PROS & CONS OF 2017

HAPPY VERY VERY LATE NEW YEAR.

I started writing this post ages ago, but as per forgot all about it. Better late than never eh? Here's a little recap of my 2017, starting with the low points and ending on the highs. Last year was one of the best I've ever had, but no one's life is perfect and there will always be negatives - even if we choose not to show them. Luckily the good outweighed the bad in 2017, so let's begin! 

THE BAD

LIVING BACK HOME AFTER TRAVEL

I flew back to the UK on January 13th 2017, having been away travelling for 9 months. Although I had a reception job lined up, I was very lucky when my old boss got in touch asking if I wanted a  temp job. It was a position as a writer and was better money, so obviously I jumped at the chance. Although I'm so, so grateful for the opportunity (and wouldn't be where I am today if it wasn't for that job), I basically spent those 3 months miserable as hell. I loved the people - don't get me wrong - but the job just wasn't for me. I've always enjoyed writing, but I didn't enjoy the process of finding the stories or the topics I was writing about. I was bored, unmotivated and couldn't wait for the working day to end. Aside from work, I was miserable at home too. It's hard for me to remember what the issues were, but my mum and I basically spent a good few months not getting along. We had to adapt to me living at home again,
which I think we both found hard. My mum was used to her routine, and I was used to my freedom. We clashed a lot, but also knew it was only circumstantial. As soon as I moved out of the parental home, we knew things would go back to normal (spoiler: they did). It was just one of those really crappy transitional periods, which I'm glad to see the back of.

MY SMEAR TEST RESULT

I'm gonna keep this one short, simply because it was quite traumatic and I don't really want to relive it. But long story short - I went for my first ever smear test, got the results which showed I had abnormal cells, and was invited to have a Colposcopy at the hospital. The last thing you expect is any kind of abnormal result, but it's even worse when they send the letter with a ton of cervical cancer leaflets. Straight away you think ''I'm gonna be the unlucky one that gets cervical cancer", so I broke down in hysterical tears and drove home to my parents house right away (the longest 2 hour drive of my life). Luckily we were able to bring my hospital appointment forward, but that week of waiting was just awful. After the procedure, they sent a letter around 5 days later saying everything was fine and that I can continue with my regular smear tests every 3 years. Relieved is an under statement. You don't realise how important your sexual health is until something like this happens, and I sure as hell won't be taking it for granted again.

FEELING INSECURE AT WORK

I'm a pretty confident person but, like everyone, have a tendency to feel insecure when I'm out of my comfort zone. Put me on a plane to the other side of the world and I'm fine, but put me in a competitive work environment and I'll crumble. I've never been a 'career focused' kinda gal, so can sometimes feel uncomfortable in corporate office environments. Because of this, I've always doubted my ability and end up convincing myself that I'm not good enough (something my mum always tells me off for!) It's even harder when you start your new job with another person, so feel like you're constantly being compared to someone else. Instead of believing my boss when she insisted I was a good writer (and reminded me that I beat 150 odd people to the job), I couldn't help but beat myself up for not being as good as my colleague. I spent a good couple of months feeling worried, anxious and that I wasn't going to pass my probation. I've always been a slow burner in the workplace, and it can take a while for me to build up my confidence. But when it clicks, I feel like I really come into my own. I've been in my job for 6 months now, and finally believe I'm good at what I do. I'm a bloody good writer if I say so myself, so here's to having more faith in myself in 2018!

THE GOOD

AUSTRALIA

I kicked off 2017 at Sydney Harbour Bridge - finally ticking off the number 1 thing on my bucket list. I then flew back to Melbourne, surprised all of my friends at the hostel, spent a week living in my friend's luxury apartment, and spent my birthday in her rooftop pool overlooking the CBD (followed by a beach day, surprise party and meal with my friends).

SURPRISING MY MUM AFTER 9 MONTHS AWAY

Even thinking about her reaction makes me slightly emosh. There's no better feeling than seeing your parents after 9 months away, especially when you turn up at the front door and surprise your mum. I've never seen her so shocked!!

GETTING MY FIRST JOB AS A WRITER

Although I didn't enjoy the job (see above), I was SO lucky to get the position handed to me as soon as I arrived back in the UK. Not only did it allow me to save money for my America trip, it meant I had 'content writer' on my CV. It was my first foot in the door in helping me to achieve my dream of becoming a writer. If it wasn't for that position, I very much doubt I'd have secured an interview for my current job, let alone been chosen above 160 other applicants.

COPENHAGEN, U.S.A & CANADA

My America Contiki tour was one of the best - if not my favourite - trip ever. I never ended up writing about it on my blog, mainly because too much happened in the 5 weeks I was there. I'd love to go through everything day by day, but it would just take too long. All I can say is... IT WAS AMAZING. Click here to watch the vlog. Canada was a short but sweet stopover before I flew home. I stayed with my friend Emilie that I met in LA, and it was so much fun partying with her and her friends. Oh, and Niagara Falls was pretty spectacular too! And although I didn't massively rate Copenhagen as a city, I had a great time meeting up with my friends Jody and Beth for the first time since Vietnam. Three 24 year old girls singing their hearts out to High School Musical is my idea of a great mini break.

GETTING MY SECOND JOB AS A WRITER

My big break! I was finally offered a content writer position with a well-known travel company - this time on merit. I think I've written a post about this before, but I really really love my job. The perks, the people, the city centre location, the snazzy building, the content I'm writing about - it's everything I've ever wanted and more.

MOVING TO MANCHESTER

Without mentioning all the cool stuff I did that made the second half of 2017 so great (I'm looking at you Bongo's Bingo), it's fair to say Manchester has changed my life. Since moving here in July, my social life has never been better. I've made new friends, wandered the streets like a tourist, and took advantage of everything the city has to offer. I'm surrounded by people my age - young professionals who dance on tables and do midweek tequila shots (seriously, is Albert Schloss ever NOT busy?) Living in a city that never seems to sleep is exciting, and I honestly can't imagine living anywhere else.

So there you have it, my pros and cons of 2017. Life will always throw curve balls your way, but it's how you deal with them and the choices you make that really determine how your life will pan out.
Here's to 2018!
xxx

WHAT'S NEW? WORK, FRIENDS & THE USA

Hey guys!

Thought I'd do a bit of an update on a few things I've been up to the past couple of weeks cause I seem to be a bit obsessed with blogging at the moment (never thought I'd see the day!)

I thought things would quiet down after my first couple of weeks at home but luckily I've still been fairly busy which has kept me occupied. I guess the most important update is that I've started back at my old workplace and am settling back in with my old colleagues in a brand new building - how exciting! Well, I say new building - we're technically in the same building but the whole place has been renovated and it looks absolutely amazing. The renovations started way before I left but were completed whilst I was away and it honestly makes such a difference! Goodbye dated decor and freezing offices, hello modern workspace! I went in for an "interview" on the Tuesday and started on the Wednesday even though my CRB hadn't been processed yet, so my first couple of weeks have been pretty quiet as I'm not technically allowed to start my role until the CRB comes through. Apart from that things are good, especially now I'm in an office with two guys my age who I really get along with (mainly because we've all been travelling and are obsessed with Harry Potter...) Having colleagues to chat with on a friendship level rather than being purely professional makes work so much more enjoyable!

Aside from work, I've been enjoying catching up with friends I met travelling and it made me realise... I'm so bloody glad I met the people I did when I was abroad. Over the years I've had a lot of friends who couldn't be more opposite to me - 'no' people shall we say - who I would literally have to beg for them to want to do things like holidays or music concerts. So I guess you could call it a massive breath of fresh air that I've finally found people (who baring in mind I sometimes only knew for a matter of days) who never hesitate and JUST SAY YES! When I was down south visiting friends I met in Australia and suggested they should come visit me in Notts one weekend, the very next day they had it booked off work and 2 weeks later they were at mine! When I asked another travel friend (who I'd only spent a few days with in Bali and hadn't seen for 7 months) if she wanted to join us, she didn't think twice about the hour long train journey and happily met us in Nottingham 3 days later. The night before, I asked another friend who I'd met in Australia 2 years ago (who had recently moved to Notts for uni) if she wanted to come and you guessed it... another yes. It literally ended up being the easiest night out I've ever arranged and not one of them was from my hometown or knew each other beforehand. I had such a fun night so YAY to spontaneous friends!

And probably the best update of all... I'm going to the USA!!! For a few months now I've been saying I wanna do a coast to coast trip of the US for 4th July and to visit my friend Catherine (that I met and travelled with in Thailand). The trips were booking up pretty fast and although all the 4th July tours were sold out, I decided I still wanted to go regardless so booked my Contiki tour asap before even more sold out. You might be wondering why I've decided to book an overpriced tour when I've just been travelling for 9 months so am more than capable of getting around by myself. The most obvious reason is that America isn't as backpacker friendly as Asia or Australia, so coast to coast bus routes don't exist and I can't imagine there are an obundance of party hostels in the southern states such as Texas or Tennessee. If you're with friends and can buy/hire a car than that's great, but I don't so as usual a tour is my only option. Not like I'm complaining... I bloody love Contiki so am more than

happy to pay the price for what I know will be an incredible 25 days! I've been eyeing the Grand Southern tour up for years and my friend Sarah actually did it last year and couldn't rave about it enough, so I already know I'm gonna love every minute of it! Plus I got 5% discount because I'd been on one before so happy days!

It's crazy how quickly life can change, I've not even been back a month yet!

xxx