While my real life isn’t going so well, my second life is going much better. Danni Ohara has been busy, with school (when real life Danni lets her go), filming for a real life/second life crossover thing, and building. My building skills aren’t great, but I have managed to make a computer desk (the chair isn’t mine):

Since I made everything there except the chair, I’m rather proud of it I’ve also completed all the homework Miss Clarissa has set (other than the friends one, because I don’t know who else in the class has blue eyes, and I don’t think anyone else has purple hair). I’ve spent the evening with Johan Yugen, setting up a purple penguin clubhouse on Whippersnapper sim. I still need to do loads of things for it, but it’s getting there. It’s somewhere fun I can hang out though, and since it’s open to everyone, I don’t mind who drops in

The slurl is http://slurl.com/secondlife/Whippersnapper/114/223/22 and build is open, so if you have something to add (that doesn’t break the covenant and is suitable for a child avatar) feel free to do so

Pizza @ SL/Plurkers Meetup- Pic by Mewsic

On Tuesday 30th December I went to London again, for yet another Second Lifers/Plurkers meetup. This one was held at Willow Caldera’s flat, and also attending were John, Loaf, Roxette and Mewsic (who will from now on be called “strange German dude”). Both John and I stayed at Loaf’s, where Roxette was also staying (as her and Loaf are together and things). For some reason, being in London makes me care less about appearing socially acceptable all the time (probably because no-one there knows me, barring the SL/Plurkers who already know I’m weird) so although I’m anxious with being in a big city and everything, I’m less anxious about not appearing weird to everyone. After dumping bags at Loaf’s and getting the Tube, we went to Willow’s local Tesco’s for drinks and munchies, and went back to her flat.

The best thing about this meetup is that once we’d gone to Willow’s flat, I was able to relax and just be me. This happens very rarely, as I have to be around people I know and trust, and also know that nothing I say or do will be commented on or made out to be bad or anything. While there I was pretty much constantly moving, alternating between short periods of joining in and being by myself (which just meant not actually talking to anyone- I was still in the same room) dancing, singing (both incredibly badly, as confirmed by the video strange German dude made, that you’re not going to see), stimming, and just being me. Being with friends like these is just so freeing, as I’m normally far too scared to be me.

I have a lot of friends. Most of them are online, but some of these (like those at the meetup) turn into real life friends as well. I have some real life friends that I mostly communicate with online, like Colin and those from school. I have friends from college, who I like a lot. I have friends like Vicky and Parrot, who have always accepted me as I am. I have friends in Second Life, where I’ve somehow become pretty popular and have a full friends list of people who like me and want to spend time with me. I have friends on forums, mailing lists and Plurk, who want to listen (read) to what I say (type) and respond to it.

I also have a wonderful boyfriend, John (Johan), who I love very much and care for deeply.

I am extremely lucky. I have a lot of people who like me and care about me, for who I am, and they don’t mind that I can be a bit weird sometimes, or say the wrong thing, or do something I maybe shouldn’t. They all help me in different ways, and I am very happy to be able to call them my friends.

Loaf, Willow, Roxette, me and John- Pic by Mewsic

Heck No We Won't Go! - Picture by Marianne McCann

Cuz I’m just a little girl you see
But there’s a hell of a lot more to me
Don’t ever under estimate what I can do
Don’t ever tell me how I’m meant to be
Cuz I’m just a little girl you see

– Amy Studt – Just a Little Girl

This week has been Winter Camp in Second Life again. Because of brain weirdness problems, I’ve not been able to blog much about it. I’ve managed to get in every day for at least an hour or so, even if that did mean going in on the train at one point (so long as I didn’t try to move I was fine ). Unusually for camp, there was a major holiday in the middle- New Years Eve/Day. I missed that party but did make it to the “Halloween in January” party, the Sadie Hawkins dance (I asked Johnathon Spad to the dance- he said yes!) and performed gymnastics with some friends at the talent show. I’ve had a lot of fun, made a ton of friends, and wish it would continue for longer (finishes in about 2 1/2 hours now). I know this post doesn’t do the week or camp justice, but I needed to say something about the great time I’ve had

Dancing on the last day

What an interesting Christmas. For me it really started at college, with the Interface Christmas party. That was a lot of fun, and I absolutely loved the presents I received (penguins, purple hair band, purple handbag, purple hairbrush set, chocolate selection box with penguins on it). I was also happy that Laura liked the present I got her for Secret Santa.

The last week of college in general was weird. Because of Christmas, a lot of it was different, and I found some of the smaller changes hard to cope with (not helped by being hormonal- the coil isn’t as effective as it used to be). There were only a few normal lessons, and though some of the things we did were fun, on top of everything else it was rather stressful. In many ways, I was glad to break up on the Friday lunchtime.

Since college broke up I’ve been very busy. Saturday was seeing Sammie then Christmas shopping (was meant to be in Newcastle and I did go with Vicky to see Fenwick’s window, but the MetroCentre had more of the shops I needed). Sunday was cleaning the flat (mostly), Monday was washing clothes, and Tuesday morning John came to stay. Once we’d dropped off his bags at the flat we went and finished the Christmas shopping (mostly food shopping at this point). We also went to carols at the cross in the local town, which satisfied my need to go carol singing. John even joined in on some songs

Wednesday I went to see Sammie to give her her Christmas presents. Unfortunately half of them hadn’t arrived at my flat (they’d been delivered to the pub next door) so she only got half of them when I saw her. She seemed to like them, and played with me with the plasticine hairdresser set I got her. We also went on the computer and I showed her some of the better YouTube videos out there. Wednesday afternoon I napped. and then talked to John, and did computery type things, such as filming silly YouTube videos.

Thursday was Christmas Day, and so we got up late (we didn’t go to bed until the early hours) and I cooked Christmas dinner. We had roast duck and gammon (I couldn’t find a big enough ham) and apart from forgetting the stuffing it went well. I received more penguins, purple pens, penguin activity book, a penguin brooch, The Penguin of Death mug, penguin chocolates, more penguins, a penguin candle from Sammie, and a penguin stamp. All of these I absolutely loved. I gave John a wifi strength detector t-shirt, which should be good for his geekiness

Christmas Day was a good day, not least because I didn’t get dressed (I do not like wearing clothes at all). I stayed in my pyjamas which are far more comfy. It was very relaxed, and though I would have preferred to have seen Sammie I was okay because I got to see her the day before.

Boxing Day was Sammie’s 5th birthday. I can’t believe it’s been 5 years. I went to see her in the morning, gave her her birthday presents (and the Christmas presents I’d retrieved from the pub) and played with her for a couple of hours. She’s getting so big, and I love her lots (even if I do squish a little too hard). When I got home I napped again, then watched a bit of Firefly with John (he likes it) and did some more computery stuff. He has spent a lot of time reading forums with me, and talking about silly things.

Today John goes home (to his parents’ in Leeds). We’ve not actually done much, other than munch on Quality Street and Hula Hoops. He also keeps reminding me to finish this blog post, which is very nice of him I’ve also forgotten what I was planning on writing, so I’ll finish with saying that having John here has been very nice, I’m going to miss him, and winter camp starts tonight in Second Life.