Two Thousand Miles From Here

christmas decorations

2011-12-04T11:00:00.000Z

scarily enough in 3 months time i will turn 24, that thought terrifies me a bit.

i realised earlier that i had only posted about the protests in bristol, and some of the ice skating pictures, but nothing of their decorations, and their mini version of a german market that has popped up through broadmead. so i thought i'd share some of those photos with you, also.

as well as this beautiful small market area, cabot circus is already decorated for christmas, inside stores as well as outside. my favourite decoration inside a store was in the house of fraser, where they have decorated up the escalator walls with fairy lights, i tried to take some pictures but the quality wasn't great, but here we go anyway.

bath christmas market

2011-12-03T10:49:00.003Z

actually, bath christmas market is something i had not even heard of until this year. i went up for the first time ever a couple of days ago with my best friend. we actually drove from dorset and got a park and ride from lansdown, however there are only 3 park and rides throughout bath city. after our trip, i would recommend not relying on a park and ride, as we circled two of them and luckily were offered parking elsewhere for a fee before we managed to get on a bus. also, the train service is literally a five minute walk from the market itself, and, in my opinion easier to navigate. bath spa station is small, and you just follow everyone else and you'll soon find what you're looking for.

bath christmas market is a german- style christmas market that pops up from november 24th through until december 11th. it is beautiful and scattered around the abbey yard. each stall sells something a bit different, there is a stall that sells the most delicious berry cheese. stalls selling soups, sausage cobs (hot dogs), burgers, mulled wine, clothing, the most beautiful christmas decorations you will ever see. you name it, you can probably find it at bath market! it looks fantastic, here are some photos.

ice skating

2011-12-01T11:08:00.004Z

one day, before i up and leave the uk again i will go ice skating. i would have gone yesterday had i been with someone else. going ass over tit when you're on your own is pretty embarrassing, i'd say. ideally, i want to go to somerset house, in london and ice skate there. it's kinda one of those bucket list things, that i just have to do one day. instead, yesterday at cabot circus, i took photo's of other people doing exactly what i wished to be doing! as you will see, i took a couple of people who had fallen over, because i know i will spend a lot of time with my bum on the ice when i finally get to have a go

something i didn't expect to run into.

2011-11-30T20:54:00.003Z

through my holiday so far i have been getting up at what i can only describe as ridiculous o clock in the morning to go off to far flung places up north. or at least, north to a dorset girl. today i got up at the unsightly hour of 8am to get the train to bristol at 9,30am.

and it was a nightmare.

firstly, the train that pulled up was six carriages long. the conductor, was on the first carriage which was an entirely different type of carriage to the rest of the train and therefore there was no gangway between it, so we were entirely cut off from him. by the time we hit frome the train was entirely full, and still we were letting people on at the following stops, trowbridge, keynsham, freshford... and the four other stops on the way to bristol. there were people leaning on the seats all the way up and down the train. it also turned out that it was probably best that the conductor was trapped in the front carriage because he was a total and complete arse. when we approached him at westbury, where the train was 'resting' for ten minutes (usually they would take carriages off at this point but there were wayyy too many of us), he told us that he had announced many times that there was no functioning ticket facilities and we'd have to buy tickets at our destination. let me tell you now. i had been on that train for one hour, and not once in that time had he announced any such thing.

secondly, in the uk today there are a lot of angry people because people who work in the public sector are moaning that their pension won't gain 20% interest on what they put into it. people in the private sector are angry about this also, because their pension is around £6,000 less than people in the public sector. and at my age, with the state this country is in, i am angry because i won't even have a pension. i am also angry because their pension is only two grand less than my entire yearly wage packet. and i work a full year, none of this 6 weeks until the next week off rubbish. i am not saying you shouldn't get back what you put in, i am saying you shouldn't expect it to grow by 20%. because if that were the case, then we'd all be doing it.

some of the placards today read "no cuts", seriously? open your eyes, watch the news, read a newspaper. and not that socialist worker propaganda paper you all kept trying to make me read today. a real one with real facts and figures in. the country is bust. thinking of signs there was one sign saying (but don't quote me on the exact figures) "we will have to pay in an extra £114 and however many pence a year to lose £275 and however many pence over 25 years". if we round that up to £276, you'd be losing £11 a year. now i can't count, but you are sending 20,000 people in one city alone to argue about £11 a year? particularly the argument of "the pension pot seems more about some than about others", because don't even start me. in my family, one person alone has lost £15,000 on private pensions, and you're worried about £275 over 25 years. get a grip.

now. whilst i absolutely wholeheartedly don't agree with the reasons you are striking, i do believe in freedom of speech, and this is my freedom to say what i think. and i do genuinely think, well good for you for standing up for what you think is right. because i am sat here typing the opposite, and we are lucky to be able to do that. i have to agree that the protest march, at least in bristol, was friendly, and there was no trouble and it did not turn into a riot.

just as a post edit here, i should point out that in the three years i have been back in the uk, i have never seen cabot circus as busy as it was today, considering this was done because there is a lack of money in the uk, there seemed to be an awful lot of people out spending it.

flores bonito part two

2011-11-28T14:55:00.002Z

a few posts back i posted some pictures of the flowers my bosses sent me, and this morning i finally got around to taking some more pictures of the bouquet, the roses have all since gone and i am drying one of them out so i can keep it and all that is left are these three huge lilies. they are so beautiful.

also rest in peace, morran.

paperchase wishlist

2011-11-21T09:30:00.002Z

i love paperchase and in red magazine this month i have a 25% off voucher- hooray! so on my wish list for paperchase, when i eventually get there, are the below items:

union jack bunting for my bedroom

christmas stamp style stickers

glass russian doll baubles

london stickers

london bus writing set

winter wobbler stickers

the stickers, particularly the christmas ones, are for my christmas gift tags. this year i have bought plain white luggage labels, and also purchased a home made stamp from etsy to make my own gift tags. i have never done anything like it before, so i am looking forward to my first attempt. i am not creative enough to make my own gifts so hopefully this little step will be a good one. i hope they look good in the end!

mad as a hatter

2011-11-20T18:50:00.002Z

for the first time in a long time i had a sunday morning off. i had been looking forward to my sunday morning off so much last week that i ended up having this week instead (after the little emergency). so my mum and i decided to take off to castle gardens, a garden centre that does a beautiful christmas display in my area. i bought some christmas presents, although, i won't mention what i got for who since this is public. i also got myself a little l.e.d. snowman who changes colours and was only £3, he fits perfectly in my bedroom as he has a red hat on with gold stitching and my room is of similar colours.

i also bought myself an adorable snowman's hat, that was only £4.50. although, i don't have a picture of me wearing it. all the hats above were in the garden centre and there was a sign on the wall that said "trying on hats may cause public ridicule" so i, of course, had to try the hats on!! and the above pictures were the result. i also tried on an elf hat, which i wish i had taken a picture of!

my favourite find there, though, it wasn't something i bought was the below cute dogs. they look just like my friend's dog, george, who i am incredibly in love with. so i had to take this picture to show her. she was very impressed with it.

flores bonito

2011-11-17T17:28:00.004Z

i seem to be very good at these disappearing acts, of course, i have still been reading my favourite blogs. i just haven't really been updating because i have spent the last two months fighting glandular fever. i have literally been sleeping and working. i am slowly getting better, slowly fighting back.

and of course, a beautiful bouquet of flowers can always make a girl feel better!

mike and jude sent these to me as a thank you for working the past weekend. i had it booked off as holiday and they had a bit of an emergency so i ended up working. of course, when you're sent flowers as a thank you, you can't even feel slightly disappointed that you missed the night out because a beautiful bouquet makes life so much better!

thankfully, all is back to normal in their home now, and i am due off out tomorrow night for the first night out in ages, and the first in a run of nights out in the run up to the C word... yep, it's almost Christmas!

Pull & Bear

2011-09-14T18:11:00.002+01:00

Pull and Bear has been my favourite store ever since Las Rotondas opened. When I lived in Fuerteventura I bought almost all my clothes in there (with Zara being a close second favourite). All my favourite tee's are still from Pull & Bear, all the things I adore the most come from there. So I was super excited last night when I discovered that, after almost 3 years of living in the UK without a single Pull & Bear anywhere near me, online shopping has finally become an option.

I think this beautiful bag will be my first purchase.

salisbury

2011-09-09T23:43:00.002+01:00

on tuesday i took an extra day off to go to salisbury with my mum and my nan. i couldn't have picked a worse day, weather wise, if i tried. see how black the sky is in the top picture? however my mum and i getting the same day off is pretty rare, and i wanted to go to lunch with her since she got back from her holiday, so on the train we went.

we took my nan around salisbury, and showed her the cathedral which is seriously beautiful. i love how serene the atmosphere is in holy places, and this one sure is the same. last time we went there were lots of people sat eating picnics on the grounds outside, but tuesday it was a lot of people in coats, with umbrella's blowing inside out. another beautiful english summer's day.

we had a bit of a girly afternoon, shopping and walking around and just enjoying a day out of our usual routine. i was excited to get the perfect diary for next year, teal/ blue leather with 2012 engraved into the front. paperchase, of course. my mum was excited to find a pair of shoes she's been looking at forever on sale.

we took my nan to this creepy old pub called the haunch of venison. the building is around 700 years old. when my parents first went there a couple of years ago for a friend's birthday the pub had this hand in a glass case showcased on the bar. the story behind it, is it was found during building work on the pub many years ago, and that the hand had been chopped off during a game of poker as the person playing had been cheating. now hidden in a wall we decided to take my nan there to show her this and tell her the story. however when she bent over to have a look, i couldn't help but make her jump!

eventually we settled down for some lunch, mum and i shared a fajita plate. it was delicious, and after all that food, and all that walking; we stayed there until the train came...

this time of year

2011-09-05T09:30:00.001+01:00

it's that time of year.
summer is over.
and the sun has finally started shining
tractors are out.
hay is being bailed.
silage is being collected.
the roads are covered in hay.
blackberries are growing.
and some of them taste pretty good.

august

2011-09-04T20:47:00.004+01:00

i have been absent again this month.
this month has been insane.
my parents were away so i was parrot sitting.
people have gotten sick, and needed cover at work.
i worked for almost two weeks.
i visited bristol (cabot circus to check out zara's a/w collection).
i finally went to bath thermae spa.
the rooftop pool is my second favourite place in britain (after covent garden).
went for a walk with a friend at ham hill.
got given a bottle of vodka caramelo as a thank you from my mum.

Corner View: Trio

2011-08-03T23:44:00.003+01:00

My favourite trio in the world would have to be my bosses three children.

A small unclear picture of the three of them, a bit wary of posting pictures of other people's children here.

The first two are little boys, named Jack and Liam. The eldest, Jack, has just finished his first year at school and Liam is about to start his first year this September.

The youngest of this trio is Emily, a nearly 3 year old little girl who is so adorable. She is super tiny, and doesn't talk very much yet, but understands perfectly, and tries to talk a lot. She chats to me and talks to herself. I had the shock of my life at the beginning of the week when I said, "See you later Emily" and she responded, "See you later" as clear as day.

Secretly Emily is my favourite (and I know I shouldn't have favourites) because she is the only girl, and because whenever she sees me she waits for me to cuddle her before she'll go anywhere. Adorable.

* * *

Whew, just made it in time to post my first Corner View in forever.

PS- thinking of small people, have you read this article How to Talk to Little Girls? It totally inspired me.

The Trouble with Tiger

2011-08-02T09:30:00.002+01:00

I have been reluctant to post about Tiger in the last week because he has been a little bit poorly, and by a little bit I mean a lot. For Tiger at least. He even went to the V.E.T.

Since at least the time we left Fuerteventura, Tiger has had a little tiny lump on his side that was just little and annoying, you could just feel it when you stroked him. It never bothered him or changed for years, and in the UK the vets like to check the dogs fully when they go into see them so if it had been an issue last time he was there, they would have noticed.

About a month, maybe six weeks ago, I noticed when stroking him that the lump felt bigger, and I've always kept an eye on it, so I pulled about in his fur until I could see it clearly. There was a little head on it, so I squeezed it and thought nothing more of it. It seemed to heal up and went flat for a while. Or so I thought, the lump came back, slightly bigger than before. Tiger still wasn't bothered by it so I just repeated the same process. He seemed fine, until I gave him a bath last week, on the day of the bath he seemed fine. Messing around like he usually does after his bath, and he hadn't bothered with the lump at all, it was a little red but I thought it was just where it had been picked at.

The next morning my mum woke me to tell me that Tiger had been gnawing at his side, I was up and out of bed, rubbing my eyes and putting my glasses on so quickly that it still took a while for me to see the little red bloody lump he'd managed to eat out of himself. I was on the phone to the (shhh don't say it) V.E.T quicker than you can dial.

I won't go into all the gory details, but the vet announced after weighing him and shaving him (just a small patch on his side) that Tiger had an abscess by his lung, and that it needed draining. She took care of the gory bits whilst I held on to him. He had painkillers and antibiotic injections. She told me that Tiger's wound would need to be kept clean and that if it didn't clear up within five days, that he might need an operation.

Tiger spent the last five days with his head in The Cone of Shame. A horrid dog cone to stop him biting himself which had yellow paw prints all around it, making him look like a very sad sunflower. He was only walked along the road, so he couldn't catch himself on the edge of any bushes, and he was only allowed to walk on the lead. Luckily for me Tiger is a very patient, very knowing little dog, and he took it all in his stride.

He even slept next to me in The Cone of Shame, which is the noisiest creation ever particularly when your dogs bed is in the gap under your desk where most normal people's chair goes. I did not sleep a wink for the first two nights (I think I slept maybe 3hrs over 2 nights). I was just worried he'd have a reaction to the antibiotics, or that he was as uncomfortable as he looked (which I am pretty sure he was- he's been asleep in the same position since we came upstairs over an hour ago). He never snapped once, he just took it all, he just sighed at me a little.

Yesterday was five days. Tiger is just over half way through his antibiotic course, and his fur is starting to grow back. The vet played with his side, squeezing at it and checking out the scab that has now formed over what was a hole in his side. He then told us that Tiger would not need an operation that everything was healing as it should and he should finish his antibiotic course and be just fine.

Which was a massive relief.

Tired & Uninspired

2011-08-01T23:47:00.004+01:00

You might call me a daydreamer, although I think I'm just focused. Focused on the future. When I look forward I know where I want to end up, eventually. Some days I think I'll end up there sooner rather than later. Some days I think, whilst life is short, I'm still young enough to wait it out. I'm not sure if I'm trying to pay some dues or what but I know there are things I need to do before I can leave.

It's days like today when I need to remind myself what I am working for. That dream is, of course, to move back down to Fuerteventura. To do it for myself, with no help. I want to be able to take Tiger and find a job and have a little home and maybe even a car of my very own. I don't care to be rich or in a job that makes me a lot of money, I just want to be able to live and enjoy my life.

The system here really sucks. I could go on a waiting list to get a house here, and my rent would be based on what I could afford, but finding a home that would accept a dog here is pretty impossible, particularly at a decent price. I appreciate what my parents have done for me, don't get me wrong. Living with them has given me the opportunity I need to save the money I will need to make my dream a reality. However, I already lived away from home, and it's kinda hard having to move back. Particularly when you're still living there two and a half years later.

I know my situation isn't dissimilar to that of people my age around the country, but I didn't go to university so it's not like I have debts. It's just the wage I get paid is barely enough to live on, and that is taking into account that I save a lot of my wages. I allow myself a very tiny amount to use each week because I am determined to reach my target. I want to give myself the best opportunity to succeed.

That's not only a financial goal, giving myself the best opportunity to succeed either. Since I've been back in the UK I've taken my Level 1 Key Skills in Communication & Numeracy (English and Maths to us normal people), my National Certificate for Personal Licence Holders, Level 2 Food Safety, NVQ2 Food and Beverage Service and I'm now doing the next level NVQ3 Hospitality Supervision and Leadership. I want to put myself in a position to be able to get a good job maybe in a hotel or somewhere, anywhere really, that will give me a decent contract (decent hours, some healthcare would be lovely). I'm working really hard for it, and it is hard work trying to do an NVQ when you're already working full time, particularly once you've gotten high enough that you have to actually write answers to questions. At the same time, I shouldn't moan because I put myself up for these NVQ's. It's my future I'm doing it for, no one else's.

And it's days like today when I don't love my job as much as I usually do that I need to write that down and remind myself why I am doing all of this. I need to remind myself that my financial goal is not far away. Another 8-10 months isn't a long time, and yet it is because so much can change in that time. I might look back on this and wonder what it was that I was sulking, or moaning about, or wonder why I felt the need to be reminded of how great my life is.

Because when all is said and done, my life is great. I've been really lucky to have the support of all the people I love. The truth is I do love my job, I would never have been there as long as I have if I didn't really love it. I love my boss and his family and I feel so lucky to work for them and to work with the amazing people I work with. I love hearing my boss' ideas for ways to improve what we're, what he's, doing there. I love that we are a small team, and I love how well we are doing as a business. I don't usually post such personal things here, but I felt this a good place to write it because I think there are people who should read it, who don't have access to my private blog.

twentyone

2011-07-18T16:49:00.003+01:00

This Saturday just passed was my cousin, Roxy's, twenty first birthday celebration. We chilled in the garden in the afternoon with a barbecue and food being brought around to us, we barely had to lift a finger. We all sat drinking our drinks, mine was two bottles of White Zinfandel Rosé, which I'm really into at the moment. Then later we went into Yeovil into a nightclub where I believe I was drinking JagerBombs.... Oops! Here's some pictures of the day & night

Felipa

2011-07-16T09:27:00.000+01:00

Felipa is a fifty year old chimpanzee. She is my absolute favourite animal in the world, she knows all sorts, you can talk to her in Spanish and she knows words, she knows the word 'besos' which means kiss and if you call her and shout this she blows kisses to you. I always make sure to throw her a flower whenever I see her. She is wonderful. Before she was at Oasis Park she lived in a house in Las Palmas, in Gran Canaria. She had her own bedroom, place at the table, watched television and ate with the family. However when the children grew up they decided she was too dangerous, and if you've ever met Felipa you can see that she is very much not dangerous. They locked her outside and chained her up. After a while she got angry at being treated this way, and eventually Oasis Park rescued her. Here are some pictures of her.

king and cheetah, who Felipa shares her enclosure

Oasis Park

2011-07-15T09:24:00.004+01:00

I am a bit obsessed with Oasis Park, La Lajita, so I decided to write about in two parts; one about the zoo and one about my favourite animal. Oasis Park is Fuerteventura's version of a zoo... most of the animals there come from other places where they have been mistreated and the people at La Lajita look after them. There are some new elephants there who have a huge enclosure built for him. Basically I am not a fan of zoo's but these guys do an awful lot of good for those animals, and I love walking around it. These are some of my favourite pictures...

bye bye Oasis Park

Castillo

2011-07-12T17:00:00.003+01:00

Or nearly... just some pictures from the area my parents have a house in Fuerteventura.

I love the walk into town, it's about 2km. Which is the first two pictures. It takes me a really long time to walk it, which makes me realise I have lived far away for a really long time. It took me forty five minutes to walk into town for my Sunday Roast at Hemingway's bar. Which is actually a bar in the restaurant I worked in for two years, so it was kind of weird when I first went in there, but as Steve said, "It's the same faces in different places".

The other two pictures are in the complex my Mum's house is in, one is of the pool and the new pathway going up to it, the other is of the garden. The giant palm tree was only supposed to grow to about four feet. Yup. It's huge and the neighbours hate it. My favourite thing about my Mum's house is that it's red...

Corralejo

2011-07-11T09:30:00.002+01:00

Corralejo is just about my favourite place on earth. It's probably the more... touristy resort on the island, and definitely aimed at English people, but it's beautiful in it's own way. It is also the busiest resort on the island, which is what made my friends, tattoo artist Paul and his girlfriend Di move up there in the first place. It is the first place on the island I ever went too. If you look at the first picture, I stayed in the hotel to the right on the beach there in the summer for years and years as a teenager. Now its somewhere I make the effort to visit whenever I am down in the Canary Islands.

I loved taking these pictures from my friends house, right out of town, it has the best views ever. It's such a beautiful quiet place, even with a husky puppy and an old Alsation lurching around the place. Plus staying in Corralejo involves bars in the garden (as well as pools) and barbecues followed by bottles of vodka caramel. Delicious.

I took the pictures with my new camera, and although I can see some of the settings aren't quite right, playing with it and learning is an awful lot of fun.

it's been so long

2011-07-08T11:02:00.003+01:00

since I've been here that I forgot what my blog looked like.

a lot has been going on in my life. i went on holiday for the first two weeks of june to fuerteventura- you know that island i lived on for a few years whilst i was a teenager? there are a few pictures i will share... one of them is this one

since i have been back i have finally finished my nvq2. i was 'studying' food and drink service, and now i have started another one. i'm now about to start studying nvq3 hospitality supervision and leadership which should be hard work.

i'm feeling a bit sad lately. i don't know if it's post holiday blues, or if it's because the sun here has not really been shining. or if it's because six days a week, even if two of them are half days, is starting to get me down. plus a few other personal issues i won't write here.

i am going to take my nan out for lunch today. so hopefully i will write some posts about my holiday soon. i want to show you some pictures from my friends house, and the zoo. i hope writing that there will help me remember to do it!

five senses friday

2011-05-20T09:30:00.003+01:00

Tasting:
Fudge's Rosemary Biscuits from their Biscuits for Cheese selection box (part of my claim to fame is I know some of the Fudge family)

Seeing:
Lots of cows blocking my route home from work- but I don't mind waiting. It means people can stop for a chat.

Smelling:
Somerset Camembert (to go with my aforementioned biscuits)

Hearing:
LMFAO- Party Rock Anthem

Feeling:
relaxed and ready to enjoy my day off....

last friday

2011-05-19T22:20:00.002+01:00

i wanted to post these pictures last friday, but i was tired by the time i got in and then i got tonsillitis this week, and was in a bad mood (which when you work in hospitality is a very bad idea). basically these pictures are from last friday when i went to my best friends house to paint her children's bedroom.

the day included very easy to make holes in plastic dust sheets, pink paint everywhere! chinese for lunch (and fish n chips for dinner). looking after a 2 and a half year old and bribing her with elf.

LOOK!!

2011-05-10T09:30:00.001+01:00

So I have inherited a DSLR! It's a Panasonic Lumix, it used to belong to my grandfather, and my Nan has handed it over to me!! I am very excited about learning to use it. Yesterday I played about taking some photos with it in the living room whilst my grandmother was visiting. These are just a couple of pictures of Tiger that I took through the day. Any tips on how to use it or where I can find more info about it (I have downloaded the manual already) would be much appreciated!! I very happily attached my strap cover that Jude gave me, and now it feels like mine.

Bath

2011-05-09T16:50:00.004+01:00

It has been forever since I went to Bath. I think the last time I went, before Thursday, was when I was about 13 for a poetry reading where my now favourite poet John Cooper Clarke was reading. Since I hadn't been for ages I asked people what I should see. My mum said she had never found the Royal Crescent, so I made it my mission to go there first. I didn't realise how much of a beautiful city it is, either. Except for the fact it's up hill. I walked all the way to the Royal Crescent, and walked around the Circus, but trying to get a decent picture of The Circus was impossible.

I also went to the Fashion Museum. Which was pretty awesome, it had an extra section about wedding dresses to celebrate the Royal Wedding. There were some fabulous dresses there, and there was an Alexander McQueen dress from 2010 which was very similar to the one Kate wore for her wedding.

My friend told me to visit the abbey too, I walked around it, but I didn't go inside, because I only had a twenty note and it was £2,50 to get in. Also around the same area is the Pump Rooms, and the Roman Baths. I want to go to the Pump Rooms at some point to have tea, apparently it's ridiculously overpriced but should be done at least once. I didn't go into the Baths, but went to the shop. Didn't buy anything though.

Next time I go to Bath I am going to have a massage at the Themae Bath Spa, and go inside the Abbey. I am going to go to the pump rooms and have a cup of tea. And I am going to work it so my friends who are at uni there are around too.

The Royal Crescent

My friend the squirrel, click the picture and you will see him bigger.

My dream ride, a brand new Vespa!

Bath Abbey

The bandstand

bank holiday friday

2011-04-29T09:30:00.000+01:00

today is the royal wedding, did you hear about it? unfortunately i feel i have heard too much about it and have lost interest in it already. it is not that i think there is anything wrong with them getting married, but i don't really enjoy it being shoved down my throat at every opportunity.

today is going to be spent like this:

flowers

2011-04-28T09:30:00.001+01:00

doesn't this church in my town look beautiful?

i was sat outside a couple of weeks ago after getting up very early to do some small favours for my boss. i love how well kept it is. the area is known as "the beach" because at the weekends its hard to find an empty spot to lay down and sunbathe.

Corner View: What's for Lunch

2011-04-27T18:17:00.002+01:00

As a waitress doing all split shifts, my eating patterns are somewhat... unusual. Breakfast is usually around 10am and then dinner time is around 5,30pm. Occasionally I have a snack when I finish work in the evening, but eating a meal at 11pm onwards tends to keep me awake, so I avoid it where possible.

Lunch on a Wednesday, particularly every second Wednesday is definitely impossible. I start work at 11am and my shift finishes between 2,30- 3pm. At 3pm I have an hour and a half driving lesson- because I live and work so far out from where our test routes are, and get back around 4,30/4,45pm. Today however I did manage a little lunch.

Yup, a little tub of Purbeck Ice Cream's Honeycombe Hash. I am addicted. We sell it at work. Nom nom nom...

lately...

2011-04-26T16:32:00.003+01:00

lately it has been far too sunny to sit inside and blog, although today is much cooler.

lately i have been working insanely, i am in the middle of a 9 day stint. those of you with 11 days off because of the random bank holidays please spare a thought for those of us who work in service who are cramming our already 48hr week into those 4 day weekends!

lately i have been taking tiger for long walks in my split shift (and then wondering why my feet are so tired).

how awesome is the bunting on that house, if you click you should be able to see a larger image.

tomorrow i will be back with a corner view...

Bicycle

2011-04-19T09:30:00.000+01:00

I adore this bike. I saw it outside Sainbury's in Sherborne, I would adore this bike. I wish I could afford a beautiful bicycle such as this one...

Corner View: Home

2011-04-18T09:30:00.001+01:00

Quite late in the week, as this should have been posted on Wednesday.

Home to me is wherever Tiger is. I know some people will look at this and say he's only a dog, but he is my dog, and he has kept me company through some rough times. He's been on an airplane three times because I've forced him to come with me left, right and centre. He loves it in England, with all the grass.

My home is in Dorset, in my parents house (hey, I'm a waitress we don't earn a lotta cash). I have the room at the front of the house looking out onto the rest of the street. It's small, but it's nice. I have some prints from my friends who are artists on the walls, and a 'Keep Calm & Carry On' print also on the walls.

Home is also the place you feel happiest...

Find another Corner View Post on Wednesday

Sunday Evening

2011-04-17T21:29:00.003+01:00

This evening I took Tiger for a long walk, half way up Lillington Hill across the fields and past the car place on the outskirts of my village and back home. The sunlight was low by the time I left. The parents are away, and my brother and I are looking after the house, so we cleaned the entire thing this afternoon when I got home from work.

I am enjoying my evening on the sofa after a busy work weekend. Mike, my boss, has been around but not working. He's had a couple of family moments this weekend so I've been covering him. I usually work, but I did an early last night and worked through, I told him that an extra 45 minutes was not going to kill me. However, I underestimated this cold we all have (out of 6 people that are in the pub "full" time, 4 of us have it), and this morning I felt a bit rubbish and my temperature was sky high. Luckily my shift today was pretty simple, quiet enough to be simple but enough to keep us busy.

Tonight I am off work until Tuesday morning and deciding what I should do tomorrow. Waiting on a response from a friend to find out if she wants to do anything, if not I am thinking of possibly hopping on the train to Bristol to go shopping.... Hmm...

Sunny Walks

2011-04-07T16:59:00.002+01:00

Corner View: Time

2011-04-06T12:39:00.001+01:00

Time is always passing me by. I work six days a week right now, and almost never have enough time on my day off to do all the things I want to, including

- walking my dog on two long walks
- cooking something fresh
- seeing friends
- playing skittles

And during my work week right now I'm alternating and having an NVQ meeting or observation or a driving lesson.

Time just passes by!

Four Eyes

2011-04-05T09:30:00.002+01:00

Yup, that's right. I've got glasses! Arrived Saturday, but this is the first chance I've had to post pictures. Whatdya think?

Poorly Tiger

2011-04-04T12:21:00.003+01:00

Tigs is poorly today. I've brought his bedding down and put it on the sofa, so I can keep an eye on him and get on with a few bits without constantly going back and forth to check on him. He has slept most of the day. Luckily my plans for my day off because I decided to stay in and read Red Magazine and watch Gilmore Girls and Glee. Eat pop tarts and leftover pizza. Also, him being poorly means I can make sure I don't go into town and spend money unnecessarily.

Sunny Days

2011-03-28T17:08:00.003+01:00

The sun has been shining on us a lot in Dorset recently. We've had a great March weather wise. I love how yellow all the daffodils are already. I have even been brave enough to change my wardrobe to my summer one.

I discovered that I have 18 dresses, 8 of which are floral in some way, some are day dresses and some are night dresses. I definitely need to stop buying clothes. I tried on another dress today and was almost relieved when it didn't fit. I also bought my summer work wardrobe including 4 tops and a pair of black work shorts.

The clocks also changed, finally, here on Saturday night. So Sunday evening was spent looking out of the huge windows in my friends flat are the sun going down at 7,30pm and it was lovely pink sky to be staring at.

Corner View: Four Legged

2011-03-23T10:46:00.000Z

I love animals so much. In fact when I first moved back to the UK I wanted to train as a vet, but I would have had to take foundation at uni and what not, and I didn't want to live in halls or with students because I already have Tiger, who needs a lot of love.

In fact here are some pictures of Tiger. Isn't he pretty. He needs a bath and a haircut, but I don't know what to do there, because I think he will probably bite.

Also, thinking of four-legged friends. We have two new, currently nameless, rabbits at work. I want to name them Bugsie and Bella, but we are waiting for the children to name them. I haven't taken any pictures yet, but Bella is the black one and Bugsie is the one that looks like Bugs Bunny, but they are both girls, and I like those names. I don't think my boss will be quite so into Bugsie as I am, might be able to convince him about Bella though...

Japan

2011-03-14T16:37:00.004Z

I have found it really difficult to process all that has happened in Japan in the last week. I couldn't believe I had woken up to hear about an earthquake and the subsequent tsunami. Today I read on the Guardian's twitter feed that the earthquake had moved Japan 13 feet closer to the US. I thought that was insane.

I have seen this image a lot on tumblr this week and find it heartbreaking to look at.

There are many ways you can donate, but I wanted to tell you about Abby's shop, where she is selling this print, which $8 from each sale will go to the American Red Cross Relief efforts, and 20% of sales from her shop are also being donated! Isn't that awesome?

Of course you can donate directly here at the Red Cross website.

Hair

2011-03-11T19:19:00.002Z

I don't usually post things like this here, but I was so pleased with myself, that I just had to share...

I am really rubbish at hairstyles. Especially since my hair is so short right now, it's just got to that annoying length where its too long to be short, and too short to do anything with. So when I saw this style on A Cup of Jo that's 'laughably easy' I thought I'd give it a go..

Now, if I can do it then anyone can... I am thinking of wearing my hair like that for my forthcoming work party.

beach

2011-03-11T10:34:00.000Z

excuse the diggers and work being done. weymouth is being rebuilt by all appearances. i think its to do with the forthcoming olympics. we went to the beach in the lovely weather on monday, it was so my best friend and i could catch up on my birthday.

twentythree

2011-03-10T10:27:00.003Z

i was twenty three on friday and this is what i did

dress zara, belt new look, socks elle (i wore brown boots to match my belt)

the dog in covent garden who announced that i had legs that'd be good for dog walking, and it was a good job berlusconi wasn't there....

we saw les mis on saturday, having stayed in london over night.

Countryside

2011-03-03T14:02:00.000Z

I took these whilst I was working last weekend, I turned up with a hangover and got sent leafletting in a beautiful village... these were taken with my Blackberry.

I miss my camera...

Corner View: Kitchen Counter

2011-03-02T13:56:00.000Z

This picture was actually taken Monday, when my Dad was off sick. My mum had laid up his breakfast for when he woke up!

How sweet!

A Girly Post

2011-03-01T13:50:00.001Z

I love my beautiful new Mary Jane block heel skyscraper shoes.
I am at least 5ft 2in in them.
Plus they were 20% off and free delivery.
Now, I just need to learn how to walk in them....

Lazy Mondays

2011-02-28T13:23:00.003Z

I love Monday's and how they are the one day of the week I get to curl up and do nothing.

This morning I have been watching Daybreak & Lorraine & This Morning all talking about the Oscars, and I know who won what backwards. That I am not so sure I care about, but I do love all the hype about the dresses made to fit the skeletons that turned up. I loved almost all the red dresses that were worn! I just love all the talk about hair and dresses.

I have been slouched on the sofa catching up with telly (Shameless, Secret Diary..., Glee, Top Gear & Gilmore Girls) chatting on facebook to catch up with a friend who just moved back to Fuerteventura yesterday. His move gives me such itchy feet its unreal. Plus life hasn't been 100% happy hearts and twinkly stars in Dorset lately, but all that is hopefully behind me as the new week starts and will end with my 23rd birthday (which is on Friday).

Thinking of Friday's this Friday that just passed was my best friends 24th birthday- I love that I will always be a year younger than she is. We all got glammed up and went into the unglamorous town that is closest to where we live to party. I wore a dress that I had for Prom when I was 16, hardly believing that I would ever fit into it again. I did, and I was so pleased, especially since I have purchased a very expensive law- of- physics- defying strapless bra, so it gave me a chance to wear that too. Here is a picture of some of us, the best friends of the birthday girl:

I did not do such a good job on keeping up with blogging last week, because I got a migraine on Tuesday and I couldn't concentrate on a screen without it hurting my head until Friday and even then it wasn't a great idea. However today I have stolen my Mum's glasses and managed to see everything clearly with no headaches (maybe that was the cause of my migraine). Trip to the optician is in order I think...

See you in the week, I hope!

Monday Madness

2011-02-21T17:11:00.002Z

I love Monday's.

It is my sole full day off in each week, and this has been my first full day off since February 7th (thanks for that, Valentines Day). I decided I absolutely deserved a lie in, especially since I scared myself half to death watching Marchlands last night (I spook really easily, and all, but that program is seriously freaky) and can remember being wide awake still at 3am, and then went to watch an entire episode of The Family.

My Dad was off work today, too, what with it being half term here in England. He needed to sort out scrapping his BMW, and pick up some things in town. I am gutted he is scrapping that car, and if I thought it wasn't falling apart slowly piece by piece I would keep it but he's spent a good couple of grand on keeping it alive lately... I think it's a lost cause. So I bummed around the house watching Gilmore Girls, eating pop tarts and listening out for the phone.

I made a list, somewhere a little more practical than on my blog, and went into town this afternoon. The list consisted of finding the last piece of my friend's birthday present, buying some new boots for work, I have really worn my current pair to death, the holes in the back are so bad that sole actually slides along the floor when I walk now. I finally bought one of those Bobble Off things, I wear a ton of knitwear in the winter, like almost all my tops are woolen and I have a couple of dresses also. Some of them are in a bit of state, so I am hoping this is the answer to my prayers. I also needed to sort out my credit card, since it was pretty useless with the PIN number it had, I mostly had no idea what it was so did that this afternoon. Town was utter madness, why my father didn't warn me it was going to be so busy, I have no idea!

I was glad to get home. I didn't manage to buy anymore boots, but I did buy more tops, which made me sort out my clothes. There is now a pile in the hall waiting for my mum to look through to see which ones she'll wear for work & which ones can go to charity. I also put some shoes out, I did think of selling them on eBay but it looks like that's not gonna happen now, I don't think they're all in that greater condition. I have another bag full at the top of my wardrobe, but I think they'll be saved for another day; ost of it is summer stuff anyway.

My wardrobe is still kind of insane, what's left of it includes 4 black miniskirts, 3 denim skirts, 5 pairs of ballet pumps (of which 3 are the same style in different colours), at least 20 summer tee's, 10 dresses! I really don't think I needed the clothes I bought today to be honest, and I was considering buying another black skirt at one point, too! Oops!

Tonight I am off to my sister's and her husbands for dinner, I am about to leave when I finish writing in fact, as I still need to buy dessert, I am thinking lemon meringue pie. Or banoffee... Yum...

Corner View: Valentines Day

2011-02-16T09:30:00.002Z

It seems I have chosen a bad week to come back to Corner View, but persist I shall...

Valentines Day is one of those very gimmicky, American holidays, in my mind. My boss agreed with me briefly on the subject pointing out that if you really love someone then February 14th should not be the only day you should them how much. He is not a soppy kinda guy either, he is very straight and to the point.

Last year I had a lovely Valentines Day, despite having to work in the evening. I was staying in the pub in my village as the owners were away on holiday, and a friend was running it for them. Having so much space for the afternoon we decided that we'd invite people over and they could bring their own food and Ed cooked for all of us. We had the rugby on the television, and a really nice roast meal, all the food was dished into huge bowls for us to help ourselves. It was a fantastic afternoon and probably the best version of Valentines Day I will see.

I have no traditions, it is not so much celebrated in the UK, and until the week before, I don't think it was hugely pushed this year, what with everyone feeling the pinch as they say....

Birthday Wishlist

2011-02-15T14:56:00.002Z

March 4th will be my birthday.

I decided there weren't really any gifts I wanted but I did want to see Les Misérables for my birthday. So my mum, dad and I have booked to go to London on the day of my birthday to go see Les Misérables. I am so excited! I can't wait!

However, it turns out there are a couple of things I would really like for my birthday, actually four...

4. A pair of these beautiful green Converse All Star's

I am just in love with them, I cannot help it. I have always wanted a pair, and I think they'll look great with jeggings/ leggings and what not! Plus I am a bit of a boy and like my trainer type shoes.

3. skullcandy headphones

partly because i have been told that wearing headphones that sit in my ears is likely to cause me even more problems (i went deaf before my gramp's funeral in december and stayed that way until about two weeks ago when the doctor finally sorted it for me). plus they are also super beautiful.

2. Gilmore Girls complete series. I don't think I will get this because of the cost, but I am addicted to that programme as much as I am addicted to Friends. Which I also would like...

1. A working Camera! With a lithium battery. Please!

Happy Singles Awareness Day

2011-02-14T09:30:00.002Z

Happy Singles Awareness Day y'all.

I received the above image on an e-mail last Valentines Day from a friend. It seems most appropriate for my feelings on Valentines Day, I hope you like it!

Valentines Day is not such a big deal in England as it appears to be in America. I have been reading all week on some of my favourite blogs how they are celebrating Valentines Weekend, and even the week preceding it, and let me tell you, it just is not my thing.

Today I will be 'celebrating' this *coughs* Hallmark *coughs* holiday by having an appointment I have not been looking forward to. Then spending the afternoon with a large notepad, pack of pens and a large latte in Costa Coffee trying to figure out a semblance of a plot of this story that has been floating around in my head the last week or so. Sounds perfect to me... Oh and did I forget to mention that to be the cherry on top of the cake, I will be working this evening, serving various couples their romantic Valentine's meals...? Beautiful

A Confession

2011-02-13T22:50:00.002Z

I have a confession to make about why I have become a little distant from blogging lately, not simply because my life has become utterly boring but because I am lacking in a camera. Although this is not quite true.

When I went to Fuerteventura back in October my camera died, my beautiful little pink point and shoot 10.2 megapixel Fujifilm camera became no more. Although I hope I can change that, because the camera I currently possess upsets me. It, too is a Fujifilm camera, and it is supposedly better than mine with 12 megapixels. It is just... it is not my little pink fujifilm camera and I am finding that hard to deal with. I think I may have to sell it, if I do I will let you know where my eBay is for someone to bid on it. It works perfectly, it is a good camera. It is literally just that it is not my little pink camera that I love so much...

I think I am going to have to make a trip to comet, where I bought my little pink camera and ask them if it is possible for them to make my poorly camera work again. Or buy exactly the same one again. I feel lost without my little camera.

February

2011-02-07T00:00:00.002Z

I am alive...

and I have a picture to prove it.

This post might be a bit all over the place...

I don't feel much like anymore 30 day challenges. January has been a funny month full of ice, parents arriving home, slow days at work and a huge lack of inspiration over here on blogger. I have a large obsession with tumblr at the moment, as my followers over there rose to over 100 I have become more and more obsessed...

My birthday is little more than a month away and I have booked to go to London (the big smoke, when you're down here in deepest Dorset) to see Les Misérables for like the third or forth time! I am very excited. I bought the 25th concert DVD recently, and my parents and I sat down to watch it a few weeks before I booked my birthday. I am hoping to go shopping in Covent Garden whilst I am up there too.

Tomorrow is my day off, hopefully I will flick through some blogs, and get more inspired to write more often, and maybe take some photos. I need to go through my things to do an eBay listing too, which I will post here, it will mostly be clothes I don't think I'll wear again and things, but if you're interested, it's there!

Hopefully I'll be back soon!

Core Story

2011-01-31T19:34:00.001Z

December 31 – Core Story. What central story is at the core of you, and how do you share it with the world? (Bonus: Consider your reflections from this month. Look through them to discover a thread you may not have noticed until today.)(Author: Molly O’Neill)

Be kind for everyone is fighting their battle too.

I really try to apply that to life. I think my story is just starting...

* * *

I hope to be back to a better blogging program now that January is over! I will get back into the swing of things properly and embark on other projects. I just hope the weather picks up soon because the lack of inspiration in grey pictures is unreal. Plus I think I may have a camera for sale soon. I will advertise here and eBay. Hopefully I will pick up some more projects or ideas that I want to get on with this month.

Gift

2011-01-30T19:23:00.001Z

December 30 – Gift. This month, gifts and gift-giving can seem inescapable. What’s the most memorable gift, tangible or emotional, you received this year? (Author: Holly Root)

I am one for words. If someone gives me something they have written, I will treasure it forever. For example when I left the hotel in May, everyone wrote in a card for me. Some people wrote just a few words, and some people wrote essays but all their words means the world to me. More recently, the card I was given by my bosses children thanking me for their presents has also been treasured.

The best gift in the world is a cuddle. And I don't mean those floppy ones that are awkward. I mean the kind where the two people involved really love each other, as friends or otherwise. I am quite a cuddly person. I cuddle my friends often but some people are better to cuddle than others. There are some people who's cuddles I'm not sure how I could live without. One of those people told me recently that when I move back to Fuerteventura my cuddles will be missed, to which I responded that we can cuddle when I come back to visit; which was met with, "Won't it get expensive coming back and forth every day?".

Defining Moment

2011-01-29T19:12:00.000Z

December 29 – Defining Moment. Describe a defining moment or series of events that has affected your life this year. (Author: Kathryn Fitzmaurice)

I'm sure I've said this a million times but I genuinely believe that where I work now has totally changed my perspective on life. My job literally has saved my soul. I'm utterly in love with my job, I think it brought my confidence up a ton for a start. I think my boss is one of the most reasonable, patient, level headed bosses I've ever come across. It's not just my boss that is awesome, his family are too. His children are 5, 4, and 2 years old and they are adorable. I couldn't help but buy them Christmas presents this year. In return I got the most beautiful card back signed by the two boys, and with Emily's hand print in. It is totally gonna stay in my box of treasured possessions. Plus the people I work with are awesome too, the girls are wonderful, all totally different and all great fun to hang around with. And the boys, well... they're boys, what can I say. Some of them have certainly touched my life and I always want them to be a part of mine.

Achieve

2011-01-28T09:30:00.000Z

December 28 – Achieve. What’s the thing you most want to achieve next year? How do you imagine you’ll feel when you get it? Free? Happy? Complete? Blissful? Write that feeling down. Then, brainstorm 10 things you can do, or 10 new thoughts you can think, in order to experience that feeling today.(Author: Tara Sophia Mohr)

I want to pass my driving test this year. In fact I want to pass my driving test by my birthday because I will have been learning for ten months by then and I know, I took my theory very late and what not. So partly my own fault, but. Yeah. I don't know ten thoughts to achieve it today. I think I will feel better financially once I've done it.. Also I want to start doing motorbike stuff, too. Although I am totally gonna get a Vespa next, or a slightly bigger engined version of Gigi (I don't really hold much intention of owning a car)...

Ordinary Joy

2011-01-27T09:30:00.000Z

December 27 – Ordinary Joy. Our most profound joy is often experienced during ordinary moments. What was one of your most joyful ordinary moments this year? (Author: Brené Brown)

I think Tiger is a general answer here. I can watch him run and walking him I tend to feel more contentment then than any other time of day.

Soul Food

2011-01-26T09:30:00.001Z

December 26 – Soul Food. What did you eat this year that you will never forget? What went into your mouth & touched your soul? (Author: Elise Marie Collins)

Pizza La Torre.

I don't know how I cope without this pizza for such long periods of time since I used to eat it once a week when I lived in the Canaries and I miss it sooo much.

Pizza La Torre is a thin based, mozzarella, tomato, chicken, chilli and bolognese sauce pizza.

De-li-cious!

Man I wish I had a picture... or even one of those pizza's.......

Photo

2011-01-25T09:30:00.000Z

December 25 – Photo – a present to yourself. Sift through all the photos of you from the past year. Choose one that best captures you; either who you are, or who you strive to be. Find the shot of you that is worth a thousand words. Share the image, who shot it, where, and what it best reveals about you. (Author: Tracey Clark)

This is just my favourite photo of me. It was taken by Julie at Blog Camp in Berlin. I always come back to this one. It reminds me, at the very least, how much fun I had, but when I look at all the little details it tells me that I should probably paint my nails more...

Everything's Okay.

2011-01-24T18:53:00.001Z

Janunary 24 – Everything’s OK .What was the best moment that could serve as proof that everything is going to be alright? And how will you incorporate that discovery into the year ahead? (Author: Kate Inglis)

My friends. All of them seem to ground me and make me continue to look forwards instead of backwards. All of them encourage my dreams. It's wonderful.

New Name

2011-01-23T09:30:00.000Z

December 23 – New Name Let’s meet again, for the first time. If you could introduce yourself to strangers by another name for just one day, what would it be and why?

Names are a funny thing, I was born Louise.
Adopted and renamed Samantha Louise.
Nicknamed Baby, Harmonie, Hailie, H, and Cameron at various stages in my life.

All are names I still answer to, including others that probably shouldn't be printed on my public blog. Out of the nicknames I've got, Hailie is my favourite. I think if I were to be renamed anything it would be that, apparently I look like a Hailie... I already claim so many other names that it's hard to pick (I have 3 middle names).

So hi there, my name is Hailie and I'm 22 years old, who are you?

Travel

2011-01-22T09:30:00.001Z

January 22 – Travel. How did you travel in 2010? How and/or where would you like to travel next year? (Author: Tara Hunt)

I love traveling, and yet can afford to do so little. I am hoping there will be more blog camps this year that maybe I can get to... there is supposed to be one in Krakow last I looked but I don't want to book anymore time off right now so I am thinking of not doing it quite yet.

I went back home for a week in October and for a weekend to Berlin, where I have never been. I am going back to Fuerteventura again in June for 2 weeks due to cheap flights and no accommodation costs (parents house, woop)! Hopefully I will get to travel to some cities again this year, even if just for weekend's. I keep telling myself I want to go to America, and I really do but the timing is never right, and money is a huge issue, especially traveling alone.

Future Self

2011-01-21T09:30:00.003Z

December 21 – Future Self. Imagine yourself five years from now. What advice would you give your current self for the year ahead? (Bonus: Write a note to yourself 10 years ago. What would you tell your younger self?) (Author: Jenny Blake)

Ugh. I hate this question. It's a job interview question.

Ten years ago I was 12... so yeah, that's kinda scary. My dream 10 years ago was to move away to Fuerteventura and I managed all that. I actually have lived my dreams, and sometimes dreams aren't all they're cracked up to be. That said some realities are better than dreams.

I have no idea who or where I'll be in five years. If you asked me this five years ago I sure wouldn't have said living in England waitressing in a country pub. I would never have imagined I was living this life... and better than that enjoying it.

Me, five Christmas' ago. Opening presents in the sunshine

Beyond Avoidance

2011-01-20T09:30:00.001Z

January 20 – Beyond Avoidance. What should you have done this year but didn’t because you were too scared, worried, unsure, busy or otherwise deterred from doing? (Bonus: Will you do it?) (Author: Jake Nickell)

Easy answer. My driving test. It was part of my contract at my new job, but my boss is awesome and I never moaned about cycling, actually I miss it. I need to get back into cycling and start swimming too. Maybe once this horrendous month is over I will take time to make an effort to go swimming.

That said I did take a CBT this year which allows me to ride a motorcycle up to 125cc for 2 years before I need to take my theory, MOD1 and MOD2 which allow me to ride any motorcycle.

Healing

2011-01-19T09:30:00.003Z

January 19 – Healing. What healed you this year? Was it sudden, or a drip-by-drip evolution? How would you like to be healed in 2011? (Author: Leonie Allan)

I have heard a lot about healing at the beginning of this year, but I think some scars are supposed to show and they tell the story of who you are without you even needing to say the words. I think that everything happens to us to shape us into who we are. Sometimes things need to be healed, and wounds take time to close, but this year I don't think I had any open wounds left to heal. I think the scars of the past show in who I am sometimes, but that's okay.

Try

2011-01-18T09:30:00.001Z

January 18 – Try. What do you want to try next year? Is there something you wanted to try in 2010? What happened when you did / didn’t go for it? (Author: Kaileen Elise)

I ummed and ahhed about going to Berlin in September for Blog Camp, for many reasons. Firstly, it always sounds amazing but a few days with a group of strangers in one apartment? Especially since I was the youngest. I said yes, and didn't book flights. For a few weeks I thought before I finally booked the tickets.

I am so glad I went it was amazing, as amazing as it always sounds! And it didn't end in Berlin, seeing everyone write about their experience afterward was awesome. I hope there will be another one in 2011 that I can go to.

Lesson Learned

2011-01-17T09:30:00.000Z

January 17 – Lesson Learned. What was the best thing you learned about yourself this past year? And how will you apply that lesson going forward? (Author: Tara Weaver)

I am capable of doing whatever I want to...

Friendship

2011-01-16T09:30:00.003Z

December 16 – Friendship. How has a friend changed you or your perspective on the world this year? Was this change gradual, or a sudden burst? (Author: Martha Mihalick)

When I went home to Fuerteventura in October, I got a chance to see things through my own eyes, and less the rose tinted glasses. I heard things I didn't want to hear, and found out things I didn't know, but probably needed to. Those friends that were honest enough with me to tell me the truth, even after so much time mean the world to me. It totally changed my perspective on what I want and how to achieve it!

5 Minutes

2011-01-15T09:30:00.000Z

January 15 – 5 Minutes. Imagine you will completely lose your memory of 2010 in five minutes. Set an alarm for five minutes and capture the things you most want to remember about 2010. (Author: Patti Digh)

Village Days. Friends kids. Sisters wedding. Fuerteventura. Berlin. Best friend birthdays. Friend meet ups. London. My birthday. Buying my first mode of transport. My (not so) new job.

Appreciate

2011-01-14T09:30:00.001Z

January 14 – Appreciate. What’s the one thing you have come to appreciate most in the past year? How do you express gratitude for it? (Author: Victoria Klein)

Tiger. He has totally been my constant the last four years. I appreciate him so much. He is so awesome, he knows when I am just awake enough to let him in, he crawls up my bed for cuddles in the morning. He knows when I say "trot" that its time to go for a walk, and he knows when its too rainy/ snowy/ awful to go out and just asks to go out the back. He is awesomeness itself.

Action!

2011-01-13T09:30:00.001Z

January 13 – Action. When it comes to aspirations, it’s not about ideas. It’s about making ideas happen. What’s your next step? (Author: Scott Belsky)

My biggest goal right now is to be able to walk Tiger on that beach every day. I am putting back more than half my wages each week to be able to leave within a year. I want to go and be in the sunshine and with my friends. I really ought to take my GCSE in Spanish before I go, too. It's the reason I bought a scooter instead of a car, although I am regretting that now. Although I have an awesome job and awesome friends here, I really struggle with things sometimes and it's about getting through each day rather than enjoying it, sometimes.

Body Integration

2011-01-12T09:30:00.003Z

December 12 – Body Integration. This year, when did you feel the most integrated with your body? Did you have a moment where there wasn’t mind and body, but simply a cohesive YOU, alive and present?

Nope. Not once. I swear my body is almost on an entirely different wavelength than my mind. For example, two days before New Year, I got my period. I mean. Seriously. I have an implant which means that I will only get a period once in a blue moon, and my body decides New Year is the time for that. Right, okay. That said, I am pretty comfortable in my own skin, I'm not worried about my weight and I don't put pressure on myself over pictures I see in the press, because I know most of the models are ill, and it shouldn't be that way.

11 Things

2011-01-11T09:30:00.002Z

January 11 - 11 things: what are 11 things your life doesn’t need in 2011? how will you go about eliminating them? how will getting rid of these 11 things change your life?

1. Paying more tax
2. Snow
3. Driving Lessons
4. Paying out for things unnecessarily (see 1, and 3)
5. Falling off Gigi (see 2)
6. Vegetarians (apart from my colleague, Anna's parents she asked me to put that)
7. Bad news of any kind
8. Useless county councils (see 1, 2, and 4)
9. Teenage mood swings, no names mentioned but its hard walking on eggshells all the damn time
10. Gigi in general (see 2 and 5). Not the best mode of transport. If I want to go further than town I need to use the train still because the scooter is too slow. The reason road tax is £15 a year is because that's how many days you can use the bloody thing safely.
11. Seasons; I'm a fan of the whole summer meaning cloudless sky and sunshine and winter being occasional cloudy days with the odd patch of rain....

Some of those things I know are the cloud to my silver lining (i.e. no. 9) and getting rid of them would mean getting rid of things I love which I couldn't do. Things like driving lessons mean I need to take my test soon which would eliminate the paying out unnecessarily for things. Apart from tax, which is driving me insane. As for Gigi, after all the hassle I've had organising lifts with people, and falling off because of the weather makes me think I should just sell the damn thing. It's useless and pointless and I'm not sure what I'm gonna do about it.

Wisdom

2011-01-10T09:30:00.000Z

January 10- Wisdom. What was the wisest decision you made this year, and how did it play out? (Author: Susannah Conway)

Leaving the hotel to go to the pub. I am probably one of the few people who has very little bad things to say about her boss. I've said it before, they are a wonderful family. Working for them is a pleasure, and makes me so much happier than working at the hotel. I was so disillusioned by the whole industry that when I first accepted the job at the pub, I had no intention of staying very long, but now I want to be there until I can move back home.

Party

2011-01-09T09:30:00.002Z

January 9 – Party. What social gathering rocked your socks off in 2010? Describe the people, music, food, drink, clothes, shenanigans. (Author: Shauna Reid)

Picture post! There have been so many social events this year, it has been absolutely insane. The picture's above are from the adult school disco, my birthday, my friend lizzy's birthday, visiting my friend at uni for the last time, my sister's wedding, my cousin's birthday, toned f, ang and steve's surprise wedding party, village cricket and the train concert.

Beautifully Different

2011-01-08T09:30:00.001Z

January 8 – Beautifully Different. Think about what makes you different and what you do that lights people up. Reflect on all the things that make you different – you’ll find they’re what make you beautiful. (Author: Karen Walrond)

photo credit julie broberg

I never know how to describe myself....

To look at, I am tiny, I stand at only 4ft 10. My height has its advantages and disadvantages, advantages being that people tend use me as a toy in that I get picked up, turned upside down, and made to laugh a lot in the process. The disadvantages are, not being able to do things like reach on to high (medium to high) shelves alone, as I was trying to prove in the above picture (trying to reach a socket, I believe).

As a person I try to have a kind heart, and I always try to go out of my way to make sure people are happy. I tend to sit back and take things in to use them later, for example buying presents for my bosses children that both him and his wife approved of (books instead of toys, but relating to things the children like- toy story).

I speak Spanglish, there are words in both languages I believe that cannot be translated into the other language without losing part of what it means, for example "felicidades" is like "happy holidays" but stronger.

Community

2011-01-07T09:30:00.001Z

January 7 – Community. Where have you discovered community, online or otherwise, in 2010? What community would you like to join, create or more deeply connect with in 2011? (Author: Cali Harris)

Blog Camp

photo credit julie broberg

Blog camp was awesome I totally hope there is another one I can make it to this year. I think I laughed so hard I cried. I tried potato bread, which was lush and I need more of it in my life. And I went to an awesome city, that I'd love to go back to and explore again. It might take a few attempts since it is so huge!!

Another community I wish I'd been able to continue with was small group that I went to with my sister on a Thursday evening which I wish hadn't changed to a Wednesday evening. Small group is a social Christian group, and I am not a very good Christian (and I don't really talk about it very much) since I don't manage to get to church.... ever (I work Sundays). I wish this were different but I try to speak with my sister about God a bit. So I hope in 2011 to be able to go to church more often.

Make

2011-01-06T09:30:00.001Z

January 6 – Make. What was the last thing you made? What materials did you use? Is there something you want to make, but you need to clear some time for it? (Author: Gretchen Rubin)

I am not exactly very crafty. The last thing I made was a calendar, and by made I mean I downloaded the software from the website and uploaded the photo's and spent £3 on getting it posted from Holland (I think) to the UK. It is an awesome calendar, however it has a light blue spotty background and has pictures on it that I took this year. I am very pleased with it.

Would I like to be more crafty? Sure. I'd like to be able to knit, mostly, and make my own dresses and skirts, rather than buy them all the time and better be able to make things for other people. However. I am not so crafty, and if I am I rarely have five minutes to spare. And if I have five minutes to spare, I am trying to do things like this...

Let Go

2011-01-05T09:30:00.003Z

January 5 – Let Go. What (or whom) did you let go of this year? Why? (Author: Alice Bradley)

I let go of a lot of feelings this year; I spent it trying to put the past behind me and be able to make my own mind up about things. I think I put a lot of ghosts to bed, and have been able to move forwards, even if some of the emotions I've gone through have made me angry at times, but I think it's all been for the best.

Another thing I let go of was a job that in the end made me miserable. I always like to point out that the people I worked with were awesome. In the end it was split shifts that were 5hrs long each, 10 and a half hour shifts and 12hr shifts that killed me. I was exhausted, malnourished, and depressed by the end of it.

Wonder

2011-01-04T09:30:00.002Z

January 4 – Wonder. How did you cultivate a sense of wonder in your life this year? (Author: Jeffrey Davis)

won·der
/ˈwʌndər/ Show Spelled[wuhn-der] Show IPA
–verb (used without object)
1.
to think or speculate curiously: to wonder about the origin of the solar system.
2.
to be filled with admiration, amazement, or awe; marvel (often fol. by at ): He wondered at her composure in such a crisis.
3.
to doubt: I wonder if she'll really get here.
–verb (used with object)
4.
to speculate curiously or be curious about; be curious to know: to wonder what happened.
5.
to feel wonder at: I wonder that you went.
–noun
6.
something strange and surprising; a cause of surprise, astonishment, or admiration: That building is a wonder. It is a wonder he declined such an offer.
7.
the emotion excited by what is strange and surprising; a feeling of surprised or puzzled interest, sometimes tinged with admiration: He felt wonder at seeing the Grand Canyon.
8.
miraculous deed or event; remarkable phenomenon.
—Idiom
9.
for a wonder, as the reverse of what might be expected; surprisingly: For a wonder, they worked hard all day.
Use wonder in a Sentence
See images of wonder
Search wonder on the Web
Origin:
bef. 900; (n.) ME; OE wundor; c. D wonder, G Wunder, ON undr; (v.) ME wonderen, OE wundrian, deriv. of the n.

—Related forms
won·der·er, noun
won·der·less, adjective

—Synonyms
1. conjecture, meditate, ponder, question. 5. marvel. 7. surprise, astonishment, amazement, bewilderment, awe.

meaning taken from dictionary[dot]com

What a funny word wonder is, the first thing that came to mind when I read this question was Alice in Wonderland, and the fact that I didn't not spend most of my year high. Another thought that struck me is that I think I tried to do the opposite of cultivate wonder in my life throughout this year, I think I tried to create a stable environment around myself.

Moment

2011-01-03T09:30:00.000Z

January 3 – Moment. Pick one moment during which you felt most alive this year. Describe it in vivid detail (texture, smells, voices, noises, colors). (Author: Ali Edwards)

When I went back to Fuerteventura for a week in October, I spent some time on the white sand beaches in Corralejo. That is my one place on earth that I can go and be uplifted no matter what mood I am in. So, after spending a few days catching up with people and feeling a bit like, “this is where I am meant to be”. I always feel so alive when I run into the aqua blue sea, and that part of the sea never seems to be cold, and swim out far enough so I can just about not quite reach the surface. I stick my legs out and float around. I can do that for hours and hours, and I just feel so in tune with the whole world and life. Any problems I have just float away, with the ocean, and everything seems right. I can listen to the waves crashing on the shore when I am laid on the white sand beaches with the Spanish children chattering and laughing away, and no matter what, that is when and where I feel most alive.

Day 2: Writing

2011-01-02T09:30:00.002Z

January 2 – Writing. What do you do each day that doesn’t contribute to your writing — and can you eliminate it? (Author: Leo Babauta)

Haha. My working day looks a little bit like this:

8,45am- wake up, go downstairs and moan about people thudding around
9,10am- shower
9,30am- walk Tiger
10am- Make breakfast
10,05am- e-mail/facebook/tumblr/livejournal/blogger
10,45am- leave for work
2,30-3,45pm- arrive home from work
4pm- walk tiger
5pm- make dinner
6,15/7pm- go back to work
10,30-11,30pm- come home from work
10,30pm onwards- facebook/livejournal/e-mail/tumblr/blogger.
1am- sleep.

This of course changes on a Monday when I attempt to write my weekly blog posts (the way to tell if my blogs are scheduled is the time on them). Of course I also attempt to take Tiger on a longer walk, go into town and do all the things that pile up during the week.

So can I eliminate some of these things? Probably. However, I like tumblr, and whenever I write I can generally have a plot but no ending. I should make more time to write this blog, I started this as a way to practice writing since it seems to have gotten lost since I started working in hospitality. Even although I call it my main passion...

Reverb 2010 (One month late)

2011-01-01T12:00:00.003Z

Due to December being a very odd month in my life, I am running a bit behind. My blogging was a bit all over the place (I even missed Corner Views and Five Senses weekends- not just on a Friday) and I saw this all over the internet. It's called Reverb 10, a way to look back on your year one day at a time. So I am doing the prompts one month late and here is the start:

~~December~~ January 1 – One Word. Encapsulate the year 2010 in one word. Explain why you’re choosing that word. Now, imagine it’s one year from today, what would you like the word to be that captures 2011 for you? (Author: Gwen Bell)

Settled.

I have lived back in the UK for almost two years now, and finding your place in a new town can be unsettling, never mind a new country. Granted I lived here for 16 years before I moved to Canarias but I did the most major part of changing from adolescent to adult in Fuerteventura so my heart is firmly stuck in Fuerteventura. This year, however I realised I have awesome friends here, some of those I knew before I moved, and am still close with and some new people. I also am really settled at work, my boss and his family are awesome, you feel like a part of their lives working there. Despite the bumps in the road this year my job has been awesome.

Happy New Year!!

2010-12-31T10:21:00.005Z

Happy New Year!

Image here

Have you made New Years Resolutions?

Here are mine:

1. To participate (for longer than a week) in Blog Camp's version of Project 365
2. To actually write a novel for NaNoWriMo this year
3. To save an adequate amount of money to go home
4. To have Spanish lessons, or find someone who I can converse solely in Spanish with
5. To go swimming or cycling at least three times a week
6. To stop pulling Matt's white's out of the back of his apron or hiding his shoes at the end of service (because New Years resolutions are for breaking, right? Kinda like resolving not to bite your nails).

Christmas Grotto

2010-12-16T09:30:00.001Z

What a beautiful grotto this one is at Castle Gardens in Sherborne. I went last week and spent nearly an hour poking around taking photos. Everything in the Grotto is for sale, and it looks fabulous. Definitely puts you in the mood for Christmas.

Corner View: Traditions

2010-12-15T09:30:00.002Z

As far as it goes, I don't have a huge amount of traditions regarding Christmas.

When I was a child Christmas Day started with a stocking that my brother and I used to wake throughout the night to check outside our bedroom doors. Stockings were always filled with things we needed, new colouring pencils for school, socks, underwear and of course, sweets!

One thing that is a tradition at Christmas time is Christmas films, I recently made my parents sit and watch Miracle on 34th St (the 1994 version) which is absolutely my favourite Christmas film, and I have recorded Elf, and Fred Claus when they have been onTV so far this year. I watched The Holiday three times already, and it will soon be time to watch Love Actually. I am going to buy a Radio Times later today to get the Christmas TV listings.

Now we are grown up, Christmas is a different state of affairs. My parents go away for Christmas, and this year is the first time my brother will be staying at home; he is not much for celebrating anyway. I, of course, work in such an industry that having time off over Christmas is near on impossible. In my village, however, there are a lot of people who are alone over Christmas for whatever reasons, so we tend to all get together on Christmas Day (I will join them once I finish work). It is a lovely way to see friends, and have a good day together rather than doing things alone.

The beautiful decorations Jude has put up at work, I love how rustic country it looks!

Our tree at home

My mum thinks this Santa looks too old now, I think he is Christmas all on his own.

Our Christmas family, Tiger spends most of December and early January trying to eat these guys.

Jack Frost

2010-12-14T09:30:00.002Z

Jack Frost has been leaving us surprises in the morning. This weekend we have had sunshine, and it was lovely to see again since I am getting a little claustrophobic from all the freezing fog. However what it leaves behind is mesmerising, all the spiky frost on the tree's and bushes is insane. Everything looks so beautiful and crazy, it feels like I live somewhere a lot further north in this weather. Now for keeping warm.

Miserable Monday

2010-12-13T09:54:00.003Z

I guess I ought to start by apologising for not being around for a week or so, my grandfather died on Tuesday last week. That plus my bosses being away for personal reasons has meant not only I have had no time, I haven't felt much like blogging but I am back this week.

Today I don't feel like doing much, apart from catching up with blogs, and on my tumblr. I need to venture into Sherborne to get some stamps later, as I am avoiding Yeovil now, it has gotten too busy to try and get in and out. Plus it is freezing fog here today, which makes me feel totally claustrophobic, so I am going to spend the day inside. Hopefully I'll even get around to wrapping presents.

Today I just thought I'd share some photos of Tiger lazing around since that is how I plan on spending today.

Snow

2010-12-02T16:30:00.003Z

All my dog has done all day is bark. Sat at the front door this morning and barked continuously at the children throwing snowballs. He also barked continuously through my conversation with Mike, my boss, who was helping organise transport into work. I didn't really fancy riding Gigi into work with all the ice and snow about.

I got to work 2hrs early, thanks to getting a lift in with a chef. I got lots of extra things done at work this morning including doing the B&B rooms. I got to watch my boss taking a pounding from the chef's and his children in a snowball fight, it was awesome.

Corner View Rain

2010-12-01T18:00:00.003Z

rain, rain go to spain and never come back again!

I couldn't find any pictures of rain recently, so I chose these photos from after a heavy shower in the summer.

Snow!

2010-11-30T09:30:00.001Z

It snowed on Friday, just a light dusting in the evening. Unfortunately I was only able to watch from the sofa as I was still feeling sorry for myself. Plus my knees were still swollen, and moving was very hard work (I now have purple lines running through my dark black bruises). These pictures were taken on Saturday morning when walking Tiger, except the last picture. That is the view from the front door of The Pub. I took it whilst putting the ashtrays out in the morning. It was pretty surreal riding to work, my eyes kept going funny driving along a black road, with white branches on each side, and as the roads are narrow it was like driving into it! All last week I said if it were going to be this cold then it needed to snow, and as pretty as it is, that is enough for me... I need the warm sunshine back!

Happy Birthday Hannah

2010-11-30T08:30:00.001Z

Happy sixth birthday Hannah!

I hope you have as much fun on your actual birthday as you did at your party! I am sorry I had to work when it was time for your party, hopefully next year I will be able to come. I hope you remember there isn't a one in front of the six (although I am sure that time will come around much quicker than we expect) as you seem to growing up more quickly every time I see you. HAPPY BIRTHDAY SWEETHEART!

To- Do List

2010-11-29T09:30:00.003Z

Christmas lights in town last Monday

Things to do on a Monday (my day off)

- have a lie in
- visit my grandfather in hospital
- buy an advent calendar
- treat myself to these knickers
- buy a Christmas Carol on DVD
- cook up some food for when my parents are away (sausage casserole, apricot chicken, etc)
- buy some more Christmas presents
-get my knees sorted
- read some of my magazine
- start a new book
- watch at least one film...

Five Senses Friday: Feeling sorry for myself edition

2010-11-26T11:08:00.004Z

Tiger has the best life ever... even if he doesn't understand sofa's.

Today I am in bed feeling sorry for myself, I had an accident on my scooter yesterday. As I am new at this whole thing, it seems I misjudged how fast is too fast (like between 5-10mph) when trying to stop on ice... Ended up off the scooter in a ditch slightly behind it. A lot of bruises appeared throughout yesterday. Today I could not move when I woke, and ended up calling in to work in tears, sick.

Tasting:

Cups of tea made for me to keep me warm

Seeing:

Gilmore Girls on e4, and e4+1 and then going downstairs to watch it again where it has recorded.

Smelling:

The dust from the top of my heater, since that is also on to keep me warm.

Hearing:

Gilmore Girls on repeat...?

Feeling:

Where do I start. Like someone is sat on top of me, like someone has tied my muscles in knots so tight that I cannot move my arms straight, very tired and emotional... not a good day.

Five Senses Friday

2010-11-19T23:28:00.004Z

I steal this little post from Abby's blog... I really love it, but even although Friday is my night off, I sometimes find I don't get around to doing it as much as I'd like to, but it's back here again this week..

Tasting:

Yummy pasta with peas, beans, mushrooms and bacon made by my brother in law

Seeing:

Christmas lights in London

Smelling:

Sticky Toffee Puddings from work

Hearing:

Holiday's are Coming...

Feeling:

The cold on my scooter

I'm Not Perfect...

2010-11-18T09:30:00.001Z

I saw the I'm Not Perfect List on Jane's blog, and although it's not 3am it did make me think it would be a fun little thing to do.

1. I can't eat just one or two maryland cookies, it's the whole pack or none at all
2. I'm not so good at deadlines
3. Or doing work I don't want to do (communications work for my NVQ)
4. I always sleep late on a Tuesday morning, when I have to go back to work after my day and a half off
5. I torture myself and worry about things that are too small to worry about.
6. I chew the skin around my finger nails
7. I could spend all afternoon asleep on the sofa between shifts, instead of walking Tiger, or making dinner.
8. When I'm running late, I only take Tiger as far as the recreation field instead of for a full walk
9. The more tired I am, the less patience I have.
10. I speak about 5 seconds before I think...

Corner View: Anything Goes...

2010-11-17T09:30:00.001Z

This week the theme was to write about anything, and I decided not to think about it too much, that the answer would present itself when the time came, and I was right. So I am going to tell you about something I am very afraid of...

At about 17,50h yesterday evening I started to think about getting ready for work. I grabbed my helmet, gloves and trousers from the under stair cupboard and started getting changed for the scooter trip into work. My trousers were twisted, my shoe laces wouldn't untie, my helmet wouldn't do up. It wasn't because they'd been thrown in the cupboard and everything had gotten tangled, it was because I didn't have any patience for it, I huffed and sighed pulling my gear on, watching as the clock edged closer to 18h.

Already, on Gigi I go on to autopilot on my way into work, the journey seems to either drag or go quicker depending on my thought process. Last night's was how much I could get done by 18,30h and by the time the first table was in, if it would be busy or quiet, and if we had any extra tables booked in. Next thing I knew I was heading down Tark's Hill, much quicker than usual, and slammed the brakes on towards the bottom.

Concentrating slightly more, I passed through Hamlet into Chetnole, still thinking about the task ahead. I could feel my chest tightening, and pressure in my head. That feeling just before you start crying came across me as I parked Gigi. I took a deep breath before taking my helmet off and walking into work. Lights still off, except behind the bar, I could see two reserved signs for tables waiting to be set up. That would take me slightly longer than usual then.

After unlocking the pub door, and answering my boss in only grunts, I stood in front of the fire and took a deep breath. I needed matches, kindling and the big blue exploding thing. The thing that made the fire burn...

When I was a little girl, about 6 or 7 years old, I went to Buckingham Palace with my parents. It was the same week as a curtain had caught on fire there, I would not go in the building. I did not want anything to do with it. At primary school we'd have a lot of fire drills; we watched videos about the effects of fire, and the damage it could do. When there was a chip pan fire in my school, I wouldn't go into the hall area for weeks without crying.

My fear of fire is what kept me from smoking as a teenager, when I did eventually start a friend would have to light my cigarettes for me, because I was too afraid of the flame from the lighter. My fear extended as far as lighting candles in one of my first jobs, and blowing them out in case the bottle fell over and the table caught alight. It was only a year ago that I started lighting my own candles and cigarettes.

So there I stood with all the things I needed to make the fire. I'd been at work nearly a half hour before I chucked everything into the fire. Shaking like a leaf I lit the match and held it towards the gas when I heard the roar. I shut my eyes and threw the match in, slamming the doors of the fire behind it and running to the relative safety of the bar. I stood there shaking, out of breath, and scared. My knuckles white and nail prints in my right palm where I'd been digging my fingers in. The worst part was knowing that in a few moments time I'd have to return to add logs and take out the gas canister.

Everyone has a fear, what's yours?

London

2010-11-16T17:09:00.004Z

Yesterday my Mum and I went to London, for the first time in like six years (well for me, at least). I made her go everywhere. I thought, since it was the Monday after Remembrance Sunday that we should go to the cenotaph to see all the reef's left there. There was a massive police presence, there, I guess because of the horrid burning of the poppy (don't even start me). The cenotaph was much smaller than I imagined it would be, but the reef's were amazing to see. It was very moving.

We passed by Horse Guards parade, the other side, where there were some pretty horses, so my mum and I did the tourist thing and had our pictures taken by them. Also I wanted a picture taken with one of the guard. I kinda felt sorry for him since he had to stand there while like ten of us waited to have our pictures taken. My mum thought it was bad but I thought it was amazing, I felt so privileged though. Even although everyone else had one too.

I also thought it would be cool to see St. Paul's Cathedral, but there's not a lot around there (although the cathedral was pretty awesome).

We walked to Covent Garden, found Bravissimo, hung out below the insanely huge Christmas baubles and ate some of the world's hugest paella. I went to Paperchase (the prettiest paper store of them all), and The Disney Store, because there is nothing better than squealing at all the soft toys and new Nightmare Before Christmas stuff that is really cool.

All in all, London was awesome. It was busy and we walked miles! It was fun watching people at Waterloo in suits with trainers running from the underground to their trains, but it was nice to get back to cold, small Dorset!

Biker Chick

2010-11-15T09:30:00.002Z

All geared up to go out on Gigi. I start at the bottom and work my way up. When I want to ride her I have to:

- Pull on an extra pair of socks
- Put my waterproof trousers on (more of those later)
- Put my trainers on
- Put my jacket on
- Put my helmet on
- Dump my stuff (usually my handbag and work shoes) in the boot of Gigi
- Put my gloves on
- Start up and go!

As you can imagine this takes me about 10 minutes. Especially doing up various velcro and zips and laces... It is totally worth it, though, I don't miss cycling at all. My right knee is still ridiculously painful, and I am rubbing tiger balm into it every day hoping it will get better on its own and I won't need a trip to the doctors, but I am not so sure that I won't. On the bright side, it hasn't got any worse since I stopped cycling.

I am enjoying having my own transport, although filling her up with petrol hasn't happened yet as when I ran out last week I sent my Dad to buy a can, and then my L plate snapped off in the wind, and needed fixing. All this bombing it around the villages on my scooter makes me not want to drive, but I know I should continue and get my license.

Corner View: Autumn

2010-11-11T18:19:00.004Z

Day late corner view, just some pictures I took yesterday afternoon whilst walking Tiger.