The Queen came to Ebbw Vale...

...And I stood a metre away from her!!

Can't express in words what an amazing experience today was.

I was lucky enough to sing with the the Greater Gwent Youth Choir when Her Majesty and Prince Philip came to open the Gwent Archives. And I was lucky enough to have a solo!

After we had finished singing the Queen said, under her breath, 'That was delightful.' But Prince Philip can't seem to go anywhere without saying something stupid. He asked me and a few other girls stood in the front row, 'Can you get blisters on your vocal chords? Because if you can, you've probably got them.' I couldn't help but laugh at that to be honest.

After her maj had left, we were told that she wants a recording of the two songs we sung to her!

The choir would be nothing without these two. Alyson Jones and Nick Steel

I am there, behind Aly!!

I think this was taken during my solo!

Love all these guys!

The plaque the Queen unveiled.

Me and Seren.

I don't look like a lesbian...

...but I have had my hair cut. Short!

Teehee! To be fair I've always liked the idea of short hair, and I'm so glad I've actually had it lopped off now. Although I do occasionally forget I've had it cut but then I catch myself in the mirror and I can't help smiling. Is that a bit weird, I think it is!?

One of my friends did like me to this site though. I found it quite amusing! http://lesbianswholooklikejustinbieber.tumblr.com/

The Easter bunny came...

...but I only got one egg! *sad face*
Hahah, I do make myself laugh sometimes!

But anyway, I've just realised how long it's been (again) since I've been on here. I need to stop doing this!

Soooo, what's happened since my last post?

• Well, my tattoo has healed completely, but I'm starting to get a bug and I already want another one!
• I've moved my uni room around again (not that you guys actually care!)
• I believe I may have messed things up with a certain person *sigh*
• I'm currently procrastinating (and have been for the last 2 weeks) because I have revision and coursework to do!

I just thought I'd let you all know I'm still alive.

In other news, here are some pictures of me pulling stupid faces. Only joking, they're the faces I pull when I sing!

Chins!

Make what you like of this one!

I can open my mouth the widest!!

Enjoying myself wayyyyy to much here!

Tattoo...

Yes, after almost a year of thinking about it, I finally got my tattoo done yesterday. What do you think...?

How cool is this...

I found a website that makes these videos for you. This is the last 3 and a half years of my life in pictures. Enjoy.

I hate exams...

There is only one thing I don't like about Christmas and New Year: the exams that follow them in January.

I got back to uni on Saturday, and I had my first exam yesterday. It didn't go as badly as I thought, but I'm really not looking forward to the one I have tomorrow. As you can see, I'm using my time wisely... Procrastination is a bitch!

But anyways, I did have a lovely Christmas. I've realised that it isn't as exciting when you get older, but that doesn't bother me really. I had a great day with my dad, brother and his girlfriend, and as always we went to our local pub for lunch, which was amazing.

Jess, Rhys and Me

My dad and Me (I was slightly tipsy at this point!)

Clearly someone was tired after their food!

Another great thing about being home was I got to see all my friends! Yes, two of them may be in Swansea with me, but it was lush to see everyone else. We basically went to the pub every evening. We're students, what do you expect!?

And then came New Year's Eve. Now I wasn't out drinking with my friends like most people would have expected, no, I was working in said pub where we spend all our time. Not that I was complaining though. I earned myself a nice £70, which I basically spent straight away. I didn't mean to though!!

I think I have procrastinated enough for one day. My materials exam is at 2pm tomorrow, and I know nothing for it. Thank God for summer resits! Although, maybe I might try to learn something...

Home for Christmas...

I can't believe it's been 2 months since my last post! Apologies people!

I suppose I should really pick up from where I left off. I don't really have a proper excuse as to why I haven't been on here, although my work load increased a hell of a lot in November and December, so that could have had something to do with it.

I did have time in November to go to the Albert Hall, once again, for the Music for Youth School's Proms. This year Gwent Strings were performing and as I was part of the choir all we had to do was hum at the end of the piece.

Dress rehearsal

The actual performance

This is the piece that we performed. This video was recorded in Birmingham in July. (There is a second part to this as well http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OqL8ciizAaU)

Hmmmm, let me think. What did I do then...?

Oh, yes. Then came December, and with that, the ridiculous amount of Christmas concerts!

I may as well have lived on the trains all through the month, with the amount of travelling between Swansea and Newport I had to do.

I had my first concert with Gwent, which was nothing but as standard to be honest. I'm now one of the oldest in the choir now, but I do like it.

Only a few days after that, I sung as part of a 10-piece choir for a wedding in Bath. This was a great experience, and something I would definitely consider doing in the future, especially seeing as I got paid for it!

The choir just before the wedding started

Then came the Swansea University Choral Society concert. I've got to say, I loved this concert, and I was even lucky enough to have a solo in one of the pieces (I start at 1:47):

The final Christmas concert I did was with the BBC NOW and Chorus. I'm not actually a member of that choir, yet, but they combined with Gwent Youth Choir, and we performed some traditional and not so traditional Christmas songs.

Here's the performance:  http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b017t1jn/BBC_National_Orchestra_of_Wales_23_12_2011/

Annnnnnnd breathe Rhian! I can actually have my social life back now, well until March at least!

I've realised that this post doesn't really have anything to do with me being home in it, but I'll post again soon, I promise!