My first half-term as a trainee teacher has come and gone and I have to say that it wasn't quite as restful as it perhaps should have been - oops! It was definitely a lot of fun though and I did manage to squeeze in a couple of lazy days, so no complaints from me. Comprising of three return trips to Lincoln and one to London, I've definitely made the most of my time off and I want to share my adventures with you!
It all kicked off with the Pumpkin & Scarecrow Festival, which you'll have already seen led to my family's 15 minutes of fame! The weekend itself was a pleasant one and although the rain did put a bit of a dampener on it, me and Mum still headed out to see everybody's displays!
Here's Mum braving the wind and the rain on that cold Saturday morning! We kicked our way through the leaves and had a nosy at the different designs and displays before returning home with a steak and onion sandwich each! Residents had put in lots of effort, carving pumpkins and putting together some brilliant looking scarecrows! Events like this really bring our community together and I can only hope that there will be more in the near future.
After the scarecrow festival I travelled through to Lincoln to attend university on the Monday. It was a long day, especially after so many cocktails the night before, but it's always good to go and see everybody on the course! I popped back home afterwards and spent the Tuesday getting packed and prepared for Halloween Spookquackular!
Go hard or go home is the motto in our house when it comes to decorating, Dad loves a good garden display and Mum is all about making the fireplace as festive as possible! Me and Joe lent a helping hand this year with our pumpkin carving, mine's the one on the right! You're never too old, eh? My family spent the evening inside with a glass of wine and spooky films, meanwhile I was back in Lincoln painting expensive eye shadow onto my nose and transforming myself into an original version of Pennywise the Dancing Clown!
Considering just how terrible my clown look was last year (I'm not even going to add a photo because it was that bad) I was really pleased with how I looked this year! Top tip, sometimes actual make up works a lot better than face paint does! Shout-out to Mum for showing me how to make pom pom's out of wool, they definitely made my play-suit a little more clown-like. I stayed with my friend Emily and went out with her, her housemates, and some friends, reliving my youth by drinking way too much and ending up dancing wildly in Quack! It was just like old times. I had such a good night and really enjoyed spending some time with Em, we've been friends since college but don't meet up as often as we should! Thank you for having me Em and for being the hostess with the most-est!
Toadette (NOT Mr Blobby), Luigi, "Mario" (if you can call him that) and Clown!
Toadette, Clown, Daphne, Velma, Princess Peach & Fred!
The next morning I took a trip down to London to reconnect with an 'old friend'. Life has been very complicated recently, October was definitely a month of confusion and lots of mixed emotions, but ultimately it made me realise what I truly want -and that is to be happy. I feel very positive about life right now and I want to make the most of everything and everyone that brings me happiness. I'm taking things one step at a time and not focusing too much on the future, but instead being grateful for what I have right now. I've got the cosiest family life, the loveliest and most supportive friends, a brilliant post-graduate course and some fantastic colleagues at both university and at the school I'm working in, plus lots of fun things going on - including playing and winning mini-golf at the brilliant Puttshack!
You can find this crazy-golf course turned cocktail bar in White Chapel beside Westfield's shopping centre. It makes for a great place to go on a date or for a group outing! Though I did think that letting so many people play at once was a bit silly, because it meant you had to queue for your turn, I had a brilliant time and it clearly didn't put me off because I came out on top and was crowned winner! It you're in London and want something to spend an hour or so doing, book in here and have a game.
The cocktails were super tasty too! I wasn't sure if I was going to fancy one after my night-out the evening before, but how could I resist when I was being treated by this lovely guy!? Things have changed since I was last in London, but one hundred percent for better rather than worse! I treasure this happy memory and I look forward to more exciting times with all of my different friends, I feel super free nowadays and my focus is definitely on what makes me happy. No more will I stress about the future because for now, everything is looking good and I know what I'm worth, and more importantly, so do those around me!
Always surround yourself with people that are good for you, and be good in return. Everybody deserves a chance to show you that they can change and it's not hard to see when somebody really is making the effort to treat you better, so meet them halfway. It's one thing to say they're going to change and another to actually do it though, which is something we all need to remember!
It was a short and sweet visit, I arrived Thursday lunchtime and on Friday morning I was travelling back home via Kings Cross where I saw this great poppy tribute! I need to buy a new poppy because mine has ended up all creased and crumbled, that's what you get for buying it early, but I don't mind one bit. As you can tell if you've read my last post, we're very much in favour of supporting Remembrance Day in our family! I urge all of you to attend your local church ceremony or to at least go along to the cenotaph for 11am to observe the minute's silence. It won't take much effort but it's a brilliant mark of respect and helps for us to all preserve our collective societal memory of those who died during the First World War. It doesn't matter if you're not religious, the ceremony's are for everybody and have become traditional, key components of Remembrance Day. I thought about the armistice a lot on my journey home, it's such a poignant time in history and one hundred years on it really acts as a reminder for us to be grateful for all we have. Life isn't easy but it's still life, you're still here - living, breathing, existing. Make something of that, be grateful and thank those who made it possible.
Here's one example of something we all have to be grateful for, the release of all of the festive drinks in the coffee shops! So far I'm loving Costa's hazelnut praline hot chocolate, but there are still so many left to try throughout the next couple of months and I can't wait! I know it's trivial and really just an indulgence, but sometimes it's the little things that make you feel the most festive.
Let's hold our horses quick though, it's not Christmas just yet and after Halloween came Bonfire Night! Though this was technically after half term I thought I'd include it in this post because I wasn't back at work yet, so I hope that isn't cheating?
I spent Monday day-time at home feeling very poorly and resting up so I was well enough to go along to West Park's firework display in the evening! I first met with my friend Kate for a drink and a catch up, then we met with Emily, Megan and Will, and the five of us went over to West Park and celebrated Bonfire Night as a little group! I'm definitely pro-Bonfire night, the story of Guy Fawkes and his treason plot is part of our history and I think it's important that we recognise this tradition! I'm not so keen on home firework displays though, as I'm sure many people aren't, and I don't support the sale of fireworks to the general public - OR it becoming Bonfire week! At least firework displays are usually in remote woodland/field areas and there are warnings about them. I hope that anyone who struggles with the fireworks, or anyone who has children/pets that struggle, managed to get through the evening okay. We had a lovely time at the display and may have even made it into the Goole Times! We'll find out tomorrow. Anyway for now, I'll put some of my photos photos to below.
So that's it, my very first half term as a trainee teacher! It's been a great week and although I'm definitely feeling the effects of it now - returning back to school and having to leave early today with tonsillitis - that doesn't take away from the fun I've had! I hope to be back writing for you all again soon, I have some nice plans for the weekend (provided I'm feeling better) so keep an eye out!
Thank you very much for reading. Please feel free to subscribe if you haven't done so already, give this a like or a share!