Ceol na Mar

After a roasting hot July, August finally arrived and the heatwave was cooling down. It was time for me to visit my family.

So I packed and said bye to my flat as I was leaving my bed & my shit for a whole month!

As I made my way to the train station, the first stop was to Manchester to see my favourite man; Gayie and we went to see Evita with a BSL interpreter. As I am a huge fan of the film, the stage version was enjoyable especially with the very hot Marti Pellow from Wet Wet Wet fame •cue music• #love is all aroooouuuund#

It was lovely to spend time with Gayie and looking around Manchester, there are many wee gems that I would like to carry on exploring more. There is an Imperial War Museum, it was a bit interesting as there was an exhibition on war medics and it was fanaticising to see how medicine is used in the war zone.  The main display next door had huge pictures as well videos streamed on the walls. I quickly got bored as I didn’t understand, so imagine how I felt when I found out that if I walked 10 more steps I would have seen a wall with a BSL signer being projected signing the voiceover •facepalm•

Ta Gayie for hosting me and putting up with me as when I am restless I can be a pest!

After the wee trip to Manchester, I finally hopped on a train to Scotland. It was a long trip and I arrived late and finally got to the parents’ house, I pretty much relaxed for a few days before I headed to Northern Ireland * Footnote (N.I for short as I was informed by a reliable source that only a stupid English woman would say the full name!) with my parents and one of my brothers for a wee break in the rural countryside of Co.Down where one of my aunts own a home by the sea where my grandparents used to live.

This place is often called Rossglass in the family, and many members of my family who grew up visiting my grandparents have extremely fond memories of what is close to a perfect childhood.

It is where I locked myself in the bathroom when I was 3 and my grandfather had to break the door down, it is where I had to go to hospital after getting a shell stuck on my finger, it is also where I first discover Enid Blyton, blackberry picking, long walks in the countryside, playing in the sea, sitting next to a roaring log fire, tending the vegetable & fruit patches, my brother crawling in the kennel with Rebel, the dog my grandparents owned.

Sadly my grandfather passed away when I was nearly 5, which mean I did not really have an opportunity to get to know him and from what the family tell me, I would have loved the chance to learn from him. My granny passed away 10 years later which was extremely heart breaking as she was a wonderful lady whose grandchildren adored. Even now as I write this I still get upset at her unfair death- a short battle with kidney cancer, which lasted 6 months from diagnosis to her death. I really wish I had more time with her and to treasure the time we had so all I have left is my happy memories.

It had been close to 12 years since I last visited Rossglass, so when Mum said she was thinking about going there, I jumped at the chance to go and suggested my brother would love to go too as it has been far too long for both of us.

I always know when we are nearly there, I can smell the seaweed among the beach, the first sight of the Mourne mountains, the sound of the sea and the feeling of being at ease knowing that I am indeed home at last!

Despite being in Northern Ireland for a short period of time which meant a rush to fit in everything. We visited the Titanic who provided us a transcript via email so I was able to edit it and to make the font bigger. It was an awesome tour and highly recommend to anyone who want to visit.

          Afterwards a trip to Victoria Square, which Mum, hasn’t seen in years and to explore the shopping centre, which used to be a train station. I think!

            Two of my friends came to visit me in Rossglass and I think Waaman was pretty surprised by how beautiful the area is and that the sea was literally my front garden!

            Countless of visits to and from relatives who own houses nearby was fun as it enabled me to catch up with everyone and learning how to do a beach fire. One of my aunties went swimming in the bloody freezing sea, which I think she is bonkers.. well most of us do think that but it is also brave of her to do that!

I do wish my extended family would learn how to sign in order to communicate without my hearing brother having to interpret but they are a pretty awesome family though.

It was a lovely trip and I hope to go back there soon, esp. with friends :D

Fact: Ceol na Mar in english is Music of the sea

Stolen wedding moments

Been a long time since I wrote an entry, my mind has been somewhere else lately.

After the Easter holidays, SLS hosted a Reunion ball along with CSU, the event was a success and people enjoyed themselves. It was nice to see old faces and to see that people do appreciate the work SLS does.

Picture of my favourite ladies

        The following week, SLS hosted a quiz to raise money for a local deaf children's charity. A good number of people came and enjoyed themselves. The quiz was hard in some parts but I thought it was fun and a good brain work out too! There was a round about Wolverhampton itself which provided to be popular, testing out the local knowledge!

I attended a meeting in London to discuss the possibility of trying to re establish BDAYouth as there is a strong need for some sort of organisation for young people between 18-30 especially in England. It was agreed that an open forum would be set up.

I watched Phantom of the Opera on stage AGAIN! love that show 

A shameless selfie

I also managed to hand in my dissertation after some initial confusion regarding the module which was frustrating for both the lecturer and myself! I passed this module which mean I can graduate this year!  What a relief. My mum was very very pleased and as a result went a wee bonkers on her Facebook and family email!

When waiting for the results, I had a well deserved rest, as I was feeling slight burnt out. It was exciting for me knowing that Deaffest was happening which meant new films and awards as well as lovely friends!!

I enjoyed Deaffest despite having a very heavy cold and a cough which tired me out too much to attend the evening event. I had a pleasant evening watching the Eurovision, a few months later I don't recall who won! Just that weird vampire bloke and the bloke who sang about working in the IT dept!

My landlord moved to Belgium and now is working for the EUD, when this was made news, I got several requests for renting the spare bedroom which was very strange as my landlord moved out honks ago to live in Bristol and a new flatmate moved in last September so people must have thought David was commuting! Sorry folks!  My flatmate is pretty happy where she is for now!

I also decided to apply for a PGCE post compulsory course at Wolves uni, more education in the place I struggled at? Yes I am very weird and a glutton for punishment!
I have been for an interview and is currently awaiting to hear if I have a place or not, it is been more than 10 working days now which is really frustrating for me as it would be nice to know if I have a place or not!
This frustration is also because my classification is not out yet, I was told it would be out on the 12th July and now they are saying the 24th which is very grrrrrrr!

I spent most of my early June just relaxing and catching up on tv as my flatmate was away so I could slob out and be a wee bit messy! I visited my parents in Scotland for a week as I  said I would keep an eye on my brother and the family dog when they went to some history thingy in Dublin, for the first time since my parents got Tara (the dog) I had to ask my baby brother how to feed her as I have never done it before!  I honestly am not an animal lover, I find them weird.

I would have stayed longer but I needed to prep for the PCGE interview and Stoney came over to prep me which was much appreciated!
The interview went well, I think and bloody hope so! Please people, keep your fingers crossed for me!

I ordered this really lovely 50s floral swing dress for a wedding in Newcastle, I watched this adored friend get married which was pretty wonderful! The wedding overall was really simply vintage and quite elegant, none of that OTT that seem to be happening these days with doves, and horse drawn carriages etc!

The happy couple :)

Really glad to be asked, it was so beautiful!

I was glad I got a chance to wear the dress as seeing my suitcase was stolen from the train when I was on my way to Newcastle! :0

With a smoking hot friend! 

I cannot understand why would anyone want to steal a suitcase that just had clothes and a few things. I was pretty glad that I was carrying my valuables with me such as iPad, passport etc! I made a report to the lost property office as well the British Transport police (the policeman was pretty cute which did not hurt at all!) then sped to the Metrocentre for a quick last min shopping for stuff I badly needed, it was frustrating as I didn't wanna have to have such hassle. Thanks to the parents and Char for helping out, I was really panicking ESP when I thought my tablets was in the suitcase. I later found them in my handbag yay!

I was given a crime reference number for insurance purposes and this peeved me as who would take out travel insurance for a train trip?! Later on the week, I received an email from my bank letting me know that the charge for my account would go up by an extra £2, and there was a list of benefits which included travel insurance......! It seem I upgraded my bank account last year to get mobile insurance and I kinda of forget about this! I contacted them and it was confirmed that I could claim for UK travel as long it was more than 25 miles from home, a minimum of 2 nights away and the trip was pre booked. I met all of these requests so I have typed up a letter detailing. What happened, where when what why etc as well as a list of things that was stolen, a list of things I had buy to replace at short notice etc.

I was annoyed when they said they couldn't cover perishables such as make up, toothpaste, shampoo and so on as some stuff I had collected/was given and was pretty expensive!   Bahhhhhhhhh! But better than nothing so I hope they will approve my claim and give me money to replace stuff!

My flatmate is away YET again so I am bumming about the flat feeling rather lonely, so I checked the cinema listings and decided to have a cinefest week :)

Monday- Monsters University
Tuesday - Now you can see me
Wednesday- the internship

My next posting will be about a camping festival and twitter!


Fact: I love 50s dresses and owe 4 so far  :)

A guide for surviving 2013!

My mind have been wandering to the year 2013, the start of a New Year and pondering over what kind of resolutions shall I make.

I am utterly hopeless at keeping resolutions! So I have decided that instead of making a yearlong resolution, I will be writing down a list of resolutions and to see if I can do them monthly. It is sort of a gentle ease into doing something and monthly should a bit more achievable than a year, which everyone forget after 2 weeks!

Most of the resolutions I want to make for myself mainly are to do with my mental health, I really want to improve my outlook on life and finding ways to be positive and to think about other people as I can be self absorbed when I am at a low point.

Positive news in a jar!

I saw this on someone’s Facebook recently and I really liked this and I will be looking for a jar so I can do this!

This is always a good way to record what positive and happy things that has happened to you and it will remind you one year later what you have achieved instead of feeling sorry for yourself or struggling to name a positive thing that has happened to you.

Exercise

I’m not really a gym person and I find it hard to go to gyms as I tend to feel self conscious as also there are moments where I have anxiety attacks and low points where I don’t want to go out. I really want to do Pilates and Yoga again as they both are a form of exercise that help with thinking and self control as well I can do them in flat when I do not have the energy or the motivation to do something.

I will be looking into courses around Wolverhampton also in the university.

I recently read a blog by Rebecca Anne Withey who teaches Mindfulness Meditation- 

http://www.thedancingphoenix.co.uk/blog

I found the blog quite interesting and hope to attend one of her sessions one day. Having a Deaf teacher can be quite beneficial for Deaf people as well those who have mental health issues.

Expand your thinking with new experiences

I am going to try and push myself into trying something new monthly such as a new food experience, or learning a new skill. I hope by the end of 2013 I will have a degree, BSL NQV 3 and will be starting a CTLLS course! (With some other courses too such as First Aid)

Lose other people’s opinions.

Stop worrying about trying to please everyone. As Bill Cosby says, “I don’t know the key to success, but I know the key to failure is trying to please everybody.”

Frankly who cares what you think! I don’t!

 I do appreciate positive feedback and criticism but if it is not positive then I do not care, as it will not help me to learn from my mistakes.

I want to be comfortable and learn to accept myself.

Decluttering

I often aim to TRY to be tidier! At times sleeping in a bombsite can be depressing especially when I can’t find a thing!

Physical health

I really want to be healthier, not thinner! I have already started by stopping having takeaway for myself; I now have them if I am with friends!

I also want to learn a new habit of eating breakfast, as when I was a child, the taxi would come too early and I would miss my breakfast as they would be cross if I wasn’t ready and I would arrive at school far too early! Mum would put in a banana or an apple in my bag to eat on the way to school and complain to the taxi company as well. I didn’t really like cereal much and still don’t! So it can be difficult for me, I cant really eat much breakfast products as they are mainly made from wheat and can give me a tummy aches which isn’t a nice way to start the day!

            So I’m going try to start with fruit and making smoothies as well. I also want to eat better at nights as I tend to over eat and when I am too depressed to make anything I will eat any processed crap. I have started bulk-cooking proper homemade food and am freezing it so when I am unable I can just thaw it out and eat something healthy rather than a TV dinner.

            I want to drink more healthy as well which mean I will be trying to detox and drinking more water and herbal teas rather than relying on coffee for a caffeine boost (which is expensive!).

Appreciation/ gratitude

I have put my life at risk a few times and I want to appreciate the life I have and have gratitude for what I do have- a home, a family, good friends and so on. I want to learn how to show people that I appreciate them by asking after them and saying thanks more often.

I do adore many people and am glad to call them my friends and am happy they haven’t run away screaming when I am in a destructive mood.

Finding a healthy outlet

 When I am down I tend to spend my money on rubbish and try to find something material to amuse myself.

I want to get out of that habit and start on doing things that benefit me more such as writing, reading, doing some work or meeting a friend for a natter. Instead of keeping things inside and letting them build up.

Write a not-to-do-list

This is interesting; this could be anything from no more buying shower gels to not letting myself get stressed out.

Mental health

I am going to try to do things that are positive such as seeing a funny film, reading an enjoyable book, meeting friends who are fun and will offer a healthy way to have fun.

            Try not to let negative things bog me down such as disappointment, failure or broken promises. Try to make them into a positive issue such as more time to finish a book or more time to write and whatever else.

So there you go! My list and hopefully I will be able to do them all!

One thing I found that really helped me in 2012 was to have a weekend away with the lovely ladies and I am looking forward to the next one in January. This gives me something to be excited about and I always enjoy myself!

Enjoy your New Year’s Eve plans and try to face a new day in a positive way! (i.e A hangover from a fabulous Night with friends!)

Fact: In Scotland, New Year is called Hogmanay and drinking whiskey is compulsory (not really but it’s fun!)