Art 'n' Articles 2.0

MERRY CHRISTMAS

Haunted Love

This story is my entry to the YPRL Short Story Competition 2011. 
I live in a small town. Not too many people live here, because it is said that the old Montagu house that stands on the far side of town is haunted. I wouldn’t be surprised if it was, but I don’t really believe in ghosts or spirits. I can see it from my bedroom window, and when I was little, I used to be afraid to fall asleep, because I felt like it was watching me.
Mum told me about the Montagu family. “Arthur and Esme Montagu were the kindest of folk, according to my mother,” she had said. “It was quite unfortunate, they had just bought a lovely new house, and they were especially impressed by the beautiful roses in the garden. Arthur worked as a horse-and-cart-driver. He was the equivalent of taxi driver now-days, but this was a long time ago. Anyway, one day, he was taking a mother and her son somewhere, and oh, that boy was a bit of a troublemaker. He was playing tricks on the horse, and the horse got very scared. It started running, and the cart somehow unlatched itself from the horse. Arthur fell to the ground, and well, the horse… trampled him.

“Esme was very upset over the death of her husband, and so she locked herself in the house. She had always been out in the garden, looking after her beautiful roses, but after that day, all the flowers withered, and no one saw Esme again. Some say she died in that house. Oh, the poor women…” Mum doesn’t believe that there is anything in that house.

The boys next door to me told me they were dared to stay the night there. They couldn’t stay an hour, because they were too scared. They said they heard an ear-piercing scream saying, “Get out! Get out! How dare you come into my house?” They’ve never even looked at the house since then; and they were the kind of people who boast about not being scared of anything at all.

“Justin! Eric!” I call out to the boys one morning, as I go outside to collect the newspaper. They were sitting out on the lawn; they seemed to be shaking with fear. I ran over to them. “Guys, what’s wrong? You look like you’ve just seen a ghost!”

“We have,” they cried in unison. I didn’t know how to react to this. They had always been making up lies to get me scared about ghosts and demons.

“You’ve used that one before,” I say in a stern voice. “I’m not going to fall for your tricks again.”

“We’re being serious Laura,” Eric yells. “There was a ghost in our bedroom. It was the same one we saw at that creepy, haunted house!”

“Ghosts and spirits don’t exist!” I argue with them for the millionth time. “I’m not going to fall for your stupid lies anymore!”

“We’re not lying!” They shout at me. I can see tear stains on Justin’s cheeks, and his eyes are quite red.

“Okay, fine,” I say. “I’m not saying I believe you, but maybe, there was. What do we do about it?”

“Laura, stop it!” Justin cries. “Ghosts are real, I’ve seen them with my own eyes! If you don’t believe me then maybe you should stay a night at that creepy old house!”

“Maybe I will,” I scream, “and I’ll prove that ghosts aren’t real, but you two will have to come with me.”

“Why?” Eric yells. “Because you’re scared?”

“Of what?” I say. “I’ll need you with me so you don’t think I’m lying anymore when I say that there is no such thing as ghosts, or spirits, or whatever you want to call them!

“And if I can stay there an entire night – unlike you two did – then you two have to give up this supernatural nonsense for good!”

“Fine,” Eric yells. “But if you don’t, which you’re not, then you have to admit that there is such a thing as the supernatural, and there is a ghost living in that house!”

“You’re on,” I say, shaking hands with both of them. “We meet at the house tonight. If I don’t stay there the entire night, you win. If I do, then I win. Fair and square, right?”

I wander into the front garden that night and see the two boys already walking up to the house. They see me and stop for me to catch up to them. I fling my sleeping bag over my shoulder and we make our way to the Montagu house.

It’s scarier up close. The garden surrounding it – which sounds like it must have been magnificent in its day – was dead and black. Old tree branches were swaying in the wind, and the looked like skeleton fingers, just about to pick me up and through me away from this terrible place. I’ll admit, maybe I was a little bit scared. But I refused to admit that to Justin and Eric.                         

I raised my hand to open the door handle, but the door swung open by itself. “Uh, it was the wind,” I quickly say. Justin and Eric were already shaking. I stepped into the house, and Justin and Eric followed me very closely. We were barely in the house when the door slammed shut behind us. The house was very big and quite beautiful, but was full of dust and was not in a good state at all. There was a huge chandelier above us as we stepped into what must have been the living room area. We took a few minutes to look around before the room began to shake. It started off gently but got bigger by the second. The chandelier was shaking abruptly, and before we had time to think, it was falling. Thankfully the room was very tall and we had barely enough time to run out of the way of the chandelier before we heard it come crashing down. The whole house was still rapidly shaking, and everything was being flung everywhere.

When I first heard it, I thought it was one of the boys. But once I listened, I could hear the heartbreak in their voice. “Were you the ones who caused my husbands death?” Screamed the ear-piercing voice of Esme Montagu. The boy’s screams were so load that I lost my hearing for a few seconds. They fled out of the house, screaming louder than ever before.

“No! I didn’t do it! I swear I had nothing to do with your husbands death!” I yelled. I span around, trying to see anything at all that could have been the cause of the wicked, cold, heartbroken voice.

“You lie!” I shrieked again. The house shook more furiously, but all doors and windows seemed to have vanished. I was trapped.

“I’m innocent,” I cry. “Please, just let me go! I didn’t do anything!”

“Then why are you breaking into my home? You must pay for what you have done! You must be punished!”

“I didn’t do anything! Please! I’m just trying to prove something to my friends! But I am obviously wrong, so I will be leaving now…” I tried to find a door or something to exit this horrible place from, but I was blocked.  I began to cry. “Please, I don’t know what it is like to lose someone so close to you, but you have got to face the facts. He is gone, and so are you. You’re just a ghost who hasn’t yet entered their afterlife. The person responsible for your husband’s death is probably already long gone. You’ve got to let go of the past and go on into the future. Trust me, it’s what Arthur would’ve wanted.” The house stopped shaking; everything went quiet.

“Esme, please,” I whispered.

Before my very eyes, the house seemed to piece itself together. The broken chandelier rose into the air and resembled before right in front of me. All the broken plates and dusty books flew back to where they were originally. The house became brighter and happier, like it must have been back in its day. A figure appeared before me. A woman who looked like she must have been in her late 30’s was smiling at me. Esme Montagu was more beautiful than I imagined.

“Thank you,” she said. “I am sorry for all that I have done. You are right. Our time has passed, and I must let go and continue into the future.” A single rose appeared in the palm of her hand. She handed it to me. Another figure appeared next to Esme, and together, Arthur and Esme walked arm-in-arm into the light that lead them to their afterlife.

The house returned into its dull, old self, and everything was normal. I smelt the rose that the ghost of Emse Montagu had given me as walked into the cold night, preparing to admit that the supernatural is real, and that even after death, love lives on forever.

Trick or Treat: A Halloween Tale

The sounds of children filled the air as Luke and Mary-Anne skipped out of their house dressed in their scariest costumes and carrying their pumpkin shaped bags ready to be filled with sweets and candy.

The streets were filled with children running from house to house yelling "Trick or Treat!' and demanding sweets. They waved goodbye to their mother, and set off down the street.

Their first 'victim' greeted them with a smile and gave them enough candy to last a week. The children thanked the neighbour - who was busy satisfying other customers - but were not satisfied with the amount of candy she had given them. They ran to the next house.

A young man answered the door and politely gave the two children a large paper bag filled with sweets each. The children were overwhelmed with his generosity and thanked him very much. They then noticed that most of the other children walking around also has been given a large paper bag from the man.

"Well, where should we go now?" asked Luke.
"Do you seriously think we don't have enough candy," argued Mary-Anne. She had always been the more responsible child.
"But we have only been to two houses! Why stop now?"
"Because if we eat anymore candy then this then we will get holes in our teeth and mummy and daddy won't be happy, especially because I told you that we already have been given enough."
"You're not getting into the spirit of the holiday! Just one more house, okay?"
"Fine," Mary-Anne said reluctantly.

They approached the next house, but for some reason they were the only ones who did. All the other children skipped that house and continued on to the ones across the road.
However, Luke had no problem approaching the house and dragged his sister along with him.

The house looked rather scary, and it wasn't just because it was Halloween. The tree's were all dead and black, and the house itself didn't look like it was in a good state at all. A single light was on upstairs, so the children knocked on the door and waited for a response.

They heard a shuffling of feet and mumbling coming from inside the house, before an elderly man opened the door. He looked very grumpy and was obviously angry that the children had disturbed him.

"Trick or treat!" The children yelled in unison.
"Oh, halloween," the old man mumbled, "go away, I don't have any candy." He began to slam the door close, but Luke stuck his foot in the doorway.
"Sir, we said Trick or treat, so unless you want us to come back later and tee-pee your house, then I suggest you give us some candy, pronto!" said Luke quite rudely.
"Fine, come in, I'll see what I can give you, you ungrateful kids," said the man. He shuffled into another room mumbling nasty comments about children.

"Luke, you're so rude! He said he didn't have anything so let's go. And anyway, mum said never to go into a stranger's house."
"Mary-Anne, don't be such a goody-two-shoes," Luke said. "I don't know if you've noticed, but it's halloween! I want candy, so come on!"
He grabbed hold of Mary-Anne's wrist and pulled her into the old man's house, slamming the door shut behind him.

They looked around and saw that the house was in an even worse a state then they thought. Mould and cobwebs covered the walls, and it smelt like rotten fish.

"Here you go," the old man said from behind, shoving two pieces of rotten corn at the kids. "It's candy corn, very nutritious."
"Uh, thank you, sir" said Mary-Anne, "but we really should be going now."
"You're not going anywhere," said the old man. He locked the doors and threw the keys through the window, before slamming the window shut. He grabbed the children's wrists and pulled them into a dark room. The children saw human skeletons resting against the walls and blood was dripping from the ceiling.
"Are we about to die?" screamed Luke.
"I told you we should've just gone home, I told you not to come into this house!"
"Mary-Anne, are you serious, we are about to get killed and you worried about that!"
"We would be safe at home if you had listened to what I said!"
A grey-ish mist poured out from the walls and the old man left the children gasping on the ground, locking them in.
"I'm too young to die!" gasped Luke.
The blood dripping from the roof had settled in a pile. It rose from the ground as if human-like and began to twist into different shapes, getting closer and closer to the children.
It fell upon their legs and grew bigger and bigger, covering the children and disguising their screams.



The old man entered the room. The dripping blood was once again settled on the ground, and againsts his wall rested two new skeleton figures.
The children were never seen again...

EduBlogs Challenge #5 - Zoom Post 3

My favourite Challenge has come again. Zoom Post! I have done this one very single challenge because I love it that much!
Simelar to last weeks challenge of continuing the story, this week (again) I need you guys to help commenting on this post. 'Zoom Out' of this picture and tells me what is happening and why?

Original Description:
We tried this activity in the challenge in September 2010. Choose a picture, and have your readers zoom out, so to speak, by leaving comments. So maybe something simple, like a pillow, and the first commenter describes something bigger around the pillow (like a couch) and the next commenter would write about the room it was in, and the next could zoom out the window and do the house, etc.  If doing this activity, include the word ‘zoom’ in your title so I can find it easily. Remember to give attribution. Most important here is to read previous comments, so you can add to the story.


I'll start. So it is obvious that this is a young child and they are very sad. 


What else? Leave it in the comments below and if you need inspiration have a look at my last two Zoom Posts. 
Zoom Post.
Zoom Post 2

EduBlogs Challenge #3 - Write your own story!

For this weeks Challenge, I chose to do something that was a little similar to last challenges and the challenge before thats Zoom Post.
Again, I need your help to make this post work.

What I have to do is write the beginning of a story, and you, the commenters, comment the next part of the story. YOU decide what happens.

Here is the story opening:

Jasmine Fisher sat in her bedroom staring at a white envelope addressed to her. She had known exactly what it was when she snatched it out of her mothers hands and ran to her room to open it in peace. 
Her nervous hand gently pulled at the seal and she carefully took the folded letter out of the envelope. Her heart stopped as she read the words on the page. She didn't want to believe it, but here it was, staring her right in the face.

What could the letter have said? Well I need you to decide that. Just write the next part of the story in the comments below.
I look forward to hearing all your great ideas!

EduBlogs Challenge #2 - Australian Quiz (Widget)

For this week the challenge was to talk about my country.
One of the options was to make a quiz/trivia about my country. I decided I would give that a go and it turned out pretty well. There are only 5 questions though.

This website was really fun and easy to use. Make you're own quiz by clicking here.

                                                                           
                                           

EduBlogs Challenge #1 - Why did you start the Challenge?

Hey Guys! 
So the EduBlogs student Challenge has started again. And this week I just have to answer a few simple questions:

Why did you join the blogging challenge? 

Because when I first saw it last year I thought it would be a great thing to do during the holidays that was happening that time and I am doing it for the third time again now because I have always learnt so much from it and it is really fun.

What do you hope some of the activities include?

More creative challenges and some that are a bit different from the last challenges. Eg. not 'How to put pictures on your blog' again please!

Finally, what do you hope to get out of the challenge by the end of the ten weeks? 

I hope that I get to learn as much as I have in the last two challenges, and most importantly, I have FUN!

I'll always remember thee.

Hey guys! I wrote this when I found out that my best friend was moving to China for two years. I had so many emotions going on and I thought it would turn into a great poem (and it did).

Dear friend,

Is this the end?

Or is this just the beginning.

You have to leave,

And although I feel grieved,

I’ll try to seem like I’m grinning.

I’ll try to be strong;

Try to hold on,

And try to be positive too.

I’ll try not to cry,

When it comes to ‘goodbye,’

But that doesn’t mean I won’t miss you.

It’s only been a short while,

But if feels like a mile

Of time that we’ve been friends.

But I’ll put it on hold,

Until I am told

That you’ve come back again.

So I want you to know,

That even though,

You may not be near me,

We’ll always be friends,

Even when our life ends,

And I’ll always remember thee. 

Writers Block

Sorry I haven't posted in a while. I haven't really had anything to post. I did write this the other day though, so at least I have an excuse for not posting in such a long time.

I have the worst sickness someone like me can get. My brain is dead and I've lost all those creative juices I had going on.
I have writer's block.

So I found this website with all these tips for curing writers block.
They say the best cure for writers block is to take a break. Well, I haven't posted anything since May, and my last post was just a video, that a long enough break?

Okay, the next on this website says to play the Word Association game. And they even gave a word to start with! Oh, how considerable. 'Salad' (nice word)! Okay, lets go. Salad, bowl, soup, chicken, egg, lay, rest, sleep, bed, pyjamas, pillow, cushion, couch, television, The Simpson's, Homer, 'D'oh!', donuts, pink icing, strawberries, plant, lettuce, salad. Okay, I don't think that was supposed to happen...and how was that supposed to help anyway?


Next: Eat a snack; get on a sugar high. Huh! I never knew writers were encouraged to get on Sugar Highs, but you don't want to see this girl after she's had to much sugar. (You might as well have given me laughing gas and it would have the same effect!)


Draw a picture. Well, I did. It was of Justin Bieber. And then Kissen' Kate Barlow (homework). And again, that is suppose to help how?


Oh, this next one I like! Find a writing buddy. Anyone up for a bit of idea sharing?


Ask your readers. Well, thank you Darion for that request for a sequel to my story Shame on Me, I've been thinking about it, the only problem is, my writer's block is preventing me from being inspired.


Well, I could go on for ages, but most of these ideas would probably not help, or I've already done them. I guess it's back to bed with a bit of chicken soup for me until I overcome this horrible sickness.

Art 'n' Articles official advert

Here is the official video I created to promote this website. Show it to your friends, post it on facebook, please spread the word about Art 'n' Articles. It would be much appreciated.

Hurtful words...

I try to be strong and to not be affected,

but those hateful words make me feel rejected.

They make me feel lost,

like I don't know where I belong,

although I've been here at home all along.

Is that how you really feel?

Is that the truth?

Why now do you decide,

to come steal my youth.

You been quiet for so long, 

so kind and so caring,

but now those thin lies,

are just slowly tearing.

Do you find pleasure

in making me feel small?

I know they are just words,

so why can't I stand tall?

EduBlogs Challenge #10 - My Blog is...

For this weeks challenge(the last week!) I decided to make this. I used this website called answergarden. I will be interested in seeing your responses. (Just type them in.)

I have enjoyed this challenge very much and can not wait until next time.


This blog is...... at AnswerGarden.ch.

EduBlogs Challenge #9 - Blog Audit

For this week's challenge I decided to make an audit about my blog since the beginning of March.
How many posts did you write? Well...last challenge I wrote 18 posts in the 2 and a half months that the challenge went on for, but this challenge, I only wrote a third of that.

How many were school based, your own interests or set by the challenge? My blog is a home blog, so I had no school based posts. My own interest - 1, Set by the Challenge - 6. (It is only week nine, and 3 of the challenges were not compulsery to actually write a post.)

How many comments did you receive from classmates, teachers or overseas students? 7, but thankyou very much to those who did.

Which post received the most comments? Why do you think that happened? My Environmental Movie had the most comments. I think maybe because it was something different.

Which post did you enjoy writing the most and why? My Environmental Movie was really fun to make and write about.

Did you change blog themes at all and why? No, I didn't. I haven't really changed my theme at all since I created this blog, because I like the theme I have, and think it is very simple and elegant, and that is what I want my blog to look like. And I guess it looks recognisable too if I keep the same theme on.

How many widgets do you have? Do you think this is too many or not enough? 10, maybe I should sought through them...

How many overseas students do you have on your blogroll? Well, I only know of one, but there were five other blogs that didn't say what country they are from.

The Mermaid of Zennor

There once lived a handsome young man, who was fascinated by the ocean. As well as his love for the ocean, he loved to sing. He had a beautiful singing voice that could enchant any girl.

One day, the man was sitting on a rock near the waters edge singing his beautiful song. All of a sudden, a beautiful woman rose from the water, wearing a long blue-green dress. “Excuse me sir,” the woman said, “your voice has enchanted me, would you mind singing me a song?” The man thought this woman was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen, and so how could he say no? As the woman sat beside him, he began to sing to her. As he looked into her eyes, he fell deeply in love with her.

Not long later, the man and woman were married and living happily in a house just by the water. Soon, they had a baby. It was a beautiful baby boy, but the woman was ashamed of it. She would not let anyone see him, and so she took the baby boy in her arms and walked into the water. The man tried to stop her, but she would not listen. He sat on the very same rock were he had first seen his wonderful wife, and waited for her to rise back up from the water. For three days he waited, but the women never returned. People came up to him and told him that she must have drowned, and that there was no point waiting anymore. But the man was madly in love with the woman, and so one day, he stood up and walked into the water after her. He was never seen again.

EduBlogs Challenge #7 - The Environment

For the Edublogs Challenge this week, I chose to make a mini movie about the Environment. I used this really cool website called Xtranormal. It was really fun and easy to make; all you basically have to do is type the monologue. Anyway, check it out.

EduBlogs Challenge #6 - My Wordle

For the Challenge this week, I chose to make a wordle for my blog. I used the ImageChief website, which I think is one of the better websites to use when making wordles.

EduBlogs Challenge #5 - Zoom Post 2

Last year during the challenge, this activity came up, and I chose to do it. It was a huge sucess, so when I had the chance to do it again, I thought, 'Why not?' So that is what I am doing for this weeks Challenge.

Original description:

We tried this activity in the last challenge in September. Choose a picture, and have your readers zoom out, so to speak, by leaving comments. So maybe something simple, like a pillow, and the first commenter describes something bigger around the pillow (like a couch) and the next commenter would write about the room it was in, and the next could zoom out the window and do the house, etc.  If doing this activity, include the word ‘zoom’ in your title so I can find it easily. Remember to give attribution. Most important here is to read previous comments, so you can add to the story.

It is really fun to do, and when you contribute, it is even better. So this is the picture I have chosen to do:

Everyone seems to cringe at the sound of Fingernails on Blackboards, and I thought it would be something a little different.

Please contribute by leaving comments, and if you haven't already seen my original Zoom Post then please check it out.

EduBlogs Challenge #3 - Global Audience: Earth Hour

The Challenge for this week was to write about your Global Audience, and this got me thinking. I believe this challenge is inspiration, and it has inspired me to write about Earth Hour.
I found this video on the EduBlogs Student Challenge website to be truly beautiful and inspiring.

In 2007, 2.2 million individuals and 2,000 businesses in Sydney turned their lights of for one hour in hope that they would help take a stand against Climate change. Only one year later did this become a global wonder that is still thriving to this very day. Even world landmarks, like the Sydney Harbour Bridge and Rome’s Colosseum stood in darkness as a symbol of hope for a cause that grows more urgent by the hour.


Last Year, over 128 countries and territories took part in Earth Hour, making it the biggest Earth Hour yet. We all stood in darkness for the one thing that is most important to us, the one thing we all have in common - our planet.


Earth Hour 2011 will take place on Saturday the 26th of March at 8.30pm (local time). Try to go beyond the hour; all actions add up. When you turn those light back on, think about what else you can do to make a difference. It is true that one person can change the world.


So I will be there on the fifth Earth Hour, helping our planet, will you?

EduBlogs Challenge #1 - Why Visit me?

So it's that time of year again, for the EduBlogs Student Challenge. I must admit that I have not been blogging as much as I would like to since the last challenge finished, but hopefully I will be seeing this blog a lot more during the course of this Challenge.

In this Challenge, I had to answer a single question: Why you should visit my blog? Well I try to make regular posts, (although lately I have been struggling) and write about the things that interest you. My blog is all about what I love to do, and that is writing. I belive that if you love what you are doing, than people will love the finished product.
I was also advised to recommend some of my previouse blog post to my readers, just to let you know what I am all about.

Take Flight is one of my favourite posts. It is one of the many stories I have written and will continue to.
Mao's Last Dancer is one of my reviews I have done. This is something I don't so a lot of, but will try to more often.
True Friend is a basic poem I wrote a while ago. I will usually put up a poem every now and again.
A Day in the Life of... is something that I do every now and then, a preview of a piece of art I have done. I haven't really done this a lot, but will try to put more up.

So that is what you can expect from my blog. And trust me, you won't be disappointed by what you get. I really hope you stop by again, and enjoy the rest of my blog.

Shame on me

"Fool me once, shame on you," I say, trying to psych my brother up, "fool me twice, shame on me."
"Well begin to feel shameful," he says, "because you're going down, down to the ground."
"I don't think so," I say, I'm going to win this bet. How about...the loser has to dress up in a chicken suit and walk around town for three whole hours."
"A chicken suit?" he says, "you're on. You better find your feathers because I am not loosing to a girl who is two years younger than me."
"Are you sure about that?" I say. "Let's see, if I remember correctly, I've won at least the last four bets we've had. I wouldn't feel so confident if I were you. Here are the rules: First person to get the the park wins. The short cuts aloud, or cutting across gardens, strictly the path mapped out. If you somehow cheat in anyway, the other person wins. Deal?"
"Deal," he says. We shake hands on it."
"Okay," I say, "on your mark, get set, go!" As I say the last word, Max rushes in front of me and blocks my path before I have even started. "Hey!" I say, "two can play at that game." I run to the side and slightly of onto the grass beside the path before running in front of Max and blocking his path so that I am in the lead. He tries to do the same, but I kick myself and speed up out of sight. I hear Max shriek with pain, and turn around to see him lying on the path almost in tears. I stopped running and walk over to him. I give him my hand to help me up, but by grabbing it, he pulls me down. I land in an awkward position, my leg spread out and me landing right on top of it. I scream with pain, and see Max jumping with joy in the distance. I begin to cry. Max skips back over to me with a nasty look on his face. "Nobody likes a cry-baby sis, but lets face it, I'm better than you." He smirks.
"I'm not crying because you won," I say, "I'm crying because what you did to me really hurt me. I can't move my leg! You're disqualified! You cheated!"
"No I didn't," he says, "I tricked you, there is a difference." I hate to admit it, but he's right. "Anyway looser," he continues, "I've gotta get home and order you a chicken suit. Later sis!"He waves as he walk back home. I don't move, I just watch as he abandons me. I pull the leg of my jeans up to reveal blood pouring down my leg. I need Max. I call out to him, but he is so far away that he doesn't hear. I feel around in my back pocket for my mobile phone, but I must have left it at home. I somehow manage to pull myself up, and start limping back home. I reach the road where I need to cross, but a car stops in front of me. The front window winds down, and mum is sitting there is shock. "Andrea! What are you doing? You brother is  at home, I came looking for you. I was so worried!" Tears continue to pour down my face. "He tricked me, I'm in agonising pain. I need help mum. Get me home." She rushes out of the car and helps me into the back seat.
I walk into my bedroom, after having mum rinse my leg and bandage it up. There, laying on my bed is a yellow chicken suit. Max walks in from behind me. "Found one on the way home. Now get dressed, we don't have all day, three hours is a pretty long time."
So here I am, walking around town in a yellow chicken suit. I've already had many rude comments, and still have two hours left of this. That spells out embarrassment for you. But you better watch out Max, because I'll get you next time, I'll make it even, I'll show you...

'Avalon High': Nothing is what it seems

In this modern day movie about a medieval legend, Allie Pennington, who is used to being the new girl in the block, is excited when her Professor parents (who are experts at the legend of King Arthur and the Knights of the round table) decide to stay in one place for an entire three years. (Which is unusual for the Pennington family, who is used to moving every six months.) This means that she will beat her new school to Graduate, make new friends, and be able to try out for the Track and Field team.

Soon after arriving at Avalon high, she realises that something about this school and her fellow classmates is very strange.

She becomes friends with her history partner Miles, and the class president/football quarter-back Will, along with Wills long-term girlfriend Jenn, and meets his 'evil' step brother Marco.

Allie is convinced that Will is the reincarnation of King Arthur, and Marco is his enemy, Mordred.

With the help of Merlin, she must convince Will that his destiny is to save the world, before Mordred destroys him.

But remember, nothing is what it seems.


This is possibly not what some may call 'a typical Disney movie', but all in all, it was definitely better than some movies I have seen recently. With a moral of teamwork and friendship, I am adding this one to my list of favourite Disney movies.

Now showing on Disney Channel. Based on the book by Meg Cabot.

My Family

There is one thing in life, that we seem to forget how important it is, how much we need it, or how much we love it. But it's something that we can't live without, something that will love you back, something that will be there for you no matter what.
Your family is the most important thing in your life, whether you like it or not. They help you grow up, they turn you into something great, and they know that whatever you want to do with your life is the best thing you can do. They trust and care about you. When you love them, they'll love you back.
My family is sometimes strange, sometimes embarrassing, but I've learnt to put that all aside, and think about how lucky I am to have them right there with me, every step of the way.
My brothers have taught me logic, they have made me a smart person, and helped me to excel in school. They teach me things everyday about the world around me.
My dad taught me to be myself. To do what I love, and not let others get in the way of that. He taught me that being yourself is better than being someone else.
And my mum taught me how to live life to the best. She taught me to try whatever I want to try, to believe in my dreams and achieve them.

These four people have made me someone I am proud to be. Someone unlike anyone else. Someone different.
And these four people are the only people I love more than anything. They're strange, embarrassing and a bit quirky, and so am I, that's what makes us family. <3