Birthday countdown...

The celebrations have already begun
In four days time I turn 21. 

Time to grow up? Scary!

I'm still waiting for Peter Pan to find me and
whisk me away to never never land ♥

Wave goodbye to those autumn blues

Following the extreme ups and downs of the last few months I woke up this morning almost instantly in a far better mood. Hello December! 

Be it the sun in the sky, the countdown to my 21^st birthday and the plans that come along with that.. eeek! The amazing few days I had back home in Stoke at the start of the week, excitement for seeing Kasabian this Saturday [thanks to a few special folks :)], the thought of the end of term being in sight, the thrill of my spontaneous new ear piercing, the recent closures I’ve finally found or just the obvious festive excitement in the Christmas run up.. I just don’t know. Most probably a combination of all...
But I don’t care for reasons right now, just smiles :)

First day jitters

It's fair to say that the first term of third year has totally flown by.. only 3 weeks till the Christmas break!
And tomorrow I start my third year placement, eek! Time to play teacher again!
The nerves are kicking in as I choose my first day outfit, determined to make the right impression on my new year 3 class. It's funny how intimidating a group of eight year olds can be!

And so with placement time here, on top of the existing mountain of university work and approaching deadlines, I wave goodbye to any social life and set my early morning alarm.

Dreaming of adventure..

I want to go travelling again!

That Autumn Feeling..

Firstly, apologies for the lack of blogging. Life has been a little hectic lately and its fair to say third year work load has massively stepped up. Eek!

Last week I went to the Peak District on a university residential for an exploration of a Plague town and a lovely bit of countryside air. Wrapped up in our coats, hats, gloves and scarves and surrounded by falling golden leaves it really did feel like Autumn had arrived :) Now I'm all excited for Bonfire night tomorrow, to be snuggled up under a twinkling sky. Magical..

Reconciliation of the Roses

Finally the long awaited news has been delivered; the Stone Roses are joining forces again and touring.

I couldn't actually put my excitement into words!

And so in honor of those lovely four Mancunian legends and to reflect again on my current headspace, here be a few words of wisdom from from the guys themselves..

"I can feel the earth begin to move

I hear my needle hit the groove

And spiral through another day

I hear my song begin to say

Kiss me where the sun don't shine

The past was yours

But the futures mine

You're all out of time."
[The Stone Roses, 1989]

Sometimes in life you just have to pause and say thank you..

Its been a little while since my last post. Firstly, because life has been a tad on the hectic side, but mostly because its not been all that rosy. I know people say to think positively, be optimistic, the glass is half full and all that. But just lately its felt more like the glass was emptied in my face and then smashed to smithereens by a steam roller..

However, what better time is there to look around and see who's true in life. Who counts. And who is there come rain or shine. At whatever hour of the day. And who's not... I've had a lot of those moments lately and some stars in my life really have shone through. So for all the late night talks, the cuddles, the nights out, the shopping trips, the cosy nights in, the words of support and just for listening, I thank you.

And so here is to family and friends ♥

Goodbye Kiss..

 "You go your way and I'll go my way

No words can save us, this lifestyle made us.

Run along like I'm supposed to, be the man I ought to
Rock and roll, sent us insane.

I hope someday that we will meet again."

                         [Kasabian, 2011]

Forty-eight hours in the land of Robin Hood..

That time of year came around again to load up my little Flora (my automobile) and head on back to Nottingham for the start of the new year. Third year. Wow, I feel so old! It never fails to surprise me just how many clothes and things I have! However due to a recent, somewhat unplanned weight loss I'm now finding that a large proportion of those do not fit! Not that I am complaining, it just makes a life a little expensive. I digress..

Goodbye summer, hello Autumn..

So the last time I wrote, I spoke of change..
But little did I know how much was about to change for me!

I shall not dwell on things, but I think it’s fair to say that life has been a little up, down and all over the show these past few weeks.
Yet through it all a few certain friends have, as ever, been absolute rocks!
Listening to the tales, rants, tears, confusions and dilemmas throughout..
They really are the best, so here's to them!

On a much brighter note, I've been enjoying my last few weeks of the summer break before returning to Nottingham for the new term.
I love the culture of my home town! Nowhere else is quite like it and I always miss it when I'm away. So there's been lots of catching up with friends and family, a few home football games and a handful of nights out with a few too many drinks consumed! And I still have a week to go!

And so as the cold, dark nights continue to draw in I'm starting to look to the future and what it may hold. Who knows?
But I am a little bit excited to see!

Nan and two generations grandkids at her
80th birthday celebrations

Time for change..

New month, new season, new university year...
This seemed the perfect opportunity for a new look too!

And so I have finally got round to adding a bit of a personal touch to my blog with the background I created using Photoshop. There are still a few tweaks here and there to come..
But, thoughts so far?

I think people expect mud at festivals, I think you'd be asking for your money back if you didn't get it- Peter Hook

It has taken a few days but I think festival recovery has finally been achieved! My clothes no longer emit the familiar aroma of a campfire, I’ve [almost] caught up on sleep and my voice is pretty much back to its croak free, usual self.

The weekend was by far the muddiest of my life, when all greatly admired festival fashion trends were straight out of the window [tent?] and hoodies, macs and ponchos were teamed with a pair of mud caked wellies...
But there was still music, friends, drinking and dancing- so who cares?!

As well as the atmosphere of the camping with my friends we tried to see as many big, old, small and new bands as possible. My favourites were probably... The Strokes, Naked and Famous, Cults [those guys are gonna be huge, I swear!],  Muse, Little Comets and The Vaccines. The National and Two Door Cinema Club were a little bit disappointing, but that’s because the sound and the atmosphere weren't great.

And if all of this excitement wasn't enough, we had my lil bro’s 17 GCSE’s all As and A*s to celebrate. Smarty pants!

With the family genius

And so that was Leeds Festival 2011 ♥

Any of you guys been to any festivals this year?
I want some recommendations!

Like all great travellers, I have seen more than I remember, and remember more than I have seen- Benjamin Disraeli

So I'm back from my travels across Europe and it was.. AMAZING! It already feels like forever ago but I still cant believe how much we did and saw in just a month!

From cycling through the parks of Amsterdam, discovering the past of a very rainy Berlin, drinking with new friends in Prague, relaxing on the beautiful Croatian beaches, soaking up the history of Rome, making fresh pasta in Perugia, and having cuddles with Winnie the Pooh, we really did have a range of experiences! And many, many more on top of that!

Day seven of my travels..

Just a quick post whilst I have the time.. Apologies in advance for any typo's- this German keyboard is a little different.

So we are currently in Berlin! Although very soggy and dull (much like home, so I'm told..) we're loving it! Lots of sightseeing and photo snapping, course! Personal highlight so far is cycling along the canals and through the park in Amsterdam and having a picnic. Very different to the sights of the Red Light District there, its fair to say!

Loving the opportunity to try lots of new food too, particularly the Belgian chocolate and waffles we had in Brussles.. Mmmmm :) And to try new things. Such as sleeping in a tiny sleeper coach of a train overnight, containing two sets of triple bunk beds (think chicken shed)?! Certainly different..

Lots of giggles, amazing sights and new opportunities so far, and its only day seven. I can't wait to find out what's left to come!

I travel not to go anywhere, but to go. I travel for travel's sake. The great affair is to move- Robert Louis Stevenson

OHMYGOSH! Its tomorrow!Tomorrow! Tomorrow! TOMORROW!

I've dreamed about actually doing this for years! I've scrimped and saved and I've researched and planned. But now it is actually here... tomorrow I leave for my month backpacking around Europe!! Perhaps not quite for the sake of travelling as the great Louis Stevenson suggests.. But definitely to see and do as much as I possibly can (mostly can afford to..) in the space of 30 days! 
Now usually I'm little miss organised. Too obsessively some would say. But oh no, not this time. Even though it is potentially the most organisation-requiring moment of my twenty years of life. No, this time I'm quite chilled. It was only during the early hours of the morning whilst I lay struggling to get back to sleep that the hundred and one potential problems that could occur raced through my mind.. What if I lose my passport or tickets? What if I get lost? What if I lose all my money? What if we cant find anywhere to stay??! And so on.. But after a few hours sleep I soon returned to my unusually relaxed self.

This was until I started to pack! Slightly late on admittedly, sixteen hours before I'm due to leave for my first train... But better late than never, right? Anyhow, yes MAJOR stress. As anyone who has tried to cram a month of their life into a rucksack will understand, I'm sure! I'm indecisive at the best of times. It takes me forever in a morning to choose what I wish to wear that day, never mind selecting a very few items of clothing to take and wear several times throughout a month, in various weather conditions and hideous amounts of walking!

I must be mad right?? Yeah, I've had that thought several times today!
AAAAAAND in case that wasn't enough, the boy then realised his passport was still at home up north, two hours away from us?!?!?! ARGH!

But, do not fear! The passport is retrieved (thank God!) and I've fiiiinally put an end to my packing. What I've got, I've got. Anything else I'sure I can buy along the way!

And on that note, I say a little farewell for a while now. Hopefully I can get onto my blog and share a few of my adventures with you all along the way, but if not I sure as hell will do once I'm back.

So there we go, WISH ME LUCK!!
(Pretty sure I'm gonna need it...)

Bit of InterRail practice on the train to Leeds

Photograph: a picture painted by the sun without instruction in art- Ambrose Bierce

New toy.. Photoshop!

I've been wanting it for ages. Since my old laptop died and I lost Photoshop along with it in fact.

So today I've started to have a play around with it and attempted to give some of my summer snaps a vintage effect..

What 'dya' think?? Any tips or suggestions??

The World is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page- St. Augustine

So the holiday blues are starting to kick in. I’ve been back two days and I already miss the sunshine!

It was a lovely, lovely holiday and I now feel so relaxed from all of the reading and lazing in the sun that I would be practically floating on air if it weren't for the few extra pounds iv put on from the gorgeous all inclusive food! Definite highlight for me was the water ride on our last afternoon; the boy, my brother and myself all clinging onto an inflatable for our lives, as it flung us across the waves, attached to the back of a speed boat. You know the type I'm sure. I cannot remember the last time I giggled so much!

Of course, there were low points too. In particular, an incident involving a Greek doctor’s room and a discussion on my suitability to fly... but I prefer not to dwell on the negatives!

But now it’s back to reality! And my holiday shall just remain a collection of photos, amazing memories, and a very quickly fading tan! The bags are unpacked, the clothes washed and ironed and the souvenirs handed out...
Yet, do not fear. I shall only be in rainy ol’ England for another 8 days [sleeps] and then.... EUROPE! Yes, yes, it has actually come around that quickly! The InterRail tickets have arrived and the train to Dover and ferry to Calais are all booked, along with a few hostels and hotels to get us started. We have a growing book of notes of things that we want to squeeze in to do or see and a map of our planned route with what seems like a hundred trains to catch! The only thing I’ve not even started to do is pack... Eek!
And just in case all of this excitement was not enough for little old me, my Leeds Festival tickets arrived this morning. WaHooooooo!

So all recommendations, tips and advice are welcomed! Obviously my camera shall take pride of place in my bag and I shall hopefully be able to blog every now and again whilst I’m on my travels. But until then, I have lots of planning and [more] packing to finish! As well as my little brothers prom tonight (man I feel so old!).
So until next time, I shall leave you with a little snapshot from our time in Rhodes..

It always rains on tents. Rainstorms will travel thousands of miles, against prevailing winds for the opportunity to rain on a tent -Dave Barry

Who needs Glastonbury when you have cub camp??

Yes, that’s right. This weekend I traded my cosy double bed for a little blue tent and sacrificed the likes of Mumford and Sons and Two Door Cinema Club for a spot of GinGanGooly around the camp fire. 

But do not fear, I stayed faithful to the wellies :)

Once Friday’s torrential downpours finally cleared up the boy and I had a lovely back to basics weekend, cooking on the stove, making twisters and s’mores on the campfire and practicing the whole camping thing ready for Leeds fest. The parents were there to look after their kids, so we were mostly free to enjoy the weekend and discuss the rest of our exciting summer.

Speaking of, RHODES TOMORROW!
[Providing the Greek strikes don’t mess that up..!]
But the cases are packed, the iPods updated and the tickets and passports at the ready. All waiting for our 4am taxi pick up to head to the aiport. Eeek!

So.. au revoir, adios, ciao

or as they shall say in Rhodes...
αντίο!

The time will come when winter will ask you what you were doing all summer- Henry Clay

So today was my first day of having nothing to do in months.. and its fair to say that after roughly two hours, the novelty had well and truly worn off! Free time can be filled much easier when there is someone else to share it with, so to speak. However today, there was not. I feel quite the loner now I am back in my home town, even if it is only two days in...

So anyhow, hence the start of this, my first grown up blog. It's one of the many things I've been intending to get round to for quite some time. My own little place to share with the world all of the rubbish, nonsense and occasional flashes of sense that flutter around my head space...
But do not fear. My life is not always so dull and uneventful. In fact, it is about to get far more exciting and interesting, mainly due to:

• - Jetting off to Rhodes for a family holiday in 8 days
• - Exploring Europe with only an inter rail pass and a backpack for a month, starting in 25 days
• - Leeds festival in 65 days. Need I say more?

As of yet I guess you know little about me. Other than the fact that I often ramble...
However, they say you can tell a lot about a girl by the contents of her handbag. So there you go, knock yourselves out..