Goodbye 2011...

...its been emotional (and wonderful.) I'm actually a little sad it has to come to an end. I think it's fair to say 2011 kicked 2010's bum. Just like I did last year, here's my breakdown of the year, but in a slightly different form. ;)


January
Interned at Viva Magazine. Lived the dream. Felt like my degree was actually being put to good use. 


February.
Officially became published. (Best feeling ever.) Said goodbye to Jo who went back to Sweden. Got a smack on the arse from Laura on Valentines day. 


March.
Saw Katy Perry. Saw Taylor Swift. Danced my little bum off. Ate a lot of TGI's with Gee & Cal. Had meetings with various writers who wanted my work for their websites. Jobs fell through. (Boo.)


April.
Had £9 mojitos with Laura whilst watching the royal wedding. Went home for Easter. Got drunk with Karla (a lot.) Had reem dates with K-dub and D-fed.


May.
Met the perfect boyfriend.


June.
Interviewed for dream job. Didn't get dream job. Made my feet a bit more colourful and interesting looking to compensate. Left One Small Step and all of my gorgeous friends.


July.
Left Manchester and moved back to H-town. Went on a lot of dates. Had fun in the sun. Felt happy. Got bored of unemployment.


August.
The month of the health kick. Went running a lot. Drank a lot of smoothies. Went to Stoke to visit my bestie in the northwestie. Went to a wedding. Fell head over heels.


September.
Helicopter heroes aired. Turned 23. Got presents from Harry Potter land. Revisited Manchester. Got a new job. Went away for the best weekend ever.


October.
Worked a lot. Made some new friends. Got over my fear and started riding again. Remembered I'm actually quite good. Saw Katy Perry (again.) Realised MotoGP will never be the same again.


November.
Worked even more. Went shopping (a lot.) Fended for myself whilst parents lived it up abroad. Disliked it.


December.
Got REALLY excited for Christmas. Talked about Christmas (a lot.) Watched a lot of Christmas films. Realised 2011 has actually been pretty good.


On that note, I hope you all have a wonderful, prosperous and happy 2012. I have only one resolution this year and it's nothing so complicated I'll have to work hard to keep it, or fail miserably and break within the first week. It's pretty simple...


BE HAPPY.


F xo

2011's Best Bits

You know it's Christmas when...

It's nearly here!

Hellooooooo! Sorry it's been a while, been super busy with work. Just had my mandatory annual present feeling marathon in my sisters room. They all feel Topshop shaped which is very exciting. I'm feeling pretty organised, everything is wrapped and under the tree, I've had my last riding lesson of the year (which was very successful.) Time for bed now because I'm working ALL day tomorrow (boo!) Hopefully we'll shut early though so I can get home in time for some drinks and Christmas festivities (more present feeling.) 


Big Christmas love to all! xo

AMAZING!

This is literally the best thing I've seen in a really really long time. Hope you enjoy it too!

Children are amusing sometimes

:)

Halfway

...through the week. I've only just had my day off but I'm totally ready for another one! Unlucky for me I don't get one until Sunday :( Lots to be cracking on with this week at work, followed by the works' Christmas party Saturday night. Exciting! Not much to report this week, just the crazy run up to Christmas at work followed by an early payday next week (yay) and then it's CHRISTMAS! 

Three Day Break

Ahhhh I'm back and ready to write some more. Hello followers :) I've rather enjoyed my three day break from work - it'll be good to get back to it tomorrow and be crazy busy again though. I've got about 95% of my Christmas shopping done and wrapped in my little break so I'm on top of things :) I've also got 2 and a half weeks booked off work in January so really looking forward to going back to Manchester and getting tattooed and seeing all of my lovely friends. I'm also going to swing by Bolton and pay some people a visit. So excited! I'm working so much over Christmas so it'll be nice to have some chill time in January and catch up with all of my lovely friends. But for now, it's time to settle down on the sofa with a cup of tea and watch one of my favourite Christmas movies!

Swifty Sunday

An oldie but a goodie. Favourite Swizz song of the week. Oh I do bloody love her.

It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like...

CHRISTMAS!

The tree is down, decorations out (and I've bought more just in case we run out!) Just got to wait for my sister to get home now so we can get into our Santa onesies, put some music on and get cracking on making sure our house looks like a christmas elf on steroids has thrown up on it. SO EXCITED!

Back To Normality...Sort Of

After what was quite possibly the longest and most stressful week of my life last week, this week is looking far more promising. Had a fab weekend with Karla and it was nice to have some chill time away from work (which is going to be crazy busy again this week due to more visits and meetings.) Looking forward to PAYDAY tomorrow! Going to try and put some into my savings before I do anything else so I don't end up spending it all on Christmas festivities. I'm reeeeaaally looking forward to doing my Christmas shopping in Bristol this year - it looks every bit as good as my beloved Manchester except I won't know my way around as well. 


Lots more holiday talk over the weekend...I've put my summer holiday request in so fingers crossed I get it off, then it'll be two weeks travelling, exploring and riding elephants. Exciting! But that's ages away yet, let's just stay focused on CHRISTMAS! Top of my list is same as every year. It's looking pretty doubtful though..

K-Dub Is Coming To Town

...tomorrow! I'm so excited to see my little pally. I've not seen her since August and I'm so excited for lots of catching up and cider drinking time! 

Christmas Is Coming!

...and Arthur Christmas was AWESOME.

What A Week!

Suuuuuch a long and exhausting week! Too much has happened to squeeze all into one post. I'm just glad it's Saturday (my first Saturday off in 3 months to be exact.) And I've had a nice chill day doing my nails and hair and watching Christmas films allllll day and now I'm off to the cinema to see another Christmas film. Hooray! 


Had my riding lesson yesterday which went really well. I'm improving every week yahoo! Also, got my bestie from the north westie coming to stay with me tomorrow. Double yahoo! Anyway I'd better go and get ready. Got my new Topshop jumper on which is making me smile. Maybe I'll wear my new lipstick too :)

Happy Tuesday!

What A Week!

I made it through the most stressful week of my life and I'm still in one piece (just about.) I had to work on my day off Friday so today is my only day off this week and it's fair to say I'm EXHAUSTED. However I've bought myself some nice new jeans from Topshop for being such a good little worker. I'm going to wear them to a leaving party / meal on Thursday so hope they fit! Burgundy is totally in this winter and they all have really good reviews so no doubt I'll get plenty of wear out of them this winter.

Going to have a nice chill day today, do my nails with my new metallic nail wraps, help my mum do some shopping then go for a little gingerbread latte in town :) Got my riding lesson on Friday afternoon and (hopefully) a visit from one of my favourite people. Anyway, I'm off to go get ready so TTFN! xo

Santa Pug!

Christmas Sunday!

So today I've had a leisurely day which began with horse riding this morning, then town and shopping this afternoon with my sister and now we're just in a bit of a food slump after a big sunday roast. (Yum.) We've even bought a couple of Christmas presents, so in keeping with the festive theme, we're going to watch a Christmas film. Today's film of choice is 'The Search For Santa Paws.' It's so crap and cheesy but I love it anyway. 


Insanely busy week next week so probably won't even have time to come up for air, let alone post anything, but I shall try my hardest. Hope everyone's weekend was fab! :)

Recessional

God of our fathers, known of old—
Lord of our far-flung battle line—
Beneath whose awful hand we hold
Dominion over palm and pine—
Lord God of Hosts, be with us yet,
Lest we forget—lest we forget!

The tumult and the shouting dies—
The Captains and the Kings depart—
Still stands Thine ancient sacrifice,
An humble and a contrite heart.
Lord God of Hosts, be with us yet,
Lest we forget—lest we forget!

Far-called our navies melt away—
On dune and headland sinks the fire—
Lo, all our pomp of yesterday
Is one with Nineveh and Tyre!
Judge of the Nations, spare us yet,
Lest we forget—lest we forget!

If, drunk with sight of power, we loose
Wild tongues that have not Thee in awe—
Such boastings as the Gentiles use,
Or lesser breeds without the Law—
Lord God of Hosts, be with us yet,
Lest we forget—lest we forget!

For heathen heart that puts her trust
In reeking tube and iron shard—
All valiant dust that builds on dust,
And guarding calls not Thee to guard.
For frantic boast and foolish word,
Thy Mercy on Thy People, Lord!
Amen.

- Rudyard Kipling

Sharing some Ugg love!

I am so in love with my new boots! Usually I think Ugg boots are hideous but since last year when they brought out the proper 'boot' style ones (which are actually a proper boot and not just sloppy sheepskin) I have been after a pair for myself. And since House of Fraser had a flash-sale on last week, I got myself a pair as a little Christmas treat. And WOW. They are so toasty and warm I never want to wear anything else through these cold months! Definitely worth the money. I wore them for the first time tonight for a few drinks at the pub and they're just super comfy and toasty warm :) BIG LOVE FOR THE UGG.

All I want for Christmas is a...

Goodbye Monday!

And so ends another Monday. Monday's I think are everyone's least favourite day of the week. Lots to be cracking on with this week both at work and at home. I've got a garage full of Uni stuff that needs sorting but unfortunately I think that's going to have to wait until my week off work in January. Lots of selling / ebaying to get done then as well as lots of throwing out. I wore my new H&M hat to work today, it's SO cute, I'm glad I bought it. Will try and post a pic later on in the week. Anyway, bed is calling. It's only 9.30 but I'm pooped after being up at half 6 to take my sister to work! 


More posts to come towards the end of the week. And hopefully a couple more of my favourite war poems. 


Love and light xo

...& So Begins Another Week

Hello all! I hope you've all got your poppies on this week & wearing with pride. I know I am. Anyway, in keeping with Armistice day, here's probably one of the most famous poems by John McCrae.

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

Sunday Funday!

Had a nice day off today hanging out with my sister. We headed into town for a christmas (obviously) latte then drove to a country pub for Sunday lunch. It was so good. We were both super full after though so have just come home and sat on the sofa in a food-coma since. I wore my new cardi today and it kept me super warm even though it was frosty outside! Mumma & Papa are home tomorrow so we'll no doubt have something yummy for tea. Hooray, no more fending for myself and getting up ridic early to get stuff done!

Teenage Dream

This song ALWAYS puts me in a great mood. It's the opening song from Katy's tour so every time I hear the opening guitar strum it reminds me of Katy Perry rising up out of the floor on her podium. Plus it's a great song to play in the car. I hope it puts you in a great mood too :)

Day Off!

So FINALLY I have a day off. Phew! Unfortunately I didn't get the lie in I was craving because my sister left the heating on last night so I woke up at half 6 this morning absolutely roasting and didn't get back to sleep properly. However I had a nice morning - took my sister to work and had my first gingerbread latte of the season from Starbucks (it was amazing.) And I've done some washing, done my nails and now I'm just chilling at home in my new chunky cream cardi with my Christmas candle burning watching Food Network and drinking a MASSIVE cup of tea. Could life actually get any better? No, is the answer. Going to pop to Sainsburys later on and get a few things for tea. Might do a little bit more NYC research too. Yay!

QOTD

'Never love anyone who treats you like you're ordinary.'


   - Oscar Wilde

PS22 Chorus Cover Adele

Katy Perry Round 2!

Well I can't believe it's been over a week since we all went to see Katy again! I only got hold of the pictures from Cal's camera last night but here are a sneaky few...such a good night! This time last week I was practically zombie-like at work due to getting in at 2am and being up at 7. It was definitely worth it though.

ZZzzzzzz....

Wow this week has been exhausting...and it's only Tuesday! Did a 13 hour day yesterday for stock take prep (ouch) and another long one today for stock take. HOWEVER...it's all over now and I can have a nice little glass of wine even though no day off until FRIDAY. No rest for the wicked :(


Had a really great riding lesson on Sunday...I even managed a couple of jumps! My confidence is nearly almost 100% back and I'm enjoying it more each week. Really looking forward to my next lesson.


Will do a proper post on Friday when I've got some more time...but for now, I've got Abi coming over for some wine and a gossip. Oh yes!


:)

Thursday

I couldn't think of an upbeat title for this post. It's literally been the week from hell. If you'd have told me a week ago that in 7 days time someone I absolutely adore and hold in such high respect would be killed and buried I wouldn't have believed it. Yet here we are, without our Marco. The MotoGP world is in mourning. We have lost the brightest spark on the paddock.


Over 50,000 people showed up in his little Italian village today to show their respect at his funeral. If at the age of 24 you have that amount of people show up (most of whom you don't even know) to remember you and celebrate your life, then you know you touched a lot of people's hearts and must have done something right in life. I don't think I can handle watching any of the footage / interviews. I would prefer to remember him as I always have. Smiling, beaming and larger than life. A lot of the riders have said some lovely things, including Jorge Lorenzo (who Marco famously argued with earlier this season about Marco's ongoing fearless racing) wrote in the memorial book today 'I am sorry we ever argued. I hope you can forgive me.'


I am still really cut up about it. I don't think I've ever felt this sad at the death of someone. I think it will hit home next Sunday at the race in Valencia when there is a familliar white Honda missing from the grid.


When the sun shines we'll shine together. Goodbye, SuperSic. 

So true...

Happier Times

Today has been hard to get through, I must admit. There's been lots of love flying around twitter today. Just wanted to share a picture with you which is now both mine and my Dad's phone wallpapers. Makes me smile every time I look at it.

RIP Marco Simoncelli

After waking up this morning feeling so excited to watch the early morning MotoGP race with my Dad before heading off to the harvest festival, never in a million years did I expect today to turn out as it has. 


Today, October 23rd 2011, we lost one of the greatest riders in motorsport and one of my personal heroes, Marco Simoncelli, who was killed as a result of head, neck and chest injuries merely four minutes into today's race in Sepang, Malaysia. Without going into too much detail, he lost control and colided with Colin Edwards and Valentino Rossi, his helmet being ripped off in the process and left lying motionless in the middle of the track.


I watched it happen and just screamed at the TV. There were no words. The race was red flagged as he was strapped to a stretcher and cancelled minutes later once the severity of the crash was soon realised. Other riders saw the footage and were interviewed. Current champion Casey Stoner told interviewers 'When the helmet comes off, you know it's not good. I saw the footage and felt sick to my stomach. We are all praying for him.'


Simoncelli or 'SuperSic' to his fans was pronounced dead at 16.56pm as a result of his injuries. I have not felt this upset in a very long time, or ever for that matter. As soon as I read the news I felt an immense sense of loss and have found today very hard to get through. I sat in silence with my Dad for about an hour and we just had a cup of tea and cried. I'm lucky that I have a group of friends on Twitter (or my MotoGP family as we call ourselves) who were feeling the exact same sadness as me. We have talked all day and sent the riders messages of love and support.


When I interned earlier this year at Viva Magazine in Manchester we did an interview with Marco and he truly was a wonderful, charming soul. I never met him personally but he had a big impact on me and was the reason I got excited every Sunday morning to see what he would bring to the race that week. Often targeted for his aggressive racing style, Simoncelli was a breath of fresh air in MotoGP and a world champion in the making.


24 is too young to die. If today has taught me anything its that life is precious and you never know when it will be snatched from you. So live your lives to the fullest, seize every opportunity given to you and live without hate or anger. Life is too short to be mad at people or to feel resentment. Just live, laugh, love.


Goodbye Marco, I will miss you more than you will ever know.

My two favourite riders enjoying happier times