I'm off to find the precious

Lazy Sunday

2011-09-18T08:20:00.000-07:00

So, we had a great Saturday evening at The Space in Lansdown.

Had a good dance which was great! I was surprised by how great everyone was.

As far as the diet thing goes I'm just trying to eat healthily now and doing 20 minutes of exercise a day. It's working as well. I realised that the low carb thing just wasn't great for me as I was eating way too much fat.

Married Life

2011-09-01T05:18:00.000-07:00

So, it's now a few months on and settling into married life, which is nice. But, on the other side, it seems I'm working all the hours God sends, I keep getting poorly and life just seems a bit hectic. I could really do with a good chill out and to get away from it all for a bit. But lets face it, tis not going to happen, let the madness commence.

So we had wedding, which was beautiful, couldn't have asked for a better day. Then we went on honeymoon to Portugal to a lovely place near Monsanto. Just us, a van, a bell tent and next door was a lady who brought us all the veg we needed for our stay. We ate well, drank well and chilled, it was just what we needed.

I've just started a low-carb diet and I've lost 6lbs in a week, my jeans fit me now! Wahoo! :)

6 Weeks to go... and a bit

2011-04-19T04:04:00.000-07:00

I didn't believe people when they said the wedding would come round soo quickly.

Life for me at the moment has become manic- In the last few months we've bought a house, I'm changing jobs and then we've got the wedding. I've just found out that my dress is nearly ready which is amazing :)

I'm just sooo lucky to have family and friends around who are so gifted and helped me organise stuff and sorted my head out when it needed to be.

My house is full of lists of stuff that still needs to be done and I know we'll get there soon and it will be a lush day but at the moment I feel quite overwhelmed really.

Struggling

2011-01-20T01:00:00.000-08:00

So, I've got so far with the diet and the exercise. Lost some weight but now it's getting difficult for me. I'm living at my mums atm and 'naughty' food just seems to be everywhere. As well as that, I'm poorly sick with a sinus infection.... Blergh!

Funny

2011-01-10T13:49:00.000-08:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Znpa3w41x9E

This is making me laugh so much right now. Thought I would share it.

New Years Resolution

2011-01-04T13:00:00.000-08:00

So... My New Years resolution is to lose approximately one and a half stone by February 14th. I'm going to do this by using Slimming World, my Cross Trainer and by running. Running is a pretty new thing to me so I had to go out yesterday and buy trainers. Which were ace for £12.50, I was very pleased with my skills at plucking out a bargain.

Basically I need to eat less and move more.

Anyway one really good thing I've recently come across is that physical exercise actually makes you feel better because of the natural endorphins it produces. When I say 'feel better' I mean less tired, less stressed and less depressed. Which is great. Exercise is my new best friend :) Well, that and my vodka bottle... Hehe

Feeling rancid... What a nice way to begin a new year

2010-12-31T08:30:00.000-08:00

Was planning on going out tonight but the body says no! So will stay in and watch something cuddled on the sofa with the precious.

Today we have achieved getting a new kitchen, the next step will be finding out if we can have the house. The one that we are buying :)

The wedding and everything's coming up very fast so need to get all that sorted and good. 6 months to go now!

Since last time we have a new car. Otherwise nothings changed.

Ahh blogging...

2010-07-29T11:17:00.000-07:00

I very often forget that I have this and that I like it :) Anyway... I've been reading, drinking, pottering about, qualiying as a masseuse. Had an interesting 'meeting with a limosine' (One of those things that was blamed by the guys satnav). Anyway, now we're trying to get a new car as the poor little clios been written off and I have injured my back as a result :(

I'm now qualified in Swedish Body Massage and Indian Head massage which I really enjoy doing. I've got a load of ideas for the wedding and new shiney shoes :) I've been doing a lot of reading recently. Really wanting to get those GooGoo Dolls tickets tomorrow. Of all the facebook ads that one was really helpful.

Went to Bideford a month or so ago with some friends which was a really good time, I'd never really been to a family holiday place with a kids club thing before but really enjoyed it (despite the fact I'm not a kid anymore).

Just started my NVQ 3 which will be a journey to get through. Ah well, something to do while I'm off work . Ah, and the pic was from sophs bday :)

A good few months later...

2010-03-22T06:53:00.000-07:00

We're gonna get married :) And I'm soo excited. Have booked the reception and church today so all is good.

We went on holiday to scotland last year was lush if a little cold and wet. In March we went to Woolacombe which was also a nice five day break. Was gorgeous weather.

We've moved again to a bigger house this time which is spacious and quiet. There was plenty of snow in February which was a pain really. One day we ended up walking/hitchhiking into work which was a somewhat surreal experience.

What a year!

2009-09-23T01:46:00.000-07:00

It's been a year since I last posted

Soo much has happened yet so little...

We've been to Poland and to Spain and Morrocco. Which was lush... Sorry can't find photos for any of them.

We moved into Cambridge, we're moving out of Cambridge.

I've done my NVQ and am starting a massage course.

I applied for 2 promotions and didn't get either.

I have chin length purple dreads which are ever so prone to itch attacks.

I have some nice new tattoos :)

Things I have done this summer

2008-09-25T05:56:00.000-07:00

Since I last posted I have....
* Started my NVQ (which is taking a while but I'm getting it done slowly but surely)

* Took the long wool dreads out and I now have mini ones.

* Tried anchovies (I didn't like them) and egg custard tarts ( which are really yummy and I now have a bit of a thing for them)

* Went to Greenbelt (which was great, I caught up with a load of people I hadn't seen for ages.)

* Went to Taize in France. ( Twas an amazing experience, so chillaxing and peaceful although it was so lively!)

* Went camping in the forest of Dean with Tim (Symonds Yat ia a lovely place and the weekend kinda restored my faith in humanity, some people are lovely). To tell the story. We were trying to blow the airbed thingy up with an air compressor that fits in the lighter bit of the car. Anyhow, it wasn't working so after I while I started using my lungs. A bloke from Mansfield comes over to help and lets us use his foot pump for the airbed, which worked really well. As well as al this, in the morning he came over to our tent to give us coffee and toast cos we didn't have a stove.

* Had sunny days out in the garden (although twas an appalling summer there were a few sunny days)

multicoloured dreads

2008-06-22T01:23:00.000-07:00

I have them, no photo yet tho. Woo!

hmm...

2008-06-15T23:53:00.000-07:00

I was travelling back from Coventry yesterday on the train and I noticed that there is a carpet trim on the shelves for putting bags on. I fond this concept quite amusing. Why put carpet on the ceiling? Honestly... How does that make sense? I suppose for very tall people it could cushion the shelf so they don't hit their head when they stand up but otherwise I really just don't get it.

Reunion

2008-06-14T02:52:00.001-07:00

I went to the Second CR reunion thing on Tuesday which was fun :) We went to the studio then had chinese buffet and gaming after. Twas great fun, but I also found out that I'm appauling at computer games. I'm off up to Cov today just until tomorrow which should be good. Apart from that, I've been working, which I've been enjoying :)

Long time

2008-06-05T06:56:00.001-07:00

I haven't posted in a long while for a few reasons... I've been pretty busy with work as of late, apart from that nothing much has happened recently really. I've had a couple of nice days with the family which has been lovely. We went up to Birmingham shopping which brought back some memories for me but hey. All in all my life isn't very exciting atm, butI've got a few things to look forward to in the future which'll be lovely.

Busy time

2008-05-03T10:05:00.001-07:00

I went to London on Monday with Adam, was nice. Although I had a poorly tummy while I was there so we spent ages in Debenhams where there was a loo! Before that last week Adam came down to see me and we went to the cinema to watch that film 'fools gold' which was actually pretty good with reggae in it! Woot!

I started my work contract on Thurs and I'm sooo tired even tho I've only done two shifts! I think it'll take a while to get used to keyworking as well. I'm quite looking forward to my three days off tho so I'll plan stuff to do on them like going on short breaks etc.

I've been thinking a lot about peoples behaviour and what makes people have behavioural issues. Perhaps in the future I might do some training in learning disabilities and mental health, I think working in that field would be really interesting.

Right now I'm listening to John Barrowmans version of 'heaven' by Bryan Adams, it's gert lush, so's he! hehe.

Long time no see...

2008-04-23T07:58:00.000-07:00

Yeah... It's been nearly a month since I last updated on here, since then I've been quite busy really with work and holiday!

I went to Cyprus, Ayia Napa in particular. It was lovely weather and I spent most of the time sunbathing or in the pool until I got the dreaded prickly heat.

When I got back I found a letter saying I got the contract at work I applied for. Now I can get on with saving up.

Adam came down for a bit which was nice although I was working sometimes. It was good to be looked after when I hurt my back and lovely to come home and him be there.

Away

2008-04-02T10:08:00.000-07:00

I went to Nuneaton to a talk about spiritual warfare last Thursday. It opened my eyes a lot, especially my general ignorance of evil. Friday I went into Cov shopping with Pen and the kids, which was nice. Met Adam there, twas really good to see him for a couple of days. We went for an indian on Friday evening, was lush. I really like the naan bread from Monsoon, they have honey on them...

Saturday we went to Brum for a CrossRhythms reunion, was perhaps one of the most surreal experiences in my life. We went for food then trawled round all the Christian bookshops, went to Starbucks and to Selfridge's. It was great to meet people in real life who I'd spoke to in a chat room.

Adam came home with me and we had a long stop in Cheltenham, which was a pain, but I was glad he was with me. Had a lush chinese when we got home and went to a baptism and for a picnic on Sunday. It was good to spend some time together in the countryside and nice weather. Adam went home on Monday, Tuesday I went shopping and today I've been pottering visiting Grandma and Soph. In a bit I'm going to a yoga, tai chi and pilates class at the gym :)

This is Adam and I before Christmas on his webcam, when I say before I mean after lol

New Hair and home

2008-03-26T04:50:00.001-07:00

Look... I has new hair, it's very, very short and I love it! For some reason I just felt like a bit of a change.

I'm back at work for proper now and I'm actually really enjoying it. I'm trying to get a contract so I can save money and try to get a flat/house to live in. Adam's still on the job hunt, I really hope that he finds one soon, then we can both relax a bit and just enjoy life rather than being stressed out about money etc.

I really can't wait to see Adam on Friday and have a cuddle, I miss that.

I have lots of chocolate for easter and am really enjoying it :) Yum! I know I shouldn't and I should concentrate on losing weight but I did go to the gym for a 'Glide' class yesterday, I found it quite fun but it was a good workout as well. Twas also a bit difficult. I think I might join the gym if I enjoy the other classes.

There and back again

2008-03-19T14:59:00.000-07:00

Since my last post, I've been to Cov and back home again. I'm home now and actually feeling a bit lonely tbh. I miss people from Cov, especially Adam and his cuddles. I'm going back to work tomorrow, which'll be weird. Hmm...

I've been to music group tonight and went shopping today, got a pair of knee high boots from Clarks. Otherwise I don't have much to show for my efforts recently...

Adams gone back

2008-03-11T11:00:00.000-07:00

This weeks been ok, apart from having a pain in my tooth which has ben quite severe. But it's sorted now, I've been to the dentist which was scary and horrible.

Been watching films and went to Stroud on Sunday. Yesterday was a rainy day so me and Ad played monopoly and watched some films, tried to find Bridget Jones on DVD but couldn't, which was a bit pants.

Birthday

2008-03-04T10:45:00.000-08:00

Twas my birthday on Sat. Had a really nice fairy do, went to the greyhound, whitefriars and the oak. Was funny seeing Ad and J wandering round in tutus and fishnets.

Adam took me to see Newton Faulkner, hes an amazing performer, loved it! Before that we went to Nandos, they had this clippy thing to hold your bag under the table to deter thefts. Genius!

I'm now at home and have moved all my stuff back in, it's weird... Ad came home with mebut has now gone home :( I miss my cuddles.

Home now

2008-02-19T10:41:00.000-08:00

I came home today, I'm here for a few days. It's kinda weird coming back from uni and leaving stuff there, more people than stuff actually.

Ad is taking me to see Newton Faulkner next Sunday, I'm soo looking forward to it. :) Yay!

Other than that I'm just trying to get better and thinking of stuff to do in my life.

Home

2008-02-12T11:32:00.000-08:00

Last weekend and the weekend before I went home, Ad came with me. Last weekend we went on the train, was a very pleasant trip, no late trains. Yay!

When we got home we went to Cam Peak, i found it soo difficult to climb. I don't have much energy atm, which isn't nice really. We then went to see Grease at my sisters school, twas good, reminded me of when I was in it!

Saturday we went to Thornbury, I hadn't been for ages. My mum got me a pair of lush boots for my birthday and a pair of fairy wings for my party :) Thankees! I've worn them quite a bit already (the boots not the wings).

Sunday we went to Hetty Peglars tump and Coaley Peak, another burial site. It was soo pretty but looking over the valley the weather was sorta misty and weird, beautiful all the same.

Ill...

2008-02-06T03:49:00.000-08:00

So I've been feeling a bit off colour recently, am rethinking if my course is what I should be doing right now.

Otherwise, I went home last weekend, which was rather nice. Went shopping, had indian food and had lots of cuddles from my mum :)

Placement

2008-01-25T00:48:00.000-08:00

On my placement so far :-

* I have watched and observed
* I watched the giving out of meds and gave some ear drops and soluble paracetamol
* I took blood pressure and weight
* I made a clay pencil pot and cards
* I have interacted with patients
* I played table tennis
* I made notes on patients
* I watched an injection
* I observed ward rounds
* I had a meeting with my mentor
* I Saw a drug screening test

It's been ok so far.

Look!

2008-01-18T11:25:00.001-08:00

He's soo cute! :)

Nandos

2008-01-16T12:42:00.000-08:00

Went to Nandos tonight with Ad as a celebration of our two month anniversary. Was really lovely. Saw someone we really didn't want to see but it didn't ruin our night. Yay! Pleased.

I handed in 114 earlier, I'm just so glad to get it all done. No more essays for a while!

Bleargh

2008-01-15T23:51:00.000-08:00

ok, so I haven't updated this for a while... Here goes

* I came back to uni a week last Sunday, breaking down on the way. The accelorator cable snapped so James had to get the AA out. To get home the cable was tied to the engine with cable ties... scary, hairy.

* Last Tuesday Ad took me to Nandos, twas lovely. Was our first date!!

* Ad took me to the cinema on Saturday night, had Ben and Jerrys ice cream. Was very yummy and was our second date ever!

* Started my placement on Monday. I'm not sure about it to be honest. I suppose I just need to see past stuff to get a proper experience of it and ask, is difficult when I'm being ignored though.

* I'm poorly sick. On Monday at about three I started to have a headache, turned into a flu bug thing. Rang NHS direct cos it got really bad, Ad was thinking of sending me into A & E cos I had symptoms of meningitis. Sore neck and joints, aversion to light, feeling sick, headache, I had a stomach ache too at one point. So I'm home from placement at the minute.

I can has cheezburger!

2008-01-05T11:15:00.000-08:00

Yeah... I took a cool picture of Pippin t'other day! Look what it turned into!

New Year :)

2008-01-02T09:50:00.000-08:00

New Year party at Claires has gone and passed, had too much to drink but also had fun too and watched someones random fireworks with Ad :) Twas nice. Before we'd been to my Dads which was cool.

Yesterday we didn't really do much had a meal with family went to Sophs, then slept. Yay for sleepyness!

Started 112SW today, far too late really but I've got pretty much half of it done. Finding it really difficult to do any computer work without changing the background and text colour which is a bit rubbish to be honest, just means a lot more hassle.

Family meal

2007-12-30T13:22:00.000-08:00

Twas nice today, had a meal with family and Adam came along too... was really lovely :) Got chatting to my Auntie and Uncle and showed them photos of my Nicaragua trip, would be lush to go out there again some time.

Other than that I'm a bit mardy to be honest, a combination of stuff I guess but mostly to do with the amount of work I need to do... Grrr

Wootage!

2007-12-29T09:56:00.000-08:00

Adam be here now, after getting lost in Dursley. Yay! Tis really good to see him again :) Big smiles and hugs all round!

Home

2007-12-28T09:13:00.000-08:00

I'm home now, after a long drive. There was soo much traffic it was crazy. I had sleeps.

Yay! Tomorrow I'm seeing Adam which'll be lush, I've missed him loads.

Chris's birthday

2007-12-27T06:47:00.000-08:00

Christmas was really nice this year :) Lovely, lovely. We were at Chris and Debs. We went to see Debbies family then played on the Wii which was fun. I got lots of smellies this year so I'll smell nice and won't have to buy any shower gel for ages. Niceness.

Yesterday we went to see Pat and Eric and went shopping, I got a coat and a dress for the new year party. It's pretty and petrol colour. Then we had a party, which was cool. Today I went shopping again :) I got a pair of trousers for placement and a pretty green top for Chris's birthday meal later, should be good.

Adam's coming over on Saturday and I'm really looking forward to seeing him again. Yay!

Shopping all done!

2007-12-23T07:51:00.000-08:00

Yay! My christmas shopping is all done :) Woot! Now I just need to wrap it all up. Off to Debbie and Chris's tomorrow for Christmas, hopefully it'll be less foggy :)

I'm off now Soph's here. Yay for holidays!

Ugh ill...

2007-12-22T06:29:00.000-08:00

It seems like I've had a headache forever... Took today off sick now I've officially started my Christmas holidays and I'm not feeling that Christmassy to be honest... hmm will soon methinks (or hopes).

I have normal hair now, that's prob one reason why my head is sore, it took ages to get out with lots of conditioner and cat combs.

This is me now

Adam's gone home

2007-12-19T09:00:00.000-08:00

I came home on Friday with Adam, now he's gone home... Since Monday it's the longest time we've been apart, which is weird....

I've been at work the past couple of days which has been kinda nice, I just remember work being nicer... Maybe it's the rose tinted glasses...

On Sunday we went to church then the cinema to see The Golden Compass, great film. It was nice to see everyone again too :)

Yay!

2007-12-13T10:36:00.000-08:00

Guess what? I passed my OSCE so did Laine and most other people on my course :) Very pleased!!

Also, had a nice take away this afternoon, yay for lovely cheeseburgers and kebabs and lovliness and Adam :) BIG SMILES.

Anyway, I'm happy, Ad's happy, Laine's happy. Yay for sweeties and Christmas :) Yay for Jesus!

Argh OSCEness...

2007-12-13T01:06:00.000-08:00

Ok, so I think I know most things for the OSCE fairly confidently, the only thing is I go to pieces when I know there is someone watching me... Hopefully it'll be ok.

Otherwise the last couple of weeks have been ok, went to Quinta Hall last weekend so twas nice to socialise with people and I prayed for the meeting for the first time ever... I was quite nervous about that.

I've go to my IPLP over and done with now. YAY! I didn't much like that module, especially because it relied on the use of computers for absolutely everything.

I'm going home tomorrow for Christmas and Ad's coming with for a couple of days, will be nice... Now just to get today over and done with...

Weekend at Launde Abbey - Lovely, lovely

2007-12-04T03:30:00.000-08:00

Look!

Some of us went to Launde Abbey near Leicester for the weekend on rretreat. Tis a lovely, beautiful place seeming in the middle of nowhere. Pretty, pretty, pretty...

Workage!

2007-11-29T13:45:00.000-08:00

Yay! I have work hours for Christmas! This means money for after Christmas, how good :)

Also, on the work front, tonight I've been at Elaine and Emmas and I've got a lot of work done... and guess what? I actually enjoyed doing the work which was great.

Look! I found a green satsuma in the fridge! :)

Wow!

2007-11-26T09:43:00.000-08:00

God is soo amazing in soo many ways :) Over the past week or so some awesome stuff has been happening in my life and in Adams. All I can say is that God has brought us together and has his hands in out relationship... It's fantastic... Completely Wow!

This is a picture of us when Adam met my family at the weekend. Big smiiles and happiness all round

Craziness

2007-11-22T00:48:00.000-08:00

The last couple of days have been completely crazy... In some ways bad crazy in some ways really awesomely crazy!

The most important thing though, is that last night Adam came to CU with me... He found God... or God found him. Twas sooo, sooo amazing and really reinforces the last few days, that we really are meant to be :)

I am the cat who got the cream...

2007-11-19T00:57:00.000-08:00

There's simply no other way to put it :)
Thanks Adam! xxx

Hoist

2007-11-14T07:57:00.000-08:00

Here's the pic of me in the hoist. I look happy enough, but I was posing...

Today I heard blood pressure for the first time! Yay! It made me happy :)

I've been in a hoist today

2007-11-13T10:53:00.000-08:00

It was scary! Made me feel quite helpless really... Strange being held up in midair by a sling...

The train back to Coventry this morning was 50 minutes late which left me standing out in the cold for ages which was a pain, but the lady on the train was kind and gave me a new itinery :)

Then I went to moving and handing where I got to be a patient and someone asked if Elaine and I were related which I found quite funny, Elaine decided it must be cos of our shortness and glasses.

Ugh

2007-11-12T12:42:00.000-08:00

The nice thing was that I came home this weekend :) So I got to spend time with family and friends and go shopping. I bought a very lovely red velvet dress and mum got me a fob watch!

Although this weekend I also felt ill, sore throaty, finding it difficult to swallow, headachey. I delayed going back to uni for a day so I could go to the doctors... Turns out I have yummy tonsillitus.

I had a good weekend nevertheless but would be nice to stay here and chillax for a couple more days... I really don't think that's gonna happen

Jimmity

2007-11-08T07:59:00.000-08:00

I've been to the gym again. :) That makes it three times so far. I've been soo soo busy the past couple of days I even got up early to do my laundry this morning... Which isn't at all normal for me... I'm usually much lazier.

Then I went to the train station to get tickets and a new rail card. I'm going home this weekend then to Garys next weekend... Lot's of travelling, why it costs £10 more to get to Warrington than Cam and Dursley I really don't know... Tis tres annoying anyway.

I went to learn how to take blood pressure and I couldn't hear a thing, which was kinda worrying but hopefully with lots of practise I'll be able to hear the beats.

Then I went to see Jim... Hehe

Big Smiles

2007-11-02T07:54:00.000-07:00

Wow, It's been a pretty cool week really. Wednesday I went out for drinks with Elaine and Julianne which was really lovely :) Met some random blokes while we were out which was interesting... After I met Emma, Elaines housemate and her 3 cats and rabbit. It kinda reminded me a bit of home because in the morning peanut (one of the cats) was sat on my feet, which was lovely.

Thursday morning at nine was my gym induction, which went pretty well considering I was a bit hungover and hadn't had much sleep. I was pretty happy with myself after I went to the gym again after my clinical skills lab and a good chat with Elaine and Laura in the Sprituality and Faith centre.

Todays been pretty normal really, was the launch of our IPLP module which should be interesting and I met with my personal tutor, who was actually very helpful, which was somewhat unexpected :)

Getting to Grips

2007-10-30T07:41:00.000-07:00

Today we had a seminar thing in the computer labs about data handling in which we made a graph and a pie chart. It's a long time since I've had to do that so was a good time to refresh my skills :)

After I went researching on the Elibrary so now I feel a bit better about the amount of work etc. At least I've started some and it's actually kinda addicting which is odd.

We went to the Sprirituality and Faith centre where you can always have a good chat to the people there and drink coffee. (fresh proper coffee) I've also put my name down to go on retreat to an abbey which should be a good weekend in the middle of the countryside.

I've joined the gym and I've got an induction on Thursday morning at 9. I think if I can motivate myself to go there that'll be a good start, as it's free it should really be easy but knowing me it won't be.

This is something I found on the internet which I found really funny, made me laugh for ages :)

Update on life!

2007-10-29T10:25:00.000-07:00

So since I last updated I've

*been at Coventry uni for about 5 weeks
*joined the CU

*had fun
*tried to study with different sucess rates :)
*made my own food
*been woken up in the night by noisy people!
*been home
*joined the gym
*went to a club for the first time
*had my hair dreaded

*done a lot of walking around cov

It's been different but I'm settled in now which is tres cool

Please sponsor me

2007-09-10T14:42:00.000-07:00

I'm doing a sponsored walk for SANDS on the 22nd September, please sponsor me if possible.
Thanks
Charli x

I'm back

2007-09-04T11:46:00.000-07:00

I'm back, and I've been back for a while. Nicaragua was an amazing experience and I'd love to go there again at some point. The group that I went with from the Tab are doing a presentation at the Tab on the evening of the 15th Sept, should be a good event.

In Bluefields we did three kids parties in a row which was crazy but brill then in Matagalpa we went to the coffee farm then I was ill for a day and we went to Managua again and went up a volcano.

I'm off to Coventry uni soon, argh! Still need to pack! Should be good though, I'mlooking foward to it

Charli x

2nd August

2007-08-02T08:53:00.000-07:00

I´m back in Bluefields now after being in La Barra for four days. I really enjoyed La Barra, we had bucket showers and met the locals. We painted a clinic inside and out and we were in really beautiful scenery, it´s really strange to be back in the hustle and bustle of Bluefields after being in such a tiny village.

I don´t have that much time here to day so I´ll update more when I get time. (Possibly when I get home, I have just a week left. On Saturday I´m going to Matagalpa which should be cooler :)

Adios
Charli xx

I´m here

2007-07-26T09:34:00.000-07:00

We got to Managua on Saturday evening after a few longs flights and rushing around various airports. It was a bit of a difficulty even getting to Birmingham airport because of the flooding that was in England.

On the first day we went on a trip to Granada, the old city where we rode a horse and cart and went on a boat trip to see loads of different islands on lake granada. It was amazing and we fed a Spider monkey a muesli bar, which it didn´t like at all.

On the second day we went on a tiny 12 seater plane to Bluefields with just enough room for all the girlies. When we got to Bluefields we ate sandwiches then some of us went to Bluefields town to get food shopping and some of us went to concrete a house. We saw geckos at nighttime on the windows.

The third day the girls started our project, which was to paint the fence in the orphanage garden. We painted one side of the fence then the next day came back to paint a mural of Noahs ark, which still needs too be finished, hopefully later on today, which is day five. We met some beautiful children in the orphanage who we played games with. We played in and out tyhe dusty bluebells and sang Father Abraham and did the hokey cokey, I have some brilliant photos.

In between times on the third day we went to see the rubbish dump and the people living off of it. We saw a pregnant lady carrying a tv on her head. We also went to the feeding project where people make meals for 120 children each day so that the children have food in their stomachs every day.

it´s now the fifth day and it rained all last night so we figured we can´t do our painting this morning so we´ve gone into town and are in the internet cafe.

Hola to everyone
Charli x

7 hours to go!

2007-07-20T11:03:00.000-07:00

I've got 7 hours till I go. I've got everything packed and ready apart from my church clothes, now I'm just waiting really.

I'm really looking forward to it but feeling kinda nervous too.

I'm going to try and update here while I'm away so you guys can read it, if I can get to a computer.

See you in three weeks time when I get back

Charli x

Less Than 3 weeks now!

2007-07-01T14:05:00.000-07:00

As the title of this blog suggests, it's less than three weeks till my Nicaragua trip and I'm getting really excited.

Last night we had a briefing in Ross On Wye which kinda reminded me of some stuff I have to take with me and helped me to get to know what to expect when I get there. I think I'm pretty well prepared though which is nice to know really. Alse while we were in Ross there was a Nicaraguan celebration where the people who have been before shared with us their experiences, which our group will hopefully benifit from.

We had our official send off at church this morning and were interviewed. (luckily I didn't have to answer any questions) The press release about our trip will be in the Gazette soon which should be pretty cool.

I'll update again soon

Charli x

Argh! Not long now... panic, panic

2007-06-12T09:37:00.000-07:00

I'm writing a list of what I still need to get to take with me to Nicaragua:-

Shorts
Trousers (cottony cargoey type ones)
Water purifying tablets
Tshirts/tank tops
Travel sickness tablets
Diarroheia tablets
Toiletries
Certificate of vaccinations
Dollars

I think I've got all the other stuff! (I really, really hope I do)
Well it's not too much stuff to get, less than I thought. I still need another shopping trip though :)

Money is sorted now Yay!

I will post on hereagain before I go to update on the little things that happen before I go.

Charli x

Sophs BBQ and the flights

2007-05-27T07:26:00.000-07:00

Yesterday it was 8 weeks till we go, time is flying by now and I still don't have all my kit! We had Sophs BBQ yesterday and did quite well from it, we're getting nearer and nearer to our target yay!

We now have the flight itinery We're going from Brum via Paris and Miami, then on the way back via Atlanta and Paris, we'll be coming back on the 10th August and will be back on English ground at 4.30pm well jetlagged I expect :)

I'll give you more updates when I get them

Charli xx

BBQ

2007-05-07T14:03:00.000-07:00

Today, I cooked the first BBQ I've cooked in my life, it was good :) Quite a few people turned up, gave some money and told me that the food was nice. Therefore I was pleased. We still need to raise a bit more but Sophs BBQ will help with that.

Well that's the update for now

Charli x

1st Nicaragua Post

2007-04-28T10:56:00.000-07:00

So I'm off to Nicaragua in 82 days (21st July) and I'm really looking forward to it. I'm going with the Peace and Hope trust for three weeks to do volunteer work. It'll be in schools, on renewable energy projects and in agriculture and construction. There are so many different things I'll be doing out there.

The idea of this blog is kinda to let you guys know what I'm up to while I'm there and when I get back. Basically to see what I learn from being there, should be an interesting time.

At the moment I'm trying to do some fundraising for the trip, I've got a BBQ organised soon on the 7th May which will hopefully raise some dosh towards it.

Anyway I'm off for now
Charli x