Smiles in the cold!

I am a true believer in things happening for a reason, even if sometimes we can't see that reason. Sometimes I feel like I have everything in the world, other times I feel like everything is slipping away. I know however this is all a state of mind. The other night after coming back to Sheffield, after being at a lovely wedding, where everyone was feeling happy and close to their family, I got to my flat on my own, and the heating wasn't working - it was SO cold, and I honestly had a moment of thinking, Oh god everything is awful - I'm all on my own, I have to go and work at a job I don't want to go to tomorrow, and it's so cold I have to sleep with thermal clothing under my pyjamas.... then (after about an hour of this) I was overcome with gratitude for what I have. I actually said out loud "I'm so thankful to have a roof over my head and a bed to sleep in, I'm so thankful to have people who love me, and thank you so much for letting me meet all the wonderful people that I have, thank you for the food I have to eat...." I'm not sure who I was thanking - as I'm not religious I guess I was thanking the universe for providing all of this for me.

I'm not sure how normal it is to feel like that when it seems like it's all a bit rubbish, but thats the feeling that came over me. I guess that my reason for feeling like this was to remind me of how much I do have.

I am however looking forward to going home again for christmas - as it's still SO cold in my flat!!

Here is a smiley picture to remind me (and you) that smiling makes everything better (right?)

Stay warm

Love x x

A quick doodle...

This weekend I went to a strange indoor festival type party, well I say strange... it was only strange because it was like a festival but it was small, indoors, and it's winter. Lots of crazy decorations, dj's bands, and slightly smelly hippys.... pretty standard. It was fun though, my main reason for going was to watch Sam play percussion for Mantra Rhythms. And I only stayed until about 2.30am, as I felt 5am was a little late when I had work the next day!

I haven't had a chance to go back to the cats shelter since last time, but I'm planning on going again next week as I have a few free days. I'm actually going to be back home for a couple of days or so, which will be really nice (especially seeing as I'm only home for a really short time on christmas)

In my spare time I got my drawing hat on and did a little doodle, I made a video of it....

which you can watch here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o2sKmvHPuq0

It's a little bit shaky because I had to hold my camera to film it in my left hand while I was drawing in the other! I want to get a better pen and do some more of these, it was fun :)

The picture at the top has absolutely nothing to do with anything - I just liked it!

Much Love x x

Sheffield Cats Shelter

Yesterday I went to volunteer at Sheffield Cats Shelter, I decided that I wanted to do some volunteering because, seeing as at the moment I'm only working a couple of days a week, I'm going a little bit crazy with boredom. I'm not good at sitting about all day, with nothing to do. So I called them up on Wednesday, and went in to have a look around and started to help them with their daily cleaning.

I was given Room 1 to clean. Which has 7 cats in at the moment, I was amazed that they all get along quite so well! Of course when i started moving things around and scrubbing their baskets and the walls etc, they all got moved around and one of the younger boy cats (Guy) started chasing this poor little timid cat called Pablo around the room! He wasn't happy bless him!

It was hard work but I really enjoyed it, you wouldn't believe it though, the first day I go to help out, I snapped the head off of one of their scrubbing brooms.... and then as I was going out of the lobby door the door handle came off in my hand!!! I couldn't believe it! I was trying to apologise, but I think they found it quite amusing.

I only stayed for the morning yesterday as I didn't take any lunch with me, but I think on monday I'll go again and stay longer to help out, then I can get to play with the cats for a bit too. They have about 50 cats there, there are a few that are poorly, and there are some kittens too. (They also have a cat called Donna hahaha!)

So for anyone who has a lot of time on your hands, go and volunteer somewhere, even if you only do it for one day, you never know you might like it! :)

x x

... a link to someone elses blog...

I haven't got anything to say myself on this subject that this article doesn't already say.

www.thatglassmoment.wordpress.com/2010/12/06/113/

More SNOW!

Yup! More snow!

However after I got over my whinge about it being cold and horrible, I did go for a walk to the cemetery to meet Sara who was taking some photos.... it was beautiful! I don't think my photos are going to really capture how amazing it looked, it was like something out of a storybook, really magical! I took some photos of the cemetery a few weeks ago, and it looked so Autumnal and now it's a white fairytale-land!

I know a lot of people back home are wanting more snow, and the rate it's all going I think the whole of Britain is going to get some more at some point.

I've not ever seen so much snow in this country in one go! It's very strange, at some points in the cemetery it was up to our knees.... of course we had to delve into these conditions in the name of photography (well Saras photography at least - I was just there for the fun of it)

Snow is funny, it makes everything at night-time quiet, like someone has muffled all of the noise with a big fluffy blanket, in the day-time you see so many more people out and about 'cos they can't drive their cars or go to school.

It's snowing some more big flakes now!! I'm so thankful for my warm flat and cup of tea right now!! Brrrrrr!

Wrap up warm folks, it's a blizzard out there!

Much love x x

Sister visits are the bestest!

In the last ten days, I have not been incredibly busy, but busy enough! My sister came up to visit!!! Hooray! That was really amazing, she was only here for about 24 hours (she left slightly early due to the threat of snow) but it was so nice to have her here! We all went out for dinner and cocktails at a place called The Wick at Both End and the food was amazing. We ended up at this slightly dog eared, but actually hilarious shisha lounge (actually a tent with lots of sofas) to be fair though the guys working there were lovely and dispite the need for a hoover the place was actually alright, and we had a laugh! They did inform us that they were going to be getting more tv's and lasers too... (which just made us chuckle)

The next day we went on a vintage shop mission! Jo got some really cool sunglasses, and I found some levis for £20 that actually fit me properly.... I was in shock! So hard to find jeans that are long enough in the leg, without being too big around the waist! :D Very happy Donna indeed (and now I have a pair of jeans that haven't got a hole in them)

So that has been my excitement for the past week anyways, I also started working at White Stuff, which isn't as bad as all that, but it does make me miss my old shop. It's our staff xmas party on Saturday night... wish me luck!!?!?

I have to say, I am NOT enjoying the snow.... I'm just a bit rubbish this time of year, it's cold and wet and I swear humans weren't built for this kind of thing. It's actually just stopped snowing as I was writing that, but we are due some more... :(

hahahaha, I'll try and get in the spirit of things... wooo yay snow yehaw....

nope not working, anyone fancy a trip to LA, or Bali, or Sydney?

Much love (not for the snow though) x x

The Show!

Wow! What a night it was! We had rehearsals Monday and Tuesday night, and then were in the theatre all day on Wednesday in preparation for Wednesday night! My goodness, it was so much fun, never have I seen so many beautiful and talented girls in one place at one time!

Top model Alex Leigh hosted the show, (she is stunning by the way!) and then the dancing and singing extravaganza began... (all the while backstage we are all franticly changing costumes, removing lipstick smudges from our faces and keeping a smile intact the whole while) Miss Bettie Dean was sexy as ever, I was gutted that I missed Karina Grigorievas contortionist act, as everyone said she was amazing, I did get to see the fantastic Ailona Lukiyanovas hula hoop act, I would love to be able to do what she does! All the singers were wonderful, and I wholeheartedly loved being one of the "Miss Betties" So much fun, and from a budget of nothing but generosity, we raised £350 for Domestic Violence Victim Support. Next time we hope to raise even more (there will be a next time!)

Needless to say the next day I was absolutely exhausted!!! And ended up spending most of the day nearly asleep! In the evening I did go to another charity event organised my friend Sara for Sheffield Mind. A comedy night, which had me giggling rather a lot! I hope they raised a lot, as it's such a good cause.

The photo at the top is of a few of us after the show, hence the random bits of costume that we have left on, and unfortunately it's a little bit blurred (it was taken on an iphone!)

I would love all of you to watch a video that Jolene made and was played at the start of our show.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GPIZVEo3uxI

I just watched it again, and I think it says it all really. I'm so glad to have raised money for such a worthy charity.

Much Love

x x x

Graduation and Going Home

I've only been in Sheffield for 6 weeks but I had to make a trip back home because it was my sisters graduation!! I'm so very proud of her, she's been working as a fully fledged nurse already, but to see her being officially congratulated for all the hard work she has done was really lovely. :)

It was also really nice to have lunch with all of my family - mum, dad and sister! It's so rare that we are all able to get together all at the same time now.... we're not even sure we'll all be there for christmas dinner at the same time! haha!

Being home was really lovely, and I got to see my grandparents and my nanna.... and my nanna's cat (technically my cat but she's looking after her for me) Poppy! I'll put a picture of Poppy on here. (My camera lead arrived!! hurrah!) She's still tiny, I don't think she's going to grow much more, she's just a dinky little thing... who loves watching the birds on the bird table out the window!

I only got to see my best friend for a few hours while I was home, which was a bit sad as I miss her very very much, but at least I got to see her for a while :) I'm hoping she's going to come and visit me sometime soon... (hint, hint)

All in all I've had a busy, but lovely weekend home. Now this week, I'm really looking forward to, rehearsals tomorrow and Tuesday, then the show on Wednesday! I've got to work really hard in rehearsals as I missed the ones they were doing over the weekend. :(

I'm very excited though!!

Love x x

Climbing and Dancing

Heeellllooo!

I've been busy the past couple of days, climbing and dancing! :D This makes me very happy!

I went climbing at The Edge on Tuesday, luckily me and my climbing partner are at around about the same skill level so it works out pretty well, (well actually she's a bit better than me! haha!) but it was really cool to go and do some roping as I haven't done any for a long time, and I push myself that little bit more when I am roping than when I'm bouldering... falling off is less scary when you know someone is going to catch you! Sarah is so light too it feels like I'm belaying a feather! haha!

Then on Wednesday, I went off to Manchester to have a rehearsal with a girl I went to uni with. She is putting on a Charity Dance Show OFF! Which is basically a dance show with lots of upbeat dancing, burlesque (she's a burlesque dancer - Miss Bettie Dean!) hula girls, show girls.... it's going to be really fun. It's only in 2 weeks so I was at rehearsals yesterday and Wednesday, and I can't tell you how much fun it was to be back dancing and helping with the choreography! The feeling of being part of a creative process is really rewarding and I'm looking forward to more rehearsals on Sunday.

I also managed to get to my beginners (hahaha) Street dance class on wednesday evening at Hype dance. We had the normal teacher this week, she's really good at isolations and she started teaching us a hip hop routine... and the beginnings of how to wave (no not the type you do when you are greeting someone!) It has to be said.... I am SO not Street! hahahahaha, but it's really fun attempting the moves.... you'd all laugh so much if you saw me in class.

Much Love x x

(Still no sign of the lead for my camera I ordered in the post!)

Hallowe'en and Bengals

So spooky weekends were had by all I'm assuming!! My hallowe'en was rather subdued to say the least, no dressing up this year, no making pumpkins, well I sound like a right old party pooper don't I!! I was a little bit gutted that I wasn't going to be back home for hallowe'en with Laura, to watch Crayfish play.

However me and Sam weren't completely boring, we did go out on Saturday night to a tiny venue called Red Room and saw a couple of cool bands.

One called The Motherfolkers (haha - made me laugh anyways!) and they do a lot of covers

http://www.myspace.com/music/40670931/songs/69177486

and a band called Mantra Rhythms, who have a room in the building where Sams studio is, I'd put a link to their myspace but they have nothing on it yet (and the drummer said they've lost the password!! haha)

I also did manage to get back into the writing frame of mind on Saturday, which I am really pleased about, I finished the outline of a song that previously had 6 lines of lyrics and a couple of chords scribbled by it! Now, to drag Sam to his studio to get him to help me polish it off! :)

I'm very excited about the fact that I've ordered a new usb cable for my camera today too! Hooray! So I will actually have some pics to show you at some point soon.

ooooo I almost forgot I was at one of Sams friends houses (he lives in a really crazy building actually) and he had the most amazing cat I've ever seen - next time I'm there I will try and get a photo - he's called Monster and he's a Silver Bengal! He's beautiful and his fur was so soft he was super speedy when he's playing too!

love x x

Hype Dance

So I had managed to convince some of my new friends here to go to a dance class with me, and boy am I glad I did! We had SO much fun, we decided to go to a street dance class at a place called Hype dance (I will put a link for them at the bottom of the post) which is down a little alleyway and you probably wouldn't find it if you weren't specifically looking for it! Anyway there we were at beginners class, all 3 of us a bit nervous as none of us had done street dance before and Sara, bless her, at her first ever dance class!!! Then the teacher tells us she isn't taking her class this week but a guy from London will be and he trains with a guy who is one of the best in London at locking.... not to make us even more nervous!

Anyway, this guy was amazing, so much energy, so much fun, he had us doing loads of social dance moves like "the penguin" "funky chicken" "rock steady" and loads of other stuff, although somehow he makes all of this stuff look really cool whilst we are frantically trying to keep up with the pace! However, we all left the class on a mega high, I've not had so much fun for a long time! We're just hoping that next week (as we are all definitely up for going back!) will be just as much fun!! It also has to be said I am aching like crazy today, but I really don't mind as it's that good kind of aching! Hooray!

http://www.hypedance.org.uk/academy/home/home.php

A new beginning!

I know, I am rubbish, this has taken me a while to get it together to write a new blog! BUT so much has been going on, I've been in Sheffield for 3 weeks now, which also means I haven't been working for 3 weeks also! Very strange. Not having something that you have to be up for at a specific time is very strange for me.

However I have got a new job, I don't start for another 4 weeks, but I am looking forward to being part of a new team already.

I would love to upload a picture with this blog but I have lost the lead that connects my camera in the move, and it will be a while before I can buy a new one! The new flat is lovely, I am now used to it's quirks; noisy pipes, sounds of the neighbours, separate shared laundry room. It does have brilliant long windows, and in the living room the light shines in most of the day, which I love! There is nothing worse than a house with a main room that gets no sun - in my opinion.

I have spent a couple of weeks missing people back home, naturally, but I have met some really lovely lovely people here, I feel so lucky to have landed quite so firmly on my feet. The next few (eight) weeks are going to be really tight moneywise, but it's all a challenge right? I'll have a lot of time the next 4 weeks to really practice playing guitar also. I've been to The Works twice now, which is one of the biggest bouldering centres in the world (I think??) and it's really amazing, I feel quite out of practice though! My arms and fingers are getting tired out very quickly.

I have also seen a couple of really cool bands since I've been here, Mean Poppa Lean - who have SO much energy on stage, I can highly recommend anyone to go and see them, and I think they are touring most of the time, so check them out and go see them, I've never seen a venue ALL up and dancing, bar staff included!! And this weekend I saw a crazy band called Na Zdrove -also excellent!!!

It's funny, but it really doesn't take long to adjust to living somewhere new, it will take a bit longer before I think of it as my home. It's not going to take as long as I thought though!

Smiles x x

I've been so busy!

I had a week off, which was lovely! I got to see my best friend for a whole day which is so rare! We ate popcorn and sunbathed while listening to rock music and played with Peggy (the cat!) it was just really nice. I also went to Alton Towers, I had to take my boy.... he'd NEVER BEEN!! We had fun, I was so tired by the end of the day. We then drove up to his aunt and uncles house who live in a BEAUTIFUL place in the Peaks. It was so calm. And they fed us delicious food, which was very very welcome, after our lunch of warm soggy sandwiches hahaha!

Then we were off to Sheffield, our prospective home town. It was really nice actually, not anywhere near as bustly as I thought it would be. I'm a countryside girl at heart, I don't like to be too far away from nice green things. Which is ok in Sheffield because it's really not that far away! :) I met some new people (and a girl who loves cats as much as I do! hooray!) all of which we're really cool and fun.

Coming home was actually really wierd, I'd only been away 2 days and I could feel the different atmoshpere here to there. Which obviously wears off after, like, a day!

I've spent a lot of time learning new things musically also, covers mainly but it's really cool cos I've not learnt any new guitar (or had to) for ages, and it's good as I technically get free guitar lessons from my friend! Hooray! I'm looking forward to getting on stage again in a couple of weeks. :)

Being back at work after my week off was tough too, well initially anyway, but I guess I'm back in the swing of things now!!! heehee.

Well I'm off to watch some tv (no going out for me tonight I'm working tomorrow, party - sorry house cooling party - tomorrow night though!! haha)

Much Love!!

(no pictures this time I forgot my camera while I was away d'oh!)

A long week!

This week has actually been quite tough for me. Not in any sort of physical pain way, thank goodness. Just in that this week was my first week officially managing the shop that I work at, and it's just different I guess. I tend to take responsibility very seriously so it's going to take a bit of getting used to. I was so tired at the end of every day, and I had so many things running through my head all the time. Having said that this week came and went and we all survived so I guess it wasn't so bad.

I got to do some singing with a friend this week too. Which helps me so much, I NEEEEED a creative outlet like I need food! haha. I need to find more things to do!

I just can't believe it's a saturday night and no-one is out and about?!?! Living in a small town can be very dull sometimes. Oh well not for too much longer anyway! It's going to be wierd leaving here again, but it's something I need to do. I feel very much like I'm wasting my time, well maybe I feel like I'm not enjoying my time as much as I should here.

I have to stay positive, I've learnt SO much since I've been back here. I have much more confidence in my self too. I just hope I can find a home for myself easily where ever I may go in life. I was looking at some photos my friend has posted of her travels, that makes me get even itchier feet!!

I guess I don't really have any reason to worry about moving away, if it all goes wrong I can just go somewhere else, or come back here?? There is always an option of some sort.

Well I think I might go read my book. This is the start of my week off so I intend to enjoy it!

Here is a picture of a bird I saw at the zoo last weekend, he was cool, and beautiful and came to have a good look at us after he got bored with his nut! hahaha

much love x

A weekend in the sunshine.

I have had a lovely weekend. I haven't been out partying at all, but I have been spending some time outdoors. It's been nice weather I went to the zoo yesterday, which is always such a fun day. I love Cotswold Wildlife Park, it's lovely! Then Sam made me watch Whats Eating Gilbert Grape, which I LOVED!! I'd never seen it before and it was amazing. :)

Today I've been out in the sunshine a lot too, I went to see my old housemate as it was her little girls (who I hadn't even met yet!!!) 1st birthday! I'm afraid to say even though I put suncream on I am rather pink in colour now... not cool. I like sunbathing though (yeah I know it gives you wrinkles but I don't smoke so quit yer whining!) I've just had a wicked time the last two days. And I watched another film tonight called Danny the Dog, with Jet Li. I also have to say, I loved that too! It makes you want to give Jet Li a big hug!! hahahahahaha!

Hmmmm I should go to bed now, but that means it's monday when I wake up.... sigh... although thats not all bad. Me and Sam have decided to make mondays Music Monday, it's the day we have to practice lots!! hehe. I have to make sure I go to the gym more this week, I have been very slack. I'm starting to feel like I'm seizing up! Not good.

Anyways I'm posting a photo that sums up the feeling of my weekend. :)

Much Love x x

A funny few weeks

And it has been a funny few weeks for me.... I've been quite busy, with work. I went to London to the Natural Products trade show which was really cool but very tiring. It took me a few days to recover from that! I've not been training at the gym as hard lately as my knee is giving my pain every now and then. Which is actually quite annoying. I've never really had anything to stop me from exercising before, other than exhaustion anyways!!

The main thing I have been sad about though is my Molly passed away. I wanted to write a blog about her sooner, but it's been a week now and I've said my goodbye. She was actually the best cat in the whole world that ever lived (in my eyes anyway). Haha, I'm going to miss her little face. I can only hope that I gave her happiness in her life like she did in mine. Thats all we can ever hope for right? I feel kinda silly when I get so emotional over a cat, but she was a friend too, and part of my life for a good 10 years!!! So yeah, I've been a bit sad the past week, cos of that.

Life is funny right now, I feel like I need to plan something to look forward to, cos at the moment it feels like the rest of the year is stretching out endlessly in front of me!

So thats what I am going to do. Make plans.

Anyway, here is a picture of my (late) gorgeous best cat ever.

May you rest in peace Molly x x

Being Connected

The reason for my lack of writing another blog for a couple of weeks is because we've had no internet for a couple of weeks. Also my mobile phone was out of action for a week... it was odd, I felt kind of out of touch, no mobile no internet. We're all so used to being connected all the time, it's wierd when we aren't. I am, as all of us probably are, contactable 24 hours a day.

We're always so plugged in, it's kinda wierd when you think about it. It was quite nice to have to call people on my landline, or drop in on them where they worked to arrange stuff. Don't get me wrong, having my mobile back is awesome, and having the internet makes life much easier.... the other day I was just thinking about something and thought, oh hey I'll just look it up.... but I don't have a library at my fingertips!! aah it was frustrating.

So I'm back online, contactable!

Hooray!

The photo I'm gonna put on here is of my orchid which a certain lovely man bought for me.

Love x x

Today really IS a new day

I know its a cliche but it's true. People seem to wait for a certain date or event or something to decide that, that is when they will do the things they always wanted to. Rather than saying "This is how I want to be, I'm going to be like that from today" people make excuses, "Oh well I can do that but I can't possibly today because of...." what ever the excuses.... they are just that they are excuses and not real reasons.

It's important to know when you are holding yourself back, we are all guilty of it. And it's just a case of doubting our ability to be a certain way. So have confidence and take a deep breath, because TODAY is a new day - and you know what, today could be the day that you start working towards your dreams.

You don't have to do everything you ever dreamed of today, but you can make a start on it. So here is to Today, and starting to follow our dreams, however big or small they may be. Here is picture of me doing what I love most, to make sure I stay focused on what I want to do in life.

Good Luck

Feel Amazing

x x