Synopsis: Alex and Conner Bailey's world is about to change. When the twins' grandmother gives them a fairy-tale book, they have no idea they're about to enter a land beyond all imagining: the Land of Stories, where fairy tales are real.
But as Alex and Conner soon discover, the stories they know so well haven't ended in this magical land - Goldilocks is now a wanted fugitive, Red Riding Hood has her own kingdom, and Queen Cinderella is about to become a mother!
The twins know they must get back home somehow. But with the legendary Evil Queen hot on their trail, will they ever find the way?

Number of pages: 438

Rating: 9/10

Overall Impression: So imaginative! I loved seeing what happened to all the classic fairy-tale characters after the "Happily Ever After". Some really did live happily ever after, while some really didn't. There were some giggles as I had expected and some gripping moments which I hoped for. I just really enjoyed it.



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Synopsis: Summers span decades. Winter can last a lifetime. And the struggle for the Iron Throne has begun.
As Warden of the north, Lord Eddard Stark counts it a curse when King Robert bestows on him the office of the Hand. His honour weighs him down at court where a true man does what he will, not what he must … and a dead enemy is a thing of beauty.
The old gods have no power in the south, Stark’s family is split and there is treachery at court. Worse, the vengeance-mad heir of the deposed Dragon King has grown to maturity in exile in the Free Cities. He claims the Iron Throne.

Number of Pages: 780

Rating: 8/10

Overall Impression: Long, detailed, complicated but a great read. Really interesting characters and great plot development. And the world building was extensive and immersive. I'm looking forward to reading on, and also to watching the series.



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In a spontaneous turn of events, I came home from work on Sunday and found out we were going to the Olympics the next day! Specifically, we were going to see the Men's Team Gymnastics final. Team GB had a team in the final and we would see the medal ceremony too. Ahhh! Exciting!

We left Nuneaton at 10am on the train, and got in to London Euston just before midday. And yes, the train station was busy. Police dotted about and just people everywhere. Off to the Tube. As we had only bought the tickets the day before, we went straight to the venue (the North Greenwich Arena, AKA the O2 Arena, AKA the Millenium Dome) to pick up the tickets and make sure we had plenty of time before the 4.30pm session start.

Got there and got the tickets in loads of time to spare. Kudos to Transport of London and the London 2012 people, because everything was running smoothly and calmly with info and directions freely available.

After some food, we went and got some merchandise and then made our way into the arena. And we had amazing seats! We were right next to the high bar.

Only five rows back from the front! Also there's my mum photobombing...

There was a sort of energy buzzing around the arena, as everyone trickled in. Everyone was anticipating an exciting afternoon ahead.

Team GB over by the pommel horse

About half an hour before the gymnasts came in, we got treated to a sort of warm-up act: Pixie Lott! We had literally no idea that was going to happen, another bonus. She came out and sang Use Sombody by Kings of Leon and then one of her own songs.

The main event was the highlight. Obviously. The atmosphere was electric, and every Team GB performance was met with a roar of approval from the crowd.

Britain on the parallel bars

We couldn't really see Team GB too well from where we were sitting at the start but with all the other teams on the other apparatus, there was plenty to look at. In fact, too much! I didn't know where to look, and sometimes I was clapping for... well, I don't know what!

But in the end, not being able to see them at the start, worked to our advantage, because the end of the competition was so exciting. Going into the last event (for Team GB, the floor), Team GB was in contention for a medal: silver or bronze, the first time in, I think, 80 years of British gymnastics history.

Watching Team GB doing their floor routines, well, I couldn't have told you what even Team USA was doing on the high bar right in front of me! Max Whitlock and Daniel Purvis both had really good scores for their routines, but Kristian Thomas absolutely nailed his. And the noise as he finished was amazing, especially as he egged the crowd on.

After his score was released, the roof was blown off the arena, I swear. Team GB had won the silver medal! It was so exciting, I can't describe it.

But unfortunately, Japan appealed and won, getting an increased score for something (can't say I really know what was going on. Perhaps the only disadvantage from watching the telly coverage was the lack of commentary and therefore explanation) so Team GB was demoted to bronze. Massive boos erupted across the arena...

Anyway. We still won a medal, and we had got to see it happen live :D And the ceremony was pretty cool to witness in person.

Blurry pic of the medal cermony. Britain is on the left

Other than the main event, there were some other exciting happenings.

Photographic evidence of Chelsea Handler's presence.

1. Chelsea Handler off of American telly was sitting in the seat literally in front of me. Didn't really notice it was her until the end, but when Megan and I saw her face, we both turned to each other and mouthed "That's Chelsea Lately!!!" In the first photo above you can also see the back of her head between Megan and me.

Delta Goodrem on the Tube

2. Prince William and Prince Harry were there, in the crowd. Unfortunately we couldn't see them from where we were. Apparently they were on the opposite side of the stadium. Megan was beside herself when she found out.

3. We saw Delta Goodrem off of Neighbours (also went out with Nick Jonas, and sings a bit) on the Tube.

I have been to London many times and have never seen a celebrity randomly on the Tube, or out and about. And now I've seen two! You wait for one bus and three come at once...

Well, anyway. We had the most amazing day, one of those once-in-a-lifetime opportunities that I'm glad I didn't let pass me by. Yay! For London 2012!

While Twitter was down a few days ago, I thought I'd fill my time by having a thought.

I was and sort of still am a fan of Twilight. And when I say fan, I mean, I read the books and have watched all the films thus far released, and was rather enamoured by Mr Pattinson for awhile there (sorry Rob, Darren has just caught me... hook, line and sinker).

I entered the fandom feet first, having already been part of the Harry Potter fandom, so knew that I was about to enter obsession-level territory, where people knew anything and everything to do with Twilight.

And initially, in the honeymoon phase, it was a lot of fun. I've met some amazing people, who I am still friends with now through Twilight. Sue (@Roselover24) set up a blog, where Tanja (@TheycallmeT_) and me help(ed) out, then Jeannie (@gojeannie) joined in on the fun. I've even met some of them in real life, including T, and Skyped with those who are further afield (one day we will meet, Sue and Jeannie! ;) ).

In a way, Twilight was a replacement for Harry Potter in a sense that there was still a lot of new stuff waiting to happen. When I first read Twilight, Deathly Hallows had already been published so it sort of felt like there was a limited amount of stuff left.

But then the shine started to wear off.

And for me, most of that can be traced to one thing: hate of Kristen Stewart.

Let me clarify. Not my own opinion of Kristen Stewart, or any indivdual in particular but the fandom's hate as a whole.

Obviously, the recent "news" that Stewart cheated on boyfriend, Robert Pattinson has made me think about this but that's not what I want to talk about here.

I get it. Kristen Stewart is kinda like marmite. You either love her or hate her. But while I neither love her nor hate her, I lean towards liking her. I'm not going to go into reasons why, because a) that's not the point I'm trying to make, b) I can't really put a finger on it, and c) I can't be bothered right now.

But what always gets to me, is the seemingly unadulterated HATE for a girl/woman/person who is an actress by trade, a celebrity by the nature of that business.

Fine, you don't think she can act. Fine, you think she should "try harder" when talking to the media or whatever. Fine, you think she shouldn't be dating Robert Pattinson (cheating aside).

My point is, if you don't like her, maybe even hate her, why even bother wasting your effort on her?

Every tweet, every comment, every word you say about her, is another moment of energy you have wasted on someone you supposedly hate. If you don't like her, ignore her. Focus on what you do like, like Rob!

Over the past few days, my twitter feed has just been filled with bitchiness and hate.

There is one person I would hate to be right now, and that is her. Not only has her personal life apparently gone tits up (regardless of who's fault it is), but she is getting the mother of all shitstorms for it.

Now, don't get me wrong, I'm not condoning what she did, but I do wonder how it would have panned out if the tables had been turned, i.e. Rob cheated on her. (Considering how Kristen Stewart has previously been treated by Twilight/Robert Pattinson fans, I'd say the blame would have been put on her and she would have "deserved it". Just sayin'.)

This has what has put the nail in the coffin, so to speak, on my direct participation in the Twilight fandom. Initially, I got distracted by Darren Criss Glee, and the Glee fandom has it's own share of hate-mongering, but this Kristen Stewart hate seems to colour everything to do with Twilight now.

Fandoms are supposed to be places of fun. Places we go to talk about the thing we all have in common, a love for that thing. And unfortunately the Twilight fandom stopped being that for me.

Maybe one day, we can go back to enjoying what we initially all came together over... I look forward to that day.

Synopsis: In the future, 16-year-old Beatrice Prior must choose among five predetermined factions that will define her identity for the rest of her life. This decision made more difficult when she discovers that she is an anomaly who does not fit into any one group, and that the society she lives in is not perfect after all.

Number of Pages: 487

Rating: 8/10

Overall impression: Great read. Likeable female protagonist. The first two thirds of the book could be seen as slow if you like to get right to the action, but the underlying tension keeps you reading til the climatic final act.



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Cast: Channing Tatum, Alex Pettyfer, Matthew McConaughey, Matt Bomer, Joe Manganiello, Cody Horn

Certificate: 15 (R)

Rating: 8/10

Overall: Too much plot, not enough stripping. Hilarious, light-hearted first half, slightly depressing, moral second half. Really entertaining, with a slightly depressing turn about half-way through as an attempt to make this a meaningful film.

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It has been exactly one year since I graduated.

Yup. I know. I graduated on the same day as the World Premiere of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2.

That first week of July 2011 was a really exciting week all round to be honest.

On the 5th, Megan (my sister) and I went to see Darren Criss in one of four live shows he did in London after the end of the Glee Live Tour.

Yep, we were quite excited...

Joe Walker and Darren Criss. Look how close we were!

I also got to meet Liz for the first time, who is my fellow Darren lover, and we've been obsessing together ever since.

Then on the 7th July, it was my graduation, i.e. this happened:

Shiny red face because it was boiling where we had the photos done.