maria is highly unimpressed with the inability to post anything recently. not that she's necessarily had anything to post, but it's the principle...

music mourn

my life as I know it is over...Music Zone closed down in Durham yesterday! When I came back after Christmas I was surprised, yet delighted to find an 80% sale in music zone. My excitement was quickly deflated when I heard that the reason was, they were closing down nationwide. *sob sob* Yesterday, to my horror, I found out they had closed the one in Durham for good. Where will I go now when I'm stressed out and fed up, to buy a cheap DVD. My happiness vice as I know it has been lost!

always one to heal!

Having shared a room with Sarah in my first year, and then a house in second year, she got to know me pretty well! And she's always managed to send me presents that make me smile. Today I really needed cheering up. And I got an unexpected parcel through the post saying, I loved catching up with you last week, anytime you want to come to London you're more than welcome, but saw these and thought of you! Have them as a welcome back to Durham present!!
I love them! my very own Jesus plasters!! what more could I want?! They cheered me up a lot and we've been plotting since how to use them. I'm tempted to go into my lecture with one on my cheek tomorrow just because I think the lecturer will love it!!! But I have to say the free gift inside is just to die for...it's beyond hilarity and stupidity and made me smile for the first time today! Good effort!! :-)

nothing

Term starts on Monday morning and everyone arrives back in Durham tomorrow. I've been up here a good few days early so that the panic on how much work I have to do this term has really set in! Just tonight though I felt empty. Not as in lonely, or sad, or stressed, just empty. a nothingness, And while not really thinking about it a song a mate introduced me to last year about there being more to life came to mind. Don't know where the feeling came from or why it made me think of the song, and I'm sure by the morning it will all be forgotten. But if you know what I'm missing let me know cos I haven't time to think this term, at all, let alone to let my mind wander!!!

All in the life of a film

Last night we were watching 'Eyes Wide Shut'. Tom Cruise becomes involved by chance in some sort of cult in the film (which is ironic enough that he has become so involved in scientology now) but when watching him move from room to room with sexual activity taking part in all rooms, of all types, Emily said to me, 'what I want to know is what's going to happen when all those girls become pregnant', and midst copying up some notes on my computer while watching it, completely unphased, I said, 'oh no what they'll do is abort at a particular time, and then the foetuses will be eaten as part of a ritual', and then as an after thought, 'hey! i guess i have learnt some stuff over Christmas after all!' erm...does anyone else feel slightly disturbed by this?! It was only when I stopped and thought about it afterwards that I began to think- hang on, this is not a normal life you lead Maria!

oops

the easiest thing in the world would have been to come back to Durham and watch DVD's all day everyday. But I've been working on my dissertation and getting myself ready for the term. As a result I've ONLY watched 7 DVD's in the last 2 days. Does this count medically as an addiction????

it's the place to be

So I'm not procrastinating...honest! I just happened to notice a little link on MSN this morning when I was loading up my emails that said 'the top 7 sexiest cities'. How could I not look at it really!? No. 1 was Galway....excellent. My obsession with the Irish is obviously appreciated! No.2. Liverpool- well you know- I do practically live there some periods of the year. Not a usual destination choice but as it's European Capital of Culture in 2008 it's become the new place to be! And no. 3........(drum roll please)........Helsinki!!!!!! Yes I know, I'm as shocked as you are. Was not expecting that. And so I feel compelled to give you what they say about Helsinki. The only thing I have to change is that you should go BECAUSE it's the Eurovision, not despite!

(also...where the hell's cafe soda?? and most of the bars turn into nightclubs..or at least most of the nightclubs act as bars in the day so what's so special about it??)

If you recall French president Jacques Chirac's scathing comments about Finnish cuisine back in 2005, you may feel a little sceptical to read that Finland's capital city is fast becoming a gourmet's paradise. But Helsinki boasts many fine eateries, including Chez Dominique (the proud owner of two Michelin stars), and Mecca, a trendy new port of call where diners are given a choice of chefs, but not told the actual dishes (luckily, everything's delicious). It also pays to look out for restaurants offering the 'Helsinki Menu', which guarantees mostly organic ingredients.

In the evenings, the city's hip young things see how long they can stand the cold in the Arctic Icebar (the record is 90 minutes), then head to Cafe Soda - a bar that transforms into a nightclub after hours. Need more proof that Helsinki is hip? The city centre is packed with galleries and boutiques, where you can snap up homeware and accessories by Finnish designers such as Marrimekko. Oh, and Helsinki is hosting the Eurovision Song Contest in May - but don't let that put you off…

philosophising as a car

But it was long ago and it was far away,
Oh God it seems so very far
And if life is just a highway,
Then the soul is just a car

Nipped up to Spar last night to get some photocopying done and this song was playing in the car (Objects in the rear view mirror may appear closer than they are, Meatloaf). and those last two lines about the highway and the car, last night I thought that is just rubbish. there is no meaning behind it whatsoever, it's just two lines that fit in and rhyme correctly. This morning walking back home I thought...well actually, I guess that- and started philosophising that maybe I was being harsh last night, and there is something in it after all. What do you think? Do I need to get a life and step outside my degree for once?!

cricketers...the new soap stars in show business

well I promised you the freestyle dances from the strictly final...and yes they're online now :-) (there goes any hope I had of passing my degree....)
I'm not usually a huge fan of the freestyle, much more interesting to see the 'real' dances- but there's always a few advantageous lifts in them. So here you can see Mark's freestyle, and here Matt's.
It's been interesting this week seeing the competition 'just the two of us'. Try and mention to my brother that crickets boring and he wont talk to you for a week, he's a fanatic on it. But for those who aren't there's very little enthusiasm for the sport. That's why it's been interesting to see that last year's strictly winner was Darren Gough, this years, was Mark Ramprakash, and in the final of Just the Two of us, was Mark Butcher (who should have won it really in my opinion).
It seems these cricketers have a natural showbiz talent, well judging by their performance in the ashes this year, they may as well succeed in something!

moments of madness

Just a few picture of the Christmas that is(was) the Bajkowski household...

*blank*

i have nothing to say, and haven't had for a week. this is a new experience!......