Three years of pain, torture and sheer hard work later, (that I don't think paid off at all) I finally graduated. And even though I was sure that I wasn't going to have a decent time, I did. As soon as I wore the gown I felt proud of my achievement and trust me, I haven't felt any pride yet. I graduated! And it was great. I looked great and even the rain couldn't dampen my or my family's spirit. The fact that I had constant hat problems didn't bother me either.

This is me as I moved the tassle from the left side of my hat to the right side for the first time.


And then I had to throw it in the air.


It didn't even matter that all this happened in the room where all my exmas had taken place  in and I was sitting next to a girl who was moody personified. You can just see her in the background.

It seems to have been an age since I last posted a proper entry. Here's what has happened in the world and my life:

• Federer won. Go him!
• Roddick lost (therefore) which was kinda sad. He worked his butt off.
• Dad told me that I have no personality and that if it kills him he will get one out of me
• He then told me I have no goals and that he wishes to kill me and that I irritate him
• I survived my first 2 hour interview today for a seasonal job at the London Eye. If I don't get it I will die. (At least I didn't tell the interviewer that I want to pimp him out as one candidate did)
• I am graduating tomorrow which means I am going back to York. I don't want to go. But I have an amazing skirt that I want to wear.
• I have started a new story and have almost written 20 thousand words.
• I have started swimming each morning and I am loving it! So far I can do 30 laps in an hour which I am hugely proud of considering last week this time I could do only 16 and couldn't even finish one lap without stopping half way and whezzzing.
• As a result of the swimming I am starting to get excellent arms.
• Sister bought Guitar Heroes. I am not as good as I thought I would be.

And that is it. This month isn't going great at all.

Live long and prosper

xoxo

In the tribute they had Michael Jackson saying some of his lyrics.

Thank you all so much for your kind words about my degree. I love you guys so much. I won't say any more about that since I have, more or less accepted it. But I will tell you this. Do you know how much I missed a 2:1 by? 0.04%. That's right - 0.04%. I really hate my Uni. And it were my Philosophy results that pulled everything down. I hate Philosophy. So glad that all that is now behind me. I never have to study that stuff any more.

Anyway last week I didn't have a Through the Letterbox, but there will be one this week.

Through the Letterbox explores the contents of my mailbox on a weekly basis. Of course I only mention the really cool things, like books! If you would like to participate and have your own “In My Mailbox” post, you can find more information here. (This post was inspired by Alea of Pop Culture Junkie.) Thanks The Story Siren for this!


Silent on the Moor by Deanna Raybourn

This is a wickedly witty Lady Julia Grey mystery. 'There are things that walk abroad on the moor that should not. But the dead do not always lie quietly, do they, lady?' It is England, 1888. Grimsgrave Manor is an unhappy house, isolated on the Yorkshire moors, silent and secretive. But secrets cannot be long kept in the face of Lady Julia Grey's incurable curiosity. In the teeth of protests from her conventional, stuffy brother, Lady Julia decides to pay a visit to the enigmatic detective, Nicholas Brisbane to bring a woman's touch to his new estate. Grimsgrave is haunted by the ghosts of its past, and its owner seems to be falling into ruin along with the house. Confronted with gypsy warnings and Brisbane's elusive behaviour, Lady Julia scents a mystery. It's not long before her desire for answers leads her into danger unlike any other that she has experienced - and from which, this time, there may be no escape.

[Could not wait to get my hands on this book. Really love the first two in the series. Hopefully this one is just as brilliant!]


Angel With Two Faces by Deanna Raybourn


[I loved the first book in this series and when this came in the post I did jump up and down for a while]


Falling by Sharon Dogar


Lock and Key by Sarah Dessen

Ruby Cooper likes to expect the worst. That way, she’s never disappointed. Abandoned by her mother and forced to leave the house she calls home, Ruby is facing too many changes. Her lonely world has been transformed into a life of luxury by her long lost sister, but all Ruby wants to do is leave – she can make it on her own. Even Nate, the gorgeous boy-next-door can’t seem to change her mind. Will Ruby realize first impressions don’t always count? And that sometimes, people can surprise you, so it’s ok to let the closest ones in . . .

Anyway what did you all get??

Before I end this post I do have a book review.


Storm Glass by Maria V. Snyder

[This will be a short review since I listened to it a while ago and stupidly never wrote about it then.]

I really loved The Poison series and started this one with good, high hopes. I was not disappointed. Opal is not my favourite heroine and she isn't at all how I like my female characters. But she is so realistic. Her fear and love and choices are all things that an actual human might make and do. And the story line was exciting and addictive. I found it very hard to stop for food/sleep/conversation. There are enough loose ends for subsequent sequals and I do look forward to them.

I give it 4****/5.

But the big news of the weekend is that it is time for the Wimbledon Finals!! Did any of you watch the ladies one yesterday? Sadly I was working, but it was so quiet in the Museum that I was allowed to listen to the radio and so in a way I knew what was happening in the match. I was so surprised that Venus saort of withered in the second set. I expected her to fight harder for the title, but that does not take anything away from her sister's brilliant vicroty. I think for a few more years the two of them will be dominating ladies tennis. Expecially the doubles which they also won later on that day!

And I absolutely love her t-shirt. Cheeky. And I love it.


And today it is the men's final! It was disappointing that Murray didn't get into the final but Roddick played brilliantly and you could see how much it meant to him to win a place into the final. At this moment Roddick and Federer are walking out into the Centre Court.

I'm  so excited! (And I just can't hide it)

Live long and prosper!

xoxo

Found out what i got. Not a 2:1. Wallowed in self pity. Don't feel too much better.

Dad and I had a fight today. About something so stupid. It started out with Tennis and then it turned into how loud I laughed. Everything interview I go to it is don't laugh so loudly, don't smile so much and don't gesture so much. I know all these things. I am not an idiot. And then he starts when I watch TV. 'Take it easy' he says to me whenever I laugh and today I just snapped. I should have stopped. Stopped a long time ago but I kept going and it kind of poured out. Then he started on Mum telling her that now she is older she should restrain her laughter (she is a lot like me with the loud laugh). He kept saying everything in moderation. I wanted to scream. Really, really scream. Why do I have to contain myself?

But the great thing about the fight was that I said some things that I needed to say for a long time. I don't want to be a pushopver any more and this way I finally took a small step in the right direction. I am always going to be loud. One day he will have to accept it. Another great thing about the fight was that it made me forget about what is happening tomorrow. My results are coming out. For my degree and I am so very scared right now. What if I have failed? What if I fucked it all up? Then it would be three years spent over there in a place I hated all for nothing.

I do not want to have to tell people that I got anything less than a 2:1. Seriously.

Wish me luck. I hope I forget all about it. I really don't want to remember. And at this moment in time, I don't want to know!

Live long and prosper!

xoxo

I cannot cope with this weather. Nothing I have is short or small enough. I do nothing and I sweat. (Yes sweat - I am way past feeling the bloody heat)

Too tired to type more. Will have a fuller update tomorrow. I hope so anyway. Unless it is this hot. Then I probably won't.

OK found this. He is such a plonker.

I found another picture on facebook of the wedding. Here my brother took a pic of me and I am obviously posing. It looks like a hair advert.


And the sari has falled down. At least my hair covered it up! Saris falling down are a big no-no. And in the background is another neice. I hadn't seen her in such a long time and it was a pleasure to talk to her again. For a child she is extremely well spoken and interesting to listen to. It was a breath of fresh air.

Murray is struggling in Wimbledon at the moment. He lost the first set 6-2. But one the third 6-3 and isn't doing too badly in the third set. Today was the first day that the roof on Centre Court was used and I can say that I saw it close for the first time on TV. I was on the sofa sitting next to my Ma. Will I remember that 50 years from now? Probably not. But I have an imagination. Maybe I will tell future generations that I was there. They won't know that I am lying. I am going to be a bad example aren't I?

Sister is feeling even better today. She's all into her computer as is the norm when she's home. No temperature, no nothing. I do not understand - shouldn't she have a cold? Not that I mind. It's so much better when she's well.

Live Long and Prosper!

xoxo

Good news. The emergency doctor told us last night that if it was Swine Flu she would be in a whole load more pain. Sister has no body aches or headache or cough and those are all symptoms of Swine Flu. So either it is a severe cold or a mild case of normal flu. But either way it is good news!

Though now there will be no heroic stories of Swine Flu survival. Unless we (meaning me) decide to take some liberties with the truth. Which is all possible. Future nephews and nieces, did you knwo that I survived Swine Flu? It was ghastly and I was so brave. The Doctor told em that I was the bravest person they ever treated.

Nice fantasy!!

xoxo