And there she was ablogging again

It's a bitterly cold Sunday afternoon. The kind where it's as if someone from up above is ordering you to curl up in bed and do your readings in the feeble light that envelopes your poor trembling body. The weather has been having some schizophrenia issues, as is quite usual, and it was rather sunny for a couple of hours. I was tempted to sleep but my conscience kept nagging me so I went on with the German book we have to read for the German Circle course i'm taking. We had the 'prize day' last Wednesday and it kind of made me feel guilty about how much I've been giving German the cold shoulder lately, especially since they awarded me a lovely book complete with full colour pictures weehey! It's something about Thomas Mann and his life. Hmmm sounds very uppaclass to me. They also gave us Gluehwein, which is basically mulled wine, and let me say it's the only wine I've ever tasted that I've actually enjoyed savouring, so that was uppaclass too. Anyways this book that I'm reading is called 'Der Schimmelreiter', which means the rider of a kind of horse called a Schimmel (don't ask. I don't know). It's about this dykemaster in a seemingly rather remote village in the north east of Germany, and it's a rather unfamiliar subject, but thankfully I'm getting on quite well. The secret is this: Forget the dictionary. You don't have to understand everything. Otherwise you'll never manage to finish the book and, even if you do, you'll have died of dictionary- induced boredom beforehand, so you won't finish it in any case.

In other news, today I wrote a poem. I think it's the second one after the first I wrote eight years ago. Wow at this rate of production I shall soon be elected Poet Laureate. I presume it could very well be epic crap (and no it's not an epic) yet I am still rather filled with glee at the whole affair. I even tried to work a little with technique (big word about which I hardly know anything but anyways): I even tried to do something with the rhyme and even counted the syllables of a line that sounded epically crap to see how I could change it. I had no idea what on earth I was doing but I still thoroughly luurved the feeling. Gotta start doing it a bit oftener than once every eight years.

A few minutes ago I saw a rainbow yet now it's getting dark and the sky has turned a stern and forboding steely grey. Do you know that this is the darkest week of the year, leading up to the shortest day ie the winter solstice ie 21st December? I think I'm right. In other updates, yesterday was an enjoyable night out despite the cold and the stupid argument with dear Desiree. I hadn't spent time with dear sweet Claire for quite a while, and hence it was well worth the seemingly sub-Alaskan temperatures and the lame Pacevillian spots :)

Lastly: I'd like to congratulate Salt, of whom my brother is the uppaclass bassist, for winning the best Newcomer BMA, and deservedly too! To check out their music go to http://www.myspace.com/saltsound

Post-lastly: Radiohead have a new album out! It's been out online for a while: and I have absolutely fallen in love with this song. Exquisite!

That's all for now. Hope you are having a lovely Christmas season.
Take care,
Lizzy
xxx

The Uppaclass Song

Even though this song is not called the Uppaclass Song, I still deemed it most suitable to grace the (web)pages of this noble endeavour, this instant of quintessential uppaclassness that is this weblog. For all those who do not have the luck to be very closely acquainted with me, Uppaclassness is a term coined by yours truly, which is derived from the commonly used phrase upper class. This term was found most fit to describe every aspect that has any remote connection to yours truly ,who happens to be Uppaclassness Personified. And now onto our (yes it's the royal we!) first attempt to embed a video. God help us, or our uppaclassness shall be shattered immediately!

Oh dear, said video refuses to be uploaded. So here's the link: The Sophistication Song by Hugh Laurie

Enjoyy
Liz
xxx

Flitting randomness

I've been trying to avoid the glaring fact that I did not come home so unspeakably late from work and I should try to squeeze in some reading for almost an hour now, yet I am so tired. I haven't blogged for almost a month but I do not know what I should write. Thoughts flit about in my head all day long but then when it comes to writing a substantial and coherent blog, I find myself at a loss. Now my best friend is online, which means my shortcomings in the multi-tasking department are now on full display: the quality of my blog is suffering in a most terrible manner. I'm trying to think of something I could write to send it in , maybe they'd consider it for the possibly, hopefully, soon to materialize DESA publication. DESA is short for Department of English Students Association, which has been launched very recently. I'm really happy we finally have some people who are trying to make us feel more at home in our course, and I'd like to contribute, even if just a little bit. hmm let's see if I come up with something at least remotely interesting...

Today was a cold bright day, the kind of weather I absolutely love. After work I had one of those comically unfortunate moments. I waited for the bus on the dull grey San Gwannian pavement, looking longingly at the colourful but deserted swings for a full half hour, which for a person overwhelmed by her own uppa' classness is most unacceptable and abominable. I was understandably bored, and so I decided to walk a little to see whether the bus would finally grace the mediocre road with its mediocre presence. Alas! The bus came rattling furiously along the mediocre street just then and even though I gave my athletic all, I did not manage to catch it. Hence I simply decided to walk to university and for once I did not get lost and/or risk my life, even though it's not exactly the most idyllic ramble imaginable.

Some more randomness: I have today rediscovered the Sugababes. You know, they're actually GOOD. I think they're very up n' happening, as my sister would say. Good intelligent pop for the 21st century. This was their very first song. I don't know if it was the 21st century yet when it was released, yet it struck me as being of a quite uppa' class nature.

I'm off now, to have a bath and maybe, just maybe, do sumfing of an academic nature.
Till next time,
take care and enjoy the Christmas fever
Liz
xxx

Uni-less blog attempt 2

Does anyone know how you can transfer everything to the new email account? I know you can transfer the contacts etc but can you transfer the blog? as an archive in a new url or something? I hate having two accounts. My brain cells are already scattered all over the place as things are. Oh God who's gonna comment anyway?

Yesterday I watched TWO emo couples smooching rather ungracefully on the bus. It put me off love for a while.

I have just seen one of the most cringeworthy covers ever. Malta's very own national icon of pre-pubescent pretentiousness, Sophie, covering one of the most cringeworthy and absurd songs to ever pollute the radiowaves- Fergalicious by Fergie. And you haven't heard the worst part yet. She turned it into Sophalicious!!!!! Atrocities of three hundred and sixty degrees' eye-rolling extent!!! Suddenly I'm so happy I was a frizzy-haired nerd when I was young.

uni-less blog attempt 1

I have not updated this thing in ages cos I have had the most treacherous thoughts against it. I recently got me a new google account. Bunbury09 did not seem professional enough in my dealings with the university so I had to get an email address that sounded serious- so I got me elgalea. With elgalea came a new account which was separate from the one to which this blog pertains, so my loyalty was tested haha. But here I am again, so much has happened. My sister spread her wings and flew to Brussels and I do not know when she'll be back to her beloved island in the sun. She took my laptop with her- and i do not miss the poor thing (the laptop I mean, not my sister) so much because it was a rather functional relationship that we had. Now I have my sister's computer instead. It is incredibly slow but its clumsiness is somehow endearing, and reminds me of someone....hint,hint... hinting at myself if you haven't noticed.

A friend dared me to write an entry without mentioning uni and this obviously put a total nerd like me at a loss. But let's talk about work. I'm working twice a week proofreading and subbing at a newspaper. It's a nice job cos it's rather interesting and it's in a quiet office with civilised people rather than in a wild classroom with sex-crazed foreigners with strangely comical accents. Moreover, I only go in twice a week so I can still manage to be a full-time student (i HAD to mention uni!). On Saturdays I'm alone downstairs except for my dear boss (if you could call her so, she's so sweet!) who comes at some point in the morning/afternoon. I love mumbling and muttering a commentary to the press releases on the computer screen rather than delivering a lesson. I'm so happy that I chose to abandon teaching- It is quite irreconcilable with my character, for want of a better word.

Going out is not so high on my list lately cos I've had it up to here with Paceville- th smell of wine, the same songs over and over again, the never-ending waiting for the flippin' vans and taxis, the angry woman at wembley's, the .. aargh never mind.. I've just had enough. Which sucks because I'm an abysmal driver and I won't get my licence anytime soon. I did manage to skip pv for three weekends though. One weekend we watched Atonement, the next we dined at Marsaxlokk for Demelsa's birthday and this one I stayed at home. Call me old, but I was looking forward to it. I know I'm a rather boring friend to have at the moment but I think Claire and Desiree went out anyway so that's good.

Signing off now because I have some important stuff to finish before I travel to the Land of Nod. And ps, I have to mention uni to say- I'm really really happy with my course. wiiiii

Take care

Lizzy

And it's official!!!

I'm in second year!!! As an Honours student in English!!! I am so happy!!! Will obviously still be conditional until I get what I need- which, being a minimum of a compensated pass in the missing 4 credits I have, won't be that hard hehe!

I am so grateful! I was literally trying to restrain my beaming and grinning in the Dean's office last Friday. :D :D Life can sometimes be rosy too.

:D :D :D

How many smileys can I put in this blog without making it look dumb?

Today was a lovely day. I spent the afternoon deciding exactly what study-units I shall be taking and this process, though rather stressful and mind-boggling, just made me even happier, since it made the good news truly sink in.

And so that's it- no more rants about dreading teaching and detesting Educational Theory. No more trudging through a course I can't stand. Now I'm following the only course I ever really wanted to follow. I hope everything will turn out ok:)

Today I also rediscovered the joy of cycling. I hadn't riden for about 3 or 4 years and finally I mounted my brother's mountain bike (I've outgrown my Raleigh). At first I was very very wobbly, clumsy and shaky but then I started to really enjoy it. I revelled in the sensation of freedom and quiet solitude and rode to Bormla and back. I still have not figured out how to use the gears though and this gave me a few problems on a couple of slopes ( Yeah, Fgura is very hilly and green and all that). Besides, I also acquired my first sports 'injury'- may I be so pertinent as to reveal that my derriere still hurts? hehe, it does. I'm so proud of myself. I shall be named Sportswoman of the year for sure. I definitely plan on repeating this every weekend. Lance Armstrong need not worry too much though- I do not intend to dominate the Tour de France just yet. Oh wait, I think Mr. Armstrong has retired. Which makes that attempt at humour outdated. Sigh.

I have to sign off now, because the next few days are going to be rather hectic. Excuse the fragmented nature of this blog but I do not lie when I say that I am busy.

ps 1 Watch Atonement- powerful, beautifully photographed, scripted, acted, edited, directed, scored (??? what kinf of word is this???)- you get my drift- this film is seriously beautiful and I hope it shall be duly rewarded come awards time.

ps 2 My current theme song is 'I want to ride my bicycle' by Queen. :D :D :D... yes, more smileys.

ps 3 My brother's blog is very interesting for anyone interested in marketing, advertising, the works.

ps 4 My sister's blog has a nice poem in it.

ps 5 Go read them:)

Till next time,
take care
Liz
xxx

Stormy night

More rain. And thunder. and lightning. I wish I could write a lot today- So much is passing through the corridors of my brain, yet I do not have much time. I still have to read a few pages for my German literature lecture tomorrow. We're starting the Romantik which, believe it or not, means Romanticism in English!!! Now I shall feel so smug and smart just because we already studied Romanticism in English, and I'll have this infantile urge to butt in whenever our lecturer asks us something, but I won't fall for this urge, because it's infantile, cringeworthy and stupid. The worst thing that can befall those who study ANYTHING is that they feel they know a lot, which they don't. With Literature the temptation is even bigger, since literature makes people feel cool and artistic, a cut above the rest. The thing that most people fail to notice is that it is not how many writers and film directors you can squeeze into your hi5 profile, it is not how knowledgeable you are, but how much you can truly distinguish quality from mediocrity, and how humbly you can ultimately admit to your own glaring limits that truly matters. I'm not saying I do not sometimes stumble into this trap, but i try to avoid it like the plague.

Dad just said that it shall rain a lot tomorrow, which means I'll wear my new boots. Yes, I managed to find even nicer ones than the aforementioned elusive pair! Peacocks is turning out to be rather awesome shoe-wise, I must say. However, in spite of the excitement about the gorgeous boots, I'd prefer sun any day. October sun is so kind.

In other, more important news, I finally have a definite date for the confirmation regarding my course (ref. earlier posts). Next Thursday Senate will decide. And yes, I am level-headed enough to know they're not meeting for my sake, but just because it happens that they're scheduled to meet. According to the Dean, I have a strong argument, since I almost have the 65% needed even with 4 ECTS missing, let alone with them. Yet I can only pray and hope for the best. If the worst comes to the worst, I'll be a part-time first year by next week, looking for a job and feeling useless and unemployed. Yes, because if I am relegated to first year, my workload will be three lectures a week, since I've done practically everything already. Aargh. We shall see. Please God please. I want this course. I truly do.

PS At the moment I'm reading 'A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man' by James Joyce and it makes me want to weep. It's so good. so very good. One just knows this man's not bluffing and blabbering. Perceptive and focused. A true artist. Lucky him.

ps 2 I am rediscovering Travis' 'The Man Who'. Travis were the first real band I liked after thankfully recovering from my Westlife/ Backstreet Boys phase, and listening to them obviously comes with a lot of nostalgia. Yet, it is not merely nostalgia. They were really good in a very simple, genuine and earnest way, and they also had the much-yearned for dose of wistfulness. Exquisite. Here's a sweet taste: lovely lovely song called Driftwood

I truly wish I could have written a less hurried and fragmented post yet it's very late, and I have lectures till seven tomorrow so I need to get some sleep.

Is this my idea of a short, quick entry? I need a course in summarizing :D. I enjoy this blogging thing soo much- self-centred little brat that I am!

Really off now,

Take care,
Liz
xxxx