Man alive! Have I been busy lately?! Busy and stressed out. But that's mostly sorted now so we shan't dwell! Suffice to say that I still have a job which means I can still go to New Zealand in October for the Rugby World Cup!

Other than that, I've been trying to concentrate on other things and keep myself busy - which hasn't been difficult because work has been super busy lately however Ceri and I have also had some awesome dates lately.

We've been going on really nice walks in the evening to get of the house, near the house are loads of awesome things to see - like weirs, river walks, pieces of local history...

 

I apparently cannot take a nice photograph lately.

Ceri and I have been to parks and all sorts! I've been planning more trips because we're fast running out of things to do in South Glamorgan...

Today we went into town and decided to have a picnic in the Castle grounds, on the way there was an awesome Italian Market with awesome breads and foods from the Med... did that rhyme? Kind of I guess.

 (Medieval Graffiti!)

 

 I never thought when I moved to Wales that I would enjoy living here as much as I do, the whole city and surrounding area is so diverse - from castles and mountains to pre-historic beaches with dinosaur bones in the rock. What more could a girl want?!

Hopefully now that work has been sorted out, my life can return to some sense of normalcy but I think that might still be a bit of a way off!

Lazy Sunday

I enjoy a Lazy Sunday, Ceri and I seem to have good adventures on a Sunday and I'm pleased to go to town when it's less busy which means you're not being hustled and bustled all over the shop.

Today, we decided to take in some culture by going to the Museum and visiting part of the University Grounds I'd never been to.

In the University Grounds, there was the biggest Cenotaph outside of London I think I have ever seen, and it was beautiful.

The park itself was big and beautifully kept so we played hide and seek in there for a while. There were so many good hiding spots! ....Yes, we're adults.

Around there University Campus were so many awesome statues and old monuments - which to me, are fantastic pieces of art work.

The Museum it's self isn't terribly big but has lots of hidden nooks and crannies - for instance, they had the National Wildlife Photography Competition Exhibition and it wasn't advertised anywhere!

They had a big basking shark suspended from the ceiling which was awesome, they also had a big humpback Whale which was scary - as I am petrified of Whales!

This installation piece was about the contrast of tastes between upper and lower classes....really, I just saw Take Away Menus. Which Is why I don't like Modern Art...It's ridiculous.

 After the museum, we walked around the town centre for a little bit before heading over to Ceri's Family's house for dinner whilst watching Antiques Roadshow!

Now we're curled up on the sofa about to tuck into some of The Blind Side!

Surprises!

Ceri and I have been working on something, which he has dragged me into reluctantly doing! But I'm excited about, I'm not ready when it will be to show off but when it is, we can unleash it on everyone!

Other than that, life has been hectic and I don't know where I stand in the middle of it so that means one thing! BAKING

Today it's museum visits and family dinners!

Things I Love Thursday: Lion

Ceri downloaded the new Mac OS system yesterday, so we have been playing around with the new photobooth...

Busy Bee!

Ever have a moment where you think "How is this possibly my life?" I've had that pretty much since Thursday and suffice to say I'm stressed out to the MAXXXX!

Ceri and I went to see the Midnight Showing of Harry Potter, I cried my ruddy eyes out - I was bereft! 

Even when people mentioned Harry Potter on Friday morning, I got tearful. However the film was awesome.

On Friday at work, I was minding my own business when I heard a funny noise coming from another office - at first I ignored it but it went on again a few seconds later. I went to investigate through the window with a colleague and we could see some feet on the floor - we went to the other office, approached the desk where there was some feet poking out to find a gentleman in his 50s having a seizure on the floor.

To say I panicked was a bit of an understatement! I FREAKED OUT! As his seizure subsided, I put him in the recovery position, got someone to call and ambulance and then spent the rest of the day panicking that I wasn't First Aid trained and was only recalling stuff I had done when I was 7 - nearly 20 years ago!

My weekend was super lazy although I got Ceri to watch Silence of the Lambs for the first time ever, next we might conquer Hannibal together.  Work has been stressful - today I attended an Assessment Centre to find out if I'm going to keep my job or be made redundant - I don't find the results out until next Friday. I think today went well but I'm trying not to think about it. I really panicked.

Friday Favourites

It's the first Friday Favourites and because it's the 15th of July 2011 - that can only mean one thing.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part II has been released and it's the end of an era.

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 I started reading Harry Potter when I was 11 - a whopping 14 years ago! My Uncle bought me Philosopher's Stone which I took to our family holiday. We were on an "active holiday",  but my family couldn't drag me away from my room where I was holed up with Harry, Ron & Hermione.

From finishing that book, which left me in a state of awe, every book was an event. The anticipation I felt to read the new book was always exhausting but I would stay up and go without food to read the new book. Each story is attached to a different time, I can remember every single bit about reading them and the joy that I felt with each new chapter.

I don't suppose I am on my own in feeling this way about Harry because JK Rowling's stories have shaped a generation. From the publication of the first book to the release of the last film - that 14 year period has touched the lives of millions of people across all spectrums of the world.

Although for me, there won't be any new stories of Harry and this feels like the end of a passage of my life, I know that when I have kids - I will be reading them the stories and enjoying them all over again in a different way, the magic of Harry will be passed on and hopefully they will love it as much as I have and everyone else who has read it.

I don't really feel like typing a few short paragraphs can do Harry Potter justice, but just know: It changed my life.

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Harry Potter Day!

This is it! After years and months of waiting the final Harry Potter is here!

Ceri bought us tickets for the midnight showing in 3D which also meant some snazzy 3D Glasses that are like Harry's!

I have to go for a nap in a minute before the cinema but we're also trying to watch Deathly Hallows part 2 - I don't know which I should be doing and I'm getting very excited

weeeee!!!!

The Return of: Weight Loss Wednesdays!

Oh, Weight Loss Wednesday - You have been in my life for about 18 months now and there have been weeks when I have dreaded the sight of you, others when I've been scared and weeks like this week - motivated.

I stayed the same this week - which is OK, its better than a gain, however, I'm so far off where I want to be and NEED to be for the sake of my health. 

Last night I sat up planning meals and exercise so there are no excuses. Every week I get a fresh start and this week I'm using that to my best advantage. I'm cooking a lot this week, which I'm excited about, it also gives me a good excuse to go to the market daily as the fresh produce there is such a good quality and so darn cheap!

Tu-Tu-Tuesday!

It was back to work for me today, I woke up feeling so refreshed after yesterday's illness, I jumped straight in the shower, got dressed, made a healthy lunch, kissed my boyfriend and off I went!

Is there a better start to the morning, really?

I was still feeling a bit bloated from yesterday, which a Pepto-Bismol tab sorted out - freaked me out in the bathroom this morning when my tongue was black - however this was quickly explained to me that I was not, in fact, dying of the plague.

Work was slow today as the IT Department, who are the bane of my life, have given me access to 50% of the systems - but not the 50% I actually NEED! Go figure! My fringe was doing this weird flicky to the side thing and I played a lot of pop-punk in the gym. Oh, I also got 30 days redundancy notice. 

So you could say my day was a bit of a mixed bag!

In fairness, I knew I was on redundancy notice - however, I did not realise it would only be 30 days. So fingers crossed life doesn't stiff me cause so far, 2011 has been pretty rad and I need a job in order for that radness to continue.

Lazy Sunday

A lazy Sunday can only mean 1 thing - a trip to IKEA! Ceri is someone who is constantly on the go and on the tinker with SOMETHING which is exhausting, so to have a lazy Sunday is a blessing. 

We woke up early and pottered around before getting ready to head out for an IKEA Breakfast - 99p for a English Breakfast, then walk around the store trying to find a nice table

I, like all IKEA shoppers before me, enjoy playing house in the show room. Some of the set ups are like walking into my dream house - particularly the kitchens.

 

 

 In the afternoon we chilled out watching 500 Days of Summer until we were over run by Bees! There was a big swarm of them finding their way into the house from a vent outside, which was massively tedious and I can still hear buzzing now....Creepy gits.

The evening consisted of Chinese food and Marley & Me

 

Which this morning has left me with some pretty gnarly food poisoning, so I'm laid up on the sofa trying to not get sick anywhere.

Happy Monday!