It's my birthday!

Twenty-twoooo

Okay so technically it isn't my birthday today, but it will be on Tuesday and since I'm leaving to go to Paris (eeeekk!!!) tomorrow, I thought I'd pre-empt the birthday post this year.

At the risk of sounding like a parrot, how quickly does time pass the older you get? It seems like just a few weeks ago that I was writing 'This is becoming a yearly tradition' in the post title box. Although I haven't been in an entirely different country this year, I think it's safe to say I've faced similarly difficult challenges and been on an equally emotional rollercoaster.

I've finished university! Boom, four years of my life gone. Poof. Over so quickly. The struggle of final year is real guys, both emotionally and work-wise. I've had to adjust to going back and studying again (intensely and under a huge amount of pressure), only to leave for the last time and get acquainted with the real adult world. That's been scary enough, but what's maybe more nerve-wracking is the thought of starting a new job. Nerve-wracking and so exciting at the same time because I do feel ready to move on now. Uni was great and was absolutely the best thing for me, but it's done it's job and now I can't wait to start creating a real life for myself, a real grown-up life.

This year has been both an end and a beginning, has brought massive highs as well as some lows but I'm going to see the next year of my life as a stepping stone in paving the way for my future. It's daunting, but I'm determined to make the most of every minute and begin making the life I want to live.

The positivity is currently overflowing (possibly something to do with the fact I'm going to Paris in less than 24 hours!!) but I'm aiming to make it stay! I'm feeling 22 ♪♪

The start of the end

A good-looking club - the Equestrian girls!

This year has flown by so quickly, I've hardly had a chance to think about the fact it's my final year at university - and now we're pretty much at the end. As leaving gets closer and closer, I'm definitely starting to notice myself thinking 'this will be the last time' when I do certain things but the biggest of all these moments so far was Colours Ball this weekend.

Colours Ball is the highlight of the sporting year at our university and awards people and clubs for their contributions to uni sport throughout the year. I've seen several friends get up on the stage for awards, and it's always been a little dream of mine to make sure I too got to do that before I leave forever! After an amazing nomination from my fellow committee members, that dream came true and I got my Club Colours for the commitment I've shown to the Equestrian Club over my time at uni. 

It is an amazing feeling to feel a part of the sporting community at university, and to have the support of my beloved little club behind me. I've realised how much I'll miss the club and the girls. This year we've had new members and old members returning but the evening showed that although we're still a small club, the people make it great. I've become so close with everyone this year and I have no doubts that they will continue the club's success next year and make it the best it's ever been.

I made my last Colours Ball count and had an incredible time, mainly due to company and how well it was all organised (and maaaybe a little too much wine...). We spent a lovely afternoon taking photos of us all and the weather was even nice for us, even when we returned at 2am in the morning.

My outfit was quite simple really, with my dress making the statement. My friends were brilliant (as always) with helping me get ready and I think it's safe to say we're all hugely looking forward to Graduation now. But I might lay off the wine a bit more next time... Being a final year makes a huge and horrible difference to my hangovers!

Dress - Reiss; shoes - M&S; clutch - Accessorize; earrings - Accessorize.

The perfect West Country break

I'm fortunate to have some lovely family and friends over Bath/Bristol way who hosted me for my penultimate week before heading back to university. All I can say is that they both know me incredibly well. Tearooms and cute cafés made up the majority of my stays and I'm not complaining a bit.

I started in Bristol with my friend who showed me the more upmarket Clifton first of all. With its little boutiques and independent stores, this was an undoubtable hit with me. She also introduced me to an up-and-coming café chain Boston Tea Party, which was simply a delight. So much yumminess and not many pennies so it made brunch a total hit with me. Think freshly made, balanced portions, sustainable restaurant awards etc... It's pretty awesome. Boston Tea Party, you need to hurry up and open in Cambridge ASAP.

Scotch pancakes with compote and Greek yoghurt for brunch, courtesy of Boston Tea Party. 

Being a tourist at Bristol suspension bridge.

After spending a night in Bristol, I headed over to Bath to stay with family. I've always loved Bath, and in my little dreamworld I envisage myself with a property in the centre one day. Oh I'm just going to go ahead and say it - I want one on the Crescent. Yeah, I know I know but I've always been a dreamer. I'd be equally as happy on Great Pulteney Street. Life ambitions and all that. Anyway, the point is that as a country girl, this is one city (alongside Cambridge and Paris) that I adore. So when I was also taken out into more rural Wiltshire to visit the village of Lacock, I could not have been a happier girl. Combining my perfect city break with rural and historic cuteness? I couldn't imagine anything better.

I had no idea little Lacock existed if I'm honest but turns out it's been the movie set for some kind of major productions. Most notably parts of Harry Potter were filmed there, but the recent Wolf Hall was also shot in Lacock along with the BBC's Pride and Prejudice, and Cranford. We happened to go on a beautiful day when there wasn't a cloud in the sky which made the village and abbey look all the more special, especially the early blooms in the gardens. Considering we went on a Saturday it was also fairly quiet as well so looking around the abbey, we basically had the place to ourselves. 

I have to say though, the village itself was the highlight for me. Owned almost entirely by the National Trust, it is like being transported back in time, minus the cars. There was such a quirky array of shops, from soap and gift shops, to antiques and recycling shops. Even though it's owned by the National Trust, there was still such a lovely village-vibe, the one I know and love. I saw several homes with books or plants outside for sale, where people would simply 'post cash through letterbox' to buy. Slowly restoring faith in humanity one plant/book at a time. It was just the most friendly, beautiful place to wander around and I was totally taken with all the period buildings. 

A special mention must be made for the King John's Hunting Lodge. The oldest house in the village, it's home to the most gorgeous tea room and garden. Because it was such a lovely day, we sat in the garden both times (yes, we ended up going back again for afternoon tea later!) and each time didn't disappoint. They serve proper tea, none of this teabag stuff, and delicious fresh food, handmade by the team on the spot I was assured. I had a mediterranean style tart with a special slaw and incredible side salad, it was utterly yum. If you're visiting Lacock, I cannot recommend this place enough. The staff were lovely and attentive, the food and cake excellent, and the atmosphere was so absolutely English and cute that I actually came away feeling sad it was so far away from home and wouldn't be able to go again anytime soon.

 

Bath, Bristol, you exceeded expectations. I'm an Eastern girl at heart but clearly there's potential to be a Western convert!

Easter weekend fun

When I come home for the big holidays, my family go mad with me because I launch into full-on 'let's-do-cute-family-fun-things-and-be-adorable' mode. I like making big deals out of occasions like Christmas and New Year, but more recently Halloween and Easter too. I started asking what Easter plans we had weeks ago and when I was faced with two parents who laughed and said they hadn't even thought about it yet, I challenged myself with the task of planning something. Starting with a long run early Sunday morning, we spent the bank holiday making the most of the weather (hello sunshine! we've missed you!) and taking advantage of the fact we were all together as a family.

Mum made the effort to do an Easter tree this year which was super sweet to arrive home to, and we bought some new decorations from Tesco too- the upside-down sheep and chicks in the photo that we couldn't get to hang properly! 

I actually did my first proper roast for our evening meal (took me long enough, I know). I was determined to make everything perfect and thought I'd nailed the timings, but typically it didn't go completely to plan. But, all things considered, and when it was finally all ready, I think I did a pretty awesome job! The roasted vegetables (carrots, potatoes, parsnips, broccoli and red onion) were delicious, and were by far my favourite part of the meal. The gammon was super tender and the honey glaze I added topped it off perfectly. Yumm. Oh, and of course it was followed by chocolate. Lots of chocolate. Mum even managed to find me a white chocolate Lindt bunny which seem to have been difficult to track down this year. If they ever stop selling these, my heart will break.

Our miniature pony, Rupert, was also subjected to the Easter fun. I didn't expect him to look this cute - my heart positively melted. Unfortunately, I think he pulls them off better than me.

Like the rest of the British population, Easter Monday was spent in the great outdoors enjoying the glorious sunshine that finally arrived in England. Yay! We went for a bike ride, even managing to drag my brother with us too! It was my first cycle ride in a long time, and definitely my first since I've been properly running and become a bit of an exercise enthusiast so it was a fantastic feeling to find cycling so much easier than I remember! And it was great to be able to get out into the beautiful countryside that surrounds our little village.

Easter is fast becoming equally as exciting as Christmas for me. I get far too carried away with all the potential family time, good food and fun things. How was your Easter? Did you have any special plans, or just get down with all the chocolate?!

10 things that have made me happy this week...

This week has been stressful. Actually, let's stress stressful. It's been stresssssfullll. I'm fairly certain my body is now falling apart because of the pressure I've put myself under over the last week. But it's done, over, fini. So I thought that there would be no better way to end this pretty hard week with a positive post on why it's actually been pretty great after all:

1. I submitted my dissertation. I cannot explain the huge weight that has been lifted from my shoulders. This project probably totalled around a year's worth of work. To have finally finished it is both magical and strange. If I'm completely honest, I'm now feeling a bit lost... What did I do before dissertation took over my life? On the plus side, I now have more time to blog which I've missed a lot.

© Rachel Thomason. Yeeeeaahh, that feels good.

2. This smoothie from Harris + Hoole that I treated myself to post-workout during the week. Berries, apples, froth... Need I say more?

3. My breakfast on Saturday morning after a hardcore treadmill workout. It was exactly what I needed to start my morning before having a final read of my dissertation and submitting it. Apple and cinnamon overnight oats, topped with sunflower and pumpkin seeds, and peanut butter plus an extra sprinkle of cinnamon.

4. This post by Hannah Gale. If you're not familiar with her blog, go and take a look. An incredibly honest young woman whose posts never fail to strike a chord with me, or simply just make me howl with laughter.

5. The count-down to Amsterdam. It's a post-dissertation-submission treat and I am so so excited.

6. The Game of Thrones Season 5 trailer. O.M.G. Excitement does not cover it. Find it here. Go. 

7. This poem by Swinburne. Find full version here. Literature geek alert: we studied this in our seminar this week, and I actually quite enjoyed it. He's definitely got a different style to his Victorian contemporaries, and the themes are sometimes particularly disturbing/intriguing but I weirdly quite enjoyed studying it.

8. Running. Less enjoyable than normal this week which kind of contradicts the title of this post BUT the fact that I can and do run is a source of constant happiness. This week I needed the endorphins more than ever, and dragging myself out was hard but so worth it. Plus, I got to see this sunrise. Nothing beats this for me. Motivation for an early workout comes so naturally when it's this beautiful outside. It was the perfect start to my day.



9. The most amazing caramel latte which revived my love for coffee. It's the small things.

10. The daffodils that are coming out on campus. Springgggg. Winter is not coming... Spring is coming!! This fills me with so much happiness and positivity that it's clear I am just a true outdoors girl at heart. It was the perfect backdrop to give my dissertation one last read through before submission.


So yeah, stressful week balanced out by some small pleasures, and some bigger sources of excitement. Putting in all the work I did was tough, but as a bit of a over-conscientious stress-head, I probably didn't help myself. I do, however, know that as a result of said effort I honestly tried my absolute best. Better than best. So at least now, with my degree in someone else's hands, I can 100% say that I gave it my best shot. 

Also, exciting news! I'm now on bloglovin', yay! I'm still trying to get to grips with it all but I'm fairly sure it's going to be my new best friend. Follow me here!

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