Black is Night's Cope

TOS Marathon/Shatner!Love Fest

Thu, 06 Aug 2009 15:52:27 GMT

Bah, I'm sorry, I meant to post this last night, but I got caught up...I don't even know. I wasn't doing anything productive in any case.

I've got a few minutes before I leave for the station to pick up my cousin, so I thought I'd make the Meet-Up post I've been promising for a couple of days.

Here is a poll: (I like polls, they make things clear!)

View Poll: ShatnerLove Fest!

OK. To be clear, I'm in YORK. If the date of this gets sorted soon, anyone who wants to come can buy train/coach tickets and it'll still be pretty cheap. I think you can still be getting London-York for £30 or so if you book in advance (really must remember to book my train tickets home...)

I was thinking of spending the day/whenever people can arrive doing general cool GQMF things, before repairing to mine for the TOS marathon and ShatnerFest. I can put people up, it'll just have to be on the floor. Or the sofa if you're lucky.

Umm. I can't think of much else to say for this post. Date needs sorting primarily.

Cute!Shatner is *still* compelling you to come. How can you say no to cute!Shatner?? Plus - York - you get to come and be touristy and Star Trekky in York. Can it get any better? :D

Potential TOS/Shatner!Love Meet Up

Wed, 22 Jul 2009 18:41:26 GMT

I've been mentioning that I wanted to do this for a bit.

I want to invite you to York (UK) for a TOS marathon and ShatnerLove fest! This needs to be done.

I'm posting just about dates now, in case people from further afield want to make the journey to York (and it'll be worth it, I promise!) Buying train/coach tickets now should mean cheap advance fares :D

I have a free house from the 20th September, for one week. Now, the best date for me would be Tuesday 23rd September, as I don't work Tuesdays or Wednesdays on a normal basis. Alternatively, Friday 25th would also work, as I could call in a favour at work and probably get the Saturday 26th off.

ETA - OR - if weekends work better, Saturday 26th would also work for me :D I don't work Sundays.

So, any interest? *hopeful smile*

Cute!Shatner compels you to come!

ONTD_STARTREK MEET UP - THE AFTERMATH POST

Tue, 16 Jun 2009 23:37:48 GMT

OK.

OK.

OK.

THAT WAS SUPREMELY AWESOME YOU GUYS!

I had a FANTASTIC time meeting you all, and seeing the film with everyone and colouring in the middle of London with everyone staring and EEEEEEE!

This post is for you all to add your photos/videos/anecdotes/scanned colouring ins etc of the event that I can use to collate a post to ontd_startrek I'll have photos/macro text/scanned drawing etc up tomorrow, I just wanted to set up this post and get the ball rolling.

It can also act as some kind of friending meme thingy as we all has such an awesome time together.

So, here is a group photo! Please confirm to me who you are :D I don't want to get it wrong! Larger version below in comments.

L to R (please tell me if I have missed you out/got it wrong)

ms_treesap captainrosie 1up_mushroomxx _faeriequeen majestic_shriek bitterstar_x
placebobitch</div> sandwich_armada albion_lass shazz_chan lady_razzle takadainmate j_apollo dj_intheuk

And in this instance, missy_manic was taking the picture.

Is that everyone? Did I get it right? :D

My photos/other items will be up possibly late this evening (depending on how tired I am when I get back to York) or late on Thursday. I hope to make the post to ontd_startrek on Monday!

I couldn't resist the lure of photos!

These are just raw images. I'm planning on MOAR LENS FLARE, the macro of course, and anything else my mind thinks of. I'll get some videos up later as well.

The amazing journey of Cadet McCoy on his way into London!

SHIP ON A STICK!

GQMFing it up in American Apparel

We're walking, fuck yeah, we're walking!

I"VE GOT A SHIP MOTHERFUCKER, A SHIP!

Check out the bulges in that drawing! Specifically, Scotty. Yet Spock has none. WHAT IS THIS TRICKERY???

Serious colouring timez

Aww! bitterstar_x

Spock is despairing of our antics. IDK why...

audreybythesea is secretly the Enterprise.

MIRROR LENS FLARE FUCK YEAH????:D And some after movie poster love

SHIP ON A TUBE!

And so the Enterprise began the long and dangerous journey across the depths of London to deep in the heart of Herfordshire...

WA? Where did all that cut text come from??? Screw it, I'll sort it out later. I can't be bothered with messing with HTML right now, I be needing to pack

Please excuse the slight HTML FAIL - I'll sort it later, I don't have time right now! Train to catch!

So yes, photos/stories/videos you would like to be included in the meet-up post. (Or anything you don't want included, of course)

Much love and GQ-ness

xxx

ONTD_STARTREK MEET UP POST 3 - THE FINAL DETAILS

Mon, 15 Jun 2009 00:11:34 GMT

Ugh.

I am so tired. I apologise for any lack of coherency in this post - I will come back to it in the morning and make sure it says what I want it do, but I wanted to get it posted this evening.

Final plans are:

1. Meet at 6:30pm. Meeting place in Covent Garden Tube station exit, pretty much opposite Oasis. In the morning I'll add a picture of myself to this post so you know who to look for. I'll also have some sort of sign and possibly a stick with a star (or a starship...) on it or something. I haven't thought that far yet.

Here's me:

.

I think I may even be wearing the same top tomorrow, although I may not. I make no promises :D

2. Go somewhere for food and drinkies. Hopefully the weather will be nice and we can sit outside in a cafe and talk crazy GQMF stuff. And take lots of photos, make silly films etc. You get the picture :D Anyone got any good ideas what we could do? I liked that one of the other meet ups read out macros...I don't wanna be a copycat, but I think we should try and do something cool/amusing? Ideas?

Please bring, if you can, coloring pencils/pens/sparkles. dj_intheuk is going to bring these:

http://www.startrekanimated.com/tas_coloringbook.html

We shall add lens flare! SO MUCH LENS FLARE.

3. 8-8:15ish - head to the Empire Leicester Square. Squee lots. The cinema is currently empty other than a block of 8 seats at the back, so I think we should be fine getting tickets and sitting together :D

4. 8:30 - film showing begins.

5. 22:45ish - film ends. I imagine most people will head home at this point - I for one would like to get a train before midnight :D

Anything I've missed? Burning questions? Ask away!

If you haven't yet got my number and you think you might need it because you're going to be late/have a tendency to get lost, please PM me for my number and I will message you back.

Other than that, see you all on Tuesday!

ATTENDEES:
</a></b></a>majestic_shriek 1up_mushroomxx lady_razzle shazz_chan bitterstar_xmissy_manic dj_intheuk ms_treesap captainrosie _faeriequeen sandwich_armada
j_apollo takadainmate placebobitch audreybythesea albion_lass

Also on other posts, not yet responded here:
snortingcoke </b>

I make that 16 final respondees and 1 who has said they are coming but hasn't replied to this post. If everyone comes that will be 17 people! WOWOWOWOW.

ONTD_STARTREK LONDON MEET 16th JUNE PART 2

Wed, 10 Jun 2009 20:56:43 GMT

Hello!

1. Cinema listings are up. Which would be wonderful, if more than a handful of cinemas were still showing the film. It's leaving us :( We will soon only have the DVD release to look forward to (but that brings deleted scenes and Baby Spock and Oh!) Anyway, it may be that this meet and the other one are your last chance to see Star Trek on the big screen with a load of GQMFs. So be there!

I found 3 central cinemas that were still showing the film. The Odeon on Tottenham Court Road was stupidly expensive (over £10 for an adult ticket! I think not...I know the others are still not cheap, but they are at least under £10!) so I've made an executive decision and discounted that one. Which leaves:

Cineworld Shaftesbury Avenue Trocadero - 20:55 - £9.80 adult, £5.90 student

Empire Leicester Square - 20:30 - £9.95 adult, £7.95 student

Please comment with your preference. Personally, I am thinking the Empire, as the time is better, and the differences in price are not huge.

Also, booking tickets or just turning up? We should be fine, right?

2. Meeting time. I thought agreeing to meet at 6:30 would be good. Of course, you can arrive later if coming from work or something. If you message me for my mobile number you will be able to find us. Preferably text me first, I'm not a huge fan of answering numbers I don't know, even if I know it will likely be you wonderful lot, so I'll probably be OK.

Is that cool?

3. Meeting place. Here is a map of the area, for both cinemas, although the Empire is the only one marked. maps.google.co.uk/maps

Where would people like to meet. Ideas include: an initial meeting point at Leicester Square Tube, before heading to a *location*, meeting somewhere in Covent Garden, as I actually know that area pretty well such as in front of the Transport Museum, or OTHER. PLEASE SUGGEST.

4. What to do? Other than ZQ, of course. After meeting, I suggest we head to a pub/food place and drink/chat/eat. There are plenty around and en route to the cinema. Any other ideas/suggestions?

5. Anything I've missed? Feel free to poke me and let me know.

Current attendees majestic_shriek 1up_mushroomxx lady_razzle shazz_chan bitterstar_x (Possibly, depending on time and things)audreybythesea missy_manic dj_intheuk albion_lass ms_treesap snortingcoke captainrosie _faeriequeen sandwich_armada placebobitch j_apollo

Shatner Shatner Shatner Shatner

Wed, 10 Jun 2009 16:55:36 GMT

I found this on the b3ta boards, courtesy of drbroon (http://www.b3ta.com/board/9506688)

It is made of WIN!

I could watch it for hours....

*stares*

No, I'm gone. Just leave me here. I'll be fine..

ONTD_STARTREK LONDON MEET UP - Tuesday 16th June

Sun, 07 Jun 2009 18:00:46 GMT

PLEASE HEAD TO THE DETAILS POST WHICH HAS MORE FINAL INFOMATION ON THIS MEET. Here: Check out the details post - let me know what you think!
http://majestic-shriek.livejournal.com/38576.html

If you can't make the 16th, please check out this post here for the ALTERNATIVE MEET UP on the 20th June: http://chuckney.livejournal.com/16840.html

Current attendees
majestic_shriek
1up_mushroomxx
lady_razzle
shazz_chan
bitterstar_x (Possibly, depending on time and things)
audreybythesea
missy_manic
dj_intheuk
albion_lass
ms_treesap
snortingcoke
captainrosie
_faeriequeen

EDIT EDIT EDIT - General Vague Plan Current thinking IS:

Meet at 7pm-ish at a watering hole/food filled location (probably around Leicester Square area) for meet-up, get-to-know-yous and crazy fun times!

Go to a cinema in the same area between 8/8:30

END. Go home. Cry a little.

*****************************************************************

Please fill in this poll and comment if you can make the 16th and want to meet up! I hope so, as this is the only day I am down in London town.

IMAX is still an option till the 18th, I am informed? Does anyone know any better?

View Poll: ONTD_STARTREK MEET

EDIT - IMAX INFO - There is a showing at 9pm on 16th. We would have book seats fairly soon, the cinema is already pretty full. It would possibly be hard to all get seats together? Thoughts, people, thoughts?

EDIT - ALTERNATIVE CINEMA - Cool as IMAX would be, it does require prebooking, and a 9pm showing cutting it close for people to get trains back. Other options:

Cineworld Trocadero (Shaftesbury Ave) - 20:40 showing. (Would probs finish at 23:00)

Empire Leicester Square - 20:30 showing (Would probs finish at 22:45)

Odeon Camden Town - 20:10 showing (would probs finish at 22:30)

I don't think I can tell which cinemas will still be showing ST until Tuesday, or Thursday, whenever they release the times for the 12th onwards.

So, comment - would people be happy to meet at a normal cinema (for hopefully more people, and less stress) or do people want IMAX for reals?

Ho ho ho!

Thu, 25 Dec 2008 01:37:08 GMT

MERRRRRRRRRRRRY CHRISTMAS!

Sunday 30th November 2008

Wed, 03 Dec 2008 23:02:16 GMT

Wakey-wakey! A DIML of a 21 year old student at the University of York. Involves no studying, going to work, and copious Christmas lights

Follow me through the cut! 57 images total

Ugh. This is far far too early for a Sunday morning. Sadly, in the run up to Christmas, and working part-time in retail, I suspect I'm going to be seeing a lot more of this hour.

I find the time to take a quick shower to wake myself up for the day ahead

Of course, I still find time to quickly check my emails and the interwebz , even though I don't have time for it. I skip breakfast at home in the end, and just grab a coffee and a scone in Starbucks when I get to town. Having a Starbucks opposite work is not a good idea...

Dressed! Just need to do my hair (on mornings such as these, that involves brushing it slightly and hoping for the best) and my make up

I'm looking forward to opening my Advent Calendar tomorrow!

LJ Check!

Make up on. I'm not the greatest at make up, and I tend to keep it simplistic for work in any case.

I need some money for my Sunday Starbucks Fix so I raid my piggy bank, Norbert.

It's a beautiful frosty morning. So pretty!

All wrapped up and ready to cycle off to work.

Good morning York Minster! This really brightens my Sunday mornings because as I cycle closer to this wonderful building, I can hear the bells pealing and it's the most astounding sound. I wish I could take a photo of it.

I leave my bike parked next to the Minster. I never tend to forget where I've parked it.

Leave my stuff in my basket in the office. Oh, and there's my name. Whachaknow :)

The first job of the day is filling up. There are no customers get (it's about 9:30am) so I take advantage of this and snap a few shots of the back room.

Candles :) I enjoy smelling these whenever the shop is empty, deciding which I would like to buy, and never buying it.

This is part of the filling up list. It was 8 pages long. And that was just my half of it.

Pretty windchimes make the morning brighter.

I'm looking for some sticky hooks, but they're not where I thought they would be. Sigh

It's now 11:15, and I've been run off my feet, because we've been busy since opening at 10.

I'm now making sure all the bags are out on the shop floor. Almost there, Pacemaker are the last lot I have to check.

Sneaky picture of the shop floor. It's almost 2pm, and my lunch time!

I'm free for an hour! Yay!

The streets are far too busy to hang around in, so I dash out, get a drink and dash back to the vague warmth of the shop.

Ah! Work, I spy you there, waiting for me to return.

I don't work very far away from the Minster.

Some other things that we sell. Our Christmas window is stunning. I can claim no responsability, sadly.

I eat my sandwich. It was very yummy.

Om Nom Nom, chocolate fix

It's almost the end of my lunch break, but my supervisor tells me I can have another 10 minutes on my break because I need a paid break as well.

I'll let you see me properly now that I've woken up, and my hair has dried.

I quickly check when my next shift is - Monday, 12-4. I end up not going to this shift. In between this photo and the next I twist my knee walking down the stairs. Utterly lame. It really really really hurt, and I had to take another break. :( In between the next two hours of work and the rest of the evening it hurts even more, so I decide it needs rest. I've dislocated it twice, and twisted my other knee numerous times, at a rate of about once a year. It's very annoying.

I spend the rest of my shift on the tills.

Hello Christmas shoppers :) Please spend money on lovely fair trade gifts :)

One hour to go till home time...

One of our Peruvian nativities. I bought one of our smaller ones to decorate with this evening.

I adore Christmas lights :)

Back to my bike in the light of the Minster.

I try to call my boyfriend to find out what train he's getting back to York, but I don't get an answer. Woe.

I'm home, and limping. Great.

Hmm. Need to tidy a little so that we can decorate the house :)

Back onto the computer. That's my cat, Timmy. He lives at home with my parents. I miss him lots, and really wish I could have a cat here. Sigh.

Bill texts me to let me know he'll be back late. I don't hear from him again, until the next morning. His phone ran out of battery and he ended up going out for his sister's birthday. So I had another night without my boy. I'm getting used to it - even if I don't like it!

We've been decorating! Window lights to cheer up the street.

A tree in the living room

Tinsel and our mini mini nativity.

Trees 2 and 3 in the dining room and kitchen. We like Christmas spirit. :)

Emma decides to take photos of the decorations as well.

Santa Teddy in his sleigh!

After decorating, it's time to play Mario Kart on the Wii :) Emma is getting pretty good at it!

Mario Kart Wii! It wasn't just Emma and me - our other housemate Zoe was there as was her fiancee, but I don't know them that well so didn't just want to take random photos of them!

Twenty to ten. Too tired and knee achy to do anything else this evening, and I'm still wondering where Bill is...

Morven calls me for a chat, but either one or both of our phones is playing up and we keep getting cut off. This is very frustrating. We resort to MSN instead.

Check the Book of Face (my profile picture is me in Chile with some of my old students!)

And watch this evening's Top Gear on iPlayer, because we were decorating all evening instead. Morven meanwhile, is getting excited about CHRISTMAS!!

It's time for bed, as it becomes apparent that Bill isn't coming home, and I need to be up early in case I need to ring work about my knee. Which I do. Charge the phone up...

And off to sleep, about 12:30am. Eisbert will have to do for my snuggles this evening. Night night!

Previous ADIMLs are here and here
New friends welcome! (I haven't posted much recently, but keep meaning to. 3rd Year is far too busy-ful)

Last minute essay. Progress as it occurs.

Wed, 20 Jun 2007 22:23:49 GMT

So, I had a few weeks to write this essay.

A few weeks disappeared.

It's due in tomorrow. Morning. (Well, afternoon, but I agreed to work, and then remembered. Bugger.)

So.

11:15 (or so) ESSAY BEGINS.

11:26: 178 words written. Main body begins.

11:39: 392 words written. I have no idea what I'm talking about or where I'm going with this.

11:49: No progress. Slight depression has kicked in. Thoughts of relationships (or complete lack of relationships and how everyone else seems to get one except me. Or how everyone elses seems to work out except mine. And how I still think about him. I thought about telling him. If I sink a bit further, I might.)

11:58: 561 words. Still no idea what I'm doing. I want to tell him I still think about him, but that would be
silly. It is silly.

00:03: Am distracted by Papi Ricky. Debate whether putting on Chilean TV would severly damage my already crap essay. Decide not. Turn off iTunes, turn on live Canal 13 stream.

00:05: Get distracted by The Simpsons in Spanish. Man, I missed these voices.

00:08: Get distracted by adverts. Ah, Chile. PORQUE NO ESTOY AYA???

00:12: Feel like crying.

00:21: 628 words. Hmm.

00:33: 708 words. ARGHHSDHG

00:42: ARGHSHGHS. I want to write 1500 before I go to sleep. I can bang off another 1000 in the morning. Maybe.

00:55: 792 words. Eeek.

01:06: 854 words. Have hit a block. Don't know what to write now. Have turned off Papi Ricky. Too distracting. Distracted by text messages instead. *snivel*

01:30: 933 words. Am distracted by thoughts of directing.

01:45: 1067 words. Am for some reason listening to a Christmas song.

02:09: 1326 words. Have somehow managed to include "The Pirates of Penzance" in an essay on Anglo-Saxon atttudes to the past. I think my brain may have left the building.

02:28: 1354 words. Am going to sleep. Continue in early morning. Too tired now. Brain adled. Have added some references. Gah. Essay is pile of crap.

07:45: Am awake. Essay: 1354 words. 1000 or so to go. I have no idea what else to say. I appear to have written a perfect 1500 word essay (again.) Am evidently not capable of longer essay.

08:58: 1565 words. ATRGHSHGHSH. I can't find 1000 more words. I'm going to stuff some words about DNA evidence in there and hope for the best. Ah well.

09:26: 1827 words. I give up and print the thing. Will stick in a note apologising for lack of words. It's only procedual. At least it's on time.

My Celebrity Look-alikes

Wed, 28 Feb 2007 17:31:48 GMT

My cool celebrity look-alike collage from MyHeritage.com. Get one for yourself.

Mon, 26 Feb 2007 00:30:04 GMT

New teleseries for me to be obessed with on Canal 13! It's called PAPI RICKY (Daddy Ricky) and I have one thing to say:

Yum! He's still my favourite :D

It hasn't started yet - but it will in a few days. Here's the link, in case you are also obessed with the wonderful world of Chilean soap operas. Don't go there, it's very dangerous. And addictive.

Memy things

Tue, 23 Jan 2007 21:53:23 GMT

Taken from draconravie

1. Can you cook?

2. What would you do if you were stuck in an elevator?

3. What talent do you wish you had?

4. Favorite place?

5. Favorite vegetable?

6. What was the last book you read?

7. Are you Dirty or Clean?

8. Any Tattoos and/or Piercings?

9. Worst Habit?

HERE COMES THE FUN ... ... ...

1. Do we know each other outside of live journal?

2. What's your philosophy on life?

3. Negative or Optimistic?

4. What was your dream growing up?

5. Worst thing to ever happen to you?

6. Would you give me money or a slap in the face?

7. Tell me one weird fact about you:

8. Would you have my back or kick me when I'm down?

9. Do you Trust me?

10. Have you ever kept anything from me?

11. What do you think of me as a Person?

12. Do you think I'm sane or insane?

13. Would you cry for me if I died?

14. Would you be my crime partner or my conscience?

15. If you could change anything about me, would you?

16. How do you fall asleep?

17. Would you come over to yell at me or just call?

18. Would you go on a blind date if I set you up?

19. If I only had one day to live would you be honest or lie?

20. A million bucks.. what would you do with it?

21. What is your worst fear?

22. Favorite thing to do in your spare time?

23. How many times did you curse at me while filling out this thing?

24. Can you sing or dance?

25. In one word, how would you describe me? Be honest....

26. Do you think im cute/ugly/sexy/beautiful/hot/okay?

27. Will you repost this so I can fill it out?

Mon, 01 Jan 2007 02:57:16 GMT

New Year Meme stolen from jacinthsong
Happy New Year everyone!!!

1. What did you do in 2006 that you'd never done before?
Travelled through Chile, Argentina and Bolivia. Learned to speak decent Spanish. Came home from Chile. Started university. Stood for election as campaigns Rep. Was elected Campaigns Rep.

2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I don't think I made any last year, I was too caught up with being in CHILE, and travelling, but I suppose my main wish was to learn to understand Spanish, and I did, so...I'm making a few this year - make a real real effort to lose weight, you can do it, you know you can. Also, procrastinate less, actually devote time to work. Cook more. And socialise more, make an effort to do what I want to do, and force myself out there and talking to people.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
No.

4. Did anyone close to you die?
No.

5. What countries did you visit?
Chile, Argentina, Bolivia, Fuerteventura

6. What would you like to have in 2007 that you lacked in 2006?
More money to live off. A paying job. A flight back to Chile.

7. What date from 2006 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
23rd August. I came home from Chile. It's a big moment.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Learning to speak Spanish and surviving my year in Chile, then managing to come home and readjust and start university and begin to make friends, but continue to think about Chile and plan my return.

9. What was your biggest failure?
Failure to socialise, to cement friendships, to have the confidence to just go out there! Failure to lose weight, and failure to put any decent amount of work in my first term at uni.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
I fell of a bike on the worlds most dangerous road in Bolivia and bashed my head. Other than that I escaped relatively unscathed

11. What was the best thing you bought?
Manjar. Lots of manjar. And my poncho. It truely is a dream

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
Luisa Norambuena, for being a source of stability and love for those kids in La Legua for 4 long years. And many others who work in Colegio Manuel Vicuna

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
I don't know, or can't say

14. Where did most of your money go?
Bad things in the second part of the year. Food, drink etc etc. In the first half, travelling and souvenirs.

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
CHILE!!! And I still am. I think about Chile every single day, and that can't be right, or normal. Spanish got me excited, when I realised I could speak it! English teaching excited (and depressed) me. The kids excited (and depressed) me. Starting uni excited and depressed me. Realising I COULD write essays.

16. What song will always remind you of 2006?
Many many Spanish things, but especially Shakira: "Hips Don't Lie" and other cheesy things from uni like "The One and Only"

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder?
Umm, this time last year I was pretty happy because things were starting to fall into place in Chile and I had 2 long glorious months of travel around the whole country to look forward to! So, all things considering, at this exact time last year, I'm, probably sadder now.

ii. thinner or fatter?
Right now, fatter. Damn.
iii. richer or poorer?
Oh, infinetly poorer. I permanently have no cash and really need a job.

18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Made more of an effort. Socialised more. Worked.

19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Procrastination and hiding

20. How will you be spending Christmas?
I spent Christmas with my mum and dad on a beach called El Cotillo in Fuerteventura. We then went to a cafe, and then to our flat for our tradtional Christmas curry which was very yummy.

21. Did you fall in love in 2006?
I fell in love with a country.

22. How many one-night stands?
None.

23. What was your favorite TV program?
Descarado (Chilean soap) and Doctor Who. I didn't see much TV in 2006.

24. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
I don't think I hate anyone.

25. What was the best book you read?
I haven't read many books this year, but I was impressed to be able to read and understand La Joven de la Perla (The Girl with the Pearl Earring) in Spanish, and it was pretty good.

26. What was your greatest musical discovery?
The world of Spanish music, which I am only just develing into

27. What did you want and get?
Bags.

28. What did you want and not get?
Close deep friendship.

29. What was your favorite film of this year?
Machuca (which I got on DVD for Christmas, YAY!!) But it's not of 2006. I just saw it in 2006. That counts. Otherwise, Broken Flowers and Match Point were pretty good

30. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I turned 19, and I was in San Pedro de Atacama. I met up with Nick and his friend Jimmy and spent the day with them. We went to the Pukara de Quitor (got sunburnt, lept over "dry" riverbeds which were now wet) and then went on a Valle de La Luna tour. Unfortunately they had to go back to Calama, so I spent the evening dining alone in a very nice restaurant with a fire, and live music and generally had a good time. Upon my return to Santiago Leo and I had a joint birthday thingy with the family and got some presents and a cake.

31. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Not having to leave Chile. Still being there right now.

32. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2006?
Clothes are functional things. I wish I looked good in pretty clothes.

33. What kept you sane?
Crappy Chilean soaps, the kids at school, my cats, my mum.

34. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
David Tennant. So cute :)

35. What political issue stirred you the most?
Well, I was stirred to demostrate on student top up fees, but the thing that affected me most was the student strikes in Chile and recently Pinochet's death and the reactions some people gave to it really really riled me.

36. Who did you miss?
My cats, my parents

37. Who was the best new person you met?
I met Jenneh ( silverlycan) at the end of the year which was wonderful, especially to meet her at her wedding. Dany (computer guy from Chile) follows close behind, one of the best, and friendliest people I have met. And all of M Block, who you can't fault (well, much)

38. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2006:
All good things must come to an end.

39. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
Oh, I don't know...I need more time to think of this one.

40. Overall, have you been a good boy/girl this year?
Yes in some ways (I learnt a lot about myself, and my good points bad points etc) and no in others (I still haven't overcome those bad points even though I have a fair idea of what they are.