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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Butterfly Grieving

Some days, the current is stronger than others-

Some days, I can feel it,

A weight at my ankles:

Your grip at my wrists

Did you ever know the hold you had on me?

The truth is

That even the warmest water gets too much

Whilst the coolest steals your breath;

The coolest pools are full of salt,

And chlorine, cleansing, is a poison, too.

Just one glass of you could drown me.

Why did I think to ask for more?

Don't tell me that the water's inviting-

I'm trying to turn my back.

Please, don't ask me to dip my toes:

Toes, leads to ankles, leads to legs, leads to chest,

Leads to head.

I'm underwater

And you're smothering me.

Except-

You're not, you're not!

The memory of you is:

That's all I have left of you now.

Did you mean this, when you set me free?

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Bumper Christmas Post

As you can probably tell from my lack of blogging, I've been super super busy with Christmassy stuff recently. I wanted to post about different events separately, but I think it'll just take too long- so call this a bumper post of Christmas bits!!
My first 'exciting event' was going to see the pantomime with Young Carers. It was really good, and I enjoyed being a kid again in clapping along and joining in with all the audience participation bits!

Last weekend, I helped out with the local church's Christmas fair. I was in charge of one of the kids activities, where they made a silver sequinned bell. It was a lot of fun, but there was lots and lots to clear up afterwards!!

On Sunday, there was another party to help out with, this time one at my aunt's workplace. My mum and I did glitter tattoos for a couple of hours- as with the previous, it was fun, but got very messy very quickly!

On the last Wednesday of term, I had a day similar to last year, with Christmas events left, right and centre! The Sofa Gang had our Secret Santa present swap, which was great fun, and very cute.

It was also the school's music concert, which meant we had choir rehearsals during the day. It also meant that several members (though not all, unfortunately) of the Cat Family came back in, which was so good!! Also no flash mob, sadly- but, after the concert, GS and I had great fun, involving an upside down life-size Santa cut-out and the Music office. I think this warrants it's own post soonish!

Thursday evening heralded the swimming club's Christmas meal, for teachers, parents and Masters swimmers. It was an all-you-can-eat- hence I ate far too much, and I was so tired that I was practically asleep by the end! But it was good to see everyone in an informal setting.

 

As it probably sounds, it was a pretty exhausting week, and by Friday I was more than ready to crash- which I did by having a candlelit bath and decorating my room. A pretty perfect way to unwind and recharge!

Saturday and Sunday were both quieter days, spent doing Christmas present preparation. On Sunday evening I helped to run a fun session for the swimming kids, then went to the youth group Christmas party. Due to a key kerfuffle we ended up locked out of the building we're usually based in, so we had to find an alternative- which ended up being the local shopping centre! I'm sure we got a lot of odd looks, and we did get a bit of a reprimand for doing a human pyramid in the middle... Hehe! Also, I discovered the power of wearing glitter...

 

Yesterday (Monday), it was time for Mentality's Christmas event. We had a treasure hunt around the German Christmas Market, then finished with a very welcome trip to ZaZa Bazaar, a very popular all-you-can-eat buffet restaurant in Bristol. There was much hilarity and it was a lovely afternoon/evening.In the picture, you can see the 'hairstyle' that one of my friends attempted on my hair. Yes, that is a cracker...

 

When I got back home on Monday evening, my sister, my mum and I decorated the tree/living room. It now looks all lovely and Christmassy!!

Finally, today I had Christmas with the Womb-Buds- we went ice skating, meandered around town, went to St Nick's Market, had bubble tea, got Kinder Eggs and explored the various Oriental supermarkets in the central area. All in all, a very lovely day!!

Phew!! It's been exhausting just going through all that I've done, never mind living it in the first place! However, it's all been fabbity, and I am very very excited for the next few days!!

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Latest PBG post!

My latest blog post for Powered by Girl can be found here- a piece about my attempts to be gender inclusive as a swimming teacher :)

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Life, Right Now

A lot of my posts recently seem to have been quite deep and thoughtful. If you're enjoying that, then the good news is that I have some more of those in the pipeline! However, I wanted to take some time now just to write a bit about my life- what I've been up to recently!

Last week was super super busy with the preparation for an event to mark World Mental Health Day. There was lots to do, especially as I was partly in charge of the social media side, so tried to get as much publicity done as possible. It was challenging at times, but I really threw myself into all of the preparation- mental health and it's awareness is something I feel incredibly strongly about, and it was good to have an outlet for that passion.
The actual event was on Saturday. I don't want to write much about it because I really want to give it it's own post, and do it justice there. For now I'll just say that the whole day was absolutely amazing- I loved every minute of it, and can't wait for the next opportunity to do something similar. It finished with bubble tea, a walk home in the dark, dancing through the park and the thought that I really do love what I do, and do what I love.
Sunday was quieter- I met up with a friend, watched TV and did some homework. I had the beginnings of a cold so didn't feel up to swim teaching; however, I went to youth group in the evening as I wanted to see my friends, and it was a really interesting session.
Woke up on Monday with a worse cold, and by Tuesday I was more than ready to take the day off of school and just curl up in bed! So that day was largely spent in my onesie, trying to get work done. I did manage to get out in the evening to walk the dog though, which was good.
Recovering from the cold now; I was back in sixth form yesterday, and that's where I am right now! this evening I've got a session with Mentality, the youth group who organised last week's WMHD event, and then I'm announcing at the swimming club championships. It'll be a busy evening, and I'm sure I'll be pretty glad when I'm tucked up in bed- but a good one too!
Next week is the start of the half-term, which I'm really looking forward to. I'm going to Sussex with a friend, then to somewhere near London with family. Also got a Young Carers event which I'm really looking forward to! Then the rest will be school work- revision and coursework. Fun fun fun...

So yeah, that's kind of my life lately. Being ill, sixth form, loads of school work, dog walking, family, volunteering and swimming... And less sleep than I would like!!

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Grieving

It is over three and a half years since I first felt the pain in my ankle that I chose to ignore, and it's less than three years since I went to the doctors. It's less than three years since the first training session in which I realised that I would have to get out early due to the pain, and in which I didn't realise that that was going to become a long-term trend. This year marks the second year I have been unable to compete in the club championships, and it is the second of a number that will span as long as my life. It is over six months since I had my last ankle appointment. That makes it over six months since a part of my world caved in, and I sat sobbing next to the hospital lifts, realising that I would no longer be a swimmer. Lastly, today is yet another day where I have had to face that fact: I am no longer a swimmer.

To give more context. Sundays are swim teaching days. I teach a Stage 6 (ages 7-12, roughly) and a Stage 4 (generally ages 4-8ish). It's hard work, and there are bad days, but on the whole I love it, and feel honoured to spend my Sunday afternoons in such a way, with such a fantastic bunch of swimmers. Today, however, was even more of a swimming day. After the hour and a half of teaching, I headed to another pool to announce at the club championships- the yearly club 'house' gala. It was a good gala- announcing went smoothly, I caught up with a friend and I got the teacherly delight of watching my old students do well.

However, it being a good gala has become relative. A good gala, two years ago, meant one in which I'd raced, one where we- as a team, including myself- had done well. For me, there aren't galas like that anymore. Most of the time, that's okay. I'm not a swimmer anymore, which is difficult, but not one of my main thoughts. Then there are times like this, where everything is a trigger, bringing back the millions of memories of all I've lost. 

Today, it was the kids coming up to the table to ask where they'd come in their races. I was one of those kids, once, not always keen to put the work in, but ever eager to do well in competition. It was watching my friend collect her gold medal, and thinking 'I have some of those at home'. I'd always just assumed that my collection would grow, falling numbers making it more and more likely to achieve golds the older you get. I didn't ever think I'd be one of those falling numbers. It was the person who asked me when I was coming back, then seemed to assume that I wouldn't be coming back out of choice. Yes, to some degree it was a choice. But it was necessitated by circumstance, and that wasn't a choice. Most of all, it was watching the start of a backstroke race, and being able to feel the undulation of the water beneath my dolphin kick. Suddenly I remembered exactly what it was like to slice through the water, arms moving not quite like windmills, but almost. I was filled with the excitement and adrenaline that is racing. I was back there, for a few moments.

Later on, I thought again of all the time I wasted. I spent so many of my training sessions wasting time, chatting, trying to get out of the actual swimming. Whenever I see someone doing that now, I want to shake them. 'You will regret it someday!' I want to tell them. After all, I do. I would give so much to have those days back, to change how I used them, to have determination and focus- and most of all, the ability to swim without the constant discomfort in my left ankle.

I miss it. I miss it so, so much. Days like today I still cycle through those stages of grief, reverting back to denial, wondering whether there's any way I could return to the world I once knew. There's not, and that hurts. Today, thinking 'I'm not a swimmer anymore' leaves a lump in my throat and an ache of emptiness in both my stomach and my heart. 

I will be okay. By tomorrow life will have moved on, and there will be no time for grief. But I will never be a swimmer again- even as I write that, I can feel my ankle objecting to the position I'm sat in- and tonight, that's hard to bear.

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September

Dear September,
I'm well aware that I'm late in writing to you. We're six days together now, after all. However, belated is always better than never, and it just so happens that I want to talk.
I will begin with an ode to the past. August was, quite simply, beyond words. It was full of amazing people, fantastic happenings... I'm quite sorry to have left it. At the same time, however, I'm excited. I believe, like Augustus Waters, that I'm on a rollercoaster that only goes up. If that's what August brought, then I'm excited to see what you, September, will offer.
Currently, my diary looks strangely empty. I have quite a bit planned for next week, but after that it goes blank. However, I know from experience that this happens, and that come this time next week the following week will be pretty full, and so on and so forth. I am not really worried about having nothing to fill my time with. What I am more worried about is getting nowhere. Although I do a lot, I often forget to sit down, to look at where I've come from and where I'm going. It's far too easy to get caught up, and to leave no time to evaluate. This is the main reason I'm writing to you, September. I want to set some goals, to decide where I want to be by the time we part.
To do this, I'm utilising the 'SMART' framework. Each of my goals is going to be specific, measurable, attainable, relevant and time-bound. This should make it easier to look back at the end of the month, and to decide whether I've completed my goals or not. Here goes, September!:

 1- By the end of this month, I want to have increased my 'Branching Out' page to have five posts. One of these will come from PBG; the other two will require looking for other blogs that accept guest posts. This is important (and relevant) because it will increase my experience as a blogger, and will mean that my blogging presence expands slightly. I really want to make this blog into more of something, and guest blogging is one way to do that.
2- Come the beginning of October, I want to have survived the initial 'assessment period' of A levels. The first few weeks are used to decide whether all students are competent to take the course- if not, then transfers and dropping becomes relevant. I'm not seeing this as an option, and I'm determined to take all four of my subjects onwards. This is important for my future studies as it affects what I do for the rest of this year, and, ultimately, how many A levels I end up with.
3- Having literally just received my Level Two swimming certificate, I can now plan using this! I've found a website that will allow me to look for swim teaching jobs quite easily. However, this does require some work on my part as I'll need to have my CV up to date. Therefore, by the end of this month I want to have a working account on this website. I also want to have specifically applied for two jobs, though they needn't necessarily be swimming related. This will mean that I am on track to getting a job, which will hopefully eventually give me more independence, mean that I have a small bit of income and be my entry into the world of work.
4- As I'm catching the bus A LOT at the moment, I really need to sort out getting a monthly bus pass. This will be cheaper if I have a student bus pass, which requires a student card. Therefore, by the beginning of October, I am going to have definitely applied for my student card and, if that's come through, then also have applied for my student bus pass. It would be amazing if I could also get my monthly bus pass by then, but that's really dependent on how long things take to come through really. This will save money, and make my parents that little bit happier.
5- Sometime this month I'm going to have to have a bit of a difficult conversation with someone. I both want to have this conversation, and really don't want to have this conversation. Therefore, I'm putting it as one of my goals, so that I can be proud of myself for getting it done, even if I don't feel great about the rest of it. This is important for lots of reasons that I'm not going to go into, and it will be a weight off of my shoulders when it's done!

So there you go September. Be nice to me, won't you? x

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Temptation

A piece of creative writing from a few months ago (27th February, to be exact). A bit rough and ready (as in, I can see things I want to edit but I can't be bothered to edit)- ah well. Enjoy :)

The pool water was cloudy once, full of chlorine and grime and skin and worse. The temperature was never right, always too hot, too cold, inconsistent with the blood beneath our skin. Not now. Now the water is pure, golden, a lagoon. Beautiful, it is, tempting. I want to dip my feet, just dip my feet- but that would not be enough, for once my feet were in I would want to go deeper, want to go to knees, to thighs, to waist, to breast. Before I could pull back, I would be submerged, raring to go. I cannot go, anymore. My ankle is tied with a lead weight called misfortune, buried within the tendon and bone that have caused me misfortune.

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Yayay!!

Whilst we're on the subject of accomplishments... I am now a Level 2 swim teacher (well, I will be, I just have to teach a final lesson) and I got a merit in my Grade 6 practical piano! So happy!!!

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Koala-fications

Remember last year when I did my Swim Teaching Level One course? Well, in less than two hours I'm starting Level Two. Essentially, this will qualify me to do what I'm doing, but also to get a paid job. That's quite cool to think about. I'll probably be the youngest on the course- the minimum age is seventeen, and I am not quite seventeen and three weeks. It's quite intense as well- 5 hours on a Friday and 8 on each Saturday and Sunday for three weeks. Plus of course there's the whole meeting new people, and teaching whilst being assessed, and all that jazz. However, I am really excited to learn more, and to get better- I really want to give the kids I teach the absolute best! Nervous, very nervous, but that's understandable, especially considering how busy and tiring this week has been!
Just for a general check-in- it's been a long and emotional week. There have been many tears. I've reached a point of being able to worry about and get upset about everything and anything. However, I know that this is because I'm tired, and because it has been a big week. Though there's part of my mind that thinks this is bad and that I'm getting ill again, I'm doing my best to reason with it. I'm human, and that means that there's going to be weeks when it feels like everything's going wrong. The best I can do is to cut myself some slack, talk to people and share my stress, and get more sleep.

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There Are Bad Lessons... Then There Are The Lessons I Taught On Sunday

Don't get me wrong, I really do love my (voluntary) job to pieces. Teaching a fantastic bunch of kids how to swim? It's great, I promise. However, there are those days when it feels like everything's going wrong. Take my last session, for example. With my first group, it seemed like everyone had a different problem. Several were ill in some way. We had various goggle complaints. Someone I didn't recognise turned up halfway through to swim in my group. Whilst I was trying to sort everything else out, a child hit their head, and we had to get the lifeguard. It was little short of a disaster, really, though I took comfort in the fact that none of it could really be helped, that's just how it was.
I thought that, after that, it could only get easier. Oh, how wrong I was! In my second group, I had full attendance. That's got to be unheard of. Full attendance. Ten children, all under the age of 8, and only one me. As utterly fabulous as they all are, it was a pretty full-on forty minutes, particularly as I came up with the bright (?!) idea of working on breaststroke legs. Ten children, not quite enough space, breaststroke legs, several screw kicks, a Sunday afternoon... Yeah. Lesson learnt.

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A Year Ago

I've posted quite a bit today, and it's late, and I really should be in bed. However, I wanted to get this post written, to commemorate what today and yesterday have been.
On the 14th of April 2013, I emailed my resignation from competitive swimming to the club chairman. It was one of the hardest decisions I've ever had to make, and one of the most important. It was a landmark, the beginning of the end. I had struggled with my ankle for ages, and it was so incredibly difficult realising that it could defeat me.
However, life went on. I carried on teaching, and I carried on living, and it was okay. More than okay: a visit to a specialist resulted in a diagnosis, a splint, and the hope of treatment. Remember the day I first wore my splint? It was amazing, to be able to swim again. However, it wasn't permanent, and within weeks my ankle was just as painful again.
I blogged about my last ever ankle appointment back when it happened, in January. At the time, it felt as if my whole world was crashing down. I remember trying so hard not to cry in front of the doctor, then getting out into the waiting area and crying and crying and crying. It's not the worst thing I've ever experienced- but it was hard, so damn hard.
Three months on from that, I still have days when I think about how I've got training, or wonder what will happen at swimming, or so on. Then part of me reminds myself that that's not how it works anymore. Last month, I announced at an important open meet that I'd previously swum in- and at the end of the day, there was nothing I could do but curl up and cry, because swimming in it wasn't an option anymore. It's been a form of grieving, getting over this. If that sounds like an exaggeration, think of an activity that part of your life is based around, then imagine that being taken away. It is hard. It is hard.
It's possible, though. I've taken up going on long walks with my dog, which keeps me fit. I teach the learn to swim group, I announce, and I occasionally coach the older ones, which means I'm still involved with the world of swimming. I keep in touch with the friends that I've made. It's not the same, but it's possible to carry on.
When I first acknowledged that I might have to give up, I wrote a letter detailing my thoughts, where I mentioned some quotes from Doctor Who. They're quotes I continue to find useful, those 'billions and millions of unlived days', 'all those days that never came'. I don't know why the quotes are so comforting, I just know that they are. Maybe it's because I like quotes based around living an infinity. Now I'm drawing upon other quotes, too, this time from The Fault In Our Stars, that 'some infinities are bigger than other infinities'. I am forever grateful for the infinity of swimming I got- an expression that couldn't be more apt, as sprinting fly feels infinite. No one is promised anything, and yet I still got this infinity, full of memories and lessons, and even though it's ended there are still the memories, there are still the lessons, and I'm still learning. The effect swimming has had on my life is infinite.
To finish with an adaptation of another TFIOS quote- 'you don't get to choose if you get hurt in this world', but there are still choices, you still get some say, and I will never regret my infinity.
Over and out x

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An Ending.

I've been both wanting to write this post, and putting it off. It's an incredibly hard thing to put into words, but I hope that this will give me closure.

Not last Wednesday but the Wednesday before, I had a hospital appointment about my ankle, where I was told that there's nothing that can be done- meaning that I can no longer swim.
For me, this was absolutely devastating. I've been a part of a swimming club since I was six, and I've swum competitively for around six years. It's been a huge part of my life, and I owe it so much. Thanks to swimming, I've met some of the most amazing people, and had some fantastic experiences- and all of those have had an impact on who I am today. Even the negative parts have taught me some valuable lessons, and I cannot imagine the last ten years without swimming. Being in the water, whether it's for racing, training or just for fun, is- well, a great place to be. It can be relaxing and calming, or exhilarating and exciting, or simply just a place to thrash out everything in a way you can't anywhere else. Having to come to terms with knowing that that's no longer a part of my life has felt both surreal and destroying- at times recently it's felt like living in a nightmare. I want to scream at the world for being unfair, and knowing I can't doesn't help! It's been a grieving process, and I guess all I can do now is wait for time to work it's magic.
And yet? I still feel lucky. I got to experience things that some people will never even know to dream about: from swimming in galas and open meets, to the training 'banter', to being able to feel like I'm flying through the water- and I've shared it all with the world's best team mates. Could I really have asked for more, aside from time? I've had, as John Green so eloquently phrased it, an 'infinity within numbered days'- and the memory of those times I felt infinite (switching authors to Stephen Chbosky) will always remain with me, those packages of feelings and memories and people.
Swimming, this is one of the hardest things I've had to accept- but thank you, to all the people I have met through this wonderful sport, to all the people who have trained and coached and supported me through the years; an especial thank you to my team mates, for being amazing, time and time again, even if our singing skills weren't so hot! Thank you, swimming, for everything. Here's to... time healing, and whatever the future may bring.

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Trapeze!

I forgot to share this with you! Check out where I ended up on Wednesday... (Also- I have Christmassy hair!! Half green, half red!!)

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22) Get a job

When I wrote out this list, back in 2012, my plan for this year was to get a job as soon as I turned 16- and by a job, I meant a part-time, paying thing. However, around the time I turned 16 was when I was quite ill, and with sixth form and everything I didn't really feel much better, so I decided that it was in my best interests not to get a job, but to do things one step at a time, and focus on sixth form/getting better first. This is a choice I still totally agree with- I think I wouldn't have coped with a job, and that, given the circumstances, I've taken a much better route for myself. And yet, I still consider this one done. Why? Well, who said a job can't be voluntary? I teach swimming for 2 hours every week, and do basic coaching for another hour. I've also become the club announcer, and give up a fair bit of my time for that, all in all. It might not be a paid job, but it's still where I work, and it's what I do. Therefore, I'm considering this one complete.

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My Week In Large Bodies Of Water

Nope, you didn't read that title wrong. I have been to two large bodies of water this week- normally, I wouldn't even see one in an average week, so this is pretty unusual!

Cheddar

On Monday/Tuesday I went to Cheddar with my ex-Silver DofE group.We started off by going to Cheddar Gorge itself- we wanted to walk over Cheddar Gorge; however, we didn't want to pay £3.50 as we knew that we could do it for free if we found the public bridleway we used in DofE. About an hour and a half of walking later, we had walked round to the route we needed! We then had lunch at the top (the most amazing pasties, made by the mum of one of our group members) before walking down into the touristy part of Cheddar. There, we visited the cheese making factory, where we got to taste some cheese! We then sat down by the cycle track for a while, and played card games, which was really fun. Once we were able to check in to the youth hostel we stayed in, we went there, relaxed a bit and made dinner- fajitas! After dinner, we went to Cheddar Reservoir, where we watched the sunset; it was soo beautiful! Lastly, we ended the day with more card games back at the hostel.

On Tuesday we got up quite early and had breakfast, then packed up etc. We walked back up a side road we'd found- another route to the top of Jacob's Ladder without paying! We walked down Jacob's Ladder and went to the sweet shop, which was great :) We had lunch at Cheddar Reservoir and played even more card games before catching the buses required back home (during which we played the '5 Things' game that passed the time so well in Gambia!). A very lovely two days, spent in the company of fantastic people! :D

We Found Another Gromit!

 Black Rock Nature Reserve- Previously Part Of Our Silver DofE Expedition

 View of Cheddar Reservoir

Water Thing Next To A Park Thing (?!)

 The Beautiful Sunset

More Sunset

 One Of My Favourite Ever Pictures, I Don't Know Why, I Just Love It!

Awww <3

 Hoody Time!

Henleaze Lake

This morning I went to Henleaze Lake with my swimming club for a 'taster session' of open water swimming. We all got in for around 10 minutes, and just swam around a bit, which I enjoyed- it was really cold, but once I was in and moving around it warmed up, and it was just refreshing and kind of fun. However, we then got out and did some relays, which I didn't like. There was next to no visibility in the water, and I didn't want to dive into that plus cold water. Also, the temperature caused my ankle to 'freeze' and become more painful. So I got changed quite quickly, and just enjoyed sitting out on the side- it was lovely weather!- chatting to various team-mates and their families, which was also very lovely!

A few pictures of Henleaze Lake that I stole off of someone (I did take some, honest! Just my phone's having... issues)

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Done!! ^.^

I've officially passed my Level One Swim Teaching course!!! So so happy ^.^

As I was inly just old enough for this course, I'll have to wait around a year before I can do my Level Two (enabling me to teach swimming- right now I can only assist), and then it'll be a case of finding a course etc. However, this is the first step. Despite the week being very intense, it's been fantastic- as I wrote earlier, I've met some fabulous people, and it was very weird saying goodbye :( There've been some absolutely hilarious moments, and I'm so glad we all shared them.

Now I'm sat outside the house because we finished early and my parents are out... Whoops! Anyway, here's a pic with me and the week's valuable possession ;)

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Number 8- Teach Someone The Basics Of BSL

As a final part to the course, we took it in turns to deliver a 5-8 minute lesson to the group, teaching a non-swimming-related skill. As earlier in the week BSL had come up in conversation and was deemed both useful and interesting, I decided to use finger-signing for mine- I realised later that it would also complete another goal.

Overall I felt that it went well, and the ceedback I got was really positive. The group learnt the signs easily, and ended able to sign their names, as well as having the ability to play a Charades-style game. It also means that I now know how I could deliver another quick lesson on finger-signing; hopefully I'll be able to teach others, as I feel it's fun, interesting and important :3

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Last Day!

Today is the last day of my swim teaching course! So, fingers crossed (!!!), in 9 hours, I'll be able to say that I'm a qualified level 1 swimming teacher. That would be fab, and I really hope I pass.
Though long and very intense, I've enjoyed the course so much. I've met, worked with and got to know a group of fantastic people, who I will actually quite miss next week- I hope that we bump into each other again (the chances are we will at some point, through galas and other training and whatnot).
Sure, there have been down moments, but they have been more than overwhelmed by the highs. I am so glad I went on this course!
Anyhow, I need to go and sort out a lesson plan for one of today's main activities (I'm being deliberately mysterious- you'll find out later) so au revoir. No promises, but hopefully sometime over the next week I'll put up more detail about the whole course :)

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General Update

I've had- am having!- such a busy week!! Currently juggling both work experience (assisting in the Science department at school) and a swim teaching course (level 1). Both are going well- I've passed the practical side of my swim stuff, just the theory to go. We've also been given a night off tomorrow to celebrate ^.^ Well, mainly because we were meant to be doing more practical, which we don't need anymore.
I will write more about each soon, just wanted to get a bit down now. Seeya :) x
Oooh, also- I'm doing a week without Facebook, so I'll report on how that went sometime next week!

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