Sucky Invention

I think not.

LifeStraw is the most brilliant invention I have come across in years.

It brings us one step closer to ending third world poverty, and that step is very large indeed.  LifeStraw is a filter which turns unsafe water into drinking water, safe for consumption.  I don’t know much about this yet, but what I do know sounds absolutely fantastic.

Major kudos to the developers of this project; let’s hope we can do more in future to help the third world.

Mind Boggling and Darn Annoying

I switched my computer on this morning just like I do every day.  Everything worked fine; the speakers played sound, the CD drive whirred.. but the monitor didn’t want to participate.  It’s light wasn’t on, the screen wouldn’t display any images and it looked completely dead, except the converter was lit up fine.  I have no idea why it’s doing this, but unless I either get it fixed or get a new monitor, my computer can’t be used.  Fortunately, I can use the laptop occasionally (as I am doing now), but the music I need for my class tomorrow and other bits and pieces I need are upstairs on my desktop and unaccessable.

Times like this I feel like giving up on technology and getting back into the days of pen and paper.

Welsh Line Dance Championships 2006 Review

I have returned, and I’ve brought a trophy back with me.  But before I tell you what placing the trophy states, I’ll give you an exciting report on the many events that occurred over the weekend.  None of them trouble-free.

It all started on Friday 22nd September.  After my parents recently purchased the new Toyota T180 Corolla Verso people carrier with a built-in DVD player and monitors on the backs of the headrests, I decided to drag a collection of 10 DVDs on the pleasant-sounding, seven hour car journey to Pontardawe, South Wales to give Ollie and I a bit of in-car entertainment.  All was going well until about 30 minutes into the drive, when we decided to watch the ever-confusing horror movie, Open Water.  I picked up the ten tonne manual for the DVD system – which was overflowing with patronising information – and read the instructions aloud for Ollie to follow.  Doing as told, he pressed the power button… and nothing happened.
So we decided to try and get a response from the monitors instead.  For about twenty minutes, we did as the manual insisted, but all to no avail.  Then I realised, “Oh smashing; a seven hour car journey with no entertainment”.  Me being me, I hadn’t bothered bringing any good CDs or magazines because I had relied completely on the DVDs.  The thing was, we couldn’t work out what we were doing – or not doing – that was so wrong.  My dad had a read of the manual and like us, couldn’t figure it out.  So he decided to give the Toyota dealer a phone call to ask about it.
He couldn’t be bothered to get his phone out, so he asked to borrow mine.  That was a mistake.  He doesn’t know the first thing about my gadgets and tech-toys, so giving him an MDA without a manual was.. brave.  Amazingly, he figured out how to turn it on; but the touch-screen baffled him.  He gave it straight back to me, told me to key in the number and just give it to him to speak on when it was dialling.  So I did just that.  As it started ringing, I shoved it in his hands… but he couldn’t work out which way up to hold it.  There I was reaching into the front of the car to show him how to hold it, my dad shouting at me for having such an ‘inappropriate phone’, and the guy on the end of the line wondering what was going on.  I tried to take the MDA off my dad, but he wouldn’t let go, and the phone ended up dropping onto the floor of the car, leaving us listening to a very confused car salesman asking what was going on.  Ollie was in stitches from laughing so much.

By the time we got to Wales, it was dark and we all felt like zombies from being in the car for so long and being forced to listen to mum’s Donny Osmond CD.  We’d hit rush hour on the motorway earlier on, so we’d been travelling for longer than expected and as a result, we all looked dead.  But it wasn’t over yet.  Oh no.
When we got to Pontardawe, we had to find our accommodation.  Wales is a beautiful country.. apart from at night.  I can tell you now, I have never been so scared.  We turned off the main road onto a little country pathway, surrounded by fallen trees from the storms (the weather was far from pleasant), black skies and unsettling shadows from the wildlife.  The road went upwards very steeply; it was like something out of Age of Empires because it was so dark, we literally couldn’t see anything until we got near enough to it for the headlights to light it all up – more road kept appearing out of nowhere.  We got lost on this scary road, looking for our rented cottage; so much so that my dad had to borrow my MDA to make another phone call, which just asked for trouble.

Saturday soon arrived, which meant an afternoon of watching the Pro-Am competition, and an evening social event.  The competition was of a very high standard and great to watch, and the social was quiet, but entertaining; and a great way to practise for the line competition the next day.  Not much else happened on the Saturday, except Ollie and I got seperated from my parents in the middle of a Welsh Tescos which was an experience to say the least.

Sunday morning came, and I was up bright and early at 7:30am, getting my hair and make-up done.  When we arrived at the competition, we met up with our friend and fellow competitor, Kym, and got our costumes on ready to go.  I danced my three routines with very little confidence as I was up against very, very good dancers, but still enjoyed the day, despite my nerves.  At 5pm,  the awards ceremony began.  I hadn’t been as nervous all day as I had been then; it was horrible.  Rachael announced my division, and I got more and more scared as names were called out – and they weren’t mine.  5th place went.. 4th place.. I bit my nails as I was awarded with the title of 3rd place.

After a tiring and eventful weekend, I’m now back at home, back to my schedule and back to blogging.  It’s nice to be back home and relaxing, but I really, truely had a great weekend, and want to thank my parents and Ollie for making it so special.

So Long, Farewell…

I’m off.

Not for long; I’ll return on Monday, September 25th, but it’s that time of year again! The Welsh Masters 2006 are taking place in Pontardawe, South Wales this weekend and I’m entering – even though I’ve only just been given new dances, I’m not confident with them yet, and I don’t know any of the Welsh people. But I’m sure we’ll still manage to have a great time. ‘We’ being Ollie, my parents and myself.

To be honest, I’m really looking forward to it – I loved it last year because although it was a small event, the atmosphere was great and everyone was up for it; that’s really what makes a competition worth attending. And the prizes were good.

Aside from that, I’m also going for work – I’m the new presenter of MIL videos and will be interviewing the ‘famous celebrities of line dance’ attending at Wales, and all future events. I’m a bit nervous, yes, who wouldn’t be; but it’ll be great fun especially as Ollie’s the cameraman and my boss. We do have a weird relationship – he’s my boss when it comes to this, but in pro-am, I’m the professional and he’s the amateur. Ah well, it’s nice to be able to do everything together so I’m not at all complaining.

So then, wish me luck! I’m seriously going to need it – something bad always happens to me at these events. Whether it’s because I miss the callbacks due to changing my costume and getting locked in the changing rooms or because my hair got caught in my glasses and I couldn’t see, something always manages to make my competing experience one not to forget.

Keep blogging, folks!

Sweet Sixteen? You’ve Gotta Be Kidding Me!

Age is more than just a number. Age is life’s way of teasing you.

I am so flipping cheesed off at the moment, because I’ve just missed a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see my all-time favourite band, Mint Condition perform live at the Jazz Cafe in London. I can’t even begin to explain how much I love these guys and their music, but anyone who knows me personally will understand.

The bit that frustrates me more than anything is that I could have gone last night when they were here. I wasn’t working, it wasn’t too far for me to travel (considering their usual performances are in Maryland, USA), tickets were affordable and they hadn’t sold out. So why didn’t I go?

You had to be eighteen years of age.
What on EARTH is that all about? I would have had my parents with me, and I’m not some immature little girl that would get herself drunk just to be ‘cool’. I wouldn’t drink anything other than lemonade anyway.

I know it sounds stupid, but going to that concert would have made my dream come true; the times I’ve sat and daydreamed about seeing Stokley and the crew perform live – even just for one song – and I was so near.. yet so far.

I channelled my frustration into – ironically – an old balloon from my 16th birthday last year, leaving a wimpish, orange, rubbery mess. Which really frightened the dog.

If anyone reading this was at that concert or has seen the Legends perform live before, please tell me what it was like; I’m desperate!

3DTV ‘Coming Soon’

I can’t wait to see this.

Different people say it’ll be around at different times – ranging from 3 years time to 20 years time – but whenever it comes, I’ll be in line to try it out.

The name pretty much sums it up; TV will be broadcast in 3D.  No prizes for guessing that one I’m afraid.  What with that and stereo surround sound, it really will be like being there.  Can you imagine watching Jurassic Park in your living room with all of that technology?  I’d be absolutely terrified and probably never enter the room again.

Can you imagine watching 3D football?

That really would bring the World Cup to life.

Genpets.com

Did you fall for it?

I must say, if I hadn’t been told that it was all fake, then I would have done.  Genpets make out to be ‘bioengineered buddies’; living creatures that are ideal as a child’s first “pet” or just a little bit of extra company.  I’ve always loved virtual pets since I was 8 and got my first Tamagotchi, and so this would have been a dream come true back then – even now, I’d buy one if they existed.

Although slightly creepy and looking like characters out of the alternate-virtual-reality game, Creatures, released back in 1997; they are very unique and almost impossible to believe.

Which is good really, since they don’t exist.

Have a play with the website and see whom you can get out of your friends to believe it.  Just don’t direct them to the gallery, because the picture of the kid opening one at Christmas is ever so slightly fake.

Dreams and Nightmares

Dreams are so bizarre, they worry me.

I know it’s common to have weird dreams and an overactive subconscious, but sometimes I can’t help but wonder if I’m just an exception.

The other night, I dreamt that the world was coming to an end because police discovered that hot air balloons actually contained little tiny people that fired bombs, and last night… well last night was probably the worst nightmare I’ve had in a while.

What happened?  Well I was at this very posh dinner party, full of people I didn’t know.  The owner of the building started showing me around and introducing me to some of the guests.. when Chris De Burgh pops up and says “Hello!”

Can you imagine waking up to that?

((PS. How scarily ironic is it that it says ‘dreams’ on the image I randomly came across?))

You Know You’re Old When…

…You’re celebrating your 25th Wedding Anniversary.

Happy Silver Anniversary to my parents, congratulations on putting up with each other for so long, not to mention putting up with me too.

Just goes to show you that arguements and disagreements really are the foundations of long-lasting relationships.

Whoever Said Practising Could Be Fun?

Oh, that’s right, no-one.

I’m going to Pontardawe, Wales on Friday for the Welsh Line Dance Championships, and with it being the first competition since Worlds, I now have two new routines to perform.  I only got one of them last week, so recently, I’ve really been knuckling down to get them drilled into my head.

But today, I think I pushed the boundaries a little too far.

I practised my cha-cha introduction to music about 70 times non-stop and can safely say that if anyone – anyone – plays the song to me now, I might do something I’d regret later.  Like install iTunes.

I have a two hour private lesson tomorrow to work on these routines, so I’ll hear the routine music all day beforehand practising for that lesson, and then all through the lesson itself.

Really makes me wonder why I didn’t take up flower arranging.