Halsey - BADLANDS | Concert Review, photographed by Rajalaxmi Watkinson

We (myself and Rajalaxmi Watkinson) started off the day by checking we had the right directions written down on our phones, all the right trains to get on and a vague idea of what way to go when we got there, thankfully Rajalaxmi remembered the way from the last time we went there and all the memories started flooding back from the last time we went to O2 Brixton Academy.

Once we got to the arena, after praising that Rajalaxmi had remembered the way; we had to go to the back of one of the longest queues we had ever seen, it just never ended, it went round and round, and around the building and then to other buildings. Giving us the heads up that the show is “SOLD OUT”, even though we already walked past that sign. We finally made it to the end, where we would wait until it was time for doors to open, and if the line already wasn’t long enough; people started queuing up behind us, reminding us just how big the arena is. Rachael got the tickets out of her bag for us to keep hold of, ready to be scanned when we did eventually get to the doors, there was still plenty of time for selfies to take for ‘Snapchat’ to send around.

Skipping to the moment the queue actually started moving, we got past the side of the building which had gates to only show the other side of the queue, still yet to go in themselves. There were these big posters of her on the walls with the labels “SOLD OUT”, there was always that feeling of relief, remembering we have our tickets already in our pockets. I almost forgot all about them having to check our bags, which meant I was a bit disorganised, trying to open up my bag as soon as I could, assuring the security guards that we just had big cases for our professional cameras. This was where I said my goodbyes to my water-bottle, and a guard made the comment “don’t take her sandwiches, that’s just cruel.”… and leaving me to dehydrate isn’t cruel? Overjoyed and excited for the night to begin, we had a quick look at the merch stand, then remembered how poor we are and decided we could easily find something on eBay later on, we ran to our seats on the higher balcony, and then the radio started playing; where we only recognised one song which happened to be by ‘twenty øne piløts’ which we sang and danced along to, still awaiting the concert to begin. 

We won’t mention names of the special guests, considering they-well.-to put it blunt, they were awful. The base was fine, but we couldn’t hear a word of any of the songs, there were these bright, blinding lights. The two bands played about six songs each, which we just about survived through, with little help from Rachael’s earplugs (playing ‘Panic! At the Disco’ and ‘Bethan Leadley’ / MusicalBethan on YouTube). We had that small moment of thinking Halsey was next, considering the whole arena had blacked out, which usually means the next act is up but it was just the second band. Soon enough, after making sure not too much time had passed, it was definitely running later than what it had said on the ticket; this time, we knew Halsey was next. Well, thanks to the small hint when the people checking the instruments and lighting had shown the logos of the two bands that had just been up and then Halsey’s on the screen. We waited a little more, and then we recognised the start of her music being played.

Trying to contain all our excitement, there she was, on stage; taking our breath away. We just couldn’t believe that the girl we had been listening to non-stop was in the same room as us and performing those songs we love, live. Witnessing another beauty to add to our list of god(esses) that make us question our sexualities. I just loved how she didn’t sing those songs the exact same way as on her album, otherwise what would be the point? She sang some notes higher and with just more emotion, it just had more atmosphere to remembering that this was happening live, and we were there to witness. It was like she was really bringing herself to the stage.
We did find ourselves wishing she had an intro sort of trailer to welcome us into the Badlands, or at least use the trailer for the album here but to ease the audience into it (not that they needed it) and give a better sign that she was up next, something we could scream in excitement at. But the space being played on the screens behind her when she was bringing herself to the stage was just so aesthetic. I mean look at it. Space is beautiful and we were just so glad it wasn't some pixelated low quality kind.

I love how she was just so genuine, she called us her friends that were too cool for her, if we knew her in real life. She was so comfortable with us, she even took her bra off at the start of ‘Castle’; hiding it up by twerking. I really couldn’t believe it, that there was this point where in-between the song break, she told us that she was taking off her bra. “I bet you all didn't notice I was taking my bra off at the start of the song”.

There were times she couldn’t keep herself away from the crowd, she would go back and forth to stand on the bars and she would reach out to some of us who were reaching back to her. There was even hand movements she was getting us to do with the song that looked silly but she still got us to move our hands up and down to the beat; like we were all dancing as good friends. As well as dancing, she pointed the microphone towards the crowd when she noticed us singing the words back in sync. Almost like karaoke where we would sing the chorus back to her. 

When it came to the break or sometimes in the middle of song, she would stop it all, just to say how much she appreciates us all, give a round of applause for the special acts beforehand and her band helping her out or try to get as close to the crowd as she could. She swore in almost every sentence when she wasn’t singing (including her song, ‘Strange Love’), yet it didn’t sound like she was actually swearing, more like talking to us as good friends and she didn’t mean for the swearing to be harmful, to not be taken seriously. “I love all your f**king faces”. Before we knew it, it came to the last song ‘Colors’ and there was confetti everywhere, she sang songs from her old EP “Room 93″ and every song from her album, “Badlands” except for ‘I walk the line’. Throughout all the songs, the crowd was just so enthusiastic to be singing every word with her, dancing along. We just didn’t want the night to end. Sadly, it had to, otherwise we would miss our train back, and the college days after that.
Now came the time to endure that after-concert-depression, until Friday (26th February), where another concert will add on to all the emotions Halsey left us with.

Written by Rachael Cook, photographed by Rajalaxmi Watkinson.You can find more photography of this concert here.

Are internet friends better than irl {in real life} friends? | Waffle/Rant

A better version of this blogpost in video form.

So many of us will know of the term "internet friends" either quite well to the point where you have many of your own that you have no idea how you got, or some would wish they had friends like that. Without trying to shove it in anyone's faces I can honestly say I do have great friends that happened to start out online. To the parents who still think everyone online is a paedophile, nahhhh just friends you haven't had the chance to meet just yet. Now for those of you who find yourself wishing to still find those friends, many of them will already be around your online persona, you both just need to be fair on the time you talk one-on-one and the friendships can take off. Or sometimes fall, some just weren't meant to be.

I'm not exactly the pinnacle {is that even the right spelling for it? idk [I don't know] I only just passed my English Language exam, cut me some slack} to be giving advice here. I was lucky enough to have internet from a young age but even then mum would still restrict me from certain websites like Twitter. Other social medias and elsewhere were completely fine but a big N O to Twitter. Bear in mind I had no idea about Tumblr back then, ah that probably would've been blocked too though. So I wasn't actually able to start with Twitter till March 2011, I was about 14 and I think I was only able to because I was on it when mum wasn't around but before then I guess I did have some {like 5, none I talk to now} on Facebook/YouTube where I made random friends to get the free gifts for games.

Anyway, to get to the actual point of this blogpost; it's to say that it's quite rare to have friends or anyone that you talk to day in, day out. There are people I still consider friends and we haven't talked for a week or longer but in a way we're still connected, neither of us have deleted the other on Facebook just yet, so we must want to stay in contact or we're just not really bothered on it. Either way, we can still be in each others lives and say "hello" randomly then catch-up. There have been people that followed, said hi and unfollowed then went the next, so if the person hasn't done that yet you're a shoe in.

Thing is though, even online where you have your own build to hide behind and not everyone will know you irl so you're free to be whoever and whatever, it can still take courage to start your own conversations with random people; whether this is in groupchats {gcs}or one-on-one. Honestly I find each as hard as each other, with gcs you have to talk to a number of people at the same time and be equal, you have to be as open as you are with some people in that gc to all the people in that gc, it's just a lot of work. Then there's talking one-on-one where it should be easier with just the two of you but really at first, we, are all strangers. Those good friends, you started out as strangers. Even with our own family members, yes we're related but that doesn't always mean we're close, we could still be strangers; like those old ancestors that say they remember you as a baby but you don't remember them, because who remembers things as a baby? So you see what I mean, even the bestest of friends start out as complete strangers and it can take a while or milliseconds to get to know each other; depending on how fast your personalities click together.

To find those kind of people faster, you have to either join gcs or search for your likes {within fandoms}, find people who like the same singer/band/youtuber/artist of any kind and go from there; find out what else you have in common. Most will like that person for the same reasons so you can bond easily then but each of you have to keep the conversations going, that's where it gets difficult to keep internet friends.

There's a literal distance that internet friends have that irl friends easily don't. Irl friends can easily go to each others houses, hug, have sleepovers, watch their favourite digital things with one screen, pat each other on the back when needed, no walls to travel, and even possibly see the side that isn't always seen online. Whereas for internet friends, they have to do all this with the barriers of actual distance, timezones, their own lives and just even their own irl friends. That is a hell of a lot of work to keep up, and it's no wonder there are those that break when it all becomes too much. There are even ones that would still make you feel like: "they're ignoring me, aren't they? They haven't replied in seconds like they always do so they must be ignoring me." Uh actually they have a life of their own, it could be many things. I guess even irl friends still have this too though, and it can still be same with jealousy; where a friend treats another friend better than you, or they're closer or just whatever.

Some people would go as far to say there is no such thing as internet friends and they can't be compared to irl friends, but really, the difference is: internet friends don't have to be there in person with them ALL the time, they've literally started out online so it can stay online. Irl, there HAS to be the get togethers sooner or later, according to them: "it's just not possible to catch-up through texts."
Sure,, don't mind us internet friends connecting in the way we just always have through messages. 

So you see why internet friends hug SO MUCH when they meet irl, compared to actual friends irl who see each other everyday; internet friends won't always have that lucky opportunity, so those ones that use it to their advantage in hugs are the ones worth keeping around. They shouldn't really be valued differently because either kind can help out when needed most, some just have it easier than others. Either can bounce back to say hi randomly. What really matters, are the people are there for you and you're there for them, you CAN get to know each other through messages. Hello, this is 2016 where videochat has been a thing for a while now. It's not impossible. Some will rank internet friends higher when they find them easier to interact with than people irl because they're just not near as social irl. It's just easy to judge the sort of person who ranks internet friends to irl friends on which they choose as best. Neither are best, one can be just more convenient than the other at times. So to sum up on this waffle, I love internet friends and irl friends, both have been there in times of need and both have their differences. If someone wants to have a day where they just praise internet friends then leave them be and vice versa. Neither have a pedestal but there are kinds of people that find one easier to be themselves with than the other at times, you just have to let them know it's alright and in time, it will be same.

Ah, this is a mess, I just wanted to an update blogpost with some links that match here, oh well.
The time I filmed visiting two internet friends:
Gays in Vienna

Coming out, my sexuality waffle

So, I haven't done a blog post for a while now and this is a weird post to welcome back with but hey I'm doing it with dubstep music (from the mortal instruments: city of bones soundtrack) playing in the background...I'm weird I know.

Anyway, whole point I wanted to do this blogpost was because it felt like it was needed, yes I outed myself on Twitter and YouTube, yet I haven't done it here but maybe it's about time I did to try and help others who have no idea and are just as queer (you can use this term if you hate labels and have no idea) as can be.

Firstly there was my coming out video with little bits of how I know and accept it which is here, it's about 8 minutes long which if that's long for you, dw there's sum up video here. Which is just 4 minutes, calm your low attention spans. By the way, that second link is more to do with being okay with not knowing a label to place on yourself which is completely fine, when there's just so many it gets pretty confusing, especially when some days you like boys but the next you like girls (as an example). A more updated video with un-discussed points can be found here.

Now that the promo is out of the way, let's get to the actual blog post. Well, I'm going to say this plain and straight (ha the irony) if you haven't checked the tags; known me from twitter for a bit or watched any of the video links, you wouldn't know this...I'm pansexual. Yeah it's out there. So why are you outing yourself even more Rach? Well, one: to avoid another awkward encounter with an old friend. Two: it's a whole lot easier to say things online, have a username and picture to hide behind but real life you're seeing everything live and you're constantly told you can have an impact, you are in control of your future but with no plan of how it turns out. In other words, it's a lot easier to say it here in a blogpost than publicly outing. Yes that can be seen as "cowardly" by some but hey I'm not one for awkward moments when I'm already enough of an awkward human being without having to explain all these things multiple times. Or it might act as a better way to drive away the people I don't need in my life, who knows?

Either way, that was supposed to be one short sentence, just typical I waffle when I shouldn't. You still reading? Good. I should probably get to the point I was supposed to be getting to, well see the thing is I had a feeling that I wanted to write a blogpost but actually getting to write it, that's the hard bit when you have no idea what to say, that's me rn.

My story
There was always this feeling I had that I'm not as straight as my whole family is, like there must be something different, and the time I really started noticing it is when I had my first kiss and I just felt so sick afterwards and the only explanation I had is because I barely knew the guy. Sound familiar? Yeah I didn't feel anything because I didn't know him on a personal level, and for a pansexual to like someone, they've gotta know their personality. But when my first kiss happened I also had this mindset that neither of us had any idea how to kiss, and yes granted that was partially it and at the time I wasn't sure what to believe because yes we had internet and online things but I wasn't as educated in the sexualities. I was 16, and honestly to me that's an age where I should have a basic grasp of some things, but I had absolutely no idea about what I was into, or what it was even considered.

So after my first kiss, where I'm left confused as heck when I expected it to be all amazing and the best thing ever, thanks fairytales, I had no idea what to do. But instead of saying anything, I bottled this up, and went with the usual oh yeah we were just messing around, of course there was no feeling behind it. There were these nights where I'd always blame myself and get really confused as to why I felt nothing since I was so uneducated on the different sexualities, yes I know of the gay or straight but nothing of the other categories. And as luck would have it, I found myself most comfortable in one of the less known categories.

My secondary school was complete and utter crap with the way it taught almost anything, and yes there were a few I got good grades in but ignoring the food technology classes, the one that was most crap was sexual education. Yup, one of the few things we actually need to be taught properly or our whole future is messed up-not completely but most. My sexual education teacher wasn't awful, there were times where our class recommended he should find a way to solve his anger management problems because he would always be shouting or banging his head against the wall with my class. Yes they were noisy but take a chill pill, most classes are noisy. Sorry I sound angry but honestly it was so frustrating: that the only lesson I actually remember where he got somewhere is one I explained in that first video link, basically (about to get graphic) we had to put a real condom on a plastic dildo...now if that's not a awkward disturbing class to have, idk what is. But even after that, when our teacher apparently quit, we had this replacement which just read out of a book and everyone could tell she didn't have the slightest clue what she was doing. Which is a lot of help when YOU'RE THE TEACHER.


Skip to the time I found out
When I started my second year of college; I was moved to this new media class where I knew no one, yet the person sitting next to me immediately started talking to me and we would always be in the same group. We quickly became the best of friends, even though she was with the group I wouldn't normally go to which involved smoking, I still had no part of this but soon after, she started being more open with her sexuality as bi. This was when I had the limited information on sexualities (I knew gay and straight), I had heard of bi being attracted to two genders: male and female, yet I had not stumbled upon others. Once I heard this news I started becoming more interested in sexualities which led me to start researching more in depth as to what others there are. After a while, I kept coming back to the fact that I just never felt comfortable being referred to as straight and staying in the little box it provided. I knew I had to find the other box where I connected but that's hard to do when none of the boxes are close together. What kind of metaphor am I even trying to make here? It was at age 18 that I did find a sexuality I felt comfortable to be in, that sexuality is pansexual. It took me longer to find it, with it being on the plus of lgbtq+.

I remember finding it with others a week or so before and admiring it so much, yet relating to it at the same time with only realising a few days after when going back to the little experience I had. Going back to that first kiss and the explanation I always had as a mindset. That I had to know this person well. Whether that was the things they told and made public or the being they I came to know them as; from a distance. I knew pansexuality as this perfect sexuality that just sounded so beautiful, attracted to what's inside; opposed to outside. Making them blind to what they look like or whatever gender they may be. I had this self doubt that someone as ugly as myself couldn't be in this pretty group of wise beings, I just got so lost in others' ways of finding out to be whatever sexuality they were, that I didn't come to find those who struggled to find one like I did. Stuck in the middle of the room with different boxes of sexualities, labels on the boxes; the name being crossed out if definitely sure to not be in this sexuality box. The only one being crossed out seemed to be straight.

I've waffled on long enough; I think I've got my points out there, the ones I couldn't share in a video as it would be too long and sure this is long but hey people read books, well there's still youtuber books being brought out so they must still do. I hope so. Thanks for reading whatever this was, best wishes. xo
Rachael

Return of the never updated blog...

Hello. I know I haven't uploaded any blogs here for like the longest time but I've been busy...really rach have you? Okay that's halfly lying but I actually have with well, college is the more reasonable excuse as youtube can be joined with blogging. OKAY IM GOING TO STOP TRYING TO MAKE EXCUSES SINCE I HAVE NONE. ANYWAY, let's get to the actual writing.

So, because I've been away for so long, there have been quite a few events; concerts, things I could easily write the experience I had of these things that the vlog wouldn't be able to show, as well as show some of the photography I picked up. If you start seeing a load of spam posts from here on, this would be the reason why: I need to update this blog, use it for its blogging purpose which is to show what I didn't record on camera. I'm sitting here on my laptop, listening to my tumblr playlist; whilst trying to think of exciting things to type and I have nothing.

I'm forgetting where I was going with this post, so to sum up: I have a spam few of posts coming that any remaining blog followers have missed out if you've not been following my youtube which I apologise to keep mentioning, it's just where I (video)blog my life and have been doing without my actual blog site. To get promo out of way, my youtube is here: www.youtube.com/user/peacerachael13, which has spoilers of what the next couple of posts will be about.

I'm going to leave this here before I waffle any more and waste more time for this post just announcing I am going to try to update this blog now. Hope you've had/are having a great day. I'll be here writing more blog posts. Signing off, thanks for reading whatever this was, best wishes. xo
Rachael

My attempt of trying to be a photographer from my window.

 My camera has seemed to add a random fade effect and I like it, it gives the photos more beauty than they normally would if you took it with a crappy camera. Or is that just my way of bragging that I got a new camera since the last time I posted here? Maybe.

I tried to make sure no people are able to be seen in these shots, otherwise I wouldn't have the rights to post these pictures online and it just wouldn't be right. Would you like your face to be online without permission? Didn't think so.

Well, this is me done. Till next time.

My story of meeting Zoe {14/10/14}

This probably is one of the silliest ways to come back to a blog after so long, yes, start it off with an anecdote that was requested and kinda needed to be done.

As this story starts, Zoe tweeted a link to a competition on where we could win the opportunity to meet her:

behold the tweet itself (this screenshot was taken a while ago so the amount of days ago, tweets, favourites and retweets have increased more now)

I entered the competition, there were questions such as: what is your twitter name (I liked this one, future events, take note), if you were free on the 13th and 14th of October 2014 (to collect the wristband(s) and meet her the next day), and there was one it ended with that stood out from the rest asking "Why do you think you deserve this opportunity?" I felt like I didn't have much to say, I didn't want to sound big headed and I was just speechless. This question took the most of my time, but I was able to answer it with:

You're probably wondering why it's on a word document, well my friend wanted some inspiration after she had written her essay out and I thought I might as well go back and find it then copy and paste it onto a word document, and here that is.
Coincidentally, there was a spot bulging out on the day, thankfully, I was able to calm it and I think my dimples of a big smile whilst standing next to Zoe covered them up, that was some weird karma. Anyway, after I had finished typing that up and couldn't think of much more to say, I submitted it and left it at that. Nor too long after (Sunday 5th October to be precise) I had found an email saying "Congratulations, you have won the opportunity to meet Zoella!" and at first I was thinking this has to be one of those scam emails and they've just found out who Zoe is, it would be the only explanation I had in mind on why they called her "Zoella", sorry but hearing that name being used makes me cringe and say "Her name is Zoe, not Zoella." I had enough trouble with some girls calling her that in a store and using it disrespectfully then me having to put them in their place, but that story is for another time or you've probably already heard most of it. (And this is why I don't do blog posts often, I babble and forget my place) Ignoring the silly explanation I had for that email, I opened it and it was the real deal, the real thing. I screamed and ran as fast I could downstairs to show mother and the first question she asks is "Yeah, when is it and where?" Ahem, can't you see your daughter freaking out over here? I skimmed through the email and found the address and dates. I showed her them and she asked me if I really think she was going to take me all the way there to a place she doesn't know and I just kept saying, "This is the one time I win a competition, and I can't just throw away an opportunity like this, please can we go?" Eventually she responded with "Maybe, let's see where this place is first." and went to find out where this place was on google maps, turned out it was in the opposite direction of a hospital I used to go to a lot as a child in London, so I was a little familiar with those surroundings. I went upstairs to write the dates on my calendar and make a countdown on my phone then ask my friend (Noor) if she had won too, turned out she didn't but I knew she would love to go and since wristbands came in a pair, I thought I would surprise her on Tuesday 7th October night that she's invited to come along with me to meet Zoe. She freaked out over twitter and couldn't stop thanking me, all I could think was that I was happy to see her again and that this is actually happening.

As the days got nearer, I found myself re-reading the email, worrying that it said "You are limited to one photo with Zoella and that she will try to meet everyone but this or the wristband doesn't guarantee you will get the chance." as they were unaware of all the guests turning up, turns out; not that many of them turned up and they even had to send out more invitations so that there wasn't too little people for the meetup. When we went to collect the wristbands, although the place was hard to find and Siri was not helping at all with directions, when we finally did get there; it was a simple, show them the proof of you winning and your ID to prove it's you then collect wristbands, ask if it's okay that a friend is late, sign a forum so it's okay to be recorded, given the secret location the meetup will be held in, some rules to go by and so on, this only took about 15 minutes but Noor being Noor, we had to wait round of her to come as she was still finishing school, we went to go get fish and chips which was only outside the place to get wristbands. As the time Noor predicted she'd turn up came closer, we went to wait outside the building for her. After waiting in the cold, pouring rain for about twenty minutes, repeating the words "I'm freezing!" Noor turned up and we hugged then went straight inside to get her wristband sorted for the next day. We didn't see many people turning up to collect wristbands so we felt like we were in for the clear and this event was seeming more and more real, the closer it became.

Mum booked a hairdressers appointment on tuesday morning (the day of the meetup, great timing, good thing I started college later on tuesdays) I got some highlights done as my hair is normally a dirty blonde these days, had a wash, put in some curls, a small side fringe and a little trim. I had missed tutor time but I was able to make it for my first media lesson for the day and the next after that. As I lived further away from the place than Noor did, I had to find a way to get out of college at least a little bit earlier to make it on time to the meetup. I managed to use the excuse that I had a hospital appointment and that it was in that hospital (I mentioned before) and my teacher, being kind enough to let me, she allowed me to leave 20 minutes early when I only asked for 15 (of course, I asked her for 15 in advance to make sure it was okay) With mum waiting outside the college, I ran from my class to the car, thinking "It's about to happen, Now is the time, college is finally settled with and I'm about to go meet her." Luckily, we didn't get too lost, Noor arrived early to the event and was waiting there for me to arrive, I believe I arrived about 20 minutes late as it was rush hour on the train and the park (the location of the meetup was in a venue which was inside a park and that park was ENORMOUS, which is why I took a bit of a while to find the place and Noor)  All around the park, there were these people with signs that had a youtube logo on them and they helped us find the way but there was still quite a distance to run or walk down, which ever you were able to do. As I kept trying to run as much as I could, I came across a tennis court and on the other side of that was the venue the meetup was in, I pointed at it and mum helped a bit to find the way inside, we found Noor waiting outside patiently (little payback for making us wait I see, kidding) There were security directing me to the doors and where to go and checking I had my wristbands on. Just by the door, there was this tray of popcorn boxes which has a little youtube logo on one side and it was not too sweet and not too salty popcorn, it was scrumptious. As we went inside, we saw quite a big queue which we believe about 70 people (as an estimate) turned up, although it seemed like quite a lot at first, me and Noor went straight to the back of the line, to go along with her plan of being the last people, possibly having the most time with her. On the right hand side of the room were people arriving for another event, it was only business people so we didn't take much notice. As we were waiting, we both got the same youtubers tweeting notifications and we realised Alfie had uploaded a sims video and we had a plan of watching it whilst we waited but we didn't want to drain the batteries of our phones so we decided to wait patiently instead.

However, as time went on, it had soon passed the time that the meetup was supposed to finish (6:30pm) and people had started tweeting us saying "Have you met her yet?", all we could say is that we're still awaiting news and for the queue to move forward. To lighten the moods of (mostly) girls waiting patiently to meet Zoe, tote bags with her face on were handed out (inside these were a penguin chocolate bar, water bottle and three Zoe badges which were ADORABLE! Pieces of paper with her autograph on (since we weren't able to get those ourselves) were also handed out, my mum got one of these just incase I needed a second one or to show off to people, don't even ask me why, I haven't a clue but they had loads to give out so even Noor's dad got one. On the right hand side of the the room we first came in was a big sign of Zoe with a quote from a local reporter and how many subscribers she had in total (from her main and vlog channel), we had to wait a while for the queue to start moving and to see all of the quote, but when we had got to the front of the first room (Zoe, some other guests were in the other room which the line was heading to) there was commotion about "NARCUS, IS THAT NARCUS OVER THERE? CAN YOU SEE MARCUS AND NIOMI, IS THAT THEM?" we all looked round and it actually was them, we started getting our phones out and waving to them, then more came, Alfie popped out, then Joe and Caspar were all on that right hand side of the room, signing in for the other event. Some people crawled underneath the queue ropes to have a closer look (there was a table, a load of people working with that event and a barrier keeping them apart). Although none of us were able to get a photo with them; we were just happy to see their faces pop out of nowhere when we had only came for Zoe's meetup with no idea of them being there as well. Here are some pictures Noor was able to get of them:

I wasn't able to get that many as I was keeping an eye on our spot in line and I didn't wanna run over there, becoming an emotional mess before it had even happened. When they were just about to leave, we rushed back to our spots in line, and gave them one last wave then eeeked (do you like my new word?) to ourselves on what had just happened.

Soon enough we got to the entrance of the other room Zoe was in, meeting people and the guy guarding joked around on parents not being allowed in as they caused too much embarrassment. At first it was hard to tell if he was joking or being serious but our my mum and Noor's dad got through and walked along behind us, we came to a stop when we saw Zoe meeting other people, that was the first encounter we had of her in person on that day and we were just starstruck, almost unable to move, staring at her meeting other people was all were able to do for that moment, as well as pinching or poking each other to make sure this was still real life. I handed my camera to my mum so that she could record the moment and somehow she wasn't told off about that by security.
Our moments with Zoe were starting to begin, Noor went up first with her large bag of presents to give to Zoe, handed them to her, "Aw, that's so kind of you, thank you." Zoe had to hand them to security as she didn't have anywhere to put them whilst security tried giving them back but then they were like "Oh, they're gifts for you." and Zoe laughed then said "No I do want your gifts." and went back to Noor after the security took the bag of presents to her dressing room or somewhere, how would I know exactly where? Anyway, after Noor's turn was done, she waited around as the security was still making sure guests meeting Zoe and guests for the other event were separate, even if both the events were in the same room. Here are Noor's pictures:

 

Then it was my turn, "Hello." I went to hug Zoe and it was one of the best hugs ever, not too rushed and no sweat involved. It was easy to tell that she really loved meeting us all from how much she was smiling around all of us, and how much she knew we didn't want to let go of the hugs we had with her. As the hug finished, I asked Zoe if she remembered the girl who got her bambi socks (as I had to give them to Alfie at Summer in the City since tickets for Zoe had run out) and she answered "Yes." in a excited voice and I said back "That was me!" pointing to myself in delight. "I love them, have you seen all the pictures I've posted of them?" I replied "Yes, I've seen all of them (Zoe awwed and laughed whilst I was saying this) *I place my hands on my heart* and I die everytime." she put her arm on my back as a sign to start posing for the pictures, I put my hand on her back and we smile big for the cameras, when that was over she said "Thank you for coming and it was so nice to meet you." and I replied "You too." She waved, here are our pictures:

and I started walking off to Noor who was trying to stop herself from crying and being an emotional wreck but that's pretty hard to stop after what had just happened. A lady stamped my wrist with "Zoella" to say that I had met her and to separate me from that other event going on. It looked like this:

We were waiting around, waiting for our parents to realise where we were and we tried waving to them and everything, a lady tried telling us that we had to leave now but I told her were just waiting for our parents and I pointed to them as I could see them then she went to go get them, they came round to us and we started to head out, we went to lay on the cold wall to try and calm down, I collapsed being my silly self and waved to mother whilst laying on the floor. Then I got up and it was time to go, but of course none of us wanted to leave and we wanted to see if we could go to the other event just to see what was going on but of course that plan didn't work so we headed out in the cold, dark night, our parents walking behind us, me trying to comfort Noor and we headed through the park to Noors dad's car as he offered to drive me and my mum to the train station. We used this time in the car to tweet what had happened and try to keep up with all the replies whilst Noor was still sobbing, that is a talent which she looked amazing in. Looking at your phone, tweeting and crying at the same time is hard to do but somehow she managed, her dad pointed out some landmarks we were driving by, and I felt tears starting to ease themselves down my face.
We arrived outside the train station, Noor and I hugged one last time and said we should see each other again soon, you wouldn't believe the amount of times I was thanked for letting her come along but it felt nice, being there with a friend I had known from twitter and met a few times before and I had a lot of fun, more than I ever would've had if I went alone which is why I kept saying it was okay and that she didn't have to repay me as meeting in person and being friends was enough. ENOUGH WITH THE SOPPINESS NOW, okay, here comes the end. Once me and mum got in the train station, I couldn't stop talking about the moment with Zoe and how amazing it was, and how thankfully we didn't come down for nothing and no dreams were crushed. The day we had waited for, had arrived, we actually found out what it was like to hug her and see her in person and not the screen she was watched on. That is my story, thank you for reading this long thing.

Blogging?!

Hey, Rachael here and for a while now, I've wanted to start a blog but you know those feelings of what if's, such as: 'oh but what if friends find out', 'what if this isn't for me?', it goes on.
Well I'm not listening to those anymore and instead I'm trusting a feeling in my gut which tells me it wants to blog. Crazy, I know. Maybe you'd assume that with the username I picked for my blog too, well if you expected that, there it is.
Just as a note, my computer has had faulty wifi twice today, both when I was starting off this blog. I don't know if that's fate telling me not to blog or if it's just a coincidence. But I'm not listening to my laptop's opinion either.

To start off this blog, I think an introduction is needed as I assume readers would like to know at least a little about the writer.#

First name: Rachael
Nickname(s): Rach, Liz, Lizzy.
Middle name: Elizabeth
Age: 17
Birthday: 10th December
Height: 5'4
Hair colour: Dirty blonde (which is a dark shade of blonde, it used to be very light but it's hard to maintain, just look online and blonde is the hardest kind of hair to keep light...Yeah I done research on my own hair, haven't you?)
Eye colour: Blue
Where I live: Essex, UK

Job: This is a hobby, so is youtube, sorry no job for me.Relationship status: Single (so don't worry, the only mushy stuff you may receive from me would be for friends or possibly family, and I won't be bragging about how wonderful a guy is...okay maybe on hot guys, but they're expected and beg for attention. I mean why else would they be so good looking?

Picture of self:

(I know, just stop posing, well I posed and this pic was taken so...sorry? all writers have a picture of them self at the end of a book/inside back page and I'm aware that a writer and blogger are two different things but they are pretty similar, they both write about things, so technically a blogger is also a writer, okay?).
Outfit in pic: Purple flower headband: Asos
Blue top: Select (one of my favourite tops and from my favourite store, it says "BE in Love, LIVE your life, NEVER FORGET, STAND out, forever & always.....") *claps*
Denim (sleeveless) jacket: Primark

Anyway, I think this is it for this post, so I'll see you on my next one (well technically I won't, I mean I'm not that weird guy who used the front camera in that female version of Tom cat game/app thing in the app store). But I did enjoy typing this up, so hopefully I will be blogging again soon and maybe someone will read it? I don't know. What I do know is; that I've done something my gut was telling me was for me and that fear of others opinions? Gone. Out of mind.
I'll leave on that note and ask this: is waffling okay in blogs? I feel like if you don't do TOO much of it, it should be okay, 'cause I've done this already and I normally do it as a cheeky way to escape essays but still write a lot...Also, should there be a specific time and date I upload a new blog or shall I just write whenever? 'Cause there's problems either way with those which is; either I run out of inspiration and miss a date and I'm considered dead from no uploads or pressure of how much time I have to upload it or just pressure in general.
Thanks for sticking around and reading whatever this was.
ttfn xoxo