Blogosphere - Week 3

Ooh I've had a lovely weekend; a fabulous combination of friends, wine, friends, shopping, cider, sightseeing, beer and, um, shopping!

 Friday I saw a friend who's returned from two years living and working in Brazil. Ended up playing 'Fives' in Opal Bar, drank too much wine and left my cardi in there. Rats!! At least it was only Primark.

 Hauled myself out of bed on Saturday morning for mentoring. I actually took my old diary from when I was her age so we could have a look at it together, then we did a bit of Maths (my favourite!).

Walked down to Brixton to take part in a Cash Mob, which is like a spending flash mob but the group descends on an ailing business to spend some cash and perk them up. My pal Katie works for Yelp who organised it. Following our spendathon, we went to the Duke of Edinburgh and sat out in the massive beer garden for hours, chatting and then went to Gyoza for noodles. Went to the Falcon and the Clapham North for a few drinks but was in bed by midnight..

..becaaauuuse today (Sunday) was megaLondonsightseeingday! Two of my lovely American rellies are visiting the UK so I planned a packed tourist-y day which I was equally as excited about as I've never explored London as a tourist, despite living near all of my life. In all, we managed to cover:

Buckingham Palace
Horseguards Parade
Parliament Square
Big Ben/Houses of Parliament/Westminster Abbey
Westminster Bridge
South Bank
Trafalgar Square
Oxford Street/Afternoon tea
Tower of London

Phew! I had free tickets to ToL through work which was fab as it's flaming £20 each! All in all, it was a really great day with lots and lots and lots of walking; I have a blister the size of a peanut to prove it. BLEUGH!
  Clockwise from top-left: Houses of Parliament in the evening, Cider on Saturday afternoon, Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, afternoon tea off Oxford Street, view from Westminster Bridge, National Gallery, Tower Bridge)

Dear Diary: 10/07/1999 (aged 14)

My right ear is really sore. I hope I'm not allergic to steel. In the park it was sooo funny. There were these 3 boys playing football & 2 of them went away and I changed my trousers behind the bush & I had my grey hotpants on & the boy left could totally see me & he told his friends that I had black knickers on! Then there were these 2 boys playing football who followed us. One looked like Clay from Take 5. Ugly, but ok.

Top Ten
1. Nick Carter lush
2. Joshua Jackson
3. Scott Robinson (nice new hair)
4. Jack Ryder
5. Paul Marazzi
6. Matt Le Blanc
7. Brian Litrell
8. Clint Moffatt
9. Freddie Prinze Junior
10. ? Homer Simpson




Katie Matey on Twitter -- Katie Matey on Bloglovin'

Dear Diary: 27/02/1996 (aged 11)

Woke up. Went to school and did times tables test. I got 46 out of 50 so that is fair. Had break and did english. Looks like I am going to have another penpal in america. I hope it's a girl! We are in new places. I am next to Ashley Urk Yuck Puke!!! At drama club Gemma got in a stress. Came home and did homework.

Katie Matey on Twitter -- Katie Matey on Bloglovin'

Frisky & Mannish

Last night I felt something. I felt sad that I’d lived for twenty seven years of my live and never before experienced the intense rush of joy that comes from seeing a Frisky and Mannish show. Well now I have!

I have always been a big fan of pop music; I used to have Smash Hits delivered to my house every Saturday morning when I was younger (and cried once when it didn’t arrive, but let’s move on) and could regurgitate all kinds of ridiculous facts about the latest new group, to the chagrin of my friends. I’d say my musical tastes have broadened somewhat since then, although still mostly contained in the Top 40, but pop music has a special place in my heart.

Only too aware of this, my housemate (and good friend) bought us tickets to see Frisky and Mannish at the E4 Udderbelly on London’s south bank last night. This act is hard to describe, but I’ll attempt - a seamless mélange of cabaret and live music under a big canopy of PARODY. There.

Dear Diary: 13/08/1999 (aged 14)

I so totally Y Nick Carter that I want to MARRY him! Aheeheehee. Leo bought in a DEAD mouse. Oh no. It's Friday the 13th! Nothing went wrong for me today. I want to hear A1's new song desperately. Did I mention I Y Nick Carter?

Katie Matey on Twitter -- Katie Matey on Bloglovin'

Email Home: 05/09/2011 (aged 26)

Kenya - Weeks 3 & 4

Hi all,

A quick note as the other volunteers have just arrived in the cafe next door for 'cake night', which is as amazing as it sounds. I'm foregoing 'Death by Chocolate' this week for a warm brownie on a sizzling platter topped with vanilla ice cream and hot chocolate sauce.

I'm now just beginning my final week in Kenya and it has just gone so quickly! This is the first week of 'term time' teaching, where we follow a set timetable and the days are much more structured (and longer). The classes are also much larger. As volunteers we teach the English and Science classes for our standard/grade, and I am teaching standards 5 (9-16 years old) and standard 1 (about 6-8). The huge age ranges arise since children can't progress to the next year unless they pass the year-end exam, meaning they can be held back (many years, it seems). The standard 1 children are mad, crave one-on-one attention and are very difficult to control so am lucky to be working in a duo. The standard fives are much calmer and the boys are generally more compliant than the girls.

From other volunteers and staff you learn how malnourished the children are. They never eat breakfast and dinner is generally deep fried potato (Kenyan food is VERY greasy). Many children come to school just for the free lunch (which itself is pretty crap, generally rice and boiled beans) so you do get a couple falling asleep in class before lunch as they're so hungry - at least that's what I tell myself. There are stories from other volunteers of children eating dried pasta from artwork and rice from musical instument shakers that were made because they're so hungry.

Dear Diary: 05/02/1997 (aged 12)

In Physics Mrs Espejo came in and started screaming at us for being so loud. It wasn't my fault though, I was working. She said who has been screaming and Chrissie started crying and she took her and Antonia out of the room! My heart was pounding in my chest and Charlotte and Anna were the ones being so loud.

Best thing today: Getting Superscape on the computer.
















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Dear Diary: 06/09/2000 (aged 15)

Went back to school today. It was ok, but we had to have lessons in the afternoon. Can’t wait till this weekend already. I look much, much better with a tan on my face. I hope it stays a while.

Can’t wait till my birthday but then again I don’t want 2 turn 16. For lots of reasons, none of which I can remember.

Rachel and I are going 2 C Scary Movie at the cinema. Lisa has had her hair cut. Looks ok:

Dear Diary: 28/06/2000 (aged 15)

Today was the worst day of my life. I felt like crying a lot. This is why:

1. BSB & Elton John are at Party in the Park
2. I left my school bag @ home & everyone laughed @ me
3. Broke pencil case
4. Couldn’t connect computer up to Hi-Fi.

1 good thing: I got Jessica Simpson’s new song Don Henley’s songs in MP3. I just can’t be bothered anymore! I SO BADLY want to get tickets to PITP!! Hayley is rubbing it in.

Love,

Katie Palladino

PS: In Smash Hits there was a picture of Nick getting a ‘tash! UHOH!!

Katie Matey on Twitter -- Katie Matey on Bloglovin'

Dear Diary: 26/01/1997 (aged 12)

Today mum made me go to Church in the morning AND in the evening. I have NEVER been so bored. Catherine was in the Guide parade but I forgot to show her my NEW gold nail varnish. Its really cool.

Best thing today: NOTHING I WAS BORED!!!!!!

Katie Matey on Twitter -- Katie Matey on Bloglovin'