Do some work, Poppie!

Visual update..

Tue, 08 Dec 2009 12:35:44 GMT

~Click the pictures to view the rest of the gallery ^___^ Feel free to add me on Facebook if you like.

Viv Westwood Corset, Yard of Ale and a houseful of my favourite sticky people <3..

Awesomeness in present form!! ~^______^;;; <3 <3 <4..

Can I draw on the walls..?

Old Young Poppie Punk..

Review - Being an extra for Skins

Tue, 14 Jul 2009 18:01:02 GMT

I got picked to be an extra on Skins, just got home and thought I'd do a little write up about it if anyone's interested...

I wasn't told much except dress like you're going shopping, you can wear the brightly coloured thing you wore to the audition and bring a change of clothes. Woke up late, just had time to put some clothes on, rush my makeup and have a smoke... luckily the pub was only 10mins down the road!
There were about 20 people there, mostly studenty types. A woman came and waved her arms at me and said "I love this, it's fabulous" but the costume department had to ask me to take off my jacket(the one with all the badges) because one of the main characters wears a jacket with badges XD Got given a black hoodie instead.

A minibus drove us to Castle Park where we got onto an old double-decker bus with tables inside which was our 'trailer'. It took ages for the rest of the vans, the catering, the toilets, the crew and the cast to turn up.. we pretty much sat on and around the bus drinking free coffee(chocolate, juice, tea, water etc.), eating free biscuits and chatting from 11-3pm! When they finally decided to film it seemed to take a long time to get everyone ready - not the extras, but everyone else. I thought it would be a lot more organised.

The scene was filmed in St. Nick's market, it wasn't blocked off or anything, we were just there to 'busy' it up, all the extras seemed to be in most of the shots. We were given positions and cues and had to act like we were walking/browsing normally - but without getting in the way of the actress or walking into a camera. We took the scene about 7(?) times from different angles, there were a lot of crew making sure we were doing the right thing, not changing appearance(unzipping jackets etc.). I ran into Hannah halfway through, didn't tell her what I was doing becuase she surprised me and went back to my position! Had to text her 'I'm in Skins right now' XD
The scene was just with the girl who plays Naomi on her own... I'd better not give it away XD probably something in the contract about that?

Of course spending that long on a bus with other extras you end up chatting, some of them recongised me from The Crown and I also talked to the costume girl who was really friendly, she had just graduated and this was her first job. We all got back to the bus area and there was a huge spread of food and a full home cooked menu with loads of options, I had sweet potato and roasted red pepper gratin with veg and chips. Seriously I can't belive how many different types of food there were and I wish I could have fitted more in! Couldn't even manage pudding ¬_¬;;

There was some confusion over weather or not we were going to get paid - no one had been told we would, I wasn't actually bothered or expecting anything but in the end we all signed a contract and got £40. Score!
I walked halfway home with a guy called Sam who had been an extra the year before, he said they'll probably call us back again which would be great :D Definitely want to do that again, it was the easiest £40 ever.

I kept the hoodie.

For Sale!

Mon, 29 Jun 2009 11:38:29 GMT

Skateboard Decks + bearings
Acoustic Guitar

Prices don't include p+p but make offers! Any payment method is fine. Deperately need money to make the rent! <3

3 Almost Decks
Epoxy Resin Wood Skateboards, still in wrappers, £30 each.

2 Sets of Speed Demons bearings
Unopened, £10 each.

CD Albums:
Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Fever To Tell
Muse, Showbiz
Muse, Origin of Symetry
The Muse ones are unplayed. All are in gift-give condition. You can see what I paid for them, offers?

Also selling: Gremlin black acoustic guitar, steel strings, minimal scuffing, soft case £50 - pick up/delivery in Somerset or Bristol.

Shmu's day 13/06/09

Fri, 19 Jun 2009 09:33:40 GMT

Shmu's Day 03/06/09

Fri, 19 Jun 2009 09:16:59 GMT

Shmu's Day 20/05/09

Fri, 19 Jun 2009 09:10:29 GMT

Shmu's Day 19/05/09

Fri, 19 Jun 2009 09:03:59 GMT

Shmu's Day 15/05/09

Fri, 19 Jun 2009 08:57:02 GMT

Shmu's Day 11/05/09

Fri, 19 Jun 2009 08:50:13 GMT

There are now 50+ of these but I don't have the older ones on me. Here are the 6 I've done since moving to Totterdown...

Tue, 16 Jun 2009 10:18:03 GMT

I keep blowing people off ):

Mim why can't I get my ass to London?? Hannah why can't I arrange a time to have a hair sorting session?? Raine, food in my own town and I can't find it in me to show up??

Please don't feel singled out 'cause I'm doing it to everyone. I feel stupid and crap because I know all of you(not to mention others) would give me a hug and all I need right now is a hug.

I'm going to try my hardest to get to my parents today for some tlc and sibling hugs... even tho hugging children is a huge risk with dreads (;

Who cares if you look like crap, when you've got a gorgeous cat?

Catnip was involved!! (:

Moar Hair

Sun, 14 Jun 2009 12:25:28 GMT

Some of my dreads are pretty tight in places, they are going kinda wiggly (: I have about 5 pink dreads and once purple one!

They hardly look dreaded at all tied up like this!

Thu, 21 May 2009 14:58:06 GMT

Hair update anyone?

And 'cause I'm completly soppy at the moment:

Fabric and Snails

Mon, 18 May 2009 09:58:51 GMT

I DON'T HAVE MY SEWING MACHINE IN BRISTOL ;___________; But how awesome is this for £2.99/metre? :D
(it's just tied around my waist in the pictures)

Went pond-dipping with my dad XD
I think that's a baby damsel fly?

Mon, 18 May 2009 09:37:58 GMT

Ciao! -
Earnings so far: 37 50 sweepstakes entries, 2 pending payments, ~~£1.40~~ £2.05

Toluna
Earnings so far: ~~22,435~~ 27,600 points

Valued Opinions

Earnings so far: ~~£2.50~~ £5.50

YouGov

Earnings so far: £3

Sun, 17 May 2009 09:57:39 GMT

If by any chance there is someone reading this who didn't guess from my facebook or I haven't thrust in their face in person (; This is what's going on with me...

I broke up with Jon - after 6 and a half years together. I feel bad, I never like hurting people and I'm scared I'm abandoning him, but it felt there was nothing left but him needing me around to check he wasn't going off the rails.

Another thing happened which made the decision both easier and more difficult, I met someone. I wasn't looking for someone in the slightest, it happened and the feelings were so intense and confusing and wonderful... but he's gone away to Australia for 4 months.

I dont regret anything. I mean that as a general rule but particularly I don't regret the time Jon and I had or how fast things have happened with Tom. I'm happy to be 'single' and celebate for the summer, I'm sad but I have a lot of friends in Bristol now and other friends I should be visiting (:

I live in Totterdown now by the way, in a house full of lovely people with a cat called Jack :D

Mon, 04 May 2009 22:13:24 GMT

V. tired -_-
I have packed up and gotten everything out of the house! I no longer live in fishponds, but I do have work tomorrow. I'm going to go in at seven with my small bag of things, do my shift and then see what happens...

I have had the best week in Bristol yet :D I was finaly well - and it was spinny and shiny and sunny and there was dancing and psychobilly and 80s goths and drama and food and feelings I had forgotten.

Certain people made the decision to say in Bristol much easier (;

Last week:

This was a week ago, it's dreaded a bit more since. I've basically stopped brushing it with a bit of backcombing and lots of playing, Mim thinks I should start over? Can't seem to get a decent picture, but it looks very 'unfinished' anyway so bandanas are a godsend.

Fri, 24 Apr 2009 10:59:35 GMT

Just to let everyone know... I have to be out of my house by next Sunday(I think). I really don't want to quit my job ): I cried a lot.

My hair's a little crazier than yesterday, I'm off home now to dye it.

Thu, 23 Apr 2009 15:58:59 GMT

I'm a little better than yesterday, had a good cry, things are slowly getting sorted.

Most ironic letter of the week:

40% of my hair is on it's way to being dreads, 10% of my hair already is dreads, the rest is just unbrushed and needs dying. It's not particularly aesthetically pleasing and I cannot afford a hairdresser.

My options are:

Keep going with the dreads
Re-dye it pink
Re-dye it red
Shave it all off
Attempt to un-knot it
Dye it brown
Dye it black
Shave it all bar fringe,tails+tiny pigtails
DO NOTHING

Opinions welcomed (:

Wed, 22 Apr 2009 16:05:09 GMT

Because I can't do anything at the moment and I need to distract myself. No need to read this XD

Days Online: 13

Ciao! -
Earnings so far: 27 37 sweepstakes entries, 5 pending payments, ~~10p~~ £1.40
Toluna
Earnings so far: ~~19,135~~ 22,435 points

Valued Opinions

Earnings so far: ~~£1.50~~ £2.50

I want my cake and eat it!!

Wed, 22 Apr 2009 12:43:09 GMT

I am a child. I want it both ways. I want no responsibility.

I just called work to confirm I'll be in on Friday and I'm in the club all night from 8. I got a little bit excited, working the club is easy and fun, I get to wear what I like and look fabulous. I don't want to quit my job.

I'm thinking of telling a lie(those who know me know I hate lying, I can't lie easily) and telling my mother in law that I'm taking her advice and moving back in here with them and Jon, getting all my stuff moved out of the house and then just finding somewhere to crash in Bristol or renting a small room. Or if I can't, just get on the National Express and go away for the summer.

The amount of stuff I have is my biggest concern, I moved out of my parent's when I was 16 and just collected so much stuff. I can't bring myself to get rid of anything - if I was just going to uni like most people I'd still have a room with my non-essentials but I don't.

Just look afer my books, dvds, furniture, 2 sewing machines, old school books, old art projects, crockery, sentimental stuff. Please I just want to be free.

I know I'm being completly unreasonable, I should just throw away what I don't need, it just hurts that my parents dont want anything of mine in their house.

Tue, 21 Apr 2009 18:16:26 GMT

I have a really tough decision to make.

Jon's been a complete shmoo and has been hiding things and lying to me and everyone else about money. It's finally all come out, he's made a slight plan but I wont go into it.

It comes down to the fact that I either have to support myself financially or move back in with his parents. I love living in Bristol and I love my job, I really don't want to quit, I've only just started and I think it's really good for me socialy before I start Uni. But currently I'm working under 16 hours a week on £5.70 which is not going to cover my rent and bills by any stretch of my imagination.

I love having my own place, I really love my own space. I think I could cope without Jon living with me, I've done it before.

Do I:

Go back to work this Friday, explain the situation to Gino and ask for more hours, get a credit card to cover the looming bills and 2 months of outstanding rent and keep living in Bristol.

Quit my job, pack up my stuff and go back to living with my inlaws(which drives me crazy) and share a single bed with my boyfriend(who may or may not still be in love with me)

Kay has suggested I leave my job on health reasons - my asthma is still not under control, I often can't breathe and I'm not looking forward to working like this. But I do really like my job ):

Surveys Update

Sat, 18 Apr 2009 17:17:13 GMT

I mentioned I'm doing online surveys, polls and registering to test products while I'm stuck here ill...

I've only signed up with companies who were reccomeded by moneysavingexpert.com(fantastic site) and only these three have given me any regular surveys. There are a couple more who have given me only one or two. Since I don't have internet access at home, I'll try to keep a rough total of the days I have had access to the survey sites. I miss out on a lot of surveys since they have deadlines.

Days Online: 9

Ciao! - Lot's of surveys, they pay cash(between 10p and £5 per survey I think) or if you start a survey and aren't in the demographic you get an entry into their monthly sweepstakes. You can claim your cash by bank transfer once you reach £5.

Earnings so far: 27 sweepstakes entries, 4 pending payments(worth about £5 I think), 10p cold hard cash XD

Toluna - surveys, polls, opinion discussion and product testing. You earn points which you can trade for competition entries, money off vouchers or real money vouchers. You need 60,000 points to get £12. You earn points by doing surveys, voting on sponsered polls or by creating you own polls/opinion topics.

Earnings so far: 19,135 points

Valued Opinions - site is not so user friendly, but they sent me the survey about chocolate (: Unlike the other 2 you have to wait until they decide to send you a survey, rather than being able to go to the website and start one. Redeem high-street vouchers once you reach £10

Earnings so far: £1.50

I'll update under the tag: Project Survey. My opinion - no, not much but it's really quite fun to have your say on products and services, however small it may be.

Please think about television advertising for alcoholic drinks.
Please type in, in as much detail as possible, any details you can remember from the next television commercial for an alcoholic drink that comes to mind that you have seen recently.

The one alcoholic drink commercial that always sticks in my head:

"I don't know but I've been told there's a fever on the myre,
there's quite a hulabaloo to do,
there's discord in the choir,
a fresh delight that's now in sight - I've seen yes yes oh please!
Come all in haste, enjoy the taste, of nature's expertise...

Quinns is an alcoholic drink made entirely from fruit."

This is the most catchy, visualy appealing and unpretentious alcoholic beverage adverts I have ever seen, and the drink tasted nice too!!

What happened to Quinns!?

Asthma

Sat, 18 Apr 2009 16:08:38 GMT

I just started a second course of antibiotics, which is in fact the second course of antibiotics I have ever taken in my adult life. I've never considered myself sick enough to need them when they were prescribed(except once, but only in hindsight!)

I've also been put on a steroid inhaler, which may cause thrush - gross ): But I'll try anything to breathe again, I simply havent been about to breathe properly for more than 6 months, and it takes a lot for me to go to the doctor.

My breathing is worse but I'm not feeling quite so rough, so I think it's mainly the asthma not the pnuemonia, but I'll take the antibiotics to be on the safe side. I can't wait to get back to work and to be able to breathe without wheezing/hurting.

Sat, 18 Apr 2009 11:33:52 GMT

I would kill for this dress, I'd even pay the £50, but it's sold out. I really adore cherry-print <3

I'd love to have a go at making it if I can find some similar fabric!

And look... I know it's not lolita - but you can wear a petti ^___^

Moar beautiful dresses

Chocolate!

Fri, 17 Apr 2009 12:55:08 GMT

I'm sick, so I have been spending all day this week responding to numerous panels and surveys(which I signed up to a long time ago) to make a tiny amount of money/vouchers. It's not cost-effective for my time but I do get to rant about banks and transport and food :D

Technically I think this is supposed to be confidential, but does anyone else have an opinion on chocolate?

What was the last thing you saw/heard/or spoke about in regards to chocolate bars?

Please describe all of the things you have seen or heard.

Well it's easter so there is a lot of chocolate about! I didn't personally buy any eggs but I did recive one egg, one box of Cadbury Roses and one Lindt Gold Bunny.
I'd like to think of myself as the kind of person who eats only fair trade 80% cocoa chocolate, and I do enjoy it, but I have a real weakness for cadbury dairy milk with it's sugary fatty endorphin-giving goodness.
A lot of people have been talking about the Cadbury Glass and a Half Full Productions advertising campaign, which have all be strangely mesmerising but I really dont like them. The are over-played, the worse was the one with the racing cars, it was so long and had nothing to do with chocolate, especially compared to for example the Lindt Lindor advert where you see the chocolate melting and it starts to make your mouth water!
I also did not enjoy the Air Tonight drumming gorilla advert - I hate monkeys. If it had been any other product I would avoid it on principal! But like I said I have a weakness for Dairy Milk and I'd choose it above most other chocolates(and specifially any brand of milk chocolate)
Saying that I am slightly swayed by promotions, I recently picked up a bar of Galaxy becuase I wanted to win a book. I did not win a book, I did enjoy the chocolate.

Your question is a llittle vague - when you say chocolate bars you could mean solid bars of chocolate or you could be refering to the small confectionary chocolate-coated bars with a variety of filling. I also enjoy those, in fact whenever my partner and I go to a supermarket(but not to do our main grocery shop)/garage/off-liscence we do spend a moment deliberating weather to buy a small chocolate bar - we often do!
Personally we are most likely to buy; Boost, Bounty, Kinder Bueno, Snickers, Munchies, Ritter Sport Marzipan, Flake Praline or Toffee Crisp. These are usually stuffed in our mouth quickly, possibly becuase we haven't had much sleep and need the energy.
The only full-size confectionary bars we have bought as a multipack to eat at home have been Kinder Bueno, possibly becuase they are light and the nuttiness seems slightly healthier as we can more easily justify needing a 400+ calorie bar when we are out on the go to keep us going. We occasionaly buy supermarket own-brand multipacks of 'fun size' chocolate bars which have imitations of Bounty, Mars, Toffee Crisp and Milky Way.

Finally I would like to say, when I was at college I often bought a king size mars or snickers because I needed the energy/wasn't sleeping/eating well. When they changed them to 'duo' I stopped buying them and would be more likely to buy a different, smaller chocolate bar and something else(eg. crisps). I understand why they were changed, but even though it was the same amount of chocolate for the same money I guess I liked the indulgence of shoving one huge 511calorie mass of peanut filled goodness down my throat.