Photo hunt

I've joined this following Liz. There is a different theme for each week, and you post a photo relevant to the theme. This week was "Drink"...

A Valuable Member of Society - Officially

Yesterday I went to Gibson Hall in London to be presented with my Queen's Guide Award. The Award is the highest accolade (right word? sounds good) in Guiding, and takes three years to complete. I started it in August 2002, and officially finished in September 2005, as I took some time off over my finals.

The Queen's Guide award is the highest attainable award for members of Girlguiding UK. Although originally awarded to Girl Guides, it is now only attainable by members of the Senior Section (including Rangers, Young Leaders and Young Guiders) aged between 16 and 25. It is a challenging programme comparable to the Queen's Scout or Gold Duke of Edinburgh's Award. Since the awards creation 60 years ago 20,000 young women have gained the award. (Thanks, Wikipedia!)

It was presented to me by Sophie, Countess of Wessex, who is the President of Girlguiding UK. She was lovely, really friendly and normal. Which is surprising, considering she's royal... It was a lot like Graduation - lots of faff, lots of co-ordinating of parents, making sure hair is right, uniform was right etc. Then, up onto a stage for a quick handshake and a photo and then off again. After all that!! There was a "splendid tea" (my mother's words), and Soph came round to chat to us all about what we did for the award, what we're doing now etc. I obviously pressed the right buttons by saying I was studying to become a Speech Therapist (only a small stretch of the truth...but who understands "Human Communication" anyway?) as she was really interested in it and chatted to me for some time.

All in all it was fun - and my parents were proud, so it's all good!!

Spider solitaire

I am realising that the better I get at Spider Solitaire, the less well I get on with my work. I think I'm going to have to take a leaf out of Liz's book and give up for Lent (a little late now, perhaps?).

Either that or swap to the harder level so that I don't win as easily and get frustrated.

Yes. That sounds like a better plan...

Week-ending

I've got that Sunday evening feeling. You know, the one after you've had a really nice weekend, and you realise the only thing in front of you now is Monday?

Oh well. I have revision to do this week for a Cognitive Neuroscience Exam (yuck), and reading to do about children who use Augmented and Alternative communication devices (such as Steven Hawking uses). At least the essay reading is interesting. Then I have more training with the Stroke Association on Tuesday, which is a real faff, but will at least get me out of the house and trained for work experience with old people (who've had strokes). Wednesday, lectures, yawn. And rehearsals. Thursday is exciting - I'm going to meet Sophie (Countess of) Wessex to be presented with my Queen's Guide Award. I have to dress up in posh uniform (a button down shirt and everything) and have a chat with "Soph" as to what I got up to in the three years it took me to finish it.

Well now I've told you all my news, what am I going to blog this week??

Phil and I went to the coast today to fly his kite and fiddle with his new camera. It's very posh. Here are some photos....

No boots for Clare...someone bid over £50 for them, and frankly, that's just daft. But they were awfully pretty.

Will have to actually go ice skating to be able to convince Phil that they're a worthy investment the next time something like that comes up!

Dwarfish

Ho hum. Or should that be "Heigh Ho"?

This weekend I have been alternately itchy and Sneezy. And Grumpy. And Sleepy come to mention it. A little Dopey, a little Happy but not really Doc. I suppose not very Bashful either.

I have another cold, and also an allergy to penicillin. Didn't know that until I took some and came out in itchy welts all over my body, including the soles of my feet. Won't take any more of that then... So now I am doped up on Piriton and Day Nurse, which gives the dual effect of making me incredibly out of it and also not convinced that my legs are attached to my body.

********

Phil has bought a new camera (an EOS 400D, for camera fans out there) which is very swish. He has been taking photos of me all evening. This is probably because I can't be bothered to move out the way (and anyway, I'm not sure my legs are attached).

However, I am not allowed to buy myself some ice-skates on eBay. Ever since I was wee, and read "White Boots" by Noel Streatfield, I have wanted some white ice-skates. Now I've become ever so slightly addicted to Dancing on Ice, I thought I'd have a look on eBay to see how much they are. And there's a lovely pair, for about £26...in my size, hardly been worn. The auction finishes tomorrow, so there's still time. What Phil doesn't know, won't hurt him, right?

Amazon

I have been quietly raising money by selling various items on Amazon.co.uk. So far I think I've made about £32, and I started selling stuff late last week. Phil says he "doesn't like the idea that I'm selling off my possessions", but mainly it's books I've not read, or DVDs I've not watched. So I think I'm being resourceful. And anyway, at least I'm not selling my body or something...

So, if you or anyone you know wants to buy:

New Zealand (Lonely Planet Diving & Snorkeling Guides) [Paperback] by Enderby
Price: £7.00

Driving Test All Tests Deluxe 2006/07 Edition (PC DVD) [CD-ROM]
Price: £9.50

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets [2002] [VHS Tape] (2003) Daniel...
Price: £1.99

Martha, Meet Frank, Daniel and Laurence [1998] [DVD] (2004) Monica Potter...
Price: £3.99

Lonely Planet Prague [Paperback] by Wilson, Neil
Price: £3.99

Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone [2001] [VHS Tape] (2002) Daniel...
Price: £2.00

Japan (Rough Guide Travel Guides) [Paperback] by Dodd, Jan; Richmond, Simon
Price: £10.00

Then I'm your gal! x
PS: some of the prices have come down from what it says here, I don't know why its showing up like this!

This brightened up my day

I found this on my friend Hannah's blog. There are loads of them on the site (see link below cartoon) and also a church calendar which really made me smile - and think of Liz! (Liz I think you'd enjoy it, have a look at the website :-D)
xx

Cartoon by Dave Walker. Find more cartoons you can freely re-use on your blog at We Blog Cartoons.

It's not my fault!

and it's official!

When I am navigating to the uni online library catalogue, I have to type "li..." into the address bar. The first site that comes up? liz-and-harvey.blogspot.com. So it's not my fault I keep procrastinating. It's the silly internet and it not knowing the alphabet!

Inner Peace

My friend Liz (not Liz) sent me this and it made me chuckle - I thought you'd all enjoy it...

I am passing this on to you because it definitely worked for me and we all could use more calm in our lives.

By following the simple advice I heard on GMTV, I have finally found inner peace.

Dr. Hilary proclaimed the way to achieve inner peace is to finish all the things you have started.

So I looked around my house to see things I started and hadn't finished; and, before leaving the house this morning, I finished off a bottle of Merlot, a bottle of Cardonay, a bole of Baileys, a butle of Kehuha, a pockage of Panjuin biksuits, tha mainder of bot Prozic and Valum scriptins, the res of the Chesescke, some dajestifs an a bax a cholates.

Yu haf no idr who gud I fel.

*Peas sen dis orn to dem yu fee ar in ned ov inr pece

St David's Day

A day late I know, but I was at uni with the presentation yesterday (the waffle god was with me, hoorah!), then Brownies, then Phil's birthday... Anyway, HAPPY ST DAVID'S DAY!!!

My Brownies enjoyed the day of daffodils (they didn't much enjoy the leek and potato soup, more fool them!). Did you know that you are allowed to wear your Brownie (or Guide/Scout/Beaver/Cub) uniform to school on Saint's Days? Nope, neither did I!