Looking back...

Before I start, it's been a few months before anything was said on here... and there is probably going to be a lot said and written down, so prepare for a long post.

So I started the year off pretty normally, no abnormally high expectations. Carl and I were starting the year apart, him in Sweden and myself still in Scotland. Family things were normal, and university was, well, university, being the end of 3rd year and the beginning of the final one.

 Lots of flying back and forth took place. But it means I travelled to Sweden for the first time and made some lovely, happy memories there. And happy memories were made in Scotland too - first camping trip together, I even got in a kayak/canoe (whatever the thing was called)... And besides the ups and downs, little fights, and relying on Facebook and Skype, it was worth every second.

♥

September was not a good month - Carl went travelling, something that was going to be difficult anyway. I was going back to university. Dad went downhill rather quickly. And come the end of September, nothing was the same...

And so it was to be that Dad's time had come, and although a relief, I am still sad every day to think he is no longer with us. He was a great man, crazy but great, with lots of love and laughter. And I would like to thank everyone for all the generous support and touching, kind messages we received from near and far. It's nice to know that Dad was so well loved by all who knew him. I'm sure life without him will never be the same, and I don't think will ever come a day where I don't think about him or miss him ♥

♥

Time seems to have flown by since then - back to normal and being busy with university and work. Before you know it, it is Christmas and then New Year. It's been nice to spend the holidays with my family, and my first Christmas with Carl, snuggling up and eating lots.

But I would like to say a thank you to everyone who has been there this year, it's been a difficult one.

And a special thank you to Carl, for being there for me every day through all this. It's been one hell of a autumn, and a lot to adjust to for both of us. But thank you for coming back for me, staying by me, hugging me and taking care of me. I am so grateful, more than you will ever know. I love you with all my heart ♥

Hope you all have a happy new year, and I hope that it is everything you want it to be. Enjoy!

Love, E x

In memoriam, Dennis Moffat ♥

It's been a while since I wrote, and for the main part, its been because I haven't really known what to say.

We lost Dad at the end of September, and although it's been a long time coming, it was still a shock, and there's still a lot to try and understand and come to terms to.

27/05/1966 - 25/09/2012

And while I'm relieved that he no longer has to fight and struggle any more, it's sad to think that we will never hear him laugh, listen to him rant on about the wrong of the world, or see him smile, and it's sad to think about all the things ahead of us that he is going to miss. That said, I know he is still around and with us in spirit. I'm sure he will never be forgotten.


I am sorry not to get there on time, and I miss you every single day ♥

I love you, E x

You know your boyfriend loves you when...

... He is all the way around the other side of the world in China, but this little surprise turns up through your door :)

Cookies 'n' Creams, 'n' lots of love ♥

I am a happy girl :)

Well as happy as I can be right now, I still feel like death warmed up. Damn colds and feeling ill!

E x

Today is a bad day

Today is not a good day...

Carl left for China after a difficult week for us since he left me here... And after all that messing up, I really didn't want him to leave. And its the fact I can't just come home and talk to him whenever I want, he's going to be out of contact a lot of the time...

I just want this to be over quickly, for these few months to fly by so Carl can get this travelling and whatever he needs to do out of the way and just finally come home to me for good at last.. Just feel a bit lost. I miss him.

*sigh*

E x

Deep in thought

Today was planned for a lazy day, we were both shattered from our day in Edinburgh and our legs were sore. However, things changed a little...

So to clear my head a little, we went on a walk along Riverside to Cambuskenneth to see the Abbey ruins. It was a really nice walk and a nice little place, minus all the wind there was today.

Cambuskenneth Abbey

We headed to the store to get some snacks, we decided that the "no-sweeties" rule could be forgotten today and picked up some ice cream and a bit of chocolate. And then back home for cuddles. But then I decided I needed another walk so we headed up to the university campus for a wander around the loch.

Carl made us dinner tonight and has been looking after me today and making sure I get enough hugs. I love him more than anything ♥

E x

The heart of Scotland :)

Edinburgh time! 

Early start and an early train, but a day in Edinburgh is worth it, especially when it is lovely and sunny.

It was an open day at the University, and as one of my choice for medicine, we thought we should go along. However we didn't end up going to any of the talks as I have heard them all before and know what needs to be done. But we did get to see the old medicine buildings in the centre campus. Also, the Anatomical Museum was to be open for the day as well, and seeing as it is so difficult to go to as it is only open on the last Saturday of every month and I really really really wanted to go, we decided we should head there and see. However, after some discrepancy from some rude staff and after a quick phone call, apparently it wasn't and someone hadn't checked... and I don't know what other excuses... I was rather annoyed to say the least...

But we went for a wander back to the new side, and came across a lovely little church in the Princes Gardens, so we had a wander around the graveyard and inside. Then a wander through the park itself and sat on a bench in the sunshine for a while too. 

Prince's Gardens with St. Cuthbert's Church in the background

 It was then time to meet up with my Gran for a quick lunch and chat before we headed to the National Museum of Scotland. And we had nearly 4 hours and we thought that would be a decent amount of time... It turns out, apparently it isn't even enough to get around the first floor never mind the countless other levels! There is a Viking exhibition coming in the Spring so we will definitely be going to that and we can dedicate the rest of an entire day to trying to get around the rest.

Animal World Room -  http://www.nms.ac.uk

We got around a few really good rooms though; we did a little Astronomy room, the big Animal World room, the World Cultures room and then a room with various technologies and developments throughout the years. We quickly played in the discovery room, with all the interactive robots, and cars and energy things. Carl became an astronaut briefly and we headed on. We only had another 20-25 minutes before the museum closed though so we decided to leave as there wouldn't be enough time to go through another room in detail. Especially as the next room was the Scottish history room which looked really interesting with all stones and swords and history. For next time :)

Spaceman Carl :D

We went to one of the frozen yoghurt bars which made me happy and then sat near the National Gallery for a little while, listening to a street band, before heading to the train. I had a really really good day, but we were both shattered and in bed and asleep by 10.30pm. Wow, we are getting old :)

E x

Waterfalls and Airports

Seeing as I am so bad at updating this sometimes, this again is another catch-up post

So the week in Sweden went by rather quickly :( 

One of the before shots

28/08/2012 - But today we went on a little adventure, with lots of photos, down the road to Trollhättan to see the waterfalls, well the hydropower-y dam thing. We had a little wander around and then headed to the bridge to wait for 3pm when the dam gates were due to open. Carl quickly pointed out we were the only ones around with the exception of a couple of children who were tagging along with their parents, and we were really the only non-tourists as well... Anyhow, the gates soon opened, letting through thousands and thousands of litres of water (the exact amount I can't remember but it was a lot)... Here is a snapshot sequence of it all for you...

After watching the water for a while, we decided to have a little nosy further down and drove through the old power stations and past all the really nice old houses, to the lock system, where we saw the old locks and the new one. And down to extremely lucky timing, we got to watch a boat get moved up between the levels. Here are some more photos... (I was very snap-happy on this trip)

Filling up bit by bit...

And we're up!

We had a nice little wander around the little pretty lock bit and then headed back to Uddevalla to get dinner as we were starving! And it was lovely lovely pizza for dinner and fruit salad with the amazing vanilla ice cream. So I was all very happy but all very full and slightly in a food coma afterwards. And so another week in Sweden came to an end, which is sad, but I will be back again at some point so that's always something to look forward to :)

29/08/2012 - So left Sweden the next day. We got up and packed up and walked to the shop to get some sweeties for the journey back, because the pick'n'mix is the best ever. Carl's dad picked us up and drove us to the airport and then it was just waiting time for the plane. Its not a big airport so there wasn't much to walk around or kill the time so we found a table at the cafe bit and had a couple of really nice paninis to keep us going. 

Carl reading the newspaper in the airport

The plane was fun... Full of football fans flying to see some Swedish team play against Celtic. So lots of shouting and singing and general rowdiness. Which made the cabin crew even grumpier and less friendly. Being rudely told to "Be Quiet or we will not be taking off" isn't a great start to a flight... anyhow, it was over with in a couple of hours. We landed in Edinburgh in pouring rain. The weather had been so bad our train was delayed due to a landslide. We finally got back to the flat though and decided take-out was in order, no one wanted to cook... and then our two weeks together here began :)

E x

Sweden

So I managed to get here, the bus and the train were alright, thought I was going to end up lost on the other side of the country. But I didn't and I am really proud of myself for that :)

Carl met me off the train in the pouring rain with a big hug which I really needed :) finally got a couple of hours sleep while he finished work, which were also needed because I had been awake for nearly 30 hours at that point and felt overtired to the point where I felt sick and thought I was going to pass out! (and the plan for getting a nap on the plane failed, 3 idiots on a "guys holiday" to Gothenburg behind me nattering incessantly about all types if crap... I won't go into it). I was just happy to be here, and even more happy to see my baby :)

We then went to watch Carl's local soccer team play with his grandad. And although it was no Mestalla or La Liga game as Carl pointed out a few times, it was a really good game and rather entertaining (or at least I thought so!). Then headed hone for the night, snuggled up and watched an episode of 'The Thick of It' which I think might need to be my new series to watch and snuggled up and got a good nights sleep :)

Carl's just getting ready for work now, and I'm just lying in bed, might snooze for a little longer before I get up though.

Just so happy to be here :)

E x

(P.S. I apologise for the terrible typos in the previous post, and possibly this one too!! I'm writing off my newish iPhone, and still getting the hang of the touchy buttons!! I will correct it all online later haha)

A long night in the airport...

Spending a long night in Edinburgh airport waiting for my early morning flight to Sweden. Lattes on the go and whipped out the dissertation reading, may as well make a start on my research seeing as I have some time to kill. I also did not realise how little time of summer there is left before I head back to uni again in September.

Coffee and reading, long night ahead

So much to do and so little time, it appears. Got to finish my application for medicine by October 15th, and we all know that time is going to fly by, especially by the time semester starts up again! I sat my UKCAT last week, so that is one of the main things out of the way. I really just need to write my personal statement, which is still proving more difficult that I thought it would. Maybe caffeine-fuelled, sleep-deprived inspiration will come to me throughout the night. One can hope. Other than that, I have got to start contacting grants and bursaries and see if I will be eligible for some sort of support. I am determined to have this all ready and done by the time my week in Sweden is up!

Enjoy your comfy beds and a good nights sleep people, think of poor me slumming it out!

E x

Summertime ☼

So exams are over, thank goodness for that! Spring was a stressful semester. Now just to wait on hearing about dissertation allocation, and then bring on 4th year...

Entering the Fort

But for now it is summer. Carl flew over for a couple of weeks in the beginning of June, and for the first week we went up to my parents in the Highlands for a short visit. First day, the weather wasn't great so we planned a trip to Fort George near Inverness, walking around like geeks with information headsets.

Funny Face :)

Cannons

We also visited the Clava Cairns and then headed back for the day to chill and relax on the sofa. The next day we, well mainly I, decided we were going to climb Ben Bhraggie, finally... seeing as we failed to do so the time before. I forgot how steep it was, and once we got up there, there wasn't really much to see anyway but fog, could barely see the statue! So we quickly marched back down and headed for a nice walk along Loch Migdale instead :)

The visit back home was short and sweet, but nice to see my parents and eat some lovely homemade food :) I also cut half my hair off, much to the surprise of my mother who was shocked how short I wanted it! 
It was time to head back down south again though, but not quite to Stirling. For Carl's birthday, I booked a Belle Tent for the weekend on the edge of Loch Tay, thought we would camp out and enjoy the outdoors and peace.

Camping at Loch Tay

I also challenged my fear of small boats and we hired a canoe for the day and paddled up and down the loch. We stopped off a few times for a wander, I reluctantly made my way out of the canoe back on to land each time, and we had a picnic on the shore. I actually felt quite relaxed after a while, think we will need to go canoeing again at some point.

Canoe Trip ♥

The weekend was soon over, and although I had a great time and felt really chilled out and enjoyed being a little cut off from technology and phones and internet, it also felt great to finally get back to the flat and have a proper shower, warm up and sleep in a normal bed again. 
Nothing much happened while we were back in Stirling. I worked a couple of shifts, and we just chilled out. We also saw the Olympic Torch on its relay around the UK. Really it was only a fleeting glance of the torch, but it was a nice, sunny day and we had a nice walk around town. 

The Torch!

 We also ventured up the Dumyat. It had only taken me 3 years and Carl, 5 years... But we finally did it! The walk was a lot better than Ben Bhraggie, wasn't as steep, although in all fairness, you do drive up to the halfway car park! And this was the view from the top...

Top of Dumyat

Carl's holidays were over though, and he needed to get back to Sweden and to work, and I went with him for a week. After another sleepless night, camping out at Costa in the airport and what seemed like a long flight, we finally got to Gothenburg. Just like in mid-semester I got to see Easter in Sweden, this time I got to see Midsummer; the celebrations, the flowers and the dancing, and eat a traditional midsummer meal (although I am becoming more tolerant of fish, I am definitely never going to be a fan of pickled herring!). The best thing about it was all the fresh strawberries, yum :) Carl's birthday was a chill-out day, although we did head to Liseberg, the theme park in Gothenburg, on the last day, and found out that Carl has well and truly turned into an old man who couldn't handle the rides any more. I don't think anyone has screamed "I hate you" so much to me while we were spinning around, back and forth, up and down in the air! I had a good day though, despite getting rained on, but what did it matter? Once we got wet, we were wet and it didn't make too much of a difference! 

I was really sad to have to leave. Going to the airport was hard, and having to leave Carl and seeing Carl having to leave to get to work while I stayed behind to catch my flight wasn't great. But it was a great 3 weeks we got to spend together, and it's been a long two months in between, but only one more week to go and I will be flying back to Sweden to see him. ♥

E x

Poison and Wine ♪♫

I don't have a choice,

But I still choose you...

A little place called Sweden ♥

So despite having an essay to write (and I did do a bit of reading while I was in the airport and a little more while I was there); I went on a mini trip to see Carl in Sweden for a week

I was so relieved to see Carl at the arrivals gate, especially after a long sleepless night at Edinburgh Airport waiting for my flight. Carl then surprised me with a trip to the summer cottage in Varberg for the weekend, not that I had any clue we were going in the complete opposite direction from the airport! (Partially because I was basically sleepwalking at that point!)
But Varberg was lovely, and quiet and relaxing just watching and listening to the waves and cuddling up on the sofa. Visited the fortress while we were there as well and had a wander through town.

At Varberg Fortress ♥

Varberg Fortress

On the Monday night, we got all dressed up and Carl took me out to a fancy restaurant, Thörnströms Kök, in Gothenburg as a belated 21st birthday present. The food was amazingly good, and so was the wine, and if ever there was a good time for me to try fish, this was it, and I liked it! Although Carl and myself need to brush up on our fancy, posh restaurant etiquette, mainly on how to eat a cheese plate!). Before we realised, 3 hours or so had gone by, but I had the most amazing night. Unfortunately we forgot to get a photo of me and Carl all suited and booted and dressed up...

The rest of the time was spent at Carl's house and he showed me around where he lived and his favourite places, even if it meant climbing up fjords in unsuitable boots and getting grumpy, the views were worth it :) 

Picnic sat on a rock at Gullmarsfjorden

A walk on the cliffs at Lysekil

I was rather sad to leave, felt quite at home and chilled out and relaxed. I had the best time and it was nice to see Carl in Sweden and not just the Carl I know in Scotland. But I reluctantly got back on the plane and headed back to Scotland, there was university to go back to...

E x

Catch up time

I have been meaning to update this and update this and update this; after my first trip to Sweden, after my exams, my June holiday with Carl in Scotland, and another trip to Sweden... I really do suck at this whole keeping a blog thing. Just there were exams and essays and lots of other stuff that I just got carried away with. I think its time for me to catch up...

Nothing is ever good enough

Well I've been meaning to post on this for a while. Just been difficult getting around to it, stressed out with exams and work and dissertation applications, and just the general stress of other things...
I will get some more posts up, need a post about my trip to Sweden and a few photos up. I will get to it.


Right now, I don't know though, been such a crap week. But that's not enough, never seems like anything I do any more is good enough. And sometimes I start to wonder why I bother...