A List of Happiness

This week a list has been published of the top 50 things that make people happy. Its an interesting list and is obviously compiled from polling a large array of people. Reading this list got me thinking, what things make me happy? At a time when life in Britain for most people is unbelievably tough and miserable its easy to forget the good things and ignore the small things that make us happy or smile or laugh out loud. So in an effort to concentrate more on what makes me happy instead of all the things which make me sad, or frustrated, or angry, disappointed or fed up I started to compile a list of my own. To my surprise I got to 40 things which made me happy! So I thought I would share them on my blog. Here are the 40 things which make me happy (in no particular order, other than as I thought of them):

1. Spending quality time with my Dad, having a laugh.
2. Spending time with Andy or getting a catch up email from Andy.
3. Spending good times with my Mum.
4. Spending quality time with Cheryl, Claire 2, Nat & Cat.
5. Westies!
6. Stroking or cuddling puppies & dogs such as Westies, Cavalier King Charles Spaniels or my friends long coat Chihuahuas.
7. Watching dogs play, run around and be naughty! Seeing their individual cheeky characters always makes me smile and laugh.
8. Going Stationery shopping/window shopping.
9. Buying Stationery.
10. Looking at/Going Craft shopping.
11. Buying craft supplies.
12. Receiving lovely parcels in the post (books, DVDs, new papercrafting stuff, etc).
13. Snuggling down in a comfortable chair/sofa to read a good book.
14. Buying new books.
15. Getting into bed with fresh new sheets.
16. Chasing the cold bits round the bed on a warm night.
17. Eating a rare-medium rump or sirloin steak (unfatty) cooked to perfection or cooked by my Dad.
18. Bovril on toast with medium chedder cheese. Very comforting!
19. Eating Cheese on Toast when the cheese is still gooey... yum!

20. Season & Shake Cajun Chicken with Jacket Potato, carrot batons, petit pois peas and sweetcorn. Cor!!!
21. When someone else does the washing up!
22. Watching an entire box set back to back, especially when its a new season I haven't seen yet.
23. Sunshine & feeling the warmth of the sun on my skin.
24. The smell of rain on a summer's day or immediately after the rain has stopped when it smells all fresh and cool.
25.The smell of barbecues on a sunny warm day.
26. The smell of baking bread or freshly cooked bread......yummy!
27. Watching Aiden Turner in Poldark... or The Hobbit films, Being Human, etc!.
28. Watching new series of shows I love such as Atlantis, The Musketeers, Supernatural, The Originals, Bones, The Flash, Poldark, Call the Midwife, Forever and Dr Who to name a few!
29. Visiting Museums and Heritage Sites (Castles, Palaces, Stately Homes, Forts, etc).
30. Visiting the Imperial War Museum, London.
31. Watching history documentaries about subjects I find fascinating (WW1, WW2, Homefront, Social History, way we lived, shopped, ate, etc, Suffragettes, Workhouses, Asylums, Prisons, Royal History, Local History...)
32. Watching the Sea.
33. Watching a thunder/lightning storm when I am safely indoors.

34. Being told I have got the job I really really wanted ..... well I imagine that would make me deliriously happy when it finally happens!
35. Having stalls at craft fairs and people actually buying my creations.
36. Colouring in or doing Zentangle.
37. Listening to my favourite music (The Script, Pink, cheesy 90s music, boybands, pop, musicals..).
38. Working on a project with others in a team. The project could be anything from exhibitions, research, and fundraising events to craft fairs, dog shows, parties, music night, quiz night, school visits, education days...!
39. Nice surprises, particularly on my birthday, but also when I least expect it. I find it very touching when someone goes out of their way to do something nice for me that they know I will love.
40. Being creative, making cards, drawing, painting etc! Bliss.

It was actually very therapeutic compiling this list as it reminded me how many lovely things I am lucky enough to have in my life, which I must confess I often forget when things get tough. I must make sure I take the time to do more of the things which make me happy, especially when life is tough!  

My Many Blogs

I mentioned in the last post that I had started a new professional blog called the Curious Curator. I also have a few other blogs which I thought you might want to know about! So if you have enjoyed my ramblings, opinions and general style on The Book Worm, then please take a look at my other blogs!

The Curious Curator (my museum and history blog - Professional or my "day job" blog) thecuriouscurator.claireeden.co.uk/#home

Stationery Pigeon's Crafty Adventures ( my latest blog where I share my crafty creations, adventures and favourite products).
stationerypigeonscraftyadventures.blogspot.co.uk

The Diary of a Neo Food-Phobic (my battle to overcome SED and now my road to recovery)
diaryofaneofoodphobic.blogspot.co.uk

2014 and all that!

OMG! I cannot believe its been over a year since I last updated this!! It was not for the want of trying, but after completing my Masters and becoming self employed everything became very busy! So before I can pick up this blog again, I thought I should give you a recap of the year gone by!

I did indeed become self employed or as I prefer to call it "freelance". My first project was working for my local museum on a First World War Centenary Project funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund. It was successfully completed in December 2014. My work included managing the research group volunteers, conducting my own research, writing draft text for the exhibition and managing the public engagement phase. I also got the chance to work with the IT Consultant to construct a new digital in-museum resource called the Access Centre. This was really very enjoyable as I got to help with layout design, plan out content and write text content as well as editing the content supplied by others. There was also a database of local First World War individuals such as soldiers, nurses, doctors, factory workers, munitionnettes, conscientious objectors and civilians who contributed to the war effort. This was a massive part of the project and will also be the legacy of the project as more information about the individuals will be added as and when it comes in. During the project we managed to identify just under 4000 people! Although we only researched in depth about 150-200 in the year of the project. But that is still very impressive! Now the project is over the other themes on the Access Centre can now be worked on, although now there is no funding to pay me, so unless new funding can be found my contribution will be limited to voluntary when I have the time, with paid work taking priority.

As part of the WW1 project I was also asked to give a talk on the creation of the Bexhill War Memorial (which I studied for my Masters dissertation concerning war memory). I was incredibly nervous before hand and although it was only May, the room felt like a furnace! I am sure I was visibly sweating and shaking! Despite my own nerves it went very well and I was asked lots of questions at the end, as well as very lovely people coming up to tell me how good I was! Always nice to know something went well when you were panicking about it so much! It also helped that two of my best friends (Claire 2 & Nat) had "surprised" me by booking tickets to come along and support me. It helped to have at least two people in the audience who would be enthusiastic! I am really glad that I got the chance to do the talk and would love to do more! Bookings taken now! Tee hee!

As part of the freelance journey I also got my very own website!!! With the help of another of my best friends (the lovely Cheryl) I chose the design and learnt how to add pages and update content etc. I think it looks quite good and I am pleased that I can update it myself. I just need to do that a bit more often and also have more stuff to update! The website also came with a blog option, so I decided to add to my blog list and have a "professional" blog or my "day-job" blog! Its called the Curious Curator and does have some really good articles on there! Its just like everything else I need to find more time to write more content! I also got my very own business cards!!! Ooooo! They look gorgeous! I was so excited!! Sad, I know as they are just business cards, but I have never had my own business cards before! It was a momentous occasion!! And my website address on the cards just helped it look all professional and swish!

In 2014 I also became a published writer! Woo hoo! Yes I have had three articles published in our local newspaper about the town during the First World War! A few weeks after they were in the newspaper I then added them to my Curious Curator blog so they can still be read. I plan to continue this in 2015. I also had an article published on a website about the history of East Sussex during the First World War. I have more articles to submit in 2015. So maybe my dream of becoming a writer might actually happen! Just wish I could get paid for doing it!!

As the WW1 project came to an end I also had a few mini-projects. They were all WW1 themed but were very enjoyable. One was working with the Performing Arts students from the local college who were developing original performance pieces about the War. I provided the historical content for them to be inspired by! Another project was working with a primary school a few towns away who were doing their own WW1 Commemorative project and I had to teach them how historians research people from the past, particularly from the War and then help them to research their local men. Again I was very stressed before hand as I was teaching an age range from 7 years olds up to 10-11 years olds! They have very different abilities and attention spans so it took a bit of planning! Thankfully another of my amazing best friends (Andy!) was on hand to help guide me through my "aaarrgghhhs! and stresses. Andy was also finally back from Singapore so I got to spend some quality time hanging out with him although not as often as I would have liked and now at the start of 2015 he is back to his worldwide adventures this time in Borneo!

Another significant moment was having to say goodbye to my first car, my beautiful red Peugeot 206, and hello to my shiny new (well new to me) red Peugoet 107! I do miss my old car, but love my new car too, and its a lot cheaper on petrol and tax! My old laptop also decided to give up the ghost, so I am now typing this on a shiny new one (an expense I could have done without, but hey that's life!). I also continued my usual papercrafting and going to craft fairs to try to fund my crafting habit!

Since my last post there was also another big happening which occurred at the end of 2013... my friend's gorgeous dog Maisie had her puppies!! I was already in love with her first litter in particular the diva-licious Shelby (and my furry bestie) and the big softy Yoda who belongs to my other friend Claire 2. The new puppies were just as gorgeous and I immediately lost my heart to Charlie, who was later renamed Blaize which suits him much better, and my new other furry bestie Nibbler or to use her real name Skye! Of course the other puppies Spike, Timmy and Oliver are just as gorgeous (and I loves them too) but for some reason Nibbler and Blaize immediately found a place in my heart as did Shelby and Yoda. So 2014 included many opportunities for having lovely cuddles with the puppies and even a day of dog-sitting!I am hoping 2015 will continue to include cuddling my favourite doggies!

I think that's about it for an overview. Its the bits that come to mind anyway! Now I can move forward with 2015 stuff, so look forward to my rants (there's an election in May so I am bound to get opinionated about the rubbish they are going to come up with), moans about the way people of benefits get treated (unless more work can be found my freelance dream may be over, and the Jobcenter awaits) and general thoughts about what's going on!

Goodbye to my Masters and Hello Self Employment!

Since my last blog it has been a bit hectic (as usual!) and a lot of things have been changing; either coming to an end or starting out.

Firstly I am delighted to announce I have finished my Masters!!! I submitted my dissertation on time at the start of October and I have to say I am very pleased with my efforts. Some areas I would have liked to tweak a bit more but there simply wasn't any more time. Plus a lot of my friends who had finished before me said it was a bit like being an artist who is never finished with a painting continuously tweaking it. I understand what they mean now, and I probably would never have been 100% happy with it, but I am pleased with my final submission. I have now got a Masters degree although I will not know my grade until December. Fingers crossed I haven't disgraced myself!

It was a bit sad not being a student any more, but at the same time it was a great relief to be finished. As you will know from my other blogs I had a long list of things I was looking forward to doing when I was finished. Yet when I had finished for the first few days I didn't want to do any of them and curiously found myself feeling bored!! It was wonderful feeling bored! I had absolutely nothing I HAD to be doing. It was great. Although it did take about week for me to stop going "I should be writing my chapters" every time I sat down, watched the TV or started to read a book. All my MA friends had pre-warned me I wouldn't get round to doing everything on my "things to do when masters is finished" list, but I didn't take them seriously. However its now nearly two months since I submitted my dissertation and I have only done about half of my to do list! I have been too busy! Hehehe!

One of the reasons I have been too busy, is because I am no longer unemployed! Hooray! I took the plunge and I have now gone self employed, or as my industry calls it "freelance". Officially I am now a Freelance Museum Curator. When you are unemployed becoming self employed is a scary and practically impossible thing to do. However thanks to the Museum's First World War project getting its funding and me being offered the Freelance Archive Researcher post I was able to take the risk and give it a try. Not only does this give me an immediate (if small) income but it also provides a window of opportunity until the end of the project late next year to establish myself and find other projects. I am currently designing my own website which will include a more professional blog (as opposed to this one which is my outlet for general ramblings and news!), my portfolio and my CV. I am hoping it will lead to bookings or at least support my attempts! I am also designing my own business card (how exciting, never had my own business cards before!!) and some promotional literature to send out.

While attempting to get new work - I have this week secured my first booking for a history lecture on war commemoration next year! - I of course have to work on my current PAID project, Bexhill Museum's "Bexhill Remembers" First World War Centenary Project. As the exhibition is due to open in March next year it is very busy at the moment drafting out exhibition panels, researching gaps, helping with exhibition plans, preparing publicity and liaising with the IT guys on the design of a new digital archive and database. There is a lot going on and a lot of work but its very interesting and as its First World War , its right up my street!! I will hopefully bring you more details soon.

If this wasn't enough, I have also taken the first steps into pursuing a life long dream, being a professional writer. But more on that another time!

For now, I have work to be getting on with, emails to do and of course Christmas is not far away and haven't even started with that!!!

Catch Up Time! Writing, Injuries and Birthdays!

As promised months ago I have finally found time to write a catch up blog. Technically I don't really have time to be doing this, but I am aware I have been neglecting my blog and don't wish to make it feel unloved!

The two huge things that have been going on in my life is the ongoing saga of writing my Masters dissertation and the ongoing depression of trying to find paid work during a recession! I have been lucky enough to secure two interviews but neither of them ended up in an offer of employment. I have been applying to quite a lot of jobs as there has been an increase of jobs on the market which match my skills and experience. However so far still waiting for that illusive paid job! Fingers crossed something will come up soon as things are getting desperate and with our silly government's continuous meddling with the Benefits system it is becoming harder and harder to survive. Not live, survive! They seem to have got the idea in their heads that by reducing and capping benefits more people will be inclined to find work! Hello!! Nobody enjoys living on a pittance of a benefit and do want to find work. The problem is there are not enough jobs or jobs matching the skills of the country's population and lets not forget its the government who have inflicted hundreds of redundancies across the country without investing in industry and other businesses to encourage growth and therefore employment! Dur!!

The lack of a job has, in theory at least, given me time to work on my masters dissertation. The final deadline is October and is incredibly close and I would be lying if I said I was calm and relaxed about the whole thing. I have really struggled to concentrate and remain focussed on my writing. We have had so many stresses and problems going on at home not to mention illness and a broken toe, that trying to concentrate with so much on your mind is near on impossible. I am so looking forward to the day when I can hand it in, but at the same time that looks like a massive mountain to climb. I also have received very little support and understanding. So many people seem to think that you can just get up, sit in front of a laptop and write. They don't seem to understand the frame of mind you need to be in and how frustration and stress (and not to mention a bit of self doubt thrown in!) makes things worse. Its like a vicious circle! My tutor has been great but she can only do so much, as it mainly relies on me churning out the chapters for her to then comment on and offer guidance and suggest areas I might want to revisit or revise. I am also lucky to have a couple of friends who are very supportive and even offered to proof read my chapters for me, as well as a friend who finished her MA last year so can sympathise. However other people who are more involved in my life are either critical of the length of time it has taken or why I can't just "get on with it" or have lost interest. To be honest I feel very isolated and at the moment its not going great. However I am a fighter so I am not giving up - just yet!

On a more positive note, last week was my birthday week! Yes, its been exactly 12 months since my 30th Birthday celebrations. I cannot believe how fast it has gone!! I also expected to feel a bit different turning 31, but nope, just feel the same as I did at 30! I did have a great birthday week though. It kicked off on the Monday with a girly afternoon (and evening!) with my lovely friend Cheryl. We chatted and screamed with laughter until our throats were sore! It was also lovely that when Dad came home he joined in as well. I haven't laughed so much in ages and I had a really fabulous time. Spending quality time with a good friend can be a priceless gift. Definitely something Cheryl and I need to do more often. Then on my actual birthday as well as receiving some lovely parcels of birthday pressie goodness from my Mum and Andy, Dad and I went out on a shopping trip to get get my birthday present from him (a lovely MP3 Player) and to suss out the new Hobbycraft which has opened locally. Then we rushed home to get ready to go out again, as we went for a lovely meal with the Boy at the local Harvester. It was a lovely evening and a great birthday.

The following evening was Ian's 50th Birthday party. It was a fun evening and I got to see people that I haven't seen in ages which was nice and meet the gorgeous young-uns Ellis and Keaton. However it was also a working gig for me and Dad and we worked flipping hard. By the end of the evening we were exhausted and my toe was throbbing! I certainly paid for it the following day and the next! The following day I had a great day with No2, Nat and Mo and the gorgeous chihuahuas Maisie, Shelby and Yoda. I got lots of birthday cuddles from the beautiful doggies which was lovely and I also got fabulous presents in the form of PRO-MARKERS!! I can finally say I have started my collection of pro-markers and I can now work on building the colours up and having a go at stamping and pro-marker art. So excited! I have had a little play with them and the presents I got from my Mum, but I have also been careful not to spend too much time with them, with the promise to myself that once the dissertation is done I can spend as long as I want playing with them! I am hoping they will be my "carrot" to help focus my writing!

I also received some birthday money from Betty and others which I have already spent (being skint is horrible, so its nice to treat yourself!) I was able to buy the two books about London that I have wanted for ages, "London Under" by Peter Ackroyd and "London's Labyrinth" by Fiona Rule. I also managed to get a great deal on some Sue Townsend books I have been after for years, so Betty's money was spent on "The Queen and I", "Queen Camilla" and "Number 10". So looking forward to finishing my writing as I have so many books to read now!! I daren't start one now as I don't need any more distractions!  But hopefully more "carrots"!!

In between this I have also continued to work on the preparations for the Museum's project. We will hopefully hear soon about the funding and once we have the green light I will be able to tell you more about that too!

I think that is most of the stuff caught up now - what I can remember anyway! Now I think I need to have some lunch and get back to trying to redraft my chapters!
Wish me luck!

50 Little Things

1.How many pets do you own? 
At the moment I don't have any but so far in my life I have had 2 dogs (Westie & Spaniel), 7 rabbits and before my allergies kicked in 3 cats. 

2. What’s your least favourite season? 
Autumn

3. Do you prefer to text or call? 
Text mostly!

4. Morning or night?
Night

5. Do you like tacos?
No

6. Are you an introvert or an extrovert?
Mainly introvert but I do have my extrovert moments!!

7. What’s your favourite dessert? 
Walls Vanilla Ice Cream with Malteasers!!

8. Do you enjoy walks?
Yes, but only when they are with certain people

9. Are you a frequent user of Facebook?
Yes

10. Do you watch animated shows still?
Yes! Simpsons, Family Guy, Looney Tunes, Disney films . ..............

11. Can you roll your tongue?
No

12. What’s your “lucky” number?
2 and 8

13. Are you scared of anything?
Snakes, spiders, bees, wasps, death, ending up alone, dying alone, dying young, Cancer, and small furry animals like Mice and Hamsters. So not much really!! LOL!

14. Big mac or big whopper? 
Neither. Plain hamburger with no salad and no sauces please

15. Do you like to play board games?
Yes love playing board games and card games

16. Are you fond of romantic novels?
I like Chick-Lit which tend to be quite romantic but I am not into all that Mills & Boon, or bodice ripping/poor servant girl falls in love with her master stuff. Far too boring and tedious. 

17. Fruitloops or cocopops? 
Neither. Frosties please!! 

18. Would you eat a live spider for one million dollars?
Nope. Wouldn't eat a dead one either

19. Are you a heavy drinker?
Nope

20. Would you forgive someone for cheating?
Nope. Once a cheat always a cheat. Once the trust is gone it can never be rebuilt. There would always be doubts.

21. Are you superstitious?
On certain things yes.

22. Have you seen A Clockwork Orange?
Not all the way through, Found it boring and lost interest.

23. Do you like to read?
Love it! One of my favourite hobbies.

24. Are you easily distressed?
Don't think so. I am a worrier and I am getting worse as I get older. I am sensitive about certain things and get upset easily about those things but I wouldn't call it distressed.

25. Do you believe in aliens?
I have an open mind and I think it would be naive to think there is no other form of life in the Universe. I don't however believe there are little green men abducting strange people and probing them! 

26. If you were the last person alive besides one other person you get to chose, who would it be?
Ooo! Too hard!! Andy, Dad, No2, Cheryl, Nat ........ couldn't possibly choose! 

27. Dogs or cats?
100% DOGS!

28. Are you a grumpy person?
No, but like every female I have my moments!

29. What’s something you hate?
Green vegetables! Prejudice! Two faced back stabbing people? 

30. Are you a worry wart?
Yes

31. Do you like having your picture taken?
No hate it. I always look dreadful in photos. I like taking photos though.

32. Do you like cotton candy?
No

33. Would you ever use a dating site?
No

34. Do you believe in ghosts?
Yes, I have an open mind.

35. Rap or pop?
Both can be good

36. What’s the weirdest flavour of ice cream you’ve tried?
I am not someone who tries weird things. I like vanilla ice cream and certain Cornish ice cream. 

37. Do you like math?
No, more of an English Literature and History person!

38. Are you the type of person to laugh at others misfortune? 
Only if they see the funny side too

39. Love or lust?
Love

40. Do you remember lyrics easily?
Depends on how many times I have heard the song! LOL!

41. What was/is your favourite school subject?
 History, English Literature and Art

42: Do you like tattoos?
Yes, just never been brave enough to get one for myself.

43. Are you the type of person to lie?
No.

44. Do you eat porridge for breakfast?
No. Yuck!

45. What music are you listening to right now?
The Script's 3rd Album "3#".

46. Are you allergic to anything?
Lots of things!! Plasters, Savlon, TCP, Pollen, Cucumbers, Tomatoes, Nut Oil, Olive Oil,  certain brands of other oils, Eggs (have small tolerance to these), most brands of make up except Rimmel, certain leathers and plastics used in shoes and boots..........! :(

47. Do you like Lady Gaga?
She is ok, but I wouldn't go out of my way to listen to her.

48. What about Nick Minaj?
Hell no!

49. Do you like rainy days?
If I don't have to go out in it and in the summer when its been really hot and it makes everything smell fresh and cool yes. If I have to go out in it and its windy and pouring down then no!

50. Last question, do you like pie?
Nope

Getting to know Me.........

Sorry I haven't been writing very much lately. I have been so busy and things are still very hectic. I do promise to catch up soon and I have also been thinking about setting up some other blogs for different subjects as this one is very much all about me! But more on that soon. For now, how about another one of those blog questionnaires to get to know me even more!

1. Most comforting place, smell, sound and memory?
In my bed or by the sea watching the waves. Smell would be either baking or freshly cooked bread, the smell of my Mum or Dad and clean fresh air. Sound would be waves, or my favourite songs, and sometimes when my head is too full, silence can be very comforting! Most comforting memory is a tough one, probably something nice with Gina or my lovely Dougal Dog. Maybe even one of the good times with Mum or Dad, or sitting watching Doctor Who with Andy on a Saturday night and watching Lord of the Rings Trilogy with him. Nice memories always make me smile when I am sad. 

2. Your ambitions as a child and your ambitions now
When I was very young I wanted to be a nurse, then when I was about 9 years old I decided I wanted to be an archaeologist. For a short while in my mid to late teens I thought about being a teacher. My ambitions now are to continue working in the museum sector and enhancing and building on my skills. I also want to become a professional writer, and become a successful events organiser with my friend. I also still have the dream of doing a PhD one day but at the moment that feels a very long way away.

3. Biggest fear
Its an equal tie between ending up alone, dying young (and alone) and losing my parents.

4. Qualities you would like in a partner (if you would like one)
Loyalty, trust worthy, kind heart, good sense of humour, great personality, fun, clever/intelligent, understanding, patient, a bit of a geek like me, and some one I can talk to easily and share my life with.

5. Traits you couldn’t put up with in a partner (if you would like one)
Selfishness, acute laziness, arrogance, ignorance, vanity, image obsessed, cheater/liar, judgemental, narrow mindedness, and violent. 

6. What is the worst thing you have done to another person? (Let them down, lied, faked love etc)
Not sure. I have told the odd white lie but only to save the feelings of the other person. I have never lied about anything serious or important and I don't think I have ever let someone down. I am sometimes late due to uncontrollable reasons which can be annoying, but I think on the whole I have been quite a good person. I think my friends and family would be better off answering this one! 

7. What are your worst traits and features?
I lack confidence in the way I look and what people think of me. I am very hard on myself, often unnecessarily. I am very strong minded often to a fault, I blow my nose very loudly, I am a terrible morning person and I have a horrible habit of doing what other people want me to do just to please them, when I should be listening to myself and making myself happy. I don't lose my temper very often but when I do it is terrible and not pretty. I try very hard to keep it locked away! I also swear far too much and my feelings get hurt very easily.

8. What are your best traits and features?
I am very loyal, a good friend (I hope!), hard working, focussed (most of the time), good personality, great sense of humour, generous, reliable and considerate of others (often too much). I think I have good strong morals, open mindedness and an ability to take on board criticism (however hard that may be) and turn it into something positive. I am also very good at organising things, however small and unimportant!! I also have a very creative brain so I like making things which I think is a good trait!

9. How would you explain your idea of ‘true love’?
Someone who accepts you for who you truly are, warts and all and not just the polished version you try to present to the world. Someone who understands and "gets" you and makes you feel better just because they are in your life, and even when you are on your own  you no longer feel lonely. Someone who allows you to love them in return and who knows when you need them to pick you up and fight for you and also when you just need them to support you so you can fight that particular battle on your own. True Love is something that should last forever, with ups and downs but a connection that nothing can break. It should bring you happiness and hope even in the most darkest situations.

10. The biggest mistake you’ve made.
I don't really think there is one. That is not because I have never made a mistake, but all the decisions I have made in my life however they may have turned out were made for the right reasons at the time so I can't really regret them. If I got to go back I would still do everything the same. Plus everything that has happened to me, good and bad, has made me who I am and got me to were I am now. Life isn't meant to be perfect, and without the mistakes you would never have the successes! 

11. Are you rational or more emotional?
I try to be logical and listen to my head more than my heart as your heart can be fickle and lead you down paths you shouldn't have gone down. However as I am getting older I do tend to be getting increasingly more emotional about things! 

12. Do you think you’re very conscious of the feelings of others or more self oriented?
I am very conscious of the feelings of others and often put there feelings before my own, to the detriment of myself. I will suffer instead of risking upsetting the person who is hurting or upsetting me by saying something, because I don't want to upset them! 

13. Greatest achievement personally.
Getting my undergraduate degree, finishing my Masters degree (hopefully in the next few months), passing my driving test, putting my past behind me and not letting it define who I am now. Going through a massive attitude assessment and rethink/realisation in the last few weeks. Its been hard but will ultimately be good for my life.

14. If you struggle to sleep at night, what do you do to try and soothe yourself to sleep?
I really don't sleep well at night and often go to bed in the early hours of the morning! If I don't just stay up until I feel tired, then I will read or if in bed I will close my eyes and make up a story hoping it will help me to drift off and give me lovely dreams.

15. What irritates you most about society?
Its image obsessed and selfish. Everything is judged on the way it looks or how much it costs. People are judged on what they can do and whether they are decent people on whether they look attractive or wear certain clothes. Since when has good looks and a nice dress meant you are really good at your job or your a decent human being?? If you don't fit a certain image then its apparently acceptable to be treated badly and with disrespect. Its outrageous! We have also lost the sense of community and people are only out for themselves.  

16. When you compliment someone, what do you tend to focus on? (Looks, intelligence, personality…)
Depends on the person! Sometimes its their brain, sometimes its their sense of humour, sometimes its how good they are at their job and sometimes its because their hair looks good or a certain outfit really suits them. I also really appreciate talent, whether its creative, musical, sporting or artistic, so that is often a compliment I focus on. I also do like a nice bum on a guy although I don't think I have ever told a guy I thought he had a nice bum!! 

17. Think of your oldest friend. If you met them now do you think you would still become friends?
It sounds horrible to say but I don't think so. We were both young kids of 7 years old when we became friends and we have both had such different life experiences and opportunities since we left Junior School and went our separate ways, that I don't think we would have very much in common or that our paths would ever cross now. Our friendship now is based on our past. 

18. Something you love to do, but feel guilty about after/during?
Buying craft things to add to my ever growing craft stash even though I don't really need more and can't afford it (particularly decoupage sheets and lovely papers)! Laying in bed when I should have got up a few hours earlier, reading when I should be doing my dissertation and having an extra slice of buttered freshly baked crusty bread when I know I shouldn't because its fattening!

19. Would you like children in the future. If so why?
Yes and no. The idea of parenthood scares the hell out of me and the whole labour/birth bit is something I really don't want to even think about! However I do like the idea of having a family and taking my kids to museums, zoos, farms, going on picnics, going to the beach, playing together, making stuff together, teaching them to read and introducing them to different things. I would also be curious to see how they turn out!