Today is super sunny! Good weather for paddling too as it's not too breezy.
I learned to do a cheats step back turn today- I have to put my hands down to take the step back- and as the step back turn is supposed to make the turn quickly that sort of undermines the point, but hopefully if I keep practicing I'll find my balance and manage to do it without the downward facing dog move in the middle!
I'm pleased with myself!
I also lost a bondi race- where you paddle with your arms like the beach lifeguards do in bondi beach rescue! (Slightly addictive, lots of tanned vert fit men- and of course women if thats what you'd like) I have established I have no upper body strength and therefore cannot be a lifeguard.
I started off my in Didcot, I caught up with Sophie and had a mooch around the town- I got a new dress for £3 from a charity shop! It's navy blue jersey with a print of stately homes and dogs on it. It's also a size 10, which says more about sainsburys vanity sizing than about my current size!
I picked Kirstie up at midday and we drove down to Cardiff, we started our weekend away with ice cream from Cadwalders in the bay- I had sticky toffee pudding flavour! It was lush! We walked round the bay and saw the senedd, pierhead house (We went inside!) Norwegian church and obviously the awesome views.
The Pierhead is the red building in the photo- it's been turned into a museum and downstairs they had a cinema running a film about the history of the bay- with these awesome cushions! I need some welsh language home wares! I also have a real love for the herring bone tiles in the fireplace.
After we'd been to the bay, Kirstie and I checked into the hotel to ditch our stuff and then we headed on to city road. We went to islamic relief but I resisted the urge to buy a sari, and then we went to Mligis. This is my excitement about a coconut daquiri served in a jelly dish- We need more jelly dishes to serve cocktails in! This is genius! I really love Milgis for cocktails.
After drinkies and dinner in Pepe's El Pasos (Chimichangas and Sangria! Pepe's is amazing I think it's my favourite place to eat in the whole world- and where I had my graduation meal with my parents- It's cheap, Quirky and really delicious) We headed back to the town centre to watch the show, it was in a "big top" on Bute street.
The show was incredible (Kirstie, you have the best taste in Circuses!) The audience is standing, and you are asked to move around depending on where the performance is taking place- initially this annoyed me, but actually by the end I enjoyed the opportunity to move and get a different view. It's brilliant- I'd go and see more of their shows and I'd have been happy to have seen that show again- I feel like if you stood in a different place you'd have a different experience. It's so clever and engaging.
On Sunday Morning we met up with Sah and went for coffee in "A shot in the Dark" on City road- We had planned to eat our own weight in pancakes in AJs but it wasn't open :(
We experimented with syrup shots in our coffee- I tried coconut- which made the coffee not taste like coffee or coconut, it took the bitterness out. very weird, I also tried butterscotch, which was much nicer!
We were supposed to go paddle boarding today, however, we all know what happens to plans.
We got home and I got a call from Sarah's sister. Sarah and Dan are on holiday in Tunisia and with all the news coverage of the attacks there she was pretty worried. She'd tried calling them and neither was answering their phone.
This is probably why you're supposed to leave an itinerary and addresses with people when you go away.
She asked me which hotel they were staying at, and I couldn't remember- So I spent a portion of my evening trying to ask our friends if they knew without panicking anyone and on hold to the embassy trying to get any information (They don't know anything, after 2 hours on hold- so if you're in the same boat it really is just a waiting game but if you needed the number it is 02070081500)
Part way through this I got a very tearful phone call from her sister saying she thought she's seen them hurt on the news footage.
We found the footage but it was soo blurry there was no way of knowing for sure but we weren't so convinced. I do feel really sorry for families who will see their loves ones hurt on the TV or online. It's not an advantage to have so much media coverage. Those injured people and the dead should be treated with more dignity,and the videos and images have just added to the panic and chaos.
In the end- after Traff had started smoking Mayfair to calm is nerves and we'd fielded calls from everyone we'd ever met- they rang to say they'd been paragliding all day and had just returned to the hotel and seen all the horror. They assured us that the security is now seriously stepped up and that they are and will be fine.
They could not have planned their day any better- not even on land during the shootings.
I'm so grateful that everyone is OK, and my thoughts really are with families and friends waiting for news form all the disasters today- my heart was in my mouth every time I took a call or saw a new section of news footage or someone messages me more pictures online from news articles.
It's made me realise 2 things:
1) I should see more of the people I care about because you really don't every know what will happen next.
2) I should always leave my travel itinerary with my parents/ close friends, because although the odds of anything ever happening to me when I'm travelling are tiny, if they do I don't want my family and friends to have to deal with this!
Today I had to go to the hospital for a series of blood tests to check the function of my adrenal glands. This was a bit of a rude start to the day at 8:30am- on arrival I had to be swabbed for MRSA (including the inside of my nose!) which was alarming and then be stabbed full of holes which made me far more awake that I'd have liked, but once they were done I had a reasonable chunk of the day left to do something interesting with.
The ward was interesting at least, as we were there for most of the day it gave us something to discuss- it was the old victorian childrens' ward and had tiled images of different nursery rhymes. I had the bed under goosey gander. It gave us a conversation starter at least and it transpired that Traff thought the nursery Rhyme was "hairy mary quite contrary". http://www.bedfordhospitalcharity.org.uk/rhymesreasons
We walked back from the hospital as it was a really nice day, and as suggested by the nurse we went and found some iron rich foods for breakfast. I don't think I've eaten a greasy spoon cheese and bacon burger for breakfast since I was an undergraduate student! Delicious!
I was recently introduced to pinterest, so I thought I'd have a go at a few pins- Only using the contents of the craft cupboard so I was a teeny bit limited, and I wasn't really feeling up to heading back out to pick up anything else- so we're very much in cardboard and wool territory.
I tried making a woven bowl using a cardboard frame:
I didn't have any pins I was willing to lose to a craft so I made a hybrid of the pin and a cardboard frame I'd see sold in hobbycraft- I'm sure this could have been improved by being a bit more careful and actually measuring the distsnace between the posts.
And I made a pompom garland:
The original post suggests wearing it as a scarf, but it's a bit to itchy and lumpy- I've decided to use mine to decorate the headboard.
In the evening I met with Abi as she was in town for some research for work- We had intended to be very grown up and go for coffee, but we ended up going for milkshakes- the ones where they blend sweets with ice cream and milk. :D
Not so classy, but deffo more inkeeping with the weather!
Today I was at Cranfield university taking part in a "multilevel project" involving lots of different people of difference academic levels.
We were looking at a problem solving task in teams- we were given a box of 3D printed pieces and an exploded diagram of the machine it was supposed to make.
Then given 2 hours to make it.
The exploded diagram:
The Machine:
It was interesting- I'm a bit addicted to the idea of 3D printing so it was really cool to work with printed parts.
It was also very interesting working with people who are far more educated than I will ever be. I feel like I may have learned something.
We had a break for lunch- which was delicious an I have no idea how many BBQ chicken skewers I ate but there is a strong chance it equates to almost a whole chicken... and it's rude to turn down free food!
After lunch we went to see the exhibition of aircraft engines- this is the engine of concord and it is so much smaller than a boeing engine.. or even some light aircraft!
It's insane to think that this tiny engine gave enough thrust to break the sound barrier.
I know it seems a bit geeky to take a photo, but I doubt I'll see another one!
After that we went to watch the Pan university paper aeroplane competition- for the most part they were normal looking paper aeroplanes, this one looked impressive but failed rather badly.
After lunch we make a presentation on how to improve the elastic band powered motor which we'd built, and then we gave the presentation to the other people there.
Following the presentation we were allowed to have a go on the oculus rift virtual reality headsets. they were a bit sea-sicky, but very cool.
In return for my parcel of goodies I decided to make Hayley a skirt as a surprise.
This was a much be easier idea in theory than in practice but I can safely say that I am very happy with my finished article! I'm really pleased that I did it as I feel very accomplished and I'm fairly sure she'll love it!
It's made from fabric we bought when we went to the xmas market it Bargoed- I used a bit of it for a christmas crafts workshop but then decided it was too pretty to use up on odd and sods.
I had to fit the zip by hand- and afterwards I realised how to do a hidden zip- as it's well hidden on the inside! I think I may need more practice but for my first ever solo attempt I'm pleased with it.
The front view:
On my blue silk skirt I messed up the waistband, it made a mistake almost in the middle of the front and you can clearly see it, so this time I was super careful and I think that looks pretty pro! even if I say so myself!
I'm hoping to get Jay to deliver it next week, so it won't get lost in the post! and I hope that she likes it too.
Everyone knows how much I love shopping for cheap and cheerful tat! hurrah for rubbish!
This was my first ever car boot sale experience, and it was amazing!
More car booty please!
Traff gave me £2.50 and I managed to get a top, a dress and a dinosaur!
As part of Tat's Mount Fuji training, Jay, Traff, Tats and I found a mountain to walk up. We had planned to climb to the top of Pen-y-fan but as you will see from the Photos from the top of Corn Du we were foiled by the weather.
Jay had cloud in his beard!
Totally worth it for the views, although the weather has neurotic! Rain, Sun, Rain, Sun, Fog etc etc
After the mountain and the rain, we went back to Jay's, changed into dry clothes and went to Spoons in blackwood. I have never needed a meal so badly in my whole life! I was starving!
After, we watched Freebird. Except Traff, who fell asleep at 7:30.
