I wrote a 'Year in Review' post last year, and it was really fun to look back on- so I thought I'd do one for 2014. Enjoy- my 2014!
January
I entered 2014 dressed as a unicorn, which pretty much set a precedent for a whole year of weird and wonderful things! In the early days of 2014, I held the final part of the Christmas festivities, in the form of 'WombBudMas'! I had a very cultured week, with both stand up comedy and a Shostakovich concert. I also faced one of hardest moments of my life, when I found out that my ankle problems were not fixable, meaning that I had to say goodbye to my life as a swimmer. However, there was also a beginning- our AS Music class started up 'The Great Music Bake Off'. Hilarity ensued. Finally for January, I was very pleased with the school's new display, and with my new top, and with the combination of the two!
February
In February, the folk band I play in held our third ceilidh, which was great fun. The Winter Olympics began in Sochi, resulting in a post on my views around the issue, as well as a performance by myself and BB to raise awareness of the situation. I 'treated' (I think that's the word?!) the blog to a 'week in the life of ScribbleDuck'- mostly banana costumes, cake and Cat Family. I then had a very busy half term, involving a Musketeer reunion, a YCV trip on the Matthew and a (picture-heavy!) Bristol trip with the WombBuds.
March
In March, the blog became a bit bare. I thought that I couldn't possibly have had a quiet month, and checked through my Facebook stuff. It's true. I had a quiet month! March mainly involved making big decisions/ranting at Gove and going away with the WombBuds and the youth group that BKPS is part of! Umm, I also got reflective, and wrote about a murderess. Fun fun fun!
April
As if to compensate for March, April was busy busy busy from the off! At the beginning, I went to Cardiff Open Day with the WombBuds, which was great fun! Then there was the recital evening to contend with (the less said on this the better!), as well as a chance to party for YSD's 18th. In fact, March was a month filled with the Cat Family- we had a 'composition day' (please note the quotation marks!), made the most of a revision day, genuinely held a Beethoven party (with not much Beethoven), and had a revision picnic. It was beautiful. It was also a really good month for my mental health (pretty sure there's a strong correlation between Cat Fam and positive mental health!) as I finally had 'a good term' and opened up about my mental health. More (!) important things that happened in March revolved around becoming me- I claimed the title of 'Ms' and got my rook pierced (which, I would like to add, I am still utterly in love with). However, that's not all! In addition, I went to the Land of Books, tried out some graffitti, chilled with the little cousin and helped out at a craft fair. April was a good month :)
May
May was just as busy as April, and just as good. Although I has AS exams, they only lasted a week or so, meaning that I was very quickly free!! I used my time to enjoy the beautiful weather and to make a start on redecorating my ceiling. Other highlights included meeting Sunetra Sarker (she was lovely!), going to Barcelona, taking some time out for myself and spending an evening at BB's abode (with BB and GS!!). Speaking of GS, May had some sad moments as our Music class went from four people to three... :( May was also a big month in terms of the world in general, with the awful kidnappings of the Nigerian schoolgirls, Mental Health Awareness Week and IDAHOT (for which I posted a beautiful piece by BB). Lastly, I wrote a guest blog... Woo!
June
Whilst we're on the subject of big months... June started out tamely enough, with a family day out to the Wallace and Gromit exhibition. Things got busier from then onwards- for example, the very next day was a WombBud day out! One of the biggest parts of June (for me, anyway!) was turning 17. I celebrated by going to Bath, and having the world's fabbiest picnic. Thinking back, June was pretty filled with landmark events: it was a year since I shaved my hair off, the ceiling redecoration was completed, I challenged my body image- and I joined the team at PBG!!! Oooh, and I went to the Young Carers Festival!!
July
July was one of those months that blog readers hate. A couple of pretty big things happened in July. Pretty big things which, aside from saying that they were definitely positive and life-changing, I'm still refusing to blog about. (Though having been back through my July posts, I chuckled greatly at some of my 'subtle' references). Anyway, July! School finished for the year- and I made a pretty big education decision. Some of my friends performed at the National Theatre, so we went to London to watch them (and I took touristy pics!) With the absence of school, I did work experience (which involved lots of vegetables) and took my Level Two Swim Teaching course. I was disappointed that the course was held on the same dates as three of the biggest celebrations in Bristol; however, I still managed to spend some time at both the Harbour Festival and Pride (which was the bestest!). There were celebrations all round as the WombBuds celebrated my birthday, and PCH turned 18! Speaking of the WombBuds, we had a great day out exploring Bristol, made all the better by the beautiful sun. Other notable events from July include this blog's second birthday, and my first encounter with the Playground Cafe. I had a lot to be thankful for!! However, July wasn't without it's sadder moments, such as my reflections on heroes, and saying goodbye to the Cat Family as we knew it. On the other hand, July also involved me meeting one of the best people ever... (Caitlin Moran, as featured above, but if the shoe fits...) (I swear that wasn't a reference to anyyyything).
August
Another huge month! I took part in the NCS scheme, which involved a residential, meeting Bristol-based charities, media training, volunteering, and- most importantly- holding a 24 hour sponsored sleep-out! Another very very exciting event was going back to Efteling (one of my absolute favourite places ever!). As well as the bigger events, there were plenty of smaller ones- such as the Cat Family barbeque, more adventures in hair dye and a trip to the Balloon Fiesta. August was also a pretty big month in terms of developing as a person- I spoke on the radio about mental health, and finally shared the less pretty parts of realising I wasn't straight, and blogged about the #JustHuman campaign. There were other more serious moments, such as results day and the death of Robin Williams. Finally, August ended with one of the best experiences of my life- my trip to London, which was touristy, feministy and just generally bloody amazing. OOOH, also, COLOUR ME RAD!
September
In September, I returned to sixth form for my second year of studying. In the time I wasn't at school, I went back to the Playground Cafe, took a trip to Clevedon and got a paragraph of writing published. In addition, I did the impossible (hehe) and enjoyed a night of (very good!) comedy. Autumn arrived- and I had a super duper trip to London!!!
October
October began with reflection- both on friendships, and on my grief over losing swimming. However, it was just as busy as the rest of the year, with World Mental Health Day, for which I helped to organise a major event. As well as this, I took lots of pictures, both of my half term, and of Bristol by night (of course!). During half-term, I went to London to speak to decision-makers within the NHS about Young Carers, and went to both Thorpe Park and Chessington World of Adventures, both of which were fabbity. Finally, my absolute highlight of the month was going to see Caitlin Moran with CF- and getting to meet her after!!
November
November. Ah yes. This month just so happened to contain the absolute best ever night of my life: seeing Heather Peace at the Thekla, and hanging around to meet her (and cry on her...) after. All in brilliant company! Other highlights from November include Reclaim the Night, BB's birthday thing, the Disney themed fancy dress party, and Mentality's trip to London.
December
Lastly, December! This has been a harder month, something I elaborated upon a little earlier in the month. However, there were still good moments, such as all of Bristol (or something like that!) turning out for the Clifton Suspension Bridge fireworks, our trip to Clothes Show Live, and the Midnight Fairies fourth ceilidh. Even the festive period kept up with the year's theme of business, with plenty of Christmas fun, a great Christmas Day, a trip to the Zoo and some time in Manchester!
Whew! Just looking back on that I feel pretty exhausted... I hadn't really realised how busy my year's been until now. Busy, but also very good. Thank you, 2014. Here's hoping that 2015 will be equally amazing (or better!). Sending love and wishes for a very happy New Year!