entered my first writing competition the other day- not a particuarly big one but thought id 'get the ball rolling' as it were! was a short story comp and the only brief was that it had to give the reader a 'feel good factor'. cue scrunched up face! i wrote about lots of people going about their boring daily business then all stopping to enjoy a snow drift. was pretty cool if i may say so myself! have no chance of winning but im glad ive finally sent something as its one of those things i keep meaning to do.

http://www.writersreign.co.uk/

am loving being back in brighton- went home for christmas- i've missed all the quirkiness of the places and people here, my favourite being this little old lady who i often see feeding the seagulls and pigeons from one of those weelie trollies that old biddies almost alway seem to cart around. i always wonder who she is and why she feels the need to cater for many of the birds in brighton. on encountering her in town last summer i surreptitiously took a few photos on my phone, felt a bit like a stalkerish but im glad ive immortalised her somehow!

have recently decided to stop drinking- many reasons to do this. firstly- its expensive, secondly i am starting to get a beer belly (admittedly a small one but these things add up!) and also because pretty much every mistake i have ever made involves alcohol. im not an alki i promise and i can drink quite a bit since i started uni last year and im not one of those pukey slithering wrecks you see staggering around in heels and smudgy mascara on a friday night. however. i have recently found myself to be single, which is something im not entirely use to just yet; ive been pretty much spoken for since i was 15. and its only really now that ive realised that the kind of blokes i meet when im out are pervy, boring idiots. unfortunatly i am prone to finding out the nature of said men a day or two after kissing/giving them my number/giving them my name (damn facebook!) and ive decided this has to stop. i dont particuarly want a boyfriend. i dont want random sex. and i definatly dont want some irritating fool texting/calling me every five minute because he thinks we 'have a connection'. i know it sound cruel but i think its time to give it a rest and attempt to have normal nights (and days for that matter) out without it ending in disaster! the not drinking is going pretty well considering im a student...however i did dream of a pint of guinness the other night. oops!

soo...its a new year and all. ive given it a week- so as not to go overboard and make bizzare resolutions and i have decided on my plan of action of the year. it basically goes as follows and in no particular order...

make use of the stupid amounts of hats that i own and actually wear them (though i think the top and bowler may be exempt)

do ballet again

book my millinery course that i have been swooning over for ages but couldnt afford (still cant, oh well- overdraft!)

floss

try not to binge as much- eating whole packs of biscuits at once probably isnt that healthy.

write more

concentrate more in lectures, rather than doodling, giggling and napping

and thats it, for now! not sure any of them will stick but im going to have a go...