Thinking...

 

I don’t know what it is, but lately I’m finding it hard to write journal entries.  I used to be able to write them easily, no problems. 

 

 

But now, it takes an effort and I find it so hard to set times to fill you all in.  Then something else good happens and eventually, it builds up into a pile of stuff and I feel disheartened ‘cause I got a backlog.

 

 

It doesn’t help matters that AOL Alerts are not working!  They are not for me, anyway.  I have had very few “Comment Alerts” and “New Entry Alerts” for other journals.  Maybe the people at AOL are attempting to fix something that doesn’t need to be fixed?

 

 

I’ve been thinking a lot about me and my life in general.  I’m bored and I need a change of scenery.  I’m tired of doing the same old things everyday, I need a challenge!

 

 

The school trip to France will be perfect opportunity for me to do this.  I’m going to go and have fun.  I’m going to go and attempt any task they throw at me!  These activities are going to stretch my capabilities and test my limitations, and I gladly welcome them.  I am not looking forward to travelling on a coach at 2a.m, though!

 

 

I am a little nervous though, because before we go we have to pick three room mates to share a room with.  I feel a bit out of my comfort zone about this, but sometimes I suppose it’s good.  All my life I’ve found it easier to get along with girls, rather than boys.  But you never know, I may make a new friend!

 

Well, that’s all from me now gang!

 

Who Am I?

Evening all!

 

Has anybody watched the T.V series “Who Do You Think You Are” on BBC One?  After watching the programme featuring Welsh actor and comedian Griff Rhys-Jones (below) last week, I decided to delve into my own past and relations.

 

 

 

I have wanted to research for a few months now, but because I come from a big family I found the prospect a bit daunting.  I have always been interested in genealogy, but didn’t know where to start.  I do not know much about my father’s side of the family, so I hope to find out more while conducting this investigation. 

 

I’ve not found any famous relations yet, unfortunately, lots of deceased relations, though!  Wish me luck; I think I am going to need it!

 

On to other stuff... I'm really excited!  Series Three of "Prison Break" begins tonight on Sky One! *happy dance* 

 

Hope you all had a good weekend.

 

Tags: ancestors, family history, genealogy

Call me 'Buddy'

Well gang, there’s no going back now!  I’ve paid my first instalment of the deposit for the school trip to France of £15.  Then I have to pay a further £30 by or on 5th October.  I’m so excited now! *happy dance*

 

One of my teachers has submitted my name for a job at school.  I will be providing reading support to the younger students.  I will have to sit with them and listen to them read a book.  If the student gets stuck on a word, I’ll help him pronounce it.  I'll be a 'Buddy Consellor', a mentor. 

 

If I get the position, I will not be going in blind, I shall be going on courses to learn what to do, and I shall also be given some money to buy resources.  I have done this sort of thing before on work experience, and found it very rewarding.  The teacher said the job will be a valuable experience for me if I wish to go into the teaching profession.

 

It has not been a very nice day at all today.  In Wales, we have had lots of heavy showers of rain over the past two days and unfortunately, they are set to continue this weekend.  It made the lessons really long and drawn out, and very boring!  I hate the rain! 

 

I have to say a big Congratulations to my friend Ross, who passed his driving theory test today.  Well done mate – I knew you could do it!  Now let’s hope you do as well in the practical test.  Keep positive!

 

Hope all readers have a good weekend.

 

V is for Victory!

Wow, nearly a week a passed since I posted my last entry!  Where does the time go?

 

First of all I must thank each and every one of you who left comment for my parent in my last entry.  Each of the comments made them smile and we all appreciate your thoughts.  Thank you J-land!

 

We had a nice holiday in Burnham-on-Sea, Somerset.  I didn’t take any pictures though as we weren’t there long enough.

 

Now I have BIG news!

 

You may remember an entry I posted three months ago, where I was not allowed to go on a school trip because the activities “may not be suitable for me”.  Well, now the school have allowed me to go to France with them.  Yes, I am allowed to go to France!

 

I’m so happy!  I can’t believe it!  For years, I have been excluded from school trips.  I wasn’t even told about them and felt so hurt because I wasn’t included.  Now I am ecstatic because I can go on one.  It will be my first time away with the school and a nice end to my school career before I move on into Higher education.

 

We are going sometime during October for five days.  For that time, we shall be staying in a Château.  I’ve found information about the accommodation online.  Click this link for more information.

 

We shall be competing in lots of sporting activities and outdoor pursuits like abseiling, canoeing, archery to name a few - as well as learning some French!!  The WBQ Co-ordinator in charge of the trip was worried that I may feel left out if I could not participate in the activities.  I said “Don’t worry! I’ll give anything a go.  If I can’t do it, then I will do something else instead.”  If I don’t try we’ll never know.

 

Oh I’m so pleased I can go!  It will be the first time ever my school would’ve taken a disabled person away abroad so, I’m going fly the flag for disabled people and show we can go on trips abroad and have fun!  After all, I’ve done it before with the Rhondda Youth Forum last year when we travelled to Brussels.

 

I'll leave you tonight with a video.  The song explains exactly how I feel right now.

 

Shania Twain - "I'm Not In The Mood (To Say No)"

 

Anniversary & Birthday Wishes

I would like to begin by wishing my Mum and Dad a Happy Anniversary.  They have been married twenty-one years today.  Congratulations to you both, may you share many years of happiness together!

 

 

Also it’s Mum’s birthday tomorrow.  I would like to say “Happy Birthday” to you mum.  Hope you have a great day tomorrow, love you xx

 

Tomorrow, we’re off to a place called Burnham-on-Sea for a caravan holiday.  As usual, I’m armed with my camera, so I shall take a few pictures.  I’ve disabled Alerts because otherwise I shall be overwhelmed when I return home on Sunday.

 

Have a great weekend, readers!

Thank you to Donna for today’s graphic.

9-11-01: We Must Never Forget

I remember it so well as if it only happened yesterday, instead of six years ago.  The day the world changed forever.

 

My heart went out to America, to the police, firemen, paramedics, who rushed to the scene to help, the victims and their families who have lost a loved one. I’m saddened and I’m sorry that such atrocities have happened.  The 9/11 terror attacks were such a tragedy which we will never forget.

 

This is a poem I posted last year in remembrance.

United We'll Stand

 

We arose from the ashes of the towers in the sky,
We're a proud, mighty nation and we hold our heads high!

 

Back from Ground Zero where we all shed a tear,
We'll show to the world that we won't live in fear.

 

They tried to destroy us on that fateful day,
September eleventh in our memory will stay.

 

With flags full unfurled, we'll fight night and day,
To protect and defend our American way!

 

So united we'll stand for the whole world to see
We're the home of the brave and we all will agree,
United we'll stand in the land of the free!

 

They burned down a landmark but our hearts did not sway,
And we're makin' our come-back the American way!

 

We're children of freedom, and that's how we'll stay,
No terrorist cowards can take that away!

 

So united we'll stand for the whole world to see
We're the home of the brave and we all will agree,
United we'll stand in the land of the free!

 

A new brand of hero emerged from the crowd,
Brave Firemen, Policemen, you sure made us proud!

 

No terror can daunt us, we'll fight to the end,
Unwavering, unfaltering that's the message we send.

 

We're children of freedom, and that's how we'll stay,
No terrorist cowards can take that away!

 

America, you're beautiful, honest and true,
America we love you, Our Red, White and Blue!

 

So united we'll stand for the whole world to see
We're the home of the brave and we all will agree,
United we'll stand in the land of the free!

 

© A. P. DuBarry, Jr. 2001

 

 

Thanks to Missie for providing today’s graphics.

Tags: 9/11, America, September 11, terrorism, war on terrorism

Back To School!

I started back to school today.  It felt really weird to be back after nine weeks away from the place.

 

 

I’m in Year 13 now, the last year of school and I am studying ‘A’ Levels in English Literature and Health & Social Care.  I will also be undertaking the Welsh Baccalaureate.  This is a compulsory unit of work worth 120 UCAS points for university, which is equivalent to an A grade at ‘A’ Level.

 

 

I woke up earlier than usual this morning excited by the prospect of returning to school and seeing my friends again.  I was surprised to learn that our Sixth Form Common Room is being renovated to get rid of asbestos in the roof.  Now we have no Common Room!

 

 

I didn’t do much in school today.  I had to attend a “Welcome Back” assembly this morning, where we were given new timetables and the Year 12’s were given ties to wear.  I remember the moment last year when I received my tie, I felt so proud to be accepted into Sixth Form.

 

 

Altogether in our Sixth Form, there are about three hundred pupils.  I was quite surprised to hear that statistic.  That’s a lot more students than last year!

 

 

I only had one lesson today and that was English.  My class were introduced to the work of Geoffrey Chaucer, known as “the father of English Literature”.  One of the novels we are studying is from “The Canterbury Tales” called “The Nun’s Priest’s Tale.

 

 

It is a poem written in Middle English about a cockerel and a hen, which follows an iambic (de dum de dum de dum) pattern.  As soon as Mrs. Francis said that I could not stop laughing!  All I could think was Mr. Mealing saying the line “I must go down to the sea again to see the sea and sky” and moving his hand up and down to the rhythm. LOL!

 

 

Then after lunch I came home.  I didn’t see the point in waiting around school with nothing to do.  The same will happen tomorrow as I only have one lesson again.  I shouldn’t really moan about all the free time because in a few weeks I will need it!

 

Hope all is well in J~Land.

 

 

Until next time…

 

Tags: A/AS Levels, examinations, school, teenagers

The Interview

Yesterday I had an interview at school.  It was to discuss whether I would continue my ‘A’ Level studies and what courses I would like to enrol in.

 

 

My teachers were happy for me to continue the subjects I studied last year which are English Literature and Health & Social Care.

 

 

The teachers said that Sixth Form has changed me for the better.  I’m much happier than I used to be.  I appear to have a lot more self-belief, and Sixth Form has improved my social life for the better.  I agree with all the points listed above.

 

 

I asked whether I could study Psychology or Computing as an AS Level, in addition to the ‘A’ Level courses.  The teacher said no, because she thought it would be too much work involved.  I’m not too disappointed because I didn’t really want to study them.

 

 

I spoke to my English teachers and the department were very pleased with my exam results.  It turns out I was 4 marks off an A grade in the “Cuckoo’s Nest” coursework and 7 marks off an A in the Austen paper!  Who would’ve thought it? J J

 

 

Mr. Wyburn said I don’t particularly need to re-sit the Shakespeare paper (which I had a D in), because my marks on the other papers were so good.  He says it depends on this year’s grades.  This year, I’m going for gold!

 

 

 

I start back to school on Monday, the 10th September.  Call me sad, but I am looking forward to going back to school as a senior, LOL!

 

 

Hope all is well with you.

 

 

Tags: A/AS Levels, examinations, grades, school, teenagers

7 Days Left of the Holidays

Hi readers!

 

How are you all?  Life treating you well, I hope! 

 

I’ve tried to start this entry for what feels like a million times over the last few days.  I’ve started and deleted the paragraphs over and over.  So much has happened; I don’t know how and where to start.

 

I went bowling on Wednesday afternoon with some friends: Ross, Jennie, Christine, Alice and Liam.  I didn’t win a game, but it made a nice change to be out of the house. 

 

The only problem was it cost £11 for three games, which was a bit expensive, but we got a fourth game for free!

 

Then on Thursday, Margaret (my Community Support Worker) took me to the cinema to watch “Hairspray”.  I’ve waited ages to go to watch that movie. 

 

I thought it was a very good film about the racial equality of the 1960’s.  It was a musical based on a movie of the same name.  The songs were really catchy, and make you want to get up and dance.  John Travolta in drag is hilarious!!

 

John Travolta as Edna Turnblad, with his on-screen daughter Tracey (Nikki Blonsky).

 

I have an interview at school tomorrow afternoon.  I think the aim of the meeting is to discuss our subject choices and what to do now I’ve passed my AS exams.

 

I wouldlike to stay on in Sixth Form and continue to study ‘A’ Levels in English Literature and Health & Social Care.  I feel as if anything is possible now I have achieved my C’s, like I can do anything; I’m going for gold, LOL!  Wish me luck!

 

I can't believe it's the last week of the summer holidays.  I don't go back to school until the 10th/11th September.  It gives the new students a chance to settle in then.  Call me sad, but I'm actually looking forward to going back to school.  I'm a senior now, God, I feel old!  LOL!

 

Have a great day!

 

Tags: Comedy, Hairspray, John Travolta, Queen Latifah, Harvey Fierstein