Aaaaw

I have gone absolutely puppy mad the last few years. Any puppy I see I instantly turn into a softie and produce strange babyish noises. I've always wanted a puppy, I used to beg my parents for one, then when I realised that was never going to work I changed tactics and asked for a cat, my plan worked and I got Alex.

Now I'm more than ready for a puppy, in fact I've even narrowed down my options of which breed of dog I want. I want a big dog, I really don't see the point of having a small dog. I want a dog I can play catch with, go for runs/walks with, cwtch (cuddle) and most importantly one that doesn't have an embarrassing bark.

My dream is to have a puppy for Christmas. I've always wanted to get one with a Christmas hat on, cheesy I know but as much as everyone denies it we all love a bit of cheese.

Here's my shortlist:

1)

 I dont think there is a more stereotypical christmas puppy to have than a golden retreiver. I know they are common dogs, but there's a reason for that.. They are perfect! Perfect size, nature, personality and energy levels.

2)

Bernese Mountain Dog is my second choice. Their are a bit bigger than golden retrievers but just as cute, I think they might need a bit more walking though because they are mountain dogs. That's probably the only reason this is my number 2 choice . I like how less common these are.

3)

Good old German Sheppard. All Alsatians I've met have been amazing, their a bag of energy. I could defiantly see myself having one.

4)

I really like Akita's. Their tales are sooo fluffy!! The only problem is I only like the grey and white ones and the ones like in the picture above with a little bit of black. So I'd be nervous to buy one in-case they dont have the right coloring, but I'm sure by that stage I would be so in love with it I wouldn't care.

5)

 I LOVE Huskies!! They never stop being cute, but I don't think with my job it would be fair to have one, I wouldn't be able to walk them as long and often as they need. They still make my shortlist though cause how can you ever say no to those faces!

6)

This little cutie is a Samoyed, one of the most expensive dogs because of how rare they are. But they are worth it. There is one that lives by me and every-time I see it I can totally understand why you would pay so much for it. They actually look like walking marshmallows. Unfortunetly I don't think I'll ever have the money to buy one, and if I did have the money I don't know if I'd want to spend that much on a dog.

I think the biggest dilemma you have with a dog is not what type to get, but what to call it. Cause lets face it, there cant be a more embarrassing thing to do than stand in a public place and have to shout out names like 'buttercup', 'snuggles', 'snowy' or 'fluffy' if your dog does something wrong or runs away.


I love doggie woggies!


 Flossy x

Practice Makes Perfect

I've always wanted to be creative and be one of those people who can make anything out of anything and make fab cards and presents and decorations. Well it's begun, I'm not brilliant..not by a long mark but I'm practicing.

I made Christmas cards for the chirstmas just gone, I made ones for Mike, Mike's family and my Granddad.

 This one was Mike's. I made two pom poms, then fluffed them up by brushing them with a comb and stuck them onto card which was folded so it could stand up. To make the scarf I just made a friendship bracelet, it took me a while to remember how to make it, I was making them all the time at camp. Then stuck on gems and a orange nose. I was chuffed with this little cutie and it was super easy to make as well.

I made two of these cards one for my Granddad and one for Mike's family. This one was trickier. I stuck the black ribbon around the red card and secured it with double side tape, then stuck a white piece of paper over the top to try and hide it.Shame they were different sizes so I had to try and trim them down to match..aargh!  Making the buckle was interesting, I used one of my dad's DIY knifes to cut out the middle, it took a few attempts for me to get it presentable and for my lines to look semi straight. Then I used more double sided tape to stick that down and also to stick the fluff along the top. Boy did that stuff moult, I made such a mess in my living room. I still like this card though and I'm happy ish how it turned out.

I hope everyone liked their cards, and hopefully next years will be better.

I'm making Mike's valentines card now at the moment, I messed up a little on it but I still like the idea of it, and hopefully he'll like it too.

The other thing I wanted to do was cook more, again its slow and steady progress but I MADE A PIE!

The pie had chicken, bacon and potato in it with chicken stock. I think I might have put a bit to much chicken stock in though. Then I just rolled some puff pastry over the top and popped it in the oven for about 35 minutes.. and waalaa. I think I'm going to make it with gravy next time, and with beef instead of chicken. I've never eaten a pie before so I didn't have a clue about how to eat it. Do you eat it with a spoon or a fork?? Safe to say I wont ever eat it on a date or in front of people that I need to impress. I might buy a bib to put on before I eat another one. I dribbled it all down my front. Wasn't my best look but hey a girls gotta eat! 

 On a completely random note... only 28 weeks until I finish University...EEEEEEE!  Only 10 weeks in the classroom, 18 weeks out on placement, 2 essays, 4 exams and one driving test in my way. My holiday after literally cannot come quick enough.

Flossy x

Ouch!

Never again will I take sitting or lying down for granted.

Last week I slipped down the bottom few stairs in my house when I was carrying a washing basket and bruised my coccyx. It seems to be getting worse as well, I've got a big lump there and when I go to the doctors tomorrow if she touches it I honestly don't know if I'll be able to control myself and not lash out. I cant get comfy at all, and whenever I move this pain shoots up my back and down my legs...sympathy please! It doesn't help that I'm on placement right now and sitting in the back of the ambulance when it is bouncing around isn't helping. I know people joke about sitting on doughnut rings but I am seriously considering it. They even have specialist cushions for coccyx pain. I had no idea they even existed. Imagine how cool I'm going to look with one of these bad boys.

I now have the up-most sympathy for people with back pain, and any sort of constant pain for that matter, I miss sleeping! 

My placement is going really well though, I have had the best mentor's throughout my training and they have helped so much in increasing my confidence and knowledge. There is no better way of learning than hands on. So far we have been quite steady with jobs (I'm not going to say the q word). I've had a mix of calls too, which is always good. There's no better feeling than helping a patient even if its just talking to them cause they have no one at home and they're lonely. I'm on placement until the end of February so its quite a long placement. Then I just have lots of exams and essays to do. But August is coming around fast, and the thought of a holiday is what's keeping me going.

Flossy x

Hostess with the Mostess

A week before Christmas one of my friends from camp came to visit. So yet again I played hostess with the mostest to an American. If I keep having Americans in my house the government will be onto me soon.
Tiff had been studying in Greece for a semester and on her way home stopped off in the UK to see what we have to offer. She flew in on the Wednesday night into Birmingham, so my friend Amy picked her up from the airport and she spent 2 days up there with her.

Saturday
Tiff caught the train down to me and arrived around 3:30. In the night we went for a meal in my favourite restaurant 'The Harvester' (not the most upmarket restraunt, but I LOVE it) and then we watched the Cardiff Devils Ice Hockey team play. Tiff had never been to a game before so I was glad I had done something new for her. Luckily the Devils won too.

Sunday
 I took Tiff on a little tour of my town and then down to a few local beaches and bays, it was so windy though and Tiff found it very could so we couldnt stay out for too long. In the night we went ice skating in Winter Wonderland. Tiff said she wasn't good at ice skating.. LIE! she was good, luckily neither of us fell over. When we got home we put up the christmas tree in my conservatory and decorated it, the tree was a bit wonky and had a big bald bit in the middle but I think we did a good job. We finished our day by watching The Devil Wears Prada. I absolutely love that film. I first saw it in London with my mum and Meryl Streep is just amazing in it.

Monday
We had a rain day, so what else is there to do on rainy days than watch films and ... BAKE. On the Wednesday I was going over my other Amy's house for a big christmas day with the girls and wanted to bake cakes so seized my opportunity. I found what I wanted to make on... surprise surprise.. Pinterest. (Which if you still havent yet checked it out you NEED too www.pinterest.com) They didnt quite turn out like the ones on the website but still we tried. I'm sure next year when I make them again, they will be even better. After that we watched the Black Swan. That is one messed up and confusing film! I don't do very well with scary films anyway and especially ones that play with your mind, so after watching that I had an interesting night sleep.

Tuesday
We had a very early wake up call of 4:30! We were going to LONDON! Im more than used to the drive there now, we even stayed in the hotel I go to before I pick up Michael. Our first hurdle was trying to catch a bus to the nearest tube station. Sounds pretty easy right? Nope, none of the buses would stop even though we were stood in the bus stop with our hands somewhat out. After the 7th or 8th bus went past Tiff had learnt not to be so polite so frantically waved down the next bus. No one likes to chat or take their time in London, we got told to hurry along by some miserable old women when we were trying to ask the bus driver which stop we had to get off at. Eventually we managed to get into central London, (Tiff slept all the way on the tube) and then my tour finally began. I did the same route I took Mike on. Started at Hyde Park then walked to Buckingham palace, then walked down the Mall to Trafalgar square. We walked around Covent Garden for a little bit and found a little cafe to get some food cause we were starving!! I payed £15 for a bacon sandwich and a tiny glass of coke, I don't like London prices, no wonder everyone there is so skinny. We then had to go and meet Amy who was catching the train down to meet us. Once we were all reunited we carried on walking around. I have found my new favourite place as-well, Camden. It is amazing, all the shops are real quirky and they decorate the outside of the shops amazingly. There is a big market there, and they were selling dresses for £10 I easily could have bought 10 dresses. They were so pretty! I'll be taking a trip back there next time I go and have a bit more money to spend. For the rest of the day we walked around the eye, Big Ben, Houses of Parliment, Dowing street and Westminster Abby. So with very sore feet we went back to the hotel. Then went to a pub for some food. I was absolutely exhausted so fell asleep straight away when we got back.

Wednesday
Another early wake up call of 5:00.. OUCH! We dropped Tiff off and did the dreaded goodbye. It was really nice to see her, and hopefully it wont be the last time. I dropped Amy off in Reading station on the way home and then quickly had to get ready to go over Amy's for our Christmas day.

It was a really nice few days, I always like catching up with people and reminiscing about 'old times'.

Flossy x

2012

Happy New Year!!

For New Years Eve me and a big group of  friends went on a pub crawl and played pub golf. Every pub you go to has a delegated drink and a par that goes with it, so if the pub is a par two you have to drink that drink in 2. At the end of the night everyone totals up their points to see who the winner is. However normally everyone is too drunk to remember what they did let alone their par. I didn't drink, I just watched it all, and had a good laugh at everyone. It was fancy dress as-well, so everyone had to dress up as golfers. There was checked and stripped clothing everywhere not forgetting the good old sleeveless jumpers and polo shirts. I managed to find a polo shirt and was amazed when I managed to fit into an aged 11-12 boys top!

The course got the better of a few of my friends and they were tucked up in bed sleeping before midnight. I came home before midnight and had a chinese with my brother and his girlfriend and watched the London fireworks on the telly. They were so good! I would love to have been there to watch them, maybe one year who knows.

The big thing about the new year is new years resolutions, something which I have never been good at. All the ones I have tried in the past I have failed miserably at. So this year I set myself realistic ones and ones which I will really enjoy doing.

1. Graduate and become a fully qualified Paramedic.
2. Keep the weight off that I have lost.
3. Work out at least twice a week.
4. Spend as much time as possible with friends and family. 
5. Be as happy as I am right now this time next year.

I might struggle with number 5 for a few days now, seen as I have an essay to write. But it's the only way I'm going to achieve number 1 so I'm just going to get on with it. Also if I get as much of my work for the whole year done as soon as I can, it means the next time Mike comes over I can spend more time with him. Hopefully his next visit wont be too long away at all, but he is busy and has a lot going on so who knows. Just got to keep my fingers crossed. 

Flossy x