Hogsmeade was awesome as were all the sets. My heart pines for the merchandise. The dragon coaster was fantastic (I went on the red side) and the hippogriff ride was very good as well. The forbidden journey was... underwhelming. But I do now have a packet of bertie botts every flavour beans and a pygmy puff called Hercules. He's pink.
Saturday, 31 August 2013
Friday, 30 August 2013
#6 - Go on a Plane
I went to the US for the last three weeks so here are pictures akin to those you can find on instagram.
I hope I've used akin correctly (I'm trying to expand my vocabulary).
Is that New York I spy? Why yes, it is.
Thursday, 29 August 2013
100 things update - #4
2. Go to Brandy Melville
10. Buy some music for my ipod
21. Finish catch 22
23. Finish all my books before the US
26. Buy all my clothes for school next year
35. Drive something exciting
36. Learn the entire theory book for my exam in September
42. Buy the new Sarah Dessen
44. Write everything in my stuff that happened to me book
46. Write a song
47. Write a book of lyrics
49. Get a henna tattoo
50. Learn a safety announcement in spanish
51. Make a 9/11 video
55. Reread the entire pj series
57. Read all my BMJs cover to cover
61. Go to Kew Gardens
64. Talk to my friend Julia more
68. Learn "1000 miles" on the piano
69. Get a decent book idea
70. Craft the spoon mirror
71. Redo my magnetic boards
72. Keep my room tidy
74. Draw more manga
75. Make my Alan Curnow poem video
79. Leave more nerdfighter notes
82. Go punting
85. Get a stronger core
89. Blow bubbles
90. Go to Birmingham
93. Play with sparklers
96. Clear out my clothes
97. Buy some smart shoes
Done: 67/100
Blogged 27/67
Tuesday, 27 August 2013
I want to be a doctor #1 - charging for the GPs
On Friday 26th July GPs announced in the newspaper that they would like patients to pay £25 for an appointment. However, why should we pay when we already pay tax towards the NHS? Is it right to charge? Who does this give an advantage to?
The NHS is a fantastic service. Our government gives everyone medical treatment regardless of age, race and, most importantly, wealth. Everyone can get medical help without having to pay the price of private medicine or insurance. Admittedly, tax is payed to fund the health service. However, often people in lower economic groups get healthcare that they would be able to afford. The NHS has its problems, I won't deny it, but I believe it is a much better system than the heavily right-wing US system. So should we pay for the GPs?
What you may not know about the GPs is that they purchase appointments from other departments in the health service. For example, if you have a lump in your breast they purchase your appointment in oncology and it comes out of their budget. Paying £25 would help the doctors you see get more people referals. With this extra money leads to growth in the NHS, leading to shorter waiting times for procedures and appointments so you would get an all round better service. However, why can't we stick with the system we have now? Why do we need a reform? And who does this system hurt in the long run?
I want you to think about who are the most ill in our society. Who is it? It's the elderly, children and people in lower economic groups because frankly, staying healthy is expensive. The elderly are retired. Children are in school. Both of these groups have no income. With the cost of everything rising and a deeper dip in our recession can the majority of the patients afford to pay for health care? Four out of five prescriptions are not payed for. These are patients who wouldn't benefit from paying for the GPs. So in the end we end up hurting the people who are most in need. So that makes paying wrong, right?
I went on work experience and I worked with a GP who was astounding at his job, he really was. However, if you live in the UK you know that GPs are not always the best service. Sometimes you have to go to multiple appointments because the doctor is initially dismissive or wants to "play it by ear". Let's think of a sinario. You go to the GPs complaining about being very tired all the time. £25. So the GP makes you have a blood test. £25. The results come back positive for anaemia. Book an appointment. £25. So now, best case sinario, you've spent £75. What if in your first appointment the doctor said there was nothing to worry about? What if they blamed it down to stress, having your kids home for the summer or just being run down from your last cold? "It's probably nothing." "Let's play it by ear." When you go back to tell them you're not getting better, you spend another £25.
What gives people the best chance of surviving cancer? Catching the disease early. People don't like going to the doctors now; it's scary because you don't know if you're really ill and acknowledging that you have a problem is terrifying. What if you make patients pay £25 for this appointment? Will people actually go if they have symptoms for something serious? Will death rates increase because patients will only go when it gets really serious? Paying would hurt the patients.
I don't believe paying will help our nation's health. It will discourage people going to the doctors. I think that because of this reluctance to go to the GPs people will leave symptoms and cost the patients and then health centre more. So if we have to start paying everyone will pay. That's not right.
Friday, 23 August 2013
#52 - Have a read-a-thon
Over four days I read 6 books.
It was mainly because of this:
It's new and I love it. I love read-a-thons.
Thursday, 22 August 2013
#56 - Be migraine-less for a whole week
I can't do photos for this one but I HAVE BEEN MIGRAINE FREE FOR A WEEK AND IT'S AWESOME.
I have found a land where the fluorescent lights don't give me migraines.
I have found a land where the fluorescent lights don't give me migraines.
Wednesday, 21 August 2013
100 things update #3
2. Go to Brandy Melville
5. Wear my swan skirt
6. Go on a plane
7. Go to Hogwarts
8. Get my results
9. Get easily into my next school
10. Buy some music for my ipod
13. Read 2 books a week
17. Try Churros
18. Go to Disney
19. Ride expedition everest with my eyes open
21. Finish catch 22
23. Finish all my books before the US
25. Take more photos
26. Buy all my clothes for school next year
27. Find a leather alternative bag
28. Buy a new school bag
30. Go to the zoo
33. Go to the Strand
34. Go to the 9/11 memorial
35. Drive something exciting
36. Learn the entire theory book for my exam in September
37. Buy the Naked Palette
38. Watch more films
41. Buy something in Barnes and Noble
42. Buy the new Sarah Dessen
43. Buy a Disney pin and trade one
44. Write everything in my stuff that happened to me book
46. Write a song
47. Write a book of lyrics
48. Write more
49. Get a henna tattoo
50. Learn a safety announcement in spanish
51. Make a 9/11 video
52. Have a read-a-thon
53. Go to a waterpark
55. Reread the entire pj series
57. Read all my BMJs cover to cover
59. Run in some sprinklers
61. Go to Kew Gardens
64. Talk to my friend Julia more
65. Write every day
66. Get better at guitar
68. Learn "1000 miles" on the piano
69. Get a decent book idea
70. Craft the spoon mirror
71. Redo my magnetic boards
72. Keep my room tidy
73. Go for a whole day without moaning about the temperature
74. Draw more manga
75. Make my Alan Curnow poem video
77. Become more adventurous with my clothes
79. Leave more nerdfighter notes
80. Avoid burning myself
81. Climb the rocks in central park
82. Go punting
83. Buy American stationary
84. Wear my Dorothy shoes
85. Get a stronger core
86. Go through airport security without beeping like a terrorist
87. Cry with happiness
88. Have my photo taken with Mickey
89. Blow bubbles
90. Go to Birmingham
93. Play with sparklers
96. Clear out my clothes
97. Buy some smart shoes
Done: 33/100
Blogged 27/33
Tuesday, 20 August 2013
#60 - Go on a roller coaster I have never been on before
This is Logger's Leap at Thorpe Park. It is a log-flume drop and is totally awesome. It goes round the lake and it's really amazing.
Sunday, 18 August 2013
#29 - Do something childish
I may have gone on a giant bouncy castle obstacle course. It was amazing. I may have done an unintentional backflip because I have mad skills.
Saturday, 17 August 2013
Friday, 16 August 2013
What-was-intended-to-be-a-fashion-post-but-ended-up-as-a-freak-show
Heather trying to pull of my camo jacket by acting hard
Catie and Heather are the theatre faces
Catie's awesome henna tattoo
Thursday, 15 August 2013
Wednesday, 14 August 2013
#39 - Read The Cuckoo's Calling
So I read The Cuckoo's Calling by "Robert Galbraith" which is a pseudonym for JK Rowling, author of the Harry Potter books. It's really, really good. I don't usually like crime but this was superb. I would definitely recommend it
Tuesday, 13 August 2013
Monday, 12 August 2013
#63 - Read a non-fiction book and #98 - Read a book for next year
This is a biography of a chemist and each chapter is named after an element. It's not incredible, but it's alright.
Sunday, 11 August 2013
Saturday, 10 August 2013
100 things update #2
2. Go to Brandy Melville
5. Wear my swan skirt
6. Go on a plane
7. Go to Hogwarts
8. Get my results
9. Get easily into my next school
10. Buy some music for my ipod
13. Read 2 books a week
17. Try Churros
18. Go to Disney
19. Ride expedition everest with my eyes open
21. Finish catch 22
23. Finish all my books before the US
25. Take more photos
26. Buy all my clothes for school next year
27. Find a leather alternative bag
28. Buy a new school bag
30. Go to the zoo
33. Go to the Strand
34. Go to the 9/11 memorial
35. Drive something exciting
36. Learn the entire theory book for my exam in September
37. Buy the Naked Palette
38. Watch more films
40. Buy a book I've never heard of before in a store
41. Buy something in Barnes and Noble
42. Buy the new Sarah Dessen
43. Buy a Disney pin and trade one
44. Write everything in my stuff that happened to me book
46. Write a song
47. Write a book of lyrics
48. Write more
49. Get a henna tattoo
50. Learn a safety announcement in spanish
51. Make a 9/11 video
52. Have a read-a-thon
53. Go to a waterpark
55. Reread the entire pj series
57. Read all my BMJs cover to cover
59. Run in some sprinklers
60. Go on a roller coaster I have never been on before
61. Go to Kew Gardens
64. Talk to my friend Julia more
65. Write every day
66. Get better at guitar
67. Learn a guitar solo
68. Learn "1000 miles" on the piano
69. Get a decent book idea
70. Craft the spoon mirror
71. Redo my magnetic boards
72. Keep my room tidy
73. Go for a whole day without moaning about the temperature
74. Draw more manga
75. Make my Alan Curnow poem video
77. Become more adventurous with my clothes
79. Leave more nerdfighter notes
80. Avoid burning myself
81. Climb the rocks in central park
82. Go punting
83. Buy American stationary
84. Wear my Dorothy shoes
85. Get a stronger core
86. Go through airport security without beeping like a terrorist
87. Cry with happiness
88. Have my photo taken with Mickey
89. Blow bubbles
90. Go to Birmingham
93. Play with sparklers
96. Clear out my clothes
97. Buy some smart shoes
99. Use my diary
Done: 29/100
Blogged 14/29
Friday, 9 August 2013
#31 - See Now You See Me
Now You See Me is a "thriller" about magicians committing crimes. Do you know the best part? The ending wasn't predictable!
Wednesday, 7 August 2013
#45 - Organise an event with someone I don't usually go out with
This is Sophie. I have never gone out with Sophie before. Sophie likes Jedward, books and Slenderman.
#3 - Go on a train
I've been on several trains this summer: trains to London, trains to Oxford, trains to Staines and trains to Winnersh Triangle.
These were taken when I went to Oxford with my friend Sophie.
Tuesday, 6 August 2013
#62 - Go somewhere new in London
Shoreditch Road Market - Notting Hill
I love Notting Hill but I'd never been to Shoreditch Road and it was amazing. If you're in London visiting on a weekend I would really recommend it.
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