Things I've learnt in 2015

Greetings dear friends and Internet stalkers. It's coming to that time of year again where I look back and ponder what I even did with myself over the last twelve months. As ever, the answer is "not a lot".

Still, I seem to have learnt some things. So here are the top twenty pieces of  ~ahem~ "useful" "knowledge"* I've picked up in 2015. I hope some of them are helful to at least one person at some time in the future.

1. According to my flatmate, food (specifically a kebab) is better than sex
2. It's not the ringers that smell of the tower, it's the tower that smells of the ringers
3. Vegan cooking can be super easy
4. The German for "a really big yurt" is "Super Jurte"
5. If you slice off the end of your thumb, it's probably not bad enough for you to need to go to hospital, just stem the blood flow
6. Lock the door when you're in the bath
7. If you don't know the words, just sing "tractor tractor tractor"
8. Mike the Tiger is the mascot for Louisiana University. He is a real, live tiger
9. Chicken fried chicken exists
10. Tea and sympathy get you a long way
11. If you get bitten by a Catholic, you become a Catholic
12. If you get bitten by the Pope, you become Italian
13. Vegan cheese doesn't melt
14. If you reach the age of 30 in north Germany without getting married, you have to sweep the steps of the Rathaus until a young lady comes along and kisses you [SIDEBAR: This tradition is more common among men, I don't know who kisses women. Maybe Santa]
15. "If it ends in 'e' it's probably 'die'" is a lie.
16. Your housemates will think you're crazy if you try to make the house nicer
17. Your housemates will think you're crazy if you try to use a slow cooker
18. Your housemates will think you're crazy if you try to explain sausage rolls and Christmas Pudding
19. If you lose one of your Beavers, they are probably in the tent
20. You will get on better with your friends during a four day hike than you will ever in your life again. Ever.

Season's Greetings and a happy New Year!

*Some of these "facts" are true and some are utter garbage. I'll leave it to your personal judgement to decide which are which.

Things You Need In Your Life (If They're Not There Already!)

OK, this is one of those posts where I shamelessly plug everything which is dear to my heart and the hearts of my friends.Which in themselves are close to my heart. So today I'm pondering what my friends (whose spare time never ceases to amaze me) have been up to since I went away.



Well, first of all there's this video from Alice, whose blog I frequently encourage others to read (http://www.mingledyarns.wordpress.com) Now this is a video of Alice and two other lovely ladies (who I don't know) singing in a pub in Islington last week. This came as a bit of a surprise when I received an invitation; not because Alice has never told anyone she can sing - anyone who knows her will tell you how wrong that is - but up until this concert was announced I had no idea that Alice was part of a vocal trio called the Jaffa Sisters. As you can tell from the video, they're very good. Had I been in London this week, I would've gone and supported Alice, but it doesn't sound like she needed me there...

Secondly, on the subject of videos, there is this gem from our (not so) recent Explorer Expedition around Kent. Thanks go almost entirely to Jess for this one, but Becky and Greg helped with some of the filming too.  And of course, all my beautiful Explorer Babies were involved in the production in some way. Even if it was only moral support and verbal abuse they couldn't hear (love you guys!!!) It was a beautiful weekend and the video captures it well (minus the swearing because of children and Maureen at the AGM, which was the movie premier.) I was going to try and pick out my favourite bit, but it's all so good. (Apologies if it's all in-jokes and I haven't realised...)
Just a heads-up on that one as well, it won't play on mobile phones, but it should be OK on tablets and PCs/Macs (be they desktop or laptop.)

Next, and on a different note (haha), Miss Niamh McNally has released this for the "viewing" public in honour of her Birthday today. Apparently, there is a whole album to follow; well, I certainly know what to ask for for Christmas now!!! I've always said her talent was wasted as a teacher but, on a wholly selfish note, I'm glad she is. A teacher, that is, not wasted. Although today is her Birthday, so who knows? ;)

Leading on from this (I like how this post is actually flowing rather well), if you happen to be in the Finchley area this Sunday evening (or just fancy a FREE night out to listen to an amazing band and live sort-of locally) then please please please do yourself a favour and go and listen to the Prototypes are playing at the David Lloyd Centre in Finchley at 19.30. Check the link for information, what do you think I am? Facebook?

Finally, I'd like to introduce a new blog to my list of things you should read (of which that is not an extensive list anyway.) For the last few months, my dear friend Sophie, who I so often worry about when I write a particularly un-feminist post, has been keeping an online record of her Gap Year as it unfolds. I did promise to plug her blog in my blog (not that my blog actually reaches many people at all...) a while ago, but I'm pretty sure I haven't yet. Anyway, there it is in all its glory; I particularly like the film reviews, they make me laugh quite a bit.

Anyway, sorry for the long post about other people's life achievements. My life has been pretty empty of successes this week, apart from actually being able to make friends, so I thought you'd like to see some from other people. One last thing: if you want other things to read, may I also recommend this, this, this and your local library. Much love xx