Cat Family Picnic

Following Tuesday's happiness, on Wednesday I hosted a Cat Family picnic!! I was pretty excited about this, as not only did it mean seeing some of the best people in the world, but it also involved extending my cooking to people outside of my family- hehe! I was up bright and early to cook pasta, and to get the house ready. MLTHWB, BB and SW came over at around 11:30, and we headed down to the field to set up camp.

We spent most of the late morning/early afternoon chilling out and eating; plus we played a couple of games of Consequences, of course!! Also took BB's weird quiz, on which I did best, but we'll leave that there. Ginny enjoyed sitting out with us, particularly as I fed her probably more than I should have done... But I managed to get some decent pictures of her, so all was well!

As we were waiting for GS to arrive, we had to keep sending people back to the house to check if she was there or not. Following one such occasion, I came back to the picnic to witness this- SW in his natural habitat, up a tree. Of course. (This is a much more common occurrence that it might seem!)

Following that, the rest of us decided that we wanted to try climbing, too. That went about as successfully as the following picture demonstrates...

Eventually, GS arrived- we ate more food, played more games and did quizzes (incredibly hard ones) devised by myself and MLTWB. Just before we were about to pack up and head inside, we got attacked by a small pack of wild dogs. By which I do indeed mean that four young spaniels decided that they wanted to picnic, too. No one really knew what to do; we just put the food on our heads and hoped for the best. It was a bit of a surreal experience to be honest.

After that, we headed back to my house to play Harry Potter Cluedo, Who Am I?, Consequences and a tiny bit of online CAH... PCH turned up in the early evening, but unfortunately GS had left shortly before :( We decided to walk to a nearby park, where we played in the sand and then had a game of Sardines- woop woop!!

The most notable hiding place goes to SW, for this gem...

Finally finally finally, we went back to my house & everyone headed back to their respective homes.

Such a beautiful beautiful day!! <3

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Snow!!

***This is a scheduled post***

For the past couple of terms, GS (who's now left sixth form) has been coming back in on Thursdays to do work. Or, to do work for a bit, then to chill with yours truly. It has been all kinds of fantabulous and hilarious. Have some pictures of a couple of weeks ago, when it snowed...

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Picture Update!

I'm so sorry for my recent absence!! Life has been very busy, and quite a bit of a rollercoaster. Unfortunately for anyone who enjoyed reading this thing, I'm soon off to Gambia for two weeks- however, I will try to queue stuff!! I haven't really got the energy or time to write a proper post right now- so have some pictures of life, lately.

I went away with my friend CF, and we went to the real Pooh Stick Bridge!!

GS and I enjoyed becoming cats (more to come on this!).

I held a quiz night!

There was good news, and there was bad news...

I found a pair of legs (more to come on this one too!)

I spent time walking around beautiful Bristol at night

And I taught swimming dressed as a unicorn!

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Dan Nicholas' Conversation Garden

Last night, a group of us (myself, GS, PCH, MLTWB and a friend of MLTHWB) went to see MLTHWB's brother in his comedy show, Dan Nicholas' Conversation Garden, held at the Cube Cinema. We saw Dan perform once before, but that was a different type of show, so we really had little idea of what to expect. However, it sounded good, and it was a fiver for a night out, so we went for it!
The evening started totally prosperously with myself, GS and PCH getting lost. Thankfully, that scenario got sorted out pretty quickly, and we managed to locate the venue and sit down etc. just in time for the show to start! We really enjoyed the first support act, who based his performance around literally wearing the mic. Had to be seen to be believed! The second support act was also good, though a little nervous at times. However, for us, the highlight of the pre-act stuff was the compere, who at one point required two volunteers. Cue GS and her five minutes of fame! Despite what she says, it was absolutely amazing, and we were all hysterical. Natural comedic timing ;)

HIGH FIVE

Trying to escape

THIS IS THE CUTEST

After that, there was an interval, during which I realised that I knew the three people sat behind us, which was cool. A guy also came round with a bucket asking people to put their names in-  Conversation Garden is based around audience participation. PCH, GS and I all put our names down, laughing at the time about how funny it would be if GS got called up again.
The show began really well, and had us all giggling within seconds. After an introduction, the first name was drawn from the bucket- and PCH and I became a giggling mess. Guess who was first up?!

Hehe

Each person who went up had a three minute 'interview', after which they had to complete a challenge. All of these were hugely hilarious, and worked really really well! In between, there were general comedic bits from Dan and his two co-stars, all of which were fantastic. Not going to spoil it for those who haven't seen it, but overall it involved a bird costume, film re-enactments and pants. Can't you see how fabby it was?!
All in all, a really really good night- if you ever ever get a chance to see Conversation Garden, DO IT!!

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Farewell to Summer

Tomorrow I start Year 13. Therefore, today is the last day of the summer. Not just any summer. The biggest and best summer I have ever had. The sort of time period that becomes a landmark- it feels so weird to be going back to sixth form tomorrow, because I have grown and changed so much in the past few weeks.
For me, the summer always begins with my birthday, this year celebrated in three parts- with my family on the day, with my friends for a picnic, and with the WombBuds. Soon after this, there was YCF2014, which was a really fantastic weekend. At the beginning of July I started my Level Two swim teaching course, which was nerve-wracking but which actually went really well! I also went up to London to watch the amazing drama group perform (and to take pictures of beautiful beautiful London). I also went to see CAITLIN MORAN, and blogged about this for PBG. Though I was incredibly busy with the swim teaching, I got to go to PRIDE for a bit, which was really fab- so going again next year!! The following week was my work experience, which was very positive (and also involved lots of vegetables and the Playground Cafe). The video I helped make with Rife Magazine premiered, and I felt pretty accomplished (finished the swim course and got my piano results back), PCH turned 18 and I went to the Harbour Festival on my lemon!
The week after I got to see some of the swimming friends, including someone I only see once a year or so, and I saw the WombBuds. At the weekend I went to a party at the place I did my work experience, and also failed at baking, much to CF's disgust. The next week, I went away on a residential with NCS (albeit after missing a day due to being ill). I missed the second week of the residential, but did manage to go for a day, which was fab. The rest of the week was amazingly magical as I frolicked with the elves in Efteling!!
When I returned from Efteling my friend and I dyed our hair and went to the Balloon Fiesta. There was more NCS the next week as we volunteered with Wild Goose and planned our project; I blogged about everything we did here. The same week, I got my A level results and (some of) Cat Family had a sleepover.
The next week there was a lot more NCS; I also went on the radio, which was a huge personal goal.
Finally, I had possibly the biggest week of my life- we did the sponsored sleep-out, I went on an exciting trip to London (for tourism and Parliament and general feminist chilling) and, finally, Team Lucky Cat had a sleepover and did Color Me Rad!!
Wow!! I'm exhausted just thinking about it to be honest. It's been such an amazing summer. I've met and got to know some truly fantastic people; I've also spent more time with people I knew anyway who fit into the category of truly fantastic. Thank you to all of them.
It's also been a big summer in terms of development and growth. I've had some experiences that have really made me think, some to the point of changing me and helping me grow as a person. I'm looking at the world a little differently now, and I think that's for the better. I've made decisions that not everyone will agree with, I've done things that I- don't regret, exactly, but wish I'd done differently. I've really really learnt a great deal, and I am taking so much away from this.
It's just been- well, beyond words. And I know I harp on about mental health a lot, but- this time last year I was really ill, and I couldn't see things getting any better. I've come so so far, to the point of being able to say that I'm the happiest I've ever been. That is so so huge, I really can't emphasise how much that means to me.
Summer 2014, you have been freaking amazing. You have been such a landmark in my life. Thank you for being rad, and thank you so much to everyone I've shared it with. All the love. So much love.
Year 13? Get ready. Here I come.

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7) Do a 'colour run'

Meet Team Lucky Cat. From left to right, we have Way Up High, We Can't Stop, Crazy Cat Man and The Big D.

On Sunday, we took part in Color Me Rad- the long-awaited colour run!! We slept over the night before, which was very fab and involved tents and cats... Then we set off bright and early the next morning, without even enough time to have breakfast (resulting in a totally healthy egg and sausage roll once we reached our destination); instead, the car journey there was fuelled by cheesy music (Elton John!!) and excitement (and also petrol, presumably).
Once we got there, we took some obligatory before pictures...

In case you can't tell, we had customised tops, made the night before (woo Lucky Cat campout!) using We Can't Stop (aka BB) as our lovely model.
Following that, there was a LOT of coloured powder, some coloured paint and lots of running (hahahaha, all the running). I took way way too many pictures, but here are just a couple...

Waiting to start

SO MUCH POWDER

Finally- the end result!

Following that, we got changed and joined the huuuge queues to get home (but it's cool, we played Rick Astley really really loud then had the Les Mis soundtrack!!). Then we spent time wandering around town, complete with painty faces and whiskers, which we kept forgetting about and wondering why people were giving us weird looks.

And that's pretty much it to be honest! It was SO SO much fun, and definitely something I want to do again!! Huge huge shout out to my fabulous team-mates!! <3

Painty Lucky Cat close-ups

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The Cat Family Sleepover!

Last Friday, 5/7 of the Cat Family got together for a barbeque and sleepover. Some people (notably: my mother) were slightly nervous about this. Apparently, we're not very sensible. However, I think we managed pretty well...
The evening started off with 24S and I playing Monopoly whilst we waited for the others to turn up. The game was played valiantly and- yeah, I lost. Sigh. Anyway, obviously I totally got over that really quickly, and, when the others turned up, we headed down to the field to start the barbeque!

Pre-Barbeque Selfie

Though we weren't quite sure about cooking, we managed pretty well with a group vote over whether food was ready or not. Fairly sure that health and safety would have shut us down immediately- but on the bright side, no one came down with food poisoning!

Being us, we of course had to play a game of 'Who Am I?', which was predictably funny. Soon after that, the sun began to set, so we packed up and walked to the end of the field to watch the sunset- where we discovered trees. Lots and lots of trees. Sadly, too many trees to see the sunset. That sucked.

Group picture time!

It also began to rain, so we decided that the best course of action to take would be to walk back to the house, get hot drinks, watch YouTube videos and toast marshmallows (over a candle in my room- don't try this at home!). We also played Consequences. As per usual, the less said about this the better.

Sadly after that it was time for MLTWB to go, and for PCH to walk up to the bus stop. We walked with her (safety in numbers?!) to the nearest bus stop- to discover that the last bus had already gone. We weren't too worried, we just walked to a different bus stop- where there were also no more buses.
This caused a little more concern, resulting in a walk to a third bus stop, about twenty minutes away. Guess what?! No more buses... Thankfully, PCH rang her mum and was allowed to stay over!!
We headed back home for more hot drinks, got into our onesies and played another game of Monopoly. It was an interesting game. Very competitive. Very very competitive.

Civilised!

Tea and Monopoly!

GS and her money (and swag)

GS and PCH sharing a moment

Eventually, we got too tired and gave up. We think 24S won; however, it might have been GS- she fell asleep so we decided she'd forfeited. By that point, no one could be bothered to move, so we fell asleep on the living room floor, whilst the dog got the whole of the sofa...

Saturday morning was very quiet- we had breakfast, then people departed. Really lovely night though- great to see (not quite) everyone again!! :)

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P-P-P-Party

Last Friday, the amazing super-fabulous PCH turned 18. Can we have a HUGE happy birthday for this lovely individual please?!

To celebrate, she had a garden party/BBQ. Having had a long week, it was a really nice chance to be able to let my hair down and relax- I had such a great time! Over the course of the night, I fell in love with the view from PCH's room, made up a secret handshake with a friend (who I later renamed) and wore butterfly fairy lights as a necklace. What more could one ask for?!

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Never Gonna Give You Up

I have been putting this post off until I had the time to write it, and do it justice. Finally, we have got there, and it is time to say it: I hate goodbyes. They are my least favourite thing ever ever ever. Therefore, I knew that last Wednesday was going to be a tough day. Why? Because it was the school music concert- the last ever for our amazing A2 class. For anyone who hasn't been following this blog over the last year, let me introduce you to who we're talking about:

Aren't they all beautiful?!
Starting on the left, we have GS. She did the unthinkable, and took the whole A level Music course in one year. This speaks volumes about her commonsense- but I'm so glad she did it, as it meant we all got to know her so well. GS spends all of her time bobbing up and down, which is possibly to do with her not being very high. She does a great impression of a clarinet, and is almost always drunk. GS is one of the funniest people I know- the drama teacher said something about her having natural comedic timing (or something along those lines), and it is 100% true. She never fails to make me laugh, even when she's stressed and doesn't know whether to laugh or to cry. In Music she has literally been my right-hand gal (aside from when we're in the middle room; then she sits on my left), and is renowned for saying things that GG then tells me off for.
Next up is PCH, my awesome blog buddy, and my compatriot in cool hair. PCH is a singer-songwriter, a girl with a guitar, and a whole lot of talent. I love her perfomances, and could genuinely listen to them all day- whether they're covers or originals they're enjoyable, unique and generally beautiful. I don't wonder whether PCH will go far, because I know that she will, in acting or singing or both. I generally regard PCH as being the clumsy ill one with all the lads; but that doesn't describe her fully. She is so lovely, and she is always there to comfort and give advice. PCH is not leaving completely, thank goodness, but is sticking around to complete A2 Psychology. This makes me very very happy. Lastly, she gives fantastic hugs.
Thirdly, YSD. I cannot remember why I have YSD this acronym- evidently it meant something at the time! The first thing people learn about YSD is that she has a boyfriend called Chris. The second thing they learn about her is that she has a boyfriend called Chris. The third thing- and so on. Having met Chris, I can say that he is lovely, and possibly even comes up to the hard task of being good enough for her (if you're reading this Garibaldi Guy, then I'm joking- the two of you are perfect for each other!). When YSD isn't talking about Chris, she sings- both incredibly well, and with an incredibly high range- and acts. She's so, so kind, caring and considerate- we all hope she won't forget about us when she's made it big!
Lastly, 24S. In this picture, he looks cool, calm and collected, and this sums him up entirely. A whirlwind could hit the school, and he would remain utterly unfazed. In fact, he'd probably continue whatever he was doing beforehand. As quiet as 24S tends to be, he claims he can be as loud as 24 fortes, and whatever he says adds humour and interest to the conversation- minimal, but always brilliant. Just like the others, he is extremely talented- at the recital evening, we were all wowed by his amazing guitar playing (and his super-quick fingering...). 'Every day is legs day' for 24S, who is my companion in knee-sliding along the school corridors, and he has a good bum and biceps (according to BB).
So. That's the A2 Music class of 2013/2014. We've shared so many moments, from the big to small, and each one of those is a golden memory. They have been there for me time and time again, in not just the times I've needed a shoulder to cry on, but in the times I've needed to rant and in the times I've been happy. I started off this year as a bit of a wreck, and I am finishing it standing upright again. I am happy, and this could not ever have happened without him.
Much as I know we'll keep in touch, I am really really going to miss seeing them around school next year, those little hugs and catch ups that have interwoven themselves so beautifully into the fabric of my life. Thankfully, there are many more plans yet to happen, and many more plans to be planned I'm sure.
As I said in the speech I did on Wednesday, they are not like my family. They have become my limbs. Here's to them all, to their beautiful and amazing futures filled with the happiness and success they deserve, and here's to the truly amazing-beyond-words that they have given me, that we have shared. They complete me.

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Birthday Celebrations: Part Two

Part two of the birthday celebrations occurred last Saturday, in the form of a joint picnic to celebrate both my birthday and RL's birthday. We decided to go to Brandon Hill, which is one of my absolute favourite places ever ever ever.

Before we all met up, RL and I went to Asda to buy food. We were quite impressed at how much we got for our budget (it stayed under £25!).

On the way to meeting the others, we found some really tame squirrels, who were more than happy to run right up to us. Unfortunately we didn't have a chance to get any of the food out- if we had, we think they could have come even closer. Anywho, we did get some great non-zoom pics!

When we got there, we set up camp somewhere near a tree (for shade) but in the sun. It also had a good view of Cabot Tower, which is always a bonus.

We got the food set out pretty quickly, as shown below (this also called for a selfie, because why not). However, we then learnt a thing or two about hot weather and chocolate. Things were quickly moved to the shade...

As we were waiting for other people to turn up, we saw BB walk past. The problem being that BB wasn't able to turn up, as he was away for thew weekend. You know we're all meant to have doppelgangers... Well, here's BB's!!

SF turned up, the emphasis being on the up...

When the five of us were firmly on the ground, we played Chubby Bunnies (I won!) as well as a game of Who Am I?- who could resist?!
Once GS and PCH got there, we decided to go up Cabot Tower. Unfortunately RL had to leave, which was sad :( The climb up was pretty exhausting, but the views up the top were definitely worth it! The top of Cabot Tower (and Brandon Hill in general!!) is definitely one of my favourite places :)

Of course, we also took the opportunity to snap some selfies... I love these two pictures so much! <3

Once we'd got back down from the tower, LH and CB had to go, which left SW, GS, PCH and I. We set up camp again, and continued to eat and chat. It was the Year 13 prom the night before, so I heard a lot about that, and we were fairly sure that GS was still drunk (I quote- 'If years were genders you'd be a pimp'- you what GS?!). SW and I decided to go on the swings, where I got stuck, leading to the revelation that SW has a smaller bum than I do. I'm not sure how to feel about this. More selfies were taken, including this one of PCH and I showing off our fab hair colours!

After a while,YSD and her boyfriend turned up, which was nice. We played a couple of games of Consequences (have I ever told you that we're all going to hell?!) and ate more. Food and I have a special relationship. I even made a scoubidou out of sweets...

Overall, it was a really really lovely day, and I can't think of a better way to have celebrated my 17th (or to celebrate anything, really!).

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