You only get graduation dress-up once!

It must nearly be this modest little blogs first birthday, or potentially belated birthday... I feel like LOTS has happened in the past year, and a vast amount of this never made it to this blog. In fact I think a lot has happened in the month or so since I last blogged. I start to wonder how much time I had on my hand during my placement abroad... Wow

 

I just wanted to get this photo in early.
You only get to play graduation dress up once right?

I have moved (albeit temporarily) to Oxford, started an internship at Oxford University Press, and graduated! All of which have been a great experience (and in the past month!).. 

I am just going to keep this very short and sweet. I just want to make sure I keep this blog ticking along so that I can start blogging properly when I have a bit more time. However, who knows when that will be?! I want to start a cake appreciation blog at some point in the future just in case you were wondering where this blog is heading!

I am really enjoying work, and I am soooo much happier than when I was slogging my way through the final stretch of my degree.  It might be more than just the work keeping me happy, such as living in a beautiful place and meeting all the other lovely interns, but I can't help but think the work suits me as well! I feel like this has been an invaluable experience, although I am now craving a summer holiday in the sunshine big time - probably because it feels like summer is over here already. (Obviously I can't get through this post without mentioning the weather)

Graduation was also such a happy day! And here are a couple of photos because you only get to wear the gown and cap once. Another graduation day is probably the only thing which would be worth doing a Masters for! 

All the family! And me looking much taller than I actually am! 

Luke and I. I don't have many photos on my computer at the moment and in this one I had only just put the hat on so the fringe isn't looking too awful. (Note to anyone still to graduate - grow your fringe out, its so annoying on the day!)

An on a final note I turned the grand age of 22 at the weekend! Thanks to all the people who sent messages, cards, gifts and a special thanks to all my wonderful friends who have come to visit me in Oxford. I had so much fun showing you all around. I have already decided I am going to stay 22 forever... 



Lovely photo down by the river, courtesy of Rimini! 

I really want to stay in Oxford, I am enjoying it a lot at the moment, so watch this space for a more permanent move. Anywhere is more exciting than Southampton or Leighton Buzzard anyway!

How can you not appreciate living
somewhere with so much green space?

Wifi on the Train!

I'm just on the train on the way back for a weekend at home so what better time to write a little blog post for you all. And added bonus I have free wifi!

I wanted to air my observations on the difference between placement and being back in lectures down in Southampton. I don't think while I was away I ever really appreciated not only the cultural change (which was pretty obvious when you are in a different culture) but also the genuine and more generic 'lifestyle' change which I was having to adapt to. 

I'll just sum it up in a few short words, I was only ever busy with work. Back in Southampton I have so much more going on, be it going to gym classes, organising meetings or social events, I always have something I should be preparing for or something fun in the diary for the next couple of days. There are also plans for the weekend, trying to make dates match with friends or, like this weekend, fitting in a weekend at home. I didn't have any of this whilst I was in Barcelona. And in hindsight it might have been more than the culture and language I was getting used to. 

Now don't get me wrong, I meet some pretty amazing people whilst I was away, and I was head down with lab work to keep me occupied, plus exploring a new country. But it wasn't the busy life I have got used to over the last couple of years at uni, the lifestyle I like and have chosen. Anyone who knows me well can appreciate how bad I am at doing nothing, let's just say my morning shower and brisk walk up to campus is enough 'me time' for me.    

Selfie with Rosie. She still hasn't mastered looking at the camera YET. 

It's got me thinking about where I want to work when I have finished, I need a varied job which lots going on. I want to live somewhere where I can make a life which is busy. Basically I still want to be a little bit hectic sometimes!! I guess that's a start with the job search, it's slow process when you aren't 100% what you want to do or where you want to go. 

I guess now I should fill those of you who are still interested enough to be reading in with what I have been up to in this self-proclaimed busy life of mine (obviously not writing blog posts). Embarrassingly I finally made it to Winchester after three and a half year, and I can't wait to go back to visit in the summer, it's such a lovely little town so close but so different to Southampton. I have also been salsa dancing which was so much fun, and I want to make sure I keep up going regularly, and it's such a transferable hobby - everywhere has a salsa club (forward planning I know)! I have also had nice catch up with a number of friends, and feel quite old as a cheese and wine night now has so much more appeal than a night in jesters (think I'm finally out of the cheese coma!)

A pretty awful, but a photo, none the less, of Winchester Cathedral. 

Found a lovely spot down by the river watching all the ducks. 

Dinner with Rimini. So much food. So much wine. 

And SHOCK HORROR I have FINALLY about five years too late started DRIVING lessons!! I'll keep you all posted on this because let's be honest I'm sure it will throw up some funny stories. And any tips on how to make this process as pain free as possible will be much appreciated!!    

Back in Ann's Tea Room!

Also, slight side note, there is the funniest lady on the train who has just proclaimed because she is Northern she talks to everyone. I want to point out she is the only person (minus the young children) chatting and laughing in the whole packed carriage. Maybe moving to the North would be fun! 

*Update, she's getting slightly annoying now.

More photos than words.

I actually can't be bothered to write much at the moment, but I want to post something about my family's visit to Barcelona a couple of weekends ago. So I thought I will just post some photos instead! I am by no means a photographer (however I do remember when I was younger I would try and take arty photos - such of as the carrot sticks glass at a family dinner....) but I do love to look at photos I have taken, so here are a few of my favs from the few days!

View from park guell across barcelona.

Another! And ad you can see the weather was lovely. Slight
change from what I would expect in Oct. 

Family Selfie 

View of the old Sant Antoni Market from the hotel! 

Food. Yummy Paella at the top of the shopping center which looks out of plaza Espana.

We drank a fair about of vino blanco, 

FRANGELICO TIRAMUSU. BCN girls I am sure you will appreciate this! 

I have posted pictures here before but I always enjoy the magic fountain! 

We went to the Camp New. Want to come back one day to watch a match! 

Another day, another selfie!

Beach - again showing the lovely weather. 

Slightly addicted to cafe con leche. 

Fountain in Parc de Ciuttadella. 

This is just a sample of a few photos. I ate a lot more, but my family judge me for taking to many photos of food so I have to cut back on my habit when I am with them. 

Time is going too quickly here. My flight home is in just over a month now. I finally feel like I am making a 'life' here and getting settled in and I am going to have to leave. 6 months isn't enough. Give it another 6 months and I may have even got to grips with the language,,.. 

Anyway, looking forward and I am excited to be back in Soton in the New year , and obviously to see everyone over Christmas, and a few other British things I am missing. I am already lining up the meals in my head I want when I get back. And also all the things I need to do which I am too scared to here, like getting a hair cut! 

Also I wanted to note how refreshing it is here to only just be seeing xmasy things in the shops. I am hoping it will make December and the lead up to Christmas more special this year as it hasn't been rammed down my throat quite as much as I know it would have been at home!