"The Badger Parade"

badgerparade @ 2009-08-25T15:09:00

2009-08-25T14:28:45Z

I HAVE ONE MORE SHIFT LEFT OF PLACEMENT! I can't tell you how happy I am! These 3 1/2 weeks off are going to be well deserved.

Finally going to get stuff sorted/started that I have been putting off for months. I finally got my hair cut that I have been hinting about for ages. It's so good to have so much hair taken away, my hair is so thick and takes forvever to wash/dry/straighten so I am very glad!

Other bits and bobs include:

I start my driving lessons again next week. I am hoping to rattle through a good few in the month of Sept and get it out the way ASAP.

I start my VTCT certificate in aromatherapy next week!

I have an interview to volunteer for the Samaritans next week, also. I really hope it works out as I have been wanting to do some volunteering for a while now and with Glasgow base being open 24/7 it would be perfect for me.

I have put my name forward to be considered for a Peer Assisted Support System within the University. It basically means I will "facilitate" a class of first years for the whole of my third year and it will mean I can apply for the University Leaders programme. It looks good, shows I am actually interested about our course, teaching/helping out first years (especially when there are huge drop out rates) and pays £7 an hour, which I get back as a lump sum at the end of the year!

Nothing else has been going on other than I finally got the Ten Years of ATP festival sorted out and I am so effing excited! Yeah Yeah Yeahs! J Mascis & The Fog! Lightning Bolt! Shellac! Deerhoof! Papa M! Amongst others.

I'm off to crumple up in a heap now, I am so tired :(

badgerparade @ 2009-07-19T20:13:00

2009-07-19T19:53:24Z

I've been really busy recently. I was on night shift last week & I thought it would be hellish, but turns out it wasn't that bad and I managed to get a good sleep during the day. Just as well because next week I am back on it again :(

First placement was alright with a mix of awful. I didn't get along with some of the staff and accumulated in someone bitching about me right in front of me and myself, walking out in tears. I feel like I want to make a complaint, but I will probably just type out a letter to be included in my "students comments about placement".

Anyway, Graeme & I went down to London for the MJ concert that never was. We had a brilliant time, saw Derren Brown, Stewart Lee & Bruno at the cinema. We didn't really have any major plans of what to do when we were down there, we just went with the flow. I love London and as soon as I graduate I am going to start applying to the hospitals down there, there are always loads of jobs and I am itching to apply for certain positions that look great. Got a year and a bit left anyway, so I'm going to try and not get too far ahead of myself. I would love to work in oncology/palliative care.

Outside the "Thriller" musical, Shaftesbury Avenue.

We got loads of yummy food from Harrods (as usual) & it was a lovely day so we went and had a mini picnic in Hyde Park, then went for a walk.

London bombing memorial

On a pedalo on The Serpentine :)

Imperial War Museum

On the Saturday night we went to Scott's restaurant. It was so posh and lovely. We got plateau de fruits de mers, which had loads of scallops, lobster, razor clams and king prawns. I'm going to put the bill on the fridge. Most expensive meal ever.

We then went to see Stewart Lee's warm up show for the Edinburgh preview at an event called Just The Tonic. There were some other comedians as well that Graeme is into, it was a great night.

On Sunday before we left, I had seen some art gallery exhibit in The Herald, at the Hayward Gallery called "Walking In My Mind". It was a collection of work by seven artists about their perceptions of their mind and their thoughts. It was great.

This stuff was by an artist called Yayoi Kusama who is 80, lives in a mental hospital and had hallucinations about polka dots, all her work is like this. Big inflatable blobs about a room, haha.

I bought this silly necklace as well, haha.

It was awesome.

Haven't really been up to much than going to the cinema, seeing Peatbog & Fiona, hanging out with Graeme and going out a couple of times. I am so fed up with CG & the likes. Last time I spent half an hour there and I was so bored.

Anyway, just going to plod on with these last 6 weeks of placement and then second year is done, yey!

badgerparade @ 2009-06-04T21:27:00

2009-06-04T21:09:48Z

Oh, what a weird week I have had. Ups and downs!

Got back from Barcelona on Sunday evening after getting delayed in Belfast, not too long though, so wasn't too bad. Primavera Sound was AWESOME, had such a great time. Great festival ground, laid back as fuck and I got to see so many bands that I love packed into a weekend, that I probably would've only been able to catch a couple of (if I was lucky) during the year! The whole thing was pretty surreal. We were having something to eat in the tapas place near the festival ground and Vivian Girls & Fucked Up were outside having a drink and just round the corner were the guys from Yo La Tengo boozing as well. I so hope to go again next year if university allows.

Pictures of Barcelona and a some from the festival are behind the cut. I won't bore with the rest, but best bands were The Jesus Lizard, Shellac and Lightning Bolt. Everything else was grand though, there really wasn't one band I didn't like that I went to see!

Hotel lights

La Boqueria market. They have awesome freshly made smoothies and Ferrero Rocher ice cream! Yum! I wish there was an awesome food market near us, the seafood looked amazing

Cheers!

Park Guell. Gaudi's park and his house is there too. So nice for a walk around, spanish guitar players etc.

La Sagrada Familia. Gaudi's cathedral. It is insane, like I know a cathedral is a cathedral, boring, snore. But, I can't emphasise how crazy this building is, it pops out of no where and the detail in it is...amazing. Still under construction, TBH it looks that way like it will never get done.

(Early on in the day, hence the lack of people!)

Fucked Up

Vivian Girls

Lightning Bolt

Shellac

Got my placement details as well (finally) and I am in a general surgical ward for 6 weeks then I am in acute medical receiving. So excited about acute medical receiving, it's going to be a bit nuts, but that's what I like. I work best when there is loads to do.

I phoned my first placement area and for some reason they don't work twelve hour shifts, so that has totally fucked my holiday to Sweden. I will miss too many hours and I could only really make them up by working 7 day working weeks and even then my mentor would probably fail me on attendance alone. So, had to cancel those plans :( I'll know in future not to just guess wards working hours.

In other crappy news, I phoned up my grandparents yesterday to see how things were only to be told by my granda that my gran had a collapse last week and when the paramedics arrived they had a really hard time getting her pulse and for her to come round. She was also in hospital for a few days for investigations, but they have no idea what it was. As much as that is upsetting, NO ONE CALLED MY FAMILY. NO ONE. I have a fucking aunt and two uncles and no one thought to even drop us a fucking line and tell us what was up.

I am so sick of this shit, really. I know we are not in contact much, but that is due to my mum and I's anger at the way they were with my father when he was in hospital for the last time, but come on. They all live in Edinburgh & see my grandparents all the time. It wouldn't take much to tell us.

I'm going through tomorrow to see them, going to get some nice food from M&S as well as gran is getting worse with her dementia and obviously with my granda in a wheelchair they don't get to buy little luxuries for themselves. It makes me so upset that my contact with my fathers side is in tatters.

Anyway - as I said good time & shit news, but hey ho. Probably feeling more blue today as I am still hungover after last night. I love my friends, what a riot.

badgerparade @ 2009-05-26T16:09:00

2009-05-26T15:15:55Z

Last exam tomorrow morning! Then straight to the airport for Barcelona & Primavera. Dead excited.

Was at the old flat last night to see Peatbog and we booked a trip to Stockholm for the summer solstice, which will be mad good. Lots of maypole stuff, folk dancers and pickled herring! Haha.

Plus we're staying on a effing BOAT!

Nautical outfits at all times!

Can't wait.

So after being bummed out about not making Sweden for the whole summer and that I have 12 weeks of placement in Glasgow, I'm managing to make it to Barcelona, Stockholm & London (minus Michael Jackson).

Yey for summer!

badgerparade @ 2009-05-20T14:18:00

2009-05-20T13:33:18Z

A wee update seeing as I am trying to avoid studying as much as possible.

Had a great wee night out last week, was nice to see everyone.

Thanks for the picture, Rozzy!

Getting really excited about Barcelona & I can finally download music again, so I have been looking into some of the bands that I don't know much about so I can check them out whilst I am there. Got horribly burned last week as well due to my rubbish pale skin, so I have invested in some 50+ suntan lotion for sun intolerant skin, haha, what a goth.

Graeme & I finally booked our flights for London, so as well as going to see THE KING OF POP, I booked tickets to see Derren Brown for the day we arrive. I have always wanted to see him, but Graeme wants to go and scrutinise the whole thing and he thinks he can out smart him.

I also booked a table at Scotts Restaurant for some yummy seafood. It won BMW Restaurant Of The Year 2008 and is in Mayfair. I had to book a couple of months in advance, but even then it was very limited with what times were avaliable! Nice way to round up our trip, though & loads of famous folk go there so hopefully we'll see someone, haha.

RIGHT, I need to go look over these essays for my sociology exam. What a crock of shit, I hate this module. Getting nervous about my 12 week placement hell - it's going to be a killer & I bet we have great weather and I'm stuck in the wards all day. Boo :(

badgerparade @ 2009-05-08T13:16:00

2009-05-08T12:35:30Z

Hello!

Everything is grand. Booked Barcelona for Primavera, which I am so excited about. Had a nice bank holiday weekend where we went to The Peoples Palace and then Tibo for dinner. Recovering from being in the pub all day yesterday with Fiona and Rozzy, was hilarious.

<3

(Rozzy, check out this classic from 2003! Otis days!)

Morrissey tonight! & Vivian Girls soon!

badgerparade @ 2009-05-01T16:20:00

2009-05-01T15:42:51Z

I should be sleeping. Whenever I need to get up mad early for starting in the hospital, I CANNOT get to sleep the night before. Queue waking up every god damn hour, worrying that I have slept in. Bolk.

Just about to phone up the NHS bank to try and get more shifts because I am hopefully going to the Primavera Festival in Barcelona & I need the dollaz. My friend Ryan is interested and I have found a hostel that is cheap and ace, right in the gothic centre of the city and is 10mins walk from the Parc Del Forum. Only problem at the moment is getting cheap(ish) flights, I have found flights for £150, but it's four journeys. Two there and two back, which means double the chances of my luggage going missing (fear!). I really want to see Aphex Twin, Sonic Youth, My Bloody Valentine, Lightning Bolt, Art Brut, Sunn O)))...I could go on. Either way it looks AWESOME. Fingers crossed!

Nothing much else happening. Had a wonderful meal/evening with Graeme were we went to Two Fat Ladies @ The Buttery. It was really nice and the waitress, who was pretty young and clearly a student, was asking about my tattoos then said "it's nice to get normal people in here". Ha! The place is lovely, the food was amazing then we went to Ashton Lane and I got a bit drunk, wahay!

Finished the last of my coursework for second year in the form of this shitty class test (but, it was worth 25%, WTF!). I crammed it in a day and early the next morning & I think I did fine. No biggie. Went for lunch with loads of girls from nursing to Walkabout (who do amazing nachos!) and I have been talked into going to Viper on Monday night, ha. Graeme said I should be prepared to be hit on by a 40 year old man, or an underager :|

Only ran once this week, so far, which is really bad, going to MAKE myself run 5 miles tomorrow even if I am tired/being lazy as the 10K is on the 10th May and I don't want to die on my arse whilst doing it.

Anyway, I am going to get some sleep in, off to Frankesteins tonight (ugh), but it's my pals birthday and it'll be good to see folk from EK again and have a laugh. Going to wear this nice dress and new shoes that I got, but now I am worried as they are pale pink and I am defo going to get drunk, fall about & spill drinks on myself. C'est la vie!

Have a nice bank holiday weekend!

badgerparade @ 2009-04-16T22:54:00

2009-04-16T22:07:53Z

Been spending too much money, got loads of cute stuff for Uni out of Primark recently and I got this cute skirt out of River Island:

& I didn't want black heels with it so I went a bit silly and bought these from Kurt Geiger:

Think when I get my bursary in I'll try and get another pair of nice heels and just some accessories, fed up spending money on dresses that I just don't wear!

So, whilst I was quite happy looking at clothes online, I checked my internet banking and found out I have had 2 x O2 prepay's come out my account in Slough and another figure for an amount to War Child in London! No idea where they came from so I have filed for fraud with the bank and had my card cancelled. Still, pretty miffed about it and violated. No idea how they could have got my card details and I can only think of a couple of sites that weren't fully protected by Visa when I used them, but hey ho, let's hope that is the end of it.

One more essay due for Monday and a couple of other loose ends to tie up then that should be me free until the assessment period. I haven't worked in nearly 3 weeks, so I need to get on top of that as well and save up money for the summer to London and hopefully Alton Towers.

I am so tired at the moment, I hate the exam period.

badgerparade @ 2009-04-13T21:13:00

2009-04-13T20:44:23Z

Been very busy this week, mainly busy drinking.

On Wed, it was Jen-Y's birthday so myself, Peat and Amy went along to Nice & Sleazys with Jen-Y and proceeded to get very merry on white russians. Bumped into Bryan as well who introduced me to Buckaroos, which is some 'cocktail' with Buckfast so I ended up having a few of them. Needless to say I was pretty hammered. The whole night was a pure laugh, we mucked about with Dumbbell Dwayne and when we got back to the Y flat, we continued making inappropriate jokes and conjure up rumours to spread about Peatbog.

On Friday, I met up with my mates from East Kilbride, which was such an unbelievable hassle getting them to come into town, BLOODY EK FOLK. We went to The Dhabba in Merchant City and it was lovely, had some sort of king prawn curry and the richest mango cheesecake known to man, I couldn't finish it. We headed along to The Counting House for a few (Sailor Jerry £1.29!), which turned into lots of drinks and shots and I stumbled in here, in quite a mess. Good times.

On Saturday, Graeme & I had some of his mates round for a Rock Band night since we have the whole set up. I was being as housewifey as possible and had a full spread, which was awesome. Tracey brought me flowers (pink tulips!) and I think the highlight of the night was McLeary and Thermo being T Pain and Flo Rida singing the Travis Barker remix of 'Get Low'. Peatbogs allergies were alright as well, which was a relief seeing as she is heavy allergic to Sam rabbit. Jen-Y was an absolute riot and being hilariously offensive at the end of the night <3

On Sunday, I took my mum to The Rogano for Easter lunch and also for her birthday, seeing as she will probably go out with her pals on Friday. The meal was beautiful as usual, the service was amazing, I love The Rogano. After we went shopping and I bought her some presents and then we ended up in some pub at Eglinton Toll called Maxwell Road. It was alright, totally reminded of this pub that me, findfound and Ooster went to in Saltcoats for a lock in. Mums pals were there and her ex also made an appearance, thankfully I had to leave around that time. Guaranteed she is back with him again, sick of this shit.

I plan to take this week easy, as I have one more essay due for next Monday, so I am just going to go out for lunch with Fiona on Wednesday.

Went back to my running last week as well, when I left when I hurt my knee we were running/walking a few miles and when I returned we had to run 4.5 miles straight :| I managed it though and I did another 3.2 miles on Wed around Tollcross Park and managed to rope McLeary into doing the same route again on Friday.

Tonight I managed 5 miles, though I got mega cramp as my body is full of alcohol. I'll be doing the same again on Wed and I am going to go out on my own on Friday and do the same route. I haven't really been loosing any weight, which was my aim at the start of all this, but I have been eating like a pig. I am more interested in completing the 10K and just being fitter overall. I am going to attempt again this week to eat a bit healthier as the holidays are totally runing me and all I am eating is food from restaurants/pubs or eating pizzas. Need to sort that out.

Anyway, what alot of typing! Happy Easter!

badgerparade @ 2009-03-27T10:37:00

2009-03-27T11:10:04Z

Haven't updated in a while, eh!

So after slagging off my boyfriend the whole weekend that he should stop going on about having the "flu" & should "get over it", I wake up to find that I have the cold that he was suffering from and it's AWFUL! I take back all those awful things I said! Crazy ear ache and horrible sore throat, thumbs down.

Been in the flat since Sunday and was only yesterday that I started feeling slightly better and last night I managed to have a full nights sleep! That was the main thing that was getting me down, waking up every hour is not fun :(

Also, because he is lovely, Graeme is taking me out for dinner tonight to the Thai Fountain @ Woodside Crescent tonight. We went there for Valentines last year and it was ace, and thai food is awesome so I can't wait.

University is going not too bad, I got 86% on my last pathophysiology test and I thought I had done pretty badly in it, still got another one in a few weeks time as well as an essay to hand in.

Managed to hand in my sociology essay on time after struggling with it all week: "Outline some of the main ways in which gender identities are socially constructed" - I DON'T CARE. I have no idea what I was babbling on about in it as I was mainly doped up on Lemsip and painkillers, so we'll see how hilarious my marks are when I get that back.

Also I need to start looking at research papers as well as I have a research report due in 3 weeks time.

Basically all my course work is coming at once right now, I hate this time of year :(

Work is still alright, bit weird going into wards every weekend and having no idea how they work and what their staff dynamic is, but as long as I keep my head down and just try to help as much as possible, it's all good. If I hate the ward, I don't need to go back. I'm in orthapedic surgery (blah) @ the Victoria and the renal dialysis unit @ Gartnavel this coming week.

Not much else has been happening, been out to the Classic Grand a couple of times, but it's getting old hat and I am getting bored of it, fewer and fewer people I actually like seem to go out. On the other hand, got Jen-Y's birthday party at the old flat coming up and before that we are going to Graeme's aunts house for one of her legendary meals. I have missed every one of them before and they sound awesome, but this time I get to go, yey!

Right, better jump in the shower as I am meeting Fiona & Simon for some chat and a wander around town.

PS - Spotify is pretty awesome, eh!

badgerparade @ 2009-03-11T19:01:00

2009-03-11T19:12:03Z

So I got up this morning and we managed to get tickets for mother fucking Michael Jackson! Pretty damn awesome, can't wait to say that I have seen him live! Googled some pictures of him earlier cause sometimes I forget how fucked up his face is.

Bolk.

Then I booked this lovely hotel in London for us to stay in:

I love going to London.

I have a hill of studying to do and so many assessments and essays coming up, but I can't motivate myself at all. So many people in the same boat right now. This time of year is shiiit. Roll on the summer.

badgerparade @ 2009-03-06T14:13:00

2009-03-06T14:32:21Z

WE HAVE THE INTERNET IN THE FLAT, YEY!

So, I am not going to Sweden anymore :( Veronica came up to me in class the other week and told me she wasn't able to afford it. So that night, I looked at my finances and it looked like I would be scraping by and pretty much relying on getting decent funding from the University. So I have decided to give it a by.

Yeah, I am gutted, but I need to be sensible. I have saved up over £1000 as it is and that can clear my overdraft in one go. The thought of having both my credit cards cleared AND my overdraft makes me feel so happy, as every year I worry that the bank are going to get rid of this overdraft and I can do nothing, as realistically I have had this student account for near on 8 years and they have every right to do that.

Plus I will be moving into the flat with Graeme in September so I owe it to him to have as little debt as possible for it, as I don't want money being issue or for myself to find that I am struggling.

My knee is still wobbly :( that has been a week now and it is still the same throbbing pain every day. I find it hard sitting in one position as I need to move it about and stretch it. Plus it doesn't help that we live on the 3rd floor and the Saltire Centre is full of stairs and I need to go to University. I just want to get back into my running and to do some swimming. I nearly cried last time I weighed myself so I have been really trying with my diet so the only thing I need now is exercise.

I'm looking forward to my summer so much. I get to move in with Graeme properly (even though I am here nearly every day :|) and my days off we can spend them together, we are both so busy, busy at the moment that it will be nice to have a summer without any real responsibilities. There's been talk of going to Germany for a few days and then I will probably go to London again for the tattoo convention or maybe in June for mother fucking Michael Jackson (fingers crossed for tickets!).

I have now left the care home as well and I am working in the hospitals. It is such a novelty just phoning up with your avaliability and picking and choosing your shifts. I am taking this weekend off as I haven't had one off since last year and I deserve a wee break. Going to go to the Classic Grand on Saturday I think.

Been to the cinema recently and saw Vicky Cristina Barcelona & Watchmen at MIDNIGHT in Cineworld. The things I do for my boyfriend. The film was pretty good though, I should probably read the comic, eh!

Hope everyone is well :)

badgerparade @ 2009-03-02T12:09:00

2009-03-02T12:14:04Z

So I've hurt my left knee and I was going to the Doctor for an unrelated matter, but I brought it up with him. Looks like I have sprained the medial ligament in my knee :(

I've been hobbling about for the past few days, but now I am to miss 2 weeks of my running group :( gutting. Going to go swimming instead, if I get lazy now I'll never go back!

Going to make meatballs tonight, trying to find recipes online :)

badgerparade @ 2009-02-24T12:17:00

2009-02-24T12:37:51Z

In University the now killing some time before my sociology seminar. I hate sociology so, so much.

Been pretty busy, couple of main things happening for me was going to see my Gran and Granda in Edinburgh (my Dads mum & dad). My Granda was recently in hospital and NO ONE told us. I don't speak to my Aunt or Uncle much as I am still hurt by the fact they saw my Dad once in the weeks leading up to him passing. If that was anyone that close to me I would be there every day if I could. So anyway, they didn't tell us. Cheers.

Anyway - my Gran has got dementia and it's a bit more advanced than I first thought and my Granda is disabled, but has all his faculties about him. It is a really tough situation especially since they were always so independant, the house was immaculate etc and now everything is falling a bit at the wayside. More upsetting is the fact, I don't really have a say in their care or putting forward any ideas regarding it. If my Dad was here, then yeah sure, but he's not, so I'll just do what I can, visit more often, help clean up, help with meals etc. Bummer.

I was also out on Sunday night with my friend Leesa and a Swedish nursing student called Lena. She is over here on exchange and with myself, Leesa and Veronica going away this summer to Sweden it was nice to talk to her and see what the hospitals are like over there and what not. Pretty hilarious that her first night club she has been to in Glasgow was The Garage...and she loved it, aww. We went to Ashton Lane had food and drink and it was all very civilised and lovely.

I've also met up with Peatbog to see NOTORIOUS, which was a lol. We looked like an old couple with our coffee's and rocky road in a cinema full of OG's.

Went to see Fiona and Heather recently too and make funny pictures on her Mac, going to miss some lectures today and meet up for some sushi, since she is on a health kick.

Not really been out much as I have been working shifts in the Royal whilst I finish up my notice period in the BUPA care home. I was in gastro and the amount of ill women from liver disease is pretty horrible :( opens your eyes sometimes! Think I will be going out for a 2nd year student nurses night out that my mate is sorting out, so that should be a riot.

Still doing my running, I feel like a cripple today as my legs are so stiff. Got my new swimming costume through as well, so going to do some lengths after I finish up my running at 730pm. I have also entered and paid for the Ladies 10K in May, so there is no backing out of it now!

Also I'm STILL WAITING ON OUR BT HOME HUB >:( for the flat. Grr.

badgerparade @ 2009-02-12T18:36:00

2009-02-12T19:03:22Z

Hello!

Been very busy as usual, though I have been managing to catch up with people a bit more in the past couple of weeks.

I met up with Fiona and we had lunch and sat and drank in Rufus for most of the day. I haven't done anything like that in ages, but it was loads of fun. Her Mum popped in for a few, then Rozzy came in and then I met up with Graeme for the cinema. I don't know what I was watching, I must've fallen asleep, I was half cut.

Jen-Y and Peatbog were also round at the flat for a drink recently, but I had totally forgot Peatbog was allergic to my Sam rabbit & after her wheezing for 10mins, we thought it was best to bail and go to the Y flat, RABBITGATE. Was a hilarious night, me and Jen-Y were pretty hammered after I had half demolished a bottle of rum and I kept getting angsty about Coleen and her "Real Women" programme. I hate Coleen.

I wish the snow was gone now, it's started to do my head in with this half snow/ice stuff. However snow is awesome when it means my boyfriend does ~~gay~~ nice things like this:

(That's the view out the kitchen window on the third floor, haha!)

We're also getting the internet in the flat on Monday, which is going to be great. Everytime I am online a feel like I am weeks behind with catching up with everything!

I started my running at Tollcross Sports Centre yesterday. I thought there would be only be like, 5 people there. Turns out there was about 25! So I ran/walked (3mins of each x 4) 2 miles in the freezing cold last night, but it was great. They have a whole training plan for the next 12 weeks that trains you up, so by the end of it I will be running a full 10k, just in time for the Ladies 10k in Bellahouston Park. I am also to fit in some other form of exercise other than running twice a week, so I am going to start up swimming on Friday morning since I am off University. I do love exercising, I just hate gyms. I don't know why I haven't done something like this sooner!

Anyway, I am off to watch more Mad Men. I am addicted, haha.

badgerparade @ 2009-02-02T09:50:00

2009-02-02T09:53:17Z

It's snowing! & there are still flurry's. Typical, when I have a million things to do in town today, but never mind! I thought I wouldn't get to use my ear muffs again!

Positivity!

2009-02-01T22:26:37Z

I got my exam marks for semester A! I got 68% for my module in Health and Illness in Adult Life and 74% in my pain management essay. So overall I got 71%! Put that in your pipe and smoke it! I was really chuffed with the essay especially since I put alot of work into this time around, so I can do if I put my mind to it.

My timetable this semester is awesome as I am off Mondays & Fridays (Y).

As a wee treat, Graeme & I went to La Vita in town and it was lovely. What a nice boyfriend.

Been buying so many DVDs recently as well as going to the cinema. Recent DVDs are:

Cinema wise I have seen Che: Part One, The Wrestler, Role Models, Milk, Frost/Nixon and also In Bruges since this week Cineworld are showing some BAFTA nominated movies, so I am also going to see Hunger and Man On Wire this week, before trying to catch up on Slumdog Millionaire and Doubt when it comes out.

Milk made me cry though :*(

Last night I got to hang out with Fiona, Simon, Heather and Jen, which was awesome. I haven't seen them all in so long and I was feeling pretty crappy/blue about it, but things are all good now. I feel like this course sometimes ends up taking over my life as you are expected to work full time hours on placement AND fit in part time hours to get by AND fit in all the shitty things in life like getting your hair cut, going to the dentist/bank/doctor, paying bills AND also have a social life AND study for exams and prepare essays etc.

I have also been finding that I am running out of money quicker and quicker these days, so I have my training for the NHS this week so hopefully I can start to do extra shifts in the hospitals.

I am also going into town to pay my money for the running course I am doing. I want to do the Ladies 10k this May, but I haven't done running/exercise in ages so I am joining up with one of the running groups that meet twice a week. It costs £55, but it runs for 12 weeks so it all pans out. I feel like I need to spend some of my energy on actually doing some exercise rather than concentrating it all on studying and having a social life. I am sure I will feel better for it.

Busy, busy, busy. Hope you are all well <3

badgerparade @ 2009-01-08T20:34:00

2009-01-08T20:52:00Z

I have an exam tomorrow and I am sitting about waiting on ER (yey!) to start, geez, not good form at all.

TBH there isn't much more I can do now as I did the past papers yesterday so it is just a case of reading over some notes and praying for a bit of luck that the questions I want come up. The monk I visited today with my district nurse said he would pray for me, haha. I think I need it!

I got a wee package in the post today which contained a whale and a pig necklace. I bought it after looking for a whale necklace online and I bought the pig for a bit of fun. If anyone can point me in the direction of more silly whale necklaces it will be most appreciated :)

I had more dental surgery today and I was really worried my mouth would be all bloody and sore, but so far so good and it's holding together well.

Just as well because it is Graeme and I's two year anniversary tomorrow! It will be awesome, as will spending the weekend together. And he is taking me out for dinner tomorrow night, lovely.

badgerparade @ 2008-12-30T20:24:00

2008-12-30T21:01:04Z

Merry Christmas!

So, I had a pretty awesome time. On top of all the lovely stuff I got from my family, you know the usual bits and bobs like pyjamas & smelly stuff, I got a Panasonic Lumix FS5 digital camera, Harry Hill's TV Burp, Bill Bailey - Tinselworm & Russell Brand - Ponderland DVD's. As well as Kanye West & Fall Out Boy albums, indulging all my guilty pleasures. And some lovely Ghost perfume from Graemes parents.

I also got loads of other things, but I won't bore you with that. The cutest thing I got was this little badge:

From Graeme again. I love little things like that!

Other than that, I haven't been up to much other than relaxing, which is what it is all about I suppose.

I spent the day with Peatbog yesterday where we went to the Trans Euro Cafe and had lovely brocolli and mustard soup & carrot cake & coffee, yum! Then we went a bit of food shopping and clothes shopping and ended up in Stereo having a few drinks. Graeme met up with us later as well. A good day all in. I got a nice new big purple bag and a cute wee flowery dress from Primark.

I have been trying to watch my money at the moment, but it really isn't happening. I am back out in the community doing district nursing on the 5th January, so I know I won't be spending money out of boredom once I am back doing that.

Looking forward to spending the bells in the flat. I have loads of wee party food and smoked salmon and I have even got myself a tiny bottle of champagne. It would be a waste getting a big bottle seeing I would be the only person drinking it.

I was going to type out some of my New Year resolutions, but I think I will save them for once we are actually into 2009 and just try and make an effort to study for my exam on the 9th January :( I think that is resolution enough right now.

Have a great new year!

badgerparade @ 2008-12-20T15:53:00

2008-12-20T15:58:21Z

Much like my old deleted Bebo, I decided to start up a new LiveJournal! Mainly because I don't have enough things online to distract my attention away from studying from and also that fact I actually miss reading about what everyone is up to!

I was going to use my old journal to do that, but it is so full of old rubbish and past history that I rather I just deleted the thing and that was that.

Everything is still same old, same old. Still doing nursing, still with Graeme, still living between East Kilbride and Dennistoun.

Enough about me, how are you? :)