Viv

[Ivy Tunstall]

I just wanted to say good luck with getting everything in real life straightened out, and I hope that you can get yourself organised so that you can come back here not feeling as stressed. You're a real asset to Four Houses and I don't want you to burn yourself out here. I can also very much understand real life commitments taking over - I have found that they've been becoming increasingly demanding recently. I've also wanted to take some time out just to spend some more time talking to my mum and doing things in common with her so that our lives have more relevance to each other's... and also just some time for myself.

Don't feel that you have to justify taking a break - if you need one for a bit, then you need one. I hope that not feeling pressure about it will help you to regain your enthusiasm for your characters and posting on Four Houses.

I'm sure you realise that this will not gain you an exemption from me telling you that you must post in Quidditch, but please do feel able to turn around to me and say 'I just don't have the time at the moment.'

I know this is a bit random, but I just wanted to write down that... I hope taking a bit of time out and giving yourself some space will allow you to come back feeling refreshed, less stressed and reenthused. (Is that a word?)

- Izy

[Ariane Chan]

Oh god... has this stemmed from my mood today? Because if so... well, this is the appropriate time to apologise for it. I planned on doing so tomorrow morning when I saw everyone again anyway, because I owe it to you guys. That is, if I'm not in the same mood tomorrow morning.

I am, and have been all day, in... a foul mood. Not foul in the sense I could simply kill someone because I am so down - foul also relating to being miserable about... everything. Everything sucks. This is kind of personal and I know other people will probably read this, but I don't care. I just felt like crap today, from the moment I got out of bed to right now, so late. I've had a few laughs all day, but only a handful have been genuine ones. I just feel sapped, frustrated, and down. Gah. I guess 4Houses does factor into that a little.

Today was simply awful. Every little thing just... p**ssed me off, I can honestly say. I took comfort in talking to Ju and just... see, around her, I can be sarcastic and rather derogatory. I could... I dunno, just pretend I wasn't unhappy or something. That's kind of why I stuck to her. I needed to get away. I've nothing against you, or Ting, or Kat, or Lucy... I just needed away time - time with someone that wasn't you guys, however much I adore you all.

In fact, Lucy ditched us cause she had to go home, but we bumped into Ting and I felt lonely with just Ju, so asked her to come along. Didn't last long, but it cheered me up momentarily. *sugh* I dunno, Izy. Things went so wrong today. Not in terms of universities and stuff. Just, as a day as a whole. My anger was directed (inwardly, but perhaps outwardly in my tangible and delicate mood) towards a lot of people - mum, Ken, dad, Lucy, you when you asked me why I was so late this morning. This morning was a bad morning, and I can't be bothered to elaborate, I'll just get annoyed at nothing again.

Okay, I have nothing else to say and this is turning into a rant. But, I am really sorry about today. Or tomorrow, it's late now. I just... today was one of those days. It wasn't just a bad day. It was a bad, bad day. A day where I felt everything was going wrong and everyone around me couldn't do anything for me, and I couldn't face anything or anyone. Just a day I wanted to scream at the sky.

I'm sorry again. This probably isn't the nicest thing to read. I'll see you before you read this anyway, hahaha, so... I'll direct you to it.

Good morning, btw.

Viv

PS. Veered from your points completely - yeah, you should take a break too if you need it. It just became too much for me. But, don't worry. I'm still around. Can't get rid of me, I'm afraid.