The Uni Days
Coming back from Australia on my own was undoubtedly the hardest thing I've ever had to do - mainly because I no longer had Debs with me and facing our friends and families at home was a hideously scary thought - so many feelings were racing around my head at that time I can't begin to try and explain it. On top of this it was because coming back this year was no longer really our plan . . . whilst having so much fun and loving Australia, we had discussed deferring University for another year and doing a bit more travelling, so I was really not ready to be coming home. However, under the circumstances of course I cut the trip short and flew back after spending a few days in Sydney with friends.
When at home I felt more alone than ever before without Debs joined to my hip, as she had been for the previous 7 months. Looking back this was crazy as in actual fact I was surrounded by so many amazing people, two of whom were Jodie and Jody - friends we'd met in Australia, who had cut short their travelling in New Zealand and not only flown back to the UK the same day as me but also then came straight up to Norfolk to stay with me for a few months, despite the fact that they lived in Kent. Now you can begin to gage an understanding of why we remain such close friends . . . believe me folks you don't meet people like this everyday and I totally believe that you don't stumble upon friends like these accidentally! I have regrets about pushing people away a lot during this time and if I'm honest I guess I didn't believe that anyone should be showing me sympathy. I wanted to be there for everyone else to try and make things right, although by unconsciously putting a divide up I suppose I was in fact doing the opposite - I just didn't realise it back then. As for friends and family at home, part of me desperately wanted to tell them all about the fun we'd had in Australia but it never really came up in conversation and I suppose I was as nervous about mentioning it as people were afraid to ask incase I didn't want to talk about it, when in actual fact all I wanted to do was talk about it, well at least about the fun we'd had and what Debs had spent the past 7 months doing etc. It is never too late though and I kept a diary through the whole trip so any opportunity that comes up in the future to chat about it will be snapped up and I can bore my child with all of the stories I've got when they're old enough! ;-)
So I was back in the UK at the start of June 2000 and then by that September it was time for me to move to Sunderland and start my time at University. I suppose having already lived away from home I was eager to get my independence back and starting something new would be refreshing . . . well at least it should have been, but this is Uni we're talking about and let's face it with the amount of partying and alcohol involved in being a student there was not really anything all that refreshing about it! In truth, along with a couple of other party animal friends, I drank my way through my first year and a good way through the North-Easts supply of Jack Daniels, my new best friend! Two friends from home (Charnee and Liz) were also at Sunderland with me so the three of us and a few other girls spent most of our time together, some partying more than others . . . I'll let you guess what I was up to! My theory in this partying was that if Debs was there with me we would have been doing it just as hard, however others thought I was drowning sorrows and perhaps in some ways I was? Despite all these crazy times, and there were plenty! I managed to pass the first year of my Media Production degree with a 2:1 and 120 credits. This was down to the fact that I did absolutely love what I was studying, the downfall being I loved the partying just a little bit more at the time! Ask Boy George!! (a very funny story for another day!)
In the second year at Uni me and some of the other girls moved into a three storey house together - I was determined to get my head down a bit more and wasn't partying anywhere near as much. Initially things were going well but then there became a lot of tension in the house and to this day I'm not really sure what happened but I'd had enough and decided I needed to go home for a bit and decide what I wanted to do . . . this led to me quitting Uni with the intention of getting a job temporarily to save up and do some more travelling. I left in the November of the second year and already had a trip to Thailand with five friends up my sleeve for that Christmas!
Looking back at my Uni days is always a bit strange for me as I was kind of on another planet for a majority of the time and I doubt anyone I knew then knew the real me. I didn't make the life-long friends I'd made when we were travelling and apart from the odd message with one or two of them on Facebook I don't stay in touch with them, apart from Liz and Charnee who were friends before. However, it was another life experience that has no doubt shaped me as a person so I don't regret it and maybe one day I'll finish off that degree . . .
Now forward step to April 2011 and what's been happening here and now . . .
Since last week the biggest change pregnancy wise has to be the size of my bump! The growth has been significant and I am currently struggling to fit into anything, fingers crossed for the maternity jeans that my friend Kerry has just lent me! Also I started to feel the baby move last Friday and it hasn't stopped since! It is the craziest thing to feel - I absolutely love it!! It does seem quite alien to think of this little being inside me, I have to admit but the fact that it's a baby that we created just amazes me everytime I think about it - fantastic!! I cannot believe that I thought I never wanted children - this is the most brilliant experience ever and I totally recommend it folks! Another reason I'm so in awe of it all right now is because it was our 20 week scan yesterday and what we saw was incredible! The eyes, nose, lovely big lips (like my husbands), hands, fingers, legs, bones, backbone, feet, toes and heaps of movement - no wonder I can feel so much.
The great news is that everything they checked was as it should be and despite us always saying we wouldn't find out the sex we couldn't help ourselves and if you can make the most of modern technology then why not! (I love how I'm trying to justify my impatience!) So, now I suppose you really want to know what it is we're having . . . Now this isn't 100% definite so no going out to buy pink dresses just yet (as if I would anyway!) but they said that they were pretty sure it's a little girl! I would have been pleased what ever but there are a few extra happy people in the King, Adams and Godfrey family camp who apparently were all extra keen on us having a girl, including James! Personally, I'm very excited too but the main thing for me is that she's healthy and all seems to be going well etc.
Aside from the baby stuff it's been a majorly busy week . . . I had the usual social media work to do, as well as teaching a new member of my team how I work so that they can start taking over some of my workload soon to free up my time to get new clients on board. Also, following my last blog I have had heaps of people contacting me for advice on how to set up their own businesses etc! I was blown away by how many people contacted me to say how much they loved the blog and were inspired by me - by ME!! That was weird! However, for people to want me to help coach and guide them that was something else and I've loved it, so bring on the challenges folks I'm here to help if you'd like me to. In addition to this I've had a few more shifts at the Council, and I did a three day Property Investment course in Newport Pagnell with my Dad on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, which were super long days with very short breaks. However, it sounds tougher than it was actually, because for me with a background in being a Buy-to-Let Consultant and already investing in property myself it was all about things I mainly already knew, so nothing too taxing for the old brain! I was mainly there to support my Dad and to help come up with ideas for him for future investing. I did however also come up with some plans for James and I to build on the small portfolio that we've got so far, so am excited about the prospect of doing this as well - it's all in aid of building a great future for us and our little family and I can't wait! Whilst I was down South as well as spending time with Dad I also got to catch up with my lovely Nan, Auntie Jacqui and her boyfriend Stephen during the three evenings I spent down there, so that was an added bonus as I don't get to see them often enough! It was lovely to see James when I got back Sunday night, although it's fair to say we weren't awake for long but sleeping cuddles are always good! Monday my sister, Yazmin, came over to do some revision for her GCSE's whilst I was working and then she stayed the night and joined us for the scan Tuesday so she could get to see her little Niece - and by the way she was almost eating her jumper whilst staring at the screen I'd say she was pretty excited about it! ;-)
I think that just about covers it, so to wrap up I'll say thanks for reading again and enduring another LONG blog. If you got to this part I guess you must have enjoyed reading, either that or you are a very dedicated friend or family member - either way thanks and if you know anyone else that might like to read what I've been writing feel free to pass on a link as this is open to anyone - weirdly I've got readers all over the World?!! Make yourself known guys, I'd love to see more comments to know your thoughts on what I waffle about - good or bad, I'm happy to hear it all - constructive criticism is after all the key for me to become better at this . . .
Coming back from Australia on my own was undoubtedly the hardest thing I've ever had to do - mainly because I no longer had Debs with me and facing our friends and families at home was a hideously scary thought - so many feelings were racing around my head at that time I can't begin to try and explain it. On top of this it was because coming back this year was no longer really our plan . . . whilst having so much fun and loving Australia, we had discussed deferring University for another year and doing a bit more travelling, so I was really not ready to be coming home. However, under the circumstances of course I cut the trip short and flew back after spending a few days in Sydney with friends.
When at home I felt more alone than ever before without Debs joined to my hip, as she had been for the previous 7 months. Looking back this was crazy as in actual fact I was surrounded by so many amazing people, two of whom were Jodie and Jody - friends we'd met in Australia, who had cut short their travelling in New Zealand and not only flown back to the UK the same day as me but also then came straight up to Norfolk to stay with me for a few months, despite the fact that they lived in Kent. Now you can begin to gage an understanding of why we remain such close friends . . . believe me folks you don't meet people like this everyday and I totally believe that you don't stumble upon friends like these accidentally! I have regrets about pushing people away a lot during this time and if I'm honest I guess I didn't believe that anyone should be showing me sympathy. I wanted to be there for everyone else to try and make things right, although by unconsciously putting a divide up I suppose I was in fact doing the opposite - I just didn't realise it back then. As for friends and family at home, part of me desperately wanted to tell them all about the fun we'd had in Australia but it never really came up in conversation and I suppose I was as nervous about mentioning it as people were afraid to ask incase I didn't want to talk about it, when in actual fact all I wanted to do was talk about it, well at least about the fun we'd had and what Debs had spent the past 7 months doing etc. It is never too late though and I kept a diary through the whole trip so any opportunity that comes up in the future to chat about it will be snapped up and I can bore my child with all of the stories I've got when they're old enough! ;-)
So I was back in the UK at the start of June 2000 and then by that September it was time for me to move to Sunderland and start my time at University. I suppose having already lived away from home I was eager to get my independence back and starting something new would be refreshing . . . well at least it should have been, but this is Uni we're talking about and let's face it with the amount of partying and alcohol involved in being a student there was not really anything all that refreshing about it! In truth, along with a couple of other party animal friends, I drank my way through my first year and a good way through the North-Easts supply of Jack Daniels, my new best friend! Two friends from home (Charnee and Liz) were also at Sunderland with me so the three of us and a few other girls spent most of our time together, some partying more than others . . . I'll let you guess what I was up to! My theory in this partying was that if Debs was there with me we would have been doing it just as hard, however others thought I was drowning sorrows and perhaps in some ways I was? Despite all these crazy times, and there were plenty! I managed to pass the first year of my Media Production degree with a 2:1 and 120 credits. This was down to the fact that I did absolutely love what I was studying, the downfall being I loved the partying just a little bit more at the time! Ask Boy George!! (a very funny story for another day!)
In the second year at Uni me and some of the other girls moved into a three storey house together - I was determined to get my head down a bit more and wasn't partying anywhere near as much. Initially things were going well but then there became a lot of tension in the house and to this day I'm not really sure what happened but I'd had enough and decided I needed to go home for a bit and decide what I wanted to do . . . this led to me quitting Uni with the intention of getting a job temporarily to save up and do some more travelling. I left in the November of the second year and already had a trip to Thailand with five friends up my sleeve for that Christmas!
Looking back at my Uni days is always a bit strange for me as I was kind of on another planet for a majority of the time and I doubt anyone I knew then knew the real me. I didn't make the life-long friends I'd made when we were travelling and apart from the odd message with one or two of them on Facebook I don't stay in touch with them, apart from Liz and Charnee who were friends before. However, it was another life experience that has no doubt shaped me as a person so I don't regret it and maybe one day I'll finish off that degree . . .
Now forward step to April 2011 and what's been happening here and now . . .
Since last week the biggest change pregnancy wise has to be the size of my bump! The growth has been significant and I am currently struggling to fit into anything, fingers crossed for the maternity jeans that my friend Kerry has just lent me! Also I started to feel the baby move last Friday and it hasn't stopped since! It is the craziest thing to feel - I absolutely love it!! It does seem quite alien to think of this little being inside me, I have to admit but the fact that it's a baby that we created just amazes me everytime I think about it - fantastic!! I cannot believe that I thought I never wanted children - this is the most brilliant experience ever and I totally recommend it folks! Another reason I'm so in awe of it all right now is because it was our 20 week scan yesterday and what we saw was incredible! The eyes, nose, lovely big lips (like my husbands), hands, fingers, legs, bones, backbone, feet, toes and heaps of movement - no wonder I can feel so much.
The great news is that everything they checked was as it should be and despite us always saying we wouldn't find out the sex we couldn't help ourselves and if you can make the most of modern technology then why not! (I love how I'm trying to justify my impatience!) So, now I suppose you really want to know what it is we're having . . . Now this isn't 100% definite so no going out to buy pink dresses just yet (as if I would anyway!) but they said that they were pretty sure it's a little girl! I would have been pleased what ever but there are a few extra happy people in the King, Adams and Godfrey family camp who apparently were all extra keen on us having a girl, including James! Personally, I'm very excited too but the main thing for me is that she's healthy and all seems to be going well etc.Aside from the baby stuff it's been a majorly busy week . . . I had the usual social media work to do, as well as teaching a new member of my team how I work so that they can start taking over some of my workload soon to free up my time to get new clients on board. Also, following my last blog I have had heaps of people contacting me for advice on how to set up their own businesses etc! I was blown away by how many people contacted me to say how much they loved the blog and were inspired by me - by ME!! That was weird! However, for people to want me to help coach and guide them that was something else and I've loved it, so bring on the challenges folks I'm here to help if you'd like me to. In addition to this I've had a few more shifts at the Council, and I did a three day Property Investment course in Newport Pagnell with my Dad on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, which were super long days with very short breaks. However, it sounds tougher than it was actually, because for me with a background in being a Buy-to-Let Consultant and already investing in property myself it was all about things I mainly already knew, so nothing too taxing for the old brain! I was mainly there to support my Dad and to help come up with ideas for him for future investing. I did however also come up with some plans for James and I to build on the small portfolio that we've got so far, so am excited about the prospect of doing this as well - it's all in aid of building a great future for us and our little family and I can't wait! Whilst I was down South as well as spending time with Dad I also got to catch up with my lovely Nan, Auntie Jacqui and her boyfriend Stephen during the three evenings I spent down there, so that was an added bonus as I don't get to see them often enough! It was lovely to see James when I got back Sunday night, although it's fair to say we weren't awake for long but sleeping cuddles are always good! Monday my sister, Yazmin, came over to do some revision for her GCSE's whilst I was working and then she stayed the night and joined us for the scan Tuesday so she could get to see her little Niece - and by the way she was almost eating her jumper whilst staring at the screen I'd say she was pretty excited about it! ;-)
I think that just about covers it, so to wrap up I'll say thanks for reading again and enduring another LONG blog. If you got to this part I guess you must have enjoyed reading, either that or you are a very dedicated friend or family member - either way thanks and if you know anyone else that might like to read what I've been writing feel free to pass on a link as this is open to anyone - weirdly I've got readers all over the World?!! Make yourself known guys, I'd love to see more comments to know your thoughts on what I waffle about - good or bad, I'm happy to hear it all - constructive criticism is after all the key for me to become better at this . . .
Goodness that bump has grown a lot in a week, the scan looks amazing, a girl - how wonderful xxx
ReplyDelete