Valentine's Manga?

Ah! Romance. What does it all mean? I don't know. Honestly, I could call myself a romantic. I cried at the end of titanic. But that was because the French guy died and my mum had to take me out of the room before the ending because I was in hysterics. Yeah, I was eight but when I eventually did see the end of the film I sat   relatively unmoved. All I was thinking was 'F****** hell Rose! Move the hell up that plank is massive!' 

I like to think that when Valentine's Day rolls round I'm nonchalant and dismissive of it. I dread that as a singleton I'll be diluting a tub of Ben and Jerry's with my salty tears of infinite loneliness. The reality this year as with the years that proceeded it I was okay. There were moments of weakness. On the Jubilee line a couple took canoodling to a level akin to soft porn and I felt a bit sick. But that's how I always feel when I'm treated to an impromptu sex show. I also had a mini fan-girl 'squee' over a few movies and manga moments. Yeah manga.  I wanted to do a count down of my favourite 'Aww' moments in film but I have loads. I wanted to do a countdown of my favourite love songs but again they were too numerous. 

But I will give a shout out to my favourite fictional couples in  anime and manga, and I would do my top ten fictional couples in film but I can't be bothered. Too many films. Too little time. These aren't in any order, they are a matter of opinion AND they aren't really going to be explained that well. Enjoy! Spoilers!

Anime and Manga

1. Fuu and Mugen (Samurai Champloo)- These two don't actually get together but there's a lot of tension but they care enough about each other to risk dying to save one another. Romantic, innit?
2. Isaac and Miria (Baccano) - They're batshit, they commit harmless and bizarre crimes together and they are besotted with one another, what's not to like?
3. Sawako (Sadako) and Shota (Kimi Ni Todoke)- She has a lonely life, constantly misunderstood and shunted by her bastard classmates. She's a sweetheart and he's smart enough to realise it. 
4. Ashitaka and San (Princess Mononoke) epic and sweeping romance against the odds. That type of thing. Helped by a perfect soundtrack.
5. Yaya Higuchi and Moriyama (Othello manga)- She has a pretty rough ride most of which she has to make alone. Despite the very unusual and difficult situation, he sticks by her as a friend and later as a lover.

So there we have it. The first Anime/Manga centric blog post for a long time. Happy (no-longer) Valentines Day. 

And here is a romantic piece of 'artwork' I've dragged up from the archives. 

Byee!

Awkward Much?

I always knew I was awkward! I mean A.W.K.W.A.R.D. Thankfully I have a certain amount of gumption, and enough balls to walk up to a complete stranger and proclaim my undying love for their shoes. Or, as I did on the way back of the Company Blogging Forum, ask an unsuspecting passenger what he was listening to because it sounded good through his headphones. Poor guy thought I was hitting on him. I bet I gave him a fright of his life. But he was listening to Real Estate and they are good. I'm glad I asked.

Nevertheless, I am an awkward mofo and once being shy occurs until the shyness spreads into the situation like gangrene until all I want to do is amputate my stupid face and bury it at sea.

Please see below a diagram of how awesome I am when approached by the opposite sex.

Classic me!
Never mind, there are plenty more fish in the sea to perplex and annoy.

On a brighter not the aforementioned Company Blogging Forum was fantastic, an invaluable learning experience and I got free stuff!

Unfortunately I don't have the- umm- complexion to appreciate the free fake tan but I gave that to one of the girls at the event. I trust it went to a good home.

Among the goodies there was a Body Shop Body Butter in LEMON! I love lemon. Hell to the yeah!

Om nom nom!

I also got to speak to Shini Park of Park&Cube with an awkward mention of my penchant for K-pop, smooth operator and Carrie a.k.a WishWishWish who gave me some invaluable tips for putting more fire into social media.


Turns out super bloggers aren't scary. They're really quite nice.

Until next time!

New Year, New You?

Happy new year!

Tis the season to be punishing and unrealistic with the best intentions. Time to scream at your self in the mirror 'your disgusting!'. By New Years Eve I'm so looking forward to stripping away the sticky sweetness of the Yuletide season. I see New Years Eve as one more opportunity to have a massive blowout, big hair, bold make up, and jagerbombs, jagerbombs, jagerbombs!

I have a long list of things New Years Resolutions that I really want to implement this year. 

First of all I really want to learn to

***Shut The Hell Up***

because....

1. Don't talk more than other people participating in conversations.
2. Awkwardness, if you can't think of anything interesting to say- DON'T!
3. When angry belt up or walk away before you say something awful.

'Oops, accidentally mortally wounded our friendship, my bad!'

There's a New Years Resolution that a lot of people make or secretly hope for that everyone can probably sympathise with. 

*** I Will Find Love****

Umm...no you won't. Love will find you on it's own terms. When and where it feels like it. The time you look for it, you are least likely to find it. 

***Diet Riot***

Okay first of all...Eww!

I love food too much to turn it into an enemy. 

But I want to change my relationship with food like I want to change my relationship with shopping. I don't want it to be a comfort blanket for when I feel like throwing myself off of something high and onto something pointy. That's a dangerous habit and one of my worst. 

Also while I'm here. 

***Dress like it's my last day every day***

I guess overall, my new years resolution is to be the best I can be, a little bit better than last year. 

To live life as vigorously and optimistically as I can.

And

***When life gives me lemons- make margaritas! ***

All the best for 2013.

Spring!

I’m watching the satisfactory denouement of Geordie Shore. It’s silly that it’s gets me thinking about all the endings and beginnings of the days that have passed and will pass. All of the people I’ve been attached to and grown apart from. It’s sad to think of all those friendships and bonds now haunting me like shadows, just memories in the back of my mind. It makes you wonder what the future will bring; romance; heartbreak; tears of laughter; tears of pain- a tattoo perhaps.

Isn’t it exciting? Now that it’s officially spring there are horny birds swirling in clouds above us, everything begins to bloom including our hopes for a great summer. I like spring better than the New Year. There is more of optimism now in spring than in the half assed, hung over promises we make to ourselves at the start of each year. I will lose weight; I will eat better; I will be a Pokémon master.

I don’t want to do that crap again. That was January. This is March; April; May...this is spring. My favourite part of spring, or one of them is being able to take walks through Greenwich Park in a light jacket. The sun sets later so even after a later shift at work it’s possible to enjoy a little bit of extra sunshine. Watching the sunset from that special bench in Greenwich Park is one of my favourite overly romantic pastimes, reading on this bench with a coffee is a great way to build up to it.

Spring is also great because it’s cheaper. The warmer it is, the more enjoyable being outside is and the more we can enjoy galleries and museums.

I’m going to try in the month of April to hit one gallery a week and two markets a month for fruit or cute quirky stuff. After all, London has loads of markets to offer and I’ve only explored Camden, Greenwich and Lewisham. I would love to revisit these markets but I have to try Deptford, Ridley, Roman Road, Brick Lane, Dagenham, East Street and so many more! I can’t wait.

But until then I’ll keep taking my walks, keep doing Zumba, and eating salmon and olive salads.

I hope my friend will join me on these escapades, spring is always more enjoyable when your friends are there to share it with you.

 Bring on the cherry blossoms!