Minor rant of the year

I say minor rant of the year as I've felt like this for a long time, but haven't felt a need to burst until I was provoked by it again today.
Is anyone else getting extremely fed up of seeing Keira Knightley on ab-so-lu-tely EVERYTHING.
She's everywhere...in all new films that come out which involve a young British girl, in posters, in magazines, on the television and the occasional reference to her on the internet. There are other aspiring young actresses out there who actually have talent (whenever I have brought up this opinion, I've had many people say 'who?'....does Natalie Portman no longer exist? The young oriental girl from Memoirs of a Geisha? The children in the past who have now grown up to be mature young adults?)
I have had one person mention the fact that I'm probably just jealous. No...I'm not jealous of her fame and I'm not jealous of her wealth. If I was, I'd be in a completely different line of work. The line of work I seek is to make people happy through literature and the arts and to encourage them to express themselves. I'm happy with the position I have in life now and I have all I need. So no, I'm not jealous...i'm just extremely bored of seeing the same pouty expression everywhere I look.
To me she is the equivalent of (and please excuse me for such a disgusting comparison) a very frequently used hanky. It's pretty when it's knew and fresh, but there's only so many times it can be used for it's purpose before it should be thrown away or at least put away so another one can be put up for the job, then possibly emerging after being aired a little.
I apologise for the heatedness (is that a word??) of this post on a blogto which it has absolutely no relevance, but on seeing her face on MSN after having been voted number 1 of 100 most beautiful women in FHM (says a lot really), I felt the urge to speak out.
Move aside, Knightley, for Pete's sake, and give others the chance to shine. Your bulbs already broken and you no longer glow!

*Under Construction*

*Crackle* Tannoy Announcment *Crackle*
*A slightly muffled and just comprehensible voice emerges*
Ladies and Gentlemen, a new section will soon be introduced to the Frankie collection links on the right. It is currently under construction, so here is a message from the author to give you a briefing of what to expect.

*clears throat* Thank you. During my time working at a company which I won't mention, but many of you probably already know about, I met some intriguing people and had some interesting experiences.
As a writer, it's curious how a simple action or sentence can trigger the biggest inspiration had all month. During my time as a temp at this company, I had several of these moments, which is terrific as I often live in an inspirational mind block either because I don't have time to think of anything or because I haven't experienced anything interersting enough.
My family and Tom have always advised me to take my experiences and write about them; the people i meet, the places I go to, the things I see etc, but I've never encountered anything which has caused my creative mind to flow enough.
Until I started this temp job.
Dear God, after that the ideas didn't stop coming! Well, they did after a bit, but not until I had written a good deal.
I have produced few extracts taken from my experiences there and worked on them so they're a combination of fact and fiction (which is which I'll keep to myself :)as it makes it more interesting)
However, Tom suggested I create a blog soley for this new fictional (or is she?) person and treat her blog like a diary. So I will.
The title of the blog isn't coming to me easily, thus the delay, but as soon as I've thought of something, the site will be well on it's way in.
I plan on putting up a new extract every month or so (it takes time to write good stuff you see) so I thought I'd alert you all to the new comer. Not sure why, just felt like it.

Anyway, I'll do my best to put it up soon, but many of the stories still need trimming around the edges so I beg patience.

Thank you for your attention.

*end message*

One of my many weaknesses....

And now for something completely different...

One of my main weaknesses...and I would have to say, the main one...is cute, fuzzy animals. Nothing like those pictures you see with the big eyes, and fuzz everywhere (think a less evil Happy Tree Friends). I mean the occasional kitten or puppy seen on tv, or the cat you happen to see in the street or dog tied up patiently awaiting the master outside a shop.
I've actually got a folder on my computer files which is packed full of tiny animals (yes, actual tiny animals) which I have seen on the internet and saved. They make me smile if I'm feeling a little down.

I was visiting a website and I came across these. I found them a little out of the ordinary, as that site usually deals with stupid jokes or funny images, but I couldn't resist taking these and putting them on here.




Tom don't even dare writing the words, 'mmm unprocessed pork'in a remark. Yes, I know you well lol

Emmanuelle Beart

Emmanuelle Beart. I saw the picture in STYLE magazine which my parents receive every sunday with the newspaper and instantly wanted to take up the challenge. Beart has, I believe, very unique lips and eyes and I wanted to see if I could capture her in pencil.
I'm pretty proud of the result, but admittedly it could be better. It took me several hours, but it was worth it.

Forever Friends........no, not the bears.

I found these photos on the computer and I couldn't resist putting them on. I warn you though...they may scare a little. Especially mine.
Laura and I have been mates for nearly 18 years now (bloody hell time flies)
We've been through thick and thin, torn apart, put back together, fought outrageously, but we're still closer than ever. She's the sister I never had and my personlity twin...yes together we scare the world and all sanity that hangs around it. I think we've both traumatised any guy we're with as soon as they meet us together. Our work here is done.
I think Laura is the only person I could have ever been for a walk with, suddently realising we were late for home, conviniently finding the worst, crappiest, most rickety bike hidden in a bush (it had no seat, the handle bars were dented and nearly gone and the wheels where either flat or none existant), and drive down the hill screaming 'GET OUT THE WAY!!' Crashing into every tree and in absolute hysterics making it even harder for her to drive it. God the looks we got were classic.

NOTE: Please don't look at the photo below Laura's until you've read the description above it. I think the effect is better that way :D

Now...get a webcam...point it at Laura and...with all the seriousness she can muster, she is guaranteed to grab the closest thing to her and use it to amuse. I had ribbons that day, she was in a particularly Lauraesq mood, I wasn't going to let the moment waste. From this day on...Laura was...the Present.



Now I may seem sweet, I may seem innocent, but take a saturday afternoon, two fairly random teens, put them together and point a webcam at them and automatically one of them will do this.



This became my trade mark face...EVERYTIME I had the chance, I would do this. I don't know why, I don't know where it came from, but I enjoyed doing it.
The reactions I get everytime someone sees this is fa-antastic. The truth is, I wouldn't do it for the reactions, I did it because I wanted to.
Laura if you're reading this....remember ..this................................... ................................DOI!

Now...it is a proven theory that no matter how many photos are taken of me...only 1 out of the 12 will come out well. The results always seem to be, boredom, incredibly drunk, or if someone shouts 'suprise' and I turn, very scared and worried.
I'm not entirely sure why I put this picture up..I think it's the look on Laura's face. We were at a mates birthday and another mate of mine was taking photos of Laura and I. I...being determined to get a good one, demanded that he take several until I was happy with the results (I get fed up of looking pants in photos). He took 6. This was possibly one of the best ones and I was just pulling a face to take the micky.



Take two girls to Wales, put them through an extremely bizarre night, put them in a field and allow them to spot a nice big pool of mud and water and they will automatically jump into it.
We had wellies on...the pool of mud and water called to us, we entered the poo, and much fun was had.



I think our mates were incredibly entertained by this, thus Harry catching it on his camera to immortalise the moment. I thank you sah!

All in all, nothing can beat the warm fuzziness of a good friendship. I think the best way I can describe it, when the times are good, is having a cup of creamy hot chocolate (mmm....*goes to look for milk*) which never goes cool, but if it does can be reheated. We've shared advice, we've helped each other out, we've been there for each other (which is hard considering she's been in Spain most her life and now in Birmingham)
Cheers mate, this ones for you....'lifts an imaginary glass of sherry'