Family Guy's biggest mistake - RIP Brian Griffin

Hey guys! Well tonight, my Facebook and Twitter feeds have been overflowing with the latest news from the animated universe - the death of Family Guy's Brian Griffin. For those who are unaware, here is what all the fuss is about!

WARNING: SPOILER ALERT

(source: YouTube)

The question the creators need to ask themselves, why would you kill off one of the main as well as favourite characters?! Are you trying to lose fans...? Ridiculous. I mean, what adventures will Stewie have now he's gone?! All those episodes dedicated to those two while the other characters had a break (or that's how I imagine it) - there's just no logic from the creators here.

Admittedly, I've only really grown an interest in Family Guy over the past couple of years and Brian is, well was, one of my favourite characters. Just the character brings out the randomness of the show. Like, he's the family pet but with human characteristics - what many people would love! Well, with some exceptions, but still. I just love the kind of character he brings to the show, the sarcasm and wit, as well as the sheer entertainment, from his experiences of being high to his adventures with Stewie..

Honestly, I just find this madness completely ridiculous. Unless they plan on bringing him back in a later episode (which I doubt), they better have a good reason for killing off such a well loved and well known character. Seriously, creators of Family Guy.. You've been banned once, soon you'll have no fans left to even watch your show. This is by far your biggest mistake.

For all those who have been affected by this outrageous storyline, feel free to tweet the creators your opinions! I'm sure you wouldn't be the only ones..

'Easy come, easy go..'

Hey guys! Hope you've all had an awesome week and are looking forward to the weekend - unless you're working like me.. Anyway, after having a long think lately, I've come to realise a lot of things. In particular, people. Safe to say people really irritate me most of the time.

The one thing I've learnt about people is that they will up and leave at any time. Sometimes without warning.. Sucks really. Like, the friends you have in school, people who were really close to at one point, people you could confide in and spend time with, just gone. With the obvious exception of university, it's amazing how many people can just walk away. People moan when no one makes an effort with them, but why don't you make the effort for a change and stop relying on other people for a change? You'd be amazed at how much of an impact it has..

I was talking about this to my friend the other day when we were heading to the cinema. In my life, I have had the same best friend for over 10 years who has stood by me through so much (god knows why) and has always had a place in my life. I also have two other close friends who have been in my life for the same amount of time, but never been as close with. Like, I spend more time with my best friend than with them as we live closer etc. They've been in my life since primary school, shows a lot really.

Then, I have the friends from secondary school. Now, I changed groups a lot throughout school and had friends in different groups too which was nice. Year 11 was probably the best year in seeing who my true friends actually were, spending that last summer together having camp outs, prom, days out... I could happily spend time with these guys and just have a laugh. But now, I barely talk to any of them. Obviously, if we bump into each other, we'll chat and catch up sometimes, but most of the time I don't really hear much from them unless I see them on my twitter feed or facebook..

Next, I have my sixth form friends. This is the real surprise if I'm honest. A lot of things happened in sixth form which resulted in a large mixture and changing friendship groups. I think my social group probably changed more than 5 times over the course of  two years. Met a whole variety of people in sixth form who I thought would never leave if I'm honest. Yet, since finishing, I only talk to a handful of people. Like, the people who said they'd never lose contact etc etc, have just left. Not even bothered. Once or twice I've seen them since sixth form, but not much. And it's sad really, for someone to just drop you like that without a warning or anything. Makes you really consider what the word 'friendship' means to some people.

Then, I have my college girls. Now, I haven't known these girls long but they have already had such a positive impact on my life. College is a lot easier with friends and they give me more of a reason to get up and go to college. Knowing I can go to college and have a laugh and a bit of fun makes it so much better. They are just awesome and all so different, it's amazing how well we all click as a group! 

Finally, I have my work friends. This is a more recent selection of friends so they haven't had much time to adjust to my madness just yet, bar a couple of people. But they are amazing, and I'm meeting more people as my time there goes on! Like, some people I haven't always seen eye to eye with, but things are going well at the moment. I've made some amazing friends at work and made some great connections with people, some stronger than others..

Despite the people who have left, I'm so grateful for the friends that I actually have. They have been there for me through a lot and put up with me through the worst of times. Makes me feel incredibly lucky to have the people I do in my life :-)

Cardiff '13 - 30 Seconds To Mars and You Me At Six

Hey guys! So, I went to see two very amazing bands this week as they entered back into the UK on their European tour. 30 Seconds To Mars recently returned back to the UK after travelling all over Europe for the Love Lust Faith + Dreams tour, which was supported by You Me At Six. With both bands recently releasing new material, it was a great opportunity for them to share this with their fans. We waited outside the Cardiff Motorpoint for 2 hours, only to be second row to the left of the stage right next to the barrier - result!

 To begin with, we had You Me At Six perform. Now, the last time I saw these guys was back in 2011 when they were performing their recent material from 'Sinners Never Sleep' - a pretty decent album to be fair! We heard the likes of 'Loverboy' and 'Bite My Tongue' which really get the crowd going. We also heard some songs off their older albums, such as 'Liquid Confidence' and 'Stay With Me', as well as their latest song 'Lived A Lied' which you can listen to here. From where we were standing, we couldn't see any mosh pits but apparently there were quite a few throughout the performances! Compared to the last time I saw YMAS, I found this gig a lot less violent (considering the last time I saw them was in Brixton) and just generally an all round better experience.  

For 30 Seconds To Mars, this was their chance to perform some of the new songs off of their recent album 'Love Lust Faith + Dreams'. We heard a mixture of their new and old material which was simply amazing. I've never seen these guys live so it was a real experience to see them actually playing live. I mean, you watch their music videos of them performing at gigs and I was just in shock and awe when watching them, so it was an amazing surprise to actually see them and experience that kind of atmosphere - and they didn't disappoint! Their setlist was beyond incredible too. With their new stuff, they played 'Do Or Die', 'City of Angels' and a couple of others. Then, they played a few songs off of their album 'This is War', such as 'Closer To The Edge' (of course!!) and 'Kings And Queens', and a few songs off their older albums. Even better, Jared did a few acoustic songs which literally killed me. My heart practically melted as he played 'From Yesterday' as an acoustic, perfection. To top off their performance, they had some acts in between which really got the crowd going! From acrobats and people from the crowd to confetti and balloons, they had us engaged throughout the entire performance - they know how to put on a show! Let's just saw I felt incredibly sorry for the guys who had to clean up the arena..

 

I've never been so mind blown by a gig, let alone sing my heart out along to all the acts that performed.. Let's just say I would recommend anyone to go and see these bands play live together, especially with You Me At Six releasing their new album and headlining their own tour next year - definitely one to consider!

A good start to a good month!

Hey guys! So I thought I'd have a happy post today as I'm in an unbelievably amazing mood for a change.. 

For those who follow me on twitter or have me on Facebook will know, I had my driving test yesterday. Scariest and most nerve-racking experience of my life so far, I tell you! I was literally shaking so much driving to the test centre and simply waiting, let alone when I actually did my test. The first question my examiner asked was whether I wanted my instructor in the back of the car with me.. Now, my instructor and I discussed this before we got to the test centre and we both agreed that it would be the most off putting thing having someone in the back when you're stressed enough as it is and seeing their face every time you made a mistake.. So he stayed at the centre. 

I honestly thought I'd failed. Let me tell you, it was horrible. I managed to roll down a hill slightly because I forgot to put the car into gear for a hill start (not very clever!) and then when I had to pull away another time, a car just decided he would speed round me so I thought that was two fails.. But no. Came back to the test centre and had my debrief which my instructor came over to listen to and, it turns out...

I passed! How this got over 100 likes on Facebook though is beyond me.. Words literally can't express how shocked I was to hear that. So happy, I can't even explain it. In my head, it was a case of 'how the hell did I pass that?!' Mind blowing stuff..

WARNING TO ALL DRIVERS - I AM NOW LEGALLY ALLOWED TO DRIVE. PLEASE CONSIDER YOUR OWN SAFETY WHEN I'M OUT ON THE ROADS

So yeah, an amazing start to my month! Next week, I have a gig to go to (be jealous, You Me At Six and 30 Second To Mars fans) and then all I have is deadlines.. Ah well, can't be that much of a bad month!

'Remember when you were my boat, And I was your sea..'

Hey guys! Seeing as it's officially bonfire night (remember remember the 5th of November etc etc), I figured I'd write a firework-related post. For all those You Me At Six fans, you could probably guess by the title of my post - taken from their song 'Fireworks', of course!

Now, who doesn't love fireworks right? I love them. Let's be honest, they are pretty awesome. Admittedly, as a child, they scared the hell out of me. Most children are! They're loud and big and scary. But, over the past couple of years in particular, I've grown to love them more and more. This year and last year have been the only years I have actually gone out and enjoyed them.

Last year, I did a couple of things for the firework period. Firstly, a group of us went to a firework display at the primary school I was doing my childcare placement in. Was so fun to watch, just all the colours lighting up the sky. Insane. Then, a couple of us spent an evening setting out own fireworks off in a field just outside of Wootton Bassett. We all finished work around half 9, bought some fireworks and headed out. I let the others be the ones to set off the fireworks while I sat freezing my backside off playing with sparklers - I was too much of a wuss to do them myself! Far too risky for me haha. Still, we had a fun night all the same.

  

  
This year, I spent bonfire night with my best friend. As we're such cheapskates, we decided we'd watch the local primary school's fireworks from her back garden - probably had a better view if I'm honest! Anyway, we got some marshmallows and a Starbucks hot chocolate and waited for it to begin. Now, when it's as cold as it is, you can't have cold marshmallow.. Enter the candle! Roasted marshmallows, hot chocolate and fireworks on a crisp autumn evening - the definition of a perfect evening! We sat and watched the school display, which we constantly thought had ended with the long intervals every 15 minutes or so, then sat and watched the other fireworks going on around the housing estate. All was perfect! Then we heard something come down with a thud and a smash, kind of killed the atmosphere a bit but remained perfect all the same.

Hope you guys had an amazing fireworks night too! ♥

My 'Peter Pan' Mentality

Hey guys! Hope you all had an awesome Halloween. Bit of a different kind of post today. Not music, not film.. More of a realisation and life rant if I'm completely honest. Now, I've been sat having a proper think this miserable, British evening and I came to a horrible conclusion. I'm 19, still in college and supposed to be 'starting' my life next year. I have no clue as to what I want to do. This could be an issue..

Looking at some of the people I went to school with who are either my age, older or, in some cases, younger, I am very behind in comparison. They're all getting engaged, having babies or even married! Then there's me. Socially awkward, incredibly childish and immature and genuinely terrified at the thought of growing up. Great start, right? I can't seem to maintain a relationship without getting myself hurt, can't seem to make 'grown up' decisions (unless planning how to rearrange my room counts as one..) and so on. Then I look at my family. One of my cousins is married with two kids, another is in a well paid recruitment job practically rolling in the money, others are at university or starting their lives with partners.. I'm one of the only ones who didn't go to university and, quite frankly, I feel like I'm going nowhere..

I absolutely love the course I'm doing at college. I mean, it's childcare - what's not to love, right?! Wrong, coursework is a nightmare. Other than that, the course is pretty awesome and I love it. The girls are lovely, the teachers are (mostly) supportive, the course itself is insightful and interesting.. But where will it take me? So far, I'm doing really well. Got an A for the first year and aiming for an A this year which will be an almighty challenge to say the least, but what will I do with it? At the end of the day, I aspire to be either a nanny or a teaching assistant - prefer the idea of a teaching assistant if I'm honest, but nannying a small child would be just as rewarding! Maybe when I get into my career more, I could go into teacher training. Not 100% yet.. But that takes me to next year.. What the hell am I going to do when I come out of being in education for 16 years...

In my head, there are so many things I would love to do next year. Some more realistic as per usual! Like, I'd love to work with Disney. The cruise line, the actual parks... More realistically, I have a higher chance of working somewhere like Centre Parcs or Butlins. Really pushing the boat out there.... Not. admittedly, Centre Parcs wouldn't be so bad if I got into something enjoyable. Ideally, I'd love to get a teaching assistant job or a nannying career and eventually move out of home with a good enough salary to support me. Wishful thinking, right? I think so too. All I want is a secure career which I enjoy and a happy life. Is that too much to ask for? Clearly it is with my mentality.

Then we come to the present, and where I am now. I live at home with my mum, I work in Sainsbury's all weekend every weekend, I can't drive (legally on my own - learning is good enough!) and I'm in college/placement every weekday. When do I have any 'me time'
just to wind down and think? Try never, or when I have holiday off work and college. I'll be honest, I don't want to work in Sainsbury's forever. As good as it is for now (good pay, met some amazing people etc), it's hardly my lifetime ambition.. As for college, need I say more. I go to college three days a week and placement the other two days, doesn't sound to bad and, in all honesty, it really isn't compared to some courses. But what do I do when it's all over? 

I've learnt in the past few months that having positive people in my life can create a positive mind and mentality. I absolutely adore the girls on my course, they are amazing. I can't imagine doing the course without them. Same with some of my other friends, like my best friend. She has got my through so much this year (we won't go into detail) and, despite me being the biggest pain in the backside going, has stuck by me through thick and thin. This applies with a couple of other people. I've restored friendships which were crushed and found who is worth keeping in my life. We all think we'll stay close with our friends in schools, but that is far from true. Out of all of my sixth form friends, I speak to a handful now. Just shows how little you can mean to someone really, doesn't it.. Especially when they simply do not make an effort with you at all. My worst fear is being alone and, with things like that, I literally feel beyond alone.. Having no one to turn to about certain things is the worst feeling ever.

So, now I've written my little rant, I've realised I have more motivation to write this than my college assignments - how bad is that?! But, in all seriousness, I find myself in a bit of a mess. My head is a mess, my heart is in a state that can't be described.. I am clueless. No one could ever imagine half the things that go on in my head, and I couldn't blame them. Ever. Basically, to sum it all up, I have the 'Peter Pan' mentality - I don't want to grow up..

Help me.