J is for … Just Engaged!

I haven’t blogged properly for ages. I guess this is down to one thing. I’m really happy. When I’m happy I want to spend all my time with the thing that makes me happy. And right now that ‘thing’ is Nathan.

This weekend Nathan took me to Scarborough. He booked us into a B&B on the North shore and planned for us to spend a weekend in the place that I love most in England. It was everything I ever wanted. Nathan took me out, wined and dined me, took me to the Sealife centre and then it happened….

When we were almost done for the weekend and very tired, we walked along the main beach and held hands. It was when we stopped to look out to the sea that Nathan got on one knee, pulled out a beautiful wooden box and opened it to reveal the most amazing ring. He looked a little embarrassed but also really happy. He beamed the most sparkly smile. His eyes were full of hope and excitement.

Of course I said yes straight away. I love him very much. We must’ve hugged for only a few minutes after, but it felt like forever. The world stopped. It was exactly what I wanted. To be asked to marry the guy of my dreams in the palce I love the most in this country.

I am so happy!

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K is also for … Karaoke

I love karaoke. Karaoke is one of those things that I’d do every minute of every day, if I could. It’s for a number of reasons; the thrill of being up in front of people who are paying you attention, the chance to do something you love and there’s also a level of competitiveness.

Have you ever tried Singstar on the Playstation? It’s bloody brilliant. You can sing and karaoke on your own, practice and perform, or you can play with friends. I don’t think I’ve ever used this on my own, but it’s great for things like girls nights. The last time I played it was at a friend’s house a few weeks ago. We all had a go, even those that wouldn’t get up in front of people normally, because it’s just a friendly laugh.

However, I’ve had sing-offs with karaoke before. There have been times at my favourite karaoke night in Sheffield where one or two people have considered themselves the best karaoke-er in the room, and needed a bit of a slap down. Sometimes the karaoke-off is a duet where you just try to outsing the other. Sometimes, you both choose a difficult song and try to sing it the best. There’s lots of ways to do it, but they all end in one being praised as the better singer. It’s fun if you need a competitive edge to your karaoke.

Most times, however, it’s just for fun. It’s great taking a song you know and love and bringing it to life, whether you’re good at singing or not. I know I’ve played ‘Yorkshire karaoke’ on more than one occasion. This is a game where you try to Yorkshire up the lyrics of a classic song. My favourite to do this with is ‘Build Me Up Buttercup’ by the Foundations. “Why does tha build me up, Buttercup bab-by, Just to let me daaaaarn, and Mess me ‘raaaand….”

K is for … Kes

Resisting the vain and egotistical opportunity to name this post ‘K is for Kirsty’, I decided to write about one of the best films / books / plays of all time. Set in 1960s Barnsley, the story follows a young lad, Billy Casper, as he struggles with school, bullies, his brother, his lack of a father figure and his part-time pocket-money job.

Using true-to-life language and situations, Barry Hines wrote a novel which encapsulated the lives of many lower class youngsters from that era. As a teacher, I find it fascinating to teach due to it’s richness in character building, scene setting and comedy, but it’s also enjoyable to read and watch with no educational purpose at all. I was first introduced to the film by my dad, who loves it more than most other things in life. My dad loves the film so much that when we were younger, he took me and my brother to a playing field so he could reenact the football scene with us, film it, then edit into his very own copy of the film.

If you’ve never seen it or read it before, at least look it up on wikipedia and see if you might like it. It’s amazing.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Kestrel_for_a_Knave

Another fyi that links to this story …. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1367206/The-real-life-Kes-Schoolboy-befriends-jackdaw-walks-school–inseparable.html?ITO=1490 Interesting if you already know and love the story.

L is for … Language

La langue est une chose drôle. Il peut donner dans le sentiment tant de choses ; la colère, le bonheur, l’amour, la crainte et ainsi de suite. La langue est la façon vous pouvez partager vos pensées et vos idées. Il peut créer la plus belle, effrayante, littérature de pensée-provoque. Il aide des gens pour faire la musique. Il vous permet d’aimer et détester. C’est tant de choses, mais en même temps, seulement une chose. Il vous permet d’apprendre et gagner la connaissance avec l’usage de questions et de réponses.

Die Wörterbuchdefinition dieses wondorous scheint Ding, ihm Gerechtigkeit nicht zu machen.
•Kommunikation von Gedanken und Gefühlen durch ein System von willkürlichen Signalen, wie zum Beispiel Stimmenklänge, gestikuliert, oder geschriebene Symbole.
•So ein System einschließlich seiner Regeln zum Kombinieren seiner Teile, wie zum Beispiel Wörter.
•So ein System, als gebraucht durch eine Nation, Leute, oder andere abgesonderte Gemeinschaft; oft mit Dialekt verglichen hat. Diese Definitionen machen Sprache scheint mild und typisch, wenn wirklich es irgendetwas aber die Dinge ist.

Ci sono così molte cose che possono essere realizzate con l’uso di lingua. Lei può dire qualcuno lei li ama e vede la loro luce di faccia su mentre lei sente il suo digiuno di punizione di cuore. Le persone possono usare la lingua per risparmiare dei paesi dalla guerra. Le parole possono essere usate per comunicare delle cure per i problemi che tormentano il corpo, la mente ed il mondo. Le parole possono essere usate per calmare delle situazioni difficili.

Por supuesto, el idioma puede causar los problemas también. Usted lo puede utilizar para decirlo que odia que ellos y para explicar su odio. Puede arruinar las relaciones, pierden dolor de amigos y causa. Puede trastornar alguien más allá de la reparación de palabras adicionales. Puede preguntar cosas que necesitan para no ser preguntadas. Es una lástima que tal cosa asombrosa puede ser utilizada para ambos bueno y malo. Pero supongo que eso es la naturaleza de la mayoría de las cosas.

M is for … Music

I’ve never met a person who could survive happily without music. Music is such a huge part of the culture in England that it would be hard to escape it. I don’t think it really matters what kind of person you are, everyone can relate to at least one song.
I think songs can sum up your life, songs can change your emotions and songs can help you.
My favourite songs are often those that convey some sort of idea of feeling that I have either felt before, or can relate to and empathise with. Aerosmith songs are good examples of that. I feel that “Cryin'” is one of the most emotive songs I have ever heard. It’s the reason I have an Aerosmith tattoo. The lyrics are explosive and powerful, showing that one person can truly change your life, albeit for the worse. The emotion that is portrayed is so strong that you can connect your own experiences with those that are in the song. That’s the sign of remarkable music.

CRYIN’

There was a time
When I was so brokenhearted
Love wasn’t much of a friend a mine
The tables have turned… yeah
‘Cause me and them ways have parted
That kinda love was the killin’ kind
Listen…

All I want is someone I can’t resist
I know all I need to know by the way
That I got kissed

I was cryin’ when I met’choo
Now I’m tryin’ to forget’choo
Love is sweet misery
I was cryin’ just to get’choo
Now I’m dyin’ ’cause I let’choo
Do what’choo do down on me… yeah

Now there’s not even breathin’ room
Between pleasure and pain
Yeah you cry when we’re makin’ love
Must be one and the same

It’s down on me
Yeah I got to tell you one thing
It’s been on my mind
Girl I gotta say
We’re partners in crime
You got that certain something
What’choo give to me
Takes my breath away
Now the word out on the street
Is the devil’s in your kiss
If our love goes up in flames
It’s a fire I can’t resist

I was cryin’ when I met’choo
Now I’m tryin’ to forget’choo
Your love is sweet misery
I was cryin’ just to get’choo
Now I’m dyin’ ’cause I let’choo
Do what’choo do to me

‘Cause what’choo got inside
Ain’t where your love should stay
Yeah our love sweet love ain’t love
‘Til you give your heart away… yeah don’t fade

I was cryin’ when I met’choo
Now I’m tryin’ to forget’choo
Your love is sweet misery
I was cryin’ just to get’choo
Now I’m dyin’ to let’choo
Do what’choo do what’choo do down to…
Baby baby baby baby ba ba ba…

I was cryin’ when I met’choo
Now I’m tryin’ to forget’choo
Your love is sweet misery
I was cryin’ when I met’choo
Now I’m dyin’ ’cause I let’choo
Do what’choo do down to…
Baby baby baby…

I was cryin’ when I met’choo
Now I’m dyin’ to forget’choo
Your love is sweet misery…
I was cryin’ when I met’choo
Now I’m dyin’ ’cause I let’choo…

N is for … Nathan

It’s not been very long at all and yet it feels like it’s been forever. Being with Nathan makes me think into the future, makes me happier about my past and makes me glad to be in the present.

From the word go we were practically living together. And it felt right. Some people might think that it’s moving too fast, but I can’t remember the last time I felt this happy to be around someone. He always tries his hardest to make me feel special, whether it’s with physical gifts like flowers, telling me how much he cares, or writing me poetry. He’s the most thoughtful person I’ve ever met.

Relationships don’t define you, but they certainly change who you are. I feel like a better person just for having someone like him wanting to be with me.

The poem I wrote about him at Christmas says it all really;

Christmas Wishes

I don’t need a present,
To make my Christmas pleasant.

I don’t need a toy,
‘Cos you’re my favourite boy.

I don’t need a snowman,
When you’re my one and only man.

I don’t need any wine,
Not when you’re all mine.

I don’t need any Christmas beats,
You’re my only Christmas treat.

I don’t need a big tree,
Not when I know you love me.

I don’t need Santa Claus,
I just need to be with you and pause.

I don’t need gifts to undo
Especially when you promise to be true.

I don’t need anything you can buy
I’m yours already, ‘til I die.

O is for … Obituary

Have you ever wondered how people might remember you when you’re gone? I have. Not necessarily in a morbid way, but a bit of a reflective way. Like, how do people currently think of you and would that lead to a positive memory when you aren’t around anymore?

We had a task once in secondary school, probably in year 7 because it’s quite a simple writing task, to create what we thought our own obituary would be. I can’t remember exactly what I thought, but I guess it was something general like “In loving memory, Kirsty Chapman, a wonderful wife, mother, child and friend. An inspiration to a generation.” It won’t have been much more than that, although, as it was for class, it was probably in a little more detail.

I don’t know why I started thinking about this today, but when I did I began to wonder whether that is really what it would say. Am I really a good friend? Will I be a good wife and mother? Have I been the best daughter I could be?
“In memory of Kirsty Chapman. An average friend, a below par child. She never found anyone willing to stay with her and was best off not having children. She survived in a decent job. If only she could have achieved more.”
I hope not.