19/08/2010 - A-Level Results

I have just received my results for my A-Levels. I am very proud to have achieved:

Biology - A
Fine Art - A
Performance Studies - B.  Even though I was only 0.25% off an A!

These go along side my AS level certification and other achievements

Photography - B
Key Skills level 3 - PASS


All the hard work over the last two years has really paid off and I am excited to see what doors this opens for me in the future.

I am really happy :)

Plans to apply for poole volunteering

16/04/2007 - Present date - Employment at Elizabeth's Cake Shop Bakery

08/07/10 - 16/07/10 - Turkey Holiday

My family holiday to Turkey was beautiful.  I feel so lucky to have had the chance to experience another culture with the people who I am closet to...TO BE CONTINUED...

06/07/10 - Cooking Success!

Me holding my
freshly made pasta

As I have a huge love for cooking, I thought it would be lovely to try something new.  I had never made my own pasta until today.  A month or so ago I bought myself a pasta making book and with the excuse of my sister Zoe's degree results (1st honours!) I decided I would test my culinary abilities.  I made the pasta from scratch using flour, eggs and a little olive oil.  I kneaded the dough by hand and rolled out the dough using a rolling pin (as I do not own a pasta maker which rolls it out for you).  I made an Italian sauce using tomatoes, herbs, olives and vegetables to go with it and my family loved it! It was an experience and I will be definitely be making it again...next step making my own bread!

03/07/10 - 04/07/10 - Nursing Resedential Conference Nottingham

Arriving at Nottingham University on my own was a very new experience. It felt similar to my very first day at college. I knew nobody but by being surrounded by like minded people, it was really easy to socialise. I was placed in the Cavendish Hall (number 23) where I would spend the night as a true student! The 20-30 minute walk from the hall to the lecture theatre proved a great opportunity to get to know my new colleagues. I met Jasmine, an aspiring Adult Nurse and Emily an aspiring Mental Health Nurse. The lectures were really inspiring...TO BE CONTINUED...

22/06/10 - Midwifery Taster Day London

Through the London Taster Course Programme I applied for a place on the 'Bringing Midwifery To Life' taster day at City University London.  At first due to the high demand I was put onto a waiting list.  I was thrilled when a month later I discovered I had gained a place on the course.  I travelled to London and attended the course independently; this allowed me to meet new people and as most people were in the same situation we all got on well.

The first activity involved getting to know each other.  Moving around the room asking questions about each others personal lives in order to tell the rest of the group.

Through the course I met Stephanie Rout, also an aspiring midwife...TO BE CONTINUED...

18/06/10 - Bournemouth Hospital work experience reply

I have just received a reply from Bournemouth Hospital in response to my work experience letter.  I have applied to Bournemouth for work experience in the Maternity Unit three times over the past five years, hoping that as I got older it would make it easier for me to obtain work experience with them.  Unfortunately I was unsuccessful as the unit is quite small and places are reserved for student midwives and paramedics.  I have not been set back by this and instead feel eager to apply for bigger hospitals.  I plan to apply to Poole in hope I can gain experience there instead.

03/12/2009 - Christmas Elf Volunteering

Christmas is an important time for children and their families.  When I was asked to volunteer to take part in the Christchurch Christmas Lights Switch on I was delighted to take part...TO BE CONTINUED...

22/09/2009 - Duke Of Edinburgh Award

Today I have received my Duke of Edinburgh Bronze Award.  For this award I partook in 4 sections: service to the community, skills, physical and the expedition which where carried out over my final year at school (2007-2008)

Service to the community - For this section I took the opportunity to learn first aid so that if the opportunity arises I know how to and treat someone effectively.

Skills - Christchurch Youth Theatre Project on Sexual Health and Teen Relationships. In February 2008 I joined the Christchurch Youth Theatre, a new group of young people working together to create a piece of educational theatre to show at youth theatres and schools.  It began by devising ideas and creating a story line.  We decided that currently there are many issues surrounding sexual health with the youths' today and many people are not aware of the dangers.  We believed that through drama we could connect to our peers on a level that some adults haven't achieved through lessons at school etc.  We secured funding from the national lottery scheme, which took a lot of work, so that we could buy props, costumes and hire vans and halls.  To ensure we had our facts right we spoke to nurses (general and sexual health nurse) and did a lot of research.  In the end we devised and rehearsed and eventually performed our piece of theatre 'Concequences'.  The plot focuses on a party, involving many realistic characters that many people could relate to, where people get drunk and two teenagers end up having un-protected sex.  We take a look at vulnerable people who lie about their sexual experience and show how friendships can be tested at hard times.  There is a lot of information about STI's and treatments through the clinic scenes and also some comedy moments to give the piece a light hearted feel so the audience don't feel as though they are being lectured.  I really enjoyed being a part of this and feel great to have hopefully made a difference to young people in my area.

Physical - I took up a new sport, badminton, in school for this section.  Having only played a few times previously it was a great opportunity to learn the skills involved.  I met new people through my badminton classes and became confident playing double matches with them.  Natalie, one of my badminton colleagues, was someone I got to know very well and we would often pair up for matches together.  At one particular tournament together we won 2 out of the three double matches; we also took part in single matches. Once I had become confident enough with how to play, some of the group and myself were asked to become mentors for the newer additions to the group and help with classes for younger students.  I thoroughly enjoyed learning this as a new sport and even though it is something that sadly I have not continued with, is something that I would like to take up again in the future.

Expedition - Walking is something that I really enjoy doing, especially on planned routes in my local area.  Our expedition weekend was around the Perbecks.

21/08/08 - GCSE's Results

Today has been amazing.  Arriving at my school I was very nervous, as was many of my friends.  I did not know what to expect from my results and I didn't want to get my hopes up too much.  I had worked so so hard over the past two years for my GCSE's and very much wanted the grades to reflect my efforts.

Opening the envelope I was really nervous but amazed at what I saw.  I was in my own little bubble; just so proud of myself.  My results were fantastic.

English Language - A      English Literature - A
Mathematics - A             Sociology - A
Fine Art - A                    Food Technology - A*
Child development - A     Religious Studies - A* 
Drama - B

Having taken Science a year early and received my results in 2007 these weren't on my results list.  I did however achieve:

Early entry Double Science - AA

2007-2008 - Youth Theatre 'Concequences' Tour

10/04/08 - Appointed Persons and Emergency Life Support Award

As part of my Bronze Duke of Edinburgh award I participated in 6 hours of training in first aid.  We covered topics such as burns, bleeding, choking, shock, heart attack, eye injury, resuscitation, treatment of an unconscious casualty etc.  I took part in the test which you are required to complete to receive a qualification.  There were several parts to the test.  There was a written task, completing questions on basic knowledge of first aid, working on the Annie dolls to demonstrate successful approach to an injured citizen and show CPR, and walking into a unknown scenario, finding out what is wrong and showing initiative of how to deal with the injuries that are presented to you. 

Through this I have received certification for the following:
- Appointed Persons 10 April 2008 - Valid for 3 years
- Emergency Life Support 10 April 2008 Heartstart UK

20/04/07 - 'Career In Midwifery' Day at Bournemouth University

My interest in Midwifery has always been strong. Today however it has increased a whole lot more. The school had organised a trip for other prospective midwives and I to go to Bournemouth University to learn more about the job through it's taster day. I was really excited. This has been my first visit to a University and already I am getting excited about applying. We were met by a lecturer who talked to us about the course. We watched a video about the role of a midwife and I took particular interest in a woman's water birth.  I remember feeling surprised and saddened and a little insulted by the horrified and disgusted reactions of some of the people around me, how can birth be disgusting, yes it is messy and there is a lot of screaming but it is beautiful experience.  It is a miracle. 

My favourite part however was when they brought out their lifelike model teaching equipment. They had a model of the lower half a woman. This included her abdomen, legs that had been cut at the thigh and of course, the vagina.  This was their delivering model. The lecturer asked for volunteers in participating in delivering a baby through the model. I was warned that it hadn't been used in a while and wasn't well lubricated. The lecturer inserted the model baby into the abdomen and pushed the baby's head down into the vagina. I supported the head as by placing my hand over it as it moved down through the vagina and as it began to crown.  Once the head was born I was instructed to place my palms on either side of the baby's head, just below the ear and gently guiding the head down. As more of the baby emerged I was instructed to guide it upwards and eventually it was born. The model baby required a lot of force to make it through and I appreciate the hard work the woman has to go through during labour. Once the baby was born it was very hard to grip. I was worried that I would not be able to keep my grip onto it. I was assured that no matter the circumstance, I would never drop a baby, and I never intend to! The day has been exciting and interesting and have gained a lot more knowledge about Midwifery courses and the job of a midwife.

I was most interested in the Midwifery talks however the university also invited us to sit in on other presentations, in health and social care and the range of nursing courses.

04/04/07 - First ever post

Well here I go with my first ever blog post. My intensions for this site is to log and record all the important and interesting moments that occur within my life. Events that have been exciting and challenging, events that have benefited others and events that I have learnt something new from. I am keed to maintain my blog as a record of my achievements and as a way of understanding the developments of my life.

Some of the events listed on this page have been backdated.  I have kept a small diary over recent years so events published are reletively fresh