In case I don't see ya, good afternoon, good evening, and good night!

Once again, I am saying goodbye to a blog. But, I am not leaving - not exactly. I am relocating to using a WordPress interface because they have gifs, an easier layout and I just thought it was time for some change.
(Can be found here: http://strawberrydrapes.wordpress.com/)

Blogger has set me up and started me on one of what I think will be one of my greatest experiences: blogging. I like to think that I have improved in my writing from that very first 'day 1' 365 lists blog post (which, if I remember correctly, it was one thing I liked about myself. Or that could've been day two...). Blogging has taught to keep writing, even if it's bad; even if no-one reads it. There will be good days and bad days and days in between.    

But thank-you. Thanks for the comments and views, day in and day out. Thank-you for putting up with weeks of absence when I didn't write anything. To be totally cliche, I am going to quote someone (Ernie Harwell): 'It's time to say goodbye, but I think goodbyes are sad and I'd much rather say hello. Hello to a new adventure.' 

P.s. In case you were wondering, the quote that is the title of this post is from The Truman Show

Beautiful Malice

Beautiful Malice (Rebecca James), centres around Katherine Patterson who has left her home town to start afresh after her sister's death. She is befriended by Alice, an egmatic, bubbly girl who quickly becomes fast friends with Katherine. She introduces Katherine to Robbie (who loves her, but she's not interested) and the three of them are the best of friends. On the surface at least. Underneath, Katherine is trying keep to demons down, which is hard when, one night, the friends, plus a girl (whose name for the life of me I can't remember) play 'truth or dare' and Alice asks "Were you glad, deep down? Were you glad to be rid of her? Your perfect sister? Were you secretly glad when she was killed?".

DUM DUM DUM!!

During the course of the novel, we learn about what actually happened to Rachel (Katherine's sister) and why Alice was really so interested in being her friend. The book is broken into three different time periods - the past (flashbacks of the what happened to Rachel/the party that changed it all), the present (what is happening with Alice/Robbie at the given time) and the future (when Sarah, Katherine's little girl is around). 

This is a re-read and having loved the book the first time I read it, I decided it was time. To my surprise, I didn't like it. It was too fast, too fake. I feel as if the character of Alice was fast, fleeting and even though pretty much the whole book was centred around her (and Katherine), I feel as if I don't know her. Maybe that was the point? Katherine and Alice's relationship was so fast - it was like they'd met one day and the next they were best friends. And then when it was revealed that Alice's relation to Katherine was Alice's brother Sean, I was surprised, sure, but not shocked. It was said in about three lines and I think because of the non-but-very-important relationship between Alice and Katherine, it didn't feel as if everything has happened. I turned the page with an 'oh, okay'. I also didn't like the fact that things were given away:
1. That on the back is the quote "Were you glad, deep down? Were you glad to be rid of her? Your perfect sister? Were you secretly glad when she was killed?" Which I thought was a bit stupid, because now the tension and excitement of what happened to Rachel at the party is spoiled. We know she's dead. We know that Katherine blames herself. And that's all without opening the book.
2. When Sarah asks 'where's dad' and Katherine replies "he's dead". BUT WHYYYYYY? Not WHY is he dead, why did you have to say that????? There are a million other things she could've said, for exmaple 'he's gone'. This way, when it came to Mick drowning, we were at least shocked or surprised. As soon as I knew Katherine was pregnant, I was kinda just waiting for Mick to die. And  he died for Alice at the end too. (But I guess that was to show her true nature even after/at death). 

But things weren't all bad. I really liked Robbie, and I wished I couldn't heard more about his character (and not the cliched thing of meeting after 20 years or whatever). I liked Mick too and was sad that he died. I don't normally enjoy flashbacks, but these were good and gave some context to the whole i-blame-myself thing. The bit after the reveal about Sean is very good. The action seems to slow down and it gave me a chance to actually take in what was happening. While I didn't like the actual writing of the book, the way she writes is amazing and I really liked the idea of the book. 

Rating: 3/5 (or maybe 2.5. Can't decide if that's too harsh or not) 

Australian Media

I've recently started getting into Australian media. Australian shows and print media are underrated by the slew of American broadcasting that's given to us since birth. We're force fed a constant diet of American sitcoms, movies and reality TV shows. All day, everyday, another American film is being watched, produced or directed. There's another book on the shelf set somewhere in America - even if the author is Australian or British. 

This isn't to say I don't love American shows and print media. Sometimes all I want to do is sit on the couch and watch a TV show like Dance Moms and read about a blonde cheerleader who turns out to be super nice and then gets the guy. 

But I needed a break - a CUT  in the constant media storm of American media. I have since started three Australian TV shows and I'm currently reading The Slap by Christos Tsiolkas, a novel that looks into the politics regarding slapping someone else's child. It's slow going because I'm bored. It's written from 8 different viewpoints; each person has their own chapter. So far, not much has happened, but so much has. I don't want to spoil it, and I know some people who have absolutely raved about it, but so far, I don't rate it. 

Puberty Blues 

Set in the late 1970s, Puberty Blues revolves around Debbie and Sue, best friends going through the coming of age process. They have to deal with the mean girls at school, boyfriends and naff parents. There's drugs to experiment with, V plates to lose and friendship rings to obtain. These girls are pretty much us, only 30 odd years before. It's so relateable, it sometimes feels as if you're the one getting dropped or getting your period during a ballet class. Season one is 8 episodes and THE SECOND SEASON IS COMING OUT NEXT WEEK (5 days to go!!)
Please Like Me (which I have previously done a post on)
I haven't seen this in ages, on account of it being off air for a bit, but I love love this series. It's centred around Josh (Josh Thomas), and the countdown to his 21st birthday. He's joined in this charming comedy by Tom (Tom Ward), his best friend, Claire (Caitlin Stasey), John (the cavoodle) and Geoffrey, played by Wade Briggs. It's a mixture of love and happiness and sadness and twists all mixed into one television event. There's Panadol, a fancy car, sandwiches, a party, death, Bailey's and of course, the $19 sundae that started it all. It's a brilliantly put together TV series, and with the combination of Josh Thomas' British/Australian accent is the perfect series for whenever you just want to chill out (and have a few laughs). AND IT'S COMING BACK IN AUGUST, 2014!
Winners and Losers 

This Australian TV show is screened every Tuesday (AEST) on channel 7 and I absolutely love it! It's focused on 4 women who were considered 'losers' in high-school, but turn out to be winners once they attend their school reunion and end up winning the Oz Lotto afterwards. I have never seen the first four episodes, because I was (regrettably) late jumping onto the Winners and Losers boat. Bec, Frances, Sophie and Jenny are the four major characters and are supported by a wonderful cast of actors. This show is a breath of fresh air because I usually watch teenage shows, with the average age of the characters in their early 20s. These four ladies (and the rest of the cast) are older and this is refreshing! They still experience hardships and tough days, but they're more mature (most of the time anyway) in their response and it brings a new perspective to my viewing experience. 

So what are you waiting for?? Grab your lamingtons, cut a slice of pavlova, buy some Vegemite, barrack for a team and chuck a shrimp on the barbie; your Australian viewing experience awaits. 

no more friends

It's so sad when you lose a friend because you know all this stuff about them.

You know their favourite colour, what TV show they watch, who they ship, what they like reading (if at all). You know what food they hate and what people they love. You know their parents and treat their siblings like they're your own. You know their birthday and what subjects they're good at and what subjects they enjoy.

When you're not friends anymore, you know all this stuff, but you can't use iot. The day of their birthday or when you see their favourite food in the supermarket are all just memories. They're painful at frst, reminding you about what you've lost; the friendship that is now gone. Over time, they become less painful and more of 'just a memory. They're moments in your past that you've just happened to experience with another peerson; a person that is no longer an important - if at all - part of your life.

I guess you just have to let go, but it's easier said than done. It's much easier if the person you were friends with is now/was a bitch but if the (friendship) breaking-up was amicable, it's worse because it just makes you feel guilty you guys aren't friends. You go through a 'should I have tried harder and yes, I probably I should have because now it's my fault that we're not friends' stage. And then you're a little bit angry because they should have tried harder and also because you just lost a friend.

So pretty much it's all a vicious circle and hold on to your friends because they're the only ones who can tease you about who you like while simultaneously bringing up memories from 10 years ago at 1am in the morning.

The Fault In Our Stars

The Fault In Our Stars trailer was officially* released at 8am this morning, after a 12 second trailer teaser the night before.

Scrolling through my ex-blog, I found the post commenting after I had first read The Fault In Our Stars and then proceeded to buy John Green's entire collection of written works.

This gif of Will Ferrel is exactly how I was when I found out about the Fault movie, on the 16th of February, 2013 - just under a year today. It was pretty much the most exciting news of the year because ONE OF MY FAVOURITE AUTHORS OF ONE OF MY FAVOURITE BOOKS HAD JUST ANNOUNCED THAT THERE WAS A MOVIE IN THE WORKS. This meant that I would be seeing it all happen right in front of me. I would see their first meeting, their kisses, their hugs, their bad days, the good days, Isaac. I would be seeing it all in front of me - it would come alive. And it was only just over a year to wait.


Following that, I re-read The Fault In our Stars on the 17th of June, 2013, proclaiming it to be the best book John Green has ever written (still true) and [best book] maybe ever (still also maybe true). Quote, unquote [by me]. It rarely happens that I read a book twice and enjoy it as much, if not more, as I did the first time. There was this, Harry Potter and Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins, who is like the nicest person ever (we emailed!!) and also has an epic blog. Check it out. But back to my Fault journey.

There were posts by John and Ansel [Egort] who plays Augustus and Nat Wolff (Isaac). There was this funny sign by the toilets on the movie set and then, after many fan-made movie posters, the actual poster was released, along with the tagline One Sick Love Story. "Not something I would have chosen" - Shailene Woodley (Hazel Grace Lancaster). I have mixed feelings about the tag line, but here's John on it:

"1. I did not write the tag line. To many of you who love it, I say, "I did not write the tag line." To the many of you who don't, I say, "I did not write the tag line." 

2. These things are not my decision. It's not my movie, or my poster. I don't know how to make movies or movie posters. 

3. That said, I like the tag line. I found it dark and angry in the same way that Hazel is (at least at times) dark and angry in her humor. I mostly wanted something that said, "This is hopefully not going to be a gauzy, sentimental love story that romanticizes illness and further spreads the lie that the only reason sick people exist is so that healthy people can learn lessons." But that's not a very good tag line. I like the tag line because it says, literally, the sick can also have love stories. Love and joy and romance are not just things reserved for the well. 

3a. That said, I might be wrong. I'm wrong all the time."

The movie trailer is everything I could've wished for. It's funny and smart and cute and sad. It's moving and beautiful and brings the book to life, but at the same time, it's a completely different media source. I'm going to be like this when I finally watch the movie and it's going to be the best worst experience ever. I'm gong to love and hate the movie and cry and laugh. It'll be a roller coaster of emotions and I'll love to hate every second of it.

Okay?
Not Okay. 

*There may or may not have been a leaked trailer beforehand..

The Last One

F.R.I.E.N.D.S.

10 seasons. 10 years. 236 episodes.

F.R.I.E.N.D.S. premiered on the 22nd of September, 1994 and aired its last episode on the 6th of May, 2004. During production, FRIENDS went through many name changes including Insomnia Cafe and Friends Like Us, before finally deciding on F.R.I.E.N.D.S. David Krane and Marta Kauffman created and developed the show, with various other producers along the way. 

Thanks to Jennifer Aniston, Courtney Cox Arquette, Lisa Kudrow, David Schwimmer, Matthew Perry and Matt LeBlanc for bringing our favourite six friends to life. Thanks to the series for showing me that life is just better with friends: 

Friends to cry with,
 to cry on,
 to laugh with,
 to laugh at,
 to shop with,
 to have babies with,
 to get married to. 

Everything is better when you're with friends:
Cooking,
Laughing,
Marriage,
Bad Experiences,
The Amanda's of the World,
High School,
University/College,
Relationships,

Traveling to London,

Sex,

The Beach. 

On the 6th of May, this year, it will have been ten years since the last episode was published. Ten years since we saw The Last One air for its premiere. It will mark the period of time that has flown by since FRIENDS ended its reign of the sitcoms. Nowadays, FRIENDS is the golden stuff of the past - its the show to relieve the memories to; to hear one last time that they were on a break. 

The FRIENDS characters are there to remind you that while life can be full of Amanda's and infertility and shitty relationships, someone will always be there to help you through it. Whether it be by talking or shopping or baking or phone call, friends will always be there to break open their beloved fooseball tables for you, comrade.  

 

The Garden

  The garden is a magical place.

It's a place away from technology and the 'new world'. It's natural and beautiful and there's sometimes unexpected surprises on the ground. There's soil and sometimes it gets in your hair or your nails, but that's okay. There's butterflies about and maybe the odd dragonfly or two, if you're lucky. The paving stones are hot in the afternoon sun and the grass looks a bit worse for wear, but at least it's go character. What fun would it be if the grass was a perfect green? There's gerberas and daisies and chili plants and passion-fruit vines and a fern. The hose snakes its way across the grass and stones, often tangling itself around the metal chair and table legs. The pots are all a brown colour and we're not allowed to use the red one because it doesn't match. The sun is everywhere and it makes the black material and metal of the trampoline too hot to touch. The sun burns into your neck and feet and on the back of your legs. The deck makes your legs stripey if you lie on it and the mat is falling apart. The pebbles and shells are spilled onto the deck, in front of the homemade pot that is painted a light orange.

I need to see this more; smell the strong smells of the lemon thyme and mint in our garden. I want to see my watermelons and tomatoes (maybe) grow and my gerberas flourish in the ground. I want to feel the sun on me and the butterflies flitting around the garden as they fly from plant to plant.

I will spend more time in the garden in 2014.