I can't believe it's a whole month since I posted here. I have really enjoyed reading Hollys blog and catching up. It's a lot more fun when read all together like that, more like a story. When I have only one or two to read I feel unsatisfied and come away feeling like I want to know more, lol. I hope she is feeling better as there was no mention of her fever or lack of I will worry until I know for sure she is better.
I'm sorry to read that you are having trouble sleeping honey, seems like you are doing all the right things to correct it though like checking out stuff on Google and such. I hope that you are able to get into a better routine soon. I like your idea of getting to bed 10 minutes earlier each day. I have no advice or anything I can say to help, I wish I did. I hope you haven't got Hollys fever too. The treatments sound do-able though, I especially liked the cannabis solution, hehe.
'Cannabis has been suggested as an aid to combat DSPS. However, no research has yet been done that shows cannabis works in DSPS. Sleep onset is affected by the two primary cannabinoids. THC, Δ9-Tetrahydrocannabinol, dramatically increased melatonin production in some subjects in a small study in 1986 where the authors state that "These preliminary results are difficult to interpret". An older study showed that CBD, cannabidiol, was effective in helping insomniacs sleep. Heavy cannabis use can lead to decreased levels of REM sleep and increased levels of slow-wave sleep along with reduced mental function the next morning. However, 5 mg doses of THC and CBD have been shown not to have these effects.'
I am totally unprepared for writing this blog so I will have to come back later and write it. I haven't been through my photos or even taken some off my phone yet! It simply will not do, lol. I will check through Facebook to see what I did and when and then be back later xx
Monday, 15 June 2009
Friday, 15 May 2009
Saturday 16th May 2009
Vicki I have just read your comment on my last post and it's like woah genius! I wish I had read it sooner!! Yesterday (Friday) I had to fast from midnight and get blood tests done at 8.30am. I went along and got them done and then the nurse said they would let me know the results in a little while. Well I almost felt like crying. I didn't want to be just dismissed again like I was two days before. I told her I was worried about my blood pressure as it was high the other day and I still felt very ill so she agreed to take it again. It was 150/95 which she agreed was high but nearly dismissed because of me needle fobia (I was very well behaved by the way) until I said I can't just go home with no advice or help again. She said if I wasn't careful I would be in to the gp again which I replied would be fine!! I made another appointment for 30 minutes time and came home to have some breakfast.
I had brown granary bread and scrambled eggs with a cup of tea then worried if I had ate the right thing but went back for my gp's appointment. I went in and the gp asked me all the usual questions, took my blood pressure - much of the same. Almost the exact same appointment as two days previously urine sample etc with a slight difference - this gp actually listened to me! After she tested my urine sample she rushed me back into the nurse to test my blood sugar because she found those thingies beginning with L. It was 14.8. This was apparently important because she then called the hospital and booked me in!!! Only after she had talked to them did she explain anything to me but I had overheard her conversation anyway.
I went home, letter for the hospital in hand and called my mum who said she'd be with me in a few minutes to take me to the hospital, she is such a star. I packed an overnight bag (essential stuff like ipod, nintendo ds, phone charger, jammies etc lol) then mum arrived and off we went. Mum parked the car while I went in. An arm bracelet i.d thing and papaerwork was all waiting for me as soon as I got there which sort of freaked me out. I was taken down to a waiting room and then mum joined me. It was all a bit fast like I was just an observer of someone else's life.
I had a really lovely gp come and talk to me. She took my blood sugar again which had now risen to 16.5 and took my blood pressure. I don't remember what it was but it was high obviously. She took blood for blood tests and put in one of those tubes for drips just in case. I sat with mum for a little while in the waiting room and then a diabetic consultant came by to chat to me. I was told I was diabetic, 99.9% sure it's type 2. He said that even though I had some of those thingies beginning with L in my urine that it wasn't a problem as I had 1% of something else. It was all too much information for me to take in especially as I still had that horrible migrain. He explained diet and exercise accompanied by some leaflets and said I could go home. I have to see my gp on Monday. Ok there was a lot more than that but you know more than me, lol.
Mum and I went in town briefly afterwards so that I could get Liz and Keiths anniversary pressies and card then I have been home resting ever since. I took my first Metformin tablet this evening after getting my prescription around the corner of my house. I wasn't sure what to have for dinner I have been scared to eat anything for weeks but I figured I can't feel much worse. I had rice, peas, butterbeans, macarel fillets and salad. It was actually very tasty. After a nap I felt well for the first time in 3 weeks. It didn't last though. As soon as I had got up and walked around a bit my headache returned. I've had a cup of tea, read Holly Daze commented and wrote this blog, enough to feel sleepy again. I have to get the 8.18am train to Falmouth so more rest is a good idea.
I'll have lots to write about the anniversary party tomorrow with pics of the train journey etc. It didn't occur to me today to take pics. I'm hoping I will be ok, last time I went to Falmouth to see Liz and Keith as soon as I got there I freaked out and called Vicki. It is where Arif and I used to live and I never go there the place makes me sad. I think as it's years later I will feel better this time. I'm really looking forward to seeing them so trying to focus on that. Maybe I shouldn't be going but I can rest on the train I will have a bed there I can go off to if I feel bad and I will feel worse at home missing it. I have had my train tickets for weeks.
I'm off to sleep, love and hugs as ever xxxx
I had brown granary bread and scrambled eggs with a cup of tea then worried if I had ate the right thing but went back for my gp's appointment. I went in and the gp asked me all the usual questions, took my blood pressure - much of the same. Almost the exact same appointment as two days previously urine sample etc with a slight difference - this gp actually listened to me! After she tested my urine sample she rushed me back into the nurse to test my blood sugar because she found those thingies beginning with L. It was 14.8. This was apparently important because she then called the hospital and booked me in!!! Only after she had talked to them did she explain anything to me but I had overheard her conversation anyway.
I went home, letter for the hospital in hand and called my mum who said she'd be with me in a few minutes to take me to the hospital, she is such a star. I packed an overnight bag (essential stuff like ipod, nintendo ds, phone charger, jammies etc lol) then mum arrived and off we went. Mum parked the car while I went in. An arm bracelet i.d thing and papaerwork was all waiting for me as soon as I got there which sort of freaked me out. I was taken down to a waiting room and then mum joined me. It was all a bit fast like I was just an observer of someone else's life.
I had a really lovely gp come and talk to me. She took my blood sugar again which had now risen to 16.5 and took my blood pressure. I don't remember what it was but it was high obviously. She took blood for blood tests and put in one of those tubes for drips just in case. I sat with mum for a little while in the waiting room and then a diabetic consultant came by to chat to me. I was told I was diabetic, 99.9% sure it's type 2. He said that even though I had some of those thingies beginning with L in my urine that it wasn't a problem as I had 1% of something else. It was all too much information for me to take in especially as I still had that horrible migrain. He explained diet and exercise accompanied by some leaflets and said I could go home. I have to see my gp on Monday. Ok there was a lot more than that but you know more than me, lol.
Mum and I went in town briefly afterwards so that I could get Liz and Keiths anniversary pressies and card then I have been home resting ever since. I took my first Metformin tablet this evening after getting my prescription around the corner of my house. I wasn't sure what to have for dinner I have been scared to eat anything for weeks but I figured I can't feel much worse. I had rice, peas, butterbeans, macarel fillets and salad. It was actually very tasty. After a nap I felt well for the first time in 3 weeks. It didn't last though. As soon as I had got up and walked around a bit my headache returned. I've had a cup of tea, read Holly Daze commented and wrote this blog, enough to feel sleepy again. I have to get the 8.18am train to Falmouth so more rest is a good idea.
I'll have lots to write about the anniversary party tomorrow with pics of the train journey etc. It didn't occur to me today to take pics. I'm hoping I will be ok, last time I went to Falmouth to see Liz and Keith as soon as I got there I freaked out and called Vicki. It is where Arif and I used to live and I never go there the place makes me sad. I think as it's years later I will feel better this time. I'm really looking forward to seeing them so trying to focus on that. Maybe I shouldn't be going but I can rest on the train I will have a bed there I can go off to if I feel bad and I will feel worse at home missing it. I have had my train tickets for weeks.
I'm off to sleep, love and hugs as ever xxxx
Wednesday, 13 May 2009
Wednesday 13th May 2009
Wow I can't believe how quickly time flies, I totally didn't realise it had been so long since my last blog, I thought I was doing well at keeping it up to date. My bad, sigh.
Well, I am planning this blog to be short and sweet but I know that never happens once I start I find all this stuff I wanted to say.
Since the last time I blogged, hmm, where to start. I revised obviously and back at uni have seen all my friends so that's been nice. I took myself off to the cinema at some point to see Xmen Origins. I felt really ill whilst I was in watching the film, about three quarters of the way into the film I started feeling really hot and quite unwell. Migrain and unable to cool down. I sat forward and used my slushie drink on my neck but still felt drowsy and wierd. Thought no more of it and went home.
On 5th May the Tuesday I spent the morning in the chaplaincy with Rob revising then had my Biology exam in the afternoon, this went badly at first as I had to ask someone to take me to the room I had my exam in. When I got there (in a panic) my name wasn't on the door with everyone elses. I had no desk, no papers etc singling me out which I hate. The guy in charge made me stand at the front of the room keeping everyone else waiting and they all stared at me. Sweat dripped down my back and I felt a migrain coming on. He then went off to get my papers while I stood up at the board being stared at nowhere to go. He finally came back and everyone started their exam 10 minutes late.
Once I had got over my initial panic I was still having hot flushes and palpatations for the whole of the exam and couldn't really concentrate but did my best. I didn't answer every question and am not sure how I did. All my clothes were soaked by the time I got out and I rushed to the nearest toilet where I changed and washed to cool down. Everyone was meeting up for a drink afterwards but Vicky and I went to get pizza in Pizza Hut instead, preferring comfort eating instead of alcohol. Vicky went off after the pizza to meet up with Marc and Lucy in Voodoo but I felt so full and still a bit wierdy that I went home.
Thursday was our stats exam. I never went to these lectures so I knew this one was going to be a waste of time. I went in the chaplaincy beforehand and chilled. I was feeling wierdly hot again but didn't think much of it. I went panicking as usual to my exam. This time I had a desk number 1 actually right at the front and as I walked in the lady made sure I knew I had more time than anyone else and if I had any problems blah blah, singled out again - great! I basically doodled and messed about until I could leave. This time I had brought clean clothes, deo spray etc and went and got changed before going back to the chaplaincy.
In what was christianity explored and then discipleship explored now extended kindly by David to revelation chapters 1-5 explored we discussed Revelation and had a wonderful meal of spaghetti bolognaise with garlic bread, cheesecake and apple pie with custard for dessert. The discussions were really quite good and for the first time it was light outside when we left and not raining - a sure sign summer is on it's way!
Friday morning I was feeling really rough again, tired and weak but restless so went in town shopping. I bought some books - Twilight and New Moon by Stephenie Meyer recommended by Rob, Into The Wild by Jon Krakauer and a book called The Believers for my neighbour Heidi. After that I went to the chaplaincy, too late for bible brunch unfortunately.
Rob came in for a while then we went to his room in halls to listen to music. He got changed into his New Rock boots and new grungy trousers then we went in town. I bought some razor earings for my first holes and handcuff earings for my second. I then got some more black nail varnish as mine was all dried up. I got some black grungy denim shorts and a bicycle chain to hang off them from the pocket. We then had kfc before going back to the book shop. I wanted to show Rob the fantasy section which is rather good and I was told my friend Sarah-Jayne was working in the afternoon so wanted to say hi to her. We saw her in there and chatted for ages. She recommended Dark Lover by J.R.Ward so I bought that too. (which I am reading now it's fab!)
After the book shop I was feeling exhausted and boiling hot I didn't quite know why. I felt like I needed a nap and as we were going out that night I decided to go home for a bit even though the plan was to go back to Robs and listen to music I just had to rest instead. I spent the rest of the afternoon/evening chilling on facebook pretty much not mving off my sofa and cooling down. When the time came I changed and went to meet Rob in Voodoo. We had a few drinks there with the rest of the Roc Soc then all walked down to C103's for rock night. I don't mind telling you that I felt wierd and tired walking down to the club. I lagged behind all the way, overheating and sweating I put it down to being so overweight and that much older than everyone else.
I won't go into too much detail about the rest of the night I want to cut this short and get to bed, basically I drank vodka redbulls and J.D n cokes. Rob danced lots, I met up with Lukie, Allan and Lisa which was fab. The music was great, a good time was had by all and I was utterly exhausted earlier than usual and went home before closing which I have never done in my life! Good times though!
I felt wierd at home, like I was drunk but not drunk. Sort of like my head was on fire and I was dizzy and confused. I laid down but felt worse so stood up again and walked around the flat. Eventually I was so tired that I fell asleep on the sofa watching Ally McBeal.
Saturday I felt weak and lethargic but also really unsettled, just unwell really. I spent the day just relaxing doing housework and not much to report. I put it down to being old and recovering from the night before even though I hadn't got drunk and have never felt bad before.
Sunday was more fun, I woke up early feeling still a bit wierd but more like gasping for air than hot but still wierd and uncomfortable. I got dressed and took myself for a 6am walk around where I live in Mount Wise.
It was very pretty and about to be a lovely day so it should've been nice but I felt unwell and laboured all the way. I put it down to being so overweight and thought the exercise probably would have done me good. When I got home I felt so hot and dizzy and sick that I had a shower and sat in shorts and vest with all my wondows open. My wet hair helped me to cool down and feel better then I had to get out of the flat again so at 9am I went to go to the carboot sale down the road
.
I text mum as I walked down the hill and she was awake so I hopped on the bus to go to her place so we could go to the carboot sale together. We got down to the carboot in pretty good time and it was packed. I had already decided that I was going to buy a bike if I saw one as I had been feeling so ill all week I wanted to lose weight and get fit to feel better, the time had come to do something.
Wierd how things happen when you think back but I had taken £30 with me. I saw and bought two bikes, one for me and one for mumsie which the guy did a deal on for just £24. Bargain. Mum and I rode around the park a bit like kids before bringing the bikes back to mine. I fitted some water bottles on to them and locked them up in my hallway. We then went to Halfords to look for a bike carrier for the back of the car. They were too expensive though. We had pasties (possibly my last for a long time) then came home. Mum had to babysit that night.
I had planned to call my friends Paul and Carly and see if it was ok to go over there Sunday night but I was feeling rough again so stayed in and chilled on the sofa playing Sims 2 as usual if I'm feeling poorly or rough that's the game I choose. I've played it for such a long time now I don't need to use my brain much which is what I felt like doing. I have all the addons and stuffs (16 in total, 8 addons and 8 stuffs) so it's still never boring. This time I was building a country mansion with extensive grounds modelled on a mansion I saw on the programme Grand Designs. I digress!
Monday much of the same, feeling ill, revising and chilling etc. Tuesday was yesterday my chemistry exam and last exam. It went rather well. Not half as bad as I expected and I think I did alright. Afterwards my friend Nick and I went to see if he can transfer from Extended Science onto a History degree in september instead which looks promising then we went to chat to our tutor. I asked about re-doing the year and he said it's up to the board I will find out my options in August but will probably be redoing exams in the summer if not redoing the whole year. I will only have to redo subjects I didn't pass which will be maths and stats only I hope.
I met Vicky in the chaplaincy once her exam had finished and we chatted for a while, joining in with the lunch with everyone. At 4pm when it closed I walked to my bus stop and went to mums for tea. I was feeling really ill by this point like I was burning up. I had a really bad migrain and had to strip to try to cool as my head felt like it would erupt. I really enjoyed my meal but felt so poorly that I had to leave early and go home. I stopped in at the coop shop next to my house and was buying water when I felt like I would faint or fall asleep so I rushed home.
I lay on my sofa most of the night not feeling like going to the bed and napping and waking all night feeling very rough indeed. As early as possible this morning I called the doctor and got an appointment asap. Walking over to the docs I wasn't sure what I was going to say was wrong with me and explaining it was almost impossible. The doctor was unsure what I was in for until I said I had been very thirsty.
He made me go off and do a urine sample which came back possitive for sugar and protein then took my blood pressure which apparently was dangerously high. He even said he was surprised I wasn't ill to which I replied I was!! I explained the migrains and the hot fushes, palpatations, weakness etc etc. He said I may have diabetes and he's booked me in for a blood test which I have to fast for beforehand. Once that is done I will know more but my blood pressure was 155 over something I didn't hear which is bad. (?) He sent me home worried sick not knowing what to do to improve my situation and told me just to rest.
I've spent the day pretty much not resting enough, worried sick, feeling rough, weak and crappy. I did spend some time down Heidis (my neighbour) which was nice because I had my mind taken off things for a little while. It was lovely to hold Daisy who is now 3 months old. I've mostly chilled on facebook etc today playing Bejeweled Blitz and having company without having company. Mum did say I could go over hers but I barely made it to the docs or the coop today so didn't go.
Sam and Toni did pop over to Heidis to use the phone for taking Smokey (Jynx's auntie) to the vets foaming at the mouth and possibly having fits. Don't know if no news is good news but neither Heidi or I have heard from them since even though they said they would be right over to tell us what happened so fingers crossed. They invited me over theirs which I didn't feel I should go either. Heidi was very welcoming but I felt like I wanted to be home, not alone but at least home and noone came over mine so I was alone but for the cats. Monty knows I am not well as he has been Mr.Clingy all week not leaving my side for a second and unable to sleep unless at least his paw is on me. What he doesn't realise is that he makes me even hotter!! Bless.
Oh yeah almost forgot, the runner beans I started as just little beans in pots all that time ago are now beasts, I repotted them this morning before I went to the doctors.
I took pics of around my house too this week, view from the bus stop looking back at my place and the building going on in my street.
Feeling really sleepy now, love you lots and I'll write again soon! xxxxx
Well, I am planning this blog to be short and sweet but I know that never happens once I start I find all this stuff I wanted to say.
Since the last time I blogged, hmm, where to start. I revised obviously and back at uni have seen all my friends so that's been nice. I took myself off to the cinema at some point to see Xmen Origins. I felt really ill whilst I was in watching the film, about three quarters of the way into the film I started feeling really hot and quite unwell. Migrain and unable to cool down. I sat forward and used my slushie drink on my neck but still felt drowsy and wierd. Thought no more of it and went home.
On 5th May the Tuesday I spent the morning in the chaplaincy with Rob revising then had my Biology exam in the afternoon, this went badly at first as I had to ask someone to take me to the room I had my exam in. When I got there (in a panic) my name wasn't on the door with everyone elses. I had no desk, no papers etc singling me out which I hate. The guy in charge made me stand at the front of the room keeping everyone else waiting and they all stared at me. Sweat dripped down my back and I felt a migrain coming on. He then went off to get my papers while I stood up at the board being stared at nowhere to go. He finally came back and everyone started their exam 10 minutes late.
Once I had got over my initial panic I was still having hot flushes and palpatations for the whole of the exam and couldn't really concentrate but did my best. I didn't answer every question and am not sure how I did. All my clothes were soaked by the time I got out and I rushed to the nearest toilet where I changed and washed to cool down. Everyone was meeting up for a drink afterwards but Vicky and I went to get pizza in Pizza Hut instead, preferring comfort eating instead of alcohol. Vicky went off after the pizza to meet up with Marc and Lucy in Voodoo but I felt so full and still a bit wierdy that I went home.
Thursday was our stats exam. I never went to these lectures so I knew this one was going to be a waste of time. I went in the chaplaincy beforehand and chilled. I was feeling wierdly hot again but didn't think much of it. I went panicking as usual to my exam. This time I had a desk number 1 actually right at the front and as I walked in the lady made sure I knew I had more time than anyone else and if I had any problems blah blah, singled out again - great! I basically doodled and messed about until I could leave. This time I had brought clean clothes, deo spray etc and went and got changed before going back to the chaplaincy.
In what was christianity explored and then discipleship explored now extended kindly by David to revelation chapters 1-5 explored we discussed Revelation and had a wonderful meal of spaghetti bolognaise with garlic bread, cheesecake and apple pie with custard for dessert. The discussions were really quite good and for the first time it was light outside when we left and not raining - a sure sign summer is on it's way!
Friday morning I was feeling really rough again, tired and weak but restless so went in town shopping. I bought some books - Twilight and New Moon by Stephenie Meyer recommended by Rob, Into The Wild by Jon Krakauer and a book called The Believers for my neighbour Heidi. After that I went to the chaplaincy, too late for bible brunch unfortunately.
Rob came in for a while then we went to his room in halls to listen to music. He got changed into his New Rock boots and new grungy trousers then we went in town. I bought some razor earings for my first holes and handcuff earings for my second. I then got some more black nail varnish as mine was all dried up. I got some black grungy denim shorts and a bicycle chain to hang off them from the pocket. We then had kfc before going back to the book shop. I wanted to show Rob the fantasy section which is rather good and I was told my friend Sarah-Jayne was working in the afternoon so wanted to say hi to her. We saw her in there and chatted for ages. She recommended Dark Lover by J.R.Ward so I bought that too. (which I am reading now it's fab!)
After the book shop I was feeling exhausted and boiling hot I didn't quite know why. I felt like I needed a nap and as we were going out that night I decided to go home for a bit even though the plan was to go back to Robs and listen to music I just had to rest instead. I spent the rest of the afternoon/evening chilling on facebook pretty much not mving off my sofa and cooling down. When the time came I changed and went to meet Rob in Voodoo. We had a few drinks there with the rest of the Roc Soc then all walked down to C103's for rock night. I don't mind telling you that I felt wierd and tired walking down to the club. I lagged behind all the way, overheating and sweating I put it down to being so overweight and that much older than everyone else.
I won't go into too much detail about the rest of the night I want to cut this short and get to bed, basically I drank vodka redbulls and J.D n cokes. Rob danced lots, I met up with Lukie, Allan and Lisa which was fab. The music was great, a good time was had by all and I was utterly exhausted earlier than usual and went home before closing which I have never done in my life! Good times though!
I felt wierd at home, like I was drunk but not drunk. Sort of like my head was on fire and I was dizzy and confused. I laid down but felt worse so stood up again and walked around the flat. Eventually I was so tired that I fell asleep on the sofa watching Ally McBeal.
Saturday I felt weak and lethargic but also really unsettled, just unwell really. I spent the day just relaxing doing housework and not much to report. I put it down to being old and recovering from the night before even though I hadn't got drunk and have never felt bad before.
Sunday was more fun, I woke up early feeling still a bit wierd but more like gasping for air than hot but still wierd and uncomfortable. I got dressed and took myself for a 6am walk around where I live in Mount Wise.
It was very pretty and about to be a lovely day so it should've been nice but I felt unwell and laboured all the way. I put it down to being so overweight and thought the exercise probably would have done me good. When I got home I felt so hot and dizzy and sick that I had a shower and sat in shorts and vest with all my wondows open. My wet hair helped me to cool down and feel better then I had to get out of the flat again so at 9am I went to go to the carboot sale down the road
.
I text mum as I walked down the hill and she was awake so I hopped on the bus to go to her place so we could go to the carboot sale together. We got down to the carboot in pretty good time and it was packed. I had already decided that I was going to buy a bike if I saw one as I had been feeling so ill all week I wanted to lose weight and get fit to feel better, the time had come to do something.
Wierd how things happen when you think back but I had taken £30 with me. I saw and bought two bikes, one for me and one for mumsie which the guy did a deal on for just £24. Bargain. Mum and I rode around the park a bit like kids before bringing the bikes back to mine. I fitted some water bottles on to them and locked them up in my hallway. We then went to Halfords to look for a bike carrier for the back of the car. They were too expensive though. We had pasties (possibly my last for a long time) then came home. Mum had to babysit that night.
I had planned to call my friends Paul and Carly and see if it was ok to go over there Sunday night but I was feeling rough again so stayed in and chilled on the sofa playing Sims 2 as usual if I'm feeling poorly or rough that's the game I choose. I've played it for such a long time now I don't need to use my brain much which is what I felt like doing. I have all the addons and stuffs (16 in total, 8 addons and 8 stuffs) so it's still never boring. This time I was building a country mansion with extensive grounds modelled on a mansion I saw on the programme Grand Designs. I digress!
Monday much of the same, feeling ill, revising and chilling etc. Tuesday was yesterday my chemistry exam and last exam. It went rather well. Not half as bad as I expected and I think I did alright. Afterwards my friend Nick and I went to see if he can transfer from Extended Science onto a History degree in september instead which looks promising then we went to chat to our tutor. I asked about re-doing the year and he said it's up to the board I will find out my options in August but will probably be redoing exams in the summer if not redoing the whole year. I will only have to redo subjects I didn't pass which will be maths and stats only I hope.
I met Vicky in the chaplaincy once her exam had finished and we chatted for a while, joining in with the lunch with everyone. At 4pm when it closed I walked to my bus stop and went to mums for tea. I was feeling really ill by this point like I was burning up. I had a really bad migrain and had to strip to try to cool as my head felt like it would erupt. I really enjoyed my meal but felt so poorly that I had to leave early and go home. I stopped in at the coop shop next to my house and was buying water when I felt like I would faint or fall asleep so I rushed home.
I lay on my sofa most of the night not feeling like going to the bed and napping and waking all night feeling very rough indeed. As early as possible this morning I called the doctor and got an appointment asap. Walking over to the docs I wasn't sure what I was going to say was wrong with me and explaining it was almost impossible. The doctor was unsure what I was in for until I said I had been very thirsty.
He made me go off and do a urine sample which came back possitive for sugar and protein then took my blood pressure which apparently was dangerously high. He even said he was surprised I wasn't ill to which I replied I was!! I explained the migrains and the hot fushes, palpatations, weakness etc etc. He said I may have diabetes and he's booked me in for a blood test which I have to fast for beforehand. Once that is done I will know more but my blood pressure was 155 over something I didn't hear which is bad. (?) He sent me home worried sick not knowing what to do to improve my situation and told me just to rest.
I've spent the day pretty much not resting enough, worried sick, feeling rough, weak and crappy. I did spend some time down Heidis (my neighbour) which was nice because I had my mind taken off things for a little while. It was lovely to hold Daisy who is now 3 months old. I've mostly chilled on facebook etc today playing Bejeweled Blitz and having company without having company. Mum did say I could go over hers but I barely made it to the docs or the coop today so didn't go.
Sam and Toni did pop over to Heidis to use the phone for taking Smokey (Jynx's auntie) to the vets foaming at the mouth and possibly having fits. Don't know if no news is good news but neither Heidi or I have heard from them since even though they said they would be right over to tell us what happened so fingers crossed. They invited me over theirs which I didn't feel I should go either. Heidi was very welcoming but I felt like I wanted to be home, not alone but at least home and noone came over mine so I was alone but for the cats. Monty knows I am not well as he has been Mr.Clingy all week not leaving my side for a second and unable to sleep unless at least his paw is on me. What he doesn't realise is that he makes me even hotter!! Bless.
Oh yeah almost forgot, the runner beans I started as just little beans in pots all that time ago are now beasts, I repotted them this morning before I went to the doctors.
I took pics of around my house too this week, view from the bus stop looking back at my place and the building going on in my street.
Feeling really sleepy now, love you lots and I'll write again soon! xxxxx
Tuesday, 21 April 2009
22nd April 2009 Day of rest
I don't quite know what I am going to write tonight as I've basically done nothing today but I'm in the blogging mood and wanted to take advantage of that as it will probably be weeks before it happens again. I did find the picture I had been looking for of the lamb roast dinner I had at mumsies that should've been in yesterdays post so that inspired me.
This morning I woke up late after going to bed so late my whole routine is out the window and I need to get that back on track for next week. I didn't bother getting dressed and sat watching Judge Judy when mum arrived about lunch time. She had bread, ham and salad with her for sarnies, bless her. We had sarnies whilst watching Jeremy Kyle then went to my dentist around the corner trying to get her taken on but alas no room. I made myself an appointment while we were there and mumsie then went off to Katies. I got some spaghetti, tuna and bolognese sauce for dinner from the Coop next to my house.
I did some cleaning up of my kitchen. It still smells very bad in there and there was a lot to clean, black smog type stuff and all the plants are looking a bit weak and droopy sadly. I hope they will recover soon because they can't leave the kitchen otherwise the cats will eat them. It's the only room Monty can't open very easily and doesn't usually bother to even try. I made up some feed and watered them all. My runner bean needs a bigger pot as the roots are hanging out the bottom but all is well with the rest.
This afternoon I was in the mood for Sims Castaway Stories and sat playing that most of the afternoon. I haven't played it since February and had forgotten so many things. The mouse direction control always confuses me and I couldn't think how to get a job for such a long time but then I got the hang of it and remembered so played it for hours instead of doing my cleaning that I had planned. I'm annoyed with myself now for not doing the cleaning but tomorrows another day and I had a lot of fun.
Both cats slept for the majority of the day so are driving me nuts now running up and down and play fighting like great big heavy elephants all over the flat up on the sofa, around my feet etc. Nice to see them getting on but the noise and destruction they cause does drive me crazy. I'm counting the time until I get paid. I get a little on Thursday but just enough for electric and food then Monday all will be good. I can't wait to get all my debts paid off and breathe easy. It will be a real weight off my shoulders. When I checked my payment schedule yesterday I noticed we get a bursary in May I hadn't known about so that cheered me up a little only until this morning when I got my next phone bill. Altogether next week I am paying out £682.94 and paying off my £1000 overdraft. Half depressing half good.
I will try not to mention that again, it's obviously on my mind though. I have no plans so far for tomorrow except I've been invited to mumsies for dinner so I expect I'll be up there. If the weather is nice maybe we will go out somewhere. I'll keep you posted no doubt. Love you, hugs xxx
This morning I woke up late after going to bed so late my whole routine is out the window and I need to get that back on track for next week. I didn't bother getting dressed and sat watching Judge Judy when mum arrived about lunch time. She had bread, ham and salad with her for sarnies, bless her. We had sarnies whilst watching Jeremy Kyle then went to my dentist around the corner trying to get her taken on but alas no room. I made myself an appointment while we were there and mumsie then went off to Katies. I got some spaghetti, tuna and bolognese sauce for dinner from the Coop next to my house.
I did some cleaning up of my kitchen. It still smells very bad in there and there was a lot to clean, black smog type stuff and all the plants are looking a bit weak and droopy sadly. I hope they will recover soon because they can't leave the kitchen otherwise the cats will eat them. It's the only room Monty can't open very easily and doesn't usually bother to even try. I made up some feed and watered them all. My runner bean needs a bigger pot as the roots are hanging out the bottom but all is well with the rest.
This afternoon I was in the mood for Sims Castaway Stories and sat playing that most of the afternoon. I haven't played it since February and had forgotten so many things. The mouse direction control always confuses me and I couldn't think how to get a job for such a long time but then I got the hang of it and remembered so played it for hours instead of doing my cleaning that I had planned. I'm annoyed with myself now for not doing the cleaning but tomorrows another day and I had a lot of fun.
Both cats slept for the majority of the day so are driving me nuts now running up and down and play fighting like great big heavy elephants all over the flat up on the sofa, around my feet etc. Nice to see them getting on but the noise and destruction they cause does drive me crazy. I'm counting the time until I get paid. I get a little on Thursday but just enough for electric and food then Monday all will be good. I can't wait to get all my debts paid off and breathe easy. It will be a real weight off my shoulders. When I checked my payment schedule yesterday I noticed we get a bursary in May I hadn't known about so that cheered me up a little only until this morning when I got my next phone bill. Altogether next week I am paying out £682.94 and paying off my £1000 overdraft. Half depressing half good.
I will try not to mention that again, it's obviously on my mind though. I have no plans so far for tomorrow except I've been invited to mumsies for dinner so I expect I'll be up there. If the weather is nice maybe we will go out somewhere. I'll keep you posted no doubt. Love you, hugs xxx
Monday, 20 April 2009
21st April 2009 Laptop saves the day but not my Spore game
Ok I know it's been over a month since I wrote anything and I keep promising to write more often but the truth is I've had nothing very exciting to write about. I mean no drama or major excitement. I've had a few weeks off for Easter but I've been so skint that I haven't been doing much with my time, hanging around the house, sat on facebook etc. Been a little depressed and had a few days of being very ill of late. Lack of money is limiting.
I've been growing some cool plants in my kitchen, in the background is the state of the building site which is my street now. They are building houses opposite my block and it is so noisy. I can hardly hear my tv half of the time. They start early every morning but they are gone by 4pm. I've got runner beans, Parsley, Basil, tomatoes, red, yellow and green peppers (I hope) and some flowers, wild and common. Fingers crossed for good growth. Mum and I will be getting on with the allotement some time soon with Pat. Noone's been up there this year yet, we've been lazy. :-)
I've been to some cool places with mum over the Easter though, especially on Easter sunday when we went to Devils Point with Vicky. Mum used to take me, Kev and Katie there when we were young, we practically lived there in summer holidays and we've all taken the kids there a lot too. Great free pool, cafe and toilets in one place only ten minutes from where mum and I live too.
I've been to the park a few times with Katie and Sam too, he doesn't seem to like other kids much at all but we all have had a blast. He giggles his head off on the swings it's so cute. He's proper fearless and flings himself on everything so we have to block places he can fall and chase him constantly he's a hand full of fun. Runs like lightning, so fast!!!
The cats are getting on great now like nothing ever happened. They sleep together all the time and play like brothers so that makes me less stressed at home now.
Our vicar Roger has left for new pastures which is sad for us but great for him as he will be closer to his childrens universities and his extended families. We had a wonderful day on his last church Dartmoor trip. It was a beautiful day and a lot of fun.
I haven't been into uni once since we broke up and while I really miss everyone especially everyone in the chaplaincy I have really not had the money for the bus. I've actually enjoyed having a complete break from the whole experience and being back in holiday mode in the sun has been lovely. I'm going to miss the fresh air again next week when I go back and the lack of responsibility has been bliss.
I won't be able to go to America as planned this summer. I've been pretty depressed about that. I've been waiting for an oportunity to tell everyone but on here and facebook will have to do. I simply can't afford it. I will be paying off all debts (not including student ones I'm adding right now) including overdraft instead which I think is more important. I will be able to afford the £72 to update my passport though so maybe Christmas holidays instead? By the time I get my passport back it will be very expensive peak travel times June, July and August and I can't travel as my old name so this year is out.
I haven't heard anything about my laptop refund or extra funding either and that's where the trip money would've come from so it's a no-no right now. I realised it's been six years since I left Plymouth for anything now, that's kinda funny. At least I have two planned road trips coming up, Rogers induction service and the Somerset County Cricket match the chaplaincy has organised. I'm really looking forward to both!
Mum and I have also been to some great places over the Easter holls whilst looking for Bluebells (mum loves them) like Plym Bridge. We've had some nice packed lunches and drives. We're planning on doing the same kind of things during the summer, day trips etc. One in particular will be Kew Gardens, why not have a look at Google Earth?
We have had some wonderful dinners too, lol. This was Easter dinner with Vicky at mums. Mums cooking - yum!
Life has been good and relaxing for a few weeks but all that's got to change back to uni next week 27th. All that's left for this year are exams. If I don't pass them I will spend the summer doing them and then again if I don't pass them I can do them again in September I believe. Worse case scenario re-do the whole year again starting in September which to be honest I would welcome so I'm trying not to worry about the exams. I would like to go to all lectures and practicals right from the start of the year I think it would really benefit me especially when it came to these exams again lol.
I was trying not to moan in this post for once but alas it simply would not be me if I didn't moan or there was no drama. :-D
Oh, speaking of drama, my laptop saved my life today. Now I realise that sounds funny but it's really true. Here is what happened:
My laptop suddenly turned off in the middle of my Spore game (bad times) so I jumped up to check the plug. It was all plugged in and switched on but there was no light where my laptop lead was plugged into my laptop like there normally is. So I check the whole lead for Jynx teeth marks and still nothing. I tried plugging it in another plug socket and still no light and laptop still off.
Wierded out but trying to stay calm, feeling like I want to cry and reassuring myself I have very good insurance, it's no big deal etc etc I walk up and down the flat then decide tv will sooth me. The tv wouldn't go on either. Then I was really happy I thought 'yay it's just my electric has run out' so I skipped to put the key back in the meter for the emergency but then I was gutted to see I still had electric so it wasn't that. I checked every plug in the living room and nothing so then I check the fuse board.
Success! One of the switches is down so I flick it and the tv is on for a second then off one second later and the fuse is gone again. Now really confused and annoyed I can't figure out what's going on I open the kitchen door. Oh my god scarey! The whole kitchen is filled with smoke and the toaster is stuck on with now charcoal ex-toast still on fire in it! I'm such an idiot! Apparently I put toast on? I totally don't remember doing it but I must have and then gone back to play Spore and forgot. My toaster won't stay on by itself so I keep the spring down with a peice of cardboard. The toaster is now totally melted and the kitchen is toxic even with the extractor fan on. Eyes watering and choking I turn off the toaster carefully and get out of there.
I need to check the whole fuses problem. Basically everything in the kitchen stayed on hence the continued fire and toaster on but the fuses in the living room (including the smoke alarm worryingly) are the ones that had gone. That's bizarre. If my laptop had not gone off I would have been sat there, kitchen on fire not noticing for even longer than I actually was.
After a little while I flicked the fuse switch again and with the toaster unplugged everything came back on. I had to try the toaster again to make sure (yeah I know now that I shouldn't have, not exactly safety first am I?) anyways the fuses go again so I leave the toaster unplugged and flip the switch once more, everythings fine, tv comes on and laptop starts charging, few. My spore game wasn't saved, grrr but thankful for small mercies etc.
Glad to be alive I went for a nap on the sofa and woke up way later than I expected at 1am so here I am. The kitchen is still toxic even though the extractor fan has been on for hours it stinks in there, not very pleasant and I can't have toast which sucks as it's pretty much my staple. Oh well, luckily I have some money next week to get a new one which was needed.
I'll write more when I have something to say! Much love to all, hugs xx
I've been growing some cool plants in my kitchen, in the background is the state of the building site which is my street now. They are building houses opposite my block and it is so noisy. I can hardly hear my tv half of the time. They start early every morning but they are gone by 4pm. I've got runner beans, Parsley, Basil, tomatoes, red, yellow and green peppers (I hope) and some flowers, wild and common. Fingers crossed for good growth. Mum and I will be getting on with the allotement some time soon with Pat. Noone's been up there this year yet, we've been lazy. :-)
I've been to some cool places with mum over the Easter though, especially on Easter sunday when we went to Devils Point with Vicky. Mum used to take me, Kev and Katie there when we were young, we practically lived there in summer holidays and we've all taken the kids there a lot too. Great free pool, cafe and toilets in one place only ten minutes from where mum and I live too.
I've been to the park a few times with Katie and Sam too, he doesn't seem to like other kids much at all but we all have had a blast. He giggles his head off on the swings it's so cute. He's proper fearless and flings himself on everything so we have to block places he can fall and chase him constantly he's a hand full of fun. Runs like lightning, so fast!!!
The cats are getting on great now like nothing ever happened. They sleep together all the time and play like brothers so that makes me less stressed at home now.
Our vicar Roger has left for new pastures which is sad for us but great for him as he will be closer to his childrens universities and his extended families. We had a wonderful day on his last church Dartmoor trip. It was a beautiful day and a lot of fun.
I haven't been into uni once since we broke up and while I really miss everyone especially everyone in the chaplaincy I have really not had the money for the bus. I've actually enjoyed having a complete break from the whole experience and being back in holiday mode in the sun has been lovely. I'm going to miss the fresh air again next week when I go back and the lack of responsibility has been bliss.
I won't be able to go to America as planned this summer. I've been pretty depressed about that. I've been waiting for an oportunity to tell everyone but on here and facebook will have to do. I simply can't afford it. I will be paying off all debts (not including student ones I'm adding right now) including overdraft instead which I think is more important. I will be able to afford the £72 to update my passport though so maybe Christmas holidays instead? By the time I get my passport back it will be very expensive peak travel times June, July and August and I can't travel as my old name so this year is out.
I haven't heard anything about my laptop refund or extra funding either and that's where the trip money would've come from so it's a no-no right now. I realised it's been six years since I left Plymouth for anything now, that's kinda funny. At least I have two planned road trips coming up, Rogers induction service and the Somerset County Cricket match the chaplaincy has organised. I'm really looking forward to both!
Mum and I have also been to some great places over the Easter holls whilst looking for Bluebells (mum loves them) like Plym Bridge. We've had some nice packed lunches and drives. We're planning on doing the same kind of things during the summer, day trips etc. One in particular will be Kew Gardens, why not have a look at Google Earth?
We have had some wonderful dinners too, lol. This was Easter dinner with Vicky at mums. Mums cooking - yum!
Life has been good and relaxing for a few weeks but all that's got to change back to uni next week 27th. All that's left for this year are exams. If I don't pass them I will spend the summer doing them and then again if I don't pass them I can do them again in September I believe. Worse case scenario re-do the whole year again starting in September which to be honest I would welcome so I'm trying not to worry about the exams. I would like to go to all lectures and practicals right from the start of the year I think it would really benefit me especially when it came to these exams again lol.
I was trying not to moan in this post for once but alas it simply would not be me if I didn't moan or there was no drama. :-D
Oh, speaking of drama, my laptop saved my life today. Now I realise that sounds funny but it's really true. Here is what happened:
My laptop suddenly turned off in the middle of my Spore game (bad times) so I jumped up to check the plug. It was all plugged in and switched on but there was no light where my laptop lead was plugged into my laptop like there normally is. So I check the whole lead for Jynx teeth marks and still nothing. I tried plugging it in another plug socket and still no light and laptop still off.
Wierded out but trying to stay calm, feeling like I want to cry and reassuring myself I have very good insurance, it's no big deal etc etc I walk up and down the flat then decide tv will sooth me. The tv wouldn't go on either. Then I was really happy I thought 'yay it's just my electric has run out' so I skipped to put the key back in the meter for the emergency but then I was gutted to see I still had electric so it wasn't that. I checked every plug in the living room and nothing so then I check the fuse board.
Success! One of the switches is down so I flick it and the tv is on for a second then off one second later and the fuse is gone again. Now really confused and annoyed I can't figure out what's going on I open the kitchen door. Oh my god scarey! The whole kitchen is filled with smoke and the toaster is stuck on with now charcoal ex-toast still on fire in it! I'm such an idiot! Apparently I put toast on? I totally don't remember doing it but I must have and then gone back to play Spore and forgot. My toaster won't stay on by itself so I keep the spring down with a peice of cardboard. The toaster is now totally melted and the kitchen is toxic even with the extractor fan on. Eyes watering and choking I turn off the toaster carefully and get out of there.
I need to check the whole fuses problem. Basically everything in the kitchen stayed on hence the continued fire and toaster on but the fuses in the living room (including the smoke alarm worryingly) are the ones that had gone. That's bizarre. If my laptop had not gone off I would have been sat there, kitchen on fire not noticing for even longer than I actually was.
After a little while I flicked the fuse switch again and with the toaster unplugged everything came back on. I had to try the toaster again to make sure (yeah I know now that I shouldn't have, not exactly safety first am I?) anyways the fuses go again so I leave the toaster unplugged and flip the switch once more, everythings fine, tv comes on and laptop starts charging, few. My spore game wasn't saved, grrr but thankful for small mercies etc.
Glad to be alive I went for a nap on the sofa and woke up way later than I expected at 1am so here I am. The kitchen is still toxic even though the extractor fan has been on for hours it stinks in there, not very pleasant and I can't have toast which sucks as it's pretty much my staple. Oh well, luckily I have some money next week to get a new one which was needed.
I'll write more when I have something to say! Much love to all, hugs xx
Wednesday, 18 March 2009
Thursday 19th March 2009
Ok so I was so tired today after a long day that I fell asleep on the sofa by 6.30pm. While it was great to get some kip, I now find myself at 1am wide awake as I had my full 6 hour sleep. I can't tidy my flat as it's so late and will disturb my downstairs neighbour, can't do a wash, hoover, walk around too much etc. It's quite frustrating that I had that much sleep. Especially since today, Thursday, is my longest day of the week at Uni, I have a 9am lecture and I won't leave for home until about 9pm.
Tonight it will be our last Discipleship Explored. David has been away at a conference since Monday with Glen so it will be nice to see him, it's surprising how different the chaplaincy is without him. It is sad that the course has finally come to an end, even though it was supposed to be just for the winter term and specially extended due to begging, lol. I have been looking back at my Christianity Explored booklet with pride at how far we have come since that first session. I feel especially proud that Vicky will be baptised and confirmed this summer.
The first question we ever had to answer was "If you could ask God one question, what would it be?" Mine was 'Do I have enough time left in my lifetime to make up for the bad I have done and be forgiven?' Well, I didn't fully understand how things are back then, now I know that we are all forgiven the second Jesus died for us, it is a question I would never ask now and laughed when I read. It seems a lifetime away since I thought that way and I am so very grateful for the opportunity to take the course.
I submitted an extenuating circumstances form today for all modules. My tutor Dave Harwood helped me fill all the dates in and it went quite well. It is an amazing weight off my mind to know that I'm excused for my absences especially since they were beyond my control and I will only be judged on my actual merit. It is a shame that there are no more practicals now that I have someone that will take me to all my lectures and classes. I feel somewhat cheated as it's too late. I am however very privileged to have been allotted 50 hours revision with a personal tutor and I am looking forward to understanding my subjects before my exams.
I was fortunate that I did so well in my previous exams and classes, overall I have a good average when my absences are cancelled out. I have put in reports and essays etc even if they were late which now doesn't matter - yay! I had my assessment yesterday so now I have a Dictaphone that I may borrow from the library and I will be able to purchase Microsoft Office for a fraction of the price so that I may open portal documents at home, I will be given a printer with a scanner so I can work at home because I can't use the library, the personal note taker who will help me get to lectures, the revision tutor and my laptop refund was approved, woot!
Sorry to keep going on about it but it's such a relief to know that I can now get on with passing and I finally have the help I should have been getting since September. I think it's a recognition thing more than anything else it's nice to know that things out of my control won't stop me anymore. I am looking forward to going into a lecture with the lecture notes, Dictaphone in hand, prepared and not preoccupied then going into a small room for my exam so I can concentrate on the questions not my surroundings.
I should write about my week before this post gets any more long and rambling. I think it was a week Sunday since I last posted, I'll write what I can remember. Sunday night we continued our lent course we are doing at the evening services. That was good, we watched a little video on street pastors. I don't remember much of the week as I was in bed early every night and the days sort of merged. Monday I was in the chaplaincy as usual, Tuesday was Mumsies birthday, in the morning I bought a cake and some candles then went to mums and surprised her with them. I stayed with her for the day then she went for a meal with Karen and the kids. Wednesday mum and I went in town and she bought her walking boots.
Thursdays lectures were great, Island habitats and diversity. Discipleship explored I remember of course, we had sausages in barbeque sauce, mashed potatoes, peas, sweetcorn, cheesecake and apple crumble with custard. We had such a good discussion that it carried on until 9.30pm!
On Friday morning we had our plant test. We all went in and were given test papers. We had an hour to look at all twenty four plants. I was confident I knew all of the common and Latin names but I found out when we went in that we had to know the families and genus too! I wasn't able to learn them in an hour no matter how much I tried and wrote them all out. The first part of the test was then comparing data and plotting an extensive three-part graph. The information we had were from three parts of grassland and what percentage of plants were found in the three different conditions, wet, well drained, bright sun etc. We had to write about the different habitats.
The next part of the test was doing some calculations to figure out the percentages for example of Buttercups in each area and comparing them to the other areas. There were two different comparison methods. That was pretty complicated and hard I found. During this part of the test the lab tech approached us individually and handed us our plant test sheets so that one by one we could go to identify the plants. I got the genus question wrong and the family question wrong but I got all the other Latin names and common names. Each question was worth 4 points altogether, a point for each part of the Latin name so like Ranunculus Repens and then another point for each part of the common name like Creeping Buttercup. I got 24/32, all of them right. I don't know how everyone else did but I think I did pretty well. We haven't had the rest of the results yet, I think we get them today.
Saturday I spent with Mumsie, we went to the carboot sale and I got loads of clothes for my neighbours newborn Daisy. In the afternoon I put Norton on her pc and she cooked us a lovely dinner. She babysat in the evening and I had an early night. Sunday morning Vicky and I went to church, St.Matthias.
Sunday after church Vicky and I went window shopping around town. We didn't really mean to but we spent the whole afternoon in town. Vicky then treated me to Subway which was really gorgeous. I hadn't had Subway for ages and I really enjoyed it a lot. We then went back up to church for the evening service. We continued the lent course and watched a video on a church in Devon that opened as a cafe for clubbers and how successful that has been. That was an eye opener.
Monday I started out at Uni then met up with my mum and Pat in town. I got an advance of £100 from my loan at student finance. I had some books I had ordered from the Genesis talk that I had to pick up from the Christian book shop, while I was there getting them I bought some bracelets, a pen and a new Manga Bible. It's so cool, it has Manga pictures as expected but it also has a really great concordance at the end and a guide to reading the whole thing in a year. I was very impressed. I gave my mum £20 which is my half of her walking boots she had for her birthday. I also paid for some shoes she got as part of her Mothers day present, I have something else I got her too but I can't say what as Mothers Day is not until this Sunday.
When I got home I spent the rest of the money I had on cat food, cat litter, shampoo, pasta, bread, beans etc etc, nothing exciting so then I got depressed that I had no money and hadn't bought anything exciting. It's my brothers birthday today and although I have him a card I didn't get him a present so I feel a bit bad. I don't get paid again until next Thursday so it's going to be a long week. I wonder when I can get that laptop refund...... anyways, Tuesday was a field trip which was really exciting.
We were at Dartmoor as part of Ecology. We had to fill out a survey style booklet about the landscape, plants, agriculture, tourism effecting the land etc. It was absolutely fabulous weather it was glorious. We didn't have to do very much and it was a lot of fun.
We filled out all the information and had a little talk then we walked to a nearby Quarry to see the different terrain and to eat lunch. Vicky and I shared one lunch between the two of us I had bought two sarnies and Vicky had a bag of crisps and a cake we shared. It was really a very beautiful place, I am hoping mumsie and I will go there again soon.
After lunch we had to take three different 1m x 1m squares and note the percentage of plants, Gorse, Heather that kind of shrub. We chose dense coverage for some and mainly grass areas to compare. We then all got back on the coach back into Uni. We were pooped when we got back to the chaplaincy after 3pm. Laura was in there with Steve. We grabbed some more lunch there for £1, bread and cheese, cherry tomatoes and a cup a soup before I had my assessment interview with Nigel from disability assist.
I was then in bed asleep by 7pm last night pooped. This morning I went to see Dr.Dave (my tutor Dave Harwood) as explained before. After that about lunch time I did the extenuating circumstances form and spent most of the rest of the day in the chaplaincy. Vicky was in the library getting help with her maths. We have our exam on Monday and have to do our online tests this week too. I was supposed to see mumsie this evening but she was at Katies, then she was going to Cheryls. By 6.30pm tonight I was going to sleep so I'm not sure when I will see her now.
I'll try and write again sooner so it's not such a long post in future. More pictures on Facebook. Love ya ! xxxxxx
Tonight it will be our last Discipleship Explored. David has been away at a conference since Monday with Glen so it will be nice to see him, it's surprising how different the chaplaincy is without him. It is sad that the course has finally come to an end, even though it was supposed to be just for the winter term and specially extended due to begging, lol. I have been looking back at my Christianity Explored booklet with pride at how far we have come since that first session. I feel especially proud that Vicky will be baptised and confirmed this summer.
The first question we ever had to answer was "If you could ask God one question, what would it be?" Mine was 'Do I have enough time left in my lifetime to make up for the bad I have done and be forgiven?' Well, I didn't fully understand how things are back then, now I know that we are all forgiven the second Jesus died for us, it is a question I would never ask now and laughed when I read. It seems a lifetime away since I thought that way and I am so very grateful for the opportunity to take the course.
I submitted an extenuating circumstances form today for all modules. My tutor Dave Harwood helped me fill all the dates in and it went quite well. It is an amazing weight off my mind to know that I'm excused for my absences especially since they were beyond my control and I will only be judged on my actual merit. It is a shame that there are no more practicals now that I have someone that will take me to all my lectures and classes. I feel somewhat cheated as it's too late. I am however very privileged to have been allotted 50 hours revision with a personal tutor and I am looking forward to understanding my subjects before my exams.
I was fortunate that I did so well in my previous exams and classes, overall I have a good average when my absences are cancelled out. I have put in reports and essays etc even if they were late which now doesn't matter - yay! I had my assessment yesterday so now I have a Dictaphone that I may borrow from the library and I will be able to purchase Microsoft Office for a fraction of the price so that I may open portal documents at home, I will be given a printer with a scanner so I can work at home because I can't use the library, the personal note taker who will help me get to lectures, the revision tutor and my laptop refund was approved, woot!
Sorry to keep going on about it but it's such a relief to know that I can now get on with passing and I finally have the help I should have been getting since September. I think it's a recognition thing more than anything else it's nice to know that things out of my control won't stop me anymore. I am looking forward to going into a lecture with the lecture notes, Dictaphone in hand, prepared and not preoccupied then going into a small room for my exam so I can concentrate on the questions not my surroundings.
I should write about my week before this post gets any more long and rambling. I think it was a week Sunday since I last posted, I'll write what I can remember. Sunday night we continued our lent course we are doing at the evening services. That was good, we watched a little video on street pastors. I don't remember much of the week as I was in bed early every night and the days sort of merged. Monday I was in the chaplaincy as usual, Tuesday was Mumsies birthday, in the morning I bought a cake and some candles then went to mums and surprised her with them. I stayed with her for the day then she went for a meal with Karen and the kids. Wednesday mum and I went in town and she bought her walking boots.
Thursdays lectures were great, Island habitats and diversity. Discipleship explored I remember of course, we had sausages in barbeque sauce, mashed potatoes, peas, sweetcorn, cheesecake and apple crumble with custard. We had such a good discussion that it carried on until 9.30pm!
On Friday morning we had our plant test. We all went in and were given test papers. We had an hour to look at all twenty four plants. I was confident I knew all of the common and Latin names but I found out when we went in that we had to know the families and genus too! I wasn't able to learn them in an hour no matter how much I tried and wrote them all out. The first part of the test was then comparing data and plotting an extensive three-part graph. The information we had were from three parts of grassland and what percentage of plants were found in the three different conditions, wet, well drained, bright sun etc. We had to write about the different habitats.
The next part of the test was doing some calculations to figure out the percentages for example of Buttercups in each area and comparing them to the other areas. There were two different comparison methods. That was pretty complicated and hard I found. During this part of the test the lab tech approached us individually and handed us our plant test sheets so that one by one we could go to identify the plants. I got the genus question wrong and the family question wrong but I got all the other Latin names and common names. Each question was worth 4 points altogether, a point for each part of the Latin name so like Ranunculus Repens and then another point for each part of the common name like Creeping Buttercup. I got 24/32, all of them right. I don't know how everyone else did but I think I did pretty well. We haven't had the rest of the results yet, I think we get them today.
Saturday I spent with Mumsie, we went to the carboot sale and I got loads of clothes for my neighbours newborn Daisy. In the afternoon I put Norton on her pc and she cooked us a lovely dinner. She babysat in the evening and I had an early night. Sunday morning Vicky and I went to church, St.Matthias.
Sunday after church Vicky and I went window shopping around town. We didn't really mean to but we spent the whole afternoon in town. Vicky then treated me to Subway which was really gorgeous. I hadn't had Subway for ages and I really enjoyed it a lot. We then went back up to church for the evening service. We continued the lent course and watched a video on a church in Devon that opened as a cafe for clubbers and how successful that has been. That was an eye opener.
Monday I started out at Uni then met up with my mum and Pat in town. I got an advance of £100 from my loan at student finance. I had some books I had ordered from the Genesis talk that I had to pick up from the Christian book shop, while I was there getting them I bought some bracelets, a pen and a new Manga Bible. It's so cool, it has Manga pictures as expected but it also has a really great concordance at the end and a guide to reading the whole thing in a year. I was very impressed. I gave my mum £20 which is my half of her walking boots she had for her birthday. I also paid for some shoes she got as part of her Mothers day present, I have something else I got her too but I can't say what as Mothers Day is not until this Sunday.
When I got home I spent the rest of the money I had on cat food, cat litter, shampoo, pasta, bread, beans etc etc, nothing exciting so then I got depressed that I had no money and hadn't bought anything exciting. It's my brothers birthday today and although I have him a card I didn't get him a present so I feel a bit bad. I don't get paid again until next Thursday so it's going to be a long week. I wonder when I can get that laptop refund...... anyways, Tuesday was a field trip which was really exciting.
We were at Dartmoor as part of Ecology. We had to fill out a survey style booklet about the landscape, plants, agriculture, tourism effecting the land etc. It was absolutely fabulous weather it was glorious. We didn't have to do very much and it was a lot of fun.
We filled out all the information and had a little talk then we walked to a nearby Quarry to see the different terrain and to eat lunch. Vicky and I shared one lunch between the two of us I had bought two sarnies and Vicky had a bag of crisps and a cake we shared. It was really a very beautiful place, I am hoping mumsie and I will go there again soon.
After lunch we had to take three different 1m x 1m squares and note the percentage of plants, Gorse, Heather that kind of shrub. We chose dense coverage for some and mainly grass areas to compare. We then all got back on the coach back into Uni. We were pooped when we got back to the chaplaincy after 3pm. Laura was in there with Steve. We grabbed some more lunch there for £1, bread and cheese, cherry tomatoes and a cup a soup before I had my assessment interview with Nigel from disability assist.
I was then in bed asleep by 7pm last night pooped. This morning I went to see Dr.Dave (my tutor Dave Harwood) as explained before. After that about lunch time I did the extenuating circumstances form and spent most of the rest of the day in the chaplaincy. Vicky was in the library getting help with her maths. We have our exam on Monday and have to do our online tests this week too. I was supposed to see mumsie this evening but she was at Katies, then she was going to Cheryls. By 6.30pm tonight I was going to sleep so I'm not sure when I will see her now.
I'll try and write again sooner so it's not such a long post in future. More pictures on Facebook. Love ya ! xxxxxx
Sunday, 8 March 2009
Sunday 8th March 2009
Hiya all, this is going to be a super condensed blog I am afraid. I am at my mums waiting for her to get back from my nans. Since I last blogged millions of things have happened and I won't be able to write about them all but I will write as much about the last week as I can before mumsie arrives. Last Dartmoor walk pics are on Facebook if you're interested.
Last weekend first, Saturday I spent the whole day in the library at uni revising for exams. When I say the whole day, that's what I mean. I was there from 7am until late evening. Nothing exciting to report, I did little revising, a lot of chatting and a lot of facebooking. I learnt that the library is not the place to revise. Saturday night was a non event because I was asleep by 8pm, it had been a very long week ending in a statistics exam Friday.
Sunday morning I woke early and got showered etc then went to church - St.Matthias. It was a lovely service even if Vicky didn't show which meant I sat alone. I stayed for tea after and chatted until about 1pm when I went I texted Vicky and met up with her in the uni library for more revision. It was a productive afternoon and a lot of fun too. We checked out places in North Devon for a retreat for the summer online.
Sunday evening Vicky and I went to St.Matthias for the evening service which is always lovely and quiet. Afterwards we got burgers. Monday morning was our chemistry exam. It was as scarey as ever. My anxiety is always very high on these occassions and the fact that I struggle with chemistry doesn't help. I answered as many as I could and hoped for the best. In the afternoon I sat in the chaplaincy and chatted with everyone there. Monday night I went to bed early.
Tuesday morning I woke up super early and went to the library before classes. I revised all morning then went to the chaplaincy at lunch time. I got stuck in there then my anxiety playing me up and couldn't then go to my two chemistry lectures in the afternoon. (We had a new lecturer). Instead I went to moan at the disability services advisors for not getting any help towards my course yet. The fact that the course ends in a few weeks and I have struggled on since September without any of the help I deserve really upsets me and I had a bit of a cry. It must have worked because I am being referred to Occupational Therapy. As soon as I am assessed I should be able to get my laptop refund and help with things like a small seperate room to do exams in, extra time etc.
Tuesday evening I was supposed to go to Christian Union but I had had a really fragile day and just wanted to go home to bed so I did just that. Wednesday is my day off although I didn't do any relaxing. I went and sat in the chaplaincy all day. I had an appointment at 1pm with dissability assist to discuss my file and case. I had to explain how my illness affects me day to day. In the afternoon I revised and chatted with friends. Vicky and I went to the library and worked on a Biology past-paper. I quickly went home for tea then was back within an hour to attend a talk David had organised. It was called 'Can we believe in Genisis today?' It was part of the Darwin 200 thing that the uni is doing at the moment (loads of different talks and events celebrating Darwins anniversary) by a Minister who was actually Glen and Maureens lecturer when they were at uni doing Theology. It was fascinating, I really enjoyed it as it was Creation/Evolution and how both can be true and compliment eachother. Vicky, Isabel, Kev, Jenny, Glen, Rowan, Roger, Maureen, Trevor, and Talan were all there too.
Thursday morning was lectures on Ecology followed by lunch in the chaplaincy. The usual great time was had by all, Jonny was there in the morning then Glen took over in the afternoon. I spent a lot of Thursday writing a lab report as well as being distracted. Vicky and I had to go to lab for a few hours where we were told our Chemistry exam results - both of us passed - woot! then we were back to the chaplaincy again. Kev, Peter, Steve and Rob were all in. Steve, Peter and Rob were playing the keyboard too, that was a lot of fun. (See Facebook for pictures). The usual Thursday night things happened next. Steve entertained us with the music from his laptop while David was away, Vicky and I set the table for Discipleship explored then at 6pm Jenny and Peter were back for the meal.
We had a wonderful beef and mushroom stroganoff with jacket potatoes, followed by apple crumble with custard and toffee cheesecake. The leftovers were put in the fridge for the next day. Our video was really good this week, very thought provoking and the talks were on the same passage Roger had preached on the week before so I found it particularly interesting as I knew more about it. We all did the dishes together and went home. I had an early night ready for the exam the next morning.
Friday morning was lab. It was brilliant!!!! We had a mini field trip which I thoroughly enjoyed. First of all I got split from my group, (Marc, Lucy and Lisa) so I had to work with two guys in my class I had never spoke to or seen before which was scarey and we were working outside somewhere I hadn't been before and Vicky hadn't turned up to stand with until I got used to the place. I managed to keep my anxiety to myself and did very well all in all.
We had to take a metal grid and put it on the grass then identify and count wild flowers. It was such a lot of fun I got so engrosed with the work that I forgot where and who I was. There's a lab technition called Owen I really like who kept checking on us which made me feel at ease. I will have to manage without Vicky and my other freinds next year so I am trying to cut the apron strings but I do still get anxious. When we got back to the lab there were 24 pots with plants in that had lables with the latin and the common names on. We had to write them all down to memorise for next week. Noone was very interested in doing this and decided to look them up later online with the list on our handout. I stayed to draw the plants and start trying to identify them. (My chosen degree I will be specialising in plants I have decided).
I got chatting to the lecturers and lab technitions about the fact I want to go on to do a plant degree and they suggested I do some work over the summer with our main tutor Stuart Lane so I will be looking into that definitely. Speaking of the summer I forgot to mention earlier that I spoke with Angel on one of the library nights during the week and she invited me to go visit her so I will be going to New York to see her probably in May as it's cheaper than August by over £200. More about this nearer the time, very exciting news! I saw a flight this morning in a shop window in town for only £239 which is super super cheap, whether it will still be this cheap in May is another thing. The cheapest I have seen so far online was £306 but that's booking by next week and I don't have the money until 27th April.
I ran to the chaplaincy after over-staying in the lab chatting about the plants to appologise to John for missing Bible brunch and for a quick super milky coffee which I had to chug and burnt my tongue then ran to the hall for my biology exam. Vicky had just woke up after oversleeping and just managed to screetch in as the doors opened. We all filed in and did our best. I feel quite confident that I did alright as none of the questions were a surprise and a lot of the topics I revised were covered. I think as long as I got the plant questions right then I will have enough right to pass. Fingers crossed.
After the exam we went and spent the afternoon in - you guessed it - the chaplaincy. I had enjoyed the lab work so much in the morning and Vicky had missed it so we spent our time going over the work again and starting to learn the latin plant names. I really enjoyed that. I made flash cards with the names on and drew little pictures of each one then we tested eachother. Afterwards we went to the library when the chaplaincy closed at 4pm to continue learning the plants.
Vicky treated us to burgers in Fat Mammas on the way home. I had a swiss burger, my favourite, blue cheese and mushrooms and Vicky had a french burger with fried onion rings and brie we also had beer-battered fries, I had hot chilli dip and Vicky had ketchup. We stayed on the corner chatting for ages before going home. I had a beer and went to bed quite early as I was just exhausted. I watched the rest of Scrubs season 6 in bed. (I have season 1-6 on dvd I have been watching and lending to everyone, Vicky is on season 5, Katie season 3 and my neighbour Heidi is on season 1).
I forgot to tell you that Heidi has had her baby too! She had a beautiful baby girl last week. She is called Daisy Leigh and is just so small and gorgeous. I managed to cram a bit of knitting in over the week I forgot to mention, I made her a hat with ear flaps and some mittens with sleeve strings in pale pink glittery wool that I made her bootees in a few months ago so it all matches. I will try and get some pictures as soon as I have time to go and visit. Keep checking Facebook it's much easier to use than here.
Mum's just arrived so I have to hurry. Yesterday, Saturday morning I woke up stupidly early because I had been up all week and my body was used to it so I took the opportunity to clean my house. Not very exciting for my first day off in weeks but very neccessary. I tidied, hoovered, did washing, cleaned the bathroom, did the mountain of dishes and then I was exausted again so I chilled out on the sofa with the cats in the afternoon. In the evening I went to mums and we went out. We went to see my Uncle Andy at a gig. It was a lot of fun. He is so good it's a shame the audience wasn't bigger but it was fab. There was an entertainer called Wacky Wez that really made us laugh, he did a quiz thingy and he danced a lot, really funny guy. He came out in an afro wig and huge star sunglasses at one point and danced all over. I filmed it with my mobile so he came right over in front of me, I wish I kjnew how to convert the film to put it on YouTube. I'll figure it out and put it on Facebook some time.
Afterwards, Andy took me to Zero's. I haven't been there for weeks it was really good fun. He bought me a pint when we first got in there and I had already had a few halfs with mum at the social club so I was drinking it a bit slower. Andy insisted I drink up so we could move downstairs so I did then I felt a bit tipsy. Downstairs we sat on the dancefloor in the corner watching everyone dance and had a great time chatting and laughing. Afterwards Andy grabbed a kebab then dropped me home at about 4.45am.
This morning I woke with a fright as I got a text from Vicky - "Aren't you coming?" it was only 10 minutes to the beginning of the service 10.20am so I was already going to be late. I jumped out of bed, brushed my teeth and my hair all at the same time, quickly put my clothes on, shoes and coat all at once and ran out of the flat to get the 10.30am bus. I don't know how I managed it but I did. There was a connecting bus waiting for me as I arrived in town that I jumped on and I arrived at Sherwell Church just as David was starting his talk, I had only missed one hymn, yay. Anxiety was the last thing on my mind I was just relieved to be there and went straight in and sat next to Vicky. David was fabulous! Nothing like the normal church talks or sermons, he commands an audience. His disciples had funny voices and his Jesus was so animated I listened to every word and laughed out loud as did everyone else.
After the service Vicky and I stayed for a cuppa in the Sherwell Hall and chatted with some of the lovely older ladies and of course David before we left. Vicky bought a chicken and bacon baguette that she shared with me and then I took her around to where we had had our mini field trip to show her what we had done and the plants we had seen on Friday to help her identifying them this coming week. I don't want to blow my own trumpet but I have learnt all 24 of the plants, latin and common name, I worked quite hard at it so it was easy to point them all out and fun. We will have eight random plants to name on Friday that's all but I may ask him to test me on them all, lol.
I then walked through town to my bus and then I arrived here and wrote this. I have no idea when I will be able to blog again because as you can see my week is very full now. The only time I have to myself is Tuesday morning and Wednesday. Tuesday is my mums birthday (one day before Holly I believe) so I'll be with her before Uni then Wednesday we are spending the day together with Katie and Sam. Saturday is the chaplaincy walk so even Saturday won't be a day off this week. I can't wait for the three weeks off at Easter I feel like I really deserve it. Next week Wednesday Mum and I are thinking of going to London because the coach company is doing a special offer, Plymouth to London for £1! Normally about £36 on the train is way more, sometimes £82 if not booked in advance it can be over £130 on a Friday. None of us have any money though and I'll be even more tired by then so we will see.
In the meantime, wireless in the chaplaincy so when I bring my laptop into Uni I am on often to update my status and keep it on while I'm in the library or chatting in the chaplaincy etc. I will try to get on to blog but it's just not possible to read all of the posts and blog myself. Vicki your blog is wonderful, Holly is adorable and I hope you all have a great day for her birthday. I'm looking forward to reading all about it even if it might be a wordless wednesday the pics will be good I'm sure. Tonight I am back at my own church St.Matthias and at least our exam weeks are over so I may have more time to blog this week. If not, love you loads, miss you and hope to speak to you soon.
Oh, is it still ok to visit you in the summer? Or do you want to visit New York in the summer? I was thinking perhaps I could get Angel on a plane and bring her to yours on an internal flight for a few days if you can't travel as easily? I haven't talked to her yet though and she is quite scared isn't she? Or if it's still ok for me to visit you and you have figured out your schedule, can you please let me know when is best to visit you? I am not sure which is cheaper, direct flight to yours from London or from Nyc internal flight. Whatever is more convenient for you anyway, hugs! xxx
Last weekend first, Saturday I spent the whole day in the library at uni revising for exams. When I say the whole day, that's what I mean. I was there from 7am until late evening. Nothing exciting to report, I did little revising, a lot of chatting and a lot of facebooking. I learnt that the library is not the place to revise. Saturday night was a non event because I was asleep by 8pm, it had been a very long week ending in a statistics exam Friday.
Sunday morning I woke early and got showered etc then went to church - St.Matthias. It was a lovely service even if Vicky didn't show which meant I sat alone. I stayed for tea after and chatted until about 1pm when I went I texted Vicky and met up with her in the uni library for more revision. It was a productive afternoon and a lot of fun too. We checked out places in North Devon for a retreat for the summer online.
Sunday evening Vicky and I went to St.Matthias for the evening service which is always lovely and quiet. Afterwards we got burgers. Monday morning was our chemistry exam. It was as scarey as ever. My anxiety is always very high on these occassions and the fact that I struggle with chemistry doesn't help. I answered as many as I could and hoped for the best. In the afternoon I sat in the chaplaincy and chatted with everyone there. Monday night I went to bed early.
Tuesday morning I woke up super early and went to the library before classes. I revised all morning then went to the chaplaincy at lunch time. I got stuck in there then my anxiety playing me up and couldn't then go to my two chemistry lectures in the afternoon. (We had a new lecturer). Instead I went to moan at the disability services advisors for not getting any help towards my course yet. The fact that the course ends in a few weeks and I have struggled on since September without any of the help I deserve really upsets me and I had a bit of a cry. It must have worked because I am being referred to Occupational Therapy. As soon as I am assessed I should be able to get my laptop refund and help with things like a small seperate room to do exams in, extra time etc.
Tuesday evening I was supposed to go to Christian Union but I had had a really fragile day and just wanted to go home to bed so I did just that. Wednesday is my day off although I didn't do any relaxing. I went and sat in the chaplaincy all day. I had an appointment at 1pm with dissability assist to discuss my file and case. I had to explain how my illness affects me day to day. In the afternoon I revised and chatted with friends. Vicky and I went to the library and worked on a Biology past-paper. I quickly went home for tea then was back within an hour to attend a talk David had organised. It was called 'Can we believe in Genisis today?' It was part of the Darwin 200 thing that the uni is doing at the moment (loads of different talks and events celebrating Darwins anniversary) by a Minister who was actually Glen and Maureens lecturer when they were at uni doing Theology. It was fascinating, I really enjoyed it as it was Creation/Evolution and how both can be true and compliment eachother. Vicky, Isabel, Kev, Jenny, Glen, Rowan, Roger, Maureen, Trevor, and Talan were all there too.
Thursday morning was lectures on Ecology followed by lunch in the chaplaincy. The usual great time was had by all, Jonny was there in the morning then Glen took over in the afternoon. I spent a lot of Thursday writing a lab report as well as being distracted. Vicky and I had to go to lab for a few hours where we were told our Chemistry exam results - both of us passed - woot! then we were back to the chaplaincy again. Kev, Peter, Steve and Rob were all in. Steve, Peter and Rob were playing the keyboard too, that was a lot of fun. (See Facebook for pictures). The usual Thursday night things happened next. Steve entertained us with the music from his laptop while David was away, Vicky and I set the table for Discipleship explored then at 6pm Jenny and Peter were back for the meal.
We had a wonderful beef and mushroom stroganoff with jacket potatoes, followed by apple crumble with custard and toffee cheesecake. The leftovers were put in the fridge for the next day. Our video was really good this week, very thought provoking and the talks were on the same passage Roger had preached on the week before so I found it particularly interesting as I knew more about it. We all did the dishes together and went home. I had an early night ready for the exam the next morning.
Friday morning was lab. It was brilliant!!!! We had a mini field trip which I thoroughly enjoyed. First of all I got split from my group, (Marc, Lucy and Lisa) so I had to work with two guys in my class I had never spoke to or seen before which was scarey and we were working outside somewhere I hadn't been before and Vicky hadn't turned up to stand with until I got used to the place. I managed to keep my anxiety to myself and did very well all in all.
We had to take a metal grid and put it on the grass then identify and count wild flowers. It was such a lot of fun I got so engrosed with the work that I forgot where and who I was. There's a lab technition called Owen I really like who kept checking on us which made me feel at ease. I will have to manage without Vicky and my other freinds next year so I am trying to cut the apron strings but I do still get anxious. When we got back to the lab there were 24 pots with plants in that had lables with the latin and the common names on. We had to write them all down to memorise for next week. Noone was very interested in doing this and decided to look them up later online with the list on our handout. I stayed to draw the plants and start trying to identify them. (My chosen degree I will be specialising in plants I have decided).
I got chatting to the lecturers and lab technitions about the fact I want to go on to do a plant degree and they suggested I do some work over the summer with our main tutor Stuart Lane so I will be looking into that definitely. Speaking of the summer I forgot to mention earlier that I spoke with Angel on one of the library nights during the week and she invited me to go visit her so I will be going to New York to see her probably in May as it's cheaper than August by over £200. More about this nearer the time, very exciting news! I saw a flight this morning in a shop window in town for only £239 which is super super cheap, whether it will still be this cheap in May is another thing. The cheapest I have seen so far online was £306 but that's booking by next week and I don't have the money until 27th April.
I ran to the chaplaincy after over-staying in the lab chatting about the plants to appologise to John for missing Bible brunch and for a quick super milky coffee which I had to chug and burnt my tongue then ran to the hall for my biology exam. Vicky had just woke up after oversleeping and just managed to screetch in as the doors opened. We all filed in and did our best. I feel quite confident that I did alright as none of the questions were a surprise and a lot of the topics I revised were covered. I think as long as I got the plant questions right then I will have enough right to pass. Fingers crossed.
After the exam we went and spent the afternoon in - you guessed it - the chaplaincy. I had enjoyed the lab work so much in the morning and Vicky had missed it so we spent our time going over the work again and starting to learn the latin plant names. I really enjoyed that. I made flash cards with the names on and drew little pictures of each one then we tested eachother. Afterwards we went to the library when the chaplaincy closed at 4pm to continue learning the plants.
Vicky treated us to burgers in Fat Mammas on the way home. I had a swiss burger, my favourite, blue cheese and mushrooms and Vicky had a french burger with fried onion rings and brie we also had beer-battered fries, I had hot chilli dip and Vicky had ketchup. We stayed on the corner chatting for ages before going home. I had a beer and went to bed quite early as I was just exhausted. I watched the rest of Scrubs season 6 in bed. (I have season 1-6 on dvd I have been watching and lending to everyone, Vicky is on season 5, Katie season 3 and my neighbour Heidi is on season 1).
I forgot to tell you that Heidi has had her baby too! She had a beautiful baby girl last week. She is called Daisy Leigh and is just so small and gorgeous. I managed to cram a bit of knitting in over the week I forgot to mention, I made her a hat with ear flaps and some mittens with sleeve strings in pale pink glittery wool that I made her bootees in a few months ago so it all matches. I will try and get some pictures as soon as I have time to go and visit. Keep checking Facebook it's much easier to use than here.
Mum's just arrived so I have to hurry. Yesterday, Saturday morning I woke up stupidly early because I had been up all week and my body was used to it so I took the opportunity to clean my house. Not very exciting for my first day off in weeks but very neccessary. I tidied, hoovered, did washing, cleaned the bathroom, did the mountain of dishes and then I was exausted again so I chilled out on the sofa with the cats in the afternoon. In the evening I went to mums and we went out. We went to see my Uncle Andy at a gig. It was a lot of fun. He is so good it's a shame the audience wasn't bigger but it was fab. There was an entertainer called Wacky Wez that really made us laugh, he did a quiz thingy and he danced a lot, really funny guy. He came out in an afro wig and huge star sunglasses at one point and danced all over. I filmed it with my mobile so he came right over in front of me, I wish I kjnew how to convert the film to put it on YouTube. I'll figure it out and put it on Facebook some time.
Afterwards, Andy took me to Zero's. I haven't been there for weeks it was really good fun. He bought me a pint when we first got in there and I had already had a few halfs with mum at the social club so I was drinking it a bit slower. Andy insisted I drink up so we could move downstairs so I did then I felt a bit tipsy. Downstairs we sat on the dancefloor in the corner watching everyone dance and had a great time chatting and laughing. Afterwards Andy grabbed a kebab then dropped me home at about 4.45am.
This morning I woke with a fright as I got a text from Vicky - "Aren't you coming?" it was only 10 minutes to the beginning of the service 10.20am so I was already going to be late. I jumped out of bed, brushed my teeth and my hair all at the same time, quickly put my clothes on, shoes and coat all at once and ran out of the flat to get the 10.30am bus. I don't know how I managed it but I did. There was a connecting bus waiting for me as I arrived in town that I jumped on and I arrived at Sherwell Church just as David was starting his talk, I had only missed one hymn, yay. Anxiety was the last thing on my mind I was just relieved to be there and went straight in and sat next to Vicky. David was fabulous! Nothing like the normal church talks or sermons, he commands an audience. His disciples had funny voices and his Jesus was so animated I listened to every word and laughed out loud as did everyone else.
After the service Vicky and I stayed for a cuppa in the Sherwell Hall and chatted with some of the lovely older ladies and of course David before we left. Vicky bought a chicken and bacon baguette that she shared with me and then I took her around to where we had had our mini field trip to show her what we had done and the plants we had seen on Friday to help her identifying them this coming week. I don't want to blow my own trumpet but I have learnt all 24 of the plants, latin and common name, I worked quite hard at it so it was easy to point them all out and fun. We will have eight random plants to name on Friday that's all but I may ask him to test me on them all, lol.
I then walked through town to my bus and then I arrived here and wrote this. I have no idea when I will be able to blog again because as you can see my week is very full now. The only time I have to myself is Tuesday morning and Wednesday. Tuesday is my mums birthday (one day before Holly I believe) so I'll be with her before Uni then Wednesday we are spending the day together with Katie and Sam. Saturday is the chaplaincy walk so even Saturday won't be a day off this week. I can't wait for the three weeks off at Easter I feel like I really deserve it. Next week Wednesday Mum and I are thinking of going to London because the coach company is doing a special offer, Plymouth to London for £1! Normally about £36 on the train is way more, sometimes £82 if not booked in advance it can be over £130 on a Friday. None of us have any money though and I'll be even more tired by then so we will see.
In the meantime, wireless in the chaplaincy so when I bring my laptop into Uni I am on often to update my status and keep it on while I'm in the library or chatting in the chaplaincy etc. I will try to get on to blog but it's just not possible to read all of the posts and blog myself. Vicki your blog is wonderful, Holly is adorable and I hope you all have a great day for her birthday. I'm looking forward to reading all about it even if it might be a wordless wednesday the pics will be good I'm sure. Tonight I am back at my own church St.Matthias and at least our exam weeks are over so I may have more time to blog this week. If not, love you loads, miss you and hope to speak to you soon.
Oh, is it still ok to visit you in the summer? Or do you want to visit New York in the summer? I was thinking perhaps I could get Angel on a plane and bring her to yours on an internal flight for a few days if you can't travel as easily? I haven't talked to her yet though and she is quite scared isn't she? Or if it's still ok for me to visit you and you have figured out your schedule, can you please let me know when is best to visit you? I am not sure which is cheaper, direct flight to yours from London or from Nyc internal flight. Whatever is more convenient for you anyway, hugs! xxx
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)