Boyfriend or travel

Apologies for being absent for the last couple of weeks. I've been swamped with work, and needed to take some time to gather my thoughts. January is such a depressing month at the best of times, and I feel a little like I need to re-evaluate where my life is taking me.

I've been thinking about travel a lot recently. I've looked into travelling to different places, and definitely want to improve my Spanish. I don't want to take time out of my career, but being a teacher thought I could use it abroad. I've been looking into teaching abroad. I don't want to do TEFL (teaching English as a foreign language) as generally it's badly paid and attracts a lot of youngsters. I have discovered though that I could use my teaching qualification and complete fully paid teaching abroad, if I use the right websites.

I've decided what I would really like is teaching GCSE English in Mexico. I loved Mexico when I visited for a few weeks, and I could improve my Spanish whilst working. I visited a website and they offer basically the same amount, or more, than I am currently being paid to qualified teachers to teach the same thing over there in what seems to be a private school for those who want English qualifications. Students would likely be more motivated and keen to learn.

The only thing holding me back is my boyfriend, dog and house. It's a tricky situation. Do I travel, and leave my boyfriend behind, risking that in not seeing me for months that we will grow apart, or stay and regret not having achieved things I want to in life. I have always wanted to live abroad for a period of time, and I need to do this before I have children. If I go for 9 months, I was hoping he could come and visit for a couple of months in the middle to break up the time apart. I wouldn't even consider going if I was worried about our relationship or didn't trust him, but I think we would be ok. It's always a worry though.

how do you feel about travelling? Would you travel without your boyfriend or partner?

Single Vs Family

I went on holiday with my mother last week to the Lake District (it was as hard work as it sounds). We stayed in a gorgeous hotel with a spa, gym, pool, sauna and steam room as well as an outdoor hot tub.

Mum forgot to tell me there was a pool so firstly we had to dash to Fat Face to get this beauty:

Fatface £35

Once I got into the pool I decided to swim a few lengths. The problem was children continuously started playing in my way. Some parents noticed, and told their children to watch out, but mostly they continued to get in my way. I know I sound like an old scrooge, but all I wanted to do is swim a few lengths and it was impossible.

I got over that, and went to use the steam room, which was lovely (and empty of children). When I returned to the pool, it was empty. Fantastic, I could concentrate on swimming. Yet, quickly more children began to enter the pool and play, this time with their parents. Both parents and children proceeded to move into my way every time I swam a length, as if I was coming from nowhere each time. It's very simple - I swim from one end of the pool, to the other.

I began to feel that I could really relate to single women. Although I'm not single, I was using the pool alone, surrounded by families with children. I'm sure lots of single women want to give to hotels and use facilities, and yet they're overtaken by families with children who seem to assume the facilities are there for them to use, and they take precedence over single adults. I felt really lonely and outnumbered. I also felt slightly annoyed. Have you seen that episode of Sex and The City where Miranda uses the gym and it's full of children? I felt like that!

'He likes to push the button.' 'So do I'.

To top it off, every time I looked out at the outdoor hot tub it was full of families taking ages enjoying the warm tub outside. For the first two visits to the pool, I was too scared to try to get a position in the hot tub. Yet, on the third visit, I decided to be brave. I sat in a chair facing the window where the family (2 parents, 2 children) had been merrily playing for at least 20 minutes. The mother noticed me, and they proceeded to leave the hot tub. They looked slightly put out that they were being forced to leave the hot-tub for just one person to sit in there alone, but I thought to myself 'I've paid to use these facilities. I have every right to use them.'

I sat in the hot tub for about 15 minutes, enjoying the peaceful view over the river and the hot water with the cold air, and felt proud of myself for making sure I got the opportunity. Families shouldn't automatically have priority over facilities just because someone has chosen not to have children. And, when I got out the hot-tub, guess who went in after me? A single person on their own. I like to think I gave them the courage to use the hot-tub alone if they wanted to. 

How do you feel about single people in family environments?

Snape Maltings

I went to Suffolk this weekend. I'm only posting a short post today, as I'm off on holiday in the morning (4am yikes!). Here are my favourite photos from Snape Maltings.

Snape Maltings is really beautiful with lots of sweet little items from the home. There's also a lovely walk near the maltings which the dog enjoyed too! He didn't much enjoy waiting outside the shops though.

Glenstock 2013

In my local village they have a few community events. They have a wheelbarrow race, lots of films and events at the village hall, Zumba classes, and best of all.... Glenstock!

This weekend (July 6th) will be my first Glenstock. The things that are mostly attracting me are the ale tent, live music and sunshine. Who says you need to travel hundreds of miles to Glastonbury and pay hundreds of pounds to get a great festival experience. I can have it all in a ten minute walk from my house! I can spend the day drinking in the sun and stroll home drunk and flop into bed. Golden!

This year Glenstock festival has an Evenessence tribute band, a BBQ, fire performers (I don't think these are connected) and people on stilts! If you're not into drinking and music and you have young children, or you don't, there will be lots of children's activities too.

The line up, confirmed on allevent website is:

Dan Freestone
Fallen – A tribute to Evanescence
Sulley
Joe Public
Tristan Maxted
Elizabeth Cornish
Guilty Pleasures
Corinna Jane
Nameless
Liaison

If you are coming, I hope to see you there! I'll be the girl with a drink in one hand, a hot dog in the other, and a German Shepherd dog by my feet (and obviously a gorgeous boyfriend by my side!).

Be prepared for lots of Glenstock photos next week. Hope to see you there!

UK Festivals: the weird and the delicious

For a long time I have wanted to go to a cheese festival. I love cheese, and trying new types in the sun while drinking cider or wine is pretty much my idea of a well-spent afternoon. Here are some festivals around the UK I would like to visit given half the chance.

Glastonbury Festival

Obviously, the king of festivals, Glastonbury is an experience I am yet to have. I was intitally worried about the shoddy toilet facilities, drug-taking and crowds (I hate big crowds of people), but I think it would be worth it, and I've since realised you don't have to spend the whole day trying to get as near to every stage as possible, like when you were a teenager at gigs. Perhaps next year I'll grab myself a ticket.

Sausage and Beer Festival

It sounds like a man's dream, but I'd like to get in on this. It's held at Jimmy's Farm in Suffolk and the festival is on the 27th and 28th of July. Sounds good to me!

Cheese and Cider Festival

On this weekend! Somerset's Cider and Cheese festival is held at Crickiter Farm in Somerset and the name says it all - cider, yum, and cheese, double yum. I only found out about this one today and I'm visiting my Mum at the weekend, otherwise I would have dragged the boyfriend (and dog) down there for some cheese in a field!


The Chocolate Festival

If there's one way to overcome the winter blues in December, it's sipping award winning hot chocolate by the Thames. The Chocolate Festival is on on Friday 13th- Sunday 15th December and the photo alone is enough to make me want to visit!

The Yorkshire Pudding Boat Race, Brawby, North Yorkshire

And now for something completely different... no, it's not just a name. People do actually sail in boats made from Yorkshire Puddings at this festival in Yorkshire. The festival is held in June.

Great Glen wheelbarrow race

And finally... in the village where I live, every year they hold a wheelbarrow race. It'll be my first summer living in the village, and I'm really excited for the big day! There's a small one on Saturday the 13th of July, but the big event is on the 31st of August. There'll be a bar and stalls, and then I can roll home (or be wheeled home) drunk as a skunk. Excellent!

Is it ok to cheat on a stag do?

At the moment my boyfriend is away on my brother's stag weekend. Of course, as many women in this situation can probably relate to, the thought 'what if he cheats on me' has crossed my mind. I trust my boyfriend, and I don't think he would cheat, but it's hard to keep out the idea that stag dos are about seeking out women, talking to women and having a wild time.

In fact, stag dos are practically designed to be the ideal scenario for men to cheat. Often they're away from their home town (my brother's stag weekend is in another country), I have heard the phrase 'what happens abroad, stays abroad' used in relation to stag dos, and women groups out partying are aware that men on stag nights are the ideal men to try to pull. In addition to this, most stag parties end up in a strip club at the end of the night, and many involve hiring a stripper. A study conducted by Illicit Encounters suggests a third of men cheat on stag weekends. To be fair, a survey by a company called 'Illicit Encounters' may not be the most trustworthy of sources.

Should I be worried? Probably not. It is by no means forced that men pull on a stag weekend. Obviously, I think my man is the most desirable of the party. Yet, my brother's friends are not the typical loudmouth lads that go out on the pull and chat up women and my boyfriend certainly wouldn't lead people to do this. I am aware that my bloke may end up in a strip club and it is expected that he will watch half-naked women dancing. This I can get over, although it doesn't make me feel overjoyed.

Another stag tradition seems to be the lap dance. Is this something to be concerned about? To be honest, I would be quite upset if he told me he'd had one. It sickens me the idea of a woman grinding herself up against my fella, and him being turned on by this. He wouldn't do this on a normal Saturday night in England, so just because it's a stag do doesn't mean it should be allowed. I would feel a certain amount of pressure just to 'get over it' as it is an expected part of the stag do, everyone else probably did it, and it's not like he cheated. It still makes me feel quite upset though and I'd much prefer he didn't participate. 

I'd like to think as he's away with my brother, my brother would get quite angry if my boyfriend cheated on me. As the stag with a 'last night of freedom' I hope he won't cheat on his fiance, but I think I'd rather not know if he did. I know he's had flings in the past, but only when he was single. I don't think he'd risk breaking up his relationship by messing about with someone else. On the other hand, he does like a drink and I can imagine him being tempted by beautiful women.

Generally, I think these stag weekends are too expensive, set up for men to behave like morons and are just tempting people to cheat on their partners. I think we should go back to the days when the blokes had a beer down the pub with their best mates before they were married. 

What do you think about stag dos? Are hen dos just as bad? How would you feel if your partner got a lapdance?

Devon visit photos

I went to Devon with my Mum, boyfriend, brother and his fiance this week during half term. Here are my favourite photos. It was so adorable! I need a good photo editor to crop some of these photos, but for now, these are them unedited.

Half Term (Finally)

I still don't have internet at home, so unforunately, posts will continue to be few and far between for a little while longer. However, today is the last day of half term so I get a week off (well, where I work I have to book it off, and I've only booked three days off because I don't automatically get time off like flippin school teaches do!). Hooray!

I really really wanted to get things sorted at home during this time. I am just starting to paint a corner cabinet, and I think it's going to look good. I discovered if you just thing "oh sod, it" and paint primer on a surface before you've properly removed the varnish, it doesn't work so I've got to go back to sanding a bit longer, but it's quite enjoyable.

Instead, Mum has booked a cottage in Cornwall for myself, my partner, my brother and his fiance and herself. It should be nice, although it's a hell of a drive from the midlands. The weather isn't looking too promising but I can always burrow away and drink wine with a sea view instead of going for walks. I can handle that. So although I won't be posting for a while, and won't be taking photos of my wonderful new house, I will add some gorgeous photos of Cornwall (or wine and a sofa) when I get back. Hopefully we will have tv and internet then!

So that's the latest. I don't usually do 'this is the latest' posts, I like to have a topic or some sort of issue, but I wanted to explain my absence. I'll get back to normal posting in a few weeks, and will upload some how-to, or how-not-to paint furniture and before and after pictures when the internet is set up. Exciting times! I love being a bit handy.

Really need to get cracking on the Psychology work for my course when the internet starts. It's getting late to begin! Hope I can get it all done in time!

Hope all is well in your own little worlds. And if you have already had your half term... haha! Mine is just beginning!

Things you should think about before getting a dog

I am a dog lover. Not in a creepy 'pictures of dogs on my mousemat sense', but more in that I enjoy walking and playing with a dog and like having one around.

I am moving out of my rented room in a house of 4 and looking for a house for two with my significant other (God knows how he'll put up with me, but he knows what he's getting himself in to!). Obviously one of the thoughts I had was 'We could get a dog!'. Obviously with us both working full-time that may not be an option. Here is my checklist of things to think about before deciding to get a dog, both for your sake and the dog's. Until I am confident with each point, I wouldn't be getting a canine friend.

1. You won't be able to spend weekends away, or you will have to find someone to have your dog

This was a big factor in my thought process. I have only been dating my boyfriend a year. We love going away for weekends and it helps us both cope with stressful jobs. Giving that up right now would be a major downside. We could find people to look after a dog, but this is no easy feat. We don't have friends in a position to do so nearby, and if my Mum had the dog it would mean driving an hour away to drop it off. 

2. You need to own your own home.

This may not be everyone's opinion, but I think owning dogs in rental accommodation is a bad idea. Either you are not allowed a dog and are hiding the fact you have one, or you have it agreed but still risk losing a deposit due to scratched doors and chewed bannisters. Personally I think it is much more appropriate to own your own home before you get a dog.

3. You need to be in most evenings.

Dogs are sociable and they also need walking every day. You need to make sure you are around most of the time for your dog. This also means...

4. You can't work full time or need to come home at lunchtimes

Dogs need the toilet too and leave your dog for hours on end every day is hard on the poor thing. I do know people who leave their dog alone while they are at work and don't pop home for lunch, but in my opinion this isn't fair on the dog. Perhaps it might be slightly fairer if you have two, but it still means they are spending the whole day without a toilet break. I work 40 minutes away so couldn't come home at lunch times and I work full-time. It just wouldn't be fair.

5. You need places for your dog to exercise

 

A big garden helps, but parks and woods to walk in are important too. A dog doesn't want to just run around the same yard every day. The house we have looked at is right near great walks in fields so this would be great. 


6. You need a lot of spare income

Dogs are expensive. Injections are expensive. Operations are expensive. Even a check up at the vets is expensive. Unless you have a stash of cash reserved, you may have to end up leaving your pet without essential animal care. This is how dogs end up in rescue homes. Make sure you have money stashed away. I have some savings, but they need to be used on other things at this point in my life.

7. You need to be sure about your life

This seems a bit general, but I'm thinking of the long-term. If you get a dog, you need to know you don't want to jet off for a year travelling the world at some point in the near future. I would like to spend some time living in Spain, and having a dog would make that either impossible or much more difficult. You even have to know your partner won't get a job suddenly in London where you need to move into a flat because the house prices are too expensive there. My life isn't that settled right now.


I do know people who have ignored these factors and bought a dog in a similar situation to me because they wanted one. Yet, unless you are sure about all these things I think the responsible thing to do is to wait. Dogs are not to be taken lightly, they live for up to 20 years and require a lot of attention and space. I wouldn't even be prepared to get a cat at this point, as I may not be able to give it the care it deserves.

Do you have a pet? Do you agree with my checklist?

Orford in colour

Last weekend I had a wonderful weekend in Orford with 3 of my friends. Here are some photos of this gorgeous place. We caught tonnes of crabs at the harbor, raced them, went for a lovely meal at the oyster restaurant, and stayed in a gorgeous house for free!

BARCELONA!

As promised, here are my favourite photos from my recent trip to Barcelona with the fella. Hopefully you will notice that the picture quality has gone up, because I was using my new camera.

The trip made me want to move to Spain for a while, and let me use the Spanish I know lots. It was lovely. The only down-side was the boyfriend getting ill and lying in bed for the best part of 3 days. Obviously I was incredibly sympathetic and loving... (or grumpy because I was annoyed that he was in bed all the time).

I'm rambling so I'll let the pictures do the talking....

Gaudi house on Rambla de Catalunya

Park Guell

Market on La Rambla

Gorgeous colours at the market

Arty shot at a stall in La Rambla

Beer on the balcony

Castelldefels house

Strobe lighting on a stream of water revealing that it is really made up of droplets: at Cosmocaxia science museum

Food at La Bombeta in Barceloneta

Sangria!

I know it looks like it, but I'm not naked on the balcony

Back to the grind

It's back to work tomorrow after 4 weeks off. I've been loving having summer off, and I don't want to go back to plan Schemes of Work, work out my results from last year and planning sessions for the next few weeks. I'd much rather lie in the sun and read books but, a girl's gotta pay the bills.

I'm also moving into two new departments so it's like starting all over again, twice, and making new friends. I would rather just bed down with the people I already know than have to start from scratch all over again. I had a bit of a support network in place (no thanks to my employer) but now that's been taken away from me, so I'll have to deal with the day-to-day stress in front of new people now. Sigh.

So to cheer myself up, and anyone else who has work tomorrow and doesn't want to go, I thought I'd share some photos of my holiday. I haven't been able to upload this year's yet, so you'll have to settle for some of Mexico instead.

 Street in Playa Del Carmen

 Sunset on Isla Mujeres (possibly the most beautiful place I've ever been)

 A senote (natural pools of water)

 Beach at ruins in Villadolid

A couple in matching outfits!

What I wouldn't give to jet off to Mexico right now!