On being 23 and "potentially" employed...

As you can see from my last post, the latter 1/3rd of 2016 really wasn't doing much for me. At the time of writing (late November 2016) I was still over a month away from being offered the job which I hope to take up in a few weeks' time. Just under a fortnight to be precise! I can't really talk about the details, and it's not 100% yet (until I pick up a visa, book some flights, and pass a compulsory training course...) but I'd say I'm about 95% certain that this really is happening!

Springtime, time for new life, and fresh opportunities. 

I'm extremely excited. And anxious. Maybe in equal measures? I've started having the classic anxious dreams about being chased and being lost in the dark etc., so that must mean something. Either way, change is coming.

I've been trying to make the most of the past couple of months by studying (bits of Mandarin, Hindi and Burmese), reading (a lot) and continuing my water colour paintings! I feel like I'm moving forwards now, although finding temporary work at home has proven really frustrating, despite signing with an agency I've only been given 2 days of work in about 3 months. I've almost completely stopped tutoring for now, as I prepare to go away again.

I'm pretty pleased with this photo! Having flowers around really brightens my mood, and reminds me of the power of patience - you can't force a flower to bloom at your convenience, and if it is not looked after, it will never bear fruit. 

I can't wait for a new adventure, with new routines, people and places. These past few months I've felt quite "stuck" at points, as if I'd stopped growing as a person, and couldn't find much to really be engaged with, as I wasn't really getting on that well with work, yet I was still waiting, and overcoming one obstacle after another to try and land this next job!

Anyway, onto my last point; there's a new blog. On Wordpress again (I know, I know, this was just another shameless plug after all, but Blogger just hasn't kept pace with Wordpress in terms of design features and online community). This new blog won't focus on any particular trip abroad (as has usually been the case) but will be a platform for all of my thoughts on Travel, Education and Personal Development in general. That way, every time I go somewhere else, it won't mean having to do all of the set-up and customising all over again! Plus I might actually gain some more regular followers!

I have to admit, another reason that I'm deliberately starting up a wide-ranging blog is so that I can keep at it whatever happens in the next couple of weeks. I've realised slightly too late that I've really missed blogging as an antidote to uncertain times, and I'm now too busy to launch myself into one time-limited project!

Without further ado -->  New blog link!

Everyone is entitled to their own opinions. No one is entitled to their own facts.

Everyone is entitled to their own opinions. No one is entitled to their own facts.

Half term! :) I have survived, once again, until the holidays. Now the word "holiday" is debatable, considering I will probably do as much work at home as I would in school, in preparation for exams, and in light of the work that teachers actually set :/, but hey, I'm at home, and that's about as good as it gets for now.

Strange to think that when it gets to the next holidays (May half-term) I won't be returning to school other than to sit exams! :o Where have my school days gone?

Anyway, this image is spring-like and therefore appropriate, especially considering the hot spell of weather we've just experienced here in England, if only it would last!

I guess all good things come to an end.

Winter Can't Last Forever/ Reality Bites Back

Winter can't last forever...... by nikigirl

Can no longer deny the reality that a new, longer, harder, term at school is just around the corner as the holidays draw to a close! I'm trying to slowly make myself bored of being at home so that I don't mind having to get back into the whole working-week routine!

Nevertheless I've made the most of my time off school, and in a way I'll be glad to get back to seeing my friends daily, and being in a lively environment that is secondary school, filled with gossip, rumours and life in general. I genuinely miss school during the holidays, everything at school seems to have so much more purpose - right now I'm just listening to rainfall and thinking about work I should be doing....I think I'm actually more productive at school....

Included this image to remind myself of how I feel about the changing seasons/ going back to school - it's nearly Spring! This image has photos and postcards in it to remind me of the good times I had in Winter (New Year, Christmas, getting university offers) and also a camera to remind me to take more photos! I also included a lucky playing card and a compass, because I figured lucky playing card + compass = not losing my way/ staying on track this term!

If you're reading this, I hope you've enjoyed the past winter and are looking forward to the start of Spring, which is official in less than a month (the Vernal Equinox, to be technically correct) although I can't say the same for the weather - especially living in England!

A change in the weather this week, and with it a change of heart, where I am it definitely feels colder, and the atmosphere these last few days seems pretty depressed - or maybe that's just me. Here's to the weekend and remembering that Spring must always follow Winter (even in England, eventually) and after that Summer will finally arrive; bringing with it a mass of sunshine, warm weather...and exams.....

I'm going away tomorrow morning, to Spain :D - for a month, so sorry for the lack of updates on this blog :p, BUT I have got something nice to leave you, a "set" of 4 seasons, a scene I made with help from the lovely vector (person in left-hand corner) from DryIcons.com! Enjoy!