The Other Side of Parkinson's Disease

THE OTHER SIDE OF PARKINSON'S DISEASE

I've been wanting to write this post for quite some time now, but every time I sit down to write it I can never quite find the words to capture what it is I want to say. It never quite turns out right.It feels like I have so much I want to share, and there's this burning desire to offload and brain dump, yet at the same time, I'm not quite sure what my point is.

Last November, my Dad was officially diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease. Parkinson's is a degenerative disorder that is caused by your brain losing its ability to produce dopamine, an important neurotransmitter that we need to help us move properly. When 80% of dopamine is lost, the classic symptoms of Parkinson's occur: tremor, slow movement, rigidity, stiffness. 

Initially, these symptoms aren't too bad, and you can lead a relatively normal life. However over time, as more dopamine is lost, your ability to do everyday movements, including eating, swallowing, laughing, communicating, walking, breathing, is compromised. This means that, despite the progression of Parkinson's being similar to that of the ageing process, in that it happens gradually, an individual's quality of life and ability to function decreases more more quickly and much more severely. 

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I first learnt about Parkinson's a couple of years ago, as part of my degree course. I'm training to be a Speech and Language Therapist, and people with Parkison's are one of the many client groups that a therapist sees. It's strange to think that back then, Parkinson's was just another thing to treat, another lecture to sit through, another assignment to complete. It felt so impersonal and unrelated to me. The only time I ever thought I'd encounter it again, is if I ended up working with adults who've acquired communication disorders. 

Yet one year later, I'm on my 3rd year placement, and my Dad sends me a text saying the neurologist (who he happened to be seeing at the time) thinks he has Parkinson's Disease. And my world is momentarily turned upside down, and the irony of the situation engulfs me. Suddenly, my life has been taken over by this disease. Suddenly, it has latched itself onto me and my family, our lives, our futures. Suddenly, it has become ours. Suddenly, it has re-aligned the stars, re-written the next chapters of our lives, and changed everything we ever knew, and thought to be real, constant, forever. 

It was so disorientating.

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For me, it was so weird to be on the other side of the diagnosis. I didn't realise, until that point, what's it like to find out news like that. How it feels. How it hurts. How it affects not only you, but the lives of everyone around you, like some seismic wave cascading out beneath your feet. In our family, probably because of my degree, I was the first one to crack. The thing that really got me, was the realisation, the fact, that one day, my Dad was going to die. Growing up, you know your parents aren't going to be around forever, but you almost live as though that's the case. Yet until that day, I had never considered the thought that one day, my parents will die. It will happen.

And suddenly, it felt like it was written in stone.

Worse still, I didn't know how much time we would have left. Parkinson's is so individualised, so person-specific, and it's impossible to predict how many precious years you have. Back then, and even now, I sometimes find myself wondering if my Dad will be around to watch me and my sister get married, have kids, settle down, live our lives. And if he is still here, what will he be like? Will he able to talk? Hug us?  Walk? There's all these unknowns and what-ifs. 

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Over the last 18 months, I've already seen my grandparents start to outdo my Dad. Even though they're older, they can do more than he can, which is strange to comprehend. I've had to tie his shoes for him. Help him cut his dinner and do his shirt up. And I've seen him having to use the other side of his body to compensate for the hand that can't use a mouse properly anymore, and the leg which drags when he walks. Every time I see him, I wonder what will have changed next.

I've seen my Mum have a mini-meltdown. I've seen my sister cry. I've seen it affect everyone in different yet similar ways, as we all try to process and look ahead. I still cry about it every now and then. There's no lying, it hasn't been easy. 

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But I suppose the main reason I wanted to write this post, is that, despite all that, there have been a lot of positives. As John Green demonstrated so well, in his novel 'The Fault In Our Stars', there is another side to disease, which isn't often spoken about or recognised. And that's the main thing I want to share with you guys.

Yes, I hate not knowing how many years I have left with my Dad. Yes, I hate not knowing how this disease will affect him, and worrying if he can still be the man we all know and love. Yes, I hate seeing my family worry, and get upset. Yes, I hate that my future has also been coloured by this disease, and that it has dictated all our futures, taken the control and choice right out of our hands. Sometimes, I really bloody hate Parkinson's Disease.

And yet... and yet sometimes, I find myself wondering if it was one of the best things that could have happened to us. 

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For starters, Parkinson's Disease is funny. The movement my Dad's hand constantly makes has created some very funny memories and situations, not least because it resembles the same action a man uses to pleasure himself. And his attempt at dancing at Christmas really was a sight for sore eyes. Better yet, there was the first time the Parkinson's nurse called, and my Dad answered in a very camp voice, pretending to be a personal assistant, and 'could he take a message' to pass on to my Dad. That really set the tone for all future encounters with the Parkinson's support team.  

Another thing Parkinson's has done, is brought my family closer together. We appreciate each other more. We're more unified. We say yes. We laugh more. We do things together. We show our love. And my Mum and Dad are quite literally living life to the full now, whilst they have the freedom and the means to do so. 

And for that I'm so grateful, because I know that whatever happens, we will be able to look back on these years, knowing that we made the most of them, and that we loved and appreciated and held onto one another whilst we still had the chance. That we made the memories. Shared those moments. And recognised and valued them as they happened.

Which leads me onto another thing Parkinson's has taught me: how to live in the present. With a degenerative disease, the future is up in the air. There's no certainty anymore. It's all out of your control. However one thing you always know, is that, because of the nature of the disease, today is always going to be better than tomorrow. Today is always your best day. The present will always surpass and outweigh the future. Things will never be this good again. So you need to live in the moment, and enjoy every minute of it. Be present, be grateful, be a part of it. 

And another thing, is that it really does make you see the bigger picture. As someone who focuses too much on the details, and often becomes absorbs in that quest for perfection and being good enough, I'm usually blinded to the bigger picture. I find it hard to step away and gain that perspective. So in many ways, I'm very grateful to Parkinson's Disease for helping me to overcome that, and realise that there is more to life than whatever silly thing it is I'm worrying about that day. There's more important things. There's more out there. I understand what really matters most now. And to have that insight and understanding at 21 years old is something I feel incredibly lucky to have.

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So I guess, to summarise, 

1) Parkinson's Disease is a bit shit really

2) It's not always easy

but 3) Surprisingly, there's also so many good things about it. And they're the things that make me feel positive about whatever happens next, and so lucky that as a family, we've had the kick up the bum we needed to realise that we need to appreciate and love each other now, while we have the chance. 

and 4) I really love my Dad, silly goofball that he is. 

To find out more, visit: https://www.parkinsons.org.uk

Lady Bird

LADY BIRD

Yesterday, I finally got round to watching Lady Bird. Spoiler alert, I loved it. No, better yet, I adored it.

I've been wanting to watch it ever since I first heard about it, via a chance post on Instagram which gushed about the brilliance, humility and beauty of the film. 

Ladybird is the first film to be written and directed by Greta Gerwig, a talented American actress and filmmaker with a knack for spotting the unusual and the beautiful nestled in the mundane workings of everyday life. Starring the phenomenally talented Saoirse Ronan in the title role, Lady Bird  is, to an extent, a semi-biographical depiction of Gerwig's adolescent years. 

Set in the lush Californian city of Sacramento, a place filled with endless sunshine, baby blue skies, neon lights, serene expanses, and a pastel-hued Americana meets dreamworld vibe, the film follows Christine McPherson, self-referred to as Lady Bird, throughout her final year of high school.

Although the premise of the story isn't a blazing promise of drama, adventure, action, a feature that characterises most independent films, what this story is, is an emotive, sensitive, honest, accurate, joyous celebration and exploration of teenage life. 

I loved watching Lady Bird navigate love, friendships, family, sex, self-discovery, school, the future, herself. I loved reminiscing and revelling in the nostalgia of those younger, formative years. Where home doesn't feel big enough anymore, and you're counting down the days till you escape to something, somewhere bigger, better, bolder, brighter. That feeling that there is more out there to discover, enjoy, experience. There just has to be. Where everyday you live your life in the same way you've always done, cocooned in the familiarity and comfort of what and who you've always known, but your mind is dreaming of wild and wondrous things, all the while plotting your escape. And yet... and yet there's a peculiar way your heart breaks at the thought of leaving it all behind. 

Oh how I loved being immersed in that feeling again. 

I also loved Lady Bird's wit, selfishness, certainty, boldness, coupled with her fragility, confusion and sensitivity. Ronan makes her character feel so authentic, a steam roller blowing hot and cold, racing up and down, never knowing whether she's in or out, in that way only teenage hormones can. I loved the magic of Sacramento, California, the sunshine state, and imagining my adolescence playing out against such a cinematic backdrop. Everything about this film felt like a rose-hued, summery dream, which made the contrast with Lady Bird's complex, and not always pretty, journey of self-discovery even more perfect. 

But I think the thing I loved most about Lady Bird, was its accurate portrayal of the mother-daughter relationship. Seeing Lady Bird and her mother, played by the wonderful Laurie Metcalf, trying to figure one another out, sometimes succeeding, sometimes wounding, reminded me so acutely of my relationship with my own Mum. I've never watched a film that has captured that turbulent, fiercely loving, rollercoaster of a relationship so well. Both Lady Bird and her mother a strong-minded, determined, opinionated characters with a tendency to misunderstand one another, yet I love how they fall back in sync within the breath of a sentence, the spur of a moment. It reminds you that all there ever is, when everything else is stripped away, is love.

So Lady Bird.  One of the highest rated films of all time, just behind Toy Story 2. What a film. What a masterpiece. What an adventure. Every January for the last five years, I seem to have ended up watching a indie coming-of-age film, but honestly, Lady Bird is, without doubt, the best one I've seen yet. 

https://www.facebook.com/ladybirdmovie/

Once Upon A Time I Went To Prague

ONCE UPON A TIME I WENT TO PRAGUE

Once upon a time, I went to Prague.

I used my savings from my online store and impulsively booked my trip a month before I went. My mum tagged along. I had a purple digital camera to record every moment (before I trod on it and broke it last year). I had a fringe and a beige mac, and these clunky brown leather shoes from Zara. I made a list of places to see, and I managed to visit most of them. I saw the John Lennon wall. I went to a park overlooking the city and drank Cider and chatted to some Dutch guys as the sun set. 

I saw twinkly lights. Coloured buildings. Rode a tram. Drank beer. Ate pizza and saurkraut and dumplings. I cried in a castle. I argued with my Mum. I dropped my hotdog on the floor. I fell in love with the architecture and the fairytale wonder. I drew picturesque scenes in my notebook. I wandered around the city under midnight blue skies. I ate picnics in the park.

It was wonderful. Spontaneous. Special. Magical. And here is just a small sample of photographs taken from the hundreds (and hundreds) I took.

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Hello Prague

Looking After Myself

LOOKING AFTER MYSELF 

When I was in my teenage years, I always used to assume that by the time I reached my twenties, I would be a fully functioning, competent adult.

And I definitely thought I would've gotten the hang of one very important thing: looking after myself.

Therefore, one of the greatest surprises of turning 18, 19, 20, then 21, and 22 next year, is that these things don't just happen overnight. They aren't just a given. Who you are doesn't magically transform. The insecurities remain. The questionable personality traits remain. The beliefs, attitudes and values remain. The person inside remains. The child within you still pops up to say hello. Yet the context around you changes. And somehow, you have to find a way of fitting into this new world that is asking you to be someone you've not quite transformed into yet.

Adulting is hard. 

And one of the most difficult things I've encountered, is the looking after myself part. 

I'm a naturally anxious person, so that tends to rear its head on a daily basis. Then there's the love of cheese, wine, sticky toffee pudding, potato waffles etc. which makes the neurones in my brain go wild with excitement. My self esteem is eternally stuck on an endless roller coaster of ups and downs, so some days I feel like the best person in the whole entire world, and others I feel like I will never be good enough for anything or anyone. I can be sensitive. I can be impulsive (like that random Sunday afternoon where I bought a drum). I find it hard to chill out.

I wake up in the morning and gormlessly scroll through Instagram. My posture is stuck somewhere between a chimp and a sloth. I forget to check my bank account and make sure I have enough to pay my rent. I end up in A&E because I think the antibiotics are meant to make my infected finger become more swollen. I end up spending a weekend in Lancaster without money, ID, student card, bank cards, my Brownie Points loyalty card, because I was too preoccupied with buying my egg and sausage McMuffin and my purse got nicked. I keep drinking milk even though it makes my tummy funny every morning. I vary between being a stingy and excessive spender. I get too conscious about my dry skin. And worst of all, I still pick my spots.

Sure all these things make me me, and I know I'm not going to have nailed being an adult just yet, but the difficulty is, I am now responsible for all these things. These are all my choices. Nobody else's. And that means I am ultimately responsible for my own wellbeing, something I've always struggled with. And I'm not afraid to admit that that scares me.

But this year has been a good year, a very good year, because it has made me realise that, not only should I take looking after myself more seriously, I am also capable of doing that, and I get better at it with every passing day, month, year. I am listening to my body and being kinder to it. I am trying to help my mind be a health, happy, relaxed place. I eat relatively ok. I do exercise. I'm trying to get better a opening up, apologising for my mistakes, treating myself, taking a break, and putting things into perspective. I'm trying to fight my corner, be nice to myself, and trust that I can do anything and everything that I set my mind to. And even though I don't always get this adulting thing right, and some days I just love a good argument, a pity party, or the chance to unleash my inner child, when I look at my life as a whole, I don't think I'm doing too badly.

And as a new year dawns, and more milestones are ticked, changes are made, and new unknown awaits with many a story to tell, I want 2018 to be the year when I start looking after myself properly. Intertwine all those separate little strands together, so that I give myself the best chance of being happy, healthy, content, and ready to take on this great adventure with a spring in my step and sparkle in my eye. 2017, a little firecracker of a year, was all about the new, it was all about big changes, and it was all about the bigger picture. And I'm hoping 2018 will be about making the most of the present, and every single day that comes my way, championing myself, creating small but meaningful changes, and focusing on what matters most of all:

Happiness. Friendship. Love. Resilience. Health. Positivity. And not loosing my bloody purse in McDonalds. 

Happy New Year folks!

What I've Learnt: 2017

WHAT I'VE LEARNT: 2017

This year has been a strange but wonderful year for me. 

 So much is new. So much is unexpected. So much has been learnt. 

I have had such a brilliant time, and part of me is wondering where the year went. More than ever, I want to hold onto this year, because next year is when things change all over again. Regardless of what happens, or where I end up, what I want more than anything is to land on my feet. I want stability, some familiarity, a green light. Go. But I guess only time will tell.

Meanwhile, back to 2017, of course there have been the usual iffy moments. We all get our fair share. But this year, I've noticed they've been more focused and intense, rather than lots of little regular episodes. Is it me? Is it circumstance? I don't know, but I think I prefer it this way. My mind is happy most of the time, I feel more in control of my mental health and well-being, almost like I can decide which way the tide turns, whether the sun shines, how long the rain has to fall.

And of course, alongside the iffy moments, there have been lots and lots of joyful moments, a new harvest of memories to add to the burgeoning collection. Earlier today I was thinking about what my life will be like 10 years from now, and how I'll feel when I look back at these times. Even though I don't know what my future holds, I just know that I will always cherish these university years. What a wonderful chapter to add to my life, the story of me. How lucky I have been.

But likewise, great as this chapter has been, and despite being better than I ever could have dreamed, I'm hoping that it is not my Golden Age. 

I know it's unlikely things will ever be this good again, but I'm hopeful that my life will evolve into another kind of good, another kind of happiness, in the years to come. Maybe not as heightened or intense, but just as fulfilling, adventurous and magical. So with that, here are the most important things 2017 has taught me, and which I hope to carry through as another chapter dawns and a new sun rises.

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LESSONS:

001. Say yes to the opportunities that come your way, or make them yourself.

002. When it comes to love, take matters into your own hands. Forget about the rules. Create your own happiness.

003. Cherish the people you love. See them, talk to them, hug them, as much as you can, because one day you will realise that they aren't going to be here forever. Our time is limited, so make the most of it.

004. Remember to take a step back and see the bigger picture. 

005. Work is important, but it is not the most important thing. 

006. Relaxation is just as crucial as eating, sleeping, breathing, drinking, so don't feel bad for doing it. 

007. Always make time for your friends, value each person and what they bring to your life, and remember the best people will never leave you.

008. Apologise for and accept your mistakes, and then do what you can to learn from them.

009. Be kind to people.

010. Volunteer when you can- even an hour of your time can make such a huge difference to someone else's life.

011. Trust that you will cross that finish line, and in the mean time, enjoy the ride.

012. An egg & sausage McMuffin, and taking a selfie with it, is not worth losing your purse over

013. Compromise.

014. Nip that finger infection in the bud, before your finger balloons to the size of a golf ball.

015. Believe in yourself and your worth because no-one else will, and most of all, be resilient (because you might just end up as captain of a sports team, or getting that summer job). 

016. Don't go to bed without resolving an argument- sort it out as soon as you can and move on.

017. Get a waterproof bag.

018. It's ok to dwell and not feel good, but keep pushing yourself back up and fighting back.

019. A relationship is not always easy, but the right person is worth all the hard times a million times over. 

020. Butternut squash, homemade bread, bean burgers, mulled wine, Crazy Pedro's pizza, rosemary cheese and seasalt toasties, halloumi fries, tequila= all amazing

021. Let your guard down and open up.

022. Be someone that people can trust and talk to. 

023. Treat yourself.

024. Don't let your sister cut your hair. 

Thank You

THANK YOU

This morning, my heart has felt very full. And I have been feeling very soppy because of it. So brace yourself.

 I can't stop thinking about how incredibly grateful and thankful I am, for all the brilliant, amazing, wonderful, gorgeous, lovely people that I'm lucky enough to have in my life. 

These moments happen every once in a while. Moments when that particular realisation strikes me like a lighting bolt. And my mind starts to flicker through every single person who is a part of my life, and who brings such joy and meaning and companionship, just by being them. I am so lucky. So very lucky.

I've said this numerous times before, but I have been blessed in life. Not for the material, trivial, consequential things but for the people. The people who have walked this road alongside me, and joined me along the way. 

Sometimes I can't quite fathom how it came to be. It's kind of overwhelming sometimes. 

In life it's so easy to take people for granted. Forget to stop and appreciate how brilliant they are, and how lucky you are to know them, and to even have met them in the first place. It's easy to feel alone. Like you're the only one along for the ride. It's easy to assume these people will always be there, when that's not always the case.

So in light of all these things, I just wanted to say thank you.

Thank you to all the people who are a part of my life, and have made it so much happier, loving, sparklier, joyful, richer, fulfilling, just simply by being there.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart. From the depths of the universe. From every last little molecule and particle of my being. Thank you for making me feel loved, content and not alone. Thank you for making such treasured memories with me. Thank you for making me realise what really matters most in life. Thank you for being here. 

Thank you for being you.

Because you help make me me. 

And that means more to me than you could ever possibly know.

Summer 2017

SUMMER 2017

And so another incredible summer came to a close.

As F. Scott Fitzgerald once said, 'life starts all over again when it gets crisp in the fall', and I can feel that change everywhere I go. It's racing through the air, tumbling out in the words I speak, blooming within the feelings and emotions in my body, placing a new lens over the way I think. Another chapter begins as one is closed. The future beckons once more.

Last summer, I remember thinking that it was the best one of my life. Surely I couldn't experience anything better. How could it be possible? Last year I made so many treasured memories, went on lots of different adventures, involved in the things that make me happy, and spent time with the people I love. It was an important summer because it shifted something within me, and helped it fall into the right place. I emerged feeling so unbelievably content, confident, positive, happy, loved, grateful, and excited for the future. It changed a lot of things.

So this summer had a lot to live up to. And did it achieve it? By heck it did. Although not as life changing as last summer, it was certainly four months of joy, adventure, love, happiness, friendship and fulfilment. And I'm walking away from it with memories that will last a lifetime. 

Therefore, in honour of this corker of a summer, which physically hurts to say goodbye to (I wish it would last forever), here's a list of some of the things I got up to...

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ADVENTURINGS...

• Visited the Isle of Wight and Portsmouth, and went swimming in the early morning sea, travelled around the island, had late afternoon drinks, drank the best hot chocolates, watched Harry Potter, went bowling, had the best toasties, fell more in love and reminisced from way back when
• Spent the day with my grandparents and we did a spontaneous photoshoot in the garden, sunbathed under the beautiful sun and I introduced my Spanish Nana to 'Despacito'- she told me she understood every word
• A gorgeous afternoon tea at a local farm shop with some of my oldest friends
• Friday night with prosecco, Hagen Daaz and Sex & The City
• Going to Devon and playing badminton on the beach, paddling in the sea, taking a boat across the harbour, fish and chips on the pebbled beach, frisbee on the park, ice cream, tea and cake pitstops on the M5
• Summer job at schuh, working with the best team of people, surrounded by beautiful shoes, and being paid to talk about shoes non stop
• Volunteering for the Stroke Association, and being reminded why I'm doing this degree, and how incredible it feels to do something positive and worthwhile for another person- especially seeing how their confidence and skills grow
• Seeing two of my sister's LAMDA shows and feeling so proud of her!! 
• Watching Wimbledon from the top of One Exchange Shopping centre in the hot July heat
• Discovering the Natural History Museum
• Adventuring through London, all the way from West Ham, and an impromptu coffee date with my old housemate, to meeting my family for a cuppa at McDs. My sis and I then continued out adventures around London in the pouring rain. We ended up in the Lego Shop, The National Portrait Gallery, snuck into a choir rehearsal at St Martin-in-the-Fields church, walked through Seven Dials, had £5 pizza and wandered all around Covent Garden and Bloomsbury. It was magical
• Bank holiday weekend with (almost) all my family. Gorgeous lasagnas, pies, pancakes, fruit, courtesy of my Nan. A trip to Tutbury Castle which made me feel so in touch with my inner child, and so happy, carefree, excited about life. Being able to buy candyfloss for my cousins. Laughing and singing all evening. Sandwiches and tea in the garden, talking until late at night
• Discovered Coventry and Bedworth, and met my boyfriend's family, who all made me feel so welcome
• Walks in the forest in the pouring rain, walks in the countryside in the pouring rain, walks on the back field that overlooks everywhere, and the sunset turning the sky into a rainbow
• Staying with two of my oldest friends in a flat in Seville, and exploring the city, dancing to Spanish music at an outdoor nightclub until 6 in the morning, a beautiful and authentic Spanish meal, afternoon churros, discovering the city, pretending to be bullfighters, laughing so much, listening to the locals advice to wear suncream
• Torremolinos with my parents- all the cats, all the bevs, all the nice food, all the beach days
• Going to my first wedding as a 20-something year old, when it was my friend getting married. It was such a beautiful, creative, simple ceremony, and an honour to be a part of
• Watching Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Stevie Nicks & The Lumineers at Hyde Park on a balmy, pink July evening, and having an incredible celebration of love, music, happiness. And not realising at the time how lucky we were to be seeing Tom Petty's last UK performance
• The best mac n cheese ever, the best halloumi fries ever
• A spontaneous early morning spoons breakfast with my oldest and best friend 
• Taking tequila shots in a 'The Hobbit' drinking game, my friend spontaneously buying a Bongo, wandering around Nottingham, arcade games at the bowling alley, running around the neighbourhood playing frisbee as the rain poured down, late night Singstar till 4 in the morning, ball games in the park, cosy Sunday evening drinks and boardgames
• Hanging out with my sis and her oldest friend, feeling like it was old times all over again
• Lying in Arboretum Park, under the glowing sun
• Dancing the night away at Rock City and bringing out all my best dance moves
• Drinks and food with old school friends, re-connecting and reminiscing after another year of our lives had passed
• Afternoon day trip to Belper, binging on Ru Paul, face masks, going to a trampoline park and a chicken, bacon and cheese panini from spoons
• Visiting my friend in Blackpool and being fed so much delicious homemade food, watching the Age of Adaline, having cava and foot massages, daytripping to Lytham St Anne's where we had coffee and cake, explored all the shops, swung on the swings in the park and raced up the sand dunes in the late afternoon sun. We had a long walk around Stanley Park and almost got blown away on Blackpool Sea front. It was perfect.
• Another year volunteering in at a kids camp in the middle of Derbyshire. Despite the pouring rain every single day, and the difficult behaviour, it was so fulfilling to give those kids an amazing holiday filled with adventure, sports, arts, friendship and lots and lots of delicious food
• Spontaneous family trip to Ashbourne
• Bingewatching This Morning, Lord of The Rings, Planet of The Apes, Stranger Things, Riverdale, Gilmore Girls
• Having the best daytrip to Leicester, involving Pizza Hut buffet lunch, wandering up to Victoria Park and popping into the museum along the way, shopping, exploring the city, walking down canals all the way to Abbey Park, feeding ducks in the late afternoon rain, apple pie and tea at McDonalds, taking curvey photos outside The Curve
• Having my first unicorn hot chocolate with an old friend, playing in the park like we were children all over again, and drinking G&T's & cucumber on the rooftop of the local pub
• Cafe date with my sis, talking about everything you could imagine in the world, as always
• Learning how to make loads of incredible food, including carbonara, toffee apple crumble, chocolate cookies, brownie, carrot cake, chicken noodle soup
• New glasses which make everyone remark how intelligent I look
• The silly little things, like being able to wake up and say hello to my family, spend the day with them, and see some of my old friends, just like it used to be. Oh and not having to cook dinner for myself all summer.
• GETTING SUNBURNT DURING 7 CONSECUTIVE DAYS OF HEAVY RAIN