Thursday 22 September 2011

Hi All

So once again, I'm back into the world of blogging in my last blog post I made a promise that I was going to blog more, a promise that I failed to keep! However as I am now currently set on embarking into my final year of UNI as a media student, I feel that blogging is something completely necessary!

So the summer has gone really fast and I seriously do not understand where the past few months have gone, every year I always say I'm going to do something outrageous with my summer months yet this never ceases to happen! However the summer has brought a brain full of happy memories, so I can't really complain!

This summer saw me end my long term placement with a jazz record label, called Big Bear Music, I really loved working there as they were able to give me first hand experience into the PR world! As well as this I have being recognised for my efforts whilst working there, after being named as media officer in their annual Jazz Festival programme. This is something really good to be used within my personal portfolio and it will hopefully make me recognised within the media world (even if its just a little!). Anyway I will go into more detail of my work placement in a future blog post.

As well as the usual going out shopping and holidays, I have also being working full time hours at my part-time job, The Co-operative. Yes its not the best place to work, but from the age of 14 I have always worked and paid my own way (not meaning to sound like I've gone without, because I haven't, I've got the best mom in the world! But in terms for anything material wise I wanted I've always bought it myself!) So when the summer months begin I feel that I have to work instead of just sitting on my arse because otherwise I'd feel like I was putting valuable time to waste!

As well as working I found time to go on holiday with my lovely group of friends to Gran- canaria, which was one of my bets weeks of the year!

So maybe not a summer wasted ah?!

xxx

Monday 23 May 2011

The Lack of Blogging

I made a promise to myself that I was going to start updating my blog on a regular basis, but recently I have seriously neglected my blog, so Hi! I'm back again!

As of late has being a really stressful time what with Uni deadlines, and an impending exam. Today I handed in a 3,500 research report and I can honestly say last week was one of the most stressful weeks I've experienced. I think my problem is that I'm to hard on myself so even if I've done a day's worth of work, in my head its still not enough! However it's only going to get more stressful over the next 3 weeks as I still have three more deadlines and an exam to get my head round! I'm sure I'll be fine and the fact that after that I have three and a half months off slightly helps the problem!

I'm being a health fanatic at the moment as I'm going on holiday in 6 weeks, last year I joined weight watchers and managed to lose a stone, since then however I just kinda put it to the back of my mind but last week I re-joined and was surprised to hear I'd only put 2 pounds on since last year. Fast forward 2 this week and I've not lost 3 pounds and plan to lose a stone by the time I've gone away- something which I thinks pretty achievable!

My reasoning for doing this is because I've never really felt happy with my body and how I look and so instead of moaning about it, I'm doing something about it! I regularly go running with my best friend Emma and we've now added swimming to our weekly exercise regime as well as this I go to the gym twice a week, so all in all I'm working out 5 times a week.

I only lost a pound last week, but this has driven me to lose more this week and I've now said to myself, well you can see as my witnesses that I'm going to exercise every day this week and be a bit stricter for what I'm eating- I'll let you know how I get on!

Any way that's enough of me babbling for now

xxx

Friday 15 April 2011


So I set up this blog and called it "The Life of A Pee-pod" but never really explained my reasons for doing so.


My full name is Rachel Powell, but no one ever actually calls me that, well obviously not "Rachel Powell", its quite a bit of a mouthful and yes I'm aware I'm babbling!


So anyway my friends (aka the slags, not because their literally slags!) used to call me "Rachey P" and then my one friend's boyfriend shortened it to "Pee" and it just seemed to stick!


So that's the story of how the pee evolved! aha!

Sunday 27 March 2011

Undertaking a vow

As of late, I've found myself lacking in motivation in regard to uni work and going to the gym, because of this rather annoying state of mind I have decided to take a vow declaring that I will complete every task on my to do list:

  • Complete my dissertation proposal (2000) words by Thursday

  • Complete my 600 word draft for Issues and Representations

  • Read week 8 readings and make notes

  • Attend aerobics Monday evening and pilatas Thursday evening

  • Go to the gym at least once as well as the above

  • Get my roots sorted

It may seem a bit sad, but all of the above is bubbling around in my head! However I fully intend to stick to it and after just writing this blog post I feel more motivated already, but for now I'm going to enjoy my Sunday evening after a long day at work :)


xx


P.S. I'll let you know how I get on!

Monday 21 March 2011

A Saturday night stabbing

This weekend was a rather eventful one....

Saturday evening myself and some friends decided to venture too Lloyds bar in Solihull, now I've always been quite a fan of this place as I like the fact you can have a drink and sit if you want or go and have a dance, without feeling like a squashed jelly bean in a jar!

Drinks were flowing and we were all having a good time that's until a fight broke out, followed by another three, now I understand that sometimes when your intoxicated people do silly things but what happened next was just completely ridiculous!

It turns out a lad was stabbed, the police were swarming everywhere and as a result we weren't able to leave the bar for a good hour whilst the police were searching for the knife. It was getting rather ridiculous after a while, obviously it was a serious incident but they weren't keeping us informed whatsoever!

After a while waiting we were finally allowed to leave and since Saturday there has been rumours that the victim had died, but I'm not entirely sure how true that is.

I really don't understand how it would come across any one's mind to bring a knife out with them? The concept is totally inexcusable and it just shows how some people think that, that's acceptable nowadays. It really made me think hard of how I should act when I'm out in future, I mean I have a quick temper but you just don't know how people are going to react nowadays, an angered word could result it someone been seriously injured and it's just not worth it!

As yet there have been no news stories about the stabbing, but I really hope the victims okay!

x

Friday 18 March 2011

Adam Clinton Lines


















There's a special someone in my life that you've not had the pleasure of been introduced to yet, his name is Adam Lines and trust me when I say he is one of the most delightful human beings you will ever come across!


My first recollection of Adam, was when I was 13 years old, the school I attended when I was younger had these day's called "challenge days". Each school year, three days would be put aside for students to partake in activities they would normally be opposed to participating in.


That year I was learning the skills of sailing at Shustoke Reservoir, myself and Adam's first encounter can hardly be classed as successful. I was quite a volatile young girl and I'm pretty sure that day I sent some abuse in Adam's way.


Fast forward seven years and you would hardly believe that Adam is one of my dearest and closest friends!


Myself and Adam both share this childish nature that perhaps no other individual would understand, that's what makes our friendship so special. Prank calls, a spot of stalking, baking cakes, singing Grease Lightening, talking in code and watching Tracey Beaker are only a few of the many ridiculous childish things we do on a regular basis.


You're probably reading this right now and thinking what a pair of losers, but life's to short to be prim and proper, sometimes you just have to let yourself go and let the child within you come out to play!


The one thing that can always be said of Adam is that he is very dedicated, he is currently in his third and final year at Birmingham University, studying English Literature and I know that there's great things to be expected of him in the future.



I think Adam brings out the best in me, he makes me want to succeed in everything I do, whatever achievement I succeed within life, he's the first person I always tell regardless of how little it may seem to others. The past few years have been a bit difficult and Adam has been my rock, he has helped me, never judged what I have done and if I've ever needed to rant about anything regardless how miniscule, he has always made the time for me.



I hope you can see from this blog post how lucky I am to have Adam in my life and I just wanted to show him how much he means to me and how proud I am of everything he has achieved so far.


Thank you for reading


x

Thursday 3 March 2011

A selection of reviews

Some of these reviews are quite outdated now, But I thought I'd include them anyway seeing as they've just been sat in my documents!

One Tree Hill- Season 7 DVD release

The heart wrenching story of Peyton and Lucas may not just be a distant memory in Tree Hill, thanks to the arrival of compelling new characters, Hayley's sister Quinn and Nathan's agent Clay, with broken hearts and grieving widowers their pasts intertwined maker series seven of One Tree Hill just as entertaining a its previous.


Now in their seventh series the passionate lives of the One Tree Hill residents are still as scandalous as ever. A truce that we never thought we could witness is reached through the blossoming relationship between Brooke and her mother Victoria, but if the viewers thought the turbulent life of Brooke would be plain sailing for a change they are proved wrong by the interference of a Hollywood hottie.

Goodie goodie Millie proves that she is not as straight narrowed as she seems on her path to self-destruction leaving Mouth once again broken hearted, will he ever be able to have a simple relationship? Rumours of a cheating scandal leave Nathan's MBA career hanging in jeopardy whilst the ever so reliable Hayley faces a personal tragedy.

Of course series seven of One Tree Hill wouldn't be the same without the return of the imminent baddy Dan, stepping right from his prison spell into the media spotlight with a familiar red headed woman on his arm.

Series seven will not let expectations down from its dramatic plots, to capturing the viewer's emotions through true friendship it is truly something that can not be missed.

Rihanna- Loud

A year after she hit our screens with Rated R, the queen of pop is back to claim her throne with her fifth studio album Loud.

The harsh beats and the darkness of Rated R have been replaced by the light heartedness tones of her latest works described bu the lady herself as "sassy, fun . flirty and energetic" the album certainly has a lot to live up too.

The exuberant first single "Only Girl In The World" certainly lives up to the singers promise, the chorus especially holds a beat that would be worthy of playing in any club. We are reminded of Rihanna's Caribbean roots with the songs "Man Down" using a murder metaphor to describe a break up, and a compilation with RnB's finest Drake on "What's My Name?"

A blatant sexual manner is a recurring theme throughout the album, with lyrics like "sticks and stones may break my bones but chains and whips excite me" its hard not to question Rihanna's motives behind these lyrics.

Ending with what can only be described as a stunning second part version of the "Love The Way You Lie"duet with Eminem, Rihanna lays down her vulnerable side for all to see. Loud is a striking album that certainly puts Rihanna at the top of her game.

Paranormal Activity Two

Paranormal Activity Two is certainly the horror movie of the moment, with an atmosphere filled with suspense the spectators sit tight ready to enjoy the unexpected journey of the film.

Paranormal Activity slyly leads the spectator into its plot with pre-Gotcha teasers, such as doors appearing to be moved on their own, saucepans falling from a secure unit and the swimming pool cleaner being moved out of the pool, and well that's when it all begins captured on a security system, ladies and gentlemen Paranormal Activity is back for a second time.

The unexpectedness is certainly what makes this film thrilling; the house is of course haunted by an evil presence, yet there is no pattern to these recurring events leaving spectators at the edge of their seats fearing the worst.

Halfway through, the film reaches its penultimate scene where we witness Kristi appearing to be dragged down the stairs. However viewers are to be left disappointed with the film, as the dread and anticipation of when something will finally happen is only met by a few scream out loud moments.

Paranormal Activty Two is almost like a pre-sequel to the first, it answers a lot of questions that were left hanging in the air by the first. Set two months before the first it explains the reasons for the evil presence in both houses.

Similar to the first, the husband of Kristi is sceptical to believe that any paranormal activity is happening to begin with, but with a security system put in place it becomes increasingly hard to deny that these events have occurred due to natural circumstances.

Paranormal differs from other horror films because it doesn't rely on gory effects to scare its audience. It's truly unique in the way the audience is constantly unnerved, waiting for something to happen and feeling a sense of relief when its over. However the film ends with you wanting more than just the credits rolling.

Twenties Girl By Sophie Kinsella

The comedic heroine responsible for the shopaholic book series, Sophie Kinsella is back with her latest book "Twenties Girl". Based on a friendship between a ghost and a 27 year old that has just been dumped by the love of her life, Kinsella engages the reader with her casual and classic humour.

The main character Lara has been having a hard time recently, being dumped by her boyfriend and being made to attend the funeral of her Great Aunt Sadie, someone she has never even met. To make matters worse, when she finally attends the funeral basking in her own misery, she is startled to hear a voice that no one else appears to hear. The ghost of Auntie Sade is back demanding the return of her necklace, threatening that if she doesn't she will haunt Lara for ever more.

The contrast between Lara and Sadie couldn't be further apart. Sadie is the epitome of a 1920's carefree girl and throughout the book they constantly bicker. The book reaches a very humerous peak when Lara is forced to go on a date on the behalf of Sadie, what Lara doesn't realise is that this will be the man she will eventually fall for.

The book remains completely humerous and has many laugh-out-loud moments all the way through. Underneath the humour and bickering, we see a real friendship form between Lara and Sadie. They may appear to be completely different, yet they bond over tales of broken hearts regardless of what era what may be from.

Readers will not be disappointed by Kinsella's lastest work: its a heart-wrenching tale talking about true love and friendship, something of which all readers can relate too.

Thanks for reading! x