Care package.

I got some a care package today with a LOVELY red scarf and mittens in it, AND coffee!! Yum yum yum! :)

Dress Day

Today's dress! I liked it, but unfortunately had to change out of it because it didn't like staying put when I walked. I did wear it until 13:00 though. I think that counts, attended all my lectures in it. :D AND I got a compliment. :)
Definitely think I need to get some more skirts and dresses, don't have much choice at the moment. :) We are going shopping next week, so hopefully I can find something that isn't too expensive. :D

Here is a pretty photo of the autumn-ness around here. :)

Jumpers

I LOVE jumpers, not all jumper, I love big, cuddly, stylish jumpers...those ones that hide a bloated-just-eaten-a-huge-meal-stomach but still make you look skinny. I love snuggling up in them and being cozy. I love cozy stuff, and when it look good too, my favourite! (I am a tough judge on my clothes) I have been doing some internet browsing (as one does when work needs to be done) and have found two really lovely jumpers. One from Kookai and the other from Zara.

I do like those two brands, I tend to buy more from Kookai though because the shop is so much nicer in Geneva, the Zara shop is too full and crowded...although at Gateshead Metrocenter it's very clean and spacious and lovely, so when I do go there on the rare occasion I am very inclined to buy something. :P I want these jumpers!!!

In other news, guess who has an interview to study PGCE Primary at Durham? Me! :D I am excited...need to scrub up on the National Curriculum and other related stuff, but YAY!

Cute Pumpkins.

There is an adorable tutorial for making your own fabric pumpkins here. (Her photos are copyrighted and so I don't want to use them without her consent) BUT I think you should definitely look at the tutorial AND her blog, it's very cute and unique. :)

In other news I have been sorting out a budget for myself because I seem to have used a LOT of money this past month leaving me with very little for fun things, like clothes! I think I have found a budget that won't starve me but will also give me some freedom to buy things other than necessities. :)

AND I think I am getting somewhere with my dissertation idea, and work in general. Who knew having a printer would make me want to work so much? I'm thinking more time in the library this year? Maybe...hehe.

If I get round to it I'll be back tomorrow! :D

Toodles.

HP time

Crest done by Miriam and myself for our Colleges Yule Ball themed Ball.

I have realised that through blogging about this module I am probably going to retain a lot more of the knowledge. I’ve spent some time thinking about whether I should explain all the thoughts that are put forward within the lectures or just the ideas we investigated. I decided that I don’t want to give the lecture to others, so instead will mention some of the broader ideas and any questions to think about.

Today we explored the concept of Houses: looking at the the pros and cons of having school houses, the sorting and the reputations. We were reminded, as I think we will be every week, to avoid the Button Man (I must not have been playing attention the last two years...because I don’t recall this ever being mentioned before) and the Bible Code...in other words try and avoid making up connections that aren’t there.

So, what thought arose from this lecture?

Is the Sorting hat a philosopher? An oracle? A seer?Does the Sorting Hat make mistakes?What do the House colours, animals, common rooms, elements, etc. say about the Houses? Is the idea of four different houses for different traits that farfetched?

Can we compare the Houses of Hogwarts to the Durham Colleges? Maybe, we have all been sorted into different Colleges, Universities, and courses. Do being in any of these groupings make us any better than others?

Are Slytherin bad? As one of the students ‘sorted’ into Slytherin I had to write a ‘parchment’ about the traits of Slytherin, and spent most of it defending Slytherin from it’s bad reputation. It’s traits include things such as ambition and greatness. Some major characters have taken these too far or used them for the wrong cause, but they can be good...and at the end of the books where did their loyalties lie? With Voldemort or with Hogwarts?

We also discussed whether you are born into a house or grow into a house, that common question of nature or nurture. And were left to think about how this idea of Houses and all that comes along with them could be played out in schools...

We have only had two proper lectures so far, but I must say this is probably one of the most interesting and engaging modules I am doing, and I think there really has been a lot of work put into thinking beyond the books. :)

Thursdays is for dresses.

I love the look of dresses, and skirts. I do, however, find jeans and trousers so much more comfortable...mainly because there is no risk of revealing certain parts of yourself unintentionally. SO! I have made Thursdays my dress and skirt days, meaning every Thursday I HAVE to wear a dress or skirt. :)

I've done 3 weeks so far, but have only started taking photos this week. I am enjoying it, and actually starting to like dresses. I tried looking for more, because at the moment I have about 2 that I can wear for daytime, but I am quite picky about styles and sleeve lengths and everything. I think I definitely like strappy sleeves! So I'm getting somewhere! :P

I'll be back next Thursday with picture proof of my dress/skirt wearing. :)

Mattia Bonetti

So, as part of my blogging more I am going to try post about some decorations, interior design or paintings I quite like. Today is the work of Mattia Bonetti. I can't find a website for his stuff particularly, but some of his things were in Elle Decorations and after some searching...well, I found that his stuff is pretty awesome! Very creative.
I love the use of interesting shapes, the way the eye gets drawn towards them. If you google image his name...loads of inspiration. Really nice...man it just draws me in. Seriously seriously cool. I do especially love the broken necklace picture up at the top. :)

As an extra, a photo of my wallpaper up, the new vases and flowers I bought and my green nail-varnish. It wouldn't let me send it to James...so voila. :P
Talk to you later! :)

Sometimes I miss the Mountains

I read my mums blog this morning, she updated about snow! SNOW. In October in the Mountains...and not really the very high mountains, we're talking about 1500m. So I had a little look myself. It's so pretty....sigh...I do love the snowy mountains (if I am in the warmth with a nice fire, a big cup of coffee and friendly chatter).

The weather here is rarely as pretty as in the mountains, I doubt its rarely as cold...but the house...THAT can be cold, so it's nice that the weather doesn't get too cold or else I think we might freeze to death!

Time to do some work on my dissertation...still trying to figure out what exactly I want to focus on. My head is having a hard time doing any work with such an open choice!

Harry Potter and the Age of Illusion

There has been quite a bit of press around this new module. It has mainly been positive, although some think it a waste of time and just seem quite bitter. I thought since there was such an interest in the module (I have had quite a few friends ask me about it) I would blog my experience of the module here...being one of the MANY students taking part. It will be my experience and what I feel about it, so may not match others opinions, but I will try and avoid lying about what went on as some sources have. (The BBC announced the first module had taken place 4 hours before it had, it also mentioned broomsticks...but since they had witnessed something other than the lecture taking place it is no wonder they saw objects which were not present...)

So...the first lecture. We have been told that had they been able to the filming of the Great Hall in the Harry Potter movies would have taken place in the Great Hall of the castle in Durham, unfortunately this meant it being out of use for longer than Durham could allow. However, the Great Hall of Durham Castle provided a great place for our first lecture. Many students (more than I have ever witnessed for an Education module) turned up to the Great Hall...first having to show identity to quite a few Prefects dressed in robes. We had been informed we should wear robes/cloaks and a fair amount of students did, one students had a wizards hat, a Gryffindor scarf and a Hogwarts folder as well (needless to say he was VERY happy to be sorted into Gryffindor later). We all sat down at the looong dinner tables within the hall (Castle students are so lucky to be able to eat in there every day...it's REALLY nice), and sat a little bemused at this extravagant lecture. We were then introduced to the course and the sorting began. Students names were called one by one to come forward and be sorted by the power of the bag of marbles. (Some students are convinced it was really Mr. Richardson deciding where they went...we will never know). There was a lot of clapping and many happy faces...except those perhaps put into Slytherin. There was no booing, but students definitely did not seem to pleased. I myself, however, had hoped to be put into Slytherin so was very pleased to have been sorted there, not least because green looks really good on me!

At the end of the sorting Mr. Richardson's son was sorted too. It was his birthday, and by the fact that he was wearing a cloak and hugging a Hedwig doll (and the fact that in the last two years we have been told numerous times by Mr. Richardson) it was obvious he was a huge fan, and of course was put into Gryffindor.

The sorting was a lot of fun, but also served as a point for thought. How often are we just randomly sorted? Can the houses represent universities? Durham Colleges? What does being a member of a house do to our identity? How do we feel about the sorting? There has obviously been a lot of thought put into this module, and I can see it will be a lot of fun as well as thought provoking. :)

Our first proper lecture discussed whether the module was fit for study...and who should decide. Who do you think should decide what we study? Do you think the module is fit for study?

We'll find out...I better be off now to write about the strengths of my house. :)

Coming soon...

It's been a while...a very long while...but internet in Geneva disliked me, and then we had no internet in Durham, so it's been a bit impossible too!

I REALLY want to get blogging again, and I am going to sit down and plan a permanent spot for blogging during my weeks (I like routine), so hopefully in the next few weeks I will get into the habit and be a happier person because of it! I have all sorts of plans! I would love it if I manage them all! :D

So watch this space, posts will be coming soon. :)