My Sister's birthday/Graduation meal/ Family gathering

For the next couple of weeks, my life looks as though it is going to get very busy and quite possibly very chaotic. Today begins this period of busyness as we're making another trip down to Sawbridgeworth to visit my sister. Usually this trip would be just as a visit, however the reason for this trip, is due to a family gathering/meal in aid of my sisters birthday that was in May, and her graduating university in July.

Although the main chaotic events for the next few days doesn't actually start till this afternoon, there has already been a few problems. The first in a way being the rain, as its causing people to worry because summer has suddenly left, then to follow this is the lack of birthday cake decorations in shops, and then to follow that was my mum leaving her phone and debit card in Sainsbury's. Now, because I know she won't read this I'd like to say, as an on looker to my mum's freaking out about things like candles, these things were actually quite funny, especially to see them as all they slowly unravelled.

Getting back to the meal happening tonight, we've now got the cake all finished, and a few presents sorted to give to her, so everything should hopefully now be ready, all we have to do is make sure we get there on time. During this meal my younger brother and sister and me have been asked to make a short speech, in honour of my sister. I haven't had much experience of writing or giving speeches before so I'm finding it a bit difficult. It's mainly difficult because I can't think of much to say, and then the things I do think of keep tending to be quite jokey. I think I'm going to have to give it some more thought over the next couple of hours, however at the moment I might just leave it till we're at the meal and think on my feet and wing it. Usually what I say on the spot tends to be better then pre-prepared things anyway, we'll just have to wait and see.

Anyways, we're in the car at the moment about an hour into our drive, and we've just hit traffic, so I think now's a good time to get back to watching another episode of Grey's Anatomy, or playing a few levels of Angry Birds on my laptop. Will update if anything wildly chaotic happens throughout the day.
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University and Accommodation!

After a few weeks of waiting on my university accommodation, I finally received a letter in the post a few days ago, telling me that I now have a flat for this year.

The flat that I've been given, wasn't originally one of my two choices, but seems to be like an overflow for new students. I've found out so far that I'll be staying in a five room flat, with four other people, two of whom I've already found on facebook. As this flat wasn't one of my original choices, I don't yet know a great deal about it, apart from that my room is a single en suite with a three quarter bed, there's a courtyard with a BBQ, and supposedly our common room is the pub attached to the building.

Throughout this last year, things have gone from bad to worse, to hugely worse, but now everyone seems to be okay. They're still not 100%, but they're back on their feet and pushing forward.
At the moment, I feel excited about moving in, however I also feel a slight hesitancy due to leaving my mum, brother and sister. As well as all that I am slightly nervous, but that's to be expected really.

For the last year I've stayed at home where I was needed, I took a year out and worked, but please don't get me wrong, I was more then happy to do that, however I do think that now is my time to move on. This next year for me, will be the return back into education, into student life, into a time that I can enjoy, without walking on egg shells, or being afraid of letting something slip that I shouldn't.

After the step of getting my place confirmed at Sheffield Hallam, getting my accommodation is really my first major step towards this new chapter in my life. I've got somewhere to stay in a new city, I've got a place to study at, and luckily I've got great friends moving there too to share this time with.

Its not long now till the move in date and university begins, and hopefully there won't be too much left to sort out, or get ready. Never really thought I'd be saying this but I can't wait to get back to school.
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