3rd of February: A day of Horrors.

Hello! Aren't you all excited, it's just under four days till Santa comes. Personally I'm flippin' out because I just love the whole excitement of giving and receiving gifts. I also like wrapping presents almost as much as I do unwrapping.
Now the main reason for posting this little blog is something very exciting. It's to do with a band. Can you guess who? I'll give you a clue, look at the title. Yes, well done it is to do with The Horrors. Aren't you a little smartie. Ok, so we've established it's to do with The Horrors, but what is so exciting about it huh? I'm going to see them live, that's what!!
On the 3rd of February, five days after Big Day Out, and 11 days before my birthday I am going to see Tom, Rhys, Joe, Josh and Faris!!!! I'm going to breathe the same air as them! Shit, I'm flipping out. I know I'm going to cry, it's just a matter of how many. Maybe I'll have to ask my cousin, who is taking me, to keep a tally. Hopefully it's five times, because then they'll 'count in fives'... see what I did there, ow chicka chickaaa (the Mighty Boosh anyone?)

Ok, I should stop now before this gets out of control, and before I make a joke of The Horrors being on The Mighty Boosh.
Alright, I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas with your loved ones and eat too much ham and pudding, and get prepared for hopefully some album reviews.
Much love Sarah.

Here’s to Wolfmother.

I began writing this aaaaaages ago, and I just remembered this a few moments ago as I am in fact listening to Wolfmother.

Wolfmother are my favourite band without being my favourite band. Does that makes sense? No? Well The Horrors are probably my actual favourite band, but then I can’t help but feel bad for Wolfmother and.. yeah I’m a strange person. So back to the point, I have been a fan of Wolfmother since I was ten. Though they were on commercial radio at that point, they were the first band that I liked that wasn’t a pop artist.

Minds Eye was the first ever Wolfmother song I heard, and it still is one of my favourite songs, ever. I remember in the days when they used to show Video Hits over here instead of stupid Hitlist TV, I used to watch music shows in the morning. Now, this was when I was still in primary school and every Saturday morning I used to do the vacuuming (I was such a good little girl back then), and every weekend I would Mind’s Eye by Wolfmother (what is this monstrosity! They don’t have the official video up, damn it!)would be on. I would rock out to it, using the neck (?) of the vacuum as guitar, as you would, and dropping everything when the organ bit came on and pretending to play it.

Their self titled debut was the first ever album I ever owned. Previous to that the only CD’s I owned were Barbie compilation CD’s and shit like that. It still sits at the top of my CD rack and is one of the best, if not the best, albums I own.

Wolfmother were not only the first ‘different’ band I listened to, they made me learn to appreciate live music. In the years after their debut, we, the die hard fans, there was no official information of new material. Then finally in mid 2008 the drought had finally broke. They played a gig and we finally got new tracks. I’d listen to them over and over and it was like as if those tracks were studio recorded. Before that time however, I used to think that live music was stupid and that if a band didn’t sound exactly like they did on a CD, they were the worst band ever.I especially hated when they had extra distortion or feedback, well actually I just hated that generally. That just shows how much my taste has changed seeing as I’m obsessed with shoegaze and Sonic Youth at the moment.

When I saw them at Big Day Out on the 30th of January 2011, it was one of the best moments of my life. I almost got teary, but I soon got over it and started moshing as such. My next goal is to see them live properly; not at a festival and to get Wolfmother on vinyl.

I guess without Wolfmother I wouldn’t be the same person I am today. So I just want to say thanks Wolfmother, past and present, for… being. ♥

If only I was a Horror.

Bonjour! I just though I’d write a little something about this band that I am utterly obsessed with at this moment. Who may you ask is this band? They’re the Horrors of course!

Now who are the Horrors? Well they are a British band, consisting of five. Faris Badwan is the singer (and my future husband), Joshua Hayward is the most amazing guitarist (don’t take my word for it he was voted the greatest guitarist of all time by NME readers), Joseph Spurgeon is the                (L-R Faris, Josh, Rhys, Tom & Joe)drummer, Rhys Webb is the bassist (and he once was the keyboardist) and last but not least is Tom Cowan who is the keyboardist (and he was the bassist, but he and Rhys swapped.) Now what do the Horrors sound like exactly? Well each of their three albums are different, so it’s best to take you through each of them individually.

I can’t properly account for this album because I don’t actually own the whole thing, I only have a few songs from it (mind you, I am going to buy it once JB Hi-Fi opens in my town, excited much!) Strange House was released in, if memory serves, 2007. It’s style is quite hard to describe, I like to call it zombie rock, but I’m not too good with genres. It’s pretty crazy; sorta like their hair. I’ll just stop trying to describe the genre, and let you have a listen for your self. Draw Japan is the first ever Horror song that I heard, and it still is today one of my favourites.

Primary Colours was released in 2009. This album is one of the best albums that I have ever bought, so if you are a fan of good music, go out and buy it, and if you don’t like it, fell free to write a massive hate letter to me. The style is different to Strange House, but on a few songs, there is just a hint of guitar that you can connect to the ol’ Strange House. If I could, I would totally just link every single song on the album, but I have to choose the best to show you, and then afterwards you will go out and buy it. So I can’t recommend this album without including a link to my favourite song which is Scarlet Fields.

Skying was released on the 11th of July this year. Again their style has changed, but between Skying and Primary Colours, you can  see similarities, however between it and Strange House, it’s had to believe they’re the same band. This album is much more.. psychedelic? It’s a very chill L.P with symphonic sounds and such. “It’s about being taken to a removed state of mind by music,” I think that quote said by Rhys sums up the album very well. It’s a great album, but it can’t beat Primary Colours (have you taken the hint yet, buy it!) Still Life is one of my favourite tracks and it just so happens to also be the first single of the album. So not only do you get a lovely song, there is a pretty video for you to watch. Yay! 

Oh and while we’re on the music front, I just want to mention that I am going to see the Wombats in October which I am so pumped for. I’d also like to call attention to a song that I simply adore. It’s a cover by Mr Little Jeans The Suburbs by The Arcade Fire. It’s an incredible cover of an incredible song.

Ok peace and love, Sarah xx.

School, musicians and vampires.

Hi there. Just another, you know, one of those update blogs trying to make up for never posting. So, where should I start? Maybe the thing that has taken most of my spare time.

I had started writing a pretty, for lack of a better word, deep discussion about how lucky I am that I go to school in Australia, but I thought that it might be a good thing for a competition thing (yes I'm full of competitions aren't I?) so in time I will give you the link to that when I get around to posting it. So back to the topic - the thing that has taken most of my spare time is in fact my schooling.

It is just under two weeks till it is exam week, and for the last four weeks, I have had at least one SAC (School Assessment Criteria - I'm not really sure why it's criteria, it should be task) a week. So I haven't had as much time to do my normal activities, such as doing nothing. It's funny because in between every sentence or so I'm looking back to my Italian homework that is resting on my knee. But do you know what, my time hasn't actually all been full of revising, I've actually been reading about vampires.

Yeah, roll you eyes, throw you shoes at the screen, but if you just heard me out, maybe you can reconsider. I think I should first say that I like vampires, I actually don't mind Twilight, the movies are alright, but I don't have any motivation to read the books. Secondly, I was into vampires before they became commercial and thirdly I have read Dracula which is essentially the beginning of vampires. Ok, so enough about that, what novel have I been reading exactly? Well technically it's not a novel, it's a thing called a manga.

If you don't know, a manga is pretty much a Japanese comic. They're about the size of a normal novel of around 150-200 pages. But you know what the coolest thing is? They're backwards - as in they read from right to left. When I say backwards, I mean for Australian books. Now this manga is called Vampire Knight. Yeah, that's where the vampire comes from. It is set in a high school called Cross Academy. There are two classes at Cross Academy, the day class - normal students - and the night class- vampires! The story follows Yuki Cross, 15, and Zero Kiryu, 17, who are guardians of the school, and it's their "duty to protect the secret of the night class." Another character I should mention is Kaname Kuran, 18. He is the president of the night class, and well lets just say he's a main character. It sounds really stupid and boring, but actually it's very dramatic, I just don't want to give too much away. If you don't feel like reading, maybe you should check out the anime (cartoon TV show) besides, it's what me hooked in the first place.

And for the last topic mentioned in the title; musicians. I am so very excited for Patrick Wolf's new album Lupercalia. What has made me even more excited is the release of a new video for House. Oh and I've decided that I'm going to marry Faris of the Horrors, and Cat's Eyes. Sarah Badwan has a nice ring to it don't you think?

30 Books in 30 minutes.

So this is the list for the '30 day book challenge' and well I've already done the '30 day song challenge' annoying my friends on facebook, I'll do the book one, but in a single post. So here we go.

Day 01 - Best book you read last year - Skulduggery Pleasant: Mortal Coil by Derek Landy
Day 02 - A book that you’ve read more than 3 times - Skulduggery Pleasant by Derek Landy
Day 03 - Your favorite series - Skulduggery Pleasant by Derek Landy (Harry Potter coming in a close second)
Day 04 - Favorite book of your favorite series - Skulduggery Pleasant: Mortal Coil by Derek Landy
Day 05 - A book that makes you happy - Frog and Toad Together Arnold Lobel.
Day 06 - A book that makes you sad - Frankenstein by Mary Shelley.
Day 07 - Most underrated book - Skulduggery Pleasant.
Day 08 - Most overrated book - The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath.
Day 09 - A book you thought you wouldn’t like but ended up loving - Perfume : The Story of a Murderer by Patrick Suskind.
Day 10 - Favorite classic book - Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte. (That was a hard decision, because I just read classics now a days)
Day 11 - A book you hated - The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath. (I wouldn't say hate, but reading it was such a chore, and then having to do an essay on it for school - not fun)
Day 12 - A book you used to love but don’t anymore - Specky Magee by Garry Lyon and Felice Arena.
Day 13 - Your favorite writer - I really don't have one.
Day 14 - Favorite book of your favorite writer -
Day 15 - Favorite male character - Skulduggery Pleasant.
Day 16 - Favorite female character - Hermione Granger.
Day 17 - Favorite quote from your favorite book - "Odors have a power of persuasion stronger than that of words, appearances, emotions, or will." Perfume
Day 18 - A book that disappointed you - The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson.
Day 19 - Favorite book turned into a movie - Harry Potter and The Prizoner of Azkaban.
Day 20 - Favorite romance book - Wuthering Heights.
Day 21 - Favorite book from your childhood - Frog and Toad Together.
Day 22 - Favorite book you own - Perfume.
Day 23 - A book you wanted to read for a long time but still haven’t - A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens. (It's currently chillin' on my book shelf)
Day 24 - A book that you wish more people would’ve read - The Killer's Tears by Anne-Laure Bondoux.
Day 25 - A character who you can relate to the most - Valkyre Cain (From Skulduggery)
Day 26 - A book that changed your opinion about something - The Carbon Diaries 2015 by Saci Lloyd.
Day 27 - The most surprising plot twist or ending - Oxygen by Carol Cassella
Day 28 - Favorite title - Out Of The Dust.
Day 29 - A book everyone hated but you liked - Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck.
Day 30 - Your favorite book of all time - Perfume.

From the archives.

I know, it’s been a while. I’ve been meaning to post something, but it just hasn’t happened. So I’ll make it up to you by posting something awesome.

On Sunday night I watched La Vie En Rose (Life in Pink) which is based off the life of French singer Edith Piaf.

Has anyone seen Inception - as in the one from 2010? Well first off, if you haven’t you should, but if you have, you’ll know that music plays before the kick (people who haven’t seen it, go see it and in the movie you’ll be like ‘Oh, that’s what she was talking about!’) well the song is in French and it’s called Non, je ne regrette rien. Guess who is the singer? Well done, it’s Edith! You get a cookie!

• Ok, so well I’ll give you a little more info about her.
• She was born on the 19th of December 1915.
• She is regarded as Frances greatest singer.
• She was very poor and sang on the streets before she was discovered.
• She had a child when she was 17 she had a Marcelle who died at two.
• She died of liver cancer on the 11th of October 1963. (It was claimed, at her funeral procession, it was the only time since the end of WW2 that that Parisian had come to a stop!)

Ok, now about the movie. Even though if you don't speak French, you'll have to read subs, I totally recommend the movie! Marion Cotillard is amazing as Edith - don't take my word for it, she won an Academy Award for it! The movie shows that, all the successful people come from the bottom and work their way up!

Hist last - a one-shot.

I'm quite pessimistic when it to my stories, but I have to say, I quite like this one. It's dedicated to my lovely friend Maril.

As the wind whirled outside, flipping the tiny snowflakes back and forth, a little girl, of only about six, had just woken up from a nightmare. The little girl, with long blonde hair and pale skin whipped a tear from her rosy cheek. She looked around the room, she couldn’t see any monsters, but just to make sure, she flicked on the light that sat on the night stand next to her little bed.

Even though she knew nothing was there, she still was scared. She sat up in her bed, wondering whether she should wake up her great grandmother or not. In the end, she put on her dressing gown and slippers and headed down the hall way to her great grandmothers room.

She was staying at her great grandmother’s house for the winter. She loved staying at her great grandmother’s house, it was her favourite place to be and because she got to stay with the best person in the world.

“Nanny?” The little girl nudged her great grandmother gently.

“Nanny?” She called a little louder.

“What is it Lola?” The little old lady asked, waking from her slumber.

“I had a nightmare.” Lola replied slightly embarrassed.

“That’s nothing to be ashamed of. Everyone had nightmares. How about I make some hot chocolate?”

Lola nodded, her lovely smile returning to her face.

Her great grandmother was the ripe old age on ninety-two. She was small, had short greyed hair, a few holes could be seen where she once had facial piercings and she was the most caring person you would know.

The little old lady slowly got up, put her dressing gown and slippers on and her and her great granddaughter made their way into the kitchen.

A small flame could be seen flickering in the old fire place. She bent near the fire.

“It’s alright dear, I can do it.” She replied as Lola tried to help her with the wood. Once the fire was burning nicely, the little old lady made for the kitchen – beckoning for Lola to take a seat.

She made two cups with hot chocolate with two marshmallows in each and she and her great granddaughter took up sat on a small couch in front of the fire, sipping their hot chocolates.

“Nanny?” The little girl asked after taking a rather large sip of her drink.

“Yes dear?” The little old lady asked.

“Can you please tell me story?”

“Which one, Cinderella, Goldilocks and The Three Bears? Or how about Snow White, you like that one.”

“No Nanny, I want one of your stories.”

“Oh well, I think I’ll tell you my favourite one of all.”

“What’s it called Nanny?”

“It’s called His last.”

“Have you ever told me this before?” The little girl asked.

“No. You’re very special because I’ve never told this story to anyone before. Now, shall I begin?”

The little girl nodded frantically, nearly tipping some of her hot chocolate out.

“‘Many years ago, much before you, your mother or your grandmother was born, when I had just turned twenty, I was a nurse. It was 1940 and the world was at war, for the second time. There were a lot of soldiers getting hurt so I was called to go to a look after them at special hospitals near where they were fighting.

One day, a lot of soldiers came in because there had just been a really big battle and our side lost. It was crazy because there were so many people moving in and out of the isles. I had never seen the hospital so full.

I was told to look after quite a few soldiers, but remember this one man in particular. He was a very handsome; he had short blonde hair – a little like yours – tan skin and beautiful brown eyes. And though he was lying in bed when I first met him, I could tell he was very tall.

“What was wrong with him Nanny, why was he in bed?” Lola asked.

“He had gotten shot in a battle and his leg was badly injured.”

“Oh no!” The little girl gasped.

“‘Now, he was a very strong man, so he was alright. A day after he came and the when the Dr’s said that he didn’t need their care, I started to look after him. I remember I had to put some medicine onto his leg to help it heal every single day.

At every bed, there was a clip board which had the soldiers name and things about them. I grabbed the clip board at the end of his bed and read aloud “Tom Hayes.”

“That’s my name and what’s yours, little lady?” Tom asked.

I grabbed all the medicine that I needed and pulled back his covers before I replied, “Maril.”

“What a lovely name –” He stopped as he let out a small yelp as I dabbed some medicine onto his leg.

“Sorry.”

“ – for a lovely lady.” He finished with a smile.

The reason I remember him is because I knew when I saw him; it was love at first sight. After a few days, I realised he wasn’t just handsome, he was sweet and funny.

“I think I know why I was shot.” I remember him telling me one day.

“Why Tom?” I asked.

“Because they saw my face and they thought, ‘What a gorgeous man,’ and though they were given orders to kill all enemies, they let me off because they fell in love.”

He often told us things like that, the nurses, Dr’s, anyone who’d listen, but mainly me.

When there was nothing to do, I always talked to him. We could talk for ages, we were best of friends, though I thought much more of him.

“Maril?” He said to me another time as I was changing his bandages.

“Yes?”

“I think there’s something wrong with my lips.”

“Really? What’s the matter?”

“Oh, I don’t think it’s too serious, but just in case, a kiss might make them better.”

Some of the other soldiers that were listening laughed.

I blushed because I really did want to kiss him.

“Come on now, you can’t leave me hanging.” He said after I didn’t reply.

I pretended that it was joke and kissed him, though it was the best feeling.

Now, just a few days before he was allowed to go home, I was called to his bed side. I was quite angry because the night shift nurse woke me up in the middle of the night and told me he wanted to see me, not because something was wrong, but because he wanted to tell me something. None the less, I went to see him.

The room was dark –except for the moon shining through the windows – because all of the other soldiers were asleep.

“You wanted to see me?” I said in a slightly angry tone.

“Yes, but aren’t you glad to see my beautiful face?” He said giving me his cheeky smile.

I couldn’t help but agree with what he said, he looked especially handsome tonight. I shook my head but smiled.

“Maybe you should sit down.” He told me.

I was puzzled, but I agreed, sitting down on the side of his bed.

“Maril, you’re one of the greatest girls I’ve met, and I’ve met quite a few.”

“Really? Well thank you.” I told him.

“Don’t mention it.” He smiled once again. He liked to smile a lot.

“Now, you’re probably wondering why I called you here.” He said.

“Yes, I am.”

“Well I really don’t want to say this.”

“Say what?”

He took a breath. “I don’t want to say goodbye.”

I took a few moments to reply, “I –I don’t know what you mean. We can always see each other again or we can write…”

“No, that’s not what I mean.” He said.

“Then what do you mean? Is there someone else?”

He smiled at me, “Maril, you know what?” He said, avoiding my questions.

“What?” I replied.

“When I first laid eyes on you, you were the one.”

The biggest smile spread across my face, but before I could reply – before I could tell him the same –he went on. “And I’m so glad that you’re the last person I’ll lay my eyes on. I love you Maril.” And before I could stop him, he shut his eyes, and never opened them again."

As the little old lady finished she whipped small tear that fell down cheek, she looked at the little girl that now was sound asleep on her shoulder.

She brushed the little girl’s blonde hair out of her face and whispered into her ear, “And that’s the end of the story.”

Updates 20.11

Lovin’ the witty of the title eh? That reminds me (good to see that my rambling’s still there) I wonder how long it takes to come up with the titles of articles? Seeing as I aspire to become a journalist, it’s good that I’m practicing early.

So first, Happy New Year. How was yours? Mine was pretty boring, but that alright, I’m not going to dwell on the boring parts of my life, I’ll get to the more…interesting parts.

So it’s the holidays, but already it’s been a month! I have just over a month to go before I’m back to school, however, I do want this time to go a little fast as I am going to Big Day Out (a massive music festival) and a day after I start school, Two Door Cinema Club.

So what have I been doing to keep my self preoccupied these holidays? Well other than the usual writing of stories and going on the computer for most hours of the days, I’ve been reading.

What exactly have I been reading? Well currently, I am reading Frankenstein by Mary Shelly (scroll down to read a quite interesting thing about knowledge, yes it actually has to do with the book)

In these past weeks, I’ve read so much more than I usually do. I’ve read Book 1 to 4 of Harry Potter (I have now officially become a member of Team Hogwarts. I always have enjoyed the movies, but I never read the books – however I do have the 2nd one, and I remember trying to read it as I watched the movie, lol. So I decided to read them and yeah I’m obsessed. In no time, I’ll be probably writing fan fiction xD) I read Perfume by Patrick Suskind (thoroughly enjoyed it and now I must watch the moive) yesterday I finished Night by Elie Wiesel, which I am to study next year for school but I still enjoyed it. Also along with Frankenstein, I’m reading The Bell Jar by Silvia Plath for school.

I forgot to say, the other thing that I have been doing these holidays is buying books! I just can’t stop, lol and I still have a list that I have to buy. So here’s a list of the books that I have on my shelf that have to be read in no particular order -

• Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens
• Harry Potter 5-7. I haven’t actually got them yet, but as I started to read the series, my brother thought he should too and so he decided that for xmas he would get the box set so we ordered it online for him and tomorrow when I get the mail, it will be waiting :) And yeah as soon as I get them I’ll start, so I’ll try and finish Frankenstein tonight.
• Oxygen by Carol Cassella
• King Dork by Frank Portman
• The Dark Flight Down by Marcus Sedgwick
• Living in the Maniototo
• Gypsy Hearts by Robert M. Eversz
• A Tale Of Two Cities by Charles Dickens
• Gothic! Ten Original Dark Tales but Various authors
• The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde (and other stories) by Roberts Louis Stevenson
• A Sense of the World by Jason Roberts
• The Picture of Dorian Grey by Oscar Wilde

Got quite a list eh? I’m trying to read a much as I can these holidays. Some of the books you may have never heard of as they are from a discount book store, but then others are a part of my gothic story quest and some of my love of 19th century books.

Now that I’ve read a few books set in and around the 19th century, I have realised that I kinda love it. I love the books, the clothes, just everything about it.

While I’m at it, I’ll inform you of my to buy list -

• Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë
• Animal Farm by George Orwell
• To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
• Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë

So I was going to go on about my writing but I shall bore you no more.

All right, peace.

xx. Sarah.

Knowledge?

Today as I was helping my father clearing some trees from the side of the workshop where a lot of old fashioned pipes are situated, I thought; I remember when I was little and I used to climb over them without a care in the world but now I would be to scared to walk over them in case a snake would come up a bite me.That lead me to think of the book that I am currently reading; Frankenstein by Mary Shelley.

Though I haven’t quite finished the book, I can definitely make an assessment of it. It wasn’t what I thought it was going to be at all, it was quite the opposite, which is not always a bad thing.

Everyone knows the basic story of Frankenstein right? Crazy scientist Victor Frankenstein creates a monster made from dead peoples body parts.  It’s all horror and crazy scientist right? No I think that it’s quite the opposite, true, there is that basic theme, but it’s a much more in depth feeling of belonging and it’s rather heart breaking what happens to the “wretched devil.”

All right, I’ll stop spoiling the story -so that the next time you are in search of a book to read, you’ll know what to read- and come back to why this has importance.

As I said above, when I was little I would play in those pipes without a care, not thinking of the dangerous things that could injure me. Now that’s an example of knowledge being a good thing, but I’m sure everyone’s learnt something that they didn’t need to know (whether comical or malevolent) Here’s a quote from the book that really stuck.

“how dangerous is the acquirement of knowledge, and how much happier that man is who believes his native town to be the world, than he who aspires to become greater that his nature will allow.”

So what my question is, is knowledge good or bad? Yes in the sense that if you are able to be better (from growing to an infant to teen) but then when is too much of a good thing bad?

That was a pretty deep thing eh? On well, not to worry, right after I post this, I’ll get back the the norm –updates :P

I’ll leave you with a lovely quote from the book-

“The very winds whispered in soothing accents, and maternal Nature bade me weep no more.”