Saturday 8th January- Gibraltar- Hello and Goodbye!

Hey one and all,
Apologies for not writing much lately, but in all honestly, not much has really happened lately! So I'm going to update you on the last month or so...

I flew home for Christmas on the 22nd December however it was a difficult journey! All flights to Gibraltar (Monarch,EasyJet,British Airways etc) were diverted to Malaga as the wind in Gib was making landings impossible. So the passengers would recieve a free coachride to Malaga airport to catch their flights.
However one plane had technical difficulties and had been cancelled.

Unfortunaty, it was EasyJet, my flight! I started panicking because I've never had to deal with cancelled flights before. I waited in the queue at the airport to reschedule my flight. However I was texting people at home for advice and was told the wind in Gibraltar wasn't going to change for the next few days. So I either had to wait for a plane to get to Gibraltar or travel to Malaga to catch a plane there. I decided to choose Malaga.

There was 3 flights due to be flying to Gatwick from Malaga that day, I had missed one, the second one was due to take off in an hour (It takes 2 hours to get to Malaga from Gib!) so I thought the 10pm flight would be the best option. But when the queue finally died down and I got to the desk, the assistant told me the 10pm flight was already fully booked up and that the next flight was 11am the next morning meaning I'd have to sleep overnight in the airport. So that was the option I chose as I didn't trust the Gibraltan weather to improve before 11am the next morning.

I heard 2 people next to me talking about travelling to Malaga to catch the flight the next morning and I quickly grabbed this oppurtunity and asked to travel with them.
None of us had been to Spain before and none of us could speak Spanish. But I would have rather travelled with 2 strangers then alone in a foreign country!
It took 2 buses to get to Malaga. There was a lot of waiting time though in between and alot of suitcase dragging! We waited for the first bus from 2pm. When we finally got to Malaga airport it was 9pm. It was a very exhausting day!

To try our luck we went to the EasyJet desk to ask if there was any seats available for the last flight to Gatwick that night. The lady behind the desk told us to wait 40 minutes and to come back then. During this time I text my parents letting them know I had arrived at Malaga airport and that I was ok. My phone battery unfortunately died (used up all the battery calling home for flight advice!) and I could only turn it on for 2 minutes at a time.

Anyways 40 minutes passed and the lady at the EasyJet desk waved at the 3 of us to come over. She said, "I've looked at the website and theres 3 seats left for tonights flight. Would you like to reschedule?" You wouldnt beleive how relieved I felt! I think I actually danced on the spot for like 5 seconds then realised I was in public lol...

So we recieved our new tickets and went through check in, I then called home screaming,"I'm coming home tonight!" and a few more things, then my battery died completely XD but it didn't matter, I was flying home!
My plane landed in Gatwick at 12:20am and the person I sat next to on the plane, very generously let me put my SIM card in his phone so I could text my parents to inform them I had landed!

It was a long day, but I'm so grateful for God's small blessings throughout the day! For my travel companions, my flight being rescheduled and the person who let me borrow their phone!! My mini miracles =]

Christmas and New Year was lovely, spent at home with friends and family! 2010 was a good year for me and I hope 2011 will only get better! =]

I flew back to Gibraltar on the 6th January. It was very hard departing from home especially because of the troubles I had in Gib last time. When I arrived I went to my new host families home. They are very kind and caring and I feel very welcomed and I was very grateful for that. =]
However after hearing some uncomftable news from my employers I have decided to fly back home in 2 weeks time.
Things were not working out and I beleive this is the best thing to do in this situation.

So I would like to thank everyone who has been reading my blog and praying for me the last few months =] I really appreciate it! I'm hoping to carry on blogging about my gap year (I'm hoping to find another job to keep me going! Any ideas? let me know =P) and hopefully I will have the time to blog during my Midwifery training at Uni in September.
So thanks again! God Bless =]
Over and Out!
...for now x

10th December 2010- Nearly 3 months..

Hey one and all,
Just have a few updates...

I flew home last week and was greeted by freezing temperatures and lots of snow! yay! However this didn't look too good as I had to travel to London to get to my University interview..
However mum and I got up determined at 5:30am and got to Gillingham Station and managed to grab a train, which arrived in London at 9:30am! We were extremely lucky as my interview started at 10am =] We got on a train at 3:30pm at St Pancras which everyone on the platform climbed into, the driver said through the intercom, "Thanks for boarding the train, however we will have to wait a few minutes as I don't actually know were I'm going yet!" And we didn't arrive back in Gillingham til 7:30pm so it was an eventful day!

It paid off though, Yesterday I got an email from UCAS saying I had recieved an unconditional offer!! So I'm over the moon about it and would like to thank everyone who was praying for me! =]

Not much has really happened in Gibraltar this week (I flew back Monday) however had a terrifying flight!
The plane flew through a massive storm cloud and it was really windy so the plane was swerving all over the place and rocking side to side. We were flying just above the runway when the plane suddenly dropped and I think everyone on the plane either gasped/screamed lol When the plane finally landed we all applauded the pilot! I now understand why Gbraltar is number 6 most dangerous runways in the world lol...

As I said not much as happened... a friend and I watched a thunderstorm Tuesday night, it was beautiful, the sky lit up purpley blue whenever lightning struck..

I have done lots of babysitting this week and I love it! The children I watch have such character and are a handful at times but they're amazing kids =]

Tomorrow we are holding another Messy Church Service where we shall be making Christingles! So please pray that goes well and more families start coming.
Thanks for reading!
Over and Out x

21st November- (2 months and 3 days!)

Hellooo, This week has been busybusybusy!
I have got 3 paid jobs! woowoop! I clean windows for one job and babysit for three families! Lush times :P
Someone came up to me in church and said I looked bored, would I like to clean her windows and get paid? I thought fair enough... she has a Penthouse! 15 floors up and I have to stand on a stepladder to clean the top of the outside windows...  don't look down! But it was good arm work out ;) (dead arms the next day!!)


    The stepladder...

 The drop!

I'm glad that I finally have things to look forward to, I feel that even though these are fairly simple tasks, I'm being kept busy so boredom is slowly evaporating ...
Sunday school last week was good... I had freedom to lead it and choose what I would like to teach. So themed it on the Footprints poem. (Thankyou ctc!) I find the poem very inspirational and can relate to it most the time! =P
The children had to draw around their feet and colour them in =] They read the poem and took mini versions home and made their own "feet prayers." 
They then went up the front at the end of the service and showed the congregation what they done. (One small boy clung to my leg the whole time!cuteee) It was a good sunday school! ^^ very proud...

My foots on there somewhere... I have small feet compared to half the kids! lol
... "When you saw only one set of footprints, it was then that I carried you."



All week we have been planning a Messy Church service calling it "Family Fun Church" and we themed it on the Jesus the light of the World which turned out quite well! Mirrors and candles...make a tunnel of everlasting light!
Below are the arts and crafts... Light themed

 Lanterns
Lighthouse

Children preparing food!

Cuteeee... (Notice boy on left- painted nails! He clung onto my leg at sunday school..)

The kids play with the big kid ( aka me! )

The service turned out quite well... During the sermon, the speaker asked the congregation, "What's a prophet?" and a little girl raises her hand and says, "Is that the amount of money you make from something??"

xD lol  At the end we all sat together and ate the salad and russian salad the children had ordered and the pizza delivered from pizza hut. There was a strong sense of unity and I look forward to planning the christmas themed Family Fun Service in a months time!

Today in Sunday school the theme was Christ the King... so the children had to design crowns and one would be named the winner...

...I want a crown!

Anyways I'm babysitting and window cleaning again next week followed by more sunday school!

Two of my friends are also flying over on Thursday XD (pray for their safe journey over please!)

They fly back Sunday which I will join them doing so for a University Interview! Yay! Home ^^
So please please please pray that goes okay! =]

I hope I don't freeze to death when I return hehe...

Thankyou for reading and thanks for your prayers =] keep them coming! I hope to update you all soon!

Over and Out x

10th November- New hope?

Hey Guys!
Sorry for my lack of posts lately! I have been quite low lately and didn't have much to update lol xD
There have been a lot of complications and disagreements over the last two weeks and I was considering returning home early.

However I have had a few uplifts, my friend and my parents visited and kept me chirpy for a few days xD (thankyouuuuu! =])
I also kept getting this little feeling to "Just wait a little longer...be patient..." so I did. No harm in waiting a BIT longer I spose ? 

Then today I was told I'm going into my first school tomorrow to talk to the head!! woowoop xD finally! Action is kicking in!
I also have 2 babysitting jobs waiting and I'm doing bits and bobs here and there so my time is slowly but surely filling up !
So thankyou for your prayers and encouragement and support you have given me the last few weeks, they are very much appreciated!!!  =] I hope things keep going up hill!
Thankyou God!!! ^^

...Over and Out x

P.S. Uplifting song of the day... "Son of Man"- Phil Collins...from Tarzan =P

Oh, the power to be strong
And the wisdom to be wise
All these things will
come to you in time
On this journey that you're making
There'll be answers that you'll seek
And it's you who'll climb the mountain
It's you who'll reach the peak

Son of Man, look to the sky
Lift your spirit, set it free
Some day you'll walk tall with pride
Son of Man, a man in time you'll be...

etc etc ;)

31st October- Hmm

Hey people,
last week was a bit traumatic for me in Gib lol XD  well the Pirate Party was cancelled. Because we only had 2 official children signed in and it would be mean on the volunteers to arrive on the day to find hardly a "party". I am waiting outside the Cathedral Tuesday to see if any kids turn up and tell them its not on. I think I'm more upset about how things were handled though in all honestly, but I dont think ranting about it on the internet and naming names would be very appropriate :P lol
So yeah goodbye Pirate Party...

Ely Boys Choir has visited our Cathedral and performed a concert for us last night! Twas fabulous, I miss the music we used to do at home/on singing courses. They performed stuff such as:
Blessed be the God and Father- Wesley
Locus iste- Bruckner
If ye love me- Tallis
Let all the world- Williams
Panis Angelicus- Franck
Totus tuus- Gorecki
etc etc etc :P was pretty lush.

About 36 trebles, 2 male altos, 2 tenors and 2 basses. The sound was amazing!

Then they performed Messe Solennelle by Louis Vierne in the church service today. (Suggestion-everyone and anyone to listen!)

Been a rough week because of various odd things. But next week should look up =] a good friend is flying over for a few days and then my parents are visiting for the weekend. I'm in need of some hugs!

Missing you all.
Over and Out x

SOS BLOG

PLEASE! send millions of prayers! cross your fingers, wish me luck, Whatever! POSITIVE ENERGY!

Only officially booked in 2 kids for the Pirate Party and it's next week and it will be cancelled if no children turn up!

Please pray things start picking up the pace and that I will soon be able to go into schools soon as I have been denied to do this for a while now...

Ahh!

Let's create some miracles!!!

Over and out... x

21st October- Kalamari... om nom nom

I'm not going to write much today! Just upload some pictures =]

But here are some updates...

UCAS application update- one uni unsuccessful, one uni interview! (So I am flying back for a few days in early December if anyone wants to catch up!) woowoop =P 3 more to go...

I am attacked every morning by Nelson (aka the Cat!) when I don't share my breakfast with him...(the milk from my cereal...cheeky!)

Today I rehearsed songs for the Pirate Party with another leader, the CD player was broken though, So I had to run back to my old host family (which is 2 mins away!) grab their CD player run back! Was fun stuff though =]

We also rehearsed the sketches today to be performed at the Pirate Party- theme is looking for treasure aka Jesus! Now the actors just need to learn their lines.

I'm now addicted to bike riding and drinking tea!! How did this happen..

Anyways!
There is a beach and a boat bay 5 mins away from my new host home! So I went there today and took some pictures :P and then I sat on the beachside restaurent and ordered some Kalamari...om nom nom... But ahh! It's so lovely and pretty =] (The Bay not the kalamari... though thats pretty lush too!)

Please pray that numbers for Pirate Party start picking up =] thankyou muchly!
Now to make a cup of tea, Over and Out! x

  
1. View of Bay from balcony
2. The Bay
3. Another shot from the balcony

Theres a faint red circle around which flat I'm living it at the moment! :P

Bay Views

Another angle of the Rock..

Mmmmm..