Today Allwyd and I went on a dolpin spotting trip off the coast of newquay with the sea watch foundation- they monitor sea life- especially dolphins and wales- off the coast of the UK, record sightings and help to protect the animals that live on our coastline.
it was a choppy trip! its been sunnyish in aberystwyth all day- but a bit cloudy and grey- in new quay it was cold and windy- we go there and it didn't look appealing!
we got on the boat and as we set off it was like a roller coaster- when we got out into the sea some of the waves were bigger than the boat! it was like being on trawler men or something!
ARGH!
'twas scary!
there were people from the seawatch foundation with us recording conditions and looking for dolphins- so they explained what they were doing and what we should be doing (mostly that was just trying not to go sick..)
there is a permanent group of dolphins off the coats of newquay, theres a whelk factory and a reef so they make good feeding grounds for bigger fish, which in turn feeds the dolphins.
It was really interesting (if a little scary) we had to turn in after 45 min because the sea was just too rough- we didn't see anything but we had to be there to try our luck!
after that we went back to a room that was hired out and had a bit of a talk about the sea life and what we can do to help the foundation and how their data is collected, collated and used. It was an evening well spent!
and we got to have chippys afterwards!
:)
Monday 27 June 2011
Sunday 26 June 2011
Last saturday night in aber & a sunny sunday
firstly a big thank you to kirsty & sky for letting me sleep in their extra room! :)
we started out playing poker & drinking weird fizzy orange & vodka- interesting, but maybe not as nice as planned!
we used pasta for chips- so much cuter! lol and so much more difficult to find you you drop it!
I'm awful at poker- I just guess and see what happens. normally I lose really really badly. but still, its an experience!
We went to rummers and met the geographers, dan, neil, cathal, Owain and hannah- from there we went on to the mill...before we'd even finished our drinks the boys had vanished off to the nags head- as we finished up we got a text from the other guys on the course saying they were in academy- sooo off we went!
Academy is an odd bar. apparently over christmas they sold sprout flavour vodka.
that sounds incredibly minging.
their "skittles cocktail" wasnt much better..god knows what was in it but I'll bet it'd clean drains a treat!
and then onwards to downies- not as reammed with people as the night before, but still busy! Aber is always mental busy for drinking! It's mad. such a student town! people everywhere (quite often being sick).
anyways, we spent an hour or so in downies, and then we headed off to pier pressure..and statyed there 'till 3am.
pizza.
Taxi.
Home to halls.
It was getting light as we came home.
sleeping the night in residential halls was weird- even when I went to university the 1st time I didn't stay in "proper" halls- I stayed in a flat share with 5 other people- with our own bathrooms and a shared kitchen.
anyways, the halls are pretty cool- very 1920s though!- the toilet and shower blocks are odd thought- I couldn't live with that little privacy! not now! I'm far too old (at the grand age of 23..)
anyways, I had a bath thismorning! possibly the fastest bath ever because its in the communal toilet block- so its cold, echo-y and not very private! thankfully no-one came in to use the loo- that would have been weird and awkward- I'd have laughed. and probably not been able to stop!
so after my lunchtime bath (coz thats when I got up!) Sky, Kirstie, Fergus and I went to subway- yummmm cheese on toast for breakfast!
and then on to the beach for some sunshine & Icecream.
we mooched on over to varsity after that for some mocktails and chat- and back to halls for tea- we met up with Donna, Evely and sarah too so that was a really good laugh!
:)
all in all, an ace and action packed weekend!
we started out playing poker & drinking weird fizzy orange & vodka- interesting, but maybe not as nice as planned!
we used pasta for chips- so much cuter! lol and so much more difficult to find you you drop it!
I'm awful at poker- I just guess and see what happens. normally I lose really really badly. but still, its an experience!
We went to rummers and met the geographers, dan, neil, cathal, Owain and hannah- from there we went on to the mill...before we'd even finished our drinks the boys had vanished off to the nags head- as we finished up we got a text from the other guys on the course saying they were in academy- sooo off we went!
Academy is an odd bar. apparently over christmas they sold sprout flavour vodka.
that sounds incredibly minging.
their "skittles cocktail" wasnt much better..god knows what was in it but I'll bet it'd clean drains a treat!
and then onwards to downies- not as reammed with people as the night before, but still busy! Aber is always mental busy for drinking! It's mad. such a student town! people everywhere (quite often being sick).
anyways, we spent an hour or so in downies, and then we headed off to pier pressure..and statyed there 'till 3am.
pizza.
Taxi.
Home to halls.
It was getting light as we came home.
sleeping the night in residential halls was weird- even when I went to university the 1st time I didn't stay in "proper" halls- I stayed in a flat share with 5 other people- with our own bathrooms and a shared kitchen.
anyways, the halls are pretty cool- very 1920s though!- the toilet and shower blocks are odd thought- I couldn't live with that little privacy! not now! I'm far too old (at the grand age of 23..)
anyways, I had a bath thismorning! possibly the fastest bath ever because its in the communal toilet block- so its cold, echo-y and not very private! thankfully no-one came in to use the loo- that would have been weird and awkward- I'd have laughed. and probably not been able to stop!
so after my lunchtime bath (coz thats when I got up!) Sky, Kirstie, Fergus and I went to subway- yummmm cheese on toast for breakfast!
and then on to the beach for some sunshine & Icecream.
we mooched on over to varsity after that for some mocktails and chat- and back to halls for tea- we met up with Donna, Evely and sarah too so that was a really good laugh!
:)
all in all, an ace and action packed weekend!
Saturday 25 June 2011
Friday night in Aber :)
I had a lovely night out with the PGCE lot! (Even though it was tamping..bloody rain! I thought it was almost July?! wheres the sun?!)
Strated off meeting Sky & Kirstie in scholars for a drink and a catch up- then we went to grab some fish and chippys on the way to rummers to meet everyone else.
1/2 way down the road we got stolen to go to the mill!
it was a laugh- Lovely to see Sam back for the weekend & to see the Geographers & Drama students!
I met Matt in the mill- and later on in Downies looking very much worse for wear!
We moved on from the mill to Downies- sam fell asleep on lisa & then spent 1/2 the night going sick in the loos..and we are to be entrusted with young minds in 6 days time.
what is the world coming to?
no, it was a really good laugh- I needed a night out- and still managed to be tucked up in my bed in Borth by 2am! not bad going!
Strated off meeting Sky & Kirstie in scholars for a drink and a catch up- then we went to grab some fish and chippys on the way to rummers to meet everyone else.
1/2 way down the road we got stolen to go to the mill!
it was a laugh- Lovely to see Sam back for the weekend & to see the Geographers & Drama students!
I met Matt in the mill- and later on in Downies looking very much worse for wear!
We moved on from the mill to Downies- sam fell asleep on lisa & then spent 1/2 the night going sick in the loos..and we are to be entrusted with young minds in 6 days time.
what is the world coming to?
no, it was a really good laugh- I needed a night out- and still managed to be tucked up in my bed in Borth by 2am! not bad going!
Friday 24 June 2011
Tuesday 21 June 2011
New Job- starting in september!
I've been holding out on you, sorry, I went for a job interview last wednesday- and I got the job!
The school was ace! I was really impressed & the staff we're all so helpful and friendly.
I have to go for a training day on the 1st, so that'll be cool- and it'll be ace to get everything together well before september.
I'll be a year 9 form tutor- I have to go and meet my form on the 14th- so I'll be back in bedford then.
Bedford has a middle school system, so I'll only be teaching years 9,10 &11. all the grumpy hormonal ones!
I couldn't tell anyone about it because I was waiting for all the paperwork-so I went public on saturday!
the contracts came in the post on saturday when I was in the shower- Traff came bursting in waving an A4 envelope around because it said "Bedford" on the post mark!
just as well it was the contract really- keeping shtum for 4 days was horrible!especially when people asked me how the interview went and I had to be like "ok, i think" knowing I'd been offered it!
goodbye cardiff! I will have my leaving -do on the 12th august! and hopefully move house on the 20th- all going to plan!
but for now, I will enjoy the summer!
I've got some house viewings on the 2nd- so hopefully I'll have a new address soon, so I can start getting my life in order.
The school was ace! I was really impressed & the staff we're all so helpful and friendly.
I have to go for a training day on the 1st, so that'll be cool- and it'll be ace to get everything together well before september.
I'll be a year 9 form tutor- I have to go and meet my form on the 14th- so I'll be back in bedford then.
Bedford has a middle school system, so I'll only be teaching years 9,10 &11. all the grumpy hormonal ones!
I couldn't tell anyone about it because I was waiting for all the paperwork-so I went public on saturday!
the contracts came in the post on saturday when I was in the shower- Traff came bursting in waving an A4 envelope around because it said "Bedford" on the post mark!
just as well it was the contract really- keeping shtum for 4 days was horrible!especially when people asked me how the interview went and I had to be like "ok, i think" knowing I'd been offered it!
haha
I'd be a rubbish secret agent/spy or something
goodbye cardiff! I will have my leaving -do on the 12th august! and hopefully move house on the 20th- all going to plan!
but for now, I will enjoy the summer!
I've got some house viewings on the 2nd- so hopefully I'll have a new address soon, so I can start getting my life in order.
Friday 17 June 2011
Papergirl CDF
http://www.papergirlcardiff.blogspot.com/
on saturday this community art project will be giving out works of art for free in canton- have a look-see!
:)
I will be looking for free art on saturday anyways! I think thats an awesome idea.
and an excuse to go to the 80s shop in canton & to chapter for a cuppa, the exhibition and a raid on their shop!
yup.
sounds like a good day to me!
on saturday this community art project will be giving out works of art for free in canton- have a look-see!
:)
I will be looking for free art on saturday anyways! I think thats an awesome idea.
and an excuse to go to the 80s shop in canton & to chapter for a cuppa, the exhibition and a raid on their shop!
yup.
sounds like a good day to me!
Last day at Brecon high school!
today was my last day at Brecon! Its sad! I loved being there for my PGCE course- the staff were awesome and the kids were pretty sweet too (and cheeky and chatty, but mostly sweet.)
Today I taught year 10 (3 pupils?! what was going on there?!), year 9 (we did agar jelly to grow bacteria swabbed from round the classroom- fascinating- I'd love to see what the kids managed to grow at the end of next week- they swabbed doors, windows, floors, desks, keyboards- all sorts- even things I'd never have thought of! and one kid swabbed his lunchbox- so hopefully nothing to scary in there) and last I had year 8 (we made motors- top end our electro magnets topic- but they were pretty hyper..nightmare!)
my year 7 form and my year 8 class made me cards- which was cute and the 6th form came to say goodbye! it was weird! I can't beleive this year is over!
where did all the time go?!
I will really miss everyone at brecon, the staff and pupils- everyone made me feel so welcome and helped me out so much! it was lush!
the other thing I couldn't believe was how much junk I'd collected over 5 months! 3 trips to the car! insane!
although, I'm still pretty proud of my laminator.
Today I taught year 10 (3 pupils?! what was going on there?!), year 9 (we did agar jelly to grow bacteria swabbed from round the classroom- fascinating- I'd love to see what the kids managed to grow at the end of next week- they swabbed doors, windows, floors, desks, keyboards- all sorts- even things I'd never have thought of! and one kid swabbed his lunchbox- so hopefully nothing to scary in there) and last I had year 8 (we made motors- top end our electro magnets topic- but they were pretty hyper..nightmare!)
my year 7 form and my year 8 class made me cards- which was cute and the 6th form came to say goodbye! it was weird! I can't beleive this year is over!
where did all the time go?!
I will really miss everyone at brecon, the staff and pupils- everyone made me feel so welcome and helped me out so much! it was lush!
the other thing I couldn't believe was how much junk I'd collected over 5 months! 3 trips to the car! insane!
although, I'm still pretty proud of my laminator.
suite!
I went for a job interview in Bedford, so I booked a hotel for the night before- beadlow manor golf resort, to be exact.
£49.
:)
so I arrived- and I had a suite! amazing! I've never had such fancy accommodation before! the hotel was lush too! all old and beamy!
very cool.
deffo worth an adventure to in the future- especially for £49!
£49.
:)
so I arrived- and I had a suite! amazing! I've never had such fancy accommodation before! the hotel was lush too! all old and beamy!
very cool.
deffo worth an adventure to in the future- especially for £49!
Sunday 12 June 2011
Photo marathon!
I did it! and I got a little certificate and everything! we were really lucky with the weather- its tamping today and it was on friday too, but for the marathon we had glorious sunshine!
so,
photos.
the topics are given out by the organisers & you have to take an image that fits the title- the 1st list of titles are given out at 10am, the next 4 at 2pm and the last 4 at 6pm, then you can submit your images from 8pm.
I am especially proud of my "inside out" image. for anyone who has never tried to carry a coffee table out of a 2nd floor window my advice would be "JUST DON'T- OK?!"
so,
photos.
the topics are given out by the organisers & you have to take an image that fits the title- the 1st list of titles are given out at 10am, the next 4 at 2pm and the last 4 at 6pm, then you can submit your images from 8pm.
Inside out
community
superpowers
Drama
the great outdoors
Double
Secret
Element
Motion
Obsticles
Dreams
I am especially proud of my "inside out" image. for anyone who has never tried to carry a coffee table out of a 2nd floor window my advice would be "JUST DON'T- OK?!"
Tuesday 7 June 2011
Sunflower update
you remember that mine & traff's competative streak led to us growing sunflowers?
well, they're pretty massive now (after 6 weeks) the biggest one - mine- which we have affcetionatly named "fatty" has now had to be repotted in a bucket because we don't have anything bigger for it to live in. Dave & Steve- traff's sunflowers are still pretty much the same height and catching up on fatty and the smallest one- mine- poco miguel- is trying his best.
i guess that makes me both the winner and the loser?
either way, I can't get over how quickly they've grown!
:)
I will take some pictures when they flower.
With the amount of fuss we make over them I wonder what next door must think we're growing..
Ha.
well, they're pretty massive now (after 6 weeks) the biggest one - mine- which we have affcetionatly named "fatty" has now had to be repotted in a bucket because we don't have anything bigger for it to live in. Dave & Steve- traff's sunflowers are still pretty much the same height and catching up on fatty and the smallest one- mine- poco miguel- is trying his best.
i guess that makes me both the winner and the loser?
either way, I can't get over how quickly they've grown!
:)
I will take some pictures when they flower.
With the amount of fuss we make over them I wonder what next door must think we're growing..
Ha.
Sunday 5 June 2011
Brownie pack holiday
I've survied!
we took 13 brownies to Cae Glas house. It was exhausting. alice in womnderland theme weekend and I was the cheshire cat (because I"m such a smiler, yes, thank you steph).
point 1 to note about Cae Glas- its IMPOSSIBLE to find, no sat nav, no proper post code, just in the middle of nowhere down a track.
Point 2- It backs onto the natural burial ground.
(Point 3- not the place to be if there is a zombie appocolipe, you'd be fucked)
anywho, the kids didn't notice the "burial ground" signs so theyre all like "can we go into that forest? haha, nah. they kept trying to scale the fence and get in there! thankfully they didn't mange it. the barbed wired put them off a little.
so friday evening was just settling in and letting them run round untill they looked worn out. sent them off to bed, waited a bit, took ourselves off to bed. got to 2am and they're still running up and down screaming. then, quiet.
so, I put my head down to go to sleep, and I Hear *Bump* so I'm thinking "maybe someone fell out of bed?" and waiting for them to start to cry or someone to come running to get a leader for a bumped arm/leg/head or a plaster..and nothing.
then *bump* *bump* *bump* (by this point im expecting a zombie uprising)
So, at this point I decided to do what any blone woman would do in a horror movie- I got out of bed, in the dark, unarmed and bravely marched towards the source of the scary noise.
ROPE SKIPPING.
3am.
that was not what I was expecting.
Day 2 we made crafts and we had a bit of a party, which we made jam tarts for, and since the weather was ace we decided to have a camp fire and toast marshmallows etc. so we took the brownies on a "stick collecting" walk. only one stick-to-the-face related injury.
sooo whilst they're having their dinner and watching the alice in wonderland film we set about building and lighting the fire.
Jen and Lou hit me with a dead tree.
I have welts on my arm from the experience, more than 24 hours later.
it was an impressive tree tho.
and an impressive fire!
day 3 was crafts and tidying and prizes.
all in all a good and exhautsing weekend- is it bedtime yet?
I have school in the morning! O_o
we took 13 brownies to Cae Glas house. It was exhausting. alice in womnderland theme weekend and I was the cheshire cat (because I"m such a smiler, yes, thank you steph).
point 1 to note about Cae Glas- its IMPOSSIBLE to find, no sat nav, no proper post code, just in the middle of nowhere down a track.
Point 2- It backs onto the natural burial ground.
(Point 3- not the place to be if there is a zombie appocolipe, you'd be fucked)
anywho, the kids didn't notice the "burial ground" signs so theyre all like "can we go into that forest? haha, nah. they kept trying to scale the fence and get in there! thankfully they didn't mange it. the barbed wired put them off a little.
so friday evening was just settling in and letting them run round untill they looked worn out. sent them off to bed, waited a bit, took ourselves off to bed. got to 2am and they're still running up and down screaming. then, quiet.
so, I put my head down to go to sleep, and I Hear *Bump* so I'm thinking "maybe someone fell out of bed?" and waiting for them to start to cry or someone to come running to get a leader for a bumped arm/leg/head or a plaster..and nothing.
then *bump* *bump* *bump* (by this point im expecting a zombie uprising)
So, at this point I decided to do what any blone woman would do in a horror movie- I got out of bed, in the dark, unarmed and bravely marched towards the source of the scary noise.
ROPE SKIPPING.
3am.
that was not what I was expecting.
Day 2 we made crafts and we had a bit of a party, which we made jam tarts for, and since the weather was ace we decided to have a camp fire and toast marshmallows etc. so we took the brownies on a "stick collecting" walk. only one stick-to-the-face related injury.
sooo whilst they're having their dinner and watching the alice in wonderland film we set about building and lighting the fire.
Jen and Lou hit me with a dead tree.
I have welts on my arm from the experience, more than 24 hours later.
it was an impressive tree tho.
and an impressive fire!
day 3 was crafts and tidying and prizes.
all in all a good and exhautsing weekend- is it bedtime yet?
I have school in the morning! O_o
Please show my wife some support!
Okays, please sponsor my wife to run a ½ marathon for the charity “missing”. It’s for a very good cause- he’ll have to stop playing football manager for a day and the money goes to a very worthy charity! I know it’s not till December, but ima still hustle you for it!
He’s training really hard & I’m proud of him, please shows your support!http://www.justgiving.com/Benjamin-Trafford0/?fb_ref=fundraising-page-top&fb_source=profile_oneline
moochy moochy
Moochy Thursday in the UK
BBQ! Yusss..and coursework which is BOOO but its my last piece! So in a way it’s a boo-y- yay-y mix. You know what I mean. It’s the end of an era!
To be honest the last few weeks have been a blur of mates houses, hotel rooms & adventures and whilst I am grateful for all of the excitement, I am glad to be back, in this country, in this house, just typing away and not having to do very much!
We’ve both been away- traff and I- so it’s nice for us to be all in the same country & to spend some time together! We’ll forget what each other looks like if we carry on like this! Lol
And washing 2 weeks worth of clothes by hand in the bath was pretty tough! (no washing machine) we had clothes hung from every possible surface- the garden looked mental- stuff on the line, stuff in the fences, stuff on the roof terrace. All super sensible of course
Budapest- saturday eve
Kirstie & I went for an adventure to budapest- and I very much enjoyed! :D
Thank you for a lovely holiday Miss McKay!
:D
shopping and mooching and (iced) coffee and cake and boat-hotel and lots and lots of learning &walking.
yussssssss
I had a lovely time and I am suntanned! what more could i ask for?
Thank you for a lovely holiday Miss McKay!
:D
shopping and mooching and (iced) coffee and cake and boat-hotel and lots and lots of learning &walking.
yussssssss
I had a lovely time and I am suntanned! what more could i ask for?
never buy suncream from poundland.
My poundland suncream caused a fuss at gatwick airport security! I guess its because the packaging is a little shoddy & it wasn’t a big name or anything- obviously since it cost £1.
So yeah, I got stopped.
And they took the suncream off and tested it for drugs like on UK border force! It was kinda cool in a worrying “I wonder what poundland put in their cosmetics..” kind of way.
Yes, that’s me, international drug smuggler extordainaire. . Clearly I have a bit of a “drug abuser chic” look about me when travelling.
Classy, no?
new macbook- long story
..otherwise entitled, how I lost 5 years of photos, music, documents & saved websites. Epic fail, but on the flip side I do now have a shiney new computer.
and all the keys work, and its fast, and I ca get online and it doesn't turn itself off randomly.
AND I can even use it not plugged in (as in, from the battery) how amazing is that?
:D
so yeah, RIP old macbook, we will miss you and your midnight shop stickers, 40000 photos and all my coursework that is due in on monday.
swings and roundabouts.
x
Northampton tescos!
Yeah, I know, horrible Multinational Corporation that rips off farmers & everyone else I know, but they have their own bridge!
How crazy does this thing look?
Yeah, exactly. Worthy of a post.
The manics at the CIA!
The manic street preachers
Ohmygodohmygodohmygodohmygod.
Yussssss
My mum & I met up with Sarah, Dan, emsy-wemsy, dan Dan and jess in wetherspoons and we went together to the gig- on arrival everyone else bought 3 bottles of stellar each so it was due to be a messy night (I had to drive my mother to Merthyr so I was on my soberest bestest behaviour- but I did get to enjoy the show nonetheless-and I had a cheeky lunchtime cocktail in milgi so I wasn’t totally had done by)
The set was age, the atmosphere was awesome & the crowd we’re fab- all singing along and joining in! Loads of tiaras and feather boas! Brilliant- I felt super-very underdressed in jeans and a strappy top! Ha-ha.
more food..
My mum came to visit! So I took her form Moroccan food & cocktails in milgi. As you do. We had tagine (free sound 1st though! The guys who run this place are so generous!) And then we have fruit for afters- AND they washed our hands at the table after our main!
With a giant teapot!
It was awesome. I may employ my very own had washer for all the time eating.
And we had more mint tea! Turn out my Nan had one of the Moroccan teapots and my mum thinks its in our house somewhere so I may steal it for making my mint teas at home- so much classier than my dented, flaky Teflon saucepan. Oh yeah.
But yes, again the food was amazing, the service was impeccable & my mum had fruit juice served in a melon, with sparkles and straws and umbrellas and EVERYTHING.
Timmy pirate
..but its such an ace costume! Top marks for effort and a firring end to my totally ruined brown boots oi took to morocco. Im sure they’ve walywas wanted to be a party of something spectacular. And piracy I feel is that. Land piract anyway, in a Cardiff night club.
Winner!
J
tim has now moved back to north wales & is trying to rehome marmite the cat!
Come and visit us soon! & good luck!
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