My Epic Adventure to Cambridge !

Yes. I have been bad. My interview for Manchester is this week and I go galavanting off to Cambridge. BUT, It was awesome and it has helped with my focus to have a break. I went to visit my friend's Anna, Ben, Will and Gary, along with some of the girls that my friend Anna brought up during the holidays who were lovely and probably thought I am a bit batty.

Well, I left Friday midday and got to Cambridge at three. It was a pretty good journey apart from the fact that King's Cross Station is a complete LET DOWN!! It is nothing like the Harry Potter films suggest so major disappointment. Not a happy camper. I arrived in and met my friend Ben, we then wandered back to his house whilst we waited for Anna to arrive. We sat for ages and chatted so it was lovely just to catch up. THEN the hilarity began. Anna has been going on for a while about going to this thing called a "formal" which is a regular evening event where Cambridge students can bring friends, but boys must wear suits and girls must look formal at is a very fancy pants meal. Anna and Franky (another friend) wore there robes. That's right. ROBES! OK they called them gowns. BUT they were robes, no matter what they say. I wore my new dress and then we went on our merry way. The formal started with a Latin prayer which I had to resist the urge to laugh all the way through. It was lovely though so huzzah!

Me and Franky at Formal. 

Me, not functioning well at all formal as formal environments make me want to act silly!! 

Anna lives in Sidney Sussex house. THEY HAVE THERE OWN WINE!!! posh much. 

After the fun at the formal we then met up with my friends at the pub and had a game of bar billiards. I had never played this game before, yet I managed to win a round. Winner! 

Just missed my shot. Bad times.

Bar Billiards. 

Em going up for a shot. 

Anna asked me to pose. This was it. WOOO! (sorry if it offends anyone!) 

Franky, Lynn, Me and Em! Lovely ladies. 

Gary, being a bit special. 

Ben and Anna :) lovely lovely people. 

this was meant to be a photo of me and Anna. But Ben RUINED IT !!!! but....we edited a new version! 

much better !

 The next day, Anna and I decided to touristy things like see the colleges and go round museums. Happy days for touristy things!! 

Punts and Bikes. Cambridge is full of em!

More bikes and punts. We were meant to go punting yet it just didn't seem to want to stay sunny enough for it to happen. So next time ! and there will be a next time !! 

nice picture of bikes and punts. 

Sidney Sussex flag. Yes, they have a flag too!!

A college. Can't remember which one.

St Johns College. UBER posh.

More of St Johns.

At this moment I began to believe St Johns was in fact Ravenclaw and Cambridge is secretly Hogwarts! I will find more proof but the robes and this are part of my proof god dammit !!!! 

All in all it was a lovely weekend and I thank Anna and everyone for making it so enjoyable !! I will return for another magical trip to the land of Cambridge. But for now, back to work ! wooo....joy !

How's your weekend been people? 

Abbly xxx

The Mr Darcy Complex 2.The Mr Darcy and Wine Appreciation Club

1.    2.   The Mr Darcy and Wine Appreciation Club

Every Thursday since I was eighteen I have always met up with the ladies, Liv, Jess, Rachel and Twix for a few drinks at the Capitola Bar in town for a catch up. Liv is in the interior design business; she has a keen eye for that sort of thing and constantly tells me that my flat is a dump in serious need of refashioning. Jess is a town planner and I genuinely have no idea what that involves, I just nod and smile when she goes on about it. Rachel is a paediatric nurse and Twix is between jobs at the minute, yet she is technically an actress. It’s nice to have a relaxing chinwag with the girls. The Capitola Bar was the bar of choice during fresher’s week and it has been the home of several amazing nights out. These were the girls I first saw the Colin Firth adaptation of Pride and Prejudice with and it will be forever our film. As I walked into the bar I suddenly heard the lovely shriek from our usual spot.

“ABBBBIIIIEEEE!!!” Screamed Liv, causing the whole place to stop and stare at me. Liv ran over, glass of wine in hand and gave me a big hug. She was wearing a beautiful dark green dress and her hair was up.

“Alright Liv how are you?”

“Can’t complain darling, bit awkward, had a bit of fun with Harry the other night, haven’t text him since but everything seems peachy so shuuush don’t say anything,” Liv slurred dragging me to the other girls. Harry was a barman in the Capitola Bar, which sometimes made Liv’s night very expensive or very cheap dependent on what state the pair were in, and by her current state things were in a cheap state. After hugging the other girls I sat down.

“WINE!” Shouted Twix, handing me an empty bottle of rose wine planting a giant lipstick mark on my face. Clearly they had started early, or at least Liv and Twix had.

“I am going to nip to the bar anyone coming?” I said grabbing my purse.

“I’ll come” replied Jess, shuffling round. We both got up and headed to the bar.

“So how’s life trouble? How is James?” I asked as we stood behind two people at the bar. Jess and James had been together as long as I could remember, we met when we started university three years ago and they were still going strong. They gave me hope for any sort of future relationship.

“Oh you know, being a major pain in the arse” She replied, she loved him really he just did daft things every once in a while. “He still won’t take me on holiday, the bastard. How about you? Any one on the scene yet? I am sure Liv won’t mind lending you harry.” She inclined her head towards Harry. He was handsome, but smarmy. He wandered over to us.

“Evening girls, on the prowl our we Abs?” He said, winking at me.

“Me? On the prowl? Don’t make me laugh. Get me a Midori and lemonade please” I replied.

“And get me a southern comfort and lemonade, double please” said Jess smiling.

“Got it ladies” He replied strolling off to get our drinks.

“I think I can leave him in Liv’s very capable hands thanks Jess. Besides, I’m still waiting for my Mr Darcy and I am sure he will make himself known soon.” I replied to Jess. We handed over the money to Harry and wandered back to the table. Rachel and Twix looked in deep conversation.

“Oh hello! Ladies very nice arse at twelve o’clock” Rachel said, sipping her wine. We all did the subtle swivel which ensured the man in question didn’t know we were discussing his particular arse. The girls were always up for a laugh and the problems outside the door, stayed outside the door, most of the time. As the night progressed we chatted about what we had been up to this week and Twix spent most of her time arguing with Liv how she was a “proper” actress, and just a waitress until the right job comes along. When the argument got heated I decided to take refuge at the bar. It was about half 12 by this point so the place was dwindling in numbers as people had moved on the where ever the night may take them. I stood waiting for one of the bar staff to be free when I noticed I was being stared at. I hate the feeling of a gaze, reminds me to much of the creepy Spanish men from the holiday I went on with the girls. Ergh. I decided not to reciprocate the gaze as at this moment I had drank a bit too much and probably would look very unsubtle and a bit stupid. One of the bar girls Steph came over.

“Hiya Abbie, the usual?”

“Cheers Steph that would be great,” I replied, counting the change in my bag to see if I could salvage two pound eighty out of a mess of pound coins and five pence’s. After unloading the change onto the bar ready to pay, a voice appeared from behind me.

“I’ll get a JD and coke thanks and whatever she is having, I’ll buy,” Said a man’s voice. Great I thought, here comes the Hi my names Chad, I love water skiing and staring and my own reflection, and who might you be? Or even worse, Hi I might not be Fred Flintstone but I can make your bed rock. Yes, that was an actual chat up line used to get my number, yes I did laugh in the man’s face and no he did not get my number.

“I’m fine really,” I said turning. Thankfully it was not quite the sleazy face I expected. It was Dan, a colleague from my previous job I had during University. It was quite weird as I hadn’t seen him for a good couple of months. “Oh my god! It’s you!” I said giving him a big hug.

“Yeah it’s me! How the devil are you?” He said reciprocating the hug. He hadn’t changed much, glasses, only slightly taller than me, brown hair and one of the nicest blokes that I have met. Steph gave us out drinks and we sat, chatted and drank. He had moved on from working in the tiny coffee shop where we first worked and he was now working in some weird media business.  

“So you here alone then?” he asked.

“No, I am with the loud group over there,” I said, inclining my head towards a giggling group as Rachel had just fallen to the floor. “It’s Mr Darcy and Wine appreciation club night. Fancy joining?”

“Well, I feel I am more of a Mr Bingley but go on then, introduce me. Who knows I might find me a lucky lady to be my Jane.” He said looking at his phone.

“Excuse me! Since when did you read?” I asked in shock. Coming from a man who only read gaming magazines and books based around games, I was shocked.

“I read. Plus my ex girlfriend was a mad keen Jane Austen fan. I read so she would get off my case. Not bad but I wasn’t a fan of Darcy. Arsey Darcy, she didn’t like me calling him that. Now, to the table so I can meet your slightly loud friends?” He said picking up his drink and offering his hand. Arriving at the table, I introduced him to the girls.

“TO FINDING MR DARCY AND HIS OH SO LOVELY ARSE!” Shouted Liv, clearly having two bottles of wine had made her completely plastered and I felt like needed to catch up in the drunken antics. All the girls had been on the wine whilst I had been chatting to Dan so I swiftly grabbed a bottle of rose and poured myself a big glass.

“To Mr Darcy” I said, raising my glass. “May he be a man worthy enough for us to find and keep us!” All the girls cheered and clinked there glasses with mine.

“Ah Mr Darcy lovers are we ladies?” Dan said placing his glass on the table. “Well I’ll be your Mr Darcy any day” Raising his glass, we all started to laugh. As the night turned into morning, a lot of wine was consumed. The last thing I remember was failing over a few times and then being in my bed. Good times. 

By Abigail Barton 

Next - 3. The Mother of all Hangovers 

Hiya all! Right could you do me a massive favour. Please let me know what you think of these series of blogs. I am kind of unsure whether to continue with this or not. I like writing it and such but if people find it boring then I am tempted to put other posts up and maybe keep this for myself, so please let me know it would be greatly appreciated. 

Loves! Abbly 

Mr Darcy Complex - this should have been on the end of the last blog post....

“Yes,” Twix paused, scanning me with her heavily massacred eyes. “You were thinking about him again weren’t you?”

“No”

“Liar”

“So, what if I was?”

“Love, you have to let that go. What happened happened and I for one am glad it did. He was a monster. Now, I am going to get ready for tonight. I will see you misses at la Vino house at seven. You better bloody be there, I need a help in resolving my current Crisis by moving on!” Twix stood up, dusted herself off and gathered her things.

“I promise I will be there. In my best dress and shoes, I think I need a glass or two to be honest” I replied opening the door for Twix the pack horse and all her bags. She planted a kiss on my cheek and fell out of the door.

Shutting the door, I sat back down on the sofa and sipped at my tea. It had been three years since my last long term relationship. I thought I had found my Mr Darcy; turns out he was just another Wickham. I fell head over heels for Marcus during college, quite literally in fact as he crashed into me whilst I was carrying some books and I ended up in A&E. Nothing major just a crash to the head, not quite the conventional meeting that might have happened but it was an interesting party story. He was nice enough to take me to A&E and when in conversation present himself as the most arrogant and idiotic individual I have ever met in my entire life. Through several meetings afterwards, not by my choice, I eventually warmed to his manner and a serenade or two from his guitar resulted in several dates. Twix didn’t like him from the start, “Abbie, you cannot be serious! He is a total idiot and he said that he didn’t like my beret. He is shifty, there is something not quite right about him. Crashing into girl and gets a date. Mark my words, he is bad news”. Turns out she was right, and he had crashed into quite a few girls as well. Eight I believe. Bastard. I found out when I phoned him letting him know I was coming round and he didn’t pick up, so I went round any way. This was a bad move. I found him between another girls legs, arguments happened, she ran out half naked and I punched him in the face. Happily ever after, I think not.

Ever since then it’s been quite difficult to let my guard down to someone as I have always felt insecure since then. So until I find Mr Right, I am happy just being me, myself and I. 

Stay tuned for the next chapter of the Darcy Complex - 2. The Mr Darcy and Wine Appreciation Club

The Mr Darcy Complex

Right everyone, this is a work in progress and its just a random thing I decided the write today. If you do have a read then please let me know what you think as I have had fun writing it, so here you go.

The Mr Darcy Complex

You know what.

The one thing that I have learnt through the years is that Mr Darcy doesn’t exist.

Yes, I am not totally stupid; I know he is a fictitious character created by the genius mind that is Jane Austen. What I mean is the ideas he represents and the thin possibility of there ever being a real version of him. A man who is educated, dignified and begins by being a total arse then ending up being the man of your dreams. I seem to just end up with the arses and no dreams, no matter how dreamy there arse may be.

Sorry Jane Austen lovers, she’s talking utter rubbish.

Reading Pride and Prejudice instilled hope into me the idea that one day there will be a man who will see you as his one and only. Well, I am yet to find my elusive tall, dark, handsome Mr Darcy. It has however entered my life so much that I am pretty sure it’s become some sort of mission to track him down and hope to hell he appreciates banter and Austen as much as I do. I’m not the only woman on this mission either. Take my friend Twix for example, she is unfortunately one of those women who cannot for the life of her hold a man down, even if she tried, she has no upper body strength. Being brought up on happily ever afters (I blame Disney) and the idea of the knight in shining armour being the one to save us is something I think is widely acknowledged a bit too frequently. I often wonder why the Mr Darcy figure is so appealing, and why it has sparked off the need to find him. My own view is that he is the figure we love to hate and that some women feel that they can change for the better. He’s the handsome boy with the guitar in college which you find attractive yet his arrogance annoys the hell out of you. I have recently discovered that this “condition” is aptly named “the Mr Darcy Complex” which my friend Twix is very much afflicted by. She is convinced that her Mr Darcy or “Prince Charming” as she like to call him is still galloping his way round, trying on the glass slipper with any other women before he finds her. In the mean time, she tries to find him herself and it always ends in disaster, resulting in what she calls a “Crisis”.

“ABBIE!” shouted Twix falling through the front door, dropping the several bags which were stuffed in her hands. The usual purple beret she plonks on top of her head slid over her windswept face, with her usual eccentric scarf half way down her knees.

 “ABBBIIIEEEE! Where are you? I need help! POTENTIAL CRISIS!” Now, upon hearing these words, I had two options. One, hide under the table and hope she didn’t find me, became a bit sulky and goes. Or two, get a Twix from the emergency stash behind my wardrobe and prepare for potential tears. Twix is called Twix as it is her “Crisis” food of choice, “if in doubt or in peril eat a Twix” she likes to say.  That day I felt the latter would be fine as there were no tears, yet. Grabbing a Twix from the stash I headed to the lounge.

“I’m in the lounge, what’s happened now?” I sighed, shuffling my books around and taking a seat on the slightly tea stained sofa.

“Are you still in your pyjamas?” She said hitting the switch for the kettle and dumping her bags next to me.

“It’s my day off and if I want a day in my pyjamas around the house then I shall do just that. Now, what’s all this rubbish about yet another “Crisis”” I replied moving her bags to the floor.

“This is totally going to get you a potential boyfriend, isn’t it Abbie,” Twix stated, grabbing teabags and mugs from various shelves, I swear she knows my flat better than I do sometimes. 

She then began the “Crisis” tale, “Well, you know how I told you I met that guy called Steve in Skint the other night?”

“Ah yes, that classy establishment,” I replied, propping my head on my arm hoping it wasn’t going to be a long story.

“Shut up, Saturdays means every drink is a pound and don’t knock it you like it when you are drunk.”

“Yeah, when I am drunk!” I interrupted.

“SHUSH NOW! Anyway you remember Steve, tall, blonde, green eyes, rather lovely. Well we got a bit tipsy and kissed which was amazing. Well, that night I got his number and I text him the next day but I didn’t get a reply. So I thought I would call him and he didn’t pick up so I left him an answer phone message. Well, I got a phone call back off him, and he said he was moving to Thailand on Tuesday, which would have been yesterday, yet when looking round town today I saw him buying a latte with some tall dark gorgeous girl. I just don’t know what to do; I think he just wasn’t interested in me you know”

“Really and what gave you that impression? I got it from the lie about Thailand and the fact you actually saw him in town.” I replied. Twix plonked down the tea on top of my work, causing some tea to spill on it, sat down and began to cry. I have managed to multi-task in moments like this, so saving my work and comforting Twix was not a problem.

“Come on Twix,” I said handing her the emergency Twix and grabbing a tea towel to attempt to salvage what was left of my work on Frankenstein. “He just obviously wasn’t the one for you,”

“I know” She said, sniffling and wiping tears mixed with snot on a handkerchief. “I’ve just had enough you know, why can’t one man prove to me they aren’t all the same and what are you doing Abbie you are supposed to be listening to me rant” I was hanging my work on the radiator.

“What! You spilt tea on it! I need this for tomorrow”

“Seriously, if you put in as much effort to finding Mr Darcy as you did on your research then you would be married to a bloody billionaire by now!” Twix retorted taking a giant munch out of the chocolate.

“Alright Mrs Bennett, I’ll find someone, I’m just picky.” I replied. I must admit I am pretty picky. No one really hits the standards. My friend Liv keeps telling me to lower them, but I just can’t bring myself to do it. I want to find the one guy who is the tall, dark, handsome, arrogant, yet turns out lovely guy, but to be honest I think I am alright at the moment. I have fun when I want to obviously, but it doesn’t help that my friends have become obsessed with the Darcy idea and it’s a pretty hard thing not to catch to be honest. My brain tells me to be the independent figure, the one who doesn’t need Mr Darcy and the one who can prove my friends wrong about needing a man. However, my heart does love the idea of having someone and being in a relationship has been something that I have loved. Previous experience has not been kind to me.

“...So I said to Liv, Jess and Rachel to be over about seven does that sound good to you?” Twix said, draining the last of her tea she stared at me blankly.

“Wine club?” I asked, looking a bit blank.

“Yes,” Twix paused, scanning me with her heavily massacred eyes. “You were thinking about him again weren’t you?” 

By Abigail Barton :) (Yes that's my real name :P) 

So? Any thought? Let me know :) 

Christmas 2011 AND Hello 2012 !

Hello 2012 !!

And what a fab year you promise to be already!!!! In October I blogged about gaining work experience for my PGCE that I was applying for, well, I have received an interview spot at Manchester University today!!!! I am soooo Happpy!!!!!!! So I need to get my numeracy and interview skills on as my interview is on the 26th January !!! So not long !

I am so happy! I didn't really want a repeat of last year as things didn't really go exactly to plan last year, SO this year WILL be a good year. I have an amazing boyfriend, a lovely family, mental friends and a hopeful career a head of me! Let the stress begin. 

So yes, Christmas. Well, my lovely diet went completely out the window when I began to eat my weight in chocolate. So much so that I fell asleep on Christmas Day when I was meant to be making my way to my boyfriends house. Bad times. I did however, get some rather sexy shoes....check out these awesome things 

(Imagine these red ones in black...but they are nice in red) 

I have some seriously awesome footwear to be wearing when I return to uni. Fab-u-lous!!! 

It was awesome. I hope that things will continue to get better as I could do with a bit of good luck. I am now going to eat more Maltesers and watch Mrs Brown's Boys, which you should so check out. 

WOOOOOOOOO! I AM SO HAPPY :)