Chelsea Flower Show 2013

Hey,

So last week was the 100th Chelsea Flower Show. I was lucky enough to get tickets to attend. Typically it rained. But while I was at Chelsea the rain decided to stop. I half expected for the heavens to open, after all it is typical British weather. When will summer finally arrive? Lol.

Anyway, trying to get tickets was a tense time for me. Sitting at the computer, and at the dot of three BAM, I purchased four tickets (with my mother's credit card). At first it was supposed to be my mother, her friends and I. (I was supposed to be their tourist guide, guiding them around London. Without me they will be like lost sheep.) Anyway due to personal reasons my mum's friends couldn't make it so instead my sister and dad came along making it a family trip. 

The first two days of Chelsea is for the VIPs and the Queen. I really wish I know someone famous or someone important enough to make it onto the VIP list. The reason why? Well my celebrity crush was at Chelsea on the first day!  Here is a photo of the gorgeous Eddie Redmayne looking every so dapper. He is posing by the tulips display. 

(Oh Eddie how did you know that tulips are my all time favourite flower? )

Anyway, because I am not famous or anyone relatively important I went to Chelsea on Thursday. It was bitterly cold. I really wanted to wear boots that day, but last month I epically fell out of bed and well hurt my foot, so it is painful to wear boots. (If you didn't know by now, I am a very clumsy person.) On the way to Chelsea the heavens opened, rather heavily, lets say I got a little wet (though it was a lot worse the following day, were it rained non stop. Makes me glad I didn't go to Chelsea then.) 

        Here is a picture of the ticket. 

Anyway, what can I say? I have been watching Chelsea on the telly and it was not what I expected. I half thought it would be filled with elderly folks, but I was pleasantly surprised by the mix of ages. There were even quite a lot of dapper men in suits!!! *squeal* who doesn't love a man in a suit? Also there were a few cute gardener's assistants too. 

Anyway the way they angle the camera for the telly makes the outdoor gardens look absolutely massive but in reality it is quite a lot smaller, something that I personally found rather disappointing. Also it is better to watch it from the telly, because when you are actually there, you see nothing! I mean nothing,there are far too many people herding around the gardens that you can't even push your way through unless you are like a giant. I stand at a mere 5ft3. Which is not tall at all. 

Here are a few images taken outside. 

The most impressive part of Chelsea is inside the tent. So many impressive flower displays, it was like I was in flower heaven. I am a girl who has a big heart for flowers, and take in deeply the flower meanings so I really enjoyed wandering around the giant tent looking at all the beautiful flowers. I spent a lot of my time looking for the Lord Of The Rings inspired display and I must say I was very impressed. From watching it on the telly I thought it was outside but actually it was inside. 

Here is a picture. From what I observed the red and orange flowers represent the fires of Mount Doom. 

              Look it's Treebeard! 

I also fell in love with the tulip display, so many different types of tulips. So many wonderful colours, red tulips are my all time favourite because they have a wonderful meaning and yes admitted it was because the book Evermore, by Alyson Noel that made me fall in love with red tulips. According to the book red tulips mean 'undying love'. Cute isn't it? I have googled and a few other websites and they say 'declaration of love'. Anyway a beautiful meaning for a beautiful flower. 

Here are some pictures of the tulips display. (So beautiful) 

The orchids display was beautiful too! My mum loves her orchids and I usually buy her an orchid plant every year for her birthday. I think I get it from my mum, I do seem to have an eye for what is a good plant and what isn't. (Despite the fact I need glasses. Well not all the time) Well according to my mum I pick out good plants. 

Here is a picture of me standing by another one of my favourite displays. 

Here are more orchids! There is such a huge variety of orchids it's insane! 

The roses and daffodils were beautiful too! There is such a huge variety of daffodils! So pretty! 

                         Roses 

                        Daffodils 

Peonies have slowly started to become my new favourite flower. It is because of the Chelsea Flower Show! I mean I have seen peonies on the telly, on TV program's such as Gossip Girl. (Blair Waldorf seems to be a fan of peonies and boy are they beautiful flowers.) 

If someone got me a bouquet of peonies I would love them forever. 

                        Peonies 

Aren't the peonies beautiful? Anyway I took a hay fever tablet before I attended the show, but it wasn't enough to protect me from the overpowering smell of some of the flowers such as the lilies and hyacinth. They smelt lovely but during spring and summer it seems my sense of smell is heightened. The smell was just overwhelming and occasionally I had to walk away, it made me sneeze far too much. 

                           Lilies

                          Hyacinth

Here are photos of some of the other flower displays. I don't know the name of some of the flowers. Maybe they are chrysanthemums, irises, foxgloves, hydrangeas...etc. 

These are just images I took on my phone. My mum and sister also took a lot of photos, but I thought it was best not to bomb you will all my flower images. So would I recommend going to Chelsea? Yes definitely, for the flowers inside rather than the gardens outside, you are better of just watching that from the telly. Honestly unless you are a giant you won't see much at all. And of course if you are lucky enough to make the VIP list. 

Would I go again? Of course, if I have the money, the tickets don't come cheaply, and you have to be fast. I felt like I was bidding on eBay when I purchased the tickets.

 I would definitely advise you if you do attend to pack your own lunch. The food prices were absolutely ridiculous, but it is expected. For half a pint of Pimms it was £6!!!! When I was at Wimbledon I had a bigger glass I think it was a pint and I paid £7.50. (I think it was that much) Also for a portion of chips it was £3. Seriously rob you of your money. So definitely bring your own food. Or eat beforehand. 

Anyway overall despite the awful English weather I had a wonderful time at Chelsea, I was in flower heaven. Admiring all the beautiful flowers and falling in love with new ones. 

I hope I haven't bored you will my blog about flowers! My next blog probably will be about Rome. Though I am going to London Zoo in a couple of weeks! Super excited about that I mean I get to see PENGUINS!!!! I love penguins! If you can't tell penguins are like my all time favourite animal! Baby emperor penguins are just so darn cute! If I take enough pictures I will definitely blog about it. 

Until next time. 

Sam x

No Longer An Undergrad

Hi All,

It has been a while since I have blogged. I have been incredibly busy with my degree! Doing all the essays. I can officially say it is all over. I am no longer an undergrad. These past three years have just absolutely flown by. I have cried so many tears in the past three years.Cried so many tears for all the essays, but now I am done. Fin. It feels so weird to be free. Now all I wait for is my dreaded results, I honestly don't want to know, because I know I won't be graduating with a first, and I think a 2:1 would be very unlikely too. Yes I know and you probably all know by now, that I am the biggest pessimist ever. I have very little faith in my own ability, the glass is always half empty than half full. 
I am going to enjoy my freedom until I start my PGCE in September.
I thought I would be more free but I am actually very busy! I have work experience starting very soon. I am excited, but also pretty scared. 

ALSO I will be completing one of my New Year's Resolutions! I will be going on holiday! WHOOOP! Ok so it isn't New York...(SIGH, when will I ever visit the city of my dreams?) But I will be travelling to another city that I have longed to visit...that being ROME! I am so excited, after all, "All Roads Lead To Rome". 
And I will definitely blog about my time in Italy! I cannot wait, I will be spending five days in Rome and I will be there on my birthday. I am not a real big birthday person, so I really hope I don't have some Italian guy singing to me lol. 

I am not sure what to blog about here, I haven't got much to say really. Maybe I can reminisce about my time at the University of Greenwich. Well what can I say? Greenwich was definitely not my first choice, and I have always said (even before I started my degree) I would not be staying there for my PGCE. Here I am three years later and I stuck by my word. I am leaving, finally leaving. I have hated every single moment of the third year. The work load was insane, I just didn't feel like I learnt anything this year, nothing at all. I also felt like I lost all form of motivation this year. Last year, I had so much motivation, I had a goal...I thought I would be in America, but of course that never happened. As for this year, I should be looking forward to graduation, which I am....that wasn't enough to motivate me to do work. I wouldn't say I left my essays to the very last minute, though I know I definitely could have started the essay writing a lot earlier than I did. 
I have heard a lot of people saying that your uni friends are your friends for life. I didn't really believe in that phrase but three years later I know that I have definitely made friends for life. I don't know where I would be without my girls. They are so important to me, they have helped me through so much, giving me so many memories, best friends for life. It is definitely true, your uni friends are definitely your friends for life. 
I am sad that I am leaving Greenwich, all my friends have places at Greenwich for their PGCE and I have decided to leave and won't be spending my PGCE year with my best friends. However, things happen for a reason. I made this decision, it was my decision at the end of the day, and I chose to leave, I love my friends but I knew in my heart that I didn't want to stay at Greenwich, just now that I have left...I am not quite ready to let go of my memories with my friends. I know we will always stay in touch, and I will visit them...just I can't believe how fast these past three years have gone. I am one step closer to being  a teacher. I am ready to move to a new uni, to make new friends...just I will miss my friends so much...but I had to leave, I had to do it for me and I have. I have spent the past year making big decisions, this was one of them...I am so scared, yet I know this will be good for me. I need to break out of my shell and make new friends and be in a new environment. 

Things happen for a reason, I truly believe in that. Perhaps it is time everyone else believe in that too :)

To end, let's all raise a glass to, new beginnings.  

Sam x
 

The How To Guide: Interviews

Hey all,

Sorry that it has taken me so long to write another blog. I have been so busy. Uni is driving me absolutely insane, with the mounting work load. I want to cry from all this pressure. Over the past couple of months since I last blogged. I finally got an interview! After waiting over a month or so for an interview. So I spent a few weeks preparing my interview and practising for my skills test. which I passed, thankfully! (That is one down and one more to go!) 
So my interview was last month. At the time, I knew I gave it my all. When I walked out of that interview, I knew I gave it my all...I did the best I could. 
It is funny that I didn't panic. because I know what I am like. When I get an interview, I tend to flip out, panic and stutter. I was really surprised that I stayed so calm and level-headed.
So my interview was on the 13th of February, a day before Valentine's Day. I wouldn't say I walked out confident, but like I said above I walked out knowing I gave it my all, I tried my best. Like I knew I didn't screw up in anyway, well perhaps with the punctuation and written task we had to do,but I knew my presentation went smoothly, I didn't need my notes, I memorised it all.As for the actual interview process...I managed to speak coherently, and not screw up...though I did say the word 'Kid' a few times instead of 'children'. 
But anyway! I GOT A PLACE. Yep, on Tuesday 26th of February I got an email, saying that my GTTR application changed...and I was scared...I was like CRAP...I was shaking like a real leaf when I checked my GTTR application thing...well to be fair I was crying before I even saw I got a conditional offer. Then cried some more when I realised I got in. I double checked just to make sure I wasn't seeing things...but YES I have a place for my PGCE. 
10 days after my interview I get an offer :) I am a very happy girl! I was surprised that I did not check the GTTR website...not once after my interview....I mean before I even got an interview, I checked it constantly. Seriously...all the time. 
Anyway, I know that my blog has gone off track, well obviously my dream is going to New York. So I guess this is about my progress to the 'Big Apple" well when I eventually make it. I am really hoping that I make it this year. I have been looking at a whole range of different tours and it makes me all excited. Though I haven't booked anything and I really need too!
I am going to be so busy this summer and I know I won't be able to do 'Work America' this summer. However much I really want too. I really want to work there so bad. Maybe that is just not something I am meant to do...I will just dream about going to New York instead. I will make it to New York I will!

Here is a picture of my Interview outfit.  

On the day of my interview, it was a very cold day. So hence why I opted for boots. I went for a teal blazer and a simple plain black dress. 

Anyway, as a little present for myself...I made a few purchases....

 (Forever 21, Black Maxi Dress)

(Dorothy Perkins, Navy and White Striped Dress)

I know, I am awful, a HUGE HUGE shopaholic...very very bad one lol. I shop too much, anyway...I thought I will end with a few tips about what to do in an interview. 

Rule No.1: Do not whatsoever panic...It will do you no good. I know it is hard not too, but if you really want this job/place...you will give it your all. 

Rule No.2: Show confidence, You may be be shaking like a leaf inside, but if you show confidence, it will make you feel so much better. Honestly, I went in there telling myself to 'Just do it' and I didn't even think twice about how nervous I was. 

Rule No.3: If the opportunity arises in a group interview...go first...I know it is scary to even think about going first...but it is best to get it out of the way then sit there and wait for your turn, because waiting is the worst and it just eats you up inside. Trust me going first is a hell not better than going last. I had to do a group presentation and I put myself forward to go first...I think not only does it help with my nerves because I would have already done my presentation, but I think it actually helps to show that you are confidence, because I mean it takes a lot to bite the bullet and go first. (Grant it at the time, after I did my presentation and heard everyone else's I thought mine was a bad idea...but clearly the interviewers liked what they saw since I got a place.) 

Rule No.4: Show emotions - Make sure you maintain eye contact and smile, it is not attractive if you go into an interview looking like the undead. I kept reminding myself to smile, to make eye contact...something I must have failed to do in previous interviews.

Rule No.5: Try not to fidget - Easier said than done, when I am nervous, I fidget, I twirl my hair around my fingers, I bite my nails (and I don't even normally do that!) I think I managed to not to move so much, because I was too busy concentrating on maintaining eye contact and smiling. 

Anyway, I hope these helped...it most definitely helped me :) 

One more thing, what do you think of this bag? I want it so bad...is it bad that I want to treat myself to another item...when I already bought two dress?

It is bloody beautiful! I want it SOOOOO bad....I am a terrible bag person...I buy WAYYYYYY tooooo many bags...seriously like last year I bought like four bags. I just can't control myself...I am the Bag lady hahaha! I remember when I was at school, I would always have two massive bags...Anyway....should I go to the dark side and buy this beautiful Accessorize bag? Or Be good and not...buy something I don't technically need.

Sam x

2013 Resolutions

I debating for a while whether to make new year's resolutions. I made far too many last year and failed to even complete half. So maybe I won't be too over ambitious with my new year's resolutions. Last year when I blogged I was so full of hope, so full of excitement.I believed with all my heart that I would be spending a summer of a lifetime in the United States of America, but that dream never came true. Funny I started of this year being very upset, seriously got quite upset as the clock stroked twelve for the new year. So I guess here are my New Year's Resolutions.

1. Graduate with a 2:1
This is my final year and I graduate this year! Oh how time has flown by, it only seems like yesterday when I started my first year. For my first year I got a 2:2 and for my second I got a 2:1. So it would be absolutely grand to finish off my degree on a high with a 2:1.

2. Be More Positive
I have always been a pessimistic person. My glass has always been half empty rather than full. I use to be a lot worse back when I was a teen, I have improved, but I am still a very negative person. 

3. Get Fit
Everyone thinks just because I am skinny it does not mean I don't need to exercise. If you ever seen me run for a bus you will know why I need to keep fit. I tell you now running for public transport is not fun when you get on and you sound like a heaving dog. One; it doesn't look cool and two; it is not attractive. Though I have to say there has been one time where I ran from the bus to the train, jumping on just as the doors close. Jumping on without falling over too! I felt like I was on some action movie, pulling off a stunt like that haha. But yes I need to keep fit. 

4. Don't Leave Essays To The Last Minute
Yes I know I made this resolution last year, and I did evidently leave some essays to the last minute, but I have learnt not to do that again lol. I know I shouldn't haha! Because I cannot write essays at the very last minute, my grades proved that. 

5. Go On Holiday
Bit of a weird New Year's Resolution, but I graduate this year and I want to travel, there is so many places I want to travel too. Of course you all know New York is my main destination, but if I can I would travel for the whole summer. 

(I can finally wear this bracelet on my grand travels. The purpose of this bracelet was to wear it when I go on my travels. That's why I bought it and added a whole bunch of charms to it.)

Some of the destinations on my my bucket list and I know It is impossible to make it to all these destinations this year.

America:

New York City - Where big lights will inspire you 
I have dreamt about New York for so long, I must make it there. 
Boston - Home of Harvard University
I really want to go to Boston, and go to Harvard University and get a jumper lol. Hell yes I want to pretend I go to Harvard! lol 
Washington D.C - Home of the Free
Who doesn't want to go to the home of the president? I mean it is Washington D.C!
Nashville - Home of Country Music
I love, love country music, and wish ever so much that it was big in Britain. 
Florida - Home of the Theme Parks
I am not one for rollercoasters, but I do want to go to Disneyland, Universal, etc 
Las Vegas - What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas
It's Vegas, everyone wants to make it there at least once in their life.
Grand Canyon - A Beautiful Sight
Despite my height phobia, I would love to go to the Grand Canyon.
San Diego - Comic Con
I just want to go to San Diego, for Comic Con lol
Los Angeles - Home Of The Rich And Famous
Who Doesn't want to make it to LA? And walk the path of the stars? Pretending you live in Beverly Hills 90210. And go window shopping down Rodeo Drive!!
San Francisco - The Golden Gate City
From all the movies I have watched San Fran looks so cool! Hey maybe I'll bump into the Charmed Ones haha.

Europe:
Ireland - Irish Luck
I've been to Dublin already, So I'll love to make it to other parts of Ireland, like Cork, Limerick, Galway
Spain - Hola!
I have been to Barcelona, and would love to go to other parts of Spain like Madrid and the south of Spain. 
Italy - Italia!
I have dreamt about going to Italy too! I want to go to Venice, Rome, Milan, Florence!

 So here are my new year's resolutions, trying to keep them a bit more realistic and less ambitious. This is bit of a short blog but here they are, hopefully I can accomplish them all this year, and maybe I can make some of my dreams come true. Not being too hopeful. 

Anyway Happy New Year everyone! May all your dreams come true! :)

Sam x