This is my time.

Since coming back from Kos, I've been feeling different and I haven't been able to put my hand on it. But I think I've figured it out now; the lost feeling I've been having isn't really that at all but instead its me maturing.

I've realised that I've learnt vital, life-changing things while being away and become much happier in myself. These points I will highlight are ones that I think everyone should realise sooner or later in their lives.

So, what I've learnt is:

1. Be happy in your own skin.
Recently, I've had a lot of trouble becoming happy living in my own skin/body. I've always compared myself to other girls my age, looking at their body shape, skin tone or 'natural beauty' and wondered why I couldn't be that little bit thinner, basically that little bit more perfect. I now realise, perfection doesn't exist in anyone or anything, there are lots of things that are close to perfection but we shouldn't strive to achieve perfection when we are all perfect in one way or another. On holiday, I managed to wear a bikini confidently in my own skin and feel comfortable chatting to people (girls and boys) while wearing it which was a massive step for me.

2. Don't listen to others.
There are always going to be people trying to put you down, that's just a fact of life but don't listen to them, which is easier said than done. Everyone will have their own experiences of this but mine was close to my holiday so stuck in my mind vividly. Being name called against the thing one is most self-conscious about gives you the most awful feeling ever but in the back of your mind, you need to remember that they can only get to you if you let them. If you are comfortable with yourself and can recognise your faults but not be bothered by them, then your just laughing at all those that try to put you down.

3. The past makes us stronger.
Everyone has a past but only those who you truly trust can learn about your personal past. Your past is what makes you, you. It is what makes us grow as an individual and remembering the good times and the bad allows us to be thankful for what is coming. I'm only 18 years old so don't have much wisdom to share with the world but I believe that my past, whether it be family, relationships or friends is personal to me and no-one else will have the same story. One day, I hope to share my life with someone else who understands and welcomes my past just like I'll welcome theirs. But, the past is the past for a reason and there is no need dwelling on it when no-one knows what could be around the corner.

4. Mistakes are good.
Parents look over their children like hawks and what for? To protect them from any mistakes they made as a child. Well, news to all the parents out there, we know your mistakes, and we know not to make them ourselves but we do have to make mistakes ourselves. I'm not ashamed to say I've made mistakes, one most important to me is not applying to more diverse universities further from Doncaster, but mistakes shape our personalities and teach us the important things in life.

5. Have bloody good fun!
Childhood will be the best time of any ones life and do believe that now having completed potentially all the exams I will ever take. As children we are care-free and do what we like when we like (within reason). Growing up provides us with more responsibility and less fun but I say, make time for the fun, make your own fun and by no means let anyone take the fun away from you. The week away in Kos has allowed me to properly let my hair down for the first time probably since starting sixth form but having all the fun I did in Kos has allowed me to make new friends and step outside my comfort zone. I found I was a completely different person when I was away, but I enjoyed the person I was there and it will shape the person I will now be.


I hope these inspire you and you can reflect on your own experiences that have allowed you to change and grow as a person like these have for me. I can safely say, I am now so much happier with myself and my life and I wouldn't change anything for the world. The route I took to get me here may have been tough and time consuming but nevertheless, I got here and here, I will stay.

J

The Only Way Is Kos...

So I thought I'd share what I did with my week in Kos. The ins and the outs of the events and the gossip from each night, although some may not need repeating.

Thursday 12th

We're all innocent at 9:30am

It was a good start to the holiday, we'd all remembered the important documents and passports in order to get out of the country and the taxi journey to the airport was calm but exciting. However, on arrival at the airport we stood in the Thomas Cook check-in queue for over an hour with our flight time edging all the more close. Once we finally reached the beginning and said where we were going, the worst news was given to us.. a four hour delay. Nevertheless, we decided to look on the bright side of things and made the best of a bad situation by deciding to go to the nearest bar, that was going to be the theme of the holiday. Four, perhaps five hours passed and we eventually boarded the plane and sat down for the four hour flight. Despite all the problems during the day, we all breathed a sigh of relief on landing in Kos even though it was 1:30am the heat hit us on leaving the plane, we knew we weren't in England anymore.

When we arrived at the hotel, we all said we'd seen better but for the price we got it at, we couldn't complain for a Club 18-30 holiday. The rep came to do our welcome meeting at 4am and we ended up spending 200 euros on a week long package of activities.

Friday 13th

Daytime

The sun was shining and we had high of 40 degrees!

The first day of tanning was well underway and we were getting familiar with the heat, the chilling pool temperatures and the bar (although we were on non-alcoholic drinks during the day). We spent a good five/six hours tanning in the sun and chilling in the pool which was a great, laid back day.

Night-time

This was going to be our first night tearing up the Kos town at night and we were aware it was going to be a messy one and we were NOT mistaken. This night was named 'TFI Friday' and it was a massive bar crawl with an hours free bar! Free bars were the highlight of the bar crawls in the beginning of the week.

Cocktails: Blue Moon, Margarita, Dogs Bollocks

Bar Number 1

SLUT DROP PRO'S!

PLANK THOSE CHAIRS

Friends were so easy to make on holiday.. Although I can't remember their names

Its a little blurry but.. On the right.. That's me.. Crawling on the floor outside the biggest club on the island!



The result of the first drunken night.. "Touch my knee all slaggy like"

All three of us ended up pretty worse for where this night and attempted to make our way home at just gone midnight, which looking back on it.. Was pretty pathetic! All I can remember from going to sleep that night is that I went to sleep with my head spinning, and managed to wake up with it spinning too!

Saturday 14th

Daytime

In all fairness, after all we'd drank between us the night before, we all felt terrible and headed straight for the pool once we made it out of the hotel room. One majorly funny point of the first night was the loss of Chris' new camera, we spent all morning searching bags from the night, pockets, drawers etc for this camera and had no luck so that put a dampener on the day too. Spending all day worrying about it, checking the insurance details on how we could claim on it was all the more funny when that night I entered my make-up bag and found the camera just sitting in there. None of us had any idea how it got there or why it was in there. No-one will ever know!

Night time

It was Frat Party night! It had been portrayed to us as being amazing and an activity not to be missed so we all had high expectations. However, it was a slight disappointment but the best part was the 2 hour, again, free bar! But, the sex on the beach cocktails were too weak for our liking but we managed to stomach them.

The same lads from the first night + the brummies!

The red cups were the best!

Chris asleep on the sun lounger at night :)

On the pole!

From the pole :)

Up on the table (+belly-the lad)

It was a good night, it would've been better but the people really made it. There possibly would've been some copping off with people ;) but that's for me to know and all you's.. to never found out. We made it longer that night but me and Harley came home before Chris at approximately 2am via the food place haha.

Sunday 15th

Daytime

It was a pretty calm day in the sun, reading and chatting to our new friends, the brummy lasses. This day me and Harley did proper cooking for the first time of the pasta we'd brought from home and things to tide us over while we were out on the night. I also christened the signature meal of mine of the holiday, the bacon cheeseburger.. Oh it was good to have that as a hangover supplement!

Night time

'Silent Sunday' - this is what is known as a silent disco and to be honest, all three of us didn't have high hopes for this night and were predicting we'd be home quite early or be ditching the disco. Unfortunately, Leanne, one of the brummy lasses was forced to leave us this night before entering the silent sunday event due to having an almost hour long nosebleed due to the really bad sunburn she'd gotten on the first day. Me and Harley ended up entering Status club ourselves while Leanne was walked back to the hotel, we gained our beats heaphones and put them on, only to have 2 different dj's battling it out to get you to listen to their channel.

The girls

Enjoying the headphones!

We are the children of the night (8)

Again, me and Harley came home after reaching the final club in the bar crawl but this time made it to 3am! This was a proud achievement for us. We left Chris out with Steph (the first one of the left) and he strolled in at approximately 5am. However, there is a brilliantly hilarious story that needs sharing from this night:

Me and Harley had gotten home around half 3 in the morning after getting food and strolling home with Lewis who didnt feel well. Seen as though me and Harley were in a room together, we were just getting changed into our pj's and heard the door open and close so we assumed Chris had returned home. Following the entrance into the room there were a lot of loud bangs and someone knocking things off the table and side in the kitchen but all of a sudden, a random ginger boy peered into our bedroom, at this time, Harley had no trousers on and me, no top. Well what a sight he walked in on. Turns out, he was on the wrong floor and was actually from the room directly above ours.. So me and Harley kindly walked him up but left him, asleep lent against his door!

Monday 16th

Daytime

Again, due to me and Harley coming home relatively early, we felt great but managed to annoy Chris all day by being hyperactive haha. This was the day though that me and Harley began speaking to the three lads in our hotel from the navy, we had an awesome time having a laugh and joke in the pool and have them take the piss and things out of me. We left them to go for a nap about half 4/5pm and said we might see them later as they were on the same night as us as they'd only paid for a couple.

Night time

This was the night that has caused a little hype due to Tinchy Stryder being on the island. It began with a bar crawl which was like the other night and on arrival at Status, it was quite empty which meant we'd have to wait a while for Tinchy to arrive but the night was young. However, waiting became beyond a joke when it got to half 3 in the morning and he'd still not arrived! Well myself, Harley and one of the navy lads decided to leave and head for some food (like usual!).

Fish bowl!

Glow party begins

We all have Kos written on us

Me and Chris :)

The 212 conga!

The Migraine Skank!

Well, after we got majorly bored of waiting for Tinchy and left and after getting some food, me Harley and one of the navy lads were joined by Chris and the two other navy lads which was good. The navy lads thought it would be good to go find the 24hr pool and go swimming. Well we did find it and went for a dip in the pool, the lads in their boxers and me and Harley fully clothed.. That was uncomfortable haha.

Tuesday 17th

Daytime

Well, I felt like utter shit that day. I literally spent the whole day either being sick or sleeping off the night befores alcohol and stuff. However, me feeling this crap did save me from a lot of awkward conversation around the pool about the whole night before haha.

Night time

LETS GET FOAMY! It was time for the foam party at the club Starlight and although we again had to wait until 2:30am for the foam to come, it was well worth the wait. This foam party is known as the biggest foam party in Europe which made it all the more fun. We ended up making friends with the large group of Scottish lads (who I thought was from Wales) there so we managed to stick with them as the navy lads didn't partake in this night.

Unfortunately, this is the only photo from that night and we didn't wanna ruin our cameras in the foam.

For once, this night we ended up returning back to the hotel room after Chris which was an achievement for me and Harley haha.

Wednesday 18th

Daytime

It was our last day round the pool so we spent it wisely, topping up the tan and spending our last day in the pool. We caught up with the navy lads from the other night seeing what they did on their free night and shared what the foam party was like. It was a good last day round the pool and I knew I'd miss the daily routine once we left.

Night time

It was time for one last bar crawl round Kardamena, Kos and it was going to be a good one but we weren't gonna get too messy due to the long journey we'd have the following day.

Foil hat making before going off on the last bar crawl

IN THE NAVY (8)

Harley, Chris and Me

The girlies :)

Do the meerkat!









It was sad for it to be the last night on the island but we were all getting quite tired of the drinking and partying all the time haha.

So the whole holiday was brilliant and I will definitely do it again!

Trying to sleep on the plane home :)

J

I'M PROUD!

Well I've not been on my blog in the past week due to being away and in all honesty, I've not thought about it much with all the fun I've been having in sunny Kardamena, Kos. Today I was scanning my blogger page and saw this lad called jamie had commented on my recent post 'mix-tape' saying that he loved it and was going to use the idea in his own blog! I was chuffed!

See it here. He's posted a link to my blog and everything and I love that I've actually inspired one person, hopefully they'll be many more to come.

J

I RETURN...

I have had my wild week away in sunny Kardamena, Kos and it didn't disappoint. There were ups and downs while there between friends and strangers but all-in-all it remains to this day to be the best week of my life so far. The holiday started off a little rough due to receiving a 4/5 hour delay in Manchester Airport meaning we weren't to arrive in Kos until the early hours of the morning so it was a loooong day! However, we attempted to make up for everything by making our own fun in the airport like getting slightly tipsy/drunk to pass the time quickly.

So I bet your all sat there going, come on, spill the beans, did anything juicy happen on holiday? Well after experiencing this holiday, myself, I agree with the statement What happens in Kos.. Stays in Kos! So you can all wonder what you may and maybe one day you'll find out if anything juicy did happen but here's a slight selection of photo's but you can see more here.

Off to the airport!

The first night was a MESSY one!

LETS GET FOAMYY!

Silent Disco!

Frat Party - LOOK AT THE RED CUPS!

Pool time

We're all innocent :')

SLUT DROP!

Bumping and Grinding with Harley

Fishbowl :)

It was a truly memorable holiday and looking at the current British weather, I'd love to go back. However, maybe have it slightly cooler as it hit highs of 48 degrees! We met some amazing people there and although we went to Kos as a threesome, we definitely became an eight there with two brummy lasses and three navy lads (IN THE NAVYYY '8').

Hope you all have a holiday as good as this one of mine!

J

Mix-tape

Lately with all that needs doing before I go on holiday, I've been feeling really uninspired and struggling on what to write on here because I'm not really doing anything other than shopping for the holiday essentials. So, I decided to google blog post ideas to see if anything popped out at me and one site in particular did; due to having my iPod in at the time, I chose to attempt the mix-tape blog entry as mentioned here (however, I'm going to limit myself to five songs).

Here goes.. iPod on shuffle:

1. Bryan Adams - Summer of 69

This 100% reminds me of my mother. She is a massive rock fan and has passed it down to me slightly, I can listen to virtually any genre of music (minus screamo). Summer of 69 always manages to get the party started so lifts my mood automatically to being happy and energetic. I can sing and dance to this song in any situation, and it is especially exciting when it comes on every week without a doubt in Hogans round town! Awesome!

2. Brother Bear (Phil Collins) - On My Way

It might sound weird but this song, although its a Disney classic, can bring a tear to my eye even though I've never actually seen the film, Brother Bear. This is a sweet, enticing song that my year six group at Kingfisher Primary sung as part of our "graduation" from primary school. Primary school was and is an important part of my life and always will be due to the friends I made there who have remained my friends to this day. At the time this song symbolised the bond we all shared in primary as there didn't seem to be separate groups in our primary and we all stuck together. Primary school forever! I think this could be part of the reason I want to be a primary teacher myself, to inspire the next generation.

3. Fatman Scoop - Be Faithful

Now, this is a complete contrast to both songs previously mentioned (like I said, I have a varied music taste). This automatically reminds me of my friend, Alice, and the time we went round town and this song must have come on at least twice and she just screamed that she loved it! Its a brilliant song to dance to when around time and really gets everyone riled up so creates an awesome atmosphere. My favourite part is the "engine engine number 9..." section which everyone knows the words no matter what!

4. Chicago - All That Jazz

I really do love my musicals! I have seen so many and love singing along to them. My mum and sister do often shout at me for singing all the time and I know I'm not the greatest singer but having some musical background I can tune to some pitches. Chicago is a great musical with an even better musical score! Its one of them musicals which makes you feel good about yourself and can't help acting like your part of the cast (or maybe that's just me). Being a bass player myself, the bass line isn't all that as it normally isn't in musical but its a brill storyline and I can't criticise it!

5. One Direction - What Makes You Beautiful

I know a lot of you reading this will be like wtf?! One Direction from someone who knows music, well I'm not ashamed to say that One Direction are my guilty pleasure. I do enjoy singing along and dancing to them in my room and can sing along to this particular song pretty well due to my sisters 'obsession' with them. It puts an instant smile on my face and is a song that can get everyone up on the dance floor singing at the top of their voices whether their male or female.

This was a great task and I thoroughly enjoyed it and will definitely do it again! I think I may make this a monthly blog post and it was such a good idea so I thank the website that presented it to me. I recommend you try this too and see what pops into your head.

J



Surrrpriseeee!!

Being in many orchestras has led me to become friends with people who don't attend the same school as me or hang in the same friendship groups. Well, one of my friends from orchestra, Phillip, had a gap year in Australia and returned to the United Kingdom in the past week. Friends and family of his planned a big surprise party held at Liberty Grill in Doncaster Town Centre that took place last night, 8th July 2012.

Originally, people had doubts about how well it would be pulled off and whether Phill would end up with any idea of what is happening. Thankfully, it all worked out for the best and Phill was completely and utterly surprised by the event, and that was a great face to see!
Here are a selection of photo's taken from the event, enjoy!

Me & Grace

Phillipp doing his speech!

Phillipp & Me

The "Bass" section with Hannah

Me, Phillipp and Grace - The Basses

Alice & Me

It was great to be a part of something this extraordinary and lovely to see Phill again for the first time in a year!

J