Welcome to Gaia! ::

9.30 a.m:

Wake up to the feel of the cat rolling around on my feet. Cat refuses to wish me happy birthday. Ignorant little sod.

Have logged on to gaia and been wished happy birthday a grand total of a million times =) Grandparents also. Now must think about putting up the extra birthday banners my mother requested. Why do my balloons keep deflating?



9.50 a.m:

Grandmother nagging me. Stress level... rising.

Wonder if I'll be able to squeeze in a birthday pizza before we have to go to the hairdressers'. Wonder what they will do to my hair? Gah. Stress level... rising.

Will MAKE them squeeze in birthday pizza. >B[




10.39 a.m:

My mother is VERY LATE! I am hungry. Watching videos on youtube and talking on msn about French ***** and dresses covered in ribbons. Contemplating whether or not to have a bowl of cornflakes. Knowing my luck as soon as I sat down to eat my mother would turn up. That said, the longer I sit here contemplating the more chance there is of that happening. God I hate you, universe!


10.42 a.m:

Eating a banana. What pizza should I have? Subsequent to that thought I begin thumbing through takeaway menu.



10.55 a.m:

MY MOTHER HAS BROUGHT FLOATY HELIUM BALLOOOOOONS

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH heart heart heart

Going offline now, time for PRESENTS AND STUFF! 8D



11.05 a.m:

No presents as of yet, only further preparation for festivities. I are cold. =<



11.22 a.m:

Made list of the photos I want done this afternoon, made list of things to do before we go and stuffed it down Gog's new t-shirt - SUPER GOG! No presents opened yet. Mother is going out of her mind with last-minute arrangements. Trying to teach grandparents how to work video camera. Have taken photos of decorations.



11.34 a.m:

The minute I was born. Family sing to me, as tradition dictates:

Loth'ta nos'tangi ulu dos~
Loth'ta nos'tangi ulu dos~
Loth'ta nos'tangi d'anthe Astrid~
Loth'ta nos'tangi ulu dos~

.....Wait, no. Translate that back. >3>;

AND NOW IT IS TIME FOR PRESENTS JSDHFSJKHFSKJSFF



11.50ish a.m:

I laugh SO hard at my nan's shaky handwriting on her card and the fact that when asked for her thoughts on my birthday the night before she recited the exact same message!

12.20 p.m:

I am informed that we have no time for pizza. 8[ I am deeply saddened by this news.

Preparing a microwave lunch.


12.30 p.m:

Lunch is ready. I plan to eat with my mother, but she fusses about her pierced/unpierced ears. I squirm.

After eating I must do my face, eyes + teeth, dress simply to go off to the hairdressers' for 1.30.

I am wearing pink deely-boppers on my head.


12.33 p.m:

I spend a few moments torturing the cat.


12.40 p.m:

With a sudden startling crash, a million birthday cards fall through the letterbox! Waaagh!

With a sinking heart I find my exam timetable amongst the pile of well-wishes. =(


12.45 p.m:

I remember to take my inhalers! Win!


12.50 p.m:

Case off my camera is missing, ipod is missing, sellotape is missing - why is everything missing?!


12.52 p.m:

Should I bring one of my new handbags? No, I decide against it. The loss of my ipod weighs heavily upon my heart...


1.13 p.m:

We leave. We are late. Very, very late. Oh look, a muddy sheepdog collie in the park!

The sun has come out after sleet this morning.


1.15 p.m:

Forgot to mention we are going to the Carvery on Sunday for an official birthday meal. It's a Chinese restaurant.


1.16 p.m:

I wonder if they have Chinese restaurants in China?


1.17 p.m:

I wonder if they're called Chinese restaurants, or just regular restaurants?


1.18 p.m:

I wonder if there's such a thing as a British restaurant?


1.19 p.m:

I wonder what it feels like to have only one eye?

The cleddau looks lovely today.


1.20 p.m:

I wonder if I could be a radio DJ?


1.21 p.m:

Need to pray that mother won't get us killed en route to Andrew Price.


1.22 p.m:

I wonder if I could be a hairdresser? (Probably not.)

JLS' "One Shot" is on the radio. I have this song and a remix on my ipod... :[


1.23 p.m:

I wonder if Andrew Price is dead?

- My mother informs me that Andrew Price is in his 40s and used to be a druggie.


1.24 p.m:

A female pheasant runs across the road! Good luck?

Mum is speeding atrociously. I fear for my life.


1.25 p.m:

What is it with treehouses? They're everywhere!

As I wrote that mum said 'they're everywhere!' about mice. LOL hurray for thought synchronisation?!


1.29 p.m:

SHEEP!


1.30 p.m:

Gasp! A branch fell off the tree into our path! Suicidal...?!


1.32 p.m:

HUUUOOOOOOOOOOOOHHHH 60 MPH UP A 30 MPH STREET

GHHJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJHHHOOOOGAGAH


1.34 p.m:

LMFAO car in front braked and the dog in the back did a forward flip!

AHAHAHAHAHAHAHA


1.35 p.m:

Parking + heading into hairdressers'. Wagh!


1.50 p.m:

Unable to reach hairdressers' before now - we had to park so far away, traffic terrible. We're half an hour late!


1.51 p.m:

Informed that we have been booked incorrectely - for a 45 minute set instead of a 1 and a half hour dress. Oh, god...


1.52 p.m - 2 p.m:

Ongoing negotiations with Alex, the man meant to be doing my hair, and the receptionist. While at first they are defensive, they become apologetic. I am shocked that the HAIRDRESSERS seem to have no clue how to DRESS my HAIR. They've never seen anything so long, and stare at it in amazement. I feel like I want to die, or cry, or both. My first trip to a hairdressers' is a disaster...


2.10 p.m:

Things seem to be sorted. I fall into a melancholy silence while a redheaded female dresser fluffs around with my hair alongside a younger guy named Phil. I prefer him to Alex. Alex made me feel stupid.


2.12 p.m:

It is decided that he will straighten my hair and drop it to the side, perhaps with some back-combing to give it body. The redhead largely dictated this.


2.15 p.m - 3 p.m:

Phil has gathered his equipment and begins work.

I sit in silence, enjoying the feel of my hair being combed.

He fumbles at first, unused to such a large amount of hair to work with, but eventually gets used to it.

Eventually I cheer up a bit (after ~1/2 an hour) and we begin to chat. Phil is turning 20 on Sunday and seems to be still in training. He tells me it takes 2 years to become qualified. The world is a blur as I have my glasses off. It is sometimes hard to hear over the hairdryers etc used by the other dressers.

With ~10 mins to spare Phil suggests coiling a French plait in at the bottom of my head as an added detail and to help support it + keep it forward. It looks wonderful and helps a lot! =)

We are given a loyalty card and a £5 voucher by means of apology. They knew the mess-up was their fault!

We dash down the road to the photographers'...



From here (3.05 p.m) onwards I lose sense of time. No clocks or watches.

I sit and watch as my mother has her makeup done. She's going first so she can help with mine + I don't have to sit around too long in my dress.

The makeup lady's name is Julie. She's reasonably quiet, but what she says is meaningful. We relate the Andrew Price disaster to her and she informs us that hairdresser training these days, unlike when she was trained, DOES NOT COVER hair DRESSING - putting hair up into a style. Huh. I feel like going back to the salon sometime + giving Phil a huge tip for his creativity and saving the day, but this may be impossible. Hmmm...

My turn. I'm good at sitting still.

Mum looks like a queen.

I put on my dress and have to go knickerless to make it flow correctly.

I believe I look like a man in a frock. ^^;

Rest of family arrives shortly after the photos begin. Lulz ensure - nan won't stop fiddling with her shawl, ga couldn't put his bow tie on X3

The photographer snaps me again and again. I am good at posing and holding poses. He says that I am beautiful.

I feel beautiful.

Family photos are lovely too. My smile is real! 8]

We spend ages snapping pics with my own cam after the shoot is done. COVERTLY, in case the photographer doesn't like it. He seems cool, though.

Just after 6 p.m:

Walking back to the car, we meet an old family friend - Dennis. That was nice, though I didn't remember him. He was a very nice man.

We collect the car (walking over the bridge, as this morning, made me feel queasy...) and then go to the Dragon and Pearl. I have duck in a hot bean sauce for a change. Mum and I leaf through a bridal magazine while waiting. The serving boy looks familiar, I think he's been there before. The boss lady is there as always - never see the man boss anymore - Robert Yau. Then again we don't really go on the busy nights anymore. I like the people at the D+P. Never ever ever seen the chef, though. He is an enigma!

On the way home I just enjoy the ride, occassionally glancing at my makeup in the mirror. Can't get One Shot out of my head. Write a little of this log. I love my family. My mother tells stories.

At my mum's house I am made to pose by the daffodils befor egoing inside. FREEEEEZING! Then go inside and eat - delicious! Their spring rolls are the best! I get a dab of grease on my top =(



7.10 - 7.20 p.m:

Sense of time regained! I write these entries down further to transfer them on here later.


7.40 p.m:

My cake is revealed to me - wow!

Mum insists on taking a million photos. Getting sick and tired of this now - tired is the key word...


7.45 p.m:

My makeup is removed.


8 p.m:

I snuggle on the couch in a duvet, thinking of you guys. Mmm... afew moments of respite is nice. I contemplate upcmoming developments to the guild and worry about my history coursework. So much for respite. No rest for the wickey, eh? I should try and get my mind off things.


9.15 p.m:

After a not-very-restful rest it's time to open the presents we didn't get round to this morning.

9.50 p.m:

collapsed on couch

auuuuuhhhhh


10.10 p.m:

ROAR


11 p.m:

BED


9.30ish April 1st:

I am informed that I may have pizza today =)))


12.30 p.m April 1st:

I finally obtain my pizza. All is right with the world. heart