Well life at university has well and truly begun. I've been sending out email updates to certain people, if you want to be added to the email list just let me know. I've copied and pasted the first two below:

Update 1:

Well now I've been here a few days I thought it was time to update everyone, thought I'd send them out occasionally!
 
Sunday - Was the arrival day! Damien and Lucy came round to collect mum and I, and loaded all of the stuff up into the car, well as much as we could, some just wouldn't fit, so they'll have to be brought down at a later date but nothing too desperate. We made our way up to Bath in stunning weather and good time and arrived at about 12 o'clock so went into the town to explore for a little bit. Bath really is stunning. We had lunch in a gorgeous cafe in a courtyard which sums Bath up quite well really I think. After that it was off to the uni to collect my key and settle in. Nerves had well and truly settled in at this point. Found the flat okay, it's a really nice room with a massive bathroom. My flatmates are all really nice, there are 7 of us in total, 4 girls and 3 boys. 2 of which are also doing biochemistry which is really good. We then went on a food shop before the family left to go home and I mingled with the rest of the housemates. That evening I met a friend of mine from Bath already who showed me around a bit which was good fun and a nice night.
 
I still feel a bit like a rabbit caught in headlights, and dazzled a bit, although it's great fun. Although I've only been here for two nights it feels like I've been here for a week or more! Scary really.
 
Monday - I had my gym "induction" at 9 o'clock, which after not much sleep was umm... interesting shall we say. The instructor didn't really say much so was a bit of a waste of time. After that I got back and found surprisingly the rest of my house mates already up, so we had breakfast and then went into Morrisons to get some foodshopping which was good fun, although Bathwick hill is a nightmare!! Having got back we went to get our library cards which means waiting for half an hour to sit at a computer with a webcam and have your photo taken. That evening we did a group meal which was really cool, like a mini-family, everyone is really envious as to how all our flat get on so well and closely which is fantastic. From there we went to parade bar which is a smart little bar on campus and met some mates of ours which was great fun, we ended up playing "I have never" - talk about embarrassing! But yeah we won't go there, some things will definitely be staying at university haha. Emma and I then came back about half 12 and chatted for about an hour before eventually rolling into bed.
 
Today - Well woke up about half 9, and somehow still seem tired haha. We had a massive flat breakfast again which was good getting to know each other better. Emma and I then decided to go for a run which was lovely, the campus is so green and has so many different sports fields to run round so had a good time, plus the actual campus is flat so wasn't too hard going. By the time we got back it was about 12 so we mingled with the rest of the flat for a while before heading out to collect our library cards, my photos is hideous, but in comparison to the others so are theirs! At 2 o'clock we had a talk from the vice chancellor who it turns out to be an incredibly boring person, who after her half hour talk went "that concludes my brief introduction" - introduction, yes - brief, it was not! That was followed by the weirdest and scariest thing I have ever seen. A man from New Zealand doing scary impersonations and such like to demonstrate how best to make the most of student life - petrifying!
 
This afternoon half of us just sat down in one of our corridors and chatted, very very funny! This evening is the launch party so we're all off to that which should be great fun and really looking forward to it. Tomorrow is a full day of biochemistry inductions, fun fun!
 
Letters, pictures, postcards and parcels are most most welcome!! If you want my address just ask!
 
Update 2:

Hey,
 
Well I really think it's about time for a second update. Things have been just as mad although I am now getting more sleep, and think *touch wood* that I've caught up, well at least to a manageable level at any rate!
 
Freshers' Week was fantastic and ended with a toga night that was really great fun, the Mystery Jets were the band and can't say we were bowled over by them but was still a great night. As well as that there were the freshers' fair which is really where all the local companies pile on free stuff that I really need to sift through at some point and probably get rid of 99% of it. Then there were the societies and sports fair where being me I signed up to probably more things/definitely more things than I can go to. Amnesty, BioSoc, Ringing, Climbing, Snowsports, Nightline, Rag Team etc etc.
 
As not all my stuff would fit in my brother's car when they dropped me down mum came up on the Saturday and as I answered the door there was Scamp (my dog) at her feet which was a nice surprise. So spent the day with them in Bath having a look around and getting supplies. Was good to see them both, although mum's initial line as I answered the door as "you look awful" was just charming!
 
Uni life then kicked off properly last Monday with lectures and practicals. The lectures last week weren't proper lectures but ones that were designed to inspire us, which they did, they were fantastic and really really interesting! As well as that last week I had 12 hours worth of practical which again was good fun bar the 3 hour session on how to use a microscope. The experiments we did were all very interesting ranging from how to set up a petri dish to how much faecal material gets through toilet paper (the answer being you SERIOUSLY don't ever want to know!!!). I now have a very fetching labcoat and sexy specs! Oh yeah!!
 
I went ringing at Bathwick on Wednesday. I was a bit apprehensive before I went as I had been told a lot that this was the best ringing in Bath and that they were expecting a lot from me (no pressure!) so I arrived and we started ringing up which then all went to pot, so my nerves quickly faded. The ringing wasn't outstanding and all within my capabilities which was good. At the end a woman came up to me and was like "sorry I never caught your name" so I said "Alex", "Alex who?", "Alex Pool"... to which she replied "Ohhh you're Alex Pool!!" talk about a tad disconcerting!
 
The night after was the Snowsports social, which because I'm a skiier I had to go as something beginning with S, so I found a very cheap sheriff's outfit which consisted of fake leather chaps, a cowskin style waistcoat and a red hankerchief round my neck, boy did I feel an idiot but was a great night out again in a nice pub in town which we took over the top floor of. I'm also going on the uni ski trip just before Christmas which with 300 students decending on Val D'Isere should be fantastic!!
 
I had an Amnesty meeting in London on Saturday so went up the night before, had an amazing meal with Damien and Lucy before staying the night at one of my best friend's in Guildford. Was a bit surreal to be back, it all felt very natural to be in Guildford, felt a bit odd coming back to Bath afterwards really. But wouldn't change catching up with them for anything so can't complain. The meeting itself was awful, couldn't get out of there quick enough.
 
Sunday was a chilled day, just watched a few DVDs and things like that really, was nice just to chill.
 
Today was mad! Proper lectures started today! I had 4 of them which here is a lot for one day. The first one was a chemistry one which was fine as it just recapped stuff we all knew anyways, the lecturer is a bit odd, he started off by saying "I know I look miserable and like I have a black cloud looming over me but I want you all to know I'm happy inside, also I know I don't look very enthusiastic or come across is but I am" I mean what type of introduction to yourself is that?? The second and last lecture of the day were the same module, topic and lecturer on proteins, he was ridiculous, I think he forgot he was teaching first years not third years, it's physically impossible to write down a slide worth of notes, what he's talking about and a chalk board all at the same time - I'm a man I can't multitask!! The third lecture was on biodiversity - something all biochemists loath! But all in all the day was good honest. This evening I went climbing in Bristol with the climbers which was great. 9 of us went so not too many. Had about 2 and a half hours climbing time there which was great fun and a challenge, going again on Wednesday, can't wait.
 
Another 4 lectures again tomorrow fun fun!

Alex

Well we got back from Italy on Monday and what can I say it was amazing! We certainly did a lot but it was an amazing 16 days. I'll try and keep the blog as brief as possible - but try will be the operative word in that sentence. And before I begin on the holiday, the week beforehand was amazing too! Had London pride which was incredible, so much fun but really that would be a whole other blog in itself, so what can I say it was amazing!

Now to the holiday -

Rome: We set off at about 5am for London Gatwick (mum has an obsession with early flights when going somewhere) so we got to the airport fine and soon enough landed in Rome airport. To get from there to the hotel you have to get a train which we thought would be fine, so you stand on the platform as this massive great thing of a train pulls in and this was when we quickly discovered there is no queuing system in Italy, it's literally every man for themselves, which when you have a 27kg suitcase, 3 steep steps (whoever put steps on Italian trains should be shot) and 20 people ramming up behind you makes for an interesting embarking to the train! And at this point I'm now going to confirm that the blog is going to be far from short - sorry! Having got on the train and squeezed our bags on it set off, Rome was very hot, and this train didn't have any air conditioning or any windows that opened, as soon as we arrived at the station in Rome it was a scramble for fresh and cool air.

Once we got to the station we had a short walk to our hotel which we managed to find without too much difficulty. As you go through the main doors and around to the left you see this wooden lift infront of you that looks like it belongs in the prop room of some horror movie, there was only just enough room for the two of us and our bags in it. You press the button you want and with a jerk this lift rockets off to your floor and lands with as much grace as a hippo trying ballet. But our room was nice and we were both glad to see a shower. Mum had the first one and seemed to find the temperature dial difficult by the screams and yelps coming from behind the door - then all of a sudden there was a knock on the door so I opened it and the receptionist was there saying that someone had pulled the disabled cord in the bathroom. Mum thinking that it was the heater had pulled it - oops!

That evening we walked down to the Colosseum, not to go in but just to prove to ourselves that we were actually in Rome.

The next day we set off for the Vatican. When you get there you have to queue up to go through a metal detector and x-ray machine, a lot like at an airport, so once you've queued up for about 40 minutes to get through that mum only then got told that she wasn't covering her shoulders and we'd have to leave again! So we went and found mum a scarf from a local shop, had some lunch and got back into the queue again. You pass quite a lot of the swiss guard in their very strange regalia of red, yellow and orange stripes adorned with massive berets. We started off with the Basilica, as you go in and look up the entrance ceiling is caked in gold, then once through the double doors into the main cathedral all you can see is marble and mosaics. It's stunning but in a sickening way, there is just so much wealth in this one place it's hard to imagine. All the paintings on the wall, or at least that's what they first look like turn out to be mosaics done with minute pieces.

From here we then went onto climb the dome, the climb is bizarre as you climb around the outside of the dome and upwards the walls are at an angle, which if you're of a shorter stature isn't too bad, for those of us above 5 foot 4 though struggle in the fact that we have to walk with half our bodies inclined at an unnatural angle. However the view from the top over Rome is just stunning and well worth the walk (even if just to get the refreshing breeze). From there we had a snooze and went and saw the Trevi Fountain which is tucked away and amazing when you stumble upon it.

The next day we went along to go round the Colosseum, the queue was phenomenal and went on and on, as we were making our way to the back however there was someone advertising an English tour to both the Colosseum and the Palatine Hill which would skip all the queues and was only a little bit more so mum and I went for it, which I think really was a good idea. The tour guides for each place were both very good and very funny and allowed you to understand a lot more what actually happened in each of the places and how, because unlike most museums and things there were no signs about telling you what anything was so without a guide the Palatine hill is just a load of ruined bricks... We then went and had a look at the Parthenon which is good to go and see.

That evening we met the rest of the group which was nice, our tour leader Chontelle, then the others - Caroline, Ilona, Alex, Ben, Aaron, Emma, Vanessa, Adam, and Rina. We then all went out for dinner and certain personalities in the group started to become clear on the first night.

The day after was pretty much a free day so mum and I went to the Spanish Steps which were very disappointing. Then from there off to the Vatican again this time to look at the museum, although really the Sistine Chapel. The only thing about the museums are that to get to the chapel you have to go through absolutely every single room to get to it, which after a while gets very monotonous, and there are only so many painted rooms that you can view, no matter how amazing they are before they lose their charm. So by the time you get herded into the chapel and look up you've seen so many of the painted rooms before that you can't appreciate it.

Florence: That afternoon it was off to Florence which was a lot quainter than Rome. Whilst Rome has all the sites as an actual city it isn't amazingly nice, whereas Florence is just lovely, very sweet town with lovely buildings. We went out for dinner that evening and had the speciality of the region which were these massive steaks that you ordered by the 100g and had to share between two, but was very very nice! The view from the top of the hotel was magnificent overlooking the Dome.

The next day we had our orientation walk around Florence, starting off at the cathedral then down past where the statue of David used to stand, and over the Ponte Vecchio bridge. That evening we went back over the bridge and up to Plaza Michelangelo to watch the sunset which was spectacular.

The next morning we climbed up to the top of the Dome and got the amazing views from there!

Lucca: We arrived in the evening to this wonderful walled city, and got the taxi with the bags to our apartments. We shared with Alex and Caroline and after a little difficulty with the doors we found our way in. Whilst the apartments were wonderful they overheated quickly and ours seemed to be mosquito infested, in the space of two nights we counted over 70 bites on mum! We went out for what I thought was the best meal at a restaurant where all the staff were disabled in some way so was good to give something back to them.

The next day was the bike ride, we all got something for the picnic, our thing was wine from the region. Then off we went, once around the city walls (you could cycle on top) and off out into the country where we had an armed policeman take our photo for us (very surreal) then had our picnic which was fantastic! On our way back we stopped by a river where some of the others went for a dip fully clothed, can only think of the chaffing afterwards, mmm comfortable!

Pisa:  The day after we went to Pisa for a half day from Lucca, it's amazingly touristy with all the people doing the stereotypical poses for photos of holding the tower up. We went and booked our slot for climbing and then for the two hour wait went and sat in the shade having drinks which was nice. Climbing the leaning tower itself is a most bizarre sensation as depending how far round you are you're either walking at a tilt backwards, forwards, left or right which is odd trying to adjust your balance. The views from the top though were again stunning.

Cinque Terre -  Levanto: Next stop was the beach, which was very weird. After having done so many days of intense sightseeing to suddenly get to a beach seemed most bizarre really. Granted it was also raining when we got there!

Mum decided not to come with the rest of us the following day so had a nice lie in whilst the rest of us were out the door at 6:45am!! We went to the train station and got the train to further down the coast where we'd begin our walk. The first part of the walk was fine, nice proper path, light drizzle. We got to the end of the first part and were met with 392 steps! Oh joys! But we all got to the top okay if a little desperate for breakfast, unfortunately the only place that was open was one that sold coffee only, so alright for the coffee drinkers, the rest of us went on hungry. Eventually we arrived at this bar on the route and we all traipsed in, saw the sight of food and were quickly gorging ourselves on lemon pie, a healthy breakfast! The next part got a bit steeper and the path a lot narrower as well as the sun starting to raise its head up above the clouds. So we arrived in Vernazza about 12 o'clock and went and had a swim in the sea which was nice and warm and nice to refresh ourselves in. Soon enough we were heading onto the next section - and sodding hell was it warm and all uphill. Caroline and I went up ahead and every time we turned a corner and saw endless steps above us with the sun beating down there were a few expletives cried out. As we slowly and eventually made our way down I think we were both relieved and when we rounded a corner and saw the town ahead of us were very happy and had a well earned coke whilst waiting for the others.

Got back that evening quite exhausted but no rest for the wicked, quick jump in the shower, and then off to a Pesto Class. Deary me we must all have wreaked of garlic after that class. It was great fun, loads of freshly made pesto as we all tried everyone else's and there were 12 of us! Don't think any of us wanted any more pesto for a long while...

Portofino: The following day we get the train again and store our bags at the station and then go on a walk round the coast to Portofino which was a great little walk, where we passed a Redbull Cola car and each got a free Cola - if it comes to the UK, don't try it! Portofino itself is very nice and quaint, we didn't get too much time to have a look around but was a nice place to stop for a day.

Asti: Following Portofino we got back on the train to Asti which was a lovely little town. That evening a few of us wanted to go out for dinner and went to the most amazing restaurant. I had spiced rabbit for a starter, duck for a main, tried a bit of horse, and for pudding a lovely chocolate thing. Probably one of the best meals by far on the trip!

The next day the rest of the group were going wine tasting, and considering I don't drink I didn't want to sit there like a lemon so decided to have a day on my own around Asti. The lady at the hotel was amazingly helpful and gave me a map and highlighted a route for me to take around the town. So off I set and went and had a look at the different towers and the cathedral which in a place so small seemed so out of place but was stunning nonetheless.

Milan: None of us were very impressed with Milan and were glad to only be there for half a day. Going up onto the roof of the cathedral was fantastic though, all of the masonry was spectacular, so many statues all over the place and the views from the top were good. The inside of the cathedral was very dark and dreary though. Milan if you like expensive shopping though is a fantastic place to go with a massive Rinascente, Prada, Ferrari etc.

Italian Lakes: My favourite place, if not on the trip then possibly everywhere I've ever been. We got off the train and jumped on this bus. Now the driver I'm hoping does that route an awful lot because the speed he goes round corners was horrifying, much better to keep your eyes stuck to the view outside the sides rather than straight ahead.

Our hotel room had a view right over the lakes, so that lying in bed you could look down over your feet into the lakes and mountains beyond. I can't possibly describe in words how stunning the lakes are. If you find mountains stunning, and lakes stunning then combine the two together and it's just amazing. The mountains come directly out of the lakes so there isn't even a seem between the two.

The next day we had a ferry pass and went to three other villages dotted around the sides of Lake Como, and walked back from the nearest one. Whilst visiting one of the villages we went on a bit of a trek up this hill to a castle that overlooked the lakes with 360 degree views. Then in the evening we jumped back on the ferry and over the village opposite to grab a bite to eat and then the ferry back again. Really was such an amazing place.

Venice: You'll be glad to know this is the last stop! We got on the train again and had to change at Milan, which although there was a delay wasn't too bad really. We arrived in Venice and as soon as you get out of the station you are on the side of the Grand Canal, there is certainly no mistaking the fact that you're in Venice. This was probably the warmest day we'd had which is saying something! That evening we went on a gondola ride which was great, you can't really appreciate on foot quite how beautiful and extensive the canal system is because you don't see too much of it. So the gondola ride was fantastic and good fun.

After that we went to the main Plaza, which is covered in pigeons, with people feeding them and the pigeons jumping all over their arms and hair, really not my bag. On the way back we passed a massive outdoor bingo, it looked like the whole of Venice had descended upon this tiny little square.

The next day was a free day and mum and I were going to go to the dome but kind of got distracted by the tonnes of shops along the way so by the time we got there the queue was far too long to bother with. In the evening we went out for a group meal which was awful but after that was drinks which was hilarious. We went to an Irish pub (last night in Italy and we go to an Irish pub haha!) and this round of shots was ordered, mum decided to do one too, so here they all are with a shot of jagermister and a glass of redbull. So they all drop the jagermister into the redbull and down it in one go. Got a hilarious video of mum doing it and collapsing on Ben afterwards. Was a really great night although sorry to say goodbye to everyone especially Ilona and Caroline who'd made the holiday fantastic.

The final day mum and I went up the bell tower in the middle of Venice to get our final look and then headed off to the airport for our flight home.

All the best photos are on facebook if you want to have a look...

Well this blog is long overdue, so you have my apologies, but that does also mean this might be a bit of a mammoth read, so again you have further apologies because there is rather a lot to update within a rather busy little month.

Amnesty: Well as some of you may know my term as a youth co-optee twice appointed came to a close on the AMSC, but I then applied to have full membership and was appointed again, so at the end of the last meeting the chair had said farewell to me, so was funny to be re-welcomed again. I don't really think the meeting went that well really, there are a lot of new members on the committee (we have about 12 members in total) which in itself is not a problem, but people haven't really got used to the way a committee such as this works, which means that there is a lot of confusion about when to speak etc which can cause a bit of agro. There was an interesting debate on the local groups review which had me thoroughly lost, and went to a split vote, a first I think for the AMSC, but it was passed 5:2 with 6 abstentions, showing that I wasn't the only one confused. Then we got onto portfolios, where there is a member of the committee who seems to be prone to standing on peoples' feet. I won't go into how because that's irrelevant really and not needed for the blog, but it got incredibly frustrating when someone is trying to argue a point when you're more experienced in that field and are telling them otherwise, yet they'll hold onto their argument to the death. Although I must admit it's very nice being recognised at being good at doing the AGM cycle and Regional Conference programme as the chair of the committee commented on that which was nice :).

The other day was the Amnesty Media Awards, which is a huge award ceremony up in London to celebrate Human Rights Journalism. This was the second year I went and quite frankly it's amazing! Truly truly outstanding. I took Lu to this one, mum went with me last year. It was in a different venue, and I'll be honest I preferred the place last year, but the Royal Horticultural Society Hall was still very elegantly done. And for anyone who knows me I'm a fussy eater, as in very, and they had very nice food!! Moira Stewart was hosting, it was quite funny as she was trying to be quite chummy which I wasn't really expecting. Kate Allen who's the director of Amnesty UK came over and chatted with us, which is very nice of her, I know Kate reasonably well, and in an office scenario I can chat easily with her, but at something so formal it's hard to know what to say really. Think they should do lessons in small talk. Although the venue was huge, there were about 500 people there, so it quickly warmed up and the seats were very small to the point of being intimate with the people next to you, luckily I already knew Colum and Lu or it could have been interesting. We were sitting on the second row, so had an amazing view and it truly was a fantastic evening. Some of the stories are amazingly harrowing. Ian Hislop presented one of the prizes, and said that even he was failing to find any sort of joke in the proceedings. All in all a brilliant night, and it was good to take Lu.

School: Well I suppose I really at this point should do an amendment to the last blog, because the day after I posted it saying about not getting any thanks for the Charity Committee Mr. Hoskins presented me with a Societies Tie (my third) and an almost eulogy in assembly. Does that mean he reads this? *looks worried*. But it's nice to be appreciated, so yes, a correction to the previous blog!

Exams have been ongoing for the last few weeks now, and I think they have gone well. My last one was today and it's sheer relief to have finished them. I hate exams and always muck up in them, I do well in lessons but always slip up in exams sadly. I can't really remember many of them because my brain I think tries to forget them as soon as they're done. After all there is no point in fretting over them because there's nothing I can do about them now is there. So yes it's nice to now feel free to have the summer ahead of me, although odd slightly to think that I'll never have to sit another lesson or exam at the RGS ever again. Time seems to have really flown. But I'm looking forward to university.

Mrs. Piwowar (Peeves) also left at half term, so it's not quite the same going in now anyway. What with the little woman now up in the library ugh. But we'll still stay in touch I'm sure which is good :).

Ringing: Really not very much to report here as I haven't been going to any practices during the exam period and there isn't much to say on Sunday ringing, so yes a quiet bit on ringing you'll be glad to know.

Birthday: Well I'm now 18! And have been for a month tomorrow. It hasn't really changed much I must admit haha, although it does mean I can now get my share of rounds in etc, although I'm not sure that is something I should be shouting too loudly. But haven't been out or anything since, people keep asking me to the local gay nights, so might go to one of those I suppose, even if just to see what it's like once, make sure I'm with mates I know and trust haha. My actual birthday was fantastic though (well the actual day was, I'm forgetting it was partly staged - don't ask!). I had a chemistry practical exam in them morning. Then got home and Jude was staying with us. Grandpa and Pat then came over in the evening, as did D and Lu. We then went to the Rumwong restaurant and had a really nice meal. Grandpa made a nice toast, and having told mum about a hundred times that I didn't want a cake in the restaurant or anything, what did she go and do? This massive cake, the whole restaurant singing etc, I was mortified. Very nice cake though that Jude had kindly organised and repaired as well. It really was a nice time and great to share it with those I love the most and thought loved me the most.

Katherine Jenkins: As part of my birthday present mum had organised for her and I to go and see Katherine Jenkins at Hampton Court Palace. We got there very/ridiculously early and had a nice picnic in the grounds. Then we had about an hour of people watching which at an event like that is incredibly funny. Then we made our way into the main courtyard where the event was taking place. We were on the third row in front of the stage and luckily the people in front hadn't turned up, so we had a direct view of her, she was only 20m away, it was amazing! She first came on stage in this tight white satin dress, she really is stunning. She was backed up by a male quartet called Blake, who were equally stunning. It was a fantastic evening!

Triathlon: D had organised to run in the Blenheim Triathlon the day after Katherine Jenkins. So up we got and drove over to his and Lu's. A little door trouble later and we were off to Oxford. We spent Saturday afternoon wandering around Oxford, which really is a picturesque city. Then for dinner we went to Jamie Oliver's new restaurant, and had (I'm running out of synonyms for great) a great meal, it was really good!! Nice atmosphere, friendly staff and the company was alright too haha.

The next day we set off for the triathlon. Blenheim Palace is breathtaking, I'm not sure which I preferred there or Hampton Court. D took his bike into the transition area which was in the main quad, and then we headed to the start of the swim where Lu's dad and brother joined us. D looking like a large condom with blue rubber swimming cap and wetsuit made his way into the water where they all looked like lemmings. It's quite impressive when the hooter goes and all these blue caps just turn into white horses of waves. We quickly made our way up to the next point and watched him cycle past three times, then run past twice. Rather him than me that's for sure. Yet again a really great time.

So that's the end of the blog! As you can see the majority has been really great bar exams and a few family problems in the last week, but I've ranted enough about that as it is.

Guildford Diocesan Guild Ash, Surrey St Peter Saturday, 17 May 2008 in 2hr 42 (9) 5040 Minor (5m: 1 extent each Norwich S, Kent TB, Cambridge S; 2 extents each St Clements B, Plain B)
1	Jacqueline L Bale
2	Alison H Cole
3	Alexander D Pool
4	Eleanor J Linford
5	Jackie Roberts
6	W John Couperthwaite (C)
First peal of minor: 1,3. Rung as an 18th birthday compliment to Alex Pool Also a huge thank you, as looking through campanophile I stumbled upon another peal that was done for my 18th which I knew nothing about, so thank you to all the band: Guildford Diocesan Guild Ashtead, Surrey S Giles Saturday, 17 May 2008 in 2h49 (13) 5088 Lessness S Major Composed by: P A B Saddleton (SMC32) 1  Anthea S Edwards 2  Katherine R Poole 3  Alan D Flood 4  Beryl R Norris 5  Martin J Turner 6  Philip A B Saddleton (C) 7  Christopher H Rogers 8  Toby Arkless Birthday compliments to Kirsty Bax (21), Stephen Wheeler and Alex Pool (18)

Well a month has passed since the Amnesty AGM and quite a lot seems to have happened, but then when doesn't it really haha.

School -
This seems to be the busiest area, but then considering the current stage of life that would generally make sense! Exams are coming up, the first one being a week today which is Statistics woo haha. I can't believe the real A2 exams are so close, it hasn't sunk in at all. It's scary to think that the exams I'll be taking in just a week's time will be deciding my university placement and with that the next 4 years of my life. Will I be sad to say goodbye to the RGS? Not really, not anymore, I've outgrown it now, having been there for 5 years - which has flown by, it's still time for a change.

There isn't much that really really ticks me off, but recently there have been parts that have. I do a lot of things at school either because I enjoy them, or because I'm quite happy to do it as my duty. Things like running the school amnesty group, or being a library tech I get thanked for. But things like the Guildfordian or taking minutes on the charity committee for 5 years, now I never asked to do the second one, I did it because they needed someone, and I like to think I did a very good job. At the end of the last meeting I mentioned that they needed someone new to take the minutes, the deputy head just dismissed it, I didn't get so much as a verbal thank you for doing it for 5 years - to me that's just a rude kick in the teeth, it doesn't take much to say thank you, yet two words actually mean quite a lot - mini rant sorry!

Went to the Charity Gig last Friday and thought it was a brilliant success, well done to all those who took part and to Nick and George for organising it again. Certainly some weird people in our school with a semi-goth band. But the people in our year were very good, as were the third form band, thought they were excellent. All in all thought it was a fantastic night, bar getting locked in the old building part of the school with Jamie for a while because no one thought to check the courtyard before locking all the doors out of the place.

Ringing-
Well I haven't been going to any practices recently, and don't think I will till after exam periods. The only reason why is because my local practice drives me up the wall for reasons I've moaned about in previous blogs, although part of it goes along the same lines of the mini-rant above about not feeling appreciated. However, I haven't been to the cathedral in a while either, and the reason for that is because when there I need to learn a lot of new methods and at the moment until exams are over I need to put my energies into focusing on vital things rather than ringing things.

Got the peal next Saturday, and I haven't even started learning Norwich yet, I'll start tomorrow haha. We were meant to be ringing London, Norwich, Cambridge, Beverly, Surfleet, Wells and Ipswich, but I just can't learn 6 new methods, not at the mo, so changed it to 4 extents of Norwich and 3 of Cambridge.

I seem to be a week behind somewhere along the lines as I thought the peal wasn't for two weeks, and thought the striking competition was next week, but got a text today from Kathy asking if I was ready for Saturday, quick check in my diary and yep I'm ringing in a striking competition on Saturday haha.

As well as that this week I've had all sorts of hassle with trying to get something into the ringing world... Eleanor I'm blaming you for getting me into this mess :P

University-
Well really looking forward to going to Bath, should be fantastic. Still counts on grades of course haha. Buuuut I heard back from that scholarship form, and they are offering me £1000 in my first year which is fantastic and will help, so I'm thrilled with that. Apparently 300 people applied but I got awarded it so really chuffed. Dad decided to have his say and sent a few stroppy emails to me about it, but hey at the end of the day getting the scholarship is a good thing not a bad thing, and if he has a problem with it, then it's his problem alone and certainly not mine :).

Amnesty-
Nothing new to report here really as there haven't been any other meetings since the AGM. However, I'm going to do the school amnesty bit within this section. We had a good meeting the other week looking at the new water boarding video (www.unsubscribe-me.org) and having a discussion over that. Then at the end of the meeting Mrs. Goodman thanked me for running the group for the last few years and had a nice little applause. Alex is now going to be taking over from me and a few words of warning - good luck for a start, and really try and push Mrs. Goodman, she tends to go off on tracks for a start. Come to each meeting with something you want to get done, either a letter or something to debate, tends to work better that way :), and keep asking her to pass on the monthly mailings, oh and at March remind her to pay the fees, deary me, she alwwwwways forgets!! But good luck, you'll do a brilliant job, and Alex stay in touch!

Birthday-
I'm 18 in 12 days (20th May), that scares me!! The maturity difference between each year always strikes me as quite impressive, and 18 always has seemed in the past that big number where people suddenly start becoming serious (although think I sadly passed that line a while back). Don't get me wrong I'm really looking forward to it, it's that age when you truly take your life into your own hands. I do have a chemistry practical exam on my birthday, but that's not too bad. Then going out for dinner in the evening with friends and family, basically the 8 people I love the most in the world, so it'll be fantastic, even if I do know almost all the presents people are getting me haha, I'm impossible to buy for that's why.

Anyways long blog being drawn to a close now - if you do read this, and I know a lot of people actually do, please could you just write a short comment... thanks!

Well this really deserves a blog all to its own. Yet again it was a truly amazing weekend, and as jampacked as ever. My body clock is still not back to being 100% with it, but I think it's finally getting there. I have no idea what day it is, what meal I'm on, what time it is etc haha but it's all good fun.

So Friday morning came and my alarm buzzed at half 6 telling me to get up, which was all well and good until I found out that the boiler had gone on one of its funny turns and decided to switch itself off during the night, so I had to have a freezing shower, which wasn't fun at all. I went and got the bus into town as mum was working. Bumped into a mate of mine on the way to the station and it was good to catch up with him. Then as I continued walking to the station I bumped into another friend who was walking to the his office next to the station so walked with him. The journey up to Nottingham was okay, nothing special, had to get the train to Waterloo, then underground to Warren Street, then to St. Pancras - which by the way is the most amazingly stunning station!! Then from there the train to Nottingham.

Arrived with plenty of time, and went to the youth briefing. This is a talk for all the youth delegates to get a chance to meet the other youth delegates, and to run through how the AGM works etc. Ciarnan was doing a lot of the talk, and was great to see him, bless the nutter :P. The briefing went well, and then it was off to dinner (considering I'm a fussy eater I think I must lose a lot of weight at these events haha but oh well). After that was the New Delegates Talk which I was running with Katie Boothby. Considering it was a reasonably obscure place I didn't think we would get many people. In the end the room was full to bursting with people standing along the corridor trying to listen - most bizarre! The talk went well though I think, we finished early which was good. The only unfortunate bit was the last two slides are some rather complicated tree diagrams going through the governance structures, and as the room was so full most people couldn't see them, which made my life a bit more difficult.

Then there were workshops, and as I had been to them before, and the fact my head was in a funny place I just wanted to sit quietly on my own for a couple of hours. So I found somewhere quiet (or so I thought) to sit down. Within seconds the Standing Orders Committee (people who make sure the rules of the AGM are upheld) walked past and saw me, so came and sat next to me. In hindsight this was probably a good thing, but deary me they are all trade unionists, so all drink rather heavily, and were all moaning that the bar wouldn't open till 9, bless them!. They were good fun, and mad, we ran through some of the motions that were in my working party and any problems we could foresee.

After that was the youth and student fringe meeting, a bit like the youth briefing but for all youth and students at the AGM to meet each other and get to know each other. Was good fun as per normal, with a wacky map icebreaker where we all had to run to our part of England.

Then was the evening reception, which is basically drinks. It's a chance for you to meet up with people you haven't seen for basically a year. It was amazing walking round and seeing people I hadn't seen in ages and wanted to catch up with. It was good seeing Ruth again and catching up with her (more on that later). Great seeing Caroline, the other AMSC members, Anastasia, Chris, and the list could go on and on.

At eleven I though I should really head off to bed as I knew I was running the working party on the Saturday, as the halls of residence wasn't too close I had told Sheila (member of standing orders) that I would come find her and walk her home, aww bless. So went and found her, she was still finishing off her wine, which was fine, sat down and had a good conversation with Alan (one of the other working party chairmen). She then said did I mind if she got another round in, I was shattered but being me couldn't say no, so she did. A little later on she then asked if she could get another so I pointed out I really was tired, she looked at her watch and was like "it's only 10:20", until I pointed out it was "11:55" and that her watch had stopped. So we did indeed leave, and hobbled our way back to the halls.

Slept well, and got up at 7, completely exhausted, and went to jump into the shower which is my normal way of waking up, until I found out that the dial wouldn't budge either way. So instead I had to water board myself into the sink. Went down to breakfast which was nice, and then walked over to the main opening and plenary with Caroline. The opening ceremony was good, and Tom Hedley (chair of the board), Kate Allan (Director), and the treasurer all gave their reports which were very good.

Then there was break, closely followed by... drum roll... the working parties! Due to the number of resolutions the AGM has to go through we split them into working parties. This just makes the debate much easier and quicker (in theory) as instead of 600 delegates all debating and amending each motion you have about 100. I was given working party B which was the campaigns motions. Arrived and sat down with the working party secretary Ruth, and the Standing Orders Member John. The number of people in the working party turned out to 250-300 delegates. The order of debate is quite strict and it was my job to ensure that it was stuck to. The way it goes is:

• Proposer speaks for 5 minutes
• Board has a right of reply for 3 minutes
• Initial show of hands
• Amendments taken
• General debate
• Vote on Amendments
• Right of reply of proposer
• Overall vote

It's a bit more complicated than that, but for the blog I'll keep it at that. So the first motion was on Burma, the proposer spoke, as did the board. The initial show of hands showed that all were in favour except 3 people, so I thought hey this will be a quick motion - WRONG - the proposer then amended his own motion, then the country co-ordinator for Burma stood up and wanted an amendment but didn't know the wording (not good form in a working party), so I ended up calling for the second motion and we would go back to it. The second motion went okay, although still a lot of amendments but in the end was passed unopposed. I then went back to Burma which with more delay, and more amendments was eventually amended and passed overwhelmingly. Then was the third motion which went smoothly. The fourth motion was proposed by the Guildford group on China, I called for amendments and about 10 hands shot up, my heart sank. There were a ridiculous number of amendments, each one putting points in which Amnesty was already doing, so in the end I called on the board member to come and put the record straight, which quickly saw the end of any more amendments. By the time we came to the end of that motion the time for lunch had already come and we were still one more motion to go.

Due to the way the working parties work, lunch or no lunch we still had to continue. The only trouble was this final motion appeared like it was going to be the most controversial as it was on prostitution and asking for Amnesty to support its legalisation, something amnesty has no expertise in at all. So the proposer came up and started talking, his talk started with "I'm a sex worker and have been for ten years", very brave in my opinion to admit that. There were a few amendments, and the board put one forward that completely changed his whole motion, when I said to him I assume that's unfriendly, he said "no friendly", so I waited till Ruth put it up on the board, asked him again, and he said "ohh no unfriendly" haha. In the end it was defeated.

Considering I'm the youngest person ever to chair a working party it was very much a baptism of fire, but one I thoroughly enjoyed the nonetheless. Ruth and John were both fantastic. We then had to go to a special room over the remainder of lunch to run through all the motions and how they had gone etc.

After that it was back to plenary session where Sam Roddick was the keynote speaker. I had heard her talk before at her mum's memorial, and she's a very good public speaker, even if she does have some very... radical views.

After this was the motions in plenary. Basically all the motions done in working party have to be done again in plenary for the formal vote. Due to the working parties this runs a lot quicker and all is over with quite quickly thank goodness.

(I told you it was an exhausting event when I've written so much and only about half way through)

We then had our campaign action, this is basically our demonstration, to show we are in solidarity with people, and this year we were showing our support for the mothers who had children die in the Tianamen Square massacre. To do this every delegate was given a red rose and we went and laid it on a patch of grass in the centre of a pond that was linked by a bridge. Meanwhile a chinese singer was singing in the background and a film crew was recording it so that it can be sent off to the mothers to show our support, as ever it was incredibly moving and very powerful.

Then it was dinner to be followed by a panel discussion on the changing face of activism using the internet as a resource, which was interesting.

After that was the evening entertainment, this year was a disco and some professional dancers. The professional dancers turned up late, and the DJ was like 50 with a flat cap but it was still great. When the dancers did arrive they were fantastic, very quick, and very good, even if we all saw perhaps a tad too much of the female dancer. They then called any body up onto the dance floor who wanted to and taught us a basic salsa, which was great. For the rest of the evening it was just catching up and chatting to people, until finally going to bed at 1am. Having said my shower wasn't working, the guy then went and "fixed" it, to the point it spent the whole night dripping, so I went from water boarding myself to a form of water torture, yay!

Up the next morning as bright as possible, and went down to breakfast where I sat with the director, which was fine, we know each other, she asked how I was so I answer in a really croaky voice "good thank" evidently shouting over the disco the night before had not done my voice any good haha. The final day was good, there was a panel discussion with members of amnesty from other countries, including Hong Kong which was really interesting. We also went through the abortion motions and any motions we hadn't done the day before. It was a nice end to the conference. Got the train home again which was a complete and utter nightmare but I won't go into that as this blog is long enough. All in all it was an amazing weekend, inspiring, shattering, and well worth going!

Well 3 months in and I still haven't updated this thing, and it really is time I did. Every time I think about updating it I keep thinking "oh well so and so is coming up and I really should include that" so I end up putting it off, until it gets to a ridiculous point of time since the last entry and they then turn incredibly long, so I apologise in advance.

I think the easiest way to do it is to split it up into my normal sections rather than running through things chronologically - that way you can flick to the bits that interest you.

Amnesty - well this is as busy as always. The AMSC (Active Members Sub-committee to the board) is still going really well, I'm now coming to the end of my two year term and it's amazing how quickly that has gone and how much I have done on it. I've been privileged to hold the position, and I will be reapplying again this year. It's nice seeing some of the stuff I've been working on coming to fruition, like at the AGM coming up there are a few motions of which I have had a strong influence on. Other than the AMSC I am still involved in the youth advisory pool which is good, and nice to meet other like minded young people, some of which I hold among my closest group of friends. The school group is going okay, although grinding to a halt more recently as I've had so much to do with exams and things like the school council taking over on a Monday but I'm hoping in the few weeks I have left that that will change. I've also been to the regional conference, which was good as always, few little grievances but nothing too big. I mentioned the AGM earlier, it is coming up in a few weeks, which worries me slightly - I seem to be running half of it again, I thought I did a lot last year but this year is ridiculous haha. I'm running the New Delegates Talk again which is the talk for people who haven't been to the AGM before to go through what they should expect, what they need to do etc, and it went well last year so just going to do the same talk. I'm also one of the working party chairmen. The AGM motions are split initially into working parties to make the debating process more efficient, basically I have to make sure that the order of debate is kept and not get out of control. The order of debate is confusing but with a bit of help from my working party secretary and Standing Orders member I think my head is finally round it :). Wish me luck!

Ringing - I think this must be one of the only blogs recently (or not so recently) where I won't be jumping up and down in frustration over ringing haha. Things are going really well. Mainly as I've stopped going to the Albury practice on a Monday, don't get me wrong the people there are lovely, truly and we all got on very well and I miss them - but I really do not miss the ringing itself. The cathedral is great and I've learnt a lot. Current method is Yorkshire Major, however often getting things like Erin, Grandsire and Stedman Cinques, Cambridge Royal etc, it's great fun. I still find picking my bell out on 10 and 12 bells impossible, so I know my striking needs a lot of work. I went to an Ancient Society of College Youths practice in London about a month ago and had a great time, even if I did make a small fool of myself by not being able to keep my bell up at handstroke haha. At the end of the day I am enjoying ringing a lot more and that is what is important.
We had the Horsell and Ockham Annual Christmas Meal the other day (yes I know it's March!!) and I had a great time, it was nice seeing the old band again, and having a good laugh. Nice seeing Kathy, Darren, Debs and Helen - although the thought of Elliott having grown so much I find very disconcerting, I really shouldn't be feeling old at 17!
The Ringing Roadshow is coming up in September and I am running one of the seminars - nervous... just a tad! Mainly as I haven't a clue what to talk about for 50 minutes. It's not like public speaking at an Amnesty event where I can be pretty much certain that I can talk confidently and with a genuine knowledge and passion, whereas at ringing events there will always be people there better and more advanced than you, which is a good thing but scary at the same time when you're delivering a talk! - Eleanor you owe me!
Been ringing quite a few quarter peals at St. Nicks in Guildford, and got two peals coming up soon, one of Little Bob Major, I've requested not to have the treble haha. And the other one is for my 18th which will be 7 Surprise Minor (I have 6 out of the 7 to learn haha), Simon and Eleanor are kindly going to come down for it.

School - well that is going really well :). Had my mocks just after half term but they went really well. Maths was an average of 91%, Bio 79% and Chem was 57%. So A in maths and Bio with a C in chemistry, but that will go up with more exam style practice. We broke up for Easter yesterday which is a nice feeling, it's funny not really learning anything else at school but just revising now before exams. Seems odd to think that I have been there for 5 years, all the stuff I have done whilst being there - societies, competitions, coming out, charity work. The difference between the person I was when I started at 13, and the person I'll be when I leave at 18 is a large one. Oh and any advice for people in the future - do not volunteer for the yearbook!!!

University - well it's all very exciting now, as I accepted Bath a few days ago and declined Southampton and Bristol. That's to study a masters in Biochemistry with an offer of AAB. I also sent my scholarship form off yesterday so fingers crossed. I haven't told mum that I've applied for a scholarship just so she doesn't get her hopes up, also if she knew every day I would get in to be asked "ANY NEWS??" haha so I can be doing without that. Bath is a gorgeous campus though, nice and compact but very green which suits me very well. I'm excited to say the least!

I'm not sure there is any other news that needs to be put into this particular blog, other than that I should probably say that Damon sadly passed away in February, I'm okay about it, and I know I didn't really tell anyone at the time it happened but I just needed to deal with it in my own way, and I'd rather people didn't suddenly start asking me "Are you ok" as yes I am.

Really need to say a few thank yous, and I know I did that in my last blog but there are some more I need to add and pay special thanks to:

Jude - thank you for being a truly amazing person, you've always been there for me when I'm at my lowest and you always take me seriously and listen to what I have to say. Of all the people in the world you know my life best, and I wouldn't trust anyone else to know it that way.

D and Lu - thank you for always making me smile. Glad you're liking the new flat, although I do miss seeing you haha, even though we see you like each weekend :P, I couldn't ask for a better bro.

Jay - thanks for keeping me sane, or vice versa haha. You're very special.

Mark, Simon, Jacqui, Harry, and Alex Simmons for being great :)

Well it's that time of year again, and it seems to come around oh so very quickly. I'll do my normal Hogmanay summary in a minute but as it's been a long time since my last update I really think I should say what I've been up to first, although I'll miss out the irrelevant bits, otherwise this blog will become super sized.

I'll write things in the order that they happened:

On the 24th of November I conducted my first quarter peal of Plain Bob Triples in Cranleigh, which went very well I'm pleased to say, I was ringing the 7 so it wasn't a particular light bell to be ringing for 50 minutes but it did mean I was unaffected which was good, and it was a nice straight forward composition, a few bells went wrong occasionally but thanks to Steven Darvill, and Chris Robinson they were able to keep them right whilst I just concentrated on the actual conducting.

We had the school Community Service Christmas Meal which as always was good fun, I had to go and collect some elderly people from Merrow with Mr. Burbidge, and I know his heart is in the right place, but he's an incredibly boring man, he spent 20 minutes explaining to me how the electric barrier to the staff car park went up and down, which I know I'm interested in science, but physics really isn't my cup of tea. We collected them fine, and got them to school where the festivities then began, I think everyone had a great time, oh and yeah elderly people eat like there's no tomorrow - hmm maybe that's not the best phrase to use. Dr. Cox the new headmaster then came in dressed as Father Christmas and dished out presents to all the guests.

On the last day of term after the final assembly we had Staff-Prefect Christmas Meal. It was incredibly funny, made all the better by Mr. Badham, Mr. Schofield, Mr. Whittaker and Mr. Grace reciting an RGS version of 12 days of Christmas, which saw the Bursar storm out at the end haha.

Then we went to Edinburgh, D, Lu and I went up on the Friday and spent the day looking around,  in the evening I went off to see Scott who was in the touring version of Joseph, funny sitting in the stage door room seeing these people you recognise walk past you. It was brilliant catching up with him :). The next day mum came up too, her brother had died only two days before, but I think it did her good to get away and take her mind off things. In the evening we went and saw Joseph which was outstanding, really really good, again very surreal seeing someone you know on a stage in front of thousands. The next day we walked up King Arthur's Mount and enjoyed some fudge at the top. It was a fantastic holiday, and always nice to get away before Christmas! If you want to see some photos then they are on this link: http://hs.facebook.com/album.php?aid=23281&l=3012f&id=509707270

We then had Uncle's funeral. Not something I was particularly looking forward to, not just because it was a funeral but more due to the fact that neither D or I really knew him. Mum had gone up the day before to look after grandma, so D and I made our own way up. We found our way there okay, and got there for when we were told to, mum hadn't yet arrived which made it a tad awkward. Auntie met us and invited us in which was fine. Mum arrived with Grandma a bit later on and this woman scuttled out of the kitchen, looked at the car and went "Trish and Sheila have arrived, oh she hasn't got the boys with her", it was like "hello, we're here!!". We then met our other Auntie for the first time, and our cousins (long story!), and we had to go in the funeral car. As I say D and I hardly knew him so this felt a bit awkward. I had to bite my lip from hysterics at times. Driving along in the car grandma said "I feel like Roy (uncle) should be sitting here", to which mum replied "well that would be a bit odd", I'm not sure what grandma was thinking, a live Roy going to his own funeral, or a dead Roy sitting in the corner. Then the service was nice, but again too many moments where I wanted to laugh. After driving to the burial site mum then slammed Auntie's best friend's fingers in the door, and as she went to throw in some soil to the grave almost slipped in after him. We all went back to Auntie's for lunch etc, mum was introducing me to everyone as "my baby" it's like, hello, I'm 17, oh and I'm the tallest in the family, D was being introduced as "the other one" deary me. We then had to do our duty going round relatives and giving small talk, but as we're not a close family we didn't know who anyone was, so were stuck with questions like "hi, what do you do?" we were very very relieved to escape, I mean leave!

Christmas - was fantastic, probably best ever, although I wouldn't recommend midnight mass at Albury - YAWN! Really liked all my presents which is good, and I'm glad mum went on my suggestion of a few small gifts rather than one big one :). Although when buying a Christmas tree really make sure you have a non-drop one, ours fell over on the 28th, dropped all its needles, smashed three baubles. So I spent the next day chopping, hacking and hoovering, fun fun fun!!

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Right onto the Hogmanay bit:

Amnesty: Yet again an incredibly busy year for Amnesty. The AMSC (Active Members Sub-Committee) is still going really well, and is very interesting. I'm continuing to help Aikta look at the Regional Conferences and AGM. It's amazing looking at all of the logistics of just trying to organise a 3 days event. I went to the AGM again this year, making it my third. I had to run the New Delegates Talk which I hope went well, especially considering I have to run it again next year. As well as going to the AGM I went to quite a few regional conferences which were all interesting, although they do get a tad repetitive. Alex came with me from school to the London one which I hope he enjoyed, it was based around the Chinese Olympics, and what Amnesty is going to do about campaigning around the human rights abuses which China are accountable for. The youth pool is now in its second year, there is a completely new bunch this year except for Katie and I, which makes the feel of it very different but still good nonetheless. I've been incredibly privileged this year, not just as to the position I hold in Amnesty but for the other opportunities I've had throughout the year, especially being invited to the Amnesty International Media Awards, and the Anita Roddick Memorial Service. The Media Awards was one of the best nights of my life so far, going to a swanky hotel, with red carpets, celebs everywhere, but by celebs I'm not talking your David Beckhams, I mean people who we all recognise off the television etc, but who actually make a difference to the world, people like Jon Snow. Then the Anita Roddick memorial was outstanding as well, I had been fortunate enough to meet her on a few occasions with my work, and she was a lovely individual, no matter what business problems people had with her, as a human being her heart and intentions were always honorable. The event consisted of people talking about how she had made a positive impact on their lives, and then a huge demonstration march past parliament.

Bell Ringing - I've now rung my second peal, after numerous attempts, granted it put me off Stedman Caters for life, but it was good to have another one under my belt at last. I've also now rung in Southampton, and I'm hoping to ring there a lot more if I get the chance. The band there is lovely, and the average age there is impressively young. Albury is still continuing to grate, and I'm planning on ringing in the cathedral for their practice nights after the new year rather than Albury as otherwise I'll never progress, especially considering I've had interest shown by both the college and cumberlands, so I really need to get practicing on higher numbers.

School - Well I've now sat my AS exams getting AABB, and I've now dropped Physics which was the right choice. It's a nice feeling going in each day knowing that there isn't particularly a lesson that I'm not looking forward to. Biology is going okay, again all the handouts get a bit boring and repetitive but the topics covered are interesting. Maths is good fun, especially Mrs. Barrass' lessons. And Chemistry continues to be my favorite by quite some margin. As well as working hard at studies I'm still doing a lot of extra curricular activities, like helping to run the Senior Scientific Society, helping with the Chemistry masterclasses, running the amnesty group, helping in the library, doing prefect duties, editing the Guildfordian, and now editing the yearbook. Someone remind me to stop taking stuff on!! Schools Without Walls was brilliant, although I don't miss the trips to Kings College Park Barn each week, although I'll admit the week teaching there was good fun, although interesting, especially when I was asked to properly teach not just assist.

Biggest Change - I'm not sure I really have a biggest change, other than the fact I'm the happiest I've ever been internally. I'm happy with the way life is going, with the person I am, and I've accepted my past for what it is and moved on from it. I'm increasingly confident in public speaking etc, and for that I have amnesty to thank. I'm finally settling into the person that Alexander Pool is, rather than flitting from personalities as young people do.

Dad - well still haven't spoken to him for 2 years and 4 months, and I really doubt that will change soon, it's just much easier not seeing or talking to him, I'm not saying that will be for all time, no one can ever say that either way, but for the foreseeable future that's how I see it remaining.

Right this blog has gone on long enough but it's that time of the year when I thank people:

Mark - thanks for being the best friend someone could ask for, and thanks for inviting me to ring at Southampton :)

Judy - you've been more help than anyone, you never judge, and for that I thank you, you're really easy to talk to - you're one of life's very special people.

D and Lu - thanks for a brilliant year again, going to miss you when you move out.

Other thank yous: Dan, Justin, Mrs. P, Scott, Thom, Sam King, Laura, Blake, George P, Simon

The Anita Roddick event now seems aeon ago, how time flies, not necessarily when you're having fun, just when you're as busy as hell.

Amnesty: Amnesty is going well and not so well at the same time, but I'll only focus on the good bit. The new Youth Advisory Group had it's first meeting on Saturday, it was good fun, and nice to see lots of new faces. Katie and I had heard the talk before so in that account it wasn't overly interesting but good fun all the same.

Bellringing: I'm not sure whether this is good or bad at the moment really. As far as learners are going I couldn't be happier at all. Really thrilled with how far they've come and how quickly. I got Judy leading on Monday, which after only 3 months of ringing is very impressive really, especially as she hasn't been in 4 weeks. Jon was having an off night, which we all have from time to time but normally he's doing brilliantly and of all of them he's probably the most enthusiastic to get everything right and perfect about his handling which is good to see, just need him to relax, it's good to be textbook style, but do it with a bit of panaaz!
Val's handling is coming along very nicely, the rope isn't looking so much like a snake at backstroke anymore which is nice, and she's got new confidence, and actually to my surprise of all of them she can change speed in call changes the easiest.
As for the actual practice, well I'm hating them, they are a complete waste of time. Last week went well, but then I'm bound to say that considering I was running it. But there are certain unwritten rules that the person in charge should do and not do, and even more so on Sundays. The main one being don't put too many learners in at once or it all goes hodgepodge! Granted at the moment we haven't been getting very many good ringers, but I really don't look forward to the Albury practice anymore, I'd much much rather go to Cranleigh on a Tuesday. And Sundays just ahhhh!! Only ever ever ring something that the band is completely solid on, you're ringing for the service, you have a captive audience you have to get it right, so in our tower you should stick to call changes only, not a touch of plain bob doubles that has no chance of ever coming round for the service touch - seriously winds me up. Buuuut saying that my pet hate at the moment is people grabbing hold of the tenor or 5 (depending on minor or doubles) every single time when they can't ring it to save their lives. Don't get me wrong I'm not saying in the slightest that I'm anywhere near perfect ringing our tenor, considering it's 16cwt and the speed we ring them at... but I know I'm better than the one person in particular who always always grabs it!! Ringing rant over.

School: School is great at the moment, loving it!! UCAS form went off last Friday and the unis have received my form so all is very exciting. Applying to Bath, Bristol and Southampton for Biochemistry. Other than that school is going well, tests and things have all come up trumps recently, and the teachers seem happy which is great. Bio was interesting yesterday. Mr. Badham had accidentally covered our Kidney in saline solution rather than acid after I injected it with latex, so a week later it had gone rotten, which stank out the lab and whole school lower corridor. Three of the class ran out leaving just Henry and I. Henry then proceeded to make a robot out two large cardboard boxes. Was uhh surreal! Pics on facebook!!

Family: Well it's all kicked off in the Pool family, but then really when's it ever settled. To paraphrase dad has done a spectacular job of alienating the whole family, Aunty and Beshlie are thinking they won't speak to him again, and Grandpa and Pat were in tears the other day. I'm less than impressed. Poor Grandpa is 86/87 now. Granted the last time he wrote to me he sounded like he was on a pedestal and judging me for not talking to him, but then talking to him on the phone the other day I think he's changed his mind, and now understands why I want nothing to do with my father. I don't miss him at all. This blog sounds very negative but I'm the happiest in my life I've ever been, I have amazing friends both in school and out, school and academics are going well, ringing is going okay - everything at home is really good, and it's great having D around.

I've got to rush as I've got stuff to do, but very briefly, with remembrance day and things - war is wrong full stop, it's a huge waste of life. WW1 to think about is just sickening and I can't understand how anyone can see any glory in war... it's just wrong. I'll elaborate in a few days...

Last night I was lucky enough to be invited to the memorial of Anita Roddick at Westminster Hall. The Amnesty mob were meant to get there at 5:30pm to collect t-shirts and stuff, being my normal self I arrived at 4:45pm as the trains were running on time and there were already news crews queuing up outside. After the others had arrived we put on our Amnesty Unsubscribe t-shirts (Unsubscribe is the new Amnesty International campaign see www.unsubscribe-me.org) and made our way into the hall. Now Westminster Hall is HUGE! Up against the main wall was a vast canvas tied to the wall with Anita's face projected up onto it, and on the stage were candles and oil barrels with words like "Brilliant" and "Amazing" stenciled onto them... as well as huge tulip lantens made from wire and tissue paper on each side, it was an impressive sight.

The service went on for about two hours but was incredibly moving, and nothing I can write here can possibly portray the work that she did, and how amazing a woman she was. I was fortunate enough to meet her a few times at Amnesty events and speak to her but the stories some people had to tell were inspiring. The first person to talk was Alan Rickman (Snape from Harry Potter is but one of his roles), after him was Kate Allen (Director of Amnesty UK), as well as them was the member of the Angola-3 who had been released, Clive Stafford Smith (famous Guantanamo Bay lawyer) as well as Ken Saro-Wiwa's son, members of green peace, and employees of the Body Shop. Each had a remarkable and unique perspective of her, and each only gave a tiny percentage of the stories they could have told.

After the service had finished we then went on a march from the hall to the national theatre, going past parliament and the Shell building (bringing in the Ken Saro-Wiwa case). Amnesty had brought with them a banner which was in the style of a Chinese dragon, with Unsubscribe written down the side. I got the dragon's tail. Not many people can say they've walked past the houses of parliament as the tail of a dragon. As we went over Waterloo bridge (as the dragon decided to try and turn into a kite) two steel bands then joined us, it was brilliant. We walked past the local travel inn, and a stroppy little kid was tired so threw a roll of loo paper out the top floor window to try and shut us up, needless to say he failed. Then we got to the Shell building and all congregated for a while before making our way to the National Theatre with news crews swarming about as our dragon bobbed up and down, with loads of people holding different placards all around us, two bands building up to crescendos, street performers in suits swaying about - truly a once in a lifetime night and totally amazing, I'm so so glad I was part of it...

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Doesn't seem quite right to put in a normal blog at the end of the bit above but it's been such a busy time I kind of need to...

Damien has now moved in which is great, loving him living with us. Considering there is an 8 year age gap I don't think we could be any closer, but then there's never been a need for competition between us like most siblings as we're so different, he was the sporty one who is now in business, whereas I'm the academic one who'll pursue an academic career in science which has worked out well. Although it does make you wonder what runs through my father's head when he's already lost me to push away D as well seems the most idiotic thing you can do. Bonfire night this Sat should be great... and then D is running in the Great South Run on Sunday!!

Ringing - well we had the district quarter peal day the other day, the quarters I was in got changed at the last minute to Bob Royal and Bob Triples rather than Bob Minor and Bob Major. The Bob Royal sounded absolutely dire but we got through it, and the Bob Triples was okay. Sadly we didn't get the Stedman Triples although until the point it folded it had sounded brilliant and I was really enjoying it. Then there was the Cambridge Royal, I made a school boy error at the beginning but after that it settled down, at the end the conductor said my striking had been improving all the way through (I was concentrating far too much on what place I was in rather than the striking to notice), and I got a great email from one of the other ringers afterwards to say I did well and did I want to ring some more peals - my answer being... YES! haha. My learners are still making brilliant progress, I was so impressed with Val last week, Jon rang up perfectly on Monday, and Judy has been away for a bit but should be up soon. Had a new learner started on Monday, she's like 85, I'm desperately hoping Richard will take her over but we'll see. Didn't enjoy the practice on Monday, infact I don't think it could have got much worse, nothing was coming round, too many learners were in at once, then the 5 rope snapped on me, it was just appalling, and the tower captain is still doing his usual thing of wanting to call absolutely everything even when he's standing out. I don't get anything from the practice as I can already ring the methods, the only bit I enjoy is calling as I can change things round a bit so it isn't predictable but I never get the chance, hence I love the Cranleigh practice as I get to call a lot. If things were to continue like that I'd be seriously considering ringing at Shalford instead. And Sunday ringing rules seem to have been thrown out the window - Sundays are when you ring for the public therefore you should always stick within your ringing boundaries, no learners in methods they can't ring well yet etc etc, so at our tower it should always be something like PB Doubles at 9, but when you have a congregation arriving from 9:15-9:30 only call changes, he does it in reverse, and I'm not the only one complaining about it. Okay rant over, he's a lovely guy, and I know I think he's doing what he thinks is best, just sadly the rest of us disagree. Only a year till I'm at uni though!!

Right I've completely redone my blog, new theme, new layout etc, new video of me ringing, updated profile... but please can people comment on these blogs to let me know what they think, or on the new guestbook thing on the left hand side, thanks!!

Well life has been immensely busy, even more so than usual, and I thought that was difficult to do but still someway I find a way, but knowing me I wouldn't have it any differently so I can't complain or blame anyone else at all.

Ringing: Well the learners are doing well, the inebriated one didn't come back, but then I said to my tower captain if she did then he'd have to teach her as I'd refuse to, I just wouldn't feel safe doing it. My other three are doing fantastically, each week they come on leaps and bounds which is really encouraging, although my tower captain needs to stop trying to butt in at times. I was teaching them when he was on holiday, he came back so I said "how do you want to do this? who teaches who?" so he said I should continue to teach them yet he keeps trying to butt in. Think I gave him the message on Monday that I wasn't happy about it, with one of them it's okay as he's moving soon so we're trying to teach him to as high a standard as we can before he goes but the other two however... it's just confusing if you have two teachers, and they each have different styles so yeah haha. Practice is more enjoyable now as we are getting a more regular Cambridge touch band, so I get to call some bob courses, called 3 the other day, each from a different bell which was good. Considering the methods we ring at Albury don't tax me, that's the closest I get so that's great. Got quarter peal day on the 20th, ringing 4 qps, Plain Bob Minor, Bob Major, Stedman Triples and Cambridge Royal... fun!

School - is going fantastically, really enjoying it, and the workload is becoming manageable which is great. It's great enjoying all the subjects I do, there are the teachers I don't enjoy as much as others but in the long run I'm really enjoying it. Had a few tests this last week, Bio result was 92% and Chem result was 82%, he'd originally marked it as 69% with the highest in the class being 71% until I pointed out he'd missed counting 8 marks... always recount!! So yeah really happy about that. General Studies is really good fun, quite glad I do ethics, does get you thinking, and the debates we get into can be quite controversial.

Amnesty: Well currently I seem to be working my arse off for Amnesty, in the last two weeks I've been up to the Human Rights Action Centre 3 times. Two Saturdays Alex and I went up to the London Regional Conference, it was good, based on the run up to the Chinese Olympics, there were some good speakers and was really inspiring as per usual. Then last Sat I had the AMSC meeting which went well I think, was quite long but we got quite a lot covered I think, and increased my workload ten fold yay! After that I went and saw Anastasia and Ralph in Covent Garden and it was great catching up with them, miss the amnesty bunch when you have so long inbetween seeing them. Had an email from a guy in the other committee today which was standing on people's toes so that got a bit annoying but still. Then last night Lu and I went to the launch of Unsubscribe, it was a fantastic event, the guest speakers were Johnny Chatterton (set up the Facebook group "save the monks in Burma" with over 300,000 people), the head of the campaigns for Avaaz.org, the head of blogging for The Guardian and the head of the NUS. It was a fantastic event and really interesting to see how the web has brought in a change to campaigning. At the end they showed a video called "Waiting for the Guards" which is an incredibly moving piece, showing an actor in a stress position that is in the CIA handbook, so it's completely based on fact and can be proved - to watch it go to http://www.unsubscribe-me.org well worth it!

Autumn has sprung quickly, and I have hardly any free Saturdays until Christmas now which is a tad scary! What with bonfire night, great south run to watch my brother looking like a twit in a yellow tank top and yellow daffodils hanging from his head, Edinburgh, burning of the clocks etc etc it's all a tad manic! But really good fun! Ramble over!!

Well I've been back at school for 3 days and it already seems much longer, yet to be decided if that's a good or bad thing. The whole structure of the school now seems very different in corridors with the L6th wearing suits as well, even if with only white shirts. There's obviously the initial buzz that comes with the beginning of the new year with new boys everywhere, and everyone reaquanting themselves with each other - suppose I'm just looking forward to that normal settled down feeling and back to a bit of normality. Only 3 days in and caught a bunch of kids bullying one of the new first formers who has Aspergers, how cruel and senseless can you be!!!

Lessons are going well I think, although yet to find where I hid my thinking cap during the holidays. Free periods are already seeming a blessing after doing 1h20 minutes homework in it which was due for the next day. Also our compulsory period of R.E. with Mr. Meadowcroft should prove to be really interesting, there's a diverse mix of people in our set, there's a couple of us amnesty mob, a few really sporty people, the sex obsessed, the class clowns, and different social cliques so I'm really looking forward to it.

Uni applications are looming ever closer, I've decided not to apply to Oxford in the end, but that's fine, I was being a bit of a pessimist about getting a place anyway. So now applying to Bath for a masters of Biochem, to Bristol for a Bachelors with a years industrial placement, and Southampton with a foundation year in pharmacology, so each of them sound really really interesting... exciting!! Going to be a huge and drastic change though - not sure how mum's going to cope with it all :(

Amnesty - nothing to report really, nice quiet section still, I've got the London conference to attend on the 29th I think it is, which should be as good as ever, scary to think that'll be the 5th regional conference I'll have been to!! The next AMSC isn't for a while.

Bell ringing - well going as well as normal, we had a good district practice at Albury the other night, always a bit nerveracking when you're at your own tower, doesn't really give you the opportunity not to have perfect striking. Dragged Mark along, he seemed to enjoy it - certainly some umm interesting London and spliced being rung, and not sure what on earth the call changes were, certainly didn't follow the normal rules of changes. Got 3-4 learners tomorrow, so got to be there an hour early, I don't mind learners (except when they turn up inebriated) as I enjoy the satisfaction of seeing them progress, and considering two of them coming have more local towers but decided they wanted me to teach them is quite nice really, but 4 is a tad extreme, it's hard to fit them all in... c'est la vie. We need more ringers so certainly not going to turn them away! Found a rope to make a dummy tail end today, so should see them progress a lot tomorrow which is great, just hoping we'll get a band for Cambridge, plain bob gets a bit dull after an hour and a bit. This morning was a bit disappointing, appeared I was the only one awake.

My uncle who I never met died the other day, and my other uncle is still in hospital, mum went up to see him for the weekend, so had a quiet one doing very little, which in a way was nice but get's a bit claustrophobic, yesterday was just dossing about, today had ringing, then mowed the lawn, did some maths, then went for a run - been a long time since I went on one due to France, amazing what a difference if you don't go in a while, but didn't do as badly as I expected.

Right I'm tired and rambling!

Oh and Lu's birthday tomorrow, so Lu if you're reading this Happy Birthday, love you lots, hopefully see you and D soon yeah? Need to organise the globe or something, or go to Camden or something?

Well now been back from hols for just over a week, and really time I update this.

The Dordogne was really really good - mum and I had a great time trekking from hotel to hotel each day, although at times it got up to 45C which just got a bit ridiculous to walk in, we'd get to the next hotel praying it had a swimming pool, and you could literally see steam come off us as we got in. We stayed at a real variety of places from a really posh place with slippers and dressing gowns to somewhere I nicknamed "the peach palace" as it looked like my grandmother's bathroom had regurgitated all over our room. We ended up in Rocamadour which looks like it should be in a Lord of the Rings film, very picturesque, and just built out the side of a cliff, very surreal.

We came back the day of my exam results, I got an A in Chemistry and a B in Physics, Biology and Maths, with Physics being one mark off an A, so we're getting that one remarked, slightly disappointed in maths, but it was the mechanics side I didn't do well in, and with Casale that was expected, just have to work even harder this year, at least Mr. Lau has no reason to eat me in Chemistry thank goodness.

Amnesty - well nothing really to update here as I haven't done anything since I've been away, however I've got a conference to go to in a few weeks in London, however unlike last year I'm not having to analyse their every move this year, as my paper on the regional conferences has already been to board :)

Bell Ringing - well I have a peal coming up on Thursday, fingers crossed we'll get it this time, it gets a tad demoralising when you've had about 5 attempts at a 2nd peal, which luckily none have folded due to me, but it would be nice to get one. It's stedman caters which I haven't rung in donkies, and even then I wasn't brill - we rang on ten at Southampton just before going to France and the ropesight was certainly dodgy, but we'll see I suppose. I ran the practice on Monday, one of the learners turned up inebriated and almost took her arm off, don't think she'll be doing that again in a hurry, I decided to try her on both strokes, she pulled off at handstroke and decided to ring her backstroke one handed :S - will be leaving it a while before we attempt that again. The other learner on the other hand is doing truly fantastically, he's picked it up very quickly, and I had him ringing in rounds, and call changes, he could tell when he was in the wrong place and was starting to get used to holding it on the balance to get back in again, so I left impressed, the rest of the practice went well, and everyone seemed to really enjoy it. Wonersh was great on Thursday, nice to have Mark down, certainly meant we could do an awful lot more than normal :)

Allotment - I dread to think how that looks at current, I'm thinking of giving it up, as it's just too unwieldly for mum and I to upkeep.

Other news - well both my uncles are in hospital and looking gravely ill, one I've never met (long story) and doesn't look like I ever will, and my other uncle is in secondary cancer to his lungs and brain and is not in a good way, he can't feed himself or anything - so mum isn't in a good way at all. And I've got to have loads of tests to try and work out what is causing my tremors, the doctor has his suspicions but we'll see in a few weeks I suppose.

Had a great evening with D, mum was at work, so he came over, we were going to get a dvd, so went to Blockbuster but my name isn't on mum's account so we couldn't do that, then went to Sainsburys to get some dinner, finally settled on fajhita mix, and got home to find the chicken in the fridge was off, so in the end we had to settle for the local pub, but that was really good :)

All in all life is great - and I'm really really happy :D

Why is it that just before you go on holiday everything has to become so stressful or is that just my family?
- very seriously tempted to throttle mum soon, it's getting ridiculous, she says she has 101 jobs to do, now that I can understand and indeed sympathise with, but when it gets to the point that she's cutting the edge of the lawn?? I don't get that, by the time we get back in two weeks I'm going to have to mow it again anyways, so I don't get why the edges need doing when there are far more urgent jobs, like packing etc... if you're a woman and reading this please please explain the logic to me!

Don't get me wrong I'm really looking forward to the holiday - although 6 hours walking in very warm weather will be very interesting, I thought I was skinny to start with haha. Just this whole being asked to do stuff, then told there's nothing for me to do, then told I'm not doing anything - make up your mind!!

Right I think that's my little rant over with :D

Quick update (although it prob won't be) - the allotment is okay, sooo many weeds, and with these two weeks away I dread to think what it will look like when I get back. I pulled up 226 potatoes the other day so if anyone wants any... picked two huge courgettes, I was really impressed, and also pulled up 60 onions which are now drying, oh and the peas are growing but they'll be ripe when we're not around - sod's law eh! Excuse the grammar in that section kind of writing in a hurry.

Amnesty is going as well as ever, luckily I don't have as many meetings or anything at the moment which is rare, and as my last paper was okayed by the board I think I'm in the clear until our next meeting  - famous last words! The Media awards in London were outstanding, and mum really enjoyed getting to see all the celebs as well which was great, although she did get stuck with one of the other board members at the end, who was a tad inebriated and apparently she's "in the prime of her life sexually" eww! :P

Ringing is going up and down as usual, it's not Albury's fault but it gets a tad grating when you very hear "that's all", I miss... I want to say proper ringing, but really I mean decent. Last Monday was fantastic, I had a brilliant time, the whole day was great, throughly enjoyed it. I thought the Cambridge Major went well, not sure I've rung a full plain course before, used to only half so that was nice. Sadly we didn't get through the Superlative or Cambridge Royal but C8 is better than I normally get so can't complain in the slightest. Everyone there was really nice - particularly the tower captain :D, just a really nice friendly atmosphere. I have a peal on the 30th of Stedman Caters, they originally wanted Cinques but I vetoed!! Not sure how the guy who is organising it found out about me but I can't complain at all!

Exam results are due out the day I get back but trying not to think about it too much!

Right I got to go... being called! Have a look at the pics of Normandy if you're at all interested. More on facebook.

Be forewarned this is a blog that will most definitely turn into a rant...

Humanity according to the dictionary is:

hu·man·i·ty  /hyuˈmænɪti or, often, yu-/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[hyoo-man-i-tee or, often, yoo-] –noun, plural -ties.

1.	all human beings collectively; the human race; humankind.

2.	the quality or condition of being human; human nature.

3.	the quality of being humane; kindness; benevolence.

But this can't and isn't the case, people are often optimistic, but humans and "humanity" really is a disgusting term. Now I'm not going to say that we are the only species who get off on others' misfortune as we aren't, cats are a prime example of torturing other animals for their amusement, but no other species takes it to the scale that we do.

Every section of life thinks it is either physically or mentally superior to another niche of the human race. Whether it be Adolf Hitler and his Nazis, and their anti-semitic propaganda. Or religions, now with the current news around London some will say I have a chip on my shoulder over that (I'll go into that in a minute) but the thing that I'm annoyed at is Christianity - now I've said this in previous blogs and I'll say it again I have no problem with whatever anyone believes in, as long as they challenge their own beliefs from time to time and don't just take them at face value. But I can't stand those who stand behind someone else's beliefs and use them as a cover. Now I have an Irish background and one I've enjoyed looking into the history of, but Ireland really is a nasty place, and it's all down to religion. For 150 years Catholic Orders ran places known as the "Magdalene Laundries", women were sent there, mostly against their will to work unpaid at manual labor and were unable to leave. The types of women that were sent there were those who had been raped, had sex out of marriage, been promiscuous, or were overly pretty - and were therefore at risk of committing sin. Now we'll all say "yes but that doesn't happen now"... the last Magdalene laundry was only closed in 1996. Women who accused men of rape were stuck in these laundries where often they were open to more risk. The book "Kathy's Story" goes into how she was put into one of these laundries and then raped further by those of the cloth. Nuns were nasty people (not all granted!) but these people who are meant to be "Christian" and all the principles that come with it, were... I don't have the words to describe. If you want to watch a film that sums it up watch the Magdalene Sisters (2003), and see for yourself, it's certified 18, and unless you have a strong stomach then stick with the rating!

Then there are places like Guantanamo Bay (sorry it's a bit of a cliche with me - but I feel an important one). People whenever they try and argue this one don't have the facts within their knowledge to throw up any worthwhile debates, any facts any may have would have been misconstrued from the news. Some questions for you - Do you know where Guantanamo Bay is? Who is held there? What happens there? Are you happy to turn the other cheek?

Now for some answers:
Where is Guantanamo Bay? - Cuba, it's in a US naval base there, this meant that the US could try and go against International Law and US law as it was off their mainland soil.

Who is held there? - Now the answer I'd expect most to give is "terrorists" although the US would much rather you use the term "Enemy combatants", but is this true - (now before I answer, people will think I'm biased, yeah fine if you think that way then that's your choice - as long as you question your own beliefs). 17 people under the age of 18 have been held there since its opening, there are Brits, Australians, Canadians etc (and no not all coloured) of all ages held there...

What happens there? - Basically torture, solitary confinement, sleep deprivation, hot and cold conditions, continuous bright light, electrocution of the testes etc etc - it's not a nice place. No one in Guantanamo has been sent to trial, if these people are these "enemy combatants" that the US alleges them to be then surely they have the evidence to take them to trial. Torture is a ridiculous thing, if I was about to be tortured then you're liable to say yes to whatever, whether you've done it or not. Guantanamo is seen as illegal under international and US law, as ruled by the US Supreme Court yet it's still in existence.

Blind eye? - you might, I won't!!

No one, no matter what colour skin, what religion, what ethnic background, sexuality, hair colour etc has the right to degrade or treat someone else as anything else other than an equal - we're a long long way off... and as for political correctness, it's as much as a problem as a cure. Education and knowledge is the way forward not legislation...

Rant over!!

Well the AS exams began today, and I got to thinking last night just how different I am from this time last year. A year ago today I was sitting a Latin exam, and I had never been lower in my life. Not necessarily because of the exam haha, just in general. I can hardly remember anything before I was 13, and those bits I do remember last about a total of 4 minutes, and I have no idea what order they come in. I used to seriously beat myself up about it until it run me down into that low state and made me act stupidly. Now however I couldn't be happier, I don't care that I can't remember my past, my life is a new one to take where I want it, it's a great feeling, and one I've learnt, granted with a bit of time to embrace rather than tackle.

I'm sorry this blog may turn into a bit of a rant, it's one of those weeks where people tell you something that they might not mean or expect to spark something but your head runs away with ideas. So I'll take them in order of when they came to me.

Well I'm 17 on Sunday (normally I'm really really counting down the days to my birthday) but this year I haven't been as much, well bar one person just to annoy them haha. But with Maths C1 and C2 paper they day after it hasn't really been on the top of my list of things to do, plus my birthdays in the past years have been a bit of a let down, not going out with D and Lu celebrating just the actual day itself has often come to a disappointment. Aaaaanyways, with the grand turning of 17 comes the joys of being able to drive, something unlike most of the people in my year I'm not actually looking forward to at all (although mum thought she could change all that by one go on the dodgems at Brighton pier... uhhh yeah!), so I've had to apply for my provisional license.
As part of that they ask you whether you want to go on the organ donor scheme. Now I've thought about that in the past, but it's never come to a point before where I've had to make a decision as to what to do. Having come from a medical family I was happy to sign up, and knew I wanted to, I was a bit freaked out originally about having my corneas donated, but on talking to mum apparently you can cure more than one persons' sight with them... so that changed my mind. After all it's not as though in the future I'll be able to donate blood (if that lost you, research blood donation and gay/bi people). So yeah if you have ever considered being put on the organ donor list can I suggest you do, there is a page of FAQs if you're interested. I'm not going to push it on you, or force you into doing it as it's a very personal thing, and I can easily understand why most people would rather not. But it's just to flag the fact to you that you can. https://www.uktransplant.org.uk/ukt/how_to_become_a_donor/how_to_become_a_donor.jsp

The second rant is an amnesty one I'm afraid: I seem to be permanently asked why I think Guantanamo Bay should be shut, and why I want to release all the "terrorists" that the US are holding there. In which I think a few myths need to be dispelled. Guantanamo Bay is completely illegal under US and international law, yet the US operate it. The problem that I have, and Amnesty International has with it, is that a) they use torture b) kids are sent there c) no trials take place d) military tribunals are used, which are illegal e) secret evidence is used. You can be held there indefinitely without knowing what it is you are meant to have done wrong, and with no way to prove your innocence. If the US do indeed believe that the people they are detaining are terrorists then why not put them to a legal trial to determine the fact. The truth is that the saying "innocent till proven guilty" doesn't exist in the modern world anymore.

The third rant is mainly my thoughts rather than a go at anyone in particular, not that the bits I've just mentioned have been haha.I was asked today to read the daily reading in assembly in a couple of weeks time. Normally I'd say yeah fine to whatever duty is thrown my way, except that way. I'm not a Christian, actually far from it... perhaps if I was atheist or an agnostic I would be happy reading it, but as it stands I just wouldn't be happy doing it. There are so many things I disagree with in Christianity, I do support the underlying beliefs, such as charity, trust etc, but as for Jesus and his miracles I'm afraid I don't... then I completely and fundamentally disagree with the church as an organisation, how something is meant to be so charitable and so giving, yet be the richest power on earth, with it's bishops with huge glinting rings, I'm sorry but that's just a no for me! I have no problem with whatever anyone else wants to believe, most of my closest friends are really strong christians, which I have absolutely no problem with, the thing I do have a problem with is if you don't think for yourself, if you can see those problems and yet come out on top of them and believe even strongly in a cause then I have the utmost respect for you, but if you're taken along just on what the tv or your parents have to say then I have very little respect for you... challenge what you're told, and think for yourself!

Ok, it's been months since I updated this, I'm not even going to say anymore that I need to update this more often as that doesn't seem to work nor sink in, so if I update then I update, if not then well obviously not!

So what's happened since the last blog? Well the amnesty AGM for one up in Edinburgh, lets just say it was interesting and incredibly busy shall we? I got up there on the Friday before it all kicked off, and got my stuff together. The first thing was the youth briefing which went very well, I had to run a bit of it. Then I had to run the New Delegates Talk, which was good, about 100 people turned up which was a nice number, I hope I made everything as concise and pain free as I possibly could. The rest of the weekend was mainly business, of which would bore people, but Amnesty members are idiots, they voted for two opposing motions to pass... democracy doesn't always work folks!

Schools been very stressed at the moment with exams soon approaching, teachers are expecting us to do a paper a night, a paper in test conditions each day, and revise on top of that, it's just not physically possibly. Plus I appear to have developed a tremour when writing so I went to the doctor's today who wants me to see a neurologist... yay!

Been looking at universities, I want to go to Oxford, but I think I have to be realistic so focusing on Bristol, Bath etc. All nice places. Was looking at Keele until Mr. Dunscombe said that they'd be happy to offer me CCD... uhhh think I'm a tad better than that!

Damon and I are going great!! He should hopefully be coming back in Summer... I can't wait!!!!

That's all for now, I'm shattered!

Well this has the chances of being a long blog just to forewarn you, because I've been so busy recently. I'll split it up into the normal sections, so just ignore the bits you aren't interested in.

Amnesty:

Well the last time I updated this (almost a month ago) I was about to have a hectic few weeks with Amnesty, and well they were! The regional conference was ok, but very similar to the one in London, it's amazing the people you get to know quite well and they all know who you are, that was my 3rd South East regional conference, which kind of scares me how long I've been involved and how quickly I've got to where I am. It's my 4th regional conference in total. Craig Murray was a good speaker again, although I'd already heard that speech, but still very good, he was the past ambassador to Uzbekistan, he basically got sacked for and I quote "being too focused on human rights" the government that runs us, and the world in general scares me, how places like Guantanamo can exist I just don't know. I'm a Utopian, and often wonder how one would work, and the way that I see it is either you go for the extreme liberal so that people get freedom to do what they want, which is a long way from where we are, and I'm liberal I think we should all get freedom to what we want without fear. However I'm also an equalist which fights my liberal side in a way that people might not initially think... for everyone to be equal then you can't have freedom as it doesn't give people the chance to expand or work on their own. So I don't know... it's a question as to how the government works, who are they working for? In who's interest, Iraq for instance now the majority of the British were against Iraq, but we still went, now was that in our interest... I don't believe so. A government should be very honest with the public... we vote them in so they must be accountable.

Right back onto the amnesty tangent - then a man named Ko Aung spoke to us, he was a Burmese Student Activist, and some of the things he told us were harrowing. Now I'm quite good at blocking emotions off, both from my past and then from what people are telling me, it's not a brilliant thing to do, but for Amnesty it does have its advantages. If you don't like gruesome true stories then I suggest you miss reading the bit in italics that follows:

Ko Aung had organised a peaceful student hunger strike in the town centre. It was strictly peaceful, and just involved hundreds of students sitting down in the town centre to protest against the way they were being treated. News got around that the army were blocking off all the exits to the centre. So the crowd shouted at them "Soldiers, soldiers, please don't hurt us we are students". One of the girls he knew who was 14, whom he'd taught English and was like a sister to him ran up to one of the army vehicles and jumped onto the bonnet with her breast pressed against the machine gun telling them they were in a peaceful protest. The army men just pulled the trigger on the vehicle machine gun and her body blew into the crowd.
    A short while later Ko was arrested, and whilst there he was taken to a room in the middle of the night in pitch black and stripped and told to walk into the pool in middle of the room, he took two steps in before the smell hit him and he realised what he was walking into, it was a pool full of faeces and excrement and wriggling with worms, he was forced in up to his neck and had to remain there for 3 days until he blacked out. All he could remember was the maggots in his mouth and ears. It's very 1984, but actually happens - welcome to 2007, aren't we meant to be living in a world of freedom?

The week after I had an AMSC (Active Members Sub-Committee) which went very well, we went through all the usual papers and things, as well as looking at some of the AGM motions, some of which just make you crack up like "Human Rights have been getting bad press in the media recently, this AGM believes that Amnesty should be working to promote Human Rights" so umm what the hell does Amnesty do? Then I went out for dinner with the Student committee which was great, I get on well with them :)

Then the week after I had a youth pool meeting, it's great catching up with people, and everyone there is great, just the things we discuss aren't normally very interesting, like that meeting was the website, and plus with the other committee meetings I go to I have to keep my mouth shut in the youth pool which can be very frustrating.

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Ringing:

Well ringing at the moment has been going brilliantly, I'm thoroughly enjoying it. Dickon had organised a peal for me of Cambridge Royal up at St. Giles' Cripplegate London, now baring in mind I'd never rung Surprise Royal before, or indeed a method on 10 that didn't involve just plain hunt I was more nervous than I think I ever had been especially considering who I was ringing with.

So the day came and I had had one go at Guildford Cathedral two nights before, and had done umm... well not amazingly on it. So I was even more nervous. Mum and I spent the day mouching around Oxford Street and things basically just killing time. We managed to find the church reasonably enough although it is in an obscure place. So we were all set to ring but one of the ringers was really late, but apparently he didn't know it was on, so we rang a quarter peal of it, which I thoroughly enjoyed, I didn't get shouted at once which was encouraging, and apparently my striking improved, although I freely admit that was just sheer coincidence. It did mean we got a long session at the pub, and it was good chatting to everyone and finally meeting Dickon.

Then on Friday there was a practice at Bramley, those bells have seen me no end of trouble which we won't even go into. It was an okay practice although the striking was just unbearable, they are tinny bells as it is and closely spaced in the actual chamber, they need to be rung very well to actually sound half way decent. But we did ring some spliced Little, Campridge and Plain Bob Minor which I thoroughly enjoyed, and it sounded very good.

The other night I called me first spliced of Cambridge and Plain as well as staying go and stop to some Ipswich, which in itself is no big deal, but having only ever rung it about 3 times I was glad when it came round. Especially with Chris Rogers on the treble.

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Exams: Well exam week is now over thank gods, it's just been hectic, I thought AS were hectic enough but actually getting back to the normal routine will be sheer relief. The exams went well for as much as I can predict anyways. The second chemistry paper wasn't as strong as the first mainly because it was pure unit 3 rather than any unit 2, mainly because the other sets are going slowly. Paper 2 is really interesting and I really enjoy it - chemistry is definitely where I belong.

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Grandpa and Pat: We went and saw Grandpa and Pat the other day. Which was nice we haven't seen them in about 2 and a half years. Their new house is nice, it suits them I suppose, but I'll always remember the other house as Grandpa's I used to like that musty smell, it just seemed right. We went out for lunch with them, it was a nice meal, although Pat complained about her chicken salad being cold, it was a bloody salad, and then she complained her croûtons were cold... now I'm sorry but WARM croûtons??
    Then Grandpa went off on a rant about too many people in our family not talking to other members of the family, and how it was stupid and how they should just bite their pride and talk to each other. I was like "hello I am in the room". I think Dad deserves a whole section to himself so he's next.
    We went for a short walk after that, mum and Pat shot off which was quite nice actually and I got to spend some time with D and Lu. It's nice just catching up with them, knowing what they're up to etc, it's always something different, business wise, sport wise or something. We seem to have grown a lot closer since he's come back from uni, before that I suppose we were always in competition even if only in jest but it always started to wear a bit thin. But now well he's as much a best friend as he is a brother, if I had a problem he'd be one of the first people I'd talk to, which is something I never felt I could do before.
    We then went to Brighton to finish the day because D could never remember having gone, by the time we got there all the shops had shut, however we did go on the pier and watch mum fail miserably on some skis, Lu ride a huge plastic car and well lets just say people should watch out when I learn to drive. We then went to find a restaurant D had heard of but couldn't, well we did on the way back lol, so ended up going to Pizza Express, then home because I had 2 exams the following day.

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Dad: Well I said above that dad deserved a section all to himself, I'm not quite sure that is true but still. I got an email from him the other day inviting me to his wedding. I didn't know what to feel, he always seems to time things so well... waiting for me at the station when I was in mid-GCSE week. Then sending me his invite to his wedding the week before mocks. I know he didn't mean it but still.
    So it kind of took me by shock, I didn't know what to do. I mean his wedding will only happen once, and I'm sure maybe one day I will regret not going to it, but at the moment I just can't drag myself to go to it, not emotionally. Mum spoke to Pat on her little walk and told me that apparently they don't hold it against me, they understand why I don't see dad, I was just like "and what's that?". D summed it up by saying "I'm not even sure Zandy knows why he doesn't see dad!" Which is very true, I don't there just seems to be lots of different reasons.
    So here's the summary as far as I can think: a) it's easy for me not to see him, I don't want to travel to Ascot to see him, it's a long way, and for something I never really enjoyed b) I didn't enjoy it, it was permanently being taken round hospitals or out for a meal - I don't think he realised how much I just wanted him to say, I'm cooking tonight... c) I hate the brats, apparently they aren't that bad anymore but I still dislike them, they have dad wrapped around their finger and they get what they want. d) I was tired of being used as a pawn, "don't let your dad know I'm happy" etc, it was ridiculous, they were both pathetic e) Sexuality... that's not a conversation I would look forward to... "by the way, I'm gay, I'm in love with a guy called Damon, we've been 'dating' six months" f) I don't have the energy anymore, not internally, I can't get let down again, I'd just lose the plot. So for the most part it looks like I'm not seeing him for self preservation and for mainly selfish reasons, but if that's how I'm feeling I can't change it.
    I spoke to Jude after getting the email, and she was just like well could you imagine yourself wanting to meet up with a coffee with him in Guildford, and I was just immediately like "No", so she pointed out if I couldn't manage a coffee how could I manage a wedding, which is very true. Although I really don't want to know the date of his wedding now though...

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Sexuality: Well I'm more than comfortable which is great. But the best news is mum seems to be too, I don't know if it's just time, being with Damon, or my hunch is Hollyoaks, which sounds bizarre, but what with the John-Paul storyline, she's seen the other perspective on things and I think she's now seen the emotional rollercoaster the person goes through, which I think was a bit of a wake up call for her.
    Don't get me wrong I know it was tough for her, and I can understand that, I know I had much longer to come to terms with it than she did. But she did take it very badly, there's only been one person who's been rude to me about it and his friends shut him up after one comment at school. Most people it hasn't affected how they treat me which is good. And I do now like the fact at home that not every single conversation, joke or comment has to be about it.
    So I'm more than happy with who I am!

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Random:

Start digging the allotment hopefully tomorrow!

If you like gruesome books then The Wasp Factory is a brilliant read, incredibly well written.

I need to say thank you to Jude, who's always stood by me :)

Umm and I'll shut up now, told you it would be a long blog!!