Huntingdon

Traff and I took a little day out to Huntdingdon. We visited the Oliver Cromwell museum, which was less than fascinating but a new experience for us both!

After that we had a look round the town.

We then headed over to Peterborough to look for records in their HMV. We didn't find anything worth having but I did get to shop in lush! :D

What happens when your relationship is "old"

Traff and I have been together for almost 8 years. Compared to most of our friends we have been together for a very long time.
I am frequently asked what it's like to be in a relationship for "Such a long time" or what happens when "you get past the intense bit".

You have a laugh.
That is my answer.
There won't be many things you don't know about each other once you've been together this long. And you won't really have any hang ups any more. We really do just spend our entire lives together "messing about". We also teach each other things.

Traff has taught me an awful lot about skincare. He has always been a massive Biore pore strip fan, although this was a guilty secret of his when we first met.
Now he frequently whatsapps me pictures of him in the bath covered in pore strips. I think it's quite funny that he has a more intense beauty regime than I do. I just wash my face with soap.

So, this is us, watching "Longmire" on Neflix cleansing our pores. This is what you all have to look forward to kids.

London

Today I went to London with my nan. 

We went for a walk around hyde park and to the Diana memorial fountain. 

She showed me the serpentine bridge where she used to do PT when she was in the army telephone exchange in the 50s and her old barracks at the top if museum road. They're fancy flats now.

She showed me where they used to live in the royal muse and when my grandad worked for the palace as a groom where he used to pick up anf drop off diplomats in the carriage drawn by the horses he looked after at the Royal Mews. and then told me about my Great Aunt who was posted in Singapore in the 50s (At the age of 18!).

There is so much I just didn't know about my family history. Nothing "major" just anecdotal family history.

We then headed over to Harrods and mooched around the for hall. My Nan tried to convince me to buy my Dad a harrods birthday cake- A teeny tiny cupcake sized one costs £10!

If I was made of money I would have bought home one!

After Harrods we headed back to Victoria on the bus and had lunch at the Balls Brothers restaurant. That was an excellent choice as my Nan won't eat anything "foreign" and I prefer not to eat fish and chips. A happy balance. I had a flat bread and she had her fish supper! Everyone was delighted!

Charity shop shopping

I've been at it again!  Charity shop bargains!
My hideous £2 2016 diary, my £2 roller derby leggings,  my £1.50 skull scarf,  my £2.50 purple lacy cardigan,  £2 black short sleeved cardigan and my £5 dress.
Pretty happy with that haul!

I have now put all my engagements into my diary! next time you ask me if I am free I should be able to tell you!

:D

I'm like a real grown up now! if you ignore the design on the diary..

Wrestling tights

Traff's wrestling tights are finished and ready to go for their debut wresting show at the end of the month. His "persona" will be an 80s glam rocker.

I love the tassels!

Rough sleeping to raise money for homeless charities

Traff was home late on Friday as he was helping Dele "build his house" for the night. I wish he had mentioned this before Friday as I would have loved to take part- especially as we could have built a castle!

Joking aside the temperature reached the minus figures last night, which would have given everyone a pretty rubbish nights sleep, but they all have the luxury of going to their brick and central heated homes after spending the night in the cold. There are thousands of people who have no choice and nowhere to go.

I think if more people had this experience they would have an awful lot more kindness for the street homeless.

Roller derby kit!

It has arrived!

Explosion at Didcot (A site) power station

IoP invitation

On Tuesday I received an email from the IoP, I don't think I will be able to attend as I'm pretty busy at the moment, but I've never been invited to attend an event as a speaker before so it is still a massive honour!

It's exciting!

The email reads as follows:

Dear Laura,

I am hosting an event on Wednesday, 12-2pm for the physics undergraduates at the University of Cambridge. I am wondering if you are available and interested in coming along to support the event with the Institute of Physics?

The event is for undergraduate students. Approx. 15-20 students will be in attendance and interested in finding out more about the routes into education, funding and support from the IOP. Moreover, they would like to hear about your experiences so far. 

This section of the presentation is always the most engaging part, as you have first-hand and recent experiences that students are able to relate to. It is even more engaging if you can demonstrate some physics tricks.

You would be required to deliver a 10-15 minute overview about your life as at work, incorporating: 

• what inspired you 
• which training route you are taking and why you chose this route
• what experience you gained before you started your training
• highlights and lowlights
• Physics tricks to illustrate (optional).

It is entirely up to you whether or not you use a PowerPoint presentation.

If you are available it would be great to have you along to share your support and experiences with the next generation of physics teachers. 

I am extremely sorry for the really short notice, but your help would be very much appreciated. We can of course cover travel expenses incurred.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Kind regards,
Jo

Joanne Keogh

Marketing Assistant 

Institute of Physics

76 Portland Place, London, W1B 1NT

Death note

Traff bought me the death note notebook from the tv series!
:-)
Sadly it doesn't work like rhe 'real'one but it certainly looks like the real thing!

My boyfriend buys the best presents!

Bury st edmonds

Sewing day with Abi

Abi has a new sewing machine that is the same make as my old pink one, so she asked me to help her to set it up and teach her the basics.
When she said basics I did not think "cushion covers or bunting".
Abi did, so she was a bit perplexed when I forced her to make a 3 panel skirt with pleats and a zip closure.
I also taught her to make a shift dress with basic bust darts.
I was really impressed with her enthusiasm once she'd recovered...

I also made a shift dress along with abi to show her how to do the darts. I made my xmas Kaftan that Abida bought me and I repaired my moroccan hareem pants.

All in all I think that constitutes a very productive day.
More sewing please!

I also blew the fuse on my own sewing machine.  Urgh. To homebase for fuses!

Baking please! Lemon and blueberry brownies

15 Times Lemon And Blueberry Were Relationship Goals http://www.buzzfeed.com/emmymax/15-times-lemon-blueberry-proved-they-had-a-bette-25wf8

Here's What You Need:

• Brownies:
• 3/4 cup flour
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon ground thyme
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
• 2 eggs
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice
• 1 tablespoon lemon zest (approx. 1 lemon)
• Icing:
• 3/4 cup blueberries
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice
• 1/2 cup powdered sugar
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice
• 1/2 cup powdered sugar
• Topping:
• Chopped Pistachios
• Coarse sea salt

Here's What You Do:

1. Preheat oven to 350 F degrees. Line a 8x8" pan with parchment paper and non stick spray. Set aside.
2. In a large bowl, combine flour, sugar, thyme, salt, and butter until just mixed.
3. In a small bowl, combine eggs, lemon juice, and lemon zest. Whisk thoroughly to combine.
4. Add egg mixture to flour mixture. Mix until just combined. 
5. Pour batter into prepared pan and bake for 20 minutes (if you have a dark pan like me), or 23-25 minutes if using a lighter colored pan, until edges are light brown.
6. Remove from oven and allow to cool in the pan.
7. In a small bowl, mix lemon juice and powdered sugar to form thick glaze. Spread over cooled brownies.
8. In small saucepan, combine blueberries and lemon juice. Allow to cook on medium heat for 5 minutes or until blueberries have released a significant amount of juice. 
9. Remove pan from heat and allow to cool.
10. Half mixture, and transfer half to a small bowl. Set aside other half for another use.
11. Mix in powdered sugar to make a runny glaze.
12. Cut brownies and drizzle blueberries over the top. Use as much or as little as you want.
13. Chop pistachios and sprinkle on top with sea salt to your liking.

Paddle boarding- the first session of 2016

I have been sooooo excited for getting out on the water- every time it's not bee super windy since the end of December I've been texting Emma to see if we can go out on the lake.. on one occasion there was ice. I do need to be better at considering temperature not just wind speed.

It was still windy today- not the worst weather we've ever bee out in but certainly tougher than I would have liked after a break of almost 4 months.
I struggled to even get the board in the water because the wind just kept taking it! Once I was out it was fine- choppy but not so bad it would throw off your balance.

The two things I really hadn't factored in were:
1) How quickly you lose fitness- 15 minutes in and I had a stitch and my arms were hurting from paddling against the wind!
2) How quickly you get gold once bits of you have been in the water- after about 40 minutes I couldn't feel my feet or fingers any more!

It was really good, I enjoyed myself and I feel like I've had a good work out- Going on my own was OK too- it was actually just what I needed after having such a crazy people filled week. That isn't to say I haven't loved every second of everyones company it's just that I do like to have some alone time, I can't believe it never occurred to me before that paddle boarding would be a really good way to get it.

New books

Tats brought me a load of very 90s manga series to try to fill the hole in my life left by the next black butler book being released in May.

They aren't quite as awesome but I did appreciate the gesture!
:D

Hospital. Start again.

So, after the bit where I get told that I still need to lose 1 stone and a half to reach my "optimum healthy weight" (honestly they're never happy). We met with the consultant.

He has decided to discharge me from his care and seek an opinion from addenbrookes.  Which is fine.  I just don't really know what the point if my going in for that appointment was. They could have just sent a letter, no?

I don't really care what we're calling this "digestive issue". I really just need to know two things:

1) how do I manage the pain I am in? as we seem to have concluded that this is how I will feel for the next 50 years of average human lifespan.

2) what can I eat that isn't breakfast cereals?

These two questions never get answered. So I take boxes of ibuprofen and eat coco pops.  And it looks like I will have to do both of these things forever. Or until I get liver failure or die of malnutrition.

I am feeling pretty fed up about it all at the moment.  I cried lots on Tuesday. The lack of support or advice frustrates me. I just need someone to tell me what I can do or try or read.  someone with more understanding of this than me. Because so far 7 years of trying to figure this all out on my own has landed us at ibuprofen and coco pops.
I don't know what I'm doing and I'm sick of being sick.

I am completely on board with the idea of a second opinion.  Especially a second opinion from someone who understands my thyroid condition and my pcos- hormone stuff is addenbrookes speciality- so hopefully they'll be able to offer advice. I just hope that it doesn't take years. Again. To reach the conclusion that they give up and tag someone else in.

Josh and Katie's Bedfordian adventure