Jenson Button eat your heart out :)

I am very pleased to announce that I passed my driving test yesterday. The feeling is overwhelming when they say 'Congratulations you have passed'. I actually thought I had failed because I was like five minutes from the end of my test when a lorry almost pulled out on me and I swerved out the way and I thought 'crap that's cost me the test' but thankfully I only got a minor for it. I cried when I found out- not like balling my eyes out but just  a few stray tears. I was so unbelievably happy. Then the examiner went through her report and I really weren't properly listening. My other two minors were for my pulling in- I'm really rubbish at it and I was thinking I really don't mind that I can't do it cos in reality when am I going to have to pull over on the side of a main road? 

I rang my mum and dad and my mum screamed and my dad cried. My dad is like this burly 6foot 3, 21 stone stone man and I've never seen him cry before so I was super surprised when I came home and he had blood shot eyes. Insuring my car was absolutely ridiculous! My little Poppy is only a KA and she isn't worth much more than 600 quid but the cheapest insurance was £2500. What. A. Rip. Off! I did it anyway and since I've been driving all over the place singing at the top of my lungs. I must look like a right weirdo because I get well into it and proper belt out James Blunt. I feel well like Uncle Bryn from Gavin and Stacey lol :) 

Em xox

I'll be there for you...

Since I am always chatting about my friends on my blog, I thought I'd do a whole post dedicated to pictures of  them so you all know what they look like :)
Em xox

Me and Laura in Tenerife 2011 

Fay and I with our mums on my 18th birthday

Fay, Me, Char, Alice, Anna and Jazz in 2011

Rachel, Vicki and I in Kavos 2011

Me, Jazz, Stu and Fay in 2012

Fay, Me, Stu, Rachel and Alice 2012

Me and Tom 2012

Bus Crew

The Wombats

Rach, Alice, Emma, Vicki, Char and I on my 18th

The Tilbury Lot; Max, Charlie, Jem, Rosie, Hannah, Me, John, Fay, Maria and Em

Jack the Ripper

Yesterday I met my cousin Kayleigh in London. She lives in North Yorkshire but was down visiting for a few days. Anyway by the time we got into London it was like 4. We were walking to Tower Hill station from Fenchurch Street and Kayles was attracted to these Jack the Ripper walk posters so we decided we'd go on one. Considering I've lived in London my whole life, I was surprised to find a tourist attraction I hadn't done yet. We booked our tickets and made our way to Kentish Town, another part of London I hadn't been to. We were only going there because Kayles was meeting a friend to sell her Black Stone Cherry ticket to. Kentish Town is certainly not a nice part of London, with potential squatters wondering around and pervy men honking their horn at us. I've never understood why people do that. It's not like it's in the slightest way attractive and I'm hardly going to marry him as a result. It does give you a nice ego boost though.
Anyway at 6 we left Tower Hill station to go on our walk. It was really interesting actually and I found a few nice bars to go to in the future. It was also cool to see new bits of London that I would have otherwise not known about. It lasted an hour and a half and after we went to Brick Lane for a curry and my god it was amazing! We were absolutely starving so it tasted that extra bit special.
Em xox

Sassy Sundays

I am fully aware that it is now Thursday and I haven't blogged in a while so I thought I'd fill you in. On Sunday, I went to Romford with Jazz and Rachel for Sassy Sundays. Basically Sassy Sundays is just a cheap night so seeing as we are students, it's perfect. We started the night in Yates and managed to consume 2 pitchers of some cocktail fairly quickly. It was peng, I must admit. During this time I let slip when my driving test was. It was completely accidental- they were prying into why I wasn't going out on Thursday night and I had to admit it was because my test was on Friday. FRIDAY. AS IN TOMORROW. OMG!! Anyway, we then went on to our usual bar- Missoula. We had literally just walked to the bar and out of nowhere this bloke slaps my bum. I had never met him in my life and when I turned to look who it was, he just smiled like some perv. His mate later went on to slap Rach's arse too. Rachel and I started on a bottle of white wine and a round of sambucca shots. We made it some sort of thing to buy shots with every round- bad idea. We left about 1 (I think) and Rachel's mum picked us up. I was last to be dropped off and it was THE hardest thing ever to try and converse with Sharron after I had drunk lots of alcohol. She was nice to me though bless her, she was probably thinking what a piss head.
The next morning I must admit I felt a tad sensitive and considering I never get hangovers, this was a very weird feeling.
Em xox

Girl Racer- almost.

So yesterday I had a mock driving test. I had a relatively good drive although I did get four minors in the same box which equals a fail :( however on a happier note, my instructor says I can still take my test next week. SCARY!! In the evening I went to a birthday party and I've come to the conclusion that I'm always left overs. For example about 2 guys chatted me up after being turned down my friend earlier. Jazz and I then went on to a club in Romford where she got chatted up and I just ended up with the friend. I actually believe that I'm destined to be the friend that ends up with the wingman who doesn't want to be there- you know like Smithy is when he first sees Nessa in Gavin and Stacey. Anyway I'm back out tonight with Jazz and Rachel, let's see what happens. Em xox

Road Rage

I had my first driving lesson in December 2010. It is now March 2012 and I still haven't had a test. My test is later this month and I don't think I'm going to pass. It's so frustrating as I know in theory I can drive but put me behind a wheel and I panic and make stupid errors. Its so frustrating!!! I just want to pass and start driving my little Poppy; my little red KA. Well tomorrow I have a mock test so fingers crossed I do well otherwise my test is going to be moved :(
Em xox

Lacking Motivation.

I'm currently in my second and final year of sixth form studying English Literature, Geography, Maths and General Studies (if you can even call that a real subject). When I was at school I was extremely motivated and driven to achieve the best. I also began my college life with this same mindset, enrolling in the Gifted and Talent programme and still wanting to be number one. However by January 2011 I hit a wall and now in March 2012 I'm still staring at it.

It is really hard to describe how I feel but I will try none-the-less. I still have some sort of drive to succeed, I need ABB to get onto my course next year (granted I get through the next round of interviews) and when I do do poorly, I am still hard on myself. However I just can't seem to be able to revise and do my homework. For instance, my final draft of my english lit coursework is due in tomorrow and I am sitting here writing this. I have been staring blankly at the screen for a good three hours and I've only edited one page out of the six. I know that I need at least an A on this essay because I want something solid to go into the exam in the summer with but yet I just can not be bothered.

Same applies for all of my subjects. It is mock week next week and I am nowhere near ready to sit any exams. I find it so hard because I was the best when I was at school. I know it sounds big headed and I'm not the type to brag but I was great at GCSE and it just sucks that I'm only middle of the road now. I did go to college with the idea that it would be fairly easy because I sat an AS Level whilst at school with only one hour a week lesson time and I was one mark off an A so I therefore assumed that I'd find college just as easy- could I be any more wrong?

I've decided that I'm going to stop ranting to you guys about how demotivated I am and do something about it, like finish my English coursework by 8pm.

Em xox

Gym Girl; part 4

Another day, another gym session. I started off my session like normal with a 15 minute run on the treadmill and I must say it is becoming easier. I think I'll stick with 15 minutes next week and maybe try increasing my time after Easter. Ahh I just realised I'm going to have a two week break over Easter- sad times :(. I then did 15 minutes on the bike which was for a first because normally I die after 10. My friend Jazz and I hit the mats and did some girls press ups. I reckon we must've looked so daft because we can't do many- only 10 and we complained about how much they hurt big time. We then went on to do some sit ups. I only did 25, I really haven't got the motivation for them. My friend Stuart then taught me how to do some curls or something with some weights. They were quite difficult and especially seeing as I don't want man's arms I definitely lack the motivation do to them. I then did 3 sets of 20 reps on the leg thing I mentioned in the other post on 6kg. That is like the only weight training I like, probably because it is easy. I finished my session with a five minute go on the rowing.

I went out for lunch with my Mum and Dad after and had a fish salad followed by a fruit salad. I'm definitely taking to all this healthy living stuff although I haven't seen much different in my appearance although mentally I do feel better. Fay and I walked home from college yesterday though the woods and that must be about 4 miles and I actually really enjoyed it. Bring on the summer when we can do it more often!

Em xox

Gym Girl; part 3

Right, I know there I've never posted anything called 'Gym Girl; part x' before but I thought I'd start posting about my gym sessions but my blog never existed for my first two trips to the gym. Anyway, as I mentioned before I am around 5 foot 7/8ish and about 10 and a half stone- wow not many girls would put that on the internet- and therefore aren't going to the gym to loose weight, more to improve my fitness and have a laugh. I do spend most of my time in the gym chatting and looking as though I'm doing something productive when in fact I'm not. I am trying to build up my stamina and currently spend 15 minutes on the treadmill followed by 10 minutes on the bike and 20 reps for three sets on some leg weight machine. I'm not sure what it is called but you have your legs at right angles and they start near your chest then you push out. I did do five minutes on the rowing machine yesterday but it really hurts my back so I'm not sure if I'll use it again. I also did some weird exercise with Fay yesterday where I stood on some balance board thing and we throw a 5kg ball to one another and had a natter. That is what I call exercise!

My friend Dean wants to be a personal trainer so he tries to push me harder with sit ups and leg raises and does insist on pushing me to my limit and forcing me to do that little bit extra. It is really what I need because I admit I am really lazy and lack motivation. Another one of my friends Nessa also pushes me to extremes and shouts at me that I can when stop, again something that I need because I can normally do those extra few reps.

I'm really enjoying the gym which surprises me because I'm not really a fan of getting hot and sweaty. I do like the banter and looking at the nice bloke who works there. I am really gutted because there are very few hot men there and that was originally my first reason to start going to the gym- for the eye candy. 

Em xox

Dinner and a Film.

So yesterday I went to the pictures with a guy I went to school with. We got there super early so after we bought our tickets (well he bought mine) for 21 Jump Street, I treated him to a McDonald's (aren't I classy?!?). He kept on insisting that he wasn't hungry and not to buy him anything but seeing as he bought my ticket and wouldn't accept any money, I force fed him a quarter pounder with cheese meal.

The film was okay however didn't live up to my expectations. My sister had seen it a few days previously and told me it was so funny she fell off her seat. I however did laugh a fair bit but nothing worthy of tears or falling off my seat. The film did however star Channing Tatum (WHAT A GOD!) so I was happy to see him. I wouldn't buy it on DVD but it wasn't a bad film.

Love, Love, Love 

As I walked through the door, I managed to count to 2 before my mum went 'How'd it go Em?'. She was sooo excited because I'm sure she thought it was a date (it wasn't not a date, I don't know how to classify it). When I told her I was going out with him and that he drove, wore nice clothes and lived in a nice area I think she was mentally planning our wedding- weird right? Anyway, going through some sort of interrogation from my family, I managed to settle down and watch the second half of West Ham V Middlesbrough. We drew 1-1 and were awful. I'm definitely beginning to loose faith in my beloved Hammers, we are useless and are totally not up to Premiership level. With 9 games left, we certainly need to pull up our socks and start getting some results.

Em xox

America's Next Top Model

I am a MASSIVE fan of the Top Model franchise. I mean huge, gigantic, world's biggest. I watch every season countless times regardless of what country it's from, I've got the Wii game and spend ages perfecting my smize in hope that I'm magically going to grow 2 inches and be two stone lighter. Don't get my wrong, I love my body. I like being 5 foot 7/8, I like having curves and being a size 6-14 depending on the shop and whether there are buttons involved. I would adore to be a Bravissimo model. It must be the coolest job to have your photo taken in some gorgeous underwear and be allowed to have boobs and a bum.  Wow I've totally gone off topic but hey ho.

I just watched the final of cycle 13 of ANTM ani must say Nicole and Laura are the loveliest girls ever and definitely in my top 5 favourite contestants of all time. Despite how different the girls are, I feel that I can relate to both of them and I am so proud to see 'short' girls breaking into the business. I hope the UK does a similar season and gives our normal girls a chance too. So, Elle if you are reading this, hurry up and so a short cycle :P

Em xox

Who killed Frank Foster?

I've been a fan of Coronation Street for a good few years and I've been keen to find out who killed Frank Foster. From the moment he was killed I immediately assumed it would be either; a) his Mum, Ann or b) his business partner, Jenny. We've just been told that it was Ann and I'm not surprised. I didn't think it would've been Carla or Peter because they are far too important to write out the the story and neither seem like the murdering type. That said it is weird for Ann too kill her own son, even if he is an evil rapist.

I am really disappointed in Peter for admitting the murder- how can he not think about poor little Simon? I totally hope Leanne gets custody of Simon, Peter has proven himself to be incapable of looking after the little cutie. I do wonder where Leanne is planning on living with Si though, he can't live in the pub I assume, it's hardly big enough for Stella, Carl, Leanne, Eva without putting a kid in the picture too.

I'm sure it'll sort it out soon,
Em xox

DIY SOS

After deciding that I wasnt going to go to university, I thought it was time to redecorate. My room was green, think Monica and Chandler's guest room in Friends, with white wardrobes. Last Saturday I decided I was going to redecorate on my own (normally my dad does all the decorating) and went down to Homebase with my friend Fay and bought some beech coloured sticky back plastic. I decided to change the colour of my wardrobes because I was painting the walls cream and didn't want too much white.

When we got home we started painting. My dad had bought some equipment called a Paint Pad Pro which is like a paint pad that you use instead of a roller or brush. Despite a sticky start, I've finally got the hang of it and have almost finished the walls a week on.

We also struggled with the sticking of the back plastic as my wardrobes have awkward ridges on them. However, I did find some sort of technique and managed to cover my wardrobes fairly seamlessly.

Now I'm just looking forward to going out and  buying new accessories and putting up new pictures.

Em xox

Naked Boys Sing!

One of my biggest passions in life is the theatre. Luckily, seeing as I live so close to the London, I'm fortunate to see shows quite regularly. A few weeks ago it was one of my friends Rachel's birthday so along with another friend, Fay, we bought her tickets to see Naked Boys Sing. NBS is a 60 minute show currently being shown in the Charring Cross Theatre.
We started our night in the Princess of Wales pub along the road from Embankment Station, a small establishment playing indie music. In here we had a few glasses of wine before going across the road to the theatre.

All three of us were feeling a tad nervous seeing as we had never seen anything of this nature before. As the suspense built, the show started quarter of an hour later than scheduled, I wondered whether the actors would come our naked or whether there would be some cheesy strip tease.

Suddenly out of nowhere, the actors appeared down the aisles of the theatre and began singing fully clothed. As the show progressed the actors stripped down until eventually they were completely naked. Throughout the show, the audience were in fits of laughter at the comedic songs and the sight of 8 men on stage with their willies wiggling as they danced.

I was totally impressed with the talent of the men, performing in a theatre without microphones whilst having to compete against the sound of trains travelling overhead. Would I see the show again? Definitely. A perfect night out.

We then went on to the Walkabout bar in Covent Garden. No entrance fee, reasonably priced drinks and a brilliant band followed by good chart music. Perfect for all those who just want to let their hair down and cheesily dance to the YMCA with a group of strangers. The only problem with this bar is it closed at 1am and we were definitely still in the party mood.

After came a trip home on the night bus. It was a brilliant trip actually as we met up with a group of local lads who had just seen Steps at GAY.

We didnt have much luck with transport last night with engineering works on the trains and a 40 minute wait for the N15. How London doesn't have trains running all night is beyond me but we still had a wicked night anyway.

Rachel, Fay and I

Em xox

My first experience of blogging...

So, after speaking with some of my friends at college I have decided to start blogging, therefore please excuse my awkwardness and my 'omg I don't know what to say'.
Shall I start with a little bit about me? My name is Emma Groves and I am an 18 year old student from London. I'm currently studying Maths, English Lit and Geography at A Level. I hate college with a passion so there will be plenty posts about how much I hate sixth form and I apologise in advance. Currently I am applying for a training scheme with KPMG and consequently would like to be an accountant when I'm older.

In my free time I like to read, party and play guitar. I have been playing guitar for nearly three years and I adore it. My main inspiration is Taylor Swift. She is so talented, beautiful and down to earth and I think she is an amazing role model. I am very much a typical 18 year old and love to go out with my friends to bars, it's just annoying that some of my friends, like Char, aren't 18 yet. I work part time in a bar collecting glasses, emptying ashtrays, dancing with customers and I adore it. It is actually so much fun and I look forward to going to work. It's also really good because my colleagues are so lovely and we do shots together and I get given some Chinese and the end of the night- result :) I am also a serial tweeter. I tweet loads of useless rubbish all the time and I will try and refrain from doing that on here. However, if you do fancy reading my tweets, follow me on @Emma_Groves.

I have just started going to the gym and my blog will probably also include my progress. I'm not going to the gym to loose weight or anything, I'm going to tone up a little and to have a laugh with my friends. I wouldn't mind running a marathon in a few years too and considering I can just about run for a bus, I think my training would probably need to start a good five years in advance.

Anyway, that's quite enough about me for the moment so over and out :) xox