Rachel Ellen

Tuesday, 20 May 2014

Week Update

Wow I've been so rubbish at blogging! I've been super busy since my last post (and for a good few weeks before that) But I don't really have a lot to talk about. My most important news is finishing second year of uni, finally! I was so excited I couldn't get my snapchat picture the same way as the writing, useless!

After my permanent state of panic and 15,000 words in 5 different assignments, I finally got there (and yes, I have used a hair grip as a paperclip on one of my assignments)

I've been on a few walks, and have no pictures because I'm an even worse blogger than I originally thought, but they are places I will probably go back to this summer. I promise to be better with pictures, so look out for future posts about different parks and lakes I might be going to.

On Sunday I went to a place called Gordon Riggs (a garden centre with a little cafe) with my mum, dad and niece. Me and my Mum shared such a nice afternoon tea:

it had the little buckets of sauce, a plant pot of salad and it was super tasty.

So now, the brief weekend of sun in England is over, I'm back in work four days a week - no rest for the wicked - and hopefully I can get a lot more blog posts fired at you

thanks for reading

Rachel xx

Monday, 12 May 2014

review 16:34

Obligatory McBusted Post

by Rachel

SPOILER WARNING!!!

If you are going to see McBusted soon don't look at this blog post, let yourself have the beauty of a surprise!

I went to see them on Saturday (10th) of May, the middle of three consecutive Manchester Phones 4 U arena shows.

What I loved about this McBusted concert was that it wasn't just the music, it was a whole show, from Dougie's inflatable balls to floating triple breasts, Matt's wedding dress, the T-shirt guns and a topless Harry you were entertained the whole way through. They had VTs of the Busted press conference, Hillbilly McBusted, Tom's wedding speech they had an "Intergalactical frisbee" :

Short clip of Star Girl.

Following the first VT of the Busted split, they had a short Back To The Future Spoof, then bangs and fire and there a Delorean on stage, Mcfly fly out of the floor and Matt and James leave the Delorean. Needless to say I've never been so excited (Yes I am 20, yes I felt about 10!)

They even had a Jackson 5 cover and Danny, Matt and James had a little dance routine which you can just about see in this video:

On this show they did, what they told us was the first time at a show, the human pyramid:

There were certain songs I wish they'd played, but of course after a show like that I can't really complain

I think it's safe to say this is one of the most talked about tours in the UK this year, whether you like it or not I bet you've spoken about it!

(Triple-breasted women, you get it?)

There's a very fulfilled 8 year old me, and an even happier 20 year old! I think the pre-show picture shows enough

As for the "To Be Continued" at the end, I have to say I'm super excited.

Thanks for reading

Rachel xx

Tuesday, 6 May 2014

lifestyle 18:18

Nostalgia for ... Uniform?

by Rachel

There's actually a lot of things I miss from school - I actually had quite a good high school experience overall. There are many things I don't miss of course.

But one thing I definitely didn't think I'd miss was the uniform, not the actual uniform because I mean, is there anything less flattering than these jumpers?

There's such a limited supply of pictures of me in my school uniform and I don't really know what's going on here but I know there's a skateboard involved - it was like 5 years ago!

And as for tying a tie everyday, I can't say I did a particularly good job:

This is from leavers day, I didn't always have writing on my shirt!

But surely I'm not the only one who misses waking up in a morning and knowing what I will be wearing already, rather than getting to university and catching a reflection of myself and wondering how - even at 8 o'clock - I deemed my outfit acceptable. This along with trying to not wear the same thing too often, and hoping nobody notices if you wear the same thing twice in one week "it has been washed honestly!" (well I think)

Of course there are many other things I miss about school but this is one thing I think about a lot!

thanks for reading

Rachel xx

Friday, 2 May 2014

lifestyle 13:45

Blog Neglect

by Rachel

Recently I've been completely neglecting my blog and I'm sure any other students at this time of year will understand why. Deadlines. A word that has "dead" in it can't possibly be a good thing and only makes everything worse.

As usual I went home for Easter with the eagerness and optimism of a young school girl "I'll get so much done over Easter, I'll concentrate more at home, I'll have everything handed in early" But predictably, two weeks later I had done nothing and panic set in. Anyone who knows me knows how much I've been stressing, but I still managed an impromptu trip to York last Friday night. Unfortunately it wasn't a cultural trip so I don't have pictures of any of the beautiful things there. I decided on the train back that's when I would take some pictures, which are mostly window reflection!

I don't claim to be a good photographer, especially after 3 hours sleep!

Other than that my life has consisted of 50% uni work, 40% sleep and the last 10% is probably eating! This is my list of things I need to do, which does have a lot of things crossed out (makes me feel slightly better)

Yes they are all colour coded to the module, and yes, one is completely ticked off!! (only 4 more to go)

I'm actually starting to feel like I can see the light at the end of the tunnel and then I realise it isn't as bright as I thought it would be, maybe because English summers are full of rain and not sun? Or maybe it's final year of uni looming in the distance.

Good luck to anyone else with "dead"lines

thanks for reading

Rachel xx

Wednesday, 23 April 2014

list 21:59

Small Achievements

by Rachel

Sometimes during this time of year in Education when there are so many deadlines and exams and future choices all piling into you, it's so easy to forget the good things.

I've always tried to make myself to appreciate the little things, those things that might not affect your long term plans but can just make you feel good.

I remember about at the age of 13/14 I made a list of top 5 bands that I decided I HAD to see, I figured I should start to be picky about my the most important bands to me at that time so I didn't end up missing out. So here is a list of those bands and how many times I have actually been to see them

1. You Me At Six - 3 times
2. Cobra Starship - twice
3. Paramore - once
4. All Time Low - twice
5. Mcfly - once (but a second coming up soon with McBusted)

The bands aren't the important part of this post, what is important is I managed to complete a young me's dream, more than once! Not once was I disappointed earlier.

What I take from this is to give myself achievable goals (although at the time I didn't think they were achievable!) and they will boost your mood. Here's a few pictures, I know the quality is horrific but these were 2008/2009 not top range phones but you can still tell it's a gig!

I'd love to know some of your small achievements, no matter how daft they sound!

thanks for reading

Rachel xx

Thursday, 17 April 2014

food 15:28

Eating Problems!

by Rachel

I'm posting this on a whim, hoping I am not the only one like this but I have to say I'm the first one to jump up if I hear the words "FREE FOOD" I always wonder how I'm not huge!

Last night was one occasion at a pub quiz, me and my friend didn't actually take part in the quiz but half way through sandwiches were brought out for the people taking part in the quiz. I'm sure this shouldn't have been my first thought but it was the first thing out of my mouth "I would have done the quiz if I knew there was free food!" Anyone would think I've been brought up having to fight for my food.

We were then told we could have the leftover sandwiches which resulted in this snapchat

Definitely way to excited at the concept of the sandwiches.

Maybe it's the fact I'm a student and live of very basic meals most of the year, that as soon as I hear "food" my ears perk up. Maybe it's that I've grown up with three brothers, eat your food fast or don't eat!

And then the instant wins at McDonalds, which I mentioned in my last post, getting a Mcflurry as well as my meal with the excuse "It's to get more stickers" I'm destined to be enormous.

Maybe one day I'll gain that politeness that many people have of "Oh no I'll be fine I don't need any food" rather than "I'll eat everything in sight!" (and I blame my see through leggings on the shop, definitely not the size of my arse...)

I like to think there are more of you like me who completely embarrass themselves at the concept of free food, but maybe it's only me

thanks for reading

Rachel xx

Sunday, 13 April 2014

lifestyle 23:26

Animal-Packed Weekend

by Rachel

My weekend has been filled with animals - perfect weekend for me!

Firstly on Saturday after a free McDonalds breakfast (those Monopoly stickers are both the best and worst thing in my life right now), my boyfriend and I went to a local Garden Centre called All-In-One to look at the animals, because that's what a 20 and 21 year old do with their Saturdays...

I just love the way this Hamsters fallen asleep, doesn't look the most comfy but I bet she/he's happy!

This is where I left Andrew whilst I walked around, the indoor carp pond, he does a lot of fishing so apparently likes watching carp swim around. They are pretty cool though, some have such nice scale patterns and you can buy food to feed them.

And today (Sunday) after picking my niece Bella up and doing a bit of food shopping, we nipped up to Bleakholt Animal Sanctuary, now if you don't know about this place check out the website here. It is a charity for animals needing homes, but you can go up and have a look at them all. I would love to adopt them all but my situation right now means I can't. This is one of the many dogs up at the sanctuary, Ron, one of the few that came and posed for a picture!

I'm gutted this last one didn't turn out better, this is Mary. She was eating and I called her name for a picture and she looked straight at me! Goat model material (please tell me goat models exist!

Quite a long picture heavy post today, but look at all the animals!

Thanks for reading

Rachel xx