BREAKS MY HEART

Today I hosted my third Kids Away activity. Went okay, made loads of gifts.

But what hurt my heart today was a amazingly cute 6-year old girl at my project told me "Daddy is funny when he's drunk. Last time he fell down the stairs and mummy started yelling at him. He often gets drunk." ... Some people doesn't deserve the great gift of becoming parents !!!!!! Human scum! 6 YEARS OLD! 6! So tomorrow I have to file a report to Social Services, which is no fun, but it has to be done.

In 9 out 10 cases of domestic violence the child(ren) is in the same or neighbour room, again causing them problems; anger, tantrums, anger, depression etc. Violence against children is the absolute worst thing I know! They have done nothing wrong and gets beaten. That is wrong.

I actually considered becoming a social worker, helping. Funny as it might be, it was the character Maxine Grey in Judging Amy that inspired me to think of that. But then I said to myself, I would rather make something like the series to motivate more people and maybe change more lives. Her character, and people like her in the real world, sometimes see hell when go to work. Kids beaten so badly that their whole body is bruised, alcoholic parents who forget to make food for them cause they're smashed beyond recognition. But still these people keep fighting. These children survive. Some of my friends have gone through hell and more when growing up, they're still dealing, but they're bouncing back.

This is no fun for kids. As with most kids, my parents argued when I was younger, it broke my heart and I used to go to bed so angry and sad. So many times I wanted to trash absolutely everything in my house. And sometimes I did, knocking over books, bed lamps, kicking stuff outside. I even had a period where I asked my mum to buy me a boxing pad. She asked why, I said just going around angry and need to hit stuff. What I didn't tell, was where I got parts of my anger from...

BUT kids all over the world is abused and experience serious forms of neglect. THAT is something to fight against.

Yelling and shouting in front own children should be avoided at ANY cost. It doesn't belong in a childhood. All parents fights, but they should at least have the common decency to don't do it in front of the kids. Growing up with this causes stress on the kids. Your kid often get tantrums and get angry? It's not always its fault, it gets from somewhere. Normally it will copy how it sees the parents react. There's a saying: "Monkey see, monkey do"

So to all parents, you should be ashamed of yourself.

Today's song: Placebo - Running up that hill

1ST OF DECEMBER

1st of December guys!



The magical time of the year. I'm not in Christmas mood yet, but I'll get there. Really looking forward to Sunday though! Having the Christmas workshop I'm hosting for the kids. Yesterday I went shopping for about 3 hours to get ahold of all the arts and crafts stuff. It took a bit longer than anticipated cause of the general strike in the UK. I still need to get a hold of paint brushes.

I belive that every single child should have the oppertunity to give a gift to someone they love, something they have spent a lot of time making. That's all what Christmas is about, showing your love and being gratefull and giving. It's doesn't matter about the pricetag, but the thought put behind it.

My wishlist

I've only wished for two things this Christmas, "Europe on a budget" and "The man in seat 61". Two apperently great books about interrail. I really hope to go backpacking through Europe next summer, making a documentary about my travels and meeting new and amazing people. That's my dream, exploring the world.  If I can manage to make a piece AND explore and have fun in the same time, that's great.

Besides those two, I'll be happy for anything and nothing really. I've got most of what I want/can have. Know this is gonna sound a bit Miss America, but I really want to make a differense for the kids. If I can get them into Christmas spirit, I'll be so happy words can't even describe it.

Christmas

Been listening to Michael Bubles Christmas album for weeks now. He's spiced up the classical Christmas songs with a bit of jazz and 50-60s style. Check it out on Spotify.

Merry Christmas to all!

Today's song: Coldplay Christmas Lights

CHRISTMAS CARDS MIXED WITH KNITTING

**WARNING** From now on until Christmas eve, many of my posts will be about Christmas, shopping, snow, films, music, culture and all the jolly stuff. So if you're a Grinch, close it now and come back 01/01/12.

One of this years Christmas cards I'm sending to family, friends and others.

Today I licked 22 envelopes and 22 stamps... Then tomorrow or Thursday I need to buy 3-4 more. I love sending Christmas cards and love getting them, so get cracking people.

On the right there is the mitten I've been working on. I finished the main in like September this year, but needed some guidance with the thumb from my mate Simen. I've knitted mittens before, but that's two years ago, so needed a refresher.

We gossiped, knitted and chatted for 2:43 hours. I just thought "Wow that went fast, let's set a record next time, five hours." Me and Simen can just chat about random stuff for hours. Show us a picture of a sheep and we'll give 30 min conversation. 

This week is the Christmas week in Swansea. On Thursday me and my good mate Dean are going Christmas shopping :D And we also start our countdown for "Christmas eve". We celebrate it over here on the 9/10th weekend. Then Friday Swansea Winter Wonderland opens and on Sunday it's the annual Christmas parade and Lights Switch-On.

Today's song: Nightmare Before Christmas - What's this?

A SUM UP

Hello. Two weeks since last time... Sorry, been so busy. Okay let's get you up to speed then.

I love Halloween. The ghosts, vampires, ghouls and everything else. If I could choose, I'd be a vampire! Not Twilight style, cause that's just crap... I'm more Vampire Diaries kinda vampire. Anyhoodle, Halloween was great, worked in Oceana filming that night:

After I finished I went home, cause it was way to crowded in there...

Two of my Norwegian friends, Anine and Maja came to Swansea to visit:

They said they had a lovely time and wanted to come back. Just that next we're not going out the night before they leave, haha!



Yesterday we went to Cardiff to see Norway vs Wales (football). Norway lost, 4-1... I felt ashamed went I left the stadium, having the Norwegian flag on my cheek!

I did film a lot, but I have to edit that later. Not enough energy today.

Besides that I'm busy with uni projects, which annoy me... They're boring and I feel like I'm wasting my time. I would rather be working with my final piece. Cause the two films we're working on now isn't getting assessed, only the research.

Oh, I've got a job as a videographer for a documentary commissioned by an art gallery in Cardiff :D :D But want to know the most annoying thing, because I have to film and stuff with the uni exercises I can't stay and edit!!! An stupid exercise is keeping me from something that actually counts.

But I'm having a chat with my tutor next week to see if it's anything to do about it, which I highly doubt. Otherwise I have to try to be creative :D

Also went rollerblading for the first time in 3 years today, for 1,5 hours. Felt a bit weird, but lush to be back on'em again ♥ (a bit rusty, but getting there)

Now I'm heading to bed to continiue reading "The Power of Six", book number two in the The Lorien Legacies series.

Love this song!

Today's song: Flo Rida - Good Feeling