London Calling...

So, the mummy turned 50 in July so to celebrate we had a delicious birthday tea. The sis and I made some brown paper bunting, which turned out pretty spiffing if I do say so myself. I tackled my first ever cheesecake and it was delicious; my sis took the photo. The table was groaning under salads, home made roast tomato and basil quiche and asparagus tart from me; cheese scones and carrot cake from the sis; some M&S yummy goods and plenty of other home baked treats. It was a great evening with the family (and Pimms) and my favourite mummmy was spoilt rotten, just like she deserved.




But the birthday wasn't over! We (the gran, the sis, the brother) took her on a surprise day trip to London and a go on the London Eye. We were up bright and early and caught the speedy Virgin train down to the capital, we had a picnic of left overs from the tea and then went for a spin on the Eye. I wasn't hugely keen on the whole affair, too high for me, but there were some great views. We walked our feet off to see all the sights - Downing Street, Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey, Covent Garden... then we trooped back onto the train and promptly fell into our beds! Great fun!

Moss

Meet Moss. This is the family dog for all his 15 years. He's a border terrier and is absolutely gorgeous, if you ask me!
Unfortunately, Moss is getting on a bit and isn't very well. This upsets me greatly and many tears have been cried recently.
But Moss has been a faithful and fabulous companion for 15 years of my life. Both me and my family have been through a lot in those 15 years and Moss has always been there. I can remember going to choose him from the Border Terrier Farm (OK, I can't remember what it was called...but I was only 6 at the time!) I remember sitting and cuddling all these tiny black dogs, no bigger than a guinea pig (in my memory, at least!). Then there was the impatient wait until he was old enough to come home with us! I remember playing with him at the old house in the kitchen. I have memories of his first ventures into the back garden. I remember when we used to have chickens and how Moss found them a bit of a mystery when they first started roaming around HIS garden. I remember defending him at primary school when one of the boys was mean about him. I remember the phase he went through when he yapped and barked and jumped up at anyone who came to visit. I can hear him skidding across the gravel at the old house trying to chase the squirrels up the oak tree. I remember how he used to pull on his lead. I remember telling him all my secrets and crying into his collar a good few times. I remember all the happy and joyful family times that he has been a part of. I remember all of this and I will keep remembering and keep loving him all the time he's still with us and beyond. Love you Moss!

Summery Days, Lazy Times...

Summer continued when I got home to Manchester with my brother's 13th birthday. A teenager, wow! We had a scrummy cake and plenty of other delights with the family to celebrate!



The brother and I cooked a delicious asparagus and cheese tart one summer's evening...



The mummy and I decided to go out for dinner one night, my treat! We went to the delicious Giraffe restaurant. We had one of their original smoothies each - Mum had Fluffy Giraffe and I had Giddy Giraffe. We most definitely ate our fill!




I ventured into the garden late one afternoon to catch up on writing some letters and making some cards. The sunshine tempted me out and made me temporarily forget about the pollen - I was sneezing all evening!



Finding delight in the every day is so key for me. This summer isn't about massive adventures abroad and big things; it's just about appreciating all that I am blessed with every day.

Summer begins in Edinburgh

Post-exam time is full of BBQ's on the meadows, Pimms, cake, so much tea, iced lattes, dinner with friends, cream scones, walks through Edinburgh, sleepovers, the Royal Botanic Gardens, day trips to the beach at St Andrews, catching up with friends, saying bye to people, getting stuck in to life! Sunshiney happiness.

Springtime

I Am A Girl...

...this just makes me excited to be a girl.
It makes me want to dress up and be in this video.
It makes me want to be their friend.
It makes me want to travel the world and see the beautiful things it has to offer...

Studying...

Revision means distracting yourself by any art form possible...
I've been reading The Other Boleyn Girl, which was mostly quite gripping and interesting but at times dragged on a bit.
Listening to Mumford and Sons, great for a bit of springtime folk fun.



Watching An Education after a great meal with an old friend. Beautifully made film that once again made me wish I had been around in the 1960s, the beautiful clothes...

Google Love

[number seven] & [number sixteen]

go out dancing & cook a vegetarian meal for my friends

Number sixteen preceded number seven. A yummy vegetarian ratatouille, packed full of aubergine, tomato, red onion, button mushrooms and juicy peppers accompanied with crusty french bread...

Perfect preparation for a night out dancing with the girls. Great fun minus the strange rappers that appeared...

[number four]

Go to the modern art gallery.
A friend and I headed off on a sunny but chilly Saturday afternoon to the Dean Gallery of Modern Art. Those days are my favourite days in Edinburgh - bright blue skies but freezing cold ears!
The walk to the gallery was lovely... Down to the West End and by the Waters of Leith, through the Dean Village :) A magical place.
Saw the BP Portrait Gallery awards, there were some stunning and awe inspiring pieces there. I was amazed at the talent. As usual, the winner wasn't my favourite. But it was an interesting and enjoyable afternoon all the same. Finished off with the biggest mug of Starbucks coffee, I was on edge for hours...!

Twenty One Things...

...to do before I'm twenty one!
A few friends and I compiled a list (that is ever changing) of things I should try to accomplish before my birthday on March 11th:

1. smash a Cath Kidston mug with a baseball bat
2. get a massage
3. go on a day trip by myself
4. go to the modern art gallery
5. ask someone out
6. get something pierced
7. go out dancing
8. spend a day dressed as a chav
9. complete a 24 hour fast
10. read something I've always wanted to
11. in one day, buy the Big Issue every time I see someone selling it
12. grow my nails i.e stop biting them!
13. go up Blackford Hill/the Pentlands
14. go to a whisky tasting session
15. read my flatmates a bedtime story
16. cook my friends a lovely vegetarian dinner, especially those who are scathing about my vegetarianism!
17. read the book of Joshua in the Bible
18. watch a sunrise
19. go to a classical music concert
20. write a fan letter to someone I admire
21. ..?

Things I did in 2009...

What did I accomplish in 2009?

* put my blender into use and started making soup
* survived taking four courses at uni in order to change my degree
* had my first birthday in Edinburgh
* passed my first year at Edinburgh
* saw some brilliant films either big blockbusters, little ones in alternative filmhouses or curled up on the sofa with great friends
* visited Cardiff and Barry Island
* went to Somerset
* saw friends in London and then 'Hairspray' and 'Romeo and Juliet' with the lil sis
* volunteered
* spent two weeks in the highlands with my family
* spent three weeks in America with some great friends
* kind of got over my fear of flying i.e. I didn't cry too much. Perhaps it would be better to say I didn't let my fear stop me from doing what I wanted
* climbed Mount Laffayette in the White Mountains of New Hampshire
* went to NYC
* ate lots of new American foods for the first time
* saw the White House, lots of cool art, monuments and museums in Washington DC
* went to the Andy Warhol museum in Pittsburgh, an amazing experience
* survived an American public bus
* saw my first baseball came
* returned to Edinburgh for second year
* had to say goodbye to a close friend
* enjoyed sewing at the cath kidston shop
* had many a wonderful breakfast at a number of little cafes in Edinburgh
* kept on with the Swahili
* visited friends
* wrapped up my Christmas gifts in brown paper and beautiful ribbon
* saw the new year in at hogmanay

Hogmanay, welcome to 2010

2010 was welcomed in with a fabulous bang! Fireworks at Edinburgh's Hogmanay with some of my closest friends was just wonderful. The street party was lively and noisy, chilly and splendid! New Year, New Start as they say... I have a number of resolutions, both private and public...
I want to:
fill my sewing box and learn how to sew again!
make my scrapbook of summer 2009, mostly my trip to America
start a scrapbook of life :)
do some art
more and more baking
take lots of photos with my new camera
make time for my friends, especially those far away and those who will be leaving soon
put my lovely writing sets to use
enjoy Edinburgh :)

I'm currently snowed in at home, hoping it's not going to affect my train back to Scotland this weekend. It's been fun walking around in deep snow to get necessities like milk and tea bags... perhaps another resolution should be to do something about this caffeine addiction. Games of Trivial Pursuit are always fun... ha!

All this snow is definitely Bon Iver weather:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T0yaQ20dpWI

Merry new year <3