I went a bit OTT on the afternoon party nibbles, I was baking like a woman possessed the night before everyone arrived and made about 30 scones even though there were only a handful of us ( I was eating leftovers for days after) I do love an excuse to get my pretty tea cups out and go a bit bunting crazy. My confetti print bits and bobs come from DotComGiftshop and all my cake stands are charity shop finds.


I had set up the garden for a afternoon tea party but sometimes you just need to snuggle on the sofa under a blanket and do a quote-along with Mean Girls right? After taking all the cake inside and settling down we drank thoroughly British beverages like Pimms and tea and didn't move from the sofa all night. Who needs a night out? I might prefer a night in my PJs having a good natter. I'm getting old.

2015 is going to be a year where I miss a lot of my friends and wont be seeing them for at least 9 months. All my friends seem to be taking off, going away with out me and having lots of fun adventures (not sounding bitter at all am I?...). I've chosen to settle down and save for a house and they have chosen to explore and make the most of their time on this planet. I've seen a lot of the world but I'm a girl who likes her home comforts and needs to be secure. Meg and Eliot are in Thailand and you can read their blog here and my other friends Jack and Dan are making their way to Australia via South East Asia and you can read all about their experiences here.

The latest of my group of friends to depart grey Britain for a warmer climate is Oonagh who flew to New Zealand yesterday to spend a year there for university. I'm used to having farewell parties for Oonagh because she's always doing something terribly exciting like moving to Amsterdam or going on arctic expeditions. Oonagh is much braver than me, I managed 10 weeks in New Zealand in 2009 before wanting to come home. There's no place like the Valleys ey?

We said goodbye to her in the traditional way which is a big party ather dads house with loads of cake, produce from their small holding and tasty homemade elderflower wine.


So.Much.Food. We had some lovely cakes, pies and salad which I washed down with plenty of spiced rum.

A final word to my friends, next time you have the time of your life in far off lands please go somewhere were I can get a return flight for under £300 so I can come and join you for a couple weeks ;) I love you, stay safe and have a bloody good time.

I've let myself slide into a bout of self-pity recently. I've been thinking about how I'm not happy with the way I look, I've been comparing myself and my surroundings with other people and what they have. I'm not a very optimistic person and sometimes these thoughts can get the better of me. I'm trying to learn to be happy with my lot as I know deep down that I'm terribly lucky person. Despite all my moaning and self critical thoughts I have a lot to be happy about and here's a little list of the things I'm most grateful for:

1. My job



I have a full time, permanent job and in this climate that's something to be really grateful for. I get to work in a library, for a Russell Group University and I get to do what I love. Yes, some days I want to go on an adventure and not go to work. Sometimes it can be a little dull and other days when the students have deadlines I don't have a minute to myself. I'm very grateful to have a job and one that I I don't dread going to.

2. Martyn


He puts up with a lot from me. I met Martyn about 10 months ago and just kind of fell into living with him recently even though we haved't been together for long. The circumstances were right and I'm glad I moved in so we can share more things together. He's supportive and likes me for who I am and we don't feel like we need to impress each other. We act like a retired couple and go on steam trains, go to the seaside and stay in on weekends and cook. Party lifestyle Gemma has gone (except for when I go to Snobs with Claire) and I can't say I miss it. (Martyn, if you're reading this, I really appreciate the dumbbells and the flowers)

3. My Friends


These guys are really awesome. I don't get to see all of them enough and some of my friends have moved away and are getting on with their adult life now but I value any time I get to spend with them. This photo was taken at Bestival last year with my friends Harri and Emma who I met in college when I was 16. They make me smile, we go on adventures and gossip over some tea and cake. I couldn't ask for a better bunch of pals.

3. My travels at home and abroad




This post was inspired by the Made in Hunters 52 lists project. I'm not taking part in the whole thing as I'm months too late but hope to post a few more here and take some time out to reflect using lists.

I was really inspired by Bee's recent post all about her university friends and wanted to dedicate something to all the lovely people in my life who tolerate me. I did ask my non blog mates for some little quotes and anecdotes but they are lazy and just shouted in jokes at me and profanities, see what I have to put up with?!

First up is Emma, she's the one I'm always talking to on twitter about Dr Who and Jon Snow. The one who shares my not so secret love for the Britney album Blackout. The one who enables my staking of people from Dr Who and Harry Potter and the one who has to deal with all my bloke troubles and day to day moaning. Emma, you're a rock and cat loving saint! *Edit - Emma did provide a quote which just said 'you are a massive dis-concordant igneous intrusion' charming. (she studies Geology)

Next up is not just an ode to Al and Lauren but anyone I met at uni. I didn't really make many friends for life at halls or on my course but I made loads of friends when I worked at Topshop and by going to gigs in Cardiff. I miss dancing with you guys in Barfly to indie tunes from 2005.