Finally!

Sorry I haven't Blogged for so long, I keep meaning to and I never seem to get the time... Being at work all day means you don't get so much time to do other stuff, like see your fiance, and then by the time you've caught up with that its time to get some badly needed sleep, and you've used up your whole day with not-Blogging.

But enough of my excuses! Although we don't seem to get up to much these days, the good news is that lots of stuff is finally getting sorted out. Dave and I now have venues for the wedding and reception, free balloons from Hallmark (woohoo!), a caterer, a florist, a wedding car (Rolls silver wraith, if you're interested) and, most importantly, A WEDDING DRESS! Whoo! I can't give any details incase dave sneakily reads this, but suffice to say it's all so lovely! It's not long til the wedding (!) though, so you'll be able to see it in real life soon! Wedding dress shopping was awesomely fun, and I think Dave was a bit put out that he didn't get to join in. Ooh, and also, Dave's writting an interactive online wedding gift list! Should be very cool once its running properly. Links will be added in the wedding invitations so that you can play with it properly. No obligation to spend money though!

Its weird though how it feel like uni never even happened in a way. Its so strange being at home with most people here all the time and some people still at uni or moved away. Its like before uni started, after 6th form, but with everyone having moved on and gained independance. Rhys obviously has his friends from work to keep him entertained, Rich & Amelia have eachother and pleanty of plans to occupy themselves with, I have Dave and vice versa, and Chris has glandular fever. Ed's moved to Nottingham, Becky's moved to France and Sarah's in Indonnesia somewhere. Uni folk are so far away and difficult to keep in touch with. And for those of us still around, during the day we're all at work, or sitting at home being ill, so we don't get out too much nowdays. What a bunch of loosers... I miss the freedom of our little flat, getting up when we like, going to the Red Lion whenever we like, hardly any classes to take up our time... But I have to admit that seeing Dave every day is a big bonus. And next year at least we'll have the independance of our own flat! Whoo!

Erm, what else have I been up to? I failed my driving theory yesterday, which was lame. If anyone reading this had to do the hazard perception test, please give me some advice - I really didn't know what I was doing, which didnt help much. But I got 34/35 in the theory part of the test, which made me feel a bit better. Actually it's weird, I think this is the first test I've failed (except getting into Oxford, but I don't think that really counts. I concider that a good thing, in retrospect). But at least re-sits are easy!

Also, my criminal record check finally came through on wednesday! I am now actually doing the job they employed me to do, which is excellent! I was starting to get pretty bored of processing books, shelving and opening boxes. I get my own key to the library and Im allowed to talk to the students and everything! Yesterday I was in charge of the whole of downstairs by my self for 45 min, which was exciting. The whole place is pretty neglected though, and really disorganised. Because it isn't part of the main college site no one bothers to repair things, and we end up solving everyones IT problems because there isnt a help office onsite. Its a bit daunting really.

Last weekend Dave and I went to Exeter to meet up with Dave's friends from uni for the first time since he left. A few of them are still there because they're doing 4 year courses or an MA. The rest of us slept on their floors, which was handy. we did lots of pubs, a curry house and a jazz bar, which was really cool. Unfortunately I didnt feel well on saturday, but we got to the church which dave used to go to whilst at uni on the sunday, which was good, had weatherspoons breakfast, and watched the 1st 3 episodes of the 2nd season of How I met Your Mother, which were brilliant. Im so relieved about Lilly and Marshal! I was actually quite upset before! I am so bad...

And just about the only other thing I haven't told everyone about yet is that I'm going into hospital on thursday to get my gall bladder taken out. Should be fun! At least I get 10 days off work to watch season 7 of Buffy and make wedding invitations and work out what I was actually supposed to be doing in my hazard percepton test. And I've sneakily booked a driving lesson on the friday I have sick leave on, so I hope I'll be feeling better by then and that no one from work spots me! (If you're reading this and work with me, please let me know how I can purchace your silence.)

I guess that's pretty much it, then. Hopefully I'll post something a bit sooner next time, and news will include me planning the flowers, sending wedding invites, getting on fine with no gall bladder, publishing the gift list, going to the opticians and purchasing a notice of marriage! I hope if anyone's reading this that you're well and everythings working out well with what you're doing. Also my appologies if I emailed you and you have noticed how this is almost exactly the same. I kind of cheated a bit...

Uni pics

Here are some pictures (finally!) from uni!

<- This is Hannah #1 and Bob on the day we finally all finished our degrees.

And Hannah #1, Bob and myself at Oceana for -> our end of degree/Hannah's birthdy outing.

<- Us seeing Jenna at Pizza Hut for the last time before the summer.

The three of us at Windsor Great Park for a -> nice summery picnic.

<- Us before the summer ball in our stunningly yellow kitchen.










Bob and me at the summer ball. ->











<- All three of us at the ball.











Me and Rachael. ->

Awesome-tastic!

Dave and I are engaged!!! Woohoo! You should all know that by now, but it's still so exciting! I can't wait to get married! Hurray!

Dave and I went on holiday to Malta last week. It was so lovely, really hot, and loads of things to do. We saw 5 neolithic temples, one of which was underground and was 1000 years older than the pyramids in Egypt. We also saw early Christian catacombs and some cathedrals, including one with a clock showing the wrong time to confuse the devil. We visited the Medieval town of Mdina, the citadel of Victoria Rabbat in Gozo, and Valletta by night, which was lovely.

Because it was so hot, we also did lots of swimming in the sea, in some lovely rocky coves and some beaches. We took a little boat trip to a place called 'blue grotto', where the sun reflected off the bottom of the sea making the water this electric blue, and there was pink coral. It was really lovely. And we found a cafe that made iced coffees with icecream that were gorgeous! While on Gozo we also went for a drive along the coast and saw lots of salt-pans, but the road suddenly turned into a rocky track and we had to turn around.

On the last sunday, it was our six month anniversary so we went on a day cruse from Silema to Gozo in a lovely wooden boat. We went swimming, had a lovely lunch, and went to Comino on the way back, a small island, population 2, where we went swmming in the blue lagoon, which was absolutely beautiful. There was even an icecream boat! Then in the evening we went to a sunset at 'Golden Bay', which was very romantic, and I shall remember it forever... Dave proposed! It was so lovely!!! Ahhhhhhhhhh! I'm so happy!!!

In other news, we visited Dave's dad in Manchester, which was good. He has a very cute dog called Dexter, and we had a day looking round Manchester, including the cathedral, Urbis and Primark. Also, I got my results break-down, and I was 1.2% off a first, which is slightly annoying, although I know I couldn't've done any better, and I didn't really deserve a first.

Also, I have my first driving lesson in a couple of hours! Scary! Having put it off so long, it's even more horrible now. I'm told it'll be fine though, but we'll see... And I'm looking for a job, which is even more horrible because a) I don't want one, b) theres nothing good in Dorset and c) Dave's very distracting. So we'll see how that goes, too! Graduation next week, which should be fun! And then nothing but driving and job-hunting til Soul Survivor!

But I'm so excited! I can't wait to get married! Sorry I had to leave this a couple of days to post, Dave has some friends he wanted to tell in person, so I had to leave out the relly exciting bits. And it is SOOOOOOO exciting! Anyway, hopefully see everyone soon.

xxx

2:1!!!

Woohoo! I have a degree! And I was the one I wanted, too! I'm pretty relieved, although now there's nothing left between me and getting a job, which I really don't want to do...

Ooh, but Dave and I are going to Malta! Last weekend we went to Exeter for a few days to see his friends before they went on holiday, and we brought back loads of Dave's stuff. Then on wednesday we went to London to visit my brother, and we saw the show he was working on, which was really good. And tomorrow we're driving to Manchester to visit Dave's dad before we leave for Malta on monday evening! It's going to be brilliant!

Well, I probably out to go pack now. Hope any other finalists out there also got the results they wanted. xxx

It's the end of the world as we know it...

So - what've I been up to recently? Mostly rushing around like a lunatic, which was fun. The weekend before last I caught a bus to Exeter from Poole for the evening to see Dave, which was lovely. Then I left for Egham the next day, and the whole trip actually cost less than going direct by train! Hurray! And I got to see my lovely lovely boyfriend too, which was a super bonus.

Then I managed to use up a whole week with shopping, reading the Da Vinci Code (I thought I ought to...), meeting Jenna for lunch, writing my CV etc. Then Dave came to see me because he finished his degree too (hurray!), and we went to the summer ball, which was very good. There was lots of live music and exciting cocktails, and chocolate fountains, and Rachael Stevens (who was a bit pants). Dave and Robyn and I survived til 6am, and got the breakfast, which was delicious, composed almost entirely of fat.

Then on Sunday we went to church and packed a bit, but my gall stones made me ill again, so we couldn't go out for dinner :-( Fortunately I was better this morning, so we cleaned the flat and gave our keys back. It was so sad to leave uni, I really don't want to move back home! I loved our yellow kitchen, being able to stay up til stupid times at night, having the freedom to never clean, watching neighbours during the day, and the pub being only 5 min away! Stupid no money stopping me from moving out... But on the plus side, when I do move out, I'll be with Dave every day! Woohoo!

Well, that's the entirity of today's musings. If you're a Dorsetian too, let me know when I can meet up with you some time, it should be cool!

All over!

OK, just a quickie. Im home again at the moment, but I'm back to Exeter for the evening on friday, then back at uni on the saturday to do some pre-leaving FOREVER activities. As for the last couple of weeks since I last posted, I've coped surprisingly well since Jude died, although my parents have been really upset. I guess its easier because I've been away for so long I wasn't used to him being aroung all the time anyway. But I do keep having dreams about him, which is quite sad.

Other than that, I'VE FINISHED MY DEGREE!!! Haven't got drunk once - go me! Went to Oceana on friday night and didn't have any alcohol at all, it was a great night! Also been in Exeter to see my gorgeous boyfrind for about 5 days, which was lovely. Went for a few walks in the rain, got some amazingamazing bargain books (£15 reduced to £2!!!) and a talk on the Da Vinci Code at Belmont, which was really good, among other things. Errr... packed lots on thursday and moved everything back here on saturday. Room looks like a crazy jumble-sale, but I still have til friday to unpack.

Anyway, so I still have the summer ball to look forward to, and handing back the keys to our lovely flat :-( I'll miss our yellow kitchen, and being away from home! But now I'll go and find out whats going on in my house this evening, so I'll say good bye. Good luck, everyone who has exams left, and have fun, everyone who doesn't! xxx

:'(

Just a quick note that Jude's been really ill, so we're taking him to the vet for the last time today. I really can't belive he'll be gone this evening, he's been living in this house nearly as long as I have, I just can't imagine being without him... Anyway, I can't say anything else, I'm too upset. Anyone who knew him will understand...

Three Quarters Done!!!

Just a quick post today as I've got a garage-load of work to do. I've been at uni since January now, not having left for longer than 3 days in a row, and starting to go a bit crazy with all the work I have to do, and missing Dave lots and lots. But I did go home twice over the holiday, which was nice, although brief, and I have at least done some work.

For example, I FINISHED MY DISSERTATION TODAY! It took ages to print, but now its all nicely bound, and handed in. It feels like a big chunk of my life's missing, and my degree's finished, so I don't have to do any work. Which is nice, but not very helpful, as I still have exams I've hardly done any revision for. But nevery mind, I'm sure it'll all work out in the end. In my experience, these things usually do...

In other news, I went to the hospital last week, and they told me I have gall stones! How exciting! Im glad they told me why I'm so ill, but it's not nice thinking about big lumps of yuck floating around inside you. At least now I know, and it's quite easy to fix, with minimum being sliced open, etc.

Other than that, I'm now officially three quarters of the way through the assessment for my degree, which hardly makes it seem important that I still have 2 exams to do. I just keep thinking about all the fun things I get to do over the summer! Plus finding a job, which absolutely terrifies me... Ahhhhhh! Well, thats something for me to think about another day. For the time being, I shall content myself with being scared of my exams.

Take care, everybody, xxx