Let me fill you in

So, MARCH.
I guess all sorts has occurred since then, really. I'll keep it brief!

• Friends
  Most of my friends are great, of course there are always those few that seem to fizzle out and gradually disappear, but for the most part, I have some good'uns.
  
• Lovelife
  There's a man on the scene. All I'll say is, it's not Facebook official!
  
• Birthday
  I am now 20. It's a pretty big deal. Now my niece is 0, my nephew 10, me 20 and my sister 30. OOH! Had a cracking 80's themed birthday party, totally made amazing by the effort people put into fancy dress. Received some excellent handmade gifts/ cards as well!
  
• Holiday
  Had a lovely trip to Lanzarote at the start of June with my dad and best friend from uni, Abi. It was extremely windy and sometimes a bit windy, but luckily we consumed enough cheap sangria/ cocktails to not care too much. The food was phenomenal, I don't think I've ever eaten so much in the space of 10 days.
  
• Family
  In February we had a new arrival, baby Holly. She's gorgeous, a proper smiler with a little chubby head (I can relate, I was a real chud of an infant). Otherwise though, current family relations are strained again, with several parties not in contact, which y'know, just makes you feel great.
  
• Summer
  Currently in my 7th week of the summer holidays and a little bored to say the least. Annoyed at the lack of job prospects and frustrated that many of my friends live either on the the other side of town (which is proving troublesome when you don't really have anywhere to stay) OR they live down South. Or y'know, are out of the country and totally unreachable!
  
• Plans
  All I've really got are some vague visits planned to friends across the country, that could or couldn't happen. I also really need to pass my driving test this year- I'm working on it, but funds could soon see that stunted again. I have some professional bits and bobs to design/ create before going back to uni, i.e. website and business cards, as well as some deep research into the topics I want to design for AND a dissertation topic. It's all just hitting me that this year actually counts, which is a bit scary.

Parallel state of dissatisfaction.

Well I am baffled with my current discontent. I find myself in a situation completely parallel to this time last year in that: I would actually rather be at uni instead of home. For me, this is huge. I don't know what's come over me (apart from lust, independence and a lack of requirement to actually go home)..

This is not like me. Last year all I wanted to do, come the weekend, was escape back up North. Back to home cooked meals and the comfort of my own house. Literally so much has changed since then that I can't even comprehend it myself. In terms of changes, we're talking several romantic exploits, a breakdown of communication within the family and a complete change of heart regarding what I actually want to gain from my chosen degree.

1. Romantic exploits: I'm not going there, this is my blog, not Cosmo. You will however find me lusting all over the place when I'm at uni. Things are good.
2. Communication breakdown: Again, I shan't go into too much detail, it wouldn't be right. I can say though that in the weird arena that is my family, a good 70% of members are not in regular contact (or speaking at all). As much as this baffles me, I am not really in a position to do anything about it. I guess being away from home puts me in the neutral camp, thank goodness, I hate taking sides.
3. Degree: As much as I hate the weekly breakdown consisting of, "oh my god, why have I chosen such a stupid career, I'm not cut out for this, etc, etc" I'm actually really enjoying my degree for the first time (not that I'd admit that to my friends or myself-- wait-- oops). Hey, it's alright I guess.

I guess a big factor to this whole change in me is that essentially; I'm not sure I feel at home, at home anymore. (are you keeping up?) When I am at home, I'm counting down the days until I go back to Nottingham, which is quite frustrating as I hate to feel as if I'm wishing the time away. All I really come home for anymore is to see my dad, and that's really only because I feel guilty that he's on his own all the time.

I like having my independence now, as terrifying as I find it sometimes. I like being able to have guests round to my house at any hour without having to answer to anyone (except Miss 21 Question Lawton, my housemate! But I don't mind that at all).

I just get bored at home, god knows what I'm gonna do when I finish this degree and I actually have to get a real job..

20 Random Facts about myself.

My friend Helen did one of these today and I found it pretty entertaining (I get a cheeky mention) so I thought I'd do one for myself. I'm also procrastinating. Enjoy!

1. I love dogs. I used to have two collies a long time ago. Now I'm painfully envious of all dog owners and can't wait to have one of my own.

2. I love photography. I love taking pictures and I'm always the one holding everyone up by lurking behind to take a photo of something. I particularly like composition and I have most experience in landscape photography.

3. I'm from Yorkshire and I'm fiercely proud of it! I think moving away to university really made me appreciative of my roots and I love visiting home.

4. I absolutely adore The Killers. They are my favourite band by miles and everyone who knows me, knows it! I've been luckily enough to see them twice, both times are highly regarded as two of the best days of my life. They're an amazing live band. I also really like The Black Keys.

5. I'm extremely attracted to young Mick Jagger. Also, comparisons have been drawn between mine and his lips!

6. I love traveling but I don't do it nearly enough; I haven't even left Europe! Road trips are amongst my favourite things to do and I hope to travel across America, Canada and Australia sometime fairly soon! (A girl can dream!)

7. I don't like spicy food. My mouth is totally intolerable towards any spice! I'd rather have something rich in flavour rather than burn my mouth out.

8. I couldn't be a vegetarian although I barely eat meat whilst at uni. I love a Sunday roast when I'm at home and also BACON.

9. I've always had something against women in bands. I think it stems from a jealousy thing and there are very few female performers I like. In life aswell, I've always got on with boys better than girls.

10. I have a fairly solid bunch of friends but also various friends dotted all over the place. At uni there are only 40 people on our course and I regularly socialize in a group of about 6-10 of them. They're all mad.

11. I've been an auntie since I was seven years old. I have two sisters; three nephews and two nieces.

12. I wish I'd been taught to play an instrument when I was younger. I love music and I have few friends in bands; I just wish I had some contribution I guess. I want to play synth!

13. I'm fascinated by accents. I can't help but imitate this around me if they speak differently to me.

14. I don't like Sundays! I find them so depressing, probably following years of dread that it was the last day before going back to school!

15. If I'm sharing a bed with someone, I can never be the first to fall asleep. I think it's all related to anxiety and self awareness. It also means though that I tend to have to put up with someone else snoring as I'm at the stage of falling asleep.

16. I'm very protective of those around me. Recently my friend's drink was spiked and I had to look after him. I found it really scary but most of all I was angry that it'd happened and I hadn't been able to stop it. Another of my friends was recently hit in the face; I was fuming! If I'd been there I don't know what I'd have done!

17. My fruit of choice is banana! I love bananas and I could eat them endlessly (if it wasn't dangerous to overdose on potassium!) I love them with bran flakes, on toast, in sandwiches, on pancakes...

18. I like a drink, cocktails are my favourite, but I just don't see the point in drugs. I sound so square! I just don't get it. Also, I have far too much of a paranoid personality for weed.

19. I want to be one of Derren Brown's projects. I find him fascinating and I just think he's a generally lovely, clever person.

20. I can't resist a man in a suit. Sharp and fitted? Good shoes? Damn.

Clockwise, starting top left:
1. Two of my nephews (Jack & Charlie) being cheeky, 2. Erin, Jack & Joshua, 3. The Killers, 4. A bunch of my coursemates, 5. A picture I took in Blackpool last summer, 6. Mick Jagger and his luscious lips, 7. Jonny & Henry, two of my closest friends from home, 8. Neither me or Brandon could evidently be veggie, 10. My lovely Abi; I'm enjoying a cocktail.

 



I do ever so hope you found this insightful and interesting!

Simply having a wonderful christmas time.

It's that time of year again!
A time when we all come together, united in our hatred for the cold. When we see more of our loved ones and double check their envelopes for monetary gifts, (surely, this isn't just me?!). It's christmas, or at least, December, which if you're a student like me, means you've probably had your tree up since the last week of November.

I write this post with a, hefty, smug grin on my face because, after tomorrow, I have four weeks off. Four weeks of parental support and family food-pity. It's the time of year when I come home and my nanna says, "You've lost weight, are you not eating properly? Have a mince pie, in fact, I'll make your favourite-- meat & potato pie" I can't wait to get home!

This is my second year experiencing a student christmas, but this year really doesn't even compare to the last one. At this time last year, I still didn't have any proper friends here and I was keen to be at home all the time, I wasn't in a good place then and looking back, I'm embarrassed about how miserable I was last christmas. This year, I'm happily unattached and I'm the most confident I've ever been. I have amazing friends now and everything just feels hugely more positive. This year I'm looking forward to going home and being able to tell everyone what a fantastic time I'm having, I'm having the time of my life.

I can't wait to get home and see my dad, and make sure he knows I grateful I am of him being so amazing. I can't wait to go visit my mum and just have one on one time, tell her all about my friends and relationships. I can't wait to wrap all her xmas presents to the family as she is a "crap wrapper". I'm looking forward to seeing the difference in my oldest sister, just nine weeks away from having her baby. I'm looking forward to being there for her in person, not just over the phone. I can't wait to see my niece, so she can tell me all about her dramatic first term at high school! I can't wait to see my nephews who just get bigger and brighter every time I see them. I'm looking forward to seeing the southern half of the family, on their visit up North! My newlywed sister and her little boy, who loses his Yorkshire accent a little more, each time I see him. I have everything crossed that my favourite cousin will make it over from Australia, that'll make my year.

I just can't wait to be back in Yorkshire, where it's always colder but I don't mind, I just love being at home. Bring on New Year's eve with the Northern lot.

I already can't wait for next year's christmas party. Merry (early) Christmas!