La Belle SaisonLa Belle SaisonSnippets of student life in Edinburgh and Paris Articles
Hallucinations and Celebrations
2007-07-03 14:21:00 Well would you believe it? I, the girl who turned up to two out of her seven tutorials last semester, have passed all my exams! All my bloody exams! Who would credit it? Fancy that!No more exams for me, ever!In other news, last night was very strange.I went to bed reading my book and woke up at 3am. My glasses sat on the end of my nose, the book still sat in my hand, open at page 498 ? the part where the girl finds out her husband has been having an affair all along ? and the Ikea lamp sitting on my bedside cabinet was still on.Across the room, by the closed door someone cleared their throat. I looked towards them and startled when I realised it was a dog.I don?t own a dog.Ah, I thought, it must be one of those strange hallucinations I sometimes have when I?m half asleep.It wasn?t just any dog, though. It was a dog taken from the scenes of one of C. M. Coolidge?s ?Dogs Playing Poker? paintings.He was a basset hound, brown and white with long, floppy ears. His eyes were glistening in... More About: Celebrations , Brat , Luci
Too Close to Home
2007-07-01 19:37:00 There are no words strong enough to specify how shocked I am. Last night Glasgow Airport was the victim of a terrorist attack. Thank God it was a failed attempt. And thank God the two suicide bombers did not die; they didn't get away with it lightly. In fact, according to the BBC, the only casualty was one of the suicide bombers who was badly burned.The two bombers rammed the car into the front of the building of the airport, on the busiest day of the year there ? the first day of the school holidays ? in attempt of committing mass murder.It appears the two men were Muslims, and this attack was linked with Al Qaeda. Although news reporters are keen to keep confirming that the men are not Scottish born or bred. Frankly it doesn?t make a difference.Witnesses say one of the bombers was repeating ?Allah, Allah, Allah,? over and over again.Frightening stuff.But I feel terribly awful for the large Muslim community here in Scotland . There?s always been good relations there. Let?s hope it ... More About: Home , Close
Moving On Up, I'm Moving On Out
2007-06-29 14:54:00 I?m moving so slowly today that I?d go faster if I were underwater. I feel like I?ve been beaten up. Swollen arms, throbbing veins jumping about like electric wires, and bruises the colour of the Ecuadorian Quichua Flag are so this season dahhhling. Soon my mother will be home to drive me back to Edinburgh, to my faithful little apartment where I shall be forced to throw tonnes of my much-loved clothes in the bin (?I can?t throw it out!? ?You never wear it!? ?I wore it once!? ?Throw it out.?), and carry all my belongings down three flights of old winding stairs in order to make a start on ?moving out?.It?s incredible the amount of crap one accumulates over a single year.Hi Ho Hi Ho It?s off to work we go!I love my subscribers More About: Moving , Ving
Jings!
2007-06-29 13:59:00 Fancy that! I am the proud winner of the very first set of Fuel My Blog Moo cards! And it's thanks to readers here who have clicked on the wee FMB button in the side bar. Thankyou!For those who have not joined FMB yet - why the heck not? Janey Macaroni, just join! In fact read this over at Fracas' Blog.Allez! Vite!I'm a blog geek and I love it.I love my subscribers More About: Geek , Jing
I am NOT a guinea pig!
2007-06-28 12:02:00 One nice thing about spending one day a week at the hospital is that I know all the staff and they know me. Every week I get my blood tests, and if you have ever given blood, or had simple blood tests done yourself, then you will know it takes five minutes at the most.But yesterday I was given a male nurse that I didn?t recognise. I presumed he had been transferred from some other department, he was in his late 40?s and I didn?t suppose he would be a trainee nurse.How wrong I was.The nurse stuck the needle into my right arm ? my good arm ? and as soon as it went in I knew it had missed the vein. It was agony. I looked the other way and distracted myself by trying to imagine a brand new colour (hours of fun). He struggled to fill the first few bottles ? it took five minutes each to fill them with my blood. However, by the time he came to fill the last two bottles he had ?lost the vein?. He hummed and hawed as he tried to find it again, before deciding that he?d go for a different vei... More About: Guinea , Guin , T A G
Study Avoidance...(again!)
2007-06-26 15:05:00 While 'writing my dissertation' today, I found some pictures I hadn't seen before, that my mum had taken while we were in Paris in April.FP, these are for you mon cheri. xMy new home.That was one really hot day; I wished I hadn't worn black.Outside Le Louvre being a typical tourist - God I hate being a tourist.Not a cloud in the sky...Inside the Louvre - there were a suprisingly large amount of naked statuesBeing a tourist againThe happy couple Not quite sure what I was doing here...Oh cringe! I look like a dog...but he is as beau as ever Chinese food in France is really different from Chinese food in Scotland. You'd think it'd be the same...Spot the poser.And finally, me and mum in - of course, there's nae sun - Bonnie Scotland. Och aye! I love my subscribers More About: Study , Avoid
The Final Countdown
2007-06-26 13:07:00 Two weeks today my life will change. Not in any extraordinary way which will take away all pain, suffering or complications in my life, but a significant change all the same.Two weeks today I shall be in France . I shall be reunited with my love. After all these months we will be reunited.No more counting the days that we have left together, no more crying at the airport when saying our goodbye?s, no more trying to fit a billion things into 14 days.No, this time I will be there for good. I will be an expat. I will live in France once again. My home will be in France. My job will be in France. And somehow, I will ship all my belongings so that my collection of beloved clothes, shoes, jewellery, dvd?s and miscellaneous ?stuff? will be in France.But most of all, FP will be in France. And so will I.It?s the small things I?ve missed; waking up next to him at dawn, the cuddles on the sofa after dinner eating m&m?s, waiting eagerly for him to arrive home from work at 6pm where I greet h... More About: Final , The Final Countdown , Countdown , Fina
Can't live with them...
2007-06-23 14:28:00 Dad was sent off to the supermarket alone this morning armed with a strict shopping list written by mum. This would have been fine had he gone to the correct supermarket where he knows where things are located. But he chose to try out the new supermarket, which opened last week and looks so large it could easily be mistaken for Heathrow Airport.He came back over two hours later, in a foul mood. Never again will he venture inside the realms of that vast warehouse that calls itself a supermarket. “There is nothing ‘super’ about it.” Dad says.As mum and I put the various food and drink, tins, boxes, packets, accessories and the odd inexcusable item that is known as ‘a waste of money’ by mum (eg, 6 leather ring binders – “it was buy 3 get 3 free!” and a barbecue trigger spray cleaner – “dad, we don’t own a barbecue.”), he stood back and watched, absolutley exhausted from his adventure.“Where is the toilet roll?” Mum asked after all bags were emptied.Dad loo... More About: Live
Amazing what you can find on Youtube
2007-06-22 17:05:00 I am about to lower the tone of my whole blog...Ha! Okay, so this video may not be funny to anyone other than me but thought I'd post it up here anyway. This was New Year 2006/7, at my brother's apartment. The first guy you'll see is my bro, and the other guys are in his band, My Own Religion (who are freakin ace by the way...link at the bottom of the sidebar). I adore these guys, they are all like big brothers to me, especially Garry and Jon (who got locked in the toilet). Not sure who the girl is, but I adore her too. Because I adore everyone, you see.I wasn't there, I was in Paris dancing to the Macarena with FP's mum!Here goes for the Scottish accents! More About: Youtube , Find , Amazing
A Rude Awakening
2007-06-22 12:56:00 *hic*Well, well, well. I’m nursing a faint hangover today, and a bulging belly full of delicious pasta from last night. That indicates a good night.What I did not expect was the violin man standing next to our table and wailing mournfully at us.And I didn’t expect to lose my shoe somewhere underneath the table and have the four of us on our hands and knees searching for it only to find it was in my handbag.I certainly didn’t expect the toxic cocktails with their little umbrellas or the man who made rude hats out of balloons, or indeed, wearing such a balloon on my head along a busy road. And I absolutely did not anticipate witnessing a young puppy-love couple being escorted out of the restaurant for getting a tad carried away or two of our party tripping down the stairs in a sort of dominoe effect.And there was no way I knew I’d be eating dinner with Prince Harry at the neighbouring table. Although it may not have been him, it could have been my imagination.No siree, I didn... More About: Rude , Rude Awakening , Awake , Awakening
Five Hundred Twenty Five Thousand Six Hundred Minutes
2007-06-21 15:13:00 Five hundred twenty five thousand six hundred minutes,Five hundred twenty five thousand moments so dearFive hundred twenty five thousand six hundred minutes,How do you measure; measure a year?I wonder how many times I can watch five hundred twenty five thousand six hundred minutes pass by. How long can I hold on for? How many five hundred twenty five thousand six hundred minutes must I keep fighting for?Last night a phone call from my doctor confirmed things were getting bad. The disease was worsening. Blood tests which had always been good in the past are now all over the place.An urgent change of treatment is needed and in one week my weary veins shall be injected with another potent mixture of drugs by IV.Intoxicating drugs filtering into my weakened body, once every fortnight, for another five hundred twenty five thousand six hundred minutes.Excuse me, illness, but can’t you go away for a while so that I can have a life again?Every new treatment is one step closer to hopelessn... More About: Twenty , Thousand , Minutes , Minute , Five
Eight Facts About Princesse Ecossaise
2007-06-20 20:47:00 That wee minx Despina has tagged me for another meme…blame her!1. The British pronounce my first name wrongly, the French pronounce it correctly.2. I have a phobia of vomit, spiders, fur coats, bowling shoes and warm toilet seats.3. I frequently time how long I can hold my breath for. (1 minute.)4. In the shower I sing really beautifully. Only in the shower.5. I quite enjoy seeing how many times I can flush the toilet in a minute.6. I’m a vegetarian. Not because I think it’s cruel to animals; I just don’t like meat.7. When I was 13 I learned that Scotland is geographically placed above England. It was then that I also learned that tuna is a fish. 13 was an enlightening age for me.8. My favourite word in the English language is ‘waffle’. My favourite word in French is ‘pamplemousse’. There. That wasn’t too bad was it? Och go on, some memes are pretty educational. I shan’t tag anyone. Nominate yourselves. Allez, vite, vite! More About: Facts , Eight
Toxic Rage
2007-06-19 12:29:00 I was in some sort of hazy shock yesterday. As I stumbled downstairs in the morning I noticed a letter addressed to me with a tell-tale university stamp on it.‘God, it can’t be my exam results already, can it?’ I thought, as a sickly feeling of dread overwhelmed me.Ripping the envelope open I realised that it was not my results, it was simply a confirmation, albeit 3 months late, that the extension for my dissertation had been accepted.Except…“I regret to inform you that the decision of the Board was that your claim was invalid.”I sat down slowly. What the hell was going on? 'My claim is invalid? The claim that I have been battling an illness is invalid? It’s not a claim. It’s a fact! It’s true. How dare they?! How can they turn me down? It’s 3 months too late!'I burst into tears of panic and sat back in the armchair, trying to figure out what this meant.If the board of advisors had refused me the extension then I’ve failed university. Failed! Four years wast... More About: Rage , Toxic
Always Eat Your Vegetables & Always Shave Your Legs
2007-06-15 19:49:00 The minute the nurse looked at my leg I knew something was wrong. I knew because she said “Something’s wrong”.“The stitch is too tight, there’s still a little bit in there.”“Uhhh...In where?!” I said, sitting upright in shock. (I know, I can’t believe I said that either. Who writes my lines?!)“In your leg.” She said cheerfully. “Under the skin.”She held up the thread she had managed to scoop out and waved it about near my face. “I got this bit out though.” She smiled at me. “You’ll be fine. Just you try to pick it out yourself in a few days.”I felt the blood drain from my face and lay back down against the sterile, uncomfortable examination couch.“Please can you try one more time?” I asked her, once I stopped feeling like I was going to vomit. I’m not as squeamish as some, but stitches really do make me feel a little queasy. It’s the fact that my skin was basically sewn back together with a needle and thread that gets me. *shivers*She went... More About: Vegetables , Legs , Shave , Always
Oh deary me...
2007-06-15 00:46:00 Thanks Lesley you've given me another thing to entertain myself on a lonely night!No, I really don't know why I'm doing this either.Yes, I really am that bored.Yes, you're right, I am a loser.
Unpleasant Dreams
2007-06-14 20:15:00 Are there any dream analysts out there? I’d be quite interested to find out what my recurring dreams mean.The Vomit DreamIt’s no secret that in reality I have a horrible phobia of vomit – particularly other people’s vomit. My nightmares frequently involve someone hurling all over themselves before they then run after me, chasing me, trying to wipe their sick-covered hands on my clothes. It is one of my biggest fears. In fact, if the person who chased me in my dream is someone I know in real life, I often hold it against them when I wake up. Once it was FP. "I can't beleive you did that to me!" I cried at him. The poor soul, he had no idea what he'd done wrong.The Falling DreamNow, I know this one is not uncommon. I know, because when I talk about it everyone nods in agreement. This one is where I suddenly fall from a great height, sometimes from a cliff, sometimes from the top of my staircase, and I feel myself fall. I mean, I really feel that awful sensation of weightless... More About: Dreams , Sant
Prude Princesse
2007-06-13 13:01:00 I received an invitation by sms this morning.“Hey [Princesse] there’s a hen night at the end of this week! A friend of mine is getting married. You’ve got to come! We are getting a male stripper – it’s going to be sooo fun!”I snort and thank my lucky stars that I’m getting the stitches taken out of my leg that day and will be ‘too sore’ to go out.I can’t think of anything worse than a male stripper. I mean, Janey Macoroni, honestly! I’m no prude, but really there is nothing sexy about a grown man gyrating his skinny little hips to the sound of the Village People, while writhing around in a sequined thong, covered in slick baby oil and surrounded by screaming, giggly girls who look rather hot and bothered (and drunk).I just don’t understand what the appeal of it is.I had a gay friend who was doing his washing at the launderette with me, when out of his pile of clean washing jumped a red thong. Not only was it a red thong, but it was leather and sparkly (I was ... More About: Rude
D-Day
2007-06-12 13:39:00 Today is D-Day.Dissertation Day. Which means I must sit in one position all day long, drinking lots of coffee with ten thousand tourism textbooks sprawled out across the table in front of me, while I chew on a pen and wonder how to get started on these damn 12000 words.I now regret having asked for an extension on my dissertation. Had I done what I was supposed to, I would have finished it and sent it off in April, and would be graduating in August like everyone else.But had I done that I probably wouldn’t be graduating at all because I was never going to be able to finish my dissertation on time, without sacrificing my other projects at uni. So be it.However, I didn’t think at the time that I would be stuck here in Scotland until I finish it, with both my parents nagging at me to study and to ‘stop bloody blogging’.As mum woke me up this morning at 7am before she left to go to work she pulled the covers off my sleepy body, making me shiver and cry in frustration, and demand...
*^"*! %"*$$*!
2007-06-11 20:37:00 Princesse is angry today.A doctor missed her vein when he took a blood sample. Now she has internal bleeding and an unsightly bruise.She got pooed on by a pigeon and then laughed at by a revolting little boy.She couldn't decide on what she wanted to eat for dinner and so, stubborn as she is, she decided she wouldn't have dinner at all. She is now hungry but too proud to admit it.She has bloggers block which explains this post.She misses her boyfriend. A lot.Do you feel sorry for her? I do. Cheer her up with some banter. Ah go on. Go on, go on, go on. Share a joke, share a rant, share a story, just talk to her!!!!!Please?
Scottish For Beginners
2007-06-08 14:36:00 Or rather Sco’ish for beginners.If one is ever to find oneself in Scotland, even for a day or two, one will never get anywhere if one does not know how to speak Scottish .Now you may think Scotsmen speak English, this is a common belief. But you are mistaken. 99% of Scotsmen will not understand English, American or Canadian English. If you travel to Scotland, there will be a massive language barrier. If you speak to a Scotsman in ‘normal’ English, you will appear foreign. And you do not want to be foreign in Scotland. It is highly dangerous.For example, you may walk up to a strange Scotsman and ask him, ‘excuse me, kind sir, could you tell me the time please?’The Scotsman will stare at you, eyebrows twitching in confusion. What you really should have said is this; ‘awright min, fits the time?’By learning a few basic Scottish words, one can make several sentences.Let us begin with ‘hello’. Now, there is one word in Scotland for ‘hello’ and although some of use th...
Ye Ken Yer Scottish If...
2007-06-07 23:55:00 I wonder if anyone other than Scottish readers will understand this...Quite interesting, tell me if you get it!Et FP, tu devrais comprendre beaucoup car je t'ai deja enseigne comment parler Sco'ish! Ye ken yer Scottish if...1. ye can properly pronounce McConnochie, Sauchiehall, St Enoch and Aufurfuksake.2. ye get four seasons in wan day3. ye canny pass a chip/kebab shop withoot sleverin when yer blootert4. ye kin fall aboot pished wi'oot spilling yer drink5. ye kin make hael sentences jist wae swear wurds6. ye urny surprised tae find curries, pizzas, kebabs, fish n chips, irn bru, fags and nappies all in the wan shop7. a big flash car has a ned at the wheel8. ye know irn bru is a hangover cure9. yer holiday home at the seaside has calor gas under it10. finally, ye're 100% Scottish if ye've ever said...'how's it hingin?''boggin''pished''get it up ye''wee beasties''amurny''away an bile yer heid''baw-heid''baw bag''fit lyk min?'
Short and Curlies
2007-06-07 16:01:00 Jings, crivvens & help ma boab!Now, I’m not a ‘Monica’ when it comes to being clean and tidy. I like hygiene and I like cleanliness. I can deal with clutter if it’s my clutter. But I can’t stand dirt and it is out of the question that I deal with other people’s dirt. I also can’t stand finding other people’s pubic hairs loose in random places.I was at the Post Office earlier, and what did I find attached to the book of stamps that the shop keeper passed back to me? Yes, you’re right.An unmistakable dark, curly, wiry pubic hair.We both saw it. I felt my cheeks flush instantly and the woman behind the counter stared at it before turning just as red. She didn’t look me in the eye, she didn’t smile, crack a joke or take the hair away. Instead she took her hand away, and left me holding the book of stamps and the offending pube.I walked out the shop, trying to pretend I hadn’t noticed this disgusting…thing, even if I was holding the stamp booklet well away f... More About: Short , Lies , Curl
It will be sweeter if you wrap your peter
2007-06-06 22:34:00 I had a minor operation today. A big chunk of my leg is sitting in some laboratory in Edinburgh.(I apologise for being utterly vile)While waiting for the op I took a stroll around the building, past the wards and clinics. The stench of hospital was strong and heavy in my nostrils and the artificial light began to burn my weary eyes.I regularly attend this hospital, and know the area of the third floor like the back of my hand. All, except the GUM clinic. I ended up in this delightful little treatment centre by turning right when I normally turn left at the end of the corridor.Posters screaming ‘Be safe; wear a condom,’ and ‘Don't be silly, protect your willy,' and ‘Chlamydia; the silent disease,’ and ‘if you really love her, wear a cover,’ and ‘Bag that mole then go for her hole’. Ok perhaps I imagined that last one, but you get the picture.The waiting room, an L shaped space with orange and yellow walls that looked as though it was last decorated in the ‘70’... More About: Pete , Peter , Wrap
The one where I out-stay my welcome
2007-06-05 20:45:00 I’m in hiding. Because I’m spending the week chez mes parents, I’ve been behaving myself. I like to come home and impress them with my maturity, to show them that I am a wonderful upstanding citizen, that I am a merit to them.But it was inevitable that any good behaviour wouldn’t last long.I was cooking my own dinner this evening, a simple bowl of pasta with some melted butter and smothered in tomato ketchup. Mum had just got in from work and I was getting in her way.“Right. I’ll do your pasta, just go into the living room and sit down, you’re getting in my way!” She snapped. She’s never in a good mood when she gets home from work. She’s a teacher and deals with naughty kids all day, only to come home to find her own naughty kid trying to cook in her kitchen.I traipsed back into the living room, feeling guilty. I had wanted to cook my own dinner, I didn’t want to have bothered her.Five minutes later, my dad arrived home from work. Kissing me on my forehe... More About: Stay , Where , The O
MySpace Ruined My Life
2007-06-05 16:09:00 Really, what is the point in Myspace ? I used to like it; love it even, when there were no kids using it, no Myspace whores and no perverts. Okay, okay there were always perverts. I’m ashamed to say I still have a Myspace account. I rarely use it anymore, but decided to add the link here, because I know quite a few bloggers use it. So here is the link, which you can also find in the sidebar to the right.And if you own a Myspace, add me to your friends (I have many ‘friends’ who are not friends. It’s time I deleted everyone and started again) or leave your link here and I shall add you.By the way, how freakin' amazing is the song over there?And does anyone know how to change the main photo that appears on the profile? They have changed it al to albums and I’m feeling slightly out of my depth! More About: Life , My Life
To love...
2007-06-04 15:06:00 ...You must first learn to love yourself.There are times when I am aware of my own faults. Times when I realise I am talking too much or laughing too loudly or eating too messily. I wonder where my bad habits came from, like biting the skin on my lips, sucking on my thumb (something I didn’t do as a child) and twisting my hair around my finger.I’d like to see myself through the eyes of others, to know what good points I can build on and what bad points I can change. To see if I am as brave and strong as FP tells me, or if I have a terribly annoying habit that I haven’t noticed yet. I’d like to know if I’m a nice person, if I come across as kind, or as selfish.What I’d like to know is if I were someone else, would I like the real ‘Princesse Ecossaise’? Would I like my own company? Or would I learn something about myself that might hurt?When I look back at my past I hate who I was. There were times that I was certainly not myself, I was someone else, or rather pretendi... More About: Love
A moment on the lips...
2007-06-02 12:03:00 I’m back home with the parents again, turns out my father googled me and found this post…I regret having told him I have a blog now. Perhaps I should start watching what I write?Nah…Mum has put Dad on a diet. Every night when he comes back from work now, he arrives home to a Weight Watcher’s microwave meal sitting at his place on the table.Last night we went out for a meal at a Chinese restaurant to celebrate my becoming an ex-student and Dad took advantage of the opportunity to order beer, spring rolls, rice and king prawns in batter. I happened to choose the same, only with wine instead of beer, of course.‘I really don’t know how long I can survive on this diet lark,’ he complained to me halfway through the meal. He poured his sweet and sour sauce over his rice and prawns and lifted a forkful to his mouth. ‘Everything tastes the same,’ he continued as he chewed heartily on his food.‘What do you mean? What’s Mum been feeding you?’ I ask, breaking a prawn cra... More About: Lips , Moment
Scotland The Brave
2007-06-01 15:05:00 Land of the purple heatherLand of such shocking weatherLand of Elvis Presley's motherScotland the braveLand of some high endevoursHarry Potter, Ewan McGregorLand of Sir Sean forever....Only a few weeks left here. How will I ever be able to leave?!
You Probably Shouldn't Read This Post
2007-05-31 22:09:00 Today has seen a tremendous transformation. I have just finished my very last exam ever. Ever! EVER! EVERRRRRRRRRR!No more exams!Well until the resits, that is. I’m pretty sure I failed two out of three of my exams. I’m not a business-y type girl. My brain doesn’t understand Porter’s Five Competitive Forces Analysis… If I have failed the business exams, which is likely, then I’ll have another chance to do them in a few months. So that’s me. All finished for the summer. Woooooo!Next step – France!No one was up to partying with me tonight…Indigo is at the cinema with her boyfriend and the others still have exams to sit. I am drinking vodka and Ribena alone. Ribena?? I don’t know; it was the only soft drink I had in my flat…This will not be the most literate of posts, as I’m on my third glass now. Also I’m a bit of a lightweight.If there was a way to have an online party I think I would propose it now. I don’t like tonight, I’m supposed to be happy, celebr... More About: Post , Read , Probably
Donald, where's yer troosers?
More articles from this author:2007-05-30 18:12:00 As I made many foreign friends while living in France I’m quite used to being asked stereotypical questions about my country. My favourite one is about the clothing our men wear. I'm always asked if it’s true Scotsmen don’t wear anything underneath their kilts.Of course it’s true! I say. Shocked faces, mouths open in surprise explaining that they thought it was just a rumour. But why? They ask me. I shrug, it’s a tradition.The first time I met FP’s family the inevitable question arrived. His mum was curious to know if Scotsmen really did wear skirts without anything on underneath.I explained that when the Scots would fight the English, our men would like to scare the Englishmen away by flashing their dangly bits. Sometimes we even fought naked. It did the trick; they wouldn’t come near us.I love this part of our heritage and culture.There’s nothing sexier than seeing a man in a kilt. Every Scottish girl loves it. The muscley, hairy legs, the sporran, the sgian dhub ... More About: Donald , Where 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 |
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