diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 995dde1..75fb336 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -203,4 +203,14 @@ since the last update i did a few things.
 
 ```rust
     pub struct crate::std::io::Element
-```
\ No newline at end of file
+```
+
+## UPDATE: 29/04/23
+
+after taking a bit of a break to get my A level work done and play some games, i've finally found time to get back into
+this project
+
+over the last couple of days I've made some signifcant changes to this project.
+I have started the development of a TUI (terminal user interface) library allowing for widgets to be displayed
+on screen using ascii.
+its pretty barebones at the moment but I'm hoping to add more features as time goes on!
diff --git a/src/user/lib/libgui/libgui_core.rs b/src/user/lib/libgui/libgui_core.rs
index 896192c..4e94a95 100644
--- a/src/user/lib/libgui/libgui_core.rs
+++ b/src/user/lib/libgui/libgui_core.rs
@@ -39,19 +39,19 @@ pub trait Element {
     }
 }
 
-pub struct Container {
+pub struct Container<'a> {
     // a simple container objects for grouping
     // other containers together
     frame: Vec<Vec<char>>,
-    elements: Vec<Box<dyn Element>>,
+    elements: Vec<Box<&'a dyn Element>>,
     position: Pos, // x,y
     //
     outlined: bool,
     dimensions: Pos, // x,y
 }
 
-impl Container {
-    fn new(position: Pos, dimensions: Pos, outlined: bool) -> Container {
+impl Container<'a> {
+    fn new(position: Pos, dimensions: Pos, outlined: bool) -> Container<'a> {
         Self {
             frame: vec![vec![' '; dimensions.x as usize]; dimensions.y as usize],
             elements: Vec::new(),
@@ -60,12 +60,9 @@ impl Container {
             dimensions,
         }
     }
-    fn place(&self, element: Vec<Vec<char>>) {
-        return; // unimplemented
-    }
 }
 
-impl Element for Container {
+impl Element for Container<'_> {
     fn render(&self) -> (Vec<Vec<char>>, Pos) {
         // returns all elements as a single frame
 
@@ -255,18 +252,18 @@ pub fn test_elements() {
 
     containers.push(Container::new(Pos::new(0, 1), Pos::new(80, 24), true));
 
-    containers[0]
-        .elements
-        .push(Box::new(libgui_elements::TextBox::new(
-            String::from("ANNOUNCEMENTS"),
-            String::from(
-                "CrystalRPG coming soon! XD
+    let tbox = libgui_elements::TextBox::new(
+        String::from("ANNOUNCEMENTS"),
+        String::from(
+            "CrystalRPG coming soon! XD
 this is gonna be the best game ever",
-            ),
-            Pos::new(25, 10),
-            Pos::new(0, 0),
-            true,
-        )));
+        ),
+        Pos::new(25, 10),
+        Pos::new(0, 0),
+        true,
+    );
+
+    containers[0].elements.push(Box::new(&tbox));
 
     let mut bar = IndicatorBar::new(Pos::new(7, 7), 12);
     bar.set_value(70);
@@ -280,7 +277,7 @@ this is gonna be the best game ever",
 
 // function to generate a box in a random location on the screen.
 
-fn generate_box() -> Container {
+fn generate_box() -> Container<'static> {
     use crate::std::random::Random;
     let width = Random::int(5, 20);
     let height = Random::int(5, 10);