Regan Leanne

Ip Man
The blurb: A semi-biographical account of Yip Man, the successful martial arts master who taught the Chinese martial art of Wing Chun to the world.
My rating: 4/5
Tagged: action, biography, drama
Date I watched this movie 03/04/2016

What did I think?I really wasn't sure what I was going to think about this. Martial Arts movies, although I do karate, have never really appealed to me, but I agreed to let Faisal pick a movie and this is what he chose!

I will still say that this is definitely a slow starter, you have to wait a bit before you really get into it and you have to overlook the bad acting at the beginning. Once the movie kicks in, literally, then you really begin to appreciate it.

I think it tells a decent story of the life of Ip Man and the occupation of China by the Japanese at that time. Obviously I'm not sure how true to real life the movie is because I'm not familiar with the time period but it does add background to the character of Ip Man, so the movie wasn't just about kicking ass and taking names.

As far as the fighting scenes are concerned, Donnie Yen does do his art justice. I just loved the way the story make him seem invincible and you root for him when he fights the baddie who beats all the other masters.

Surprisingly good and I'm actually looking forward to seeing the rest of the series

I have an appointment tomorrow to give blood for the very first time. I'm scared and excited and nervous and feeling kind of
It can't be that bad... hundreds of people donate and the nurses who do it are professionals and stuff but it's still a little overwhelming to think about it.

I just got an email from the Blood Donation service to remind me about my appointment and to give me some tips.

Preparing to give blood
Follow our tips to make your blood donation experience pleasant, safe and straightforward.

Eat
Eat regular meals to help you avoid feeling lightheaded.

Sleep
A good night's sleep will boost wellbeing.

Drink
Drink plenty of fluids 24 hours before donating, but avoid alcohol.

Wear
Put on loose and comfortable clothing, avoid tight sleeves.

Distract
Nervousness is normal, come with a friend or bring along a book or MP3 player so you can relax during your visit.

Know
Knowing your medical, body piercing and travel history will save you time.

Exercise
You can still exercise, but don't do anything more strenuous than usual: this applies before and after donating blood. Also ensure you are fully recovered and well hydrated before you donate blood.

My appointment is at 3:50pm tomorrow... wish me luck?

Sometimes I really wish I had a time-turner so I could get more stuff done. More hours in the day would be great. Of course, I bet that if I did have more hours I still wouldn't get the chance to do the things I want to do in them.

I miss doing all the extra-curricular stuff I could do before. I miss having the time to ride, to swim, to do gymnastics, to practice karate, to see Chelsea play. Even just the time to play with Caden Bryce or read with him.

I get up. I get on the tube to college (and read). I go to college. I get on the tube home (and read). I do homework. I do extra reading. Sometimes I get time to come online - although often it gets done on a few minutes between classes, or on a free period. And then it feels like it's time for bed before it all starts again.

It's not even a lack of time management. It's just the time of year. I'm only a couple of months away from my A-Level exams. Coursework is all due. All of my teachers want all of my time, all of my effort and I have a couple of really heavy workload courses.

I always make time on a Friday night though to go to the cinema. Sometimes with friends, sometimes with Jade Rachel and Erin and Dad and Jimmy (and sometimes Caden Bryce) It all depends on what's coming out. Tomorrow my BFF Georgia & I are going to see either Deadpool or Pride & Prejudice & Zombies.

Weekends seem to be filled with sleep and coursework. And then I have to be very particular about what I do because there's only so many hours in the day. Usually I go swimming because that's a lot easier to fit into a spare moment than having to schedule around the gymnastics or karate classes. I always try and have Sunday afternoons free so I can just chill, watch a DVD, do some colouring... just properly relax before everything starts again on Monday morning.

I possibly didn't schedule the start of the 101 Things In 1001 Days at the best time, because there's also fitting in the things I want to do there.

I don't mean to sound ungrateful or like a whiney little bitch, I really don't. I love everything that I'm doing, I love being in college, having the opportunity to study etc etc. I guess I might be a little stressed and I know I'm tired. I just miss doing some of the things I love, some of the things that I feel define part of who I am.

I cannot play chess. It makes no sense to me. It doesn't matter how many times I try and learn how to play the game, it just escapes me. It makes no sense. This piece can only do this and that piece can only do that. There's all these strategies and a ridiculous amount of forward planning.

And how seriously people take it! Isn't it supposed to be a game, supposed to be fun?

I can't do it. I can't play chess. Or, well, I can't play chess well. Or remember the rules. I'm not destined to be some grandmaster. I'm probably never even going to ever win a game. All my pieces fell to the dark side. You'd think by now I'd have learned my lesson by how many times I've failed and given up trying.

I bet I won't. I bet next time Devin challenges me to a game I'll accept.
And lose.
And sulk.
And rail chess.

Which makes me wonder. Which is worse: doing something and sucking at it or never trying it in the first place?

Is there anything that there isn't a day to celebrate? Not that I'm complaining about the fact there's a whole day dedicated to chocolate cake. Sticky, gooey, creamy chocolate. Soft, moist and delicious cake. From chocolate cream buns to a whopping great gateaux, chocolate cake is simply wonderful!

And what is the best way to celebrate? By baking and eating chocolate cake, of course. So I thought I'd share my favourite recipe

Ingredients
200g good quality dark chocolate, about 60% cocoa solids
200g butter
1 tbsp instant coffee granules
85g self-raising flour
85g plain flour
¼ tsp bicarbonate of soda
200g light muscovado sugar
200g golden caster sugar
25g cocoa powder
3 medium egg
75ml buttermilk (5 tbsp)
grated chocolate or curls, to decorate

For the ganache
200g good quality dark chocolate, as above
284ml carton double cream (pouring type)
2 tbsp golden caster sugar

Method
Butter a 20cm round cake tin (7.5cm deep) and line the base. Preheat the oven to fan 140C/conventional 160C/ gas 3. Break 200g good quality dark chocolate in pieces into a medium, heavy-based pan. Cut 200g butter into pieces and tip in with the chocolate, then mix 1 tbsp instant coffee granules into 125ml cold water and pour into the pan. Warm through over a low heat just until everything is melted – don’t overheat. Or melt in the microwave on Medium for about 5 minutes, stirring half way through.

While the chocolate is melting, mix 85g self-raising flour, 85g plain flour, ¼ bicarbonate of soda, 200g light muscovado sugar, 200g golden caster sugar and 25g cocoa powder in a big bowl, mixing with your hands to get rid of any lumps. Beat 3 medium eggs in a bowl and stir in 75ml (5 tbsp) buttermilk.

Now pour the melted chocolate mixture and the egg mixture into the flour mixture, stirring just until everything is well blended and you have a smooth, quite runny consistency. Pour this into the tin and bake for 1 hour 25- 1 hour 30 minutes – if you push a skewer in the centre it should come out clean and the top should feel firm (don’t worry if it cracks a bit). Leave to cool in the tin (don’t worry if it dips slightly), then turn out onto a wire rack to cool completely.

When the cake is cold, cut it horizontally into three. Make the ganache: chop 200g good quality dark chocolate into small pieces and tip into a bowl. Pour a 284ml carton of double cream into a pan, add 2 tbsp golden caster sugar, and heat until it is about to boil. Take off the heat and pour it over the chocolate. Stir until the chocolate has melted and the mixture is smooth.

Sandwich the layers together with just a little of the ganache. Pour the rest over the cake letting it fall down the sides and smoothing to cover with a palette knife. Decorate with grated chocolate or a pile of chocolate curls. The cake keeps moist and gooey for 3-4 days.

Today is National Handwriting Day

Handwriting refers to a person's unique style of writing characters created with a writing utensil such as a pen or pencil. Handwriting is separate from calligraphy or typeface.

Because each person's handwriting is unique, it can be used to verify a document's writer. The deterioration of a person's handwriting is also a symptom or result of certain diseases. Even identical twins write differently. A person's handwriting is also relatively stable and changes little over time. Because handwriting is relatively stable, a change in the handwriting can be indicative of the nervousness or intoxication of the writer.

Handwriting that is hard to read or unreadable due to the deformity, or illegibility of characters is commonly called worst. A common stereotype is that doctors have bad handwriting. According to Time, doctors' sloppy handwriting kills more than 7,000 people annually.

To celebrate National Handwriting Day, I wrote a letter to my grandparents (Jade Rachel's parents) who live in Wales. They don't have emails so it's the only real way to keep in touch with them. I got some fun stationery from them for Christmas so it was nice to use it, and glittery gel pens too. I thanked them for my Christmas presents, told them about Christmas holiday from school, a bit about the new Star Wars film, and about my 7 goals for 2016.

Writing a handwritten letter was one of my 101 Things In 1001 Days so I've been able to cross another item off the list! :)

The Challenge:
Complete 101 preset tasks in a period of 1001 days.

The Criteria:
Tasks must be specific (ie. no ambiguity in the wording) with a result that is either measurable or clearly defined. Tasks must also be realistic and stretching (ie. represent some amount of work on your part).

Writing
Write a list of 101 things to do in 1001 days complete January 20 2015
Answer the "50 Questions That Will Free Your Mind"
Leave an inspirational note inside a book for someone to find
Tie a note to a balloon and let it go
Identify 100 things that make me happy
Send a message in a bottle
Write a message in a public bathroom
Send a handwritten letter

Career & Education
Graduate college
Start university
Learn to identify 10 constellations
Expand my vocabulary by 100 words
Take a First Aid course

Health & Fitness
Donate blood in progress. Appointment booked for Tuesday 1st March
Find out my blood type
Get a massage
Stop comparing myself to others
Take a Yoga class
Go rockclimbing

Fashion & Body
Get a tattoo
Improve my posture
Dye my hair
Clean out my closet
Stop biting my nails
Get a facial
Get a manicure

Travel
Go on a roadtrip
See the Northern Lights
Ride in a hot air balloon
Go skydiving
Go to the zoo
Go to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival
Spend a day at the beach
Go to 5 different museums
Visit the Metropolitan Museum of Art
Visit Italy
Ride a gondola in Venice
Visit New York City
Visit every London Underground station
Visit Stonehenge
Go on the London Eye
Visit Buckingham Palace
Visit the Colosseum
See the Eiffel Tower

Movies
Watch 26 movies I've never seen starting with each letter of the alphabet
Attend the BFI London Film Festival
See 10 classic movies I've never seen
Spend a rainy day watching films in my PJ's
Ask 20 friends to suggest one movie, and watch them all
Watch every episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer

Books
Read 26 books I've never read starting with each letter of the alphabet
Read 100 books
Attend a book reading at the Oxford Literary Festival
Read 10 classic books
Ask 20 friends to suggest one book, and read them all
Read every Shakespeare play

Friendship
Make a new friend
Reconnect with an old friend
Meet an online friend in person
Adopt a pet that needs rescuing
Buy a house warming gift for a new neighbor
Wear a free hugs sign for a day
Hug 10 people in one day
Give a stranger a hug
Hug someone on National Hug Day

Food & Drink
Go on a picnic
Eat no fast food for a month
Have dinner by candlelight
Host a dinner party
Go vegetarian for a week
Bake cupcakes
Eat pizza in Italy
Eat pasta in Italy
Eat Gelato in Italy
Eat sushi

Volunteer
Help someone carry their bags to their car at the grocery store
Send a card or flowers to someone going through a tough time
Volunteer at a homeless shelter
Plant a tree

Things to make
Build a snowman
Bake birthday cake for someone
Knit a scarf
Bake a chocolate cake
Cook a meal for my family

Money
Buy a lottery ticket
Give money to a street performer
Buy something from Etsy

Art
Find a personally inspirational quote and work it into a piece of art or home decor
See the Mona Lisa

Dance
Dance in the rain
Learn to burlesque dance

Sports
Go ice skating
Watch a tennis match at Wimbledon
Run a half marathon

Hobbies
Complete a colouring book
Fly a kite
Complete a Sudoku puzzle

Personal Development
Say yes to everything for a day
Say "yes" to something I would not normally do
Keep my room tidy for a month