Tumbling

Firstly, I just want to say Merry Christmas to all who celebrate it, and Happy Holidays to everyone else. My family have gone to the pub for Christmas Eve drinks, (or rather, my sister and her partner have gone out for drinks and my dad tagged along) so while my mum was in the bath and everyone else out, I thought I would watch the final episode of Tumbling.

I remember quite vividly my first impressions of this drama.

Literally, 'Hiro's voice *fangirls* ... wait ... what are those men doing on that mat ...hold on ... I'm watching a drama about MALE GYMNASTICS?'.

 From Google. Dear God, it looks like June of Camp Calendar 2011. Campest pose award goes to Nippori on the far right.

I don't know why I didn't get it from the title, but yes, this drama was all about the world of competitive high school boys gymnastics, and surprisingly, it was far from lame.

The plot focuses on a high school boys gymnastics club who is constantly over looked in favour of their female counterparts. The team is lacking in numbers, with only 4, where there are supposed to be 6, until the leader of the school bad boys, Azuma, is forced to join to make up for his low marks and allow him to graduate. At first, he finds it lame and pointless, as you can imagine, but gradually he gets hooked and it becomes his passion. One by one, Azuma helps the members of the club through their various problems, gaining more members as the series progresses, until they get to a competitive level. Then, they are sabotaged by one of Azuma's old friends, who obviously and understandably finds it hard to comprehend why the most feared and respected boy in not only the school, but the whole region, has given up everything to prance around in a leotard with other boys in skin tight clothes.

I'm not going to lie, I was dubious when I figured out what this drama was about, but the cast soon peaked my interest, a lot of whom were recognisable to me, and then it wasn't long before the plot got me hooked too. As with Buzzer Beat, another sports-centred drama, there were a lot of bath scenes, which were nowhere near as fun with a load of scrawny boys as they were with strong, hot, young men. The theme was strong and consistent; never give up on your friends, no matter what, which was lovely and a nice change from the romantic crap that normally seeps in somewhere or another. Sure, it got a bit repetitive, there was a few too many tears for an almost entirely male cast, and I cant say I thought much of the recaps mid-climax every episode, but it was fun and I enjoyed seeing the characters develop, especially all the yankees (delinquents) into fully fledged gymnasts.

Yuta, the team captain, was Hiro in Koizora and Satoru in Atashinchi no Danshi. Azuma was Tamaki in Ouran High School Host Club, Masaru in Atashinchi no Danshi and Kayashima in Hana Kimi. Ryosuke one of Azuma's followers, was Nozumu in Koizora and Nakatsu in Hana Kimi Remake, and well as being in Gokusen 3. Mizushima, old school tumbler who fell in love with Kiyama, was Kayashima in Hana Kimi Remake, and Samurai High School, as was Nippori, another yankee in a leotard. Kiyama, another bad boy turned gymnast, was in Ouran, Hana Kimi and Nobuta wo Produce, Satoshi, one of the old school tumblers, was in Hana Yori Dango 2, Shoko-sensei was in Zettai Kareshi, and Azuma's mum was in Tokyo Dogs and Kurosagi.

So, basically, it was something a bit different and I enjoyed it, although the one thing that this drama has left me with is a strong desire to try Omelet Rice, as they ate it A LOT.

So that its for Japanese drama's for a while! I'm excited, but I also feel a little sad; I really like picking up on bits of language through watching J-drama, but maybe I'll start to pick up Korean and Chinese. Anyway, back to #1 on dramacrazy.net's most popular list, so next up is You're Beautiful, the Korean version of Ikemen Desu Ne. I'm intrigued to how the two will compare ^^.

Yosh, that's it for tonight. Its now Christmas Day, my family have staggered in and flopped straight to bed, so I best follow suit, big day ahead and all that.

Or I may just watch You're Beautiful ...

<3 x

Kimi Ni Todoke

I feel bad for writing another review post when I only wrote one yesterday, but it was just a film, and obviously films don't take as long as a series to watch, so I'm forgiven, right?

Unless you are talking about High School Musical 3, that took me three days to watch. Too. Much. Cheese. I could only handle 30 mins at a time. But I digress.

Yeah, this film was enjoyable, if not predictable. It was sort of like Nobuta Wo Produce and a lot like countless mangas. It was exactly as I had predicted yesterday; super shy misunderstood girl meets super hot popular guy, she comes out of her shell and makes friends, he falls for her, she falls for him but doesn't understand what that means, they get together and live happily ever after. Sure, it was sweet and the characters were fun and it was very easy to watch, but the fact that I turned it off half way through in favour of sleep proves that it was nothing amazing. Normally, I choose what I'm watching over sleep without even thinking about it, and then watch another couple of episodes afterwards.

Also, I was a little freaked out by how the main guy smiled all the time. Like literally, he walked around smiling, looked out of windows smiling, sat down at his desk smiling, probably even smiled in his sleep. Yes, yes, I know, he was deeply in love and that makes you happy or whatever, but it was freaky. The only thing that made up for it was that I was just so happy that he was alive (this will make sense in the connections).

I have literally nothing else to say. Normally I can get at least three paragraphs out about the plot and my opinions, but I've said everything there is to share. I think this post sounds really negative. Its not, I really enjoyed it, and I'm pretty sure I was smiling the whole way through. I guess these days I am not so easily fooled into thinking a drama or film is awesome just because it is Japanese, as well knowing that it is the same plots being recycled over and over in subtly different ways. Also, this was listed at #47 I think, so obviously I cant expect it to be as good as the ones in the top #20.

The main guy, Kazehaya, was HIRO <3 in Koizora, as well as Kotaro in Samurai High School, and Gokusen 3, which I still haven't seen. The main girl, Kuronuma, is set to be Nao Kazaki in the new Liar Game (why do they recast the same character? Just get a new character). Yano, one of the girls to first befriend Kuronuma, was in Nobuta Wo Produce, but I have no idea as who, even though she seems to be a major character (it was a long time ago now).

Next, and last of Japanese media for a while, is Tumbling. I know nothing about this drama and unlike most others, I havent come across it anywhere else, but its #50, so here goes.

<3x

1 Litre of Tears

I had promised myself that I wasn't going to watch this drama until after I had finished NaNoWriMo and the short, but apparently I can't go for more than a few days without watching something Japanese, so I was about a quarter way through by the time NaNo was over and half way by the time I had finished the short. None the less, I finished NaNo (yay! 7500 words on the last day) and the short (45 hours work, not including the 6 hours it took to get there and back, in 3 days.) and have just watched the last two episodes and a somewhat pointless special today.

My expectations of this drama were that I would literally cry 1 Litre of Tears, as the title suggests. I probably did, although only in the last episode. Sure, the whole thing was super sad, and I did feel my eyes prickle a fair few times, but no tears until the end.

 The real Aya. You can see the determination that kept her strong in every inch of this photo.

Asou and Aya. From Google.

 

1 Litre of Tears is based on the true story of Aya, a young girl who, at 15, suddenly starts falling over for no reason, and discovers that she has a rare condition called spinocerebellar degeneration. Basically, one by one, she will lose the ability to talk and move freely, until she is even unable to eat without choking. Imprisoned in her own body, her mind is still completely her own, and Aya has no choice but to watch as the disease slowly robs her of her freedom. The idea of having to go through something like that is truly horrifying, but the story focuses on Aya's optimism and the strength of her family and friends, how she fought on to stay at school, to keep walking until it was utterly impossible; the whole time documenting her thoughts in a dairy that was published before her death at the age of 25.

Obviously there was a couple of romantic interests that I am not sure actually existed for the real Aya, but it is an Asian drama after all. Asou was Aya's main pillar of strength through out her illness, and even became a doctor to try and cure her (also, he was hot, almost as hot as Aya's doctor).

Yes, it was sad, and yes, I pitied her, especially when you are constantly reminded how this is a true story by photos of the real Aya over the closing credits, but it just didn't make me as heartbroken as I had expected, nor as hooked. I was quite content to only watch an episode every few days, instead spending most of my time watching Shinee's Hello Baby instead. Maybe I have just been in a mood to be cheered up rather than needing the opportunity to cry. Nonetheless, it was a beautiful story, well shot and very touching.

I was very concerned that there wasn't going to be any connections, not even a Gokusen link.
BUT FEAR NOT.
I don't know who any of them are in the other shows, but Kawamoto, the douche that broke Aya's heart because she was ill, was in Gokusen, Asou's friend Kouhei was in Gokusen 2, Nakahara, another of Asou's friends, was in Nodame Cantabile, Hot Doctor Mikuno was in the Hana Yori Dango movie and Nishino-sensei was in Ouran High School Host Club.

Next is the Kimi ni Todoke movie. I know this is a hugely popular manga and anime, but I cant say that I have ever been particularly bothered to read or watch it. I think its just a love story about a shy geeky girl and a super popular hot boy, nothing that hasn't been done a million times before.

<3x

Drama: Kimi ni Todoke
Manga: Same (not reading much, other than keeping up to date with new chapters of ongoing manga)

Yankee-kun to Megane-chan

I know, I know. You're thinking, yet again, how has she had time to watch another whole series when she should be super busy with NaNoWriMo? Well, I'm going to do exactly what I did last time with Ikemen Desu Ne, and just ignore the issue. ^^

I'll be honest, this series didn't keep me particularly hooked. I more watched it as light relief between writing and or avoiding doing actual work than I did because I was desperate to see the next episode. This is not to say I didn't enjoy it though. It was amusing and the characters were fun, as well as having enough action to keep it entertaining.

The story focused mainly on high school student Shinagawa, who was constantly targeted and coerced into fights by delinquents, who are known as Yankees, because he cannot be beaten, even though he actually wants to study hard in school to become a doctor. On the first day of school, he meets Hana, a girl with plaits and glasses who acts like a stereotype school girl, but is in fact trying to turn over a new leaf from her Yankee days in middle school, when she was the famed Hurricane Ada. The plot of the series is mostly about Hana trying to make Shinagawa join in with their class mates to enjoy their school lives together, with a little bit of random fighting thrown in here and there to add a bit on tension.

It was a good series, and having just watched the last episode, I was nearly in tears and laughing out loud throughout, so that's always a good sign. I particularly enjoyed the 'this development ...' moments, when Shinagawa was expecting Hana to confess to him when she wasn't. To be honest, Hana was to stupid to realise whether she liked him or not, and Shinagawa was majorly hung up over a girl who had lent him a pen at the entrance exams without even realising it was Hana all along. Basically, they are both stupid. I have to admit though, that whenever Hana went into a fight, I always half expected her to pull out her plaits and take off her glasses Gokusen style, not that she ever did. Also, I constantly got distracted by how Shinagawa actually had the mouth of a cat.

From Google. Hana being Hana, resorting to childish means to get Shinagawa to do what she wants. I wish you could see his cat mouth, but I couldn't find any decent pictures of it.

Shinagawa was in Gokusen and Tokyo Dogs, not that I can recall him in the latter, but that he was in Gokusen means he must be like late 20's and still playing high school students, so that's a little concerning. Hana's best friend and somwhat less reformed Yankee, Rinka, was also in Tokyo Dogs, again I have no idea as who, but was Haruhi in Ouran High School Host Club. Shinagawa's hot best friend was in Tokyo Dogs, Mei-chan no Shitsuji and original Hana Kimi.

Next on my list is 1 Litre of Tears, which is a a drama I have been hearing about for a long time as one that will make the title come true. I think I'm going to have to wait to start this one until NaNo is over and I have finished my short, because if its anything like Koizora, its best if I'm not around people for a while. 

Also, if I remember correctly, along with Nobuta wo Produce, it is SuJu's Heechul's favourite drama ^^ ....oh Heenim, I miss you.

ANYWAY, after this drama I only have one film and one drama until I have made my way through all the japanese dramas on dramacrazy.net's top 50. Then to go back and watch the other Asian ones, including different language versions of most of what I've already watched ... XD

<3 x

Drama: 1 Litre of Tears 1

Manga: Same

NaNoWriMo backlog: 6305 words (catching up! Wrote 5.5k today, hence finishing YankeeMegane treat ^^)

Nano 2010

I was just reading my posts about NaNoWriMo last November. They amused me.

At this point of the month in 2010, I was on just a fraction over 2000 words, and had just decided that finishing was totally feasible. Talk about optimistic.

I'm freaking out now because I have only just hit 20 000 words, leaving me 30 000 words to write in 10 days as opposed to the 10 000 words I have managed in the same time frame through out the month, although at least I'm not fooling myself into thinking it is achievable when it is not. Its going to be tough, but it is do-able. Its only a little over 2 500 words a day.

I know you're thinking that maths doesn't work, but I was rounding the numbers down and up, OK? Smart arses.

Anyway, time to stop wasting words on blogging.

<3 x

Drama: Yankee-kun to Megane-chan ep 6 (last nov I was still watching anime, oh, how I've grown up)
Manga: Hana Kimi 57 / Love so Life 7 / Black Bird (reread, again) 17
NaNoWriMo Backlog: 12 092 words (eeek)

Ikemen Desu Ne

Right, I know what you're thinking.

'How could Heather possibly be doing her review post of this new show she only started last week when it is NaNoWriMo? Surely she is far too busy WRITING 50 000 WORDS IN A MONTH to be spending all her time watching J dramas?'

ahem... so anyway ....

This show didn't make me nearly so ranty as I was afraid it would, and I managed to contain all afore mentioned rantyness to the edits of one post. That it not to say I wasn't practically screaming in annoyance to Mio's lack of recognition of Shu throughout the whole thing. I also nearly cried when she turned down lovable Yuki, even though it was super funny how he was all conflicted thinking he was in love with a boy, while Shu and Ren knew she was a girl pretty much straight away. But for the most part, it was really good fun and I even found myself cheering for Mio and Ren by the end.

I just love the comedy of these dramas. Obviously there were loads of things that could go wrong with a former nun taking her brothers place in a top idol pop group while he recovered in hospital, although literally everyone falling in love with her just because she is the only girl in the vicinity, no matter whether they realised it or not, is a little annoyingly unrealistic.

The manager of the group always came out with odd phrases in English, normally just bits like 'hurry up' or 'wonderful', but in the first episode, a minor problem had cropped up. Everyone else was like 'oh bother' while he stood up and screamed out 'HOLY SHIT', which amused me greatly. Obviously there was the whole falling on to the guy's lips, which was conversely followed up with vomiting into his mouth, which was new. Lots of dramatic hugging and barbie kisses too, which always amuses me.

Haven't had a picture for a while ...

From Google. Look how jealous they all are! Ren sitting on the left, Shu standing up at the back, Yuki standing up on the right, and Mio looking idiotic in the middle. The guy with his arm around her was in the Korean version, I think, playing Ren's character.

The only thing that really bothered me, other than the whole Shu thing, which I'm not going to go into it, I'm not going to say how lovely he was and how he took her on a telephone date and brought her loads but she didnt even know he was there, or how when he was telling her about the girl she liked, she was so heartbreakingly clueless that he was talking about her, and how he cried when she turned him down... where was I? Oh yeah, the thing that bothered me was the lack of relationship between Miko 'Mio' and the real Mio, her brother. Mio was supposed to get into showbiz for his sister, so they could meet their mother, who ended up long dead, and while we saw the conflict this gave Miko 'Mio', as far as we are aware, real Mio never saw his sister to hear the story. Obviously, they were the same actor so that was probably why, although it was impressive how much more manly they made real Mio, but it just didn't make sense to me that they were 'so close' and yet never bothered to see each other. Also, for a show with Ikemen in the title, basically meaning handsome guys, I didn't really notice that many hot men. Sure, Shu and Yuki were cute after you got over the fact that they were a little too pretty, and Ren looked much better when his hair was natural, but there was a distinct lack of hot manly guys. Throw in a Yamapi and it would have been much more agreeable.*

Connections. Ren was in the Gokusen movie, so there's the Gokusen link even though I haven't seen it yet. Jealous Nana who constantly threatened to reveal Mio's identity was also in Mei-chan no Shitsugi and Gokusen 3. Ren's Mum was in the original Hana Kimi special, although I have no idea as who. Wow, not very many connections here, although I didn't really recognise anyone, so that makes sense.

Now I'm back on my list after that little backtrack and next up is Yankee-kun to Megane-chan, something along the line of bad girl goes good and good guy goes bad, so that should be fun.

<3x

Drama: Yankee-kun to Megane-chan 1
Manga: Hana Kimi 57 / Love so Life 7
NaNoWriMo backlog: 10 128 words (damn it, and I was catching up!)



*I was wikipedia-ing Yamapi (Yamashita Tomohisa of Nobuta wo Produce, Kurosagi, and Buzzer Beat who happens to be rather hot) when I found some photos not leaving much to the imagination. I think I nearly got a nose bleed.

P.S. In other news, I downloaded Super Junior's Super Show 3 album last night, and on the track names, the solo's were in hangul, which obviously I cannot read.. I correctly identified everyone by just the sound of their voice ^^. I'm so cool.

WARNING

Remember my Hana Yori Dango rants about Makino always choosing Tsukasa the douche over lovely Rui?

Well, you very well may be getting some Ikemen Desu Ne rants over Mio choosing Ren the moody arsehole over super sweet Shu.

Just to forewarn you ...

<3 x

Drama: Ikemen Desu Ne ep 5
Manga: Hana Kimi ch 57 / Love so Life ch 7
NaNoWriMo Backlog: 7801 words



EDIT (after watching ep 6): AHHHHHHHH! He is SO SWEET! Definately cheering for Shu. I want Shu. I love Shu.

EDIT #2 (ep7): GAH girls in Jdramas make me soooo mad!! How is it that she cant see how amazing Shu is, how its always him that comes to her rescue and helps her, how he is so heartbroken that you are only looking at Ren? And how is it that you go all starry eyed over Ren telling you that he gives you permission to like him, but he wont admit that he likes you too?! What a dick!
OH YEAH, and at least you arent possibly Shu's SISTER.
.... somewhere in that I started ranting TO the character rather than ABOUT her, so thats a little worrying.I get far too involved in these things.

EDIT #3 (ep8) oohhh yeah, Shu fights back ^^ 'I won't let you have Mio!' *fangirl giggles*

Hana Kimi Remake

Well, I said I'd do a review post when they had finally subbed the last two episodes of the Hana Kimi Remake, so now they have, and now I've watched it, here it is.

You may remember my first impression of this drama wasn't a particularly good one. I didn't understand the point of making another version of a much loved classic Japanese drama just 4 years later, especially when there was already a Taiwanese version out there and a Korean version much rumoured, although still no sign of it yet. The characters were pretty much the same, and the first episode was just far too familiar.

From there on, it improved in my eyes dramatically. Yes, I know you are probably sick of me saying it, but I ENJOYED THIS SERIES IMMENSELY. Yeah, I may have known exactly what was going to happen, but that didn't stop me from looking forward to each new episode. It was light hearted, easy to watch, made me laugh and brought tears to my eyes. And Sano and Nakatsu were hot. I think I prefer them to the originals, although pretty much every other character will always be the actors from the 2007 Hana Kimi for me.

Connections. Pretty much sure that there won't be a Gokusen link as they are all too young. Sano was in the Koizora movie (knew there was a reason why I loved him so much, although I don't know who he was). Nakatsu was in TV Koizora (omg Nozomu!!) and Gokusen 3, so I stand corrected there, although he is 23 as opposed to everyone else pretty much being born in the 90's. Kayashima was in Samurai High School, although I dont know as who, and that about as many people I can be bothered to look up. I can't say I recognised anyone until I looked them up, and I'm particularly disappointed in myself that I missed Nakatsu being NOZOMU even though he made me cry in Koizora.

OK THIS IS NOT FUNNY. I just looked up who Sano was in Koizora Movie, and he was Nozomu too. HOW THE HELL DID I MISS BOTH OF THEM BEING NOT ONLY MAJOR CHARACTERS BUT THE SAME EFFING PERSON IN THE ONLY JAPANESE DRAMA AND MOVIE THAT I HAVE WATCHED MORE THAN ONCE?

Next is still Ikemen blah blah blah pissed off now.

Inappropriate Google Search

The last thing I searched for on Google was 'TAKEN YOUNG BOY'.

Kpop makes me sound like a pedophile.

<3 x



Drama: Hana Kimi Remake Ep 11 / Ikemen Desu Ne Ep 1
Manga: Hana Kimi Ch 57 / Love so Life Ch 7
NaNoWriMo Backlog: 8, 899 words

Gokusen II & Ouran High School Host Club

Woah. I haven't done a review post since July. That means its taken me just over three months to watch Gokusen II. The series I watched before Gokusen II, Buzzer Beat, took me a week to complete.

Its not that I didn't enjoy it, it just didn't keep me hooked. To be honest, it was all a bit same-y. Not just within the series, but to the previous series too. Class gets in to trouble, Yankumi saves them and in the process teaches them to be better human beings. They all graduate together even though every single one of them has been expelled and reinstated numerous times.

I still really enjoy the subtleties of the series though. Its so hard to explain unless you see it for yourself, but some things make you laugh out loud even though they are only hinted at or sometimes even totally ignored, and it is this that makes the repetitiveness worth it. Such as the Yakuza henchmen suddenly flaring up in anger at something that has been said against Yankumi, acting all tough and scary, and then retreating passively just as suddenly after a single look. Like I said, you need to see it really to understand. Its just constantly amusing. Another point about Gokusen is that in comparison to the other series I have watched, its just so old. It was aired in 2005 or something like that, so everything just looks a little dated now, especially the 'rebel' look of class 3D.

Obviously, some of the cast were in the first series, so there's your Gokusen link. One of the main guys, Ryu was in Yamato Nadeshiko Shichi Henge and Nobuta wo Produce. His friend, Tsuchiya, was Night the human robot who broke my heart in Zettai Kareshi. Apparently Shiratori-sensei was in Kimi wa Petto, but I can't place her, neither can I remember Baba-sensei in Tokyo Dogs, although it explains why he looked so familiar.

I also had been watching Ouran High School Host Club and Hana Kimi Remake on a weekly basis, and both have now finished, although the last two episodes of Hana Kimi are still being subbed, so I'll review that when I have actually seen all of it. Although, just as a taster, my impressions of it improved greatly after the first episode. But as for Ouran, loved it. So similar to the anime, and just as over the top, but it didn't ruin it. I just really enjoyed it. Similar to so many of the other J-drama's, it was easy to watch and enjoyable, but didn't stick with me enough to make me watch it again, probably.

It's about a poor scholarship student, Haruhi, who accidentally knocks over a vase and is forced to pay off her debt by working in the school's host club, even though she is a girl. The plot mostly focus' on her relationship with the rest of the club, especially Tamaki, the club's Prince that is clearly in love with her but refuses to admit it, instead pretending to be a father figure.

Yeah, I agree, that's a bit weird. Especially when he also refers to his best friend as 'Mother' and the rest of the Club as Haruhi's brothers. He did have family issues though. Everyone in J-drama's have family issues.

Haruhi was apparently in Tokyo Dogs. Tamaki was in Hana Kimi and Atashinchi no Danshi. 'Mother' Kyoya was apparently also in Hana Kimi and Nobuta. Mori was apparently in Zettai Kareshi, and Hikaru and Karou were in Mei-chan. I can't be bothered to look anyone else up right now.


Next is Ikemen Desu Ne. I'm skipping back the list a bit, because this one came in and jumped the charts even though its only just finished airing. Its a remake of a Korean drama, and I know Ikemen basically means hot men in Japanese, so I'm very hopeful that I'll enjoy this.

I have just realised the time. Its taken me an hour and a half to write this, and its not even like I don't have to get up. I just missed blogging, and having finished Gokusen yesterday, this seemed like a good excuse. I know no one gives a crap, but I like documenting what I've been watching, so suck it.

<3 x

Drama: Ikemen Desu Ne ep 1
Manga: Hana Kimi ch 57 / Love so Life ch 7

Sometimes, twitter is just too public

I am so sick of constantly being surrounded by so many people, and yet feeling so alone.

Ummmm ... Hello

I just wanted to write a super quick post to let you know, dear blog, that you are not forgotten.

Yes, it may be a month and a half since my last post, making it the longest in which I haven't posted since starting this blog 22 months ago (OK, I've even shocked myself there), but its not like I haven't been thinking about blogging. I just ... haven't.

The BBC job is going OK, I'm still halfway through Gokusen 2 and Hana Kimi, and Super Junior haven't been up to that much since the release of Mr Simple (unless you count Heechul going off to the army (sniff), or Leeteuk being on the new 'We Got Married'), so I haven't really had that much to talk about.

I have finished watching Ouran High School Host Club though, so maybe I'll do a review post soon.

Now, I have to go to bed as I have work in the morning.

At 7 am.

On a Sunday.

Sigh.

<3 x

Sleeping shhh

Today, in commemoration of the last day of beda, I was going to reflect on the mistakes over the past couple of weeks due to general tiredness that have been left intact on this blog for public amusement.

However, I am too tired to go through with the effort of reading through my past posts, however sparse they may be. My mum just had to drag me up to bed. Im impressed ice got this far without falling asleep; the other night I woke up with my glasses and make up still on holding my phone, having fallen asleep while setting my alarm.

Therefore, this is a half asleep posts about half asleep posts.

I'm going to go before I embarrass myself more.

<3 x

Spare Part

As you know, I am currently working as costume trainee on a new drama. Part of my role as trainee is obviously to learn, as well as do all the menial tasks noone else wants to do and help anyone in the costume department wherever and whenever needed.

In the past, I have been confident on set because if it's just me, as it always is, I know exactly what I'm doing. What I'm finding most difficult on this shoot is knowing my place. For instance, on my first day on set I was told to stick by the daily, a costume assistant who comes in just for a day or two. So I did, but as she knew in her head how she wanted them to look, I couldn't really do anything but help when she wanted it. I couldn't take control of my own group and keep them in line. Today, I was put in charge of all the Extras, a task that was really exciting for me as I could finally know exactly what im supposed to be doing. However, as soon as I started doing my job, another one of the costume dept jumped in, kind of taking over and leaving me feeling somewhat redundant again.

It's just frustrating. I finally find my own place, finally get the opportunity to work on my own initiative, and it gets taken away from me. I don't think it's being done intentionally, they just want to make sure everything is perfect? Bit it just leaves me felling useelrs.

Sorry, moan over.

<3 x

You know, I don't think I have anything to share this evening. My day consisted of being on the truck most of the day, doing the little menial tasks that noone else has time or wants to do. Like ironing. I hate ironing. I don't do it normally for myself, let alone anyone else. I think I've ironed more shirts in the past few days than I have in my entire life.

I also had to run into town multiple times on the hunt for strong toupee tape, which proved pretty much impossible.

I'm going to be soooo fit at the end of this shoot, the amount of times I run in and out of town.

Now it's half 11 at night, I've been home for half an hour, and I have to be back out the house at 6am. Therefore I'm going to bed. Before I start writing nonsense or sleep typing emoticons again.

<3 x

Blogging before bed

I've got to stop writing my posts as I'm in bed about to go to sleep, because I only realise the next day that they make absolutely no sense. You can literally tell the exact point in which I got too tired and started typing with my eyes closed. But I'm going to leave it for comedic value.

I've hit that point already, so I hold no responsibility for what I write.

(T_T)

I'm also not going to delete anything that randomly appears.

<3 x

Set Voice

I realised today I have a set voice.

By this I mean a voice or manner of speaking that I use exclusively on set. I don't think I have ever talked this way before, nor do I when I'm in a normal situation.

I call everyone lovely.

Now people will know that I use lovely a lot anyway.

'Want a cup of tea?'
'Thanks, that'd be LOVELY.'

'Here's that dead squirrel you wanted.'
'LOVELY, thanks.'

And so on.

But on set, I wLk past someone ...

'Alright, LOVELY?

... If I mess with their costume ...

'Is that comfortable, LOVELY?'

I just become some sort of maternal figure, but not quite right as I don't have the confidence yet to probably look after someone. Mostly I just try and stay out of the way until
I'm needed.

I guess it's not bad to have a professional
Manner, even if it's not exactly in the conventional snsd.

<3 x

Of Chronicles and Duty

My laptop is playing silly beggars again. It won't let me sign into blogger for some reason, which is super annoying. Yet, somehow, I can still sign in on my iPhone. How does that work?

Yeah, yeah, yeah, I know. I didn't blog again yesterday. It was another really long day. That night, we were joined in our room by another actress and actor, meaning there were 5 of us in a tiny room, with me and two others on the floor. I woke up sooo achey, although at least I slept some that night. I was up again at 5am and on set by 7.30, after a brief detour in our car to a service station to get breakfast and do things you don't feel comfortable doing in a house full of people. We were then shooting until about 7, I left Leeds about 9, and eventually got home at 11.30. Then i had to try and get myself ready for my first day on the drama before collasping into bed. Long day.

My first day on the drama was good but I couldn't help but notice how different it is from what I'm used to. I don't know whether it's because it's a professional shoot, the genre is the shoot being serious, or just because it's the first day, but it's so much more fun on a low budget crew. I think
People are more willing to relax
On a low budget crew, whereas on a abbot of this level, everyone is there to mKe money rather than for the experience. , and so people seem to stick in their own little departments more.

I think it's really sad. One of my favourite things about my job is how quickly you become close to the rest of the crew and cast, but there just doesn't seem to be any overlap.

Having said that, I did spend half my day reading the scripts in the park and the rest in the truck, so I didn't really het to experience what its like on set yet.

Anyway, I hav a 7am call tomorrow, so I should get to bedey byes. Especially s's I'm
Really struggling to keep my eyes open.

<3 x

In which I am tired

Yeah, so I may have missed a post this month. But, in my defence, last night was so super busy. For a start, I didn't finish my costumes for the weekends shoot until about 5pm, and then I couldn't get in touch with who I was supposed to be staying with to get her address, so I had pretty much decided that I wasn't going anywhere that night... until I managed to speak to her, and she said I was needed for costume fittings ASAP. So I rushed over to Leeds, arriving at 10pm, went to bed (well floor) at about 1, to be up at 5.

I am tired.

Today's shoot went ok, in terms of costume, I think. Everyone looked pretty good, and everyone else seemed happy. Obviously there were things I woul LOVE to redo or change, because there always is, but never mind. Noone would notice the problems but me.

Now, I'm sat with all the cast and crew in a little bungalow with one bathroom, watching X factor. I hate X factor. And I'm tired. And I have to be up again at like 5am.

I'm tired.

<3 x

In which I ggggaaarghhfffaaarrrgghhh

Its close now. So close. Its like tomorrow. I go tomorrow. Everything has got to be ready and sorted for tomorrow.

Technically, it is tomorrow now. Everything is not ready and sorted.

I have a handful of things left to do, and none of it life threatening. Just details that will make it better for the people that know they are there, but no one else will notice. And a few things that are bothering me *cough*hero's corset*cough*. But I had to call it a night this evening even though I wanted to get everything done, because I could feel the panic setting in.

So right now, I'm in bed with my electric blanket on full blast. I don't care that its August, sometimes you just need a warm bed.

I think it must seem stupid to get so stressed over something so inconsequential. I mean, its not a big shoot, just 2 days, I've met nearly everyone before however briefly and its not like its on a professional level yet, so it should be nothing to get worked up over. But its been 2 years coming, and I have poured my heart and soul in to this project for the past few months. I'm just terrified that everything will fall apart, or ill forget something vital. Or even worse, that I won't get on well with everyone.

Went to see the trucks that I'll be working on from next week on the BBC thing today. It was really awesome to have a quick look around before I start, and having a truck is so exciting. My only problem is that I still cant imagine myself working there yet. It just feels too big and professional for someone like me.

<3 x

In which I decide I like titling my posts beginning with 'in which ...'

I totally didn't realise what time it was. I was just working away, trying to sew this goshdarn elastic into my fake sleeves so they definitely don't fall down, when I decided I couldn't do it so quit for the night. I'm noticing a trend developing.

Can't do something? Bed time.

At least I sorted my skirt problem out. It's now in two sections, rather than all as one, and just plain crappy leather stuff rather than pleats and whatnot.

I didnt get to go to see where I'll be working on the BBC shoot today because they were too busy, but I'm popping in ever so briefly tomorrow morning. For half an hour it barely seems worth it, especially when you take in the 1&1/2 hour travelling time, but I think it's important for me to show my face before shooting starts. Also, it'll take the stress off if I already know where I'm heading.

I'm still terrified, but I haven't had too much time to freak out because I've been too buy freaking out over my current shoot.

Speaking of freak outs, my friends are awesome. Yesterday, I get a visit from Rachey with a congratulations on the job card, which was lovely. Then I got a visit from Inki today after I had spent like 24 hours complaining in various forms, from text to this very blog, and even though I only hinted at cherry coke cheering me up, she brought me a 2 litre bottle, two toffee apples and a pack of cookies. You're far too good to me. I don't deserve it. But I do love you with all my heart. Platonically.

Right that's it from me.

<3 x

In which I suck

I warn you now, I'm pissed off and in one of those 'I suck at everything' moods.

Why?

BECAUSE I SUCK AT EVERYTHING.

I've spent all evening trying to remake this goshdarn skirt, and got nowhere. I know exactly what I want to do, but it just was not working, no matter what I tried. The thing that made it worse was that I know that in any other fabric it would look exactly how I want it to, but it really needs to be this horrid faux leather stuff that's a complete bitch and just looks shit when you try and do anything with it. I only wanted to pleat it.


Anyway, I was pissed so I cut it up.

In retrospect, probably not the best idea.

The whole thing is just made worse by the face that I'm rapidly running out of time, especially when I learnt today most people are going up on Friday, even though the shoots not til Saturday, meaning that I have essentially lost a day's work time.

I'm so annoyed at my own inability I've given up for the night, and I'll just hope that it all looks better in the morning.

Now I need to cheer myself up. Ouran High School Host Club and Hana Kimi, me thinks.

<3 x



Oh, and I got my scripts for the first block of my BBC thing. I think I'm going to go in tomorrow for a little while and see whats what.

In which I have nothing to say so babble about Soojoo instead.

Once again, I have absolutely nothing of interest to blog about. I've spent the whole day trying to make decent progress on my work, and even though this morning was going well, things just went down hill from there. In the end, I just had to stop to calm down because I was fed up and getting nowhere, even though it was only like 11pm and still early. Last night, I had to force myself to stop by 12ish because my parents had gone to bed, even though I was doing well and was quite content to carry on.

I keep seeing my phone charger in the corner of my eye, and thinking it's a spider. It scares the crap out of me, and I mentally kick myself for being so stupid, but then two minutes later, I jump again.

Still watching SuJu's comeback performance of 'Superman' pretty much constantly. I don't care what the translations say, Ryeowook definitely says 'super horny'. They also say something along the lines of 'if you're bored and on the Internet, type in super and our results will come up', which is undoubtedly true ... eventually, although a shit load of less pretty stuff comes up first.

They're clever, you know. They know what their fans want. They know the amount of attention certain pairings get, and exploit that in the name of fanservice (Eunhae = Eunhyuk and Donghae, Kyumin = Kyuhyun and Sungmin, Yewook = Yesung and Ryeowook. See, portmanteau's are a worldwide awesomity*). I can tell them all apart now, so that's new. I used to only be able to pin point Kyu as the hot one and Shindong as the ... um ... not so skinny one, but now, I can finally tell Yesung and Sungmin apart, who were the two I always struggled with. God knows why, they look nothing alike. Well, other than being of the same ethnicity.

Consciously stopping myself there, because otherwise, you'll just have paragraphs on the subject of SuJu.

Although SuJu is fun to say. SuJu. Even in your head. Try it. SuJu. SuJu. SOOJOO.

Sorry.

I haven't watched Gokusen II for ages, but I'm on episode 3 of Hana Kimi remake. So far, its closer to the manga than the original, but I still wish the actors didn't try to be exactly like the originals.

Apparently, business hours don't exist in the television production industry. Or normal waking hours, for that matter. Not that I mind, its not like I abide by them either.

You know what really amuses me? When people mean to write definitely, but it auto corrects to defiantly.

...I have nothing else to share.


<3 x

* I make up words now. Making up words is cool.

I'm boring.

Why is it that every time I go to blog, my laptop decides to mess up?

I don't have much to blog about today. My day has been pretty boring and not much has happened. So here follows a breakdown.

I decided I need to remake one of the skirts and redo the buckles on my heroes corset, thus creating more work for myself.

I watched Wild Wild West and was able to justify it as research.

I ripped one of the vacuum bags under my bed, and now there are my old costumes everywhere.

Elle and Eddy have pretty much being trying to lie down all day. I don't care how in love they are, I'm NOT having cardboard babies in my room.


That's pretty much it.

<3 x

In which I babble for ages, before touching briefly on serious business.

The dates of this months BEDA are so messed up. Obviously it has nothing to do with the fact that I keep posting late, and that I'm one post behind anyway.

So today was a little weird.

Firstly, I did my last Saturday at the office until mid November. Harry, my boss, was super thrilled for me about getting the BBC job, but it was weird thinking I wouldn't be going in to earn my rent money once a week for a few months. I'm so lucky with that job. Nowhere else would an employer so support me in another career, and be so generous as to give me as much time off as I want.

Then, after lunch - hungry week destroys my diet - I went wedding dress shopping with Robinson and her mother. From the start, she has been quite adamant that she doesn't like lace, doesn't like organza or net, doesn't like too much detail or decoration, and doesn't want straps or a train. Which is fine, until we made her try on an organza dress with lace decoration, and she liked it. Its just proof that you need to try on everything before you can really know what you like. After all, its the most expensive dress you are ever likely to buy, so you have to get it right. She did look stunning though. I really hope she chooses that one over the other one she liked when we last went dress shopping.

Also, while we were there and the attendant was busy, I managed to take some sneaky pictures of the inspiration for Rachey's wedding dress.

Then I came home, and started work. Not long after I had started, it was time for dinner, and then the production designer of my current project rang to check how I was doing/have a moan. By the time I could get back to work, it was already like 10 pm, and I thought screw it, I'll finish this and then give up for the night.

So that's what I did. The reason why you get this post so late is because my computer decided to play silly beggars, but all is well now.

What else can I tell you? I've been watching the Super Junior Comeback stuff pretty much constantly, and have got pretty hooked on 'Superman'. I'm pretty sure Ryeowook says 'super horny' at one point.

.... I looked it up. It's 'super holic'. Can't say I'm not a little disappointed.

Having seen the translation for the first time, I'm actually pretty moved. I just thought it was a song about Superman, and an excuse for them all to look serious and sexy. But its actually a song about how much they want to be there for their fans. That's lovely.

Speaking of Super Junior - come on, you know by now that I'm a hopeless fangirl and get carried away - in one of their new songs, 'Feels Good', I'm pretty sure it goes 'Feels good, feels good ... for a girl.' I laugh every time. It's like they are saying boys feel better ... but this is SuJu we are talking about. They aren't exactly known for being afraid of showing how close they all are.

Awww, I love them.

<3 x


Oh wait. I was going to blog about the riots today. They've all calmed down now, but having stayed away from the news footage of it - if the media hadn't fuelled the fire of the London Riots, they wouldn't have spread - I only today really found out much about it. Three young men were killed by rioters here trying to protect their community, which is in itself heartbreaking, but what really moved me were the Sikhs and Muslims protecting each other. A group of Sikh's stood guard outside a mosque during Ramadan's night time services while the riots were going on just metres away.  Muslims reciprocated by watching over a Sikh temple during their prayers. They even worked to deter any looters or vandals from damaging nearby churches and other places of worship. If this isn't proof of humanity overcoming a common evil; that people can put aside their differences in a time of need, then I don't know what is.

Hana Kimi

So you guys know about Hana Kimi by now. You know I've watched the original Japanese drama, and have been reading the manga forever. You may also remember that there is also a Taiwanese version (I believe I posted a picture of a hot guy in it). And, if you're super attentive, you may even remember that SM Entertainment, the label of many of my favourite Korean pop groups, have announced that they will be making a version at some point in the future (it's highly likely they'll cast within their own company, with means Super Junior!).

So, basically, there are lots of versions of Hana Kimi out there.

Last night, after I had finished my work for the evening and had got into bed to chill out before I went to sleep, I decided to watch the latest episode of Ouran High School Host Club. I have been watching this series every week as it airs, and so far, I am finding it quite enjoyable. Ridiculously over the top, and not quite as good as the anime, but enjoyable none the less. Also, I think it's filmed in the same place as Mei-chan no Shitsugi.

Anyway, I digress. As I was watching Ouran, I glanced to the side bar at the 'currently airing series' section. There, I saw a name I didn't expect to see. Hana Kimi Remake. Instantly, I thought that SM entertainment had finally filmed and released the Korean version, but I realised too soon that this was not the case. This remake was Japanese.

I don't get it. Why do you need two series of the same name and same plot made in the same country within 3 years of each other? Especially when the first was so well loved? I watched the first episode and to me, it seened like almost a carbon copy of the original. I could understand if they were to follow the manga more, or go in a completely new direction, but as it is now, the characters are just too similiar to the originals that you can't help but compare them all the time. Especially when the original cast are all major actors now.

I mean, come on. The first is the original, and the second is the remake. They're not even trying to make them different.

I feel I should point out, this post is merely a rant about why we need another Hana Kimi. Not once did I say I wouldn't watch it.

<3 x

Milo

It's been 3 years and 6 days since he died.

The time has flown by, and yet it feels so long ago that I had a cat on my feet at night. I miss that so much, the gentle weight on your feet; the way how he wouldn't get off no matter how much you kicked him.

I miss him. Each and every day. My heart breaks again every single time I think of him.

Now, he sits on the window sill of my work room. I hate not knowing where he is, and it used to be his favourite room, so I like to think he'd be happy there.


<3 x

What DID happen

I just read yesterday's post - can you tell I was literally falling asleep as I typed at the end?

So today, I did have my interview. To start off I was like 20 minutes early, and the whole interview was finished by my original interview time. It went well I thought, the two ladies were very nice, although a little scary. Not because they themselves were scary, but how they kept reitterating how difficult a job this was. None the less, I told them about my experience etc., tried to be as relaxed and lovely as possible, and left the interview feeling confident that even if I didn't get the job, I had still made a good enough impression that they might think of me next time. Then I went home, and literally forgot all about it.

We went Bridal Dress shopping! It was the first time we'd been with Rachey to scout out ideas rather than just seeing ones she'd already seen and tried on, so it was really nice to be able to see ones that didn't look good as well as the ones that did. That doesn't sound nice, but as the person who is making the dress, it was good to be able to see exactly what she did and didn't like, and gauge her first impressions of different styles. It's so annoying that these shops don't let you take photos, because if you have tried on more than two dresses in a day, they very easily start to blur together and it's so easy to get confused. But I think we found the one that Rachey wants, so at some point I'm going to have to do some research into it so I can start making it soon! I'm really looking forward to it, but it's not going to be easy, making one Wedding Dress and four Bridesmaid's dresses.

Especially seeing as I am going to be super busy over the next 3 months, what with working for the BBC and all.

<3 x

An account of what didn't happen (formally known as Girl Stuff)

I'm going to stop telling you when it's an iPhone post, because it happens so often now that it is no longer a note worthy occurrence.

So, dear blog readers, I had promised to tell you how today went. Well, first off, I was super productive with my actual work. I started at 10, and worked to 6, with only a neighbours and tea break. I managed to tick off a load of my 'to do' list, which always feels awesome. When I first wrote it out, it scared the crap out of me by the sheer volume of what I had to do, but after how much I was able to do today, I feel much happier about my chances of finishing it. But anyway, I digress. I was supposed to be telling you how my interview went. Truth be told, it didn't. A friend of mine works in the city centre, and when she was tweeting about how quiet it was in town, I asked her if they were likely to close the city centre later. She replied eventually with news that the city centre was likely to be shut off from 3pm, and seeing as my interview was at 5.20 and a 15 minute walk through the city centre, I rang them to confirm the interview was still going ahead. Even though they hadn't heard about it, they took my word and rescheduled all their interviews for tomorrow morning instead.

Is this a good thing or not?! Do I come across as on the ball and responsible, or easily scared and weak? Hopefully the former.

I should probably go to bed now seeing as I have to be up in lik 5 hours. I'm sp shit at early mornings. Damn my nocturnal body (although the sugar and red bull probably didn't help).

<3 x



When I started writing this post, it was going to be about Bubzbeauty's 'Girl Talk' video - I'm so easily distracted.

Late Again

I'm going to try really hard not to make this a habit. Honest.

So today was a Monday, and naturally, I decided to restart my diet.

I failed.

First, I went out for lunch with the family, and ate a whole pizza, right after a load of bread with oil and balsamic vinegar (huge fan of the balsamic, not so much the oil - it's too ...oily), and followed by a banoffe sundae. I was then good, and refrained from cake (because I was the one to decorate it, and covered it in cream, and I don't like cream) until I got to Rachey and Jon's , where I had Ben and Jerry's with fresh strawberries and topped with crumbled shortbread, haribo, and various mini chocolate bars or lollies.

Diet starts FOR REAL tomorrow.

Talking of tomorrow, I have my BBC interview. I'm kinda scared. Not of the interview itself, but of getting the job. I'm scared of being involved in something so professional. I'm scared of being at the bottom of a team rather than the top or on my own. I'm scared of getting things wrong, and people being angry, or worse, disappointed. I'm scared of  hating it, of realising that I don't want to do this job anymore and that the last 2 if not 5 years of my life were a waste.

To be honest, I'm scared of losing my current life. I like working from home with the odd shoot here and there. I like mostly being free to do what I want, when I want. Sure, it's tough not having much money and always worrying when the next job is coming, but there is a sense of freedom in that too. I'm so scared of getting a long shoot which leads to another long shoot, and living to work rather than working to live. I don't want my life to be my job, and yet it is hard to see how it can be any other way with such a demanding and time consuming job.

Obviously, I am basing all of this on my previous experience, where a shoot rarely finishes on time or the schedules get moved around so much no one knows whats what anymore. I don't think something as professional as a BBC production will be like this - hopefully it will be a lot smoother. But that also makes it more daunting. People are far more likely to see this than anything else I have worked on before.

Anyway, I shall let you know how I get on tomorrow. I'm a little freaked out now, so I'm going to catch up on the new updates of Hapi Mari and maybe watch some Gokusen to calm down.

<3 x

Drama: Gokusen II 6
Manga: Hana Kimi 51 / Darling wa Namamono ni Tsuki 25 / Kimi no Sei 2

This post arrives precisely when it means to

Yes, I know. I'm late.

I think it was fair to assume I wasn't going to be able to do BEDA as successfully as I did in April by the way that I forgot on the first day. Therefore, I have no idea why you should be surprised at a late post. It is a post none the less. And also my first post this month off my laptop; the rest having been from my iPhone or the PC at work.

I did the grandmother rounds today. I had to get up stupidly early for a Sunday to go see my Nan, whom I hadn't seen in the same amount of time as my sister, even though she lives 2 and a half hours away compared to my 15 minutes. We then headed to my Gran's for lunch, as it is her 91st birthday tomorrow, and even though the rest of the family are going out for lunch tomorrow, Jo obviously has to work, so we had a mini celebration today ... which was ruined by the fact that my Gran and Aunt had both already eaten. So we had more than enough food for 5 between 3 people.

Sandwiches.
Crisps.
Salad.
Mini tartlet things.
Bread Rolls.
Tea.
Coleslaw.
Crisps.
Potato Salad.
Cakes.
Profiteroles.
Orange Juice.

... Diet starts tomorrow.

<3 x

Drama: Gokusen II 6
Manga: Hana Kimi 51(!) / Darling wa Namamono ni Tsuki 25 / Kimi no Sei 2

Of bbq's, networking and flirting

I warn you now, this is an iPhone post.

My sister is home for the weekend. I found out literally half an hour before she was due to arrive, when I had already made plans to go to a barbecue for the evening. Typical. Normally, because I only get to see Jo every couple of months, I try to make a special effort not to go out while she is here. But seeing as I had a prior engagement, I had to stick by it.

Lucky I did, because it ended with me getting the email address of the line producer of a popular BBC's soap opera. So if I don't get the drama job, I have something else to try! It really is about who you know in the media industry, but once you get your name out there, it can only lead to more work, which is awesome.

However, on the other hand, apparently I'm a shameless flirt. I disagree. Just because I like to mess around doesn't mean that I'm flirting. If I was drawing on girls with biro, they wouldn't think I was coming on to them, so why should guys get that impression? I don't even know how to flirt!! The whole idea is ridiculous.

I'm now feeling rather paranoid that every guy I have ever spoken to think that I'm flirting with them.

Anyway, Harry Potter is and the Goblet of Fire is on, so I'm going to watch that.

<3 x

I am the opposite of green fingered. I am red fingered.

There is a reason why my sister is the green-fingered one of the family, and not me. I don't do that stuff. I can't do that stuff. Its not that I don't like plants, I do. I even know the Latin name of one. Fatsia Japonica. It's the Caster Oil plant.

(I feel I should point out I knew that before my obsession with Japan. IT'S FATE.)

When we were kids, and my sister started to gain an interest in gardening, she took over a little section of the back garden as hers. Obviously, doting sister that I was, I had to have one too. Jo's section looked immaculate, with trailing wall flowers and little shrubs and she even grew a lettuce or something. Mine got cleared of weeds, and then forgotten about.

I had a Gerbera once. It died.

Then, I got a Calla Lily. It died. Although my mother resurrected it. And then it died again. Then it came back. (it's a Jesus lily apparently)

Then, I moved to uni and my parents got me a Flaming Katy that SURVIVED! Until Polson knocked it off the window sill days before I moved out and destroyed it.

Having learnt from my lesson that Flaming Katy's are virtually indestructible, I got another one for my room, and it lives to this day. Polson also replaced my original one, so now I have two fully alive plants in my room. I had learnt that they need little care except the occasional dead heading and to water them when the succulent leaves are droopy (that doesn't mean the leaves are tasty, but they are all thick and stuff).

Which brings us to the point of this post. I looked at the office plant, and realised it's succulent leaves (I can't write that with a straight face) were droopy and sad looking. From my relatively new found expertise, I realised this plant needed water, and stat! So I watered it.

I came back from putting the watering can back to find a waterfall running down from the plant pot, over the filing cabinet and into each drawer, before pooling in the carpet.

I'm just going to stick to my Flaming Katy's from now on.

<3 x

Of Work and Potter

The thing about BEDA is that so often I start writing with no direction. Like, normally, in months beginning with other letters, I'll post for a reason; either because I have something important to share, need to get something off my chest or because I am a 14 year old fangirl stuck in a 23 year old's body. But during BEDA, I post because it's the month where I post every day.

The point of that was to illustrate that I don't know what I want to write about today.

I'm nearly finished with my two week holiday cover at the office. I was a little apprehensive to start with as I have never done this job before without someone coming in to keep me company for at least some, if not the majority, of the time. Therefore, I was concerned about my sanity in a job where I am on my own, where no one calls and where no one comes in. Surprisingly though, these past two weeks have flown by. I suppose I have been keeping myself busy as I have had so much costume making to do, which obviously helped pass the time, but also, I think I am just so much more used to my own company now. I like being on my own. Although it does turn me a bit funny when I get home. If I have spent all my day on my own, I either want to stay on my own, or get such a bad case of verbal diarrhoea that people will most likely want me to be alone.

Potter was good last night. I don't know what I was expecting, but I cried quite a lot and that relieved me so much. I love films that make me cry, and I remember the book making me cry, so I would have been heartbroken if the film didn't have the same effect. It was closer to the book than I expected, I just wish they had made a bigger deal of some parts. I understand why they had to do it, but I couldn't help but think those who had not read the book must have missed out on so much of what was just hinted at. Fred for one, right after Percy had come back, was something that had always stuck out to me in the book, and we never saw this connection in the film. Tonks and Lupin broke my heart in the book, but it was the memory of that heartbreak that made me cry in the film. Hagrid only seemed to make an appearance to be able to say that he was in it, whereas his part was much bigger, although admittedly not huge, in the book. I'm so glad they kept in some key lines (NOT MY DAUGHTER, YOU BITCH!), and the flash forward to their happily ever after worked better in film than it did on paper, although I was surprised the last thing we saw was the words 'the end' rather than the book's 'and all was well'. I didn't think much of Snape's eyeshadow though, and when Voldemort poofed, all I could think was 'Voldemort smoke, don't breathe this' in old school Will It Blend fashion.

Because I am a dork.

<3 x

Mostly about SuJu (Although not intentionally)

It's so hot. I'm like melting, I swear. We need a big storm to clear away the stuffiness. The fact that I'm stuck in a glass office probably isn't helping matters much. Then again, neither does being British. We complain when its cold and wet, and we complain when its hot and dry. Its my heritage and cultural right.

So Super Junior didn't post their new music video yesterday. Hence why you didn't get another post last night. I now hear through the grapevine that it will be released tomorrow. I have spent the majority of my day listening to the album though. It's so dancy. Especially the first half. It was only when the girly SuJu ballads came up that I was certain I was definitely listening to Super Junior. Not that its a bad thing, it's just a bit different. Then I guess I'm just so used to their other stuff, having discovered them so recently, that anything new would be slightly weird to me.

There was another press release on the SMtown Facebook page. Dear God, these amuse me so much. First off, the photo ...

From SMtown's Facebook*

'Right, now pretend you've just put your hand in some gunk...'

I love Heechul, he's the one at the end on the left. He's like 'Yeah whatever, just take the photo'. Whenever they are doing their 'We are Super Junior, oyo!' thing, and everyone else holds out their hands, he is always the only one to do something different**. Siwon, in the middle, is just too cool and manly to look as much of a prat as the others. And Kyuhyun, third from the right, is soooo going to wipe his imaginary gunk on Eunhyuk.

Its either imaginary gunk, or imaginary eternity rings between the 10 of them (which may be more likely).

Obviously I love them all dearly, and if anyone can pull off these sorts of stupid poses, my boys can, but still, it makes me giggle a ridiculous amount, which isnt helped by the actual wording. SM Entertainment, 'ubersexual'? Really? Uber-anything just sounds wrong, but put sexual after it, and you had me for one in hysterics.

EDIT: I just had to add in some more after the write up of the press conference today. They are describing 'Mr. Simple' as SJ Funky, following on from 'Sorry Sorry' and 'Bonamana'.

Super Junior Funky? Really?

And that's not all, these are a couple of the captions from the photos:

'Siwon's glaring eyes are so attractive.'
'The big star of the universe ... HEECHUL.'

I love it. It cheers me up no end.

Right, this post was going to about more than just SuJu, but I've run out of time. I'm going to see Potter (at last) and go to Wagamamas with Rachey and Jon, who I have seen more over the past week than I have seen of my parents. Ooops, oh well.

<3 x

*every time I write out that link I giggle because I cant help but say it in my mind like they do: 'www dot facebook dot com slashy smtown'.

Basically, I spend a lot of my time giggling.

** EDIT: like this ... prime example. Oh, Heechul <3

www dot facebook dot com slashy smtown

BEDA

Great start, Heather. It's the 2nd August, and you have only just remembered you are supposed to be blogging every day this month.

In my defence, I have been pretty busy. At work have been doing my costumes, and then I pretty much go straight to Rachey's new house to do whatever I can to help, which means I don't normally get home til midnight, by which point it feels too late to put on my laptop, so I piss about on my iPhone until I get sleepy. I haven't fangirled properly in about a week, let alone read or watched anything.

Having said that, I have watched the Super Junior teasers a fair few times. They amuse me. The real video should be up some time today. I'm very intrigued ... the poster was very colourful and a bit ... ummm ... weird, whereas the teasers all seem very overly dramatic, while the press release describes it as 'an intense and energetic performance...[with]...humorous and metaphorical words'. So I didn't really have a clue what to expect.

I got a very exciting phone call today. The supervisor of a new BBC drama has invited me to an interview for the role of costume trainee! I was shaking so much, and so happy, but as always, I didn't have anyone near to be excited to, so now I'm kinda over it again. Don't get me wrong, I'm still excited and happy and hopeful but the initial 'ARRRRGGGGGHHHHH' feeling goes so quickly and no one is ever around to share it with me. Sad face.

Right, I may try to post again this evening to make up for yesterday's forgetfulness. Then again, I might not as my life isn't that exciting for me to have anything more to share. If I do, it'll just be a fangirl post about SuJu.

<3 x

Super Junior's 5th Album Teaser

From SMtown's Facebook

Oh, Siwon <3

Bored at work - I know, I'll blog!

I am currently in the midst of my annual two week holiday cover at the office.

I am on my own. No-one comes in. No-one calls. I haven't even seen the postman since Saturday.

As such, I am bored, and thus, today you get a post that is in no way related to Japanese dramas, Korean Pop, Manga or any of the other Asian related shit I seem to spout relentlessly. Instead, lucky reader, you get a post with no direction that exists purely as something to do for the last 45 minutes of my day.

What scares me most about this job is how easily I have settled in to a routine. Walk in. Turn off alarm. Turn on lights. Read the paper (every single article other than sports). Go on eBay. Lunch. Sew in the back office until I get bored. Go on eBay. Go home.

Sounds thrilling, doesn't it?

On the plus side though, at least I am getting paid to do the work that I am doing voluntarily. If that makes sense. I am doing my costume work which is unpaid in the time I have free in my paid job, which is basically the entire day.

I'm very silently stressing out about these costumes. I can't deny that it's doing wonders for my eBay feedback. However, the real cost breakdown and the one I'm going to give in are two very different things. I'm buying a lot for myself with the intention of letting the cast wear them first, which isn't a particularly good way to save money.

Personally, that is. Professionally, its is a very effective way to save money.

My list of things to buy is almost empty, although my list of things to make is considerably larger now. At the end of the day, it is cheaper for me to make things with what I already have than it is to buy what I need.

On paper, that is. In reality, it is probably more expensive.

I had to pay for all those things once. All those steel bones, buckles, various fabrics. Really, I should charge for it all, but seeing as the budget is less than 10% of what it should be, its not really feasible to do this.

I am scared shitless that I'm not going to finish everything on time, or even if I did, that they hated it all. I may not be getting anything out of this shoot other than the experience, so I shouldn't care as much as I do, but I just hate the thought of being a disappointment.

Any way, in other news, Rachey has finally moved in to her house! There is a lot of work to do to make it their own, as right now, cosmetically at least, it is very much still the home of an old lonely man. I really want to help them do the whole place up, and while I know I would always be welcome, I also know that they are unlikely to ask me around to help them with every little detail. I've been round the past two nights, Tuesday to look at it, yesterday to share my opinion on the curtains and paint swatches, and I'm going again this evening to take up the afore-mentioned curtains. I just want to play house, I guess.

I'm hungry. That's the problem with being on a diet and being stuck in an office with no food. It may mean I cant snack, but I get to just before lunch time and home time and I get far too tempted to make a detour to Sainsburies on the way home. Or to consume to entire pack of cookies that are hidden in my glove box to stop me eating them without Inki.

God, now I just want cookies. This has happened before. Last time I blogged about how hungry I was, Chocolate Heartattck was born. God, now I want Heartattack.

I might just go stare at traffic for the last 10 minutes before I get too carried away.

<3 x

Drama: Gokusen II ep 7, maybe
Manga: Hana Kimi 50 / Darling wotsit 27 or something

Buzzer Beat

Yes, I finished another one ... in less than a week. It's not that I don't have other things I should be doing, so I haven't been watching it all day or anything, but I decided that I would rather watch this series than sleep, so that's what I have been doing. ^^

I ADORED this series, I really did. I know what you are thinking; 'You say that about every J-drama you watch,' which may be true, but I love them all for very different reasons. Some, such as Zettai Kareshi and Koizora, I loved for the fact they made me bawl. Others, from Tokyo Dogs to Hana Kimi, I'm attached to for how much they made me laugh. Hana Yori Dango was awesome for how much it made me feel for the characters (read: Rui). The rest was probably just eye candy. Buzzer Beat I adore for its realism (and Yamapi).

Sure, it had its stereotypical J-drama cheese, such as falling on to each others lips (almost) and LOTS of dramatic hugging but other than that, it was just awesome. I was hooked right the way through, so much so that it was the last thing I watched before bed and the first thing I did in the morning. You honestly cheer for Naoki and Riko's relationship; you want them to be together in a way that I don't think you come across very often in these dramas. You cry when they argue, and you cheer when they finally get together.And there was REAL KISSES. None of that closed mouth barbie crap. It was lovely.

Its basically about a young struggling violinist called Riko and a basketball player called Naoki. Riko finds Naoki's phone on a bus, and returns it to the basketball coach, Kawasaki, who instantly falls in love with her. Natsuki, Naoki's girlfriend, is cheating on him. By chance, the two meet in a local park and become friends, not realising that Riko was the one to find Naoki's phone. They get closer and promise to achieve their dreams no matter what; Riko's of becoming a successful violinist, and Naoki's of becoming a stronger basketball player.

Naoki was in Kurosagi and Nobuta wo Produce. His best friend, Shuji, was in Hana Kimi, although I cant say I particularly remember him nor can I place Mai, Riko's best friend, in Hana Yori Dango. Yoyogi, the guy Natsuki cheats with, was in Samurai High School. Natsuki was Riko in Zettai Kareshi (it killed me to see her not being lovely and all conflicted about her love for a robot). Naoki's mum was also in Zettai Kareshi, and his sister was in Yamato Nadeshiko Shichi Henge and Mei-chan no Shitsugi.

OH MY GOD, there's no Gokusen link.

So yes, basically loved this series. It turned me into a girl, and that's always good every so often. I guess I don't mind when J-drama's do this to me as much as I do when western media does, as I have to concentrate on the subtitles so I don't have time to get bored.

Next up is Gokusen 2. It's the first time I've not completed the whole thing when I've hit one series, but I gather its pretty different from the first season as its a new school etc. I have high hopes! Fight-oh! Oh!

<3 x

Drama: Gokusen 2 ep 1.
Manga: Hana Kimi 50 / Darling blah blah blah 24

Liar Game

I FINALLY FINISHED IT.

To be fair though, it was two whole seasons and a movie, so it's fairly understandable that it took me so long. Also, I actually finished the actual drama like a week ago, but then a load of work came in that stopped me from having enough time to be able to devote a few hours to the movie.

This series was clever. So clever. It kept me guessing right the way through, never really sure of what was what, and the plot twists were always original and interesting. Not so much original in what happened, but more how they did it. Its hard to explain.

Liar Game follows Kanzaki Nao, a young woman who is ridiculously naive and trusting. Somehow, she gets sucked into the Liar Game, a tournament where the winners become filthy rich and the losers drown in impossible debts. The first game gives two players 100 million yen each, and the aim is to obtain as much of the other players money as possible within a week. At the end of the game, the Liar Game Office take back the 100 million originally given out from each player, meaning what they have gained they win, yet what they have lost, they owe. Obviously, due to her blind trust in humanity, she loses all her money within hours. She enlists the help of Akiyama Shin'ichi, an expert swindler recently released from prison, and with his knowledge, the two make their way through the Liar Game.

I said earlier it was clever. It was about 50% clever tricks and psychology. The other 50% was manic evil laughter. This show loved it's manic evil laughter as players started to win. It also loved it's 'noooooooo!' (in Japanese, obviously, so more 'iiiiiiiiiiiieeeeeee!') and falling to the floor in despair as these players lost to Akiyama and Nao.

The only thing that was disappointing was the purely platonic relationship between Nao and Akiyama. They started to hint at something more in the movie, but we were left with a conclusion that could be read either way. Still though, I loved it. It was completely different than anything I had seen before in terms of the unpredictability. Sure, it was clear that things were always going to turn out well, but it was how we got there that was the interesting part.

Nao was also in Nobuta Wo Produce as Shuji's sort of girlfriend, and very briefly in Hana Yori Dango 2 for like 2 episodes. Akiyama was also in Hana Yori Dango as one of the main characters, F4's Sojiro. Their normally traitorous ally, Fukunaga, or Mushroomhead as he was also known due to his ridiculous hair style, was in Mei-chan no Shitsuji but I did not recognise him at all. The rest of the cast were normally only around for a few episodes, but many also starred in Kimi wa Petto, Nodame Cantabile, Mei-chan no Shitsuji, Hana Kimi, Hana Yori Dango, Zettai Kareshi and obviously Gokusen. Every drama has to have a Gokusen link. Oh, and Battle Royale. Even though its not a J drama. I love Battle Royale.

Next up is Buzzer Beat. I gather it's some sort of sports related  rom-com thing. I wasn't so excited about this until I read Yamashita Tomohisa's name. YAY YAMAPI! He was the one in Nobuta Wo Produce and Kurosagi, and he is HOT. I love him ^^.

<3 x

Drama: Buzzer Beat 1 
Manga: Hana Kimi 50 / Darling wa Namamono ni Tsuki 23*
*I seem to read a few chapters of any manga before starting a new one - I've read 2 since my last post.

Naega Chae Chalaga

I find Kpop so oddly addictive.

I'll be honest, I think 'Perfection' by SJM is probably the only song I actually liked upon first hearing it. Everything else has just grown and grown on me until I became ridiculously addicted.

'Lucifer' by SHINee was a prime example. Remember when I first posted about it? On April 10th 2011? (that post took forever to find)

'I didn't even like it that much when I first heard it, but ... now I cant stop playing it.'

SO YEAH, I think Asian music is like a virus. Or a plant. Plant is a nicer metaphor.

Somehow, a seed (read: a single music video) gets planted (read: found randomly on YouTube), and next thing you know, you've got a sea of dandelions (read: entire discographies) overtaking your field (read: iTunes /LIFE).

The latest song to have done this to me is 2NE1's 'I am the Best'.

From 2NE1's Youtube

First time I heard it, I wasn't much impressed. It just sounded too Gaga-esque.

But now, I keep going back to it. It is stuck in my head almost constantly.

I think I'm going to have to download the album.

My sparked interest in 2NE1 lead me to look more into their label mate, BIGBANG.

 From BIGBANG's Youtube

Now, I keep listening to their songs, especially 'Love Song', which is quite frankly a pretty amazing piece of Cinematography as well as stupidly catchy.

I think I'm going to have to download their album too.

Do you see how much of a vicious circle this is? Even though I had heard of these two bands before, they hadn't got me hooked until I saw the video of ONE SONG. That's all it takes.

Super Junior put me on to SMTown, and now 2NE1 is leading me into the YG Family.

<3 x

Drama: Liar Game II 5
Manga: Hana Kimi 50* / Darling wa Namamono ni Tsuki 17

* I seem to have got in to the habit of reading two chapters of Hana Kimi, read a whole new manga.

Yo.

I am thinking I might have to start blogging every day again. It seems to be the only way I can blog consistently, and as it is something I really enjoy, why not? Obviously you don't have to read it, it will probably be a load of fangirling shit anyway.

My boss is away until tomorrow, so I have being providing holiday cover again over the weekend.

I'm bored.

I finished all my work on Friday, played like 20 games of spider solitaire, got tired of people and traffic watching, researched Japanese cuisine, finished the two mangas I was reading simultaneously rather than finishing Hana Kimi, and the last episode of Season 1 of Liar Game is taking forever to buffer (I'm not going to tell you about it here, I'll leave that sort of stuff for their own posts, so that way the uninterested can skip them easier.). I have to go to the bank and post office in a bit, and I'm actually looking forward to it, purely for the change of scenery.

I might have to get a new laptop with loads of memory so I can put The Sims on it ... that always used to kill HOURS. Or I could finish my book .... ahem.

Brief interlude. There is a crazy man outside waving a stick furiously at the traffic. It would be less weird if he wasn't laughing semi-manically. People are odd.

I'm being super good on my 'diet' (it gets inverted commas because it isn't so much a diet as semi starvation). I don't have anything during the day unless its copious amounts of tea, and then I have whatever I want for dinner. I thought it was paying off when I weighed myself and found I had lost nearly 1.5kg from Wednesday to Sunday, but then I weighed myself not on carpet (and clothed) and it told me I hadn't lost anything. So now I don't know what to believe.

There is absolutely no point to this post. It was just a means for me to kill 20 minutes until lunch.

<3 x

Manga: Hana Kimi 48 (FINISH IT GOSHDARNIT)
Drama: Liar Game 11 (BUFFER GOSHDARNIT)

Let's Catch Up

So, uh, it's been a while. How have you been?

Me? I'm good, thanks. Just finished work on another couple of shoots. One was a one day shoot making a promo for a sky channel, and the other was a two day shoot for a short film. Both with pretty much the same crew, and both in the same tiny market village in the middle of Oxfordshire. Both were fun, albeit it not very challenging for me, as for the majority of the time, there wasn't any continuity to look out for which is a big part of my job.

On the other hand though, it was quite rare that everyone seemed to get on so well on such a short shoot. Sure, I know that most of these people have worked together before, but I didn't really feel like the odd one out, which was lovely. I really hope that I get more work from this team in the future, and a few things that were said in passing make me very hopeful indeed, but as usual, only time will tell.

So, yeah, the last week or so has been pretty hectic. Before that? The other couple of weeks in which I neglected to blog? Nah, I have no idea what I was doing. Probably just watching Kurosagi and ploughing my way though a lot of short mangas rather than finishing Hana Kimi. Yeah ... that sounds about right.

I just finished watching Kurosagi. I'm left somewhat dissatisfied. It just ended. If there is going to be a second season, then awesome, but in terms of the story reaching a conclusion, there are definitely a lot of loose ends left to be tied. It was good, don't get me wrong, but these serious J-dramas always take longer to get through than the more light hearted ones, even though the episodes are the same length and the series the same number of episodes.




Its about a man, Kurosaki, who cons swindlers out of everything they have and gives the money back to the victims, sort of like Robin Hood, although not a selfless. Its all for revenge, as his father was conned and as a result got in to such financial shit that he murdered his wife and daughter before killing himself, leaving his son alone. A young law student, Tsurara, moves next door and generally gets in the way by being all righteous. Obviously she begins to fall for him, even though he is having none of it. That's it. He doesn't get the girl, he doesn't get his revenge, he just carries on like normal, or so we must assume. See why this would be a bit frustrating?

Mostly, I watched it because of the guy who played Kurosaki, who was Akira in Nobuta Wo Produce. Tsurara was also in Nobuta, also having being in Atashinchi No Danshi. Tsurara's friend and rival for Kurosaki's attention was Sawada's sister in Gokusen.

Now I'm on to Liar Game. I think this is a serious one too, and there are two series, so it may take me a while.

Ive progressed by about two chapters on Hana Kimi, although I have read about 15 other mangas in the mean time. Not that there is anything wrong with Hana Kimi; I just got a little bored of it.

<3 x