Can anyone say, "China, what the hell?" The answer is probably no, but the new requirements for the olympic games are quite ridiculous. If you ask me, they should be boycotted. How's this, no competitor may wear shirts or flags that constitute a political point of view at the olympics. They're being asked to sign a contract to that effect and the results of breach of contract are considerably worrying. A violation allows the Chinese government and state police to hold the violater for 72 hours without informing the relevant embassy. *blinks* UM.

Furthermore, they can revoke exit visas! Surely an expulsion from the games and the country would be the proper response? Locking up people and refusing to tell their embassy seems oddly shady to me, not to mention the ability to prevent the offenders from leaving the country.

*images of Chinese prisons filled with flag-wearing offenders flash across page* O_o This is my concerned face.

Anyway, that aside, it's been an interesting week. My uncle, who's the headmaster of a Christian school in Adelaide called Tyndale, has made his home open to six extra youths for the next week. Heathdale is a school in Melbourne who come over every two years to compete with the Tyndalians and consequently, they need a place to say. So, on top of myself and my five cousins, we have six extras. Not to mention the visiting guests who want to be a part of the action. it's a little crowded at home and not very quiet. (There goes my politics studying. ::cough:: What a shame. ::cough::

In other news the 30 Rock finale is on tomorrow night and I'll probably only get it on Staurday, but then it'll be over and I'll go back into withdrawal. (Of course, I survived the writer's strike so I'm sure I can survive summer hiatus.) Anyway, I hope it's good and it better resolve some stuff or I'll explode. (Well, maybe not, but I'll definitely be a little miffed.)

( 30 Rock Spoilers )

Moving on...

I'm feeling pretty feeble and girly at the moment, I've put on some weight and my face seems to think that spotty is an attractive look. Arg. Damn Australian eating habits that rub off on me! :( I'll get over it though, I just need to change something to make me happy that I'm looking after myself. Otherwise I am content.

Missing everyone back home today, just wish I could sink back into an old routine for the day and then revert back. (Oh for it to be that simple. Soemone should really invent the teleport. Gosh.)

While university is turning out to be infinitely harder than it was last year, I'm finally feeling a little more relaxed about my life and where I'm heading. Sure, I've got three million chapters to read for tomorrow and my Politics tutor is literally from hell, but I finally feel like this is becoming home. So I've made it through the shell shock and, in the immortal words of Liz Lemon, "I didn't die!"

Oz has been treating me awesomely, the people here are great and my family has been amazing support. Is it weird that I haven't seen my cousins at all for most of my life and yet I feel like I know them better than some of my friends? It's a strange thing, but it helps a lot too.

Anyway, my life is getting scarily organised. I have an awesome routine for varsity, (I wrote an Ode to Public Transport, I'll post it one day.) Church is amazing, lots of great people and great hearts wanting to serve God. I'm getting involved, in the near future, with productions that will be awesome and I might actually join the South Australian Light Opera Society. Glee!

Also, my cousin and I have just started a fitness routine recommended by the Australian Defense Force. It's tough, but so great. It's a get fit in 4 weeks programme. Amazing results... I also finally got my boxes from SA! It's so good to have my stuff around me. :) My books especially. Oh yes, Ali, I found that fic that you and I wrote in Form 2, "Vendetta"... It's hysterical. We should finish it by e-mail even though it has no point and is completely devoid of actual X-Files characterisations... :P

On the other hand, I'm really missing my family and friends... I spoke to Avril on the phone and cried for about an hour afterward... :( Also, some friends and I went to the beach on Saturday night to listen to the waves and watch the stars and I missed Et so much I thought I might die... It's amazing, I felt quite confused before I left and now that I can't see him until next year, my heart is aching for him. :(

Anyway, I'll be ok. Just got to keep holding on and enjoy feeling more and more at home. Also, I'm taking joy in little things, like this awesome X-Files icon. Sigh, how I do miss Scully.

Missing you all!

Hello from Adelaide Australia! Everything here is made of awesome right now... Especially the ability to safely walk the streets of the city! Had an awesome morning at varsity getting stuff done. It's going to be great. :)

Anyway, awesome is... THE X-FILES 2 TRAILER! AAAAA! *deep breath*



Here are some pics of the WonderCon function where it was released. I cannot wait for the sequel, it's going to be amazing. Gillian Anderson is looking so great at the moment... Loving having the red hair back. Never mind DD, he's not important. Scully was ALWAYS more important. :P



Squee! So good to have the team back together again! :)
Anyway, here it is: (Ok, it's a terrible view, but it's the bloody trailer!)

The X Files 2 Trailer

YES! Ok, enough. Bye!

Ok, I don't even know where to begin. Just... gah! *squeals*

Ok, ok... I went to see 'The King and I' tonight. It was a real treat because I thought I was going to be gone before it was on stage. Anyway, it was AWESOME. I love the story (despite its being fiction and passed off as truth) and being a hopeless romantic, it was truly squee-worthy. ^_^

Also, it was brilliantly amusing. I loved the combination of wit and physical comedy. (There's an amazing 'Your head must always be lower than King's' scene that's completely silent but hilarious.) It was exquisite and the music? SUPERB. Marisa Bosman played the part of Tuptim and her voice blew me away, so gentle and controlled but with such obvious power behind it. Oh yes and Mr Jonathan Roxmouth as Lun Tha? That boy's voice should be illegal... I cried. Twice. 'We Kiss in the Shadows' made me howl. Not aloud like I did at Les Miserables, because that was too mortifyingly embarassing to happen twice. :P



Talking of music, I saw my old flute teacher! She was playing in the orchestra. I waved at her on the way out and... she didn't even recognise me! Ha ha... Not surprised. :P

Anyway, that aside. Paul Buckby was brilliant too. He really captured the essence of the character of the King and was extremely funny in the role too. I loved his hidden ignorance... (Highlighted by Anna's annoying tendancy to be consistently right. :P) It made him so lovable. Squee. Also, I am now determined to strike a pose every time I stop walking... :P

And now, you all knew it, but the winner of my true admiration and affection goes to... Angela Kilian! *everyone has a heart attack and dies of not surprise* She's so stunning! Her performance was completely amazing. Her facial emphasis and body language were a constant source of humour and her voice... Well... yeah... She sounds just like Julie Andrews and I'm not joking. She even speaks like her, it's such a fantasticly clear and honest voice and amazingly easy to listen to.

Anyway, she played the pants off Anna Leonowens (not literally, although there was much peering up her skirt thanks to the script...) and she deserves top accolades for her beautiful blend of innocent, flirtatious and angry. :) (Hysterical really. Death by rabid English teacher...) Oh, and 'Hello Young Lovers'? I'm still gaping. The mixture of tragedy and nostalgia was exquisite, not to mention the stunning music that so beautifully fit her voice. I also adored 'Shall We Dance?'. (Like I said, hopeless romantic.) Especially the 'let me put my hand around your waste and push the temperature up two degrees' squee moment. Yes, only two degrees, it is Anna and the King and any higher temperature might be considered improper. :P Of course, I expected no less of Ms Kilian... I've loved her ever since her very accurate portrayal of Maria in 'The Sound of Music' and she's played every role any female artist could dream of. (Eliza, Eva, Marilyn...)



Well, it was a superb ending to my time in South Africa. It seemed fitting... :) I'm also encouraged to chase after my passion, even if it be as a hobby. Of course, I've left the best bit for last. What better way to make an exit than by meeting the woman I've admired for three years at least?

I couldn't think of anything... so I did! I don't have photos to prove it, because I didn't want to leave a lasting "Oh my God, you're going to kill me, aren't you?" impression... :P Anyway, I stood outside the stage door and waited for five minutes until Angela appeared completely without pretense and walked up to my family and said, "Hello, are you guys the ones Adele was talking about?" *Lauren faints*

I stood grinning a little like an idiot as my dad introduced me. (Thanks dad for saving extreme embarassment...) She shook my hand and smiled telling me how lovely it was to meet me and how greatful she was for my support etc. I found my tongue and had an actual conversation about musicals and the industry and it was awesome! A bit like talking to Shakespeare about playwriting. (Ok, that's a severely unbalanced simile, but she's my South African acting hero, ok?) Then this happened:

A: "I hear you're leaving the country, where are you going?" Angela Kilian knows something about my life? *dies for the millionth time*

L: "Yes, I'm leaving for Australia tomorrow..."
A: Wow, that sounds exciting! How long are you going for?
L: Well, it's pretty permanent at the moment, I'm going there to study.
A: That's so great! What are you studying?
L: Law actually, I was thinking about drama, but I kind of went the other way on that one...
A: Good! Stick to law, seriously. (Great! The woman who's living the life I want thinks it's wiser to study law... That puts me at ease. :P)

Anyway, she signed my programme and wrote me a message:

"Dear Lauren
Good luck abroad, lovely to meet you.
All my love,
Angela."

All in all, pretty awesome for me. Although, maybe less cool to others. :P Still, an excellent way to spend the last night in SA. Here are some pics of the show (that's Angela as Anna):



( More pics of 'The King and I' )

P.S: Oh yes, eponine254, she doesn't actually speak like Julie Andrews, she sounds like a Cape Towner... (Although no one denies that on stage it's hard to tell the difference.) :P

Today was my last Sunday in South Africa. I can barely believe that the week is finally here... I cried a lot today, poor Avril thought I might flood the house. I saw friends today for the last time and it was just too much.

My farewell was great, I was sad that some guys couldn't be there, but it was great that those who made it, made it. The food was divine and the company even better. :)

Anyway, wrote another poem today. I write best when I'm emotional. :P I like it, but it needs tweaking... I'll post it soon. :)

That is all.

Well, I'm leaving in 8 days. Tomorrow I'm doing my Driver's test again. I'll be having my last church service on Sunday. To say the least? I'm feaking out!

I don't know where my emotions are. I'm happy, sad, scared, excited! (That sounded like a quote from Funny Girl...) What am I even talking about? Anyway, all my stuff is packed except for the things I'm taking in my suitcase and my bookshelves are empty. It's strange, but that's having the worst effect on me. Empty bookshelves means permanent departure...

I am really going to miss my family. Avril especially... it's amazing what God has done with our relationship and I've come to rely on her so much for advice and support. I guess I'll be sending TONS of e-mails. I cried for so long last night... but a strange mix of excited and sad tears. Weird. I've, of course, been having weird nightmares about losing my passport and other crazy things and have also been plagued by a series of terryfing ghost dreams. Doubly weird. On top of that, the tap in our bathroom suddenly started running at 2 a.m. On its own. Without cause. O_o Why? Ok, so I'm being weirdly paranoid here, but it freaked me out in the middle of the night ok?

That aside, the WGA strike is FINALLY over. Yes! There's a possibility of 10 more 30 rock episodes this season. My fan heart is happy... :)

I was thinking about it though, this strike has been terrible for shows that were just starting out. Some shows got cancelled because they didn't have the ratings to come back for a mini-season at the end of all this. Which is so unfair for shows that barely had time to air their Pilot episode. I would hate to be on of the people involved in those. Besides, it's possible we missed out on what could have been really great television. Which sucks. Well, if you care about television. :P

On a completely random tangent, I'm reading Mary Poppins which was given to me by the perfectly wonderful roseph, thanks so much my Ro-Boat... It's awesome of course and I love that Mary Poppins isn't a nice person, she's vain, rude and never wrong. Brilliant. Loving it along with The Hours once again, depending on what I feel like reading. I am still awed by the amazingness of Michael Cunningham and his ability to write the thoughts of three very complex women. Also, his descriptions are some of the best, with a mix of simple methapors and random observations. Will get to Atonement eventually, but it'll have to wait until I'm finished with my Woolf binge. :)

Talking of books, I've finally reached 100 Pages of mine after abandoning it for a little while and finally regaining the discipline to continue. Yay! it still sucks, but hey, it's not like I'm trying to win the Pullitzer. If I were, the word 'huskily' would not be in my novel. Which, I'm ashamed to say, it is...

Well, that's all for now folks. More on the Driver's tomorrow. Hopefully it's good news... :P

Well kids, it's official... Today I opened a bank account and applied for my Tax File Number, yes, I'll eventually have to pay taxes. I even looked at cell-phone contracts!

After many doubts about my acceptance to the University of Adelaide (it's extremely hard to get into law school at Adelaide) and much wondering about the translation of my matric into the Australian TER (I ended up getting a surprising 96/100 in Aussie terms), I was finally offered my first choice of Law and International Relations at Adelaide University, the uni both my grandfather and father attended. Also, I was offered a Common Wealth Supported place which means that the government will pay most of my fees! :)

So, much as I'm pained to say, I will be leaving beautiful sunny, South Africa for the Land Down Under in the middle of February... I am certain to miss you all, but I hope that you will all keep in touch and come to the MASSIVE farewell I'm going to throw. :P

It's so amazing to finally have plans after so much uncertainty and yet, it's extremely scary now that it's actually happening. I feel weird more than anything, it's dizzying...