What's New With You?

SO, we all know I'm not good at this blog thing- it's never up to date... But this week I'm feeling like giving it another go, and trying to aim to make my blog a bit more regular. So in my first attempt to do this, here's a cheeky view on what's new with me!

I've been on holiday! (Although it seems like an age ago now...) Waaayyyyy back in June, I took a cheeky 10 day trip to Gran Canaria, for my cousin Jord's 21st birthday! Naturally this all-inclusive extraviganza led to lots of eating, drinking and late nights- oh, and a bangin' tan! Our hotel was lovely, and overlooked the coast, and even boasted a roof-top bar and pool! We saw in Jord's birthday celebrating some religous fesival (no idea what it was called...) which was fab- and involved fireworks and running into the see at midnight! But my fav part of the holiday has to be parasailing! It's something I've always wanted to do but have never had the bollocks too, but after a chat with my Auntie Linda it was a go ahead! AND IT WAS AMAZING!

Having been back in the ocuntry a mere 24 hours, I was then reunited with my partner in crime, Claudia. Having broke up from uni at the beginning of May, I hadn't seen her for a month or so, so naturally we were excited to see each other! We were off to London again, this time to see New Designers! We spent a good 3 hours wondering around the exhibition, admiring all the fab graduate work, and wondering how the hell I'm going to cope with the work load over the next year! I gathered hundreds (and I mean hundreds...) of business cards, and spoke to ever knit student I could find!

After the exhibiton, we went off to be general tourists. we started at Buckingham Palace, where Claudia cried at the sight of the Queen leaving... We then drifted between Trafalga Square, Houses of Paliment, and Covent Garden, before ending up at my fav place, Camden Market, to meet Em for a bev and food! TOP DAY!

I've also been learning to ride a horse! I did it for a while when I was younger, but stopped because I had one summer when I was little where my hayfever was horrific... But our Livs got a beaut, and I've even got to trotting with her! Which is an achievement cos she doesnt like many people... (both Liv and the horse)

It was also Liv's prom! I can't believe how much she's grown up! I took her for a cheeky Spoons, because that's how all good nights start, to get her hair done, and then waded through the crowds to get photos of her getting out of Grandad Rog's car!

Oh and also, I'm having a nightmare- I'M NOW IN MY 20s! I had a fab weekend to celebrate, with the best of people! But as I'm not sure how I feel about being 20... well, I'll have to keep you informed!

So here's to many more bevs, a final year at uni, and whatever the next year of being 20 leads too!

Bethan Rose x

An sneaky peak at an interesting week...

SO with second year over and my lil' work experience stint over, what would I do with my little life? After a drive home in quite possibly THE worst storm the A38 has ever seen, I was back in T-Town (Tamworth LOL) ready to start my Summer!

And here's a sneaky peak at the last week!

SUNDAY

Summers great- I love it! And it means I get to travel to all kinds of exciting cities around the UK through work, starting with an old fav- LEEDS. Due to my own decisions, this was only a flying visit- as in I got of the train, found my hotel and had a very very long power shower. But the was ok, because what a view my MASSIVE bed had!

MONDAY

Monday I was at work- the main and only reason I was in Leeds... It was your average day within the work of admin, a good day even. Everything ran smoothly, I was in a good mood... Thought I'd treat myself to a Starbucks at the train station. And then in the walk from Starbucks to the Platform, my water bottle decided to release a tidal wave in my bag... SHITEMARE!! But at least I'd had some beauts views on the way to work that morning...

TUESDAY

Another average day at work. I mean average... I was only working half a day and yet still managed to do nothing with the other half. Did read a few mags on the train though, to compensate for the lack of headphones due to the previous days tsunami....

WEDNESDAY

Wednesday I popped back over to uni, to drop some flowers in to Janie- the lovely lass who gave me a bit of work experience. Also to pick up some of my stuff, been as I've got to move out soon... Despite having a lovely lunch with Megs, I completely forgot to take a picture of the beauts nachos we ate in the sun, so here's a pic of a surprising empty bowling green...

THURSDAY

Thursday was supposed to be a quiet day, spent enjoying the one week of British summer. That didn't happen- turns out my bezzie mate and flat mate for the past 2 years, Joe, has blagged himself a placement, just 5 minutes from my house! He popped in for a drink after his interview, and I've never seen him so happy! He moves down in about a month, and I have to say I'm quite excited about him living around the corner! I didn't get a pic, so here's a cheeky throwback to the first ever selfie we had!

FRIDAY

Friday I was back at work, in Manchester. Something I haven't yet mentioned was the terrific terror attack the occurred on Monday at an Ariana Grande concern. With 22 dead and many more injured, it was an attack that shook the nation- not just because of the selfish and unjustifiable act of terror, but because the attack was aimed at a concert. A concert who's performer appeals greatly to children and young people...

As terrible as it was, I almost didn't believe it happened. It's my way of dealing with incidents like this- if I know its real, or think about it too much, I let it worry me... And that's what terrorists want us to do. They want us as a nation to be fearful. They want us to avoid cities, public places, concerts... But that's what we shouldn't do!

And this week I have been proud to be British- taxi drivers gave free lifts home to concert go-ers, people who have never donated began donating blood, shops and business' donated food for Nurses and Doctors... The British public also raised over 300,000 pounds for a homeless man, who helped the injured and dying after the attack.

But what I found the most touching was the Visual, in Manchester city centre. I'd seen it on the news, however that is nothing compared to overwhelming amount of flowers, cards, flowers and balloons which could be found there. It really does highlight how much people care, and how even a city branded as 'Broken' by the incident, could pull together and stand against such a cowardly attack...

I wish I could have stayed longer than I did, to observe all of the heartfelt messages and flowers, however I was on my way to work, and I decided due to my lack of possession of waterproof mascara, panda eyes where not appropriate...

SATURDAY

Saturday was quite a chilled day, spent in the pub drinking wine in a beer garden with my family to celebrate my Aunties birthday! Unfortunately the weather wasn't as nice as the rest of the week, but thanks to a massive umbrella we were still able to have a laugh!

SUNDAY

This was the day I'd been looking for- you CANNOT beat a bank holiday Sunday night out! And we were of to a foam party! I'd never been to one before, but I loved it! Was a proper laugh, and really nice to get the gang back together! (Well most of them!)

SO there you go- my week!

Bethan Perry x

Mom's the word!

And yes, I do say mom. Or occasionally mam if I've been hanging round my Northern mates to much. Mom. Mam. Mum. Mother. Whatever you call her, today's a day to celebrate ya' birth giver! But not everyone's got a mom. Some people's moms have sadly died. Some have fell out with them. Some people don't know who there mom is. Personally, being lucky enough to have a fab relationship with my mom, i use today to celebrate and thank her for everything she does for me n my bro. But in all honesty, it doesn't matter which mother figure in your life you're celebrating! Here's my top gals! 💁

Mom. 👪

My moms my rock. She's me bezzie mate. She's the one I can ring in a panic. In a strop. She's the one who picked me up from uni in my first year whenever I had a wobble and wanted to go home for the reason. She's the one who's only worked part time since me and my brother were born, to make sure she could give us as much attention and time as she could (though personally I think she just likes the 4 day weekend now we're older!). She's the one who picked me up the first time on got drunk, drunk, and put me to bed after I puked and bust my nose head butting a toilet (not my proudest moment, but we've all been there...). The list could go on. She's my everything, and I honestly couldn't be without her! No words can describe how much she means to me, I love her so much!

Nan. 👴

3 kids. 9 grandkids. 5 great-grandkids. Nan. Or Nanny Mo- depends who you ask! She's my other bezzie! Whenever I ring her she's always up for a chat- whether it be a moan about the weather, the neighbours, her knees, or just to tell me who's dies that week in the local paper (crude but the deaths page is the first thing she checks!). She looked after us when we were little if mom and dad were at work, and they were many of summer-holiday days me, Tom (my bro) and our cousin Jord played pretend in her back garden out of the endless scraps of carpet and bits and bobs out of the shed... Not to forget 'the goody box'- an age old tradition on the Hopkins side of the family, a big box of chocolates and 'crap' to send all the kids hyper! Still exists to this day... think it's the only reason Tom visits!

Grandma. 👼

I loved my grandma. I still do. But sadly it's always the best ones who died to soon... we used to spend school holidays with her and my grandad, playing trivial pursue, or making things. Every visit entailed a glass of vim to in my Alice and wonderland mug and a pack of salt and vinegar crisps. Every sleep over brown toast and grapes for breakfast. Every Christmas- multi-coloured lights, chocolate baubles and cards taped down the back of the doors. Things you take for granted at the time, but remember for years. My whole family always encouraged me to go down the creative route, for as long as I can remember, but there was a felt pen portrait I did one Christmas that my gran displayed in the living room until the day she died. It was terrible! But she loved it, and I loved her for it!

Aunties. Who aren't Aunties. 👭👭👭

I know? Sounds weird? But my parents group of mates, they're like mothers to me- even if we do call them Auntie. Nikki and Karena have been a permanent fixture in my life for as long as I can remember. I see nikki most weekends when I'm at home- her daughters one of my best mates and her husbands a bit like a father-figure. Although I don't see Karena very often, I know if I'd rang her up now saying I was bankrupt and on the run from the police, she'd pick me up, feed me wine and cheese and hide me in her shed... not in a weird way. And then there's Hiedi, the flapjack making queen! And both Deb and Julie have gave me a job at one point or another! I'm so lucky to have such a good group of gals around me, I know not many people have a support network like I have- even if it does involve a large amount of wine! I'm honestly so grateful!

I know this is all very soppy, but my point is, it doesn't matter whether the strong women in your life are moms, nans, grandma's, aunties, friends, or no relation at all- the point is they're strong women in our life. They support us. They support each other. They make us smile when we're down. They feed us when we're hungry. And they donate wine and cake when you play the 'I'm a poor student until my loan comes through' card! And we need to let them know we appreciate that a bit more often!💪💖

A cheeky photo from our Mother's day out to Lichfield!

Bethan Rose x

PS- I bloody love my dad too, don't get me wrong, but he cant wait his turn and hang on til fathers day!👨