Relaxation, Recuperation & Revision

Hello all, it has been a while since we last spoke and so I felt the need to post up a little update on life's progress of late. I have currently returned to Ireland for the Easter break, leaving my beloved boy behind in Wales whilst I have flown off to spend some much sought-after time with my family.

 

 I flew back early on Easter Sunday, arriving back just in time for a lovely Sunday Roast whipped up by my uncle for us all, before I joined my younger siblings for a good old Easter Egg Hunt out in the sunshine of my cousins' garden. At nearly 22 years of age I can add that you are never too old to find a chocolate egg gifted to you from those you love.

 

Whilst it has been nice to have a little recuperation over the past few days, it is now time to get back to the business of looming university deadlines. Whilst I want to enjoy my stay at home, the work won't go away and so I need to keep a level-head about how much time to deliver to each.

 

 On Easter Monday I made a great escape from the hustle and bustle of the buzzing seaside resort and made the drive south of the border to the wilds of rural Ireland and the mountainess regions of County Donegal. It all started with a small helping of a traditional Ulster Fry-up on the road, before a drive towards Derry where we crossed the border and hit-up an old-style American diner at the road-side for a morning coffee. However I opted for the sweeter option of a hot-chocolate with marshmallows and cream. Then we continued our drive along the Wild Atlantic Way, taking us along the scenic route through the mountains and hills of the northern-most region and then out along the rugged coastline that proves the jewel in the county's crown.

 

 We stopped for a bite to eat in a quaint little café, I browsed the craft shop across the road an tried to locate the dying art of the postcard which with regret proved unsuccessful. What's wrong with a good old fashioned picture-postcard via post!? Anyhow we then made toward the beach which to my surprise sat beyond expectation. A little rural fisherman's cottage adorned one end of the golden strand, whilst looking out into the water you caught the most stunning scenic views of the forest park located at the foothill of the valleys which surrounded the base of the over-looking mountain. It looked sublime. It honestly still surprises me how tropical this small isle can look against the surrounds of the often unforgiving Atlantic Ocean.

 

 Yesterday was a little more casual as I fired off a few work related emails and enjoyed a coffee with my mother in our hometown by the sea. It was nice to have a catch-up before I headed off again to spend an easy evening in-front of the TV for the remainder of the evening. I think I'd forgotten just how nice it could be to watch something spontaneously on an actual TV screen, as opposed to hunting down something on demand from my laptop when I find the time.

 

How have you been spending your Easter break? I hope regardless that you've all had hippy-hoppy Easter fun in some form!

 

Peace & Love til' next time.

Spring has arrived! Catch-up.

Hello one and all! I can only apologise for my vacancy about here lately, I had several posts scheduled after Valentine's weekend, however they unfortunately got lost in the chaos and as life has remained as such, have never been re-instated. The past month has been a total whirlwind which has brought with it many highs and a few lows, but it's been a mostly positive time, yay!

 

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Valentine's weekend was a stay-at home this year, however me and my man did manage a lovely little venture into the Cotswolds for a couple of hours, where we enjoyed afternoon tea in the quaintest and cosiest tea room in Frome. Then we had a quick evening gander around Bradford-Upon Avon, after which point we headed back to Bath. My man made some pasta and brought out a bottle of rose' and we dined alfresco ala, student digs and indulged in some feel-good TV.

 

 

 

 

 

The following weekend we spent 48 in Portugal, which whilst whistle-stop, was still an enjoyed mini-break abroad. Random not for anyone visiting Lisbon, the staff in the Hard-Rock café are ultra friendly! The colourful architecture of the city dazzled me and I would highly-recommend a hike up to the Sao Jorge Castle for stunning views over the city from the beautiful open plan courtyard.

 

 

 

Then I returned to uni life, ran in the students elections, which was a fun but stressful week! However it ended it happy tears this year, unlike last, as I won both my positions for the forthcoming year, so there are some exciting times ahead. I've had several hand-ins lately as well and have been busy juggling extra-curricular activities as well, but finally there is a bit of a lull as we approach Easter, hurrah.

 

Sadly this has meant that there hasn't been all that much down-time or exploring of late, so I'm now hoping to make the most of the quieter period between now and the middle of April.

 

Also it would seem that the sun has finally arrived, even it it has remained continually cold at the same time. So happy Spring my lovelies, I hope March has been treating you well! 

 

 

Peace & Love until next time!

Flight & Falls of February

Just over a week in and February has already seen a mixture of ups and downs. Whilst I have many reasons to be appreciative, optimistic and joyous, I've somehow found myself lurking amongst darker thoughts with depression kicking in at impromptu moments. Many are prone to low moods throughout the Winter season, however I fear mine is not so much to do with the climate as opposed to issues I've long been dealing with and are finally becoming overwhelming. I t seems to be a bit of a recurring thing with me to be honest; every time I seem to be making pretty good progress, suddenly I feel almost swamped by anxiety and my mind works overtime on simple things that shouldn't be an issue at all. It's times like these when the littlest of gestures can help raise a smile again if only for a moment. Such gestures have occurred a few times this past week and to those people I am very grateful. My byf also deserves a special mention for putting up with me throughout these difficulties - which are often unpredictable, elongated and unusual, he really is a star, in the best meaning.

 

 

Luckily I have a week off from uni next week and so hopefully things will ease slightly, and perhaps I can catch up on some rest and relaxation. Here's hoping!

 

On a more positive note, here are 5 reasons I'm thankful this week...

 

1. Conquering my initial fears and completing my D.O.E hike at the start of the month.

2. All the kind words and actions of strangers and friends alike.

3. Hot Chocolate dates and cwtches with my boy.

4. Having an article published front page and having others lined-up for publication in future.

5. The prospect of a weekend break abroad in a couple of weeks.

 

 

Peace & Love til' next time

New Term - New Plans

Hello all! I do apologise for the slight lack in posts this month, only starting back at uni has meant lots of assignments, deadlines and general busyness. However I'm going to take a little time aside to let you in on what I've been up to on my downtime.

 

Having stumbled across an Instagram post claiming that it was the last weekend to enjoy the cosy vicinity of the temporary, Apres Ski Lodge, I decided that it was a must-visit and coaxed the byf into joining me for a little tipple before dinner. It was pretty busy but we managed to catch a table beside the log-fire and contentedly sipped on our Prosecco whilst we chatted and giggled about surprise vacations, impromptu wedding talk (although we are certainly not planning on hearing bells of the sort anytime soon) and general daily nonsense, small-talk etc. Although small, the atmosphere was lovely and welcoming, banter was being had and drinks were enjoyed under roof of the wooden alpine themed chalet.

 

 

Slightly loved-up and a little high on the fizz, together we decided to treat ourselves and go all out and so went to dine in the gorgeous retro interior of The Cosy Club. With it being a weekend it was understandably busy and some waited for table whilst I was handed a little more Prosecco. The byf was being unusually frivolous and I had to question if the pair of us had gone crazy. However I wasn't going to deny it was quite wonderful even if the beverages were going ever so-slightly to my head. Dinner was wonderful, the food was completely scrumptious and the conversation was rife. All in all it was a delightful evening of spontaneity and I was ever so thankful for it!

 

Mid-week came about and the moral was running low and so after the byf had finished his exams we took swiftly into town and took shine to visiting the quaint Georgian Tearooms. Having graced through the square many times on a frequent basis, we've many times talked about going but never quite got round to actually stepping through the door. Luckily being mid-week and two weeks into term, the place was practically deserted and so we were seated to the lullaby of Celine Dion's infamous track from 'Titanic', ordered afternoon tea and took a step back into another temporary world where work should not stress one out. It proved a rather lovely afternoon treat.

 

 

Then the fortnight was topped off with a weekend road-trip into Wales, lunching out, browsing round markets, visiting friends, several trips to MacDonalds, country walks and beach-side strolls eating fish n' chips - it was a much needed break away from looming deadlines and academic stress, the weather held-out and whilst it was frosty it was sunny and I'm so grateful for so many little things.

 

 

 

Hope January is going well for you all,

 

Love & Peace - til' next time!

 

 

 

A Year In Reflection ... 2014

Last New Year's was a little quieter than the usual boisterous house of chaos and this year is shaped to be very similar if not more so again. However that has no reflection on the year itself, which has been wonderful and difficult and wonderful and difficult again but whilst 2014 has proved another year of personal hardship it's equally been a year of personal gain, of learning and experience.

 

Travel has proved a big highlight of the past year, having done quite a bit more adventuring than one would normally anticipate of experience in the average year. Stratford-upon-Avon for Valentine's, the New Forest for a extra-curricular excursion, Amsterdam on a university trip and then a compilation of Cornwall, Bristol, Glastonbury and Wells for my very special 21st birthday weekend. The Autumn brought further highlights as I got to explore several areas of Wales with my byf , as well as a brief flying visit to Oxford and a Christmas excursion to Liverpool. Then to top it all off, a trip down to Dublin proved a lovely little break when the byf came to visit me in Ireland.

 

 

 

 

As January slogged along I found myself still brightly optimistic as to the rest of the year ahead, having survived the first term of university life, however while the first couple weeks went well enough things didn't take long at spiralling downhill, my health took a turn for the worse, escalating to the point where with regret I had to finish the rest of my first year from home. By some miracle I survived the long demanding days of the Summer, (spent mostly indoors) and was admitted greatfully into my 2nd year. From here another term passes, I'm no longer in halls and am living independently in a wonderful old house with several other girls and somehow I've managed to reach Christmas with all my assignments in on time. But I wouldn't have got through it without the kindness, friendship and support of some of those closest to me. I am forever greatful for all the wonderful opportunites that have passed my way this year and can even say that I am finally employed, so whilst the year has had it's struggles for sure it's also been quite a wonderful year in retrospect and one I shan't quickly forget.

 

 

 

Love & Peace - til' next time!