Nicola

The presentation was good thanks! I've just handed in my 1000 word summary of the presentation today. That gets marked and given back to me and then I need to expand it to 2500 words which needs to be handed in on 22nd May. The 1000 word thing sounds pretty pointless to me but I just do what they tell me to.

Oh my goodness.....you did a presentation in a second language? I'd never be able to do it! There's 2 Polish students and one Chinese student on our course and they seem to struggle when it comes to speaking in public but it's understandable. We have complete respect for them for doing it.:)

Hey Frankie!

Thanks for that I'm not really put off by film tie-in covers....I never really thought about it until I noticed that so many people in the forum dislike them. I like a nice cover (especially textured covers for some reason) but I suppose it's whats inside that counts!

How were your Mayday celebrations? And how you getting along with Making Waves? I definitely don't remember it being like that when I was a teenager....I was obsessed with the same boy from the age of 11 until I was about 20! He kept asking me out so I'd say yes.....then he wouldn't talk to me so I'd break up with him. A few weeks would pass and he'd ask me out again....I'd say yes and he still wouldn't talk to me! That went on until I was about 16! Then he spoke so all good!! So yeah....I think the author must think that's what teenagers want to hear....or maybe they were what we Geordies call a 'floozy' in their teenage years!

Yeah Holland was full of people who were either looking great or really bad! I think a lot of the time I was picking things up and because of the pound being weak at the moment, things were really expensive. Something that would cost me

Thanks Frankie!

Eeeeeeek! Presentation today....in about an hour! I'm really really really dreading it although it's only in front of about 15 people. Last year I had to present in front of the entire group which was about 60 people

I'm going to have to look for that book! I need to sort out meeting my friend to see the movie but we're both pretty busy at the moment so it's difficult.

Wow....you've finished already! I've got some catching up to do!! Can't wait to read Lestat! Hope it's as good as I'm imagining...Haa!! Teen romance......I forgot about those sort of books. They used to have a few in our school library but they were always booked out by girls hoping for a bit of a kissing scene!

I've hardly made any progress at all with the Coffin Dancer....booooooo! We had lectures while travelling and by the time I went to bed I was too tired to read. I'm going to make a real effort with it on Thursday (I have a presentation to do on Wed so I'm super busy!)

That book sounds brilliant! I'm hoping to see the film this week once I organise a date with my friend (also named Nicola....our friends call us Team Nicola! ) Let me know how you find it! Wonder if they've published it in English?

How are you? Have you been up to much? How far through the Coffin Dancer are you? Also, I'm happy to go with anything regarding the thread. I suppose if we use the Lincoln Rhyme thread then we get other people's opinions?

Hey Frankie!!

I'm back! What a week! We travelled around quite a bit which was nice so we got to see that Holland isn't all sex and marijuana!! We had to pay for it all ourselves and it cost

I'm definitely giving Ross half my money.....My loan has to last me all summer!! Eeeek!!

We're starting to hear about people who are dropping out of the trip now.....one girl didn't want to go at all so has told the lecturers that she has an infection and can't make it. Hmmmmm.....sounds fishy!!

Have you started the Coffin Dancer yet? I'm about 8 chapters into it.....really enjoying it!!

I'll try to get onto the net when I'm away to see how you're getting on with it

Oh cockney would be fun to learn about! Their dialect is pretty cool....and they have rhyming slang too....really interesting!

It must be quite daunting to think that you have to start a new life for a short while, especially if you're suffering from depressing at the mo. My Mam suffers from it (she was really poorly last summer but is on medication now and she's a different woman!) and she found it really difficult to leave the house. Like you say, it's the opportunity of a life time and I think you'll feel really empowered when you're doing it. You'll realise just how strong a person you actually are......I'd love to do it!

As for picking up other accents, I'm the same!! If I hang around with someone for too long I start to mimic them! haaa! Especially scottish people...eeeek!

Wow......the prospect of travelling to another country to work is really cool! Do you have any idea where you'd like to go? Or what sort of job you'd like to take up?

I think you should definitely come to England (the very home of the English language!) There's so much to see and do but there's also many strong local dialects which in themselves can be a language of their own. I'm not sure how much you know about local dialects in England but I'm a Geordie which is a really strong accent that some say sounds Scottish. It's a really friendly accent with some funny little phrases. Like I might say,

"Ahm Gannin yehm" which means I'm going home. Or "Aye, he's deed canny" which means he's really nice.

If you were ever interested in coming to Newcastle on a work placement etc, I could find out what sort of work was available and how much living costs etc would be.

It's so strange that you mention Coleman as I grew up in Gateshead and know the B&B! It's right next to the MetroCentre shopping area and I was on way home from there when they caught him but couldn't get through the road block the poice had made. I can just about see the B&B from my house now on the other side of the river......it's awful to think that the woman was there all alone with him isn't it!! eeeeeek!!

I'm sharing a room with 5 other girls so I can blame any bumps in the night on them! Haaa!

I have no idea what I want to buy over there yet but know exactly what you mean about finding stuff when you least expect to. If I get my student loan in time I think it'll turn into a spree!

Hey Frankie!!

I've bought a copy of The Coffin Dancer so I'm set!

Ready.....steady.....read!!! :-)

Your avatar is so cute though!!

Well here's to being different eh!! haa!!

Have I been forgetting to use spoilers again? Or were you just reminding me?? Haa.....don't think I can take being told off by the Boss's again!!

Haaaaa!! That's a really funny idea! The Toyboy club!! haaa!!

So.....Coffin Dancer it is then! Oooooh I'm looking forward to it! The only problem being that the hostel I'm staying in is apparently really really old so I'm probably going to be a bit scared in the dark after reading about murders!!! haa!! What a scaredy cat eh!! I'll get my copy tomorrow and get reading!

I never thought about book shopping......That'd be really cool (but yes....very heavy!!) I can't wait to get away. I'm really stressed at home at the mo so it'll be nice to leave it all behind for a week! Do you have any trips planned this year? I would definitely recommend England but bring an umbrella!! haa!

Hey Inver!

Thanks!! It's the world wide web activity patterns. (I think!) I thought it looked really pretty so nabbed it!!

I feel like I'm out of fashion at the mo with all the Twilight avatars people have.....Robert Pattinson is everywhere!! haa!!

Hey Cienwenn!

How are you?

We're just a forum of sugar mummys!! haa!! I was just talking about this to a woman I work with as she has a toy boy of 15 years!! (that's the age difference not his age.....now that would be strange!! haa!! )

So which book do you have? Was it The Coffin Dancer or The Vampire Lestat? It'll be really good to hear other views as we're reading it....that's when a person is most enthusiastic about a book isn't it

Haaa!! I grew up in a house of 3 women so I know exactly what that's like!! There'd be a week every month when we just wouldn't speak to each other!! haa!!

Well I'm off to the Netherlands on a field trip with uni on Sunday (my project is to compare regeneration in two different shopping locations in Utrecht.....I'm basically going to shop my socks off! haa! ) So I'll buy The Coffin Dancer on Thursday and take it with me to read on the ferry and on coach trips. I should have it finished by the time I get back (hopefully!!) :-)

Oooooh have you read The Vampire Lestat yet? I'm really looking forward to it!! Heee!! We should definitely book club that too!! It'll be good to discuss it with someone who has also just finished reading it......that's when we're most enthusiastic about it!! :D:D

The teen years were just awful weren't they!! I used all my energy trying to remain under the radar away from potential bullies.....yikes!!

The British weather is just terrible at times. It's quite frustrating when you get snow in June! haaa!! Yeah.....the umbrella is the constant accessory! And you really don't know how to dress for the day ahead. If you wear a thick coat you can be certain of sun but if you don't it rains! Crazy weather!! Suppose it makes everyone really appreciate the sun we do get and when the weathers nice everyone is really nice to each other and happy!

I wish I could read a second language! I did contemplate learning German as I love Berlin and would quite like to live there for a year. You never know, I may get around to it one day!

Thanks! He's a little bit younger than me but it's the best relationship I've ever been in

I'm so glad you enjoyed The Bone Collector! I had no idea the murderer was who he was either! When she visited the old train depot I was on the edge of my seat & reading through my fingers

I haven't read the other Deaver books yet but you should let me know when you're going to read them and I'll read them at the same time (we could have our own mini book club!! haa!!)

I finished Interview With the Vampire when I was at Ross' parents house and loved it. At times, the style of writing became a bit heavy going as part of it's set in the 18th century but the story is amazing! I bought the follow up book 'The Vampire Lestat' yesterday so it looks like Noughts and Crosses is well and truely on the back burner!

How about you? Will you go straight onto the next Deaver book or will you take a break?

I totally agree about the whole 'kids exposing themselves and each other' on the internet. Like you, I'm glad that we didn't have to deal with that while growing up. Imagine!!!!! When you think about how much you change as a person between then and now, it's pretty scary to think that your former self could be lurking somewhere just waiting to embarrass you at any given moment. Eeeeek!! :icon_eek:

I think we English people have just had our summer. Two days of sunshine is the usual going rate! It's really windy and rainy and just plain grey today

I'm definitely going to wikipedia Carcassonne! I became addicted to Scrabble last summer. We'd just sit and play it for days on end (We even created a mini-league system.....pretty embarrassing really!! haa!!)

Hey Frankie!!

How's you? I've been away for a few days to see Ross's parent's. Had a few sneeky peeks at what was going on but not long enough to reply. It's sooooooo sunny here! Just sat outside making the most of it.

I hope you BF gets well soon! I've never heard of Carcassonne....what is it?

It is getting a bit wearing isn't it! I know he's good looking and I really like him myself but come on people..........it can sometimes go a bit far can't it! haa!! On youtube there's some random man/woman (not entirely sure) singing a song about how Bella chose the guy he/she wanted. And another woman who has styled herself completely on Alice singing about Jasper the Vampire boy......very weird!!

Did you catch up on the 1141 unread posts? Haaa!! I'm currently at 3436! What's been happening while I've been away???? haa!!

Oh and yes.....that's my BF Ross. He's my darling

Hey Frankie!! I'm good....still spending too much time on here and not enough on assignments!! eeeek!!!

I know what it's like to be without a computer....it's not great is it! Feel like a limb has been removed! Ok so that's maybe a tad dramatic but I'm English. That's what we do best!

Well, you've missed the release of Twilight on DVD so everyone's been chatting about the extras (not sure if you've seen them yet but oh my goodness the deleted scenes are a bit.....rude! I can see why they were cut!! haa!) Also there's a pretty cool forum called something along the lines of 'off-topic by the Queen of Off-topic'. It was started by ii and so far it's covered men, icecream, men, make-up and george clooney....

How are you? Hope you've been doing nice things while away from you're computer.....like reading lots! haa! Also, how's the weather over in your neck of the woods? It's been glorious here.....SUMMER'S COMING!!!!!

Haaa!! The man flu eh!! My boyfriend gets that too....it usually only lasts about 20 mins at a time which is quite unusual!

I always think it's good to take a couple of sick days each year....keeps them on their toes! Plus I really don't like my job so it's quite tempting!

So what have you been reading on your leisure days.....I mean 'sick' days!

Hope you feel better soon

Oooooh I've just started a reading list like you suggested. It's really therapeutic isn't it! It's like taking stock of your life and putting it in order.....thanks for recommending it!

I've named the thread Nicola's Reading List 2009....very original!! haaa!!

The light nights are so good aren't they!! They days just feel longer and you know it's time to find all those summer dresses. I've been desperate for summer to get here!

I've also just created a readling list/blog thingymebob....another small victory!! haa!! xx

Haaa! Yeah I think I'm getting there. I've never really posted on forums before so I'm still getting used to a few things but I now know how to quote only the relevant parts of a persons post so small victories and all that! I also told the entire forum how Harry Potter ended by accident....that was another fine moment!! haa!!

But everyone's really nice on here and my reading list has doubled so that's good! Although I'm starting to find that I spent more time reading about books than actually reading them!

How are you?