Hahah, winter in July is the only winter I know but I'd really like to see a December one!

I don't know if you know Trevor Noah? Well, he made a joke about South Africans saying that they were going to leave South Africa if somebody becomes president here. It's an old joke so I can't remember bits of it.

Really? That kind of scares me now! I can't even handle ice cold beach water so that makes me nervous!

Happy new year!! :)

I sent the following to you about a month ago and it somehow posted onto my own wall. WHY INTERPALS, WHY!?

I've seen you since this but have it anyway hehe

"Ugh, I know nothing about American politics really. I have my hands full trying to keep tabs on Europe. What a mess the world is in!

Yes, of course! I'm shoving together a basic itinerary and pricing and I'll facebook you the document when it's done and see if you want to jump in at any point. Basic itinerary is mainly because I'm trying to catch a couple of folk-y festivals en route so need to be in the right place!

Ah, fair enough. I figured as much from 'cello knowledge but obviously they are different instruments. I'm now really interested to try playing the same pieces as this violinist using the tip on the cello (if it works!) and seeing if that does anything to the tone etc.

Yeah, I've had a similar problem but not this extreme before. I think it might be that the pegs have worn out a bit too be fair. I also wouldn't be surprised if climate change does have something to do with it because I was living in a really damp (flooded) house before and now... well. But seriously, they are slipping really out of tune. D string was playing at about an F sharp so basically an octave flat! Urg! Thanks for your advice and for telling me I'm not being an utter idiot ;-)

~Havanah x"

Agh, Agh, it cut off the end of my message.
It went something like:
I'm planning on dismantling (one string at a time obvs) and cleaning the pegs seeing if that helps but think she might need a trip to a luthier but don't want to majorly overreact if I'm missing something obvious. As the only stringy person I know, I come to you for your infinite wisdom!

~Havanah x

Yeah, exactly!

Or, indeed, if something happens in America, that would set things off big time. As for the countries you mentioned, yes there does seem to be some discontent there for sure. I feel like a lot of countries have real troubles bubbling under the surface. I'm not even sure if the transitional countries would push the UK over though. Most people here are a bit, well, lets say that I can list more people who would struggle to place the Czech Republic on a map than people who would know where it was...
As for Ukraine, I've just been googling for updates (and getting friends tell me a bit about it too). Literally googling 'Ukraine' brings up news results. I think there have been protests that have become violent and all sorts. It's a bit of a EU v Russia campaign triggered it, from what I understand but of course, everything is just a trigger.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-25345468 is the latest from the BBC.

Talking of Nomads, when I've finished wrapping my presents to send abroad (I will hit the postal deadline!!!) I'm going to continue to plan my European whirl (in all reality I'm probably going to go from Hungary or Austria via Germany to the Netherlands and Castlefest) Exciting :-)

Oh, violin question. When bowing, do you tend to use all of the bow or focus on the heel/tip area? Been watching a fiddle player who basically plays at the tip all the time and trying to work out how much of that is stylistic and how much would be a standard.
Also, another stringy question... My darling 'cello is refusing to tune at all. I'm unable to get any of the strings to stay in tune even if I go up by degrees. The pegs seem to be sitting further out of the cello than they used to (and I'm pretty sure I can see lines where they used to sit on them) but are in firm and are turning as normal. They're just undoing themselves. What do you think? I'm planning on dismantling (one string at a time obvs) and cleaning the pegs seeing if that helps but think

I get what you mean about Dutch and the radio stations. I think it's worse because you do pick up on fractions of words but they're not quite right and then they sound slightly rounder and have these slightly hissy guttural sounds. Mind you, I find written Dutch confuses me more than spoken. I guess it's because I'm more an aural person. I really, really want to get to a stage where I can speak Dutch (without my Dutch friends laughing at my feeble attempts as last time... grrr!)

Yeah, I think it would only need one (western) European country to really go and a lot of others would follow. Of course, the west tends to ignore the east so I don't think current politics in that area will affect us directly. Speaking of which, are you keeping tabs on the situation in Ukraine? I have some friend who are talking about it on facebook etc quite a bit and I'm really annoyed that our media seems to be totally ignoring it. Actually, I'm really annoyed at our media for a lot of reasons right now. And the country. Right, that's it, I'm officially a nomad!

We need to!

~Havanah x

Yeah, I'm in exactly the same place with Dutch. It surprised me when I was out there how much conversation I could get the gist of. Certainly, when people were speaking Dutch on stage I was translating the gist to Aimee a lot of the time because I could understand.

Now, to plan the stage act ;-)

I think it's probably a matter of time before there's some big society overhaul over here. People are getting more and more annoyed with life, and each time something happens to escalate their annoyance the protests seem to be getting more grande.
I can't see myself staying in England when I finally settle down, not unless something changes.

But but! I live in Birmingham now -cries-
Can my house join the new state?

Also, I can't make the new date for the meet up. I'm moving into the rented for the week house that evening. Are you up for (and free to) having a meet up with just you and me at some point while I'm down? If not then I'll just have to hit Oxford, or wait for summer!

~Havanah x

I'm not sure. If I can do two (timetable juggling!) then I'll do Dutch and German. If only one then I'll do German and work on Dutch in an outside class/alone because I figure that I've managed to teach myself languages before and being in the country can only make it easier. I do want to learn Dutch anyway.

Aha, you might not want to use that name all the time. It makes you seem a bit, well, risque! :-P Or maybe that's a good thing!
I agree with your mother wholeheartedly. I'm not getting on well with England right now. And to think, I used to be so proud of this country!

~Havanah x

Everyone has to learn a language during their first year but it doesn't have to be Dutch. I think there's Dutch, German, French, Arabic, and Chinese. You can choose to continue with languages throughout too which would be my plan if I went (if I get offered a place, if I get through interview, if I get an interview, if Anna ever sends my final reference hehe)

It would be nice. I need to check that I can book a hotel room, and check that the 20th is the date for sure, but I'm basically going. :-)

Oh, that's interesting. I guess you have got an 'unusual look' about you little miss exotic! I wouldn't have jumped to "She can't be English!!!!" but I can see why people might wonder, particularly in a more multicultural student city. Okay, I'm going to stop analysing your appearance now! XD

When does your term end, by the way?

~Havanah x

I'm pleased it was that way round. I don't trust interpals to work right now!

See, you're thinking about hieroglyphics yet question my wish to learn Old English - hypocrite :P

Yeah, I've heard people joke about that but the language nerd will manage, I'm sure. Actually, English is the only language allowed on campus (to ensure foreign students aren't left out) so that's quite interesting.

Oh, by the way, did you read about Lloyd's Christmas party on facebook? It's no longer there because he's deleted his account, I think, but am going to text him to find out if it's still on. If it is, are you thinking of going? I'm staying down in the south west (actually very near you) from the 22nd of December for a week so we could probably meet for coffee either way!

~Havanah x

LOL It's not freaky!
We also talk about emigrating to Australia but only because of a joke a comedian made lol. Oh yes, I don't know what a winter Christmas is like :( That sucks though because it's always hot.
Really? :D I actually never knew that ._.