Review of 2014

I'm back, bitches!

Inspired by my friend Shayley, I'm going to re-ignite my blog for 2015. The best way to start may be catching up all you eager subscribers to my past year and what better way to start than with some top threes.

Movies:

1. Guardians of the Galaxy
2. The Lego Movie
3. The Imitation Game

You will notice something the top two have in common is Chris Pratt, which leads me on to..

Men of the Year:

1. Chris Pratt
2. Frank Grillo
3. Sam Rockwell

I mean, did you see Franks arms in The Purge: Anarchy? Christ.

Books:

1. Gone Girl - Gillian Flynn
2. I am Pilgrim - Terry Hayes
3. Bossypants - Tina Fey

I credit Gone Girl for getting me back in to reading this year. I read a total of 14 books which, for me, is quite a feat.

Albums:

1. Kacey Musgraves - Same Trailer, Different Park
2. Ed Sheeran - X
3. Lady Antebellum -747

I have fallen head over heels for that acoustic, ukelale sound of Kacey. I highly recommend listening to Merry go round, it's a great song.

New TV Shows:

1. The League
2. How to get away with murder
3. Girls

When I was ill, The League kept me company.

Exisiting TV shows:

1. The Walking Dead
2. Parks & Recreation
3. The Mindy Project

The Walking Dead is just... I can't even.

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Things I achieved - (This is the boasty, big-myself-up part)

• I ran a 5k Rainbow run and raised £370 for Ty Hafan
• I lost a total of 39 pounds. 
• Batman started following me on Twitter
• I got 63% on my first Law exam in Contract
• I was a bridesmaid for the 3rd time at my brothers wedding
• I climbed Pen-y-fan

Here's to the next 365 days of awesomeness! 

Dear Tesco,

I was in your Cardiff Tesco extra store last night, the one on Excelsior Road, and I have to say I was disgusted.

I was strolling along the beauty ailse, minding my own business when a massive drop of what I am hoping was just muddy water fell on my hand from the ceiling. I stood there in shock for a couple of seconds untill I noticed there were open tissue boxes on the ailse next to the make -up so I grabbed one and wiped my hand clean. Then I saw that the drops were starting to fall pretty consistently and were beginning to form a puddle on the floor. Thinking that I didn't want anyone to slip on the puddle, I started off to try and find a member of staff to inform

I came across a woman standing alone by the pharmacy counter and approached her. I informed her of what just happened and, without even blinking, she said "If you have a complaint to make you need to go to customer services." I then began to explain that I wasn't making a complaint but was merely expressing my concern over the growing puddle in the middle of an ailse, she stared and me and told me again to go to customer services because there they would be able to call a clean up team.

This is the complete opposite of customer service. Firstly, she didn't even attempt to make an apology for the fact that disgusting water had dripped on me but basically told me to go tell someone else about it, 'cause she couldn't care less. I don't see it as my responsibility, as a customer, to go out of my way to inform them of their own leaking ceiling.

A company that doesn't understand basic manners or  basic hygiene don't deserve my custom, and they will no longer be getting it.

Photo Diary of a Hair Dying Expedition:

The colour I intended it to be.

 The colour before.

Slightly concerned that the dye went in purple...

Looks like I've been attacked...

The result, without make up.

Red lipstick is my friend!

Dear Cineworld,

To start off, I would like to say how much I love your establishment. You show a plethora of movies all the time, unlike VUE and Odeon who only show the stupidiest choice of movies, much to the annoyance of my brother. There was only that one time when I saw 'The Artist' and the cinema was freezing because of the heating problem that I was really miffed off but generally the cinema temperature is pretty spot on. I love your Unlimited card because it has saved me a lot of money and the staff are very helpful- except for that one time when one of them told me to go see 'Rango.' Pfft.

However, I have a complaint. I visit your cinema at least once a week, if not more, and thus I have heard the song 'Breaking Free' from 'High School Musical' approximatly a gazzillion times. It is a lovely idea to play music in to the screen before the trailers to ease the awkward silence that comes from a lot of strangers sitting around waiting for a film. I even understand your decision to choose that particular song, because it was a song from a very big movie. But it's not 2006 anymore, it's time to let it go.

To save you some time in finding a song replacement I have compiled a list of some other movie songs that could replace 'Breaking Free,' all of which are roughly a million times more awesome and 100% contain no Vanessa Hudgens.

• 'Man or Muppet' from 'The Muppets'
•  'At last I see the light' from 'Tangled'
• 'Lose yourself' from '8 Mile'
• 'You've got a friend in me' from 'Toy Story'
• 'Jai Ho' from 'Slumdog Millionaire'
• 'So Close' from 'Enchanted'

Okay, I recognise that 'Lose yourself' is even older than 'Breaking Free' but it is much more awesome and 'Man or a muppet' won a freakin' Oscar, for crying out loud.

So please, Cineworld, I urge you to change the song. It has gotten to the stage when I am FORCED to sing a long because I know all the words and this is not good for my social life or my sanity.

Yours,
Rachel

EDIT: Since publication I have recieved a tweet from @CineworldCardiff who have said:

"Thanks for that. The music file is the only available downloadable content compatible with our projectors and we can't just download any songs we want. However, I will recommend an update to the file..."

Future Prospects

I have no idea what I should be doing with my life, so I thought it might be useful to see what random internet quizzes told me I should do.

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The first one was title "What career will suit your personality?"

It wasn't the best quiz style because it only offered two options, so I don't know how accurate the answers are but it said:

"You would be very happy in a career that utilised your level-headedness, and allowed you to work mainly on your own. You want a career that allows you to stimulate your senses and your mind, without having to be involved with lots of people."

"You like to focus on the here and now. You enjoy completing projects. It is important for you to achieve and succeed. Therefore, you believe in working hard and playing later. You like to set goals and work towards them."

It gave me lots of job options:

• Novelist
• Photographer
• Vet
• Medical Technician
• Paralegal
• Geologist
• Marine Biologist
• Graphic Designer
• Online Content Developer
• Webmaster
• Computer Security
• Producer
• Computer Programmer
• Technical Writer
• Systems Analyst
• Meteorologist
• Artist  

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The next quiz was called "Career quiz: Job Outlook"

This quiz made me feel bad about not choosing any of the ones that were very clearly pointing towards being a doctor because I always choose "Direct a movie" over "help sick children."

It told me I was creative. That's it, really. I could have told them that before I did the quiz.

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The next one was my favourite quiz-  your best job for your personality.

It didn't ask job related questions but instead vague hypothetical questions based on everyday life.

According to the test I am a ISFJ: Introverted, Sensing, Feeling, Judging. I have never considered myself to be introverted but anyway.

"ISFJ's are friendly, conscientious and responsible. Soft spoken (HAH!) and commited to painstaking accuracy, you are very good at meeting deadlines and fulfilling obligations. You strive to maintain order and harmony in your life. You are also very considerate and loyal, remembering details about those who are important to you."

The list of jobs they gave me didn't really cross over with the previous list...

• Nurse
• Researcher
• Career adviser
• Lawyer
• Teacher
• Clergy
• Religious worker

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So these quizzes didn't really help me decide on a job but they did give me a little insight in to my personality.The one thing they all said, which I've been told, is that I like a project. Maybe this means I should be a project manager of some sort? I dunno.

Small Girl Problems

I am 5ft 3 inches tall. There, I said it. 

I struggle with this every day. Some days are harder than others but it never goes away. 

It's certainly a challenge at work. The worst thing taller people can do is ask you where something is, and then watch on as you struggle to reach it in front of them. Sometimes they even laugh and I have to break the ice by saying something along the lines of "this place isn't built for us short people." You wouldn't laugh at an elderly woman who is  too old to bend down to pick something up so why do people think it's acceptable to giggle when I'm too short to reach something? I actually do think my place of work is built for more average sized people and recently had the stock room men move some stock from a top shelf because of my frustration at my inability to reach it.

Buying clothes is often an issue, Jeans especially - I am too short for the "short" lengths in most shops and so I avoid buying them. I stick to dresses and skirts, which generally work but sometimes a dress that is intended to be knee length can often end up being a bit more demure on people my height. Saying that though, recently a taller friend of mine encountered a shop assistant who detered her from purchasing some wedged heels by repeatedly telling he she was "very, very tall" so I guess they have shopping problems too.

To hide from these issues I almost exclusively associate myself with small people - it means I don't constantly look like a midget in group photos - but sadly tall people have managed to force their way in to my life. I also find much taller men than myself attractive. 

I hope this blog post has made those other short people out there know that someone else understands their pain. And for all you regular sized people, I hope you have learned a little about what us tiny people go through in everyday life.

Don't even get me started on my tiny hands and feet.