Help?

Anyone that does know of a Swedish tutor or cheap online lessons, whatever, please let me know.

In the meanwhile, I am now on Unit 6, can read and understand a little more than the basics but still cannot form anything more difficult than the basic sentences, so still a big hurrah to meh! 

I am leaving again, to read. Goodnight,

Promises, Promises

So each time I come on this thing I keep coming up with and talking about all these crazy things I'm going to write about that never come to fruition. Things keep getting in the way. And I don't come on here much anymore anyway. So hello again, nobody is reading this so I don't suppose it really matters anyway. 

I've been collecting Agatha Christie novels over the last year and have quite a pile of them hanging around my flat. She's really great and I find it hard to pick up anything else to read. When I've had to, I've actually found myself reading textbooks that I got to help with my dissertation. Interesting stuff!

In other news, I'm still without Swedish lessons, still self-taught and crap! Hoorah! I'm up to unit 5 or something in the textbook I'm using. I'm picking it up but only weeks down the line when I'm trying to study for other units and exercises. HA! Really, I want to be bilingual. And then multilingual! (I have a Japanese textbook to go through next!) I remember my trip to Stockholm and the tourguides there had these badges on that showed the languages that they spoke and conducted tours in. Our guide had loads! Swedish, English, German, Portuguese Spanish . . . You get the idea. It makes me feel almost inadequate. I actually studied Spanish at school and I learnt nothing at all from it. I remember the basics (Si senor, Hola, como te anos) but not much else. This, I feel, is a waste of my education. On my own, on and off for the past couple of years I have been learning Swedish and I'm not doing particularly badly. Still can't formulate anything other than basic and intermediate sentences in Swedish but my reading and understanding isn't too shabby. Basically I'm just gone and showed myself up by travelling to Sweden, heh. Maybe I would have suited a stint in the Swedish education system. I may have actually learnt something. Still, I'm impressed with what I've done on my own.

Anyway, babbling over. Wondering if a certain high-priced language software to worth purchasing?! Need to find that demo disc!

Righto then, I've written quite a bit for myself to read back in a few years and think, "What was I like? What a load of rubbish!" But there you go. I'm off, I may be back with better content, I may not. But until next time I'm out.

Flashback Blogpost of the Week and Something REALLY COOL!

I got my blog webaddress wrong and ended up in some search engine for the correct one and the top link was to a post I made in 2009 when I watched LOST and decided to review it. I'm amazed at the depth I wrote about ONE episode! It's so cool! I thought I would provide a link to it, I think it's an episode from season five so don't look if you haven't got that far or whatever. Click HERE for the post!

Now for the something really cool. I was bopping along this afternoon to a mod tune called Poison Ivy which is by a band called The Lambrettas. From that I bopped along to a tune in the related videos bit of YouTube called Green Onions by Booker T and The MGs. From there I found in the related videos this piece of MAGIC! I am sooooo excited to be posting it up here and I thought it was amazing!

Please do watch it. On full screen.

I am such a HUGE fan of the show, which for those of you not in the know it's called The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya and I suggest you go and watch it. This clip is based on the dance at the end credits and credit goes to the genius who came up with this video. I am in debt to you, this is absolutely amazing. I know it's an old video but I am so glad I came across it. And in such a strange way!! Anyway, I think I've said everything. I'll now lie and say expect more posts soon but that happened two months ago and this is my first post since. Soooo, bye for now!

Reading list

So I'm finally finished on my Christmas books, and got to the stage "What am I supposed to do now?" Start thinking about the future?! Haha, that wasn't funny but it's a nice enough tie in to what I'm reading at the moment.

I've read books in the past based on the future, my favourite of which are Shades Of Grey by Jasper Fforde and some book I read as a teen called The Giver, or which I cannot recall the author (answers on a postcard please!) Obviously I've read 1984 and Clockwork Orange, although actually set in our past on the timeline but futuristic for the time of writing.

The last Christmas book I had was J.K Rowling's new outing, The Casual Vacancy, which makes up for all the swearing she didn't put in Harry Potter (Deathly Hallows was getting there, "Get away from my daughter you bitch!") I don't know what set me off from that but I had a yearning to read Brave New World by Aldous Huxley which I found to be utterly superb. The visualisations were fantastic. That's lead on to Philip K. Dick's Do Androids Dream Of Electric Sheep? The one that got turned into Blade Runner. I'm kind of iffy about this one at the minute but I'm only a little way through. I'll post more when I get to it.

I've decided to include a reading list of the 'future' book I've read. If anyone is reading and has anymore suggestions then please leave me a comment. Thanks.

The Giver - Of which the author's name escapes me

A Clockwork Orange - Anthony Burgess

Do Androids Dream Of Electric Sheep? - Philip K. Dick

Shades Of Grey - Jasper Fforde

Brave New World - Aldous Huxley

1984 - George Orwell

(I find now these were just a repeat of the main text, I thought I had more but that must be it. Sorry!)

Oh and if you're wondering what my Christmas books were then here they are (in order of reading):

Unsaid Things: Our Story - McFly

How To Be A Woman - Caitlin Moran

Moranthology - Caitlin Moran

The Killing Handbook - Emma Kennedy

An Idiot Abroad: The Travel Diaries Of Karl Pilkington

The Further Adventures Of An Idiot Abroad - Karl Pilkington

The Casual Vacancy - J. K. Rowling

Next time will be music based probably so until then . . .

New stuff coming soon

As it says on the tin! I'll be posting up some new content, exciting for me and maybe not for you so there =P

Annoying things

First blog in a while again, just thought I'd post about things that grate me.

So apparently there has been a few complaints about the new Go Compare adverts. What I don't understand is how people who hate this guy to death are complaining about him being blown up. Isn't that a good thing? My complaint, however, is the fact that he is still even GETTING adverts. Wandering and driving around the city the past couple of weeks and have found the most amazing 'Go Compare' graffiti. I love how nothing is being done to combat it, it's fantastic! The new Go Compare billboards are up and the graffiti ranges from "Go away" to "Go jump off a cliff". You get the picture, it's quite amazing!!

I've had problems in the recent few weeks with people not being straight with me from the start and being all happy clappy with me instead. And then they completely back stab me when it comes to the crucial moment. I was bullied a lot in younger years so have learnt to be honest and straight with people. It's horrible how people can be otherwise.

Probably everyone around me has heard my rants about cyclists and my continuation to quote the Highway Code to everyone who (doesn't) listens. I am sick to death of almost being ran over by moronic cyclists who shouldn't even be riding on the pavement anyway. What's even worse are the ones who do it NEXT to a cycle lane. I've heard excuses such as "Don't have a helmet", "haven't got any reflective clothing", "don't have any lights fixed to my bike and it's getting dark." They are not good enough excuses to ride on the pavement. There is no excuse for riding on the pavement. There is a law against it due to pedestrian safety. I don't have the time of day for this.

Fifty Shades of effing Grey. Sick to death of it, it's perverted and crap, badly written and started off as Twilight fan-fiction. End of. Pile of shit.

Proms 2012

I really can't wait for this year's Proms! As luck would have it, the playing of Also Sprach Zarathustra coincides with my graduation evening, which is amazing because it is soooo epic! The piece is well known from the opening of 2001: A Space Odessey, which actually just missed out on my movie month thing. I thought I would include it on this here blog to help grow more accustom to it, like that's really needed anyway but you know what I mean!

Day 31 - Movie Month

Back To The Future (1985)

Click here to view this film's IMDB 

Wow, we made it! 

This film is the best film ever, and that is all I can say because I don't know what to write this morning.

Anyways, here is the trailer.

 

The list:

01) Back To The Future (1985)

02) Ponyo On The Cliff By The Sea (2008)

03) My Neighbour Totoro (1988)

04) The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya (2010)

05) Battle Royale (2000)

06) Norwegian Wood (2010)

07) The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo (2009)

08) Summer Wars (2009)

09) Grave of the Fireflies (1988)

10) A Clockwork Orange (1971)

11) The Boat That Rocked (2009)

12) The Girl Who Leapt Through Time (2006)

13) Hope and Glory (1987)

14) Equilibrium (2002)

15) Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002)
16) The Great Escape (1963)
17) Star Trek XI (2009)
18) Schindler's List (1993)
19) Jurassic Park (1993)
20) Beetlejuice (1988)
21) Team America: World Police (2004)
22) Life is Beautiful (1997)
23) The Bourne Identity (2002)
24) Pokemon: The First Movie (1998)
25) LOTR - Return of the King (2003)
26) American Psycho (2000)
27) Mulan (1998)
28) Shaun of the Dead (2004)
29) Fight Club (1999)
30) Fish Story (2009)
31) The Pianist (2002)

Day 30 - Movie Month

  Ponyo On The Cliff By The Sea (2008)

Click here to view this film's IMDB

This is a brilliantly magical film. If you haven't seen it, I recommend you watch the original Japanese. Don't get me wrong, the English dub has some big names (Liam Neeson, Cate Blanchett, Matt Damon and Tina Fey) but watching the English one means having to sit through the worst English dub of a theme song ever, and we have Disney to blame for that. But anyway, despite it all this film is amazing and recommended.

Here is the trailer.

 

The list so far:

02) Ponyo On The Cliff By The Sea (2008)

03) My Neighbour Totoro (1988)

04) The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya (2010)

05) Battle Royale (2000)

06) Norwegian Wood (2010)

07) The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo (2009)

08) Summer Wars (2009)

09) Grave of the Fireflies (1988)

10) A Clockwork Orange (1971)

11) The Boat That Rocked (2009)

12) The Girl Who Leapt Through Time (2006)

13) Hope and Glory (1987)

14) Equilibrium (2002)

15) Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002)
16) The Great Escape (1963)
17) Star Trek XI (2009)
18) Schindler's List (1993)
19) Jurassic Park (1993)
20) Beetlejuice (1988)
21) Team America: World Police (2004)
22) Life is Beautiful (1997)
23) The Bourne Identity (2002)
24) Pokemon: The First Movie (1998)
25) LOTR - Return of the King (2003)
26) American Psycho (2000)
27) Mulan (1998)
28) Shaun of the Dead (2004)
29) Fight Club (1999)
30) Fish Story (2009)
31) The Pianist (2002)

Day 29 - Movie Month

My Neighbour Totoro (1988)

Click here to view a lovely review someone wrote about this lovely film =) 

And click here to view this film's IMDB page!

What a lovely, adorable film! The amount of times I've sat down and watched this and gone "awww" is uncountable! A lot of people say how it was the ultimate film of their childhood, it's so innocent. I wish I was one of those people, I feel like I missed out as I only discovered it quite late on, I think I was about 19/20 or something like that. But anyway, it's a really nice film and again the soundtrack is brilliant. The genius who is Joe Hisaishi has cracked it on this one. And him and Hayao Miyazaki (one of my ultimate favourite people!) have done a brilliant job. So proud.

Anywho, here is the trailer for you to watch.

  

The list so far:

03) My Neighbour Totoro (1988)

04) The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya (2010)

05) Battle Royale (2000)

06) Norwegian Wood (2010)

07) The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo (2009)

08) Summer Wars (2009)

09) Grave of the Fireflies (1988)

10) A Clockwork Orange (1971)

11) The Boat That Rocked (2009)

12) The Girl Who Leapt Through Time (2006)

13) Hope and Glory (1987)

14) Equilibrium (2002)

15) Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002)
16) The Great Escape (1963)
17) Star Trek XI (2009)
18) Schindler's List (1993)
19) Jurassic Park (1993)
20) Beetlejuice (1988)
21) Team America: World Police (2004)
22) Life is Beautiful (1997)
23) The Bourne Identity (2002)
24) Pokemon: The First Movie (1998)
25) LOTR - Return of the King (2003)
26) American Psycho (2000)
27) Mulan (1998)
28) Shaun of the Dead (2004)
29) Fight Club (1999)
30) Fish Story (2009)
31) The Pianist (2002)

Day 28 - Movie Month

The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya (2010)

 Click here to view the IMDB

Haruhi and the team return for a new adventure, this time Haruhi vanishes so they have to get her back!  

Here is the trailer.

 

The list so far:

04) The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya (2010)

05) Battle Royale (2000)

06) Norwegian Wood (2010)

07) The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo (2009)

08) Summer Wars (2009)

09) Grave of the Fireflies (1988)

10) A Clockwork Orange (1971)

11) The Boat That Rocked (2009)

12) The Girl Who Leapt Through Time (2006)

13) Hope and Glory (1987)

14) Equilibrium (2002)

15) Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002)
16) The Great Escape (1963)
17) Star Trek XI (2009)
18) Schindler's List (1993)
19) Jurassic Park (1993)
20) Beetlejuice (1988)
21) Team America: World Police (2004)
22) Life is Beautiful (1997)
23) The Bourne Identity (2002)
24) Pokemon: The First Movie (1998)
25) LOTR - Return of the King (2003)
26) American Psycho (2000)
27) Mulan (1998)
28) Shaun of the Dead (2004)
29) Fight Club (1999)
30) Fish Story (2009)
31) The Pianist (2002)

Day 27 - Movie Month

 Battle Royale (2000)

Click here for this film's IMDB

A long time before The Hunger Games came out, the novel, Battle Royale, was released. Following on from the novel came a manga and finally the film of the same name. It's basically the same premise as The Hunger Games, in that kids are sent to fight to the death, with one survivor. And believe me, it makes The Hunger Games look like Peppa Pig.
EDIT: I also loved the soundtrack for this film, it's a nice mix of classical and original pieces and the version of Air on it is the best I have ever heard.

 Here is the trailer.

The list so far:

05) Battle Royale (2000)

06) Norwegian Wood (2010)

07) The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo (2009)

08) Summer Wars (2009)

09) Grave of the Fireflies (1988)

10) A Clockwork Orange (1971)

11) The Boat That Rocked (2009)

12) The Girl Who Leapt Through Time (2006)

13) Hope and Glory (1987)

14) Equilibrium (2002)

15) Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002)
16) The Great Escape (1963)
17) Star Trek XI (2009)
18) Schindler's List (1993)
19) Jurassic Park (1993)
20) Beetlejuice (1988)
21) Team America: World Police (2004)
22) Life is Beautiful (1997)
23) The Bourne Identity (2002)
24) Pokemon: The First Movie (1998)
25) LOTR - Return of the King (2003)
26) American Psycho (2000)
27) Mulan (1998)
28) Shaun of the Dead (2004)
29) Fight Club (1999)
30) Fish Story (2009)
31) The Pianist (2002)

Day 26 - Movie Month

 Norwegian Wood (2010)

Click for this film's IMDB

This film is superb. It's very dramatic and Keniichi Matsuyama, who plays Toru Watanabe is brilliant. A must watch. Also, Johnny Greenwood from Radiohead wrote the score. 

Here is the trailer.

The list so far:

06) Norwegian Wood (2010)

07) The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo (2009)

08) Summer Wars (2009)

09) Grave of the Fireflies (1988)

10) A Clockwork Orange (1971)

11) The Boat That Rocked (2009)

12) The Girl Who Leapt Through Time (2006)

13) Hope and Glory (1987)

14) Equilibrium (2002)

15) Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002)
16) The Great Escape (1963)
17) Star Trek XI (2009)
18) Schindler's List (1993)
19) Jurassic Park (1993)
20) Beetlejuice (1988)
21) Team America: World Police (2004)
22) Life is Beautiful (1997)
23) The Bourne Identity (2002)
24) Pokemon: The First Movie (1998)
25) LOTR - Return of the King (2003)
26) American Psycho (2000)
27) Mulan (1998)
28) Shaun of the Dead (2004)
29) Fight Club (1999)
30) Fish Story (2009)
31) The Pianist (2002)

Day 25 - Movie Month

The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo (2009)

  Click here to view this film's IMDB

Just how it was supposed to be. This is my favourite of the two versions, although the English one kicked some arse as well! 

Here is the trailer.

The list so far:

07) The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo (2009)

08) Summer Wars (2009)

09) Grave of the Fireflies (1988)

10) A Clockwork Orange (1971)

11) The Boat That Rocked (2009)

12) The Girl Who Leapt Through Time (2006)

13) Hope and Glory (1987)

14) Equilibrium (2002)

15) Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002)
16) The Great Escape (1963)
17) Star Trek XI (2009)
18) Schindler's List (1993)
19) Jurassic Park (1993)
20) Beetlejuice (1988)
21) Team America: World Police (2004)
22) Life is Beautiful (1997)
23) The Bourne Identity (2002)
24) Pokemon: The First Movie (1998)
25) LOTR - Return of the King (2003)
26) American Psycho (2000)
27) Mulan (1998)
28) Shaun of the Dead (2004)
29) Fight Club (1999)
30) Fish Story (2009)
31) The Pianist (2002)

Day 24 - Movie Month

Summer Wars (2009)

  Click here to view this film's IMDB

The is one of those films that prove just how important family is, as well as having a fantastic storyline. This is a typical ME film I guess.

Here is the trailer.

Wow, we are well into the top 10 films now, hope you are enjoying them so far! Now, films coming up will be really obvious once they are revealed but so far most guesses have again been wrong. You'll be surprised!! Keep reading!!

The list so far:

08) Summer Wars (2009)

09) Grave of the Fireflies (1988)

10) A Clockwork Orange (1971)

11) The Boat That Rocked (2009)

12) The Girl Who Leapt Through Time (2006)

13) Hope and Glory (1987)

14) Equilibrium (2002)

15) Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002)
16) The Great Escape (1963)
17) Star Trek XI (2009)
18) Schindler's List (1993)
19) Jurassic Park (1993)
20) Beetlejuice (1988)
21) Team America: World Police (2004)
22) Life is Beautiful (1997)
23) The Bourne Identity (2002)
24) Pokemon: The First Movie (1998)
25) LOTR - Return of the King (2003)
26) American Psycho (2000)
27) Mulan (1998)
28) Shaun of the Dead (2004)
29) Fight Club (1999)
30) Fish Story (2009)
31) The Pianist (2002)

Day 23 - Movie Month

Grave of the Fireflies (1988)

  Click here to view this film's IMDB

I genuinely love this film, even though it had me in tears. 

Here is the trailer.

The list so far:

09) Grave of the Fireflies (1988)

10) A Clockwork Orange (1971)

11) The Boat That Rocked (2009)

12) The Girl Who Leapt Through Time (2006)

13) Hope and Glory (1987)

14) Equilibrium (2002)

15) Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002)
16) The Great Escape (1963)
17) Star Trek XI (2009)
18) Schindler's List (1993)
19) Jurassic Park (1993)
20) Beetlejuice (1988)
21) Team America: World Police (2004)
22) Life is Beautiful (1997)
23) The Bourne Identity (2002)
24) Pokemon: The First Movie (1998)
25) LOTR - Return of the King (2003)
26) American Psycho (2000)
27) Mulan (1998)
28) Shaun of the Dead (2004)
29) Fight Club (1999)
30) Fish Story (2009)
31) The Pianist (2002)

Day 22 - Movie Month

A Clockwork Orange (1971)

  Click here to view this film's IMDB

Probably one of the most shocking and disturbing films ever made, and subsequently banned, this film never ceases to amaze me. It is superbly cast and directed.

Here is the trailer.

The list so far:

10) A Clockwork Orange (1971)

11) The Boat That Rocked (2009)

12) The Girl Who Leapt Through Time (2006)

13) Hope and Glory (1987)

14) Equilibrium (2002)

15) Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002)
16) The Great Escape (1963)
17) Star Trek XI (2009)
18) Schindler's List (1993)
19) Jurassic Park (1993)
20) Beetlejuice (1988)
21) Team America: World Police (2004)
22) Life is Beautiful (1997)
23) The Bourne Identity (2002)
24) Pokemon: The First Movie (1998)
25) LOTR - Return of the King (2003)
26) American Psycho (2000)
27) Mulan (1998)
28) Shaun of the Dead (2004)
29) Fight Club (1999)
30) Fish Story (2009)
31) The Pianist (2002)

Day 21 - Movie Month

The Boat That Rocked (2009)

  Click here to view this film's IMDB

I love this film so much I went to see it at the pictures TWICE. It also encompasses the sound of the sixties, which I also love. And it's really quite funny as well. And the fact that it is about radio is an added bonus!

Here is the trailer.

The list so far:

11) The Boat That Rocked (2009)

12) The Girl Who Leapt Through Time (2006)

13) Hope and Glory (1987)

14) Equilibrium (2002)

15) Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002)
16) The Great Escape (1963)
17) Star Trek XI (2009)
18) Schindler's List (1993)
19) Jurassic Park (1993)
20) Beetlejuice (1988)
21) Team America: World Police (2004)
22) Life is Beautiful (1997)
23) The Bourne Identity (2002)
24) Pokemon: The First Movie (1998)
25) LOTR - Return of the King (2003)
26) American Psycho (2000)
27) Mulan (1998)
28) Shaun of the Dead (2004)
29) Fight Club (1999)
30) Fish Story (2009)
31) The Pianist (2002)

Day 20 - Movie Month

 The Girl Who Leapt Through Time (2006)

Click here to view the IMDB for this film

Loosely based on the Japanese novel of the same name, the film is about a girl who finds that she can "time leap" and uses this ability to fix problems. It's been a winner of a bucket load of awards, and rightly so! 

Here is the trailer.

The list so far:

12) The Girl Who Leapt Through Time (2006)

13) Hope and Glory (1987)

14) Equilibrium (2002)

15) Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002)
16) The Great Escape (1963)
17) Star Trek XI (2009)
18) Schindler's List (1993)
19) Jurassic Park (1993)
20) Beetlejuice (1988)
21) Team America: World Police (2004)
22) Life is Beautiful (1997)
23) The Bourne Identity (2002)
24) Pokemon: The First Movie (1998)
25) LOTR - Return of the King (2003)
26) American Psycho (2000)
27) Mulan (1998)
28) Shaun of the Dead (2004)
29) Fight Club (1999)
30) Fish Story (2009)
31) The Pianist (2002)

Day 19 - Movie Month

Hope and Glory (1987)

 Click here for this film's IMDB

This is such a heart warming story!! Set against the background of World War II, it looks at the Blitz in the eyes of a nine year old boy. I first saw this at school as part of a history lesson, so I'd really like to thank my teacher for introducing it!

Here is the trailer.

The list so far:

13) Hope and Glory (1987)

14) Equilibrium (2002)

15) Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002)
16) The Great Escape (1963)
17) Star Trek XI (2009)
18) Schindler's List (1993)
19) Jurassic Park (1993)
20) Beetlejuice (1988)
21) Team America: World Police (2004)
22) Life is Beautiful (1997)
23) The Bourne Identity (2002)
24) Pokemon: The First Movie (1998)
25) LOTR - Return of the King (2003)
26) American Psycho (2000)
27) Mulan (1998)
28) Shaun of the Dead (2004)
29) Fight Club (1999)
30) Fish Story (2009)
31) The Pianist (2002)