So i'm finally moving up to Dublin, to (hopefully) start my career as a academic/PhD student. For next few weeks (while my proposal is in the works) i'm going to be doing some tutoring in psychology in my university. Nerve wracking - hopefully first years won't eat me alive lol.

I've yet to sort out my internet connection up there, i imagine it will be monday at the earliest before i'm connected again (OMG - 24 hours, how shall i survive lol).

Really excited now, can't wait to move up and into my own space again. Although i love being home (most of the time) - i've forgotten how great it is to live independent of the parentals/family!

Anyhoo Ciao for now,

Over on Parajunkee's blog (absolutely fab blog designer and book review) when i happened onto her 'about page' which had these twenty questions, which i thought would be fun!

1. Last books i bought:

I went into Waterstones and went a bit 'crazy' after my Graduation (damn 3 for2 always gets me!):

Charlainne Harris - Omnibus True Blood
Jane Austen & Seth Grahame-Smith - P&P& Zombies
Poppy Adams - The Behaviour of Moths
John Connolly - The Gates
Audrey Niffenegger - Her Fearful Symmetry
Ken Follett - The Pillars of the Earth
Ray Bradbury - Something wicked this way comes (finally got this!)

2. Last Book I got in Post

Can't remember - its been soooo long since i had access to a credit card. sniff!

3. The first book i've read over and over

Black Beauty

4. Children's books every child should read:

The Secret Garden
Black Beauty
The little Princess
Anne of green gables series
Little Women
Famous Five
Secret Seven
Three investigators (Last three were purely due to reading my brothers books)
The Call of the Wild
etc. etc.

5. Favourite Place to read

Bed

6. A book i bought just for cover:

a] Twilight - not the US version (the black one with apple) but actually the UK version (which everyone thinks is ugly). Totally drawn in my that cover, thus how i ended up with a first edition, as no one knew about these books in UK/Ireland in 2007

b] John Connolly's book of lost things, knew it was going to be brilliant but loved the cover! (similar to Gates and new Nocturnes one)

7. Scariest Book I ever read:

I don't read scary books to be honest but John Connolly's Black Angel really freaked me out! Oddly i read this series out of order because i ran out of books during holidays and started reading my mothers ones. Totally got hooked to the Charlie Parker series but the 'hollow men' scary the bejaysus out of me lol.

8. Most Romantic Book ever

Pride and Prejudice! Duh! ;)

9. Book that changed my life in some way

Twilight - purely because (and i don't want to sound pig headed - i don't mean it in that way) but the book (and the author) made me believe that i could write a book/s too. Usually when i read books i really like, i get the whole 'could never write like that'.

10. Books i've reread the most

Pride and Prejudice - know it off by heart at this point but its my 'go-to' book

11. Books i need cliff notes for

Shakespeare - how sad, i know!

12. Book you need dictionary for

Star of the sea by John O Connor

13. Book i like that no one else seems to

The Gargoyle (don't get me started!)

14. Books i don't like that everyone else seems to

A Great and Terrible Beauty - didn't get past the first three chapters. Everyone loves it. I don't. Enuf said lol.

15. Number of books i own (guess):

At least 300?

16. Number of books on TBR (that have not been acquired)

Infinite number

17. Must have reading accessory

Torch (for those night time read sessions)

18. Literary destination i want to go to:

Never thought of this before - maybe Jane Austens House?

19. Top three favourite authors

Jane Austen
(can't say about the other two - i keep changing my mind)

20. The reason i started book bloggin

I started this blog due to MoonRats comments on platforming, and haven't looked back since. I started the book bundle book review blog cause i wanted to talk about books!


let me know in comments if you do 20 questions - would love to read your answers :)

Maybe i'm a little late to the party but i just discovered Levenger through Lynn Viehl's blog post- which is like Nirvana for readers/writers!

So here are some favs of mine (people take note ;) ) -

For those writers (like me) who live in their PJs, like to stay in bed as long as possible and have probably become infertile due to letting their laptop live on their lap

For those not afraid to show the world they are a bookworm? who says you need a 'normal' bag. Afterall, ladies/lads pencil cases are soooo last century!!

For those of us who are short, who says you can't reach those tall shelves in your Neil Gaiman like Library? Pish Posh - do it in style no more standing on my princess ann antique chairs then lol.

Wait now! whats a special library step without bookcases. For those of us who like our things to spin - the carousel revolving bookcases (no plastic ponies included -sadly) and then for those of us who have box festishes, book boxes

Would you like your own light for those dark nights - look no further than this beautiful clip on lamp, which reminds of us of a certain homicidal machine in a certain halloween episode of the simpsons. Brownie points to those who guess!

and of course where would we be without the leather recliner!

Happy Shopping :)

Oh any other nice things/places that you'd recommend - drop a note in comments

So, i haven't been working at all on my 52-12 challenge this week, which is really disappointing but i've at least a good excuse. My proposal seems to finally be shaping up, so now i just have application forms for internal/external funding to fill out and send off - hope to have this done this weekend.

Next week i'll be doing lots of work and research as i'm filling in for a tutor for next few weeks in my university - first time i'll be teaching, so exciting (and scary) stuff.

Any teachers out there, i'd appreciate tips? especially i regards to keeping a class quiet (i've been told i look v.young so have to be uber confident or be eaten ALIVE lol).

Its great to get some work (which fills out the auld CV too) - badly need some mula for xmas!

no.1 rule of blogging is never post when your angry/upset.

I'm absolutely gutted after watching the Ireland vs. France game.

The players did us proud, and i think they deserved better than that at the end of the day.

I'm not going to say anymore than that though or i'll lose it.

Ciao for now.

So i know lots of people who go through a 'unplug' month/week/day but i've never seen an actually organised monthly event till i happened on Diana's Blog post about it.

Founded by B.J. Anderson, she states that:

If you get tired of networking and need a break, join me for Unplug Week. It starts the third Monday of each month and it's a chance to just write. Go ahead and check your emails once or twice a day or anything else that will stack up while you're gone, but after that, turn off your computer and go write. Unplugging means no blogging, facebooking, myspacing, twittering, or anything else that keeps you from writing. Good luck and happy writing!

I think this is a brilliant idea! Personally my 'dayjob' very much involves computers and writing (academically) but i do spend large amounts of time online procrastinating. I'm definitely going to do this and have even made up a little logo (cause i love them lol)

So spread the word! Unplug!