So I have a lot to tell you, September was busy.
I was privileged (I think that's the right word), to be invited to two weddings this September. They were both lovely weddings, and I wish both couples all the best for the future. I'm not sure what else to put for this part, this is the biggest problem with leaving the blog for ages!
I was very lucky to be given a ticket to go see Michael McIntyre, in Portsmouth for my birthday :) It was such a fun evening, not just seeing him live, but spending time with some of my lovely friends. Michael was so funny, really worth seeing live, and with jokes that we kept repeating throughout the rest of the night. It turns out though, that he was live in Bristol the night before!! But it wouldn't have been as much fun on my own. I also went to see the Bristol Comedy Gala, later in the month. This was to celebrate the re-opening of the Colston Hall, and to showcase some of Bristol talent, and beyond. The evening was, dare I say it, better than Michael McIntyre, but that was probably because there was a wide range of comedians, including Russell Howard, and ending with Justin Lee-Collins. The evening was long, just under four hours, but well worth it. There were some jokes that would have been lost on anyone who wasn't from Bristol, such as Peter Andre's signing at Asda, Bedminster.
As the title suggests, there was a birthday. I turned 23 at the end of September, and a lot of my friends are now taking great pleasure in calling me old... :(! I was back in Pompey to celebrate that with more of my friends, and I was able to go back to King's Church. I really do miss that place and all of my friends there, I'm going to try to make more of an effort to visit more often, I just need to find somewhere to stay!!
And finally, (these are turning into a news report :S), I have a job!!! On the 2nd November, I will be starting work as a laboratory technician at Mangotsfield School. It's maybe not where a lot of people would recommend I go, but it feels like a good place, and should be an exciting challenge!
That's it!
Take care,
Ruth xxx
Thursday, October 08, 2009
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Remember me?!
Ok, it's been three months since I last posted, and so much has happened that I want to catch you up on, so I'm going to divide the post into sub-headings to make it easier to miss out the boring bits!
University
I have officially finished my degree, after much stress, tears and some hard work. I graduated at the Guildhall, on the 17th July with an upper second award in BSc (Hons) Biochemistry. University has been such a life changing experience. I have learnt so much, both academically, but also it has given me life skills, I can now use a washing machine! Plus I have made so many new friends, people who I hope to still be friends with when we are all old and grey and our university days are a dim and distant memory. But that chapter of my life has closed now, I will probably still visit, but my world will be a slightly different one now.
Silverstone
My parents paid for me to go to the British Formula One Grand Prix this year. If you don't know I am fanatical about the sport, and unlike most British fans, I follow Kimi Raikkonen. My aunt and uncle go most years, as they live fairly close to the circuit, so let me tag along. What a weekend! There is something about fast cars that I find really exciting. And to see these cars and drivers that you are used to seeing on the small screen actually on the track was fantastic. We were in a Grandstand, so had quite a good view of the corner where we were. I took too many photos, but that didn't matter. The atmosphere, the noise, I can't describe it. Most people were supporting Button this year, and would stand up and cheer during the parade lap as he came past. The only downside was the early starts, I was exhausted by the end of the weekend. It was about a half hour walk to our stand from where we had parked, but I am so glad that I had the opportunity.
Holiday
The day I got back from Silverstone, I was off again for two weeks of canal boating with family and one of my University friends. This year, mostly at my request, we did the Kennet and Avon canal and the river Avon. This included coming back into Bristol, which was great fun and gave me a chance to see my brother and show my friend how much Bristol has changed. We had a great time, with only one really wet day, the day we went up the Caen Hill flight of locks, near Devizes. We generally had really nice weather, very hot, which gave us more time to explore the areas we stopped at. We had such a great time, we had started planning the next holiday before we had given the boat back. We are writing a narrative log for the holiday, if anyone is interested in the details of the trip!
Family
Due to the joys of no money, whilst I find a job, I'm back living at home. I moved all my stuff back at the end of term. When I moved down in first year, I fitted everything into a Volvo estate. By the end of third year, we used a transit van. So you can imagine how much stuff I now have. To complicate issue slightly, my brother unexpectedly moved back home. It was a bit of a shock to the system, to get used to all of us back at home, but we're getting back into the routine.
Church
Having come back home, it made sense to go back to my home church, the church I've been at since I was 7, and who have supported my during my early Christian development. However, before coming home I was starting to feel that it was time to move on, and after much prayer, this has been confirmed. Given that I haven't regularly been to my church, I'm not sure this is much of a surprise for some people. Last week, I went to a different church, River of Life, based in Hartcliffe. It's further away than my present church, but is on the way to my dads church. This in itself suggests that this is all part of God's plan. I received a really warm welcome, and felt at home. This week I met up with one of my elders for a chat, someone who has been like a second mother to me. She was very supportive of my and believes that this is the right choice for me. I will keep you posted as to where I end up. Can you keep me in your prays, that I will make the right, God led choice.
Jobs
Right, jobs. Now that I've graduated, I've got to start the fun old process of job hunting...yay! I have already found and applied for three jobs, one of which I got an interview for. It's not looking good for the other two jobs, so I'll keep looking. Eventually I'll have to widen my search, but at the moment, I want to find a science based job. Ah well, I'll keep looking, and hopefully something will turn up.
Banksy
As you may be aware, Banksy, famous graffiti artist, opened an exhibition at the city museum and art gallery. Due to popular demand, that queues have been up to 3 hours at times. We decided that it was too good an opportunity to miss. After one and a half hours we were in. It was a great exhibition, well worth looking around. There was one area which was solely his work, but if you looked carefully, you might spot the little touches that he had made to the rest of the exhibition, like new paintings. If you get the chance, its worth going, even if you have to queue.
Right, that was a brief update. I will really try to go back to regular posting! But not promises!!
Ruth xx (I now seem to be back to my birth name!)
University
I have officially finished my degree, after much stress, tears and some hard work. I graduated at the Guildhall, on the 17th July with an upper second award in BSc (Hons) Biochemistry. University has been such a life changing experience. I have learnt so much, both academically, but also it has given me life skills, I can now use a washing machine! Plus I have made so many new friends, people who I hope to still be friends with when we are all old and grey and our university days are a dim and distant memory. But that chapter of my life has closed now, I will probably still visit, but my world will be a slightly different one now.
Silverstone
My parents paid for me to go to the British Formula One Grand Prix this year. If you don't know I am fanatical about the sport, and unlike most British fans, I follow Kimi Raikkonen. My aunt and uncle go most years, as they live fairly close to the circuit, so let me tag along. What a weekend! There is something about fast cars that I find really exciting. And to see these cars and drivers that you are used to seeing on the small screen actually on the track was fantastic. We were in a Grandstand, so had quite a good view of the corner where we were. I took too many photos, but that didn't matter. The atmosphere, the noise, I can't describe it. Most people were supporting Button this year, and would stand up and cheer during the parade lap as he came past. The only downside was the early starts, I was exhausted by the end of the weekend. It was about a half hour walk to our stand from where we had parked, but I am so glad that I had the opportunity.
Holiday
The day I got back from Silverstone, I was off again for two weeks of canal boating with family and one of my University friends. This year, mostly at my request, we did the Kennet and Avon canal and the river Avon. This included coming back into Bristol, which was great fun and gave me a chance to see my brother and show my friend how much Bristol has changed. We had a great time, with only one really wet day, the day we went up the Caen Hill flight of locks, near Devizes. We generally had really nice weather, very hot, which gave us more time to explore the areas we stopped at. We had such a great time, we had started planning the next holiday before we had given the boat back. We are writing a narrative log for the holiday, if anyone is interested in the details of the trip!
Family
Due to the joys of no money, whilst I find a job, I'm back living at home. I moved all my stuff back at the end of term. When I moved down in first year, I fitted everything into a Volvo estate. By the end of third year, we used a transit van. So you can imagine how much stuff I now have. To complicate issue slightly, my brother unexpectedly moved back home. It was a bit of a shock to the system, to get used to all of us back at home, but we're getting back into the routine.
Church
Having come back home, it made sense to go back to my home church, the church I've been at since I was 7, and who have supported my during my early Christian development. However, before coming home I was starting to feel that it was time to move on, and after much prayer, this has been confirmed. Given that I haven't regularly been to my church, I'm not sure this is much of a surprise for some people. Last week, I went to a different church, River of Life, based in Hartcliffe. It's further away than my present church, but is on the way to my dads church. This in itself suggests that this is all part of God's plan. I received a really warm welcome, and felt at home. This week I met up with one of my elders for a chat, someone who has been like a second mother to me. She was very supportive of my and believes that this is the right choice for me. I will keep you posted as to where I end up. Can you keep me in your prays, that I will make the right, God led choice.
Jobs
Right, jobs. Now that I've graduated, I've got to start the fun old process of job hunting...yay! I have already found and applied for three jobs, one of which I got an interview for. It's not looking good for the other two jobs, so I'll keep looking. Eventually I'll have to widen my search, but at the moment, I want to find a science based job. Ah well, I'll keep looking, and hopefully something will turn up.
Banksy
As you may be aware, Banksy, famous graffiti artist, opened an exhibition at the city museum and art gallery. Due to popular demand, that queues have been up to 3 hours at times. We decided that it was too good an opportunity to miss. After one and a half hours we were in. It was a great exhibition, well worth looking around. There was one area which was solely his work, but if you looked carefully, you might spot the little touches that he had made to the rest of the exhibition, like new paintings. If you get the chance, its worth going, even if you have to queue.
Right, that was a brief update. I will really try to go back to regular posting! But not promises!!
Ruth xx (I now seem to be back to my birth name!)
Tuesday, April 07, 2009
Back Again
As you will have noticed, this blog has been very quiet again. Whenever I come to write a post I get distracted, or remember something else I need to do.
Life has been hectic with all the work I have on. I'm into the final push now. Term ends, forever, on the 5th June, my dissertation has to be in 11th/12th May, plus I have two posters to do, and all my revision for exams which start the last week of May. And now I've scared myself with it all!!
I am back in Bristol for Easter, and torn between wanting to see my friends, and the knowledge that I have all that work. Plus the Easter weekend will be fairly busy with a variety of events and services to commemorate and celebrate the sacrifice made for us on the first Easter weekend.
I still have very unformed plans as to what I will do when I graduate (ceremony is the 17th July), so I am constantly praying into that.
I hope that there will be another post before I graduate, but I can't promise anything. Now I have to go to Sainsburys to buy food!
Take care,
God Bless
Clare/Bristol xxx
Life has been hectic with all the work I have on. I'm into the final push now. Term ends, forever, on the 5th June, my dissertation has to be in 11th/12th May, plus I have two posters to do, and all my revision for exams which start the last week of May. And now I've scared myself with it all!!
I am back in Bristol for Easter, and torn between wanting to see my friends, and the knowledge that I have all that work. Plus the Easter weekend will be fairly busy with a variety of events and services to commemorate and celebrate the sacrifice made for us on the first Easter weekend.
I still have very unformed plans as to what I will do when I graduate (ceremony is the 17th July), so I am constantly praying into that.
I hope that there will be another post before I graduate, but I can't promise anything. Now I have to go to Sainsburys to buy food!
Take care,
God Bless
Clare/Bristol xxx
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Tonsillitis
I don't seem to be having much luck at the moment. I started feeling ill last week, but passed it off as a virus, the main symptom being a really sore throat. Over the weekend I went to the pharmacist who told me I should see a doctor. It turns out, as the title suggests, I have tonsillitis. Ow!
In other news, it's the Intensified weekend away with King's next week, which I am really looking forward to! Steve came to visit last week. It was good to see him and included a meal and quiz at King's to launch the student meal, which was fun!
There's really not been much else happening!
Hope you're all well!
Clare xxx
In other news, it's the Intensified weekend away with King's next week, which I am really looking forward to! Steve came to visit last week. It was good to see him and included a meal and quiz at King's to launch the student meal, which was fun!
There's really not been much else happening!
Hope you're all well!
Clare xxx
Monday, February 09, 2009
Sorry
I've been incredibly bad at updating this, woops! If there's anyone still reading, thanks for hanging in there.
It has been crazily busy recently, I had my exams about 3 weeks after coming back from Christmas, so most of my time has been spent preparing for them. I only have two exams to sit in the rest of my degree, scary. Deadlines seem to be rushing at me, work piling up, and it's getting harder to catch my breath.
I spent the weekend in Reading, seeing Ben, Dan and Kita. It was so good to be able to stop, not think or worry about the work I had to do. The friendships that we had built over the last two years made it easy to slip into the familiar banter etc.
I think I'm fully starting to realise how much this period of our lives is a time of change and development. People are getting engaged and married. Some of us are closing in on graduation and the scary world outside of the university environment. It's a time when we move around, find out feet and build on the foundations of our formative years. It's when we make the friends for life, and the decisions that go along way to shaping our future. When I was at primary school, we had to write our autobiography. It was a little difficult at 11 to really understand what it meant to grow up. Here we were writing about our secondary school, the G.C.S.E's we got, the A levels we did, our university degree and our futures. I think I got married and had 3 children, and I studied to be a doctor specialising in sports injuries (I don't even know if I could have done that!!). I was treating the F1 drivers of the future. I didn't have any idea about what Biochemistry was, and looking back on it now, I've just realised God played very little role in my "life".
Oh how different reality is. God is a massive focus in my life. My doctor ambitions kinda fell through when my A levels weren't quite as good as the should have been (ok, they were no where near...). I am still vaugly considering getting involved in F1, but I think its a slim to zero chance, and not actually where I want to go. I may still end up in the NHS tho! I don't want 3 children anymore, but at the same time, I hope that I will be contented with as many or as few children as God choses for me (not that I want any right now, just in case you're getting worried...). I know have a better idea of what life is actually like, proper grown up life, and it still scares me, even though I'm taking tentative steps into this world of being a "responsible adult" (adult, gah, not yet, can't I wait a few years...?).
I can't remember if I've mentioned it, but I now have a mentor through church. It's been so good to have someone I can meet up with and chat God with, all the different things in my life, the struggles and the triumphs. It helps me keep balanced and focused. There are certain issues that I am struggling with letting go at the moment, but I have very much felt that I need to to move on and get where I need to be. (ok that was kinda vauge, but I hope you know what I mean).
Right I'm going to stop there before I go anymore crazy. It was more thoughtful that I was intending, but hopefully someone will read it!
God bless,
Night all,
Clare (Bristol/Ruth/Brian) xxx
It has been crazily busy recently, I had my exams about 3 weeks after coming back from Christmas, so most of my time has been spent preparing for them. I only have two exams to sit in the rest of my degree, scary. Deadlines seem to be rushing at me, work piling up, and it's getting harder to catch my breath.
I spent the weekend in Reading, seeing Ben, Dan and Kita. It was so good to be able to stop, not think or worry about the work I had to do. The friendships that we had built over the last two years made it easy to slip into the familiar banter etc.
I think I'm fully starting to realise how much this period of our lives is a time of change and development. People are getting engaged and married. Some of us are closing in on graduation and the scary world outside of the university environment. It's a time when we move around, find out feet and build on the foundations of our formative years. It's when we make the friends for life, and the decisions that go along way to shaping our future. When I was at primary school, we had to write our autobiography. It was a little difficult at 11 to really understand what it meant to grow up. Here we were writing about our secondary school, the G.C.S.E's we got, the A levels we did, our university degree and our futures. I think I got married and had 3 children, and I studied to be a doctor specialising in sports injuries (I don't even know if I could have done that!!). I was treating the F1 drivers of the future. I didn't have any idea about what Biochemistry was, and looking back on it now, I've just realised God played very little role in my "life".
Oh how different reality is. God is a massive focus in my life. My doctor ambitions kinda fell through when my A levels weren't quite as good as the should have been (ok, they were no where near...). I am still vaugly considering getting involved in F1, but I think its a slim to zero chance, and not actually where I want to go. I may still end up in the NHS tho! I don't want 3 children anymore, but at the same time, I hope that I will be contented with as many or as few children as God choses for me (not that I want any right now, just in case you're getting worried...). I know have a better idea of what life is actually like, proper grown up life, and it still scares me, even though I'm taking tentative steps into this world of being a "responsible adult" (adult, gah, not yet, can't I wait a few years...?).
I can't remember if I've mentioned it, but I now have a mentor through church. It's been so good to have someone I can meet up with and chat God with, all the different things in my life, the struggles and the triumphs. It helps me keep balanced and focused. There are certain issues that I am struggling with letting go at the moment, but I have very much felt that I need to to move on and get where I need to be. (ok that was kinda vauge, but I hope you know what I mean).
Right I'm going to stop there before I go anymore crazy. It was more thoughtful that I was intending, but hopefully someone will read it!
God bless,
Night all,
Clare (Bristol/Ruth/Brian) xxx
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)