Christmas

Christmas 2012 was pretty awesome.
We'd just got back from our holiday. Had a few brief days of catching up with family and friends and getting bits and pieces finished. I decorated the Christmas tree with Nanny the day before xmas eve, which was lovely, and we did Christmas baking on Christmas eve. Christmas eve dinner was Anti Pasti, which was a change, and a lovely, easy, help-yourself meal.

Christmas day morning was spent driving around seeing family and popping into Ben's to drop off Christmas presents before driving home. This year it was mum, nan, Ben and I. Weird without a baby Freya there. K + M were in New York having a wonderful time!!!

Christmas dinner was, as per usual, the best meal of the year! Because my nanna is the most amazing cook!!! It was nice and chilled out, we retired to the lounge before Sammi popped round and we enjoyed a civilised game of trivia pursuit.

Boxing day was spent at Ben's as it was his big Bro's birthday. Lovely meal at a pub, good company.

Christmas has come and gone so quickly this year, I think it's because I am now an adult. But that doesn't stop me from loving all the jolliness and festivities that come with it!!!

xx

December

December is flying by! I finished placement, I've been at home, I've been on holiday, and I returned today. I returned to find a nice shiney car on my drive (yay for having a new car) and I now have sparkly nails too. Will update in more depth at a later point! If not before christmas, have a lovely christmas to all my readers


xx

Cookies! (& christmas things!)

This is my current facebook photo. This was also last years photo. It still makes me laugh even now!!!

The Cookies...

When I went to Oxford we had a wonderfully twee pre christmas weekend, where we made mulled cider, and had mince pies, baked reindeer cookies and watched the Christmas Carol in bed, and went to the christmas show at earls court and went around all the department stores and looked at the lights on Oxford street. And I've remade the cookies as my contribution for my shared leaving lunch tomorrow. 

OT christmas dinner!

My OT girls.
(For my Family, to prove I have friends, haha!)

7 of us, all in dresses and heels. First time we'd all managed to get together to do something other than coffee.
The pub was nice, and the food was brilliant. 3 courses for £15, not bad at all, and a free Bottle of prosecco!
Had a pint with my xmas dinner (well, so did everyone else), turns out Peroni goes well with Turkey! The only thing I didn't like was the Pigs in blankets, :( which are usually the highlight of my xmas dinner!

The secret santa was brilliant, and everyone loved their presents. Even by the end of it we knew mostly who had who, or could make a pretty good guess. My present from Jen was a mini bottle of bubbly and some chocolates, perfect! Got some great photos, and some pretty awful ones too!! (I need to get around to buying a new camera...and straighteners, the list is as long as my arm!)

I don't think I've had that much fun, or laughed that much in ages!! It was so nice to be surrounded by people that know what I'm on about when I get all OT-geeky, and get my slightly odd sense of humour, and are all so fun. Plus all we ever talk about is food or xmas, so this was perfect!

Walked to and from the pub, which was amazing considering we were in heels! and stopped off for a cheeky cocktail on the way home.  Absolutely fab night, thank you ladies!!! xx

Been so busy!

Excluding the weekend I went via Kim and Michael's (thank you it was a lovely night) to the IOW (Dinner was lovely Nanny!) to Portsmouth (Hope you had a lovely day Freya) for Freya's party, I have been in my room like a recluse writing and revising.
18 hours at uni last week, along with 2 meetings, were the only time I wasn't sat in my room working.
Up until now, I have spend 32 hours on just writing my Partnership essay and I think it's finally done! But I will take it to the Upgrade service in the library just to have it looked at before hand in. Now this isn't me leaving things until the last minute - The essay is due Friday, this is just it taking this long to write. I started the research for it the day it was set, which was way back in September.

Xmas tree at the gates

I can honestly say however, I have tried my best, I have worked so blimmin hard on it, I have researched and referenced and appendicised (I don't even think that's a word) to the best of my ability and now I. AM.  DONE!

Yesterday Katie, Suzanne and I went to Blenheim palace as a pre-christmas, essay writing break.
It was lovely! We had roast chestnuts, and sampled all these christmassy drinks and foods, and looked at all these wonderful christmassy gifts, the only thing that was missing was Christmas music. Blenheim palace itself is beautiful and the gardens and the views are too!
We didn't realise that the Crafts fair was going to be held within the halls and rooms in the palace, which made it just that little bit more special.
There was so much I liked, but I only got a small token thing that I need to send to that person, and I hope very much that they like it! I certainly did!!
I'd really like to go around the gardens if I go again.

Cosy log fire.

Woodstock is also really pretty too!! We walked around and had a look in all the shops, and stopped for lunch in a little country pub! Only had a sandwich, and shared some chips, but it was really nice. So cosy too as there was a nice log fire heating the room, which we were sat right next to!!
It was only spoiled slightly by the weird man who approached us twice about buying us drinks, clearly he didn't see how uncomfortable he was making all of us.
All in all it was a lovely day, and I really appreciated the break away from all the uni work!! (which I must add, I will be going straight back to once I have written this entry. Boo!)

Seth's new routine?

On the walk back from the bus station, and through the city centre, we saw quite a few buskers, but this one was rather unique - He was on a rope playing the violin - and it was pretty impressive!!! A perfect way to end the day!!!

And now to get on with the reading that I have to do! Goodbye life!!!


xx

Productive day!

Finished researching and collating my sources for my essay, plan and draft completed. Meeting to discuss my plan 9am tomorrow morning! Notes written out too. So tomorrow I just have my cue card and printing to do.
It's quite therapeutic really, working my way through a series of tasks, once I reach the end of my list it's a rather nice feeling! Need to buy some flash cards to start my revision with!

               NB: Last exam is DECEMBER 21st @ 9:30am.

I have a nearly full schedule until I come home for Christmas, which is crazy!! But I'm looking forward to everything planned, and I can't believe how quickly this semester is disappearing!

Met my Uncle Michael earlier for a coffee and a chat, which to be fair, was mostly me rambling on at him for 45 minutes about OT and this and that! (So thank you, it was lovely, and I apologise but seeing as you are pretty much my only non-OT related contact in Oxford, you get the full force of my excited ranting xx).

Looking forward to this weekend, going up to Kim & Michael's for the night before heading down to the island, quick family visit, pop over via pompey see my beautiful niece for her birthday party (7 already, OMG!!) and the sister, Dan, Graham etc, and then back home to Oxford!

xx

Ps. Yes, these last 3 posts aren't in chronological order, sorry!

New layout, yay!

So I've spent the last two days in my room doing my work - I had to draw a line somewhere and stop, so at 22:30 that is what I did. So I did a new layout and painted my nails.
Have put some date on the side bar, just so you have an idea of where/what I'm upto, so that if I forget to say, when it comes to plans etc.

Been so busy with work the past couple of weeks - but it's all so interesting! Even the research methods module has my attention! Spent the evening writing a brief plan for one of my essays, hoping my seminar leader will say yes or no, and then I can really get started. Also I wrote out my fourth Cue Card, for my exam on Enabling Occupation 2, found it hard to summarise Standardised Assessments into 300 words, so just stuck with a quote, key words, and clinical reasoning prompts. Looking at the previous exam questions, I think it was a good idea.
Still waiting for my last exam date to come through, but the latest I will be home is the 21st, or at a push 22nd.
I think I need bigger folders because the amount of resources/tools I have amassed, as well as my notes and lecture slides are already filling my folders, and that's only 4 weeks!
(Now because I will have to travel down on the train, I am hoping that it doesn't snow this time around! And will have to start taking suitcases of stuff down with me!).

Rather sleepy I must admit, so this will be a relitively early one for me! Niiight xx

Why am I always ill?!

Once again I am ill. And I have been since at elast a week ago, I swear colds last so much longer for me than anyone else!!
Last night I went for an impromptu afternoon out with some OT girls, I had my first burrito, and I liked it! And with it a Corona, which in turn spurred us on for another drink, and another, and finally in an Irish bar, we had pudding! So 1 Burrito, 3 drinks and a pudding later, I was a very happy girl!
Thought we deserved it as uni is getting more challenging, and we hadn't had a trip out with all of us there! Definitely need to so it again, and I was pleasantly surprised with my Burrito!

Friday was dissapointing to me, as we had our seminar in the groups that we have to write an essay based on the information we collate as a group, adn the third part of which, is written on out experience of team working. I was thoroughly disappointed to be placed in a group of 5 nurses, not because they were nurses but because it was hardly multidisciplinary, considering there was osteos, physios and social workers we could have been mixed with too, and in a group of 6, it was hardly fair.
Additionally I wasn't placed with the most pro-active, enthusiastic group, infact I probably was placed with the laziest. A group of, mostly, older students, that believed due to having other important factors in their lives, such as child care etc, that they were exempt from having to contribute or put in as much effort as the 'young' students. (Also they completely disregarded me and the profession I was training to go into, not even having an idea what OT was - shameful considering they train in the same school, the same hospitals and for the same nhs!).
Being told they wouldn't attend lectures because they lived too far away, or meet up to discuss the project outside seminar time because they were 'too busy' was frankly shocking. Why would you sign up for a course if you can't or won't fulfil all the requirements?  I will pay lip service to their already wrong direction, and do the work they ask of me, additionally I will post the information I actually use on the VLE (Virtual learning environment) message boards, and then they have the opportunity to read and use it as well (that is, of course, that they actually use the vle, as I got told I would be 'lucky if [she] even looked at it until Christmas'). /Rant over.

I have lots planned for the next few months, which is nice to have something to look forward to, it gives motivation! Got two seth gigs planned, a night watching the snooker being filmed, lots of christmas activities with the OT girlies, and in that time halloween and then christmas!
So far I'm on top of my uni work, got myself organized and sorted into folders with sections, lots of printing, pre and post reading, and my very handy academic year planner - along with my many lists of things I need to complete. Talking of things to complete, I have my basic life support stuff to complete for tomorrow... must get on with that.

Just got home from my first day of my second year at uni!

It was like I had never left!! Had introduction sessions to the restructuring of the university, and how we are a subject, and no longer a programme. Additionally we are no longer a school of health and social care, but a faculty of health and life sciences. (Guess they'll have to change the road signs then!!).
Also it was explained to us that due to the change in fees etc. the university wanted to give the students a better, richer student experience, and explained a few policy changes, all in all it looked a good thing, like the university was working for the students. I can definitely see why its voted one of the top new universities - I can same I am very happy with the standard and quality of teaching I receive, very glad I chose Brookes, and very glad to be back!!

Looks like I'm going to have a very interesting academic year, all my modules seem both engaging and challenging, and the whole thing makes me feel like I'm getting somewhere with my OT training!
Got the dates of my two exams - Ones an essay based one of a case study, and the OT process, and the other is a multliple choice research and methodology one! Exam week is 16-21st of December so I may be home from uni quite late this Christmas.
My second placement starts week 5 of semester 2, and I have to go back for a week or so in May, 21-1st June I believe, to finish the year, as I start my third placement at the very beginning of September.

Went for a drink with Katie off my course after we walked back from uni, so it was a nice and easy way to get back into the swing of things. Now I can't wait for Monday morning! It only takes 30 minutes to walk from where I'm living to my uni campus, which is a pleasant walk when the weather is nice! Also, only a 20 minute walk into the city centre as well. Might have wasted my money on a bus pass...All this walking will keep me fit. Guess I will want the bus pass for when the weathers bad though.

xx

It's Christmas eve!!!

And I'm with my family! (apart from Jac, Kim & Michael, although Jac is here tomorrow!)
There's the usual noise levels! And the laughter!

 

Nanny as a pirate and Freya.
Funny webcam pictures amuse 6 year olds, mums and grandmothers alike!!

And Jollity!! (I didn't think this was a word; apparently it is -' feeling jolly and jovial and full of good humour'.
I'm really looking forward to tomorrow!!!
Got my second year with Ben!

Merry Christmas Everyone!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

xx

It really feels like Christmas now!!!

Everythings starting to wind down, lectures are stopping, work deadlines are here, people have gone, or are starting to go home... Kind of like the end of term when you are at primary school!!
I'm soooo happy my osce is over and done with; and that I felt it went well, and am not worrying that I won't have passed. Just my MCQ to go now! Going to pop over to Clare's later to go over it and make sure neither have any flaws in our theory.

Had a good night last night, Dominoes pizza with my girls!! Then Ben and Jerrys...Mmmmmmm! Then Chris popped in with xmas cards and beer, oh how at that moment I loved him!!! And Despite the little thing at 3am this morning it was all good!!!

Basically this semester is over. And I've achieved everything I've needed to! I feel sorted and settled into my course, and things are pretty good! Looking forward to the time I have at home, before I get a taste of what being qualified will be like, when I'm on placement.

Over the next few days I have a few bits that need to be finalised, i.e. submitting my MCQ, printing and finishing my A+P notes for the semester, and researching the model they use in KCL...after that I'm done...Time to relax!!!

I just home the weather isn't too bad over the weekend so that my dad can come and pick me up! That will be nice! And the ferrys are playing up so that my sister gets over with no hassle. I'm sooooooo looking forward to just having a beer with Kelly, and chatting to Freya. I think it's amazing, she's so intellegent, so obviously got her mother's genes!! But it's just facinating to have seen her grow up, from the time we laughed at her one christmas at her attempt to say chocolate coming out more like  'chlocttshlaaat', to last year when she drew a little picture of me, and wrote 'I love you' on it all by herself. That picture she drew on Christmas day; it's in my wallet, and I plan to show her when I see her!
Christmas day is going to be a hoot! Jac is having dinner with us!! No need for board games as entertainment then :P (I jest!!) It's just going to be a wonderful family time!!! Shame sniffy dog and pusscat don't get on, or she could come to...But the idea of her running away from a little ginger cat, as funny as it is, isn't fair on her!

Yay for Christmas songs and Ben and Jerrys, and even a sneaky glass of wine perhaps!!

1am films in Jas' room

I had been in bed for 24 hours. I didn't have the energy to move - I didn't eat for nearly 2 day because of this.
Thankfully I have a wonderful flatmate who convinced me walking to the Chinese and getting food would be good for me, and it was! It broke my mood and now I feel a lot better.
And another great flatmate who went and got me some shopping after work. They both are such wonderful people!
I really am going to miss them for the 2 and a half months I'm away! Miss the 2am films, the quoting, the weird weird behaviours displayed by both of them, the chips brought home for dinner, all three of us in Jas' bed, the political banter...and of course the echoes of 'BENGAAAY' down the corridor!
I will have to come back weekends to see them!

I realise now that I get stressed about things that I can't change, or have any control of and, to want to do things for, and help people that I can't. I just want to help people, even when it's not my place to, I want to do things for them. And when it's a situation that I can't change, I get stressed, despite the fact there's nothing I can do. I've got to just learn to let things go.
In skills we learnt about relaxation techniques - And one I have used since I learnt about it was the 'mitchell progressive muscular relaxation technique' helps when I can't sleep!



It's scary how this is going to be the last week of the semester- week 12 (although we've been here for 13 weeks). We're half way through our first year, now that is scary!!!
I have to revise for my OSCE the next couple of days. Once that's out of the way, I'm gunna get pizza. Then just gotta do my MCQ2, which I am 2/3 of the way through, enjoy the last few nights with my girls, and go home on the 18th!

I'm really looking forward to going on placement, and much more happy now I have my accommodation sorted! Hopefully my PE will email back this week will more details, and the answers to my questions.
I just want to get stuck in, to really see OT being implemented, to see the difference it can make in people's lives!

7 more sleeps until I go home! Til I see my family, my pusscat and my boyfriend! It's going to be good! It'll be difficult because I'm not used to not having any money, or having the use of a car :/ But it'll be what I make of it, and if I have to be a bus wanker for a couple of weeks at home, so be it!
I'm looking forward to the food, the home cooked yummy food, the fact it won't run out. The endless crappy tv, the kids films, the Christmas films, the Christmas soaps, The snacks (I rarely ever eat pickled onions/gherkins at any other time), the quality time with my sister and niece. The smells of Christmas, the food, the flowers, the smell of the cold. The endless forced games (although I prefer playing Freya's games). The friendliness of people. The family time, the time to relax and to enjoy -This is why I Love Christmas!!

This time next week I will be at home, and I can't bloody wait

xx

smiley smiley :)

I think all this not eating junk food, and crisps and chocolate and snacks etc, not consuming foods high in fat, eating meals regularly and having salad everyday, might be paying off...I don't feel like my hips and thighs are so chubby. Not lost weight, but feel more toned! Yay!! Gunna start swimming and maybe a fitness class next week.

I've also stopped biting my nails completely :S it's weird. and they look quite nice and neat! Although I have to have them short, and can't wear anything but clear nail varnish now! Think I'm going to grow my hair, although it's not so much a choice as a necessity, because I can't really afford the £40 odd they ask for up here!!

There is a lot of things I miss about home though, I miss how close I was to my friends, and my family, and Ben. I miss my pusscat. I miss the familiar things! But I'm also enjoying the change of scene!!
I love Oxford, but it's even better when I can share it with those that I love and care about (come see me *hint hint*) I want to share all these new and exciting things with everything that I miss from home!!

Started making plans for Halloween with le flatmates!! Can't wait because Sammi will be up here, so it will be just awesome!!! And then after Halloween its Christmas!!! And most my flatmates are as excited as me!! yay!!!
And then new year, and then my placement. I think these three years are going to go really quickly!!

I am quite looking forward to going home at Christmas because it'll be nice to catch up with everyone; I really miss my Thursday sessions, although there's gunna be a Thursday-Sunday session soon!!!! And i miss just being able to jump in my car and go for a drive, and the freedom that allows. I really hate having to go back to using buses, although they are (a fair bit) more reliable than Southern Vectis shitty buses!!
And have a break from studying will be nice, as it's going to get very intense!!
I think I'll miss my lil room, I've grown attached to it quite quickly!! And my darling flatmates, they are all so wonderful!!! 'Have you made a uni best friend?' Bless you!!!
I feel really happy, and positive; settled on where I am and where I'm headed. Which is nice, because I haven't really felt like this before, content with just about everything in my life right now!
For lack of better words to articulate myself better, I am really smiley!!!

xx

P.S. I've just realised how often I use exclamation marks!!!!!!!!!! :P