LBLC: Three Things That Made Me Happy Today

Hello!

Last night, the lovely Louise from the LBLC decided that it would be a nice idea to take a moment today to blog about 3 things that have made us happy. It's been a strange day today, so mine may sound a little bit weird, but they made me happy all the same. 

1. My Dad was off sick from work today (told you they would sound a little weird haha!). Although he was poorly, and I am headed the same way, it was so lovely to have company. We watched Dark Shadows, which I was surprised he even chose to watch, let alone like! Then we put Snow White and The Huntsman on, and I fell asleep. Whoops. It was nice though. 

2. My new Skullcandy headphones are amazing. I'm cheating a wee bit with this one, as I bought them last week, but was using them at 2am (which is today!), and the quality is fab. 

3. I have some lovely lovely friends. To CY, KT, LL, KH, RO'B, SK and AH, thank you for listening to my ramblings and ravings. You all help to keep me afloat, and I am so grateful for you all. 

So there are my three happies of the day. As this is a happy post, everything else today is irrelevant. 

If you have three happies you want to share, please link me to them - I'd love to have a read :)

Festive Favourites!

Deck The Halls With Boughs Of Holly, Fa-La-La-La-La-La-La-La!

It's 8 Days until Christmas, and the LBLC are feeling festive. So lovely Louise decided a Festive Favourites post was in order. Which makes me happy. I bloody LOVE Christmas! It's so beautiful, colourful and bright, and I take huge amounts of pleasure in watching other people open their gifts. I love the smiles on their faces! 

So without further ado, here are my...

Favourite Christmas Carol

I am not a religious person, but there is something about "O Come All Ye Faithful" which resonates with me. It's hauntingly beautiful, and one day I would love to go to a big carol concert and hear it. 

Favourite Christmas Song

Now this is a tough one! I am a mega fan of Christmas songs. I've had the music channels on pretty much every day since the 1st December! I think I can narrow it down to three. Which is not the objective here at all. I fail heh. Still. 3 you will get!

Darlene Love - All Alone On Christmas

It's totally underrated, and makes me feel so festive! 

Queen - Thank God It's Christmas

I love Queen, and this is a corker. I haven't seen much of it on the music channels this year though :(

Slade - Merry Xmas Everybody

This song is very bittersweet for me. I've loved it since I was a little girl. My family are all very into Christmas, and none more so than my Uncle Nick. He was Mr Christmas. It took him days to decorate the house, and it always looked amazing. This was his favourite. We lost him to cancer in 2006, but I think of him every time I hear it. 

Favourite Christmas Film

National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation. It doesn't matter how many times I see it, it leaves me in hysterics! 

Favourite Christmas Tradition

When my brother and I were small, the "fairies" used to come overnight and decorate the house for Christmas. On the tree, there was a Robin. He used to watch us, and on Christmas Eve he would fly off to Father Christmas to tell him if we had been good or not. It was an inspired idea on my parents' part, as it made sure we were good in December! One year, they forgot to take him off. Oh the trauma!! We were inconsolable thinking Father Christmas wouldn't come! Now I decorate the tree, and the Robin still watches to make sure everyone is good. And if they are, he flies away on Christmas Eve ;)

Favourite Christmas Present

This is another toughie! As a little person, it would have to be my pram. It was burgundy and beautiful. I was so proud, strutting up and down the street outside our flat! It's on video somewhere *cringe*. As a more grown up person, it would have to be my bottle of Chanel No.5. I felt truly grown up and sophisticated! 

Favourite Christmas Craft

It is only this year that I have started a craft. I always thought I was hopeless at anything crafty, but this year I have taken up crochet and I'm really enjoying it. I am working on Christmas presents at the moment - almost done though! 

Favourite Christmas Food

I love ALL THE FOOD! Haha! I have to go with the Turkey here. My Dad randomly watched a Delia Smith programme years and years ago, on preparing a turkey. He's done it her way ever since, and it is beautiful. And artery clogging! Nom. 

Favourite Christmas Recipe

Again, Delia's Christmas Turkey. Line a tin with foil. Stuff the bird at both ends, one with sausagemeat and one with sage and onion. Smother it with a slab of butter, and cover it in nice cuts of bacon. Build a foil tent over the top, and put it in the oven on a slow heat overnight on Christmas Eve. When we get up in the morning, the smell is divine! We take the bacon off mid morning and munch on that, then the oven is turned up ready to finish it off. It is so flavourful and tender and yummy!

Favourite Christmas Drink

I can't drink alcohol, so my favourite soft drink is J20 Glitter Berry. I can't get enough of the stuff! It's so pretty as well. I like glitter! A special mention also goes out to Orange Hot Chocolate and Mint Hot Chocolate. Lovely stuff. 

So there you have my festive favourites! I would love to hear yours; if you are taking part in this tag, leave a comment with the URL and I'll be sure to stop by! 

I Love Autumn Tag

I have been tagged by the lovely Keshia at Kesizzle's Korner in a post to tell you what I love about Autumn. I cannot lie, I am not Autumn's biggest fangirl. It heralds the fact that Winter is Coming. Eep. There are some things I like though. So without further ado...

1. Favourite Autumn Lip Product?

I am not a major user of lip colours, so my main product is lip balm,to stop chapped lips as the weather gets colder and windier. I used to use Honey Trap by Lush, which I adore, but I'm on the hunt for something a bit less expensive but still animal friendly. Any recommendations?

2. Favourite Autumn Nail Colour?

I don't usually stick to seasons when it comes to Nail Polish. If I fancy wearing a certain colour I will, whether it is in season or not haha! Rebel! However, I liked wearing Color Club - Sparkle and Soar as my Halloween week polish. It is a beautiful bright orange with a golden shimmer through it, which suited Halloween orange but also Autumn leaves. Berry Smoothie by George at Asda is also a lovely polish which suits the end of Autumn and beginning of Winter. 

3. Favourite Autumn Candle Wax Tart?

I am not really allowed to burn candles at home, so I have an electric wax tart burner. I am currently burning a Cherry Cola tart from Candlewick Greens which is lovely, but once it is spent then I am planning to move on to more seasonal scents - Christmassy smells, Cherry Pie, Shortbread... Mmmm... The only downside is, these tarts are so strongly scented that they take forever to burn out!

5. Favourite Autumn Drink?

Hot Chocolate. With cream and marshmallows. Preferably with a shot of orange syrup as well. Yum! It is lovely and relaxing. Soothes and warms you up when you've been out in the cold. Lovely! 

6. Favourite Autumn Scarf or Accessory?

I have a lovely scarf from Tesco with owls on, which I really love. I am wearing it a lot, trying to save my knitted scarves and bits until it's really cold. It's warm enough without being suffocating, meaning I can wear it indoors and outdoors. Lovely jubbly. 

7. Favourite Autumn Hair Style?

I don't tend to change my hair for the seasons. It is usually down and straight. Exciting huh?!

8. Favourite Autumn Activity?

I like going to Garden Centres with my Dad to see what new Christmas decorations are out there each year. Going to see the pretties has been a tradition since I was a small thing, and it doesn't change! I love it. 

9.  Favourite Thing About Autumn?

I like the colours the leaves turn before they drop. The beautiful shades of orange, red, yellow and gold. They reach such beautiful heights before they die off, it is a bit melancholy really. 

10. Best Autumn Memory?

When I was smaller, and before we got the huuuuuge shed that now takes up a big chunk of the garden, we used to have lots of people over for fireworks. It was always a fun evening. One of my favourites was probably totally not safe, but still makes me chuckle. The men used to compete with each other as to who could bring the biggest firework... take from that what you will ;)! One year there was a firework that had multiple single shots, over 100 of them. Only, it was lit, and they all went off together. There was a huge bang, and bits of plastic and paper EVERYWHERE. We were still finding bits two or three years later. It still makes us laugh even now! 

11. Hottest Autumn Trend?

I am really liking the baroque printed skinny jeans around at the moment. So much so, I bought a pair yesterday. I haven't tried them on yet though. Also, the knitwear trends are amazing this year! I have a grey jumper with a penguin on which I adore. 

12. Tag 4 Favourite Bloggers!

4 of my fave bloggers have already been tagged, so I only have one more - the lovely Allison!

So that's my Autumn post done! Tell me what you love about Autumn - feel free to use the tag but leave me a link so I can read your favourites! 

Nostalgia Q&A: A Brief Journey Through The Childhood Of Aporia

It's been a long time since a joint LBLC post, and I have to say that the theme of this one is probably my favourite so far! 

"There is no land like the land of your childhood"

- Michael Powell

"We carry our childhood with us"

- Gary D Schmidt

"If you carry your childhood with you, you never become older"

- Tom Stoppard

I have never wanted to grow up. I still love the things I loved as a child, and I revisit them every now and then. Especially when I'm feeling low - they brighten my day and put a smile on my face. It's really exciting to be able to share them with you! So without further ado... welcome to the favourites of my childhood! 

Books

I was a huge reader as a child. I worked my way through so many books, spending hours in the library choosing them. It has been really hard to narrow this category down! I've chosen 5, but there are many many more...

The Magic Faraway Tree by Enid Blyton

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl

(Sweet Valley High) Return of the Evil Twin by Francine Pascal

What Katy Did by Susan M Coolidge

White Boots - Noel Streatfeild

There are so many more I wanted to include in this list! I have a lot of them on my E-Reader, and I have a feeling I will be revisiting them soon! 

TV Programmes

I had, and still have, a HUGE love for Rainbow. I collect Zippy memorabilia! It was my absolute favourite, and still brings a smile to my face when I see it now. 

Other favourites included:

Fun House

The Crystal Maze

The Raggy Dolls

Spot the Dog

Knightmare

It occurred to me recently that my love for The Raggy Dolls has a huge amount of irony. There is a character called Lucy who is made with faulty thread, which means her arms and legs fly off at random intervals. Sound familiar? Bendy readers will get this one! 

Music

As a tiny thing, I had a real thing for Rick Astley's Never Gonna Give You Up. As I got older, like Sizzle and Louise I got very into the Spice Girls. Who Do You Think You Are was my top Spice Girls song! 

Other favourites of mine were:

A1 - Ready Or Not

B*Witched - C'est La Vie

5ive - Keep On Movin'

Bon Jovi - It's My Life

Texas - Summer Son

Nowadays my taste has completely changed, but when I hear these I still sing along!

Films

I was a big Disney fan, but my favourites are not what you would usually expect - Mary Poppins and The Sword In The Stone are my top two. Closely followed by Robin Hood and The Rescuers! I was not a huge Princesses girl - I enjoyed them but they weren't my favourites. 

5 more films I loved as a kid:

Willy Wonka and The Chocolate Factory (Gene Wilder is amazing!)

Honey I Shrunk The Kids

Short Circuit 2 (I sobbed when they beat him up!)

The BFG 

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang

Bands

I was a big Spice Girls fan. They were the first band I saw live, supported by Cleopatra (Comin' Atcha!). I LOVED Take That, but never got the chance to see them live back then (yes, I sobbed my heart out when they split). I did see Boyzone live with my cousin and her friend, but I don't really remember much, as I was very poorly at the time. As I got older, Westlife came along, but when I hit 15 I started listening to Kerrang, and my music tastes changed completely. System of a Down were one of my favourites to begin with, and then I was introduced to The Wildhearts. Love at first riff!

Magazine/Comic

I started off with The Animals Of Farthing Wood. Every week I would look forward to it arriving, and devouring it eagerly as soon as it came in. I remember once being in bed, it was still daylight and I was happily rereading an issue, when my dad heard me turn the pages from outside my door. I got into a lot of trouble for not going to sleep! As I got older, I moved on to Mizz, but that didn't last long, and I moved away from magazines until I got older and into some real trash! 

Games

The first console we had was a Sega Mega Drive, and I still have it. My favourite game of all time is Castle of Illusion. It was the only game I could play better than my brother could, and I can speed run it on normal difficulty in 30 minutes! 

More games I love(d):

Sonic The Hedgehog ("up, down, left, right, A, start" anyone?)

Columns (2 player Flash mode - addictive!)

True Pinball on PS1 - the Viking table was the best!

Crash Bandicoot on PS1

Chartbusters (an awesome Board Game based on the Music Industry)

Clothes

Once I was old enough to choose what I wore, I was a total tomboy. I refused all dresses and skirts, wrapped myself up in joggers, sweatshirts, polo shirts, football shirts... As time went by I mellowed it a bit, but followed the crowd - denim jackets with hoodies, Nickelson polo shirts *cringe*. I migrated from joggers into jeans, and then at 15 I moved into full on "grunger" fashion. Huuuuuuge wide legged jeans, band tees and hoodies, and black vest and strap tops.

Subject At School

I was a bit of a school nerd, I absolutely loved it. My favourite subject was Drama. I loved how I could express myself, have fun and just let loose. I was a big fan of English too - it involved reading! 

Food

One of my favourite meals as a kid was Dippy Egg and Marmite Soldiers. I still love it today, I find it really comforting. Grillsteak, Egg and Chips was another meal I loved too. 

Sweet(s)

I used to love going to the shop at the bottom of the road and getting some penny sweets! Gummy cherries, milk bottles, jazzies... but I loved Freddos and Tazos too. There began my chocolate love affair. Also, Sherbet Dipdab, Parma Violets and Fizzers used to come back with me in my little paper bag!

Hobby

My main hobby was reading. I used to spend hours in the Library after school (there was a time when I had no friends whatsoever, so books became my friends), immersing myself into a fictional world. I tried gymnastics, but was absolutely awful at it, ending up in a lot of pain (now I know why!). I tried to learn the recorder, but that didn't last long. I was fairly useless at hobbies, except for my reading. The only outdoor thing I enjoyed was a good game of Kerby. I didn't enjoy getting lumped with the ball running back to safety though! 

So there you have a quick look back through the childhood of Aporia. I could have gone on forever! I would love to read more Nostalgia posts, so if you have done one, please leave a link to it in the comments -  I always read and reply to them. 

Also, don't forget to check out the nostalgic posts from the other LBLC ladies:

Louise  Keshia  Karen  Rachelle

Seven Deadly Sins, Aporia Style

Hello Everyone!

It's time for another LBLC joint post - long overdue in fact!

Keshia came up with the idea for this post - to tell you all about our Seven Deadly Sins. An awesome topic. So without further ado...

Pride

I am incredibly proud of my first ever crochet project. I picked up a hook at the beginning of the year, as a trial to see whether it would help to keep my hands and fingers active and stop them seizing. I was quite surprised at how quickly I picked the basics up, and when my Mum asked me to make her a blanket, I threw myself into it. It has kept me active but does cause some pain after a while, so it has taken me the best part of 6-8 months to complete. But I have completed it. My Mum loves it, and has taken it away with her for her camping trip at the Great Dorset Steam Fair this week. I am incredibly proud that I took on quite a mammoth task for my first project, and it didn't beat me! 

Envy

I am envious of absolutely everybody who is currently in Weymouth. I've mentioned this far too many times on this blog, but it is my happy place, and I would love to be there every waking minute of my life. It holds many happy memories for me, and I hope that one day it will hold many more. 

Wrath

I thought a lot about this one. I get angry at a lot of things, some trivial, some more serious. Which should I put here? I think one of each.

Trivial - People emptying crisp packets into their mouth. It just triggers something in my brain which really makes me irrationally angry!

Serious - Since becoming more incapacitated by my EDS, I have been granted a Blue Badge by the local council. When I turn up to my local GP Surgery, and see a car parked in the disabled bay with NO badge displayed, I get incredibly angry. The lack of parking there means that if I cannot get in the disabled bay, I need to park over the road, which is not a distance I am able to travel. The disabled spaces are for BLUE BADGE HOLDERS. Not for someone who just feels like parking there because they don't want to park across the road. By doing that, you are making an already difficult life more challenging. Don't be a prat. Think about why those spaces are there, and how so many of the people who use them would give anything to be able to park across the road and walk into somewhere without a care in the world. 

Sloth

I am absolutely awful at putting clean clothes away. It is a horrible habit, and one I really need to get out of. They are piled on my bed, I move the pile to somewhere else so I can get into bed... then I grab them off of the pile. My Mum has attempted to counteract this by getting me some plastic storage for my downstairs room (I haven't been able to get upstairs since Feb), and arranging it all by section. I have been good so far. I must not be lazy!

Lust

I have always wanted a black diamond ring. Like this one. 

Avarice

Cosmetics. Nail Polish in particular. I have an insane amount of it! There are so many pretties! 

Maybe wool too. My stash is quite impressive!

Gluttony

Lucky Charms cereal. Oh I cannot get enough of this stuff. It's sooo good. I'm so pleased it's becoming more available in the UK again, as the prices are coming down a bit. It's just awesome. I like to eat the cereal bits first, then have all the charms at the end. Yum!

So there you have it - the Seven Deadly Sins of Aporia. Make sure you check out the sins of Keshia, Karen, Rach and Louise!

The Monthly Round Up - July

Hello Everyone!

Firstly, this round up will be different in format from June's one, as my laptop Ruby was wiped to try and rid it of the nasty virus. It has been repaired (huzzah to Dr Bro and Dr Dad!), but all my old files are not yet transferred back over. Next month will be service resumed!

Secondly, this is spectacularly late. Whoops! I apologize for this, but I have been working bloody hard on my crochet project. It is onto the final stage now, hooray! 

So without further ado, here is my monthly round up for July!

Read: Reviews. Many reviews. I have not really been reading books recently, probably due to my crocheting!

Watched: Breaking Bad. It took me a while to jump on the Walter White bandwagon, but I am ADDICTED. Upto series 3, yay Netflix!

Listened: I lost all my music when Ruby went down, so not much during the day, but I've been listening to Kerrang Radio when I'm in bed. 

Most Used Beauty Product: Fortune Cookie Soap Whipped Creams again! Can't get enough of them. 

Ate: Barbeque. Thanks to the stunning weather! 

Drank: Dr Pepper. Ice cold. Mmmm... What's the worst that can happen?

Did: LOTS of crocheting. 

Went: To hospitals quite a bit. More importantly, to finally see Bon Jovi, in Hyde Park. Amazing!

Favourite New Thing: My Sugar Skull earrings, from Punky Pins. A surprise present from the Uberman, who is now extremely proud of his ninja boyfriend skills!

Favourite Photo: 

All but one of the blanket squares laid out ready for edging! This photo is to show me which order I need to stitch them together in :)

The ABC Of Me

Hello Everyone!

The Lovely Karen over at Too Dull To Blog has tagged me, to tell you about myself using the alphabet. This sounded a bit daunting, until I realised the topics were already defined. Huzzah! My brain is not coping too well in this heat, so having the framework set out makes me a happy Aporia! 

So...

A for Attached? 

I am indeed! Uberman and I are approaching our 6th year together. He makes me ridiculously happy!

B for Best Friend? 

I am lucky to be able to say I have two amazing families, both of whom I class as my Best Friends, and my Uberman as well. I also have Cassie and Sophie, who I love to bits. 

C for Cake or Pie? 

Oh cake wins this every time. I do love cake. If it wasn't so hot, I'd get someone to help me make one later (I'm not allowed to be let loose in the kitchen alone. I break things (including myself!), and generally cause a disaster zone.

D for Day of Choice?

I think my favourite day is Friday. It means the weekend is here, and that means time with my Uberman and my Families. 

E for Essential Item?

Hmmm... I don't want to say my mobile phone... so I will say... erm... oh bugger. Mobile it is. I have a terrible fear of being without it - if I was to fall and hurt myself where nobody was around, and I didn't have it, all hell would break loose. So it goes everywhere with me. Even to the loo! 

F for Favourite Colour?

My favourite colour is Turquoise. I have flitted around the colour wheel as I've grown up, but it has been Turquoise for several years now. It's such a beautiful colour. 

G for Gummy Bears or Worms?

Bears! I'm not keen on the worms, as they tend to go a bit slimy. Bears are the best. Yum!

H for Hometown?

My hometown is the ever delightful* West Drayton. When I was younger, I would never have considered moving anywhere else. Now, I can't bear the thought of spending all my life here. The only good thing about it is that I have met my friends, and my Uberman here.

*Sarcasm very much intended

I for Indulgence?

Cosmetics, especially nail polish, and yarn are my indulgences. I'm not able to drink, and I despise smoking (this is my personal opinion - I would never be one of those sanctimonious twats who try to put themselves on a higher pedestal for not smoking - it is a personal choice, and I would never hold it against anyone.), so I spend some of the money I would have if I was still able to drink, on my hobbies instead. 

J for January or July?

July, most definitely. My pain levels are ridiculous in Winter, and I cannot bear it. I also find January the most depressing month of the year. Christmas has gone, another year is over, the weather is cold, everyone is moaning due to lack of money... it's just shit! July is *supposedly* Summer - hot and sunny (this year it is actually behaving, it's been gorgeous this year!), there are barbecues everywhere, the tinkling sound of Ice Cream trucks, holidays to be enjoyed, paddling pools to dip your feet in... I love Summer!

K for Kids?

I like kids, but I couldn't eat a whole one! Kids are not something I see happening in my future. I don't wish to pass on my EDS, I don't wish to produce a child that I couldn't pick up if it were crying, and to be honest, I wouldn't want to put myself through 9 months of agony. I am happy to be Auntie Aporia, but I will never be Mummy Aporia. 

L for Life - it is not complete without?

Love. Love for your number one, love for your family (families!), friends, pets.. even hobbies, or music, or whatever floats your boat. Love makes the world go round. 

M for Marriage Date?

I have no date set, I am not engaged! I would probably go for a Summer day though, although I wouldn't want it too hot... hmm. Maybe Spring or Autumn. Definitely not Winter though. I'd be an awfully cranky bride if I got married in Winter!

N for Number of Brothers and Sisters?

I have one brother. Critter is younger than me, but you'd never know it if you looked at the two of us together. I am ridiculously proud of him. He is very smart (although he has no common sense whatsoever!), has a beautiful girlfriend, and a very good job in London. He is ticking off all of his "To Do List", which I think is awesome. He is a total twat at times too, but he's my brother, and I therefore dispense justice. Which usually ends up in my wrists falling off a bit. Haha!

O for Oranges or Apples?

Apples. I love a good apple. Granny Smiths are my favourite. Fresh apple juice is lovely, straight from the fridge. Yummy! 

P for Phobias?

Cows. 

Q for Quotes?

"Faith is a blue bird, we see from far. It's for real and as sure as the first evening star. You can't touch it, or buy it, or wrap it up tight, but it's there just the same, making things turn out right."

From "The Rescuers", the Walt Disney film. Isn't it beautiful? The animation that goes with it is really sweet, and whenever I read it, I hear the voice from the film in my head. A child's voice, but it still rings true as an adult. I say I'm an adult. I lie. I don't think I'll ever grow up, and I don't really want to! 

R for Reasons to Smile?

The Uberman. My families. Yoshi, Arya and Bird. Friends. My eyes and ears. My mind. Music. Dreams.

S for Season of Choice?

Hmm.. Spring or Summer... Spring or Summer... Summer. I like Spring, but I don't like April showers. I love Summer. Everything I said in the January vs July question applies here - it is such a lovely time of year. Everyone seems happier in the Summer. It's a positive time of year, the Sun is shining, and everything is grand. Even when it really isn't, it just feels a bit better, you know?

T for Tag 5 People?

This is a bit embarrassing! I don't really know many people in the Blogosphere. Karen has named the people I do, and Octavia at The Simple Life of A London Girl is already doing an ABC themed post... So I have nobody to tag. Sad times! If you would like me to tag you, drop me a comment and I will definitely do so!

U for Unknown Fact About Me?

People emptying crisp packets into their mouths makes me irrationally angry. To the point where I clench my fists without realising it, and have to turn away and keep my mouth shut. I don't know why it does, but it really makes me rage!

V for Vegetable?

Sweetcorn. Always Sweetcorn. It is the best! Golden and crunchy and delicious!

W for Worst Habit?

Hmmm. Probably being untidy. I am incredibly untidy at home. At work, I am a neat freak, which is weird. I am making an effort to be more tidy at home - it is now in writing! 

X for X-Ray or Ultrasound?

I've experienced both, many times over! I'd probably go for Ultrasound though - usually, an X-Ray involves a lot more pain, when joints that are incredibly painful are then manipulated into more painful positions for a picture. Bleurgh. 

Y for Your Favourite Food?

Uberman's stir fry. It is food heaven. He is a very very good cook, and I am a very very lucky lady. 

Z for Zodiac?

I am a Taurus. Ironic really, when you consider my phobia. I am definitely stubborn, which is one of the key personality traits of a Taurus! 

Now you know my ABC, next time won't you blog with me? Leave me a comment - If you haven't done this already, I will tag you! 

10 Day You Challenge - 4 Books

Good Morning!

Today's 10 Day You Challenge Post has been the hardest to write so far! I have been a bookworm since I was very young. I used to spend hours after school in the library, doing my homework then choosing some books as a reward. It was my happy place at a time when school was a battlefield for me. As things got better, I gradually drifted away from the library, and I regret that a bit. There was something special about going in, taking a book from the shelf, and curling up on the beanbags, with a bar of chocolate, and reading it until they closed. 

I did keep reading after I stopped going to the library, but I focused my attention on buying books from car boots and charity shops. There were the odd exceptions, the Harry Potter series, for example. Then after two years of outright refusing to buy an E-Reader, the deterioration of my hands meant I was unable to hold some of my favourite books. I was really upset, so we went to try out some different ones, to see how well my hands would cope with them. I ended up with a pink Sony one as a Christmas present, and I haven't looked back. I find it sad sometimes, not to have the physical pages to turn, and that lovely book smell lingering, but it meant I could revisit some of my old favourites again. 

So here are my top 4 books!

4. Charlie and The Chocolate Factory, by Roald Dahl. I believe that every child in the world should read this book. Roald Dahl is very unique, in my opinion, in the way he managed to synchronize his imagination with that of children everywhere. I have never met anyone who didn't enjoy his work, and Charlie and The Chocolate Factory is one of the best examples. Not only was he able to produce a story that made children excited, made them laugh, and want to be in that world, he managed to subtly insert some values in there, which I have never forgotten. The importance of family. The fact that honesty is important, even when you may have done something wrong. Bad behaviour is not something to be rewarded. I adored this book as a child, and still do as a 26 year old (although I never really grew up!). His imagination was a phenomenal place, and he would be one of my dream dinner guests. 

3. Hold The Dream, by Barbara Taylor Bradford. My mum used to have a bookcase in the hall, stacked full of books which I was not allowed to read until she felt I was old enough. When she finally let me choose a book from the shelf, I was drawn to the bold writing on the spines of the "Woman of Substance" series. I read all three from the original trilogy, but this was my favourite. It covered so many themes, which I hadn't really encountered in my reading career until then - love, power, sex, death, feuds, crime, money, to name a few - and even though the books were older than I, and set before my time, they taught me things that still apply to me now. I didn't really go for any other books from Mum's bookcase, but I had to repurchase Hold The Dream, as I read it so much, it fell apart! 

2. Polgara the Sorceress, by David Eddings. I was introduced to Eddings by a very special English teacher. I was taking the English A-Level totally alone, and it meant that I developed a strong rapport with the three teachers I had for the course. This lady was absolutely amazing, and we had very similar tastes in books. She knew I would love his stories, and brought me in the first book from the "Belgariad" series. I opened it when I got home, and could not put it down. I took it back the next day, and she had the next one ready for me. I absolutely loved it. Shortly after, she went on maternity leave, so I never got to truly thank her for introducing me to such an amazing author. It was so hard choosing which book I loved most from the series, but I chose Polgara's story. I don't want to give anything away, but if you choose to read the series, this book fills in so much back story, and gives you a real insight into a strong, beautiful and amazing woman. She is my favourite female character out of all the books I have ever read, and there have been so many! 

1. Harry Potter and The Half Blood Prince, by JK Rowling. This was a very bittersweet book for me, as it marked the end of a series that I was (and still am!) absolutely transfixed by. I am not ashamed in the slightest to admit that I am a total Potter geek. Even though the series has finished. I devoured this book on the day it came out, in around four hours. I experienced so much emotion whilst reading it. I laughed, raged, and cried (more times than I could count). I still do, whenever I read it - even though I know how the story works out. JK Rowling did a brilliant job with the final book in the series. There is always hope with Potter fans that she will write another book, but if she doesn't, then it ended on a high note, and for that, I am grateful. 

This was so difficult to narrow down! There are so many stories that I have read and loved, and so many that I go back to again and again. I am regarded by some as strange in that respect - a lot of people can read a book once and once only. I am actually grateful that this is not the case for me. I can enjoy these stories many times over. 

I can't recommend any of these books highly enough, and wish I could have listed more! If you do decide to read any of these books, or the other books from the series, do let me know what you think of them by leaving a comment! Also, tell me your four favourites - I'd love some new reading recommendations! 

As always with this challenge, don't forget to have a peek at Karen's top four books!

10 Day You Challenge - 5 Foods

Hello Again!

Today's 10 Day You post is about food. I cannot tell a lie - I love food. My waistline does not, but it never wins the argument. I have a varied taste, and  sometimes I surprise people with what I eat/don't eat.

So, onto my 5 favourite foods (this has been BLOODY hard to narrow down!)

5. Sweetcorn. My ultimate vegetable. I love it, and would have it with every meal if I could. It's got such an awesome taste, and texture, and it makes me very happy. I like it on the cob or off, it doesn't matter which. I've been known to eat it out of the tin cold as well. With a spoon. One of my 5 a day, right?!

4. Dippy Boiled Egg and Marmite Soldiers. I know, Marmite is either a love or a hate thing. I love it, provided it's a thin scraping. Too much and I shudder about like Tom when Jerry hits him with something. This is one of my favourite food combinations. The egg has to be runny though- it's hardly dippy otherwise is it?! Definitely my comfort food when I'm feeling low or poorly. 

3. "Treacle" Sponge and custard. Baked in the microwave. The treacle is actually Golden Syrup, but it's always been called Treacle Sponge in our house! It's stodgy, but oddly light at the same time. The custard must also be piping hot. My dad has it cold, but that's so very wrong! The Harvester did a Treacle Sponge Sundae as a limited edition, and that was very good too. 

2. Steak, chips, and onion rings. Simple, but just so good! I have my steak medium-rare. It was always well done, until one day I got the wrong steak by accident. I've never looked back. It is usually my go-to in a restaurant. Lovely grub!

1. The Uberman's stir fry. He makes the sauces himself, and it is just divine. It is absolutely delicious - the perfect mix of savoury, with a sweet chilli bite to it. The veg is always crunchy, the meat is juicy and flavourful, and it is always best with rice noodles. My favourite meal!

What foods would you choose for a top 5? Drop me a comment and let me know! I love to read them xD

And don't forget to check out Karen's top 5 foods too!

10 Day You Challenge - 6 Places

Today's 10 Day You post is about 6 places. Narrowing this down is going to be a bit of a toughie! 

6. Donington Park. The home of Download Festival, and the scene of some of the best times of my life. I've laughed, I've cried, I've danced and sang, I've chanted, and generally had a bloody good time. And I can't wait for next year. 

5. Ilminster, Somerset. My lovely Auntie Pat and Uncle Brian live there,and I have so many childhood memories of going there. They used to own a newsagents, with a flat attached. We used to go and stay, and I was always so excited that I woke up early. As long as I put my slippers and dressing gown on, I was allowed to sit on the stairs going from the shop to the stock room, with sweets and a magazine. Mum and Dad used to get up and wonder where I'd gone. I absolutely loved it. Just outside the shop is a beautiful church - it really is a stunning building. The room my brother and I stayed in had a perfect view of the clock face, and I used to love hearing the chiming of the clock. I would love to live within distance of a clock chime. It's really lovely. 

4. Malta. I had a rough year last year, due to my ankle problems, so in October, to try and get some last minute sunshine before the winter kicked in, I went with my Mum and Dad to Malta. It was a beautiful place, and I really enjoyed it. My favourite place on the Island was Ta'Qali - a craft village based on an old WW2 Aircraft facility. There were so many things to see - the famous Mdina Glass factory, metalwork, woodwork, filigree jewellery workshops, potteries and more. I have a keen interest in glassmaking, as my Grandpa was Managing Director of Whitefriars, so the Mdina and Valletta glass factories were first on my list. Whilst they were interesting, they were very much a production line outfit. At the other end of the village, we found another glass workshop - Phoenician Glass. And I fell in love. It was a one man outfit, from start to finish. I wheeled right up to the front of the viewing gallery, and sat entranced as he made a dolphin, bird, daisy, and others. I could have sat there all day. It was beautiful to watch him work. On our last day, we went back to see him again, and he was working on Christmas ornaments. Beautiful glass baubles, snowmen, trees with hanging candy canes... his work was amazing. I came home with a bird and a daisy, and I will go to see him again in the future. 

3. Orlando. The first time I'd ever been out of the country, let alone on a plane, was to go to Florida. We went to all the Disney World parks, Disney Blizzard Beach, Universal Studios, Universal Islands of Adventure, and SeaWorld. It's been 12 years since I went, and I would love to go back - especially for The Wizarding World Of Harry Potter! It's a child's dream- and I never truly grew up!

2. New York. The city that truly never sleeps. It's always exciting, there are crazy yellow cabs flying around, flashing lights everywhere, skyscrapers everywhere you look... It's a really thrilling place to be. I would love to be in Times Square on New Year's Eve, to see the ball drop *ahem*. I've been twice, and I'd go again in a heartbeat. 

1. Weymouth. I've said on here previously, that Weymouth feels like my home. Everytime I go there, I feel instantly calm and at peace. I have been known to cry when leaving. I love it so very much, and intend to live there when possible. 

Where are your top 6 places?