Summer 2007

Well I'm not sure how many people are keeping up with this blog since I got a bit rubbish at posting on it during 4th year. However, we are now well into the summer and it's been an action packed last few months. For one I finished all my final exams, I also passed all my exams and went on to graduate on 27th June, then we had the graduation ball on 29th June, it was a fantastic but very tiring week! then in august I start my new course at Moray House - in secondary education. So I will try my very best to keep the posts regular as I think it will be a very interesting year! So far this summer I've done very little, I'm doing casual work for The Old Course Hotel. I'm getting used to waiting and serving - not had too many disasters yet. not planning on going away anywhere this summer but hopefully next year I'll be able to save up and go somewhere exciting. at the moment I'm up in the Highlands, well the Black Isle to be exact, visiting Leslie. We had a lovely drive up the A9 yesterday, alongside some nutters who were driving on average of 100mph. Today we had a tour of the area and then played tennis for about 2 hours this afternoon under the glorious sunshine!

Enjoy your summers everyone!

End of week 10 beginning of week 11

Right so I didn't quite realise just how fast time moves!! Already in week 11 and I have no more classes but loads of work to do and 3 exams in December. Quality stuff! My friend Becka from America came to visit for a few days on Wednesday until Saturday and we celebrated thanksgiving at Al's flat. It was a great meal and we ate far too much! Got another 21st birthday tonight, so more drinking...

Week 4 - 4th year

4th year so far = fairly hard! I have a fair amount of work to do....rather a lot of reading and some difficult translations however I must admit that I am very much enjoying it! It's great being back in Edinburgh and seeing everyone again! 3rd year was fantastic in France but it's great to be back! Nothing much has changed really. I'm loving my new flat, and it's great being back with my flatmates from 2nd year. The girls are fab! I still keep in touch with people from France. All in all this year looks pretty busy and hectic but also a lot of fun! I'll try my best to keep this updated as much as possible for those of you who are reading it.

Summer

Soooo I have been back for nearly 2 months now. I have worked for most of the summer and took a break last week. I have been down in Edinburgh soaking up the Festival Spirit by seeing a whole load of different shows; whether it be music, dance, comedy or film. One night did involve a random digiridoo (spelling not sure) and drums - that turned into a dance music fest but with a digiridoo instead of computer music. Was random!! This evening I went to a wedding reception as well, which was a nice way to end my week. Back home tomorrow and then I have 1 week of work where I get to stand and look pretty in a tartan skirt and speak a little bit of French. They were unfortunately sold out of mini kilts!!! DAMN!!

Not long to go now!

It's just over a week until I return back to Scotland! I really can't wait to get back and see everyone again, I've missed you all! But also I am sad to think that I am leaving France, it has been my home for 8 months now. Well my weekend got off to a cracking start last Friday, where I went to someone's houes for a BBQ and ended up drinking rather a lot of wine, and a spirit that tasted of apples and some really strong alcohol that I should never drink again!! Ahem yes the gathering went on until about 3.30am then I woke up 4 hours later - I was very very unwell in the morning. I certainly paid for that night. I spent the whole of Saturday sleeping, got up at 4pm, did nothing, then slept that night for 11 hours. Getting a taste for the odd glass or bottle of wine after being here. I'll be sure to bring a few bottles of wine, cider and other interesting things back with me. Pretty easy week at school, with quite a few pupils not there and the classes have all ended so all we do is play games and watch dvds. I also stand around and chat to the English teacher, which is always fun. As Mike had said, time really flies, I can't believe that my 8 months here is almost over. It has been great fun and my French is a lot better. I've become partial to the "apero" now so I'll be starting it as a trend in Scotland. Basically, people come round, you drink, you eat nibbles and you talk. Something very French. This Friday I have an apero at my house, then on Saturday I think I am going to a BBQ. Next week I will eventually have to start packing my suitcase...fingers crossed that it isn't too heavy!

So I'm looking forward to seeing you all in a weeks time, I'll post something before I leave!

2 weeks of being a tourist...

Well I have just bid "farewell" to my last guest. Lyndsay was the first to arrive on the 19th May. On her first night we had an apero with my landlords from below. They were attempting to speak some English and Lyndsay dusted off the cobwebs and spoke some French. On the Saturday we visited Vannes, the photo on the left, and then Lorient. Then the Sunday we went to visit Port Louis and Larmour Plage. Although the weather wasn't too nice, it wasn't cold either. It was fantastic having Lyndsay here, we got caught up on any news, and she met most of the people I know here. On the Tuesday she got the school experience, by spending the whole day at the collège. I think it was an eye opening day, and she finally got to see where I worked.

Al joined us on 24th May, and on his first night we had an apero as well. This one involved 10 adults, 3 children, 1 dog and lots of wine drinking. I made some cucumber sandwiches for the soirée, and drank rather a lot of wine. I was just getting into the French spirit. The next day was followed by a group trip to McDonalds, this time only 6 adults and 3 kids. On the Friday, Lyndsay's last day, we visited Carnac, a very touristic town, and Quiberon. The photo on the right was taken at Quiberon, on the "wild side". There are two sides; the sea is calm on one side and really wild on the other. Even the trees are bent into a diagonal position because of the wind. I caught this wave as it came crashing through some rocks. Quiberon feels like it is the end of the world. If you look on a map you will see it sticking out from the bottom of Brittany, it is right at the end where it meets the ocean. On the same day we visited the standing stones at Carnac. Al, also, had to brush up on his French, and did quite a good job of speaking to people.

All in all it was a fantastic two weeks with both Al and Lyndsay here. Thanks to them both who came to visit me. I hope they enjoyed it. Just wanted to say "bon voyage" and safe journey back to Mike. I will be returning home in 3 weeks time, on the 23rd June.

Hope to see you all then for some sort of gathering!! (I mean I'll be expecting my welcome home party of course!!)

1 month to go

Well it's been too long since I last posted something. I just found out today that one of my texts from my specialist subject has been dropped! Yes! That means I only have 8 to do instead of 9! Well that's not too bad. I've nearly finished one of them, so only 7 to go. My first week back was quite uneventful, I went to Brest on Wednesday to Oceanopolis (I think is how it is spelt). There are 3 or 4 different aquariums, that have all sorts of sealife in them. It's basically like a massive Deep Sea World, with penguins and everything. I saw some huge fish, bit scary if you were just swimming casually and you saw that beneath you. Also, wasn't so keen when I saw a giant spider crab, the biggest in the world, they can span up to 3m! Other than that I have just been doing the usual stuff, chilling around the flat and counting down the days until Lyndsay comes to visit me! She arrives on Friday so I am really looking forward to it! Then a week today Al arrives as well. It'll be great having some visitors - they will be my first visitors from Scotland since I got here! I have a month left here, it has passed so quickly!

Well best get on with something productive, have a good week everyone!