The future comes one day at a time.

My days at York St John University are officially over; my last assignment is handed in, library books returned, no more lectures, student card is nearly expired, everyone has gone home and I've signed up to the alumni society. I still don't believe I'm actually leaving though, it's been a lovely state of denial all week but it's starting to sink in now. We had our first tears of sadness on Friday :(

It's so silly to be sad though, I've had the most amazing three years in York. I've met the most inspiring, awesome people ever, collected more memories than I can count, visited some of the best places in the UK and learnt so much about myself. Even though it's time to move on to new adventures I will always cherish the time I spent here. Oh you guys... proper welling up writing this!

We really did celebrate the end with a bang! I accepted my first teaching post on Monday in a little rural school in Boroughbridge (just north of York) with year 2/3. I am totally in love with the school, they are so friendly, have a Fair trade committee, there's ridiculous amounts of outdoor space and loads more!! After the intense interview day, Sam and Holly came to pick me up (and had to wait 2 hours! <3 you guys) and we rushed back to York to get ready for our Primary Ed Ball.

The program reps had organised a meal for the whole course at the Hilton Hotel in York :) guys it was fab!! I admit I was slightly merry on the champers and overwhelmed from the job situation that I probably didn't appreciate it as much as I should have but it was still a great night!

Pssssst.... my orange dress was only £6 from a charity shop, bargain :)

Inspired by the bucket list I wrote a couple of weeks ago (you can read it here), Holly compiled a York bucket list. There were a few things we had to do before we left so we shook off the tiredness and hangovers and got into tourist mode. We walked the best part of the walls, climbed to the top of the Minster, lay on the floor in the Minster, bought fudge from the Fudge Kitchen and finished with fancy tea and coffee in Bettys. Sam then cooked us all a Mexican feast while we all nearly fell asleep in her living room. 

"Do you ever walk into a room and just want to lay on the floor?"

"Let's do an exhausted pose and then a celebrating one"

After a well deserved lie in and lounge around the next day we all went to Alice's for her kiddy style birthday party :) We played loads of silly games including the funniest pass the parcel ever! Moustaches and dares, I don't know how you guys came up with it. Alice I hope you had a fabulous night with all us weirdos :)

If York exploring wasn't enough, on Thursday Sam took me on a mini-roadtrip to Whitby (I got to sing Wuthering Heights as we drove through the moors :P HEATHCLIIIIIIFF). I've only been once and all I could remember was a giant goth convention happening on the same day we went. It's actually really cute with plenty of little shopping streets, fish&chips and loads of fishing boats. We obviously went on THE windiest day but still walked up to the lighthouses, fighting the choppy weather. We toooootally didn't laugh when a wave came right over and completely drenched a guy taking a picture of the sea... ;) 

"I just dribbled and it flew away!"

Yes that hot chocolate is mine. Yes I am NOT supposed to have dairy. Yes I have had a lovely break-out, but it was sooooo worth it.

On Friday, Emma very kindly invited me to share her prize from the Primary Ed Ball. We both went and had our make-up done at The Body Shop which was very fancy :) She is going to kill me for putting the picture up but I looked more horrific with the headband on I promise! I don't wear much make-up usually and the lady was great at choosing stuff that I'd like... we went for a neutral 'radiant' look.

We then got to show off our lovely looks at the Summer Ball, however I think I have sweated mine off a tad in the pictures!! It was so nice to see everyone in the SU one last time before going out for a few drinks (and tears :P) afterwards. Not too sure the Roller Disco was a good idea after some champers though, I'm suffering with a damaged knuckle and coccyx but I know that isn't what I'll remember in the years to come :) There is already talk amongst a few of us about reunions here, there and everywhere, and don't forget about Old Johns weekend! 

GUYS I'M GETTING TOTES EMOSH (totally emotional for those who don't watch TV) WRITING ABOUT ALL THIS!!! I really do wish you all the greatest success in everything that you plan to do in the future <3 Unless you are planning world domination or something grim of course :P

Now let's pretend it's like the end of a movie and shove an upbeat song at the end ;)

Odd Ponderings

I think I'm going to save my 'WAA UNI IS OVER' blog for another time. Instead I have been thinking about when I stopped seeing the world as a child and started having to deal with all this proper grown up stuff. Kids see the world in a totally different way to us, they are so inquisitive and can actually be pretty deep. As a teacher I will also have to answer some pretty tricky questions... including some awkward ones too (Why are willies floppy? being top of that list so far).

We should NEVER stop asking questions and learning more (totally took that from my personal philosophy essay, oops) so here are some of the weird questions that I always wonder about. If anybody knows the answers, please tell me! 

Where does Space actually end?

I was such a geeky kid (who am I kidding, I'm still a geek) and I found science-y stuff really interesting. Sometimes I would think about space a little but too much though and the thought of infinity rally freaks me out!

Why did we stop wearing togas? 

It's only really the last 100 years that we have stopped wearing long dresses. I don't understand why nowadays us women go out in next to nothing. I vote that we bring back togas, they look so darn comfy!

What is right at the bottom of the sea where it's really dark?

I'm guessing it won't be cute and squishy! I watched a TV programme about giant arthropods before and they are so scary. Honestly DON'T google it unless you are a seriously brave soul.

Why does some of the yummiest food have to be bad for you?

Yes I love my fruits and veggies, probably more than most people, but why are so many of the world's glorious foods high calorie? I think it's everybody's dream to eat want you want and stay thin :P

Why do we cry when we are super happy?

Crying is something you do when you are sad or in pain. That is why your face looks all ugly, red and wrinkly when you cry. I don't want to look like that when I'm happy, so why does it happen?

Are you supposed to chew ice-cream or just pull a funny face while it melts on your tongue?

As someone with sensitive teeth I never bite into anything cold. I know you can crunch ice lollies but when you eat a massive spoonful of ice-cream it's a bit different.

How come Russia gets to be in two continents? 

I only learnt about this 6 days ago. I always thought Russia was in Asia and that they just invaded Eurovision but nooooo. I know they are massive but I think having two continents is a tad greedy. I wasn't really sure what picture to use for Russia so here is a song from Anastasia instead :)

Are Elephants really wise?

I like to think that they are, but are they really? Who judges the intelligence of animals anyway? It's not like they can sit down and do a test. Plus, what do we judge them against?

Why are some people left handed and some right?

Just an unanswered question in my life.

How did people figure out that we can milk cows?

Obviously nature intended us to feed our babies milk like any other animal but whose idea was it to pinch milk from elsewhere? I'm not sure I would have had that udderly fantastic idea.

What happened to Yowies? 

These were the most awesome chocolate treat! My mum used to buy me and Nikki one every week from ASDA :) They are kind of like Kinder eggs but much nicer chocolate and they used to have animals inside. I learnt what a Dugong and a Cassowary are thanks to these. 

What is the likelihood of getting married to a celebrity?
What is the percentage of mere mortals like you and I that actually get married to someone famous? I know for sure that any male celeb would just look at me like this...

YOU CRAZY?!

If a tree falls in a forest and nobody is around to hear it, does it make a sound?
This is one you have probably heard before but every time I hear it or read it, I get really frustrated because I simply do not know!

Why can't you reach the end of a rainbow?

I am getting more and more cynical about the alleged pot of gold as I get older.

What decides the things we like and don't like?
What creates our personality? I don't think it's in our DNA or hereditary or given to us as a birthday present. So where dos it come from?

There's a lot in my bucket dear Liza

Those of us on primary ed who have taken the MFL specialism have spent a lot of time thinking about transition this week. It's quite fitting as we are about to make a massive transition into real life! We've had our last whole cohort lecture, loads of people have got jobs and Uni officially ends on May 20th.. scary stuff.  It's sad to say goodbye to what has been my life for three years but I'm really excited for future challenges and surprises :) I was having a think about all the things I'd like to do and thought it was about time I started writing some form of bucket list.

There is loads of cool stuff that I've already done like, abseiling, swam with dolphins, had a story published in a magazine, rode a camel, been to the top of the Eiffel tower, tied a message to a balloon and let it go, gone on an aquarium date, given blood, jumped from a boat into the sea, volunteered for charity, visited the Natural History museum, had a fish pedicure, saw the pandas at Edinburgh zoo, attended a Hindu/Sikh wedding, explored castles and caves etc. But what is life without new interests, wishes and passions? :)

The Bucket List in Progress..

Toss a pizza properly

Set foot on all seven continents

Travel, full stop.

Spend new year somewhere awesome like Times Square or at a Half Moon festival

Go on a road-trip in a campervan

Hold a koala

Fall in love - with places, people, memories...

Sit in a hot tub in winter

Sleep under the stars
Standard - scuba, hanglide, bungee, skydive
Take cooking classes

See the Northern Lights

Go to Lands end and John O'groats

Write a book

Have an elephant experience

Own a house
Write a love poem for somebody

Have a massive paint fight

Or visit India for Holi

Bake the perfect cupcake

Visit the Wizarding World of Harry Potter

Have a mini library in my house
Go to a car-boot sale

Ride as many rollercoasters as possible

Complete a scrapbook

Cook Christmas dinner for my entire family

Live abroad

Watch an eclipse
Learn a really good magic trick

Drive on the autobahn
Learn to ski or snowboard on holiday

Stroll through Central Park

Have adventures with my soul mate
Get a photo of myself with a hobbit house in NZ

Live to see amazing new sciences and maybe a cure for Cancer

Ride in a submarine
Stay in a penthouse suite

Tree camping or stay in a yurt

Live a genuinely happy life

GRADUATE UNIVERSITY

Maybe actually have afternoon tea at Betty's

Be a good parent
Pick up new hobbies 

Complete an entire book of puzzles 

Plant a tree

Go on a safari

Climb a mountain, even if it's tiny

Hot air balloon ride

Build a tree-house

Love my career

Visit the major European cities

Start a secret family recipe

Help a stranger with a random act of kindness
Finally have dinner at Goji vegetarian cafe deli!

Date somebody who is starsign compatible
Learn more awesome yoga stuff

Not fall over on the stage at my Graduation
Have my own tropical fish tank like in Romeo and Juliet

Make a wish in every well I come across

Learn a language properly

Ride another zip wire.. and another and another...

Never stop trying new things

Have a marriage more beautiful than my wedding
Get my blog to over 10,000 views :) on 8,000 now!! 

Carve something into a tree

Have a song written about me

Paint my front door a bright colour

Learn how to surf

Visit as many national parks as I can

Go to a bonfire on the beach

Buy my wedding dress from a charity shop

Wreck my wedding dress 

Add things to my bucket list.

Cross things off my bucket list.

Actually do the things on my bucket list.