Birthday's

Hello there,

As children we look forward to birthdays, to the cake, the presents and the partys but as you get older some of the magic is lost. We hit an age somewhere in the teens where you couldnt care less any more and then, for most, when drinking can come in partys are amazing and the best thing in the world. I've realised watching family that after 40 birthdays arent that exciting and most feel lucky to pass it.

Last week it was my grandads 80th birthday and as we dont know how many more he'll have, he has alzhiemers and seems to be ill alot at the moment, we decided to throw him a party. I turned party planner and got to work making it the best day ever.

I made invites and sent them out, decorated the house with loads of banners and old photos, i blew up 20 balloons turning my hands blue as the colour came out, ordered the cake and baked lotsof goodies. All in the weeks leading upto it. I had plans on how my week would go in the week before and had my plans drastically changed when i worked every day. It certainly made it harder!

The party startef at 4pm my grandad arriving first with family from Lincoln travelling to come and see us arriving next. It was certainly interesting to see family I've never met before! Then the hours went on with a total of we think 50 people in the house at one time. It was manic and loud but amazing at the same time. My grandad smiled and chatted the whole time as we all did the last people leaving at ten past one in the morning. It was certainly a long day!

It made me realise though whilst we were all together that there's nothing more important in life than family and friends and creating memories with these loved ones because even though you might not remember everything as you get older the memories are still there, the photos, the cards and the love! Its re enforced my love of taking photos and for that i am grateful for the party. Now if i could just catch up on sleep that would be lovely!

Leigh x

Concerts

Hello there,

I have become quite the concert goer the past few years.  I will always remember my first concert The Wanted at Nottingham's Royal Concert Hall and how scared I was of going.  I was frightened we'd be sat up high and that the music would be too loud as I am not good with loud noises.  We were sat up quite high but our view was amazing! I just wish I had a better camera when we went because my pictures weren't that great.

This was the best one I got.

I also realised at that concert that Ugg boots were not the best shoes to wear. My feet got soo hot from all my boogying! I have never made that mistake again.

Since then I have been to so many concerts that at a guess without checking my tickets and everything must be verging on 30 concerts since 2011, twelve of them being last year alone.  I am often asked why I enjoy concerts so much and why I go to so many and 'waste' all my money. I always give the same answer. 'Because its something I enjoy.' But having actually sat and thought about it I now realise that I enjoy concerts so much because I can be me.  In that arena or room or even outdoor space that I am watching someone or multiple people perform I can be myself.  The people there are like minded, they have the same music taste, they enjoy the same bands as me. I'm with people who wont judge me because I like Lawson, who wont poke fun at me because I like One Direction.  I also find that when I'm there in the moment, for the two hours or so that I am at a concert watching my favourite artists, I can forget about everything else.  anything that's worrying me or that's going on can be forgotten and I can live in the moment and just enjoy it.  I think this is why I take so many pictures whilst I'm there, videos too (although most of my videos have my terrible singing on them) so that I can relieve the moments where I felt the most happy and in place.

I have found too that I can make friends and talk to people easier at concerts, whether that be us laughing at each other for crying the whole way through (The Wanted's last tour) or just chatting about anything and starting a conversation. Its brilliant and I hope that this never changes.  I have 3 more booked for the rest of this year at the minute and I am excited for each and everyone of them. Blog posts will definitely follow those. But for now I shall leave you with my favourite photos I have taken from concerts.

Catch you next time

Leigh x

JLS

 


The Wanted

 

Nathan Sykes (The Wanted Tour)

 

Lawson

 

Diversity

 

McBusted

 

Ed Sheeran

 

Olly Murs

 


The Script





Making Friends Online

Hello there,

We're all taught when little never to talk to strangers, even more so on the internet.  But how are we supposed to make friends if we don't talk to strangers, at one point in our lives the people we call friends have all been strangers and those conversations had whilst not really knowing them lead to a lovely friendship. So is talking to strangers so bad?  Ok on the internet we have to be super careful, the people we think we're talking to may in fact be someone completely different, is it worth the risk?

I began talking to a girl called Ameerah 4(ish) years ago when I was added into a BBM group that she was apart off.  Everyone in the group all got along and added each other, I talked to many of the girls in the group and thought it was great that you could make friends from different places. I carried on talking to Ameerah where the other people seemed to fade away and we became friends.  Then it was time to say goodbye to the shitty blackberry I had for a new phone meaning no more BBM.  Luckily we had each other on Twitter and talked regularly through there before we gave each other our numbers.   Since then we have talked pretty much everyday and I now regard her as one of my best friends, we talk about anything and everything and its great to know you have a friend there for you even though they are 200 or so miles away.

Now I know what your thinking how can you be sure she says who she says she is? And that's true, if it hadn't have been for us Skyping and face timing each other I might still be asking myself that after watching Catfish.  But I'm pretty sure she is in fact Ameerah and not some random guy preying on girls.  I am that sure that Ameerah is Ameerah that I am hopefully going to meet her next year as kind of my 21st birthday celebrations. I cant wait to meet this person that I have so much in common with and who has always been there and to actually get to know her more.  I can only imagine it will be a fun filled trip as we are meeting kind of half way in London, a place I've always wanted to go too.

And who knows maybe I'll meet the other friends I've made online someday?

Leigh x

Number 7

Hello There,

The last Top Ten already? My Top Ten most played songs on my ipod is todays subject so lets see.

These are correct as of the 1st May 2015

1. 5 Seconds of Summer- Heartache On The Big Screen.

2. 5 Seconds Of Summer- She Looks So Perfect.

3. The Wanted- Running Out Of Reasons.

4. 5 Seconds Of Summer- Amnesia.

5. 5 Seconds Of Summer- What I Like About You.

6. Sam Smith- Stay With Me.

7. 5 Seconds Of Summer- Good Girls.

8. Ed Sheeran- Thinking Out Loud.

9- 5 Seconds Of Summer- The Only Reason.

10. 5 Seconds Of Summer- Dont Stop.

It seems from that i have been loving 5SOS recently! It used to be very The Wanted based however i had months of not listening to them. I think i need to listen to some different music!

Leigh x

Top Ten 6

Hello There,

So this one is Top Ten artists i want to see live this one again isn't quite finished as the last three i haven't got people for. I am very lucky to be able to go to the amount of concerts i do but theres still those people i wish i could see.

1. Sam Smith
I love Sam Smith and thinkhe would be an amazing artist live although i feel i'd just be stood crying if i ever did see him.

2. Alex Goot
It has been a dream of mine to see Alex live for so many years but whenever he's toured in England i have never been able to go as he hasn't come close enough.

3. Boyce Avenue
Again I've wanted to see these for a long time but the inability to travel at the minute makes this rather hard as they dont come close enough.

4. Michael Bublé
I love this fellow and his voice gives me goosebumps every time i see him live on TV. He has been close enough for me to see him but only announced the concert the day before so it was impossible to sort going. One day though!

5. Rixton
I almost booked tickets for these this year but i am on a limited concert allowance to save up to go to London next year, so even though i wanted to see them so bad it'll be worth it (or at least thats what I'm telling myself.)

6. 5 Seconds of Summer
I have technically already seen these twice as a support act and a show where there was loads of acts but i really want to see them at there own show. Tickets just sell out a bit too quick for these!

7. Ella Henderson
Again already seen her but she only did three songs, the three songs we're amazing and made me really want to see her at her own concert!

8.

9.

10.

So theres my list of people who i would like to see, this list used to be sooo much longer and included Olly Murs, The Script and Ed Sheeran but i have been incredibly lucky to be able to go and see these so hopefully i can see all these 8. Who would you like to see?

Leigh x

Top Ten day 5

Hello There,

So this one i cant really call a Top Ten as i found it really difficult to choose the last three and have ended up leaving them blank. So here is my not quite Top Ten favourite books.

1. Hush Hush Series
I loooove these books and would love too see them made into films, although the image in my head for one of the main protagonists would be hard to cast I think because of how he is described. But these are definitely worth the read.

2. Girl Online
I love this book and read it in a day, i always know when I've picked up a good book if I can read it that quick! I really loved the story line and the twists you dont see coming. I also love how the book highlights things such as anxiety and helps to widen peoples understanding of such things.

3. Divergent Series
I love these books and am currently reading the last one in the series, alligent. I started reading these at the beginning of the year as a resolution to read more but work kind of got in the way. I love the story lines and think they're great!

4. Hunger Games Series
I love the Hunger Games and i must say i much prefer the books. Books for me are great because you're imagination gets to shine through as you in vision what the characters look like and for me the films didnt do Peeta justice.

5. Twilight Series
I love Twilight, i love that its so not realistic and that Vampires are seen in a different way than in other stories. However Edward should be way better looking in the film!

6. Pointless Book 1 & 2
I love these books, they're great boredom killers. If i have ten minutes to spare with nothing to do i pick up a pointless book open it on a random page and do what it says. I have also as I've worked through these dated the pages so in years to come i can look back and think aah yes i did that on that day.

7. We're Going On A Bear Hunt
My list had to include my favorite children's book as i read alot of these at work. I really like this story as the children can really get involved helping make the noises of the obsticals and this seems to be a story i can hold attention on as sometimes this is difficult.

8.

9.

10.

Thats my almost Top Ten. I recently baught some new books so if i ever get a chance to read them who knows they might end up on here! Do you recommend any books i should read?

Leigh x

Day 4

Hello There,

So day 4 of Top Ten week and my Top Ten favourite TV shows/ series.

1. CSI- crime scene investigation.
I love this show and i am determined to watch every episode, however i dont like the other CSI programmes such as Miami, I'm very picky and only like the Vegas one.

2. Vampire Diaries
I love love love this show, the amout of shouting at the TV that i do and crying at this show is unreal. Not to mention how much i really like Stephan and Damon. Such a good show even if it doesnt follow the books.

3. Grimm
I love this show even though it often freaks me out! I love the unique twist on the grimm brothers fairytales and all the interesting plot twists that you dont see coming. It definitely keeps you on the edge of your seat.

4. Casualty
Again i love this show and find each week interesting because you never know whats going to happen, much like a real A&E. Sometimes though i find my self hiding behind a pillow when i know someone is going to get injured, some of them you don't really want to see! This is another show that has made me cry on numerous occasions.

5. Scorpion
This is a recent favourite as there has only been one series. However i have found this very interesting as the group of geniuses the show is based around you cant help but love. I really hope that there is going to be another series as i love this show and Paige and Walter need to get together!

6. Catfish
This show amazes me every week with how easy it is to decieve someone and how we need to be careful online. It also makes me think of the friends I've made from twitter, am i really talking to who they say they are or are they someone different? Hmm

7. Ross Nobles Freewheeling
I absolutely love Ross Noble and he was the first comedian i have seen live. He's crazy and extremely funny and the format for the show is great because we as his twitter followers basically tell him what to do and he chooses the weirdest of things!

8. Celebrity Juice
Another one I'm quite fond of even though i often think can this really be on TV? My favorite episode though has had to be The Wanted special, i laughed so much at that one!

9. Waterloo Road
I love this show and was absolutely gutted when i knew it was ending. Everyone wishes there school was more exciting but i dont think that school could have been, a brilliant show though and everyone played really good characters within it.

10. Friends
I mean this one doesnt require an explanation really. Who doesnt love friends and want a group of friends just like them?

And thats my Top Ten TV shows as of today. It will be interesting to see of these change at all as i dont really watch much other TV than these. What are your favorites?

Leigh x

Top Ten Week Day 3

Hello there,

So day three and my Top 10 favourite films.

1.       The Harry Potter series- For me there's nothing better than a good ol' Harry Potter Marathon especially when I'm ill. I have watched these films sooo many times and when my sister moved out and took the DVD's I went out and bought the box set again.

2.       The Day After Tomorrow- This film is one of my favourites and has been for a long time. what makes it even more of my favourite is that my granddad also really likes this film and for some reason had it twice on DVD so he let me have one, so thanks granddad.

3.       White House Down- I have become obsessed with this film! it is now a film that I just put on if I cant be bothered to search for a DVD or search all the way through sky movies on demand. I don't know what I'll do when its not on demand anymore.

4.       Lilo & Stitch- One of my favourite films from when I was younger. I love Stitch! The idea you can have an alien experiment as a pet is brilliant!

5.       Monster Inc.- Another favourite of mine from when I was younger. I still have the first DVD I ever bought of it. the DVD also has a game on it too and I just love it! I'm not quite as keen on Monsters University though but I did go and see it at the cinema when it first came out, we were the oldest in the cinema without children oops!

6.       Hunger Games Series- I love these films! Although from reading the books the characters I feel should look different to what they do but I still love the films and have cried at the first one many times. I just cant cope when Rue dies.

7.       Divergent- I really like this film, I watched it before I read any of the books and was a little confused to begin with but one I read the book and re watched things became a whole lot clearer I cant wait to see the others in the series.

8.       A Cinderella Story- I love this film and spent weeks searching the shops for it to no avail, ordered it off of the internet then the next time we went shopping bam it was there! its such a good film and I really like Hillary Duff and Chad Michael Murray in it.

9.       Transformers Series- These are a very recent addition to the list as I went to see the fourth movie without seeing the rest since watching them all through once and not understanding what was going on I had a week where I watched them each night.  since doing that I have found I actually really like the films and find the graphics on them amazing!

10.    Maze Runner- This one is on the list because I found the film really good and I can not wait to read the books but it didn't half confuse me.  I literally have no idea what happened in this film but I found it very intriguing, I love fantasy films and this was a very good example of just that. (Plus the actress who plays Effy from Skins was in it and I think she is brilliant.)

Ok so I may have cheated a little by putting series but its so hard to choose just one film in a series don't you think?

See you tomorrow! (Or should i say later because i forgot to upload this yesterday!)

Leigh x

Day 2 of Top Ten Week

Top 10 Week

Hello there,

Its day 2 of top 10 week and what better way to follow on from yesterday then my Top 10 favourite artists?

1.   Ed Sheeran- I mean the mix of his voice, the lyrics to his songs and his skills on his guitar he has to be top of the list.  Not to mention he's the best artist I have ever seen live.

2.   Sam Smith- Again his voice gives me goose bumps and the lyrics are just amazing.

3.   The Script- The accent is a big factor on this one as I could quite happily listen to them talk all day never mind their amazing music and beautiful lyrics,

4.   Lawson- I love love love Lawson and have done ever since I first saw them on tour with The Wanted in 2011. These had to be in this list as I have seen them the most out of everyone that I have seen (I've seen them 9 times).

 

5.   The Wanted- Now these boys hold a special place in my heart, they were the first ever concert I went to and became the reason for so many amazing things in my life, such as Ameerah. Their music, Wanted Wednesday videos and emails always made me smile even when I was having a tough day and even though they have taken a break at the moment those videos and emails still make my day.

6.   Olly Murs- Well what is there to say about Mr Murs the cheeky chappy apart from he's so wonderfully talented and amazing!

7.   Mike Dignam- Another amazing lyricist, his song quite literally tell a story from 'Lungs' telling the story of two people drowning like in the Titanic to 'Beautiful Tragedy' telling the story of two cars crashing and one of the people falling in love with the other in that instant but the other person dies. I've mad him sound really depressing there but he has some amazing upbeat music too that always puts a smile on my face. Mikes also the most loveliest person to meet.

8.   5 Seconds of Summer- Aaaah the Australian chaps. I have loved these since I saw them on tour with 1D in 2013 and absolutely loved their album when it came out.  they are also some of the most played artists on my IPod.

9.   One Direction- These are here purely for their music as I have an differing views on 1D, sometimes I cant stand them but other times I love them but the constant is most definitely their music as I really enjoy listening to them.

10.  Alex Goot- I'm not really sure if he counts as an artist? he has albums out so I'm going with he is.  He's one of my favourite youtubers and I always get excited when I see he's uploaded a new cover.  I'm not usually good with covers of songs I don't generally enjoy them but I love most of Mr Goots, there's only the odd few I don't like.

So that's my Top Ten Favourite Artists of the minute. Who are yours? And I'll see you tomorrow for day three of Top Ten week.

Leigh x

Week of Top 10's

Hello there,

I was sat the other night thinking of something i could do for todays blog that would be an insight to me and would also be something for myself to look back on, maybe in a few months or years time. I decided well why not a Top Ten of my favorite things but then i thought why not have a subject and a Top Ten for each subject. So I've choosen seven subjects and have attempted a Top Ten of each.

Top Ten Favorite Songs:

1: Ed Sheeran- Thinking Out Loud
I choose this song because it has such beautiful lyrics and hearing Ed sing it live was the highlight of my year last year.

2: The Wanted- Running Out Of Reasons
This one became one of my favorites not long after their 3rd album came out as i absolutely love all of their voices on this particular song.

3: Lawson- Standing In The Dark
This song had to be in here somewhere as it is my absolute favorite song to see live by Lawson.

4: 5 Seconds Of Summer- Heartache On The Big Screen
I loooooove this song and it is one of the most played on my Ipod. I do love this band and i think the song is great too.

5: Olly Murs- I'm Ok
I have loved this song from the first time i heard it especially the 'whatever' it always brings a smile to my face.

6: The Script- The Man Who Cant Be Moved
Another amazing song that i have loved since i first heard it and again another amazing band i have no words for this one.

7: Bryan Adams- Summer Of 69
I love this song and i believe i always have. Its always a song that i dance to with my uncle and i just blooming love it!

8: Bon Jovi- Living On A Prayer
Another classic that i have been brought up with, this one i love because its one of the few songs me and my dad actually agree on as he has a completely different music taste to me.

9: Mike Dignam- Great Escape
I love this song and it is my escape sometimes. Mike is such a beautiful singer songwriter and i love this song live  because you can tell how much it means to him.

10: Wiz Khalifa & Charlie Puth- See You Again
This is a very recent addition to my favorite songs but i think it is such a beautiful song and it is played rather alot in my house.

So thats my Top Ten of today. Whats your Top Ten Favorite Songs?

Leigh x