Okay (interruption) what's your name?

(interruption) (laughter) You look traumatized

What?

(laughter) You look traumatized

(NAME). I'm (NAME).

And you are?

(NAME).

And how old are you?

(interruption) Eighteen.

(interruption) Eighteen.

Okay. Where are you from?

Sunderland.

Sunderland. I was born in Durham, raised in Sunderland.

Eh, can you tell me a little bit about that place, like Sunderland? Can you say something about Sunderland?

It's a city. (laughter)

It's a (pause) it's not actually that, is it big? Would you say (interruption) it's big?

(interruption) It's (pause) it's bigger than Newcastle, but it has a smaller population. A random fact. (laughter)

And did you live far away from the city centre or?

A few miles.

Yeah, I lived a bit further away though, fifteen minutes by car.

Okay. Did you live close to your friends and the school you went to?

Yeah, I lived within walking distance of the school, it's about a five minute walk, and I lived around the corner to my best friend all of my life.

Eh (pause) walked to school, took me about twenty minutes (pause) and yeah, friends around, not as close as (NAME) though.

And can you tell me something about the home where you grew up? What kind of a place was it? How was it like laid out?

Eh I grew up in a three-bedroom, semi-detached house in like Cul de sac. Em (pause) it's pretty standard. I got the box bedroom, it's tiny. (laughter) You could get the bed in it and that was about it. There was two big bedrooms, one bathroom, em, and then I have moved three times since then.

Oh, you have.

Yeah, so I live further away now, but.

Mm-mm.

Eh, my house is the same, three bedrooms. Em, slightly bigger garden, em (pause) huge. I've lived there all my life.

Oh you still live there?

Yeah, still live there.

With your family?

Yeah, but we're due to eh move soon.

And where were your parents born and raised?

North East Sunderland I think mine was.

I think my dad was born in the midlands (pause) I think. My mam was born in the North East I think. I'm not sure.

My -- my mam was born in Ryhope, raised in Ryhope. My dad was born in Sunderland and raised in Sunderland.

Okay. Eh do you have a lot of relatives living in other parts of England?

(pause) I have a few, I have, eh a few in eh Harrogate. My aunt is moving down Harrogate tomorrow actually, so she's there. I have (pause) I used to have an auntie (pause) no I have two aunties in London, em, that's about it. Everyone else is in the North East.

(pause) I see (pause) I think I have to like turn the music down a little bit.

Okay.

Okay, back (laughter) Eh yeah, where were your grandparents born? If you know. (laughter)

I know my grandpa was born in the North East (pause) I think my nana was as well, eh I don't know about the other side of the family, I've never known them, so. (laughter)

Ah, okay.

I don't know. (laughter)

All mine were born in the North East (laughter) Eh, I don't know, I don't know, I haven't branched out far. (laughter)

Eh what do your parents do?

Em, my dad is a sales representative for a company called Innerglass, he does eh (pause) he's basically on the road all day, he goes around pubs, clubs, restaurants, selling eh well anything that they need really, and my mom is general manager of Sunderland Royal Hospital. She manages the security, porter and mail, stuff like that. (laughter)

Okay.

My dad is in construction, he recently got a new job at (pause) Sillers, em and he's the manager of the site there, em before that he had his own company for about six years, which was building drive ways and doing bits and bobs. My mom is a teacher's assistant, but sometimes (pause) but that's all in English, but she does PE, teaching for PE.

Okay. Mm-mm, do you have any brothers or sisters?

I have a brother, he's fifteen. He's a little (pause) Can you swear in here? (laughter)       !

Eh, I have eh quite a large family, (laughter) I have a brother, a full brother who's twenty two, and a half brother and a half sister, who are in their thirties, and now a sister-in-law and a brother-in-law as well, 'cause they both just got married, and a niece and a nephew. (laughter) Quite a lot.

Eh, what do they do? Like your brother, what does he do?

He goes to school. A twenty minute (pause) a twenty minute walk away from our house. Em, that's it.

Em, my full brother is doing a PGCE in, he's going to (pause) he's training to be a math teacher. Em, my half brother works for eh City Electrical Factors, he is like assistant manager or something like that, and my half sister works for Sunderland Housing Group. Don't know about the rest.

But are you really close to your, like your brother?

Yeah, the whole family really. We're all really close (pause) grandparents and em, aunties and stuff (pause) Cousins

Em, yeah, like my family is kind of split in two, and my side of the family is very close, I don't know the other side so. (laughter)

(pause) Okay, em so what do you like do together, like with your brothers and sisters? Do you like do something together?

The only thing I do with my brother is drop him of and pick him up from his friends. (laughter)

Fight (pause) fight a lot. (laughter)

Fight yeah (laughter) argue.

Em (pause) (pause) I baby-sit for my brother and sister, like my ni- niece and nephew.

Ah nice.

That's about it.

How old are they?

Eh my niece is six and my nephew is five months, so there's christening tomorrow.

Tomorrow?

Yeah.

Ah.

Excited.

Where?

Em, I think it's in Washington, 'cause they live in Washington, so. I think (laughter) Don't know where I'm going, just going to go in the car and drive (laughter)

You're going to drive there on your own?

Yes, I'm picking my brother up, my full brother, and we're going together, so.

I see. Em this -- this is like, yeah, for you then since you live in Newcastle, like how often do you see or speak to your family since you are in Newcastle now?

Em, I still speak to them every day on the phone. Em, I see them at least once a week, but most times twice, like on a Wednesday and then at the weekend. I go home every weekend. So (interruption) a lot.

(interruption) That's good. Mm, and has your family visited you here in Newcastle?

Yes, quite a few times, 'cause it's so close, they can just come down whenever they want. (laughter)

And was it really difficult to move away from your family?

Em, it was hard, but a lot easier than if I'd been moving far away like, 'cause I still see them twice a week. It's not (pause) I don't really have time to miss them that much before I get to see them again. If that makes any sense (laughter)

Yes, yeah I see. Mm, what kind of a kid were you when you were growing up? Were you like a trouble maker or were you just like nice all the time?

I wasn't a troublemaker, not at all. I was little quiet (NAME) until I reached college. (laughter)

Yeah.

Then, what happened then?

Em, I think college you just met more people, and you just sprouted out really. I -- I found honestly, when I look back now I'm like 'God I was a totally different person'.

Okay.

Still enjoyed it though.

I don't know, at school I was (pause) I don't know. I worked hard, so I wasn't at all a troublemaker. I used to cry if somebody shouted at me.

We -- were you ever grounded? Like have you ever been grounded?

No.

No, I -- I don't know, I have a memory once of being locked in my room (laughter) (unclear) what happened or whether that was (laughter) I don't know, I can't remember ever being grounded.

I've never been grounded.

No.

No.

That's good. (laughter)

Been naughty plenty of times (laughter) but mother has never said 'you're grounded'.

I see. Okay. Yeah, what are you studying now?

I'm doing, em, it's a foundation on design degree, em (pause) (pause) at Shiney Row in Sunderland. Eh before that I was at Bede for two years, a different college studying academic subjects, but it wasn't for me. I'm not (pause) I'm not really that good on academic stuff. I prefer the, em arty side and creative side, so yeah I'm doing that now.

Em I'm studying eh maths and statistics degree at Newcastle University. (laughter)

When did you decide what you wanted to study?

Em, well I don't know.

I decided when I realised that you -- you all applying to the universities, and I thought I'm going to just do something for myself a year, and I went back to (interruption) (unclear)

(interruption) Yes, You just realised

It wasn't me, I got time. I -- I did my exams and I thought I know I haven't done well here, I'm going to do something that I wanted to do.

Em, eh, I don't really know. I always liked maths, but I never really, like if you told people when you were little that you liked maths you would get the mickey taken out of you so I didn't really tell people that I liked maths (laughter) Until I don't know, maybe about year (pause) what year? Year ten, something like that, year ten, about fifteen, age fifteen something like that I knew I liked maths, and that was what I wanted to do. So quite early I suppose.

So for how many years do you have to study, like at your school?

Em, well at college I'm doing this em foundation degree full year, and then after that I -- I'll be going to possibly Northumbria University to study further fashion for four years.

Mm.

Em, I'm at the minute doing a three year course, but I might do four years depending on whether I can afford it or not.

So, but -- but you would like like to take a postgraduate degree?

I would, I'd like to do a masters in maths and stats, but it depends, because it's an extra year of debt, and then about (pause) is it nine thousand pounds of debt a year, so.

Oh yeah.

So it depends (interruption) if. (laughter)

(interruption) You know you don't have to start paying it back until you earn about fifteen.

I know, but would you like to leave university with like twenty or twenty-seven thousand, thirty thousand, I don't know.

No, but then I wouldn't be living, I would be living away, I'd travel everyday.

(pause) Yeah, it's true.

But you d- do get loans? Like

Yeah, but I'm trying not to use it, but I think I might have to.

I don't have any sort of loans, not yet.

But you might have to when you like (interruption) go to study at the university.

(interruption) Go to university yes.

Okay, em (pause) let's (pause) yeah, do you have a job or a part-time job or would you like to get one?

Em, yes I work for B-and-Q, em DIY-store, worked there for two years now. And I started on the check-outs, and -- and now work on the showrooms department, which is selling kitchens, bathrooms and conservatries.

Eh, I've just started a new job, about a month and a half ago at a pub along at Penshaw, and it's absolutely fabulous, love it. I'm behind the bar and doing the restaurant, and everyone is lovely there. Before that I was working at the Stadium of Light, em which I hated. (laughter) And I was working there for two years and I hated it.

What did you do?

I was waitressing. Just on the match days which was every fortnight or something like that. But I hated it, it was so much work. The supervisors always shouted at you and stuff.

How often did you have to work?

It was about every fortnight.

Oh.

Not much, that's why I didn't get paid much.

What about now then? Do you?

Yeah, I get paid a lot more, and I've got much more hours. I've got, em about sixteen hours a week.

Yes. Eh, okay for you then em, do you live in university accommodation or private accommodation?

Eh I live in university accommodation.

I'm just going to get my coat.

In a six-person flat.

Do you like it?

I do. It's not, eh, like the best flat in the world I would say, with the furniture and stuff, but eh I love being with other people, and like having your friends around you twenty four hours a day is really good. You can just walk to somebody else's room, and you got company (laughter)

Yeah.

It's really good.

Eh, are the people you share a flat with nice and tidy?

Em, (laughter) (pause) yes, I think we do quite well. (laughter) It gets messy at times, but when it gets bad we do tidy it up so.

So it was like what you expected it to be?

Yes I think, probably better than I was expecting it in some ways.

Em, are you moving into a private flat next year or?

Yeah, hopefully get a house between the five or six of us, but we haven't started looking yet. It's a bit early (laughter)

Who are you going to live with?

Em, two of my flatmates that I am living with now, and some of the girls from my course.

Okay, and you have been looking already at some?

No, we haven't started looking, we just literally decided who (pause) like we're going to stay together, and like that's it. We'll start looking about December.

Okay, so you don't like know where you would like to live in Newcastle?

Em, probably Jesmond area, that's were most like second-years move to. It's got a really good like student atmosphere, 'cause there's so many people living there, so, and there's like a load of bars which are really nice.

Yeah.

So.

And if you are going to study at Northumbria you'd like to live in university accommodation first or?

I don't think so, I'd rather, eh, use the money to just go towards paying the fee. I don't think I'd be able to cope with paying for the accommodation as well, 'cause I have a car, I'd just (pause) I drive here everyday and back, and if I need to I'll just kip at yours. (laughter)

(unclear)

Mm-mm (pause) Okay and how much time do you usually spend doing homework?

Not a lot. (laughter) Well, actually now I'm doing a, it's projects and creative stuff, I -- I'm working a little bit everyday sometimes more everyday. Em just doing bits and bobs.

What are you working on right now then, the project?

Em, well it's (pause) it's a fashion piece. Em (pause) the theme was autumn, and you've got to choose to do either bag, a top, you could do like a skirt if you wanted, but I choose to do a collar. And it's got like leaves coming of, symbolising autumn.

Em, how much work do I do? Eh, not as much as I should, but I've done more this week, 'cause they kind of pile the work on you, just like nobody makes you do it. So you've got to make yourself do it or you'll just fall behind. So I've done more this week. But the first few weeks I didn't do anything at all really. Just settling in, and you kind of just thought that you could come to uni have a good time and not do any work, and then you realize that that's not actually really true. (laughter)

Do you like work together with the other students like to discuss topics?

I do, just like in our block it's quite a few of us who do maths and stats, so we've been getting together and doing some stuff but, em there's like tests on the computer, so obviously you can do them on your own, before assignments we do get together and discuss them, and then go away and do it yourself.

What about you? Do you work on your own or do you?

Yes, I do really, 'cause it's your own ideas. You cannot really, because if you work in a group you tend (pause) you tend to em, not steal other people's ideas but

I know what you mean.

I mean there's no right or wrong answer, it's just your own (pause) your own creation and, so yeah you have to really work on your own.

Mm-mm, I see. Have you joined any societies or would you like to join one?

Em, that will be me. I've joined the gym, so I go there like at least twice a week, which is really good. Em, and I joined the maths society, so we just em like go on pub-crawls every two weeks or something, em we went to bingo last week. Eh, and there's paintballing next week. So just things like that, just like events every week. You don't have to go on them, you just

Have you tried paintballing before?

N- No, I don't think I'm going to go. It's a bit violent for me.

It gives you bruises.

I bruise really easily, and I just think if something hits us, I'll just come out with like a huge bruise, (interruption) and I'll just

(interruption) You'll be green.

It will look like people have beaten us up. (laughter)

Yeah, some people say that it's really painful.

Yeah, so, I don't (pause) I don't think I'll go on that one. I'll pass.

But is it for free?

Em, it was (pause) it's like subsidised because you've joined the society, because you can go if you're not in the society, but I think it was thirty pounds if you're not in the society it was only fifteen if you're in, so.

Okay (pause) What are you planning to do after you have graduated, like finished school? Do you have any plans? Like right after.

Em, well come (pause) go to Northumbria University, and hopefully study for four years, because I've em heard it's a pretty good fashion em (pause) the fashion course at Northumbria, there's another place, I don't -- don't think I'd go anywhere else really, because of the cost of em living. So I'll just come here.

Yes.

Em, I don't know what I want to do when I graduate, I haven't quite got that far yet. (laughter) I don't know, there's a few jobs I'd like to do, but I haven't (pause) I don't (pause) I don't know what exactly I want to go into.

But both of you want to stay in the UK?

Yeah, well now I do anyway.

I -- I think that after the course if I'm still on the same path I'd probably want to go to London. Em if I get (pause) if I got a job down there, because apparently it's like well paid down there. I'd hopefully be able to, em, afford accommodation. So if I moved down there (pause) moved down there then again I might just go somewhere like New -York (pause) like New York or Paris or something like that.

Yes, because you want to be somewhere like where fashion is.

Yes, depending on, because I mean I don't know if I want to like be just like a designer for like Next or something or something else. I don't know.

Yeah, it depends.

But, is it like, it's really expensive to live in London, isn't it? Compared to up here in the (interruption) North East?

(interruption) Yeah, mm-mm.

Yes, um what do you like to do during your spare-time? Do you have any hobbies?

The dance mat (laughter) It's my biggest hobby It's not really a sport, but I love the dance mat, em and the gym, and I work. That's all of my free time.

Yeah, my -- my spare-time socio- socializing really with (pause) friends (pause) friends and work, em, just doing extra work.

Where do you like to go with your friends then? What do you do?

Em, well we'll go to the pictures, cinema, or go on walks, or go bowling, or (pause) go on walks. (laughter)

Em, what was the question?

(interruption) (unclear)

(interruption) What do you do in your spare-time?

Oh, um, where do I go? Eh I go the cinema normally every Wednesday, 'cause it's half price. (laughter)

It is?

Yeah, two for one.

At the Gate or?

Eh, yes, any cinema. You've got to be on Orange with your phone, the phone network. Em (pause) I don't know, I go to the pub. I like the pub (laughter) and just sit in other people's flats and talk.

Yeah (pause) Mm-mm (pause) eh do you or have you done any volunteer work?

Did the Boxing Day Dip.

I was in central ambulance for three years, so that's like first aid, and that was, but it was volunteer, you got paid for eh, you got paid expenses for doing football matches at the Stadium of Light and Newcastle St James' Park. Em, but we did like the theatre in Sunderland, the Empire Theatre, so I went there like I don't know about once a week. When I first started it was really annoying, it was like three times a week, and that was just like volunteering. Just treating anybody who managed who hurt themselves. (laughter)

Did that happen a lot or?

Em, at the Empire Theatre not so much, but every time you went to the football match you got like casualties. That was good. (laughter)

Yeah, and I was part of that for like how long? (laughter) A month and a half (laughter)

What did you say that you did?

I was (pause) I was on central ambulance as well for about two years, but I never used to attend every week which I was supposed to. (laughter) Was a bit of a rebel actually, and they, yes did Boxing Day Dip and stuff, just canny, cold but canny.

You know the Boxing Day Dip?

The (interruption) box and?

(interruption) Do you know the Boxing Day Dip?

No.

It's like on, em

On Boxing Day (laughter)

I was going to say New Year's Day, and I thought that's not right. (laughter)

On Boxing Day you get dressed up, and run into the sea.

It was freezing cold, it's so cold, and the firemen there will spray you with their hoses when you go into the water, so then you get like doubly cold, soaking wet.

And then you're walking back dripping shivering.

Doesn't sound that good. (laughter)

It's all for charity, so you just, people sponsor you and then you just raise a lot of money, so.

Ah but that's, yes, that's really good.

It's worth doing even though it is freezing.

Yes, definitely, yes (pause) Are you like planning to do more volunteer work in the future or?

Em, I would like to, but it's just like the time. I don't have time around like around my studies, and then I need like a little bit of -- of free time just to socialize and yes, just chill out. So I would like to if I can arrange some free time.

Yeah.

And that goes for you as well?

Yeah.

Yeah okay. Mm-mm, yes eh

No, this is a disaster. (laughter) I can't swallow the pieces. (laughter)

Do you need a plate or? No it doesn't matter.

(laughter) Sorry

I can clean my room (laughter) It's okay. Eh (pause) did you ever go on a school trip? And where did you go?

Yes, we've been, em (pause) (NAME), get the hoover.

(pause) (laughter) Oh no (pause) I'm sorry.

I'm voting not to have a piece of cake.

(laughter) (unclear)

Em, school trips, yeah we've been, I mean to Farringdon we went to em, eh we went to Paris. We've been to (pause) where else have we been?

New York.

We've been to New York. Went to New York with the school. Em (pause) you went to Germany didn't you?

No, I didn't go.

Oh, neither did I.

But what did you do on those trips?

Eh it was really just like sightseeing really, em going to the popular -- popular places, like em, well New York we went to like Macy's and Bloomingdale's which you have to go to, you cannot not go to them. Em, and we went to where the (pause) accident happened, the nine eleven.

Ground Zero (pause) which was quite like, it was quite emotional wasn't it?

Yeah, it was.

There's like a church, and it's (interruption) all

(interruption) It's all

photos and letters from families and stuff, it was really, like people were crying, it was sad. Eh were else (pause) Empire State Building that was really good.

Mm-mm.

Did you go to the top?

Yeah, it's like eighty-two flights on the lift or something wasn't it? And then you had to walk from there. Em, we went on the ferry.

Yeah.

Eh, I don't know. What else? (laughter) Eh, I lost all my money in Macy's, (interruption) that was

(interruption) I started crying, I got lost.

(NAME) got lost and then found the security guard, and when we found her she was crying on his shoulder. (laughter)

Yes, because we were leaving that day and I thought I'd be getting left behind.

And yes, and I put like at McDonalds in Macy's and I put my purse on the tray and then left my tray somebody put in the bin, so all my money went in the bin, and disappeared, that woman took it (laughter) Em, Paris. What did we do in Paris? Went to Disneyland.

Can't remember much really.

Em, that's all I remember about Paris. Disneyland, and oh, we went to the Eiffel Tower of course (pause) And Kielder was camping.

Yeah.

The tents got flooded. Eh, I can't remember any, we've been on lots of day trips, haven't we? Stuff like that.

Ah, I don't remember much from school actually.

We went on day trips to like em (pause) where did we go? Lightwater Valley one year didn't we? Year seven or something.

Oh yeah.

Eh

I got dragged on the scary rides.

Yes (pause) I can't, oh we went to the Sage in Newcastle, went quite a few 'cause we were in the choir, so we went quite a few places with the choir, like we sang old people's songs and (interruption) stuff.

(interruption) And Metro Radio.

Yes, and we went to Metro Radio Arena in Newcastle. That's all I can remember.

That's about it.

How was Disneyland then? What did you do in Disneyland?

(interruption) In

(interruption) Well in Disneyland, I don't (pause) I don't really like scary rides, I hate butterflies, so I didn't really go on any of the big ones, I was really just walking around holding people's bags. (laughter)

Yes, we went shopping. I accidentally shoplifted.

Did you?

Yes, it was a top that got stuck on my bag, and I didn't realize, so I just because all the shops are like connected so you just walk straight through each shop. You don't have to go outside, so I was just walking through these shops and then turned around and there was this top stuck on my bag (laughter) So I tried to find out where it came from because obviously I did not know which shop I got it caught on my bag in. (laughter) Got it back eventually but em, but we only went on like a few rides and we just shopped all day. Spent loads of money.

Sounds fun though, Disneyland (pause) Eh okay, when is your birthday?

Em January the eleventh. It's quite close to Christmas.

mine's May, middle of the year.

What is the best birthday party you ever had?

Em, my eighteenth. Had a big party, was really fun. Hired like the function room. We drank, we danced, we danced a lot, and there was like a big buffet with really nice food so it was really good 'cause everybody I knew was there so (laughter) Good to talk to people.

I just went down town for my eighteenth, but then after it was like a giant birthday between me -- me and my dad 'cause I was eighteen and me dad was fifty ten days after my birthday so I had like a giant party in the garden and that was (pause) that was good wasn't it?

Yeah, it was really good.

Mm-mm, eh what is the best birthday party you ever went to?

Went to

I don't (pause) I don't really have a best party that I went to.

Neither do I.

I enjoyed them all really. Just enjoy going out. (laughter)

It's not really the party really, it's (pause) it's who you're with and what the talk is about and what the

Has anyone ever held a surprise birthday party for you?

No.

No, I don't think so. I've held one for somebody (laughter) but nobody's ever held one for me. (laughter)

No-one?

No, don't think so anyway.

Our twenty-firsts.

Yes, so that's what we'll do. Not a surprise now is it? (laughter)

You'll forget.

You can do it for someone else.

Yes.

To (NAME).

Eh has anyone ever forgotten your birthday or have you forgotten someone's birthday?

Yeah.

Probably have forgotten somebody's birthday. (interruption) I don't. (laughter)

(interruption) Sometimes you actually forget your grandparents.

Yeah.

Em my aunties have forgotten my birthday before, a couple of times (laughter)

Nobody has forgotten mine, but I'm sure I've forgotten like somebody's at some point. It's hard to remember everybody's birthdays.

Yeah.

But do they like usually get angry if you forget their birthday?

No, I've never forgotten somebody who I'm really close to. If I forget somebody's birthday it would just be like some like really distant relative or

Yeah.

So no, probably don't even know that I've forgotten. (laughter)

Okay, what did you do on Halloween?

I went to the cinema and then people tried to convince me to go out, but it didn't work. (laughter)

You should have.

I didn't have a costume, I felt like an idiot going out everybody else was dressed up. I didn't want to go out in jeans and.

I hosted well helped host a children's em Halloween party at the pub where I work. So just did pass the parcel and stuff. Dressed up.

Did a lot of people come or kids?

Yes, it was (pause) it was hell (laughter) The kids ran around everywhere, it was a bit.

For how long did it last then?

Em, about two and a half hours, something like that.

Mm, what was your best Halloween costume ever? Can you remember?

The one I wore (pause) the one I wore a few days ago, my witch. It's all black (laughter)

Can't remember any of my costumes. I'm sure I had some really good ones when I was little, but I can't really remember them, and then when I got older I just couldn't really be bothered so I'd just put a sheet on and say I was a ghost. Works for me. (laughter)

(pause) Eh (pause) do you often go to nightclubs or pubs?

Yes.

Yes (laughter) Too often. Yes, I love pub quiz, so we always go for the pub quiz, em (interruption) yes just go out.

(interruption) When we were (pause) when we were at college or we were all at home together we used to go out nearly every week or something like that, and go to clubs and pubs and wherever.

Well like where do you usually go, like what's the name of the clubs and pubs?

Em, in Sunderland, we (pause) well the club we always went to was (interruption) Diva wasn't it?

(interruption) Diva, yes.

On a Thursday night Diva was the best em

It still is.

Em, in Newcastle I don't know, we go Digital or Blu-Bamboo or Liquid. Any really, anywhere it's cheap 'cause we never have money (laughter)

Yes (laughter) Um, what do people usually wear at clubs like that? The clubs where you go.

Em (pause) revealing.

Well, yes.

Or revealing.

Yes, it's like, when we were like younger, when we went out when we weren't quite eighteen (laughter) (interruption) we

(interruption) We just had to dress up more (unclear)

(laughter) Yes. Everybody used to get really dressed up, 'cause obviously you weren't supposed to be out drinking, so you tried to look older so you got really dressed up. But now my friends and me just go out in jeans because there's no point in trying to get dressed up when you're like you used to make yourself look nice and then that's it. Just wear what you are comfortable in.

Yeah.

Jeans and a nice top.

Because to me it seems like, especially in Newcastle that people don't wear a lot of clothes (interruption) when they go out.

(interruption) Ah, because a lot of people don't.

I'm like 'oh they must be so cold'. (laughter)

You get used to it. (laughter) Just adjust to the climate.

It's worth it actually.

Yes sometimes, just wearing like a skimpy top and that's it.

That's really like, when you have to go home again that's like when you really notice that it's cold.

Unless you're drunk and you can't feel anything. (laughter)

Yes, just keep drinking and you forget how cold it is. (laughter)

Yes. Yes, eh have you had the opportunity to travel and where did you go?

Em (pause) I've been to Spain loads and loads of times. The Canary Islands em (pause) New York.

Do you mean like abroad?

Mm-mm, yeah, if you like, yes. To travel.

Paris, Belgium, I think that's it.

I've just (interruption) been

(interruption) Oh, and Cyprus

On school trips, eh Tenerife, and Malta with family, that's about it.

Mm-mm

Spain with me.

Spain, yeah. Just recently just like a month ago.

Yeah.

I kind of (interruption) forget.

(interruption) Tell me about that trip, what did you do?

Em, what did we do?

Em.

We lay around the pool.

(laughter) Swam.

Yes went in the pool a lot, went shopping quite a lot. And we went out drinking. Eh (pause) I don't know.

That was it really.

Yeah, just chilled out.

How long did you stay?

Eh, it was just like (interruption) five days.

(interruption) Five days yes.

It was just like a short break before we all split off and went to university. So it was nice, just like a week together.

Yes, sounds really really good. Um, so like that's where you travelled this summer? You didn't travel anywhere else this summer?

We went to London.

Oh yes.

We went to see a West End show which was really good, wasn't it?

At the London Palace Theatre.

Yeah.

What was that show about?

We went to see Billy Elliot.

Oh, Billy Elliot, oh.

Yeah, it was amazing. The little lad was so good wasn't he? He was just like (pause) I was blown away (laughter) Em, and we went to Harrods.

Did you buy something at Harrods?

I did. I spent loads. It was all in presents for other people, I didn't get myself anything. Em, I can't think. Where else did we go?

Oh, we went to the National History Museum and em.

Yes, and that's quite interesting, but we did not have enough time did we? We had like an hour to look around, and we only went in like a few rooms and then we were out of time. Em, we went to London Dungeons. I was terrified.

Yeah.

It was so scary, it was unbelievable. It was like there was one way where it was pitch black and it was, what was the guy's name?

I don't know.

The hairdresser, what's his name? Oh, thank God, can't remember his name. Sweeney -- Sweeney Todd. He was like a (pause) have you heard about Sweeney Todd?

No.

He was a hairdresser, used to eh kill people used to cut their throats. It was (pause) It was an actual guy, like a mass murderer in em London.

Long time ago? Like

Yeah.

Yeah.

Em so they did like a replica, and you go into his -- his hairdresser thing, and you sit in the chair and then it's absolutely pitch black and you can't see anything, and then like you can just hear his voice over the (interruption) speakers.

(interruption) (unclear)

and your chair just like flips back 'cause that what he used to do, he used to tip your chair back and then you'd go down in like the basement.

Ah.

So, it was (pause) it was absolutely terrifying. Em, where was the other place we went?

(pause) Just walked a lot, like walked really, it was em

Madame Tussauds, that's what I'm thinking of. At the wax works. It was amazing.

Mm-mm.

I've never been there before so.

I see. Eh are you going to travel somewhere next summer or?

I don't know.

Em, I'd love to go away. But

Depends on how much we got.

Yeah, it depends on money. Like I'd love to go somewhere, but just don't know if I can afford it.

I see. Eh what's the funniest or scariest thing that has ever happened to you when you were travelling? Do you like remember something special that happened?

Scariest thing was when I think we were in Paris. Do you remember? And (NAME), (NAME) and somebody, and (NAME) were in the room, and this eh, it was a random man

A        guy

Who, a       

Oh seriously?

We were only like twelve at the time (laughter) So you can imagine how scared we all were.

I know and you could (pause) you could just hear them screaming.

It was terrifying.

Yes, it was really scary. And everyone, well all headed downstairs in the reception in a circle, we couldn't -- couldn't leave or anything.

No, just wait for the police.

So they came and took him away?

I don't think they ever caught him.

No they didn't catch him.

He got away. But that was the nightmare that was Paris, was one of the many things that happened on the Paris trip. Don't like to talk about it. (laughter)

It was like the food and stuff, the food was awful in Paris, but I can't think of the funniest things. It was all just (interruption) (unclear)

(interruption) The raw chicken. (pause) Do you remember the raw chicken in Paris? might not even have ate it, and the cup of cereal. You were allowed a bowl of cereal and you had to get your cup. (laughter)

I remember (pause) I remember plain rice.

Mm-mm.

What else?

Didn't get sauce on your rice just got rice.

Just rice?

Just rice. It really wasn't nice, it was like a hostel place we stayed wasn't it? It was really awful.

Ah

It was obviously the cheapest place they could find. School trips.

What about the bathroom on a place like that?

(interruption) It was along.

(interruption) Can't remember.

It was along the hall, like you didn't have your own bathroom in each room. It was like a communal bathroom at the end of the hall. So like, and the towels they gave you were like hand towels, so nobody could have a shower because you couldn't get the hand towel around you, and then you went back to your room with the hand towel on. (laughter) It was ridiculous.

Oh.

So just nobody could shower (laughter)

I see mm-mm. Okay, let's move on. Eh, what type of music do you like?

Indie-pop, rock, dance.

Mm-mm.

I like dance more than you.

I don't like dance.

I like a bit of dance.

I don't like, like popular, like dance if it's on the radio then I might listen to it, but I wouldn't like buy the CDs or anything.

I like dance.

I like like popular Indie stuff. Em, I don't know. I don't like rave or like really heavy metal.

No.

Em (pause) I don't know. That's about it, can listen to anything really.

Eh, who is your favourite artist or like your favourite band? Do you have one?

Em

I don't really have a favourite band. I don't know. I love Radio One, I'll just listen to anything that's on Radio One. Just put that on and every song there I'll like it.

What about you?

Listen to radio.

Yes (pause) Have you been to many concerts or?

Em, well you went to Leeds didn't you?

Yeah, I went to the Leeds Festival which I liked. It was (pause) there were loads of different bands, and em (pause) groups and stuff.

Who did you see?

Oh, can't remember off the top of my head, there was Funeral for a Friend, it was Lost Prophets, em (pause) I can't think. Gym Class Heroes, it was just all sorts.

Mm.

Mostly like the rock type people, it was hosted for.

The biggest concert I went to was like Radio One Big Weekend when it was in Sunderland. They do it every year, but they move around England. And then we were lucky enough about, God when was it? about three years ago or something, they had it in Sunderland. So I went to that, and it was like, it was loads of different stages, so loads of different people playing. That was really good, em (pause) Yes, I don't know. Been to a few concerts. I went to Westlife when I used to love them, when I was a lot younger.

Been to Green Day.

Yeah, we went to see Green Day in Milton Keynes. Yes, that was a long bus journey. Eh, went to see Yellow Card in Newcastle, so been to quite a few.

Mm-mm. Um (pause) is it like a band or an artist which you would really like to see but you have not had the chance yet?

Em (pause) I don't know. I'd love to see loads of bands, but I can't. Like you can't get tickets, like they're so expensive to get tickets and then. Sometimes you got to travel or wait for them coming to the North East and stuff like that. I don't know, it's quite hard, I think you're better off going somewhere like Leeds Fest and watching them all.

Yeah.

Or Glastonbury or something like that, like one of the big festivals.

How much does it cost for a festival ticket then, like?

About a hundred and fifty.

mine was a hundred and fifty.

Yes, hundred and fifty.

And then you can see everything?

Yeah.

(pause) I see. Do you play any instruments or?

I used to play the piano and used to play the flute, but it was only like brief period, but the flute was a brief period, I used to play the piano since I was about five or something like that, and I stopped when I was about eleven.

(pause) I've never really seriously played an instrument, I'm not very musical. Em, I played the recorder in school, but I think everybody played the recorder in school (laughter) Eh and I could play some stuff on the keyboard. That was about it.

Yeah.

Never been really good at an instrument (laughter)

I see. Yeah, eh, do you like to read books?

No.

Yes (laughter)

Depends on what they are about. I'm not really, little books (pause) little books.

Picture books don't count. (laughter)

Listen, I said little books.

You can't read picture books. (laughter)

I'm (pause) I'm not really (interruption) that

(interruption) I got some new books today. I was so excited, I found a shop, brand new, like second hand, but like brand new condition. Seventy five pence hard back books.

That's quite good.

I was so excited, it was unbelievable. (laughter) I phoned my dad straight away to tell him about the cheap books (laughter) It was so good.

(interruption) (unclear)

(interruption) And I ordered a new one off the internet which is not out yet, but the day it comes out I get it delivered to my door.

Ah, that's good.

She gets way too excited.

I love reading. It's amazing.

What's your favourite book then? Or author?

Em, my favourite author is Michael Crichton, who writes like kind of thrillers, but they're quite like scientific like I love the science of them. He teaches you loads, and State of Fear which was all about global warming. Em he did Next which is like genetics, he did Jurassic Park, which if you actually read the book it is very scientific whereas the film is not really (pause) that good, but the book talks about like chaos there and everything, it's really good. Em and I love Sophie Kinsella as well.

She writes like girly and fun books (laughter) like romance kind of thing, but funny. Eh, what else do I like? I like, I love Anthony Horowitz, um Stephen King.

The only thing I read is magazines.

Which type of magazines do you like then?

Uh, em, I'm not sure I read one for a while em

More.

More yeah.

Look.

Cosmo?

Cosmopolitan (pause) yeah.

I like Look, I stopped buying that now (interruption) because

(interruption) You like magazines?

I do yes, eh well I read Look now. Em, I just read what- whatever other people buy, like if one of us buys a magazine and then we'll just pass it around us all so (laughter) Save us all buying them.

I see. Have you ever read a book which you really did not like at all?

No.

No. (laughter) I hate finishing a book.

Mm.

So, I'm like jealous of people who haven't read it yet. So once you've read it once it's just not as good reading it again is it?

Just read it halfway (interruption) through.

(interruption) and I just wish I hadn't finished it, like I still had it all to read all over again. But I don't (laughter)

(pause) Eh, do (interruption) you

(interruption) Ouch (laughter)

Do you buy a lot of books or do you usually borrow them from the library?

I've never been to the library for a book.

I buy them cheap though, off the internet or if you go to like charity shops or the market, they're really cheap.

The market, oh (interruption) yes

(interruption) Yes, like Grainger Market in Newcastle, there's a really good book store there.

Oh really?

And then I found this shop today, which is seventy five pence. They're a pound and then they had twenty five percent off. I was like ah. It was amazing, it was so good (laughter) Yes, so I buy them cheap or buy them of internet when they're new books so you get like savings.

At Amazon or?

Yeah, I got one of Amazon yesterday. Em, and I get this, eh I joined the book club which is like em they post the magazine to your house, and it's like free to join and everything, and the books are just literally like seventy five percent off the street prices. It's just amazing if you like get the book, you can just go online. It's really good.

But they will send it to your flat or do you have to pick it up at the post office?

I get it delivered at my house, 'cause I've been in it for years so. (laughter)

Ah okay

I'll just get it when I go home on the weekend.

I see. What type of movies or TV-series do you like? And why do you like them so much?

I like em comedy, romance and comedy -- comedy, I also like a bit of horror, but you hate scary movies.

I hate scary movies.

Em (pause) and program (pause) Prison Break.

Ah Wentworth Miller, more to the point. (laughter)

That's it, Prison Break and Hollyoaks.

I love Grey's Anatomy, it's fantastic, which is like a medical drama, if you haven't seen it you should watch it 'cause it's so good. Em, Prison Break, Heroes, I love Heroes. Heroes is amazing.

What is that about then?

Superheroes, but this is like everyday like people they just discover that they got like these abilities. Like (pause) yesterday one of them discovered that -- that she can like, she watches something on TV, like say martial arts, and then she can just copy it straight away, she can just do it, it's called muscle mimic something. (laughter) I don't know, that's really good. Em, and movies, I like em action movies, like Die Hard and Bourne Identity, stuff like that and I love romantic comedies. That's about it, don't watch horror. Thrillers I can sometimes cope with, but no, they're still scary.

What's like your favourite movie of all time then?

mine is You've Got Mail.

Ah!

What is it about?

It's (pause) it's a romance.

The classic romantic comedy (pause) Tom Hanks.

Ah

And Meg Ryan.

Em I love Pretty Woman. (unclear)

Uh

Pretty Woman is amazing. Em, High School Musical, yeah. High School Musical is fantastic.

No, it's not.

We watched the sing along version the other night. I don't know if you heard us singing.

No, what is it about?

High School Musical, it's a musical about em (pause) I don't know.

High school.

Yeah, and they just sing and dance and High School Musical two is out and I haven't seen it yet, so it's a disaster. I have to watch it.

And eh (pause) (pause) have you been to the cinema recently? And what did you see?

Em, I went last Wednesday and I watched Stardust, which is so good.

I went with you on Wednesday after that and watched, what was that?

Eh Rendition.

Rendition yeah.

What type of movie is that?

Stardust is like it was like a kid's film, but there was not one kid in the cinema, it was all adults (laughter) It's eh (pause) eh, it's like a fantasy thing about like this falling star, but this star is a girl, and everybody is out to find her, and it's like witches and stuff like that it's really good. It was quite, even my dad enjoyed it. So that shows it must be a good film.

Yeah, so, any movies you are like planning -- planning to see as soon as possible? Right now.

I saw an advert on Wednesday which I can't wait for. You know the book? No, you won't know the book, Northern Lights.

I heard of it.

By Philip Pullman, em and they've made it into a film, and I saw the advert for it the other day, and they have changed the name which is really confusing, they've called it the Golden Compass, which I don't understand why they've done that (laughter) but anyway Northern Lights comes out in December, and I absolutely can't wait, I got so excited when the advert came on, and I was watching and I was like that's Philip Pullman's book (laughter) The same characters and the same story line and they changed the name of the film.

Mm.

Don't know why they've done that. What about you?

My, em (laughter) got no time at the moment (pause) (unclear) (laughter)

(pause) (laughter) Lovely

Is there like a big difference between American and British comedy? Like in your opinion.

My opinion is that American comedy it's always overemphasized I think, and it's always, I don't, it's not like (pause) I find it say (pause) not fake but eh just you can tell it's more act.

Mm-mm.

I don't know, I only (pause) I only really like, I don't watch like comedy shows and such on TV, you know what I mean. I (interruption) don't

(interruption) There is the Jerry Springer show and (interruption) stuff like that.

(interruption) I don't watch it.

And the (interruption) American actresses are all

(interruption) The only like

I can't stand them.

I -- I only watch like films really, that like to be able to compare American and British comedy, I don't know, the only films I really see are American comedies. Well there are not that many British comedies, there have been some good ones like Bridget Jones was British wasn't it?

Yeah.

And that was good and, there has been a few, but I just think there's more American comedies out there, so I don't know. I don't know about like TV shows and stuff, I don't (pause) don't watch them so. (laughter)

Mm, I see, but do you prefer British comedy or?

Yeah.

I don't know.

But no it depends on the story line really, and who -- who's acting.

Mm, I see (pause) Okay em, what's your favourite sport?

Badminton. When we were young we used to do badminton.

I joined the badminton club here, but I can't go it's on Saturday when I work. Disaster. Em, I used (interruption) to dance.

(interruption) (unclear) swimming for me.

I love dancing, but I don't do it anymore. The dance mat is like compensating for my lack of dance. (laughter)

But were you like members of a club?

We used to go like at school, or em on dinner times on Thursdays or something like that, we used go and play badminton. Em (pause) we did in PE, we did swimming and stuff.

Yes, I used to hate PE though so never did it, used to find any way possible to get out of PE.

I quite like PE.

You would.

Still failed it though.

(laughter) I know

What type of sport do you watch on TV then?

Em, I don't watch football or anything (interruption) like that.

(interruption) Watch the Olympics.

I watch the Olympics. The Olympics is fantastic. You can't leave the house when the Olympics is on (laughter) Em

I quite like watching gymnastics and trampoline on and -- and ice-skating.

I watch anything, like the, like Olympic wise or like world athletic championships so, European championship and stuff like that, watch anything like that. I love it.

Do you have like a favourite athlete or someone you really like to watch?

Eh

No they're all good.

I don't know, it -- it depends. I love watching like Torvill and Dean ice-skating, 'cause I can't believe their age and they're still absolutely amazing.

How old are they?

Em, well the one (pause) oh must be what (pause) fifties or something now, mustn't they? Forties fifties, (unclear) for their sport they are like quite old.

Ah.

I don't know, but they do Dancing on Ice which is like a TV show. Like celebrities have to learn to ice-skate and Torvill and Dean teach them, and it's just amazing watching them do it (laughter) (pause) Em (pause) I love Colin Jackson. He's so funny, he's (pause) he was a hurdler, but he's like retired from the sport now, but he does commentary.

Ah okay.

He's good, he like commentates on the Olympics and stuff.

I see. Mm, yeah, what type of food do you like?

Food, I love food.

I love it, you don't.

Chinese, I love Chinese.

She doesn't like vegetables, she (interruption) doesn't.

(interruption) No no, but I mean

She doesn't like salad, she (interruption) doesn't

(interruption) I do like vegetables, I like carrots, and turnip.

Well that's it, out of the what (interruption) (unclear)

(interruption) Calorie of fifty (laughter) em (pause) I don't eat salad, that's true.

I love every food, the only food I don't like is marmite.

That's it? I'm sure I can find some other food (interruption) that you don't like.

(interruption) No.

I could, I could.

Love sushi.

Sushi? (interruption) How can you eat raw fish?

(interruption) All sorts of (pause) All sorts of authentic foods.

Yes, I love Chinese food, could eat buckets full of Chinese food.

Of everything?

Em, I love Sunday like traditional British Sunday dinner, which my mam makes every Sunday.

Mm, what is it?

Em, it's like (interruption) a roast

(interruption) Yorkshire pudding.

Yorkshire pudding and vegetables and

Roasts.

Delicious gravy

(unclear)

Love Sunday dinner.

What about you are you a good cook or?

Eh I'm getting better since I've moved out from my parents' house. I can cook sweet and sour.

I'm good at cooking eh ready meals.

But that doesn't count (laughter) I made, well we made Shepherd's pie last week, and the week before that we made spaghetti Bolognese from scratch our own sauce.

Wow!

It was really nice.

Yeah, that's good. So now you like (pause) you like cooking?

I do like it, I'm just not that good at it, and I'm so fussy like with, em I don't like peppers and onions and stuff, I don't like stuff like that. Quite hard to please.

What about baking then?

I love to bake, just got no time.

I do like to bake though. I made apple crumble on Wednesday. It was really good. So good.

Did someone like teach you how to cook before you came to Newcastle?

Eh (pause) I watched my mam do it before.

Oh, yeah.

But like my flatmates are kind of teaching us to cook now (laughter) so.

Mm-mm, so then you often eat dinner with your flatmates?

Yeah. I can't afford to eat out much so.

No you don't go out that often to eat?

Em, well, we normally have like (pause) a meal out once every couple of weeks or something like that, I went for Chinese last Sunday.

Okay, what about you? Do you?

Mm-mm, yeah I -- I eat out quite a lot actually, em

You like to go out to eat?

Yes, I like to go out to eat, I like em, 'cause I'm a waitress, I -- I quite (pause) I like observing fellow waiters and waitresses, it (laughter) it's awful but

Mm-mm

Kind of compare, and it's just (pause) I just, I enjoy doing it and different foods.

Yes, I see, and you already talked about like your Sunday meal.

Yeah.

But what about you, do you have the same?

Em, no it depends, 'cause em, sometimes my gran makes Sunday lunch. My mam don't really do it these days, because she's got other stuff to do (pause) depends.

Yes. Okay eh what kinds of traditions can you remember growing up with in your family? Like for Christmas

Yes, family yes, Christmas meals either around ours or gran's or nana's or other family members. This year though I -- I'm working all day.

Ah, really, on Christmas Day?

I'm really looking forward to it.

Is it double pay?

It's double pay, but eh (pause) don't enjoy being with family these days as much as I used to.

Mm-mm I suppose yes.

I enjoy friends more.

Em, Christmas traditions, well we have Christmas dinner which is a better Sunday dinner because everything is homemade then. Em, and we all like go downstairs and open our presents together, and then we'll have family over in the afternoon or we go to them. It depends (laughter)

Do you help out with preparing the food or?

I do now.

Yeah. (laughter)

I used to just hover and just ask all the time 'is it nearly ready (pause) is it nearly ready'.

Pick of the (interruption) plates and stuff.

(interruption) Yes (pause) just munch (laughter) She would put something on the plate and I'd just eat it. (laughter)

What's like your favourite memory of Christmas? Do you

Me getting a rabbit.

Ah. I don't know, I love Christmas, just in general, I love everything about Christmas apart from the busy shops.

Yes, I prefer the atmosphere much more than gifts and stuff, everybody is happy and (unclear)

I love giving gifts. Mam's face when I give her a nice gift, it's amazing.

Like the phone, she is still going on about the phone everyday.

Mm-mm. And what about New Year's Eve, what do you usually do?

Stay up.

All night.

Going to a party?

Em (pause) (interruption) last

(interruption) You had a party didn't you?

last -- last -- last year I didn't, em, can't remember actually. We used to, em, literally (pause) eh we used to all get in a circle the whole family and cross our arms and dance in circles inside. Don't do that anymore though.

We used to have a party every year, and then the last like five years or something, we go to Spain now. That's really good. I love celebrating in Spain.

Spain?

Yes, stay at a really nice hotel, and then like.

I'd like to go to like London or -- or New York when it's in (interruption) the winter.

(interruption) Like Times Square I'd love to go to Times Square on New -- New Year, but I don't know.

Probably really crowded (laughter)

Yes, but just the atmosphere really.

Yeah, definitely. And what do you do during the Easter Break?

We study.

See everyone else, like see, like friends hang out more.

Mm-mm

We get more time, but like we get exams like right after Easter, so the last few years it's just been, just got to try and study.

Yes. Mm-mm

I haven't.

It's not much fun.

I haven't studied.

I've got to you know (laughter)

But you do like have like a month off at the university, don't you?

We do now yeah, we only had two weeks at school. In college so this'll be the first, well next year will be the first year I get four weeks off (laughter)

Four weeks off, yes it's a long time.

Yes. Four weeks for Christmas as well. I break up, we break up a week early. I found out the other day. I break up on the seventh of December. Everybody else breaks up on the fourteenth.

On the seventh?

Yes, so I get a five week break (laughter)

Eh what do you do on mid Summer's Eve? Anything special?

What's mid Summer's Eve?

No we've never heard of mid Summer's Eve.

You haven't?

No.

Is it (interruption) like Halloween?

(interruption) No, it's in June (pause) it's in June.

In June? Oh my God!

(interruption) No nothing.

(interruption) mid Summer's Eve

Oh, so you haven't heard about it (laughter) then we don't have to talk about it

Don't do anything (laughter)

Okay, can you tell me where you see yourself in twenty years?

Nice house, possibly kids, I really do want children but

Twenty years yes, I'd see myself with kids.

I love children.

And a secure job, married, happy.

Hopefully, that's what we are going for.

Yeah.

So do you like have like a big dream which you really want to fulfil before like?

Yes, I just want to be happy (laughter) Don't really know what I want to do, but know I want children. Always wanted kids.

Okay, can you describe your perfect day or dream holiday? Where would you go and with whom?

Em (pause) (pause) I'd love to go to America or Australia with my friends probably and just travel around, just see a bit of the world would be nice. I always wanted to see more of America, 'cause I've only been in New York, so I'd love to travel a bit and see like LA. or Las Vegas.

Chicago.

Chicago yes (pause) I'd love to see a show on Broadway.

What about you?

I think my fa- favourite like scene or something would be just in winter looking at the tree (pause) the better trees and lights and stuff in the dark with other friends or a partner or something.

Mm-mm, sounds good (pause) And now let's move on to, yes with dreams like, did you ever have a dream that came true? Like when you sleep at night and you dream. Have you ever experienced that they came true or happened in real life?

No, I don't think I have (laughter) Can't

Not really (pause) not identical to dreams similar, but not identical.

My dreams are more of nightmares. (laughter) They don't come true so

But do you often think about your dreams? What you dream about.

I'm not really good at remembering them, like some people wake up and I'm the person who wakes up and then can't think what on earth I was dreaming about.

I see.

I don't know. I worry about things a lot though, so like when I go to sleep I'm still worrying about them so I tend to have more like bad dreams. Months before I've got to go to the dentist I'm worrying about needles and I've got a phobia of needles so. Stuff like that I worry a lot before exams, I get stressed on the night, and stuff like that.

I understand. Okay, do you like to watch the news on TV?

I do actually. And if there's nothing to do I'll watch it, it's not like yes the news is on. It's nothing like that, it's just that I'll watch it if it's on.

I like to know what's going on in the world, so I do try to watch the news but, I feel cut off if I don't (pause) if I don't read the paper and don't watch the news. Like when we first came here there were about two weeks when we didn't read the paper once, and we never, we didn't have a TV, so we didn't watch the news and we just, I just felt so cut off. I didn't know anything. It's weird. I like general knowledge and stuff, I like to know what's going on.

But do you often buy newspapers now or do you read the news on the internet?

Em, I like newspapers, but I don't really buy them. I get like the Metro, it's free. You just walk down the bus station and there's a big stand and just pick one up. Like that.

That's good. What about you do you buy any newspapers or? No

No.

But do you like, what's in your opinion like the best newspaper in England? Do you have

I don't really know much about them. You know when everybody says like this one's left-wing and this one's right-wing, and I just (unclear) I don't, I really don't know what, like because they're all supposed to have different political like alliances and stuff, I don't know (pause) That was a bad click.

Okay then, let's move on to another topic, which is like in the media right now. First question is where were you when Princess Diana died? Do you remember that day?

I was in bed, and I came downstairs and my mom was watching the news, and she was like (unclear) she's died, and I didn't really know who she was, 'cause I was like only eight.

Oh, you were only eight.

So (laughter) I don't really (pause) don't really know what's going on, but I do remember coming downstairs and my mom and dad were watching the news. (laughter)

People in England were really shocked.

Yeah, but I was a bit young to be shocked, I didn't know who she was so.

But what do you think about the inquest which is going on right now? Do you think like that they should just let her rest in peace or do you?

I just think it's been too long.

Yes. (interruption) I don't think they can pick up anymore

(interruption) I don't know what evidence

They cannot pick up anymore evidence. I think they should just leave her alone (pause) Done is done.

Mm-mm (pause) I see. Have you ever met or seen someone famous?

Yes.

Who have you met?

Em, Dec.

Oh no!

Declan Donnelly.

I love Dec.

At a Chinese restaurant -- restaurant in Newcastle.

Oh, you did?

(interruption) They're from the North East.

(interruption) Did you talk to him?

No, he smiled at us that was (pause) that was it.

Have you heard about Ant and Dec?

Ant and Dec? Yeah I have heard about them.

They've got their own pub here 'cause they're from Newcastle.

Oh, they are.

Yes, they're Geordies. So if you know the Lodge in the town centre that's theirs. They do go there sometimes, so if you keep going there you might spot them (laughter)

But they don't live in Newcastle?

I don't, well, I think they travel a lot, 'cause they do the, well the film I'm a Celebrity about now don't they? Which is in (pause) where is it? The jungle.

Australia isn't it?

Australian jungle, doesn't matter, it's in the jungle somewhere, somewhere hot.

I see, but you haven't met anyone famous or?

I can't think if I have. (laughter) I don't think so.

We've met them all in clay. (laughter)

(laughter) Yes, Madam Tussauds, does that count?

Yeah (pause) It counts. (laughter)

Met them all. (laughter)

If you could interview one famous or historical person, who would it be and what would you like to ask that person about?

Jesus (laughter)

(laughter) What, 'do you exist?' Is that what you'd say? (laughter)

No, I'd say, I don't know what I'd say (pause) No, I'd want to interview Wentworth Miller, 'cause he is (pause) very gorgeous.

Okay. (laughter)

He is nice. Em, I don't know, probably Michael Crichton 'cause he's my little hero.

Yes, you'll get the information and I'll just be staring.

It would be amazing. Love Michael Crichton.

How old is he now then?

Em (pause) I think he's in his sixties now.

Okay.

I don't know, he's been writing for a lot of years. When I say like him I don't like him, I just think he is an amazing guy. He's so intelligent. Can't understand how a person can be that intelligent.

What would you like to talk to him about?

I'd love to talk about his books yes. Just -- just be around him really, find out a bit about like what inspires him to write that kind of stuff 'cause it's just like so good, it's amazing. I don't know.

(pause) How essential is MSN and Facebook in your everyday life?

Not at all.

You don't use it?

I use MySpace.

MySpace, okay. Is it sort of the same?

Yes.

Kind of the same as Facebook.

Just, em (pause) I only go on (pause) at odd times whenever I have the access to the internet, 'cause I don't have internet at home.

I think that's why you're not on it that much, but I think if you had internet you'd be on Facebook or MySpace.

Talk to more people em if I had internet, no but no not really that bothered.

I do like Facebook. It's a good way to keep in touch, 'cause now when you move away from your home like, it's just a good cheap way to keep in touch.

Mm-mm, I see. But like when you write to people do you use Standard English or do you use a lot of dialect words or slang words?

Sometimes I write in text language, slang words yes, th- the lot. (laughter)

Don't know, but I think I write more in proper English than most people, but I do abbreviate like some words.

To To P-P. (laughter)

Yes. Just stuff like that, but I don't take all the vowels out like some people and then you've got to try to translate what they're saying. (interruption) Can't stand that.

(interruption) I don't do that, most of the time I do proper English but.

I see, mm-mm. Do you like to play video games?

No not really.

Yes.

Okay, which ones do you like?

Eh oh God! Anything. I love Sonic Sonic the Hedgehog. I love em like Red Alert and might and Magic, Medal of Honour, is it called Medal of Honour?

I used to play on Crash Bandicoot (interruption) when I was little.

(interruption) Ah, yes. That play is amazing.

Not anymore though.

You get to like blow people up (laughter)

Yes, aliens.

(pause) Loads of aliens. It's really good, get to kill them. (laughter)

Eh okay, and let's move onto a new topic. Which languages do you speak?

English.

English and a tiny tiny tiny bit of German.

I speak limited Spanish, and a tiny bit of Italian.

You had German in school?

Yeah for (pause) five years.

Where did you learn Spanish?

Eh, for four years in school.

Oh you did.

But I've kind of forgotten it all now, three years later you like (pause) but I have been trying to keep practising, like I've got the discs and everything but.

You can go to the Open Access Centre.

Can you?

Yeah, at Newcastle University

Oh! I didn't know that actually.

Really?

(interruption) You have to tell me more about that.

(interruption) Loads of books and videos and everything. Yeah, it's really good. Would you like to learn a new language?

I would. I'd love to be fluent in more than one language but it's so difficult. (laughter)

I know, eh I'd like to, but the effort you have to put in.

I was never, I love Spanish but just can't get the hang of like the pronunciation and stuff. I can't roll my R. You know you got to roll your tongue. Say like R. I can't do it, so like when I speak Spanish it just don't make any sense. It's a disaster.

Can you roll a R?

I can't do it (laughter)

Can you roll a R?

No, I don't think, no I'm not that good.

Our Spanish teacher used to be amazing about it. I just (pause) I just can't do it.

Yeah, I have to learn it soon because I'm studying Russian right now.

Oh!

Yes, so have to learn it, just practice practice practice all the time. (laughter)

(laughter) I practised for four years, I so can't do it.

So, do you know like which language you would like to learn, is it only Spanish?

I'd love to be fluent in Spanish just because we go to Spain a lot, but any language really, I'd love to speak Italian, but I speak a very limited (laughter) (unclear) speak like thirty phrases or something like that. (laughter)

Spanish is like a really beautiful language.

Yes, it's quite like, it has some similarities to English as well, so I think it might be easier to learn than other

(interruption) Some words are similar.

(interruption) Yeah, some of the words are similar yes. Kind of guess what they are saying.

Mm-mm.

They talk so fast though, that's my problem. When I go to Spain, if they could slow it down I could understand what they are saying fine but I can't keep up. I can ask like a question in Spanish but then the answer I get back I -- I just I can't understand what they're saying. (laughter)

Hm, do you speak a dialect of English?

Yes, I think so, do we? We have an accent and stuff so (pause) Probably.

Yeah, okay. Eh do you speak the same way as your friends or have you noticed any differences?

We speak about the same, don't we?

Do we speak the same? Would you say we speak the same?

Yeah, I think so.

I pick up a slight accent when I'm around other people like when I'm around people from Leeds I'll be picking up a Leeds accent. Like certain words. They say things a different way and then I start saying it that way and it's quite like

Mm-mm

But I'm not as bad as (NAME) for that, she picks up an accent, it's terrible (pause) You try to imitate accents.

Yeah, sometimes.

Sometimes? Every time (laughter)

That can be fun.

Not when she offends people (laughter) Poor Italian waiter.

Oh, I -- I really didn't realise I was doing that.

What did you do?

I -- I ordered like a pizza or something and I said (pause) I said I don't know what I did, what did I say?

Can I have a pizza please? (laughter)

Yes, I did that or something like that and I didn't realise.

(laughter) This guy was so offended

I felt (pause) I felt so awful though, because it just (pause) it just came out, I didn't realise.

Where did it happen?

In a restaurant, an Italian restaurant. The waiter was Italian, so he spoke with his accent, and then (NAME) just like mimicked him, or tried to mimic him anyway. (laughter)

Okay. Do you sound different from your parents?

Not really.

No I don't, we talk the same yes. 'Cause you're around them so much you pick up their accent.

But has anyone like told you that you sound different?

I don't think so.

No. People normally say '(NAME), you sound just like your mother there!' For example you. (laughter)

I do yeah (laughter) You do sound like your mother though (pause) She does.

Okay. Do you think that how you sound plays a role in how others perceive you?

The way you stand?

Sound.

The way you sound yes.

Eh

Yeah.

I used to get called posh, people used (interruption) to say.

(interruption) Really?

Uh-huh, who used to say I have a posh accent like (NAME), wasn't it?

Must be posh compared to her. If you compare us to a Southerner I think we sound really common (pause) But I don't know it we actually sound more common or whether it is just perceived as more common. Like depends on what your definition of common is really, isn't it. I don't think we sound common.

(pause) What if you like meet people from the South, do you like?

I do think they sound posher, but I don't know, it's just a different accent, I don't know if it is necessarily posher or it's just like what you expect.

Yeah.

I don't know.

Eh, do you think that you try to change how you sound when you are in certain environments?

Oh, there we go. (laughter)

I don't try to but I think like subconsciously you do pick up other people's accent. I don't know, I don't try to do it. It depends.

Yes, but I think that's it. It was nice talking to you.

Oh, you to. It was interesting doing that, never done that before.

We're going to make tea now. Do you want to stay for tea?

No, I've got to go. I'm meeting (NAME), he's moving away tomorrow.

Oh.

So I'm going to see them and then (NAME) said 'do you want to go on another random night out?'

What? Again?

(unclear)