Wednesday, 25 February 2015

The Future Uncertainty

Jobs. Location. Financial Support. Big Steps.

It's all very scary.

Where will I be this time next year? What will I be doing? Who will I be with? Where will my horse be?

This is crazy!

Hopefully I'll be able to answer all those questions soon!

Yours confusedly, 

X


Tuesday, 10 February 2015

The Only Thing That Beats The Morning Coffee

Getting out of bed, at the crack of dawn, to muck out some noble steeds is the best wake up call.

And on the of most energising.

Don't get me wrong, whilst I'm warm in my bed, with a duvet up to my ears and a super comfy mattress underneath me, there is nothing least appealing than getting up into the sub zero degrees... and in the dark.

But there is a strange sense of accomplishment before the rest of the world arise. The normal procedure of coffee and cereal is demolished for a slap in the face by the stench of fresh horse wee and the sweet smells of haylage along with their ever passionate whinneys for food.


You'd get up for them, don't lie...

The rest of the day seems manageable, with considerably more motivation. The 11 o'clock lecture seems less like hell, the ability to read before 10 am suddenly makes an appearance and the quantity of coffee needed to stay away through a letter on soil is considerably less... who doesn't love to learn about what the horse poos on?

Taking on a job every Tuesday to muck out and be outside before 8am is the best and worst decision I've made in a while.

Best = obvs the wake up call
Worst = makes me realise how much work I need to do... and have been putting off for the past few days!

So... get a horse... if you need a good wake up call... Also, in the Summer - you can just chuck it out in the field so no early wake up calls...

The falls, tumbles and kicks to the body when you're in the wrong place at the wrong time... are mere highlights to the cute bundles of fluff that poo and eat whilst you sleep...

Yours Energetically,

X

Sunday, 18 January 2015

The First of Many

It happened!!

The first dinner party at our student house actually happened!

There had been so much talk of a dinner party, who to invite, what to eat but life took over most of the time and decisions were made to 'cancel'.

But, on 16th Jan, 2015 - number 2, the smithy had their first dinner party. And it was hilarious.

We had to move the kitchen table and some other tables in the sitting room, find chairs that we didn't know existed and even bought some One Direction napkins (Kitty's idea, our resident 1D obsessed student).

I made some boeuf bourginon and it was, if I may say so, pretty yum! I had miscounted and therefore made enough for 16 when we were 12, so we are going to be eating it for the rest of the week!

As a house, we chose 2 people each to invite, this created a fun, somewhat unexpected group of people arriving at our door. But as expected, it was hilarious fun and rather merry.

And, as a current must, the selfie stick came out. My sister gave me the dreaded thing for Christmas. It is definitely something I never thought I would need but for some reason, now am obsessed with!!


Following the supper, we headed to the tythe on campus to throw some shapes to the wonders of Busted's 'Air Hostess' and Nellie the Elephant of all songs!! Amazing!

Another evening will definitely have to happen, maybe with more 1D? or a member maybe... Kitty is begging here kids... 


Yours selfie-ingly, 

X


Tuesday, 6 January 2015

The Only Time The Cheese Board Actually Leaves The Cupboard

Christmas time. Family time. 'Relaxation time'.

Possibly the most stressful time of my life, busy as anything. Far too many mince pies eaten and a jolly good quantity of paper cuts from wrapping presents and sending christmas cards.

Oh the joy of a 'normal' Christmas. Oh to be a normal family, where the TV is on 24/7 and you have all watched and sung along to the Sound of Music more times than you can remember.

But no, as my family cannot do anything in halves, we put on a live nativity play on the 23rd and 24th before Christmas and, by golly it is hard work. Totally worth it, but makes Christmas the most stressful time of the year.

The days before are spent putting staging in the right places, adjusting the star, finding children to be in the nativity play and practising going up and down to the church.

It's safe to say, however, that it is THE cutest nativity play I've ever been to or been in.

Normally I am Shepherd 5, or any other character that doesn't exist before the night. There is a live baby, 3 live camels (horses), some sheep, and we go from the church down into the stable yard to see the innkeepers, the shepherds and the kings; finishing up with following them through into the stable to see the beautiful array of little children and animals.

It is a highlight and some say it is when Christmas starts for them.

Christmas Eve is spent undoing all of the previous weeks hard work and settling down to some mulled wine and mince pies, followed by playing musical instruments in the following day's church service.

Following that, we all sit around and chat mindlessly to our relations at the lunch table before enjoying an evening of Racing Demon. A rather ferrous card game that is not for the light hearted.

In between all that, Boxing Day hunting is prepared for and more happy smiles whilst receiving the 19th pair of gloves that year - and there is no sign of snow - especially with the 10 degree weather.

Oh the joys of Christmas. Smiles, cheese and enough screaming 5 year olds, to put you off having kids forever.

Yours sleeplessly,

X