Heroes

The concept of ‘Heroes’ dates back from the Ancient Greeks, although, over time, its meaning has been warped and disfigured. Now, celebrities may be confused to be heroes, as people aspire to be more like them, or to appreciate what they have achieved. Often the heroes that people choose reflect upon their own personality, as to what they believe is an admirable accomplishment.

The Ancient Greek Heroes often were not admirable, but the extreme opposite. Everyone believes Hercules (or Heracles in the Greek form) to be a pillar of strength and courage, completing his twelve labours. However, modern society overlooks that the reason he was forced to complete these labours was due to the fact that he, in a fit of drunken rage, had murdered his wife and children. The tasks were his punishment, and completing them redeemed his soul.

Heroes today can vary, from sports stars, to political activists, to half witted ‘TV personalities’. In reflection, admiring those such as Ben Ainslie, who last summer became the most Successful Olympic Sailor of all time, or Katherine Grainger, who persevered to reach her goal, valuable life lessons can be learnt. They teach determination and hard work in order to receive success. They teach us never to give up, and demonstrate the capacity of what the human body can withstand. Many will admire people such as Martin Luther King or Nelson Mandela, who, although discriminated against, found the strength to fight, but even greater to forgive. Extraordinary people of our time, doing extraordinary things; a hero should be just that, hence my disapproval of footballer’s or plastic, fake-tanned attention seekers. The lesson’s we take from them is to not be like them.

A hero should be someone who you can learn a lesson from, someone who inspires the way you live your life. To fight hardships, to carry on through dire circumstances. My personal hero? My Dad, most definitely. But that’s a story for another day.

This post came under the inspiration of one of my headmaster’s school assemblies. I’ve witnessed many assemblies, but never until this school have I found some so inspiring. His example was over the Lance Armstrong Scandal, whereby another lesson can be learnt: If it seems to good to be true, it probably is.

My Harry Potter

I got into Harry Potter quite late, relatively speaking.... I was eleven years old and there were already four films. I was bored one day and went downstairs to see what my parents were watching. They were watching Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban - I came in just as the start of term feast finished. I was intrigued by the school and how real it seemed, so I sat down.

I watched it all and I loved it.

I went back and read all of the first three books, watching the films after completing each of them. I then read the fourth book, but panicked when the age certificate was a 12 ( I still being eleven). I watched it a week before my birthday, on my own, in a darkened room, and having started high school and encountered a large majority of the swear words anyway, I was fine.

I read the other books, hanging on tenterhooks for the sixth and seventh volumes, crying intensely. I went to the cinema for all of the remaining four films, and cried intensely.

I cried when it was over. It still makes me sad.

I want more - spin offs, prequels, the marauders, the founders, what they did as adults, what their children did, spellbooks written and published. There is so much to be explored,and I only hope that when the copyright expires, some bright spark will do it. Or perhaps even JK Rowling will do them herself.

So. Want some quick Trivia?

My Favourite Book: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. I call it the tipping stone - it's getting darker, but not quite depressing, it relates to the teenage condition,and the imagery and magic is just getting complex enough.

My Favourite Film: In relation to the books, the two Deathly Hallows ones. They're perfect. AND they include Neville/Luna, which JK was stupid not to.

My Favourite Character: Hermione Granger. She's clever, and she's the kind of person I'd like to be ( but less bossy)

My Favourite House: Ravenclaw. Duh.

The Character I would Date: Fred Weasley. I formed an attachment to him somewhere in the first three books/films. I refuse to acknowledge that he died. Because he didn't. (Fred is the one on the right)

The one thing from the world I wish was real and could own: I'd like to say Hogwarts, but I can't really own it, so I'm going to break the mould and say a life long subscription to the Daily Prophet. If I can't live it,at least I could read about it.

My Favourite 10: Books (15)

Now. I have a slight obsession with books. They are good. Very good.  I'm also going to count this as 'A selection of book reviews', one of the points on my 50. So, in no particular order, Here are my top ten series

Harry Potter JK Rowling
As if I needed to state the obvious. I am head over heels in love with these books and would read them over and over and over again. Lovable characters, the writing is gorgeous and a world that you can truly believe and endorse your soul and heart in, if you haven't read these, how can you understand this blog? I am a Ravenclaw, after all!

Lord of the Rings & The Hobbit JRR Tolkein
Another great classic. Some of the sentences needed reading a couple of times to focus, but it has adventure in epic proportions, loyalty, romance (I'm in love with Faramir), doom and destruction but light-heartedness too. Middle Earth is well built, and it feels like reading a history at some times (which, as a budding historian, is a high compliment)!

Hunger Games Suzanne Collins
One of those series where you just.can't.put.it.down! There are plot twists and evilness and fluffy bits too, and the writing really grabs you. It makes the reader connect with the characters. I will admit that I despise everything from page 100 onwards in Mockingjay, and I felt that the author was killing nice people off for the sake of it, but the previous two books were so horrifying and believable, it still makes my top ten.

Percy Jackson Rick Riordan
I love this writing style. If there is anyway, or any book that I would advise to learn sarcastic writing style, it is this series. I love the ancient Greek influences, the confusion of those teenage years, and the characters, again, are all so lovable. I like how the author advocates being clever, with Annabeth, and with all of the historical references, it keeps me interested.

I am Number Four Pittacus Lore
I could do without the swearing. Just saying. But, otherwise, the plot was good, the idea an interesting one and I love Six. I felt that Sarah was a bit too perfect and just wanted to punch her, but I loved the idea of what Lorien stood for and that is what keeps me interested, despite Four's arrogance.

Eragon Christopher Paolini
Murtagh. His character just kept me clinging to this series. I love him, he's so complicated and broken, he just needs exploring. The writing was very much older than it was, but the imagery was beautiful. Again, Arya was a bit too perfect, but she's an elf so that's to be expected. I felt the ending of Inheritance was a bit of an anti-climax, but I'm glad that it's been left open for a possible spin-off book/series.

Triskellion  Will Peterson
Slightly Sci-fi but I love the hints of history within it, although it does scare me that one of the characters is called Rachel. The first book was good, but the subsequent two were thrilling, and made me cry. Also, unlike some series, the ending left me satisfied.

Dragonskin slippers Jessica Day George
I like this one for its sewing, its dragons, and oddly, its love story. Creel is not the typical person you would expect to fall for a Prince, and while it is simplistic in its nature, the whole series was interesting and made me smile. And it had sewing in it, so I would recommend for crafting fans of children's literature.

The Perks of Being a Wallflower Stephen Chbosky
I fell in love with this book very quickly as I read it at a difficult time in my life and felt that I could connect with the troubled characters. I will say though that I took a different route to sorting out my problems than they did! But the structure of the writing and its simplicity makes it beautiful and heart-wrenching all at the same time, and the ending left tears falling down my face. The character remains broken, less so, but you finally realise why.

Runemarks Joanne Harris
I was beginning to feel that the mythology 'thing' had been overdone, but then I met these two books, based in Norse mythology and fell for it. They took me time to read over my exams, but it was worth it. The plot was complex and the Characters were so colourful and ever-changing that it kept me so interested and focused on the stories. I do think, however, that Loki and Maddy's relationship was left too unexplored.

They're all so gorgeous.

Christmas To -Do List: Films to watch

 

The Polar Express

 

 

The Downton Abbey Christmas Special

 

 

Love Actually (to depress me)

 

 

Harry Potter (to cheer me up again)

Doctor No. 12

I have decided that Peter Capaldi requires a purple velvet waistcoat, a lime-green cravat and a silver or navy blue suit.

 

 

Yes I think that should suit him.

 

I think its an interesting choice, considering that he is well known for many other roles, and he has appeared in Doctor Who already. I guess I'll have to see him act it before I draw any final conclusions... I doubt he'll last particularly long, which is a shame, as I like the last two Doctors as you had time to get used to them...

 

Well, I guess I'll just have to wait and see...



Camera Experiments: Saturation

 

Would you actually believe that these are dandelion seed heads? Well, you should. Don't they look awesome?! I used Microsoft Picture Manager to saturate the colour, increase the contrast, then repeat for desired effect. My favourite is the top one as it still looks fluffy. I think that they look like mini fireworks actually, don't you?



Results

As you read this, I will have more than likely received the results of my AS exams. However, I am in Crete, so will be unable to convey good news, if it even occurs that is. I am relying a lot on these. If they go well, I can apply to the Universities I have already fallen in love with - Cambridge, Durham, York.... etc. If they don't meet the mark, I guess I'll have to find other places to fall in love with...

 

It will be too late for you to wish me luck, but I do wish so very badly that it is good news.