I'll pick up where I left off the last blog post. My module exam was only days away and I was going stir crazy from being cooped up in my room doing revision, but it was all worth it (I hope) as when I sat the exam I felt okay about the questions. I had a couple that I didn't have a clue what to write but other than that I felt like I either knew the topic or knew enough to write something down. Exam results are on Wednesday 9th January so I'll let you know after that if I actually did okay!
After the exam, that evening, we went out for dinner to celebrate another flat birthday. We went to a cute little Lebanese restaurant in the city.
The next morning I had my Academic Skills sign off appointment with my tutor, and then got straight on the train to London to go and meet my Dad. It was the weirdest train journey. On the train to London I met an elderly man, in his 90s, who used to be in the forces, and was the Queen's bargemaster. He shared some wonderful interesting stories and wished me luck with my degree. Then I got onto the tube and these two guys hopped on with their instruments and started playing music in between stops. It was a journey that really brought a smile to my face.
We got the train back to my campus, stopping to take some photos at one of my favourite stops on the journey, London Blackfriars, and first I took Dad to visit my medical school before going back to my flat. Flat Christmas dinner preparations were well underway and I enjoyed cooking with the girls, before one of the boys swooped in to mull some wine, carve the meat and serve the food for us! We pulled crackers, told jokes, played charades, and exchanged secret santa gifts.
On the Friday I had to attend my first aid training, and in the evening we had our Winter Ball, where my Dad was my guest. It was at The Grand Hotel in Brighton, and was a lovely night. I even drank my first full glass of red wine! My flatmates headed out to the clubs afterwards but I took my Dad back to the flat so he could sleep, the journey back being complete with me giving up on my heels and walking along freezing damp concrete in my thin tights, and someone being sick on the night bus, woooo Friday nights.
Over the weekend we managed to do a little bit of sightseeing, went out for dinner, had a takeaway, and, on a whim, went to the cinema to see the new Fantastic Beasts: Crimes of Grindelwald.
On the Monday we got the train home and the next day I went back to work. I worked every day, apart from one Sunday, up until the day before Christmas eve. Then I worked the 28th, and will work the 31st, and the 3rd. The work Christmas party was the first weekend I was home, and it was a riot, as always! I tried pink gin for the first time and loved it... a bit too much! I went out clubbing for a little bit afterwards and managed to break a shoe, and I was wearing a pair of my Mum's heels... that took some explaining!
Update on my Dad's flat: It's all finished and him and the dog are all unpacked and moved in! He had a boxing day/housewarming party which was nice.
Star Wars themed Christmas was a definite success, despite my uncle refusing to attend, the rest of the family had a great time. We decided our themes for next year are The Hobbit for Halloween and The Lord of the Rings for Christmas! - I know I said I would do a post about our previous themed Christmasses during the Christmas season and I will try to do that very soon.
I really enjoyed the way my Mum stacked the presents this year. Usually they're all separated out for different people but this year they were in one big pile which meant we were handing gifts to each other all morning which was lovely. We also had my grandparents present for the initial morning gift opening, usually they arrive later in the morning, so that was nice too.
The Christmas dinner was devine, as always. And after dinner, and a nap, there was more snacks and The Christmas Game. Usually the Christmas game is in line with the theme but this year it wasn't. It's the only present we usually open after dinner. This year the game was Jumanji and we played it three times! In the evening we played more board games, Sherlock Master Detective and Rick and Morty Cluedo, and as usual, started a Christmas jigsaw puzzle before bed.
In other Christmas break news:
- I did manage to overcome my anxiety and go back to snowboarding practice. I've had two sessions and am improving, and looking forward to a third session on Thursday.
- I've done a bit of sale shopping and bought some more clothes for my university "dress code" wardrobe - I feel like I should do a post about this sometime!
- For university, I've been updating my ePortfolio, and writing up my family study notes, as well as looking at the material for next term.
- I got my results for my first reflective essay back and I passed that, and the comments included "excellent first essay" and "deep personal insight" to the topic, so I was pleased with that. I'm not sure if I said in a previous blog but we had to write about an ethical or professional dilemma and I wrote about the ethics of prescribing antibiotics when antibiotic resistance is an increasing problem.
- Also, I'm having another attempt at my academic bullet journal and have been drawing out my pages in the hope I'll use it more this term than last term!
Now I just need to think up some New Years Resolutions, decide where to go for the New Years Eve party, and what to wear!!
Thanks for reading,
Katherine x
