Things that have changed since the last post:

• I've started sixth-form college properly
• I've changed from A-Levels to the IB
• I've eaten sushi recently
• I've seen Swan Lake
• I've tried a cheese layered salad - and enjoyed it
• I've become ill for the first time in five months (that must be a record!)
• I've made vanilla and Nutella cupcakes
• I've been walking 15-20 minutes, not 2 minutes, to school
• I've talked to boys(!)
• I've missed my secondary school in ways I never imagined I would
• I've discovered the Starbucks five minutes away from school (thanks, Sara!)
• I've seen 'Sweet Lovers' Plums' - and plan to buy some
• I've completed a practical in Chemistry without screaming/jumping/standing a metre away from the bunsen burner
• I've seen the boy at school who wears a suit everyday
• I've introduced myself to dozens of different people
• I've developed a penchant for the Drench drinks sold at school
• I haven't stopped calling my 'college' a school - if I'm learning, it's a school!

Update 1 - London

I was in London with my father from the 11th to the 13th. In the end, due to a lack of motivation and energy, poor time management and me being sick (I think it was the bi bim bap that I'd eaten earlier), we didn't actually get a lot done.

However, I saw the Skin exhibition at the Wellcome Museum, which was really enjoyable and quite fascinating; I discovered another great restaurant, Giraffe; we went on a speed boat along the River Thames, and of course that was a lot of fun; I finally saw Harrods, and absolutely hated it (never, ever again - I don't like pretension, as we all know).

Oh, and you can't visit London without seeing a show, so we watched Hair, and it was so good (maybe that's a wanton use of italics, but the 'so' needed to be emphasised). Definitely the best musical I've seen since Avenue Q, and I'm tempted to see it again (much like with Avenue Q). So, all in all, the three days in London weren't as packed as they could have been, and the trip was more eventful than I'd expected it would be, but seeing a great musical made it all worth it.

On a final note, I visited 6 coffee shops in three days (three of which were on the last day), and three M&Ss in that time, too. Quite impressive, I'd say.

Oh, how my taste buds yearn for...

trio of olives

petit lucques, kalamata and da vinci marinated olives with maitreya organic home-made bread

avocado ravioli
fresh avocado shell filled with marinated fennel served with toasted almonds and raspberry vinegar dressing

smoked applewood cheddar tart tatin
all butter puff pastry tatin with crown prince pumpkin, chestnut mushrooms, caramelised red onion and pistachio. served with caramelised apple pak choi and plum anis dressing

pineapple and saffron pancake
fine crepes filled with caramelised pineapple, gratinated with saffron cream sauce, served with orange sorbet

Cafe Maitreya is without doubt the most elegant yet fresh vegetarian restaurant I have yet experienced.

Foods I have had obsessive flings with:

• Vegetable pies
• Cheese coleslaw
• Croutons
• Bread and butter
• Mustard on cheese on toast
• Milky Ways and Magic Stars
• Cornflakes
• Porridge
• Cocopops
• Blue cheese
• Alfalfa sprouts

And probably some others. I just really, really, really love food.

I do Valentine's Day ironically

Perhaps I'll spend it with Sam, my dear friend who just so happens to be a boy, doing fun non-romantic things like watching shopping channels and baking cakes or even playing the Ocarina on his iPhone. I've never had a romantic Valentine's Day and that's absolutely fine. I've actually never had a romantic day in my life, but again that's fine. That part of my life is in quite a happy, latent state.

I wouldn't say life is 'good', but browsing Jedward websites, looking at pictures of delicious food and listening to Regina Spektor is fun

And that's a quintessential part of me, right there

Oh, to have an alternative mother

The second round of the HPV injections are tomorrow and once again I'm not having them. My mother and I are both strongly opposed to these vaccinations specifically so I will be sitting and watching as everyone gets stabbed in the arm with a needle. I try to empathise but it's not an easy feat when I haven't had a vaccination since I was a few months old so do not remember the feeling.

It's weird - I felt strange, unsafe and awkward occasionally in Dublin (where I was from Tuesday to Friday), but now having reflected on my experience it was enjoyable. However, it's no London and can't even compare. I like capital cities that have tube trains and a great theatre culture. Dublin does have some great restaurants, though, such as Yamamori - noodles and sushi, Cornucopia - vegetarian and vegan and the restaurant at the Chester Beaty library - Mediterranean and Greek.

Image

It's odd looking at pictures of myself from when I was under 7. I was really thin. Thin. I don't really remember ever being less than normal size, so to see pictures of clothes that looked to big for my slight frame is really strange.

However, this thinness soon faded. From the ages of around 8 to 12 I was chubby. Not exactly overweight, probably not fat, just a normal level of chubby. I significantly remember noticing that I was bigger than everyone else - not just in height, but in size, too. Despite this, body image was never a concern to me. I accepted my chubbiness and resigned myself to the fact that I would just be intelligent, funny, kind and, in my eyes, a bit fat - you can't have it all, can you?

So imagine the shock when at approximately 13 years old, my body evened out and everything was suddenly in proportion. I was left with only a little bit of fat but that was normal and I felt right.

I don't own a set of scales, but I know that my weight and size fluctuate. That's fine as I have much more important things to care about than my waist size. I've promised myself something for this academic year - I don't care if I get bigger or smaller in the coming months as long as I achieve my best possible grades. Besides, I love food far too much to diet.

Surprise surprise

London was great. Really great. I've eaten so much Japanese food over the past few days that I can't handle anymore for now, but I loved it.

I'll probably go into much more detail soon about the other, non-food, activites, but overall it was a very good holiday. Most of my family holidays are to European cities. It's just easier as it's only me and my parents, we don't have a car and all love culture, food etc. so it makes sense to go to places like London, Paris, Brussels, Dublin et al.

I post frequently about Drama

I know my love for it is inate, so that's most probably why.

I'm considering creating a Tumblr. For those who have not been swept by this new craze, it's kind of like a blog but a bit more random. Typical content includes short quotes and excerpts, beautiful pictures and cute little poems and songs. This wouldn't be instead of this, but as well as. Just a place where I can have a little less structure.

Three good things that happened today:

1) I ate a yummy wild mushroom and asparagus pie with cheesy mashed potatoes, followed by a Galaxy milkshake.

2) I decided on something to put in my 'About Me' section.

3) For dinner I had a lovely fried tofu bake from a local health food shop.

So, yes, two of those were about food. But I seriously love food. More than music, even. Now, I know this may sound strange as we all have to eat, but music isn't vital to survive. However, if I was given the choice of basic food with plenty of good music for life, or delicious, gormet food and no music, I would choose the latter option. My philosophy is that as we are obliged to eat, we may as well eat good-quality food and occasionally indulge.