Yes... I am alive... Again

It's that time again, where I make the promise that after months of not posting, I will make more of an effort to keep this blog updated. One day, I will make good on this promise. Whether this will be now, or in the future, who knows.

Good news is, I've been making good on uploading regular vlogs on my youtube channel, if you aren't subscribed already, or not seen it before, you may find it by clicking here.

One of my latest vlogs has been one of my most funniest to film. The "Marshmallow Challenge" aka "Fluffy Bunny"

Myself, and my friend Karma attempt the challenge after viewing Carrie Fletcher's attempt on her channel "ItsWayPastMyBedTime". If you like seeing people fail at challenges, you'll like this video.

So, what is going on in life? The usual I suppose - working in a job on minimum wage with no sign of progression, relentlessly trying to better my future, but failing epically as always. Ah well, still time for the luck to change I suppose - anyone got a rabbits foot they'd like to gift me?

Some good news though, new ideas on the horizon, which hopefully will blossom into something amazing - we'll see, but more on that as it develops.

In other news, my laptop died :( And as I am on minimum wage, there is no chance I will be able to afford one anytime soon. LUCKILY, I have one very awesome and new house mate, who is loaning me hers for the time being, so I am able to get on with my usual projects that demands more then an hours session on a library computer.

Things I am looking forward to this year - 'Summer in the City' - a well established summer vlog gathering. It will be my second gathering ever, shortly after my first YouTube gathering ever, which is the Edinburgh gathering in the first weekend of August. I am so excited for so many reasons! I really can't wait to meet loads of new people and make new friends that share my 'weird' interest in the internet and the vlogging and blogging world. August really can't come quick enough!

This weeks challenge - at work, I start of a bit of an addictive game - to try and name all the European countries without looking them up (there is just over 50 countries - it is quite hard!). On my first attempt, I only got about 22, however, I wasn't really trying. On my second attempt tonight, I got around 34, so pretty happy with that attempt. A challenge I set myself though, is to learn and memorize all the European countries by the end of the week and be able to list them all off by heat - wish me luck! I should be uploading a vlog about it, so look out for it!

For now though blogspot, goodnight!

A bad morning

Yesterday was my cousin's hen do. A very special occasion, and something I had been looking forward to for months, and it was really, really great. We all went go-karting in the day, then went out to a Greek restaurant in the evening which was followed by Greek dancing, then it was to Oceana's for some drinking and cheesy dancing. A brilliant day, even for Birmingham! It made up for what could only be described as a nightmare morning that occurred before the events that took place that day.

It all started when I got to the train station at Lincoln, so I could depart from there to Nottingham, then from Nottingham to Birmingham New Street.

Well, technically, the trouble started before I left the train station. I knew I was going to encounter a problem, and I was hoping for it to be easily resolved. This was proved wrong quite quickly. For future notice, and my advise to young persons under the age of 25 and are likely to have some use of travelling via trains, if you are going to get a railcard, buy online, not at the station. Why? Because when you buy from the station, you have to have two pieces of cards that make the railcard. One with the photo I.D, then one that is the actual valid as the discount card. Lose the discount card part, expect to pay the full price for a new discount card.

So basically, it's just another way for them to make money out of you. Daylight robbery. At least the railcard off the internet sends you just the one card you need, and if you loose it, it's really easy to go online and organize a replacement, which is also cheaper then having to fork out for a new one like you do when you are at an actual train station.

I paid £25 for an open train ticket from Lincoln to Birmingham New Street, that's the price with a young person's discount. I went to the train station to see if my railcard could be sorted out reasonably. My only option was having to buy ANOTHER train ticket for the same price WITHOUT refund on my previous ticket for £34. So it would have cost me over £50 for a train ticket to Birmingham, somewhere that I was only going to be there for a day. The other choice, buy another railcard for £28. Both choices were way out of order, but there was no way I could miss my cousin's hen do, and rail companies must love making money on people's crises. I took the second option. It probably was actually a good thing, as it was due for renewal the following month anyway, it was just one more expense I could have done without at the time. Pay day was less then a week away, I was broke and the money I had was saved for what needed to go on for the hen do.

That brings me to the second part of the nightmare morning. I got into Birmingham, the first thing I needed to do was to make a phone call to my parents to ask them to loan me money to cover the expense of paying for a new railcard. I couldn't phone my parents because I was blocked from making any sort of communication on my phone, as the bill was over due. I thought I was good for that til pay day, which was only a few days away.

Not only was I stuck for calling my parents, I was also stuck for calling my cousin's hen do organizer and bridesmaid for details of where the hotel was and where to meet for breakfast. So I ran around like a headless chicken looking for an orange shop, a natwest and somewhere with free wifi. Found an orange shop and had to negotiate and negotiate for them to put my phone back online, which cost me £10, but at least it meant I could get hold of help! So I called, got sorted and then was running around trying to find a Holiday Inn, which seemed impossible, especially as everyone walking or hanging around Birmingham that I asked for directions seemed as clueless as me! Can't believe I couldn't find one person that could give me directions.

Oh, and I forgot to mention, I've been getting gradually ill since my holiday in Yorkshire the other week, Friday being the worst so far, and then Saturday was just as bad, so being ill and having a crappy morning was not improving things.

Anyway, eventually I got to the hotel, and in a state of relief after checking in, and getting a phone call telling me where to be, but being slightly awkward to describe where to go, even though it was less then a minute away, but my scrambled and stressy brain at the time just couldn't process it, I burst into tears. They were tears of relief, as a girl named Fiona, my cousin's friend, bridesmaid and the hen organizer met me from the hotel and took me to the whetherspoons where everyone was meeting for breakfast.

After that, everything went perfectly, as mentioned at the beginning of this ranty post somewhere.

Well, it's Sunday now. I'm still ill, lost majority of my voice, got stuck in Nottingham for three hours, as trains to Lincoln from Nottingham on a Sunday is atrocious.

But now I'm home. It's half 11 at night, still ill, and I've got work tomorrow. Well, at least it's not til early afternoon, hopefully some luck will come my way, and I'll start to get better over night in my sleep!

Tarka, over and out!

My Thoughts on the England Riots

I know this is a few days late, but I was away in Yorkshire on a family holiday. So...

I am appalled by the behaviour of our British citizens that are responsible for the riots that have spread across Britain. Britain should be a country that its citizens are proud of, and the excuses of individual characters whether involved in the rioting or not, are despicable. There is absolutely no excuse for the behaviour of those involved in the looting. If the rumours are true, that the looting is in protest against government action, then these people shouldn’t be acting violently towards their neighbours. The people who work hard to run their businesses, the people who provide the community with everyday services, the people who are struggling themselves to make a living are the people getting hurt, innocent people. It is despicable. I hope the families of those involved in the rioting and looting are ashamed of them, and don’t hesitate to report them to the police if they know that members of their families are involved. This also goes for those who “understand”, meaning, agree with those involved with the violence, theft and arson that has contributed to the destruction in the mayhem and chaos of the riots and looting.

I am also disappointed with the media in their portrayal of those responsible for the riots. “Youths”, “teenagers” and “children” are the most common words that have been used to describe the majority of those that have been involved with the riots. This is an unfair stereotype, and a predictable one at that. While I can admit I have an unfair bias of my distain for chavs in hoodies, it is clear from the CCTV footage shown on the news rather than just the photographs in the newspapers that it isn’t just the “youths” involved, it’s adults too. I ask the media to be more forthright with this reality. This is a common occurrence with the media, and society’s opinion on the youth of today.

This doesn’t mean I deny that no youths are involved, I know there is a small minority responsible, but the way the media have been representing this notion makes it seem that all the youth of today act this way. Now, it wasn’t long ago that I was in that “youth” group. I’m 22 now, and while majority of my family would consider myself and my cousins of the same age, to cousins that are up to 25 the children in the family, I am an adult. It wasn’t long ago, however, that I was in my youth, and in that time, I still had the same stereotype follow me and my friends. In my home town, the shopping centre I used to visit, I would have security approach me to tell me to put my hood down, if by chance I had it up. This was in my college days. Now, I bet if it were a thirty year old with his hood on his hoodie on, no-one would bat an eyelid. It’s not like there are just hoods on hoodies either, raincoats, and other clothing garments have them too. I bet no-one who wears a hat is asked to remove it.

I can admit the thugs involved in the riots and lootings are giving hoodie wearing folk a bad name, but I implore people to not take this as a thought of assuming all people wearing hoodies might mug, rob or attack you. I’ve seen a response from the general public that this is a common opinion.

The problem with the troubled youngsters AND adults is that these particular have either not had a proper upbringing, which cannot, in all cases, be blamed on parenting. While I think in some cases, this can be true, particularly in witnessing poor parenting skills in the general public.

What really needs to be addressed is the lack of power in schools and general public services. Teachers and the police don’t have enough power these days to dish out the force and punishment that is required to shape our society into a civilized community. As a nation, we are too soft. The government urgently need to review and rectify a suitable solution to this ever growing problem.

You're So Vein

A Very Fishy Story... (Update no. 4)

The Will Reading and "What Really Happened"

Along with the letter about the "funeral", also what came with it was a "will" and a letter about what really happened. This is what they both said:

"The Official Reading of the Last Will and Testament of Beatrice Bobblethorpe

I Beatrice leave the following to my baby Betty:

• My forever Love x X (Love you baby) X x
• A packet of fish fingers - remember me when you eat each finger (will be delivered in due course)
• 70 2p's from my official fishifax savings account (will be delivered in due course)
• 80 1p's from my official fishifax savings account (will be delivered in due course)
• A bottle of water, this water was blessed by sharks on September 11th after the terrible plan crash which led to powerful trembles rushing to the Mediterranean killing your great grandfather twice removed (will be delivered in due course)
• A blank sheet of paper for you to write all of your great grandfather twice removed (will be delivered in due course)
• A blank sheet of paper for you to write all of your memories of me down - read it and treasure me forever (attached within)
• A star, when you were born I decided to buy a star and name it Betty. Every night look up at the sky and that shining star will be yours! I shall be waiting on it for you.
• A deep dark family secret. Barry is ALIVE! The story on the following page.

Beatrice, what really happened?

One sunny morning Barry, your brother and lover witnessed something so SHOCKING it destroyed his vision to happiness. Your brother and lover Barry walked in on your uncle Bagdad having sexual fishicourse with your TWIN brother Botty!!!

House passed and Barry could not cope with this! He later went up to his uncle and Botty had told them he saw everything that happened, his uncle told him he was onto to talk and made Barry feel like an apple. Later, Barry still could not cope so decided to go for a swim, he saw his uncle and Botty once again, things were not as they seemed they were arguing and Botty was crying. Bagdad slapped Botty and knocked him out. Barry witnessed everything, and then suddenly out of nowhere Bagdad killed Botty! My poor Botty dead. The police interviewed Barry and for the case to get to court Barry had to fake his death. Barry agreed and things all went to plan, this was until Bagdad escaped prison and killed himself on Botty's grave.

I could not take all this terror as I didn't know Barry was under witness protection. I only found ot the day before I decided to take my own life. There was nothing I could do as I had already taken an overdose which in SeaWorld kicks in a day later, I tried going to the hospital bt there was nothing they could do for me. It was too late my baby :( that is why I decided to write this terrible tragic will leaving you the real truth behind my death and it was nothing to do with all the crap Detective Brad told you! He had to lie so that terrible truth would not come out and risk your life Betty.

Your grandparents do however want to stay in touch and don't hate e like Brad said. As I come to an end of writing this letter I am starting to lose the will to live. I managed to publish my own Book (Finding Beatrice) it gives all the fll details about what really happened and you will be able to find out all about your birth, my dead, your brothers and ncles. I really hope that you meet your grandparents. Barry will be out of witness protection shortly so may be joining you. Barry is very disturbed at the moment and may not fully recover; he is suffering from Fish-dish this means he may change into a different or item of fishy products such as tuna. I hope you read my book and get the full story of what really happened with everything. I love you so much my baby. Love Mum X x

End of official WILL reading

This document is a legal document and should be disposed of as soon as possible

The court of law advises all WILL readers to wash their hands after reading this letter to wash away any sins that may have entered the reader's fins

This WILL was signed off... 24/05/11"

Thus concludes the last letter received about our newly adopted fish, Betty.

Next blog it will most definitely reveal who REALLY left me Betty.

A Very Fishy Story... (Update no. 3)

"Beatrice Bobblethorpe

15th May 1971 - 1th May 2011

Lover, fighter, mother, friend, beater, worker

All things we loved her for

xxxxxxxx"

Followed by:

"In the Memory Of Beatrice Bobblethorpe

15th May 1971 - 15th May 2011

On Thursday 19th May, Beatrice was flushed to rest. I have taken it upon myself to include to you some details about the service.

The funeral service was lead by Vicar Billy, a close fishy-friend of the Bobblethorpe family. Beatrice's close friends Bolly, Brax, on and off lover Brian and auntie Bee all delivered moving, emotional speeches during the service. Beatrice's mother and father did not attend the funeral as they were in so much shock they did not feel ready to publicly acknowledge the loss of their daughter at the moment in time. Bolly was said to be crying all the way through the service and had to be restrained at one point when he tried jumping in the toilet to pull Beatrice out. However, Brax, a very butch fish twice removed from seal world shocked everyone within the service by revealing Beatrice was a secret, casual lesbian and had actually been undergoing a no-fishnets-attached lesbian affair with lesbianism and made a few bubbles. Finally auntie Bee revealed that she was Betty's mother, this caused SHOCK within the bathroom and later announced she was joking and wanted to add a bit of entertainment to the service, however no one thought she was funny and told her to leave. Apparently auntie Bee has always been the dark sea-WHOREse of the family. The family asked me to pass on a very special poem to Betty that was written by Beatrice and read at the funeral.

You are gone, but not forgotten

you're a mother, lover and friend

I will love you until the end

Hold me, touch me, feel me

Kiss me, stroke me, release me

I will never replace you

I will never love again

Love me, Love you, Love us

Beatrice x

Yours sincerely, Detective Brad."

This letter was then followed by a 'WILL' reading... [will add tomorrow as I am too exhausted to type anymore!]

A very Fishy Story... (Update no. 2)

"Official Report and Statement Released by the Detectives at the Metrofishitan Police Force:

Beatrice was gentle and caring; a loving and generous fish. However, she could not cope with the burden of being a mother. That is why one sad evening she did the most devastating thing a mother could do... Beatrice decided to give her babies Betty and Barry up for adoption. Sadly, before he could find love and shelter with a different family, Barry passed away. We hope to explain this tragic turn of events to you more fully in order the shed some light o the experiences your new child, Betty, has endured.

Barry and Betty had been undergoing a sexual relationship (which in sea life is legal) however; when Beatrice found out it drove her to the edge of sanity. She went mental. Beatrice did not approve of it being legal for all fish to be lovers regardless of their possible relation to each other. Beatrice felt this way partly because her brother Bongo and sister Bella had an affair which resulted tragically in them both killing themselves. Bongo and Bella were seen as the sea versions of Romeo and Juliet... and you know how that story ended. However, back to the accident: when Beatrice found out about the nature of Barry and Betty's relationship she had an emotional breakdown. She lashed out at the pair and confined them to a small tub. She selfishly left them alone for several hours while she went out and painted the sea blue. When Beatrice came back the following morning, she had a terrible fishover and found Barry on the floor DEAD. She found his tiny fishy body contorted on the sea bed. Betty told her mother that Barry could not cope with their mother's disapproval and resentment. He felt that the only way out was taking an overdose of air which he did before Betty could stop him and he collapsed onto the floor and died.

Beatrice could not live with herself after Barry's death. She blamed herself for both of her children's misery and for Barry's suicide. She believed that she would find peace within herself once her remaining child, her beloved Betty, was safe int he care of more capable loving parents. Unfortunately she was wrong and discovered that she could not cope. Although this family's terrible story is filled with betrayal, woe and pain, we hope that it will not result in an unhappy ending. We implore you to provide for Betty the quality of life that her fish family could not, and to attempt to erase the pain that had been so present in her life up until the point you rescued her.

Beatrice's WILL reading is still being finalised with will be annouced once the date is officially confirmed. The finalisation of the WILL has experienced a few minor complications and is therefore delayed until further notice.

In Memory Of Beatrice Bobblethorpe."

So this is the third/fourth letter now. Getting more and more strange, and this letter definitely indicates that more letters are to come. And they did, which I am going to post in my next blog.

-Tarka98