...where does this story go?

Where to start? I have so much to cover, but most of it seems to have taken place at weekends. I guess I'll just bullet point and hopefully won't miss anything!

• Soooooo... Got back from holiday in Sweden and Simon came to visit. Had the most wonderful, wonderful, wonderful time with Simon, Catherine, Christian and Brendan. The first day, Simon met me at work for lunch and a pot of tea, then in the evening we went for an amazing meal at this Thai place called Lemongrass. It was generally perfect and I don't think any of us wanted the night to end too early so we took a walk back to Cath's place for whisky and tea. ^_^
  
  The next night (and sadly, Simon's last - literally a flying visit), everyone came to our place and we cooked Flygande Jacob at Simon's request, spent the night watching How To Train Your Dragon and bits of Up. Everything was good. I miss Simon, always do, I really wish he was still living in Edinburgh.


• The following weekend, we organised a big cinema trip to see The Artist. Me, Annie, Christian, Catherine and Brendan. What a talking point! Amazing film. Went for a drink afterwards to discuss it, and generally another lovely, lovely night.


• Big stuff was going on at the end of my project with the Commission. Working with Dave directly was such awesome fun and it was pretty rewarding to watch everything pull together after so much work. Can officially say I directly organised lectures and exhibitions now. Very proud!


• So, the weekend after all the big project work, it was my birthday! Yay! I don't feel even remotely how a twenty-four year old 'should' feel, however that may be. My friends were the wonderful people they always are and I was treated to awesome things like a theatre trip to see The Brothers Davenport and Cath took me to see comedian Danny Bhoy on Sunday. Texts and cards from friends and family made me feel very happy, though it was a bit of a downer that Sarah didn't remember. Regardless, I generally had a brilliant day.


• I mentioned that I got a couple of interviews - and, of course, the interview for my new job! Three altogether, within one week. A couple of retail positions and then this one with the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh. I'm almost at the end of my first week and it's been good. Thrown in at the deep end on the first day and I've had to rapidly learn so much medical terminology, but everyone's been lovely (especially my new manager). I think I'll be happy here and the position is very flexible, so I'll be getting involved with such a wide variety of things. ^-^
  
  Though, having said that, I do miss the Commission. I became very attached to the place and even more attached to the people. I hope that I'll be able to stay in touch with them, it was a wonderful place to work.
   
• Aside from that? I guess just going on with things like the gym, making cinema trips, trying to learn a little more swing dance, started my Swedish course at Edinburgh University. Much gaming on Dungeon Defenders at Fergus' place, lol, been a long time since I was up at 4AM! And big phone dates with Ollie and Nimi which have been very much needed - I'm going to make an effort to arrange them more often. ♥


• I've got into researching my family history and Dad's been really supportive. It's great to get the chance to engage with him on a mutual subject, something we both enjoy and can explore together. Mum's been talking to me a lot more too. These things make me happy.


• Brendan's leaving Edinburgh soon. That makes me less happy. But I'm sure it's going to be a very worthwhile step for him to take and I know how much he wants to find work right now. Keeping my fingers crossed for him. Think we're going to see Of Mice and Men at the theatre as a going-away event. I've enjoyed living in the same city as B, going on these theatre and cinema trips. Makes me appreciate him a lot more - despite all his many faults! XD

So... that's much of what's been going on in my world. I'm glad that it's so positive for the most part. Been a perfect start to 2012 - I just wish other people's had been as good. My thoughts are with all of you going through these tough times.

Sleep well from me.

HAPPY NEW YEAR~~~!!!
Three New Year Facts:

1. Hogmanay is freakin' awesome. ON EVERY LEVEL! 80,000 people there and one single arrest for a minor disturbance. I've never known so much happy in one place!
2. Having my Lincoln housemates here is funky as original 70's soul music. Wish Pineapple, Nicky, and Andy could've been here too. Will hopefully be seeing those guys all together sometime this month, yaaaaaaay~! ^_^
3. This is the second year in a row I've welcomed in the New Year in an incredible way with incredible people - and especially with one incredible person. ^_______^
A massive thank you to seek_thereason, olliegami, and tych_lukin in particular, but also to Brendan, Simon and his family for joining us at the street party and playing random hilarious games while we waited for the countdown (that we subsequently missed...)

( Traditional New Year Survey! )

This year has flown by so fast... too fast. I can't comprehend how such a large chunk of this year has flown past me, practically unseen. I mean, I've been doing a lot, this has been a time of epic changes, and huuuge ups and downs... But, when I try and put a timescale on everything that's happened, it only feels like a month or two, not seven!

Anyhoo, I am still madly in love with my job. I've been there nearly a month already and while there's still some things I'm learning, I really feel comfortable and downright happy there! I've made some friends and had nice times hanging out in Princes' Street Gardens during sunny lunchtime breaks. We did a 15 hour shift the other day, which was painful but well-paid, and I got to see an opera (!!!!) in the Galleries, and it turned out to be pretty fun thanks to everyone there.
Living in Balerno is okay; wish the buses were a little more regular, but it sure is a step up from freakin' Barlow! I figure I'll find myself another place in a couple of months when I get the money together and when I know if I'll be staying in Edinburgh (i.e, have another job lined up in who-knows-where). It's really odd, I don't feel nervous about moving half way across the country any more now. Done it once, can do it again. And this has, ironically, turned out to be a fantastic experience. ^^';

I've only had a few 'down' days since being here, which are a little hard to handle as I don't really have anyone close enough to talk to freely, except Brendan, and sometimes I just don't feel right doing that. He's been great though - was over there last night and we made music and singing and ate pizza and it was just really, really great! I hope we get chance to do that more often, might see if I can go over after work every so often for music times. ^_^
Christian raised my spirits muchly the other day by trying out his new webcam! I was instantly much happier as soon as I saw his face again; I just miss him, I guess. That doesn't help keep the blues away. Buuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuut he's just booked a flight over for the 6th August so he's here for out one year anniversary! ^_____________^
I'm really looking forward to it. <3<3<3

Ollie's here a week today, which is something else I'm massively looking forward to! Discovered that I can get passes for free entry to many attractions in Edinburgh through work, so finances won't prevent me showing her the awesomeness of the city (which was something I was initially worried about). I hope the weather's good for it, though, fingers crossed it's raining itself all out now! Hope there's just one day of massive heatwave so we can go over to Portobello Beach (I seem to have developed a fondness for the sea in the last year. How curious!).
I just hope that having my old housemate here doesn't make me too nostalgic, else I'll be hard pressed to keep the blues away. I don't wanna miss people too much or it gets hard to be alone - does that make sense?! >_<';

On a slightly similar note, I had a dream last night that me and Saleimah lived together here in Edinburgh. It was sweet, but I felt pretty sad when I woke up...
Curious, the things your dreams remind you of.

I had my interview at the gallery a couple of hours ago - it was really short!
After the NRM, I thought it would be, like, an hour or something... but it was about 15 minutes. I had a chat with one of my interviewers afterwards while I was waiting for my passport to be photocopied and he said they'd had 380 applicants. *Dies*
How did I get an interview!??!? >_>
I think it went well but with so many people competing, I'm not keeping my fingers crossed. Apparently, I'll find out the week after next, which is when I'm hoping to hear back from Stockholm University too. I kinda hope I don't get both cos, well, first that's just greedy and secondly I don't wanna have to choose!!! I'm apparently not good with making life-altering decisions until I'm forced to.

Similarly...
Well, been talking to my aunt loads. It's so nice to have such positivity and support from someone in the family. I guess I'm only just starting to get my head around the fact that my mum's view of the family managed to twist my view of them all too. Janet and Ian really are such good people, I wish I'd made the effort to get in touch with them earlier - I certainly could have done with their support.
I had a cry on Brendan last night too about everything and I think I'm just gonna have to put a line under it all and say that my life is now one that doesn't consist of parents. It's doing nothing but hurting me and I can't afford the repeated set-backs.
Anything they want to know about my life from now on will have to be via Brendan or Grandma. No addresses, no emails, no phone numbers (if/when I change it).
It makes me sad that I've been forced to make this sort of decision, but... it just gets too much. And for seven years now, it's just been too long. I need to get on with my life, and if they won't let me, then they've sort of made the decision for me.

Enough of any of that negative from now on.
Besides, I've got one helluva lot going for me right now. Awesome friends (with long distance support, lol~), awesome boyfriend, awesome practically in-laws, decent degree, job potential, education potential, and some really amazing travelling experiences right now.
So, on that note, I'm gonna grab a sandwich and go walking on the hills cos the sights are too stunning to miss on a day like this!

Okies, well, after three days...
I FINALLY MADE A NEW LIVEJOURNAL LAYOUT!!!! ^____________^

It's, like, the third this year, but seeing as the wonderful magicsfiend gave me a 6 month paid account for Christmas, I felt a special renovation was in order! *Squeezes Re*
Thank you, honey! I sooooo appreciate this. Think I might get addicted though - d'oh! ^^';

Only problem I'm having with the layout is the bottom background picture and what resolution/size to make it. Different screens mean people see different things. Arg! >_<
But other than that... what do you guys think?


Anyway, off to bed to sleep peaceful sleep and dream happy dreams and wake up to a happy day and celebrate Carro's birthday.
Night night, world~!

So, stupid Facebook is stupid?
I've been randomly banned, and the haven't replied to my complaint all day. Guh!
I wish I knew what I did for them to deem it necessary to remove everything I ever said, did, or will do on the whole damn site. ¬_¬';
*Le sigh~!*

Ah well.
Me and Seek keep looking at cakes. I don't know why. ^-^';;;
I found this one, and it makes me think of Nicky and Andy - and their 'Action Wedding'!!!

Fruits Basket is soooooo cute and squishtastic!
I've actually managed to read a whole volume too.
I mean. That's not really so impressive.
But it is for me? ^^';
*Epic fails at reading manga*

Lots of good new music out at the moment!
Imogen Heap and Maximo Park have new songs...
I like music.
I played piano up at my old uni on Tuesday for aaaaages. It was awesome!
Met Jodie while I was up there too, we had very deep discussions. Bit shocked about some things we talked about. It was really nice though, I really like her, and she's been... so damn great.
<3

Things in the house are finally starting to move.
Chris is moving out, Ollie's moving in, Sarah's moving into the boys'.
Dan can has girlfriend, whoop~! So happy for him. ^_^

Uhm.
Work stuff... is going okies.
I'd like to be paid now, thank you. ^_^';;;;;;
Gonna have to do some debating on Tuesday as to whether or not I'm going to stay or go back to job-huntin'.
I'm also going to have to debate which I'd prefer. >_<';

It's only 18 days until Christian's here now.
Thank God.
I miss him.
He's teaching me Swedish - slowly~!
I appreciate it.
And the amount of time he's willing to put into all of this.
Thank you. <3

Uhm...
Yeah, so, I'm still alive and hi~! 
Now, g'night, world.
Sleep well~!

As I said in the title...

Here is my epic list of doom!!!
It's my 101 list that Ollie's also got on a roll, and maybe a few other peoples will too.
Anyway, I'm really looking forward to it!
I haven't put anything on there that I don't actually want to do - for example, I saw one person that said they wanted to try and spend 48 hours without any form of human contact. I mean, that to me is just insanity! People do that in prison as a form of punishment! >_>
Crazy fools...
Anyway, so, there it is.
I've made sure that if I don't finish any, I'll be donating money too, so either way it's win-win. ^_^

Ehm...
Seeing as I'm procrastinating once more, I'll update the millions of things that have happened in this last week and a bit.

( Many A Tale Lies Beneath  )
Okies, I'm gonna procrastinate some more by grabbing a shower, sooooooooooo, buh-bye for now~!

Hot chocolate.
I'm drinking hot chocolate.
I don't even like hot chocolate.
Or at least, I thought I didn't.
It's quite yummy actually.

Anyway, point is, changing my mindset a bit.
Need to get out of the thinking that if something's been one way for a period of time, it's not gonna be different, ever.
Mmmmhm.

In other news...
I went up to the Christmas Market yesterday!
I hadn't really planned to, as I'm on a strict budget and obviously not really so much in the mood to.
But that's why I went.
Ollie, Dan, and Chris came too.
I had a really, really, really good day.
Dan put on a silly medieval hat and had his photo taken with a medieval randomer~!
And we munched down on yummy Dutch pancakes.
And went on bumper cars!!!!!!! Which rocked, although was not too dissimillar to torture.

I love the Christmas Market in all its festive, overpriced glory. ^_^

When me and Ollie got back, we put up our Christmas tree too. It's beautiful, and very bright.
Won't need to use the actual light when that thing's turned on!!!
Still need to put up the baubles, though.

Also...
Oh xkcd. How you make me lol.

Anyhoo's Nicky's coming over in a bit, sooooo, I'd best dash.

Right.

I've got so used to helping out Chris that now I'm trying to stop, I don't know what to do with myself.
And, well, I've got this 'problem' where I have to be helping people or else I feel useless and get blah.
Anyway, I sorted myself out.
Helped Dan with his CV, helped Sarah with her uni applications (though, I'm not sure how much use I was... sorry, hun! Difficult mums, eh?), got my ass to the work meal and got chatting a lot to Tracy and Sam, and made sure me and Chris are okies.
He doesn't hate me for doing this, which is, well... a very big plus. ^_^';

Well, to actually explain what's happening now...

• Chris has moved out of 'our' house at my request. He's moving into the lads', which financially makes it much easier for all of them, and me.
• Ollie is moving into this house, whereby we shall live by anime standards galore~!
• Me and Chris are still together and - as far as I can see - our relationship is already benefiting from the removal of certain aspects of our lives.
• My friends are ace and amazing.
• My Dad is fantastic, more than I can describe.

In other news - cos the world really doesn't revolve around me, now my drama is over - during my brief period of time I spent at home, I got to see Nimi.
To be honest, I can't even begin to explain how much she's been through and how strong she's been and just dnofsdkladnsawow.
The radiotherapy mask scared the shit out of me. I'm so proud that she's just "getting on with it", as she described.
I love my wife.
I hope she grows up beautiful and strong, and meets a lovely guy who'll look after her, and have lots of beautiful little Nimi babies~!

On a very silly random note, how strange is this... My favourite number is 7. I asked him to move out on the 7th. Me and Chris had been living together for roughly 700 days. We 'broke up' at 7pm. It's really silly. But oooooooh, spooky?!

Now, I've gotta get my room sorted, cos I'm knackered and well... it's a mess. ¬_¬';;;

Whoop whoop!
Pink and blonde hair for teh win!
It looks ace.
My productivity for the day.

But I still haven't written any of my essay of doom.

Lalalalala~!
^-^