Jack Ashley

So, I'm back from America. Been back since Sunday, but had way too much hw to blog. I'm not going to tell you about America. I'm going to talk about this guy instead.

Lord Jack Ashley died yesterday (20th April 2012) after catching pneumonia. To be honest, I had never heard of him before today. But from just a short conversation with my mum, I was amazed. He was the first deaf member of parliament, and did so much to change the lives of the disabled. For instance, he campaigned for wheelchair access to all public buildings, such as banks, shops, school, etc. But what he mainly campaigned for was the deaf and blind. He came up pretty much with the idea of subtitles on a TV. But that's not what touched me the most about his story. It's that all his work, it was about 20 years ago. Here and now, it's not unusual to see someone with a disability. Wheelchairs, blindness, being deaf, there's nothing strange or unusual about these things. Yet until 20 years ago, it was virtually impossible for them to go to school, to get into a shop or bank, to go to the solicitors, to have a normal life. I knew it wasn't always the way it is today, but I assumed, I don't know what I assumed. I thought it would have been done way back, in the 50's or 60's. Not the 90's. It seemed like such an obvious thing to take care of, to make sure that everyone could, basically, live their lives. Whilst it is amazing how fast things have changed in such a short space of time, things still aren't ideal. Yet they are constantly improving. Now you don't just get subtitles for the hard-hearing or deaf, but audio-description for the blind. And it's not just for TV anymore, now it's in the cinemas and everywhere. Which is good. We should live in a world where everyone can live life to the fullest possible and experience the same things, even if it is in different ways. But that 20 years really struck me. the drawing on my hand was inspired by now I reacted to what I heard about Jack Ashley. The wolrd represents how we all live on one planet, and the stars remind us that it's the only one we have, but it is so beautiful. The cross was for when my religion was ignited and I felt like I had to pray. Also, the news really touched my soul and made a real impact, and my religion is at my heart, as is where this story is.Then there's the man in the wheelchair, with a peace symbol for a wheel. That's what I felt best summed up Jack Ashleys story. RIP Jack Ashley. You changed the world so much, for the better.

America, here I come

So, Easter holidays are here is the UK. And so I'm off to America, Florida, Orlando with mon famile et some family friends. Which should be supermegafoxyawesomehot, because I haven't see Rachel in FOREVER. Ok, 1,2 years. Still a long time. So, can anyone guess what I'm looking forward to the most? Yep, 10 house point to (INSERT YOUR HOUSE), I can't wait to go to Harry Potter World. I mean, they advertise a British pub with British food! Last time I was in America, I have Turkey Twizzlers every lunch and dinner. I was over-the-moon to go to Epcot and eat Chinese food. They also had fortune cookies there, and let me tell you, I love fortune cookies. Like, Harry Potter movie love. You know, not as much as the books, but still, LOADS! Tell you what I also got in Epcot last time. A Kimono. Here's a photo.

5 years and quite a few inches taller, still wearing it. I love it. But I'm also kinda worried about Harry Potter world. I mean, they have Olivanders in Hogsmeade. And about 6,7,8 shops. You know, I was raised on these books. I waited for my letter to Hogwarts when I was younger. But I'm also exited. I'm just worried what house to buy for because I didn't know about Pottermore, and so I haven't been shorted, so what if I buy for the wrong house? I think I'll be Hufflepuff, though I might be Ravenclaw. So, I'll probably buy for Hufflepuff anyway. I also have a friend who is defiantly in Hufflepuff, so if worst comes to the worst, I'll have to give it to her. There's also a drawing of Tinkerbell's wings up there, and that is becuase I'm team Tinkerbell. My mum's nickname for me has always been Tinkerbell and so, I buy loads of Tinkerbell stuff. I also love Winnie the Pooh (I still sleep with my Winnie the Pooh teddy sometimes), but I'm mainly Tinkerbell. I never actually liked Minnie, probably because my uncle got me this weird Minnie toy. She just, yeah. One final thing, in America, hopefully I'll get my prom dress, so I might have a photo of it when I come back. There are no prom places in my town, so I have to cross the Atlantic in hopes of getting one. Oh, oh, and I get to go to an America church on Easter day. So yeah, won't be around for a few weeks (well, maybe one or two), so have fun without me, and I'll see you when I get back.