The Joy of Pet Ownership

 The other night at around midnight, I decided to head up to by chamber. As you do. Tired and weary eyed, I just wanted to flick on Netflix and watch pointless life affirming films. But no. Sometimes, pet ownership does not allow this to happen. My gorgeous, relaxing bath was about to be ruined. I was about to break out a sweat over a creature that, to my admission, is slightly overweight but still small none the less. And this little thing wanted to play a game of hide and seek.

 I was first alerted to the disaster in waiting when I noticed my cat, who usually wants nothing to do with my room unless the sun lights are open and he can play "Don't Look Down"*. Sat, looking suspiciously smug, he was loitering around the bottom of my bed. Strange. Suddenly I realised the object of his desire. There, in the corner, was a fat little hammy toying with my old moggy. Sat there. Not in his home. Free. Free to be eaten at any moment, free to get squashed by someone unsuspecting. Doesn't he know he is in that little house of his for his own safety?! 

I was hoping he would just come to me, and understand he shouldn't be running around unsupervised. Nope. Two hours later. Two. He was safe, back in his home. And I was left with a dismantled double bed, a crushed hamster ball and popcorn over the floor... (the popcorn was to lure him in. The cheeky bugger grabbed it and hid under the bed, his favourite hiding spot). 

 You can imagine it wasn't the best way to spend my night. But he does make me smile. Knowing my luck, I will head up again soon enough and the same fiasco will happen again- despite the reinforced door I have now created.

 The cheeky chap, however, was fine.


Pets!

The accused. Butter wouldn't melt. 

*"Don't Look Down"... http://www.channel4.com/programmes/dont-look-down/4od I watched this with my heart in my mouth. Not advised with those who fear heights. 

A Cloudy Paignton, Devon. October 2013.

End of 2013 Review!

2013 is coming to an end, but not all is bad. A new year is coming up. A new experience and a new chance. Although my new year is filled with slight sadness for personal reasons, I decided to look back at the positives I have endured through out the year.

God never hands you a lemon without adding tequila. Or so they say.

So this is just a quick post with some positive things 2013 has given me! It would be great to see other posts like this. Even if it's just a couple of things, it's better than nothing.


- I am officially half way through my degree! That went really fast, I am sure the last half will go just as quick... it's been fun and I half want it to end and half don't! It's definitely been an experience!

- I welcomed a new baby hamster into my life! Sev (short for Severus),  has brought me lots of happiness. His fluffy little face lights me up as soon as I look at him. He's also mighty strange. This is awesome. 

- I got to go to HARRY POTTER STUDIO'S. Enough said.

- I met some lovely, lovely people! And become close to some wonderful new friends.

- I navigated London and the London underground with just me and my other half on the trip!

- I got to stay at some wonderful new hotels.

- I got to stay the night in a room which was literally right by the sea!

-  I become a whole year older. As you do every year. But, every year you reach is an achievement in itself that sadly some take for granted.

- I got to decorate my place in my own style and get a new carpet. Feels like home.

- I did things I said I could never, ever do. It may like seem much to other people, but it was a lot for me. I am proud of me. 

- I continued to make plans for the future and think positively 90% of the time.

- I discovered a new love for films and reading, which I had fallen out of love with for a while.

- I sorted out my finances. 



 I hope 2014 brings more adventure, and more positives. 2013 was an experience, a learning curve and definitely not all bad. I have so much to blog about in the New Year, so I hope to gain more readers and hints and tips in the blogging world. In the mean time, find me over at www.twitter.com/londonbuses for daily updates. (Nothing to do with London buses themself, don't ask!)


Happy Christmas and Happy New Year.

I hope you all enjoy whatever life throws at you. And take the bad as an experience.

Much Love. 

A picture I took from a lovely evening at the fair on Plymouth Hoe, for a firework display. 2013.

Jessica's Sassy ASOS Gift Guide

(Click image to enlarge)

 It's December! I love Christmas, it's one of my favourite times of year. I have my advent calendar at the ready (I actually have forgotten to open the last 2 days-oops). That is very unlike me. Usually all the chocolates miraculously disappear before the second week of December...


 Anyhow... onto gift giving. I love spending time choosing gifts for people, and one of my favourite things is how easy it is to select gifts on-line lately. ASOS is one of my favourite gift shopping experiences on-line and I have picked out some of my favourite pickings from this years offerings! Gifts range from under a £5er to into the hundreds for those who have more lined pockets, but each gift is fabulous and I wouldn't say no to anything! ASOS, you have come up trumps this Christmas. 

 I have to admit, I have done a fair bit of my shopping on the ol' internet this year... now I am just sitting back, with my latte and waiting for the door bell to ring. 

 A wrapping party with mulled wine will soon commence when all the pretties arrive!


 Hope everyone is having a joyful December so far.

Laura.

Taken on 15.11.2013

Jessica Martin

Second Year! Pictures.

Second year at university started, and the opportunity to play "inflatable Olympics  came about! After being snap happy, we headed to a local bar called "Scholar", drank bright green alcohol and admired the quirky surroundings. 

I have no idea who this is, but his suit was amazing.

Ins and Outs of Summer Time!

 I am somewhat enjoying my dysfunctional sleeping pattern and being able to do what  I want whenever- to an extent, however I must admit boredom is slightly tipping me over the edge just a little bit. I actually can't wait to be back at University, getting on with my work and seeing my lovely course mates. Oh and of course, cracking on with achieving my wonderful degree. (I study Journalism, readership)! 

 In the mean time, I have decided to join the club and do a current "ins and outs"/"love and hate"/"liking and not liking" post that you may have seen around plenty of times on blogosphere! 

In - sleeping whenever I want! I do adore my sleep, I think I must have been a cat in a previous life to enjoy my sleep so much. But then again, I do go to bed a lot later than other people so maybe I have an excuse for a "ridiculous lay-in" as some people may call it?! 

In - watching films and discovering new ones. I love a good movie, it transports you to another dimension for a couple of hours and can change your emotions. There is also nothing like a good horror movie... I have found plenty I love over the summer and have been watching multiple movies a week. Let us not forget the Harry Potter marathons which are definitely a need and not a want. I am planning  a trip to Universal Studio's in my head in order to check out the pretty amazing "Wizarding World of Harry Potter"... donations are welcome. Oh, and if you get a chance check out "The Great Gatsby"... I loved that movie so much and would say it is in my top 5 of 2013. Jaw dropping amazing-ness. Much like every other Leonardo DiCaprio film ever in existence. 

How amazing is that?! 

In - Festival Season! There is nothing I love more than dawning my flowery glad rags and heading to the local park in order to listen to amazing music, drink and get merry with similar like minded happy people. I am lucky enough to have Freedom Community Festival near me, which is free. And of course there are all the amazing festivals dotted throughout the UK that are a joy for everyone involved. Just get on your floral headbands, grab your tramp-juice (cheap booze) and party the day and night away! Go bare foot if you dare.


In - Summer Weddings! My cousin and his lovely girlfriend (now wife), recently got married. The day was perfect and so was the weather. Filled with a river trip, cider, open top bus journey and finishing off with a barbecue was perfect. 

In - sea swimming! There is nothing I like more than heading to a local beach on a hot day, stripping down and getting in the water to cool off. Here in England it's hard to get a chance to bask in the sunshine, so on the rare occurrence it does appear people come out in their hundreds to celebrate. I could spend hours in the sea just floating along, bobbing up and down to the motion of the waves. A barbecue in the evening followed by yummy summer wine is always a must too- it finishes the day off in style!




Out - crazy weather changes. The weather is some what suffering with severe mood swings lately. One minute I am too hot to trot, the next all windows in my room need to be shut as torrential rain comes thundering down at any given moment. What is a girl to do? How is a girl to dress? Sometimes I wish I was abroad...

Out - sunburn! Enough said. I had a bit of a mishap when on the hottest day of the year I forgot to put sun cream on my back... it's made for a reason.

Out - melting makeup. In this heat, there really is not point in wearing make-up only for you to step outside and it do end up in a sweaty mess all over the place. Not a "hot" look. Get it? Ha! If you must wear make-up though (I am guilty of this); try waterproof versions and mineral makeup. It's not as bad as liquid in this heat. And remember you SPF.

Out - breaking sunglasses. I don't know how many pairs I have got through this summer. Chucking them in my bag and standing on them later is usually the reason for their decease. 



Anyway, I hope everyone is enjoying themselves! Who knows what the rest of the summer will bring? I have just under 4 weeks until the joy of drinking, coursework and early mornings.


See you soon!