Charity shop shopping & The airport

Today feels like it's lasted forever and it's only mid afternoon.
Traff went to visit his family in Spain today, And in order to make his 7am flight I have to give him a lift to the airport at 5am.
It's only an hour before I'd normally get up for work- and we went to bed at 9 so we'd had 8 hours- even so, It was a struggle.

On the way back from the airport it started snowing. I always feel like I'm in the opening credits for star wars when I'm driving in snow.
I was so engrossed in singing the theme tune I missed my exit and had to drive home via newport pagnal.

I got in just before 7, had a bath and went to get dressed- I swear I only sat on the bed for a second and than it was 10am.
Not so productive.

I went into town to get my holiday money (We're taking it in turns to go to europe, you see) and I had £20 in my bag from when one of my mates had paid me back- so I went charity shop shopping!
I've been after summery bits for when we go to America- we have 10 days at just over 20 degrees celsius-I'm not sure my wardrobe can accommodate that many sunny outfits!

I was lucky today- I got 2 topshops dresses:

I'm taking the checked one to sicily- the white one is for the beach in Florida :D
£11 for 2 brand new dresses is a bargain- and I have pennies left for more charity shop shopping later on.

I also saw this photo frame in Debenhams- it costs £19- I think this could be made better and cheaper, I'm trying to persuade Jen to help me to give it a go- because she has a glue gun! We can glue ANYTHING.

My new musical discovery for the week! this band are fab!

So, how are your resolutions going?

1.   Stop dieting: Just eat more fruit and veg and drink a ton of water.

I had 21 lbs to lose after christmas to get to my "hospital recommended healthy weight" (I know, I should have eaten less take away food and drunk less gin! but it was gooood). I have not been calorie counting, I've just been eating better and walking more- and now I have 17 lbs to go.  I'm happy with that!

2.   Learn to reshuffle your schedule so you have more time for creative projects, and make sure you finish those projects.

You may have seen from my blog that I've been crafty- I made myself a watch and I'd been doing more photography. I made myself a 1940s style snood and I learned to crochet stars too!

3.   Pick a European city to visit this year.

        Sicily in February to visit Josh! I'm really excited to see him and Katie as it's been ages and we're having a 

        'Costa del Treco' reunion. It'll be ace. If we can just work out how to get to Josh's from the airport...

4.   Give more compliments.

I need to be better at this. I also need to be better at accepting compliments. I'm making a point of saying something complimentary to at least one of my colleagues every day. The up shot of that seems to be that they give me more compliments! We're making a positive working environment.

5.   Meet up with friends more often- Try not to go more than 6 months without seeing someone you care about.

January has been a good month for friends- I saw most of the Cardiff people- I only missed out on seeing Beca as she was still in NZ. I need a trip to Oxfordshire soon I think, and to Bristol.
I know it's not strictly meeting up, but I've made a point to message people more often and to reconnect with friends I hadn't spoken to in a long time- I'm making a start!

6.   Clear out all the clutter in your home

I've de-cluttered the house to the tune of 2 bags- De cluttering was a major theme in 2014, and needs to remain a major theme if we're planning to move! I'm not paying for a removals lorry for thinsg we don't even know we bloody well have or don't use/need!

7.   Try a food you’ve never eaten before.

Delicious polish cheese! :D

8.   Frame treasured photos, letters and keepsakes.

I have finally framed the photos from the family photo shoot, my AS photography dark room images and Hayley's xmas card she made for us last year- So that's a good start but still plenty of things to keep safe!

9.   Treat your parents to dinner.

I have arranged to do this for my Mum's Birthday on the 8th February after we go and see the Lion king. I feel like a proper grown up.

10.       Walk to places more often.

I've walked to work 4/5 days a week this month (Mondays I stay late and drive to brownies, so I can't walk)- I've also had my epic walks from Bromham and to Wilstead and a few other photography walks this month. I'm making a point of going out and walking more, even if it is dark and cold!

11.       Learn to use Excel properly.

 I have not started this yet... It's probably my most urgent resolution and the one I'm the very least keen on. urgh. Excel. I did learn how to make it do my calculations for me, And I've learned how to hide the columns and export my data so that I can edit it so I'm making slow progress here!
I have been offered training at work so fingers crossed this will be met soon.

12.       Invest in matching underwear.

         I haven't done this yet...

We had Snow!

Star struck

Today at work I met Ashanti Akabusi, and she was really really lovely!
:D

That is all.

1940s style snood

I had a crochet day with Tats today- She picked out a pattern for us to attempt- the instructions for this are in the crochet section on here,as it's something I've been wanting to make for ages but the pattern is a bit confusing.
I've wanted to learn to increase and decrease my stitch numbers because I'd like to make a jumper (I know, such a cliche) and this was the perfect project to practice on (because it should be symmetrical, so if you're getting it wrong it'll be obvious very quickly).

Basicly, you're making a dinner plate sized doily. you can use any pattern as long as it ends up more-or less circular and the holes aren't massive otherwise all your hair will escape and make you look less chic. we used double knit and a 4mm hook- loads of patterns say to use thread but honestly, I think you'd just end up looking like a hedgehog unless you use a really tiny crochet hook.
It's fine if it goes wibbly, no-one will know once you're wearing it.
Mine is, as you can see, wibbly when flat.
Tats followed the instructions to the letter and threaded hers with yarn to make the hat-shape (- which she chained instead of plaiting because it was too much of a headache). I've used elastic for mine and it stays in place much better. no kirby grips for me!

frosty mornings!

Hair dye experiments

Traff fancied a change to his usual black/dark purple mohawk, and taking his inspiration for the world of wresting wanted a multi coloured mo.

Challenge one was the bleaching of the mohawk. if you're planning on doing any home bleaching, you'll need a plastic spoon. 

Who keeps plastic spoons?!

We also had to cover the rest of his head in a Vaseline like substance- we ended up using hemp flavour lipbalm. The smell of that with the ammonia from the bleach was really unpleasant!

This is him in his plastic bag hat waiting for it to develop- it was surprisingly speedy!

And with the bleach washed out:

Next, we added splodgy red and turquoise dye, hoping that where the red and blue met we'd get some purple too!

Messy, splodgy dye I can do no problem.Just don't ask me of you want neat and tidy!

The finished article:

Frozen

Just to prove that although we didn't get any snow like the rest of the country, we still have some very low temperatures- And some beautiful frosty mornings!

The next creative challenge... Metallica

Since I was a teenager, I've always wanted to be able to play the guitar- because all the best songs are written to be performed on this one, unattainable instrument.

Somehow, and in honesty it's probably a lack of practice, I've never managed to get my head round playing the guitar. 

I suffer from the most crippling performance anxiety for starters, so despite many of my friends best efforts (Ranging from the ever patient Stony at 14 through to all of my university housemates and finally poor Tristrum who's decision to start with "Sanitarium"  probably ruined that song for him for life!) I just can't play in front of people. So it's more or less impossible for someone to teach me.

It would be less shameful if I wasn't a classically trained violinist. 

I've played the violin from the age of 6, including for my degree. Before graduating university (And moving into a flat/shared house) I used to dedicate huge amounts of time to practice and perfecting songs which no-one else would ever hear.

As a teenager I would plan my practice when my parents were out.

They knew I still played because the neighbours could hear me through the walls, and once commented to them  how much she  liked a piece I was working on.

They were kind enough not to tell me.

The idea of playing in front of other people fills me with complete panic! my stomach goes all squirmy and I start to sweat. My immediate body language reaction is to make myself as small as possible.. which completely impedes any chance of playing anything.

I'm trying to address my anxiety. So, I'm going to learn "nothing else matters by metallica" which is actually pretty straight forward.

I am going to learn the solos.

And I'm going to learn them better than my friends.

Eventually, I may even challenge them to a solo-off.... Or I might not. Probably not. It's quite likely this will be another unperformed piece. but I'll be pleased with myself!

Either way, here is the sheet music- to prove my dedication to the cause:

Women in STEM conference,London

The conference was at The Cavendish Conference Centre, which, if you ever attend an event there, it just passed the Landau hotel off oxford street.

If you get to the polish embassy you've walked waaayyyy to far.

Trust me.

The Cavendish Conference centre building is really cool looking, and it's got a roof garden with trees! The inside is all minimal and modern.. and purple! yaay!

The conference was really interesting, there were talks from DfE, STEMnet, IOP, The british aeronautical society, Nottingham university, and most of the London universities.

I now have an "action plan" with 40 bullet points on it in order to set up lots of exciting new opportunities for everyone at work- and I got to practice my networking.
I'm still rubbish at talking to new people but somehow it's easier over lunch!

Wilstead.

It's cold and bright today, but we're under threat of snow on Sunday!
I had planned to have a walk around priory marina and take some photos, I did think about walking to Sandy and getting the bus back. In the end I met my plan in the middle and walked from Priory park to Willstead.

Everything looks a bit wintery still- I whatsapped Jay this photo and he thought it looked creepy- I think it looks springy! no leaves yet but it's sunny and bright, we're getting there!

Further along the cycle route to Sandy theres part of the old railway line- possibly one of Beeching's famous cuts- and originally used to supply the coal power station which closed in the 70s. I was curious about the view from the top so I climbed up the grass on the right of the photo.

I must've looked very silly- I wore my brown leather boots because they keep my feet warm and dry- but they're really not designed for scaling banks. It was worth it for the view, but I almost had to go back down the embankment on my bum!

Shoes not grippy enough.

Lesson learned.

 Proof I was still heading in the right direction! It's funny but because I was stopping to take photos all the way along the route I'd been walking for ages and realised I'd forgotten to look for the Wilstead signs! I thought I might have walked past it.

 I made it to Willstead and decided to walk through the village to see the National Trust's Medieval Dovecote, church and stables. I am still at a loss as to why someone would go to the effort to build such an impressive building to fill with doves.
If I'm honest, I was curious about the medieval buildings, but I am conditioned to associate national trust signs with very good coffee and walnut cake.
Sadly, the tea shop is only available April-September.

I walked through Willstead village and followed signs to the Danish camp- I had heard that it had a cafe but as it also has boats and rowing and a running club I was a teeny bit worried it would be all kale smoothies and de-caf green tea.

All wrong on my part! It's a really lovely cafe, with brilliant views and friendly staff- I'll be taking Traff back there so that we can try out their lunch menu next time we're both free on a non-rainy weekend day.

I had rocky road and tea- after my 4 mile walk (1 mile to priory, 2 1/2 miles to Wilstead and 1/2 a mile round the village) I thought I deserved it.

If I'm honest, I this was the point in the day where I realised I had not thought this through. I'd relaxed a bit too much and a bit too long at the Danish camp, drinking my tea and eating my cake.

On leaving the cafe, I realised the sun was getting low, and the temperature had dropped quite a bit. I was worried I'd still be walking home in the dark!

Instead of walking back along the cycle path, this time I changed things up a bit and walked back along the footpath- I was a bit gutted when I saw the road sign directing me back to Goldington Road- I picked a longer route! 3.3 miles and still a mile back to the house!

The new scenery was nice though.

STEM fair advert :)

In the STEM East newsletter.
:D
Happy days

Looonnngggg walk

I normally walk to work- it's a nice calming way to start the day and gives me a chance to get some exercise and mull things over in my head before I have to get started on my day properly.

The older I get the more I feel like I am becoming a morning person (Although, I have to say I'm not always the most awake at 6am).
I feel accomplished at the moment as I am usually at work before dawn. I know it's only because the Earth is on a "Wobble" and it's darker much later in the mornings at this time this year than it was last year.

On Friday morning I was supposed to drive to work because I had an appointment in the afternoon.
I got to work and then realised I'd forgotten something. The car.
Luckily one of my colleagues offered me a lift to my appointment (Via budgens for bacon frazzels and M&Ms for Traff) so that was my massive stress over with.

I was looking forward to walking home.
I planned my route to give me as much countryside as possible, and as soon as was possible got off the main road and followed a footpath into a field- I must have looked quite funny with my nice boots and work clothes on, ankle deep in mud with grass up to my knees.
I asked a guy who was walking his dogs if I was heading the right way and he confirmed that I was.
He also expressed concern that I planned to walk through a small area of woodland and offered to walk me as far as the main road. Bless him, I turned down his kind offer and did make it out of the woods just fine!
I also stopped to take in the views- Beautiful.
Certainly worth braving the cold for.

I also got whistled at by construction workers- One of them said he loved me.

As I got into town I tried to call Traff (who was at work) to see if I could drop off his M&Ms- He managed to swindle a break so we went to the pub for some cups of tea and a mooch. It was really lovely to see him as I wasn't expecting to.

I have also discovered the most amazing cheese! get ye to the Polski Sklop.
You have to try this!

36 Questions to make anyone fall in love with you.

Can you really fall in love with someone after 36 questions? How about anyone?

A 20-year-old study says you can - and so does the New York Times journalist who took psychologist Arthur Aron's 1997 test to see if closeness could be created in an experimental environment.

The quiz progresses from relaxed questions like, 'Would you like to be famous? In what way?' to more intimate ones such as, 'What, if anything, is too serious to be joked about?'.

For his study, Aron paired up a couple of strangers - a heterosexual man and woman - and gave them 45 minutes to answer the list of 36 questions, which gradually grew more intimate.

Then, the couple had to stare into each other’s eyes for four minutes in total silence.

In the end, the two participants who had walked into his laboratory through separate doors as total strangers fell in love.

Six months later they got married - and invited the entire lab to the ceremony.

They are broken into the three sets, or 'rounds', as they were originally presented. Each set is intended to be more intimate than the one that came before.

Set I

1. Given the choice of anyone in the world, whom would you want as a dinner guest?

2. Would you like to be famous? In what way?

3. Before making a telephone call, do you ever rehearse what you are going to say? Why?

4. What would constitute a 'perfect' day for you?

5. When did you last sing to yourself? To someone else?

6. If you were able to live to the age of 90 and retain either the mind or body of a 30-year-old for the last 60 years of your life, which would you want?

7. Do you have a secret hunch about how you will die?

8. Name three things you and your partner appear to have in common.

9. For what in your life do you feel most grateful?

10. If you could change anything about the way you were raised, what would it be?

11. Take four minutes and tell your partner your life story in as much detail as possible.

12. If you could wake up tomorrow having gained any one quality or ability, what would it be?

Set II

13. If a crystal ball could tell you the truth about yourself, your life, the future or anything else, what would you want to know?

14. Is there something that you've dreamed of doing for a long time? Why haven't you done it?

15. What is the greatest accomplishment of your life?

16. What do you value most in a friendship?

17. What is your most treasured memory?

18. What is your most terrible memory?

19. If you knew that in one year you would die suddenly, would you change anything about the way you are now living? Why?

20. What does friendship mean to you?

21. What roles do love and affection play in your life?

22. Alternate sharing something you consider a positive characteristic of your partner. Share a total of five items.

23. How close and warm is your family? Do you feel your childhood was happier than most other people's?

24. How do you feel about your relationship with your mother?

Set III

25. Make three true 'we' statements each. For instance, 'We are both in this room feeling ... '

26. Complete this sentence: 'I wish I had someone with whom I could share ... '

27. If you were going to become a close friend with your partner, please share what would be important for him or her to know.

28. Tell your partner what you like about them; be very honest this time, saying things that you might not say to someone you've just met.

29. Share with your partner an embarrassing moment in your life.

30. When did you last cry in front of another person? By yourself?

31. Tell your partner something that you like about them already.

32. What, if anything, is too serious to be joked about?

33. If you were to die this evening with no opportunity to communicate with anyone, what would you most regret not having told someone? Why haven't you told them yet?

34. Your house, containing everything you own, catches fire. After saving your loved ones and pets, you have time to safely make a final dash to save any one item. What would it be? Why?

35. Of all the people in your family, whose death would you find most disturbing? Why?

36. Share a personal problem and ask your partner's advice on how he or she might handle it. Also, ask your partner to reflect back to you how you seem to be feeling about the problem you have chosen.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2909261/The-36-questions-guaranteed-make-fall-love-Two-couples-soulmates-taking-psychologists-quiz.html#ixzz3P12Kngj3
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All the best presents

On Wednesday, I got home from work and Traff had bought me flowers, and a massive potato about the size of his head.
:)
All the best things.

We finished watching The Royle Family on Nexflix and he made us a veggie bake with the biggest potato I'd ever seen.

Creme Eggs

Creme Egg controversy in the news this week- and all over an outraged buzzfeed- First they reduce the number in a box from 6 to 5 but charge the same and then they change the chocolate!
(Actually, perhaps the first controversy was selling them in January when Easter is in April, but who am I to judge?)

I've seen articles on the internet about this for the last week, and every time my interest has been piqued- Surely changing the chocolate cannot make so much difference?
(In the words of a Kraft foods representative "We never said it was Cadburys dairy milk chocolate, they're just Cadbury's Creme eggs- and we taste tested the chocolate and this is what people liked the best!")

 I had to go to budgens earlier for dinner provisions and they had Creme eggs by the counter.. I ummed and arred over buying one but in the end I did.
They have, until today been one of my favourite guilty pleasures.

This is my analysis of the situation:

• The chocolate is very thin, and weirdly greasy- It reminds me of hershleys chocolate but not in a good way- A colleague once brought back hershleys kisses from a trip to New York and they had a weird, greasy texture. 
• It doesn't really taste like chocolate. Or anything. It's just a hard, chewy shell for the fondant stuff.
• I won't be buying them any more.

So, here are some alternative activities you can do with a Creme Egg (As frankly, I wouldn't bother with eating them):

Sah & Steph's Birthday do

Things I have learned this weekend:

1. The car park under John Lewis in Central Cardiff is locked at 12:30, but if you ring the number on the sign, the nice security man will come and let you have your car back.
2. I do not have the capacity for drinking that I had when we last went to Live lounge, and I should not take up their generous 2-4-1 offer unless I want to have a nap in the night club.
3. I must not make friends with strangers who have temporary tattoos on their faces or flashy glasses. Even if I'd like to wear their glasses.
4. Take a coat.
5. We should do this far more often.
6. Burger king will cure any hangover.

Kindness

Watch it made- Watch making at the University of Cranfield

This evening May, James and I went to the Engineering department at Cranfield university to try out their new "Watch it made" project.
You get to design and produce a watch- You pick the case colour, and use a lathe to produce stripes or effects, pick a background for the face- which is UV printed onto plastic as you watch, You get to engrave the case, Attach the quartz mechanism, Choose the hands and put them in place, set the glass in place and pick a strap to compliment your custom design!

The most difficult part of the evening was finding the correct university building on the campus- Although in fairness it's probably easier in daylight when you can read the numbers more easily and there are students to ask for directions.

The second most difficult decision was to pick a design for the face of the watch- I was temped by the kaleidoscope and by the green and blue hexagons (The same design as James chose but different colours), In the end I went with their newest design- The milky way.

Putting the hands on was really fiddley too- I kept dropping them with the tweezers and it was a nightmare!
Everything else was quite straight forward, and interesting- I'd never really thought about how a watch is made before.

We had a lovely evening and have come away with a new experience under our belts and a very unique timepiece.
I will try very hard not to drop this one in the sink.