What's new

Hi world.

I've just arrived back at University from being at home for a month on my Easter holidays. It went far too quickly, and I'm already a bit homesick, which, to be honest, is pretty bad. I'm 19, I need to man the hell up and stop whining. I'm going back in 5 weeks so I should suck it up and be strong. It probably won't happen, but it's nice to give myself a bit of motivation.

The Easter holidays were fantastic. I saw my friends, I saw my family, I lost my mobile, I got my mobile replaced. I went to the cinema, I went to Croydon, I went to the pub (several times), I went to see my favourite band in the entire world in Hammersmith. I laughed. I cried. I fell over (several times, and not just while drunk). I've worn ridiculous clothes (many thanks to my close "friend" Daisy Ottman for that one). The one thing, I regrettably have to admit that I haven't done, is work.

But I'm back now, ready to crack on, take the bull by the horns, etc. etc.... Although, admittedly, I have been awake for the best part of 6 hours, and I am still yet to actually get anything productive done, other than help my housemate unpack his shopping, break the shower, and write this blog.

Tonight, I'm going to a St. George's Day themed party for my friend's birthday. It should be quite interesting, although I'm a bit anxious about how the evening will pan out. First of all, my friend is putting the guys and girls into pairs, so each 'damsel in distress' (that would be the girls) has a 'knight' (that would be the guys) to take care of her all night. And yet in all honesty, I've been having a quick stalk on Facebook of the guys attending this thing, and quite frankly, I'm unimpressed. And while three of my best guy mates have been invited as well, two of them are boyfriend and boyfriend, and have asked to be paired up together, and the other one is no longer going. So I, no doubt, will be stuck with winner of least attractive man of the year award who has more spots than a dot to dot puzzle and a face which looks like it's been hit by a bus. Wonderful.

10 little facts

Hi world. Because I'm a newbie to this whole blogging thing, I thought it would be good to introduce myself properly.

1. I'm British, and I'm proud of it. I have no idea what the most popular nationality of bloggers is on here, but I'm guessing most of them are Americans. I've heard the Americans like the British. So I thought that might be a good place to start.

2. I'm 19 year old - a 'spring chicken', as my Grandmother would say. The world's my oyster at the moment. I'm still figuring out who I am and what I want to do with my life, but enjoying the ride.

3. I'm a first year student at University studying English Literature. I really really love English. It's mind-blowing when you think about the enormity of power that words hold, the way they can change things, the way books can influence a debate, and raise awareness to issues and problems within Western societies and culture. I know so many people who consider English to be such a doss subject because obviously, English people use English as a language all the time. But they're wrong - English is not all it's cracked up to be. It goes way beyond anything you ever learnt at senior school. More English-related blog posts to come. You're probably getting the sense that I like English.

4. Of course, I really should have put this as the number one thing about myself, but to be honest, the thought didn't even cross my mind. If you haven't already guessed, I'm a girl. The name 'Natalie' probably gave it away. I'm yet to meet a boy named Natalie, but if you happen to come across one, tell him I said hi.

5. I bite my nails. It's an awful habit which I've been trying to shake off for the past 15 years. Not having much luck thus far.

6. I am likely to be one of the clumsiest human beings you will ever meet in your entire life. My severe lack of co-ordination is actually prize-winning and I'm surprised I am yet to be awarded some form of certificate or medal for my fantastic efforts in dropping things, breaking things, spilling things.... shamefully the list goes on.

7. I have a bit of an addiction to music and have my radio on every day, my favourite bands being Coldplay, Arctic Monkeys, The Vaccines and so on. I'm also a huge lover of the band McFly (most people mock them, I, however, worship them). I'm going to see them for the third time in April with my best friends and we are all very very excited.

8. My ultimate best friend, my partner in crime, my right-hand man (or woman, in this instance), my top amigo, my sister-from-another-mister, is called Alice. I've known her for 8 years, I'd trust her with my life and I know I can rely on her in any situation. We've had ups and downs like any friendship has, but we always pull through and we already know that we'll continue to be best friends until we're covered in wrinkles and liver spots, being carted around in wheelchairs shouting the odds at whoever gets in our way.

9. I also have a fantastic group of mates who mean the absolute world to me.  You know you see in those typical coming-of-age movies about school cliques and little girl troupes parading around, generally being a bit wacky and getting into all sorts of madness? That's us. I have so many great memories being with those girls, and now with everyone off doing their own thing, it's a rarity that we get to be all together again like the old days. But when we get the chance to reunite as a group, it's as though absolutely nothing has changed.

10. Fact number ten. (I'd better make this a good one.) Since I haven't mentioned them, and I really should, I want to talk about my family. Like most people, I have a Mum and a Dad and I've also got two brothers. My family mean everything to me and I'm definitely a family-orientated, 'homey' person. I love being at home, even if we're not doing anything exciting, just being there is fantastic in itself. My family and I gel together so well, we fit together like pieces of a puzzle. I love them to bits and genuinely can't imagine how awful life would be without them.