Back to school shopping

August is quickly running out and before I know it I will be back at school again for the final time ever.

It's funny, even though I left school last year to start sixth form, I never really felt as though I left school because I'm still very much in a school environment: although I am no longer forced to wear a blazer, I am still surrounded by the lower school that do have to suffer such burdens, I still call all my teachers "Miss" and "Sir" and my day still begins at 9am and finishes at 3:30pm (however these days there is often a skive to the local shop slotted somewhere inbetween)

So the thought of going "back to school" for the final time is rather a daunting one, because this time next year I will be looking at all the "back to uni" ranges in shops, and in addition to folders and pens and new clothes, I will be looking at bedding, irons and kettles. It's all a very exciting prospect, and seeing at the Year 13's go off to university this year has only made me want it more, there is just the small matter of my A2 exams before I get there.

One of the best things about going to a sixth form that doesn't require a uniform is that I no longer have to suffer the traditional "back to school shop" which used to entail me and my mum walking around Bhs trying to find some trousers that fit and five matching white shirts with a top button fastening. Instead, we get to walk around the clothes shops that I actually like, and buy a few basics so that I have a few new things to go back in.

The jeans are from H! by Henry Holland at Debenhams, the jumpers are from Red Herring at Debenhams and the T-shirt is from Next. 

I only realised the distinct star-theme after I'd bought the clothes, I assure you that it was completely accidental. I love the subtle print on the jeans, and the jumpers are unbelievably soft and cuddly and so they should make the grim walks up to the bus stop on dark mornings bearable. The striped t-shirt isn't something I would usually go for but I really like the colour and think it will be a great layering piece in the autumn months coming up.

It's still August and I've already got the back to school blues, can't I have another month of summer?

An update

Well, firstly I would like to say a huge sorry for not posting for almost a month, that is not good blogging practise I know, but exams have to come first and they're all out of the way now for another year so I can focus on things I actually enjoy, like baking, blogging and going out.

I wish I could tell you that so much has happened over the last month, but to tell you the truth my life has been consumed by exams and revision, which is why I thought a short break from blogging may be a good idea, it's not as if I would have had a whole lot to talk about.

Firstly though, I have actually got a job! You may remember Enthalpy Change of Formation where I complained that I went to enquire about a job vacancy and wasn't successful. WELL the woman rung me up at 7 o'clock last night and asked me if I could start at 10 o'clock this morning! It is only pot washing at the weekend but money is money and it's in a really nice place, a lovely little coffee shop overlooking the canal. I also get to choose which of the homemade delights I would like for my dinner (and get it for free) and then get to take home a load of left over cakes and pastries at the end of my shift, so I can't complain.

I have also managed to acquire the new Paramore album (by that I mean I borrowed a copy and imported it onto my iTunes) I think it is a really good album and cannot decide what my favourite song is! Hayley Williams is just perfection in every way.

Hope you haven't missed us too much

E for Exams

Image from We Heart It 

Hannah, myself and thousands of other students around the country are getting scarily close to some pretty important exams right now. For some, the realisation of the exams' significance came a month or so ago, I personally think it's just about dawning on me now, and others probably won't give a damn until about a week before the exam and cram like crazy - I really don't want to cram.

I'm most scared about my Chemistry exams - I've had every grade possible over the past six months, the entire spectrum from A to U and I'm really hoping to get a C overall. I'm nervous for Psychology because there's just so much to remember, especially names and dates for the different studies. English Language is an odd one because you can revise as much as you like but if a horrid text comes up on the exam you could still be screwed. 

I just want them to be over - I always feel relieved after an exam or test because even if I don't feel particularly confident (for some reason I always seem to do the best on the exams I'm the least confident about) because once you're told to put your pen down there's nothing more you can do and then the summer can begin, I'm really looking forward to this summer - I don't have any big plans or anything (although I would have loved to have gone to a festival) but I'm just looking forward to wearing shorts and laying on the grass and going to the beach. Ofcourse with my moonkissed skin sun scream is a must - and if you burn easily like me I really recommend P20 suncream - it smells horrid but I only applied it in the morning and didn't burn once during my holiday last summer, I was on holiday in England, but my point is still valid.

Image from We Heart It 

Have any of you got any stressful times coming up, and how are you dealing with them? 

Rose Photoshoot

I had to take some photos of flowers today, harshly lit with a bicycle light. I used a rose because we had a vase full from my mum's birthday and they are starting to look a little dead which I thought added to the effect.

I know I don't post too much of my Photography stuff (mostly because I know it's all bollocks) but I'm rather happy with how these came out and we haven't posted since Monday and I don't want you to think we've forgotten about this blog because we really haven't, it just hasn't been a very inspirational week.

Linophobia

I just wanted to show you guys this work I did in Photography today, since it's one of the few things that I've done and actually like.

My work is all based on fears and phobias, so I took this hand mannequin that Miss had in the cupboard and positioned it based on a "drowning man" and then wrapped string around it because the piece was to be focused on linophobia - the fear of string. Also, the string is supposed to represent how irrational phobias "constrict" a person's everyday life (blah blah photography student shit blah blah) and then I added all the text using Photoshop which took forever but overall I think it's pretty good.

What do you guys think?

Issues

Today I got my exam paper for my Photography exam, and I don't really like any of the questions I've been given, I had a choice of:

• Contrasts
• Musicians and Instruments
• Issues
• Home
• Multiple Image

I've decided to focus on Issues, and look further into fears and phobias, particularly weird phobias. Here are some of my favourites:

Aerophobia: Fear of swallowing air

Arachibutyrophobia: Fear of peanut butter sticking to the roof of the mouth.

Batophobia: Fear of being close to high building

Chionophobia: Fear of snow

Dextrophobia: Fear of objects at the right side of the body

Genuphobia: Fear of knees

Hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia: Fear of long words

Octophobia: Fear of the number 8

Paraskavedekatriaphobia: Fear of Friday the 13th

Selenophobia: Fear of the moon

Xanthophobia: Fear of the color yellow 

Currently my idea is to simply take photos of the things that people are scared of and luckily most of them are inanimate objects as I found it really difficult to take photos of people last time, I'm just no good at bossing them about!

How was your Monday?

School sucks

I think that I've been driving everyone else mad with this shit all week, and so I've decided to give them a break and tell you guys about it instead. 

I hate sixth form. 
I hate everything about it; I hate that I have to ask permission to have a driving lesson during my free period, I hate being there an hour early in the morning, I hate waiting for the bus in the freezing cold for 15-20 minutes every night, I hate leaving in the dark and coming home in the dark, I hate how the roof leaks and the common room stinks like damp and warm food, I hate the bitch of a Textiles teacher whose room I have to walk through to get to Photography, I hate that I'm the only person in my year doing Photography and that next year I'll be the only person in the school doing it, because they aren't running the course next year, I hate my stupid locker and how temperamental the lock is.

But most of all, I hate the fact that nobody talks to me outside of lesson - apart from the four girls that I came with at the start of the year. People will say hello to me in the corridor, or speak to me during lesson, but once that bell goes it's like I don't exist to them - nice, huh?

Maybe it's me, I'm shy as Hell and don't like making the effort with new people because I don't think that they want to talk to me.

So, I've applied to go to college next year. I want to carry on with my English and Psychology A Levels, but drop Photography and Chemistry and take up Textiles instead. College have said that I can go, and I may even be able to do all the Textiles AS and A Level in one year, so I won't even be a year behind everyone else!

The only thing that's holding me back, is what if I don't make any friends next year either? What if I go through my whole life always on the verge and never feeling like I belong ever again? It's only now that I've begun to realise just how much I felt at home in Year 11 - I've never been the new girl, and I went to the local secondary school. This year has been a huge upheaval for me, and I don't know if swapping will actually improve things at all.

So, my options?

1. Stay where I am
2. Go to college (keeping English and Psychology and taking up Textiles)
3. Go to college and do a BTEC/re-start A Levels
4. Get a job

I'm willing to take advice from just about anyone right now, so what do you guys think I should do?

And if you've only just realised how much of a loser I am, I'm sorry for any disillusions.