The Fault in Our Stars

Jun 12, 2014Jun 24, 20141 Comment

My fan screening pass

I’ve waited for well over a year for one of my favourite novels to be made into a film. Now I’m normally very untrustworthy of books being made into films, it’s rare I’ll like a book as much as a film. I haven’t just been pleasantly surprised tonight, I’m excited and I’m heartbroken and that’s just how I wanted to feel after seeing this film.

I am incredibly privileged to have been able to see this movie and a staff Q & A as a part of the fan screening along with a poster and the fan screening pass in the picture above. I went with my friend Rhys another huge John Green fan. Oh and a load of pre teen girls…. I think we were the oldest there who weren’t parents.

Every part of this film was done perfectly, the music, the actors, the writing absolutely everything. I couldn’t have asked as a fan for a better film adaptation. I can’t rant and rave about it enough and I can’t wait to go and see it again. One tip though? Don’t wear any eye make up there is one point the film where everyone and I mean everyone had tears in their eyes or was openly crying.

Read the book, watch the film and just enjoy John Green’s incredible talent.

Tuesday Snoozeday

Jun 11, 2014Jun 18, 2014Leave a comment

I wish I could write and say that today was interesting but today really has been a snoozeday. I’ve been up since 6.30 today and yesterday although this time it was for teaching. I’m doing full days now and to be honest I’m struggling. This morning was for observing and I couldn’t handle it, even though I’m classed as a member of staff sitting in a class room with the boys watching, listening and not being active made me start to slip back into the numbness that I used to get into at school.

I felt as if I was back at school, I was fighting with logic and with myself . I knew I was staff, I wasn’t at school and it was a totally different place and I was using everything I learnt this year to kind of keep my head above water. At one point I needed to slip out, breath in some fresh air before going back in.

This afternoon was different though I was thrown into teaching a lesson I only prepared two days go and it went well. I was scared shitless but the boys seemed to enjoy it and they’re getting on well. Apparently I’m doing it all again tomorrow, which will be…interesting.

Why I won’t be a teacher any time soon

Jun 11, 2014Leave a comment

So as you know I’ve been busting my butt at my teaching placement for the last few weeks but I haven’t been writing about it really at all, the simple reason is that there isn’t much to write about. The simple reason isn’t the only reason though. I realised today that although I love working with kids and encouraging them, right now teaching isn’t for me. I’ll never say never but it’s not something I’ve set my heart on doing, I’d much prefer to lecture later in my life when I’ve learnt more or even become a teaching assistant because I like that one to one experience with the kids but spending time doing lesson plans and levels and talking about exams, it’s just not me.

I think that it’s more me to be stuck in with the kids and being able to help the ones who struggle and watch them grown rather than worrying if 30 of them are going to make the grade this year. Don’t get me wrong I have enjoyed it and I absolutely adore all of the staff I’m working with but this isn’t the careerer for me. Maybe it’s just not my thing, maybe it has something to do with my past but in the last few days I’ve been thinking very hard about what I want from my twenties. I only have 3 months left of being a teenager and then I’m supposed to hit my delightfully messy twenties. I want them to be as happy as they can be after trudging through my teens but I’ve also found out that I want to kind of let them run and see what happens. I work damn had at uni but I want to have fun just like everyone else and why can’t my 20s be fun!

After that, who knows I might come back and want to become a teacher. I want some kind of life behind me before I go and try and teach kids about life because that is what school should really be about I think. I used to love the entertaining teachers who had more to tell us than just their day to do life, and a lot of young teachers do it. Some take gap years but I want longer than that, I want a job that I find interesting and I’m passionate about and right now that’s not teaching.

So let’s just see where this is going to get me….

Yay Year 7s!

Jun 9, 2014Jun 24, 2014Leave a comment

My teams dream university!

I don’t think I’ve ever been on a uni bus so early in my life. I had to be at Kingston Hill by 8.30am which meant leaving pretty damn early after coming back late last night. I was pretty upset when I came back last night, even though I don’t have long to go until I move out it just put a downer on me I didn’t want to come back and be alone in my room again.

What made my day better was working as a student ambassador for Discovery Day! It’s kind of a big thing where school kids are invited in to come and see and experience university life. We got to take them on campus tours which were a game, a course game, quiz the ambassador and I loved it! The kids were really sweet and they were my little team. I ended up with great reviews from the kids saying that I was great and fun and helpful.

That’s the reason I love schools and colleges work is because you can see how much the kids appreciate it. I don’t get that as much teaching because I can’t just be Chloe, I have to be Miss Metzger to them all. I have a lot of work with kids this week and I’m not sure how I feel after this great experience.

So after a quick nap Ali, Rhys and I headed to Five Guys for the last time. It was nice to catch up with the boys and get used to it being the three of us, we’ll need it for the summer when Rhys comes back with us!

Happy Birthday Mum!

Jun 8, 2014Jun 24, 2014Leave a comment

One of Mumma bears visits to Kingston with the pint I got her!

The birthday cake Summer and I made Mum, she’ll forever be 21!

Today is my amazing Mums birthday! She’ll kill me for saying this but today is her 41st birthday (although we’re still saying that she’s 21!). I love my Mum so much and she’s incredible. I wouldn’t be the person am today without my Mum. She’s one of the funniest, funnest people around and everyone who meets her loves her. Even today she was up at the crack of dawn and off to work.

Happy birthday Mum, you’re on in a million.

D Day Veteran shows the Great British spirit lives on

Jun 7, 2014Leave a comment

Photo tweeted by Gracewell Healthcare of Bernard Jordan who went missing and was found at the D-Day memorial service in France

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

The last time for a while

Jun 6, 2014Leave a comment

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!

Backing vocals and bumps on the head

Jun 5, 2014Jun 26, 2014Leave a comment

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!

Practice, Football and Pizza

Jun 4, 2014Jun 26, 2014Leave a comment

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!