Jango.com

So I wanted to listen to some music online the other day and I discovered Jango.com. I listened to the Hot Alternative Playlist, which I have linked in the title. The website is brilliant, if you're stuck without music and you're near a computer I would recommend it. I'm no expert about the pros and cons of streaming websites but it suited my taste in music well.

Anyway whilst listening to their playlist I noted down four amazing songs that my iPod is seriously embarrassed to not have already:

1. The Beatles - Here Comes The Sun



This song is not only a classic and inspirational tune, but who can't resist it's charms? As it puts a smile on your face, even on a gloomy day.

2. Massive Attack - Teardrop



This song is stunning. It invokes in me a sense of peace as well as greatness, like something spectacular is about to happen. I feel that this means something special to me and yet I am unable to put my finger on what it is. It may not make sense but it's like this song holds some sort of lost memory.

3. Muse - Feeling Good



The soothing climatic intro grows into that rocky guitar riff which we all adore. It has Bellamy singing into a speaker phone which nobody could make sound so brilliant. Before slowing the tempo with Mat's soprano wails fading out into silence. Leaving us all feeling good.

4. Gary Jules - Mad World



This simplistic song is beautiful and undeniably stirs emotions in all of us. Sometimes all you need is a piano and a voice to bring tears to your eyes.

That time, a long time ago, you know, when it was hot and stress free, I can't remember when exactly but it was fabulous.

So it's been over a week since my last blog and in that time I've been at school for six days.
So I figured this would be the perfect opportunity to do some last minute reflections on my summer holiday before it becomes just a wonderful, long-lost memory, buried deep under layers of stress and sleep-deprivation.

So I know from experience you aren't interested in reading large essays about my holiday.
So I thought why not set myself a challenge and sum up two months of glorious decadence in 5 words?

Hrmmm, I'm gonna need a thesaurus.

Eye-opening, memorable, regrettable, hilarious, the-best-one-yet.

I think the highlights were:
My mate Jess's very successful charity gig.
My two-week holiday to Bulgaria with Jess.
My weekend away in London with my mumma.

The Bristol International Balloon Fiesta.

Reading Festival 2k11!

I've tried to narrow down hundreds of photos to just three of my summer which I love and that are suitable for this blog. It was difficult and I missed out loads of brilliant photos but here they are.

This is the crowd and sunset during Reading festival. It was a glorious and rare summer's evening during Elbow's set. The atmosphere was euphoric and at that moment I wouldn't have wanted to have been anywhere else in the world. Plus Muse were about to go on, yay!

In Bulgaria, we went on a 4X4 trip through the mountains, there were fields and fields of sunflowers which was incredibly surreal. It looked like thousands of people with black faces and yellow hair were staring and judging as we passed by. Quite unnerving really.

This is me and Jess, on one of our many very jolly nights out in Bulgaria. I tried to find the least sweaty, least shocking photo. It was quite a mission!

So that's my summer in a very small and very compact nutshell. Now just to bury it like a squirrel does its acorns and maybe I'll unearth it sometime in the future, when I really need the nourishment of some nostalgic and happy memories.

Free will or free meal?

The last few weeks have been a hell of a busy time, which is unusual. Most summer holidays I can spend a week or two just twiddling my fingers, looking for something to do but this one has been non-stop. (more on this later)

I'm beginning to reminisce like this because it's one of my last nights as a free woman. On Wednesday I go back to sixth form. Back to the daily grind. The hard slog through timetables, restrictions, coursework, exams and early mornings. Yes, we've all been there. Some of you may still have a while to go. I have one year left and deary me, I can't wait for it to be over. I am completely ready for university. People have said that sixth form is the best years of your life. I disagree. However I can see the light at the end of the tunnel. But how long is this dark tunnel I'm about to enter for the last time? Too long.

My brother has informed me that university is the best time of your life. I hope he is right.

One more year. Just one more year.

However this is how everyone feels at the beginning of a new academic year. Am I right?
After breaking up from school about an eternity ago, I am so completely unwound that going back into the daily routine will be like diving into a pool of icy water, shocking at first, followed by a period of readjustment.

I know however that once I get back into the routine, I enjoy it. Doing A-levels especially means that you can study the subjects that you find interesting, I mean at present I'm struggling to pick one to drop. I get to see all my friends, some of whom I haven't seen all summer and catch up on all the gossip. Plus there's that freshness; new uniform/suit, new stationary, new folder, new leaf.
But most importantly this year, this final year, we're at the top of the school, the superiors, the powerful, the example-setters. Who would have thought?

But even with all my positive thinking I still just can't help chanting:

One more year. Just one more year.