of for camp! The others had arrived just before I left, according to Rachel, and I was texting Caroline everytime I passed somewehere significant, except, I fell aslepp, and then, I stopped passing significant places, and realised something was wrong. Plus the little dot on my Iphone map was getting further and further away, so my Dad stopped at a little shop, and asked where Pwllheli was.

"You'll have to get off the island first."

Apparently, we were in Angelsey. Obviously. This seems to happen everytime my Dad drives anywhere in Wales. He's never been on purpose. No idea how. There's a massive bridge that you have to drive over to get to Angelsey.

SO, the two hour journey became a four hour journey. We got to Pwllheli, and asked a woman for directions to the Haven, because I knew how to get to camp from there, and got the reply:

"I've lived her all my life...but I've never been..."

After she'd beckoned my Dad out of the car, because she couldn't hear properly. 'I don't know, sorry' would have been fine by me!

So then we asked a man in a car, and he said to turn right at the roundabout. When we got to the roundabout:

Dad: I think we should go left
Me: But the man said to go right!
Dad: But what if he hates English people?

OH. MY. WORD.

So, I convinced my Dad to go right, which turned out to be the right way, and then we drove around for another half an hour, because camp is very well hidden, and my map kept telling me to 'take next left 250 metres' which stopped existing after the first one. Seriosuly, google, just give up, stop lying!

We got there in the end, and I think my Dad was glad to be rid of me for a week, after the eventful journey...and I decided to leave my umbrella and wellies in the car, because it was sunny, and I didn't want to jinx it...any guesses for how that plan turned out?

Part 2 tomorrow...xx




Driving BACK to Wales, over the bridge.

So much for that Heatwave!

I can't believe for once we actually get a 100 degrees summer!
No really, I can't, because erm, I believe we were promised a heatwave? Where is it? Anyone know?

No, me either.

To be fair, June was quite hot, as I can clearly remember spending many a band practice in front of a fan that was just moving the hot air around, and having disgusting sweaty hair. TMI? Oh well.

But July? No no no. More like October. Honestly, I wore a jumper the other day.

So, as promised in my last post, the O2 gig.

It was a while ago now, as in, almost a month ago, but it was brilliant. Definitely worth the wait. I was so nervous beforehand, and accidentally shouted at Chris before we went on, but we were brill. I got THE BUZZ! And the crowd were really good to us. I wish I'd written this sooner actually, so I could remember more, but the buzz lasted for days, and I wrote a song from it. Donna actually cried with pride on my Dad's shoulder!


(Me and Donna)

I just now wanna say thanks to everyone who came! It was one of the best nights of my life so far. And the night out afterwards was hillarious!


So there's the good bit!

Since the gig we've had a few more, and on the day we got some great news in the form of an AMAZING opportunity, in the form of The Breakout Festival.

Everyone who reads this needs to get themselves down to The Cavern on the 10th September, and vote for us, so we can progress to the next round and become a step closer to playing an actual music festival in the Maldives and potentially get signed by an actual record company, and stay on an ACTUAL YAUGHT (Think I have my priorities the right way round there...:P)


So since then, I've spent a week at camp as well!
I love that place so much, seriously, I'd live there if I could. I was contemplating hiding under one of the chalets when the coach was boarding, but we had a gig the next day and I couldn't let the guys down!

Seriously though, it was a bit odd feeling this year, like the first few days didn't feel like camp at all, and we were all feeling a bit mehhh, but in the end, the week really made me think things through and evaluate everything, and I'm on a slightly different track now.

I loved sharing a room for the week with the girls too! Abbie, Andri, Caroline, Rach and Lora are the best roomies ever! I love it cos we're all so different, and lead completely different lives, and outside of camp, we don't all see each other too much, but as soon as we get there, we're like sisters. I've renamed them my soul sisters now, because the song Hey Soul Sister by Train was pretty much the song of the week!




Anyway, it's late, and I have work in the morn! I shall post part 2 sometime soon!

Love In The Eyes...

Soo, that gig that seemed so far away is five days away. What? And still we're not referring to our songs by their actual names. The delay one, Drop D, and the acoustic one...it's alright for the others, but I've got to remember the actual names to say them on stage! And I'm not currently sure what the name of one of them is...it's either

A) The Story of A Lonely Hearted Girl
B) Love In The Eyes of A Lonely Hearted Girl
C) Love In The Eyes
D) Lonely Hearted Girl

I guess whatever comes out of my mouth on Saturday is the actual name from now on!

I'm supposed to be driving there, because...oh yeah, I PASSED MY TEST! But Dad's being all arsey about it and has changed his mind back and forth, and back and forth. It'd be so much easier for everyone, especially me, given that I'm working all day before and after!

We've built this gig up so much, for what reason I'm not too sure. But I can't wait! I've sold so many tickets as well, I can't wait to just get up there and nail it! Especially after Baa Bar. No matter what anyone says, that, plus the time in The Cavern with the Fretz is the low point of my musical career so far. And I can't bury a bad performance behind drink this time, I'm in work at ten the next day!

We're sounding good though. It's definitely the most ready we've been, and we've got a brilliant set. I can't wait for everyone to hear our new one, 'What Goes Around Comes Around', and the long complicated title one as mentioned above has had a non-acoustic makeover.

I'm seriously psyched up! And of course I shall update with how it goes, as per usual.

Chow! xxx

Summer is here, I got my Beer...

Except I don't have to sing those lyrics anymore :)

I can't believe it's June already! The year's gone so fast, but it's been a good'un :), although I've been harbouring this weird feeling that I've changed quite a bit since December! Not sure if it's good or bad yet, but I think I may just have grown up :o

Soo, summer means lots of things...

1. No Uni

And I still haven't finished my finance for next year. I panicked when I was reminded about it, I really did, and I promised myself I'd do it when I got home, but so many other things have been going on, and I just keep forgetting. I need to do it, I really do, but right now I don't even want to spend two seconds thinking about studying Milton and Blake, and Shakey in September. I would rather sit in a bathtub filled with spiders. Why oh why did I pick English lit? Anyone know? Tenner if you get the right answer? I have no idea...

2. Holidays!

Soo, I'm fresh from Cyprus, but I was basically glued to a hammock for a week. Not much exploring done there, and I want to see the world! Shame I'm only going to Wales twice at the moment then.

No really, I can't wait. Camp's always hilarious, and now we have ensuite bathrooms! No more cold showers...maybe. And it'll be cool to spend a week with the Abbie, cos she's always always working now, and I haven't saw Rach and Lora for a while, and cannot wait to catch up, if Lora's even still going. Her life's pretty exciting right now! And of course Andri will be there, and Caro.

But to go back as a leader, someone responsible for other people's (rather big) kids is a bit scary! I'm sure I'll cope, and I'm really excited to branch out and see what happens.

#3 Band stuff

It's weird, but summer always means music. Last year the old band split up in September, so the winter was pretty dull in that respect, I did join Liam's new project but that kinda faded into obscurity very quickly, and even though Dear Chicago have been together since January, summer still means music to me. Maybe that's because it's pretty much all I did last summer.

We've got the gig in the O2 on the 10th July that we've been focusing on since April, and then Danii's getting us more. It's fortunate that we're all either staying put, or going away at the same time.

The 10th's looking to be really good, as long as we really focus from like, now. I have no idea how we managed to be in practice for 2 hours yesterday before even going over a song, but we can't keep doing that. And Liam, if you read this, (which I doubt) FIND THAT AMP! How in the world do you lose an amp? Even if it's only a little one? I was so stressed out yesterday it was unbelievable. And we need a band meeting. And not one like last time where nothing really got sorted out.

#4-Lie ins

Which means nights out (if money allows), nuff said :D

Gonna update soon, gonna go and celebrate Hope's 20th now!

2 decades old!

Hello blog!

Wish me a happy birthday, but hurry up, there's only six minutes left!

So, I'm finally 20...oh yes, that moment I began to dread on New Year's eve has finally dawned, I'm no longer a teenager...I can't blame anything on that anymore...I might even have to GROW UP. Nah.

Seeing as it doesn't feel any different, I'll stay the same, age is just a number after all, until you get to 25, and then by the X factor's standards, you become OLD. In the OVERS category. I'll panic then I think!

So, I celebrated last Saturday, no idea why, seeing as I had to take a day off work, and I do absolutely nothing on Wednesdays, but anyway, I took seven of my favourite people off to the Red Hot Buffet, which actually, puts a lot of spice in all the food, you'd think I'd guess from the name, but no, I didn't and the malibu and coke I ordered with my food was definitely not enough to suffice! And plus half of it was in my hair, which I was absolutely gutted about. Not even two sips and I trip over a bloody INVISIBLE step and send it all flying into my newly straightened/volumised/perfect hair, leaving it smelling of alcohol all night, feeling like I'd glued it, and by the end of the night looking pretty shabby. Why is it always my hair that pays the price? And just a note here, but whoever makes them stupid upwards dryers that are in all the posh toilets, they are no good for drying hair. At all. Fix it.




Anyway, so the food was alright, a bit spicy, but some people prefer it like that, so I won't complain, and it was really pretty in there! The only thing I'm gonna moan a little about is the service charge. I would've tipped anyway, I always do, but a little choice would have been nice. And I have no idea how we managed to work the money out wrong so many times, I guess out of the eight of us none of us can count. Andri went to Merchant Taylors, but she was in the toilet, I suppose I did 'higher tier' maths back in the old days, but that was four years ago, I've forgotten it all now, and plus, I have no idea how I ended up in that class anyway, but I do remember getting 8/40 on a mock paper once.

So, after food, we headed to Scream to meet Abbie, Hannah, Sarah, Day and Carver, and it was FREEZING. I remember really wishing I had a nice denim jacket at that point, I could've totally been rocking the double denim look instead of the ridiculously cold and goosebumpy one, and then people decided to stop and get money out, so we split up, to get two taxis, but then realised we'd split 6/2 rather than 4/4 so we'd have to wait for two anyway. So Danni, Andri, Vicki and Caroline got in the first one, and Me, Jess, Donna and Hope waited for another one, and had a bit of a race with a woman in a lovely red jacket (warm red jacket) for the next one. Danni phoned me to make sure we'd got a taxi, and asked, 'Are you in the one behind us?' to which I replied 'Is it a silver one?' (Psst, Heather, she doesn't know, she's INSIDE it). And then 'Are you by a load of trees?'
I think I was breathing in the malibu fumes from my hair.

Our taxi for some reason beat theirs to Scream even though they got in one like five minutes before us, and we found the others sitting by the door (always a good idea) and me and Hope went up to the bar, only for me to discover I didn't have ID, I had my work card. To give an idea of how COMPLETELY STUPID that is, here's a picture.

>>


Hope bought my drinks for me to avoid this scenario:

"Any ID?"
"Yes, I am HEATHER *Flashes card*"

Seriously though, White card with bar code and name/Green card with a load of writing and terrible picture...how hard is it to pick the right one?

I got my Dad to bring my actual ID in. I love my Dad, how many people would actually do it? My Mum would just tell me to piss off or something. Thanks Dad :D


The next part of the night is pretty much a blur, but invloved a lot of walking, arguing over where to/not to go, and bumping into Phil from camp 2 years ago, oh, and tequila, which tequila virgin Vicki clearly did not appreciate. Followed by more walking, Danni leaving to go and see Jake, more walking, stopping, more walking, going to Baa Bar, not waiting in the queue, splitting up, and Me, Hope, Donna and Andri going to Chameleon where we drank cocktails and stole toilet roll. (Well actually, I can't drag Donna and Andri into that one, they were innocently dancing with two men with boss Afros at the time). We bumped into Casey and Jay a couple of times too.



So then it was to the K, where despite protesting for just about 365 days, I knew I'd end up in, but only after goodbyes to Donna and Hope, cos someone had work at seven (and still stayed out till like 2, I LOVE YOU HOPE!), and once we were up there, I just remember a lot of screaming, OH MY GOSH YOU'RE HERE! (Er, no way? It's not like they're out for your birthday or anything...) and then mucho dancing, and general merriment until the place shut, which is getting to be a bit of a habit of mine! Then I think we got talking to some people from Leeds waiting for taxis, and got home to morning sky, and me and Vicki saying we'd got to McDonalds for McMuffins at half ten.

Then I was woken up by by Mum, shouting me for tea. Oh well, you only turn 20 once!

Baa Bar...badddd

It's May!!!!!!

That means, end of term, Birthday, holiday and er, exam, but scratch that last one for a sec!

This is the first guilt free blog I've written in a while, I usually do them when I should be essay writing, but, oh yeah, none left! I love it :)

So, as promised, I'm gonna tell all about the Baa Bar gig, alright, I know probably an average of three people will read this, but I want to write it down anyway.

Soo, GREAT night...yeah, not really. I think it'll go down as one of those to look back and laugh at, but laughing's always good.

We got to sound check at half five, and I swear, I am never stressing out about a sound check again, because we didn't have ours (well, if you want to call it a sound check)until right before we went on, at about twenty to nine...there's three hours I'm never getting back! And then, the sound check wasn't actually a sound check, it was the first bloody song, unknown to any of us. So we 'sound checked' Jenny, like always, and then as it turned out, we just had to carry on with the set, so if anyone who was there actually ever reads this, for the record, turning round, and looking at the other guys like a rabbit in headlights isn't my stage thing or anything, I just thought they were going to stop halfway through and didn't want to be that idiot that carrys on when the music's stopped.

So after Jenny, we're told to just carry on. Cue a lot of arm waving, hand gestures, eyebrow manouvres and whining from me, I must have looked really peed off (which I was) because Danii came over to see what was wrong.

I'll tell you what was wrong, okay, Jenny's just a song, like the rest, but we have an order, seeing as Chris and Tom aren't onstage for the acoustics, we do them first, so that Chris and Tom don't have to leave the stage halfway through, then they join us for the covers, which are next. Then we play Jenny. And then Not About The Girls, that's just the way it is, for now at least until our new stuff is ready. We ALWAYS close with Not About The Girls, always have, but the order was messed up and we closed with the acoustics (which weren't actually acoustic) and Chris and Tom did have to leave the stage halfway through.

So after Jenny, I was pretty annoyed, and I think you could probably tell if you watched me, (sorry), and I think it threw the others as well, because it wasn't exactly the best we've ever played. But, it was nobody's fault, we only knew about the gig two days before, and had no practice time in between (which is pretty important)!

So now, no more gigs until July, really this time. I've written loads of lyrics recently, and the others have wrote loads too, so we should have loads of good material by then, and maybe I won't end up getting completely drunk and fall down the stairs next time.

Seriously, drink is not the answer, if you play a bad gig, let it lie. I have a graze on my knee to show for my stupidity!

Mojo!

Okay, so when I said, 'I'll write tomorrow about the gig' (or something to that effect), I actually meant, 'I'll write a week later about the gig and various other things.'

So first things first, the Mojo gig.

It was alright. It wasn't the worst gig I've done by a long shot, yes, Windsor after Barfly/Zanzibar I mean you, and yes, The Cavern AKA Heather-here's-a-song-we-wrote-yesterday-I-know-we're-on-in-an-hour-but-just-take-the-lyrics-on-stage-with-you-it'll-be-fine, I mean you as well. But I think it may have been behind those two, for one thing I couldn't hear myself at all, and think I may have ended up battling with the guitars to be heard, resulting in some very shouty covers. Also, the fact that I went straight to Donna's to get ready from Uni and was already rushing when I got a stressed phonecall from Chris saying I needed to be there NOW when I only had one half of an eye made up and wasn't even half ready, with wet nail varnish, and horrible uni hair, well that kind of made me a tad hulk like. I've apologised to everyone I might have terrified in that hour, but I'll do it again now, I AM SO SORRY, like really. Sorry for being a bitch. I'm not usually a bitch.

So, I tried really hard to keep still while Hope put my face on, while Jess simutaneously straightened my hair (which was horribly flat, Donna was going to volumise it but no time...or so we thought), and tried not to be too horrible because those guys are all my friends and I was really grateful for them all supporting me, even if I didn't show it...and then we phoned two taxis, one of which took about half an hour to come, we could have walked there in less time, and the other which didn't come so Danni, Andri and Jake had to walk anyway.


Anyway, I finally got to Mojo, squinted round for the band, expecting them to be fuming, and on stage or something, but all was well! We hadn't even soundchecked yet!!!!!! :/ In fact, we didn't soundcheck for about an hour and a half after I got there, so I could have had fab hair and not shouted at everyone. No idea why people thought we were going to have a disaster, with no singer, but there you go.

So the actual set, me and Sean opened with an acoustic cover of Last Nite by The Strokes, then performed my favourite of ours, Love In The Eyes of A Lonely Hearted Girl (Just so you know, I didn't come up with that title, I'm far too macho for that), and they went well, apart from a bit in Last Nite when I thought we'd finished, and Sean didn't (I suppose that's what happens when you come up with a song the night before and don't practice ever) but people said nice things anyway, and I caught Andri singing along to Love In The Eyes.

After the acoustics, the rest of the band joined us on stage, and we did the covers first, which personally, I hated. The verses in Lost In Stereo are pretty low down in my range, and it really could have done with some backing vocals, which I thought were gonna be there. The Great Escape was okay, I just felt like I had to shout a lot over the music, just to hear if I was in tune or not.

Jenny and Not About The Girls were good. Everyone did really well with their solos, especially Liam on the drums. I think that was actually my favourite part of the whole set, but overall on our songs, I think there was better energy and all of us really got into them. Especially NATG. So yeah, good gig. And Hope was brilliant as the photographer, I haven't saw the pictures properly yet, because it's everyone's last week in uni, and we both have millions of essay dealines, but she really put in the effort, getting into tiny little corners and stuff to make sure she got everyone on, and doing the group photos afterwards. And she did it for free. It's not like she was obliged to do it or anything, but I bet they'll be our best pictures so far.

So we've got another one on Sunday now, we were meant to be taking a break to write until July, but this one came up, so looks like we're doing it! It'll most probably be the same set, considering we don't have lyrics for the new song yet, in fact I haven't heard it yet, but Chris and Liam both said it was sick, and I believe them :P, so maybe the covers will be decent this time. I want us to be amazing, and I know how well everyone can play, so there's no reason for us not to be good, if we get a good sound. Still can't wait for July 10th though, by then we should have some really good new songs, and will be completely used to playing together, as long as there are no major changes in true Dear Chicago style!

You know what, this is a pretty long post, so I'll prattle on about everything else another time. Probably after the Baa Bar gig, or when I should be doing an assignment (like right now).

Ahh! I forgot! I just wanna thank everyone for coming down to support us, I really appreciate it.

Mum, Dad, Donna, Jess, Andri, Danni, Jake, Alex, Day, Kev, you're all the best!

Danii, amazing manager
Hope, amazing photographer

Liverpool, Ormskirk and Back Again!

Okayy, so today, Thursday 22nd April 2010, is officially the busiest day of my year so far! And this morning I got lost, hopefully not a sign for the rest of the day!

Soo, this morning, I toddled off to the Liverpool World Museum, not holding out much hope, I mean, without it, I could have had an extra couple of hours in bed, before my lecture this afternoon (Okay, I would have been up in uni instead but let's just forget that for a second...) and I missed the train, or you know, two trains. Note to anyone who ever has to wake me up...half an hour before I have to leave will not work, I need to press snooze at least twice before I'm fit to function. Anyway, then I had to sort all my stuff out for later, seeing as I'm going straight to the wonderful Donna's from uni, which is a challenge when your room resembles a demolition site. (My Auntie Sue actually got me a door hanger once that read 'Warning! Demolition site! C'etait moche. Okay, it was quite funny, but so...)
So, there I was, packed bag, made up face, awful wavy hair (cue hat), and ready to leave, and it was only half past 9! Except no, it wasn't, it was twenty to ten.



So, after being stuck behind the slowest people on the escalator, I finally got into Liverpool, (Liverpool? Since when have I used Liverpool when I mean town? I guess uni's affecting me!)

FINALLY I get to the Museum, which I struggled to find, cos all the big buildings round there look the same, and I nearly walked into the Library next door, it was only when I was turning in, did I see the big lit up, multicoloured MUSEUM sign...sigh. And museums are pretty big, I had no idea where everyone else was, so I just kept walking up stairs. In the end I wrote an emergency status on facebook, on the offchance someone from my course would see it and help me, but then Nicki rang and told me they were in the bug section.



So between now and 6th May I have to write a short story on something that inspired me from the museum, and I have a problem because the main thing sticking out in my mind is the stick insects.

Me; Wow, is that one?
Hayley: No, that's just a stick...that's a stick insect
Me (thinking): They look exactly the same...how do you know?

Anyway, that was my morning, if you want to know what else happened, I got inside a stem, became an Anglo Saxon and smelt virtual flowers. No doubt I'll be back tomorrow with an update of how my gig went!

The April Blues

Okay, I confess. Out of them all, April is probably one of my favourites. It's when the sun usually decides to shine, we get Easter holidays, and it's my Birthday soon, but as with most things, there is a downside. FRIGGIN ESSAY DEADLINES.

In the same way May is let down by exams, April is packed full of essay deadlines and revision malarky. And in the last four Aprils, my laptop has packed in three times. Well, I say laptop, but I mean laptops. I ended up with a new (and seemingly invincible) laptop after the nervous breakdown enducing time that was April 2008. Turns out, laptop number 2 is not invincible after all, it was just saving itself so it could pack in at THE MOST INCONVENIENT time of all. I have an essay due in in two days man! One that counts for either 60 or 70% of my module. Either way it's not looking good, and I am sat here typing this on the slowest Computer in the world. (Okay, that's an exaggeration, but it is shocking after becoming so used to my poor laptop.

Anyway, I got up early today, especially with the aim of getting this essay done, but within seconds I realised, 'Oh yeah, the laptop packed in last night!' So I took out my frustration on the treadmill, whilst ringing around most people I know asking for a Windows Installation Disk, which doesn't seem to exist.

So, in total, I have spent twelve hours in the Computer room today, listening to the same songs off my Iphone, before resorting to listening to the best of 2002-2008 (only 2008 because I downloaded a load of stuff last time I resorted to this PC), reading old stories I'd written, wishing people Happy Birthday on facbook and post it noting my research material. Oh yeah, and now posting this.

I need to do some actual work, but I can't bring myself to start all over again!

Bring on May. I don't care if I'm going to be a twenty something anymore, as long as I have a laptop and no essays!

Oh, btw, this song is 'mazin. Downloaded it off itunes last night right before my laptop died. There goes 99p!