Then and now ( all rights reserved to Gracewell Healthcare) 

Most 90 year old men would be content with a nice cup of tea and a comfy chair, then again most men are not Bernard Jordan. In defiance of the mere idea he may not be able to join his fellow soldiers Mr Jordan set off alone to stand on the beaches and pay his respects to the comrades that lost their lives. With his war medals tucked away under his coat Mr Jordan made the trip once more with pride, however, causing panic when he was reported as missing later that evening.

Although an extraordinary tale this, to me, shows the true spirit of the British military. From an age where men and women simply got on and held their heads high while fighting fresh out of their teens and some only just out of childhood. We must remember that if it wasn’t for those brave young men in Normandy we would not have the freedom we have today and I dread to imagine what would happen if they had not fought so tirelessly and won the war.

As I watched the men on television it made my heart ache, very few could even imagine what they say on that fateful day and how they felt. Although the papers were full of quotes stating that to them it was their job, nothing more, nothing less we owe it to them to remember every sacrifice. It was clear that memories were running through their minds as they stood proud and remembered, many said the same thing, the heroes were the ones who didn’t come home.

And so to the men who fought, the women who nursed I thank you. This country is what it is today thanks to the brave and skilled military, one that is still one of the best in the world. It may have been just a job to you but for us it was freedom.

Chloe Metzger

After practising/hanging out all week, today was the day where we had to say goodbye for a little while. Practice was at 10am (and we all actually made it on time this time)  and frankly we were all shattered, aching in one way or another but we really wanted to do this. Practice might have only lasted 2 hours but it was so much fun, this week I don’t think I’ve ever been happier making music in my life. I’m with people who love and support me and I couldn’t help but hear just how much my voice has grown in a year, I’m much more aware of it than I used to be. By today I could actually see this as becoming a job for me, we all left happy with goodbye hugs for Dan and Ben :(.

Another selfie attempt 

We’re a loving band… 

Rhys has a mic! 

The closest I could get to a smile from Ali 

Today was just a great day though, I woke up feeling happy, the sun was shining, music playing and all of us just laughed and had fun. I sound so reflective but I can appreciate the songs  more than ever as I’m getting better. I can feel more deeply about them, without getting sucked into some of the unhappier times.

I also got two lots of good news today, not only have I been offered a different interview slot for the student caller job (which I have found out that another person I know has also gotten to the second stages of 🙂 ) I also received another result today… another first for writing and rhetoric!!! 75 out of 100! I could not be happier, I was really absorbed in that essay and my hard work paid off, I am so, so happy. That’s 3 down and one to go…fngers crossed!

I was of the mindset today that I’d get some much done and it would be exciting and fab and I’d get the last song of the EP finished, hooray! Things didn’t exactly go to plan with some late starts and me feeling really sick for some reason but we powered on through and got going! For a while it was going well, I wasn’t getting the tone I wanted though so I kept warming up and hoping it would come with time.

While I was feeling/being sick the boys sang me ‘Soft Kitty’ (Big Bang Theory) in a round and I got on. Then Ali decided it would be fun to wrap me up in the fabric again, just like every other time but from head to toe. I couldn’t move an inch but it was fun to try and do a few takes like it, soon after I needed to get out and called Ali in to unwrap me (it was that tight). So what does he do? He picks me up by the legs, the girl with no balance. I fell backwards, narrowly missing a chair, and smacked my head. All the boys heard was a thump and then a squeal. Even now I have a stiff neck and a lump on my head! After crying and feeling pretty crappy the boys decided to do their backing vocals and oh my it sounded amazing. I never knew how well harmonies would work. You all have something amazing to look forward too!

Right now though I need to get some sleep finally and hopefully my head will feel better in the morning!

I’ve had a very boyish day today. Band practice ( I almost definitely smell like a boy right now, small room,4 boys, you work it out), running to the SU to watch the footie (disappointing) and taking over some of the SU with our pizzas and snacks. No People Club work hard and go slightly deaf after every practice but I love it and now I’m focusing on just that it’s so much fun. I am worried though, the festival is fast approaching and I’m nervous, the boys have this natural movement when they play and I just kind of…attempt to move. I’m hoping when we’re back in the big room I can work on moving around again. This week has been so intense but so worth it and an evening with the boys was priceless.

One happy musician right now and one embarrassed football fan!

Just a quick note, more practicing today as I’ll be doing for the next week! Bring it on 😀

The not so little man  isn’t a fan of having his picture taken

Today my beautiful little cousin and Godson’s 11th birthday. Harvey is my funny and cheeky little man, always at our house and one of the sweetest boys (well for me anyway). I want to use this post to wish him a happy birthday and an amazing year.

Ali cleaning my car! 🙂 

I woke up surprisingly early this morning, so when I text Ali at around 11 I didn’t expect a reply. Apart from he got up before me and was ready and waiting when I was to pop out in the car today…something made that feel like an alternate universe had sucked me up. Either way it wasn’t long before I picked him up in the car and drove to a few shops to pick up the necessary supplies to clean my car inside out.

Before today I had no idea Ali was a master at cleaning cars but he’s done a damn good job on mine! Him being a total perfectionist has totally paid off especially as he sighed at me for not cleaning parts properly and going over it again. I’d like to say I worked just as hard all afternoon but I really didn’t. He cleaned every inch of it and was pleased with the amount of room we had once we put the seats down (more space for instruments and amps…sigh). I love doing things like this together, it makes me so happy just doing something small like this.

So in return after relaxing for a bit I decided to buy him dinner, taking him out to a pub that we both like and getting some pretty decent food. It’s days like this that really make our relationship special, and that’s why we’d rather spend a night in than going out all the time or go to gigs rather than fancy restaurants. We’re us and we’re equal (most of the time) and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

As today is the 31st it’s technically my last full month in halls, except I’ve been and will continue coming home a lot because, well the weekends are boring and I spend nearly 2 hours on a bus just to see my friends who are all busy. I’m not complaining as such but after doing it for a year I’m not that keen on it.

There isn’t too much to report, out in the car again and spending time with family. It’s nice to be home and I’m looking forward to coming back.

Although it’s not the most normal post to write tonight I did some sort of people watching while I was at McDonalds tonight. Ali and I have come back home for the weekend, together. There wasn’t a huge amount to report on today I’ve spent a lot of time curled up reading and relaxing a book that I wasn’t hugely pleased with but you win some you lose some.

So we got home quite late after Mum picked us up and decided after getting to mine I got to drive Ali home. He was nervous, as much as he wont admit it but I did fine and he actually enjoyed it, so much so we ended up at McDonalds at gone 10 and it was certainly interesting. The staff were sweet even if they forgot half my order and it was quiet enough so that we could talk. It was fun just to hang out like the old times, just the two of us.

Like I said people watching was also fun, although I think they were mostly stoners on their push bikes. Later I found myself wondering what they do, I went to school with some of the guys I recognised and just thought how different our lives were. A lot of people I went to school with are still in my home town, hang out at the same places and have the same friends and I realised that’s just not me. Like my songs mention I needed to get out of this town and go somewhere bigger, do bigger things.

That’s just some of my night time ramblings. It was just so nice to spend time with Ali and be able to spend time with him, come back to my own bed and relax. I think being home is going to both of us some good.