So on Friday, I went to a Mother and Daughter photo shoot which was a very weird experience for us both I think but it was great fun.
We arrived at the studios completely bare-faced as they had asked us to put no make up on. I really did not like walking through town with no make up on, I always have at least mascara on but never mind. I didn't see anyone I know so it's fine.
We then went up to the make-up studio bit and had all our make up done professionally. There was a lot of foundation due to the lights and the camera but I loved my eye make-up! It was more than I would usually wear but I thought my eyes stood out and looked quite blue with it on which was really nice. My mum looked amazing when she'd had all of hers done.
We also had our hair done. We both went for curls because it suits us better than poker straight hair and looks a bit more natural too. Once all the hair and make up was done we got our outfits and went into the photo shoot room.
We wore about 4 different outfits and it was actually quite fun once you got over the initial awkwardness. Afterwards, we packed up our stuff, booked in for our viewing and then walked back to the car. Once we'd dropped off our stuff, we started looking for somewhere where we could have a late lunch (very late - it was about 4 o'clock).
We ended up at the Pitcher & Piano and had 3 grazers and a drink each. We were going to have cocktails but we thought we better not. We had halloumi cheese, chicken and chorizo skewers and mini fishcakes which were all really nice and the lunch was really lovely.
As we were all dolled up, we went out as a family for a meal and went to Ask Italian in Ashby which was lovely, mum's food definitely looked the nicest though! We did take off the foundation before we went out though as it was a little too heavy for normal wear.
To finish the day off, I went to the pub with some friends to celebrate an 18th which was a great way to end the day.
I don't know if we'll buy any of the photos but it'd be nice if I had one just for the memories.
Monday, 21 July 2014
Sunday, 6 July 2014
Book Review: The Fault In Our Stars
So I finally read The Fault In Our Stars (now I need to go see the film!) whilst I was on holiday last week and I thought I'd do a mini book review type thing. You will have to let me know if this is the sort of thing I should keep doing or just never do again because it's terrible (constructive criticism is totally welcome here!)
The Fault In Our Stars by John Green
Okay so I was never bothered about TFIOS but since the film came out, it has resurfaced on my social media sites (mainly Twitter) and everybody has been talking about it again therefore, I decided to give it a try and see if it was worth the praise and hype it has been receiving.
TFIOS is a ridiculously easy book to read; I think I got through it in about a day and a half (I am a fast reader but that is speedy for me especially as I haven't really been reading too much recently). You become integrated into the book very quickly and easily, the transition between reality and fiction whilst reading this is pretty seamless. It's a real-life book too which makes it easier, it's something people can relate to and as the plot is around "Cancer Kids", it is relevant because at the moment, almost everyone I know has had some form of cancer affect their lives in one way or another over the years.
Hazel Grace Lancaster, the main character, is a relatable character in some ways. What with the obsessions with terrible TV that you can't help but watch, the interest in boys but being convinced there's no chance in hell of having a boyfriend. Augustus is your typical charmer, the type of boy every girl wants in her life so a tad less relatable as the majority of us girls are yet to find our Prince Charming/Mr Darcy/Augustus Waters.
However, Isaac has that strength and happiness and despair that shows through in anyone's life. Personally, he was my favourite character in the book, the strength of his mind despite all he went through and endured was certainly admirable and I would love to have the same kind of inner strength that he does. Despite that strength though, he is completely aware that it is totally okay to break down and flip out sometimes and that it is actually very healthy to do just that which I think is ace.
I don't want to give too much of the plot away to any of those who have not read this book so I'm not going to talk too much about it but I will say the ending was far better than others I've read. It was emotional, not tear-jerking for me as it seems for so many others, but it was raw and was written exquisitely I feel. It was something that not many teens would ever experience.
The one thing I could criticise is the depth of the story, yes it was well thought out and thought-provoking and a beautiful story but it was so quick to read that I felt as if I didn't get enough, that there wasn't enough for me to get my teeth into so to speak.
Was it worth all the hype? Almost I think, the book is fab but the story didn't quite live up to expectation for me. But kudos to John Green for writing an incredible book, I would still recommend it to anyone.
What are your guys thoughts? On TFIOS, my book reviews and on life in general - I would love to know :)
x
The Fault In Our Stars by John Green
Okay so I was never bothered about TFIOS but since the film came out, it has resurfaced on my social media sites (mainly Twitter) and everybody has been talking about it again therefore, I decided to give it a try and see if it was worth the praise and hype it has been receiving.
Hazel Grace Lancaster, the main character, is a relatable character in some ways. What with the obsessions with terrible TV that you can't help but watch, the interest in boys but being convinced there's no chance in hell of having a boyfriend. Augustus is your typical charmer, the type of boy every girl wants in her life so a tad less relatable as the majority of us girls are yet to find our Prince Charming/Mr Darcy/Augustus Waters.
However, Isaac has that strength and happiness and despair that shows through in anyone's life. Personally, he was my favourite character in the book, the strength of his mind despite all he went through and endured was certainly admirable and I would love to have the same kind of inner strength that he does. Despite that strength though, he is completely aware that it is totally okay to break down and flip out sometimes and that it is actually very healthy to do just that which I think is ace.
I don't want to give too much of the plot away to any of those who have not read this book so I'm not going to talk too much about it but I will say the ending was far better than others I've read. It was emotional, not tear-jerking for me as it seems for so many others, but it was raw and was written exquisitely I feel. It was something that not many teens would ever experience.
The one thing I could criticise is the depth of the story, yes it was well thought out and thought-provoking and a beautiful story but it was so quick to read that I felt as if I didn't get enough, that there wasn't enough for me to get my teeth into so to speak.
Was it worth all the hype? Almost I think, the book is fab but the story didn't quite live up to expectation for me. But kudos to John Green for writing an incredible book, I would still recommend it to anyone.
What are your guys thoughts? On TFIOS, my book reviews and on life in general - I would love to know :)
x
Friday, 4 July 2014
Uganda
A year ago on Wednesday, I spent the day travelling to Africa after a whole year of preparing and waiting and after 5 years of wishing on every star that I could become a part of the team of pupils that get to travel and work in Uganda.
I was a part of a team of 24 pupils (only 23 flew to Uganda, the 24th has a heart condition meaning she can't travel), affectionately called the Tiggers, who prepared from October 2012 to July 2013 to become the best brickies and the strongest team we could be so that when July the 2nd came, the day we finally got to go to Uganda, we would be ready for any eventuality and we would be ready to build on a second floor above the dormitory built by the team before us and we would be ready to create a school. A place of learning for over 100 children of all ages.
It was so hard to say goodbye to my parents as I was going away for a month and would probably have very little chance to communicate with them (no phones and no Internet) but I managed it and I also managed not to cry until about midnight, sat on the airplane writing my diary. Luckily, I don't think anyone saw me because everyone was trying to sleep.
When we arrived in Uganda, it was raining! And thundering. But it was very refreshing after the plane journey. We got quite a few odd looks walking through the airport in our bright orange team kit (orange and black were our team colours, hence Tiggers). We met our lovely, bubbly and hilarious tour guide Lukia along with our 2 drivers Meddie and Hassan and one of our bodyguards, Hassan outside the arrivals building and we headed to the bus. We had another bus ram-packed with our suitcases (we had 3 each and there was 30 of us - you do the maths).
We got to meet our 2 other bodyguards Robert and Walter too and the 6 of them became part of our family so quickly. We also got to meet all of the kids at the 2 orphanages we would be working at. The school I go to owns one of the orphanages (The John Dickens' House/M-Lisada) and it is in partnership with the other (MYDEL).
We built the school at the MYDEL (Mengo Youth Development Link) site and we had 17 site days in which to complete the building and then paint it. We also painted the girls dorms at M-Lisada (Music, Life Skills and Destitution Alleviation) and the outside of the main building there on the last few site days.
After day 8 on site, we had finished the 4 classrooms on the second floor and we were all chuffed to bits. We managed to go from this..
To this..
To finished, rendered walls with windows in like this!
So that was pretty mad. In between all the building, rendering and painting we did have some fun too (saying that, site was great fun at times - the team all got on so well!) We attended a Church service - weirdest Church service I've ever been too - and had some African drumming and dancing lessons. We went to Uganda's second city, Jinja and went to Main Street Primary School and taught some lessons, visited the Source of the River Nile, went white water rafting, did a bungee jump (amazing fun!) and visited a baby orphanage. Towards the end of the trip, we also went on a 3-day safari at Murchison Falls National Park which was an incredible experience despite the fact I was ill and couldn't keep much food down.
As well as building the 4 classrooms at MYDEL, we also renovated the main building, transforming it into a Head Teacher's office, a medical room, a library (with computers) and a 5th classroom.
After 4 long weeks, we opened the newly re-named MYDEL-McQuilton Academy, presented the children who lived there with their brand new uniforms and watched with pride as the kids swarmed their new school.
Uganda was an incredible experience and I met some absolutely amazing people who I would've happily sat and chatted to for hours on end to listen to their stories about the lives they lead. The team I went out with there were the best people I could've hoped for to share those experiences with and we are all still really close, over a year later. I am still so proud of what I achieved in that month and wish I could go back again this year to see all of the friends I made whilst I was out there.
So my message, as well as sharing some of my experiences in the beautiful country of Uganda, is that you need to dream big, be kind, be inspired and keep your eyes open and your ears to the ground for any opportunities that might present themselves to you.
Do something you don't think you have the inner strength for and surprise yourself when you realise that you can do it.
Do everything with a smile on your face even if you feel like you can't keep going for much longer, look for the positives in every situation you find yourself in and surround yourself with a group of people who you know you can rely on no matter what.
And remember to feel proud of whatever you have done, no matter how small and know that you have the power to change somebody's life for the better.
Let me know what you think of this post and I'll see you again soon!
Charly xx
I was a part of a team of 24 pupils (only 23 flew to Uganda, the 24th has a heart condition meaning she can't travel), affectionately called the Tiggers, who prepared from October 2012 to July 2013 to become the best brickies and the strongest team we could be so that when July the 2nd came, the day we finally got to go to Uganda, we would be ready for any eventuality and we would be ready to build on a second floor above the dormitory built by the team before us and we would be ready to create a school. A place of learning for over 100 children of all ages.
It was so hard to say goodbye to my parents as I was going away for a month and would probably have very little chance to communicate with them (no phones and no Internet) but I managed it and I also managed not to cry until about midnight, sat on the airplane writing my diary. Luckily, I don't think anyone saw me because everyone was trying to sleep.
When we arrived in Uganda, it was raining! And thundering. But it was very refreshing after the plane journey. We got quite a few odd looks walking through the airport in our bright orange team kit (orange and black were our team colours, hence Tiggers). We met our lovely, bubbly and hilarious tour guide Lukia along with our 2 drivers Meddie and Hassan and one of our bodyguards, Hassan outside the arrivals building and we headed to the bus. We had another bus ram-packed with our suitcases (we had 3 each and there was 30 of us - you do the maths).
We got to meet our 2 other bodyguards Robert and Walter too and the 6 of them became part of our family so quickly. We also got to meet all of the kids at the 2 orphanages we would be working at. The school I go to owns one of the orphanages (The John Dickens' House/M-Lisada) and it is in partnership with the other (MYDEL).
We built the school at the MYDEL (Mengo Youth Development Link) site and we had 17 site days in which to complete the building and then paint it. We also painted the girls dorms at M-Lisada (Music, Life Skills and Destitution Alleviation) and the outside of the main building there on the last few site days.
After day 8 on site, we had finished the 4 classrooms on the second floor and we were all chuffed to bits. We managed to go from this..
 |
| We had scaffolding put up around the edge so we didn't fall off, don't worry! |
 |
| The wall with the dint in the middle is the one I was working on |
 |
| This is actually one of the walls I helped to build. |
So that was pretty mad. In between all the building, rendering and painting we did have some fun too (saying that, site was great fun at times - the team all got on so well!) We attended a Church service - weirdest Church service I've ever been too - and had some African drumming and dancing lessons. We went to Uganda's second city, Jinja and went to Main Street Primary School and taught some lessons, visited the Source of the River Nile, went white water rafting, did a bungee jump (amazing fun!) and visited a baby orphanage. Towards the end of the trip, we also went on a 3-day safari at Murchison Falls National Park which was an incredible experience despite the fact I was ill and couldn't keep much food down.
 |
| Going backwards over a 3m drop waterfall! |
 |
| 3..2..1..BUNGEE!! |
After 4 long weeks, we opened the newly re-named MYDEL-McQuilton Academy, presented the children who lived there with their brand new uniforms and watched with pride as the kids swarmed their new school.
 |
| The Medical Room |
Uganda was an incredible experience and I met some absolutely amazing people who I would've happily sat and chatted to for hours on end to listen to their stories about the lives they lead. The team I went out with there were the best people I could've hoped for to share those experiences with and we are all still really close, over a year later. I am still so proud of what I achieved in that month and wish I could go back again this year to see all of the friends I made whilst I was out there.
Do something you don't think you have the inner strength for and surprise yourself when you realise that you can do it.
Do everything with a smile on your face even if you feel like you can't keep going for much longer, look for the positives in every situation you find yourself in and surround yourself with a group of people who you know you can rely on no matter what.
And remember to feel proud of whatever you have done, no matter how small and know that you have the power to change somebody's life for the better.
 |
| When we arrived back home on the 2nd August 2013 |
Let me know what you think of this post and I'll see you again soon!
Charly xx
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