April Showers, May Flowers and a Royal Princess | A Photo Blog

Acer, Clare McMurtrie 2015

Magnolia, Clare McMurtrie 2015

Fritillary, Clare McMurtrie 2015

Knole House, National Trust, Clare McMurtrie 2015

Happy Bank Holiday Weekend! Cx

Photo Vlog: Autumn Leaves and Winter Fires, A Walk in the Park

"A picture speaks a thousand words"

Carpe Diem xx

Why, Hello There, Where Have I Been, and Austen

First of all, hello to my readers new and old! I appreciate your perusal of these pages. As you may have noticed, I have been away from blogging for a couple of weeks. I could make excuses but the truth is that I did abandon the blog. There are no excuses for leaving you so blogless and I am sorry! 

Two main things have occupied my time. Firstly, I have been doing full-time work experience in a primary school in preparation for teacher training. Secondly, I have been becoming a more avid reader. I love books and always have, but having dyslexia has made it difficult for me ever to become a real bookworm. I have read Remarkable Creatures (Tracy Chevalier) and The Hitchhikers Guide To The Galaxy (Douglas Adams of course...) in the last few weeks, and am currently working my way through Sophie Kinsella's Shopaholic series at the moment. So please befriend me on Goodreads for more updates if you wish, and here's to more blogging......

https://www.goodreads.com/

Carpe Diem xx

Watch Wednesday: Lesley Sharp Who Do You Think You Are Review

Yes, I know, another Who Do You Think You Are/Family history review, but I promise I do have a life and some more comprehensive reviews are on their way as well! Last night Lesley Sharp (Scott and Bailey English actress) appeared on her own Who Do You Think You Are, a fascinating episode which primarily investigated her biological father's line (a complete mystery to her before the show). In a change from the rest of the series the episode took Lesley to Canada to investigate her paternal great-great grandparents. Adopted at five weeks old, Lesley only discovered her birth parents names in adulthood.  As is the case with family history programmes, Lesley's story serves as a prime example of family history research as a route into social history. As such, the programme is as much an insight into Victorian poverty, Barnardo's ragged children and adoption and illegitimacy in the 1950s as it is into the actress herself. A great watch.

Carpe Diem xx

My Stay-At-Home Graduate Gap Year

So, after finally finishing all my exams, handing in coursework, ordering my graduation cap and gown, looking at travel tour brochures and realising it would take a lot longer than I hoped to save up for one, I spent a lot more time looking out of the window and deciding that what I wanted to do with my life was to be a cat....

Ok, so graduating two years earlier than most of my school friends, skipping the around-the-world post-A levels gap year, and being one of the youngest in my year group, I can relax slightly on the job front and have decided on a gap year of sorts. A stay-at-home gap year is a very environmentally friendly way of working out what you want to do, gaining valuable transferable skills and experience and generally getting your life in order. 

Here's what I plan to do with my 'stay-at-home graduate gap year':

1) Volunteer - I've already worked in local charity shops and at local events so plan to continue on the same road as its a great way of gaining customer service and retail experience.

2) Blog and YouTube - I started my blog two years ago and have recently started blogging every day, so watch this space and enjoy!

3) Job Hunt - Generally work out the specific jobs and sectors I want to work in and apply for jobs in those areas.

4) New Experiences - While I don't have the time pressure of a 9-5 job I'm going to take on as many new experiences as come my way.

5) Travel - I'm not sure what will happen here, it depends on how quickly I can save money, if at all, but I have got plans for a few adventures in the UK, so holiday-at-home it is!

Check out these websites on stay at home gap years:

http://www.do-it.org.uk/magazine/features/personaldevelopment/gapyearathome

http://www.ecofriendlykids.co.uk/stay-at-home-gap-year.html

Are you planning one?

Carpe Diem xx