Happy Christmas!!!!!

Well as I sit here writing an essay on the French Royal Navy, between 1624-1715, I am wondering what everyone else is getting up to...?

It appears as if my life has become nothing except work work work and the odd application...if I can find time! I am finally heading home next Monday but have the joys of a 12,000 word dissertation to write over the two week break so I'm really looking forward to that (and wishing I could just have the 5 week vacation I had last Christmas!). Anyhow I hope some people are getting more shopping done than me...I'm hoping everyone will enjoy the family time and not worry too much about their presents! I am just looking forward to everyone being together on Christmas day...and a day off!

Happy Thanksgiving

To all my American Friends...Happy Thanksgiving!! Enjoy the Turkey!

Pink and Pretty

I think this material is really pretty! Very girly I know but I love it. I decided new sheets were necessary and I fancied something which would cheer up my room (a very big but nice one) at University. I am not use to such flowers but they do the trick. I feel about 5 years old again!

Arrrhhhhhhhhh

I am confused ... what do I do with my life?

I have two options to try 1)become a lawyer 2)become a primary/secondary (history) school teacher.

I think that being made to apply for jobs in one's final year is just too stressful and horrible...plus there are no jobs around and there is greater competition as all the potential bankers are going into law! argh!

Anyhow on a lighter note I have managed to stay alive for the first quarter of my final year only 6 1/2 months to go!

I am going to make my blog private - now I have worked out how to do it...email addresses please...

Coming back to university this year has been a strange experience after my year abroad but I am happy to say that it all appears to be going ok! I have now adopted 4 children and may get some more...this is a traditional thing which I missed out on last year so I plan to make up for it in my 4th and final year. The year should be good with only 2 hours of class a week and a dissertation to write.

I found the pictures I had previously promised ... I think these actually come from the only week of summer this country experienced so it is nice to look at them now in the face of rain, cloud and a chilly wind!

The package from afar!

Attacking the huge (!) box with a knife...

unopened...

opened!!

I can't get more photos to upload at the minuite but I am smiling in them all and smile now as I write this! Thank you very much for your kind gift! I think this was the largest package I have ever got in the post!!!!!

As i watched the opening to that classic film 'You've got Mail' and heard the story of the butterfly in the subway i felt that i should share a similar experience. Whilst in London a ladybird/ladybug got on the tube with me. It proceded to examine my nice American bag (bought in my last week and very useful) and then it flew throughout the carriage. Unfortunately i did not see it fly off...instead it flew very near to the air conditioning...well that is my story.

I also feel the need to clarify an issue i discussed many a time with certain American citizens. The words 'toodle-pip' are used in the everyday sense...twice this week i have heard this delightful phrase! It makes me smile and think England is qwerky.

I have now reached the stage where i really need some sunny weather...there is a distinct lack of it here and it not fun to see rain each day! It doesn't help that i have decided i really miss America and all the people i knew well at the exact same time...i feel a trip coming on...or being planned at the very least!

A trip to London Town

A trip to London town was undertaken these past few days and I behaved like a complete tourist. It was a great time to go as the summer has just blossomed in England with the beautiful sun burning my skin...this has now turned brown. Anyway I explored the city by foot and enjoyed the freedom of a student rail pass! All the sites were visited and pictures will follow...

Also for one person in particular the clouds were perfect against the very blue sky...I took pictures....they will appear soon!

Now to work and the composition of my CV/resume.

A cold in Scotland

A cold in Scotland accurately describes my present state. I am enjoying my time at my home university and actually want to work which is very strange indeed...the problem I face is a cold...typical...in May it should be sunny and warm! I am imagining everyone in the States basking in the sunshine whilst I lie in bed wrapped in a very thick duvet gazing at the sun outside. It may be sunny here but as you step out of the door the freezing wind strikes you like the blast of air as it rushes off a fridge door. I miss my winter coat and lack sympathetic friends... they are walking around in shorts!

Hope all is well in the States and that everyone is keeping healthy in the sun!

Home Schoolers

As I was working today I was approached by a home schooler and this person was all I thought a home school mother would be like...before my experience abroad! I hadn't known this was possible in the UK but supposedly it is very hard...you have to cover certain things...and keep up with a national curriculum ...

I am currently enjoying the delights of my summer holiday...Sunday was spent in a London park under the blazing sun...a heat wave(!!!)...working on my second day back in the country with jet-lag and the delights of home cooking and a messy (very messy) room to tidy.

I hope all are keeping well and that the grades people have received are pleasing!

last week ...

Well this is my last week in the USA for a while as i have finished all my classes (& exams) and even started receiving grades! It is strange to think that i will be placed back into my 'other' life which i love but is just so different. I have had a great time over here despite the ridiculous amount of work i have been forced to undertake...really not in my power to change...

Although i have said this before it really is the people i have met who have made my trip worthwhile and amazing...i hope i will know them for years to come...

The ability to have an adventure is an opportunity i don't think anyone should ever turn down as there is always more to learn and experience! I have only been able to scratch the surface but my travel bug will live on i'm sure and i will be here again!

Thank you for an amazing year... it has been life changing!

an address for Pimm's that will work

www.anyoneforpimms.com

PIMM'S!!!! Summer has arrived!

Pimm's No. 1 Cup is based on gin. It is 25% alcohol by volume.

This is the best summer drink ever! A mix of gin, fruit, soda and all-together yummyness! When drank with a picnic of strawberries and cream in a meadow you reach the stage of Englishness which i love!

Visit this site to find out all about it...

http://www2.anyoneforpimms.com/Gateway/?Lang=en-us&BrandId=SO&RefUrl=http%3a%2f%2fwww2.anyoneforpimms.com%2fTemplates%2fStandardContentTemplate.aspx%3fNRMODE%3dPublished%26NRNODEGUID%3d%257b8A0A0143-E18D-41BC-959D-144B50D6DBB2%257d%26NRORIGINALURL%3d%252f%26NRCACHEHINT%3dGuest

and next time your in England try a Pimm's!

Outdoor movies

This is a great idea in practice i have to say...the weather is somewhat predictable and you don't have to sit in a huge coat as you would in England. My question is...why would someone pick a movie which makes you jump out of your skin every 2 minutes? also why a Thursday night? As it was outside my dorm window all i had to do was listen through the walls! My thinking is they should play classic movies...real movies!

"Selling beds is now degree course"

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/education/7343027.stm

enough said

well having experienced serious 'showers' i have only 4 weeks left to Dance in the states and don't quite know what to make of it. The prospect of writing another 5 papers before this is not a happy one but the knowledge that i'm leaving loads of good friends behind i even worse. The best thing about my experience has been the people i have met along the way and who knows when i will next see them all!?! anyway i must continue on with my work so i can squeeze in all i can into this short amount of time...how can people only do 1 semester abroad?

April

The month of April usually brings the onset of April showers and April fools...having experienced a 'fool' please let there be no more showers for a while!

Ambrosia

Although this is not the actual ambrosia which was consumed it is an image which displays the bizar nature of the dish. I was introduced to this by the Taylor's and was pleasantly surprised. I generally do not eat coconut or the other nuts which were placed into this sweet concoction but the fruity/marshmallow goodness had a distinct and unique taste which i enjoyed. Thanks to this family i am beginning to eat nuts!

Wreaths

This struck me as a distinctive American feature as i looked at front doors ...
All year round wreaths of different styles/colours/shapes and sizes adorn the doors of even the simplest homes. i have decided i like this but it wouldn't work at home...they would be stolen...i have since been told that this is an amusing and rediculous - definately different is all i can say!

Expectations

Should this not be red?

The American large portion

I was always told that when i came to USofA that i would recieve largefood portions, quite unlike what i'm use to. I never expected to recieve mouth wash in this way! The above piture perfectly demonstrates my point...the small green bottle is the large size in the UK...the American one posed me with a problem. How do you use that much mouth wash?! i though it would be impossible but not so as the picture will tell you!

Thank you all for a great and relaxing weekend...i think all the orange juice and vitamin C tablets did it...the illness seems to be departing!

'There is no rhyme or reason to life, no definite right and no definite wrong, so do everyting as best you can and do it out of love.'

unknown

I'm unknown on here but here goes...