The Ultimate Book Tag

Stolen from Oh Leona!

1. Do you get sick while reading in the car?
I don't know about the car these days. I used to get travel sick really badly with everything but then bus journeys to school helped me get used to that.

2. Which author's writing style is completely unique to you and why?
Probably Terry Pratchett, I haven't read much of his books yet but his world and his characters are so unique and his writing style is really cool too in a way I am rubbish at trying to describe.

3. Harry Potter series or the Twilight Saga? Give 3 points to defend your answer.
Harry Poter
1. The world is more complete with the schools and the ministry. Twilight is set completely in our world.
2. The characters are more well-rounded, they have flaws, they are ultimately human.
3. The fandom is so amazing and all the thought that goes into what could have happened outside the main books.

4. Do you carry a book bag? If so, what is it in (besides books...)?
I don't carry a specific book bag but I often carry a bag which may or may not have a book inside. Other things I carry are usually my work stuff, umbrella, diary, water, tissues etc. Basic things.

5. Do you smell your books?
If they're new then yes. I'm not a fan of old book smell.

6. Books with or without little illustrations?
I like it when books have little extras but it doesn't make much of a difference either way.

7. What book did you love while reading but discovered later it wasn't quality writing? 
The Twilight Saga. I loved them while reading them and I do still enjoy them but as I've got a bit older (I first read them when I was 18 and I'm now 24) I've started to realise that the writing quality isn't the best and the characters are very one-dimensional.

8. Do you have any funny stories involving books from your childhood? Please share!
Sadly no :(

9. What is the thinnest book on your shelf?
Probably the Harry Potter companion books. Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them is very skinny.

10. What is the thickest book on your shelf?
Probably The City of Heavenly Fire, it's tall and fat and annoyingly doesn't match the rest of the series so it has to stand alone >.< Also The Green Mile.

11. Do you write as well as read? Do you see yourself in the future as being an author?
I do! I'm procrastinating on writing a fantasy trilogy and I have loads of other ideas too, plus I've just started a Harry Potter Alice in Wonderland crossover fanfic but I don't know how far I'll get with that. I would love to be a published author like JK Rowling :D

12. When did you get into reading? 
I've always loved reading, my mum jokes that I used to climb over the other kids in nursery/school to get to the reading corner.

13. What is your favourite classic book? 
Black Beauty and Alice in Wonderland. And I'd say Harry Potter is a modern classic.

14. In school was your best subject Language Arts/English?
I'm guessing Language Arts is another name for English Literature i.e. all your Shakespeare and stuff... I wasn't very good at that. I was a bit better at English Language as that was more creative. But my best GCSE grades were actually for Art and History.

15. If you were given a book as a present that you had read before and hated... what would you do?
If it was someone I knew really well then I'd be honest. Depending on how long ago I'd read it I might try re-reading it to see if my opinion had changed. Beyond that I'm not sure.

16. What is a lesser known series that you know of that is similar to Harry Potter or the Hunger Games? 
Children of the Red King by Jenny Nimmo has similar themes to Harry Potter with boarding school, magic and sinister threats. They're targeted at a slightly younger audience, maybe 8-12 or something like that but I still love them. As for the Hunger Games, Divergent is another dystopian trilogy but of course fairly popular.

17. What is a bad habit you always do (besides rambling) while filming?
N/A

18. What is your favourite word?
I don't really have a favourite but I quite like magic, freckles, kitten, tree.

19. Are you a nerd, dork, or dweeb? Or all of the above?
A bit, yeah :)

20. Finally, full on romance or action-packed with a few love scenes thrown in? 
I can feel in the mood for both but on majority I prefer action-packed with a few love scenes.

My Smear Test Experience

I've read a few posts recently on people's experiences with their smear tests as both Becky Bedbug and Oh! Leona (currently inactive) have recently linked posts from young women about how it was for them. It was actually really good timing since I had my letter in March - I'm 25 in August - and was petrified. I ended up having to re-book my appointment as nerves meant I mis-read the time and I turned up an hour late.

I finally made it last Monday and I got there early so no worries about that. But they were running slightly late so I had more time to fret. The nurse I saw, Nicola, was really nice, she showed me the equipment and talked me through everything first. The only questions she asked were whether I was on any contraception (yes, the Depo Provera injection) and had I had a period recently (sort of, I had a slimy liver lump and some very light bleeding). I was expecting all sorts of awkward questions about my sex life or lack of...

 Then I went behind the curtain to remove my leggings and underwear. When I was ready and covered with a paper sheet she came round the curtain and donned a head lamp before raising the bed and positioning my legs.

The next stage was inserting the speculum which wasn't too bad and then the worst bit, the gradual opening which was quite uncomfortable for me personally since I've never have penetrative sex. However the nurse did stop or slow down whenever I said I was uncomfortable but of course there comes a point when you've just got to grit your teeth and bear it. I was certainly glad when the speculum was open fully because by that point I was thinking it would hurt way too much to go further. I barely felt the brush due to the discomfort (general feel of pinching at the top). I was told there was blood around my cervix which may have been a mini period I was unaware of or it may have been whatever existed of my hymen breaking. Because of the blood I was told it may be considered an inadequate sample in which case I'd have to go back and have it done again.

I was told to cough to help the speculum be removed and then the bed was lowered and I was left behind the curtain to re-dress. There were panty liners if I needed them but I wear one anyway (TMI, sorry!). That was that. I needed the loo pretty much straight away and there was a little blood when I wiped and for the rest of the day I felt like my insides were going to fall out which wasn't pleasant.

I had my follow up letter yesterday and the sample was not only adequate but normal so I'm all set now until 2018.