A long time coming...

Now in my third year of my Early Childhood Studies with Psychology degree at CCCU. A lot has happened since my last post and its difficult to not write it all in one very complicated long post. However I plan to resurrect this blog and use it well.

Madd1

Stuff that has been going down

Again, I have been a total slacker with blogging, and so many things have happened since my last one.

My first year is also over,

• Degree work-wise: In Psychology have earned myself a range of marks including two 1s, a 2:2 and even a fail. The subject is going well, the in-class tests are deceptively hard it is possible to fail multiple choice exams, especially if you have been missing teaching. Research methods has been a tough one this year, it has been very different to anything i've learned and SPSS well its a bit of a pain in the bum! Early childhood studies has been challenging in places with the Services for Children and Families leaving me stressed and the presentation for Anti-Discriminatory Practice, leaving me worried about the outcome of my first year, as the marks from this year don't count the main worry is passing at a good level.
• Christian life-wise: This has been presenting some major challenges to my faith, having left St Andrews, a support network that was of great importance to me, and coming to Canterbury where I didn't know anyone was a great challenge. I have been trying to see what churches around this area may offer, the City Church was my first stop, mainly because they offered a mini bus straight from the University. They had really good opportunities and was offered to join the fresher cell group within a week. This was really useful as it allowed me to find out who was going to this church as was a christian on campus. However after a while i've started to realise that this church may not be right for me, it may be perhaps that i haven't attended the church enough but have tried other churches such as SMB (St Mary Bredin) and the Vineyard Church that meets on campus. I feel I have lost the simple trust in my faith yet, saying that, I still trust that God is there for me and I just have to listen more. 
• Social and friend-wise: This is something I love talking about, the friends I have met at University are all so different but compliment each other so well. They are all lovely and it has been lovely getting to know them.

Well although these are only three aspects of my life I am very tired and will have to carry this on at another time. 

Logging off and hoping I will remember to come back

Mad 1

Happiness

Ok so its been a while since my last blog, I still cannot get my head around on this regular writing thing. I have never been good at keeping a diary or anything like that but at least i can't loose this blog!

So 9 days ago, on the thursday, I got on the train from Canterbury East to London Victoria for the start of the most hectic train journey I've ever taken! The train from Canters to Victoria was delayed and when i got to Victoria i learned that i had literally 60 seconds to get from platform 2 to platform 18! not an easy task and then missed that train! I had no clue what to do and ended up being told to go to Clapham Junction. When there the trains to Portsmouth were all delayed because of a "fatality at woking"! This put me in a really sad mood to know that someone could do that! Then had to get a slow train to Guildford and then get onto another slow train to go to Fratton! The whole trip, instead of taking 3 hours took just over 6! The reason I went to all this effort was because i was going to see Hot Chip, stay with the lovely Doodles and see my beautiful Simon!

Firstly Hot Chip was so good, much dancing was invovled, and appart from the rather questionable opening act was amazing! Even down to the lighting and the general atmosphere it was one of the best gigs i have been to. It was really awesome to go with Dooley, Simon and the lovely Holly. It was a really lovely night.

At Dooley's house i met her lovely kittens, Tiggs and Perdy! The most lovely cats I think I have ever met. They were so nice natured and would just sit on my lap! : ] But i still would prefer a bunny - hint hint Simon! : ]

Now onto my lovely Simonay! It was really nice to see him after sometime - Uni is made alot harder jsut because I miss people so much, including Simon. It was so nice to spend some time with him and just hang out! We stayed just one nights at Doodle's but it was so nice to be in Pompey again, its such a nice place!

On the Friday we went to see my sister, Steph, in bournemouth! It was so nice to see her again too I had missed her lots and lots. Its strange really I have missed her name calling and random outbursts, and I'm sure she has missed saying them! Simon and I went straight from Bournemouth back to Woking to stay until Tuesday!

Simon drove us back to Woking and I was so grateful because he had done loads of driving that weekend! He was proper pooped when we got back to Wokes! That night Rosie popped round, it was really good to see her after just over a month of not seeing her we had alot to catch up on! She came round about 8:30 and we chatted non-stop until she went home at 11:30!

The on the saturday I met up with Saci for a coffee, it was really lovely to see her again! I missed my lovely Hungarian. We caught up with all the stuff that was going on with her new job at her new placement at St Mary of Bethany! That evening Annabel came over - which again was really lovely with Rosie aswell. So Simon, Rosie, Annabel and I all hung out which was lovely!!

At church on Sunday I sang and I thought they were such good songs, a really good choice by the worship leader Royer! The service was really good and it was so nice to be back at St Andrews, I really had missed my church fambily back at home! After church Annie, Simon, Rosie and I went to go get some pizza and went to Annabel's house for what was a really nice lunch! That evening Rosie, Saci and I went to United Reformed Church for their evening service. Once it was really good and was such a surprise to see Mark Owers leading the worship - a guy who went to both my primary and secondary schools! So we said hi and then went on to the cafe thing afterwards, which was really cool!

On the Monday (27th) it was Simon and I's anniversary! It was such a lovely day, we opened presents in the morning he got me a really nice swatch watch! Its waterproof aswell so if I forget to take it off before a shower it doesn't matter! It was such a nice day! I made him a chocolate and marshmellow cake and enchiladas for dinner. I planned for dinner to be really nice and romantic, but I think the cold stifled the cold somewhat! I lit the chimnea and everything but we had to rush down our dinner anyway! Ah well I think he understood the Gesture!

On the Tuesday Simon had to leave at 9:30 so we said our goodbyes knowing I wouldn't be seeing for a fair few weeks! Later i met Rosie at the station and she came back to Canterbury with me, I think she had a really good time and really apreciated the break!

Right I have written far too much - only if I spent this long on my Assignment LOL!


Mad1

: ]

SO excited!

Have you ever had some news which makes you feel so over the moon!? One of my really close, lovely friends is ENGAGED! So amazing i cannot begin to explain how happy i am for her!

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

Mad1

Uni so far

I don't anyone who has never come to university can truly understand what a weird place it is. There are some many things I have done that I never would have before. Now don't get ahead of me - nothing like that. It's stuff like sitting down with people or talking to people in a Q i have never known before and then meeting up with them again! It is SO weird! Another thing that i don't think anyone really thinks about - i know i didn't - is just how different the learning set up is. Lectures are something i really wasn't prepared for, i've had some really good lectures one in particular by Siobhan Dunn, even though it was about Government policies it was so well taught it was actually interesting!!! Other lectures haven't been so productive, leaving me close to snuggling up with my hoodie as a pillow. Its all change really and quite difficult in all honesty to keep up with. 

Anyone who feels the need to go on to University i would really encourage to try their hardest to get into halls. Halls for me have allowed me to meet some really lovely funny people who are fast becoming a second family. Its super odd that i am saying that after just two weeks but thats how familiar people become. I would like to thank so many people from praying me into Uni as well. It was so helpful to know everyone was lifting me up, a big shout of to G-ma Jean who prays for me every night at 7! 

On to new things now, namely ones which are ocean blue in colour and full of music, introducing a new member of the family iPood. She really is a treat and is full of cool new stuff for example being able to put her on shuffle just by shaking her and the famous apple adjusting screen when you turn on the side. And she fits all the moosic from my laptop on her perfectly! But I would recommend getting the new Ipod classics, for just 30£ more you get 104 GB more memory!! 

More later!

Madeye x

Moving o

If anyone was to know me truly deeply - or was just a keep follower of my facebook status they would know how weirdly excited-scared i am about leaving for university tomorrow! For all those who enjoy a little context i am so busy trying to get everything done that i am currently sat on the toilet [post activity] cleaning my teeth and blogging all at the same time! I feel slightly impressive right now!!! Its all hitting me - something which i have avoiding thinking about too much for a while and suddenly im coming to the realization that tomorrow night i wont be in my bed! i will sleeping in a new bed and will be there for quite a while!

Having moved from the bathroom to the bedroom [after having to give up multitasking on the account of me dribbling all over the laptop!] i don't think my room has ever been this empty. Its crazy how many of my clothes have been packed into suitcases, books into bags! I can't quite get my head around it really!

Lots of people have been so awesome reassuring me of how much fun i will have and how many great people i will meet. I have to mention Annabel's amazing bed socks as a going away present - big love to the Bel! Someone who is being ultra lovely is my Rose. She is coming to drop me off in Canterbury and enduring the ride home with my mum and her car - which i think smells really funny and always makes me feel car sick! It is going to be alot harder to say good bye than i want it to be!

I am so worried about forgetting ANYTHING tomorrow because i am sure that i will! Something really important like a student ID or something! I want to rant about how supportive my family have been. Its very hard for me to leave - the longest I've not seen my parents for is two weeks and its hard you know. Its all change and at the same time dammit! Finally i just want to chat about Simon who helped me sort out my room and has helped me to be really practical about packing "No Maddie you don't need a giant cupcake jar!" Oh but i really do and i WILL own-it one day. Along with my very hungry catepiller 3 piece set! If anyone was to surprise me with it its in Debenhams [in woking bottom floor] with china stuff!

I'm shortly putting my brain to bed and next time i write i will probs be in Canterz!

xxxxxxxx

Love-age

I have been musing about how amazing my friends are! We had a really good day at the MWCC reunion seeing lots of our really good friends and having a good time! Then back to mine for a few - i use the term lightly - drinks. It was so funny and such and awesome night. I am quite tired at the moment so rambling sufficiently. Anyway just a few of the pictures are below. Thank you to all the people who make my life so special and happy! i
am going to miss you all so much!